American Politics during the Obama Presidency

But, the Keystone pipeline is not being built to make us independent from buying Oil.

It will be sold to other countries.

Why else would they build a line all the way to Texas? Lower or No Taxes?

Here is a track record list of Pipeline accidents.

[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_century[/URL]

[QUOTE=Tiny12;439462]So what's the alternative? Tankers like the Exxon Valdez? Trains carrying oil, like the one that killed 47 people in Quebec? Or maybe just give up all forms of transportation involving oil products? I'll take you seriously if you do that. I expect to see no more reports from you on hookers in places like El Salvador. Instead you may only bang women in California that you can travel to on your bicycle.

Pipelines are a relatively safe, efficient way to transport oil. You and I share a concern about USA involvement in wars in the Middle East. One of the best ways to prevent that going forward is to make North America self sufficient in oil. The alternative to the Keystone pipeline for the Canadians is to ship the oil to their west coast and sell to the Chinese. That's not good for the United States of America.[/QUOTE]

Tiny, I loved a report a couple of years back from a group in California citizens who made a point of following a few select Serra Club members from a big protest against the rape of "mother earth" by oil companies and all the other usual suspects.

These folks followed the Serra Club folks as they drove home in their big SUVs and other similar gas hogs to their 4,000 sq ft and up homes in the upper income enclaves where they lived. In one case the offended Serra Club member drove up his drive past the Mexican yard men mowing, trimming and blowing his homes spacious grounds with 2 cycle power tools. I'm sure the mowers were 4 cycle though.

Perfect example of liberals / progressives / ruling elite, do as I say not as I do. The unwashed, ignorant masses are too stupid to know what is good for them so we the liberal / progressive / ruling elite will tell them.

As a Post Scrip.

I noticed on the news Obama is "mad as hell" about the VA scandal. If you go back and listen to the sound bites from Fast & Furious, Benghazi, and the IRS scandals, Obama said almost the same thing expressing his outrage and promise to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Esten how long before the VA scandal becomes another "phony scandal"?

Also noticed another one of those pesky emails linking Washington / White House to the IRS scandal popped up, what happened to the two guys in the broom closet explaination?

Doppelganger, I agree. It's hilarious when people like Al Gore, Michael Moore and George Clooney sound sanctimonious about carbon emissions, all the while flying around in their private jets.

Another peeve of mine are the environmentalists who condemn both fracking and CO2 emissions. The increase in gas production in the United States from fracking has reduced carbon emissions by more than all the solar and wind power in Europe. And solar and wind in Europe are subsidized to the tune of $60 billion a year. The subsidies played a big part in Spain's fiscal disaster. Natural gas production, on the other hand, not only replaces coal, which is dirty and emits more carbon, but also generates income taxes, severance taxes, property taxes, and lots of jobs.

Total CO2 emissions in the USA have actually dropped since 2008, mostly because of natural gas. Chinese emissions exceeded those of the USA in 2007 and will continue to increase. If you believe global warming is a problem, there's not a lot we can do about it. The future is in the hands of countries like China and India.

Finally, still on the subject of natural gas, WT69, please note the deaths in your link are mostly associated with natural gas explosions. Please also note that the number of deaths caused by natural gas pipelines is a very, very small number compared to deaths caused by coal, both in mines and as a result of dirty air. And natural gas replaces coal.

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;439463]But, the Keystone pipeline is not being built to make us independent from buying Oil.

It will be sold to other countries.

Why else would they build a line all the way to Texas? Lower or No Taxes?

Here is a track record list of Pipeline accidents.

[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_century[/URL][/QUOTE]Or it is being sent to Texas because that is where a lot of the refineries are located.

[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oil_refineries[/URL]#Texas.

Most of the refineries are located in the port states of CA, LA & TX.

And the US DOT has determined "Pipelines transport the lion's share of crude oil because they are the safest, most environmentally friendly and least expensive way to transport large volumes of energy products.".

[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/pipelines-safer-railroads-carrying-oil-110200452.html[/URL]

My apologies for letting the facts interfere with a liberal agenda.

[URL]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/20/us/politics/economic-recovery-is-leaving-major-democratic-constituencies-behind.html?hpw&rref=politics&_r=0[/URL]

The article above gets at the root of the problem we've been arguing about. Yes, the official unemployment rate is down. But the jobs aren't there, for women, blacks and others. And apparently support for Obama is dropping as a result.

We need to abandon the Obama platform and start with policies that will actually help the poor and the middle class. Stop pumping more and more money into the federal government and leave more for investment and the private sector, the engines of job growth. This worked during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Obama and Bush did the opposite and look where that's gotten us. And, in addition, we need to cut the umbilical cord between the teacher's unions and the Democrat politicians and start educating our children and young adults in ways that will get them good paying jobs.

The Republican are the ones stopping job growth.

They will not support any job bills. They have not even suggested one! Come on, Name One?

With all the tax breaks business is getting, how come they are not hiring.

There tax breaks have been really cut.

How come they are not hiring.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;439503][URL]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/20/us/politics/economic-recovery-is-leaving-major-democratic-constituencies-behind.html?hpw&rref=politics&_r=0[/URL]

The article above gets at the root of the problem we've been arguing about. Yes, the official unemployment rate is down. But the jobs aren't there, for women, blacks and others. And apparently support for Obama is dropping as a result.

We need to abandon the Obama platform and start with policies that will actually help the poor and the middle class. Stop pumping more and more money into the federal government and leave more for investment and the private sector, the engines of job growth. This worked during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Obama and Bush did the opposite and look where that's gotten us. And, in addition, we need to cut the umbilical cord between the teacher's unions and the Democrat politicians and start educating our children and young adults in ways that will get them good paying jobs.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;439505]
With all the tax breaks business is getting, how come they are not hiring.
[/QUOTE]1. For those businesses that don't get tax breaks, marginal federal rates of 35% on corporations and 43.4% on unincorporated businesses. Combined with state income taxes the total income tax burden is as high as 47% for C corporations and 56% for other entities. The high tax burden stifles the incentive to invest and take risk in ways that would create jobs. It also means more goes into the pocket of the government, so businesses have less capital to grow and create jobs. WT69, Please note that Dickhead, whose political affiliation is the same as yours and who has studied this closely, would argue that there should be no corporate income tax. Also, see the following table, a comparison of world-wide corporate tax rates: [URL]http://www.kpmg.com/global/en/services/tax/tax-tools-and-resources/pages/corporate-tax-rates-table.aspx[/URL]

2. Large expenditures and lots of time and effort to comply with regulations and navigate the tax system.

3. Stupid rules and tax regulations that discourage investment. For example, multinationals headquartered in the USA keep and invest large amounts of cash overseas, because if they brought the money back to the USA, they'd have to pay high taxes on it. So instead of bringing it back to and investing it here in ways that would create jobs, the capital stays overseas. Another example would be the Keystone pipeline. Why aren't people employed building it now? Because Obama, who knows better, has taken advantage of regulations that allow him to delay construction to appease wacko environmentalists. By "wacko", I mean they're not doing anything substantive to improve the environment, they're just killing jobs.

4. An education system ruled over by the teacher's unions and liberal arts types. USA teenagers now rank DEAD LAST in math skills in the OECD. Our education system isn't preparing workers that business wants. Other countries are doing much better.

As to the tax breaks, I think you and I agree. Get rid of them. Institute something like a flat tax.

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;439505]The Republican are the ones stopping job growth.

They will not support any job bills. They have not even suggested one! Come on, Name One?[/QUOTE]OK, Admittedly, this is partly Republican propaganda, but see the following list:

[URL]http://majorityleader.gov/JobsTracker/[/URL]

I'm curious, exactly what actions have been taken or proposed by Obama and the Democrats that would significantly boost job growth? I can't think of any. In fact, what they've done is stifle growth in employment.

The tax rate is still one of the lowest than most countries.

I had to pay taxes on my Social Security. Why is that?

Trackers:

That depends on which one tells the truth.

[URL]http://www.politicususa.com/2014/01/18/house-republicans-blatantly-lie-america-claiming-passed-dozens-jobs-bills.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=Tiny12;439506]1. For those businesses that don't get tax breaks, marginal federal rates of 35% on corporations and 43.4% on unincorporated businesses. Combined with state income taxes the total income tax burden is as high as 47% for C corporations and 56% for other entities. The high tax burden stifles the incentive to invest and take risk in ways that would create jobs. It also means more goes into the pocket of the government, so businesses have less capital to grow and create jobs. WT69, Please note that Dickhead, whose political affiliation is the same as yours and who has studied this closely, would argue that there should be no corporate tax. Also, see the following table, a comparison of world-wide corporate tax rates: [URL]http://www.kpmg.com/global/en/services/tax/tax-tools-and-resources/pages/corporate-tax-rates-table.aspx[/URL]

2. Large expenditures and lots of time and effort to comply with regulations and navigate the tax system.

3. Stupid rules and tax regulations that discourage investment. For example, multinationals headquartered in the USA keep and invest large amounts of cash overseas, because if they brought the money back to the USA, they'd have to pay high taxes on it. So instead of bringing it back to and investing it here in ways that would create jobs, the capital stays overseas. Another example would be the Keystone pipeline. Why aren't people employed building it now? Because Obama, who knows better, has taken advantage of regulations that allow him to delay construction to appease wacko environmentalists. By "wacko", I mean they're not doing anything substantive to improve the environment, they're just killing jobs.

4. An education system ruled over by the teacher's unions and liberal arts types. USA teenagers now rank DEAD LAST in math skills in the OECD. Our education system isn't preparing workers that business wants. Other countries are doing much better.

As to the tax breaks, I think you and I agree. Get rid of them. Institute something like a flat tax.

OK, Admittedly, this is partly Republican propaganda, but see the following list:

[URL]http://majorityleader.gov/JobsTracker/[/URL]

I'm curious, exactly what actions have been taken or proposed by Obama and the Democrats that would significantly boost job growth? I can't think of any. In fact, what they've done is stifle growth in employment.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;439507]The tax rate is still one of the lowest than most countries.
[/QUOTE]Absolutely untrue. The corporate rate is the highest in the developed world. Please see the link in my previous post. And the total income tax rate on unincorporated businesses and individuals is among the higher in the world. See [URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_rates.[/URL] Please note the Wikipedia table doesn't include the 3.8% Obamacare tax, imposed on certain types of income.

As I said, some companies and people take advantage of loopholes to lower their rates. These loopholes should be eliminated and the tax rate should be flattened and lowered. Also, as I said, I'm sure my link included some Republican propaganda. Yours looks like it's 100% Democrat propaganda.

The corporate income tax is a complete fiction, absolutely unnecessary, and is totally irrelevant. Corporations cannot pay taxes. Only shareholders can pay taxes. The corporate income tax collected is only 1.3% of GDP whereas the individual taxes are 8%. The corporate income tax should be abolished, which would, of course, lead to [B]higher[/B] individual rates. This would be offset by huge cost savings from not having to dick around with corporate tax planning, preparation, and record-keeping.

A rare example of bipartisan good news. The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) passed 412-4 in the House and 91-7 in the Senate. Boehner and other Republicans claim it will create jobs. Yes, the same guy who said in 2009 "Government doesn't create jobs!" and pronounced the Stimulus a failure before multiple economic assessments proved him dead wrong. Of course government spending creates jobs, and when Republicans deny it you know they are lying through their teeth. But I will give them credit for working with Dems to get this bill passed.

[URL]http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/206655-house-passes-water-projects-bill[/URL]
[URL]http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/senate-set-vote-123-billion-water-bill-23820352[/URL]

Esten, did you happen to notice the economy CONTRACTED during the 1st quarter 2014? Could it be poor economic policies by your favorite guy?

Esten, didn't we fix all the infrastructure during the first bailout with all those "shovel ready" infrastructure jobs that were ready to go? What about all those signs they had printed up touting this road or that bridge was being repaired by the bail out?

Only in America!! Donald Sterling made a racist remark to his mistress, was fined 2.5 million, created outrage, and laughs all the way to the bank when a Steve Balmer led group bids 2.0 billion for the Clippers. Meanwhile, black basketball players who are richer than most of us, but not very rich when compared to Sterling, Balmer, et al feel vindicated. They forget that the buyer was another rich white guy. Only in America can a rich white guy be "punished" by being forced to sell a franchise for a huge profit, and it is all perfectly legal.

What Mr. Sterling did was reprehensible in this age, but I still envy him.

Tres3.

[QUOTE=Tres3;439651]Only in America!! Donald Sterling made a racist remark to his mistress, was fined 2.5 million, created outrage, and laughs all the way to the bank when a Steve Balmer led group bids 2.0 billion for the Clippers. Meanwhile, black basketball players who are richer than most of us, but not very rich when compared to Sterling, Balmer, et al feel vindicated. They forget that the buyer was another rich white guy. Only in America can a rich white guy be "punished" by being forced to sell a franchise for a huge profit, and it is all perfectly legal.

What Mr. Sterling did was reprehensible in this age, but I still envy him.

Tres3.[/QUOTE]But only in America can you take 600 billion dollar company turn it into a 270 billion company and still become a billionaire. Is Ballmer the worst CEO in history? Further evidence that America is no longer a meritocracy. America mourns for the Los Angeles sports fan.

[QUOTE=BigBossMan;439656]But only in America can you take 600 billion dollar company turn it into a 270 billion company and still become a billionaire. Is Ballmer the worst CEO in history? Further evidence that America is no longer a meritocracy. America mourns for the Los Angeles sports fan.[/QUOTE]Dick Fuld is the worst CEO in history; he took a $60 billion dollar company (Lehman Brothers) and steered it into the largest bankruptcy in corporate history.