Comments

Curious wrote on Feb 22, 2010 9:33 AM:

" By definition:
a) Egalitarianism is maintaining, relating to, or based on a belief that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities. Hense the profit-based PDF.
b) Socialism is defined as political system of communal ownership; that is, a political theory or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness rather than market principles.
Are they the same? Does Alaska operate under a ‘small s’ socialist system "




John P. wrote on Feb 20, 2010 8:41 AM:

" Under the PFD, each qualified Alaskan receives the same annual amount, regardless of age or years of residency. In effect, this equal-amount aspect mathematically means a greater percentage of added income for people of lower incomes. Conversely, any limit or end of the equal-amount PFD means low-income Alaskans experiencing the greatest percentage loss of income. The PFD payout has a substantial effect on Alaska's economy, both in total and especially in rural Alaska where unemployment can reach 60% and cash is scarce. Is it asset-based egalitarianism? I guess it is how you perceive it to be. "




Perm. Fund Mmm Good wrote on Feb 19, 2010 8:15 PM:

" To Jim from Boston: Your ignorance is bleeding through in your mindless banter of Feb. 17th. The Permanent Fund is NOT welfare and has nothing to do with it. Before you start shooting your mouth off in a forum based in Alaska, read up a bit more on what you're going to gripe about. EVERY Alaskan who meets the residency requirement is issued a check each year and have no reason to hide that fact. Silent on that fact? Not hardly. ALASKANS LOVE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT EACH YEAR! But then, you would give yours back. HA! "




John P. wrote on Feb 19, 2010 1:50 PM:

" Ronald Reagan administration’s is responsible for the deregulation of the Savings and Loan industry which severely contributed to the Savings and Loan Crisis. His policies greatly influenced the stock market crash of 1987. In order to cover newly spawned federal budget deficits, the US borrowed heavily both domestically and abroad, raising the national debt from $700 billion to $3 trillion. "




John P. wrote on Feb 19, 2010 1:08 PM:

" .
George Bush handed big business big favors via prescription drug benefits from Medicare, an energy bill full of new special tax credits and subsidies to energy companies, and a record loan guarantee to facilitate business with known nuclear proliferators in China. A report by Health Reform Program/ Boston University's School of Public Health found, "An estimated 61.1 percent of the Medicare dollars that will be spent for more prescriptions will remain in drug makers hands as added profits. This windfall meant an estimated $139 billion in increased profits over 8years for the world's most profitable industry. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 18, 2010 8:05 PM:

" I am all for less government, if we're talking about corporate lobbyists, corporate welfare spending, banker bailouts, revolving door CEO treasury secratary appointments and corporate campaign contributions.

The big government I am talking about starts with an entire army of DOJ prosecuters and federal agents to turn the fraud ridden corporate America / Wall Street complex inside out. And more big government knuckle dragging Abu Ghraib MP's to round up corrupt CEO's, lobbyists and congress critters and rendition them all off to some white-collar 3rd world torture hellhole for some lively dunks on a waterboard. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 18, 2010 6:58 PM:

" PalmerFarm wrote - I'll never understand this belief that successful big businesses are automatically evil and the peril to the common man.

Who said anything about automaticlly evil? Not me. I have no problem with a honest, earned profit. But we don't have a system where companies earn an honest profit in this country anymore do we?

No.

We have companies with degenerate, ivy league educated, flim flam con men that steal boatloads of money from investors when times are good and then run weeping to Congress for a bailout when their swindles backfire. "




Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 18, 2010 3:11 PM:

" I'll never understand this belief that successful big businesses are automatically evil and the peril to the common man. Every successful big business started out as a small business, after all. Yet many, especially the far left, seem so eager to portray big business as the bane of the working man (which is funny, considering how many liberal politicians are in bed or outright own large businesses themselves). Perhaps without realizing it, Ryan H almost perfectly summed up a famous historical figure with his diatribe against big business. That man was Karl Marx. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 18, 2010 1:42 PM:

" Palmer Farm ~ I would remind you that most people like Social Security and Medicare. You sure as heck can't buy catfood on a fleeting corporate retirement after the CEO class pillages the pensions and lawn darts the entire firm.

For all intents and purposes, we don't even have a government in this country anymore. We have a corporate finger puppet masqurading as a government of the people. All the corporations want is less government, less regulation. They are nothing but greedy, craven, sociopaths and will stop at nothing to exploit and pillage the country. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 18, 2010 1:34 PM:

" Like Pavlov's dogs, conditioned to bark and salivate when anyone raises serious concerns about the current system.

'Socialism' 'Capitialism' 'Democracy' 'Communism'. What is the difference? Really? I would argue that in this country, most people cannot spell these words, much less define them. They are just words, cleverly used by the ruling class to spark strong emotion and stir up national pride.

Here are the facts:

30 years of 'lasse-faire' 'less government' 'less regulation' capitalism has created a nation of serfs and peasents ruled by corporate oligarchs.

More 'less government' won't work. "




Power Wagon wrote on Feb 18, 2010 12:13 PM:

" Alaska's Constitution specifically states that the resources of this state, including oil, belong to the residents. Big oil can participate in getting the oil, but in the end it belongs to us. People like "Jim from Boston" have obviously never bothered to educate themselves on that matter. Not that it matters; Jim and his type are dependent on big brother government to take care of them, own everything and only dole out what they think is best for them. The concept of individual freedoms, citizen-driven economics etc are foreign and unfathomable to them. "




kimr-ga wrote on Feb 18, 2010 11:59 AM:

" Subject: Re: History of phrase "Thank you sir, may I have another"
From: kimr-ga 11:39 PDT
Also, very similar, in "Oliver Twist" Oliver mutters "Please sir, I
want some more" in chapter 2.

HTH,
Kim "




say what wrote on Feb 18, 2010 8:30 AM:

" Other places that also believed in big government;
Russia, 1917
Germany, 1936
China
Vietnam
Cuba
Venezuela
Iran
Afghanistan
Libya

With such fine examples of the successes of big government, its easy to see why some folks would be so eager to follow suit! "




sharpie wrote on Feb 17, 2010 9:40 PM:

" "Thank you sir may I have another."; from the movie 'Animal House' wherein the bonehead getting hit in the rear for frat initiation says that everytime he gets whacked. Kind of like liberals that watch the economy get tanked and say the same thing each time this radical government announces another round of idiotic spending. Oh, and may I join Palmer Farm in suggesting that those of you who think government is the answer to all your problems, move to China! You'll love it there! Or maybe Cuba! Your liberal paradise awaits! "




to Jim wrote on Feb 17, 2010 9:32 PM:

" 1)Ronald Reagon created the deficit...WRONG! Every economist has correctly laid out the blame to Congress, Bush, Wall St, Clinton, Greenspan, the American Consumer.
2) There you go again with this Alaska PFD is welfare malarkey. No, I've seen plenty of us call you on your obvious lack of education concerning this matter. You obviously don't know what welfare is, how taxes work etc.

Jim, if you are indeed from that liberal mecca of Massachusetts (and like it there)...its no wonder you substitute indoctrination for education. Pity. "




Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 17, 2010 4:53 PM:

" Jammer: Oliver Twist?! What are you smoking? That saying comes from a Hollywood comedy movie! I have NO idea why you would assume it came from a Charles Dickens novel! But hey...you illustrated my point perfectly by doing so! Thanks!

And to all the blogs I see in here "justifying" the need for big government; the world has seen that before. It was what Lenin and his buddies used to usher in Communism. It was what Chairman Mao used to change China. You like that sort of government, then why are you here?

to big gov: Perfect! "




Jim from Boston wrote on Feb 17, 2010 1:08 PM:

" Wow, Ryan makes the perfectly accurate observation that state capitalism(our government) isn't working and the local tea baggers get into high dudgeon.

Then we get the usual diatribe about government spending and never do people remember that it was Saint Ronnie Raygun himself who accelerated government deficits.

Of course when it comes to Permanent Fund welfare checks these Alaskans are silent. "




Richard Wentz wrote on Feb 17, 2010 10:03 AM:

" Joseph McCarthy was also famous for attaching names, baseless defamation and mudslinging to those with whom he disagreed with in order to promote his position of demagoguery. The committee on Govt. Actions would be the scene of some of McCarthy's most publicized exploits. Senator McCarthy’s zeal led to disturbing excesses. His brow-beating tactics destroyed careers of people who were not involved in the infiltration of our government. His freewheeling style caused both the Senate and the Senate Subcommittee to revise the rules governing future investigations, and prompted the courts to act to protect the Constitutional rights of witnesses at Congressional "




big gov wrote on Feb 17, 2010 8:30 AM:

" Yes Komrade Ryan! Teach the masses of the wonderful benefits of a socialist (big) government! In exchange for the elimination of a free market (and other freedoms) a big government works FOR the people by doing all the hard work (like thinking, for example!) Just do as you're told and the government will educate, feed and clothe you! Take care of your medical needs! With help from people like you, Obama, Pelosi, Boxer etc we can bring back the glory of the Soviet system!

LOL! "




Jammer wrote on Feb 17, 2010 7:59 AM:

" To: Palmer Farm: Your quote is wrong. Even if you reiterate verbatim Sharpie’s Feb. 7th addition below that botches the quote – it still is wrong. Oliver Twist was born into a London workhouse and severely starved, yet had the courage to speak out against tyranny. He said –‘Please Sir I want some more’. Either the two of you don’t remember your 6th grade literature, or you never heard of Dicken’s quote. Genuflecting to Sharpie is unnecessary. Reading broadens the mind – try it. "




John P. wrote on Feb 17, 2010 7:41 AM:

" To Palmer Farm, Littlebird and Sharpie-
Our national debt will quickly become unsustainable. Democrats and Republicans will soon have to deal with the hard decisions that have been put off for too long. Some benefits will almost certainly go out the window; likewise, raising some taxes will soon become unavoidable. This poses problems for Democrats and Republicans alike. It may be difficult, however, for Obama to forge a new consensus about the role of American government until an even more severe crisis hits. Applying Dickinson’s logic - "Presidents don’t dictate events; events dictate Presidencies". "




Littlebird wrote on Feb 16, 2010 10:14 PM:

" Don't know where you get your indoctrination Ryan, but I'm guessing you were raised in the former Eastern Germany? USSR? China? If not, then you have no excuse for your blather regarding how big government is necessary etc etc. I'm actually embarassed FOR you by just reading your posts! "




to ryan wrote on Feb 16, 2010 8:00 PM:

" You apparently doesn't have a good grasp of reality. In fact, you sound a lot like a neo-socialist uttering disproven propoganda for such wonderful big government examples as the former Soviet Union (big government worked great there eh?), Cuba, Venezuela etc. The very reason we're in the mess we're in is thanks to liberals love for tax, spend and big government (with a 100% failure rate every time) and those folks that call themselves "conservatives" while they borrow and spend to keep the trillions of dollars necessary for unnecessary government programs alive! "




Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 16, 2010 7:46 PM:

" to Ryan H
What do YOU think has been going on during the last 60 years?! Ever since FDR's "New Deal" this country's government has been growing and growing. Becoming ever-more bloated and existing more to feed itself than to serve the people. You really need to go back and stay awake in history class. While you're at it take some courses in basic economics and government.

This is not a 'Republican' or 'Democrat' issue. Our government has been distancing itself from the intent of its creation by the Founding Fathers for decades under both parties. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 16, 2010 4:31 PM:

" Americans have been had by propaganda.

"Deregulate"
"Government always screws up"
"Let the free markets work"

After 30 years of handing every lever of power over to globalization, corporate interests and neo-liberal economic policy -championed by BOTH parties- it should be no surprise that the entire country is on the verge of meltdown.

What is a surprise is that some people are still willing to believe the corporate fairy tale that less govenment is always a good thing.

Well, I suppose if our current situation hasn't convinced you, nothing will. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 16, 2010 4:14 PM:

" Palmer Farm wrote The desire to have less government.

What has been going on the last 30 years in this country?!?

Social Security is functionally bankrupt.
Medicare is hanging on by a thread.
The military and penal system is handed over to private sector contractors.
There hasn't be a government regulator in sight for years in the banking or housing markets.
Our bridges and buildings are literally falling down on our heads.

This country can't handle any less govenment (more corporate control) or more trickle-down tax-cuts, unless you want it to implode completely. "




Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 16, 2010 2:05 PM:

" to John P;
Your commentary regarding those people involved in this "Tea Party" movement has some elements that are correct. The name is "Tea Party". There, that's the part you got right for their group. Everything else after that is wild raving, incorrect assumptions and the regurgitation of the same old crap the far left spews in their desperation. But folks like you will inevitably keep saying "Thank you sir! May I have another?" while being spoon fed such nonsense. The desire to have less government and more accountabilty; gosh, what a terrible thing eh? "




John P. wrote on Feb 16, 2010 1:27 PM:

" The Tea Party movement Is the same nationalistic militarism and warmongering, Wall Street-subservient economics, and religion-based policy-making that has defined the GOP forever. There's nothing new here. If anything, it represents a demand for even greater allegiance to the Bush/Cheney mindset, for a more purist and even less restrained version of the national security insanity, civil liberties assaults, massive increases in the rich-poor gap, control of Americans' lives through "social issues," and endless wars which the Republican Party has long rhetorically claimed to embody. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 16, 2010 8:20 AM:

" John P. wrote: The problem being is that the party can't seem to get enough exposure to inform the public about its core beliefs.

Media is corprorate owned and operated. 95% of what you read, hear and see is controled by corporate interests. That is why a Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Cynthia McKinney or Dennis Kucinich - regardless of how you feel about thier politics, these are real people unbeholden to corporate interests - will never get the exposure or sponsorship for real change. And the 'tea party' is just a repackaged GOP. "




John P. wrote on Feb 15, 2010 7:40 PM:

" 'Liberty's" quote is actually a Gary LLoyd quote - it is good! Tell us more about the Libertarian party and its values as well as why you think we should change parties. The problem being is that the party can't seem to get enough exposure to inform the public about its core beliefs.. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 15, 2010 5:52 PM:

" Liberty wrote ~ When the governments boot is on your throat, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Right (Reps) or Left (Dems) boot.

Hear, Hear!!!

The sooner we give up the losers game of back-and-forth, go-nowhere corportist propaganda partisanship, the better off we'll be. "




Liberty wrote on Feb 15, 2010 4:10 PM:

" Entitlement programs exist for Corporations as well. It is called Corporatism. Want to save our country? Vote Libertarian. The 2-party system has done as much damage, if not more, to our nation than Islamic terrorists. When the governments boot is on your throat, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Right (Reps) or Left (Dems) boot. "




John P.- Anchorage wrote on Feb 15, 2010 1:35 PM:

" Sharpie-
Defective problem solving is the cause of all disorders in the world. Brainstorming is a popular tool that helps you generate creative solutions to a problem. It is particularly useful when you want to break out of stale, established patterns of thinking, so that you can develop new ways of looking at things. It’s time to move forward with effective problem solving, stop with the personal bashing, and do what’s mutually right for the country if we want to survive as a nation. Start with constructive dialect, not innuendo and vitriol. We"ll all be better off! "




William Gladstone wrote on Feb 15, 2010 12:35 PM:

" "Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence; conservativism, distrust of people tempered by fear." "




sharpie wrote on Feb 14, 2010 9:37 PM:

" The belief in a strong military lends you to assume that I'm a conservative? Wow...you really don't pay attention to history, government, current events or much else before you wax moronic, do you? The list of liberals that are smart enough to know the value our strong military has had for this country would be far too numerous to list here. It's only wacky extremists that have hijacked a good portion of the Democrat party that give the whole party a bad name (i.e. Obama, Pelosi). We need more Charlie Wilsons! "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 14, 2010 3:54 PM:

" sharpie wroteYou clowns just keep spouting more of your wisdom

I wonder what sort of solutions you have in mind? You sound like a conservative. I suppose more Geroge Orwell / Neo-Conservative / American Exceptionalism non-sense then?

War is Peace Ignorance is Strength Freedom is Slavery

We spend over double what the rest of the planet combined does on our military. Just like Rome did right before it collapsed. We could spend 1/10 of what we do on the military and still be able to vaporize any country on the planet without breaking a sweat. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 14, 2010 3:42 PM:

" The ping-pong-ing of dis-enchanted, undecided, apathetic and un-informed voters between the two party, crime family political system has become the ultimate national spectcle. These days, the entire political spectum exists soley to funnel money to bankrupted capitialist, (i.e. bankers, automakers, 'offense' contractors.) Graft, incompetence and corruption is right out in the open. One things is for sure, we're all set for some real political violence in the years ahead. If Beck, Savage and Limbaugh is any sort of sign post, the corn-proneNazi's -Tea Party- ought to start rising up against the hated 'Libruals' any day now. "




sharpie wrote on Feb 14, 2010 2:16 PM:

" Oh yes, let's "finish us off" (oops, I mean "finish the job") and pass massive big government deficit spending health care reform. Then, lets eliminate the military, not cut down any more trees, save the whales, buy each homeless person a house and groceries and give the entire Middle East a big hug so they'll be our pals!

You clowns just keep toking up and spout more of your "wisdom"; its better than reading the funny papers. "




Mike from Portland wrote on Feb 14, 2010 6:15 AM:

" Ryan H
When you see stockpiles of wind turbines made in Sweden at port cities, it’s ridiculous. We ca do better. Why aren’t we beefing up our steel plants immediately for infrastructure purposes? Too many jobs are being outsourced with no consequences to the big companies doing it. There ought to be stiff penalties. You’re 100% right about the reality TV mentality.There has to be an end to the political theater, period. I’m afraid that avarice and indifference have gotten us as a nation into this quagmire that will take more than shovel ready projects to get out of. "




Mike from Portland wrote on Feb 13, 2010 6:55 PM:

" To Ryan H.
I like your ideas. In Oregon, you can go to Family Health Clinics that provide most routine care on a gradiant charge.You pay according to your income. They do take some indigent, but services are not the same as for paying customers. It does not cover catastrophic problems – that’s when Medicare or Medicaid take charge. I lived in Texas where the rates themselves were catastrophic. What do you think about lowering Medicare age? How will we replace Insurance providers? And what about all the fleecing charges that go on in Hospitals? "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 13, 2010 6:42 PM:

" MikefromPortland ~

But all of the healthcare jive still won't save us.

We need to cut military spending by 2/3 and end our imperial wars, immediately.

Build out renewable enegy infrastructure immediately.

Re-build our manufacutring capacity immediately.

Build a national rail system immediately.

Most of all, pry off the death grip corporate America has on our political system immediately.

Is any of this likely to happen?

In a nation of ADHD 'victims', self esteem seekers and 100 million tuning into 'American Idol' every week, I highly doubt it. "




Mike from Portland wrote on Feb 13, 2010 6:01 PM:

" " To - Ryan H.
It sounds awfully dire. Do you have any good ideas that will get us out of this mess?? If so, help us out here. Seriously, what do you suggest we should do? No sarcasm. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 13, 2010 5:57 PM:

" Mike from Portland ~

Here are a few:

De-monopolize insurance companies should be priority #1. Healthcare costs too much because insurance companies 'own' the system. They are a middle man parasite that raises the bar for everyone. Insurance companies don't have a place for routine healthcare, they need to be kept for catastrohe care only.

People should pay a fair price for themselves. If you are over-weight, sorry, healthcare is going to cost more for you. We could easly raise a 'fast food poison' tax to disuade people from killing themselves with a knife and fork. "




Mike from Portland wrote on Feb 13, 2010 5:19 PM:

" To - Ryan H.
It's sounds awfully dire. Do you have any good ideas that will get us out of LQ7jLthis mess?? If so, help us out here. Seriously, constructively Mike what do you think we should do? "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 13, 2010 3:50 PM:

" MikefromPortland-

"Let’s finish the job on health reform."

Even if we had the massive resources needed to repair healthcare, what would be the point? To keep the faithfull motoring past the drive thru window, stuffing themselves with Big-Mac's and sugar-water, just to get another spendy triple by-pass surgery next month?

Don't worry about 'healthcare costs doubling'. Healthcare will be well out of reach of the proles by 2019.

This country has a different destination. It's a place where nature and it's matierial companion - reality - rightfully punish us for our fecklessness and stupidity. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 13, 2010 8:46 AM:

" "If you are on welfare, entitlements, or just in the government free loading trough, you will not be allowed to vote on the bill to exterminate socialist programs."

So does this mean we are going to outlaw lobbyists and corporate control over the political system?

The largest welfare recipent is the financial services 'industry' - a bunch of free-market capitialist, investor class parisites that have sucked the real economy dry and left the victim for dead - followed closely by the militiary industial complex, which siphons off tens of billions of dollars for imperial wars abroad. "




Ryan H. wrote on Feb 13, 2010 8:41 AM:

" So called 'socialism' is the new red herring of American politics. It is just a scary word that is tossed around to frighten the proles while the corporations and the politicians they have in there pockets steal every penny from the American citizenry.

How sick is this? The Regressives and the Democrats have even convinced people that social security and medicare are 'entitlements' akin to welfare that need to be cut. Last time I looked at my pay stub, social security and medicare were both taxes withheld from my paycheck. "




Mike from Portland wrote on Feb 13, 2010 5:51 AM:

" Let’s finish the job on health reform. An alarming new study shows that health care costs increased last year at the fastest rate in more than a half century. Health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person - and is projected to nearly double by 2019.
If we don’t act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy, and more crushing debt for our nation. This isn’t a problem we can kick down the road for another decade or even another year. "




Power Wagon wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:28 PM:

" And once again Jim from Boston demonstrates his complete and utter incapability to understand basic economics, the Alaskan economy and demographics and how the PFD works. You see, Jim hails from one of those depressing little pockets of the world where good government means shaking you dry of every dollar and then determing how to spend your money "for your own good." Alaska taxes the oil industry and gives its citizens a portion so THEY can best decide how to spend it. (Proven policy for economic health, by the way. Can't say the same for the other.) Poor Jim. "




Pester wrote on Feb 12, 2010 1:21 PM:

" There are more differences within Amerika's political parties than there is between them. In most nations on earth what Amerikans call liberals are called right-wingers. When the political spectrum is all located to the right of center, Rudolph Hess and Joseph Goebbels can be considered liberals when compared to the really nasty Nazis. In most nations on earth what Amerikans call right-wingers are called fascists.
Amerika is the land of opportunity. Palin and Bush prove that. Unemployabilty is not a hindrance. Incompetence is not reasonable grounds for dismissal. And...stupid is as stupid does. "




Proud Southpaw wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:35 PM:

" My last comments were directed to Palmer Farm, not Jim from Boston. Sorry, Jim - you snuck your comment in before I finished addressing Palmer Farm. I agree whole-heartedly with you, Jim. "




Jim from Boston wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:10 PM:

" What's the Permanent Fund number this year?

It's not that I want to see Alaskans starve or have more of them despair and start taking meth but you must admit your status as a welfare state and stop the rugged individualist silliness. "




Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 12, 2010 10:46 AM:

" regarding the ProudSouthpaw person;

Easier to quote others than to come up with an original thought I guess. Can't really comment on your linguistic skills as you have with others because you haven't demonstrated any yet. While I can't say I agree with the other person's analogy, I can't argue with his/her notion that your liberal definition was comical at best. Hard to believe that somebody could be that out-of-touch with reality or current events.

By the way, I can think of something else that floats that would more closely resemble your thinking than a butterfly. "




ProudSouthpaw Rdes Again wrote on Feb 12, 2010 6:09 AM:

" I’ll respond with an Abe Lincoln quote: ”Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt”. Can’t say that I am impressed with your linguistic skills. Or did you think that the JFK quote was attributed to me? My words would be more in tune with Muhammad Ali: ”Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. Or, as Bill Cosby put it: “A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice”. Cat got your tongue? I just love this freedom of speech thing! "




to proud southpaw wrote on Feb 11, 2010 7:15 PM:

" No, I think nowadays we use 'liberal' to refer to the leftover '60s rejects that have assimilated the Democrat party that look narrowly ahead to only those ideals they believe in (no matter how many times they've been proven to be failed policies) (WITHOUT rigid reaction?! HA HA! What planet are you from?) who 'cares' about the little people and will gladly think for them in exchange for their blind devotion and tax dollars, who only likes some civil liberties (free speech IF you agree with me, no 2nd amendment etc). Yeah, those 'liberals' "




ProudSouthpaw wrote on Feb 11, 2010 6:02 PM:

" "If by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.” ~ John F. Kennedy, 1960 "




Speedydog wrote on Feb 11, 2010 5:36 PM:

" When my brother lived with us during his final year of his life, I was his primary caregiver. He had exhausted his resources, and as such had to go on Medicaid. His SSI paid him $650 a month which didn't even cover meds. It was based on his income which was zero. I could be wrong, but I assumed that we would not qualify for Mediciad because of our previous income status. I don't fault anyone who uses the resources that they have paid into through taxes. Thanks very much for the information. "




to Jim wrote on Feb 11, 2010 4:37 PM:

" Gosh, what a cute (if not almost entirely inaccurate) jab. Here's one that actually has a high dose of truth to it; if they ban welfare all you bleeding heart libs will have more money to waste on new and even more ridiculous social programs. Coupled with the money you short from the military, maybe you'd even have enough to save all the whales, trees, spotted owls and buy each lazy person in the country a house! "




Jim from Boston wrote on Feb 11, 2010 1:06 PM:

" If you ban the welfare recipients then nearly the entire state of Alaska will lose the franchise.

You might want to think this over. "




typical wrote on Feb 11, 2010 12:02 PM:

" When my wife and I went through our difficult time after health forced me to give up my DOD job, we had to go on Medicaid for awhile. Can't say I was particularly jazzed about it...but then again I didn't feel too bad using it either because, after all, I had been paying for it all those years prior when I was working, right? So I took advantage of it and got my dental work etc done. They did a good job, too. Your decision to not use government "free care" (free? you've never paid taxes?) is your choice. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 10, 2010 3:58 PM:

" My husband had a six figure job with HP Business and IT Services. Actually he was employed by EDS, a global company. EDS lost the Weyerhaeuser contract to HP and he was laid off with 1200 other employees. We exhausted our Cobra funds. I could not get insurance because of multiple pre-existing conditions. His finding a Systems Analyst job at his age (64) is slim to none. I do not qualify for Medicaid, nor would I want Govt. freecare. I will not be eligible for Medicare for another year. I just want to be able to get reasonable insurance. "




typical wrote on Feb 10, 2010 11:25 AM:

" Always enjoy a respectful debate, and I'd gladly take you up on that. I enjoy several close friends with polar opposite political and economic views from my own. (Yes, it can be done!)

to speedydog: We already have a program in place for those folks. It's called Medicaid. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 10, 2010 10:18 AM:

" Please excuse the typos and such. The print is so small I can hardly see the typeset until the letter is submiutted. I suppose I should write these ramblings on my regular computer instead of this little NotPad. Disabities stink! Thanks for understanding. I enjoy everyones comments. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 10, 2010 9:54 AM:

" Have you noticed that when it comes to health insurance problems, some refer to all of those without health insurance as druggies, lazy, won't work, just looking for a handout,etc. The never mention those ghood folks, who hjave worked for many years and, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs and now cannot affort the expensive medical insurance for their families.I know many good, honest families who do not deserve to be treated this way just because they lost their jobs.To me, it's very un-Christian-like not to want to help the unfortunate. Jesus did. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 10, 2010 9:41 AM:

" Socialism, by definition, is various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. By this definition police, fire, libraries and schools are not socialist institutions; they are govenrment services provided at the local level. We the people control these services.The local officials we elect and we pay taxes to continue these services along with many other services such as water and sewer systems. Claims that our military and Postal Service are also socialist are unfounded. USConstitution.,Art.1,Sect.8. "




To typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 9:46 PM:

" I would like to buy you a beer some day. Glad to debate with you. It is funny how we are similar and yet so different but yet we both I think have the over goal and that is to keep things in check and the country on the right course. Cheers brother. "




typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 8:32 PM:

" You'll notice that I haven't responded yet to your assumption (not sure where you got them) about the 'tea party' thing. I sure never mentioned it. Never been to any of their rallies etc. Can't say I even know what their full intentions are. But if there is ANY "movement" out there, no matter what its called, that is represented by folks that are sick and tired of the rank-and-file "tax, tax, and tax some more" solution to everything...perhaps I should take a closer look. No 'knee jerk reaction' here. Not now, not ever. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 9, 2010 4:04 PM:

" To Patriot: I appreciate your thoughtfulness regarding my health. I too am very familiar with cancer and its ramifications.I've buried my mother (breast cancer). father (non-hodkins lymphoma cancer) sister (lung cancer), and little brother(pancreatic cancer. Thier illnesses left them all in terrible debt. suffering from financial concerns needlesslly. I pray every day that we will have comprehensive health care so that no one will have to go through the trauma of foreclosure of their home to pay big health iinsurance company bills. "




To typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 2:59 PM:

" Different strokes for different folks. Yes we can agree that social programs do cut into things. But like I said before we cannot maintain a top of the line military with the best technology without spending more. I do not agree with more taxes but my problem with the tea party folks is they never offer a solution. It is always down with government blah blah. I would really like to see any one of them in office so they can walk a mile. Again I am not advocating for government just tired of "who is a patriot' rant. "




typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 1:53 PM:

" IF you're telling the truth than its funny that we would have similar backgrounds and look at things so differently. 4 yr Army vet, AA in Technical Arts and BA in Business Administration. Don't know why you fail to grasp that its not the money we collect from taxes but how it's spent that makes the difference. Blowing a few trillion on warm fuzzy social programs and bailouts certianly cuts into what we have left for the military. You brought up the F22. I showcase that as an example of how little this administration thinks of the troops. "




Also to typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 12:26 PM:

" I never said more taxes and big government go together. Like a tea bagger you try to twist words to make your point. I said Tea baggers want lower taxes but yet still want a strong military. Cannot have it both ways. As technology becomes more advanced the cost goes up. How do we pay for through taxes. It sucks I know I don't want to pay more but freedom does not come cheap. "




To typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 12:14 PM:

" I completed high school. 6 years in the army, 2 as an MP. Then four years of college. Degree in Linguistics double minor in Business and criminology. What I learned is the military and it's equipment is paid for by tax dollars. Less tax collected less military spending. It's pretty simple. I bet you are one of those people who think that our F-22 raptors just appeared out of nowhere. Or maybe you are to thank for building all those tanks in you garage free of charge. Where do you think the money comes from? "




typical wrote on Feb 9, 2010 11:42 AM:

" Soooo....let me see if I have this right; in order to have a strong military we have to have a big government and high taxes? Those two things somehow go hand-in-hand? Say, by any chance did you attend high school (let alone any additional education)? "




Patriot wrote on Feb 9, 2010 11:29 AM:

" To speedydog, there you go again, attacking Sarah with the snide remark. Maybe you should practice what you preach and not be so harsh on someone much younger than yourself. Then again maybe that's the problem, you're jealous of her youth and ambition. Sorry for your medical condition but there is hope if Obama can pass his health care program. Question is will you be able to stand in line long enough to receive the limited care that will be offered. By the way, you're only a year older than me, and my mom died of cancer. "




speedydog wrote on Feb 8, 2010 2:57 PM:

" It's not that I can't spell. I'm 64 years old and have essential tremors that make my hands shake (like Parkensons). I also have cateracts that limit my vision. I hope to improve on my NotePad, but I miss the spellchecker. Sorry for not seeing the error. Maybe I should have written my text on the palm of my hand. Someday you too will be old. Maybe someday you won't be so harsh on an old lady. What if it was your mother who needed help. Would you still be so hateful in your response? "




To Typical wrote on Feb 7, 2010 6:22 PM:

" I said support not agree with. I might not agree with the war where ever but still support our troops. I might not have liked Bush but still supported the ideals of America and democracy. I did not vote for Obama but I am not going to advocate a revolution or attempted overthrow of the govenrment. I am not a sore loser like some. Tea Baggers want smaller Gov. great. Less taxes sure. But yet a stronger military for protection Can't have it both ways. Your the typical one to instantly scream socialist! "




offsoapstone wrote on Feb 7, 2010 6:17 PM:

" R.E spoken just like a true Fascist. "




typical wrote on Feb 7, 2010 5:57 PM:

" I love the "You would support your country no matter what" statement. These are the sheep that the current socialists love so much and rely to keep them in power. They can do whatever they want and these types will just say "thank you sir, can I have another?' (Of course, these were the same people with "Dissent is patriotic" bumper stickers on their cars during the Bush administration. Funny to see all the Subarus running around town with torn paper on the back where those stickers used to be) "




To patriot. wrote on Feb 7, 2010 4:02 PM:

" Palin called for a revolution. Sure that is how America was started. We revolted from the British now she, Palin, and her tea baggers want us to revolt from the American government. If you were a true patriot you would support you country NO MATTER WHAT! If our government failed and we did revolt your kids would never know freedom. Politicians like Palin wouldn't be worth their weight in crap. "




To speedydog wrote on Feb 7, 2010 3:22 PM:

" Obviously you are a progressive - must be one that thinks government is the know all end all. Our country is on a path to communism through the progressive movement. Obama is progressive. To Americans that love our country, pay attention, stand up and tell progressives to take a hike. Go to China if communism is what you like. They'd be happy to tell you what to do. Americans know and love our freedom-you cannot have our freedom and we will take progressives down through education of exactly what and who you are. Period! "




Patriot wrote on Feb 7, 2010 2:13 PM:

" How would you know what a "white extremists" looks like, you can't even spell it. I saw concerned citizens who are worried about the direction this country is being taken. I didn't hear any hatred being spewed only facts. You should spend more time getting educated, and less time bloviating. "




you got it. wrote on Feb 7, 2010 8:42 AM:

" R.E. - exactly!! "




speedydog wrote on Feb 7, 2010 5:33 AM:

" Last night the tea baggers shared your view at their massive movement convention. Throngs (six hundred) loyal white extremests showed up to hear their "#2"leader whine without offering up any solutions. She spewed hatred to the red meat crowd. Bigger movements have been seen in an outhouse. Just goes to show that even if you put lipstick on a pig, you still can't call yourself the "divine swine without smelling like crap. "