why did we let this punk into our country?

[forrestkc]

You do realize that while the Abortion rate went up under Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr, it went down dramatically under Clinton.

You do realize that despite what Congress wanted, Clinton kept partial-birth abortion legal.

Yes I do, and I think its wrong. However, how many late term abortions were being done each year? About 5000.

Everyone of those was very unfortunate. Just the same, should that be the only issue that we should concern ourselves with as Christians?

Now, how many people do you think die from air pollution causes in the United States each year? Answer: 50,000

How often do you think someone starves to death is this world? Answer: 1 every 2 seconds.

Of those who starve to death, how many are children? Answer: 4 out of 5.

How many Americans, here in the richest country in the history of civilization, do you think lack Health Insurance? Answer: 46.6 Million.

How many Americans, here in the richest country in the history of civilization, do you think live in abject poverty? Answer: Over 36 Million.

Of those living in poverty, how many do you think are children? Answer: 12.9 Million.

Unfortunately, when one looks at the whole picture, and every problem we face in this world, I don't think its as black and white or not nearly as one issue that you seem to be portraying it.

[Marnie]

I think the OP was about the clown, Chavez. I have resisted saying anything about him calling our President "the devil" while on American soil because I thought he only did that at the UN. Turns out he did in NY, too! This is beyond the pale. Fortunately, he lives in an alternate universe, and I think people are beginning to see that.

Somebody made the comment a "free speech." NO nation on earth has more free speech or freedoms than America--bar none. There are NOT millions of people trying to get into Venezuela or Canada, even Great Britain. This has to do with the respect one head of state shows for another while in his country.

He did not attend school here, by the way, nor can he speak English, as far as i can tell. Hey, the man is walking joke; a kook.

[Marnie]

You wrote this:

How many Americans, here in the richest country in the history of civilization, do you think lack Health Insurance? Answer: 46.6 Million.

How many Americans, here in the richest country in the history of civilization, do you think live in abject poverty? Answer: Over 36 Million.

Of those living in poverty, how many do you think are children? Answer: 12.9 Million.

First, many of those who dont have health insurance choose not to have it. Many are students--young people who dont need it. Some are very wealthy and dont need it. And those who want it but cant afford it are NEVER denied essential services. It is illegal. Some people would rather not have it and spend the money on other things and take a chance they wont need it. I dont get it, I pay a fortune for mine but, what's your health worth????

Second, the poor in this country usually live in a home or appartment, have a color TV, a beat up old car to drive, can buy food and clothing, get free or near free medication and virtually free healthcare. There are tons of social services available to the poor in America. I am not saying "it's good to be poor, lucky them!" but I am saying there is a big difference between the poor in America and the poor in Haiti! And in a country with a population of almost 300,000,000 if our poor amounts to a fraction of the total population, I would say we are doing good. Also of note is that the "poverty line" is now up to over $20,000.00 for a family of four, according to Health and Human Services.

Third, I have always wondered about the child poverty stat. I mean, children dont have an income to measure. In my mind, that is not an accurate assessment, when you consider the multitude of school breakfast and lunch programs out there, as well as after school programs available for kids.

[ted]

I think Chavez and Ahmadeni-jihad showed their true colors and made complete idiots out of themselves. Hopefully, the world took notice of what transpired this week.

Chavez then goes to Harlem, gets a big hug from Danny Glover, and procedes to make a bigger idiot out of himself. Personally, I think the NYPD or the FBI (who were most assuredly in attendance...) should have hauled him in for subversion against the US Government today. Simply bust him and make him spend a few days on Rikers...

Take your free oil and go back home. We can get by without it.

Meanwhile, Pelosi and Rengal were putting on their best Americana faces (nobody picks on my President, so there!) and condemning Chavez for his actions. A truly ironic moment in time, seeing as these two, and others, have called Bush much worse over the past 5 years than "El Diablo" or "crazy".

At the UN press conference, the man who wishes Israel to be wiped from the map all of a sudden shows his love for Jews.

I reckon we all just misunderstood his previous hundreds of speeches calling for the demise of Israel, Christians, and anyone else who does not bow to the feet of islam.

Perhaps it was simply the evil Bush propaganda machine which twisted the words of the Iranian president in the past and we are just now getting to see the "real" him?

The bad part is that he probably did win thousands of American hearts with his speeches which dripped of love. Same thing with Chavez. How could we ever have thought bad things about these people?

What a show.

All in the name of freedom of speech, I guess.

No wonder we are having troubles fighting in this war.

t.

PS- Recently edited to change questionable words....Sorry guys!

Edited September 26, 2006 by ted

[forrestkc]

You wrote this:

First, many of those who dont have health insurance choose not to have it. Many are students--young people who dont need it. Some are very wealthy and dont need it. And those who want it but cant afford it are NEVER denied essential services. It is illegal. Some people would rather not have it and spend the money on other things and take a chance they wont need it. I dont get it, I pay a fortune for mine but, what's your health worth????

The vast majority of those who lack health insurance do not have it because they cannot afford it. Because of the rising costs of healthcare, more and more employers are either no longer offering health coverage to the employees, or the costs for the coverage they can afford to offer is well beyond the means of their average employees. For example, median household income in the United States is approximately 42,000 a year or so. That means that half of all Americans earn less than that. In many areas, a family can bairly scrape by on that kind of money. Assuming their employers don't offer health coverage, how on earth could they possibly afford the average health coverage premium? As to essential services, sure you can get that, if you have a heart attack, you can get treatment even without Health Insurance, then of course, you will get a bill for that treatment, and probably end up in bankruptcy as a result of it. The point being is its certainly not a problem that we ought to be excusing away.

Second, the poor in this country usually live in a home or appartment, have a color TV, a beat up old car to drive, can buy food and clothing, get free or near free medication and virtually free healthcare. There are tons of social services available to the poor in America. I am not saying "it's good to be poor, lucky them!" but I am saying there is a big difference between the poor in America and the poor in Haiti! And in a country with a population of almost 300,000,000 if our poor amounts to a fraction of the total population, I would say we are doing good. Also of note is that the "poverty line" is now up to over $20,000.00 for a family of four, according to Health and Human Services.

1. Can you imagine trying to raise a family for four on 20k a year or less?

2. Much of our nation's poor live in absolute squalor. Someone would have to live a fairly sheltered life not to see that. Take a drive around your average inner city, and then tell me if it looks that much different than the conditions one might expect in a third world country.

3. Yes there is a safety net here in this country for the less fortunate, but it

[other one]

I think Chavez and Ahmadeni-jihad showed their true colors and made asses out of themselves. Hopefully, the world took notice of what transpired this week.

Chavez then goes to Harlem, gets a big hug from Danny Glover, and procedes to make a bigger ass out of himself. Personally, I think the NYPD or the FBI (who were most assuredly in attendance...) should have hauled him in for subversion against the US Government today. Simply bust him and make him spend a few days on Rikers...

Take your free oil and go back home. We can get by without it.

Meanwhile, Pelosi and Sharpton were putting on their best Americana faces (nobody picks on my President, so there!) and condemning Chavez for his actions. A truly ironic moment in time, seeing as these two, and others, have called Bush much worse over the past 5 years than "El Diablo" or "crazy".

At the UN press conference, the man who wishes Israel to be wiped from the map all of a sudden shows his love for Jews.

I reckon we all just misunderstood his previous hundreds of speeches calling for the demise of Israel, Christians, and anyone else who does not bow to the feet of islam.

Perhaps it was simply the evil Bush propaganda machine which twisted the words of the Iranian president in the past and we are just now getting to see the "real" him?

The bad part is that he probably did win thousands of American hearts with his speeches which dripped of love. Same thing with Chavez. How could we ever have thought bad things about these people?

What a show.

All in the name of freedom of speech, I guess.

No wonder we are having troubles fighting in this war.

t.

Ted, we are not meant to win this war...... it's like Viet Nam..... they just want to sell arms and kill kill kill. We didn't really try to win Korea, Vietnam or much of anything else since WWII. And even in WWII we stopped short of winning ourselves and let the Russians do the end part..... There just has to be more on the agenda that meets the eye..... and it's becomming more and more apparent every day. When we pass laws like the patriot act I&II and leave the borders open the way we have.... there are things going on here that you all need to get involved in. One of the management tools we use these days is to look at a problem and ask ourselves "Why" and when you have that answer ask "Why" again for 5 or 6 times deep with the questions....... It can be very enlightening.

Sam

[dgolvach]

Sam we had better win this war.

Dan

[amor]

I think Chavez and Ahmadeni-jihad showed their true colors and made asses out of themselves. Hopefully, the world took notice of what transpired this week.

Chavez then goes to Harlem, gets a big hug from Danny Glover, and procedes to make a bigger ass out of himself. Personally, I think the NYPD or the FBI (who were most assuredly in attendance...) should have hauled him in for subversion against the US Government today. Simply bust him and make him spend a few days on Rikers...

Take your free oil and go back home. We can get by without it.

t.

I thought the American constitution was big on free speech. This locking up subversives stuff sounds rather Soviet, at least to me!

[ted]

I think Chavez and Ahmadeni-jihad showed their true colors and made asses out of themselves. Hopefully, the world took notice of what transpired this week.

Chavez then goes to Harlem, gets a big hug from Danny Glover, and procedes to make a bigger ass out of himself. Personally, I think the NYPD or the FBI (who were most assuredly in attendance...) should have hauled him in for subversion against the US Government today. Simply bust him and make him spend a few days on Rikers...

Take your free oil and go back home. We can get by without it.

t.

I thought the American constitution was big on free speech. This locking up subversives stuff sounds rather Soviet, at least to me!

Free speech is one thing. Whipping up people to a frenzy against our country is another.

The concept of free speech comes, of course, with it's limitations. If you don't believe or agree with me, try yelling out "FIRE" one time in a public establishment, then scream about your right to free speech.

Besides, it's the concept of free speech that brought the idiot here to our country to speak in the first place. Try doing what he did in downtown Tehran, or Mecca, or Khandahar, or anywhere in Venezuela.

So yes, free speech is a beautiful thing- to a point.

Even so is the concept of freedom itself. But, you can agree that even freedom has it's limits? Without such limits, there is nothing but anarchy.

t.