Politics - 17 August 2007

Below is what I am guessing to be a typical agenda for a monthly meeting at the BNP headquarters. Can you think of anymore to add?
1. Apologies (I bet that is quite a long list)
2. Minutes from previous meetings
3. What intelligent questions shall we post on the YA website?
4. AOB

2007-08-17 08:51:47 · 11 answers · asked by Spawnee 5

2007-08-17 08:51:43 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

Wouldn't most people try to rescue a friend in danger? Why does he keep getting elected?
Anyone in MA got an answer?

2007-08-17 08:44:03 · 16 answers · asked by No Black Box 5

The more complex your job is and more highly educated / paid you are, the more specialization there is.

Thus if the local bank hires a new credit analyst, and the local insurance company hires a new fixed income securities analyst, and the local hedge fund hires a new portfolio analyst, and the local retail firm and the local health insurance company each hired a business analyst, these analysts all might be classified differently.

But if two of the five firms hired a new janitor, they're both janitors.

In this example is it accurate to say that the fastest growing job category was janitor?

There is far less specialization at the lowest levels and far more at the upper levels and this is addressed only to a limited extent when the Census Bureau ranks job growth - thus the "fastest growing jobs" will almost always be at the bottom even if most of the job growth is at higher income levels.

2007-08-17 08:36:34 · 6 answers · asked by truthisback 3

like...."repairing roads and bridges are a states thing", or "states should decide civil rights cases", etcc...

Is this all code for something??

2007-08-17 08:34:06 · 15 answers · asked by ningis n 1

2007-08-17 08:30:22 · 23 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5

Do people realize what a PRICE FLOOR is?

It doesn't give people a raise. It just sets a price floor. You can't repeal J-B Say. If the legislature had that magic they could just repeal Sir Isaac Newton and we could all fly!

Minimum wage is an entry-level wage. 70% of people making it will get at least a 30% raise within a year, and most of the rest won't be working at the same place. So if you raise it by 15% effective 6-8 months from now it will affect almost no one. Also only 1/2 percent of the workforce makes the minimum, and that is less than half of what it was just 20 years ago. It's just not at a material level - McD's pays $2-3 more than the minimum to start! These are the reasons why the nominal increases we've seen haven't affected unemployment - they haven't been material.

They have higher minimums in France and Germany - and consistently about 2X to 2.5X our rate of unemployment.

Price floors do cause surpluses.

2007-08-17 08:23:58 · 37 answers · asked by truthisback 3

Recall Gray Davis
http://www.recallgraydavis.com/

2007-08-17 08:23:03 · 18 answers · asked by Chi Guy 5

2007-08-17 08:10:00 · 4 answers · asked by DJ Cowboy 2

Anyone else think the reason his message isn't getting traction is because it's not true?

I mean, I know it's not true, the data shows that, and there are mountains of it - but is the inaccuracy of his message the reason his campaign is fagging out?

2007-08-17 08:04:33 · 20 answers · asked by truthisback 3

Anyone else have that experience too or is it just me?

2007-08-17 08:03:44 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

George Bush worst president ever? or only a bad one?

2007-08-17 07:58:51 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-17 07:56:48 · 8 answers · asked by DJ Cowboy 2

The gaps among various percentiles in US society, in terms of either income or wealth, are growing and have grown over the last quarter century, fairly steadily, as Presidents both Republican and Democrat have followed a path of deregulation and, for the most part, tax rate reduction (remember, Clinton opened huge corporate tax loopholes and dramatically reduced tariffs).

But at the same time, all such groups' incomes and wealth levels have increased.

Just not by equal amounts.

2007-08-17 07:53:57 · 3 answers · asked by truthisback 3

does it matter that a handful of people are also becoming "super rich?"

As long as the pie is growing such that we all have more pie, does it matter that the percent of the pie to which title is held by the top 1%, 5%, whatever, is also growing?

And what's the alternative?

Throughout history we've never, sustainably (i.e., for any long time and not the temporary result of monetary or fiscal profligacy), had anything but the two alternatives - - - equally shared misery or unequally shared plenty.

Would you rather be better off than you are and have a decent chance of one day becoming affluent? Or would you rather lower your sights for yourself and your kids if that meant that the top 1% or 5% wouldn't make so much more than you?

Would you reject a $10K raise if that meant the CEO couldn't get a $100K raise?

Me, I'll take the $10K.

2007-08-17 07:51:50 · 7 answers · asked by truthisback 3

It's still the idea that wood and stone embodies a deity.

2007-08-17 07:51:46 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

Don't we have a right to voice our opinions to? When they say they are 'tolerant', are they outright lying or do they think Conservative Republicans don't deserve tolerance?

2007-08-17 07:45:35 · 17 answers · asked by Frank Dileo 3

that most of it, if we hadn't gone into Iraq, we'd be dealing with in Afghanistan?

That doesn't in and of itself justify Iraq but I frequently see some bad accounting with this - I see people who are opposed to the Iraq War suggesting that every penny spent in Iraq would otherwise not be spent, and be available for social programs or deficit / debt reduction.

The sectarian violence is local, but most of the heavy fighting is with foreigners.But most of the heavy fighting is with "Al Qaeda in Iraq" and other foreign groups. Even to the extent the insurgents are local they are armed and funded from foreign sources - jihadists.

Iraq is closer to Syria and Iran than is Afghanistan and the borders are equally porous and it is easier to cross an imaginary line in the sand than a mountain pass with small artillery. But if you're willing to die for Allah, you're willing to walk a few hundred more miles. If we'd never gone into Iraq, Afghanistan would simply be a bigger fight.

2007-08-17 07:43:44 · 13 answers · asked by truthisback 3

being

2007-08-17 07:42:22 · 6 answers · asked by ry s 1

.... time bashing Reagan for 8 years and bashing W for 8 years?

Reagan won 90% of the electoral votes against Dems and Dems STILL bashed him 24/7. Odd, huh?

2007-08-17 07:39:37 · 11 answers · asked by Duminos 2

Keep in mind . . . Hatred Blocks Rational Thought .

I'll read your suggestions , but I'd like to point-out something that I can already see coming next week . (BTW , Hatred Blocks Rational Thought)

My guess is that if that hurricane hits with devastation , then the 'Haters' will blame Pesident Bush either way .
1. If the emergency response is good(equally important is : If the people get prepared and evacuate if told to do so) , but if the response is good then Haters will blame the President for New Orleans all over again .

2. If the response is not so good(even if it's because the devastation was so bad) then the Haters will blame him for that too !!

No way to win with a Hater . . . .oh , and btw , did I mention that Hatred Blocks Rational Thought ? Ahh , yes I did !!

2007-08-17 07:38:37 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous

that had to be true for one of their positions to be right?

Based on some of the economics discussions on this board I think they would.

2007-08-17 07:35:05 · 11 answers · asked by truthisback 3

Should we have invaded? should we still be in there?

2007-08-17 07:34:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

7 years have passed and they are still whining about it. Amazing!!

2007-08-17 07:33:50 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

I am driving to the store and come to a stop light. In front of me I see a Kerry/Edwards Bumper sticker on the car in front of me... the fact that they are living in the past did not bother me... it was what was next to that sticker that did. You know those ribbon stickers/magnets that say things like "support the troops" and so on?... well this one said "FORGIVE our troops".

How is it these liberals think they support the troops when they promote appoligetec garbage like that? Forgive the troops for what? Doing their jobs? Risking their lives for OUR country? Bringing freedom to people who previously never had it? What are you libs begging for forgiveness for?

My hunch is you think our troops are the lowest form of American and they kill women and children for fun. This is what you spout off all the time right? "Since our troops invaded Iraq 600,000 (made up number) civilians have been killed." As if our brave men and women are responsible.

It makes me sick.. you?

2007-08-17 07:33:46 · 27 answers · asked by Mr. Perfect 5

2007-08-17 07:32:30 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-17 07:23:26 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous

Do "cheaters" like Bill Clinton and Rudy tend to get sympathy votes from women and men who cheat?

2007-08-17 07:22:17 · 11 answers · asked by Duminos 2

Is it because "liberal" has such a negative connotation in America now? Why do they constantly have to try and fool people about who they are and what they believe? What do you think they'll call themselves when "progressive" becomes negative?

2007-08-17 07:19:57 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-17 07:19:16 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous