hot summer, ugly winter

A Good Ol' Healthy Facebook Back n' Forth: Government, Taxes, Religion... A Country Going "Down the Tubes"

• Mark F: So I'm with my great uncle today and he tells me he had a brief conversation with another older gentleman. He said they were both wondering what the hell they fought for this country for in WWII when it's going down the tubes so fast. It broke my heart to hear him say that. Why did they fight so hard and die for this country? I look around today and I'm not sure.
• Jan: Turn off the TV and look around. This country is certainly not going down the tubes. How does he think it's going down the tubes, anyway? Aren't we alive, healthy, eating three meals a day, and drinking clean water?
• Actually, we'd be less in the tubes if we weren't fighting two stupid wars we'll never win. We're still speaking English and we're not owned by another country, so that's what he fought for. Why didn't you respond with something comforting and encouraging?
• Shawn G: Jan, what are you talking about? Yes, we're still speaking English, or at least part of our country is. We won't be in another generation if we don't stop the tide of illegals. We are essentially owned as a country by the Chinese because the government's out of control, massive spending. Our Judeo-Christian values have seemingly all but disappeared so people think it's okay to lie, cheat, steal. The government now owns the auto, financial, and health care industries, and soon will own the energy industry if they get Cap'n'Tax through. You and I already have a large chunk of our hard earned $ forcibly taken from us in the way of taxes for the govn't to waste because they apparently don't think we're smart enough to spend our own money ourselves. We might have clean water (maybe), food (many do not or barely get by), and we are alive, for now. That's stuff to be thankful for, but we can't forget about all the other stuff going on.
• As for the wars - hey, better to be fighting them on their shores than on ours. We are in the fight of our lives with the terrorists - which the Taliban and Saddam both supported. You can say we'll never win, but I say we can - and even if we can't we still have to fight it - they won't stop because we choose to sit by and do nothing while they attack us.
• Mark F: He knows it's going down the tubes when our government won't defend our borders. And when states try to protect their people, the government sues them. Had he and others not defended our borders, we would not exist as a nation. There can be no doubt of that. And we're so close to being totally bankrupt - and we might actually be there or beyond already. And people are allowed to say you might have to kill the crackers and their babies, with little if any consequences. And then a potential mosque at ground zero with the mayor of NYC seemingly not having any trouble with that. He, and I as well, are quite perplexed at what is happening. Yes, we are still the greatest most prosperous nation on this planet and I'm quite happy I live here. But if this slide continues, God only knows how it ends.
• Jan: Shawn... let's not get into religion here. I know plenty of people who lie, cheat, and steal who claim to be good Christians. So, let's just call them values. Yes, maybe people have forgotten them, but it's not because this country has become less religious. Sounds like you need to do some research. Take a look at the three major monotheisms. They're not that different. Terrorists attack us because their book says "kill the infidels" just as the bible does, and because this war on terror has killed those they love. Think about that.
• Be thankful your government is not a theocracy, or run by crazy men with machine guns who burn towns to the ground. Taxing is how countries are run. I'm glad I'm taxed, and yes, I will never believe Americans should be allowed to have 4 houses and 8 boats if there are starving children in this country. Yeah, taxes may pay government salaries, but as far as I can tell, they're not taking 10 million dollar bonuses like some CEOs are, and I like having parks, libraries, and after school programs for inner city kids. And if you knew your economics, spending is pretty the only way to get out of economic depressions. Take a look at Japan in the 90s.
• As for your opinion on wars... all I can say is that it's unfortunate that you think that they're acceptable wars because they're not here. Women and children are still being killed, and Americans are coming home with less appendages.
• Let me know the next time you get a Cholera or Gastroenteritis from drinking your tap water.
• Thomas P: Hey Jan, I love it when you write that stuff!  There is another factor to consider when you get into topics such as this... Most of the people on this planet are pinheads with brains the size of a small dried pea. They don't know whether they are riding on horseback or roller skates. How can people like this govern? Pathetic--- I should have pushed them back into the swamp with my foot, as they began to emerge from the primordial ooze, millions of years ago. I regret it now, but it's too late. See you around, Ice Age Tom