It creates a lot of jobs for attorneys too.

People staying on the welfare rolls because

they do better than working at some jobs happens here too. Adjusting the minimum wage has been tried as...

KK,

Great idea in theory.

In practice, changing our government the way you describe has failed many times. They are too sure of their power

base. Now, if you could get a big chunk of the...

I am in complete agreement with

you and your professor. Anybody who wants to look at some simple math can figure it out for themselves. Do you think

the politicians want you to figure it out?...

Federal taxes in part filter

down to the state level in a complicated dance. State taxes are used for funding what federal can't or doesn't.

So, the taxes should all be viewed as part of the...

Pancho,

I hate to give you the bad news

but the tax rate is significantly higher than those you quoted. You are only looking at the up-front taxes. Start

adding in SSI, sales tax,...

Doc,

You do a good job of

reinforcing my cynical view of our government. But you haven't yet given me a reason to vote FOR Kerry, just more

reason to believe that our system is hopelessly...

I don't dispute he is crooked

but you are citing allegations not convictions. I misunderstood you and you misunderstood me. I thought you were

referring to proven activities as in the case of...

Where did I say Bush was a

criminal? Not arguing the point as it is far too hard to prove either way but I'd like to know where I said that.

Your missing my point! I am not

defending any of the Bush gang's actions. All I intend to do is point out that the two groups are essentially the

same. I also intended to say that the...

I'll agree with your first two

sentances in the first paragraph. :) Unfortunately, from that point on, I can't agree with you. You give Kerry and

the democrats the benefit of the doubt where...

Deepblue,

I appreciate the

courtesy but it is not a private conversation and everybody is welcome to join in.

The deficit never went away,

that was in large part a paper shuffle. I'll...

Doc,

Sorry for being a

pig-headed old fart but it has always worked for me. :)

The way I understand you, and please correct me if I am

wrong, is that you would like me to agree that...

Doc,

According to recent

polls, roughly half the population disagrees with you about Bush. This being Texas, the majority of people here

support him, including almost every one of my...

I said I looked a little at his congressional record and his history, haven't had time to

do a lot of reading. I would like to and hope to have the time to compare what he's promised to what he...

There's no argument about Bush, that wasn't my question. I am questioning the value of snap

judgments and usually view them in about the same catagory as sound bytes, neither is to be trusted....

I'm curious, exactly what do

you look at that allows you to so closely judge a person's capability or integrity?

No offense Holmes, but you don't know if Kerry is better or worse and neither do I. Bush really

and truly sucks but how do we know that Kerry isn't as bad or worse? It's a sad state of affairs...

That's an excellent summation of

another pair of almost equally bad choices for president.

Clever! I wish I had thought of that. :rofl:

That depends on what it is patriotism for, the

country or the government. They are not the same thing.

Don't give up on it yet. Both

parties get a boost in ratings right after their conventions. Give things a couple weeks to settle out. Bush could

screw things up again and the war in Iraq is...

"Unfortunately, where we're

headed seems more and more like "Brave New World" every day." I'll agree with that point but will argue that part

of the problem is the religions.

I didn't say...

Exactly right. You are pointing out one of the worst, most dangerous flaws of the Bush camp. If it

doesn't fit into their philosophy they reject it out of hand. A couple of good examples are stem...

The biggest problem in the

democrats outlook is the trap many have fallen into. The issues are too complex with too many potential variables to

fully encompass. At some point you have to...

Well said Doc. Good points that

the dems should be looking at. But I agree with Holmes' remark about emotional appeal.