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It's advanced beyond what it was during the Revolution, I think. Joel Send a noteboard - 03/09/2009 05:18:22 AM
I mean not trusting the government is almost a part of being American. We don't trust our government, but we sure do love our country. It's how the country was founded, and for the most part how it's remained.

And it's contributed to our deteriorating sense of community. The Founding Fathers were suspicious of government, sensitive to abuses of power, but I don't believe their view of government was nearly as adversarial as many peoples today. It wasn't to the point of Reagans hallowed, "The scariest words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help. '" I think even Patrick Henry and Thom Paine recognized government had a valid and valuable role to play, whereas many of the most conservative people today strike me as borderline anarchists.
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For Europeans who don't understand why Americans are against ObamaCare Tom - 03/09/2009 04:24:35 AM 1366 Views
I'd be happy to tax top "earners" more and suffer Europes economic "collapse. " Joel - 03/09/2009 04:30:31 AM 808 Views
The US will never work with socialism. Tom - 03/09/2009 04:40:21 AM 887 Views
Re: The US will never work with socialism. Joel - 03/09/2009 04:58:47 AM 872 Views
I don't think the mistrust of the government is really all that overblown Brian - 03/09/2009 05:04:34 AM 794 Views
It's advanced beyond what it was during the Revolution, I think. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:18:22 AM 841 Views
I would say it's grown with the government Brian - 03/09/2009 05:23:52 AM 821 Views
The key is that government shouldn't be heavily involved in personal lives. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:58:39 AM 847 Views
Re: I don't think the mistrust of the government is really all that overblown Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 03:30:23 AM 756 Views
If I lived in France I wouldn't trust the Government either. Brian - 04/09/2009 03:44:55 AM 831 Views
*laughs* the point is taken. *NM* Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:24:07 AM 521 Views
Re: The US will never work with socialism. Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 03:28:24 AM 917 Views
How much more can we really tax the wealthy?? Brian - 03/09/2009 04:41:14 AM 759 Views
Sadly, I think going back to the Clinton rates would help Tom - 03/09/2009 04:42:54 AM 695 Views
I'm ok with that....not super excited....but ok with it Brian - 03/09/2009 04:57:32 AM 722 Views
A lot; before Reagans "reforms" we already taxed them less than any other industrialized state did. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:06:00 AM 838 Views
I'm in the lower-middle class tax bracket Brian - 03/09/2009 05:13:39 AM 763 Views
It's both, IMHO. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:29:41 AM 695 Views
I hear a lot of socialism coming from you..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 05:19:08 AM 691 Views
Re: I hear a lot of socialism coming from you..... Joel - 03/09/2009 05:40:32 AM 787 Views
Nice non-answer answer..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 05:52:04 AM 784 Views
You want detailed answers that require detailed data I don't have. Joel - 03/09/2009 06:06:55 AM 850 Views
Here are some facts and analyses..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 02:40:22 PM 924 Views
The Heritage Foundation, huh? Joel - 03/09/2009 03:01:17 PM 929 Views
The non-working wealthy? Please quantify..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 03:31:58 PM 877 Views
So you accept the CBOs assessment the House healthcare bill will be $1 trillion over the next decade Joel - 04/09/2009 03:02:13 AM 787 Views
Wow, that was one of the dumbest posts I have ever read..... trzaska2000 - 05/09/2009 05:42:45 AM 829 Views
So you're saying you DON'T proofread...? Joel - 05/09/2009 05:59:49 AM 941 Views
Paris Hilton? Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 03:43:19 AM 797 Views
You're so full of shit on this issue I don't know where to begin. Tom - 04/09/2009 03:15:55 AM 881 Views
Re: You're so full of shit on this issue I don't know where to begin. Joel - 04/09/2009 03:59:21 AM 973 Views
Less than 200 people were said to be US persons with Swiss accounts Сталин - 04/09/2009 04:16:24 AM 776 Views
And yet account for many millions of dollars; what does that say...? Joel - 04/09/2009 04:21:57 AM 766 Views
It's statistically insignificant and your hyperbole is reminiscent of screaming guests on CNN. Сталин - 04/09/2009 02:07:31 PM 706 Views
Well, look at this way: Joel - 04/09/2009 02:24:03 PM 844 Views
That's not a solution. Сталин - 05/09/2009 02:39:12 AM 853 Views
The Soviets weren't socialist, or even communist, so it's a false comparison. Joel - 05/09/2009 03:09:06 AM 784 Views
Okay, now you've just gone into Kool-aid drinking territory. Сталин - 05/09/2009 04:32:07 AM 904 Views
Communist THEORY is predicated on democratic participation at every level,totally absent in the USSR Joel - 05/09/2009 04:55:00 AM 1018 Views
FINALLY!!! Kylia Skydancer - 07/09/2009 10:22:53 AM 818 Views
Ever heard of the 20-80 rule? Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:28:54 AM 688 Views
Yes, and 90% of people are idiots. Сталин - 05/09/2009 02:41:35 AM 1014 Views
Re: Yes, and 90% of people are idiots. Kylia Skydancer - 07/09/2009 10:09:30 AM 822 Views
Top earners? Please define.....what income and how much more? *NM* trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 04:52:25 AM 523 Views
That would be open to definition, and should change with inflation. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:13:02 AM 951 Views
What is your justification for taking over 50% of anyone's income? trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 05:28:22 AM 901 Views
That's a good example of why I say the rate has to be set to cost of living. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:50:16 AM 932 Views
Still no comment on the fact that 40% of Americans don't pay any income taxes? trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 02:32:12 PM 828 Views
To what 40% do you refer? Joel - 03/09/2009 02:42:55 PM 692 Views
Dude, you are not making this easy..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 03:38:01 PM 735 Views
No one "gets money from the IRS. " Joel - 04/09/2009 02:55:02 AM 737 Views
Actually with EIC you can get money back that you never paid in. Brian - 04/09/2009 02:56:43 AM 736 Views
It MIGHT be possible with the EIC, but in practice few people get more than they paid. Joel - 04/09/2009 03:43:36 AM 783 Views
I don't know, I've known plenty of people that have gotten more back than they paid in Brian - 04/09/2009 03:46:29 AM 862 Views
A neat trick then. Joel - 04/09/2009 04:09:58 AM 866 Views
To be fair Brian - 04/09/2009 04:50:20 AM 802 Views
Ah, gotcha. Joel - 04/09/2009 04:53:58 AM 807 Views
Yet another example of your ignorance on tax policy. Tom - 04/09/2009 03:19:39 AM 689 Views
The word I notice is "welfare" Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 03:57:01 AM 817 Views
I wouldn't say that's what it means.... Brian - 04/09/2009 04:02:40 AM 795 Views
It's what welfare means to me... Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:32:17 AM 811 Views
I was just talking about EIC as a form of welfare, not welfare welfare. *NM* Brian - 04/09/2009 04:45:13 AM 458 Views
yes, I get that now. *NM* Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 05:02:53 AM 442 Views
*NM* Brian - 04/09/2009 05:14:01 AM 442 Views
Not necessarily Сталин - 04/09/2009 04:11:41 AM 766 Views
*shrugs* I have a soft heart. *NM* Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:30:52 AM 446 Views
It's a credit for people who file a return on income that's been taxed. Joel - 04/09/2009 04:19:57 AM 733 Views
It is only for the WORKING poor, yes. Сталин - 04/09/2009 02:12:55 PM 737 Views
Mean it may be, but hardly illegal. Joel - 04/09/2009 02:31:16 PM 749 Views
How does the business benefit? Сталин - 04/09/2009 04:54:27 PM 755 Views
I didn't realize you meant literal withholding. Joel - 05/09/2009 03:03:32 AM 770 Views
That's a no-no, Joel AgentOrange - 03/09/2009 07:32:03 AM 740 Views
Europe impresses me for one simple reason: Joel - 03/09/2009 09:21:28 AM 788 Views
No real comments, just 100% agree with you....plus the $12 trillion is terrifying to me. *NM* Brian - 03/09/2009 04:33:39 AM 358 Views
If that scares you, check this out! trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 04:48:56 AM 889 Views
Excellent post - the US government is not capable of running HC..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 04:40:19 AM 684 Views
There is one thing the government did right Tom - 03/09/2009 04:41:36 AM 799 Views
The bailout, some of it, was necessary..... trzaska2000 - 03/09/2009 04:51:03 AM 794 Views
I still think it was too one sided. Joel - 03/09/2009 05:21:45 AM 820 Views
It depends on your level of cynicism nossy - 03/09/2009 05:38:53 AM 851 Views
when have they ever cut the fat? random thoughts - 03/09/2009 08:35:36 PM 772 Views
Contrary to popular belief, they are quite good at it nossy - 03/09/2009 09:05:15 PM 799 Views
Well there is only one catch *NM* random thoughts - 03/09/2009 10:56:00 PM 442 Views
This doesn't make sense to me. Tim - 03/09/2009 08:33:18 AM 794 Views
The key phrase is "should be. " Joel - 03/09/2009 09:38:15 AM 963 Views
Re: The key phrase is "should be. " Lady Isa Avanderidhril - 03/09/2009 09:47:39 AM 830 Views
That sounds like a good stop gap to me. Joel - 03/09/2009 09:50:57 AM 856 Views
In fairness, most Europeans don't seem to realize what ObamaCare is. Legolas - 03/09/2009 02:34:01 PM 824 Views
What makes you think we do? nossy - 03/09/2009 09:11:06 PM 837 Views
Oh, you don't either. I thought that went without saying. *NM* Legolas - 03/09/2009 09:25:54 PM 460 Views
As far as most people I know are concerned, opposition to ObamaCare isn't the issue. Rebekah - 03/09/2009 11:04:36 PM 921 Views
It's hard not to be horrified with a government as wasteful as ours Brian - 03/09/2009 11:24:59 PM 692 Views
I can understand horror of governments. Rebekah - 03/09/2009 11:30:23 PM 691 Views
a bit, yes. *NM* Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:08:37 AM 463 Views
For Americans who don't understand why Canadians like their public healthcare. Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 04:23:11 AM 824 Views
Correction ßelals Girl - 04/09/2009 04:44:32 AM 800 Views
Re: Correction Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 05:05:11 AM 924 Views
In all honesty.... Brian - 04/09/2009 05:18:23 AM 751 Views
Re: In all honesty.... Kylia Skydancer - 04/09/2009 07:19:28 AM 832 Views
Re: Correction ßelals Girl - 04/09/2009 05:24:49 PM 760 Views
Re: Correction Kylia Skydancer - 07/09/2009 10:11:45 AM 966 Views
That's a nice theory. Joel - 04/09/2009 02:49:34 PM 846 Views
It's a fact ßelals Girl - 04/09/2009 05:21:59 PM 808 Views
Re: It's a fact Joel - 05/09/2009 03:18:39 AM 777 Views
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