Posted on 11/07/2008 10:19:28 AM PST by Candybar
A new politics of national purpose! Here's Rahm Emanuel's (probably Obama's too) plan for all of us Americans: Five big ideas centered around responsibility:
1. A New Social Contract: What You Can Do for Your Country and What Your Country Can Do for You *** Universal Citizen Service *** Universal College Access *** Universal Retirement Savings *** Universal Children's Health Care 2. Fiscal Responsibility and Ending Corporate Welfare *** The new social contract depends on ending corporate welfare 3. Tax Reform to Help Those Who Aren't Wealthy Build Wealth *** An effective income tax rate of 10% for those earning under $100,000 *** Four Superincentives: +++ a $3,000 refundable college tax credit +++ a universal mortgage deduction +++ a simplified family credit for families with children +++ a universal pension 4. A New Strategy To Win The War on Terror *** Reform and strengthen multilateral institutions *** Add to the Special Forces and Marines *** Expand the Army by 100,000 more troops *** Give all our troops a new G.I. Bill *** Create a new Domestic Counterterrorism Force like Britain's M15 5. A Hybrid Economy That Cuts America's Gasoline Use in Half *** Cut our use of gasoline in half over the next decade *** Accelerate energy research and embrace the plug- in hybrid technology *** End our dependence on use of Middle Eastern oil
The above is excerpted from "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" by Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Reed.
My Fellow Americans, I have no comment on The Plan at the present time. I thought it might be good to surface this material first.
Here's is my first question: Are these ideas and proposals what you had in mind when you voted last Tuesday? Second, are you in favor of them?
In my next posting, I will expand on what Emanuel and Reed have to say about each one.
Follow the money.
I am getting ready to send my kiddo to college. I sure could use the 3k tax credit, but I am sure it will never happen because we earn too much.
I see nothing about job creation in there. Great! So I can get all of these things while sitting on my ass and drinking Mai Tais!
Please, please, please, FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE!
Spare me your next vanity post.
Hugo Chaves increased his “Civilian Military” by 100,000 and is now ordering 100,000 AK47’s to supply this military. Keep this in mind.
I dont like it but the leftists have a plan - it may be a plan for disastor but what do we have to offer - bailouts, McLame-Fiengold, increased spending, zero school choice, etc........
Guys we need to realize that we are wandering in the desert - we need to mobilize and determine our own fate - the GOP isnt willing to do whats necessary or right they are owned by the manhattan elitists - if we want change it must come from someone outside of the party....
I am so sick of hearing the doom and gloom that I will be posting something very soon to get us started.
REMEMBER THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM IS NOT FREE - EITHER WE FIGHT FOR THIS OR OUR CHILDREN WILL LIVE WITH OUR LAZYNESS FOREVER.
Sounds expensive. How will they add 100,000 troops if they cut Defense by 25% as Franks has stated? It’ll be interesting to see how the composition of the military changes over the next 4 years.
“End our dependence on use of Middle Eastern oil”
I have to say I like that, but how are they going to do it? How are they going to do any of this? They may as well send the list to Santa Clause.
People should shout from the rooftops.
We are not an experiment. We are human beings.
I wonder if the kids know there will be no more dancing in the streets; hanging with the bro; no fun only work.
They will be volunteering for 3 months and going to school or working for nothing the rest of the year. No money kids and no vacation. You future is secure. All work and no play.
They should have told Obama not to put the boudgey woodgey on them.
They left out “an extra slice of pie” for all Americans.
Send us all to Disneyland for 3 weeks. There we can stand in the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki room and watch birds sing. Then we go round and round the it’s a small world exhibit.
When we’re all done, we go home and cry a river.
Universal Citizen Service is conscribed labor. Although some of us could benefit from a week or two of community labor. This will end up like United Way in that this will compete against Christian based organizations that not only meet physical needs but also minister to the spiritual needs. Once government gets involved only the physical need will be met and it will be like applying a bandaid to the infection without treating the infection.
Universal Health care, we have enough examples of government run health care in the world today. We don't want this. We do need insurance reform or applying existing anti-trust laws to prevent insurance companies from getting sweetheart deals that are made up on the backs of the non-insured. And when hospitals have to treat the indigent by law, government should pay for that instead of the cost being charged to the next customer.
2. Fiscal Responsibility and Ending Corporate Welfare *** The new social contract depends on ending corporate welfare
There are some industries that are key to defense, and this includes agriculture (If you can't feed an army you can't field them) that I think should remain subsidized or should not be allowed to go overseas. There are multiple ways of doing this.
3. Tax Reform to Help Those Who Aren't Wealthy Build Wealth *** An effective income tax rate of 10% for those earning under $100,000 *** Four Superincentives: +++ a $3,000 refundable college tax credit +++ a universal mortgage deduction +++ a simplified family credit for families with children +++ a universal pension
Universal pension is that social security 2? Would that put government in the position of managing investments and taking ownership in companies? Government can incent a universal pension that is self directed or private directed. But government shouldn't take direct ownership in businesses, with very rare exceptions.
4. A New Strategy To Win The War on Terror *** Reform and strengthen multilateral institutions *** Add to the Special Forces and Marines *** Expand the Army by 100,000 more troops *** Give all our troops a new G.I. Bill *** Create a new Domestic Counterterrorism Force like Britain's M15
No to the new domestic counterterrorism force. We've done ok with Homeland Security and Obama doesn't need any more security forces at his disposal.
Expanding the military and veterans benefits is fine. But do you really need more expensive military labor? I think you need more technology but Obama seems against it.
5. A Hybrid Economy That Cuts America's Gasoline Use in Half *** Cut our use of gasoline in half over the next decade *** Accelerate energy research and embrace the plug- in hybrid technology *** End our dependence on use of Middle Eastern oil
Build McCains 42 nuclear plants. I agree with the goal of ending dependence on middle east oil. But a plan that denies nuclear or drilling is just pipe smoking that will make us even more dependant on middle east oil through inaction.
Why would anyone want to be in the military while Obama is in the White House? The good people will leave the military and incompetent officers like Janis Karpinski will get promoted.
So, if I make $99,999.99 and my tax is 10%, I take home $90,000 (before fica etc.). So why should I bust my a*! to make $150,000 and be taxed 40% to “redistribute” $50,000 of my hard earned dollars and only take home $90,000? I think I’ll take 1/3 of the year off and go fishing. Thanks Big O and Rahmbo! Akbar comrades!
This will work well; sure does provide incentive for hard working people... (sarc)
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