Bobcat1

The company I work for eliminated my position in May, I took a large pay cut to make sure I still had a job. 

I stayed with my company at a "lesser" position that I had before I became an asst. manager.  I could have taken a severance package and filed for unemployment, but I don't want to depend on the government to pay my bills when I am fully able to do so. 

The company I work for eliminated my position in May, I took a large pay cut to make sure I still had a job. 

Probably about the same thing as the roaster did

When something sensational happens in the news or even when it happens on a personal level, people tend to make up or believe  their own statistics. 
 
A few years ago a guy fled from one of our officers in a vehicle, a felony. He called a couple of hours later to complain on the officer and give his explanation of why he ran (he was still not in custody). The man said that he fled in fear of his life because that officer is well known for beating up and killing people. He followed up with a statement something like, "Everyone knows that". As part of my preliminary investigation as a supervisor, I asked him to name the people that he has killed and beaten up because to my knowledge our department had not gotten a single report or complaint of abuse by the officer and we hadn't been involved in a deadly force situation in several years.... the last being before that officer was hired. The caller then went on to say that I was twisting his words and taking up for the officer. I said quite to the contrary, I have not said a single thing to take up for the officer and ask for his information to start what sounded like a serious investigation. I then told him that to verify that what he said, our entire conversation was on a recorded phone line (and it was). The next thing I heard?
 
CLICK!!
 
While that is but a single incident and has no bearing on any other investigation, it shows what I see at work no so infrequently. It is easy to spit out lies, accusations or even believed to be true assumptions. It is quite different to have facts to back them up.  
 
And what about valid abuse complaints? I witnessed abuse by an officer and he was terminated almost immediately and charges were submitted to the DA against the officer. 

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/08/18/obama-flashback-lobbyists-will-not-work-in-my-white-house/

Finally, your federal government has decided to help build the long awaited border fence...in Ukraine.
More than $400,000 has been allocated for razor wire to -- quote -- "defend the newly imposed borders between Ukraine's mainland and the Crimean Peninsula and to strengthen Ukraine's eastern border."
That spending is not sitting well with some.
One lawmaker tweeted -- quote -- "So Obama can give money to Ukraine to build a border fence...but can't find the money to do that here? #Unacceptable."

Now protests start IN FAVOR of shooter cop:
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2727560/Now-protests-start-IN-FAVOR-shooter-cop-More-turn-rally-supporting-Darren-Wilson-skips-town-avoid-violent-reprisals.html

I can assure you, BH doesn't need to put up a billboard. People are going there because they have great facilities, high paid teachers, and jobs.

A lot of people are seeking just that type of environment for their kids and family.

Are you from Ferguson?

That is not a typical photo however. I have lots of guns and a bit of cash. I have never been inclined to take such a photo and I doubt that many people reading this forum have done so either. 
 
It means nothing by itself but it tends to show a bit less of the choir boy image that is being portrayed by some of Brown. In some ways it is the reverse of what is being done to the officer involved and to the police in general. It is taking something that in itself means nothing but one side or the other is using it as proof of guilt. 

So you have to have a previous criminal record before you can rob a convenience store?
 
And kids who are about to go to college do not commit crimes......
 
Good to know.....

media, council members, etc… ..alot of these guys were arrested days ago for doing their job out there.

ESO already hit it. 
 
A family that is making $25,000 a year for a family of four is living paycheck to paycheck. Heck, many families making $75,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck. The only difference is the size of the home, the number of vehicles and the quality of food. They are still spending almost every dollar on expenses whether it is bologna or steak. 
 
So if we take a family making $25K and remove all taxes except what they spend, they will be taxed on 100% of their income as they are literally spending every dollar that they make. Even if you exempt some things as non taxable, they are still spending every dollar.
 
Now let's move up to that millionaire and every area has plenty of them. Let's say a family is making $1M a year. How much of that is being spend on goods (or services if that is taxed) and how much is being put in stocks, the bank and other such ventures where goods are not purchased? They might be spending $200K on actual goods so they are only taxed on 20% of their income. Instead of our current progressive tax where the more you make, the higher your tax rate, we would have a regressive tax where the more you make the less percentage you pay as it is not being spent on goods or services as the "fair tax" proponents want. 
 
Of course in our fantasy world we could start taxing savings accounts, 401Ks, IRAs, etc. I am not talking about your interest income from those which is taxable but merely deposits. That is the only way you are going to get those millionaires to pay their "fair share". But who will it hurt? So when that family making $25K a year finally saves $500 and decides to start putting some away..... oops!, they are hit with a 10% tax at the time of deposit so that $500 is not only $450. See how long it will take at 1% interest from banks to make up that loss from merely making a deposit. 
 
Simply put, there is no way that we can tax goods and/or services only and have it hurt the rich guy and not destroy the less fortunate. The very rich might make millions or even billions a year but you can bet they aren't spending that money. The poor family on the other hand is spending every cent. 

Huh? Factual? It's just one big long opinion.

Yep. It is great when a warning thread turns into a shining example. 

Hardcore conservatives and liberals have been brainwashed by their parties into thinking that their way is the only way. The staunchest of these groups go to the point of "defending" their side's belief at all costs, no matter how good a point the other side makes. At times, it's easier to resort to insults or changing the subject than it is to actually admit that the other guy made a good point or proved you wrong, and that's a common tactic on this site from people on both sides of the argument. Another mitigating factor is the sheer number of biased opinion pieces that are being passed off as factual in an attempt to create talking points. Again, people on both sides are guilty of posting misleading articles, which usually leads to one side rallying around the talking point, and the other side proving it false rather than discussing the point, which also leads to conflict. I much prefer general topics being introduced with discussion about the issue over fake news articles that are critical of one side or the other being used to misrepresent the truth.

This whole thing is crap. It was really fun now it's just dumb. Nobody post links for knowledge and info. Every post is bait. Big girl defend this. Eco. What's your take on this. Things have gotten so personal on this board it's all about let me show this poster up with this or that. Rather than bounce ideas. The last successful thread was probably, should teachers carry guns and the one on assault rifles. When you post a link and your first post is let's hear the libs/Republicans defend this. Your asking for a argument not a discussion that can go places.

I suggest both of you stop. Now.

I asked for this forum to be created after being contacted by Admin about complaints that the Locker Room had more politics that other issues and was turning into a one sided continual diatribe. For that reason the powers in control agreed to try a political forum so that at least there would be a non-political place to post other than sports issues (Locker Room) and someone could ignore politics by merely not viewing the forum. Apparently some people do not have that ability to draw themselves away from a train wreck however. 
 
This forum has degraded into the same topics over and over. Even the titles of many threads call out other members or the "other side". That alone should tell you that it isn't about an issue per se but in fanning the flames. Topics such as:
 
How we know Smitty is a low intelligence quotient human being
Big GIrl: your thoughts on unqualified supervisors
16 threads without a reply
Teabaggers hate main stream media...........
Big Girl, what do you think of this analogy
 
Other threads are continually posted about our side against your side like "low information voter" threads, Republicans/GOP are criminals or teabaggers are racists.
 
In my opinion an example valid political topic would be, should PAISD get a new bond after just passing one a few years ago or even Will Hillary run (but leaving out personal snipes). A person can easily give an opinion that PAISD does or does not need a bond without calling Obama poll numbers into it or mentioning race for the sake of mentioning race. You can answer that Hillary will run and be almost guaranteed a win or that she will likely opt out after not wanting to face examination of her time as Secretary of State or Benghazi issues. There is nothing wrong with either side if respectfully given.
 
If it was up to me, I would be deleting threads without the need for explanations that do nothing but post another opinion about one side or the other by posting a link from a politically slanted website that shows Dems/GOP are crooks, Obama lied, teabaggers anything, etc. Especially threads only call out one side or the other or are directed at an individual. If you want to flame, go to another website. There should be some valid political threads without all the silliness.  
  Not so long ago we almost lost all political posting from the Locker Room so this spin-off forum was created as sort of an experiment. It looks like the experiment is about to fail. If admin approves I will start deleting threads (probably a majority of ones created lately) and if people don't like it, they can move on to another website. There are plenty of places to post political opinions on the Internet. I would like the ability to discuss some issues if it can be done with respect and especially if it has some local issue even if it is a national story with local interest like the Keystone Pipeline.    If not, I think Admin will simply delete this forum and not allow any political issues in the Locker Room. 

Bump.  And also, knock off the name calling!  If you can't have a respectful conversation, don't post!!!

Because they can and nobody is willing to stop them.
By the way, the new forum title is too fitting. It's a shame that this is what this section of the forum has turned into. Thankfully, football season is almost here!

Wasn't she a big part of his foreign policy while she was Sec of State?

Some of these threads have gotten ridiculous and it hasn't been that way very long.

Most posters have been on here for a while but the posts have gotten child like only recently....hmmmm...wonder why?

What about smokers, drinkers and drug users? Should they be taxed?
 
What about boxers, MMA fighters, thrill seekers?
 
 
This subject is pretty silly.
 
Has this forum come to this kind of talk?