Too bad for them, any pledge stands or falls on its own merits just like in real life
Isaac Send a noteboard - 19/09/2011 08:35:13 PM
The Dems are free to circulate a pledge of their own, and live with the language in it, this pledge is signed totally voluntarily with no coercion from the party, overt or subtle. This is hardly the only pledge out there available to be signed. People must live with the consequences of their pledges and their votes, if the Dems want to try to get their caucus to sign pledges that many would consider unreasonable then come November they'll pay for it, or not, as appropriate.
But the whole point of national pledges is to convince electoral majorities a partys candidates are committed to things large public majorities ardently support. Republicans didn't float a pledge not to increase taxes on the indepedently wealthy, and Democrats (probably) would be just as savvy (though they are notoriously awful at retail politics even when large majorities support an issue; national healthcare has proven that repeatedly). I'm sure most Democrats would be happy to sign, and honor, a pledge not to cut elderly medical care and/or pensions--which is exactly what necessary entitlement reforms would do, in part. Many might find that pledge unreasonable, but polls have consistently shown 70-80% of Americans not only find it reasonable but demand it, and Dems attempting to curry favor by making necessary cuts impossible won't help the situation any more than Republicans making necessary tax hikes impossible.
No, the whole point of pledges is to make it clear to the voters, primary and general, and the party leadership, that you hold a view and are voluntarily handing a loaded gun to them to point at your head if you betray your pledge. What the pledge is, and whether or not people respect or agree with it, obviously effects votes, good or bad, depending on the pledge.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Ok so increasing taxes on people making 1million+ is also NOT ok with Republicans
- 18/09/2011 04:43:29 PM
1213 Views
You act surprised, this has been said since the beginning, openly and repeatedly
- 18/09/2011 05:48:57 PM
580 Views
is this pledge legally binding?
- 18/09/2011 06:52:44 PM
519 Views
Re: is this pledge legally binding?
- 18/09/2011 08:14:49 PM
722 Views
That's rather easy though, isn't it?
- 18/09/2011 09:02:49 PM
726 Views
Not really
- 18/09/2011 10:02:12 PM
678 Views
Many will find any pledge unreasonable.
- 19/09/2011 07:01:20 AM
630 Views
Too bad for them, any pledge stands or falls on its own merits just like in real life
- 19/09/2011 08:35:13 PM
631 Views
If elected I pledge not to post on the RPMB. 
- 20/09/2011 01:54:00 PM
764 Views
- 20/09/2011 01:54:00 PM
764 Views
That didn't really make sense
- 20/09/2011 07:26:40 PM
693 Views
Sure it does: Pledging to do what one wanted to do anyway is rhetoric, not principle.
- 20/09/2011 08:04:25 PM
728 Views
Now you're debating with the definition of the word
- 20/09/2011 08:22:53 PM
700 Views
No, I accept the definition of the word, but reject cynical abuse of it.
- 21/09/2011 01:37:01 AM
750 Views
Could have done with out the kegger imagery But this just makes it your opinion
- 21/09/2011 02:10:47 AM
656 Views
But this just makes it your opinion
- 21/09/2011 02:10:47 AM
656 Views
There is a problem with compromise in this situation and lot of it the way it is being framed
- 19/09/2011 02:57:32 PM
702 Views
and if a republican becomes president, i'm sure all taxes will go up in 2013
- 20/09/2011 04:39:21 PM
758 Views
Well, I'm glad they've at least raised the income range they were discussing. *NM*
- 18/09/2011 06:10:57 PM
324 Views
This really doesn't address what Buffet was talking about, but that's not a surprise either.
- 18/09/2011 08:35:25 PM
541 Views
Simple change the law so capital gains are considered income, that will increase taxes on the rich *NM*
- 19/09/2011 01:21:41 AM
293 Views
They are already.
- 19/09/2011 02:42:08 AM
513 Views
Maybe I should be clearer
- 19/09/2011 02:59:34 AM
675 Views
I've long felt the capital gains rate has ruined public companies
- 19/09/2011 05:13:40 AM
579 Views
Actually, I think you AND Tom, as well as Isaac, are right.
- 19/09/2011 07:13:56 AM
800 Views
Class warfare doesn't work.....if it did, the R's would not have kicked butt in 2010
- 19/09/2011 03:21:17 PM
581 Views
"If there's a class war in this country, my class is winning."--Warren Buffet
- 20/09/2011 07:54:45 PM
712 Views
There should be a set tax percentage that every US citizen pays. *NM*
- 19/09/2011 01:25:13 PM
333 Views
+1 - a flat tax, with no or limited deductions is the way to go *NM*
- 19/09/2011 03:16:53 PM
276 Views
Agreed
- 19/09/2011 03:46:47 PM
668 Views
"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it."
- 20/09/2011 02:48:19 PM
656 Views
I fully advocate massive cuts to both entitlement programs and military spending *NM*
- 20/09/2011 11:53:10 PM
309 Views
And every child should be adequately fed and recieve a good education *NM*
- 19/09/2011 10:40:58 PM
287 Views
Why not a fixed wage for all US workers; then the problem solves itself. 
- 20/09/2011 01:56:35 PM
547 Views
- 20/09/2011 01:56:35 PM
547 Views
That works if you get rid of regressive taxes like the sales tax.
- 21/09/2011 04:34:07 PM
555 Views
a lot of people don't seem to understand that sales tax is a regressive tax
- 21/09/2011 04:44:16 PM
612 Views
It doesn't have to be
- 21/09/2011 07:45:31 PM
720 Views
Your solution is to tax people's savings? Tax "money storage", so that would be banks, right?
- 21/09/2011 10:29:36 PM
698 Views