I wasn't trying to say that we should all be the exact same or everything go exactly like I want.
I guess I meant, if I don't mind my taxes going to the larger society because I think that helps all of us build a better society and another person doesn't because they think it's a mistake, that's a big difference that will never be reconciled really, and because our gov't as of now refuses to compromise, you'll never get to see what it could be. Could one or the other really improve the well-being of individuals and the growth of the country overall.
I didn't mean I want everyone needs to be the same in every way. Just to have the same vision and goals. Marriages and parenthood will never go exactly the way any individual wants but if two people are going in two completely separate directions, then do they really work?
I guess I meant, if I don't mind my taxes going to the larger society because I think that helps all of us build a better society and another person doesn't because they think it's a mistake, that's a big difference that will never be reconciled really, and because our gov't as of now refuses to compromise, you'll never get to see what it could be. Could one or the other really improve the well-being of individuals and the growth of the country overall.
I didn't mean I want everyone needs to be the same in every way. Just to have the same vision and goals. Marriages and parenthood will never go exactly the way any individual wants but if two people are going in two completely separate directions, then do they really work?
This is why I'm so pessimistic.
Honestly, I most people hover around the middle. But as politicians never stop campaigning they have to emphasize the differences between their opponents while making emotional pleas to motivate people to get out the vote. Throw in the amount of money that is required to win a campaign, and you have candidates that must shift their priorities or even values to secure the donations.
It's hard to cut through the crap and figure out figure out what the "truth" is. And when you do find out it's so disheartening that one feels goes back to their apathetic happy place. At least that's my experience.
As for healthcare being a right, the argument for that is that rights don't cost money. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness...those don't cost anything.
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I assume you mean doesn't cost the government anything? Because try pursuing happiness without a dollar. Or staying alive through even a small medical emergency. Or he'll, buying a gun.
But voting is a right to Americans, yes? Well, it costs something to set up polling places, ballot boxes, etc. I know a lot of it is volunteers, but the ledger people sign is bought.
Also, liberty... You mean the thing that soldiers secured for us? Ummmm, that costs money. I don't know anyone, however libertarian they are, that don't think governments job is at the very least to provide a military, basic infrastructure (roads, ports, etc) and some sort of police.
So whee is the weird idea coming from that government's job is only to secure "rights"? And something can only qualify as a right if it's free. That is a shitty argument someone makes who is basically saying "I am well off and don't want to pay for poor people."
Nope. IIOY said it better than I can. I will only add that the way our primaries work fuel the problem. No one sane (Huntsman) can ever get traction in the primaries. And boring moderates are ignored by the press, because lets talk about crazy cakes Bachmann over there.
Ditto this.
And to rugbywife re: voting for Republicans even if you don’t agree with their social values…
This can be for many reasons.
For some it comes down to whether fiscal conservatism means more to you than the social issues (which may or may not gain traction by voting the other way because there are blue dog democrats who vote with republicans on social issues).
And it can also be about being against what the democrats are for in other areas. For example, I think there is very little need for unions in private sector jobs. I believe unions like SEIU, CNA-NNOC, and others are businesses that operate much like for-profit corporations and they are trying to expand their portfolios and bank accounts of their executives rather than truly represent the little people’s interests, and they are attacking industries they never cared to be a part of until recently even though some of those industries have growing job markets, premium benefits packages, and generally good practices when it comes to taking care of employees.
By voting democrat I am voting for continued expansion of union power – which I think is the WRONG thing to do for specific industries – especially healthcare.
I think Obama is generally a nice man. But I don’t think he is a great leader. He hasn’t proven himself to be able to build any kind of consensus or to influence senators and congressmen to do it where they need to.
And specifically,
1) I don’t think he knows what to do to strengthen our economy. 2) When appointing people to positions that should be confirmed through congress he has failed time and again requiring him to use recess appointments (see current NLRB and those who recently left it).
When you put those two together he is working his initiative to expand union power in the private sector during a recession when businesses are already trying to create more jobs, which is not the right time – even Arlen Spector admitted as much. Unionizing workers adds around 20% to the bottom line (I’ll have to come back later to link sources if you want) for a company – much of that because of the cost of lawyers and stewards, not in the form of increased wages and benefits. When unemployment is as high as it is right now, it is not the right time to add that overhead to any company.
Someone like me has very little by way of party – libertarian is the closest. But they don’t have much traction. So voting libertarian is basically voting democrat as it will take votes away from Republicans.
If come election day I prefer Obama/Biden over Romney/Ryan I will vote libertarian because I’ll want to increase the support for 3rd party and in Texas OB will never take the election. If not, I will vote RR.
It won't ever be perfect but we are a work in progress. MY IL's moved here from the UK and loved it here (they have both passed) and built a wonderful life for themselves and their family. And I can name a ton of people who have moved here from other countries and would never consider moving back to their country because they genuinely enjoy living here. Obviously we have a ton of work to do but it seems like sometimes it's a "the grass is always greener" issue.
As for healthcare being a right, the argument for that is that rights don't cost money. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness...those don't cost anything.
.
I assume you mean doesn't cost the government anything? Because try pursuing happiness without a dollar. Or staying alive through even a small medical emergency. Or he'll, buying a gun.
But voting is a right to Americans, yes? Well, it costs something to set up polling places, ballot boxes, etc. I know a lot of it is volunteers, but the ledger people sign is bought.
Also, liberty... You mean the thing that soldiers secured for us? Ummmm, that costs money. I don't know anyone, however libertarian they are, that don't think governments job is at the very least to provide a military, basic infrastructure (roads, ports, etc) and some sort of police.
So whee is the weird idea coming from that government's job is only to secure "rights"? And something can only qualify as a right if it's free. That is a shitty argument someone makes who is basically saying "I am well off and don't want to pay for poor people."
I said that is an argument I've heard, I did not say it's one I believe. If you're talking about someone who is well off... well.... then you're definitely not talking about me. I've never been well off, probably never will be, and my husband was downsized and he's on unemployment and has applied for over 50 jobs in 2 weeks. Soooo.....
Thanks. DH got nothing except a 1 day notice that he'd probably be laid off. No severence package. Just surprise!
But, if someone here is well off and wants to donate to me, I'm open to it. ;D And, there are people and family members that we've helped in the past, but now that's out the window too. DH's downsizing affects more than just us.