“Reducing entitlements is hard. That's why I bitch and moan and complain about every increase in them we get. I'd like to reduce the size of all of it EXCEPT the military.” – DJ
Exactly which funding do you wish to eliminate? Almost all of it has already been reduced and reduced over the years. And, the military continues to be funded at a higher rate than all of the other militaries on the planet combined. Long ago, it was decided that the US economy would be based upon the military industrial congressional complex with the results we have. IF you wish to keep all of the current funding for the military, your thinking files against the wishes of the military itself. They do not want many of the programs that congress has forced upon them providing systems that do not work and have one function, to channel public money into the producers of arms…the absolutely most expensive type of entitlement imaginable. “I think states could take up a lot of the slack. I think people pay closer attention to and understand better local politics and problems over those of other states and tax money would be better utilized with less waste if kept local.” – DJ While an interesting thought, this has already been done. IF one examines the cutting of federal funding over, say, the last decade, the burden has shifted to state and local governments. Most are now broke. You can verify this if you wish. The same for county and city governments etc. “Private charities could take up the slack and would be much better at weeding out the cheaters.” – DJ So, you think that non-profits are more effective than the public sector and/or government? Having been directly involved in non-profits for many years now (as well as local government), the truth is that the result of draconian legislation making the fiscal reporting requirements many times more difficult than that of the private sector and with more dire results if an ‘I’ is not dotted or a ‘t’ is not crossed, congress has caused more labor to be involved in agencies that already were thread bare before the new requirements. And, in times of economic downturn, who does one go to for money? Certainly not non-profits. “Yes, I'd like to see FEMA and Homeland Security eliminated. I'm not against the Federal government supplying extra aid(cash) after a disaster but them just moving in and taking over is a little creepy.” – DJ Don, how do you support “supplying extra aid(cash)” to people after a disaster and at the same time taking away support for the infirm? … giving more money to the military after the corporate bailout, largest in history which could have funded universal health care many times over? Perhaps we have differing views of the function of government. Since you have said that treaties and laws are to be broken, I guess I will have to give up using the constitution as a reference here…what criteria do you use then? “I dislike the way government is run. It's an antiquated system in this age of technological advances. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to meet, debate and vote physically anymore. Reps could stay in their home states and do all the work they need to do using video conferencing or proxy. Most of them vote party line anyway. All this plane hopping and campaigning should be unnecessary. Stick 'em on tv. Do some infomercials Ross Perot style and don't jam up the traffic in my city thankyouverymuch. Honestly, sometimes I think politician's sole purpose in life is to piss me off. Where's my glycerin tablets.... “ – DJ My my! And I thought I liked to rant!!! :-) As much as it is possible for congress to vote in absentia, I feel certain that, to give an example, you and I could hash things out much more quickly face to face. Yes, the notion of debate in an age where one sees most actions to be only selfish would appear to be unnecessary. Of course, IF our representatives were decentralized, it would cost us even more to purchase anything due to the great increase in cost of lobbyists. Yes, ‘most of them do vote party line. . . just like most of the voters vote party line, perpetuating the current situation. Did you vote for local incumbents last time? Almost everyone did. Even the slogan ‘Throw the bums out!’ holds no water any more. Lets see, no campaigning…how would that serve the common good? Or is this not of importance to you? IF they are merely stuck on tv, are we not supporting what is already a culture of charisma and personality?....rivaling even Hollywood? As for infomercials…like Ross Perot…you seem to be requesting that only the extremely rich (top 2%, those who have received enormous tax brakes…) can run for office. TV time is very expensive. And, since ‘our’ airwaves no longer are used for the citizens, corporations will just find it to be another excuse to advertise and increase their profits at the expense of the common good. Oh, and I have never been late for any appointment because a politician was using the public streets, never! Basically, if one dislikes those running for office, one should run themselves. Of course, this alone will never produce the best candidate. And, as for glycerin tabs…You aren’t Fred Sanford, are you???!!! [clutching his chest dramatically] “Oh, this is the biggest one I ever had. You hear that Elizabeth? I'm coming to join you honey.” On Aug 2, 6:15 am, Don Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > We are straying WAY off topic here but I don't mind if you don't mind. > Reducing entitlements is hard. That's why I bitch and moan and > complain about every increase in them we get. I'd like to reduce the > size of all of it EXCEPT the military. I think states could take up a > lot of the slack. I think people pay closer attention to and > understand better local politics and problems over those of other > states and tax money would be better utilized with less waste if kept > local. Private charities could take up the slack and would be much > better at weeding out the cheaters. Yes, I'd like to see FEMA and > Homeland Security eliminated. I'm not against the Federal government > supplying extra aid(cash) after a disaster but them just moving in and > taking over is a little creepy. > > I dislike the way government is run. It's an antiquated system in > this age of technological advances. There is absolutely no reason for > Congress to meet, debate and vote physically anymore. Reps could stay > in their home states and do all the work they need to do using video > conferencing or proxy. Most of them vote party line anyway. All this > plane hopping and campaigning should be unnecessary. Stick 'em on tv. > Do some infomercials Ross Perot style and don't jam up the traffic in > my city thankyouverymuch. Honestly, sometimes I think politician's > sole purpose in life is to piss me off. Where's my glycerin > tablets.... > > dj > > > > On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 2:03 AM, ornamentalmind<[email protected]> > wrote: > > > “… I'll give the liberal bashing a rest. I have to say after reading > > gruff's definitions scrounged from some ivy league website I like the > > sound of and would rather be considered a liberal anyway. I'm all for > > taking risks and getting things done. I'm also all for change. Big > > change. Let's start by cutting the size of the federal government in > > half. That should shake things up. ;-) Or even better, "First, let's > > kill all the lawyers." -jk,” – DJ > > > OK, take a rest if you wish. Truth is I am quite conservative in many > > ways. I wish to conserve the US constitution, rule of law, a free > > press, a government of the people, by the people and for the people… > > etc. > > > OK, IF you wish to cut the federal government in half, shall we start > > with the military?...followed by FEMA.. Homeland Security???? What? Do > > you have a viable list of programs to trash? Almost everyone would > > agree to cut pork…except those who profit from it of course. Of what > > is left, how to reduce? Just during Ronald Reagan’s term(s), the > > funding for mental illness was cut to 1/10th of what it was when he > > took office. This even though dear Nancy was going around promoting > > mental health, along with the oh so wise ‘Just say no.’ campaign. > > > “I do not think being a good man/woman and meaning well is a > > prerequisite for a good President. It seemed to me you were putting > > Bush in the Great Satan category and, while I admit he made some bad > > calls, I would hardly put him in such disreputable company.” - DJ > > > First, I in no way embrace a or any ‘Satan’…great or small so the > > notion makes no sense to me. Secondly, we may agree with some > > necessary qualities for leadership. As to what I thought of W, overall > > I have attacked his philosophy and most of his direct actions, not the > > man himself. As I’ve said, in a way I pity the man…and see him as > > having been greatly impaired most of his life. > > > “Your opinion of the Hostage Crisis and what prolonged it sounds > > ludicrous to me.” – DJ > > So be it. > > > Here is a bit on the roots of middle east terror: > > >http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/3/stephen_kinzer_on_the_us_iranian > > > Carter on Reagan etc. > > >http://www.democracynow.org/2007/9/10/fmr_president_jimmy_carter_on_p... > > > Another view of Carter and Iran: > > >http://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/30/barry_lando_on_the_history_of > > > Oh, and in the same vein, one example of illegal top level activity: > > >http://www.democracynow.org/1996/11/25/10_year_anniversary_of_the_iran > > > Reagan and arms for hostages, including his lies: [PRESIDENT RONALD > > REAGAN:* A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade > > arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me > > that’s true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not.] > > >http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/7/robert_parry_on_what_the_corporate > > > More depth on the hostages situation including Carter’s attempt at > > getting them and Reagan’s part. > >http://www.democracynow.org/2004/2/17/a_multigenerational_family_of_f... > > > “Treaties only work for as long as both parties get a benefit or at > > least a perceived benefit from it. In the real world; promises are > > made to be broken. …” – DJ > > Well, while there is apparent truth here, by extension, laws and > > treaties are but convenient lies, no? IF so, why do we even discuss > > them? Perhaps we live in an era when deception rules. I have theories > > here …but will not impose ‘em. > > > “I deliberately gave you a cartoon personification of a hippie as a > > joke. Feel free to send some back; I can take it. Are you sure you > > don't have some patchouli oil under your bathroom sink? Come on, > > man. Admit it. You've got a peace symbol pin or at least one of > > those Christian fish symbols with the feet on them on your car, don't > > you? Throw me a bone here! I'm going to lose my status as the > > resident clairvoyant. Oh wait, that's Slip...;-) “ – DJ > > > I have never said I haven’t played the part of a hippy, in fact quite > > the opposite. My history includes such a role and many many others. > > This is one way I feel more like a true independent, based on > > experiences in many different socio-economic-cultural strata of > > society. While I have a specific view, I feel I can see most of the > > big picture. > > > As to your last riff on HS, GPAs and selfishness…I must admit to > > fairly high grades, but not nearly what they could/should have been. > > 12 universities…not much other than experience and information in > > numerous areas to show for it. No regrets. As to what can be taken > > away…I too know this. Regardless of my early days, I have spend many > > days without food due to poverty…lived in a room where I would wake up > > in the morning and frost would be covering the inside walls and > > windows. I have slept in roach and/or rat infested hovels. One room > > places with a shared toilet down the hall. This is but one small part > > of my history. > > And, perhaps contrary to what you believe, I too agree that in some > > sense humans are selfish. I’ve addressed this elsewhere but quickly > > will say that to survive, we do exhibit a concern for ourselves. > > > On Aug 1, 10:21 pm, Don Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Orn, I was referring to the actions of our government and our > >> relations with other countries as being representative of America and > >> what is despised or resented by some on the left. I thought that > >> would be clear, sorry. I'll give the liberal bashing a rest. I have > >> to say after reading gruff's definitions scrounged from some ivy > >> league website I like the sound of and would rather be considered a > >> liberal anyway. I'm all for taking risks and getting things done. > >> I'm also all for change. Big change. Let's start by cutting the size > >> of the federal government in half. That should shake things up. ;-) > >> Or even better, "First, let's kill all the lawyers." -jk, don't tell > >> the creator... > > >> I do not think being a good man/woman and meaning well is a > >> prerequisite for a good President. It seemed to me you were putting > >> Bush in the Great Satan category and, while I admit he made some bad > >> calls, I would hardly put him in such disreputable company. Your > >> opinion of the Hostage Crisis and what prolonged it sounds ludicrous > >> to me. It is a very poor tactic to blame an opponent for personal > >> failures. To his credit, I don't remember Carter ever giving credence > >> to this wild conspiracy theory. > > >> I feel great sadness that the US does > >> not honor it’s agreements with other countries.-OM > > >> I get the feeling this list is probably very long but could you just > >> list your top 2 or 3 references for this claim? Treaties only work > >> for as long as both parties get a benefit or at least a perceived > >> benefit from it. In the real world; promises are made to be broken. > >> While I'm sure our congress has it's history of making bone-headed > >> mistakes(just look at our present snafu goofballs) they must have felt > >> it was beneficial to us at the time. I'd like to check it out and see > >> if it was. > > >> I deliberately gave you a cartoon personification of a hippie as a > >> joke. Feel free to send some back; I can take it. Are you sure you > >> don't have some patchouli oil under your bathroom sink? Come on, man. > >> Admit it. You've got a peace symbol pin or at least one of those > >> Christian fish symbols with the feet on them on your car, don't you? > >> Throw me a bone here! I'm going to lose my status as the resident > >> clairvoyant. Oh wait, that's Slip...;-) > > >> I was a goof off in High School and hardly ever studied and squeezed > >> out a minimum GPA to get into college. I didn't know what real > >> studying was and had a rude awakening. I took just about everything > >> for granted and lost much but learned a great deal. I learned to > >> appreciate what you have now because tomorrow it can all be taken away > >> and there will be absolutely nothing you can do about it. I learned > >> then and everything I see reinforces my opinion that people are out > >> for themselves even if they don't think they are. We are selfish when > >> we squeeze out of > > ... > > read more »- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
