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I am democrat and most people would think I am much more liberal than conservative.
I don't follow the "party line" when it comes to everything though. In the interests of trying to use the next two years productively, I would propose the following agenda:
1. Let's approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delay. It will mean more jobs for a country still struggling to recover from a recession. Most of the jobs will be higher paying ones. Also, it will ultimately mean cheaper gas at the gas pump for all of us.
2. On immigration. The GOP wants tighter border security. Let's pass a bill doing exactly that. Tighter border security has nothing to do with giving some kind of legal status to immigrants already in this country. That should be a trade off: Tighter border security for granting the people already here in this country some type of status that will allow them to work and possibly, in the far distant future, allowing them to become permanent residents and citizens.
3. Let's work together to combat ISIS. No more name calling. Democrats can stop blaming the policies of GWB. Republicans can start working with Obama instead of criticizing decisions he has made in the past.
4. Affordable Care Act. Whether the GOP likes it or not, its not going anywhere, at least in the next two years. However, if the tax on medical equipment upsets them, repeal could be considered if there is a way to "make up" this lost revenue. We certainly should be willing to listen with an open mind to any ideas.
I'm also willing to listen to any other suggestions. I would hope we could keep this particular exchange constructive, rather than going negative.
I am democrat and most people would think I am much more liberal than conservative.
I don't follow the "party line" when it comes to everything though. In the interests of trying to use the next two years productively, I would propose the following agenda:
1. Let's approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delay. It will mean more jobs for a country still struggling to recover from a recession. Most of the jobs will be higher paying ones. Also, it will ultimately mean cheaper gas at the gas pump for all of us.
2. On immigration. The GOP wants tighter border security. Let's pass a bill doing exactly that. Tighter border security has nothing to do with giving some kind of legal status to immigrants already in this country. That should be a trade off: Tighter border security for granting the people already here in this country some type of status that will allow them to work and possibly, in the far distant future, allowing them to become permanent residents and citizens.
3. Let's work together to combat ISIS. No more name calling. Democrats can stop blaming the policies of GWB. Republicans can start working with Obama instead of criticizing decisions he has made in the past.
4. Affordable Care Act. Whether the GOP likes it or not, its not going anywhere, at least in the next two years. However, if the tax on medical equipment upsets them, repeal could be considered if there is a way to "make up" this lost revenue. We certainly should be willing to listen with an open mind to any ideas.
I'm also willing to listen to any other suggestions. I would hope we could keep this particular exchange constructive, rather than going negative.
Many of the things you propose are indeed possible except for one thing. Obama will not consider them unless they fall in lockstep with what he personally wants. Several of these things have been proposed, even gain bipartisan support, then Obama steps in and kills them.
Get him to actually compromise, not just "my way or the highway" and then see what happens.
I am neutral on the Keystone Pipeline. I think a fair compromise would be to approve that (GOP would be happy), along with an infrastructure initiative (Dems would be happy), aimed at roads, bridges, and high speed rail. All these initiatives would put Joe six pack back to work, as well as younger workers who want to work. The working class dude and the younguns were the ones most impacted by the recession. They would lower the unemployment rate and help the larger economy as well, and of couse, create opportunities for the future.
Markg, I am a lot like you. I lean left, most strongly on environmental and social justice issues, but I am fairly independent in my opinions, and I have no problem acknowledging a good idea from the right, when I see it. What I can't stand is the heads I win, tails you lose kind of thinking that dominates our current political environment. It is like winning is the only point. Governance and serving the people is an afterthought. Hopefully, now that the GOP had a victory, they will be in a more magnanimous place.
I would be in favor of the pipeline if they also pass an infrastructure bill. It's a shame so many of our bridges and roads are crumbling, some outright dangerous.
I'm tired of more border security, if they would pass e-verify, it would solve a big chunk of illegal immigration.
I am democrat and most people would think I am much more liberal than conservative.
We shall see!
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
1. Let's approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delay. It will mean more jobs for a country still struggling to recover from a recession. Most of the jobs will be higher paying ones. Also, it will ultimately mean cheaper gas at the gas pump for all of us.
No and No. The Keystone Pipeline will create a grand total of....
THIRTY FIVE Permanent jobs.
No thanks. The Keystone Pipeline is a dead giveway to oil barons. It also just hinders are committment to fighting climate change.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
2. On immigration. The GOP wants tighter border security. Let's pass a bill doing exactly that. Tighter border security has nothing to do with giving some kind of legal status to immigrants already in this country. That should be a trade off: Tighter border security for granting the people already here in this country some type of status that will allow them to work and possibly, in the far distant future, allowing them to become permanent residents and citizens.
I'm not too keen on the issue but that is probably what is being proposed. The big issue was Congress complaining about immigration, yet not proposing any bill...
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
3. Let's work together to combat ISIS. No more name calling. Democrats can stop blaming the policies of GWB. Republicans can start working with Obama instead of criticizing decisions he has made in the past.
ISIS is a bunch of paid mercenaries. ISIS is not a threat to the United States.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
4. Affordable Care Act. Whether the GOP likes it or not, its not going anywhere, at least in the next two years. However, if the tax on medical equipment upsets them, repeal could be considered if there is a way to "make up" this lost revenue. We certainly should be willing to listen with an open mind to any ideas.
The ACA is all about politics. The GOP has no objection to the ACA unless they are blatant hypocrites. It's the Republican's health care law to begin with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
I'm also willing to listen to any other suggestions. I would hope we could keep this particular exchange constructive, rather than going negative.
Unfortunately, "compromise" is an irrational position to take on most matters.
Middle Ground Claiming the middle ground between two extremes must be the truth.
I am democrat and most people would think I am much more liberal than conservative.
I don't follow the "party line" when it comes to everything though. In the interests of trying to use the next two years productively, I would propose the following agenda:
1. Let's approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delay. It will mean more jobs for a country still struggling to recover from a recession. Most of the jobs will be higher paying ones. Also, it will ultimately mean cheaper gas at the gas pump for all of us.
2. On immigration. The GOP wants tighter border security. Let's pass a bill doing exactly that. Tighter border security has nothing to do with giving some kind of legal status to immigrants already in this country. That should be a trade off: Tighter border security for granting the people already here in this country some type of status that will allow them to work and possibly, in the far distant future, allowing them to become permanent residents and citizens.
3. Let's work together to combat ISIS. No more name calling. Democrats can stop blaming the policies of GWB. Republicans can start working with Obama instead of criticizing decisions he has made in the past.
4. Affordable Care Act. Whether the GOP likes it or not, its not going anywhere, at least in the next two years. However, if the tax on medical equipment upsets them, repeal could be considered if there is a way to "make up" this lost revenue. We certainly should be willing to listen with an open mind to any ideas.
I'm also willing to listen to any other suggestions. I would hope we could keep this particular exchange constructive, rather than going negative.
I think the biggest problem democrats face is the leadership taking the Elections have consequence line in 2008. It was foolish to not allow compromise on ACA and now they own it. Basically they declared they did have to include Republicans in governing. We now see Obama continuing the same course. I don't see Republicans giving up what got them to this point which includes the largest majority in house since Truman plus the senate. Not to even counting the statehouse gains last two elections. As the democratic ACA that Republicans have no skin in becomes more and more clear as to its terms; it may just be the gift that keeps on giving for Republicans.
I am democrat and most people would think I am much more liberal than conservative.
4. Affordable Care Act. Whether the GOP likes it or not, its not going anywhere, at least in the next two years. However, if the tax on medical equipment upsets them, repeal could be considered if there is a way to "make up" this lost revenue. We certainly should be willing to listen with an open mind to any ideas.
The so-called "Affordable" Care Act is going down. It is crumbling under it's own weight, it's high cost, mountainous regulations and massive bureaucracy, and the deception under which it was passed (Johnathan Gruber).
Gruber effectively destroyed the government's case now to be heard by the Supreme Court, whether or not subsidies apply to those who purchase their plans from the Government Exchange (vs. the State), the plain language being that they apply only to those who purchase from the State exchanges. The Government argues that was a "typo," but Gruber has made it plain that it was by intent, that subsidies only were to apply to those who purchased from the state exchanges (this was to be an "incentive" for the States to set up exchanges).
Additionally, Obamacare has been the cause of millions of Americans losing their insurance, and there are likely more uninsured Americans today than before the ACA took effect. This is because people simply can't afford it.
It was a bad law to begin with, passed with no Republican support, and with no one having read the bill ("We must pass this bill; then we will find out what's in it." — Nancy Pelosi).
Bad laws should be repealed, and this one is especially bad.
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