Something Bad is About to Happen...

[Dood]

I forsee a lot of people voting for Trump for the exact same reasons :lol:

Good way to split the vote we've been stuck with a corrupt local politician for 17 years becuse every time someone ran against him 7 of his buddies put their name on the ballot :evil:

Oh well, it's about time you guys had a female president :mrgreen:

 

[Miss M]

Because I'm sick to my stomach of holding my nose and voting for the lesser of 2 evils. Never, ever again!!!!!

I voted for the lesser of two evils twice. Both times, I regretted it painfully. I will not vote for the lesser of two evils again. Voting for the lesser of two evils is what, over the decades, has gotten us where we are now.

The lesser of two evils... is still evil.

I'm voting for Trump.

I'm not. He may be saying a lot of the right stuff now, but he was saying the exact opposite only a couple of years ago. I don't trust him one iota. I think he's just good at licking his finger and sticking it in the air, while somehow keeping people from noticing that's what he's doing.

Good way to split the vote

I don't even care about splitting the vote anymore. I look at every single candidate, no matter how obscure, and vote for the one that most closely matches my views. I just don't care about playing the game anymore. I vote for the one I believe to be the best candidate.

Oh well, it's about time you guys had a female president :mrgreen:

Not Hillary. No way. :razz2:

 

[DBA]

Our presidents aren't elected anymore, they are appointed. The person put into the oval office is just a puppet.

 

[Zass]

Trump is just a diversion. Or maybe, just for everyone's entertainment. He is making noise and getting people paying attention and talking, and I'm sure that is EXACTLY what he's been paid to do.

The person to worry about is whomever he tries to pass the ball to when he pulls out.

 

[Susie570]

Our presidents aren't elected anymore, they are appointed. The person put into the oval office is just a puppet.

Yup, totally agree. I'm so frustrated with our voting system in this country that I didn't bother to vote for probably close to ten years. Individual votes don't matter much and that stinks. We're supposed to be a one person, one vote country and we're not.

Anyway, I hadn't heard of Bernie before (I generally don't follow the politics that closely because it's stressful) and I heard someone talking about him a few weeks ago. I said "who's that?". They said "Oh, he's a self proclaimed Socialist". :shock: I said, "Well then, he has my vote".

And that's true, but actually I just really respect what the guy is trying to do.

 

[BlueHaven]

I am am wondering if trump will pull out for some reason about half way though this, either that, or he will be a Perot type that will split the vote and help
someone get in there with about 35% of the vote. I fell for this when Perot ran, and then Clinton got in there and passed NAFTA, but the republicans wrote it up, so who's to blame?
My guess is Trump will bow out, or put his foot in his mouth so bad, that he will self destruct, but you never know. If What I hear out of my Indiana grooming shop(Big republican state) holds, trump has a chance. Everybody loves him here. I just think talk is cheap.
I am just doubtful about his fitness at this time. Still, I want to watch some debates and will give him an honest ear
once the crowd thins a little. I wish Clinton wasn't running, as I just don't feel she is electable right now, but I don't think trump is either. Thanks for the heads up on berni mac, I will be watching for him. Right now its a matter of hearing what they all have to say.

 

[DBA]

Our country was founded as a republic. I know most people think we are a democracy, hell, even our president say we are. No, we are supposed to be a republic.
Why would anyone, in a republic, choose to vote for a socialist.
Socialism is raging through our society already, why feed it more?

Socialism just creates more wellfare queens and lazy fools.
Why should I try harder, do better, and earn more if it is just going to be taken from me and given to a worthless, lazy, chump who has no dignity or self worth, yet feels entitled to whatever someone else has?

 

[Zinnia]

Wow DBA. I agree that something must change to keep people from leaching off the system, but those are some harsh judgments.

Nothing's worse than seeing my tax dollars feed those that can somehow afford to smoke, afford cable, afford to eat out.... I can't afford those things if I want to feed my family. Feeding my family and paying my bills comes first. I agree we've created a lazy, selfish society and something has to be done about it. But a blanket judgment of poor people is a unwarranted. There are plenty of good people that don't have an equal opportunity, no matter what you might think.

 

[Dood]

Umm a republic IS a democracy

I'm not sure where your getting your definition but according to the Oxford dictionary it is "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch."

And if the people choose to vote in and elect a socialist representative then that is their right :shrug:

 

[DBA]

A republic is when the people vote in officials to basically make decisions on the behalf of the people. A true democracy is when all of those decisions are voted on by the people.

Zinnia, I'm sorry we don't agree on this. I am not saying all poor people are lazy and worthless. That isn't what I said at all. But i have, first hand, seen far to many people, who are capable of working, but don't. And why should they?
Free food, free electricity, drastically reduced rent (one person I know pays $16 a month for a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath apartment which normally would rent for $700), free health care, free cell phone (ok, not free, but $9 a month from what she told me), even free basic cable. She gets a monthly allowance check of $400+ and her biweekly child support of around $200, and she lives better than me.

That is one example (a cousin). I know of others who are capable of working and don't, and yet pull in every dime the government will give them.

Wellfare assistance was intended to be short term assistance to help people on a temporary basis, not as a way of life.

And equal opportunity??? I pump gas for a living, as well as run our small farm. I see people on a regular basis who could have a job like mine but won't because it doesn't pay enough. Well, it pays better than nothing. Look at all the illegals who come into this country every day. They have nothing at home, so they head here with nothing but the shirt on their backs to get jobs and make money. If they can come here, than anyone in this country can get up and relocate to another area to seek out opportunities. Sure, they may not be able to do it and stay in a nice hotel, while wearing a new suit, but they can do it.

 

[Nika]

Why should I try harder, do better, and earn more if it is just going to be taken from me

- Wow, that`s a nice car you have there, Boss!
- Well, work hard, do better, and next year I`ll have even better one!

 

[DBA]

Why should I try harder, do better, and earn more if it is just going to be taken from me

- Wow, that`s a nice car you have there, Boss!
- Well, work hard, do better, and next year I`ll have even better one!

Good point, work for someone else, and you earn pay while they reap profits. Earning pay still deserves dignity and respect.
And, for anyone that thinks it is wrong that the owner of a company should earn more than the employees, well, then that person needs to start his or her own company.

 

[Zinnia]

DBA, I see your point entirely and share your frustration deeply. Too many people play the system like a fiddle, fine tuning their lives around the benefits they "qualify" for. There's such an ugly mass of abusers of the system, it's bound to anger many hard-working people. I've been burned by a few of these such people as the take advantage of our system and their "right" to file bankruptcy every X amount of years. It's PLANNED in their calendars! I love hearing the excuses, too. But, really, when they are eating at Culvers, smoking cigarettes, buying crap toys their kids don't need, I get angry. It's downright ugly. I have seen worse that I won't describe here. I'm glad you can acknowledge that low income people are not all like that, though. Some are truly working hard to provide for their families. It's the abusers that stand out the most.

 

[BlueHaven]

I have a client that has two kids. A boy seven and a daughter 12. Her husband was 43. He dropped dead in front of the seven year old last year. Some kind of heart thing.
Even with her salary as a secretary for a dentists office and some life insurance. She can't possibly afford the kids and the dogs and the car and the house.
The dogs were gone fast, and then she had to choose between working, and going on SSI for her kids sake. She would make more on SSI. She was a lucky one and found a better paying job, but I think its a shame there is not more help for people that through no fault of their own, need some real short term help to at least keep their homes. And forget about just death. I am sure there are abandond familys all the time. Again no fault of the kids left behind.
Right now our military is fifteen time larger than any other nation on the planet. Couldn't we just be like ten times larger, and help those at home a little more? I am all for drug testing and the like, but our mentally ill, need help and our health insurance companies evidently don't feel its their responsibility to help them, so someone has to. I like to think that a republic can be the best of both democratic and social programs for the benefit of our society. Much the same way my property taxes go mostly to the public school system here, yet I have no children. I know that an educated society is safer for everyone.

 

[DBA]

DBA, I see your point entirely and share your frustration deeply. Too many people play the system like a fiddle, fine tuning their lives around the benefits they "qualify" for. There's such an ugly mass of abusers of the system, it's bound to anger many hard-working people. I've been burned by a few of these such people as the take advantage of our system and their "right" to file bankruptcy every X amount of years. It's PLANNED in their calendars! I love hearing the excuses, too. But, really, when they are eating at Culvers, smoking cigarettes, buying crap toys their kids don't need, I get angry. It's downright ugly. I have seen worse that I won't describe here. I'm glad you can acknowledge that low income people are not all like that, though. Some are truly working hard to provide for their families. It's the abusers that stand out the most.

Of course not all low income people are like that. My family; wife, two children, and myself, we live off of less than $36,000 a year. Wife pays $115 out of her biweekly paycheck for our health insurance. No Obama care for us, unless you count the fact that since the implementation of "affordable" care act, out insurance went up $30+ and our coverage dropped some.
We have a mortgage on our house ($435 month), a payment on one car. We don't get food stamps, energy assistance, free anything. We work for what we have, just as any SELF RESPECTING person would.
We don't have cable or satalite tv. We are actually considering shutting off our cell phones. We worry about needs much more than wants.
I feel I am entitled to what ever I EARN, not whatever someone else has earned. If my boss has a better car than me, that should be incentive for me to try harder, work smarter, and do better so I can buy a car better than him. It shouldn't make me hold a grudge against him because he earned it.
That is just an example, i really don't care what my boss drives, I'm kind of fond of my beat up, rusty old 20+ year old Ford truck.

Opportunities are out there for anyone who is willing to open their eyes and look for them, then get off their butts and do something. A kid my little brother went to high school with had an idea. It was risky the way he implemented it, but he did it. He took out a $6000 personal loan. Next week, he, quit his job and drove down somewhere in Florida. Went and bought a used lawn mower and started getting jobs mowing lawns while living in a motel. Fast forward two years. He has four full time crews of two people each, and a couple extra guys who just help as needed. He has a rented warehouse, but owns his five trucks, 6 different trailers, top of the line mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc.
He makes damn good money. He had an idea, saw an opportunity, and took a risk. If he can do it, anyone else can too.

 

[Zinnia]

I don't believe in equal opportunity. Opportunity, yes. Equal, no. You've given examples of people who obviously have functioning health, both mental and physical.

 

[DBA]

Ok, I do see your point. Helping out those who truely NEED help is one thing, but constantly giving handouts to those who only want it because they don't want to work is a whole different issue.
Another case and point, I have a sister who worked in customer service, from home. When she was logged in, and you called customer service number, she was one of the people who took your call (nationwide cable tv company)
Anyway, she began having issues with her shoulder. Had a surgury to repair it, and after a while, went back to work. Well now, she was in too much pain holding a phone and typing. Now she is drawing disability. Can't type for work. Funny though, she can still knit constantly and spend countless hours on Facebook.

Then there is my father in law. He has been drawing disability for almost 30 years. What is his problem? He drinks too much. Yup, he is an alcoholic, so he gets SSI.
Then there is the 42 year old skateboarder who lives in the small town I use to. He is disabled too. Yeah, he was just fine, then took a few hits of bad acid and fried his brain. Now he gets a check each month and has for over 15 years now. But its all good, he just cruises on his skate board all over town trying to convince everyone he is Jesus.

Then there is me. Doctors say I am disabled. Have tried to get me to sign up. Have problem with my back. My spine is slowly fusing together. At the rate of growth in my spine, I will be immobile and in a wheelchair in 10-12 years. I constantly throw my back out rendering me pretty much useless for up to two weeks at a time, sometimes from doing tasks as simple as putting on my socks.
I'm not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds. Shouldn't be on concrete any more than 100% necessary. Yet I work at a gas station. This morning I cut a truckload of fire wood and hauled it home. I canned 9 pints of stewed tomatoes, 4 pints of salsa and 6 quarts of salsa this morning.
When I get to the point I physically cannot work, then I won't, but until then, i do what I have to do to provide for my family. Sure, i am way behind on my firewood production this year because of several bad spells with my back, but, I'm doing what I can, when I can.
Sure, some people NEED help, but there are far more who are just plain lazy. And if they are given everything they need, why should they work for it.

Funny thing, the government put up signs at many national parks telling visitors to not feed the wildlife because they don't want the animals to become dependent on handouts....

 

[Zinnia]

DBA, It sounds like you may be more disgruntled about personal situations you are seeing. I can see how it would form your opinions. I assure you, though. The abusers stand out more than the needy. There are good people out there.

Here, too. Illness that my daughter and I have been told to "claim". But put a label on it just get benefits. No thank you. We work hard and feed 5 children. No luxuries here. Not even a house. Lost that due to a zoning error and can't afford another one. An old school bus is home even in 40 below. A storage shed is where we do the garden processing and have a small amount of electricity (for the phone and internet). Some handouts come with strings attached. Strings are for puppets. Building our lives back to normal is taking years, because opportunities are not equal for the wounded that are not bleeding in front of you.

Bad things do happen to good people. That's worth remembering. The abusers of our system shame those that are truly in need.

 

[DBA]

I commend you for what you are doing. You are doing whatever it takes to get by and provide for your family.
I respect you for that. When I was a kid, my dad got layed off from his job, but we got by. We lived in southern Nevada in a two bedroom house trailer (dad, 3 boys, 2 girls)
We had no running water, no electricity, no gas.
Carried in buckets of water for a while from a neighbor (2 miles away), until we were able to obtain a large tank on a trailer.
It wasn't ideal, but we lived.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from the abusers, I also see pride and self worth shine through. You being one example, another being a step-cousin. He has severe downs syndrome. Yet he works as a janitor at a school, and has a couple part time jobs helping out other people. Sure, he doesn't make hundreds of thousands of dollars, but he is thrilled to be able to work and make his own money.

 

[Rabbitdog]

Not as much Trump hatin' as I had expected. What's up with that ..... maybe the polls are right?