I am really bewildered and would like to understand

[horsehug]

One thing that makes me so sad is the nastiness from each side about the other in politics.

So I have a hard time supporting any that do it. (Which I TOTALLY realize is most of them!)

But I wanted to say that I watch PBS news. The News Hour with Jim Lehrer is truly an excellent program. I loved watching both the Democratic and Republican conventions on it.

Susan O.

 

[tagalong]

The USA is the most powerful and influential Nation on the planet, so for that reason, citizens of other Nations are bound to feel like they care about who we elect. However the vast majority of them are not qualified to have a truly informed opinion and are not eligible to vote in our election.

But how do you decide who is qualified to have an opinion and/or who is allowed to speak it? Freedom of speech holds true for many countries - not just the US. Suggesting that others should not have an opinion seems to run a bit contrary to that...

And although Jill will not debate with the likes of me

- I feel that I am well informed. Those around me are Rebpublican, for the most part - and love to debate. I also get a well-rounded view of things on my own as I want to look at things from all sides. I have even listened to dear Rush - to hear what his latest uproar is...

Obama didn't visit the soldiers in military hospital in Germany because the press was not allowed in and he prefered to go shopping.

anita - that is not true. When it was discovered that was an erroneous report - the commentators pushing that "juicy" little item dropped it like a hot potato. And yet - it still lives on...

Just so you know Danielle, I welcome discussions from you and ALL forum members on ANY Subject we choose to discuss

Thanks, Laura - it is a forum, after all - without defined limits. Thus all sides of an issue can be discussed...

As far as the immigration issues go, I understood that Danielle's links said that Canada had the highest immigration ever for Canada - and not world-wide - but perhaps the clarification was a good idea...

Immigration levels are usually determined by the population of the resident country - not land mass. So according to the links, if roughly 1 out of every 5 Canadians is an immigrant...

The nation’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached a record of 37.9 million in 2007.

We see that the number of immigrants in the US is more than the entire population of Canada... (33,390,141 as of July 2007)

With the US population at about 301,139,947 (as of July 2007) ... approximately 1 in every 7.9 people in the US is an immigrant but as it is hard to estimate the number of illegals here IMO that number is probably much lower - 1 in 6? Who knows...

Both countries open their doors to immigrants... as best they can...

 

[Gini]

We all have our own opinions and this is the way it should be. I for one thank this forum and ML for letting this "debate" continue. Political conversations can get quite heated at times but I learn from all that care to get into this discussion. Thank you all from other countries and especially those in the USA that are participating and voiceing their opinions.

Like some of the lyrics taken from one of Lee Greenwoods songs "I'm PROUD to be an AMERICAN where at least I know I'm free!

 

[Gini]

No it was not okay. But they made it seem like the brother in law did it like it was a punishment or abuse. The child wanted to see what it was like. The father did it to show him how horrible tasers can be. Was that right, probably not for a child. But allegedly going behind a persons back to put pressure on his superiors to fire him is wayyyy not right either.

Weeellll...if I read right this was 22 years ago..about the same time Obama was puffing his marijuana

In 2006, before Palin was governor, Wooten was briefly suspended for ten days for threatening to kill McCann's (and Palin's) father, tasering his 11-year-old stepson, and violations of the game laws. After a union protest, the suspension was reduced to five days.

 

[joylee123]

But Jill, I know you like Mc Cain, you've stated it many times and you are one of the ones I wanted an answer from but no one tells me why? I swear, I'm not being a smart alec...

Marnie, I believe McCain has the vision, decisiveness and experience to successfully lead our Nation. I do not feel Obama does. In my heart, I honestly feel our Nation's welfare depends on McCain being elected and that we will be in a precarious position if Obama is elected.

I'm loving the boost that Palin brings! She impresses me greatly and the "negative" things reported about her to my ears are so minor especially when I know how hard the press has worked to try and ferret out anything big, with no real luck at all. Palin is a someone I admire and am just tickled with what she brings.

McCain will help insure that wars our soldiers fight will not be fought on home soil. <--------------

McCain will expand trade / promote free trade to strengthen our economy.

McCain will make taxation more fair and level, currently the top 25% of US tax payers pay 84% of the total federal income tax burden (and I"m sick of it -- most of you who think that's fine and so what if the rich pay that much would be surprised to see YOU are also probably in the top 25%).

McCain will work to free the US from dependence on foreign oil.

McCain will work to make health care more affordable and but will not promote a socialized medical system.

These are some of the things I believe and some of the reasons I am voting for McCain.

PS, Marnie, I'm sorry I didn't answer you in my previous post. I'm so used to bashing from the other side, I didn't understand you sincerely were asking for "why". Thank you for asking and for listening, even if you do not agree with my reasoning as to why he is the right man for our Nation.

[SIZE=12pt]How does free trade help our economy? Seems to me more jobs have been lost here in America since the free trade agreement, whomever implemented it. I am not politically savvy but???[/SIZE]

I guess I feel after the last election when Kerry ran and the republicans voted Bush in for another term

.... it kind of proved to me that republicans vote republican for the sake of voting republican

And as far as only McCain working to free us from foreign oil, I really think at this point we have no choice whomever becomes President. And making Health Care more afforable? Is he going to make sure each physician and hospital stops raping patients for a 3 cent pill that the patient is being charged 3 dollars for? It all sounds great but really.... I think folks need to be a little more realistic

[SIZE=12pt]I guess Id just like to see the country running in the black again, folks having work and no war.[/SIZE]

 

[littlesteppers]

Obama is socialism..coming and living in Germany for 28 years..let me tell you you would not like it..

IF he wins..you will be TOLD what do and when to do it..Germany pays the same for a barrel of oil than we are..yet the price is double/triple as of what you pay here..guess what... TAXES..

Sales tax

Sales tax (also known as value-added tax) has the economic impact of a general tax on consumption that is levied on all private and public consumption. This tax is charged on the sale of goods or provision of services only to the end customer. The tax is normally payable by the company that generates sales. It is thus the responsibility of this company to pass on sales tax to the recipient of its services as a component of its prices. The German Sales Tax Law recognizes two tax rates: the general tax rate, which currently stands at 16% (but will be raised to 19% as of January 1, 2007); and the reduced rate of 7%.

now why is that..because the money for supporting unemployed pple.. (8 percent..the lowest in 15 years)..healthcare..it all gotto come from somewhere..I want to know what you all have to say than..on the taxing the rich..don't you think governemnt want the rich to do good..after all they would be taxed..so good sorce of income?

In Germany there are VERY few small businesses..because its not worth it..government regulates anything.

http://www.muenchen.de/Rathaus/raw_e/inves...in_germany.html

 

[LisaF.]

Christine - Thank you for posting that - I think we need to hear more from people that have lived in other contries such as Germany, etc. That has really seen how bad things can be.

I for one do not want to be told what I can and can not do.

As you know or maybe you don't. I am really not sure, so I will explain just in case.

My best friend through high school - we don't stay in touch, she really turned out not so good.

But, her sister has been my sister in law for about I don't know 15 years or so.

Well, I have known there mother for many years. I am 44 and I have known her since I was in 7th grade. She will seldom even talk about Germany and when she does it is very sad for me.

She is not ashamed of where she came from as she should not be. But, I do know she had a tough time growing up. I do not know if everyone in Germany is like that or not. I can only go from History and what she tells me of her life.

Ok - can you tell I really think alot of her..lol.

Anyway, sorry to get off topic - I just wanted to thank you for reminding people of how it COULD be if we get the wrong person in office.

I do realize, they are not a perfect person that walks this earth. So, I am not saying McCain/Palin are perfect.

I am saying Obama scares me if he becomes President. I think it will hurt the USA more than we probably can even expect.

 

[LisaF.]

No it was not okay. But they made it seem like the brother in law did it like it was a punishment or abuse. The child wanted to see what it was like. The father did it to show him how horrible tasers can be. Was that right, probably not for a child. But allegedly going behind a persons back to put pressure on his superiors to fire him is wayyyy not right either.

Crabby Chicken - I have a question for you or anyone that agrees with your statement above.

I am a smoker - now that is embarrassing to admit. I wish I did not have this horrible habit. Someday, somehow I hope and pray to over come this horrible addiction.

Now, to my question - When my children were growing up or my grand children I have now. If they came to me and said I want to know how bad that cigarette taste - or I want to know how bad that cigarette would hurt if I got burned by it.

Am I suppose to EXPLAIN to them or SHOW them?

You know what would happen to me - I would be thrown in jail for Child Abuse. I think he should have been thrown in jail for child abuse. There is no reason good enough for me - for him to use a Taser Gun on a child.

I don't even smoke in my own home when my Grand children are here.

I don't own a Taser Gun so I can not use that as an example - here is another example. I do own a BB Gun- don't laugh - I get stray dogs and I shoot it in the air to scare them away.

What if they wanted to feel the sting of the BB Gun? What should I DO?

I mean seriously, saying the child " wanted" to know how it felt so he showed him how bad it could be?

The list could go on forever- Children are curious about A LOT of things. To we talk to them about it or do we show them how bad it can be?

How does " showing" a child how bad a taser gun feels make since?

Oh, and I would have done a lot more than tried to get the man fired. I would have pressed charges if that happened to a child in my family.