siegfried89

If downsizing government so it can be drowned in a bathtub includes the DEA, the IRS and the Federal Reserve then have at it boys and more power to ya. posted 05/12/2008 at 23:35:37

Please don't. These are serious times and no time for a perennial loser. Ralph Nader may be a nice guy, a populist and I like many of his ideas but he won't win. He will divide the vote and give McCain a better than even chance to further the Bushlevik's agenda. Remember Al Gore.

America needs, very desperately, a Democratic Administration and a Democratic Congress, neither of which will continue to pander the corporations. Your Nation's future will depend on your vote, now in 2008, more than any other time. Your future and well-being physically, psychologically and financially depend on a Democrat as Commander-in-Chief.

No Party can cure all the Nation's ills, but Republicans neither care nor try. With what we have now, I don't think there are many rungs left in the barrel before we reach the bottom

Yeah, I know it sounds radical, but radicalism in the fight against tyranny is not misplaced. posted 05/03/2008 at 16:34:15

In a previous post I already discused the flaws in this "Plan" which seems to have been devised by someone not smarter than a 5th grader. If this "Plan" does indeed become law, an unlikely occurance, it will be yet another spike in the decaying coffin of free market healthcare; a coffin that a bloodsucker like Count Dracula would have sense enough to avoid. posted 05/03/2008 at 15:31:44

This will not work using individual policies because people who are healthy will avoid it if they can find something cheaper and people who are sick will buy into it if the cost is within their ability to pay. Therefore, companies will have to charge a rate comensurate with the individual's medical record . Once a policy is written it cannot be amended for any reason (no tiers for expensive drugs).. Companies will not buy into this because their sole purpose is to make a profit, not provide care

Their rating structures will be no different than they are today. The rates for persons in good health will be a standard rate varying only by age, deductible and copays assuming all the benefits are standard and mandated. The rates for uninsurables or persons with pre-existing conditions will require moon money much like the assigned risk pools available in many states. These rates are so high only affluent people can afford them. So where does that leave the average person with a chronic disease who was part of an employee group with full coverage paid for by his employer and a small personal contribution? Most likely he/she will be facing bankruptcy.

The answer is a non-profit single payer and low administrative costs which are now 30% of everyone's bill..

It's a crisis man and it can't be solved by whimsical plans like those proposed by John McCain. No more band-aids, this wound is hemorrhaging.

Fellow, Society of Actuaries posted 05/03/2008 at 13:02:05

The Rev Wright is a story the Republicans have latched onto so they can avoid answering embarrassing questions about healthcare, jobs, gas prices, food prices and the other crises which seem to grow ever larger with each passing day.

The news media is doing the public a great disservice by dwelling upon this issue and the "fair and balanced" Fox Newscastersare the most BOORISH of all.. The Rev has bought a 10,000 sq ft home in a White neighborhood, as reportted by Fox, and is no threat to our well being; that is left to the Bush Administration and any copycats to follow--Heaven forbid, literally

Call, email or write to the major media outlets including your local paper and tell them to cool it. Let's get on with the REAL issues, this Reverend Wright stuff is utter nonsense posted 05/03/2008 at 21:41:46

You forgot about the stock market, who has the biggest and baddest SUV, outdoing their neighbor's house in square feet, whether Johnny kissed Sally in third grade social science class,who's having sex with whom, who's smoking what, whether or not the world is flat and why weird preachers should be taken seriously. The list goes on ad nauseam.

Not Duped By Bush posted 04/11/2008 at 00:22:48

I think it would be great if Al Gore became the Eli Manning of politics, but he really needs to get in the game.

Somebody needs to step up and talk about the REAL issues and maybe Al is the guy to do it. An insignificant pastor in some previously unknown church or whether someone was sniping Senator Clinton in Bosnia are simply overrated incidents promoted by the zealots at Fox News and on Wall Street fearing the end of the status-quo.

Not Duped by Bush posted 04/01/2008 at 22:18:06

Most businesses must now be re-regulated. The "free market" gang have had their run and now its time to regulate just about everything ranging from airlines to the energy industry and healthcare, just to name a few. Corporate America cannot be trusted to police themselves, there is no honor among thieves. posted 03/28/2008 at 22:32:04

Yet another private contractor gets very rich while the troops live in what would amount to squalor, risk their lives and are paid one-fourth as much as the lowest paid contractor. If injured "on the job" they are treated in an underfunded VA hospital while contractors get first class health care paid for by the same old suckers--the American taxpayers. Crappy arms and ammunition is supporting the troops?

This is another of the zillion reasons for American citizens, whether they have loved ones who can't shoot first or find this occupation despicable, to take to the streets en masse. What will it take another 4,000 dead or 100,000? Numbers don't matter and trying to rationalize this occupation by comparing the death toll to Viet Nam or WW II is twisted man twisted.

When you vote in November, and I hope you do, vote for the candidates who have the best chance of bringing some sanity back to the leadership of this once great and good country. THIS OCCUPATION IS IMMORAL AS ARE THOSE WHO PLANNED IT, CONDUCT IT AND SUPPORT IT. There will come a time for Payback. posted 03/27/2008 at 17:25:39

I got out of the market long ago except for my IRA which is invested in utility preferred stocks and other instruments yielding as high as 7%; so far, so good.

In 1986 I began buying US Liberty Head Double Eagles and every year since. I firmly believe the way to buy gold, if you are going to, is collectible US coins, British Sovereigns, Swiss or French 20 Francs or other small denomination foreign coins. Small denomination US gold such as $5 and $10 coins carry a heavy premium and many 18th century foreign gold coins sell close to bullion and are easy to resell.

Be aware, however, that the gold market is not an entirely free market. Banking authorities around the world can and may soon begin buying dollars to prop up the declining greenback; they have, in the past , sold tons of gold to keep the price under their control. After all, gold is money and governments feel threatened if you put your money in something that will eventually be beyond their control. They want your money in stocks and bonds because money and credit, lots of it, keep the markets energized.

Invest today at your own risk as always, but the risks are much higher today. The safest place is a tax-exempt money market fund. I like tax-exempt because I know my investment is not helping to finance the Iraqi occupation.

Goldbug posted 03/26/2008 at 15:11:41

I am a conspiracy theory buff. With the election less than 9 months away would it not be to the advantage of Republicans to surreptitiously escalate the violence in Iraq by reducing security and turning a blind eye? This could lend a bit of credence in the minds of those who may not be totally duped by their bogus "war on terror"; trumpeting they are the only ones who can save America and the world. Just a thought.

Not Duped by Bush
Plano, TX posted 03/26/2008 at 14:14:46

I don't want 4 more years of ANY Republican, either in the White House or in the Congress. The sooner we have a Congress supporting populist bills, such as universal health care, removing all troops from Iraq, protecting Social Security/Medicare and the ability to override any Republican veto, the better.

I used to vote for most Republicans, but no more. The tenure of George W Bush with his coddling of Wall Street , his belief that corporate America can live-up to an honor system and the corruption of the Iraq invasion and subsequent occupation has made life pretty tough for the average citizen and ended my trust and support of conservaties.

Rick Boswell
Plano, TX posted 03/25/2008 at 16:38:56

These comments of the hidden cost of the Iraq occupation are based on a March 19th report taken from a local news channel. Som of you may already be aware of this outrage, but many are not posted 03/25/2008 at 09:30:35

OK, stop insulting Neo-Nazis. Hannity is a Bushnik not a National Socialist. I am not defending Hitler, but he did write a book telling the world what he would do as leader of Germany, he did it and failed. Bush can hardly speak but told the world "Mission Accomplished", he also failed. That is the only likeness between Bushniks and Neo-Nazis besides being Loons (that's an O'Reilly term). posted 03/25/2008 at 12:15:26

Both Cheney and McCain are in bad health. Maybe......but that's too much to ask for and who would take their places? The voters for once in their apathetic lives need to turn out and elect...who? I don't know, but I have always maintained this issue will not end peacefully or with a whimper. The economy will be a deciding factor as it was in the fourth decade of the last century. Lock and load folks.

May you live in interesting times. posted 03/27/2008 at 00:56:11