Sarah Palin

[bigredbirdfan]

Unions have helped so many industries. The latest is the automobile industry where the big 3 are almost bankrupt. If Japanese manufactures want to implement a production change on an assembly line it is in place in 30 days. The american companies get to wait to hear the official union position and maybe get their change made in half a year. No wonder they are about kill them off. Don't get me wrong they served thier puporse years ago but everyone wanted so much more each round of "negotiations" that companies just cannot afford some of these wonderful union benefits and jobs go overseas because like it or not we are in a global economy and companies will just leave the U.S if you jack with them too much (Obama has promised it) I'll save you the typing and assume this is George Bush's fault.

[Fishhand]

Unions have helped so many industries. The latest is the automobile industry where the big 3 are almost bankrupt. If Japanese manufactures want to implement a production change on an assembly line it is in place in 30 days. The american companies get to wait to hear the official union position and maybe get their change made in half a year. No wonder they are about kill them off. Don't get me wrong they served thier puporse years ago but everyone wanted so much more each round of "negotiations" that companies just cannot afford some of these wonderful union benefits and jobs go overseas because like it or not we are in a global economy and companies will just leave the U.S if you jack with them too much (Obama has promised it) I'll save you the typing and assume this is George Bush's fault.

The union deal is a tough call. In the present day environment, I can see their benefits and their deficits. For example, workers at AWG are on a production standard (AWG is a grocery warehouse providing groceries to Dillons, Country Mart, etc., at least they used to). They are Teamsters and I used to work there in the early 90's. The production standard ensures the company the workers are doing their jobs. But, the production standard is also set at such a rapid pace, safety becomes an issue. In my opinion, if there was not a union, the company would jack the production standard through the roof and if you got hurt they would fire you. It happened to me, I was working in the meat department utilizing a single motorized pallet jack. My shoelace had come undone unbeknownst to me. When I stepped off of the pallet jack, my opposite foot was stepping on the shoelace. I shortstepped and the pallet jack rolled up on the back of my heel. It hurt and I mean bad. The company threatened to fire me for being negligent, but the union stood up for me and saved my job.

In my opinion, unions ensure workers fair compensation, which will provide them and their families a way to achieve a reasonable standard of living. There are problems with unions as well. There was a guy at AWG who broke his arm on purpose just so he could draw an OJI check. I heard, he stuck it through a pallet and another dude hit it with a board. It didn't break the first time, so he had to hit it again. The union should not stick up for people like this, but, if someone in the union were to say something they would get blackballed.

We all know why corporations move their factories to third world countries. Greed and the exploitation of those less fortunate. Third world countries don't have a standard of living and it's wrong what is going on. I don't blame Bush for the corporations moving their factories. I just think Obama and the Democratic Party stand up for workers' rights more than the Republican Party.

[twosets]

Points to ponder:

While I believe that the questions that jjtrout presents are mostly valid, the last part about tax rates are not valid, Mr. Obama has not put that fine of a point on his proposed tax rates. If fact, in his address he promised lower rates to 95% of Americans, and to be off of oil in 10 years (?????) among many other things.

1) Bush inherited a recession from Clinton. Not Clinton's fault exactly, but we were comming off the dot com bubble then just as we are comming off the mortgage problem now.

2) 9-11 could have sent us into a major economic disaster, the tax cuts proposed by Pres Bush and enacted by congress averted that.

3) The costs of Iraq in dollars and lives are huge and terrible, but the introduction of freedom into a region that did not have it before, and is a very important part of the world will change that part of the world forever and for the better. I think ( as did our founders) that all men yearn to be free, and once people are given a taste of freedom that it will grow. Iraq cannot be discussed without consideration of the duties of the POTUS to protect the US in a military way, and the importants of the free flow of oil to our economy. We will rely on oil for the rest of my life, not just the next 10 years. It will take the long view of history to truly evaluate the Iraq war.

4) There were many positive aspects that came with the easy availibility of mortgage loans. Many people made tons of money in the construction trades, many people were able to buy homes (most of those have not lost those homes), and people used the equity in their homes to buy stuff which has also fueled our economy. Now we are paying the massive cost for all of that easy money. Did we force people to borrow money that they could not repay at bad loan terms? No, of course not, this is America. Everyone should be responcible for their own bad decisions.

5) Our economy has a history of peeks and valleys, and it takes time for policy changes to have an effect on the economy. Much of the economic good times of the 90's were a result of policies of the 80's, in addition to favorable market conditions which may have nothing to do with the policies of the party in power.

All of that being said, I think that our chioce is very simple.

If you think that government should get out of the way to as large of an extent as possible and let the free markets and the the hard work of the American people solve problems, vote Republican.

If you think that government is the solution to our problems and should take over more of our economy, vote Democrat.

If you believe in judges who strictly adhear to the constitution and written law, vote Republican

If you believe that it is the roll of judges to expand the constitution to what they see as current circumstances that warrent additions rights, vote Democrat.

[Chief Grey Bear]

And why don't you all defending Obama just come on out and say he is the best thing since sliced bread at least you will have my respect.

Here is a news flash for ya: We don't think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But better than anything the republicans have to offer. And I highly doubt if I am the only one here who could care less for your respect. You can keep it 'cause I don't want it.

[bigredbirdfan]

Here is a news flash for ya: We don't think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But better than anything the republicans have to offer. And I highly doubt if I am the only one here who could care less for your respect. You can keep it 'cause I don't want it.

Last olive branch I will extend to liberals.

Let's get back to Palin being a wonderful choice for the McCain ticket. Isn't she just a breath of fresh air compared to mean partisan Joe Biden. Hockey mom with executive experience couldn't be more night and day with these two tickets.

[Fishhand]

It's the name calling Nobama, BARRACK HUSSEIN, etc. and the small minded barbs that piss me off. There's only been one perceived liberal on here who has began a topic regarding politics and that was yesterday.

I grew up in Ridgedale, now reside in Branson and fish alot. I would have some good information to share. However, it's the constant assault by some people on OA who have ruined it for me. Why would I want to give information to someone who is not respectful enough to at the minimum spell Obama's name correctly. I'm just going back to lurking and waiting for Al's next story.

But, I did catch a world record hybrid (or maybe it was a striper...it had a broken patch near it's pectoral fin..29lbs...released). Good fishin all.

[Chief Grey Bear]

We can all talk in circles here, respect is in a man's actions. Bill knew Bin Laden was out to get us. Remember the USS Cole? But he didnt do a thing to retaliate for that injustice.

This is not the first time on here you have asked us to remember the Cole. How come you don't ask us to remember these? 1979 - 1988 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh...t/etc/cron.html

Maybe if more had been done back then we wouldn't be, where we are today, blaming everything on President Clinton.

[Danoinark]

It's the name calling Nobama, BARRACK HUSSEIN, etc. and the small minded barbs that piss me off. There's only been one perceived liberal on here who has began a topic regarding politics and that was yesterday.

I grew up in Ridgedale, now reside in Branson and fish alot. I would have some good information to share. However, it's the constant assault by some people on OA who have ruined it for me. Why would I want to give information to someone who is not respectful enough to at the minimum spell Obama's name correctly. I'm just going back to lurking and waiting for Al's next story.

But, I did catch a world record hybrid (or maybe it was a striper...it had a broken patch near it's pectoral fin..29lbs...released). Good fishin all.

This is exactly what I was afraid of. I have asked everyone before to be respectful to the candidates. I know they are under scrutiny but that doesn't mean its proper to call names of any running for office or those posting on this board. I don't want to use the edit button on these posts or delete threads. Have a healthy discussion of the candidates and the issues but lets leave out the insults. This will also be posted in its own thread. Thanks for your cooperation.

Dano

[twosets]

very nice fish, Jim.

Where did you catck it and was it a Dem or a Republican?

George

[oneshot]

Ok guys just a country hick here.But did most our Jobs leave because of NAFTA? If so how can we get it reversed?

I know getting a little off subject,but I was just wondering.

oneshot