Obama got the nomination! Happy Dance! (that is all) :)

[Kelli in TN]

:iagree:

I'm shaking in my shoes, folks.

 

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

 

Looks like this video was produced by a supporter of McCain. I'm not a supporter of either one of them. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd be voting for Hillary. But, I do know better, so not. gonna. do. it. This will be the first national election that I've chosen to skip ever.

 

Warning, do not watch the linked video with children present. Graphic photo after beheading.

[Lakeside]

Thanks Kelli, I was waiting for it to open in another window when I read your reply.

[RebeccaC]

:iagree:

I'm shaking in my shoes, folks.

 

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

 

Looks like this video was produced by a supporter of McCain. I'm not a supporter of either one of them. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd be voting for Hillary. But, I do know better, so not. gonna. do. it. This will be the first national election that I've chosen to skip ever. Please, ya'll, you have to do some homework and understand that they are all professional agitators.

 

 

Whoa and Wow!

 

No horse no horse at all in this one :001_huh:

[Robin Hood]

It may be historic, but not for the reason of his blackness. I think it's what is in the mind the voters who made history here and not Obama. Blackness is no reason to win a vote. There have been many great black leaders. I don't know of many who would've voted down Condoleeza if she had run against McCain. She could've easily won on the Republican side and what would've O'bama and Clinton supporters said about her? They certainly would not call it historical history in the making.

[PineFarmMom]

But, lets watch very carefully to see if we are allowed to judge a man by the content of his character throughout the rest of this election.

 

That will be the true test to see how far we've come.

 

It's not really success if we give a leg up to a man or woman because of their skin or gender- that would be a true step back.

 

These people are charged to represent everybody in the country.

 

Jo

 

I guess I'm really surprised by the responses. Yes, as far as a potential black president, I believe we have come a very long way and there is much to be joyful about on THAT. BUT I don't think very much of the character of the man, despite his race, nor do I think much of the character of Hill'ry, despite her gender. I'm afraid that there is still so much blindness in this area that people will vote that direction JUST so we can have a black president, as they would have JUST so we could have a female. I know I'll get tomatoes. Throw them if you like. I wish the people had had more to choose from democrat as well as republican.

 

T

[PineFarmMom]

Well I'm happy dancing because between McCain, Hillary and Obama, Obama is the one most likely to bring about actual change in this country.

 

.

 

 

Change for the sake of change, though, often isn't the best. I definitely see him making changes, but will they be for the best, since he seems to be such a socialist? I don't think so.

 

T

[Parabola]

I don't want change for the sake of change, I want change away from the direction this country has been moving in...in so many different ways. I am embarassed that I'm an American.

And I don't have a problem with socialism, I WANT a socialist approach to healthcare. Socialism isn't a bad thing, anymore than democracy is. And we don't have a true democracy here in the States anyway, we have a republic.

 

I saw that youtube video. Its depressing that so many people fall for that kind of fearmongering. I knew what kind of video it was going to be as soon as I saw the title "Barack Hussein Obama"

[Jumping In Puddles]

:iagree:

I'm shaking in my shoes, folks.

 

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

 

Looks like this video was produced by a supporter of McCain. I'm not a supporter of either one of them. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd be voting for Hillary. But, I do know better, so not. gonna. do. it. This will be the first national election that I've chosen to skip ever. Please, ya'll, you have to do some homework and understand that they are all professional agitators.

Whoa and Wow!

 

No horse no horse at all in this one :001_huh:

 

oh man. That propaganda video is disgusting and..and..and.. *ANN COULTER!?!?!?!?! wow, just wow. For those who don't know her, she is a bigot who spews hateful rhetoric for shock value and ratings and book sales.

 

"When Hussein Obama is president" They spent an entire minute on this man's name! She replies "that's his name" but it is being said as if his name makes him seem as if he's a muslim and terrorist :confused: People buy this crap?

 

I hope to god that people are not basing their decisions on videos and propaganda like this.

 

*Ann Coulter -called John Edwards a "faggot"

- Thinks Jews need to be perfected :eek:

-Quote from Ann Coulter:

I don't know why all gays aren't Republican. I think we have the pro-gay positions, which is anti-crime and for tax cuts. Gays make a lot of money and they're victims of crime. No, they are! They should be with us.

 

-

[Parabola]

Yeah, as soon as Fox news showed up, and then that awful Coulter woman, I knew that there was no way this was going to be a fair depiction.

[Karenciavo]

Yeah, as soon as Fox news showed up, and then that awful Coulter woman, I knew that there was no way this was going to be a fair depiction.

 

That's exactly how I feel about NBC and CNN. Funny how that works. :lol:

[PineFarmMom]

That's exactly how I feel about NBC and CNN. Funny how that works. :lol:

 

hehehehe I know!! People hate it that there is FINALLY one news network that is not a liberal mouth. It is funny how that works!:lol::lol::lol:

 

Teresa

[Parabola]

If Fox were more respectful of people with different idealologies, then I would have more respect for it. Right now, its pretty much a joke.

 

And I'm going to go now, because my thread that I wanted to be a celebration of something I am happy about and excited about has been turned into a typical them vs us type discussion.

 

Have a nice day.

[Jumping In Puddles]

Yeah, as soon as Fox news showed up, and then that awful Coulter woman, I knew that there was no way this was going to be a fair depiction.

 

 

 

One of my goals is to teach my kids to be discerning consumers of information and to base their views on research and most importantly, I want them first to see when a website, book, video or organization is objective or has an agenda. IMO, Information literacy will ultimately make or break this country.

 

This is a skill that has to be taught because it is not easy to tell the difference.

 

I don't really see how that video could be seen as anything but hateful fear mongering but I would love to hear a defense of it because maybe there is something there that I'm missing.

[RebeccaC]

I don't want change for the sake of change, I want change away from the direction this country has been moving in...in so many different ways. I am embarrassed that I'm an American.

And I don't have a problem with socialism, I WANT a socialist approach to healthcare. Socialism isn't a bad thing, anymore than democracy is. And we don't have a true democracy here in the States anyway, we have a republic.

 

I saw that youtube video. Its depressing that so many people fall for that kind of fearmongering. I knew what kind of video it was going to be as soon as I saw the title "Barack Hussein Obama"

 

The year before our oldest son became sick we almost signed up for and HMO. If we had the experimental treatment that saved his life would not have been covered. For a few years I became an advocate and lobbyist for medical research and healcare. I worked on the board of a large medical charity and I have seen kids with the same illness that both of my sons and niece had who lived in countries with socialized medicine go with out treatment.

 

I can respect your views on socialism but I have yet to see any good thing come out of socialised healthcare. The only places that I have seen socialism work well is on a small scale, Kibbutz and Hutterite communities come to mind. However in both when the population reaches over 200 the great working socialistic communities begin to break down. There has not been one large scale socialism experiment that has worked, ever.

 

I understand that we are a republic but I think that this republic has enjoyed many many years of a stable government far longer than any socialist country ever has and there is something to say for that. Change can be good but it can also be bad and when folks feel the need to change they need to do so carefully so that the change they bring....accept is not bad.

[Kelli in TN]

has been turned into a typical them vs us type discussion.

 

 

 

True.

 

I wish it had not turned the way it has. Maybe a new thread was in order?

 

I think I will avoid it now too.

[Mekanamom]

I know what you are saying, Colleen, but you have to get to the place where it is an option before you can get to the place where it doesn't matter at all. I think that is progress, even if it is perhaps smaller progress than is desirable.

 

For the record, when I talk about progress, I'm not talking about Obama's ideas because I don't really know what they are-he doesn't have a long voting record and I am much more conservative than he appears to be. I am talking about the fact that our nation (in a relatively short time) has come from the place where a black man couldn't vote to the place where he could be elected president. I am amazed by that. Hopefully in an even shorter period of time race won't even be discussed at all.

 

Yep. I don't know if this is the right place for my story, but it kind of relates. I grew up in a very diverse area... in general it just feels weird to even think about categorizing people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation. I mean, my dad is an idiot as far as discrimination goes- so I heard about it... but I just didn't experience it in the area where we lived. (Well, ok, I did experience overt sexism growing up both at home and in church- but not so much in society in general.)

 

Then I moved to a place where I was a racial minority. Whoo Boy, that was an eye opener! Little jabs here and there all the time! People who wouldn't wait on me in shops because I was "white". A dean who actually told me it was about time for white people to learn to deal with hardship and wouldn't let me drop a class after the official drop date. (When I was home sick with pneumonia for 3 weeks & could not make it to Chemistry labs. That was the only class I ever failed in my life. I mean, she could have just said "no exceptions", but she pulled up the race issue instead. LOL! Yes, let's just make sure you know you are being punished for the way you were born and for how you look!) There are more examples, but they don't need to be related here. Just really made me realize what people have to go through sometimes, and a LOT really depends on what part of the country you are in. And the little things I experienced are nothing compared to what other people have gone through, or are going through now.

 

I'm so glad things are better in general, and so glad to see we are heading in the right direction. We have come a long way!! And I think it's good to talk about it, too. Pretending it doesn't exist doesn't help make it go away. I hope I see the day when racism is truly no longer an issue. (And sexism, and homophobia... but I digress. ;)) And just to be clear, I do think that reverse discrimination exists as well. I think it probably had to, to get past certain roadblocks. But certainly- we should vote for or hire the person best suited for the job, gender/race/orientation should not be the issue. I think we are moving closer to that... I sure hope we are. :)

[Jumping In Puddles]

That's exactly how I feel about NBC and CNN. Funny how that works. :lol:

 

hehehehe I know!! People hate it that there is FINALLY one news network that is not a liberal mouth. It is funny how that works!:lol::lol::lol:

 

Teresa

 

Maybe some people feel that way but I don't hate the Fox News Channel because they are not a liberal mouthpiece, I don't like them because they sensationalize stories in ways that are trying to be inflammatory and misleading unlike other conservative news oulets:

 

For conservative news, I prefer: The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, The National Review.

 

For liberal viewpoint news, I prefer NPR, NY Times.

 

For neutral reporting of news (as events, not commentary): USA Today, BBC, Reuters.C-Span

 

I don't like Fox News, NBC, CNN or any other news organization that tells me what to think. I like to get the whole picture and form my own views.

[Penny from Tenny]

I don't want change for the sake of change, I want change away from the direction this country has been moving in...in so many different ways. I am embarassed that I'm an American.

And I don't have a problem with socialism, I WANT a socialist approach to healthcare. Socialism isn't a bad thing, anymore than democracy is. And we don't have a true democracy here in the States anyway, we have a republic.

 

 

What? Not me! I don't want socialized medicine and I have a severely disabled adult child to care for. Socialism is a very bad thing - look at the countries who have socialized medicine and the countries that are presently and historicaly socialists - no thank you! And as someone who is proud to be an American and has a son serving in the Air Force I am very sorry that you are embarassed to be an American. We are not a perfect country but I would rather live here than anywhere else in the world.

[Rich with Kids]

 

I am very sorry that you are embarassed to be an American. We are not a perfect country but I would rather live here than anywhere else in the world.

 

:iagree:

[Jumping In Puddles]

I just want to point out that Obama does not support socialized medicine but wants to work towards all americans being insured:

 

“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates… My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.â€

 

Link

[RebeccaC]

I just want to point out that Obama does not support socialized medicine but wants to work towards all americans being insured:

 

 

 

Link

 

 

My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums.

 

I have been wondering about this how does he plan to change the price that private companies charge for insurance without nationalizing (socializing) those companies? It could be that I am missing something :confused:

[Elaine]

That's exactly how I feel about NBC and CNN. Funny how that works. :lol:

 

But why Karen? They are reputable news networks that never slant the truth.;)

[Jumping In Puddles]

I have been wondering about this how does he plan to change the price that private companies charge for insurance without nationalizing (socializing) those companies? It could be that I am missing something :confused:

 

I believe by subsidizing the insurance. This does not have to mean a tax increase either! There are a lot of creative ways that can be used to subsidize it. The one I'm for is to stop subsidizing corn growers (that is mostly made into High Fructose Corn Syrup) plus the astronomical amount of money we will save by pulling out of Iraq.

 

Our country has a long history of providing subsidies (both conservative and liberal policies alike) but I think this one is important enough that we do this. I normally despise most subsidies as they are just more pork.

[astrid]

Socialism is a very bad thing - look at the countries who have socialized medicine and the countries that are presently and historicaly socialists - no thank you! And as someone who is proud to be an American and has a son serving in the Air Force I am very sorry that you are embarassed to be an American. We are not a perfect country but I would rather live here than anywhere else in the world.

 

 

Yeah. Sweden. What a terrible country! What an awful standard of living! And the international news is full of reports about how Swedes are just dropping dead in the streets there because of their awful health care system! ;)

[Elaine]

I don't want change for the sake of change, I want change away from the direction this country has been moving in...in so many different ways. I am embarassed that I'm an American.

And I don't have a problem with socialism, I WANT a socialist approach to healthcare. Socialism isn't a bad thing, anymore than democracy is. And we don't have a true democracy here in the States anyway, we have a republic.

 

 

You're embarassed to be an American?:confused: I am always amazed when people make that kind of statement. We live in a free country. You get to do the happy dance because your guy got a nomination. You get to vote. You have a say. This is one of the greatest countries to live in and you're embarassed to be one of its citizens?

 

 

Socialism isn't a bad thing? Eeeeeee, I beg to differ.

 

 

This isn't meant to throw tomatoes or rain on your happy dance. I just don't understand how you can say that you finally feel like "Change" is going to be brought about and not be proud to be an American that gets to have a say and an opinion as to what that change is.

[Penny from Tenny]

You're embarassed to be an American?:confused: I am always amazed when people make that kind of statement. We live in a free country. You get to do the happy dance because your guy got a nomination. You get to vote. You have a say. This is one of the greatest countries to live in and you're embarassed to be one of its citizens?

 

 

Socialism isn't a bad thing? Eeeeeee, I beg to differ.

 

 

This isn't meant to throw tomatoes or rain on your happy dance. I just don't understand how you can say that you finally feel like "Change" is going to be brought about and not be proud to be an American that gets to have a say and an opinion as to what that change is.

 

 

:iagree:

[Jami]

I could post this thought here or on the "college as a right" thread, just sort of musing about how socialism or free university education "work" in European countries and the tax burdens there to fund these things. I don't know the numbers but it seems to be that one has to take into account the population in these countries compared with the United States. In the case of Sweden, you have have fairly small (population and size) nation which is also very homogeneous. Countries with larger populations and more immigration (France and the UK for example) have other issues pulling at their financial resources. Some of this came up when the study on schools in Finland was discussed a few months ago, sure there are excellent principles one can take from what works in other nations. But I'm just not sure it works to say, "let's just do what Sweeden or Germany or Finland is doing".

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density Here's a link on population density, if you click on the population arrows at the top of that column, you can order it from largest to smallest. To get a sense of the numbers. The US is 4th with 300 million people, the UK has 64 million, Sweden-6 million. The difference in scope is huge, so I would think the solutions have to be very different as well.

 

Make sense?

 

Jami

[Penny from Tenny]

Yeah. Sweden. What a terrible country! What an awful standard of living! And the international news is full of reports about how Swedes are just dropping dead in the streets there because of their awful health care system! ;)

 

 

Well, sorry, I still wouldn't care to live in Sweden. Perhaps this article might shed some light on what the "welfare state" has done for Sweden. And we won't even mention the decline in morality and sexual perversion there. I'm not an educated person on this matter, just observant and I still think that when you have a socialist mindset that everyone is to share things equally (And Obama does believe this) that responsible living declines or goes out the window.

http://mises.org/story/2190

[astrid]

Some of this came up when the study on schools in Finland was discussed a few months ago, sure there are excellent principles one can take from what works in other nations. Jami

 

Yes, this is my point. There has GOT to be a way to take the underlying principles and apply them to our population to bring about SOME kind of improvement. I grow very weary of the notion that OUR way is the BEST because we're AMERICA, dammit! I think that as a nation, we do not have enough meaningful conversations with other nations about how we can improve the quality of live for Americans and those who call our nation home.

 

And fyi, Sweden's population isn't nearly as homogenous as you might think. They have been hit with a HUGE influx of African and middle eastern immigrants within the last twenty years.

[RebeccaC]

I could post this thought here or on the "college as a right" thread, just sort of musing about how socialism or free university education "work" in European countries and the tax burdens there to fund these things. I don't know the numbers but it seems to be that one has to take into account the population in these countries compared with the United States. In the case of Sweeden, you have have fairly small (population and size) nation which is also very homogeneous. Countries with larger populations and more immigration (France and the UK for example) have other issues pulling at their financial resources. Some of this came up when the study on schools in Finland was discussed a few months ago, sure there are excellent principles one can take from what works in other nations. But I'm just not sure it works to say, "let's just do what Sweden or Germany or Finland is doing".

 

Make sense?

 

Jami

 

 

To me it does :001_smile: Sweden has had a problem with waiting lists for needed surgeries and other treatments and patience choice. It is easy to jump on the lets be like Sweden, ect.... if you and your family are healthy however it is very different when things go very wrong and choice or a waiting list might make all the difference in the world. The doctor who treated our sons was the only doc in the world doing what he was doing in the mid 90s. Without his treatment our oldest son would still be a deaf mute. In my opinion choice is precious and should not be thrown out and socialisation of medicine all most always does away with choice.

 

I restate that I have no horse in this race.

[Jumping In Puddles]

I'm not an educated person on this matter, just observant and I still think that when you have a socialist mindset that everyone is to share things equally (And Obama does believe this)

 

Can you provide any information or links as to how Obama believes everyone is to share things equally? I looked (only quickly, though!) and can not find support of this, can you give me a reference or quote? I would appreciate it!

[Jami]

 

And fyi, Sweden's population isn't nearly as homogenous as you might think. They have been hit with a HUGE influx of African and middle eastern immigrants within the last twenty years.

 

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I should have Googled around a bit more on immigration perhaps. One just hears so much more about the issues in the UK and France, not that immigration is necessarily a detriment. But countries that draw large refugee populations have different economic burdens.

[astrid]

Well, sorry, I still wouldn't care to live in Sweden. Perhaps this article might shed some light on what the "welfare state" has done for Sweden. And we won't even mention the decline in morality and sexual perversion there. I'm not an educated person on this matter, just observant and I still think that when you have a socialist mindset that everyone is to share things equally (And Obama does believe this) that responsible living declines or goes out the window.

http://mises.org/story/2190

 

Okay, how can you even profess to know what another person "believes?"

 

And since you DID mention the "decline in morality and sexual perversion" in Sweden, would you care to point out some examples? And then compare and contrast them with the "decline in morality and sexual perversion" in the USA? I must have declined, morally, because that statement suddenly made Dana Carvey's old SNL character, "The Church Lady" leap into my mind. Though I'm certain you didn't intend it to be funny. ;)

 

Personally, off the top of my head, I consider out-and-out LYING and DECEIT to be pretty immoral, yet the dishonesty of the current administration seems to be totally overlooked by those who continue to support him and who are looking forward to McCain in the White House.

 

Obviously, my opinion. And what do I know anyway?

[astrid]

Thanks for pointing that out. I should have Googled around a bit more on immigration perhaps. One just hears so much more about the issues in the UK and France, not that immigration is necessarily a detriment. But countries that draw large refugee populations have different economic burdens.

 

No problem! I think it's a huge misconception that the rest of the world thinks that Sweden is chock-full of blue-eyed blonds! :-)

[Parabola]

I am embarassed to be an American because of the way we have pushing and shoving and puffing our chest on the world stage lately. I'm embarassed to be an American because we, until very very very recently, refused to even take a look at climate change. I'm embarassed to be an American because we still don't participate much in global climate solutions. I'm embarassed to be an American because the one thing that America stood for was human rights, and now we're willing to throw that out the door if it means we make a buck (i.e. China). I'm embarassed to be an American because we can't seem to see any solutions other than military force, and that is NOT limited to Iraq. I'm embarassed to be an American because we aren't willing to talk and negotiate with countries we disagree with, how can anybody compromise and understand without communication? I'm embarassed to be an American because so many of us here, almost all of whom are the descendants of immigrants, want to ruin people's lives instead of helping them meet qualifications to become a citizen. I'm embarassed to be an American because the quality of our education is terrible, as a country we are not educating our future generations well. I'm embarassed to be an American because when we do teach science and math, we teach it terribly. Our education standards are too low.

 

My family pays 600 dollars per month for health and dental care. Is this not outrageous? And yet I still have to pay something for every doctor visit, every stop at an ER, every medication (under the insurance I was on six months ago I was paying 180 per month for a med I'm on, its better now, its half that...but thats a lot for one single med that I pay my premiums for)

Something needs to be done about the healthcare system, we've tried a capitalistic for profit system, IT IS NOT WORKING. Maybe socialistic medcare won't work either, but its a step away from the problem, and we can always tweak what doesn't work. We can look at other countries, Canada is a pretty big country, and see where their mistakes are and how we can avoid them. We can look at this intelligently with the intent of helping everyone, or we can have a knee-jerk reaction to a label.

 

 

I AM happy that so much progress has been made in America that a black man (well a half black man) is a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. That is amazing and I'm proud that we made that step, and like other people have said I look forward to the day when race is not even mentioned anywhere. I never check the race box on forms because its just another division and I won't do it. Maybe now that we have a minority candidate as well as a strong woman participating we can catch up to other countries that have had these things for many years now.

[RebeccaC]

I believe by subsidizing the insurance. This does not have to mean a tax increase either! There are a lot of creative ways that can be used to subsidize it. The one I'm for is to stop subsidizing corn growers (that is mostly made into High Fructose Corn Syrup) plus the astronomical amount of money we will save by pulling out of Iraq.

 

Our country has a long history of providing subsidies (both conservative and liberal policies alike) but I think this one is important enough that we do this. I normally despise most subsidies as they are just more pork.

 

Well I can agree with ending subsidies :) I am not sure subsidizing insurance companies is a good idea. It would have been nice if I had taken a couple of economics courses in college and knew more about it. With what I know now subsidizing makes me uncomfortable.

[Penny from Tenny]

Can you provide any information or links as to how Obama believes everyone is to share things equally? I looked (only quickly, though!) and can not find support of this, can you give me a reference or quote? I would appreciate it!

 

 

I can't find it either. I actually heard the speech where he stated this. The news I heard it on was not pointing it out as an issue, I just remember thinking, "wow, that's socialism". If I find it I'll post it. No more for me today.

[Jami]

In my opinion choice is precious and should not be thrown out and socialisation of medicine all most always does away with choice.

 

I restate that I have no horse in this race.

 

I agree that choice and competition seem to improve the quality of most services. Insurance premiums are ridiculous and some sort of improvement in the current system seems necessary. Should there be more restrictions to lower the number of frivolous lawsuits against medical professionals? I'm not sure I'd be opposed to a system where a more affordable gov't plan of some sort is available to those without other insurance options, subsidized or whatever, though the people on those plans will probably have to be content with fewer choices, like an HMO plan as opposed to a PPO plan. I suppose one danger is that companies will no longer feel compelled to offer plans to employees if the government is offering some sort of back-up plan. And then those who would have otherwise been insured through work are stuck finding an independent plan or the less impressive gov't plan.

[RebeccaC]

Something needs to be done about the healthcare system, we've tried a capitalistic for profit system, IT IS NOT WORKING. Maybe socialistic medcare won't work either, but its a step away from the problem, and we can always tweak what doesn't work. We can look at other countries, Canada is a pretty big country, and see where their mistakes are and how we can avoid them. We can look at this intelligently with the intent of helping everyone, or we can have a knee-jerk reaction to a label.

 

 

I AM happy that so much progress has been made in America that a black man (well a half black man) is a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. That is amazing and I'm proud that we made that step, and like other people have said I look forward to the day when race is not even mentioned anywhere. I never check the race box on forms because its just another division and I won't do it. Maybe now that we have a minority candidate as well as a strong woman participating we can catch up to other countries that have had these things for many years now.

 

 

I agree with you that something needs to be doen about health care. I just don't agree that if we change to socialized healthcare it will be easy to fix once we make the change. Which goes back to change can be good and it can be bad.......... Canada has wait lists for needed treatment and it has no patient choice. If we had lived in Canda when our sons got sick we would have had to come to the US and would have had to pay houndreds of thousands of dollars for their treatment. As it was we paid 10 of thousands of dollars out of our pockets but we had choice and we did not have to add our names to a waiting list for treatment.

 

As to a black man getting the nomination I suppose it is good. It would be better if race and sex were not even an issue then we would be living Dr. King's dream right :)

[Jumping In Puddles]

Well I can agree with ending subsidies :) I am not sure subsidizing insurance companies is a good idea. It would have been nice if I had taken a couple of economics courses in college and knew more about it. With what I know now subsidizing makes me uncomfortable.

 

Yes, there has to be a better way and I hope our next President and administration will deal with it fairly for all. I don't like subsidies one bit either but for immediate relief, well I guess I could live with it but I would prefer a better way.

 

Although we have many, many wonderful qualities as Americans, and I am proud to be an American, we do have some issues that I would like to see resolved. We need to get to the root of some of our most troublesome problems and those seem to be: superficial law suits, low wages for retail jobs while the CEO's are making more than ever and the more lucrative manufacturing jobs are out sourced over seas, poor education and lack of respect for where we live - our own neighborhoods not just the whole US, our "pile it high, sell it cheap" mantra of giant consolidated food suppliers, our spending on junk that fattens the wallets of few and sends the rest over seas, some people in our communities seem to have sense of entitlement instead of hard work ethic...

 

The above are my opinions and I'm sure many would disagree and I'd love to hear other opinions!

 

Also, just to add that on the opinion of fattening the wallets of the few while the workers get relatively little and the rest of the money goes overseas - I don't think that it's the governments job to deal with this. We, the people, need to spend our money with responsible companies and as employees we need to educate ourselves so that we have more choices in life so we are not in the miserable position of having no other choice.

[RebeccaC]

Yes, there has to be a better way and I hope our next President and administration will deal with it fairly for all. I don't like subsidies one bit either but for immediate relief, well I guess I could live with it but I would prefer a better way.

 

Although we have many, many wonderful qualities as Americans, we do have some issues that I would like to see resolved. We need to get to the root of our problems and those seem to be: superficial law suits, low wages for retail jobs while the CEO's are making more than ever and the more lucrative manufacturing jobs are out sourced over seas, poor education and lack of respect for where we live - our own neighborhoods not just the whole US, our "pile it high, sell it cheap" mantra of giant consolidated food suppliers, our spending on junk that fattens the wallets of few and sends the rest over seas, some people in our communities seem to have sense of entitlement instead of hard work ethic...

 

The above are my opinions and I'm sure many would disagree and I'd love to hear other opinions!

 

Well healthcare is a conundrum that is for sure, but the CEO thingy just hurts us for sure. Dh works for American Airlines and we gave them almost 2/3rds of our income to keep AA out of bankruptcy only to see all the top guys get several million dollar bonuses for getting the ramp workers and other employees to give up quite a bit of their salaries :banghead:

 

No place is perfect and some change is needed I just hope we take our time and make the right changes kwim :001_huh: I still prefer the US to any place on earth and I been around the globe a bit.

[astrid]

Very well said, Parabola!

[jjmw1]

I am happy that finally the world is waking up and realizing that it's okay to step out of the box!!! My kids even have commented on how much of a change this is! It's really great!!! GO USA!!!!

[RebeccaC]

Yes, there has to be a better way and I hope our next President and administration will deal with it fairly for all. I don't like subsidies one bit either but for immediate relief, well I guess I could live with it but I would prefer a better way.

 

Although we have many, many wonderful qualities as Americans, and I am proud to be an American, we do have some issues that I would like to see resolved. We need to get to the root of some of our most troublesome problems and those seem to be: superficial law suits, low wages for retail jobs while the CEO's are making more than ever and the more lucrative manufacturing jobs are out sourced over seas, poor education and lack of respect for where we live - our own neighborhoods not just the whole US, our "pile it high, sell it cheap" mantra of giant consolidated food suppliers, our spending on junk that fattens the wallets of few and sends the rest over seas, some people in our communities seem to have sense of entitlement instead of hard work ethic...

 

The above are my opinions and I'm sure many would disagree and I'd love to hear other opinions!

 

Also, just to add that on the opinion of fattening the wallets of the few while the workers get relatively little and the rest of the money goes overseas - I don't think that it's the governments job to deal with this. We, the people, need to spend our money with responsible companies and as employees we need to educate ourselves so that we have more choices in life so we are not in the miserable position of having no other choice.

 

 

The next president will need the wisdom of Solomon with a congress that will back him. The only problem is so far I don't see a candidate with that kind of wisdom and well congress has been a problem all of my voting life which is now more than a couple of decades :eek: Come to think of it I don't think I have ever seen such a candidate, although, when I was young and impressionable I thought Reagan was and I still think he was close, not perfect but close.

[Parabola]

I agree with you that something needs to be doen about health care. I just don't agree that if we change to socialized healthcare it will be easy to fix once we make the change. Which goes back to change can be good and it can be bad.......... Canada has wait list for needed treatment and it has no patient choice. If we had lived in Canda when our sons got sick we would have had to come to the US and would have had to pay houndreds of thousands of dollars for their treatment. As it was we paid 10 of thousands of dollars out of our pockets but we had choice and we did not have to add our names to a waiting list for treatment.

)

 

Oh I know Canadas not a shining beacon to hold ourselves up to...but I'm saying its possible to learn from their mistakes. We have the advantage of not being the first country to try to do this. Neither Clinton nor Obama have the solution to this problem, but something has to be done. We can grit our teeth and shell out the big bucks for insurance premiums, many many many other people can't.

[MomofSeven]

Change for the sake of change, though, often isn't the best. I definitely see him making changes, but will they be for the best, since he seems to be such a socialist? I don't think so.

 

T

 

Oh, I know he'll bring change...let me count the ways - higher taxes, less freedom, Cap and Trade (ugh!), weaker military and of course dignifying world terrorists with interface meetings. I wish I were RipVanWinkle and could go to sleep and wake up in 2012.

[Melinda in VT]

Oh, I know he'll bring change...let me count the ways - higher taxes, less freedom, Cap and Trade (ugh!), weaker military and of course dignifying world terrorists with interface meetings. I wish I were RipVanWinkle and could go to sleep and wake up in 2012.

 

You'll survive. ;)

 

I should know. I've been gritting my teeth and counting days for the last 6.5 years. :auto:

[Jumping In Puddles]

Cap and Trade (ugh!)

 

You don't think the US should take measures to wean the United States off of foreign oil?

[Vida Winter]

 

In general, I don't support affirmative action programs ~ particularly those that are gender-based. Having said that, I'm curious as to the factual underpinnings of the assertions you expressed here. How do you know the candidates earning acceptance are less qualified? What's the basis for your assessment of their performance upon acceptance? It feels to me ~ and granted, this is just my inkling ~ that you're making emotional assumptions. Perhaps I'm wrong, though; just wondering about the basis for your comments.

 

 

Colleen, I am basing my statements on actual experience. Although my response to Phred's statement was a knee jerk reaction, my statements are based on real events and I stand by them. I don't want to get into it here because it was not really the focus of this thread. Sorry if I have offended.

[NewHomeSchoolMarm]

What a great time in our nation to have an African American Man that may be elected president. I love our Country--Go USA!!!

 

NHSM