Liberal free for all coming to an end

[TracyCoxx]

If I find myself at a table in a bar with drinks and Fran, political debate is the last thing I'm thinking about.

[randolph]

The California economy is NOT improving in spite of optimistic prognostications from Washington and New York. Employment is 250,000 LOWER than it was ten years ago. Food Stamp demand is increasing in the area where I liv (Riverside County) and is higher than any where else in the US.
This is in spite of billions of tax money poured into banks and financial institution, ostensibly to "stimulate" the economy. It appears most of the stimulus money has gone into the stock market, making millions of profits for investors but not doing much for the economy.
The other problem is the price of gasoline. California is a commuter economy. The economy is extremely sensitive to the price of gasoline. A major escalation in price will severely and prevent any economic recovery in California.

[no1000]

I know how you feel Randolph. I live in the pomona area and gas is ridiculous. I do know of 2 people that have lost their jobs because they cannot commute to work and make it a worthwhile. Gas costs more than what they are actually making. I filled up my tank with $67 the other day. I'm hoping it doesn't get as bad as it did in the summer of 2008.

Yes, too much money goes to the educate system (I'm preparing for a hate mail on this one), prison systems, unions and government workers. And brown wants to extend taxes in June!?!?! oh hell no!!! Californians.. please say NO to tax increases!!!

[randolph]

Originally Posted by no1000

I know how you feel Randolph. I live in the pomona area and gas is ridiculous. I do know of 2 people that have lost their jobs because they cannot commute to work and make it a worthwhile. Gas costs more than what they are actually making. I filled up my tank with $67 the other day. I'm hoping it doesn't get as bad as it did in the summer of 2008.

Yes, too much money goes to the educate system (I'm preparing for a hate mail on this one), prison systems, unions and government workers. And brown wants to extend taxes in June!?!?! oh hell no!!! Californians.. please say NO to tax increases!!!

Well, I would have to agree with much of what you say. California is over regulated, overly bureaucratic and the legislature is corrupt. Infrastructure is disintegrating while urban renewal funds are spent on things the Board of Supervisors can brag about. Like fancy sports complexes and expensive community centers that have their names plastered on them. Aarggg!

[no1000]

Yeah, 'they' are building a football stadium in the diamond bar/walnut area and 'they' are also trying to build another sports stadium in LA. One of the people who was for the LA stadium said something along the lines, "traffic will be no problem, the LA freeways can handle about twice as many cars than what it has right now." I guess he/she has never driven down the 10 freeway at 6pm on a weekday.

Originally Posted by randolph

Well, I would have to agree with much of what you say. California is over regulated, overly bureaucratic and the legislature is corrupt. Infrastructure is disintegrating while urban renewal funds are spent on things the Board of Supervisors can brag about. Like fancy sports complexes and expensive community centers that have their names plastered on them. Aarggg!

[TracyCoxx]

During the coming presidential campaign you will probably be asked: "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?" You can bet it will not be Obama asking that question.

[randolph]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

During the coming presidential campaign you will probably be asked: "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?" You can bet it will not be Obama asking that question.

Hey, anybody working for the arms industry should be very happy with Obama. He is the biggest Presidential arms dealer in recent memory. The Wikileaks documents spell it out in Fortune magazine. Two hundred and fifty thousand workers here in the US are working full time making weapons for international trade. Of course, Israel get top of the line.

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by randolph

Hey, anybody working for the arms industry should be very happy with Obama. He is the biggest Presidential arms dealer in recent memory. The Wikileaks documents spell it out in Fortune magazine. Two hundred and fifty thousand workers here in the US are working full time making weapons for international trade. Of course, Israel get top of the line.

Always true to your talking points... Are YOU better off than you were 4 years ago?

[randolph]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

Always true to your talking points... Are YOU better off than you were 4 years ago?

Yep, sitting on my nest egg (stayed on the sidelines during the boom).

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by randolph

Yep, sitting on my nest egg (stayed on the sidelines during the boom).

Oh ok, I thought you were saying that ...

Originally Posted by randolph

... the other problem is the price of gasoline. California is a commuter economy. The economy is extremely sensitive to the price of gasoline. A major escalation in price will severely and prevent any economic recovery in California.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

During the coming presidential campaign you will probably be asked: "Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?" You can bet it will not be Obama asking that question.

I can honestly say i'm doing better as for the last two years i got a pay raise along with an cost of living increase thanks to our union

While back in the W years it was pay freezes and a pay cut, we accepted the pay cut to aviod layoffs

Jerseygirl Jen

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by transjen

I can honestly say i'm doing better as for the last two years i got a pay raise along with an cost of living increase thanks to our union

While back in the W years it was pay freezes and a pay cut, we accepted the pay cut to aviod layoffs

Jerseygirl Jen

That's great. Looks like all your hard work paid off. Or was it just an automatic raise that comes with being part of a union? In other words did the dems pay for your vote with my taxes?

[smc]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

That's great. Looks like all your hard work paid off. Or was it just an automatic raise that comes with being part of a union? In other words did the dems pay for your vote with my taxes?

Hey, Jen, when you file your income taxes this year perhaps you can stipulate that you don't want any of what you pay to help fund any of the myriad benefits from the government that Tracy Coxx surely receives. Keep Tracy off the highways, for instance. Don't allow Tracy to fly in any airplanes that use our federal air traffic control system. Etc. Etc. Etc.

[randolph]

In the good old days we had strong active unions that supported the Democratic Congressmen. Their influence helped moderate big business support of the Republican Congressmen. Decisions by Congress were usually a compromise between the two. This strengthen and maintained the well being of the working middle class.
Foreign competition along with persistent effort by the Republicans and big business, has essentially eliminated the union movement, except for some public employees. Consequently, both parties and all congressmen are now beholden to big business. The working middle class and especially the poor, have no influence in Congress. This does not bode well for the Nation.
Just look at the billions of taxpayer money poured into the financial institutions to bail them out, supposedly to get the economy going again. Well, much of it has gone into the stock market enriching the very people who created the crash. The market will crash again, the taxpayers will be stuck again. But will there be a next time?
Isn't time the American public stood up and said enough is enough?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

That's great. Looks like all your hard work paid off. Or was it just an automatic raise that comes with being part of a union? In other words did the dems pay for your vote with my taxes?

How does my pay raise increase your taxes? I'm not a state employee or goverment employee i'm a bank teller

And before you ask the bank i work for didn't not get part of the bail out
And fyi our raises are mostly based on merit and job preformance
Jerseygirl Jen

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by transjen

And fyi our raises are mostly based on merit and job preformance

Ok ok. Congrats then. I was thinking it was a cost of living increase.