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This is the problem with American Politics

15 posts
  1. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/24/2015 3:03 PM
    Menard spent $1.5 million and received $1.8 million in tax breaks. Saving himself or his company about $300,000. I always wondered why these rich people would donate all this money to shape the laws into their favor. Just never did see a price tag put on it, what they saved for all that money donated. To bad they didn't reinvest it into businesses or let it be paid in taxes that could rebuild infrastructure for the betterment of their businesses and their fellow citizens.

    https://www.yahoo.com/politics/wisconsi ... 39886.html

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  2. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    3/24/2015 3:03 PM
    $1.5 million??
    That's not even considered real money in politics
    But you're right...Walker should have set up a non-profit
    Then he could have taken in millions of dollars from foreign governments as well



  3. Sean Hoolehan
    Sean Hoolehan avatar
    0 posts
    3/24/2015 6:03 PM
    Mel,

    I am not sure why this is any surprise to you. Why do you think conservative groups were targeted by the IRS. Politics is like this, always has been. Democrats point the finger at Republicans and vice versa, and both parties put a blind eye to their own dirty money. You really think money comes no strings attached. People don't get that rich being that dumb. I think a good strategy for voting is always vote against incumbents no matter which party, but i am a single issue voter so the choice is usually easy for me.

    Sean



  4. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/24/2015 7:03 PM
    Sean Hoolehan, CGCS said: Mel,

    I am not sure why this is any surprise to you. Why do you think conservative groups were targeted by the IRS. Politics is like this, always has been. Democrats point the finger at Republicans and vice versa, and both parties put a blind eye to their own dirty money. You really think money comes no strings attached. People don't get that rich being that dumb. I think a good strategy for voting is always vote against incumbents no matter which party, but i am a single issue voter so the choice is usually easy for me.

    Sean


    I wasn't so much surprised, but always wondered why they would donate so much money and what the payoff for them was. I know they didn't get rich by being dumb, but it sure seems dumb to me to give that money to politicians. I would rather donate to causes that would do good, or buy my own golf course. Of course buying a course would be dumb.

    You do know liberal groups were targeted too. And as well as they all should have been if they were looking to avoid paying taxes.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  5. James Schmid
    James Schmid avatar
    1 posts
    3/24/2015 10:03 PM
    Sean Hoolehan, CGCS said: Mel,

    I am not sure why this is any surprise to you. Why do you think conservative groups were targeted by the IRS. Politics is like this, always has been. Democrats point the finger at Republicans and vice versa, and both parties put a blind eye to their own dirty money. You really think money comes no strings attached. People don't get that rich being that dumb. I think a good strategy for voting is always vote against incumbents no matter which party, but i am a single issue voter so the choice is usually easy for me.

    Sean



    Sean-

    Have you considered that voting for anyone who is not a democrat or a republican might be a good strategy. I figure that the loudest we could speak to change government would be to vote out both democrats and republicans. Some say that voting that voting for anyone else is throwing your vote away. I disagree. I believe it is a vote against the establishment



  6. Clay Putnam
    Clay Putnam avatar
    33 posts
    3/25/2015 5:03 AM
    Mel, lets face it, anything republican/conservative is the problem with politics. And that IRS thingy. You know? The one about conservative groups being unfairly and in unusually high numbers targeted. Didn't happen.



  7. William Murphy
    William Murphy avatar
    8 posts
    3/25/2015 9:03 AM
    IMO the "news" channels and much of the mainstream media cause some of the biggest problems.

    Instead reporting the news, we basically have issues thrown at us with an agenda. Instead of working with others, it is always talking points and issues that divide people. I have friends who watch Fox so they can argue with my other friends that watch MSNBC. I just think we have (with the help of the media) taken politics into a realm of sports. My team against your team. Instead of listening to the other side for possible solutions, we listen for "gotcha" points where we can just tell someone why they are wrong.

    While keeping up with the issues is important (we need to be informed voters), we need to do so with the premise that no matter what "side" you are on, we are all in the same boat, and when you look at the issues we face, that boat is sinking. I am not blaming either of the last two administrations, as both are culpable, but petty arguments only fuel fires and keep people divided (and sell a lot of advertisements and commercials for news channels).

    Billy



  8. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/25/2015 9:03 AM
    William Murphy said: IMO the "news" channels and much of the mainstream media cause some of the biggest problems.

    Instead reporting the news, we basically have issues thrown at us with an agenda. Instead of working with others, it is always talking points and issues that divide people. I have friends who watch Fox so they can argue with my other friends that watch MSNBC. I just think we have (with the help of the media) taken politics into a realm of sports. My team against your team. Instead of listening to the other side for possible solutions, we listen for "gotcha" points where we can just tell someone why they are wrong.

    While keeping up with the issues is important (we need to be informed voters), we need to do so with the premise that no matter what "side" you are on, we are all in the same boat, and when you look at the issues we face, that boat is sinking. I am not blaming either of the last two administrations, as both are culpable, but petty arguments only fuel fires and keep people divided (and sell a lot of advertisements and commercials for news channels).

    Billy


    Agree with you 100% Billy. I know I tend to lean left, but I know they aren't perfect either.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  9. Kenneth Rue
    Kenneth Rue avatar
    3 posts
    3/25/2015 1:03 PM
    IMO Fox News is number one and MSNBC is off the charts as the looney tunes in cable news.

    Kenneth B. Rue
    K E N T U C K Y



  10. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/25/2015 1:03 PM
    Kenneth Rue said: IMO Fox News is number one and MSNBC is off the charts as the looney tunes in cable news.

    Kenneth B. Rue
    K E N T U C K Y


    Do you mean Fox news in # 1 in off the charts as loony tunes in cable news? I would agree, and MSNBC would be # 2. I think they try to show evidence to support their position, but as some of you guys have educated me, their evidence isn't always acurate or its old. Fox just says stuff with no shred of evidence, Jon Stewart is always showing how they are bat crap crazy. In my opinion anyway.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  11. Kenneth Rue
    Kenneth Rue avatar
    3 posts
    3/25/2015 2:03 PM
    Nope, sorry Mel.

    I am a solid Fox News watcher-there is no other.

    Kenneth Rue
    K E N T U C K Y



  12. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/25/2015 4:03 PM
    Kenneth Rue said: Nope, sorry Mel.

    I am a solid Fox News watcher-there is no other.

    Kenneth Rue
    K E N T U C K Y


    Sorry to hear that you're not open to other opinions.

    How is Kynect working for you all? I hear many of the Kentuckians love it as long at they don't know it is part of the ACA or otherwise know to others as Obamacare?

    Has Fox news mentioned that?

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  13. Ronald Kirkman
    Ronald Kirkman avatar
    42 posts
    3/25/2015 4:03 PM
    Greetings Mel;

    My daughter Gail, 51 years of age had to change her plan in MA. The price doubled and she cannot have her own doctor. ENOUGH about Obamacare. He is nothing but a LIAR. You do remember what he said don't you!!!!!

    P.S. I am a Fox news guy also.

    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA



  14. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    3/26/2015 8:03 AM
    Ronald Kirkman said: Greetings Mel;

    My daughter Gail, 51 years of age had to change her plan in MA. The price doubled and she cannot have her own doctor. ENOUGH about Obamacare. He is nothing but a LIAR. You do remember what he said don't you!!!!!

    P.S. I am a Fox news guy also. We know

    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA


    Sorry to hear that about Gail, I know I would hate to change my doctors, they have been great taking care of me for the 11 years I've been here. I feel lucky to have found my GP and when we have needed to be sent to specialist, I have been very satisfied with all of them.

    I remember that he said that Capt. and I will say that was a mistake to say it, but there were probably some that could keep their doctors if they and the insurance companies worked together. But the fact is at times, insurance plans will force you to change doctors. For example here in Springfield, (of course it is different here than the rest of the state, only two major health care providers, Mercy and Cox). Our neighbor who works for MoDOT or his wife who works for the school system, one of their insurance plans (I can't remember which) changed from the Mercy system to the Cox system, so if they didn't want to pay out-of-network prices, they had to switch doctors. This was way long before the ACA. Luckily the other stayed on Mercy so they did not have to switch doctors for the kids.

    Funny thing is a former neighbor who lived in our neighborhood and worked for MoDOT transferred to the KC area and they had plenty of choices for doctors under the same insurance plan. Again this was before the ACA.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  15. Sean Hoolehan
    Sean Hoolehan avatar
    0 posts
    3/26/2015 11:03 AM
    I wasn't so much surprised, but always wondered why they would donate so much money and what the payoff for them was. I know they didn't get rich by being dumb, but it sure seems dumb to me to give that money to politicians. I would rather donate to causes that would do good, or buy my own golf course. Of course buying a course would be dumb.

    You do know liberal groups were targeted too. And as well as they all should have been if they were looking to avoid paying taxes.

    Mel

    I never heard about any liberal groups being targeted by the IRS but i suppose there were some liberal groups that got sideways of the administration too.

    Everyone should be looking for every possible legal way to avoid paying taxes. That is not a liberal or conservative position. Its a smart decision. I am not a rich man but about 40% of my earnings are paying some sort of tax (fed and state income tax, property taxes, gas taxes, utility taxes, vehicle tax, phone tax, pet tax, waste taxes, not to mention the taxes corporations pass on to consumers).

    I have joined parties in order to vote in primaries and have donated money to candidates that support Life. I rarely find any democrats who protect Life anymore.

    Sean



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