Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Republicans neither invented gerrymandering nor are they the sole practioners of it.>> No, but they've perfected the use of it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Not that I want Democrats to win, but the Republican party has too many problems right now to keep control.< I hate to admit it but I also agree with this statement..I have not voted Democratic in a presidential election since....well I haven't ( and I am 51) - but the best platform will get my vote this year -- and right now it starts with the economy of our country right there with national security so the Dem's need to rid themselves of some of the baggage in the security side for me to consider...but consider I will.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Throw in the fact that the dems are promising cut and run appeasment, tax hikes and no other solid plan for America, there is no reason to vote for them, nothing.< and I agree that if this is what the Dems come to the table with - they will lose.... I am hoping for much more from either side...but afraid I will be disappointed.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<and I agree that if this is what the Dems come to the table with - they will lose....>> There are very many moderate Democrats who WILL come to the table with a plan. One of them is Amy Klobuchar who is running for Senate from Minnesota. <<Growing Our Economy: Delivering Prosperity for All My grandpa was a miner, working 1,500 feet underground in the iron ore mines in Ely. He knew about the virtues of hard work, and he knew that the rewards of hard work and prosperity should be fairly shared. He passed this same work ethic down to my dad and me. Minnesota has always stood for opportunity through hard work. We believe that no matter where you come from, if you work hard, you can give the uplifting gift of education to your children, you can take care of your parents and have security in your later years. To make the most of this opportunity, we must have an economy that produces good-paying jobs and delivers prosperity for all. Too many hard-working Minnesotans and Americans now struggle to make ends meet -- squeezed by rising health care costs, soaring home mortgages, skyrocketing gas prices and mounting bills for child care and college. Families confront these rising expenses even as jobs pay less, provide fewer benefits and offer less security. The current administration just doesn't seem to get it. We need leaders in Washington who will fight to protect the middle class and preserve the opportunity for everyone to share in the American Dream. With the global economy, American workers are now competing against cheaper labor overseas. I believe we must put an end to this administration's policies that reward American companies for taking our workers' jobs overseas. Instead, we should provide incentives for creating new, good-paying jobs here at home. Technological innovation will be key to our future prosperity in this ever more connected world. Minnesota has always been on the cutting edge of science, technology and new products -- from the pacemaker to the Post-It Note. National investment in basic and applied research must continue to be an important force for turning bright ideas into real, marketable products that give rise to new industries and new jobs. A key part of maintaining a healthy economy is a safe and efficient transportation system. The movement of goods and people is an essential part any sort of economic activity. Minnesota companies need to get their goods to markets, and our workers need to get to their jobs. Transportation is the link that helps Minnesota's economic development to thrive. Federal investment in Minnesota's highway and transit systems is crucial if we want our communities to grow and prosper. To make these investments and ensure a prosperous economy, we need a federal government that is able to gets its own fiscal house in order. Every day, our government spends over $800 million dollars just to pay the interest and principal on the federal debt. Instead of piling up more expenses to pay even more unneeded debt, we could be putting our money to much better use for college scholarships, roads and investment in renewable energy. Instead, the president has sacrificed financial common sense, pushing our nation unnecessarily deep into debt while giving special tax breaks to the richest of the rich. The priorities in Washington need to change. As your U.S. Senator, here's what I'll fight for: - I will fight to make sure that Minnesota gets the resources we need to grow our businesses and create new jobs. I will fight to expand efforts to invest in renewable energy and other innovative technology to fully harvest Minnesota's ingenuity and resources. These efforts have the potential to generate an abundance of jobs in Minnesota for decades to come. I will fight to make sure that Minnesota communities get the support they need to maintain and update their infrastructure -- whether it's traditional roadways or high-speed broadband on the information highway -- to bring new opportunities for economic development. - I will fight for fair trade, not just free trade. International trade can provide access to important new markets for Minnesota's products, and it is crucial to our state's future prosperity. But our businesses must have fair access to these markets and we must have a level playing field for our farmers and workers. I will insist that labor and environmental standards be a part of the trade agreements we negotiate with other countries. - I will fight for fiscal responsibility in our federal budget. Our current and future prosperity is endangered by the reckless fiscal policies of the current administration. We will always need to spend what it takes to secure our country and to respond to disasters like Katrina. But the lack of discipline in Washington since President Bush took office has led to a record level of debt -- much of it owed to foreign entities. In just a few years, this administration turned a $200 billion dollar surplus into a $300 billion dollar deficit. This deficit means every child born in America today is stuck with a $26,000 tax -- their share of the federal deficit. I will fight for a return to the "Pay-As-You-Go" rule which worked so well to create budget surpluses and a prosperous economy during the 1990s.>> Source: <a href="http://www.amyklobuchar.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=" target="_blank">http://www.amyklobuchar.com/in dex.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=</a>%7B19F027D2-617A-4685-88A2-EDD91FC1730D%7D Those sound like good solid plans to me. So much for Democrats never having any ideas.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <American workers are now competing against cheaper labor overseas. I believe we must put an end to this administration's policies that reward American companies for taking our workers' jobs overseas. Instead, we should provide incentives for creating new, good-paying jobs here at home.< standing on chair clapping.. btw - a major company ( fortune 10 type ) I wont mention who- just announced earnings for 2Q -- revenue down yet profit rose significantly ...how ? completed another sale of a division to a company owned by the Chinese government -- axed 16,000 workers and sent many other jobs overseas to low cost providers....the modern formula for success. so add that to the 100,000 or so jobs to be lost at Ford - GM and according to some here, they must all be slackards anyway -- and they will all find gainful employment shortly if they just keep their attitude up. I'm telling you ,if not 2006, then 2008 will bring change....I am a perfect example of one who is willing to change and I have not even been affected directly by this -- ( at least yet ) - it's got to stop...it is just as bad as the whole .com bull that burst....
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger >>Minnesota has always been on the cutting edge of science, technology and new products -- from the pacemaker to the Post-It Note. << Darn, Minnesota has the P's all wrapped up. I guess my plan to invent the petunia petal plucker here in California is a no-go. My concern in that Amy Klobuchar's plan seems to contain a lot of (what will in fact be) pork for Minnesota.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<My concern in that Amy Klobuchar's plan seems to contain a lot of (what will in fact be) pork for Minnesota.>> If so, it's about danged time. Minnesota ranks somewhere around 40 something in the $$ we get back from the Federal Government compared to the $$ we send to the Federal Government.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger 2004 numbers: Minnesota ranks at #47. California ranks at #43 (getting $.10 more per dollar than Minn) according to: <a href="http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/ftsbs-20060316.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.taxfoundation.org/f iles/ftsbs-20060316.pdf</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Illinois .06 less than California and just above Minnesota.... we get squat also
