I agree that those who USE more government services should pay more. The rich don't send their kids to public schools, use food stamps, appear at the county hospital, end up in jail (as a rule), and so on.
The rich DO drive on public roads (or their driver does) and a few other things, so they should pay SOME taxes.
I think we're seeing it already as the investor class computes the future of a probable Obama administration.
They'll get over it.
As for creating more terrorists than we've killed, where are they?
Please let us know so we can go kill them.
You are no better than they.
nate
Well Pakistan has a bunch of them. Why don't you pack up the Winnebago?
Good Riddance.
olddog
Yes, I think you right about that. It's rather strange after CA took the lead in the 70s. Having watched the programme, I now appreciate why. The tax on road fuel in Europe is indeed much higher than in the US which I think is a good thing. We have much more efficient and smaller vehicles as a result. Sadly though, there has been (note the past tense) a growing trend here for SUVs. Ignoring Land Rover that has always produced large off roaders formerly for a practical purpose, Volvo (GM), VW, BMWand Merc are now producing the things as well as an incredible amount of imported Japanese pick-ups that do little to the gallon.
What I fail to understand is why US vehicle manufacturers wish to kill themselves. Ford being the prime example producing massive large engined trucks that no one wants and going down the tube as a result. In Europe they have produced smaller much more efficient vehicles successfully for many years. Similarly, GM. Why do they seem to have a death wish allowing overseas competitors to steal the market? I understand that there is a waiting list for diesel powered VW Jettas in the US market. Ford produce Mondeos for the European market that are just as good.
Appreciated, but I hope (and suspect) you exaggerate a little.
I do appreciate you comments re China and India and recognise the issue regarding coal fired power plants. They are just trying to catch up with us, though obviously more aware of the impact than we were at the time.I worked in Beijing for a short period in 2003 providing advice on infrastructure prior to the Olympics. Interestingly, buses and trucks were running on LPG. I suggested that their principal sewage works, being next to a coal fired power station should send its sludge there but they were concerned about the emissions. Whilst at an International Environment Conference in China in
2006, I as well as some local folk were surprised at the concern that some of their politicians were expressing re environmental issues. I was most pleased to find that the Beijing Municipal government had picked up on some of my recommendations, appointing a US based consultancy to address their sewage sludge issues. The intention was to use the material for cement manufacture which is just right at present with their development of infrastructure.What a rotten fellow you are. You hijacked my Friday night, for which I thank you. That was a highly objective programme with key players being prepared to be interviewed. Brilliant, well done PBS. Reminded me of what the BBC could do in former days.
Nate Nagel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news1.newsguy.com:
except the ones killing them by the "100's of thousands" were their so- called Islamic "friends". Many Iraqi's have now realized that and have switched sides. Too bad the hateful DemocRATs will not recognize it.
Iraqis celebrated when Saddam was deposed.Maybe you missed the video on TV news? Then there was the "purple ink" showing that Iraqis risked their lives to vote in a new government.But the willfully blind ignores that stuff.
More "moral equivalence". Pure garbage.
They still hate *us* in case you haven't noticed. They want us gone.
One extremist advotating genocide is equivalent to another.
nate
I prefer that those who benefit the most pay more taxes. But to follow along with your reasoning.
But they most certainly benefit from a good public education. Better to have smart folks working their widget factory.
I'll give you that- but I wonder which my bleeding heart liberal state pays more for- food stamps, or a state owned ski slope. . . or a canal so those rich folks can go from the Atlantic Ocean to the great lakes in their multimillion dollar yachts.
We don't have a 'county hospital' - but the local hospital, subsidized by the county, state & feds, has a few VIP rooms that are reserved for those rich folks. And they are 5 star accommodations. not that 'regular people' don't have decent rooms there, but the hospital makes a huge fuss over 'rich folks'.
They don't end up in jail 'as a rule' because the cost so much more to prosecute. Ask OJ how great it is to be able to afford a better legal team than they can mount against you. And when they do - for their 'white collar' crimes- they cost a lot more to maintain than their counterparts in gen-pop.
The class warfare game is an old one. IMO the most prosperous time in the 20th century was the 1950's. To a large extent that was post-war euphoria- but the top tax bracket was 73-90%- and you could make an equivalent of over $100,000 before you paid a penny in tax.
Trickle down doesn't work. Somebody has to have enough money to buy your widgets or services.
Jim
They want us gone? That's news to me.
They may hate us but they,the majority, do not want us gone. At least not yet.
Then you aren't paying attention. The Iraqi government has specifically requested that we start setting up firm timetables for withdrawal.
nate
Are you then saying that the democratically elected government of Iraq does not reflect the will of the people? If so then we have failed even more than I knew.
nate
I am saying that they don't want us gone. Gone as you have implied means now. If left to your reasoning we would of already been gone.
Of course the Iraqi people want an autonomous country, and that would require that we leave, but they realize that they are not ready for us "to be gone".
I wish more people, regardless of their political leanings, would understand that soldiers are not policemen. The sooner the Iraqi government gets it's police forces together, the sooner American troops can leave the area. Right now, The Iraqi Police are not quite up to the task of securing the country. I wish they would hurry up. Our troops are leaving more areas of Iraq right now but it's not an overnight job.
TDD
The person I think should be Sec of Defense in ANY upcoming administration, but won't be, suggests that that is not necessarily true. I commend to you the writings of Thomas P.M. Barnett, especially his book The Pentagon's New Map. He suggests that the US Armed Forces should essentially morph into two separate groups. The Leviathan that has the current military goal of killing people and breaking things and the "Sys_Admin" part that is heavily on the Civil to work to put the things the Leviathan is forced break back together again. Iraq suggests that we are probably among the best in the world on Leviathan side, but the Sys-Admin parts need substantial work. A Cliff Notes version of Dr. Barnett's thesis, and the thinking behind it can be found at:
OOPS! I made a mistake. I should have written "its police forces" rather than "it's". Silly me.
TDD
Nate Nagel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news3.newsguy.com:
you obviously don't know what "genocide" means.
Nate Nagel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news5.newsguy.com:
That was always a goal of the US;to withdraw. "firm timetables" are just a gift to the terrorists.
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