Does anyone else find that "drown it in the bathtub" thing to be very disturbing? I mean, he's basically comparing it to drowning a baby in the bathtub, which is sick and disgusting. What a creep.
Posted by dole4pineapple at March 31, 2006 03:37 PMDeja Vu
We saw this same stuff happen under Reagan-remember the decaying infrastructure of New York City? the rusting bridges?
that's Republicans for you-loot, loot and loot some more.
Posted by susan at March 31, 2006 03:40 PMAnd where are we going to find the oil that is going to fuel this grand new transporation system?
Posted by crow at March 31, 2006 04:27 PMYou folks might actually want to find out "who" is paying most of the taxes. A little education can go a long way.
Direct from the US Treasury Office of Public Affairs:
http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1287.htm
Posted by Bagley at March 31, 2006 05:37 PMhis attitude is nothing a couple years in prison won't fix.
Posted by Zappatero at March 31, 2006 06:01 PMNorquist is one of the prime movers behind a secular religion that took off its mask and stepped fully to the fore during the Reagan administration ; one of the basic tenants of which is that the wealthy exert a benificent influence (despite some appearences) upon economies, nations, the world, and, probobly, the biosphere, the gene pool, and the astral plain beyond the capabilities of the uninitiated to understand. Any interference is tantantamount to impeding divine providence; what Networks Mr. Jensen called "the primal forces of nature."
Posted by jondee at March 31, 2006 06:26 PMjondee is correct, our elete worships a false god.
Posted by herbal tee at March 31, 2006 06:33 PMWhats laughable is that without the waitin-on-the-Rapture, queer bashers and clinic snipers, Norquist is a sycophant surrounded megalomaniac with an auduence of a couple of hundred.
Posted by jondee at March 31, 2006 06:44 PMArnold tried to get an infrastructure bond on the ballot in CA. In the majority of cases, it's not a federal issue. But the local democrats said "HELL NO, ARNOLD! We don't need no stinkin' infrastructure!"
If you live in CA and don't like the infrastructure, blame Fabian.
Posted by muckdog at March 31, 2006 06:51 PMYou folks might actually want to find out "who" is paying most of the taxes.
Well, yeah, you fucking moron. The massagged figures of the Fed itself show the top 25% of earners make 65% of the income each year... ADJUSTED. I wonder what adjustments they get?
And guess what, you mankey git, the top 1% hold 50% of all the wealth. Now I understand why I pay over 50% in taxes while the wealthy pay 20%. It's only fucking fair that I should pay much more by percentage so that I can supported the fucked-up system that allows them to be so fucking wealthy. Heaven forbid they pay in at the same rate. When you're wealthy you don't have to feel my pain. Those draws into the country club parking lot full of Suk-Vs when I'm on the driving range? Well, we can just say I normally have a fade. Nothing like a fresh dent on a new H-2. It smells like...victory.
Posted by phidipides at March 31, 2006 06:57 PMphidipides,
You have reading comprehension problems, right?
Posted by Bagley at March 31, 2006 07:24 PMp-dip, this is the same crew that whines about how the working poor pay no taxes, without any mention of the payroll tax, sales tax, etc. It's funny, the top 1% have the most money but they think they shouldn't have to pay taxes because the poor don't make enough to pay. And let us not forget that SS is capped at 90K. And don't even get me started on who uses more taxpayer funded services....let's just take a look at the highway transportation bill and recognize that the poor in New Orleans, for example, didn't even have cars.
Posted by ann at March 31, 2006 07:25 PM"... this is the same crew that whines about how the working poor pay no taxes..."
Actually, the argument is that the "working poor" pay no income taxes (in fact, almost half the working population pays no income taxes). However, I will entertain your thoughts regarding SS taxes and Medicare taxes, if you will entertain my thoughts regarding the flat tax: everybody pays the same percentage -- no deductions what-so-ever.
"And don't even get me started on who uses more taxpayer funded services....let's just take a look at the highway transportation bill and recognize that the poor in New Orleans, for example, didn't even have cars."
This may or may not be true. However, the people who drove away from NOLA were probably not the ones who were on welfare.
Posted by Bagley at March 31, 2006 07:35 PMThis may or may not be true. However, the people who drove away from NOLA were probably not the ones who were on welfare.
And the people who don't have cars probably aren't on welfare either. We had welfare reform, remember? There are limits that force people to take a job, any job. The people who stayed behind were the elderly and the working poor, the people who work on refineries, chemical factories and Wal-Mart. I'd be interested to know how many employers threatened employees with the loss of their jobs before Katrina hit if they didn't show up to work after the hurricane.
Now, go back and compare the miniscule amount of money from the budget that goes for welfare as opposed to the millions that are spent on highways.
Posted by ann at March 31, 2006 08:01 PM
"However, the people who drove away from NOLA were probably not the ones who were on welfare."
Yeah Baggy, it was all those welfare thieves that sat at home during Katrina. You probably believe they got what they deserved too, don't you?
Posted by Judith at March 31, 2006 08:32 PMI always laugh when folks here think that the rich don't pay their fair share. I heard one liberal on a talk show say that the rich need to "chip in."
Uh, they're already paying most of the taxes as it is. Anyone who says anything different is either lying or a fool.
Posted by muckdog at March 31, 2006 10:31 PMthe fool here is you muckfuck..get your head out of your ass and take a glimpse at reality for a change...
Posted by headxray at April 1, 2006 01:52 AMDriftglass on how Americans stay rich.
...and we'd better fix the railways so the "wink, wink, nod, nod" cheapass labor can be shipped to where necessary.
I'll think I'll start sewing my own clothes...
Posted by Sharon at April 1, 2006 02:47 AMPess, good post. I read it last night and found it interesting and a positive sign about how even CEO's are realizing that we have failed to invest in our own nation's infrastructure in order to maintain our competitive edge that will eventually hurt all US businesses/citizens.
puppyboy, your predictable drivel and whining about the "poor rich" carrying the tax burden is just incredibly tiresome day after day and year after year...in addition to being very revealing about your own selfish, greedy, amoral,and irresponsible views about people's roles in society. How you live with yourself acting like a victim is beyond me, but you really need to "get a clue".
To whom much is given, much is required. Quit feeling sorry for yourself and instead be grateful that you are in a position to do something positive and give back for the betterment of your country and society!
Posted by emal at April 1, 2006 05:46 AMif you will entertain my thoughts regarding the flat tax: everybody pays the same percentage -- no deductions what-so-ever.
No, no I won't. Reason being is that it is such a fucked up system and because you can't see why is the yet another in the myriad of reasons no one takes you seriously around here.
But again, responsibility and accountability mean nothing to you and your ilk. Its always someone else's problem.
Posted by Simp at April 1, 2006 06:13 AMMan, Harvard B-School is pumping out some ignorant, fascist, economically retarded motherfuckers. Holy shit. These fucking ogres don't even understand simple economic precepts. Unreal.
I'd like to drown Grover in a fucking bathtub. That'd be quite cathartic.
Posted by God Of War at April 1, 2006 08:45 AMGreat post Pess. I, too, read last night and felt vindicated that even the CEOs of big corporations recognize what needs to be done.
I think that this would be yet another platform for the Dems to run on (there are so many) that hits every person the same. America's competitiveness and Ntl Security do depend on proper infrastructure and what is the responsibiity on a Fed level.
Watched a symposium on the mid-terms last night. Rep Bob Filner (D CA) had some great insights. What he pointed out was the changing face of the electorate.
The electorate used to be Urban and Rural who voted. Urban for Dem, Rural for Repuke. Now, Urban and Rural vote very little; it is suburban who goes to the polls.
What has happened is that the Repukes have garned the suburban vote and have done so with the attitude of "we aren't going to give those people our money."
He pointed out the make up of the House and how the 222 Repukes are mostly white male. There are no blacks, about 30 women, no latinos... He went through the make-up by number and it was startling.
The Demsa are multicultural. Made up of all walks of life. Representing the majority of us. The Repukes cannot ID with the majority of the people.
What was interesting was the perpetual attitude of the Repukes (all upper mid class white male) who feel like "if people have not made it, it is their own fault." Actually looking down on people as though they are "moral failings" for not rising above circumstance.
What was so interesting is how true this observation is and how it makes it, on the face alone, that the Dems should have a slam dunk in the races because we have all of the issues. There are so many issues that unite the majority of the people.
This infrastructure issue is one such, it could be easily used - especially if it were tied into a WPA. It simply makes sense.
As for Norquist, are he and Abramoff brothers?
Posted by Anjha at April 1, 2006 09:15 AMWhat was interesting was the perpetual attitude of the Repukes (all upper mid class white male) who feel like "if people have not made it, it is their own fault." Actually looking down on people as though they are "moral failings" for not rising above circumstance.
Anjha, right you are. Muckdog and others have posted that same sentiment here many times. It must be nice to feel smug and better than others. What a false sense of pride. I suspect their own insecurities demand such a perverted sense of self-importance.
Posted by Judith at April 1, 2006 09:29 AMI was down in the NOLA area in February of this year. It was difficult finding hotel accomodations, but I managed.
What I found interesting is that jobs were wanting: help wanted signs were everywhere: Wal-Mart was advertising for help to unload trucks -- 13$/hr.
What was more interesting was that the NOLA "displaced persons," more than four months after the fact were still living in motels on the government dime and collecting their welfare checks. They had no desire to work -- rather sit around and let the Government provide for them. (Oh yeah, they did display a propensity to destroy the motel rooms in which they lived. The motel owners are getting top dollar from the Govenment to house these people....and then spending top dollar to repair what these people have destroyed.)
"What was interesting was the perpetual attitude of the Repukes (all upper mid class white male) who feel like "if people have not made it, it is their own fault." Actually looking down on people as though they are "moral failings" for not rising above circumstance."
"...for not rising above circumstance." Four months after the fact: these people are garbage! (Have you seen what has happened to Houston's crime rate?)
Posted by Bagley at April 1, 2006 06:40 PMActually, muckdog is just flat out lying about California. The Democrats in the California Legislature did the infrastructure bond deal with Schwarzenegger. The Republicans killed it, which they can do, given the need for a supermajority to issue a bond or budget or change the tax structure. Schwarzenegger couldn't get even one Republican on side for the vote to allow the people to decide.
This obvious a lie suggests that muckdog just lies and should be ignored or frankly, just have that kind of lie deleted -- it doesn't even rise to the level of spin.
Posted by paperwight at April 1, 2006 07:42 PM