[Skywalker]

Trump is basically this generation's George Wallace (except with the [not really] backing of a major party). Yikes.

[Giselle]

I want to spend BILLIONS more in foreign aid. I wish we didn't spend as much on welfare and public assistance. To be honest, I am one of those people that thinks poor people should just work harder. But I'm on mobile and can't get into a full debate right now.

[vuelve88]

I checked Jill Stein's Twitter to see if she would say anything about Trump's 2nd Amendment comment, but of course, nothing. I guess she only watches Hillary speeches so she can criticize her and try to snatch votes.

[bleuwaffle]

Originally posted by Damien M

But hey, at least they're better than the ones who document when each politician on the planet started supporting gay marriage and then proceed to revenge-vote based on that tiny, tiny non-issue

Basing you vote entirely on that is petty, yeah. But I don't see why we should completely gloss over that aspect of their political history.

[hooky]

WaiT, I just found out about Trump's "comment" today. He just lost the election

[Troye]

Originally posted by Giselle

I want to spend BILLIONS more in foreign aid. I wish we didn't spend as much on welfare and public assistance. To be honest, I am one of those people that thinks poor people should just work harder. But I'm on mobile and can't get into a full debate right now.

I don't get this. My parents are poor because my mom got cancer and lupus. My dad fell ill with kidney failure and has been dealing with it for about 10 years now. The bills from hospital has put them in debt and ruined their credit. The healthcare system just doesn't work for them and Obamacare for all its positives has only worsened their position. Don't just sit there and tell me that my parents should be working harder when they're too ill to work and unable to get any financial help at all.

[jose168]

Originally posted by Troye

I don't get this. My parents are poor because my mom got cancer and lupus. My dad fell ill with kidney failure and has been dealing with it for about 10 years now. The bills from hospital has put them in debt and ruined their credit. The healthcare system just doesn't work for them and Obamacare for all its positives has only worsened their position. Don't just sit there and tell me that my parents should be working harder when they're too ill to work and unable to get any financial help at all.

i think giselle probably means for able-bodied individuals. There should be separate programs for people who are ill or have physical/mental disorders and for people who need a pick me up to get back into the mainstream economy. If you're able bodied you should be working, in school or in some kind of vocational program to be receiving government assistance

[Troye]

Originally posted by jose168

i think giselle probably means for able-bodied individuals. There should be separate programs for people who are ill or have physical/mental disorders and for people who need a pick me up to get back into the mainstream economy. If you're able bodied you should be working, in school or in some kind of vocational program to be receiving government assistance

Either way, the system just doesn't work for poor people. The problem all goes back to how the economy rewards the rich more than the middle class or the poor. Working hard doesn't solve the problem of the living wage nor the fact that inflation far exceeds the value of the dollar earned via wages.

[jose168]

Originally posted by Troye

Either way, the system just doesn't work for poor people. The problem all goes back to how the economy rewards the rich more than the middle class or the poor. Working hard doesn't solve the problem of the living wage nor the fact that inflation far exceeds the value of the dollar earned via wages.

i agree, while i think welfare reform is important it's definitely not more important than reshaping our economy in a way that works for everyone, and bringing attention to welfare is kind of deflecting. But i do think more of an emphasis on learning new skills while on welfare is a good way to help some people get out of poverty

[Adonis]

Originally posted by Giselle

I want to spend BILLIONS more in foreign aid. I wish we didn't spend as much on welfare and public assistance. To be honest, I am one of those people that thinks poor people should just work harder. But I'm on mobile and can't get into a full debate right now.

How hard you work makes no difference. I can guarantee that most in the lower rungs of society work harder and longer than those at the top.

Just look if you make an income from employment at a job you get 25+% in taxes taken out of your check. If your money comes from gambling in the stock markets you get 15% taxes taken out of whatever income you make.

There are structural advantages to being born wealthy or being wealthy at any capacity. To whom much is given much is expected. Your position isnt well thought out and is grossly oversimplified for the problem at hand. It also isn't a very efficient use of resources.

[Troye]

Originally posted by jose168

i agree, while i think welfare reform is important it's definitely not more important than reshaping our economy in a way that works for everyone, and bringing attention to welfare is kind of deflecting. But i do think more of an emphasis on learning new skills while on welfare is a good way to help some people get out of poverty

I agrih with all these points. The fact is that welfare is only one of many symptoms; addressing it doesn't actually cure the source of the problem. However, raising awareness and creating job opportunities (whether it's a technical or vocational school to teach essential job skills) for those on welfare would be the right first step to getting people on their feet. (Lord knows that vocational skills are equally sorely needed as much as some degree fields like engineering / security / nursing).

[that G.U.Y.]

Originally posted by Adonis

How hard you work makes no difference. I can guarantee that most in the lower rungs of society work harder and longer than those at the top.

Just look if you make an income from employment at a job you get 25+% in taxes taken out of your check. If your money comes from gambling in the stock markets you get 15% taxes taken out of whatever income you make.

There are structural advantages to being born wealthy or being wealthy at any capacity. To whom much is given much is expected. You position is t well thought out and is grossly oversimplified for the problem at hand. It also isn't a very efficient use of resources.

I work doing peoples' taxes and people usually get a refund of most of their taxes and end up paying only about 9% after all the math

And these aren't super wealthy clients these are the nurses, fast food employees, low wage earners, etc.

What I feel is unfair is the Earned Income Credit: I have a client who is a single mother works at the dollar store. On top of food stamps ($600 a month) and reduced healthcare she gets a full tax refund plus a bonus of ~$7,000.

Yet responsible single workers (like me) get absolute nothing in benefits. It's actually more rewarding to have a bunch of kids I can't afford to raise than to work on my career. On top of my bills I pay for my own groceries and I'm expected to pay for my own health care.

[King Maxx]

For those who said it's just a "formality" and not written to have 9 SCOTUS Justices. Wrong.

The Judiciary Act of 1869 (16 Stat. 44), also called the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, is a United States statute that stipulated that the makeup of the United States Supreme Court would consist of the Chief Justice and eight associate justices, any six of whom would constitute a quorum.

[Adonis]

Originally posted by that G.U.Y.

I work doing peoples' taxes and people usually get a refund of most of their taxes and end up paying only about 9% after all the math

And these aren't super wealthy clients these are the nurses, fast food employees, low wage earners, etc.

What I feel is unfair is the Earned Income Credit: I have a client who is a single mother works at the dollar store. On top of food stamps ($600 a month) and reduced healthcare she gets a full tax refund plus a bonus of ~$7,000.

Yet responsible single workers (like me) get absolute nothing in benefits. It's actually more rewarding to have a bunch of kids I can't afford to raise than to work on my career. On top of my bills I pay for my own groceries and I'm expected to pay for my own health care.

You should see my taxes and then you'll see how "great" you have it in terms of percentage paid out in taxes. You can't make judgements off of people who are struggling. Food stamps etc exist for the children. You gonna punish kids because you determined in your great wisdom someone isn't working hard enough. You even know what is going on in that persons day to day to make such an assumption?

[Skywalker]

@Nate_Cohn
In the @FiveThirtyEight polls-only model, Clinton has a better chance of winning Kansas than Trump has of winning the presidency

[Achilles.]

Originally posted by King Maxx

For those who said it's just a "formality" and not written to have 9 SCOTUS Justices. Wrong.

Is this still on the books? I swear something I read recently stated that there was no written requirement that we have 9 SCOTUS judges. Maybe what I read was wrong.


Speaking of SCOTUS, now that the Senate has made a big fuss about refusing to confirm Obama's guy... Will they confirm Obama's guy after Hillary wins in November in order to prevent Hillary from picking someone else? If they don't confirm him, will Hillary uphold his nomination out of respect, or will she pick someone new? I'm really lost on how this is going down.


The GOP are really nasty for the **** they've pulled over this.

[that G.U.Y.]

Originally posted by Adonis

You should see my taxes and then you'll see how "great" you have it in terms of percentage paid out in taxes. You can't make judgements off of people who are struggling. Food stamps etc exist for the children. You gonna punish kids because you determined in your great wisdom someone isn't working hard enough. You even know what is going on in that persons day to day to make such an assumption.

Well unless you make more than $100,000 I can't possibly understand how you feel it is unfair. My richest clients are a married couple who make $80,000 a year. They pay about $15,000 in taxes and get a refund of $7000. It's still around $60,000 which is enough for a comfortable life (about $5,000 a month) that's not "struggling" in my book

Hey now I'm not saying that I want children to starve. They should receive assistance. I'm merely criticizing the lack of incentives for people like me without kids.

And to your point about the rich. They pay about 33% tax. In the finance industry it is noticeable because they pay a Capital Gains tax (~50%) and on top of that they pay a 15% income tax. that tax money helps go to those children and struggling people you are going on about so it's funny to me that you criticize the rich

[Skywalker]

[Tinker]

Originally posted by Skywalker

@Nate_Cohn
In the @FiveThirtyEight polls-only model, Clinton has a better chance of winning Kansas than Trump has of winning the presidency

Bye. The election needs to happen like today

[LuLuDrops]

Hillary better flip Missouri and Kansas and continue that downward trail of states