I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

ananda8

BarbaraA

Get some rest.  When my brother was in ICU, I was exhausted.  After a long nap, check with the doctor to see if your brother is over medicated since he's lost so much weight.

Take care, dear friend.

ananda8

kadeeb, you said...

"Now if the east and west coast are supporting the rest of the country with federal taxes and they vote Democratic, (and by the way they also have the most votes in congress) then is it the Democrat's fault that the east and west pay so much more and get less? Just saying.................. "

Your take on thing is interesting.  Because the East and West Coasts believe that citizens should help one another with Social Security and Medicare, have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink,  you categorize it as a fault. 

1Athena1

I think that East and West coast information is incredibly revealing.

(((Barbara))) - I am glad you are posting often, and I hope our responses help.

YramAL

There is a similar situation going on here in Washington State-the "blue" counties pay more in taxes and get less back than the "red" counties. Here is an article from a local newspaper with a definite liberal stance:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/welfare-state/Content?oid=6686284

Mary

PS-I live in a "blue" county and I'm happy I do so. 

Bren-2007

Things are really different in the south,well that is to be expected.  I need to check the figures for Virginia.

My state is divided between the liberals to the north and conservatives to the south.

Bren

Edited for grammar.

Ellie1959

Thank God Iowa is blue - mostly!!!

1Athena1

We are all dark blue in my federal District of Columbia and we get TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!! The motto, or complaint, is on all licence plates. Red state members of congress have consistently opposed giving us a vote and want to shove guns down our throats instead.

3monstmama

Don't forget Puerto Rico, another place that can't get representation even though they pay taxes. And honestly I don't get why either place can't get added in as a state except that SOME people think those states would vote the "wrong" way.  But how can you know?  Maybe it turns out that there are lots of red people in both those places.

Bren, I grew up in VA--the northern blue part---but went to school for a while in the southern red part.

And now, back to counting down to holiday!

Anonymous

This is tooooooooooooo funny:

At a local parade here before the November election, the Republican candidate had a float and the Democratic candidate had a float. Both groups had lots of people marching along with them. The Republican marchers all wore red shirts. The Democratic marchers ALSO WORE RED SHIRTS. LOL - How embarrassing for them. Hysterical!

1Athena1

Actually, I have always thought red was a huge embarrassement for republicans. Who did we call the "reds" back in the Cold War 50s, 60s and 70s.... Strange how symbols change.

3monstmama

1Athena1  I know what you mean---I think it started during the 90s when the tvs covered the elections but one does wonder how they decided it.  Maybe those were just more "manly" colors and all the other options had even worse implications than being a "red"? 

---the yellow states and the blue states?

----the pink states and the blue states?

---the pink states and the purple states?

Or maybe the namers had no knowledge of history so they don't know what used to be meant by calling someone "red"!  Highly likely I suspect.

I want to live in a lavender state!  or perhaps a mauve state.  I like Mauve!

editted to correct the numerous mistypings.....how long does it take to adjust to new progressive lenses??????

Anonymous

Our local news station even mentioned it on the news. It was so funny when he finished reporting about the shirt colors, he chuckled and shook his head!  The local paper wrote an editorial about the parade and wrote that the Republican marchers must have been pleasantly surprised at their goof up.  Lots of red that day!

1Athena1

I wonder if there was a flag with a hammer and sickle about.

3monstmama

hmmmm, hey Athena, do you think maybe the red states are actually closet marxists deep deep undercover?  And when they take control one day they will implement their secret marxist agenda?

1Athena1

Well, 3monst.....I think you are reading my mind....wait,,,,are YOU an undercover agent?

3monstmama

shhhhhhh, it is possible that I was placed in deep deep deep cover when i was in utero.  after all my father was a former canadian. . . .and you know what those people are like. . . . .

but right now, I don't know.  the microchip in my brain has not been activated so i can neither confirm nor deny my status. . . .come to think of it, given the state of technology in Those Days, it can't be a micro chip---it would have to be something a bit bigger. . . .

.

1Athena1

ananda8

Since the South seceded from the Union, are Southerners really citizens?  I bet they all have funny names, too. 

3monstmama

Notself, you make a very good point and that gets me thinking. 

You know, Alaska used to be part of Russia.  Its probably FULL of stealth Marxists. . . .. or worse yet:  TSARIST SWINE!

 oh dear.

molly52

Talking about Canadians ......... our Liberals are red and our Conservatives are blue.  It is probably all part of the undercover operations.

Althena, why don't you have representation?

1Athena1

Washington, which is in the so-called District of Columbia, does not have a representative in Congress with full voting rights (she may vote in committee, but not on the "floor"). And we do not have a senator because we are not technically a state. Our budget is overseen by congress. There has been a huge constitutional battle with thinly veiled partisan overtones regarding whether or not Washington DC residents should get the right to full representation in congress.

sunny210

BarbaraA - I have been off of the boards lately with all sorts of problems that started with a broken furnace in sub-zero temps, led to all sorts of frozen pipes and general chaos. 

I want to take the time to tell you how much I empathize with your situation with your brother. A few years ago my son was in a car wreck and ended up in ICU for a few weeks. It was just dreadful. The fear and uncertainty, a few unbelievably insensitive hospital staff members, even something about the lighting left us all exhausted in a way I wouldn't have predicted even given the severity of his injuries. He would use hand motions to beg for water, but he couldn't have any b/c they were concerned that he might aspirate the water. He also lost quite a bit of weight in a very short time. But the good news is that he was fine in the end, even tho' his chances weren't very good. So I am sending our good luck thoughts your way, and encouraging you, as others have, to try to take care of yourself, too. What you are dealing with is very, very difficult. Best thoughts and wishes.

Sandy 

River_Rat

Barbara, I hope you get some rest and that your brother improves soon.

Part of the problem as to why some states (which are mostly red states) receive more money back than the taxes they pay and other states (which are mostly blue states) pay more taxes than they receive back is simply a result of our electoral system.  The way the Senate was constructed gives more power to less populous states due to the fact that that a state that may have the total population of less than one city in a populous state still gets the same two senators that the more populous state receives.

It was set up in part so that cities wouldn't have free reign to dictate to rural areas but in practice it has tipped the scales in the other direction.  This isn't to say that some of the states receiving more than they pay in shouldn't receive it.  

It's especially grating to me when those from the areas that receive more complain about government hand-outs while states like mine are receiving less than they pay in and being chided by commentators on the right for not being fiscally responsible.

Wabbit

3monstmama ... I just finished our taxes and have to agree with you. We are actually paying 10% of our income in federal taxes (adjusted gross income vs actual tax amount due/paid). This is with an upper middle class income, a much higher official tax rate, and itemized deductions but nothing exotic. I feel that is more than reasonable in view of all the federal services that are provided. YMMV

I think the earmarks system has turned into spoils going to the most politically powerful and needs to change. But I also think that those who are screaming the loudest to do away with it are going to find that they are the ones who get hurt the worst when the money it can bring to a state/local area goes away. Sometimes the worst punishment of all is getting exactly what you want.

BarbaraA

Thanks, all, for the good wishes for my brother. I stopped by on the way to a meeting this morning and they were going to do another swallow test so fingers crossed. The nurse slipped him one ice chip and he wanted me to slip him a few more but I am not going there. He seems more with it today. I will go back there after the next two meetings are done.

Wabbit, I just did the first pass at our taxes and we are paying approximately 24% of our income after deductions. I have one more deduction (for a conference I had to attend for work) to put in which may knock it down another %. This is also an upper middle class income for two married people.

Anonymous

The president said he would veto any bill with earmarks in it.  If earmarks are wanted then let them stand alone...not attached to a HC bill or defense bill or any other bill.

Anonymous

Seems like politicians are alike in all countries.  They worry about taking that first step in truly solving problems because they want to be re-elected.   

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/939268--senate-to-launch-major-review-of-health-care-funding  

Senate to launch major review of health-care funding - thestar.com  

OTTAWA-The Senate is launching a major review of how well health-care funding works in Canada, which could open the door to big changes for the next federal funding deal.

At the request of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Liberal Senator Art Eggleton outlined the review Tuesday, laying the groundwork for at least a month of hearings at the Senate's social affairs committee.

The review will evaluate the last few years of federal-provincial funding in areas such as wait times, home care and drugs.

After hearing from the country's experts on the delivery of health care, the committee is to make recommendations to the minister by the fall at the latest.

The recommendations are important because the current federal-provincial funding deal expires in 2014, and bureaucrats are looking at the design of a future accord.

"A review is critical," said Jeff Turnbull, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which has called for an urgent transformation in how health care is delivered.

"The CMA believes that the future of our health-care system is of such importance that we call on all parties to put partisan politics aside for the greater good of Canadians."

In the face of rising health costs and mounting deficits, governments are concerned about how to afford the complex array of health services demanded by the public.

The federal cabinet has been contemplating for months how best to hold a "national conversation" on health care, sources say. They've toyed with the idea of a task force of experts or House of Commons hearings, all while keeping the possibility of a 2011 election in mind.

But such discussions have proved politically painful in the past, punishing any politician who flirts with the concept of private-sector involvement.

While the Senate review must focus on how well the 10-year accord signed in 2004 has worked, insiders expect to hear about whether private health care should be allowed in future.

Many outside voices - including prominent conservatives such as Preston Manning and Brian Mulroney - are calling for a serious, non-partisan reconsideration of the way health care is funded in Canada.

The Canadian Medical Association is already holding its own cross-country hearings on the next health-care accord.

Some insiders say the Senate's work may be the first step in an overhaul, but the federal NDP objects that the hearings are being led by an unelected body.

"Senators are out of touch," said NDP health critic Megan Leslie. "I really worry that the minister is hiding behind an unelected and unaccountable Senate."

Leslie has asked the minister to cancel her request to the Senate, and to get the House of Commons health committee to drive the hearings instead.

Indeed, the review of the federal-provincial health accord must, by statute, be done every three years. The last review, in 2008, was done by the House of Commons committee.

Like that review, this one will likely look at 10 components of the health-care accord: wait times, human resources, home care, primary health care and electronic records, the North, pharmaceuticals, health promotion, health innovation, accountability and dispute resolution.

pip57

Change makes way for improvement.  Staying with the status quo does not.

Bren-2007

And it's that fear of change that gets people all riled up.

Bren

Bren-2007

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1209/Antisocialist_Bachmann_got_250k_in_federal_farm_subsidies.html

Selective socialism for Bachman.  She received $250,000 in farm subsidies.

What a hypocrite.