Here's an old one from emails:
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MIKE RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN
Mike gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards.
With his first swallow of coffee, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to insure their safety and that they work as advertised. All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Mike gets it too.
He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Mike's bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry. In the morning shower, Mike reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.
Mike dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Mike begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Mike's employer pays these standards because Mike's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union. If Mike is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
Its noontime and Mike needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Mike's deposit is federally insured by the FDIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect Mike's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression. Mike has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Mike and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.
Mike is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers' Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans. The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification. He is happy to see his father, who is now retired.
His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Mike wouldn't have to.
Mike gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Mike enjoys throughout his day.
Mike agrees:"We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives!After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."
10.02.2004
I got this in email today - I don't know who wrote it.
The Republican Guide to Hurricane Preparedness.
1. Wait for government funded agency to issuehurricane alert.
2. Board up windows at on home that is insuredwith government sponsored flood insurance.
3. Drive family and pets to safety on world-classgovernment built highway system.
4. Spend the night in gymnasium at governmentbuilt/subsidized school or shelter.
5. Watch government funded guardsmen and policeon tv as they patrol the streets andneighborhoods protecting my personal belongingsand government insured home.
6. Wait in government built shelter whilegovernment subsidized contractors clear the roadsand streets so that I can return to my governmentinsured home.
7. Be first in line to pick up governmentwelfare , erh, I mean FEMA "relief" check.
8. Go out on November 2 and vote for George Bushto "get big government off my back."
The Republican Guide to Hurricane Preparedness.
1. Wait for government funded agency to issuehurricane alert.
2. Board up windows at on home that is insuredwith government sponsored flood insurance.
3. Drive family and pets to safety on world-classgovernment built highway system.
4. Spend the night in gymnasium at governmentbuilt/subsidized school or shelter.
5. Watch government funded guardsmen and policeon tv as they patrol the streets andneighborhoods protecting my personal belongingsand government insured home.
6. Wait in government built shelter whilegovernment subsidized contractors clear the roadsand streets so that I can return to my governmentinsured home.
7. Be first in line to pick up governmentwelfare , erh, I mean FEMA "relief" check.
8. Go out on November 2 and vote for George Bushto "get big government off my back."
9.30.2004
I was right all along.....
"When Paul Samuelson, the dean of American economists, begins questioning the benefits of free trade, it is a bit like the pope having doubts about the virgin birth. "
"If enough higher-paying jobs are lost by American workers to outsourcing, he calculates, then the gain from the cheaper prices may not compensate for the loss in U.S. purchasing power. In other words, the low wages at Wal-Mart do not necessarily make up for their bargain prices. "
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=8686
Anyone that has seen me speak has heard me tell the Wal-Mart story - it goes like this:
Back in the day. Henry Ford believed that if he paid his employees enough, they would all go out and buy cars.... Wal-Mart believes the same thing, they pay their employees so little, the can't shop anywhere else.
WAL-MART IS THE SINGLE GREATEST ANCHOR ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. I don't think that I can state it any more clearly than that. Until they pay their employees a fair wage, and attempt to sell American products when possible, they will continue to gut America's purchasing power by forcing manufacturing jobs oversees and decimating pay in the retail sector.
DO NOT SHOP THERE UNTIL THEY REFORM.
Here's a last Wal-Mart Joke -
Q: Did you know that you can't but Sam Walton's book there anymore?
A: They don't allow anything in there with 'Made in America' on it.
"When Paul Samuelson, the dean of American economists, begins questioning the benefits of free trade, it is a bit like the pope having doubts about the virgin birth. "
"If enough higher-paying jobs are lost by American workers to outsourcing, he calculates, then the gain from the cheaper prices may not compensate for the loss in U.S. purchasing power. In other words, the low wages at Wal-Mart do not necessarily make up for their bargain prices. "
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=8686
Anyone that has seen me speak has heard me tell the Wal-Mart story - it goes like this:
Back in the day. Henry Ford believed that if he paid his employees enough, they would all go out and buy cars.... Wal-Mart believes the same thing, they pay their employees so little, the can't shop anywhere else.
WAL-MART IS THE SINGLE GREATEST ANCHOR ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. I don't think that I can state it any more clearly than that. Until they pay their employees a fair wage, and attempt to sell American products when possible, they will continue to gut America's purchasing power by forcing manufacturing jobs oversees and decimating pay in the retail sector.
DO NOT SHOP THERE UNTIL THEY REFORM.
Here's a last Wal-Mart Joke -
Q: Did you know that you can't but Sam Walton's book there anymore?
A: They don't allow anything in there with 'Made in America' on it.
Here's the letter I sent to the Alliance for Retired Americans asking for endorsement. I think it covers my ideas pretty well:
Alliance for Retired Americans
Department of Government and Political Affairs
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20006
To Whom It May Concern,
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my views regarding retirees’ issues for the upcoming election. I feel that the issues you detailed in your questionnaire are some of the most pressing domestic issues in America today.
They touch upon all American life, not just retirees. The skyrocketing costs of healthcare are not only bankrupting seniors, but contributing to job losses and hardship for all American families.
I consider controlling the spiraling costs of Healthcare to be the most important issue in this election cycle. I feel that Medicare should be empowered to negotiate for healthcare costs across the board, and for all Americans, not just for drug prices, and not just for seniors, the indigent and the poor.
When Medicare negotiates with current providers for all health services, they will be doing so from a standpoint of providing for all Americans, offering businesses and individuals to buy into their programs based on ability to pay. Only when Medicare leverages this huge buying power, will we truly get the best of our healthcare dollar.
My opponent does not believe that Medicare should have this power. He has argued that competition alone should result in lower prices. He has also stated that the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 was “without question, the most significant legislative accomplishment of 2003.” We have seen that this a failure of a law has only resulted in higher drug costs for seniors.
It is in this spirit that I would like to request the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans in the race for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional Seat.
I can be reached for comment or questions at 920.203.6883. My email is jef@jef4wi.com.
Thank you,
Jef Hall
Democrat for Congress – Wisconsin’s 6th District
Alliance for Retired Americans
Department of Government and Political Affairs
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20006
To Whom It May Concern,
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my views regarding retirees’ issues for the upcoming election. I feel that the issues you detailed in your questionnaire are some of the most pressing domestic issues in America today.
They touch upon all American life, not just retirees. The skyrocketing costs of healthcare are not only bankrupting seniors, but contributing to job losses and hardship for all American families.
I consider controlling the spiraling costs of Healthcare to be the most important issue in this election cycle. I feel that Medicare should be empowered to negotiate for healthcare costs across the board, and for all Americans, not just for drug prices, and not just for seniors, the indigent and the poor.
When Medicare negotiates with current providers for all health services, they will be doing so from a standpoint of providing for all Americans, offering businesses and individuals to buy into their programs based on ability to pay. Only when Medicare leverages this huge buying power, will we truly get the best of our healthcare dollar.
My opponent does not believe that Medicare should have this power. He has argued that competition alone should result in lower prices. He has also stated that the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 was “without question, the most significant legislative accomplishment of 2003.” We have seen that this a failure of a law has only resulted in higher drug costs for seniors.
It is in this spirit that I would like to request the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans in the race for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional Seat.
I can be reached for comment or questions at 920.203.6883. My email is jef@jef4wi.com.
Thank you,
Jef Hall
Democrat for Congress – Wisconsin’s 6th District
9.29.2004
Some healthcare figures that need to get out more:
"Worker premiums rose 35.9 percent over the past four years, nearly three times the average growth in earnings, the report said. For family coverage, the employee's portion of the average annual premium grew to $1,947 from $1,433, it said.
But in 26 states, including closely contested Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and Wisconsin, premiums paid by workers increased more than 40 percent since 2000, the report said.
At the same time, the number of Americans younger than 65 who spent more than a quarter of their earnings on health care increased by 22 percent.
The number of people without health insurance in a two-year period also rose substantially during the Bush administration, from 72.5 million in 1999 and 2000 to 85.2 million during 2003-2004. The latter figure represents more than a third of Americans younger than 65, and thus not covered by the Medicare program. "
Here's more:
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/09/27/ap1562399.html
I want to make sure all Americans have access to affordable healthcare. We need policy that protects patients, not profits.
"Worker premiums rose 35.9 percent over the past four years, nearly three times the average growth in earnings, the report said. For family coverage, the employee's portion of the average annual premium grew to $1,947 from $1,433, it said.
But in 26 states, including closely contested Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and Wisconsin, premiums paid by workers increased more than 40 percent since 2000, the report said.
At the same time, the number of Americans younger than 65 who spent more than a quarter of their earnings on health care increased by 22 percent.
The number of people without health insurance in a two-year period also rose substantially during the Bush administration, from 72.5 million in 1999 and 2000 to 85.2 million during 2003-2004. The latter figure represents more than a third of Americans younger than 65, and thus not covered by the Medicare program. "
Here's more:
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/09/27/ap1562399.html
I want to make sure all Americans have access to affordable healthcare. We need policy that protects patients, not profits.
9.27.2004
I have been saying this all along. We need to stand up and make sure we get the best prices!
"The Big Scare for drug companies isn't really Canadian imports, despite all the noise they've made. It's the threat that the government will step in to negotiate prices once the new Medicare drug benefit gets underway next year. The Feds already negotiate prices for Veterans Administration insurance and pay about the same as the Canadian price, says Bill Hubbard, an FDA associate commissioner. Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of us could, too?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6039139/site/newsweek/
If you want to see why we don't get the best prices, look here:
http://www.jef4wi.com/petrivert_files/slide0001.htm
"The Big Scare for drug companies isn't really Canadian imports, despite all the noise they've made. It's the threat that the government will step in to negotiate prices once the new Medicare drug benefit gets underway next year. The Feds already negotiate prices for Veterans Administration insurance and pay about the same as the Canadian price, says Bill Hubbard, an FDA associate commissioner. Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of us could, too?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6039139/site/newsweek/
If you want to see why we don't get the best prices, look here:
http://www.jef4wi.com/petrivert_files/slide0001.htm
Jimmy Carter on voting in Florida:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52800-2004Sep26.html?referrer=emailarticle
This goes back to things I have pointed out in other posts - we do not have a fair system in Florida.
In Venezuela, there were receipt printed out for all electronic votes, but we are told we cannot do that in America?
Watch out for your freedom come Nov 2nd. The only way to make sure we have a fair election is to get so many Democratic votes out that the ones they take away will be irrelevant.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52800-2004Sep26.html?referrer=emailarticle
This goes back to things I have pointed out in other posts - we do not have a fair system in Florida.
In Venezuela, there were receipt printed out for all electronic votes, but we are told we cannot do that in America?
Watch out for your freedom come Nov 2nd. The only way to make sure we have a fair election is to get so many Democratic votes out that the ones they take away will be irrelevant.
Here is a great counterpoint to Bush spin - the Iraq War as seen through Powel's words, then & now:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/opinion/27herbert.html?th
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/opinion/27herbert.html?th
9.26.2004
Great Kerry quote:
“Four years ago, this president came to office calling himself a ‘compassionate conservative.’ Well, in the story of the Good Samaritan, we are told of two men who pass by or cross to the other side of the street when they come upon a robbed and beaten man. They felt compassion, but there were no deeds. Then the Good Samaritan gave both his heart and his help. For four years, this president has talked about compassion, but he’s walked right by. He’s seen people in need, but he’s crossed over to the other side of the street. For four years, we’ve heard a lot of talk about values. But values are not just words. They’re what we live by.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6083383/site/newsweek/
“Four years ago, this president came to office calling himself a ‘compassionate conservative.’ Well, in the story of the Good Samaritan, we are told of two men who pass by or cross to the other side of the street when they come upon a robbed and beaten man. They felt compassion, but there were no deeds. Then the Good Samaritan gave both his heart and his help. For four years, this president has talked about compassion, but he’s walked right by. He’s seen people in need, but he’s crossed over to the other side of the street. For four years, we’ve heard a lot of talk about values. But values are not just words. They’re what we live by.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6083383/site/newsweek/
Federal workers offered Catholic health-care plan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0409250057sep25,1,1924604.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
Not only is this a church/state problem, but are we really using our resources the best? High deductible health insurance resulting in profits for a religious organization through tax-payer funds, that will actually cut benefits to the workers.
Exactly how many levels can this be wrong on at one time?
-jef-
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0409250057sep25,1,1924604.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
Not only is this a church/state problem, but are we really using our resources the best? High deductible health insurance resulting in profits for a religious organization through tax-payer funds, that will actually cut benefits to the workers.
Exactly how many levels can this be wrong on at one time?
-jef-
If we want to advance as a country, we need to be able to think our way out of any hole we end up in.
Which candidate is the most supportive of science?
Here's the skinny:
http://www.nature.com/news/specials/uselection/index.html
Which candidate is the most supportive of science?
Here's the skinny:
http://www.nature.com/news/specials/uselection/index.html
Winning Hearts and Minds......
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/iraq25e_20040925.htm
"BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Operations by U.S. and multinational forces and Iraqi police are killing twice as many Iraqis -- most of them civilians -- as attacks by insurgents are, according to statistics compiled by the Iraqi Ministry of Health."
"According to the ministry, which provided the Free Press with the figures Friday, the interim Iraqi government recorded 3,487 Iraqi deaths in 15 of the country's 18 provinces from April 5 -- when the ministry began compiling the data -- until Sept. 19. Of those, 328 were women and children. Another 13,720 Iraqis were injured, the ministry said."
"From that date until Sept. 10, 1,295 Iraqis were killed in clashes with multinational forces and police versus 516 killed in terrorist operations, the ministry said. The ministry defines terrorist operations as incidents in which someone is killed by an explosive device in a residential area, killed by a car bomb or assassinated."
"The Health Ministry is the only organization that attempts to track deaths through government agencies. The U.S. military said it kept estimates, but refused to release them."
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/iraq25e_20040925.htm
"BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Operations by U.S. and multinational forces and Iraqi police are killing twice as many Iraqis -- most of them civilians -- as attacks by insurgents are, according to statistics compiled by the Iraqi Ministry of Health."
"According to the ministry, which provided the Free Press with the figures Friday, the interim Iraqi government recorded 3,487 Iraqi deaths in 15 of the country's 18 provinces from April 5 -- when the ministry began compiling the data -- until Sept. 19. Of those, 328 were women and children. Another 13,720 Iraqis were injured, the ministry said."
"From that date until Sept. 10, 1,295 Iraqis were killed in clashes with multinational forces and police versus 516 killed in terrorist operations, the ministry said. The ministry defines terrorist operations as incidents in which someone is killed by an explosive device in a residential area, killed by a car bomb or assassinated."
"The Health Ministry is the only organization that attempts to track deaths through government agencies. The U.S. military said it kept estimates, but refused to release them."
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