State of the Union

If we look a bit at his time in office he's had two predictable traits:

1. He'll say whatever he believes it will take to get the desired end result (end justifies the means).

2. Every action he proposes to make things better for the people makes things a little better for most of us and a lot better for those who are very well to do.

Sorry! I just don't trust anything he says any more. And to think, I voted for him in 2000. So I guess you could say that that makes me part of the problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mojo @ Jan 24 2007, 02:48 PM) [snapback]380322[/snapback]</div>

Hmmmm, since Iraq does not have any uranium deposits I wonder where they got the 500 tons of yellowcake discovered just outside Baghdad or the 1.8 tons of partially enriched uranium, enough to make a nookielar weapon? Enquiring minds would like to know.

Wildkow

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ken Cooper @ Jan 25 2007, 02:00 AM) [snapback]380506[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jan 24 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]380245[/snapback]</div>

He says that any family with health insurance will pay no income on $15K of its income (half that for individuals). In other words, a standard deduction. But he does not say whether this deduction is in addition to, or instead of, the regular standard deduction. And the lower your tax bracket the less you gain by a deduction. In other words, the people who can least afford insurance will probably not gain enough by this to be able to afford it.

But a more important point, is that this president has a history of making promises and then not fulfilling them, and of lying in general. He also has a history of making some very positive proposals in his speeches and then ignoring them or doing something very different.

Thus, the bottom line is everything he says is hot air. It's been said before that we could make the country energy-independent simply by harnessing all the hot air generated by presidents and legislators.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 25 2007, 09:52 AM) [snapback]380563[/snapback]</div>

Yes, gone up here as well. Speculation on doubling the SPR, probably.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 25 2007, 09:52 AM) [snapback]380563[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I was one of those who thought that the price of gasoline would shoot up after the election and it might have if the cons had held on to their power but with the democrats having some actual power now, they'll probably manipulate the price of gasoline for the next two years to keep it low. If it went up, the republicans would lose out even more come election time. Weeeeeeee, cheap gasoline until November 2008!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Jan 25 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]380592[/snapback]</div>

How will the Dems keep the price of gas down - invade iran or venezuala :lol: If we retreat from Iraq like they want to, wont the price of gas go up for us :lol: :lol:

Didn't the Dems just remove tax subsidies for Big Oil?? Won't that make gas more expensive????

JEEEEEEEZ

 

Bush's health care proposal:

-Will be instrumental in ceasing employer participation with cost coverage for the employee
-Does nothing to benefit the self employed, a large growing sector.
-Will not be of assistance when people need it most - when they're unemployed.
-Does nothing to help the homeless.
-Assists the top earners in the country while the middle and lower class don't recognize much gain OR will recognize an increase in their costs.

Yes, brilliant. I have never seen such foresight.

And, yes, his 20% decrease to fuel consumption is based on our projected use at that time. More genius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Jan 24 2007, 05:37 PM) [snapback]380315[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for shedding a little daylight on the topic!

I thought it was interesting how the newly-empowered Democrats had very publicly made cutting earmarks a priority, something we hadn't heard from those who had been abusing them beyond belief for the last decade ... then all of a sudden Bush mentions in his speech, "Hey, I've got an idea, let's cut earmarks in half!" Hmm ... funny he should mention it now ...

I also thought it interesting when he mentioned that withdrawing from Iraq would be bad because the evil Iranians would interfere to support the Shiites ... I guess he forgot to mention that our allies the Saudis would also interfere to support the Sunnis (as they have stated).

I don't remember the exact wording he used, I listened to it once with the help of an adult beverage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 24 2007, 03:52 PM) [snapback]380251[/snapback]</div>

I, too, need more info. But it seems like there's a gap between the income level at which you're eligible for Medicare/caid, and that which you actually make enough to pay for healthcare, or receive it through your work.

I'm concerned about the 'working poor' who are living paycheck to paycheck, probably working hourly with no benefits. They probably can't afford/can't qualify for an individual healthcare plan, and don't receive one through work; this deduction will *still not be enough* to make healthcare affordable for them, I don't think.

This is the problem; a credit would make it a more effective plan for those who lie in this 'income gap.' Currently this proposed plan, (as I understand it) *does not help* the folks who generally can't afford health coverage in the first place.

Generally, I'm suspiscous when the wealthy "empower" the poor so they can "help themselves."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 25 2007, 03:12 PM) [snapback]380701[/snapback]</div>

Cripes, the statement in the second paragraph didn't even occur to me. This is huge. As Beryl mentioned, I've also heard that this will never pass so we can all wipe our brows. The good thing that will come of this is that it will probably be a catalyst to bring the issue of health care to the forefront of the next election. I hope someone gets it right by then.

I'm self employed w/ anxiety and OCD and cannot get individual coverage. My husband has constant problems due to his excessive/obsessive working out or his internal health and we owe thousands in medical bills. As I've read on this board, I'm not the only one that's affected in such a manner. The current nature of our health system is such that people forgo treatment due to the fact that they cannot afford to see their way through the long term care.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wildkow @ Jan 25 2007, 06:02 AM) [snapback]380527[/snapback]</div>

From Wikipedia.com:
"This factory contained the remains of nuclear reactors bombed by Israel in 1981 and the United States in 1991. The facility was monitored and frequently inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency after the 1991 Gulf War.
About 1.8 metric tons of "yellow cake" and 500 tons of unrefined uranium went missing as the Iraqis left Tuwaitha unattended during the war. When the facility was first encountered by U.S. Marines, they thought they had stumbled upon an illegal weapons cache; according to nuclear experts, however, they actually wound up breaking the IAEA seals that are "designed to ensure the materials aren't diverted for weapons use or end up in the wrong hands." The Pentagon dispatched a team to survey the site "after a month of official indecision," finding it heavily looted."

Sounds like everything was sealed up and being monitored by IAEA until our military arrived and the looting began. Who knows where it is now? :huh:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 25 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]380701[/snapback]</div>

NPR talked about the taxable health care plans this morning.

Those with expensive plans would be taxed. Like Firemen and Policemen and rescue workers. Yep, they're rich, making plenty of bucks. They can afford to subsidize universal care.

Then there's the Baby boomers. Plenty of states make you pay more if you're of a certain age. So...they'll pay. And we know they're all rich so no problem there.

Lastly, those with pre-existing conditions often have to pay more for insurance. So they'll pay the tax as well? Who? Well, anyone who has had and recovered from cancer. One woman says the best health care her husbands company could find was $3,000 a month. I'm sure after recovering from cancer they've got plenty of money left to pay taxes on her healthcare. They ended up moving to New York where the insurance laws are different.

Basically I consider Bush's solution to healthcare in the same boat as his solution to just about everything else.

Stupid.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jan, 08:28 PM) [snapback]380946[/snapback]</div>

On the face of it, I had thought there were a few things in the speech that indicated he was starting to go in the right direction. Thanks for shooting down my last ounce of hope everyone. :blink:

Is there anything this guy can get right? Anything?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Jan 26 2007, 05:57 PM) [snapback]381387[/snapback]</div>

Well, he usually seems to have his shoes on the right feet. But that could be the job of a staffer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wildkow @ Jan 25 2007, 06:02 AM) [snapback]380527[/snapback]</div>

Probably the same place they found the Easter Bunny, God, Santa Claus, and other things that don't exist.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Jan 26 2007, 02:57 PM) [snapback]381387[/snapback]</div>

Nope.