barry2952 said:Are you better off now than 4 years ago?
How about your relatives? Are they better off now than 4 years ago?
Barry
Ok, I'll play the game that was played out by Bill Clinton 12 years ago.barry2952 said:Monstermark,
Instead of lip service, please answer the question. How is your stock portfolio? What happened to your retirement fund? How much more money do you have in the bank. Do you have more or less debt?
Barry
I will sell you if and only if you agree to vote for Bush if I make a convincing argument for his reelection. But so far, what I have seen on the left is Anybody But Bush, without regard to the fact that people are willing to play Russian roulette with our safety and our sovereignty.Joeychgo said:SELL him to me. You dont sell a Cadillac by telling me BMW sucks.......
Isn't that a beautiful thing!Joeychgo said:and what I have seen from the right wing whack jobs is "Anyone but Kerry."
Premiums have gone up, co-pays have gone up, coverage has gone down.Joeychgo said:When answering this question, consider -
How is your health insurance?
Joeychgo said:How is your SS looking?
Joeychgo said:DO you feel safer?
Joeychgo said:How is your salary? Has it risen as you expected during the last 4 years?
Joeychgo said:How much are you spending at the gas pump?
Joeychgo said:How are your taxes looking for 2005? Take a look, most experts expect taxes will be higher....
Joeychgo said:How is your state doing? Is it financially healthy?
Some good points there Katshot.Katshot said:I'm in a unique situation since even though my business tanked right after 9/11 (an auto repair shop that was geared to the local livery industry) as did much of the local livery businesses, my wife's family has a successful textile manufacturing company that just happens to do a lot of Government work, specifically for the DOD. So even though we lost a lot with my business, we've made a pretty good comeback. It just sucks that I used to be one of the top technical people in the Livery/Fleet industry, and now I'm working for my wife. Oh well, at least I'm able to help the family now instead of just myself and my reputation.
Reading the previous posts here has only proven my belief that our country will never soar like an eagle until we dump the 2-party system. Too many smart people, wasting WAY too much time and money on their own agendas, or those of their "party" rather than actually making real strides to improve the lives of all Americans. You know, the taxpayers!
As for the Bush vs. Kerry issue, I see Bush as a kind of Don Quijote, out chasing terrorists instead of windmills though. On the other hand, Kerry has allowed his campaign to lose serious momentum because he has surrounded himself with idiots. Does Kerry have the ability to lead the country? Good question, I'm affraid we'll never find out now. I was hopeful though until recently.
Kbob said:I am a little better off, and I would have been much better off if not for the attack on 9/11.
With all due respect, I realize you were addressing this to Bryan, but if I may interject an opinion. This sounds an awful lot like socialism. This does not promote investments and a capitalistic society. The US is where we are today economically, technologically, medically, and socially (and more) because of democracy and capitalism.barry2952 said:You were in the wrong business. I have been in business for 27 years and while I agree with you about some of your employee issues, many are resolved by spreading around the wealth.
I have attained a level of age and wealth that no longer requires large infusions of cash. I'd rather give it to the employees than waste it in double-taxed business profits. I see a lot of hostility and disconnection in the work place because there is such a strong barrier between the haves and have nots. Not only monetary, but in aspects of their jobs that pertain to power.
I agree with that. But it's not up to me to tell anyone how much is enough. Most employers want to be fair with their employees when it comes to pay.barry2952 said:How much money do I need? Spreading it around a little buys loyalty and performance. That sounds pretty capitalistic to me.
I'll address your prior post later because there were so many points I want to comment on.barry2952 said:I'm not saying that I should make the same thing as my secretary. My salary is 5 times hers. All I'm saying is that employees pay much closer attention when they reap the benefits of their efforts. This is not Socialism. This is paying people enough so that they don't have to worry about money. This is paying enough to have the luxuries that a working class person should have. This rewarding of effort comes back to me twofold.
How much money do I need? Spreading it around a little buys loyalty and performance. That sounds pretty capitalistic to me.
Barry
Katshot said:Reading the previous posts here has only proven my belief that our country will never soar like an eagle until we dump the 2-party system. Too many smart people?, wasting WAY too much time and money on their own agendas, or those of their "party" rather than actually making real strides to improve the lives of all Americans. :I You know, the taxpayers!
As for the Bush vs. Kerry issue, I see Bush as a kind of Don Quijote, out chasing terrorists instead of windmills though. On the other hand, Kerry has allowed his campaign to lose serious momentum because he has surrounded himself with idiots. Does Kerry have the ability to lead the country?Good question, I'm affraid we'll never find out now. I was hopeful though until recently.