Lefty

I disagree with mnealtx's assessment of your statement. I think you've proven instead that you think very little of the concept of private property. Some fat cat's bank account? You wish you were that fat cat, don't you? Honestly, where do you envious and spiteful types get the nerve to lay claim to someone else's money? I'm glad I'm not that pathetic sounding. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

I would have sworn English is not your first language. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

I think the Framers were very precise with their language. Providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare do not carry the same level of involvement or priority. See the difference? Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

I know. During the same show he admitted he was being facetious. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

I heard Hannity yesterday afternoon. It was weird, they guy had a total transformation. He wasn't bashing McCain but he said he had come to the realization that maybe McCain's ideas weren't necessarily so bad and that maybe he had been wrong. Given that McCain's moderate voice had garnered so much support that maybe his more extremist views were out of the mainstream. He even actually said that sometimes "Kennedy is right". I just about drove off the road! He also stated that the main point is to win this fall and that it appears that McCain may be the guy to do it. So, for the last few years his hard line ideology was not to be compromised, however if hard line means you lose then maybe softening it may be the best plan. I wanted to call in and make the point that the actual Conservative platform as a whole was raped by the recent administration but they were so power hungry and drunk with control and access to the Treasury that they went temporarily insane. His Hannity sanity moment is just a step towards recovery. Of course, if his ratings suffer because of it he'll probably change his tune. He was being facetious. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Can you elaborate on the boyfriend comment? I haven't heard that one. That's just her version of rigorous analysis and insightful commentary. Sad, I know. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Well, every house that gets foreclosed on is an opportunity for people like me to get a good deal. I just hope these trends continue until I get back from Iraq with some change in my pocket. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

It's true that if McCain is the new face of the Republican party, conservatives won't have anywhere to go. Rush is right, as usual. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Woah, woah...Reagan was left-wing? Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Man, where are all the detractors? These posts are too positive. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

From the article: "The fees vary by practice, with a monthly retainer of $25 or $30 per person (with discounts for families) and office-visit co-pays of $5 or $10. For this price, patients get all the basics of primary care: yearly physicals, well-child visits, checkups, sick visits within a day of calling, school and sports physicals, family planning, preventive health advice and a doctor to call to at any hour when they feel sick." Sounds like health care to me. It won't cover specialty care, but what you get for the money you put in is great. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Right. However, for reasons explained in the article, that does not diminish the value of this sort of program in the least. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Say it ain't so! The government is obviously the only entity that is capable of such a feat! Story Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

This should save ya'll some research time. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Yeah, I'd say this is a step up. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Heh, "police found 25-year-old Derrick Kosch at a home with a gunshot wound to his right testicle". What right testicle, at that point? Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Soooo...how much is this going to lower the cost of my ribeye? Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Haha! Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

I don't even think Socrates finished answering that question. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Haha, too true. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Now I'm confused. Shouldn't you be thanking them? They're drawing from the [amazon] CHICkeN-HAWK REPUBICAN NEOCON FACISTS [/amazon] youth base whom you've criticized for not having the balls to join the military. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

As dubious as the results of the studies quoted in the article are, I am more interested in the philosophy behind an issue instead of the numbers. Right now, there are at least two very vocal cultures in the U.S. who claim guns as important tools. The first culture is the rugged individualism that has been around since the frontier days. When the author of the article refers to most settlers as "farmers not fighters", I think he/she is viewing the stereotypical farmer in today's context. You can be damned sure farmers back in the old days had guns or, if those were too expensive, at least some weapon that they'd run to get if their homestead was threatened. The pioneers were the same way. There were no cops out there to provide one with the illusion of security, and if you got into trouble you would have to get yourself out. This is a good culture, and it's the mindset around which I base most of my opinions about concealed-carry and 2nd Amendment rights. The other culture is the "thug" gang member culture. When the author cites the inner city murder rates, you can bet this is the culture that is dominating that area. Unfortunately, these two cultures are being grouped together and are referred to collectively as "American" gun culture. Even worse, the actions of individual (we'll consider them separate from gang members) criminals are being attributed to this American gun culture. I don't see these criminals as subscribers to any particular culture; they're just doing what criminals do. If guns weren't around, they'd use something else. Bottom line, the gun culture this country was founded upon is still applicable today. These are the people who use guns as tools for self-defense and not as instruments of crime. This is the culture I am a part of, as are most of the gun owners in this country. I hope we never reach the point of Great Britain, or any other country that disarms the law-abiding to their detriment. As for "American" gun culture, it has unfortunately been hijacked by street thugs and gang-members. These types make for more interesting news, so I'm not surprised that this deviant culture is the one more prevalent in the public's mind. edit: grammar Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

My sentiments exactly. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

A quote of Waugh's in the article: "When you see a little frightened face looking up at you, all you want to do is help." That about sums it up. He did the right thing, and I hope he gives the coast guard the double bird on the way out the door. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin

Hmmm...I don't think a tax cut has anything to do with the problem, according to the article. Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin