Quote:
Originally Posted by ijusluvit
Bucco,
I've read your last posts about Obama's leadership and your suggested tax revisions. I think it's futile to comment further on the question of leadership. It is so broad as to be entirely in the eye of the beholder. I will however again mention the survey of university professors who placed Obama 15th most effective of all Presidents. Call them anything less than objective - elitists, leftists, etc., but I give some credence to their 200+ year long view.
On the matter of taxes, I could not agree more that some changes should be made to entitlements, including Social Security. But my plan would reduce benefits by income level. I would not change the home mortgage deduction at the present time.
But would you answer these questions: Would you support across the board reductions in corporate income taxes, the current reductions in payroll taxes, an increase in capital gains taxes and making the Bush tax cuts 'permanent' on incomes of less than 500k? An elimination of farm subsidies except in cases of proven crop failure, elimination of other specific tax breaks to corporations, the initiation of more corporate incentives for research and development, and to hire additional workers, especially veterans, and even larger one-time incentives to return to domestic production?
There's more. But if this thread is still about jobs, please agree with me that the money necessary to create them must come from somewhere.
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First of all, I think you for a discussion without the cutsey names and smart cracks. It is nice to have a discussion, albeit disagree on some points, but have it be civil...very refreshing and adult !
On your last point, sure the money needs to come from somewhere and throughout our history it has come from private corporations and I think it should be that way once again. The core of our entire history is private investment. We surely need government involvement in those that are public works, such as the pipe line, but event here much should come from private enterprise.
Thus, we need tax codes and regulations that will allow that to happen. Our growth should not be dependent on the federal government, but should be the free enterpise system.
On your first point, and it appears we disagree on that, but just one comment. To me, and to I think most, one of our single biggest problems is getting our leaders to work together. This always come from the oval office....that job, President, does not allow you to make laws, does not allow you to do a lot.....what you need to do, in my opinion, is be able to LEAD, ie. TALK..LISTEN....sway after you do those two things...compromise. The senate and the house, believe it or not look to the oval office for that leadership and if we do not get it, we are going nowhere very fast. Our growth and success is NOT dependent on one man..never has been....one man is elected to lead...we do not vote for him to make laws...not his job. That is why I mention leadership and will drop it for now as we obviously disagree.
This will sound like a cop out and maybe it is, but those points you raised are vital and I agree, but I thought we would be well on our way through Simpson Bowles in having thos discussions. They, in my opinion, do not stand alone each issue..they are all related to one another and we need to have a serious and adult conversation among our leaders to accomplish it. We need to provide sufficient revenue but also allow corporations to grow and hopefully create jobs. This conversation needs to happen for sure and I hope you read the hopeful link on the 40 senators that are beginning, hopefully, that process.
Back to leadership once again if you dont mind. The differences that we have now are not new, perhaps taking new forms but the issue differences are always there. We just lost our way in resolving them. We need leadership in the WH to make that happen. This is not an endorsement of Romney by the way because I have no idea if he can do it. He does have a track record to go by as does the incumbent.
Again, thanks so much for the back and forth without the juvenile antics. I am open to being told that you or anyone disagree (frankly, when you are as opinionated as me you better be ready for that), and not only can handle it, but on more occassions that I care to admit, I have had my mind changed, but get totally turned off with the shallow, name calling and ridicule that folks think they must engage in.
You have made me think, read and examine which is the whole idea..thanks