[Greapyjeory]

You mean that it took Harrisburg so long to make the cuts? Go Corbett.

The gas tax cuts or the education funding cuts?

[Jalieteplalry]

You mean that it took Harrisburg so long to make the cuts? Go Corbett.

Yes,He`s cutting education because he cares about the future of our children.Try to figure that one out if you will. If he wasn`t giving away our gas perhaps the cuts wouldn`t be necessary. We`re the only state that`s giving these drillers a free ride and that`s what you get when you buy a politician.

[JulieSmithXIV]

when something breaks in America, we dont fix it. Go to walmart and get a new one.

its cheap.

[Blacksheepaalredy]

No idea, not interested, not concerned.

Actually the government already proposed a plan :
- reform the tax code
- reform Social Security
- reform health care (or fix)
The first one is said to be at work, the third one... well... and nobody dares touch the second. But all in all here it is, the priorities of all priorities (budget aside), I was just surprised that only one person mentioned those, and actually merely Social Security.
EDIT : Which made me forget, maybe the priority, for the government, would be restoring trust.

[PriernPayorse]

The gas tax cuts or the education funding cuts?

There were no gas tax cuts. Corbett is keeping the same tax policy established by the Rendell administration.

[Greapyjeory]

There were no gas tax cuts. Corbett is keeping the same tax policy established by the Rendell administration.

It sounds like Pennsylvania handles its gas industry the way that NC handles its pig farmers and road construction companies....

[PriernPayorse]

Yes,He`s cutting education because he cares about the future of our children.Try to figure that one out if you will. If he wasn`t giving away our gas perhaps the cuts wouldn`t be necessary. We`re the only state that`s giving these drillers a free ride and that`s what you get when you buy a politician.

That's true, certainly balancing the budget shows he cares about the future of the children, along with the rest of the state's residents. There is no way to raise enough in taxes from Marcellus Shale to balance the budget.

Who were the drillers supposed to have bought? Corbett? Rendell?

[Jalieteplalry]

There were no gas tax cuts. Corbett is keeping the same tax policy established by the Rendell administration.

Rendell tried to tax them but he was an outgoing lame duck as the drillers were coming into the state to buy themselves a governor. Let`s not twist the facts here. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell wants a moratorium and a new tax related to Marcellus Shale drilling | lehighvalleylive.com

[PriernPayorse]

Rendell tried to tax them but he was an outgoing lame duck as the drillers were coming into the state to buy themselves a governor. Let`s not twist the facts here. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell wants a moratorium and a new tax related to Marcellus Shale drilling | lehighvalleylive.com

No twisting here, Rendell was the one who ended the tax talks without a tax.

[sleepergun]

The newly elected governor of Pa. received nearly $900,000 from the natural gas drilling interests while the losing candidate received about $90,000. Pennsylvania is now the only state where the gas drillers pay no tax. Zero. The new gov just slashed education funding in his new budget. What`s wrong with this picture?

If they hadn't been able to give him campaign money, they just would have run their own campaign to support him. If you were able to squelch their campaign ads, they'd just send newsletters to their employees explaining which guy was better for their jobs.

[Quonuttott]

Get rid of reality and gossip TV shows and have only educational (but still entertaining) TV. That would either make people get up off their asses and do something in the community, or at least they'd be getting smarter while sitting on their asses.

Basically, making Americans smarter would be the one thing I would fix. All in all, they seem to have a ton of misconceptions or are just plain dumb.

[Jalieteplalry]

No twisting here, Rendell was the one who ended the tax talks without a tax.

You didn`t read the posted article or you would know why the talks were ended.Such dishonesty.

[Mugflefusysef]

Considering politcs nowadays...

If you could change one thing about America, what would it be?

Some things you may want to consider:
- the economy
- corruption in business
- the wars in the Middle East
- how Americans treat one another
- political divisiveness
- issues related to global warming
or any other issue you think is most important.

Your response can be short or long, developed paragraphs or lists,
anything as long as it is reasonable and well thought out.
Respond on the thread or send as a private message if you'd prefer.

P.S. This is for my Senior Project, I'm exploring the different ideas citizens have, instead of going only off those that politicians present to us.

Any reply is greatly appreciated!

I would want this Nation to create and stick to long term plans in regards to energy, making this economy work for the maximum number of citizens, and foreign policy. We are weaker because we lack all of these.

[Abnorttrano]

I would want the USA to live by its constitution as the founders intended it.

[Jalieteplalry]

If they hadn't been able to give him campaign money, they just would have run their own campaign to support him. If you were able to squelch their campaign ads, they'd just send newsletters to their employees explaining which guy was better for their jobs.

At the time,the drilling was just getting underway and the drillers had very few eligible voters on their payroll as most of the employees were from out of state. The governor doesn`t have a lot of support from his own party on this issue as they too recognize that this is nice windfall for Pa. being squandered because of legal bribery.

[PriernPayorse]

You didn`t read the posted article or you would know why the talks were ended.Such dishonesty.

I read it. I know the excuses Rendell gave for not passing a tax. The Marcellus Shale formation was known since at least 1836. The current drilling techniques were in use since 1947. Rendell had a few years to pass a tax on the gas that's being pumped out. If he was serious about passing a tax, he'd have done it.

At least we agree on Fast Eddy, such dishonesty;

News 8 Follows Oil Money All The Way To Harrisburg


Current Governor Ed Rendell: In Bed With the Natural Gas Industry

[Jalieteplalry]

I read it. I know the excuses Rendell gave for not passing a tax. The Marcellus Shale formation was known since at least 1836. The current drilling techniques were in use since 1947. Rendell had a few years to pass a tax on the gas that's being pumped out. If he was serious about passing a tax, he'd have done it.

At least we agree on Fast Eddy, such dishonesty;

News 8 Follows Oil Money All The Way To Harrisburg


Current Governor Ed Rendell: In Bed With the Natural Gas Industry

Yup. Rendell and Onorato took nickels and dimes from the gas industry but there wasn`t much point in him pushing for a tax when drilling hadn`t begun in earnest and before we realized the damage this industry is causing.

[katespepach]

1. Get rid of the two party system. That has done a lot more harm than good and only tears the nation apart.

2. Stop the corporations from running the government.

3. Stop the government from spending moneyh it doesn't have. That's what's causing the deficit. Nobody else can spend money they don't have why should the government, a government for the people and b the people and not just an elite few, have special privaleges the people don't have.

[no02rSx2]

No raises for any federal employees, including politicians until we aren't running a deficit.

Three terms in federal office for a lifetime limit regardless of position.
Prez still gets 2. Yes, we'll have less experienced thieves and liars in office.

No public space or funds used to support political parties directly. Primary polling for parties to choose their candidates may not be held where elections are held. The business of parties is not the business of the government and the people.

Those active in party politics may not serve as poll workers or election officials.

Lobbyists go away; individuals must donate funds directly to a politicians campaign fund.

A few current ideas, I'm sure I could change my mind.

[PriernPayorse]

Yup. Rendell and Onorato took nickels and dimes from the gas industry but there wasn`t much point in him pushing for a tax when drilling hadn`t begun in earnest and before we realized the damage this industry is causing.

Drilling hasn't significantly increased in the couple months since Rendell left office. In fact, I seriously doubt it's increased at all.