Obama-Rama

[Ananke II]

No matter which major party is in charge, it'll still be an 'elite' (or whatever you want to call it. That's usually what you get with representative democracy after all) who's in charge. In that case having it be someone whose basic policies align with your own is better than the alternative. Besides from what I've seen Obama has already recalled Bush' ban on federal funding for stemcell research, wants to talk with Iran and seems intent on getting to work on healthcare and closing down Guantanemo. Not bad for his first couple of months in charge imo.

Doesn't mean there aren't things I think he could do better, but considering the problems he's inherited I'm fine with cutting him some slack.

[Greek People Nation (GPN)]

Mar 23, 2009 8:07:12 GMT -5 Ananke II said:

No matter which major party is in charge, it'll still be an 'elite' (or whatever you want to call it. That's usually what you get with representative democracy after all) who's in charge. In that case having it be someone whose basic policies align with your own is better than the alternative. Besides from what I've seen Obama has already recalled Bush' ban on federal funding for stemcell research, wants to talk with Iran and seems intent on getting to work on healthcare and closing down Guantanemo. Not bad for his first couple of months in charge imo.

Doesn't mean there aren't things I think he could do better, but considering the problems he's inherited I'm fine with cutting him some slack.

Talking with Iran!, Universal Health Care!, and closing Gitmo!... I would not say that is good. Obama is way over his head, and you can tell it. This whole banking crap he didn't inherit. He did that himself. All he is empty promises and liar. I see nothing good that he has done. He is nothing but a puppet president for the oligarchy.

[MinnaCaroline]

Wow, someone sounds bitter. I think all those things are good. I'd much rather be in talks with Iran than bombing them and starting world war III.

Ohhhh never mind. Scratch that. I'm not getting sucked into this rubbish. You have your opinion and I have mine and I'll leave it at that.

and a quote: "there are people in your life who come and go they let you down you know they hurt your pride, you better put it all behind you babe cause life goes on, you keep carrying that anger it will eat you up inside."

[Anime Daisuki]

A few things I don't like about Obama:

- Closing down Gitmo IMHO, is not a good policy. You can't be kind to your enemies. Even though the quality of the intel. we get from torture is arguable at best, at least we are getting something. Better than no intel at all. It may save 1 life, 2 life, or who knows, maybe thousands.

- Appointing Geither as Treasury Secretary. This guy is an idiot, proven time and again by his own actions on handling China, handling of the Banking crisis, handling of the housing crisis, etc.

- Appointing Eric Holder as Attorney General. What does Race gotta do with his job? Apparently Everything to him. Since his "race-hate" speech on 18th Febuary, not a week passes before he makes another speech about Race. Just check google news and you'll see.
Also, he is for the liberalization of our current drug enforcement laws. I'm sorry, giving kids and teenages access to marijuana and other drugs is not "freedom" to me. It's murder.

I'm going to make some predictions: Drug-related crime is going to skyrocket in the next few years.

[Hockeynutville]

Mar 23, 2009 19:33:35 GMT -5 Anime Daisuki said:

I'm going to make some predictions: Drug-related crime is going to skyrocket in the next few years.

Then legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Drugs are a choice like anything else be it drinking, speeding, domestic abuse etc... All of which kills plenty of people as well. Making it illegal never stopped anyone. Certainly throwing people in jail just makes them better cons when they get out. But if drugs are jail worthy and kill folks well hell while we're at it, we can also throw obese people in jail since over-eating mind as well constitute suicide, and how about smoking tobacco? I say if you want to coat your lungs with tar, you're nuts or suicidal and should be institutionalized or locked up in a looneybin.

But guess what, we don't, and probably never will. It all just comes down to individuals and their choices. You can't force people not to make stupid choices, only educate them and hope that when they come to that fork in the road, they take the right path...

[New Dracora]

Mar 23, 2009 22:13:30 GMT -5 Hockeynutville said:

Mar 23, 2009 19:33:35 GMT -5 Anime Daisuki said:

I'm going to make some predictions: Drug-related crime is going to skyrocket in the next few years.

Then legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Drugs are a choice like anything else be it drinking, speeding, domestic abuse etc... All of which kills plenty of people as well. Making it illegal never stopped anyone. Certainly throwing people in jail just makes them better cons when they get out. But if drugs are jail worthy and kill folks well hell while we're at it, we can also throw obese people in jail since over-eating mind as well constitute suicide, and how about smoking tobacco? I say if you want to coat your lungs with tar, you're nuts or suicidal and should be institutionalized or locked up in a looneybin.

But guess what, we don't, and probably never will. It all just comes down to individuals and their choices. You can't force people not to make stupid choices, only educate them and hope that when they come to that fork in the road, they take the right path...

This ffs. Seconded.

[New Dracora]

Mar 23, 2009 16:05:28 GMT -5 Greek People Nation (GPN) said:

Mar 23, 2009 8:07:12 GMT -5 Ananke II said:

No matter which major party is in charge, it'll still be an 'elite' (or whatever you want to call it. That's usually what you get with representative democracy after all) who's in charge. In that case having it be someone whose basic policies align with your own is better than the alternative. Besides from what I've seen Obama has already recalled Bush' ban on federal funding for stemcell research, wants to talk with Iran and seems intent on getting to work on healthcare and closing down Guantanemo. Not bad for his first couple of months in charge imo.

Doesn't mean there aren't things I think he could do better, but considering the problems he's inherited I'm fine with cutting him some slack.

Talking with Iran!, Universal Health Care!, and closing Gitmo!... I would not say that is good. Obama is way over his head, and you can tell it. This whole banking crap he didn't inherit. He did that himself. All he is empty promises and liar. I see nothing good that he has done. He is nothing but a puppet president for the oligarchy.

Fox News. Fair and balanced.

Ok, I'll bite. Explain exactly how improved foreign relations, healthy people and closing down one of the more internationally recognised, blantantly obvious symbols of US hypocracy to date are bad things?

[Chronopolice]

Mar 23, 2009 22:13:30 GMT -5 Hockeynutville said:

Mar 23, 2009 19:33:35 GMT -5 Anime Daisuki said:

I'm going to make some predictions: Drug-related crime is going to skyrocket in the next few years.

Then legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Drugs are a choice like anything else be it drinking, speeding, domestic abuse etc... All of which kills plenty of people as well. Making it illegal never stopped anyone. Certainly throwing people in jail just makes them better cons when they get out. But if drugs are jail worthy and kill folks well hell while we're at it, we can also throw obese people in jail since over-eating mind as well constitute suicide, and how about smoking tobacco? I say if you want to coat your lungs with tar, you're nuts or suicidal and should be institutionalized or locked up in a looneybin.

But guess what, we don't, and probably never will. It all just comes down to individuals and their choices. You can't force people not to make stupid choices, only educate them and hope that when they come to that fork in the road, they take the right path...

The Republic by Plato should be required reading in all high schools.

[Greek People Nation (GPN)]

Mar 24, 2009 7:23:07 GMT -5 New Dracora said:

Mar 23, 2009 16:05:28 GMT -5 Greek People Nation (GPN) said:

Talking with Iran!, Universal Health Care!, and closing Gitmo!... I would not say that is good. Obama is way over his head, and you can tell it. This whole banking crap he didn't inherit. He did that himself. All he is empty promises and liar. I see nothing good that he has done. He is nothing but a puppet president for the oligarchy.

Fox News. Fair and balanced.

Ok, I'll bite. Explain exactly how improved foreign relations, healthy people and closing down one of the more internationally recognised, blantantly obvious symbols of US hypocracy to date are bad things?

First of all, Get a new Sec of State, the one we have is an idiot too. You don't improve relations with a nations that really does not care for us. Free healthcare will ruin our economy, it will make people lazy, like welfare is doing now. Why go out and work for it when you can get it for free. That is socialism to me. What are you going to do. Let the terrorist go free and kill more people. Or bring them here to the US.

[Greek People Nation (GPN)]

Mar 23, 2009 16:51:44 GMT -5 MinnaCaroline said:

Wow, someone sounds bitter. I think all those things are good. I'd much rather be in talks with Iran than bombing them and starting world war III.

Ohhhh never mind. Scratch that. I'm not getting sucked into this rubbish. You have your opinion and I have mine and I'll leave it at that.

and a quote: "there are people in your life who come and go they let you down you know they hurt your pride, you better put it all behind you babe cause life goes on, you keep carrying that anger it will eat you up inside."

No Ma'am, I am not bitter, I just hope the people who voted for obama got the change they wanted. In time people will see how the liberal congress and president will ruin the country.

[Ananke II]

Mar 24, 2009 16:26:00 GMT -5 Greek People Nation (GPN) said:

First of all, Get a new Sec of State, the one we have is an idiot too. You don't improve relations with a nations that really does not care for us. Free healthcare will ruin our economy, it will make people lazy, like welfare is doing now. Why go out and work for it when you can get it for free. That is socialism to me. What are you going to do. Let the terrorist go free and kill more people. Or bring them here to the US.

What's with all this socialism bashing by US media and conservatives? Most of Western Europe have had socialist governments at one time or another and we haven't gone totally bankrupt yet. Denmark has universal health care and yet, we're in the top of competitive countries (www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm) and as far as I remember we actually use relatively less money on our healthcare system compared to the US (ucatlas.ucsc.edu/spend.php). The welfare benifits which most Danes are guarenteed actually helps making the labour marked a lot more flexible (the model is called flexicurity and seems to work pretty well).

[Chronopolice]

Mar 25, 2009 1:49:17 GMT -5 Ananke II said:

Mar 24, 2009 16:26:00 GMT -5 Greek People Nation (GPN) said:

First of all, Get a new Sec of State, the one we have is an idiot too. You don't improve relations with a nations that really does not care for us. Free healthcare will ruin our economy, it will make people lazy, like welfare is doing now. Why go out and work for it when you can get it for free. That is socialism to me. What are you going to do. Let the terrorist go free and kill more people. Or bring them here to the US.

What's with all this socialism bashing by US media and conservatives? Most of Western Europe have had socialist governments at one time or another and we haven't gone totally bankrupt yet. Denmark has universal health care and yet, we're in the top of competitive countries (www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm) and as far as I remember we actually use relatively less money on our healthcare system compared to the US (ucatlas.ucsc.edu/spend.php). The welfare benifits which most Danes are guarenteed actually helps making the labour marked a lot more flexible (the model is called flexicurity and seems to work pretty well).

I am for universal healthcare. Healthy citizens are productive citizens. At least the government and honest taxpayers can say, "We are taking care of your health. Now get out there and work you lazy b*****d." ;D

[Haicho]

Yeah, universal healthcare does WONDERS! Gee, last time I checked with a friend in Canada, she actually drove to the U.S. and paid extra to see a doctor because she had something that could be treated simply if it was done quick enough, but the hospitals in Canada were so clogged up with people wanting their free healthcare it was easier for her to come here. Yeah, it's genius stuff right there.

[Hockeynutville]

As opposed to people dying in their homes because the can't afford treatment? Wow, wouldn't want you around on my deathbed...

[Petalumadom]

Universal Healthcare can maybe work... but the US would have to really improve on anything that comes up.

Currently Medicare and Medicaid... the closest things we have to public healthcare.. are sky-rocketing in cost... the system for collecting the money for them is dreadful to say the least.

If you want to spread something like that to a country of 300,000,000+ people you have to come up with something better.

[Estayland]

I don't think the government should be involved in health care. It's a privilege, not a right. Too many privileges are becoming rights and rights are becoming prvileges or crimes.

[Hockeynutville]

I'm not saying universal health care is fool proof, but neither is the idea that only the rich should be able to cure a stubbed toe (Don't get nuts, I know I'm simplifying). There has to be a balance between the two.

Life is neither a right or a privilege as we don't ask to be born, not according to some religions have the right to play god with it. But, it would seem to be what the majority of people hold the most value towards and to there has to be a better way in my opinion then to simply limit the health of someone's life relative to the size of their pocket book.

[Chronopolice]

Mar 26, 2009 21:45:57 GMT -5 Estayland said:

I don't think the government should be involved in health care. It's a privilege, not a right. Too many privileges are becoming rights and rights are becoming prvileges or crimes.

Then there is something wrong with the people in the system.

It is the government's job to make sure that its citizens are healthy. It is to our advantage as well that everyone is insured to be healthy. You don't want contagious and virulent diseases to be spreading through the population now, do we?

I'm willing to bet that if health care was fully handled by the private sector, we would end up with what might be the most insidious form of blackmail.

Universal heath care isn't foolproof as Hockeynutville stated but it is better than the alternative. You can say that it is an investment to preserve the stability of society.

[Greek People Nation (GPN)]

Mar 29, 2009 8:43:21 GMT -5 Chronopolice said:

Mar 26, 2009 21:45:57 GMT -5 Estayland said:

I don't think the government should be involved in health care. It's a privilege, not a right. Too many privileges are becoming rights and rights are becoming prvileges or crimes.

It is the government's job to make sure that its citizens are healthy. It is to our advantage as well that everyone is insured to be healthy. You don't want contagious and virulent diseases to be spreading through the population now, do we?

I'm willing to bet that if health care was fully handled by the private sector, we would end up with what might be the most insidious form of blackmail.

Universal heath care isn't foolproof as Hockeynutville stated but it is better than the alternative.

Where does it say that it is the Governments job to provide Healthcare. Please if you find anything in the Constitution, let me know. Giving away something like healthcare is basically saying that there is no need to work. That's whats wrong with Welfare.

[Anime Daisuki]

Mar 26, 2009 23:00:56 GMT -5 Hockeynutville said:

I'm not saying universal health care is fool proof, but neither is the idea that only the rich should be able to cure a stubbed toe (Don't get nuts, I know I'm simplifying). There has to be a balance between the two.

The problem with Universal health care is that:

- In practice, as already pointed out by the others, health care costs are increasing very quickly every year. Since Massachusetts implemented it 3 years ago, health care costs has jumped about 20% each year.

From the New York Times:

The state expects to spend $595 million more on its health insurance programs this year than in 2006, a 42 percent increase.

The operative word is "more". Are you ready to pay more taxes every year? For 99 percent of Americans, the answer is no.

- Another grouse I have with the proponents of Universal care is theoretical. I don't believe anyone can say he is a proponent unless he is willing to finance Universal care for ALL. Why should the concept of universal health care be restricted by national boundaries? Are these proponents willing to sponsor health care for people in Africa? A life is a life, no matter the citizenship. If they are not willing to go that far, then it's hypocritical to call for "Universal" care.

[Chronopolice]

Mar 29, 2009 16:43:49 GMT -5 Anime Daisuki said:

Mar 26, 2009 23:00:56 GMT -5 Hockeynutville said:

I'm not saying universal health care is fool proof, but neither is the idea that only the rich should be able to cure a stubbed toe (Don't get nuts, I know I'm simplifying). There has to be a balance between the two.

The problem with Universal health care is that:

- In practice, as already pointed out by the others, health care costs are increasing very quickly every year. Since Massachusetts implemented it 3 years ago, health care costs has jumped about 20% each year.

From the New York Times:

The state expects to spend $595 million more on its health insurance programs this year than in 2006, a 42 percent increase.

The operative word is "more". Are you ready to pay more taxes every year? For 99 percent of Americans, the answer is no.

- Another grouse I have with the proponents of Universal care is theoretical. I don't believe anyone can say he is a proponent unless he is willing to finance Universal care for ALL. Why should the concept of universal health care be restricted by national boundaries? Are these proponents willing to sponsor health care for people in Africa? A life is a life, no matter the citizenship. If they are not willing to go that far, then it's hypocritical to call for "Universal" care.

Ok, scratch universal and then change it to national healthcare. We'll change it back to universal once we have a single world government. ;D

It is in the US Declaration of Independence.

The expenses of maintaining such a system are indeed high, that I would concede. But I would assure you that the alternative will be much more costly without it.

[Chronopolice]

Now the media is after Obama's TV watching habits.

What do you think will come next?

I think it's going to be "Obama: Boxers or briefs?" ;D

[New Dracora]

"Obama: Paper or plastic?"

[Chronopolice]

Now it's "When will the new puppy arrive at the White House?"