Political shell games
by CmdrFenix on Mar.10, 2010, under Political Discussion
So, I got a chance tonight to take part in a phone “town hall” type meeting with Mr. Hodes who is running for Sen Judd Gregg’s senate seat here in NH. I was able to listen to people ask questions and all I just to do in order to ask a question was to press *3. Well I hit that button, listened to about 25 minutes of questions and answers, and when the announcer came on to talk with me about my questions I had my outline and discussion points ready to go. It was obvious he was trying to weed out the “death panel” morons (even I can call some of the arguements ludicrious) and completely bad shit insane people, so I explained my thoughts, concerns, and questions for Mr Hodes.
Thoughts:
I explained that I *do* write my senators and representatives to speak my mind so I hope he’ll be as responsive as Mr. Gregg was. Mrs. Shaheen has only responded twice and only via email. Even if it’s a staff, it did feel good getting a letter that did directly address my points. I hope this will continue.
Concerns:
According to the CBO, they estimate 31 billion (and change) from a tobacco increase of $0.39 to $1 a pack that’ll continue to increase through 2019 to a value of 79 billion dollars. I have to ask, what crack are they smoking? (no pun intended) I know people who smoke and are paying from between $6.50 a pack now to as much as $8-9 per pack in MA. They are ALREADY at the tipping point when they will no longer be able to afford to smoke and will thus quit. How will they replace that money?
There has been talk about a meals / alcohol tax. Fine, when they do that and people like me enjoy their cigars and liquor less, who are they going to tax next? You cannot tax a behavior. It’s unsustainable. You can’t call smokers on one hand evil doers who are causing lung cancer and must be taxed to pay for health coverage of people who inhale their smoke… and then tax the smokers to quit.
If the above does happen, what additional taxes as a white, middle class, tax payer am I going to see because from where I sit, it’s going to come down my pipe at some point.
Questions:
I think everyone agrees that wall street needs a lot of reform. Mortgages and securities being shuffled around in a shell game until the table fell over was tragic, but taxing private traders to cover reform? I am new to investing, and it’s prohibitive on the costs versus the benefits. If I need to trade 500 shares of stock in order to be profitable because of a tax, I won’t trade. Quick and to the point, you cannot tax an action to such an extent that you make it unattractive to try out. Quite simply put, you won’t see your projected revenues because people won’t do it. So what do you propose as a way to keep AIG and the big players in check without completely screwing me as someone who is starting to do this?
Let me start by saying THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT FOR MR HODES. Just some of my observations. I was kind of excited about this. It was a very interesting way to get people to attend these meetings. I did some very basic research on him and I’m intrigued. I have some homework I need to do on him, but here are the important points for me:
Guns
I agree with him on:
- Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
I disagree with him on:
- Establish a national database of ballistic “fingerprints” to track guns used in criminal activities.
There are obviously more areas, and I have only begun to stratch the surface, but it’s a start. That is just my first prelim thoughts on the matter. More research is needed, but for now I’ll leave you with this very entertaining note from Penn and Teller on Gun Control.
March 15th, 2010 on 6:22 pm
Disagree with basic premise of “why” the 2nd amendment is in the constitution as voiced by the P&T clip you linked. I find it .. quite arrogant for anyone to claim to know for sure the “why” of something basic in the constitution, considering the lack of structured interviews with the authors on the subject.
Seeking to overthrow the government is treason. You don’t get to play the “patriotism” card, the “real american” card, or the “support the troops” card (since you’d be shooting at them) if you are sympathetic to the concept of armed rebellion.
This just in, millions of people who hunt for food nation-wide would like to have a discussion with you about why the 2nd amendment is in the constitution.
This also just in, millions of martial artists, archery enthusiasts, and people who own steak knives would like to have a discussion with you about what constitutes “arms”.
I find it slightly disapointing that the only issue you felt the need to discuss your feelings of Mr Hodes on was guns. What’s your take on his stance on other issues?
March 16th, 2010 on 7:42 am
Um, I didn’t discuss firearms with Mr. Hodes at all. I went after only,
- The funding of HR2 with what I feel are unsustainable taxes (i.e. Tabacco)
- The taxing on Wall Street traders as a means of “cleaning up Wall Street”
- Responses back to constituents
I did look up his stances on various issues with the site I linked and you are correct that the first place I checked was his stance on firearms. Depending how far out there he was that would have killed it for me as a candidate. He is moderate in most other areas. Check the link out.
I also just thought the P&T link was funny. Nobody wants armed rebellion. I have to ask this question, if we cannot hypothesize as to why it was put into the constitution because that is “arrogant”, how can you say?
If nobody can theorize about why it was there, how can we make an opinion about anything?
Found a good link that brings up several points you’ve brought up to me. Good read.
March 17th, 2010 on 4:11 pm
My point wasnt to say that we shouldnt discuss why the 2nd amendment (or any other part) was part of the constitution, but rather accept that there might be more than one reason …
It’s also important to accept that no single document is the final-word in moral authority.
March 17th, 2010 on 4:14 pm
That link by the way … I can easily refute the vast majority of his positions. I don’t completely disagree with his position, just his reason for holding that position.
In short, he IS paranoid, grasping at straws, and is a serious hypocrite. Until he carries his fire-extinguisher with him every time he goes out in public, 90% of his reasoning falls apart completely.
March 17th, 2010 on 7:55 pm
I keep a fire extinguisher in my pick-up truck at all times. I’ve even used it once to put out a small engine fire that might have become a total loss.
There is tons and tons of evidence, papers, newspaper articles and books written by the people who wrote and ratified the Constitution concerning the 2nd Amendment. It’s quite clear why they put it in there. You can believe whatever you want, but it wasn’t put into place for our proud tradition of hunting. And arms includes steak knives, swords, polearms, spears, clubs, rocks, any tool used to defend one’s life or property. Sure, I can’t ask George Washington why, but I can read the things they wrote at the time (including the Constitution).
March 21st, 2010 on 10:38 pm
Please cite that “tons and tons and tons”, I’ve heard of some historians who would be anxious to see it, since they can’t seem to find it and there’s still some good debate going on the subject.
As for you’re fire extinguisher, congrats! Where’s your cobra venom antidote? How about your emergency stash of exlax? Are you prepared in case of an antrax attack? Did you stock up on duct-tape like a good paranoid consumer? What do you keep on your person to save you should a piano fall out a window above you as you happen to be walking down the street?
Carrying a gun to “defend yoruself” (as opposed to any of the other things you could defend yourself with) is a really silly argument unless you protect yourself against emergencies FAR more likely then being mugged or whatever.
As for me, I admit that I just like guns, and I don’t use non-sequitur justifications for carrying them around just because I can. I’m not worried about being mugged. I’m also not worried about small pox.