Why we are screwed, in one chart

[Plasmaball]

I have been against term limits for a variety of reasons. What if we actually did get a good man in office? How long is the learning curve?

I always believed in term limits via the ballot box but I am starting to have my doubts. As g5000 said we don't vote OUR representative out. After Obama said that if the economy didn't improve, and it really did not, he should be a one term president and won anyway I am thinking there is no hope. Term limits are apparently the answer, now all we have to do is convince those who have everything to lose by passing term limits, good luck with that.

if things where not gerrymandered then i would say no to term limits, but where the game is rigged ( both sides ) i think term limits might help

 

[Quantum Windbag]

It makes me question the sanity of everyone who votes.

Dude... it's not the voters - it's the lack of choices in a 2-party system that's grea$ed with ca$h and corruption.

Which explains why the incumbents work like hell to keep cash out of the system, doesn't it? Did you ever consider the possibility that you are fucking wrong to blame cash for the government?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Another "Vote out incumbents" thread. Yipee! Of course, it's always my incumbent not their own that people want to "vote out".

If it makes you feel any better I voted against Pelosi.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I have been against term limits for a variety of reasons. What if we actually did get a good man in office? How long is the learning curve?

I always believed in term limits via the ballot box but I am starting to have my doubts. As g5000 said we don't vote OUR representative out. After Obama said that if the economy didn't improve, and it really did not, he should be a one term president and won anyway I am thinking there is no hope. Term limits are apparently the answer, now all we have to do is convince those who have everything to lose by passing term limits, good luck with that.

Limiting terms is addressing the symptom of profuse bleeding with a band-aid.

The answer lay in a demand for a fair and simple tax code.​

If we remove from congress the power to customize the tax obligations of friends and political donors, much of the moneyed political corruption in this country will disappear.

Who in their right mind would give million$ to a politician or a party if they couldn't tax breaks in return?​

`​

Sure it will, and rainbows are unicorn farts.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

So simple, yet so sad.

your chart is false or we wouldn't have the teatard influx.

The chart is for this year, genius.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I have been against term limits for a variety of reasons. What if we actually did get a good man in office? How long is the learning curve?

I always believed in term limits via the ballot box but I am starting to have my doubts. As g5000 said we don't vote OUR representative out. After Obama said that if the economy didn't improve, and it really did not, he should be a one term president and won anyway I am thinking there is no hope. Term limits are apparently the answer, now all we have to do is convince those who have everything to lose by passing term limits, good luck with that.

How about John Conyers?
Fifty fucking years in office.

And he's the guy who said about ObamaCare....
He needed a room full of Lawyers to explain the bill to him..
But he sure as hell voted for it.

people like and respect john conyers.

term limits equals "stop me before i vote again". what it really is ... is the last refuge of the sore loser.

They do? Why?

 

[Seawytch]

Another "Vote out incumbents" thread. Yipee! Of course, it's always my incumbent not their own that people want to "vote out".

If it makes you feel any better I voted against Pelosi.

Bully for you. She's not on my ballot. She'll still win. She's popular.

 

[Seawytch]

So simple, yet so sad.

your chart is false or we wouldn't have the teatard influx.

The chart is for this year, genius.

Um...many states haven't had their elections yet, genius.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Another "Vote out incumbents" thread. Yipee! Of course, it's always my incumbent not their own that people want to "vote out".

If it makes you feel any better I voted against Pelosi.

Bully for you. She's not on my ballot. She'll still win. She's popular.

She's an incumbent who wants to amend the Constitution to make it illegal for people to say bad things about incumbents during an election. If she was really popular she wouldn't need to do that, would she?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

your chart is false or we wouldn't have the teatard influx.

The chart is for this year, genius.

Um...many states haven't had their elections yet, genius.

It is still for this year.

 

[deltex1]

Subject: CHARLIE REESE'S FINAL COLUMN A GREAT READ!!!!!
?

Charley Reese's Final column!
A very interesting column.. COMPLETELY NEUTRAL
Be sure to Read the Poem at the end.

Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel...
He has been a journalist for 49 years.
He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN.

Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.

This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!

545 vs. 300,000,000 People
-By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ...

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you.
This might be funny if it weren't so true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax


STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!

GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN!!!

 

[JakeStarkey]

I have been against term limits for a variety of reasons. What if we actually did get a good man in office? How long is the learning curve?

I always believed in term limits via the ballot box but I am starting to have my doubts. As g5000 said we don't vote OUR representative out. After Obama said that if the economy didn't improve, and it really did not, he should be a one term president and won anyway I am thinking there is no hope. Term limits are apparently the answer, now all we have to do is convince those who have everything to lose by passing term limits, good luck with that.

The lack of term limits permits parties (Boehner et al are only the latest example) to obstruct government. Term limits would greatly limit the effects of the extremes, e.g., socialists or tea party or libertarians. Term limits would stop politicians and their feeders from feathering their nests at the taxpayers' expense.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

I want them ALL out! Anyone on their second term (or more), OUT!

Oh, brother.

 

[AVG-JOE]

I want them ALL out! Anyone on their second term (or more), OUT!

in other words they have to leave as soon as they learn anything about governing?

Truth!

There would be nothing wrong with someone serving in congress or the senate for decades, as long as it's for the right reasons.

Getting good at conserving and managing our limited natural resources for Monkey Spawn is a good reason... Complicating the tax code to advantage the Oil Industry is not.

Not rocket science, Monkeys. ​

 

[kiwiman127]

That chart is easily explained.

People believe their Congressman is a great guy because he brings home more bacon to the district than the district pays for in taxes.

People believe all other Congressman are assholes because they bring home more bacon to their districts than their districts pay for in taxes.

"Gimme gimme gimme, and make that guy over there pay for it."

the problem is that EVERYONE is getting more back then they put in, at least in my uninformed opinion. How can they keep doing this to us and we just keep taking it? Really going to be hard when the electorate are way too busy trying to make ends meet. When I talk to a democrat that I damn well know doesn't follow politics tell me that Hillary will make a great president I just palm slap my head in wonderment. Republicans do the same thing, me included, but the Hillary comment is the last I heard.

The problem is one party admits they do as the other party. I've yet to hear/read any Democrats who fault their party.

One of the few positives about the GOP which then slaps them in the face for doing so is MORE Republicans admit that
it is done on BOTH sides, the Democrats admit the same thing!

And this is because for the most part GOPers are generally more intelligent. GOPers are more inclined to be principled.
GOPers are generally more mature.

Seriously just note when you read/hear any comments from a GOP or a Democrat.. which party member is more inclined
to say as you said.."Republicans do the same thing".. from a GOPer!

That is the problem. The Democrats put party first before the country.

I don't know of any surveys or studies to substantiate my claim that the major difference between the GOP and Democrats
is GOP blames themselves more often the Democrats do.

Didn't you once have a thread that discusses honesty? It's hard to be so partisan and at the same time be honest.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

How about John Conyers?
Fifty fucking years in office.

How about Don Young – 40 years in office.

If you and other partisan rightists are going to be consistent and credible, you have to be just as upset about long-term republicans as democrats, which of course you’re not.

 

[flacaltenn]

It's the low participation rate in primaries.. Independents don't show up.. It's a party faithful event..
AND it's the election rules that vary by state. Where in some states, you can't change your party declaration on primary day and in others -- you don't VOTE unless you are previously declared.

We can wait to change election laws until the party faithful dwindles to 10 or 15% of the electorate, but by then -- the dysfunction will be irreversible..

 

[eagle1462010]

Rather than have an election we should put everyone's name in a stadium.

Throw Darts to be selected to fix this mess.

aka If the dart hits your name, you are now a congressman.

Now go up their fix this BS these Career Lunatics have created.

 

[flacaltenn]

And it aint over yet.. I know I'm pissed at the $MILL Lamar Alexander has spent on telling me to re-elect him because he authored a bill allowing FISHING BELOW DAMS !! The ads were ludricrous and endless. With guys in plaid flannel and fishing clothes. It was a SPECTACLE of denial and deflection. This Libertarian is gonna declare Republican on Primary day just to end his reign...

If he gets re-elected because he sponsored a FISHING BILL --- then QW is right. We are doomed and there is no redemption..

 

[Freewill]

I have been against term limits for a variety of reasons. What if we actually did get a good man in office? How long is the learning curve?

I always believed in term limits via the ballot box but I am starting to have my doubts. As g5000 said we don't vote OUR representative out. After Obama said that if the economy didn't improve, and it really did not, he should be a one term president and won anyway I am thinking there is no hope. Term limits are apparently the answer, now all we have to do is convince those who have everything to lose by passing term limits, good luck with that.

The lack of term limits permits parties (Boehner et al are only the latest example) to obstruct government. Term limits would greatly limit the effects of the extremes, e.g., socialists or tea party or libertarians. Term limits would stop politicians and their feeders from feathering their nests at the taxpayers' expense.

A not so funny thing, you didn't mention Reid or Pelosi and how both block bills from votes.

Another funny thing is when I think of you I think of Specter.