President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[steveo777]

The speech that got Breitbart assasinated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS1CacgMWIs

[Boomchild]

Don't think for a second that the U.S. Government wouldn't do the very same thing to their own people if we were to go against the U.S. Government ideals. Why else is the Obama administration keeping track of everyone's phone conversations, internet activities, IRS dealings aimed at specific groups, etc. It just hasn't gotten to the point yet where they need to start killing to do what they want.

Also include the hardware build up in the DHS. Ammo, tanks converted for urban use and who know what else.

[Boomchild]

World war? I can't even pretend that would be a possibility here. They used chem weapons, we drop a few bombs. Shit, that's routine for us now. I think we have it calendared for the next 200 years. Why not plan for things we know will happen ever decade or two?

Russia always warns us. China always warns us. Everyone does there saber rattling and they campaign on it and then the world keeps turning.

We are more weaker on the world stage than we have been in a long, long time, so maybe these other countries will feel more empowered to do something. But we are still as militarily capable as we have always been and we can and will kick the shit out of anyone that asks for it, so....

It's not much of a stretch that this could lead into world war. Syria really does not have the ability to attack the U.S. directly or our installations in the middle east. However, as retaliation Syria or Iran could attack Israel. Which Israel would more then likely respond. Israel is already calling up reserve troops and handing out gas masks.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/28 ... an-threat/

If Iran does it on behalf of Syria you know that is going to make Israel ask the U.S. to attack Iran to take out their nuclear facilities. From there it would just unravel.

It's true that the U.S. is still the most capable military power in the world. But we are starting to show cracks. We are unable to provide basic proper supplies to our troops upon deployment. Things like basic medical supplies needed in the field. Protective eye wear and body armor. Troops being deployed have been instructed by their commanders to either buy some of this stuff themselves or try to "scrounge" something up when they get to their destination. Some non profit aid organizations have helped fill some of the gaps but it is insane to send troops into battle without this stuff and it effects our capabilities and send home more troops home in body bags.

[Boomchild]

Someone, anyone tell me please about anyone in this country that is a citizen that had trouble voting. You walk up, you show your ID, and you vote. Sometimes 2 or 3 times for God's sake! If you didn't register in time, blame only yourself. I didn't register in time once. You know what I did? I stayed home. I didn't blame the government or some pretend bullshit. If you don't have an ID, or a car, or whatever, well then hey, that's your challenge.

I'm so sick of hearing about this vast conspiracy about it being hard to vote. It's a bullshit myth.

It's a bogus argument with a capitol "B". Think of all the places we need to have an ID now which isn't considered prejudice. Things like opening a bank account, visiting a doctor for the first time, most government programs require an ID to sign up. The whole reason the politicians don't want to see this as a requirement to vote is it would screw with their ability to rig elections.

[steveo777]

Someone, anyone tell me please about anyone in this country that is a citizen that had trouble voting. You walk up, you show your ID, and you vote. Sometimes 2 or 3 times for God's sake! If you didn't register in time, blame only yourself. I didn't register in time once. You know what I did? I stayed home. I didn't blame the government or some pretend bullshit. If you don't have an ID, or a car, or whatever, well then hey, that's your challenge.

I'm so sick of hearing about this vast conspiracy about it being hard to vote. It's a bullshit myth.

It's a bogus argument with a capitol "B". Think of all the places we need to have an ID now which isn't considered prejudice. Things like opening a bank account, visiting a doctor for the first time, most government programs require an ID to sign up. The whole reason the politicians don't want to see this as a requirement to vote is it would screw with their ability to rig elections.

The objection is because they don't want integrity in the election process. Why, oh, why could that possibly be? Same restrictions that they claim, would keep an equal number of republicans from voting too, if that were a true restriction. Republicans don't want illegals voting, twice, thrice, etc. That is the rule of law. The DemocRats, OTOH, welcome any vote, legal or not, so long as it progresses their agenda, law be damned. You can't force truth on people who choose to be blind, ignorant, corrupt and stupid. No wonder conservatives have a problem. The only way Republicans can ever prevail again is to stoop to the same levels....and, in time, they will have to. Fuck it, left wing and right wing are really all the same garbage. America, we have a crisis....a non partisan one that points right at Washington, the whole filthy house!

[The Sushi Hunter]

I totally agree with you on that Steveo777 but since the rats outnumber the republicans....they can screw it up anyway the please.

[Boomchild]

Are you a Christian, evangelical or Roman Catholic? Then your part of "religious extremism" groups. At least according to the DOD, Army Reserve presentation shown to recruits. Your right up there with groups such as skinheads, the KKK, Hamas and Al Qaeda. Does this type of propaganda spewing from our Federal Government alarm you? I sure hope so.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Qaeda.html

[Boomchild]

With B.O. giving all these speeches about how African Americans are still not getting a fair chance in American society, I find it odd that the U.S. Attorney General is suing Louisiana's school voucher programs. The claim is that it is a ploy to re-segregate schools by causing a racial imbalance. The odd thing is that the African American participation in the programs is about 90%. So much for the government contributing to assisting minorities in getting a better education. For me, it makes it look like they are just trying to keep minorities right where they are.

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf ... ock_s.html

[Boomchild]

According to B.O., John "Ketchup" Kerry and Joe "Foot In Mouth" Biden, there is no doubt that it was the Syrian military who used the chemical weapons and it was President Assad who ordered it. The AP reports this theory is not as concrete as they are presenting it.

"The intelligence linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack is no "slam dunk," with questions remaining about who actually controls some of Syria's chemical weapons stores and doubts about whether Assad himself ordered the strike, U.S. intelligence officials say."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStor ... k-20102965

[The Sushi Hunter]

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Yesterday I saw that fast food workers from McShit, JackShit, BurgerShit, KFShit, and I think TacoShit all went on strike across the nation. They demand $15 per hour starting plus authority to form/join a union. Tell us Rick, why would these individuals want to go union? That's right, so they can go on strike for more money and benefits whenever they desire. If they get their way, that McShitty meal deal will cost the consumer between $15 and $20 a pop, which wouldn't be that much of a steal at all. This is the no bs cost because factor in what the companies will be forced pay out in salary and benefits, they'd have to charge that much to be profitable.

[slucero]

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Yesterday I saw that fast food workers from McShit, JackShit, BurgerShit, KFShit, and I think TacoShit all went on strike across the nation. They demand $15 per hour starting plus authority to form/join a union. Tell us Rick, why would these individuals want to go union? That's right, so they can go on strike for more money and benefits whenever they desire. If they get their way, that McShitty meal deal will cost the consumer between $15 and $20 a pop, which wouldn't be that much of a steal at all. This is the no bs cost because factor in what the companies will be forced pay out in salary and benefits, they'd have to charge that much to be profitable.

Never gonna happen... people wouldn't be able to afford to eat there anymore and the fast food company's would just close up shop.

[slucero]

Harvard Study: No Correlation Between Gun Control and Less Violent Crime
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/org ... online.pdf




no shit.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Sounds like the U.S. is about to rotate stock in Syria. Wish it was in North Korea instead.

[The Sushi Hunter]

With B.O. giving all these speeches about how African Americans are still not getting a fair chance in American society, I find it odd that the U.S. Attorney General is suing Louisiana's school voucher programs. The claim is that it is a ploy to re-segregate schools by causing a racial imbalance. The odd thing is that the African American participation in the programs is about 90%. So much for the government contributing to assisting minorities in getting a better education. For me, it makes it look like they are just trying to keep minorities right where they are.

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf ... ock_s.html

Maybe this is what BOzo was talking about in regards to African Americans still not getting .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyLPHK-h8HI

[Boomchild]

[
Yesterday I saw that fast food workers from McShit, JackShit, BurgerShit, KFShit, and I think TacoShit all went on strike across the nation. They demand $15 per hour starting plus authority to form/join a union. Tell us Rick, why would these individuals want to go union? That's right, so they can go on strike for more money and benefits whenever they desire. If they get their way, that McShitty meal deal will cost the consumer between $15 and $20 a pop, which wouldn't be that much of a steal at all. This is the no bs cost because factor in what the companies will be forced pay out in salary and benefits, they'd have to charge that much to be profitable.

Minimum wage is just a starting point for earnings. It was never meant to be what a person would earn for their entire life. People must work hard and strive to improve their skills, whatever that may be, to increase their earnings. Not just have it handed to them. If people want higher wages, then they need to work on improving themselves to "move up the ladder". Some would say what if it is a "dead end" job? To that I say who is forcing you to stay working at a dead end job? Invest in yourself and move on to a workplace that has a path for advancement. I started out at a minimum wage job cleaning offices and from there worked my way up to a position in corporate management. This environment of entitlements and having things handed to you without putting in an effort to earn it is killing this country.

[Boomchild]

Sounds like the U.S. is about to rotate stock in Syria. Wish it was in North Korea instead.

How about we just stop trying to solve the world's problems that are not critical to the U.S. and focus on securing our nation at home. That would be a better investment of our resources.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Sounds like the U.S. is about to rotate stock in Syria. Wish it was in North Korea instead.

How about we just stop trying to solve the world's problems that are not critical to the U.S. and focus on securing our nation at home. That would be a better investment of our resources.

It would indeed. Barry o is being slated world wide tongiht.... oh Im bombing Syia, oh no maybe I will ask congress for authrorization and wait 3 weeks hoping theyll reject and I can get off the hook.

I dont think attacking Syria will be smart or do antyhing to help either the present victims or future victims of the chemical attacks or do anything to reduce the stem the evil that seems to be on both sides there, but by christ why couldnt obama just pick his approach and stick to it principled. Hes makeing us looks like dicks. at least neo-cons like mcain and bolton are consistent in their crap and really seem to beleive in it.

[slucero]

Pretty predictable...

Britain's Parliament handed Cameron his ass..

the U.N. said no...

So Obama would have to go it alone..


Now he's gonna put it on Congress so he has an out...

[Boomchild]

It would indeed. Barry o is being slated world wide tongiht.... oh Im bombing Syia, oh no maybe I will ask congress for authrorization and wait 3 weeks hoping theyll reject and I can get off the hook.

I dont think attacking Syria will be smart or do antyhing to help either the present victims or future victims of the chemical attacks or do anything to reduce the stem the evil that seems to be on both sides there, but by christ why couldnt obama just pick his approach and stick to it principled. Hes makeing us looks like dicks. at least neo-cons like mcain and bolton are consistent in their crap and really seem to beleive in it.

This is something that should be in the hands of the U.N.. B.O.'s approach to this situation has been a mess. So we target bomb Syria and then what? The only way to stop the use of chemical weapons would be to go in and get them. That's something I don't think most Americans would support. Not to mention with all the advanced notice that Syria has had, I'm sure they have moved their military assets away from possible areas of attack. It will be interesting to see how Congress addresses the situation. I am not buying the "slam dunk" evidence that it was the Syrian government that used the CW. If we go this alone, I feel it is going to blow up in our faces.

[slucero]

It would indeed. Barry o is being slated world wide tongiht.... oh Im bombing Syia, oh no maybe I will ask congress for authrorization and wait 3 weeks hoping theyll reject and I can get off the hook.

I dont think attacking Syria will be smart or do antyhing to help either the present victims or future victims of the chemical attacks or do anything to reduce the stem the evil that seems to be on both sides there, but by christ why couldnt obama just pick his approach and stick to it principled. Hes makeing us looks like dicks. at least neo-cons like mcain and bolton are consistent in their crap and really seem to beleive in it.

This is something that should be in the hands of the U.N.. B.O.'s approach to this situation has been a mess. So we target bomb Syria and then what? The only way to stop the use of chemical weapons would be to go in and get them. That's something I don't think most Americans would support. Not to mention with all the advanced notice that Syria has had, I'm sure they have moved their military assets away from possible areas of attack. It will be interesting to see how Congress addresses the situation. I am not buying the "slam dunk" evidence that it was the Syrian government that used the CW. If we go this alone, I feel it is going to blow up in our faces.

The evidence is already gone.... The U.N. reported that a while back....

Most independent news organizations are saying that its the rebels that are using chem-weps.. not The Syrian military.. but that wouldn't fit with the Wests goals, which is the ouster of Asad... nor would it paint the U.S. in a very good light if it became commonly accepted knowledge that the Obama admin is supporting the rebels, who are gassing their fellow citizens.

And now Obama has deferred to Congress.. where a defeat would hose him over on any further domestic agenda items (immigration, gun control, etc.). I think it's likely the House rejects a Syrian strike, and the Senate approves it.. which results in Congress appearing "divided".. and Obama emerging stronger than before, on both the domestic and international front.

The aftermath of a U.S strike will be madness in the Middle East, as Iran will enter the war immediately, then Israel.. then the US with troops..

Here's how this could actually play out, affect the US economy, and thus our way of life.

Precursor, as of today:
Barrel of oil - $110
Gallon of Gas- $3.50


Scenario:

1. Obama attacks Syria unilaterally (regardless of Congressional approval an/or with the continued support of Israel and Saudi Arabia), limiting attacks to largely ineffective and symbolic missile strikes. All this does is simply reinforce the focus on the U.S. as the primary cause of the crisis.
   
   Barrel of oil - $125
   Gallon of Gas- $3.90
   .
2. A no fly zone will be established, and the U.S. navy will stay out of range of high grade Russian missile technology in the hands of Syria, which dramatically affect US navy response time and effectiveness
   .
3. Iran will immediately launch troops and arms in support of Syria. Syria will become a MESS. Fighting will spread into other countries, covertly and overtly, like it did during Vietnam.
   .
4. Wall Street will immediately correct, the stimuli inflated DOW will drop 10% -15% as Iran enters the fray.
   
   Barrel of oil - $145
   Gallon of Gas- $4.50
   .
5. Israel will be the likely first nation to "officially" send ground troops into Syria (and likely Iran), citing a lack of effectiveness of U.S. airstrikes. American troops follow soon thereafter.
   .
6. Oil will hit $160 per barrel. Gasoline prices will rise 30%-50% within 60 days.
   
   Barrel of oil - $160
   Gallon of Gas- $5.00
   .
7. The Egyptian civil war, now underway but ignored by the mainstream, will explode due to increased Muslim anger over U.S. presence in Syria. The Suez Canal will become a dangerous shipping option for oil exporters.
   .
8. Iran will shut down the Straight of Hormuz. Oil exports through the straight of Hormuz will stop for months, cutting 20% of the world’s oil supply overnight.
   .
9. Oil will hit $200 per barrel. Gasoline prices will rise an additional 50% within 30 days.
   
   Barrel of oil - $200
   Gallon of Gas- $6.25
   .
10. The Wall Street economy will correct again, reverting to the mean (Main Street), reconnecting with already sub 2% GDP of the Main Street economy.

..and then its "Welcome to the Depression"....

[Memorex]

Here's my take. Obama goes to congress (as he should have done months ago), he presents evidence and Congress says go for it. We drop some bombs that do very little, and they go on fighting. No Iran. Maybe a few rockets to Israel from Syria, which happens all the time anyway. Israel will lob a few back and that's it. Gas will go up, not because of all the bullshit reasons they always give, but because profits must be increased in times of turmoil - that's just the rules.

When all is said and done, Joe American still won't be able to find a decent job, our health premiums will still rise, and no one in Washington will be focused on solving it. Good stuff, no?

[Boomchild]

Here's my take. Obama goes to congress (as he should have done months ago), he presents evidence and Congress says go for it. We drop some bombs that do very little, and they go on fighting. No Iran. Maybe a few rockets to Israel from Syria, which happens all the time anyway. Israel will lob a few back and that's it. Gas will go up, not because of all the bullshit reasons they always give, but because profits must be increased in times of turmoil - that's just the rules.

When all is said and done, Joe American still won't be able to find a decent job, our health premiums will still rise, and no one in Washington will be focused on solving it. Good stuff, no?

Well one thing is for sure, anything that happens in the middle east is not going to solve our problems in the U.S.. It could only make them worse. There is no reason for us to get directly involved in Syria's problems.

[slucero]

Even Big Labor hates Obamacare and the unions that support it...

ILWU Quits the AFL-CIO
http://www.labornotes.org/2013/08/longs ... ts-afl-cio

In a surprise move, the 40,000-member International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced its disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO yesterday. The news comes just a week before the federation is set to hold its national convention in Los Angeles, the nation’s biggest port and an ILWU stronghold.

The ILWU, known for its militant traditions and progressive politics, has been drawn into turf wars with other unions in recent years—particularly in the grain export terminals of the Pacific Northwest, where longshore workers have been locked in a high-stakes battle over master contract standards since 2011.

In an August 29 letter to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, ILWU President Robert McEllrath cited these ongoing juristictional battles as part of the union’s decision to disaffiliate. The skirmishes hit close to home: McEllrath comes out of Vancouver, Washington’s Local 4, where members of rival unions are crossing ILWU picket lines, and debate over the disputes was squelched at this summer’s state labor convention.

The letter also cited the federation’s compromised positions on health care and immigration reform. Invoking the union’s radical and independent history, McEllrath noted the ILWU did not join the AFL-CIO until 1988—after being kicked out of the CIO during the McCarthy era for being “too red.”

Lockstep with Obama

“[The AFL-CIO] wants to organize these big conventions, and rally to pat themselves on the back, doing nothing to promote the working-class,” said ILWU Coast Committeeman, Leal Sundet, who supported the union’s decision to disaffiliate.

The ILWU supports a national single-payer health care system, while the AFL-CIO is “in lockstep with Obama,” Sundet said. He criticized the federation for being unwilling to discuss the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act, which discriminates against union Taft-Hartley benefit plans and will impose a so-called “Cadillac tax” on generous benefit plans.

Sundet also chided the federation’s position on immigration reform. The AFL-CIO is backing a bill that he contends will only make things harder for working-class immigrants, because it is “designed to give [only] highly-paid workers a real path to citizenship.”

It’s clear, however, that the overriding factor in the break is fallout from the ILWU’s ongoing struggle to maintain its longstanding contract standards—and jurisdiction—for 3,000 longshore workers who handle grain along the Puget Sound and Columbia River. Sundet is in the middle of the storm, heading up grain negotiations for the union.

Letter from ILWU President to the AFL-CIO: http://www.scribd.com/doc/164542066/ILW ... -8-29-2013

[Rick]

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Unions are killing this country.

Yeah, just killing it to death. READ. Try reading something about unions and what they have accomplished. Do that. Stop listening to the bullshit that has been fed to the American people about unions for years. It's fucking nauseating to see pictures of these idiots in wife beater shirts with fat guts and three teeth that they put out there. You know how many union members I see every day? None of them look like that. It's propaganda.

Yesterday I saw that fast food workers from McShit, JackShit, BurgerShit, KFShit, and I think TacoShit all went on strike across the nation. They demand $15 per hour starting plus authority to form/join a union. Tell us Rick, why would these individuals want to go union? That's right, so they can go on strike for more money and benefits whenever they desire. If they get their way, that McShitty meal deal will cost the consumer between $15 and $20 a pop, which wouldn't be that much of a steal at all. This is the no bs cost because factor in what the companies will be forced pay out in salary and benefits, they'd have to charge that much to be profitable.

First, tell me why someone wouldn't and shouldn't want more pay? The minimum wage today is lower than it was when Reagan was in office. 80% of the workforce at Walmart, who is this countries largest employer, qualify for food stamps. If you want to know why food stamp usage is so high, don't blame it on the lazy, although there are those, but blame it square on the culprit.

Unions are exactly why you work a 40 hour work week, have vacations, get holiday pay, medical, sick time and so forth. Unions are the reason we have child labor laws, workers compensation in the event of an injury, and the list goes on and on. If you work in a situation where any of these things are true, then thank the Unions, because there is not one single individual that made any of that happen.

[slucero]

The minimum wage today is lower than it was when Reagan was in office.

FALSE.

Reagan's Presidency 1981-1989

Minimum wage 1981-1989: $3.35
Current Minimum Wage: $7.25

In UN-adjusted for inflation terms, the minimum wage is about $4.97 cents.. If you want it adjusted for inflation using the BLS online inflation calculator that would come to around $10.55 per hour in 2012 dollars..

Good luck getting employers in fast food chains to pay employees that high of a wage... and be able to stay in business. They would have to raise prices to the point that even their employees wouldn't be able to afford to buy the food they make and sell.

None of this would be good for business (the employer would only pass on the cost to the customer, who would shop elsewhere), the employees (who would lose their jobs) or the employers (who would shut their stores).

[Memorex]

I do think wages are too low in some regard. It really depends on the sector. A McDonalds operation can better absorb higher wages than a semi-successful restaurant or dry cleaner. I think a higher minimum wage can hurt a lot of mom and pops.

Maybe minimum wages should based on profit margins. Say $7.25 for the "just-barely-profitable" shops and up to $15.00 for the hugely profitable shops. So Jim's Bar and Grill pays $7.25 and McDonalds pays $12 to $15 or so.

And I think there should be a factor for publicly traded companies, based on performance. Stock-holders are treated far more favorably than employees. I get why, but it's upside down to me.

Fact is, there are a TON of profits out there going a lot of places that are not the American family, the ones doing the work. It's disgusting how big the gap grows and grows between the rich and poor. A lot of that is based on the policies of our government and a lot is based on the policies of business. And right now, no one seems all that concerned about the sheer number of people leaving the work force and those being pushed to part time. I've never seen an administration with so little focus on the working class.

I know I normally spew the conservative economic views here and I believe capitalism is the only sustainable way of life, but there has to be a fairer set of rules. And by that I don't mean endless, mean-spirited regulations meant to cripple noble industries. I mean a much fairer tax code, better jobs and wages, and government out of the way otherwise. We have to do better.

[steveo777]

I do think wages are too low in some regard. It really depends on the sector. A McDonalds operation can better absorb higher wages than a semi-successful restaurant or dry cleaner. I think a higher minimum wage can hurt a lot of mom and pops.

Maybe minimum wages should based on profit margins. Say $7.25 for the "just-barely-profitable" shops and up to $15.00 for the hugely profitable shops. So Jim's Bar and Grill pays $7.25 and McDonalds pays $12 to $15 or so.

And I think there should be a factor for publicly traded companies, based on performance. Stock-holders are treated far more favorably than employees. I get why, but it's upside down to me.

Fact is, there are a TON of profits out there going a lot of places that are not the American family, the ones doing the work. It's disgusting how big the gap grows and grows between the rich and poor. A lot of that is based on the policies of our government and a lot is based on the policies of business. And right now, no one seems all that concerned about the sheer number of people leaving the work force and those being pushed to part time. I've never seen an administration with so little focus on the working class.

I know I normally spew the conservative economic views here and I believe capitalism is the only sustainable way of life, but there has to be a fairer set of rules. And by that I don't mean endless, mean-spirited regulations meant to cripple noble industries. I mean a much fairer tax code, better jobs and wages, and government out of the way otherwise. We have to do better.

McDonald's jobs are not meant to be a career. If someone is working there at 40 years old, then shame on them for not striving to advance themselves. They got what they earned. I worked fast food in my last couple years of high school so I could afford going out on dates, buying clothes, record albums, gas, etc.

[Boomchild]

McDonald's jobs are not meant to be a career. If someone is working there at 40 years old, then shame on them for not striving to advance themselves. They got what they earned. I worked fast food in my last couple years of high school so I could afford going out on dates, buying clothes, record albums, gas, etc.

I agree. Minimum wage jobs are not meant as a "life long" career. People need to strive to improve their working skills to improve their paycheck. If your unmotivated to do so, then you will be stuck in that minimum wage job. Doing an across the board minimum wage increase to $15HR as some have suggested would kill small businesses. It would be better if the focus was on improving our educational system so people have a better chance of getting jobs above minimum wage. The argument that the reason people are on food stamps is due to government mandated minimum wage requirements are set too low is a cop-out. Government mandates and programs do nothing to motivate a individual to improve themselves.

[steveo777]

McDonald's jobs are not meant to be a career. If someone is working there at 40 years old, then shame on them for not striving to advance themselves. They got what they earned. I worked fast food in my last couple years of high school so I could afford going out on dates, buying clothes, record albums, gas, etc.

I agree. Minimum wage jobs are not meant as a "life long" career. People need to strive to improve their working skills to improve their paycheck. If your unmotivated to do so, then you will be stuck in that minimum wage job. Doing an across the board minimum wage increase to $15HR as some have suggested would kill small businesses. It would be better if the focus was on improving our educational system so people have a better chance of getting jobs above minimum wage. The argument that the reason people are on food stamps is due to government mandated minimum wage requirements are set too low is a cop-out. Government mandates and programs do nothing to motivate a individual to improve themselves.

And you bring me to my next point: What are the teachers, that are training the teachers, that are teaching our kids, teaching them? I'd be very concerned about that at this point. Are they teaching them anti-america propaganda, are they creating more liberals....more entitelist society, just what are they saying in those class rooms? It really is a question worth asking. People want God out of our schools, want God off of our money and preach to kids, when disciplined, "YOU CALL 911!" Even Obama has instructed teachers to not discipline black children. Why!? Obama is a bad role model for everyone.

[Boomchild]

The schools that have implemented the federal government's "common core" lesson planning and guides have stuff in there that would make your hair stand on end. It's has a liberal and socialist viewpoint on many topics. Not all school systems are using it but I understand the list is growing. Their certainly not teaching American history about freedom and liberty like they did when I was in school.