The problem with America is...

[JackANSI]

Lonewolf, Whitedevil, and all the other conservatives: Do you think we should have public education (i.e. a government funded and owned industry, which fits under many folks' definition of Socialism) or not? As far as I know, the Constitution and its amendments guarantee us a lot of rights, but NOT an education. Should I have to pay tax dollars if I don't have kids? Did your kids go (or will they go) to public school? If so, why do I and my childless brothers and sisters have to pay for it?

I shouldn't have to pay for other peoples mortgage interest with my tax dollars either. Mine is paid off, you don't want interest, pay yours off too.

But I'm right there on education too, I have no kids, don't want any kids (would be irresponsible to be part of the over-crowding of the earth), I shouldn't have to pay for octomom's kids.

The greatest part is that we're all free to argue and to waste utterly ridiculous amounts of time posting these thoughts to other people who have, like us, ultimately already made of their minds anyway. Most of us on this board could write each other's scripts if it came down to it. I would so love it if someone would completely (and sincerely) change their philosophy just to keep it interesting. Not one person on this thread (including me probably) will have changed their opinion about anything as a result of reading.

You'll see me flip around quite often depending on my mood and what the events of the day brought.

But its sometimes nice to mess with people who have strong beliefs. So I try to be flexible enough to mess with as many people as possible.

[slackin@dabass]

The greatest part is that we're all free to argue and to waste utterly ridiculous amounts of time posting these thoughts to other people who have, like us, ultimately already made of their minds anyway. Most of us on this board could write each other's scripts if it came down to it. I would so love it if someone would completely (and sincerely) change their philosophy just to keep it interesting. Not one person on this thread (including me probably) will have changed their opinion about anything as a result of reading.

ahh, but your little thing about social programs at a state level still being socialist ideas has me questioning everything i think


about your little points:


1. agree. legalize drugs. tax the shit out of them. if the government did that right, we'd be 8 billion dollars less in the hole each year... and probably be able to float with the taxation. i know i'd buy legal weed, regardless of how much it costs.

2. also agree. a persons right to happiness shouldn't be judged by the religious zealots who can quote the bible blindfolded and act like it's scientific document. ever watch dogma? start with a good idea. religion in government in a country with freedom of religion? bad idea, don't start there.

3. i don't think a federal health care system would work. bureaucracy never allows things to move fast. and when you get the government involved, it's bureaucracy. the problem with a government controlled health care system is it would move way to slow. it might mean people will be insured, but try and get an appointment! what we need is a regulated insurance system. free to chose your provider. i think that free trade and an open market would help keep costs down, but not entirely at an affordable level.

4. how is everyone getting harassed by the cops? i've never been hassled! my favorite time getting pulled over was 74 in a 45. I GOT LET GO! i've never been in trouble with the law for any reason! ... at least till i lost my liscence because i was driving with suspended registration. guess why it was suspended. i didn't have insurance. the cop let the insurance charge SLIDE! i don't see the out of control cops you all see. i've never had a problem with police. but then, i've always kept my head down and my nose clean... usually... sometimes... well, ok, occasionally...

5. to quote george carlin. "i'm free to kill you, your free to kill me. let's just agree not to kill each other. there's your freedom." ok, so it might not be exact, but that's the gist of what he said!

6. music emporium carry hartke and eden yet? what about spector basses? i know, i love the emporium, they ordered drum heads for me. i bought all my cymbals there. i buy sticks, and need more soon. i just broke my last pair cuz i play too hard. when i finally save some of my "free" state unemployment compensation money up, i'm buying some cymbals there. i get all my strings there. i'm trying to do my part! i buy meat from a local butcher shop, i get everything else at bilo in tyrone. except feta cheese. know how diverse bilo is? sheetz carries more of a variety of some things than my local options. sometimes, i gotta get stuff online. i'm sure you know, too!

7. guns. the second amendment also states that guns are to be had for state militia. i'm sure it's up to interpretation, but who could a state militia fight? maybe the national military? maybe? when it gets to big, and people revolt. how can you compete against a .50 cal sniper rifle? what about m-16's? i'm sure your pa's 30-06 ain't gonna be much against automatic weapons. that's why the second amendment is there. the framers realized that revolution is necessary sometimes. if it would come down to it, and i hope it dosn't, cuz then i'd have to decide if i want to die for what i believe in, and let's face it, like the rest of america, i'm fat and lazy, and prefer the path of least resistance, and not that bad of a shot, but not great either, and military type stuff involves running, and i hate running, so i'd probably hate to have to stand up against highly trained marines, cuz i hate really any physical exercise, i think anyone that knows what i look like knows that inside their hearts, and what's worse than seeing a fat kid try to run? a fat guy trying to run! and i would want to kill the enemy, just not with laughter... where was i? oh yea. maybe not an uzi in every house, but is an sks really that bad?

so yea... just how i feel.

[songsmith]

.

Public assistance should be clean, safe and healthy, but it should not be a living condition that anybody would want to live in for very long.

Agreed. But not all poor people are on welfare. Let me put it this way: If you work the sales floor at Walmart, and it is your only income, you are likely to be poor. I was poor for a majority of my life, and I know poor. You started out with a decent guitar rig and a hundred bucks more than I did. You also must have had someone who gave you the tools to succeed as well, and your wife probably had something to do with your success as well. Life is supposed to be a struggle (pay them dues) so you learn something, but no man is an island, somebody helped you along your way.
Obviously, people abuse the welfare system. But business abuses people, too, and is no more perfect a system than is welfare. The very nature of business is to get you to do the work for less money than the final result will sell for. The difference is called profit. The less they pay you, the worker, the more money they get to keep. It BEGS for abuse. It's how you get Lee Raymond taking home 400-odd-million as a platinum parachute for a few years' work, while you were paying $4.00 at the gas pump.
And to everyone who knows a rich guy who is pretty cool... duh. Not all rich people are a-holes, but a lot of 'em carry the gene. --->JMS

[lonewolf]

.

Public assistance should be clean, safe and healthy, but it should not be a living condition that anybody would want to live in for very long.

Agreed. But not all poor people are on welfare. Let me put it this way: If you work the sales floor at Walmart, and it is your only income, you are likely to be poor. I was poor for a majority of my life, and I know poor. You started out with a decent guitar rig and a hundred bucks more than I did. You also must have had someone who gave you the tools to succeed as well, and your wife probably had something to do with your success as well. Life is supposed to be a struggle (pay them dues) so you learn something, but no man is an island, somebody helped you along your way.
Obviously, people abuse the welfare system. But business abuses people, too, and is no more perfect a system than is welfare. The very nature of business is to get you to do the work for less money than the final result will sell for. The difference is called profit. The less they pay you, the worker, the more money they get to keep. It BEGS for abuse. It's how you get Lee Raymond taking home 400-odd-million as a platinum parachute for a few years' work, while you were paying $4.00 at the gas pump.
And to everyone who knows a rich guy who is pretty cool... duh. Not all rich people are a-holes, but a lot of 'em carry the gene. --->JMS

My context was for those on public assistance. Sorry for not clarifying that. I have nothing but admiration for the working poor. Its too bad the states can't do much (education, opportunities, etc.) to help them because the federal government has sucked up all the revenues and are now sucking up all the private capital by borrowing trillions upon trillions of dollars.

So let me get this straight, you think that providing a job to somebody who voluntarily takes that job is a form of abuse?

BTW--I bought my equipment from saving money I made while playing in a band during high school. My equipment was nicer than yours because I busted my balls harder for it than you did.

Tools to succeed? My Grandpap taught me trumpet and his friend, Ed McGuire taught me guitar. That was important, but it had nothing to do with my financial success. I got my tools from Hollidaysburg High School and Penn State Altoona. Two fine state-run public institutions.

I have never been married, but I did support & raise somebody else's child for 10 years.

Oh yeah. I remember my Dad telling me: "Stay out of debt"

[moxham123]

The Bird Feeder

http://americanrantnetwork.com/Videos/G ... Videos.asp

[BDR]

The problem with America is ...

... too many white people.

r:>)

[BDR]

... B. Hussein ...

Not to hijack the thread or anything, and Joe, you're a cool guy and I agree with a lot of things you have to say, but this has got to be the gayest thing I see in the political threads these days. It makes you look like a foot-stomping 7 year old who wants a cookie but mom said no, honestly, and I'd take your points more seriously if you'd be more grown up about it.

Everyone gets it. His middle name is Hussein and you hate his guts. It's no longer clever and it lost it's humor appeal a looooong time ago.

Jus' sayin'.

r:>)

[songsmith]

[
So let me get this straight, you think that providing a job to somebody who voluntarily takes that job is a form of abuse?

BTW--I bought my equipment from saving money I made while playing in a band during high school. My equipment was nicer than yours because I busted my balls harder for it than you did.

Tools to succeed? My Grandpap taught me trumpet and his friend, Ed McGuire taught me guitar. That was important, but it had nothing to do with my financial success. I got my tools from Hollidaysburg High School and Penn State Altoona. Two fine state-run public institutions.

I have never been married, but I did support & raise somebody else's child for 10 years.

Oh yeah. I remember my Dad telling me: "Stay out of debt"

Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, underpaying your "voluntary" employees simply because they have no other choice than welfare is abuse, as is a CEO taking 4 thousand times the average salary at a large company. One of the imperfections of the hallowed free market system is that you are paid in accordance to demand, not actual worth. Lee Raymond got that much because he demanded it, not because he was worth it. That bonus could have employed the entire population of Huntingdon PA at $85,000 per year, and it went to one man at the end of a few years of "service."
Also, I, too, bought every bit of my gear with my own money, save for my first guitar, which my dad bought for a dollar at a yard sale. I had to pay him back, and did.
As for tools to succeed, someone in your life (parents?) imbued you with the work ethic and problem-solving skills that contributed to your success, and assuming you didn't exist alone on a desert island, somebody helped you.
I assumed you were married. I've met your significant-other on numerous occasions, and she seems like a pretty good girl... I'm sure she must have helped you on some level, and as to raising someone else's child, some of us would jump at the chance to have a child in our lives, no matter the problems that might entail. You now have the experience and fulfillment of rearing a kid, something I will never know.
Your Dad's advice to stay out of debt? Excellent! I abide by it tremendously, and it has served me well. As long as my job(s) hold out, I'm doing pretty okay because I HATE owing anyone anything.
Socialism, a neocon slogan for the new administration (how come nobody used "fascism" for the Bush admin?), is not a cure-all for the country's ills. Neither is runaway laissez-faire capitalism. Both are fatally-flawed when carried to extremes.-------->JMS

[lonewolf]

As for tools to succeed, someone in your life (parents?) imbued you with the work ethic and problem-solving skills that contributed to your success, and assuming you didn't exist alone on a desert island, somebody helped you.-------->JMS

I hope I don't bore anybody with my little stories about help.

The tobacco store in the middle of Duncansville used to be Ted's gas station/grocery. During fishing season, they sold bait. When I was 7, I liked to get muddy and catch worms. One day, I noticed that Ted sold worms for what I thought was a lot of money. Recently, I found a contract that I wrote to supply him with nightcrawlers. Nobody put me up to it, I just wrote it up and made a lot of money (for a 7 year old) catching them worms.

Help? Yes I suppose I had some help. In the late 80s, I went into a partnership in State College with another electronics guy from California. He repaired arcade video games and had the idea to make a circuit that allowed you to install 4 games in one cabinet. I designed the circuit and all the parts like circuit boards, etc., and we started selling them all over the world. One game vendor in Australia wanted to license it and make them there so he didn't have to wait for shipping. About 1/2 our orders went to southern California and my partner decided to move back there and set up distribution while I took care of production In S.C. It wasn't long after that he got back with his old friends and took up their nostril habit. He had the customers write checks in his name instead of the company's and started embezzling something like $5000 a week. I caught on in time to threaten him with the FBI and agree to sell the company to our largest customer. I managed to get my share back with a little profit, but it was a bitch and he really screwed up what was becoming a decent business.

Then there's that phat phuck from Pegasus productions that absconded with the gate money from a Kansas concert we co-promoted. Lots more help.

I put these in the "lesson-learned" category of help.

I have a good friend who runs a construction crew that has helped me on many real estate projects thru the years. I pay them well for their services and on many occasion, provided them with work when times were pretty lean. Paid help.

Oh yeah...when I was living in S.C., my Mother let me stay overnight at her house when I was working on real estate projects in Blair County. That was helpful.

Problem solving? Aside from tearing apart everything I got my hands on when I was a kid, I learned logic from binary arithmetic, boolean logic and microprocessor machine code programming when I was in college. Its amazing how you can apply that decision making process to life.

And Johnny, please don't diminish my success because my Dad wouldn't give me an allowance unless I mowed the lawn.

[Banned]

... B. Hussein ...

Not to hijack the thread or anything, and Joe, you're a cool guy and I agree with a lot of things you have to say, but this has got to be the gayest thing I see in the political threads these days. It makes you look like a foot-stomping 7 year old who wants a cookie but mom said no, honestly, and I'd take your points more seriously if you'd be more grown up about it.

Everyone gets it. His middle name is Hussein and you hate his guts. It's no longer clever and it lost it's humor appeal a looooong time ago.

Jus' sayin'.

r:>)

OK, will you find out how many times George W. Bush was called "W" in posts on this forum, and when all of those posters will say they were childish and silly, then I will stop calling our foreign born president by his first initial and middle name.

Just sayin.

[JackANSI]

I think its more what you are implying with the Hussein bit.

You are attempting to draw a comparison with another, bit more evil, person.

Even if you say you're not. Its a tainted word/name to many people, just like Hitler is.


You really need to get aother box to stand on, cause yours is looking a bit worn out.

[Banned]

I think its more what you are implying with the Hussein bit.

You are attempting to draw a comparison with another, bit more evil, person.

Even if you say you're not. Its a tainted word/name to many people, just like Hitler is.


You really need to get aother box to stand on, cause yours is looking a bit worn out.

Then tell him to get another name. I am just using HIS first initial and HIS middle name. If you do not like it, you have a problem. No comparison needed, he is an evil person. He IS a tainted person to me and many freedom loving people.

[BDR]

Doesn't your fallout shelter need stocked with canned goods or something? Aye, carumba ... r:>)

[Banned]

Doesn't your fallout shelter need stocked with canned goods or something? Aye, carumba ... r:>)

Maybe I should when B. Hussein passes bills like this:

http://www.infowars.com/senate-rubber-s ... ment-bill/

[BDR]

Yeah, no thanks. lol. I like beans. r:>)

[lonewolf]

Doesn't your fallout shelter need stocked with canned goods or something? Aye, carumba ... r:>)

Maybe I should when B. Hussein passes bills like this:

http://www.infowars.com/senate-rubber-s ... ment-bill/

Another brick?



Maybe not.

[RobTheDrummer]

From big government, to bigger government.

[slackin@dabass]

wow. read that link, joe. scary shit going down. first we get labeled as domestic terrorists for supporting ron paul and reading the constitution. then we have to serve in the military. then we lose our freedom of speech and right to protest.


viva la revolution.


but i'm not allowed to say that. shit, i did. now i'm a terrorist. now the govt. can tap my phone and search my home without a warrant thanks to the patriot act. yea, robthedrummer, designed to defend against real terrorists

[RobTheDrummer]

wow. read that link, joe. scary shit going down. first we get labeled as domestic terrorists for supporting ron paul and reading the constitution. then we have to serve in the military. then we lose our freedom of speech and right to protest.


viva la revolution.


but i'm not allowed to say that. shit, i did. now i'm a terrorist. now the govt. can tap my phone and search my home without a warrant thanks to the patriot act. yea, robthedrummer, designed to defend against real terrorists

The Patriot act is for those suspected as terrorists. How many times must I explain this to you? Therefore, you are safe my friend. There has to be a link to terrorism, or connections. They aren't going to just listen to any regular joe on the phone. I mean come on, you think someone is listening to every call made by everyone? How gullible do you have to be? I like the Patriot act, gives me a false sense of security....

[Banned]

wow. read that link, joe. scary shit going down. first we get labeled as domestic terrorists for supporting ron paul and reading the constitution. then we have to serve in the military. then we lose our freedom of speech and right to protest.


viva la revolution.


but i'm not allowed to say that. shit, i did. now i'm a terrorist. now the govt. can tap my phone and search my home without a warrant thanks to the patriot act. yea, robthedrummer, designed to defend against real terrorists

You are right. This is some very serious shit going on. But as usual, most clueless liberals would just keep making terrible jokes about this. This administration tells the State Department and Defense Department to stop using the words "foreign terrorist" and "war on terror", but now have 70 law enforcement "fusion centers" (2 in PA.) to help target "domestic terrorists" like us who like Ron Paul, and know the Constitution.

I have yet to hear a serious reply to any of this from our liberal Messiah fans. Are all you guys ignoring this? Don't care? Approve of it?

[BDR]

It must be exhausting living in constant fear and paranoia of EVERYTHING. You know, you're born, you live, you die. If you're lucky, you get about 75 years. I've already burned up over half of those years. Why waste a minute of it worrying about things that you will NEVER, EVER be able to do anything about?

Take a chill pill, enjoy some beans, smile once in a while. You may just surprise yourself about how cool life can be when you're not freaking out, crouching in your basement wearing an army helmet and clutching your shotgun.

Jus' sayin'.

r:>)

[DirtySanchez]

One time a took a chill pill. I ended up in my basement wearing an army helmet, clutching a shotgun. Are you supposed to crush chill pills up and snort them?

[shredder138]

It must be exhausting living in constant fear and paranoia of EVERYTHING. You know, you're born, you live, you die. If you're lucky, you get about 75 years. I've already burned up over half of those years. Why waste a minute of it worrying about things that you will NEVER, EVER be able to do anything about?

Take a chill pill, enjoy some beans, smile once in a while. You may just surprise yourself about how cool life can be when you're not freaking out, crouching in your basement wearing an army helmet and clutching your shotgun.

Jus' sayin'.

This is the most sensible post in this entire thread. Hey Rob, remember when TVs were square?

[songsmith]

Joe, the difference between "W" and "Hussein": Does reaching that far for a point hurt your back? You're pissy because people call Bush 43 "W"? I know, I know, "W" is a terrorist name.
People called him "W" to distinguish him from "HW." If there was any negative connotation, it was a takeoff on "Bubba," the neo nickname for Clinton.
And now Obama's enslaving us all. I didn't even click on that one, having read the title line in the URL, which showed great "objectivity."

I don't give a shit if you call Obama "Hussein." He won. He's the president, and guys like you made that happen. Gosh, thanks!

Incidentally, if you posted such dissent against the President just a few years ago, you'd have gotten crucified. Remember the Dixie Chicks? Turns out the mouthy one was right all along. But Jesus, don't say anything about a Republican, or you're EMBOLDENING OUR ENEMIES ABROAD. Yes, I can remember that far back, and I'll not allow anyone to forget what it was like to disagree with the so-called War On Terror. (Didn't we have a War On Poverty? A War On Hunger? A War on Drugs? How did those turn out, I never heard? )

You're stretching yourself way too thin with this, Joe. Your discontent has progressed into seeming paranoia, and you're allowing 6 hours of talk radio per day to saturate your whole personality. You used to be laid-back. Come down off the ledge, man. The country's gonna be okay. It's America, the greatest empire in human history. It may not be exactly the way you want it, but if perfection is what you're aiming for, you're going to frustrated a lot.
If you believe in democracy, then you have to abide by the foundation upon which it is built. Majority Rule. America was given the chance to vote in whomever they chose. There was no special run-off, no Supreme Court decision, no hanging chads. There was no clandestine conspiracy. There was a historic election and the Democrats won pretty much every major race, including the presidency. You were marginalized, get over it, that's how it works. We watched liberalism fall out of favor after 9/11, then we saw the failures of the last admin, and we saw conservatism fall.--->JMS

[BDR]

Joe, the difference between "W" and "Hussein": Does reaching that far for a point hurt your back? You're pissy because people call Bush 43 "W"? I know, I know, "W" is a terrorist name.
People called him "W" to distinguish him from "HW." If there was any negative connotation, it was a takeoff on "Bubba," the neo nickname for Clinton.
And now Obama's enslaving us all. I didn't even click on that one, having read the title line in the URL, which showed great "objectivity."

I don't give a shit if you call Obama "Hussein." He won. He's the president, and guys like you made that happen. Gosh, thanks!

Incidentally, if you posted such dissent against the President just a few years ago, you'd have gotten crucified. Remember the Dixie Chicks? Turns out the mouthy one was right all along. But Jesus, don't say anything about a Republican, or you're EMBOLDENING OUR ENEMIES ABROAD. Yes, I can remember that far back, and I'll not allow anyone to forget what it was like to disagree with the so-called War On Terror. (Didn't we have a War On Poverty? A War On Hunger? A War on Drugs? How did those turn out, I never heard? )

You're stretching yourself way too thin with this, Joe. Your discontent has progressed into seeming paranoia, and you're allowing 6 hours of talk radio per day to saturate your whole personality. You used to be laid-back. Come down off the ledge, man. The country's gonna be okay. It's America, the greatest empire in human history. It may not be exactly the way you want it, but if perfection is what you're aiming for, you're going to frustrated a lot.
If you believe in democracy, then you have to abide by the foundation upon which it is built. Majority Rule. America was given the chance to vote in whomever they chose. There was no special run-off, no Supreme Court decision, no hanging chads. There was no clandestine conspiracy. There was a historic election and the Democrats won pretty much every major race, including the presidency. You were marginalized, get over it, that's how it works. We watched liberalism fall out of favor after 9/11, then we saw the failures of the last admin, and we saw conservatism fall.--->JMS

This whole post.

And yes, TVs used to be square, and they are once again square, but now they're flat.

r:>)