calimary
calimary's JournalAND Californians. WE are "real America," too, dammit!
Btw - I just heard Ted Cruz interviewed and the anchor did ask him about the time he and his Senate partner voted against funding for Hurricane Sandy victims. He did NOT apologize. And the irony is still escaping him. He gave some sniveling pannywise/pound-foolish excuse because somebody had tacked on some amendments that sought funding for other projects outside of the needs of the Hurricane Sandy area.
FOR PETE'S SAKE!!! When there's a desperate need, is THAT the time when you nickel-and-dime people like that? And loudly claim you're a Christian? And better yet - claim even more vehemently that you're "pro-life"?
I think not. You send the help. You send the aid. You write the check. You make the donation. And you get the help to the people who need it, dammit. And you ask questions later - after the lives have been saved and the people have been rescued and have received the help they needed. I'm sorry, but a severe natural/national disaster like this is NOT the time to be a bean-counter. Not when lives are at stake. Unless you're willing to concede you're not really a Christian and you're not really "pro-life."
Only problem is - there were MANY attempts to explain this concept.
There were LEGIONS of explanations - look, Social Security is "Socialist." Our many government programs that you like and want and depend upon, THEY'RE "Socialist," too. Like that Medicare? Yep. Those roads and highways that we all use that were paid for by public funds? Those, too. Tax money? Yep. That annoying stuff that pays for everything from the National Weather Service and NOAA and - um - FEMA - to our military and all the expenses thereof. That as well. The basics of it IS as you say: "by pooling money together for a common goal, it ends up cheaper for everyone." The infrastructure that provides the very underpinnings for our way of life - that was built by the New Deal and other efforts, is paid for by OUR TAX MONEY.
Hell, as a Californian, living in what's called a DONOR state, I frankly resent knowing that my tax money is going to the red states who always run in the red and always take and need more than the tax money THEY pay in. I'd rather keep that tax money here in California. But I realize that the money needs to be spread out and shared - BECAUSE THERE'S GENUINE, LEGITIMATE NEED out there, beyond just my state line. Whenever I found myself wavering and not caring about what went on in other states, all I had to do was remember my kid, and his band buddies, in their little tour van, driving on roads that some states didn't bother repairing, or (Heaven FORBID!) bridges and overpasses that hadn't been maintained properly for years or hadn't been brought up to code. You bet I worried about that. My daughter and her husband and his family live several states away and you better believe I expect that infrastructure to be damn well maintained so THEY don't find themselves collapsed into a river that cuts through part of their small town. And hell, if that particular red state (unfortunately), doesn't want to pay or raise taxes to cover those repairs, well, okay then. Use my California tax money! It's gotta come from somewhere - if they're gonna be cheap-ass and pennywise/pound-foolish in that state.
We've explained this and explained this and explained this. Every so often, there were TV segments about it. Explaining and explaining and explaining.
But by Jove that didn't work. Just didn't. NOBODY paid any attention to the multitudes of pleas and efforts to educate and illuminate. These idiots just weren't gonna take delivery on a single syllable of it. Further proof of that was how all the "...ists" sort of melded together as one big ol' nasty epithet of libtard horribleness. Socialist-Communist-Fascist. These and more, all got lumped together in one big batch of toxic swill, indistinguishable one from another, and guaranteed to help turn voters away from voting for Democrats. Those terms all mean the same thing, right? Uh - NO. But you'd never guess that from hearing the teabaggers talk and misinterpret and blend the baloney, and dumb it down so even the dimmest of the reactionary dim bulbs on that side could "understand" it. Remember all those little old ladies in their wheelchairs and walkers at teabagger rallies - holding their signs that read alternately "NO Socialism" and "Keep your hands off MY MEDICARE!"
Indeed, I heard a report that many citizens of Rockport assumed that this storm would be
the same as every other storm in the past. That's because every other storm, even the bad ones, somehow always missed Rockport. Thus it was an easy assumption to make, that this time would be no different from all the many other times.
THIS time? Unfortunately, WRONG.
What a remarkable story.
There are angels among us. And thank Heaven for that. Thank YOU, too, Lurker Deluxe.
NO.
#1 - adding "Democratic" to "Socialism" - at least in my opinion - casts a shadow on the word "Democratic" and therefore also to all things Democratic - like our party and those of us who are members of our party. The word "Socialism" is still toxic, whether or not the belief systems and concepts behind it can be viewed, separately, as something positive. You throw the word "Socialism" in, and it's a red flag to too many millions of Americans for whom the entire concept has been corrupted by some very focused propaganda by the bad guys, over decades. DECADES. Deprogramming from that will also probably take MORE DECADES. Too many Americans have been taught to view "Socialism" as something bad, anathema, completely opposite their notion of what's "American." The word "Socialism" tested horribly with massive numbers of potential voters, regardless of whatever appeal any candidates flying that banner might have had. The word "Socialism," all by itself, was a colossal buzz-kill. A total non-starter.
#2 - also in my opinion - too many bad feelings left over from the campaign and adversaries to the nominee. I think we all need to start FRESH on this one.
Yeah, me too, kentuck.
And you make a good point: You CAN INDEED tell a lot about people by the way they treat animals.
We told our daughter and her new husband that the best way to understand what would be involved with a kid would be - get an animal, first. The responsibility and needs of pet ownership can go a long way toward helping you appreciate what you're getting into if you're thinking about starting a family.
Your animals have needs - that YOU must fill.
Among their needs: to be fed, easy access to a water bowl, a place to "go", a place that's safe and sheltered, their health needs to be monitored, some grooming, and a wee bit of behavior training. They can't be left alone for long periods - they need companionship (particularly if they're just the one pet). They can't be "turned loose" or released to the wild when you're tired of them. AND IF you're "tired of them", then maybe you shouldn't have gotten a pet to begin with! You're probably not fit to have one! And if you think pets and animal maintenance is a pain in the ass, maybe you're not ready (or fit) to be a mom or dad, either.
It always pisses me off to hear the stories, after Easter for example, of innocent animals like bunnies and baby chicks, who after a day or two start making it obvious that they're ANIMALS with specific needs, are abandoned. Don't people get it? That's the last thing I'd give to a kid in an Easter basket. These little animals depend on us people, and they're NOT mere playthings to be cast aside after you've played with them for a few minutes. They're for keeps, and they have needs, and they depend on their human owners, and they're a responsibility.
That also happened after the "101 Dalmatians" film was released. Suddenly there was a big jump demand for dalmatian puppies. But from what I recall, they're a responsibility and they have their own behavior issues and you have to care for them properly!
"A good Dalmatian is a dependable, dignified gentleman, yet high-spirited and playful. A good Dalmatian.
However, there are lot of poorly-bred Dalmatians around, and these dogs can have serious temperament flaws. In addition, even a good Dalmatian needs plenty of exercise and companionship. Too much confinement (especially without the companionship of his family) and too little mental stimulation lead to boredom, hyperactivity, and destructive behaviors."
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/dalmatians.html
Me, too, Doug the Dem!
Thanks for this!
I, too, will happily and gratefully take ANY good news I can get. Particularly any good news of the environmental kind.
I couldn't NOT watch him.
I kept mumbling - "ASSHOLE!!! Your WIFE is standing right there, forcryingoutloud!"
Welcome to DU, lebkr!
It just serves to make me feel even MORE proud of my vote in 2008, and in 2012, and last year, too. Because I voted for Hillary. And all of us who did can feel justly proud that we weren't fooled, or taken in, or sold a load of snake oil, or waltzed down the garden path to Hell.
Welcome to DU, Zantar!
Such a touching photo. The grace and dignity that Barack Obama brought to the Office of the President... it made me want to stand up straight and feel great pride.
THIS - that we've got at present? From the sublime, then, to the inane and ridiculous and utterly disgraceful now.
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