Politcal Ramblings

[Aslan]

Looking at your list of items having a detrimental effect on the economy of the US, I see one huge glaring item missing that some consider to be the number one item.
That is money spent on health care, this single item estimated at close to 18% of GDP is causing huge damage to our economy.

In my original ramblings I address this. You are correct. We are the only industrialized country that treats health care as a luxury rather than a right. And not only does it hurt the poor, and ultimately the taxpayer...but it kills businesses that have to be forced into providing healthcare to their employees. Since when did my choice of doctor become my company's decision/responsibility?

I read earlier about a skilled tradesman in 6 mo. to a year. Not going to happen it takes 4 to 8 years. You also have to know someone or forget it.

Make unions stronger not weaker give the workers a choice.

The problems with unions are too numerous to list...but I'll take a stab at it...
1) They were designed to look out for the worker back when companies were very corrupt and unregulated. So much so, that President Roosevelt (one of my favorites as well) used the national guard to actually protect union protestors during a strike. Unfortunately, unions now serve to protect those that should have been kicked out of their roles long ago. I've worked in union shops as a supervisor and in other capacities...I once had a grievance filed against me because on a Friday night, I helped the two young guys sweep the floor...because they got stuck with mandatory overtime for like the 5th straight Friday (seniority...lowest on the totum pole) and I felt bad for them...next day, grievance. I was "taking a union job" despite the fact that none of the union guys wanted to work that Friday, they all declined it. And God forbid I "miss" asking one guy...he can then claim that he deserves pay for that overtime because he never got asked and you needed to ask based on seniority. It took me 2 hours to walk around the facility and ask every person in order of seniority.

And it's that kind of ridiculous, outdated nonsense that give unions a bad name. And you mentioned the tradesmen...you're right, those are skilled jobs. But there are people making $70,000 a year working the line or driving a forklift...definitely not skilled jobs. Compare that to the person getting out of college with a 4-year teaching degree that in most states is lucky to see half that in year one. I had to work 14 years with a Bachelor's degree in the sciences before I ever saw $70,000/year. I had a couple next door to me that had a house, cabin, 2 new cars, 2 snowmobiles, and I think a fishing boat. That guy knew a guy and got into General Motors out of high school. But you're right...nowadays...you gotta know somebody.

A buddy of mine...a complete screw up that faked an injury at a previous employer...ended up getting a UAW job...but not for a car company...he got a job as a janitor at the UAW facility (they have their own buildings and stuff)...made better money than his previous job...union worker...but he only got the job because his dad was a lifelong union guy and got him in.

So, I'm not hating on unions...as I've said before...I can't say unions are hurting businesses when the CEO makes more on January 1st than the 70,000/year guy makes the entire year. I also acknowledge the argument that, "hey...you wanna work the line? Go ahead." Because honestly...I'd HATE that job. They can have it. I'd rather make $50,000 at a desk than showing up at 6:00AM, punching a clock, and standing on the line all day. But the unions currently ARE a problem when they articficially hold up wages and put impediments in place to keep less productive workers in positions and protect union workers that do bad things. I knew of a cop in my hometown that got drunk, drove to a bar, got more drunk, pistol whipped a guy he had an argument with, then got pulled over driving drunk on the way home. He was suspended for 2 weeks without pay, but the union argued and eventually he got back pay for the time he was off on suspension. What??

[5280 Hooker]

Ill stick to my day job......5280 Hooker...lol

Gotta love Aslan!

[fordman1]

Why do we spend so much money on the military and never use it. We spend 10 times more than the next 10 countries and no one is afraid of us. Maybe we should totally take over some place and not rebuild it. Why are we playing around with Syria? Tell them to stand down or we will knock them down. When Isis attacks a city what do the do go in by bus. There must be some where we could catch them in the open and take them out. Maybe if Muslims took care of their own problems we would not have to.
I am basically a liberal. So imagine how the right wing nuts feel. Maybe I exaggerated a little.

[Tony]

Many good and bad points have been made here by some very knowledgeable people. Now let me give a few.

If I were ruler of the world everyone would have free health care. It is a human right.

I read earlier about a skilled tradesman in 6 mo. to a year. Not going to happen it takes 4 to 8 years. You also have to know someone or forget it.

Make unions stronger not weaker give the workers a choice.

Why can't we put tariffs on the stuff coming into this country? Make it just as cheap to make stuff here.

Powerful wealthy people don't want a middle class.

When in history has there been a middle class except in the last 70 years?

OK lets get rid of a few things. Number one is the stock market. Stock holders look at workers as blood suckers. If they cut into their greedy pockets it is a bad thing.

No more wars unless they are total and final. No more police actions. War means kill the enemy not help civilians if you go to war with say a third world country create a parking lot.

Great President FDR. Not so great GWB and union busting Reagan.

I agree we have to take action to reverse the trade deficit, there is no reason for us to be at the mercy of China except our political leaders stupidity. We are the leader by far of world consumption, so everyone needs our market to sell their products, we need to slowly take back the 'free" trade and convert it to fair trade for us. Why the heck do we want to put ourselves in a position where we are competing with third world countries, it can only bring us down toward their level.
"Get rid of the stock market" Really ? So exactly how would you do that ? Keep in mind our current gov has proven to be inept and corrupt at nearly every level. Are you suggesting we convert from capitalism to socialism ? The current system has some problems, but the solution of switching to a system that has been proven time after time to be unsuccessful seems like a poor idea. If you think the Scandinavian EU countries using this practice are a better place to live and offer more than the US, you have been misled. Look at Sweden and it's claims, none of them are actually correct or can be proven, if you get right down to it.
I agree reforms on trading and restrictions on some activities must be made but the basic problem is big business owns the politicians and nothing will be done if that remains the way it is now.
Our health care system is horrible, while not everyone might agree healthcare is a God given right we can certainly revamp the entire system to provide much more care for much lower cost. This would provide millions, it not trillions more dollars to the other items on the GDP curve.
A tiered system of basic care for all with considerable weight on prevention and healthy lifestyle would be a good start. Lets not try to totally reinvent the wheel from day one, lets look at the countries with a centralized system of care and use all of the best idea's and concepts from all of them to create our system.

[fordman1]

I agree Tony I was just throwing some stuff against the wall to see whose head would explode. I know we could never get rid of the Market but is part of the problem. Drug patens are a problem too. The tax system is broken. Maybe we need government paid for political campaigns. Keep the big contributors from donating. I don't wont my government beholden to G.E. or big oil or coal.

Get our troops out of the middle east. Get them out of Asia. Get them out of Europe.

[Aslan]

I am basically a liberal. So imagine how the right wing nuts feel. Maybe I exaggerated a little.

You're not the only one that leans liberal but feels that way. I consider myself fairly far to the right on Defense and Foreign Policy while remaining fairly liberal regarding domestic economics. Unfortunately, most conservatives would sacrifice every issue for a tax cut...so no matter how far to the right we may be on other issues...we're ultra-left-wing liberals until we acknowledge and blindly embrace trickle down economics.

[fordman1]

Has anyone noticed how hard the media and government have been trying to make the latest (yesterday) mass shooting not be from a radical Muslim. They say they don't know the motive yet. Let me go way out on a limb and guess it is because they are Muslim nut jobs.

[Aslan]

Has anyone noticed how hard the media and government have been trying to make the latest (yesterday) mass shooting not be from a radical Muslim. They say they don't know the motive yet. Let me go way out on a limb and guess it is because they are Muslim nut jobs.

I think they are being cautious because the place being attacked was a county building and a lot of times when you're dealing with incidents like these at places like child protective services or courthouses...there's a strong possibility that it's a person who feels 'wronged' by a judge or the government.

But, it'll come out eventually.

To be honest, I don't really care anymore. I've officially joined the ranks of the people that are numb to it at this point. Idiots keep acting like idiots and we keep watching it on TV...and then more and more idiots are inspired. First it was 24/7 coverage of the race riots in Missouri...which in part encouraged further riots and demonstrations every time a black person gets arrested. Every 3-4 months, some marginal mental patient living in mommy's basement next to mommy's arsenal of firearms that she bought in preparation for the 2K crash...decides he's gonna get 'famous' by shooting some random place up. And, like moths to a flame...suddenly everyone is clogging the internet trying to get the details.

It's ridiculous. And nobody seems capable of doing anything about it. They keep wanting to take away my guns...but at the same time cops are afraid to shoot criminals and start a riot. And at the SAME time, Governor Brown in his infinite stupidity decided to let all the criminals loose because the prisons are too full and he doesn't want to build more...so now crime is up double digits in every county in California.

So a criminal breaks into your house and steals your tv, the cops show up but since he's running away...he's not a threat so they aren't going to shoot him. I can't shoot him for fear that me owning a gun will somehow turn me into a crazy mass murderer. So, I guess I need to get a new TV. But hey, if it's that easy...maybe I should just steal one. Except...I'm white....so...I'd probably get shot...because shooting white guys that commit crimes isn't gonna lead to a riot.

Redunkulus.

[Jessiewoodard57]

Idiots keep acting like idiots and we keep watching it on TV...and then more and more idiots are inspired. First it was 24/7 coverage of the race riots in Missouri...which in part encouraged further riots and demonstrations every time a black person gets arrested. Every 3-4 months, some marginal mental patient living in mommy's basement next to mommy's arsenal of firearms that she bought in preparation for the 2K crash...decides he's gonna get 'famous' by shooting some random place up. And, like moths to a flame...suddenly everyone is clogging the internet trying to get the details.

.

I agree 100% the media says hey its news we have to cover it which in turn creates copy cats. Why not try something new like a media blackout of the event. The more it's televised and talked about the more these morons want their moment of fame. Personally I think everyone that legally owns a gun should take a CCW course and start carrying when people start shooting back these cowards might think twice about attacking "unarmed" citizens. Even in church we have some that carry you never know when some idiot is going to walk into a "gun free zone" and open up on people.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I think they are being cautious because the place being attacked was a county building and a lot of times when you're dealing with incidents like these at places like child protective services or courthouses...there's a strong possibility that it's a person who feels 'wronged' by a judge or the government.

But, it'll come out eventually.

To be honest, I don't really care anymore. I've officially joined the ranks of the people that are numb to it at this point. Idiots keep acting like idiots and we keep watching it on TV...and then more and more idiots are inspired. First it was 24/7 coverage of the race riots in Missouri...which in part encouraged further riots and demonstrations every time a black person gets arrested. Every 3-4 months, some marginal mental patient living in mommy's basement next to mommy's arsenal of firearms that she bought in preparation for the 2K crash...decides he's gonna get 'famous' by shooting some random place up. And, like moths to a flame...suddenly everyone is clogging the internet trying to get the details.

It's ridiculous. And nobody seems capable of doing anything about it. They keep wanting to take away my guns...but at the same time cops are afraid to shoot criminals and start a riot. And at the SAME time, Governor Brown in his infinite stupidity decided to let all the criminals loose because the prisons are too full and he doesn't want to build more...so now crime is up double digits in every county in California.

So a criminal breaks into your house and steals your tv, the cops show up but since he's running away...he's not a threat so they aren't going to shoot him. I can't shoot him for fear that me owning a gun will somehow turn me into a crazy mass murderer. So, I guess I need to get a new TV. But hey, if it's that easy...maybe I should just steal one. Except...I'm white....so...I'd probably get shot...because shooting white guys that commit crimes isn't gonna lead to a riot.

Redunkulus.

I must apologize to you based on this post and parts of your others in this thread. You are only about 20% Cali Liberal and the rest i agree with.