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Is the Republican Party in danger of dying out?

Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Democrats are quite bad at math, they keep spending more than they should.
Republicans are no better.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Democrats are quite bad at math, they keep spending more than they should.

Republicans are quite bad at math, they seem to think revenue goes up as taxes get lower.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

This is why the GOP faces issues.

Democrat Thinks the Constitution is 400 Years Old | Washington Free Beacon

How do win over people that vote for that?

Actual quote:
Maybe I should offer a good thanks to the distinguished members of the majority, the Republicans, my chairman and others, for giving us an opportunity to have a deliberative constitutional discussion that reinforces the sanctity of this nation and how well it is that we have lasted some 400 years, operating under a constitution that clearly defines what is constitutional and what is not,” she said.

Sounds like she said our country has lasted 400 years, not our constitution.

But hey, flame away.
 
Surely you must realize that your request is impossible to fulfill. For better or worse, for right or wrong, there is a faction of people in the GOP who simply are very racially conservative and they see the party as representing those conservative racial interests. And if that results in basically a white persons party - with a large share of that being a white males party - that is simply the result of both the constituency of the party as well as the policies they will support and back which in turn attract more of those same people. Its a cycle with no ind or change in sight.

It seems foolish for GOP spokespersons to say that they have to attract decent numbers of minorities while at the same time having no policies which would attract minorities in any number beyond the mere token or two. It simply does not work that way.

Republicans cannot make their party more attractive to minorities without making it less attractive to many of the people who already see it as their party of choice. Its a catch 22 for them and with demographic projections it only spells disaster for them unless they can find a way out. And of course they have found a way out...... its called voter suppression of those who will not vote for you.

That is the solution to their problem.

Actually I don't think it's impossible. When you think about the racist types have no where else to go. They will have to be pacified with the dismantlement of entitlements. Republicans should get off the minority, gay, and immigrant bashing, be strong on education, and stick with the true principles of conservatism as expressed by men like Walter Lippmann et al. Then there efforts will be productive.
 
i would like to know how you draw from the idea that a man, just like any other man has the ability though writing a story can change the meaning of words.

the dictionary defines "thug" as a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.

And surely you must be aware that men, no different than any other men, wrote the dictionary. Furthermore you must be aware that words acquire different meanings as they are used over time. And, you must be aware that if a person wants to communicate with others, they should chose their words carefully so that their meaning is clear.

I have pointed out the problem with the usage of the term in that context. I have provided a reference to support my claim. You can accept it or reject it as you like.
 
That can work both ways. What happens when the Dems win both of these battles? That will be two less reasons to vote for them. Something similar happened to Republicans when the Cold War ended.

I haven't read all 61 pages. Sorry if someone said this already.

If the Republicans would only stick with the true principles of conservatism, they would likely do better in the long run. That's essentially your point.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Who are you to correct anything? Who made you the arbiter of "true" conservatism? Please.

The quote I provided was an excellent example of clear thinking. The problem is that politicians have taken to distortions, and people take those distortions to be true. The notion that Democrats take white people's money and give it to black people is a distortion.

But, I can only put forward suggestions. You are right, I am the arbiter of nothing.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Keep up with the liberal dogma, buddy.

That's right. Keep in step.
If the conservatives on this board are typical, the Republican Party's problem is pretty clear. If they want to survive they have got to attract more people from the centre and centre-left and they have to find a way to make their conservatives STFU. Conservatives, every time they open their mouths, hand whole blocs of voters to the Democratic Party.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Keep up with the liberal dogma, buddy.

This is a textbook example of proving your opponent's case for him.
 
When you think about the racist types have no where else to go.

They go to the party which is racist as indicated by advocating for race-based policies. Republicans seem to have settled on the strategy of letting the Democrats be the racist party and the Republicans remaining the race-neutral party.
 
They go to the party which is racist as indicated by advocating for race-based policies. Republicans seem to have settled on the strategy of letting the Democrats be the racist party and the Republicans remaining the race-neutral party.

Lolllolol
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Republicans are quite bad at math, they seem to think revenue goes up as taxes get lower.

Follow the bouncing ball and we might be able to save you from the propaganda you've taken to be reality:

Yet according to a study by the BOE itself, programs funded by cigarette taxes have experienced a “funding gap” due to cigarette sale decreases. And the revenue raised from the cigarette tax in California has decreased, according to a Federation of Tax Administrators study, “The Tax Burden on Tobacco.” . .

“In 2006, New Jersey raised cigarette taxes with the hope of pulling in $30 million in extra revenue each year. Not only did the tax hike fail to bring in extra revenue, but the state actually collected $20 million less in cigarette sales.”​

From ABC New's Charlie Gibson:

"But actually, Bill Clinton, in 1997, signed legislation that dropped the capital gains tax to 20 percent," Mr. Gibson said. "And George Bush has taken it down to 15 percent. And in each instance, when the rate dropped, revenues from the tax increased; the government took in more money. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28 percent, the revenues went down. So why raise it at all, especially given the fact that 100 million people in this country own stock and would be affected?"​
 
A new Pew Research survey seems to indicate that millenials, the age group from 18 to 33, tend to favor gay rights and marijuana legalization. and tend to vote for Democrats. I think it is highly likely that Democrats have embraced these two issues to drive a stake in the heart of the Republican party. Recall recently how Obama spoke in favor of marijuana legalization and came out in favor of gay rights.

Is the Republican Party in danger of dying out? - The Week

Maybe, maybe not. But I don't think for a second that means we are in for an extended period of Democrat dominance. There will always be two major parties.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Follow the bouncing ball and we might be able to save you from the propaganda you've taken to be reality:

Yet according to a study by the BOE itself, programs funded by cigarette taxes have experienced a “funding gap” due to cigarette sale decreases. And the revenue raised from the cigarette tax in California has decreased, according to a Federation of Tax Administrators study, “The Tax Burden on Tobacco.” . .

“In 2006, New Jersey raised cigarette taxes with the hope of pulling in $30 million in extra revenue each year. Not only did the tax hike fail to bring in extra revenue, but the state actually collected $20 million less in cigarette sales.”​

From ABC New's Charlie Gibson:

"Sin taxes" are a completely different beast than taxes on say capital gains. They are prohibitively high in order to decrease usage. Taxes are around 100% or more than the cost of the product. They are also on non-essential products.

"But actually, Bill Clinton, in 1997, signed legislation that dropped the capital gains tax to 20 percent," Mr. Gibson said. "And George Bush has taken it down to 15 percent. And in each instance, when the rate dropped, revenues from the tax increased; the government took in more money. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28 percent, the revenues went down. So why raise it at all, especially given the fact that 100 million people in this country own stock and would be affected?"

This is just cherry picking. In 2000 we received more in capital gains (at a 20% rate) than any year other than 2007 during the Bush Presidency. Even then after 7 years it was only a 7.7% gain in revenue which is pretty weak considering Capital Gains realized were 44% higher. Before you say "yeah, gains realized were higherbecause of a capital gains cut!" capital gains realized doubled from 85'-86 with the same capital gains tax rate. They increased by 33% in 2 years when the tax rate was around 28%.

You can cherry pick around economic cycles to prove anything you want to.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

"Sin taxes" are a completely different beast than taxes on say capital gains. They are prohibitively high in order to decrease usage. Taxes are around 100% or more than the cost of the product. They are also on non-essential products.

No kidding. You mean the more you tax something the less of that something you'll get? Knock me over with a feather. Increase taxes on cigarettes and you get less smoking. Increase taxes on capital gains and you get less taxable transactions. Increase taxes on income from work and you get less work.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

No kidding. You mean the more you tax something the less of that something you'll get? Knock me over with a feather. Increase taxes on cigarettes and you get less smoking. Increase taxes on capital gains and you get less taxable transactions. Increase taxes on income from work and you get less work.

So....you think that someone will "hold back" and would rather make 100 bucks at a 30% tax rate for 70 bucks after taxes than 200 bucks at a 30% tax rate for 140 bucks in after tax income?

I'm not sure how that's even comparable to a 100%+ tax on a product that provides a whole host of downsides on usage.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

So....you think that someone will "hold back" and would rather make 100 bucks at a 30% tax rate for 70 bucks after taxes than 200 bucks at a 30% tax rate for 140 bucks in after tax income?

You said so yourself - taxes affect behavior. Not every smoker stops smoking when faced with a tax increase, but those on the margin certainly do. Increase the taxes even more and the margin moves inward, leading to more smokers giving up the habit.

People have time use alternatives to work - there is leisure, there is family time, there is idle time.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

You said so yourself - taxes affect behavior. Not every smoker stops smoking when faced with a tax increase, but those on the margin certainly do. Increase the taxes even more and the margin moves inward, leading to more smokers giving up the habit.

People have time use alternatives to work - there is leisure, there is family time, there is idle time.

Sure, taxes affect behavior and people can use their time other than to work.

I don't agree with you when you simplify it to the extent you are.

Take for example the idea that you could spend your time in leisure rather than work.

Already you have to ask does the person already make enough to live on? Do they already have a decent amount of disposable income? You'll have to raise taxes a lot before you change the behavior for individuals that can't cross those off.

Then lets take for example the person that has both covered. They are probably not an hourly worker. If you're flipping burgers (which of course is not in a position to have take more leisure time) you can reduce hours pretty easily. If you're say an accountant at a firm you can't quit the day in the middle of tax returns that have a deadline and say "well....due to increases in income tax I'm now only making 60 cents per dollar rather than 65 cents. I'm going to cut out early". That goes for a host of other jobs that typically employ people that are in a position to reduce their work hours.
 
They go to the party which is racist as indicated by advocating for race-based policies. Republicans seem to have settled on the strategy of letting the Democrats be the racist party and the Republicans remaining the race-neutral party.

They go to the party that brainwashes them to believe Democrats are taking white people's money and giving it to black people. The reality is that both parties are engaged in taking both white and black folks money and giving to that Wall Street crowd.

Democrats giving white people's money to black people!!! WOW!!!! That's a good one!!!!
 
Maybe, maybe not. But I don't think for a second that means we are in for an extended period of Democrat dominance. There will always be two major parties.

The Democrats will throw some interceptions, fumble the ball, and the Republicans will stay in the game.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

Sure, taxes affect behavior and people can use their time other than to work.

I don't agree with you when you simplify it to the extent you are.

Already you have to ask does the person already make enough to live on?

Step back and look at what you're doing here. You're not arguing from a principle towards a conclusion, you're arguing from a desired conclusion and trying to find ways to justify that conclusion.

You're pointing to people making enough to live, but we have a progressive tax system and we have income supports for working people, so a marginal tax increase doesn't affect these people AT ALL. Those who are affected are far higher up the income ladder. You have to look at the margin. Why would taxes NOT affect people on the margin? It doesn't have to be everyone, just like not every smoker quits when the sin taxes are increased.

You trying to devise ad hoc reasoning to support your position of higher tax rates not affecting behavior is going to be a fruitless task. The principle holds true everywhere, just the sensitivity of response changes.
 
Re: The Reason Democrats Are Backing Gay Rights and Marijuana Legalization

They days of Republicans blaming black folks for white folks problems are coming to an end.
 
A new Pew Research survey seems to indicate that millenials, the age group from 18 to 33, tend to favor gay rights and marijuana legalization. and tend to vote for Democrats. I think it is highly likely that Democrats have embraced these two issues to drive a stake in the heart of the Republican party. Recall recently how Obama spoke in favor of marijuana legalization and came out in favor of gay rights.

Is the Republican Party in danger of dying out? - The Week

Since Repubs seem poised for a smashing victory in 2014 I'd say reports of their demise may be exaggerated.:peace

What FL-13 Could Mean for Democrats - Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report
 
Since Repubs seem poised for a smashing victory in 2014 I'd say reports of their demise may be exaggerated.:peace

What FL-13 Could Mean for Democrats - Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report

Like I said, the Democrats will throw some interceptions, fumble the ball and the Republicans will be right back in the game. However, over the long run, Republicans have something to worry about, if they don't stick with the ideas of true conservatism, and stop blaming black folks for white folks problems.
 
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