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May 15, 2008 - 11:23am.
Neither party gives a damn about the American people and they would rather slam into each other on Racism and Sexism and everything in between, including religion. This morning we heard President Bush slam into Obama for believing that he can actually negotiate on the subject of Nuclear Weapons. His using Hitler as an example, shows all of us the depth this Administration will fall to slam Obama. For what it is worth, I have some ideas for correction that has been a problem for both Democrats and Republicans. Iraqi War We need to end this war in Iraq immediately. The GOP feels we won it and the Dems feels we lost it. Who cares? Our nation is under threat and our American soldiers are dying. I want to know what they are dying for, and what the hell did we win? Energy Problems I hear two problems here; the first is that the earth is running out of oil. The second is that we have plenty but it might affect the quality of our oxygen. Using biofuels has raised the price of food. We need somebody who will tell us the truth and the cost/manpower to solve the problem. The cost of $4.00 gas will bring up the cost of every product we buy and could trigger famine in the poorer areas. Bring Up Academic Standards Our public schools are a disgrace. Many of us paid higher property taxes because of the waste of money going into our schools. Just that part of my property taxes in Encino was higher than the cost of private school. I do not want the government to set standards in our schools but the Governors must take the responsibility to locate the long list of programs that fit their individual School Districts. We have all summer to start this. The President of the United States can address this lack of academics and poor reading scores; not by testing the kids but by encouraging parents and the schools themselves to focus on many curriculums until they find the one that works for them. Encourage the development of trade schools which is the way our schools use to operate. Why not set up programs for the teenagers to work the fields, vineyards, farms and all those jobs for which we use illegal aliens. Home construction is at a low ebb and now would be the time to train our plumbers, brick workers, carpenters to fill in with good paying jobs and making America proud again. We need schools to do this. Every school district should be responsible for this necessary change. Close the Borders We must stop the drug trafficking immediately. We can allow new immigrants but they must come with paperwork that show good health records and no crime records. These were part of our Immigration laws and have been ignored or repealed. We even had a quota system that allowed a good balance in our policies. Will this call for a Third Party? Maybe unseating the GOP and the Democrats in Congress will force a new party for America. It could happen but we had better start planning NOW!
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I would like to add to your
Submitted by bryan mcclellan on May 15, 2008 - 3:27pm.I would like to add to your excellent suggestions if I may, With a mandatory one year enlistment in the armed forces of these United States.
At 19 yrs. of age for ALL healthy Americans 365 days of continuous service to the minute. One single type of deferment and it has to be medical.
For this service one year paid tuition at a state run institution with a bonus program set up for reenlistment.
If the rich and affluent are going to prosper on our sweat it's time these silver tonged bastards and bitches had to invest something, and that is their children right along side those of the commoners.
The theft of our liberties and our children's lives must touch everyone who resides in this country so they will be forced to surrender this class warfare and even the playing field.
As smirky boy pointed out, his base is the Haves and the Have mores.This bullshit has to cease and the only way to accomplish it is to force them into investing their youth into meat grinders like Iraq.
Revive the DRAFT !!!! PMFOT's
I oppose the draft. It is a
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 16, 2008 - 1:59pm.I oppose the draft. It is a form of compulsory servitude, and it provides the politicians with a steady supply of warm bodies to place on the altar of Ares.
Ironically, the absence of the draft has demonstrated the moral shallowness of the left-leaning anti-war crowd. Without the pathos and "fairness" bleating about the sad plight of Harold from the 'hood, Mario from the barrio and Fred from the farm, they seem to suffer from a form of philosophical erectile dysfunction that leaves them impotent.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
Good idea. I'm wondering if
Submitted by Sandra Price on May 15, 2008 - 4:27pm.Good idea. I'm wondering if this could be allocated to the States to do the actual gathering of draft. I fear that many young high school girls would get pregnant to keep them out of the draft. I think your plan by itself would keep us out of a war for oil or any other energy source.
I agree that America is divided by wealth and bloodlines. I missed this in California but that was when it was still a state made up of small communities. If it showed up in the big cities, I did not see it.
After Pearl Harbor I felt useless but took time to watch the skies for airplanes. My girl scout troop rolled bandages and collected unused coupons for others. We baked cookies for the USO and even knitted socks and scarves. I would have loved to have been drafted after I graduated from highschool. All my uncles volunteered for service.
Bryan I really want the GOP to lose heavily in November, if they don't they will continue the same bigotry and racism of today. It is deeper than Bush, it seems to be everywhere the Conservatives group.
The traditional role of the
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 16, 2008 - 3:14pm.The traditional role of the states in the conscription algorithm has been to staff the state, regional and local draft boards.
A local board was the first step in deciding whether or not a registree was to be inducted. Made up of local citizens - who may or may not have themselves ever served - they often played favorites, could be easily swayed or even bribed outright, and often made their decisions based on racial and socioeconomic considerations.
The logistics of gathering and processing inductees is a major task that requires nation-wide coordination and is essentially beyond the scope of any one state, even a large, populous and wealthy one.
Sweden and Israel, examples of nations that draft both men and women, do not seem to have a problem with women using pregnancy as a means of evading service. For the Swedes, their military commitment is very small, virtually all at home - UN taskings excepted - and presenting little threat to the life of the individual. Israelis accept the highly-probable events of deployment hostile fire.
As stated above in response to Mr. McClellan, I am opposed to the draft on moral grounds. Among those reasons is that it provides a politician feeling his warlike Wheaties with a steady supply of cannon fodder.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
Israel and Sweden have great
Submitted by Sandra Price on May 16, 2008 - 6:21pm.Israel and Sweden have great strength in their citizens. We did for many years but this half-ass attempt at Bush forcing into a war based on manipulated lies has blown all patriotism out of the core of America. We were sinking into a terrible discontent after Bush 41 and continuing through the Clinton years. With Bush 43, we lost our civic pride under the most evil leader this nation has ever had.
I don't know how to restore our love for America but you and your laughing at many of our attempts has shown me you are in it for the laughs. You offer nothing of your own but find moral grounds in other's attempts.
This site will see through you and your silly comments. I think you watch too many cartoons.
The collapse of what you
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 16, 2008 - 10:47pm.The collapse of what you choose to call patriotism well predates the current administration; you might want to thank Lyndon Johnson and the Camelot holdovers for a major contribution to that. In fact, the seeds of the collapse can be seen in the advent of the so-called "beat" generation of the late 40s and early 50s, as articulated by Jack Kerouac, and later subsumed in the so-called "Hippy" counter-culture of the 60s.
There are still a great many people that love and care for the country, as indicated by the appeal of Senator Obama as a vehicle of genuine change, as indicated by the small but loyal following of Rep. Ron Paul, as indicated by the general rejection of the Bush brand of Blut und Eisen for a new American imperium. The fact that so many here and on other forums are expressing their anger and disgust at the status quo indcates that patriotism is alive and well
I don't think that a love for our founding principles can be instilled by boot camps and compulsory military service, nor by trying to fine-tune the decrepit public school system, or by holding giant virtual kaffee-klatches on the net. Nothing is going to change as long as parents think that government entities are a substitute for their concern in raising their children.
If I seem unconcerned and dismissive of it, it's not because I do not love this country of mine; it's because I see people who should know better insisting that there is some magic arrangement of deck-chairs that will keep the Titanic afloat. No simplistic nostrum will do the trick, it must be a major repair and restructuring.
I think most reasonably intelligent people understand the underlaying problem, but they balk at what they know must be done to correct it becausr they are too heavily invested in things as they are.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
I think you're onto
Submitted by DejaVuAllOver on May 15, 2008 - 5:38pm.I think you're onto something with the trade schools, but I would take it a couple steps farther. This country has completely lost it's manufacturing, for many reasons, but the main one is simply this: working people cannot compete with speculators for homes or have a reasonable lifestyle in the areas in which they work. We have become a nation of consumer / speculators, not workers. This is a fundamental property in the evolution of capitalist cultures, but it can be managed. But first, Americans need to get used to the idea that the free ride on the backs of workers (overseas) needs to end.
It's a big topic and I have to go to work now, ironically, but anyway, I think you're getting warm, Sandra!
(No subject)
Submitted by bryan mcclellan on May 16, 2008 - 9:29am. »Why don't you pray at
Submitted by Sandra Price on May 16, 2008 - 8:29am.Why don't you pray at church? Many would rather work to bring the troops home through the government. Who is Helen R? You are playing games just like Flapsaddle and overlook the core problems that face us daily. Why do you even enter a blog when you divert away from the subject? Do your own blog filled with silly references.
Sandra -- since Bryan's
Submitted by pollchecker on May 16, 2008 - 9:32am.Sandra -- since Bryan's original post came at 3am in the morning, maybe he was partying with GW? That would explain the nonsense! (hahahahahahahhahahahaha)
Well, there is always the
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 16, 2008 - 2:58pm.Well, there is always the novel thought that Mr. McClellan's remarks were both heartfelt and carefully considered and - despite the apparent condescension with which they were greeted - not the result of stress or ignorance.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
Once again you seem to be
Submitted by pollchecker on May 16, 2008 - 3:17pm.Once again you seem to be addressing something else. I was referring to the post NOW ENTITLED "No Subject" which was originally posted at 3am this morning and made no sense at all.
I could have deleted it as moderator but Since the author of the blog addressed it and since Bryan retracted it, I was making a joke. Did you even read the original 3 am post?
If there is condescension here, perhaps it is with people making false assumptions and interjecting comments based on those false assumptions.
From the level of
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 16, 2008 - 9:47pm.From the level of subordination, I'd assume that it was was obviously replying to your post, which was replying to Sandy's, and that in turn addressing Bryan McClellan's original; there is no confusion on my part as to who/what was being addressed.
While I do not think I saw the original post, I have read enough of his other posts to know that he is articulate. I do not agree with many of the positions he takes, but I've never had a problem understanding where he was at.
I based my comment on the extant items - Sandra Price's reply to Bryan McClellan and your reply to her. Obviously, his post made sufficient sense to offend her because of its implicit religious overtones. And I stand by my earlier statement that I thought his remarks, whatever their nature, were doubtlessly heartfelt and considered...and I think they remain so even when allowing for his self-admitted condition at the time.
I apologise for any ruffled feathers, but I do not apologise for addressing what I felt to be a condescending attack upon his intentions.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
and again my point is since
Submitted by pollchecker on May 16, 2008 - 10:13pm.and again my point is since you did not read the 3am post you made a false assumption which I have noticed you have a tendency to do.
Our host can testify about some of Bryan's midnight posts which you may not have had the privilege of reading because they were deleted prior to your signing on.
Perhaps you should lighten up. What do they say about people who can't take jokes? Oh that's right. They are called Republicans (haha)!
I'll be glad to revise my
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 17, 2008 - 12:02am.I'll be glad to revise my opinion of Mr. McClellan's posts if and when I see one that does not reflect my current assessment of his level of care and concern. In the meantime, I prefer to rely on my own induction.
If you believe that I make a false assumption on something, then by all means bring it to my attention - but I expect you do be able to demonstrate the validity of your assertion.
As to lightening up, I have always tried to write for my own reasons and not necessarily anyone else's.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle
Easy folks, I thought I was
Submitted by bryan mcclellan on May 16, 2008 - 5:25pm.Easy folks, I thought I was commenting on a different post. 3am, my grandsons wagon and lacquer thinner don't mix.
Anyway, I submit that military service builds character and would do more to unite than the trouble it would be to implement a draft. The affluent must be forced to invest their youth instead of just sucking off the teat of the free cow by buying their way out.
It is also a motivator where the trades and higher education are concerned. Most want better than what the service can provide and are led to seek higher goals after learning what true sacrifice is.
As for the pregnancy thing, you serve regardless, in one capacity or another, end of dodge, period.
So you weren't out partying
Submitted by pollchecker on May 16, 2008 - 6:09pm.So you weren't out partying with GW, Bryan? Gosh Darn, I thought we had a scoop there (very big grin). thanks for taking care of it. It just proves that no one should be trusted at 3am in the morning. Weren't there some commercials about that or something?
Bryan. Anyone who has spent
Submitted by Sandra Price on May 16, 2008 - 6:47pm.Bryan. Anyone who has spent 15 minutes in the local mall can see our next generation totally lost in searching for toys like the fancy cell phones. Half of them cannot make a sentence properly and need some boot camp training either at school, juvenile camp or hard core jail. I would prefer sending them to serve America. The Army has some fabulous training programs that should shape up these spoiled and ignorant teens.
I was raised on the Santa Monica beach and could read a racing form and the tide charts for the ocean. I didn't care about anything else. I had 6 pals and we all wasted our days surfing! Our mothers and grandmothers soon discovered what we were and in 1947 sent us to the strictest all-girls boarding school in the county. It was a boot camp for wealthy Santa Monica kids.
For a week I thought I was Jane Eyre when she was sent to an orphanage. I suddenly realize I was in the heart of Holmby Hills the richest section of Beverly Hills. I knew most of the girls as they all came from Hollywood and I settled in and became competitive. I was smarter than these rich kids and set my meter to fast forward and learned all the things taught at that school prior to my arriving. I had to go to summer school to make up my self-imposed ignorance. It took me 3 years to meet their standards and the last two years at that school I made the honor roll every year. I was Student Body Treasurer and had the lead in all the musical plays. I had a deep voice and had to play the male leads. (someone had to do it)
This was my boot camp and it gave me more self respect than anyone I knew who stayed on the beach. The second world war took many of the boys and girls who were once beach bums and made adults out of them. Most went on to Korea and found wonderful careers.
To give these kids a chance they must learn the responsibility of being part of the human race. Boot camp and a year of service is a great opportunity to do just that.