Ithaca- My slant on the "sky is falling" was a remark made about the lame movie (sorry cjcj I think that even the "special effects" weren't too special…especially the "instant freezing crap"). I agree that we've got some serious problems here and world wide to boot but they aren't gonna be solved overnight or by one man (President or not...) or organization.
The right wing, IMHO, is too far to the right and the left too far to the left--we're gonna pull the proverbial chicken apart at this point. Unlike many on the board, I think that both extremes have to compromise for us to get anywhere. Fanaticism isn't gonna do either group much good
Not to beat my drum but I've seen A LOT OF BOTH SIDES in my 45 years-
My father was a logger who encouraged me to do something different with my life and my degrees are in Forestry Resource Mgt. (specializing in Silviculture) with minors in Fisheries and Natural Resources Recreation. After stints with the USFS and BLM I became a private contractor to both. Now I work in the energy (electricity and natural gas) sector for a municipal utility. Again in short, I've seen a lot of good and probably an equal amount of bad over the years and neither generally responded to a pissing match between the parties. I don’t think you have to give up your morals or your values to just take a look at the other side of the equation. Generally ALL parties have at least something to bring to the table!
Oh well, sorry for the long ramble its just that I keep seeing the “I’m right and the rest of you stupid bastadges are idiots!” theme in the SI section when I think there is a lot of good valid information and concerns to be shared!
Buzz- I actually agree with you but I think there is a difference between "getting" and "expecting". I don’t “expect” anyone to raise/spend $$ on my girls and since my family is the greatest joy in my life I’d gladly pay double just to have my little “resource gobblers!”
I also agree that most deductions of all types are just political ploys of dangling the carrots just for the vote. That being said, I would support a flat tax system in the U.S. but that isn’t going to happen any time soon.
Regarding deductions I do take what I’m currently legally and ethically entitled to (as I imagine most on this board does) and that included filing joint (claiming my wife) even before we had kids. You must file single as to not take the given deduction for your spouse, as is your fiscal prerogative, as I’m sure you wouldn’t want some poor single guy to have to pay for your tax break.
