KaskadskyjKozak

I am not convinced that this is the case as opposed to natural fluctuations in world temperatures. However, if it IS the case, I don't think we can do anything about it other than SLOW it's progress (i.e. not halt it and not reverse it). If this is the case, we are fucked.

Actually, I was waiting for RuMR to jump in here and accuse me of being a butt pirate, and throwing out some other insults. Anyway, who cares about all this politics shit. I'm really pissed off because of the shitty winter - it's got me in a bad mood. Fucking El Nino.

Republicans cut taxes and increase spending less. Dems raise taxes and increase spending more. We need a party to cut taxes and cut spending. Actually, taxes are fine where they are now, IMO, so we just need to hold them steady and cut spending.

Firstly, the budget can get larger without increasing the deficit when you factor in population growth, a better economy/higher GNP/efficiency improvements, and inflation. As to your "solution" - I say cut spending, not taxes. We can not sustain the deficit - good, that puts pressure to do something. That *something* should be to cut spending NOT raise taxes.

It should have been McCain vs. Clinton in '96 (McCain was the best of the half dozen or so republicans in the primary), but the good-ole-boy network gave it to Dole who had "paid his dues". McCain got screwed 3 times, IMO.

The overall increase in this budget is smaller than any of the previous 4. If we continue to make cuts, inefficiencies will have to be addressed at some point. Making the cuts puts pressure to do so. Tax and spend statists just want to spend more and ignore any inefficiencies entirely. The solution is always "throw more money at the problem". I work in high-tech, and have advanced degrees in engineering. My experience was (and still is) that American students on balance are more interested in being in a cushy major and partying than in studying hard in a "difficult" subject matter compared with foreign students - notably those from Asia. This trend continues today, when immigrants or foreign nationals are increasingly needed to fill tech jobs. It has nothing to do with funding - opportunities are available at our schools as it is. American students simply refuse to take advantage of the opportunities. Foreign students, who have undergone hardship in their nation of origin, are simply willing to work harder. Give away government programs do NOT encourage the latter; they continue to breed a mentality of entitlement to hand outs and an "easy" life.

If you're talking about me, don't worry, I've got a thicker skin that that. As for being conservative - don't mistake that for being a pro-Bush, true-believer. I may not be willing to support a guy like Kerry, but I still have problems with Bush, and our political leaders in general. I can sum it up with one thought: in a nation with almost 300 million people, the most able, talented, hard-working, intelligent candidates that we could come up with were Dubya and Kerry? And the last time around - Dubya and Gore? Pathetic.

Only people who earn it should be given this opportunity. I knew plenty of people in college who got financial aid, and even "free rides" who neither needed nor deserved the money, and squandered their educational opportunities: 1) using financial aid money to buy stereo equipment, CDs, drugs, alcohol, and gifts for their girlfriends, rather than books, tuition, or paying their share of rent/phone/utility/food on time. 2) focusing more on the next kegger, smoking weed 5 times a day, hitting strip clubs, or worrying more about getting the next time to get their dick wet than studying, learning, and getting ROI on their education in general. 3) Maintaining mediocre GPAs in "easy" majors (read: with little prospect of job opportunities), rather than working towards a real degree that will offer jobs after graduation (i.e. engineering, pre-med, life sciences, etc rather than communications, sociology, etc). When you pay for something yourself, and make sacrifices for it, you are generally more responsible. Because this budget is a move in the right direction. Bush has overseen exorbitant spending increases. It's high time to tighten our belts. I'd like to see the cuts continue, and for the programs we have to become more efficient. Transfer payments and the social safety net needs to be given to only those who truly need it, not those who just want to suck on the teat of the nanny state. I could even support such a safety net at the federal level, but the problem is that it is extremely difficult to objectively determine "need" through a large, federal bureaucracies (which are in no way "compassionate", BTW - it's a myth to think that they are). It is better for this to be done at the state and local level, and even better through private charities. The overhead of these bureacracies is ridiculous, on top of the fact that there is little oversight w/r/t who is actually helped by them. Moreover, they benefit by keeping people ON the programs - if they don't, they've worked themselves out of a job. At least with a charity, they have to keep their books in order, and if you lose faith with one because of a scandal (i.e. American Red Cross and the 9/11 fund), you can cut off donations and go elsewhere.

Personal responsibility and self-sacrifice is underratted. The willingness to throw away other people's hard-earned money is too freely exercised. What ever happened to "ask not what your country can do for you?" If you are worried about underfunding of your favorite bureaucracy, take you tax cuts from the last 4 years and donate them to charities. Indeed, if you think your taxes are too low and the federal government is too small, nothing stops you from giving extra to Uncle Sam. Just cut a bigger check - no need to wait until April 15th either.

You can use your Roth contributions to pay for college. Responsible people start saving for this as soon as their children are born rather than rely on some nanny-state to pay for their kids' education. That explains a lot - your addled logic, and personal irresponsibility and need for someone (the state) to take care of you. The feeling is mutual. Fuck off.

I'm nowhere near the top 1%, and I benefit greatly from the tax cuts. This year I look forward to taking that extra, new deduction for sales tax. I can thank the Republican-controlled congress and our sitting president for all of the following (and more). Under the Socialists (aka Dems) I would have had none of these: 1) 1 % cut in marginal rate 2) $1000 per child tax credit (I have 3 kids, do the math) 3) sales tax deduction And, in thinking of retirement benefits, I've seen maximum Roth IRA contributions go from $2000 per taxpayer per year to $3000, and soon to be $4000 and $5000. It's post-tax now, but tax free to withdraw on retirement. So to all you demagogues harping on some "raw deal" on tax relief for the middle class - KMA!

Sat: worked on taxes Sun: Baker - 22 inches of powder!

Let's follow this 'logic'. The US has 2 million people in prison. This is a violation of human rights, because... committing crimes is a human right, I suppose. The US has so many people in prison, because we can afford to find, prosecute and incarcerate criminals, and a large number of people are committing crimes. And that's people, as in citizens - not government thugs of a tyrannical regime - like Iran. People in prison in other countries with *actual*, poor human rights records incarcerate people without just cause and without due process. Iran is a shithole. Just because you hate the Bush administration does not mean you need to make ridiculous comparisons with other countries, and make idiotic moral equivalency arguments. Unless of course you hate America itself - or perhaps simply project self-loathing or general misanthropy to your fellow citizens. 3400 waiting to be put to death. The operative word is "waiting". And waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Most will die of old age in prison. Some will be freed on DNA evidence, or some technicality. And a small number will actually be executed. In Iran, prisoners don't need to wait very long to have their sentences carried out. Keeps down the numbers "waiting" I suppose... As for "gun deaths" (I question the statistics), that has nothing to do with government tyranny or human rights violations, but crime. Those guilty of murder should be... incarcerated. Wait, we have 2 million in prison already. Where is the consistency in your statements (answer: there is none). Morevoer, in tyrannical regimes with poor human rights, gun deaths are attributed to the GOVERNMENT. In the US, they are attributed to CITIZENS. Big difference...

they're all she males

some of the worst are farts from weightlifters who drink those powdered drinks...

As was pointed out, vegetarians often have the most vile, eye-watering, stomach-turning, putrid flatulations. Must be the rancid, undigested vegetable matter...

It seems that once again Florida is the locus of extreme abnormality: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/04/family.torture/index.html Not the first example from there of failed social programs for child welfare...

yeah, what if a PETA vegan swallows a fly while yelling at a protest? Do they have to have their stomach pumped? Go to a PETA self-flagellation season, or confessional??

I have, on more than one occasion, talked with a self-identified "vegetarian" who answered in the affirmative when further queried on the specifics of whether they consumed fish, crustaceans, or mollusks.

common usage trumps semantics.

In my experience the vast majority of vegans I have met or heard speak, look extremely UNhealthy. Vegetarians are more of a mixed bag - some appear super healthy and some the opposite. By vegetarian, I mean people who eat fish and dairy products, but no "meat". I think PETA falls in the more extreme "vegan" camp. I also find that these extreme vegans seems to have a screw loose - probably caused by inadequate nutrition or some preexisting mental illness. Those are not qualities to look for in a love interest...

And yet, it has worked before. Japan had no democratic traditions prior to 1945. Did occupation and forced democratization lead to lots of "little Tojos"? Did Japan come to hate the US?

There is something else. The American people will think twice about supporting another invasion based on the premise of some "imminent threat". People are supporting the efforts in Iraq because it is the right thing to do at this point, but everyone knows that WMD was the reason we went in, even if they will not admit it. People don't like to admit their mistakes or bad judgement. I will - I supported the war based on the evidence of WMDs. There wasn't any. The next time around I will be harder to convince. Of course, if there *is* an imminent threat, that could hurt us (boy cried wolf), but I think it is more likely that exagerrated threats will arise, and we will not buy into them so quickly. I am more of an optimist.

Some (many?) of us have parents/in-laws like those in Raymond. That's one thing that makes that show popular. The best thing is to watch the show with said person in the room - laughing your ass off...

All pop-culture is shit. But we all have our guilty pleasures. I enjoy WWE raw - especially while working out late at the gym. Lots of Canucks in that company/profession BTW. 'Fess up - you all consume some of this pop-shit.