Really? I don't find that to be the case. I find that most Americans that I know are hard working. Some have talents and predispositions that lead to wealth, others do not. Making money is a talent unto itself that some people do not possess. Most C.E.O.s have about the same amount of education as many school teachers. Most small business owners work much harder, for less, than most people on a salary. Among the super wealthy, are the Wall Street parasites and Hedge Fund managers who contribute very little to the country. I.M.O. based on the evidence there are more tax dollars (welfare) funneled to the well connected wealthy than to the working class. U.S. productivity has surged, middle class wages have stagnated. Some people are rewarded, others are not.

Yes - and there's also the concept of "balance in life".

So, I mean, "wealth", may be the wrong metric, for the quality of someone's life.

I mean, I could make a lot of money real fast, but then, I'd have to a) be an (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) to a lot of people, b) take time away from other important things in my life, like my wife and kids, and c) there are probably "risk factors" that enter into the equation too.

So, I mean, a lot of people I know here in the US, choose to not be enterpreneurs, knowing full well that they're resigning themselves to the 9-5 life and a meager retirement, but they're perfectly happy that way 'cause they get to do a lot of other stuff instead, that means a lot more to 'em than becoming rich.

And I mean, in "my" eyes, the richest cat of all time, was that guy Jesus Christ, and he didn't even have a farthing to his name, right?

Just because everybody's hard work doesn't lead to great wealth doesn't mean the system is unfair. Everyone has the opportunity. One has only to look at people like Ross Perot and others to know that's the case. And no----there is NO "welfare" going to the wealthy. In fact, a small percentage of the wealthy at the top of the income level in our country pay way more than the majority of the income taxes. I forget the figure exactly without looking it up....but it's something like the top 25% pay about 95% of all the income taxes collected. Millions at the bottom pay nothing. I hardly call that "fair" to the rich and unfair to the poor.

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"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007

I seriously thought that you were kidding when you wrote about partying.

I remember the $300 bribe we all got in 2000, and it looks as if we are getting another bribe soon.

As much money as we Americans pay into an unjust system that rapes all American taxpayers, you should be offended at this $300 bribe. It is truly a slap in the face.

As well, how is this bribe possible with the spending? It doesn't compute.

You're (*)(*)(*)(*) right it doesn't compute.

It's an idiotic idea.

Another in a long line, brought to you by George stinkin' Bush and his Neo-Weasel idiots.

If those freakin' clowns wanted to do what's right for this country, they'd just step down. They'd freakin' resign, right now, so someone could start genuinely cleaning up the mess they've made.

(*)(*)(*)(*) miscreant bastids - do the math on this one - the total stim package adds up to about 150 billion dollars!!! That's the cost of the Iraq war for a whole entire year!!!

And I mean, three years of that, along with all the debt services, has put us 4.2 trillion dollars farther into the hole, than we were when Bushie started.

You're (*)(*)(*)(*) freakin' right it doesn't add up.

That guy Bush, he's just nuts, is all. I don't know what the hell he thinks he's doing, but I know one thing for sure, he's in way over his head. I guess that's what happens when you get a chimp to do a man's job.

On the otehr hand, We the People elected tha clown in the first place (over my most strenuous warnings, I might add ) - but on the other hand, "I" didn't vote for the guy, so "I" have someone else to blame.

Do you?

Americans, in particular, equate wealth with hard work and impeccable character, sometimes that is the case but for the most part the two don't have that much to do with one another. I agree with Non, the wealthiest person is one who successfully binds his work to his play or his purpose and these terms lose their meaning.

Because people base there judgments on the premise of wealth=work, these discussions always deteriorate into an argument about who "deserves" a tax break and who does not. The question should be, what works best for the country and the economy AS A WHOLE! As I said earlier, these kind of one time tax rebates are somewhat helpful if they are targeted to low and middle income ($1.19 of economic activity for every $1 spent). Extending unemployment benefits and food stamps are the most helpful- ($1. 73 for every $1 spent). Sorry, but it does no good to give a tax break to people who are stuffing it in an account in the Caimans or building a get away fortress in Argentina.

I would be happy to debate welfare for the rich in another thread!

People who cannot stick to their own convictions can hardly expect their representatives to do it. We shouldn't have a tax cut because Bush spends too much? I call BS.

Stop expecting the president to the dirty work, he has no line-item veto. I know a president with very large cajones could veto every single pork bill coming through, but it's not gonna happen (not that I wouldn't love it). But then the accusations of not supporting the troops, wanting to kill children and starve old people would come flying. Giving taxpayers their own money will always be better than sending it to the 12th District of Pennsylvania. Only the most hypocritical can vote for a porker, then complain about spending.

Pork spending is theft, pure and simple. In fact, most of the spending done by the feds is unconstitutional. Can we not adhere to some kind of basic ideology that this is just plain wrong? Look at the records of your own representatives and ask yourself if you are a hypocrite (if you voted for them). My own reps are not perfect though they are far above average.

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

Yes, it's just plain wrong. That was easy! I am laying blame on both Congress and the President. Equally. He has submitted bloated budgets year after year and then consistently allowed Congress to bloat them even more. And yes, we are to blame, too. We elected these idiots. Well, I didn't, but you get the picture. I am 100% hypocrite free on this issue.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Nope. We the People voted for that clown, and now we gotta pay for his stupidity.

Makes perfect sense to me.

That's why it's called a "self-correcting political process".


That's a lame-a** argument. Stop making excuses for that miscreant Bushie. That idiot wants to stand his ground in a war of choice, and fails to stand his ground when it comes to the finances of the United States of America? Gimme a break! Rotten bastid....

All you're telling me here, 12th, is that we have a bunch of gutless spineless cowards in office, and in that case, my response to you would be, "vote 'em out"!


True. Okay, so - cut spending. You're familiar with the federal budget, yes? Here it is:

http://www.federalbudget.com/

So ah... where are you gonna start cutting?

I expected that. You strike me as a person for whom spending would be a top issue. Whether that's true or not, which candidate do you think has similar fiscal philosophy?

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.