It's easy to criticize Obama for this healthcare initiatives. Those who claim his defense will note he's only been at it for 2+ years. Bush had 8 years to screw it all up. But heres' the thing with American politics, there's no real change.
Obama preached, "change you can believe in."
But what exactly is that change? Can anybody tell me what that 'change' ACTUALLY is? Is that a change in something? A change in stuff? A change in underwear? Nobody actually knows what change is....
It might represent something, but change wasn't actually anything substantive.....but many believed in it.
It's also true that in the last election the conundrum for many was 'ABB' (anything but bush); or at least for independents.
In came Obama.
But before we all nod in agreement, whomever Republicans think can unseat Obama wouldn't really be a change.
Seriously, think about it. The same 'change' that's empty for Obama's campaign will be the same empty 'change' preached by Republicans.
Back to my thoughts on politics, it's all the same. Republicans might be conservative for some social positions, and Democrats liberal.
But the political spectrum for the most part is straight down the middle of the road.
Yea yea, a road has a yellow line and cars go in different directions, but the metaphor still works--we don't REALLY have a difference.
I'm waiting for something huge to change, my change would have to be substantive, maybe a third political party? Maybe a change in party systems? I don't know, but it would have to be huge to budge what is essentially status quo.
For Obama, 'Change' was really an empty modifier to maintain status quo.
For the next Republican in office it will be the same: status quo. Don't believe that problems are solved with a change in goverment b/c fundamentally the rich still get richer and the poor poorer.
Enough with status quo, we need change we can grasp, touch, feel, and not just 'believe in'.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Your Thoughts on Tax Cuts
What are your thoughts on California tax cuts? I'm curious to know your thoughts on the past but also solutions for the future.
Some would claim Bush reduced taxes for the poor and the rich......
Some would claim Obama is doing neither (or perhaps just increasing subsidies for the rich.)
We're in cost cutting mode, and perhaps increasing revenue generation (increasing taxes).
Who should get what?
Do we need to go back to the good old days pre-1970s when the rich were still rich but taxed heavily? would that help bridge the gap of economic disparity?
Or should we opt for less tax, more subsidies, and more debt? Heck, the possibilities are endless!
Some would claim Bush reduced taxes for the poor and the rich......
Some would claim Obama is doing neither (or perhaps just increasing subsidies for the rich.)
We're in cost cutting mode, and perhaps increasing revenue generation (increasing taxes).
Who should get what?
Do we need to go back to the good old days pre-1970s when the rich were still rich but taxed heavily? would that help bridge the gap of economic disparity?
Or should we opt for less tax, more subsidies, and more debt? Heck, the possibilities are endless!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Divided on Immigration
California has about the same population as the entire country of Canada. We're not small.
Lots of Americans come for the beaches, the lifestyle, the climate, the jobs, the glamor.
Plenty come from below, and they come illegally.
That's not new. But what we're beginning to realize is the COST of illegal immigration.
1/3 of those incarcerated are illegal aliens with no status. That's 55K per illegal alien incarcerated. That's just the cost on the corrections side.
Do we need to tighten up? You bet your damn self we do. Something drastic needs to happen. The tough part is the balance between racism and protection. EVen marginalised hispanics want jobs and a better economy.
It's easy to build more prisons and throw away illegal aliens (and criminals), but that's $$$ we don't have. It's easy to throw people back, but that doesn't prevent anybody from returning. More border agents is again, more cash, and the border is, let's face it, MASSIVE.
It's too costly to ship everyone back, and then work to prevent illegal aliens from returning. It's taht simple. That doesn't mean tougher laws aren't required, but imagine if we could capture the huge workforce here illegally......
but again, how without legitimizing coming illegally?
We could go ahead and figure out a way to improve Mexican life and make California comparatively less attractive. That would take a while though....
Even the GOP is divided on what to do. If they swing too far to the right they'll lose perhaps 1/3 of voters? In the least they'll lose the Latino vote.
Too far to the left and nothing gets done.
What's the solution? There might be a need for a mix; I"m willing to here some comments to get the dialogue going.
Lots of Americans come for the beaches, the lifestyle, the climate, the jobs, the glamor.
Plenty come from below, and they come illegally.
That's not new. But what we're beginning to realize is the COST of illegal immigration.
1/3 of those incarcerated are illegal aliens with no status. That's 55K per illegal alien incarcerated. That's just the cost on the corrections side.
Do we need to tighten up? You bet your damn self we do. Something drastic needs to happen. The tough part is the balance between racism and protection. EVen marginalised hispanics want jobs and a better economy.
It's easy to build more prisons and throw away illegal aliens (and criminals), but that's $$$ we don't have. It's easy to throw people back, but that doesn't prevent anybody from returning. More border agents is again, more cash, and the border is, let's face it, MASSIVE.
It's too costly to ship everyone back, and then work to prevent illegal aliens from returning. It's taht simple. That doesn't mean tougher laws aren't required, but imagine if we could capture the huge workforce here illegally......
but again, how without legitimizing coming illegally?
We could go ahead and figure out a way to improve Mexican life and make California comparatively less attractive. That would take a while though....
Even the GOP is divided on what to do. If they swing too far to the right they'll lose perhaps 1/3 of voters? In the least they'll lose the Latino vote.
Too far to the left and nothing gets done.
What's the solution? There might be a need for a mix; I"m willing to here some comments to get the dialogue going.
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