lsbskins for President! Vote now!

[lsbskins1]

Here is your chance! Prove whether or not brutal honesty will win an election.

I would raise taxes on those making more than 250,000.00 a year, but there would be a sliding scale even for those. I would raise the tax rates on capitol gains, because that is where the real meat of the wealth is in this country. I would stop spending money on useless, expensive weapons systems but still invest in rational R&D for the military so that when we perfect something useful, we can THEN deploy it. I would never attempt to start an off budget war. If military intervention is necessary, the taxes to fund that intervention are necessary. I would increase the income ceiling for SS tax deductions, so that it reflects current income averages and not those from, say, 1950. I would raise the retirement age, since people live longer and stay healthier longer than they did in 1936. That age would be the age when you can get both Medicare and SS. If I had a magic wand, I would make health care universal/single payer and move everyone into the same system and take Medicare and Medicaid off of the books as separate entities. I would stop wasting money on useless Border Security measures and instead, enact steep penalties for those who hire undocumented workers. That is you I'm talking to construction, hotel and food industries. Want more clarification, ask me. Some issue that matters to you I haven't addressed, ask me. Then vote. Bet I lose. I have pissed off both conservatives (raising taxes, universal health care) and progressives (I don't hate the military, I raised the retirement age).

[crimethinker]

It depends on the opposition. Among the large players in politics right now, I'd probably vote for you - but, someone like Bernie Sanders? Anyway, he'll never be viable, so in this hypothetical I'd say you.

[Charlatan]

Here is your chance! Prove whether or not brutal honesty will win an election.

I would raise taxes on those making more than 250,000.00 a year, but there would be a sliding scale even for those. I would raise the tax rates on capitol gains, because that is where the real meat of the wealth is in this country. I would stop spending money on useless, expensive weapons systems but still invest in rational R&D for the military so that when we perfect something useful, we can THEN deploy it. I would never attempt to start an off budget war. If military intervention is necessary, the taxes to fund that intervention are necessary. I would increase the income ceiling for SS tax deductions, so that it reflects current income averages and not those from, say, 1950. I would raise the retirement age, since people live longer and stay healthier longer than they did in 1936. That age would be the age when you can get both Medicare and SS. If I had a magic wand, I would make health care universal/single payer and move everyone into the same system and take Medicare and Medicaid off of the books as separate entities. I would stop wasting money on useless Border Security measures and instead, enact steep penalties for those who hire undocumented workers. That is you I'm talking to construction, hotel and food industries. Want more clarification, ask me. Some issue that matters to you I haven't addressed, ask me. Then vote. Bet I lose. I have pissed off both conservatives (raising taxes, universal health care) and progressives (I don't hate the military, I raised the retirement age).

When does your campaign hit the news?

[Darklordabc]

What your policy on Iran?

[Peter]

You've got my full support so far. What would you do about the "War on Drugs"?

[lsbskins1]

What your policy on Iran?

My policy on Iran is that despite what some believe, they are governed by rational actors. Rational actors who have interests in opposition to ours, but rational none-the-less. Getting too heavily involved in their domestic politics would be absolutely counter productive, but we should use all means available to us to enhance the ability of the secular and rational majority of its citizens to grow in political strength and exert all rational means to thwart their nuclear ambitions. We don't need to saber rattle. We surly have no need for immediate military intervention. Diplomacy and working with others to "carrot and stick" them through economic pressure and other measures.

[lsbskins1]

You've got my full support so far. What would you do about the "War on Drugs"?

Basically end it as it exists. It isn't a criminal problem, it is a social/medical problem that responds better to rational medical intervention than criminal penalties. I would tax the shit out of marijuana sales, and pay more attention to prescription drug abuse, but not to the addicts, but rather to the prevailing attitude that profits matter more than health. If I ran the world, there would be way fewer drug crimes and more room in prisons for the actual violent offenders.

[Peter]

Basically end it as it exists. It isn't a criminal problem, it is a social/medical problem that responds better to rational medical intervention than criminal penalties. I would tax the shit out of marijuana sales, and pay more attention to prescription drug abuse, but not to the addicts, but rather to the prevailing attitude that profits matter more than health. If I ran the world, there would be way fewer drug crimes and more room in prisons for the actual violent offenders.

That settles it, you've got my vote.

[Darklordabc]

My policy on Iran is that despite what some believe, they are governed by rational actors. Rational actors who have interests in opposition to ours, but rational none-the-less. Getting too heavily involved in their domestic politics would be absolutely counter productive, but we should use all means available to us to enhance the ability of the secular and rational majority of its citizens to grow in political strength and exert all rational means to thwart their nuclear ambitions. We don't need to saber rattle. We surly have no need for immediate military intervention. Diplomacy and working with others to "carrot and stick" them through economic pressure and other measures.

And if the carrot and stick does not work, and they are about to reach nuclear weapons? Will you attack them then? If you want my vote, I need to hear that you will not allow Iran to get nukes, no matter what.

[lsbskins1]

And if the carrot and stick does not work, and they are about to reach nuclear weapons? Will you attack them then? If you want my vote, I need to hear that you will not allow Iran to get nukes, no matter what.

If you define nukes as any nuclear ability (having a reactor that produces power but no weapons grade material) as having nukes, your vote will belong to another. If there is real and viable evidence that they are developing nuclear weapons capability, I would not be willing to say never to an attack, but it is not something that I would do lightly, nor would I act unilaterally.

[Darklordabc]

If there is real and viable evidence that they are developing nuclear weapons capability, I would not be willing to say never to an attack, but it is not something that I would do lightly, nor would I act unilaterally.

Thats not affirming enough. Multilateral action should not be necessary, its good, but it shouldn't be a condition on any important security issues. Iran is the biggest threat since WW2, I need a little more reassurance that you will not be this century's Neville Chamberlain. You do not have my vote.

[The Decider]

And if the carrot and stick does not work, and they are about to reach nuclear weapons? Will you attack them then? If you want my vote, I need to hear that you will not allow Iran to get nukes, no matter what.

America in a lsbskins1 administration, as I understand it, will not shed another drop of American blood in an unprovoked off-budget foreign misadventure. Nuclear Iran included. Your vote is not needed.