Hypocrisy and Right vs. Left Wing

[SpiritMeadow]

That is a ridiculous statement. Poverty is not a static class of people or a permanent state of being.

Prove that. Most people do not advance out of their class, period, and never did. You continue to buy into the social darwinistic nonsense put forth by intellectuals of the 1800’s and gobbled up by titans of industry. They snowed you guys well, and in your relative poverty compared to them, you are still buying it.

 

[rlg94086]

Yes, insofar as they** have not have sufficient funds to solve the problems**. You don’t have to go back to the 60’s of course. Most of those programs have been slashed badly over the years and are not the grand designs that were once envisioned. The cut and slash policies of the GOP have not done a thing either have they? Oh and apparently they didn’t even reduce your taxes, just those of the rich which they urge you to emmulate by “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.” I’ll take the “liberal” programs any day over the “make sure the wealtiest get to keep all their money” policies of the conservatives.

Balderdash. Typical liberal response - throw money at the problem. Then, if the “solution” makes things worse, throw more money at the problem.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

Our taxes are not meant to solve the evils of the world and since the ills you list do not describe the country we pay taxes to, it’s not clear why you think those problems should have been eliminated, least of all by taxing us.

Ender

You might want to check around sir. We are becoming more and more a heavily weighted underclass of poor people, with a smaller and smaller middle class and a tiny group at the top who has all the benefits. 45 million of your fellow citizens have no health care or not enough, people do in fact go to bed hungry in America, our public schools are shoddy and do a horrendous job of teaching our youth, and most cannot afford better schools. I am talking about America. Open you eyes, do you not see the homeless in your towns and cities?

By us? you mean? you got yours huh? And screw anybody else?

Even if I were not talking about the US, I find your statements insensitive. Do you care nothing for your fellow human beings?

 

[rlg94086]

Prove that. Most people do not advance out of their class, period, and never did. You continue to buy into the social darwinistic nonsense put forth by intellectuals of the 1800’s and gobbled up by titans of industry. They snowed you guys well, and in your relative poverty compared to them, you are still buying it.

You got it sister…
heritage.org/research/taxes/bg1418.cfm

• A 1992 Treasury Department study showed that between 1979 and 1988, 86 percent of those in the bottom income quintile moved to a higher quintile, and 35 percent in the top income quintile moved to a lower quintile. 2
• A 1995 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas report showed that almost three-fourths of those in the bottom quintile in 1975 were in a higher quintile by 1991, and almost 40 percent in the top quintile moved down to a lower quintile over the same period. 3
• A 1996 Urban Institute study showed that large numbers of Americans move into a new income quintile, with estimates ranging from 25 percent to 40 percent in a single year. The same study found even higher mobility rates over longer periods: about 45 percent over five years and 60 percent over 9-year and 17-year periods. 4

I’m sure you won’t let facts get in your way though…

 

[SpiritMeadow]

You asserted, specifically, that emulating the folks near you would benefit the nation.

Let’s review what you, and some of your fellow conservatives have now stated.

1. Conservatives profess to be “pro life”, but reject the Church’s definition of “pro life”. In your case, you find it impractical (you sneered at the idea of not torturing), others find it contradictory or even incoherent (Ender).
2. Conservatives profess to be “absolutely” against abortion, but, large numbers support abortions in specific instances. For example, rape, incest, and the life of the mother (Vern even steadfastly supports abortions when the mother’s life is not demonstrably in danger).
3. Conservativer profess to be committed to “winning” in Iraq, But are the largest hurdle to success. Too few troops, can’t get the right equipment, staggering graft and corruption in rebuilding and humanitarian efforts. All matters of protected policy by the GOP.
4. Conservatives profess to “support the troops”, but appear to hate them. Extended deployments, stop loss, blocking pay increases, denying benefits as a matter of policy. This continues, for example, GOP hopefuls mention improved GI benefits on the campaign trail because most Americans have the moral sense to support a nation’s obligations to those who risk everything for our national security. But those hopefuls will not co-sponsor the new GI bill. It needs 60 sponsors because the president has already vowed to veto it.

This is nothing new, the GOP has been blocking adaquate funding for VA hospitals and proper health services for wounded vets for some time.

1. Conservatives profess to want “honest and responsible government”, but, in fact, love corruption and graft on a historic scale. This fits nicely with troop hating. Connected 20 somethings getting hundreds of millions of dollars to provide defective ammunition. $2.4B to the VPs old company, to serve tainted food and contaminated water to US solders. $6B in body armor contracts with waivers to avoid any testing so that shoddy, sub grade **** can get delivered to American soldiers.

There was a time, when something like the Truman commission would be beyond party. Not now, even profiteering from forced abortions in Saipan fits nicely with the modern conservative ‘concience’.

1. Conservatives profess to honor family values. But are not even outraged when a gay male prostitute, under an alias, is given access to the White House press room, even in the presence of the president, for two years. Prostitution, predatory pedophilia, infidelity, divorce. None seem to be a barrior to GOP electability, or even leadership positions.
2. Conservatives profess to hold national security as a high priority. But seem to have little interest in most national security matters. For example, port security has not only not been addressed, the GOP has been trying to move control of our ports to foreign companies. Consider the implications of the gay male prostitute above - in the white house, near the President. Small surprise, the White House has failed to fullfil its own exectutive orders with regards to classified secrets and the Vice President has argued that even laws pertaining to such secrets do not apply to him (small wonder that two convictions related to misshandling such material has come from his office).

The GOP cut funding for cyber security. Security for chemical plants was vetoed. Aid funds for controlling fissionable weapons materials was also slashed. And Homeland Security funds were turned into a political piggy bank. Think about it, festivals in Wyoming are listed as possible targets, but nothing in Los Angeles of NYC (which has actually been attacked multiple times) made the list.

1. Conservatives profess to love America, value liberty, and treasure freedom. But they appear to hate the constitution. Like Catholic “pro life” beliefs, the fourth amendment appears to be too quaint in the ‘scary’ world of today.

Notice that conservatives claim that Iraq is essential for our national security, making comparisons to WWII. But then refuse to spread the burden of the fighting beyond a tiny group of Americans. More tellingly, they refuse to pay for it, shorting our troops of everything from working ammo and clean water, to proper armor and medical treatment.

This has the side effect of also attacking national security. It places a tremendous debt on future generations and puts us in a subservient position to the foreign powers that are now funding our exploding debt.

Frankly, very little of what conservatives here espouse fit the values I grew up with. Obligation to the service of one’s country. Obligation of the country to the men and women who serve. Financial responsibility, a real man pay’s his own way. Real men also owned up to their mistakes and took responsibility for them.

Perhaps most importantly, a man does not have a fair weather relationship to his principles. If you really believe in them, you will stand up for them not just when it is convenient, but when it may cost you something. The one’s you truly hold dear you will stand by even if they cost you everything. The modern conservative model appears to be, nothing is more important than protecting our hides. Nothing is worth taking more risk for, nothing is worth dying for. Letting other people die, no problem, but themselves?

The simple answer is that conservatives are, in fact, spectacular hypocrits. But I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt by exploring the hypothesis (which has some scientific support) that you are not hypocrits by choice, but are mentally disinclined to connect your actions to the measurable results they have in the world.

Bravo, well said, you will get no answer from Bama and vern though. Just a one line laugh line to cover up the fact that they have no factual response to what you wrote.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

Balderdash. Typical liberal response - throw money at the problem. Then, if the “solution” makes things worse, throw more money at the problem.

And its undeniable that doing nothing under the GOP has made the situation immeasureably worse. So I’ll opt for more money not less. Stop being a puppet for the rich. They laugh at you.

 

[rlg94086]

And its undeniable that doing nothing under the GOP has made the situation immeasureably worse. So I’ll opt for more money not less. Stop being a puppet for the rich. They laugh at you.

Stop being a puppet for the socialists. They laugh at you.

See, I can post ridiculous statements too. Aren’t we adult now.

 

[rlg94086]

And its undeniable that doing nothing under the GOP has made the situation immeasureably worse. So I’ll opt for more money not less. Stop being a puppet for the rich. They laugh at you.

Ooh…wait…let me get my dictionary out…yep, that’s what I thought…that means that it can’t be measured, so I guess you are making an assertion and letting me know that you have nothing to back it up?

I’m nobody’s puppet, thank you very much.

 

[Amolibri]

Stop being a puppet for the rich. They laugh at you.

Bravo, SpiritMeadow! What is the social utility of a CEO making over 400 times the lowest paid worker??? It’s obscene.

Yet…the “puppets” keep voting against their own interests. The kool-aid is sweet, isn’t it? We are now in the throes of a dark economic downturn, as much as conservatives want to down-play it. Are YOU doing better than you were several years ago???
Why must the so-called “middle class” be the hardest hit with tax increases? I would like to know.

 

[rlg94086]

Why must the so-called “middle class” be the hardest hit with tax increases? I would like to know.

I’m doing phenomenally better, thank you. In 2002, I was struggling to pay my rent and feed my four kids. I was employed, but struggling. Today, my income is about 3x of what it was then, we own a home again and are doing just fine. We are now part of the “so-called ‘middle class,’” though we weren’t then. Do I qualify?

Don’t drink the ultraliberal kool-aid, it could kill you quicker than you can say “who is Jim Jones?”

 

[BamaRider]

I don’t reckon the SpiritMeadow, or SoCal will have to worry about getting booked to go out and motivate folks on what it takes to go out and excel.

“Hey you poor middle class, you know what? You’re NEVER gonna excel, because the rich folks are keepin ya down, you’re not gonna be able to make it unless the govt throws ya rope to pull ya up. You have no hope of ever improving because the conservatives in this world are not gonna let it happen. You can’t to do it on your own, the deck is stacked, ya da ya da.”

That is the message y’all are preaching as pointed out in this post by the SpriitMeadow- emphasis mine

Prove that. **Most people do not advance out of their class, period, and never did. **You continue to buy into the social darwinistic nonsense put forth by intellectuals of the 1800’s and gobbled up by titans of industry. They snowed you guys well, and in your relative poverty compared to them, you are still buying it.

Talk about inspirational! I bet that quote will get someoone fired up to go start a business!

Then we had this quote for added motivation from Amolibiri-

Bravo, SpiritMeadow! What is the social utility of a CEO making over 400 times the lowest paid worker??? It’s obscene.

Yet…the “puppets” keep voting against their own interests. The kool-aid is sweet, isn’t it? We are now in the throes of a dark economic downturn, as much as conservatives want to down-play it. Are YOU doing better than you were several years ago???
Why must the so-called “middle class” be the hardest hit with tax increases? I would like to know.

Well this “puppet” is doing ok, despite all those rich folks that tried to hold me back, I managed to retire at 49 on a firefigther’s salary. As long as they send my pension check every month I’m good. My modest home is paid for (been living in it 31 years) and sent my son to college. The biggest worry I have when I get up in the morning is where I’m gonna ride my motorcycles, what time I’m gonna run, and where to eat lunch. Now I might just decide to take a ride next week to California, or I might go to Maine. Depends on my mood, because I don’t answer to ANYBODY in *this *world.

Recession rolls in I’m not gonna participate in it.

And I’m only telling y’all this only cause if I hada listened to someone like the SpiritMeadow or the SoCal 25 years ago I wouldn’t be here! Now I’m far from rich, but dang my if life was any sweeter I’d have cavities! Anyone can do it in this country! Don’t listen to those that say it can’t be done! With God’s help you can be anything you want, live anyway you want, and achieve your dreams. Mine was to retire early and ride my motorcycles at will across this country and I can’t tell ya how good it feels to do something you always wanted to do.

I guess y’all think I got here by trouncing over my fellow man, with all my political power and social status as a firefighter LOL.

For you lurkers out there, these last few posts point out the contrast in the philosophies better then I’ve seen in a long time. Pick the one that YOU think is the best path to follow!

Perhaps most importantly, a man does not have a fair weather relationship to his principles. If you really believe in them, you will stand up for them not just when it is convenient, but when it may cost you something. The one’s you truly hold dear you will stand by even if they cost you everything. The modern conservative model appears to be, nothing is more important than protecting our hides. Nothing is worth taking more risk for, nothing is worth dying for. Letting other people die, no problem, but themselves?

Sir, I fought fires and served in EMS for 26 years, and I’lll let it go at that. It was my calling, it was what God put me on this earth to do, and not everyone can say that about their career, I’m humbled he allowed me to answer my calling, but I’m not gonna thump my chest about it, and that fact gives me no more moral ground then anyone on this forum or anywhere else.

Because he’d never mention it himself, I will. Vern is a retired miliitary officer, I don’t know how many years he served his country, but it was alot.

The SoCal started wonderin-

Interesting. If we stay in the context of the recent exchanges, the natural question would be - how do the conservative Catholics here justify voting for the GOP since it so closely aligned with Evangelicals who do not even consider us Christian, but a pagan sect that should be erradicated?

Well that answer is easy. It is not we align with them, but they align with US, and together we control the election. Now given the political climate, are any red states changing to blue with the current crop of candidate. I don’t think soooooo.

I’ve been living in Alabama over 40 years, and not been a victim of any anti Catholic stuff. Does that mean there is not some sects out there spewing it from their pulpit? Of course not, but it is not mainstream thinking around here, anyway I don’t worry about it, no one has been able to eradicate us in 2000 years, and not going to now.

Heck they vote more Catholic then half the Catholics in the USA! I live in the heart of Evangelical country, Caltholics in Alabama might be 3$ of the population, and I’ll tell ya what, the Evals gonna vote pro life in huge percentages EVERYTIME, and they’re not gonna put up with gay marriage rights. I posted a long time ago the party platforms of the 2 major parties, lurkers are welcome to scroll back and check them out they can make the call themselves on which party is the most Catholic. Don’t need me to do that.

 

[rlg94086]

I don’t reckon the SpiritMeadow, or SoCal will have to worry about getting booked to go out and motivate folks on what it takes to go out and excel.

“Hey you poor middle class, you know what? You’re NEVER gonna excel, because the rich folks are keepin ya down, you’re not gonna be able to make it unless the govt throws ya rope to pull ya up. You have no hope of ever improving because the conservatives in this world are not gonna let it happen. You can’t to do it on your own, the deck is stacked, ya da ya da.”

That is the message y’all are preaching as pointed out in this post by the SpriitMeadow- emphasis mine

Talk about inspirational! I bet that quote will get someoone fired up to go start a business!

Then we had this quote for added motivation from Amolibiri-

Well this “puppet” is doing ok, despite all those rich folks that tried to hold me back, I managed to retire at 49 on a firefigther’s salary. As long as they send my pension check every month I’m good. My modest home is paid for (been living in it 31 years) and sent my son to college. The biggest worry I have when I get up in the morning is where I’m gonna ride my motorcycles, what time I’m gonna run, and where to eat lunch. Now I might just decide to take a ride next week to California, or I might go to Maine. Depends on my mood, because I don’t answer to ANYBODY in *this *world.

Recession rolls in I’m not gonna participate in it.

And I’m only telling y’all this only cause if I hada listened to someone like the SpiritMeadow or the SoCal 25 years ago I wouldn’t be here! Now I’m far from rich, but dang my if life was any sweeter I’d have cavities! Anyone can do it in this country! Don’t listen to those that say it can’t be done! With God’s help you can be anything you want, live anyway you want, and achieve your dreams. Mine was to retire early and ride my motorcycles at will across this country and I can’t tell ya how good it feels to do something you always wanted to do.

I guess y’all think I got here by trouncing over my fellow man, with all my political power and social status as a firefighter LOL.

For you lurkers out there, these last few posts point out the contrast in the philosophies better then I’ve seen in a long time. Pick the one that YOU think is the best path to follow!

Bravo! I’m doin’ fine too, but the only regret I have is due to my SoCal-like stepfather (fairly wealthy semi-liberal…not sure what else to call it since SoCal likes to pretend he is otherworldly) who talked me out of becoming a teacher because the money isn’t as good. I sold life insurance for a couple of years and called on some very happy teachers.

Oh well…I will still end up with a decent retirement…hopefully I’ll be in a good position in 5-10 years to spend the rest of my life as a permanent deacon.

 

[BamaRider]

SoCal said a ways back I didn’t want to pay for the war, not true, but I think Al M’s answered that question best with his rebuttal about the military budget. If they told me they needed a tax increase and it was ALL going to the military, I’m there.

There are some things govts do well, and nationald defense is one.

Then SoCal pointed this out for us-

It seems to me that, if we hold the Apostolic nature of our Church to be true, then a coallition that rejects our sacrament of marriage, the nature of the sacrament of baptism, the status of our priests, the Eucharist at the center of our Mass, and even our status of our Christianity, would normally constitute seperation from the True Body of the Faithful.

You point this out I suppose to say it is not right to vote with the folks that reject Catholic doctrine, but do support pro life and reject gay issues. But half the Catholics in this country vote pro choice, but ya don’t say a word about that. I look at like this- I wish they were with us in the Faith, but as long as they don’t try pass laws making *their *faith the law of the land I don’t have a problem. But we Catholics, and those we enable (many of them Catholic politicians) are doing much more damage to this nation then the Evangelicals, by voting pro choice, pro gay etc. It is because of THEIR block voting, NOT ours, we have been able to achieve stalemate on the abortion issue, and that’s a fact.

I’m thinkin the proper question is not why so many Catholics vote witht Evals, but why so many Catholics vote with the seculars that push a pro choice, pro gay, agenda. :dts:

I don’t have the numbers on Catholics that vote pro choice, but I’d guess in the neighborhood of 40%? It has to be alot, because the elections are so close. If all 70 million of us could agree, guess who would control the election? But no, and I’ve pointed this out many times in these posts, many Catholics are more liberal than they are pro life. It is the only explaination.

SoCAL said something about I viewd him as “them” or something like that. I only look at that in a political sense, his vision of what we need to do as a country (thankfully it’s the minority) is not the same as mine. So yes, I’m gonna engage that line of thinking whenever it presents itself, because I think liberal policies are bad for the country Duh! Nobody is a “them” to me in how I live my life, we’re all human beings, but politics are different. Libs wanna raise my taxes, lose the war in Iraq, open the borders, take over my healthcare, make abortion the law of the land, give marriage certicifcates to gays, and who knows what else. I’m not gonna let THAT agenda fly without jumping up and down. If SoCal wants to do none of that, then I’m not referring to him.

'm thinkin the moderator is gonna turn this thread off soon, cause I don’t see anything but the same old stuff being said over and over and over, and using up a bunch of bandwith. LOL

But y’all don’t turn it off till I find how many words the SoCal types a minute.

 

[cynic]

Well this “puppet” is doing ok, despite all those rich folks that tried to hold me back, I managed to retire at 49 on a firefigther’s salary. As long as they send my pension check every month I’m good. My modest home is paid for (been living in it 31 years) and sent my son to college. The biggest worry I have when I get up in the morning is where I’m gonna ride my motorcycles, what time I’m gonna run, and where to eat lunch. Now I might just decide to take a ride next week to California, or I might go to Maine. Depends on my mood, because I don’t answer to ANYBODY in *this *world.

.

So you retired at 49 after working as a civil servant, spend your time riding across the U.S. and you preach to the rest of us about the value of hard work, independence, the inherent justice of the free market etc… That’s hilarious! Enjoy your blueberry muffin and coffee. The rest of us will be in a dimly lit office somewhere:thumbsup:

 

[ribozyme]

So you retired at 49 after working as a civil servant, spend your time riding across the U.S. and you preach to the rest of us about the value of hard work, independence, the inherent justice of the free market etc… That’s hilarious! Enjoy your blueberry muffin and coffee. The rest of us will be in a dimly lit office somewhere:thumbsup:

I read about his life and I made the same observation.

 

[rlg94086]

So you retired at 49 after working as a civil servant, spend your time riding across the U.S. and you preach to the rest of us about the value of hard work, independence, the inherent justice of the free market etc… That’s hilarious! Enjoy your blueberry muffin and coffee. The rest of us will be in a dimly lit office somewhere:thumbsup:

You didn’t choose civil service either? Why blame Bama for your decision? We both screwed up apparently.

 

[rlg94086]

I read about his life and I made the same observation.

It’s not an “observation”…it’s envy. I’m guilty of it sometimes too.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

So you retired at 49 after working as a civil servant, spend your time riding across the U.S. and you preach to the rest of us about the value of hard work, independence, the inherent justice of the free market etc… That’s hilarious! Enjoy your blueberry muffin and coffee. The rest of us will be in a dimly lit office somewhere:thumbsup:

Well said!

I live in a state where people of this person’s ideology are trying to eliminate public employee retirement altogether. They’re also trying to eliminate public employees, too, but that’s a different story.

 

[BamaRider]

Bravo! I’m doin’ fine too, but the only regret I have is due to my SoCal-like stepfather (fairly wealthy semi-liberal…not sure what else to call it since SoCal likes to pretend he is otherworldly) who talked me out of becoming a teacher because the money isn’t as good. I sold life insurance for a couple of years and called on some very happy teachers.

Oh well…I will still end up with a decent retirement…hopefully I’ll be in a good position in 5-10 years to spend the rest of my life as a permanent deacon.

You go brother, don’t listen to the folks who say you can’t do it! All you’re askin is the govt to get outta your way, and do the best it can to make sure some wacko doesn’t pop a nuke.

If you’re dream is to retire and be servant of your Church and Parish, then why not? You gonna listen to someone like the SpiritMeadow tell ya you’re just middle class working stiff with NO chance of that dream, because some dang rich guy is worried about you getting YOUR piece of the pie? Of course you’re not! But you know as well I do nobody is gonnna throw it in your lap.

My advice is to just listen to the Lord. He opened the door for ya to be a teacher, but ya let someone talk ya outta of it, He did ALL He could do brother, but he gave us this thing called free will. All he could do was open the door, YOU had to go through it. So I reckon you went to Mass and prayed, “Well Lord I messed that up, now what do I need to do get back on track.” LOL And He’ll tell ya, and it looks like to me He’s wanting ya to be Deacon, and if the path to get there is through your current occupation, you’ll know it!

There’s gonna be plenty of folks out there sayin, “ah Robert you can’t retire early and be a Deacon, ya da ya da.” Some folks just have a dim view of this country and the world, don’t buy into it! You’re Catholic and American, it doesn’t come any better then that!

Then the Cynic said-

So you retired at 49 after working as a civil servant, spend your time riding across the U.S. and you preach to the rest of us about the value of hard work, independence, the inherent justice of the free market etc… That’s hilarious! Enjoy your blueberry muffin and coffee. The rest of us will be in a dimly lit office somewhere

Yes I did, but I worked in the job 26 years, and I’ll tell ya, I loved every minute of if. I’d still be there, but God told me it was time to hang it up. I had my time in for 2 years, and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I prayed about it, next thing ya know I get HERNIA (not job related) and I’m sick leave 4 months. I had the sick time so put the operation off till I could see how being retired might feel. I got use to it, so put my papers in. Now I know why he wanted me to retire, when I had no clue at the time.

Faith is being called to do something, when you have NO evidence at the time what you want is gonna happen.

So Brother Cynic if you’re in there filing papers in some cubicle just put in the Lord’s hands. If he’s telling ya be a cube guy and shuffle papers in a dimmly lit office (no windows? Ugh) then I suggest you go in there and be the best dang paper shuffler those folks ever had because you’re followin His plan, but if you feel something else, then keep praying and the doors will appear. But the devil is gonna be out there to camouflage them to keep ya from serving Him in the way He wants, because when you ain’t following God’s plan, it opens ya up to bad stuff he wants ya to do. Now that may sound crazy, but its true.

You DON’T need the govt to tell ya what to do, and how to do it. I know I’m gonna get flamed and made fun of for my simplistic views, but its not really complicated.

Heck, He mighta had me retire so I can hang out here on CAF and challenge folks who think a bunch of country club elites are the reason he’s raking leaves or flipping burgers. They are NOT the reason, YOU are the reason. I can’t speak for ANYONE but me, but I’m telling y’alll I made it because I put my trust in Him and myself, and ignored those that said I couldn’t do it.

And that’s why I put anything you wanna know about me on my profile, or you can go to my blog for more. I don’t mind anyone knowing what I stand for, and where I come from. And what about my signature pic? LOL.

and that MY :twocents:

 

[BamaRider]

LCM said-

I live in a state where people of this person’s ideology are trying to eliminate public employee retirement altogether. They’re also trying to eliminate public employees, too, but that’s a different story.

If so, that is incorrect. Those hired with the promise of that pension should not have it lifted. If they wanna change the rules for new hires, that’s different. But I’ll say this, last revenue crisis in this state they layed off a bunch of paper shufflers, and nobody missed them! Now y’all know as well as I do, you could phase out 15% of the state work force and nobody would know they ain’t there! Because every Friday 25% of them are off anyway!! ROFL

There are a few things govt does well, national defense and public safety are 2 of them.

Not gonna fib, my pension is lucarative, and the plan is NOT state run, but privately managed by one of the best in the country. It is 90% funded (the recent market put a hit on it till they could get stuff shulffled around) and the State can not touch it (oh how they wish they could) it is nothing like that fiasco they call Social Security that a bunch of libs sold us all those years ago.