Bubbalo wrote:
stryyker wrote:
god forbid we give finanical aid to alot of other countries,
US aid falls far short of UN targets, and there are countries which (in percentage terms) give more aid)
This again? 1) in absolute terms, the US gives more aid than any other country. 2) Counting aid given by private and public entities, the US among the top five donors in the world in percentage terms as well. Your criticism counts only public donations; private donations are far higher.
Complaints that the US doesn't give enough are ill considered cheap shots. We give plenty, and little is accomplished with the donations.
Nomer wrote:
...and for some reason we like to play into the "us (or US) against the world" mentality like we're a sports team trying to get pumped up and we really wanted to piss you off after not havign our backs with the War in Iraq.
I don't see that at all. I would say we conduct our internal politics without regard for foreign opinions. Which is how it should be.
Nomer wrote:
The line item veto is an awful idea, it is an assault on the balance of power between the three branches of government and would be used and abused by an executive in such a way that would be completely unfair to congress and the political process of lawmaking. People say it would cut down on "pork barrel spending" but what would really cut down on pork is greedy senators and congressmen not putting frivolous spending in appropriations bills int eh first place. Besides, our government is much too large and bureaucratic to ever run anywhere near 100% efficiently and we should probably try to cut the deficit by simply not letting spending on major things get out of control whether than giving one man the power to nitpick and pick and choose elements of a bill without any checks.
I strongly disagree. First of all, if one looks at the checks and balances, one sees that the checks the executive has over the legislative branch are lacking. The legislature writes the laws which the executive
must carry out or face impeachment. Two very strong checks. The executive has a veto over legislative decisions, which can be overriden. A substantial check, but the only one, and weak in the face of the riders and agenda attached to most bills these days. This amounts to a delaying tactic only.
The line item veto would not only increase the power of the only check the Executive has over the legislature, but it would address a critical failure that the Authors of the Constitution failed to forsee. The Constituency of individual legislators is their home districts/states ONLY. It is therefore in their best interest to get as much pork back to their constituency as possible, regardless of the consequences to the nation as a whole. The ONLY person whose Constituency is the nation as a whole is the President, and his ability to hinder the pork is non-existent. The line item Veto would change that, by allowing the Views of the entire country (represented by the President) have a shot at stripping out the pork destined for only one area. The impact on the 'balances' you imply will be large, is actually minimal; Congress can still override the line item veto and enact the parts of the bill the President removes. I don't see how this could be bad for the country, which is distinct from seeing that it is unconstitutional. The Supreme court says it is unconstitutional, and I can see their point. That being the case, an amendment should be passed, as this would benefit everyone except those dependent upon pork.
kr@cker wrote:
...apparently people in massachusetts have problems wiping so they need people like him and ted to kiss their ass all the time...
Neither true, nor appropriate.
Last edited by whittsend (2006-07-14 06:34:21)