Romney picks Paul Ryan as running mate (Page 3)

If you believe that unions are "inherently corrupt", then the same must be said about corporations, and the people who hire in general (which would include current political officials). And if both sides are corrupted, but working against one another, then there is balance.

Every voter in this country is voting based on what they are going to get out of the deal.... and here we are.

I frequently wonder about that.  I'd say you think pretty highly of Joe Q Public.  I don't think most voters know what they are voting for. I don't think most voters know what the candidate stands for or what they themselves stand for.  And most that do know what they stand for suffer from an abundance of inferred justification.  I'd be interested in  a study that polled voters as they left the booth asking why they voted the way they did, and then look at the actual stance/actions of the candidates.

Just an example: tax issue - pure basics is Obama is pushing taxes on +$250K earners, right?  Romney wants to lower those, right?  I understand why those over $250K are upset, but why are the under $250K earners so upset about a tax bracket that they aren't even a part of??????  In effect raise taxes on themselves (you know it's going to have to come from somewhere)???  Confused.

And here is the actual study that the link above is based on: Believe only what you want to believe.

How exactly is Romney going to cut your firefighter pay? Sorry, SEVERELY cut your pay? Seems to me in most cities police and FF are sacred cows... and even at that I don't think you get paid enough... but I have yet to see a politician run for office on the platform of severely cutting pay for first responders... Teachers are a different discussion.

There are plenty of citizens that rail at government for not doing what is necessary to fix this country's problems... when does it fall on the voters for not voting for politicians because it its going to effect their pocket? Every voter in this country is voting based on what they are going to get out of the deal.... and here we are.

As far as voting, I will no longer vote for a candidate that does not support my views. I'm perfectly fine staying home, won't change a thing...parties roll merrily along raising billions.

I know locally here in Omaha we have police and firefighters that are retiring at 45 with 6 figure retirement packages with full benefits.  They are very important jobs and deserve to be compensated well, but there have to be limits.

Sorry, I mistyped. Romney doesn't want to cut our pay. He wants to flat out get rid of us!!!

Here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoSmWK_-x4g&feature=youtu.be

In that video he asked if we got the message that Wisconsin sent last year......uuummm yep...loud and clear. In Wisconsin, they wanted to s**tcan collective bargaining by the unions. Without collective bargaining, union employees would be forced to accept whatever salary the local government deems appropriate. So, ya see, if there were no collective bargaining rights, then the city/state could just say "hey, next year we are so far in the hole that you're gonna have to take a 40% pay cut to help make up the deficit."

If Romney wants to cut government pay, then why not start at the top, with himself......set an example. But, like I said before, a snowball has a better shot in hell

Sorry, I mistyped. Romney doesn't want to cut our pay. He wants to flat out get rid of us!!!

Here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoSmWK_-x4g&feature=youtu.be

In that video he asked if we got the message that Wisconsin sent last year......uuummm yep...loud and clear. In Wisconsin, they wanted to s**tcan collective bargaining by the unions. Without collective bargaining, union employees would be forced to accept whatever salary the local government deems appropriate. So, ya see, if there were no collective bargaining rights, then the city/state could just say "hey, next year we are so far in the hole that you're gonna have to take a 40% pay cut to help make up the deficit."

If Romney wants to cut government pay, then why not start at the top, with himself......set an example. But, like I said before, a snowball has a better shot in hell

Without collective bargaining, union employees would be forced to accept whatever salary the local government deems appropriate. So, ya see, if there were no collective bargaining rights, then the city/state could just say "hey, next year we are so far in the hole that you're gonna have to take a 40% pay cut to help make up the deficit." 

I frequently wonder about that.  I'd say you think pretty highly of Joe Q Public.  I don't think most voters know what they are voting for. I don't think most voters know what the candidate stands for or what they themselves stand for.  And most that do know what they stand for suffer from an abundance of inferred justification.  I'd be interested in  a study that polled voters as they left the booth asking why they voted the way they did, and then look at the actual stance/actions of the candidates.

Just an example: tax issue - pure basics is Obama is pushing taxes on +$250K earners, right?  Romney wants to lower those, right?  I understand why those over $250K are upset, but why are the under $250K earners so upset about a tax bracket that they aren't even a part of??????  In effect raise taxes on themselves (you know it's going to have to come from somewhere)???  Confused.

And here is the actual study that the link above is based on: Believe only what you want to believe.

You'd have to pay me six figures too, to live in Nebraska!!!!  Other than Lake McConaughy & the College World Series, why else would anyone choose to go to Nebraska.

Just kidding....trying to lighten to mood a little.

But seriously, those people retiring with a 6 figure pension.....must be nice.  And at such a young age.......shoot, if my body can hold up, I'll be staying in the firehouse until I'm 60. That'll give me 32yrs on the job, and I won't even be close to 6 figures!!!

Even the first part of that is not universally true. We are just about in the bracket that you are referring to, and of course, Warren Buffett (who makes way more than we do) is also supporting higher taxes on the higher incomes. 

Sorry, I mistyped. Romney doesn't want to cut our pay. He wants to flat out get rid of us!!!

Here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoSmWK_-x4g&feature=youtu.be

In that video he asked if we got the message that Wisconsin sent last year......uuummm yep...loud and clear. In Wisconsin, they wanted to s**tcan collective bargaining by the unions. Without collective bargaining, union employees would be forced to accept whatever salary the local government deems appropriate. So, ya see, if there were no collective bargaining rights, then the city/state could just say "hey, next year we are so far in the hole that you're gonna have to take a 40% pay cut to help make up the deficit."

If Romney wants to cut government pay, then why not start at the top, with himself......set an example. But, like I said before, a snowball has a better shot in hell

I think high end taxation (billionaire type income) are really complicated which makes it like nailing down Jello to tax them.  For example somebody like Warren Buffett is a multi-billionaire as far as total net worth, but I actually make more money than him if we were to compare W-2's.  So I'm in a higher tax bracket than him because of how he "chooses" to pay himself.  If he paid himself a $10M salary then he would be in the top bracket like he's supposed to be.

The vast majority of his wealth is hay in the barn (not being earned every year) so it's not taxable.  Then the money that he takes out to fund his lifestyle is merely taxed as capital gains which is only 15% (long term rate).  So there's an argument to be made to increase the capital gains rate to 35% for billionaires but how do you determine who is a "billionaire".  Is it based on earnings?  Well Buffett only makes $100k a year (W-2) so he's not "rich" and shouldn't hammered.

In order to keep with the spirit of our progressive tax system we could do a progressive capital gains tax based on the amount of gains you have in a year.  Then people under $250k (for example) could have the 15% rate and people over that could get 30% or whatever the top rate is.

Speaking of personalities, the national Democrats are vastly underrating Ryan's personal charisma and his ability to express his ideas on the budget and economy in a simple, candid and compelling way. He is going to intrigue people with a rockstar quality in much the same way that Obama and Palin did-- the difference, of course, being that Ryan backs up that personality with tremendous depth of understanding and substance.

Regarding the paragraph above... Scoobysdad, is your real name Reince Prebus or did you just sleep in his bed last night?  That statement looks like it's straight from the talking points sheet I got from the GOP last night...

As for the corporation and union lobbying.  Unfortunately, that's the system.  It sucks, but if you don't play, you get crushed.  The biggest unions and the biggest corporations play it best.

As for the estate tax.  I hope you don't have to go through what my buddy went through.  His Dad passed before his mom after a long fight with cancer.  He was taxed on all his stuff to where his mom had $0 left.  The Estate Tax doesn't just hit rich folks.

Last, with Ryan's budget cutting SS, MC, etc.  If we're going to protect all the sacred cows, we'll never get out of debt. SS is just a ponzi scheme and MC spends a big chunk on paperwork and administrivia. 

Regarding the paragraph above... Scoobysdad, is your real name Reince Prebus or did you just sleep in his bed last night?  That statement looks like it's straight from the talking points sheet I got from the GOP last night...

As for the corporation and union lobbying.  Unfortunately, that's the system.  It sucks, but if you don't play, you get crushed.  The biggest unions and the biggest corporations play it best.

As for the estate tax.  I hope you don't have to go through what my buddy went through.  His Dad passed before his mom after a long fight with cancer.  He was taxed on all his stuff to where his mom had $0 left.  The Estate Tax doesn't just hit rich folks.

Last, with Ryan's budget cutting SS, MC, etc.  If we're going to protect all the sacred cows, we'll never get out of debt. SS is just a ponzi scheme and MC spends a big chunk on paperwork and administrivia. 

Riiiighht.... because the American people would not pay for first responders if it were not for Unions. I don't have enough time to counter that argument. The majority of this country operates just fine without unions.

In my profession, 80% of my counterparts are Union. I am not. I make good money and have great benefits. And I'm another odd ball, I'm a non union municipal worker. Now my counter parts down the road do make a little more than me, but my PERA pension is better than theirs. Typical government worker, not as much take home, but more retirement. We are efficient, reliable, and well managed Utility. When we propose rate hikes, the public agrees, because we are better than the utilities around us. Where exactly does the Union make my life better?

You will be just fine... with or without your union.

If you believe that unions are "inherently corrupt", then the same must be said about corporations, and the people who hire in general (which would include current political officials). And if both sides are corrupted, but working against one another, then there is balance.

Actually, no they would not vote for a tax increase that would increase wages. The majority of voters see/hear "tax increase" & they freak out. You live in Peublo right?? Things are a little bit different here in Denver & the surrounding counties. Residents in the City & County of Denver pitched a HUGE FIT when Hickenlooper was mayor & suggested charging the residents for trash/recycling (Yep, that's right if you live in the City & County of Denver, trash removal/recycling is FREE). The proposal was only $10/month!!! It would have generated $20 million anually for Denver. What about Jefferson County.....voters in Jeffco have voted down tax increases for schools/teachers all but one time in the last 13 years.

I'm a fireman & my wife is a teacher. A snowball has a better shot in hell, than Romney/Paul have of getting my vote. Their far right stance on public sector unions & Romney wanting to SEVERELY cut the pay of firefighters, teachers & cops......that directly affects our livelihood. ( And no, I'm not an Obama fan either)

So the question becomes  who to vote for. Some people say if you don't like either candidate, then don't bother voting. Others say if you don't vote, then you have no business "complaining" about what a crap job the leader of our country is doing. And there are even those that say if you vote for a third party canditate, it's just like voting for Obama.

I'm glad you put the Just kidding part in there.  For a second I was thinking, dang this guy isn't very nice.  

Yeah, Nebraska is definitely a low key place.  That's what I love about it.  Very low unemployment, cheap housing, best schools in the country.