Before We Argue.....

...that Obama is a socialist, please observe the reality we live in.

• Social security is a "socialist program" and a redistribution of wealth - with every paycheck I've made since the age of 16 or 17, there has been that portion that comes out of my check under the label "social security." I pay it. It's part of life. I've been conditioned to it. However, I pay into a system I will never be able to participate in. Alas, it's a redistribution of wealth, for the greater good. I don't hear too many people calling FDR a socialist
• Economic Stimulus Package, another "socialist program." Redistributing the wealth, but alas, that was for the greater good as well. (Side note: I didn't get a check...thanks government)
• The Federal Government's recent bailout, another "socialist action." If you believe in free-market capitalism, let the market crash. Let everyone lose everything. The market will recover on its own. Alas, we don't necessarily believe in that when it comes down to as individuals losing everything. We're not lazy. It's those lazy, freeloaders who don't deserve help. Me, I'm living the American dream.....so federal government, please protect me.
• We are still the only industrialized country that doesn't have a socialized health care program. And before you make the lame-duck argument citing Canadians having a poor health care system and that they'd rather have our system, my uncle, a Canadian, has specifically told me that he wouldn't trade his free health care for anything. Alas, people throughout the U.S. are forced to foreclose on their homes because they've taken out a second mortgage on their homes to fund their health care costs. But you know, that's part of the American dream right? Losing your home to pay for overly inflated medical costs. Awesome. I'm looking forward to that.

The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing healthcare system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan. (link)


Regardless, neither candidate is all they are cracked up to be. I find myself being less and less excited about either one, and more and more disgusted with the current state of Democrat vs. Republican politics. Particularly the supporters of either side who wish to impose their will and their thoughts upon me. We are a society founded on discourse, and to some extent it's a great thing to talk about politics. But please: Everyone stop using fear tactics. During Bush's tenure I consistently heard about him "rewriting the Constitution." Then, most recently, my dad said he's worried about Obama rewriting the Constitution. So let's talk about fear tactics

I've seen the emails and other publications roaming around about Obama being a Muslim or dressed in Muslim attire. So if someone wears a Japanese robe while visiting Japan, do we now claim they are Japanese? While the notion seems utterly ridiculous, it's analogous to the photos circulating and the notions that ignorant Americans continue to circulate. If you don't like a candidate, talk about the political reasons you don't like the candidate. But don't use fear tactics and falsehoods to attack them. Most recently, a poll revealed that TWENTY-THREE PERCENT of Texans think Obama is Muslim. Gee, that's a real head-scratcher....

Second, Obama isn't going to re-write the Constitution. Only Congress has that power. And it takes 2/3 of them. Now, others are going to cite that having a Democratic controlled Congress AND Presidency is a dangerous thing. First of all, we have a system of checks and balances. And because politics are truly local, unanimity isn't something that will consistently occur. Why? Because every House member and Senator has to count on their constituency for reelection. So although Obama may layout his policies, it still takes a Congress to pass the legislation. Thus, if their constituents don't support the policy, a House member or Senator will not vote for that issue because it could jeopardize their political aspirations. And lets not forget how many times the Republican controlled Congress bucked Bush's policies when it was a Republican Congress and a Republican presidency. The Constitution reflects the brilliance of the Founding Fathers. Checks and Balances and the electoral process are here to protect us. If you think the Constitution is eroding, I encourage you to go and study it yourself rather than repeating the notions you hear from political pundits. It will make a lot more sense and will make you feel a new-found respect for the Constitution and what it is to be an American.

I'll leave you with this:

Overall, the Obama plan would lower effective marginal tax rates for the majority of households. In 2009, only about 1 in 7 households would see an increase in their marginal rate. Only at the top of the income distribution—households making at least $500,000 a year—would a majority of taxpayers face higher rates. Obama’s plan would leave the average marginal rate on wages and salaries for the economy as a whole unchanged at 24 percent in 2009. In that same year, close to 80 percent of the population would see no change in their marginal rates under Senator McCain’s plan and most other tax units would face lower rates; only about 1 percent of households would experience a marginal rate increase under the fully phased in McCain plan. Overall, Senator McCain’s plan would reduce the average marginal tax rate on wages and salaries by about 1 percentage point, to 23 percent in 2009.
Senator Obama’s proposal would result in an average marginal tax rate of 25 percent on wages and salaries in 2012, lower than under current law but higher than if the tax cuts are extended. Because Obama would leave the top two statutory rates at 36 and 39.6 percent and reinstate PEP and Pease, taxpayers with more than $1 million in income would face an average marginal rate of 40 percent, 6 percentage points higher than under the McCain plan. Overall, because it would extend all of the individual income tax components of the 2001–06 cuts and increase the dependent exemption, the McCain plan would lower the average EMTR for all households slightly relative to a tax cuts extended baseline and significantly compared with current law.

Tax Center

AND, as a bonus, in light of the seriousness of this entry, please see this for a laugh. It's my new shirt.

Ashley Todd Sucks

Earlier this week, Ashley Todd was attacked by a 6'4" black man who robbed Todd for her money after she was leaving the ATM, and then he saw McCain support bumper sticker and decided to attack her, sexually assault her, and carve a 'B' into her face. The nerve of that guy! We should find him and bring him to justice. The only problem is....he doesn't exist!


That's right, little Ms. Todd made the whole thing up. The police aren't sure if she carved the 'B' into her own face or had someone else do it, but she has admitted to making the WHOLE THING UP. I have a few questions for this woman.

1) How was it carving a letter into your face? In retrospect, don't you think that was kind of silly? I mean, what were you going to gain? You couldn't have the fake attacker arrested and then sue him for your injuries....but then again, who knows what's going on in your head.
2) Why a "B" and not an "O" in your made-up story. I think an "O" would have made more sense. But then again, making up this story didn't make a whole lot of sense, so I doubt we'll see eye-to-eye anytime soon on your "strategy."
3) Why did the fake attacker have to be black?
4) Why did he not only rob you, but sexually assault you? This kind of goes along with the "why was he black" question. I'm not going to jump to conclusions, but I'm pretty sure you're a racist You're racist.

In summation, this woman sucks. What does doing this accomplish for you? Or even this: what did you hope to accomplish for the candidate whom you support? To imply that Obama supporters are ravenous criminals? Does that really reflect on the candidate? Regardless, get help lady.

It's About Time

McCain steps up and cleans up his campaign somewhat. The misleading commercials, the misleading rhetoric has got to stop. OBAMA isn't an Arab. Whether or not you believe in his political agenda is one thing. But he's an American. He's not a terrorist...this backwoods, ignorant mentality needs to stop. American politics are so polluted at times by uneducated voters. And that's not elitism. That's more of a shot at how our educational systems are failing us.

Good Job Gary....[UPDATE]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/palin_troopergate

An Alaska Inquiry found that Palin abused her power in dismissing the Public Safety Commissioner of Alaska who allegedly refused to fire Palin's brother in-law, a state trooper. Palin's brother in-law was involved in a custody suit with Palin's sister and allegations have arisen that Palin wanted him fired, but that the Public Safety Commissioner refused to do so. Thus, the Public Safety Commissioner was removed. Palin alleges that it was a legitimate removal, as part of a budgetary issue.

The bipartisan inquiry panel thought otherwise. Now the State's Personnel Board has to decide whether or not she violated state law.

Naturally Palin/McCain supporters want the inquiry delayed until after the election.

I however, wish that John McCain would just find a new VP and admit that she sucks.

UPDATE: Alaska is an at-will employment State, as Jayson points out. However, all states, except for 8 (Alaska is not one of the eight), require that firings must not violate public or state policy. Therefore an employee must be fired for actual cause and the firing must not violate state policy/law. Further, Alaska also employs a good-faith requirement in firing (this is contract law and applies to employment agreements), which essentially means that an employee must be fired for actual cause. Therefore, if an employee feels they were wrongfully terminated, an inquiry is appropriate to determine whether or not there was a good-faith belief in the firing of the employee by the employer.

In conclusion, if there was a reasonable question of whether or not the firing occurred in good-faith, an inquiry is proper.

Uhmmmm, What?!

I awoke this morning to a g-chat message from Zach, talking about McCain's VP choice. I was confused. Low and behold, McCain had in fact picked his running mate.....

The Pros for McCain - it's hard for Obama to attack Palin too much without hurting his chances with female voters on the fence. Appeals to Hillary supporters who are on the fence (and are bitter Hillary didn't get the nomination....)

The Cons for McCain - this women is hardly qualified to be VP, she is already being investigated for ethics, and she pretty much embodies everything McCain claims Obama is: a politician with minimal experience.....

I'd write more, but I don't feel like reading up to get all of the facts, and then re-typing them on here. It's an interesting election. I'm sure (MC) Karl Rove has something up his dirty sleeve. Let's hope it doesn't work. This is just bad news bears all day.

Retrospective

A personal retrospective is on the way. But for now, a yahoo! retrospective will have to suffice.

Obama '08. I never thought I'd be writing these words, but he essentially sealed the deal. Now Clinton has few options left. But, she seems unwilling to concede. I guess time will tell. In talking amongst friends, there has been a myriad of feelings. Some think it's just a matter of time, I think she's trying to leverage something. I also tend to agree with my friend James, who thinks that she (and Bill) will attempt to undermine Obama, but she sees it as her only viable way to get into the White House in '12 or '16 (that would be CRAZY if he wins this year, and is re-elected, but lets not get too far ahead). It does far more for her than it likely does for him.

Regardless, this will be an interesting election season. I think McCain will come out swinging for the fences. Has anyone noticed his voice makes him sound like the guy selling Smuckers' Jam back in the day? But McCain has experience, and a ton of it, so that's a pretty sound platform. Thankfully their respective platforms are night and day. In 2008, America will decide where it will go for the long-term. Lets hope we make the right decision.