You say things so well, Smileess.

sorry, you need to research socialism a bit more.

it's the individual...who should and can...achieve anything and everything in this great nation of opportunity...not...the government...we're broke as a nation as it is...you want an education ?...then pay for it...or...look into grants...you want to preserve wildlife ?...then donate your money and time...you want sewers and bridges fixed ?...call your local congressman...or...call your local Department of Transportation...the governments sole responsibility...to the American people...is to protect us...from foreign and domestic attack...period !...otherwise...you're on your own...oh sure...there are some safety net programs...but...for far too many people...these programs have turned into a hammock...

Too bad they didn't consider what would happen before hand, their greed and ego is why they now need babysitters.

who is judging the judges?

yes this is the typical thinking of most americans.

I come from a country that everyone is health insured. Not one person is not health insured. We are all health insured. I can get a heart transplant at no cost! Health coverage is truly 100% and not 80% or 60% depending on certain circumstances the health coverage decides to cover you in regardless if you are paying or not.

I come from a country where I have earned my degree (equivalent to American degrees) without being in debt a single dollar and I even gotten help while I graduated on jobs that wanted me.

We have B average sewage systems, water, roads, bridges, etc. and not the C- to D- standard like here in America.

We have no outstanding debt to worry about and believe it or not this country owes our country money! Something I never thought would be possible.

I will give you three guesses where I come from.

So in the end yes people should be responsible but some things I cannot consider a "privilige" like most think, I think many things should be a "neccessety" for every human being.

If that is called "socialism" for many americans then so be it.

Have a great day.

boo they did consider it. they arent as stupid as people think they are.

No I know what Socialism is. I mention this above because many criticize Obama as a socialist before even giving him a chance to do his job. Afterall, a clear victory has been given to the president in hopes for a change. His chance to be a president has made many world politicians happy in the end.

Will he do mistakes? Yes I am sure of it. Will he own up to them? I think he will.

Will he do a good job? I am sure he will try his best. He will try to keep both political parties working together. Will it be easy? What is easy? Nothing is easy when so many individual minds have different alternatives of what is right or wrong.

President Obama never mention this ride will be easy. He rather say we can do something about it, but it will be a hard road that requires team effort.

This means everyone including you. So instead of telling the people on this forum about how bad this world is, how bad things will get, why don't you concentrate your efforts in doing something good in your community, or helping people get their lives back together.

I have for over 15 years literally in my profession and still do what I can each day to bring hope to many people in my community.

Have a great day.

I don't care where you come from...I'm from USA...and...wouldn't have it any other way...theres a reason that this is the wealthiest...strongest country in the entire world...and...I ain't because of the government...it's because of the people...think about it...the greatest country on the face of the Earth...in less then 300 years...pretty fuggin awesome...

There is nothing wrong to be proud of your nation, yet arrogance will not bring any nation far. It usually fails as history shows it.

Every person has their own opinion on what is considered the greatest nation in the world.

I agree with you that people make great sacrifices to ensure future generations a chance to live a prosperous and peaceful life. America has many such people who have done this, yet there are many other countries around the world that have also done such sacrifices to ensure peace and prosperity for their people.

We should lead by example to avoid future misunderstandings.

peace to you

Nice!!!
So Be It..

I have another philosophy....

What if people were given the power to seek for themselves all of the above?

What if, they didn't HAVE to rely on Uncle Sam taking care of them at every turn like a parent takes care of a child?

Maybe then people could grow, mature, and pursue a happiness of their own, instead of one someones else perceives for him or her.

Our children won't, and shouldn't, be parented their whole lives should they?

Driven,

I don't think that working together means to be parented our whole lives.

awh......

insight that cut deep into the heart of the matter's at hand......

and as the sleeping giant's arose, the mass infinite sight turns to eagle eye's of scrutiny, and as exotic birds of prey, feeling each pulse of emotion once ignored, the visibility become's sharp, piercing into the darkness, and senses are alive and alert, fine tuned to pinpoint accuracy, and each pulse of fear that rip thru the body come's to be accepted as help, even and all the soverign people's of the world, and the embracer's of all commonality of all things lead down the first darkened corridor's of freedom, and fear is no longer run from, and decend like a blanket to teach infinite wisdom, and the signal's ring forth thru the freuqencies of earth to peer deep into the souls, and freedom of infinite horizon's envelope the lands and worlds, and break's the shackle's of blind eye's, that suffered from magnified illusions, even from the beginning's......

I have nothing against different philosophies if it "truly" works for the people, but that philosophy that you are talking about is already in session.

I still see people hungry in this country, jails overwhelming filled, domestic violence issues, people with no health insurance, people who can't go to school, and the list goes on.

So perhaps what should be done is a "philosophy" that truly works.

Many parents don't teach their childen much of anything and many schools don't emphasize on subjects that truly would be beneficial to help future generations be self sufficient.

It surely is a problem that doesn't have a answer in one day and I am sure there are many people with different idealogies who believe it to be the best solution for the people.

I do see however, other countries, that have better solutions in various departments that truly help the country as a whole at this moment and it doesn't hurt to see how they do it and perhaps take their ideas to help the people of this country. For example "health care" and "education" should be a neccessety for everyone and not only for the priviliged.

I would say that the people of this country are asking for a change and change is sometimes uncomfortable in the beginning, but beneficial in the end.

Let us judge President Obama in a year from today before giving him a name such as a socialist for his idealogies.

to not peer into what motive's MUST lie hidden within, to create what now already exist, is to try to put a new suit on a old villian, and now call it a saviour......

if all mankind is as a tree, and the people's of the world are all as leave's, and the leader's be as the trunk, to fertilize the leave's is more of the same in new cloth's, but to dig at the root of the tree, to remove the toxic motive's that first poisoned the entire tree, grow a new tree from the ground up......

You know what would a great solution, in which both of us would be able to excercise our philosophies and see whether or not they work?

If the states had the power they had 150 years ago they would be able to try what they saw as best for their people.

You see, i don't see where healthcare, education, welfare, or any social program is and should be the responsibility, or even the business of the federal government.

If a state wants to try something out that's one thing. But the federal government creating a program is a "one size fits all" philosophy isn't it?

How would Washington know what's best for the people of California? And why on earth would California and Alaska be the same in what they need?

This is why the Federal Government's job is to make sure the states are doing their job and abiding by the constitution. The states attempt to look after the people the best why THEY see fit.

You see i have seen this philosophy of social programs, micromanagementof education, attempt to cover everyone with health insurance, and emphazising welfare, etc.

Maine is horrible when it comes to Jobs because the people of this state believe that the wealthier should be taxed more. If fact, all around Maine is the highest taxed state, with the lowest income. When you raise taxes you remove potential profit for businesses. This discourages them from expanding in that area, this means fewer jobs.

Can you imagine paying $1,200 to register your vehicle for a year? I've seen and done this. Or pay $3,500 for an average home in property tax to the state for an average home... This is on top of a state income tax, AND a sales tax, etc. This doesn't include any federal tax.

Anyways, the cause for the highest taxes is greatly because of our healthcare, Mainecare, and our welfare program.

As far as i know people move to maine to remain on welfare. This is because Maine has no time limit on it and the benefits are quite good.

Mainecare can pretty much goes to anyone that isn't insured and under a certain income bracket.

The pressure put on schools, thanks to the Department of Education is now requiring us combine our system into bigger districts to centralize the decision making power. The result is this. Minot, Mechanic Falls and Poland are now combined into one system. The taxes are based off property size. Minot, has more land area, but fewer people than Poland and Mechanic Falls. This means us Minot residents pay more taxes than the other two towns, but Poland, carries the decision making population. Think about it. Now Poland decides what's best for Minot school even though their kids don't attend that school.

Hospitals are closing down because Medicare and Mainecare short-change them on medical costs. They perform a $12,000 procedure, and recieve only a $5,000 check. Because of this many, many places are now refusing medicare AND Mainecare, because they can't afford it. But now, government, whether it be federal or state, are threatening to cut off funding if they don't. This means a loss in staff for the hospitals.

That is what i see from my point of view.


But all that aside...

We cannot afford a national healthcare plan, we cannot afford to spend more money on federal oversight for schools, we cannot afford better welfare plans, we cannot afford the aggressive foreign policy both administrations push.

Logically we will need to cut something. I would support a healthcare plan if in turn we got rid of medicare and brought all our troops home because we wouldn't be adding to the deficit. When you increase spending you increase taxes. When you increase taxes you are making it harder to cover the cost of living. Get where i am coming from? Unless we cut A trillion dollars or sofrom the budget, we won't be getting ahead. Instead our middle class will continue to shrink...

brilliant!!!!

I can see that here in America with all these states each with its own individual problems will require special attention for its demands in trying to fix the economy. Maine's problems are different then Florida's problems for example. Each state with its own problems that is for sure and probably all screaming for money to help boost the economy. San Francisco will get 30 million dollars from the Stimulus package to preserve the salt corrals I was told. I don't know how that will help the economy, but if that is true then I have learned another thing today. lol.

Yes it is often discussed between the two political parties if the government should get involved with health care, education, or how taxes should be spent for various programs. Some say bigger government and others say reduce the size and responsiblity of the government.

I don't think raising taxes is a good idea for either the rich or poor, but it looks like it will happen anyway as we borrow money from other countries. I wish we wouldn't borrow any money from other countries, but I am no economist to tell you the truth so I couldn't know if it is a good idea. It doesn't look like it if we aren't going to produce more money then what we borrow to pay it back and have somekind of surplus in the end.

I believe that there has to be a equal tax rate for everyone rich or poor. Not more taxes to the rich who run businesses. They to have alot to pay themselves. Equal tax bracket throughout would be fair I could imagine.

Then we have to worry if the taxes will be spent fairly for the right programs that "truly" help the people. Another issue on its own since so many politicians and programs are corrupt in this nation. As the two political parties continue to argue what should be spent on the stimulus bill for what programs our roads, sewage systems, electricty lines, quality of drinking water, as of other things continue to deterioate. What ashame I say.

I always thought that what America spends on its defensive budget is awfully high. I don't think any nation spends as much as this country. How much money we could save on this if we cut it down? I agree closing down bases and putting some of that money into the countries welfare would be a good idea. Send back troops to protect our borders would be great and maybe even control our immigration problem. To keep all these bases open across the world including its personal must be a fortune if you think about it. That money could be spent elsewhere that would really help boost the economy up or at least repair outdated systems we have now.

Just today I was watching Republican Congressmen on C-Span discuss how Obama's stimulus packages is a horrible idea. They say we will be somewhere in the 9 trillion dollars in deficit in no time, which is borrowed money from China, Japan, and other countries that are willing to offer credit with interest. I would say that is the main reason why the taxes will go up because of all this borrowing this country does.

Like I said before this is not a one day solution. I am sure there are many people with great ideas, but don't seem to get through to the government to express them.

Perhaps the stimulus package, which is said will cost each American 10,000 dollars or more should be voted for. Those who don't want to pay it will have to sign a waiver of somekind. I can understand many who don't agree to the stimulus package because they don't feel they should be paying corporations that have been ripping off the consumers daily or families who can't keep up with their mortgages.

I surely don't have the answers as I am neither a politician or a economist. I was a humanatarian for over 15 years and a editor for a book publishing company. I am also not an American so my opinion doesn't even really matter for most people living in this country.

but yes unfortunately this country ruined it for such programs that could have been beneficial for the people, yet maybe one day it can rebound itself and really try to get programs such as healthcare, education, as of other programs available for all of its population. I surely hope so for I don't like to see any human suffer regardless where they live on this planet.

Good luck on your debates and solutions and perhaps you will find a way one day to make this country great again.

I agree Smiless does have a way with words.