britty

Things I'm reading here give the impression that some think that the rich will give up their privilege, ownership, and influence, either willingly or forcibly, under an Obama administration, and that the masses will attain a higher status and more control over finance and the means of production. Some expect a soft revolution. I find this to be very interesting.

What are your thoughts?

success will be punished, gun rights will suffer.

from my cold dead hands....

Bazza Obarmy doesn't like the fact that successful people are independent people. He wants to ensure that everyone is reliant on the government for everything. Some people are born to be sheep and follow. Others lead. Its just the way it is. If you are financially independent and have choices, then you aren't part of the machine. If you aren't part of the machine, then you can't be controlled. Those gainfully employed to a certain income level may see a reduction in their tax liability and that is no bad thing. Those who are welfare leeches will continue to receive just enough to keep them baa'ing, and higher income earners will be taxed even more heavily than they are already.

I'm sorry but it just so happens that I am in agreement with Buffet on this issue. I get what he says. I also don't consider myself a teat sucker - I work for a living. And I know that the company is making a profit on my contribution. If anything, it's the company sucking on my teat. But who am I arguing with? You're so ignorant it's ridiculous.

No one is holding a gun to your head to make you work there. If you don't like the company using your labor to make a profit, you are free to leave. The fact is, companies are free to withhold from employees the opportunity to ply their labor and earn wages if business conditions aren't favorable to them. As long as you don't control your own means of production, you are a teet sucker. Call me ignorant, but I'm not in the position of having that as my only choice to earn a living. You may feel superior, but, if you can't understand that, you remain vulnerable to business forces, and that makes you a pawn no matter how you cut it. Ignorant or not, I don't have that problem.

What exactly makes you think that working where I work is my only means of earning a living? Maybe I enjoy doing what I am doing. That might be a rare thing these days but it still exists. I ain't sucking nobody's damn teat - much less in a publicly owned company. I'd be sucking hundreds of thousands of teats seeing that that is how many owners the company I work for has. The executives, on the other hand, don't own the place - not even close. They're employees of the same owners that I work for. So, we're kinda sitting in the same boat. And hence, they don't deserve any more of a break than I do or I any more of a break than the guy that works for me and so on.

What other streams of income do you have to rely on other than being an employee? Do you own real assets that create passive wealth for you? Do you have a profitable business? If that teet was pulled away, would you have immediate means upon which to fall back on?

The reason why the rich pay less in tax is because they create wealth and jobs, and are rewarded for it by communities and governments who want their ingenuity to benefit their constituancy in a symbiotic relationship. You don't do that, so you ride the tide. In this country, you have a choice to be a teet sucker or to be the teet. Don't blame the teet for you being at the wrong end of it.

VW - you are wasting your time. Its easier to accept that some people just don't get it.

Socialist much? I already pay a shedload of tax into the system which is more than my "fair share". You go ahead and distribute your income as you see fit and I will simply continue to use a really really good CPA.....

I am in the highest tax bracket and I do not have a problem paying my fair share to help the country out. I have seen what it does when spent wisely and the results speak for themselves.

The wealthy act like someone is stealing their money. Poor babies. I guess underpaying the low end worker in a company you own or own shares in is not stealing hey. The minimum wage for an adult in America should be $13 an hour. If that means people we need to start charging more to pay for a fair wage then yes this should happen. We need to get over exploiting people so our kids can have an Ipod. Same goes with the rich using illegal immigrants to lower their costs, increase their profits while screwing over other Americans who could have this job and put food on their table.

ALL taxpayers pay their fair share. They do not get to offer what they think is fair, the government decides for them. The government has decided that I am in the highest tax bracket and so they tax accordingly. My point is, if you are already paying what the government feels is your "fair share", then any additional funds to support the areas you mention above should be a donation. I already support a local dog rescue charity with a generous annual donation so maybe you should donate to those you feel are not paid enough or who are exploited.

If ALL taxpayers pay their fair share as you claim, then how is it that Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary and cleaner? I don't see that as a fair system. Not even close.

He is still paying substantially more in actual tax because his income is huge !! Even if he was taxed at a 10% rate for example, he would still be paying millions. Seems fair to me.

Socialist much? I already pay a shedload of tax into the system which is more than my "fair share". You go ahead and distribute your income as you see fit and I will simply continue to use a really really good CPA.....

I am in the highest tax bracket and I do not have a problem paying my fair share to help the country out. I have seen what it does when spent wisely and the results speak for themselves.

The wealthy act like someone is stealing their money. Poor babies. I guess underpaying the low end worker in a company you own or own shares in is not stealing hey. The minimum wage for an adult in America should be $13 an hour. If that means people we need to start charging more to pay for a fair wage then yes this should happen. We need to get over exploiting people so our kids can have an Ipod. Same goes with the rich using illegal immigrants to lower their costs, increase their profits while screwing over other Americans who could have this job and put food on their table.

ALL taxpayers pay their fair share. They do not get to offer what they think is fair, the government decides for them. The government has decided that I am in the highest tax bracket and so they tax accordingly. My point is, if you are already paying what the government feels is your "fair share", then any additional funds to support the areas you mention above should be a donation. I already support a local dog rescue charity with a generous annual donation so maybe you should donate to those you feel are not paid enough or who are exploited.

If it were me getting busted, I would be still serving some time in a prision, there are many people today still rotting in prisons for way less drug charges. Being super wealthy helps, it goes to show there are different rules for the super wealthy of this country. She should be ashamed of herself, it is a disgrace.

McCain Has Two Standards on Drug Abuse

The GOP candidate is a hawk in the drug war, yet his wife got no penalty

Stanton Peele

Much has been made of allegations of possible youthful use of illegal drugs by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush. Meanwhile, his chief GOP opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, has admitted that his wife not only illegally used drugs but walked away from criminal charges. The McCains have worked to make Cindy McCain's addiction into a political asset—despite the fact that she stole the drugs from a charity she directed and used them while mothering four young children.

In 1994, Mrs. McCain admitted that she had solicited prescriptions for painkillers from physicians who worked for an international charity that she founded, the American Voluntary Medical Team. She then filled the prescriptions in the names of her staff.

There are two ways to react to this behavior. According to the Betty Ford model, people can sympathetically respond to the oppressed and ignored wife of a busy politician who has bravely come forward to admit her overpowering addiction. Mrs. McCain took this posture when she first tearfully confessed her addiction. She and her husband repeated this performance in October on the NBC program "Dateline."

The other possible public reaction is one of anger. Americans are prosecuted every day for such drug use. While most drug abusers purchase their drugs from street dealers, Mrs. McCain used her status as a charity director and senator's wife to cajole the drugs she wanted.

In fact, Mrs. McCain was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration after the agency was approached by a former staff member of her charity. The investigation resulted in no charges or prison time for her, and she entered a diversion program. While these records were not made public at the time, Mrs. McCain eventually confessed her drug use when she learned that a reporter was investigating the story.

Is Mrs. McCain to be judged as a pitiable victim or as a criminal felon? This debate is at the heart of the discussion of American drug policy. Should we deal with illicit drug users as victims or as criminals?

Let's examine Mrs. McCain's position in these terms. She was the privileged wife of a prominent family and spouse of an important politician, a person who had her own position of prestige and power. Should she not be held at least as accountable for her actions as an uneducated inner-city drug user? After all, she could enter drug treatment at any time she chose, unlike many drug users who find themselves in prison.

Moreover, Mrs. McCain was violating a position of trust by stealing from a charitable organization, using its money and medical expertise to fuel her drug use. Is this not morally more reprehensible than simply purchasing drugs illegally?

Finally, Mrs. McCain was the mother of four children at the time she admits to using drugs—between 1989 and 1992. Her children were born in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1991. In other words, Cindy McCain was using drugs while raising small children, one of whom she adopted while she was an addict. In most states, family services will remove children from a woman who is known to be an active drug addict, and she would certainly not be allowed to adopt a child while addicted.

John McCain is a hawk in the drug war. He advocates stricter drug laws, penalties and enforcement against drug sellers. He has had nothing to say about redressing our punitive approach toward drug users. Of course, McCain also supports family values. Yet if John and Cindy McCain were not well-off and influential, they might not have a family at all. McCain's lack of concern for street drug users contrasts sharply with the support and understanding his wife received. It's the old American double standard. For "straight-shooter" McCain, charity begins at home—and ends there.

Stanton Peele, a New Jersey psychologist and attorney and author of Diseasing of America (Jossey-Bass, 1995), is a senior fellow of the Lindesmith Center, a drug policy think tank in New York and San Francisco.

Damn ... that never ending post about drug use and politicians .... yet you failed to mention

Baraks past daily Coke habit

Interesting.

excellent point

First of all absolutely nobody should be getting a tax break considering the country is really struggling financially. Save that tax break and use it to provide UHS, adequate unemployment benefits, disability allowances and so on.

Then, anyone in the highest tax bracket should probably pay more tax. I would say at least 45%. Anyone earning over $200K complaining about money (tax) is a joke. Especially considering all of the freakin loopholes to minimize tax that people in that tax bracket have and use.

When a country gives people the opportunity and allows someone to earn $250K+; as a decent citizen and a moral human being, we should pay our fair share back into the system.

Socialist much? I already pay a shedload of tax into the system which is more than my "fair share". You go ahead and distribute your income as you see fit and I will simply continue to use a really really good CPA.....

Barry O made 4.7 million in 2007. Cindy needs to work harder.

And the same fools that bought his books, will vote for him... Seriously, what has this man done in his life worth writing about? Nada....

They have to be two of the most boring books ever published. Fair play to Bazza Obarmy though, he has managed to con a load of socialists into parting with their hard earned government hand outs for a load of drivel between two covers (probably not too hard a task actually).

Obama is a racist, terrorist loving political hack.

you forgot "lying"... just insert wherever you feel comfortable

good for Cindy. About the same as the Obama's earned from churning out a couple of books.

Im not assuming..if that the case she found someone else then why??? is she that selfish or did he push her away....either case whining not going to make it better.. be a grown azz man deal with it and dont worry the outcome..

You have no idea what the background here is and there could well be more than the TWO options you suggest. When you can only offer a limited and unhelpful response its normally better to stay quiet.

one more step closer to the dream....socialism

ah socialism....an abject failure everywhere its been tried, the Soviet Union, Cuba, Asia. All it produces is misery and murder. Every day a millionaire leaves France for a more hospitable tax climate. At some point the brain drain will be complete and then who is going to produce the revenues so dearly coveted by the ruling regime? Socialists? Not bright enough sadly so now you have a country with a load of thickos. Everyone hates those weedy, unshaven pillocks in the campus coffee shop with their nose in Karl Marx and a stench of roll your owns.

Yeah... less earnings, less healthy dietary choices. Under the current food distribution system.

indeed. people don't have the choice of healthy food, they mostly can't afford it. southern food is cheap and generally bad for you. i could fancy some grits right about now

actually I'd say teh made from scratch southern food is not as bad as the boxed premade stuff.. yea they use fat backs on the green beans, but is not as bad as boxed reconstituted mashed taters or something

It costs a couple of dollars to make a vat of vegetable soup. Healthy food is affordable but some people prefer to eat fat, sugar and salt loaded foods, pre-packaged ####### and anything that comes of the cesspits that are McDonalds, Burger King, and Arby's. If you are obese because you eat too much or just eat ####### then its entirely your fault. They are certainly more health conscious here in VA, but I've been to WV a few times, and some of the people are just huge, in motorized wheelchairs, and stuffing their faces in Applebees. At what point do these people look in the mirror and think "ooh I am a little heavy - maybe some fiber and a piece of fruit would be a good idea".

first off, a lot of poor fat families here work hard to survive, maybe more than one job, so spending all day at home cooking is not an option. secondly, try buying fresh fruit or veg here. walmart has the worst selection i've ever seen, and most of the items are perished. its quite disgusting.

oh please, you don't need to spend all day at home cooking to make a few healthy meals. Most of mine take 15 minutes. Secondly, if Walmart are stocking the worst selection of fruit and vegetables ever seen, why isn't anyone complaining? People can also grow their own fruits and vegetables, or use the tinned variety. "poor fat families" as you state, are clearly eating too much if they are fat !! Why can't they use that food money to make better choices in the store?

complaining at walmart does what? that's like complaining at tesco and expecting them to care, it doesn't happen. best they will do is exchange it for another perished item. a lot of their fresh produce is perished, many times i have bought items that i have discovered to be inedible when i get home and i know i'm not the only one.

you can grow banana trees here and many people do but the soil is poor and i'm not sure much else would grow in the heat and humidty, at least not with constant attention and water. i'm looking forward to experimenting with that when i finally move here.

fast food is so much cheaper than going to winn dixie or rouses or any of the "better" supermarkets that actually sell fresh produce, so that is what people do to feed their children.

yes but even the fast food joints now offer salad options, fruit instead of fries, milk, juice, etc etc. Why can't these be purchased instead of a big mac meal? Sometimes there are days when I don't drink my 8 glasses of water or get my "5" servings, but at least I try. How are these people affording to feed families on junk food every day though? If the average family has four members, and you are getting dinner at a fast food joint 7 nights a week, thats got to be around $20 a night ! That's $140 a week which will buy adequate groceries for that family, frozen veg and all

Yeah... less earnings, less healthy dietary choices. Under the current food distribution system.

indeed. people don't have the choice of healthy food, they mostly can't afford it. southern food is cheap and generally bad for you. i could fancy some grits right about now

actually I'd say teh made from scratch southern food is not as bad as the boxed premade stuff.. yea they use fat backs on the green beans, but is not as bad as boxed reconstituted mashed taters or something

It costs a couple of dollars to make a vat of vegetable soup. Healthy food is affordable but some people prefer to eat fat, sugar and salt loaded foods, pre-packaged ####### and anything that comes of the cesspits that are McDonalds, Burger King, and Arby's. If you are obese because you eat too much or just eat ####### then its entirely your fault. They are certainly more health conscious here in VA, but I've been to WV a few times, and some of the people are just huge, in motorized wheelchairs, and stuffing their faces in Applebees. At what point do these people look in the mirror and think "ooh I am a little heavy - maybe some fiber and a piece of fruit would be a good idea".

first off, a lot of poor fat families here work hard to survive, maybe more than one job, so spending all day at home cooking is not an option. secondly, try buying fresh fruit or veg here. walmart has the worst selection i've ever seen, and most of the items are perished. its quite disgusting.

oh please, you don't need to spend all day at home cooking to make a few healthy meals. Most of mine take 15 minutes. Secondly, if Walmart are stocking the worst selection of fruit and vegetables ever seen, why isn't anyone complaining? People can also grow their own fruits and vegetables, or use the tinned variety. "poor fat families" as you state, are clearly eating too much if they are fat !! Why can't they use that food money to make better choices in the store?

Well its the Daily Mail of course and they love to stoke the fires of outrage. That said - this project does put rather a lot of power in the hands of government, and I doubt it would be immune from the usual privacy gaffes we've seen over the last few years.

i always thought it was weird that you had to be notified of driving near a speed camera - due to privacy... i like my privacy but that is just stupid.

Well I think that was partly due to the way some of them were positioned. We had one in my town that was right on transition line where the speed went from 60mph to 40. Pretty much ensured that everyone got a ticket - even if you had started to slow down.

I always thought all those CCTV cameras were kinda creepy

The US needs them.

A lot of them in North / East DC for a start.

despite the huge volume of cctv cameras in the uk, crime still occurs.

We don't have guns for one thing.

we don't? plenty of people get shot where i am from. ok, it isn't as easy to obtain one as here, but they are there and not that hard to find if you know the right people.

Shooting victim out of hospital

A man who was shot in the groin during an incident at a Bristol nightclub has been discharged from hospital after treatment.

The 21-year-old was injured at the Blue Mountain Club, Stokes Croft, at about 0445 BST on Saturday.

Police sealed off the scene and said they would be examining CCTV footage as part of their investigation.

The club was said to have been busy at the time and witnesses have been urged to come forward.

that was last month

and if the Brits were allowed conceal carry licenses, and were allowed to also protect themselves AND their homes from attack, the crime rate would reduce dramatically. But, the problem in the UK is, if the government allowed its citizens to arm themselves, then reliance flies out the window. Its all about control. That is why I live here in the US where anyone trying to attack me, my family, or my home, is a stupid SoB.

Yeah... less earnings, less healthy dietary choices. Under the current food distribution system.

indeed. people don't have the choice of healthy food, they mostly can't afford it. southern food is cheap and generally bad for you. i could fancy some grits right about now

actually I'd say teh made from scratch southern food is not as bad as the boxed premade stuff.. yea they use fat backs on the green beans, but is not as bad as boxed reconstituted mashed taters or something

It costs a couple of dollars to make a vat of vegetable soup. Healthy food is affordable but some people prefer to eat fat, sugar and salt loaded foods, pre-packaged ####### and anything that comes of the cesspits that are McDonalds, Burger King, and Arby's. If you are obese because you eat too much or just eat ####### then its entirely your fault. They are certainly more health conscious here in VA, but I've been to WV a few times, and some of the people are just huge, in motorized wheelchairs, and stuffing their faces in Applebees. At what point do these people look in the mirror and think "ooh I am a little heavy - maybe some fiber and a piece of fruit would be a good idea".

Including non political statements and the one I really hate, fashion handbags with the name of the brand emblazoned everywhere! How totally naff

Absolutely. Too often have I witnessed a woman proudly dangling her monogram LV off her arm. LV have so many other nice bags that aren't brown and emblazoned with letters but then it doesn't tell others how much you spent. Its all a bit council with a faint whiff of dog blanket really.

No outrage about this, displayed at a Sarah Palin rally in Philadelphia on Oct. 11:

If this is ok, then free speech that Obama is a N i g g e r or a terrorist is just as ok, no?

I think VW, that this picture goes back to my earlier post when I mentioned liberals in t-shirts with writing on them. The people in the picture think they are making a huge statement, when in fact the majority of us feel that they are somewhat classless and in need of a good wash. There is always someone somewhere that will lower the tone. As I said previously, you need to pity these people not hate them. They really don't know any better.

The same applies, I think, to anyone who advertises in that fashion - including emotionally loaded banner signs or slapping dozens of bumper stickers on the back of cars.

This is someting of a rarity magic guy... I absolutely agree with you

No outrage about this, displayed at a Sarah Palin rally in Philadelphia on Oct. 11:

If this is ok, then free speech that Obama is a N i g g e r or a terrorist is just as ok, no?

I think VW, that this picture goes back to my earlier post when I mentioned liberals in t-shirts with writing on them. The people in the picture think they are making a huge statement, when in fact the majority of us feel that they are somewhat classless and in need of a good wash. There is always someone somewhere that will lower the tone. As I said previously, you need to pity these people not hate them. They really don't know any better.

I stumbled on this one quite late in the day. Its really not a big deal. These liberals are the type who only buy t-shirts if they have writing on them, and who don't appear to have anything better to do than walk the streets. They are bored and angry. Don't hate them. What I did note though was that the majority of the screaming women had really really bad hair (maybe the video was giving them a tinge of green or they are getting their color done at Hair Cuttery)?

McDonalds are ****ing stupid. They could have taken the dope as payment, and then offered a free joint with every big mac meal to the next 20 customers. Those customers would have eaten their meals, toked, got the munchies, and then bought ANOTHER big mac meal, this time with an apple pie and a donut. What a waste of an opportunity.

Yeah I was kinda thinking there might be a vital statistics question coming too

hehehe...sorry. Based on the opinions you've expressed, particularly on American politics, I would have guessed you were born and raised somewhere in the Midwest.

No I'm definitely a female 30 something, born and raised in London, and good looking too !!!

Yeah I was kinda thinking there might be a vital statistics question coming too

hehehe...sorry. Based on the opinions you've expressed, particularly on American politics, I would have guessed you were born and raised somewhere in the Midwest.

What about my opinions, Steven? Where in the US would you place me?

Remember: pro-guns (strongly), pro-gay, pro-choice, pro-civil-liberties, pro-strong-military, pro-Israel, pro-isolationism (economic), anti-religion, anti-entitlement, anti-uncontrolled-immigration.

Mawilson, apart from the anti-religion, we are like two peas in a pod.

Reagan will be turning in his grave......(although I think Mr Bush and his "I have never met a check I couldn't write" attitude already had RR twisting somewhat). What a shame none of the candidates are as honorable and ethical as Reagan. He is truly missed.

You are right.... I'm really in favor of "eye for an eye" punishments. Find the monster who did this and set him on fire. He can experience the pain and terror his victim felt, and maybe feel some remorse in his last few seconds. Crimes of this nature have to be punishable by death to ensure the public is protected.

Are you the USC or are you from the UK? (just curious)

Im the UKC.

Male or female?

female.

Date of birth?

Yeah I was kinda thinking there might be a vital statistics question coming too

Democrats are not elitists, Republicans are......................

Would you care to elaborate on that statement?

What? He doesn't want to take all the elitists' money?