Obama wants to “Protect” America
08 Jun
Posted by MacRanger as 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election 2008, News
As you might now, I have posted the Obama Wants to Disarm America Thread which has thankfully received nearly 250,000 page views. That’s good, and it’s getting the word out. However some lefties are complaining that the video is a hack job and it’s out of context. Therefore I present to you context.
Protecting American by Disarming Her. Right.
Perhaps American needs protecting…from him.
212 Responses
aj griffin
November 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
1Then who will watch our back? Allies????
John Sunde
November 1st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
2Did you bother to listen to what Obama says?
msvi
November 1st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
3This man wants to bring our troops home, in what? Defeat? That’s not how our men and women want to come home. Besides, what are they coming home to??? No jobs, some, no home!!! 9 Billion dollars spent on the war is better the millions given to the Senators for what??? So they can squander some more??? The Millions Obama has spent on this champaign is outrageous! We know where its coming from….someone wants him in power real bad and its not just Democrats! President Clinton and Hillary, you should be ashamed!!!
James Duncan
November 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
4I think this man is full of it, I don’t trust him at all. But we will probably have him as our next president because he has a vert good way of appealing to the younger generations with his rederick, God help America
EF Slany
November 1st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
5Well, who is suprised? He is the “liberal icon”, feel good touchy feely guy who wants to “spread the wealth around”, disarm us and prosecute a citizen for defending his/her home and family with a firearm. He is a socialist and if he gets his way he will reduce America to a third world country with handouts for those who won’t work, or don’t belong here to begin with while making apologies to those in the middle east for example who are hell bent to bring us down as a nation. America is still a democracy (I think?) the elections are coming up. God help us if he is elected. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Sherry
November 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
6This guy is the biggest traitor to be had. Not to be trusted at all. Those who have ingested the kool-aid will find out.
Sherry
John Campbell
November 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
7It absolutely amazes me how differently you interpret his words!! Do you really believe that he wants to “disarm” America?? Nowhere in his comments did I hear that!! Stopping wasteful military spending, Yes, but “disarm America”?? Where do you hear that?? And, beside all that, don’t you think we already have enough “Nuclear Weapons of Mass Destruction”???!!!
Craig
November 1st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
8Did we remove the previous 1300 entries because the buffer was too full, or because there was independent, intelligent thought creeping in?
drfrompr
November 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
9Blah, blah, blah, blah-blah, blah. . . .
Bruce Crume
November 1st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
10I, like most non-black Americans, feel the time is right & over due for a black man or woman to become President of the greatest country the world has ever known. However, Obama is not that man. I am reminded of another smooth talker of the past whose ability to messmerize large crowds with eloquent rhetoric is legend. His name was Adolph Hitler, and the little children followed. Please don’t make that same mistake !
Dave
November 1st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
11It is ironic that I wrote in my book two years ago, before Obama had arrived on the scene that political correctness was the forerunner to communism back in the 1700’s. By promising to spread the wealth, weaken the defense of a country, inpose tax hikes on those who can afford it the least, the country is flushed down the toilet in socialism. Russia is a prime example how the policies of Obama-led Democrats are only into wealth, greed, and suppressing anyone who will speak out against them. When the secret police start making citizens disappear for saying negative views against the loony-left socialists that have grabbed power through the influx of minorities, it will be too late and a new dictator will outlaw democracy in America. Don’t say you weren’t warned. Marx once said: ‘America will destroy itself from within’ and that is now coming to pass through African-Americans and the Islamic state. They couldn’t defeat the US by force. They infiltrated offices and they will take over through the gullibility and short-sightedness of citizens.
Jerry
November 1st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
12The sad part is that those who vote for him have no idea that they are voting for a candidate that wants to turn America into a socialist state where the government is their “Sugar Daddy”. Or, do they? “Something for nothing” always has an allure for the lazy.
Benson
November 1st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
13Can agree or disagree on Iraq. Position on negotiating cuts in nuclear arsenals, not weaponizing space, controlling fissile material seems reasonable. Rest of speech is against wasting money on projects that are unproven or promoted simply by lobbyists for contractors, hence idea to establish independent board of review. None of that seems exceptionable: McCain takes credit for sinking some boondoggle defense projects too.
J Slade
November 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
14I am a Reagan Conservative and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have reviewed many of these posts and am both amazed and bewildered at the vast majority of individuals that truly do not research any information. Prag, Kris, Greg, Anne I see have done a good job of research even though they are of differing opinions.
One question I have is why Obama will not disclose his birth records?? By constitutional law the President has to be a natural US citizen to hold the highest Office of the Land (President). Is he or is he not a citizen?? Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once commented that if the laws changed, he might think of running. Does any one have real proof of his birth records, Date, Hospital, Doctor, Location, etc.
I have already voted, but I have the same opinion as Greg in that the Republican nominee is not my first choice for the Office.
Mitt Romney stated it best, “Washington is broken”, Palin made the same statement in her acceptance speech. We need to remove all of the current politicians and replace them. This especially true for Reid and Pelosi, but not only them but many of the current Dems and Reps.
A great American Native once called on his nation with what is now the “Title of Liberty”
“In memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children”
This was to stand up in defense of the forces surrounding him to bring down and destroy all that he stood for.
This call was again sot during the Revolutionary War. Time and time again this call is being made.
The Government is supposed to be the will and the word of the People, not the minority or the lobbyists or the special interest groups. We have allowed the Government to dictate to us how we are to think, feel, walk and talk. When a 12 year old child is allowed to divorce his parents or Teachers fear for their lives because they cannot take necessary action towards belligerent students, we have become lazy as a nation and a people. We want others to give and do for us what we should be doing for ourselves. This has never been the founding fathers way. They were men of action and responsibility. Did they have their flaws, of course, but they were not individuals who sat around talking about it instead of doing it.
I write this to make the silent majority wake up, become active, and do not let the LOUD MINORITY of special interest groups or lobbyists, etc. dictate what you are to do.
I do not trust Obama. He cannot pass a military security clearance background check, (I used to do these when I was in the Service). He has no true Executive experience, but we are looking to place him in the position to manage our future.
McCain is a little better, but even still he does not hold the silent majority values. McCain at least has experience in his favor.
As the lesser of the two evils, I chose John McCain to at least, not raise my taxes and allow me the right to fail or succeed in business. Not to take my money and efforts and give them to someone else.
To clarify I do not make over 100k and the Bush tax cuts do help my wife, 7 children and me. I work hard for what I have and believe others can to. I give 10% or more to charity every year.
When I see Liberals doing that, then I will believe Obama has a true plan to help this nation. Until then I will reserve my opinion for the conservative values.
Kris
November 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
15Where are all the posts??? grrrr……
Kris
November 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
16Where are all the posts??? ugh.
Kris
November 1st, 2008 at 6:14 pm
17Ok again….. mouse happy.
Kris
November 1st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
18Pragmatic, What has happened on the board today?? Did you see any posts from earlier?
Craig
November 1st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
19Gee, maybe I can be a little nicer today.
starla
November 1st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
20this guy is bringing down america…..and gonna try to turn us all into muslims….and i be damned if im gonna go over on my knees and do that allalll ahhhh prayer…..they WILL just have to behead me!!! sociliasm……COMMMON!! on the LAND OF THE FREEE?!?!?!?!? YOU GOTTA BE FREAKING KIDDING ME!!! as i believe and as i have heard and read it…..this “nut-job” could possiably be the anti-christ….you know its been said that he has talked about isreal….IIIFFF he does this….than armegeddeon BEGAINS…..the last war…”holy war”……UGH!!! HOW SCARY IS THAT?!?!?!?!?
starla
November 1st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
21oh ya one more thing….thats probably that “”CHANGE”" for which he keeps yacking about….has he even explained what that change is??? i havent heard it yet!!! and thats exactly why he dont want anyone to have the rights to bare arms….so he and his lil crew can take over and do whatever with all america!!!!! i wouldnt even doubt it for a momet IF someone has already made a plot to get him….hell naw not me….just saying someone has already “probaly” got it in mind!!!! GOD HELP THIS COUNTRYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the prayer has been taken out of schools…which is why the kids are so bad into trouble all the dern time….and so what now….IF it even comes around…he’ll MAKE OUR AMERICAN BORN CHILDREN DO THAT MUSLIM PRAYER….IS IT NOT THE SAME AS TAKING THE PRAYER OUT OF SCHOOL?!?!?!??!? and what about our coutries holidays/festivals???? like thanksgiving….christmas (as we ALL know that the muslims DO NOT celebrate christmas!!)…..that is SOO HEART STRIKEN!!!!!!! NOT just america will come to jammin hault….but the whole world will come to a hault…..he’ll get his lil arab buddies over here and take over like how damn saddam had the pple scared to death over there!!!!! this guy completely CREEPS ME OUTTTT!!!!
rich
November 1st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
22This is all part of his global one world country. I will start stockpiling my own weapons for as long as “the one” will allow us to buy them. There will be n more guns, no more US military and the only abundant thing will be taxes. Arm yourselves citizens, Harry white flag Reed will give my country to the UN
john
November 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
23why is he so ashamed to use his middle name, or his party ? hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Helen
November 1st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
24The man cannot vote with a simple yea or ney in the Senate. How in God’s name do you think he can manage to make any kind of decision for the whole of America if he becomes President. There is to much deception and not enough truth coming from his mouth. And to leave everyone with a little food for thought. The President is not the final word and it was not the Republicans that put us in the mess we have been in for the last 3 yrs. It is Congress, Senate and the House of Representatives. They have been Democratic for 3 years. Wake up and smell the coffee. And I am not a Republican or Democrat, I am an Independent.
Steve Boyle
November 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
25Wow, this Barack Obama must be some amazingly powerful guy.
Let’s see … he’s going to disarm the US military and all our law-abiding, gun-toting citizens, destroy American initiative as we become a Socialist state under his ’spread the wealth’ policies, make Islam the new national religion, raise taxes on anyone who works hard for the benefit of those who are too lazy to work, scheme with his ‘Liberal Elite’ cronies to pad their personal bank accounts at the expense of us taxpayers, and do all of this in just four years!
Yea, I can see why so many of the people commenting on this site are so EXTREMELY AFRAID! With so much EXTREME FEAR, coupled with so much EXTREME IGNORANCE, the only sensible step is to make EXTREMELY EXAGGERATED claims, based on the EXTREME PARANOIA swirling in their minds, fueled by the EXTREME VIEWS put forth by the creators of these blogs!
Please, don’t be afraid. President Obama will be kind to all you ‘real Americans’ too.
Len
November 1st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
26We are seeing the results of a whole generation of “entitlements”, a generation of children (now young adults) who were given much, worked very little, have no concept of deferred gratitification and expect to acquire all the material goods their parents worked for over decades, but they expect it in the first two years of marriage. The idea or philosophy of “cradle to grave” care by big government is a natural result of the way far too many raised their children. While I , like many others who worked hard and asked little of my government may lament the forthcoming wave of socialism sweeping across this country….there is a bright side. While a great many of our not so enlightened citizens (i.e. those who lack historical perspective) will suffer greatly over the next 4 to 8 years, it just prove to be the wake-up call this country needs.
Dewayne
November 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
27I love it… Thanks for posting!
Linda Hart
November 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
28Amen!!!! Sandra, you said it perfectly!
Gina
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
29To: J Slade
Well stated…. thank you.
However, you could have voted for Bob Barr…..
Bob knows the answer is less government.
He stands for fully restoring our Constitution,
decreasing government power, giving the power back to the people through the states, eliminating unnecessary taxes…..
We don’t see that party on the national news, why?
Without the constitution we are no longer free. Period.
I really think that iiur most important issue right now.
I think both Obama and McCain are horrible choices….
and we definitely need change before it’s too late.
Chris King
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
30He stated that he has always fought for an “open, ethical, accountable government..” but he hasn’t been open, ethical, or accountable with the American public. Why isn’t he open about producing his birth certificate-a legitimate one? Why hasn’t he been ethical during the entire campaign? Every time something from his past is brought to light, he plays the race card or rambles on about the Republicans trying to use scare tactics, why can’t he provide a straightforward answer? He wants to disarm the U.S., whether it be nuclear or conventional, he keeps vowing to negotiate with Russia and Iran….sounds odd to me.
Joe the Plumber
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 am
31http://taxcutfacts.org
Carol
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
32If Obama is elected he will move this country into Socialism, no doubt.
If he is not planning to eventually move this country into an Elitest one party rule, then why is he going to take our liberty to bear arms away, take our military out of war before the war is won, downsize our military and our defense system, kill the entreprenureal spirit, buy our 401k’s,take our social security and 401K’s and dole the money out to Americans as he sees fit and as he thinks you will need it. If that is not a catalyst to a one party rule, I don’t know what is!! Wake up America and all of you who think you will get a large check from the government. Nothing is ever FREE! Mark my words :YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO OBAMA TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS YOU TO DO! Obama is planning to give you only 500 or 1000 dollars a year. Will that allow you to send your children to college, buy a car, a home or much of anything these days? It may allow you to fill up your car with gas a few times. Obama will not allow new defense systems to be created? What does that tell those of you who think we are raving lunatics. We will be vunerable to all of those who want to do us harm and who want to take over our nation; namely the terrorists. We will be fighting them here in our country. That is why President Bush has not retreated yet. There is so much more to be said, but our country is in a horrible mess thanks to the Democratic rule in congress. I vote for the values of the candidate ,not for the party. I was in the silent majority, but not anymore. Our founding fathers weren’t too silent, neither should we be if we want to keep our country as our own; FREE AND A LEADER IN THE WORLD. I want that for my children and grandchildren and for me as I live out the next 50 years of my life. STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR AMERICA!!!
chad
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 am
33So america’s response to Islamic extremism, is Christian extremism? There are three reasons wars are started over the history of war….Land, Water, and Religion. Save us the bible belt rhetoric. God wont save you when Barack Obama puts our economy into a tale spin and undermines the paradigm of american values. All we can count on is that when that happens, if elected…the processes the founding fathers implaced within our governmental structure will allow us to make up for americas emotional decision(thanks to the ineptitude of Dubya), and set the country right on a path of moderate Republican principles. The emotion of this election is unprecedented thanks to the Christian rights massive efforts of the Bush 2004 re-election(what a voter fuck up). Now the very people responsible for putting bush back in office have allowed the door to be open for Barack Hussein Obama to most likely be elected. McCain should have been president long before 2008. Instead we have a legacy in office as if the american executive branch is some kind of low rate greek fraternity.
The republican party has been taken over by jesus freaks and the democratic party has been taken over by freaking minority serving elitists. 500,000 low skilled, uneducated users of our economy pour into our nation anually without regard for our laws, legal immigration is another story. Not to mention the 3.1 to 4 birthrate among these latin american illegal immigrants, thats a lot of babies, nearly 2 times the national average which is about 2. The stress on infrastructure, schools, environment, hospitals, and employment of CITIZENS has caused costs in all aspects of our lives to increase to some degree. SO to conclude with all the talk about our economy, foreign policy, blah blah, etc….what happened to the debate on Immigration reform?? Doesnt it have a fundamental place considering its far reaching consequences to every american….?
roseanna
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 am
34this man is for red get him oput of here out of the USA out out out
Ken
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
35How can he protect us if we do not have any weapons? Does he really think that he is God?
Wendy
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
36Where are all the previous posts?
Wendy
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
37Ok, just like Chad said, where are all you Bible belt people? Are you afraid to stand up for what the Bible tells us to do because you feel like Obama won’t take your money?? In the 2 days that remain before the election, everyone who believes what this country was founded on needs to band together and pray that we can take this country back and keep us where belong, the most powerful country on earth. I read that during WWII Churchill banded many people together and they started praying every night at 9:00 that the Germans would quit bombing Britain. It worked and if you have any knowledge of WWII you will see that following what this country was founded on kept our country strong like God intended. So people, pray, pray, pray! We can do it, he promises that.
Jim Newman, Colonel USAF Retired
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
38He wants to take away all of our military advantage in order to allow his Muslim brothers to defeat us.
jbm
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
39I will vote for the person that is looking out for the working class .Not just the rich.I make 170k a year,I don`t mind my taxes going to teachers higher pay,military personal, the elderly ,Collegee for all our kids( I have two kids attending university,that I pay for .)Lets ask the pentagon why they can not locate that 1or 2 trillion dollars they seem to have misplaced due to some computer error? what about the 100`s of millions we cant find in the war effort?For once lets put all americans(the only 100% american is the american indian)first thats all races all religions we are a melting pot.The rich will always find a way to pay less taxes ,thats why there rich (rich people come in all races )
Benson
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
40Do you really think that if Obama were not a citizen the fact would not have been brought out long before now by every political opponent? It’s not some conspiracy. It’s simply a fake story. Factcheck.org examined the original document and says it has a raised seal and the usual evidence of a genuine document. On Friday, officials in Hawaii said they had personally verified that the health department holds Obama’s original birth certificate. Judges in Washington state, Ohio and Pennsylvania have dismissed lawsuits challenging his citizenship. Again, no conspiracy, just a false rumor that gets recycled.
On Obama as a muslim: go to youtube and watch the interview with George Staphanopoulos where the “muslim faith” quote occurs. Not only is it clear from the context that Obama is quoting critics who accuse him of being muslim, Stephanopoulos gets it wrong and Obama straightens him out very clearly.
Bill
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
41Then where did all your money come from, all those “POOR” people that are having trouble making ends meet in this country that your wife has never been proud of?
Child of the King
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
42Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
and God approves this message!
NO ONE, NO ONE! can take Jesus out of my heart!!
Obama may take my life, but he CAN NOT take my SOUL!! : )
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) PRAY!
Patricia Nelson
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
43So go ahead and pull out and stop all of Americas defenses . Forget about God, our freedom, our flag(which you WILL NOT SALUTE) We are Americans and we cherish our freedom to go to church, our freedom to choose our religion. our freedom to drive our cars whenever we choose and travel wherever choose. I do not relish the idea of musilims taken over our UNITED STATES OF AMERICA apparently obama doesn’t want any of the priviledges thay we so enjoy in our country, his fore fathers didn’t not only that he is not a legitamate american citizen. Patricia Nelson
middle class worker/taxpayer
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
44Hello all;
I miss all the previous posts as well, they disappeared sometime between 3pm & 6pm yesterday. If you read the top paragraph, I get
the opinion, that due to numerous complaints about the quality of the previous video that was posted, a new one was uploaded & as a result all the older posts went out with the old video. The video posted now is a better quality & if you view it, there are also other videos linked to it, so you are able to view more than one.
As for the Bible belt people, I’m sure we’re all still reading, I know I have been. My husband & I went this past Tuesday to early vote, while he was home in between construction jobs. We voted for McCain/Palin and voted as straight Republican as possible, as back up, just in case Obama does happen to win, to counter the Democratic control of Congress. You know, checks & balances thing.
The really sad thing is, I wanted to vote for some of the Democrats on the ticket, mainly due to their stance on illegal immigration. It’s funny how some of the Democrats have got it right, but on the other hand some of the Republicans have got it right. Overall though, all politicians say what they think the American public want to hear, so they can be elected. You don’t who you can believe anymore, you have to spend hours on end, doing research & try to make an informed decision.
You can’t trust all the media, because most are biased & won’t reveal the complete truths. However, there are enough sound bites out there, actual recordings of the words coming out of the politicians mouths, if you can find them.
Here’s something interesting I heard just today. When reviewing the election map, it shows Colorado, Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, & Illinois as solid blue. The first four of these states are heavily loaded with coal plants generating power throughout the country, employing thousands of people. Here’s where the really interesting part comes in, there is an audio interview of Obama & a reporter from San Francisco talking about the “coal” states, these 4 states, & how he plans to make them pay big money in order to continue to operate because of the “global warming” effect.
Now, the point, Obama has these states full support for now, but what’s going to happen when all these fees go into affect & the companies can’t continue to 1) operate, 2) afford the fees, etc.? First, there will be lay-offs, more unemployed people needing to live off the government, Second, because these “coal” plants are generating power to thousands of households across the country, we will either see an huge increase in our power bills or possible a lack of power being generated from these plants.
For those of you not familiar with how they work, these plants actually generate so much power, that the power is sent out hundreds of miles away, thus the reason for all these huge power lines we see scattered out across our lands. Granted there are other means of generating power, that are much cleaner, but you can’t just up & begin imposing fines or fees on the “coal” plants tomorrow.
I also ran across the sound bite of Biden telling voters to say no to “coal” plants, what a slap in the face to those “coal” states that have already shown their support for this team.
Youtube.com is loaded with recordings of these candidates, where you can actually here these comments from the “horse’s” mouth. Not propaganda, but factual. See it for yourselves.
Child of the King
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
45# 28 -(Linda) Thank You!!! : )
DH
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
46What a bunch of nut jobs! Keep spewing out your uninformed crap and more and more voters will turn to Obama with us rational thinking folks. Your making your candidate look like the leader of a bunch crazies.
Thank you!!
Terry
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
47Do not thank me. If you believe that barack has our best interests at heart you are actually dumber than you sound or that I thought.
You (and all the other followers) will find out soon enough that this man is a liar…that he is still a muslim…that he actually supports wrights views that 9/11 were America somehow deserved that attack.
Anyone who believes it is alright to kill babies in the third trimester is godless and pathetic. Anyone who supports the obvious lies of the current democratic party do not just sound like it…you are all proving to the world that you are a godless bunch of cowards, idiots, and usually both.
God please help our nation.
mike
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
48wow, someone who finally wants peace. this is a great plan. we can only live in a world without international violence if someone as bold as Obama has the courage to stand up. i just want to make something clear. this is something that God would want: no warfare, but peace. America is a strong country. Maybe if we make the change the rest of the world will follow. To simply put it, “we are better than that,” we don’t need to fight wars. America is becoming a more intellectual nation, and smart people don’t need to bother with warfare. that’s how I see it. Good speech, Obama. Vote for Obama!
Stephen J. Williams
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
49The election, November 4, is the most critical election this nation has ever had; and could very well be the last. For what Barack Obama and the democratic party are planning to do to this country, there is every possibility that they will have to suspend all elections; forever. For they know that if we are ever to have another election after November 4, 2008, they will all be voted out of power and never, ever again, hold power. All the democratic party cares about is power.
Within a year after this election, the United States of America could very well be a third world undeveloped communist country like Cuba or North Korea. All it takes is one election. Nikita Kruschev, a former head of the old Soviet Union, prophesised this before and right after the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962. He said, “We will bury you. The United States will raise the hammer and sickle over the White House without the Soviet Union firing a single shot. The takeover of the United States will come from within, and not from without. Is this the year it is going to happen?
All it takes is one election. If you want to know about change, ask the Cuban-Americans living in Miami, Florida. They know about change. they’ve been there and done that.
shelle
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
50elvis costello said it best–”whats so funny ’bout, peace, love, and understanding??” all defense spending is negative spending. and it should be cut. we should have never gone to iraq in the first place. and the workers should finally get a break.
mccain is no war hero–he sang like a bird before any torture and is one of the worst pilots ever (five planes crashed, with many american deaths involved) and he would have been drummed out of the service, with no “chest salad” if his father had not been a navy admiral.
i know i want to see the rich pay there fair share for a change, i don’t want my social security and medicare ruined, and i don’t want my medical benefits taxed.
mccain is just another rich mans son born with a silver spoon who never had to take any resposibility for any of his actions or the result of his actions.
and religion should just keep its nose out of politics, it has as much blood on its hands as george w bush.
OBAMA IS THE ONLY OPTION
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
51MMMMMMhhhh so the first video was with tendencies, and now some chickens they afraid coming communist o socialist.
Let me tell you something if this country begging socialist, you have one simple option. Call to Gorvachof.
That funny in the other post I bring a lot links about to the defamations to many republican they do, include McCain and Barbie Sara Palin.
Many to this people they afraid to change, the traditions is the bad for the progress, we need new blood, new people, troy await corrupt people like republican bush.
Chuck
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
52YAY!!!!!!!! only 2 days left, till Obama wins the election!!!!
I am excited to get the retarded cowboy out, and a man with some intelligence in!!!!
And hopefully Obama will be able to fix everything that went wrong in the last 8 years, rather than McCains dream of continuing what’s wrong.
Well, Go Obama!
Wake-up America
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
53Comment 11-Dave you are right on! I am sick that people can’t see through this man “OBama”. What will happen to our nation if we don’t wake up? Please Vote McCain
Wolf
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
54Obama is a snake charmer. Becareful America dont get seduced by a smooth talker.
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
55Suppose that every day, ten men go out for
beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every
day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day, the
owner threw them a curve. ‘Since you are
all such good customers, he
said, ‘I’m going to reduce the cost of
your daily beer by $20. Drinks
for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the
way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would
still drink for free. But
what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’
They realized that $20 divided by six is
$3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody’s share, then the
fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer. So,
the bar owner suggested
that it would be fair to reduce each man’s
bill by roughly the same
amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid
nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3
(33% savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7
(28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25%
savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22%
savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16%
savings).
Each of the six was better off than before And
the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the
restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
‘I only got a dollar out of the $20′,
declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man,’ but he got
$10!’
‘Yeah, that’s right’, exclaimed
the fifth man. ‘I only saved a dollar,
too. It’s unfair that he got ten times
more than I!’
‘That’s true!!’ shouted the
seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the
breaks!’
‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four
men in unison. ‘We didn’t get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show
up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it
came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They
didn’t have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and
college professors, is how our
tax system works. The people who pay the
highest taxes get the most
benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too
much, attack them for being
wealthy, and they just may not show up
anymore. In fact, they might
start drinking overseas where the atmosphere
is somewhat friendlier.
Wake-up America
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am
56Stephen J. Williams;
You are absolutely correct. However, the people who seem to want this change and vote OBama in have not done their research. I am a hard working small business owner who has never had anything handed to me. I work hard and everyone out there it seems that wants change wants a handout.
Well be careful what you wish for! You are basically voting to line your pockets with other peoples hard earned money. I guarantee you that OBama is going to be the worst thing that ever happened to this country.
Joan L.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:11 am
57Yes. God help this nation!! We should all be praying God’s will for this election. How could any American vote for a man that wouldn’t even put his hand on the bible, or put his hand over his heart like all Americans do when they are saying the Pledge of Allegiance? How could you even think of voting for a man that could care so little about the preciousness of human life like an unborn child? Please people think about your future with a man like this in power.
God be with us all!!
Conan
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 am
58War is, unfortunately, a necessary evil. It cannot and will not be ended as long as there are men out there who wish to do their fellow man harm; and such will always exist. Peace means, simply put, having the bigger stick. Staying one step ahead of the competitors in weapons development and capabilty is paramount to this. McCain is not going to save the world, and I do not agree with all of his views, but he is certainly the lesser of two evils.
I have seen footage of crowds of people chanting Obama’s name as if they are in some sort of trance or worship service. It does not matter who a person is, when something like that is prevalent, power becomes the driving motive for that person. Obama is not the Messiah; for the Messiah has already come.
One other major thing I have against Obama, and which would prevent me from ever voting for him, is not the fact he is black; I have absolutely no problem with a black president. Rather it is this, that he will not salute the American flag nor pledge allegiance to America. This can only mean his allegiance lies somewhere else, can it not?
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:21 am
59Chuck. Seriously. Do you even know who has been in control of congress??
Here for all you people that THINK you have done your research.
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/d_three_sections_with_teasers/congrecord.htm
http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/how_to_votes.htm
Ok. For those of you who want ACTUAL voting records, and how to find the congressional records and what they call the “daily digest.” Which is a verbatim record of what all senators comments during session. HERE you go. NOT PROPAGANDA
Read for yourself people.
And Craig. Before everything you asked about EL ABHIR. It is Hebrew for God and Mighty One. Found in the bible.
EL- Genesis 28:3; 35:11; Numbers 23:22; Joshua 3:10; 2 Samuel 22:31-32; Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32; Isaiah 9:6; Ezekiel 10:5
ABHIR-Genesis 49:23-26 (24); Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 132:2; Isaiah 1:24; 49:26; 60:1
With that said why don’t we dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of tzedekah.
Kid Vegas
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 am
60I’m a veteran and a minority who does not appreciate that my brothers in arms will be come home in defeat if Sen Obama is elected president.
Please everyone wake up. If we come home in defeat weather or not your agree with the current WAR. Let our troops finish the job
So please come out and vote and don’t believe the HYPE of OBAMA.
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 am
61HMM…. What do we think of this?? OBAMA was the ONLY SPONSOR for this…. HMM… Read the last sentence clearly.
Whereas the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq (Public Law 107-243) authorized the President `to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to… (Introduced in Senate)
SJ 23 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 23
Clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 1, 2007
Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
JOINT RESOLUTION
Clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
Whereas the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq (Public Law 107-243) authorized the President `to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to–(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq’;
Whereas, on September 26, 2007, the Senate agreed to a provision, Senate Amendment 3017 to Senate Amendment 2011 to H.R. 1585, stating the sense of the Senate that `the manner in which the United States transitions and structures its military presence in Iraq will have critical long-term consequences for the future of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, in particular with regard to the capability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to pose a threat to the security of the region’;
Whereas, on September 26, 2007, the Senate also stated the sense of the Senate `that it is a critical national interest of the United States to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from turning Shi’a militia extremists in Iraq into a Hezbollah-like force that could serve its interests inside Iraq’;
Whereas, on October 25, 2007, the Department of State designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) as proliferators of weapons of mass destruction under Executive Order 13382 in relation to concerns about their role in proliferation activities;
Whereas, on October 25, 2007, the Department of the Treasury also designated 9 IRGC-affiliated entities and 5 IRGC-affiliated individuals, as derivatives of the IRGC, as well as Iran’s state-owned Bank Melli and Bank Mellat and 3 individuals affiliated with Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), as proliferators of weapons of mass destruction or supporters of terrorism under Executive Order 13382;
Whereas, on October 25, 2007, the Department of the Treasury also designated the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) as a supporter of terrorism for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, and designated Iran’s state-owned Bank Saderat as a terrorist financier, under Executive Order 13224; and
Whereas any offensive military action taken by the United States against Iran must be explicitly authorized by Congress: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That nothing in the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq (Public Law 107-243), any act that serves as the statutory authority for Executive Order 13382 or Executive Order 13224, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law including the terms of Executive Order 13382 or Executive Order 13224 shall be construed to authorize, encourage, or in any way address the use of the Armed Forces of the United States against Iran.
Here is the link to the senate website where this is located…
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.J.RES.23:
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 am
62sorry for some reason the : at the end of the link isnt uploading when you click the link above…
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.J.RES.23:
try this and if it doesn’t work when the congress page pops up and is blank except for the image at the top, go up to the address bar and type in a : at the end….
sorry, don’t know what happened.
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 am
63http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00050
Who voted to protect the small business?? Oh whats that?? MCCAIN?? What did you just say?? What did BO vote?? hmmm…. NAY. Take a look for yourself. From YOUR CONGRESSES WEBSITE!
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 am
64Amendment II (1791)
http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm
The constitution. READ IT.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Kris
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 am
65http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#amdt_2_(1791)
The Constitution. Because without it, we are nothing.
I am tired. Talk to you all in the morning. Happy reading.
P.s. Tzedekah is a Hebrew word that means doing the right thing at the right time and place for the right reason.
Good night.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 am
66Kris,
I enjoy your stories. This is why I’ve always wondered why we can’t just pay a fixed rate tax. Everyone would get to contribute their fair share, and only the tax accountants would go overseas. I’ll vote for the first one to make it happen.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 am
67Kris,
I hope this isn’t the third copy, but I’m having trouble posting things…
Great postings of facts and links!
I only followed one, but I did read the text (asprin please!) and looked at the votes. The one about protecting small business. After reading it, it looks to me that with a 50-50 vote, there were a lot of concerns. This was an amendment to the budget that would give a $5 million death tax exemption. I suspect the real issue wasn’t about protecting small businesses, rather what constitutes small business. This amendment was not revenue neutral, so while McCain could spin it that Obama doesn’t support small business, Obama could spin it that McCain voted for higher taxes.
I found some good links too:
Quality of financial disclosure at:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/scoffall.php?cycle=2008
and
Source of contributions at:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/sourceall.php?cycle=2008
This is a great site to explore to larn about both candidates! The folks that are against gambling and smoking might be surprised. Who gave how much to who is VERY facinating! (Each can judge with their own priorties in mind.)
Also, I don’t know if you read my response to Mr. Pragmatic yesterday before the forum crashed. You mentioned the term Tzedekah, which describes exactly why I responded so poorly. If you did see it, my apologies. If not, it was about not labeling someone and assuming what they do to contribute (or not) to society, based on a single choice. While I do not apologize for the message, I unfortunately dropped down to Mr. P’s choice of language, and even quoted most of it in the posting. If he comes back and didn’t see it, I may post the edited version, because I think the point is too important. Personally, I feel that Tzedekah is a rather personal thing, that shouldn’t need advertisment, but aparently, he thought otherwise.
Anyway, thanks again for the great postings. That’s how these forums should work; as an information exchange, not an emotional slam fest.
Go Kris! (Now my side is going to hate me
)
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 am
68Testing…
J Slade
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 am
69Kris and Craig,
Thank you for your well informed comments. As Craig stated we really need to do our homework and not follow the “Hollywood” type media hype. I follow the the philosophy that an educated person = a happy person.
Everyone has differing views as based on their upbringing. People generally gravitate to those individuals that represent that upbringing, but if we are not informed then people make choices based on the “popular kids” ideals, clothes that they wear, and the way they talk. People begin to become roadies, idol worshipers.
People need to a little more true research not SNL and the View.
There are several .gov websites that we can receive the actual information not someones opinion. These websites are 100% public access as required by law.
Become an informed citizen not a lemming follower. Choose for yourself, not based on someone’s opinion, but your own research. Take the time necessary.
J Slade
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 am
70Once you have decided, based on actual research, take action. GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! Do not be the side line American that will listen and then complain and do nothing about it. The only way that things change are through action. “Newton Laws” an object stays in its current state unless acted upon.
J Slade
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
71Can any Obama supporters explain why Obama wants a strong Civilian Armed force that is well funded at the same time limiting out military forces???
Wendy
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
72Kris, very well said! Thanks for all the information, everyone that is able to vote should be required to read this. To Shelle, shame on you for what you said about John McCain. Were you even alive during that time? Where did you get your incredible information? I don’t think even your precious Obama would agree with what you said. Were you with John when they were torturing him? He “sang like a bird” before he was ever tortured?? As much crap as I have heard coming from “people” like you I have never heard anyone say such horrible things and lies. He got special treatment because of his dad? When he refused to be released early when the vietcong found out who his dad was they told him “you will be sorry that you refused” and commenced beating him and doing things to him that should be done to you for what you said. And religion has as much blood on their hands as George Bush? How old are you anyway, 10? What in heavens name do you mean by that remark anyway? I want to be there on judgement day, you will be crying for mercy, believe me!
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
73J Slade, re: #70, I think folks are missing the point entirely. One of the reasons I am for Obama is that he tends to really look at a situation and calls it like it is. This will not always be the perceived popular position, so it opens him to a lot of spin. In reality, people are crying about taxes, and at the same time supporting our current use of the military and military budget. You just can’t have it all. The answer is always somewhere in the middle. What do you do? Cut Taxes or Cut Military? The money must come from somewhere. So, either we pay more, cut military spending, or learn to speak Chineese. Personally, I think a well thought out mix of the first two is the answer.
I believe that all the hysteria has blinded folks to the fact that there are some hard realities we must face. Whoever is elected WILL have to face these realities, and since both men are intelligent, I believe either can be successful. My choice is based solely on my perception (from lots of digging) that Mr. Obama has been more forthcomming in speaking the hard truth that people just don’t want to hear. Is he the only one that can handle it? Of course not! Anyone who (1) cares about our country, (2) is capable of coherent thought, and (3) has all of the facts available, is going to do just fine. Now much of the hype on here has said that Obama fails miserably at all of these, but other sites say McCain is the failure. Mr. Obama’s care about community and willingness to step on the landmine “present” vote, tells me he is capable of the first two. If he get in the Whitehouse, the third will be unavoidable. Mr. McCain’s military experiences, combined with his thoughtful votes as a Senator all these years, tell me he will also be good. As I see it, either man will handle it well. (So I’m not accused AGAIN of being sexist, I voted for Hillary in the primary.)
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
74Second try, I hope it’s not a duplicate.
In an attempt to get some folks to wake up and learn something, before the forum crashed I had posted some thoughts on how politics works, having inside knowledge. I just felt that they are too important for people not to see them again. I edited them to make them easier to understand. Let me preface my comments with this statement: I am not trying to sway your vote. I want you to learn the facts of the issues that are important to you, learn how the candidates see these issues, (you may need to dig really deep and do a LOT of reading,) Then go vote for the candidate that you feel will best serve not only your needs, but the needs of the country in which you live. To this end, a short course in politics:
Politics 101:
If you are running for office, you can’t always be totally honest with the public. If you are, they will use it against you. Therefore, you must pick the issues you feel the majority of the public think are important, and constantly repeat your position.
“If you hear it over and over, it must be true!”
Politics 102:
To win, you must make your opponent appear to support ideas that are unpopular. Therefore, while not lying, you must plant an idea that will take on a life of it’s own in the passion of the voters. (See many posts in this and other forums that support primarily one side.)
“Even if it is not true, if you hear it over and over, it must be true!”
Politics 103:
It’s the day after the election. You either got your choice or you didn’t. (It’s just so simple.) The good news is that it doesn’t really matter too much. Now it’s your turn to work! (What, voting wasn’t enough? NO!) You have to communicate your position on the issues that really matter to you. The person in office wants to stay there. To do this, they must “flip-flop,” which is just another way of saying “listen to the voters’ wishes.” Those of us with a few years on the clock remember the old TV shows that used to say “Keep those cards and letters coming, folks!” THAT is how you tell your elected officials what you want. Trust me on this, (or dig in to it and learn,) when you write, it WILL be read. It may not (read “probably won’t”) be read by the office holder, but a staffer will read each and every letter and email (email is very much encouraged these days) for the issues and your position. (Please keep it polite and clean to keep it out of the recycle bin!) The results will be given to the office holder in a spread sheet and graph, and will instantly show where he(she) should vote on an issue. How cool is that!? You can (and SHOULD) vote anytime you want. Don’t let them get away with a position you don’t like! (Unless, of course, you’re in the minority position on the issue, which doesn’t mean you have to stop writing.) This is YOUR country only as long as you refuse to give up your voice!
Politics 104:
Don’t stop learning! (This course may be waived if you have taken: Life 101.)
READ, READ, READ, and READ some more. When you’re tired of reading, take some asprin and do it again.
YOU and ONLY YOU control the power you have in the political process and the running of our amazing government! One decision every four years is just not enough! Don’t let the excitable people, full of emotion and lies, take away your power!
Kris,
Thank you again for the links you posted. You have given people direction to some of the most valuable internet real estate, and it’s FREE for the taking! I think this truly puts you in the position of “patriot.”
Wendy
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
75Hey Craig, you say we need to read, so do you! What about Obama telling the coal companies that they will be fined so much when he is president they will be bankrupt. So wake up people in PA, WV, OH, KY!
There will go your jobs! And what will we do for energy, what will satisfy the ratical leftists, they don’t want coal, they don’t want nuclear, how about having little ponies being tied to posts and going around in circles to provide some power! That’s how stupid you sound!
What happened to Shelle? Can’t come back with anything to support your ignorant remarks about McCain? Everyone in my office wanted to know where you live, under what rock or Iran, North Korea? You are not a true American, and people don’t come back at me about that. You can’t say those things about one of the greatest American heroes, even your Obama says that.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
76J. Slade,
Your comment on Newton’s law reminded me to repost the politics courses above. Sometimes we just need to see things from a different perspective, and you hit the nail on the head! it’s all about ACTION! (I once wrote a proof that airplanes could fly referencing Ohm’s Law because of the similarities I noticed between hydraulics and electronics. It’s amazing how everything seems to relate to everything else.)
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
77Wendy,
First, thank you for informing me how stupid I sound, pointing out my reading deficits, and again applying a label that you can’t possibly know, based on ONE decision in ONE election. Although I am STILL not running for office, and therefore still have no requirement to publish my voting record, I live squarely in the middle! I am an independent thinker (read just because you try to spoon feed me BS, I ain’t eatin’ it!) What are you trying to accomplish with your attacks? I definitely don’t agree with Shelle’s comments on McCain, but really! What do you expect to prove by attacking a second time? Take some drugs, or pet a cat, or watch some fish, or anything to calm down a bit! (And NO, folks, that’s not sexist! I would say exactly the same thing to George.)
Now to politely add my response to your question: “What about Obama telling the coal companies that they will be fined so much when he is president they will be bankrupt.”
Please give me a reputable reference that proves your statement so that I can catch up on my reading and get all excited too. How much will they be fined (assuming he can pass that legislation,) and what is his motive to bankrupt them? Until I read that, here’s my opinion:
While I feel for the people who work in the coal industry, we need to clean up our planet for EVERYONE’S sake. (And please don’t try to educate me on how they will loose their jobs and homes. I’ve been there and done that. I know EXACTLY what it feels like!) The short run will be tough, but people and resources can and should be redeployed to cleaner energy industries. There are useable clean coal technologies available NOW. Economic incentives or blocks are the only way to motivate companies to change direction. We have an amazing wind resource that has barely been tapped. Solar thermal is the easiest and cheapest to deploy, with the quickest payback, yet it’s use hasn’t even scratched the surface. PV (look it up) is more costly, but its advantages, where practical, are impressive by reducing the distance (and the resultant loss) that the energy must move before it’s used. If every household in America changed all of their lighting to compact fluorescent, LED, and other energy saving light sources, we could shut down several coal plants. I don’t like nukes, but the reality is that we need to use them. Do I want a bunch more? No. But the ones we have can be maintained to get us through as we migrate to cleaner and safer energy sources.
I’m sorry, but you’re barking up the wrong tree here. I’ve done a LOT of research here! (Yes, that does imply READING.) I have taken the appropriate energy conservation steps and installed alternative technologies for my own use, and I am migrating MY small business to support clean energy technologies. You can complain all you want, but if there’s a problem, it needs a solution. Please tell us your contribution to the solution.
Oh, the pony thing! Look up “Horse Power” in the “Ask the Experts” section of the December/January issue of Home Power Magazine, when it hits the news stands in a week or so. You can’t get enough energy to run the average refrigerator, and it will require about two hours per day of the horse’s time (let’s be humane,) and you’ll have to clean up about 100 pounds of political rhetoric…er…uh… Horse Poop.
If I wasn’t so ill informed by my reading problem, I’d respond further.
Wendy
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
78Governments that seize assets & distribute to those who didn’t have an initiative to produce them tend to grab more & more power over time, until the grops that were initially served by its redistribution are its next victims. On the other hand, when a government leaves its productive creators free to own their own firstfruits, incentive is increased and even more brilliant output results.
‘Once upon a time there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors & said “if we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?”
“Not I,” said the cow.
“Not I” said the duck
“Not I” said the pig.
“Not I” said the goose.
“Then I will” said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall & ripened into golden grain. “Who will help me reap my wheat?” asked the little red hen.
“Not I” said the duck. “Out of my classification” said the pig. “I’d lose my seniority” said the cow. “I’d lose my unemployment compensation” said the goose. “Then I will” said the little red hen and she did.
At last the time came to bake the bread. “Who will help me bake bread?” asked the little red hen. “That would be overtime for me” said the cow. “I’d lose my welfare benefits” said the duck. “I’m a dropout & never learned how” said the pig. “If I’m to be the only helper, that’s discrimination” said the goose. “Then I will” said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves & held them up for the neighbors to see. They all wanted some and in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said “No, I can eat the five loaves myself”. “Capitalist leech” screamed the duck. “I demand equal rights” yelled the goose. And the pig just grunted. And they painted “unfair” picket signs & marched round and round the little red hen shouting obscenities. When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, “You must not be greedy”. “But I earned the bread” said the little red hen. “Exactly” said the agent. “That’s the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations productive workers must divide their products with the idle”
And they lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled & clucked, “I am grateful, I am grateful.” But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked any more bread.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
79I love fairytales!
Once upon a time, King George said “Why don’t we just round up all of the leaches on society and ship them overseas? We could call it Patriot Act II.” So after getting a title loan on the Navy fleet from China, he ordered the military to “round ‘em up and ship ‘em out!” Then all the big companies came back to stay in the land of the free and the home of the brave, because we no longer taxed them to pay for the lazy government (read population) that we had created. Now we will no longer have welfare cheats, or an unemployment system that doesn’t bother to see that so many people hang on until benefits run out” said the king. And while we’re at it, we can ship those worthless homeless people to the Saudi desert, where it’s warm, said court puppet master Dick. Halliburton smiled at the no-bid contract to move the people. We’ll have 100% employment, and everyone can have some coal in their stocking on Christmas morning, because they, too, know they must do their part to support the coal industry. Then Santa took a deep breath and said: “to all…hack…hack…hack… a good night!”
Fairytales are fun because we can suspend reality for a time.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
80Wendy,
It’s been a while since I heard that story. I think it was ‘92 or so. The words have been updated a little. The problem though is that it is describing “socialism” which is the current fodder for politics 102, as it always is when we’re afraid of the Democrats. While it’s a cute tale, it still has no more (if not less) basis in reality in our system of government. Of course if you just want to go back to sleep for the next 4 years and let the politicos run on autopilot, it could come true. Personally, I have much more faith in the intelligence of our people to not let that happen (see again politics 103.)
High taxes are not wanted by anyone, but that doesn’t make them socialism! There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch! Someone has got to pay for things. One month’s worth of money from the Iraq war could probably make us almost all of the system cheats, because we wouldn’t even notice them any more. (No, that doesn’t imply that I condone the cheats. It’s an attempt to turn on the light of perspective.) YOU CAN’T HAVE IT ALL!
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
81sorry, it should have read “…probably make us forget almost all of the system cheats…”
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
82Wendy,
I am really sorry to pick on you again, but I just went back to read your posts. I like to make sure I’m not misreading things. I picked up on something else. In reference to Shelle, you mentioned that “Everyone in my office wanted to know where you live…” Since I’m self employed, I can’t play on the computer during work hours. It’s a basic economics thing. I work = I eat, and I like eating a whole lot more than computers. I am somewhat curious, though, does the entire office take their breaks at the same time to follow this forum? Is your employer in any way picking up the tab here? Is the boss the “Capitalist leach” here?
I have been doing IT work for over thirty years and I hate to go to those big “cubicle farms” because it drives me nuts to see so many people complaining about how hard they work, and how little they get paid, and how high taxes are. If it was true, that would be one thing, but most are surfing the net, buying and selling on ebay, and bitching to their friends via email and text chat about how deplorable their conditions are. It seems to me that no matter how good people have it, they have to complain about someone else having more, or having it easier, or looking better, or having a bigger SUV, or… ad infinitem…
Talk about “redistributing the wealth!” On occasion, I do IT work for a “Christian” radio personality. His poor flock send in their meager contributions in the name of the Lord, and after expenses of several $ million to run the “business,” he and his wife and their many children are forced to live on less than $1.5 million a year! I’d feel sorry for their hardship if they weren’t so rude to people or if they didn’t keep asking for freebies, or if they didn’t have a new car every few months. But… You may ask why don’t I just stop working for them? I do it as a favor to another small business owner who has been good to me. It’s called “work ethic,” which has all but disappeared in the business environment.
People are so convinced that the sky is falling, but are too blind to the fact that it is just the paint peeling off the ceiling because they’re too “entitled” to take care of the basic maintenance. (Oh, yea, right, that’s a job for the illegals that we complain about, but like their work ethic so much we keep hiring them.)
It’s almost winter folks! Are you doing anything to help your fellow human who can’t help themselves? Are you volunteering you time to help anyone else? Or is that someone elses job? I’m just asking, not accusing. (That’s already been done to me because of my choice.) Tuesday will be here and gone before we know it. What do YOU do next?
Patty
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
83Craig:
I have been gone awhile. It’s great to see your still here fighing the good fight
middle class worker/taxpayer
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
84Something else to think about…
Since when did Broadband Internet Access become so necessary,
that’s it’s another promise Obama has made.
I watched a video earlier today, one of several of his campaign speeches, & one of his promises was that every household in the nation WOULD have Broadband Internet Access, even if they could’t pay for it.
I’m thinking, now wait just a minute…if everyone household will have this nice little service, then who’s gonna pay for that. You wanna’ guess on this one??? How about those of us that have phone service & pay our bill each month? How about yet another federally mandated fee that each & everyone of us have to pay to make sure that every household has it? We already pay one fee to make sure that everyone in the country has phone service & now, can we expect to pay either a larger one or be charged another fee??
Another question… if every household has Broadband Internet Access, but doesn’t have a computer, then where will they get the computers? Will that be yet another stimulus package? With the actual taxpayers picking up that tab as well?
I’ll have to try & find that link & post it for everyone to watch, for proof!!
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
85Middle class,
I’m 100% behind you on this one! Due to the work I do, I need it. The cable co won’t extend it .9 miles to my house for less than $40K! I use my cell phone, and PAY for it myself! Being in the industry, I see the charges that are tacked on to business bills to cover helping those that can’t. Funny thing though, it’s free at the library!
This is where we don’t let our congressmen and senators slide it by! Watch the bills they try to pass and let them know it ain’t cool!
dh
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
86Here is the Q&A on the broadband internet issue, I’m not sure how I feel about it but I see his point:
Q: Politicians have been talking for years about the need for high-speed Internet access. Should this be accomplished primarily through deregulation and market forces, or should the federal government give out grants or subsidies, or enact new laws?
Obama: I believe that America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access. As a country, we have ensured that every American has access to telephone service and electricity, regardless of economic status, and I will do likewise for broadband Internet access. Full broadband penetration can enrich democratic discourse, enhance competition, provide economic growth, and bring significant consumer benefits.
Moreover, improving our infrastructure will foster competitive markets for Internet access and services that ride on that infrastructure. Market forces will drive the deployment of broadband in many parts of the country, but not all. To get true broadband deployed in every community in America, we need to reform the Universal Service Fund, make better use of the nation’s wireless spectrum, promote next-generation facilities, technologies, and applications, and provide new tax and loan incentives.
Craig
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
87dh,
OK, I apologize in advance, but here’s where I swing to the right of center. This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I live in a very rural area. I wish I could have cheap broadband internet access, but I can’t. When I first moved here, I couldn’t get it at any cost. It costs money to build infrastructure. A new tower and a new offering from my cell phone company made it possible.
While I believe in programs that protect the health and welfare of people who are otherwise unable to provide it for themselves, I think providing anything above basic telecommunications for safety at taxpayer expense doesn’t fit the test of true need. I do believe that it is necessary to deliver broadband access to all schools, including rural schools, otherwise we risk further dividing class lines at the city limits. That can fall under the cost of educating our children. But we can extend that access at lower cost to rural residents. Why not resell the unused bandwidth after school hours to the local residents via wireless service. The kids could still do their homework and the rest of the family could “enrich democratic discourse, enhance competition, provide economic growth, and bring significant consumer benefits.” Full bandwidth is not needed to accomplish these goals for the majority of residents, so the cost could be relatively low with balanced bandwidth sharing. If you run a business in a rural area, the additional cost of broadband via cell phone or satellite, while not enjoyable, is justifiable and deductible. Business needs will fill in the gaps. As the true need increases, the economics will justify the cost of extension of the infrastructure by the service providers to provide higher bandwidth. The other component of this is that the advances made in technology almost daily will surely lower infrastructure cost and increase bandwidth.
In my opinion, if we take care of the schools and take care of the students, there can be a balance between taxpayer contribution and natural economic advance. I work with technology every day, and know that the stated goals can be achieved with lower bandwidth (basically low DSL speed,) allowing for natural market forces to advance the availability of higher bandwidth as truly needed. I absolutely disagree that we need to stick this under the Universal Service Fund umbrella. That should be for basic telecom only. The reassignment of the wireless spectrum is happening as we speak, which I’m sure you know if you watch any TV. The market is already promoting the newest technologies, so we don’t need to pay for that.
I have been watching an amazing missed opportunity in the community where I live. They are going through replacing and relocating the electric distribution system. With the labor involved, pulling one more cable on those new poles, a fiber cable, would be a minimal additional cost to the electric company, yet would open untapped revenue opportunity. The problem here is the regulatory issues.
Our government tries so hard to fix everything to the extent we have stupid regulations that hinder forward progress. Why is it that when we talk about less government, the politicians go directly to social security and other programs that affect the health and security of people, yet interfere with businesses to the extent that they can’t do smart things for the right reasons, then give tax breaks to them for doing something else?
I don’t support right or left thinking (in spite of some peoples’ assumptions,) rather SMART thinking. OK, I think I need to rattle some politicians’ cage now.
Craig
November 4th, 2008 at 12:05 am
88Patty, Welcome back!
ray
November 4th, 2008 at 12:28 am
89I feel The people will see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel that the one to be president is the one that has an idea what we are faced with. BO does not have a clue
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 1:31 am
90http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/irs_screen_grab.guest.html
As it stands right now everyone is ticked about paying taxes… Do you know what income bracket pays the highest taxes?? Click the link and find out. When you open the page look at the top left of the Excel sheet. In the blue there is BLACK writing that says “Click Here for the Raw IRS Data. ”
Click there and it will tell you. Just in case you don’t read it…. The Rich pay the most tax.
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 3:01 am
91Craig, I didn’t see your post to Prag the other night… You flew off the deep end eh?? Tisk Tisk….. lol
http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/JobsforAmerica/taxes.htm
On a side note that I MYSELF am concerned about I was excited to see Mccains plan regarding gas prices and taxes…. Thought it was interesting… I own two LARGE vehichles, Suburban and Dodge 2500 Diesel, and 3 kids. This one hit home for me….
Gas and Food Prices
John McCain will help Americans hurting from high gasoline and food costs. Americans need relief right now from high gas prices. John McCain will act immediately to reduce the pain of high gas prices.
* John McCain believes we should send a strong message to world markets. Under his plan, the United States will be telling oil producing countries and oil speculators that our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end - and the impact will be lower prices at the pump.
* John McCain’s policies will increase the value of the dollar and thus reduce the price of oil. In recent years, the declining value of the dollar has added to the cost of imported oil. This will change. Americans will have a stronger economy, a stronger dollar and greater purchasing power for oil, gas and food.
* John McCain believes we should institute a summer gas tax holiday. Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain called on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
o Reuters: Gas Tax Holiday “Of Most Immediate Effect To Consumers.” “Of most immediate effect to consumers was his appeal to the U.S. Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day at the end of May to Labor Day in early September.” (Steve Holland, “McCain Proposes Tax Cuts And Lashes Democrats,” Reuters, 4/15/08)
o USA Today: “A USA TODAY Analysis Showed That McCain’s Gas-Tax Proposal Could Save Motorists $6.8 Billion In Taxes During The Summer.” (Kathy Kiely, “Gas-Tax Holiday Among McCain’s Plans For Economy,” USA Today, 4/16/08)
* John McCain will repeal the 54 cents per gallon tax on imported sugar-based ethanol, increasing competition, and lowering prices of gasoline at the pump.
* John McCain will roll back corn-based ethanol mandates, which are contributing to the rising cost of food.
I spent a lot of the night reading our Constitution and hoping that everyone would get the point with my post earlier. Apparently the light bulb didn’t go on for some…. So I will explain in detail.
Post #64 Amendment II (1791)
http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm
The constitution. READ IT.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,”
A good military with accessible defense mechanisms and strategies is NECESSARY to guarantee our SECURITY and SAFETY and our FREEDOM.
“the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Our Priveledge as Citizens of this country to KEEP and Bear GUNS SHALL NOT BE TAKIN AWAY or ALTERED.
Ok now that you read that ammendment to the constitution lets all go back up and watch the video at the top of this board. I dont want to CHANGE our constitution!! Or the decleration of Independance!! I want to live by it!! Why are you wanting a politician telling us that we need to change what America Indeed Stands for?
Mccain is running against Obama. We need experience. Here is the facts, please read both links.
Mccain in the senate 1987- present
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/one_item_and_teasers/arizona.htm
Obama in the senate 2005-present
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/one_item_and_teasers/illinois.htm
Barack vs. Palin Experience….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsUw2Vq8UMw
Biden in senate 1973-present
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/one_item_and_teasers/delaware.htm
But just for the record…. The american people have turned Biden down since 1988 for the presidential seat when he ran against Michael Ducacus.
Craig,
Have you gone and read Mccains actual tax plan from his website? I went to both BO website and Mc’s page and did both of their calculators… Funny I was getting more back on Mccains calculator Mccain tax beni 2087 obama I owe 1213. When I went to obamas website, I was only getting 33 dollars more under his tax plan. So regardless. Obama’s site itself told me 33 dollar difference. It has 2 columns one says obama which was only 1000 and the other said mccain 967. Is that 33 bucks worth my freedom? Worth my children’s safety? Socialism? The mere possibility of him trying to redistribute the money we all work hard for? The lack of experience? NO it is NOT WORTH IT!!! I would rather pay and know that My children grand children and great grand children etc etc etc have the priveledge to live and die in the greatest Nation on this earth. That my husband and I as public servants are not forced to work in a “national” police force and essentialy make this a communist country. We love the people we serve. And we love them enough to fight for them everyday. PLEASE STAND WITH US AND FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. We do it everyday, I AM ONLY ASKING YOU TO DO IT TOMORROW.
Stop and think about this!
You couldn’t get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t become chief of surgery after 143 days of experience of being a surgeon.
You couldn’t get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t join the military and become a colonel after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
BUT. …
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That’s how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World … 143 days.
We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that’s all it is - a start.
AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn’t accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America?
Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 3:21 am
92Notice to All Employees
As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama is officially elected into office, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness:
1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales and bonuses into a common pool that will be divided equally between all of you. This will serve to give those of you who are underachieving a “fair shake.”
2. All low level workers will be pooling their wages, including overtime, into a common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves. This will help those who are “too busy for overtime” to reap the rewards from those who have more spare time and can work extra hours.
3. All top management will now be referred to as “the government.” We will not participate in this “pooling” experience because the law doesn’t apply to us.
4. The “government” will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week, encouraging it’s workers to continue to work hard “for the good of all.”
5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it’s “good to spread the wealth.” Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more “patriotic.”
6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks. Don’t feel bad, though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare, free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free foodstamps, and he’ll let you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can’t pay your mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get a free flatscreen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn’t all Americans be entitled to nice looking hair?) !!!
If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to rethink your vote on November 4th.
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 3:27 am
93Incredible but true
If Barack Obama were to apply for a job with the FBI or with the Secret
Service, he would be disqualified because of his past association with
William Ayers, a known terrorist.
If he were elected President he would not qualify to be his own body
guard!
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 3:47 am
94This election has me very worried. So many things to consider. About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times since than. I watch all the news channels, jumping from one to another. I must say this drives my husband crazy. But, I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you might get some middle ground to work with. About six months ago, I started thinking ‘where did the money come from for Obama’. I have four daughters who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans.
I started looking into Obama’s life.
Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. ‘Barry’ (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan. During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a ’round the world’ trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate’s family, then off to Africa to visit his father’s family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? ! Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia? It’s not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York.
By ‘chance’ he met Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria, and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Decade’ by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association’. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School. Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get the money for Law School? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented ‘Rezar’ which Rezko’s firm. Rezko was one of Obama’s first major financial contributors when he ran f! or offi ce in Chicago. In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with ’seed money’ for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko’s wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama’s new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.
Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama’s boss. She is now Obama’s chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz, Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?
On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was ’sacked’ after the press found out he was having regular contacts with ‘Hamas’, which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran. This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama’s visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will ‘Take care of things’.
Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those ’small’ Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East?
And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on ‘This Week’ with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, ‘My Muslim faith’. When questioned, ‘he make a mistake’. Some mistake!
All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.
Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven’t all of our ‘intelligent’ members of the press been reporting this?
A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - ‘Beware of the enemy from within’!!!
Kris
November 4th, 2008 at 4:01 am
95Sorry if this double posts. I am having a hard time posting tonight….
Part 1:
In just one year! Remember the election in 2006?
Thought you might like to read the following. A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of Amer