Politics

[IrishJayhawk]

I'll get out of my little bubble as soon as the white house and congress pulls us away from the fiscal cliff. To believe we can keep a nanny state running like this forever is nonsense and history proves that over and over again. Look. at. Europe.

Okay, but the phone thing isn't true.

 

[Redbar]

Are you ****ing kidding me?

FactCheck.org : The Obama Phone?

You guys really need to get out of your little bubble. Start by at least researching the other sides view points. You may be surprised that so much of what you believe is nonsense.

I have heard this over and over again from my conservative friends and without even knowing the factcheck answer, I say the same thing: If this is in fact a policy it is yet another case of big telecom companies lining up at the government trough, like banking, oil, defense, and corrections. This is so obviously more beneficial to the telecom companies than some guy on welfare. There is no way this could be done without telecom advocating for it. People whining about people taking handouts need to follow the money, not the pennies the real money and see who is sitting there with their hand out. Here in Louisiana the fastest growing entitlement that is running rampantly out of control is the TOPS program, it's scope has tripled since it's inception in 1998. "The TOPS Opportunity Award pays for tuition and certain fees at any of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities. If a student attends a college within the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the award amount will be the weighted average tuition of public-degree granting schools." Some estimates say that 75% of those people on TOPS are from families that could absolutely afford to send their kids to school, it has become a "handout" to the middle and upper class, much like our Homestead exemption.

The biggest offenders of taking handouts are in fact the biggest and most profitable corporations that exert the most influence on government. Until we realize this we will continue to misdirect our anger and solutions will escape us.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Actually it is false. The poorest states (Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Kentucky) vote republican. In fact the wealthiest states vote generally democrat (NY, MA, CA, CT etc). This type of thinking is why Romney lost the the election. SMH

Yet, somehow those poor, *** backward rednecks in the red states are avoiding bankruptcy and can balance budgets. Meanhile the three states with the highest debt in the country are the "educated, sophisticated, green energy, elite, liberals" running NY, CA, and IL.

Smh...

 

[JughedJones]

I'll get out of my little bubble as soon as the white house and congress pulls us away from the fiscal cliff. To believe we can keep a nanny state running like this forever is nonsense and history proves that over and over again. Look. at. Europe.

"Sir, you strike me as someone who has read absolutely none of the arguments against your case."

-- Christopher Hitchens

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Yet, somehow those poor, *** backward rednecks in the red states are avoiding bankruptcy and can balance budgets. Meanhile the three states with the highest debt in the country are the "educated, sophisticated, green energy, elite, liberals" running NY, CA, and IL.

Smh...

And many rely on food stamps and the like heavily. Check out the deep south in this chart.

Food Stamp Use, by State | Intellectual Takeout (ITO)

 

[DSully1995]

Yet, somehow those poor, *** backward rednecks in the red states are avoiding bankruptcy and can balance budgets. Meanhile the three states with the highest debt in the country are the "educated, sophisticated, green energy, elite, liberals" running NY, CA, and IL.

Smh...

Funny cuz the most republican states also get the most federal handouts...

 

[GoIrish41]

I doubt most of your liberal buddies would disagree.... It's a fact. 16.1 or 16.2%

Not disputing. Forgot to put in italics. Just making a funny

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Funny cuz the most republican states also get the most federal handouts...

1) Which ones?

2) Link?

3) Soooo we're working under the assumtion that the federal government provides the most "handouts" to red states and lets blue states like NY, CA, and IL dive into millions of debt? Ok. Got it.

 

[DSully1995]

1) Which ones?

2) Link?

3) Soooo we're working under the assumtion that the federal government provides the most "handouts" to red states and lets blue states like NY, CA, and IL dive into millions of debt? Ok. Got it.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...ate-socialism-graphic-says-gop-leaning-state/

 

[Downinthebend]

So the Democratic vote is 10 million down from 2008 and the Republican vote is 3 million down from 2008, but we're supposed to think that this means people are satisfied with the way the country is being run?

 

[GoIrish41]

So the Democratic vote is 10 million down from 2008 and the Republican vote is 3 million down from 2008, but we're supposed to think that this means people are satisfied with the way the country is being run?

hadn't seen these numbers. got a link? I wouldn't have thought voting dropped 13 million this year.

 

[irishpat183]

Are you ****ing kidding me?

FactCheck.org : The Obama Phone?

You guys really need to get out of your little bubble. Start by at least researching the other sides view points. You may be surprised that so much of what you believe is nonsense.

First off....nobody said "OBAMA" phone. So you need to get outta your bubble. I'm against ANY free phone provided by tax payers to non workers.

Secondly, that "fact check" only lists ONE of the many services that offer "free" phones.

Assurance, ReachOut wireless and a host of other ones exist...

"Thanks to the FCC-mandated, government-sponsored program, called LifeLine Assistance, the financially disadvantaged can receive a free government cell phone and up to 250 free minutes every month. An estimated 12.5 million other Americans already participate, and tens of millions more qualify to enroll. With the economy falling further and further behind, more and more Americans are finding themselves eligible for the Lifeline phone service program.

In the 90′s, the federal government set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC. This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (often free) monthly telephone service. It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made it’s debut with cell phones. It’s been commonly called the “Obama phone” but that’s an urban legend as free cell phones were added under the Bush Administration."


So yeah, the government/tax payers DO in fact supply some low income people with phones. And this is even more proof as to why Factcheck.org needs to be checked every now and then.

 

[PraetorianND]

Fat people vote republican.

 

[Redbar]

First off....nobody said "OBAMA" phone. So you need to get outta your bubble. I'm against ANY free phone provided by tax payers to non workers.

Secondly, that "fact check" only lists ONE of the many services that offer "free" phones.

Assurance, ReachOut wireless and a host of other ones exist...

"Thanks to the FCC-mandated, government-sponsored program, called LifeLine Assistance, the financially disadvantaged can receive a free government cell phone and up to 250 free minutes every month. An estimated 12.5 million other Americans already participate, and tens of millions more qualify to enroll. With the economy falling further and further behind, more and more Americans are finding themselves eligible for the Lifeline phone service program.

In the 90′s, the federal government set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC. This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (often free) monthly telephone service. It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made it’s debut with cell phones. It’s been commonly called the “Obama phone” but that’s an urban legend as free cell phones were added under the Bush Administration."


So yeah, the government/tax payers DO in fact supply some low income people with phones. And this is even more proof as to why Factcheck.org needs to be checked every now and then.

See my post above #4773, punchline: This probably has more to do with telecom lobbying for this, than welfare recipients or government lobbying for it.

 

[irishpat183]

See my post above #4773, punchline: This probably has more to do with telecom lobbying for this, than welfare recipients or government lobbying for it.

And I'm not disagreeing....but the fact remains, it does exist.

 

[PraetorianND]

Ha! Not Utah.

That's because there are no calories in the souls of the dead.

 

[JughedJones]

First off....nobody said "OBAMA" phone. So you need to get outta your bubble. I'm against ANY free phone provided by tax payers to non workers.

Secondly, that "fact check" only lists ONE of the many services that offer "free" phones.

Assurance, ReachOut wireless and a host of other ones exist...

"Thanks to the FCC-mandated, government-sponsored program, called LifeLine Assistance, the financially disadvantaged can receive a free government cell phone and up to 250 free minutes every month. An estimated 12.5 million other Americans already participate, and tens of millions more qualify to enroll. With the economy falling further and further behind, more and more Americans are finding themselves eligible for the Lifeline phone service program.

In the 90′s, the federal government set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC. This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (often free) monthly telephone service. It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made it’s debut with cell phones. It’s been commonly called the “Obama phone” but that’s an urban legend as free cell phones were added under the Bush Administration."


So yeah, the government/tax payers DO in fact supply some low income people with phones. And this is even more proof as to why Factcheck.org needs to be checked every now and then.

You know exactly what you did... parroting a meme that has been repeated ad nauseam since the President has been in office.

Free or discounted phone service has been happening nearly since we've had phones.. now all of a sudden it's a big issue. Give me a break.

 

[JughedJones]

Alright, I'm starting to get a little personal here.

I'm going to back out slowly. I love this site and the people on it, I don't want it to become another place that I talk politics.

I can go to other, nutzier sites for that. I want to keep this one clean!

GO IRISH!

 

[Redbar]

And I'm not disagreeing....but the fact remains, it does exist.

Well why not place the blame where it belongs, highly profitable large sector industries are the biggest culprits of government welfare. Despite their success they are constantly looking for an opportunity for subsidy. If you are right and the welfare state is ruining this country don't blame some indigent person getting a few bucks to eat, blame Verizon, the Wall Street bailout, agro-business, defense contractors and big oil who refuse to consider weening themselves from the teet.

 

[Bubba]

Can we all just get along?

Excuse me while I go get a twinkie I bought with my food stamps...

 

[irishpat183]

You know exactly what you did... parroting a meme that has been repeated ad nauseam since the President has been in office.

Free or discounted phone service has been happening nearly since we've had phones.. now all of a sudden it's a big issue. Give me a break.

"I know I"m wrong.....but you know what you meant". LOL


Oh I did????? Show me where? Where did I post the Obama phone meme and where did I say the word "Obamaphone"



My names pit. And your a$$ ain't diggin your way outta this one.

 

[greyhammer90]

Man we got some correct people on this board. Good for you guys for being so correct.

 

[irishpat183]

Well why not place the blame where it belongs, highly profitable large sector industries are the biggest culprits of government welfare. Despite their success they are constantly looking for an opportunity for subsidy. If you are right and the welfare state is ruining this country don't blame some indigent person getting a few bucks to eat, blame Verizon, the Wall Street bailout, agro-business, defense contractors and big oil who refuse to consider weening themselves from the teet.

Here is exactly what I said:

"...Now, are there some things that I think are good "handouts"?? Yeah. Schoools and libraries are good for the community. Food stamps are not, and never have been. Neither are free cell phones."

I simply said that free cell phones are not good handouts. I think it's ridiculous (government or corporate) that there are people working and paying their bills, and there are others that don't simply because we make it easy on them not too.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1) Which ones?

2) Link?

3) Soooo we're working under the assumtion that the federal government provides the most "handouts" to red states and lets blue states like NY, CA, and IL dive into millions of debt? Ok. Got it.

From a Harvard study. The top 15 states that had the best federal tax dollars received to federal tax paid ratio were blue in 2008 and 2012.

 

[irishpat183]

From a Harvard study.

I can't see....Do you have the actual link?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I can't see....Do you have the actual link?

Red States, Blue States and the Distribution of Federal Spending | Jeff Frankels Weblog | Views on the Economy and the World

It's almost 3 years old but I would assume it is fairly similar to now. Daily Show did a funny segment on running the country like a business and that the conservative states are costing money while California & Connecticut among others were making money.

 

[Redbar]

Here is exactly what I said:

"...Now, are there some things that I think are good "handouts"?? Yeah. Schoools and libraries are good for the community. Food stamps are not, and never have been. Neither are free cell phones."

I simply said that free cell phones are not good handouts. I think it's ridiculous (government or corporate) that there are people working and paying their bills, and there are others that don't simply because we make it easy on them not too.

So is giving Exxon a subsidy or a Hedge Fund Manager a bailout a good handout? Has it been good for the community? It is so much easier to demonize the weak, the poor, the minority, and miss the real culprit with his hand in your pocket and his foot on your throat. This is as American as apple pie.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Well why not place the blame where it belongs, highly profitable large sector industries are the biggest culprits of government welfare. Despite their success they are constantly looking for an opportunity for subsidy. If you are right and the welfare state is ruining this country don't blame some indigent person getting a few bucks to eat, blame Verizon, the Wall Street bailout, agro-business, defense contractors and big oil who refuse to consider weening themselves from the teet.

I want to completely cut off subsidies to big business. Subsidies skew prices, which skews the market.

If it isn't viable without government aid, it isn't viable.

 

[irishpat183]

So is giving Exxon a subsidy or a Hedge Fund Manager a bailout a good handout? Has it been good for the community? It is so much easier to demonize the weak, the poor, the minority, and miss the real culprit with his hand in your pocket and his foot on your throat. This is as American as apple pie.

Was giving the auto industy (after years of horrible business practices and greed) a good handout/bailout??


And no, my friend. It's so much easier to demonize the successful and use sob stories than to ask people to pick up a shovel.

 

[irishpat183]

I want to completely cut off subsidies to big business. Subsidies skew prices, which skews the market.

If it isn't viable without government aid, it isn't viable.

Yep....Corn subsides step right up...