Posts by noelle31

The auto companies are on the hook for the social services of their employees...health benefits, retirement benefits, disability insurance, etc which several posters have correctly pointed out is part of the "cost" of the union worker.

Who pays that cost in other countries, eh? By not having some sort of nationalized  social benefits program we ourselves with our big fat fear of socialism have crippled our own industries. Having our citizens have NO social benefits isn't an option, someone has to pick up the tab. That someone is the corporations who then have to pass the cost ot the consumer, thus making their product more expensive than imports.

If you are going to cripple your own industries that badly you have to level the playing field with much more aggressive import tariffs and whatnot.

Also I agree that the big three failed miserably in terms of leading the pack in technology, fuel efficiency, and the absurd pay & perks to execs who clearly aren't doing all that good of a job anyway.

I don't pretend to know what the answer to all this is, I don't know enough about economics. I do think it could've been prevented but that's not too helpful now.

"Get a job".  If only it were so easy.  My mom was laid off from a job that just barely paid her bills. She's 59, has no college education, and lives in  Florida which is a little short on jobs just now.  Look elsewhere? Um, what about the condo she has a mortgage on? She should sell it at a $30K loss? Where, exactly, is that $30K supposed to come from?

She only has health insurance because I pay for it.

And as people have pointed out, having insurance is no protection from serious costs...my bf got STI screening for MY safety and got charged over $500 dollars for being a responsible adult and getting preventative care! Shouldn't be be encouraging people to do things like that, instead of penalizing them? (ps, yes, I offered to pay for it)

Also, our healthcare system is far from the best, and not isolated to lifestyle issues.  And the medication issues? All insurances already have formularies- if you think a doctor gets to prescribe any pill she pleases you are quite wrong. At least if the gov't was running it they'd negotiate with the pharm companies for a good price. And maybe they'd cut it out with the "me too" drugs and start inventing some new stuff for once.

I don't really think you need to worry about some sweeping socialist agenda- Obama's a smart man, and knows that 10s of millions of people still voted for McCain.  I think we'll see subtle changes to the benefit of all of us (wouldn't you like to be able to go to school for free while being a single mom? THat would be a true hand UP, no?)

I think tough times are ahead but if we hang together and help each other we can minimize the damage.

Cheers, and I hope over the next few years your concerns about the nation are allayed.

Re: the OP, my boyfriend dropped off my ballot Friday. Oregon has 100% mail-in or drop off ballots- no waiting in lines for us!  A little anti-climactic, to be sure, but it makes sure you don't have any valid excuse for not voting. We could vote as soon as 10/18, here!  I highly advocate that for all states, I think it's great. :)

That's a slippery slope argument, and it's silly.  I'm not advocating communism as an economic policy - personally I think communism is ridiculous, since humans need motivation to work hard, and cash is a quality motivator.

I do, however, support socializing certain institutions for the common good, and paying for it out of my hard earned paycheck.  I think that all kids deserve top notch education, regardless of the choices their parents made, and that any kid with the smarts and the work ethic should get to go to college without a crippling debt.  For example.  I never said a darn thing about equalizing outcome- if you don't want to work hard you shouldn't get the luxuries someone who does work hard can earn. I just don't think that things like cancer treatment and education should be considered luxuries.

would type more but dinner plans await!

Socialism vs capitalism aren't systems of government, they're economic philosophies.

Democracy vs fascism are systems of government.

I'll take a democratic gov't with socialist economic tendencies over a fascist gov't with capitalist economies every day of the week. Twice on sundays. But obviously I'm wicked liberal. ;)

Could someone please explain to me why you would need a gun in under a month?  I mean, I'm all about impulse shopping but it just seems like impulse purchase + gun = potential for badness.  What's the hurry, anyway?

And no, I don't want to take your gun away. I would just like some modicum of assurance that you aren't likely to shoot me with it.

Edit to add: to santo- you're assuming gets the votes = a win.  THat would be nice...

"Christians will not vote for Barack Obama"

The vast majority of americans identify as christian.

Obama is ahead in the polls.

Ergo, christians are, in fact, intending to vote obama.

"The Bible tells its followers its moral standards; hence, they must vote accordingly." --> Could result in a vote for Obama depending on whether you are a biblical literalist or looking at the overall message of christ's teachings.

I told him that, too, HK, but he seems to think that  a snippet from a fact check article explicitly chosen to serve McCain's needs is as good as reading the primary reference! We won't change his mind, he won't change ours, but...

If there are any undecideds left, please PLEASE go to the above-referenced independent fact check sites to educate yourself and make an informed, thoughtful decision on November 4th.

PS I also think voting is a privelege and only people who actually care should do it. If you can't be troubled to cast a ballot, too freaking bad if things don't turn out the way you want. Except for class, of course, who appears to be advocating for wholesale revolution rather than voting. ;)

Sounds like several of you are actually Deists. There's a nice summary of Deism on wiki. Essentially, it's the believe that there is a divine force, but it's not an entity. More similar to gravity than a god...you can't bargain with it, and it doesn't require your worship. Not unlike gravity, it doesn't especially care whether you believe in it's rules or not, but there are some.

How do I incorporate this into my life? The force in question pushes me to live in harmony with the earth and other people. WHen I'm in dissonance with them I feel guilt or anxiety or sad or what have you; it's a signal to examine my life and bring it back into line. I view my body, this earth, and the other people on it as precious but fragile gifts which should be both enjoyed and husbanded carefully. It therefore becomes a spiritual imperative to recycle, treat others well, volunteer, donate to charitable organizations, eat well and love well. Do I live up to my ideals? Not by a long shot, but it's worth trying. I have no idea if there is an afterlife or not, so it's important to get the most out of this one and give as much back as I can.  Occasionally I meditate which is when I express my thankfulness. Maybe a positive attitude is in someway helpful to the world? Unlikely to be harmful...

Harm none~

Nived, I don't know how long you've been on this site, but personal attacks are wholly unacceptable. Calling me a liar is a direct personal attack. Just because you disagree with me does NOT make me a liar about my career.

I already stated that I am FINE with paying more taxes. Which, by the way, I won't. I got my data from the nonpartisan tax policy center. Under both candidates' policies as stated I'll actually get a tax cut (which I don't need). I get a bigger one under McCain. Totally not worth it.

I got my analyses of the health plans from the New England Journal of Medicine. Yes, the guy who wrote the critique of the McCain plan is supportive of Obama. The McCain plan still isn't good.

Calm down, take a step back. If you want to engage in debate, stop throwing around personal accusations.

Both parties in a relationship have a responsibility to keep that relationship healthy and vital.

However, the "fault" with cheating lies 100% with the cheater. It is a DECISION and ACTION. There are any number of ways to express distress about a relationship, or to try to get what one "needs". The choice to fill those needs by cheating should never, ever be blamed on anyone but the person who made that choice. Sure, they had reasons for that choice, but c'mon. I had reasons to eat that donut, too, but ultimately the decision is mine. Not the food industry's not the government's, not my mother's...mine.

The only responsibility a woman bears in such a relationship is for contributing in the relationship going sour (it takes two!). Any action the man takes as a result of the sour relationship is his sole responsibility.

As a cheatee, I feel very strongly about this.

I love my snooze alarm and that quasi-awake snuggle time with my boyfriend and my cats.

Hee hee

Gay Marriage: Civil unions for all; marriage for the religious

Abortion: Safe, legal, and fewer due to free kick-butt contraceptives!

Obama: Voting opens here October 17th!!

Mccain: Didja know he was a POW?

Jesus: Good philosopher, his followers should read him.

Evolution : Every day

Global Warming : Glad I live north

George W.: So very, very dimwitted

Sex Before Marriage: Please!

The Drinking Age: Either raise the enlistment age or lower the drinking age

Pot: all things in moderation

The War: Let the iraqis figure it out

Meat: Keep your filthy soy away from me!

Tattoos: Ow.

The Devil: Karl Rove?

Ghosts: Nope

Aliens: if they have any sense they're staying far away from here

Censorship: never okay

Magic: only stuff we don't understand yet

Love: Everyday

Religion: Dangerous

Also, it sure would be nice if sterilization was easier to come by. Have any of you ever tried to get a tubal prior to having kids? No one in this baby-centric world can wrap their heads around not wanting to procreate.

I don't want kids. Never have. Don't like 'em. Not cut out for Mommy-hood. You think I can find a doctor who doesn't think I'll regret it if I get a tubal? So f-ing what? I'll sign a release that says if I regret it it's my own freakin problem. So if I want to have sex, which I do because HELLO it's important for pair-bonding (and fun) and just because I don't want kids doesn't mean I don't want to get married, I have to face the risk of pregnancy. Why should I have to live a life of celibacy just because someone else's god says human-hood begins at conception?

And, despite being a wooly headed bleeding heart liberal I support the right to bear arms...with prudent limits. Does anyone really NEED a semi-automatic armor piercing assault rifle? Other than the military, I mean?  Instantaneously, to boot? 

And crazineko, I didn't see any hatemongering in your OP. ;)

From the non-Christian side, the attack on Separation of Church and State by the far right is very, very obvious, as is the attempt to insert Christianity into our daily lives. I think that's where a lot of the anti-christian anger comes from. I'd be just as ticked at Jews if they were always trying to outlaw bacon.