What do you want our next president to do

[jacks girl]

We all know that most of us Christian and would stop the killing of Babies if we could but lets step outside of the Christian topics. What do you think needs to happen. What would effect you the most. Do you see all our jobs leaving the country. Do you think your taxes are to high. Do you want English to be the official language. Have at it guys.



1. I don't want Mexican trucks to be allowed to drive within the states. Freight rates are to cheap all ready. I also can't see that they can be inspected nor will they be watched or looked over as closely as our amercian truckers are.

2. The taxes on gas and diesel is way to high. Prices would be a lot cheaper.

3. My husband would like to see tobacco labeled a drug and banned. He personally knows that he would quit snuff if it was.

4. I think we have no place in trying to run the country. Our boys are fighting for oil not freedom.

5. We need to look at our education system. Is it really working. I see more and more kids coming up with no respect and no plans for their life.

6. I think we need some immigration but if you are here illegally you need to be sent home.

7. We need some help with health care. I have mixed emotions here. I don't know a good plan to fix this problem but it takes way too much money to be able to have health care. I also know people that have government health care and they are so wasteful with it. instead of taking their kids to the doc on Monday they wait and take them to the Emergency room on Sat.

8. This may anger some of you but it really bugs me when people that get food stamps eat better than me a tax payer. I think food stamps should not cover all pre-packaged foods. People in my area waste their money. They buy ice cream and junk food and TV dinners chips and pop. When they should be cooking and buying potatoes instead of TV diners.


9. I think we really need to look into what our Government funds. We can help small countries with all kinds of things while people in our country live on the streets. They will rebuild cities and give great amounts of money away while people in the states go without the health care they need to stay alive.

10. I think that the driving age needs to be raised to at least 18. May be there is special considerations. Where children are working or have to drive a family member. The general population of young people out driving around, wasting gas, and causing accidents needs to be looked into. also I think there should be driving classes in school from grade 8 up till you graduate. I'm not saying all kids are trouble on the road but how many lives would this saved if you couldn't drive until you were 18 or at the least 17.

Jacks Girl

[Ransom v. Unman]

I have a few issues I'd love to see addressed, but I doubt will be...

-Healthcare reform, particularly a system of universal coverage. I'd also love to see a moratorium on all debts built from medical costs. People shouldn't be punished for getting sick.
-College finance reform. Middle class families and their children shouldn't be punished for not being able to afford tuition & books, nor should they be punished for being white.
-Massive reform regarding the methods and activities of multinational corporations.
-Amnesty and naturalisation for illegal immigrants, but on top of that, stricter scrutiny and more stringent penalties for companies that exploit cheap, unfair and illegal labour.
-A timeline for getting out of Iraq.
-Reform to help break apart the military-industrial complex.
-Better ties and relations with Europe.
-Fewer ties with and more pressure for reform in China.
-Serious and groundbreaking research support to get us off our oil addiction.

There are probably others. Strangely, as the president really has little power to do anything about it (and it would literally tear this country in two if he/she did) abortion issues hardly even register on my list of "Change this" regarding the presidencyu.

[lynnmosher]

Hey, guys! I'm pretty much conformed to both your lists!

[jacks girl]

lol cool lynn all we need is a candidate.

jacks

[lynnmosher]

We'll get Rebecca or Ransom to design a computer program and we'll build one like a Sims game...Build a Candidate!

[Rebecca]

1. I don't want Mexican trucks to be allowed to drive within the states. Freight rates are to cheap all ready. I also can't see that they can be inspected nor will they be watched or looked over as closely as our amercian truckers are.

I agree. In addition, I wonder how many of the trucks that cross over will ever cross back--if you catch my meaning.

[size=4] 2. The taxes on gas and diesel is way to high. Prices would be a lot cheaper.

I agree. In my opinion, all taxes are too high. I would like to see government tighten its overflowing belt across the board.

3. My husband would like to see tobacco labeled a drug and banned. He personally knows that he would quit snuff if it was.

I disagree. I've never smoked or taken tobacco in any form. I hate the smell of it and want it banned from public places. Still, I'm not sure declaring it illegal is the answer. I also don't think consumers should be able to sue tobacco companies for health-related issues. The risks are obvious and well advertised--blaming the tobacco company for one's own choice of using a product is--odd. It would be different if they were concealing the risks.

That said, I don't think advertising or promoting tobacco should be allowed.

I know my views are controversial, but there they are.


4. I think we have no place in trying to run the country. Our boys are fighting for oil not freedom.

I don't think this is a black and white issue. Sure, oil is involved, but we forget too quickly the massive attacks against our country on 9/11 (and before that, as well). I think we are over there to weed out the terrorists, first. Oil second.

Do I think we'll succeed? Honestly, no. I think hatred and bigotry is too infused into the majority of Middle East culture. We may succeed in setting up a figurehead, but it'll be torn down once we pull out.

That said, I stand 100% in support of our troops. Our guys/gals over there are putting their very lives at stake to defend us, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.



5. We need to look at our education system. Is it really working. I see more and more kids coming up with no respect and no plans for their life.

I agree. I know this is controversial, but I support some type of school voucher. I really believe good 'ol American competition is the only way to keep the system accountable and well... competitive.

6. I think we need some immigration but if you are here illegally you need to be sent home.

I agree, 100%.

7. We need some help with health care. I have mixed emotions here. I don't know a good plan to fix this problem but it takes way too much money to be able to have health care. I also know people that have government health care and they are so wasteful with it. instead of taking their kids to the doc on Monday they wait and take them to the Emergency room on Sat.

I agree, some sort of reform is needed. I'm just not sure what the best solution is. In Sweden, they have national health care, and it is awful. I know not from personal experience, but because many of my Swedish friends have expressed this to me. The quality of care is fine, but it takes eons to see a doctor or specialist of any kind.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone outside the US where national health care is in effect. What are your opinions of the system? What works, and what needs to be improved?


8. This may anger some of you but it really bugs me when people that get food stamps eat better than me a tax payer. I think food stamps should not cover all pre-packaged foods. People in my area waste their money. They buy ice cream and junk food and TV dinners chips and pop. When they should be cooking and buying potatoes instead of TV diners.

I would expect some sort of controls should be in place, but to be honest, I don't have enough experience with this to give an opinion either way.


9. I think we really need to look into what our Government funds. We can help small countries with all kinds of things while people in our country live on the streets. They will rebuild cities and give great amounts of money away while people in the states go without the health care they need to stay alive.

Agreed.


10. I think that the driving age needs to be raised to at least 18. May be there is special considerations. Where children are working or have to drive a family member. The general population of young people out driving around, wasting gas, and causing accidents needs to be looked into. also I think there should be driving classes in school from grade 8 up till you graduate. I'm not saying all kids are trouble on the road but how many lives would this saved if you couldn't drive until you were 18 or at the least 17.

Again, I'm not educated enough in this to say. I definitely believe there should be stringent driver education for anyone seeking a license. And I also think if you're on your cell phone while driving, you should be fined--I've had many more near-death experiences with adult cell phone users than I have with teen drivers.

Ok, I see Ransom has posted a list. On to that one.. lol.. ;)

[lynnmosher]

To me, your views are not controversial at all. I'm in total agreement!

[Rebecca]

-Healthcare reform, particularly a system of universal coverage. I'd also love to see a moratorium on all debts built from medical costs. People shouldn't be punished for getting sick.

I gave my thoughts about universal coverage above. The moratorium idea is interesting. The only issue I see with this that in the end, someone has to eat the cost.

-College finance reform. Middle class families and their children shouldn't be punished for not being able to afford tuition & books, nor should they be punished for being white.

How do you feel middle income families are punished? I'm not disagreeing, I'm just not entirely sure what you mean.

My feeling is that people should be treated equally, regardless of race, gender or age. IMHO, these questions shouldn't even be on the application form. You should be appraised by your academic ability, not physical factors.

One thing I am entirely against is giving financial aid to people who are not US citizens. Save the financial aid for those of us who have paid into the system our whole lives, or at least have gone to the effort to procure citizenship.


-Massive reform regarding the methods and activities of multinational corporations.

I don't know enough about this to give an opinion, but I'd be happy to hear any information you'd like to give.


-Amnesty and naturalisation for illegal immigrants, but on top of that, stricter scrutiny and more stringent penalties for companies that exploit cheap, unfair and illegal labour.

I strongly disagree with amnesty/naturalization of illegals. I feel anyone who breaks our laws should be held accountable, not given a pat on the back and a free pass. I do agree that companies (or individuals, for that matter) who exploit others should be penalized.


-A timeline for getting out of Iraq.

If the US develops a timeline for this, I seriously hope they don't share it with us. Reason being, the terrorists will simply wait out the deadline, then all hell will break loose.

I do agree that we should bring our troops home as quickly as reasonably possible. No one wants our guys/gals in the line of fire.


-Reform to help break apart the military-industrial complex.

What type of military-industrial complex? I haven't heard of this before. Educate me. :D


-Better ties and relations with Europe.

I'm all for this, as long as it doesn't undermine US sovereignty.


-Fewer ties with and more pressure for reform in China.

Absolutely.


-Serious and groundbreaking research support to get us off our oil addiction.

I'm 100% on board with this.

There are probably others. Strangely, as the president really has little power to do anything about it (and it would literally tear this country in two if he/she did) abortion issues hardly even register on my list of "Change this" regarding the presidencyu.

I think it's more about the potential for electing Supreme Court judges that would have a say in the issue.


Ok, now let me construct a list of my own for you guys to comment on. ;)

[lynnmosher]

Whoops! Beep-beep! Back up! I have one to disagree with in Ransom's list...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ransom v. Unman http://4believers.com/images/yf/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://4believers.com/showthread.php?p=897#post897)
-Amnesty and naturalisation for illegal immigrants, but on top of that, stricter scrutiny and more stringent penalties for companies that exploit cheap, unfair and illegal labour.


...and agree with Rebecca's comment...

I strongly disagree with amnesty/naturalization of illegals. I feel anyone who breaks our laws should be held accountable, not given a pat on the back and a free pass. I do agree that companies (or individuals, for that matter) who exploit others should be penalized.

[50/50 Adventure]

Defense of Israel ................. everything to me does not matter because the falling away and moral decay of society is inevitable. I look at it as we are that much closer to going home.

[Rebecca]

Ok, here's my list. I'm curious to hear what you guys think! :)

- Along with everyone else, I want to see our troops home from the Middle East. I don't want this done haphazardly--we need to have some sort of framework in place, or else all our efforts will collapse upon themselves as soon as we leave. As I said before, I have my doubts we can effect serious change over there--but we're neck deep in this already, and need to give it our best shot.

- I'd like to see the issue of sexual predators addressed--this includes child molesters, pornographers, and human sex slave traffickers, among others. This is an escalating problem, and I think it should be a priority that we weed these predators out of society.

- As Ransom said, I'd like to see serious research into how we can wean ourselves off oil. I do support (environmentally responsible) drilling in Alaska as a stop-gap, to decrease our involvement in the Middle East. Ultimately, however, we need to find non-oil related methods to power our lifestyles.

- Health care. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'd like to hear some proposals. Almost anything is better than we have now.

- Education. I'm not as worried about the quality (the schools in my area are excellent) but I am concerned about the lack of morality and the extreme liberalism being forced upon our kids. I would like to see a system where parents are given a choice. Or, at least, I'd like to see a more neutral environment, where all views are given equal weight.

- I'd like to see reform that would kick all non-US citizens off US public aid, including college money. I can't tell you how much it angers me to see foreigners receive financial aid--especially when no US citizen I know qualifies.

- Kick the illegals out, and impose some sort of penalty to help ensure they don't return (unless it's by going through the proper, legal channels).

- This is out of left field, but... I'd like to see something done about the extreme liberal bias in our media. I'd like to see fair and balanced reporting--not only in the subjects covered, but with the "slant" used to cover stories. I'm tired of seeing 10,000 marchers at the pro-life march on DC, with no coverage--but when two or three pro-choicers show up it's headline news. I want balanced reporting, or at least a disclaimer that it's more of an editorial than a news report.

- Inflation - we need to reel it in.

- This should be towards the top of the list, but: Tax Reduction! We're being taxed to death by all sorts of fees, hidden and overt. The government needs to get out of our paychecks. If that means less services, so be it. I think the government is way too overextended, already.

- In addition to tax reduction, I feel we need to audit the government's checkbook and cut out wasteful spending. Maybe I'm over-simplifying, but I bet if we cut the trillions in pork from the government's budget, we'd have enough for a major tax cut and some sort of health care reform. Plus, we could probably fund Social Security into the next millennium. ;)

- Stronger defense of and relationship with Israel.

- I'd like to see a candidate that will watch China closely. I see China as the biggest threat to the US at this point.


Those are my major concerns (minus abortion) off the top of my head. As I said, I'd like to hear what you think. :)

[lynnmosher]

- Along with everyone else, I want to see our troops home from the Middle East. I don't want this done haphazardly--we need to have some sort of framework in place, or else all our efforts will collapse upon themselves as soon as we leave. As I said before, I have my doubts we can effect serious change over there--but we're neck deep in this already, and need to give it our best shot.

I don't think we can bring much change either since that whole area has been feuding for thousands of years.

- I'd like to see the issue of sexual predators addressed--this includes child molesters, pornographers, and human sex slave traffickers, among others. This is an escalating problem, and I think it should be a priority that we weed these predators out of society.

Amen, amen, amen!

- I'd like to see reform that would kick all non-US citizens off US public aid, including college money. I can't tell you how much it angers me to see foreigners receive financial aid--especially when no US citizen I know qualifies.

Another big amen!

- Kick the illegals out, and impose some sort of penalty to help ensure they don't return (unless it's by going through the proper, legal channels).

And another!

- This is out of left field, but... I'd like to see something done about the extreme liberal bias in our media. I'd like to see fair and balanced reporting--not only in the subjects covered, but with the "slant" used to cover stories. I'm tired of seeing 10,000 marchers at the pro-life march on DC, with no coverage--but when two or three pro-choicers show up it's headline news. I want balanced reporting, or at least a disclaimer that it's more of an editorial than a news report.

Well, I think they are coming around. Just look how they puffed up Huckabee when Hillary lost! ***I'm joking!***



All the rest I am in total agreement! Hey! Jacks! I think we found our candidate! LOL!

[Ransom v. Unman]

I gave my thoughts about universal coverage above. The moratorium idea is interesting. The only issue I see with this that in the end, someone has to eat the cost.

...and the people eating the cost shoudln't be those who can't afford it, like how our system has it set up.
How do you feel middle income families are punished? I'm not disagreeing, I'm just not entirely sure what you mean.
A middle class family doesn't qualify for the financial aid lower-income families do, they cannot shrug the cost like a high-income family can, and yet they can't afford to send their kid to college without a (to say the least) substantial burden on their finances. To remedy this, most families take out crippling loans in their children's names, basically starting their kid out in the world at negative, and it still becomes an intense financial burden. It becomes an exceptional burden on whites who have no special government aid programmes designed to help them.

The United States is the only modernised country in the world where the bill for higher-education, even at public institutions, is still footed by the family of people sending their kids to college. When we have as much wealth as we do in the country, this is simply wrong.

One thing I am entirely against is giving financial aid to people who are not US citizens. Save the financial aid for those of us who have paid into the system our whole lives, or at least have gone to the effort to procure citizenship.
I think it's perfectly fine to only give financial aid to American citizens. In fact, it pisses me off that someone who isn't even a part of this country will get more help with schooling than someone like me.


I don't know enough about this to give an opinion, but I'd be happy to hear any information you'd like to give.
Multinational corporations can act with impunity in regards to marketing, outsourcing, undermining small business and exploiting unfair industrial practises in foreign countries. Wars are literally fought on their behalf, and their involvement in third world countries undermines those countries ability to develop and sustain themselves, not to mention forcing their populations into a state that in many instances is far worse than slavery. It is disgusting, reprehensible, immoral, and if this were a just world, the leaders of these companies would be in prison.

I strongly disagree with amnesty/naturalization of illegals. I feel anyone who breaks our laws should be held accountable, not given a pat on the back and a free pass. I do agree that companies (or individuals, for that matter) who exploit others should be penalized.
I don't think amnesty/naturalisation is a free pat on the back. I think if we understood what it took for most illegals to get into this country, it would be a lot easier to sympathise. It angers me that we cowtow so much to people who should not rightfully be here, but for better or for worse, we have also become economically dependent on their presence. Naturalisation would offer these people a way to come under the protection of American laws while also not cutting our own economic strength out from under us. It would also save us much manpower and money, and in the end, bloodshed if we carefully regulated their coming into the American citizenry, rather than just letting them stay illegals or forcing them out en masse, which in the end, isn't even a feasible tactic – unless we want to declare martial law.


If the US develops a timeline for this, I seriously hope they don't share it with us. Reason being, the terrorists will simply wait out the deadline, then all hell will break loose.
We're screwed no matter what. I seriously don't think we can win this war. It was messed up from the get-go – even the generals who were trying to plan it will admit that. And it's none of their fault. We have American servicemen dying in a war they cannot win, being stripped from their freedom and their families, and a whole country thrown into chaos because a bunch of Washington insiders thought they could invade a country better than West Point graduates. I'm just sick of seeing my friends thrown to the dogs because of what a bunch of neo-con quasi-fascists did wrong. I say let's bring the troops home, and prepare for hell to break loose, because it's coming down on us no matter what at this point.



What type of military-industrial complex? I haven't heard of this before. Educate me. :D
At the end of his presidency, the eminent General Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Americans of the intermingling of corporate intrests with military propagation – the military-industrial complex. In many ways, this war is a shining illustration for how it works. First, you get boardmembers and shareholders in various companies that service the military into positions of political power (or you get a politician under the sway of an arms-industry lobby into power) and then you come up with the pretexts for a war. In the 60s, there were Operation Northwoods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods), the Bay of Pigs, and ultimately the Gulf of Tonkin which finally successfully landed us into the Vietnam conflict. This time around, 9/11 was used as an excuse to invade Iraq – a country that by all accounts has nothing to do with the Afghanistan based, Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks. Nonetheless, various corporations represented in our reigning presidency (most notably Haliburton) had plans for profiting off of an Iraq invasion for years. We went in, all the right stocks skyrocketed, but now it's us – citizens and soldiers alike – who are footing the bill with stagflation, fear and bloodshed.

If we want to protect the blood of the innocents, this is a great place to start, and it's precisely why I won't be voting for most "Christian" candidates.

Couple of movies to check out...
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/
http://www.noendinsightmovie.com/


Ok, now let me construct a list of my own for you guys to comment on. ;)
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All my comments are in the quotes, so I'm adding this so can post.

[Ransom v. Unman]

Yup, part two here...

Wouldn't let me post them both at the same time.
Ok, here's my list. I'm curious to hear what you guys think! :)

- I'd like to see the issue of sexual predators addressed--this includes child molesters, pornographers, and human sex slave traffickers, among others. This is an escalating problem, and I think it should be a priority that we weed these predators out of society.
No arguements here... I might be against the death penalty, but I'm iffy about inhumane torture. In cases like these I doubt anyone could describe that punishment as cruel or unusual.
- As Ransom said, I'd like to see serious research into how we can wean ourselves off oil. I do support (environmentally responsible) drilling in Alaska as a stop-gap, to decrease our involvement in the Middle East. Ultimately, however, we need to find non-oil related methods to power our lifestyles.
I'm iffy about drilling in Alaska, but the bottom line is that there ain't that much left... We need to find alternative energy sources, or we'll be enying the plague ridden charnel halls of the Middle Ages.
- Health care. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'd like to hear some proposals. Almost anything is better than we have now.
Darn straight about that... I think there should be a kind of "bottom line" healthcare system in place so that people like me (poor people) won't be afraid to go to the doctor because they know they'll be paying the bill off for another five years. They need a system in place where if the doctors tell a girl, "Hey, you need a kidney transplant!" they won't have to wait on insurance company beancounters before they have the go ahead.

Here's what they already have in place in several states in the country (VT, MA and ME) – a hybrid system where all persons are covered through a slight increase in tax, but where people can opt-out for private coverage and receive tax credits for that. I think it's fair, it's not charging people with private coverage to take care of all us "welfare leeches", but it still insures that everyone is covered. Again, in a nation like ours, there is NO excuse for the infant mortality rate we have, the cancer-death rate, the dropping life-expectancy, or even for a single person to have to fret over getting a routine check up because they won't be able to afford it.
- Education. I'm not as worried about the quality (the schools in my area are excellent) but I am concerned about the lack of morality and the extreme liberalism being forced upon our kids. I would like to see a system where parents are given a choice. Or, at least, I'd like to see a more neutral environment, where all views are given equal weight.
Are you getting at somthing like school vouchers, Rebecca? I'll say if you are that while I used to heavily disagree with you, I find myself more and more inclined these days to agree.

It's not just that there's all this "liberalism" and hogwash in schools these days, but that a lot of the values being passed on through our school system are actually inherently detrimental to learning and the learning environment. I've decided in the past few years that the only time my kids might be in a public school is if they've turned eighteen and they're going in to vote.
- I'd like to see reform that would kick all non-US citizens off US public aid, including college money. I can't tell you how much it angers me to see foreigners receive financial aid--especially when no US citizen I know qualifies.
I am SOOO with you on this. :mad:
- Kick the illegals out, and impose some sort of penalty to help ensure they don't return (unless it's by going through the proper, legal channels).
So, preytell, with our army held up in Iraq, and citizens being generally discouraged to take the law into their own hands, how on Earth are we going to pull this off?

As much as a lot of things about illegals gets my dander up (namely in the way that illegals receive free healthcare while American citizens don't, illegals get free college rides while American citizens don't, etc.) I cannot forget that some of the most groundbreaking and important laws in the Torah dealt with how we would treat aliens sojourning among us. It bothers me that Christians so quickly lose compassion on illegals, especially here in America. I find it doubly ironic since most of us good, white, Christian Americans stole this country from its original inhabitants... - This is out of left field, but... I'd like to see something done about the extreme liberal bias in our media. I'd like to see fair and balanced reporting--not only in the subjects covered, but with the "slant" used to cover stories. I'm tired of seeing 10,000 marchers at the pro-life march on DC, with no coverage--but when two or three pro-choicers show up it's headline news. I want balanced reporting, or at least a disclaimer that it's more of an editorial than a news report.
I dunno... There's Fox News I guess.

This is a tricky issue. On one hand, the media is essentially the "state television" of the corporate elite, and it exists to make money, and lots of it. CNN has an editorial bias to one side, and Fox to the other, but in the end, gpvernment interference won't make either of them any more balanced, it might eventually just mean state control of the media here in the good ol' U.S. of A. I think one of the beautiful things about the internet is how we don't need to rely on the networks or even the newspapers exclusively for our news sources. There's the Drudge Report for everyone on the right, turnleft.com for everyone on the left, and The Onion for those of us who think that both sides of the political debate are full of it. - Inflation - we need to reel it in.
That's gonna' be a trick for a lot of reasons. - This should be towards the top of the list, but: Tax Reduction! We're being taxed to death by all sorts of fees, hidden and overt. The government needs to get out of our paychecks. If that means less services, so be it. I think the government is way too overextended, already.
Nah, our taxes really aren't that bad. Considering how most the rest of the industrialised world operates, our taxes are very low, but our quality of life continues to plummet all the same. Learning a thing or two from some of those "taxaholic" countries to the North and on the other side of the Pond from us might do us some good.

Reeling in government spending, corporate write-offs, and then reforming the tax code I think is a much better idea than just cutting taxes. If the right people were being taxed in the first place (i.e. the filthy, disgusting rich) we'd probably all be better off.
- In addition to tax reduction, I feel we need to audit the government's checkbook and cut out wasteful spending. Maybe I'm over-simplifying, but I bet if we cut the trillions in pork from the government's budget, we'd have enough for a major tax cut and some sort of health care reform. Plus, we could probably fund Social Security into the next millennium.
Yeah, I wouldn't mind having all that social security they're taking out when I finally get that old... Counting that our country hasn't been torn apart by civil war or foreign invasions by that point. :rolleyes:
- Stronger defense of and relationship with Israel.
For many reasons, I am not fond of the government of Israel. With that said, I prefer this government a thousand times over to the alternative of Islamo-Fascism.
- I'd like to see a candidate that will watch China closely. I see China as the biggest threat to the US at this point.
Yet, America's corporate elite and bureaucracy continually supports the Chinese government with all its horrific track of human rights records and industrial irresponsibility... It's not because China's a threat to the America that I think we need to keep an eye on them, but because the Chinese government is a horrible threat to its own citizens and the entire world.

Those are my major concerns (minus abortion) off the top of my head. As I said, I'd like to hear what you think. :)

[Katibriah]

- I'd like to see the issue of sexual predators addressed--this includes child molesters, pornographers, and human sex slave traffickers, among others. This is an escalating problem, and I think it should be a priority that we weed these predators out of society.


Normally I do not get into these conversations but I would like to comment on this point. I completely agree with Rebecca on this. I'm speaking as a victim here. I've seen the way the system works and unfortunately it doesn't favor the victims much. At least not from what I've seen.
In a couple of months, give or take, I have to face the man who abused me and testify to what he did because of the simple fact that when I came forward no one believed me enough to prosecute him. Now another young girl has been assaulted by him and I'm placed in the hard position of having to relive it all again in order to help her.
I don't know what needs to be done. I wish I did. Not every case is the same and not everyone charged with these crimes are guilty. All I know is that in my case the system failed miserably. And a twelve year old girl is suffering for it. :(

[Ransom v. Unman]

Makes me think of a movie...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758771/

[Katibriah]

I'm sorry. I've never seen it. Can you tell me what it's about?

[Ransom v. Unman]

A bunch of people who are failed by the system who go out exacting vigilante revenge, particularly targetting child molesters.

[lynnmosher]

Katibriah, I'll be praying for you. Make a post if you need all of us to pray.

[Katibriah]

Ransom- from that brief description I like the movie already. :)

Lynn- thank you. I will most likely post when it gets closer to time. I'm handling things okay at the moment, but as the court date gets closer I will need a lot of prayer. As of right now they have not set a concrete date for the hearing... trial... whatever.

[Rebecca]

Normally I do not get into these conversations but I would like to comment on this point. I completely agree with Rebecca on this. I'm speaking as a victim here. I've seen the way the system works and unfortunately it doesn't favor the victims much. At least not from what I've seen.
In a couple of months, give or take, I have to face the man who abused me and testify to what he did because of the simple fact that when I came forward no one believed me enough to prosecute him. Now another young girl has been assaulted by him and I'm placed in the hard position of having to relive it all again in order to help her.
I don't know what needs to be done. I wish I did. Not every case is the same and not everyone charged with these crimes are guilty. All I know is that in my case the system failed miserably. And a twelve year old girl is suffering for it. :(

God bless your heart, Katibriah! I'm so, so sorry to hear you're going through this. :( I too have personal experience with this topic, which is one reason why it's so important to me. As a matter of fact, it's estimated that 1/3 of all little girls and 1/7 of all little boys have been prey to these monsters. This is an epidemic, and it needs to be stopped.

You're a very brave woman, and you have my respect. I pray God will give you His strength and comfort as you face this challenge. If you need anything, or if I can be of support in any way, please don't hesitate to message me.

As for the rest of the comments on this thread... I plan to respond, but will do so tomorrow. I'm so tired I can barely see straight, but wanted to respond to Katibriah's post before hitting the sack.

[jacks girl]

- Along with everyone else, I want to see our troops home from the Middle East. I don't want this done haphazardly--we need to have some sort of framework in place, or else all our efforts will collapse upon themselves as soon as we leave. As I said before, I have my doubts we can effect serious change over there--but we're neck deep in this already, and need to give it our best shot. - I'd like to see the issue of sexual predators addressed--this includes child molesters, pornographers, and human sex slave traffickers, among others. This is an escalating problem, and I think it should be a priority that we weed these predators out of society. - As Ransom said, I'd like to see serious research into how we can wean ourselves off oil. I do support (environmentally responsible) drilling in Alaska as a stop-gap, to decrease our involvement in the Middle East. Ultimately, however, we need to find non-oil related methods to power our lifestyles.
I had something else typed but erased it to say this. If your a kid and there is a bully after you, it's not going to do you any good to have someone come in and whip the bully for you. When your protector leaves you still have the bully. If these people had risen on their own to defeat their bully may they could have made a big change in the country but now what... if we leave some other bully is just going to move in to town. So what do we do? I just can't see anything good coming out of all of this and we have lost too many boys and girls. i support the troops 100 percent and i want them home.
- Health care. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'd like to hear some proposals. Almost anything is better than we have now. I need health care, can't afford it, now if they wanted to lower my taxes to where i could keep about 500 more a month i could afford health care for me but still not me and hubby at that rate aint that stupid. They need something done but every time the gov gets their hands on something all they do is mess it up so I think we may be stuck with this one. - Education. I'm not as worried about the quality (the schools in my area are excellent) but I am concerned about the lack of morality and the extreme liberalism being forced upon our kids. I would like to see a system where parents are given a choice. Or, at least, I'd like to see a more neutral environment, where all views are given equal weight. I am all for competition. We need vouchers. I think too there are not enough good Christian Schools may be if there were vouchers more people would take their kids out of these public cesspools and they could get a good education. I'm glad you like the school in your area. I don't like ours. - I'd like to see reform that would kick all non-US citizens off US public aid, including college money. I can't tell you how much it angers me to see foreigners receive financial aid--especially when no US citizen I know qualifies. amen amen amen - Kick the illegals out, and impose some sort of penalty to help ensure they don't return (unless it's by going through the proper, legal channels). I'm for kicking the illegals out too. i don't think you can ever reward someone for doing something the wrong way. May be we need to make it easier for them to get into the country i don't know, seems like we are over run the way it is. I also think that a lot of these people would come into our country and work and pay taxes and be good Americans. But if we just lay a huge blanket over all of them and say Hey you all can stay we are letting the good the bad and they ugly LOL stay. We need only those that want to work, pay taxes and follow the rules and reg. of our country. To me this means SPEAKING ENGLISH. In Chicago i heard they print the voting ballet in 13 diff languages isn't that dumb i mean if you can't speak English you don't vote. - This is out of left field, but... I'd like to see something done about the extreme liberal bias in our media. I'd like to see fair and balanced reporting--not only in the subjects covered, but with the "slant" used to cover stories. I'm tired of seeing 10,000 marchers at the pro-life march on DC, with no coverage--but when two or three pro-choicers show up it's headline news. I want balanced reporting, or at least a disclaimer that it's more of an editorial than a news report. I agree, and there is two fox news stations but what bugs me most is PBS and their liberal slant man they even get public funding it should be middle of the road not so left they can barley hang on the radio dial. This one is a pet peeve of mine from way back.. But i will say i think there is still a fairness doctrine in the works but it was because the liberals couldn't find a Rush Limbaugh for their side. I used to listen to Rush all the time some think he's so far tot he right he's about to fall off. i can't say i don't get him anymore he's not on Satelitte radio yet. - Inflation - we need to reel it in. Amen here - This should be towards the top of the list, but: Tax Reduction! We're being taxed to death by all sorts of fees, hidden and overt. The government needs to get out of our paychecks. If that means less services, so be it. I think the government is way too overextended, already. I have to agree and dis agree with Ransom. if you take all the taxes that we deal with we are taxed silly. The fuel taxes are are extreme, look at the tax on cigarettes and toys like cars and Motor bikes, property tax, if you buy anything your taxed, if you build something your taxed, if you put in a new sink you have to have the gov come out and check it over I consider this a tax...There is nothing you can do that is not taxed. If you do things legally you can't do anything without paying a tax. If you can tell me what it is so i will know. - In addition to tax reduction, I feel we need to audit the government's checkbook and cut out wasteful spending. Maybe I'm over-simplifying, but I bet if we cut the trillions in pork from the government's budget, we'd have enough for a major tax cut and some sort of health care reform. Plus, we could probably fund Social Security into the next millennium. ;) A huge amen here. for one thing. Why do we need to have people on the moon so much why couldn't we stop a trip now and then and save some money, or may be we could put the senators on min wage for a while. there is so many ways they could save money if they just would. Sometimes I think we need someone like Bill gates or Dave Ramsey to run the country. Could they really do any worse. - Stronger defense of and relationship with Israel. A big amen here - I'd like to see a candidate that will watch China closely. I see China as the biggest threat to the US at this point. this could be true, i must admit im so busy with my day to day stuff i don't follow the news as i probably should.
Jacks

[Ransom v. Unman]

Jack's Girl – you think $500 a month will get you any kind of decent health coverage in this country?

[jacks girl]

3 years ago it would have, in my area if I opted out of the pregnancy coverage. It was like 480 a month. but i had to cancel it was pay my car ins and car pmt or go to the doc... LOL

[Ransom v. Unman]

3 years ago it would have, in my area if I opted out of the pregnancy coverage. It was like 480 a month. but i had to cancel it was pay my car ins and car pmt or go to the doc... LOL

Mm. Then I think my point is illustrated well...

[Tommie Lyn]

It won't do me any good to want this -- there's no chance it'll ever happen -- but I wish the president could return our form of government to the representative republic the founders put in place in 1787 when they adopted the uS Constitution.

Unfortunately, the Constitution was scrapped over 100 years ago and the republic became an empire. And today, no president would ever be able to turn things around -- that's assuming, of course, that someone would even want to do that and that the powers behind the scenes would allow it to happen.....

[Ransom v. Unman]

that's assuming, of course, that someone would even want to do that and that the powers behind the scenes would allow it to happen.....

And therein lies the probelm behind almost any attempt towards positive change in this country – all the powerful people are the ones benefitting from the worst of it.

But I'll save my "the tree of freedom must be sprinkled with the blood of tyrants speech" for some other time. >_<

ADDENDUM - I do not support the violent overthrow of anything. Of course, this tendency is also why I have a fairly stand-offish approach to politics in the first place...

[Tommie Lyn]

7. We need some help with health care. I have mixed emotions here. I don't know a good plan to fix this problem but it takes way too much money to be able to have health care. I also know people that have government health care and they are so wasteful with it. instead of taking their kids to the doc on Monday they wait and take them to the Emergency room on Sat.



Most of you are too young to remember the days before Medicare and health insurance. When I was first married, families, even those of very modest means, paid their medical bills themselves, because the costs were not astronomical.

When the government, with its ready supply of money extracted from taxpayers, began to dabble in the health care situation, and when health insurance became available to foot the bill for things people could not afford themselves, prices began to rise to take advantage of the available money. A whole "health care industry" has arisen -- and they know every cubbyhole where government/health insurance money can be ferreted out.

I was somewhat aware of this before, but, dealing with the health care system since I've become more responsible for my elderly parents, I see it with disturbing clarity. It's unbelievable.

And I don't know what the answer is, nor if there even is an answer -- we are too deep in the morass now to effectively extract ourselves, I fear. And the "solution" that is looming is worse than what we are dealing with.

For instance, government provided health care of so-called progressive countries is bankrupting those countries -- after all, if something is free, everyone wants to be sure to get their share, and they will demand it, whether or not they need it -- the wastefulness Jacks Girl mentioned.

The other factor is that those government-provided health care systems of other countries do not provide the level of care that we have in our country. Just recently, a friend told me of a situation where the teen-aged child of some Canadian friends became seriously ill while they were visiting in this country. The care the child received in a uS hospital was life-saving. The family is seeking a way to have the surgery the child will need performed in the uS, because they fear the child will die in the Canadian health care system. And I've heard more than one horror tale of people in European countries dying while on a waiting list to see a doctor or receive treatment.

So....we are between a rock and a hard place (if you don't mind that old saying).

[Rebecca]

The other factor is that those government-provided health care systems of other countries do not provide the level of care that we have in our country. .........And I've heard more than one horror tale of people in European countries dying while on a waiting list to see a doctor or receive treatment.


That's exactly what I was saying in my earlier post. I have friends in Sweden who must wait 3-6 months to even see a specialist--this after they've already waited for their primary care provider to refer them. (For anyone who isn't aware, Sweden is famous for their cradle to grave state welfare systems.)


I don't think amnesty/naturalisation is a free pat on the back. I think if we understood what it took for most illegals to get into this country, it would be a lot easier to sympathise.


I equate this as saying, "If you understood what that crook went through to break into your house and rob you blind, it would be a lot easier to sympathize."

Well, not so much. I don't want the crook in my house, stealing my stuff--just as I don't want the illegals in my country, sucking up our resources.

I'm not saying I don't have compassion for them as human beings, and for the conditions they're escaping from. Still, breaking our laws by scurrying across the border isn't the answer. And validating their choice to break our laws by letting them slide (with amnesty, etc.) definitely doesn't send the right message.

A middle class family doesn't qualify for the financial aid lower-income families do, they cannot shrug the cost like a high-income family can, and yet they can't afford to send their kid to college without a (to say the least) substantial burden on their finances. To remedy this, most families take out crippling loans in their children's names, basically starting their kid out in the world at negative, and it still becomes an intense financial burden. It becomes an exceptional burden on whites who have no special government aid programmes designed to help them.

In this case, I completely agree. Interesting point you brought up also about the US being the only industrialized country that doesn't state-finance university level education. I hadn't thought of that before.

As I said previously, I don't believe the questions of race, sex, or age should even be on a college application. Any acceptance or aid should be based on merit and need, alone.

No arguements here... I might be against the death penalty, but I'm iffy about inhumane torture. In cases like these I doubt anyone could describe that punishment as cruel or unusual.

LOL!!! :D Well, I don't believe in torture, but I do like your pliers/blowtorch solution from another thread. That'll solve the problem at the... erm... root. :o ;)

Tommie Lyn, your post about health care/costs was very interesting! I'm not sure what to make of it--it's an angle I never considered before. Either way, as you said, it almost seems we're too far in to redeem ourselves. :(

Ah, well, my brain hurts now. Seems like it's about time for me to hit the sack.