"Just to think about.
Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin, what if things were switched around?…..think about it.
Would the country’s collective point of view be different?
Ponder the following:
What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?
What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?
What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?
What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five?
(The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)
What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
What if Obama couldn’t read from a teleprompter?
What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?
What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?
What if Michelle Obama’s family had made their money from beer distribution?
What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?
You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.
Educational Background:
Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism
Education isn’t everything, but this is about the two highest offices in the land as well as our standing in the world. You make the call."
-Bill October
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Mormons for Obama Insight
From Jeff: I am actually an IRS employee.
The United States has had a progressive income tax system for at least 95 years. Virtually all of the industrialized world has a progressive income tax system. The design of the tax system is to meet the obligations of the US (or whatever nation has the tax system) with the burden placed proportionally upon its citizens based on their ability to pay. On the IRS website you can actually download the 1913 Form 1040 which was a progressive tax system (and the forms 1040 have been progressive ever since - and may have been prior to 1913).
By voting for Barack Obama we are voting against continuation of the Bush tax cuts which disproportionally favored the most privileged among us and was very much a redistribution of the tax burden. When those cuts were passed (by the Republican Congress) they included a sunset clause that extended them until 2010 when the tax rates would return to the prior levels. All that Senator Obama is proposing is to return to the prior levels only for those who have incomes of more than $250,000 (those who received a highly disproportionate share of the Bush tax cuts). Senator Obama's position is that the vast majority of the nation (the middle class) were burdened by a disproportional share of the tax burden because of the Bush plan. There are two theories that can be put in play - the first is the Regan/Bush "trickle down" theory that says that if you cut the tax burden for the very rich and the business world, the benefits will eventually fuel prosperity for all. The reality is that it leaves it up to the discretion of the very rich and the business world to make the investments that will favor all the other Americans. Many of the rich and business world, instead, choose to make investments that will further suit their financial well-being by investing in other countries where they can save money by having lower labor expense and not pay toward the healthcare of their workers. They export jobs and operations to areas that swell their own wallets and do not necessarily make investments based on what may be best for American workers.
Senator Obama's tax plan would restore the tax rates on those with high earnings to the levels that were in play during the Regan years and during the Clinton years (and the US was reducing its national debt under Clinton and turning surpluses as far as the eye could see until the Bush plan was instituted). Under the Bush plan we are borrowing money from nations like China that our great grandchildren and later generations will have to pay. The Church doctrine on avoidance of debt is a much stronger position to hold to than the more archaic positions it held on property rights. In the ultimate analysis the Church Doctrine would actually support a system where all the property and income of its members were consecrated to the Church and redistributed by the Church based on the need of the members. The Church does NOT take a position in opposition to a progressive tax system. The Church believes citizens should pay their proper tax. The Savior Himself said, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”.
Senator Obama's comments have been to "share the wealth" and NOT "redistribute the wealth". By share the wealth, he means that he favors a second theory of a bottom-up economy rather than a "trickle-down" economy. His position has been proven by history and the other has not. The US economy will do well when we have a strong middle class that can drive the engine of the economy through a healthy consumer driven base. The US economy will suffer when those who should have buying power feel weakened and have to continuously watch their spending and do without. Why the corporate and business world has not figured out that they are cutting off their noses to spite their face by weakening the US consumers is beyond me - sort of like why Utah Mormons vote Republican so willingly when it is the Republican Party that holds a bias against their religion. The Republican Party refused to nominate Mitt Romney for President or Vice President. John McCain's own mother insulted Mormons in this very election season - as did Huckabee and the Religious Right. The Democratic Party has placed Harry Reid in one of the highest offices in the land.
From Peter: i would like to add just one thing with regards to progressive tax policies. many people state that taxing the rich more than the poor is stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. in my opinion, that is not the goal of a progressive tax policy. rather, it is to protect the middle class.
it has recently been discovered that a democracy does not create a middle class; rather, it is the other way around. a middle class is the precursor to the formation of a democracy and thus necessary for its continued existence.
this is because in order to have a democracy, everyone must have a relatively equal amount of power. money in inseparably connected with power, so if only a few have all the money, then they will have a disproportionate amount of power as well.
the idea that the free market by itself without any governmental intervention would protect the middle class is simply wrong. we can see just by the last eight years that the middle class will suffer if the market is left to itself. and if the middle class disappears, we will end up with some kind of machiavellian system where the insanely rich 2-3% that have 99% of the wealth control the other 97-98% of the people.
so, beyond the economic benefits to a progressive tax system, there are political benefits as well- namely, the protection of our liberty.
so although it took me a long time to explain, it really was only one point: that a progressive tax system that protects the middle class also protects our democracy and liberty.
From Ma Russ: I am not sure I can explain anything other than my own observations. I believe that our constitiution hangs by a thread right now after being dismantled by bush. We began with the Patriot Act which actually suspened our civil liberties, and continued with the act which gives him the right to declare martial law without the consent of the governors of the states.
I am aware that many Latter Day Saints think Mitt Romney is going to be Mormon who saves the constitution, but I personlly think it will be Harry Reid because he is in a real position to lead the Congress in a righteous direction. And I don't believe the majority of the membership of the church is the elect. I believe it is the smaller portion who are willing to live the Law of Consecration. I believe most of the members have been fooled by false prophets like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jim Jones into following their dictates rather than our prophets and Heavenly Father. Most of them do not base their political positions on church teachings but rather the ludicrous rantings of Rush Limbaugh, who would be a false prophet if ever there was one.
As I have posted here before, after ten minutes in the temple we can understand that the most important issue before us in our Heavenly Father's view is the protection of the environment. It is not homosexuality or abortion as the false prophets declare. I guess not everyone gets this, but I do.
Our prophets have taught us to live simple, decent lives. The false prophets teach to live for wealth and prosperity. They literally worship money. Pay attention in the temple and you will clearly see who their god is. The conservatives today actively persue wealth rather than following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to pay taxes because money belongs to the government; the conservatives do little except complain about paying taxes. Jesus said to take care of the poor. Remember the hymn, Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief? Conservatives literally hate the poor. They wish to deny them educations, health care, housing, and food.
Many Mormons today have more in common with the Pharasees than they do the deciples of Christ.
Remember Jesus said, "Straight is the way and narrow is the gate and few there be who find it."
Don't give up. Stay in this group. I have found more courage here than I dreamed.
From Mormon chapter 8: 32-41 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
O ye wicked and perverse and stiffneced people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
Behold, the Lord hath shoen unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come forth among you.
Behold, I speak unto you asif ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches; yea, even every one have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
For behold, ye do love money, and your substance and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and afflicted.
O, ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness that that misery which never dies--because of the praise of the world?
Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and thenaked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you and notice them not?
Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the lord, and also the bolld of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground for vengeance upon your heads?
Behold the sword of 5rvengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
The United States has had a progressive income tax system for at least 95 years. Virtually all of the industrialized world has a progressive income tax system. The design of the tax system is to meet the obligations of the US (or whatever nation has the tax system) with the burden placed proportionally upon its citizens based on their ability to pay. On the IRS website you can actually download the 1913 Form 1040 which was a progressive tax system (and the forms 1040 have been progressive ever since - and may have been prior to 1913).
By voting for Barack Obama we are voting against continuation of the Bush tax cuts which disproportionally favored the most privileged among us and was very much a redistribution of the tax burden. When those cuts were passed (by the Republican Congress) they included a sunset clause that extended them until 2010 when the tax rates would return to the prior levels. All that Senator Obama is proposing is to return to the prior levels only for those who have incomes of more than $250,000 (those who received a highly disproportionate share of the Bush tax cuts). Senator Obama's position is that the vast majority of the nation (the middle class) were burdened by a disproportional share of the tax burden because of the Bush plan. There are two theories that can be put in play - the first is the Regan/Bush "trickle down" theory that says that if you cut the tax burden for the very rich and the business world, the benefits will eventually fuel prosperity for all. The reality is that it leaves it up to the discretion of the very rich and the business world to make the investments that will favor all the other Americans. Many of the rich and business world, instead, choose to make investments that will further suit their financial well-being by investing in other countries where they can save money by having lower labor expense and not pay toward the healthcare of their workers. They export jobs and operations to areas that swell their own wallets and do not necessarily make investments based on what may be best for American workers.
Senator Obama's tax plan would restore the tax rates on those with high earnings to the levels that were in play during the Regan years and during the Clinton years (and the US was reducing its national debt under Clinton and turning surpluses as far as the eye could see until the Bush plan was instituted). Under the Bush plan we are borrowing money from nations like China that our great grandchildren and later generations will have to pay. The Church doctrine on avoidance of debt is a much stronger position to hold to than the more archaic positions it held on property rights. In the ultimate analysis the Church Doctrine would actually support a system where all the property and income of its members were consecrated to the Church and redistributed by the Church based on the need of the members. The Church does NOT take a position in opposition to a progressive tax system. The Church believes citizens should pay their proper tax. The Savior Himself said, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”.
Senator Obama's comments have been to "share the wealth" and NOT "redistribute the wealth". By share the wealth, he means that he favors a second theory of a bottom-up economy rather than a "trickle-down" economy. His position has been proven by history and the other has not. The US economy will do well when we have a strong middle class that can drive the engine of the economy through a healthy consumer driven base. The US economy will suffer when those who should have buying power feel weakened and have to continuously watch their spending and do without. Why the corporate and business world has not figured out that they are cutting off their noses to spite their face by weakening the US consumers is beyond me - sort of like why Utah Mormons vote Republican so willingly when it is the Republican Party that holds a bias against their religion. The Republican Party refused to nominate Mitt Romney for President or Vice President. John McCain's own mother insulted Mormons in this very election season - as did Huckabee and the Religious Right. The Democratic Party has placed Harry Reid in one of the highest offices in the land.
From Peter: i would like to add just one thing with regards to progressive tax policies. many people state that taxing the rich more than the poor is stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. in my opinion, that is not the goal of a progressive tax policy. rather, it is to protect the middle class.
it has recently been discovered that a democracy does not create a middle class; rather, it is the other way around. a middle class is the precursor to the formation of a democracy and thus necessary for its continued existence.
this is because in order to have a democracy, everyone must have a relatively equal amount of power. money in inseparably connected with power, so if only a few have all the money, then they will have a disproportionate amount of power as well.
the idea that the free market by itself without any governmental intervention would protect the middle class is simply wrong. we can see just by the last eight years that the middle class will suffer if the market is left to itself. and if the middle class disappears, we will end up with some kind of machiavellian system where the insanely rich 2-3% that have 99% of the wealth control the other 97-98% of the people.
so, beyond the economic benefits to a progressive tax system, there are political benefits as well- namely, the protection of our liberty.
so although it took me a long time to explain, it really was only one point: that a progressive tax system that protects the middle class also protects our democracy and liberty.
From Ma Russ: I am not sure I can explain anything other than my own observations. I believe that our constitiution hangs by a thread right now after being dismantled by bush. We began with the Patriot Act which actually suspened our civil liberties, and continued with the act which gives him the right to declare martial law without the consent of the governors of the states.
I am aware that many Latter Day Saints think Mitt Romney is going to be Mormon who saves the constitution, but I personlly think it will be Harry Reid because he is in a real position to lead the Congress in a righteous direction. And I don't believe the majority of the membership of the church is the elect. I believe it is the smaller portion who are willing to live the Law of Consecration. I believe most of the members have been fooled by false prophets like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jim Jones into following their dictates rather than our prophets and Heavenly Father. Most of them do not base their political positions on church teachings but rather the ludicrous rantings of Rush Limbaugh, who would be a false prophet if ever there was one.
As I have posted here before, after ten minutes in the temple we can understand that the most important issue before us in our Heavenly Father's view is the protection of the environment. It is not homosexuality or abortion as the false prophets declare. I guess not everyone gets this, but I do.
Our prophets have taught us to live simple, decent lives. The false prophets teach to live for wealth and prosperity. They literally worship money. Pay attention in the temple and you will clearly see who their god is. The conservatives today actively persue wealth rather than following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to pay taxes because money belongs to the government; the conservatives do little except complain about paying taxes. Jesus said to take care of the poor. Remember the hymn, Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief? Conservatives literally hate the poor. They wish to deny them educations, health care, housing, and food.
Many Mormons today have more in common with the Pharasees than they do the deciples of Christ.
Remember Jesus said, "Straight is the way and narrow is the gate and few there be who find it."
Don't give up. Stay in this group. I have found more courage here than I dreamed.
From Mormon chapter 8: 32-41 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
O ye wicked and perverse and stiffneced people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
Behold, the Lord hath shoen unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come forth among you.
Behold, I speak unto you asif ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches; yea, even every one have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
For behold, ye do love money, and your substance and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and afflicted.
O, ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness that that misery which never dies--because of the praise of the world?
Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and thenaked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you and notice them not?
Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the lord, and also the bolld of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground for vengeance upon your heads?
Behold the sword of 5rvengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
SPOT ON
After the debate tonight, I am more convinced that Obama knows his stuff.
I worked for 3 years as a health policy consultant, studying the intricacies of health policy. I had the opportunity to talk to hospital CEOs, health insurance CEOs, public health advocates, homeless health care doctors, specialists, dentists, doctors in urban and rural areas, nurses, uninsured, insured, medicaid and CHIP directors, HHS secretary Tommy Thompson, national policymakers, national think tanks...the whole spectrum. Obama was SPOT ON tonight about the issues and how to help make health care accessible AND affordable.
He is NOT going after single payer. I could not believe that McCain tried to claim otherwise.
Obama really does get it!!!
I worked for 3 years as a health policy consultant, studying the intricacies of health policy. I had the opportunity to talk to hospital CEOs, health insurance CEOs, public health advocates, homeless health care doctors, specialists, dentists, doctors in urban and rural areas, nurses, uninsured, insured, medicaid and CHIP directors, HHS secretary Tommy Thompson, national policymakers, national think tanks...the whole spectrum. Obama was SPOT ON tonight about the issues and how to help make health care accessible AND affordable.
He is NOT going after single payer. I could not believe that McCain tried to claim otherwise.
Obama really does get it!!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
THEY'RE JUST REAL PEOPLE.
I'm relieved that the polls are starting to show that people are catching on. The false rumors and exaggerations just might not stick this time around. McCain and Palin are desparately trying to attack Obama's character, because it seems that people care more about that than the issues. Let them try, but the American people aren't going to get duped this time.
I hope that the polls continue to show that we're not buying the lies about Obama and taxes, foreign policy, health care, small business, big business, etc.. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted from hearing people talk about our country in such divisive terms. I'm tired of religiosity being used as a wedge to determine which candidate has more values. I'm tired of hearing that if you support a democrat you just stand for giving handouts to lazy people. I'm tired of gays and abortion being used as a political wedge. I'm tired of people thinking that Obama is going to steal all their money and give it to people who are lazy and/or dumb with their money.
I'm excited to see that the pendulum is swinging back into the arena of supporting a candidate with solid policy proposals and solid character. It's time.
I hope that the polls continue to show that we're not buying the lies about Obama and taxes, foreign policy, health care, small business, big business, etc.. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted from hearing people talk about our country in such divisive terms. I'm tired of religiosity being used as a wedge to determine which candidate has more values. I'm tired of hearing that if you support a democrat you just stand for giving handouts to lazy people. I'm tired of gays and abortion being used as a political wedge. I'm tired of people thinking that Obama is going to steal all their money and give it to people who are lazy and/or dumb with their money.
I'm excited to see that the pendulum is swinging back into the arena of supporting a candidate with solid policy proposals and solid character. It's time.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Obama's "Pal": "Terrorist" Bill Ayers
Can it get any more dumber or any more lamer than this? :)
Please, please let this be the nail on the McCain/Palin coffin! Please!
Please, please let this be the nail on the McCain/Palin coffin! Please!
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