SGG's What's Your Issue Poll

[SmootSmack]

Sheriff Gonna Getcha is all about the political polls today.

Ok, so when choosing your candidate what's the most important issue to you? I'll give you the option of choosing two since I'm sure Iraq would be the overwhelming choice for the majority of the group.

-Foreign Affairs (Iraq)
-Health Care
-Economy
-Social Security
-Education
-Abortion
-Immigration
-Energy & Oil
-Gun Control
-Tax Reform

Granted these are broad issues. But it's a start

[dmek25]

i voted health care. but its going to have to be someone with some big gazoinkas to try and fix that mess. between the drug companies, the doctors, and the insurance companies. thats a hole lot of cash

[saden1]

All the issues are important to me.

Foreign Affairs - We need to do the right thing. Get the fuck out of other people's business. I would like to see us isolate ourselves from world conflict. Step back and say we're not willing to be a middle man. We're not going to make back door deals. I'm a layzafair isolationist.

Health Care - I don't want to see a complete and utter overhaul as that would be disruptive. I want to see reduction in costs, the repeal of the drug prescription bill that was passed and a proposal of a new bill that's fair to the people and the drug companies.

Economy - I need to get paid, and continue to get paid. I'd hate to end up on the streets pimping your sister :P

Social Security - I'm paying into this program and I'll never see a penny if things stay the same. I'd like to see the government not be allowed to borrow from it. I'd like to see money invested in stopping SS fraud. I think at some point we have to overhaul SS.

Education - My brother's tuition needs to be reduced. That'll stop the SOB from trying to hit me up for some money . I see no need for the Federal department of education. They're just useless middle men. The states should have control over education and manage financial aid and grants. They already to it any ways. I'd like to see the school systems and teachers get evaluated and tested. I've been in classes taught by beef jerkies that didn't know shit. I'd like to see those people in other professions.

Abortion - I just hate for the government to legislate and dictate what people can or can't do. I will however support a ban on partial birth abortion. I think a woman should make a decision to abort the baby before it's fully formed. 6 months seems like an awfully long time to not make up your mind. Of course a ban on partial birth abortion shouldn't apply if the woman's heath is at risk.

Immigration - Just look around and see who is making your pizza, sandwich, cleaning up after your ass. It's immigrants. Immigrations are good for this country though I don't like the fact that so many people are coming into the country illegally especially when so many people around the world are waiting and going through the lottery system. I say deport all the criminals right away. You can't really deport 12+ million illegal immigrants without adverse impact on the economy so I say let the ones that are currently here illegally work towards residency/citizenship. They should be granted work permits and allowed to work in the states. After 10 years they should be eligible for a green card.

Energy & Oil - No single politician has the power to impact how the Oil and Automakers operate. The politicians will all tell you what they want you to hear and not too many of them have the balls to or can institute the policies necessary for change. F*ck the energy and oil industrial complex, I'm waiting for that killer car and fuel source. Only the people can bring about change. I'll vote with my dollars.

Gun Control - People should be able to own guns. I go to the shooting range once in a while with former marine buddy and it's pretty fun. I don't like the idea of people being able to buy guns willie-nillie though. WTF does anyone need 10 AK-47's for? Guns are enablers and they make you feel powerful, it's best to stay away from them all together unless you're participating in some kind of activity.

Tax Reform - Uncle Sam is bending me over every paycheck. Not only that but our executives pay capital gains tax of 15% on their stock options while us lowly employees pay our income tax rate. I'd like to see capital gains mess sorted out and fairness brought to our tax system. I'd like to see the elimination of tax havens for corporations and wealthy individuals. No, you can't do business in the states and have you HQ in the Cayman Islands. I'd like to see single people get a tax brake for being single and not contributing to over population. Married couple who don't have kids should get a tax break too

p.s. Vote for saden in '08.

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by saden1

All the issues are important to me.

Foreign Affairs - We need to do the right thing. Get the fuck out of other people's business. I would like to see us isolate ourselves from world conflict. Step back and say we're not willing to be a middle man. We're not going to make back door deals. I'm a layzafair isolationist.

Health Care - I don't want to see a complete and utter overhaul as that would be disruptive. I want to see reduction in costs, the repeal of the drug prescription bill that was passed and a proposal of a new bill that's fair to the people and the drug companies.

Economy - I need to get paid, and continue to get paid. I'd hate to end up on the streets pimping your sister :P

Social Security - I'm paying into this program and I'll never see a penny if things stay the same. I'd like to see the government not be allowed to borrow from it. I'd like to see money invested in stopping SS fraud. I think at some point we have to overhaul SS.

Education - My brother's tuition needs to be reduced. That'll stop the SOB from trying to hit me up for some money I see no need for the Federal department of education. They're just useless middle men. The states should have control over education and manage financial aid and grants. They already to it any ways. I'd like to see the school systems and teachers get evaluated and tested. I've been in classes taught by beef jerkies that didn't know shit. I'd like to see those people in other professions.

Abortion - I just hate for the government to legislate and dictate what people can or can't do. I will however support a ban on partial birth abortion. I think a woman should make a decision to abort the baby before it's fully formed. 6 months seems like an awfully long time to not make up your mind. Of course a ban on partial birth abortion shouldn't apply if the woman's heath is at risk.

Immigration - Just look around and see who is making your pizza, sandwich, cleaning up after your ass. It's immigrants. Immigrations are good for this country though I don't like the fact that so many people are coming into the country illegally especially when so many people around the world are waiting and going through the lottery system. I say deport all the criminals right away. You can't really deport 12+ million illegal immigrants without adverse impact on the economy so I say let the ones that are currently here illegally work towards residency/citizenship. They should be granted work permits and allowed to work in the states. After 10 years they should be eligible for a green card.

Energy & Oil - No single politician has the power to impact how the Oil and Automakers operate. The politicians will all tell you what they want you to hear and not too many of them have the balls to or can institute the policies necessary for change. F*ck the energy and oil industrial complex, I'm waiting for that killer car and fuel source. Only the people can bring about change. I'll vote with my dollars.

Gun Control - People should be able to own guns. I go to the shooting range once in a while with my former marine buddy and it's pretty fun. I don't like the idea of people being able to buy guns willie-nillie though. WTF does anyone need 10 AK-47's for? Guns are enablers and they make you feel powerful, it's best to stay away from all together unless you're participating in some kind of activity.

Tax Reform - Uncle Sam is bending me over every paycheck. Not only that but our executives pay capital gains tax of 15% on their stock options while us lowly employees pay our income tax rate. I'd like to see capital gains mess sorted out and fairness brought to our tax system. I'd like to see the elimination of tax havens for corporations and wealthy individuals. No, you can't do business in the states and have you HQ in the Cayman Islands. I'd like to see single people get a tax brake for being single and not contributing to over population. Married couple who don't have kids should get a tax break too

p.s. Vote for saden in '08.

I agree with just about everything he said, You got my vote...

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by saden1

Tax Reform - I'd like to see the elimination of tax havens for corporations and wealthy individuals. No, you can't do business in the states and have you HQ in the Cayman Islands.

Saden, this is an interesting comment, one that I’ve heard many times as an example of outrage over corporations looking to escape tax liabilities. But did you know that the United States is the only industrialized country in the world which imposes taxes on American based companies on products sold outside the United States? Every other industrialized nation will charge a tax on products sold in their own country, but not on what they sell overseas. The U.S. is the only country that does it.

Can you blame a corporation from moving its headquarters to a place that offers the best opportunity to do business? Let’s say you personally had the choice to work or start a business in two of our 50 states – one imposes a state income tax, and one does not. Which state would you choose? Is it wrong to look out for your own best interests and locate your business in the state which provides the best incentives to work there? Of course not! So why should it be any different for any other business?

Aside from all that, how exactly do we stop businesses from headquartering in another country? Do we stop them at the border or an airport at gunpoint? Or once they do relocate, do we stop allowing them to sell their product here, in an effort to punish them for not ‘doing the right thing’ by taking it up the butt in taxes?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Saden, this is an interesting comment, one that I’ve heard many times as an example of outrage over corporations looking to escape tax liabilities. But did you know that the United States is the only industrialized country in the world which imposes taxes on American based companies on products sold outside the United States? Every other industrialized nation will charge a tax on products sold in their own country, but not on what they sell overseas. The U.S. is the only country that does it.

Can you blame a corporation from moving its headquarters to a place that offers the best opportunity to do business? Let’s say you personally had the choice to work or start a business in two of our 50 states – one imposes a state income tax, and one does not. Which state would you choose? Is it wrong to look out for your own best interests and locate your business in the state which provides the best incentives to work there? Of course not! So why should it be any different for any other business?

Aside from all that, how exactly do we stop businesses from headquartering in another country? Do we stop them at the border or an airport at gunpoint? Or once they do relocate, do we stop allowing them to sell their product here, in an effort to punish them for not ‘doing the right thing’ by taking it up the butt in taxes?

Internation law works such that a corporation pays taxes in the country it is based out of. Whether you make the money in the sates or not is irrelevant. You have to pay taxes to somebody and if you're not paying any taxes, well, you're cheating the system. You and I will have to pick up their load, and that doesn't sit well with me.

As for the states, they really have to compete for business to move to their states and create jobs. Most corporations are based out of Delaware, Nevada or New Jersey nowadays to avoid paying state taxes. I would like to see life made simple for the corporations. Them having to deal with so many states tax laws is unfair and inefficient.

How would a stop a corporation from cheating the system? Tax them more. Place tariff on their goods.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by saden1

Internation law works such that a corporation pays taxes in the country it is based out of. Whether you make the money in the sates or not is irrelevant. You have to pay taxes to somebody and if you're not paying any taxes, well, you're cheating the system. You and I will have to pick up their load, and that doesn't sit well with me.

Right -- businesses and corporations will always pay taxes to the country that they are based in, but only the United States imposes taxes on products sold in their country and products sold in other countries. That's why it makes good business sense to move your headquarters out of the country that has a bad tax policy and into a country that has a better tax policy. You still think that's a bad thing?

Unless you're rich, because I'm certainly not, you and I are likely not "picking up the load." Most of the tax revenue in this country comes from top earners thanks to our progressive tax system. Politicians love it that way -- they can stay in power by appealing to the larger mass of voters by sticking it to the rich who are far fewer in numbers.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Right -- businesses and corporations will always pay taxes to the country that they are based in, but only the United States imposes taxes on products sold in their country and products sold in other countries. That's why it makes good business sense to move your headquarters out of the country that has a bad tax policy and into a country that has a better tax policy. You still think that's a bad thing?

What does that mean? Corporate profits are taxed. Are you saying that profits made on products sold outside the country shouldn't be taxed?

Almost every country in the world has a sales tax of sort and that's the kind of money foreign nations generate from American companies doing business in their nation. If, say, Microsoft does business in Italy, it's not paying corporate tax to the Italian goverment.

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Unless you're rich, because I'm certainly not, you and I are likely not "picking up the load." Most of the tax revenue in this country comes from top earners thanks to our progressive tax system. Politicians love it that way -- they can stay in power by appealing to the larger mass of voters by sticking it to the rich who are far fewer in numbers.

It don't think it should matter whether I am rich or not. I'm still paying taxes and the corporations are setting up shell companies outside the states to shelter them from taxes. On the account of principle I protest.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by saden1

How would a stop a corporation from cheating the system? Tax them more. Place tariff on their goods.

And who pays the tab for that greater tax burden?

Answer? The consumers. The businesses and corporations will simply pass the expense on to the people who buy their products. So the cost is simply diverted. In the end, the consumers get stuck with the tab.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

And who pays the tab for that greater tax burden?

Answer? The consumers. The businesses and corporations will simply pass the expense on to the people who buy their products. So the cost is simply diverted. In the end, the consumers get stuck with the tab.

Tariffs are designed to make market entry costly and prohibitive. At some point these companies will figure out that it's much cheaper to just pay their share and move on. If they don't their shareholders will be up in arms and no company wants that.

[Sammy Baugh Fan]

Moral Character

You missed it and our Country "try" to look for it.

[Schneed10]

Issues related to economics drive about 75% of my voting decision.

The rate at which the economy grows has a profound effect on our lives, there's a trickle-down or ripple effect. Strong GDP growth leads to:

- more jobs
- more people who can afford healthcare
- more citizens with portfolios that most would consider reliable sources of retirement income (mitigating the impending social security disaster)
- more tax revenue to the federal government (the higher the profits of big business, the more taxes they pay)
- stronger currency
- and GDP growth helps mitigate the consequences of the federal deficit

I think the economy is the issue of which Americans have the poorest understanding, BY FAR. And yet it's by far the most important to our children's future and our own well-being in the present.

Figures the salary cap nerd would say the economy, LOL. But what can I say, money talks.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Foreign Affairs (Iraq): We should stay out of most people's business (including "humanitarian wars"). But, Al Qaeda is our business and I'm glad we went into Afghanistan and we should stay there. I'm pissed we went into Iraq, but I honestly do not know how leaving Iraq is going to make it better. I don't buy the Ostrich "bury your head in the sand and things will all be better" theory.

-Health Care People should not complain about doctors or insurance companies when they have a KFC drumstick hanging out the side of their mouth. Our healthcare system is very screwed up and needs some fixing, but you don't need so many "fixins."

Social Security I don't really know where I stand. On the one hand, there should be some very basic safety net for people. On the other hand, it seems awfully paternalistic to say to people "give me your money because you are too dumb to make a decision for yourself." Moreover, the return on investment for SS isn't nearly as good as that which many safe mutual funds can offer. I'm not wholly sold on "privatizing" SS, but I'm not convinced that the government is the entity that I want to trust with my money.

Education Higher education is way too expensive. There are a lot of people with enormous talent who think that college is a pipedream because their parents can't afford to send them to college. In that regard, we are wasting an awful lot of smart people that we have invested our tax dollars in.

Abortion See Saden's response.

Immigration Sometimes I think that "immigration reform" is code word for "we hate [insert minority group]." I'm not accusing anyone who supports immigration reform of being racist by any means, but the immigration reform movement has definately tapped into the "we hate [insert minority group]" segment of the population. We hear all these statements about immigrants draining the tax pool, but we rarely hear how much these immigrants contribute to American society. I suppose the inscription on the Statue of Liberty needs to be replaced with something a little more xenophobic.

Energy & Oil I have no problem with big oil. Oil is a finite resource and we will only enact sweeping energy reforms and get serious about alternative fuel development when oil becomes cost-prohibitive. We are addicted to oil and the only thing that is going to kick our habit is a good swift kick to our pocketbooks. So, drive your SUVs and help drive us towards $15 per gallon.

Gun Control I said this before, I think that very limited gun ownership is fine. Sorry, I don't put the right to propel a small projectile out of a metal tube at high velocity on par with the right to free speech or freedom of the press. Oh, and a bunch of fat guys walking around the woods in funny clothes with patches that read "18th Michigan Freedom Fighters Army" on their sleeves aren't going to stop "government tyranny."

Tax Reform I hate taxes, but I like police, roads, and schools.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Gun Control I said this before, I think that very limited gun ownership is fine. Sorry, I don't put the right to propel a small projectile out of a metal tube at high velocity on par with the right to free speech or freedom of the press. Oh, and a bunch of fat guys walking around the woods in funny clothes with patches that read "18th Michigan Freedom Fighters Army" on their sleeves aren't going to stop "government tyranny."

Well, it's still there in the constitution, and if we make all the legit people give away their guns and right to protect themselves, then the only people who have guns are the criminals. There should be no such thing as "gun control" just MASSIVE penalties for those who use it as weapon. IE: hold up a 7 11 with a pistol, you get an automatic 10 years prison.
Of course this means we will need more jails / prisons, and we should build them in the middle of no where and go back to the days where they had to bust ass to survive, not watch HBO and be allowed to work out 10 hours a day.
Just my 2 cents.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Gun Control I said this before, I think that very limited gun ownership is fine. Sorry, I don't put the right to propel a small projectile out of a metal tube at high velocity on par with the right to free speech or freedom of the press.

We've had this discussion before SGG -- you still don't hold the right to defend your life against people who mean to do you harm in very high regard?

Your right to free speech is pretty meaningless when your dead and didn't have the right to defend yourself.