Do you have any that aren't, like, 50 years ago? Anything recently? Plan D doesn't count because of, you know, donut holes and no government negotiation on pricing.

Anything?

Regarding those manufacturing jobs, yes, we have been losing them (since the 1970's), but the question is, which president will get them back, one like McCain who promises to reduce taxes and costs on businesses, or one like Obama, who promises to increase taxes and costs on business ? The answer should be obvious. McCain's policies will create jobs. Obama's policies will lose jobs.

And I don't do crack, just cough syrup right now.

This is economically false.

Manufacturing, especially the low end manufacturing that is done in China, captures little of the wealth creation of the product.

That's because the giant share of the profits of a product come from the initial phase of its life cycle –that's called the design phase, Big Mac — and then in the sales, distribution, and servicing of the product.

Many economists make a strong case that the size of the U.S. economy is far greater by this outsourcing of low-end manufacture to China and elsewhere than if we keep that work here.

These economist argure — and with a good bit of merit — that the loss of low end manufacturing by this outsourcing has more than been made up by increase number of jobs in design, sales, marketing, advertising, and servicing.

And as if to conform his economic ignorance, Big Mac says, "My personal solution would be a tax on all items not manufactured in the US of at least 45%. "

This is called a tariff, and such a one as Big Mac just described is what brought on the Great Depression in the 1930s.

What will you do for an encore, Mac, suggest wealth distribution along B. Hussein Obama's socialistic model?

Are you on crack? Yes there were 4 years of growth in corporate profits, Wall Street stocks and CEO compensation. Also in those for years America lost at least 500,000 manufacturing jobs. Because of those losses if America was forced to go to war on a global basis we do not have the manufacturing base to allow us to compete.

Why is China running the world economy? Because they are now the world's manufacturing base not the US. We are the service base for the world. What generates more GNP service or manufacturing? Manufacturing by a 3:1 factor. We need manufacturing and if that means a lower return for the rich so be it. My personal solution would be a tax on all items not manufactured in the US of at least 45%. Force the multi-nationals to bring the jobs back to the US. I don't care if that makes a Camry cost $36,000 and a Malibu only $25,000 we would have more tax revenue, more high paying manufacturing jobs, and more profitable American companies.

Really ? A person such as yourself might consider these following things as "progress" – Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, ended slavery. Richard Nixon started the EPA. Bush started the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. Republicans started the SCHIP program for poor children's health care. A higher percentage of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than did Democrats. The 1960 Civil Rights Act was proposed by a Republican, Everett Dirksen. A number of Democrats actually filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Roaring 20's roared under Republican rule (3% unemployment), and the ensuing Great Depression lasted a decade here under mostly Democratic policies, while it was over in 2 years in the rest of the world. Democrats did start the ponzi scheme scam known as Social Security that keeps people poor and runs up the tab on unfunded liabilities while Congress steals people's trust funds and spends the cash on whatever they like. That is the biggest ripoff of the american people in history. Medicare and SS have us in debt to the tune of $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities and are going to sink this country economically in the very near future. Congressional Republicans brought about welfare reform during the Clinton era, and were also primarily responsible for balancing the federal budget in the 1990's (with Clinton's at first reluctant help). Desegregation of schools happened under the Republican President Eisenhower, and the Brown v Board of Education opinion was written by a Republican judge. The Cold War was won under Republican President Reagan. Republicans led the fight for women's voting rights and passed the Women's Suffrage Amendment. Democrats opposed it. A Republican placed the first woman on the Supreme Court. Republicans led the integration of professional sports. Teddy Roosevelt gave us the Food and Drug Act, which led to the FDA. I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the picture.

The Carter years were the last full term of undivided Democratic rule, and they were an unmitigated disaster. Reagan rescued America from that too.

Try reading something other than left-wing propaganda, Rev. You are not well served by it.

Yes, I will surely dispute that. We had 4 straight years of surging economic growth following the Bush tax cuts, until the housing bubble burst. The housing bubble was separate from the the tax cuts. The tax cuts, isolated unto themselves, definitely helped our economy. It's just that they aren't the ONLY factor in our economy. You are attempting to conflate different economic factors into one.

Also, if you don't think Bush's tax cuts for the middle class helped the middle class, why are you trumpeting the Obama line that his LESSER tax cuts for the middle class will help ? You are saying yourself that they won't work. You're talking out both sides of your mouth.

Nice try, Rev, but West's husband worked for both the GOP and the Democrats in the past, and it was years ago. Barbara West also asked John McCain the same types of tough questions she asked Biden, as a good journalist should. The difference is, McCain didn't throw a fit and act like he was too superior to be asked basic questions.

I do agree with you about Bush cutting taxes and jacking up spending at the same time, though. That was deeply irresponsible, and Obama is going to continue the trend of deficit spending by all indications and his own words, also deeply irresponsible.

Wrong. Obama's tax vs. spending plans don't do anything but increase the deficit, which btw, will be an estimated $1 trillion next year with the Democratic congress, more than doubling this year's record deficit under a Democratic congress. Obama himself has said balancing the budget is not a priority for him, because there are too many things he wants to "invest" in. McCain is the one who is pledging to decrease federal spending and balance the budget.

Obama will have a solid Dem majority, roy, and as the Pilot said….it's only when Dems have solid majorities and the presidency that any progress is made in America.

Sit back in your Laz-e-Boy and enjoy the progress.

So Do you Think:

1. If Congress repeals the Bush Tax cuts and institutes an across the board tax increase, Obama will veto it?

2. If congress passes legislation, nationalizing health insurance that Obama will veto it?

3. If congress passes a new "fairness doctrine" effectively ending freedom of the press and speech, Obama will veto it?

4. If congress re-institutes it's ban on offshore drilling, will Obama veto it?

5. If congress passes a carbon tax, will Obama veto it?

6. If congress passes harsh gun control laws or taxes on ammunition, will Obama veto it?

7. If congress passes a bill to eliminate the 401k/Ira tax relief and nationalize 401k Ira plans will Obama veto it?

8. If congress votes to nationalize the oil industry (already proposed) or any industry will Obama veto it?

So what is the answer I see where so many of you think the president has extraordinary powers, so will he exercise them, or will he support any of these?

About the "run everybody…run from the socialist" bull….

Bush-Cheney cut taxes deeply WHILE our nation was a war. Totally unacceptable.

Bush's capital gains tax cuts and dividend tax cuts were STRICTLY for the wealthiest in the country. Want to dispute that?

And most important of all…..all of those tax cuts which allowed millionaires to keep, as King puts it, "more of their own money", kept $90,000 of their own money while middle class folks kept…what?…hundreds.

The problem King's argument has here is monumental….and here's why…

All those Bush tax cuts…and they are historic….did not IN ANY WAY lead to surging economic growth of our nation. Want to dispute that?

Unemeployment is up considerably, so too foreclosures and bankruptcies,…. industrial output, consumer confidence and spending are crashing. If there was ever a national case study on how voodoo supply side economics does not, and I would say cannot, work, it's the last 8 years under Bush-Cheney.

King calls for more of the same and labels a tax increase on the wealthiest while simultaneously cutting taxes on 95% of Americans…..socialism.

The blog emperor….umm…..has no clothes.

You're right.

Furthermore, whatever Europe's standard of living is, it is that high ONLY because the U.S. provides for their national defense since … well, since 1945.

It is that fact which has allowed those European freeloaders to have their quasi-socialistic welfare state with a relatively high standard of living. Without the free ride, European welfare policies would have lead to poverty … and likely enslavement by Russia.

Were you also aware that France had a 10% unemployment rate before this economic downturn started? Or that gasoline is around $9.00 per gallon? Why do you think most European manufacturing jobs are going to Asia and Eastern Europe? And as for all of you fear mongering about social security, George Bush had a republican congress and couldn't get Social Security changed. Are you really that naive to belive a democratic congress would let John McCain change it?

I suggest you take a trip go to one of those socialist countries you fear like Sweden ..ask the people how they are doing ..did you know Norway was ranked #1 best places to live ..I think USA was down below like #11 . This is the rich mans propaganda ..try to scare us on taking on some programs to help the middle class and fear anything that might be sort of resembling socialism . However when we do programs like social security that helps everyone ..we welcome it . Well that's no different than a health care plan that is resonable and affordable for all.
But under Mccain watch your social security go , he will privitize it ..and you knwo where the markets been lately. God forbid later on in life you need to go into a nursing home and hes made cuts and you have to spend all your money on it.

But it is no surprise the Obama/Biden reaction to this interview. The Dims have an aversion to being questioned and they lack tolerance for being criticized.

This is no surprise.

Today’s Dims are more like fascists than they are JFK Democrats. Just listen to B. Hussein Obama’s speeches — he’s a fascist to his rotten core. A case can be made on Biden’s behalf, however, that he’s more stupid than evil but I'm not so sure.