You asked "What are your ideas for improving our country?"

- School Choice in the form of vouchers. If Obama's kid's have a choice of schools to attend, so should everyone.

- Term limits for U.S. Senators and Congressmen/women

- Lower capital gains taxes to encourage investment.

- Lower corporate taxes to encourage businesses to stay or move to the U.S.

- Keep the secret ballot available for employees so that Unions cannot harrass or intimidate people into signing a petition. Unions destroy companies like GM/Ford.

- Taxes - people that actually pay taxes are the only ones that should get a tax cut. Not the 40-45% that don't pay taxes.

- End descrimination in the workplace by ending affirmative action

- Keep the government out of healthcare. The government has shown time and time again that they are totally incompetent at running anything.

- Reduce welfare and foodstamps. Stop providing aide to illegal immigrants.

- Secure the borders NOW! Stop the invasion from Mexico.

immigration reform NOW!

Si se puede!

The Hispanic vote went entirely for Obama, true, but not for free. We have great expectations for the immigration system to be fixed and allow millions to leave the second and third class citizen status in which they find themselves because of a dysfunctional system. Yesterday English, Italians and Irish, now Latinos, Ethiopians and Chinese.

Immigration reform, why? The existing laws are so flaunted that changing them will be meaningless. Enforce existing laws. No more Elvira Arellanos!!

BTW, No se puede!

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I was in Mexico, crossed the border last Friday, used a ladder over the new fence. Si se puede, man!
BTW, Elvira sends her regards, will be meeting Osama soon.

You look fatter....

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

There are many who share your ideas for improvement. Stay aware of what your legislators are promoting in your state and federal government. Demand a transparent government. Know who is supporting your representatives. Get to know your elected officials. If they are not representing you - work within the system to get rid of them. Don't waste valuable energy being negative. People stop listening. Just one thought to share. In California, term limits were implemented. Low and behold - paid staff is running state government because they're the only ones who know what is going on! We need to look at that ‘desire’ (term limits) closely.

I watch our legislators very closely and write them often.

However, I am one of the AMERICANS THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA. I refuse to get behind a person that voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act

I don't see how a person can get up every morning and look themselves in the mirror or expect respect from anyone after voting for something that would save the life of innocent living children.

. . .and that's your right and privilege. Just don't belittle those who disagree with you on some issues. There was no candidate that I felt addressed all of the issues that were important to me. I'm not a 'one issue' voter. I still have problems with leaders who would rather kill innocents in war - than sit down and use diplomacy to solve problems..but I'm definitely in the minority on that one. Have a good day.

Name one U.S. leader that has stated or implied that they wish to kill innocents during war.

The killing of innocents is inevitable in any war. Generals know this. The purpose of war is to kill the enemy. That is taught in all military academies. Innocents die. It's called reciprocal damage.

Reciprocal Damage? Never heard of it.
I've heard of collateral damage, which can be defined as "damage that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome."

War is ugly, and no one likes it or prefers it to peace. However, when you have leaders of certain countries that violate UN security council resolutions (16 of 'em), then it's time to stop negotiating and take action.

From what I just read Obama captured 52.5% of the popular vote, so how did you arrive at your figures?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

My reference to 70% of white voters referred to white Democrat voters. .and the percentage was actually higher.

DEAGGREGATED PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS

I humbly accept your gracious apology, now my only question is why the percentage wasn't higher, any thoughts on that bonk or nit?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Don't add my figures. The black vote is just 11 or 12% of the total vote. My figures came from a combination of CNN/msnbc/fox news reports.

I wasn't adding your figures, I just wondered how with only 52.5 percent of the vote and 90+% of the black vote and the Hispanic vote you arrived at 70% of white people voted for Obama? If this is so who were the people voting 46% for McCain

I yam what I yam....Popeye

10% of the black vote cast
30% of the white vote cast
I did not mention the percentage of Hispanics, women, etc. - but this can be found on any of the news websites who broke down the vote into categories. The point is - there were 52% of Americans who voted for Obama. They represented the citizens in our country - regardless of their color or ethnicity. Race did, unfortunately, become an issue - but did not 'rule' this election. The world rejoices at our 'growth' in this area. When you look at the breakdown of the vote, it is obvious that young Americans - and a surprisingly large number of Republicans voted for Obama. He received the majority vote. In a democracy, the majority rules. For the first time in our history, the majority did not elect a man with limited melanin.

Gee whiz, thanks for the civics lesson, I don't dispute that Obama won, in fact you can look back and see I never entered into the debates about the candidates anywhere in this election, I decided who I was going to vote for and didn't try to sway anyone else's vote. I just questioned your assertion that 70% of white people voted for Obama and asked where you got that figure and received some vague answer, if you don't want to answer it or can't, just acknowledge that, don't try to talk around it.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

My 'vague' answer wasn't meant as a civics lesson - I had done the research last week and didn't feel like looking it up again. Thanks JeffC. I did mention where it could be found - sorry if that upset you. . . but you're an intelligent being - do your own research if you want a more cogent answer than mine!! The fact remains - Obama could not have won without an impressive 'white' vote. He won with an American vote - and when we start thinking of ourselves as Americans (which some people were so insistent on reminding the minorities on this blog about) then, and only then will we live up to the words in our Constitution. I guess when a person whose melanin count is unknown, it's OK to question the facts concerning 'race'. My statement was not an assertion - but in some states, Latinos are considered 'white' as are those who identify as 'Jewish'. Do you want to say that minorities elected Obama? Not true. YOUNG PEOPLE elected Obama - the future of our country . . .it's just too bad that some appear to be worried about the perceived loss of 'white supremacy' in America. But I'm sure you're not one who thinks in these terms. Have a great week!

Let me slow it down for you lady, you said 70% of white people voted for Obama and I questioned that, you made the statement so why should I have to prove you right.It didn't upset me, I knew you couldn't back that up and Jeff's stat's proved me right. I "don't" want to say that minorities elected Obama, but if it makes you feel better to call me a racist because I questioned one of your statistics that you can't back up or admit you were wrong, fine, I expected no less from you. Now if you can show me that source that said 70% I'll be glad to apologize, but I don't expect to have to do that. I hope someone else in your family does the math, you seem to have a problem with it. You have a great week too.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Obama won 43% of white voters, a point more than Gore and 2 points more than Kerry.

Obama won 95% of black voters beating the previous record of 94% for LBJ. Kerry got almost 88%.

Obama won 67% of Latinos compared to Kerry's 53%. Latino votes in Florida went to Obama by 57% and provided the margin of victory there. (Bush carried Florida last time with 56% of the Latino vote.)

Obama won Asian voters 62% to 35%.

Obama won Jewish voters 74%-22%; Catholic voters 54% to 45%. McCain won Protestant voters 54% to 45%.

Obama won men voters 49% to 48%, women voters 56% to 43%.

Hope that helps.