creationists have 46% of the population.

Just proves 46% of the population either doesnt want to think, believes faith is more important than facts, or are idiots.


http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/06/01/189220/in-america-46-of-people-hold-a-creationist-view-of-human-origins?sdsrc=popbyskid

disparity of wealth

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10#lets-start-with-the-obvious-unemployment-three-years-after-the-financial-crisis-the-unemployment-rate-is-still-at-the-highest-level-since-the-great-depression-except-for-a-brief-blip-in-the-early-1980s-1

Military spending, 35% of budget

If we cut that back to 1/6th of our spending on military, we'd still be the top spender in the world [wikipedia.org].

If we cut 90%, we'd be the world's second-highest spender.

If we cut back 95%, we'd be 10th.
-------------------------

If you actually take the time to expand the categories you'll see that a few lines items could easily be moved around

Federal military and civilian employee retirement and disability 4.6%
This is listed under health care, but a major portion of it could be in the Military personnel salaries and benefits.

The line item for Veterans Benefits 4.1%
could also just as easily have been a sub-paragraph of the Military budget.

So if you wanted to read it differently, Health Care would be at 19.7% and Nation Defense would be at 35%

When will there be a political party that is fiscally responsible, and how come Democrats are the only ones who even are remotely close to this?

Thanks George Bush! You gave the gift that keeps on taking with no benefit to anyone except dishonest bastards. $285 Billion = amount of money I want back that Republicans spent on proven to be fake technology.

George W. Bush (R), served 2001–2009 [His legacy for fraud and dishonesty are still with us!]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/us/politics/20data.html?pagewanted=1&_r=4
Fiscal responsibility starts with Republicans, NOT!

Description of the software after the sales pitch:
"The software so excited C.I.A. officials that, for a few months at least, it was considered “the most important, most sensitive” intelligence tool the agency had, according to a former agency official"

Starting in 2003 until 2008 we paid an estimated $20 Million to a guy who said this: ‘My technology is real, and it’s worth a fortune' but... it turns out he was a fraud.

'Hints of fraud by Mr. Montgomery, previously raised by Bloomberg Markets and Playboy, provide a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of government contracting. A Pentagon study in January found that it had paid $285 billion in three years to more than 120 contractors accused of fraud or wrongdoing.'
The article goes on to explain that the French Government confirmed the same thing, which the CIA eventually confirmed in 2003 (but they didnt do anything about it), and the FBI confirmed in 2009.

Trust

Ultimately I guess it is about trust.

I dont trust used care salesman.

I dont trust any TV in America.

When every news show reports the same story and the story is false. Then trust is eroded. Again and again? The trust is gone.

EX:
2 Democrats leave office. Fox, Reuters, and blatantly "republican" shows report the rats are leaving the ship. This is how the story is spun.
FACT:
14 GOP incumbents have decided not to seek re-election
10 Democratic incumbents have made the same announcement

Conclusion: Trust gone.

I wish I could say that a democrat represents my views, but unfortunately even the democrate in office is a far cry from the caliber of person I would like. I'd like a real replublican in office. One that represents the people by cutting government. Cutting the defense industry by staying local, etc. AND cutting any porkbelly projects that give taxpayer money to corporations outright.

source for the real facts:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/021783.php

on page 3 of google. It is a shame on the human race that there is such little inability to see past spin.

Cencus

census article. it basically says what everyone knows:
Bush reduced every aspect of the american way of life by 20%+ (average pay, kids in poverty, americans with healthcare, etc.)
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/09/closing_the_book_on_the_bush_legacy.php

E: Good post on an economist article

http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=7933596&story_id=13062613&source=most_commented
The article reports that 50% of the USA does not believe in evolution. Of all the countries listed, the US is on the bottom of the list, next to Turkey. Very fitting.

I put this article with Republicans, since the party ties itself heavily to Christianity. One day I hope Christians will start to think for themselves, but that concept kind of goes against the foundation of most religions. Independent thought is the opposite of Religion.

Frightening to know that one the most powerful countries in the world (the US) have more than 50% of its population believing that Evolution is false. Evolution, the theory that is supported by such a weight of evidence, is false. Meanwhile... religion... which in many cases, refuses to even try and provide any evidence (the "faith" clause... if you doubt you are an unbeliever and unworthy), gets a strong following. I find it ironic that the country who for all intensive purposes, is leading the war against religious extremists, is actually providing the perfect breeding ground for them. Believe what it says in books written thousands of years ago... forget logical decisions, it's all written down here for you. Let's not forget... Christians can be extremists too. Let's just hope that as the world grows older, we can ween ourselves away from the fantasy that is religion and stick to the facts.