|
Mercnbeth -> RE: Who would you vote for to be the next President... (4/12/2006 8:55:11 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Level
quote:
ORIGINAL: Arpig
Merc I tell you.....MERC!!!
LOL.....if we drafted him, do you think he'd go to Washington? And who would he pick for VP?
Level
Thanks! (I think?) But in my history of political involvement I am zero for one. I lost a school board election where telling the truth and putting in place pragmatic solutions wasn't what the majority wanted to hear. Spending money now supporting my "You're Out!" candidates. Realizing that selfishness and personal agenda is a HUGE barrier to overcome the status quo. Mostly it's a comment like this; "yes, the situation sucks and they should all be removed, but MY congressman/senator/councilman/mayor; (pick one) really represents my views on abortion/health care/social security/etc. (pick as many as appropriate). The prevailing attitude is the problem is caused by the "other" candidate or the "other" party. If I thought it would make a difference I'd publish the words of people on both sides of the aisle and challenge you to tell which party said what. It would prove the theorem -- there is NO difference.
Using my current pet project, illegal aliens, is a perfect example. Now the debate is that it is "impossible" to deport the estimated 12 Million illegals. BULLSHIT! How about this simple, pragmatic solution - show up to Tyson foods unannounced; fine Tyson $10k for every illegal working PLUS cost of deportation. Do the same throughout the California corporate farms. The cost of the deportation is directly assigned to the root cause of the problem, the corporations who hired them. Oh yeah, and by the way, that penalty is only for the first offense. The second time, the fine is doubled, the employer still bears the cost of deportation and the offerers of the company serve a MANDATORY 6 months prison sentence. The penalty for the illegal alien is simply to be returned to his/her country of origin. Whether that's a harsh penalty or not, is not the concern of the US or it's tax paying citizens.
Apply this policy throughout the US and you won't need a fence on the border. Mexico may want to build one to keep their citizens from returning, but again - it's not a problem for the US. The bottom line for most of us would be an estimated $60 - $100 annual increase in the cost of produce, and it may cost more in CA for lawn care, child care, roofing, room additions. But the work being conducted will be done by US citizens. Maybe the US poor really does want these jobs. Maybe you'd start to see kids knocking on your door offering to cut your lawn.
Pragmatic solution, but it makes too much sense for it to ever see the light of day.
But seriously....based upon prior debate and dialog, I'd want Utopian ranger, Scooter Trash, or L&M, as a running mate, off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. The person would just need to bring strong convictions and intelligence to the table and challenge my opinions with facts and research on the opposing side. Agreeing in concept and the "mission statement" but not always agreeing with me or my specific "solutions". Just no liars or frauds or personal agendas. Which makes the entire exercise problematic. It's impossible to gather enough money to run for any meaningful political office without creating personal agenda. Once Tyson shows up with their $30 Million and you take it, they become your personal agenda. It doesn't just work for the oil industry and President Bush; track back every senator to the major industry in their home state and you'll find the same exact agenda setting campaign money source.
The prevailing laissez-faire attitude just proves that the situation isn't as bad as it needs to be for people to mobilize. Looking at a national 4% unemployment rate, compared to Europe and France in particular where 23% are unemployed and 60% of those for those under 25. Utopian society? Working 'socialism'? Hardly - the governments are collapsing because they can't support the entitlement programs. The US now has more homeowners than ever before. People have cars and, for the time being, can afford the gas to drive them. More food is thrown away daily in the US then some countries have for their populations to eat. We are FAT! It has to get MUCH worse for anyone to care. When that happens it may be too late for any solution, pragmatic or not.
DAMN! Ranting again.... Sorry!
|
|
|
|
