The US State of the Union message for 2011: Thoughts and Commentary

[drone]

I think this kind of attitude is counter productive. A decline doesn't mean we are the Western Roman Empire here. It just means we have been doing things the wrong way for a while and we need to change it up and improve to ourselves. This is why I don't understand why people bash Obama for doing exactly this, if these changes he is making are really so terrible, their impacts will be evident and the public has shown itself more than willing to throw out a party when they feel dissatisfied.

As the so-called leader of the country, he can't very well get up there and spout doom and malaise. But this = , and I don't see anyone with the influence and political courage necessary to reverse it. No one is going to crank up taxes or cut the Worst Generation's handouts, it's political suicide.

[Hosakawa Tito]

High speed rail and solar shingles? Just what we need, a bigger Amtrak. We can put the solar shingles on top of the train, build windmills along the track. Then we'd have the ultimate perpetual motion machine and our energy needs would be solved. Brilliant!

[Xiahou]

and I don't see anyone with the influence and political courage necessary to reverse it. No one is going to crank up taxes or cut the Worst Generation's handouts, it's political suicide.

Chris Christie?

[Lemur]

Chris Christie?

The link, she is broken! May we have another?

[Xiahou]

The link, she is broken! May we have another?

Argh! Here's the same video from a different source.

[a completely inoffensive name]

As the so-called leader of the country, he can't very well get up there and spout doom and malaise. But this = , and I don't see anyone with the influence and political courage necessary to reverse it. No one is going to crank up taxes or cut the Worst Generation's handouts, it's political suicide.

We are hemorrhaging money because people are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices, not because of any inherent flaw in the system that is causing our downfall. Our deficit for 2011 is looking at 1.5 trillion, but guess what it would have only been 800 billion if people actually followed through in supporting Obama and the Democrats in revoking the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 1%. This idea that we are downhill is not inevitable. The situation will only guess worse and worse up to the point where people's standard of living is completely challenged. Then things will start to get fixed. But as I said before, your attitude seems to be that we will find ourselves on the same level as 1992 USSR, which isn't really the case.

[drone]

We are hemorrhaging money because people are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices, not because of any inherent flaw in the system that is causing our downfall. Our deficit for 2011 is looking at 1.5 trillion, but guess what it would have only been 800 billion if people actually followed through in supporting Obama and the Democrats in revoking the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 1%. This idea that we are downhill is not inevitable. The situation will only guess worse and worse up to the point where people's standard of living is completely challenged. Then things will start to get fixed. But as I said before, your attitude seems to be that we will find ourselves on the same level as 1992 USSR, which isn't really the case.

When you say "people", you really mean "members of Congress". Hence my comment on political courage. Nobody (at least in a leadership position) is willing to stand up and say "we need to raise taxes, my political career be damned". Not since 41 anyway.

[a completely inoffensive name]

When you say "people", you really mean "members of Congress". Hence my comment on political courage. Nobody (at least in a leadership position) is willing to stand up and say "we need to raise taxes, my political career be damned". Not since 41 anyway.

No, when I say people I really mean the public. Congress does what the public wants, which is lower taxes, more goodies. The reason why politicians don't stand up is because quite frankly, no one wants to hear it. In other countries, the difference is that people are receptive to the idea of taking on more taxes.

Here is a an example of Europe, the UK:

UK politicans: "We think we might have to raise taxes."
UK public: "Well if this is a temporary burden so that we can reduce our large debt levels, then I guess I can accept this reality."

US politicans: "We think we might have to raise taxes."
US public: "UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH TAXES!?!?!? GOVERNMENT SOCIALISM IN MY COUNTRY, NO!!!!!! KILL THE WELFARE QUEENS INSTEAD!"


Courage is wasted when those you are trying to lead don't want a leader in the first place.

[drone]

The more cynical of us think the politicians don't stand up because they are too busy feathering their nests and want to continue in their positions 2-4 years down the lines. As a republic, our representatives don't have to do what we want, just what they think is best. Currently, getting reelected is what most think is best, regardless of how close the cliff edge is coming. Hard choices are necessary now, before we no longer have any choices.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Yes but either way the UK public is receptive to the message of less money now to have some left later, whereas the US one is not. That makes a difference even if on both sides politicians are despised for being self serving and short sighted.

[Xiahou]

Yes but either way the UK public is receptive to the message of less money now to have some left later, whereas the US one is not. That makes a difference even if on both sides politicians are despised for being self serving and short sighted.

Do you have any evidence for that claim?

[drone]

As the so-called leader of the country, he can't very well get up there and spout doom and malaise. But this = , and I don't see anyone with the influence and political courage necessary to reverse it. No one is going to crank up taxes or cut the Worst Generation's handouts, it's political suicide.

After my original "we are " comment, this was my first response. I stand by it. I have not made any comment in this thread about the difference between citizens of the USA and Europe, I don't know enough about European voters to make any kind of statement there. And I specifically used 41 as an example of someone with the political courage to do the right thing.

The public has nothing to do with it, we elect politicians to serve us, not to spend their term trying to get reelected.

I do solemnly swear/affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

[a completely inoffensive name]

After my original "we are " comment, this was my first response. I stand by it. I have not made any comment in this thread about the difference between citizens of the USA and Europe, I don't know enough about European voters to make any kind of statement there. And I specifically used 41 as an example of someone with the political courage to do the right thing.

The public has nothing to do with it, we elect politicians to serve us, not to spend their term trying to get reelected.

My bad, I didn't see that Xiahou replied, not you. In my defense it's the green names and similar avatars, they trip me up.

[drone]

My bad, I didn't see that Xiahou replied, not you. In my defense it's the green names and similar avatars, they trip me up.

Similar avatars? Xiahou's nu-skool choice simply cannot compare!

[Fisherking]

My bad, I didn't see that Xiahou replied, not you. In my defense it's the green names and similar avatars, they trip me up.

That sounds down-right bigoted!

Yeh, all them green guys look alike....