freethefly

Diverborg, that does sound good. I'll have to crunch your thoughts with mine before a sound reply. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Diverborg, I like what you are proposing. Also, you are right about the catch. This also ties in with a post from yesterday (What was Wrong). Generally, people are good. Even the bad neighbor is most likely to come to your aid if a tornado were to take out your house. I like the premise of your thought. It does seem to be similar, in scope, to the HMO. The HMO was rife with abuse. Not by those who used it, but by those who ran it. I'm not sure if government oversight could had fixed the problem. As of now, I have no healthcare other than the VA. The local VA has recently refused to treat my health concerns. That being HIV. My only other avenue is MoHealthnet. I would have to contribute $711.50 per month. This does not include medications or anything outside the scope of the plan. In all, I would be paying well over $1000.00 per month for care. I hope to be back to work sometime next month and to be free of the VA and never to have to use Healthnet. ER abuse seems to be the major pain in the back for the healthcare system. It beguiles me that people run of to the Er for a splinter or a runny nose and then balk when the bill comes in. TRICARE should be implemented in the civilian sector. My mother is enrolled in TRICARE. (I did read recently that the DoD is looking to overhaul TRICARE) http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do;jsessionid=NJhYD610BJGgxhKWxwvnyt73GBqJFpgGy5cZ64vhLJ2MnxbTsxSC!434107299?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview%2FWhatIsTRICARE I do like the idea of insurers bidding on the job. The lowest bidder would stand to make the most. Combined with a system similar to TRICARE and MEDICAID overall cost would be reduced dramatically. As we are now, without a system in place to promote better living the future of cost can only skyrocket and that will only trickle up to the wealthy. Can donations be the answer to reducing cost? If each American over the age of 18 were to contribute $10.00 per month the intake would amount to $30,000,000,000.00 This is based on 250 million adults 18 and over contributing $10.00 per month times 12. An extra $120.00 per year per person would not break any persons bank. Combined with your idea, I think it sounds good. Thoughts anyone? "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Point taken, John. As I see, America is not the largest contributor to charitable aid per GDP. Yet, America boast as being such. I do believe, for the most part, that people worldwide are willing to help each other. What does bother me is the constant bickering between political parties and supporters of such when it comes to what some call "nanny state". This mode of thought seems to be in conflict with donations being used to help the poor. Would not the church be considered a form of socialism? If so, then any one person who donates to any charitable fund would be a supporter of socialism. Why then would one complain when tax dollars are used to help the poor? I much rather see my taxes help those in need than for those dollars to pay a politicians high salary and healthcare. I would, also, rather those dollars not fund wars, but fund a health agenda that would promote better living that would eventually reduce health cost. For 2009, individuals donations totaled $217.3 billion. Although, overall $307.75 billion (one link place this figure at $303.75b) was given in total. The total for 2010 individual donations is expected to range from $222 billion to $227 billion. In comparison corporate giving in 2009 was only $14.1 billion. http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/mind-soul/doing-good/2010-11-29-sharing-by-the-numbers-graphic_N.htm http://www.nps.gov/partnerships/fundraising_individuals_statistics.htm http://www.vexen.co.uk/USA/foreign_aid.html http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance Some of what I have found that a large portion of donations are used to pay lucrative salaries. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/26/15-highest-paid-charity-ceos.html I've yet to find a breakdown of donation usage per country, U.S. vs the rest. If any person knows of such a statistic, please post a link. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Good answer. I do think, in times of large scale disasters, most will come to the aid of their fellow human. In general, how do you feel about healthcare and the debate concerning care for the poor? Most recent a report has shown that hospitals for profit are less likely to operate in areas that are predominately lower class. It also shown that healthcare professionals are less likely to work in lower class areas. Rural America being the hardest hit. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Why is it? Americans seem to be their own worst enemy. They balk at helping their neighbor, yet scramble to get a donation off to another country! Is it solely to wave their "kindness" in the face of the rest of the world? I would be particularly interested in what or friends in other countries think of Americas lack of compassion for it's own people. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Those in automobiles should be required to wear helmets and use head and neck restraint as automobile accidents account for a higher number of TBI than does motorcycle accidents in vehicle related accidents. But before we start blaming just one group, let's look at the facts. http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/causes.html Falls account for the highest number, overall. Would anyone agree that pedestrians should, by law, be required to wear a helmet when walking? It would save a very large sum of money! "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Maybe for the "sea of green" method. http://www.myhydroponicgardening.com/2011-best-led-grow-light-review/ Let me know how that works out for ya'. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

A large majority in Mexico see the drug war as a farce. They oppose U.S. intervention and blame the U.S. for the escalation in deaths. The U.S. has bullied countries for more than 40 years to adopt U.S. policies and the outcome has been an increase in death. As of yet, there has been no dent in stopping drug use. In fact, use has increased and drug lords have reaped the profits. The number of illegal drug related death has remain relatively the same, while legal prescription drug death has risen. When a war creates more collateral death than the item you are purportedly waging war upon it is time to end the madness. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/ap-impact-years-trillion-war-drugs-failed-meet-goals/ http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/ap-impact-years-trillion-war-drugs-failed-meet-goals/ http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

let's see, the left doesn't trust the government, but wants them to run everything the right doesn't trust the government and wants it to butt out I don't see a lot of large groups falling into the whole "sheeple" category. Seems to be a pointless slam without basis. I think he is alluding to the people who still believe in the lie about the danger of smoking marijuana. You know, smoke pot and you will go insane. Smoke pot and you will become a heroin addict. Smoke pot and you will become an unproductive dropout. You know, there are some amazingly ignorant people. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

John. do drugs kill people? (mind you, I do not use any drugs) "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

If PharmCo has a patent, it has to be good for the people! GOOOOOOOOOOO PHARMCO!!!!!!! "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

It is given quite frequently to children to control ADHD. http://mental-health.emedtv.com/methamphetamine/what-is-methamphetamine-used-for.html I cannot help but to think that this is part of the problem with kids later on turning to street meth when their Desoxyn is no longer available to them. Desoxyn is an extremely addictive drug and has fatal side effects. I have known people, over the years, whom had said that meth calms them down and helps them to concentrate. Yet, the federal government still claims that marijuana is a highly addictive drug, can cause overdose death (as of yet, in thousands of years of use, not one death), and leads to hard drugs. What is even more amazing, is there are people today who actually believe this is true. Some of those people are right here on this site. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

We could take it back even further to Harry J. Anslinger's reefer madness campaign. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Without drugs, the DEA and a whole lot of other law enforcement people are out of a job. Allowing a steady flow of drugs into our country ensures them steady employment. The U.S. government allows it and supports the drug cartels as well as the cottage prison industry. It's dirty business as usual. Nothing new. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Expand, please. As for Presidents... During the 51 years that I have been on this planet, I have lived through 11 presidents. The same as any person my age. Each has had his high points as well as low points. Each and everyone of them has brought out the best in America as well as shown the world the belly of the beast. Some more so as others. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Yawwwwwwwn.... Typical response from someone who has yet to have anything intelligent to post or say on any given subject. From a hatemonger who hides behind anonymity. Has nothing in his/her profile. Most likely has never done a skydive, but trolls on a skydive website. Probably under the age of 20 and is a high school drop out. Claims to have a top secret clearance. Because I wish to know how other Americans and our foreign friends feel about the state of the world we live in, I post. If you have nothing intelligent at all to say, kindly go away. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Ahhhh, come on Jim. Give the old guy a break. He was... what? 900-1000 years old? (He must of had one hell of a health plan.) He might had thought the roaches were cuddly little puppies. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Oh. That's your point. I agree. (Now wasn't that easy?) Ok...so now can you see how that effectively renders your sigline useless? It may sound cool, but it serves no practical purpose. Then you boast in it and start reffering people to it, as if it resembles some significant source of Babinian enlightenment... Thanks for playing...good night folks. Next week on "Exposing Bias," we'll take a glance how "Men are always right, and women are always wrong..." Science didn't fly a plane into a building. Someone shouting "Allah" did. One can claim that it is science that is responsible for NBC warfare. It is not. It is mans misuse of a tool. A hammer is no more responsible for the death of another human when struck over the head than a gun is when the trigger is pulled. It is mans misuse of a tool. I will also argue the same for religion. It is how we use any tool that makes it good or gives it a bad name. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Yes, I do like Ron Paul, yet there are things about him that I do find disturbing. There are things about both of the Bush's that I like, as there are things that I do not like. The same goes for Obama and every President down to George Washington. I understand that they are just humans and that no human is special over another. We are all from the same elements. We will all return to such when we die. Nothing special about it. It would be nice if we could all just get along, from womb to tomb. It would make the journey through life much more pleasant. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

WOW! It is not a God/Anti-Slavery document. Kindly educate yourself. The DOI's main body are charges against the King. Nowhere in the finished draft does it mention slavery. The original draft did make charge that the King allowed the trade to continue, but offered freedom to slaves who would vow allegiance to Britain and take up arms against the colonies. The text was removed to garner support from the southern states. Reference to a god is in the context of nature. "Their creator" implies that you are free to see it as you please. The DOI is not a religious nor is it an anti-slavery document. You should try actually reading it. I am posting it to help you out. IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. — John Hancock New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I am the author. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

The Sperminator! I imagine that other women will come forward. Some may be truthful. Others will just jump on the wagon for the claim. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

What was Wrong, What is Right The attack upon our soil, ten years ago, brought to our country the reality that we are not as safe as we have always thought we were. That attack slapped us firmly upon our collective cheeks. Reality is harsh. It stings and cries for a remedy. What that remedy may be is up to debate. Should it be? What is right? What is wrong? America’s ability to do the right thing has been our trademark, since the Founding Fathers envisioned a more perfect union. They envisioned a world where all are equal. However, at that time in our history, all were not. Over the course of 235 years we have embraced slavery and then abolished that awful institution. We rounded up the natives of this land and marched them down a trail of tears to abandon them in a harsh desert. We gave them tainted meat, alcohol, and gave them blankets infested with small pox to keep them warm at night. We waged close to one hundred wars upon them. Since 1775, the U.S. has engaged in more than 300 wars, interventions, covert operations and undeclared conflicts. Our nation has waged war abroad and on our own soil – brother against brother. We engaged in the genocide of the indigenous people of this land to the interment of German, Japanese, and Italian Americans. We have tortured, maimed, and killed our enemies in the pursuit of justice. We are the only nation to use the most dreaded weapon known to man, not once, but twice. Is this the America that is portrayed in the history we teach our children? We portray Christopher Columbus, a man who never set foot upon these shores, as a great man. We celebrate him as the man who discovered America. He is emblazoned in portrait being smiled upon by the indigenous people of the small island he conquered as if he was their savior. The truth is he enslaved and tortured the people and brought virus and death upon them. So far, we have only done the right thing part of the time. We have written in the annals of history only that which we want to remember and try hard to erase our shortcomings. Doing such only leads us to repeat the worst of our nation. It is a travesty that we do such as history only repeats what we fail to learn the first time. Our current situation, some will argue, calls for the most extreme measures. Some will allow us to become those whom we abhor. When we become such, we lose what little we have gained. We step back in time and repeat that which we wish to forget. This is the great travesty of the human race. Our propensity to repay evil with evil, an eye for an eye is a dance we should eagerly decline. Our greatest moments are the minutes we labored to climb above the fray. To lose our grip on the ever rising edge would be a disaster that would rain dirt upon our collective heads. To remain the shining beacon that President Regan directed our eyes to, we must keep that beacon clean and clear. We should never falter in our march for the truths that our Founding Fathers envisioned. Their scope was limited. Ours is much wider. We should always strive to be the perfect example. Ignorance is not bliss. It is an abomination. It is a slap in the face. We should invoke the Just War Theory as laid out by Augustine and Aquinas; • There must be a just cause for the war. • War must be waged only in response to certain, grave and lasting damage inflicted by an aggressor. • The motive for war must be advancement of good or avoidance of evil. • The ultimate objective of war must be to bring peace. • Revenge, revolt, a desire to harm, dominate, or exploit and similar things are not justification for war. • Every possible means of peacefully settling the conflict must be exhausted first. • There must be serious prospects of success; bloodshed without hope of victory cannot be justified. • The war must be declared by a legitimate authority. Private individuals or groups should seek redress of their rights through their governments, not by acts of war. • The war must not cause greater evil than the evil to be eliminated. • Non-combatants (civilians) must not be intentionally harmed. • Prisoners and conquered peoples must be treated justly. To not abide by these principles would extinguish our shining beacon casting us into the darkness of what is evil. Our sense of what is right should be all we need. We have spent 235 years expanding, reshaping, and trying our hardest to right the wrongs of our past. As a collective of many people of many origins our number one goal should be as we have always claimed it to be-a melting pot. We should always labor to extend the proper hand to win the hearts of those who may someday take up arms against our great nation. To show future generations of distant nations that America is righteous and just by letting our shining beacon be their guide towards a greater future. Cite: Just War Theory http://www.twopaths.com/faq_war.htm "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

So, tell us. Did Jesus make ya squeal like a pig? "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

No it wouldn't. That is amongst the most idiotic comments that you have posted so far. Your assumptions are just plain ridicules. If it is a sham, and it is, then you would not have to worry about being "saved". Learn to use comprehension when you write. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young