Reform the IRS??? Hahahahahhahahahha! Please. Remember when Steve Forbes caused a ruckus when he said he'd go to a flat tax if elected - prompting the other Republican candidates (including the winner) to promise they would look into & reform the IRS? Never happened. Repblican or Democrat, there are wayyyyyy to many vested interests amongst the wealthy elite of either party to EVER spur this kind of broad substantive reform. As for social security - it's f-d, and I don't see how now, after running the biggest deficit in history, taking away the built up surplus, and raiding the social security funds, Bush has to wait until some magical 2nd term to "reform" social security... All politicians, all lies.
Btw, every single defense related commentary Kerry has made has involved ENLARGING the armed forces, especially the Army. Under the Bush admin. base closing and divisional cuts have been accelarated. Veteran's benefits have been cut. Heavy armor units are being replaced with the lighter (and much hated) Stryker Brigades. One the one hand you have a candidate who is perceived as "strong" on defense, yet the reality is our military has become weaker under his hand. On the other, you have a candidate who comes from a party perceived as "weak" on defense, yet has a combat background, & has proposed enlarging the army. How do you define "weak on defense?" Specifically.
Chance, I really dislike quoting Clinton, but: 'Strength and Wisdom are not opposong virtues'. I couldn't imagine that damage done to our country if the Bush administration is in power for another 4. I respect your opinion, but Kerry will do just as well if not better against aq and w/o ruining America's standing in the world. Think about it: the neocons are about just about everything the world hated and feared about the Soviet Union, particularly World Domination (see PNAC ... ). They suck and need to go.
Chance, This part worries me, because this is untrue. If the Marshall Plan worked after WW2, why can't something similar work now? If you're going to argue the people are different, there is no hope for us at all. Even the bi-partisan 9/11 commission believes otherwise. Its conclusions include developing an effort to win the minds of people in the Middle East doing things like diplomacy and aid. I think these conclusions will be ignored by Bush (in the same way he has recently ignored the recommendations for a national intelligence director, cough, cough), and so I can't vote for the guy. I know his past four years as President, so I know I don't agree with his philosophy. As for nation building - if you're so against it, why vote for Bush? We're rebuilding Iraq, and if the neo-cons have their way, it is definitely possible for us to attack Iran, Syria, or Saudi Arabia next. What then? Oh, and thanks to everyone - this has been a highly entertaining thread. Well reasoned on both sides.
