My arguments were non-partisan. In this case, I was speaking to the behaviors, not the party affiliation.

I am none of the things you describe above, Diane, and I’m a liberal Democrat because I believe that the government is built to “serve the people.” Not just to command our military (which Bush & Co have done a royal mess with) and tax us. What the hell is government for if not to regulate and improve the lot of all citizens?

I don’t expect anything from my government but to keep corporations from fleecing me by regulating things like mergers and monopolies (again, Bush & Co have relaxed these rules), helping me out if a major natural disaster comes along (Katrina, nuff’ said), indeed organizing a military to protect me (of which there is barely one left after they invaded Iraq), and taking care of stuff like roads or transportation. I suppose there’s more, can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.

I do want them to stay the hell out of my bedroom (something Bush & Co have nosed into many times so far), and out of my private family matters (Hello, Terri Schiavo, although that was his brother), and refrain from unnecessary wars that take their toll on my wallet (rising gas and grocery prices since Iraq’s oil fields aren’t running at pre-war capacity, if at all, since the invasion).

And I wonder why the US is failing compared to almost all other industrialized nations in terms of our health? The US and Lesotho are two of three (always forget the third) of all industrialized nations on the planet that DO NOT provide some form of universalized health care. I don’t find it funny or a result of our attitudes that we are fatter than anyone else. You know what, if you’re on the gov’t dole for food, you know what you get? Processed cheese food and canned fruits and veggies. Processed white bread. Juice “drinks” loaded with high fructose corn syrup. Wanna know what’s making a lot of poor people fat - there’s your answer right there.

You’re a smart writer Diane. I don’t care what you or the hubby do. But this decades old lie that liberals want the government to pay for everything and support them just pisses me off to no end! I have never been and will never be dependent upon my government. I expect very little from anyone and have always worked my slightly rounded ass off, starting by waiting tables at my Catholic church bingo at 13 and babysitting, worked all through HS and college. My parents paid for my undergrad (I went cheap to a state school in Jersey) and I am still paying off my grad school loans.

There’s a great piece about the republican ethos since Roosevelt’s new deal from dailykos, I know you probably hate it, but it’s pretty interesting stuff:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....93041/0587

Yeah. All lawyers are scum. Until you need one.

Full disclosure: I’ve never met the guy. But he buys an ad that runs in the upper left-hand column of this blog.

Also, I too laugh at your silver spoon thing, and I am sure you paid your way through college, but some of the ills you mention in society today, your husband makes a living off of.

BTW, McDonald’s never called me at home and offered me a Big Mac. yada yada yada

And before you jump on the “you have a silver spoon in your mouth” please consider the fact that I paid for my own college education.. every penny.. nothing from Daddy, the government or grants.. (not that there is anything wrong with that).

The fact is I started working when I was 12 years old - babysitting, nannying, cosmetics at Osco Drugs, waitressing through college and holding 2 jobs after graduation to pay off student loans.

It is possible to live the American Dream- but it is contingent upon a pattern of personal responsibility and discipline. Of course there is always room for error, and often we have to step back and re-assess. I believe that success in America allows room for that.

And sorry, I just have to laugh at your charges that Realtors and lenders prey upon people spending too much money on a home. I’m sure you also believe that McDonalds and Nintendo are to blame for our obesity problem - which brings me back to my above post about personal responsibility… yada yada yada….

Hmmm…..and I wonder how many can’t afford it when the time comes to choose? I guess I should quit my middle-class job and go and get that Bachelors Degree and Masters degree that I couldn’t afford to get due to a drastic economic loss in our family when I was in high school.

“Look at how a couple with minimal means expects to move in to their dream home with no money down. Don’t worry if your foreclosed upon - its the banks fault and the government will bail you out. After all, Mommy and Daddy handed them everything they wanted growing up why should it be any different now?”

Yes the banks and mortgage brokers are absolved from any of these problems. Don’t forget about employees who falsified application information to get these people into their homes along with getting their commissions. I wonder how many employees in the real-estate industry (banks, mortgage brokers, realtors) knew that a potential buyer couldn’t possibly afford a house they were looking at, yet somehow that loan was magically approved.

“I too squirm at the thought of having to pay $500 to see a President supported through the considerable amount of taxes we pay but unfortunately, the reality is we live in a money driven as well as two party society and it costs money to run a campaign.”

Think that might have anything to do with the voter “apathy” we see today?

As long as this current political system of big money exists, NOTHING will change. All the finger pointing and “yea but look what the democrats/republicans did” isn’t going to change that fact.