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- Apr 10, 2014
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Just for laughs, lets put the $15/hr proposed minimum wage into perspective.
Why you you think government should determine how much people are paid?I do feel like national minimum wage does need to increase.
Another reason Universal Health Care doesn't work here in the US as much as it might elsewhere in the world, is the sheer levels of profiteering that are permitted to happen in the industry.
U.S. health spending twice other countries' with worse results
Two of the biggest crime syndicates in the US are the Health Care industry and the Student Loan sharks.
Did you know Snickers bars actually used to be bigger than they are now? Most people didn't realize it was actually shrunk.
@DV52, yes it is a terrible decision to make. But if it is as life or death, then it should be something that any parent would not think twice about.
Aside from that, these people are in the country *ILLEGALLY* to begin with.
There are numerous ways for people to legally immigrate to this country (and any other country).
I have many friends who are immigrants, who came in through the legal process.
Why should anyone who cannot follow the basic tenants of law, be welcomed into the country they are breaking the laws of ?
If I or another decided to move to Australia and became a bum, living off your taxes and paying none of my own, would you find that acceptable?
What if I or another came to australia to take your job for a cheaper wage because your employer could pay me cash with no taxes or insurance or other accountability ?
What if I or another came to australia to become a local crime overlord that enslaves your children with drugs and other illegal and immoral activities?
I can't imagine anyone finding that acceptable, well except perhaps for those actually doing those very things and more.
I wish parties didn't exist in politics - in any party political system all that happens is that all "representatives of the people" think they are right and that anyone from another party is wrong. Working together in the best interests of the country is of no interest to them, just personal gain and power - even if it screws the country.I also wish we would have more parties than 2.
I don't find the two to be mutually exclusive. If pockets weren't being lined, and if things were done more efficiently. I, and I'm sure many others would be open to providing healthcare for everyone. However, so long as a majority of that money is being wasted, I will not support universal healthcare.
I don't know how much wasteful spending goes on in Australia or even other parts of the world such that do have such systems like Europe, but the US just bleeds fountains of money into the most obscure and inane places.
If the Government really wanted to fix the problems this country is experiencing right now, there are a few things it needs to do IMO.
1. Close tax loopholes. In the US, it only takes ~$400,000 a year to be in the top 1%. However a vast majority of those in the top 1% don't have enough money and resources to actually take advantage of these loopholes, and often times end up paying an effective tax rate at 50% of higher. This is often times the small business owners who do account for a large portion of jobs here. Meanwhile those in the Top 0.01% (i.e. CEO's of huge companies) will pay effective tax rates lower than 20% because they have the best of the best tax people and can more readily shift their funds and assets in way that aren't really feasible for the rest in the top 1%. This isn't to say that I think the rest of the people in the top 1% shouldn't be paying higher taxes than the middle class, but the whole notion of attacking these "greedy rich people". Is very misguided and not at all reaching the intended targets that those in the middle class have in mind.
2. Cutting the useless spending. Instead of writing some long winded blurb on this feel free to read this list here. And this was a decade ago, I'm sure things have only gotten worse since then.
3. As previously alluded to, I think it's gotten to the point where banks and healthcare services need to have stricter regulations imposed upon them. They've shown that they clearly can not handle themselves responsibly. The finer details of HOW to go about this, I quite frankly haven't the slightest clue, but something has to give there.
4. Get the f*** out of the rest of the world. Drastically reduce foreign aid and fighting proxy wars. One great notable example is how much money is hemorrhaged into Israel alone. Cut down the size of the military (QUALITY > quantity). Sorry but when you are allies with a vast majority of the other world powers (besides Russia and China) You don't need to spend the most on military over 2 fold. If that means turning away young teens looking to enlist, then so be it. If you want more details on the ridiculousness of the size of the US Military, watch this video.
What I feel won't have an impact either way, is lowering or raising taxes. Lowering taxes encourages businesses but results in a lower portion of the pie. Raising taxes, discourages businesses but increasing the portion of the pie. From the government's perspective, the tax rate ultimately becomes relatively unimpactful.
I wish parties didn't exist in politics - in any party political system all that happens is that all "representatives of the people" think they are right and that anyone from another party is wrong. Working together in the best interests of the country is of no interest to them, just personal gain and power - even if it screws the country.
I wish parties didn't exist in politics - in any party political system all that happens is that all "representatives of the people" think they are right and that anyone from another party is wrong. Working together in the best interests of the country is of no interest to them, just personal gain and power - even if it screws the country.
I would agree IF the parties had "somewhat common goals" but it seems to me that this is a rare situation.You have to have parties with somewhat common goals.
I would agree IF the parties had "somewhat common goals" but it seems to me that this is a rare situation.
How often have the parties in the US agreed on things in the common interest (apart from during war time) - from my viewpoint on the "other side of the pond" I would say rarely.
And in the UK for the last 3 years the 2 party system has just lead to stalemate with Parliament unwilling to agree on any solution to the Brexit issue.
I would rather have elected representatives actually representing those who voted for them than being simply party "lobby fodder". Business works on the basis of negotiation and agreement (often on the "least worst" option), so why can't Government?
I don't think you'd be very happy with me as Benevolent dictator in the political sense.Give me a two party system any day with a clear mandate at election time - or if I can't get that, give me a benevolent dictator with a VCDS cable (do you happen to know any?)
I don't think you'd be very happy with me as Benevolent dictator in the political sense.
-Uwe-
I would......
I know you, as do I, we know how to work hard without hardly working by working smarter & because we make work fun and a priority for a superior result or adaptation & that we can improvise and sacrifice to help others without being told too & even in a shit situation know how to make the garden grow fruit & with said shit, right?
No, just like Trump, I would fail that test.Test 1: Can he order an armed strike on an axis-of-evil country that has an estimated casualty count of 150 in retaliation for downing an unmanned drone?
I would use an alternative platform that doesn't ban or censor people they disagree with.Test 2: Are his twitter skills up-to POTUS standard?
Hmm, something like that might indeed be needed. For example, many presidents have pronounced "nuclear" as "nukular" ("nuke-you-lar"). I'm confident with a bit or practice, I could pull it off.Test 3 :Is his use of emphasis when pronouncing everyday words idiosyncratic (and therefore hilarious) and can he say "China" correctly - or does he pronounce it "Ch-eye-na". If the latter, then he truly is POTUS material !!