3rdnlng Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Only in America---top ten 1) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000 a plate campaign fund raising event. 2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when we have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black. 12% of the population is black. 3) Only in America could we have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes. 4) Only in America can we have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash. 5) Only in America would we make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just become American citizens. 6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists." 7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote. 8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike). 9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a trillion dollars more than it has per year for total spending of $7 million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money. 10) Only in America could the rich people who pay 86% of all income taxes be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juror#8 Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Great list! It's both funny and sad - largely because much of it is true. Principled problems with 2, 7, 8 though. But 70% is good enough at most colleges and universites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 I worked with an Italian Chef that always said "only in America" when he saw something stupid. So one day I handed him his paycheck and said "only in America" with a nice !@#$ you look on my face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wisconsin Bills Fan Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 "We are the 99%!" is so much cooler and takes a helluva lot less thought, kind've like, "Hope and Change". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 Great list! It's both funny and sad - largely because much of it is true. Principled problems with 2, 7, 8 though. But 70% is good enough at most colleges and universites. Just a fun little list. I don't understand why you dispute #'s 2, 7, and 8 though. There goes the fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juror#8 Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 (edited) Just a fun little list. I don't understand why you dispute #'s 2, 7, and 8 though. There goes the fun! Well really only just 7. I see voting as a fundamental right. There are many ways to substantiate identity. It should take a compelling reason and something narrowly tailored to accomplish a very specific and compelling objective to restrict voting access. 2 - yea, I agree that discrimination in the *government* is slim to none. But because of the approximately one-generation separation between the last vestiges of Jim Crow/segregation (basically beginning at the point of full school integration) to today, I think government support for affirmative action programs is warranted. I know that wasn't your point though so drop 2 from the dispute list. 8 - just don't care that much. Only point there is that I see pricey athletic shoes as more of a "want" commodity and gas as a "need." Edited May 11, 2012 by Juror#8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 Well really only just 7. I see voting as a fundamental right. There are many ways to substantiate identity. It should take a compelling reason and something narrowly tailored to accomplish a very specific and compelling objective to restrict voting access. 2 - yea, I agree that discrimination in the *government* is slim to none. But because of the approximately one-generation separation between the last vestiges of Jim Crow/segregation (basically beginning at the point of full school integration) to today, I think government support for affirmative action programs is warranted. I know that wasn;t you point though so drop 2 from the dispute list. 8 - just don't care that much. Only point there is I see pricey athletic shoes as more of a "want" commodity and gas a need. Hey, buying a bottle of vodka is my right too. That doesn't mean I can avoid showing proof of age and thus identity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Well really only just 7. I see voting as a fundamental right. There are many ways to substantiate identity. It should take a compelling reason and something narrowly tailored to accomplish a very specific and compelling objective to restrict voting access. That's the only one I disagreed with your disagreement of. And I'd counter your argument that "rights" also convey "responsibilities", including the responsibility to identify yourself as the voter you claim to be. Or, even better, argue that voter ID - as long as its free and non-discriminatory (you're eligible to vote, you're eligible to get a voter ID at no cost to yourself), is important because it protects the rights of the voters against fraud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 As far as the terrorists go, the book I am still reading had Donald Rumsfeld talking about the difference between Muslims and Islamic Extremists, differentiating them between one being a religion and the other being a militant political movement. In that sense, I can see where the good people are being wronged, having to be linked to people who they are against, and are against them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) Only in America---top ten 1) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000 a plate campaign fund raising event. 2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when we have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black. 12% of the population is black. 3) Only in America could we have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes. 4) Only in America can we have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash. 5) Only in America would we make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just become American citizens. 6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists." 7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote. 8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike). 9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a trillion dollars more than it has per year for total spending of $7 million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money. 10) Only in America could the rich people who pay 86% of all income taxes be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all. 10- You do realize that 20% of 20,000 is less in amount but hurts more compared to 15% of 100 million... you see, we have this thing called purchasing power. :wallbash: Edited May 13, 2012 by MARCELL DAREUS POWER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 10- You do realize that 20% of 20,000 is less in amount but hurts more compared to 15% of 100 million... you see, we have this thing called purchasing power. :wallbash: I just posted this link in response to another one of your posts, but it's worth repeating http://cnsnews.com/news/article/americans-making-over-50000-year-paid-933-percent-all-taxes-2010 I am the 93.3% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 I just posted this link in response to another one of your posts, but it's worth repeating http://cnsnews.com/news/article/americans-making-over-50000-year-paid-933-percent-all-taxes-2010 I am the 93.3% romney paid zero, so your post is bs... was the buffett rule just imaginary...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 romney paid zero, so your post is bs... was the buffett rule just imaginary...lol Romney paid 14%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Romney paid 14%. yeah, but part of that was on free money from tax subsidies. 14% of 80 is less than 14% of 100. you have to count the gains after 80 against the 14% of 80, and then you will see how much he really paid... its probably close to zero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 yeah, but part of that was on free money from tax subsidies. 14% of 80 is less than 14% of 100. you have to count the gains after 80 against the 14% of 80, and then you will see how much he really paid... its probably close to zero What? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 yeah, but part of that was on free money from tax subsidies. 14% of 80 is less than 14% of 100. you have to count the gains after 80 against the 14% of 80, and then you will see how much he really paid... its probably close to zero Romney didn't get tax subsidies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 That's the only one I disagreed with your disagreement of. And I'd counter your argument that "rights" also convey "responsibilities", including the responsibility to identify yourself as the voter you claim to be. Or, even better, argue that voter ID - as long as its free and non-discriminatory (you're eligible to vote, you're eligible to get a voter ID at no cost to yourself), is important because it protects the rights of the voters against fraud. To piggy back on this, every fraudulent vote essentially invalidates one person's legitimate vote, therefore depriving him of his voting rights. If you prevent x legitimate voters from voting by requiring ID but prevent 2x fraudulent voters, you've increased voter participation by x. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Romney didn't get tax subsidies. bain capital did... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 bain capital did... Romney is not Bain Capital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 To piggy back on this, every fraudulent vote essentially invalidates one person's legitimate vote, therefore depriving him of his voting rights. If you prevent x legitimate voters from voting by requiring ID but prevent 2x fraudulent voters, you've increased voter participation by x. im totally for voter id, as long as it is really just a voter id, and the state helps poor people get it. Romney is not Bain Capital. no, he only owned part of it :wallbash: :wallbash: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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