I am SO sick of the whining. Hey, residents of New Orleans that are still complaining about government -- get up off your rear ends and try working like the rest of us.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:06 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
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1 Not everyone can afford to retire and write a BLOG like some people do :-)

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 16, 2007 07:55 AM (VZyOx)

2 I wonder what that would be like.

Posted by: Ogre at October 16, 2007 09:55 AM (wkwq7)

3 I was watching the news the other night and they had a special on about that town this summer that was taken out by the tornado. Guess what, not one person they interviewed bitched about not getting free stuff. They actually said things like, we are moving on, we are rebuilding, we are helping our neighbors build. Shocking, I know.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at October 16, 2007 10:00 PM (BksWB)

4 Can we film that and buy TVs and DVDs and send them all the New Orleans?

Posted by: Ogre at October 17, 2007 02:02 AM (wkwq7)

5 One N.O. upper-middle-class owner of a few single family residence rentals who was wiped out after her insurance corporation failed to rebuild the houses she had faithfully paid premiums on for many years said, "Take a good look at my face. This could be YOU after the next hurricane." She wasn't complaining about FEMA freebies, she was complaining about private companies not honoring their insurance policies.

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 17, 2007 05:41 AM (h1vJ/)

6 Well, that's ONE person compared to the tens of thousands who are still waiting for government help -- and demanding government help.

Posted by: Ogre at October 17, 2007 10:47 AM (wkwq7)

7 Insurance kompanies have ruined health care in this country and you want to pick on the government? For example, you may believe those first-time home buyers whose mortgage payments are being increased tremendously don't need our collective help. Just a simple "don't increase existing mortgage payments for a year" law wouldn't cost a penny yet it might prevent half of the expected foreclosures. You probably think "THEY" are being punished, but if you think about the effects of massive foreclosures across our nation you'll realize that we're all in the same boat (even those of us who haven't had a late payment ever in our lives). Note: Your "truth filter" requires a "k" instead of a "c" sometimes :-)

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 17, 2007 08:45 PM (CrO2/)

8 Wrong. Insurance c-ompanies are HEAVILY regulated -- in other words, they charge what they charge BECAUSE GOVERNMENT TELLS THEM TO DO SO. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply lying. Government sets the coverage and the rates, NOT the companies! Wrong about increasing payments -- you may think it won't cost a penny, but what about the company who loaned the money who has expenses that increase? When they can't meet expenses, they go bankrupt, and then *I* have to pay for the bad loans. I'm not against helping people -- I'm against GOVERNMENT forcing others to help people -- that's just wrong, no matter what. Thanks for the note on the filter, I'll check that out.

Posted by: Ogre at October 17, 2007 11:59 PM (wkwq7)

9 "you may believe those first-time home buyers whose mortgage payments are being increased tremendously don't need our collective help. Just a simple "don't increase existing mortgage payments for a year" law wouldn't cost a penny yet it might prevent half of the expected foreclosures." Hey "Ann" They were the dumbasses that bought more of a house then they could afford, they should get zero help. Maybe they will learn next time to buy what they can afford. They were the ones that had the contracts in front of them, they were the ones that did not read said contract. They were not forced to get into said contract, nor forced to sign the contract. They were adult enough to lie to get bigger houses and payments, they should be adult enough to pony up to the bar and face the consequences.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at October 18, 2007 12:40 AM (BksWB)

10 And people say I'm heartless!

Posted by: Ogre at October 18, 2007 01:31 AM (wkwq7)

11 Re: the filter --- _you_ can write insurance c_om and America -- just us posters can't.

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 18, 2007 08:19 PM (VZyOx)

12 Well, it's certainly true in health insurance that our wholly-owned subsidiary (Congress & the White House) make sure that government cannot compete in the marketplace -- like get volume discounts like WalMart does. Private insurance c-ompanies are the biggest rip-off and the biggest reason why I can get a doctor appointment in Denmark for $60 and $40 in Japan, but the same treatment in the U.S. costs $200 or $300. And, BTW, I made a telephone call for an appointment without any long delay, so please don't fall for that "socialized medicine" crap about long lines for service. Check out the current issue of AARP Bulletin to see how budget cuts have destroyed the good service we used to get from SSA. Before you make up some abstract esoteric claim about banks going bankrupt check out the current Wall Street earnings report. Bank of America reported today $5 billion in PROFIT, down from $8 billion last year. I think those poor CEO's can sacrifice their bonuses for another year :-) If government doesn't help then who will? You? Hey, I read those junk mail ads from mortgage companies -- big bold print that advertises 1.5% interest rates with very affordable monthly payments. Then you read the tiny 4-point font at the bottom that says 1.5% for one-month only; interest rates adjust MONTHLY; capped at 9.5% -- gee, 9.5% in 4-point footnote with giant 16-point blue-colored font advertising 1.5% rate. Please don't try to tell me the government made the mortgage companies do that. Yes, first time home buyers make mistakes -- and to miss an 8% point difference is a very stupid mistake. But doesn't an 8% difference seem even a little bit unfair to you? Regardless, think about the value of your 401(K) pension and the value of your home and keep in mind that while your net worth falls, all we needed was for the government (or banks themselves) to reign in some of their excesses until the situation improves.

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 18, 2007 08:41 PM (VZyOx)

13 All I really need is for government to get the hell out of my way and let me be free. That's all I ask. And that's as "fair" as you can get. And YES, people should be absolutely free to make stupid mistakes -- and take risks -- and suffer the consequences of that risk. No, GOVERNMENT is the source of the vast, vast majority of problems in America, not "evil corporations." And YES, if government doesn't help *I* will. But right now I have to give nearly half of everything I earn to government to mismanage, so I don't have much cash to spare. If you don't believe it will work, check out America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People do VASTLY better without government interference, every single time.

Posted by: Ogre at October 19, 2007 11:26 AM (oifEm)

14 Yes, working people pay 43% fed tax (28% income + 15% SSA payroll taxes) while the non-working (ie, "rich") Americans pay only 15% tax on Capital Gains. And that's not even counting sales taxes -- a far greater percentage of poor and working people's earned income goes to sales taxes than rich CEO's huge stock options ("capital gains"). I hope you'll agree that this situation has been created by corporate lawyers, not grass-roots public demand. Lobbyists are paid by rich CEO's not average working people, so please don't blame the government. I still don't think you're getting my point though. You say "suffer the consequences of that risk" and I'm telling you that GOOD PEOPLE are already being hurt if the GREEDY mortgage companies are allowed to foreclose on first-time home buyers who can afford 6% interest, but not the 9% interest they weren't expecting. At least please let me know whether you realize how YOU will be affected by the oncoming 2 million home foreclosures coming in the next quarter -- after there already is an 18-month backlog of homes for sale on the market. And please let me know if you think 9% rate in a 6% market (a 150% overcharge) isn't just a tiny little bit unfair? (eg, super-super greedy by the sleazy mortgage companies who interrupt your dinnertime with annoying telemarketing calls) Side note: America was still an agricultural nation back in late 1800's and early 1900's -- the world has changed upside down and sideways since then ... things are very different now ... you have heard the term "globalization" haven't you? That word was unthinkable before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the rise of Windows (PC's with modems & email), followed by the World-Wide Web (1994) and a popular user-friendly browser (called Netscape (1995) running on top of the Internet (TCP/IP)... Netscape (Firefox) makes our conversation in your BLOG possible. People in the 1880's & early 1900's couldn't even dream of the world we live in today. PS-- Who invented the Internet? AARP, a special project for the GOVERNMENT. If it werent'f for government support, we'd still be networking computers over proprietay networks like IBM's SNA and DEC's DE_C_NET or Microslop's NETBUI. You seem to take government contributions for granted, just because you don't have to pay $60/month royalty fee to some company for the use of the "open protocols" TCP/IP. Maybe you would feel better if you wrote a check for $60/month to Salvation Army and pretend that's your payment for your use of the Internet.

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 20, 2007 06:42 AM (VZyOx)

15 Oops .. the Internet was invented by university professors (inexpensively) under grants from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), sill a GOVERNMENT-sponsored program. Since you obviously enjoy paying private corporations $45-60/month for your Internet connection, I think it would only be fair if you donated $45-60/month to New Orleans Salvation Army, since your Internet service wouldn't be possible at all without a selfless group of dedicated university researchers collaborating on a project "bigger than themselves" (which wasn't some bogus political war in Vietnam or Iraq).

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 20, 2007 06:59 AM (VZyOx)

16 I'm sorry that we will continue to strongly disagree. You see, I trust people. I believe in people. You, based on your statements, believe people are stupid and incapable of doing, well, anything, without government forcing them to. That's sad, but that is the position of the Democrat Party today. I think any agreement between two people to exchange goods and labor is fair if they agree (without government forcing them to). I think the internet would exist even if government hadn't spent a dime on it. How much did the government spend making Windows? I believe we would be much more technologically advanced if government were 1/100th of it's size. More people would be better off, there would be more "middle class" and more "rich" people. Paying money to the government will always have worse results than NOT paying them.

Posted by: Ogre at October 20, 2007 01:08 PM (wkwq7)

17 Would you really want to live in a world where everybody watches only FOX news, everybody belongs to the Republican party, and all the Christians wear Ku Klux Klan hoods? 2 points: I wouldn't want to live in a 100% leftist world and just because SOME Christians joined the Ku Klux Klan doesn't de-legitimize ALL Christians. That's why 2nd Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 7 is my favorite scripture -- even if SOME Christians have become as extreme as SOME Muslims are, I have kept the faith in the Love that Jesus Christ wants our world to have. Sorry, you are just wrong about the Internet. IBM, DEC, Honeywell, H-P, and every other company promoted their own, proprietary networking system. Essentially a "tower of babel" to communicate with other vendor's computers. Microslop is the most CLOSED proprietary system in the world, and they use their monopoly power to destroy competitive products -- thus diminishing user's choices for better products. I agree about government being far too big. Let's bring back Eisenhower and start reducing the size of government by tearing down the military-industrial complex that wastes almost as much money as the INTEREST our federal government pays every year for the money it has BORROWED to pay for military excesses even the Pentagon hasn't requested.

Posted by: Ann Coulter at October 22, 2007 02:06 AM (604CD)

18 Obviously we're not going to agree. I suggest that I trust people to do things based on freedom, and you suggest they will all be Klan members. That's just sad. You can give one example where companies compete. GOOD! That's great! Okay, how about hard drives? Somehow they managed to come up with quite a standard there without government. You want to reduce government, there's just one choice for President in 2008: Ron Paul.

Posted by: Ogre at October 22, 2007 03:02 AM (wkwq7)

19 I said Klan members are not an excuse to lump all Christians into one lump sum and say they are ALL bad (as you claim ALL Muslims are bad, without exception). How much have you contributed to help rebuild the homes that were destroyed by the fires in Southern California? Or Katrina? Zero. I thought so, I think you trust the people to do nothing except look out for their own selfish interests (and count their blessings that an "act of God" doesn't take away their life savings). If you saw Russell Crowe's movie "A Brilliant Mind" you would know that the Nobel-prize-winning mathematician he played made a breakthrough discovery in game theory in 1953. In simple terms, "If we all four (guys) go after the very prettiest girl, then there will be one winner and three losers. But, if instead, we collaborate our efforts, we each can get a date with one of the four attractive girls, and thus have four winners." It is an important foundation for modern economic theory. The disk drive companies also were led by IEEE Computer Society (a NON-PROFIT professional organization) who recognize the value of standards (ie, regulations or "rules" or "laws"). Sometimes good things happen without government intervention, but I think your answer to the Southern California/Katrina question is most revealing.

Posted by: John Daley at October 23, 2007 08:58 PM (eAUyf)

20 You have already decided my answer, so I guess there's no point in providing the real answer, is there?

Posted by: Ogre at October 23, 2007 10:00 PM (aF6z7)

21 You wrote: "And YES, if government doesn't help *I* will." What have you done to help the people in New Orleans/San Diego who need help?

Posted by: John Daley at October 25, 2007 07:21 AM (eAUyf)

22 I'm not sure why you answer a question, then ask me to answer it. You have already decided, magically, my thoughts and actions, based on your mind-reading abilities. I see no need to correct you because you have already decided the answer. If I were to tell you an answer that contradicted with your pre-determined answer, I'm quite sure you'd claim I was lying. Instead of trying to upset your delicate sensibilities with the truth, I'll just let you continue life in the world of your own creation in your own mind.

Posted by: Ogre at October 25, 2007 11:27 AM (oifEm)

23 Why are you so embarrassed about answering this simple question? I wouldn't even know you if we passed each other on the street. And it looks like this discussion is essentially a private one between you and me; it's not like I'm trying to use your soap-box to corner you and make some big splash in the Blog-O-Sphere :-) I'm just trying to point out the flaw in your assumption that people in need will magically get the help they need without some organized (government or non-profit NGO) way of helping them get back on their feet. Right-wingers used to whine about "lazy, non-working welfare moms". Now they are blaming victims of natural disasters for trying to mooch off of others. What will you do if your insurance c_ompany cancels your home owner's policy? Sell your house? Who will buy it if they can't insure it? You dump all the blame on the powerless at the bottom of the economic totem pole, while the powerful who run insurance c_ompanies get a free pass from you. Why is that?

Posted by: Amlan Chaterjee at October 26, 2007 08:57 AM (x3vvv)

24 Sorry about the insurance c-ompanies spam thing, I can't figure out how to get that out of there. As for freedom, I just happen to like it. I don't put blame on anyone for things they don't do. I simply like freedom. I like people to be free to help others. Today's government HATES allowing people to be free to help others. I think that's wrong. And with insurance c-ompanies, the primary reason they do ANYTHING they do is because government forces them to. And again, that's just plain wrong.

Posted by: Ogre at October 26, 2007 11:34 AM (oifEm)

25 It may be a ".com" filter. I'm not sure why anyone would try to advertise in your political blog, it would seem to backfire if someone tried to take commercial advantage of a discussion blog like yours. How about 'dem tax-averse, Libertarian, selfish, "less government, more for __MEE___" Orange County voters who got caught with their pants down -- only two Vietnam-era helicopters to fight the fire -- even AFTER a similar fire disaster happened in 2003, those freedom-loving tax-averse citizens voted down a local tax to buy new fire-fighting equipment... so they ended up MOOCHING off of San Franciso and Arizona fire-fighters after their fires got out of control. NOW those rugged individualist Libertarians want govermint help. Hope they enjoyed their tax-savings :-) BTW, 2/3 of Americans say they received no benefit from Dubya's tax cuts. (At least you were able to fix the "ica" filter. Thanks!)

Posted by: John Daley at October 27, 2007 07:30 AM (4hwtR)

26 Well, it's not a ".com" filter -- just when i type "insurance c_om". Don't worry about it. As a computer programmer I know how hard it is sometimes to fight the syntax to get a computer to do what you want it to :-)

Posted by: John Daley at October 27, 2007 07:34 AM (4hwtR)

27 It's automated spam, they don't care where the links end up. There's lots of them that advertise for insurance c-ompanies (go figure).

Posted by: Ogre at October 27, 2007 12:26 PM (2WD8n)

28 Wow! I would report them to Homeland Security, They are about the only govermint agency with funds to pay staff to do stuff anymore. And spam is the #1 threat to Internet bandwidth. Still, what do you think about those tax-averse libertarian San Diegan's who voted down a tax increase to pay for modern helicopter/ariel attacks on the small forest fire that was getting out of control. Their Fire Chief did the honorable thing and resigned after the votes were counted. If people aren't willing to pay for their own protection, then it's futile to try -- he didn't delude himself into thinking he can protect them or, worse, collect a handsome Fire Chief compensation package for his family, while pretending to help them. The really sad thing about that is, if San Diego had bought more modern equipment, possibly they might have contained the fire and prevented damage to neighboring counties who DID pay for more modern fire-fighting equipment. Worse, they ended up MOOCHING off other fire departments to pay for the fire protection they have been neglecting for over thirty years now. When I hear "less government, more for __MEEE__" I always think of free-loaders like the San Diego voters who voted to tax their neighbors for the necessary equipment to fight their fires.

Posted by: John Daley at October 27, 2007 10:09 PM (uetv9)

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Wow. These people are absolutely incredible. TWO YEARS after a Bush-made natural disaster, they are STILL complaining that they're not getting enough stuff for free!

People are angry and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster

No, I do not feel sorry for these people. I don't even have empathy for them any more. If you're sitting in New Orleans after two damn years, still complaining that "government" hasn't GIVEN you enough, you're just a selfish bastard that wants to live off the backs of others.

Posted by: Ogre at 01:04 PM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
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Well, okay, there's hundreds of reasons I could put here, couldn't I? But this one I was railing against from the start. Federal investigators are now reporting over $2,000,000,000.00 (that's two billion) in government WASTE over Hurricane Katrina. In case you're not aware of how government works, that was two BILLION dollars of taxpayer money that was wasted. That was two BILLION dollars that could have been kept by the people who earned it.

In case you missed my various posts during that natural (not Bush-made) disaster, government should NEVER have gotten involved. Government is absolutely, completely, totally incapable of being compassionate -- it's not possible because it's not their money. The ONLY way government can give away money is for them first to take it, by force, from people who work for it.

That's wrong, plain and simple. I don't care how many people vote for it -- it's still wrong. If 51% today voted to make all black people slaves, would that be right because the majority wanted it? No. There is an absolute right and wrong, and government charity is completely wrong -- every time. And the utter incomprehensible amount of waste is only part of it.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:03 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Well, isn't that special. Everyone out there who wants free housing payments for life, just go put yourself in the way of a natural disaster. Because if you do, you will have THE RIGHT to free housing for the rest of your life (and maybe your children's lives, too).

So says US District Judge Richard J. "It's not my money" Lean, as he ORDERS FEMA to resume payments to all Katrina victims because

he Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to adequately explain why it ended the 18-month housing assistance program

But wait, there's more. The judge agreed that

FEMA had violated the rights of Katrina victims by abruptly stopping housing payments.

The right thing to do here? President Bush (who is in charge of FEMA) should tell the judge to take a long walk off a short pier. Then he should completely dismantle and abolish FEMA so there's no one left to pay the money.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I just found out about a "deal" where you can help contribute to the Katrina victims by going out to eat on Tuesday. Apparently some restaurants are donating some money from their proceeds on Tuesday night to those people.

Unfortunately, my reaction to this proposed effort is "screw you."

Of course, many will say I'm heartless, cold, right-wing, etc. For those who haven't left, stay with me.

First, why? Why should I go out and spend $100 so a couple dollars can go to Katrina relief? I've already sent BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of dollars there via my federal government. What difference will a couple more dollars make? None. That's the net effect of a government that thinks it can provide "charity" with forced contributions. It REDUCES real charity.

Second, why should I spend $100 to give them a few dollars? If I wanted to send money to help, I'd send the entire amount to The Salvation Army or to Samaritan's Purse, where the WHOLE amount would do good, not just a little.

You can make the choice yourself. You can join them and spend a lot of money on yourself so that there's some alleged relief, after the literal BILLIONS already sent, or you can give money to, or work with an organization that actually provides relief to people who need it.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:01 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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As long as there's people that think they're deserved everything, there will be greedy bastards who want to take more money from someone, anyone, who earned it for themselves. And no, they don't want to lift a finger for it, and yes, they're more than willing to use sympathy as an excuse to take more and more.

Fox News is reporting on some alleged "insurance delays" in handouts payouts for damage from hurricane Katrina. A few of the examples show that apparently the news reporter and the greedy scum-suckers "victims" are both victims of the type of economics taught in government schools: I'm owed everything.

Eric Moskau whines because he didn't get over a million dollars in insurance settlements. Of course, he leaves out the idea that Allstate DOESN'T INSURE AGAINST FLOOD DAMAGES.

This greedy bastard also wants more just because he has insurance. You see, he took out a loan for about $600,000 to buy his house. When the insurance paid, he thought HE should get the money and not the bank. In other words, he spent $0 on the house (minus downpayment, if any) and wanted the entire insurance check to go in his pocket.

Another greedy bastard, Pascal Warner, did even better but still wants more! His insurance payouts paid off all his mortgage debts AND left him with $21,000! I'd be ecstatic that I came out ahead! But no, he whines and complains he only has enough for supplies and not labor.

What these greedy bastards want is for the insurance company to completely pay off their debts AND rebuild their houses! They're not just asking for the value of the house, they want TWICE the value of the house -- one time to pay the debt and one time to build them a brand new house -- which they'd own debt-free.

Sorry, greedy bastards, that's not how capitalism works. But keep whining and complaining to the press -- if the right politician hears you, they'll take a pile of my money to give to you to buy your vote. Gee, I almost wish a hurricane would hit my house so I can win the lottery, too.

(Linked to Right on the Right)

Posted by: Ogre at 03:02 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Well, one Democrat governor got removed from office recently for misconduct -- will another?

Monday afternoon, Kat Landry, founder of the website RECALLGOVERNORBLANCO.COM announced her intentions to file a recall petition for the office of the governor.

(H/T to Louisiana Libertarian.)

Posted by: Ogre at 07:01 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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All the wrangling and fighting in the US Congress can now end! The budget problems are over! You see, the state of Louisiana, the one who wanted tens of billions of dollars in federal money, apparently just doesn't need the money any more, so Congress can just stop sending truckloads of cash to them!

Louisiana Libertarian outlines all the things that the state is currently spending money on, removing all thoughts that the state actually needs federal help.

For example, the state is spending $200,000 on a "recreation area at the Pearl River Canal;" another $50,000 on another recreation area in Kentwood, LA; $190,000 building a basketball gym in New Orleans; $200,000 on a "multi-cultural center" in Tensas; $400,000 on a Film Theater in Caddo; and tons more!

Head on over and read about all the things that LA is wasting money upon -- there's clearly NO need for any federal aid, so the feds should immediately stop all funding and reject the Governor's declaration of LA as a disaster area.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Here we go again. "The government" is providing "free" ice, water and "other essentials" in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. So, Bou AND VW, feel free to head on over and collect some "free" stuff.

Of course, it's not really free, *I* am paying for it.

But still the government will provide. Is there anything that government won't provide? I mean to those who didn't earn it, of course. They won't give me jack because I work.

Folks, GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER -- and I don't care what the question was. I really believe the government in the US is past the point of no return -- there will never again be a limited constitutional republic in the world. And that's really sad.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:44 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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1 Yep, they are providing "free ice" just one i-95 stop away from me... it would take me about 20 minutes to get there. I am NOT going to go get it. I don't need it and it drives me nuts when people go get it 'just because it's free'. Sigh.

Posted by: vw bug at October 25, 2005 04:10 PM (YDxO1)

2 Psst. Next time make it "VW and Bou". GRIN

Posted by: vw bug at October 25, 2005 04:11 PM (YDxO1)

3 VW and Bou? Oh NOW we see how it is!

Posted by: Ogre at October 25, 2005 05:08 PM (iJFc9)

4 "They won't give me jack because I work." Sadly, even employment doesn't always guarantee a family can make ends meet. Last year I had a student who was working full time as a machinist, had two young children, and was taking classes at my community college. She of course had to feed and clothe not only herself, but the two kids. She didn't make enough on her 40-hrs/week to pay rent, food, clothing, and for her college classes. She could have given up the college classes, that would've given her a little more money and time to work, but then she would never be able to move up from her minimum wage job. The sad choice she eventually had to make was to live with an abusive boyfriend and his father so she didn't have to pay the rent. The only other option I could think of would be if she packed up herself and her children and moved to a part of the country where the cost of living was lower, but this would've required moving away from everyone and everything she knew, and in a new location she'd have to pay for childcare since she wouldn't know anyone reliable to take care of her kids while she was at work or school. I am thankful that I have never had to live a life like this, and I do not begrudge them the help they receive from my taxes. However, if you don't like how the US is doing things you have a few choices: keep complaining pointlessly; stop complaining and suck it up; vote, write letters to politicians, stage protests, make campaign contributions, and do other such things that can help your viewpoint be heard; run for office yourself; or leave the country for one that does do things the way you like.

Posted by: zandperl at October 26, 2005 12:02 AM (KHEUn)

5 And Zandpearl -- This country would work a lot better if it was allowed to function as originally planned. The govt has one job, the private sector has another. There are a lot of charities and support groups out there that are supported by private individuals, I run across them all the time surfing. I also know people who are really good at searching them out. There are companies requiring employees with certain skills that train unskilled people on the job, compensating them while they learn. If the socialist{liberal} element in our society wasn't constantly at work trying to tear down a system that has made America the wealthiest, most influential and most powerful nation on earth, the marketplace, instead of having to concentrate on surviving under perpetual siege, might be able to do their job and help support their future assets while training them for better paying positions. I know a few people who have gone from semiemployable to highly paid professional via such NONgovernment-paid programs. The MSM doesn't spend any time reporting these things because they, like the rest of the left, have this all pervasive need to make the govt pay for everything. Funny thing, I might add that a great deal of socialist thought is generated from colleges. You tell Ogre to go to a country where the government might do things more to his liking, well: This is a capitalist republic, not a socialist country. Most socialist countries aren't doing too well these days, are they? So let the liberals leave and find one of those "Utopias" to live in, instead of screwing up this country.

Posted by: Seth at October 26, 2005 04:38 AM (MyOr7)

6 Absolutely, Seth. Private charities can do things a million times better than the government. I don't object to people who need help getting help, Zandperl -- I object to them claiming they have a right to the fruits of MY labor. And I *AM* doing all I can -- including pointing out where the government goes wrong here on this blog so hopefully at least one person will think about it and realize that the current government entitlement and answer-to-everything is wrong. And I'm doing a number of the other things you list. I agree with Seth -- I want THIS country to be the constitutional republic that supports freedom -- anyone who doesn't like that ought to leave because there are plenty of other choices for socialism. Unfortunately, the socialists NEED my capitalist money to support their programs, so they won't leave.

Posted by: Ogre at October 26, 2005 07:00 AM (/k+l4)

7 My power has been out the last 2 days due to the heavy snowfall in the mountains of western PA. No FEMA trucks spotted yet.

Posted by: Tomslick at October 26, 2005 08:46 AM (xNjHI)

8 I'm sure it's due to mismanagement, Tomslick. They will have you your free ice soon. I think on the website you can sign up for home delivery in case you're too lazy, I mean too needy, to go get it yourself.

Posted by: Ogre at October 26, 2005 09:00 AM (/k+l4)

9 I think the majority of people here would rather sign the "Stay away Fema, we are doing just fine" site. My family, my home, my responsibility. What a novel idea.

Posted by: Tomslick at October 26, 2005 12:09 PM (xNjHI)

10 You're a dinosaur, Tomslick, and not welcome by the politicians and elites of this country. Me, too.

Posted by: Ogre at October 26, 2005 01:03 PM (/k+l4)

11 Hay, Have you ever been in POLAND? I got 400E per month - my flant renting per month is about 200E and food 100.

Posted by: kiki at November 08, 2005 09:45 AM (OW7Cc)

12 400E Per month for what? For working, or just cash from the government?

Posted by: Ogre at November 08, 2005 09:57 AM (/k+l4)

13 Everyone gets so dependent on power. I think that we need to find alternative power needs.

Posted by: Anna at November 15, 2005 10:02 PM (Wm4GU)

14 We've been searching for a long time, Anna, it's just that an economically viable alternative has not been found yet.

Posted by: Ogre at November 15, 2005 10:47 PM (7PCNv)

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*** BREAKING NEWS ***
Dateline: Lima, Peru.

U.S. President, warmonger, and unilateralist George Bush used his weather machine this week to begin draining the Amazon River. The 4,075-mile long river's water flow has been drastically reduced to less than 424,000 cubic feet per second by Bush's war machine.

The Amazon River flows through the countries of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Brazil. The lower river levels are causing problems with transport and economics on the river, which is the main form of transportation in these countries.

Researcher Jean-Louis LeFrenchie postulates that Haliburton is about to go into production with a low-water-level boat that can be used to transport goods in water that is very shallow and Haliburton is already in negotiation with the various tribes of the region to start selling them these boats. Negotiations were weak until the river level started dropping.

The Brazilian government's National Institute of Meteorology said dry weather in the Amazon is linked to warmer Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, which changes rainfall patterns, which may actually be the real reason that the water levels are dropping.

Also of note is the fact that while the river's level is the lowest "on record," there are only 36 years of records that have been kept.

*** END BREAKING NEWS ***

So, how am I doing? Is this FMSM journalism material, or what?

Posted by: Ogre at 05:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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It seems whining that everything be given to you on a silver platter is not just an American phenomenon. People in India have joined the chorus in demanding that the rest of the world give them whatever they feel they need because of a natural disaster.

"All the government people, the press people, they are just driving past," said one complainer. Another whined, "No one has come to help us."

What has happened to people? Why is there absolutely no responsibility for anything taken by anyone? Are there no "Real Men" left on the entire planet?

Hey Farid Khan, how about getting up off your rear and volunteering to help others yourself? You have time to talk to the press and demand help, but no time to actually help? Syad Hassan, stop taking time to block roads and force journalists to turn around and start building shelters!

Look, this might sound harsh, but hey folks, this is the real world! IT'S NOT SAFE! YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED SAFETY IN THIS WORLD!

On the other hand, maybe it's just me. I just know that if I were in the middle of a natural disaster (and I have been), I wouldn't even be talking to the press -- I'd be too busy trying to ensure everyone was safe and had food, water, and shelter myself, without asking, much less demanding, anyone else do anything.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:03 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I'm an optimist. No, really. I am a complete and total optimist. I really do seek out the good in things, wherever it can be found. I do it probably more often than I should, especially when it comes to trusting people, but that's the way I am.

Now hurricane Katrina was bad. Really bad. But there's almost always some good that can come from bad things. I read this morning something really good that's a direct result of the hurricane.

3,000 New Orleans City Workers will be laid off.

Hooray! This is great news! In fact, it may be the ONLY time government at any level has gotten smaller in the last 100 years! I certainly cannot remember ever reading any report of any reduction of any sort at ANY level of government in my lifetime! Have any of you?

Even stranger, the employees laid off are "non-essential." Well, idiots, if they're not essential, why in the heck were they employed? "Gee, we don't really need anyone here to do this job, but we've got all this tax money and we need to spend it, so I'll hire you to stand there and hold the wall up."

There's a silver lining to every cloud.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:05 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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It is the end of the world! The sky is falling! Repent! Repent! How do I know? I've been told, according to Louisiana Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin, living conditions are horrible in his area, and he needs more money because "HIS" residents face the unthinkable! They might

be without air conditioning, and risk insect bites

And the mosquitoes! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The only possible solution is for the federal government to nationalize SC Johnson's Off! Insect Repellent. We must devote our scarce national resources to not permitting any person in Louisiana from being bitten by a mosquito. If even one child is bitten, President George Bush has failed as president and should be impeached if he does not resign.

Of course, we have to be very careful to not actually kill any of the mosquitoes, as they have just as much a right to live as humans, so we can only repel them from attacking people.

P.S. Hey Hal, I'll provide you with the same tip as Sheriff John from an earlier post: Shut your pie hole, get out from in front of the cameras, and try working for something instead of whining about what others haven't GIVEN you.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:02 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 We can get free Off! from the gubment? Cool, seeing as how I get eaten alive everytime I set foot outside. Now, about my dog, can she get some flea treatments from the ol' gubment, she sure is suffering what with all them damned fleas. Now it is my turn to whine! The storm, remnants of Rita, that hit my home on Sunday, done blowed out my Directv! I neeeed my Directv! Where is the gubment? I may have to go days, nay, weeks without my directv, the Horror! Help! Help! I'm starting to suffocate, bugs, no t.v., must.talk.to.spouse. Arghhh!!! How is that for inconsequential whining? P.S. I have pictures up now. . .

Posted by: oddybobo at September 28, 2005 05:59 PM (6Gm0j)

2 No! Not DirectTv, too! Quickly, why isn't Congress moving on this? Why hasn't Congress sent you a check for $100,000 yet? I'm sure you're owed it, since the storm hit your house, too. I'm calling my Congressman and asking him why he hasn't sent you $100,000 right now. ... ... (His phone is busy.)

Posted by: Ogre at September 28, 2005 06:40 PM (iJFc9)

3 I got: "you want what for what?" "This is a joke right, ha ha." Who can I sue?

Posted by: oddybobo at September 28, 2005 07:15 PM (6Gm0j)

4 I'd LMAO if it wasn't for the fact that people like Hal weren't dead serious. Ya know, after storms like Fran and Floyd, I do not remember people whining like they are in La. Maybe it is because the people in those areas are demoratic, while most folks in NC are GOP.

Posted by: William Teach at September 28, 2005 07:24 PM (eSZb/)

5 Now I'm getting, "Sorry, that number has been changed to an unlisted number..." And Teach, that could be -- and can you explain how, since most people are GOP in NC, how we have a heavily Democrat (although NOT democratic) legislature?

Posted by: Ogre at September 28, 2005 07:45 PM (iJFc9)

6 Enough on the whining... This just makes me sick. I was without power last year for 3 days. Heat, bugs, no tv, no computer... geeze... I should have whined more... what is that saying... the squeaky wheel gets the grease?

Posted by: vw bug at September 29, 2005 02:40 PM (J3xJ9)

7 But the whining is so insane! If I can't make my house payment this month, can I whine to the government and get someone else to pay the bill? No? Then what's the damn difference?

Posted by: Ogre at October 02, 2005 07:04 PM (iJFc9)

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Apparently someone has been educated by the government school system in Texas -- and the was elected to a government position, likely based in part on his excellent education. Sheriff John:

We have been living like cavemen, sleeping in cars, doing bodily functions outside

Does that mean that cavemen had electric cars? Or does it mean that people in Texas have cars that don't run on gasoline? Oh wait, now I see what's going on in Texas:

P.S. Hey Sheriff John: Shut your pie hole, get out from in front of the cameras, and try working for something instead of whining about what others haven't GIVEN you.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:04 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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I've previously mentioned a time or two about how I believe government has gone way out of control in response to Katrina. I've specifically mentioned how severely wrong it is to remove basic rights of people because of flooding. Finally, there's at least one federal court that is actually attempting to slow the tyrants.

I haven't seen any news stories about this in the major media outlets -- and I'm not really surprised -- this is one way a media bias can be shown, by not covering certain news items and events. The Washington Times does have the story.

In a recap, the government in New Orleans decided that they wanted to take all guns from all private citizens, rendering the second amendment null and void. The NRA finally got off their collective rears and screamed in federal court. The U.S. District Court for Eastern Louisiana agreed and issued a retraining order to stop authorities from stealing private citizens' weapons on a whim.

There really is no excuse for taking weapons from houses that are locked up, or ones in which the person is actively defending themselves from looters. This stealing of weapons by the government is like the police walking up to a fight between a homeowner and a looter and trying to take the guns away from the homeowner.

People, police are not responsible for your individual safety -- courts have ruled that way again and again. YOU are responsible for your safety -- the police are responsible for general public safety and are charged with responding AFTER lawbreaking, not before. You need to protect yourself, you are responsibly for yourself, and you should have the tools to do so. Thanks to this federal court, the people in Louisiana do...at least for now.

(Linked to Cao's Open Trackbacks).

Posted by: Ogre at 09:23 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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And yet again, Congress takes more money and food out of people's mouths to "help" others. Congress recently passed a new "tax cut" -- but only if you happen to live in certain areas or are deemed to be special -- no one else gets them.

Does this sound like Clinton and the Democrats of last decade? Every single time the Democrats talk about tax cuts, it's always "targeted" tax cuts. This move helps show that there is almost no difference between Republicans and Democrats. This one is costing YOU and ME another $7-30 billion.

$5 billion to put every single person affected by the storm on Medicare (like those in MN and OH). Billions in continued welfare payments while the welfare recipients are working. Yes, that's correct, if you were on welfare before the storm, you will continue receiving those punitive welfare benefits, even if you work.

$600 a month for "housing" (like beer and lap dances) for at least 350,000 people for 6 months. Note -- by my calculations, that's $1.2 billion, but the total cost is estimated to be $3.5 billion. That's $2.3 billion in administrative costs!

The bill would also add able-bodied single men to Medicaid rolls and extra, free unemployment cash.

This is just plain wrong. It is NOT compassionate to take money at gunpoint from one person and give it to another. And just wait, Texas will be next in line once Rita is over (if they're not already getting cash, and it's likely they ARE).

The biggest result this sort of idiocy brings is that I now WANT to move to a hurricane-prone area so I can get piles and piles of cash from the government. Bou, that storm went close to you -- I'm sure if you ask the government, they'll give you a giant check, too.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:33 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Gee, what a contrast. First we have Bush saying that there will be no tax increases to pay the $200+ billion for hurricane relief. He said it's going to cost a lot of money and that, despite absolutely no authority from the Constitution, he's willing to force YOU to pay for that recovery.

He said he's not going to take money from working Americans. I guess he's just going to steal it from another country, then? Where else is he going to get it? Even if he doesn't increase taxes, we're STILL paying for it. He claims he's going to reduce spending -- I sure hope he does -- Washington has done nothing but INCREASE spending for years. I'm not holding my breath.

He has said that he will reduce pork spending in order to "help" evacuees (since according to the co-Kings of The Blacks, Jesse and Louis, we can't call them refugees). One way to help was to give them $2,000 debit cards. The government canceled those, then decided to give them $5,000 "accounts."

Then we have this (H/T to NIF). Apparently some of those people that are in "dire straits" and "need our help" at gunpoint are using the cash they get to buy beer in strip clubs (at $1.75 each).

Are they gouging the customers? Is $1.75 "too much" to charge for beer? Since *I* am paying for those beers, don't I have a right to set the price of the beers? And how much are they paying for lap dances? If government (ME) is paying, I have a right to know if they're getting their money's worth, don't I?

I've mentioned it before -- this is very, very wrong. This is the sort of thing when happens when government gets involved. Now don't start saying things about "a few bad apples-" it doesn't matter if 1% of the people who got money did this -- it shows the money was wasted.

The United States Government does NOT have the power to TAKE money from me and GIVE it to someone else they like more. It's WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! There's NO WAY you can convince me, especially with examples like this, that there's ANY good going on here.

If government got the hell out of the way, these people WOULD be helped! How I yearn for freedom -- freedom FROM government. Anyone want to form a Constitutional Republic with me? I already know a really good way to set up a government that would work very well...

Posted by: Ogre at 08:34 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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Has anyone noticed the price of gasoline the last week or so? In case you've been taking public transportation and haven't seen, it's dropping like a rock. Some "experts" are predicting it will fall, perhaps as low or lower than "pre-Katrina" prices within a week.

How is this possible? Don't you remember all the complaining just last week? Don't you remember all the doom and gloom about how it was the end of the world because evil oil companies were gouging people? Heck, GA instituted "investigations" into price gouging. Gas stations were running out of gasoline because there was a "shortage." It was the end of the world.

However, since government mostly stayed the heck out of the way, we now see the free market at work. Katrina struck just before Labor Day weekend -- the weekend in the year where demand is the highest for gasoline. Gas prices ALWAYS are at their highest in August (when demand is highest), and usually peaks about Labor Day weekend. Just like every other year, after the demand falls, the prices drop.

There's no such thing as "price gouging." If you don't want to buy it, don't buy it. You can't claim you "need" it and therefore there should be government control -- do you need food? Certainly you need food quite a bit more than you need gasoline -- but there's no government regulation of food in the form of price caps, is there?

Every time the free market is tried, it works. Supply and demand systems WORK. Let them work. The only time they do not is when government gets involved because government, by definition, can only interfere and damage the free market system.

Posted by: Ogre at 07:26 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 Right On! Ever notice that they'll institute price caps before even considering lowering the gas tax? Which is more likely to work?

Posted by: Echo Zoe at September 13, 2005 07:35 AM (keU2o)

2 I'm telling you, if government would just get out of the way, this country would be an economic engine that would put the world to shame!

Posted by: Ogre at September 13, 2005 07:49 AM (/k+l4)

3 well the reason price is dropping is because I've stopped driving my truck. The Oil companies have lost a lot of revenue since I started car pooling. Scarily enough right after I bought that truck the gas prices sky rocketed and shortly after I stopped driving it they are starting to drop. I know it's a coincidence, but it's amusing.

Posted by: Contagion at September 13, 2005 08:44 AM (Q5WxB)

4 Also remember that prices began rising two weeks before katrina hit, because of the Labor Day holiday. Gas prices always rise before a holiday. Fortunately for the oil companies, katrina came along, and they were able to keep the inflated prices up another week. ExxonMobil announced the other day that their quarterly profit is $10 Billion. Thats $10 Million per day!

Posted by: hiikeeba at September 13, 2005 09:28 AM (PdMcB)

5 It's all a scam. My Wal-Mart ran out of coffee, hasn't had any in a week...they blame Hurricane Katrina, now how do they get all other foods but not coffee? How is it Hurricane Katrina's fault? Please tell me, I really want to know.

Posted by: Cindy at September 13, 2005 09:51 AM (tys5d)

6 Cindy - actually, since a lot of coffee comes from South America, the damage to the Gulf Coast ports could raise transportation costs, since the beans will have to be delivered via a less-direct path.

Posted by: Harvey at September 13, 2005 10:18 AM (ubhj8)

7 And strangely enough, Contagion, I did the exact opposite. It was just days before Katrina hit that I traded my 15mpg vehicle for a 30mpg one! Isn't that great, hiikeeba? I think everyone should go buy stock in ExxonMobil! Then everyone could share in the record profits. Cindy, I'm pretty sure that's Bush's fault, too. Something to do with Bush's dealings with the Columbian drug lords as the CIA tries to kill all black people by getting them addicted to crack. Currently most of the shipping markets must be used by the crack dealers and they have no room for coffee. Oh wait, don't they use coffee to hide drug shipments? They did in Beverly Hills Cop, right? Wait, isn't Eddie Murphy black? So therefore, I have proven that Bush hates coffee.

Posted by: Ogre at September 13, 2005 10:55 AM (/k+l4)

8 Gas went up to 4:09 last week..then suddenly it dropped back down to 3:10 where it's been hovering...we haven't seen a shortage of coffee (Ogre gags at the thought of coffee smells LOL) We see a shortage of fruits and juices though.

Posted by: Raven at September 13, 2005 07:37 PM (7mbx+)

9 4:09? O'clock? There wasn't as much of a shortage as the press wanted you to believe. I'm not sure you can actually trust the press to report anything accurately any more -- it's always about excitement and drawing in viewers -- not about what actually happened anymore.

Posted by: Ogre at September 13, 2005 08:16 PM (iJFc9)

10 I posted on this and got nothing. People dont want to talk aout this issue. I'm glad you did! Great ideas. I saw an interview with a Rep from Washington State - it has a 33 cent tax on gas and their legislature won't roll it back, not even for a few months. Does anyone else think this is wrong?

Posted by: patd95 at September 13, 2005 09:42 PM (/KuBm)

11 No, lower prices don't make the news nor gather attention -- only higher prices! And I'm opposed to darn near every tax that exists, so yes, I think the heavy gas taxes are wrong. Heck, here in North Carolina, the gas taxes are used for anything the legislature wants -- like bribing officials, paying off for votes, or just giving cash to friends.

Posted by: Ogre at September 13, 2005 10:04 PM (iJFc9)

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The Louisiana Libertarian has another post up about his experiences from inside the heart of the storm -- the politics after Katrina, not the hurricane itself.

His entire hometown was basically destroyed by the hurricane, although his own home was spared for the most part. They still do not have power. He points out what the governor and the mayor are doing now (hint: nothing useful). He also lists some of the horrible abuses already occurring, including those who have urged him to take aid, even though he doesn't need it.

Indeed, it's tempting (to take aid when you don't need it). In fact, I'm considering buying some beach front property anywhere in a hurricane-prone area. Why not? I'm going to get cash from the federal government if a hurricane strikes, so why not join the lottery?

Posted by: Ogre at 07:12 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Just letting you know that I'm back to blogging and also to reading. Thanks for being such a loyal reader back "then".

Posted by: Joanne the Happy Homeschooler at September 11, 2005 11:56 PM (6krEN)

2 Wonderful news, glad to see it! I'll have to come back and start reading your excellent posts again!

Posted by: Ogre at September 12, 2005 05:32 AM (L0IGK)

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Sorry not much posting this weekend. It's in the mid-70s in North Carolina and mostly sunny. You couldn't create better weather for doing something - anything - outside. So I'm outside for the weekend.

However, if you're having bad weather and you're inside, I'll just add to your misery. It's official now, you have no rights. The Bill of Rights is nothing more than some paper some white slave-owners wrote a million years ago, and it doesn't apply to today. I reference this article that points out that guns are being confiscated from LAW ABIDING citizens in UNDAMAGED areas.

The lead quote for that article says it all:

“The balloon has gone up, the shoe has dropped. Anyone doubting the criminal intentions of the social engineer control-freaks in Washington need only look at middle-class neighborhoods being stormed by black-masked wearing jackboots on a mission to steal guns.

This is a precedent setting case for national gun confiscation. This is a clear declaration of war by the Federal Government against the American people. This is exactly how Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War in 1775.”

It started years ago, when the government started taking arms from public housing. Now they're going for the middle class. Well, that might go over in New Orleans, but they're going to have quite a fight if they want MY guns, natural disaster or not.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:38 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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