Politics and Beliefs!

I can understand the protesters want information displayed about the damage done by dropping the atomic bombs, but I have to question if the air and space museum is the appropriate forum. It exists to promote the history of FLIGHT, not warfare. While a lot of the aircraft are military, that is simply a function of war pushing the development of flight to new heights. On the other hand, out of the three main aircraft (SR-71, Concorde, and the Shuttle), only one is (completely) military (the shuttle does carry military payloads).

I think there should be information about the devastating effects of the atomic bombs. It may be a radical idea, but maybe this information should be included in the holocost museum. While is wasn't part of Hitler's was machine, it was a holocost in it's own right.

 

LOl! I see myself more as Michael Crichton!

 

Chris,
If there are reduced or free rates for those "less fortunate" what is the incentive to better themselves? Social programs are designed to help people get through tough times and get back on their feet. They are not meant to be career choices for those who are too lazy to get out and do something with their lives. If someone has a physical or mental disability that's a different story but if someone has the ability but is too lazy to use it then I have absolutely no pity for them.
You go into a McDonald's, Wal-Mart or any other low paying service job and who do you see working there? Foreign born people. Why? Because they realize there is opportunity everywhere you look in this country. How many times have you been to a 7-11 and seen a taxi parked out front? You know why? Because that guy working the counter also drives that cab. He knows if he want's to work he can make money. Too many Americans feel working a service job is beneath them. They would rather just take the hand out. There are opportunities out there if one just puts forth the effort.

 

(I need to go back to the holiday decorations for a sec...)

How hard is it to get rid of your pumpkin before you hang your lights, wreaths and other Christmas decorations?!?! Grrrrr! I'd move it myself but I'm afraid it's all mush by now. Bleech.

 

In that same vein, is it so hard to take down said christmas decorations reasonably soon after christmas is over?

 

Caution. This is an opinion. It is not meant to inflame, and I honestly believe it. Go ahead and call me an overly sensitive, caring, bleeding heart, but it all boils down to the fact that conversatives just assume that people are too lazy to succeed and write them off. Progressives or liberals, on the other hand, try to see the inherent good in people and help give them the resources to succeed.

 

oh, hey! On Vestals Gap there is a house that had their red Christmas bows from 2002 still up, hanging on thier front door (with gold bells on the ends) and garage lanterns all last spring, summer (faded to a dingy rust color) and fall. I haven't checked lately. My daughter and I walked by that house almost every day. Isn't that funny!?
I have seen a few houses in Broadlands that keep their icicle lights up all year.

 

It would be really nice if people would swap out their decorations in keeping with the season. Soon enough, we are going to have to get the pink and red heart flags out to replace the icicle lights!

SarasMom, I still see some pumpkins out there, too!

 

Chris,
That's my point. The resources ARE available but if they choose not to take advantage of them then why do they deserve a handout? It starts with a free education through high school. Low(er) income folks can get grants for college, free job training and preference for many government and government contracted jobs. If they are among the working poor then by all means give them a break. At least they are trying. I am talking about the folks who choose welfare and government child care checks as their sole source of income. They don't work they just work the system.

 

Dude, I worked with these people...they abuse what they're given. They have multiple kids, raise them in this environment, they grow up with the same values/beliefs and the cycle continues. You can only try to help people so much before you have to say enough is enough. If you turn a blind eye to the abuse, then you just look like a sucker.

 

OP_dude and brim:

I cannot in good conscience assume that all of these people are bad like you say. PERIOD.

brim: Please clarify. You said "...you have to say enough is enough." Do you suggest that we round up all the families of people you deem to be abusing the system and "be done with them?" If so, it sounds like you are proposing what Hitler did with his "Endloesung der Judenfrage" and you are in awfully good company historically!

 

Nope, just let them starve.

If they stop getting hand outs, before long they'll be working and contributing to society. There's no incentive for them to do anything other than milk the system as long as they are able to do so.

 

chris - where the hell do you get Hitler and genocide from in Brims post??? I think your response to his is highly uncalled for. Are you DELIBERATELY trying to provoke him? It sure sounds like it based on your "interpretation" of what he said.
You accused one of my posts as being damaging and hurtful, even if it was meant in humor. I see no humor in your post.
After reading your post, I say "enough is enough". What "suggestion" will you come up for me?

 

Would you let their kids starve as well?

 

You're comparing me to Hitler? Get bent, you over-pious Flanders.

If you'd not let your bleeding heart mentality over-sensationalize beliefs which aren't in line with your own, then you'd see that I am suggesting cutting off funds to abusers of the welfare system. These people are breaking the law, you see...they don't deserve the help that the government has allotted for them. How much of a boob do you look like when this scenario plays out:

Democrat: "You had another kid! Have some more money!"
Welfare Family: "Thanks, we're off to buy cigarettes and play slot machines...we'll be back in nine months with another one."
Democrat: "Great! See you then!"

Cutting off what is supposed to be supplementary income is a far, far cry from eradicating six million of an entire race. Perhaps you need to think before you type, next time.

 

You take their kids from them and adopt them out to a family that will care for them correctly. And if you say "You can't take their kids from them!" remember that they usually do take the kids away from criminals.

 

I generally do not participate in posting, however, I must add a few thoughts to the thread about social service programs. Despite the fact that some individuals may abuse the system, not all do. Abuse exists in all areas of life, and we don't simply remove items as a result (ie, many people run red lights -- should we remove the lights as a result?). My point is that there are well deserving people out there who need help. Should they suffer because of the actions of a few (should responsible drivers further risk life and limb because traffic lights were removed?)?

I suggest a trip to an inner city and a chat with these kids. My cousin works at a magnet school and she took one of her kids home for Thanksgiving because his mother didn't want him around. He is a problem in school because all of the other teachers provoke his misbehavior. My cousin took him in, fed him, gave him a shower and some new clothes and he was the sweetest most loving child you could ever meet. Then we had to take him back home to a place where every other apartment is boarded up and drug deals are going on in broad daylight. Before we left, he asked for some shampoo and soap because they didn't have any at home.

My other cousin has a child diagnosed with myotubular myopathy. He is 26 months old. He will die soon. He almost did three weeks ago. He cannot speak because of the tracheotomy (sp?) and has a feading tube. But he knows and loves everyone he meets. He can dance (well wiggle because he cannot stand). He can bring you more joy than you ever expected to experience in life. It costs nearly $1 million a year to take care of him and you mean to tell me that they shouldn't get some social security relief?

A little dose of reality goes a long way. A little bit of compassion goes even further.

 

Where did I say that *ALL* people should be cut off. There are lots of abusers out there, and I'm sure that the non-abusers far exceed them, I never sugegsted we cut everyone off...please pay attention to the posts. Sure there is abuse everywhere in life...if someone runs a red light, they (are supposed to) get a ticket. Action-reaction. They're called laws. If someone abuses the welfare system, they get it taken away. This seems pretty simple to me, I don't know why you guys think it's some horrible thing to cut off some lazy welfare mother and force her to get a job to support her kids.

 

brim:

You say "remember that they usually do take the kids away from criminals." So, it is a crime to be poor now. Also, they don't always take kids away from criminals. For example, your president never lost his kids even though he ILLEGALLY abused drug. But wait. His daddy was rich, so that was OK.

Also, there are various crimes. Should everyone who gets a ticket lose their kids? What about someone who jaywalks? Or is it just anyone who is poor who jaywalks? Or maybe you can keep your kids if you speed in an 2004 S-Class, but not in a 1982 Ford Escort?

Your advocacy of Endloesung for the poor is just simply the most classist thing that I have heard. Everyone else in the forums, please tell me--is this what all Republicans believe, or are brim's beliefs just too hate-filled even for fundamentalist right-wingers?

 

chris - you were the one who brought the "final solution" into the picture. I find it incredible that you still equate this to brim.
BTW - Gore lost, get over it!