BRIDGES: Answers remain out-of-reach

Chris Bridges

BRIDGES: Answers remain out-of-reach

Posted by

in Column Archives

Monday, July 4. 2011

Comments (20)

For someone who tries to go about his daily routine with a “common sense” approach, it seems there are many questions which defy understanding or even logic.

While the search for answers will continue, I often wonder if I will ever figure out an answer to any of the following questions, common sense or not. For example,

•Why are Republicans pro-war except when it comes to one pushed by a Democratic president?

•Why do Democrats pretend to be “for the working man” when they rob this working man every two weeks?

•How in the world can millionaire professional football players expect any sympathy in their ongoing labor dispute, even if they, in theory, are correct in their argument?

•Why don’t you ever hear anyone blasting the unions for professional athletes? It seems all the venom against unions is for those who make $50,000 or less.

•When will President Obama close Guantanamo Bay, like he promised? And while we are on it, why hasn’t the president brought our troops home like he said he would during the 2008 campaign?

•Why do Republicans think a candidate who is against civil liberties deserves to be elected president?

•How can anyone take Newt Gingrich seriously?

•How in the world was Nathan Deal elected governor of our state?

•Why do so many politicians still support The Patriot Act, despite the fact it robs law-abiding Americans of civil liberties?

•Why is Sarah Palin still floating around trying to be relevant? Go away please.

•How can anyone take Mitt Romney seriously?

•What’s the deal with Rick Perry being pushed for president by so many? Maybe it’s the cowboy boots or the hair color. Perhaps it’s the fact he can dish out the right-wing rhetoric as well as anyone. Heck, that alone will earn him millions of blind supporters.

•How in the world has global warming or climate change or whatever you want to call it, become a political issue? How pathetic is it that our country is so divided that it cannot agree even on an issue like this?

•Will we ever see a candidate for president outside the two-head monster carry a state during the presidential election again? It hasn’t happened since George Wallace did it in 1968 and I’m not sure it will ever happen again.

•How can anyone take Michele Bachmann seriously?

•How in the world was Gary Johnson not included in the previous debate among Republican presidential candidates? Johnson is a former governor of New Mexico. One of the candidates who was on the stage has never been elected to any office but was included while Johnson was not.

•How can anyone take Herman Cain seriously?

•When will Georgia’s archaic ballot access laws be done away with?

•How many people actually know there is a presidential election next year?

•In a somewhat related question, how many people can tell you when the next season of American Idol begins?

•How can anyone take Tim Pawlenty seriously?

•Why do some continue talking about the Fair Tax when we all know, despite it being better than the current system, it will never happen? Never. Why are we still talking about it?

•Will we ever have someone elected president again that does not generate such hatred from one group or another?

•How can anyone take anything in this column seriously?

Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.

Defined tags for this entry: Chris Bridges, column, Columns

Related entries by tags:

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 Had enough! on 07/04/11 at 11:36 PM [Reply]

I really liked this! Very funny!

#2 More and more on 07/05/11 at 12:59 PM [Reply]

Why is all these other contries people can revolt against there government and the US supports them but when we do we are considered terrorist?
I say it is time.
United in nothing.

#3 Sheesh on 07/05/11 at 01:40 PM [Reply]

Why is it that when democrats advocate fair taxation of the wealthy it is called redistribution of wealth. But when the rich take ever increasing sums of cash from the poor and middle class it is called well earned profit taking?

#3.1 More and more on 07/05/11 at 01:49 PM [Reply]

nice

#4 Anonymous on 07/05/11 at 01:48 PM [Reply]

Thanks for the laugh.

#5 Anonymous on 07/05/11 at 01:51 PM [Reply]

The rich has always screwed over the poor. Always will.
- Gore Vidal

#6 Sheesh on 07/05/11 at 02:40 PM [Reply]

. . . and why is it that when democrats try and tax the wealthy that it is called redistribution of wealth, but when republicans pass tax breaks that redistribute money from the poor and middle class and into the pockets of the wealthy it is called growth?

#7 Please explain. on 07/05/11 at 02:48 PM [Reply]

Please explain how allowing people to keep more of their money is redistributing from the poor and middle class? The geovernment does not produce wealth it takes it from individuals.

#8 weetart on 07/05/11 at 08:42 PM [Reply]

"Their money" is printed by the goverment and therefore the goverment determines the "value" of said money. The goverment HAS to be funded. If wealthy people paid 28% tax, as most of the working class people do, we would not be in the mess we are. Please do not come back and say they are in a 35% bracket. Wealthy people pay nowhere near 28%

#8.1 amazing weetart. on 07/05/11 at 09:27 PM [Reply]

I was going to respond to this with a bunch of facts but decided there was no point. Your post is so ignorant, all I can do is shake my head. I am scared for the future.

#9 weetart on 07/06/11 at 12:09 PM [Reply]

We can take one "fact" at a time if you wish.
Maybe an open debate can erase some of your insecurties about the future.

#10 Right Wing Know-it-all on 07/07/11 at 02:47 PM [Reply]

I don't understand what hard working Americans have against other hard working Americans simply because they are able to earn wealth. What makes this country so great is that each and every person who lives here (legally) should and does have the opportunity to create their own wealth and prosperity. In the real world that means that you also have the opportunity to fail in your endeavors or simply to be too lazy to try. Why should those who succeed and achieve be made to feel criminal, or even evil, because they are smart enough and work hard enough to try and keep their money. In a diplomatic and free market society it is our choice what we do with our money. Taxation was meant by our forefathers merely as a way to fund and support a functioning government and public interests. However, the more left leaning the citizens of this country become, the more and more the original purpose of taxation is becoming a way for the successful to pay for the lazy. Charity is and should be a choice. It should not be forced upon the citizens of this country. That goes for the rich & the poor. There are as many elitist left-wing limosine liberals out there who tell people like me (a member of the hard working MIDDLE class) what I'm supposed to do with my money. Ultimately, if you have such a problem with what rich people do with their own money, then become politically active and support the Fair-Tax Movement where EVERYONE regardless of income level pays the same tax percentage as everyone else. This will do away with the shelters and loopholes that you are complaining about. That's my 2 cents, but what do I know....I'm a know-it-all right winger. Cheers!

#11 Right Wing Know-it-all on 07/07/11 at 03:00 PM [Reply]

And another point, this one to the author. Quote: "Why do some continue talking about the Fair Tax when we all know, despite it being better than the current system, it will never happen? Never. Why are we still talking about it?"
This is precisely why people in this country fail. This is so defeatist and such a left-wing comment. You wanna know why "it will never happen" dear author? Because people like you QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT!!!! Take an agenda...any agenda...and DON'T talk about it and expect results? Well you know the saying "wish in one hand and *bleep* in the other and see which one fills up first". You want to succeed? You want your agenda to succeed? You want your business to succeed? Well, just quit and don't talk about it...yeah, that'll work. Wow.

#11.1 weetart on 07/07/11 at 06:48 PM [Reply]

I don't think you and I are that far off idealogically.
If you are middle class, I asuume you are in the 28% tax bracket. The proposed tax increase for the upper income bracket ($250,000.00 and above)is from 35% to 38%. It would be nice if maybe the middle class working person could get a tax break. Oh! I forgot, we don't generate jobs.

#11.1.1 MGJ on 07/07/11 at 07:31 PM [Reply]

You are a "tard" alright ... that is a RE-TARD!

#11.1.2 Right Wing Know-it-all on 07/07/11 at 07:48 PM [Reply]

Ah, there is the common ground among MOST of us and weetart, I appreciate your taking the time to actually consider that. There are the extremes on both the left and the right...you cannot argue, discuss, prove anything to them. They are extreme....probably because they are either insane or just like the attention of being "in your face". However, when it comes to taxes....NOBODY wants to pay more than their fair share. However, if you want to be a true leader and want to honestly change things for he better, then attacking those who actually lead the lives that this wonderful country makes possible is .... well, you tell me? To what benefit is that? Rather you are just falling into a trap of defeatism and "why me?". Yes, I am honestly and truly middle class. However, I WANT to be and STRIVE to be more and to make more...not just money but also a better way of life for me, my family and in seeing what in my opinion is the downfall of my country, I want a better life for my fellow Americans. I love my country and I love people. However, I am getting tired of the fact that being that I'm a white, male, straight, Christian from the south who works for my money and believes that I should have a say in where my charity goes rather than letting the government force me and tell me where 28 - 35% of my income goes is more and more being considered a bad thing. When did people like me become the enemy? I absolutely believe in helping the less fortunate....I believe in helping the sick....as I hear the catch word lately, I believe in the "hand up"..NOT the "hand out". I want my charity (which I believe in 100%) to go to those whe have legitimate need...not those who are simply too lazy to earn or have "beaten the system". One more little thing too. Where I work (and I beleive a very high percentage of companies in this country) requires that I take a drug test to maintain my employment. Why do we not give drug tests to those who our government gives welfare? If I have to be clean and prove it to actually EARN my money, shouldn't somebody who I'm forced to GIVE my money to also be clean and prove it? Just more food for thought from a Right Wing Know it all!!! And again, unlike the dear author of this column, please do NOT shut up and please do NOT just sit idly by. I admittedly do not know where you are getting the numbers regarding percentages, but bottom line is that those who want to can find the loop holes and the shelters (even poor people can find them). The only way to make taxation fair and equal to both the rich and the poor is if we all pay the same percentage of our income OR even the National Sales Tax that I've also heard of... but of course, if we do what the dear author wants...we'll just forget it...just lay in the corner sucking our thumbs in the fetal position saying "why me" and demanding that the government forces others to pay for us to exist.

#12 Mike M. on 07/08/11 at 07:55 AM [Reply]

Here's a truth for you all..... If you got a tax refund this past year and your expecting one this upcoming year then chances are YOU DID NOT PAY ANY TAXES, so you really have no dog in the "I pay more taxes than so and so" fight. Just saying.........

#12.1 Please explain... on 07/08/11 at 10:06 AM [Reply]

If/when I receive a refund then it is due to two factors. #1: My company took out too much money from my checks based on my tax status and deductions & #2: I am able to add additional deductions than from the previous year based on various personal & professional factors (examples interest, buying a new home, work expenses, etc) when I do my taxes. If hypotheically, I earn $50K per year and pay @ $10-$15K per year in taxes and get a refund of $1000.00, then if I'm not paying taxes, where is that addional money going? Not sure what you mean...

#12.1.1 Mike M. on 07/08/11 at 11:54 AM [Reply]

This obviously was not direct at you then. What I meant; if your refund exceeds the amount that was paid to the IRS, then you paid no taxes. As a matter of fact you came out ahead at the cost of us that paid the taxes.

For example my sister in law paid nearly 3,000.00 in to the IRS. But after doing her taxes she had a refund of over $6,000.00. (after E.I.C. and the child tax rebate for 4)So where did this extra money come from? These are the folks I was refeering to.

#12.1.1.1 Explained, thank you... on 07/08/11 at 02:44 PM [Reply]

Thank you for the explanation. Yes, that is another example of the creative math done by our wonderful tax system. Your sis-in-law is a perfect example of the loop holes and shelters that ANYBODY can find if they are willing to work to find them. Great for her, but bad for that poor schmuck who is paying that extra 2 grand to cover her credit (and then complaining that the rich get all the breaks). I can't imagine that your sis-in-law did any complaining... LOL!

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry
: Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

BRIDGES: Answers remain out-of-reach

Barrow Journal

BRIDGES: Answers remain out-of-reach

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

This Week's Poll

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags