Are conservatives happier than liberals

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by knightRider

thats really Twilight zone <backwards> to me.

Somewhere along the line the Democratic party became "Liberals" when we were actually "Conservatives"? Over the years, I've seen both parties moving farther away from the middle, to the point of being extreme right wing or left wing. If the Democrats are turning to socialism and communism, then the Republicans are turning towards fascism and nazism(sp). Neither aspect appeals to me. I quit. But I'm still supporting Obama just to see if all the dire predictions come true. I'm just an antagonist. Hey, maybe I can start my own party.
I'll give it all a rest now. You guys can pick on Troy now.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by Rambo

Somewhere along the line the Democratic party became "Liberals" when we were actually "Conservatives"? Over the years, I've seen both parties moving farther away from the middle, to the point of being extreme right wing or left wing. If the Democrats are turning to socialism and communism, then the Republicans are turning towards fascism and nazism(sp). Neither aspect appeals to me. I quit. But I'm still supporting Obama just to see if all the dire predictions come true. I'm just an antagonist. Hey, maybe I can start my own party.
I'll give it all a rest now. You guys can pick on Troy now.

I ain't pickin' on you Bud. How about checking out the Libertarians before your final decision?

I think it's a saner choice that either Democrat.

Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee

[tlarkin]

There are only two parties in our country though, democrat and republican. I don't think any Libertarians ever have any chances of getting elected.

It is all about the money and how much you can raise to run, and of course delegate support and endorsements from other politicians.

When this country stops following politics like a spectator sport maybe we will see some progression.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

There are only two parties in our country though, democrat and republican. I don't think any Libertarians ever have any chances of getting elected.

It is all about the money and how much you can raise to run, and of course delegate support and endorsements from other politicians.

When this country stops following politics like a spectator sport maybe we will see some progression.

The "Progressives", strangely touting century old failed socialist practices, are the problem.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

The "Progressives", strangely touting century old failed socialist practices, are the problem.

OK, I'll bite what exactly are these "socialist" practices? Nothing about our government has been socialist from what I can tell, besides some of our social programs like Law enforcement, fire departments, libraries and public education.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

OK, I'll bite what exactly are these "socialist" practices? Nothing about our government has been socialist from what I can tell, besides some of our social programs like Law enforcement, fire departments, libraries and public education.

Gads, Larkin. Any time there is a "tax the rich, give to the poor" it is a socialist program.

Social Security, welfare, free medical care, ..........come on guys. Lets help out tlarkin here in his education.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

Gads, Larkin. Any time there is a "tax the rich, give to the poor" it is a socialist program.

Social Security, welfare, free medical care, ..........come on guys. Lets help out tlarkin here in his education.

Well, there is a huge duality to this. For one, there are plenty of loop holes that bypass all those said taxes. When a CEO (or anyone rich per se) makes money off investments, gets paid in stocks, it is not fully taxed like an actual salary. They don't get taxed for things like Medicare, or social security. Also, there is a maximum you can pay, so once they pay their maximum they don't pay anymore.

If you managed your wages better you could get out of paying all those taxes as well. Of course you would have to accept some of your salary in investments, stocks, bonds, etc, just not cold hard cash.

So, really that point is moot, because the rich never get fully taxed at the same rates as the middle class (given percentages). While I see your point, but it isn't just cut and dry black and white across the board in that sense.

If anything this type of stuff hurts the middle class more than the rich.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

Well, there is a huge duality to this. For one, there are plenty of loop holes that bypass all those said taxes. When a CEO (or anyone rich per se) makes money off investments, gets paid in stocks, it is not fully taxed like an actual salary. They don't get taxed for things like Medicare, or social security. Also, there is a maximum you can pay, so once they pay their maximum they don't pay anymore.

If you managed your wages better you could get out of paying all those taxes as well. Of course you would have to accept some of your salary in investments, stocks, bonds, etc, just not cold hard cash.

So, really that point is moot, because the rich never get fully taxed at the same rates as the middle class (given percentages). While I see your point, but it isn't just cut and dry black and white across the board in that sense.

If anything this type of stuff hurts the middle class more than the rich.

Socialist programs hurt everyone.

CEO get paid, with a few glaring exceptions, what they are worth and they get taxed on it just like you.

It is hard for the average guy to fathom someone getting paid millions for a job but I garuntee you, again with a few exceptions, that CEO makes far more for the company than his salary.

Why do sports figures make so much?

Same reason. They bring far more into the till than they are paid.

[tlarkin]

The rich do get taxed more, but they pay the limit and are done with it, so it is hard to relate. I would have to disagree that every CEO gets paid what they are worth as well as Sports stars. Mike Sweeney was a prime example for the Royals. He cost us a lot of money and did nothing but hurt his back and always be on the injured list. Finally, after so many years of putting up with him we gave him the boot - thank the baseball gods for that!

CEOs take companies down with them all the time and they are let go all the time with their multi million dollar severance pay, or they lay off thousands and then give them self a pay raise (just like sprint!).

So, again your point is taken but its not that cut and dry, there are tons of exceptions and people aren't always what they are worth.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

There are only two parties in our country though, democrat and republican. I don't think any Libertarians ever have any chances of getting elected.

It is all about the money and how much you can raise to run, and of course delegate support and endorsements from other politicians.

When this country stops following politics like a spectator sport maybe we will see some progression.

Actually there are a lot of Parties in the U.S. Just some are more popular than others.

When this country starts to do or quit anything, it starts with YOU. many people do not go to the party of their REAL feelings because they rather stay on the WINNING Side, regardless if they beleive or not. People need to Vote their Conscience and not Vote their EGO. People need to get involved and NOT wait for someone else to get it started.

I had an Old Timer tell me if I was really sincere, I would make a Big Sign and pick a Busy intersection. I would probably stand alone for a day or two, but soon I would probably have someone join me and then someone else would join US and then more would join and the small group would grow and until eventually I would have a movement. The Million March started with a single idea. ACTION speaks LOUDER than WORDS.

CEOs have a lot of sleepless nights and a dull life to get where they are in a position to be offered the job. We all see the final days when they hit the News but we don't see the dues that are paid to get there, sure some have help from the Magic Fairy, but they are the exception and not the rule. If I can earn TRUST from Stock Investors and sell people on my idea, NO ONE can get rid of RISK but they can make the Odd better. So YES! there are failures but there are always Million dollar chances to take to make multi million dollar earnings.

There are probably less than 5000 people who have become FAMOUS in sports and how many have busted their as-es and gotten no where as compared to the ones who make it? The ones who make it are the ones who have the BEST odds of making a profit for your investment and YES! not everyone delivers as promise.

[patrick70]

[quote=Rambo;507085] But I'm still supporting Obama just to see if all the dire predictions come true. If that were to happen, you would see the dire predictions

[rondog]

Dang, this thread ain't locked yet?

[TexasT]

It's getting there.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by TexasT

It's getting there.

Oh heck, Texas T. We're all having a great time; don't go ruining a good argument right in the middle.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

Actually there are a lot of Parties in the U.S. Just some are more popular than others.

When this country starts to do or quit anything, it starts with YOU. many people do not go to the party of their REAL feelings because they rather stay on the WINNING Side, regardless if they beleive or not. People need to Vote their Conscience and not Vote their EGO. People need to get involved and NOT wait for someone else to get it started.

I disagree too much is tossed back and forth with labels like conservative and liberal, and people won't agree with either side because it is treated like a spectator sport.

I had an Old Timer tell me if I was really sincere, I would make a Big Sign and pick a Busy intersection. I would probably stand alone for a day or two, but soon I would probably have someone join me and then someone else would join US and then more would join and the small group would grow and until eventually I would have a movement. The Million March started with a single idea. ACTION speaks LOUDER than WORDS.

Sure, but how far can they really go? With out proper campaign funds for anything your political party will never get nationally recognized. All it takes is one bad media cover story and you can kiss your party good bye. Now if you have enough money to pay for lots of media coverage then you have a better chance.

CEOs have a lot of sleepless nights and a dull life to get where they are in a position to be offered the job. We all see the final days when they hit the News but we don't see the dues that are paid to get there, sure some have help from the Magic Fairy, but they are the exception and not the rule. If I can earn TRUST from Stock Investors and sell people on my idea, NO ONE can get rid of RISK but they can make the Odd better. So YES! there are failures but there are always Million dollar chances to take to make multi million dollar earnings.

So does the guy who works three jobs to feed his family, its not like CEOs are the only hard working people in the world. This sounds a lot like objectiveism, we have plenty of unqualified people in high positions, mainly because someone knew them and gave them that job. Your pay scale does not always reflect your intelligence or your actual worth. You a fan of Ayn Rand?

There are probably less than 5000 people who have become FAMOUS in sports and how many have busted their as-es and gotten no where as compared to the ones who make it? The ones who make it are the ones who have the BEST odds of making a profit for your investment and YES! not everyone delivers as promise.

In certain circumstances I totally agree. The NFL is a fine tuned profit machine and those players deserve what they earn. The MLB though, is old and busted and they need to adopt business models like the NFL and have profit sharing and drafts in the same manner as well as salary caps. That way we would no longer see the Yankee's starting outfield cost more than half of the other MLB's teams whole rosters.

I was just simply pointing out that it is not that way, and that not everyone deserves to be where they are, but there is no such thing as free lunch and life isn't fair to begin with. The problem is that a lot of this stuff isn't regulated and the middle class gets screwed for it (not pertaining to sports, that is its own creature).

Saying that every CEO deserves where they are is false, because plenty of them become a CEO based on who they know, who owes them favors, or what they have done for the company politically. Many government workers also leave the government for their cushy CEO jobs with the health care industry making millions per a year because they have contacts into the government and act as lobbyists for the cause. This is highly unregulated and costs the consumer (aka the middle class) the most. Sure there are in fact some that work their way up from the Mail room into the CEO position but that is probably more rare than having your nephew, cousin, daughter/son, wife's family, or whatever get in since they already have a foot in.

All of my jobs have been from recommendations of people who have worked with me in the past and were impressed enough to recommend me for a job at their work. That is also how I became a sub contractor on the side for the whole Metro area, and I was one of the few people dealing with certain technologies. I actually had to turn down side work, and I was able to charge my own rates because I had the reputation to back it up. So, yeah, there is definitely merit to that, but to say that all CEOs work hard is just not true. Some of them are handed their jobs. I know someone I went to high school with who acts like he worked his butt off to inherit his Grandpa's empire of hotels over in Europe. When in fact he was groomed for the position and handed to him with no competition. I am sure he is probably good at it, but he didn't have to work his way up to run it, it was given to him. I am sure that is the case a lot in big business.

[Mad Hatter]

I am by nature a conservative, but it would seem that the way country is being run it is basically all liberal now anyway no matter what party is in power. As long as our 2nd Amendments rights don't go away I will be happy !

[Rambo]

I just gotta be a Liberal. Look who I had dinner with last January.

[TXplt]

^^ Which one is you ?

I was happy after shootin' then I saw one of those dang global warming things again which hiked my blood pressure.........

So, I'm going out driving to put a little more CO2 into the air and try to catch old algore on personal energy consumption.

This'll make me happy again

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by TXplt

^^ Which one is you ?

I was happy after shootin' then I saw one of those dang global warming things again which hiked my blood pressure.........

So, I'm going out driving to put a little more CO2 into the air and try to catch old algore on personal energy consumption.

This'll make me happy again

See? Even you can't tell us apart.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by TXplt

^^ Which one is you ?

I was happy after shootin' then I saw one of those dang global warming things again which hiked my blood pressure.........

So, I'm going out driving to put a little more CO2 into the air and try to catch old algore on personal energy consumption.

This'll make me happy again

Hope your driving a motor cycle since gas prices are so high!