Politics & Government - 19 June 2007

support Bush. You are functioning human beings right?
I mean youre not a bunch of old people sitting around a old
folks home with oatmeal running down your chins.
Just curious.

2007-06-19 08:18:58 · 9 answers · asked by trichbopper 4 in Politics

What do you do when you want to screw only the working people of your nation with the largest tax increase in history and hand those trillions of dollars to your wealthy campaign contributors, yet not have anybody realize you've done it? If you're Ronald Reagan, you call in Alan Greenspan.
Through the "golden years of the American middle class" - the 1940s through 1982 - the top income tax rate for the hyper-rich had been between 90 and 70 percent. Ronald Reagan wanted to cut that rate dramatically, to help out his political patrons. He did this with a massive tax cut in the summer of 1981.
The only problem was that when Reagan took his meat axe to our tax code, he produced mind-boggling budget deficits. Voodoo economics didn't work out as planned, and even after borrowing so much money that this year we'll pay over $100 billion just in interest on the money Reagan borrowed to make the economy look good in the 1980s, Reagan couldn't come up with the revenues he needed to run the government.
Coincidentally, the actuaries at the Social Security Administration were beginning to get worried about the Baby Boomer generation, who would begin retiring in big numbers in fifty years or so. They were a "rabbit going through the python" bulge that would require a few trillion more dollars than Social Security could easily collect during the same 20 year or so period of their retirement. We needed, the actuaries said, to tax more heavily those very persons who would eventually retire, so instead of using current workers' money to pay for the Boomer's Social Security payments in 2020, the Boomers themselves would have pre-paid for their own retirement.
Reagan got Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Alan Greenspan together to form a commission on Social Security reform, along with a few other politicians and economists, and they recommend a near-doubling of the Social Security tax on the then-working Boomers. That tax created - for the first time in history - a giant savings account that Social Security could use to pay for the Boomers' retirement.
This was a huge change. Prior to this, Social Security had always paid for today's retirees with income from today's workers (it still is today). The Boomers were the first generation that would pay Social Security taxes both to fund current retirees and save up enough money to pay for their own retirement. And, after the Boomers were all retired and the savings account - called the "Social Security Trust Fund" - was all spent, the rabbit would have finished its journey through the python and Social Security could go back to a "pay as you go" taxing system.
Thus, within the period of a few short years, Reagan dramatically dropped the income tax on America's most wealthy by more than half, and roughly doubled the Social Security tax on people earning $30,000 or less. It was, simultaneously, the largest income tax cut in America's history (almost entirely for the very wealthy), and the most massive tax increase in the history of the nation (which entirely hit working-class people).
But Reagan still had a problem. His tax cuts for the wealthy - even when moderated by subsequent tax increases - weren't generating enough money to invest properly in America's infrastructure, schools, police and fire departments, and military. The country was facing bankruptcy.
No problem, suggested Greenspan. Just borrow the Boomer's savings account - the money in the Social Security Trust Fund - and, because you're borrowing "government money" to fund "government expenditures," you don't have to list it as part of the deficit. Much of the deficit will magically seem to disappear, and nobody will know what you did for another 50 years when the Boomers begin to retire 2015.
Reagan jumped at the opportunity. As did George H. W. Bush. As did Bill Clinton (although Al Gore argued strongly that Social Security funds should not be raided, but, instead, put in a "lock box"). And so did George W. Bush.
The result is that all that money - trillions of dollars - that has been taxed out of working Boomers (the ceiling has risen from the tax being on your first $30,000 of income to the first $90,000 today) has been borrowed and spent. What are left behind are a special form of IOUs - an unique form of Treasury debt instruments similar (but not identical) to those the government issues to borrow money from China today to fund George W. Bush's most recent tax cuts for billionaires (George Junior is still also "borrowing" from the Social Security Trust Fund).
Former Bush Junior Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill recounts how Dick Cheney famously said, "Reagan proved deficits don't matter." Cheney was either ignorant or being disingenuous - it would be more accurate to say, "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter if you rip off the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for them, and don't report that borrowing from the Boomers as part of the deficit."

2007-06-19 08:17:19 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Government

2007-06-19 08:17:07 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

I know us REAL conservatives can, but the neo-cons seem to have a comprehension problem. 90% of the violence in Iraq has NOTHING to do Al-qeada or any other terrorist group. It is the civil war between the Sunni sect and the Shia Sect of Islam. Yes, the act of violence they perpetrate against each other is sickening. Kind of like when America had our civil war. Both sides targeted civilian homes, railroads, and Sherman even burned the largest city in the south to the ground. Bush created a civil war, and our troops are dying on the sidelines because America will not choose sides. So please, can you at least try to differentiate between the 2? For America's sake?

2007-06-19 08:15:55 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

...that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes? believe it or not, they actually do.

i admit most of them may not pay income taxes, but every time they go to the store and buy groceries or other items, they are forced to pay a tax like the rest of us as it is included in the total when they ring people up at the counter.

what do you think?

2007-06-19 08:14:44 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

Hamas was elected by the Palestinians. Immediately after the legit election, Palestine is slammed with sanctions by the international comunity in hopes to turn the Palestinians on Hamas, which didn't work. With the Hamas and Fatah fighting, Hamas finally decided to form a coalition between Fatah and Hamas to prevent a civil war in Palestine. While the coalition is in place, Israel is arming the Fatah for whatever reason, maybe a military coup. Recently, even though Israel had been arming the Fatah, Hamas easily kicked out the Fatah probably to prevent a potential Fatah coup. Abbas then safe in the West Bank, declared a state of emergency and doesn't recognize Fatah or Hamas, even though he isn't the prime minister.

Anyways, now the story is being played out as if Hamas is a terrorist group when in actuality Abbas has illegally crowned himself king, which the U.S. and Israel are backing by getting rid of sanctions for only the West Bank, and not Gaza which is controlled by Hamas.

2007-06-19 08:12:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Politics & Government

Bush has violated the Constitution that he swore to up hold and that I fought for and many of my friends died for. He has tapped with warrant phones of American citizens. He has detained without probable cause those who are legally with in our borders. He lied to the country about the threat Iraq was. We wanted to impeach Nixon for far less.

2007-06-19 08:11:59 · 40 answers · asked by Dani 5 in Politics

They try to debunk Global Warming with scientific information that comes from geological theories which suggest that the Earth is millions of years old.

2007-06-19 08:10:15 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Should the USA be policing up the world?

2007-06-19 08:06:31 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

I think politicians are one of the lowest forms of life on the planet. I'm in the army & feel like they could careless if I lived or died. Mean while they send us out to police up the world. Just wondering what your thoughts were if they had kids of their own kids had 2 serve.

2007-06-19 08:05:33 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

He is climbing the polls and is not in the race yet... will he race to the top of the pack soon after annoucing?

July 5th ... yea Baby !!!

Go Fred Go

2007-06-19 08:03:50 · 18 answers · asked by Antiliber 6 in Politics

2007-06-19 08:03:11 · 4 answers · asked by Lynne M 1 in Law & Ethics

Higher court has ruled that our e-mail is our own private property.does this mean the ''man'' cannot intercept our mail? can a court order force the emails to "not" be private? what about mail while at work?

2007-06-19 08:02:29 · 11 answers · asked by LAVADOG 5 in Law & Ethics

2007-06-19 08:00:54 · 7 answers · asked by ilovejc 2 in Law & Ethics

that mexicans can come in our country take away jobs , not pay taxes but still get refunds , abuse the system , and riot whats there to riot about ? we give them all the minority laws? and are minority laws fair ? dont you think that everyone should be treated equally and the same laws should apply to everyone

2007-06-19 07:59:29 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

I mean say there was some sort of freak plate tektonic shift and there was a giant tract of land that just appeared. When people moved there what type of government would they set up?

What would life be the ideal life for the people who lived there?

2007-06-19 07:58:47 · 7 answers · asked by Nickoo 5 in Politics

If we pay them, don't they work for us? I mean, is it really UNFAIR to make them pay back some of those subsidies? Is it UNFAIR to regulate them, when we pay them? Is it UNFAIR to force them to put money into alternative energy? If so, why are we still paying them?

2007-06-19 07:58:05 · 14 answers · asked by hichefheidi 6 in Politics

During my trip at MEPS, Our instructors had us do our branches battle cry on a few different occasions. Being USAF, he told me to 'go back to my Army roots' and say HOOAH.
I understand how and why that is, but i have been having this debate with my gf that the USAF is changing their battle cry to 'AAIRP' meaning air power, or something along those lines.
Any clue to the relevance of any of this?

2007-06-19 07:57:24 · 7 answers · asked by MFK 1 in Military

if i run and there is no gun and i was jus stopped for a traffic ticket and i take off running can the cop legally shot me?? If so why i didn't put him at harm or danger his life i went the opposite of him.??????

2007-06-19 07:56:42 · 24 answers · asked by A 2 in Law Enforcement & Police

Why can't the Republican Party end the Iraq War?
a - The Evil George Bush won't let them.
b - They lack the will.
c - They lack the political skills to get it done.
d - They never intended to end the war (i.e., they lied).
e - They don't have the faintest idea how to go about it.
f - Some of the above (pls. list).
g - All of the above.
h - None of the above (pls. list why you think they haven't done it).

Is this a great question, or what?!? ;-))





This question is in response to Fast Eddie B's question. I thought it was rather hypocritical to criticize the Dems for something THE REPUBLICANS WHO STARTED THE WAR have yet to come up with a solution.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070619110100AAYOs6Y&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTZXV.8__1zUttXH2zVIm1H44p7d10.0Jg--&paid=answered#Nb15GHv8VUshTXnWMvXO

2007-06-19 07:55:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

Yesterday as I was driving through the parking lot of a gas station, a truck turned and smashes into my driver's side door - putting a big dent in it. I called the cops. And the cop showed up, I told him what happened. He filed the report and I believe he said that no one was at fault because it happened on private property. Which is absolutely bs because the guy ran into me so it is clearly his fault. So today I called my insurance company and told them about it and they said since no one was cited at fault, they will pay for the damages and I have to pay the $500 deductable. I went to go get an estimate and its $800 to fix.

Should I really have to pay anything at all? Because it was clearly not my fault and all the other guy's fault. What should I do? Should I call back the cop and talk to him? I believe the guy who hit me should have to pay for all the damages, right? I shouldn't be paying for a thing. What should I say so it is fair for me?

2007-06-19 07:54:55 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Law & Ethics

I dont dislike them but sometimes I feel like Im living in the Dominican Republic not America.

2007-06-19 07:53:53 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

2007-06-19 07:53:19 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

why doesn't hat concept apply to gun control?

2007-06-19 07:52:38 · 13 answers · asked by fireburn 1 in Politics

like if a cops friends get in trouble the cop will pull strings to get his friends out is that fair?? ? i mean we are all equal right??? So why if a cop gets in trouble the other cop turns the cheek and will let it go.

2007-06-19 07:50:43 · 7 answers · asked by A 2 in Law Enforcement & Police

Why are wealthy people made out to be evil while lazy people are referred to as the poor innocent people (I am referring to people that live off govenment programs when they are capable of working.)

2007-06-19 07:50:08 · 31 answers · asked by Pro-American 3 in Politics

i mean they all have the same hair cut. They all act the same. And they all shower together are all cops gay. please cops answer and let me know if your gay.

2007-06-19 07:49:03 · 16 answers · asked by A 2 in Law Enforcement & Police

How many cops take stuff to far and laugh about it later with there buddys like it was funny. Ok here is an example i was in jail 2 months ago this old guy like 55 was in there the young cop told him to shut his Fing mouth when we were in the cell then the cop said he looked cracked out. So the guys says some stuff about the cops wife the cops says say it to my face so the old man walks over to him and says it again and the cop took the guys head and smashed it into the wall and dragged him down the hall so no one could see him beating him. Well why does the cop think he can talk to anyone like that but get mad when its served back better???? i mean why get mad cuz you disrepected someone and then they did it back to u??? Cops think there special and do stuff better. So i should be able to hit a cop and say hey i'm a mortgage broker don't mess wit me my people helped you get a house right??? People cops protect us so they can do what they want. Well i protect you to by giving u a home

2007-06-19 07:48:00 · 8 answers · asked by A 2 in Law Enforcement & Police

2007-06-19 07:47:31 · 11 answers · asked by Gisele 1 in Government

i am told by me people that your border states belong to my country of mexcianathe things in my country belong to me and me peoples because it is in me rights. the home you lives in belong to me peoples i can walk in the homes and take what is mine for many many years. you anestors not from all americana but me peoples always here. what is yours is not your but me peoples.

2007-06-19 07:46:18 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration