It's the economy, stupid, again

Dear American Voters,

Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences between the two of these presidential presumptive nominees are as under:

1. Presidential "Temperament and Composer".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" experience.
3. "Vision and mission" for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, " first U.S.A Centric" than any other country [ ies ] centric.

In my professional opinion Senator Obama leads in all above qualities.

The need of our next movement and generation is a change. The Change in " past Washington and its Leadership". A change we can believe in and not the seductive, deceptive, and confusing slogan of "leader we can believe in" [? Effexor ?".

Our Greatgrand Nation has to address many present and future challenges and start with new clean "Slate and Senator".

God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.

Our Greatgrand Nation is needs the CHANGE at every level and for long time.

I am sure Senator Obama with the help of Senator Clinton and her supporters, can deliver that CHANGE.

Please stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Please do not allow any seduction, deception, and or confusion by some partisan media and leaders effect your vote [ Psychological Terrorism ]..

Yours truly,

COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas

Whether you vote republican or democrat, the average working individual in the U.S. is going to pay the price. When is this going to stop? How much more burden must be applied to all of us until the Economy comes to a skreaching stop?
Candidates no matter who they are, listen to only big business and their stock holders while average Americans suffer. They call it Free Enterprise. I regard it is as the Selling of America. What a shame. How did this happen?

We'd love to live from paycheck to paycheck, if only we had one. The "middle-class" under the Bush Administration is simply a new way of referring to indentured servitude. The silver-spoon crowd has had long enough at the trough it's time for the common folk to get a bit or two . . .bye bye Bush and cohort McCain and not soon enough!

Well, lets look at Maryland
State Senate = Democratic
Governor = Democratic
What does this equal for us middle working class
1) Higher Taxes... This already happened with the new governor
2) Higher Health Care Cost ... Turned it mandatory our company rates rose 30%
3) Lower Land Tax? Higher Income / sales tax Im sure if the United States Federal government was like this it would be terrible.

It seems clear to me that if a chunk of the money being squandered on the Iraq war and arms build up was spent on stimulating the US economy and job creation outside the military industry the country would be singing a different tune. McCain appears happy with the status quo, like Bush and his associates. I personnaly don't think its so great!

Keep taxing the "Rich" until there aren't any. Then who are they going to tax? Then who is going to pay for all the "Free" stuff the Dem's promise. I saw a HUGE SUV driving near Philadelphia the other day. Driving was an obviously wealthy person and on the back of his HUGE gas guzzling SUV was a bumper sticker that said "Obama 08." Do you think Obama is only going to take away gas guzzling SUV's from Republicans? Wake up people!

This is where Hope and Change meets More of the Same. BO wants a hard core liberal economic policy in a time when tight-fisted conservative economic policy is needed. Bush with his liberal spending has done great damage to the US economy, but increases government spending and rasing taxes would threaten to break the economy. Touch choices indeed.

Stop Socialism, Stop Communism, Stop Obama. I lived through the first Carter Presidency, I don't want a second. Nobama '08.

You have hit the nail directly on the head! I have never been so ashamed to be an American!

As far as foriegn policy goes, how can we take the splinter out of our brother's eye, before we take the log out of our own eye.

A tax code that rewards work instead of wealth?? Why then do I work so much to make a good living and have to pay 28% income tax. Thats right, I served my country for 20 years so that small monthly check makes me wealthy. Might as well sign it streight over to the dem congress so they can give it to someone to lazy to work.

Both major parties are destroying our wealth- the only difference is how. GOP likes costly wars and Dem's like socialist spending. Both are completely unconstitutional. We need a Fed that is not going to bail out investment banks with taxpayer money. We need to stop Fractional Reserve Lending that drives prices through the roof, creating bubbles with cheap money. We need to have economic policies that reward savers and those without debt, and penalize those with massive debt. Consumer debt is over 2 trillion now. There is no savings rate. The value of our money is constantly being eroded. Our education system doesn't reflect the realities of the real world. Younger generations have been raised in an entitlement culture. We have become indentured servants to the bankers.

And what have Bush tax cuts done to improve the economy? Threatening people with Democrats will hurt the economy if they get in is a ridiculous argument. I agree with Hillary, people who voted for Bush should be so embarrassed about their vote that they abstain this time.

John: I'm in MD as well and let's look:

Good schools
Better Roads
Better SCHIP/health care

WIll lenjoy America like that any day

Both major parties are destroying our wealth- the only difference is how. GOP likes costly wars and Dem's like socialist spending. Both are completely unconstitutional. We need a Fed that is not going to bail out investment banks with taxpayer money. We need to stop Fractional Reserve Lending that drives prices through the roof, creating bubbles with cheap money. We need to have economic policies that reward savers and those without debt, and penalize those with massive debt. Consumer debt is over 2 trillion now. There is no savings rate. The value of our money is constantly being eroded. Our education system doesn't reflect the realities of the real world. Younger generations have been raised in an entitlement culture. We have become indentured servants to the bankers.

What an excellent post from:
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall

Obama for president! No more war! No more supporting only the rich. Destroy the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest!

Say yes to Health care for all, Education for all.

SAY YES TO CHANGE!

Come now, let's be fair. Environmentalists, with Democrats in their pockets, are not allowing us to drill for more oil here at home. The Chinese are drilling 50 miles off our coasts, where we are forbidden. Want to pay less for gas? Good, I do, too. Let's:

1. Open some more refineries and
2. Pump more of our own oil out of the ground.

A Democratic Congress with Democratic president won't let that happen. Gas prices will go even higher. You can bet on it. You can bet on November 4th.

Obama (or should I say Osama) is an America-hating communist. Vote for this pinko commie traitor and you won't have enough money left after taxes to buy a pack of bubble gum.

Whichever candidates, Democrat or Republican, are elected to the Presidency or Congress, expect larger government, more spending, more restrictions and the same old "crap" of "looking out for us." We really need a complete, clean sweep at all levels with limited 8-year terms so elected officials know they have to go to work afterwards instead of becoming entrenched in a moneyed power base. Capitalism does work if Government will get out-of-the way, and established an equitable tax system such as the Fair Tax. Do I expect real change? No! We'll have government dipping its hand into our wallets and telling us what we can or cannot do instead of letting us be free - to either work hard and make it, or fail...and if we fail, find the strength to not whine and get up and try again!. Alex

Under the Clinton administration I had a lucrative job, full medical and dental benefits paid some taxes and gas was cheap. Under the Bush administration I have been laid off after my company was forced to close its doors, I have no health or dental insurance, I still pay taxes and cannot afford to put gas in my car. Now lets see, who should I vote for.... McCain who will definitely keep me on this poverty merry-go-round and perhaps make it worse or Obama who could turn this blight around for all of us? Such a tough choice.

McCain? LOL, this guy is nothing but another John Kerry. Quite possibly the most boring candidate in US political history...Just to be clear, I was talking about McCain not Kerry.

The republicals have always been playing with "fuzzy math" when it comes to the economy, at least dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1930's they said that Social Security was a bad thing, and have done everything they could think of to try to destroy it since then.

Another so-called "boon" for the U.S. economy was trickle-down economics, a dusting off of Adam Smith's 1700's era theory that made people think that it's OK to be greedy because the rich people would give all their tax savings back to the economy, thereby making it better. But even though trickle-down has been shown to be nothing but a smoke and mirrors show many times (2001 recession, 1981-1982 recession, etc.), folks always seem to prefer to let their greed be their guide.

Now the McSame folks are back to the age-old republical parrot call of, "Sqaawwwk, tax and spend, Squaawwwk, tax and spend," that does nothing more than feed off the greedy. They've used the same old "fuzzy math" to come up with the number 94 as the number Senator Obama has "already voted... for higher taxes," which, as usual, is nothing but a crock of excrement.

Who's REALLY "repeating the failed mistakes of the past?" If you make under 200K and vote for McSame you're getting completely duped by the same people who have always been acting soley by the big corporations, for the big corporations.

Every tax is paid for by the American worker. No matter what your income level. Think about it ...everything we buy has the cost of taxes incorporated into it. Then we get to pay sales tax when we buy it. Meanwhile...the Obama's and McCain's sit pretty with our money to spend how they see fit. Add to it the fact that they take money from special interest groups...after taking 50% of our income...leads me to believe that we are not being represented. Taxation without representation only adds to the fire that our founders built this country on. It is injust and no longer tolerable.

It is time to stop being tread upon by our "leaders".

Wake up America!
Restore the Republic

it's simple....if you like war, war profiteering, lies, scandals, "rich get richer, poor get poorer", skies with so much c02 smog that you can't see the tops of your city skylines by all means vote for john mcbush!
We all know the next president has a lot of work to do. Whomever it is they will not be able to fix things right away. BUT at least it won't be the same "good ole boy" system.

There are two types of Americans, and Obama and McCain typify them. The first is the "older" school...they believe that if you don't have health care, or if you can't find housing, or food, that that is "too bad." It's basically, according to these "americans" because you didn't "work hard enough" or "save right." And, it's ALL YOUR FAULT. These type of americans think that if children have irresponsible parents, THAT'S JUST TOO BAD. These kids should stop whining and get a job, because, by gum, ONE OF THEIR AQUAINTENCES DID JUST THAT., and if some friend of a friend of theirs did it, then so can every child in every family that has an idiot father and mother with no financial sense. These same "older" americans (and i'm not referring to age here) think that American Indians are immigrants, blacks have every opportunity a white man has and womens' wages are a result of "market forces."

The other type of American is typified by Obama. This sort of American sees that despite children having lousy "role models," the state can in some way alleviate this problem with EDUCATION. These Americans see government as a tool to END SLAVERY THROUGH WAR, and don't pussyfoot around with nonsense ideas about "every man for himself" Libertarian tom-foolery. These Americans see lack of health care threatening ALL OF US. Anytime, a new disease may arise, and without adequate health care and regular, PREVENTATIVE medicine, it could kill ALL OF US. These Americans don't spend time rationalizing bombing foreign cities in useless wars because we "like the smile" of our leaders. These Americans don't excuse corrupt politicians and energy executives as just "the system."

The McCains of the world tell us they want "less government," yet, somehow "less government" equals slaming cities to the ground all over the place, spending our hard earned cash on insane wars and boondoggle projects (McCain's staff is FILLED with Washington lobbyists) and telling us how to marry, teach geological history and how to give or not give birth. No thanks. I'll take "big government and taxes" any day over the drivel, death drenched mumbo jumbo that Republicans call policy.

It's NOT the economy, stupid! It's the net sum of good and bad policies that impact the economy!

Don't be fooled by propaganda, look at the facts! Reagan is the President on record whose policies brought the greatest differential decline in the 'misery index' over his 8-year administration. Clinton experienced similar decline, but not at the same magnitude, and it started to increase at the end of his last term.
http://www.miseryindex.us/indexbyyear.asp

The economy is only going to be positively effected when the President's good policies outweigh his negative policies: http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/barro/files/bw99_02_22.pdf

We are doomed. Neither candidate has any clue about economics. We have one who is the product of the academic system which is completely ignorant about business and the other is a career politician and just as clueless.

What are either of these two going to do to help the economic situation? We should be doing anything possible to get out of the way of growth.

Cap and trade? Are you kidding????? Get ready for a replay of the Carter years.

This creates an interesting circle.
McCain's statement says "Barack Obama doesn’t understand the American economy and that’s change we just can’t afford."
Logically, wouldn't that mean that GW Bush DOES understand?
And if you believe like I do that Bush clearly doesn't understand the economy - then McCain just issued a statement that communicates that McCain doesn't understand the economy.
Weird.
I'm an independent - but I can't afford to align myself with someone that believes that the Bush administration gets the economy.

None of this really matters. 5 years from now nothing will have changed whomever gets elected. We will have enormous government waste, high taxes, high costs of health care, and the rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, and the vast majority of us in the middle will still be losing ground.

If anyone thinks either of these two major party candidates are going to be able to change anything, they are smoking some illegal stuff.

exactly john!
Don't feel like you have enough money now to make ends meet? How do you think it will feel when the dem's send taxes skyward?!

I work for a bank and worked hard to get to management from a teller position. When I wanted my tellers to get a .25 cent rase, my company told me they could not afford it. Meanwhile, the CEO of my company gets a 38 million dollar seperation package upon retirement, apart from his multi-million dollar retirement portfolio AND retains a spot in the board of directors so he can keep "earning" his seven figure salary untill he dies!!! shouldn't that be illegal? and we wonder why things are so bad! any CEO of a publicly traded company should not be able to layoff hundreds of employees and still make a thousand times more than the average employee. Democrats or Republicans, we need to address this issue as AMERICANS!!

Some spending is just spending - some spending is investing in your citizens and the future of our country. Bush's war is just spending - and with the Bush tax cuts, the same people fighting are the people paying.

Keeping with the Bush plan (AKA McCain) + 4 years = byebye Middle Class...

I for one cannot afford 4 more years of Bush and with McCain thats exactly what we get.

The only change our GREAT NATION needs is a new CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!
All incumbents need to be voted OUT!!!!!! No more spending by either side on their precious, self seving pork! Congress IS pork!!!!!!!!!!!! America needs to wake up and see the REAL DETRIMENT to ourselves----- CONGRESS!!!!!!
Terms of congressional members needs to be LIMITED to no more than 3 years and only once. Lobbyists should be made to address ALL of Congress at the same time and voted on shortly thereafter. WE are the only ones who can bring about CHANGE to help us, NOT CONGRESS, as they have ALREADY PROVED IT!!
I blame both sides!!!! Vote for America, Vote OUT Congress!!!!!!!!!!!

How can Obama sell his message of change with Hillary and Bill on his ticket?
Same old politics. If we want same old politics I will stick with the old crusty McCain thank you, I can't believe we would elect the cheating Clintons. What a mess for Obama and his wife. If he wants to continue his message it should be fresh not the same old junk. Please whatever you do Obama show us your strength and start fresh and use your ability to lead with someone who has all the credentials to help you make the right decisions. Good luck, with no Hillary you have a chance to win the republican vote.

I also live in Maryland. The better schools,- in process under the previous Republican admin, better roads - in process under the previous Republican admin, lower taxes - previous Republican admin.
The current Democrat admin raised taxes, and did so in a most underhanded way. Calling a special session of the Legislature, little to no advance discussion, and even a court found that it was underhanded and on the borderline of illegal. But, that court is also afraid of losing its appointment, so would not overturn the taxes.
And, lets not forget that the Republican administration attempted to bring slots into Maryland, only to be denied by the State Legislature, and by Mike "in the pocket of O'Malley" Miller. NOW, since a Democrat is in office, MR Miller thinks it is a wonderful idea, and that it the best thing since sliced bread.

The only change we're going to get is the illusion of change. It happens every time. The only real change is to replace our government with a government that is by the people for the people. That's the only real change..

WOW. I agree that the average American just doesn't have common sense. If all you hear is how great Obama is, doesn't that scare you? He's as crooked as any other Politician.

I look at Obama as the well spoken mouth peace of the Democrat party. I am an Independent. I DO NOT think that McCain IS much better, however... Obama would devastate our way of life, economy and national security.

I do not agree that we are at war, BUT we find ourselves there fighting people there... NOT here.. THERE!!!!!!!!! If we pull and run.. what do you think will happen? Do you REALLY think those crazy bastards won't re-organize and attack us again? Do you really think that the president of Iran (who backs Obama - I wonder why)... would tell the islamic extremist “Hey – don’t go over to the U.S and attack them. Obama is the president now and I did a fancy secret hand shake that guarantees the U.S. Free from your attacks.”??? Get real… Obama is potentially the most dangerous presidential candidate we’ve ever had.

Why can’t we get the democratic party to pull their heads out of their arse and say ----- "u know what.. We have new technology that allows us to safely and with as little environmental exposure pull oil from Alaska and the ‘new’ HUGE oil find in North Dakota. Oh yeah, OFF SHORE DRILLING?" Then….. say..”You know… we have all these army bases we closed up 20 years ago… why don’t we build more oil processing plants (I think we only have 32 in the US, nothing newer than about 30 years) so we can use our own oil” (I believe I read that we have enough to last us about 50 years)…

While this is happening… we give the Auto/transportation manufactures a real.. a REAL time line that says.. get your technologies in line and find a universal platform to build vehicles, be it Hydrogen, Electric, etc etc. Design a more efficent way of making mass amounts of hydrogen.

You know what I think is funny too… everyone flipping about people who drive hummers and suv’s and stuff… what are we going to do w/our airline fleets? Hello!!!!!!! We have to plan this out.. and it was apparently NOT done right by ANY president (DEMOCRAT or REPUBLICAN).. maybe we need a new party? Anyone?

We have the oil, We have the technology to pump it in a clean manner, We have the infrastructure, We have the Places to build the Processing Plants, We have the work force, We have intelligent engineers, blue collar workers… DAMMIT – why aren’t the dems proposing this? You would think THEY of all parties would want us to be going to an environmental nirvana… ALSO --- IF we’re still buying oil from foreign countries.. and they don’t have the environmental laws we do.. aren’t ‘we (human race) still killing the environment? Just doing it ½ way across the world first?

HELLO?????????????

Whoever mistakes Obama for Osama or thinks this great guy does not love America or he is a friend of Terrorists is just as dull and stupid as Bush and McCain put together. We currently have a President who has no clue how to run a county, let alone a country, and now, some folks want us to continue with someone who can not even tie his shoe laces when it comes to the economy. This is just Idiotic. Does McCain look Presidential to anybody? McCain looks like someone who would sleep through a meeting with other world leaders. He looks like someone who would be led by the hand to sign papers to the detriment of our country, all in the name of appearing tough. McCain does not appear tough to me at all. He is a fear-monger and a war-monger. I would no longer let Republicans appeal to my fears. Bush rode on 911 to a 2nd term in office and we are all losers for that. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AMERICANS. I WILL NOT VOTING OUT OF FEAR IN NOVEMBER. PERIOD.

Now that McCain's campaign has admitted their candidate is receiving a 100% disability pension shouldn't he have to release the records and the reasons he is 100% disabled so voters can decide if he is fit for office? is any of the disability based on mental problems?

For all those whom posted postive and open minded feedback for either party- I say hats off to you! It is amazing how easily we all sit back and complain- when if we want a change, we should be supporting those willing to clear the chaos and make a difference- My husband and I are both hardworking, honost tax payors. We are doing our very best to raise two amazing children to be contributors and not takers from this society. While I stongly agree with the Republican stand point of minimizing social programs; I can also remove myself, just far enough away to acknowledge that there are people out there who need help. The reality is, we are an "every person for themself" society- Yet a "society" or "communuty", cannot successfully work that way- Unless we decide to start curbing what we call "personal" freedoms, there will always be people who just take, those that just give, and those caught in between, who truly need help, but do not have enough to financially contribute. From a young American's point of view, I feel that best thing we could do, is take a long look at ourselves and what we have become- If we all lived within our means, Including the Federal goverment, instead of living and buying as though entitled, would we be in such a state of unhappiness? No matter how much you buy are you happy? I mean honestly- are we that blinded to blame all that is happening on the Government? Take some personal responsibility. If we all stood together, just once and said collectively, we agree, Healthcare is an issue, Taxes are an issue (amount and where allocated), so on-- Perhaps we could agree on what our priorities are- This blog is directed to all of you amazing people who wake up each and everyday thankful for life, contributing to the best of your ability and looking for a voice that will assist in providing a healthy, happy, and clean future for all-- Reflect, and think, at the end of the day "Where we go One, we go ALL"! Small changes we can all make immediately, will make drastic changes down the road, showing big business, and government, we won't be distracted anymore, we don't need crap and clutter getting in the way of LIFE!

So, 10% of the people pay 70% of all income tax.

This 10% is comprised of people who make ~$100K or more per year - not the "mega rich" alone.

I am always stunned that people think the wealthier are getting an unfair share if a tax cut is provided.

25% of the US not only doesn't pay taxes...they get paid (through credits) to be citizen.

I am compassionate, but wealth redistribution is out of control.

Wake up... we can't keep spending more than we have.

Unless the Government spends less money (not going to happen with Obama and Universal Health Care, etc), this 10% will pay an even larger (more disproportinate) share.

Senator Barack Obama is both Africa's and America's gift to the world!!!!!!!!. He is going to restore America's leadership in the world. America is going to be loved, respected, revered and trusted in the world again. Senator B. Obama is going to tell the world that America is back and in business again. That America once again, is going to lead the world. Watch out WORLD!!!. Long live this great country of ours which we all love so much - A M E R I C A.
Senator Barack Obama needs the sincere support of all Americans to make this happen. So, let's go America and stop crying. Let us get this new Obama administration going already.

You Know, this is the best possible time for independants. If a strong woman candidate ran under the independant ticket this fall we might see a very historical shakeup, Not only a woman. Not democrat or republican. Im just saying, people dont want more bush I keep readinf and people are vary leary of the Obama scandals that have already occured, who knows what is yet to come out. Given that this is all lack of experiece on his part, that just makes it even worse. Some independant with the right moves could swoop in right now with the right amount of backing and blow these two right out of the water. It would be a HUGE upset and looks completely possible right now.

Don't Blame the environmentalists or the Democratic party for trying to push for cleaner/greener initiatives for oh... how long?.... Since the 70s? If we had properly & steadily invested in alternative energy sources & programs, as had been greatly supported & subsidized during the Clinton Administration, we would not be in this mess & worse yet, would not be at the mercy of OPEC or these Oil Conglomerates that are reaping billions from the American Middle Class & destroying the world economy in the meantime with absolutely no regard for the future. It's pretty much the same scenario as when we fell into the great depression, only the characters & conglomerates have changed. Greed & Gluttony still being the number one motive. It's a fact that the Bush Administration has been very closely allied with the Oil Sheiks & US Oil Companies, so he was not about to make any decisions that would have gone against them, no matter how beneficial it would have been for our nation. Furthermore, up until this year, he has deterred any research for alternative energy, all under the ruse of higher taxes in order to subsidize the research funding, yet we are still providing billions of dollars in tax cuts to the Oil Conglomerates. Without a doubt, this Bush Administration will go down in history as the worst administration in US History. If Washington is not going to do anything legally to go after Bush & Cheney, then the people of this country need to demand that they both be expelled from the US soon after they are out of office. Their actions since the months prior to 9/11 are treasonous. BTW, Please Congress, wait until January to put on the full court press against Rove, so Bush does not have the ability to give him the "Scooter Ride" to Freedom by pardoning him as well.

I knew a lot of American are disappointing with Bush's handling the government for the last 8 years. However, I still believe the United States of America political policy that is why I still support our troop and the War that we are facing. If you want to be strong and power of the world then we have to pay for it. Please don't forget how our country becomes strong and power of the world and the country is for everyone dream to become a citizen. Please take a look back for the history. Such as WWII; Korean War; Vietnam War; Gulf war etc.. War is paid for, and then who would get the benefits after the war and then peace??? I also believe; we need CHANGE, but unfortunately we do not have another B Clinton, and I don't believe with the candidate who has less experience and not respect our flag. So I would better stay in course for another term of the R.
DB Vietnamese immigrant.

Why is it that we are so easy to blame on other except our self. What happen to personal responsibility. The president either Obama or McCain can not put food on our table or money in our checking or savings account. You should work and plan for it ourself. Why rely of someone else. Big business protect thier interest to keep the business alive and may continue to hire people. The government, fed, state and local does the same. So what else is new. We may call them outsider and insider, however after we elect them they become insider.. and who are the people most likely they encounter? The same big business, us the people the state and local governmemt. So what else are we waiting for change? and if there is change.. what are the changes we want. Creat jobs.. who would create fobs, the big business, small business, the Fed, state and local? Notice same.
Just work hard be prepared to work, and plan for your self. There is always rainy days.

No matter what.. I shall boil down to hard work, love, humility... the planning. Remember this journey is about how we plan and approach the travel.

Posting no. four by John is just dead-wrong. I've lived in both MD, and the republican bastion of TX. As for taxes, the tax burden is worse in TX. In MD the sales tax is 5%, the sales tax in TX was 8.5% last time I was there. The property tax rates are also higher in TX when compared to MD. As for health care, there are more uninsured folks in TX than in CA - a state with a much bigger population and one that also has a high number of immigrants (legal and illegal). If TX exceeds CA in their number of uninsured, then I'm willing to wager they also vastly exceed MD. So, any argument that MD is some horrible place to live or run a business is just complete b.s.

Some people are too afraid that if someone else gets the goodies, it is at their expense: which ironically means that the ones with the all the might hoard all the goodies . . . and they are doing just fine, and not caring about how anybody else is doing. That, in a nutshell, is Republican social philosophy: take care of yourself and who cares about everyone else?

We have more than enough for everyone if we change our thinking. We could try considering that we are our brother's keeper. We could try considering that it does not take bread from our mouths to make sure there is some on the table for everyone else. We are all in this together, and Obama gets that. He's got my vote.

WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER.

Interesting comments.

allot of opinion based on hope.

the facts remain self evident.

1. we need oil until we can invent an alternative to its use.
the answer drill in our own lands there is plenty at least for awhile.
I believe in the american wilderness and am a strong animal lover. BUT, we have a choice freeze, never go anywhere because we cannoy afford it. or we have O jobs.

lets face it oil is a spiny cancer that reaches into everypart of our American lives.

without it we don't eat or drive. if we do AT ALL it will be beyond the ability of many to pay.

what does this lead to more crime . gas thieves are already on the move.

more violence because make no mistake people will die over this and soon.

more poverty like we don't have enough.

Get out of Iraq. I am a vietnam vet and firmly belive we cannot afford this war.

12 billion a month....we have spent enough in lives and cash to have saved America 4 months ago.

are we stopping al queda -no way.

they will be back and we'll be to poor to defend against them.

we can't even find bin laden. with millions on his head.

who's the best canadate for president.

not john Mcain. Not hillary clinton.

amazing how everyone forgot about the clinton years or are just to young to care.

okay I have to say it I"m while ,retired and going broke .

If the American White populus are so rooted in bigotry that they will but a George Bush in the white house for another 4 years..then goodluck to you all.

so if that happens (god forbid) we can talk about it around the campfire,down by the tracks.

Give the man a chanch ..we did elect a young irish catholic and he did all right.

wish he were here now.

on more thing the mortage market should never be in this state.

guess who's to blame the banks that issued the loans on unverified incomes etc.

but we bail them out instead of putting the s.o.b's in jail.

fire the ceos and they walk away with millions, while working americans get a small unemployment check and a sorry about your luck after 26 weeks.

or ya sorry you don't have a home either.

ballon mortages ,nuts, why couldn't the banks just accept the come on rate for 6-7% and be happy with thier profit. no foreclose ,put working americans in bankruptcy, and glut the market with foreclosure, tumbling the single most important commodity in american, home.

the answers seem simple to me, the road to change is not.

I once saw a bumper sticker ona teenagers car that summed it up.

the problems of today will not be solved by those who created them.

thanks for listening

john hill
orange ,ma

First of all the country is like a home in the sense that we need to secure our home first from thieves and terrorists so our belongings and valueable properties inside the home is safe for our daily use.We can all get hyper about the economy but if we do not put up a proper security for our economy from terrorists like what they did to the World Trade Centre,Pentagon building,Commercial Ailines and many other means of ecomomic growth then any economic plan is meaningless.How can we worry about what is inside the home without doing something to secure its outside surrounding like a fence,security alarm,lights etc or we will continue to pay for damages from terrorists and thieves.Its exactly what our nation is doing right now under the current administration which is a right thing to do and important.I question how will Obama change things from the current path to which path because as far as I know there is no other path for economic security than the current one President Bush is taking the country now.

I say to all of the voters, be they Republicans, Independents or Democratics, young or old, Black, White, Brown, or Yellow, males or females, vote for peace, vote for hope, vote for change, and vote for Senator Barack Obama, our only clear choice, thank you.

I agree with those of you who said both choices are bad. We can't win if we keep voting for Democrats and Republicans. They are the problem, not the solution. They both represent the wealthy, and the Constitution says "We the People..." not "We the Wealthy..." yet we find ourselves trapped in an either/or situation: either Democrat or Republican. This is a huge trap, we do not get to do anything more than choose which wealthy jerk will screw up our lives for the next 4-8 years, and really we don't even get to do that! The Electoral Votes do the deciding...we need to wake up and throw all our support behind a 3rd party candidate, one who makes less than 50K a year and pays for his/her own gas...

like the guy said above...we're doomed!!!! i'd hate to have the job of trying to pull our country out of the mess its in....its like any other election, canadates promising stuff they can't/won't do....i also believe we need a total overhaul of our govenment..they don't care if gas is 10bucks a gallon, the little guy is gonna pay for it for them....oh well, its all gonna be over very soon....hope everyones ready

For all those McCain lovers that beleive in tax breaks for the rich coporations believeing they will use it to hire more American employees...here's how they choose to send your money. June 6 (Bloomberg) -- Electronic Data Systems Corp. Chief Executive Officer Ronald Rittenmeyer will be entitled to a payout of as much as $51.6 million if Hewlett-Packard Co.'s takeover of the computer-services provider succeeds. Rittenmeyer would be eligible for the maximum amount if he leaves the company under certain conditions, according to a regulatory filing today. If the deal goes through, Rittenmeyer will pocket $41.8 million whether he leaves the company or not.
Chief Financial Officer Ronald Vargo would be entitled to as much as $7.99 million in severance, while Bill Thomas, who runs the European operations, would receive $11 million. Charles Feld, head of applications services, would get $14.6 million and Chief Administrative Officer Tina Sivinski would have $12.4 million. Most of the money would come from stock-based compensation

Bush gave us inflation, a huge deficit, big tax cuts for the wealthy while us middle class struggled to hold on to our Jobs and life. We also got a war in Iraq when he lied about WMD to get us into it. McCain is Bush light, still supports the war in Iraq that looks to this Vietnam vet to be nothing more than Vietnam in the desert, and we will get the same results we got in Vietnam. (Pop quiz, how long did the Vietnam War go on? Answer; It started in 111BC when the Chinese invaded and tried for 1600 years to conquer Vietnam with the same result we got, kicked out by a people that can't be conquered.)
(Second pop quiz how long have the tribes in the Iraq area been fighting with each other and any outside invaders? Answer; As long as there has been a recorder history of the area formally known as Mesopotamia. Which is before the bible was first printed.)
So this white Vietnam vet supports Obama, we need to change the culture of Washington, and though that will take a lot of time, at least Obama is ready to give it a go, so you go Obama and don't let the small minded red necks knock you off your message. There is more of us then there is of them.

Keep raising taxes, it only drives up the costs to do business with the end result of higher priced goods to everyone. I lived with Carter years and all the "Time for Change" rhetoric, higher taxes, higher energy prices, lines waiting to get gas due to shortage of oil products. There is not one answer to every problem and every answer has its own consequences, it is not all good and no bad fallout.

All Christians need to study Revelations, if Obama is elected, it is the beginning of the end.

I'll Say this; the world laughed with shame at us when we voted Bush in for a 2nd term after stealing the 1st. McCain openly admits he has NO end solutions to most of our woes, because in his eyes the current state of things are necessary & running according to planned, by the (Power Elite). In my opinion, all politics are pollution of the lip but at least BO is preaching to our needs as a nation. The Rich were originally taxed when taxes were 1st implemented, and so they created loopholes & shelters to avoid them so now the middle class pay. Lets face it the rich are in Power and so they write and manipulate the rules in their favor on every level so that they will remain that way. Capitalism CAN work for everyone but only if GREED is neutralized. Abuse of free trade and aggressive promotion of Democracy in the world needs a swift drop kick to he head. The US has proven that this system is flawed. Always remember; The US Government is a world BUSINESS with it’s own interests, & there are many layers to their power structure that are unseen. And even though Obama might have a passion to turn things around, he will find many roadblocks to truly make a difference. BUT if things aren’t bad enough for you yet, there’s always McCain.

Free "College for All" all what? All idiots? My father taught me since I was very young that there's no such thing a free lunch. Now who do you think is going to pay for this Free College for All, let alone all of the other "Free Stuff" being promised? Are the professors now going to be working for free as in a socialist society? Does everyone deserve to go to college let alone for free? Is this in the U.S. Constitution?

Wake up people...this is just rhetoric from another politician who is either straight out lying to us or has his head buried so deep in the sand that he can't see the light of day.

$5 by Labor Day?! It's $4.75 in California right now and the prices are going up daily. It's more like $5 by 4th of July in California! I wish the rest of the nation would recognize that when they were pissing and moaning about $3 we were almost at $4. California gets hit really hard and the rest of the nation doesn't give a damn till it happens to them. Wake UP!!!!

Since the government controls who can drill and who can not let's open up new drilling but on our terms.
If you want to drill in Alaska or off the coast of Florida you can do so but the oil can only be sold for $40 per barrel. This will still be profitable for the driller and will cause the market to push lower in the US.
As for refineries, this is not a democrat or republican issue. when the CEO's of the major oil companies were asked if they wanted to add refinery capacity they said no as it would hurt them. Bush brought up the issue of expanding refineries, even suggesting that federal bases be used to simplify the environmental impact reports and then did nothing to get this done. A great photo op with no meat.
The issue of drilling or not drilling is also not a democrat issue as 33 republican senators voted against drilling in alaska years ago and Governor Bush in Florida did not want his brother to allow drilling in Florida. We need to do what is right for the country while being aware of the environment.
I would trade more drilling for better mileage standards thus making both sides miserable.

THIS GAS PRICE RISING EVERY WEEK IS CRAZY AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON BECUASE EVERYONE HAS FAMILIES TO SUPPORT AND NEEDS TO WORK TO PROVIDE FOOD IN THE TABLE WE ARE HUMANS THAT NEED TO SURVIVE AND WE ARE ALL ONE NATION THAT NEEDS TO STICK TOGETHER, BRING THE GAS PRICES DOWN AND TAKE CARE OF THIS COUNTRY JUST DO THE RIGHT THING

time to NOT vote democrat or republcan there is not much difference between them time to send a message and vote OUT all these rotten greedy bastards who think only of themselves NANCY PELOSI for one should be tarred and feathered and sent to mexico with all those people she loves more than her owm country time to revolt and get AMERICA back to "of the people, by the people, for the people" for God's sake close the damn border now!! screw the environmentalists! they are mental and ruining this country vote JOE ARPAIO OR BOB BARR OR RON PAUL OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT you like that ain't establishment goons paid by special interest greedy bastards TIME TO TAKE AMERICA BACK!! NOW!!!

I've worked hard my entire life, since I was 14, now I can barely afford to drive to work and put food on the table. I don't think McCain or Obama can fix this mess. We are in the last days. The Bible tells us these things are going to happen and yet we turn away without acknowledging the truth. I do too. I don't go to church nor am I some kind of biblical thumping Jesus freak but I do see the truth for what it is. If the Lord don't come back soon, he'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gommorah.

Why was there such a big ta do over Mitt being a Morman and NO ONE seems to be the least bit upset about Hussein Obama being a muslim? Thank you very much I will vote for McCain. Not because he is another Bush but because he is his own man.

The Evangelical cult is trying to destroy humanity based on their crazy beliefs. They will tell you that Obama is the devil. When they have paid allegiance to the true anti-christ war criminals in the White Hosue. Never trust people who created an entire religion based on breeding with their relatives.

John, It is not our money. It is the HP shareholders' money; and if they approve it spent that way, so be it. Similarly, the so called winfall tax democrats are proposing will end up hurting consumers. Do you believe that oil companies will not pass it right along to consumers in the form of higher prices? They want their profit margin to be the same (10%, 11%, whatever), so, short of price freezing or nationalization of the oil industry winfall tax is nothing but political posturing. Besides, the precendent created by such action should send chills down anyone's spine; which industry will they target next...cable, tech, cell phone, etc...all of these could be considered "basic" necessities and government would need to ensure an acceptable profit level.
In any case, I thought democrats wanted higher gas prices to move people off gas inneficient vehicles. Al Gore ran on this platform in 2000. Now, high gas prices are having that intended result, so why complain about it. Let the market place decide...consumers will choose smartly. I think long-term, high gasoline prices will make alternatives cost-effective and the return on their investment worth the move. All technologies have the same maturation process (time frame is different) and it will be no different with internal combustion engines. At some point, something new with critical mass of adoption will make them extinct. If the oil companies got greedy as we are led to believe, they have slowly began to bleed the goose that laid the golden eggs...bye bye dinosaurs!

With Gas at $4 (going on $5) a gallon, The true terrorists in our country have shown themselves to be the Oil Co.s, the White House. And delusional Bush Republicans, that now regretably includes Sen. McCain, who think we're winning the war on terrorism and that the mess this country is in can somehow be blamed on "liberals" . How out of touch and ridiculious can you people be?? It's not spending by the govt. that messes the nation up, it's where it's spent and obviously the tax-breaks for the RICH, haven't worked.

As Colin Powell said: You break it. You own it. And BUSH and his Neocon clowns have broken the bank, broken the military, broken the economy and broken the hearts of the American people so F*** off!!

I'll say it again: If $5 a gallon gas isn't a terrorist attack...what is??

Oil co

To Jeff: Drilling for oil in areas that have limited oil to begin with doesn't make any sense. And, if we begin drilling today, that oil won't be available for years. It makes much more sense to begin to look for alternative fuels - for other ways to heat, drive, etc., than depending on a limited amount of oil - here or elsewhere. And, if George and Dick hadn't been in bed with the oil companies, that would have already started.

Democrats are not the problem - the current administration - with it's useless war; pandering to oil companies; and lack of care for the masses in America are. Obama and his administration will help us begin to regain our greatness as a nation and a place of respect in the world.

Personally I dont like either canidate. It seems to me that you can only become president if you are rich and good at public speaking.
If Abraham Lincoln were living in todays society he would have no chance at becoming president.
He was just a poor county boy.
If you dont like either canidate then there is no rule that you have to vote for them. There is a spot on the ballet where you can write in who you want to be president. So vote for who you really want. Dont just vote for Obama or McCain because thats the major parties nominees.
As far as not voting at all goes. If you choose not to vote then you shouldnt complain about who's President. Your vote could have changed the outcome.

Bla bla bla.....nothing will ever be settled....typical political BS, and
more talk than action. Wait and see...Obama will really blow your mind when you see what he does as Pres...and it AIN'T good. Bush got stuck with Clinton's aftermath....and what a piece of work he was. Thank goodness we don't have to see his face that much anymore now that they lost out ....jerks, cheats and
again, a lot of bla bla bla. Put the money where the mouth is!! Wish there was an independent worthy of voting for....where is Jesse Ventura??

It's sad when so many people have so many answers as to what is wrong with our country, yet it seems no one is listening to any of them. Every new president is going to reinvent the wheel. I have always been a lower and middle class wage earner and did my part by voting so that no one could say, you didn't vote, don't gripe. But it seems like whatever the American people vote on, it only seems to wind up what congress votes on, not the American people. I am nearing retirement age, but realize now, that I probably will have to work until I'm 78 in order to be able to retire. McCain and Obama both are promising all the woes they are going to heal. I pray God's intervention in either one of them that is elected that they remember the premise under which this country was founded. It seems all that has been lost in the shuffle the last 20 years or so. I just know I am tired of working and just not being able to show anything for it. I hope for all our sakes that whomever is elected will remember what this great country once was and will work to restore it.

Jeff S:

Draining the earth of oil isn't the answer. People need to stop for a min. and think, the world does NOT have an unlimited supply of oil. Once it's gone, it's not coming back. We need to look into new types of energy, we need to change the way we do things. Not whine about high gas prices. Deal with it, crying never changes anything. The faster this country gets off its high horse and attempts some real change, the faster our economy and civilization will regain balance.

Before anyone says it. I'm not a *hippy liberal*, I'm not a *block-headed replublican* either. The two party system is garbage. I'm a realist. Change happens, you just need to learn to adapt.

During the 2006 elections, Nancy Pelosi stated if we have a Democrat House and Senate, gas prices would come done. She also said it would bring an end to the military operations in Iraq.

We're still waiting.

#58, I'd rather pay for college than the Bush Gangs Iraq War... We could have educated every Citizen in the United States with all the $$ being spent on this lousy, no-good war... instead, we've made Chaney stinking rich (Haliburton)...

Again ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! NO MORE REPUBLICANS!

I need help understanding somethiing. I have heard over and over again from the big oil execs that the price of gasoline is a product of the free enterprise system. Well, I am a college graduate with a degree in business. In our economic classes, we studied the concepts of supply and demand and market equlibrium. We were also taught that the market reaches equilibrium when supply matches demand. But supply and demand cannot reach a true equilibrium when a small group (big oil )can manipulate the supply (they haven't built a new refinery in 30 years and do not intend to in the near future) Their argument does not hold water. I think the federal government should take all the tax breaks and incentives (billions) that are going to big oil and built refineries and require the oil companies to buy and use them (big oil will not police itself). I also think oil should not be traded on the futures market.

JP, Bush got stuck with clinton's aftermath? You mean the incredible record setting economy we had through out the late 90's and into the 2000's? Don't talk if you've got nothing too say bud.

Jewels your a idoit Obama is christain. Read before you say something else dumb. McCain is his own man .....ok so thats why he took Obama slogan for his own???

America needs to wake up!!

All this Osama - Obama crap is stupid and makes you and others look ignorant.

this is my opion i think we need to downsize congress for once to show them the affect they r having on the american people. also do away with lobbyist if they r there prosacute them and quit making it where its 10 to 12 years before they even have anything happen! third thing limit congress terms they can stay in politics but only hold one office so many years and have to have atleast 20 years of service for retirment. 4th thing quit sending so much money overseas to help other countries when the average american get laughed at if they ask for anything. 5th and final note do away with unearned income credit it tells you right off its unearned! ive received and would be more than willing to do away with. maybe oneday we will get a president that say no to alot of things and tell the american people to vote on it like it should be and the country was setup to be!

On the presedential election Obama will win in a landslide as McCain doesn't have anything to offer. The 25% of the people who still believe Bush is doing a good job(the right wing morale part of the republican party) does not agree with McCain on social issues like abortion and stem cell research. His ecomic policies are only beneficial to 1-2% of the country and his foriegn policy knowledge is greatly lacking (how can you not knot the difference between sunni/shite and not know how many troops are in Iraq and run on foriegn policy experience). He follows the failed Republican fiscal and foriegn policies and disagrees with many core republican social policies which has been the bedrock f republican support.

On gas prices - it will continue to rise to $5 a gallon until aug-sept and will start to subside slightly after that and will decline to about $3 a gallon by this time next year, proviing Obama wins. If McCain wins prices will moderate at the $5 level through most of his first term. The reason for this is the oil companies and oil producers have to take advantage of the final months of the Bush Presidency where they were given the green light to do whatever they wanted to (as in enron and the California electric market manipulation) to the Democrats who will require gas to drop to a level where their supporters are not banging on thier doors about the high cost of gas. The difference in the 2 parties is the republicans will flat out tell you they don't care how high gas goes while the democrats only care when the price gets so high people start to scream at them constantly.

On issues such as social security reform and national health care don't hold your breath. Any solution to issues of such magnitude will never be resolved by the 2 party sytem. Regardless of which party you are aligned with both parties know that the rich and big business butters their bread and they are not oing to make any major policy changes that will negatively effect their election pocket books.

The difference in the Republican and Democrats are the Republicans want to destroy the country quickly and give everything to the select few while the Democrats want to destroy the country slowly but still end up giving everything to the top. Real change will only happen when the goverment control is removed from the 2 parties which is why I recommend veryone vote for a third party candidate. I don't care if it is right,left or center,green socialist or communist (I vote libertarian because I am a strong believer in the consitution and bill of rights we once had). Look at the votes on major issues such as health care, gay rights, abortion, the Iraq war, etc. etc etc. and you will see that we don't have a goverment of the people we have a goverment of the deocratic and republican party plank. I can not believe that every democrat politician believes in gun control any more than I can believe that every republican polition wants abortion banned. Yet every major issue comes down strictly along party lines in congressional votes.

When the democrats were in the white house the wealthy did pay higher taxes, but the economy was booming, wages were increasing, the deficit was eliminated, and the country was relatively peaceful. This is why Republicans have to resort to scare tactics like referring to democrats as "socialists and communists." Whenever there's a republican in the white house we get the same thing: war, deficits, and recession. john mccain offers nothing different. don't be fooled by the hysteria, progressive economics policies really do improve the lives of the poor and middle class. and by the way, when jimmy carter was president we had a serious energy policy which of conserved millions of barrels of oil and limited our dependence on foreign oil, but the republican party couldn't wait to undo that as soon as they came to power.

Quickly going through here, I see more about the price of gas and rich v. less-than-rich more than anything.

Q. How many square miles of solar panels the desert Southwest would it theoretically take to power the entire US of A?
A. 50, B. 100, C. 500 or D. 2000

According to my utility company, it's B. (100 square miles). If that's the case why haven't we put such a project together at public expense with the government selling the electricity at market rates? They certainly have the land!

As for rich v. less-than-rich there are a few things we can do in addition to rolling back those tax breaks for the rich.
1. Treat all income the same -- get rid of the two classifications of income call earned (sweat) income and unearned (sit on your ass and watch your money grow) income. If dividends are reinvested within 6 months, no taxes on the gains.
2. Roll Social Security and Medicaid into the Federal Budget and raise the general tax rate. Give the former deductions to the employers and employees from which they were taken. 7.65% raise for people on the bottom; 7.65% payroll expense reduction for employers. Sure, the Federal Budget would go up but everyone would pay their fair share for this SOCIAL program. (Oops, I mentioned the S-Word that Americans are so afraid of.)
3. Universal Health Care -- NOT Universal Health Insurance -- rtun by the government is inevitable. Cost in 2009 -- $3 TRILLION, same as the rest of the budget. Savings: 1/3 or $1 TRILLION. No confusing plans or multiple billers. Just a per visit charge to stop the hypocondriacs.
4. A fixed set of taxes.
a. The first thing that must happen is scrap the entire current tax code which is too broken to fix.
b. Implement a Simplified Tax Code with a limited number of taxes, fees, credits, deductions, etc. that can be understood by all Americans without need of a tax attorney. Tie some taxes directly to the base salary of the President, the base salary of Members of Congress, and the Normal Minimum Wage. Any new taxes, fees, credits, deductions, etc. should require a Super-Majority of Congress and consent of the voters. Once we have our fixed set of taxes, fees, credits, deductions, etc. in place, a super-majority of Congress and consent of the voters will be required to add others.
c. Increase the scope of the Federal Reserve. Have the seven-member Federal Reserve Board of Governors (with 14-year terms) set tax and fee rates in a less political setting, with guidance from Congress, to cover:
funding requirements for current and future obligations,
current budgeted expenses,
a National Emergency Contingency Fund , and
distribution of budget surpluses.
Set limits on how often rates can be changed with an exception for extraordinary circumstances.
4. Have Congress and the President will still devise and approve a Budget as in the past. Don't let them set tax or fee rates.

Define two new terms:
Income Tax Exempt Amount (ITEA)
No income tax would be paid on incomes below this amount. Amount is based on a percentage of a typical Congressperson’s base salary and rounded to the nearest $1000. If we used a percentage of 35%, the ITEA would be $59,000; using 40% the ITEA would be $68,000. (A Congressperson’s Base Pay in 2008 is $169,300.)
Excessive Compensation Cutoff Amount (ECCA)
Total compensation above this amount would be subject to a tax on the business that grants the excessive compensation. (Compensation in excess of the lesser of either of the following would be subject to a progressive Business Excessive Compensation Tax discussed below.)
· 100 times the yearly salary (not total compensation) of the lowest paid employee in the company or partially owned subsidiaries, subcontractors, or subcontractors’ subcontractors thereof. Unless the company can prove otherwise, the Normal Minimum Wage (not tipped) with no additional compensation will be assumed. If the business employs persons at the Tipped Minimum Wage, that wage without tips will be the basis for this computation. If the Normal Minimum Wage is $10 per hour and applies, we would assume this amount would be $10 x 2,080 hours x 100 or $2,080,000.
· 10 times the Base Pay of the President ($400,000 in 2006) or $4,000,000. We will require that stock options be exercised before the end of the business's tax year in which they are granted to allow for accounting for actual values. We will work to eliminate stock options entirely as a form of compensation.

Recommended taxes

Personal Income Taxes
• There will be no deductions or credits on Personal Incomes.
• Personal Income Taxes will only be paid on incomes over the ITEA.
• No Federal Income Tax will be withheld on salaries projected to be less than the ITEA unless requested.
• Employers and individuals will still report income.
• Income from any source will be considered the same. There will no longer be classifications like earned income and unearned income.
• Reinvested interest, dividends or capital gains will not be subject to taxes if reinvested within six months.
• Progressive Income Taxes, from 5% and up to 50% will be paid on the income above the ITEA.
• Rates could normally be adjusted on an annual basis only and with minimum 60 days notice before the start of the calendar year and never retroactively.

Estate and Gift Taxes
• We will reinstate an estate tax with a deduction of 10 times base Congressional Salary ($169,300 in 2008) leaving most people exempt from paying estate taxes anyway. Only extremely valuable estates are currently subject to this tax.
• Except in cases for relief of documented hardships, divestiture of real assets or gifts of over one-tenth Congressional base salary per recipient per year will be taxable.

Sin Taxes, Sales/ Excise Taxes, and Fees
• We will impose Sales Taxes and/ or Fees on cigarettes, alcohol, any legalized recreational drugs, motor fuels, telephone bills, and fuel-guzzling vehicles. Many fees we pay today will be setup as they were before but they will be paid into the general fund instead of to any agency.
• We will test whether the public can stand a 1¢ per month increase in the non-farm motor fuels taxes. We have to wean ourselves off of oil and we have to fund the fixing of our roads and bridges and this would be a way to do both. Yes, at $3.50 to $4.00 a gallon fuel is expensive. It’s over $10.00 a gallon in the UK. Let’s count our blessings.
• Rates could normally be adjusted every three months a minimum 30 days notice before any adjustment takes effect.

Business Gross Receipts Tax
• The total revenue of any ongoing business, public, private, even non-profit and religious, will be subject to this tax without deductions, prior to any other tax computations. We estimate that this will begin at between 15% and 20%.
• Rates could be adjusted on an semi-annual basis only and with minimum 60 days notice before the start of the calendar year.

Business Excessive Compensation Tax
The purpose of this tax is to put executive compensation back in line with the reality that the disparity between the lowest paid and the highest paid people in this country is growing larger and at an alarming pace. We have seen deals in recent history that are mind boggling.
Compensation considered will include all wages, deferred wages, benefits, stock options, expense accounts, etc.
The business will have to pay a tax on any amount of compensation over the ECCA (defined on page 20). Individuals receiving the compensation will be subject to income tax on the amount as well. We had originally thought a 100% tax would be appropriate but that was before we read about four distinct abuses where 100% would not have the desired effect. We had to rethink the 100% and came up with a different formula. Now our proposal is to take into consideration how excessive the compensation is. We will divide the total compensation (less the applicable ECCA) by the ECCA and apply that rate to calculate the Business Excessive Compensation Tax.
The Fed will not use estimated Business Excessive Compensation Tax proceeds in computing tax rates.
Should the tax not seem to be meeting its goal of eliminating the huge gap between lower and higher compensation rates, the Fed could adjust the rate even higher as it deems necessary to have the desired impact.

Business Outsourcing, Merging, and Layoff Tax
• We will apply this tax any time an employee is laid off and the employee’s job is either transferred overseas or the layoff is due to a merger unless an equivalent severance package is provided.
• The tax will be equal to two years compensation (wages, tips, bonuses, vacation pay, sick pay, pension contribution, deferred compensation, deferred savings contributions, profit sharing, etc.) which will help reimburse the government for unemployment benefits, retraining, and having another taxpaying citizen out of a job.
• Forced resignations to avoid payment of the tax and/ or negotiating a lesser severance will be illegal.
• Additionally, we will make it illegal to require or ask an American employee to train a replacement employee who will be moved to a lesser paying job overseas.
• Any employee fired or laid off will be required to certify on unemployment paperwork that to the best of their knowledge their job was or was not outsourced overseas, was not due to a merger, and/ or they received a severance package which they detail.
• We will eliminate bankruptcy as a means of avoiding this tax.

Other Business Taxes
Other business taxes, including but not limited to Unemployment Taxes, will be levied. The aim will be to simplify and remove exemptions and deductions to accomplish simplification.

Corporate Taxes
Corporations will continue to pay for that limited liability as determined by the Fed in addition to other taxes.

Import Taxes
• We will institute an Import Tax, to replace business gross receipts taxes not received, initially equal to 1.5 times the Gross Receipts Tax. The tax will be applied to the cost of the import, insurance and freight.
• Buyers found complicit with undervaluation to minimize tax will be subject to felony conviction, heavy fines, and jail time.
• Suppliers implicated in undervaluation will no longer be able to export to America, directly or through third parties.
• Countries that facilitate undervaluation or circumvention will be subject to Unfair Trading Penalties detailed below.
• Valuation must include the distribution of "alternative payments" such as kickbacks and bribes used to obtain such business, something more common in economies outside America.
• If there is even the slightest suspicion of a violation, penalties will have to be paid at time of import with the ability to be contested and refunded later based on sufficient evidence.
• The Fed will be authorized to increased this tax on a country-by-country basis based on how many levels of the supply chain are used on average in each country.
• The Fed will not use estimated Import Tax proceeds in computing tax rates.

Import Inspection Fees AA
The cost of inspecting every shipping container that comes to America either by air, ship or truck is astronomical. A fee for inspection will increase the importers’ costs, which might drive up import prices. While that might make imports less alluring, we believe that a laid-off appliance assembly-line worker in Indianapolis should not have to foot the tax bill for making sure the refrigerators he used to build right here at home to be sure they aren’t coming in from some other country packed with weapons-grade plutonium.
• Import Inspection Fees will not be considered a tariff or a tax. It will be a cost of doing business.
• The initial costs for equipment will be staggering and the American Taxpayer should not have to give importers loans. All equipment costs will be paid upfront from fees which initially will be high to pay for the equipment. Fees will include costs for continual upgrades and all personnel costs related to a new National Imported Cargo Inspection Agency (NICIA).
• Once the startup costs and budget for NICIA are determined, Congress will be given the task of devising guidelines regarding how to structure fees: by container, by total inspection time, per automated inspection, etc. Once Congress and the President approve of the method of structuring the inspection fee, the Fed will determine the actual fees.
• Fees will be implemented six months before equipment appropriation so that there is no debt expense.
• The Fed will allow for a 15% expense cushion in this program but will not use any projected excess in computing tax rates.
• Initially, we will put on a fast track the purchase of machines that inspect cargo containers and trailers much like airline luggage.
• We know that automated inspection is not foolproof, however. It will take a large workforce to augment automated activities which Import Inspection Fees must cover.

Unfair Trading Penalties
As part of a socially conscious nation we must make it clear that we will not tolerate certain business practices common in other countries. We will do so through penalties at either the supplier level at the time of import into America or at the national level where exporter nations ignore basic civil rights or trade rules as mentioned above.
• We will not tolerate sweatshop labor, child labor, or wages so low that employees must live in dingy factory-supplied rooms.
• We will penalize those who do not provide for worker safety or environmental safety, those who engage in currency manipulation, those who undervalue goods or those who restrict personal freedom. (Yes, we intend to promote more democratic values via the pocketbook.)
• We will devise a list of what we will consider to be Unfair Trading Practices with detailed definitions and appropriate penalties.
• These penalties will have to be paid at time of import if there is even the slightest suspicion of a violation, with the ability to be contested and refunded later based on sufficient evidence.
• These rules will be applied to services rendered from abroad as well.
• The Fed will not use Unfair Trading Penalties proceeds in computing tax rates.

Expanding the Scope of the Federal Reserve
Each member of the seven-member Federal Reserve (also known as “the Fed”) Board of Governors has a 14-Year term making them less susceptible to political whims.

Pre-funding of Future Obligations
· As mentioned prior we will have the Fed determine how much funding we will have to add each year to make sure we can pay for future promised obligations.
· The part we call Social Security today will be broken in two:
· The first part will be for all citizens 18 years of age and under after our plan is initially implemented.
· $100 for each of the estimated number of citizens in this group will be set aside each year, about $7.5 Billion today, to be put aside for their potential AFSHAP pension retirement and lessen the need for future tax increases.
· Funds put away for this purpose could not be diverted for other use for any reason. These will not be individual retirement accounts but a pot from which qualified retirees will draw.
· Based on America’s growth rate of 6.4% from July 2000 to July 2006, about 25% of the population under 18 years old in 2006, an assumed average 5% annual return, and no increase in the $100 per individual per year, this fund would be greater than $1.4 Trillion before any retirees would be eligible for benefits — 44 years after creation, eligibility still at 62½).
· The would be self-perpetuated with the same $100 per under-18 citizens contribution per year and compounded interest.
· By that time, the majority of people covered under the old plan will have passed on. The old form of funding directly from the national budget will diminish every year.
· The Fed will have the power to raise or lower the $100 amount based on projections.
· The second part will cover funding for people who would be covered as under the former Social Security system.
· This must be a pay-as-you-go system which we have today. In the short term we may have to infuse the system with funds (which will be invested safely to get a better return) which is why we will encourage plans instituted in lieu of Social Security to roll their plans into AFSHAP.
· As retirees under this system pass on, the funding needs will diminish since newer potential retirees will be covered under the new plan outlined above.
· The Fed will, before the Budget process even starts, formally advise Congress of amounts it projects as being necessary to cover their budget for current and future promised obligations so that Congress can include, without change, those amounts when preparing the Budget.
· We will have the federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (that administers the federal Thrift Savings Plan so well for Federal Employees) invest funds set aside for future obligations with the goal of ensuring safe growth while ensuring safety and report quarterly to the Fed.

Determining Tax Rates
· We will pass legislation which will delegate all Congressional authority to set taxes and fees specifically to the Fed.
· The Fed will take into consideration the guidance from Congress relating to distribution and rate suggestions after Congress and the President finalize the budget, however, they will not be required to adhere to that guidance because it may be politically based.
· The Fed's Board of Governors will use their best judgment to set rates for taxes and fees to cover all expenses in the budget within prescribed limits.
· At their discretion, to jumpstart or slow down the economy or to facilitate speeding up the paying down of the National Debt, they will be allowed to adjust those rates upwards or downwards.

Tax Surpluses
We’ve mentioned the National Debt more than once now with ways we will eliminate it: A required Balanced Budget and a 10% National Emergency Contingency Fund (NECF) for starters.
· All taxes and fees will be paid directly into the General Fund.
· At the end of the year, every year, there should be a surplus from the NECF, Unfair Trading Penalties, Import Taxes, any excess Import Inspection Fees and others. The Fed will divide the surplus as it determines is best to balance the following:
· Paying down the National Debt down to between $250 Billion and $500 billion.
· Put aside towards future funding obligations.
· If we don’t reduce the national debt by 10% in four years or funding for future obligations needs a boost, we will consider raising any other tax or fee to bring it down. For our own financial security and stability, we must bring this down to less than $1Trillion in a short time.

The Budget Process
· Congress and the President will, as in the past, prepare a budget.
· Congress will be obligated to add 10% of the amount of the total budget for contingencies to be held in a National Emergency Contingency Fund.
· They will not have the power to set tax rates but will give guidance to the Fed which will set those rates attempting to take the from Congress into consideration as to distribution of taxes and amounts of those rates.

National Emergency Contingency Fund (NECF)
We will require that the budget be balanced each year, with a yearly 10% National Emergency Contingency Fund set aside for emergencies. As defined in legislation establishing the NECF:
· An attack on the United States will constitute an emergency.
· An attack by us on another country with no imminent attack on us will not be considered an emergency.
· A natural disaster of major proportions will be considered an emergency in which case emergency funds could be used for rebuilding infrastructure, and temporary (less than one year) assistance to individuals and families.
· Congress will have to affirm an emergency condition exists with a two-thirds majority.
· The NECF will not be used for rebuilding of or compensating for privately owned housing, businesses or possessions. Individuals and families will have to carry their own insurance and live in areas with tolerable risk or face the consequences.

Indirect Taxation
We believe that any money remitted to the government as a fee or a tax should be considered the same and should go towards one single budget. We believe that only Congress with the consent of the President as set forth in the Sixteenth Amendment should have the power to levy a tax or a fee and that Federal Agencies should not have that power.
· We will pass legislation that enforces the intent of the Sixteenth Amendment. We will force Congress to be more direct regarding their mandates. If indeed their mandates are worth it, the money will come out of the General Fund from monies paid into the General Fund – not funneled through a Federal Agency.
· We will pass legislation that will prevent the government from mandating provision of services without just compensation just as they cannot take private property without just compensation under the Fifth Amendment.
· We will repeal the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as revised and all previous statutes upon which it was built. Any remaining Universal Service Fee funds will be moved to the General Fund.
· We recognize that there are those less fortunate but having a phone or Internet access is not a right enshrined anywhere. If people need that access because of hardships they will almost always find that most telecommunications companies have assistance plans.
· If Libraries, Schools, and Medical Facilities need more funding for telecommunications services, they know how to raise the budgetary requests and receive funds in a more direct manner which is less prone to fraud.

Everyone wants to blame the "wealthy" for today's problems. (I'm not sure exactly what that means in real terms since everyone seems to assign any number they see fit to define the so-called "wealthy"). I guess if you work hard your not suppose to be allowed to keep what you make because the guy next door may be jealous that you make more than him. We don't want anyone to be better off than ourselves. Why should the "wealthy" pay more in taxes then anyone else? Why should they make up for the people who are lazy and pay no taxes? Americans are only happy if they are blaming their problems on anyone but themselves. It's easy to blame someone else Democrates, Republicans, etc instead of looking at you own home and figuring out what you've done to contribute to your own problems. Why don't we change our own lives before we expect the government to change it for us?

That blind stupidity is the reason our country is in the trouble it is in now. When Clinton was president we didn't have these issues. Rich and poor alike were happy. People want to bash democrates and act like they are going to ruin us, but open you closed eyes Bush ruined us. Bush is why we are paying $4 a gallon, Our currency is weak, people are getting poorer and poorer by the second. The only thing that Bush has changed is the rich is getting richer and the working classes poorer. For all those that are still in the dark you get taxed based on your income, so the more you make the more you are taxed. Kinda how it is now except the rich aren't really getting badly taxed. So truthfully the rich will make more and still be rich tax cut or not. Furthermore we all need to learn service to our fellow man and because of how our country has fallen everyone is all about themselves. Vote Mcain and you will see how quickly this world comes to an end.

Just because I am single and make over 60K a year my tax liability both federal and state is 35%. I don't think that is fair. I'm for any candidate who will decrease my tax liability. I don't care what their policies are regarding the war. I did my 20 + years in the Navy. I do think it is sad young people must die in an old man's war but war is Hell and everybody knows it. Part of our national problem is with illegal aliens. We would have more money and less taxes if we got rid of these sanctuary cities and enforced current immigration laws Find a candidate who will do these things and our problems as Americans would be solved.

THE LAST TIME THE GOVERMENT AND RICH TAXED AND SCREWED OVER THE WORKING MAN. THEY GOT TIRED OF IT THROWED SOME TEA IN THE BAY AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPEN NEXT. MAY BE ANOTHER TEA PARTY IF THE CRAZY BASTERDS DONT WAKE UP.I HAVE NO FAITH IN OUR GOVERMENT BECAUSE THEY DONT DO WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO THEY ARE LIKE CHILDREN ON THE PLAY GROUND THEY ARE AFRAID THE OTHER KID IS GOING TO GET THE NEW SHINY BALL AND THEY WILL GOT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO RUIN IT FOR EVER ONE, COME ON BE A TEAM, DEM, REP,OR WHAT EVER.I WAS RAISED WORK HARD AND EVERY THING WILL BE ALRIGHT. I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS (1 DIESEL POWERED TRUCK ) I HAVE RAN THIS BUSINESS 15 YEARS FIGHTING TAXES AND FUEL PRICES I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE MONEY TO PUT BACK IN TO THE ECONOMY INSTEAD OF THE GOVERMENTS HANDS TO WASTE. I LOVE MY COUNTRY IT IS STILL THE GREATEST THING GOING, BUT I FEAR MY GOVERMENT

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

In reference to oil prices I agree with most of you. I am a 29yr old OIF/OEF vet so I don't know or care to hear a lecture on Economics (excuses) when it comes to the outrageous rise in gas prces. I have a much simpler view of the world and in my opinion this problem is attributable to nothing more than GREED. Somebody, somewhere is getting more than his share off the backs of the American people.

While in Iraq, we new there were individuals who were willing to kill us at the drop of a hat. I would have to say I am more fearful of these greedy oil execs than any insurgent in Iraq. They're greed is actually hurting myself and my family. I don't understand how they're getting away with this. If you ask me they too, belong in Guantanomo.

Republicans hate the premise of a fair shake. Government is the way to their wealth growing ambitions. Democrats look for legislation to level the playing field for the average citizen.

Republicans employ division and diffusion to splinter issues into obsfucate bits. This way the democrats fumble and have difficulty explaining what is happening in the country because they are constantly on their heels, being a reactionary group rather than responsive.

Until Obama can explain the Republicans role in our country's economic situation and how it is directly related to the war, Dems will have difficulty defeating them. Its seems the public picks someone to trust and completely runs with them.

Politicians are intentionally fuzzy on many things until they decide what they say will not hurt them(usually).

Mark Twain said" The truth is our most precious commodity, therefore we must conserve".

I'm(family) is one of the unfortuante famlies who have lost their home. I was in a car wreck which left me disabled. THIS WRECK PUT ME ON DISABILITY. I'm for CHANGE ALL THE WAY. IF OBAMA CAN MAKE THE CHANGE FOR ALL OF US GO FOR IT! And to top it off: I now need my husband to stay with me(doctors orders)If he goes back to work'/HE'S BREAKING THE LAW. (BECAUSE OF MEDICARE/CAID LAWS). GIVE ME A BREAK! a hard-working man TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF/PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY! When did this become a crime? How much more do we have to lose? TIME FOR CHANGE-OBAMA ALL THE WAY.

Most of the comments kissing up Obama is nothing but hyper come on what change he will bring huh? All I hear is raising taxes for the riches really? You know folks whenever a candidate start talking about taxing the rich thats a signal he will tax every single income earner in the country it doesn't matter if you are a student or laborer you will get hit hard even harder than you people kissing him longer.Stop yaping yaping about the war and that we spends millions on it of course it is a greatest and very important sacrifice to protect you liberals rear and your fortunes from terrorists and thieves.Oh come on,properly most of you commenting here about Obama are drug addicts don't know anything better than criticising the Presidents effort in protecting citizens of this country locally and oversease as well as quarantee our economic security in the future.Its those pork barrel spending Democrats that are crying like babies because their own self serving ambition is all they're in Congress for.It is usually the low minded that criticise any kind of efforts because they are not use to hear or live the word sacrifice or lomg term goals collectively as a nation.So wisen up and stop kissing to someones behind because it isn't pretty.You all live in the greatest country in the world even though you hear false stories and comments from some local and oversease media it doesn't change the fact and reality that the United States of America is the greatest and kinder nation under the sky.Stop whining you people are embarrassing and have no guts like whimps,be a man and be an American.

Iraq is the economy, stupid.

Hello, I am a high school student. I cannot vote in this election, although i wish i could. I am writing a paper for my government class about what we believe the number one national issue is for this election. It is not abortion, it is not homosexual marriage, it is not war on terror, its the economy.
I am the next generation. I am the generation that will pay for the 9 trillion deficit. Social services, Medicare, Medicaid for those who really really need it could be in jeopardy. That scares me. Although, some people have fallen below the poverty line due their own accord, their are so many who are just born into the cycle of poverty. If we cant help them, then what can we do? I know that I want a president who can exhibit compassion for those in need.