I Know The Answer,

[longfisher]

LF - You are right as far as the role of the government to regulate to societal norms, to provide common services and to collect taxes to pay for those common services.

BUT it should be the burden of EVERY member of that society to pay their fair share - in some form or another - For many that means paying taxes. But we have become a society of entitlements - for too many in this country, their job has become voting for whoever will give them the longest unemployment benefits, the most food stamps, etc - That's the major issue I have with the current government.

As for corporations, they try to pay as little in taxes as possible - understood. Frankly I have no issue offering tax breaks to corporations that provide American jobs - IMHO, that should be the ONLY tax breaks offered to corporations - Their management can balance taxes against Wall Street expectations.

For the individual who is jobless, I say put them to work - there are plenty of Courthouses, National Parks, public streets that need a good sweeping - If they don't like their assigned task they have 2 choices - Get a real job, or forfeit government assistance.

Highway taxes are usage based - I choose to drive a large SUV, and therefore pay more taxes (gas tax) - I can live with that.

Social Security & Medicare- I have paid FICA up to the max most of my working life - I would have preferred to be able to control my retirement dollars on my own - as the government has invested my money poorly.

If the government were a corporation, they would up on charges for raiding the pension fund - because that's what Social Security is...

I find myself in utter agreement with you on most of your points, Ctp Clit (except for you notion that those out of work could find work in the public sector sweeping campgroupds. Surely, you've heard of all the job losses in the public sector? There' aint' none for those out of work and that's the whole problem here capt.)

But this post began with someone saying that their income had been slashed in the last few years and blaming it on the poor. Nothing could be further from the truth than that statement.

And, I see echos of that in your statements.

Let me simply ask then, do you actually believe the poor broke the market, caused a worldwide financial meltdown, somehow were responsible for the disappearance of an estimated 15 trillion dollars of wealth worldwide, created the need for TARP and then when the banks were bailed out were responsible for no jobs despite the corporations being absolutely flush with cash? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT?

LF

[clt_capt]

I find myself in utter agreement with you on most of your points, Ctp Clit (except for you notion that those out of work could find work in the public sector sweeping campgroupds. Surely, you've heard of all the job losses in the public sector? There' aint' none for those out of work and that's the whole problem here capt.)

But this post began with someone saying that their income had been slashed in the last few years and blaming it on the poor. Nothing could be further from the truth than that statement.

And, I see echos of that in your statements.

Let me simply ask then, do you actually believe the poor broke the market, caused a worldwide financial meltdown, somehow were responsible for the disappearance of an estimated 15 trillion dollars of wealth worldwide, created the need for TARP and then when the banks were bailed out were responsible for no jobs despite the corporations being absolutely flush with cash? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT?

LF

LF -
The loss of public sector jobs DOES NOT mean that there is a lack of work needed, just a lack of tax revenue (or mismanagement of it) to PAY for those jobs. The work exists - Public Parks closing because they can't pay for maintenance staff is just one example. I feel that if you take public assistance, you should give back.

The poor didn't break the market - Corporate Greed did. Corporate greed lead to the rapacious lending practices - that a) artificially inflated the value of homes and b) made unfounded credit available.

I do blame corporate greed and I think TARP is an absolute joke (not very funny) - Frankly I would have let the big boys fail and used the TARP dollars to bail out people and not corporations.

The 15 Trillion never existed - it was made of inflated real estate values and securitization of bad debt. Some of that money is living overseas with a few crooked folks who saw the issue, took their ill gotten gains and bolted to where they couldn't be touched...

The corporate greed is still there - many large corporations are continuing to lay off people at the same time they are announcing record profits - their justification is "Wall Street"

[longfisher]

The rich screwed us.

Now the only question is what are we going to do about it before we all have to be on public assistance like the ones you so loathe?

I'm for fighting for the middle class and fighting against the Republican Party that so emboldens the rich to rape us and protect the rich when they do. They absolutely don't represent any middle class value I know of...they're tools of the rich.

How about you?

LF

[clt_capt]

I'm fighting incumbency - "our" representatives care about nothing more than getting re-elected - they are willing to make any deal with the devil to stay in office.

I have ABSOLUTELY no issue with people getting rich and staying rich - If done ethically and fairly. This country is founded on that principle.

I do have major issues with providing tax breaks to corporations that do not return value to the taxpayers of this country - in the form of American Jobs or in the form of Exports - I would GLADLY support GE paying ZERO taxes - if every dollar they save goes into American salaries - otherwise Screw them.

[longfisher]

I'm fighting incumbency - "our" representatives care about nothing more than getting re-elected - they are willing to make any deal with the devil to stay in office.

I have ABSOLUTELY no issue with people getting rich and staying rich - If done ethically and fairly. This country is founded on that principle.

I do have major issues with providing tax breaks to corporations that do not return value to the taxpayers of this country - in the form of American Jobs or in the form of Exports - I would GLADLY support GE paying ZERO taxes - if every dollar they save goes into American salaries - otherwise Screw them.

Again, I find myself in utter agreement with every point you make above, Capt. Thanks for being a loyal American.

The only thing I would add is that I hope you statement about corporations extends to the banks and to the speculators on Wall Street, which may be redundant.

LF

[marine4003]

105 here today..enough!!! time to scare up some flounder. too hot to argue..