POST SCRIPTS

Cokie said that? I kinda wish she hadn't. I'd rather it be a surprise. It amuses me to watch the left anticiapate the "brave new world" they will enact when they regain power and then fall short. President Kerry, is the prime example of counting leftwing chickens (literally) before they are hatched.

That's funny, I hear the complete opposite. I hear from Republicans that they plan on not voting or plan to switch sides this November.
Bush's tax cuts only help corporate crooks help themselves, they don't help the working class people who are struggling with HIGH GAS PRICES, HIGH ENERGY BILLS, THE HIGH COST OF LIVING - PERIOD!!!. All this spewing by the right, trying to create fear, yeah we do need HOMELAND SECURITY, it has been 6 years since 911 and still our borders are not secure and cargo is not inspected throughly, and just look at HURRICANE KATRINA for emergency preparation. The Republicans haven't done jack, except pilfered the US Treasury for their own selfish desires and agenda. You can't hide and lie anymore. Wolf cries no longer accepted or believed.

anyone else care to take this one?

I dont think Im up to it.

Its obvious metallicsky does a great deal of research in between the Rocket Surgery he performs.

Frankly I dont think Im up to explaining economics or war on Islamo fascism 101 to another lib who is just going to ignore the obvious for his/her political religion.

there is good news, metallicsky just summed up in one paragragh why people like him are not trusted with grown up things in government. The ability to conduct rudimentary analysis, and put forth you ideas in a well thought out manner is still, to some degree, an asset.

I sure he is dying to tell us all how the problems he mentioned SHOULD be handled. Im sure he is just chomping at the bit to show us his comprehensive plan for the future.

Forget that the economy is doing well, that there hasnt been another attack on US soil, that home ownership is through the roof, and that democrats want higher energy costs through regulation and taxation. Forget the fact that the war in Iraq is fundimental to the war on terror, forget the fact that time and time again we have leared that cutting taxes for everyone is good for everyone which ufortunately includes the rich. And forget the fact that I am fairly sckeptical that metallicsky knows any real Republicans.

None of these things matter. What matters is metallicsky keep his little alternate universe intact. So no matter what anyone says here we will all just here the "Bush Lied, People Died" mantra over and over again. It just wont be any where near as well packaged as some of the other stuff we have seen here.

I cant believe I miss Libby right now.

Nick you summed it all up nicely, bravo.

Cokie's advise to hardcore lefty democrats is right on. If the lefty gang on this blog is any indication we can be sure it will fall on deaf ears, however. They represent roughly 22% of the voting public...and they can't win with their ideas and those numbers. Of course they can (and will) lie and manage to fool some of the middle-uns but since we too have a forum now it probably won't work all that well.

As to the economy and all that working class victim crapola...we'll be posting the facts on this blog regularly, stay tuned!

Is it any surprise what Metalhead hears is false, a creation of things titled wishful thinking?

"The ear of jealousy heareth all things."
Wisdom of Solomon, 1.10

metallicsky, I liked the vanilla version...

"Bush's tax cuts only help corporate crooks help themselves, they don't help the working class people who are struggling with HIGH GAS PRICES, HIGH ENERGY BILLS, THE HIGH COST OF LIVING - PERIOD!!!."

You'd have to read a bit to discover the error in your claim. You'd have to give up being a victim and see yourself as a winner to let yourself begin to get that without a job you can't afford anything that runs on fuel anyway. Even an artist or musician is dependent on the economy doing well...your audience needs money to give you for the pleasure and enjoyment your efforts bring. Starving artists aren't called "starving" artists for nothing. When rich people do well the money they reinvest into the marketplace creates jobs...more opportunity and you are better off. When government takes their money to excess the flow of cash into the marketplace diminishes and you are harmed. Democrats don't give a rats behind about that...they buy your vote by peddling envy and victimhood. Wake up man, you are being limited, bamboozled and kept in your place by liberals who want to spend other peoples money for their own selfinterested aims.

Dear Tina and assorted cast of characters,

I am a female who has worked all my adult life, I have never taken a hand-out. I believe the working people of this nation are the backbone of this nation. I find it horrible that corporations are shipping American jobs overseas and cutting back on pensions. I also find it ironic that Republicans approve tax cuts in a time of war. Aren't we supposed to be making a sacrifice for our troops with our tax dollars, so that they will have the armor they need to fight in a war?
You say that "When rich people do well the money they reinvest into the marketplace creates jobs...more opportunity and you are better off."
That may be the ideal, but is it the truth? With all the corporate scandals lately, it only appears that CEOs reinvest in their own personal bank accounts, and not for the good of the common people. What success is a business, without those who do the work? Don't they deserve decent pay and a full time job to support their families and achieve the American Dream?

metallicsky, first I must admit, I think I like the term "characters" Lord knows Ive been called worse and it seems to have a mischevious hint to it I enjoy. So from character Nick here we go.

I agree with your notion that working Americans are the back bone of the nation. But the impression you give is that CEO's, investors, etc. are not "workers" and nothing could be further from the truth. Theyre jobs may not be physically demanding but that should hardly be the criteria for someone to be grouped as a "working American".

As far as tax cuts. Remeber we are talking about fiscal policy. We should never create tax policy as a way to "sacrifice for the troops". We should implement tax policy based on what is best for the economy and generating tax revenue. The real support our troops need now has little to do with body armor concerns, which quite frankly were never a concern of prominant democrats until it became politically beneficial. What they need is morale support. And the knowledge that the American people will stand behind their mission.

As far as the rich reinvesting and the benefits for the economy. There is no question that various CEO's and corporate entities have been guilty of unfair buisness practices. But the solution is not to punish capitolism, but those idnividuals that play outside the bounds of established law. We do not attack a principle based off of those who break the law. I would argue that the "ideal" or as close as can be expected has made America the wealthiest nation on earth with the highest standard of living precicely because the system works despite those who seek to undermine it.

As far as what people deserve, that is a relative term. I would like to know what anybody "deserves" in a free market. The very notion is that each side of the equation has options. An employer can choose to hire someone else, and an employee can choose to work somewhere else, or even become their own boss. When the government comes in on the side of one over the other, is when problems start. Does a 17 year old working for minimum wage at a local drug store "deserve" a "living wage" health care benefits, etc. ? I would argue that he deserves nothing less than what he or she is willing to work for and what an employer is willing to pay. The beauty of our system is no one can FORCE you to work under terms you dont agree to. So please explian why we should enforce artificial wages that lead to unemployment when a person already has the freedom to work somewhere else.

I too have worked all my life and never recieved any government handouts. By the same token I dont feel my labor is worth anything more than what an employer is willing to pay me. By the same token I have the right to leave or start my own buisness if they refuse to pay me what my labor is worth. Why all this sympathy for the employee and none for the employer. There are no outcrys or wringing of hands when a skilled laborer badly needed at a particular company leaves because he or she can make more some where else. Is that not somewhat hypocritical. economics would work alot more smoothly and benefit more people if we stopped trying to interject emotion when logic is what is needed.

as far as sending jobs overseas. i would point the finger at the consumer, not the company. Americans want to pay less for more. There is nothing strange about this. And outsourcing has been done at the behest of the lower classes who now demand more product for lower prices. Economics is the study of the distribution of scarce resources that have alternative uses. When consumers determine where those resources go there is greater efficency of production, and our limited resources are used to their max potential. If you want to support American jobs, be prepared to pay more for basic goods and services. Much of American industry is weighed down by powerful unions who demand that , in many instances; relatively unskilled labor be paid exhorbenant rates. the reasult is higher prices of production which are passed on to consumers. Consumers demonstrate their dissatisfaction by buying their products from those companys who sell their product for less. Until low skilled American labor understands that they dont have an inherent right to rip off the consumer they will suffer as a result. And then they will get in their foreign car, drive to a WalMart and walk right passed the labor union made product to purchase the one made in China for a fraction of the price.

Outsourcing is forcing Amerians to compete in a way we havent had to for sometime. Ultimately this is a good thing. Though it can be hard for many.

One can find flaws in any program, policy or principle. But there is little doubt in my mind that free market principles have allowed for the greatest amount of economic and political freedom that has ever been enjoyed by the "average" person.

Remember, the "common people" as you call them dont work for the "good of the common people or the body politic" either. They work for themsleves.

take care,
metallicsky

Nick, Nicely done.

Metallicsky has identified herself as female and so I will add these more emotional thoughts:

While it's true that a few CEO's have broken the law and thankfully will pay the price it is also true that "union shops" pay all employees with the same job the same money whether he is working his buns off or simply getting through the day, talking, standing around, moving slower than a snail. It makes more sense to me to be able to reward the hard worker and perhaps fire or demote the goof off.

Money in the bank is money in the marketplace. It is used by the bank to offer loans for houses or opening a business or other investment. It is very difficult to horde money and who would want to when investing it benefits the investor and other people. Wealthy people for the most part enjoy seeing others prosper. And since they have done it they are sure you can too.

Believe it or not corporations have to compete for work just like individuals do. Through the years union leaders have continually upped the ante for workers asking for more pay and benefits without offering more to the company in work done. Eventually this became a terrible burden to the company and in order to compete for business they had to cut costs. The biggest cost to a business, especially a big business, is labor. You can't tell the government you won't be paying taxes this year. You can't buy fewer parts. You can't do much about the rent and utilities. You could cut the CEO's pay but it wouldn't pay more than a weks worth of bills and then you'd be right back with the same problem with the added problem of needing a new CEO because he would no doubt look for another job...and get it. NO FAIR! Maybe so, but the world isn't fair for anyone, not even the corporation. Corporations didn't, therefore, "ship jobs over seas". The circumstances of life did. But never fear. The truth about the economy right now is that the unemployment rate is under 5%. That is considered full employment. There is not a job shortage. It doesn't mean that there aren't job losses. We live in an ever changing world and it is something we had all better get used to. Things change fast. Our parents could count on the same job for a lifetime but it just isn't true anymore...not even for CEO's.

The pension situation would be better handled as an individual matter. People need to be more personally involved in planning for retirement. There are many safe instruments that, with early investment and if left alone would result in a very nice nest egg. Too bad the left won't consider these instruments for even 10% of social security investment. It is the kind of plan that our senators and representatives have, why isn't it good enough for us?

"That may be the ideal, but is it the truth? With all the corporate scandals lately, it only appears that CEOs reinvest in their own personal bank accounts, and not for the good of the common people. What success is a business, without those who do the work? Don't they deserve decent pay and a full time job to support their families and achieve the American Dream?"

Who has put in your mind that company's don't pay decent wages? The idea that "working people' in America are not doing well is silly. We have gotten so used to abundance we don't appreciate how well off we are. Think about it. My mother lived in something not much better than a shack and it had a toilet in back with a moon on the door. They used oil lamps for lighting and put heated bricks wrapped in towels in their beds for warmth. Her mother died too young because during the depression she fed her kids instead of herself. They patched holes in their shoes with cardboard and that had to be enough in the snow! Think about what you, and even the most poor among us, have today and tell me we should be complaining. I don't know who you work for but I suggest you reconsider your whole attitude...you may be suffering unnecessarily.