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cleanhippie

(19,705 posts)
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 10:09 AM Jul 2012

Wait, WHAT???!!!??? Fox News says "Obama's right. Americans can't succeed without government"

My mind is totally blown!

Obama's right, Americans can't succeed without government

My grandfather was a small business entrepreneur. He owned a clothing store in Penns Grove, New Jersey, and families came from across the southern part of the state to get slacks and blouses and jumpers for their kids. My grandfather employed two people who earned decent, middle class wages and made a good living for himself, probably upper middle class for that region.

And good for him. He worked hard and earned it.

But there were things that helped my grandfather’s business that he didn’t have to pay for. The roads trucks drove on to bring him products to sell. The court system that incorporated his business and protected the patents of what he sold. The police force that made it safe for people to shop there. The public schools that taught his employees how to read and do math, so my grandfather didn’t have to teach them. Make no mistake about it — my grandfather succeeded because of his hard work and initiative. But government played a supporting role.

By grandfather was not rich, certainly not by today’s standards. But when Ronald Reagan was president, my grandfather paid almost 50% of his income in taxes to help make sure that good public schools and safe streets and the things we all need to succeed in America would be available for the next generation. Today, hedge fund managers and big business CEOs pay lower tax rates than middle class families. In fact, the tax rate for the very wealthy is the lowest it’s been in over 60 years

--snip--

My grandfather built his business with his own two hands, ran it every day, paid far more than his due of taxes and never complained. He would be appalled that big business CEOs today aren’t paying near their fair share.

We should all be appalled.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/17/obama-right-americans-cant-succeed-without-government/?intcmp=obinsite#ixzz21vUZDfL5



38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Wait, WHAT???!!!??? Fox News says "Obama's right. Americans can't succeed without government" (Original Post) cleanhippie Jul 2012 OP
WTF? wolfgirl Jul 2012 #1
Somebody's going to have to answr for this outrage! rfranklin Jul 2012 #2
The author is not your typical right wing nut job. nt Tennessee Gal Jul 2012 #3
Oh she most certainly is not. nc4bo Jul 2012 #8
You are so correct riverbendviewgal Jul 2012 #12
Wait, my eyes must be deceiving me.... turtlerescue1 Jul 2012 #4
Quick! Save a copy. That link probably won't last long BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #5
It's a new day. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #6
Alllright, what's the setup here? NBachers Jul 2012 #7
Sally is their authentic token liberal. She describes herself as... OneGrassRoot Jul 2012 #9
Thanks chiming in Onegrassroot. I was finding myself liking her by what I was reading nc4bo Jul 2012 #11
but then how can she work for fox? barbtries Jul 2012 #30
I'm not sure exactly how, or why, she does it. OneGrassRoot Jul 2012 #35
good on her and good on Fox for cracking open the door magical thyme Jul 2012 #37
Where's the, "but...." or the "however..."? Frustratedlady Jul 2012 #10
This is the perfect link... Blanks Jul 2012 #13
re: Wait, WHAT???!!!??? Fox News says "Obama's right. Americans can't succeed without government" allan01 Jul 2012 #14
Hoover Dam government project made possible and created Las Vegas vinny9698 Jul 2012 #15
+1 freshwest Jul 2012 #28
oops, first Shep Smith and now this Sally woman mountain grammy Jul 2012 #16
Someone at Fox can tell the truth! evilhime Jul 2012 #17
Leave it to Fox - no such thing as a self-made success. Zax2me Jul 2012 #18
You see, that's not a helpful assertion. Igel Jul 2012 #25
Wow. Maybe all those Republican sexual predators crim son Jul 2012 #19
Maybe they are trying to give Rmoney a clue quaker bill Jul 2012 #20
whoa... she'll be banned from Faux News soon lol nt steve2470 Jul 2012 #21
It's DEFINITELY going to be a brokered GOP convention. nt valerief Jul 2012 #22
Hell Hath Frozen And The Pigs Have Flown. stlsaxman Jul 2012 #23
This is some kind of ploy! KansDem Jul 2012 #24
That's what I keep thinking laundry_queen Jul 2012 #26
A reality-based piece at Fox? In unrelated news, Cats and Dogs living together, story at 11... freshwest Jul 2012 #27
I believe Murdoch secretly wants Obama to win AnnieK401 Jul 2012 #29
well it WAS Murdoch's paper in the UK that headlined "Mitt the Twit" n/t progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #33
The Peasants Are Revolting! AnnieBW Jul 2012 #31
I'll take it where I can get it, and if Fox news says something intelligent, I won't quibble. progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #32
I'm having a rough time.. RedCappedBandit Jul 2012 #34
how did they let that on their site? Danmel Jul 2012 #36
Fox is repositioning for the inevitable Obama second term marble falls Jul 2012 #38

nc4bo

(17,651 posts)
8. Oh she most certainly is not.
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:09 AM
Jul 2012
http://sallykohn.com/speaking/

Hmmm.....and she is openly gay and outspoken about many, many issues that are opposite of typical Faux Noise.

Wow - I can't get over that she's works for Fox News in any capacity.

riverbendviewgal

(4,251 posts)
12. You are so correct
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:32 AM
Jul 2012

I almost typed "right"..

She is definately Fox's left leaning journalist...one of only a few.

turtlerescue1

(1,013 posts)
4. Wait, my eyes must be deceiving me....
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 10:16 AM
Jul 2012

That will wake up a person on a Saturday morning.
Thanks, I think, cleanhippie.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
9. Sally is their authentic token liberal. She describes herself as...
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:12 AM
Jul 2012

a cross between Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart.

Love her.

http://sallykohn.com/

nc4bo

(17,651 posts)
11. Thanks chiming in Onegrassroot. I was finding myself liking her by what I was reading
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:19 AM
Jul 2012

but know there are many people who are alot more familiar with her than I.

barbtries

(28,702 posts)
30. but then how can she work for fox?
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 05:50 PM
Jul 2012

there's some kind of disconnect there...i don't think i could stomach working for that organization. though i'm sure she'd say she's working on them from the inside or something. oh well.
i did not click the link. are there comments? i bet those would be interesting.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
35. I'm not sure exactly how, or why, she does it.
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:00 AM
Jul 2012

I've followed her for a while, as she's grown in popularity and exposure. She connected with Fox at Occupy New York protests, hounding them to show an opposing view, articulating the progressive viewpoint. Not in a professional way but just a "gal on the street" kind of way. That somehow turned into an invitation to work for Fox.

I don't know that I could do it, that's for sure.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
37. good on her and good on Fox for cracking open the door
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:22 AM
Jul 2012

to their vapid minds. Plenty of space for her to infiltrate in there. Wish I had the hutzpa, smartz and drive.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
10. Where's the, "but...." or the "however..."?
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:15 AM
Jul 2012

That was an excellent article. Maybe we should flood the site (won't mention the name of the news organization) with letters of praise?

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
13. This is the perfect link...
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:33 AM
Jul 2012

...for all the little Facebook posts that misrepresent what Obama said.

Good find.

allan01

(1,950 posts)
14. re: Wait, WHAT???!!!??? Fox News says "Obama's right. Americans can't succeed without government"
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:50 AM
Jul 2012

i just posted this on my fb. i normaly hate fb. but lately a lot of good stuff &quot

vinny9698

(1,016 posts)
15. Hoover Dam government project made possible and created Las Vegas
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:53 AM
Jul 2012

If it wasn't for Hoover Dam, Las Vegas would just be a small town in the desert. The workers would go down to Las Vegas to gamble, drink, and hook up with hookers. The government sponsored housing did not allow those activities so workers went to Vegas.
Without the cheap hydroelectric power and Lake Meade, where would Las Vegas be today?
All because of a government project.

mountain grammy

(26,569 posts)
16. oops, first Shep Smith and now this Sally woman
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 12:01 PM
Jul 2012

Ailes must be choking.. maybe he's dying. Maybe the Mayans were right (correct.) Articulate too! Don't know whether to be happy or cynical. You're killing me, fox!

evilhime

(326 posts)
17. Someone at Fox can tell the truth!
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 12:08 PM
Jul 2012

My father used to say he was fine paying taxes since it meant he was making money . . . too bad a lot of the so-called entrepreneurs don't feel that way today. I also feel that many of the worst offenders, the CEOs of big business and banks today are mostly hired guns not the ones who created what they are now profiting outrageously from running.

Igel

(35,193 posts)
25. You see, that's not a helpful assertion.
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 02:42 PM
Jul 2012

If they're not self-made then they're other-made. Let's not quibble over the forced choice just yet.

That means they aren't responsible for their success. They have no right to their success. Those who made it, own it. That's us. They're just squatters.

Of course nobody means that. Until you look around, then it's obvious that's just what they mean. If everybody gets roughly equivalent government support and some do a lot better, that "a lot better" is what they mean by "self-made." They did something most others don't. That "something" is crucial. If you both start at the same place, the person who did nothing or little with what they were given, well, that's possibly luck, but usually it's a lot more than luck.

That's what I tell my kids. Yeah, luck happens, but not consistently and unless you're on your game it does nothing for you. When a kid does well in class, I don't pat myself on the back. The kid did the work. Self-congratution is self-condemnatino myself: Why didn't all 30 of them do well?

The other kids try to drag the high-achiever down: "You're just smart! You're lucky! The teacher likes you!" They're justifications for mediocrity: avoiding effort, consequences of choices, and being generally resentful about having to set foot in my room. Yeah, that high achiever didn't do it on her own--but you other 29, you got all the same help. What's your excuse? Bad genetics? Bad luck? I'm out to get you?

crim son

(27,462 posts)
19. Wow. Maybe all those Republican sexual predators
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 12:18 PM
Jul 2012

really were mislabeled as Dems by mistake! Because this opinion was surely published in error. Heh.

quaker bill

(8,223 posts)
20. Maybe they are trying to give Rmoney a clue
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 12:38 PM
Jul 2012

Or perhaps they have decided that this line is working with their viewers. Back in the day, and not so long a go really, working hard and honestly paying your taxes was the conservative and patriotic thing to do. It was all about supporting your country. You only have to go back to my parent's and grandparent's generations. They felt pretty strongly that people working gimmicks to get out of their tax liability were immoral, just like folks who cheated on ration tickets....

laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)
26. That's what I keep thinking
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 03:14 PM
Jul 2012

WHY are they doing this? They must have some kind of plan....it's a set up.

progressivebydesign

(19,458 posts)
32. I'll take it where I can get it, and if Fox news says something intelligent, I won't quibble.
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 10:10 PM
Jul 2012

but they're right. Success does not exist in a vacuum. Even dumbass Romney had all kinds of help from his church, his family, tax breaks, the Cayman Islands, and his accountants.

RedCappedBandit

(5,514 posts)
34. I'm having a rough time..
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 12:42 AM
Jul 2012

coming to terms with the fact that I just linked to a fox news article on my FB. lol

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