tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554085892956504771.post4894516128565508493..comments2023-09-14T15:21:57.514-05:00Comments on The View from 111: My ViewThe View from 111http://www.blogger.com/profile/01404928803945401527noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554085892956504771.post-73838472108192441712012-08-28T14:55:22.002-05:002012-08-28T14:55:22.002-05:00Thanks for reading, Ken. I appreciate your point o...Thanks for reading, Ken. I appreciate your point of view, and you should know that I am a heat seeking missle for the truth. So here ya go:<br /><br />There are not more private sector jobs than when Obama took office. Obama is fond of saying "he" created 4.5MM new jobs. That number only works if you look at the jobs created from the nadir of the recession. The fact is that there is a net job loss since he took office. The reasons for that do not reside solely with his administration, but it is with a doubt that his policies have contributed to the high unemployment rate. When you have an unemployment rate that was just over 4% when he took office to a rate today that is (nominally) over 8%, there is no way to stretch reality far enough to say that he has created jobs or that the net job loss is only 500K.<br /><br />Notice what the administration is saying about taxes. "Hard choices" is setting the stage for tax increases, and when a senior administration official is advocating a VAT, I would think that it is at least getting a hearing by others in that administration and would be incredibly naive to think that it wasn't. We will have to disagree about the veracity of Baer's statement that "it is not being considered" as I think this administration has strained the limits of truthfulness. As I said, Democrats want a European style welfare state, and the only way to get to that point is through broad tax schemes like a VAT.<br /><br />Cutting defense is part of a strategic view of America's role in the world, and I would respectfully disagree with that position. Given that angry Mullahs of questionable sanity are nearly (or more frighteningly are) nuclear capable, the last thing I would want to see is the ability of the U.S. to defend itself and its allies diminished. Like it or not, America is the world's sheriff and through its projected and actual military prowess has brought and preserved freedom around around the world.<br /><br />The fundamental disagreement that I have with this administration and with most liberals is the power and scope of government. For years Washington- and I include Republicans in this indictment- has greatly expanded its power to the detriment of the individual and their rights. My belief is that the individuals should be free to live their lives and have the ability to succeed or fail without interference from the nanny state.<br /><br />Again, I appreciate your read of the blog and your viewpoint. And your support of the Preds.The View from 111https://www.blogger.com/profile/01404928803945401527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554085892956504771.post-6244529178617462912012-08-28T09:54:40.277-05:002012-08-28T09:54:40.277-05:00"Rather than demagogue proposed solutions, no..."Rather than demagogue proposed solutions, no matter how radical, we should have an honest discussion about how to make them solvent and viable."<br />Well, if you had written an honest piece, perhaps we could have an honest discussion. <br />First, you cut defense. Any reasonable discussion must start with reduction in spending for the defense budget.<br />There are more private sector jobs, now, than when Obama took office. The net loss comes from more workers in the workforce not being able to find jobs, combined with the 500,000 or so less government workers.<br />If the Republicans would have pledged allegiance to the US, instead of Grover Norquist, they wouldn't be afraid to do the right thing, which is raise taxes on individuals making over $250K a year. So Congress isn't stalling or passing the buck, the Republicans are refusing to do the right thing, as they have for this entire session of Congress. Much as people fail to recognize the previous president as a cog in this machine of debt and mismanagement. What Bush did, for much of his administration, was basically write checks and forget, conveniently, to write the amount in the ledger. Then one day down the road, 'When did I write this $1 trillion dollar check? Guess that will need to be paid, too.'<br />The VAT is being considered by A PERSON IN the administration, which isn't the same as being considered BY the administration. In fact, WH spokesman Kenneth Baer has said that it is not being considered.<br />You are right about a promise that has been made for Social Security and Medicare, those promises should be kept. They don't need much to change for that to happen, including removing the payroll tax exemption. Don't forget, even the twenty-year-old worker has had a promise made by Social Security. They take taxes out and send us all a sheet of paper that says this is how much money we will get back when we retire at 65. I'm holding you to that, a promise to allow me to retire at 65.<br /><br />You wrote "we should have an honest discussion". Yes, we should. When are you going to start that?<br /><br />Perhaps I should have commented before, but I just let your ramblings go, choosing to come back for your Preds stuff. Now, I have to keep you honest. <br /><br />Ken Sharp<br />Preds fan, truth seeker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com