The War on Christmas
And he did the same thingto the other Whos' houses
Leaving crumbs much-too-small
for the other Whos' Mouses
-Theodor Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss
`
It's a secret no longer. We Liberals are out to destroy Christmas. Late in the evening on Christmas Eve we are planning a coordinated, all out, violent assault on the yuletide. As of December 25, 2010, the name of the holiday shall forevermore be referred to as "International Emma Goldman Day". Anyone caught celebrating the birthday of the Prince of Peace from that point forward will be severely punished. Let all those intending to ignore this edict be forewarned.
[CUE THE JINGLE BELLS]
'Twas the night before Christmas
and all 'round the place
Them Liberals was plannin'
to attack us with mace
The Children were nestled
all snug in their beds
While visions of Ayn Rand
stomped on their heads
And mama with her Demerol
and I with my booze
Had just settled down
for a long winter's snooze
When out on the rooftop
there rose such a ruckus
I sprang from my bed to see
WHAT THE F**K IS GOING ON UP THERE???
A posse of Liberals
all armed to the teeth
Were doing rude things
to our poor Christmas wreath
They spoke not a word
but were vile and we shook
As they ripped out the pages
of Ms. Palin's book
They poured gas on our presents
And set them aflame
And to our stuffed Santa
They did just the same
And I heard them exclaim
as they tore up the streets
"Nasty Krimble to all!
Next year leave us some sweets!"
But seriously, folks.....
There is no "war" on Christmas. It's a lot bigger than that. It involves more than just one day out of the year. It is, in fact, a war on Jesus Christ. And that war has been being waged non stop by the right wing in this country for at least two centuries. Another shot across the bough was fired this week by Senator Jim DeMint, the half-witted reactionary from South Carolina, when he said that unemployment insurance should be turned into a loan program.
"It then encourages people to go back to work", he said.
At a time of such terrible economic hardship not known since the nineteen-thirties, those words are an assault on everything Jesus Christ ever taught us. Let 'em eat cake.
"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."
Jim DeMint is a self-described "Christian". Has he ever read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount? Does he even have a remedial understanding of what it means? Nah! Probably not! DeMint was part of the same crowd who held the American people hostage by threatening to shut down the government of the United States if a tax cut was not continued for a class of people who already have more money than they will possibly spend in a lifetime.
Jesus does not approve. That is much more than just a guess on my part. Unlike a lot of these clowns, the life and teachings of Christ were part of the curriculum when I went to school as a boy. That's right - five years of Catholic education. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about here.
And as to the war on Christmas, doesn't our consumer culture encourage it? Doesn't our very economic survival depend upon us making a mockery out of the birthday of Jesus Christ every year - going all the way back to the dawn of the industrial revolution over a century ago? If Bill O'Reilly and the jackasses over at FOX Noise were as concerned as they pretend to be about the war on Christmas, they would refuse every cent of every advertising dollar tying any product to Christmas Day. Trust me on this one campers: That ain't EVER gonna happen.
Christmas comes but once a year
so you'd better make hay while the spirit lingers
It's slipping through your fingers, boy
Don't you realize?
Christmas can be such a monetary joy!
-Stan Freberg, 1958
"And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them and they were sure afraid. And the angel said unto them: fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward all people."
The Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 2, verses 9:14
from the King James Bible
"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
-Linus Van Pelt
From "A Charlie Brown Christmas", 1965
They just don't get it - and they never will - these people who would exploit the name of Christ in order to promote the most unChrist-like agenda that is theologically possible. They have spent the last thirty years destroying the American economy. And yet instead of reaching out to help the victims of their greed and recklessness, they would rather cut the taxes on billionaires. God bless America.
"I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Matthew 25:36
Instead they now want to build more prisons. Yes, there is a war on Jesus Christ, alright - and here's something the extremists who have hijacked our national political dialogue need to understand: It's a war they can't win. Beware the sleeping giant of the Religious Left.
And so Happy Christmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
-John Lennon
`
Like the man said:
Happy Christmas, everybody!
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
Suggested Reading for all of those so-called "Christians" who ascribe to the philosophy of the right wing:
The Sermon on the Mount
`
Just a thought.
Here's a little traditional holiday chestnut from Franz Schubert as interpreted by the late Perry Como:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCc9zB4skb8
For more recent postings on this site, please go to the link below:
"The Rant" by Tom Degan
Pray for peace
posted by Tom Degan @ 9:03 AM
51 comments
51 Comments:
Looks like those girls are defending, not waging war against, Christmas.
A Holiday tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91GXkQ-Sas
Just a simple set of questions: Should people receive unemployment benefits forever if they dont find a job? Will people be less inclined to work if they receive unemployment in perpetuity. If there should be a limit, how many years or decades would be reasonable?
Perhaps you are correct. If the government does all that it can to impede job creation and collapse the private sector, they should be liable for the human cost.
Right on Tom,
Your writing always makes me feel better, while reminding me how bad things are.
I love and also like to repeal that these bastards have been doing it forever. They change the words, Pagan is now Liberal, Communist is now Terrorist.
I love the idea of real Christians, ones who actually believe in the Sermon on the Mount and actually believe that a spiritual connection is something that should not be tied to so much mammon.
I went to Catholic High School too, I know and love the New Testament.
Loved the Lennon thing too. Not to stir the pot, but I believe the nameless nut who offed him, was riled up by a conservative church.
These bastards like O'Reilly are just rubbing it in our face. We need to start a club of Jesus Ninja's to disconnect these false prophets.
Nice Comments Boltok.
Middle Age Name to go along with the philosophy.
Not usually my thing but what the hell are you talking about?
Unemployment for perpetuity? Where and when?
Yeah, the government is responsible for the collapse of the private sector, sure, now that people like you allowed yourselves to be manipulated by false sentiments of patriotism for some nefarious and loony long term goal of divine revelation, the government is run by corporations.
And you don't know this?
The rights goal, in not so quiet desperation, is to make the world such a bad place, both internationally and domestic, that Jesus himself will be forced to come back within their lifetime.
That is the selfishness of the Right Wing, the really sad thing is that the leaders don't even really believe in Jesus, they are beholden to an altogether different force.
The government impedes job creation?...yes in the this country especially. NAFTA?
And this was because businesses were forced to move overseas because of taxes? Yes, they were forced, as most studies show, forced by the greed and manipulation of the CEO's and the bottom line.
They had to have those whopping profit margins at the expense of the welfare and prosperity of the American People?
WTF? You must watch Fox and eat yer American Cheese Wiz dinners. So sad.
God Bless Ya ya poor sod.
Dear Tom,
Thanks for this post. I read the part about unemployment with tears in my eyes - well, because,despite feeling pretty comfortable and secure on unemployment these last two months, suddenly, I find myself with about 50 bucks left in my bank account and wondering where the rest will come from - just to pay the basic bills.
I don't want to brag here - however, I'm overly generous at Christmas and though I didn't go overboard and was very careful with bargains and so forth, the holidays now have me down in a very bad place. Looking at basic utilities being turned off, etc...to put it mildly, I'm scared. (And it isn't fair to ask an 81 year old mother to help you - she has her own problems and worries)
They have no idea what it's like - how dare they say things like that.
I am so sick of the right wingers that say things like this - like the one I heard during the election..."People would rather collect unemployment then work!"
Yeah - I was thinking that...not, really, you idiot, I would rather have security, warmth and a roof over my head, thank you very much...oh, and the ability to maybe buy myself a few things that aren't getting worn out, too big, too small...Lord, how did I get to htis place?
Sorry, for the miserable post, friends. Maybe I'm being punished for being a little rebel liberal in 2004 and believing in John F. Kerry? And Barack Obama in 2008?
Hmm....
Dearest friend....
Those are words that should be etched into the side of the highest mountain for all to see.
Tom
Good News People,
Obamacare is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
Nice post, Tom. Thanks.
Anon, You're wrong, but Merry Christmas anyway.
Thanks for the encouragement, Tom, dear. I didn't mean to be so miserable. I still believe and know "what Christmas is all about." (As Charlie Brown once asked!)
Mary and Joseph weren't exactly rich folks that amazing morning over 2000 years ago, but they did alright. They did teach their son a trade which was a smart thing to do! ...Fortunately, for us, he "found" other work to do...
And by the way - there's nothing like a 3 month old kitten to cheer you up - as long as you treat him right and give 'em a little food and water, they'll make you laugh and be happy no matter what your mood. (Sorry, my little guy showed up to help me just as I was typing this response!)
I'm also reminded of Bob Crachit and his family - poor as anything - poorly paid that is - and they had a very Merry Christmas.
Wonder if any of these conservative who insist on being so Scrooge-like remember the line from the 1st chapter of the book "Are there no prisons? Are there no work houses?" Hmm...maybe they'll want to bring back debtors prison and forced labor - you remenber - 7 days a week, 12 hours days - male/female, any age...didn't matter - a jolly old England and the USA in the 1830s...great place to live and work for a living!
Oh, and one finally thing for all Americans to think about - I read today that in one of the so-called 3rd world countries, they've increased the minimum wage to - $45.00 a month. No typo - A MONTH...
Thanks again...candy canes, bright lights and an egg nog to you, sir!
Mary
Resist evil anyway you can. These people seem to forget, if they ever knew that Jesus was all about social justice. You think he was beaten and nailed to a tree because he was meek and mild? The powers that be left him
alone until he drove the banksters out of the temple. If you listen to the banksters and brokers, they want alot of us to just go die someplace out of sight. To those who say unemployment encourages people to not work, I say How can someone find work when there are few jobs available and those that are have hundreds of applicants? You people are like the biblical Egyptians, requiring the Hebrews to make bricks without straw. Though I don't expect they have read much of the bible, or even Adam Smith, who does in fact advocate some form of socialism, as does Albert Einstein. I could go on and on. Do not hope to change the system it is totally corrupt. Did the people of Poland or the Czech Republic reform communism? Did the people of South Africa reform the racist government? Did the people of Argentina reform the dictatorship? No, they tossed the entire corrupt system. Resist them, in any way you can
Veselé Vánoce
Love your writing, Tom. I just got back from the Holiday Shop at school. There is a housing project in our district (and believe you me, I live out in the suburbs and pay over 6,000.00 a year in taxes-not in the city) and the school asked all of the children to contribute a quarter so that anyone without money could go to buy presents for their family. That is what I call a christian act-although it certainly was not tied into any religious thing. It is the simple act of caring for your neighbor.
Do unto others....
As for unemployment...I happen to be a dear friend of Dearest Friend, and I can tell you that she does not want to be in the situation that she is-as is the case with most people. Most people want to work and earn a living (which is very hard to do with corporate assholes running the show). It is easy to sit back and make statements (false ones at that if you fall for Fox News and the like) but it takes a real person to get up and do something.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
Anonymous, stay on the subject. There is nothing in this post about Obamacare. Your remarks would be given a lot more consideration - and you would look like less of an idiot - if you could keep to the subject at hand.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Reading boltok's comment makes me realize how hopeless our situation is. No offense boltok, I'm sure Jesus loves you too.
I have a job, home and money this year for which I am grateful But I have been unemployed and broke before. Just reflecting on those times can create a deep sense of fear in me. My heart goes out to everybody struggling in this world.
WTF is wrong with us?
Boltok "Looks like those girls are defending, not waging war against, Christmas. A Holiday tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91GXkQ-Sas"
Businesses don't say "Happy Holidays" because they're trying to be PC. They're saying it because it's more profitable. Why do you hate the Free Market?
Also, "holidays" implies holidays; Christmas and New Year's. (And "Season's Greetings" implies that you're half in the tank. True story)
"Should people receive unemployment benefits forever if they dont find a job?"
1. That's a wild hypothetical. They don't. Even with the extensions that the Right is blocking until the top 2% get to keep their tax cuts, the limit is 99 weeks,
2. Yes. The alternative is 10% (20%, really) of the population living in their cars, which will lead to further contraction. Also, revolution (the only reason nobody's worried is that Leftwing Populism is, for the most part, dead, and Rightwing Populism has co-opted the rage and fear and pointed it at, of all places, gardeners and maids. You know...Mexicans).
"Will people be less inclined to work if they receive unemployment in perpetuity."
Statistically, the difference between "people on unemployment finding work" and "people not on unemployment finding work" is only a few weeks.
"If the government does all that it can to impede job creation and collapse the private sector, they should be liable for the human cost."
Obviously. Pay no attention to the Wall Street behind the curtain. Also, ignore the record profits this year (and they aren't hoarding it because of "uncertainty" over the tax cuts because the tax cuts are personal tax cuts, which don't effect corporate persons and, for small businesses they weren't putting that money in to hiring people for the previous eight years so I fail to see why losing the temporary cut would change much).
Dearest Friend "They have no idea what it's like - how dare they say things like that."
Technically, they're getting hit as bad as the rest of us. I'm sure they have some cognitive kung-fu to make sure that they aren't the "them" that they're busy smearing (I assume something along the lines of "I earned it. They are just lazy").
"Sorry, for the miserable post, friends."
It's been one of those decades...
I rather doubt the people that were running for political office have any idea what it is like for a middle class person out of work. They have had high-paying jobs working in city or state government for quite some time...and in the case of the Pennsylvania legislature they voted for their own raises a few years back! How I would LOVE to be able to do that when I have a job..."Oh, I think I'd like about 10 dollars more an hour...OK?" "SURE!" I know of no boss that would be inclined to do that.
Thank you, Dan, for your words. It's a help to know that some people are sympathetic to the situation.
By the way, I read all the lyrics to "Good King Wenceslas" the other day and was struck by the kind-heartedness of the King and his instructions to his servant. Wow - we should could use a leader in any country like him today!
Despite my personal struggles, I am seriously considering volunteering to spend my Christmas working in a soup kitchen or elsewhere because most of my family will be WORKING on Christmas Day in various jobs in the service industry. Soup kitchens and the like disturb me somewhat - who feeds the homeless the rest of the year?
""I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." - A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
keep it up mein herr!
Dan,
Just a question, how long should benefits endure. All that is sought in the question opinions as to how long and why. I believe that employers pay for such insurance and workers should have a buffer provided from such insurance.
Do you think anyone who is unemployed should receive checks forever until they get work, or for some finite period. If for enduring periods, why don't we call it what it is, welfare.
I was reading about Detroit over the weekend, scary stuff. Michigan is a democrats' dream from a policy standpoint. I wondered for a minute if you gave people and business the right to work in that city without unions, minimize regulations, lower corporate taxes in that area and gave people a discount on state and federal taxes for working in the city what would happen. I bet it would be a thriving metropolis in no time. Instead the do gooders have created a living hell.
I mentioned Detroit, surfed a bit and say this. I dont think this man is a Republican. Or a Tea Partier for that matter. So he must not be guilty.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9K524T00
boltok,
When did you decide the purpose of your existence would be resource competition? To what end?
Dan
Dan,
I know. Resource competition sucks. I think we should pay reparations to the offspring of the 10,000 generations of man who have had to endure such pain and indignity. Hey, I just realized, I am one of those offspring. I now think the US government should pay me to sit on my ass and do nothing.
I have been so deluded.
Thank you Dan.
Jason Dylan what'd you say? "Sod", we don't want the policies that have led to the disarray in Europe these days to come here.
"These bastards like O'Reilly are just rubbing it in our face. We need to start a club of Jesus Ninja's to disconnect these false prophets."
Just turn it off, I watch a number of the political programs from time to time. They are entertainment, not telling me how to think. Let's not even infer violence.
"Loved the Lennon thing too. Not to stir the pot, but I believe the nameless nut who offed him, was riled up by a conservative church."
Well, it's well documented where he was coming from. Beatlemania produced fanatics.
Glenn Beck teamed up with some of the guys from the Daily Kos; unbelievable, when he was up in Ohio.
JasonDylan and TomDegan must listen to Glenn Beck more.
-----------
Only with unemployment benefits are liberals talking about Christmas, otherwise, we see the ACLU taking the ten commandments out of the classroom and things like that.
boltok,
"In a World of Scarcity Love has no meaning and Peace is impossible."
The World can turn the best of us into thieves and liars. I don't dispute your point of view per se. Some people take advantage of unemployment benefits. Some take advantage of Bank Bail-outs. Some take advantage of Wars,ect...Social entropy happens.
So what are you trying to accomplish with your focus on unemployment benefits? Why not Walls Street? Should they be allowed to give themselves bail-outs and bonuses after the 2008 fiasco? Why no diatribe for that or these endless, expensive and murderous occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Not that it matters and not meant as a personal attack but I bet "Fox News" is endlessly covering the unemployment extension in this new Tax bill. Am I right?
Money is meaningless to society if it isn't moving. Giving money to the less fortunate will benefit the whole because it will be spent, hence moving. Those who give to ease suffering get an added bonus of,,,,wait for it,,,,, easing suffering. About the best we can hope for at this moment in this World.
Merry Christmas boltok
Oh and to answer your question. I would give unemployment until mimimum wage was raised to provide a living wage within a 40 hour work week and include thirty days paid vacation, healthcare and sick leave.
Hey !!!! Someone besides me thinks that minimum wage should be high enough to allow a full time worker to earn a living wage and rise above the poverty level ?? WOW I'm impressed !!
It is a sad and sorry situation when wealthy politicians (of either stripe) rail against unemployment benefits and the minimum wage. They have obviously never been there.
While there may be some who abuse unemployment benefits, the fact is that just like the minimum wage, it sustains only a miserable existence. Anyone who has had a decent job and is reduced to unemployment will certainly not want to sit on their ass and try to live on it.
I am sure that there are many who are no longer looking for jobs simply because they have been beaten down for so long in the job search that they have given up hope.
For those politicians who want to push "job training programs", I would ask them train for what? Flipping hamburgers at McDonalds? The sad fact is that many jobs have gone overseas and will never return. The job market is going to have to be completely restructured for many people.
Boltok, you surprised me with you set of questions in your first post. You and I disagree on many things, but I think you raise some very valid points here. Unfortunately, points for which there are not only no easy answers, but probably no answers at all.
When you said "If the government does all that it can to impede job creation and collapse the private sector, they should be liable for the human cost." I agree. As long as the government continues to allow companies to ship jobs overseas and make huge tax free profits, that government is responsible to a degree for the people it has misplaced.
And the really sad thing about this "war on Christmas" is that many of the people who have lost jobs are forced to shop at Wal-Mart, the Dollar Store and other such venues that are packed with cheap goods manufactured by the very countries who took their jobs away from them.
Tom, you are right on with your example of DeMint and the other "christians" who have no feelings for their fellowman. They don't have a clue what the teachings of Jesus are all about.
Charles....on the other side of the coin some part time jobs available pay so little that unemployment benefits actually provide greater income than the part time job !! So it would be sort of self-defeating to take the job and lose the benefits !! Each day a person on unemployment works they lose a day of benefits even if the work was part time... so do the math !!!
Tom Degan,
What percentage of progressives of the your type are atheists? I bet you are a very small percentage. You must be from the Dark Ages to believe in Christianity.
Instead of having a religion of Christianity, progressives should have a religion like Environmentalism (save the California spotted owl, California delta smelt, Al Gore Polar Bears etc.) or UFOs.
I KNEW IT!! Libs taking down the Christmas holiday!
Happy holidays,
AS
http://starkravingmanager.com/
"leans to the left" '?????????
Wow. Think you're just "leaning" Tom old boy? Dude you're way out there on the FRINGE.
That's the problem with you pREgressives, you really believe your views are mainstream. HAHAHA
I don't see the need for you to troll the CL Denver Politics forum, you seem to have a nice little circle jerk going here.
It's looney tunes on this site. How's that election a few weeks ago reaffirming your world? Oh yeah, you and Pelosi said YOU WON!!!! HAHAHAHA
Remember these words lunatic, "ash bin of history"
never never land
Dan
Your comment:
"Oh and to answer your question. I would give unemployment until mimimum wage was raised to provide a living wage within a 40 hour work week and include thirty days paid vacation, healthcare and sick leave."
This is exactly why democratic policies fail. The reason the united states if far beyond any other country is because the system pays for incremental value provided by individuals. Change tires = one type of pay, porsche mechanic a different level of pay. Its based on what incremental value people provide. To give everyone middle class existence and early retirement benefits without commensurate value creation in return results in bankruptcy of the state. And, by the way, we are now bankrupt.
BTW2: If anyone is found guilty of a crime on wall street, they should do time at least as punitive as an inner city kid caught stealing from the local store.
boltok "This is exactly why democratic policies fail."
One person's idealistic ideas are "democratic policies" now?
"And, by the way, we are now bankrupt."
Deficit spending during busts and deficit spending during booms, spending money on gadgets so useless that even the Pentagon doesn't want them, tax cuts, Star Wars, tax cuts, Star Wars II, Corporatism, using the Fed to pump up bubbles (and Fannie/Freddie to stabilize quicksand), deregulating Wall Street and rewarding their greedompetence (greed + incompetence) with bailouts (for the well-connected ones) and lukewarm/half ass'd/easy to work around reregulation, outsourcing military jobs (which, for short-term wars, to some degree makes economic and combat-strength sense) for permanent wars, paying for two wars with tax cuts…
"BTW2: If anyone is found guilty of a crime on wall street, they should do time at least as punitive as an inner city kid caught stealing from the local store."
If they're looking, they aren't looking all that hard (like Abu Ghraib the best we can hope for is that a couple of minor characters are scapegoated for sins falling far farther up the chain). Obama can't because he can't alienate Big Business (at least, that's what he's told), the Dems can't because Leftwing Populism is dead as a movement (and if massive, systemic fraud isn't enough to stoke the flames, what will?), and the GOP won't because they're solidly Corporatist (and with the GOP moving to control the House and its committees, the non-movement forward will slow to a stop, if not a reversal).
Ah, yes, did I miss the very end of your comments? Or did you just add the "Ave Maria" from Perry?
Another beauty - probably NOT on Youtube (can't check from where I'm posting this from - a hotel lobby computer...) - Bobby Darin doing the OTHER version of Ave Maria from his Christmas album recorded "all those years ago," when we were all young and innocent. Beauty in musical form.
Check it out. Walden Robert Cassotto and Perrino Como knew how to reverently sing..also, Dino Paul Crocetti (we all know and love him as Dean Martin)singing "Silent Night."
Good Catholic boys...and all supporters of...(GASP!) the Democratic Party.
OK - it was another time, another age, when most of us posting here still believed in a silent night, Santa Claus and flying reindeer. But it's GOOD to hear these and remember...what "Christmas is all about."
Mary (yes - named for THAT Mary - the young lady who gave so much without much understanding of what she was giving but she knew in her heart she HAD to do this amazing thing.)
Mary
Tom, you must be wearing red meat or something because the right wing wolves are yapping at your heels.I cannot wrap my mind around why, when they claim they love this country, why do they not know anything about our history? Why are they not even interested in reading the letters written by the founders of this republic to get a first hand idea of how they thought? Just messes with my head. Another thing: they tend to write the most snarky, insulting and vulgar posts when speaking of their love of Jesus and how they are SURE nobody else here is a believer. Certainly not me, but I never said I was...it's like they were sitting around the bar with a few dozen friends and they reinvent history to suit them, they seem to develop the power to read minds and souls because they are always telling us how we think and feel. Are we not all Americans and did we not share the dream of working together, compromising and balancing our ideals so others can share this space? No, they seem to want to kill us all! They are so angry that a person might disagree with them. I'm a little pissed that people try to tell me what I mean when I write something, as if I don't realize.
We used to ask how the German people could have allowed Hitler to come into so much power, to eliminate human rights, democratic principles. Now we know, because it's happening here and people are frothing at the mouth to burn the Constitution and start up prison camps for the poor, the liberal, the Roma, intellectuals and Muslims. Americans who actually have had history in school still want to bag the Bill of Rights and start torturing people so we can protect our Bill of Rights. ?????
We should have taught logic in 1st grade instead of waiting til college.
The right wing has no interest in "protecting" democracy. They are protecting what wealth they have, period. Read the comments from the right and see how many thoughtful, logical statements come from that corner...and how many insults, diatribes and just plain lies. We Americans helped Hitler and his men get started. Our corporations loved his style and his hatred of unions. (r u listening, Boltok?) Henry Ford helped finance Hitler in the early days and the Right wing today would do it again.
My daughter is unemployed and has been searching for work which will allow her to pay rent and buy food. Pretty simple needs. The new HealthCare crap will force her to buy insurance, if the courts allow it. We are paying for her student loans until she finds more work. She has been finding minimum wage piece work which augments her unemployment but then you report the work and they knock that money off, so you lose by being honest. She is not having fun being unemployed! It does her self respect no good to be running around with resumes getting told "NO!" because all the firms have exported their work to cheaper countries.
I have yet to meet a Republican who is looking for work who is not collecting unemployment. Once they get a job suddenly they hate "welfare". It's either idiocy or hypocrisy and I ain't sure which. Gee it used to be a good thing, a Christian thing, to want to help out the poor. Now the Religious Right say "Suck it up, roll over and die!"
Yeshua was a socialist,
Buddha was a monk.
Obama is a disappoint
And Boltok is a punk.
Tom, what's the max words on comments. I just wrote a staggeringly insightful comment and was told it was too long, so it just vanished! sob. How many words is too many? In Boltok's case it is three.
Dear Will,
I have no idea why that would be so. According to my computer, however, your comment was posted intact.
Good one by the way!
All the best,
Tom
Tom,
What is it going to take to convince Senator Bernie Sanders that the USSR was a failed social engineering experiment?
Tom,
Thanks for a wonderful Christmas gift with the pointer to Ave Maria.
I sent it on to my sister with the words it will sure as ignite emotions within remembering a time when most religions had not reduced or refined doctrine into the instant cash cows and self righteousness of todays exclusive fundamentalist so called Christian sects.
Peace to you too brother,
and
Merry Christmas to you and family
ian
Tom, I started with laughter as I read your version of Jingle Bells; however, as I continued reading my mindset shifted from humor to thoughtful contemplation. I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school through 8th grade. Like you, I actually read the Bible and your thoughts regarding the professed Christianity of the Right really resonate with me.
The hypocrisy of declaring to hold Christian beliefs and at the same time ignore what is the cornerstone of the teachings of the Jesus whom they claim to follow--love one's neighbor as you would yourself--is appalling.
Sheria,
You know what I think would be Christ like? For the millions of Americans, legal and illegal, who have received billions of tax dollars that were taken from the rightful earners and owners of the money by our government and given to them to just say one time.
"THANK YOU"!
Instead of always asking for more.
Anonymous "You know what I think would be Christ like? For the millions of Americans, legal and illegal, who have received billions of tax dollars that were taken from the rightful earners and owners of the money by our government and given to them..."
The "rightful earners and owners of the money"? Now, I might just be a hopelessly naïve and optimistic just-barely-white-collar boob from a long line of white trash, but I don't mind paying my taxes. On a societal level, a cared-for populace is better than one where those below me are ignored (there was an author that wrote about a time when such things were standard. Dickens, I think his name was). Even on a purely self-centered level, a fraction of it goes to support programs that I might need should the fickle finger of fate knock me on my butt (or, God forbid, should Wall Street break the economy in the pursuit of bonuses and commissions).
14% (higher than normal, due to the recession) of the federal budget is a small price to pay, I say.
"...to just say one time. 'THANK YOU'!"
Let me take this opportunity to speak for both the Unwashed Masses and the Washed Masses who got caught in this terrible downturn and say "Thank you".
Now shut the fuck up and pay your taxes.
Modusoperandi
It really pained you to say Thank You didn't it?
Oh and by the way,
your welcome.
Modusoperandi
Just noticed that you claim to live in Canada, if that is the truth,
who the fuck are you to tell me how much of my income should be taken from me by the USA government in the form of taxes?
What skin is it off your withered up Canadian pimpled ass, much less any of your fucking business.
Anonymous "Modusoperandi It really pained you to say Thank You didn't it?"
Hardly. I'm magnanimous. Handsome, too. And oh so very humble. Also, I smell like chocolate.
"Oh and by the way, your welcome."
You're welcome too. We both pay for roads. And schools. And sewers. And police. And fire departments. And... And... And... Pretty much everyone seems to. Even those who make so little that they don't pay income tax still pay non-income taxes.
"Just noticed that you claim to live in Canada..."
I don't generally "claim to live in Canada". I claim to live on Easter Island. I do so because it's more amusing.
"if that is the truth, who the fuck are you to tell me how much of my income should be taken from me..."
I'm your neighbour, neighbour, and it pains me to see a neighbour bitter about the status of his neighbour, even though that neighbour has little to nothing.
"...by the USA government in the form of taxes?"
Are you unaware that your government isn't some alien beast, it instead being The People? Granted, that comes across as terribly idealistic, but it should be mentioned that when you disparage your government you are effectively disparaging both yourself and the collective "we" of the population of the USA. The only people who can improve the State are the members of that very nation. Crap. I'm sounding idealistic again.
"What skin is it off your withered up Canadian pimpled ass..."
It's not withered. It's smooth, plump and ripe, like two delicious apples. To be fair, though, it's got a nasty crack running down the middle.
"...much less any of your fucking business."
While none of us are Atlas, with the strength to take the whole world on our shoulders, are we not brothers?
modusoperandi00
I could care less what you think you smell of.
Every one pays income taxes, that is a lie. 47% of Americans do not owe one penny to the IRS on April 15th, in fact if they don't make enough income they will get cash from the govt in the form of "earned income tax". "I gave at the office."
I really could care less where you live or think you live, you will not guilt trip me into believing I owe more taxes because some else needs more money or has less than I.
If the condition of my neighbor pains you so much, write a check and mail it to the IRS, that should go a long way to healing your pain. Put your money where your mouth is.
This may come as a compete shock to you, but the USA's Federal government, was not designed to provide for an all giving, all providing, all taking away Nanny State. I like it that way and wish it would return.
Post photo to prove what you say about your Canadian ass it true. PROOF IN ADVERTISING?
Explain why you think we are brothers/sisters? And if we are, what do you assume is our obligation to each other?
Anonymous "Every one pays income taxes, that is a lie. 47% of Americans do not owe one penny to the IRS on April 15th, in fact if they don't make enough income they will get cash from the govt in the form of 'earned income tax'."
My apologies. I assumed you would read what I wrote in good faith, taking what I said as the same thing you said. "Paying and getting back tax" and "Not paying tax", consequentially, are the same thing.
"I really could care less where you live or think you live…"
I too could care less where I live. As long as where I live happens to be where my stuff is, anyway.
"...you will not guilt trip me into believing I owe more taxes because some else needs more money or has less than I."
Keep in mind that "Let them eat cake" has a history of not working out all that well for those that say it.
"If the condition of my neighbor pains you so much, write a check and mail it to the IRS, that should go a long way to healing your pain. Put your money where your mouth is."
I do. Not to your IRS, but to my own country's equivalent, the Canada Revenue Agency ("revenue" from the French word meaning "to venue again". True story). Paying to your IRS would grossly contradict my earlier "Atlas" comment.
"This may come as a compete shock to you, but the USA's Federal government, was not designed to provide for an all giving, all providing, all taking away Nanny State."
That's good, because it's not. It seems to privatize the profits and socialize the losses, if the Mortgage Crisis-slash-bailout is any indicator.
"I like it that way and wish it would return."
A return to the Gilded Age? Really? Is your grasp of history so weak? There's a reason why these programs came about in the first place. Last time, the Upper Crust were smart enough, humane enough, to send some crumbs downstream to circumvent the spectre of revolution. This time they've grafted Populism and Rightwing together to get the same people they're screwing to fight to make them richer.
"Post photo to prove what you say about your Canadian ass it true."
Oh, come on! This is the internet. Even a cursory Googling results in hundreds of pictures of my butt.
"Explain why you think we are brothers/sisters?"
Because, like it or not, we're stuck together.
"And if we are, what do you assume is our obligation to each other?"
Mat25:34-45 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
2 Thessalonians 3:10
"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me." Matthew 26:11
"There will always be poor people in the land." Deuteronomy 15:11
"Now shut the fuck up and pay your taxes." Some brotherhood and Christan love from you, Modusoperandi,eh? Now since you believe we in the States aren't paying enough to our Federal Government and since you feel there is shortage of money being collected and spent on those who do not pay or owe income taxes to the IRS, here's the address you can send your check to:
10th St NW & Pennsylvania Ave NW 20004
Thanks for being such a good neighbor, anytime you want to advise us how we can do it better, send your cash along with your ideas. But remember this:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
Yes, Anonymous, the poor will always be with us. That's no reason to abandon them. That's no reason to maximize the number of them.
Try thinking of it this way; you can pay one way or pay another, but you will pay. States like Michigan spend 20% (and rising) of their annual budget on the Department of Corrections.
...
I'm sorry, Anonymous. I've run out of words. I have only so many ways to say "Don't be an asshole".
Modusoperandi,
1. Mind your own business.
2. How about this. Don't expect the USA to spend a penny for your country's defense, you pay your own tab for that from now on. Maybe that will free up some of our tax dollars that you want us to spend on our "brothers".
3. Great to feel the Canadian Christian love.
4. Typical, when at a loss for words, left leaning posters revert to personal attack and name calling.
Closing remarks, still waiting for the millions of the citizens of the USA to say just once say "thanks" for the billions of dollars taken by taxes from others and given to them in attempt to improve their lives. Instead, the guilt trip process and the demand for more as typify by your posts, is what is heard, while there is no evidence of any improvement in the lives of those who are the recipients of the billions, nor a reduction in their numbers.
Dear Mr. Degan,
It has come to our attention that you have once again leaked in print the sinister plot on the part of Liberals to destroy Christmas.
As was discussed at our last secret meeting (held, if you recall, in the back of the Chinese laundry in Elgin, Ohio), our plan was a diabolical one, rooted in the most devious and underhanded methods of inclusion and nondiscrimination, bolstered by actually behaving in a manner prescribed by Jesus himself (brilliant, if I do say so myself!). But it was also a plan that required the utmost secrecy in order to succeed in destroying the very foundation of Christmas... and America. First Christmas, then America. In that order.
Now, you have blown our cover. Please surrender your Obama HOPE poster, along with your "I brake for representative democracy" bumper sticker and the complimentary Liberal tote bag as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Liberals Who Secretly Want to Destroy Christmas
Well, Catharine, I guess our cover has been blow to heck. Next year we'll get it right!
Happy New Year!
Tom
Just what is wrong with DeMint, other than being a self-righteous, narrow minded slug? He suggests making unemployment insurance a "loan" program to encourage people to go back to work? Why do those of his ilk ALWAYS say or imply that the majority of the unemployed do NOT want to go back to work??? In Tennessee the MAXIMUM unemployemnt benefit is $275 a week. I am sure there are many that were making $500 - $600 a week that are really happy and content with $275...DUH??? It is difficult to go back to work when one of the latest things with some rich, greedy business owners (and this is true) is to take loyal employees that have worked for them many years as hourly employees, switching them to salaried and making them work 15 - 20 more hours a week at no additional pay. Of course if the employee will not accept, they are shown the door. Obviously the work is there to hire addtional employees, but this way they can make more with less operating costs. Bottom line is greed and no loyalty to those that have been loyal to them for years. Sadly, if things do not change, we as a people are doomed!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home