QuoteOriginally posted by: zerdnaQuoteHow do you make the above conclusion of Romney vs. Obama with respect to growth, any hard data perhaps?Obama spent $6T over budget. It virtually disappeared without a trace, not an easy trick in itself. US has the slowest recovery ever, especially given that it's after deep bottom when it's supposed to recover faster and bigger. Obama's regulations are dragging down economy. I don't know much of Obamacare, but i tell you first hand that Dodd Frank is just bad -- it's a prescription from diarrhea to a patient with a heart disease, written so badly that the pharmacist gives you constipation drugs instead. After consulting with his lawyer for half year. There are only indirect proofs that Romney will do better, there is reasonable expectation, but not surety. Surety is only Obama will do badly.There are different explanations why this recession is so long. Some say it's the socialist Obama with his regulations that drag down businesses, too much government spending, and all. Others say it's all because of private sector deleveraging and overall lack of demand, so instead of stimulating unneeded investment via lower taxes and lighter regulation or whatever one needs the government to step in and spend more to compensate for lack of private spending. I am not sure who is right but the second case seems much more plausible to me.QuoteQuote that government employment actually dropped big time in the last four years. And you are saying he is going to create a big government during the second term? Yeah, have you noticed that from the get go Obamacare was planned to implement after election of 2012? You know, healthcare, 20 percent of economy, major piece of government spending. Why wait rebuilding it, especially if you have a green light? That hiring 100,000 teachers and raising taxes was planned for after election. Why it was planned to do in the second term? I have my ideas, it's not evidence though. Maybe you could explain why.Well, as I previously mentioned I don't really know much about these things, except I am not sure how hiring more teachers is a bad thing.

QuoteOriginally posted by: edouardPersonally, I'm okay with the US and Mexico becoming a single countrythey are 2 very different countries

QuoteOriginally posted by: EBalThere are different explanations why this recession is so long. Some say it's the socialist Obama with his regulations that drag down businesses, too much government spending, and all. Others say it's all because of private sector deleveraging and overall lack of demand, so instead of stimulating unneeded investment via lower taxes and lighter regulation or whatever one needs the government to step in and spend more to compensate for lack of private spending. I am not sure who is right but the second case seems much more plausible to me.I suppose if you drove a car into the water, you would say while sinking that it is plausible you are floating? What really puzzles me, is why you would offer an opinion or participate in the discussion at all, if you don't think you can figure out which is right.QuoteOriginally posted by: EBalWell, as I previously mentioned I don't really know much about these things, except I am not sure how hiring more teachers is a bad thing.Okay, send me your entire savings, and I will go teach someone something. Are you unsure when I can expect the money?

Farmer, did you vote yet?If so, what was the turnout like?

QuoteOriginally posted by: ppauperQuoteOriginally posted by: edouardPersonally, I'm okay with the US and Mexico becoming a single countrythey are 2 very different countriesi acknowledge this. but that doesn't matter.look here in Europe, 26 countries tied together forming a social, economic, and political entity.you must have heard on this.and, that works really well.you must have read this in the news.ahhhhh

QuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarFarmer, did you vote yet?I did not vote and I will not. I don't like registering for anything without a tangible reward. Every time I give my name to anyone for any reason, it results in years of annoyance. By giving my name to the government, I would surely be asking for some kind of unpleasantness.

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerQuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarFarmer, did you vote yet?I did not vote and I will not. I don't like registering for anything without a tangible reward. Every time I give my name to anyone for any reason, it results in years of annoyance. By giving my name to the government, I would surely be asking for some kind of unpleasantness.LOL!You have posted hundreds, if not thousands, of words on this election and you are not even registered to vote.No wonder the Libertarians cannot win.

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerQuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarFarmer, did you vote yet?I did not vote and I will not. I don't like registering for anything without a tangible reward. Every time I give my name to anyone for any reason, it results in years of annoyance. By giving my name to the government, I would surely be asking for some kind of unpleasantness.can't the governement know you did NOT vote and you "be asking for some kind of unpleasantness"?

No. Here as elsewhere, this democracy offers voting as a right, not an obligation.

QuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarNo. Here as elsewhere, this democracy offers voting as a right, not an obligation.Makes me feel for all the poor bastards that have died in the various wars and revolutions. The problem is that in most countries the influence of the vote is tiny, and then the influence on a government is also small.

But the good news is, with farmer abstaining, this means that Obama is +1 on this Forum! Though I did not spend endless hours discussing Campaign 2012, I have superior leverage!

QuoteOriginally posted by: edouardcan't the governement know you did NOT vote and you "be asking for some kind of unpleasantness"?If so, they would nevertheless be short of a name or address to deliver the unpleasantness to.

QuoteOriginally posted by: rmaxQuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarNo. Here as elsewhere, this democracy offers voting as a right, not an obligation.Makes me feel for all the poor bastards that have died in the various wars and revolutions. The problem is that in most countries the influence of the vote is tiny, and then the influence on a government is also small.I know what you mean, but I think it is best if voters are the people who pay attention and care enough to show up.What kind of situations would unfold if it was mandatory?Maybe more viable alternative parties and that could be a good thing.But also more throw away votes, or bought votes, other undesirable consequences.

Not +1.+2

QuoteOriginally posted by: trackstarNo. Here as elsewhere, this democracy offers voting as a right, not an obligation.People who do not exercise their right to vote, even though they are not obliged to, they dont really deserve any democracy. Lets deport farmer to North Korea or Burma.