THE POLITICAL ARENA!!! Political Gladiators Inside!!

[songsmith]

Pretty much NONE of those problems can be blamed on government taxes or regulation. Some of the jobless numbers DO come from a large number of gov't layoffs (500,000 plus), decrease in projects ($$) for gov't contractors and vendors, and relaxation of DOT rules resulting in Mexican truck drivers' use of US roads. However, according to every conservative here, government doesn't create jobs, so the blame pretty much HAS to fall on those who could hire, but don't.

Interesting article today:
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Finally, Republicans Find Their New Welfare Queens
Mark Schmitt, New Republic
If you’ve been watching the Republican presidential debates, you’ve likely heard a surprising amount of talk about welfare reform. Both Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum identify the 1996 law, which the Republican Congress eventually forced President Clinton to sign, as their signature achievements, emblematic of the kind of policies they would pursue as president. Even the logic, if you can call it that, behind Gingrich’s proposal to have schoolchildren work as janitors is lifted straight from the most extreme rhetoric of welfare reform: that poor kids live in neighborhoods where no one at all works, and thus need to be exposed to real labor.

The problem for Republicans after the welfare reform law passed was that, having achieved the victory, they no longer had the issue: The specter of the non-working poor could no longer be reliably evoked, and nothing with a similar power to divide voters has emerged to take its place. They tried going after the “lucky duckies,” those people who pay no federal income tax, but that hasn’t really caught on. Affirmative action has faded as an issue.

But now they seem to have found it, in the most unlikely of programs: Unemployment Insurance. The legislation to extend the payroll tax cuts that passed the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday brings the full arsenal of welfare reform gimmicks to the UI program: Time limits; drug tests; requirements to seek work or enter an education program.

None of these changes are intended to repair any serious problems within the Unemployment Insurance system. People are unemployed for long periods of time at the moment because there are four job-seekers for every one opening, not because they are happier collecting Unemployment. There’s no reason to think that UI recipients are more likely to use or abuse drugs than other adults. And, as anyone who’s ever been on Unemployment, or even watched the Vandelay Industries episode of “Seinfeld,” knows, there are already strong requirements to be looking for a job.

Instead, these moves are intended to break down public support for extending UI benefits by casting the program in the same terms as Aid to Families with Dependent Children, the old welfare program. Much like arguments blaming the financial crisis on ACORN, Fannie Mae, and the push for low-income homeownership, it shifts the responsibility for unemployment onto the unemployed themselves. This has been in the making for a long time: University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan has been grabbing scraps of evidence for years to construct a thoroughly discredited argument that the unemployed are jobless largely by choice, and that Unemployment Insurance shields them from the necessity to take a job that pays less than their old job.

Although I opposed welfare reform in 1996, as a staffer to a Senate Finance Committee member, there was at least a grain of truth to some of the concerns about the program: It didn’t do enough to encourage or create opportunities for those welfare recipients who could work, and getting those who could into the workforce would make them and their families much better off. But Unemployment Insurance is a totally different kind of program. Just to be eligible for UI, a worker needs a solid full-time work history, typically more than a year of work before becoming unemployed. That’s why younger workers, part-time workers, and women are less likely to qualify. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey this week revealed that only 22 percent of the long-term unemployed are currently receiving benefits, and barely half had ever received them. To receive benefits, you need to be more than just unemployed—you really need to have worked hard and “played by the rules” for a long period of time. These are not people who show any evidence that they are happier sitting idly at home.

Nor, really, should we want people to take the first job that’s available to them. When a worker with specialized skills acquired at some cost, whether to herself or her previous employer, instead takes a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart, that investment in skills is lost. That’s actually the genius behind the Unemployment Insurance system: It’s a brilliant way for industrial employers to manage the size of their labor force during recessions, and then bring them back when demand picks up. Employers pay into the system, and in most states help run it, because it helps them protect their investment in skilled workers. It’s the most pro-business social program there is.
And yet, in their zeal to shift the blame for joblessness to the jobless, House Republicans seem to have forgotten everything they should know about Unemployment Insurance, recasting it as if it were welfare. Strangely, many of the victims of this move are likely to be the GOP’s core constituency—UI beneficiaries are overwhelmingly white, middle-class, and older—and it’s hard to believe they’ll take kindly to the idea that they only have themselves to blame for their current hardship.
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So, is it socialism? The government takes money away from employers and employees without permission, and redistributes it to people who are, in fact, not working. Those people could instead be working a min-wage job, or even less, if govt would get rid of that nasty min-wage. Remember, this recession is not about the 27% raise rich folks got this year, it's about adjusting the workload and wages of everyone else to allow for that raise.
The new boogeyman is the unemployed. The idea, astoundingly, is to send the jobs to wherever labor is cheapest, then blame the people who got canned, instead of the people who perpetrated the scam. The rightwing pro-corporate media then uses constant repetition of misinformation to create a sort of Stockholm Syndrome, wherein the working-class conservative feels that he will be rewarded for playing along with the ruse. He never is, and never seems to get the sick joke being played on him.

[Banned]

Every one of those problems are caused by government.

[songsmith]

Connect the dots , then. Explain how government outsourced jobs. Explain how government hires and fires private-sector jobs, how it lowers median salaries, how it contributes to how long someone is on unemployment compensation, etc. You can bang the "high taxes" drum, but taxes are at their lowest point in 5 decades, much lower than they were during America's times of largest economic growth. Regulation? Nope, also lowest since the early 70's, and govt laid off many of the watchdogs, anyway. Employee healthcare mandate? Hasn't taken effect yet, not for 2 more years.
Blame business for business-related issues. Bear in mind, Fox News and every other rightwing media horn is a business, run by businessmen, whose goal is to benefit... you? No. Me? Nope. America? Hardly. They're there to benefit business.
Now, how do you feel about the new conservative blame-target, the unemployed? How's it feel to be on the other end of the shotgun?

[Banned]

Easy. The US federal government has too many regulations and taxes on business. They invest elsewhere. It is a global economy these days you know.

[Banned]

Missing $4,155? It Went Into Your Gas Tank This Year

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45727242

"It's been 30 years since gasoline took such a big bite out of the family budget.

When the gifts from Grandma are unloaded and holiday travel is over, the typical American household will have spent $4,155 filling up this year, a record. That is 8.4 percent of what the median family takes in, the highest share since 1981.

Gas averaged more than $3.50 a gallon this year, another unfortunate record. And next year isn't likely to bring relief. "


Interesting how all the bad economic records belong to Obama.

[lonewolf]

So Bill, we have the right to healthcare? Does that include voodoo?

If not, why not? Its just as effective as some doctors.

Nobody answered this. What about other tribal medicine? Does Obamacare cover tribal medicine? Acupuncture?

If not, why not? Aren't we supposed to be tolerant of others' cultures?

Who's to say what healthcare is correct and which is not?

Take diverticulitis for example. Some of you may remember that I was diagnosed with this disease a few years back and blindly had colon resection surgery per my doctor's recommendation. They never did figure out the cause of it and if you go to the internet, you will see that modern medicine is not really sure what causes it. This disease is almost non-existant in Africa and other emerging locations.

Well, I found out what caused mine. The symptoms have returned and after a few months' process of elimination, I found out what it was: I was sitting in a crouched position at the computer, just as I had done when I was working before the surgery. This crimped my colon near the appendix and caused the chronic inflammation. I have since changed my posture and the symptoms are going away. Apparently, posture has more to do with this colon disease than anything else.

Not in Altoona. The fucking doctors here felt it was necessary to gut me like a fish and scar me for life. Don't even start to try and tell me this kind of treatment is some kind of a fucking right.

[RobTheDrummer]

The thing I don't like about government healthcare is that they think they can tell you what to eat and put certain "taxes" on "bad" foods. I just don't like the government intruding in private affairs. The same people pushing this stuff are the same people that said the patriot act intruded on your freedoms. Well if gov't healthcare doesn't, then I don't know what does....

[songsmith]

Easy. The US federal government has too many regulations and taxes on business.

You can bang the "high taxes" drum, but taxes are at their lowest point in 5 decades, much lower than they were during America's times of largest economic growth. Regulation? Nope, also lowest since the early 70's, and govt laid off many of the watchdogs, anyway. Employee healthcare mandate? Hasn't taken effect yet, not for 2 more years.
Blame business for business-related issues. Bear in mind, Fox News and every other rightwing media horn is a business, run by businessmen, whose goal is to benefit... you? No. Me? Nope. America? Hardly. They're there to benefit business.

There you go, perhaps you overlooked that part. Taxes and regulatioon not the reasons companies offshore jobs. Labor costs are, no matter what the talk shows and blogsites say. These businesses send jobs elsewhere because some guy in Vietnam has staved long enough, and will work for a few dollars a day, and you're not that hungry... yet.

They invest elsewhere. It is a global economy these days you know.

So, are you a patriot, or not?

[Banned]

Undocumented Worker:

The Obama records which have not been released include; Passport records, Obama kindergarten records, Punahou School records, Occidental College records, Columbia University records, Columbia thesis, Harvard Law School records, Harvard Law Review articles, University of Chicago scholarly articles, Illinois State Bar Association records, Illinois State Senate records/schedules(said to be lost), Medical records, Obama/Dunham marriage license, Obama/Dunham divorce documents, Soetoro/Dunham marriage license, Adoption records and of course the long-form Certificate of Live Birth.

He was born a Muslim, (in Islam all sons of Muslim fathers are automatically Muslim) but there is no record of his baptism or conversion to Christianity as he now claims.

There is also no explanation of how someone from Hawaii has a SS number from Connecticut.

He also said he traveled out of the country after college, yet there is no passport record of that anywhere.

Is anyone in the least but curious? Why has be fought 40 times in court to keep those records secret?

[Eyes Rolling]

Is anyone in the least but curious? Why has be fought 40 times in court to keep those records secret?

Only you fruitcake



You may be bat-shit crazy, but at least you're consistent. Bravo Joebama!!

[Banned]

Would you be curious if all those were kept secret about Bush or Clinton?

[songsmith]

http://news.yahoo.com/gambling-gets-boo ... --spt.html


Well, now... somebody's going to be happy/frustrated about that!

[Don Hughes]

I agree with legalizing internet poker. I had a buddy who put himself through college playing poker online. He wouldn't have been able to go without it. If you're good, you deserve to make some money doing it.

[Merge]

I believe it should be legalized, too.

[whitedevilone]

Undocumented Worker:

The Obama records which have not been released include; Passport records, Obama kindergarten records, Punahou School records, Occidental College records, Columbia University records, Columbia thesis, Harvard Law School records, Harvard Law Review articles, University of Chicago scholarly articles, Illinois State Bar Association records, Illinois State Senate records/schedules(said to be lost), Medical records, Obama/Dunham marriage license, Obama/Dunham divorce documents, Soetoro/Dunham marriage license, Adoption records and of course the long-form Certificate of Live Birth.

He was born a Muslim, (in Islam all sons of Muslim fathers are automatically Muslim) but there is no record of his baptism or conversion to Christianity as he now claims.

There is also no explanation of how someone from Hawaii has a SS number from Connecticut.

He also said he traveled out of the country after college, yet there is no passport record of that anywhere.

Is anyone in the least but curious? Why has be fought 40 times in court to keep those records secret?

Hmmm funny thing is,you can find out what i was batting in city ball in 92.But you can't find the leader of the free world's passport records.Yeah it fuckin bothers me.Moonbats.

[RobTheDrummer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYYIzMQL ... r_embedded

[RobTheDrummer]

This is funny as hell!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb ... re=related

[f.sciarrillo]

They were funny, Rob.

[f.sciarrillo]

Did anyone change their party affiliation, temporarily, so you can vote in the primary, yet? I did mine the other day. I still don't know who I trust enough to vote for, though.

[Don Hughes]

Undocumented Worker:

The Obama records which have not been released include; Passport records, Obama kindergarten records, Punahou School records, Occidental College records, Columbia University records, Columbia thesis, Harvard Law School records, Harvard Law Review articles, University of Chicago scholarly articles, Illinois State Bar Association records, Illinois State Senate records/schedules(said to be lost), Medical records, Obama/Dunham marriage license, Obama/Dunham divorce documents, Soetoro/Dunham marriage license, Adoption records and of course the long-form Certificate of Live Birth.

He was born a Muslim, (in Islam all sons of Muslim fathers are automatically Muslim) but there is no record of his baptism or conversion to Christianity as he now claims.

There is also no explanation of how someone from Hawaii has a SS number from Connecticut.

He also said he traveled out of the country after college, yet there is no passport record of that anywhere.

Is anyone in the least but curious? Why has be fought 40 times in court to keep those records secret?

Hmmm funny thing is,you can find out what i was batting in city ball in 92.But you can't find the leader of the free world's passport records.Yeah it fuckin bothers me.Moonbats.

What did you bat in city ball in 92?

[songsmith]

You know who else has never shown me his birth certificate?
Bigfoot.
I mean, I don't expect him to carry it around with him... in all the photographic footage of Bigfoot, I never see pockets. But you'd think he'd have a laminated pass, or an old phone bill or something to prove he exists.
You know who else has big feet?
Obama.
Ergo, Obama is a Bigfoot.
Problem solved.

[RobTheDrummer]

You know who else has never shown me his birth certificate?
Bigfoot.
I mean, I don't expect him to carry it around with him... in all the photographic footage of Bigfoot, I never see pockets. But you'd think he'd have a laminated pass, or an old phone bill or something to prove he exists.
You know who else has big feet?
Obama.
Ergo, Obama is a Bigfoot.
Problem solved.

It's called a job requirement. I don't know why it's so hard to produce for someone with his stature. I'm sure he's needed it for college, I'm sure he used it to get the foreign student aid. Anyway, he said his administration was going to be transparent....so much for that.

[whitedevilone]

You know who else has never shown me his birth certificate?
Bigfoot.
I mean, I don't expect him to carry it around with him... in all the photographic footage of Bigfoot, I never see pockets. But you'd think he'd have a laminated pass, or an old phone bill or something to prove he exists.
You know who else has big feet?
Obama.
Ergo, Obama is a Bigfoot.
Problem solved.

Quite stupid.Oh and Don,i was pretty consistent at the plate.I hit 312 in '92.

[RobTheDrummer]

You know who else has never shown me his birth certificate?
Bigfoot.
I mean, I don't expect him to carry it around with him... in all the photographic footage of Bigfoot, I never see pockets. But you'd think he'd have a laminated pass, or an old phone bill or something to prove he exists.
You know who else has big feet?
Obama.
Ergo, Obama is a Bigfoot.
Problem solved.

Quite stupid.Oh and Don,i was pretty consistent at the plate.I hit 312 in '92.

312? Musta' been t-ball....

[whitedevilone]

Bring you best heat Drumboy.I'll swat that shit down.