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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Srexley who wrote (588331)	7/6/2004 11:31:43 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

"It has been shown that as more people participate in the governing of this country, the results are better for everyone" I bet that is true. But that is not the point I got from the author. His seems to be that rich a-holes are controlling the show. My view is that EVERYBODY of voting age (except felons in certain circumstances) gets to be involved. The process is open, and you can't ask for much more. The process is not open if you need a million dollars to run for office. How many friends do you have who have a million dollars lying around that they can blow on an election campaign? How many friends do you have that can mortgage a 6 million dollar house to fund his presidential campaign? "So to answer your question, yes, I think its better that you and I and others on these threads participate in the selection process for election candidates and not just the top ten percent of this country." That wasn't a question. I had a point, and that is everyody who chooses to involved can be involved. I guess you agree with my point, but be clear I wasn't asking you whether people other than the top 10% can participate. Again, the author implies otherwise. Particularly when he says "Then, high-income voters will disproportionately influence the outcome of those races." Yes, that's true.......the Bushies are getting people to believe all kinds of things about Kerry that are not true, or are slanted in such a way that they appear to be true. Someone who's smart, sophisticated and has the time may be able to see through the misperceptions but that does not include a lot of people......most people are short on time. For an example, it was a clever marketing plan that got us into war in Iraq. It wasn't a typical plan with commercials and the like but it was cleverly planned out and implemented so that there are still some people to this day who believe WMDs were found in Iraq. You think that's by coincidence or by mistake? No way!That plan was put together by wealthy and powerful people. Another example.......MM is influencing people through his film......its not exactly the same because people are paying to hear what he has to say. However, it took a rich man to put that film together. Like the old saying goes.......money talks. "Decade after decade, the rich in this country have gotten richer with a higher percentage of the country's assets in their control." I don't know if that is true or not, but it does not bother me much. Most rich people earned it and deserve their rewards. Did they? Most of the rich inherited theirs. My fraternity brothers read like the Fortune 500.......money was handed to them when they turned 21.....same with Bush, same with Kerry. What coal mine did Kerry or Bush work in? Check there bios.......do you see a place where they busted their butts? They frequently fall short in life imo because the forsake what I consider more important goals (like being with their families) so they can get rich. But I hold no grudge against them. "Poverty" as we define it in America has been pretty consitent at about 10%. Doesn't seem to matter how many programs are offered. I'm talking rich rich......the people who live in the Hamptons, Beverly Hills, the upper East side, Marin county etc. "The only reason we have a big middle class is because the pie got bigger over those decades......so there was more to go around. Had it not, there would be no middle class in this country" Huh? Sounds pretty weird. Do you mean "more to go around" in the sense that there are more jobs? More money.......there is enough wealth now in terms of assets that more people can participate. When the Amerian pie was only worth $1 billion fewer people could participate than when the pie became say $20 billion. I think we have a big middle class because most people in this country have the tools, motivation and ingenuity to do well for themselves. Our system of government allows and encourges this success imo. Middle class in America is a pretty good life imo. No question.......but no one wants to think that there are limits to how far he can go in life, or that someone else controls whom he votes for. Like I said, we have this allusion that everyone can get rich if they work hard enough. However, I have seen a lot of people work very hard and become comfortable but never rich.......even after the family has been in this country.......3 or 4 generations. Its a fallacy that everyone can be famous or rich or both, if they want it badly enough and work hard enough. For every Oprah or Buffet, there are 100 trust fund babies. "one or two people make it and we think everyone can. The odds are very much against the guy who was not born rich" You're definately a pessimist. What you don't understand is that the "odds" are mostly under our control. You think they are.....but its not true. Sit around and bellyache and complain, and your odds are near zero. Work your ass off every minute of the day, and the odds go WAY up. Like I said, many that have "made it" and are "big guys" have lots of other issues in their life that aren't too pleasant. Broken families, ulcers, heart conditions, early death, etc. Most "big guys" who have had it given to them by previous generations blow it btw. I think you would be surprised at how many rich guys are damn smart and work damn hard. Take the Hollywood liberals out of there, and the percentage is even higher. Then why do some guys who are damn smart and work their asses off only become comfortable? "One that insures the rich stay rich" You have a warped view imo. Nothing insures you stay rich. Particularly if it was given to you. I think we need to agree to disagree.