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Read My Lips: No Stupid Promises

Posted by anewphilosophy Posted on: 07/29/08

Read My Lips: No Stupid Promises

So recently, John McCain became confused about his identity. Thinking that he was in fact former president George H. Bush, he promised no new taxes if he became president, then promptly said "never mind."

How is this a mistake that more than one candidate has made in the past twenty years? How hard is it to realize that circumstances can change and new taxes might be necessary? If I were running for president, I think I'd be savvy enough to know that sometimes taxes are necessary; they are, after all, how the government can continue to function, and to pay for all those little things we all love so much, like schools and roads and wars.

There is no excuse for dumb campaign promises-- unless, of course, you're a dumb candidate.

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  • It is hard for me to imagine that you could remember George H. Bush given your young age. But ultimately George H backed down to congress after a hard fight--it was not his idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read_my_lips:_no_new_taxes Going back to the idea of not raising taxes. I like to use running a household as a metaphor. If you need to buy a new car and do not have the money for it, you can either go out and get a second job to pay for it, or you could cut back on other things which are just nice to haves. (continued next msg)
    By PhotoRanger on July 30, 2008 01:57

  • Our government has a lot of pork in the budget and there are a lot of nebulously useful projects/programs which could be cut. I am not a fan of big government and big spending like the democrats are - heck the past eight years the republicans have been spending like wild as well. Shame on them both! That being said McCain backed off on his no new taxes pledge, and I must give him some credit for it, ultimately the best answer an entrenched politician can give with respect to his position is: I will change my position when the facts change.
    By PhotoRanger on July 30, 2008 01:58

  • Oh, I agree that politicians should change their positions when new facts are discovered-- absolutely, because if positions are stubbornly maintained in the face of new evidence, nothing would ever be accomplished. However, I do not believe that "taxes help keep government running" is a new fact. I think it's something every idiot should know by now. Furthermore, I agree that there are plenty of things that can be cut out of the budget, but the things that SHOULD be cut never are, and the silly things we waste our money on-- $200 staplers for the FBI, for instance, or invading random nations just because we don't like them very much-- are always the things we keep. When we cut taxes, what else do we cut? Funding for schools, road repair, welfare for poor people. We never seem to get rid of the stuff we don't really need. I can understand the desire to be fiscally responsible-- I'm the kind of person who clips coupons compulsively and refuses to use credit cards. But (cont. next message)
    By anewphilosophy on August 03, 2008 19:16

  • I simply can't abide your insistence that Democrats are all about "big government". Um, they're all about funding the government properly so that it can build and maintain the things we need. How is that "big government"? It was the Republicans that were all about spending ridiculous amounts of money on stupid wars, and about using the government to spy on people and butt into their private affairs. Look at Northern Europe. Those folks have high taxes, and that allows their government to actually HELP THEM. I went to school with a lot of people from the Low Countries, and they ALL had nothing but praise for the way their governments take care of the people. I'm not afraid of taxes. I'm glad and proud to pay my taxes, because I know that my money can help the government make a difference. Individually, we can only do so much; together, through the instrument of government, we can come together to do amazing things. Have some community spirit, why don't you?
    By anewphilosophy on August 03, 2008 19:23

  • And re: my age: Are you kidding me? I was nine or ten when he ran for re-election. I watched the news and I read the papers, just like every other kid did. We all discussed the candidates and the issues and even started political groups at school. Two of my friends stopped speaking for a time, because one of them said Perot was right about NAFTA. I can remember half a dozen of the political TV ads from start to finish-- heck, I can remember watching the debates on TV. I can't stand snarky comments about my age. I'm 23, and you have no idea what I've seen and done. I know fifty year olds with less life experience than I have. Don't gimme that crap.
    By anewphilosophy on August 03, 2008 19:32

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