Obama and His Accomplishments

Oh, if it were only that simple, if the world was divided into ditch diggers and restaurant moguls, then, yes, your scenario would have validity. However, it's not. And, if you think that perpetuating a system that gradually makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, then you are in for a serious surprise. Either that, or you think Latin America has the ideal with it's massive shantytowns sitting beside the high rollers. The "they're too lazy" accusation is just bullshit. It's a matter of worker exploitation (Cue the ubiquitous "Marxist" accusations).

It isn't a matter of enviousness. The middle class is the life blood of a capitalist system and it's being eroded by this problem. Rich people typically benefit at a much higher rate from government programs, yet, somehow, people think we're a country full of self-made rich folk and lazy, worthless poor people. So, yes, there's a good reason why there's a disparity in wealth. Those who have it are able to manipulate legislation through lobbyists and other means to suit their needs and label anything similar that benefits the poor as "class warfare" or "socialism". Meanwhile, they benefit from workers who were educated in government schools, drive on government roads, etc., etc. It's a scam that people buy because they are deluded into thinking they are the next ones to hit it big.

It really isn't a hard concept to understand.

 

I'm sure raising taxes to 40% on the rich and lettin half the country pay no taxes and a decent portion of those actually get paid is the path to prosperity.

 

Well, one, you live in Tennessee, so liberal has a different context. And, two, I would surmise that those who are liberal think Obama hasn't been successful for far different reasons than you state. Namely, they don't think he's been liberal enough, which is addressed in the article.

And, yet, he sits at a 48% approval rating, so that means about half the country thinks he's doing at least a good job. But, you can't find one person? Who are you talking to?

 

You talk about us needing to be forced off the oil teet, is there no need to end the welfare class and get them contributing?

 

It's 38 percent (from 35 percent) and everyone pays taxes, that bullshit lie is another one of those circulated through Republican circles that is always trotted out for effect, no matter how many times it's shown to be incorrect.

 

Over half the country thougt he'd be a good president four years ago despite zero accomplishments and virtually zero qualifications. So what?

 

Since he took office welfare has risen by over 100 billion. At some point people have to sink or swim, but thats not going to happen if people keep getting handouts. You really dont think those same people wont be in line to re-elect the man that keeps them fed? Also see kpt's response bellow. Where in the constitution does it say we need to take from the rich and give to the poor? Not attacking you jayvol, you are a good dude, this administration just gets my blood pressure up.

 

Not everyone pays income taxes.

 

You make it sound like a 48% approval rating is a good thing.

I have a wide variety of friends from basically every part of the spectrum politically and economically.

The best I have heard is that he's been ok, or they have been disappointed.

 

There's always going to be a need for a safety net as well as incentives to get out of that safety net. However, the concept that always pisses me off is this attitude that welfare recipients are simply leeches sitting their fat ass in a chair and collecting checks. In my experience, yes, that definitely happens, yet most of the welfare recipients I see are people who have lower paying jobs and use welfare to make ends meet. To me, that's the greater problem, when you have a full time job and still need to have assistance to get things you need for your family.

That's also the real class warfare, in my estimation, the vilification of the poor, the willingness to portray the ones who abuse the system as the norm over the ones who need the system.

As for the disparity, the real need is to revitalize the middle class. Returning to the Clinton tax code won't magically do that, but to think that's the only solution being proposed is ignoring a lot of other things happening as well.

 

The welfare rolls have increased because we had the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, not because Obama's policies suddenly made everyone want to get one welfare. That's one of the things that makes MY blood boil, that people create bullshit accusations towards this administration.

 

You have to live within your means. If welfare is needed for that, you need to make some changes, not continue on welfare forever.

 

Actually, once you factor in the 3.8% surtax on investment income and such, it's going to be over 40% starting in 2013.

And even if not, it's 39 and not 38.

And what you also don't factor in this is that middle class tax rates are also going to go up as well. The biggest hit is going to be lower middle class families currently paying at a 10% or at the lower-end 15% bracket if we are talking proportion of income.

 

It means it's half the country, which should permit you to find at least a few who think he's doing well. Maybe the number is skewed because it's the south and he's the spawn of Satan down here. And, like I said, I'm critical of the liberal people, too, because they have had completely unrealistic expectations of Obama as well and the things that would've been accomplished. Obama, when reflected upon his time in office, will have been incredibly productive. The health care bill alone is a monumental accomplishment.

 

Yes, just cut out superflous things like food and rent. Seriously, you need to check out some of these families before throwing that claim out there, you'd be shocked. I deal with this stuff quite frequently and there are a million issues at play here, none of them requiring a simple solution. It's easy to sit back with a good job and background, then thumb your nose at the working poor.

Also, someone asked me "Do you think the solution is taking from the rich to give to the poor?" I have to ask in return, is the solution then taking from the poor to give to the rich? Because, according to the numbers, that's what we're doing.

 

He passed a bill with a supermajority in Congress that's likely unconstitutional. Add him to Rushmore.

 

If you're talking about capital gains tax, then that's nowhere near 40% and middle class families under $250,000 a year aren't going to be affected, that's been reiterated numerous times.

 

Some people might need to reconsider the whole family thing. I got by just fine on low-paying jobs for years when I had only myself to worry about. If you aren't able to easily take care of yourself with mj wy to spare, perhaps adding five kids to the equation isn't the smartest idea.

And I'd love to look at some monthly expenses beyond food and rent. I'm willing to bet there are a lot more superfluous expenses than what you're implying. Shit, when I would work at the health department my car was the worst one in the parking lot and half the people had iPhones.

 

Universal health care is one of the main components of a modern society and likely not unconstitutional, even with a conservative majority court. We are mocked for our health care system throughout much of the western world.

 

Not if we go back to pure pre-Bush tax law, which you stated earlier. If we do that, then rates will rise on everyone. Investment income taxes will shoot back to a 39.6% rate on the top bracket plus the 3.8% surtax on top of it.

And if we don't do that and just raise it on people with 200-250K plus income, then good luck trying to convince anyone with common sense that class warfare is not at play here.