08-12-2008, 02:49 AM
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Participating Member
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Total Posts: 439
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Re: Obama and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by TaurusNYC
I recommend that the government stop spending 50% of its budget on defense. This country spends more money on defense than China, Russia, and the entire European community combined. We've spent 800 billion dollars in Iraq since the war began. All in the name of keep us safe. Meanwhile, our infrastructure crumbles (levees in New Orleans, I-35 in Minneapolis), our electrical grid is vulnerable, our public schools go wanting, we are not even close to energy dependent (we import 60% of our oil from unsavory countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela), and we rely on foreign credit to keep us afloat. Our military cannot solve any of these problems. I don't mind paying taxes, but I sure as hell mind where the government spends my money.
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Not having a strong military is like securing your house with shoestrings instead of locks. If it were not for our military muscle, the United States would not exist today.
New Orleans and Minneapolis are city and state government issues.
The Federal Government is not supposed to be daddy who is there to bail out his children (city and state) every time a disaster strikes. The states and cities need to learn to take care of themselves. Just because you are a disaster victim, it does not mean you win the lottery or quality of life has to be restored.
Katrina victims should have got nothing more than food, water, and shelter. Two obvious lessons should have been learned. One the city and state needs to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Nobody took charge when Katrina was on the way. Everybody shifted the blame and played it off. When things went down the commode, everybody wanted to take charge. Two the people of New Orleans behaved like stupid idiots. When the authorities tell you to leave town because danger is on the way you pack up and get out of town. You do not change the channel and watch Springer.
Minneapolis was a freak accident. If anything the state, the trucking company, and the construction company should be footing the bill not the feds. The state could have focused more on inspections and setting limits. The companies should have taken the time to learn the bridges, capacity, close lanes, or close the bridge entirely during construction.
The electrical grid problem is the result of companies not putting money back into the system. Not to mention in some states the tree huggers cry every time a power plant is planned. Then they complain when they do not have enough power to run their expensive coffee maker. We are fortunate for the fact that OGE plans for growth.
The schools are hurting mainly because of money mismanagement and the lack of parental involvement. I attended school in Moore anytime we needed something the district could not provide the teachers and parents rallied together and found away to fund what we needed. Today's parents treat the schools like free daycare centers. The administrators want to spend money on everything but the school and the kids in the classroom. Meanwhile the teachers are stuck in the middle and stressed out. They are paid a crap wage and they have to buy their own supplies. The good ones leave for better pay in private schools or community colleges. The mediocre to worse teachers ride the teacher’s union bandwagon and bleed the district dry as a form of revenge on the parents and administrators. (IE: OK HB 1017)
It is time for the Feds to tell the city, county, and state to prepare for emergencies Find alternate sources of funding instead of taxes alone. Stop running to us every time you have a problem.
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