Gravitymaster

Says the poster that used the S&P as an example of the health of *small* businesses. I also quoted the Russell 2000 and explicitly stated businesses large and small. Try reading what is written for a change, instead of what you'd like to be written. You would do well to understand what many consider what a small business is. A median cap of $528 million is not what many consider a small business. Many consider a small business as one with fewer than 50 employees. You local plumber, electrician or grocery store would be a good example. Like these guys, you mean? It's a daily struggle for many small business owners right now. Consumers are holding onto their money due to so much insecurity in the marketplace. Spending is nothing like it was just a few years ago. We aren't hiring at all and have been forced to sub-contract some of our production because we can no longer justify certain employees in full time positions.

No, but it might cause a certain amount of natural attrition over time, as their stock-in-trade - activity that has been deemed unlawful - shrinks. Just like animals out in the wild competing over food sources, where species population often varies directly with food supplies. As an historical example, although organized crime has always existed throughout human history, and existed in the US well prior to Prohibition, the Sicilian-based Mafia only came into its own in the US once Prohibition was passed. That gave them a foothold to grow their organized crime network to a sustainable level (i.e., dealing in other vices and contraband) that was able to survive Prohibition's eventual repeal. And the Mafia in the US became the template for large-scale, successful organized crime in the 20th Century US. So had Prohibition never been enacted, the history of modern organized crime in the US might very well be far different today than it actually is. Actually, I think many simply morphed into Wall Street Bankers and Hedge Fund Managers. Many just picked up on different criminal activity like kidnapping for prostitution and baby farms. I seriously doubt a drug dealer at any level would decide to get a job at a shoe store if their livelyhood was taken away.

Says the poster that used the S&P as an example of the health of *small* businesses. I also quoted the Russell 2000 and explicitly stated businesses large and small. Try reading what is written for a change, instead of what you'd like to be written. You would do well to understand what many consider what a small business is. A median cap of $528 million is not what many consider a small business. Many consider a small business as one with fewer than 50 employees. You local plumber, electrician or grocery store would be a good example.

It's actually more about power just as rape isn't about sex.

How many skydivers have killed each other over a jump gone bad? If skydivers started dying in large numbers, you can bet the FAA would ban it.

It makes the users miserable life seem not so bad. To me, I see it as self-centered behavior and a 'don't give a shit' attitude about anyone else as long as they get their daily fix. Chuck As I said.........

It makes the users miserable life seem not so bad.

Yeah, well the Democrats started it.

I wonder if those who support legalization of drugs have thought through what the drug dealers would do to earn a living when their cash cow was gone. Do you think they will just retreat from the world and grow old?

+1. Appropriate ending to this part of the trauma. I feel for this guy and his daughter. This will haunt them both for the rest of their lives. So sad.

That was great! Thanks for posting it.

Bullshit. I love it when people resort to finding the most extreme, remote and unproveable example to try and make a weak point and win an argument. I'm still laughing at the thought of a felon (if he's living under the radar and avoiding paying taxes) living in the swamps in Florida, being attuned enough to politics, that he knows when the elections are, knows who he wants to vote for, but feels disenfranchised because he doesn't have I.D.

I was not aware that Churches charged for their services. What part of what they do do you think they should be taxed for?

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army? I don't know. I haven't looked into this issue at all. But I don't think Chruches should be exempt from taxes. I think churches are defined differently by the Gov then non profit charities. I don't know the specifics of how the Gov defines each of those. OK fair enough. But remember that Churches provide a lot of services for the poor in many 3rd world countries world-wide. Taxing those contributions means less going to those people and more into the general revenue funds of governments. Perhaps to be spent to purchase more military assets or to be used to bail out Wall Street Bankers.

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army?

They do charitable work. That doesn't make them equal to a charity. How is it different? Who gets to decide?

They do charitable work. So do I but I don't claim that I should be completely tax exempt on account of it. Most people are able to deduct charitable contributions. Doesn't mean they had to actually provide the physical work.

Possession of drugs, drug revenue or an illegal firearm is engaging in criminal activity. I couldn't care less when they shoot each other as long as they don't miss.

They do charitable work.

Start taxing churches. Should all charities be taxed.

What we need is a law that allows criminals to legally kill each other.

Has this scam cost you personally? Every $0.01 that goes to organized religion is $0.01 that could have gone into something productive for society. In a very real sense we all pay the cost. I just returned from Peru. In Cusco alone there is a cathedral with $millions worth of gold and silver in its various chapels, in a city that has hundreds of thousands of people living in grinding poverty. A short trip through the Vatican will show the plunder that organized religion has taken from society. So what's your solution? Melt down all that gold and give it to the peasants? They would be poor again in a very short period of time. Or maybe the government could confiscate it and use it to improve their lot in life. Governments have such a stering record of doing so.

Non sequitur of the first order. Fact is, you have a major league double standard. Nope, the non-sequitur fact is you quickly changed the subject to your usual "I hate Bush" mantra. Supporting the abortion based gender selection has had a far more devastating effect on women than anything delusional you can conjure up about an imagined war on women by Republicans.

This law has caused people to die?

I thought that Right Wing Conservatives were all about keeping government off the backs of the people, minimizing regulations, and increasing personal freedom. How do you explain/justify your position on regulating the right of an adult woman to control what personal decisions they make with regard to their own health and bodies? It isn't really ANY of yours or my business, if you support equal personal freedom for everybody. Your position pretty much is 100% the opposite of being anti-government regulation and pro personal freedom. I trust my sisters to make good, rational, informed decisions with regard to their health and personal circumstances. Why don't you? Why should the government be so intrusive? It's obvious you haven't a clue where I stand on abortion.