Jerry53531 Forum Posts (410)

RE: GOT TO LOVE ARKANSAS

Very nice

RE: the difference between a democrat and a republican

Me neither..

RE: Bush wasn't happy just killing our kids overseas

I suppose these cuts like everything else depends on ones point of view. It's so easy for some to dislike or even hate President Bush and that at a minimum at least partially blinds us to both sides of the issue or even history within our own political party. Here's an excerpt from another news item:

Health care
Portman said Bush's budget submission contains about a 1 percentage point cut in the rapid growth in Medicare - which averages almost 8 percent a year without changes - to squeeze about $66 billion in savings over five years from the federal health care program for the elderly.

Bush would curb payments to health care providers such as hospitals, and would require more of the higher-income recipients to pay greater premiums.

"We need to get these unsustainable growth rates under control," Portman said, noting that Congress passed more ambitious cuts in 1997, when President Clinton and a GOP-controlled Congress enacted more than $160 billion in Medicare savings. "This is a good first step."

So it seems that President Bush isn't the only one cutting or who has cut domestic programs and is responsible for "Killing our kids at home". The exagerations and the out & out lies that come from our political parties is pathetic and symptomatic of the lust for political power in our country.

RE: Iran....

I think both have lost a little and we'll lose a lot more if we don't get our stuff together and come up with solutions vice coming up with insults. This is what we see from our political parties and it bleeds over the whole society.

Our elected leaders have become a people too prone to pointing their fingers at each other in order to boost their own positions. Unfortunately, we'll see much more in coming months as the elections really get going.

RE: THE BOOM OUTSIDE BAGHDAD

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way and can see how you may have reached that conclusion. I have been able to spend a lot of time in that region before the war and after. They are actually not that different from us. They have the same desire to live, take care of their children, etc... It's the radicals that are the problem. Unfortunately they get all the press and they are sometimes mistakingly seen as the norm.

You're right about Iraq having those opposing factions but they were kept in check by a ruthless regime. We simply let the Genie out of the bottle much like the Russians did when the Soviet Union ended. We all saw what happened after that and the violence that still goes on there.

Personally, I think it was the right thing (That ought to get some comments). Arguably, we could have done it better but that's easy to say after the fact.

RE: THE BOOM OUTSIDE BAGHDAD

I see your point. Unfortunately, in this case it would have been Mitch's dog leaving all those little piles and he would be obligated to clean them up. We made the mess. We can argue whether the decision to go into Iraq was right or wrong but there's no debate as to why the country is in its current state and we need to make it right. If we can figure out how to do that and have our government quit pissing, moening and finger pointing at each other, we may be able to turn what was an enemy into an ally.

RE: Colonel Sanders....

"Small miracle that An Inconvenient Truth got out" Hmmmm, I'm sure the paid off local, state and federal government stooges would have thwarted Ferenheit 911, Loose Change and a multitude of other videos before they did Inconvenient Truth. As I recall, all those hit their respective venues without a problem not to mention the multitude of books, web sites, etc...

RE: chores

Laundry, I always seem to forget to take things out of the washer or dryer and end up doing it twice. I have also ruined plenty of things.

RE: how and why do they do it

I viewed you and I was turned on (pun intended) My profile was turned on


I don't think there's any other way for someone to prevent you from knowing they are viewing your profile other than turning off their "Who's Viewed me" profile.

Hopefully, you're not getting a bunch of junk mails..

RE: Iran....

Mitchell, you have grown much more mellow in your advanced age..

RE: new name

Involved, always contributes to the forum

RE: money

I like the same currency idea. It really is a pain exchanging money from country to country. The Euro is a great example of how it's possible to have countries use the same currency but keep their indiviuduality. i.e I can buy dinner in Montenegro using the Euro for much cheaper than I can buy the same dinner in say Germany.

RE: I am back!

I don't know you but welcome back..

RE: broken

RE: The Law of Diminishing Returns

I think some have lost sight of the reasoning but I remember. The reason was basically that Afghanistan had become a base for terrorists (Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda training camps). The Taliban welcomed him, allowed him to set up training camps and plan their attacks with little fear because other countries would not enter Afghanistan. So essentially, we went in there to hunt, capture and Kill Osama, and destroy as much of Al Qaeda and the Taliban as we could.

We all know we didn't get Osama but we did have success with the rest until we diverted our attention to Iraq.

Ill conceived? Keeping in mind the nation was inflamed about the 9/11 attacks you could probably say so. People/nations that react on emotion don't generally make rational decisions. We have now had a lot of time to sit back and evaluate decisions made by our government and found errors.

Having said that I can't see how that results in the people and congress being lied to. I think the facts of OBL and AQ are undeniable. They launched an attack on the US and the Taliban provided a safe haven. If we don't believe that the attacks were completed by them then we have to go with one of the many conspiracy theories that are out there.

I want the troops out of there as well but it's not going to be as easy as these up and coming presidential hopefuls and other think. We as nation are in this up to our necks and we need to think of a smart way out. Abandoning those places especially before they are able to protect themselves will be tragic and we will be responsible.

Anyway, enough seriousness. Enjoy your trip, be safe

RE: A question to CS

Well, te election will be interesting. I'm just hoping those running for office are concentrating more on the issues rather than playing name games against their opponents. Obama seems to be starting out very well.

RE: Just another question

You're right.. You're very long winded..

Just kidding, good information...

RE: The Law of Diminishing Returns

Oceans, I don't know about that. It seems as though the people are needed, particularly in Afghanistan.

RE: The Law of Diminishing Returns

Unfortunately there have been war crimes by a few and they get all the headlines. I make no exccuse for those people and they will be dealt with. The rest of the men and women in uniform are doing their jobs the best they can and within the rules of the Geneva convention.

I don't know how you figure the patriot act with the loss of freedom of speech. Seems everyone on this site and others like it are free to say whatever they want. Same's true in the U.S. I simple skim through the news channels will show you that. Sorry to hear about your journalist friend but if he's in jail he more than likely did something more than advocate for the impeechment of the pres and his vice. There are groups in and out of the US that look after people's rights.

They don't offer 50K to troops when they return home to re-enlist. They offer enlistment and reenlistment bonuses as an incentive. They are based on career field/MOS/AFSC and they have been doing this for at least the last 25 years.

Like others, you may not like US policy but let's try to at least give information that's accurate.

RE: Just another question

27,457 Million dollars in 2005 (Does not include loans or private donations (NGOs)). Sorry it was a quick search and I don't have a lot of time to find states for 2006. Probably one of the reasons people think we are greedy is because although we give in dollars more than any other country, the percentage of GNP given is the lowest of the industrialized nations.

RE: A question to CS

True enough, They're already talking about how much each candidate has raised or will raise raise in coming months. Perhaps all three factors (Money, Friends and intelligence) along with others are necessary elements but someone lacking either of those three would never make it to that office.

I just think most of what is said about some people, especially politicians, is based on opinion and emotion instead of fact.

RE: Just another question

Right you are, People seem drawn towards the dark or hateful side of things. I guess it makes people feel better about themselves when they see others or can cast others in a negative light.

RE: Just another question

I'll see if I can come up with a figure. You're right, some money goes as grants while some goes out in the form of loans.

RE: illegal immigration

We may be distant, distant cousins.. Half my relatives started out as indentured servants. The other half were part of the penal colony. I was pretty much destined for jail or to be in debt the rest of my life

Hope to see the homeland one day.

RE: Just another question

I would probably look at just how much money and other aid the US gives to other countries. I don't believe the amount would indicate we're greedy. One could argue about who gets aid and who doesn't but that doesn't equal stupid. How we monitor and administer programs along with the flat out stealing that goes on is probably a different story i.e. stupid and wasteful.

RE: A question to CS

I believe those that think he's stupid aren't thinking clearly. One doesn't get to that position by being stupid or by only having the right friends.

RE: A question to CS

What a great post and very true.

I think that America has become its own worse enemy. If I can generalize without insulting I would have to say we are short sighted, egotistical and too quick to point our fingers at others.

I think the worst aspect is the way our political system has evolved into nothing more than mud slinging and flat out lies in order to discredit. There are very few real issues being addressed anymore, it's all finger pointing and name calling. This goes equally from both the major parties depending on who's in office or who holds the majority i.e. it was Clinton before, Bush now and it will continue with the next president.

We can't expect anyone to look upon us as a nation or a people with any sense of respect until we stop behaving like children and have some self respect. We need to stop pandering to these folks when they resort to the mud slinging and make them stick to the issues and their agendas. If we don't our reputation will continue to decline.

RE: sould us pull out of iraq

That was for you Solitare... Thanks

RE: sould us pull out of iraq

Thanks...

RE: sould us pull out of iraq

That sounds like a nice trip. Be safe out there. Hopefully I'll see you in Malta. Once I return home I'll get in contact and send you what I have.