You know, it's interesting. One of the arguments that conservatives/libertarians/Tea Partiers make is that "government shouldn't be in the business of charity, only private individuals and churches should provide charity". The question I have asked and which I've never gotten a truly satisfactory answer to is this: "if you begrudge paying, say, 1% more a year in taxes then why should anyone believe that you'll *give* more money to charity?"

When the young man in the tie threw money at the man with Parkinson's as if he were not a human being and when we heard the people saying "no handouts here" we saw what a world where they held sway would look like. What charity there *was* would be given by the church which would only provide you food, what-have-you if you were willing to listen to a sermon (and accept their religion). Other than that people would be on their own.

Cheers
Aj

No, they won't because they don't have a clue as to the meaning of charity really.

Yes, the bastards throwing money at this man ought to burn in hell! Or, develop Parkinson's. Sure, they probably have good health-care, but, there is no cure and the meds for it arn't exactly a picnic as well as dying from it.

What I have learned through the years is that there is a very big difference between how the wealthy view charity in that is really is just a tax write-off for many. And a means to be adored. Hasn't a damn thing to due with charity as part of one's being or spirit of goodness. It is just another IRS line to place an amount in for a deduction.

I do know that this may not be true for contributions made by small business within their communities. But, usually in these situations, the owners are present at functions and events and remain involved. thinking about local businesses that contribute to youth sports firlds, etc. and go to the games, continue to help with uniforms and equipment and scholarships to families that can't pay for their kids to join or equipment costs. Can also be things like Shriner's hospitals.

To me, charity is mich more than throwing (no pun intended) money at something. It is an active process of giving your time as well.

thank you for this.

...and by some serious analysis. It shows.

I agree, btw, about these people's likely motivation. But I don't think we can afford to underestimate the contribution of health insurance industry lobbying to this "movement." After all, who stands to be reined in if it passes? There's a lot of profit to be lost... and so what better than a little classic misdirection, a little fanning of certain dying sparks into open flames?

After all, who would be able to point a finger at the health insurance lobby if this is a "grassroots movement," and yet how do we know who all the people were at the beginning of it? How do we know who the people are who champion it now, or more importantly, who they work for? There's no way to keep track of things like that.

where else but in Az.
 

here's the guy, running against mccain: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Hay...3051210?ref=nf

I think it is important to remember that not everyone opposed to the way the healthcare bill is being worked is of the all evil ilk. Not all are ultra- conservative right wingers and certainly not all are plants from the insurance lobbys.

I am not entirely happy with this bill from what I have been able to read of it. It is a start that might eventually become what it should and could be, but as it stands there will still be huge numbers of folks without healthcare and a large number of folks who when "forced" to purchase healthcare will have to make the decision of food or my imposed healthcare plan. There are quite a few really not so great things about the bill as it is.

Seriously though, not all of the "tea baggers" are the bad guys.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/20.../michael-moore

My vote is for full socialized medicine and I have really good insurance at the small company I work for.

I agree that many of the people at these rallys probably do not have insurance and are being led to vote against their own self interests by racism or by being convinced that if there is socialized healthcare, then sex changes will be free and gays will be able to marry.

I think it is likely that this person is using the word "demon" as a racist code word.

I have a difficult time thinking all the Baggers are not evil.

I saw what they discussed when they were here in Nashville for their convention. I do not see anything that proved to me they cared about their fellow humans....starting with their keynote speaker.

Maybe just the mean ones get on the news?

medicare, the kind that old teabaggers utilize, is government subsidized health care, i don't get why i have to pay for these old, hateful racists to have access to affordable health care. they're milking the system, i'm sick of these anchor-seniors!

It rips me out of the frame! Agreed!

They have socialized insurance. Growwwl.

And how many of the Republican leadership went to Ivy League schools????....except of course Sara Palin who just really may not know how to read teleprompters...hense the 4 line crib notes.

rant rant rant rant.

So do I.

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/...th-parkinsons/

Rachel Maddow has been doing a great job of following the money trail this past year and can track just about all of these shenanigans back to their sources.

I believe that he got it from yesterday's news buzz phrase "deem and pass". The funny part is, after all the filibustering, when word got out that Senate Dems were threatening to use deem and pass, the Repugs raced to the TV cameras and started demanding an up or down vote!! Geez, peeps, the rest of the country has been wanting up or down votes in the Senate since 1/21/2009!!!!!!

Right there with you.

Once again, Alan Grayson has come up with the simple and practical solution. HR 4789, the Medicare You Can Buy In To Act. Basically, anyone can sign up for Medicare and the rate would be the average cost for people in that age group. The entire bill is just a few pages long, and it has accumulated 50 co-sponsors in just 48 hours. My Congresswoman has already signed on. Has yours? (I heart Lynn Woolsey).


Alan Grayson 2012!!!!

I watched the same video posted earlier and yes, the yuppie throwing money was an ass. The last woman who spoke however, seemed quite rational, reasonable and not really evil. Evil is a pretty harsh view. Kinda like "demonic".

Now, THIS makes sense. Amazing it is only a few pages.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-bl...p-alan-grayson

Thanks.

Good point, evil is too strong and does imply that I believe in evil and hell and all that.

How about.... I do not agree with them at all, and it is difficult for me to see how possibly they think what they do, especially since they claim for the most part to be Christian.

Not that I think Christians act better, but if one does supposedly think that the Bible (New Testament in Particular) is THE holy book and that the words of Jesus mean something, then I don't get their logic and have zero respect for their line of thinking.

I do agree that "Evil" does imply magical thinking just like "Demons". Great point! I need to work on being consistent! :blink:

Sleepy rambling...can't wake up this morning.....

Elections do matter..
 

.it is why Mr. Roberts is now Chief Justice, hard to forget how much they really matter.


From Alternet:

http://www.truthout.org/justice-robe...ns-matter57780

From the Advocate: Teabaggers call Barney Frank a Faggot. You can read it on this link.

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/...rank_a_Faggot/

The N word, was tossed around quite a lot also
Though to other people ..
A good time being had by all...

yahoo! health care!

The sky is falling!!! This evil plot has caused it to snow in Texas!!! Grab the guns, the bibles, and the babies!!! God help us all!! Aaaaaagggggghhhhh!!!!!

Well no, but Insurance mild reform...
Health Care and Insurance, are not synonymous

yes i realize that, i thought that was understood? either way, thanks.

babies can't be denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions (soon)! yay!

Actually no, people seem to be confusing the two things, over and over again

(tongue in cheek) Another Texas Republican moment:

"Babykiller" commenter revealed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_508525.html

what's your point?

Why, decorum at it's best!

This is where I have to wonder what the ol' lion Ed Kennedy would be growling out right about now - about all of these nasty shitty antics and extreme displays of disrespect being shown.

Folks should be called out to STEP THE FUCK DOWN! Spitting?! Racist name calling?

I can just imagine how folks from afar are "calling this"?!
__

Out of control nuts? Deliverance folk? Dumb like a fox?! (Or, "d": all of the above?) Where's Dick when you need a good hunter?!

Just thinking out loud here! Disgusted with what I have been seeing taking place since our first POC president has been sworn in... this "movement" of hate and discrimination. It both sickens and saddens me.

__

Yes, this a step in a direction regarding the massive insurance problems and corruption! Among some other necessary changes needed...

And "holy fucking help us all" if this president - representing this party, is instrumental AT ALL in creating any positive change that has been so badly needed, (problems that have contributed to the position we now find ourselves in financially and economically with our government/country)!!
__

Also I'm thinking: for example... is helping children/families a bad socialist, communist concept now?! Since when? (Or, so very [NOT] "christian" like...? And "evil" works for me just fine here with these fanatics!)

Such headfucking. I've grown weary... I do feel a smidgeon hopeful tonight though. Gridlock is depressing. Gridlock with non-solicited "rioting", much more disturbing. Let the fools bury theirselves now!

And, there will be such ongoing criticisms and mistruths. I'm gettin' braced for it! Round 2 (or 3, or 9?), bring it on! (Please, find your spine Dems!)


:hamactor:

:bicycle:


wc

That having Insurance, doesn't mean you get Health Care. Its the insane For Profit Insurance Industry that needed an overhaul, and didn't get one.

Yes. How embarrassing. I wrote him a letter which I quoted on the Health Care Bill thread over there ~ ~ ~ >

I told him he should check his Baptist tongue. Once again.....another conservative Texas republican who should have kept his head planted firmly where the sun doesn't shine.....

Almost a Quarter of Polled Republicans Think President is the Anti-Christ
 

New GOP Poll Shows Scary Results

The Harris poll says that two thirds of Republicans (40% of Americans) believe that President Obama is a socialist. 57% (32% overall) believe that he is a Muslim, and 45% (25% overall) believe that he was not born in this country.

The scariest statistic though, is that 24% of Republicans believe that Obama is the antichrist.

The antichrist number doesn't bother me so much; you're talking about 5% of the population. I'd assume that at least 5% of the population is in the religious wing-nut camp and that they assume anything that they don't like is the antichrist.

I find the other numbers much more disturbing. 40% of Americans have no idea of what Socialism is, and 25% prefer to believe lies spewed by Faux Newz and other wing-nuts to clear and documented facts about the President's birthplace. Don't even get me started on the glaring inability to apply the most basic of logic to the 32% who think he's Muslim while at the same time blasting him for attending Rev. Wright's Christian church.

This country needs a serious overhaul of it's educational system. Oh, wait, education is elitist. Sorry, my bad.

i have been teaching Islam for a week. The kids are interested even though my bigoted co-teacher makes snarky comments from the back of the room. Anyway, my kids are going to know what Islam is, but they are also going to know that Mr. O hates Muslims. :(

[FONT="Century Gothic"]


Good for you! And throw in a lesson on religious bigotry and its relationship to racism! And our example of this is our own.....[/FONT]

:shark: