Let me explain the current political situation - Page 6

Shocker989 · September 11th, 2011, 01:02 AM

Well I certainly don't have all the answers to problems in the United States, but being an American myself I have one simple idea that could help out quite a bit.

Increase congressional terms to 4 years, and decrease senatorial terms to 4 years.

This does 3 main things:

1. We would have one national election every 4 years for the presidency and both houses of congress. Can you imagine how much money it would save not having elections every two years?

2. When we elect someone to the house, no sooner do they hit the office than they start planning for re-election two years down the road. If we increase the term to 4 years, you throw out any excuse to abstain from voting because they're, "out on the campaign trail."

3. 2 year terms lead to band-aid fixes, which is what is keeping us in the mire we're in. Nothing gets solved, just pushed back. With 4 year terms, representatives would be more likely to vote for what's right for the country, not what will make voters re-elect them.

And the band-aid policy needs to stop. There's a difference between "fixing" a problem and "solving" one. If you wrap duct tape around a leaky pipe, you'll slow the leak and "fix" it for a little while, but you'll have to keep coming back to replace and add more tape.

If you change out the pipe completely with a brand new one, it's going to cost you more in the short term than a roll of duct tape, but you'll spend far less over the long term. That's "solving" a problem.

MisterMacky · September 11th, 2011, 01:14 AM

Also remove the Bush tax cuts.

Jack Keroact · September 11th, 2011, 01:16 AM

Seems like the powers (really wealthy people, if you can call them that) have merged the 20th century experiments of captialism (US), socialism (Europe) and Communism into one system. They've already unionized the world and not in a labor-type good way.

All this means: you'll be paying more and working longer for products. No health care, no services, high taxes for nothing, no representation, control, selling off of town's assets and that means higher prices, and so on.

The best way to fight back--don't buy their junk. Go off the grid. Use local vendors and labor. A lot of people won't want to do it because it's inconvenient.

If history repeats, people will get beat down and some fascist will come along and off again we're in another world war.

**deepsepia** · September 11th, 2011, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMacky

Also remove the Bush tax cuts.

They were written into law as temporary-- they should have expired this year.

Unbelievably Obama extended the tax cuts without any quid pro quo from the Republicans on the budget ceiling. Not a poker player . . .

They're still scheduled to expire, and in the absence of more capitulations, they will.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Keroact

The best way to fight back--don't buy their junk. Go off the grid. Use local vendors and labor. A lot of people won't want to do it because it's inconvenient.

Its more than a little bizarre: business complains about lack of consumer demand, and yet hasn't noticed that their consumer has been impoverished by their policies.

There really is a "win/win" solution out there: make working people feel a little more secure in their lives, and they'll buy more crap. Good for everyone.

That doesn't seem to be the way its going, though.

MisterMacky · September 11th, 2011, 02:16 AM

Has no one given consideration to the question of implementation?

Great ideas, but lacking focus here.

MisterMacky · September 11th, 2011, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

They were written into law as temporary-- they should have expired this year.

Unbelievably Obama extended the tax cuts without any quid pro quo from the Republicans on the budget ceiling. Not a poker player . . .

They're still scheduled to expire, and in the absence of more capitulations, they will.

Its more than a little bizarre: business complains about lack of consumer demand, and yet hasn't noticed that their consumer has been impoverished by their policies.

There really is a "win/win" solution out there: make working people feel a little more secure in their lives, and they'll buy more crap. Good for everyone.

That doesn't seem to be the way its going, though.

A better ideas: improve math and foreign language skills in workers. Stop retarding the educational system. Anecdotal example: some of my fellow students have failed a certain algebra class three separate times because they could not understand y=mx+b.

Epistemology - learn not only how to perform a given task, but the reasoning and theory behind the given methodology.

**deepsepia** · September 11th, 2011, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMacky

A better ideas: improve math and foreign language skills in workers. Stop retarding the educational system. Anecdotal example: some of my fellow students have failed a certain algebra class three separate times because they could not understand y=mx+b.

Epistemology - learn not only how to perform a given task, but the reasoning and theory behind the given methodology.

Takes a long time to train a better work force. Not saying not to do it -- but its a long haul.

Fortunately, there are lots of the world's best and brightest who'd like to emigrate to the US.

Hard to believe, but Microsoft has a facility that they set up in Vancouver, because they can't get H1 visas for a lot of the foreigners (Indians, mostly) who they'd like to hire.

So they go to Canada, pay taxes there, buy stuff there.

Go figure.

**otokonomidori** · September 11th, 2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMacky

some of my fellow students have failed a certain algebra class three separate times because they could not understand y=mx+b. .

I thought an mx+b was a Japanese sportscar.

MisterMacky · September 11th, 2011, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Takes a long time to train a better work force. Not saying not to do it -- but its a long haul.

Fortunately, there are lots of the world's best and brightest who'd like to emigrate to the US.

Hard to believe, but Microsoft has a facility that they set up in Vancouver, because they can't get H1 visas for a lot of the foreigners (Indians, mostly) who they'd like to hire.

So they go to Canada, pay taxes there, buy stuff there.

Go figure.

Feel the BRAIN DRAIN

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleetwood77

I thought an mx+b was a Japanese sportscar.

**steve40** · September 11th, 2011, 07:38 AM

i personally think the political situation in england is a total mess, what with the way the government are making so many cuts to our services and yet they are still throwing money away on other countries, i wouldnt be surprised if it gets a hell of a lot worse before we even see anything begin to get any better

September 11th, 2011, 01:02 AM	#51
Shocker989 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 27 Thanks: 58 Thanked 125 Times in 17 Posts	Well I certainly don't have all the answers to problems in the United States, but being an American myself I have one simple idea that could help out quite a bit. Increase congressional terms to 4 years, and decrease senatorial terms to 4 years. This does 3 main things: 1. We would have one national election every 4 years for the presidency and both houses of congress. Can you imagine how much money it would save not having elections every two years? 2. When we elect someone to the house, no sooner do they hit the office than they start planning for re-election two years down the road. If we increase the term to 4 years, you throw out any excuse to abstain from voting because they're, "out on the campaign trail." 3. 2 year terms lead to band-aid fixes, which is what is keeping us in the mire we're in. Nothing gets solved, just pushed back. With 4 year terms, representatives would be more likely to vote for what's right for the country, not what will make voters re-elect them. And the band-aid policy needs to stop. There's a difference between "fixing" a problem and "solving" one. If you wrap duct tape around a leaky pipe, you'll slow the leak and "fix" it for a little while, but you'll have to keep coming back to replace and add more tape. If you change out the pipe completely with a brand new one, it's going to cost you more in the short term than a roll of duct tape, but you'll spend far less over the long term. That's "solving" a problem.

September 11th, 2011, 01:14 AM	#52
MisterMacky Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 573 Thanks: 1,529 Thanked 4,514 Times in 537 Posts	Also remove the Bush tax cuts.

September 11th, 2011, 01:16 AM	#53
Jack Keroact Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 107 Thanks: 63 Thanked 771 Times in 101 Posts	Seems like the powers (really wealthy people, if you can call them that) have merged the 20th century experiments of captialism (US), socialism (Europe) and Communism into one system. They've already unionized the world and not in a labor-type good way. All this means: you'll be paying more and working longer for products. No health care, no services, high taxes for nothing, no representation, control, selling off of town's assets and that means higher prices, and so on. The best way to fight back--don't buy their junk. Go off the grid. Use local vendors and labor. A lot of people won't want to do it because it's inconvenient. If history repeats, people will get beat down and some fascist will come along and off again we're in another world war.

September 11th, 2011, 02:16 AM	#55
MisterMacky Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 573 Thanks: 1,529 Thanked 4,514 Times in 537 Posts	Has no one given consideration to the question of implementation? Great ideas, but lacking focus here.

September 11th, 2011, 07:38 AM	#60
steve40 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: here at vef Posts: 824 Thanks: 5,616 Thanked 8,821 Times in 778 Posts	i personally think the political situation in england is a total mess, what with the way the government are making so many cuts to our services and yet they are still throwing money away on other countries, i wouldnt be surprised if it gets a hell of a lot worse before we even see anything begin to get any better