Lisa Benson for December 29, 2012

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we are purposefully being frightened. I have heard my taxes will go up $2000, no $4000, no $8000. I will lose my job. I will have no health insurance. It’s the end of the world as we know it. People are told by authority figures to be afraid, and it works. It’s what has held organized religion together for centuries, and I give credit where credit is due: Karl Rove should be thanked for applying fear of the bogeyman to the Republican party, and its communications wing, Fox News.

I joined this forum after observing for a while. I see posts where people make reasoned points, quote reliable statistics, and make an understandable point.

And then there are the two quotes above. To exoticdoc2, I will point out that there are many geese that can lay golden eggs. Are we talking about the “job creators” whose taxes might go up? Are we talking about the working poor and true small businesses, which both parties talk as though they are the backbone of our economy, but which both have to suffer at the whim of ideologues who have no desire to compromise or find common ground? Are we talking about whole foods, vs. genetically engineered food substitutes?

Regardless, only “libs” haven’t learned any lessons. And then there’s Ima: ’nuff said.

Regardless of how we got here as a country and as a society, we are here, and I hope it won’t start an argument to note that “here” is not a good place to be. It is time for our society to grow up, face its responsibilities, and work towards remediating our problems.

Calling people names and assuming that everyone who thinks differently is totally wrong will never accomplish what needs to be done. Ideological purity and removing the possibility of modification is a recipe for disaster, revolution, and/or anarchy. We’re better than that, and we’d better realize it soon enough.

I view this forum as a microcosm of America, and what I see here pains me, and makes me very depressed. I see people refusing to accept facts, being much more ugly than necessary, and resorting to placing blame.

This is what Congress has been doing for years. Look how well that’s turned out.

I think we need to come to grips with the fact that we are all Americans, and our problems did not come from one event, one person, one political party. It’s taken a lot of people a lot of hard work to screw this thing up, and it’s going to take a lot of good work to make it better. I don’t see anyone having that resolve, and it makes me wonder if we will come to our senses before we ruin ourselves in the name of saving ourselves.

Life, especially these days, is tough enough. I had hoped to see some willingness to cooperate among people who at least have the intelligence to pay attention to these issues, and the desire to make this a better society, would be willing to see things as shades of grey, rather than either/or. If people who actually research these conditions refuse to consider points which are not the ones they were born/raised with, I can’t imagine what the people whose only exposure to the real world is People Magazine and “Entertainment Tonight” will lead us.

I think I need a vacation from the cacophony. I may be back (I can hear some of you groaning), but right now this constant ranting, insistence on ignoring facts, and undeserved ugliness makes me too depressed.

It is my New Year’s wish that people everywhere will realize that we never get everything that we want, and that sometimes the greater good trumps what I think I should have, and that we will see our petulant adolescent society turn into the world leader we seem to believe we are.

“Ima, every time you try to discuss taxes, it comes out stupid. You really need to stick to pure trolling.”

That’s rich coming from someone whose self-image is “braindead”!

People who receive unemployment add more dollars to the economy than rich people who take their money to the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Swiss bank accounts.

“They will stash it away in more investments, off shore or here, but neither are a stimulus.”

That is true. For those who say their investments will create new jobs, it is untrue. The investments are made in established companies, not in new manufacturing which is what we need.

We have become a nation of consumers instead of creators.

I find all the name calling that goes on here very sad. I appeal to those on the liberal/left side, I know that some posters can be very annoying, but please don’t descend to insults. If you can’t make a polite response, then just don’t respond at all. Several of the worst posters just feed off the responses they get — so calling them names just encourages them. Make a positive point, then move on.

One positive move might be for all of us to recognize that we all want the best for the country, even if we have different views of what the best is and how to get there. I know that that the people who want to cut taxes and spending sincerely believe that’s best for the country. I sincerely believe it’s best for the country to raise the rates a little on the wealthy. I’m actually okay about cutting spending in principle, but I need to see specific proposals — and I don’t think the debt is a short-term crisis, I think it’s a long term problem. Now I may be wrong, but I’m sincere. I was watching some dueling economists on the TV last night and I was struck by their inability to agree about very basic questions — such as the economic consequences of a modest tax hike on the wealthy. If the supposed experts can’t agree, then it’s too much to expect that those of us posting here have God’s answer to the question. I am happy to grant your sincerity, and I hope that others will grant mine.

I am starting to collect Social Security you ignorant scum.BTW extended unemployment adds $1.64 for each dollar put in.http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederaltaxesandtax/f/Why-Extended-Federal-Unemployment-Benefits-Are-The-Best-Way-To-Boost-The-Economy.htm

Why don’t you walk a mile in the unemployed’s shoes? I think you would be grateful for the few dollars to buy a little food, buy medicine and pay for transportation while you are looking for work.

Yes, a whopping 3% more in marginal tax rates is going to crush a million-dollar-a-year earner…

Ima, every time you try to discuss taxes, it comes out stupid. You really need to stick to pure trolling.-——————————I refuse to comment on anything this troll says. []I’m perhaps naive in the belief that if you ignore it, it will go away.[]:)

I’m trying to make sense of this statement:Just people working will suffer equally more..Yes, yes – I realize it was posted by Number 1 Troll!.Can somebody respond, who has at least half a brain?

I like Mr. Ima’s posts because he at least posts an opinion and keeps it political, without personal insults.-——————————It might interest you to know that – although I’m a relative new-comer to the comments section, I’m a Troll was Number 1 on my list when I began to identify trolls..The reason was: It would make off-the-wall statements that were unsubstantiated; and when other posters challenged it for sources, those requests were ignored..Here is an example from this very thread:@Ottodesu

Sure, and the first thing I would do is stop borrowing so we can send your country ‘foreign aid’. Would you support that responsibility to the American taxpayer? What would happen? American taxpayers are subsidizing YOUR taxes and you would have to pay more for what you get. I’m sick of supporting people financially that hate America..Wouldn’t you call that a personal attack? There is no indication of the country where Ottodesu is a citizen, nor any indication of foreign aid to that country..Do you deign to call this comment “without personal insults”? .If so, I respectfully disagree. Because of this, I’m a Troll will remain on my list of posters who deserve no response – nor respect.

@exotic doc – if libs haven’t learned about the goose with the golden eggs, perhaps Reps haven’t learned the lesson of King Midas whose greed turned all he loved and all he needed to survive, into a cold heartless metal.@I Play One On TV, Mickey1339, & lonecat – I love reading what you three think on all these cartoons and how you express it. Thank you so much for the objectivity you offer despite strong opinions on difficult issues. Makes anything I might add superfluous….like right now. :D @JoanHelen,Ottodesu,Morty and others to whom this might apply- The world has become to small for us to look at each other as anything other than neighbors. Constructive criticism or approving statements are equally valuable, especially from folks who may not be too close to the issue to be able to see it. I appreciate our international forum.@ansonia – I think that was your longest comment to date, and it was definitely eloquent. Well said, thank you. @Don Williams – you’re talented and amusing. Thank you for helping to keep it light and focused.Have a safe & Happy New Year’s Eve folks.C.

Ima, exotic, your comments are devoid of thought and information. Others here have given facts, figures and sources that you appear to ignore.-————————————No sources? No credence.

1. How on earth do you come to the conclusion that the USA provides mine with foreign aid? It certainly does not, never has. 2. How on earth do you come to the conclusion that I (or my country) hates the USA? It certainly does not, never has. I keep saying that I am a friend of the USA. Criticism does not mean lack of friendship, quite the opposite. I let my enemies drown. If anything, my economically successful country is currently subsidising yours due to the USA’s poor fiscal management.

I think Germany has not got foreign aid since the fantastic Marshall Plan (something that I reckon was the all-time pointy end of the pinnacle of civilisation, plaudits USA in the 1940s).But what’s that got to do with anything? I’ve never been there.

I still find it difficult sometimes to not devolve due to the shear lack of facts, recognition of reality, or simple common sense not to mention the intense hatred in some posts, mostly from the established and identified trolls.-———————————-Taken as a whole, your post is excellent!.My recommendation regarding the trolls is to dismiss them out-of-hand. I attempt to deal with “suspected trolls” simply by asking them questions regarding questionable posts, attempting to utilize my professional training. Example: “I wasn’t aware of that. Can you provide a source for me?” An honest commenter will supply one; a troll will ignore the question. From that point on, it’s easy to skip over comments from trolls as insincere, insignificant and meaningless. (Plus – extra bonus – it reduces the stress that otherwise results from having to deal with them!).Good luck! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As for the badges of honor you so mindlessly reference, who do you think they impress? Reminds me of the question, do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on? Basically you have proven yourself irrelevent through your intolerance.-———————

Donald, you’re on a roll!Take a break & have some eggnog….;)

Has anyone else clicked on “Flag” and returned the next day to find that the flag has been cleared?[]What’s going on with that?

(do you get Japan TV News in the USA?)-—————-I’m in Mexico – and watch very little TV (news or entertainment). I watched the Presidential & Vice Presidential debates, though, via CNN International.