Politics & Government - 1 December 2006

Do you wash or dry clean the sheets?

2006-12-01 13:10:27 · 13 answers · asked by HappyTeeth 2 in Immigration

Is the Reagan Era Officially Over?

Sen. Chuck Schumer has called the recent Democratic takeover of Congress the end of the Reagan era.
Friday, December 1, 2006
Star Parker - Scripps Howard News Service

Sen. Chuck Schumer has called the recent Democratic takeover of Congress the end of the Reagan era.

If we believe a red flag that the Wall Street Journal has run up about a possible Republican capitulation with the new Democratic majority on Social Security reform, our own Republican president might prove Schumer right.

The Wall Street Journal, and other sources, now report that the Bush administration is expressing openness to forget the idea of private ownership as the basis for Social Security reform, and to work with Democrats to "save" Social Security as it is with tax increases and benefit cuts.

Badly needed reform of our wounded and limping Social Security system has been seriously hampered by what I call the politics of cynicism.

These politics are driven by politicians primarily motivated by protecting their own power and interests as opposed to those of their constituents.

What's my proof that Social Security reform is driven by this cynical brand of politics?

No one could possibly argue that Social Security is a good program today. If we did not have it, and any politician tried to propose it and get it passed, he or she would be laughed out of Washington.

Social Security is a unique government program in that every taxpayer can personally evaluate it by asking the simple questions - What am I paying, What am I getting, and Is it worth it?

The Heritage Foundation's Social Security calculator tells me, for example, that a 25 year old male earning $31,000 can expect, based on the Social Security benefit he'll receive, almost a negative one percent return on the money he puts in over his working life.

If he purchased a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds over this same period with this same amount of money, this guy could get an annuity five to six times greater than this Social Security benefit. But even a bank CD would produce a monthly payment that could double Social Security.

There are other relevant points that anyone who has been following this debate can recite. With a private account this guy owns his money. Under Social Security, he doesn't even have a legal right to the benefit. Which is material because the government is constantly changing the rules.

Can you imagine getting a letter from your bank or broker saying they are lowering the return on your investment because they can't afford to pay you what they promised?

But, this is what is about to happen, again, with Social Security.

Not only are the returns to taxpayers negative, but they are guaranteed, beyond any question, to get worse. The system is bankrupt and can only continue in its current form through some combination of tax increases and benefit cuts. Which will drive what individuals get for what they put in even further south.

Why, then, does there seem to be a political consensus to save this monstrosity?

Politicians will tell you it's because the American people want it. The polls say so.

And indeed they do. But the fact is taxpayers support this status quo out of fear and not knowledge.

Certainly, no sane individual would buy a program that has the personal investment economics that I just described.

When President Bush proposed changing the program to one of ownership and private accounts, the Democratic Party launched major league into the politics of cynicism. The message that working Americans heard was that they would be kicked off a government program guaranteeing them a payment at retirement in exchange for taking their money and investing it in the stock market.

Is it any wonder that many dived for cover?

I call this the politics of cynicism because there is not a single Democratic senator or congressman who would purchase an insurance policy with the type of legal and economic realities of Social Security. Shut the door and one by one they know the truth.

The Democrats' campaign to "save Social Security" has really been a campaign to save their own butts.

To have endorsed the president's reform would have been an endorsement of a fundamental move away from welfare state politics that has been the bread and butter of the Democratic Party.

Now, playing on fears and not the real interests of working Americans, and the inability of Republicans to stick to and sell their message, the Democrats have won.

The real victims are the low and middle income Americans whose hard earned money is being sucked into this black hole that will only get deeper and blacker. This is happening while Democrats bewail wage and wealth stagnation at the lower end of our income spectrum.

Is a Republican White House, for fear that it will look like it did nothing on Social Security, about to join Democrats in the ranks of the politics of cynicism?

The Reagan era is still alive for this writer. Let's hope it's still alive in the Bush White House.


Photo Copyright Getty Images


Copyright Scripps Howard News Service 2006

2006-12-01 13:09:00 · 11 answers · asked by CaptainObvious 7 in Politics

They always say, conservatives don't understand, or they are too ignorant to understand, but yet, I have only witnessed a few good points made by liberals, ever. And they continue to just say conservatives are dumb and stupid, but yet, they don't even know what the heck they are talking about

Look at IN2320's answer
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkML1Z0y6aXyHGj6RdOfBzvzy6IX?qid=20061201175611AAcmynW

2006-12-01 13:06:30 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

2006-12-01 13:06:28 · 16 answers · asked by F'N Skerry 1 in Politics

2006-12-01 13:03:24 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Government

Your in the US Military or Coast Guard, and you and your wife want to move to Amsterdam. Is there any way you could join the Netherlands Army or Coast Guard, or remain in the US Millitary/Coast Guard?

2006-12-01 13:02:31 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

Since i will be a minor, and Everyone else, A legal adult?

2006-12-01 13:01:40 · 16 answers · asked by Kendy 3 in Law & Ethics

Why do all military uniforms look similar in design with same types of accoutraments, medals, and cords? Did all countries come to the same conclusion or did they copy someone's? If so, whose? And why do they have the same ranks?

2006-12-01 12:57:21 · 6 answers · asked by Brandon 3 in Military

My girlfriend and I are really worried that my homophobic parents will take legal action against her when they realize she will be turnng 18 in June and i 16 in july. From my own knowledge, i thought the law permitted our relationship since there is only a two year difference, but a few days ago, i heard otherwise. A trusty friend acknowledged my situation and said to me that as soon as she turns 18, it can be illegal for us to be together until i am overage aswell. The curiosity and the worrying of the future problems has been keeping us both at the edge of our seats, not letting us even sleep at night, just thinking that my parents could put her behind bars, make her pay a fee, or appoint a restraining order against her. Thanks in advance for your help. (and can you please cite reference, if possible)

2006-12-01 12:56:24 · 7 answers · asked by vianca513 2 in Law & Ethics

2006-12-01 12:55:58 · 7 answers · asked by Vee 5 in Politics

Honestly, I tend to think anyone that is enamored by a politician who speaks about fighting corruption; tells people he feels their pain; and screams on the pulpit for the little guy, but who gives no plans for this, has no specificity, is probably an easily duped moron.

So am I unfair or telling it like it is?

2006-12-01 12:55:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

2006-12-01 12:53:56 · 24 answers · asked by Mississippi River 3 in Military

war in Iraq long ago?

2006-12-01 12:51:14 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

1. The corrupt U.S politicians and ACLU.

2. The super greedy Corporate America who always thirsts for the cheap labors.

3. Mexican Government who encourages its citizens to work in the U.S.

4. The ignorant U.S government.

Write your opinions on the illegal immigration.

2006-12-01 12:50:46 · 19 answers · asked by emo 2.0 3 in Immigration

He said, "If there’s anyone who believes these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No bright young individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits. And most all of them come from communities of very, very high unemployment."

2006-12-01 12:45:03 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

this is the last major country to leave iraq that's not colonial?the remaining countires, u.s,u.k australia are the only and the only colonial countires left. the funny thing is all three remaining countires have stolen countires from native indgenius people by oppresion and massacers, red indians in america, aborghnes in australia, the u.k well their colonial past says it all.so the world hopes these last three remaining countires leave iraq for good.

2006-12-01 12:43:36 · 4 answers · asked by w.m.d's_bro 3 in Military

"Freedom of religion"?

2006-12-01 12:41:31 · 17 answers · asked by thehiddenangle 3 in Politics

Do you think it would be a good idea or a bad one?why?
Would it be better for the soliders who are fighting right now?
Could it bring war's to a end sooner?
please put your insight.
thanks

2006-12-01 12:41:13 · 20 answers · asked by Thomas F 1 in Military

Seeing how much the violence has gone up in the last weeks and months in Iraq, I wonder more and more who is the one who has gained an advantage of this, if there is any advantage to be gained by war.

2006-12-01 12:41:01 · 4 answers · asked by Alberto E 1 in Military

2006-12-01 12:40:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Government

Explain how current-day abortion rights are derived from the “due process” clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments?

2006-12-01 12:37:02 · 3 answers · asked by hooplakitten 2 in Elections

my local police violate all traffic laws the same ones they enforce strickly in my area. I am not disgruntled I haven't had a traffic violation for 12 years. I feel certain they have been involved in accidents and would like to report on this.

2006-12-01 12:36:43 · 5 answers · asked by dinkylinker 1 in Law Enforcement & Police

I mean, are we so concerned that what many of us have held as credo might be wrong that we choose not to consider it? Where did the Pentagon plane go? I never saw it.
"This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector." - Plato

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." - U.S. President James Madison

"Terrorism is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death". - Adolph Hitler

"The easiest way to gain control of a population is to carry out acts of terror. [The public] will clamor for such laws if their personal security is threatened". - Josef Stalin

2006-12-01 12:35:38 · 16 answers · asked by M. 1 in Politics

2006-12-01 12:35:28 · 2 answers · asked by nunovyorebiznis 4 in Law & Ethics

2006-12-01 12:34:20 · 5 answers · asked by mario guy 1 in Law & Ethics

They want everything done for them and are easily fooled by government propaganda because they are unable to tell if it IS propaganda.

2006-12-01 12:31:44 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

This disease needs to be stopped.

2006-12-01 12:30:56 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Becuase we sure need some of them here ,,GOD knows white people can't mow lawns hahahaha,,,NOT

maybey buss boying acadameys

2006-12-01 12:30:01 · 16 answers · asked by RECONQUERSTA A 1 in Immigration

Hey, I am interested in joining the United States Naval Academy. From what I have understood by reading the ifno on their site (www.usna.edu), you have to have a nomination from your local Congress Man/Woman. Is this an automatic admission? I am homeschooled, so I know it will be hard to present a record of my grades, but if I score high on my SAT, will that overcome the record problem? Has anyone here been to the USNA? Any advice on how to get an admission would be appreciated. Thanks.

2006-12-01 12:29:33 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

Hi Everyone!

I am a 21 year old female and I am interested in joining the Navy or Air Force as an officer. I will be receiivng my Bachelors degree in about a year, but I would like to get some opinions of current or past officers to which branch should I join? and why? I would also want to know what are the chances of my fiance and I being station close together if I am in the Air Force and he is in the Navy?

2006-12-01 12:29:26 · 10 answers · asked by lforgm 2 in Military