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Five Men Arrested for Causing Last Month’s Malibu Wildfire
Thursday, December 13, 2007
You remember this one – the fire that was caused by (cough) Global Warming
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316787,00.html
LOS ANGELES — Arrest warrants have been issued for five men accused of causing a Malibu fire that destroyed more than 50 homes and caused over $100 million in losses, authorities said.
Investigators used surveillance video, receipts and food wrappers to track down the men who were believed to have been at the cave where the fire started, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Thursday.
“As adults we have always taught our children to be aware of the perils of fire,” Baca said. “In this case adults and fire and carelessness … are things that led to this crime.”
Baca identified the men as Brian Allen Anderson, 22; William Thomas Coppock, 23; Brian David Franks, 27; Eric Matthew Ullman, 18; and 19-year-old Dean Allen Lavorante.All five were in custody Thursday evening, Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
(cont’d at above URL)
Kansas I would have sworn Fox News said it was Al-Qaeda. And they even had proof in the form of a three year old report.
Maybe Al-Qaeda is also causing Global warming?
Ok Kansas I apologize, I don’t know you and shoodent have blasted ya’. I sooorrry.
Ken, you were curious. Here’s a linkie to boredom blog.http://tracyphillips.instantspot.com/blog/
Ill tryta fine a cupple of things to post up that might even be interestink.
Even better, an open thread for your own topics.EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO BORING BLOG.
It’s not for everyone though. If you crave attention, and get it by flaming, trolling etc, don’t waste yer time. Nobody responds.
Kansas, take something for that cough!
Looks like kind of a slow topic day.
I am greatly disappointed in Haysville School District for failing to take action when teachers and parents and students informed the administration about a teacher who is a sexual predator. And now, the district is crying innocence in court. Shame on the district for failing to be accountable and failing to take action to protect students.
A sad chapter in public education for the children of Haysville.
Too bad these administrators ca’t or won’t be ethically responsible. Shame. Shame.
Unbelievable! Last night at work we received an email from corporate notifying us of the new “Precious Metals” recycling bin. It is now located next to the paper, aluminum, and plastic recycling bins. We have been informed it will be handy at that location because we can remove our staples from the paper prior to throwing the paper into it’s bin~!
What a waste of time. Al Gore and the rest of the psychedelic flower power, pot smoking, LSD eating, coke snorting, psilocybin Mushroom sucking, it’s the real thing generation can suck eggs! The tree huggers have gone too far. Driving their gas guzzling SUV’s and V8 Ford F950’s with dually tires to the green peace demonstration – and telling me IGotta “be ware”! Legislating and forcing ME to conserve and waste my time picking staples out of paper. Dictating to me that I have to endure smelling my crap for two flushes in their mandatory 1 gallon flush toilet and spend twice as long in the shower in their mandatory flow restricted shower head.
The “me” generation of boomers is starting to discover the real power of the people asThey are sitting there on that sack of seeds.
I fixed them this time. The four bins are at the entryway foyer. So I called the safety manager on them. For once, his job was worth something. The bins were a fire hazard and restricted the emergency exit under the OSHA or NFPA some crap standards (whatever, more regulations). So now, if you want to recycle, you have to walk all the way to the basement to the bins.
And I don’t want to hear anything out of Tom on all this. He needs to realize, along with all the rest of his flower power babybooming tree hugging generation – that his SNOWBLOWER is adding huge amounts to the GW problem. Like the people walking the stairs to recycle – it is much better for his health to use a shovel and enjoy his time in the snow.
Amway, I’ll bet you’re a real jor to work with.Switch to decaf.
Real JOY to work with.
Joy? Is that a religious state of mind or a girls name? Humbug.
I hope my fellow boomers enjoy polluting up the environment with their ATV’s, water jet ski’s, and 400 horse inboard/outboard Johnson’s, with their “save the whale” bumper stickers on the back of their trailers.
Averaging 6,000 in credit card debt, and in debt up to their butt’s, but waiting for Uncle Sam to pave their way to retirement.
Maybe I needed regular coffee.
Very revealing about you Amway.
You work for a living.
You are a Republican?
You are an idiot.
And now you’re an unpleasant disaagreeable idiot.
Good for your employer!
I had to call OSHA and EPA on some of my past employers. I got ‘em fined a couple times.
I figured out where the fire-breathing CONs come from.
They were the SQUARES in high school with their straight-legged blue jeans and their crew cuts, watching all the with-it dudes get the hot, happening babes.
They never got over their rejection.
Just look at Rush Limbaugh or Bill “Major Burns” O’Reilly. Squares then. Squares now.
Amway, I HATE consumerism.WWJB, what would Jesus Buy?I don’t wanna argue any of your points.All the “haves” sicken me during christmas time.While the “have nots” work in sweatshops and slums in third world countries so we can all have our cheap plastic chinese crap, and destroy the world while having the crap.Anyway, it’s easy to be bitter about this insanity, but please don’t. Enjoy life!
Hold the flames down okay?Just tryin to have a conversation here.
The tree huggers have gone too far. Driving their gas guzzling SUV’s and V8 Ford F950’s with dually tires to the green peace demonstration – and telling me IGotta “be ware”!
- from Amway
Amway, I think you misunderstand. It isn’t “be ware” It is “be Aware”.
I really enjoyed your toilet sniffing comment. Maybe you can transfer these insightful and valuable skills to composting?
Very revealing about you, JR.
You don’t work for a living now, but you say you turned in former employers (plural) and got them fined. Gee, I wonder why no one wants to hire you now? (Yet you want SCHIP and other government entitlements to cover the cost of needed things for you. As was pointed out yesterday 3/4 of Americans provide these things for themselves. Hmmmmmm)
Is it flaming to throw a rope to a drowning man who is too arrogant to grab it?
I want you to think about something Amway.
I know we don’t DO that in America much anymore.
Somewhere, sometime, ore is mined out of the ground. At expense of energy, that ore is refined into steel or whatever staples are made of.
This raw staple material is shipped (more energy) to a facility for rolling and other processing.
Then it is shipped ( more energy) to another place where it is made into staples.
Oh I know a staple seems a small thing. But look how much energy and work went into it just so you could get ticked off about being asked not to throw it away.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/mikehuckabee/story/0,,2227378,00.html
Huckabee took thousands in gifts, records show· Presents belie humble image of former governor· Businessman was donor to presidential frontrunner
Daniel Nasaw in WashingtonFriday December 14, 2007
Guardian
A $1,000 pair of cufflinks from a supporter, tens of thousands of dollars of clothing from a wealthy Little Rock businessman and thousands in gift certificates and cash from staff and appointees were among the lavish gifts given to Republican presidential candidate and unexpected frontrunner Mike Huckabee while he was governor of Arkansas.
The gifts fell within Arkansas’s ethics rules but have raised questions among the governor’s political opponents and ethics analysts at a time when scrutiny of the candidate is intensifying, and are at odds with the humble persona Huckabee has adopted on the campaign trail.
“Why are these people giving? The reason they’re giving is [he's] a public official,” said Robert Stern, president of the Centre for Governmental Studies, a non-profit ethics research organisation. “It’s a business decision. They’re going to get at least recognised by the governor.”
It has previously been reported that when Huckabee and his wife, Janet, left the governor’s mansion, they registered at a department store for gifts to fill their new home.
Much more at link.
*****
Please, God, let it be Huckabee . . .
I happen to be self employed commentatorkansas.
Unlike you, I get no welfare check.
And yes, I do think the self employed and others among the working poor should have health care for their kids.
I think ALL Americans should have access to affordable health care.
next.
“3/4ths of Americans handle health care for themselves.”
Well, that depends on how one defines “handles.” A lot of so-called health care has 20-80 clauses, meaning that if you go in for an operation, you still have to pay 20 percent.
Doesn’t sound like much, does it?
But what is 20 percent of the million dollars one might rack up in fighting cancer over ten years?
Am I to assume, then, Crapn, that you want the Nanny State to provide 100% of care for 100% of the people?
Another example– even though I take excellent care of my teeth, one of my molars developed a crack. I tried having it filled with light-bond composite (a kind of super-glue), but as the DDS said it would, it only lasted awhile.
I needed the standard treatment — endodontics (root canal) and a crown. Knowing I had “full dental” from work, I said “sure, no problem.”
Well, then endodontics was essentially covered, but after they nickled and dimed me with deductibles and co-pays, I ended up with an 800 dollar bill for the crown.
That’s no problem for me, because I save my money. But for a working class couple with house payments and some kids, that’s a major unbudgetted financial burden in addition to paying what they THOUGHT was good coverage . . .
Ignore tator tot.
Tator tot will become enraged, wave his arms, and get his posts pulled.
You should never “assume”, Comment Tater.
Because when you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME.
More of U than ME though . . .
Agreed, JR.
Good advice.
Cute joke, Crapn… One from 2nd grade, I believe. (Beneath even you.)
It was in the form of a question, as you may have noticed. A question to which you did not respond.
I live in Wichita Kansas, United States of America, 2007.
Know what I saw the other day?
I saw a man eating out of a trash dumpster.
This means:
We have an attitude in this country where it is thought perfectly ok to waste food.
We have human beings in this country so left behind that they must SURVIVE on what the marginally better off (poor neigborhood) throw away.
And I live in the United States of America in 2007.
(Chuckles…)
The king and queen of pulled posts accuse others of being enraged.
Two Muslim mothers are sitting in a cafe chatting over a pint of goat’s milk.
The older of the mothers pulls her bag out and starts flipping through pictures and they start reminiscing.
“This is my oldest son Mohammed. He’s 24 years old now.”
“Yes, I remember him as a baby,” says the other mother cheerfully.
“He’s a martyr now, though,” mum confides.
“Oh, so sad dear,” says the other.
“And this is my second son Kalid. He’s 21.”
“Oh, I remember him,” says the other happily. “He had such curly hair when he was born.”
“He’s a martyr, too,” says mum quietly.
“Oh gracious me,” says the other.
“And this is my third son. My baby. My beautiful Ahmed. He’s 18,” she whispers.
“Yes,” says the friend enthusiastically, “I remember when he first started school.” !
“He is a martyr, also,” says mum, with tears in her eyes.
After a pause and a deep sigh, the second Muslim mother looks wistfully at the photographs and says…
“They blow up so fast, don’t they?”
How was the food JR?
I don’t know what the best answer to our health care problems are in this country.
But I know we can do better than what we’ve got.
One quick fix would be for gov’t to regulate the industry more–force it to cover people who they refuse to cover and require coverages that aren’t required now.
Also, our so-called doctor shortage is entirely the result of medical schools creating a monopoly on how many MD’s are graduated.
You want “free market” competition?
That’s exactly what we DON’T have for any number of reasons in this country.
Am I to assume, then, Crapn, that you want the Nanny State to provide 100% of care for 100% of the people?
Posted by: Comment Tater
Yes you may.
Capn is part of the great United Socialist States of America campaign. Healthcare is just the tip of the iceberg. It will become a monster just like the farm bill on the next thread.
Once a socialist starts to manipulate society – the greed never ends.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
And Capn is another one great at name calling and belittling. He knows nothing about me, but posts about his high school days and mine like we know each other. And crys to the monitor and thinks he is part of the solution, when he is the problem.
And J R reveals himself with his name calling. I don’t know if it’s a split personality or multiples. He is part of the 10%.The 10% of society sucking off the rest of us. They exist everywhere. There always will be that 10%. Even in prison. The 10% bad guys at the top. Corrections have established that if you remove the 10% from the environment, the next 10% rise up.
But he is good at calling other posters names and then crying to the monitor about “Trolls”.
Once a hypocrite always…….
Yup, looks like we hit pretty close to home. Ouch.
Sorry about the rough time you had getting “swirlies,” AmWay. I woulda stuck up for ya had I been there . . .
We have human beings in this country so left behind that they must SURVIVE on what the marginally better off (poor neigborhood) throw away.Posted by: J R
It is part of the natural selection – evolutionary even.
Think of Dung Beatles. They eat the crap the water buffaloes drop. Full of nutritious material – they recycle the leftovers of other animals.
Much better the food get eaten than fill our overflowing landfills.
Thanks for the thoughtful answer, Crapn, even though I disagree with your solution.
And I would not only disagree with the suggestion that med school are to blame for the doctor cruch, it is simply inaccurate. For the past 10 to 15 years med schools have had difficulty recruiting the brightest minds for careers in medicine. It’s more difficult to get into Physical Therapy school than med school. While a large percentage of the brightest people formerly gravitated toward medicine, many are now choosing careers in dentistry and law. There are several reasons for this, but less government and insurance regulation, fewer hours “at work” and higher pay are certainly among those factors. While the work hours may never change for physicians, the fact that insurance, medicare, torts and governmental hoops make it difficult to practice straightforward medicine is certainly high of the list as to why people choose careers in other areas–not some silly, simplistic notion that med schools limit classes. Geez…
And by the way, lowering the entrance requirements for med school is not the answer. Would you want a doc no smarter than you treating you?
A working person who bashes other poor working people and PROUDLY votes Republican.
You are very reminiscent of the dung beetle American way.
Amway, remember:
Do not feed the trolls.
I figured out where the fire-breathing CONs come from.
They were the SQUARES in high school with their straight-legged blue jeans and their crew cuts, watching all the with-it dudes get the hot, happening babes.
They never got over their rejection.
Just look at Rush Limbaugh or Bill “Major Burns” O’Reilly. Squares then. Squares now.Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 09:21 AM
——————————————————————–
You would be very surprised Capn. Your stereotype is all wrong, and is intended to insult the very group you are jealous of, and you despise because of their success.
You would not believe how many juvenile delinquents, party animals, members of rock bands, I’ve known who are now professional, clean-cut hard-working conservatives. (Oh, and we had our share of babes! As if that is the measure of anything other then your ability to breed.)
There are two common elements of all Conservatives: Hard-work and Self-reliance.
Difficult for Liberals to understand, I know. Isn’t public education wonderful? The schools teach our kids that government is there to take care of everybody from the cradle to the grave.
1/2 believe that crap, while the other 1/2 sees that freedom and pride of personal independence and responsibility is of great value, and should not be sacrificed for the perceived ‘comfort’ of an all-powerful and all-controlling government nanny.
Capn, the only thing you’ve figured out is how to legally extort money from those who earn it. Proud to be in the Socialist “gimme” crowd? Ya, that’s cool, bragging to your babes about the size of your welfare check.
Ya, that’s cool, bragging to your babes about the size of your welfare check.
Posted by: Max | December 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM_____
Oh, Max, you do make me laugh.
You may be on to something here… If you take some form of socialism viagra, you can brag about the size of your welfare check.
Max–
You lead a rich fantasy life.
Your observations are wrong on so many levels, I’m not going to dignify it with a response.
Tater–
Maybe you could have your “staff” (hahahaha) check on your statement: “For the past 10 to 15 years med schools have had difficulty recruiting the brightest minds for careers in medicine. It’s more difficult to get into Physical Therapy school than med school.”
That is total crap. A good friend of our family just got into medical school and he graduated top of his class from a fine local high school (the IB program at East) and an excellent private college.
He had to work really hard to get in and didn’t get accepted the first time around. I see no evidence that med school applicants are less prepared than previously.
Crapn,
Do you understand anecdotal evidence as opposed to national trends? Your “I see no evidence” comment is based on….. Let’s see… A good friend of your family. How thorough your research! You have no clue about statiscal data concerning med school admissions from this morning, much less from the past decade–but that doesn’t stop you from making broad judgments.
As I asked earlier, would you want someone no smarter than you treating you?
Socialism Viagra, that’s funny commentator.
Socialist benefits now include viagra so that the ‘poor’ sitting at home have something to do.
They can’t even get it up without Government’s help!
Oh, and BTW, Crapn, as I said the other day, my staff is keeping tabs on you. I’m reading their report from yesterday as I sip coffee, have a new Quick Trip cinnamon roll, and fight back facist liberals on this blog.
(This cinnamon roll is really good.)
Okay, fine, but at least my statement was based on some evidence.
Yours is based on your saying so.
I don’t have time to refute it now, but I may get back to it later.
It doesn’t pass the smell test.
But maybe you can get your “staff” on it (hehaha).
Not having a “staff,” I gotta get busy elsewhere.
Cheerio.
Concerning my 10:25 post, I regret that I forgot to include “sinisterly and masterfully direct covert operations against liberals” in the list of my current activities. Please insert above listed activity after, “as I sip coffee…” Comment Tater regrets the omission.
Mary Caruso Mrage
GUN VICTIMS TREBLE UNDER NEW LABOUREXCLUSIVEBy Vincent Moss 03/09/2006
THE number of people hurt or killed in firearms incidents in London rose to a record high of 1,221 last year, it has emerged.
Home Secretary John Reid admitted the figure has more than trebled since Tony Blair came to power in 1997, when 401 people in the capital were shot. The new toll includes 38 deaths.
Last night, the increase sparked demands for action. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone said: “Many of these guns are being shipped in illegally from overseas.
“We want the Government to set up a national border force and combine the police, customs and immigration.”AdvertisementClick here to find out more!
The Home Office said: “The Government is absolutely clear gun crime will not be tolerated.”http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17670386&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=gun-victims-treble-under-new-labour–name_page.html
This in a nation where guns are banned. Think about it.
Also, our so-called doctor shortage is entirely the result of medical schools creating a monopoly on how many MD’s are graduated.
You want “free market” competition?
That’s exactly what we DON’T have for any number of reasons in this country.Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 09:52 AM
——————————————————————–The market (though not free) is impacting the number of people entering medical schools.
HMO’s (a precursor to National Socialist Medicine) now impact doctors in a couple of ways:
1. DECREASE DOCTORS PAY. HMO’s control a participating doctor’s pay, reducing the doctors pay considerably.
2. INCREASE DOCTORS EXPENSE. HMO’s require a diversion of a doctor’s time and expense to seeking pre-approval for any treatments and processing the red-tape claim forms of the HMO’s.
Did you know Doctors must now spend time on the phone with the HMO’s talking to some high school graduate $10/hour clerk, to argue with the HMO to approve treatment for the doctor’s patients?
Yet the HMO has ZERO malpractice liability if the proper treatment is not approved by the HMO.
The Doctor incurs all the risk, while being controlled by the HMO.
So let’s see, less pay for Doctors, higher medical school tuition, long working hours and much work involved – the current generation is not interested in less pay for more work.
At a time when boomers are aging and America ages into the bracket that requires the most medical care, doctors shortages are developing.
And National Healthcare will only make this problem worse, by driving down the salaries of doctors even further, and by controlling the doctors even more then the HMO’s are today.
Heckler,
They need more laws to ban guns. The laws they have are not banning them enough. If they have more laws to ban them, there won’t be any deaths or injuries by guns because they will be better banned. Don’t you get it?
Max,
While there are certainly bright minds practicing Medicine in Great Britain, they also have a deficit of smart people wanting to practice medicine for exactly the reasons you pointed out above… but those reasons should be multiplied by a large factor because they are completely socialized. (BTW, do you recall the case of the bus and tube bombers, at least one of whom, IIRC, was an imported physician? They are having to take what they can get, because many of the smart people there are choosing others things for careers.)
“They blow up so fast, don’t they?”
Great, Dennis Casey.
It’s a tough battle CT, fighting the 50% of this country that is wanting pure Socialism.
I might join them if I benefited personally, but I know in the long-run, my kids and grandkids would pay the price if I did.
And they call Liberals compassionate?
It’s a tough battle CT, fighting the 50% of this country that is wanting pure Socialism.
I might join them if I benefited personally, but I know in the long-run, my kids and grandkids would pay the price if I did.
And they call Liberals compassionate?
On the Dr. shortage; med schools are expanding at a record rate — and studies show that increasing the numbers of doctors has no effect on health care; it just increases expenses. Also reported in The Atlantic. The American daily calorie has increased by about 1000 calories per year since 1960 or so. (Can’t remember exactly) Exactly the amount of calories accounted for by increased consumption of soft drinks. The health care crisis in this country, and health crisis are both directly caused by the soft drink industry. Know your enemies. Stop pop and we won’t need the docs.
Max I think you hit the nail on the head.
The only way they can steal from others, is to pull out the “it’s for the poor” card. Point to the man eating out of a garbage can, and try to make the world feel guilty and responsible for him.
Then, pass a law and legally take the money from a worker. Problem is, there will ALWAYS be someone else at the garbage can.
Social Engineering to resolve this might include:
1. Ban garbage cans. Recycle everything and mulch.
2. Ban street walkers from rummaging through other peoples garbage.
3. Enforce the laws we already have on the books about eating garbage.
4. Fast Food Tax. Create a new tax on all the Big Mac’s and French Fries sold. This money will be used to place fresh meals in the trash cans. Socialists would have the revenue going to poor houses to distribute the food, but it would be much more direct and I think effective to just put the happy meals straight into the dumpsters.
**”They blow up so fast, don’t they?”
Great, Dennis Casey.**
Great? Tacky and a definite scrollover, for sure.
Just got home from London. Big news over there is the doctor shortage. Seems government health care doesn’t attract the best minds like the free market system.
However, socialized medicine is great if you don’t mind waiting 14 months for you’re pregnancy test.
I hope my fellow boomers enjoy polluting up the environment with their ATV’s, water jet ski’s, and 400 horse inboard/outboard Johnson’s, with their “save the whale” bumper stickers on the back of their trailers.
Averaging 6,000 in credit card debt, and in debt up to their butt’s, but waiting for Uncle Sam to pave their way to retirement.
Posted by: American Way | December 14, 2007 at 09:06 AM
Dang! Where’s the end of the line? This boomer wants to get in on all of that!
No ATV, jet skis, boat (even a canoe), SUV, pickup of any kind, or bumper stickers here. And my credit card debt isn’t even close to half of $6000. Didn’t smoke pot, do drugs, drop out or even get a chance to protest the Vietnam “War”.
All that rant because of STAPLES? Are you sure you don’t have one of them stuck where the sun doesn’t shine?
That’s funny, Hank!
I know several people in Great Britain (and Canada) who say exactly the opposite.
Rox,
Is there a way I could get in touch with those ppl you know in GB? How many are there, and, if possible, I’d like their contact info.
HillaryCare! will control doctor’s salaries. No question. The problem will get worse.
One approach we could take today though is this:
1. Allow HMO’s to be sued for Malpractice.
2. Limit the tax deductibilty of administrative expenses by HMO’s to 10% of net written premium income, such deductibility to be further reduced if the HMO increases it’s annual premiums at a rate faster then inflation.
3. Limit attorney fees and costs for medical malpractice cases to 25% of any settlement or $100,000 whichever is lower.
4. Limit malpractice claims to actual damages only, no punitive damages allowed.
5. Mandate $20 minimum co-pay every time a doctor is seen. (Studies have shown a small co-pay is the most effective single means to reducing unecessary visits to doctors)
6. Mandate a $10 minimum co-pay for prescriptions.
7. Mandate each insurance companies offer a low-cost/high deductible option for everyone, including those who do not pass underwriting criteria. Such a plan would cover 100% of medical expenses beyond $10,000 per year, 80% of medical expenses beyond $5,000 per year, and no coverage for the first $5,000 in medical expense.
You NEVER see Congress (most of whom are attorneys) passing legislation to limit the income of attorneys, but they sure don’t mind limiting the income of doctors and other working people.
These are just a few steps, not a comprehensive solution, but part of a solution.
Instead of the Government taking over the health care system, they should be taking some steps like these.
Max,
I was looking for our initial draft of for the Chasism dictionary, but evidently he had the Blog Mommy pull it. Did you retain a copy, or do we have to start all over?
Ok
If you don’t have anything kind to say and you don’t want to help. Just ignore this.
A lot of you know Julie. Some have even met her.
As you know, her husband has been very ill. He was in the midst of an outdoor project when he fell ill. He won’t be well enough to finish it for some time. In the meantime, the side of their house is exposed to the elements. Inside, her kids including baby are cold because of the exposed wall.
I am volunteering and I am looking for volunteers to visit Julie and finish the work. It is outdoor work. Julie says it is fairly simple. All the materials are ready. Tools are not a problem. The project will take about an afternoon to complete depending on the numbers helping.
Julie lives about 30 minutes outside of Wichita. I can take my dad’s truck and have room for 5.
We can wait for a nice day.
Free pizza and drinks.
How about it?
Am Way, I think you are being too generous with the happy meals.
They have toys in them.
And Door King was right, Americans are eating too many calories today and 1/2 the country is obese.
And obesity is leading to more cancer, more heart disease, more diabetes, etc…all leading to higher medical costs.
Food for those on welfare should be limited (electronically by debit card) to basic food groups to include:
1. Lower cost fruits and vegatables.
2. Beans.
3. Whole grain bread, low-sugar high-fiber low-cost cereal.
4. Meat that is under $3/lb.
5. Skim milk.
6. Nothing else beyond 1-5.
This would cut welfare costs, AND put people on a healthier diet.
Heavy snow forecast for WichitaBY STAN FINGERThe Wichita Eagle
Snow will be falling in Wichita by the time the evening commute commences, forecasters warn, and it won’t stop until late Saturday morning.
“This has the potential to be the heaviest snow so far this winter season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Bowman said.
The weather service has issued a heavy snow warning from noon today until noon Saturday for an 11-county area, including Sedgwick, Harvey, Butler, Sumner, Kingman and Reno counties.
The heaviest snowfall is expected to be in an area between Hutchinson, Newton and Wichita.
About 6 inches of snow are forecast for Wichita, and higher amounts are anticipated north and west of the city. A little more than two inches of snow fell on Nov. 23.
The first flakes from this latest storm should be falling by about 4 p.m. today, Bowman said.
“Originally, I was getting concerned about the rush hour,” he said, “but it looks like stuff will really come in later…so that’s kind of fortunate.”
Check Kansas.com for updates.
Now we know where all that snow from the Arctic is going. :)
Oh and do not be intimidated by the project. There is no heavy lifting. Don’t underestimate your ability to help.
Commentator, can you copy and paste real fast?
LOL…yes!
:-)
Max,
Those were not my solutions. I am smart enough to realize there will always be someone getting into the garbage others throw out.
My post was my attempt at social engineering the masses. I was trying to look through their eyes, and guess at what our federal bureaucrats would do.
I imagine the nations early attempts at this problem began somewhat like your list.
And then some socialist came along and said, “Can we give them a little CHEESE with that whine?”
And there you have social engineering in a nutshell. When government get’s involved trying to do good for society, they end up making things worse than before. With some exceptions.
COMMENT TATOR (I might have but couldn’t find your 12:55 main definition post on 12/11):
So, just keep it up. And you will be dealt with by those in the proper places to handle such attitudes as yours.Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 07:23 PM
This is a Liberal Chasism. Totally irrational emotional outburst, fired-up by a catalyst of hate and bigotry.
When backed into a logical corner, the Chasist type will scratch and snarl like a pussy cat backed into a corner between a pool of water and a pack of hungry wild dogs.
Then the infantile Chasist type will go run and complain to his Blog Mommy.
And you will be “dealt with” alright.
The Lib Blog Editor will pull your posts faster then you can say “Super Chasismistic”!Posted by: Max | December 11, 2007 at 07:31 PM
——————————————————————–Comment Tater, trying to keep up with all the forms of Chasism:
Chasism (Definition at 12:55)O’Chasisms (plural)Chasm (superlative)Orchasm (related)Orchasmic (adj.)Chasismist – Combination Socialist/Communist/Marxist.Unchasismic – Unable to experience an Orchasm.
Unchasism – Logical thought used to counter a Chasism.Posted by: Max | December 11, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Comment Tater, I think you missed a couple. I think these should be called – Chasisms.
Well, there are certainly many more ways other than shooting up a church to express those sorts of feelings, Ken…Posted by: Chas. | December 10, 2007 at 06:10 PM
- Really?
——————————————————————–But Ken, the guy didnt exactly telegraph his intentions either!!And as was pointed out earlier, the attack earlier was at least 12 hours before, and quite some distance away…Posted by: Chas. | December 10, 2007 at 06:12 PM
- The two shootings were a whopping 80 miles apart. Ya think 12 hours is enough time to travel 80 miles?
- Oh, and how many mass murderers telegraph their intentions? “Say Everyone! (Waving weapon around) Guess what I’m gonna do!”——————————————————————–I dont recall ever seeing armed security where weapons were hidden… except for Secret Service, or plain clothes detectives…
Posted by: Chas. | December 10, 2007 at 06:13 PM
- How would you SEE the weapons if they were HIDDEN?
Posted by: Max | December 11, 2007 at 11:27 AM
There were many more Comment Tator, and I might find some more later.
Max,
The “enforced” healthier diet for those on welfare will not work for the long term. Those of us who eat what we want will continue to be obese (at least 50% of us), will die prematurely. Those on welfare will live longer, healthier lives. The problem is: who will then support them. Welfare recips deserve better! That’s not very compassionate of you, Max.
JR–
I might be able to help next week, like Tuesday or after.
Do you know my phone number?
Also I maybe can put out the call via my “liberal, socialistic, anti’merican” organization and round up a few likely suspects.
I’ve done a lot of DIY projects and have quite a few tools–portable table saw, compound mitre saw, drills, heat guns, all kind of hand tools.
I don’t have a special cutting tool for cement board.
I’m guessing that Mountain Man will be supervising what we’re supposed to do?
Thanks! Got ‘em! (Bwah ha ha ha!)
Am Way, we’ve obviously over fed the poor in this country.
I couldn’t find a single case of starvation (other then through child abuse) of any American in the last 100 years.
Americans are now Entitled to Everything from cradle to grave and they always want MORE – for doing nothing!
Who wouldn’t want something for nothing? Great deal! Cept somebody has to pay for it.
And that Somebody is The Forgotten Man.
I also have a pick ‘em up truck.
Good lord.
Listen to the arrogant ridiculing the poor.
Truly sickening . . .
And while they do it, the real rich in this country are laughing all the way to the bank at the “willing idiots.”
Email me capn.
You didn’t get to meet Julie yet did you?
She’s real sweet.
I bet she bakes cookies too. She did for the meetup. Killer snickerdoodles.
How Long Do We Have?
About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
‘A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.’
‘A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.’
‘From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.’
‘The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years’
‘During those 200 years, those
nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. >From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. >From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. >From courage to liberty;
4 >From liberty to abundance;
5. >From abundance to complacency;
6. >From complacency to apathy;
7. >From apathy to dependence;
8. >From dependence back into bondage’
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, S t. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:
Number of States won by:Gore: 19Bush: 29
Square miles of land won by:Gore: 580,000Bush: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by:Gore: 127 millionBush: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:Gore: 13.2Bush: 2.1
Professor Olson adds: ‘In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country.Gore’s territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare…’ Olson believes the United State s is now somewhere between the ‘complacency and apathy’ phase of Professor Tyler’sdefinition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation’s population already having reached the ‘governmental dependency’ phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.
Yeah Capn
I can’t stay and see all the wonderful holiday cheer being shared here.
Ya know what gets me?
The folks whining the loudest about being taxed to pay for the “unproductive”?
They sure seem to have the free time to post here about it.
Please Sir, may I have some more?
WHAT!
Sir, may I have more soup please?
MORE?
YOU WANT MORE?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dick Cheney makes 36 million in six months at Halliburton because he “works hard,” but widows and orphans that need government assistance are to be demeaned as parasites.
And those are the self-professed “Christians.”
Unbelievable.
hmmmmmmmmmmm,[Ventura, CA) – As the nation’s culture changes in diverse ways, one of the most significant shifts is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans. A new study by The Barna Group conducted among 16- to 29-year-olds shows that a new generation is more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.
The study of Christianity’s slipping image is explored in a new book, entitled unChristian, by David Kinnaman, the president of The Barna Group. The study is a result of collaboration between Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons of the Fermi Project.
Rising Reactions
The study shows that 16- to 29-year-olds exhibit a greater degree of criticism toward Christianity than did previous generations when they were at the same stage of life. In fact, in just a decade, many of the Barna measures of the Christian image have shifted substantially downward, fueled in part by a growing sense of disengagement and disillusionment among young people. For instance, a decade ago the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society. Currently, however, just 16% of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties said they have a “good impression” of Christianity.
One of the groups hit hardest by the criticism is evangelicals. Such believers have always been viewed with skepticism in the broader culture. However, those negative views are crystallizing and intensifying among young non-Christians. The new study shows that only 3% of 16 – to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals. This means that today’s young non-Christians are eight times less likely to experience positive associations toward evangelicals than were non-Christians of the Boomer generation (25%).
Tv. doesn’t need writers, all they have to do is create programs based on media reports about this admin.! You couldn’t make this stuff up! http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071214/pl_nm/iraq_reconstruction_probe_dc_1
Do you want someone to be your dr. that’s no smarter than you? Could be our next National Experiment. We’ve already answered the question about the presidency.
As you can see, the problem of poor starving children has been with us for hundreds of years. Here’s a solution from nearly 300 years ago. For some reason, it didn’t work:
A MODEST PROPOSAL
A Modest Proposal for prventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick.
By Dr. Jonathan Swift1729
http://books.google.com/books?id=WCsCR6yVPLIC&pg=PA1&lpg=PP1&vq=a+modest+proposal&dq=a+modest+proposal&output=html&sig=nvKJjrqGPVaIGjAeV9Gmv4s85js
Hey J R,
I’m free on Thursdays and most weekends (except this Sunday).
Let me know when and if.
Hank
Taz–
So ancient Athens collapsed because the poor voted themselves the treasury?
There are more democracies in the world today than ever before. Bush pointed that out in a recent SOTU address and it was one of the few facts he got right in it.
The US is far more democratic now than it was initially. Women and minorities can vote for example–even though Ann Coulter has publicly stated she’s against women’s right to vote.
None of the well-established democracies show any signs of collapse because of voters spending the treasury on themselves: Western Europe, US, Canada, Japan etc.
We have some serious problems but we’re nowhere close to “collapse.”
Looks like your Scotsman was full of crap, and that’s the trouble with predictions. You don’t know if they’re true or not until they come true or not.
His weren’t. Obviously.
I live in Wichita Kansas, United States of America, 2007.
Know what I saw the other day?
I saw a man eating out of a trash dumpster.
This means:
We have an attitude in this country where it is thought perfectly ok to waste food.
We have human beings in this country so left behind that they must SURVIVE on what the marginally better off (poor neigborhood) throw away.
And I live in the United States of America in 2007.
Posted by: J R | December 14, 2007 at 09:49 AM
Why did you just not stop him, and either get him something to eat, or give him money yourself. I have frequently done this, my grown children have done this. Why do you need the government to intervene? Just do it yourself. Even if it is only one person, one meal at a time.
Great post, AnnieMoose.
And why? Because of fundamentalist bible beaters who say that if you aren’t rich, God doesn’t love you, and neither do they.
“I’ve come that ye might have life, life in all its abundance,” means that God wants you to be RICH, don’t you know?
They see wealth as a blessing from God, they see the acquisition of wealth as proof of “right living.”
Therefore, if one is poor, one has not lived according to God’s natural and inevitable order, and of course DESERVES to be poor.
No wonder kids are turned off by the arrogance and self-centeredness of a “religion” that justifies whatever the rich and powerful do.
Excerpt from:
“The Forgotten Man”By William Graham Sumner.1
The friends of humanity start out with certain benevolent feelings toward “the poor,” “the weak,” “the laborers,” and others of whom they make pets. They generalize these classes, and render them impersonal, and so constitute the classes into social pets. They turn to other classes and appeal to sympathy and generosity, and to all the other noble sentiments of the human heart.
Action in the line proposed consists in a transfer of capital from the better off to the worse off. Capital, however, as we have seen, is the force by which civilization is maintained and carried on. The same piece of capital cannot be used in two ways. Every bit of capital, therefore, which is given to a shiftless and inefficient member of society, who makes no return for it, is diverted from a reproductive use; but if it was put into reproductive use, it would have to be granted in wages to an efficient and productive laborer.
Hence the real sufferer by that kind of benevolence which consists in an expenditure of capital to protect the good-for-nothing is the industrious laborer. The latter, however, is never thought of in this connection. It is assumed that he is provided for and out of the account. Such a notion only shows how little true notions of political economy have as yet become popularized.
There is an almost invincible prejudice that a man who gives a dollar to a beggar is generous and kind-hearted, but that a man who refuses the beggar and puts the dollar in a savings bank is stingy and mean. The former is putting capital where it is very sure to be wasted, and where it will be a kind of seed for a long succession of future dollars, which must be wasted to ward off a greater strain on the sympathies than would have been occasioned by a refusal in the first place. Inasmuch as the dollar might have been turned into capital and given to a laborer who, while earning it, would have reproduced it, it must be regarded as taken from the latter.
When a millionaire gives a dollar to a beggar the gain of utility to the beggar is enormous, and the loss of utility to the millionaire is insignificant. Generally the discussion is allowed to rest there.
But if the millionaire makes capital of the dollar, it must go upon the labor market, as a demand for productive services. Hence there is another party in interest – the person who supplies productive services.
There always are two parties. The second one is always the Forgotten Man, and any one who wants to truly understand the matter in question must go and search for the Forgotten Man. He will be found to be worthy, industrious, independent, and self-supporting. He is not, technically, “poor” or “weak”; he minds his own business, and makes no complaint. Consequently the philanthropists never think of him, and trample on him.
http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/Best/SumnerForgotten.htm
Listen to the arrogant ridiculing the poor. Capn
It’s better than “reading” your personal email conversations with JR and crew and Julie.
Can’t you poor libs afford an email software program?
Does the government have to give you that TOO?
Dick Cheney makes 36 million in six months at Halliburton because he “works hard,” Capn
Jealousy.
Looks like your Scotsman was full of crap, and that’s the trouble with predictions. You don’t know if they’re true or not until they come true or not.
His weren’t. Obviously.Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 12:24 PM
You talking about Global Warming Capn? Gore said how many years ago that we had 10 years left?
Some just don’t have a vision for the future, and can’t see the forest for the trees.
Why did you just not stop him, and either get him something to eat, or give him money yourself. I have frequently done this, my grown children have done this. Why do you need the government to intervene? Just do it yourself. Even if it is only one person, one meal at a time.
Posted by: littlejohn | December 14, 2007 at 12:27 PM
BECAUSE Liberals are not compassionate, kind, and caring with THEIR OWN money!
If it’s FREE Government money, they want all the handouts they can get!
Hmm, IIRC, Mr. Swift was a satirist, and the pamphlet commonly known as “A Modest Proposal” is an example of this. It’s been a long time since college, however, so I’ll see if I can find a link either substantiating or rebutting my recollection.
“And why? Because of fundamentalist bible beaters who say that if you aren’t rich, God doesn’t love you, and neither do they.”
CapnAmerica, I must say, that is quite a wild and irresponsible accusation. You know, the kind that you make on a regular basis.
Now there are within Christianity, those that are those who are sometimes called prosperity preachers. Who believe that God does want His people to do well financially. There is scriptural support for that, BTW. But they also preach God’s love etc…, mercy and forgiveness. But regardless, they are far from the majority of “fundamentalist bible beaters” as you put it.
So anyway CapnAmerica, I’m glad that you can display your ignorance again and that I’m here to point it out. I do this as a public service.
Stay warm and dry Capn.
Wow, Max. You’ve really worked hard to indoctrinate yourself to the idea that you’re being victimized by the poor, instead of seeing the obvious–that it’s the rich who are doing the victimizing.
The very fact of their success means that they have exploited the system for their advantage.
How can you be victimized by someone who’s barely scraping by?
Halliburton didn’t make billions by providing “good service” to the taxpayers. They made billions in crony capitalism, insider trading, no-bid exclusionary contracts that no one can find out about because they’ve been “classified” by the same gov’t officials that used to work for them.
But the fact that some poor grandma gets free cheese? SCANDALOUS!
“A Modest Proposal” was the very liberal Swift’s satrization of England’s do nothing policy for the starving multitudes they ruled by force in Ireland during the potato famine.
His modest proposal was that the Irish families could sell their babies for an “excellent, savory dish for English gentlemen.” He also pointed out that their soft skin would make fine riding gloves etc.
Runs completely counter to Max’s argument.
Surprised he brought it up.
But then one gets the feeling that given the shallowness of his economic analysis, he may be a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
A quick check turned up the following article in the wiki; not the best source, to be sure, but in the interests of time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal
This seems to reinforce my recollection of the satiric tone of “A Modest Proposal”.
You are correct Vaughn. The article was satire. I thought it fit the thread today though.
(Shhhhh…..Don’t give away the plot though.)
Wow, Max. You’ve really worked hard to indoctrinate yourself to the idea that you’re being victimized by the poor, instead of seeing the obvious–that it’s the rich who are doing the victimizing.
The very fact of their success means that they have exploited the system for their advantage.Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 12:49 PM
So anyone who is rich has not earned that money? They have to exploit others to get rich?
Bill and Hillary Clinton started out poor. Who have they exploited?
Runs completely counter to Max’s argument.
Surprised he brought it up.
But then one gets the feeling that given the shallowness of his economic analysis, he may be a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 12:55 PM
I thought you needed help in YOUR argument Capn.
Also, note my earlier post where I noted that 1)Americans are not starving and 2)Americans are obese.
We are not in a situation in America where the poor are starving – they are gluttons and begging for more!
Aw come on Vaughn, of all people on the blog, I thought you would be able to read 16 pages!
Wouldn’t you just love to see Hillary Clinton stand up and read a more modernized version of The Modest Proposal?
Actually, she DOES have a similar proposal in mind for screwing The Forgotten Man, for the sake of the poor children.
Actually Capn, one reason kids have gotten away from religion are organizations like the National Council of Churches in which the far left has hijacked the membership of the “theme” of the church away from God and directly into one of Secular agenda.
Kids are smarter than you think. They know hypocrites in organized religion when they see it.
The evangelicals, some of them anyway, have been involved with many scandals and that too takes a hit on the social consciousness of the Church.
And of course, the Catholic Priest scandal with all the …well everyone knows what it is.
Thank goodness for the fundamental churches, the small churches which practice their faith and pretty much keep to themselves.
No,not Westboro – that is a cult that has hijacked a denomination name and perverted the truth what God teaches us.
Re taz’s 12:08 PM post,
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp
The forgotten man is one who never speaks up — never makes any noise about his wheel needing greased…
Max, you will never come close to being a forgotten man!! LOL
It’s not that simple, Max. It’s a SYSTEM.
The CONs always want to reduce complex systems to an “individual making free choices.”
It’s big, powerful companies who pass costs they should bear on to the public or the taxpayers.
Big Oil for instance subjected Americans to lead in gasoline for many decades after the first European country (Austria) outlawed it because of proven health risks.
Many tens of thousands of children living by roadways were poisoned by this lead, but the company who profitted paid them nothing for the costs it imposed on them and our society.
It socialized the costs and privatized the profits.
Same way with our offshore petroleum deposits. That oil belongs to every American, but BushCo waived the royalties so that Big Oil gets it for free.
Socialize the cost, privatize the profit.
Or take the estate tax. The few mega rich people in the US owe some of their wealth simply to the fact that they were born into our society. How many people think that Paris Hilton would have the wealth she have based solely on her own merit? Or if she had been born in Botswana?
Let’s see those hands.
So the Hilton family owes something back to the society that enriched them.
But not to the CONs. No, siree, bob. Paris Hilton deserves every penny of daddy’s money because . . . well, because she does.
Socializing the costs, privatizing the profit.
Gee thanks Chas, I think.
Ya know, I had the strangest nightmare. I dreamed I had endorsed Hillary Clinton as President and even called her – “My Girl”! Can you imagine that?
Well, I’m Baaaaaaccccckkkk!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316865,00.html
Even before the first votes are cast, a series of campaign gaffes threaten Hillary’s frontrunner status
In a Race That’s Hers to Lose, Hillary Clinton is FalteringFriday, December 14, 2007
By Judson Berger
WASHINGTON — First there was question planting. Then the polls started to take a turn. Then came the rumors of a campaign shake-up. Then came the “cocaine” story.
The Capn sounds like he is quoting from an old out of print book, “NONE DARE CALL IT A CONSPIRACY” by Gary Allen.
If not, he certainly believes there is some vast all-wing conspiracy out to to enslave us all.
If you can find an old copy of this book, it’s worth the read, just so you understand where the new socialist are coming from.
And it seems there is nothing wrong, with someone willing their wealth to their offspring, as long as you are not rich. If you are, for some strange reason, the government has a greater RIGHT to your belongings than your own children.
Where does this crazy notion come from?
http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=498
Here are some photos brought to you by the National Labor Committee so you can see who’s making the cheap Christmas decorations you’re enjoying this holiday season.
Those damn 12 and 13 year old kids making 26 cents an hour so WalMart can bring its profits for the quarter. They’d be rich if they just worked harder, right, CONs?
It’s their own personal choice. They have no one but themselves to blame.
Click on the link to see the photos . . .
Socialization of costs, privatization of profit = FASCISM.
You will know facism, when it comes, draped in a flag, and carrying a cross!!
Maybe you should visit the factories that make all the cheap “chips” so your computer can run as well Capn. :)
Or your cell phone, chips in your car, refrigerator parts, TV, stereo equipment and some of the clothes you have on your back.
Guess they are past the age of being a delicatessy!
You will know facism, when it comes, draped in a flag, and carrying a cross!!
Posted by: Chas. | December 14, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Head on down to Cuba Chas. The Capn says they have great medical care and you can smoke that fine Cuban cigar without having to worry about smoking zones.
Content-free rebuttal by AmWay.
Thanks, dude. You’re making my argument for me.
The military has grat medical care, too, but I dont want to join them either!! LOL
Actually, Cuba DOES have a longer life expectancy than we do.
Damn facts, always getting in the way of the CONs “reality.”
Gotta go now… back later!! Have a nice day, and remember, no fighting!! Mr. Knadler is watching!
Trollboy,
And _those_ costs are being socialized by protecting the profits of offshore subsidiaries from taxation and tariffs. Oh, you forgot that China has “Most Favored Nation” status, even though it’s a communist dictatorship with an horrific record of human rights abuses? Of course you’ve forgotten.
Forgive me for expecting facts to be a part of this conversation.
Facts have a way of doing that CapN!! Most interesting!!
Actually, Cuba DOES have a longer life expectancy than we do.
Damn facts, always getting in the way of the CONs “reality.”
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Head on down there then Capn.
You can send us a postcard, as long as it is approved by the Cuban Postal Overview board first. :)
American Way, the roots of the federal Estate Tax are deeply planted in the populist feeling of the American public in the early 20th century that we, as a country, should not have a plutocracy. That, and the need for revenue, underlie the idea of the Estate Tax. In other words, there should not be a (for lack of a better term) “landed gentry” whose status was determined merely by inherited wealth, as opposed to those whose wealth came from honest effort. To be sure of the “honest effort”, some portion of the wealth to be inherited was removed as taxation.
Of course, once the Estate Tax was imposed, a whole new area of employment for attorneys and accountants was created, namely Estate Planning. :-)
The “populist” roots are still evident in the law as it exists today, for example a deduction for charitable gifts, to encourage those who have wealth to give it away to charities to escape taxation thereon, and “oh by the way” to (perhaps) do some good for society. The marital deduction, now unlimited, served a practical purpose as well, that was, to allow the surviving spouse (in the early days, almost always the wife) to have a fund from which to support herself and family, as to avoid becoming “needy” and wards of the state. Of course, should the surviving spouse, upon death, have more in her/his taxable estate than that allowed to pass without taxation, then the tax was paid on those remaining assets at her/his death as well. Again, one purpose of this was to avoid wealth accumulation within families.
Learned (?) the above in readings in my Estate Planning class in law school.
The military has grat medical care, too, but I dont want to join them either!! LOL
Posted by: Chas.
Really? Seems to me you were highly critical and blaming Bush about the terrible treatment our Vets were getting at Walter Reed a few months ago.
Is that the great medical care you are referring to? Or do you mean some other military?
In other words, one of the purposes of the Estate Tax was to make the succeeding generations “self reliant”, rather than to be dilettantes, living off wealth not earned by them.
So Amway,
You agree that GW Bush has provided completely substandard care to America’s veterans?
This is a sign of progress, Amway. Welcome to the real world, the one the rest of us inhabit.
I plan to die in Testate Vaughn, so that Attorneys can be gainfully employed. :)
Thanks, Vaughn. That squares with what I thought I knew about it as well.
England had to essentially rid itself of the landed gentry with radical social upheavals, including peasant revolts.
Why the US would want to copy what they got rid of, I don’t know . . .
And for those of you saying that Buffet doesn’t practice what he preaches on taxation, he is giving his estate away to charity through the Bill and Melinda Gates Fund.
Good, Kansas.
If you die with no identifiable heirs, and you claim to be never-married, then your estate escheats to the government.
Capn!!
How DARE you introduce facts into this conversation?
Go be ashamed of yourself.
Kansas, on behalf of myself and my colleagues, thank you. :-)
Capn, don’t have a link to this right at my fingertips, but IIRC, Mr. Buffet has stated that he will “leave” no more than $1 million to each of his children, as there shouldn’t be a need for more…
Mr. Buffet’s gifts through the Gates Foundation placed the same into a very interesting position, as to keep the nontaxable status, the Foundation had/has to increase its giving due to the size of the gifts.
“The “populist” roots are still evident in the law as it exists today, for example a deduction ”
Charitable contribution isn’t quite the same (or any deduction which effects “desired” behavior).
No choice on the tax. It may explain the background or history, but that still does not make it right..
It also does not provide for the type of judgemental beliefs some liberals profess toward the government having an inherent “right” to others property. It does open the door to the idea that the government is entitled to take from one persons property and a beliefe an the entitlement to receive from the government from another person their property. The government OWES the people healthcare for example. And because the government owes people healthcare, then the government has a right to take from others to meet this higher social calling.
It becomes a justifiable theft.
If you die with no identifiable heirs, and you claim to be never-married, then your estate escheats to the government.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Or to some unknown Mohabite who claims to be my second cousin.
You agree that….has provided completely substandard care to America’s veterans?
Never said that Tom. But you help make my point – public or socialized healthcare will exist at the whim of whatever political animal is in power. That is usually more bad news than good.
And you did catch my comment on the Snowplower earlier? We don’t want you increasing GW. It will be much more healthy for you to shovel it yourself.
The Estate Tax is an early example of using taxing statutes to achieve desired social goals, it is true.
BTW, no Federal Estate Tax is owed for estates having a taxable estate of $ 2 million (or less) through 2008; in 2009, the size of the taxable estate which may pass free from federal estate tax increases to $2.5 million; in 2010, there is no federal Estate Tax imposed; and in 2011, the law reverts back, and taxable estates greater than $1 million in value are subject to the federal estate tax, as the law currently exists.
It becomes a justifiable theft.
Posted by: American Way
You call it theft. I call it dues to live in a civilized society.
Every time the county makes me pay property tax or the city sales tax or the state income tax for a school, a road, a policeman, a fireman, a water main, or a downtown arena, it’s taking some of my money and using it for the common good.
It’s not “theft” however, because I have some control of the spending through my votes for elected officials. That’s why Scortino lost IMHO; he voted for the arena and his district didn’t want it.
It’s a messy system with inherent unfairness in it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it better.
And it’s certainly not theft. It’s either that or the anarchy of unfettered capitalism. See the “gilded age” or Victorian England for an idea of what that was like.
Hank/Rox: While travelling the the UK my wife lost her prescription, so we went to a hospital in Glasgow waited for about 25 min., saw a doctor who gave her a ’script after taking down all her particulars, had it filled at the “chemists” paying only for the dispensing fee. A week later in London we had to go to another hospital where we waited for about an hour, had a full work up done which indicated she needed a specific operation (gall bladder), saying it could wait until we got back home. She had the operation within a week of our return. I was astounded that the UK treats tourists N/C! I don’t want to get into any heated discussions about universal insurance coverage etc., just tell our of actual experiences.
In other words, there should not be a (for lack of a better term) “landed gentry” whose status was determined merely by inherited wealth, as opposed to those whose wealth came from honest effort. To be sure of the “honest effort”, some portion of the wealth to be inherited was removed as taxation. Posted by: Vaughn Tolle | December 14, 2007 at 01:39 PM
So, wealth should only be obtained through honest effort. I agree.
Then we should eliminate all welfare.
I met a lady at the dentist. She was the English wife of a military officer serving at Fort Leavenworth. It seems their tour was about up in America. I asked her why she would spend her last few weeks getting her teeth worked on and she responded that it would take her months if not years to get all her treatments done back home. In fact, this lady published the same in her goodbye editorial in the Leavenworth Times newspaper. I don’t know if they keep their old papers, but it could be verified if they do.
And I DO want to get into any heated discussions about universal insurance coverage etc.
I rather thought we’d hear from you Hank.
Julie did too.
We’ll watch for a nice day coming and get the help we can together in the meantime. Shouldn’t take more than a few hours.
Julie says thanks.
Amway? Gosh I’m sure sorry for cluttering up YOUR thread with my TWO and now THREE big posts asking for volunteers.
I don’t HAVE email for everybody.
Too? This blog and the people on it were around long before you graced us with your presence.
Lastly? It would be rude and presumptive to email people asking for help. I put out a call, those who want can answer. It’s no skin off your ashtabula. Kindly butt out.
Littlejohn
I expected the question you asked. That’s why I didn’t finish my story and answer it. I wanted to see what people would say.
Truthfully? When I saw the guy eating out of the dumpster, I didn’t believe it. I’d never seen anything like that before. It…stunned me.
Well, I was walking and walked on by. I didn’t gawk or stare. I didn’t want to make the guy feel bad. The rest of my walk I thought about it.
And yeah I had a forehead slapping V8 moment when I got to the store. SO I got one of those $1 sandwiches. But when I walked back through the area, the guy wasn’t around anymore.
We now return you to Amway’s holiday special.
In other words, one of the purposes of the Estate Tax was to make the succeeding generations “self reliant”, rather than to be dilettantes, living off wealth not earned by them.
Posted by: Vaughn Tolle | December 14, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Self-Reliance, another principal we should ALL live by.
Max, as I said, that (”honest effort”) is one of the underlying biases of the estate tax as originally implemented. Again, to reduce/eliminate the need for “welfare” for the surviving spouse, the marital deduction was made a part of the law, which, in all likelihood, reflected a judgment to give some tax treatment to what is called in Kansas “Allowances to the Surviving Spouse”, in some other states “Dower Rights”, etc.
Wiseman’s Smart Thinking Group
Smart thinking No.1: How to get free lifetime dental care for just $2000 Dollars.
Try networking with your family.Get ten members in your family to contribute $1000. Dollars ea. for two years and send one the kids to a school of dentistry.
Here’s a few prescient quotes from one French historian,Alexis de Tocqueville, upon observing American democracy and its potential declivities.
“A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.”
“All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.”
“Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”
“Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/alexis_de_tocqueville.html
JR, It would be rude and presumptive to use this blog for personal requests.
If these people are your friends, why not call them, or get their email address?
Littlejohn
I expected the question you asked. That’s why I didn’t finish my story and answer it. I wanted to see what people would say.
Truthfully? When I saw the guy eating out of the dumpster, I didn’t believe it. I’d never seen anything like that before. It…stunned me.
Well, I was walking and walked on by. I didn’t gawk or stare. I didn’t want to make the guy feel bad. The rest of my walk I thought about it.
And yeah I had a forehead slapping V8 moment when I got to the store. SO I got one of those $1 sandwiches. But when I walked back through the area, the guy wasn’t around anymore
Posted by: J R | December 14, 2007 at 02:25 PM
Actually, I understand your unconfortableness, your desire to not make him uncomfortable, and your V8 moment. I was not trying to inflame, or flame, or insult. It was a legitimate question. My common beef with those who always want the “government” to do something is, besides the monetary aspect, that government is the remedy of immediate choice. Instead of reaching out and helping a fellow human being. Government should only be the choice of last resort, when nothing else works.
There will always be rich just as there will always be poor.
It is one thing to call on the rich to redistribute their wealth to help the poor.
But is is quite another for people to make claims on how that wealth was derived. It is “honest” to receive wealth from parents who planned, worked hard, invested, and saved a lifetime for that purpose.
My concern is that some Americans have related inherited wealth with sin (which is interesting unto itself with the liberals hating Christian interference in government). Those who say, “Just take their money – it is sinful for them to have it”, or “they didn’t earn it” – are just lying to themselves and others to JUSTIFY government taking the private wealth.
Instead of demonizing the rich and wealthy (well-to-do), we should build statutes to them!
Argue they should pay more because of their abundance. But don’t call it a “right to steal” because they are sinfully rich.Or because of the HOW they came by it.
“Allowances to the Surviving Spouse”
So nice for Big Government to allow people to give the money and property they earned, and paid taxes on already once, to their spouse.
God help us if we get a Control Freak like Hillary Clinton as President. She’ll certainly decide what we are all ALLOWED to have.
Let Freedom Ring SILENT!
Free at last!
Free at last!
Thank Hillary Rodham Clinton, we are Free at last!
(Free of keeping our own assets)
Amway,
I don’t own a snowblower. I don’t think I know anyone who DOES own a snowblower. What the hell are you talking about?
This blog and the people on it were around long before you graced us with your presence.J R
And what pray tell, do you mean by such a remark?
Why not ask whomever gave you a computer to save the world to please give you an email program?They may have one with license for more than one PC. And if they gave you the PC, they can legally still load the software for you.
You’ve done this before. Part of your saving the world image I presume. But that does not make it correct.
I am not being mean when I say this is not the forum for your personal quest, no matter how noble or honorable of you. Why? Because this in not your personal website.
You being here before me is not relevant and is silly.
Again, you cause is probably a good one. But the editor should pull all those posts – it is revealing of the personal habits of people on this blog and presents a security risk you may not even realize (e.g., will know when you are not home, where you will be, who will be there, and potentially where you are going).
Please refrain.
Now let the insults begin (covering my eyes).
Sorry Tom. (I must have you confused with someone else the other day. I don’t remember the thread subject, but they mentioned wanting to buy a snowblower, but the wife wouldn’t play. I thought that was you. Again. I apologize.)
Amway,
I’m gay. I don’t have a wife. I also don’t have a _snow_blower.
You should really pay more attention to what people are saying, Amway, instead of just listening to that cacophony of voices.
that cacophony of voices in your head.
I hit return too soon.
Well Amway?
People I regard a lot higher than you don’t seem to have a problem with it.
And for the record? I bought my computer at an estate sale.
And as to claiming this as a personal web site? YOU have far more posts on this thread than anyone else. With a whole lotta words you manage to say the same thing over and over again.
Now I’m not gonna pursue this with you because frankly you aint worth it.
A friend of mine just fired one of his workers for,”screwing around on the internet all day instead of working.”He installed a spy program that he used from a remote location to document every second of internet time.Just a word of warning. Big brother is watching you.
Well congratulations Tom!
I’m hetrosexual myself: I like missionary, doggy, and spooning. Usually about three times a week. But usually I’m in the doghouse, so that’s pushing it.
“and in 2011, the law reverts back, and taxable estates greater than $1 million in value are subject to the federal estate tax, as the law currently exists”The Wealthy will be killing themselves off in droves, to take advantage of the tax law!
af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=1230788287
An Air Force Press Release regarding potential DoD funding shortfalls – very recent
AmWay — You rightfully pointed out the travesty of the services being provided at Walter Reed. I dont believe I mentioned any specific location of military health care… just military health care in general…
American Way: I can’t comment on dental care in the UK only my medical experiences. We don’t have universal coverage for dental, drugs, physio/para medical or optical costs, only medical. That is all tests, hospital stays/procedures arising from/ordered by your MD, Surgeon, or Specialist. Dental, drugs etc., one has private coverage or pays through the nose. I am curious though over the abundance of disinformation out there about universal insurance coverage.
It’s big, powerful companies who pass costs they should bear on to the public or the taxpayers.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Incredible! You really don’t have a clue do you?
I have a business. I have it to make a living. If you tax me more I have to pass it on to the public. If you charge me more for electricity I pass it on to the public.
Sheesh!
Those who say, “Just take their money – it is sinful for them to have it”, or “they didn’t earn it” – are just lying to themselves and others to JUSTIFY government taking the private wealth.
*****
Wrong again, AmWay.
1. No one is saying that wealth is sin. Some people have earned their wealth legitimately, like George Soros, some mostly legitimately like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, some not very legitimately like Dick Cheney and George Bush (sweetheart deal on the Houston Oilers parlayed into 14 million dollars).
The money’s not sinful but how they got it might be.
2. Nobody says that the rich should be taxed out of existence or that all their assets should be seized.
3. Society does have a legitimate and fair interest in making sure that wealth doesn’t permanently accrue to family dynasties which reduces the living standards and opportunities for all.
Someone who invents a better mousetrap deserves the fruits of their labor. But their great-grandkids don’t deserve it, or at least not all of it.
I don’t think he meant you or any one like you Hank.
Maybe he meant how the government has to clean up toxic wastes dumped by big industry.
Or how the pharmaceutical industry uses lots of Federal dollars for research for drugs they sell in Canada cheaper than in the states.
OR how the government often has to help folks injured on a job working for some big company.
That’s right, Hank.
And that’s who should bear the cost–your customers.
Not innocent kids who happen to live where your product poisons them.
Right, JR.
If Hank’s company doesn’t inflict costs on society, it shouldn’t have to pay for them.
But when it does, it should pay instead of making us all pay.
Anybody see the movie “Tucker”?
Yup, that’s what I’m talking about.
Socialism for the rich.
If you tax me more I have to pass it on to the public. If you charge me more for electricity I pass it on to the public.Posted by: Hank Price | December 14, 2007 at 03:13 PM
I’m sorry, Hank, but you are wrong.
You don’t pass added costs on to the “public.” You pass your added costs on to people who are still willing to do business with you. If your business has high costs because your employees keep getting injured or killed, or because you poisoned 30,000 Bhopal residents, or whatever, and people STILL want to do business with you, then those are the only people who pay your higher prices.
The rest of us will go do business with responsible companies that aren’t busy spreading poison around.
Cap I saw on another thread about the high cost for a rootcanal and crown. Did you check to see if they paid right?
That seems awfully high if you have insurance. Mine is 100-50-50. Most are 100-80-50. meaning they should pay 50% of the cost if your dentist was participating.
Just an observation. I know insurances sometimes pay wrong.
So anyway CapnAmerica, I’m glad that you can display your ignorance again and that I’m here to point it out. I do this as a public service.
Posted by: outlander | December 14, 2007 at 12:49 PM
_________________
Thanks, outlander. I’m grateful for your public service, and salute you. Keep up the good work.
I’m gay. I don’t have a wife. I also don’t have a _snow_blower.
You should really pay more attention to what people are saying, Amway, instead of just listening to that cacophony of voices.
Posted by: Tom | December 14, 2007 at 02:47 PM
Yes, I thought you said you had to get back to your “husband” the other day. Of course that means you don’t have a wife. :)
Geez
He was for REAL?
When I saw Alan Keyes at the GOP debate, I thought he was just there for comic relief. Ya know, to make the occasional shrill noise to keep Fred Thompson from nodding off and taking the audience with him?
Nope. He’s running.
Wow. He just spent an hour I think barking at Hannity, shiny objects, and the Moon.
SO if ya thought the GOP field could not get worse? You were wrong!
“Yes, I thought you said you had to get back to your “husband” the other day. Of course that means you don’t have a wife. :)”
How is it decided who is the Husband and who is the Wife?Inquiring minds want to know.
How is it decided who is the Husband and who is the Wife?Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: fleettwood | December 14, 2007 at 05:04 PM
Minds have nothing to do with it.
You know, I really don’t think enquiring minds want to know.
*** ick factor alert ***
No personal disclosures, please.
I hope the Blog moderator pulls those last couple of posts.
Really immature. I’m embarrassed FOR you.
*****
Ksgrm– part of the problem was this. Standard procedure in a root canal is the endondist puts in a filling to reseal the tooth. Then you go to the dentist and get a crown.
Delta only pays for one or the other, so if you have both, you pick up the difference. That was several hundred dollars right there.
By “one or the other,” I meant a filling OR a crown.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/what-is-probably-in-the-m_b_76708.html
This is what the FOIA documents report, belying White House soundbites that “we don’t torture” and explaining the intent pursuit on the part of the CIA and the White House of the current apparent obstruction of justice:
Late 2002 — the FBI objects to the illegality of abuses being put into place by the Defense Department in its “special interrogation plan” to use isolation, sleep deprivation and menacing with dogs against prisoners.
Dec 2, 2002 — Defense Secretary Rumsfeld personally issues a directive authorizing the use of stress positions, hooding, removal of clothing, and the terrorizing of inmates at Guantanamo with dogs.
Dec 3, 2002 — at Baghram, interrogators kill an Afghan prisoner “by shackling him by his wrists to the wire ceiling above his cell and repeatedly beating his legs. A postmortem report finds abrasions and contusions on the prisoner’s face, head, neck, arms and legs and determines that the death was a “homicide” caused by “blunt force injuries.”
April 16, 2003 — Rumsfeld approves yet another directive for abusive interrogation.
This directive for Afghanistan restores to the interrogators’ arsenal many forms of torture that had been resisted by the FBI. [Notably, the FBI had resisted complying with the direct commission of torture since as early as 2002 because, as its Behavioral Analysis Unit complained to the Defense Department at that time in an internal email, "not only are these tactics at odds with legally permissible interviewing techniques [italics mine: in other words, all concerned know these are apparent war crimes]…but they are being employed by personnel in GTMO who have little, if any, experience eliciting information for judicial purposes.” In other words, as any trained interrogator knows, the abuses are both doubtless illegal and certainly ineffective for getting real intelligence. [Jaffer and Singh, Timeline of Key Events, pp. 45-65,op. cit.]
Oct 22 2003 — Final autopsy report relating to death of “52 y/o Iraqi Male, Civilian Detainee” held by U.S. forces in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Prisoner was found to have “died as a result of asphyxia…due to strangulation.”
November 14, 2003 — a sworn statement of a soldier stationed at Camp Red, Baghdad, states that “I saw what I think were war crimes” and that “the chain of command….allowed them to happen.”
May 13, 2004 — a sworn statement of the 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion recounts an incident in which “interrogators abused 17-year-old son of prisoner in order to ‘break’ the prisoner.”
May 18, 2004 — a Privacy Act statement of an Abu Ghraib sergeant notes that prisoners had been forced to stand “naked with a bag over their head, standing on MRE boxes and their hand[s] spread out…holding a bottle in each hand.”
May 24, 2004 — Sworn statement of interrogator who arrived at Abu Ghraib in October 2003, discussing use of military dogs against juvenile prisoners.
June 16, 2004 — Marine Corps document describing abuse cases between September 2001 and June 2004, including “substantiated” incidents in which marines electrocuted a prisoner and set another’s hands on fire.
*****
Heigh ho, just more routine $hit in Bush-CON America . . .
But Barry Bonds uses STEROIDS!?!
I am SHOCKED!
“I hope the Blog moderator pulls those last couple of posts.”
It’s a fair question.
CONs are all about leaving people alone to do what they want and getting gov’t of you’re back . . . uh . . . just as long as you’re white bread Christian flag-flying ordinary just like they are.
Deviate from that norm and you get the harassment of God brought down upon you.
Unless you’re toe-tapping Larry Craig, apparently.
Do you know the answer, capn?
Yes, you despicable douchebag:
Men in a same sex marriage are both husbands. Women are both wives.
Crawl out from under your rock.
It’s the 2 thousands.
Sheesh.
I don’t think that is correct. More than once I’ve heard them use Husband and Wife. Haven’t you?
Uh . . . no, I haven’t.
And I thought they were trying to clean up the blog!! Guess I must have been mistaken.
No, Capn is still here Chas.
I think “spouses” and “partners” are also used.
But the final arbiters are the people in the same-sex marriage themselves.
I’ve NEVER heard gay men refer to their partners as “wives,” and I’ve NEVER heard lesbians refer to their partners as “husbands.”
Capn’s 5:44 and 6:01 posts are correct.
It’s sad to see so much blatant bigotry on the blog.
And who says the mail is slow?
OBERLIN, Kan. — A postcard featuring a color drawing of Santa Claus and a young girl was mailed in 1914, but it’s journey was slower than Christmas. It just arrived in northwest Kansas.
The Christmas card was dated Dec. 23, 1914, and mailed to Ethel Martin of Oberlin, apparently from her cousins in Alma, Neb.
It’s a mystery where it spent most of the last century, Oberlin Postmaster Steve Schultz said. “It’s surprising that it never got thrown away,” he said. “How someone found it, I don’t know.”
Ethel Martin is deceased, but Schultz said the post office wanted to get the card to a relative.
That’s how the 93-year-old relic ended up with Bernice Martin, Ethel’s sister-in-law. She said she believed the card had been found somewhere in Illinois.
“That’s all we know,” she said. “But it is kind of curious. We’d like to know how it got down there.”
The card was placed inside another envelope with modern postage for the trip to Oberlin — the one-cent postage of the early 20th century wouldn’t have covered it, Martin said.
“We don’t know much about it,” she said. “But wherever they kept it, it was in perfect shape.”
Capn’s 5:44 and 6:01 posts are correct.
It’s sad to see so much blatant bigotry on the blog.
Posted by: Tom | December 14, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Appear to be normal questions to me, unless you are saying Tom, that no one but gays are allowed to discuss gays.
Minds have nothing to do with it.Posted by: Kansas | December 14, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Bullsh!t. It’s bigotry.
Sure, Kansas.
But let’s start with your personal sex life.
Oooh . . . uh . . . pardon me while I vomit.
How about we all maintain a little personal dignity and enjoy treating others with that same dignity and just back away from this entire topic?
Sure, Kansas.
But let’s start with your personal sex life.
Oooh . . . uh . . . pardon me while I vomit.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 06:11 PM
How about we all maintain a little personal dignity and enjoy treating others with that same dignity and just back away from this entire topic?
Posted by: CapnAmerica | December 14, 2007 at 06:12 PM
Sure, right after you get your shots in correct?
What a hypocrite…
Americans do pay more for drugs than other countries but not because of absortion of R&D in the States. R&D is done all over the world, and the pharma-industry benfits internationally.For every buck spent (and re-imbursed by tax credits))they spend $8 in marketing. It’s just that the EU bargains for the best prices as do other countries. Europeans spend less than Canadians, because more purchasing power demands deeper price cuts and media advertising for prescription drugs is prohibited as well.
Northern Neighbor,
The US pharmaceutical industry managed to get the US Congress to agree to NEVER negotiate drug prices. They passed a law against it and everything.
Actually, Trollboy, your 5:06 post looks like the first “shot.” If you want to keep score, it looks like you can Capn are “even.”
Do tell Tom.
What was I trying to say in my 5:06 post.
Or are you managing to do the thinking for everyone else on the blog?
I didn’t realize you were the blog Judge either.
Speaking of topic’s. Morrison pulled a Craig today. He admitted no fault and resigned effective January 31st 2008 when the State House and Senate reconvene to except his dropping his resignation and becoming there “Puppet” as well as the Governors. He will slide thru all personal agenda issues like, Casinos, and the continued theft of Federal and State resources/taxes. This exceptable wide stance crap is getting old and lame quick. We need to remove Governor Sebelius and Morrison. They dropped the investigation because the lying AG told them he will resign in 6 weeks. B.S.. Herbert West III, Publisher/JOurnalist west.herb@yahoo.com
Americans do pay more for drugs than other countries but not because of absortion of R&D in the States. R&D is done all over the world, and the pharma-industry benfits internationally.
I don’t believe that’s true; I’ve been quoted (and paid) drug prices many times higher than U.S. prices in Mexico. They’ll get away with whatever they can. It’s called capitalism.
SO if ya thought the GOP field could not get worse? You were wrong!
Posted by: J R | December 14, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Hillary Clinton appears to Conservatives to be just as shrill as Sharpton does to Democrats.
Don’t worry, with Hillary’s support crashing as fast as her poll data, Hillary may be able to share a beer and drown her sorrows with Sharpton in about 3 weeks.
Poor Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelary.
Americans do pay more for drugs than other countries but not because of absortion of R&D in the States. R&D is done all over the world, and the pharma-industry benfits internationally.For every buck spent (and re-imbursed by tax credits))they spend $8 in marketing. It’s just that the EU bargains for the best prices as do other countries. Europeans spend less than Canadians, because more purchasing power demands deeper price cuts and media advertising for prescription drugs is prohibited as well.Posted by: northern neighbour | December 14, 2007 at 06:17 PM
And a solution to this is very simple.
An American law that says that no American drug company can sell drugs outside of USA borders for a price that is cheaper then what is sold in the USA.
That’s not price control in America. That’s stopping the practice of Americans paying higher prices to subsidize the drug prices paid in the rest of the world.
If anyone supports this idea, please bombard your Congressmen with phone calls, emails, and snail mail.
door king/max: I don’t think Mexico has a universal coverage plan ergo the market rules I guess. Many of the drugs used by North Americans are MADE elsewhere. I recall the crisis over flu vaccines a year or so ago and Bush asking Canada to supply the shortfall. Ireland is a big producer now as well as China and of course the EU, home to much of the drug cartel/lobby.
Max–
I am shocked! SHOCKED! that you want government to interfere with the sacred and righteous invisible hand of the marketplace.
Surely you’re not suggesting that GOVERNMENT REGULATION can do something better than free-market capitalism.
We’re going to have to start calling you, Max the Big Government Socialist who runs to the Nanny State to solve all his problems.
Sound familiar?
BTW, 205 posts on the Open Thread.
A lively discussion, and only several cheap shots.
And only a few of those were my own, heigh ho . . .
Celtic women singing christmas carols on pbs — sweet
Max converted to clintonism yesterday or are you having an epiphany ?
What small towns within say a 100 mi radius from Wichita have the nicest down town or town square – a little boutique walk ?
I should probably put an ad in the paper — but –
I’m looking for some one to share driving (maybe a few bucks for gas) from here (Mulvane / Wichita) area to the west Burbs of Chicago (Lisle / Naperville) any where from 10.5 to 12 hrs. Leave on Sat / Sun before Christmas return on 27th / 28th?
Honda Cr-V Automatic
“Is there a way I could get in touch with those ppl you know in GB?”
What? And lose friends because of you? Not very likely.
I think “northern neighbor” has answered your questions quite well.
Ken,
Sedan is very interesting, or was a few years ago. That may be a little farther than you’d want to go though. I’d do better telling you where NOT to go. :)
Lindsborg is nice, too!!
Council Grove is good too!!