Open Thread Wednesday 11/5/08

By on November 5, 2008 2:10 am in Brooklyn Heights

Flickr photo by aprilzosia

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

Share this Story:

,

← 
Newer Comments  →
  • http://BrooklynHeightsBlog Bonnie Burke

    Re: Communty support for employees of Key Food
    Look for an article on this subject on this blog coming up — possibly Thursday.

    Keep the faith!

  • North Heights resident

    Anyone else stupid with fatigue this morning after being awakened–and kept awake–by the Clark Street mob last night?

    Yes, let’s definitely bring another dorm to the neighborhood. That would be great. Not a single person there to talk to about the disruptive behavior or take responsibility for the screaming, stopping traffic, etc.

    Great.

  • Jazz

    Yeah youthful excitement over history being made is like that. We wouldn’t want that to happen ever again, let them go back to being indifferent. North Heights, you are a tool.

  • AEB

    A happy day for ALL Americans.

    Finally, the leader we desrve at a time when we most long to be justly led.

    Let us hope Obama’s election can be seen by all sides as a bid for transcendence of the old rancorous divisions.

    His ascendancy is about nothing if not about that.

  • jen

    i wish i’d walked up there! clinton hill had a party in the street – nearly everyone here was in bed, darn it.

  • HDEB

    I was disappointed no one was setting off fireworks when the news of Obama’s win came in just after 11:00. Last nights win called for raucous celebration :-)

  • Anonymous

    North Heights resident: Get over it. This was a one time thing of historic proportions. We all were young once and did similar stupid things. I live in the area as well and did not vote for Obama and I was fine with it.

  • North Hieghts Fan

    Most people who pay taxes and are going to get slammed by the new tax plans aren’t partying and screaming at 11 pm on a Tuesday night.

    Still I am happy to work and pay more than my share of federal, state, city, medicare, & social security taxes to subsidize everyone else’s celebration. I would have at least appreciated a thank you.

  • AEB

    Thank you, North Heights Fan.

    There–feel less bitter?

    Why is it so hard for some people to recognize the idea of the common good, and the vital need to protect the reality it stands for?

  • Jazz

    NHF – I’d rather my tax dollars (and chances are very good my taxes are much, much higher than yours) go to helping people, providing health care and NOT invading the wrong countries and fighting the wrong wars. Neo-cons have had their shot. They’ve tried their hardest to ruin this country under the guise of patriotism for 28 years. Reality, humanity and destiny have caught up with them and the next 8 years will be the greatest in American History. Whether you’re on the bus or not, don’t fall for the old tactics of division and diversion that have made us all victims of the cynics, criminals and hypocrites who have held the reigns for far too long.

  • North Heights Fan

    I apologize for the typo – at times i feel like i am dyslexic.

    Thanks for the thanks!

    “Why is it so hard for some people to recognize the idea of the common good, and the vital need to protect the reality it stands for?”
    This is complete nonsense — honestly please tell me what it means in your own words, not some regurgitation of something you heard a liberal talking head spout off about.

    In the meantime, I’ll keep working and paying taxes and supporting the common good. I’ll have my social security taxes raised, although I am not getting any more benefits, and I’ll have my income tax go because I am “rich” according to some Obama formula. Meanwhile, I live in 500 sq feet on a ground level apartment.

    You keep postulating and theorizing and finding more ways to waste my money. Its going to be a fun four years, productivity will scream!

    Thanks!

  • North Heights Fan

    @jazz

    I am happy that you can afford to pay more taxes. God bless you. I can’t afford it. That’s sort-of the point of my rant.
    Ok, stepping off my soap box — thanks for letting me vent.

  • Jazz

    NHF – I hear that there’s cheap living in the Eastern Bloc. We can hold a bake sale to buy you a one way ticket.

  • Jazz

    Oh and NHF, Obama is not raising your taxes if you make less than $250k. So if you’re hitting hard times on that, perhaps we should pitch in and get you an abacus.

  • North Heights Fan

    social security tax caps are going to be repealed under your buddy dude. that’s called a tax increase, and I don’t make 250k.

  • TK Small

    Oh great! Four more years of partisan bickering. I do not think that this is what either Obama or McCain stood for.

  • Mot

    North Heights… educate yourself please.

    http://www.barackobama.com/taxes/

    Thanks!

  • AEB

    NHF, the liberal whose phrase I used is me, myself (and I).

    But to indulge you, the common good, as I understand it, concerns the notion that communal life is a good thing in itself and that our actions should contribute positively to (protect) that life.

    The idea assumes that the interlocking relationships that constitute any society are “basic,” and that compassion for all others–especially the vulnerable–is necessary for the good of all.

    Practically put, ya gotta give (sometimes a little more) to get–to ensure the well being of all. For example, a society in which some have access to affordable health care but others do not is one that’s nibbling–more than nibbling–on its own tail.

    My financial situation is no better than yours, I’ll wager, but I don’t begrudge doing my bit (he said, however smug or self-righteous that may sound).

    OK, I’ll get off MY soapbox now.

  • jen

    a seven year old friend of mine said Obama was going to get rid of Halloween and also take all your clothes. did you tell her that, NHF?

    i jest, i jest!

  • North Heights Fan

    @ Jen –ha ha!
    You guys won anyway, so I have to grin and bear it!
    Let’s hope it works out for all of us.

  • Jen

    I’m desperately looking for a copy of today’s NYTimes and every place in the neighborhood is sold out. Does anyone know where to get the paper? My newsstand (Clark & Henry) said he’s not getting any more papers delivered today.

  • No One Of Consequence

    Communism worked well for the Soviets, didn’t it?
    And we only spent 50(?) some years combating its spread.
    Let’s see what happens and hope for the best.

  • AEB

    Oh, please, NO ONE. McCarthy-era dreck, if I may say so.

  • AEB

    Jen, not exactly the answer you crave, but the paper’s all online at nytimes.com.

  • Jen

    Yeah, I’ve been reading it online. I feel like I need a physical copy as well to commemorate today.

  • No One Of Consequence

    I just worry that these ideas of redistributing the wealth, etc. open as many opportunities for abuse as for assistance. I think that the American tendency will remain “me first” and handouts will be gobbled up by lazy hoards.
    Ever go to Costco at lunchtime? Freeloaders line up for the food samples on schedule and I suspect that most have zero intentions of purchasing the sampled product. Rather, they seem to find it a worthwhile investment of their time to stand in line, wait for the food to be ready and then greedily move on to the next station for the next bite-sized morsel.
    Why wouldn’t this same mentality carry-over to larger scale programs?

  • AEB

    No One, how ’bout, they’re hungry? Or they welcome free food?

    That’s what it’s there for, isn’t it? To be eaten without charge by whomever wants it.

    Jeeze!

  • Jazz

    There already is redistribution of wealth in this country. It’s called Columbia Heights.

  • MadeInBrooklyn

    Come gather ’round people
    Wherever you roam
    And admit that the waters
    Around you have grown
    And accept it that soon
    You’ll be drenched to the bone.
    If your time to you
    Is worth savin’
    Then you better start swimmin’
    Or you’ll sink like a stone
    For the times they are a-changin’.

    Come writers and critics
    Who prophesize with your pen
    And keep your eyes wide
    The chance won’t come again
    And don’t speak too soon
    For the wheel’s still in spin
    And there’s no tellin’ who
    That it’s namin’.
    For the loser now
    Will be later to win
    For the times they are a-changin’.

    Come senators, congressmen
    Please heed the call
    Don’t stand in the doorway
    Don’t block up the hall
    For he that gets hurt
    Will be he who has stalled
    There’s a battle outside
    And it is ragin’.
    It’ll soon shake your windows
    And rattle your walls
    For the times they are a-changin’.

    Come mothers and fathers
    Throughout the land
    And don’t criticize
    What you can’t understand
    Your sons and your daughters
    Are beyond your command
    Your old road is
    Rapidly agin’.
    Please get out of the new one
    If you can’t lend your hand
    For the times they are a-changin’.

    The line it is drawn
    The curse it is cast
    The slow one now
    Will later be fast
    As the present now
    Will later be past
    The order is
    Rapidly fadin’.
    And the first one now
    Will later be last
    For the times they are a-changin’.

  • Mike

    Mot, Obama’s tax plan also relies on Windfall Profits taxes from oil companies to offset some of his spending initiatives. With oil at $65 per barrel, that doesnt seem to be a viable source of income any longer.

    I fully understand that BO has said that he will not be raising taxes for those who make under $250k, but I think you should take a quick look at how he is planning on paying for a lot of his spending initiatives. A lot of his campaign’s projections were just that, projections. I am willing to wager that with a Democratic controlled congress, senate and president, we are not going to see anything other than increased spending.

    The money has to come from somewhere, and we cant really borrow it from China anymore.

    @Jazz – I agree with some basic redistribution of wealth, but the government is so poorly run (both Dem and Rep) and corrupt that there is no redistribution of wealth. The only people that see that redistribution are politicians, lobbiests, and special interests.

←  
Newer Comments  →