Sparky55 Forum Posts (2,678)

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

Dude, I promise to answer all your questions if you can answer just one. How much is enough? i.e. how much money does the government have to collect/tax from the rich for it to be enough?

RE: Prospects for peace in Afganistan

Yeah, really sad. It's been hell ever since. Like you, I don't agree with the response but to invoke such things, knowing full well what the outcome would be was stupid.

The numbers of dead in Mazar-e-Sharif are incorrect BTW. I believe the more accurate count is 30.

All this in the name of God or Allah. When will we learn to get along.

RE: The Future of Nuclear Power

But Ooby, why should we fund NPR in any way? They can get their funding through donations from the Carnegy Foundation and other organizations and "people like you" Always liked that quote from NPR.

Seriously, what makes them any different than any other broadcasting company other than they don't show/air commercials.

RE: Paintings

You're both creative and talented.

RE: disaster in Japan

Frustrating and dangerous situation for all concerned. I'm sure they are doing all they can to get this under control and more help's available if/when they ask for it.

I realy do hope they're able to get this under control soon and my thoughts and prayers are with them.

RE: should Gaddafi beeing

Excellent post. I've been saying the same thing.

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

If it were only Corruption!
But it is all about the Majority believing they could stifle a Productive Minority by Legislative Favoritism!

How many of those unwieldy,Government-like Corporations would be still in Business if it weren't for some Friendly Legislation?[/quote]

That's exactly the point. Those companies who got bailed out by the US taxpayer over the past 40 years should have been allowed to die because they either had a crappy product or didn't manage their business properly.

We really need to be out of the bail out business and that includes the S&L industry. All those high risk mortgages and securites need to be a thing of the past.

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

I think you meant corruption

Seriously, government and business don't mix well. while there has to be some oversite for the safety of consumers, a mariage is not necessary.

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

Interestingly enough, some of the policies set forth by well meaning people have resulted in increase of power in big corporations. Some of the requirements for the USDA and FDA for example are not economically viable for smaller companies and often times the requirements are approved by the bigger businesses. Big business can absorb the cost while smaller business' cannot. The same can be said for American Steel and other large corporations on any laws passed regulating business' Even those measures taken to comply with laws governing hiring practices for those with disabilities and around race and/or gender help big business. After all, the mom & pop business could never afford to expand and become compliant with some of these requirements.

The Dems may very well believe they are helping small businesses and providing equal opportunity but they are in fact hurting more than they're helping. Honestly, our government while well meaning (both Dems and Reps) are not the wisest business people. Having worked for them for the past 30 years I can assure you that they are not the best stewards of our tax dollars. The more they are involved the harder and faster we are collectively screwed.

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

Well, I for one don't hate the man, I just think his policies are wrong and now he's broken his word about pre-emptive strikes. It'll always be a lose lose situation when someone from teh extreem left or right are in office. We need a little moderation.

RE: disaster in Japan

BTW, whatever happened to that guy? Don't get me wrong, I don't miss him but I feel like something's missing like that time I had to walk all day with a small peble in my boot. At the end of the day, I missed that pebble...

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

Yep, trench warfare on the horizon.

RE: Prospects for USA Recovery

RE: Prospects for USA Recovery

And stocking up on beer

RE: Prospects for USA Recovery

This is why I'm currently in the desert... Practicing for the gloom and doom to come...

RE: should Gaddafi beeing

NATO and the US should not be doing anything with Gaddafi IMO. If the people of Libya want him out, they need to do it themselves. The only thing we're accomplishing at the moment is helping to replace one dictator with another dictatorship or worse. We don't even know who the opposition is yet we've gone in guns ablazin.

We're going to look really stupid when the identities of those we're helping are confirmed and public. Have we learned nothing from Vietnam, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, etc....

RE: Prospects for peace in Afganistan

Not meant as a negative but there's a tribal mentality here and I doubt they're going to get beyond that for quite a long time. Sometimes I see glimmers of hope but for every good sign of progress there's even more negative news. Sad part, is that these folks are for the most part like anyone else from any other country. They jut want to live and be able to support themselves and their families.

RE: Former Taliban Reconcile With Afghan Government

Waterfall is a very accurate description of how the money flows through here. I'd love to see peace come and we're making slow progress but I don't believe the tax payer's going to put up with this much longer.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

Exactly who am I slamming. There's debate and differences of opinion and then there's rude or slamming.

What I find to be comical is that many who are suffering from the woes of Obama bashing are the same ones who found it perfectly fine to bash Bush. It's no fun when the venom is focused at one's own beliefs system, party, etc...

Even though I don't agree with many of Obama's policies and decisions I am still entitled to my opinion and I really try to keep it respectful. What is distressing are those who are suddenly offended by some of the rhetoric on these threads and a quick look back into the history of these forums would reveal very clearly that they are quilty of hypocracy at worst and a convenient memory lapse at best.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

I believe it was a Republican (Stave Forbes who brought up the issue of a flat tax in 1996. Reps want to ease taxes on the rich and the Dems want to tax the wealthy more than they already are. Neither reek of fairness. I think the flat tax does.

RE: Former Taliban Reconcile With Afghan Government

excellent post Ooby! Contrary to what somebelieve there is progress being made. Not enough but they're moving in the right direction. I hope this trend continues. Unfortunately, not a lot of this will make the news as the Taliban killing 50 police trainess warrants higher ratings..

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

That makes a hell of a lot more sense than this petty bickering. As long as we can keep it flat and avoid any tax breaks for any groups, I'd be all for it.

RE: Obama calls moving a way from reliance on oil a “national mission” ! Support!

I dunno Tom. If we can't do this via a no-fly zone and air attacks at strategic points we'll see boots on the groud. In for a penny, in for a pound.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

I think you have a good point here. Now if we could only find an unfettered candidate. I'm tempted to say the whole system is rigged to prevent such a thing. Oh, I guess I said it after all

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

Yes but he can not not answer questions better on his own thread. Time for a visit there.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

That'sall fine and good but it does seem that it was OK whe Bush was President to slam on him but it's suddenly not OK to do the same thing to President Obama.

Don't get me wrong, I think one can disagree and criticize without the disparging comments and personal attacks. The fact is, P Bush made some serious mistakes as is P Obama.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

Yeah, I know, I know.... You want Bush back in office don't you?

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

Aw hell, they were pretty damn safe when I was there Good to see you Tom.

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

I don't agree with the DEBT comment as I believe the operative word should be FEAR or at least that's what was claimed during the Bush Administration.

In the end, the DEBT we now have and continue to acquire will ruin us as will these unnecessary military conflicts.

Now we're arming AQ more and the American taxpayer is again flipping the bill. When will we learn?

RE: Obama’s Tripling of the National Debt

I'm not certain on what the War Powers Act calls for but I do find it odd that Bush did get approval before both Afghanistan and Iraq yet we could not take the time in this case

It'll be interesting to see where this takes us in the near future. Will those who called Bush a war monger, fighting an illegal war provide the same rhetoric for President Obama. I doubt it and I for one won't but I will say that I don't agree with this. As I see it as an eternal issue that Libya needs to settle themselves.

Last time I checked, we were not the world police and a quick look through all the old "Bush" threads will verify that fact..

Interesting times ahead I think...