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Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

Location: Blogs Marion Politics
Posted by: Ocala.com Election Coverage	1/30/2008 10:13 AM
Recently, the Star-Banner asked the heads of the local Democratic and Republican parties if they’d be interested in participating in this blog. The response was a resounding yes. So, each week, we will pose a question about local, state or national politics and will publish their unedited responses promptly. There are very few rules here: Answers can be as long or as short as they want, and the party heads can delegate the responsibility of answering a question to another member of the party if they choose. This Week’s Question: Why should voters elect a Republican/Democrat to the White House in November? Roy Abshier, chairman, Marion County Republican Executive Committee One word - taxes. Every Democrat candidate is promising to raise taxes, whlie our GOP candidates are promissing to cut your taxes. The choice is clear. We believe your taxes are too high, they believe they know how to spend your money better than you. Bruce Seaman, chairman, Marion County Democratic Party A failed Republican ideology that has largely dominated the political scene from Marion County to Tallahassee to Washington, DC gives citizens every incentive to vote Democratic in the coming election. The ideology championed by Ronald Reagan has reached its logical fulfillment (or demise) in George W. Bush. It has two primary credos: first, government is the problem, and second, taxes are evil. Combined with a demand for lockstep conformity, a corresponding authoritarianism and bitter partisanship, you have the recipe for ineptitude in governing and disastrous outcomes. Politics driven by a rigid ideology invariably produce the kind of tyranny that has assaulted our nation and undermined its foundations for years. It creates elites who gain access and privilege, and enemies who are to be denied at all costs. Outside this ideological fantasyland stand most citizens who realize that they are pawns, spoon-fed lies and idiocy in governance to their peril. Citizens won’t accept the drivel any longer. Citizens have elected Republicans who deny and disavow the proper leadership role of government, who believe that government is best when it does the least or nothing, regardless of the situation. Isn’t such minimalism an invitation to problems? The chant that market forces and individualism are the answer to every issue has been refuted time after time. It is not reality. It is ideology. Even science itself has been stood on its head and denied credibility because it fails to conform to the ideology. Taxes are not evil. They are the way we fund government’s leadership that makes our society effective and helps it to progress as it addresses the issues we face together. A fair system of taxation brings benefits derived by sharing resources in order to accomplish what we cannot do or deal with alone or in isolation. The “taxes are evil” mantra has been translated into enriching the rich with tax breaks and other perks, denying fiscal prudence, and rewarding true believers while saddling the rest of society with burdens they have created. Citizens are tired of this nonsense. Most any Democrat looks good today. Democrats are offering true reforms in key areas while Republicans play the same old song, the only one they’re allowed to play, no matter how disreputable and patently futile. Democrats enter the arena seeking to be inclusive, sounding a message of change, hope and competence in marked contrast to the hollow drumbeat of denial, discord and dereliction trumpeted by Republicans. If you want health care reform, will continued free market support for insurance and drug companies get you there or cost you more? If you want to deal with immigration or any other complex issue, is an ideology going to provide a practical and effective response? If you want tax relief and effective government, is that asking too much or does an ideological straightjacket prevent an intelligent response? Democrats simply make sense. Republicans don’t. Unless you are rich, of course. Why would a citizen not vote for a Democrat? Now that is a tough one to answer.

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Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Chuck Reed on 2/1/2008 1:35 PM

I keep hearing about all the tax cuts and wonder,where in the world are the middle class tax cuts?Just mention to any on the far right about the huge cuts given the wealthy and you will hear;class envy,or attempt to redistribute wealth.well it is redistribution of wealth,from the middle class to upper class.As far as class envy there is most likely envy concerning the ability of the upper class to have the best health care,legal services,severance packages and speaking of taxes,wouldnt I love a 16-18% percent tax rate.Those on the far right have abandoned us the middle class and aligned themselves with the hate mongers,liars and bigots in the far right media.If the far right does not want us compassionate conservatives we do not follow along a line drawn by the likes of bill orielly or rush limbaugh well so be it.we in this area have voted out a few of "you" in recent times and have a few more to go,just keep beating that drum so we know who you are.One that most recently raised his hand and said so was Mr stearns with his bill of rights article 1 stomping recently.(you know the rebuttal letter where he claimed there was no rebuttal")Mr stearns claimed he didnt say he had "no compassion so there for it couldnt be true!!those on the far right do not want any views not aligned with their own to be published.So to answer the question I'll consider any candidate that is not endorsed by the far right media. As for local politicians we the people will continue to vote out those who continue to force your views on us rather then fight for issues that WE feel we put you in office for

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Sue Lyon on 2/4/2008 12:23 PM

Issues for a president and Congress to resolve in the post-November election relate to whichever party wins by whatever means. What are alternatives to tax increases? The federal coffers are empty. A budget-busting war contributed to by unmanaged government contractors -but don't ignore the fact that the Armed Forces are getting a pay check. Better than being hungry and homeless, right. Creation of the Department of Homeland Security, another budget buster, but largely ineffective, is getting more money.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By BEDSEL@AOL.COM on 2/4/2008 3:12 PM

IF WE WANTG THE SAME THING AS WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS, THEN VOTE REPUBLICAN..\\ IF WE WANT CHANGE THAT IS PREPARED TO START FROM DAY ONE WITHOUT ROCK VIDEOS, THEN WE SHOULD ALL VOT FOR HILLARY. SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PULL US OUT OF THIS MESS. LETS JUST PRAY SHE IS THE NOMINEE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, AND WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER GREAT 8 YEARS. CERTAINLY BETTER THAN A ROCK SINGER, OBAMA.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?	By drew on 2/17/2008 7:58 PM
We should be asking, who is going to put the FAIR TAX into play. Republican or Democrat, I don't care what party just get that bill going and you can count me as a voter. It would be the biggest "change" of power back to the people, thats us. The fair tax is just what it says, its fair across the board. Nobody is left out and the rich do not get any advantage.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?	By Juanita Martsolf on 2/24/2008 8:13 AM
It is very simple....if you want more of this unjust war and the Bush policies then vote for McCain, but if you don't-- and want to get this country back to the place of dignity in the world , then vote for a Democrat. We and our children and grand children will be paying for the lies we were told for a long long time. Some of you do not seem to understand that this country is knee deep in debt.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Nancy M. Noonan on 2/24/2008 9:19 AM

I live in a 55+ community and daily wonder why and how others who live here vote Republican. The very benefits most enjoy (except for the weathier among us) come from Democratic lead initiatives. Think about Social Security, think about Medicare, think about employers who have provided health care and pensions and which corporations have dropped these benefits for people after a lifetime committment to a job. Who stands above these dasterdly deeds? The answer is the Democratic party and their committment to the working class. I know "fair taxes" are important to all people and especially those of us who are retired, who do not expect to be treated worse in retirement. Rising costs in gasoline, food, health care, and other commodities happen when our Government takes their "eye off the ball" and finds a committment to War in Iraq as a more important expenditure of OUR money than effectively managing the Government "By the people and for the people". We need Democrats running our country again to give ALL people renewed belief in government!

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Nancy M. Noonan ; 2/24/08 on 2/24/2008 9:23 AM

I live in a 55+ community in Stonecrest and daily wonder why and how others who live here vote Republican. The very benefits most enjoy (except for the weathier among us) come from Democratic lead initiatives. Think about Social Security, think about Medicare, think about employers who have provided health care and pensions and which corporations have dropped these benefits for people after a lifetime committment to a job. Who stands above these dasterdly deeds? The answer is the Democratic party and their committment to the working class. I know "fair taxes" are important to all people and especially those of us who are retired, who do not expect to be treated worse in retirement. Rising costs in gasoline, food, health care, and other commodities happen when our Government takes their "eye off the ball" and finds a committment to War in Iraq as a more important expenditure of OUR money than effectively managing the Government "By the people and for the people". We need Democrats running our country again to give ALL people renewed belief in government!

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Susan Wyatt on 2/24/2008 10:29 AM

I, too, live in a 55+ community and I agree, wholeheartedly, with Nancy Noonan. The Republicans have never been fair to the people, who, by the way, were supposed to be governed by and for these people (us), not by big government, only concerned about themselves. Seems to have been an oligarchy...government of and by the few...Bush and his cronies. Answer the the above question...Democrat, of course!

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By F. Judy Brown on 2/26/2008 8:48 AM

After 7 years of hearing citizens bemoan their choice for president, "I say don't blame me, I voted Democrat". Well, you now have another chance to exercise your free choice, "How are you going to Vote"? Your choice to live with, think about it. Vote for the better candidate. Vote for someone with a vision to clean up the mess we got ourselves into. In a representative form of government, YOU Get What You Deserve. Think you deserve more than what you got. Vote better....

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?	By John Lake Sr. on 2/26/2008 11:26 AM
I think the past 8 years should speak for itself. If you look at the size of the federal government, the budget defiicit, gasoline prices, the economic class system, there is only one choice, and that is certainly not republican.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By Joyce Williams on 2/26/2008 3:28 PM

What has happened to the USA since George Bush declared himself President! Since his time with this title is coming to a close all we have heard from the Republic dominated news media and Republican journalists bash an condem Hillary Clinton. and praise Obama. What are they afraid of? Hillary can stand up to a republican and win the election. Obama certianlly doe's not have any expertise only a velvet droning into a microphone. It is time the Democratic party woke up and started assessing its' future. Where were all of you when President Clinton was in office? All of us had money in our pockets, interest from savings and the deficit was considerably less. What world are we coming from now? If McCain wins we will have more rich peoplle getting richer and the middle class joing the slum class. There is no in between for the Republicans. I have been a Bookkeeper for 40 years. And I have seen where all the Corporate tax breaks go. Not for the employees or pension funds but into presidents or CEO's pockets. If this is what you want, go for it. Allow a Republican or an inexperiienced Democrat, with nothing more than a smooth voice, to lead us down the primrose path. This could well be one of the worst electios in History. It is time to come out of the " make believe" world.

Re: Democrat or Republican: Who should occupy the White House?

By David Hebert on 3/7/2008 10:08 PM

Tax cuts for the wealthy??? Please, the wealthy pay more than their fair share of taxes. Read any basic economics book and you'll see clearly that this is true. The real problem is poor people not paying taxes; in fact, poor people paying NEGATIVE taxes. You have all bitched and moaned about "fair" taxes, making everyone equal and all that, and yet there are people in this country who pay absolutely no taxes at all. Why should they be exempt? Are you willing to take money away from them? What about social welfare programs that only help specific groups? Think about it, if I pay $100 in taxes to the federal government and they turn around and give me $500 from various welfare programs (which as Nancy pointed out, are products of DEMOCRATS), my effective tax payment to the government is -$400! How on Earth do any of you propose to call that fair while everyone else in the country, including yourselves, is paying positive taxes? The federal deficit argument has no merit whatsoever. It can be proven with simple algebra that annual debt can easily exceed 2 times total annual GDP and still not cause the real debt (controlling for inflation) to increase. Same thing with prices of various things, including gasoline. In terms of real prices, gasoline is CHEAPER now than ever. Sure, the number of dollars associated with a gallon of gasoline has gone up, but the purchasing power required to buy gasoline has actually DECREASED. Again, reading any introductory economics textbook will show you that universal (aka socialized) anything is much much worse in terms of both quality and price than privatized. Free markets devoid of government intervention lead to much better outcomes for everyone, regardless of income level. Short version: taxes will never, ever be fair because of the distortions in tax rates caused by social welfare programs which were enacted by DEMOCRATS. The national debt is stupid, stop caring about it. Gasoline prices are actually lower than ever and will continue to decrease. And government programs are actually evil and make all of us worse off.

Same o' Same

By RonnieRaygun on 3/8/2008 11:32 PM

Does it really matter who occupies the White House. It's the same old song every 4 years. They talk about fixing the same problems....Social Security, Medicaid, Global Warming, the Economy etc... It never changes. Democrat, Republican, Independent, Anarchist...whatever. They travel the country and tell you how they are going to make a difference and how things are going to change. Lets be honest with ourselves, unless your involved in politics, most of us don't even have a clue. Some of us may know a little bit about some of the bigger issues, but overall we are politically challenged as a whole. I think most American's, at least the ones that still put forth the effort to vote, listen to what the candidates have to say about issues that are important to us on personal level. If we like what we hear, then we vote for them. On more than one occasion I've looked at the presidential candidates and thought to myself, which jackass do I vote for.

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