Todd#43

Oh boy......

Wait till George Forbes hears about this.

Then how come I haven't heard about it? Did I miss the memo?

Is this for fucking real?

Minus 1 rep point for you. Everyone knows the conversation is mute...not "moo"

To deduct job search expenses is difficult. There are rules as to why you're looking, distance from your residence, etc. Even at that, its a deduction from AGI, not from your total tax liability. So, the gov't doesn't foot the bill for your job search, but it is possible to get a break. Keep in mind too that these politicians are in most cases ALREADY EMPLOYED BY THE GOV'T. We are paying them to do a job that they're NOT DOING WHILE THEY ARE OUT CAMPAIGNING. Its bullshit.

The purpose of the electoral college is to give each STATE reasonable impact as to who becomes president. Not each county, not each city, and not each individual.

Ok, so is that why you don't think its similar? Case in point...I'm a tool and die maker by trade (although I havent made my living doing that for 20+ years). I served my apprenticeship (4 years) and worked for less than the tool and die masters during that time. I went to classes during the day, worked nights, blah, blah, blah.... To me, that's the same as putting in 4 years of college to get a degree...

And there are congressmen that have served longer than Kennedy. Some are well over 50 years - they haven't done much either. While it wasn't official until the 22 Amendment, many of the early presidents supported a two term limit for the office. The negative ads can point out the shortcomings of a particular candidate, but you cant lie. That's libel, and you'd get sued so fast your head would spin. I've never understood why it was ok to vote for Obama BECAUSE he was black (not racism), but not ok to not vote for him because he was black (racism). By the way, bias against the dominant race is considered reverse racism, although I dont know why. Racism should be racism, no? The electoral college is necessary as it keeps one densely populated area from having undue influence in the presidential election. Politics are local, even if you're electing a national candidate and the electoral college balances that out.

Not similar because of the time disparity? Or not similar because you didn't pay up front for it? You don't pass the training, you don't keep the job. You don't pass the bar, you aren't a lawyer. Sounds the same to me.

Ok, so how is this different than needing a college degree to be a doctor, or a lawyer, etc? I'm not busting your balls, but really they're both similar - arent they?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery.....

If you went through an apprenticeship program, that can be compared a degree for your field. Could you have gotten the job you have without it? Do you make more than someone with the same job that didnt go through it?

Ummm.....ok.....this is relevant because? Dude, they're already using my tax dollars so people will buy new cars - lets not let them continue to squander my money to run every Tom, Dick, and Harry that can get enough signatures to qualify. If you or I want a new job we have to go out and get it. The government doesnt pay for the paper you printed your resume on, or the gas you burned getting to the interview. why should tax dollars fund some hump getting elected? Simply limit the amount of money that can be raised, and make sure that they don't spend more than that. Make the limit low and while you're at it, the "soft money" has to be eliminated as well. No more campaigns from the respective "parties". If they're going to be campaigning put severe limits on them as well. The source of the money isn't the problem so much as the AMOUNT that an individual can give. Limit that too, and take out the loopholes and you'll be on your way. The best way to cut the bullshit in Washington is LIMIT the terms. Two terms is enough for the president, should be good for the house and senate too. Get rid of the giant retirement these fools get while you're at it. Most of them dont deserve it anyway. I could go on and on...but we're losing the point of the thread.

The outcry HAS to come from the public, but I disagree with public funding for elections. Why should tax dollars be spent for someone to get a job? Oversight on how the candidates spend a limited amount of money would be better.

Thanks

The money is only part of the issue. By and large the electorate are a bunch of sheep. They vote for whomever they're told to vote for - whether its by their Union, the media, their church, etc. The vast majority of potential voters don't take the time to go outside their comfort zone and confront the people who are running and TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT. They watch the whole process from the sidelines and then bitch and whine when Joe Bananas is "just like the rest of them". Until more people get involved and stand up for what they believe in, the system we have is going to continue to suck. Sad thing is this was supposed to be a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people". It isn't even close to that anymore.

I didn't say it was impossible guys. Just significantly more difficult. I don't know what either of you do or what you make, but "respectable" means different things to different people. That being said, it used to be fairly easy to find well paying jobs without a college degree. As time goes by and the pool of potential employees with college degrees gets larger those without a degree become less marketable. Fewer and fewer employers are going to be willing to even look at someone without a degree. Hey, I don't have a college degree either. However, I do own my own business, and employ several people (some who have degrees, some who don't). I've never looked at a person and based hiring them on whether they had a degree or not, but rather who was best suited for the job. If it ever came down to it, and two candidates were equal in every respect except for education, I would probably defer to the person with the degree.

You're just now figuring this out? Wait till you're middle aged AND middle class. You're really fucked then. No worries...just busting balls

Does it come complete with the bad grammar? If so, that's funny as fuck. The "two party" system is a misnomer. There are several different parties running candidates in a typical election, and there is no limit on the number of "parties" that can run. In fact, you don't even have to declare a party affiliation to be included in an election. Sure there are requirements that have to be met, but being a Republican or a Democrat isn't one of them. Our system is fucked up because "political service" has become something it was never intended to be - a career. In the beginning, the President's term was limited because we didn't want anyone to become "king" of the country. It was thought that those who held office in the house or the senate would serve their term then go back home and get back to doing whatever it was they were doing. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way and we have many Congressmen and Senators who have served more than 20 years, and a few that have served more than 50. They dont have the same "retirement" as we do, and they certainly wouldn't be covered under the "national health care" plan. Our political system is also fucked up because its all about the money. Who ever raises the most, gets the most votes these days. Sounds about right, but then they're beholden to the special interest groups and the constituency that gave them the money. Seriously, would you spend millions of dollars of your own money to get a job that pays $100,000.00 per year? Probably not. Sadly, real campaign finance reform and term limits are two things that you will never ever see any elected official pass. Even they aren't dumb enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. What's the end game? The largest segment of the population (the middle class - whatever your definition of middle class is) gets fucked - over and over and over.

While the current system is somewhat inefficient, its no where near as inefficient as what we would have with Gov't controlled health care. Been to the BMV lately? Ever try to get something from the Social Security Office? Ever been to the Unemployment Office? Asked the IRS a question? Based on my experience there's nothing the Gov't does that's efficient. Lower the cost by improving the efficiency, could happen but its doubtful.

Personally, I don't have a moral problem with things the way they are now. Hands down, regardless of its faults, we have the best health care in the world. If we didn't, we wouldn't have the people coming here from other countries when they really need something. Why do we have the best health care in the world? Because it is market driven - period. Can everyone afford it? Nope. Should everyone be able to afford it? Again, no. Why? Because to reduce the cost to the lowest common denominator you have to reduce everything else to the lowest common denominator as well and the includes the quality of care. If you can afford a higher quality of care than me, good for you. If you cant afford what I can, sorry about that but I'm not giving something up so that you can have something better. Selfish, maybe, but that's the way it goes. Watch what happens if and when the system gets changed. The super-rich among us will still have access to top of the line care. The "poor" and disadvantaged will have access to better care than they have now. Those of us decidedly "in the middle" will still not be able to afford the "top of the line" health care that the uber wealthy have access too, and the middle ground choice that most of us have now will cease to exist. We'll get "what everyone else" is getting - and it wont be as good as what we have now. Case in point - my son is covered by my ex-wife's insurance plan. He needs a physical for football this year. I called Kaiser (the inventors of the HMO) to see if I could get him in. I was told sure - IN FOUR FUCKING WEEKS! You see, its not a "necessary service" in their eyes. However, since he wants to play football it IS a necessary service. This is exactly the way things will be with the health care program they are currently pushing. Want something? Sorry, not today. We can schedule that it 30 days, or 60 days, or 90 days. You say you need it?? Big brother doesn't think so...you'll get it when (and if) we're ready. We already have a program in place for needy, disadvantaged people - its called Medicaid. It doesn't work worth a shit, not because of the level of care but because its full of fraud and bureaucracy. Fix that and make it run right, then move on to working out the rest of it.

Oh, I know more than a dozen people. I was thinking about uniforms for the guys at the shop. That whole "friend thing" again....sheesh...thought I explained that before Seriously? Do you really think that Doctors, Insurance Companies, Drug Companies, etc. are in this for the feel good aspect of it?

Dude, from an onboard view you see where the bike is pointing - not where it would end up. All of the "off track" problems aren't going to be seen.