I suggest trading with Conservatives to get what Liberals want.
Give Conservatives:
Define budgets as a percentage
Remove social burdens from business
Liability reform
No public employees unions
Denounce Marxism
Liberals Want:
Truly socialize essential services (Social Security, Healthcare, etc.)
Sustainable tax rates
Taxes
Progressive (but top rate not over 49%)
Inheritance (Pre-Bush rates, or better yet, all to charity)
No Capital Gains advantage (but reinstitute Income Averaging)
No “First Dollar” withholding (include SS and Healthcare in the General Fund)
The “Big Trade”
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Martin Hash
- Posts: 18264
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:02 pm
The “Big Trade”
Shamedia, Shamdemic, Shamucation, Shamlection, Shamconomy & Shamate Change
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LewWaters
Re: The “Big Trade”
You provide a good beginning, Martin. But, I have to disagree with some of it.
"Socializing" the military is a mistake in my opinion. It should be kept separate and out of any negotiations due to the seriousness of it's nature. It's too early to tell for sure just yet, but using them for social experimentation, especially during war might prove disastrous. Yes, I mean the repeal of DA/DT. Front line Troops responses were largely ignored and some of the mandates I've read in the bill could demoralize the Troops, but we'll see how it turns out now since it is a done deal.
Socializing Healthcare is another area of concern for me. Since I am under VA Health, it concerns me due to a recent example. I suffer from sleep apnea, my wife says. I told my primary care physician who did the checklist and confirmed I need a sleep study. I waited a month and half just to be notified to make an appointment that won't be until the end of June. Imagine similar handling for the entire population.
Our health system needs improvement, but too often I see socialized medicine causing as much harm as it does good. Litigation reform would be one step towards bringing health costs down to make it more affordable and reduce any need for socialized care. All too often, I've seen that when bureaucrats run something, it becomes a nightmare of red tape and lack of true service.
If we are to "socialize education," I firmly believe politics should either be left out or given fair and equal teaching (just the basics). Teachers of either political persuasion should not inject their personal beliefs in class or hold it against students who disagree.
I would change "sustainable tax rates" to "reasonable tax rates." Sustainable is subjective to the whims of what someone else (congress) wishes to spend, which pretty much got us where we are. I prefer a flat tax with far fewer, if any, allowable deductions myself.
I can think of several other areas I would make drastic changes in, starting with congressional pay, perks and staff.
I would also heavily scrutinize government agencies and spending. Get rid of redundant agencies, dead weight and wasteful spending. That sort of falls under "fiscal responsibility."
Too, I would begin enforcing immigration laws, especially where some illegal aliens have voted.
Compromises can be worked out and what we both list are just suggestions, I know.
The most difficult obstacle is going to remain this deep divide in our nation. I first saw it during Vietnam and honestly, I don't think it ever healed. It has only gotten worse with far left and far right not interested in compromise.
But, dialogue must begin somewhere and I think your thoughts are a decent beginning.
"Socializing" the military is a mistake in my opinion. It should be kept separate and out of any negotiations due to the seriousness of it's nature. It's too early to tell for sure just yet, but using them for social experimentation, especially during war might prove disastrous. Yes, I mean the repeal of DA/DT. Front line Troops responses were largely ignored and some of the mandates I've read in the bill could demoralize the Troops, but we'll see how it turns out now since it is a done deal.
Socializing Healthcare is another area of concern for me. Since I am under VA Health, it concerns me due to a recent example. I suffer from sleep apnea, my wife says. I told my primary care physician who did the checklist and confirmed I need a sleep study. I waited a month and half just to be notified to make an appointment that won't be until the end of June. Imagine similar handling for the entire population.
Our health system needs improvement, but too often I see socialized medicine causing as much harm as it does good. Litigation reform would be one step towards bringing health costs down to make it more affordable and reduce any need for socialized care. All too often, I've seen that when bureaucrats run something, it becomes a nightmare of red tape and lack of true service.
If we are to "socialize education," I firmly believe politics should either be left out or given fair and equal teaching (just the basics). Teachers of either political persuasion should not inject their personal beliefs in class or hold it against students who disagree.
I would change "sustainable tax rates" to "reasonable tax rates." Sustainable is subjective to the whims of what someone else (congress) wishes to spend, which pretty much got us where we are. I prefer a flat tax with far fewer, if any, allowable deductions myself.
I can think of several other areas I would make drastic changes in, starting with congressional pay, perks and staff.
I would also heavily scrutinize government agencies and spending. Get rid of redundant agencies, dead weight and wasteful spending. That sort of falls under "fiscal responsibility."
Too, I would begin enforcing immigration laws, especially where some illegal aliens have voted.
Compromises can be worked out and what we both list are just suggestions, I know.
The most difficult obstacle is going to remain this deep divide in our nation. I first saw it during Vietnam and honestly, I don't think it ever healed. It has only gotten worse with far left and far right not interested in compromise.
But, dialogue must begin somewhere and I think your thoughts are a decent beginning.
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Martin Hash
- Posts: 18264
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:02 pm
Re: The “Big Trade”
Lew, I consider the military completely and successfully socialist. Whatever politics is going on with it is normal democratic processes.
Education is a State function, and I agree with you that implementation should be kept local.
The mechanism by which the alliance between Conservatives and Liberals would be exercised is at the Federal level, in the Senate and House committees. Committees with Conservative issues would have a voting majority Conservative, and committees with Liberal issues would have a voting majority Liberal, no matter what Party was in power. The two sides would agree to support whatever compromise came out of the committees. (Certainly the opposing side in the committees would beat the horse enough for everyone.)
The issues I am targeting are economic. Social issues will continue to divide the country - they always have.
Education is a State function, and I agree with you that implementation should be kept local.
The mechanism by which the alliance between Conservatives and Liberals would be exercised is at the Federal level, in the Senate and House committees. Committees with Conservative issues would have a voting majority Conservative, and committees with Liberal issues would have a voting majority Liberal, no matter what Party was in power. The two sides would agree to support whatever compromise came out of the committees. (Certainly the opposing side in the committees would beat the horse enough for everyone.)
The issues I am targeting are economic. Social issues will continue to divide the country - they always have.
Shamedia, Shamdemic, Shamucation, Shamlection, Shamconomy & Shamate Change
