jcd11235

But, it's not a long stretch at all to consider the health of the population an important aspect of the nation's general welfare. If the government needs to provide healthcare to those who can't access it any other way, then their obligation to "promote the the general welfare" gives them the Constitutional power to do so. When you provide medical care to your patients, are you not, simultaneously, promoting medical care?) Are there other ways to promote medical care besides to directly provide that care? It would seem that promoting can indeed encompass providing. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The best IS dictated by the situation, but you want to eliminate certain choices for no reason. Once again, you are jumping to incorrect conclusions about what I want. I've also got guns, but they are rarely my best option for self defense. BS. A gun is like any other weapon. It's of little help without proper training, especially in high stress situations. In fact, without proper training, it can be a liability, just like any other weapon wielded by an untrained user. Not a strawman... You want to claim that the PERSON is all that counts, but not many true warriors would win with just a toothpick. It was a strawman because you tried to compare the situation to one in which the bad guys had machine guns instead of box cutters. Box cutters are not an intimidating weapon to a "true warrior." And yet, if one of them was armed they would be MUCH more likely to fight back. Unarmed people don't normally start fighting against an armed opponent. They had access to much more dangerous weapons than box cutters. Do you really believe that one must have a firearm before being considered "armed?" A cutting blade instills fear in you, perhaps. As I was trained, against an attacker with a knife, expect to be cut but avoid being stabbed. (Also avoid being cut, if at all possible, but don't be surprised if/when it happens.) Since a box cutter is a very, very poor stabbing weapon, I doubt it would instill much fear in anyone who would otherwise be willing to fight back. Fair enough. Yet, they still didn't do anything. If they knew their lives were in danger, why didn't they fight back? So, you have at least three people stabbed, one with his throat cut NO communication from the hijackers.... I'd say most people would realize they were in danger. And, there's a likely answer to why they didn't do anything. They were without access to the cockpit. Doesn't seem like a situation in which a gun would have helped. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I disagree with that statement. It's a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion. Disagree all you want, but it won't change the fact. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

You do realize those are two different words right? Yep. Promote has a broader definition, an can encompass provide. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That is, quite frankly, utter bullshit. 40% of Americans pay no Federal Income Tax. By some estimates, by the 2010 election, a majority of registered voters will pay no Federal Income Tax. Not paying federal income tax != not paying taxes. Did you overlook that fact every time it has been previously mentioned, or are you intentionally making an intellectually dishonest argument? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

While I'm inclined to believe that good cops outnumber bad cops, I suspect your stated proportions are off by at least a couple orders of magnitude (i.e. for every "bad cop" out there, there are tens of police officers trying their absolute best to do their best to serve their community). Jackass cops may not make up the majority of LEO's, but they aren't rare. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Truer words have never been spoken. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Nope, but nice try. Since neither you nor I were there, we'll never know. The best weapon is dictated by the situation and what's available. I own guns, but in most cases, they would not be my first choice for self defense. Total BS. In a civilian situation you are not going to charge a machine gun with a toothpick. You might return fire if you had a pistol. If you have a chance, you are MUCH more likely to fight back. Nice straw man you're trying to knock down. We're discussing a scenario in which the bad guys had box cutters not machine guns, remember? IMO, it's far more likely that the passengers were not aware that their lives were in danger (beyond the extent typical of any flight) than that 76 passengers and 11 crew members were all too intimidated to fight back against five people with box cutters. The comedy is how you keep thinking that comment means that bans are OK. That's a pretty creative interpretation you have there. I never said or implied that bans are okay. I stated that the second amendment guarantees an individual right that is not unlimited. There is a HUGE difference. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Fixed it fer ya. It didn't need fixing, as it wasn't broke. They are still among the safest investment vehicles available. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Didn't Bernie Madoff run a "pay as you go" fund, with extra funds being invested into a trust fund? Except for the trust fund part, yes. Just like that. If the Social Security trust fund is embezzled and those who collect the taxes steal the funds (i.e. keep them for their own personal use instead of investing them), then one could credibly argue that SS is a Ponzi scheme. Thus far, that hasn't happened with Social Security. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

No worries about that! To be fair, living in the Keys was enjoyable. Living in Deland was pleasant. Living in Daytona Beach was tolerable. It's Orlando that I can't stand. Edit to add: I do like and will miss the bike trails in and around Orlando. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That's the way bonds work. The risk lies in the ability of the bond issuer to repay. In this case, the issuer is the US government. US government bonds are among the safest (i.e. least risk) investment vehicles available. To believe that the trust fund is nonexistent because it is invested in government bonds would be erroneous. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I love that I'll be moving away in less than two weeks! Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

$2.2 Trillion at the end of fiscal year 2008 Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Personally, I couldn't vote. I don't think the blood should be drawn forcibly, without consent, so I can't vote yes. However, if consent is given, I think DWI/DUI suspects should be allowed to give their blood samples (e.g. they believe the results of the breath analysis to be faulty) if they choose, so I can't vote no. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

It sounds that way. I wouldn't be surprised if a prosecution is successfully fought on those grounds. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Did you not realize there is a trust fund? There is. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

You answered your own question. The program is not fully funded by invested funds. It is essentially a pay as you go fund, with extra funds being invested into a trust fund. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That a disruption of a program's income causes a disturbance in that program is not an indication of a Ponzi scheme. I'm sure you realize this, though I recognize that since it isn't consistent with your "honest" libertarian rhetoric, you leave it out. You'll find very few entities with long term obligations to pay out benefits to those who have paid premiums that would not experience a disturbance if their income were disrupted. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

My advice would be to never distribute your resumé in an editable format. But, I'm sure no one in The Bonfire would dream of creatively altering yours before passing it along. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I would argue (and have argued) that the rich receive greater tax benefit than the poor do, justifying their higher taxes paid. Bill (billvon) disagreed with me. Rather than rehashing the same arguments in a new thread, I'll leave it to you to search for the old one if you're interested. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Generally, all taxes are used to pay for things that directly or indirectly benefit taxpayers. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Exactly. We have no problem avoiding sales taxes when possible. Increase the sales tax rate via Fair Tax implementation, and there is even more economic incentive to avoid sales tax. Only, with Fair Tax, avoiding the federal sales tax will require use of foreign retailers instead of out of state retailers. I tend to avoid brick and mortar stores (except for groceries) whenever possible because it is usually cheaper to purchase things online, often significantly so. Plus, it gives me more product options, the ability to do more in depth product research prior to purchase, and allows me to avoid the hassle of traffic on the way to and from the brick and mortar store. I'm more than happy to trade away instant gratification in order to to save money and be able to shop from home at my own convenience. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The consumer could then compare the efficiencies. Price would be the metric. Of course, without any other competitors, a free market would allow the Chinese company to price their widget at ~$299, just low enough to keep the Japanese company from being able to compete, while producing $199 profit per widget. From the perspective of the respective countries, the Chinese company employs five people for one third the cost of employing one person by the Japanese company. From both perspectives, the Chinese company produces the widgets more efficiently. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

it also fails to account for other federal payroll taxes, such as FICA. The "freeloaders" tend to "freeload" from state and local programs (i.e. the programs for which their taxes are paying). Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!