Comments for What We Should Know

Comment on Gun Advocates Object Just To Object? by Centerist Cynic

Centerist Cynic — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 01:12:35 +0000

The question here is does the right of a gun owner trump the rights of a crime victim?

Comment on Gun Advocates Object Just To Object? by Dani Nichols

Dani Nichols — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:52:19 +0000

I get your point and I know that sometimes we do have to pick our battles. However, as someone who believes in 2nd Amendment rights, I also understand the frustration of those on the front lines of Constitutional liberty. Sometimes it’s exhausting, feeling like every time we turn around there’s a new, expensive government mandate that makes it harder and harder for law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights. Maybe this is a good idea, and maybe it’s not, but I would always err on the side of libertarianism – giving the citizens their rights in a more free way instead of killing our privileges slowly, though a thousand papercuts or “good” regulations.

Comment on Just Kidding – There Are No Adults In The House by Centerist Cynic

Centerist Cynic — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:43:06 +0000

If you accept that the trillions of dollars owed by the US Government is legitimate and will need to be paid then you must also accept that we will need some form of taxes to pay the debt off. Even if the Government stopped all spending today, the debt would still be there.

The graduated income tax was developed by wealthy Republicans and Democrats like Teddy Roosevelt who believed two things. First they believed that the wealthy had more ability to pay because they had greater disposable income. Second, they believed that the wealthy had more access to and benefit from Government institutions and infrastructure and should pay more for them.

The Federal Reserve System was developed by the Government and Bankers like JP Morgan in response to the increasing cycle of recession and depression. It is not wholly owned by the Government as a reflection of the US preference for private industry solutions. Is it a perfect solution no but neither is the gold standard.

Comment on Obamacare’s 3rd Day In Court by Centerist Cynic

Centerist Cynic — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:22:24 +0000

Under our current healthcare systems, the US state, federal and local governments pay almost 50% of total health care costs through existing programs like Medicare, Medicaid and CHIPS and the absorption of unpaid medical expenses. It is for this reason, the government has a vested interest in healthcare. Government spending can’t be controlled as long as healthcare costs continue to consistently outpace inflation.

If you believe that Government should not intervene and assist seniors and the poor in paying for healthcare and that medical providers should not be required to provide emergency health care without proof of ability to pay, I respect that and completely understand you then categorizing ACA as wealth redistribution. If you do believe that government has a role to play in healthcare then your objection to ACA as a wealth distribution tool may need to be reexamined. ACA builds on the US private insurance market to assist the government in providing access to healthcare, paying for its costs and making sure that health care treatments sought are economical and needed. Paul Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare uses similar mechanisms to ACA.

ACA first and foremost operates under the theory that overall healthcare costs will decline if everyone receives healthcare that helps prevent or provides for the early detection of life limiting illnesses. ACA also recognizes that individuals usually do not have knowledge of when emergency care will be needed and that in the US medical providers are required to provide emergency medical care. By requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, ACA attempts to improve access to preventive care and early detection and decrease the amount of unpaid medical bills healthcare providers must absorb.

Comment on Debt Ceiling Drama by Centerist Cynic

Centerist Cynic — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:56:16 +0000

Interesting comments. You are aware of the changes in monetary policy that eliminated the gold and silver standards correct?

Comment on Budget Battle Update 3/16/11 by Centerist Cynic

Centerist Cynic — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:50:26 +0000

I agree there should be consequences for security failures. Cutting budgets by 10% is not one I would advocate for.

Comment on Budget Battle Update 3/16/11 by Xenii

Xenii — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:45:16 +0000

Yes, and this principle soluhd be applied to all government departments and agencies. For instance, every time the Department of Homeland Security, CIA, etc, fails to do their job in stopping terrorists (i.e., the Detroit underwear bomber fiasco), they soluhd have their budget cut by at least 10%, and the top officials soluhd be fired or forced to resign. As it stands now, they’re rewarded for their failure with more power, larger budgets, and so forth.It’s far past time for ministerial responsibility.

Comment on Debt Ceiling Drama by Pickydog

Pickydog — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:28:43 +0000

The National Debt is money the government owes for eadnxping itself beyond its financial means. Since our national debt is almost one quarter of our entire budget the interest we are paying is 1.1 billion each year. We are paying nothing on the principle. It will not be long before the America Fiat dollar collapses as all paper money systems have. Our dollar is worth 4 cents now. These federal reserve notes are supposed to represent actual gold or silver to be paid to us the people on demand as the constitution states. If you went to the federal reserve bank and asked you would be rejected but if they honored their commitment to the note you would get 40 dollars for a thousand dollar bill. Thats the return to us for the federal reserve printing money out of thin air with no backing. They do not have the gold to back their paper money. Which is illegal and immoral. A good place to start to digest this information would be freedom to fascism. See link

Comment on Obamacare’s 3rd Day In Court by Marta

Marta — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 05:06:26 +0000

Because his administration werkod closely with congressional leadership and many of the writers of the actual bill, which had for the most part been written about 2 years before it was introduced. Many of the writers and drafters of the bill were long time Obama advisers and friends. Plus Obama signed the bill into law.

Comment on Just Kidding – There Are No Adults In The House by Satyajit

Satyajit — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:59:20 +0000

Logical perhaps. Naive’ detiinfely. We had no graduated income taxes up until the 20th Century. Thanks to Senator Nelson Aldrich, working on behalf of world bankers, we got both income tax and the Federal Reserve (which in spite of it’s name, is not owned by the government).Over the years, our “honorable representatives” have gone on an ever increasing irresponsible spending spree. They’ve “borrowed” from Social Security, which the government accounting office has predicted will go bust in 2014, unless taxes are raised or benefits cut.The eye-popping $9 trillion gross national debt is owed by the “General Fund.” That’s the part funded by our income taxes. Half of that goes for the military and to pay interest on the debt. Not too many bright clouds ahead there. The government is a hungry beast, which is never satiated. Each year, the amount of time you have to work just to pay your taxes (Tax Freedom Day) gets later in the year.Your question seems to derive from a concept of fairness. Nothing is fair about government. “Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.” Frederic Bastiat