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

1Athena1

The single biggest reason for America's overall fiscal problems are two - and on this there is no way to fudge the numbers:

1) The 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts

2) the rising cost of health care, egged on by the demographic shift and retirement of the baby boomers. The biggest expenditure item in healthcare is technology, which means anything from new innovations through prescription drugs.

Next to this everything, from collective bargaining rights to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pale in comparison.

Claims of budget tightening coupled with tax reductions for people who will NOT circulate that extra money into the economy are impossible, at this point, to take seriously.

What the above article fails to mention is that high marginal tax rates do not equal an economic downturn and that the reason why so many cite the Eisenhower-era tax margins is to make the point that the conservatives are wrong when they say that high taxes stifle the economy. The US's own post war history shows that this is simply not true. Nor it is true that high taxes help the economy. Rather, the truth is that other factors appear to play a more prominent role in growth. This includes government expenditure, wages, exports, trade and employment but they do not all depend on taxes, contrary to what the politicians argue.

ProudSurvivor

In all fairness, here is an interesting article,

"Should a 400 lb man advise us on the evils of over-consumption?
Should the resident of a million-dollar apartment claim to be a poster boy of the working class?
Should a person who thought that Enron was a great investment, that Ralph Nader, Wesley Clark and John Kerry would win, and that North Korea's Kim Jong was changing for the better, advise us on ANYTHING?"

Michael Moore is a paradox. A millionaire who boasts of wealth as proving his value -- "I'm a millionaire, I'm a multi-millionaire. I'm filthy rich. You know why I'm a multi-millionaire? 'Cause multi-millions like what I do. That's pretty good, isn't it?"

He lives in a million-dollar apartment, and boasts of that as well. "I walk among them. I live on the island of Manhattan, a three-mile-wide strip of land that is luxury home and corporate suites to America's elite..... Those who run your life live in my neighborhood. I walk in the streets with them each day" (Michael Moore, Stupid White Men, p. 51). For vacations, he keeps another million-dollar beachfront house in Michigan.

He sends his child to a private school -- no sense associating with the working class -- and has some trouble associating with them himself. The New York Post reported on a tantrum he threw in London: "Then, on his second-to-last night, [Michael Moore] raged against everyone connected with the Roundhouse and complained that he was being paid a measly $750 a night. 'He completely lost the plot,' a member of the stage crew told the London Evening Standard. 'He stormed around all day screaming at everyone, even the 5 pound-an-hour bar staff, telling them how we were all con men and useless. Then he went on stage and did it in public.' At his last appearance, staffers refused to work or even open the theater's doors." NY Post, Jan. 8, 2003.

He supplements his meager income with speaking tours. No more $750 gigs; on his 2004 pre-election tour he charged Utah Valley State College $40,000, Xavier $25,000, and University of New Mexico $35,000. Not bad for an hour or two's work.

Ah, the joys of capitalism.
One of his former associates summed him up: " You would think that he's the ultimate common man. But he's money-obsessed."

Believe it or not there is even more about him at

http://www.mooreexposed.com/

pip57

Good grief.  It is Michael Moore.  He isn't running for any office.  He has an opinion.  Just like everyone else. Why don't the media just let him disappear in the crowd of voices. 

Not to say that he doesn't have some points of merit, regardless of his own lifestyle.   

Anonymous

I can't believe that anyone posting on this board would take this stupid republican congressman serious.  Did I read he was a new congressman?  I can assure you that he does NOT speak for the republican party....far from it.

As far as Michael Moore, I can't believe anyone takes him seriously either.  What a moron.  I really think he should ship his butt over to Cuba.  He ADORES capitalism.  I hear he's suing for something, but I don't know what.  You can google it if you want.  Anyway, perhaps it's something to do with not being paid enough.  What a dolt!

Edited to correct "stuff".

pip57

Hi Shirley!

BarbaraA

Shirley, I hope your scans went well. Missed you!

Anonymous

Hello, pip and Barbara.  Everything seems to be stable. Just a little something going on with the ole uterus...I'm on Tamox so that could be the problem.

pip57

Geez Shirley.  It never ends.  I got rid of mine after dx.  My dh and I joke that they will have to do a cheek swab to determine my sex.

ananda8

Raising taxes on the wealthy and closing tax loop-holes was something that George HW Bush understood.  You remember him, the competent Bush president.  The one who fought a war that was justified and then ended it without invading another country.  Yes, he paid a price for raising taxes, but he also set up a recovery that continued throughout the Clinton years.  It took his nit-wit son to drive the country and the economy into a ditch of tax cuts and unjustified wars looking for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Bren-2007

Shirley .. glad to hear that you are stable ... just wish you didn't have this other problem to deal with.

hugs,

Bren

1Athena1

Shirley, we were asking about you on the cyberbullies thread. "Stable" is always a good word. Glad to hear it.

konakat

I hear the Stable Boy is super hot Shirley!  And hope your girly bits are OK too.

AnneW

WooHoo, Shirley's back and hanging out with the stable boy!!! Hope the uterine thing is just an annoying blip on the radar, though Tamox can be an issue.

AnnNYC

Shirley, stable is great news!!!!  Hope the other glitch is just a little glitch.....

pip57

I have been watching Condolezza Rice on "Oprah Presents The Masters".  Some of the information re 911 was surprising to me.  However, it was probably common knowledge by now.  For instance, Bush was aware of the first plane hitting the Trade Center 'before' he went into the classroom.  She also seemed to 'almost' admit that the plane over Pennsylvania was shot down.

I must say that I have a new found respect for her and what she endured during the Bush administration.  She really does seem like a person of high character and morals.  Not that I really had any opinion of her before.  She didn't impress me one way or the other.  But now I have a lot of respect. 

1Athena1

Wow - I was shocked to see our thread so low down on the active topics list this morning. Here is a "bump" - lol!

bluedahlia

I have cellulitis in my hand thanks to a spider hiding in strawberries from Florida.  Do you think it was a republican spider?  My typing abilities have been on hold.

apple

be careful about that spider bite.  I unfortunately had a friend who died from a garden spider bite.. very sad.

bluedahlia

I'm on strong antibiotics.  Thank you Apple.

IronJawedBCAngel

While I understand that some here will not like Michael Moore, I love the fact that he inspires people to get involved and be part of the conversation, vs accepting the apathy that has plagued this country for too many years.  He was raised as a devout Catholic, went to seminary to become a priest, changed his mind, but still considers himself a Catholic who does not necessarily agree with all of the Church's teachings, particularly in regards to abortion and same sex relationships. He is not alone in that position. He shaped his activism on the Berrigan Brothers, two priests who were strong protesters against the Vietnam War. Unlike Fox News, Limbaugh, and Beck, when he states a fact, he has researched it and has the data to back it up, but he also points out that much of the content of his documentaries is simply his opinion and his philosophies.  I find it amusing about all of the hatred many sent his way years ago because he said early on that George W. had gotten us into the Iraq war on false pretenses, only to have it revealed many years later that there were no weapons of mass destruction, and that Mr. Moore was correct in his accusations.

He has never claimed to be a saint, but has done a lot of good in this world, and particularly for his home state. The one article I recall stated that 60% of the profit from Farenheit 9-11 went to charitable contributions. He does not have a biological child, and I would assume his stepdaughter's mother would have every bit as much right to send her child to the school she deems best as any one of us. 

On the subject of Mr. Harty from New Hampshire, I saw a link pop up this morning on a story that he has resigned.  Perhaps the Republican "gentleman" who advocates hunting and shooting the illegal immigrants like wild hogs should resign also.

IronJawedBCAngel

Damn Republican spiders!  Hope you feel better soon, Blue.

Anonymous

bluedahlia wrote:

I have cellulitis in my hand thanks to a spider hiding in strawberries from Florida.  Do you think it was a republican spider?  My typing abilities have been on hold.

Florida is a predominently democratic state.  Are you sure it isn't just a Florida (non-political)spider who is fed up with all the snowbirds at this point of the winter?  Or maybe he was just mad that he got plucked out of the Florida warmth and sunshine and shipped off to cold. snowy Canada and lashed out at the first person he could reach?

bluedahlia

Hard to tell, but I thank you for your concern.  Now I'm off to my onc appt.

leggo

I like Michael Moore; a lot. Specifically, I remember the creator of a "Michael Moore" trashing website not being able to pay his wife's medical bills. Michael Moore paid them. Why do so many of you dislike him? I know plenty of really wealthy people who wouldn't part with a penny of their own money to help someone else.

Wabbit

If you can't shoot the message - you shoot the messenger instead.

rosemary-b

Blue

I am truly concerned about your hand and am glad you are on antibiotics.. I am sure the spider was just being a spider and was certainly not upset about being shipped off to Canada. 

We are nearing retirement and my DH does not want to stay in Michigan where his pension will be taxed. When he asked me where i wanted to move, I said Canada.

1Athena1

Here's another thumbs up for Michael Moore. IMO, his documentaries have done a great service to the country.

Watch those Floridian strawberries, Blue - they will turn you "red" and then kill ya!

crazy4carrots

Interesting thing about Michael Moore -- he has made potloads of money from his documentary films, which all capitalists should be happy about . He is the envy of commercial film makers everywhere for his successes  He strikes a chord in all his films.  You might not like his message, but hey, give him credit for realizing the "American dream" of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Seems he's got it all!

Medigal

Shirley:  How does a "moron" become a multi-millionaire?  He knows how to do something right it seems.  Make money!  I can't put my finger on it but I have never been a fan of his.  In fact I have never seen any of the movies or documentaries he makes.  I just don't watch them.  But as for his being a "moron", I think not.  He knows exactly what he is doing that is why he is so wealthy.

pip57

There are an awful lot of rich morons out there.  Some of their own good luck, others by birth...Paris Hilton for example.