I Like Mike Huckabee

[Robsdad]

Another Republican President? You are kidding right. This Republican administration is conservative? You are kidding right. Mike Huckabee will raise the taxes in this country so fast your head will spin. I am an independent voter backing Ron Paul. He may not be the best but my belief is he is the best of the mess we have to pick from. I see regularly on here about entitlements and how they offend people. I would venture to say unless you had a gold spoon in your mouth at birth, worked in a previous trade with a retirement plan and this is your second go around, looking out of a windshield in your truck driving career trying to save money, you will be very glad to see some entitlements when you reach the retirement age. There would be enough money in Social Security and Medicare if the politicians would keep their hands out of it. The money from these programs has financed every war and conflict from Viet Nam to now. If the politicians were enrolled in Social Security and did not have their own sweet heart deal that is funded with our tax dollars, they would be a lot more careful how the money we send to them is handled. I believe Iraq, Afghanistan and Illegals in this country are our main concerns.
Well I will get off the stump, sorry Soap Box and read this site again for the next week or two. I don't post much. I have a way of getting under peoples skin. If I have offended you, get over it.
Country and proud.
robsdad

 

[Tennesseahawk]

LOL Robsdad... don't worry about offending anyone in here. It's all good.

One thing I noticed. In the last Iowa debate, Fred Thompson mentioned getting rid of entitlements. You coulda heard a pin drop. Maybe he should've gone into more detail, like getting rid of the entitlements to farmers, or the broken education system, welfare, etc. I know he didn't mean SSI, which should be scrapped and started over anyways. Nor medicare, which should be scrapped and started over anyways. Nor any bloated government agency where the jobs overlap into other agencies (EPA, IRS, etc.). He's more constitutional than anyone up there. Just hope he gets his momentum going.

I don't want a president who pulls out of a commitment just because it's unpopular. We need to be in Iraq. I'm curious as to how Ron Paul would've handled 911. Would he have built a 50 ft wall all the way around the country? He sounds too much like a buffoon. A lot of glitter, but not much when it comes to reality. Realistically, Congress wouldn't let him do squat. We really need to start at the bottom (state reps) and work our way up if we want things to change. The president does nothing but sign the bills and talk to the ppl.

And if ppl want to continue to be spoon-fed, the government has no problem doing that, as we've seen.

-A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it. - Henry Ford

 

[greg334]

I agree with Robsdad, I think whom ever is going to be there will not be anything of what is needed for the repubs to focus on as a success. The need the thompson type of person to stand up but I don't know what the h*ll happened to the good ol' boy from TN - he just seems to be a fixture on the platform, like a state flag that just flutters and does nothing else.

Sad to admit that the repubs lost their way completly and Ron Paul has the one thing that seems to attract people, the idea that we do not need the services out of the government that we have. After watching Penn Jillette the other night, he made also made the case that we Ron Paul has been consistent on his message and the repubs have for the most part become democrats.

I can't really be a supporter of Ron Paul because of the foreign affairs end of his ideals but his some of the other things fall into the classical liberal thinking I have on government and society.

I have said in the past that voters vote their pocket book, not wars, not terrorism, not who bedded down what girl in 1968 but money matters. I read today "Pocketbook worries outweigh voters' concerns over war in Iraq" - AP, that makes me feel good. Fair Tax - http://www.fairtax.org

 

[arkjarhead]

Well if a politician blocks the Farm Bill their first term in office it will be their last term in office. That would be a dumb move. Farmer's have a saying. If you like foreign oil just wait til you get to try foreign food. Just imagine another country having complete control over our food supply. That's why the American Farmer is so important. I know every occupation is important, but having a strong Agriculture base in America is very important. Plus most farmers aren't getting rich growing crops.

We need a presdent that's going to look out for the working man, and I think Mike will do that.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

On the contrary, Ark... they're getting paid NOT to grow crops.

And what makes them different than truckers? So they don't get rich... neither do we. They get government subsidies while we get the government shaft.

-A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it. - Henry Ford

 

[greg334]

Ark,
What do you mean wait until we have foreign food, we already do and no one seems to care. We do more for the farmers in other countries than we do here.

The problem with any form of farm aid is that most of the money is not for the small farmer who is paid to rotate crops or not farm, it is the big commercial farms who lease thousands of acres for cheap and then get the paid by the government not to farm it. Several journalist have these farms and are on the band wagon that if we end them, the country will suffer so much that there will staving people in the streets.


If we are smart, we would end the farm aid that we pay here and over seas and let the market do its thing. Until the 30's we didn't have these things and the only reason it was created was to control the market.

 

[ACE]

Hello Greg,

You may find this issue statement from Mike Huckabee interesting it is on agriculture.

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=23

 

[arkjarhead]

Out of all the small farmers I know they all get some kind of check, but it's not much. People think they are racking up off of the farm bill. As for being paid by the government not to plant the only ones I've ever heard say that are people who live in town or know nothing about farming. Every farmer I know plants every acre they have available. It's the only way they can get by. Plus the government isn't the one telling the farmers what to plant, it's the bankers that give them their crop and operating loans at the first of the year. Don't think you're gonna tell me something about how farmers do business. Do you realize when you buy a box of ceral the cardbord box maker gets more money than the farmer who grew the grains?

The thing about foreign food is correct. There is a small % coming in, but wait until it's the majorty. All you cities dwellers will be b!tching because food costs so much more, and you will want to know what hapened to the American farmer. Everyone is jealous because the farmers get a little help from the government, but no one wants to go out there and do the work.

Another thing T-Hawk. Truckers aren't the only ones who pay taxes. I'll just about bet that the farmers give all of them little checks back to the government and then some in taxes. They don't pay road tax on fuel but they pay other taxes on it. They have property taxes out the arse. Just recently Arkansas said all cotton farmers had to enroll in this state boll weevil eradication program for 10 years. 100 per acre for every acre of cotton grown. The man I worked for at the time grew 3,000 acres of cotton. That's 300,000 dollars a year to be in that program. Do you spend that much money a year to keep your business going? I seriously doubt it. A farmer has to pay taxes on every peice of equipment they own. You aint the only one getting shafted.

 

[greg334]

Sorry Ark, a lot of the food is imported because we want it cheaper. If you look at where about 35% of the food come from, you would be surprised.

About subsidies, sorry too - the problem is we pay regardless how you look at it, either through our tax money going to the farmer or at the market, the cost is the came.

I don't agree with the idea we need to compete with the EU on our food, for those who don't know, we are not under the control of the amount the farmers get here, it falls under General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (aka GATT) and the WTO. We should have never agreed to it and since Truman's administration, we have to deal with the agreement and follow it for fair trade.

From my understanding, the best thing to do is actually move to remove subsides and let the market take care of prices. The artificial pricing system we have actually harms the farmers. Once you understand the history on subsidies and what effect they have had on the country.

As for huck there, there is two things he does not mention; one move to promoting farming and conservation through the restrictions of property tax increases and the other is to go to the fair tax system. I know of a few who now have to sell the farm because a developer built some houses across from the farm and now the property taxes are 5 times as much as they were a few years ago. Cities and counties use it as a weapon to get land.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Like I said, Ark... we DON'T get subsidized. Just like farmers, no one put a gun to my head and said to truck. Farmers had the same choice I did when I got into this biz. So everyone has a reason to whine and complain... they tax me on this, they're against me on that, big biz gets everything and I get nothing. Fact is the laws are written for the benefit of big corporations, whether it be farming or trucking. Like trucking rates, crops prices are not set by the farmer. And that, in and of itself, is BS! Let them grow what they will, don't give them a dime, and let the market... COMPETITION... set the prices. Let them be in our shoes!

I'm just tired of the federal government overstepping their boundaries set up by the Constitution. I want someone who will UPHOLD the Constitution... not claim conservatism then say we need to "take care of God's children". I don't give a rat's arse about the illegal gnats who are born here. We owe them NOTHING!!! Screw Huckabee!!!

-A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it. - Henry Ford

 

[arkjarhead]

I'd venture to say there is no one on the ballot that would veto the farm bill. It wouldn't be in there best interest. It would never happen.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

yeah poor farmers...here in my town when theres a bad year they show up in their $60,000 dollar pick ups at the AG office for their sub check...funny thou this was a very good year for them I didn't see them giving any checks back to the AG office? Everything my brother-in-law buys for the business is either thru grants or subsidies or loan guarantees...

Yes farmers and ranchers are the backbone of America ALSO the trucks that get their product to market everyones product for that matter and we get what from the government? The Shaft!

 

[arkjarhead]

Well men I'm just going to agree to disagree. If you were offered subsidies I seriously doubt you would turn them down. OVM I thought you foreigners got to live and work here for a certain amount of time without paying taxes? I know all the ragheads say when you come here from outside the US the government helps them buy the motels and 7-11s. If that is true you have no reason to complain.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Ark...This "legal" Immigrant gets nothing for moving here except "legal" aggravation. Maybe I disqualified myself by marrying an American. Now with the sarcasm behind me.

Honestly I have no bone to pick with farmers or the ranchers..I know first hand they are hard working peoples. I am all for enterprise if the government is going to hand it out, I'd be the first in line.

BTW: Canadian farmers and ranchers get subsidies and grants as well.

I guess the problem is we shouldn't be comparing apples against oranges.

This being a trucking forum I wouldn't really expect any good feelings on this subject as the government has chose to ignore trucker needs altogether.

 

[greg334]

I think we need to make a distinction between the small family run farms and the medium and large corporate farms.

They are not on the same level and everything I hear the American farmer, I am reminded of the thousands of acres of farms in Iowa and Kansas where the big companies keep farming corn and soy. Nothing wrong with that in one respect, but they do not or should not get paid to lease land and then not farm it but they do.

The American family farmer should not have to pay property taxes, they should get other breaks but they get screwed too, just like everyone else.

I firmly believe that the farmer can benefit from two things when it comes to their products, tariffs on imported food and no market controls. I was reminded last night that one big reason for the governments involvement in price control is the investments some people have in commodities and the investment that government has to keep money flowing into the general fund that they use.

 

[arkjarhead]

I'm all about the family farm. The big corporations can do whatever. You have to remember something about farmers though. They come together on a lot of their key issues. I've seen it many times where different senators and reps. meet with farmers and discuss what issues affect them. If the truckers could do that and get in agreement on some things maybe things would be different. Who knows, but as long as everyone in the transportation industry is wanting to go their own way about doing things nothing will change. There has to be a concensus. Until that happens I doubt anything will change. Just like before the Ohio Toll Road was 65 for trucks. Everyone stuck together and ran 20 across Ohio. The state was losing money, and the people in the towns were getting upset because of all the truck traffic. Guess what the speed limit on the toll road got bumped up to 65. I can remember seeing farmers getting mad at Washington and driving their tractors up and down PA Ave. in DC. If the truckers would get together and do something like that maybe their voices would be a little louder and might get heard.

For the record I have nothing against the transportation industry, but the family farm is my first love. My dad was in farming long before he was in trucking. Every man in my family has worked in agriculture as far back as I can trace. I can't turn my back on that. Whatever you do don't think I'm against anyone in transportation. If you would reread what I said earlier I said farmers are important, but so is everyone else. Some decided to take that to mean I don't think truckers are important. It's like my grandpaw used to say "It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round". Of course he usually said that after talking to an ahole but you get the point.

Another thing. Ken, I've never said anything remotely close to you not being here legally. I went to school with some Indians and they always said when they got here from India the government put their family in business and they didn't have to pay taxes and all that. Then something about just before the tax free time was over they would sell the motel to a cousin in India and bring him over to work tax free, and they would get another motel.That's all I was saying.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Ark..your correct about the truckers not sticking together. I mean the OOIDA tries hard but there's no glue that binds. The ranchers have the Cattlemens Assoc or Stock growers, Pork Assoc and you get the picture and Farmers have their umbrella groups. For all the whinning we hear on this forum, nothing sticks!
The mentality with truckers I think is when an O/O sees a few hundred truckers protesting they think "Good more work for me I'll run hard till they get back to work"
The farmers know their power, if the seeds don't get planted America doesn't eat. If the ranchers don't calf or do lambing America doesn't eat.

The power truckers have is huge but they don't take advantage of it...N/A would come to a stand still if the majority of drivers and owners would stick...BUT greed rears it's ugly head.

Maybe the difference is if a farmer or rancher goes to a protest the crops are growing ,the cattle are still eating and theres no loss of income BUT if a trucker doesn't have a load he/she make NO money the effect is felt immediately.

Ark, ya struck a nerve with that "foreigner" thingee...never considered myself one of "them" BUT I suppose I am here in America...Sorry for the sarcasm.

 

[greg334]

Ark/OVM,

The thing is, and being blunt, there is a big need to care about the corporate farms, they are the ones who actually are controlling the situation within the their industry and it affects the average small farmer more than you would think. The elected officials don't care as much for the little guy in farming as much as they do for the big guys because any way you cut it, the small farmers are still scattered and still don't pose a threat to incumbents in office, which is the same for the average trucker.

I have yet seen any legislation that actually helps small farmers, like property tax relief, inheritance tax relief or even a move to true tax reform - all without a doubt would help the small farmer. There is even still a great amount of problems within the USDA in which programs are not being run right and assistance for farmer still seems to be going to large farms, not to mention the inequity of some programs in the matters of race.

I still stand by my comments that the best thing for everyone is get government out of the way of the market and let the market run itself. We pay either way and I would rather pay the farmer direct than to have only .30 of each dollar of my tax money reach the farmer.

On the other hand the truckers are digging their own grave. Many still believe that the OOIDA is the 'voice' for them and that simply is not true. The OOIDA is good for a lot of things but a political voice without involvement is nothing. I came to the conclusion that the main stream O/O is lazy and does not want to get involved. They are ignorant to the process and the power they hold. It sounds like I am an idiot but look around, look at what is happening and how it is happening and where are the truckers? No where.

The one thing I realized is that many don't view this a profession but a job, nothing more then a job. Even with a capital investment, to many of them when the time comes, they leave to go to other things. This ties into the high turnover rate and the misplaced expectations of what this work is really about. I see the problems and can't help but think what is wrong with people, what is so hard about writing, calling or visiting or worst yet registering to vote and actually voting.

My God when you really think about it, the average trucker regardless if they are an O/O or company man falls far below in political involvement than the average auto worker.

And as for the Indian thing, there is a lot worst that goes on than government backed loans, like having many people of a certain ethic group being put on welfare in this state before they even arrive or allowing a foreign nationals to work in this country then allowing them to take SS benefits back to their country. Both of these things are very wrong and should not be practiced.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I started a new one

We are abit off topic...maybe a separate response if we keep up this dialogue.

 

[ACE]

Hello T-Hawk,

True he raised some taxes. They improved Roads,Schools,Health Care for Children. Arkansas did not have any room to cut spending. Republicans and Democrats work together to get things done for the people they are not always just looking out for special interest groups.
This article explains it better than I can.

PolitiFact | Huckabee's 'liberal' problem