Deepest gratitude
We recently received a note in the mail that Dr. Frederick W. Heineman of St. Joseph Internal Medicine is moving on to other climes. This put my wife, Mabel, and me in a bit of a quandary.
While we all know that no one is irreplaceable, we have never before in more than 50 years received such professional medical service and advice as he has provided to us. As but a sample of his touch, two days before we received the letter, Mabel had called his office during the day to ask about medicine being prescribed by another professional and its possible interaction with her other medications. He called her back at 9:30 p.m. that night, apologizing for the hour and answered all her questions completely.
In this day when we hear of 10-minute doctor office visits with minimal chance to ask questions, Heineman fully reviews our medical history, answers all questions carefully and clearly and follows up as needed. He has never steered us wrong.
Our quandary now is how do we express our deepest gratitude to such a professional? We do not know of a particular award to recommend or offer but feel it very necessary to tell Heineman and anyone who cares to take note that we appreciate him and his effort and wish him and his family well as he moves on. Bon voyage!
Linwood Lufkin
Eddington
Distorted campaign ads
I recently saw the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s negative TV advertisement against former governor Angus King. I was appalled that such a faceless D.C. organization could possibly understand what Maine needs. As small businesses in Maine will recall, King was instrumental in creating the environment that saw them through the recession of 2001 with far fewer bruises than most of their colleagues in other states.
It was King who set up the savings fund, called the rainy day fund, that was a vital lifeline for Maine businesses in trouble. If he hadn’t had the foresight to set it up, what would have happened? And who was it who lowered the general sales tax rate by more than 15 percent, making Maine more consumer friendly? King was just what Maine needed as governor over a decade ago, and he is just what Maine needs now as an independent U.S. senator.
Let’s get real. Distorted TV ads from some distant, deep-pocket Washington lobbying group have no place in Maine elections.
McGregor Gray
Brunswick
Sincere apology
I admire Renee Ordway’s public apology ( BDN, Aug. 14) for having repeatedly supported Bob Carlson and for writing stories of his “honor, virtue and selflessness,” while the “seemingly untouchable, powerful person” was “sexually molesting little boys in dark parking lots.”
Like many others, Ordway was exploited by Carlson. Smart criminals befriend influential people, then use them to their advantage. One cringes at the thought that Ordway had planned to offer her son to Carlson for “spiritual counseling.” Fortunately, the plan was not implemented.
I hope that Ordway’s sincere apology will help the numerous victims of Carlson and their families.
Robert M. Gossart
Salisbury Cove
Free speech?
I love politics but hate politicians because they, and the media, are the ones who have convinced many of us that we are either left or right, conservative or liberal, red or blue. When did we stop being Americans, and why is free speech OK only if I am saying what you want to hear?
One of my favorite political sayings comes from James Freeman Clarke, who said, “The difference between a politician and a statesman is: A politician thinks of the next election, and a statesman thinks of the next generation.”
Sadly I see no statesman this election and am afraid that until we all put aside egos and work toward the good of this great nation we will be stuck with elected officials who become so indebted to special interest groups and the megarich like the Koch brothers that they forget or simply ignore who they really are supposed to be representing.
It’s time for a reality check, so this November please vote for who you think will be the best for America and not because they belong to a particular party.
Steve Russell
Eddington
President Johnson
Are you displeased with the choice between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney for president? Is it just another case of voting for the lesser of two evils?
Good news. You have another alternative now that Gary Johnson, former two-term governor of New Mexico, has qualified for Maine’s presidential ballot. During his governorship, Johnson turned a budget deficit into a budget surplus. If elected president, he plans to submit a balanced budget to Congress, starting as early as 2013.
Ensure your freedoms by supporting Johnson for president.
Patti Mikkelsen
New Gloucester
Wanted to hear the airplane engines
My wife and I have been vacationing summers in the Port Clyde area for 30 years and been to the Owls Head Transportation Museum on numerous other occasions, but a recent Saturday was our first opportunity to attend an air show.
We enjoyed the air show very much. Its organization and execution was done very well.
The following comments are intended to make future air shows even better. We came not only to watch the superb airmanship but to hear the sounds of airplane engines in flight — their “music,” as it were. The airmanship did not disappoint, but the inability to hear the engines over the much-too-loud blaring music was entirely another matter.
It disturbed me so much that I expressed my disappointment off-mic to the public address announcer at a lull in the program. As I spoke to him about the raucous noise of music drowning out the sounds of airplane engine “music,” other attendees within earshot expressed their agreement with what I was saying. The man with the mic said the music was the pilots’ preference and that OHTM defers to the pilots’ wishes.
Given that the pilots are unable to hear the racket I suggest that OHTM defer to the wishes of its paying customers. The blaring noise is totally unnecessary. It was so disturbing to us that we will think twice about attending another such event unless apprised that corrective measures have been taken.
Peter Kushkowski
Portland, Conn., and Owls Head
MacGregor Gray, Robert Gossart, Steve Russell: good letters.
Steve Russell, it isn’t just the politicians who unfairly apply labels. Rampant and unfair labeling is practiced even more often by supporters of politicians and parties, especially when commenting in these and other forums.
Mr. Russell, I could not agree more. We have a choice in voting for President and Vice President between candidates who wish to raise taxerates on the wealthiest 2 % of us to what they were under Bill Clinton and candidates who wish to lower tax rates on that same 2% to the lowest point since the 1920s and finance that decrease with a pledge to eliminate unspecified deductions. Sadly, the only deductions that would pay for such tax breaks would be those that primarily help the middle class such as the real estate tax and mortgage interest deductions.
The choice is even clearer when it come to Medicare. Two candidates have, over the last four years, extended the financial solvency of Medicare for an additional 8 years while the other two candidates wish to turn Medicare into a voucher program that would force future retirees to buy their health insurance with increasing percentages of their own money from a less efficient private insurance industry which has done a worse job of controlling costs than either Medicare or Medicaid.
If we wish to pursue the greatest good for the greatest number, the choice is clear: Obama/Biden.
Top 1% pay 40% of the taxes. The problem with the left is that even if they taxed the rich 100% they would still run out of money. Then they would increase taxes on those making less than $250K and when that runs out you have Greece.
Who would run out of money?
Those living under confiscatory taxation policies.
I gather that’s a state of mind. Freedom ain’t free.
The bottom 99% suply 99.99% of the manpower, blood, limbs, and lives for our military.
They volunteer and I’m grateful, are you?
Always have been. I volunteered. Did you?
It wasn’t that long ago that we had a draft. It is something that the top 1% wouldn’t hesitate to reinstate if it suits their purpose.
Personally I think the draft should be reinstated.
In case you should really care, Yes I volunteered.
I wouldn’t mind the draft comming back as long as they raise the pay. Personally I would rather have worked with someone with experience in the military. Most of them didn’t need someone to hold their hand and were a lot more reliable.
Raise the pay?!? Have you seen the military pay scales lately? Apparently not. Our troops are paid quite well, and taken care of quite well. They’re paid a lot more than I was paid when I was in uniform.
Always was always will be. Unless we make a law that says that those that start the war have to lead the troops.
That will never happen.
I agree, I just take exception to all these 1% appoligists boo hooing about the 1% haveing a higher tax rate than everyone else. They don’t need any sympathy.
The problem with the top 1% is they really don’t want to fully fund the rehabilitation and life long care for those who have lost limbs or suffer from the aftermath of their wars.
There are streets named after the 1%. ONE WAY
You attempt to confuse your readers by your statistic, which relates to federal income tax rates only. Once you include FICA, real estate, excise, and sales taxes you will realize that every tax assessed on Americans takes a bigger percentage bite out of the working class than out of the wealthy. Only the income tax is progressive.
We balanced the budget with Clinton’s tax rates. Why do you oppose a return to those rates if you are allegedly concerned about deficits.
The failure of Greece stems from two sources: a culture of not paying taxes and its inability to devalue its own currency since it is part of the Eurozone. Greece has nothing to do with America’s fiscal future. Our costs of borrowing have never been cheaper.
Greece was in the toilet when I was there in the 70’s.
Clinton did not have a balanced budget, he had a proposed budget that would have been blown out of the water if Gore had been able to steal the election.
He was forced to cut some spending but willfully slashed the military to the point that our military was less than useful.
The wonderful economic success during the Clinton Years was due to a housing market going through the roof, caused bu government diddling with the market and banking laws; and the dot com bubble that was destined to burst.
You seem to be suggesting a cause and effect between your presence in Greece and its facing a crisis. Are the Typhoid Mary of global finance?
You are correct that Clinton didn’t have a balanced budget, which would have meant that revenues exactly matched expenditures for a budget deficit of zero dollars.
Clinton ran a budget SURPLUS for the last three years of his presidency per the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
I’m sad to see you are still running down our military. Say, wasn’t that the same military that George Bush had given to him to invade Iraq?
The sane among us know that the Clinton surpluses flowed from higher tax rates, while the deficits since then have flowed from the Bush tax cuts and two unfunded wars.
You, on the other hand, seem to think sanity is overrated and thus believe whatever Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity tell you to believe.
You are out of your freaking mind.
When I got to Greece it was at best a second world country and is now a third world country. I did not cause that.
Clinton was NEVER a magician and the Budget was in surplus only because the budget was written by a Republican Congress. and three years out of four years passed by a Republican Senate.
Running down our military??? I am proud that our military has been able to operate as well as it does despite the crappy civilian (political) leadership.
I think that both the Republican and Democrat party should be disbanded and many of their leaders should be impeached, tried, found guilty of treason and executed. We could start over after that.
Ah, we have yet another plant by the Obama/Biden campaign designed to make right-wingers look positively unhinged.
If Clinton’s budget was running a surplus because of Republican control of the House and Senate, why then did it only take GW Bush 7 months to return to deficit spending?
He had a House and Senate controlled by Republicans too.
Two things.
The Economy went to he11 and the taliban attacked us. and I suppose the Republicans wanted to show that they too had no ability to avoid spending.
Because things are so good now at the end of his first term right????? You Obama supporters are so blind to the facts it is hilarious.Obama does have the best votes money can buy, with george serous backing him but americans are slowly waking up.. With unemployment numbers where they actually are, not the fictional 8% they keep preaching, You can only convince an unemployed person that things are all ok for just so long before they stop believing you Good bye O bummer
Keep laughing name caller.
Maybe if your side would quit with the childish name calling, his side would stop too.
I know that you won’t so I guess we are stuck with the playground mentality.
And Romney, Ryan is your answer to Obama? Good luck with that! Even bible thumping toothless red state republicans will see through Eddie Munster and his leader Model X-100 Romney Bot. Job creators in GOP create only call center jobs so they can get what you have left after they sink you with medical bills and taxes for the rich to choke on. And by the Way Grover Norquist is a MUSLIM in charge of the entire right wing has their signatures to prove it, are you proud of this too? May god help Republicans, please bring them home to the promised land Reverand Carleson is waiting.
It’s apparent that you are a plant by the Obama-Biden campaign designed to make the right wing look as illiterate, ill-informed and insane as possible. Quit your scam.
Typical liberal nonsense, dodge the question with a load of crap!!!! Please do not associate me with Obama in any way thank you very much
It is hard to discern any real question from your initial post. It contains one question that is rhetorical only (UndertaxedunderObama, this means a question not intended to generate an answer.), a slew of punctuation errors and a glaring misspelling (Soros’ name).
The overall tone of your post is best described as rabid.
I will answer your rhetorical question: We have had 30 consecutive months of private sector job growth totaling 4.5 million jobs, an end to the Iraq War, the beginnings of a serious pull-out from Afghanistan, the death of Osama bin Laden, the passage of near-universal health care, the return of sensible regulation to the financial sector, the salvation of General Motors, a swift responses to natural disasters, no terrorist attacks on the homeland, and the beginnings of a battle to reduce CO2 emissions, both through the EPA and fuel efficiency standards for autos.
Do I miss George W. Bush? He brought us the second worst foreign war in the nation’s history, the second worst economic collapse in the nation’s history, the worst response to a natural disaster in the nation’s history, and the worst terrorist attack in the nation’s history.
I miss Bush the way Europe misses the Black Plague.
Since you don’t wish to be associated with President Obama and since he is the President of the USA, and will be re-elected, you have only one choice: renounce your citizenship and move to Canada. I will send you the gas money and a map.
And I will chip in.
LOL!!
None of us need to relocate, because the united states as we know it will never be the same if the country hating , apologizing for the US joke of a president we have manages to get re elected. Epa standards are half of what is killing the US industry and somehow you liberals seem to think the US is the main cause of pollution. Our standards already exceed all of the rest of the world. The pull out of troops was already set when Bush was in office. Your job growth numbers are just as far off as your unemployment numbers. We are close to a government controlled health care system that we cant afford. If our health care system is so bad why do others from all over the world come here for it??? There is no need for a terrorist attack from the outside, we have one running the country causing it to implode under its own leadership. or should I say LACK OF!!! If you are so intrigued by socialist lead countrys go live in one and leave this one alone.
You clearly are a plant by the Obama-Biden campaign designed to make right-wingers look as illiterate, ill-informed and insane as possible. I won’t be scammed by you again, UndertaxedunderObama. Your only purpose is to drive up the vote for Obama by making the alternative seem to be a pack of lunatics.
In every election there is a choice, not between a candidate and an ideal, but between a candidate and another candidate (or sometimes three or four). The real choice here is between President Obama and Governor Romney, althoug there may be minor parties on the ballot. President Obama is not the Messiah, but he is a much better choice than Governor Romney.
Obama had his chance, and he blew it. He’ll be heading for Chicago come January.
We will see.
Right now the polls favor the president slightly, but Gov. Romney will have more money in his camp.
Do you really think that the government that has screwed up medicare/medicare will run the entire US medical industry effectivly??
The choice that I see in the presidential race is really: do we want to be like England or Greece. Both uill take us into the crapper, but one will do it faster and not give us time to take back the country.
Vote however you feel right, but remember your vote will determine the destiny of the most free nation in the world.
I know of no senior citizen who is unhappy with Medicare. I know of an enormous number of non-seniors who are furious with their private health insurers. Medicare handles claims more efficiently, with far less overhead, and a much slower growth rate in the cost of care for which they pay. Look at the recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine as to this latter point.
Why do nations like France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. deliver more effective care at a lower cost than this nation?
Because they dont do as much?
They cook the books?
Missing any facts to support your contentions, you simply throw out questions of the nature of “Have you stopped beating your wife?” No European country “cooks the books” for its health care programs and each of the programs provides more coverage and covers the entire population. The difference is that these programs are either publicly run or involve private insurers whose profit margin is tightly controlled.
And we all know that no government would prevaricate to keep their serfs ignorant, right?
They have certainly lied to us about such things as Hussein having WMDs where the real information is classified as top secret, but it is very hard to lie about such publicly available data as health care costs. If you are looking for someone who will lie to the “serfs,” then Romney is definitely your man.
Steve Russell – I thought for a moment that you might be writing an unbiased letter until you pointed out the Koch brothers and forgot to mention someone like George Soros. After all, Soros is outspending the Koch brothers by nearly 10 to 1. Of course, old George funds the lefties, so I guess that’s all right.
How does Soros profit by funding the “lefties,” exactly?
By getting folks like Chellie to vote favorably for his causes
You mean Democrats? Why shouldn’t they vote however they want to?
Kick backs, incentives, investment tips, and power.
Proof? You seem to think “the lefties” hold all the cards.
Never said that “the lefties” hold all the cards. I simply pointed out that “the lefties” do their best to cover their billionaire donors while piling on the Koch brothers. That’s hypocritical.
I asked for proof for your statement, “Kick backs, incentives, investment tips, and power.”
Good luck getting proof from EJP.
More of your baloney. The Democrats are completely transparent with who their donors are.
You got that right. Democrats are as transparent as a bomb shelter.
Your ire and ideology prevent you from actually learning the facts. Too bad.
Sounds like ALEC, Norquist, etc. Especially the power (but quests for power are a Faustian bargain).
Oh come on. These people have no conscience. Believe me, they sleep well at night.
My point. Look what happened to Faust.
My point is that Faust gave up his moral integrity, i.e. his soul. I guess instead of “conscience” I should have said these people have no moral integrity, are therefore soulless, and have nothing the Devil would want.
Kick-backs, incentives, investments tips and power …. found in both the Democrat and Republican parties … probably within the Independent and Libertarian parties. To imply that this only happens within one party is disingenuous. To say that you do it so we can do it too does not solve the problem…. and it is a problem when those we elect to represent us follow the money and power they can gain from PACs, SuperPACs, lobbyists, unions, individuals rather than their constituents. Money and power have the ability to corrupt even the most noble of people.
Do we as a people continue to allow the unlimited, unchecked monies that influence our elected representatives, do we really believe that a corporation is the same as an individual as the Supreme Court decided, do we continue to reward those we elect that are influenced more by the money they receive and the power the acquire or do we throw them ALL out and try again?
That’s right, all parties are guilty. I was addressing the fact that the letter writer only pointed out the Koch brothers. That’s typical of the left to forget that they have Soros and other donors running their candidates. I never denied that the Koch brothers were involved in the system.
You are making an assumption that Mr. Russel is of the left (liberal and/or Democrat) because he mentioned the Koch brothers and not Soros. You are reading something into his letter that he did not state. This is something you vehemently call posters out for when they make assumptions regarding you. Do you not see that? I fully admit that I have done the same …. will you?
Do you denounce the involvement of conservative donors every time Soros is brought up by Republicans?
To add to my above comment: Rather than stating that you agree with the substance of Mr. Russel’s letter, you discredit the letter as a whole because you believe him to be biased due the the example he used.
You are correct.
So Mr. Russell’s points have no substance? Or you disagree with his points because you assume he is a “leftie”? See I’ve given you the benefit of doubt in your statements posted in the forums previously and discovered you actually meant what others assumed you meant.
If you read my original comment, it’s obvious that I was with Mr. Russell until he decided to kick the Koch brothers in the teeth without mentioning that the door of billionaire donations swings both ways. If he had not mentioned the Koch brothers at all, or mentioned that the money was flowing without specifying any particular donor, then I would have commented positively on his letter.
Over the past decades we have had attempts to get the money out of politics. These have brought us “education” groups, PACS, super PACS.
Groups and individuals with deep pockets will always try to influence politics.
The only way to fight it is for the citizens to educate themselves and be smart enough to do the correct thing and not be conned.
Soros has experience knocking over countries economic systems.
My cousin works for Soros’ Open Society. She says the Open Society has kept many national governments awake for many nights.
Kind of Like Fox News big cheese ball Rupert Murdock the rights mouth piece/brainchild.
He does not.
Riiigghhttt. He is a good 1%er. He never gets a return on his investments.
Please think for a second before making such a ****** statement.
He has consistently supported causes that were and are not beneficial to his investments.
On the other hand the Koch Brothers politically support causes that always benefit their bottom line, at the expense of the rest. Their companies are major polluters among other harmful practices. Perhaps that is of no consequence to you.
It is true that the Kochs contribute mightily to many cultural entities. They deserve thanx for that.
Can you back up your 10 to 1 claim?
Depends on where you look and who you trust. You don’t trust any sources that I provide, so go look for yourself. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of links that blast the Koch brothers and plenty on the other side. Either way, the left protects George Soros as he piles billions into left wing causes all over this country. And he gets plenty of tax breaks and incentives for his devious investments. After all, if it weren’t for his stash of cash, Obama wouldn’t be president.
Devious investments. Now that’s funny, coming from you. It’s pretty obvious why you hate Soros, and it isn’t because he’s a Democrat.
It is because he is at the top(bottom?) of the elite pile.
Class envy? By the way, how would you know what EJ thinks?
You made a very specific claim. 10 to 1. Back it up. Show me some proof.
By Harry Reid’s standards, it’s up to you to prove it.
No, no deflecting or changing the subject. Back it up.
Here’s one that I guarantee you will laugh at, even though it’s true:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/special-report-george-soros-godfather-of-the-left/
Then there’s his 400 million donation for the “Open Society” and another 48 million funding media organizations.
Would you trust me if I gave you a source from Ariana Huffington? Why do you think it’s reasonable to cite clearly partisan and biased sources? It’s okay for you to do it, but not for anyone else.
Not to mention, no where in that article to I see a mentioning of Soros outspending the Kochs 10 to 1. You made that specific claim, now back it up. Or once again did you just make it up?
I’ve read a few accurate articles on the Huffington Post. They’re like the Washington Post and the BDN in that they have to print the truth once in a while to keep their numbers up.
As for the Blaze, they swing the bat at both sides of the aisle, but just because they’re affiliated with Glenn Beck, the left refuses to give them any credence at all. The article I pointed out has not been refuted in any way. And it, like just about everything else the Blaze prints, has been vetted prior to going into print.
I don’t care. What I’m asking you to do is back up your 10 to 1 claim. Is it a reality based claim or did you just make it up?
It would be nice if you demanded the same thing from your side and your sources.
Otherwise your arguements are just the playground taunt “Pwove it”.
It’s a pretty simple question. If you’re going to claim that Soros is outspending the Kochs 10 to 1, you should be able to prove it with facts.
And you think it is a taunt to ask somebody to prove they’re not making things up/lying? Come on. Get a thicker skin than that.
On political donations alone, Soros has out spent the Koch brothers 8 to 1. From the article I mentioned above, “To put that in perspective, he vastly outspent the libertarian Koch Brothers in individual political donations 8 to 1. Promoting left-wing ideology to include everything from electing judges to immigration reform, Soros has exerted his power over the nation’s liberal political elite.”
Of course, when you add in the Open Society funding, his donations to universities and media outlets, and his overseas donations that directly effect the political system in America, he’s got the Koch brothers beat all to pieces.
But, I’m sure this isn’t a good enough answer. Nothing ever is.
Then why’d you say 10 to 1?
And again, why am I supposed to believe the hyper partisan Blaze? The article doesn’t even compare or mention what the Kochs’ spent their money on. It simply adds all of Soros’ donations, plus the donations of his family, over decades and then makes the 8 to 1 claim. You say, “when you add in…” — the article does add that in. Once again, you’re making things up.
This is hackery. You’ll search for anything that supports your wild conspiracy theories, regardless of reality.
I think you should admit that you made up the 10 to 1 claim and just get over it. Be responsible for yourself and quit thinking you can get away with everything by point fingers at others. Such a sense of entitlement you have.
I think that you should admit that you’d argue with me if I said the moon revolves around the Earth.
And see, you’re resorting to changing the subject. You can’t defend yourself with the truth, so you try to change the subject.
I argue with you because I see you actively lying and making up facts and statistics like the truth doesn’t matter. It’s wrong.
No, you argue because you are incapable of carrying on a mature conversation with someone that doesn’t agree with your narrow point of view.
No need for baseless personal attacks. It isn’t immature to ask someone to prove their claims. You don’t get to make up facts and then call it your point of view.
It’s ridiculous. I just want you to stop making things up. Have your opinion — that’s fine. Just stop making things up.
Me thinks if it were not for George W and the W stands for WWWWHHHHat? Obama would not be president. The effects of W will not fade easily GOP and then you gave us Palin, now you want us to vote ED Munster and Squidward Romney. Mm-kay
You thinks??? I seriously doubt it.
Thankfully the left has someone with enough money to keep up with all the corrupt, subjective, blood money coming from the right.
The conservatives have many, many multi-millionaires funding their causes and candidates, and the liberals have some (but fewer) of their own. I thought you were in favor of “freedom of speech” for the wealthy.
McGregor Gray, unless a political ad is followed with the candidates statement that he or she aproves of this message, it should be ignored. It will more than likely be false or misleading. Plus we have no idea who the individual donors that are finacing these ads. They could be foreigners for all we know.
Yeah, but the USCC is banking (pun intended) that not everyone will be watchful and ignore.
ANY political advertisement should be ignored, or at least looked at with a salt lick.
They all lie.
Bravo McGregor. The over and over again over the top condescension drove me to leave the room whenever it aired and that was often. Of course, the US Chamber is an ALEC member. Would expect this kind of garbage from them.
Yes, yes, and yes again Steve.
Mr. Russell- that’s the way our democratic system is supposed to work. Thank you for saying it so well.
As usual, EJ Parsons can’t see the forest for the trees. Soros indeed funds progressive causes that outrage Parsons and other right-wingers because they help the 99% . But Soros makes his money from various funds, not from undermining the environment, unions, and the middle class by trying to take us back to before the New Deal, as with his beloved Koch Bros. A profound difference, I daresay.
You really don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Oh, but you probably saw the fluff piece on Soros on one of the major propaganda networks. Don’t believe everything you hear about Soros, or the Koch brothers.
By the way, Soros helping the 99%. Now that’s funny.
As usual it is you who is confused. It is you who does not know what you are talking about.
No Soros has made his fortune by undermining entire societies through manipulating their money with his “funds”.
No doubt Parsons is rejoicing at Mitt’s selection of Rep. Ryan, whose position on abortion is every bit as extreme as his on the absolute need to lower taxes still further on the 1%. For Ryan, all pregnancies must be carried to term if they’re physically able to go to term. As with all else, the life of the mother–and by extension, the lives of persons who couldn’t afford private abortions–count for nothing. Rest assured that Rep. Ryan would never allow his family or himself to be deprived of the superb healthcare available to members of Congress. It is appalling that so many conservative Americans lack any compassion for their fellow citizens but instead rejoice in their misery–like the Koch Bros.
The current day Christian and Muslim Churches/Mosques teach this as well as who to vote for, but pay no taxes.
Not all Christian Churches do. Seems to be more prevalent among the catholic and Evangelical churches.
Peter K. Glad I wasn’t there. There’s nothing like the sound of a vintage jet or airplane engine as it is passing overhead.
Mr. Russell, and others: for a very real different choice, please see jillstein.org and below.
10 KEY VALUES
1. Grassroots Democracy
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect his or her life and should not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations that expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.
2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.
3. Ecological Wisdom
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture that replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.
4. Non-Violence
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.
5. Decentralization
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system that is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.
6. Community Based Economics
Redesign our work structures to encourage employee ownership and workplace democracy. Develop new economic activities and institutions that will allow us to use our new technologies in ways that are humane, freeing, ecological and accountable, and responsive to communities. Establish some form of basic economic security, open to all. Move beyond the narrow “job ethic” to new definitions of “work,” jobs” and “income” that reflect the changing economy. Restructure our patterns of income distribution to reflect the wealth created by those outside the formal monetary economy: those who take responsibility for parenting, housekeeping, home gardens, community volunteer work, etc. Restrict the size and concentrated power of corporations without discouraging superior efficiency or technological innovation.
7. Feminism and Gender Equity
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.
8. Respect for Diversity
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines. We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.
9. Personal and Global Responsibility
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal wellbeing and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.
10. Future Focus And Sustainability
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions. Make the quality of life, rather than open-ended economic growth, the focus of future thinking.
“Dreamer manifesto”
Completely. They should focus on local offices/smaller seats.
“Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.” I couldn’t agree more.
I agree as well, but interestingly the typical liberal (which the rest of the points appear to be) approach is greater federal control.
I think that is hidden in the rest of the sentence: “…while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.” Localities are where the control should be…so long as the federal government agrees.
Not on my watch.
LOL, what are you gonna do? Take away other peoples’ right to vote? I’m sure you’d love that, but that’s now how this country works.
Tell me, wolfie, would you actually vote for a candidate that ran on this platform?
Would you? Do you have real complaints about that platform or would you just resort to screeching buzz words like socialism and class warfare?
Answer the question!!! don’t deflect!!!
I believe he would. He might even be a member of the Green Party. I suspect Spruce and Liz and a few others posting on here are members as well.
In their minds, “Welcome to the Utopian dream”.
All 10 points? What are you “watching”?
Pablum
Communism
Just looked up your link. I guessed right before I even looked at it. The “Green” Party. Might as well just call yourselves the communist party. That would be more accurate.
Read the “Green New Deal” and the Green Party Platform. They amount to a complete totalitarian take over of society and micro managing of individuals choices and lives. Even with tax rates of 90% on everyone would still be impossible to implement. The result of the green new deal would be a nearly total loss of freedom and would make living in China seem like paradise.
This comment is in response to Gophe40 under the 10 point plan posted by Smarten_Up:
Point 1 goes against the Constitution and violates our representative republic.
Point 2 is basic Socialism and will not work in this nation.
Point 3 puts plants and animals on a higher plane than unborn children or the elderly.
Point 4 is a back up and stand down policy that will only help other nations take us over.
Point 5 is wealth distribution, and that’s anti-American all the way.
Point 6 takes away an individuals right to pursue his or her own path in life by steering him or her into jobs that will best benefit the community or the country, including income equality and government oversight.
Point 7 is a forced quota system.
Point 8 is intended to squash any form of true religion, and force all religions to have full respect for all others. It will eventually outlaw Christianity.
Point 9 is a world-wide health and well-being structure that will invade every portion of everyone’s lives with intrusive measures that one must accept or one will be rejected from the system.
Point 10 opens the door for a one world government that will control everyone.
Yes, I am most certainly opposed to all 10 points. I took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic”, and all 10 of these points fly in the face of the Constitution. Anyone that tries to implement these in the United States of America will be in for a fight they won’t survive.
Not on my watch.
Read the “Green New Deal” and especially the Green party platform, and it is even worse.
Respecting diversity would outlaw Christianity? That’s ridiculous.