From: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com (Ron Beck)
Newsgroups: alt.president.clinton,talk.politics.misc,alt.politics.clinton
Subject: Re: Promises, promises
Date: 11 Nov 92 15:37:40 GMT
Reply-To: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com
Organization: is an esoteric concept.

In article <1992Nov10.154836.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu>, cdpert01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu writes:
|>      On the front page of the 11/9/92 New York Times, there is a
|> piece entitled "Clinton, After Raising Hopes, Now Tries to Lower
|> Expectations."  In this piece, the major campaign promises made
|> by President-Elect Clinton are summarized as follows.
|> 
|>      1.  He said he would end welfare "as we know it."
He'll probably call it by some other name.

|>      2.  He would restore America's industrial manufacturing base so 
|>      that good, high-paying jobs are widespread.

This should be interesting.  With companies "downsizing", "rightsizing" and 
automating the majority of the manufacturing tasks, how will he "create"
high-paying jobs?  It's the consumer who ultimately pays for it all.

|>      3.  He would insure that no working family would fall below the 
|>      poverty line.

How?  by raising the minimum wage to assure yearly earnings rise above the
current poverty level?  Wouldn't this just raise the poverty level to a higher
amount?

|>      4.  He would make "health care a right, not a privilege," for all
|>      Americans without subjecting businesses to an additional tax burden
|>      or rationing health care.

Who pays for this?  If not business, who's left.  Let`s see...there's the
government (a couple of trillion $$$ in debt) and there's you and me.  And
when you think about it... there's only you and me.

|>      5.  He promised to eliminate adult illiteracy in five years.

I'll be happy to help with this one!  I can't believe that *anyone* in this
country is able to exist without being able to read.

|>      6.  He promised to halve the Federal deficit in four years without
|>      raising taxes on the middle class or significantly cutting the
|>      Government entitlement programs that account for the bulk of 
|>      Federal spending.

So what's he going to cut?  Defense spending? Well, I work in the defense
industry.  What's going to happen to my job?  I guess I'll work at McDonald's
making minimum wage so I'll stay above the poverty level.

|>      7.  He promised offering a modest tax break to the middle class.

What is "middle class"?  What earning range does this encompass?  And how many
of you out there reading this group fall above this range?  Are you *really*
in the middle class?

|>      8.  He would guarantee all Americans either a college education or
|>      two years of vocational training after high school, under the 
|>      guidance of a national service program that would "solve the 
|>      problems of this country while educating a generation of Americans."

Nice thought, great idea, but... who pays for it?  I payed for my education by
working and the Student Loan program.  I'm still paying my student loan but
how many people defaulted on these?

|>      9.  Mr. Clinton pledged to keep abortion legal while "making it as
|>      rare as possible."

I'm personally a pro-choice person myself.  I believe the couple have the
right to decide whether they wish to terminate a pregnancy.  I also believe
that there should be more education on the options to abortion provided to the
couple before they decide.  I personally don't advocate abortions but it's not
my place to tell someone else how to run their lives.

|>      10.  He promised to end racial, religious, geographical, and sex-
|>      oriented divisions in society.

Again, a wonderful sentiment.  How will he acomplish this?  I don't believe
that true equality can be achieved when there are still incentaves (sp?) to
employers for hiring women & blacks to a position.  I've always believed that
the best person for the job should be chosen regardles of race, color or sex.

|>      11.  He promised to safeguard environmental concerns without 
|>      costing jobs.

Yes, but at what end cost to the general public?  Remember, there's no free
lunch.  Modifications to manufacturing procedures to safeguard the environment
cost something.  Only when the penalties for non-conformance exceed the price
of conformance will there be a change.  Of course the business will have to
find ways to recoup those expenses.  That translates to "downsizing",
"rightsizing", or price increases for the manufactured goods.

|>      12.  He promised to protect the rights and privileges of workers 
|>      without costing business growth.

What are those rights & privileges?  The right to a job?  The right to higher
pay (to get them above poverty)?  What about the business?  Businesses aren't
growing right now they're shrinking.  If you don't believe that, think about
all the layoffs that have ocurred in the last few years?  Too much protection
of "rights & privileges" and a business simply closes.  Then there's *NO* jobs
for anyone!

|> 
|>      Now I see what the Democrats were so excited about: "Read
|> my lips -- Utopia!" 
|> 
|>      C. Perttunen

I am truly nervous as to what the next four years will bring.  I once thought
I was in the "middle class" but after listening to the figures thrown around
that indicate what "middle class" truly is ($25,000 - $27,000 a year I
believe) I find that I'm one of those "rich people" that everyone wants to
tax.  And I live paycheck to paycheck like everyone else does!

Ron
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Newsgroups: alt.president.clinton,talk.politics.misc