Hi everybody, I've been short of time the last few months and didn't have much time to drop on in. With the election soon ending, I had to jump back in to post one or two things, including some comments I sent to a few of my friends.

In just a week and a half, most of us will be passing out candy to the neighbor kids. This strikes me as a great "teachable" moment that we really should not pass up.

Here's what I have in mind:

"Trick or Treat"

"Hi, before I give you some candy, I wanted to ask you a question. If you had a sister at home who choose to stay home and drink hot chocolate rather than coming out with you for candy, would it be fair if your mom took away half of your candy and gave it to her? Your sister isn't sick or anything, she just didn't want to go out and walk all over the neighborhood and the hot chocolate is good."

"NOOOOO! that's not fair!"

"But why, she doesn't have ANY candy and you have so much?"

"NOOO she stayed home and I worked for the candy it's mine -- I earned it, if she wanted to work for it she could have had just as much as me!"

"But isn't it nice to share?"

"Sharing is good but it's not fair for my mom to just take it away from me and give it to her when all she had to do is come out and walk with me, it's her fault she has no candy, not mine!"

"I agree completely! Have two extra pieces for being so smart, maybe you can share this with your mom and dad"

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After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.

Mark Twain

Happy Halloween!


X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

*snort*
sister want need any other candy--she's done filched what she wanted out of the stockpile at home. Sister is smarter than all the rest of the kids, and YOU!

And, when did Trick or Treating constitute "work"?

Let me guess you're the weird freaky guy at the end of the street that always gives out apples?

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

In that case sister is a politician. . .

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Oh you mean share the way Palin did in Alaska. She took from those hard working Oil companies and gave to the sorry lazy citizens of Alaska. Socialism at its best. And how McCain in 2000 told Bush it was irresponsible to redistribute the wealth to the rich by cutting their taxes. But now he thinks its a great thing. Socialism, but not at its best.

Skarkizi I simply loved your reply go girl go stand up and speak the truth , so that the Repulicans can get the wax out of their ears to hopefully listen. Do not worry help is coming soon on November 4th, when we annouce with the greatest pleasure "Barack Obama is the new president""> That truly would be a lovely early christmas gift to so many Americans, whom have long suffered under the Bush/Cheney Administration.... Peace... Catherine

So you supporting McCain/Palin now?

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Uhhhhh.... no.

The citizens of Alaska own that oil.

They may not have *worked* for it, but legally they are royalty owners because they are citizens of the state, and therefore were entitled to receive payment in some form for the sale of their minerals.

That's the way she chose to do it.

Actually that's the way it's been done in Alsaka for along time. The legislation was passed in 1979 and the first payments went out in 1982. . .hardly Palin's idea.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Sorry, it's our oil - our money. It's so amusing when those who live outside Alaska think they understand how Alaska works. Sigh...

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Proud Wife of an Army Soldier and proud mother of an Army MP currently serving in Iraq.


"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." - Sarah Palin

It's true, most of us don't live in Alaska and are therefore not blinded by Palin's blatant socialism. Taking money that one person earns and giving it to someone who didn't -- that's socialism, according to McCain and Palin and that's exactly what the Alaska program does.

The arrogance of saying that we don't understand because we don't live there -- I guess that means you don't understand Washington, D. C. or Iraq or Iran or North Korea either, right? In fact, you don't understand anything but the tiny little world you occupy, according to your standard.

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Reading is Fundamental.

The Alaskan people are "investors". Example: Like owning stock and all stockowners get a dividend.

Did Palin impose a windfall profits tax on Alaskan oil? - McCainFactCheck.com

"The state of Alaska is currently the largest investor on the North Slope, having paid for 50 percent of all investments in 2007. Yet our share of net revenue, including royalties, property and corporate income tax, was about 40 percent."

Excuse me, but the American taxpayers paid to purchase Alaska from the Russians way back when. Why don't ALL Americans get a cut of Palin's giveaway? The land belongs as much to me as it does to any individual Alaskan.

If the Alaskans are investors, so I am. I'll take my check now, please.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Uhh. . .because it's on state land?! If you want it all you have to do is move to Alaska.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

It's only "state" land because federal taxpayer dollars bought it. And the money is only going to Alaskans because Sarah Palin is slurping at the public money trough -- MY money, going to benefit Alaskans and pay for their infrastructure so they can keep all those royalty checks for themselves. Socialist Sarah's doing a great job spending my money to benefit her state, just like she's spending donor's money to jazz up her own wardrobe.

Check, please.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Investors put in capital and take risks. Capital in one form like taxes, risks as in maybe price of oil staying low and not getting a profit back.

Seems like some people want something for nothing.

How in the hell is ANY of it YOUR money??? Can I see the check you wrote to anybody in Alaska that makes it "your" money. . .maybe it's just your entitlement mentality coming out.

You been reading Alinsky. . .I think your losing it.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

That is an entirely different thing. This was done by Palin. This is in addition to the money they get from the earnings .This is extra taxes she enacted on the windfall profits of the oil companies. Thats why she keeps on saying I took on big oil. She taxed them extra for their windfall profits and redistributed it to the citizens. Nothing wrong with that but it is socialist.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but, you have to be a resident of Alaska for a specified period of time before you are eligible (I could be wrong--or I could be thinking about something else). I know for fact that some compensation was given out LONG before Palin was Governor.

And really, how much money are we talking per person, per year? This is such a non-issue in my opinion.
Kind of like Barack's middle name

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I missed that. It was distributed with the dividend. . .but it was a one time payment rebate. I couldn't find that anywhere that it was an "extra" tax. Just that it was a windfall. . .because of the price of oil. Instead of the extra money going into the genreal fund it was distributed. . .and it is taxable.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I think the requirement was 1yr. You had to have already applied for your dividend in order to get the rebate as well.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Its not an issue that they get money. But it is an issue that it is socialist and the McCain campaign in disingenuous calling Obama a socialist when McCain himself has voted for socialist policies and Palin is a very socialist governor.

Most people who think socialism is evil have no idea how it is a part of our society and without it their lives would be very different. And by different I mean a lot harder.

Could you imagine having to take care of and pay for all your parents medical care when they get too old and too sick to work. How about trying to pay for all the therapy and special programs that help your (not you in particular) autistic or otherwise afflicted child. And no we cannot rely on the benevolence of the rich. Most don't care and would not help even though they make their money on the backs of the workers.

The scary part is for Halloween this year is that Obama has a chance of becoming president!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did he get this far?? playing the race card.

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Lizzzz
Haunted_Studio

That was a wonderful ananlogy, thank you.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Thanks for the laugh!

My understanding is that it was a windfall profit tax put on the oil companies by the Governor. Odds are that, as others have said, the rest of us paid for it through higher prices at the pump. Not sure what such a tax is in Palin/McCainspeak but thinking if Mr. O's idea it would be socialism

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Ana
The Republicans have been putting lipstick on a pig for 8 years. Is a pitbull wearing lipstick an attempt to keep us from noticing the pig?

If the kid was really smart, he'd say....

"Screw your candy, lady. I'll take the halloween pay out in cash. Oh, and I would like that in Euros, if you don't mind."

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

In Palin/McCainspeak it would be called reform

I don't know about the residency requirements, but I believe that this year it is about 3200 per person. Maybe slightly more than a non-issue to some people. I know I could sure use it. I also know that I see no reason that my taxes should be shoveled into Alaska to pay for bridges etc. when the residents are getting these very generous refunds or rebates or whatever you choose to call it.

What the little whining brat doesn’t tell you…
She had this awesome idea for a costume. She thought it would take an afternoon to make but it took a whole week! Her sister knew how much it meant to her so she did ALL the chores that way sis could have time to mess around with her costume. After a week of working her butt off along comes Halloween. Unfortunately, a week of school, homework, soccer practice, band practice and double chores has taken its toll and all she really wants to do is relax. Reluctantly, she decides to stay home have a cup of hot chocolate and help dad pass out the candy

Bingo. It's 100% socialism, no matter how "mavericky" Palin likes to paint herself.

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Reading is Fundamental.

New Mexico does the same thing:

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...12/story8.html


"Democrats and James Jimenez, secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, say New Mexico already gives oil and gas money back to citizens. It comes in the form of $520 million a year in interest from the two permanent funds, used to fund public education in the state."


KRQE - Albuquerque, New Mexico - News, Video, Weather Forecast, Sports, Community, Health, Homes | KBIM - KREZ | Surplus funding state rebates evaporating

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Sorry, I was a fan of Palin's before we got our rebate this year. The world I occupy is pretty vast. It's been from one end of this country to the other. I, however, do not attempt to espouse my knoweledge of how other states run their governments as some on this board are known to do.

What is tiny and little, however, is your likeability factor. Tammy, in all the years I've been a part of this board, you have had a reputation as being a mean and nasty viper. That reputation continues to be well deserved.

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Proud Wife of an Army Soldier and proud mother of an Army MP currently serving in Iraq.


"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." - Sarah Palin

I Beg to differ about truble2301 and what you have said about her. You know what the real problem here on the boards is.... Its that you Republicans cannot admit to any wrong doings that the Bush Administration has done to us there past 8 years. You cannot even admit one wrong thing, not one. In some of previous posts, I stated my ill feelings towards Bill Clinton who like me is a Democrat. I stated the same about JFK... Why can I a Democrat say they were wrong, but yet a Republican cannot say anything wrong. Its a waste of time, so all sincerely Truble2301 aka Tammy is doing is speaking the truth in all her posts, however. You Republicans have to turn it around and make us look bad,,, typical response just like one that would have come out of Bush's mouth..... Catherine

Oh please, there are plenty on this board who express their outrage over and over again in threads about people who "don't pay their fair share". According to those of that mindset I have every right to have an opinion about tax dollars wherever they come from going from my pocket to yours. Frankly I could give a flying flip about Alaskans and their rebates but call it what it is which is taking from me and mine and giving to you and yours.

As for your second paragraph this isn't a popularity board -- if you don't like how some people express themselves use your ignore button. I'd rather read someone like truble who has some sense then the ramblings of some on the right who parrot talking points with never an original thought.

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Ana
The Republicans have been putting lipstick on a pig for 8 years. Is a pitbull wearing lipstick an attempt to keep us from noticing the pig?

I think you need to actually READ some of the posts. There are plenty of posts that say Republicans do not agree with Bush. I think the real problem here is some posters lumping everyone together with their "party" and assuming that just because someone is of a certain party that they will follow all the beliefs of that party. WRONG.

I don't think name calling and sniping is very productive either. There is a way of getting your point across in a civilized manner. There are a lot of people here who disagree with each other. Not all of them are name calling and using inflammatory wording to convey their disagreement.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Then you should really like her. She's a lot like that Alaskan pit bull, Palin, (only more knowledgeable).

And see what you did? Now that I said that, she'll probably tear me a new one.

OP, what are you planning on doing to ensure that the children earn their candy? Will you have them rake your leaves? Edge your garden? Surely you're not just going to give them candy for showing up....that would be a handout. Is your home a welfare state? That's like saying that someone showing up to pick up their unemployment or disability check actually earned that check. Poppycock...are you a socialist?

Maureen

Here's another one:

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed--just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn, even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application...

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

You presume to know my thoughts on all issues, eh? I've always said I don't support all of Bush's positions. I wouldn't support all of McCain's either. I think you're wearing blinders if you don't see the venom that laces literally 99.99% of Tammy's posts. One can post their feelings about candidates and even posters on here, but really, does it consistently have to be so mean as almost all of her posts are? I'm not quite sure how republicans make you look bad...

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Proud Wife of an Army Soldier and proud mother of an Army MP currently serving in Iraq.


"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." - Sarah Palin