please help me reply coherently to this editorial..."‘It’s all about the Benjamins’

I want to ask her where her white hood is.

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2010/10/17/opinion/doc4cba8c1dd2203638912135.txt

To the Editor,

Twelve years ago Puff Daddy (a/k/a P. Diddy) released his hit song, “It’s All about the Benjamins,” referring to Benjamin Franklin’s image on the $100 bill. While I don’t always understand the slang used in rap songs, the message in this particular lyric is pretty clear: If you don’t have money, you’re not a “playa.” In the same song, Diddy goes on to ask, “You want to be a baller? A shot caller?” Well, you’d better make some money. And one of America’s big problems is that our representatives in D.C. want to be shot callers … but they’re calling all the wrong shots for all the wrong reasons.

This election, pretty much the entire country is in agreement that it’s all about the Benjamins, or more accurately, the lack thereof. In poll after poll, Americans rate the number one issue in this election as the economy. James Carville’s famous line, “It’s the economy, stupid,” has come back into fashion. Rasmussen shows that only 32 percent of Americans believe that we are on the right track.

Economic indicators paint a less-than-rosy picture for the future of America. The massive mortgage meltdown is not helping consumer confidence. Baby Boomers, who have always had pretty much everything that they’ve ever wanted, are asking the same question that was asked of President Obama by Velma Hart, “Is this my new reality?”

It may be that Boomers can no longer expect to live in an expensive house, drive an expensive car, eat at expensive restaurants, and go on expensive vacations. As Dave Ramsey preaches, it’s time to “Act your wage.” Americans are going to have to start, perhaps for the first time in their adult lives, living within their means. Our children and grandchildren’s prospects have dimmed considerably under the mountain of federal debt and unfunded liabilities.

Our politicians have sold us down the river with their assurances that everything is under control. On the contrary, our national debt is so large and growing so fast that it is unfathomable - $13 trillion. The only way to remedy this situation is to cut our budget down to bare bones necessities and to allow taxpayers to keep their own money rather than throw it down the government rat hole. This applies to national, state, county and city budgets. Which politicians have the stomach and the backbone to do that? We are living through a crisis of government gone wild: it has become intrusive, incompetent, and negligent.

When you vote on Nov. 2, choose carefully. Watch out for those office seekers who are running only because they want to be a shot caller. We need elected officials who will do what’s necessary even if it’s unpopular. Those types of candidates are not “playas;” they seek to serve out of a sense of duty. While the Benjamins are important, this election is about much more than money; it’s about our country’s survival.

Denise McNamara

Former Republican National

Committeewoman, Texas

Dallas

won't budge on. Yea, it's about the benjamins, the only question is whose?

Expensive house, expensive car, expensive restaurants, expensive vacations? Rofl. Typical neo-con attempt to blame the boomers for being the first generation to really break out of "the mold" by protesting the Vietnam war, among other things.

Why would we give them back the keys? We have seen the results of what the republicans can do. They have told us quite explicitly what they will do. Privatize social security? Absolutely no jobs program. Deregulation of finance. What makes any of them electable? Money is all they have. And for all we know, that money has come from our enemies. My answer to her would include all the accomplishments of the past two years, with emphasis on the fact that the deficit has been reduced every time democrats are in office, and increased every time republicans are there. Republicans talk a good talk, but do not walk the walk. Instead of listening, look at what they have done. No, they cannot have the car back. We can be disappointed in the recovery of the car, but that is still no reason to give the spoiled drunk teenagers back the keys.

I did a response to a teabagger that I have posted on my journal. It is wordy, but feel free to take anything from it you can use.

...with the money that citizens use to run their lives.

It's another apologist for the ultra-wealthy telling us to shut up while they take more from us. And the subject this apologist is avoiding is: where did all the money go? Nope, this LTTE all about the sacrifices we wage-earners are finally going to have to start making, as though we haven't already. This clumsy sleight-of-hand parses to: "Pay no attention to the billionaire behind the curtain!"

It's the same old Republican song.

^snip^

"Our politicians have sold us down the river with their assurances that everything is under control. On the contrary, our national debt is so large and growing so fast that it is unfathomable - $13 trillion. The only way to remedy this situation is to cut our budget down to bare bones necessities and to allow taxpayers to keep their own money rather than throw it down the government rat hole. This applies to national, state, county and city budgets. Which politicians have the stomach and the backbone to do that? We are living through a crisis of government gone wild: it has become intrusive, incompetent, and negligent."





When G.W. Bush took office the national debt was 5,727,776,738,304.64

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway




But he insisted on a rebate to tax payers based on projected surpluses.


Put the blame where it belongs, on Tax Policy!


Remember, until Reagan dropped the top rate below 70% we didn't have a debt problem.

check out this post by AmericanMan1958... he has posted links to good information to fight back with... we were doing ok under the Clinton Administration and then the Republicans blocked progressive movement (and got us into an extremely expensive war) and set us back substantially...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9338508


"...our national debt is so large and growing so fast that it is unfathomable - $13 trillion. The only way to remedy this situation is to cut our budget down to bare bones necessities and to allow taxpayers to keep their own money rather than throw it down the government rat hole..." ????

how does she propose we get out of debt by cutting all taxes? taxes is a good way to pay back debt? The debt is large primarily due to the extensive Military Industrial Complex and our need to be Imperialists.

remind her that the republicans want to be "shot callers" for oursourcing and that means more job loss for us.

maybe agree that we ALL (esp. corporations and CEOs) should learn to live within our means and not profit off the backs of hourly wage earners and the environment.

Ask what in hell does "serving out of a sense of duty" mean? pro bono? I hope you respond with a great letter!