DraconisRex

"Bigfoot -- brought to you the makers of Lies, Deception, and Misinformation. Get your's today -- call 1-800-GET-LIES." Why does that sound like most political bodies?

Starfighter08: You can get the Federalist Papers (all 85 chapters) on the Web here. The Constitution is available in index form here. If you need other links and references, I'll see what I can do to assist you. I'm no lawyer, but I did manage a 98% in business law. I'm working toward a P.I. License, and we've been studying the Constitution in extreme depth in current courses. I do see the violations, but so long as The People permit the laws to exist, I still have to follow them, right or wrong.

Let's go a step further with this. Apparently, our federal government is ignoring organizations that peacefully petition them for change, which is in clear and direct violation of our First Amendment rights. Read this. While the article is a bit long-winded, it does explain the efforts of a peaceful entity to bring the Federal Government to redress grievences. I suspect, that without mass interjunction, this will be the case for all citizens who make this attempt. Absoulute power corrupts absolutely. Any questions? Comments? Complaints? Free money into my account? (Those of you who insist we need more taxes, I have a better idea -- let's eliminate the IRS and have you write the checks directly to me. If you have a burning desire to spend your money, just put it in my bank account. Either way, you've spent your money -- explain to me what the difference really is.)

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: quote:Originally posted by DraconisRex: The Air Force's release of "Case Closed" raises more questions than it answers, and I'll deal with this in a seperate thread -- thanks for reminding me!Oh cool!! I love a conspiracy theory. I'm looking forward to the thread. I saw some new information on the Sci-Fi Channel a couple of weeks ago -- Bryant Gumble was the host. Cool program, as it started me thinking about this mess again. I need to reorganise my information and links, and make sure that the old stuff I have listed is still online. We shall see. On this subject, the government has been far from totally honest with anybody, including their own people, since 1947. In 1996 (from memory here...) they released "Roswell: Case Closed," but several researchers have debunked it, since there are quite a few parts that don't follow military history. Again, bad science fiction, but they had 50-years to come up with a plausable explanation.....

I agree with you, Sir -- I've seen the first 5 parts, and yes, it is a bit slow. But then again, Close Encounters is a lot slower.... At least the special effects are vastly improved over the original C.E. I don't know what the next week holds for us, but I will find out (if I can keep on my cable that long -- next Friday is payday....) I'll probably get the collection when it comes out on DVD. Over the years, I've done a lot of UFO research. The government is hiding something, and their stories and press-releases read like bad science fiction, in my book. Roswell started this mess, and although I know they were involved in other classified projects, this one they've kept under wraps too long to be ignored. The Air Force's release of "Case Closed" raises more questions than it answers, and I'll deal with this in a seperate thread -- thanks for reminding me!

quote:Originally posted by Starfighter08: quote:Originally posted by DraconisRex: Where did everybody go? Is education reform not important? We're talking future generations, even if they did manage to screw up most of us in terms of facing reality....Yes education is essential for the future of any country. I'm still following the discussion but since it has turned away from economics to constitution/federalist papers (where my knowledge is sorely lacking), I no longer participate. I've read part of them, but not the whole set. Be that as it may, my whole point of this thread is this: Anytime the Federal Government is involved in any money-related situtaion, they somehow manage to spend at least twice as much as the old program cost when the States ran it, and create at least six-times the red tape. And we want them to continue the trend??? You match the extreme majority of US Citizens in your lack of knowledge of the Federalist Papers, except for this: You've heard of them before, if only in this forum. While I realize you're not from here, you still beat most of our citizens in this respect. That just goes to prove my point about the value of Public Education in America. If you'd like, I can find you the links to the Fed. Papers, etc., but if you keep my rule about the Feds and Red Tape in mind, then it remains an economic thread, for the most part. I may rant about other things, but venting is the one MAJOR thing I like about posting on these forums....

quote:Who decides who "simply cannot work"? No matter who "decides" it sounds a lot like Old Communist Russia where your career was decided for you. What is wrong with a national education system where the same standards apply throughout the entire nation? If they are now Federal employees they must now somehow be better no? Doesn't a better educated populace fall within the confines of the General Welfare Clause that has recently been talked about? Okay, here's how I look at the Welfare program as it should be... There are a number of reasons a person can't work, such as mental illness, physical handicaps that make it impossible to do simple tasks (such as you and I do normally), etc. Basically, if a person isn't a State Ward, in prison, or is totally handicapped as defined in the present handicap laws, then they can work. Period. With that in mind, this eliminates 70% of the people currently on Welfare/Food Stamps, or in State Wards. The problem isn't going to simply vanish, no matter hard the extreme Right wants it to. They're forgetting about the children of the current Welfare recipients, who, in my opionion, should not be unduly punished just because their parents were unfortunate or simply lazy. The Liberals have shoved the "something-for-nothing" concept down everyone's throats to the point that it will be difficult to correct in short order. So, what do we do about it? I don't actually know, point-blank. I do know that we need to down-size the Federal Government, to include the Education System and the Welfare Program, and I state this for several reasons. The Federal Government has to set uniform guidelines and budgets based on population, which, by itself, does not always permit a fair economic value to the funds it gives to each state. The costs in one state could be 150% of the average, whereas it could be as low as 45% in another. This means that a state with high-cost-of-living with relatively low population does not receive as much effective funds as a state with high population, low cost-of-living. Unless the Bill is written based on Cost-of-Living tables, even though the amounts are different, it will not be a fair law. The Federal Government also tends to add to the costs of implementing any program it deals with, sometimes by as much as 50%. So, if the States dispersed the funds of any program directly, you're usually looking at a savings, without all the extra red-tape. I think the Feds should collect the funds, and issue checks to the States based on cost-of-living per-capita, which is the only fair method I can think of. While that may mean that State 'A' is getting more money than 'B', the effective cash-rate is the same. As for the Welfare Program, if you give someone something, they won't appreciate it, and they learn nothing. However, if you teach someone, and expect a return on investment, most people will do their best to please you. Again, the program, at least on a State level, isn't going away. But if we continue the trend of generation after generation being on "free money," then we commit genocide. We need an incentive for people to get off Welfare, and go to work. Their current incentive, unless they're not a minority, is to receive more money sitting on their tuff than working. This is an incentive try to be productive? Personally, I believe that the Federal Government should be taken out of the loop in most of our daily situations. States have the power to do almost anything the Feds can do, but between uniform laws that are on the books that should not automatically apply to all States, and regualations that make it difficult to do business in America, we are losing several corporations a year who find greener pastures in other countries. quote:Exactly how did future generations manage to screw us up in terms of facing reality? No. I was talking about current screwed-up kids and adults (becasue of the education system) who must try to correct past problems for future generations. Only a time machine could explain your question point-blank... quote:So let's say we have these vouchers. Let's say we can save these vouchers and use them as credits later. Much like Pollution credits are used now. Everyone goes to public school K - 6. Of course exceptionally bright students can go to private school. Heck even idiots can go to provate school if the parents choose. Their fault. But anyway, Most everyone uses public school till grade 6 and that's when (nowadays) the kids really need to start thinking about later. The really good kids with smart parents can get the best private education they can afford with the help of their saved vouchers. The kids who don't want to do anything special continue education in public schools and the parents get a refund ( full or partial or can even give as a gift to another student) of the vouchers they have not used. Kill most of the Jr. High and High schools? I was thinking about tactical nuclear warheads when I was in the 7th grade... Seriously, I like that idea (the one you suggested above, not the nukes.) That way, the standards for kids up to grade 6 are uniform. Those standards need to be raised about 30% above what they are now. I know of few 6th graders (or below) that miss school much except for serious heath problems. We need parents and people with free time to help coordinate efforts to keep kids in school later. Since I have to have a bachelor's degree for an entry-level programmer position, it's obvious to me that a high-school diploma is needed if that is what I'm going to do with my life. Too many kids fall through the cracks because no one cares. quote:Heavens. I have just created another fund the govt can tap into. Nix the whole idea. Oh well. It sounded good. Actually, part of the Federal Reforms I was thinking of would have the IRS issue checks directly to the States within 2-months after the April 15th tax deadline. The longer the Feds hold onto money, the more creative they get with spending it. In fact, except for Federal holdings (from a very small part of the Income Tax, Excise and Import Taxes, etc.), that should be the case with most of the money they collect. The IRS isn't going to simply cease to be, no matter how hard we push for it. It will either collect income taxes, or a federal sales tax. Either way, the office will remain open for business as part of the treasury. Like it or no. If we were to implement an 8.33% Federal Sales Tax, with a limit on States to 4% max., that would create a surplus at the Federal level in only a few short years. (Before you folks get your knickers in a bind, this is just an idea I'm playing with, and I'll be basing it on current GNP information I have available -- At this point, I don't know if it will work. Humor me, for the time being.) Come to think of it, I'll wait on that post -- It might be a bit long-winded, and would do better as a seperate thread, since I suspect we're going to see some argument on the subject... As for Feds tapping into funds, that is easy enough to deal with. We need an Amendment that forces a balanced budget, paying back what we owe to our owners (the banks), and gradually eliminating excess offices of the Federal Government. While there is a lot of disagreement about how to accomplish this task, it must happen if we plan to see 2050 as a soverign nation. With that in mind, your idea is sound -- just keep the Feds out of that money. Including Social Security. Period. (SS is my money, and if they want to spend it, fine -- I'll take it out of their salaries or their hides. Their choice.) quote:Reform education by paying teachers ( any govt worker really) competitive wages but INSIST on performance reviews AND make tenure more difficult to recieve. You will not reform education until you get rid of those who view it as a "gravy" job with an automatic three months off. I agree completely, whether it stays public or becomes private, or the more like choice: A hybrid of the two.

Where did everybody go? Is education reform not important? We're talking future generations, even if they did manage to screw up most of us in terms of facing reality....

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: ...oh man, I smell another controversial topic brewing. Christianity and video games? Brilliant! Me? I'm just gonna watch, as usual. Well, you know how it is... You don't make Supreme Commander of Everything without rubbing a few braincells together, right, Boss? I mean, you're smarter than the rest of us -- we just jump into the fight because of the fight, with little regard for the fact that, in a battle of wits, most of us fight unarmed. You, on the other hand, get to watch the battle first-hand, and laugh at all of us, because there is no true winner in these arguments -- uh, that is... -- discussions, because nobody will quit fighting long enough to fully evaluate the other side's points and merits. "My mind's made up -- don't confuse me with the facts" is the general thought, and most of us act on it. Just my 2 cents worth, though I think you'd lose money if tried to use any of what I just said for investments....

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: quote: Legal question: Is Welfare Unconstitutional? Laters. in a word "yes" Did you actually read the link, or were you just answering the question?

Wal-Mart, by its actions, is proving itself to be a Senate for what games purchasers will buy. A 25% share is HUGE. Game makers have to change their products to meet specific single-entity requirements, after already having to deal with the National Rating Board. They can sell what they want, but if they don't carry what I want, then they lose that sale, plus usually other sales, simply because I'm not in their store while out purchasing. I can order most of the software they offer cheaper online. I don't have to go to their store, and deal with the crowds, lack of a knowledgable staff (you get what you pay for!), or even their usually anti-social "Customer Service Department." When I do go to Wal-Mart, I go to Pennsylvania (about 30-miles from Baltimore), simply to avoid the sheer level of stress I get in the local area. They don't train their people here, they have major attitudes, and some are racist (based on their actions.) Complaining doesn't seem to help...

Jaguar, First of all, you're preaching to the faithful. Second, unless you can convince the US Supreme Court to agree with you, then the layman's definition of Welfare will be social welfare, like it or no. Until that happens, we must minimize access to it by the people. Within a generation, it will be gone, simply by lack of interest, since being productive, if possible, will be required. Churches, once general collection of welfare has been eliminated, will be able to handle anyone who simply cannot work. Simple enough? Legal question: Is Welfare Unconstitutional? Laters.

Jag: quote:any type of welfare to any organization or person by the federal government is unconstitutional, therefore they should not exist, under a federal umbrella. States, again, I could not care less, at least I have the choice to move out of such a state and into another. And that is where ALL the money will go as well. Any state that has a high tax rate is seeing business's flee to states that have lower tax rates and are friendly to business, as they should. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Federal Government has the power to enact any law that ensures the welfare of its people. There are only two references to it in the Constitution: quote:Constitutional References [*]Preamble We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [*]Article 1, Section 8 Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; I am not against welfare existing - I am for minimizing it to the untrainable. We have a defined duty to protect the helpless, no matter how much we want to put them in front of the firing squad. There is a vast underground in the United States that depend on those checks to support illegal activities. We can't just make the money go bye-bye point-blank -- that won't work. You want an instant civil war, where you can't tell enemy from ally? The Al Queda couldn't accomplish the kind of chaos we're talking about here. It took us 60+ years to get into this mess -- it'll take at least 10 to get out of it. Starfighter: quote:What would you say to my "adverse selection theory" I stated in my previous post? Does it have some merit? Depends on how the schools deal with it. Without incentive, and reward, few students will try any harder than they did in the public schools. What's the reward for doing well in a public school? Honorary titles like Geek, Nerd, Teacher's Pet, etc. But if everyone is shooting for that new Jam-Box with the Ultra-Boom, then some students who aren't considered smart will tend to shine... You may consider this "bribing the students." I agree wholeheartedly. But, as they teach in some martial arts, "If it works, use it." quote:Not accepting vouchers means that only parents who can afford to pay the tuition fee twice can send their children there. Besides I think education shouldn't be infested with religion. At the same time, the Federal Government has no right to tell anyone that they can't go to a religious school. Freedom of religion -- if a given school is accepting vouchers, then the student can go there. But again, I doubt the Catholics or the Luterans will go for it... quote:That sounds somewhat exagerated IMO. Concerning the 9 kids, I've heard that sex-ed isn't exactly popular with the religious right. No, it wasn't exagerated. It happened, to me and my wife 2-years ago. I had lost my job (passed out at work for no apparent reason), and we needed temporary food stamp assistance for one-month. However, since she had $200 that was due 27-days later (new job), they wouldn't help us at all. $200 for an effective 2-months -- glad I had the rent prepaid. However, as I looked over the "needy" in the waiting room, we saw kids with $90 tennis shoes, ladies with $100 hairdoes, long nails that cost about $200 a month to maintain, and a lot of these people getting out of late-model (1998 and up) cars. As you can imagine, I had a serious problem with this. Our problem may not have been "drastic," but compared to most of the clients, we were more in need than they were. We just wanted food, even if it was only the excess the FDA maintains. In Texas, a woman with 5-kids can clear $1,000 in benefits. But if they have 9-kids (they don't have to have them -- just be responsible for them), they can clear $1,800. That's more than I grossed as a Restaurant Manager. Do you see a problem with this? quote:Glad to meet somebody who thinks alike. Over here that sort of ideas can get you the stigma of a xenophobe or racist. I live in Baltimore. Everything is so politically correct, that I'm tounge-tied and feel like an idiot trying to hold a casual conversation. Ms. Dragon Lady: quote:One little thing you forgot to mention is that this kind of draconian control (admittedly of use in some areas) shouldn't be extended to schools where there is no gang problem or guns in the school. Okay, make it up to their State to decide, but give them the option by federal law. quote:Now this I disagree with. No one should be forced to go to school. If there parents can't get them to go, and they don't want to be there, then they shouldn't. It would vastly improve the environment only to have people who want to learn. Furthermore, kids should be able to drop out after grade school. By that point they have a basic grasp of reading and arithmetic, and if they truly don't want to be in school they won't learn much in the following years anyway. It's a waste of time and money to keep them there just as a babysitting service. Okay, I can concede your point. At the same time, some areas imposing Pass Restrictions is still a good idea. quote:If were going to have to pay to educate them (not something that appeals to me, I must admit) then we might as well do this efficiently. Set up special high intensity job-skills training programs. Making it possible for people to get through them, but only if they really work at it, thereby weeding out those who don't deserve public assistance and similarly reducing the time necessary and thus reducing prices. Also, considering that these are the type of people who are so terrible at getting jobs, they should be employed (in return for basic food and barracks style sleeping facilities) by the very schools they are going to. This too will reduce costs and necessitate that the individuals going there are indeed willing to work. Actually, I was thinking about people who are currently on welfare, and certain qualifying children, then end the program from the federal level. I don't think we should punish these people too harshly simply because we can't afford to keep the Democrat's promises.... 10-years should be long enough to eliminate this expense. But I do agree with what you said here, but there are other companies they can go to work for besides the school -- tax breaks make people do the strangest things.... quote:No, I disagree. If someone can keep a job then they don't need public assistance (beyond the aforementioned training program). I see no need to support someone who works simply because they arenÔÇÖt making enough money at there job. Comes back to our responsibility to help the helpless. However, this is a very small percentage of the current welfare rolls. However, this could be pawned-off on the States to maintain, and further eliminate the Federal-level waste. quote:So what kind of family are we talking about? A gaggle of kids is the only excuse for someone not to be able to manage (other family members can work just like anyone else) I see no reason to support people who have a lot of children. It's there choice, and if they can't manage to avoid getting pregnant (not a hard task for anyone even moderately competent) then they deserve what they get. Obviously, you don't live in Maryland... We're paying over $700 for a 2 BR Apt., $600 for our car, and average expenses, just to live and work, are running about $2,000 a month. Now, we have a choice to live here. But there is a vast number of Parolees (and others) who cannot leave the state. While this might be Maryland's problem, it's also a problem pretty much for everyone that lives in the DC area. I do agree that if you have too many kids, you're creating a problem if you can't support them. But giving them away still means that the State still pays for them, in one fashion or another. That problem isn't going to go away just because we wish it to. Either way, somebody is taxed for kids they don't have.

Okay, here we go. The problems with education are many-fold. However, a lot of the failure of the education system is discipline, which is rarely enforced. Teachers are stock-herding young minds as babysitters, but there is little education going on in public schools. Parents don't enforce rules with their kids; schools are limited by law to what they can do. We have laws on keeping kids in school until at least a certain grade (varies by state.) Who enforces them? Based on the drug problem, and guns getting into schools, etc., then I'd say nobody. If you're at school, you should be forced to stay there until the day is over. Period. (Exception for work-releases that relate to on-the-job training.) Gangs? Simple. There's on-campus, then there's off-campus. If a student lets a non-student (other than a parent or guardian) onto campus, then that student joins the ranks of the off-campus crowd. Someone comes onto campus who doesn't belong, arrest them with jail time. Tickets don't work. You got drugs or guns on campus, or anything else illegal? Busted, and gone. Period. No if's, and's, or but's. Enforcement of rules is a must. The rule of law must be enforced, or we're wasting our time, money, and resources. Someone asked me where I got my information from. I copied my information verbatim from The Center for Education Reform, which based their findings on the following sources: quote:U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 87, Page 95 (1998-99), Table 63, Page 72 (1999-2000). The Center for Education Reform: National Charter School Directory 2001. U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 39, Page 50 (1998-99), Table 60, Page 70 (1998-99), Table 63, Page 72 (1999-2000). The Center for Education Reform: National Charter School Directory 2001. U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 65, Page 74 (1999), Table 60, Page 70 (1998-99). (Est.) U.S. Department of Education: The State of Charter Schools 2000, Fourth-Year Report, Page 24. U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 65, Page 74 (1999); Catholic School: Calculated between Table 60, Page 70 (1998-99), and Table 63, Page 72 (1999-2000). U.S. Department of Education: The State of Charter Schools 2000, Fourth-Year Report, Page 24. U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 162, Page 179 (1998), Table 164, Page 182 (1998), Table 168, Page 188 (1998), Table 62, Page 72 (1993-94). American Federation of Teachers: 2000 Statistical Survey, Table 1-5, Page 21, Table 2-6, Page 43. Educational Research Service: Salaries Paid Professional Personnel in Public Schools, 1999-2000, (Mean of mean salaries), Table 7, Page 17. National Association of Elementary School Principals, Source: Educational Research Service: National Survey of salary and wages in Public School Principals Salaries, 2000-01. Bureau for Labor Statistics: Survey of Wages and Jobs in 1997. Educational Research Service: Salaries Paid Professional Personnel in Public Schools, 1999-2000, (Mean of mean salaries), Table 7, Page 17. American Federation of Teachers: 2000 Statistical Survey, Table 1-5, Page 21, Table 2-6, Page 43. National Center for Educational Statistics: Survey of Catholic School Teachers in 1993-94. U.S. Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics 2000, Table 158, Page 175 (1998), Table 159, Page 176 (1998). Now, that should be enough to give you a couple of weeks of work to weed through. Religious schools (Catholic, Lutheran, etc.) will not take kindly to having the government enforce regulations on them. In fact, they'll close the schools before they let that happen. They won't take the vouchers, period. (I could be wrong about that, if they can maintain their basic free-hand without a lot of new rules, they might go for it. But government likes to control....) As for costs, I don't have a problem with the current education costs ÔÇô my earlier example (in my original post that showed in-pocket savings) was an example of what would happen if we made no improvements to the private schools. If they received the same monies to do the same job, teacher salaries would be dramatically improved, and extra money would be available for field trips, equipment, etc. However, they would have to raise test scores by something like 30%. They do that, then our money is well-spent. However, I still want the State to administer the tests of every school, to make sure there's no underhanded nonsense going on. (Watch the watchers.) Failure to do this means lower income to the school (use profit motive as a tool, but control its use.) The State would have to audit records, etc., on a regular basis, to make sure all the students and classes were taken care of. This does not eliminate the Dept. of Education; it simply changes and down-sizes much of its excess. But Test Scores must be based on a Federally mandated, flat-score, universal program, or we're wasting our time (again.) What about the workers that run the cafeteria, janitorial work, etc.? Actually, most of them would go to work for the school, usually with a pay-hike. The ones who weren't selected by the school would qualify to go into other jobs with the city or county. (Don't want to create too much tension over the changes by the local workers. These people already work for local government, and there's almost always other jobs they can do.) Most parents don't have the time or energy to watch their kids, and many don't even see their kids until after 6:00 in the evening (if then.) To keep gangs from being a problem, curfews are effective. Apply them to anyone under the 10th grade ÔÇô you must go to a parent, guardian, or other approved location after school, even if it's only to Study Hall. What about 10th through 12th? Work, home, approved location, library, or anyplace you need to go. You will need a properly signed pass, though (parent, teacher, principal, peace officer, judge, or employer can sign these.) I'm hard-nosed about discipline because it is totally lacking in our schools. The present system gives no options to control the gang-related situation. I am not trying to take away the rights of youngsters ÔÇô I am trying to ensure that they have the chance to get a good education, but they cannot do that if they're not in school. Wanna drop out of school in the 10th grade? Fine. But you still have to have a job before you do that, and you must be employed at all times. Otherwise, back to school. We have to keep the kids off the streets. Not on the streets means that gangs would be extremely limited. As for accelerated students, who get their diploma early.... Those go to college, or to work, until they're 18. After that, they can be a bum if they want, but not in productive society. In fact, other countries need their services, but if you're not a contributing member of society, then you're a liability. (Handicapped people who simply cannot work would qualify for assistance, as I don't want this to become a harsh society ÔÇô just one that requires citizens to be productive.) --------------------------- While we're on the subject of public assistance, if you can work, there are jobs. Might not be what you want to do, but if you like eating, and living in something other than a cardboard box, then working is your only real option (unless you find someone who takes care of you anyway.) The ones that are on welfare, food stamps, etc.... Get them into high school diploma programs. Help them get a 2-year degree in selected technical or skilled labor fields. Give them the option, but this restriction must exist: By help, we mean you must partially take care of yourself, which means maintain a part-time job (even if it's McDonalds.) Helping someone and doing it for them are two different things. quote:Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime. - Jesus of NazarethGet everyone out of the vicious welfare cycle. ÔÇ£You can't get a job, because you can't make enough money to be more than what welfare is paying.ÔÇØ If you're working, but still need assistance, pro-rate that assistance, based on cost-of-living, number in family, etc. I'm not trying to kill the program ÔÇô but if you're sitting on your chair, doing nothing for society, and nothing for yourself, then you are a liability. On the other hand, if you're doing the best you can to raise your family with the work you can get, obeying the laws of the land, and you're still not able to feed, clothe, house, and have transportation available for your family, then I don't mind helping. There is a vast difference between the Needy, which would include people lacking employable job skills, and the Lazy, which do nothing but spend my tax money. Do you see the difference? Do you understand? It's simple: If you're going to spend my tax money, the least you can do is be productive with it. Having 9 kids and lounging around at the house all day on welfare with your $200/week nails, $90 tennis shoes, and late-model car, at State's expense, is not productive. It's long-term genocide.

Danny L. Stone Private First Class (inactive) United States Army Rainbow, Rainbow, don't feel blue, My Recruiter screwed me too! Am I right or wrong (You're right!) Are we weak or strong? (We're strong!) Sound off! (One-Two) Sound Off! (Three-Four) Break it on down now. (One-Two-Three-Four One-Twoooooo, Three-Four) Hold your nose and bow your head, We are marching by the dead! Am I right or wrong (You're right!) Are we weak or strong? (We're strong!) Sound off! (One-Two) Sound Off! (Three-Four) Break it on down now. (One-Two-Three-Four One-Twoooooo, Three-Four) I don't know but I've been told, A BattleCruiser's mighty bold! Am I right or wrong (You're right!) Are we weak or strong? (We're strong!) Sound off! (One-Two) Sound Off! (Three-Four) Break it on down now. (One-Two-Three-Four One-Twoooooo, Three-Four) Mark-time, march. In cadence! Company, halt! (One, Two!) Right-face. Dis-smissed!

quote:Originally posted by Dragon Lady: That, darling, is nonsense. First of all, the government has proven, quite definitively, that it can't successfully run the schools, and throwing money at the problem isn't going to change that. Furthermore, private schools have proven, quite definitively, that they can and do work vastly better then public schools. I've never heard of any attempt to use private schools to turn kids into consumer addicts (why bother anyway, TV is already doing that wonderfully) and I don't see that changing in a material way. On the other hand, declaring world peace is about as naïve and idealistic as it gets. You can't declare something like that and expect everyone to obey unless you can support your demand with a threat of force. This means that declaring world peace would be of no value to safely reducing our defense budget, and reducing said budget would be both a major blow to our position as a world power, and an even greater blow to our own security.As usual, M'Lady, on the mark. (Draconis bows before the majestic wonder of the lady before him.)

Lotharr: quote:There is already an abundance of sources towards turning kids into consumer addicts. School should be about socialization in a multiethnic society, critical thought born from objective information, and preparing a student to be "competitive" in jobs and higher education. I agree completely. quote:Commercializing the learning environment is the wrong move. You can't solve deep rooted problems by throwing away sovereignty to a bunch of accountants. You're making the assumption that both the Department of Education and the Federal Government will simply go away if we let professionals run education. Any government office that's open for more than 72-hours usually lasts forever. Regulations that prevent commercialization in both schoolbooks and the schools themselves would deter the problem you're worried about. The Dept. of Edu. would still have the power to enforce its standards on the schools, and that is unlikely to change -- especially if by Amendment to the Constitution. quote:How about we end the annual 300+ billion defense spending spree and trade in the smart bombs for smart kids? Hell, if we declared peace on the world we could lower all kinds of expenses. We could do that. Now, I think Emperor Palpatine (sp?) has a prior engagement with the Grand Republic, and anyways, that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... How do you propose to get the several hundred nations to agree to this? The U.N. hasn't done it, and although it wants to be a world power, in reality, its defense is almost strictly U.S. backed. I can't take an organization that isn't fully supported by its members' money, military, and personnel very seriously. I will concede that a One-World Government looks great on paper. But so does Socialism. Neither one works in practical application. The United States is a Democratic Constitutional Republic. Its Reuplic is much like the Roman Empire, but our's must answer to both the President and The People. Both the President and Congress are checked by the U.S. Supreme Court for Constitutionality. However, the State Legislatures can vote in Amendments en masse by Constitutional Convention, whereby they petition the right to a States' Vote, and can over-ride Congress on any law. Checks-and-balances -- the only way to go that makes sense. Now, if we could just get the lobbyists to be restricted from being on Congressional property, then much of what I fear would never happen. Direct access to Senators and Representatives by Special Interest Groups should be illegal, since it creates a full-scale conflict-of-interest between the interests of the companies vs. the interests and well-being of The People.

Congrats, Jag! Remember to tell him, when he turns into the dreaded teenager, the same thing that Bill Cosby's dad told him: quote:I brought you in this world -- I take you out. Make another look just like you. My mother, on the other hand, decided my school notebook (the 2" kind...) across the top of my head was enough to get my attention when she said, "No more videogames today!", and I decided to ignore her....

I am a Gauntlet Adventurer. I strive to improve my living conditions by hoarding gold, food, and sometimes keys and potions. I love adventure, fighting, and particularly winning - especially when there's a prize at stake. I occasionally get lost inside buildings and can't find the exit. I need food badly. What Video Game Character Are You? Actually, I played the game quite a bit as a kid -- I think I kept this one arcade alive single-handedly for several months... My favorite game of the era was Space Zap -- How I went from a fat teenager to a moderately thin one was by spending my allowance and my lunch money on the arcade.... (Kids, don't try this at home. This is reserved for professional idiots, and should not be attempted without the proper gear....)

quote:Originally posted by Commander Elio Jason: good things it's not chicken day! True enough -- ALL the "Colonels" would be working today.... As in KFC, Popeyes, Churches, etc.... Never seen a national chain of Fried Turkeys...

"Bond. James Bond." These words echo throughout the British spyland... At least in fiction... And he takes his martini "shaken, not stirred." Why? quote:Vodka Martini - James Bond Style ÔÇÿShaken not stirredÔÇÖ is specified by him because stirring with ice leaves the drink absolutely clear but Bond prefers the misty effect and extra chill obtained by shaking. Serves 1 Vodka - 4 tbsp Noilly Prat - 1 tbsp Green olive - 1 Lemon twist - 1 METHOD 1. Shake and strain into a frosted glass. 2. Add the olive. Squeeze the lemon twist above the surface. Discard the lemon. You'll not find that in any spy manual, but you did find it here, on the Official BattleCruiser Commlink Forum.....

I want to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving -- hope you eat too much (like I always do...) Mild remake of an old AC/DC song: For those about to munch, we salute you! For those who munch their lunch (Fire!), we salute you.... [ 11-28-2002, 06:49 AM: Message edited by: DraconisRex ]

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: quote:Originally posted by Cmdr Chavik: nonetheless, it is still penalizing users who want to run alternative software on their machines.Nothing wrong with that. People should read the fine print. If the manufacturer doesn't allow you to tinker with a closed system. Don't. And if you feel so bad about it, don't buy it. Simple I think. My only problem with most license agreements is that the license is printed inside the package. Basically, if you open the package, then you are bound by the license, without knowing what you have agreed to, in most cases. Reminds of the instructions I found in several Army products... 1) Open Box 2) Get out instructions 3) Read instructions 4) Put phone together.... I concur that Microsoft has the right to keep modified X-Boxes from going on their network, but if they were to disable the actual units, they would find themselves being sued quite a bit. The sheer force of lawsuits, especially if from multiple districts, would put a nice little dent in their profit-sharing plans, even if they won those cases. I think that's why they haven't gone that far (yet...) Personally, I think that any contractual agreement, including license agreements, should be clearly printed on the exterior of the box, or have a guarantee of return within 10-days of purchase (or something to that effect.) I'm not against vendors protecting their wares. I just feel that, since a license agreement is a contract, their should be some way of knowing what you can and can't do before you make a high-dollar purchase..... (An X-box is $200 -- I've never looked at the package, so I don't know if it tells you what is expected with the purchase....)

I am truly amazed that no Liberals have attempted to attack this. I once heard that the Left-Wing, when attacked by properly sourced-facts, correct numbers, and the truth, that they tend to fade away like so much dust in the wind... Any of you brave Leftists wanna come out to play? Please? I haven't had a good lunch lately, and you would taste so good.... Uhm, that is, the conversation with you would be so stimulating.... LOL

If they were truly erased, I could see a practical purpose for them with Public/Key Encryption in groups. You could backup securely your entire Public/Secret Keyring on a 2-hour disk (encrypted, of course,) and send it to someone without worrying about it being intercepted. If the package is opened, the disk would have nothing on it when they got it. But I question how well the NSA could be kept out of the loop... Actually, that would be for any data you had no intention of letting be available for more than a couple of hours, to include sensitive backups... [ 11-26-2002, 12:35 AM: Message edited by: DraconisRex ]