Who is it OK to offend?

Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, Happy Ramadan Hanukah, Kwanza whatever your holiday is.

My question is who feelings are more important?

Someone who was brought up to believe in Christmas and has brought their children up the same way now all of a sudden is not allowed to acknowledge or celebrate Christmas in a school because it may offend someone else. Did anyone consider not allowing people to celebrate or acknowledge their holiday offends them? Whose feelings are more important. Remember whether people want to admit it Christmas has been openly celebrated in American school and government since 1776 and now it is not. Why not?

Whether or not people want to acknowledge it this country was Christian based with a openness and an acceptance of all other religions. If it wasn't for the tolerance practiced by the Christians, none of these other religions would be allowed to practice openly in America and now these religions want to shut down or hurt the Christians? These other religions should be thankful that the Christians have allowed them to come here and practice and have not oppressed them as other countries have. They should do well to remember they came to this country for religious freedom and were given it so why are they trying to take away the religious freedom of the people who gave them their freedom?

Other religious groups are not in any way shape or form prohibited from celebrating or acknowledging their holidays why should Christians be?

How can celebrating Christmas offend Jews, Muslims or Blacks aren't these other religions taught tolerance and understanding?

So again who is it alright to offend and who isn't it? It's ok to offend Christians but not other religions why?

Just for the record I belong to no religious sect, group or practice I'm just asking why is always ok to offend certain people but not others. Yes you could take this into the race area of America also.

__________________

Boycott self service checkouts.

As much as I enjoyed using the self service check out at the few big box stores I shop in, after thinking about it I stopped doing it. All that self service checkout does is depersonalize more of our lives and it increases the bottom line of the greedy bean counters at the expense of a human to be able to earn a paycheck and feel like a contributing member of society, I am not discussing the pay scale just the fact of how working helps build ones self esteem. So I go to a check out line with a human being, and if they ask me why I say the job I may save maybe mine someday because as long as people are employeed they can and will buy goods and services so my job depends on others buying things.

I can't understand the thinking of bean counters and greedy CEO's if you keep replacing human workers with machines who is going to have the money to buy your product or service?

So BOYCOTT SELF SERVICE CHECKOUT LINES.

Liberal media

Wow, as Eldridge Cleaver said "Too much agreement spoils a chat".

It seems to be an obama love fest out here. All the ostriches (liberal media) with their heads in the ground ignoring the resignation of van jones, and the Acorn (they should and probably will go after them under RICCO) scandal what will be next? The resignation or impeachment of obama? YES!!!! If there is a god and he truly cares about America it will happen soon.

Now the NEA is involved with anti American programs and it's run by someone with a strong tie to obama.

Well the way things are going Glenn Beck and Fox news will go down in history as the saviors of America.

By the way I'll ask again, where are Jackson and Sharpton? Why aren't they out there supporting obama?

 

Where are Sharpton and Jackson?

Where are Sharpton and Jackson? Have they broken with obama? Here are 2 Americans and their followers who have fought for decades for an America they feel should be there. They fought against racism and in the minds of some they were racists in their own right, but through it all they supported the American dream. The dream that let everyone, have a chance at wealth, security, pride no matter their race, gender or ethnic background. So where are they?

Is it because they believe in America and the American dream not obama/pelosi's dream of socialism/communism that they have been banished? Bill Aayers Weather Underground is right in there with obama when the secret service would not have let him near any previous president. In the obama administration I wouldn't be surprised to find out he has his own office and parking space at the White House. Makes sense since it doesn't appear that the current inhabitant of the White House supports anything resembling freedom or the American dream.

Look at all the CZARS appointed. WHY? People in private sector are losing their jobs and pay and here obama is wasting more tax money to feed his ego and pay off political favors. Why aren't any of these CZARS vetted by Congress? Why should people who are in no way accountable to the American people be paid by them and rule over them as czars did in Russia?

But back to the original question where are Sharpton and Jackson? Why weren't they appointed to any position in the obama administration. Again is it because they support a free America for all races and obama only wants a subservient America answerable to him?

Time for patriots to step up to the plate and tell any elected official if they continue supporting oabama in his anti American policies they will be voted out of office.

 

Where’s Biden?

Kinda like a democratic "Where's Waldo"

 

I can't remember hearing or seeing anything about the VP in quite awhile.

 

Has he been replaced by a czar?

 

Is he keeping his distance so when obama goes down in disgrace he won't be tarnished to badly by it?

 

Or what?

 

Granted most veeps aren't in the public view constantly but they are mentioned now and then also they are usually out there stomping for policy and I can't remember him out there or being mentioned prominently enough for the socialist health care bill for me to notice his name. Maybe he took a stand against socialist or government controlled medicine so they have him locked up in some psych unit (government run of course under a czar of misinformation)

 

So where is Biden?

Kennedy arrogance

What total elitist egotistical arrogance coming from that murderer. He should be allowed to anoint his successor????

No!! The voters put in who they want at least that was the plan of the founding fathers, apparently the kennedy's feel they're above this kind of like our lie-berman who is the 'only one who knows what best for israel sorry CT' and let's not forget the pure as mud dodd oh sorry the ethics committee said he did nothing wrong.

 

This also shows the stupidity/moronic idiocy of the majority of the MA voters in putting a murderer back in federal office constantly. CT voters aren't much brighter but as far as I know lie-berman and dodd never killed anyone.

 

I hope Mary Jo gets to greet him on his way to hell and spit in his face to bad she didn't hold on to him in the car. But at least he'll be back together with those 2 garbage brothers of his. Let's see who wins that the kennedy's or the devil. I'm hoping the devil, than they can live in torment for all eternity!

Moral Obligation

mor⋅al

Use moral in a Sentence

–adjective

1.	of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.

 

3.	founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.

 

4.	capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being.

 

5.	conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral ): a moral man.

 

 

Interesting definition.

 

My question is when did 'moral' become a license to steal or take money from one group of people and give it to another under the guise of moral obligation?

 

During my formative years I was taught it was my moral obligation to be a honest hardworking productive member of society, not a leech on it. 

 

It appears somehow this definition of the moral obligation has been perverted.  No longer is it a persons moral obligation to be productive member of society, it is the moral obligation of society to take from the productive members and give to the others. 

 

Why?

 

I can understand giving someone the basics, food, food shelter, clothing, medical care, the operative word being BASIC.  A person who works should not have their lifestyle lowered to provide an equivalent lifestyle to someone who chooses not to work.  The American dream was based on having the freedom to make a better life for yourself and your family.  How is this possible now with the government taking more and more money from you in the form of taxes under the guise of it's your moral obligation to help others.  It maybe a moral obligation to assist others less fortunate but it is not a moral obligation to bring your lifestyle down and theirs up to an equal standard.  That is socialism or communism and that is not what America was founded on. 

 

America was based on an individual's right to make themselves the best life they could.  The government's job was to insure that all American citizens had that right.  This appears to have been lost somewhere.  It appears that the officials we have elected to represent our interests have put the right of Americans to better themselves on the proverbial back burner. 

 

This if it is not stopped it is the death of America.  What reason will the upcoming generations have to better themselves, to be inventive or innovative if there is no reward, if everything they work for will be taken from them? 

 

It is time to rethink the perversion of term 'moral obligation' and return it to it's true meaning that being the individual has the moral obligation to be a productive member of society and not society taking from the productive members to reward the non productive members.

Cheshire CT Tea Party

Just to let you know there is a Tea Party in front of the Cheshire Town Hall every Monday night 5-6PM. It's been growing every week starting with a handful 7 weeks ago to 50+ this last Monday.

 

The support of the people driving by is great I only heard 1 negative comment the rest was horns, thumbs up, and you're doing great shouts.

 

Come on down and experience right of freedom of speech and the right of peaceable assembly being exercised. Whether you agree or not with the signs isn't important, what is, is that the rights are being exercised. If they are not exercised they will atrophy and die.

 

I've been asked what is a Real American. A simple answer, a Real American is one that exercises their rights, that makes their feelings known to the elected officials, who does not just sit back and say the government is good and right, does not expect or demand the government to provide food, medical, jobs, but rather goes out and provides the best they can for themselves and their families. In short a Real American is one who stands for accountability in government, personal responsibility over governmental intrusion in private lives and has the courage to stand up and be counted to defend personal rights, liberties and the Constitution of the United States of America.

 

It's almost like it's 1776 all over again.

Constitutional or not?

Is universal or government paid for health care constitutional? Where in the constitution does it say the government has the right or is required to provide health care for the citizens?

 

The constitution was written to govern the government not the people. It actually limits the power of the federal government. We have allowed the government which is nothing more than an enterprise to control the masses too much control over the rights of individuals. I'm sure our founders are spinning in their graves due to the fact we have failed in the sacred trust they gave their lives to establish for us and that is to insure that we the people govern the government rather than the opposite.

 

How many rights are you willing to give up? How many more rights can be stripped or stolen from us under the guise of government before we are no longer a free people in a free country?

 

Take back America vote out the incumbents, demand accountability.

Health Care

I agree we need to do something about health care and it should be done quickly. But not stupidly which is the norm for the federal government. They have someone write a law or a program and than vote on it without people reading it, that's stupid and moronic. Which either tells us the caliber of our elected officials or the fact they just don't care about us.

If Obama, Pelosi, Clinton, Dodd, all of the elected public officials come out and put in writing that they, their staffs and every member of the federal government will be covered by what every health care plan they put together and that they can not augment it in any way shape or form by paying out of their own pockets for more coverage I'll back it. If they don't I'll fight it and encourage everyone I know to fight it. If the plan they are putting together is good enough for 1 American it is good enough for all and that definitely includes the elected officials of this country.

Close DMV? YES!!!!!!!!!

 

Finally something maybe done about the most arrogant, inefficient department paid for by the taxpayers. It took long enough.

A friend bought a motorcycle and went to the Waterbury branch yesterday, I needed something at Docs right down the street so I went with him.

What a laugh and how disgusting 20 people standing in line to pick up a form, I remember when the forms were right by the front door, you grabbed one filled it out and got in line, if it was wrong they told you to re-do it or you could get it checked before you got in line, but you didn't have to stand in line to get 1 total waste of money. Why can't you download and print the form you want at home than bring it in? Because they still use CARBON paper! And the speed in which they move, wow the last glacier in CT moved faster than these people.

I spoke with a guy who said he went to New Britain to register one of those reverse trikes you know the ones with 2 wheels in the front and 1 in the rear and New Britain said it wasn't on it's approved to register list. He called the dealer who told him to take it to Waterbury they've already registered over 70. Wow not approved for CT in New Britain but approved for CT in Waterbury, and you'd think both offices would be linked to the same data base. Moronic management, closing this useless dept a long time over due.

This is the most intelligent thing I've heard come out of Hartford probably since the last glacier left CT.

State police take over licensing and registration DPW or DEP (I can't remember which alphabet soup I heard) handles inspections and consumer protection handles problems with and licensing repair shops and dealers. They even talked about putting kiosks in different malls for normal license and registration renewals.

It all sounds good to me. I mean the savings alone in manpower and keeping the buildings running will be great. I'm sure run efficiently you wouldn't need 1/2 the people.

Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

I have read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, it is totally disgusting how the elected aristocracy choose to ignore or reinterpret what the founding fathers of freedom wanted for future generations. Freedom doesn't exist much anymore. You can't say anything you either offend someone, are branded a racist or end up on the government's enemies list, you have to buy this gas, food, clothing, they are telling you what type of vehicles you will be able to buy. Oh let's not forget the ridiculous safety rules. This country would never have been discovered if the cowards that are running it now were in charge. Don't get me wrong on this point safety is important and people should be advised about things not ordered by the government under the guise of laws how to behave. I could continue but anyone with brains and a true belief and understanding of freedom and the fact that freedom isn't free or safe will understand. The rest they're just sheep going baa(the government is good) baa(the government is smart) baa (the government has the people interest at heart).

The FISH Cheer

How come with all the anti-Iraq war sentiment out there we didn't get any really cool protest songs like we had during Nam?

Forgotten genre? No talent for writing meaningful songs? Only allowed to write songs bean counters approve for the most buck for the note?

Sad.

I still have it on Woodstock.

"Come on all of you big strong men Uncle SAM needs your help again...
Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box...
and it's 1,2,3 what are we fighting for????"
Country Joe MacDonald

Now during that era was Patriotism of the highest sort, people disagreeing with the government and speaking out. Kids these days are nothing but sheep. They remind me of that Star Trek episode where some planet fought a war by computer if it told you you were killed you reported to a death chamber and didn't question it. Kids these days actually think the government knows what it's doing and has their best interest at heart. So sad. The ones to really blame are the parents who never taught them about true freedom, how freedom isn't safety, and as the patch on my leathers says "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE". Freedom isn't closed borders, or locked down government buildings. No; freedom is realizing you take risks but they are worth it because you choose the life you want and defend it. "Life for those who fight for it has a flavor the sheltered never taste".

Bring back America make it once again the LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE. Get out and vote. Get rid of the incumbents and bring in people who will restore America and give it back to Americans.

The useless White House

O ne
B ig
A ppalling
M istake
A merica

Hopefully we will survive this

Quotas? What do they mean to you?

Years ago in a typical government response of legislate don't educate laws were passed stating how many or what percentage of minorities vs. whites must be hired or promoted based on figures put together by statisticians. All in all a noble idea, yet when something is legislated it becomes a law and laws don't always achieve the spirit that was the thought behind them. I believe the spirit of this law was to level the playing field for jobs. Did it? Were all the minorities at the time of the passing of the law truly qualified for the positions they received based on this law? Or were people hired or promoted well above their capabilities just to satisfy the quota? If they weren't qualified doesn't that give credence to the statements that were made then and now which is 'you only got the job/promotion because of your race not because of your ability.' Is the hiring/promoting of unqualified candidates continuing now, just to satisfy quotas?

Have quotas actually done more damage than good? Have quotas become an excuse not to do ones best? Has the attitude of I'm getting the job because of the quota I don't need to study become the norm?

Do people look at minorities and say 'the only reason they have that position is their race.'? Is it because of the quota system this thinking exists? Is this true equality which what was the spirit law was looking for? Or is it only legislated equality which is only kept in place by law and not human nature and could disappear in the change of a law?

The quota system the way it is used now is actually insulting, because it presupposes that minorities cannot qualify on their own since if no minority candidate scores high enough to get the position they are required by law to be given it anyway. When in fact all it should do is insure the fairness if the testing for the position and insure no one is not allowed to take the test based solely on race.

Would we be better off doing away with quotas and letting human nature take its course? It may take another generation or 2 but then it would be real equality not legislated equality.

Healthcare

Maybe this whole health care issue would evaporate if we did a few things. Such as stop treating doctors as gods, put a limit on damage awards for pretty much everything. If the most you make a year is 50000 and you have 20 more years to work you get a million plus 50% more and all your medical bills or special needs are paid. That's pretty simple.

If you lose you pay all court costs and the defendant's costs that would stop a lot of frivolous suits.

But most of all I think we should go back to when doctors and pharmaceutical companies along with lawyers were not allowed to advertise.

Allowing them to advertise has down nothing more than created a nation of hypochondriacs. People actually diagnose their own ailment based on advertisements and demand treatment for that. The doctor makes money the drug company makes money and then the patient gets sick from the wrong medication, needs another doctor visit, and different medication for something that was probably nothing more than a headache to start with up go the costs.

As has been said before 'we have met the enemy and it is us'.

I got news for you, no one lives forever, you are going to die, people do get sick, there is not a cure for everything, and for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction which means it is very possible for the cure to be worse than the disease or cause a worse problem.

R.I.P. America

It's to bad it's not about the most qualified person getting a job or position in America anymore it's just about quotas and who's going to be the first (fill in the blank) (fill in the job title). Merit, intelligence, experience nothing like that counts any more in America. It's just what appeases what voting group to keep politicians in office.

R.I.P. America

Fargo & New Orleans

When I was in the AF I was stationed for awhile in Minot ND and it was during flood season I remember volunteering to fill sand bags it was quite an effort to keep that city safe.
My question for this post is how much more misery and pain are the feds going to put the citizens there through to help them rebuild? Is it going to be just like New Orleans or worse?
The real sad or sick part is these people are going to have to spend months proving everything and filling out forms to maybe get a LOAN. However if they were some back water 3rd world country our politicians would give them the money for free. The government has probably given AIG enough money without strings attached to rebuild all of ND. Yet taxpaying citizens can forget any help from your government your just there to be taxed. It's so sad how the US government treats it's own people.

Totally fed-up

I can't remember ever seeing such widespread disgust and anger with the government, it crosses all lines, age, sex, political party it seems everyone is fed-up.
Don't compare this to the protests in the Nam era they were just against the war.
The feeling right now is we the people have been betrayed by our own. Politicians have committed treason against the US by giving away our jobs, by ceding control of our lives to multinational corporations who don't care about US citizens. They have created a ruling class of bankers and money movers who have no skills other then to take what others have made, built, or saved and give a false value high or low depending on what they require to keep the populace under their control. These people do nothing. The true workers of America the factory owner, the assembly line worker, the mom and pop store owner, construction workers and many more of the same have been insulted, under valued, robbed of their heritage, their birth right their very lives by people who look down on honest work and use them only for their own gain.
What good are bankers and stock brokers if America produces nothing? This stimulus package would have been better served if instead of giving it to the banks and investors it was given to manufacturing firms directly to keep them producing, to store to keep them selling and allow them to pay payback the banks themselves, and by keeping people employed it would have kept the economy moving. No our politicians gave it to their friends who then gave it to their friends in other countries. So our politicians have indentured America's future generations to provide the wealthy across the world their comforts.
Totally disgusting if 1 incumbent retains their seat after the mid-term elections it will be an insult to America and to the millions of Americans who have died to protect her.:

Why not tax religion?

Why not tax religion. Don’t say the first amendment says you can’t because it doesn’t. The first amendment prohibits congress from making any laws that prohibits or restricts the practice of a religion it does not prohibit taxing religion. That same amendment protects the freedom of the press and speech yet each are taxed. No sales tax on newspapers or other media yet all the equipment and raw material used in the production is taxed. Free speech is taxed, try to make a phone call without paying taxes, which may actually be illegal since it restricts the use of a phone to someone who can afford the taxes, which possibly could be applied to the press since if they can’t afford the taxes that is a restriction placed against them by the government. Don't forget paying for an assembly/parade permit.Religions use the services of the government why should they be free?Besides organized religions mainly the Christians are doing their best to control the US government and all the citizens by having their supporters vote in their religious rules as secular law, which to me is not right. If I want to follow Christian doctrine I’ll become one. So to these religious leaders it not alright for the government to tax them or tell them what to do but it is ok for them to shove their religion down others throats through secular law. I don’t think they should have it both ways. They want to make laws they pay taxes. They keep their religion out of secular law we leave things alone. What do you think?

Abolish gun control

Crime seems to be getting worse and the cops can't be everywhere to protect people, people need to start being able to protect themselves and their loved ones. Just think had a someone being carrying a gun maybe that preacher would still be alive, maybe those 10 people wouldn't have been killed because someone could have defended themselves. Criminals love gun control because it makes honest taxpaying citizens nothing more then prey.I say if you are not a felon and over 18 years (military age) you should just be able to walk in a gun store buy a gun and strap it on and walk out. All the store should have to do is run your name thru the cops. No gun registration, no permits, just like the old west when women and kids were safe anywhere because the criminals knew that anyone could be armed.And if a taxpaying citizen shoots a criminal in the commission of a crime no arrest, no lawsuits just file it under did society a favor and get on with life.
__________________

Rush scares democrats

Rush Limbaugh the god of the republican party in his own mind has truly ascended to that position in reality thanks to the democrats. The democrats realizing that they screwed up big time with Obama, Pelosi and Clinton running the country right down the toilet with their insane policies on money, big government and loss of freedom have seen that Rush is galvanizing the middle class into action so they are trying to shut him up. However they are using the same lack of intelligence in their attempt to shut him up as they showed by letting Pelosi who comes from a state that is bankrupt due to the stupidity of their laws out there guide this country. Talk about taxing the rich I guess it doesn't happen in CA if it did why is the state broke with all those celebrities? I never listened to Rush in my life I'm going to start just to help his ratings. If Rush is wrong in his ideas why are so many people starting to listen to him? If he is so wrong in his ideas and the democrats are so correct won't that just become apparent as the country emerges from this problem? If the democrats are correct in what they are doing Rush's popularity and following will disappear as he is proven wrong. That's what should happen, however since the democrats know what they are doing is wrong and not working, they are trying to shut him up so that they won't be soundly defeated in the mid-term elections. Long speak Rush.

Obama, Pelosi, Clinton, Oh My God

It took FDR letting Pearl Harbor be bombed so we would get into World War II. The New Deal all the WPA projects the CCC weren't working and they won't now. Governmental projects do not keep an economy growing they may give a jolt like one of those energy drinks but it drops down lower then before when it wears off. We went into this tailspin once it became apparent that with Obama, Pelosi, and Clinton were going to win and with them in power no business could survive in the US so the businesses bailed and took the world down with them. I only hope we can survive this administration and then bring back into power people who will build up America and jobs again. Even though I am disgusted with the money these CEOs made I keep in mind one thing up until they started getting the money from the bailout the only reason they made that much was they ran multi million/billion dollar companies and employed millions of people. That's what the republicans bring to the table JOBS in the private sector that perpetuate themselves. The democrats bring unemployment, short term jobs in the government that end when the project is done and a third world country. I for one would rather have the CEO of my company making millions and myself employed along with many others than have the CEO taxed and vilified so badly that millions of us lose jobs to satisfy the egos of Obama, Pelosi and Clinton.

Do we get our monies worth from our taxes?

What do I really get for the thousands of dollars I pay in tax. Police, fire if I need them. I don't have kids in the schools so that's out. Plowing during storms. I pay for people to collect my taxes. They want to put tolls back on the roads where is the gas tax going? What else? I have insurance through my employer. What else do we get for the amount of money we as working American taxpayers pay? Do we get fair value for what we pay in taxes? And now they want to raise them.If we got from a private concern what we get from our government would you be satisfied with it for the money we pay in taxes?

Advertising in school?

Question in the paper was "Should advertising be allowed at high school sporting events?"First I thought, no we shouldn't commercialize this. Second thought was why not? For the most part the way I see sports in schools is that parents are just hoping that a kid is good enough to get a scholarship and maybe go on from there so it's already totally commercial might as well get some help with the budget.Then I thought why stop at sports, let's advertise all through the school, text books could have ads on the covers, and inside covers, put in those annoying post card things that come in magazines. Think of the potential advertising revenue in the cafeteria, place mats, signs, and don't forget those bright yellow busses. Clothing manufacturers could pay to hold fashion shows all through the year to show the newest styles. I'm sure the talented kids in the art classes, music, acting could come up with sponsors willing to advertise in their classrooms or at their events.This could be the saving of extracurricular events and it may also help the education budget if it's played right. I've no kids in the system never had so I don't like taxes going up for education so this could keep them down.:

Liberal = censorship

Why do liberals always scream so loud in an attempt to shut down any type of media that expresses views they don’t agree with? Why using the fairness doctrine are they are trying to implement censorship of the media in clear violation of the first amendment?
I believe it is because they realize that most people do not support them. Media is run on revenue pure and simple, the richest person can start any type of media outlet they care to, unless however they garner enough of an audience to pay for the outlet they will have to shut it down or go broke. It appears that right wing conservative shows have the audience needed not only to stay in business but make a profit. Where liberal/left wing shows do not. Why? Could it be that there are not as many liberals out there as they want us to believe? Could it be they are just so loud and obnoxious that people think there are so many more than there really are?
This could be why liberals and other anti-free speech individuals do their best to shut down shows that “insult them” before revenues prove either that people agree with what was said or don’t care. Imus is a perfect example of this. The liberals couldn’t take the chance that most Americans didn’t care what Imus said, that his ratings wouldn’t have dropped or worse for them his ratings may have gone up either case disproving their claim that the majority of Americans agree with them.
It’s time for America to stop bowing to the voice of the loud obnoxious few and allow the true voice of America to be heard. If what is being said in the media truly upsets the majority of Americans the advertisement revenues of the show will fall and it will go off the air. If the revenue stays the same or increases it will prove that the majority of Americans agree with what was said and it should not be censored.

Cable franchises

I think we need more competition in the cable TV, phone and internet markets. Why should one company have a monopoly on certain towns, cities or counties. All the lines are strung. If one company owns the lines they can charge a small rental to other companies using them. This way consumers will have a choice. Remember true competition results in better service, more choices and reasonable prices. The bigger the better is not correct. Look at the recent merger of Pfizer 8000 people lose their jobs because 2 companies that use to compete are now one and 8000 people became redundant. Also Pfizer can now charge what they want and only make the drugs they deem necessary. Same with Wal-Mart and other large chains they are not good for consumers or the economy.
__________________

Political correctness = censorship

I am so tired of reading and hearing about politically correct ways to speak, no ethnic or racial slurs, anti bullying laws. What a nation of wimps America has turned into. No wonder we’re in this economic crisis no one is allowed to speak freely. Had they been this wouldn’t have happened. Intelligent businessmen instead of knuckling under and giving mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them just because not to would have hurt their feelings would have stood up and said no, they can’t afford them. However had they done so they would have been called racists, sexists all kinds of things. They probably also would have been sued, arrested and why should they have been? Because they told the truth and a bunch of loud mouth wimps have made that illegal. This country was the greatest in the world, the most innovative; it had the best standard of living it was a model for the entire world to aspire to. That was all done without politically correct laws. People said what they wanted. Did people’s feelings get hurt sure? Mine did when I was growing up as I’m sure most people’s did. So what we grew strong we learned we could survive we didn’t run crying to mommy and daddy all the time. They wouldn’t have listened they were brought up the same way. Same with anti bullying laws total garbage. They’re just there because what passes for parents these days don’t parent. They’ve given their kids such a false sense of importance and such high esteem that when the real world challenges it they fall apart, so sad to bad. Not everyone can play sports well, draw, sing what have you, but these so called parents tell their kids they are the best at everything and when they find out they can’t they sue. Bill Gates has admitted he was pushed around in school he did alright. Time for America to grow up and bring back free speech. If you can’t handle it move to a country that has censorship. Stop trying to turn the greatest country the world has ever known into a land of wimps and a censor’s delight.

Gov Rell is a joke

I just read a Quinipiac University poll that gave Rell a 75% approval rating. Did they do this poll in a mental institution? Did they interview comatose patients and fill in the answers? I know welfare crack addicts say you like her and you get your check? Or maybe the students themselves who've never had an original thought in their own heads and just do what their told kinda like Stepford Wives or zombies?
I can't believe anyone regardless of political party who has a brain and does think would consider Rell anything more then a joke and a disgrace to the state. I can't wait for her and Moody to take over Rowland's jail cell. You can't tell me she didn't know what was going on. She and Moody are probably as crooked as he was just luckier in not getting caught yet. They got Perez just a matter of time for them. Oh yeah Rowland might have been corrupt at least he wasn't stupid and incompetent.

Corporations rule America

Corporations rule America
From health care to what food we eat, what color/style clothes we wear, what books, music, entertainment we are allowed to enjoy, so on and so forth we no longer have a choice. Multinational corporations have decided for us. Don’t delude yourself it has nothing to do with what we want or what is good for us, it is all about what makes them the largest profit.
Look at prescription medications, why are they allowed to advertise? I thought you went to a doctor to be diagnosed and treated. Now it appears corporations want you to walk in and demand the medication you want. The fact it is not correct or even necessary doesn’t matter some talking head puppet on the string of a corporation in a TV ad told you that you need it. So you demand it, they get rich and laugh at your stupidity.
Take a real look at fashion. Isn’t a lot of it really ugly, unflattering? Then why do people buy and wear it? Again we are subjected to brainwashing by corporations. They put talking heads in these hideous outfits on TV, have another talking head a so called fashion expert extol their beauty and virtues and the brain washed rush to buy them. After one wearing they usually end up rotting in a closet. Though years later if any photos were taken of people wearing it becomes a source of amusement.
Vehicles are the same. They tell us what we want same as everything else.
Why? Profit. That is the only reason. The corporations have designed their products to be made in a manner that guarantees them the highest possible profit. Consumer desires, comforts, needs do not count. Only how much money they can make.
Think I’m wrong? Look at the salaries, bonuses and perks CEOs and senior executives receive. Most of them well into the tens of millions each. Then remember that for them to get that money, all the parts, equipment, employees, buildings, stockholders and whatever else it take to manufacture that product and get it into the hands of the consumer has to be paid for. The rest is their play money. Anyone but me see this as price gouging?
This is where this economic crisis came from. Pure greed, anyone one of those CEOs could have scaled back their bonuses lowered the prices of their goods and kept people employed but they don’t care about people only themselves.
So next time some talking head tries to sell you something, think do I need it, is it what I really want or am I just being brainwashed into buying something to make a CEO super rich? Then make your decision.

Spend

Spending is OK. If people took a stimulus check and bought a sound system, went on vacation, a spa treatment, a camera, whatever they spent it on with out going into debt would be good for the economy. Stupid spending, maxing out 5+ credit cards at 25% interest is part of the problem. 1 someone stupid enough to do it and 2 credit card companies being allowed to charge that interest and give out that many cards to people who they know can't afford them. Again greed how much is decent profit. Another thing is giving $500000 mortgages to people making $10-$20 an hour. Variable rate mortgages should be illegal for home owners. You get your mortgage when the interest is say 8% it costs you $1000 OK, 2 years later it's 20% costing you over $2000 and you haven't gotten a raise so they foreclose or you keep your house and starve. Again no one is protecting the consumer, they're fed high pressure sales tactics and have sold their soul. The government needs to put limits on interest rates, on how things can be sold to protect the consumer. I don't want to hear they can't, they can tell us the taxpaying voters, how fast we can drive, we need permission to add on to a house we own, to put up a building on property we own, how many hours a week we have to work to get OT, they tell us how to dress can't walk around naked or topless at a beach or anywhere yet they claim they can't put into place laws to protect us from predatory lending. Find out who's paying off what politicians to keep that from happening. Our government is the best lobbyist money can buy, they care nothing for Americans.So yes people need to spend buying something new with cash and paying down part of their debt. When you are stimulating something you are doing something, taking your stimulus check and putting it in the bank, burying it in the backyard or using all of it to payoff old debts doesn't create new jobs or keep old ones. Let the government lower taxes and become lean it is way to big and does very little for the money it gets.

Why tax credits?

You need tax breaks to; keep businesses in the state or country if the taxes make it difficult if not impossible to make a profit businesses will close or move, individuals need tax breaks both sales and income to have disposable income so they will spend money, the more they spend the more jobs they save and create. The economy can only be saved by the private sector creating more jobs. Taxes do nothing, the CCC set-up after the stock market crash in 1929 was failing it was only America's entry into WWII that pulled us out of that. What type of jobs can you create with taxes that will create real income to the state? To continue as a state you can not just tax your employees to get the money to pay them. Unless the state is going to start making, computers, beer, tires some sort of consumable to sell they need to do everything they can to encourage private sector businesses. If not they have to set up an ongoing business for profit. The government is not set up for that. What we need is government realignment so we do not need as many taxes as we have. Corporations need to do their part also which is be realistic about profits. A large part of this meltdown was caused by stock traders and CEOs not being satisfied with a 5-10% profit they want 25% or more. If they didn't get it the closed that plant or store, it might have been making a 10% profit but the greedy ones wanted 25% or better so they felt it was losing 15% closed it and took away jobs. Pure greed is what caused this, a greed never seen before. It would behoove these people who make millions doing nothing to remember that money is useless unless you can convert it into something pleasurable. If you do away with all the workers who's going to create electricity, make movies, booze what have you. All you end up with is a worthless pile of paper because there will be nothing to buy with it.

Why isn't it working

If the bailout was suppose to keep business running and people employed why isn't it? We probably be better off if we gave this money to individual taxpayers and let them pay off their mortgages, credit cards and other debts then they'd have money to spend to stimulate the economy. Problem with that is it could work and take control out of the hands of the greedy CEOs and politicians that got us in this mess. I mean if we are bailing out these businesses why are they still closing and foreclosing when we are paying the bills? I'm probably missing something. I think it's time we take back our country. The excuse from the incumbents that "you need me here, I know how to fix it." is pure BS they are the reason we are where we are. If they knew how to fix it why didn't they stop it. A bunch of lying egotistical SOBs who should be impeached and tried for treason. Everyone of them is as guilty as Bush and Cheney for letting this happen.
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Public Servants

When is the American voting population going to wake up and remember that our elected officials from the president on down to a selectman of a small town are PUBLIC SERVANTS and the people hired to operate the government are CIVIL SERVANTS. They are there to do the biding of the American taxpaying citizens not the other way around. We the people need to start taking back over our government and control of our government. The way to do that is to stop with party politics, we need to vote out incumbents who put the needs of other countries, lobbyists, and multinational corporations before the needs of America and Americans. It doesn't matter what party they belong to it should be America first. Start throwing them out this coming election and the ones left will get the message. Start calling and emailing them with what you want. Let them know that you know who they are and you will hold them accountable come election time if they don't start putting America first.

Where the money goes

According to an article in a paper recently we pay our elected representatives in Hartford approximately $38000 per year. That does not appear to be an exorbitant amount but is probably more then they’re worth since they need to hire advisors at approximately 3 times that salary to do the their job. The paper reported the new Speaker of the House (at $38000) hired as his advisor the former Speaker of the House for $120000 per year. If the speaker was not up to the position why did he not say so and relinquish it to someone who could handle it. The article stated that this is not the only advisor hired by our representatives. Somehow I don’t think this cost is coming out of their pockets.
In this economic climate this is almost criminal. This time last year the Governor was announcing a $600 million plus surplus, now a billion dollar deficit. Nice job she’s done of running the state.
I couldn’t understand where the money from the income tax went, along with the sales tax, let’s not forget the lotto, and how about the $500 million per month or better from the casinos, car registrations, all those license fees and permits. Now I know, to hire advisers. That’s probably just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. At least the gentlemen mentioned early are not related to each other, but how many other “advisors” or “consultants” are nothing more than nepotism?
This governor and legislature owes the hardworking, over taxed taxpayers a clear and transparent accounting of where all the income received by the state is spent before they should even mention increasing any taxes or fees. If the legislators can’t do the job replace them don’t hire advisors on state pay.

Watch the government

Think about it. Politicians of both parties are completely in bed with the wealthy and the corporations. How else does someone with the income of a federal legislator become a millionaire in a year? Who pays for the junkets? Think about it? What do politicians truly do that benefit the people unless they get something from it?Both parties love us blaming the other because it helps keep incumbents in office. Because as that person whose picture you'll see in the dictionary under self-centered egotistical arrogant a** lieberman, whose comment when he lost the democratic primary was " I'm the only one who knows what's best for America so I'm running as an independent". The other comment they all love is "you need me here I know how to fix this problem". They were there and caused the problem and if they didn't cause it and they know how to fix it why did they let it happen? It doesn't matter American voters with a collective IQ of zero vote their party and keep the problem in place. Vote them all out and put in term limits no retirement and 5 years before they can go into any type of a lobbying position. As far as the crisis goes check past laws put in by the democrats to force mortgage lenders to give a certain percentage of the money to low income people and areas. Despite the fact that unscrupulous real estate people falsely inflated the values how could someone making $8-12 and hour afford an $250000+ house? They can't but the government said you had to give it to them.All that aside if the voters don't start paying attention and voting in safeguards to our freedoms who is going to protect us from the government.Might I suggest a re-read of the Declaration of Independence. What is really different now? It is not taxation without, it is unjust taxation with representation.Think about the government not the political parties.

How democrats get elected.

Democrats keep getting elected because they continue to promise to give free money (taken from working people so I don't see how it's free) to those who don't deserve it and abuse it. Make one payment on something that should be enough. Gee that guy over there who has worked and saved since he was a teenager has a house, nice car and toys. I haven't done anything but hang out get arrested, sponge off society by living on welfare but I deserve what he has without working for. Democratic politician give it to me and I'll keep voting you into your cushy job and retirement. You got it. Hey bought and paid for voter I gave it to you, how come you didn't keep it? Oh I see the evil corporations actually wanted you to keep paying on it like responsible people do. Now there taking it back from you. We'll figure something out. Oh a government bailout to the corporations so that you can keep your stuff along with people who have actually worked and paid for theirs. I see, that's what helping the poor, dull, lazy and ignorant means. If you're to lazy to work for it the democratic politicians will give it to you so keep electing them and breaking the back of actual working taxpayers. Great country, yeah right for everyone except working taxpayers.

Kinda curious

Is there anything anyone can say that doesn't offend someone else?If you don't let me say what I want or feel I need to say you are hurting me, offending me and insulting me. Yet if I say it I'm hurting someone. Who's feelings are more important? Why does it appear the person being spoken to has feelings more important then the person stating their thoughts or feelings? I'm talking about the politically correct police out there. You said her dress made her look fat I'm going to sue you and they win. Let's look at nationality, racial and ethnic comments and slurs. Why are these outlawed? Isn't it better to know how people truly feel about you even if it stings a bit then get stabbed in the back from anonymous sources? I was insulted many times due to my nationality growing up and still at times now. Oh well sticks and stones and all that stuff. My view is that the PC stuff was started by closet racists who wanted cover for their racism. All they've done is come up with different ways to keep people they don't like out with out using race.
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Too much government????

Do we really need all the government and laws we have?Look at all the money that comes out of our pockets in the form of taxes, do we really get our money's worth? Or is a lot of the money spent to quiet special interest groups that don't have enough people supporting them to have a majority yet are so vocal (like babies crying) the politicians give them what they want? They give them what they want to shut them up and secure votes for the next election.Do we really need seatbelt laws? How about laws making people shovel sidewalks the government put in, don't we pay taxes for public works? How about laws stating how large the writing must be showing gas prices?Any others you can think of?I realize we need certain laws to keep civilization going but when is enough enough? Why don't they make laws for terms limits? Laws prohibiting raising taxes without referendums, really when our costs go up we can't demand raises from our employers, so why should our employees (the politicians) just take what they want from us?What do you all think?