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Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Republican Hooligans and Fools

Good Morning Papamoka Bloggers! What do you guys make of the latest Republican demonstrations at town halls across America, so reminiscent of the Spring "Tea Parties" featuring hundreds of America's finest citizens? I know I'm getting very tired of today's juvenile Republican antics. Their love of democracy is only surpassed by their love of shouting and drowning out our individual right to congregate and debate.

They are making a big splash in the media, but they still look like a bunch of FOOLS! To suggest they're coming across as a productive opposition to a serious debate is laughable. I'm pretty sure ordinary citizens observing the health care debate from the sidelines consider them distractions - since despite what Republicans are saying in the media, most Americans do consider health care a serious issue that needs repair.

In my opinion, which of course is what this blog is all about, I see them as loud-mouthed bullies, pure and simple. They are no different then children who scream to make their point, pouting if they don't get their way. They may see themselves as a determined opposition who will drown out those they disagree with, but the rest of us see them as fools who refuse to sit down and discuss a very serious issue.

I'm pretty sure most Americans see them as irrational. Most of us are smart enough to realize they didn't shout over the past eight years or so when the Republicans were spending more than at any other time in history.

Where were they when the Republicans passed the last health care bills? Where were they when their own political party funneled hundreds of billions of government tax money into the hands of the pharmaceuticals (prescription drug benefits) and private health insurance companies (Medicare Plus) under George W. Bush and the Republicans? Why didn't they shout about spending then?

They were SILENT! SHEEP! OBEDIENT MORONS! The damn hypocrites. They have no credibility when it comes to lecturing us on how to spend tax dollars.

They're trying to shout-down a debate about health care - insurance - reform when most Americans want and need to talk about the issue. Republicans may feel empowered by the demonstrations (if you listen to Pat Robertson and others), but the rest of us only see a bunch of loud-mouthed fools trying to take away our microphones, or whatever else we need to make ourselves heard in this very important debate.

The bottom-line is that Republicans want to spend-spend-spend when they're in power, doing everything they can to help their own constituencies such as corporations, the wealthy and the military-industrial crowd, but do everything they can to shut down ANY spending when not in power.

It doesn't even seem to matter if we're trying to reform a system that is threatening America's ability to pay down past Republican debt, guarantee our competitive place in the world (other countries have affordable health care, giving them a competitive edge), and much more. They don't seem to care about those points. They just ignore those very important national security considerations.

Oh yes, and they - incredibly - have the gall to treat all government money as though it were their own. The really disgusting part is that we're trying to spend American money to save American lives, and they still object.

They won't object when it comes to spending money on weaponry, but will fight tooth and nail to prevent children and poorer Americans from being able to purchase affordable - reformed - health insurance. It's clear from the "debates" so far they are prepared to lie and lie and lie. They keep telling INCREDIBLE LIES!

They keep saying that Democrats are trying to take away your health insurance as it exists today (LIE!), kill your grandmother by recommending euthanasia (LIE!), bring about socialized medicine (LIE!), fund abortions (LIE!), and my favorite, suggest that poor people will be shipped to better neighborhood hospitals reminiscent of the busing scares decades ago.

It's clear the Republicans and their industry allies will stop at nothing to shut-down debate about health insurance reform. They will do everything they can to muddy the waters and make Americans fear change. They may be more Rovian, but by and large they are using the same basic tactics they used when trying to kill Social Security, Medicare and every other major program that helped civilize our great country. It's time people wise-up when it comes to Republicans.

The simple truth is the rest of us need to stay focused. Just like when we were in school, we cannot allow a few bullies to derail education, evolution and advancement for the rest of us. We need to use whatever means at our disposal to continue debate and get our message across that we voted for change and health care/insurance reform is one of the most important parts of that change.

We need to fight against their hooliganism. We need to treat Republican bullies the same way we treat angry children - either ignore them, and if they don't listen to reason, send them away.

Their screaming didn't work during the campaign at the McCain and Palin rallies, so hopefully it won't work now. My recommendation is to stand-up to them. I know I will. Don't allow them to silence our debate. It would be a crime to allow ourselves to be cowered by people who have no place in a modern, civilized political debate.

Whether it's a "tea partier," a "birther," a "deather," or whatever comes next (how about throwing furniture like in the picture), today's Republicans are looking more and more like a party for both hooligans and fools.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

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42 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

These crazy,insignificant people. Screw them and their health care.
Where is that Civilian Security Force when you need them?
Maybe Iran can sent some of their regime's recruits over to help deal with these out of control citizens. How dare they show any dissent against the statist.
What country do they think they are in anyway? America?
Lisa

12:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually that picture looks more like a liberal protest.
There has been no violence at any of these Tea Parties. Unless of course you have a link to it.

Lisa

12:28 PM  
Blogger Michael Boh said...

Fine Lisa, the picture is for dramatic effect - call it artistic license. However, you still made my point. Your sarcasm and lack of seriousness is typical of those who want to distract from the real issue. Once again, all we want is a serious debate. That was the whole point of the post.

Btw, I politely refuse to engage future - and possibly less polite - distractions that may be posted. To be blunt, it's not worth my time.

12:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

1:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Michael I got your point. Your point is that the people who are making light of this are the democrats. These people have every right to show their oppostion to yes I agree a very serious issue. An issue of which there is no debate because they are trying to ram this through no matter what. Why? So Obama can say Look I did do something? Or is it somehting bigger than that? Look a litle deeper than calling people childish.
They are not making a big splash in the media except FOX of course because the rest of the media who promotes all of Obama's policies are demonizing it like these people are idiots and they don't know what they are talking about.
Basically what I said before"Screw those people and their healthcare."
Because governemnt knows what's best? Do you actually realize what you are advocating?
The power of the media can minimize this but I can assure you that most American are not for this. They are not trying to distract,they are trying to be heard that this "is' a serious issue with serious affects to most of the country.
Unfortuantely these dittoheads of Nancy Pelosi only understand one language and now they finally realize people don't like to be bullied and be forced to sacrifice what they have because the democrats want to play ta-ta to their special interests.
If this bill is so great why don't the democrats read to the American People all the good things that are in it instead of the Chicago arm twisting because you know we can't let a good crisis go to waste.

I guess the real issue is this right?

"They are no different then children who scream to make their point, pouting if they don't get their way."

Isn't that just too bad that people want their voices to be heard instead of mocked? Deal with it because it isn't going to get any better until this craziness in Washington slows down.

Lisa

1:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This posted twice feel free to delete one comment although you probably want them both deleted because I know how much you hate opposition.

1:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Michael do you now what is in that bill? At all? Let me help you.This is some of it


HR 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009:

Pg 16: SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.
Lines 3-26 of the HEATH CARE Bill - OUTLAWS PRIVATE INSURANCE by forbidding enrollment after HR 3200 is passed into law

Pg 21-22: SEC. 113. INSURANCE RATING RULES of the HEATH CARE Bill MANDATES the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!

Pg 29: SEC. 122. ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE DEFINED: lines 4-16 in the HEATH CARE bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 30: SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE of HEATH CARE bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Pg 42: SEC. 142. DUTIES & AUTHORITY OF COMMISSIONER (CZAR) of HEATH CARE. The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HEATH CARE Benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50-51: SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE in HEATH CARE bill - HEATH CARE will be provided to ALL non US citizens, ILLEGAL or otherwise.

Pg 58: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION HEATH CARE Bill - Government will have real-time access to individual's finances and a National ID Health card will be issued!

Pg 59: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION HEATH CARE Bill lines 21-24 Government will have DIRECT access to your BANK ACCOUNTS for electronic funds transfer. This means the government can go in and take your money right out of your bank account.

Pg 65: SEC. 164. REINSURANCE PROGRAM FOR RETIREES is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions and community organizations (ACORN).

Pg 72: SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE; OUTLINE OF DUTIES; DEFINITIONS Lines 8-14 Government is creating an HEATH CARE Exchange to bring private HEATH CARE plans under Government control.

Pg 84: SEC. 203. BENEFITS PACKAGE LEVELS HEATH CARE Bill - Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private HEATH CARE plans in the Exchange

Pg 85: SEC. 203. BENEFITS PACKAGE LEVELS Line 7 HEATH CARE Bill - SPECIFICATION OF BENEFIT LEVELS FOR PLANS = The Government will ration your Healthcare!

Pg 95: SEC. 205. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN HEATH CARE Bill Lines 8-18 The Government will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government HEATH CARE plan.

Pg 102: SEC. 205. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN

3:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's more

Pg 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for grad medical education. The government will now control Drs education.

Pg 801 Sec 1751 The Government will decide which Health care conditions will be paid.

Pg 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc. required to register. Government takes over private payment system.

Pg 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.

Pg 824-829 SEC. 1802. Government Sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.

Pg 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self-insured to pay for Trust Fund!

Pg 835 11-13 Fees imposed by Government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.

Pg 838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids. This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent.

Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Trust Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that’s Billion.

Pg 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.

Pg 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals. More ACORN employees?

Pg 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of officers of Regular & Reserve Corps of Service. HealthCare Draft?

Pg 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.

Pg 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.

Pg 910 The Government will develop, build & run Public Health Training Centers.

Pg 913-914 Government starts a HealthCare affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.

Pg 932 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust Fund -- intial cost of $30,800,000,000-Billion.

Pg 936 Government will develop “Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards” Tell you what to eat?

Pg 942 Lines 22-25 More Government: Offices of Surgeon General - Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women’s Health. Special services for special groups?

Pg 950- 980 BIG Government core public health infrastructure includes workforce capacity, lab systems, health information systems, etc

Pg 993 Government will establish school based health clinics. Your kids wont have a chance.

Pg 1001 The Government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?

Pg 1018 States give up some of their State Sovereignty.

3:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hopefully that makes you feel all warm,fuzzy and compliant.
Hope you enjoy your new subservience.

Lisa

3:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not to hih=jack this thread but listen to this lady on this video at :48 seconds in and tell me she has no idea.

http://skylightvideo.blogspot.com/2009/07/hicksville-tea-party.html

3:25 PM  
Blogger Michael Boh said...

Spin, spin and more spin. Propaganda, propaganda, and more propaganda. MB

4:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Deny,deny,deny.
You are calling that woman from Poland who knows how this works a propagandist?

Don't say I never you told you so.

Lisa

4:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's see an Attorney General who actully rea the bill,an OBGYN and a woman who lived through tyranny.
And your panel of experts is who?
Rahm Emanuel and Van Jones?

Oh and o the record this isn't Eupoen style reform,this is South American Style reform.

4:56 PM  
Blogger Sue said...

By what I'm reading here and by my lack of responce on my blog, I can clearly see the 2 sides will never agree! After seeing the bi-partisan commentary on Olbermanns show last night I know for sure the right and the bluedogs want no reform because of money, nothing else, just because of greed!!! They are putting the insurance companies and their huge profits that they share in before Americans in need of health insurance. Its a sad state of affairs, so Lisa you might as well be talking to a brick wall. I could get very angry and say more but I will be a lady and end it here, good day!

5:56 PM  
Blogger B.J. said...

Mat: As I’ve pointed out before, Lisa is spamming your comment zone. The purpose of such spamming is to disrupt legitimate discourse.

Lisa, will you answer these questions for me:

Did you read all the sections of the healthcare bill and interpret them for yourself?

Or did you copy and paste the “conclusions” off a Web site or newsletter?

If the latter, could you provide me with your source?

If you can tear yourself away from this blog and away from Fox News tonight, why don’t you watch Olbermann’s “special comment” on the issue in this post and give us your take on it? It airs on MSNBC at 8 ET (then two reruns later in the evening).

BJ

6:31 PM  
Blogger Papamoka said...

That is not even close to a legitimate copy of any legal paperwork in the congress. Do you actually think people are moronic to believe that credible evidence? Like BJ said, where the hell did you cut and paste that piece of crap hype and lie from Lisa? Please don't even for a second list Drudge Report as a legitimate source.

I think I can pretty clearly see that I will never see your point of view Lisa or the GOP if the way that you or they choose to sway my opinion is through deception. I've had eight long years of that crap and I'm not putting up with it anymore. I'm pretty sure that anyone can download the current version of the bill from either the White House or the US. Congress web site.

If the GOP is all about gaming people, and it is, that are not very well educated and easily scared then you will have one hell of a time holding any legitamacy in any discussion before the congress because you simply will not be there to speak. People are fooled once, sometimes even twice but never every single time simply because the party politic says it must be so. If deception is the GOP party rule then their discussion on whether shit stinks on a hot summer day will not even be considered even though it is 110degrees out in the shade. People are seeing the GOP as the used car salesman party and everything coming out of their mouths, websites, congressional members is in fact and will be questioned.

Sorry Lisa, I'm not buying the crap you are pushing through as the gospel according to GOP.

6:58 PM  
Blogger LeftyLadi said...

GREAT rant Michael!!! You hit the nail on the proverbial head.

7:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I watched a little of Olberman but he works for the administration pretty much so he will spin it the way that needs to sell it.

Here's the problem I have"I DON'T WANT THIS AND THERE ARE ALOT OF US WHO DON'T"

That's al I have to say on this. Don't you just hate that the ONE" who orchestrated protests is now on the recieving end. Ha the democrats have ben "Acorned"

Love it-Live it!

Lisa

9:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I admit there was addons to some of those things on the bill but the first parts are real.
It was just translated because you know we need to make sure no one understands it,hence the reason for the big push on it.

9:11 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Michael posts a picture of people violently breaking the law and falsely represents it as the behavior of Republicans at political protests and he say he just wants serious debate on this issue? This is not artistic license, it is dishonest. I will not comment here on the political issue but this picture should be removed or captioned as what it is.

Mat, Michael can post this kind of lie on his blog without risking a loss of credibility but you have said you want to protect the reputation of your site for honesty so you should remove or label this picture. It's your call of course.

9:55 PM  
Blogger Papamoka said...

Machinist,

I do not edit one single word from anyone that posts an article here. Not grammar, not language, nothing. Editing the picture is up to Michael Boh. He has free reign here as a contributor. If you want to bring it up with him then that is to your discretion my friend. I will however ask him to provide more detail or in depth links as to where the picture comes from. That is only fair to the conversation and discussion he is trying to create as a very enthusiastic and credible writer of current politics.

Otherwise J, I think we can have an honest conversation. Can we here at Papamoka back up our discussion, yes we can. Can Lisa with the alleged and now admitted false documentation, no she can't. That is the problem. Rather than discussing the issue we are talking about who is selling what hype pro or con today, tommorow, and it goes on from there. Meanwhile, guys like you and I still go without health insurance or even basic health care because Washington is playing politics with a firestorm building in the belly of America.

One of the things my Grandmother Courtney once said was that you never want the baby crying so much for a bottle that it ends up disturbing the whole families supper. Sometimes the mother needs to feed the baby while everyone else enjoys the evening meal.

10:51 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

As you will, Sir. It's your blog and your reputation. I'll say no more on it. Please excuse my suggestion if it was impertinent.

11:35 PM  
Blogger Papamoka said...

I need to find a link at the Congress or White House that actually states what this is all about. The actual language of the discussion and not a bullshit link from some bloggers website. If anyone has any suggestions or finds one that is the truth then please let me know! ASAP!

Then we can discuss this issue that will effect all of us clearly as Americans.

12:37 AM  
Blogger Machinist said...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/15/house-health-care-bill-fu_n_234372.html

I don't think anyone would call this a right wing site.

12:51 AM  
Blogger Machinist said...

You can download it here.

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/AAHCA-BillText-071409_2.pdf

12:54 AM  
Blogger B.J. said...

Machinist:

You pop in to lecture Michael and Papamoka on “deception,” and you don’t say a word about Lisa’s.

BJ

2:19 AM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Good evening, B.J.

First, I said nothing to Michael and I made no accusation or criticism of Mat. I pointed out that Michael's misrepresentation could harm Mat's reputation. If I felt Mat was deceptive I would not think he had a reputation to lose.

Second, I have been checking a few of Lisa's citations against the bill and while I might allow that some are subject to interpretation I have yet to see one I would say justifies calling it a lie. She gave page and line numbers to support her claims. This calls for more than saying "Spin, spin and more spin. Propaganda, propaganda, and more propaganda." before dismissing what she said. To say she is wrong or that she is lying calls for refuting her claims by pointing out the words that refute her, doesn't it. She made it easy by giving the locations. I'm not a lawyer so I am less sure of these points than some but her points were dismissed without consideration or examination and this is not how debate is done, is it?

What do you think? As a professional if you had one reporter who supported each point by citing the source material and one who just said "All that stuff is BS!", did you give them equal weight without checking the references?

Have I been deceptive, B.J.?

2:38 AM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Perhaps I should mention that my reference to Michael's deception is based on my understanding from his response to Lisa that he was admitting the picture was not of Republicans at a tea party or protest. This is bothersome to me because I assumed the picture was legitimate and I was quite disappointed and surprised as one of the distinguishing and notable characteristics of the tea party protests has been their orderly and lawful conduct. There has been no vandalism or disrespect for the police, in contrast to so many leftist protests. I have friends who have participated in some of these events and have seen pictures they took. Michael's picture was so at odds with what I have seen that I was upset. The picture did not focus or emphasize some characteristic for illustration, which could have been called artistic license. It completely distorted the truth and portrayed the opposite of what took place. This is dishonesty. As an editor, would you have allowed a reporter to place a picture that was such a blatant distortion of the truth?

2:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As an editor Machinist she would have let it go through as they all do now. They are all promoting the same cause with no debate.
It is the only thing that has become obscenely "transparent".
Obama said it and that is good enough for them. I bet all those who can't afford health insurance are also pro-Cap and Trade even if it puts a burden on their ability to afford it. You know because Obama and the dems want it and that's all they need to know.
I bet they all have a picture of him framed somewhere in their homes.
Lisa

10:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I found some great commentary for the above picture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMDur9CDZ4

Lisa

11:44 AM  
Anonymous Frodo, getting personal said...

Frodo knew a man who really was a Machinist. His job was to clean the ink off of the rollers that carried paper through presses and turned them into print. Although he never smoked, he developed emphyszema from the cleansing mist used to scrub those rollers. Since there was no OSHA, at that time, he worked as directed, without regulatory protection. Eventually, his doctor told him that he had to quit that work,and to seek a cleaner environment. When he resigned after 27 years on the job for the same company, his employer extended his healthcare coverage for two weeks, then dropped him from their policy. COBRA was an acronym not yet invented.
So there was a hard-working, non-complaining, veteran of World War II in a new, drier, world, with no job, no prospects, and no health insurance.
He needed an "option." What he faced was an unregulated world where good people, despite their hard work and effort, could end up with no alternatives.
It is very difficult for Frodo to respond to Lisa, the anonymii, or even the other "Machinist," with any semblance of intellectual empathy. The arguments that somebody might start keeping records or controlling lives don't carry very much water whenever Frodo thinks of his Old Man, a machinist, without any options.

12:01 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Frodo,
I am not sure what I have said that you are addressing, but I would note that I also am "a man who really was a Machinist". That was my profession for almost twenty years and I had my own shop for half of that. There is a good chance you have owned products I had a slight connection with in some way.

The story you relate is a tragic one, but many of the injustices you mention have been corrected or improved, haven't they? This was done without scrapping the best health care system in the world.

What issue do you have with me, Sir?

I have no college education or trade school degree. I have worked up from entry level minimum wage positions all my life, usually working two jobs to get by. I rarely had health insurance in these kind of jobs and often had to work under illegally unsafe conditions. Five years ago I found myself working in a shrinking profession with my abilities fading. My eyes were fading and my memory was failing. I was a manual machinist in a field that was going top computer controlled CNC machines. I had no insurance and no retirement and frankly I was scared. I took everything I had and could put together and went into business with someone else. After a couple of very hard years I came out with what I felt would provide us with subsistence for the rest of our days. Then several of our government programs came together to destroy much of that security at the worse possible time. Now I am looking at going back to work for less than half of what I used to make to provide us with some security. The last thing I want is for the government to further damage our economy and eliminate still more of the jobs that I and so many others will need. I don't think this helps us.

Is this what you are angry with me about? I find your comment unclear.

12:31 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Unfortunately, those big checks that B.J. said I am getting from the Vast Right Wing Machine to disrupt this blog are not that impressive.

12:37 PM  
Blogger B.J. said...

Frodo, good post. My father worked for Mississippi Industries for the Blind for 28 years. He stood in one spot for 28 years and made brooms. When he made a dozen brooms, they were picked up and he was given a token. At the end of the day, he turned in his tokens and that’s how he was paid. Although he never smoked, he developed emphysema from broom straw particles floating in the air and into his lungs. He subsequently died a horrible death from emphysema. A prince of a mna, who, despite his blindness, served his church and his community and managed to rear five good children and see that they got a good life and a good education. Most of all he taught them the value of reason. His vote was one of his most prized possessions, and he voted Democratic Party, because he said the prarty helps the “little guy.” He was born in 1905, and he well remembered what FDR did for our country. BJ

1:59 PM  
Anonymous Frodo, sane, not Socialist said...

Frodo notes that it took government regulations to right the wrongs identified (OSHA, COBRA), which is exactly the reason why the argument to do nothing, or the ideological inaction of the Republicans is unfathomable. The issue of the "pre-existing condition," has not been put to rest,for example,and the argument that "tax credits" are an appropriate funding vessel does not help a machinist out of work.
Frodo has no argument with anyone, he's merely portraying Sgt.Joe Friday, presenting "the facts,m'am."

3:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't forget about Affirmative Action,the EPA and freedom of slaves. All brought to you by mean heartless Republicans

Lisa

3:51 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

How did COBRA right any wrong? What part of the Constitution empowers the Federal government to dictate compensation between employers and employees?

I don't speak for "republicans" but most that I know are certainly not for inaction. We want the government out of health care. Predatory lawyers and government meddling are a large part of what is wrong with our system and driving up prices. They are not competent or qualified to manage these things and they are damaging our economy and driving our jobs off shore, making it that much harder for an unemployed machinist to get a job or afford insurance.

3:54 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

Lisa,
I think affirmative action was first mentioned in the JFK administration. It much better fits the Democrats obsession with racial discrimination which has pervaded the party for hundreds of years and continues today. OSHA and EPA were well intentioned but misguided programs that were greatly expanded and abused when a more ambitious and power hungry administration came into power. They were a lesson in considering how a well meaning law can be used in ill intentioned hands.

4:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay so he expanded it. Let's not forget it was JFK who also has his brother Bobby spy on MLK.

Lisa

4:03 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

To be fair, affirmative action was not intended to be racial discrimination. It was proposed as more of an outreach or "all else being equal" program.

4:05 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

I don't think such things are valid reflections of the party philosophies. Both parties have dirty hands in that respect.

4:06 PM  
Blogger Machinist said...

I was raised to consider racial discrimination a very bad thing. I quit the best job I ever had, and it's health insurance, because I would not do it or cooperate with it. I hope you will understand if I want nothing to do with it in the form of affirmative action.

4:10 PM  

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