Full Version: Ah....POLITICS
From: Cathy (METIME417) [#61]
8 Nov 2006
To: ALL
I don't know how to do the grayscale quote?!?
As an independent - I have to say this is the best quote!!!
My voting experience was neat in the fact that I dragged my daughter to vote for the first time. But I never had to show my ID I just walked up, told them my name, address and birthdate and was able to vote. I was in and out of there with no line, but aren't they suppose to see ID?????
So many thoughts - all I know is I'm a little sad today and I really wish I could think of a way to really, really get rid of a TWO party system.
That's all.
Cathy
From: Ward (STENSONENG) [#62]
8 Nov 2006
To: ALL
Tell all of the losers that the votes for their opponents "Didn't Matter". Tell them in Virginia that their votes don't matter. Tell Donald Rumsfelt and President Bush, the new power
to subpoena that the new Majority now has, "Doesn't matter" I'm willing to bet it matters to Pelosi, Cheney and Rowe. Mattering is a matter of the side of the fence your on when your "OX is getting gored".
Some of us are old enough to have been in school when they taught civics.
My high school civics teacher could teach from experiencee about the
development of government from WW I through the Korean War Era, having taught
over fifty years. and some of us paid attention, learned something, picked up principles
morals and ethics, or at least learned what they were about and how they applied to
government.
Is the message "It doesnt matter" progressive or regressive? Negativity, defeatism, apathy and sloth, not exactly the qualities you think of being entertained by entrapaneurs seems to be OK when it comes to voting. Or are they part of a political approach, a form of propaganda designed to keep people from voting or wanting to vote. (One of my istructors
taught that the ignorant masses had no business voting and could not be trusted with
governanace.) If that could be, then who would benefit from such an attitude? The wealthy, the powerful, the Corporations and Big Business are certainly in the minority so they must balance the scales by exercising power, politics, psychology and public opinion. If you know history as it applies to public relations, it just makes sense. Knowing what your own best interests are and promoting them is really just good business.
Ward
(Never to old to learn)
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#63]
8 Nov 2006
To: GBengraver [#59] 8 Nov 2006
I agree with you on several points...I'm fed up with the "new" republican party, and long for the days of the Regan Conservatives.....
I look forward to the future...It should be entertaining.........
It's our turn to bitch about the management...... (devil)
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#64]
9 Nov 2006
To: GBengraver [#59] 9 Nov 2006
GBengraver,
You are my new favorite off topic poster.
.
From: basehorawards [#65]
9 Nov 2006
To: bobkat [#56] 9 Nov 2006
But since when is it the role of the federal government to provide us with that?
I would imagine that if put under the microscope 90% of what the federal government does is unconstitutional. The powers and responsibilities of the federal go0vernment are explicitly spelled out in the constitution. Health care is NOT on the list.
Go to www.senate.gov and pick a bill, any bill, and read the "Interstate Commerce Clause" in that bill. That is the overused excuse for most of what is done by the feds. Reading some of them it is amazing how much they have to stretch reality to justify the bill. It would be a joke if it wasn't so serious.
We were making progress with original intent judges but with the senate now under democratic control that will come to a screeching halt. There is no way that they will confirm any judges that rule using the constituion as the basis. Rather we will only get judges who will look at the constitution and see things that are not there or will look at how people "feel" - not relevant. Or, even worse, look at the constitutions of other nations.
Private business and charities used to do a lot of what the federal government does now. And the did it for less money, more accountability and better. And people supported the ones they liked instead of being forced to pay for programs they we are opposed to on constitutional, moral or religious grounds.
The government that governs best governs the least. to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson
From: GBengraver [#66]
9 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#64] 9 Nov 2006
Thank you.
Greg
From: bobkat [#67]
9 Nov 2006
To: basehorawards [#65] 9 Nov 2006
We are in agreement. The only thing I think the government should do on the healthcare issue is limit the amount of pain and suffering awarded in malpractice suits to bring insurance costs down.
I am with you; we have waaaaay to much government interference in our lives now. With the democrats in power, expect that to rise exponentially. They know what we need better than we do.
From: GBengraver [#68]
9 Nov 2006
To: bobkat [#67] 9 Nov 2006
So, in your opinion, the reason health care costs are so high is because of people who have been injured and maimed by doctors ineptness???
That doesn't make sense to me.
If they want less lawsuits, they should do a better job, make less mistakes.
When your car insurance, home owners insurance etc. goes up do you go to your boss and demand a raise because your insurance has gone up?
I guess you could try but I doubt it would get you too far.
Yet doctors and insurers claim the reason they have to increase rates and prices is due in part to the raising cost of malpractice insurance. That is absurd.
How many doctors do you see driving 15 year old cars or living in low rent apartments because they cannot make a living due to the cost of malpractice insurance?
0?
Health care costs are raising at more than 5 times the inflation rate.
Why? Not because of lawsuits.
Should only people of means have a right to quality health care?
As an American, I always felt that if I have been fortunate enough to have financial success as a result of my being able to take advantage of what this great country has to offer, I also have a responsibility to help those who are not as fortunate.
I am not even close to being rich, sometimes wonder how I am going to pay my bills, but feel very blessed that I am where I am.
There are alot of people alot worse off than me and I look at paying taxes as part of the cost of having the privilage of living in this great country.
Wow, I need to put my soapbox back in the closet. ;-)
Greg
EDITED: 9 Nov 2006 by GBENGRAVER
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#69]
9 Nov 2006
To: bobkat [#67] 9 Nov 2006
Your argument here reminds me of when I lived in an Ultra Conservative town in Washington where most of the people were growers of apples and cherries. The editorial pages and Letters to the Editor would be filled with the growers B*tch'n about all the lazy good for nothing bums on welfare.
Than when there was a crop failure the growers were crying in their soup wanting the Government to step in with $$$ for them and I would laugh like hell listening to them trying to explain that what they want is different from welfare.
I won't even get into the Government paying farmers not to grow crops.
From: GBengraver [#70]
9 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#69] 9 Nov 2006
That is funny.
I'm a little suprised at how many Dems you Montanians have elected to the Senate thorughout the years.
I always thought that the western states tended to be conservitive.
Goes to show you what I know.
Greg
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#71]
9 Nov 2006
To: bobkat [#51] 9 Nov 2006
I am not smart enough to know how to solve the problems of the world and I am really glad it is not my job. It is my job to look at the philosophies of the candidates who are running for office and see if I agree or disagree. I have certain criteria that are important to me and if a candidate of any party shares those philosophies then it is my job to delve further into who they are and then make a decision as to who I will vote for. The government that we have recently had has not met my particular criteria.
Dee
From: bobkat [#72]
9 Nov 2006
To: GBengraver [#68] 10 Nov 2006
Malpractice suits are not the only reason, but it is a big part of the problem. It is not just doctors who get sued; providers of anything from medical equipment to drugs to basic supplies are sued because people stand to make a lot of money. Unnecessary tests are done just to protect from lawsuits; that costs insurance companies money, and the costs are passed on to the consumer. People who are injured by medical mistakes should be compensated for their injuries, but huge awards for "pain and suffering" just cause people to sue thinking they will get this big payout and be set for life. The reality is, the lawyers make most of the money.
It should make perfect sense to anyone in business for themselves. When your costs go up, you have to raise prices to your customers, either that, or you won't stay in business long.
0?
Health care costs are raising at more than 5 times the inflation rate.
Why? Not because of lawsuits.
I don't think a doctor should have to live in poverty after spending several years and hundreds of thousands of $ on education.
OK, so why? I have given you a plausible cause for at least part of the problem, as well as a possible solution. What have you got? You wouldn't be one of those "all blow and no show" democrats would you? If you are, you had better come up with a plan soon; just bitching about how things are is not going to be enough now that you have the power.
From: UncleSteve [#73]
10 Nov 2006
To: bobkat [#72] 10 Nov 2006
We are losing all the wonderful individual practicioners that could give a patient the time to explain and comfort rather than just the present
"Nurse! Next!" we hear so often.
Message 5262.74 was deleted
From: gt350ed [#75]
11 Nov 2006
To: ALL
Overall, not much will change. Same old ineptitude on the part of Congress. For the most part, the REAL players are still the same on both sides of the aisle. The Democrats now have a "majority" in name only. It's slim, just as the Republicans had before them. For a decade, this has been a do-nothing Congress way beyond what we would consider typical "do-nothing". The Republicans couldn't get anything done, and the Democrats will not be any different.
There is NOT unanimity(?) among the Democrats. Just as there was none among the Republicans. Moderate Dems will not agree with certain left-wing proposals, and may even side with moderate Republicans, God forbid.
In the end, nothing will get done; EXCEPT for Iraq. On that, there just may be concensus; to stop funding and "cut & run".
Life goes on. Get back to work. You've got lots of pork to pay for. B-)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#76]
11 Nov 2006
To: gt350ed [#75] 11 Nov 2006
Ed,
I think something will get done. With two years until national elections, it's time to begin running for office again.
Heaven forbid, any substantial work take place, in the meantime.
I hope to be wrong with that prediction.
EDITED: 11 Nov 2006 by DGL
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