| Posted by | Message |
EST 
LSU Fan
Investigating
Member since Oct 2003
11485 posts
| Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:37 am)
LINK
quote:
In his recent book Presidential Perks Gone Royal, Robert Keith Gray, a former Eisenhower staffer, revealed that last year the U.S. presidency cost American taxpayers $1.4 billion. Over the same period, the entire royal family cost British taxpayers about $57 million. There’s nothing “royal” about the current level of “presidential perks”: The Obama family costs taxpayers more than every European royal house put together.
We've elevated the office of the President higher than it was ever intended to be. Its really time to bring the office back down to earth.
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
SlowFlowPro 
Stanford Fan
Equality is a circle, not a =
Member since Jan 2004
265028 posts
 Online
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:39 am to EST)
lett's be fair and say American Presidents live better than kings
|
| Back to top | |
AcetylCoA 
Southern Cal Fan
Pasadena, California
Member since Nov 2009
1731 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:39 am to EST)
Full. Fricking. Retard.
|
| Back to top | |
Scruffy 
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
18530 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:40 am to EST)
I hate asking this, but were you saying this during Bush?
If people wanted this point to be taken seriously, you wouldn't just focus on the current president, unless this involves just the current president.
But, we know it doesn't.
|
| Back to top | |
Eighteen
LSU Fan
Member since Dec 2006
15535 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:42 am to EST)
the majority of the cost is travel and security...it would be hard to bring that down
|
| Back to top | |
constant cough 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Lafayette
Member since Jun 2007
28749 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:45 am to EST)
|
| Back to top | |
TigerPride10 
Columbia Fan
Seoul, Korea
Member since Jul 2007
9015 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:46 am to Eighteen)
quote:
the majority of the cost is travel and security...it would be hard to bring that down
Right. He's a head of state and is expected to travel. Also, the royal family has its own wealth. It's pretty hard to compare the two.
|
| Back to top | |
Navytiger74
LSU Fan
Manama, Bahrain
Member since Oct 2009
10665 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:47 am to EST)
What a stupid comparison. Why don't you and Stein take a moment to figure out the difference between a governing Head of State and a titular Head of State (who did nothing to earn that, by the way, save being born).
This post was edited on 1/2 at 9:50 am
|
| Back to top | |
CajunAngele
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2012
5810 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:49 am to Scruffy)
quote:
I hate asking this, but were you saying this during Bush?
If people wanted this point to be taken seriously, you wouldn't just focus on the current president, unless this involves just the current president.
But, we know it doesn't.
Name me one thing Obama has done to show
humility
unselfishness
honor
dignity
character
Romney was most likely going to not take his POTUS 400K salary as POTUS.
Obama would never do the same even if he were a trillionaire.
I am sick to death of people dragging Bush into this.
Obama has no regards whatsoever on cutting down on spending in any way,shape or form. He is an arrogant POS.
Post evidence Obama is not a selfish elitist.
|
| Back to top | |
Scruffy
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
18530 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:50 am to TigerPride10)
quote:
Right. He's a head of state and is expected to travel. Also, the royal family has its own wealth. It's pretty hard to compare the two.
Yes and no. I agree that it undoubtably will cost us more, but the difference is insane and should be addressed.
According to the article, it is a difference of about $1.45 billion dollars. That is an issue, IMO.
|
| Back to top | |
Scruffy
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
18530 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:53 am to CajunAngele)
quote:
Post evidence Obama is not a selfish elitist.
This is irrelevant. The issue here isn't Obama's personality, it is whether he alone deserves the scorn.
Post evidence that this is just an issue pertaining to Obama.
quote:
Romney was most likely going to not take his POTUS 400K salary as POTUS.
Ok.quote:
I am sick to death of people dragging Bush into this.
I like the man, but, as I said, this should be directed at the office, not just the man.
|
| Back to top | |
TigerPride10
Columbia Fan
Seoul, Korea
Member since Jul 2007
9015 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:53 am to Scruffy)
quote:
According to the article, it is a difference of about $1.45 billion dollars. That is an issue, IMO.
Why compare it to the royal family of the United Kingdom though? Why not compare what the taxpayer spends on the President to the head of government in China, Japan, or Germany, and then put that into perspective with the sizes of GDP? I think you would find that the spending on the first family isn't that outrageous, especially considering the security detail that is required for a President in a country like the United States.
|
| Back to top | |
constant cough
New Orleans Saints Fan
Lafayette
Member since Jun 2007
28749 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:53 am to TigerPride10)
quote:
Right. He's a head of state and is expected to travel.
Going on vacation in Hawaii when he was just there a week ago isn't exactly official business.
|
| Back to top | |
Vegas Bengal
Member since Feb 2008
19725 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:53 am to EST)
Ah yes, let's start a thread about a book which came out 5 months ago, by a Republican activist, which was debunked on its comparisons between expenses of Bush vs Obama and debunked as having unsubstantiated costs. 
|
| Back to top | |
OleWar
LSU Fan
Member since Mar 2008
532 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:55 am to Navytiger74)
These numbers are mostly a result of a profligate military, providing these services who never saw a price that was too high. I bet these numbers could be cut in half with little change to security or travel.
|
| Back to top | |
Vegas Bengal
Member since Feb 2008
19725 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:56 am to CajunAngele)
quote:
Post evidence Obama is not a selfish elitist.
I will. As soon as you post evidence that you don't beat your wife.
|
| Back to top | |
Scruffy
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
18530 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 9:59 am to TigerPride10)
quote:
Why compare it to the royal family of the United Kingdom though? Why not compare what the taxpayer spends on the President to the head of government in China, Japan, or Germany, and then put that into perspective with the sizes of GDP?
I agree that the comparison is lacking and there are much better ones that could be made. I would like to see those numbers.
I'm not sure what GDP has to do with issue though. The fluctuations of the GDP should not "significantly" affect the cost of the presidency. I'm not extremely well-versed on economics being a biology major, so you'll have to give me a little leeway here.
If our GDP were to drop, would you expect the presidency to cost less?
quote:
I think you would find that the spending on the first family isn't that outrageous, especially considering the security detail that is required for a President in a country like the United States.
Yes, the security detail is bound to be expensive, but I highly doubt it makes up all of the $1.5 billion dollar bill.
I don't have the numbers though. That is just speculation.
|
| Back to top | |
Eighteen
LSU Fan
Member since Dec 2006
15535 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 10:00 am to TigerPride10)
quote:
Why compare it to the royal family of the United Kingdom though? Why not compare what the taxpayer spends on the President to the head of government in China, Japan, or Germany, and then put that into perspective with the sizes of GDP? I think you would find that the spending on the first family isn't that outrageous, especially considering the security detail that is required for a President in a country like the United States.
exactly.
plus, the President of the United States is a much bigger deal and much more important than being a "Queen" or "King" of England which is really just a title and nothing more at this point.
What are the taxpayer costs associated with David Cameron and the Royal Family? I bet Cameron likes "better than Kings" too
It's not like Obama is pocketing 1.4 billion a year salary or something
This post was edited on 1/2 at 10:02 am
|
| Back to top | |
cwill
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Jan 2005
19203 posts
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 10:01 am to CajunAngele)
quote:
Name me one thing Obama has done to show
humility
unselfishness
honor
dignity
character
In your eyes he can never do this...you will see any act as selfish.
quote:
Romney was most likely going to not take his POTUS 400K salary as POTUS.
Obama would never do the same even if he were a trillionaire.
This is what I mean....he's not a "trillionaire" therefore he takes his salary, but you project that he would regardless.
quote:
I am sick to death of people dragging Bush into this.
The problem is that the problem with our government isn't this president alone and specifically he isn't living differently than the preceding president.
quote:
Obama has no regards whatsoever on cutting down on spending in any way,shape or form.
You could say the same about Bush...again, it's not limited to just this guy...you need to get over your "team" mindset.
|
| Back to top | |
TenTex
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2008
14010 posts
Online
| re: Obama lives better than kings (Posted on 1/2/13 at 10:03 am to EST)
Work it into 2013!!!
|
| Back to top | |
