His speech writers did good. "Confound the deeds of evil men." That's a nice line. I loved the way he skipped right from AIDS in the Caribbean to partial-birth abortion. It's like he's got this big bag of bones, and he's just tossing them out to everyone. Cracked me up.
I watched it. As far as speeches go, I thought it was a good speech. As far as the subjects of the speech, I haven't made up my mind yet. His programs he was pushing sound good (aids relief, prescription drugs, etc) but I need to hear the other side of the story. The war...that's for another time. I do have a stupid question......Why did only 1/2 of the room stand at times? I'm assuming Republicans on one side of the room, and Democrats on the other? If so, has that been a tradition for past State of the Union addresses?
I liked the part about the recovering economy. Steelcase, the world's largest office furniture manufacturer (headquartered here, in Grand Rapids, MI), has laid off 50% of it's workforce, with no plans of things changing. Who's economy is he talking about? I don't blame Bush for the economic situation, any more that I credit Clinton with the booming one, but I don't like being talked to like I just fell off the turnip truck. I think I'd like to read the proposed tax cut bill (if it's readable). There was Nancy Pelosi shaking her head when Bush talked about the middle class benefiting. Has anyone here read it? Of course, she's way left wing and would probably like all of everyone's income turned over to the government so they can better make our decisions for us, but then you've got the flipside of the republican, corporate agenda. It's so difficult to discern the truth when these two parties keep accusing the other of lying.
Nice letter from the GP, but I'm not a card carrying member. I really can't find a party thet represents all of my views, so I mix it up. I agree with her statement about doing something about these arms dealers. I don't agree with the stance on affirmative action and amnesty for undocumented workers. As a matter of fact, I believe that the ones who benefit from that amnesty are the companies who love that cheap Mexican labor. Notice that it was Regan who gave the first amnesty and now Bush wants to do it again. Where I support the Greens is on the environment. There's no other party taking up that cause. As Ralph Nader said (about the clear cutting of forests), with Republicans you get 100 trees clear cut, with Democrats you get 80.
The State of Delusion Address, by GWB, was well delivered long on rhetoric, short on substance and, in the words of Shakespeare, "full of fire and thunder signifying nothing".
I know that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction but Bush, in the speech, has offered no proof to convince the allies. War, from his tone, is a foregone conclusion and as Lady Macbeth said, "If it were done when tis done then it were well it were done quickly".
So get on with it dammit.
Guns don't kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people.
>The State of Delusion Address, by GWB, was well delivered >long on rhetoric, short on substance and, in the words of >Shakespeare, "full of fire and thunder signifying nothing". > >I know that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction but >Bush, in the speech, has offered no proof to convince the >allies. War, from his tone, is a foregone conclusion and as >Lady Macbeth said, "If it were done when tis done then it >were well it were done quickly". > >So get on With it dammit.
Why would you wish for the start of a war that will bring death and destruction to many Innocent people. SH is no threat to anybody right now except in GW's head. Even if SH had nuclear capabilities how would he deliver it to the U.S. With all the Manpower etc. sitting on his doorstep he will not make a move unless provoked.
Flip side!? There's virtually no difference in the corporate agenda between republicans and democrats, other than rhetoric and they both support the war. The democrats kiss ass to the republicans because the republicans are bringing in all the corporate fund raiser money.
No one has to be a socialist (your big fear) here. More taxes aren't necessary, just distributing them properly is. Nevertheless, you act as if capitalism is the better of the two systems because you really don't understand the difference. When you're in the middle class in a capitalist system, there's no difference to a socialist system other 10-15 percent higher taxes that yield far greater benefits in the long run.
Right now in Canada, greedy corporations are trying to privatize their socialist medical benefits which will ruin medical care in that country.
What I would like to see is: zero income tax, the abolition of all corporations, and state health care paid for by state lottery income and taxes on liquor and cigarette sales.
JESUS! What kind of health care do you think you'd get in Ohio for $191.00 a year???
Biggest jackpot to date $75 million 4/13/02 -- 2 winning tickets were sold Per capita play for all games: $191 per year per person (FY 2001) More than 663 millionaires created by the Ohio Lottery since 1983 OHIO LOTTERY NATIONAL RANKINGS: 7th in total gross sales (FY 2001) 7th in total prizes (FY 2001) 8th in total transfers (FY 2001) 13th in total sales per capita (FY 2001) 10th in total prizes per capita (FY 2001) 14th total transfers per capita (FY 2001) About 70.4% of Super Lotto players use Auto Lotto (FY 2001) About 73.5% of Super Lotto player chose the Cash Option (FY 2001) Multi-draw capability
edit: OH, WAIT!! I forgot the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol... That would amount to another $34.00 dollars per person in Ohio, for a grand total of $225.00/year per person in Ohio for health care. You won't be moving here, will you?
Michigan took in 1.6 billion in 2001, in lottery revenues. That would go a long way to starting a good health care plan. I don't know what they took in on cigs and booze. Significant amounts, I'm sure.
look it up, figure it out, and see what it comes to in real dollars per person for a person living in Michigan. Taking in 1.6 billion doesn't mean you have 1.6 billion ot hand back out.
edit: for the record, according to Ohio's government web site, tax revenue in 2000 was 84.4 mil for beer and wine, 287 mil for tobacco. There are roughly 10.9 mil people in Ohio.
Over the past 29 years, the Michigan Lottery has generated over $10 billion in net funds for kindergarten thru 12th grade education in Michigan. The needs of Michigan's schoolchildren have changed dramatically since 1972, and the amount of money the Lottery transferred to the State Scool Aid Fund is ten times as much as what was transferred in fiscal year 1974 (the Lottery's first full year of operation).
2000 $618.5 million 1999 $621.1 million 1998 $616.1 million 1997 $587.7 million 1996 $548.3 million 1995 $547.7 million 1994 $511.0 million 1993 $427.6 million 1992 $474.0 million 1991 $456.6 million 1990 $489.1 million 1989 $483.9 million 1988 $488.4 million 1987 $407.1 million 1986 $414.9 million 1985 $359.6 million 1984 $236.4 million 1983 $221.9 million 1982 $205.5 million 1981 $201.8 million 1980 $202.8 million 1979 $168.5 million 1978 $135.9 million 1977 $109.7 million 1976 $122.8 million 1975 $63.7 million 1974 $63.7 million 1973 $36.6 million Total of 10.42 billion.
Meanwhile, over 29 years, the Michigan lottery has taken in over 26.73 billion in dollars,
Net Revenue to Aid Education $10.42 billion
Retailer Commissions $1.8 billion
Prizes to Players $13.73 billion
Where are you going to get your money for health care? I hope you stay healthy, FreeSpirit
My goodness, you seem a little angry about my suggesting lottery money go to health care. I find your demanding that I produce the proposal, legislation and budget for a Michigan health plan, right here, in one hour, on this forum, to be very strange! Good thing you're not the manager of a think tank or you'd fire everyone and close up shop in the first day. You are consistant, though. In the "Inkjet" thread, I think you pretty much admitted you don't have any vision. With that kind of attitude, there are no new ideas. Ideas, imperfect and evolving, expanded and built upon through the communicating of them from one person to another, are how things get done.
I think Freespirit must mean that only those that win the lottery will get medical care. Most other people could not buy it, because there would be no corporations to employ people.
>What I would like to see is: zero income tax, the abolition >of all corporations, and state health care paid for by state >lottery income and taxes on liquor and cigarette sales.
California already does that.(sin tax) 0 income tax? Not gonna happen. Where'd the govt. get the $$$ to do what they need to do, like, take out the hoodlems. Also, we'd have no interstates for your driving convenience. Less security, etc. Lottery, California, goes to the 'schools' where it's *Most* needed.
Gravity....not just a good idea, it's the law! My Magic
Hal9000 the "socialist medicare" in our Country is already ruined. I pay 50% income tax, 14% purchase and labour taxes. Two months ago my wife needed an MRI for suspected cancer. The waiting list in Goverment run Medical System was 13 months. I finally booked an MRI clinic in Seattle, Washington. It cost me $1,800 US. But she got the result immediately and test was negative.
60% or more of our Provincial budget go on Medicare and 80% of that on labour costs. Canada is not all rosy. The Medicare system is broken down. There is a major shortage of Doctors and Nurses with those professionals moving to the US, where the lure of US $ wages and lower taxes are a great attraction. Plus the rate of exchage of the C$ makes working here less attractive.
No Doctor wants to live and practice in the small Northern Towns, where harsh weather conditions and long hours are for the dedicated only. Its difficult to attract good physicians.
I am actually afraid to get injured. My cousin had a broken leg. Emergency took 2 days to see him. The standard of care is good the waiting lists are long.
That is why the Government is trying to privatize certain sections. It just might reduce waiting lists.
However, if politicians or sports celebrities get hurt there always appears a bed and treatment available.
Guns don't kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people.
I have heard the same things about socialized medicine and think it would be a disaster. Surely, we are creative enough to think of new alternatives. In Hillary Clinton's health care proposal, doctors fees would have been set by government. If the government set the price of 100.00 for a procedure, and the doctor was only willing to do it for 200.00, and you went outside of the system and paid the cash to the doctor, the doctor would be subject to a 50,000.00 fine and confescation of all of his professional assets. There may have been prison time in there, I can't remember. Thank God her ideas were soundly rejected.
We haven't had a governor or legislature that has any idea of how to deal with the problem. Let me assemble a team of experts and give us six months to research the numbers and I'll get back with you . At least I'm mulling over possibilities in my mind. What ideas do you have for Ohio? Football! I don't even know who's good and who's not (except for the Lions), and I don't care !
You may find this of interest. I'b be interested to hear your feed back.
WELFARE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD Listen to FSRN's timely and critical special documentary looking at welfare states and the state of welfare, both in the US and around the world. We'll travel from Canada..."
#55. "RE: State of the Union" In response to 81 Newbee (Reply # 54) Thu Jan-30-03 09:58 AM
Yes, especially at a having a reprehensible and insatiable desire for wealth. It's certainly bad times for many who live in Latin America where corporations are privatizing the water supply. And I wonder how it is that children are dying daily of malnutrition in Argentina in the world's fourth biggest exporter of food. Do you think it's because they're lazy?
I guess I'll flip a coin.Some say" Goverments are all screwed up,Corporations are all screwed up."Apparently heads or tails I'm screwed.Not everyone is evil .I think the USA has done pretty well for the world.Not that everything we do is right BUT it is a hell of a lot better off than it would be if we did not exist
. At least I'm mulling over possibilities in my mind. What ideas do you have for Ohio?
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