I have no problem with fighting terrorism. In fact, I wish we had done it instead of going to Iraq. Iraq was a waste of our young people and resources. It has made us less safe. In addition, we have elected to fight this war of choice and send the bill to our children and grandchildren. Our young people have fought bravely and done everything we have asked them to do. We should be ashamed for being so wasteful with their service.

We've not had a significant terrorist attack on American soil since September 11, 2001... so, I'm not sure how you substantiate your claim that we're less safe.

 

The only way one young American life will be wasted in our effort in Iraq and Afghanistan is if we listen to Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and company, declare defeat and pull out before we finish the job. That would be something to be ashamed of indeed.

Came home last night and was feeling pretty good about my life. More money in savings than I have ever had. Good jobs after my wife and I valued education and got training for a good career as public school teachers. I feel like I am contributing to society by being a teacher and with my role as Deacon at our church.

 

Good health care and my kids are getting a good public school education.

 

Then around 9, I turned on the Democrat Presidential debate and found out the truth.

 

I have a miserable life in a miserable time and GW Bush and Cheney is to blame for it all.

 

I learned last night that the public school education system is horrible and not educating my children. They are behind in science and math of other countries.

 

I learned that economically, I am doing terrible and am not being able to afford to feed my family.

 

I learned that I have lost all my privacy (well except I still have the privacy to kill my unborn baby and that all of them will fight to make sure I have that right) because of GW and Cheney spying on me because of the Patriot Act.

 

I learned that we must have two Presidents because everytime that they mentioned the President, they called him Bush and Cheney.

 

I learned that a Democrat (with the exception of Kucinich) cannot answer a question from a chair. When asked, they immediately sprang forward to the front of the stage, thanking the person for the question.

 

I learned that I am hated by everyone in the world because of of the two Presidents but confusingly, we are having a problem of other people in the world wanting to sneak into this country and live taking my job. I must admit I am not clear on this one because if we are so hated, why are they wanting to come and live in this country?

 

I must admit where I came home with a bounce in my step and my cheeks rosy, I sit at the computer this morning, DEPRESSED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a lighthearted attempt at a thread in P & R.

Ball Coach. Don't you understand politics. It's about getting elected. These days, it's most of the time about painting a negative picture about the other side in order to sway voters your way. Both R's and D's do it.

 

Typically the change message rules. And many times politicians get credit or blame for things that just happen to occur on their watch.

 

I have more money in my savings account than I ever have, but its not because I am paying less taxes. It's because I am disciplined enough to spend less money than I make, more so than the fact that I am paying less taxes. As a matter of fact the way I look at it, If I'm not paying taxes, I'm not making any money.

Ball Coach. Don't you understand politics. It's about getting elected. These days, it's most of the time about painting a negative picture about the other side in order to sway voters your way. Both R's and D's do it.

 

Typically the change message rules. And many times politicians get credit or blame for things that just happen to occur on their watch.

 

I have more money in my savings account than I ever have, but its not because I am paying less taxes. It's because I am disciplined enough to spend less money than I make, more so than the fact that I am paying less taxes. As a matter of fact the way I look at it, If I'm not paying taxes, I'm not making any money.

 

About 12-18 months ago, I asked an accountant on here to figure up basically what I paid in income taxes before Bush and in Bush's term. It was approximately $5,100 PRE-Bush, $2,700 in Bush's term. My wife and I are public school teachers, so we are definitely NOT in the upper bracket.

 

So, that extra money in my savings IS a DIRECT RESULT of the Bush tax breaks that the Dems said went to the wealthy.

About 12-18 months ago, I asked an accountant on here to figure up basically what I paid in income taxes before Bush and in Bush's term. It was approximately $5,100 PRE-Bush, $2,700 in Bush's term. My wife and I are public school teachers, so we are definitely NOT in the upper bracket.

 

So, that extra money in my savings IS a DIRECT RESULT of the Bush tax breaks that the Dems said went to the wealthy.

 

So during the same time that you were enjoying $16,800 in tax reductions, the government borrowed over $10,000 in the name of every man woman and child in the country. Your tax cut will be paid for by your children. Still feel like a good deal?

So during the same time that you were enjoying $16,800 in tax reductions, the government borrowed over $10,000 in the name of every man woman and child in the country. Your tax cut will be paid for by your children. Still feel like a good deal?

Same thing I heard in the 70's about leaving the tax bill for our kids (me and you) to pay.

Same thing I heard in the 70's about leaving the tax bill for our kids (me and you) to pay.

 

And we are paying the interest on it. It has become a HUGE portion of the budget, with a great deal of the interest paid to overseas investors. For me, you are a generation off. I was one of those adults in the 70s, passing the debt to my kids. Our debt continues to rise because we won't pay the taxes to match the money we spend.

And we are paying the interest on it. It has become a HUGE portion of the budget, with a great deal of the interest paid to overseas investors. For me, you are a generation off. I was one of those adults in the 70s, passing the debt to my kids. Our debt continues to rise because we won't pay the taxes to match the money we spend.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. The dollar figure per week the US is spending on the Iraq War is over 3 Billion a week.

Our debt continues to rise because we won't pay the taxes to match the money we spend.

A similar thing happens in families. It's called budgeting. It means that as head of the household, I occasionally must make unpopular decisions to reduce our spending to avoid exceeding my capacity to earn.

 

I can't simply draft legislation to raise our revenues against my employer's will. We have to find ways to spend less than I earn. I also have to save money for unexpected emergencies. I have to spend a lot of money every year for the protection and defense of my family. This includes lots of insurance... health, life, property, auto, etc. Lots of insurance. I have little control over insurance companies rates... (other than shopping around for the best rates, driving safely and not collecting speeding tickets, not smoking or getting fat, etc.)

 

Wars and military action are an unavoidable necessity in the life of every nation that want's to remain independent. This is a budget line item that must be accounted for. We can't simply state, "We're not going to defend our nation."

 

I'm tired of being told I don't pay enough taxes. The top 50% of all taxpayers actually pay over 96% of the tax bill. That means that the bottom 50% pay less than 4%.

 

Even so, If liberals insist that we must raise taxes to pay for every social program they claim is so indispensible... I suggest we revise our election policy to allow only those citizens who actually PAY taxes to be eligible to vote. I don't get a voice in the decisions of any company simply because I was born in their zip code. I must own at least a share of their corporate stock.

 

You make it a law that only taxpaying citizens get to vote in future elections, you can talk to me about raising my taxes.

 

I guarantee that there would never again be enough liberal democrats in office (buying votes with social Robin Hooding) to sway our national policy and budget in such a way that higher taxes are necessary.

 

So there... :lol:

We have a potentially huge problem coming up with our national debt. The debt isn't the problem, its who holds it. China holds $350 billion of U.S. Treasury debt. The problem is the dollar is sinking and the Chinese are seriously considering dumping the debt for hard American assets. This could have dire economic effects on this country, just as we feared would happen with the Japanese. The problem today, is that the Chinese aren't exactly our friends.

We have a potentially huge problem coming up with our national debt. The debt isn't the problem, its who holds it. China holds $350 billion of U.S. Treasury debt. The problem is the dollar is sinking and the Chinese are seriously considering dumping the debt for hard American assets. This could have dire economic effects on this country, just as we feared would happen with the Japanese. The problem today, is that the Chinese aren't exactly our friends.

 

 

Bolded went right over my head. Please explain:

1) how did China come to hold so much of the debt;

2) how do they dump the debt;

3) what are hard American assets and is that like "hard as Chinese arithmetic?"

Bolded went right over my head. Please explain:

1) how did China come to hold so much of the debt;

2) how do they dump the debt;

3) what are hard American assets and is that like "hard as Chinese arithmetic?"

1) They buy it on the open market or whenever the Treasury sells bonds. Japan holds almost twice the U.S. debt that China holds.

2) They simply put it back on the market. And when you dump that many securities in a short period, their value drops.

3) They would especially like to buy U.S. companies. Real Estate is another possible purchase.

1) They buy it on the open market or whenever the Treasury sells bonds. Japan holds almost twice the U.S. debt that China holds.

2) They simply put it back on the market. And when you dump that many securities in a short period, their value drops.

3) They would especially like to buy U.S. companies. Real Estate is another possible purchase.

 

So, when you say China, is that the Chinese government who literally buys the bonds?

1) They buy it on the open market or whenever the Treasury sells bonds. Japan holds almost twice the U.S. debt that China holds.

2) They simply put it back on the market. And when you dump that many securities in a short period, their value drops.

3) They would especially like to buy U.S. companies. Real Estate is another possible purchase.

 

They have been buying about 70% of our T-Bonds for about 8-10 yrs now.

They have been buying about 70% of our T-Bonds for about 8-10 yrs now.

 

Is this actually the Chinese government or individual/chinese businesses?

Is this actually the Chinese government or individual/chinese businesses?

I can't say for certain, but I think that is mainly the Chinese government. If you count all dollar denominated assets, the PRC controlls $1 trillion.