posted
I don't think the government produces porn. They'd spend it all on a toilet seat, anyway.
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted) *** "Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!" -Forum Member Who Shall Be Nameless. 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001
posted
I'll see if I find can find online documentation, but the Gov't has given money to a woman in the late 80's and early 90's to go on stage, strip, and smear chocolate pudding on herself, as an artistic from of enteraintment. This is also the same Gov't that has spent hundreds on toilet seats and hammers, and sells 'surplus' goods to dealers at 10% of cost and sometimes buyes it back a a 1000% markup.
So, to look from another view, a tax cut, that is decent and 'fair', will force the Gov't to tighten it's purse strings a bit tighter. A thriftier Gov't can be had.
------------------ "One's ethics are determined by what we do when no one is looking" Nugget Star Trek: Gamma Quadrant Star Trek: Legacy Read them, rate them, got money, film them
"...and I remain on the far side of crazy, I remain the mortal enemy of man, no hundred dollar cure will save me..." WoV
quote:...but the Gov't has given money to a woman in the late 80's and early 90's to go on stage, strip, and smear chocolate pudding on herself...
That's art baby! Oh man is that art!
------------------ "One reason I like to highlight reading is, reading is the beginnings of the ability to be a good student. And if you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams, it's going to be hard to go to college. So when your teachers say, read--you ought to listen to her." ~ George W. Bush, Deer-In-The-Headlights of the United States
posted
UM's got it right. IF you can fix up the government where it doesn't do things like subsidize art (or whatever you call a sculpture of Mary covered in elephant dung), and where it's actually more efficient in helping people than charities (which implies volunteer workers), THEN I might be for setting up a VOLUNTARY system. Other than that, we're just wasting money that could be put to better use. Thus, tax cut.
Under any circumstances, IT'S A SURPLUS. Meaning the gov'ment doesn't need it, by definition.
------------------ Disclaimer: "All references to vices and of the supernatural contained in this game are for entertainment purposes only. _Over_The_Edge_ does not promote satanisim, belief in magic, drug use, violence, sexual deviation, body piercing, cynical attitudes toward the government, freedom of expression, or any other action or belief not condoned by the authorities." - `OverTheEdge'
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Ritten: That was me posting something about a government grant for a study on the stripping. I don't know where the link is, and since it is from a newspaper, I doubt that it is still there.
------------------ "My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht." Psychiatrist: "Again."
posted
It's a surplus in conjecture...as is the amount.
------------------ "One reason I like to highlight reading is, reading is the beginnings of the ability to be a good student. And if you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams, it's going to be hard to go to college. So when your teachers say, read--you ought to listen to her." ~ George W. Bush, Deer-In-The-Headlights of the United States
posted
TL: I heard about it about 8 years ago when I was in the Guard, from my squad leader.
If the Gov't would buy in smaller 'bulk' quanities then there wouldn't be surplus. Better management is needed, so a CEO Pres might be a good thing. Fiscal responsibility was the catch phrase at one point in time.
------------------ "One's ethics are determined by what we do when no one is looking" Nugget Star Trek: Gamma Quadrant Star Trek: Legacy Read them, rate them, got money, film them
"...and I remain on the far side of crazy, I remain the mortal enemy of man, no hundred dollar cure will save me..." WoV
posted
Pop Quiz: What's the single biggest reason people don't have health insurance? They can't afford it, of course. Bush's solution is - you're going to love this - cut taxes. You get the sense that if someone broke their leg, Bush would advise them to take two tax cutsand call him in the morning. As the health care advocates at Families USA point out, Bush has proposed a tax credit of $2,000 per family to help people pay for health insurance. Trouble is, it's a shell game. A typical family health insurance plan runs $5,000 to $6,000 a year, which means a family that can't afford health care still has to come up with $3,000 or $4,000 (10 percent of their income if their income if they're around the national median income). No wonder Families USA calls Bush's proposal a "trivial response to a serious problem."
Bush's call for medical savings accounts (MSAs) is another example of Bush prescribing tax cuts for every ailment. MSAs are great - if you're healthy and wealthy (like Bush). But if you're not, they're of no help. They are basically a tax shelter for rich people, allowing them to save money, tax free, for medical expenses. Most proposals allow you to set aside $5,000 in such shelters. If you don't spend it on medical care, you can keep it. Now, if you have an extra five-grand lying around, these are for you. But if you don't, MSAs wind up being an insurance policy with a deductible of $3 - $4,000. Some deal.
But if you are healthy and wealthy they are a good deal. Experts say MSAs would only help about 10,000 people out of the 44.3 million who lack health insurance. But for those 10,000 they're great. They allow you to shelter more income from taxes, and still protect you against catastropic risk. So what's the harm? If you cherry-pick the healthy and wealthy out of the health insurance pool, you wind up raiing premiums for the rest of us - and cost the government about $4 billion in tax subsidies.
So once again Bush has a proposal that would hurt the middle class and the poor, while helping the rich. How can you NOT admire this man's genius?
posted
My job pays for my insurance. Something like $30 a month, but it covers virtually everything that might happen to me.
We call these things 'benefits' and they generally come with a job. My parents' job benefits, (when they were teachers) coverd the entire family; medical, dental, eyes, everything.
So where are these people who have to shell out all this money for insurance WORKING? And why don't their unions demand coverage for employees?
------------------ "My knowledge and experience far exceeds your own, by, oh, about a BILLION times!" -- Q
posted
There's always a better solution than running to the government crying, guys.
------------------ Disclaimer: "All references to vices and of the supernatural contained in this game are for entertainment purposes only. _Over_The_Edge_ does not promote satanisim, belief in magic, drug use, violence, sexual deviation, body piercing, cynical attitudes toward the government, freedom of expression, or any other action or belief not condoned by the authorities." - `OverTheEdge'
posted
You know, when I worked at Domino's, I had health insurance.
So one day I had to go to the Doctor's, and get an ingrown toe-nail removed.
Cost $450.
My "insurance" covered ... $30 of it. Gee, thanks. Wonderful insurance.
Not everyone is as fortunate as you, First, to have good health insurance.
Now, I have gotten a much better health insurance policy, and the ONLY way I am able to afford it is:
a) the only time I've been in the hospital since I was born is ... to deliver a pizza. (The toe thing was at a private office)
b) I'm rarely sick. The cold occasionaly. The toe thing is really the biggest thing to happen to me in quite a long time.
c) I get a bit of a discount for being a student.
d) I've got a job which pays rather well, so I'm able to scrape the cash together roughly on time. Thank god!
Because otherwise, I couldn't afford it. I'm having trouble doing so as it IS.
To think that EVERYONE has the same opportunities as you is stupid. Great, you've got a job with great benefits, not everyone does. Lots of employers offer none or minimal benefits.
Liberals believe Health Insurance is a RIGHT (you know, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
Conservatives apparently believe not being able to afford health insurance is "too bad" ...
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted) *** "Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!" -Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001 **** "The candidate who slimed John McCain in the primaries and smeared Al Gore in the general election is now the president who pledges to elevate the nation's tone and bring civility to our discorse. Kind of like Michael Corleone brought peace to the mob by killing the heads of the other four families." --Paul Begala, Is Our Children Learning?
[This message has been edited by JeffKardde (edited February 20, 2001).]
posted
Actually, I think Conservatives believe that the key to everybody being able to afford health insurance is far more complex, and in the long term, more beneficial, than having the government (with tax dollars from you and me) pay for it, and includes:
Doing something about the outrageous costs of drugs (largely due to taxes and overregulation). There's no real reason that a single pill should cost $2.00, while a can of pepsi can be had for 1/4 that.
and Doing something about the terribly litigous aspect of this society which causes everybody with a hangnail to sue their doctor, which causes doctors to need large amounts of malpractice insurance, which causes their prices to be very high indeed.
MY Health plan, by the way, is FAR from 'great' There is no such thing as a 'great' HMO. (And in this part of the state, very few 'great' hospitals or doctors)
------------------ "My knowledge and experience far exceeds your own, by, oh, about a BILLION times!" -- Q
posted
Shit, who cares about HMOs, you get soda for .50 cents up there? Bastard.
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.27 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with four eps posted) *** "Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!" -Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001 **** "The candidate who slimed John McCain in the primaries and smeared Al Gore in the general election is now the president who pledges to elevate the nation's tone and bring civility to our discorse. Kind of like Michael Corleone brought peace to the mob by killing the heads of the other four families." --Paul Begala, Is Our Children Learning?
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