I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

ananda8

Sorry to interrupt the conversation about schools, but I know we will get back to it because it is fascinating.  I just want to make one more comment about military spending.  It is not unusual for the  the military to be forced by Congress to buy weapons systems it did not need or want.  This is the just one of the few times a group in Congress and the President were able to work together to eliminate unnecessary programs.  Let's hope it keeps up.

It appears that the Libertarian wing of the Tea Party movement along with like minded Democrats will make a positive difference in our national government.  I imagine the old guard of both parties is rather disappointed.

shokk

Then why are things so much higher??????.........

Also about the Republicans grown up decision to do some Federal cutting concerning such things as "cancer research" would be  much less then the Presidents so called budget cuts to eliminate tax deductions for charitable donations......

for instance NIH receives much more money from the private sector then they do from the Federal Gov't..........Soetoro removes that tax deduction and private organizations such as Susan G Komen foundation will suffer huge loses.........shokk

shokk

My community has grown beyond predictions since we got Walmart and Super Target.......

Plus we save a lot on gas because we had just one grocery store for years and they were very limited on what they sold.......

If we needed certain items we had to travel at least 45 minutes......now it takes me 5 minutes to get to either store depending if I get caught by the light......shokk

Plus many of our high school students know have jobs and aren't getting into as much trouble as they use to when Walmart and Super Target weren't here.......

And we still have cute little Mom and Pop stores that also have found a niche in offering speciality goods that you can't get at the large box stores......shokk

pip57

Walmarts used to be a draw for Canadians to cross the border.  Now we have our own.  The Walmart near us is clean, well stocked and well priced.  They employ a lot of people in the area.  No complaints here.

1Athena1

Just like to restate that I see the word "Soetero" to refer to Obama as jingoistic and do not for a second believe protestations that it is being used BECAUSE it is his "real" name or for whatever other non-discriminatory or seemingly innocent sounding reason. If anyone says it's used as a joke, I will laugh at them, and not at the joke.

It is clearly and unequivocally meant to describe someone in negative terms by purporting to show his "different-ness" or "foreign-ness" by using a name that is both unfamiliar AND non-Anglo-Saxon sounding (his real name is non-Anglo Saxon, but it is familiar). The intent is jingoistic and not something I would allow in my living room (if I had one - lol!).

There are plenty of proper ways to express dislike for Obama - including name calling, BTW. If anyone wants to call any public figure names like extremist, fascist, demagogue, left wing, right ring, idiot, go ahead. Those adjectives describe a person's stance and actions and not his race/nationality/creed.  The jingoism is not on.

Shokk, I disagree with your defense or identification with Palin/Bachmann but, out of respect for YOU as a poster, I will be careful and either avoid talking about them or make sure I characterize their actions and words and not them. I ask for the same respect for Obama, even if you disagree with me.  

leggo

My former co-workers wife worked at Wal-mart. She became seriously ill and had to be air-lifted to PMH for treatment. They couldn't afford to pay first and be reimbursed later so Wal-mart paid for it and ended up giving them gift certificates upwards of 2000K while she recuperated. No complaints from me either. Not many companies will do that.

ananda8

shokk,

The proposal only reduces the amount that people can deduct who make more that $250,000 per year from 33-35% to 28%.  The amount of deductions for those making less than $250,000 per year remains the same.  The following is from the publication,  The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The bold is mine.

"But while many charitable-giving experts expressed alarm about how reduced rate for charitable deductions would affect giving by wealthy Americans, others say that Mr. Obama's proposal may be less cause for concern than it initially appeared.

The reason: Many wealthy Americans who would otherwise be in the 33- or 35-percent tax bracket - and thus able to take that same percentage deduction for their charitable gifts - have used mortgage payments and other deductions to qualify for the alternative minimum tax rate of 28 percent, says Robert F. Sharpe, a Memphis planned-giving consultant.

By paying the alternative minimum tax rate of 28 percent, those wealthy taxpayers are already restricted to the same percentage on their charitable deductions, Mr. Sharpe says. "A lot of the rich are already used to the 28-percent deduction," which means the Obama proposal would not result in any change for them.

For those wealthy individuals who currently qualify for the 33- or 35-percent rate, however, President Obama's proposal would have some financial impact.

To illustrate, Mr. Sharpe offers the example of a wealthy donor in the top tax bracket who makes a $100,000 gift. The donor currently would save $35,000 in taxes, or 35 percent of the gift. Under President Obama's proposal, that same donor would save only $28,000, or 28 percent - a difference of $7,000...

But the proposals will not necessarily change giving patterns, says Giving Institute, an association of consultants in Glenview, Ill., and its research arm, Giving USA Foundation. They noted in a statement that 53 percent of high-net-worth donors surveyed in a 2006 study for Bank of America said their giving would stay the same, or even increase, if the tax deduction for charitable gifts fell to zero.Giving Institute members have found that "the most important factor in how much people give is how committed they are to the purpose of the request," the statement said. Furthermore, giving will increase when wealth is created and "if the president's plan generates more wealth for Americans then giving will go up."  http://philanthropy.com/article/Obamas-Plan-to-Reduce/63024/ 

The deductions for charitable contributions were reduced under previous administrations without having the effect of reducing contributions. They were increased under President Bush and did not result in an increase in giving.  The economy has more to do with charitable giving that tax deductions do. 

You really hurt your credibility when you continually post inaccurate information and half truths.  Check your "facts" before you post and provide links like other posters do.

shokk

But again Notself it is just speculation......we don't really know what the impact would be in the long run......and the Republicans have not suggested to defund cancer research but to cut a proportion of cancer research......you guys on the left cannot continue to stick your heads in the ground and pretend that we are not out of money......we have to borrow the money from China to fund cancer research....it just has to stop.......at least until we get our spending and our debt to a more manageable condition......shokk

1Athena1

Wal Mart links (for when anyone has time and/or interest):

http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/10yrstudy.pdf

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2006-03-15-young-walmart-usat_x.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/business/13walmart.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=medicaid&st=nyt

also: www.wakeupwalmart.com which is trying to get workers to unionize. North America is the only region where the stores workers are not unionized. Wal Mart has successfully thwarted those efforts thus far.

Of course, they have hired a hugely influential PR firm here and done lots of good press things recently. This is the world's largest company, so they are good at balancing out media coverage.

Anonymous

I love Walmart.  We don't have a Super Target.  I wish we'd get one. 

Anonymous

I'll repeat....I love Walmart.  If the unions TAKE OVER prices will go sky high.  Leave Walmart alone.  If employees are mistreated at Walmart, Obama has given them an "800" number to call where they will be directed to an attorney.  The attorney will be paid by the person who is complaining..not the government.  Anyone else who's not in a union (I take for granted ALL unions "protect" their employees) can call that 800 number.  My DD specializes in employment law.  I bet she'll like this new "800" number.  BTW, she went to a university that was very cheap (per my advice) and landed a job with a huge law firm making six figures.  Now she and another gal have their own firm.  I told her she would make her own reputation and didn't need to go into debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars.  And, just to brag, she graduated summa cum laude and number one in her class. 

Anonymous

WOW!  Why do some posters feel the need to CENSOR other posters?    We DO still live in a free country, right?   Besides, I thought Palin was off topic for the month of February. 

1Athena1

Agreed with first line (see avatar).

leggo

I liken Wal-mart to a store in Canada called the "Real Canadian Superstore". For years, the only larger grocery store in my city was Safeway and they absolutely raped you with their prices. We had no choice; we had to pay their ridiculous prices; they were all we had. That all changed once Superstore arrived. Safeway was consistently empty and ran ads forever about how their store was worth the extra cost (fresher ingredients, baggers and so on). Safeway almost closed here. I think they got what they deserved. Only now are they starting to lower their prices and realize their mistake. Granted, Superstore was a horrible place to work and couldn't keep employees, but that is slowly changing. As for Safeway, I can't think of any reason a cashier should be making 18.00/hour. Competition is very healthy. I know here, many mom and pop operations have had to adjust and have done so by offering either higher quality items or one-of-a-kind products. They seem to be doing well enough. Most are always busy. I have a lot of quality issues with Wal-mart so I often find myself shopping smaller places for stuff that really matters.

ananda8

shokk,

While there is unsupported opinion in the article I quoted, the studies on the giving patterns of the rich are not speculation.  Basic math on the actual impact of the reduction in tax credits is not speculation.   

You were the one who was influenced by unsupported speculation that said the tax deduction for charity was going to be eliminated.   Read your own post on the subject. 

Just like some weapons systems for the military are not what we need and should be eliminated, some of the dollars going to cancer research should be cut if the research being funded is not being well conducted.  We need to look at all government funded programs for efficiency, effectiveness and long term impact.  That is what the Libertarian wing of the Tea Party and like minded Democrats are in fact doing.  I am looking forward to the time they get to the full list of things to fix from the GAO.

I know you want this country to be strong and well run so if you want the actual facts on what needs to be fixed, review these links from the GAO.  For too long both parties have ignored these findings.  This is where we need to have reform concentrated. Why don't you write or call your representatives and ask them what they are doing about reform of these areas?

http://www.google.com/search?q=GAO+studies+on+government+efficiency&rlz=1I7DLUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7

Anonymous

1Athena1 wrote:

Just like to restate that I see the word "Soetero" to refer to Obama as jingoistic and do not for a second believe protestations that it is being used BECAUSE it is his "real" name or for whatever other non-discriminatory or seemingly innocent sounding reason.

Jingoism refers to extreme patriotism, and a rejection of foreign things.  Since you are accusing US citizens of jingoism in relation to the man who currently inhabits the White House, are you implying that he is not an American? 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jingoism

jin·go·ism noun \ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ˌi-zəm\ Definition of JINGOISM : extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy

Medigal

Goodness, talking about Walmart...guess where we were shopping this morning?  I made a list of what we needed and priced at other stores and ended up saving a chunk of money by getting it, as usual, at Walmarts.  Sorry about the Mom and Pop stores but in this economy, one has to buy where they can save the most money, and here it is Walmarts.

As for treating employees badly, don't stick that one just on Walmarts.  Put the name of any company in Google and you can bring up any company you want and read reports from all these employees who are being terribly mistreated at so many other companies.  You wouldn't believe what some companies would do to keep from giving hard working, dedicated employees a raise or a bonus even if they make their number of sales!  I sure would love to have that 800 number Shirley was referring to.  I think ALL employees need access to it!  With the unemployment numbers so high, employees know they can do practically anything they want and their employees have to suffer through it.  Well when Karma decides to bite, she bites hard!   The crap I know that is going on with certain companies makes me believe in Unions and I never was a Union believer before!  

Alpal

Our small town used to have four locally owned lumber yards - Lowes put all of them out of business. We only have one locally owned hardware store left. We used to have 6 grocery stores and now have 3. These closings all happened before the downturn of the economy. Small businesses in this part of the country simply cannot compete with WalMart and Lowes. It's very sad.

1Athena1

Speaking of FAV (to use Konakat's word) supermarkets, mine is Trader Joe's, although they are not very reliable in some of their supplies. I love them. IMO, they are great for the single person. They have lots of healthy foods packaged in small quantities.

1Athena1

I have never heard of Aldi, no. I do know that TJs is now owned by a Canadian family, although I may be wrong.

1Athena1

Ah - I stand corrected. Thanks!

Bren-2007

Gosh .. I wish there was a Trader's Joes around here.  Love that store.  Used to shop there when I lived in San Diego.  I think we have an Aldi's .. will have to check it out.

I hate walmart, but I shop there.  In my area, walmart is a family shopping store.  Huge family's shop together and block the aisles to chit chat.  And I have to remember never to go on the first of the month!

Bren

1Athena1

Before I knew about the company, I used to shop at what was the biggest selling Wal Mart of all when I lived in Florida. They had annaul sales of $1 billion - just that one supercenter. Incredible. It was ten years ago, too. You could go there at any time of the day or night and find anything.

Alpal

I also hate WalMart. I hate to admit it but it's because of the other people who shop there. Guess I'm a snob at heart.

Bren-2007

Me too Alpal.

konakat

Ugh, I hate Walmart -- it's full of crap.  Target is coming to Canada -- it's a bit better.  I do miss Kohls from the US -- it's cheap crap too, but not too crappy.  Great place to get some well-made inexpensive casual clothes, which is all I wear now.

Now that Cdn dollar is on par with US dollars I really hate the much higher prices for books.  And in Pier1, a store I love.

bluedahlia

I shop wherever.  Some things I get at Walmart.  Produce at Longo's.  Meat at Fortino's.  Canned stuff at No Frills. Not every week.  My favourite store is Winners and Home Sense.

leggo

Maybe when Target comes to Canada I can finally get som funyuns. I have to order them on-line, seriously!

Speaking of Target, they're taking over the Zeller's locations here....another store famous for raping consumers.

Alpal

Those onion things?

bluedahlia

What are funyuns?