My definition of conservative

[dc67]

[QUOTE=gregjohnson As an independent, I see the only hope for any true reform in this country is term limits, STRICT limits on campaign donations as well as a 3 to 6 month limit to campaigning. For example, as our congressmen serve for only 2 years, they start running for re-election the day they take office.
QUOTE]

[SIZE="3"]WELL SAID!!!!!![/SIZE]

[Farmerboy]

Agreed!!!!!!

[Ruddigore]

As an independent, I see the only hope for any true reform in this country is term limits, STRICT limits on campaign donations as well as a 3 to 6 month limit to campaigning. For example, as our congressmen serve for only 2 years, they start running for re-election the day they take office.

Not to mention there are no term limits for Senators or Representatives. We have a congress with faces that were in congress 30 years ago. And we wonder why things aren't changing for the better.

[Gary]

Greg, dc67, I agree completely. The best statement on this thread...... right up there w/mine of course. Now you don't think I'm not gonna roll up my sleeves to FB, do you. Cesspool??? That's cool. That's why I say the church cracks me up. You ever look at the parking lot on Sunday after sermon. Everyone racing to their cars, almost running over people to get home to get on. They got their goodness, now let's hurry the heck outta here. As for Idaho, Mr. Young Guns, I got news for you. This is coming to a theatre near you soon, trust me on this. Just for your info, a quick check shows Idaho has an unemployment rate of 6.6% placing you #19 on the charts. NJ has 7.3% unenjoyment placing us 27th. So, all is not perfect in the mother region. Since we have not taken into account those who are underemployed or living in tent city somewhere out there, you may want to take a peek around because while you may be safe and warm, I gotta funny feeling others may not be. As for the comment about me being jealous or angry, nope, remember, I've got my municipality job. And I got it out of luck, no connections. Even the VA rep who is on every board around here was shocked I got in. Just reaching for more $$$$. I do appreciate that I'm working every day, I am lucky in that respect. I have been to Colorado, and many points west so don't tell me you live in sacred country with no real city concerns. It is beautiful out west, especially Utah, but to state that the poor can pick themselves up by their bootstraps, they have the opportunity, you are misguided. I'll bet you hardly know a black person, certainly haven't been surrounded by a group of African Americans which you would probably would call an "angry mob". You lack exposure, a critical element if you want to be taken seriously in todays world. You'll come back and tell me "I know a lot of black people", what your more than likely really saying is I say HI to a lot of them when I see them. Yes, you live in a different society than NJ, that's for sure but you face the same problems urban America is facing, just not as wholesale. Your clueless youngster. I gave you an opportunity to redeem yourself, to gain insight, you have failed. You are in the circle, grabbing for any slice of fabric you can hold on to. You pretend to understand outside the circle, but you really show your thinking inside the box. Get out of the box, otherwise you will remain a blockhead.......... To the others, you did bring this thread full circle AND the idea of term limits would be a huge positive step in the right direction. But who will really back this?

The U.S. Justice Department cleared one of the last obstacles to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to seek a third term when it announced on Tuesday that it would not intervene in New York City's new term-limit law.

The department said the law, which extended elected officials' allowable time in office to three consecutive four-year terms from two, was not intended to and would not discriminate against racial and language minority groups.

The federal government reviews all changes to voting procedures to ensure they do not disenfranchise minorities.

"This approval ensures that the city can move forward with timely implementation of the law in preparation for the upcoming elections," Michael Cardozo, the city's lead attorney, said in a statement.

Once again, they run a trick play. Democrat/Republican, it doesn't matter. They are well aware of the message a decision like this sends to all of the public. More of the same.
Sorry for the delay of game guys, personal foul on the religious conservative team. Curfew at 8:00 P.M. and one Hail Mary.

[Ruddigore]

Now you don't think I'm not gonna roll up my sleeves to FB, do you. Cesspool??? That's cool. That's why I say the church cracks me up. You ever look at the parking lot on Sunday after sermon. Everyone racing to their cars, almost running over people to get home to get on. They got their goodness, now let's hurry the heck outta here.

Then I suppose you haven't been to my church. We stay and talk for some time afterwords. Sometimes our pastor has to give us a gentle hint that he needs to get going. :o

Not to mention that I've always been taught that the purpose of church attendance is not to get the weekly sanctity recharge. It is for fellowship, exhortation, as well as instruction. But somehow...I doubt you'll heed me.

...You pretend to understand outside the circle, but you really show your thinking inside the box. Get out of the box, otherwise you will remain a blockhead...

Are ad hominem attacks really necessary? Couldn't you attack Farmer Boy's ideas more than him? Let's be civil, even though we are discussing politics. (At least, I think we are.)

To the others, you did bring this thread full circle AND the idea of term limits would be a huge positive step in the right direction. But who will really back this?

Good point! hilarious

[Farmerboy]

Gary, I have enjoyed the verbal give take we have had over the past few months. You have helped me define more clearly what I am and what I stand for. Your last post was a little personal but on the whole this discussion has been fun. And now to the fun part...

That's why I say the church cracks me up. You ever look at the parking lot on Sunday after sermon. Everyone racing to their cars, almost running over people to get home to get on. They got their goodness, now let's hurry the heck outta here.

You have obviously never driven past a real active church. Unfortunetly, the church at large has its share of hypocrites as well. It has failed to fufill the responsibilities given by God. We are not and don't claim to be better humans.

As for Idaho, Mr. Young Guns, I got news for you. This is coming to a theatre near you soon, trust me on this. Just for your info, a quick check shows Idaho has an unemployment rate of 6.6% placing you #19 on the charts. NJ has 7.3% unenjoyment placing us 27th. So, all is not perfect in the mother region. Since we have not taken into account those who are underemployed or living in tent city somewhere out there, you may want to take a peek around because while you may be safe and warm, I gotta funny feeling others may not be.

I didn't say we have better employment, I said we have a better enviroment. The Boise area has about 350,000 individuals with the entire state at about 1.3 million but no "tent cities". How many people live in New Jersey? 8.5 million at a population density of 1,145 people per square mile. Contrast that with 15 people per square mile. Is it any wonder you have tent cities?

I have been to Colorado, and many points west so don't tell me you live in sacred country with no real city concerns. It is beautiful out west, especially Utah, but to state that the poor can pick themselves up by their bootstraps, they have the opportunity, you are misguided.

There are large cities out here with real city concerns but how does that make me wrong? If big cities are the issue then why didn't you move? Help me understand why big cities inhibit opportunity for poorer people. Guide me, don't call me misguided!

I'll bet you hardly know a black person, certainly haven't been surrounded by a group of African Americans which you would probably would call an "angry mob". You lack exposure, a critical element if you want to be taken seriously in todays world. You'll come back and tell me "I know a lot of black people", what your more than likely really saying is I say HI to a lot of them when I see them.

I don't know a lot of black people, but I do have one good friend who is black. Regardless how does that make me more or less exposed? Are you inadvertently proving my point in the previous thread? I have been taken seriously in lot of situations in life, how else could I be working down at the Statehouse and have a radio show? Granted I have not seen a lot of things that you have but does that automatically make me irrelevant?

Yes, you live in a different society than NJ, that's for sure but you face the same problems urban America is facing, just not as wholesale..

Gary, I don't live in a different society I live in a different world. The above statistics combined with election results show that. Even here in Boise we aren't "urban" and we definitly aren't facing challenges such New York, Trenton, or Philadelphia.

Your clueless youngster. I gave you an opportunity to redeem yourself, to gain insight, you have failed. You are in the circle, grabbing for any slice of fabric you can hold on to. You pretend to understand outside the circle, but you really show your thinking inside the box. Get out of the box, otherwise you will remain a blockhead..........

I may be underexposed and inexperienced but the thought that I am clueless is... well... really funny to mehilarious ! In order to pull me out of my loop inside the box that has molded my head go through any of my posts as I have done with yours and without resorting to emotional arguements show me why I am wrong. I don't even need facts just give me your honest opinion and your way to fix it. I agree with your assesment of cronyism and corruption so don't beat that dead horse please! Come up with a new argument... I am all ears.

[Ruddigore]

Gary, I have enjoyed the verbal give take we have had over the past few months. You have helped me define more clearly what I am and what I stand for.

I may say the same. I continue to see where I stand and why I stand there...and why others do not.

You have obviously never driven past a real active church. Unfortunately, the church at large has its share of hypocrites as well. It has failed to fulfill the responsibilities given by God. We are not and don't claim to be better humans.

Indeed indeed. I can think of people now who have not persevered in my own church. I agree with Farmerboy entirely.

In order to pull me out of my loop inside the box that has molded my head go through any of my posts as I have done with yours and without resorting to emotional arguments show me why I am wrong. I don't even need facts just give me your honest opinion and your way to fix it. I agree with your assessment of cronyism and corruption so don't beat that dead horse please! Come up with a new argument... I am all ears.

I am all ears as well. If ICers were ever given control of the country, we should already have a plan worked out, right? hilarious

[Gary]

First I'll start off by saying when I make a negative statement about conservatism or Republicans, all the little tree monkeys come out from hiding as if on cue. Maybe you all have a secret signal, I don't know, but that's OK. I take it, circle the wagons, and it's on. Then I'm always the bad guy. Always. I'm OK w/that also. We're talking politics and matters of quality of life of which I find it hard to be pleasant, especially when we see first hand how many have gotten screwed. Church is another hot topic that upsets people. I have no problem w/those that go to church. I do have a problem w/the hipocrisy of those who preach and I have a problem w/church. I go occasionally really for my wife than for myself. Some of what I witness there is hard to believe. It's a beautiful church in Chester, PA, right across the street from crack houses literally. It is impressive inside. But the politics of the church boggles my mind. I'll stop there because of the fragile environment I'm dealing with. Actually, I will add this. What pisses me off about the church is that for all the child abuse that has gone on and still continues, the Vatican has it's head in the sand or has turned it's back. So, as far as the Catholic church is concerned, I have no use for them. Professor Adam stated awhile ago that not all churches are that way, some do good work. No doubt. But when the veil of secrecy revealed all the problems and abuses, it was appaling to me. People go there in times of desperation and despair, and many churches have led people astray. It's kind of like the pit bull argument, it's not the dog, it's the people who own them. I'm kinda tired of ignorance. I've been around awhile, seen a lot and your not going to fool me again. So, as far as you both going to church, have at it. Concerning the other statements, I'm not going to reply to each one individually, I like sentences (not paragraphs), in one long paragraph form, remember? Now I'm all for civility and if you ever met me in person, you would realize, I treat all people w/respect. Until you screw me over or those close to me. Where I lose focus towards being Mr Nice is when we talk about the last 8 yrs. I very strongly feel that minorities, poor people and the elderly to name a few have been stripped of their being, their wealth and their dreams. They have been screwed BIG TIME! I'm not talking nice about that. We in the middle class have been raked as well, and here lies one of the problems FB. You are just now seeing and partially understanding that. What I resent about your opinion is that you have NOT been exposed to a lot, you haven't paid taxes, have not been around crime, have not been around long enough to really get the shaft from government, you live in a protected society, but yet you know so much. How is that? This is a free country and you are entitled to free speech. What is scary to me is your working in the statehouse. Now, I don't know what capacity or what your goals are but your ideas represent a threat to me and my daughters when they get older. I know how some people think who haven't been exposed to real world issues. There is an underlying descriminatory attitude towards certain races and I think given the opportunity, in a place of authority, you would be counter to my beliefs. Conservatism does not compute w/me. It doesn't belong in my world. I don't believe people are as lazy as conservatives think. That is bull. Last item, you better get thicker skin if you plan on staying in the statehouse. I may be wrong, but I don't believe I swore on this thread. Yes, I have been somewhat attacking but I stand by what I said. You have little to no exposure to many realities going on including maintaining relationships w/blacks, hispanics and probably poor people of any race. That is not a req't in life and it may not be possible where you are. How then, can you be so sure of what you are saying? Is it because those at the church tell you this? Is it because you read it in a book at school? Did you see it on Fox Noise? How are you so sure the poor don't want to work. Please don't tell me you are basing it on what you see in Boise alone.

[Ruddigore]

Did you see it on Fox Noise?

No abuse of Fox News please. It has some far greater qualities than many mainstream news networks. The bias of some of these media can be appalling -- but that's a conversation for another time. (By the way, I don't watch TV, including Fox, though I occasionally watch an online clip from a major news network.)

How are you so sure the poor don't want to work. Please don't tell me you are basing it on what you see in Boise alone.

I am very sure some of the poor do want to work. But then again, some do not. When I lived in New Mexico (where poverty is not hidden), it was usual to see people on the side of the street asking for handouts. Sometimes these people are offered help by a charitable organization, but reject the help because these organizations want them to work while they do not. We need to help the poor, yes, but with the realization that there will always be some people who will not aspire to anything but poverty. There are lazy people just as there are motivated people.

[Gary]

I have seen the poor out west. Without sounding bias, many that I saw were drunken Indians, but not all. We need to be realistic about this, cultural norms and societal views have led to many of these issues, but your right, some don't want to work. Some have deep alcohol and substance abuse problems, but they could be helped. To do nothing and allow them to litter the street is definitely not the answer. After all, some are vets. While in Durango with my wife, we heard a woman being raped in the room next door, we called the police, & they came and arrested him, a drunken indian. My point is to just pretend it doesn't exist is not the answer. These are the lessons FB can't get out of a book. Yet they are profound. If wealth were more evenly distributed, I believe many of the problems we face would not be as large. Our kids are inheriting a mess of a situation but all we hear is how the wealthy feel they are getting the shaft. What about everyone else? The term limits mentioned before make a lot of sense. But there's always that wiggle room and they slip through every time. I'd like to take this time for a shout out to the state of Pennsylvania for convicting that rat bastard, Vincent Fumo and his crooked secretary of over 100 counts for being a bad lil boy/girl. Grease it up pal. Your in the on-deck circle.