(October 7, 2013 at 11:53 pm)festive1 Wrote: I swapped ours with a Canadian flag out of the shame of being an American.

As a Canadian, let me recommend you not do that. In the end, it reduces the magical power of the maple leaf to protect me and mine. I've heard so many stories of Americans doing this, that I have to assume people in the countries being visited are aware of it.

No. Just no.

(October 8, 2013 at 1:52 am)Airyaman Wrote: When you speak of Denmark you can compare it, population wise, to Wisconsin. Germany is like California, New York, and Texas. People sometimes fail to realize that central government is woefully inefficient for a country our size, and things would be much better if states had more power.

Reality called, it needs your attention and it was saying something about the house of congress and history of senatorial deadlocks that and something about how this really would be more efficient if you gave even more power to states that have unequal economic, populace, and social standings.

(October 8, 2013 at 1:52 am)Airyaman Wrote: If there was a state that had many of the things you desire with a central government that stayed within its constitutional limits, then you could just move to that state and not to another country across the world. That is the way it should work, but instead we are forcing everyone to stick the square peg in the round hole.

Please tell me more about these constitutional limits and why we should cling so heavily to them other than merely stating that it's what was intended.

(October 8, 2013 at 1:52 am)Airyaman Wrote: I live in the rural south (I'll wait on the insults for that one), so how many of us want to live here might not agree with how you would like to live.

And many other states might trample all over yours if given more individual power. See, I think you're arguing for self-governance of the states, but how does that translate to their relations with one another? You are stating that each state should be beholden only to itself, free to fuck over certain members of its inhabitants. What if how one state behaves starts causing conflicts with others? Would the federal government then step in to alleviate the conflict? But then, wouldn't that just be the government once again telling states what they can and cannot do? What if those conflicts start leading to boycotts of different states? Or even armed conflict? You're asking for less order, more chaos, which can and in all likelihood will lead to a huge mess of problems that will destabilize the nation as a whole. This is not conjecture; this is just human nature. There's a reason anarchy would not work for this very reason and while I am not saying you are advocating anarchy, I AM saying that is a step in that general direction; less unity, more individuality. The self means more than the whole, all because you are mad about, what, PPACA or something or the congressional shutdown? What is the federal government doing that is so thoroughly chapping your ass that you feel your state and every other state should become more self-governing? I would like to hear the reasoning for this because honestly, to me, it just doesn't make any sense.

(October 8, 2013 at 1:52 am)Airyaman Wrote: People say the Mass care is well like and successful. Bravo, state power. That is how health care should be approached instead of at a national level with 314 million people across fifty states and thousands of cities and towns.

OK, now I actually see your reasoning and where you're coming from, and of course it's with the PPACA. I'm not going to run on about the PPACA again, I've spoken enough about it, but I will say that this is a seriously weak, short-sighted, and narrow-minded reason for this kind of political stance. If there's other reasons, of course, feel free to tell me of them and I'll be willing to hear you out, though I cannot promise I will agree with any of them.

I prefer a larger centralized government with a smaller state and local presence. Having lived in PA, I can tell you the bloat from 'too many chiefs, not enough indians' is ridiculous. My pay stubs had roughly double the itemized deductions(and twice the outlay) with less tangible benefit. The distrust of big govt.(Federal) has created fiefdoms of every shack and shantytown. A street that bordered my old town had their own paid! council. They had maybe 30 people! This silly overlap, along with the backroom corruption it invites, is good reason to shitcan much of the small fry in favor of centralized oversight. My memory is wonky, but I. recall PA having the second largest state budget, even though it is sixth?, seventh? in population? Where does the cash go...cause it ain't the roads!

Now compare that to my time in Georgia, for instance. Less payroll deductions in number and cost, less trailer park governments, more tangible services rendered. Why? Organization. The size of government to me is a non issue...it's the efficiency that matters. 'Less chiefs' has been better in my experience.

(October 8, 2013 at 2:37 am)bennyboy Wrote:

(October 7, 2013 at 11:53 pm)festive1 Wrote: I swapped ours with a Canadian flag out of the shame of being an American.

As a Canadian, let me recommend you not do that. In the end, it reduces the magical power of the maple leaf to protect me and mine. I've heard so many stories of Americans doing this, that I have to assume people in the countries being visited are aware of it.

No. Just no.

Well, it tells you something about their loyalties, eh?
If you're so eager to swap flags, why really keep them in the first place? You obviously don't put too much of a value on the American flag, its not really a national symbol in the States, frequently being burned, and in this case, swapped for the flags of another country by its citizens at the first disagreement they have with the policies of their CURRENT government.

I'm looking at not being able to pay rent next month cuz of this shut down. I'm on disability. I'd get a job to pay my rent but I'm on 2 low dose chemo Meds plus another immunosuppressant, and my auto immune disease is flaring. I have no family in the state, and I don't have anyone that could help me move my things. This. Sucks.

(October 8, 2013 at 4:11 am)missluckie26 Wrote: I'm looking at not being able to pay rent next month cuz of this shut down. I'm on disability. I'd get a job to pay my rent but I'm on 2 low dose chemo Meds plus another immunosuppressant, and my auto immune disease is flaring. I have no family in the state, and I don't have anyone that could help me move my things. This. Sucks.

Why not go and live with your family? I'm sure they can take care of you.

(October 8, 2013 at 4:17 am)kılıç_mehmet Wrote:

(October 8, 2013 at 4:11 am)missluckie26 Wrote: I'm looking at not being able to pay rent next month cuz of this shut down. I'm on disability. I'd get a job to pay my rent but I'm on 2 low dose chemo Meds plus another immunosuppressant, and my auto immune disease is flaring. I have no family in the state, and I don't have anyone that could help me move my things. This. Sucks.

Why not go and live with your family? I'm sure they can take care of you.

How incredibly not helpful.

You'd make a great republican.

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(October 8, 2013 at 4:11 am)missluckie26 Wrote: I'm looking at not being able to pay rent next month cuz of this shut down. I'm on disability. I'd get a job to pay my rent but I'm on 2 low dose chemo Meds plus another immunosuppressant, and my auto immune disease is flaring. I have no family in the state, and I don't have anyone that could help me move my things. This. Sucks.

I hope it doesn't come down to that. Jesus, what a clusterfuck those bastards have caused.

I moved out of the state my family lives in because I can't breathe or function whatsoever at that altitude

(October 8, 2013 at 4:24 am)missluckie26 Wrote: I moved out of the state my family lives in because I can't breathe or function whatsoever at that altitude

Well, its unwise for people with such crippling conditions to live alone if you ask me.

(October 8, 2013 at 4:27 am)kılıç_mehmet Wrote:

(October 8, 2013 at 4:24 am)missluckie26 Wrote: I moved out of the state my family lives in because I can't breathe or function whatsoever at that altitude

Well, its unwise for people with such crippling conditions to live alone if you ask me.

But...it's wise not to breathe so long as family is around?


(Note to self...do NOT take Mehmet's medical advice...ever!)