News American Election

[anthony]

A question being asked from outside the US right now, which is the question that affects the rest of the world, is - why aren't Republican's boycotting their nominations so that the Democrats get the majority of the house?

Why is that important, you may ask?

Well... Democrats has thrown a lot of ideas at the Republican party to try and fix the US debt crisis, of which the Republicans keep stone walling and refusing to cooperate. Republicans want taxes lower for the rich, where Democrats want the rich taxed higher to help get the country out of debt, combined with many drastic cuts, required nonetheless, in order to get the debt under control and paying it off.

It seems that it won't matter this term which party gets in, the US house of representatives will be so well mixed that neither party is going to get much through in the way of laws and fiscal policy. Both parties have this hatred of one another, they simply refuse to even acknowledge and back good ideas just because the other party state it.

The Republicans are knowingly putting the US into a recession for 2013. They admit this, and they won't stop it. The US foreign rating has already been downgraded, which means higher interest on foreign debt... of which the US already can't pay. The US is going to get further downgraded the way it is going, which means foreign investment dries up. US debt has gotten to the point in which countries aren't loaning it any more money / as much money. If the US prints more... which it has already done during the GFC, you can see what's already happened to US currency value. Its lost over 40% of its value today. The US can't lower its currency value further because it then risks lowering its credit rating near immediately if it does. The US no longer has the assets for its debt value.

This is only going to get worse if US politicians, who are elected by US citizens, don't agree to make some tough decisions for the overall benefit of the country. It doesn't matter which one does it, but the Republicans are outright refusing. They want to lower taxes... which means a worse recession for the US and then a quicker downgrading for foreign debt, thus higher interest payment to other countries. A lot of countries have already pulled back on lending to the US due to what can be seen and is publicised. Not sure whether such discussions are publicised in the US.

Greece are being told by the world, suck it up and make some hard, yet necessary decisions. It is for the best interest of the country and the world. The same applies to the US... and with the Republicans willingly playing a refusal game to ensure the US goes into recession next year... the world will be impacted by the US economy once again, thus more investment will dry up for America. Once bitten, twice shy.

 

[anthony]

Come to think of it... both parties need to be slapped into a room and not let out until they agree to a feasible plan on reducing US debt... which affects the US and the globe. Obviously they are discussing it, answering my own question previously, as I was just watching NBC & CNN discuss the issue.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I've been thinking the same things...

 

[Whitneys story]

both parties need to be slapped into a room and not let out until they agree to a feasible plan on reducing US debt... which affects the US and the globe

Thanks for again affirming that it is the planet not me that so screwed up! Ego will be the downfall of the US Politicians and other countries! Hugs and Thanks, Whitney

 

[ms spock]

They are indeed are playing a dangerous game which effects not only the US, but much of the globe. It does concern me.

With 1 in 7 Americans on food stamps it is quite immoral that they haven't all together acted to start remedying the situation. They should have worked together to not let things continue in there current manner.

 

[piratelady]

That is one thing that makes the government in the US so difficult is that the two parties can't seem to learn what it means to compromise and play well with others. It will be interesting to see what happens with this election and coming years. If the economy does start to go into a recession again I don't think we are in danger of another Great Recession.

I think the US is on the right track now to begin the long process of turning the economy around. It is a matter of sustaining it. It is a shame that our politicians can't put their political party aside and simply vote based on the merit of the change being proposed.

 

[anthony]

At present, media are saying it's too close to call, though Obama does seem to be leading, just. Saying that, based on my understanding watching this unfold, is that the majority of the house is going to be Republican, as it is now... thus if Obama gets in again, he's going to get stone walled again for the next four years by the Republicans.

Is it true, that Republican officials sign a contract stating they won't increase taxes?

That just sounds absurd to me. They've literally painted themselves into a corner on one area that impacts the fiscal stability of the country. That only leaves them to lower, never to increase. Taxes are something, to my understanding, that need to be raised and lowered based on the economies standing. If inflation gets too high, you lower taxes to stimulate the economy and get inflation down. If inflation is too low, thus too many are getting rich / living beyond their realistic means, then you increase taxes to moderate the flow of money and get the population into a savings momentum. Again, until once again inflation is within its normal spectrum based on the specific country. I believe it is usually around 3% for most western countries.

Still trying to work out this 'critical states' aspect of US elections. They seem to fluctuate around, which I don't really understand. Anyone know the simple explanation to this?

I was a little dumb struck that there isn't a US election committee that handles the entire countries election process. They raised this as an ongoing major issue, as many countries have such bodies already so that elections are run independently to politics and local government. They raised some areas running out of ballots, which in some cases is just someone not doing their job, and in others, political espionage at the local level. I honestly would have though the US of all places would of had a Federal election body that handled the entire process, ensuring no area lacked voting locations / materials.

 

[Loveneverfails]

This is just outlining what Americans need to seriously educate themselves on. We all complain about it, now we need to do something about it. These people are supposed to serve us, instead they squabble like school children unwilling to compromise on toys if it means not getting their own way.

 

[piratelady]

Is it true, that Republican officials sign a contract stating they won't increase taxes?

I have never heard that, but if that is the case, it is ridiculous.

Yes from the sounds of it, the house will go Republican and the Senate Democrat. They were just talking about how a lot of the changes that are due to expire next year and if the House and President (assuming it is Obama) can't find common ground the headway we are making will likely be lost.

Critical or Swing states are those states that typically swing between Republican or Democrat. There are some states in the US that pretty much always go one way or the other. There are some states that tend to vary. It is those states that everyone watches because you don't really know what they will do. Some of these swing states carry a lot of electoral votes and so make a big impact.

 

[ms spock]

Is it true, that Republican officials sign a contract stating they won't increase taxes?

I don't know Anthony about not raising the taxes but the giving of half a trillion of tax cuts to approximately 119 families, at a time when 1 in 7 Americans are on food stamps made me worried about what it is exactly Romney was going to do if he got in.

I was a little dumb struck that there isn't a US election committee that handles the entire countries election process. They raised this as an ongoing major issue, as many countries have such bodies already so that elections are run independently to politics and local government. They raised some areas running out of ballots, which in some cases is just someone not doing their job, and in others, political espionage at the local level. I honestly would have though the US of all places would of had a Federal election body that handled the entire process, ensuring no area lacked voting locations / materials.

Yes a total lack of access to democracy in a country that brings 'democracy' to other countries is quite hypocritical. The Gore/Bush decision in Florida is a case in point. The use of the different systems to exclude "unwanted" voters doesn't seem too democractic to me.

I don't know if anyone would be interested, as it is abit of a tangent, but I have been reading "The Three Trillion Dollar War The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict" by Stiglitz and Bilmes, about how big business has made/is making disgusting amounts of money, whilst the soldiers have substandard equipment and veterans have some rather poor resources on returning home. This top end of town heavy and sometimes quite immoral use of emergency budgetary resources. They have been used unwisely and perhaps in some cases illegally. It gives insight in to how the money is spent and not spent. It might be of interest to those reading this thread. It is quite a concerning read and I was disgusted with the wastage of money and the short shift given to soldiers and veterens is appalling on so many levels but it goes along way to showing the mindset of how America spends its money.

Some are calling that Obama has won Ohio and Florida so it seems he has won but as Anothony points out he will be hampered by the Republicians. So tough times ahead for a lot of poor Americans, and the rest of us will most likely suffer too.

 

[Loveneverfails]

I'm extremely dumbfounded by Arizona voters voting down the prop to override the education budget. If there were ever a reason to spend funds, it would be for the education of our children. I'm appalled. Yes money is tight, but how in the world are we going to support the longterm if those responsible for our future are falling through the cracks of our admittedly fatally flawed system?

 

[ms spock]

The education cuts in TAFE and public schools are quite concerning in NSW, Australia Loveneverfails and it is going to cost ourstate a lot of money in the next 20 years along with the skills shortages and the lack of options. So short sighted like in Arizona.