john5746

I think you are confused by the way some of the posts are written. In regards to the spider: The longer they copulate, the more likely thier genes will be carried to further generations. I'm sure the males don't want to die or enjoy it, it's just that the behavior of copulating longer gets rewarded more. Apparently, the reverse is true for humans! (I am an exception) This can also explain why their are still many jerks running about. Being a faithful father doesn't spread your genes quite as well as playing the field.

I find it interesting that as I age, I seem to enjoy bitter things more than when I was younger. Of course, I still have a sweet tooth, but not like my younger self. Seems like we are geared to avoid bitter things in general, but I notice older people broaden their palet.

You would think avoiding excessive gas usage would be an incentive. Instead of buying big SUV's, buy smaller cars and hybrids.

One good thing will come of this: The soldiers will think before they shoot. One bad thing will come of this: The soldiers will think before they shoot.

I think some of the problem recently is the weak dollar.

Yes, it is one thing to join when you see the world and your country threatened as in WWII and 9/11. But, many join in peacetime and hope never to goto war. Where is Vlad from? What is he loyal to? Do the mentally ill and alcoholics fair better in communism? Maybe they feel better because everyone else is poor? Do they replace great manufacturing companies with outstanding hospitals and orphanages?

With communism, the earth and your a** belong to the government. Move to Cuba.

And maybe they thought the world was flat and the moon was made of cheese. Doesn't mean everything they did was incorrect. It also doesn't mean everything they wrote or every law, etc. that stems from their writings requires the "G" word.

Puerto Rico, then Iraq.

First of all, we need to remember that Iraq was a special case. They had invaded Kuwait, and as a result of getting whipped, signed agreements. We were trying to invorce said agreements. Bush jumped the gun IMO, but it wasn't as if there was absolutely no precedence. That being said, I disagree that the war in Iraq was needed for the recent spread of democracy. If I remember, we had the world on our side after 9/11 and Afghanistan. Arafat dying is the spark for the Palestinian deal, and Lebanon has always had a problem with Syria. I'm not sure we can say things wouldn't have been better had we not invaded Iraq. Of course, we may have needed to invade anyway, but I am certain Iran and Korea would have acquired WMD before Saddam could, as is the case presently anyway.

Your apparent thick skin is actually pretty thin! In regards to innocent life, I feel more sad hearing the death of a child than a 88 year old person, so there is a correlation there. But, in regards to the death penalty, I still maintain the threat to society is the concern IMO. A 15 year old psychopath might as well be terminated as opposed to a 70 year old man who committed a murder out of "passion" 30 years ago. But, as discussed endlessly in other forums, since the death penalty is expensive, blah blah blah, might as well just lock'm up and throw away the key. Or can they even get life in prison? Now there someone might be able to argue life in prision for a 15 year old is much greater than for a 60 year old.

I'm not familiar with the details of the balanced budget amendment, but I think the Fed should have the ability to run a debt. I mean, I wouldn't be able to own a house without debt. We wouldn't be able to wage war without breaking the budget. Rainy day fund: Rainy days have come and gone. We have a huge debt. Any surplus should go directly to reducing that. I haven't heard the 'liberal' media talking about this. I have only heard about the demo's not supporting SS reform.

This is the kind of argument that defies logic, because you cannot disprove or prove it. I could just as easily say that the Grand Canyon is too beautiful and intricate to have been cut randomly by water. I guess when you look at the fossil record, and life around you - air breathing mammels in the ocean, birds with wings that can't fly, so many extinct species, etc. It's kind of like looking at a beautiful manuscript that has eraser marks and misspelled words. You wouldn't think it was written by God. When you start talking about what caused the big bang, hey anything goes. It could have been someone sneezing in another universe.

Farmers come to mind.

Not to mention taxes. The average Joe has the opportunity to own. Now, capitalism has problems with distribution of wealth. The pie gets larger, but a few get most of the pie. That is where government steps in, and redistributes the wealth. How much this needs to be done is always debated. Motivation is a key factor. Think of students in a class. Two options: 1) No grades, everyone passes regardless of performance. 2) Have grades, then apply a curve at the end to insure adequate distribution. Which scenario will result in a better educated class overall? BTW, I am very average Joe, and will own my house soon, have two cars with no payments and no credit card debt. I also have almost a years expenses saved, 401k retirement, some pension growing everyday. I live below my means. House is small, etc.

If you believe in ownership, and investing for your future and the future of your children, then you are a capitalist.

Nope, get used to it. Your boss will be a blithering idiot who will treat you like a moron. Lunch is the time to go out with your friends and have a great B**** session. Reality bites. This will happen at least one time in your career!

Well, I hadn't thought about that problem. OK, have the rich invest the money, and give it too the poor? I'm not sure who to trust. Every month I hear something about this CEO or that mutual fund manager, etc. Can't trust anyone. Certainly can't trust poor people that don't know what a P/E ratio is. Oh well, life stinks.

I just have this nagging feeling we are getting away from the intent of the program. Isn't it meant to keep old people out of poverty? I have money in the stock market and understand all that. Shouldn't we just try to scale back the program and call it social welfare? Pool all the money and invest it in the market kind of like a mutual fund? An index fund? The personal responsibility thing sounds good when you talk about a wealthy person - he may not be able to have a boat if his stocks tank. But, if someone can't afford medicine, etc. we are going to pay for it. Better to just pool all the money, investing some in bonds, stocks, etc. and dole it out to those in poverty. This SHOULD lower the tax rate.