Poor America... Poor democracy...

[taks]

i've heard there have been strides made by the IRS toward better observation of constitutional rights in recent years... the notion of guilty till proven innocent is beginning to fade, apparently. of course, that doesn't address the myriad other problems.

 

taks

[Guard Dog]

i've heard there have been strides made by the IRS toward better observation of constitutional rights in recent years... the notion of guilty till proven innocent is beginning to fade, apparently. of course, that doesn't address the myriad other problems.

 

taks

No they still seize all of your assets, even in amounts greater than you actually owe first, then determine you actual debt later. You have to fight them in court or arbitration to get them back.

 

I danced with them back in 1998. I'd rather owe money to the mafia.

[Hurlshort]

To piggyback on that, I've been thinking about a strategic foreclosure on my condo. We currently owe $360,000 and it is only worth about $200,000. Our loans are fairly cruddy, a 7% interest on an 80% loan and 10% on a home equity line that covers the other 20%.

 

I'm going to try to talk to the bank first, but it just feels like we are throwing away money. We can afford it, but we can also rent a much nicer house for half the mortgage.

 

What a headache.

[taks]

I danced with them back in 1998. I'd rather owe money to the mafia.

uh, it has been since then, from what i recall, like over the last decade or so... though perhaps what you are referring to is the kinder, gentler version. maybe they used to beat you first, then the rest?

 

taks

[Walsingham]

I'd have to take the pragmatic view that special interests will always find ways to make their presence felt. If I were working for them, and the govt banned advertising I'd simply spend the budget on 'treating' the constituents of our supporters. A few children's playgrounds, a clinic, facilitated by the senator/councilman and on the evening news. Lovely. If that's too obvious what about a factory?

This happens too, particularly with defense contractors. Major systems production (like, say, the Joint Strike Fighter) is deliberately planned out so that parts of the product are produced in the maximum number of states and congressional districts, so that they know they'll have the largest possible contingent of Congresspeople fighting against any cuts to the program. It makes the prices they can offer less competitive, but there isn't a whole lot of competition for many of the really really complex contracts, so budget cuts present a greater threat than losing the contract to a rival firm.

 

Interesting.

[Guard Dog]

That was really cheap and low class for Obama to call out the SCOTUS during his State of the Union speech. And that jackass Schumer in a fit of petulence and childishness claps right in Alitos ear. It amazes of me how small and petty men of such low character can be elected to such a high office. Maybe the good citizens of New York will do the whole country a favor and vote Schumer out of office in 2012. Small chance of that. Obama is looking more and more like a dead duck in 2012. God I hope so.

 

I'd trade Obama for Hillary Clinton right now if I could.

[I want teh kotor 3]

"buy elections."

 

As in bribing voters or pollsters to rig results? That's already illegal so jail them.

 

The IRS is illegal too. Try and jail'em.

The entire internal revenue code is illegal.

 

J.

 

This.

 

 

Obama is looking more and more like a dead duck in 2012. God I hope so.

It's great. America is finally getting around to realizing all he's ever said is hot air, but eloquent hot air.

[Trenitay]

So what's new? Politicians have been doing that for awhile now. Get with the times, man!

[I want teh kotor 3]

So what's new? Politicians have been doing that for awhile now. Get with the times, man!

 

Yes, but most American politicians have been decidedly not socialist. The same unfortunately cannot be said for NObama.

[Trenitay]

Nonsense! Obama is not socialist. There, I said it.

[I want teh kotor 3]

Nonsense! Obama is not socialist. There, I said it.

 

Uhhh... yeah he is.

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

... it's not as simple as "are you socialist or not".

[Trenitay]

Nonsense! Obama is not socialist. There, I said it.

 

Uhhh... yeah he is.

 

Nope!

[taks]

so, given that the former law professor (constitutional law, correct) said last night that foreign corporations were not excluded from this ruling*, i expect everyone is now going to point out that obama is a liar, right? i mean, you guys claim you are consistent... let's hear it.

 

taks

 

* specific words were: "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests

Edited January 29, 2010 by taks

[Gorgon]

Nothing wrong with being a socialist except that in the American political venacular there is little to no difference between socialist and communist, it simply means something else than in the rest of the world. A misnomer that goes back virtually unchallenged to the cold war.

 

In most of central Europe Obama would be right of center and certainly not a 'red' of any denomination. So, Obama is an American socialist.

Edited January 29, 2010 by Gorgon

[Hurlshort]

so, given that the former law professor (constitutional law, correct) said last night that foreign corporations were not excluded from this ruling*, i expect everyone is now going to point out that obama is a liar, right? i mean, you guys claim you are consistent... let's hear it.

 

taks

 

* specific words were: "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests

[Tigranes]

Well, I read the whole State of the Union speech, but without the relevant contextual knowledge I can't make heads or tails of the policy announcements, just that he's still a very good speaker.

 

So does the ruling actually limit this to American corporations (and whats the definition in terms of board, shareholders, etc)? Or is Obama implying that 'American' corporations with a heavy foreign influence could in turn influence the elections?

[Wrath of Dagon]

so, given that the former law professor (constitutional law, correct) said last night that foreign corporations were not excluded from this ruling*, i expect everyone is now going to point out that obama is a liar, right? i mean, you guys claim you are consistent... let's hear it.

 

taks

 

* specific words were: "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests

[Hurlshort]

And his unprecedented attack on the Supreme Court, and during the State of the Union speech right to their faces just shows what a punk he is, who cares nothing about undermining our entire judicial system. Of course the Annointed One doesn't care about the judicial system, since we got him this time. Schumer is also a punk and a thug, who told Obama to take a 2x4 to Hillary while still pretending to support her.

 

So you are calling the President a punk, and complaining about anti-Americanism in other threads? He is the President of the United States. You can disagree with his policies while still being respectful of the office and our country.

[Humodour]

OBAMA IS A DIRTY SOCIALIST COMMUNIST!

 

HE'S PROBABLY ALSO SECRETLY A MUSLIM!

Edited January 29, 2010 by Krezack

[Meshugger]

so, given that the former law professor (constitutional law, correct) said last night that foreign corporations were not excluded from this ruling*, i expect everyone is now going to point out that obama is a liar, right? i mean, you guys claim you are consistent... let's hear it.

 

taks

 

* specific words were: "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests

[Enoch]

so, given that the former law professor (constitutional law, correct) said last night that foreign corporations were not excluded from this ruling*, i expect everyone is now going to point out that obama is a liar, right? i mean, you guys claim you are consistent... let's hear it.

 

taks

 

* specific words were: "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests

[Wrath of Dagon]

And his unprecedented attack on the Supreme Court, and during the State of the Union speech right to their faces just shows what a punk he is, who cares nothing about undermining our entire judicial system. Of course the Annointed One doesn't care about the judicial system, since we got him this time. Schumer is also a punk and a thug, who told Obama to take a 2x4 to Hillary while still pretending to support her.

 

So you are calling the President a punk, and complaining about anti-Americanism in other threads? He is the President of the United States. You can disagree with his policies while still being respectful of the office and our country.

How about he shows some respect for the Supreme Court first? He's the head of one of the co-equal branches of government, I'm not.

[Hurlshort]

Ah, I see, the ole' two wrongs make a right argument. Well played.

[Wrath of Dagon]

No, it's cause and effect.