Tea Bag This
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So what's the fuss all about?
OK, if you've been following the news lately you may have heard about this so-called tea bag protest against higher taxes. I had to laugh because the issue seems really important, but the substance behind is sadly laking. People on the right-wing fringe are screaming in protest against president Obama and his supposed tax increase. The only problem is: there are no tax increases by Obama!
Allegedly April 15th is a day when the wealthy start to pay higher taxes, and somehow, through the intervention it seems of Fox News, people have begun to believe that Obama has increased taxes on everyone. Ain't necessarily so, Joe!
But Fox News has whipped up a frenzy amongst the faithful and now they are emulating the Boston Tea Party, which was about taxation without representation, and which I personally find offensive since many, myself included, have fought for our rights to be a nation governed by laws. Those laws include our elected legislators being able to do what is necessary to run our government. That is, taxation with representation, when needed.
Now, if there were actually tax hikes this year to complain about, then I could see people getting upset, but any tax increases we see this April 15th are due to George Bush and not to Barack Obama.
But there is a side effect, and that has to do with the lame but loud call that Obama is some sort of socilaist. It is indeed the undercurrent of this entire affair. Not content to admit that our democracy works and that Barack Obama was elected president, some idiots on the far right are still claiming, falsely, that he is (a) not a citizen and therefore unable to hold the office he was elected to, and (b) he is a tax and spend liberal soclialist.
OK, here's the challenge for all of you who do not realize that (a) socialism is not a curse or disease, and (b) fail to realize that some programs we all enjoy have their roots in a mild form of socialism.
Ready? Here we go.
1): Demand that social security be eliminated. It is, after all, one of those darned socialist programs!
2): Demand we do away with medicare. Also a socialist program.
3): Unemployment is a sneaky, low-down socialist program!
4): Taxes are a socialist plot!
I would love to know how many of these false prophets of doom on the right actually are willing to cleanse this nation of any and all programs that smack of socialism. Stand loud and proud against social security and medicare and see if you get elected ever again!
And while we're on the subject, to those hypocrites who will be out tea bagging, have you told your relatives, or even yourself, that you will never again take unemployment insurance, a socialist program, or will shun your social security or medicare? If not, then you are liars and cheats, because you are willing to accept some socialist programs, but not others.
You can't have it both ways, folks. Either you are against socialism, the true cause behind this ridiculous rip-off of history, or you are not. In the words of your last right-wing president, you are either with us or against us on this one. Mr. Republican, tear down this socialist agenda of social security, medicare, unemployment insurance, etc., etc.
Yeah, right ... Go ahead, make my day!
Additional Info 5-14-09:
Well it seems that Governors Rick Perry of Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina have decided to lead another tea bag protest. This seems odd since Perry has recently been involved with secession movements in Texas. If he is so interested in leaving the U.S. why doed he now request Federal funds for disaster relief? Seems like a case of whining to me.
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You tell 'em, Chef Jeff. The right wingers follow Fox TV like... well, let's just say "blindly." Where were they when Dubya was spending through the ceiling and creating whopping deficits. Obama's budget is merely paying for Dubya's failed policies. The tea bag thing, as you note, is absurd. It attempts to draw on the Boston Tea Party which took place because the Colonists were being taxed by the Crown without representation. The truth is that the GOP is the party of deficit spending and unfair taxation. Fox TV, in effect, is campaigning for the 2010 Congressional elections before the campaigns even start. It just goes to show how vacuous the right wingers are.
Very interesting. The GOP is truly out of whack these days
There will be Tea Parties in over 5oo cities tomorrow, one in my home town of Boston. Protests being attended by all walks of life. Tea parties are about change in not only the tax code but about changing the corrupt representatives that represent us at all levels in government. How many of you have been frustrated and said "There is nothing we can do about it?" Well there is something we can do and it is happening now. People have had enough.
Of course we are also protesting taxes and spending and the obscene amounts we are expected to pay at every turn. Here is a list of some of the taxes I pay.
? cigarette tax
? corporate income tax
? dog license tax
? federal income tax
? unemployment tax
? gasoline tax
? social security tax
? inheritance tax
? liquor tax
? Medicare tax
? City tax
? Personal property tax
? real estate tax
? toll road tax
? state income tax
? state, county, city sales tax
? vehicle tax
? state unemployment tax
? federal unemployment tax
? federal excise tax
? capital gains tax
You would think this would be enough but now we are talking about a soda tax, cell phone tax increase, carbon tax, the list goes on and on. Today the government confirmed they will let the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010. With five children this will increase my tax burden over 2500 dollars. This will be a tax hike and I don't make close to 250,000.
William asks where were we when Bush was creating a huge deficit? I was listening to people like him every day about the deficit and suddenly, less than 90 days in office Obama has spent the 380 billion left over from the Bush bailout, another 800 billion from his own stimulus,480 billion from an omnibus bill with over 8000 earmarks, something Obama promised to do away with. This adds 1.5 trillion dollars in less than 90 days and people like William are so silent it is deafening.
We the people are tired of politicians caring only for themselves and their careers. When things were good did they save it for a rainy day? No, they spend and spend and when things are bad they come back to us for more. Now is the time to mobilize people who have had enough. Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we truly need to change the way government is never held accountable like we are. We need people who know what it means to live within a budget. My boss, a Democrat will be attending tomorrow as well as many like him. Tens of thousands are expected at many of these protests and this is just the beginning. This is a growing movement and labeling or minimizing these people and events will only inspire more. Certainly you were not happy with government months ago? Suddenly has all that changed? Everything is perfect now? Government will only change when the people find their voice and change it. I hope you reconsider and attend a Tea Party tomorrow and see for yourself what people are feeling. Dk5
what they now like to call socialism is really just about the balance of power so important in a democracy, the imbalance of power in the US, the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, the unlimited power of corporations is leading normal people to embrace so called 'socialist' philosophy
Wealth & power in the hands of a few reminds me, on one level, of former USSR, in which a small group ruled with wealth/privilege and the proletariat suffered. That's why my great-uncle-in-law left the country ASAP after 1917 revolution (saw it all coming). The far-far right (FFR, to me) does not realize the similarity, or feels entitled to it. It is a battle here for them of who is better and who can get more. It is a civil war. I'm afraid the FFR has glued God on a corner of their ideological banner to draw people in. It is a vortex.
Well, for those who try to legitimately protest taxation, your movement is being taken over by loonies crying socialism and making Obama the culprit for Bush's tax policies. As for allowing the Bush tax cuts to go away, that was Bush's plan to allow it to expire and Obama is just following the course that Bush set out for it. It was never meant to continue ad infinitum.
Too many of the people FOX is interviewing have put the nail in the coffin of reasonable, legitimate taxation policy protest because they are not really there to protest taxes. This is just a sham and a rip off of history.
DK5, many of those taxes that you claim are unjust are state or local taxes. Complain there. Bring legitimate issues up and people will follow. This whole tea bag thing is just an exercise in diversion and obsfucation on the part of people with an anti-Obama agenda.
I was arguing long ago the Bush borrow and spend ideas were bad, and I am leery of Obama's approach as well, but as William F Torpey so correctly points out, much of this mess was caused by Bush and now we need to take some pretty drastic medicine to correct the disease of unlimited greed that got us where we are today.
We have few good choices but I'd rather we do what is necessary now in order to put us back into a growth mode in our ecominy - wasting tea is a futile and ridiculous idea, in my humble opinion, and just a waste of time and effort, especially when the real agenda is to try to brand Obama as a socialist, or to proclaim that he is not a citizen of the US. Enough of the BS already! Find some legitimate points to build a protest on and then work via the system to get your ideas known.
I don't know who here is a Republican but your party needs to have some real issues, not the made up ones coming from FOX News. You can't fool all of the people all of the time, as Lincoln said, and I rather think he would be turning over in his grave to see what people have done to make his beloved Republican party the laughing stock it is today. Basically I believe the southern former Dixiecrats have just taken over the Republican party and made it into the Democratic party of 1860 - states rights, ineffective Federal govt., anger and hatred. Funny how both parties have flip-flopped their roles over the past 150 years!
DK5, actually unless you are a business owner you pay no state unemployment taxes. Businesses pay those for their employees. Are you saying that they are unfair? There are millions of people out of work due to no fault of their own who might disagree with you if you did. When I owned my business I paid those taxes as did other businesses. I didn't like it but I knew the reason why and I agreed that we can't allow people to just starve on the streets or go homeless because they lost their jobs. Unempoyment is no entitlement and it saved this nation from anarchy and revolution more than once. I often wonder if people here understand just how close we are to all-out revolution from year to year. This tea-bag crap shows that the radical right is close to it and especially when dips like gov Perry of Texas holds rallies to secede from the U.S. And Fox Noise's whipping up the far-right base shows that there are people who put their own narrow-minded idiology over the good of the nation. I believe that FOX is a traitorous entity that should be looked at for it's depth of mis-reporting, lies and other wrongful doings that have fomented revolution and hatred in the U.S. Gov Perry should be immediately impeached and removed from office. We did that in Illinois and you can do it there in Texas.
Very good Chef. Well said.
There is a very simple explanation for what these "tea parties" actually represent, racism. This is nothing more than a bunch of bigots who are insane with anger at the prospect of an "african american" as president.
The large segment of the media that still serves the hard right, the like of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, have stoked and utilized the hate and fear they love so dearly to goad these people into this display of mindless ideology.
I’m NOT saying that every single protester is a racist. There are doubtless some exceptions among the crowd but it’s mostly flat out bigotry.
The republican party is rapidly narrowing its base. It may as well be renamed the white supremacist party.
The saddest part is that these relatively minuscule “protests” seem to be getting more press than the thousands that turned out to decry the stolen election of 2000 and the millions around the world opposing the illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
All those anti-socialists out there might want to make a list of things they should not be doing.
Do no operate any motor vehicle. Your license and registration are socialist documents required to drive on socialist public roadways and you must surrender them immediately.
Don't even think about dialing 911 if you are being robbed or assaulted. The socialist public police department is not available for your protection.
This also goes for the nearest volunteer fire department if your home is burning down.
If your home is connected to city sewers and water, please disconnect them immediately. You are not entitled to the use of these socialist utilities.
Please create your own landfill on your property. The public and therefore socialist one is not for your use.
This could go on quite a bit longer.
Humans are social animals. They naturally live in cooperative social units and work together for the survival of the species.
The fact that there is a small element among the population that continues to survive by leeching off those who actually work and contribute to society does not make them superior. It makes them parasites.
Ah yes.....Let's curse, argue, slander. accuse, mock, ignore and stand on the only right side of the good old USA. Our Civil war, was the bloodiest in history. It started from the very things that I just mentioned. People attacking each other verbally and instigating a self righteous mentality are what dissolves peace.
Maybe we should all just stop and think....what are we saying about the other side? Divided.....we will fall.
And the creation of divisiveness is a great tool of those who would rule.
Our new "leader" is showing more with each passing day that he is one more in a long line of would-be rulers.
To lead and to rule are vastly different endeavors.
We have long been divided and so we shall remain as long as the love of power is greater than the power of love.
EXCELLENT, chef, Jeff, but you know I agree with nearly everything you say anyway....The anti-everything a democrat says "ites" such as Rush Limpbrain and The "always-ready-to-Torture-someone" Cheney - have one mission, one thought, one philosophy: create and spread hate. The way they do it...is to scream lies, and other spontaneous thoughts and comments long, loud, and often because they know that after awhile, if something is heard loud and long enough, it will be believed.
They are traitors, wrapped in rich clothing. This tea bag party did nothing but waste a lot of good tasting brew. We've had ridiculous taxes around way before Obama came into the picture. No one can say he is not trying very hard to clean up a very big mess that was left behind by the "right, the rich, the powerful." All of whom suddenly scream "quit spending!" Why? because the average American is going to benefit and they just can't stand it.
It is NOT wrong to spend the tax payers money on the tax payers. We're just not used to it.
I LOVE YOUR PICTURE OF THE TEAPOT!!! keep on writing, Jeff.
"We are out of money" and I quote. There will be another Tea party on July 4th if any of you tolerant "independents" want to come. Another 630,000 jobs lost this month. Inflation is now on the rise and it will be getting worse. Our enemies are testing us now like never before. Guess that little love letter didn't work to good. We are escalating the war in Afghanistan,sending more troops.This will only get them killed. Did we learn nothing from the Russians? There are almost 200 troops dead now on the new sheriff's watch.Innocent civilians are dying because of the new commanders orders. Bombings,targeted strikes,what precision. 50,000 Troops are to remain in Iraq indefinitely. Guantanamo looks like it will remain open. The CIA was called a bunch of liars by the person two heart beats from the presidency and not a word of support to the brave men and women from our new commander. The deficit has now quadrupled in four months and 150,000 jobs were created by this massive spending orgy. The dollar is at record lows. One in 8 people are now delinquent on their mortgages. Suicide is up .Homelessness is up. Gas is rising. The bailout apparently did not work because Chrysler and Gm are now bankrupt and expected to cost us taxpayers billions and billions more. Banks are still failing. But there is room for optimism because "We ain't seen nothing yet!"
So,if you don't mind,I will be attending another tea party,July 4th,in Boston Massachusetts. Come on bye. DK5
Hey, DK5, protest away. It's your right to do so. Just make sure the info you protest is correct, and not like last time, driven by FOX news and filled with misquotes, halftruths and outright lies. One way when they lied was to get caught saying that about 5,000 people had shown up and telling the audience later that more than 10,000 were there.
Personally I won't be attending any tea bag parties because although I am just as concerned about job loss and other things going on, I do have to wonder where these angry tea-baggers were when Bush was getting us into this mess. Obama has now inherited it, and he bears any blame for surrent issues, but a little truth about the causes would also be nice.
As for Afghanistan, Bush and especially Cheney let us all down by lying about Iraq and getting into the quagmire there, so maybe a little word on that for the sake of honesty by protestors would be a breath of fresh air.
If one is going to protest don't do like others have done in the past and make it a strictly partisan affair. There may be plenty to protest under Obama but there was 8 years worth of ignoring the Constitution and our laws under Bush and especially Cheney, who was the shadow president.
If you were wondering what they were really like. All Tea parties will be joining and marching on DC in september. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FHEXHSJLM0
DK5, I would like to see the Tea Bag protesters also asking for Cheney to be brought up on charges of lying to the nation and misleading us into war. I donot like higher taxes any more than the next person, but the time to protest was indeed in 2001, when things began to go haywire. Protesting now is legitimate when it takes into consideration that this mess was not fcaused by Obama, even though he may be extending it with his policies.
If there had been some truth and fairness to the entire tea bag protest I would have been more sympathetic. But also, the original tea bag protests in the 1700's were against taxation without representation, not against the form of government we created in the U.S. There were other grass roots tax protests such as the so-called Whisky rebellion and others later, but the original tea protest in Boston Harbor was ill suited for the current protesters to use as a basis for their anger.
Also, there are many people out there protesting who have a sadly one-sided anti-Obama, anti-Democrat agenda. Also, a lot of the so-called tax information is incorrect, again put out there by FOX news as news, not as the opinion or guess-work it truly is.
It never fails to amaze me just how much obsfucation FOX News passes off as actual news. Have you even noticed they put their "headlines" in the form of questions? "Is Judge Sotomayor really a racist?" comes to mind from this morning's FOX News report. "Does her statement that she is better able to make decisions than a white male make her ineligible for the nation's highest court?" Well, she said she hoped a Latina woman would make a better decision than a white male on certain issues of women's concerns, not that she would make better decisions in every case.
But notice how the wording of the comment from FOX News changed the slant of the report. It's kind of like asking, "So have you given up beating your spouse?" as a question. You slant it and doom the subject no matter what the answer. You also give the audience a certain presumption of guilt by the way you ask the questions. That is not reporting news, it is setting opinion before the fact. That is the same propaganda mechanism the NAZI's and Soviets used when ridiculing their opponents.
So, using FOX News networks own techniques, I ask the question: "Is it true that FOX News is really a NAZI-style propaganda machine bent on ruining America's democracy?"
Tea Bagging???
The art of dipping your balls into someone elses glass/cup. About how I feel about your article.......Heres a nice cup of shut the hell up - Tea Bagged of course!!!
Thanks sprinkler man for your cogent, civilized comment. I return the compliment and the sentiment. I guess freedom of speech only works when I say something with which you agree. So much for America.
Don't worry Chef, you get idiots answering all the time. You are more patient with these fools than I am.
Well, freedom of speech is a two-way street. I would never stifle a comment just because I disagree or the writer is rude. That's what this country is supposed to be about, not just telling others to shut up because you don't like what they say.
Yeah but some people just don't know how to put over their point. they just shout and bully. Sprinkler man sounds like one of those who think freedom is about choosing between voting for his people or staying home. I fought in Viet Nam for freedom when I lived in America, or at least I was told that was why we were over there, and I really think people who just shout out stupidity don't deserve to be heard. So, kudos to you, my friend, for putting up with idiots like him.
LOL. Governor Mark Sanford sure has a lot of credibility these days, doesn't he? Maybe he should go live in Argentina with the love of his life.
Next we'll probably see people throwing Tea Parties because the stimulus package isn't big enough, fast enough. Oh wait -- who's paying for the stimulus package? I get so confused when people start complaining about things the government is doing -- like what we elected them to do! There will always be whiners and people who believe Fox News hook, line and sinker without actually reading a word. So sad.
This hub stands the test of time, CJ. It's good to see you back active on here. Hope all's well with you! MM
Chef Jeff,how are you? Surely you can do better than it's Bush and Cheney's fault? Insinuating the Tea parties are a Fox News conspiracy is not much better. Rasmussen now has Obama,and I believe his policies,at -8. That is about a 30 point drop since January 20th. The ones who watch Fox already did not approve of his policies. This is something else and I suspect you know the reasons but don't want to admit that this is happening. I will respond in greater detail later but this is all the time I have now. DK5
Hey guys, I am certainly no fan of taxation, but the entire first round of tea bag protest was orchestrated by FOX News day and night. I watched it happen! DK5 you are right that most people who watch FOX are already in that mind set, and that's one reason that channel leans that way, to please its audience. MSNBC leans left and pleases its audience. That is why I question both channels as to their adherence to actually reporting news instead of agendas.
But I heard some fantastic, untrue things said on FOX during that time and saw some really ridiculous hand-made or printed signs. Some were downright dangerous sounding.
DK5, you listed above some of the taxes you don't like. I am in agreement that everything seems to get taxed, and I have to ask two questions:
1): Why is this tax necessary?
2): If it is necessary, how well is it being implemented? Does it pay for what it claims to support?
Some taxes simply appear without much fanfare and public comment, and others I can see are worth while. Taxes for schools make sense to me, taxes for dog licences or cat licences don't.
But my bone to pick with tea baggers goes far beyond the inane signs some protesters were lifting up, signs like "Obama is a terrorist!", or "Obama is a criminal!", or the best one, "Lower my taxes like Bush did!" The last one completely ignores the fact that Bush & Cheney spent and borrowed at an unprecedented rate, an unfortunate trait which Obama seems to have inherited from them, claiming that he has to do so inorder to pay the debt they incurred.
There is a way to lower taxes and that is to vote for people who want lower taxes. That used to be the Republicans, and some Independents voted for them in the past. But then the Republicans gave up their fiscal responsibility and went for the cheapo and easy wear-the-flag and go-to-church route which turns off a lot of Independents, who tend to be, if they lean right, more Libertarian than Republican.
In his day Abraham Lincoln spent huge amounts of money on the war from 1861 to 1865, money which the government had no right to spend. At the time it was the Democrats who cried that this would ruin the nation. The Republicans ruled in the north from 1861-1865 and beyond, and quite honestly were more like Democrats of today than not.
In that time the income of the government was very small, mostly from custom duties and the like. There was no sales tax, no income tax, in fact few taxes at all. Still, money had to be raised to pay for the war. Lincoln invented some interesting ways to get money, took his lumps and the nation survived.
My last point about the tea bag protests is: Where were these people when Bush was selling our future down the drain? Where were they when previous presidents did their part to add to this dangerous experiment in unfettered markets? Why is it only now that Obama has been elected that suddenly these protests seem relevent, and only by making Obama responsible for everything, even the things that tooks years and/or decades to develope? they should really be protesting Congress since these tax laws are created there. Presidents and parties may influence tax legislation but it takes a Congress to enact them. Why not "Newt Gingrich sold me down the river?" as a starting place?
The problem seems tobe that people see things exactly as they wish to see them, without ever checking to see if they have been given truthful information. Already I have been hearing people say that this crisis began on January 20th, 2009, and that things were just peachy before then. Now tell me that isn't a lie.
DK5, I do not blame exclusively Bush for this crisis, but he certainly he did very little constructive to try to make it less painful. I blame Cheney for getting us into an unnecessary war in Iraq, which has indeed cost us billions of dollars. Obama certainly has his faults, and I do not agree with some of the things he has done. I especially do not like that he bailed out failing mega-corps that should have been allowed to shrivel away. this sets a danerous precedent, but it is not the first time some of these companies have been bailed out. They have simply come to expect it for anytime they screw things up and need help.
In the 1980's the government did nothing to bail out Chysler and through new and better managemant it survived a crisis. Can't we get the same reults today? Maybe it's time we owned up to our reputation and our boast the we are the best in the world, etc. If we are really the best, we certainly seem tobe passing the buck as of late.
In Europe we pay more taxes, I believe, than you do in America, and we recieve services for those taxes. At times a bureaucrat gets caught with hands in the till, and they are sent to prison. That crime is very bad in our eyes. But it is rare enough that we are reasonably assured our various taxes are being spent on the thing they have been created to pay for.
Some nations such as Sweden pay very high taxes, and even England has high taxes compared to Spain. We also pay a VAT (Value added tax) when we buy goods and services. But we have again many public services that are subsidized by these taxes. I'm no expert on the tax system, but I do know our highways are very good and our trains and buses alleviate a lot of car congestion. Still, we do have major problems, especially in cities, with too many cars crammed into streets and avenues that were meant for coach and carriage traffic.
There is no perfect tax system since we all want to be free of taxes, and I often complain even over here that a person can never live tax free unless they live in a cave. there are property taxes and other taxes on commodities such as butano (our version of propane), water, electricity and phones, etc.
Basically taxes stink but how would any government provide even minimal services without some revenue coming in? Should they base it on voluntary contributions? Or just offer no services?
Well,looks like the "Tea Party" movement continues to grow. With more people attending the Sept 12th "March on Washington" than Obama's inauguration the 2010 election cycle should be a very interesting one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KezSMQBLoU
Is it ok if we protest? http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/20
DK5, protesting is always a part of American life. We deserve the right to protest. My major quibble is to make sure what we are protesting is actually an issue. If you want to protest Mr. Obama's citizenship, moot point. He's a citizen. If you want to protest taxes, I'm with you. I don't have any love for taxes. But since theyare a reality, I want them to be as fair as possible, and to go for things we really need, not for $600 hammers, etc.
If you want to protest legitimate issues, then protest away! That is the American way! But there are many sides to some of these issues, and as with all protesters, just make sure you are not being led by false issues. My advice to all sides is make sure what you are protesting is not just someone's idea of propaganda and that yopu aren't being fed a bunch of hooey. I remember the protests of the 60's when so much misinformation was being taken as fact.
I tried to get my voice heard but was shouted down by angry, mind-already-made-up protesters of that era.
As for the Tea baggers, some of what they say is legitimate protest. Some of the signs, however, are rather bogus, like Obama with a Hitler moustache. Didn't like that with Bush, don't like it with Obama. and the "Keep you government hands off my medicare" seems to be a rather ignorant view of medicare, which is a government run program.
I would also like to see all the Senators and Representatives who do not want private option give up their health care since theirs is indeed private option. It only seems fair, wouldn't you agree?
Cheers!
Chef Jeff
Glad your not in the states any more Ivan - What you are saying is I should shut-up and not be heard and that you should be heard because your smart and I are an idiot. And people like me should not be allowed to talk. Whatever, Please stay in your country and make up your ignorant stories there.
Sprinkler man, thanks for confirming my move away from the nation of shouting idiots. You said I called you stupid, well, look in the mirror, sir. What are you shouting about? Whio is giving you the false info that has you so riled up? If you are going to shout at least scream about something that is factual.
As I read it over here death panels and concentration campos for Conservatives is just a bunch of crap. Where do you think you live, Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia? Far from it, idiot. You live in what was once a great and revered nation, but a nation which has gotten to full of itself that it can't see the real problem, which is that many of you appear to long for a return to the 1840's.
And screw you for thinking I believe I am so smart. I finsiherd high school and then went off to Viet Nam where I got real education in just how the Big Guys take care of us Little Guys. They bend us over and ream us really good every chance they get. Your so called friends inhigh place are just using you, and the Liberals too, to fight each other and take your eyes off how they are ripping you all off, every day.
Grow up and get some balls, man. You are being wimped on and you think it's just fine.
Now, now, no need for anger. People do have the right to say pretty much anything they feel like saying, but in reality, a lot of this anger has been whipped up by people and companies with agendas. As for the new extention, well, I work at the unemployment agency in Illinois (IDES) and speaking unofficially now I also heard that Senate Republicans have held this up with issues about ACORN. The truth of that has yet to be established for me, but I did hear about it on NPR this morning. I am awaiting other confirmation.
If indeed the Senate Republicans are holding this up then shame on them. I see lots of hard-working people every day who simply can't find work here. Our Illinois unemployment figures rose to 10.5 last month (September, 2009) as large and small businesses lay off workers.
These people are not freeloaders. They worked hard and found themselves out of work due to a slow down of business. They deserve better than they are getting right now.
Oh, and Ivan we are not all shouting idiots. From my time in Spain I remember a lot of "manifestaciones" with shouting that went on.
The republicans have changed, man, and I think it stinks! They are so interested in paying back their sponsors they just don't care if we get killed in the process. Just look at how they bow down to their idols of money and power, and look at how so many of them make rules they never follow and sleep with the wives of their staff, hire prostitutes and look for homosexual encounters in public bathrooms.
It's bad anough when democrats do this but republicans tell us they are the party of family values and are so patriotic. Patriotic my hairy butt! they just worship the almighty dollar and pretend in front of us that they are so Christian and all! Liars!
People out here are dyuing and Sen Kyl says he doesn't know that it's true! Get off your ivory tower, jerks and look around at the rest of us! If you'd leave the country club every once in a while you might see what's really going on in "your" america!
Let's keep this hub up in the index.....it is so strange to look at the conservative vs liberal debates. Provocative hub you have here.
SteveoMc, thanks for the reply! It is sad that the differences between out two major parties has less to do with actual policy and more to do with inuendo, falsehoods and power-jockeying. I have no great love for either major party but when push comes to shove I will most likely vote Democrat in the upcoming 2010 elections.
One of our Republican candidates lied on numerous occasions about his time in the military, claiming falsely that he was in action when he wasn not. He also claims he voted more than 40 times against tax increases, and while that is true, if one examines the tax increases he voted against, they were for much needed programs. Our roads are in terrible condition and people have died in traffic accidents that can be blamed for causing the accident. It seems to me that some of the voted-against taxe increases were for repairs to infrastructure.
I might also point out that under the stimulus program it seems many of the worst roads in the Chicago area & suburbs are FINALLY getting repaired! Someone told me that the Obama administration "needlessly" spent a few million for signs trumpeting that the stimulus money was being used to pay for these repairs. Well, maybe if some news channels stopped creating false stories about "trains between Disneyland and Las Vegas" we wouldn't need these signs to tell us what should be obvious. The light rail program or fast-rail program is an investment in a better America, not some pet project.
Cheers!
Chef Jeff
Great HUB! Soon the Bush Tax cuts will end and he rich can help pay back the 3 trillion we spent.
Love it! Finally, someone who has enough sense to understand what socialism is all about. It is not communism, as so many in the far right wishes you to believe. Secondly, we can have a dictator running this country without socialism. Bush was one. This country was not run in any democratic form what so ever under Bush.
We can have a very fair, just society under a mild form of socialism and the government needs to provide our basic needs like sewage, electrical, schools, and healthcare. Let the corps. do it, and you will no longer have any control over how our society is functioning. That's is why we have Wall Street protestors. And it is not just about the poor. It is also about a eroding middle class, which if the corps have it their way, will disappear and join the ranks of the poor.
Think about what this hub has to offer and think about where America is heading. Do you really like what the Tea Partiers suggesting?
Think very carefully.
Patty Inglish, MS Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Some of the protesting radical right groups are pretty unorganized and have shifting or sunken priorities. My problem are those that claim Christianity as their main foundation, but put God somewhere low on the priority list. There is a cohort among the protesting groups' memberships that claim "God and Jesus" only as lipservice to get others on board and then to assert and insist that God wants what they themselves want - more money, more aggressive sales tactics for poor products and services that hurt the Consumer, more tax deductions, maybe more ways to cheat on taxes...I've forgotten them all. It's a sham and hurts people that believe they are with others protesting for the good of all. There is nothing about the sham element that remotely resembles God or Jesus.
My town has outlawed throwing tea in our river as littering and worse long ago, btw. It's just as well.