News-Record.com

I wish we could read some lte, about the harding working middle class, that has to pay their way for everything. I never read one lte, that said let help them hard worhing people, its always , we need to give more to the people that refuse to work. Many folks are getting up right now to go to work, to pay their way in life.Many more are rolling over in their bed, saying work hard folks, I need more wefare.I support helping the needy, sick, elders, and such. If you are able to work, you need to work.

"It certainly makes clear where the priorities of this administration lie."

Yes, the priorities of any president worth his salt should lie with the upkeep of the military and not providing cradle to grave health care "for the children" in a vast vote buying scheme.
Thank you, President Bush.

It really rubs these old hippies raw to see the military funded at the expense of their social programs.

Ahh,

so now it's a vote buying scheme! Yesterday it was a first step towards socialism. Neocon, your opinions twist to fit whatever misguided argument you happen to want to endorse at the moment. The facts are, if we can afford to fund a war that we had no business getting involved in to the tune of over 10 billion a month, we ought to be able to fund heathcare for at least some of the many millions of uninsured children. Some of us actually see the suffering in our country instead of sitting at home spouting nonsense.

Ahh, the SCHIP letter du jour. Mikeg do you honestly think people making $40-$60K should be able to confiscate money from others to pay for their kids healthcare? I do make an exception for a family in that income bracket suffering a expensive health crisis like a serious illness or injury.

Imagine going through your neighborhood. Knock on every door and explain to your neighbors that although you are making $40K you can't afford the kids health care insurance and ask them for donations "for your children". Would you ever do this?

Well you and Mr. Bursey are asking the exact same thing except you advocate a third party, the govt., doing it for you. It's a bit easier to digest that way.

Save SCHIP for those who truly need it, the poor and those with devastating illnesses or injuries.

I rightly predicted 57 responses from another SCHIP LTE and there were even more. This one may get as many, escpecially once the insults start flying.

Dan, you are stuck on the 40K misinformation. Please check your facts before you get bent.

I approve of helping the needy in the USA...period. While some will take advantage of the situation, many will benefit. I, and all who blog, have been blessed. While we have worked hard, we had a foundation from which to succeed. MANY don't have this advantage. Put yourself in others shoes for a while.

If we are a Christian nation, what would Jesus fund? A war that kills many innocent people and destroys lives or health care for all? I want to see our nation walk the walk.

Carol,

What is the $40K misinformation? That's 2X poverty level, which is the essence of the SCHIP Program. What are the facts that you refer to?

Carol,
Please check your facts before you get bent.
$40K - $60K are the facts put out.

I see your ending statement expanded from "For the children" to "Health care for all".

Dan and others who think 40-60k is so much money. Imagine for a minute that you are married, and you and your spouse each earn about 25 k a year and have 3 or 4 kids. hell, even 2 kids. So after taxes, you each bring home about 1600.00 per month. rent, utilities, or 8-900.00; food 600.00, clothing, car etc. so, how do you afford heath insurance for your kids? Bottom line is, unless your employer is paying for it, you don't. So, what happens if your kids get sick? you take them the ER, don't pay, and it gets tacked on to either all of the rest of our insurance bills, through higher fees and premiums, or the government ends up picking up the tab anyway. why not provide insurance for these children and take all of the burden away. then these kids get adequate access to PREVENTIVE healthcare and help control costs for everyone.

Is there room for abuse? of course there is. what government program doesn't have abuse. lets not even talk about $1200.00 toilet seats or $800.00 hammers.

Open your eyes, people. SCHIP is a good program and needs to be funded. It's not socialism. its taking care of fellow americans.

This Dog Bites Back said:
"I wish we could read some lte, about the harding working middle class, that has to pay their way for everything."

Doggie,
Warren Buffett did an interview this past week with Tom Brokaw. He found that his office staff workers were paying approx. 37% in taxes, and he only payed 17%. He found that to be an abomination! So do I, and so do others. He admits it, and says he should be paying more taxes, so that the middle class could once again prosper.

Little Dan, neo, and others somehow think the GOP or as the little fella likes to qualify it, "The Conservatives" are looking out for him by granting a tax cut to those earning in excess of $350,000 per year. People who have bought into that argument are sheep being led to slaughter! In a nutshell, they are stupid. Before FDR, there was no middle class, and unfortunately, after "W", there might not be one left.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21553857

Again, the joke is on the pickup driving redneck with "Bush/Cheney" stickers on his vehicle who is trying to rear a family on two low paying jobs.
To be fair, it is also on many others, like "little Danny" and others who believe their own self interest is being served by the President. As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss"---and the lemmings are many!

`

mikeg, the premise presented in your 10:57AM post is equivalent to one I presented a few weeks ago on this same topic. When faced with the income amount and the expenses of a 4-person household, medical insurance is NOT affordable! People (in general) seem to believe that 40k is a lot of money. 20-30 years ago, it was. However, with the price of necessities today, it is barely enough to stay solvent.

As Carol noted, there will be those who misuse the program. That is a sad fact in ANY program whether for low income or high income people! I would rather err on the side of helping someone rather than not helping.

Carol, I appreciate the comment; "Put yourself in others shoes for a while." If more people did this, there would be a lot less comments belittling those who do not have a life of luxury (as compared to some). I recall a story told by Jesus the Christ. It can be found in the Gospel of Matthew 25.31ff. Here is a link to that reading; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2025;&version=46;

Read that and then tell me that something should not be done for those who seem "unimportant!"

Shalom

`

For those who will not take the time to watch the interview with Warren Buffett, here is a transcript excerpt:

Tom: You've talked about in your office, for example, you pay a much lower tax rate with all of your wealth than, say, a receptionist does.

Warren: That's exactly right, Tom. And I-- I think the only way to do it is with specifics, and-- and - and in our office, 15 people cooperated in a survey out of 18. I didn't make anybody do it. And my total taxes paid-- payroll taxes plus income tax-- and the payroll tax is an income tax. It's based on income.

Tom: Yeah.

Warren: Mine came to-- 17.7 percent. That-- that was the-- that was line 61 I think-- or, no, line 43-- is the percent of taxable income, plus payroll taxes, 17.7 percent. The average for the office was 32.9 percent. There wasn't anybody in the office from the receptionist on that paid as low a tax rate. And I have no tax planning. I don't have an-- I don't have a-- an accountant. I don't have tax shelters. I just follow what the U.S. Congress tells me to do.

Tom: Why do you think that there's not more outrage about that?

Warren: I-- I don't think people understand it. For one thing, you'll see a lot of surveys that say the rich, the top one percent pay this much of the income tax. Now I think what people don't realize is that almost one third of the entire budget comes from payroll taxes. And payroll taxes on income, just like income taxes are taxes on income.

And the payroll tax is over $800 billion out of two and a trillion, or something like that. And people don't understand-- they-- they-- that the rich pay practically no payroll tax. I mean, I paid payroll tax last year on $90 odd thousand, whatever the number is. I paid income tax on $66 million. But my double income tax, one of 'em quits at $90,000. And the remaining $66 million does not get taxed with payroll tax. So, the person who makes $60,000 in our office gets ta-- taxed in full on the payroll tax, and taxed in full on the income tax. And-- and all the statistics you read, particularly the one don't like taxes, well now, they totally ignore the payroll tax. And it's huge now.

----------------------

Little Danny, neo, and others who hook up to the "drip bag" of right wing radio, have no clue. They will probably attack Warren Buffett because he's not a shill for the GOP, but the truth remains, and the truth will set the ignorant free--if they'll just accept it.

Hope springs eternal!

`

`

As JDR says, it is the evil corporations that have feathered their own nests under the GOP Congress of the 90's and the Bush Administration. Once again, Warren Buffett interview with Brokaw:

Warren: I'll-- I'll bet-- I'll bet a million dollars against any member of the Forbes 400 who challenges-- me that the average for the Forbes 400 will be less than the average of their receptionists. So, I'm-- I'm-- I'm-- I'll give 'em an 800 number. They can call me. And the million will go to whichever charity the winner-- designates.

Tom: How much are you hearing from your fellow rich fellows, as you describe them?

Warren: I don't hear anything. They're happy. They are not paying the tax rate their receptionists are.

-----
So, while neocon, Little Danny and others have no clue, the "Oracle of Omaha" tells it like it is.

`

BOTTOM LINE:

Lower payroll taxes and Raise taxes on those earning at the top level. We could accomplish much good in this great country.

(of course those hooked up to the "drip bags" of Rush, Hannity, etc, think they ARE the ones who are called rich!! LOL!)

`

Mikeg,

I agree. We should take care of our fellow Americans. I support all programs that help the totally disabled. And I support programs that will help citizens who, for some reason, briefly can't take care of themselves. One never knows when one might need the programs.

I suggest that after one year of continuous contribution to Social Security or two years total piecemeal contributions, or two years of military service, any American citizen is allotted five years of government assistance at 200% of the poverty level to cover the citizen and his/her children. Use it in chunks (take a year off) or percentages (employed but using food stamps) if needed, but, for each amount of time or percentage used, your eligible retirement age increases by the same amount. When you've used the five years up then there is no more. After that, if you didn't use the time and assistance to improve yourself (community college is one way) so that you could find a better job or otherwise improve your circumstances, you'll need to turn to local churches and other face-to-face community assistance groups to continue your funding.

Protection from unforeseen events is there, but the capabilities to take advantage of the system are not.

Regarding your example, my wife and I wouldn't have imagined a current $40k/year net income would be suitable to raise two children, much less four. Those who do are not making good decisions. And poor decision making shouldn't be indefinitely supported and rewarded.

Roger

I think Warren Buffet is correct. However, I'm not sure how the federal government spending more money is going to help lower taxes.

There are ways to make health insurance more affordable so people don't NEED the government to take it over.

I think it possible for Warren Buffet to send in all the $ he wants to the irs.
It's pitiful to watch the lamestream media treat this as "news". But then again, it keeps the idiots occupied by posting links to what he says, as if anyone cares...

mikeg,

never mind.

R. Bennet, you're assuming that people making 40-60K are capable of making informed decisions about whether they can afford children. Of course this is foolish. Only people making more than 80k are capable of making such wise decisions. The "working poor" (i.e., those under 60k in income) are pitiful creatures whose child-production should be subsidized by richer people. What are you thinking--that ALL Americans should take responsibility for themselves and their decisions? That's crazy.

```

neocon said:
"I think it possible for Warren Buffet to send in all the $ he wants to the irs.
It's pitiful to watch the lamestream media treat this as "news". But then again, it keeps the idiots occupied by posting links to what he says, as if anyone cares..."
*****
TRUTH:
What keeps the "idiots occupied" is the talk from Rush, Hannity, Savage et al. telling them that "THEY" would be hurt if billionaires pay more in taxes. It is the foundation of the GOP and even the Dems who are addicted to corporate campaign finance.

_____________________________

neo,
There is little doubt that your "fringe" websites would never offer the type of plainspoken wisdom as Warren Buffett offers. Instead, they attempt to keep you and the other lowest common denominators, tethered to their radical comments, so as to distract from real problems.

Once again, you are unable to refute my comments, rather you just throw barbs that are totally flaccid and ineffectual. You, and your little pet monkey are true lightweights in the world of ideas.
And speaking of that little narcissist, .....he (DAN) said,

" I rightly predicted 57 responses from another SCHIP LTE and there were even more."

Wow! Even the word "rightly" instead of "correctly" shows how deep the narcissism is in this poor little bloke. How needy the little fella is for attention. Maybe he'll volunteer for one of the psych studies over at WFUBMC!! He IS quite the specimen.
(and has no clue about it)

``

This is the type of reaction Buffet was hoping for...to have village idiots go orgasmic over his comments and post links to them all over the internet.

`

Guess neo can't read. I'll post it one more time:

Once again, you are unable to refute my comments, rather you just throw barbs that are totally flaccid and ineffectual.

Why don't you try to refute rather than post your usual nonsense?

Oh, hell! What was I thinking! You couldn't even refute the facts of SCHIP on another thread, so I don't know WHY I would have thought you could offer up some cogent argument against one of America's most successful business tycoons. Again, it is like trying to have an intelligent conversation with a retarded person. (apologies to all retarded people)
Neo, either refute the points or just disappear. Don't wait for your pet monkey to return just to crank up your organ! (LOL!!) He's too busy making himself feel important.

Absolute Stupidest Comment of the MONTH:

"This is the type of reaction Buffet was hoping for...to have village idiots go orgasmic over his comments and post links to them all over the internet."

Yeah. Like Buffett does that all the time. You obviously know little about the topic.

`

Warren Buffet says he's not paying enough taxes and it brings Canuck to a state of orgasmic bliss, posting videos and transcripts all over the Internet.

It doesn't take much to excite you does it Canuck?

I didn't think about this: I'll bet you played golf with him last weekend, huh Canuck? LOL

Dan: " I rightly predicted 57 responses from another SCHIP LTE and there were even more."

Demon Deacon: "Wow! Even the word "rightly" instead of "correctly" shows how deep the narcissism is in this poor little bloke."

right·ly
1. in accordance with truth or fact; correctly: to see rightly; to understand rightly.

No mention of narcissism.

Thesaurus.com:

6 results for: rightly

Main Entry: correctly

Definition: right
Synonyms: accurately, befittingly, decently, decorously, fitly, fittingly, justly, nicely, perfectly, precisely, properly, rightly, well

No mention of narcissism either.

The main entry for rightly was correctly!! I'll admit I wasn't perfect as there were more than 57 responses.

Proven wrong yet again. This is too easy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"This one may get as many, escpecially once the insults start flying."

I "correctly" predicted this as well. 20 something total responses and 5 containing insults, all from one person. Almost 25%. Keep up the good work Demon Deacon!! I'll exempt the 11:25 post.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If Warren Buffet wants to contribute more of his money to the IRS and charity to match the overall percentage of his staff, then why not do it Warren? When I write my quarterly checks to the Feds, they want me to address the check "United States Treasury" instead of "Internal Revenue Service". I guess that should make me feel better. Write the check Warren. You're getting older at 77, better do it sooner than later.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ok, back to the subject. I appreciate your response Mikeg and I remember Darryl's similar post a few LTEs ago.

I made much less than $40K for several years when I started my business, yet I found affordable health insurance with a high deductible. It was meant to cover expensive situations like a serious illness or injury. Meanwhile I drove a beat up vehicle and worked hard to earn more money.

At one point my child became ill with pneumonia and spent several days in the hospital. My share after insurance was $3K. The hospital was more than willing to spread payments over 3+ years with no interest.

I still don't get why folks earning $40-$60K cannot provide for themselves barring a major situation. I've been there done that without help from the govt.

You didn't answer my question however Mikeg. Would you visit your neighbors and ask them for money for your kids health insurance when you are making $40K? Notice I didn't even use $60 as is proposed in some states?

If not, then why do you feel it is appropriate for the govt. to do it for you? It's the exact same thing except you have a wasteful bureaucratic middle man involved.

Well, waiting by the organ grinder, for the monkey to bail him out didn't quite work out for him---Where is your refutation of the substance, neo??
Little Danny still doesn't see why he's a narcissist, but then again, that's another symptom! (He's an inch deep and mile wide)

Since he cannot refute the Warren Buffett comments on taxes, he attempts to ALL OF A SUDDEN, be concerned about minutia, and "How He Did It" when he was poor! What a freaking laughfest this guy provides! Sad part is, he still doesn't know, that he doesn't know.
(We can wait for him to veer off subject, as that is his usual game. He'll attack rather than offer rebuttals or refutation of facts presented)

Clue to little Danny: Jimmy Buffett is the singer, and Warren Buffett is the business tycoon.

``LOL!

`

For the Grownups:

Bush has totally mishandled the SCHIP affair since he is anything BUT a fiscal conservative. Now he wants to "appear" like he's one, but that dog won't hunt.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21599575/

Since he had conservative talk radio hosts in the White House last week for a pep rally, I guess he thinks he can lead the lemmings over the edge with a nudge from their heroes--Rush, Hannity, Bortz, Savage etc.
One of our regulars, will probably butter his britches again when Rush tells him how Bush is a conservative!! LOL! Move out of the way if Rush puts one of his pubes on ebay for little Danny to bid on! Better yet, maybe a portion of the Pilondial cyst that kept him from serving his country will be offered up for bid! Proceeds could go to his Oxycontin habit, by way of his maid. I'm hanging up on ya now. Enough fun for one day.

`

".......he attempts to ALL OF A SUDDEN, be concerned about minutia."

You were the one who brought up the subject, stating the use of the word "rightly" is narcissism. I prove you wrong yet again and it THEN it becomes "minutia."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"For the Grownups":

"One of our regulars, will probably butter his britches again..."

"Move out of the way if Rush puts one of his pubes on ebay for little Danny to bid on."

Words of a true grownup Demon Deacon. Keep up the good work! You reveal yourself more than daily for all to see.

What did Ghost call it? Fifth grade locker room talk? Notice you are the only one on the blog who uses language like this?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"This one may get as many, escpecially once the insults start flying."

7 and counting...this is too easy.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I notice no one will answer my question.

Would you visit your neighbors and ask them for money for your kids health insurance when you are making $40K?

Have fun, I'm working all day so I can earn money to take care of my kids.

Words of wisdom from Jonniebgood:

"Don't comment much here anymore, but I have an observation.
The n-r blog does resemble a 3rd grade schoolyard with one bully that is constant and relentless with the insults in his quest for attention.
He apparently has nothing of value to offer in the arena of civil discourse so he seeks to make himself heard by loud and boisterous insults sprinkled with hyena-ish 'LOLs' aimed at anyone who is to the right of Ted Kennedy or Howard Dean.
I'm no expert on human nature, but my job requires that I deal with a great number of people on any given day, and if I have learned anything in 30 years of dealing with what represents a diverse cross section of society, it is this: It is almost universal that those individuals who display such contempt and are willing to insult and belittle those with whom they disagree with on a daily basis are without exception the most insecure and lacking in depth than are the ones he/she attempts to lampoon.
Anyone with half a brain - nay, anyone with ANY brain at all - can review the threads in this blog and tell who is speaking from personal experience, has been exposed to life's lessons, and is comfortable in their own skin... as opposed to those who find it necessary to insult and dish out the teenage chat room "LOLs" in order to try and prop up a point(s) gleaned from the left wing websites and Keith Olbermann.
Carry on Dan. I enjoy reading your adult points of view.
Posted by Jonniebgood | May 3, 2007 7:00 PM

Some things never change Jonnie.

Dan,

since you mentioned that you made 40K several years ago, let me ask you some questions:

how many years ago.
did you have a wife and kids then? if so, how many?

how much did gas cost to drive your beat up car?

How much did you "affordable" health insurance cost?

what was the cost of living index and the national poverty rate several years ago?

my point in asking these questions is simple. what worked several years ago, doesn't work today.

I employ about 30 people, most of whom would not have health insurance at all, if I didn't provide it as their employey. I spend about $250.00 per employee per month, just to cover them. This doesn't cover their children. Most of my employees fall in to the 40-60K bracket we talk about. I see how they live, and to a large extent what they spend their money on. They are hard working, many of them work second jobs to help pay for their families, but the reality is that in this day and time, 40 grand just doesn't go that far. Perhaps "several years ago" it did, but not today.

Several years ago, I made 40 grand a year too and managed to survive just fine. but that was before the days of double digit heath care cost increases year after year, gas approaching 3 bucks per gallon and all of the other huge increases in the cost of living.

Neo, since you are such a dolt, don't waste the bandwidth commenting.

mikeg, I consider that last post a DIRECT HIT!

Thanks yet again!

Shalom

The cost of living has gone up...time to call in the feds and turn over the health care industry to them.

mikeg...

never mind. sigh...

"since you mentioned that you made 40K several years ago, let me ask you some questions"

Yeah that was several years ago, but I started my business in '98 and made about $8K gross in my first year. I still purchased health insurance, see below.

"how much did gas cost to drive your beat up car?"
Gas and maintenance cost a bit, but no payments and low insurance, that's why I drove a beat up car. Plus I didn't buy fancy TVs and other goods or go on vacation. A set of fancy wheels means nothing to me.

"How much did you "affordable" health insurance cost?"

About $25/month, it was the catastrophic variety, covered major illnesses and/or injuries that could have wiped me out financially. High deductibles, yet affordable. I paid my own doc visits for checkups and minor stuff.

"what was the cost of living index and the national poverty rate several years ago?"

You tell me, I'm not an economist.

Mikeg, I do commend you for providing health insurance for your employees, but if you feel so strongly about the matter then why don't you cover the kids? What is your profit margin?

Rah rah Darryl.

mikeg, and the beat goes on!

Shalom

rah rah Darryl. I answered Mikeg's questions. Was it a "Direct Hit"? Did I "speak your mind"?

I STILL notice no one will answer this question, give it a stab Darryl. Betcha can't.

Would you visit your neighbors and ask them for money for your kids health insurance when you are making $40K? How about $60K?

If so, then more power to you. At least you are honest in your convictions that others should pay for your kids health insurance. If not, then why is it appropriate for the govt. to do it for you?

Dan,

Fair enough. Just to give you a frame of reference, In the 10 year period from when you started your business to now, our helath insurance cost for our employees has more than doubled, and we have raised deductables, co-pays and max out of pocket expenses to keep it that close. If we had maintained the same coverage for our employees, the cost would have quadrupled.
We don't pay for insurance for families, but offer it if the employee wants it because in a group helath insurance setting the cost is about 150% of the individual plan. the insurance companies charge the same whether you have one child or 10 for a family plan and frankly I can't raise my prices to my customers fast enough to keep up.

As far as visit my neighbors to ask for help if I made 40-60 k, no, I probably wouldn't do that. But at the same time, I wouldn';t ask my neighbors to help pay for my meds if i was a senior citizen, and I wouldn't ask my neighbors for ammunition to go fight a war if I was a soldier. Both are things our government provides withour our approval. so, whats the point of that question?

Hmm, this talk of neighbors reminds me of a story told long ago. The premise was to love and help ANYONE that had a need! This was regardless of the; who, what, when, where, and why.

The larger question to ask oneself; "Who is my neighbor?"

Shalom

Darryl,

I know the story, and it's one that should be heeded. But it's not a call for the government to help. It's for individuals to help.

Taxes aren't tithes.

I'll put it to the forum again: when you stand naked before your creator, do you think, "But the government took money from me under threat of wage-garnishments or prison and the program mandated that some of that money should reach some poor people!" will be an adequate answer for when He asks what you did to help the needy?

If it is, then be ready to answer for your direct responsibility in helping kill innocents in Iraq. Same idea. If your taxes do the first and you want credit that way, then prepare to take credit for what your other taxes do, too.

Roger

Mikeg, thanks for answering my question. If I were a senior I wouldn't visit my neighbors and demand money for my meds either. I think the Medicare prescription plan is a waste. Give meds to those who are truly poor. My parents for example are sitting on several million in investments and property yet they take advantage of the Medicare prescription plan!!

Furthermore, and contrary to the beliefs of some, I am critical of R's when they abandon conservative principles. The Medicare drug plan is a joke in that the Bush govt. didn't negotiate bulk discounts with the pharma companies.

As for fighting wars, that is altogether different. Individuals do not have the money or logistic capabilities to create a military. How many Stealth bombers can your neighborhood afford? That is a basic function of govt. the most important IMO.

I just got a notice from BCBSNC and my insurance is going up $80/month next year. It's my 3rd largest expense after taxes and the mortgage. I can understand your predicament X 30. Let me ask you this please as a business owner with employees. Extending SCHIP and eventually universal insurance, which all D presidential candidates propose, that would likely be very favorable to you and other business owners as it gets you out of the health insurance business and it's expenses non?

Seems like strange bedfellows as business owners usually benefit from R's rather than D's.

Then again I would imagine politicians would raise taxes on businesses (as well as individuals) to cover the programs, taxing smokers isn't going to do the job.

As mentioned prior, I used catastrophic insurance for a number of years until I could afford better insurance. It may be an answer to some of those in the $40-60K bracket.

Good "Conservatives" here:

"My parents for example are sitting on several million in investments and property yet they take advantage of the Medicare prescription plan."

Totally WRONG assumption:

"Seems like strange bedfellows as business owners usually benefit from R's rather than D's."

Note to Danny:
Go read Warren Buffett's interview with Tom Brokaw. You've been had---better wake up now.

Little Danny says,

"rah rah Darryl. I answered Mikeg's questions. Was it a "Direct Hit"? Did I "speak your mind"?"

Was that really necessary, little fella? Maybe you should try and adopt some of Darryl's thoughts toward the poor and unfortunate. Oh, that's right---you've claimed to be a "Christian"--a PRO-LIFE Christian at that. Guess helping out all those "fetuses" doesn't matter once they are grown. (see: Hypocrite)

`

"Good "Conservatives" here" My dad is a good conservative. He worked hard, started a company, employed people, paid taxes his entire working life. In fact he still pays taxes on his investments. Soooo, if the Feds are going to offer free meds then he's going to take up the free offer. If you find $20 in a parking lot are you going to keep it or leave it there hoping someone less fortunate will pick it up?

My point is that Medicare prescription benefits, SCHIP, and a whole host of other govt. benefits should only be available to the truly poor and needy. Another example of govt. waste.

"Was that really necessary, little fella?"

You are the LAST person on this blog who should complain about this. (see: Hypocrite) Need I dig up a few of your best insults? Totally laughable. That's like the late Jeffrey Dahmer complaining that his food wasn't seasoned properly. What a total joke.

"Maybe you should try and adopt some of Darryl's thoughts toward the poor and unfortunate."

I don't see people making $40-$60K as "poor and unfortunate" barring a serious illness or injury. Tell me where it is Christian for the govt. to confiscate my money and pay insurance for kids of families in that income bracket?