I Have No Faith In The American Electorate

[africanboy]

Originally Posted by Guamanians

1. Healthcare: Americans DO NOT want Obamacare. Unless we see some changes (or delays) before 2012 then this will be a losing issue for Obama. He might try to downplay the issue, but Repubs will force him to defend it. Obamacare is a losing issue, but Obama doesn't think so. Unless someone can convince Obama of that then he will lose a HUGE portion of those uncommitted 2008 voters.

I think that that is a narrow minded and biased opinion on Obamacare. The majority of Americans are in favour of the core components of it such as ridding of the pre-existing conditions fiasco, etc. The law can be amended and fixed up, but why repeal it? The CBO estimates that it will save money in the long run, so let's not fabricate myths here please. It would be too much to ask of the Republicans to dispel the misinformation and scare rhetoric which their base feeds off of, so it looks like one this one both sides will have to agree to disagree.

2. Jobs: Obama can't keep blaming Bush for everything - ok, he can TRY, but America isn't buying that anymore. This will be a big issue unless UE comes down significantly. And if unemployment is up in 2012 then the Repubs will take the credit. The citizens will then have to decide which policies were most responsible for any job growth. That should be an interesting debate.

Excellent points there and I appreciate you not resulting to that whole "socialism, communism" rhetoric we are so used to hearing. The independents will be split 50/50 I think. There are those who understand that co-ordinating expansionary fiscal and monetary policy together is a tried and tested way of easing the burdens of recessions. However, the free-market fundamentalists make great points as well, and maybe government shouldn't have been so involved in the recovery efforts. The only problem with thinking so abstractly is that it is much easier to spout free market principles from the comfort of our homes than while standing in the unemployment lines.

Other than that, you're pretty accurate.

[Rush Fan]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Having faith in the American people is a folly that brings only disappointment. This nation is populated by ignorant, gullible, hate-filled chumps.

How true. Well at least enough of them to elect Obama, that is.

[Rush Fan]

Originally Posted by Guamanians

Lets compare apples to apples. If women are indeed getting paid less than men for the same job then there is a problem. But, we have a competitive job structure. Men and women are free to transfer to another job if they choose. Whose fault is it that women accept less then men? If their skills are deserving of higher pay then they could surely negotiate a higher salary? Why would a company pay an employee MORE than the market price?

Comparing men and women, with equal educational backgrounds and work experience, women earn about 95% as much as men.

Early "studies" showing a 70 cents for every $1.00, measured lifetime earnings, NOT "per hour" earings. However, the knee jerks out there never quite read that far in the study.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by Guamanians

funny how almost every major religion in the world does not condone homosexual acts. For you to use religion as an argument FOR gay rights is ridiculous.

Ummm.... not actually. Christianity certainly doesn't. Many Christian churches invite homosexuals in. They know that if they accept one phrase from the Old Testament that Chirst himself put to rest, then they must also endorse slavery and rape, because that's all in there as well.

That said, I wasn't using religion as an argument for homosexuality. I was saying that almost all moral codes, be they atheistic or deistic or otherwise, hold telling the truth as a core foundation. The government, interjecting itself into people's personal lives, was forcing servicemembers to lie.

You just said that gays had a higher suicide rate. Whatever the case may be for suicide, - those people should get help. The military has never not allowed treatment. You are making stuff up.

You seem to be very judgmental against this sexual persuasion without understanding the implications of this judgment. The problem is that they commit suicides at a higher rate because they live in a hate-filled, bigoted society that treats them horrifically. Having no choice but to be gay, teenagers especially feel a shattering of self-worth because they buy into the lies based on nothing but a limited cultural exposure and a book that endorses slavery.

So, they can't get help. If a servicemember is having relationship problems or being harassed or dragged behind a pick-up truck down a dirt road for his or her natural sexuality, they couldn't talk to anyone within the military lest they be forced out. Thank God for Obama doing Christ's work by liberating God's children from such hateful oppression. Just like Moses!

Obama is getting high marks as commander in chief? From who? Rolling Stone Magazine? How does the military feel about Obama?

Just look at polls. Obama's approval ratings are between 50%-55% and his highest marks are with regard to foreign policy and handling of the wars.