What should be Barack Obama's first priority as president?

Kuddos!

I agree....

But, I would add that we do need to embark on a huge internal public works project(s) to repair and rebuild the failing infrastructure that we have.   This will create new jobs, thus increasing the tax base and hopefully pull people out of recession fears.  Also this can lay the groundwork to help prepare us for the next century of progress.

Education and Science needs to be the forefront of our society. If you look at the world today, we are falling way behind in these fields.

Guess who had to raise taxes?  Well Reagan did because his trickle down approach failed.  Bush had to raise taxes to get us out of the Reagan mess. 

Fix the economy.

i do not need or want help from fed. less goverment is better goverment . obozo can do nothing to help.

With an attitude like that you are right OBAMA can do nothing to help...this isn't all just on his shoulders it falls on America as a whole.

I feel like the there should be gov't alternatives.  For example if the gov't could provide health care to those who would like to particiapte in it.  For those who don't then they still have the option of dealing with shady insurance companies.  If they gov't offered alternatives then maybe private enterprise would step their game up.  For those who choose not to participate in gov't services will never be forced too.

He will never get our Help/Money Inbred Idiots

LOL

we are expose to be one nation under god and we are suspose to pull together as one

we need to quit asking for more and go back to times were every body could earn a deacent wage and could aford to live like at 5 to 10. dollars a hr that will help the ecomy more than any thing else and it would get the prices back down to were we could aford to live

that is what is driving gm and ford broke

and then the prices of vic would come down and so would gro come down

than you for reading my apion

steve

steve-712792, I am not a republican but believe the government is a contributing if not main factor to why things are the way they are in our country and the reason $5-10 is no longer feasible for us to live on.  For example, take the rent subsidy programs, more specifically Section 8.  In New York City, the government pays rent in the amount of around $1500 to a landlord, for example, a two bedroom apartment for a family that qualify to receive this funding.  In the meantime, a family that do not receive any subsidies pay the same amount, because landlords hike up the rent and say if the government could pay $1500 for a two-bedroom apartment, we should be able to charge the same amount (subsidy or not)...and half the time, the apartments aren't worth this amount and landlords are slumlords.  Some blame the cost on increase cost of living e.g. fuel prices, maintenance, etc.  But when some of these landlord houses don't have heat in the winter and hot water nearly all year long, broken entrance doors to the building, filthy hallways, etc. how can they possibly blame charging this amount of rent on increase cost of living when they don't maintenance their property properly and their apartments are inhabitable?

Cutting spending would be better.

Reduce entitlement programs.

How about a flat tax that would be fair.

Why is it that the harder I work to benifit myself and my family the more taxes I pay?

Thanatos,

I bet you did pretty good when Clinton was in the white house; Obama is going to roll back taxes to where they were doing the Clinton White house; Bush cut taxes for the rcih and said hell with the middle class; well now the rich need to shut the hell up and pay there fair share of taxes. Unreal!!

Ella Thanatos....we're all in the same boat...well...those of us in the middle class...the rich continued to get rich under republican admins. Hopefully Obama will be able to implement his plans to help the middle class. Unfortunately, bushwhacker has left such a mess...it will be an all consuming task to try to right all the wrong done by his adminstration....from taxes, war, foreign policy....and yes....even going after bin laden.

God give Obama the strength and courage to see his daunting task through. And please....throw those no good SOB's bush, cheney, paulson, bernake, rove and all those other good for nothing bastards (including some democrats....) in the clink and throw away the key!

Thanatos and an add on to whoknew.

One of the things Obama did say, was to close the loopholes the wealthy have to get out of paying their taxes to an exorbitant small amount in comparison to what they should have paid. That's REpubs for you. You can guarantee the fight will be on to keep those loopholes in place. Therefore, the rollback of tax laws to the Clinton days might not be such a bad idea. It's a start anyway.

Fair for whom? Who decides what Fair is? Who decides the system? Flat tax, Progressive tax, Consumption based tax? All have winners and losers.

What income gets preferential treatment, what income doesn't? What expenditures are deductible and what are not?

What are fair marginal tax rates? What are fair income brackets?

Just for fun, what is your effective tax rate? For a typical middle class family (2 earner with 2 kids and own a home) making $75k your paying around 8% (your marginal rate will be 15%).

For a similar family making $250k there effective tax is somewhere around 24% (assuming their income is from salaries and not tax preferential sources) and their marginal rate is 28%.

OK just for fun let's say they make $500k.  Now there effective tax rate is around 30% with a marginal rate of 35%. Oh Yah, at this rate they don't get any Schedule A deductions due to the AMT.

So let's see 8% vs. 28% vs. 35%.  Fair or not?

Interesting how you place 8% the low range of the middle class tax and not the 15% (which I pay making only 25k a year) and the highs of 28% and 38% for 250k and 500k.

8% is around 6k in taxes out of 75k so they have to live off of 69K

28% is around 70k in taxes out of 250k leaving 180k 

38% is around 190k in taxes out of 500k leaving 310k

Now compare how much after basic (utilities, daycare, food, gas, etc..) living expenses those 3 remaining amounts and tell me which group is living paycheck to paycheck and who is living a nice worry free (financial) life. Make more, pay more is my opinion it doesn't have much impact on the higher pay ranges but a slight increase to the lower and middle class has a huge impact to them.

I agree with you country.  People need to give him a chance to try and fix the mess that we are in.  But all I keep hearing is the negativity folks keep throwing out.  No matter whom was elected...they couldn't fix all the problems we have overnight and not without help.  I say we stop the war in Iraq...that saves us about 10 billion a month right there (and I may selfishly add that my brother can then come home...he's a soldier fighting over there).  We could use that money to...as someone else said...build up the infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) creating new jobs.  Also, we can use that money to help with healthcare (at least to cover all uncovered children and the elderly for the immediate future...if you have healthcare already that you like paying for then you don't have to use this).  Once we close all the tax loopholes the rich and their tax lawyers use to have them paying a small amount of what they should pay, we can use that money to fund research/create jobs dealing with renewable energy.  If we are logical about this and not overly emotional, we (as in all Americans) can do this.

Hey there Country and T in VA - How right you both are, but I would also add:  1. No federal contracts for any company that keeps its headquarters offshore (like Accensure consulting, which makes Billions on government contracts annually, but fails to pay a fair share of taxes); 2.  Review all fed'l contracts for Iraq - any company found to be profiteering (Halliburton anyone?) should be required to return the surplus plus a huge penalty, and the officers of the company should be arrested and charged with treason.  3.  NO MORE no-bid contracts, ever.  4.  Get rid of lobbyists, publish their names, who they consulted with and when, make their salaries and expenses non-deductible, and change the law so that former legislators or members of the executive branch cannot be lobbyists for 10 years instead of the current 1 year ban.  That way they couldn't get voted out of office and be back lobbying their buddies right away.  5.  Immediately undo all the Bush/Cheney anti-environment and anti-constitutional freedoms regulations, laws, and orders.  All in all, a good start!

Ending the war is not the right answer, winning the war on Terrorism is key! As a soldier, we must finish the job that was started, otherwise we will be attacked again. We (US Soldiers) are doing our job over there and the American public do not see that, we do not need to come home or need your help in ending wars, we are doing just fine, fighting for the freedoms that allow you to say such things as that.

Putting the military in harms way is their job. I did it and many millions of other young men and women have too. We still occupy Europe and that war ended 60+ years ago. Leave the troops in place they are protecting this great nation.

medic....ending the war IS the right answer. I'm also a vet...and as a soldier....you know neither you nor I can pick and choose where we want to fight....THAT IS THE JOB OF OUR LEADERS!. The point however is that we should have NEVER gotten into this war. There was no plan...just go there a blow the hell out of everything we think we should. This war is just like vietnam....we can never acheive and "victory"....victory over what?....the majority of the middle east dislike us...they hated bushwhacker....and the more we tried to interject our "American form of government" the more they hated us.

We need to leave...let them take care of it now....win or lose for them is not the same as win or lose for us....Now that Obama is our new president lets hope his foreign policy isn't one of trying to "spread democracy via war"....especially to those that don't give a rat's as$ about us...

Ending the war quick will do the most for the next things on the list...the economy , health care, a crumbling infrastructure right here in the US....that will be 10BILLION dollar A MONTH we could spend here....where it needs to be spent...instead in some desert country who could give 2 sh*ts about us....

Medic: did you replace limbs and broken minds too. NO, In the end where are you going to find manpower.  Afghanistan should have been the top priority, which would have stopped a great deal of the mess we now have to deal with. I believe the American soldier is doing everything they can to do as their Commander in Chief asked them to do and I respect them for their obedience, belief and loyalty. 

The oval office is changing hands now.  Will you be willing to follow your new Commander in Chief or are you like McCain...come out winning (not happening) at all cost? Think about that one. Post later when you've had the time to digest it all.

THANATOS:  Um, last time I checked we weren't OCCUPYING europe.  They ALLOW us to have bases there as we are their allies.  I'm sure the european countries where we have bases would seriously disagree with you.  I'm a military brat.  I've lived in those countries you say we are "occupying."  You are sadly and grossly mistaken.  We should never have invaded Iraq.  Afghanistan is a completely different story and because we took our eye off the ball we have a serious battle ahead there.  We need to focus on Afghanistan.  The Iraqis don't even want us there.  So I say give them what they want.  Let them have their country back.  And please quit trying to speak for all soldiers.  Not all of them believe we should be there but they do their job anyway because that is what they are trained to do and because they follow the Commander in Chief and love this country.  Remember what happened in Vietnam.  Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

We live in a society of "quick fixer" ideas.........Americans open your eyes....Bringing home our troops is a delicate issue. And WE DO NOT want the blood from 911 or the blood shed on the field of battle to be in VAIN just to fill pockets in this country! Money is not everything.................Think smart and know that Iraq and Afghanistan is a hot plate of instability and great care MUST be taken as to how the Obama camp and Congress and Senate move one way or the other...............Economy is very important but when 911 happened you didn't hear people saying - If we could just be RICHER! Life is far more important and those who have laid it down or worst yet - 911 had it robbed from them. I am sick of this country just thinking about themselves - We have come along way from " Ask NOT what your country can do for you - But WHAT you can do for your country" God help us all. And God Bless our leaders and those out there saving our tails whether we like it or not! Stop whining about having to give up your Latte' or buy a house you cannot afford!

I'm sorry...but as a vet...I fought in a war so I could say this...there has been too much blood..and too much treasure lost over a country that could give 2 sh*ts....not one more drop of precious blood...not one more penny of treasure should we spend over there...Jan...you have a latte....I can't afford one...presidick bush saw to that...just what do you consider blood in vain?.....enough already with the cliches'....we just need to get the hell out NOW....let them have their civil war...

STOP THE USELESS, ILLEGAL WAR NOW!....Compared to some....I don't give a rat's as$ about much...but when it comes to putting troops in harms way....this criminal bush should be held on charges of crimes against humanity...among others!

Honestly , I still don't understand why Bush was allowed to stay in office long enough  to keep stripping us of our  rights, and while making the rich richer!   Nixon was impeached for wire tapping Watergate.... One day on the News I heard that  BUSH wiretapped  America...  !!!!!   After this I waited to see...   Congress start  the impeachment  process..... but nothing  happened!!!  Every day I see our  Constitutional rights..  melting away... while corruption runs rampant.   I  felt  like no one else noticed these things.  But in reallity I think we were all to busy just trying to survive.    By the way, if they take away our right to bear arms next, it will be like an open invitation to terrorrists,criminals ,and our enimies to fight us on  our own soil.   

Thomas Jefferson -  "If you trade your freedom for security you deserve  niether!"

 After the elections,  I  felt so proud of Americans for the first time in  a while,  and  really  proud to  live here.   I know it's a large order but I'm hopeful that  Obama and We the people can  bring  back the  Land of the free I remmember, and that so very many soildiers died for!   

Tom, you got that right. I cannot believe, well yes I can, the market continues to gouge the very ones who bring commodities to citizens who are still having to pay high prices. They have the gas to get their now but dang.............

Well folks,  as long as good soldiers continue to do their duty....you'll have cheap gas.  American blood is shead for you to have cheap gas.  Why wouldn't the Dem's let us drill in this country???  Maybe Obama will vote "Yes" this time.  And stop giving our gas dollars to the terriorist.   

R.Crockett - You are obviously not paying attention. The reason we have cheap gas is because the economy is in the trash and people are not buying gas as much as they used to. It has nothing to do with our troops doing their duties. I don't even know what you mean by that. Are you saying that the duty of our armed forces is to go out and fight for oil. I think you are greatly diminishing the honor of our military. Saying something like that makes you the scumbag not the people who want to end the war. I'll go call my brother now and thank him and his buddies for getting me cheap gas. You are a real loser pal.

One more point - yes, we may have oil reserves off shore, but try to remember that we cannot just drill a hole, stick in a straw and suck it out.  Even those in favor of drilling here in the USA and offshore acknowledge that it will take AT LEAST 10 YEARS to start harvesting that oil, even if we started drilling today, so that is clearly not a solution in the short term.  BTW, of course that is why our soldiers are stuck over in Iraq, a total shame, since that is not a responsible reason for risking their lives.  We have enough brains in this country to figure out some great alternative energy solutions, and get them into action long before one drop of oil could be seen from new domestic sources.  Finally, in addition to being a shameful waste of American lives, W's ill-conceived "war" in Iraq has done nothing except waste OUR resources and help recruit more terrorists for bin Laden and company.  And let's be serious - the Bush family is best friends with the bin Ladens (yes, those bin Ladens), so there is no way Bush was going to be serious about catching or killing him.

Please explain the damage our previous president did?  8 years ago, our country had very little economic problems, we were not at war, our government had gotten us out of previous years of debt.  In the bush 8 years, we have destroyed our country financially.

Other than what happened behind closed doors, Clinton will go down as one of the greatest Presidents of all time!

So, you do know that Osama Bin Laden was offered to Bill Clinton on a silver platter and he declined "behind closed doors". Had your Mr. Wonderful taken that offer, 9/11 might have never happened, but instead he was to busy getting a BJ from a fat, ugly intern!! So you think that qualifies for greatest of all time!! Idiot!!

I love how one guy, controlled your thoughts of 9-11.  If you go back further to papa bush, (who I actually supported in 1992) George Sr, & Jr. partyed with "this bad guy" and had financial dealings.

Why do you think we had 9-11?  So georgey porgey could have a reason to "ATTACK" another country.  We all have to admit it and accept it. 9-11-2001 was a set-up.

I don't know about you, but 8 years ago, did we have problems? NO, but for the next 20 years we will have to solve the disgrace that has been left behind by jr.

Man, I'm sitting here laughing cause you sound like an idiot.  You need to do some good research on subjects before you talk about them...what a waste of breath....not even worth commenting back on.

Idiot! So you think one guy ( JR) pulled off 9/11 by himself? God you are so stupid! When you get off break, please return to register # 7. Also there have been some complaints about you not giving double coupons!! One last thing, the computer has a spell check, use it!! You're lack of education is starting to show in your postings!!!

Temper - Temper!

A) who cares about spell check when you are in a hurry to keep up with nice guys like you!

B) You are part of the problem!  Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me! LOL

C) Lack of education is our problem...DUH!  Thats why I use my college education philosophy to bother fools like you.

Again, why are you so afraid to help future generations succeed?

Thomas- they are afraid to allow us to succeed because then they will be obsolete just like their political idealogies are :) There is no room in this time of great need for people who want nothing more than to create non-existant problems while the rest of us work hard at solving the real problems of this nation. I would like to suggest that the bitter ditto-heads go hide in their cave for the next 4 years, and let us get to work cleaning up your mess. You have proven that you are not capable of representing the people of this nation and our own best interests above those of your own. Your greed, fear, power and war mongering have destroyed a once great nation, and you can not be trusted to be part of the rebuilding process because you are obviously still trying to make a few more bucks before moving on to greener pastures. I suggest you leave now, don't let the door hit you on the way out. We do not need people in this country who are as hell bent on destroying it as you are! We have enough problems with foreign terrorists we don't need the compounded problems of Republican subversives to deal with also. Oh and take Rush with you!

Boo HOO!

Lets start taking care of ourselves and the world peacefully, instead of us attacking first.

You have to remember, we let those terrorist do jr's dirty work.  Having access to our pilots was the biggest mistake.

Compared to the rest of the world, we are pretty lucky that we do not hear bombs going off all over the place.

You... Oh I don't have a word filthy enough. North Korea, I am ASHAMED and DISGUSTED to remind you, built that bomb during the BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

In fact, you ignorant, hateful little sycophant, the clinton talks stopped their research dead in its tracks in 1994. Furthermore, the only reason they STARTED again is because bush failed to hold up our side of the agreement that convinced them to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the first place! North Korea Withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003. 

Clinton spent his entire time in office holding Al-Qaeda down with careful precision strikes of the military he painstakingly and carefully prepared just for that purpose. Al-Qaeda attacked because Bush failed to take Clinton's resolve as deadly seriously as it SHOULD have been.

...*sigh*

okay. I can't fault you for getting it wrong if you never had an opportunity to be informed. In this day and age, though, we have the knowledge at our fingertips. Please go out there and look around. Find some interesting tidbits and get some background fleshed out--getting a few vague ideas from wikipedia or something--and then verify it with a real information source. 

...but don't go around presenting information you didn't have the time or bother to research as if it were "the truth". This is the kitchen and it's hot in here. Be advised: you have the option of not sticking your neck out.

Oh and while we're here, just for the record, the rest of the world is less likely to attack us now that the dems are in control; Democrats have a track record of being reasonable and patient, unlike our hawkish red friends.

Thomas....remember yestereday you said everyone should be able to come into this country for their freedom...well some of those people you want so much to let into our country are the very ones who trained at at American facilities before then taking over our airplanes which caused over 3,000 deaths on 9/11...I guess that's the price we paid for allowing anyone and everyone into our country...you also went on and on about all of the rich people out there and how everyone here is selfish...well I guess that would include Obama who spent $1 million per spot per network for a 30 min advertisement of himself when he already new he was leading the polls....How vain is that? Oh and how selfish is that!!! A man whose Aunt lives in the low income projects and whose brother lives in a shack on a $1 per month. Yeah,,,Obama's something special...he's just like everyone else.

Stone...every person in this country can point a finger at every administration no matter whether they Democrat or Republican...no president has been perfect.  You're right Democrats are reasonable and patient which equates to they don't have the ''BALLS'' to fight!!! My children's daddy is getting ready to leave for a 3rd tour in Iraq...and to hear it from an actual military man who has been in this war...the media is not portraying the war as it actually is...the groups of soldiers who I know and have been there are saying that situation in Iraq is so much better now and citizens and police are constantly thanking them for being there. Our soldiers are doing what this country has trained them to do...spread Democracy and freedom everywhere...after all, they are the reason all of you on here can speak your mind. 

And just for the record...it's ashame that McCain spent more time as a POW in Vietnam than Obama has in his entire political career!!  Anyone can talk the talk...In 4 yrs we'll see what everyone is pointing the finger at Obama for!!!

Stone Taggart.  How come Clinton, sent Al Gore & Bill Richardson to give N. Korea 80 billion dollars?  Is that how peace is made?  Clinton is a pansy.  You don't know anything.  I could blow you off the face of the map with the junk I know about this guy.  He didn't do squat.  The military hated him.  HE WAS A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THE FIGHTING MEN OF THIS COUNTRY.  HE DISGRACED THE OVAL OFFICE.  AGRHHH!!

And Bill Richardson just shaved too...is he looking for Secretary of State?

Clinton was a bumbling idiot when it came to foreign policy...GW Bush was the neighborhood bully.

Who said that these guys were freely let into the country?  They had FAKE passports, they weren't who they said they were.  And I gurantee if you pay for flight school in cash, NO ONE is going to ask for proper ids.  Hell that's not cheap.  Another thing, our GOVERNMENT has known about the possible attacks long before Clinton and Jr. came along.  People have been warning them for years.  Maybe you all should read the 9:11 Commission Report before you start talking about things you aren't even aware of.  As for the issuewith Clinton disgracing the country and the oval office...He's a man.  I know several men who have gotten their jollies with someone other than their wife.  It's immoral, but EVERYONE makes mistakes...me, you, Clinton, Bush, and I am sure that Obama will make his fair share of the, BUT that's part of being human.  Live with it and get over it. If you can't then you might need to leave this country for one that makes all of your decisions for you...China might be a good choice for those of  you who can't think on your own, or admit that you have made mistakes just like ALL of our great leaders have.

klw'sgirl1127 is right, they didn't get in here legally. It' like the criminal who commits murder, it's not with a gun registered to themselves. Part of what Bush tried to cram down the state' throats is the universal ID. One ID that is uniform no matter what state or country you are from. As well as fingerprint background checks on any forgiener coming into the country. Which means we would have to finally work WITH Interpool. They know who their bad guys are, we should too.

As for Clinton and his indescresions. I think as long as Hillary and Bill keep stepping into the public spotlight their private jollies ARE public business. Alot of the puritanical nutcases that didn't want the "Muslim" Obama for perceived beliefs, brush off the lack of Bill's morality (based on their own religious standards). It's the typical dounble standard that the far right displays and uses to play on your weaknesses. Get a clue.

, I have to say this because i simply feel someone has to.  The US military does not exist to, nor should its purpose ever be to "spread Democracy and freedom everywhere".  The purpose of the US armed forces, as they state in their service oath, is to protect the people of the united states and to uphold the constitution from its enemies, both foreign and domestic.  Its purpose is to defend the territory of the United states, its people, and uphold its laws.  THAT is its purpose.  

I have no problem with the military's actions in Afganistan.  The enemy that attacked us was located there, and the goal was clear when we started - capture or kill the leaders of Al-Quida, specifically OBL.  A secondary goal of removing the brutal Taliban regime from power and helping the people of that country establish a more stable, modern system of government was something most countries in the world could agree on.  The problem was that rather then actually seeing this task through to completion, we divirted massive resources, largely due to what are now known to be distortions of the truth if not outright lies from the Bush Administration, to a country, if not perticularly friendly to the US, did not pose an immediate threat to our country. 

Bush Jr. perverted that fact when it decided to use the US military in an imperialistic and reckless fashion.  He subscription to a niave belief that other countries can be converted to democracy by the sword was and is foolish and incredibly immature in belief, one that has done far more to endanger the US than anything else, as its created a heaping pile of anger and resentment against us in the very part of the world we hoped to bring into the fold, as well as leave tens, if not hundreads, of thousands of civilians dead, even more injured and over 2 million as refugees. 

The US was viewed in WWII as liberators because we had help drive out an agessor nation from a soveriegn country.  The same was true of the Korean War and GulfI.  The faces you saw when Kabul fell were the same because they were being liberated from a hostile, brutal, tyranical regime most did not want and nearlly everyone suffered under.  They had been practically reduced to the stone age.

Iraq, prior to the invasion, despite being rulled by a vile dictator and a brutal single party, was a modern, stable society.  It was economically solvent, industrially developing, with a reasonably high rate of "secular" behavior and eductated populace.  We used the stick before we even attempted to speak softly.  And the mess we got is now apparent. 

Hey "Realist,"  Get the facts!  Your war hero McCain gave military secrets to the enemy in return for cessation of ill treatment!  That was after he crashed 3 planes, in one case setting an aircraft carrier on fire and wounding other soldiers while he damaged more military equipment!  He was only allowed back in a plane because his Daddy and Granddad were actual heroes! Go read the Rolling Stone article, "Make Believe Maverick," take the opportunity to find out why none of the Viet Nam vets would support him in his run for the presidency!  Well, that and his continued votes against assistance for wounded vets and against increases in the GI Bill.  He may have been a POW, but saying that qualified him to be a hero or a president is saying that the prisoners at Guantanamo are in a presidential training center.!

WELL SAID

Ummm...unless you consider faux news "the major networks" your kidding yourself.  2 years is not what did this to the economy.  It was 6 years of free market before that.

I agree.  What government should have been doing and needs to start doing, moving forward is stop the monopolizing of our corporations so that one single entity or rich bastard has control of everything similiar to your discussion.

- Airlines consolidations

- Entertainment Consolidations

- GMC looking at Chrysler

In a country where we were suppose to be given choices, fewer and fewer choices are available as the rich people get richer on You and I.

Honey....I have news for you...since you obviously didn't research Obama's redistribution plan. He is going to now take your hard-earned money and give it to people who aren't working or who are working the system...so I guess they can stay on the system.  He wants to spread the money out to everyone by taking from others that's not FAIR either.

Honey? I have questions for you and any others that I want answers to:

1) Are you Rich? $250,000 or more a year?  If yes, than why should you not pay a little bit more tax?

2) Do you have healthcare that is equal to everyone else?  I will answer this for you, as WE DO NOT.  Since you used my most unfavorite word "fair", is it fair that we can not have the same health coverage across this country?  Is it fair that one insurance allows you to pay $10 co pay and mine charges $100 co pay? Is it fair that we all do not have access to best facilities because of where we live?  I can go on and on, but as I tell my children when they ask about fair, I tell them "That the FAIR is in August!"

3) Why is healthcare NOT a unity factor for this country?

4) Hard earned money is not a $250,000 job, Hard earned money is those of us, busting our butts just to make ends meet.  If you make 250,000, you probably are into sports, gambling or are a major corporate executive who sits on your ass bossing others around and having cheap labor in foreign countries.

5) Do you feel our children have access to a future that we were told existed?

6) What was this country established from? 

In my mind, People coming here on a boat to establish freedom. Giving EVERYONE an opportunity to be successful.  If you feel that you have been given that chance, than I give you a pat on your back, but when I look around this country, I see selfish uncaring people that with this new president has a chance to change.

Lets work together to give all americans the chance.

Not just the rich kid, but the poor kid too!

Hey Thomas...as a matter of fact...I am a single mom of two children who worked more than 30 hours a week while going to school for 40 hrs. I busted my butt to get the things I have and no I don't make a rich living but it's money I WORKED for not someone else. And although yes there are people who have made their millions out there and others who have inherited it...it's still their money...should they be penalized because they were smart investors or happen to get into the right career that allowed them to make more money than others. I don't think it's right when people feed off of the public system...sitting at home and spitting out 5 and 6 kids just to keep using the system...but it happens and our money is already supporting that!!! The healthcare system that Obama wants to put into place is the same that Canada currently has and it literally takes years for these people to get into to see doctors and get prescriptions and have surgeries...literally YEARS!!!! No system is perfect!!!! As far as everybody coming here for freedom...that's great but everyone comes to this country and then expects America to change to their culture or learn their languages. My family's roots go all the way back to the 1500's here in St. Augustine, Florida where the oldest Spanish city is established. My background is Cuban, Spanish, Irish, Dutch...you name it...I'm proud of all of those origins but I'M AMERICAN...Not African American or Hispanic American BUT AMERICAN which is what all of should be when we live here in America. But as far as the financial part of your comments go...I believe you're making too broad of a statement. Not all of the "rich" people as you call them are bad people either...just like not every poor person has chosen to be poor.

Realist- since you are so fundamentally opposed to Redisribution of Wealth, you will be relieved to know we saved you from 4 more years of it.

What you say???

Ever hear of GLOBALIZATION? Ever hear of the New World Order? You should have! Bush has been talking about it for the last 8 years.

What is Globalization you ask? Globalization is where Bush takes your tax money and REDISRIBUTES it to foreign countries to Spread the Wealth honey. The goal of Globalization is the creation of a totally equal world. No more rich countries, no more poor countries- we all get the exact same standard of living. Bush has been doing this for 8 years, and you see how the standard of living here in the US has dropped while the standard of living in Bush's target areas has increased (China and India). We are almost equal now, and that is a good thing in Republicans minds!

How are you enjoying the Republican version of Wealth Redistribution?? Isn't it great so far!

I always enjoy Republicans who are for Redistribution of wealth to foreign countries, but against it in their own. Just goes to show where their priorities lie, and they certainly are not with America! Republicans would rather create jobs in India than fix our crumbling infrastructure, they would rather elevate the standard of living of the Communist Chinese than invest in the education of their own children and grand children, or healthcare for their own citizens. Shameful and exceedingly uninformed!

Realist...God bless you for "doing your part"..for trying to support your family. ...But....I think you should read...and then re-read what justme had to say...who ever that person is...hit the nail right on the perverbial head.

People think that more tax cuts are needed....they are diluted....this country can not survive without taxes....who will pay for the services such as police, fire, who will pay for roads and bridges?....the sad truth is...WE NEED TAXES TO SURVIVE AS A NATION....the problem is....bush has gotten us into such a deep hole....2 UNFUNDED wars...possibly THE MOST IDIOTIC idea in the history of mankind....unbridled, unregulated greed/wall street/market economy/voodoo economics....

The sad truth....Obama has a very aggresive agenda....but it will be nearly impossible for anyone but GOD to get America out of the jam bush has put us in....God give Obama the strength and wisdom to carry on....

So let me ask, what would YOU have done when the terrorists smashed OUR airplanes into OUR family and friends and murdered them?  Say, "it's okay, I'm sure you didn't mean it"?!  The president of the United States has a tough job.  Let's see you do it.   I AM concerned though, just what does Obama plan to do with this country?  He will NOT pledge allegience to the flag, the very symbol of our nation. "One nation, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".  He's a walking contradiction.  He's got the lawyer's touch, charismatic, talking a lot without actually saying anything, convincing you he's answered your question when he's only made you forget what your question was in the first place. I guess only time will tell. 

Shoveling money into the welfare system is not an answer.  As someone who needed to use it for a time after my divorce, I'm grateful that it's there, but it is not meant as a permanent solution.  Rather than just increasing money given out, how about providing more job training, percentage based day care assistance, and bus passes so they can actually get to work?  People by nature raise, or lower to your expectations.  We need to raise our expectations.

As for Clinton bein so great, lets not forget he's the one who banned access to our own natural resources, forcing continually greater dependence on foreign oil.

Now, I've got a few things to say about this thread that alarm me.

It's wrong for the government to take the money of individuals and pass it to other individuals, that is the fruit of my liberty and taking it is authoritarian. Those that think it's ok suffer from envy. What is proper is for the government two use it to make things more achievable.

A laisse-fair economy is one thing, but we've steered so far from that, so long ago. When corporations (the ones that should be paying the taxes to help individuals out) started receiving protections equal to, or greater than, that of individuals is where we went wrong.

As for globalization, while it's close to Bush's lips...you can also thank Clinton.

Terrorism...If we stopped this economic manifest destiny/american exceptionalism campaign around the world, stopped having troops in other people's countries, stopped imposing our wills on those around the world...the will to kill us would all but disappear.

That was my $.02

P.S. My wife and I do well, but we don't make $250K, but I do know our taxes will go up.

P.P.S. I had NO help along the way...quite literally from a welfare childhood.

Whoknew...did you not pay attention during the election when all of the political analysts were saying that if Obama puts his plan into action...he will literally add and I quote "Trillions to the deficit"....so tell me how is that digging us out of the hole you supposedly think one administration dug?????

Bottom line is...None of us are ever going to agree...this is an endless battle that's been going on for centuries...Democrats vs. Republicans.

Everyone here on the posting board are all Americans who care about our country. Unfortunately, like I keep saying...if we could fix all of our country's problems...they'd already be fixed...

Realist, I payed attention to the campaign and the coverage from all outlets. All you have to do is look at his plans and see it's close to a trillion in new spending. I disagree with his plans most of the way around on how they'll address the problems they're targeted at. I also heard him say repeatedly that he is going to do two things, cut spending where required and to scrutinize where there's a lack of efficiency and waste. Give our newly elected President a chance.

First, the Republican party isn't quite two hundred years old, so to say this has been going on for centuries is wrong, and to say we're not going to agree is condemning.

The fact of the matter is that we almost all agree on what the problems are, where we differ is solutions. Perhaps if we all stopped shouting "you're wrong, you're wrong" at each other and started listening we'd all (ALL sides, left...right...up...down) find the real solutions.

I'd like to alter congressional pensions to take into account how effective their legislation is..."Oh, there's five percent of still not covered by health care and you're over-taxing the population...you only get have of your pension this year."

This is where we could run government like business, if the elected officials aren't effective and frugal, they don't get paid.

All I have to say is in response to Kim's comment: "He will NOT pledge allegience to the flag, the very symbol of our nation. "One nation, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". "  I would like to know where you receive your information.  If you are referring to the picture that was circulated with him not putting his hand over his heart when the rest of the candidates had theirs on the heart, maybe you shoud do a little bit more.  Obama didn't have his hand over his heart, BUT it wasn't during the pledge, it was the National Anthem, and while some people do put their hands on their heart not everyone does.  Some people stand at military parade rest.  The other thing that is interesting is that although we can't see what's in front of the candidates, the ONLY flag that we can see is BEHIND them.  I am not sure about you, BUT if I am saluting a flag I am turned toward it, not away from it.  Although Obama wasn't facing the flag he was also not disrespecting it.

Sell your car, Sell your house built with lumber, sell your nipple ring made of metal, eschew your modern lifestyle based on all man-made commodities and go live in a cave-then we'll talk. I have the misfortune of living in the Colorado mountains and trying to make a living after years of waiting for Government permits and wildlife studies, along with roadless areas and "wilderness". You are woefully misinformed- and- unless you ascribe to the criteria mentioned above- are an incredible hypocrite!!! 

Someone trying to help save the environment does not need to completely quit their lifestyle to care about the future of our planet.  Why don't you try and not disturb those areas of the world that would be better left without Human interference.  If you weren't trying to cut down forests which probably house animals which have no other habitat you wouldn't have any issues.  Go get a job that doesn't destroy the Earth.  For someone seemingly making their living off of the Earth you seem to give two less @!$%#s about it.

It's not about not using the earth, it's about using it wisely.  There are programs in place for logging companies to replant trees.  And yes, lets be aware of the animals, but it is our God given duty to have dominion over them.  The majority of them are food.  If your vegan then think about this;  if we no longer eat meat, only vegetables and fruit, where do you get your vegetables and fruit?  What are you going to do when these formerly controlled populations of cattle, deer, elk, etc become so prolific they outgrow their environments and come after your gardens......stop eating altogether?

kim-710283 said, "it is our God given duty to have dominion over them" when speaking of animals. I am pretty sure this attitude spills over into the vegetation on the earth as well, ie the forests still standing.

This is the typical blinder vision that had destroyed more terrain and made extinct or near extinct more species than is imaginable. With this in mind I ask.

When you have broken the food chain enough to destroy your own ability to feed yourself, when you have limited species diversification to the point where you can no longer have the medicines that I am sure you take to keep yourself and your family healthy with, what will you do?

The earth is a finite resource. We need to treat it as one. If you have to interject God into your justification for the rape and pillage the earth mentality then understand this. Your God gave us ONE earth. Not multiples so we can screw one up and hop to another. It in our best interest to follow a girl scout creed about the foot print you leave behind. Leave your camp as clean or cleaner than you found it.

In other words, don't crap in your own yard. It causes diseases.......get a clue.

And what exactly is your lifestyle?  Before you go feeling all high and mighty, what exactly do you DO to help the environment (except complain about everyone else)?

If you live by example many more will follow suit.  I have 4 large mature trees in my little sub division lot.  I have a large vegetable garden I grow (and use) every year. I also have a variety of flowering shrubs and greenery to attract vital creatures such as ladybugs, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and I do NOT use pesticides.  I have cats to control mice (there is a field behind my house), a dog to help keep stray cats from moving in and to warn off strangers near my home, three horses that we take with us when we go camping (in place of 4 wheelers), I recycle, bake everything from scratch, buy in bulk to reduce waste and take my own canvas shopping bags to the grocery store.  I have a full year of food and water storage for my family, and yes, my sons are boy scouts, and I'm former 4H.

And I'll say again, this earth is not meant for us to avoid touching, but to use wisely.

How about just lowering the cost for transportation of goods, only. There are alot of diesel trucks out there that are used for personal pleasure. That will in turn raise the cost to the rest of the consumers, but that increased cost has been a limiting factor for us.

:) Had it in Ohio- I whole heartedly agree!!!

I was so sick and tired of being bullied by these Fascist Republicans I could scream. It is like a giant weight has been lifted from the spirit of normal Americans and we feel free to participate in our country again without fear of being labeled Disloyal, Un-Patriotic, a Communist, a Socialist, a Marxist, a Whiner, or being told to get the hell out of OUR country! I felt like I was living under a totalitarian regime for God sake! If I disagreed with Bush or his cronies on anything, I was labeled Un-American!

My family has been here since 1630, BEFORE this even was the USA. My family was NOT Puritans, but business land speculators who esablished trade with the Native Americans. I can understand how my original ancestors felt being surrounded by a bunch of rabid bible thumpers hell bent on Converting the heathens, which included my ancestors, back in the 1600's based on what we have been through for the last 8 years! My relatives were members of the Sons of Liberty, fought in every war the US has ever fought since King Phillips War, worked for the underground railroad and on Vigilence Committees and brought one of the earliest cases seeking freedom for a slave (Read the story of Mumbet - just google it)

And for these ANTI AMERICAN fascists to call me and my family Un-Patriotic for the last 8 years has been unbearable and highly insulting to say the least.

I am very glad to see the reign of Bush end along with his crusade in Iraq. Now we can get back to the business of repairing all the damage these subversives have caused!

What!?!?!?!?!?!?

Did you not see what happened to that plumber? You aren't free to say anything under Obama's administration, my dear.

Joe brought the attention to himself. The people who make more than 250K are doing pretty well unless they made the poor decision to overextend their credit. You can't live high on the hog in NYC on that kind of money but to the many that work 40 hour weeks for less than 20K, you are indeed rich. Returning to the bipartisan tax structure of the Clinton years is a reasonable approach. The taxes have been harder on the rich as in the 1950's and 60's. The first 250K anyone makes does not incur addition tax burden. I would love to pay greater taxes if it ment I received more income. The individual tax breakes passed by congress are a disgrace and should all be removed. We can encourge business in other ways.  

Joe the Plumber was being sought after by the IRS for not paying his own taxes!  I also read he had a warrant out.

yes, he was a wonderful example for the Republican party to use.

Obviously, desperate times call for desperate spokespeople!

WOW! I am so glad we are done with the hate mongering.  Calling a sitting President, regardless of how you feel toward him, a domestic terrorist or those that supported some one you obviously didn't bullies, or wrong hearted isn't hate mongering.

Good thing we are getting change because for a minute you sounded just like the people you just blasted.

Steve I applaud your statement. In a short post, you hit the nail right on the head. It's the phrase I've been looking for all day long.

Good thing we are getting change because for a minute you sounded just like the people you just blasted.

I whole heartedly agree with justme-365250 statement. I took have been screaming at the top of my lungs for the last 8 years that this is NOT what MY forefathers and my children are fighting for!

McCarthyism is all that has been going on since 9/11....a witch hunt.....the KKK.....the fight to kill Bin Laden.....in Iraq?!?!

The bullies on the block kept telling us we would be safe under their protection all the while taking the protection money out of our pockets. They worked hard to strip our constitutional rights and create Gitmo as an open world example of what America does to those it considers subversive.

I don't know how many times my family wondered, will mom be home tonight or will the government get a belly full of her fighting their created injustice and arrest her. But in my genes is the need to stay free. I too am from a heritage that has been here since the 1650's. I too have a family who has lost members to all the past wars (so far none to this). I too have been made sick to death and looking to another place to go in the world to escape the totalitarian regiem of the Bush/Cheney dynasty. I too, will not go easy, I will fight again and again for my countries continuing freedom from fear mongers and world police.

I do not expect to agree with nor cater to any other country. I do not have a litmus test for patriotism. I come from solid conservative roots who watched the Republican party turn on the very people that gave it it's strength. I will be one of the first to turn should Obama's term turn ugly like Bush did. And again, I will fully expect to be a fart in the windstorm....but as before.....if enough of us stink up the joint with our opinions, someone might notice and things might change......

With any luck this time, we will have a president who won't insulate himself from the people.....the regular Joe's.....not the make believe Joe the Plumbers......

Amen!!  I hope all those who were energized to roll up their sleeves and take our country back, are prepared to keep their sleeves rolled up.  Obama energized us to take back our country. it is our job to hold on to it and to return it to a nation we can once again take pride in. 

We will never unite with marxists.  If you want to f up the country and take away freedoms do it on your own.    We will not help you.

For the break up................................

Move some where else, if you are not willing to help.  YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!

Being selfish and not willing to work together.

Thomas....you will never change people like FTBU....you remember billy joel sang...."you can never argue with a crazy mind.....you ought to know by now..."

Thomas...why is someone "the problem" just because they don't believe what you believe!!! Obama's views have been compared to Socialism and Marxism by some of the top political figures...ForTheBreakup is only making a statement that he doesn't support it...after all this is a Democracy..at least for now. 

There is an old saying...if it Quacks like a duck...then it's probably a duck...Obama quacks very loudly!!  He was a very lucky man to get elected...cause it definitely wasn't his experience!!!

spiritplus1, IMHO we don't need to work on unity, we all need to work on mutual respect and sanctity...diversity is what makes us great. the problem is that we've been throwing too much mud at each other.

ForTheBreakUp, I hear your concerns...but it's a bit of a stretch calling the left marxists. While they exist in this country, most of the people on the extreme left only border on democratic-socialists...sort of like our neighbors to the north or our British friends across the pond.

Thomasl, if forthebreakup chooses not to participate, that's his/her right. Social isolationism does preclude reaping the benefits though.

Realist, please read the Communist Manifesto before you make the comparisons...and don't take the word of talking heads at face value. Socialism is Ia broad spectrum of idealogies and not all of it is marxism.

SpiritPlus1

If you really wanted to unite and fix the country, why didn't you and the DNC unite with the GOP and the rest of the country to solve our problems years before the election?

At getting 52% of the popular vote, Obama is not a "Uniter".  We are still devided and will stay that way as long as we have a marxist president occupying the Oval Office. America was founded based on democratic idealogy, not Marxism.  These two political idealogies cannot co-exist together in our country. 

Mike, your first statement is well stated...and should be looked at in the inverse direction too.

As for your second statement, there's a couple things wrong...Socialist would be acurate, but not marxist. Also, he's not the first socialist to occupy the whitehouse...that would be FDR, and while I disagree with those policies he did unite this country in a time of need.

I totally disagree with socialism of any variety to its roots...yet it's not something that's alien to this country. The following is one of my favorite quotes..."Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery".

The spector of socialism will not leave us until we address the failings of our capitalism.

CT-Libertarian - Perhaps you are right in reference to my statement about branding Obama a Marxist. So for now, I'll refer to him as a Socialist. FDR was a great President without a doubt. He managed to bring the country together in a time of crisis with the creation of the CCC. This helped America to start the long process of pulling us out of the Depression. However, WWII was the biggest contributer to bringing about the end of the depression by creating Defense jobs and related small sub-contractor businesses to feed the war machine. I do have to wonder if WWII did not happen, just how long would it take FDR to achive the goal of ending the depression. - That is something we may never know.

Mike, you are absolutely correct, FDR quite possibly prolonged the great depression...and I fear that could be the outcome of an overly ambitious president. I will say this, in the first couple press briefings I have heard that Obama sounds a little more reserved...only time will tell.

This is one of the things I commented on while watching the campaigns...Obama seemed to actually spend a lot more time listening along the rope lines than I've ever seen any candidate do. That's one thing that gives me "hope".