Early Voting… Roll Calll

[CardinalBacker]

44 minutes ago, Chester86 said:

Man there are some smart people on here.  They should seek employment with the government and fix it from within.  

It’s not being smart, it’s using your head. 
 

Imagine a Sunday morning when the preacher says, “you know, 10% is too much to tithe. We’re going to cut our thithing back to 2% on your income and the church will be greatly blessed! Our coffers will overflow!” Then two years later they can’t keep the lights turned on, so they borrow against the church building.  
 

This would be a pretty clear warning to most people, but Chester and the rest of the flock really like only tithing 2%, so they make no changes and the church gets foreclosed upon. 
 

But hey, at least the tithes were low. 
 

Render unto Caesar.  

[LumRaiderFan]

2 minutes ago, CardinalBacker said:

It’s not being smart, it’s using your head. 
 

Imagine a Sunday morning when the preacher says, “you know, 10% is too much to tithe. We’re going to cut our thithing back to 2% on your income and the church will be greatly blessed! Our coffers will overflow!” Then two years later they can’t keep the lights turned on, so they borrow against the church building.  
 

This would be a pretty clear warning to most people, but Chester and the rest of the flock really like only tithing 2%, so they make no changes and the church gets foreclosed upon. 
 

But hey, at least the tithes were low. 
 

Render unto Caesar.  

lol, Trump has broken you.

[CardinalBacker]

40 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

lol, Trump has broken you.

No, Trump has broken all of us, financially speaking. 

And by "Trump," I mean the last 30 years of Presidents, but Trump was the worst.  

Any time I hear somebody crowing about tax cuts when our debt is crippling, I realize that they have no idea about micro/macro economics.  

You can't borrow your way out of debt. 

[LumRaiderFan]

3 minutes ago, CardinalBacker said:

No, Trump has broken all of us, financially speaking. 

And by "Trump," I mean the last 30 years of Presidents, but Trump was the worst.  

Any time I hear somebody crowing about tax cuts when our debt is crippling, I realize that they have no idea about micro/macro economics.  

You can't borrow your way out of debt. 

What's sad is you've become 100% democrat, cutting the spending doesn't even seem to be an option you even consider.

The only folks that normally take that stance are those benefitting from higher taxes which translate to more enriched entitlements.

[CardinalBacker]

6 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

What's sad is you've become 100% democrat, cutting the spending doesn't even seem to be an option you even consider.

The only folks that normally take that stance are those benefitting from higher taxes which translate to more enriched entitlements.

No.... you haven't been paying attention.   I'm all about cutting spending and continuously complain that "cutting spending" isn't even mentioned on the campaign trail by either party.  

WE, Rs and Ds alike, are too spoiled to admit that we need to do some serious belt-tightening or our nation will falter.  But where do we start?  Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, the Military, and debt service are untouchable (according to the voters) and make up the vast majority of our federal spending. Yes, there's fat in our spending, but we're borrowing 1 out of every three dollars spent annually, and nipping a few pork projects isn't going to fix that. 

But to be talking about cutting taxes during a crisis like the one we're in is unconscionable.  I don't just blame the promise-making politicians.... it's the voters demands that are driving our demise.  

[LumRaiderFan]

2 minutes ago, CardinalBacker said:

No.... you haven't been paying attention.   I'm all about cutting spending and continuously complain that "cutting spending" isn't even mentioned on the campaign trail by either party.  

WE, Rs and Ds alike, are too spoiled to admit that we need to do some serious belt-tightening or our nation will falter.  But where do we start?  Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, the Military, and debt service are untouchable (according to the voters) and make up the vast majority of our federal spending. Yes, there's fat in our spending, but we're borrowing 1 out of every three dollars spent annually, and nipping a few pork projects isn't going to fix that. 

But to be talking about cutting taxes during a crisis like the one we're in is unconscionable.  I don't just blame the promise-making politicians.... it's the voters demands that are driving our demise.  

The belt tightening would only affect those that are on the government dole.  Of the items you listed, only one is enumerated in the Constitutional, the military.

Phase out Medicare, Medicaid, social security, anything not listed in the Constitution.  Can't do it immediately, but phase it out over 50 years, take care of those that have actually paid in.  I would have loved to have been able to keep the money confiscated for SS and Medicare.

Sounds extreme, but wouldn't hurt me or many other Americans that don't depend on the government for day to day needs.

[Chester86]

I guess we shall see tomorrow.  Either you win or you don’t.  I did my part and voted and the country will have a new president either way.  

[CardinalBacker]

6 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

The belt tightening would only affect those that are on the government dole.  Of the items you listed, only one is enumerated in the Constitutional, the military.

Phase out Medicare, Medicaid, social security, anything not listed in the Constitution.  Can't do it immediately, but phase it out over 50 years, take care of those that have actually paid in.  I would have loved to have been able to keep the money confiscated for SS and Medicare.

Sounds extreme, but wouldn't hurt me or many other Americans that don't depend on the government for day to day needs.

My thoughts go like... 

1.  Trim the fat where we can... wasted money on pork projects.. including in the military.  No more billions on outdated weapons systems.  And there's no reason that almost every veteran out there is 100% disabled due to their PTSD and drawing $4500/month (and free healthcare) in perpetuity after serving as a mechanic and never seeing any action.  They're a disgrace.  

2.  No tax cuts for the foreseeable future. But no increases, either.  And fix loopholes that allow billionaires to live tax-free.

3.  Limit increases in social security/medicare/medicaid spending.  Same with SNAP/EBT programs, etc... and do an immediate audit of ALL benefit recipients to see if they actually qualify, are alive, etc.... there's too much waste in those much-needed programs.  Like... cheese/butter/milk/dried beans instead of EBTs that can be used for hot food.   

4.  Eliminate the USPS with an amendment to the constitution... it's useless in 2024. 

 

We need to work on the mindset of the elderly and infirm... No, you didn't pay for it.  You paid into it, and it's inadequate to fill your needs.  Drop the entitled attitude, Grandpa.  Before Hippy comes in with the "well, if I'd have invested 15% of my income at a 20% rate of return, I'd have...."  But you didn't.  You were forced to hand over 15% for safekeeping and they spent it all. It's gone.  You didn't have an investment account, you were forced to participate in a Ponzi scheme and it's insolvent.  

[LumRaiderFan]

4 minutes ago, CardinalBacker said:

My thoughts go like... 

1.  Trim the fat where we can... wasted money on pork projects.. including in the military.  No more billions on outdated weapons systems.  And there's no reason that almost every veteran out there is 100% disabled due to their PTSD and drawing $4500/month (and free healthcare) in perpetuity after serving as a mechanic and never seeing any action.  They're a disgrace.  

2.  No tax cuts for the foreseeable future. But no increases, either.  And fix loopholes that allow billionaires to live tax-free.

3.  Limit increases in social security/medicare/medicaid spending.  Same with SNAP/EBT programs, etc... and do an immediate audit of ALL benefit recipients to see if they actually qualify, are alive, etc.... there's too much waste in those much-needed programs.  Like... cheese/butter/milk/dried beans instead of EBTs that can be used for hot food.   

4.  Eliminate the USPS with an amendment to the constitution... it's useless in 2024. 

 

We need to work on the mindset of the elderly and infirm... No, you didn't pay for it.  You paid into it, and it's inadequate to fill your needs.  Drop the entitled attitude, Grandpa.  Before Hippy comes in with the "well, if I'd have invested 15% of my income at a 20% rate of return, I'd have...."  But you didn't.  You were forced to hand over 15% for safekeeping and they spent it all. It's gone.  You didn't have an investment account, you were forced to participate in a Ponzi scheme and it's insolvent.  

Won't work, at all.

As long as a revenue stream exists at the federal government level, it will be abused.

None of your ideas will work, the federal government was never intended to support many of the programs we now have, the list of enumerated powers is very short.

If the states want to be the nanny state, have at it, but don't expect help from responsible states, the federal government shouldn't have the right to redistribute wealth.

[CardinalBacker]

1 minute ago, LumRaiderFan said:

Won't work, at all.

As long as a revenue stream exists at the federal government level, it will be abused.

None of your ideas will work, the federal government was never intended to support many of the programs we now have, the list of enumerated powers is very short.

If the states want to be the nanny state, have at it, but don't expect help from responsible states, the federal government shouldn't have the right to redistribute wealth.

I don’t think you realize that even as a “reponsible” state, Texas still takes in more federal dollars than it sends to Washington. 
 

We have a balanced budget every year as a part of our state constitution, but don’t kid yourself… if we retained ALL of our dollars that are currently sent to Washington but gave up all of the dollars they’re currently sending back our way… we’d suffer. 
 

I think my point is this… it sounds dumb when the left says that we CAN have it all, we just need the rich and corporations to pay their fair share.  But it’s even more stupid to say “We CAN have it all, we just need to stop paying taxes.”

 

But being reasonable won’t get you elected… promises of gifts from the treasury (even if it’s by way of tax cuts) is what will actually get you elected. 

[LumRaiderFan]

1 minute ago, CardinalBacker said:

I don’t think you realize that even as a “reponsible” state, Texas still takes in more federal dollars than it sends to Washington. 
 

We have a balanced budget every year as a part of our state constitution, but don’t kid yourself… if we retained ALL of our dollars that are currently sent to Washington but gave up all of the dollars they’re currently sending back our way… we’d suffer. 
 

I think my point is this… it sounds dumb when the left says that we CAN have it all, we just need the rich and corporations to pay their fair share.  But it’s even more stupid to say “We CAN have it all, we just need to stop paying taxes.”

 

But being reasonable won’t get you elected… promises of gifts from the treasury (even if it’s by way of tax cuts) is what will actually get you elected. 

I very aware of that, more than probably you are.

I'm telling you what it will take to get out of the mess we're in, not what it will take to get elected.

I have no illusions that it will happen, but at some point we will HAVE to make the correction.

It's just sad that folks like yourself think most of our problems happened under the watch of Trump.

That's just dumb.

[UT alum]

41 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

The belt tightening would only affect those that are on the government dole.  Of the items you listed, only one is enumerated in the Constitutional, the military.

Phase out Medicare, Medicaid, social security, anything not listed in the Constitution.  Can't do it immediately, but phase it out over 50 years, take care of those that have actually paid in.  I would have loved to have been able to keep the money confiscated for SS and Medicare.

Sounds extreme, but wouldn't hurt me or many other Americans that don't depend on the government for day to day needs.

Medicare, Medicaid, and social security “promote the general welfare” as stated in the Preamble and in Section 8. Section 8, as respects infrastructure, states that a postal service and post roads are to be established. Does that make the Interstate Highway system unconstitutional? It ain’t in the document. 

[UT alum]

6 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

I very aware of that, more than probably you are.

I'm telling you what it will take to get out of the mess we're in, not what it will take to get elected.

I have no illusions that it will happen, but at some point we will HAVE to make the correction.

It's just sad that folks like yourself think most of our problems happprnef under the watch of Trump.

That's just dumb.

How about a correction from the top down. The last three corrections whacked the middle class and rewarded the 1%. Tax the top, cut the military budget back to where we’re maybe bigger than the next 5 countries instead of 10. Streamline the bureaucracy and we’ll be close to reestablishing the middle class and building true long term growth.

[LumRaiderFan]

6 minutes ago, UT alum said:

Medicare, Medicaid, and social security “promote the general welfare” as stated in the Preamble and in Section 8. Section 8, as respects infrastructure, states that a postal service and post roads are to be established. Does that make the Interstate Highway system unconstitutional? It ain’t in the document. 

That argument is old and is complete nonsense.  As far as the highways, some ideas such as the interstate highway act make sense, even though the states could probably maintain them better if allowed to keep the money rather than funnel it through our very corrupt federal government.

This general welfare you speak of has promoted poverty and modern day slavery by design with your pathetic party at the helm passing out crumbs in exchange for votes.

 

[LumRaiderFan]

4 minutes ago, UT alum said:

How about a correction from the top down. The last three corrections whacked the middle class and rewarded the 1%. Tax the top, cut the military budget back to where we’re maybe bigger than the next 5 countries instead of 10. Streamline the bureaucracy and we’ll be close to reestablishing the middle class and building true long term growth.

I've told you what will work, it's taking away control from the federal government, no "correction" will work.

[thetragichippy]

11 hours ago, HuntersLaptop2028 said:

Dude added $8 trillion to the debt and you guys are STILL convinced he’ll shrink the deficit.

I love how you guys don't mention COVID and the hardships it brought on everyone. 

I was lucky to be paid to sit at home for a few weeks. I'm employed with a bank, so we went back appt only for a while until we fully opened.

The best line of poo poo is when ya'll talk about the jobs Biden created....SMH

[Big girl]

2 hours ago, LumRaiderFan said:

The belt tightening would only affect those that are on the government dole.  Of the items you listed, only one is enumerated in the Constitutional, the military.

Phase out Medicare, Medicaid, social security, anything not listed in the Constitution.  Can't do it immediately, but phase it out over 50 years, take care of those that have actually paid in.  I would have loved to have been able to keep the money confiscated for SS and Medicare.

Sounds extreme, but wouldn't hurt me or many other Americans that don't depend on the government for day to day needs.

Phase it out after you get your benefits

 You are so thoughtful. 🤭🤭🤭🤭

[LumRaiderFan]

3 minutes ago, Big girl said:

Phase it out after you get your benefits

 You are so thoughtful. 🤭🤭🤭🤭

You better believe it, I expect to get back at least a portion of what I paid for.

Unlike your student loan.

[Big girl]

5 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

You better believe it, I expect to get back at least a portion of what I paid for.

Unlike your student loan.

Dude i made 3x the amount I owed. Nice try.

..

[LumRaiderFan]

9 minutes ago, Big girl said:

Dude i made 3x the amount I owed. Nice try.

..

But you allowed forced the taxpayers to make final payment.

You're welcome.

[SmashMouth]

2 hours ago, CardinalBacker said:

No.... you haven't been paying attention.   I'm all about cutting spending and continuously complain that "cutting spending" isn't even mentioned on the campaign trail by either party.  

WE, Rs and Ds alike, are too spoiled to admit that we need to do some serious belt-tightening or our nation will falter.  But where do we start?  Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, the Military, and debt service are untouchable (according to the voters) and make up the vast majority of our federal spending. Yes, there's fat in our spending, but we're borrowing 1 out of every three dollars spent annually, and nipping a few pork projects isn't going to fix that. 

But to be talking about cutting taxes during a crisis like the one we're in is unconscionable.  I don't just blame the promise-making politicians.... it's the voters demands that are driving our demise.  

Cut foreign aid to those that hate us anyway would be the first. Cut welfare entitlements for able-bodied individuals. Police benefits (duplicate benefits, benefits for people who have died,  purchases of uncovered items, the list goes on and on), Millions spent on DEI programs…IN OTHER COUNTRIES! The list is so long, one could write a book. Start there  

 

[baddog]

7 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

But you allowed forced the taxpayers to make final payment.

You're welcome.

I’m going to the bank and get a loan in Big Girl’s name. She won’t mind. Biden said I could do it, so it must be legal.

[UT alum]

2 hours ago, LumRaiderFan said:

That argument is old and is complete nonsense.  As far as the highways, some ideas such as the interstate highway act make sense, even though the states could probably maintain them better if allowed to keep the money rather than funnel it through our very corrupt federal government.

This general welfare you speak of has promoted poverty and modern day slavery by design with your pathetic party at the helm passing out crumbs in exchange for votes.

 

Yeah, but there’s nothing about roads in the Constitution except “postal roads”. If you are going to be an originalist, you can’t cherry pick.

i don’t agree, but at any rate I’d rather have crumbs thrown at me than paper towels

[LumRaiderFan]

1 minute ago, UT alum said:

Yeah, but there’s nothing about roads in the Constitution except “postal roads”. If you are going to be an originalist, you can’t cherry pick.

i don’t agree, but at any rate I’d rather have crumbs thrown at me than paper towels

Even the "originalists" had no problem with amendments, but I'm quite sure they would have a problem with a cradle to grave nanny state.

[CardinalBacker]

28 minutes ago, LumRaiderFan said:

Even the "originalists" had no problem with amendments, but I'm quite sure they would have a problem with a cradle to grave nanny state.

For guy who revolted over having to pay taxes, I’m certain they’d have a problem with a tax system that taxes individuals income, then hands it back out to those who didn’t earn income as the ironically named “Earned Income Credit.”

It should have never devolved into a platform for wealth redistribution. And I don’t think UT can weasel around and make it sound constitutional, either.