"I was so pissed off when those Marines were arrested and jailed!"

[in_cog_ni_to]

That's what my neighbor said last night and I had had just enough Tequila, Beer and Manhattans to set him straight. He stated how angry he was when those Marines were arrested and his wife and another couple all agreed with him and after they agreed with him, I said, "WHY? Why were you angry that they were arrested? They killed an Iraqi citizen who had done nothing to them!" They ALL just sat there with their mouths agape (he didn't know I'm a RADICAL LEFTY :7) and I continued to explain that they had dragged this man out of his house, shot him, planted a gun and a shovel on him and then proceeded to cover it up until the story was exposed. Then one of the wives pipes up and says, "well, the problem is, those soldiers don't know who is going to shoot at them and try to kill them." I said, "That may be true, but they cannot be going into homes and be dragging people out of their homes and murdering them just because they're nervous." I went on to tell the guy that if he "wanted to be pissed off at someone, be pissed off at the people who sent them there because of LIES and be pissed off at their commanding officers who have probably let this behavior go unchecked for a long time. They just got caught this time."

They all agreed with me. ;)

Then he made the mistake of saying..."I'm a die hard republicon, but Bush is doing a horrible job (THAT'S the good part though)." That gave me the opening to start pointing out the failures of the cabal. Do you know, NOT ONE OF THESE 50 YEAR OLDS KNEW HOW MANY MILITARY BASES WE HAVE BUILT IN IRAQ??? Not ONE of them knew. They also didn't know we have built the world's largest embassy in Iraq and didn't seem to give a shit either. "We've always had an embassy in Iraq." he said.:eyes:

I started in on No Child Left Behind and the guy who was pissed about the Marine's arrest said..."Good. Leave the kids behind." I-SHIT-YOU-NOT. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I said, "Excuse me? You think we shouldn't have public schools?" him.."yup, that's what I think." (THIS is a college educated man I'm talking to here!) I responded with, "SO, you want all schools to be religious based?" He shrugs his shoulders, I said, "You do know that's where this is headed, right? This administration wants to destroy our public schools so we can have Faith-Based schools. Is that REALLY what you want?" He just shrugged his shoulders again. We had JUST had a conversation about how our local Olivet Nazarene University is taking over our schools with teachers, they're on the school boards and many of the Principles and VP are from Olivet and this same man was UPSET over that fact! NOW, he says just the opposite about our schools? I then asked him if it was OK with him if we lived under a Theocracy and he just shrugged his shoulders again!

Next up...another guy says, "What bothers me is all these welfare people who come into my store (he owns a liquor store) and spend their money in my store." I said, "Well, that's an awfully broad brush you're using there. Not all welfare recipients spend their money on liquor." He says, "On the 1st, 10th, 20th, and 30th of every month I can DEPEND on them to MAKE MY MONTH." I said, "But there are many, many, many people who need that welfare and feed their children, buy clothes, and pay their bills and I think it's unfair to paint everyone as alcoholics who don't spend the money wisely." He finally said, "I know, I know, I know not ALL of them do that." I said, "We need to help people who can't afford to help themselves." I looked at him and said, "You were born lucky. You came from money, you had food to eat, schools to go to, doctors, etc. and people on welfare are sometimes a product of their environment, just as you are, except your environment was one of wealth and was positive, there's wasn't." He nodded. Then I asked them all, "What do you suggest we do? Do we let them live on the streets? Do you want a country where babies have no homes?" NONE OF THEM had an answer to that. They all just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders again. I think that's exactly what they want and didn't have the guts to say it to me.

Then the other guy says, "Let me ask you this, are you a Socialist?" I responded with, "I could very easily be a Socialist." They ALL were shaking their heads, Oh my God, Oh my God! CRAP.:7 I said, "We should have socialized medicine" and I thought they were all going to have strokes. ;) I told them Europe and Canada pays big bucks for the gas for their cars, but a portion of that money goes into socialized medicine and I think that's what this country should do. You should have seen their faces. LOL. They are all wealthy business people who vote repuke, hate Bush, but support all of his DISGUSTING policies.

Then the liquor store owner asked me what I thought about how the Iraqi Dinar (sp?) was going to do and not being well versed on it I just said that I think they will end up going to the Euro when we get the hell out of there, but I really don't know. He bought 1 million Dinar for $804.00 and is expecting to make big bucks from that transaction. :( If anyone knows anything about the Dinar and the dollar/Euro thing, I'd like some info for him....preferably, BAD info. I hate to see ANYONE making money off the blood of Iraqis.

We ended our little conversation with one guy saying, "Isn't America great? We can all sit here and discuss politics and disagree, but still have a nice conversation."

I'm just hoping I made some of them THINK. I really doubt it though. The upside is...THEY ALL HATE BUSH! My husband, who these men LOVE and respect because he's older and much wiser, got in many great points about Liberalism, Socialism, the war, Bush and other current events, so MAYBE they will take to heart HIS words. It was an interesting evening, to say the least. The sad thing is, BOTH of these men are 2 of the nicest people I know...personally. They are neighbors, but not close friends. They would give me or my husband the shirts off their backs if we needed them, but support the psycho's agenda? I just don't get it.:( It makes me very sad.

Any info on the Iraqi Dinar anyone?

[whistle]

1. Expect a home invasion by your local swat team within a month!

[kaygore]

2. Well said and deja vu

I get these conversations all the time. What appalls me is the arrogance. In Sunday School today we were discussing servant leadership. The class is composed of people my parents' age for the most part, people who are very Republican. Most are also very well off and very well educated--doctors, lawyers, CEOs, former high-ranking military officers. One of the gentlemen in the class noted that Americans such as Bill Gates, Chrysler, etc. were much more generous than people in other nations with giving their wealth to charity. He attributed this to our being Christian.

I noted that Jews in this country were also very giving of their money to charity and that I felt it was due to tax laws that gave the wealthy in this country a means to cut the taxes they owed to the federal and state governments by giving to charity. I did, however, cite Warren Buffet who does not believe in passing wealth on from generation to generation.

The person who was teaching the class today is a lawyer for Pat Robertson. The gentleman had the courtesy, by the way, to cite ex-president Carter as an apostle for all the good that he has done since he left office. However, the gentlemen also cited Pat Robertson as an apostle (the point was that apostles must endure a lot of criticism in the name of Christ).

It was an interesting lesson; however, I think that I have a very different perspective than these very nice and well-meaning people who claim to be Christians but then support Bush's policies and/or Bush.

[MADem]

3. I don't think the guy is gonna make a killing anytime soon

The dinar is pegged to the dollar by their central bank, so it ain't doing much moving.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/10/pf/expert/ask_expert/
My view is that if you want to spend a few bucks to acquire Iraqi dinar as a novelty item or you want to gamble with money you can well afford to lose, that's fine. Enjoy yourself. But you shouldn't even think of making something this iffy a part of your investment portfolio.

My Dumbest Investment
Losing money in Iraq

Last year, I spent about $1,500 for approximately 1.7 million Iraqi dinars. At the moment, one U.S. dollar is worth about 1,450 Iraqi dinars, making my investment worth around $1,170. I've held the currency for over a year now. Violence in the country has not lessened, oil output is still below Saddam-era levels, and its government still hasn't gotten its act together. My main hope is that one Iraqi dinar was worth about $3 during the 1980s. Even a modest increase in the value of the dinar would result in significant gains. Time will tell if this investment is Foolish or just plain foolish.
— BE, Killeen, Texas

The Fool responds: Speculating in currencies — even those of major, stable nations — has burned many investors. Iraq is an especially unstable place right now. Inflation is just one of many risks facing the currency. Don't look to the dinar's past performance, which is largely irrelevant now. Focus instead on the country's future prospects. Or better still, consider investing in the U.S. stock market. Many of our companies offer international exposure through their global operations.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/business/3_3_EL20_MOTLEYFOOL_S1.htm

[LittleClarkie]

4. The shrugging guy, does he have kids

My step-grandfather was like that. He didn't see why he should pay taxes for schools because he didn't have any kids in school. My answer to that was that then he'd have stupid people taking care of him, or not, in his old age. If we turn his logic around on him, come to think of it, why should anyone take care of him in his old age. After all, he's not THEIR grandpa, is he? Now if someone tried to take away his Social Security or his Medicare, he'd probably have a fit. Like Michael J. Fox or Nancy Reagan, Republicans tend to agree with us only when something affects them directly.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Oh yeah. A son and a daughter, but they're grown and out of public school.

He never did give me an explaination on why he wanted our public schools to fail. I have no clue what the man is thinking on that score.

[leesa]

19. Usually, the "evil" of public schools is that they teach independent

thought, which is dangerous to the nationalistic government. The fascists push the notion that public schools churn out socialists like yourself. Private schools control the rhetoric and can control nationalism.

[ComerPerro]

6. Thats the new mantra. Prosecuting crimes is unAmerican

calling out Bush for illegal activites is unAmerican, because it emboldens our enemies.

Investigating serious crimes that may have been committed by our troops means that you don't support the troops

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. I know. These people didn't even 'go there' with me.

Investigating serious crimes that may have been committed by our troops means that you don't support the troops

After they heard my opinion on the matter, they changed the subject. chicken shits.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. Yes.... you would be better off having dinar with some Iraqis

next time around.... leave those people to their own devices.... :)

[elehhhhna]

9. check on dinar's exchange rate here:

urrently 1408 per us dollar, he bought at 1243.

http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic?exch=IQD&expr=USD&value=1

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Thank you. I'll give him this url. n/t

[elehhhhna]

11. tell him about google, too LOL

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Speaking of "welfare", you should have mentioned the $9 Billion Missing

in Iraq. And the no-bid contractors hauling "reconstruction" money out in duffel bags.

It's just astounding. The American taxpayer is being royally raped to the tune of BILLIONS by these administration cronies, and they're worried about people on welfare buying cheap booze.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. There was so much I could have mentioned, but didn't.

None of these highly (supposedly) educated people knew what was going on in the world. It was just sad. It really was. I could have sat there for days explaining crap to them, but it would have gone in one ear and out the other, as usual. Plus, I had had a lot to drink and wasn't completely 'on my toes'....so to speak.;)

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. I'm curious how he's so absolutely certain that welfare checks

coming out on certain days of the month are all getting spent in his store on liquor! There are plenty of businesses that have paydates on specific days of the month vs. weekly or bi-weekly, etc. Is it because they "look" like he thinks a person on welfare looks? In fact, if you listen to the cons and the myth of the Welfare Queens, they should all be driving in a Lexus sporting Gucci shoes and a fur coats.

So, unless they are cashing their welfare checks at his business or outright telling him that is their source of income, it seems he may very well be jumping to a conclusion about people erroneously.

JMHO

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. That's a great question. He knows everyone in town.

His store has been downtown forever and he may know because they tell him and he very well could be drawing wrong conclusions about people. He is your typical bigoted, racist and homophobic RWer so him drawing the wrong conclusion, is a probablity.:(

[Warren DeMontague]

24. Sounds like you did just fine.

:thumbsup:

[dysfunctional press]

13. here's a question for the guy with the liquor store-

since he's so pissed about people on "welfare" using it to buy booze- ask him if he'd be agreeable to a provision that people on welfare CAN'T buy booze with the money...?

since he counts on them to "make his month", i'll bet i can guess the answer.

btw- not all government entitlement money is "welfare"...i'm disabled, and my monthly check is based on the amount of money i PAID into the system. it's NOT a "free" ride by ANY means.

[Bill McBlueState]

23. good question

What I want to ask people who complain about this is, "Below which monthly income is it no longer acceptable to go to a liquor store?" Asking people to quantify their prejudices can be revealing.

Speaking as someone who doesn't make a whole lot of money, I'm not going to throw a huge drunkfest for all my friends once a month, but I can manage my money well enough to make room for an occasional trip to the hallowed liquor store. I mean, I know liquor stores are meant for classy rich people, but sometimes I can pretend. :sarcasm:

[NNN0LHI]

15. Yes we have our share of ignorant rednecks up here in northern Illinois

I personally know plenty of them. You could have easily been talking to some of my neighbors.

Don

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. I don't know about rednecks, but there certainly are a lot of Con

supporters who vote that way. Could have been a number of people I know as well, except more frequently they are pronouncing themselves "Independent". LOL!

[spanone]

18. Once upon a time I actually believed in the American People...

Now I think most are a bunch of lazy fucks who would rather not think for themselves. Your conversations only reinforce this.

[KansDem]

21. "NOT ONE...KNEW HOW MANY MILITARY BASES WE HAVE BUILT IN IRAQ???"

By a strange coincidence, I spoke with my sister over the weekend. We haven't spoken much over the last few years, mainly because we have differing views on Bush and the Iraq War. I have always considered her to be "Freeper-lite."

At least we used to have differing views...

She told me she and her husband cannot stand Bush. I said, "But you voted for him!," and she replied with "Yeah, but that was before we found out what he was like!" (Better late than never, I suppose). We continued to talk at length--something we have never done--about the present situation. Seems she's concerned about prescription drug coverage, invasion of privacy, and the exploding national budget, to name a few. In fact, she had the same concerns that many DUers have.

Well, my contribution to this post subject is this: She didn't know about Tora Bora. I explained to her that the US had a chance to take out Osama and Bush intervened and let him escape. She was surprised. I then told her about the cozy relationship between the Bush Family and the bin Laden Family. And I filled her in on PNAC.

We concluded the conversation and I felt she was "awakening" to some real hard facts that she was ignorant about. But, I didn't think her ignorance was self-inflicted as much as she was just a pawn of the Corporate Media.

Just like the people who did not know about the building of military bases in Iraq, she didn't know about Tora Bora because of Corporate Media complicity with the Bushistas.

edited for spelling...

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Just as an observation on how uninformed these people are,

my guess is they digest FAUX NEWS on a daily basis. Their ignorance was mind boggling. The ONLY good that came from that discussion was THEY ALL HATE BUSH, but that doesn't mean they won't vote for the next RW candidate, unfortunately.

[gratuitous]

25. No offense intended

But your neighbors sound like idiots who will believe/go along with/agree with whatever they heard last. As soon as you started making your points in opposition to Dunderhead's little rant, they all agreed. Then they all agreed that welfare families were bleeding the country white. Until you threw a few facts into the mix. Then another tune got called, and they all danced to that for a while.

However, your courage in the face of such uninformed political hooliganism gives me hope that this will be the year I gently (oh, so gently) remonstrate with the neanderthal down the block at our next neighborhood get-together.

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. No offense taken. They are political idiots

who vote their pocketbooks....period. I'm not so sure they really agreed with me, but were all so uninformed, none of them could argue with FACTS and just went along to get along.....for the evening.

[xchrom]

27. they don't agree with you -- but naturally -- that doesn't

make you less right.

willful ignorance -- i.e. you didn't cite anything that isn't available knowledge -- has grown into epidemic proportions.

eventually it's going to mean more than us just not ''getting along''.