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Politics

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most of the other issues seem to have been covered but i want to defend myself on the tariff issue.. ok, we raise tariffs only on the countries that pay less than minimum wage... first of all countries in europe where most or our exports go wont have any problem with this since they actually pay their workers... what it WILL prevent is our corperations from leaving and setting up shop in india or singapore and paying workers a dollar a day or worse.. the worse they pay workers the higher the tariffs, untill it is no longer profitible to steal our jobs.. and you think they re going to raise tariffs on agriculture to countries like that? that would be suicide, the ppl wouldnt be able to afford to eat.. and if we were lucky we might set a standard for other countries to follow and before ya know it EVERYONE would be making a decent wage.. or at least closer to it.. but this wont happen because this would nail big businesses balls to the wall and of course we dont want that..
 
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Depending on what country you are talking about, many countries are part of pacts/unions/etc... if one gets shafted then they will all act to help that one country out.

Also we are a capitalist country... what does that say to other countries if we pick and choose to tarrif folks... also, what would happen if india produced a product, and then shipped the parts to England, then England ships it to the US... we certainly aren't going to place Tariffs on one of our allies...

There are ways to get around Tariffs, they more than likely will not solve the prob. (if anything they will create more problems). Also I don't believe a country can issue a tariff unless they can prove that the imported product is hurting the domestic product... I doubt we would get the international ok to do it even if we wanted to (look at the steel tariff, and all the international pressure that mess created)...
 
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I was going to speak to the tariff issue, but I think GBear did a much better job than I could do. Basically the ideal is we have the best, most creative, intellegent, and logical work force in the world. Hell, we practically invented the idea of modern capitialism. We should be able to compete, and will. It all runs in cycles, remember when we were all going to be owned by the Japanese? You want to talk about ecconomic problem, look at what they are dealing with.

The Envioroment is something that someone mentioned that is a very strong liberally leaning I have. I am pissed off about the enviroment continuely getting worse, and I truly don't believe that we as a nation are doing enough about it. We should be taking the lead and enforce tougher standards of regulation, and make better use of the resources we have. Create technology that will no longer make us dependent on Oil, and other fossil fuels. We need to create more parks and protective habitat, and work harder to encourage other nations to do the same. When was the last time we put sanctions on a nation because of poor enviromental policies? The next time would be the first. This will be the one down fall of the American Century when the History books are written years from now. We didn't do anything about the enviroment, just ignored it. As if we could live without air, as if we are okay with polution of waterways. It really is a joke, and I hope that someday we find someone with similar views to mine, that is not a loon.


Education to restate what I think, which is that local government really has to solve this issue, the Federal Govt, can give tests, and give money, but really has now power, or way of implimenting a way to improving our schools. My opinion has always felt that good parents (good home situation, caring, envolved) make good students, which make good schools, and good parents. The true tradgedy of Americas schools are not the teachers, not the kids, and not necessarily the administrators, but rather the parents, and families the kids come from. The family unit is not the same, and infact is weaker. Not to point fingers but divorces, fights, one parent homes, lack of attention, and problems the parents have such as drugs, alchool, abuse, neglect create too many problems that need solved before teaching can begin. Jesus even feed the hungry people (taking care of their needs) before he would teach. C'mon common since, but it is the root of the problem. What is Bush or Kerry going to do about it? What can they do?

I also want to put my name on the side of saying that where as I agree with some of the things the Ex said about taking responsibilty and adapting to your circumstances, I do not believe that just taking a lesser, especially a much lesser job is a good solution. I worked Collections for several years, when I was a student, and just out of school, but I can honestly say that you heart must be harder than mine. There is a difference between a high school drop out looking for a Vice President gig, and a very qualified worker not being able to find a job. Especially when you see some of the idiots your company is hiring. There needs to be more high quality jobs, I just don't think raising taxes is the way to get them.

You may think differently about taking a lesser job as the BK Broiler if you graduate from school and can't find any other job to take.

Legalization is a pipe dream. It is a horrible idea, and I think it is something that will work it's way out of you once you leave the sheltered life of a student. Have a family a house, and get away from you pot head friends and see what happened to them. Trust me it will not be pretty.

Finally Gay Marriage for me boils down to the fact that I do not want the Government to tell us what we can and can not do more than they currently do unless someone is really being harmed. I don't think the Gay Marriage, (as far as the government is concerned) hurts me or other people. If you ask me if they should be able to adopt and raise children, I would have a much longer more complicated answer.
 
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Nope, he's crooked. are you happy now, BuckeyeintheBoro?
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Actually... I am! Thanks for asking. You?


As for the tariff thing... It's a duct tape solution. I would love it if it would work as I have no problem with encouraging fair-trade over free-trade (as another poster put it), but we would lose in the end due to counter-tariffs and loopholes as outlined above. Plus how do you put a tariff on information? Computer programs are being written on US computers by workers in other countries over the internet, intranets, email, etc. Its complicated enough to put a tariff on goods... services would be nearly impossible.
 
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"Morals are sbjective, based on each individual"
"I am a Christian."

If you believe what the Bible says, then these are contradictions.
On the other things you said in that post, I'm not going to say that you are wrong, but only that you are still young and niave. The life that you have experienced so far has not taught you what real life is about. That is not a crime. Just leave yourself open to the experiences of people that have lived twice as long as you, and you will learn so much more than what college is going to offer you.
 
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Some recent info on unemployment rates and the economy:

Mar 18, 8:41 AM EST

Jobless Claims Lowest Since January 2001

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped for the third consecutive week last week, pushing jobless claims to the lowest level in more than three years.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits fell by 6,000 last week to 336,000, a level that was last seen the week of Jan. 13, 2001, just before Bill Clinton relinquished the White House to George W. Bush.

In other economic news, the government said inflation at the wholesale level jumped by 0.6 percent in January, the biggest increase in three months. That reflected in part the largest jump in energy prices since last March at the start of the Iraq war. Outside of the volatile food and energy categories, the Producer Price Index rose a more moderate 0.3 percent.

The release of the PPI report for January was a month late as the Labor Department struggled to overcome difficulties in converting to a new classification system for the products it tracks for price changes.

The third straight weekly decline in jobless benefits raised hopes that a lengthy stretch of layoffs is coming to a close, setting the stage for businesses to finally begin rehiring laid-off workers.

President Bush, under attack by Democrats for what they say is the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover, is counting on his three rounds of tax cuts to finally start generating new jobs.

The lack of significant new hiring has become a key issue in the current presidential race. Presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry contends Bush pursued a failed economic strategy of providing tax cuts skewed to the wealthy, which have done little to generate new employment.

Just 21,000 new jobs were created in February, as reflected by the Labor Department's survey of payrolls, as the country's job machine continued to fall badly below expectations. The unemployment rate remained at 5.6 percent last month. The overall rate remained stable only because 392,000 Americans gave up looking for work and were no longer counted in the labor market .

Bush, who has already endured a "jobless recovery" that has lasted far longer than the one that plagued his father, is counting on the tax cuts to finally begin generating jobs at a healthy clip so that voters will feel better about their economic prospects before they go to the polls in November.

The drop of 6,000 in the number of Americans filing unemployment benefits caught analysts by surprise. They had been expecting a slight increase after two weekly declines.

The drop left the four-week moving average of claims at 344,000, the lowest level for this barometer of the labor market since Jan. 27, 2001.

The 0.6 percent January increase in the PPI, which measures price changes in goods before they reach store shelves, followed a much more moderate 0.2 percent increase in December and was the sharpest jump since a 0.7 percent rise in October.

The January jump in wholesale prices was driven by a 4.7 percent rise in energy costs, the biggest monthly increase since a 4.8 percent rise in March 2002, as the U.S.-led Iraq war was beginning. Gasoline prices rose by 14.1 percent in January while home heating oil climbed 16.8 percent.

Food prices fell by 1.4 percent at the wholesale level in January, the biggest monthly drop since a 3.1 percent decline in April 2002. Big declines were recorded in the price of beef, lettuce, cauliflower, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach.

Outside of food and energy, the 0.3 percent increase in so-called core inflation was the biggest monthly rise since a 0.5 percent increase in October. The core wholesale inflation rate actually fell by 0.1 percent in December and was unchanged in November.

On Wednesday, the government reported that consumer prices in February were up 0.3 percent, a slight moderation compared to the 0.5 percent increase in January.

The Federal Reserve, which left a key interest rate at a 45-year low on Tuesday, said one reason it was able to do so was that inflation pressures remain at low levels.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
 
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The report fails to take into account those Americans who have "lost" their jobs or have been "laid off" and have taken the entreprenurial route. New jobs created by Americans on their own appear to be overlooked in the report because those jobs are not reported by an "employer." This is yet another example of the old paradigm that you have to be employed by someone in "manufacturing" or any other industry that employs people in order to be counted in the working force. There is a great shift that has occured in the workforce and it is being overlooked - those responsible for their own destiny who take it upon themselves to make a living without working for the man.
 
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I love these type of discussions.

Jobs, where to start. Yes there is outsourcing and resizing. At the same time stock options and executive pay are at an all time high. I think the social and political impact will hit hard and have implications on elections for years out. Repetive non-skill jobs have always been replaced by technology or some other factor. What we are seeing today is a cut at the white collar, college educated, middle class. As for selling your home and cars will there be enough employed people to purchase your assets? Think of the loss of tax revenues and bankruptrcies. It is not as easy as just taking a lower paying job.

Gay marriage and benefits. I say let then have a union if it is so important. As for benefits not every company provides them and some of those that do have the employee pay, so be it. The problem I have is this is more of a sexual orientation issue. Will polygamist demand the same rights? What about the S&M and B&D crowd?

Drugs. I have heard the legalize and tax it issue. Problem is once it is legalized the price will drop and the so called benefits will be reduced. The one huge negative I see in the drug world is the senseless slaughter of innocents. I do not think legalizing it will reduce that aspect. Where do you stop? A little pot is OK but no coke or crack or herion?

Health benefits is a tough one. Perhaps everyone is entitled to some form with some stipulations. Persnal responsibility would be premiere. If you are not willing to take care of yourself I should not be expected to bear the burden of your health cost.

Just the opinion of a middle aged, middle class married father of two. I am over educated and work like crazy to provide my family with a comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle.

Sorry for the spelling.
 
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I for one, support Bush. In supporting someone, that doesnt mean you agee with 100% of what they do or think. It makes me sick to hear all these people blasting Bush. I call it having an uneducated opinion. We have not made ourselves the enemy of the world. Bush and the US did what had to be done to protect the country. Did people somehow forget that terrorists flew planes into buildings on 9-11? It sure seems like it. If you can blast Bush for Afghanistan or Iraq, you've either been in a coma for years, or you just buy into the worthless garbage spouted out by idiots. I understand that they're was false info regarding Iraq. I guess people who are anti-war are ignorant enough not to know about the way Saddam runs that country..or did I should say...? He openly funds terrorism..Don't think so? He gives money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers..like 15 or 20 K..cant remember the exact amount off hand. People need to learn and understand this. Freedom isn't free. If you think you can preserve freedom and protect yourselves from terrorism with risking lives, then you have got to be the most ignorant fool alive. Those people saying we shouldnt be in Iraq should also thinkw e should have never got into WW2. What was the difference? Japan attacked us, so we fought back. Terrorists attacked us, and now we're not supposed to?

I know, I got off track, and for that I apologize. My point is I support Bush. He's done a great job, and the economy is beginning to improve. (No thanks to Clinton) That takes a while to accomplish.
 
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I guess people who are anti-war are ignorant enough not to know about the way Saddam runs that country..or did I should say...? He openly funds terrorism..Don't think so? He gives money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers..like 15 or 20 K..cant remember the exact amount off hand. People need to learn and understand this.
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I agree 100%! We need to invade every country out there with a brutal and oppressive government in order to avenge 9/11. I say we hit China next! Look at all the evil doing that they commit, especially in Tibet, where they torture innocent people who actually want to regain independence. Some of their torture involves electroshocking the victim's Genitilia repetedly over long periods of time.
 
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Jobs

This is for Ex-Dub, 3Yards, and whoever else chimed in on the job issue:

From someone smack dab in the middle of this situation, let me tell you this: the job market is not any better right now. The improvements in the unemployment rate don't specify the fact that salaries aren't back, or even close to what they normally should be. In fact, most of those "created jobs" don't underline the fact that a lot of Americans had to take jobs that don't pay them half of what they normally make, or took jobs that they're overqualified for, or that companies didn't lay them off but made a dramatic cut in salary.

Until the time comes when salaries are back, and Americans both have jobs and make money, we won't be out of the woods.

And as far as Ex-Wolverine goes, I am one of those people who had to take a lesser job because of the economy. I am constantly looking for a new job, but haven't found one yet. From your implication, I am lazy, stupid, or incompetent. The statistic you rolled out means nothing - until you get out in the real world, keep your generalizations to yourself.
 
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To All: I simply posted a CURRENT news article that "seemed" to be addressing the very topics you folks were discussing. I ran across it while looking for Buckeye information on the web. I have not entered this debate on either side, just giving you some current facts. I thought some CURRENT numbers would help clarify some of the issues you folks were talking about. But far be it for me to add any factual data to your discussion. Please continue your debate with only your opinions and biases as a groundwork for your arguments. Sheesh.
 
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