That wasnt technically the internet.. it was snail mail. And very nice of you.

You are awesome over snail mail and a dumbass in the politics thread.

See.. I was still right :D

What do you think about Dems screwing Bush on SS reform? Pretty similar to what you think of the Repubs now, correct?

Also, I think it is possible to be both a dumbass and quite nice.

But dont be upset, we are all dumbasses in some aspect of our lives.

I think this is an apt comparison.
Everybody with half a brain realized that the Republican plan for social security was a giant sack of crap, but did the Dems come up with their own plan to solve an obvious problem? Nope. They just complained about the Republicans' plan.
In fairness to the Dems, they were right to complain about the Republican plan which - given the turn in the stock market in the years after it was proposed - would have been a complete disaster, but they should also have proposed a reasonable alternative that called for raising the retirement age, etc. As far as I know, they never did that.

Aren't differences of opinion a great thing? ;) Isn't it wonderful that most of us respect the rights of others to hold differing opinions?

Our government isn't designed necessarily to move slowly. Actually it's pretty clean and simple in design. There are simply Constitutional safeguards in place between the Judicial, Executive and Legislative branches.

For example, the first Medicare bill passed during Lyndon Johnson's presidency became effective nearly immediately.

The minority party currently in the Congress and Senate have a clear voice. In fact, they have a voice so powerful they have been able to obstruct what the majority party wants to do.

I think the founders of this great nation would be thrilled that America places it's citizens first, and looks out for all it's citizens, rather than ignoring those that "have not".

2500 page bills that have been available for a few months is a simple thing for Senators and Congressmen to have their aids read. And these bills have been online and available to the public in printed form for a few weeks now. It's a straw man argument, if someone, at this stage, is still whining, "I haven't read the bill" or "I don't understand it!"

Unfortunately, misinformation still occurs, like thinking illegal aliens would be covered, when they are explicitly excluded.

People have to be healthy and alive, first, in order to be able to learn. The United States of America has a terrible infant mortality rate, and too many of our children are going hungry and without medical care.

I've lived through many years of having a political party in power that I didn't care for, whose policies I didn't agree with. That is the price of being an American citizen - allowing other American citizens to have their turn at a voice.

No, I've still got the e-mails between us. You did a good job with that.

I think all parties have always played politics, obviously, but I'm quite much older than many of you here, and my perception is that it has worsened to the point that it can hardly be put aside. Especially over the past 8 years. Seriously, the Reagan years were nothing like this between Dems and Repubs.

And Lori, I have been a Repub my whole life, I've never been fond of the Democratic party platforms generally. But the GOP of the past 8 years, and of now, has changed. It is definitely not the GOP of Reagan or before. It is definitely not the GOP I grew up with and joined.

I think it's notable that historically the public used to get it's information through the filter of professional journalists in print and on television. Stuff that was false, inaccurate, or just wildly off the page wasn't presented.

The internet has changed that, and just in the past few years.

I think they'd be appalled that regardless of who is in power they are going against what the majority of Americans are for and it's sickening. Give me a break 36%. :eek: yea that's a majority!!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01...y6084856.shtml

Cant people be both nice and dumbasses? Or are they mutually exclusive?

This is not necessarily true

1 Yes.
2 Yes, our Govt. was designed to move slowly.
3 L.B.J. was a wannabee socialist who wasn't ready for War (sound familiar?)
4 Things seem to be going great guns, despite the minorities obstructionism, and a clear public disapproval.
5 I think the Founders would be appalled at the willingness of the American people to give up their Freedom and Liberty for fear of having to take care of themselves.
6 The 2500 page Bills were available for a few days at best. 500 page amendments were made available hours before the vote.
7 Yes they are.
8 It's not the Govt. concern to keep you alive or healthy. There are plenty of programs to help kids and people that for some reason need help. This isn't missing from our society. Most people give to charity. Don't you? I don't expect the Govt. to take, in taxes or any other way, something from someone who worked for it and needs it, to someone who can work for it but doesn't.
9 Me too. I still don't.