Razorback

I would love to be proven wrong, but I think this will be very short-lived and is in all probability being influenced by the election. I wouldn't be surprised to see "supply and demand" dictate an increase in costs after the election. But we'll enjoy it while we can.

Well one thing I think we can agree upon is that at least we live in a free country where we can talk about this stuff. We'll see what Tuesday brings.

That's not what I'm saying at all. I think you're taking it out of context and pulling a little too much from what's been said, Mike. I like what you're inferring though -- it sounds like you're suggesting that as you become a more successful individual, you should be expected to support your local community more to "pay back" into it and that the only option of pay back shouldn't be just a monetary form. Is that basically what you're suggesting? If so, it's really not a bad idea. I'd support it. But one generalization that you made that I don't agree with is that in these two lines: "Do any of you consider that wealthy people still do donate a lot of money and time to society? You act as if they aren't contributing." -- you're generalizing in that you suggest wealthy people as a whole, when that's not true at all. Many wealthy people don't donate anything, while many DO donate quite a bit. Certainly the tax system isn't perfect, I wouldn't mind seeing something like a flat tax on sales/purchases only so then you'd only pay taxes on what you bought -- buy a big house, pay a lot of taxes, buy a Ferrari, pay a lot of taxes, etc. -- don't work because you're a lazy bum then you don't pay taxes (but you also don't get to buy a nice house and nice cars because you don't have any $$). I think that would be the fairest way to tax, but it won't happen.

Look "Jeremiah Wright", you need to follow people like Eric's example and have a more positive outlook on society. The reason I find it acceptable is because if I made that kind of money, clearly I've been successful in life, and would clearly have the ability to help with things like roads, making the city I live in a better place to live, fund good projects like Waste Management, etc. And those are things that taxes pay for. I know there are people like you out there who have bigtime investments in oil companies and would love to see big oil get another nice big tax break so you can run up your stock portfolio, but middle class people don't live like you do.

lol I'm not stealing money from anybody. I pay for all the things I have. If I made over $250k per year I'd think it pretty acceptable for me to have a higher tax rate than others. Don't blast others just because they're not money grubbers like yourself and the oil companies.

I hope you've got good reasons to vote for them, and not just going eeny meeny miny mo. What are you voting Repub on?

I'm at work so I couldn't do an indepth search but here is a CNN breakdown. Out of all the tv news media & newspapers, I've found CNN to be the most unbiased as they seem to rip the shit out of both candidates pretty frequently, so I'm thinking that should provide you atleast a basic break down. http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/index.htm?from=rss

Here's a link to an evaluation of the history of U.S. Presidents and how experience played a role. http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Info/experience.html I have not criticized Palin from lack of qualifications as I believe, using examples such as Teddy Roosevelt, that experience governing doesn't always equate to a good Presidency. I have, however, criticized Palin for being an idiot. I think her incoherent answers to the number of questions she's been asked on wide-ranging topics over the past months give us enough information to conclude that she does not have the JUDGMENT or intelligence to be President if something were to happen to John. Using McCain's selection of putting someone of that stature in a position to potentially succeed him if something were to happen equates to bad judgment on his part as well. In my assessment, I've felt Obama has shown good judgment. I also felt Colin Powell did a very nice job of explaining why he felt Obama was a better choice for President over the more experienced John McCain, and I agreed very strongly with his reasoning. Just my very humble outlook on things and why this Republican (soon to be registered Independent) is voting Democrat this time around.

lol, loving that signature pic dude. I'm gonna steal it and send it to some people.

Not everyone sees as clearly as you. Some will vote for her because she's white. Some because she's a woman. Some because they're stupid. But the common factor here -- some will still vote for her.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Repub's try that either. I'm definitely re-registering as an Independent after this election. My days of being a Republican are over after watching this campaign.

Epic fail. Thank you, come again.

Very true. Most Republicans have atleast one stretch Hummer per household. That's why I need to re-register. I couldn't afford the stretch Hummer.

I would agree with the flat tax as long as all loop holes were removed for companies and rich people as well. Just one straight, across the board, rate. ZERO loop holes.

I've been following this pretty closely for a while (the election process, not this thread:)) and I find all this petty crap relatively amusing. Yes, I think it's dirty that Palin is spending $150k of donors money on outfits which are clearly rediculously unnecessary. She was already pretty and well-dressed before she was nominated, the $150k was a waste. But the bottom line for me this time around isn't how much money the candidates make -- clearly they're both filthy rich, which is pretty common in politics -- what I want this time around is a President who is intelligent. We haven't had that in the past 8 years, and I'm not electing the buffoon who thought Daily Scandal Palin was fit to be a backup President. I'm a registered Repub. but this time I'm voting to give the guy with good judgment, and intelligence a chance to turn things around. We already know how the other option has turned out.

I'm a Republican...and I'd agree w/ his post.

Not much of a question. Daily Scandal Palin doesn't even know when an international energy convention is scheduled IN HER OWN STATE with delegates from the country she supposedly has foreign policy experience with by seeing their shores from Alaska. Yep, that's who I want running our country. :-/

I always vote against school tax levys. When I was in school and the school would receive money from those levys, it was always mis-spent on things the schools say they wouldn't spend it on. I agree with Austin. I don't trust the clowns to spend it right, so if my vote means anything they won't get my money. Period.

To answer question #1 -- no. I agree with your paragraph about being a more avid Obama supporter. I originally was a strong Ron Paul supporter (and still think he'd be better than both of the current candidates). I didn't like the way McCain treated him during the primaries so that had already turned me against McCain along with his pro illegal immigration stance. I didn't like Romney a lot as a person as he was also very arrogant toward Ron Paul, but I may have voted for Romney over Obama as I agreed with most of his views except Iraq and possibly abortion -- can't remember what his view was on that -- I liked that he was strongly opposed to illegal immigration. When the other Republicans in this country elected, who is in my opinion, the worst Republican candidate as the nominee, that automatically put me in Obama's court. And the constant lying from McCain and his abysmal choice of a running mate have just continually solidified my Obama vote on a daily basis. Here's a link to a report on Daily Scandal Palin now saying she's glad she was cleared of any hint of unethical behavior -- just wow. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/12/palin-ive-been-cleared-of-any-hint-of-unethical-activity/ I just don't see how anyone can vote for this Republican ticket besides the rich people who will benefit from the McCain tax plan. It's just beyond me. This will be my first Democratic vote for President ever. I'll be happy to cast it given the alternative.

Interesting. Doesn't sound like the church you go to is helping much with your standards of ethics and morals if you're supporting a ticket that represents lies and abuses of power. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/10/palin.investigation/index.html In fact, the more I read your posts accusing others of hatred, it amuses me since you support a ticket that capitalizes on the hatred of the crowds your candidates attract. A candidate's VP running mate, who in fact, is either too stupid to acknowledge how far the line is crossed here, or as is more likely given the example of "ethics", or lack thereof in the link above, chooses not to stop it. This is the type of thing that has pushed me to vote Democrat this time around. This Republican ticket does not represent me, and it should be an embarrassment to the entire country if its views and actions represent any part of this country. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/06/in_fla_palin_goes_for_the_roug.html

It'll never get back down to $2 per gallon now that the oil companies have gotten it all the way up to $3+. At the current price of a barrel of oil, 4 years ago gas would've been around $2.00-2.20. It's still at 2.95 today because of Bush and the Republicans backing their oil companies. They gotta keep raping America as long as they can as their days are numbered and they are smart enough to realize it.

I'd been waiting on this report for the past few days and it's about what I'd been expecting. Don't worry though, the political mayhem will continue as you'll still have people out there stupid enough to back a ticket with this outrageous lack of ethical and moral values.

Well I've been calling her Daily Scandal Palin for about 3-4 weeks in the political blogs I usually participate in...looks like it was justified. Sound like anybody currently in office?

Right -- that's just their proposed plans. The Congress would have to hash something out. Obama's plan would help me the most.

Ya I always used to corral.net for parts when I was modding mine. I had good luck with people there.