Free Lunch

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Bowfinger, I don't think we need to downsize our military at all.

Obviously not. I'm not sure we need to downsize it either. I do believe we need to manage it more effectively, and perhaps need to re-scope its mission. Do you honestly believe that every one of the hundreds of billions we spend on "defense" materially improves the security of the United States? Do you not concede any waste? You have far more faith in big government than I do.

Did the cold war end when the military was downsized during the Carter administration?

No, it ended when the Soviet Union collapsed, in part due to excessive military spending. I'm concerned we're headed down the same path.

Do you think Radical Muslim terrorists will hestitate to attack us if we dramatically downsize our military?

How are the two connected? We don't need a massive military to fight terrorist groups. Terrorists are generally fought with small, specialized forces, not massive armies. Look at how few troops we sent into Afghanistan, more than enough according to the Bush camp. The only reason we still need a massive military is for occupying other countries, a practice that only fuels the hatred you use to justify more military spending. I suggest we break the vicious circle before we bankrupt ourselves.

The rest of the world doesn't hate us because of our military.

Perhaps not, but they do because of the way we meddle in the internal affairs of other countries, including our use of the military in places like Iraq.

 

[BlancoNino]

So are you saying there is absolutely no reason we are occupying other countries?

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
So are you saying there is absolutely no reason we are occupying other countries?

No, I didn't say that. Thanks for the straw man. Any chance of you addressing all the points I raise instead of cherry-picking little bits and pieces you can use to divert discussion?

I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I'm starting to agree with Conjur. I believe I've directly addressed every point you raised. If you're truly interested in discussion, show me the same courtesy.

 

[BlancoNino]

I only asked a certain question to clarify your thoughts before I addressed any of the other points, but if you like to play the cheap shot game then I'm through.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

It's the useage.

of course countries that we use our military on hate us but why do others hate us? Jealous?

Iraq.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I only asked a certain question to clarify your thoughts before I addressed any of the other points, but if you like to play the cheap shot game then I'm through.

Was I wrong?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Whoozyerdaddy, the fact that stories like yours are so rare is really why I am against government help. I think private charities and helping eachother out without the government slamming it's big, ugly, giant fist into your mouth while using the other to pull money out of your pocket is much more efficient and it makes the person who made the donation feel better knowing he did it on his own free will and knowing that it's going to somebody who actually needs it.

The stories like mine might be rare but the realities aren't. Tell me Blanco, what makes for a better headline... "Welfare Cheat Bilks Taxpayers out of Millions" or "Hard Working Mom Follows the Rules and Gets Herself Off Welfare"? The news by nature only reports things that are out of the ordinary or sensational. For every cheat there are thousands of hard working people who follow the rules and do whatever it takes to get themselves off the dole.

I would be the first to agree that the system is overly broad, is lacking in oversight, has too many redundant agencies, and as a result, invites fraud and creates waste. It's a system that is in need of reform. But it's a necessary system. Private charities can only go so far. Your idealism of how things should be is just that... idealistic. In a perfect world we wouldn't need police because everyone would be good. We wouldn't need armies because everyone would get along. And we wouldn't need public assistance because there would always be a helping hand to someone caught in a bad circumstance. Unfortunately that is not the world we live in.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Yep.....all working poor parents are alcholics and couch potatoes. You're a real piece of work!

Funny how you word that "working poor parents". If you were to look at statistics of poor people in this country you will find that they are more likely to own 2 televisions than none. They are more likely to subscribe to cable/satellite TV than not. They are more likely to consume alcohol each week than not to. Yet we must sacrifice tax dollars from everyone to pay for their childrens lunches. Ridiculous.

Edit: They are also more likely to own 2 cars than none. In fact, here's some facts.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

Those are the families receiving free lunch at school.

Gotta love how 60+% of welfare bums have cable TV.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Yep.....all working poor parents are alcholics and couch potatoes. You're a real piece of work!

Funny how you word that "working poor parents". If you were to look at statistics of poor people in this country you will find that they are more likely to own 2 televisions than none. They are more likely to subscribe to cable/satellite TV than not. They are more likely to consume alcohol each week than not to. Yet we must sacrifice tax dollars from everyone to pay for their childrens lunches. Ridiculous.

Edit: They are also more likely to own 2 cars than none. In fact, here's some facts.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

Those are the families receiving free lunch at school.

Gotta love how 60+% of welfare bums have cable TV.

So "poor" = welfare bums? Care to show me in that article where it said that ALL of those people classified as poor were on welfare?

More generalizations from an ignorant fool! :|

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Yep.....all working poor parents are alcholics and couch potatoes. You're a real piece of work!

Funny how you word that "working poor parents". If you were to look at statistics of poor people in this country you will find that they are more likely to own 2 televisions than none. They are more likely to subscribe to cable/satellite TV than not. They are more likely to consume alcohol each week than not to. Yet we must sacrifice tax dollars from everyone to pay for their childrens lunches. Ridiculous.

Edit: They are also more likely to own 2 cars than none. In fact, here's some facts.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

Those are the families receiving free lunch at school.

Gotta love how 60+% of welfare bums have cable TV.

So "poor" = welfare bums? Care to show me in that article where it said that ALL of those people classified as poor were on welfare?

More generalizations from an ignorant fool! :|

I'd like to see where it said that ANY of those people were on welfare. That article is out of context here. It is a statistical survey showing how well the poor in America live. To a certain extent that is something for America to be proud of. Compared to the poor in Bangledesh, our poor live like kings.

But poor does not = welfare bums. In fact, people on welfare don't universally = bums.
I have eaten food purchased with food stamps. I have lived in a house partially paid for by public assistance. I am not, nor have I ever been a bum. And I'd bet my left nut that I make a hell of a lot more than you do Zendari. In fact, I suspect my tax bill is more than your annual income.

Take your bum comment and GFO.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Yep.....all working poor parents are alcholics and couch potatoes. You're a real piece of work!

Funny how you word that "working poor parents". If you were to look at statistics of poor people in this country you will find that they are more likely to own 2 televisions than none. They are more likely to subscribe to cable/satellite TV than not. They are more likely to consume alcohol each week than not to. Yet we must sacrifice tax dollars from everyone to pay for their childrens lunches. Ridiculous.

Edit: They are also more likely to own 2 cars than none. In fact, here's some facts.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

Those are the families receiving free lunch at school.

Gotta love how 60+% of welfare bums have cable TV.

So "poor" = welfare bums? Care to show me in that article where it said that ALL of those people classified as poor were on welfare?

More generalizations from an ignorant fool! :|

I'd like to see where it said that ANY of those people were on welfare. That article is out of context here. It is a statistical survey showing how well the poor in America live. To a certain extent that is something for America to be proud of. Compared to the poor in Bangledesh, our poor live like kings.

But poor does not = welfare bums. In fact, people on welfare don't universally = bums.
I have eaten food purchased with food stamps. I have lived in a house partially paid for by public assistance. I am not, nor have I ever been a bum. And I'd bet my left nut that I make a hell of a lot more than you do Zendari. In fact, I suspect my tax bill is more than your annual income.

Take your bum comment and GFO.

:thumbsup:

(p.s. You forget...zendari is on his way to $millions)

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

edit: It's not my style to compare incomes or financial status with anyone even if that person is a sociopath who is concerned about the money (*of which NONE-to-little is his*)
used to feed school children.

I apologize for my lack of tact.

 

[BlancoNino]

Well we aren't talking about welfare here, we're talking about free lunch. I'm sure zendari's comment wasn't to be taken literally as I understood exactly what he meant.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Well we aren't talking about welfare here, we're talking about free lunch. I'm sure zendari's comment wasn't to be taken literally as I understood exactly what he meant.

Bullcrap...zendari meant it exactly as it sounded and it's not suprising that you and he connect on the same level. :roll:

 

[spaceman]

i'm sure my tax dollars go to much more wasteful projects other than free lunch...
and as a "conservative" i do think we have an obligation to these children...they cannot decide whether mommy and daddy spend money on booze or food for them.

 

[Agrooreo]

Originally posted by: ncircle
i'm sure my tax dollars go to much more wasteful projects other than free lunch...
and as a "conservative" i do think we have an obligation to these children...they cannot decide whether mommy and daddy spend money on booze or food for them.

I definately agree. If Blaco and Zen have such a problem with the misuse of "their" tax dollars why dont the 2 of you go after the people agreeing to buy those 1,000$ bolts that actually cost around 1.00$.

Instead of talking about the kids who only want something to eat?

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Agrooreo

Originally posted by: ncircle
i'm sure my tax dollars go to much more wasteful projects other than free lunch...
and as a "conservative" i do think we have an obligation to these children...they cannot decide whether mommy and daddy spend money on booze or food for them.

I definately agree. If Blaco and Zen have such a problem with the misuse of "their" tax dollars why dont the 2 of you go after the people agreeing to buy those 1,000$ bolts that actually cost around 1.00$.

Instead of talking about the kids who only want something to eat?

:thumbsup:

Because zen worships the allmighty corporation and thinks it perfectly OK for them to prosper under our taxpayer money.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Yep.....all working poor parents are alcholics and couch potatoes. You're a real piece of work!

Funny how you word that "working poor parents". If you were to look at statistics of poor people in this country you will find that they are more likely to own 2 televisions than none. They are more likely to subscribe to cable/satellite TV than not. They are more likely to consume alcohol each week than not to. Yet we must sacrifice tax dollars from everyone to pay for their childrens lunches. Ridiculous.

Edit: They are also more likely to own 2 cars than none. In fact, here's some facts.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

Those are the families receiving free lunch at school.

Gotta love how 60+% of welfare bums have cable TV.

Gee, the Heritage Foundation engaging in distorting logic and creating ways to criticize the poor.

Here's an assignment for Blanco and Zen. Read this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...hreadid=1353081&enterthread=y&arctab=y

Much along the same lines as that ridiculous Heritage Foundation article.

 

[umbrella39]

Oh but Heritage Foundation is an oft linked source of fact for him. The smell of desperation reeks lately and is only going to smell worse as November approaches.

 

[tec699]

My uncle's a multimillionaire and he gets nailed in high taxes!! Why should he have to pay these god damn high taxes? WTF, my parents paid $24k in taxes last year!!! 24 grand!!! I'm almost positive that most here don't make that in a year. :laugh:

:|

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: tec699
My uncle's a multimillionaire and he gets nailed in high taxes!! Why should he have to pay these god damn high taxes? WTF, my parents paid $24k in taxes last year!!! 24 grand!!! I'm almost positive that most here don't make that in a year. :laugh:

:|

Not in federal alone, but I've paid in more than $24k taxes this year.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: tec699
My uncle's a multimillionaire and he gets nailed in high taxes!! Why should he have to pay these god damn high taxes? WTF, my parents paid $24k in taxes last year!!! 24 grand!!!

Yeah, so? Don't be so negative. How much did they keep? Instead of obsessing on the ~25% of the glass that's empty, enjoy the 75% that's full.

I'm almost positive that most here don't make that in a year. :laugh:

:|

Probably true, only because most of you are still in school. What's your point?

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Agrooreo

Originally posted by: ncircle
i'm sure my tax dollars go to much more wasteful projects other than free lunch...
and as a "conservative" i do think we have an obligation to these children...they cannot decide whether mommy and daddy spend money on booze or food for them.

I definately agree. If Blaco and Zen have such a problem with the misuse of "their" tax dollars why dont the 2 of you go after the people agreeing to buy those 1,000$ bolts that actually cost around 1.00$.

Instead of talking about the kids who only want something to eat?

Different people consider different spending wasteful. The libs don't seem to be going after our $68 trillion Medicare liability.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: Agrooreo
I definately agree. If Blaco and Zen have such a problem with the misuse of "their" tax dollars why dont the 2 of you go after the people agreeing to buy those 1,000$ bolts that actually cost around 1.00$.

Instead of talking about the kids who only want something to eat?

:thumbsup:

Because zen worships the allmighty corporation and thinks it perfectly OK for them to prosper under our free market.

Absolutely true.

 

[Meuge]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: tec699
My uncle's a multimillionaire and he gets nailed in high taxes!! Why should he have to pay these god damn high taxes? WTF, my parents paid $24k in taxes last year!!! 24 grand!!! I'm almost positive that most here don't make that in a year. :laugh:

:|

Not in federal alone, but I've paid in more than $24k taxes this year.

My parents paid quite a bit more than 24k in taxes last year... what's your point? Did it feel bad personally? Probably. But you have to realize that there are ultimate gains that come from proximal losses.