Why there is a Tea Party

[copyruss]

So what defines an "artist" and where do we draw the line? Are the American Idol contestants "artists" and should taxpayer dollars fund them?? How about grafitti "artists"? What and WHO defines this? The federal government was never intended to fund the Arts, nor should it. Especially when we are trillions of dollars in debt. Most of that owned by China and do you know that the US gives China foreign aid? Essentially, we are giving them aid from money we borrow from them! Do a little research. We give Pakistan $2 billion and they just told us to get our CIA out of their country.

We need to look at EVERY dollar spent - foreign and domestic - and look at every government agency. We will NEVER tax and spend our way out of this situation. That philosophy has never worked, nor will it ever. Any financial advisor would tell you and your family to look at every dollar you spend, determine if it is a necessary expense and budget for it. They won't tell you to get a new credit card (raising your debt ceiling) and spend your way to prosperity! It just doesn't work that way. We need to cut social programs - we just don't have the luxury.

Sorry to burst the hemlock bubble.

[MR Bill]

I'll tell you what entertainment is. I golf and play racketball every week.

AND I PAY FOR IT MYSELF.

Hear is something else we can cut.

Did you know that our beloved EX Speaker Nancy Polosi flys back and forth from California every week. Along with family members. Costing hundreds of thousands of dollors a year. Oh. And her Alcohol has cost over a $100,000.

Don't you think she should pay for her own booze?

Not sure about the expenses of the other congress people but this is not right. If John Bouner does this it needs to stop.

Isn't this resonable ?? I think so.

[Jimbo1]

But Daddy!!!!!! It's Keynsian!

[charm5496]

manufacturing jobs need to be brougth back to the US in some way shape or form in order to put people back to work, but the unions need to stay away or actually be smart enough not want everything for nothing and push the cost of the product so high that it gets outsourced to some cheaper country. There is no reason at all why companies can't produce a quality product here in the US and still pay a wage that is fair to the employee and the company. People get off of unemployment, start paying employment taxes and buying things with the money they earn, the company pays taxes so the government gets its share and instead of importing all these items into our country we can actually export something for a change.

I'm personally tired of buying all the cheap third world country crap!

[Jimbo1]

If youhaven't you should read Atlas Shrugged. It's going to be mivie this summer.

[copyruss]

My favorite book. I don't have high hopes for the movie, unfortunately. Should be required reading in high school.

[ZOOTECH]

When I hear outrageous comments, I turn to www.factcheck.org; the site covers half truths, outright lies and misleading statements from both sides of the aisle.
(The link doesn't work, do a cut and paste.)

[DWise]

manufacturing jobs need to be brougth back to the US in some way shape or form in order to put people back to work, but the unions need to stay away or actually be smart enough not want everything for nothing and push the cost of the product so high that it gets outsourced to some cheaper country. There is no reason at all why companies can't produce a quality product here in the US and still pay a wage that is fair to the employee and the company. People get off of unemployment, start paying employment taxes and buying things with the money they earn, the company pays taxes so the government gets its share and instead of importing all these items into our country we can actually export something for a change.

I'm personally tired of buying all the cheap third world country crap!

Maybe even put a semi-annual check-up on people living on welfare. If they drive up in Escalades and a mouth full of gold, revoke their welfare. It's sickening the way some people cheat the system and somehow get paid to sit on their butts and do nothing.

[Hemlock]

So what defines an "artist" and where do we draw the line? Are the American Idol contestants "artists" and should taxpayer dollars fund them?? How about grafitti "artists"? What and WHO defines this? The federal government was never intended to fund the Arts, nor should it. Especially when we are trillions of dollars in debt.

American Idol is a commercial venture & there's a difference between graffiti and mural art. Has AI applied for and/or received funding from the NEA or is this a straw man argument?

Truth is, while difficult to assign monetary value to artistic ventures, having them funded so that they're accessible to all is, culturally, better than having them locked up in a private collection or abandoned. Plus, art - in song or visual medium - is a component of our history. Shall we abandon the Smithsonian Institute as well? How about the Nation Parks system?

The federal government, according to the Constitution, never intended for the military to be used for anything other than border defense; then WW2 happened. Nor did the early feds have a need to imaging the EPA, OSHA, FDA, SEC or other regulatory agencies. The industrial revolution and evolution of banking created the need for oversight long after the founding fathers were dead. It's unlikely they could have foreseen the post-WW2 population explosion that brought unprecedented issues.

As new challenges emerge, new solutions must be found and we can't always count on benevolent, yet grassroots, organizations like churches or community based groups to step up to each situation.

Most of that owned by China and do you know that the US gives China foreign aid? Essentially, we are giving them aid from money we borrow from them! Do a little research. We give Pakistan $2 billion and they just told us to get our CIA out of their country.

Frankly, I'd like to get the CIA out of here as well; probably not gonna happen though.

As for China, the bulk of our aid goes to bolstering environmental protections, human rights and similar objectives. Yep, it's aid, but it's in areas that behoove us.

Pakistan? Same goal.

We need to look at EVERY dollar spent - foreign and domestic - and look at every government agency. We will NEVER tax and spend our way out of this situation. That philosophy has never worked, nor will it ever. Any financial advisor would tell you and your family to look at every dollar you spend, determine if it is a necessary expense and budget for it. They won't tell you to get a new credit card (raising your debt ceiling) and spend your way to prosperity! It just doesn't work that way. We need to cut social programs - we just don't have the luxury.

Sorry to burst the hemlock bubble.

Looking at the gov't like an individual (wrong on several levels, but I'll indulge you), the issue isn't simply to cut expenses. Stuff happens in life and it has to get paid for. The roof gets a leak, the car breaks down and/or you get sick. Yeah, you trim the food budget, but you don't quit eating entirely. You cut movie night, but keep the electricity turned on.

The problem is that this fictional person, instead of trying to increase income during times of difficulty, is giving the boss back part of their paycheck (in the form of tax breaks). Increase income when things need to get paid for, cut taxes when you hit that break even point.

[Hemlock]

I'll tell you what entertainment is. I golf and play racketball every week.

AND I PAY FOR IT MYSELF.

Hear is something else we can cut.

Did you know that our beloved EX Speaker Nancy Polosi flys back and forth from California every week. Along with family members. Costing hundreds of thousands of dollors a year. Oh. And her Alcohol has cost over a $100,000.

Don't you think she should pay for her own booze?

Not sure about the expenses of the other congress people but this is not right. If John Bouner does this it needs to stop.

Isn't this resonable ?? I think so.

Regarding golf & racquetball - where do you play?

As for the Nancy Pelosi thing: Zootech offered up a handy site, one that seems kinda neutral, and it quashes the accusation.

[Hemlock]

Maybe even put a semi-annual check-up on people living on welfare. If they drive up in Escalades and a mouth full of gold, revoke their welfare. It's sickening the way some people cheat the system and somehow get paid to sit on their butts and do nothing.

Meaning another governmental entity and allowing further intrusion into people's personal lives?

[Hemlock]

manufacturing jobs need to be brougth back to the US in some way shape or form in order to put people back to work, but the unions need to stay away or actually be smart enough not want everything for nothing and push the cost of the product so high that it gets outsourced to some cheaper country. There is no reason at all why companies can't produce a quality product here in the US and still pay a wage that is fair to the employee and the company. People get off of unemployment, start paying employment taxes and buying things with the money they earn, the company pays taxes so the government gets its share and instead of importing all these items into our country we can actually export something for a change.

I'm personally tired of buying all the cheap third world country crap!

There are a few threads here about wages and car reimbursement. The general consensus is that bosses are less than generous and dumping legitimate business costs (gas & vehicle expenses) on employees. Are you really advocating working for less than we are right now? Copier techs don't make sh*t as it is, the only reason most of us do this is the accomplishment of fixing something and, more so, not being in one location all day long. Yes, we need to increase development & manufacturing, but not by creating wage slaves or relying on child labor.

[DWise]

Meaning another governmental entity and allowing further intrusion into people's personal lives?

How is monitoring welfare an intrusion into their personal lives? If someone is cheating the system, they don't deserve anything, much less MY tax money.

[Hemlock]

How is monitoring welfare an intrusion into their personal lives? If someone is cheating the system, they don't deserve anything, much less MY tax money.

Fraud should definitely be discouraged & prosecuted. Just try not to sound so racist about it next time. The biggest fraud enacted upon Americans was done by rich white guys on Wall Street.

[DWise]

Fraud should definitely be discouraged & prosecuted. Just try not to sound so racist about it next time. The biggest fraud enacted upon Americans was done by rich white guys on Wall Street.

there was nothing racist about my comment... there are bum white folks driving Escalades and have mouths full of gold as well. I didn't imply "black people" when I said "they", nice job assuming though.