Oh, I'm not considering it, I just noticed other people were and I came across this article. Like I said, I'd rather buy an island and start a Libertarian society =)
Did you read my other response yet?
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Oh, I'm not considering it, I just noticed other people were and I came across this article. Like I said, I'd rather buy an island and start a Libertarian society =)
Did you read my other response yet?
I'm a little bit older, but when I went to college in the early 90's tuition was high. It is not the gov'ts resposibility to make sure that college tuition remains affordable. I did the same thing most of you do, took out loans, worked my ass off and made it work. Bill Clinton didn't do anything to help pay for my tuition, neither did Bush, Regan, Carter, Ford, Johnson, or Nixon before them. Wait, that's not true. My Dad got money handed to him for college and all he had to do was wade through Vietnam for 3 tours in the Marines. They gave him a lifetime allowance of 10K for college.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisfitBunnie
The same system that re-elected this president, elected all the previous ones. Do I like it, no, but I respect the process.
Is your tuition really doubling? Like paying 35K now and 70K next year?
If every "NON-VOTER" voted it WOULD make a difference. But its funny how many non-voters there are who flap their gums about politics.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crystal_eyes
I hope that those who DO move to Canada find it better than the U.S.
I think all this talk of moving to Canada is simply ridiculous. What's that going to solve?
May I remind those who are seriously considering this that if you are there the next time an election rolls around that there will be one less person here to fight for the "resistance", meaning that the "regime" will have that much more of a majority.
To be honest, instead of moving to Canada you would be better off moving to a state that barely went red this time, so you can make it go blue next election cycle.
Here's another suggestion how you can fight the fundies...join them, or at least join their party. Yes, actually register as a Republican (c'mon its just a brand label). As a member of the party you will help pull the party base towards the left, demand the party nominate moderate candidates for office at all levels of government, vote in Republican primaries and lastly threaten to cross party lines and elect a Democrat should your party nominate a fundy. That's how you fight them folks, not walk off to a foreign country like a coward until the weather is a little nicer.
Actually, there's a group that is proposing that all libertarian minded folk move to a single state (they picked New Hampshire), take it over, and use it as a model for the rest of the country.Quote:
Originally Posted by azamber
http://www.freestateproject.org/
Their suggestion is pretty far fetched, but to me a more practical idea would be to do something similar on a local scale. It wouldn't be total freedom, but I've always felt that the most intrusive government in your life in the one down the street, not the one in Washington, DC. Can you imagine every city in the country having a libertarian suburb alongside it? Even if we had to build those communitiess from the ground up?
That would be excellent, but NH is way too cold for me. I'm spoiled on this AZ heat! I read about that back before they even picked the state, I was bummed with thier choice, but maybe I'll go visit.
Mine increased 33% in the last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by tooma
My best friend's is up from 60K to 80K a year.
College is NOT affordable.
Hey Gabe, I thought you were a firefighter? Anyway...
Canada definitely has some great points, but it's not quite the liberal wonderland some of us make it out to be.
Yes, they have socialized medicine, but, like a lot of European countries with "free" healthcare, they pay a lot of taxes for it. I personally wouldn't mind paying twice the taxes I do now to get stuff like healthcare out of it, but the vast majority of Americans are VERY tax-averse. I've met people that drive an Escalade but have no health insurance :O . Shows where our priorities are.
Canada's system is still flawed though. It can take months to see a specialist or get expensive diagnostic tests like MRI's. Same in England. So sadly the primary way to guarantee top-notch healthcare is if you're wealthy, or you can get middling healthcare for free if you're on Medicaid. If you're middle-class you're likely screwed, especially since what passes for many corporate healthcare plans today is astonishingly niggardly (look the word up before y'all with more limited vocabularies flame me, btw).
I do like that Canada's more liberal, has less violence and is far less controlled by religious influences than the U.S.
PS-tuition per se isn't doubling, but the rate at which it's increasing IS.
I work for the Fire Prevention Bureau. By the time im 21 I'll be a fireman in New York.Quote:
Hey Gabe, I thought you were a firefighter? Anyway...
Oohhhh this is a pet peeve of mine. Someone who goes out and buys one of these 1,700 TVs and then complains they can't afford healthcare...Quote:
Originally Posted by NinaDaisy
Yes. It is the few who are peace loving and gentle. You have it backwards.Quote:
Originally Posted by azamber
The many believe in cutting off people's hands for stealing a bowl or some other stupid shit. I've seen it. Wanna know how they do it? Tie the poor person's hand and elbow to a board and then stretch his arm. The thief's eye's look at the swordsman pleading but there is no mercy as the swordsman believes he carry's out Allah's will and is promoting justice. One wack - two wack - where once he had a hand, three seconds later he has none.
Domestic violence is common. One woman even sued to have her husband beat her only once a week!
Honor killings happen all the time - once again it is the woman. A slit throat or a bath in a blanket.
Beheadings are not that common, but they are not that uncommon either. Once again it is by the sword.
It is often the common citizen that throws a rock at the head and body of those sentenced to stoning. At least in Saudi Arabia they are more merciful about it. A rapist was sentenced to death by stoning (very rare - must have raped the property of someone powerful). They tied him spread eagle across a cement slab. With a small crane, they then dropped the other half of the cement slab upon him.
It is a brutal brutal land and much of the population accepts this way of living.
The "fanatics" have their faces painted upon walls and are worshipped as hero's by those without the means or courage to attack The Great Satan.
As a woman who takes her clothes off, you should be very wary of these people and their beliefs.
Even christian fundamentalists don't burn people at the stake anymore.
Yes, but you can finance the purchase of a car or a TV by leasing or using credit cards. You can't do that with monthly health insurance premiums.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deogol
Seriously, have you looked into how much health insurance premiums cost for a family of 4, say, living in New York? It starts at $700 a month for a crappy, restrictive HMO-type plan, and can run about $1000-1500 a month for a better PPO plan with lower deductible and out of pocket minimums. If you're self-employed or a small business owner in middle-income tax bracket, you're up shit's creek.
Wow, that's an assload of generalizations. The "brutal brutal land" of the Muslim world extends from Casablanca to Jakarta, covering many cultures and many ethnicities...how do you know what the average Muslim believes, and furthermore, what exactly is an "average Muslim?"Quote:
Originally Posted by Deogol
You know what I think is going through the minds of most believers of Islam across the world? Feeding their families, and getting by, day by day. Just like most people everywhere.
:yes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Adina
People often overlook the huge span of the Islamic world. Overall, the religion is misunderstood because we deal with the fanatics in our daily life.
(I know I'll probably get shit for saying it, but) It's like judging American society by the KKK.
I agree, I agree...Quote:
Originally Posted by Adina
There are plans for emergency only too - you have to give up ALOT and pay plenty of office visits on your own, but it can save your ass from a $22,000 emergency room bill.
There are people fleeing the country for healthcare and prescriptions. Obviously there is a problem!
I didn't generalize - a few of them are sane by western standards - a bunch of them are pretty "stern" - and a few are plain crazy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Adina
What, are we gonna talk about Mohammad Yassar and every one of the millions of Islamists to prevent from "generalizing?" Did you miss the part about "much of the populace" in my remarks?
Do you deny these punishments are performed and accepted by the populace in general?
Of course not. I'm also painfully aware of a nasty custom known as female circumcision. Look that one up if you haven't already :( But what's your point? In India, where Hinduism is prevalent, widows are still doused with gasoline and set on fire, despite the practice having been outlawed ages ago. Muslims don't have a monopoly on cultural practices that are backward and violent in the eyes of Westerners.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deogol
Ugh...when I got my COBRA coverage after I left my job to be a stay-at-home mom, my coverage was at $900+ dollars per month...more than my mortgage payment and that was not including the coverage of my daughter. They consider me "high risk" being that I just had a child and am in the "may have another child" category. Blech...that sucks monkey ball sack.Quote:
Originally Posted by Adina
I got this from a very disappointed friend, today.
I have to say, I think my main reason is 10.
Quote:
http://www.commondreams.org/images/feature.gif<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000099 size=1> <B>var mydate=new Date()var theYear=mydate.getFullYear()var day=mydate.getDay()var month=mydate.getMonth()var daym=mydate.getDate()if (daymhttp://www.commondreams.org/images/icon_email.gif E-Mail This ArticlePublished on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 by CommonDreams.orgTen Reasons Not to Move to Canadaby Sarah Anderson
Ready to say screw this country and buy a one-way ticket north? Here are some reasons to stay in the belly of the beast.
1. The Rest of the World. After the February 2003 antiwar protests, the New York Times described the global peace movement as the world's second superpower. Their actions didn't prevent the war, but protestors in nine countries have succeeded in pressuring their governments to pull their troops from Iraq and/or withdraw from the so-called coalition of the willing. Antiwar Americans owe it to themajority of the people on this planet who agree with them to stay and do what they can to end the suffering in Iraq and prevent future pre-emptive wars.
2. People Power Can Trump Presidential Power. The strength of social movements can be more important than whoever is in the White House. Example: In 1970, President Nixon supported the Occupational Safety and Health Act, widely considered the most important pro-worker legislation of the last 50 years. It didnt happen because Nixon loved labor unions, but because union power was strong. Stay and help build the peace, economic justice, environmental and other social movements that can make change.
3. The great strides made in voter registration and youth mobilization must be built on rather than abandoned.
4. Like Nicaraguans in the 1980s, Iraqis Need U.S. Allies. After Ronald Reagan was re-elected in 1984, progressives resisted the urge to flee northwards and instead stayed to fight the U.S. governments secret war of arming the contras in Nicaragua and supporting human rights atrocities throughout Central America. Iraq is a different scenario, but we can still learn from the U.S.-Central America solidarity work that exposed illegal U.S. activities and their brutal consequences and ultimately prevailed by forcing a change in policy.
5. We Can't Let up on the Free Trade Front Activists have held the Bush administration at bay on some issues. On trade, opposition in the United States and in developing countries has largely blocked the Bush administrations corporate-driven trade agenda for four years. The President is expected to soon appoint a new top trade negotiator to break the impasse. Whoever he picks would love to see a progressive exodus to Canada.
6. Barak Obama. His victory to become the only African-American in the U.S. Senate was one of the few bright spots of the election. An early opponent of the Iraq war, Obama trounced his primary and general election opponents, even in white rural districts, showing he could teach other progressives a few things about broadening their base. As David Moberg of In These Times puts it, Obama demonstrates how a progressive politician can redefine mainstream political symbols to expand support for liberal policies and politicians rather than engage in creeping capitulation to the right.
7. Say so long to the DLC. Barry Goldwater suffered a resounding defeat when he ran for president against Lyndon Johnson in 1964, but his campaign spawned a conservative movement that eventually gained control of the Republican Party and elected Ronald Reagan in 1980. Progressives should see the excitement surrounding Dean, Kucinich, Moseley Braun, and Sharpton during the primary season as the foundation for a similar takeover of the Democratic Party.
8. 2008. President Bush is entering his second term facing an escalating casualty rate in Iraq, a record trade deficit, a staggering budget deficit, sky-high oil prices, and a deeply divided nation. As the Republicans face likely failure, progressives need to start preparing for regime change in 2008 or sooner. Remember that Nixon was re-elected with a bigger margin than Bush, but faced impeachment within a year.
9. Americans are Not All Yahoos. Although I wouldn't attempt to convince a Frenchman of it right now, many surveys indicate that Americans are more internationalist than the election results suggest. In a September poll by the University of Maryland, majorities of Bush supporters expressed support for multilateral approaches to security, including the United States being part of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (68%), the International Criminal Court (75%), the treaty banning land mines (66%), and the Kyoto Treaty on climate change (54%). The problem is that most of these Bush supporters werent aware that Bush opposed these positions. Stay and help turn progressive instincts into political power.
10. Winter. Average January temperature in Ottawa: 12.2°F. Sarah Anderson ([email protected]) is a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies.###
Here's a fun website for all of you who want to high-tail it out of the USA:
www.escapeartist.com
It's good fantasizing material.
Love your post Silverback!
And in response to deogal. I have a hard time believing the majority act that way, maybe under Islamic Law, but how many people are living under that system anyway? I do not know, and I don't have time to look it up right now. Does anyone know more about this for a fact?
And deogal, where did you see this? If it could be proven to me that the majority of Muslims are this way, I will change my opinion. Maybe they were where you were at, but is it representative of all Muslims in other areas?
I still won't think we should just wipe them all out. In early Europe, similar methods of torture were used and we evolved from that, no reason to think others are incapable of evolution. Yeah, maybe they're a little behind us, but ignorance is no reason for death and religious wars.
The silence from Muslim nations and communities in the West speaks volumes about their acceptance--either tacit or implicit--of terror against Western Civilization.Quote:
If it could be proven to me that the majority of Muslims are this way, I will change my opinion. Maybe they were where you were at, but is it representative of all Muslims in other areas?
Until there is an Islamic reformation like the one that tore through Christian Europe in the 1500s, there will be no progress in Muslim nations.
Right on Target, Casual Observer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Casual Observer
I also forgot to mention that Turkey is a Muslim Nation with real progress due to thier Secularity and proximity to Europe. Turkey also a Mutual Defense Treaty with Isreal too. Jordan even though behind the west; is slowy making progress in their economy with some western style buisness reforms. So there is hope for the future.
"President Bush is entering his second term facing an escalating casualty rate in Iraq, a record trade deficit, a staggering budget deficit, sky-high oil prices, and a deeply divided nation. As the Republicans face likely failure, progressives need to start preparing for regime change in 2008 or sooner. Remember that Nixon was re-elected with a bigger margin than Bush, but faced impeachment within a year."
Don't be running off yet.
Stay and let's fight this son-of-a-bitch, and hope that some of the dirt that is bound to be under that squeaky-clean image surfaces--just like it did with Nixon.
Impeachment by 1006, perhaps...
Dick Cheney undoubtedly appreciates your support.Quote:
Originally Posted by Djoser