Andrew Sullivan: How Obama's Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics Daily Beast
You’d think, listening to the Republican debates, that Obama has raised taxes. Again, this is not true. Not only did he agree not to sunset the Bush tax cuts for his entire first term, he has aggressively lowered taxes on most Americans. A third of the stimulus was tax cuts, affecting 95 percent of taxpayers; he has cut the payroll tax, and recently had to fight to keep it cut against Republican opposition. His spending record is also far better than his predecessor’s. Under Bush, new policies on taxes and spending cost the taxpayer a total of $5.07 trillion. Under Obama’s budgets both past and projected, he will have added $1.4 trillion in two terms. Under Bush and the GOP, nondefense discretionary spending grew by twice as much as under Obama. Again: imagine Bush had been a Democrat and Obama a Republican. You could easily make the case that Obama has been far more fiscally conservative than his predecessor—except, of course, that Obama has had to govern under the worst recession since the 1930s, and Bush, after the 2001 downturn, governed in a period of moderate growth. It takes work to increase the debt in times of growth, as Bush did. It takes much more work to constrain the debt in the deep recession Bush bequeathed Obama.
JUST THE FACTS
Reality is unbendable. For every action there is a reaction. Lindsey Williams has been speaking the truth. Only God Himself can save us from the ...
Insomnia - quit complaining, it'll be better in the morning...?
<yawn> hello my socially aware mateys. Here an early one for yer...
Crude oil prices - whats it all about?
Fact - world oil production about 70/80 million barrels a day
Fact - China hasn't doubled/tripled its consumption lately (despite what these "experts" would have you believe)
Fact - the lowest price since 2000 was about 8-9 USD a barrel
Fact - the cost of production is basically the same as in 2000
What's going on? Who's getting rich?
80 million x 65 USD = 5 billion USD a day extra revenue for some people - BLIMEY, I think we wipe out the third world debt, pay for AIDS, hepatitus and other medicines for Africa, abolish slavery, etc, with that sort of additional daily revenue.
Work it out for me, and let me know. I'm counting on you!!
Isn't the rise in crude prices due to Americas hoarding of it as a safeguard for the next time they piss off an oil producing country and the rampant speculation by commodity traders who are just pushing up the bubble?
Oh, I don't know, it's too early.
Very interesting Q as ever though. Thanks.
You're right -production costs are virtually the same. I think that most of the revenue goes to the governments of the producing countries. Some of thse really huge producers are actually AFRICAN countries so perhaps they should be spreading it about, spending it more democratically. But then it IS Africa.
Actually it's the other way round- a barrel of oil buys you 75 dollars.
The producing countries want to "develop" and so they use the money to import goods and services from the "developed" countries. The "developed" countries need to put their prices up because the increasing cost of oil has increased the overheads of the manufacturers. So nobody wins.
I have a theory that NO-ONE actually ever benefits from the money that oil brings. It is filthy money that does no-one any good. I mean, look at Aberdeen for gods sake.
Do you think U2's Bono is a good example of a Christian?
He's done contless works for Africa, the AIDS epidemic, dropping third world debt and feeding those who are starving. He's rallied conservatives (including Jesse Helms... probably one of the biggest conservatives in history) and Christian organizations to stand behind his cause. I recently watched an interview with him and Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church... one of the biggest and most influential churches in America... where he discussed the Biblical principals behind his charitable work.
Yet many people still criticize him and question his faith... citing his occasional bad language and the fact that he is in fact a rock star as the reasons on why he is not in fact a Christian.
What do you think? Is he in fact a Christian? If not, state me your reasons why and back it up Biblically if you so desire.
I'm interested only in serious responses... If you just want to post something petty and childish, move on to another post, please.
I consider him a follower of Christ.
I read somethign a few years ago abotu how he and the rest of U2 started off in a non-denominational church in Ireland back inthe 70s, but their music led church leaders to ask them to leave.
Bono has said a lot about how he doesn't dig institutional religion, but also has said a lot about practicing mercy and being an activist on behalf of those with no voice.
The bad language? Who cares? I'm sure God has larger concerns than whether or not Bono drops an occassional F-Bomb. I know plenty of so-called Christians who could care less about the people of Africa. If there's such a thing as judgement, then those are the people who need to be worried, not the people who swear in casual conversation.
And The drinking? Well, hell, if you're going to turn down a guinness with Bono, what are you gonna do when Jesus passes you the carafe of wine at the heavenly banquet?
I think he rocks!
I think he's done a lot more for the world than other celebrities have done, or would do, in his position. My grievance with U2 is that they are very much a part of the system they claim to detest. Their last tour, they charged $160/ticket for one of their shows. Bono could have announced that a percentage of the ticket sales were going to famine relief, or debt relief, etc., but he did not. So, it's tough for me to take Bono at face value after that.
On a related note, I bought a book called "Bono : In His Own Words" because I do find the man fascinating. I think he's a modern-day philosopher, but I found the book to be extremely self-serving. He lost a few points with me after that.
May God Bless you.
We do judge that we may know better,such as:To judge ungodly men and blasphemers is to stay away from their company, And warn other Christians of their evil deeds.
Peace be with you.
God bless.
It's easy to "talk the talk"--talk is cheap; it's a whole lot harder to "walk the walk". To back up the belief that Bono is a good christian, simply this: "Do unto others that which you would have done to you". And he does. Look at how much good he has done for people far less fortunate than he. He doesn't just attend Church--he does things. He tries to change the world, to change the quality of peoples' lives, regardless of their religions. Jesus' major rule, as I recall, was "Love one another." Well, there you go. What more proof do you need?
Not that I think Bono's some kind of a god. I just think he's a pretty stand-up guy. I'm not a Christian, btw, but I was raised one. Just my 2 cents.
Does the average American citizen not ask why many manufacturers have moved their plants overseas?
The answer is simple. Under the current tax plan, which McCain intends to continue, corporations cannot stay competitive unless they move to these third world countries. It is cheaper for them to manufacture their goods overseas to China and third world countries and have them shipped all the across the world to the USA despite fuel costs. The Bush administration gave these tax breaks to corporations supposedly to help these poor and over populated countries out by providing jobs for them, so in order to encourage corporations to manufacture in them. I'm certain they never considered the fact that corporations may exploit labor in these countries and pay less than 25 cents and hour to laborers in these countries. Surely the Bush and McCain administration would not have another agenda such as creating a one world economy with 2 classes, haves and have nots. Surely they would not intentionally create and environment of economic slavery in the USA. Now, the business world is competitive, as you know, so these corporations need to be able to keep their prices around the same as their competitors. They want to make profit. Now, what's wrong with that? Its really common sense, if the USA looses all of its industry, then we will have nothing to export. So, that means we will have no bargaining chip, that means these other countries will not need us, we will need them. We will have to depend upon them to ship goods in to our country from theirs. Which means our deficit and our debt are going to keep going up, we will owe them, and we will have nothing to offer them. We will have nothing they need, because they will have everything that was ours to begin with in their country. Globalism, a one world economy, its the USA's responsibility to ensure that people from all countries have the same opportunities as Americans do. OK, well, if we do that, then there will be one world economy, and there will be 2 classes in the world, haves, and have nots. Just like over in Iraq, India, China. Is that really what we want the USA to become?
Good question and good answer. Actually, lots of ordinary folks are asking this as they watch their jobs disappear. But they keep getting distracted by Republican "bait and switch" politics. That's the purpose of this type of hateful rhetoric, with misleading ads about who Obama ran into on some occasion -- ooh, that guy over there once was a member of some radical group, way back in the '60's, therefore Obama must have been a member of that same radical group back in the '60's! Makes sense, doesn't it? Except, if you stop and think for just a moment, poor, little Obama was just a little, bitty boy back in the 1960's. He couldn't have been more than 8 years old when William Ayers was in his radical phase. Oh well, so much for THAT red herring. Let's see, what else can we try to tar him with that'll distract folks from the real issues?
Well, folks, don't let 'em distract you! Go back to this here question and the economic crisis and stick to it like glue. That's what matters and you know it. And that's where the Republicans are the weakest. They don't much like taking care of the average Joe and Jill. No, they like taking care of the average big corporation and the richest 1% in the country -- take a look at their record over the last 100 years if you doubt me.
You can't blame Walmart. You have to blame the American consumer. They don't buy "Made in America". They buy whatever is cheaper, and why shouldn't they? Made in China...remember who gave them favored nation status?
Asian and Latin American sweat shops have little to do with taxes.
1) lower wages
2) lower tariffs
3) lower shipping costs (within country/continent that they are in)
4) lower taxes
These are the four main reasons companies have moved overseas...
That is why small tires are being made overseas. It costs more to make in the United States than it does to bring it in.
Put the blame on the companies such as Wal Mart that wanted products at a cost below manufacturing cost and the people that shop at these stores.
We were warned by the mom and pop shops but we wanted cheaper goods which is what we got but the price is that a lot of manufacturing had to move overseas.
You're completely wrong.
Just more hyperbole and alarmist tactics.
Obama is planning to raise taxes on businesses. You think they're outsourcing now? Just wait - if he gets elected, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Do you believe this? Facts about Immigration.?
Illegal Immigrants / Aliens Facts
1. 40% of all workers in L.A. County (L.A. County has 10 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This was because they are predominantly illegal immigrants, working without a green card.
2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
4. Over 2/3's of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers.
5. Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.
7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.
8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.
9. 21 radio stations in L.A. are Spanish speaking.
10. In L.A.County 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak Spanish (10.2 million people in L.A. County).
(All 10 from the Los Angeles Times)
11. Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops but 29% are on welfare. http://www.cis.org/
Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration. The cost of illegal immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was a NET (after subtracting taxes immigrants pay) $70 BILLION a year, [Professor Donald Huddle, Rice University]. The lifetime fiscal impact (taxes paid minus services used) for the average adult Mexican immigrant is a NEGATIVE. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.
YOU LIKE THE WAY YOUR TAXES ARE BEING SPENT????????????
OPINION RELEASE: A Retired Border Patrol Agent has Good Common Sense
A Retired Border Patrol Agent has Good Common Sense
Finally!!! A look at illegal immigration from someone who has been there and actually knows what he's talking about. A retired border patrol agent has some common sense ..... This letter sent to Tennessee Senator Bill Frist from a retired border patrol agent, and it has more common sense than all the bull being spewed from the Senate, with the exception of a few sensible representatives.
Dear Senator Frist,
There is a huge amount of propaganda and myths circulating about illegal aliens, particularly illegal Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.
#1
Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.
#2.
There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their families Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent wage.
#3.
Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their home countries. They come to send money to their real home as evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk on behalf of their children.
#4.
Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages and benefits for lawful US. residents.
#5.
This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million native born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled and founded by immigrants (legal immigrants), it is also true that there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by immigrants at one time or another.
#6.
The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.
#7.
There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote". Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are Republicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote" is a myth. Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end.
#8.
Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I Mexico allowed German Spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S. During World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the U.S. from Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico. Today Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. If you don't believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their schoolchildren.
#9.
Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At least 1 billion of those live on less than one dollar a day. If wanting a better life is a valid excuse to break the law and sneak into America, then let's allow those one billion to come to America and we'll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides, there are 280 million native born Americans who want a better life. I'll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better life. When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a better life a good reason to trash another nation?
#10.
There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American housewives, senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed who would gladly take jobs at a decent wage.
#11.
It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we have set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and other legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people to violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream without paying the price? For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans. These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to American society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and the interest will be high. There has already been riots in the streets by illegal aliens and their supporters. There will be more. You, as a politician, have a choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens or to offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest. There will be a reckoning . Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don't even have the right to remain here? There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this year, again in 2008 and yet again in 2010. We will not allow America to be stolen by third world agitators and thieves.
David J. Stoddard
U.S. Border Patrol (RET)
Hereford
REnate, stop by your local social services office on a monday morning about 9:30 a.m., stop long enough to chat with some of the people there, try not to be shocked by what you see with your own eyes.
I agree with it all.
And REnate dear you are sadly mistaken, an illegal does NOT have to show proof of Citizenship to qualify for welfare, that is why they are bleeding our welfare system dry. Many iilegals collect welfare for themselves and their children. There are flaws in our system that need to be changed. You can not force yourself on any country it is simply not allowed any where in this world. The USA needs to control the flow of people entering our country, regardless if the illegals like it or not. So many people apply for citizenship to our great Country and they should have the right to obtain citizenship and live on our soil before any illegal who tries to sneak in before them. Sorry it is just that simple.
I wish people would stop focusing on just the illegal aliens like the Elite of this world want you to do. And take a look at the bigger picture on how illegal immigration debate is just a smoke screen to hide the truth from the people that the SPP is forming the NAU as we speak about if Pedro and Jose should be booted back to Mexico. It is too sad that by the time all of you realize what this is all about, it will be too late you will all be Citizens of the North American Union. And the Rockefellers will be laughing all the way back to their privately owned Federal Reserve. And Pedro and Jose will become citizens only so the US Government can get 1 million a head loan from the Federal Reserve, because that is what everyone in this Country is worth. But the Federal Reserve estimates that Pedro and Jose will volunteer their money to the IRS, when they don't have to give them a penny, unless they signed an agreement to do so. So if you know of another way our Government can get 1 million a head for every illegal in this country consider your fight over. Unless you fight your Government for the things that truly matter like abolishing the IRS , the Federal Reserve, the SPP, The NAU, NAFTA(thank Clinton for that), the Patriot act (thank Bush), and the Super Hwy. Without the Federal Reserve the USA can not afford to take on the burden of all the illegals. Open your eyes people you are fighting the wrong fight.
Of course there will be the nay sayers that will yell that its all lies. But when faced with facts they can only spew hate and scream racism. I especially like the last paragraph that you posted. Thank you .
There will be a reckoning . Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don't even have the right to remain here?
The $1.3 billion in costs incurred by Arizona taxpayers is comprised of outlays in the following areas:
Education. Based on estimates of the illegal immigrant population in Arizona and documented costs of K-12 schooling, Arizonans spend approximately $820 million annually on education for illegal immigrant children and for their U.S.-born siblings.
Health Care. Uncompensated medical outlays for health care provided to the state’s illegal alien population is now estimated at about $400 million a year.
Incarceration. The cost of incarcerating illegal aliens in Arizona prisons and jails amounts to about $80 million a year (not including the monetary costs of the crimes that led to their incarceration).
The unauthorized immigrant population pays some state and local taxes that go toward offsetting these costs, but they do not come near to matching the expenses. The total of such payments might generously be estimated at $257 million per year.
The fiscal costs of illegal immigration do not end with these three major cost items. The total costs of illegal immigration to the state’s taxpayers would be considerably higher if other costs such as special English instruction, school nutrition programs, or welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal alien workers were added into the equation.
You really need to get your facts straight. Posting a bunch of incorrect data on immigrants and illegals is not the way to go to correct the US immigration problem. Better to get them on the tax rolls and make them pay for being in our country.
end of Illuminati?
1. financially broke, so much debt
2. much sought after third world war through fight against Muslims failed
3. Asia bounced back from 1998 Illuminati-induced currency crisis, people alerted to the destructive plans of the Illuminati
4. people are waking up to the fact that world wars were orchestrated and engineered by Illuminati, deprogramming is taking place
The Illumimanati is alive and well.
They have already chosen Hillary Clinton as the next president.
They love to feign defeat when they have the upper hand. That's when they are the strongest.
They have enough wealth to prop up economies or withdrawl and dropout the bottom.
You are contributing to the "deprogramming" by thinking they are defunct.
We have to remain vigilant or they will bring about our destruction.
So saying that they are getting wipe out is like saying we are winning the Iraq war!!
Maybe peoples are waking up, but its already too late!! At this stage the only way they could lose is to shut down the whole global economy!! So continue to dream, while I am preparing myself for the worst!!
Did you know these facts about the USA? Shocking??
We produce 25%of the world's pollution, we consume a third of the world's wood, a third of the world's expenditure on weapons is ours, we use a quarter of the world's coal, natural gas and electricity, we have around 11,000 murders a year (domestic), our army has murdered about 150,000 Afghan and Iraqi civilians, more than 2500 US soldiers have died in Iraq, we are the world's #1 drug users, we have the world's largest national debt, our average general culture is equal to Jamaica's, our best scientists and engineers are of foreign origin, Mexico's election system is the most modern and advanced in the world, and we're far from it, our house representatives never EVER read proposals before they're passed,and...add your own data. The list is long.
Sounds like left-wing propaganda to me. I am an American engineer and no foreigner can hold a candle to me. If you're not happy with the United States, please ride on an American-made Boeing jet to whatever foreign land you like.
Should we give money to poor ppl?
ZAKAAT (Alms)
Ramadan is the month of giving and benevolence, the Messenger was more benevolent than a falling rain. Muslims are encouraged to emulate the Messenger of Allah (saas), to assess and pay their Zakaat during the month of Ramadan, thus combining the two pillars of Islam at the same time.
Zakaat (alms) is the name of what a believer returns out of his or her wealth to the neediest of Muslims for the sake of the Almighty Allah. It is called Zakaat because the word Zakaat is from Zakaa which means, to increase, purify and bless.
Who Should Give Zakaat
The obligation of Zakaat is mandatory on every Muslim who possesses the minimum Nisaab, whether the person is man, woman, young, old sane or insane. Because the proof of Zakaat in Al-Qur`an and Sunnah is general and does not exclude young or insane. Allah (SWT) stated that: "Of their goods take alms so that thou mightiest purify and sanctify them..." (Al-Qur`an, 9: 103)
Imam Ibn Hazim said that every Muslim young or old sane or insane needs to cleanse his or her wealth with Zakaat because of generality of the evidence. Anas bin Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "Trade with the money of the orphan, lest it is eaten up by Zakaat." (At-Tabraani) In another Hadith `Amru bin Shuaib related from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Whoever is entrusted with money of an orphan should trade with it and should not leave it sitting to be used up by charity." (Tirmidhi)
The point of reference in these reports is that the Messenger (saas) urged the trustee on the estate of people who due to age or other reasons cannot manage their own financial affairs, to invest it in a business that will yield a return and make it grow until they are in a position to do so themselves. For, if proper investment is not made with an ophan's inheritance, it will be depleted by charity, thus leaving the orphan with little or nothing.
The Nisaab
The Lawgiver, Allah has prescribed the minimum amount that is obligatory for Zakaat in different ranges of properties, and that minimum amount is known as nisaab. The reason for nisaab is to ensure that no one is forced to give Zakaat out of what he or she does not have, and that no wealth goes without Zakaat. Nisaab is also an insurance against the tyranny of the state to tax the poor and or the neediest as is the case in many countries. Nisaab is a reference point for the average Muslim who is not sure whether he possesses the minimum wealth on which Zakaat is obligatory. The wealthy need not worry about the Nisaab. Zakaat is obligatory on their entire wealth and must be paid out at the end of financial year that they set for their Zakaat.
The Nisaab will not be valid unless it fulfills two conditions:
1) The amount that has reached Nisaab must be the excess or surplus known as "faadil" from one's essential needs such as food, clothing, housing, vehicles, tools and machinery that is used in business. The essentials for living are exempted from Zakaat.
Although what constitutes nisaab may change from one country to another, the amount that is needed for the basic needs of living in different countries is very similar, because the market place determines the prices, whether it is an official market or a non-official market. In the poorest countries people do without or live below the poverty standard, and that is why many go hungry or without basic essentials.
However, we must realize that Zakaat is an act of worship (ebadah) like Salaat. The element of intention (niyyah) is necessary, and we should not overly rely on state agencies to determine for us the requirements of our religious duty. The so called the "consumption basket" (that is poverty level as determined the social security administration which are updated every fiscal year) may not be the same as what Islam considers minimum Nisaab.
In the industrialized countries, the consumption basket may include items that are not necessarily essential, such as entertainment, extra clothing, variety of food, eating in restaurant or eating at home, owning more than one car as opposed to having three cars in the driveway, drinking water as opposed to juices, eating regular food or special "health" food. This is why I believe it is essential that we do not lose site of the fact that Zakaat is ebadah of wealth, like salaat and fasting. Non Muslims may consider all the things mentioned above as essentials while Muslims will not. Indeed, no Muslims in good standing will attempt to hide behind the label of consumption basket so as to evade Zakaat.
Nisaab eliminates the possibility of injustice or unfair treatment of the Zakaat payer. To suggest that if we do not follow the rules of International Monetary Fund or the arbitrary figures of social security administration or department of agriculture we will be doing injustice to the Zakaat payer is ludicrous.
2) Nisaab must mature, that is the money is not liable for Zakaat unless it has remained a full year in the possession of a person. This is the understanding of the majority of the scholars. Imam Abu Hanifah (raa) said: "What should be considered is the existence of nisaab at the beginning and the end of the Zakaat year set by the payer". It does not matter if the nisaab money increases or decreases during the calendar year, as we will explain later.
This condition does not include farm produce, for it is due on the day it is harvested. Allah (SWT) stated: "... But render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered..." (Al-Qur`an, 6: 141) According to Imam Al-`Abadi, (raa) Zakaat money is of two kinds: one that by its nature can not be invested and Zakaat of this category is due on the day of harvest. This includes all the farm produce that is liable for Zakaat. The other is wealth that can be invested in the hope of a good return, like cash, gold or silver, because the opportunity is there that cash in one's hand can be invested for a good return. This includes currency investment, merchandise and livestock. Their Zakaat is not due until they have matured in one full year.
The proof of this condition is the Hadith related by Ibn `Umar that the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "He who acquires property is not liable for Zakaat on it till a year passes." According to Ibn Rushd (raa) this is the understanding of the majority of scholars, including the four rightly guided Khalifahs.
Zakaat Of Salaries
The condition of yearly term maturity applies to the commodities on which the Lawgiver said Zakaat is due, and this includes silver, gold, modern paper currency and livestock. Paper currency is analogous to silver, therefore, it takes the case of silver. There is no Zakaat on salary, earned income from wage earners or professionals or independent contractors until such money matures in a full year. There is no such thing as paying your Zakaat on the day you receive your paycheck. What the wage earner must know is that he or she can purify that money with charity (sadaqah) anytime they cash the paycheck. Allah (SWT) states: "And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the needy, he who asks and he who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking)." (Al-Qur`an, 51: 19).
We can deduce from the concept of "yearly maturity" of wealth on which Zakaat is due as encouraging, among other things, saving on the part of the Zakaat payer, and enhances the chances for eradicating poverty, because if the poor receives his rightful share of Zakaat there will be the possibility that he can take Zakaat money and invest it and become a Zakaat payer instead of recipient. This possibility will be lost if he receives few Zakaat dollars every month. To say that the wage earner just brings his check home and spends everything on necessities and lives from check to check with nothing left over means the person is eligible for Zakaat.
Using farm produce as analogous to salary for Zakaat is wrong analogy. As Imam Al-`Abadi said, these are two different categories of money. $2, 500.00 cash can be invested by the person and expect a good return whereas it will be difficult to invest a bushel of corn. It can be traded as a commodity, which is what it is. This why we must know that analogy has rules that must be followed before it is applied. Certainly the jurists are unanimous that earned income, known as almal al-mustafadah, should either be added to existing money and wait until that amount reaches maturity and then give their Zakaat; or if there is no money on hand the time one possesses this money, he or she should wait one full year before assessing it for Zakaat.
Zakaat is one of the five pillars of Islam and a vital element in the religion of Islam. It is the twin sister of Salaat. In Al-Qur`an, Allah (SWT) stated: "So establish regular Prayer and give regular Alms; and obey the Messenger; that you may receive mercy." (Al-Qur`an, 24: 56) Also, "...Establish regular Prayer and give regular Alms, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan...." (Al-Qur`an, 73: 20) "And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular Prayer and to practice regular charity; and that is the religion right and straight." (Al-Qur`an, 98: 5)
In a famous Hadith reported by `Umar Bin Khattab (raa), the Messenger of Allah (saas) responded to Jibreel (as) and said: "... Islam is to testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform the prayer, to pay Zakaat, to observe fasting in Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to the house of Allah if you are able to do os...." (Bukhari, Muslim)
There is consensus among Muslim scholars that it is mandatory on every believer who is financially able. Whoever knowingly denies this obligation, while he possesses the minimum amount, would be considered a disbeliever and a renegade from Islam. Whoever is stingy, or tries to cheat, is considered among the wrongdoers. Zakaat is mandatory on four categories of items.
1. Farm produce of seeds and fruits, such as wheat, barley, rice, dates, raisins, cocoa, pistachios, coffee, cashews. Allah (SWT) stated: "O you who believe, give of the good things which you have (honorably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you..." (Al-Qur`an, 2: 267) Also: "... But render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered..." (Al-Qur`an, 6: 141) Thus, these two verses and many others indicate that Zakaat is due on farm products that reached the minimum amount (nisaab). No farm product is liable for Zakaat unless it is a product that is considered as food and can be stocked or saved naturally without refrigeration. If the produce is perishable fruit, such as grapes, there is no Zakaat. But if one sells them they will pay their Zakaat on the profit earned when it matures.
The nisaab is 612 kilos, which equals 1,346.40 lb. There is no Zakaat on produce that is less than this amount. If the farm produce or crops grow dependant on rainwater, or without any man's labor or irrigation, Zakaat due is one-tenth of the total. If it is grown by irrigation, then the Zakaat due is half of one-tenth of the total produce. There is no Zakaat on fruits like apples or oranges or vegetables which are perishable and need refrigeration for long storage, but they should be considered as any income if the profit earned from their sale reaches the amount of Zakaat, then Zakaat should be given.
2. Cattle, including camels, cows, sheep and goats, that are freely graze and are raised for trade and production. For Zakaat to be obligatory, the number must reach the nisaab. The nisaab of camels is five, of cows 30, of sheep and goats, 40. By freely grazing is meant the animal goes out to feed without the owner buying or bringing it feed or hay. If it is not a grazing animal, there is no Zakaat in the stock by itself. The stock will, however, be considered as articles of trade, then will be assessed for Zakaat as articles of trade when the profit earned from their sale reaches the amount by itself or in combination with other articles of the trade.
3. Merchandise and goods of trade and commerce. This includes anything that is obtained for the business of buying and selling: land, animals, food provisions, fabric, cars, spare parts, etc. This inventory is evaluated annually and assessed for Zakaat, whether the value is the same as the amount spent on it, more, or less. The owners of grocery stores, like any other business, must evaluate every item and give their Zakaat. Simple bookkeeping of inventory, orders, cash on hand, and credits, that is non-delinquent loans, will give one a good picture of the zakaatable assets. But if one is unable to account for everything in the store or shop, he should assess it according to his ability until he is sure that his conscience is clear.
There is no Zakaat on what is within one's dwelling or property which includes food, drinks, furniture, houses, animals, cars, clothes and shoes. The only exception is gold and silver. There is no Zakaat on assets from rentals or lease, whether they are apartment units, taxi cabs, etc. That is, there is no Zakaat on the apartment units, buses or cars for rental like yellow cabs company or trucks for rental or equipments. But there is Zakaat on the proceeds or incomes from these rental assets if these assets reach the executable amount, either by themselves or in combination with other assets.
Business Activities
Many scholars are of the opinion that any business activity that brings any return to the entrepreneur or investor should be assessed for Zakaat. If the activity has a prescribed nisaab, such as gold, silver or paper currency, that nisaab is applied for Zakaat. But if the business has no declared nisaab, its nisaab is the nisaab of commerce, one reason being that most business activities are considered as commerce and because, in actual fact, it is not factitious business name, such as GM, Apple or GE that is taxed for Zakaat, it is the individual investor. We do not tax cooperations such IBM, Apple, GM or Rajihy Bank but the individual investors, share holders and owners of these corporations.
Indeed, there are enough rules in Zakaat books to cover all types of business activity, be it cash or risk investment. If the business activity is analogous to commerce, it should be assessed the same rate as commerce. To subject the business to a different Zakaat rate of 10%, which is the rate of farm products instead of its correct rate of 2.5%, the rate of commerce, is unfair and unjustified. Besides, there is no proof, even a weak one, to justify this unfair arbitrary taxation. The difference between 2.5% and 10% is high. The Zakaat system is not like a state revenue collection, but Allah's `ebadah. However, if a business person decides to give more than 2.5% after deducting all the expenses including depreciation, Allah (SWT) will accept it from him.
4. Gold and silver, whether used for commerce or jewelry. Allah (SWT) states: "...And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty. On the day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks and their backs. This is the (treasure) which you buried for yourselves: taste you, then, the (treasures) you buried." (Al-Qur`an, 9: 34-35). By hoarding is meant refusal to give it in the path of Allah, which includes Zakaat.
In a hadith reported by Abu Hurairah (raa), the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "For the owner or possessor of gold and silver who does not fulfill its obligation, on the Day of Resurrection it will be cast into sheets of fire and be branded on his forehead, side and back. Whenever it cools it is to be repeated for him in a day whose length is the length of fifty thousand years, until the judgement is rendered among the people." (Muslim). By its obligation is meant assessing it for Zakaat. In another version: "No possessor of a treasure who does not give its Zakaat."
Zakaat is mandatory in gold and silver, irrespective of its form: in coins, raw or nugget, or jewelry for wearing, or for rent, because of the generality of evidence of Zakaat without any detail. In a report by Abdullah bin `Amr bin `Aas (raa), he related that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah with her daughter. On the daughter's wrist were two heavy gold bracelets. The Messenger asked her, "Do you pay Zakaat on this?" She replied, "No." The Messenger said: "Would it please you that Allah will encircle you with two bracelets of fire?" The reporter commented that she took them off and threw them down in front of the Messenger, and said: "They are for Allah and his Messenger." (Ahmed, Tirmidhi).
The Messenger's wife reported that: "The Messenger entered into my house and saw in my hand a huge ring made of silver, so he asked, `What is this?' I replied, `I made them to beautify myself for you, O Messenger of Allah.' He inquired, `Do you give their Zakaat?' I said, `No,' or `Allah willing.' He said: `It will suffice you in the hellfire.'" (Abu Dawuud).
Zakaat is due on gold when it reaches the amount of (nisaab), which is 20 Dinaar. According to a hadith, the Messenger said: "No Zakaat on you is due until it reaches 20 dinaar." (Abu Dawud) The Islamic dinaar (currency) is one mithqal, a unit of weight which weighs four and one quarter of a gram. Thus, the nisaab is 85 grams. This is equal to $30.00 US dollars.
Similarly, there is no Zakaat on silver until it reaches five oqiyah, because the Messenger said: "There is no Zakaat on less then five oqiyah." (Muslim/Bukhari) Oqiyah is equal to forty Islamic dirhams. The nisaab is 200 dirhams. One dirham is equivalent to 595 grams. The zakaatable amount in both the gold and silver is a quarter of a tenth only.
Paper Currency
There is Zakaat on modern paper currency because it is equivalent to silver. During the early days of Islam, silver and gold were the currency of exchange minted into dirham for silver and dinaar for gold. Silver, not gold, had a larger circulation. Thus many scholars are of opinion that silver should be the standard for the paper currencies of today because that is more advantageous to the Zakaat payer, as it raises the minimum nisaab whereas gold lowers it. Although both metals are no longer circulated, they are still considered as a security against ever fluctuating paper money.
Silver should be used as a standard to assess Zakaat annually, not paper currency, even if the currency is hard currency like the US dollar, Yen and Deutch Mark or Pound Sterling. Because these currencies are backed by political decisions that may not have anything to do with the economy, the value and strength of this paper money depends largely on all haram usury system of interest rates.
Thus, the Zakaat payer should look up in the local newspaper's financial or business section for the price of silver which is currently about $3.82. per ounce. The nisaab, then, is 596 x .04=28.80 ounce multiplied by$3.82= 90.91. therefore. The nisaab is about $100.00, as of December 17, 1991.
The nisaab should be based on the market value of the currency. If the money is hard currency, there will be no problem, but if the money is a non-marketable currency, like most currencies in the third world countries, the nisaab should be based on the black market, which realistically reflects the value of the currency on the money market. In any case, the silver rate should be used to assess the Zakaat.
If the nisaab is determined, the zakaatable amount is 2.5%, or .025 multiplied by the amount. For instance, if the zakaatable amount is $56,000.00 it will be 56,000. x .025 = $1,400.00.
Zakaat is due on gold, silver, and or paper currency, whether it is cash in hand or credit in the hands of borrowers. Zakaat is due on debts or cost of merchandize or rental money. If the borrower is a wealthy person that you know will pay back the debt, the lender (that is Halaal lending free of usury) should include that money in the assessment and give its Zakaat. However, one can delay Zakaat on a loan until he receives payment, then return its Zakaat for the past years that he was unable to assess for Zakaat. If the borrower is poor or is refusing to pay the debt, there will be no Zakaat on the money until the lender receives the money. Then he will assess it for Zakaat of one past due year, but there will be no Zakaat in the years before that.
There is no Zakaat on precious stones such as diamonds, or metals such uranium, regardless of their value. Gold and silver, of course are assessed for Zakaat. However, if a person possesses any of these stones or metals, he should give their Zakaat like any other articles of trade. If a person possesses diamonds or any other precious stones as an edge against inflation or for ornaments, there will no Zakaat on these.
How To Give Zakaat
Zakaat may be assessed and returned in two ways:
a) Make a record of all money earned, either daily or monthly, which has reached the nisaab and remains in the treasury. The Zakaat of that money would be due one year later on the same day the money was earned and reached nisaab. This means every month's income must be set aside and assessed for Zakaat and so will be the case for the rest of the months. For instance, the income of January, 1991 will be assessed for Zakaat in January, 1992, and the income of February, 1991 will be assessed for Zakaat in February 1992, etc. This method of assessing Zakaat is very difficult because it entails complete bookkeeping of daily or monthly earnings.
b) The best way is to set a day or a month, preferably Ramadan, for your annual Zakaat return calendar, say Ramadan 1st, 1412. One year later on the same day Ramadan, 1413, your Zakaat is due and payable. Whatever is in the savings is due for Zakaat, regardless of whether all the amount in the savings reaches a year or not. For instance: if you have $20,000.00 in the savings account on the 1st of Ramadan, 1412 and one year later by the 1st of Ramadan, 1413 there is $50, 000.00, your Zakaat will be assessed for $50,000.00, that is: $50.000.00 x .025= $1,250.00. If, on the other hand, by the 1st of Ramadan, 1413 the amount in the savings is $15,000.00, your Zakaat will be for the amount in the savings, that is $15,000.00 x .025= $375.00. This method is the best because it is easy to assess, meets one's obligation and relieve one's conscience.
The Recipient Of Zakaat
Knowing who qualifies as recipient of Zakaat is an important aspect of Zakaat collection in Islam. Fortunately, Allah (SWT) has been merciful to us in that He Himself spelled out the people eligible to receive Zakaat. In Surah Tawbah He stated:
"Alms are for the poor and the needy; and those employed to administer (the funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom." (Al-Qur`an, 9: 60) In this verse Allah enumerated the people who deserve this divine welfare, and they are as follows:
The poor and the needy. These are individuals, and those under their care, to live on. By the poor and needy is meant the people whose income or salaries, or whatever material goods they have, fall short of the cost of living in a given environment and economy. The poor and the needy should be given what will suffice them and their families for one full year. The needy who want to get married and have no means should be given enough for this purpose, and so, too, the student who needs money for tuition, rent, food, and books. The working poor should be given supplementary Zakaat. But the wealthy, or any person with enough income to live on should not be given Zakaat, even if they asked for it. Instead, they should be warned and admonished for asking for what does not belong to them.
In a hadith reported by Abdullah bin `Umar, the Messenger of Allah (saas) stated: "A man keeps on asking others for something till he comes on the day of Resurrection without any piece of flesh on his face." (Bukhari/Muslim). This hadith indicates a humiliating appearance before Allah (SWT) that awaits a person who asks illegally.
Some said: this hadith implies Allah will punish a person with the very limb, the face, that he used to impress on others to give him their money unlawfully.
In another hadith reported by Abu Hurairah, the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever asks people for their money so as to get rich, he is asking for flames of fire. It is up to him to ask for more or less (he should beware)." (Muslim) This hadith indicates the severity of the punishment, the more one asks the more punishment, the less one asks the less the punishment.
In another hadith, reported by Hakeem bin Hizaam said: I begged the Messenger of Allah and he gave me. I begged again, and he gave me. I begged again and he gave me. He then said: "This money is green and sweet; he who receives it from people with a cheerful heart, Allah will bless him in it; he who receives it, with an avaricious mind would not be blessed in it. He will be like the person who eats without being satisfied; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand" (Muslim)
This hadith gave an analogy between money and green, ripened fruit that people love to eat. Thus, it indicates that both are greatly loved but easily finished. For money that is easy come easy go, one must be careful about the punishment that awaits the illegal eater. If a person asks for Zakaat and there are no signs of wealth, and he does not know that he should not ask, or a person who is well and able, who can work, but does not; if these people do not know that it is not permissible for them to ask, it may be given anyway.
In a hadith reported by Ahmed, Abu Dawud, and Nasa'e, two men came to the Messenger of Allah (saas) and asked for Zakaat. He looked at them closely and found them strong and able, he said, "If you want I will give you. But you should know that the wealthy or an able person who can work has no share in Zakaat" (Ahmad)
Those who administer the Zakaat department, assigning people for collecting, bookkeeping, making lists of people eligible for Zakaat, and a financial calendar. These people will receive Zakaat as compensation for their work, even if they are wealthy. This does not include a person who works as an agent for one or two wealthy people to take Zakaat for himself. They should donate their time for Zakaat disbursement and do it with honesty and truthfulness. If they can not, they should be paid or rewarded for their time. In a hadith related by Abu Musa Al-Ashi`ari (raa), the Messenger of Allah said: "A trustworthy Muslim executor is the one who executes completely what has been entrusted to him of Zakaat money in good faith." (Bukhari)
That is, he will give the Zakaat money to any of the eligible recipients of Zakaat. He should carry on the duty voluntarily, but if he can not distribute the money without being paid, the Zakaat payer should pay him for his work. The payment for the service of distributing Zakaat should not come out of Zakaat money.
The new converts to Islam whose hearts we want to harmonize into the fold of Islam, either because their faith is weak or we are afraid of their being harmed, should be given Zakaat to strengthen their Iman or until we no longer fear their harm.
The bonds person who has contracted with his master to buy himself out of bondage deserve Zakaat and should be given enough to pay off their debt to the master and be freed themselves; similarly, Muslim prisoners of war if their freedom is tied to monetary payment, deserve Zakaat sufficient enough to secure their release.
On the other hand, if a pearson accidently killed someone and have no means to pay off the blood money, he should be helped from Zakaat funds.
The people in debt are of two kinds:
(A) The guarantor, who takes the responsibility of someone else's debt so as to reconcile the two warring parties, to extinguish the fire of fitnah between them. If the person requests Zakaat money to pay off this debt he should be given it, which will encourage him to continue in this noble cause.
In a hadith reported by Qubaysah Al-Hilaaly (raa), he said I was under debt (hamaalah) and I came to the Messenger (saas) and begged him to help me pay it off. The Messenger told him: "Wait until we receive charity, so we will command that it be given to you." However, the Messenger stated: "O Qubaysah, begging is not permitted except for one of three categories of people:
A man who has incurred debt (as guarantor to reconcile blood wit) for him begging is permissible till he pays that off, after which he must stop it; a man whose property has been destroyed by calamity which has smitten him; for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support life or will provide him reasonable subsistence; and a man who has been smitten by poverty, the genuineness of which should be confirmed by three knowledgeable members of his people; for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support him, or will provide him subsistence. Besides these three, Qubaysah, begging is forbidden for every other persons, and one who engages in such consumes that which is forbidden." (Muslim)
(B) Whoever incurs debt and has no money to pay it back will be given from Zakaat to help pay his debt, whether the amount is large or small; or his creditor should be paid directly on his behalf, so long as it is paid off.
Zakaat can be given in the path of Allah. By this is meant to finance a Jihad effort in the path of Allah, not for Jihad for other reasons. The fighter (mujahid) will be given as salary what will be enough for him. If he needs to buy arms or some other supplies related to the war effort, Zakaat money should be used provided the effort is to raise the banner of Islam.
The wayfarer. This is the traveller who in a strange land runs out of money. He or she deserves Zakaat, enough money to take him back to his country, even if he is wealthy and can find someone to loan him the money. On his part, he should take with him on his trip sufficient money, if he is wealthy, so that he will not need Zakaat. Zakaat money can not be used to pay off other obligations, such as giving Zakaat money to people you are obligated to take care of by law; or Zakaat money can not be used to pay for hotel and food expenses.
It is, however, permissible to give Zakaat to a wife or family member, provided it is not part of their daily living expense money, but is needed to pay off a debt for one's wife if she can not pay it. So is the case for one's parents if they can not pay their debt.
Zakaat money may be given to members of the family for their expenses if one is not obligated to take care of them financially. The wife can pay off a debt of her husband with Zakaat money, because he may be among the eight eligible recipients and she is not obligated to spend on him as he is on her.
The eight eligible recipients of Zakaat can be denied their right to Zakaat without proof from Al-Qur`an or Sunnah. In a hadith reported by Ibn Mas`ud, his wife Zaynab heard the Messenger of Allah order women to give Zakaat, so she asked the Messenger (saas): " O Messenger of Allah, you commanded us to give Zakaat, and I have jewelry that I wanted to assess for Zakaat, but my husband Abdullah bin Mas`ud claimed that his son deserves it more than anyone." The Messenger replied: Your husband Ibn Mas`ud is right. Your son deserves your charity more than anyone." In another hadith reported by Salman bin `Aamir, he said the Messenger of Allah said: " Charity to the poor is only charity, but charity to the rest of kind is charity and maintenance of relations (sillah)." (Nisaee)
No loan should be written off as Zakaat because Zakaat is taken and given. Allah (SWT) said: "Of their goods take alms...." (Al-Qur`an, 9: 103) And in a Hadith the Messenger has been reported as saying: "Allah has mandated on you Zakaat to be taken from the wealthy and to be given to the poor." Thus, writing off debt is not taken. For instance, If you loan a person money, you can not write off that loan as a Zakaat. However, it could be written off as sadaqah charity. Furthermore, loan, delinquent or not, is considered an absent money, therefore, it should not be transacted in Zakaat. for Zakaat is assessed only in cash in hand. Besides, debt money is valued less than cash in the hand, and using that money for alms is like exchanging good money for bad.
The assessor of alms should try to give his Zakaat to an eligible person, but if he makes a mistake and gives it to an ineligible person it is accepted. In a hadith related by Abu Hurairah, he said the Messenger said:
"A man expressed his intention to give charity, so he came with his charity and placed it in the hand of an adulteress. In the morning the people were talking and saying charity was given to an adulteress last night. The donor said: O Allah, to thee be the Praise - charity to an adulteress! He then again expressed his intention to give charity, so he went out with it and placed it in the hand of a rich person. In the morning the people were talking and saying charity was given to a rich person. The donor said, O Allah to You be the praise - charity to a rich man! He then expressed his intention to give charity, so he went out with his charity and placed it in the hand of a thief. In the morning the people were talking and saying charity to the thief. So the man said, O Allah to You be the praise (what a misfortune that charity has been given) to the adulteress, the rich and the thief! Then someone came to him and told him your charity has been accepted. As for the adulteress the charity might become the means whereby she might restrain from fornication. The rich man might perhaps learn a lesson and spend from what Allah has given him, and the thief might thereby restrain from committing theft. (Muslim/ Bukhari)
http://www.islamfortoday.com/beliefs.htm
The answer is: YES
Please do not mind but I--and many other readers--- would nave preferred a shorter, more concise, question
Thank you for drawing our attention to to the need for giving in charity.
Why did Bush choose fighting the war in Iraq?
Rather than dealing with the issues in our own country, like the middle class and their struggle to stay afloot, the issue of wether we will have social security, the fact the we have so many poor in our country, and so many people without health insurance, minimum wage being at its same low for ten years.The poor quality in our schools. All the money spend on the war would be so much more useful to help our country with, so we don't end up as a third world country ourselves. With people living in debt, and the next generations becoming more and more uneducated I feel this country should concentrate within before dealing with what is on the outside ( its like telling your neighbors to clean up their yard, when yours is flowing over with mess)
Many would say that GWB was just concerned with protecting our country from terrorist. There are those who believe that Iraq was involved in terrorism and had WMD's (weapons of mass destruction) and was prepared to use them to attack U.S soil.
After all the Iraqi's did attack the twin towers and the pentagon killing ~3k American people. And we know that Sadam had gassed his own people in the 90's killing thousands of his own people. If he could kill his own he certainly would kill us!
After all he did have a million man army!!!
What there was no Iraqi's involved in the attack 9/11? They were 80% Saudi Arabian.... the rest were a mix of Lebanese and Syrian and the leader was and is a very influential Saudi who was trained in the eighties by US military? There were no Iraqi's involved and no one from Afghanistan? How could this be? I did not see this on Fox news or even NBC, CBS or ABC... This must not be true. We will find WMD in Iraq right?
OK, some say we went to war for OIL? GWB would never put our military in harms way, he would never send your father, brother, mother, sister, uncle, aunt, best buddy to a war with a million man army for oil. What the Iraqi did not even fight?
They helped us tear down Saddams government but did not want us to stay and help them have a government like ours?
They want us to leave after our men and women fought to free them? We will let women vote, teach them about this Bud is for you and put a McDonalds on every street corner... they will be better because we will help! RIGHT?
Hey we can even teach them to be CHRISTIAN.... They may get into heaven if they follow us!
And we can help sell the oil for them so they will live better and have French fries. Oil will be less expensive for the rest of the world because we will bring peace to the middle east.... they will know that GWB will take care of them.... JUST LIKE HE TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN COUNTRY.
I pray for our soldiers to come home safe, your Dad, your brother, your Mom, your sister and every American that has been put in harms way. Thank you for protecting us, be safe and come home where you belong.
mathewbj you hit it dead on the head... GWB has no idea of how to resolve the issues in this country so the easy way out was to pick a fight with a country did not really have any true power but did have oil... That way he at least keeps his Dad happy with the Saudi's and makes some nice retirment for some very rich people. Just look at our economy and look at the profits made by oil companies!
Why are you for Illegal Aliens staying in this country??
Because many don't understand the basic economic impact of Illegal’s residing in our country destroying everything we have strove to achieve, I ask this question. When our ancestors came here this (our economic machine and its balancing mechanisms) did not entirely exist.
For those who are for Amnisty I would say take a basic Economics class then come back and answer the question. For their edification, we have loaned Mexico and a number of third world countries Billions upon Billions of dollars (each) only to cancel the debts over and over again. This is an effort to create a one world nation or rather a one world bank (refer to the Economics class). This has only served to reduce our worth (see; GNP) to nothing both physically and in terms of real world impact (The fact that I struggle to pay for MY three children) AND pay for free Welfare, pre-natal services, Medical, Medicare, WIC, food stamps, Housing, free schooling, free bussing (While I pay $330 per child in CA!) and more -
- for over 17,000,000 ILLIGAL residents who for the most part send their earnings BACK to their homes in these already bought and paid for third world countries, and NOT into our TAX system. My advice would be for them to come back and do it correctly, go to school. THEN have three children and pay that additional tax for someone other then their family. Chances are, due to their culture and Catholic upbringing they have already had children multible children which I must support .
They do not put in nearly as much as they take out, I am in a position to know this.
"Mendi8a" you are completly wrong, where do you get your info?
"Photogal" You are confusing Histoy with current events and a functional economy. The natives were primitive compared to the Europians who really did something with this land (se: Science, Global Navigation, medical knowledge etc.), PLUS, It was a lot more than "my" people who came here, it was a total of 40 countries.
"alfonso rIf" If we did leave, the land would revert to nothing all over again. Just as we found it. Look at Mexico and most other South American countries now, why do you think everyone comes HERE!
"Bunt" You are WAY off on everything.
"Sashie" You and Univers are absolutly correct. I agree. BUT, just look at some other answers to see I do have a point.
PS: Among others, I do hold a BA in Economics.
"Bunt" wow, you are sorry. "6) most of us have 0 kids(families with 5-10 kids live in the ghettos-blacks have them, not illegals!)
Who's the nazi?
I have spent 24 years defending our country and mostly others as a Spec-op member in the military, please believe me, I'm no Nazi, I still stand in defense of our laws.
"Logan", you have a good heart, but have been reading too much reverse propaganda by liberals.
"ElOsoBravo", learn to spell, then come back and rephrase YOUR answer...
http://www.theamericanresistance.com/issues/anchor_babies.html
We're singing from the same 'hymnal' there....illegal immigration has to be stopped, the sooner the better. I forecast, though, that this Congress will flub this one, and pass the buck to the next.
Ron Paul- People are better able to manage their lives than government can manage them?
http://www.mises.org/story/2520
Ron Paul has always believed that foreign and domestic policy should be conducted according to the same principles. Government should be restrained from intervening at home or abroad because its actions fail to achieve their stated aims, create more harm than good, shrink the liberty of the people, and violate rights.
Does that proposition seem radical? Outlandish or farflung? Once you hear it stated, it makes perfect sense that there is no sharp distinction between the principles of domestic and foreign policy. They are part of the same analytical fabric. What would be inconsistent would be to favor activist government at home but restraint abroad, or the reverse: restraint at home and activism abroad. Government unleashed behaves in its own interests, and will not restrict itself in any area of life. It must be curbed in all areas of life lest freedom suffer.
If you recognize the line of thinking in this set of beliefs, it might be because you have read the Federalist Papers, the writings of Thomas Jefferson or George Washington or James Madison, or examined the philosophical origins of the American Revolution. Or perhaps you have read the speeches and books against FDR's New Deal: the same group warned of the devastating consequences of World War II.
Not only does this Paulian view have a precedent in American history; it sums up the very core of what is distinctive about the American contribution to political ideas. The proposition was and is that people are better able to manage their lives than government can manage them. Under conditions of liberty, the result is prosperity and orderly civilization. Under government control, the result is relative poverty and unpredictable chaos. The proof is in the news every day.
He takes the ideas of Washington and Jefferson seriously, just as seriously as he takes the idea of freedom itself, and he does so in times when faith in Leviathan remains the dominant political ideology.
Ideology is such a powerful force that it has propped up policy inconsistency for more than a century. The Left has a massive agenda for the state at home, and yet complains bitterly, with shock and dismay, that the same tools are used to start wars and build imperial structures abroad. The Right claims to want to restrain government at home (at least in some ways) while whooping it up for war and global reconstruction abroad.
It doesn't take a game-theory genius to predict how this conflict works itself out in the long run. The Left and the Right agree to disagree on intellectual grounds but otherwise engage in a dangerous quid pro quo. They turn a blind eye to the government they don't like so long as they get the government they do like.
It's one thing for the Left to grudgingly support international intervention. It makes some sense for a group that believes that government is omniscient enough to bring about fairness, justice, and equality at home to do the same for people abroad. In fact, I've never been able to make much sense out of left-wing antiwar activism, simply because it cuts so much against the idea of socialism, which itself can be summed up as perpetual war on the liberty and property of the people.
What strikes me as ridiculous is the right-wing view that the same government that is incompetent and dangerous domestically — at least in economic and social affairs — has some sort of Midas Touch internationally such that it can bring freedom, democracy, and justice to any land its troops deign to invade.
The freedom to trade internationally is an essential principle. It means that consumers should not be penalized for buying from anyone, or selling to anyone, regardless of their residence. Nor should domestic suppliers be granted anything like a monopoly or subsidized treatment. Nor should trade be used as a weapon in the form of sanctions. Ron Paul has upheld these principles as well, which makes him an old-fashioned liberal in the manner of Cobden and Bright and the American Southern tradition. He has also rejected the mistake of many free traders who believe that a military arm is necessary to back the invisible hand of the marketplace. For Ron Paul, freedom is all of a piece.
Ron Paul's singular voice on foreign affairs has done so much to keep the flame of a consistent liberty burning in times when it might otherwise have been extinguished. He has drawn public attention to the ideas of the founders. He has alerted people to the dangers of empire. He has linked domestic and foreign affairs through libertarian analytics, even when others have been bamboozled by the lies or too intimidated to contradict them. He has told the truth, always. For this, every American, every citizen of the world, is deeply in his debt. In fact, I'm willing to predict that a hundred years from now and more, when all the current office holders are all but forgotten, Ron Paul's name will be remembered as a bright light in dark times (we are in the right side of history).We can't but be deeply grateful that Ron Paul's prophetic words. May its lessons be absorbed by this and future generations. May this treatise stand as an example of how to fight for what is right even when everyone else is silent. May it always be regarded as proof that there were men of courage alive in the first decade of the third millennium. May public and intellectual opinion someday rise to its level of intellectual sophistication and moral valor.
Isn't it amazing how these Ron Paulistas think they are doing their candidate good by posting this silly stuff?
7 Major Advance Warnings
As soon as we see the likelihood of major bankruptcies and defaults, we don’t wait around. We warn you immediately.
We know you need time to get your money out of danger. And we also know that financial disasters don’t obey any particular clock.
They can strike suddenly — especially in the stock and bond markets, where investors often start selling in anticipation of the troubles to come.
That’s why we specifically warned our readers about …
• The failure of Bear Stearns 102 days ahead of time (Money and Markets of December 3, 2007) …
• The failure of Lehman Brothers 182 days ahead of time (Money and Markets of . . . → Read More: 7 Major Advance Warnings
