posted
I don't know about anybody else, but I have serious doubts about Bush's ability to run a country well. He's been in office for about 2 or 3 weeks and he is already purposing stuff that�s just...well.....STUPID! He claims he's for smaller government. Sense he became governor of Texas, the government in that state grew by 23%. The minimum wage in Texas is $3.80 an hour. There have been six attempts to raise it while Bush was governor, but he shot down each and every attempt. The reason? According to Bush, $3.80 per hour is a very livable salary and people do not need a raise. But enough about his idiocy as Governor, lets talk about Bush as president. His whole 'vouchers' program, to put it quite bluntly, will not work! In case anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about, Bush's voucher program is a program that pulls funding from failing public schools and gives it to kids so they can go to private school. Sounds like a grand idea if it weren't for a few problems that Bush seems oblivious to. 1) There aren't enough private schools to accommodate the huge number of kids that will be attending if Bush's plan is ratified. 2) The voucher money will not cover a kid's entire tuition for private school. A wealthier family would be able to pay the extra 1000 or so that is needed for tuition, but a poorer family will not be able to pay the extra money. In a sense the poorer family is screwed. As for the energy crises in California and other parts of the country. Bush wants to open up wildlife preserves to oil drilling so that oil could be cheaper. He also wants to lower the air quality standards in this country so we can build more power plants that run on polluting fossil fuels. Did anybody in his administration ever hear about solar power, or any other methods of power generation for that matter? As for Bush's tax plan, unless you make an income of $60,000 dollars or more, don't expect to benefit much from it. What do you think of all this?
------------------ If anyone has a Star wars action fleet E-wing starfighter or Tie defender toy they want to sell, please E-mail me at [email protected]
posted
It looks like we should wait a bit more before passing sentence on him. If he comes up with a dumb plan, and Congress agrees, then we have a problem. If he comes up with a good plan, and Congress disagress, then we have a problem. He could be such a good Pres. that even JeffK will like him, or he could screw up so bad Omega will give up being a Republican.
------------------ "One's ethics are determined by what we do when no one is looking" Nugget Star Trek: Gamma Quadrant Star Trek: Legacy Read them, rate them, got money, film them
"...and I remain on the far side of crazy, I remain the mortal enemy of man, no hundred dollar cure will save me..." WoV
posted
I'm a strong supporter of solar power. However, the technology we have to utilize it so far is simply far too inadequate to meet the needs of our population. (Hence my proposal for an X-prize and tax incentives for research into more efficient solar power, under my Dictatorship)
And thus far, solar power is the MOST viable "alternative" form of energy. So, like it or not, we NEED the oil.
You may ask, "what about hydroelectric, and dams? THEY don't pollute!" But that makes the environmentalists wet themselves with fury as much as the oil plants do. That's why in CA, with abundant mountain vallies and rivers, there hasn't been a new one of THEM build in a decade, either.
Nuclear, same thing. The Greens go apeshit. Geothermal and Wind are simply inadequate, plus they spoil the scenery. If you think one power plant is bad, try several hundred steel and concrete and aluminum windmills cluttering up the environment. Or a geothermal plant ruining the scenic beauty of a Yellowstone or Hot Springs.
(See a pattern here? You can't win with the Greens.)
Does opening up areas for drilling harm the environment? Answers still cloudy. SPILLS, of course, harm everything, but they mostly occur where oil is transported, more than at the sites themselves (unless somebody sabotages them, like the idiots in ELF are wont to do.) There is also fairly conclusive studies that show that certain things like the creation of the Alaskan pipeline actually had some POSITIVE effects on wildlife (I believe one article showed the caribou herds increased and sought shelter around the pipe, I forget exactly). Naturally, impact should be kept at a minimum, as much as possible. Human activity, roadbuilding, etc. should be minimized.
I have many of the same concerns about vouchers that you mentioned. I would like to see more attempts made to help the faltering schools rather than simply taking their money and students away. That hurts the students who remain, as well.
However, saying this is Bush's idea alone is like saying Communism was Lenin's idea. It's been around for a lOoooong time
And how much growth in the government of Texas was due to HIS policies during his term, and how much of it was carryover due to the policies of his predecessor. Government doesn't always spring up overnight, you know.
------------------ "My knowledge and experience far exceeds your own, by, oh, about a BILLION times!" -- Q
[This message has been edited by First of Two (edited February 08, 2001).]
I just typed up a reply, but as I was connecting to post it, my computer spontaneously rebooted and wiped it!
And darnit, Rob, you posted while I was retyping!
*grumbles*
Vouchers: Mib's objection is based upon a false premise. Vouchers also allow you to go to a different, successful public school, not just to a private one. The idea is to get the kid out of the failing school. Who gives a darn whether the school he ends up in is public or private, so long as it works?
Environment/Energy: If you think we could run this country off of solar and hydroelectric, you've got another think coming. Same if you think those have no effect on the envirnoment.
As for building more plants, we NEED more plants! Have you looked at CA lately?
Taxes: Of course the people who make the most money are going to get the greatest dollar-amount tax break. They're the only ones paying any significant amount of tax dollars in the first place! The top, 5% of wage earners in the country pay 50% of the taxes. The bottom 50% of the wage earners pay 5% of the taxes. Of course the rich should pay more tax dollars than the middle-class and poor, but conversely, they should also get a larger break.
If you make less than $60,000 a year, you're hardly paying any taxes to begin with. What do you want, to be in a negative bracket or something? As a percentage of what you're paying now, you get the biggest break of anyone.
------------------ Disclaimer: "All references to vices and of the supernatural contained in this game are for entertainment purposes only. _Over_The_Edge_ does not promote satanisim, belief in magic, drug use, violence, sexual deviation, body piercing, cynical attitudes toward the government, freedom of expression, or any other action or belief not condoned by the authorities." - `OverTheEdge'
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
I'll go with what Ritten says. As a Canadian, I'd like to see how he treats his northern neighbours.
Jean Chretien's first meeting with Bush went on without a hitch. They basically talked about Golf and Fishing. Not bad, even though Bush never knew what or where Canada was before he was elected President.
Let's just hope he still doesn't think that we live in igloos and eat icicles for breakfast.
------------------ "My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht." Psychiatrist: "Again."
posted
I heard a very interesting debate on "Talk of the Nation," an NPR radio show hosted by Juan Williams. The two participants I had the chance to listen to were:
Robert Greenstein Executive Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Robert Bennett Republican Senator from Utah and Vice-chairman of the Joint Economic Committee
(Anyone who thinks NPR funding should be eliminated should reconsider their beliefs before listening.)
quote:I have many of the same concerns about vouchers that you mentioned. I would like to see more attempts made to help the faltering schools rather than simply taking their money and students away. That hurts the students who remain, as well.
Oh Gilgamesh!! I think I agree!! Lions and lambs laying down together.
What's the other one...oh, yes energy. It seems to me that building more power plants and drilling all over creation for oil is not a long term solution for lazy Americans and their luxuriant wasting of energy.
------------------ "There's no such thing as legacies. At least, there is a legacy, but I'll never see it." ~ George W. Bush, Deer-In-The-Headlights of the United States
[This message has been edited by Jay (edited February 08, 2001).]
posted
I think I agree!! Lions and lambs laying down together.
Or maybe sheep and wolves? No, wait. Wrong thread...
------------------ Disclaimer: "All references to vices and of the supernatural contained in this game are for entertainment purposes only. _Over_The_Edge_ does not promote satanisim, belief in magic, drug use, violence, sexual deviation, body piercing, cynical attitudes toward the government, freedom of expression, or any other action or belief not condoned by the authorities." - `OverTheEdge'
------------------ "There's no such thing as legacies. At least, there is a legacy, but I'll never see it." ~ George W. Bush, Deer-In-The-Headlights of the United States
posted
I don't think Bush is as dumb as everyone thinks he is. The media portrays him as stupid because he isn't a wonderful speaker, but I hold that he's much smarter than you think. Still water runs deep.
------------------ "President Bush. It's fun saying that. Go ahead, you try." - M. Lucinsky, Spectrum Editor
"Being a liberal is one of the most gutless choices you can make. It doesn't require you to think, it only requires you to feel." - Rush Limbaugh
Like I've said before, I don't think that Double U is stupid. However he represents things that I have taken a great dislike of in that he is of the little substance petite bourgeois-esk, wanna hang at the club, anything to make money, anti-intellectualism that is the modern business scene. A little man with big friends.
Someone once described Double U as our first CEO president. And since the term CEO is relatively new, and no longer represnts the older style of business leader, I'd agree. I've seen enough MBA's and business majors in my time to know that for the majority, which includes Bush to my mind, there is no thirst for knowledge there. No desire to read beyond what is required for the next business class.
Style over stubstance. There is no there there.
------------------ "There's no such thing as legacies. At least, there is a legacy, but I'll never see it." ~ George W. Bush, Deer-In-The-Headlights of the United States
[This message has been edited by Jay (edited February 09, 2001).]
------------------ Terry: "Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, ...." Max: "And?" Terry: "I forgot." Max: "Come on, Clinton was the fun one, then came the boring one." Terry: "They're all boring."
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted) *** "Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!" -Forum Member Who Shall Be Nameless. 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001
------------------ Terry: "Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, ...." Max: "And?" Terry: "I forgot." Max: "Come on, Clinton was the fun one, then came the boring one." Terry: "They're all boring."
Personally, I find it encouraging that the CEO of the country has experience running an actual business, where he had to keep expenditures below income. A president that has real-world experience will be refreshing after the last eight years. And it's even more encouraging that he has experience in the industry that keeps this country running.
------------------ Disclaimer: "All references to vices and of the supernatural contained in this game are for entertainment purposes only. _Over_The_Edge_ does not promote satanisim, belief in magic, drug use, violence, sexual deviation, body piercing, cynical attitudes toward the government, freedom of expression, or any other action or belief not condoned by the authorities." - `OverTheEdge'
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