My views.

[melissa_actress]

I appreciate those of you who have asked polite questions, shown genuine curiosity, rather than visceral emotional responses, and have respected my right to have an opinion that differs from yours.

asked what is is that attracts me to Mcain. It is not so much that I am attracted to McCain as I am diametrically opposed to most of Obama's

Comments

[roadriverrail]

I am a fiscal conservative.

Bully! So are a ton of moderate Democrats. You might be surprised to find what a meaningless phrase this is because there is absolutely no person in American politics who believes it's good to simply waste money without doing something that improves general welfare. That latter phrase is a mandate from the Constitution.

I am pro defense spending. I am the daughter of a 30 year Navy veteran, and granddaughter and great granddughter twice over.

Bully! So are plenty of Democrats. See also Obama Beats McCain in Defense Contributions.

The economy- This is a time when we need plans that spur the growth of businesses, not inhibit them.Business stimulus happens in a lot of ways. Economic wonks on the political right love to beat the drum of supply side economics, or the notion that loosening the taxes on businesses leads to new investment. This is actually a fairly controversial stand against demand side economics, the general Keynesian theory that the easiest way to stimulate business is to simply get

[dixiemouse]

No offense, but you receive welfare already. So do I. So does everyone.

I am curious how you mean this. I know for a fact that I do not receive any regular checks, cards, or slips for products, services, or money... I receive compensation for work I do, sometimes in payment sometimes in barter, but that is not welfare. I pay for everything from my mascara to my health insurance (no, it is not through my employer).

[roadriverrail]

You don't see it because they're baked into the prices of your goods, the wage you're getting paid, what employment/clients you get, etc. The vast majority of welfare is fairly transparent at the ground level, but I assure you that you can hear it discussed as welfare in just about any economics circle you with to mention it in.

[dixiemouse]

That's very conspiratorial of you.

You still haven't given a clear defense of your assertion. Show me. Don't give me pretty words.

[roadriverrail]

I'm sorry, but I'm living in an economic reality land and not speaking conspiracy theory. Nor is it my job to provide remediation on either economics or basic public policy. Try Wikipedia for that. Maybe The Cato Institute will help you a little bit more. Or The Economist.

I don't care to demonstrate further. If you're that wholly unfamiliar with the level of government welfare which shapes our market economics, there's very little more I can say.

[dixiemouse]

YOU are livingin an economic reality and your response to universal healthcare is "shuffle deck chairs"?! REALLY?! Really?

And if it "isn't your job" to inform us lowly people, then why did you post? Don't throw things out there and expect us to swallow it whole, oherwise just go and shack up with Palin.

And, for the record, I do read the Economist... thank you very much. But, "baking" welfare into my paycheck wasn't in this last issue... was it perhaps a back issue I should check out?

I was trying to have an actual conversation, but do not think for one moment that I will be bullied by snide or a false sense of superiority.

[roadriverrail]

YOU are livingin an economic reality and your response to universal healthcare is "shuffle deck chairs"?! REALLY?! Really?

All health care systems are rationing systems, including the one we currently have. Any proposed system may improve some features at the expense of others. That is, essentially, a shuffling of the deck chairs. You may improve some qualities at the expense of others. The question about a system of either socialized health insurance (that's really what is discussed in policy circles, not socialized medicine itself) or a truly socialized medicine system will itself create more detriments than benefits. I make no bones about it. Our current system has undesirable features. A new one will, too.

That said, my statement was in response to your comment saying that I'm practicing conspiracy theory because I believe that subsidies are a form of welfare.

And if it "isn't your job" to inform us lowly people, then why did you post?Because I assumed the original audience, which isn't you, is more educated on the

[dixiemouse]

Ignorant? Intersting... but then... I have been called worse by better.

[roadriverrail]

Oh, and I'd kinda forgotten about this book. I think it's out of print, but you can probably find it used and many of its reviews are also detailed analysis:

The Hidden Welfare State: Tax Expenditures and Social Policy in the United States by Christopher Howard. I believe he's faculty at Princeton.