Batch,

He did cover terrorism and extremism and threats to the US - check the text.



Some differences between the two speeches:

Obama was more comprehensive. Obama defined a role for government in the current situation, one that I think most Americans agree with.

Jindal went to the standard Republican strategies - cut taxes, limit government. 

In today's climate, i don't think tax cuts and shrinking government alone is the right strategy. I am for mass transit, volcano research (along with earthquake research, hurricane research, etc). 

Taken to the nth degree, the Jindal approach suggests we should dissolve the military and ask people to arm themselves. That made sense in a colonial frontier on the edge of the known world, but not in today's world. Government can do things right - the military is an example.

In other news, the figures are out and exports from Japan dropped by 50% in January.  Strong indication of the size of the economic spasm and the need to act. 

The cost of taking action is significant, but the various figures I have seen put the cost of the 2004 Bush tax cuts at $4-$6 trillion. Simply letting them expire will let us pay off much of the emergency legislation.

I will, next time I see him.

Quote:


Frank wasn't the first to suggest that we need to re-prioritize our military spending going forward, that should be a regular occurence. Also, the President is proposing increasing the number of active duty personell, which is somewhat different than the ideas of that Congressman.

If I read the word PORKULUS one more time, I'm going to heave

wildhaus wrote on Feb 25^th, 2009 at 3:26pm:

If American voters understood this, Michael, we wouldn't be in this mess.

I'm reminded of B$'s signature line - something like, "Imagine how stupid the average person is, then remind yourself that half the people are even more stupid than this."

Welkome to Amerika.

I understand the U.S. is not the only country aslope at this time.  Though I seem to have less interest, methods how these other countries realistically "make adjustments" could be examined also with these expectations on America.

monty wrote on Feb 25^th, 2009 at 4:04pm:


Monty,
You're missing the big picture year.  wildhaus is talking about legitimate businesses and law abiding citizens.  US corportations build overseas to escape the heavy tax burdens in the US.   The IRS has hamstrung American businesses based in the US.

This is from 2002, but it points out how the US is not competitive in the world market.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Take a look at what states are offering mfg. plants to locate their plants there.  There's some mighty big bucks being spent to lure these companies.

deltadarlin wrote on Feb 25^th, 2009 at 7:52pm:


No, I'm not missing the big picture. The US government just found UBS (the largest Swiss Bank) guilty of being part of a major criminal conspiracy to defraud the US of tax money. The US government is seeking to get information on US Citizens that are breaking the law. And many Swiss are not happy about it - so we see them blaming the US.

There is nothing wrong or illegal with individuals or corporations moving money internationally - they may want to diversify, may see opportunities that others don't. But when someone is a citizen of a country and they don't follow the laws of that country (ie, they don't report the money or profits), then they are breaking the law.   Switzerland has long profited from such illegal activity, and now that the US Government is trying to stop it, we see reactions like the comments from Wildhaus:

Quote:


Wildhaus is offering a pathetic justification of tax fraud, blaming it on the United States for taxing people.  It's not that something is wrong with the American way - It is the Swiss way that is wrong, and the Swiss will soon be forced to change. The Swiss figured out long ago that they could keep their taxes low by luring in huge sums of illegal money from around the world and taxing that only slightly (and usually indirectly). But such a system wouldn't work if every country tried it. It only works when one country undercuts many others.

No one that understands the current conflict between Switzerland and the US would suggest that the average person in America should pay taxes, while the rich are able to fly to Switzerland with a suitcase of cash to deposit and then not have to pay taxes.  Except of course, the Swiss and the 'fine people' that commit such corruption.

The US is not the only one taking action. The UK is also applying pressure, and other G20 nations are preparing to do so because the Swiss banking system is parasitic.  The business model of being the money launderer of the world will not last long.

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Monty,
As you say yourself, some individuals have broken the law in the USA! not In Switzerland! you’re Government and IRS try to apply the American law over Switzerland, and that is wrong, I will call it wild west law,  If you have a problem in your country with individuals, find them, put them on trial by your law! But do not require a sovereign country (federalist, democratic) to find or deliver so called (by your standards) individuals that broke the law simply because your government thinks they have put money in Swiss banks, there is a normal legal system that the IRS can use, and was used before by the USA Government, but now the IRS and the USA government play the role of prosecutor, judge and hanger in one, avoiding the proper International law! and the right of a sovereign country and its citizens to choose the law, and we do vote on almost every issue directly – the sovereigns.

The USA government can ask for assistance from the Swiss courts to fined the individuals, or impose on a bank to provide the required information based on wrong doing, and in accordance with the Swiss law..... and I believe in some cases the IRS will get it wish!

Monty, I wonder how will you force the Swiss to give out the information, are you suggesting a military invasion, or how..... our law is the law of this country, we approved it, and we like it that way, what can you do...... not much, just look for proper ways to solve the problem through legal channels, and proper judicial way, as it is normal between 2 sovereign countries...... and not by intimidation, threats, and vigilante methods....  Union Helvetia is slightly older than the USA, most likely the most peaceful nation on the face of earth, a determined nation and people, you do not treat a nation with such heritage..... and I believe most of the Swiss will not go for changing the law, to satisfy the needs of the USA or for that matter the needs of the IRS, and I wonder if  the banks will brake the law in Switzerland and provide the desired names, the bank that does that will loose its banking licence.....

Monty, yes some other countries try, as you say, but they do not use the methods the USA is using..... they try by means of diplomacy..... and communication..... BTW the Germans threatened the principality of Lichtenstein..... and got the answer: clean up your system and try to obey your law in your own country, and not use your standards and methods in a sovereign country... the principality of Lichtenstein.
Monty, I don’t know where you take the right to judge the Swiss system, and laws, we do not force no one to put or invest money in the monetary institutions in Switzerland, or offer any special treatment, we just have a system that can be trusted and respected, and a prosperity that is a real thing, and not a shine situation..... and we offer individual and protected banking system with very high discretion and reliability, and that is why individuals trust their money to the Swiss institutions.....  if some of the discussed individuals have broken the law in their country it is not our-Swiss responsibility, not duty to see them trailed, the individuals didn’t brake any law in Switzerland, and therefore the USA can seek judicial assistance from Switzerland, but not use intimidation, it just does not do!

Monty, I have never criticized the law in the USA, nor did I find myself free to criticize your federal system, or your political system, I don’t pay for it nor do I have to defend it..... and therefore have no right to criticize it.......  

I wonder where do you find the right to use such harsh terms and conviction (Quote)“being the money launderer of the world”  to preach right and wrong about Switzerland..... I believe you need to apologize....  you have gone beyond any proper line of common courtesy.....  (Quote) “The Swiss figured out long ago that they could keep their taxes law by luring in huge sums of illegal money from around the world” I think you should rethink the choice of words...... you have crossed the fine line of accusing a nation with out as much as a single proper proof..... just some speculative, assumptions..........

Michael

I did watch both the guys and thought Bobby should have thought it thru a little better. Obama was good as usual. But there are some areas I have problems with.

Education needs to be addressed big time. We're so far behind the rest of the world in that department. The programs in place are NOT working and haven't been. Our kids are NOT learning and are not being prepared for the real world. Teachers are (dont' kill the messenger PLEASE) in a lot of public schools are NOT qualified to be teaching.

Term limits NEED to become a reality - The PEOPLE of this country NEED to insist on it and SOON!

I sent off two letters to DC this morning - one to Obama and one to my Senator telling them MY PLAN for a couple of reforms that would work (one on food stamps  and one on the IRS). These are two areas that money is being WASTED on and BILLIONS could be saved if they were reformed.

"Guest Workers" need to be sent home - ya know "guests" are like fish - after a few days they began to smell! Immigration needs to be REFORMED totally (maybe we should look at a few other countries - they don't seem to have a problem with "expired" visas).

I personally think we're on the brink of depression, if we're not already there. I also think Obama is trying to avoid it, but I'm not sure he can. I also think those guys in DC need to forget politics and start using some common sense to "work" on a solution to the problems facing the people back home (if they even remember the people back home). Instead of tearing each other apart right now, we need to be working together to try to find a solution.

Anyhow, I may not be making sense, but I'm just pissed off at the whole crowd in DC right now. I've seen children act more grown up than they are.

Hugs BD

BarbaraD wrote on Feb 26^th, 2009 at 2:03pm:

When you send your children off to be educated by the public schools, you are, to one degree or another, abdicating your responsibility as a parent to see to it that your children are educated properly.

It's kind of like sending your kids to a wh0re house and calling it summer camp. What the hell do you think they're going to learn in there?

Unfortunately, many families are required by their balance sheet to send both mom and dad to the salt mines every day, and public school becomes glorified babysitting. But when we give the public schools - a tool of the state - that much access to our kids' grey matter, is it any wonder they can't do basic math or composition, yet come home spouting crap about global warming, saving the whales, and diversity?

All the state wants of them is to become compliant voters.

You want to address education big time? How about compelling parents to take responsibility for educating the children they bring into this world?

Brew,

I don't think your notion that the government is the problem is correct. In communities with strong families and schools that are well funded, many, perhaps most schools do a good job - despite being run by the (local) government. I attended a public school in a vibrant suburban community and got a first class education.

The obvious failures are schools in poor areas, where families are highly dysfunctional or broken, and where advanced facilities are defined as textbooks that are not so old they fall apart and chairs that are not broken.

Obviously, some schools need to get beyond the discipline issues, identify and deal with teachers who can't teach, and little can be done until that happens. But other schools are declining for more mundane reasons - including in my state, a recent referendum that lowered taxes, and (combined with other economic issues) may now lead to a 100,000 teachers being cut (along with the elimination of things like music, art, athletics).

The simple fact is that government schools were good enough to facilitate the rise of the US from a second tier nation to the pre-emminent nation in most spheres. I see no reason to assume that school reform cannot put us back on track.

monty wrote on Feb 26^th, 2009 at 4:14pm:


It won't put us back on track, what it will do is give those who want to learn a chance.

The United States will be hard pressed to change the poorest urban communities with just schooling. To many factors come in to play that can't be changed, you named a few.

Sean C wrote on Feb 26^th, 2009 at 7:58pm:






Quote:


Any volunteers?  Experts stumped.