Comments on: Out by 5 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2009/10/13/out-by-5/ Chrysler, car, and other discussions by Allpar contributors Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:22:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ScottB http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2009/10/13/out-by-5/comment-page-1/#comment-78019 ScottB Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:26:26 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=916#comment-78019 I think the rest of the country may come around in time, Dave. There's a lot of frustration out there and it has been building for years, maybe decades. Nothing like a downturn in the economy to get the average person's attention. Suddenly, what they do in Washington seems to matter more to the average Joe. While government waste in not new news, the out of control deficits are. I just hope the frustration gets turned into positive energy and not riots in the streets. I see a lot of families struggling, a lot of my neighbors have at least one parent losing their job. If we could get our representatives to stop all the pork barrel spending and get their priorities straight, paying for health care for everyone wouldn't break the bank or require so many trade-offs. When you take the numbers and divide them up, we could hand out enough money to make familiies never have to worry about being homeless, starving, or not having access to health care. Why is it that the Pentagon suddenly has taken a leadership position in getting rid of duplicate or unnecessary programs and the Congress can't bring themselves to do the same? That in itself tells you how broken the rest of government is right now. I have to hand it to Defense Secretary Gates, he seems like a no BS sort of guy that really wants to do the right thing. He doesn't seem to be protecting anyone's pet projects/programs. Now where are all those other cabinet members? Can't they do they same in their departments? Also, I'm not usually a fan of protectionism. However, we need to be promoting American products and services and protecting American jobs. We need to reduce trade deficits, strengthen the dollar, and level the trade playing field by demanding that our trading partners adhere to the human rights, labor, and environmental standards we hold ourselves to. I think the rest of the country may come around in time, Dave. There’s a lot of frustration out there and it has been building for years, maybe decades. Nothing like a downturn in the economy to get the average person’s attention. Suddenly, what they do in Washington seems to matter more to the average Joe. While government waste in not new news, the out of control deficits are. I just hope the frustration gets turned into positive energy and not riots in the streets. I see a lot of families struggling, a lot of my neighbors have at least one parent losing their job.

If we could get our representatives to stop all the pork barrel spending and get their priorities straight, paying for health care for everyone wouldn’t break the bank or require so many trade-offs. When you take the numbers and divide them up, we could hand out enough money to make familiies never have to worry about being homeless, starving, or not having access to health care. Why is it that the Pentagon suddenly has taken a leadership position in getting rid of duplicate or unnecessary programs and the Congress can’t bring themselves to do the same? That in itself tells you how broken the rest of government is right now. I have to hand it to Defense Secretary Gates, he seems like a no BS sort of guy that really wants to do the right thing. He doesn’t seem to be protecting anyone’s pet projects/programs. Now where are all those other cabinet members? Can’t they do they same in their departments?

Also, I’m not usually a fan of protectionism. However, we need to be promoting American products and services and protecting American jobs. We need to reduce trade deficits, strengthen the dollar, and level the trade playing field by demanding that our trading partners adhere to the human rights, labor, and environmental standards we hold ourselves to.

]]> By: Dave http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2009/10/13/out-by-5/comment-page-1/#comment-78012 Dave Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:50:13 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=916#comment-78012 Scott, if you and I agree on this, it must be right. Now we just need to get the rest of the country on our side! Scott, if you and I agree on this, it must be right. Now we just need to get the rest of the country on our side!

]]> By: ScottB http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2009/10/13/out-by-5/comment-page-1/#comment-78009 ScottB Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:56:52 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=916#comment-78009 Dave, you just made me have a thought when you said random selection. Why not treat the Congress like jury duty. If you get selected, you have your turn in the seat for awhile. It would be part of your duty to your country. Beats having only rich guys or guys that owe somebody something supposedly representing the rest of us. Dave, you just made me have a thought when you said random selection. Why not treat the Congress like jury duty. If you get selected, you have your turn in the seat for awhile. It would be part of your duty to your country. Beats having only rich guys or guys that owe somebody something supposedly representing the rest of us.

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