NOW I understand...

[Lazerus]

Originally posted by Airhead
 Some of the crap (actually a LOT of the crap) the Democrats say embarasses me- but my personal beliefs of what Government should do are better represented by the Democratic party.  

Can you explaine for us, or hell, just for me, what you believe 'Government' should do and why the Democratic party represents that to you?

Sincerely curious.

[Airhead]

Originally posted by Lazerus
Can you explaine for us, or hell, just for me, what you believe 'Government' should do and why the Democratic party represents that to you?

Sincerely curious.

Sure Lazerus- I'd be happy to.

Labor- I believe in a liveable minimum wage. I believe Unions provide middle class jobs and are a cornerstone of our society. Part of the deteroration of the middle class is the stripping of labor laws and rules which have protected Labor. The Democrats are more user friendly than Republicans on labor issues.

Capital Punishment- I am opposed to capital punishment for several reasons, the foremost being that we execute too many innocent people. Also it's more expensive to execute them than it is to imprison them, and we're just about the only modern society who still has capital punishment.

Abortion- I'm torn on this, but in the final analysis I choose not to prohibit abortion because I don't have the right to dictate others' morality. A halfway measure is allowing abortion for rape victims, but I see that as hypocritical- either the welfare of the fetus is paramount, or it's not. Either we allow abortions- or we don't. On a practical side outlawing abortions will only create a whole new group of law breakers, and put us back to the days of back alley abortions performed with coat hangers.

Gay Marriage- In favor. Or at least in favor of ending Government discrimination against gay people- and allowing gay couples the same rights and privelages hetrosexual couples have. Why should MY life partner be vested in my retirement,or be on my health plan when a gay couple, in a relationship just as committed as ours, isn't? I view this as inherently unfair, and am opposed to an anti homosexual constitutional amendment.

Gun Control- I'm in favor of a Nationwide background check, and registration of ALL firearms. Even if we keep one firearm out of the hands of a felon then it's worthwhile.

School Vouchers- Opposed. Who is going to set up a private school in Watts? All vouchers will do is further deterorate our public school system. OTOH part of the problem with public schools is the cerriculum has gotten away from the basics, and we have a philosophy of only moving as fast as the slowest student instear of the average student.

Iraq- Opposed from the beginning.

Welfare- Capitalism produces casualties- I'm in favor of a safety net to prevent children going to bed hungry. (Oh-oh, if I say "hunger in America" that means I AM a tree hugger) I'm also in favor of tighter controls and preventing welfare fraud. In fact I've talked about the "care giver" fraud in Humboldt County here.


There Lazarus, that's a short list on a few of the issues that divide Republicans and Democrats, and, as you can see, I'm a Democrat on most issues.

 I'm also a Republican on some issues, too- for instance, I believe in fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. I also believe in individual States' rights and a less centralized Government...ironically, two issues Republicans seem to have flip flopped on.

[Staga]

Originally posted by Airhead

 I'm also a Republican on some issues, too- for instance, I believe in fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget.

So you didn't get the memo? Balanced budget is something which happened in last century when democrats were running the country and has nothing to do with modern USA with republican president..

[Steve]

A Balanced budget has NOTHING to do w/ the state of the economy.  Carter balanced the budget and the economy went in the tank.

[Steve]

Airhead, you're entitled to your views.

Hard to argue opinions.

Except your Union note.  Unions artificially raise wages. Someone has to pay for this and it's not the employer, it's the consumer.  The very people you are giving these raises to.  Unions are NOT good for employment or the economy.

[oboe]

Just an question, Airhead -

Given your views on the issues, how could you have possibly gone into any voting both intending to vote for George Bush?

As you point out, even the last two on your list don't fit with what Bush has promised or done.

Also you left out two very large issues - Healthcare and Social Security.    Just curious, where do you stand on those issues?

[oboe]

Steve,

I'm not a union member but I think your ideas about unions are way off the mark.   Do you realize what life was like in this country before unions?    10 hour days, 6 day workweeks, barely livable wages, no job security and unsafe working conditions were the rule of the day for working people.    In fact these conditions are why unions rose to power in the first place.
Unions (and the GI Bill) help usher in an era of prosperity for the middle class that helped make the American Dream reachable for many.

I'll agree with you that there are industries where unions became too powerful and became a detriment (airlines, autos).   Its all a cycle anyway, though; union membership has been falling for decades (as America loses its manufacturing base).

S'all good.   I do believe if things keep going the way they are, you'll get to experience living in a society without a middle class.

[Airhead]

Originally posted by Steve
Airhead, you're entitled to your views.

Hard to argue opinions.

Except your Union note.  Unions artificially raise wages. Someone has to pay for this and it's not the employer, it's the consumer.  The very people you are giving these raises to.  Unions are NOT good for employment or the economy.

Steve, do you believe we'd be better off if we abolished the minimum wage, abolished the 40 hour week, abolished OSHA and workplace safety, and abolished child labor laws? All these came about because of the Labor movement, which is currently under Republican assault.

Unions provide jobs which allow people to live a middle class lifestyle. That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

[Steve]

Unions provide jobs which allow people to live a middle class lifestyle. That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

At the expense of others.  Do you think, seriously, that the cost of higher wages is absorbed by the employer?  That the employer will lose money so he can employ union labor?  

Steve, do you believe we'd be better off if we abolished the minimum wage,

Absolutely.

All these came about because of the Labor movement

I didn't assail the labor movement, just your incorrect stand on Unions.

[Steve]

which is currently under Republican assault

Ya better educate me here.  I don't know how it is under assault.  Fill me in, I'm unaware of what you are referring to.

[Airhead]

Originally posted by oboe
Just an question, Airhead -

Given your views on the issues, how could you have possibly gone into any voting both intending to vote for George Bush?

As you point out, even the last two on your list don't fit with what Bush has promised or done.

Also you left out two very large issues - Healthcare and Social Security.    Just curious, where do you stand on those issues?

Kerry's character was a HUGE issue with me. I watched that 1971 interview with Kerry where he claimed GIs  were cutting off ears, raping civilians, etc., etc.- and all he was doing was repeating "jungle legend." There may have been autrocies, as there is in every war, but he never witnessed any, and by claiming it was widespread he helped to stigmatize the returning Viet Vet as a drug addicted, sociopathic cowboy. I felt like he was politicking, even then, and he sold out GIs for political gain. That, and Kerry seems pompous and stuffy to me.

And Bush, OTOH, is actually a likeable kind of person with a good sense of humor. Although I disagree with his policies, I'd prefer hanging out with Bush over Kerry.

It wasn't quite the cut and dried decision you might think.

[Staga]

Originally posted by Steve
A Balanced budget has NOTHING to do w/ the state of the economy.  

Okay if you say so

[Steve]

Staga, please show me an example in the U.S. of how the budget is the key factor the the state of the economy.

Our economy is BOOMING, growing nicely thank you;all the while the deficit increases.

What are you going to say?  The hammer is going to fall?  Borrowed time?   Blah blah blah, we've run at deficit for many many years, during that time we have remained the most productive country , THE world power, most charitable country, maintained among the highest standard of living, increased homeownership significantly.... etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

How again is the balanced budget the key factor in our economy?

[Furious]

Originally posted by Airhead
...Unions provide jobs which allow people to live a middle class lifestyle, reguardless of whether or not it is actually deserved or earned. That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

I changed your quote a little bit to make it more correct.

[Bodhi]

...Unions provide jobs which allow people to live a middle class lifestyle, reguardless of whether or not it is actually deserved or earned. That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

ding ding ding ding

We have a winner!