I used to be republican, but the party left me somewhere around 1988. Republicans used to be about small govt and fiscal responsibility, doesn't seem to be the case anymore. The arrogance of the bu$hie$ has also disappointed me, recently vetoing the health care plan for children, hearing mr B get on soapbox and say what he did, regarding families with 83K income not needing assistance with healthcare. WHAT THE HECK would he know about getting a family of three, four or five by on 83K a year!!! Then consider what we are spending annually for Iraq, the 7B for the children insurance is a pittance. And since we are on the Iraq thing, well definitely off subject now, its been 6+years since bu$h went after the worlds most wanted terrorist, well I would like to see some results, perhaps if he would CONCENTRATE, but I don't think he knows what that means.

 

..x2

 

Me and my family of 3 live quite well on substantially less than $83k. I could probably add another youngin or two and wouldn't have to lower my standard of living at all.

 

you are one confused dude hibbs. The greatest welfare reform was done with a republican congress who wrote the bill. Clinton had to sign it.... congress would have over ruled a veto. Many dems are pro life and christian? they are lying out there teeth. Name me 10 dems that thing roe v wade is wrong. didn't think so. dems want low taxes? Who might that be? Every dem running for pres says taxes will increase. Never mind that the tax breaks that bush put in caused the income to the fed government to INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. So raising taxes will decrease the income to the government. Look up bush's "mansion" in texas compared to gores mansion in tenn. Bush wins hands down on conservation and energy savings. Gore is a socialist hypocrit. Dem's can Hunt, ride dirt bikes, Fish, and own Big 4WD trucks, they just don't want anyone else to do that. The problem with the democrats now is that they have taken on all the socialist talking points. Period.

 

Hey Chris---try not to sterotype quite so much. While I do have some liberal viewpoints---I am not in favor of gun control ( have hunted a great deal and enjoy trap and skeet shooting); I like the idea of capital punishment, and I am against many of the social welfare programsn. I do think, however, that children are our finest natural resource as well as our country's future. I find it ridiculous that we give aid to other countries' children but think our children "are too expensive." I didn't like the latest child health care bill, but there has to be some other options to help those who truly can't help themselves out.

I am all for the straight interpretation of the constitution; which means the Patriot Act is a violation of the Constitution.

And yeah, Chris, I do like my 4X4 truck, and I really do not have an issue if others have one, too...

Tim C.

 

Almost every conservative I know is against big government and throwing dollars at something. Has anybody here actually every defended the No Child Left Behind Act? Is it not more government directives interfering with local control? Is it not more edicts from a federal government indicating how we as professional educators, should run our classrooms? I have been a professional educator for 31 years---my classroom is open to you all---and I have never had more time wasted on meaningless paperwork than by this admin. I thought conservatives were supposed to be for less government as well as more local control. Riddle me that, Batman?

According to most of your descriptions of liberal democrats, the dems are the ones supposed to be indicating that they know what is best for us in our classrooms; not quite so, I guess.

Tim C.

 

Well i guess if you are talking about 83k+ a year after taxes a family might do ok ... i know we do without many things ... but we live without debt. We don't make 83k a year before taxes, so there is no way we do 83k after taxes, but we get by. Our budget doesn't allow for newer model cars, doesn't allow but for modest older home, doesn't allow vacation travel but once every 3 years, we rent movies and don't go out to the movies, we dine out maybe twice a month, forget fast food that is such a waste, our newest tv is 10 years old (you can forget about one of those fancy flat panel jobs). I don't know what dollars you all are spending but yours are apparently worth a lot more than the dollars we have. A little help I wouldn't mind ... I wasn't foolish enough to have an ARM loan, scrimped and saved to pay off the fixed rate mortgage, so I am getting no bail out by the fed for getting more house than we could afford (kind of pisses me off that some are getting bailed out for their fiscal irresponsibility). Things could be worse, we are able to afford to heat and cool the house (80 in the summer and 70 in the winter), we are not going hungry, and we do have insurance for all in the family (but it sure takes an appreciable chunk of the monthly income). So get a life, or find out what things are really like. Groceries run $600+ a month ($7200 a year), utilities are close to $300 a month ($3600 a year), auto and home owners insurance $300+ a month ($3600+ a year), auto fuel and maintenance are $400+ a month ($4800 a year and yes we do have a bit of a commute in order to afford the modest home), health and dental insurance $300+ a month ($3600 a year), general household items you know laundry soap, republican paper, household cleaners, tooth paste, shampoo, light bulbs, paper towels, etc runs about $100 a month ($1200 a year), clothing at least $100 a month (1200+ year), school expenses another $120 a month for 8-9 months a year ($1000 a year), pet care and food $100 a month ($1200 a year), property tax $1500 year, income taxes $1200+ a month ($14,400+ year), savings for car replacements (remember I said debt free) $500 a month (so how much is your car payment) ($6000 a year), save for vacation $150 month ($1800 year), uncovered medical expenses $100 a month ($1200 a year), notice that I didn't list mortgage (remember debt free) well for some I would imagine a modest fixed rate mortgage payment might be $800 month excluding taxes and insurance ($9600 a year) so now that total is $61,900 gross, not leaving much room once you star considering we have not addressed; dining out on occasion, movie rentals, newspaper and or magazine, saving for college education, saving for retirement, saving for unexpected emergencies (new washer, new refrigerator, new sewer line, etc ...), charitable giving, gifts to family, and on and on. Yeah I guess if you are making 83k+ after taxes (kind of like what I expect bu$hie$ viewpoint is) you probably don't need much help. However if we can blow the frigging crap out of Iraq and then spend 10's of billions a month there to put the place back together, yeah I guess I wouldn't mind some assistance back here at HOME too!!! struck apology for going off.

 

how many children do you have? where do you live?

 

have 2, live in Oklahoma suburban community. Could defiantly live in a higher cost area, but then I wouldn't have any idea what the breakdown for budget would be. Texas would be nice as I understand you pay no state income tax, but I imagine they get you somewhere else. So how many children have you?

 

we are expecting our first in march

the property/school taxes can be higher in places to begin to offset the state income tax on personal finances

 

dude.. your one stupid **** if you think otherwise

 

That is the stupiest argument I have ever heard. Tell me how many children are without health care? NONE. Emergency care can not be denied. Every one has health care. At least to the point of not dieing. And most young people really don't need the doctor for anything other than emergencies. The socialist programs of the liberals are keeping poor people poor. Get over it.. that is a fact. Get rid of liberalism and people will do better, and be more healthy.

 

If anyone on this board thinks a Government-controlled healthcare system will be a "win" for the American people, you're smoking some serious doobage!

One needs only visit the local post office, social security office, or license bureau for a glimpse at what "medicine by government" will look like. Take a number and wait -- we'll get to you when we're damn good and ready!

 

Gov't can't regulate anything correctly. Healthcare would be no different.

 

We need less government intervention, not more. If you had been around in the early to mid 70s to work in the petroleum industry when the government decided to take control with mandated prices, you would know what I mean. It was a disaster and the wealthy in the petroleum industry just ripped off the public. The government has no business trying to run a business or control the public sector.