What Should I Be Labeled.

[jonnywishbone97]

Ok so here goes. These are the issues I support or oppose. I am curious as to what I would be labeled.

I support

Pro Choice
Gay Marriage
separation of church and state
flag burning aka freedom of speech
the right to own guns but not pro NRA
lower taxes
balanced budget
subsidized higher education
small government
less regulation
kyoto accord
more troops in Afghanistan and possibly invade parts of Pakistan to catch or kill Bin Ladin
invading N Korea if provoked
Isolating Iran

I do NOT support

Patriot act
No child left behind
fundamentalism
parental notification
Iraq
Oil taxes

[Selatius]

1. How do you propose subsidized higher education with tax cuts?

You don't spend more money than you take in; that's common sense, but cutting taxes further means you have to cut government services across the entire spectrum unless you want to increase the national debt.

What about health care for the 45,000,000 who have no health insurance?

Or the 37,000,000 who live below the poverty line? What about the children who have no health care and live in poverty?

[jonnywishbone97]

2. its not my problem.

My kids have health care. My kids will always have health care. You can get by on subsidized educational benefits by getting out of this BS war.

[Selatius]

3. I never said anything about your kids, specifically, but...

What about those kids who have no health care? You offered no solution to them.

[jonnywishbone97]

5. parents need to get a job

even Walmart offers some kind of health care although its TERRIBLE.

[Selatius]

9. It's a bit more difficult to get a good paying job nowadays

The quality of jobs being created often does not meet the quality of jobs being lost as far as both compensation and pay goes, and the tax code, as it stands, taxes poor people more heavily than rich people.

If anything, tax reform includes cutting taxes for the middle class and the poor and raising them for those at the top. The best way to do that is to readjust the tax brackets and go through and eliminate pork tax credits that only business interests exploit.

[jonnywishbone97]

10. no argument there but you do have to start somewhere

When I started I was getting 3.85 an hour. You cant do anything even back in 1983 on that.

[Selatius]

15. Yes, but you still haven't offered any solution to the health care crisis

Those jobs, many of them simply don't keep up with the price of medical care. It's rising faster than worker wages, and the same is also true for tuition expenses. Wal-Mart's solution has been to dump their workers onto state Medicare/Medicaid rolls at a time when the Bush government has cut spending on social programs and cut taxes for the wealthiest in America.

Saying that "Oh, people will have to get a job," isn't really going to bring down health care costs, nor will it mean that tuition prices won't rise many times faster than the average wages of workers.

[jonnywishbone97]

20. I supported Hilarys plan back in 94

And I would do so again. Roll back the tax breaks of 2001, 2003 except for the middle class up to 100k. Roll back cap gains. Roll back inheritance tax. and end the subsidies to big Oil.

[Selatius]

22. Man, all I gotta say is if the Dems don't offer any kind of universal health care, I'm walking.

I'm tired of people putting profit ahead of human life.

[CitizenLeft]

44. well said.

Thank you.

[IntravenousDemilo]

34. The problem with workplace-supported health insurance...

...as opposed to taxpayer-supported health insurance, is that when you leave the job, even after having had such-and-such amount in premiums deducted from your pay over a period of years, you are no longer insured. And if your next job is temp or contract work, you still won't be insured. However, with universal government health insurance, you are still insured as long as you are a citizen, whether you are employed or are between jobs.

The second advantage of the national system is that drugs and equipment can be bought by the system at a bulk rate, and the savings get passed on to the end-payer, i.e., the taxpayers. One thing is for certain; unless they're hit by a bus or something and are killed outright, what's most likely to happen to everyone is that they'll grow old and sick before they die. Eventually just about everyone will have to make use of the health-care system in his declining years. Some right-wing goobers will say, "Why should I pay for someone else's health care?" The answer is, "Because everyone is paying for yours, too." We are all in this thing together. That's how a civilized society works, at least up here in the Great White North.

[CitizenLeft]

43. I voted "centrist"

...but then I just read your first two responses. No centrist I've ever met would ever give the economic equivalent of "let 'em eat cake" to a question about the poor.

Wow.

[jonnywishbone97]

45. I was poor once

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work your way out of poverty. You just have to want it bad enough

[CitizenLeft]

46. that's bullshit...

...and if you truly believe that, then perhaps I should've vote "right of Hitler Bush."

[jonnywishbone97]

47. Its not Bullshit its the truth.

That is what this country is all about.

[CitizenLeft]

48. so, you actually believe...

...that every child in America - no matter where they are born - is afforded the exact same opportunity as everyone else? Really? Truly? Honestly?

[jonnywishbone97]

49. yup I do

Is that a problem?

[CitizenLeft]

50. yes... it is.

Let's yank the freakin' blanket off of the elephant in the living room in this conversation. You know who the poorest children in America are - you know where they live, and you know the history of how they got there, and YOU SHOULD KNOW what keeps them in poverty. You believe that the quality of the classroom is equal in America... is that so? Is that what you believe? That a child in the inner city has the SAME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES as a child in the suburbs - that they read the same books, and get the same diversity of curriculum - you really believe that? You believe that every black American in America has exactly the same opportunities for a good paying job, as you do? Is that right?

[jonnywishbone97]

51. Excuse me where I work its 40% black

and they deserve to be there. They dont whine and bitch about poverty or where they came from. They BRAG that they are where they are and they DESERVE it. Stop pissing a river because not everyone has the motivation to step out of poverty and would rather live off the state. Its a bullshit excuse that they cant do it. They can do it if they want to

[CitizenLeft]

52. don't give me that bullshit about what YOU THINK OTHER...

BLACK PEOPLE THINK just because it suits your particular class division philosophy. WTF!

You left "racist" off that list. If you were honest with yourself, you'd add it.

[jonnywishbone97]

53. Im a racist now. KMA

you wouldnt know a racist if they spit in your face knucklehead. Quit whining about poverty and do something about it yourself. if you cant crawl out of it dont blame DA MAN!!!

[CitizenLeft]

54. "Im a racist now"

Very good. That's a good start.

Now live long and prosper, my son, and continue to step on the necks of those for which you have utter contempt.

[jonnywishbone97]

55. sorry knucklehead I dont use excuses for being poor

Nor am I a racist. Ask my wife shes a sista and youre an idiot .. thanks for proving it.

[CitizenLeft]

56. your stance speaks for itself...

...and I don't give a shit WHAT your wife is. I'm a "sista" too, and I can spot one a mile away. All that does is put you in the Alan Keyes / Ken Blackwell camp... *sprays the air*

Done with you. What a waste.

[jonnywishbone97]

57. youre the waste

enjoy poverty .. youll never see prosperity with your attitude. stop blaming others for your shortcomings.

[CitizenLeft]

58. I'm not poor.

How typical of you to assume that I was.

Wow. Every time you open your mouth, you prove my point for me.

Really, not going to reply any more.

[jonnywishbone97]

59. I heard that before

Now go run and beg from the state. Have a nice day. dont let them racists keep you down.

[alarimer]

40. People without health insurance raise health care costs for all

"not my problem" My ass!

What if you lost your job? Then you would be screwed. Or you had a job that offered no health care. You don't seem to care about anyone else, which in my opinion is a very Republican characteristic.

[jonnywishbone97]

41. I wont be losing my job

will you?

[primative1]

30. Exactly ...

The term that came to mind is dreamer but it wasnt available as a choice in the poll. 9 Trillion in debt is a figure responsible democrats hopefully will remember before thinking of future policy. Tax and spend versus spend and dont pay for? We have always been fairly responsible (at least by comparison). PAYGO!

[Buzz Clik]

4. You're pro-life but opposed to parental noticification? Seems inconsistent

You want to invade North Korea "if provoked"? Care to define the provocation necessary for this act of suicide for our troops?

[jonnywishbone97]

6. Thank you for catching that. Im PRO CHOICE SORRY!!!!

Damn I cant believe I posted the wrong side. I HATE those friggin license plates. These bastards want to save a fetus but then dont give a shit after its born.

[jonnywishbone97]

7. Also it isnt suicide. We would win in a week

N Korea couldnt wipe their ass with their military.

[Sherman A1]

11. And have a grand time with the Chinese.

I just don't think the Chinese would be very open to our using military force in Korea. I may be wrong, but I really, really don't think it would be among the best of ideas.

[jonnywishbone97]

12. I dont believe the chinese would even dare to do it

Even if they did their military isnt all that powerful. They have nukes but wouldnt dare use them.

[Sherman A1]

17. I would suggest spending some time at

www.globalsecurity.org. The Chinese military has it's share of problems, however so does ours (overextended a bit, equipment ground into the dirt, etc). This is not a war that would be a very good idea and would most likely turn into a very bloody mess, very quickly

[jonnywishbone97]

21. if we were out of Iraq we would do fine in the far east.

There is no reason to occupy. The S Koreans can do that and would do so happily. but remember the crap that happened after the wall came down. Germans were starting to discriminate against the east because of the costs of restoring the country. That would happen again IMHO

[blue sky at night]

8. you forgot......

normal in every way.

[joeprogressive]

13. conflicted and a little selfish

After we deal with the Iraq crisis, health care will become and in many ways is the most significant issue we have to deal with. My whole family gets free health care at work but I also work at a place that provides health care to the uninsured and underinsured. I can tell you for a fact the system is broken and one way or another you or your kids will pay for it if it is not fixed.

As far as taxes: lower taxes and balancing the budget are mutually exclusive at this point. We must increase taxes on people making more than 200K/year. Stop thinking about your own little world and care for someone else for a change. That's what liberals do. Therefore you seem like a conservative libertarian.

[jonnywishbone97]

14. No opposition to tax increase to people making 200k

I would go as low as 100k to be honest with you. I rather think about my little world not someone elses. But I believe if a man or a woman want to marry the same sex. it doesnt affect me why not let them? Its not of my damn business what they do with their lives as long as they dont hurt anyone.

[joeprogressive]

16. I respect that, that's why I was a little surprised about your stance

on health insurance. It is important to note that Wal-Mart doesn't give you health insurance. They give you a low wage then offer you health insurance that runs about $500/month for family of four. They have subsidized it making it cheaper but most employees at Wal Mart can't afford that. In fact, I believe they have the highest rate of uninsured among big corps.

[jonnywishbone97]

19. They have the most employees so that wouldnt be surprising

I fully support a UNION for Walmart. Those employees get stepped on everyday. Where I work we are union and my company pays for my benefits 100% and my familys. Even when I didnt have health insurance on myself my kids always had it. I would also support unions now for ALL retail employees. Its sad that one of our largest sectors is also the lowest paid. Its ridiculous.

[joeprogressive]

23. I said "rate" which makes number of employees inconsequential.

I was also curious how you knew your kids would always have health insurance. Do you have a no fire clause, immune to debilitating accident, your company can never go bankrupt, etc. I'm sure there were employees at Enron who thought they were set for life too.

[jonnywishbone97]

24. you always have to have a phone

and communications. my company will always be there to provide it. FYI my company stopped outsourcing they are bringing the jobs BACK. and they are UNION jobs.

[Selatius]

25. What sector of the economy are you in? Manufacturing? n/t

[jonnywishbone97]

26. Telecom

and will be there till I retire.

[Selatius]

Are unionization rates generally high in that sector? n/t

[jonnywishbone97]

28. All the bells are union

Landlines are union. Cingular is union. Its about half and half. Im in the good half

[joeprogressive]

27. Obsolescence didn't kill Enron, greed and fraud did.

How can you guarantee it would not happen at your company? The bigger point is why do you not care about the 45 million uninsured. Do you realize that the chances of your child getting a communicable disease increases as the children around them increasingly lose health care access?

Also, your company is figuring in your health care when they calculate your salary. If health care were cheaper or universal, your salary could potentially be much more. The economy is sluggish because we are the only industrialized nation to not have a universal plan. Toyota just chose Canada over us for this very reason. Therefore, you are affected whether you have health insurance or not.

[jonnywishbone97]

29. my salary is negotiated in contracts

I know what my wage will be in 2009 and what my bonus will be by performing every month. The only undetermined is overtime but there is plenty of that. My company spends over 1B a year in benefits and its going up but we wont allow what they tried back in 2004 with HSAs. Its a non starter for the union.

[joeprogressive]

31. Fine dude, you have the greatest job in the world but why turn your

back on everyone else? Do you think the uninsured child of a Wal Mart employee made any life choices that caused him to be uninsured? What is it about universal health care that bothers you? Did you not understand my point that your salary is based on health care costs?Who will foot the bill for your kids when they are adults or do they already have ironclad contracts in place?

[Selatius]

32. He would favor universal health care of some kind.

Just read my exchange with him.

Personally, I favor single-payer universal health care. The government would act as a negotiator for the US population, and it would invoke collective bargaining power with pharmaceuticals and health care providers to ensure prices don't spiral out of control.

[joeprogressive]

33. I do too but I think a hybrid system is more realistic.

n/t

[jonnywishbone97]

35. As I stated before I support unions for Walmart

And until they have one I will not support them with my dollars.

[greeneggs708]

18. American

Flush all labels down the toilet.

For two years we are going to argue who is what and who is bad and what is what.

And 2008 will come and America will say.

Damn, they really don't have a plan.

[left of center]

36. you forgot libertarian

A pattern of less government stands out, so you're a libertarian, albeit a slightly left leaning one.

Sorry to take exception here, but when the individual becomes the social unit in this country, there will really be no country. In it's place will be a modern day feudal system.

[Infinite Hope]

37. "Pragmatist"

You seem to judge issues individually. More generally you seem fiscally conservative, socially liberal, and morally independent. That's what I tend to consider myself as well.

[Infinite Hope]

38. Take this test...it's a good one:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

[stray cat]

39. You sound like the vast majority of Americans

including me.

[jonnywishbone97]

42. Thank you

Some of the dems here sound a little left of Stalin but I dont mind. WE STILL WON!!!