Viking Kitties don't tolerate Commies.
Posted on 10/21/2004 8:12:29 AM PDT by independent5
I think - actually i know that many people at that stage of their lives tend to lean that way as well - why - because mere education and discussion is an insufficient tool for making decisions - experience is necessary and lets not even comment on the institutions of higher education -
Fair enough! And welcome to FreeRepublic. I enjoy differing points of view that are respectfully presented.
Here's a bit of evidence against soaking the rich. Around the world, a higher standard of living correlates with a lower level of governmental interference in the economy. The main way governments interfere with economies is through taxes.
For example, Hong Kong is a tiny island with few natural resources and a relatively (to its land size) large population. They have a low flat tax and a very high standard of living. Africa is a large continent rich in natural resources with a relatively small population. Governments take a huge portion of the wealth, and they enjoy a very low standard of living. In between we find Europe (higher taxes, higher unemployment) and the US (lower taxes, lower unemployment).
In this country we enjoyed economic booms after Kennedy and Reagan lowered the top rates. Russia instituted a low flat tax a few years ago. Some much more revenue came in that they lowered the rate again. Their economy has been booming.
I honestly think that top Democrat politicians know all this, but argue for taxing the rich anyway. They believe the American people are stupid, and that stirring them to envy will get them votes. If they really believe that the effect of a high top tax rate is more humane than the effect of the rich investing that money instead, why does Ms Heinz-Kerry shelter most of her income and pay the lowest rate (only 13-14%) she can?
"Tax the rich" is a cynical propaganda ploy disguised as prudent public policy.
But, I have never seen any evidence that Bush's primary focus is anything other than the safety of this country and it's citizens. In my mind his honor and integrity matches that of the first George W.
Could you agree with those same words applied to Senator Kerry?
Yeah, I used to drive my dad crazy, he was a Southern democrat and a WWII combat vet, conservative as the day is long by instinct. I finally got it figured out, though, once I started paying attention.
Welcome to freedom.
It may not be pretty, but it is sweet.
And I have no intention of calling you a troll, because you aren't. If you were, I would. The guy who has suckered you, is.
You may have put your finger on why Independent5 is undecided. He may have values in terms of fairness, but not in terms of an underlying political philosophy, if he is truly what he says he is.
Hence his hope that government can be the intsrument of utopia and fairness. Unfortunately, letting government be that instrument requires that it have awesome and total power.
Ok - can of worms time ...... effective education has been mentioned earlier .... view on school voucher systems ...
on your mark .... get set ..... wait for it .... wait for it ...... GO!
Tell me about abortion.
Tell me about the death penalty.
Tell me about homosexual "marriage".
Tell me about the minimum wage.
I find this to belittle the students in both ways. The Blacks don't feel that they are worthy to attend the school closest to them, and because of the the standards have been lowered to let the "slowere ones" pass.
The teachers are paid well. They just don't know how to teach anymore. The State gives them a book (standards of learning) and tells them to instruct - note I said instruct, not teach, the students to just pass the SOL tests.
Forget reading, writing and arithmatic. It's now about passing a test and just doing what the teacher says to do.
We need to get back to the basics.
Government schools should be abolished. Not subsidized.
what scares the public education sector is the accountability that is introduced in such a system. I don't mean test score accountability - i mean educational accountability. As a parent i can hold a school accountable for effectively educating my kids. And they are not institutionalized (for lack of any better term)
Gotta go, Miller time. I'll check in tonight, my wife is out of town, I'll be bored. See ya
financially accountable - and that is what really matters to "institutions"
Private schools are accountable to the parents.
yep - that is why my wife and i sacrifice greatly to have our kids in one. better education and responsive to parents on issues of accountability and level and quality of education
A problem is that the traditional purpose of schools has changed, teaching the 3 R's and the American tradition of freedom is not at the top of, or even on, the list anymore, IMO, at least partially because that's not what people want anymore.
I can't speak for Independent5, but I think that hope is the crux of well-meaning liberalism.
Ironically, though, it's a really a dark view of human nature. Marxism (and its disguised variants) assumes a closed economic system where everyone profits at everyone else's expense. The solution? Redistribution at gunpoint. How liberal!
Capitalism assumes a growing and progressing economy where everyone can improve himself. That's a more hopeful view by far.
Okay, then, independent5. Who are you supporting / voting for November 2nd? Bush or Kerry ??? Or Nader or ?? .....
Viking Kitties don't tolerate Commies.
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