InsideTech

Thank you, Mike!

Ol' Charlie sounds like he knows what he's talkin' about!

The politicians that have created this economic mess should all be fired and prosecuted.  Most of them were appointed from the Clinton years, but there are some recent ones that need to be disciplined as well.

If this 'bailout bill' goes through with all these 'addendums', rest assured that come November, many Congressmen will be walking the streets!

Thanks for the article...

It is amazing what our goverment can get away with. If an employee of a company continuously did a horrable job, that person would be let go for someone who can do the job.

Lets create an impartial company that does evaluations on our government and they do not meet the standards, they are fired with no pension or benefits.

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the  expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."

 

Unfortunately, polictics is no longer anything more than a money game.  As much as we'd like to think that third parties matter, the fact is that if a candidate is not representing the Democratic or Republican party, then they don't stand a snowballs chance in hell of getting elected to any MAJOR office.

Typicly, a vote for a third party candidate actually counts as a vote for a Democrat simply because of the way it works out. That's how Clinton got elected when Perot ran as a third party candidate. That doesn't mean they count third party votes as Democrat, just that Democrats tend to show a lot more unity in general elections and rarely break from party lines. Republicans generally tend to be more independant in their thinking and if they don't like their candidate, are more likely to vote for a third party.

Those of us that are unaffiliated, tend to have a more difficult time making up our minds, and generally don't know who we'll vote for till we're actually in the booth.

Sadly, as I see it, it generally comes down to the choice of "Who will do the least amount of damage to our country?".

They should add a new option to all ballots. "None of the above". If none of the above wins, then ALL candidates for that office should be eliminated and the process begun from scratch. Seems to me, that would send a much clearer message to the criminals in politics we have to choose from now.

Larkenra says ...

Interesting thought Phreadd I have always considered it the other way around. That when a lesser common candidates vote counted as a vote for the Republican giving away the Democratic vote. But who doesn't want to be on the side that’s winning. I think, and you can call me crazy because I'd appreciate that, that when the votes are cast the runner-up should become vice president. In my mind that would lend even more hope than just the status quo being in office. And it would not leave just one party as a majority ruler. Then we can give the President and the Vice Presidents swords and let them duel till the death on live broadcast television. Who knows maybe then Real solutions to Real problems could be found.

That sounds like a wonderfully sensible idea. (which is why no one would adopt it) If that idea makes you crazy, reserve me the padded cell next to yours.

I still like the idea of term limits, however I would add one thing to it.  Once your term was up, you would not get retirement or any other benefit, ever.  In other words, you would have to work for a living and NOT in any field remotely connected to politics!

Phreadd said -

Those of us that are unaffiliated, tend to have a more difficult time making up our minds, and generally don't know who we'll vote for till we're actually in the booth.

Sadly, as I see it, it generally comes down to the choice of "Who will do the least amount of damage to our country?".

They should add a new option to all ballots. "None of the above". If none of the above wins, then ALL candidates for that office should be eliminated and the process begun from scratch. Seems to me, that would send a much clearer message to the criminals in politics we have to choose from now.

 

Hey!, speak for yourself!  As one of the "non-aligned" (as they quaintly put it here in Not-OZ) for the past 25 years, I have never entered the ballot booth without knowing exactly what's on the ballot, and what I'm going to vote for. That said, I would have to agree that this past election cycle my vote WAS based on whom I thought would be the lesser of the two evils.

But when it comes to your last statement - on the "none-of-the-above" ballot - I've been demanding that for years. In fact, ever since the Carter/Ford race. It would be very similar, is some ways, to the Parliamentary procedures that England follows... I think. It would be our own form of a "no confidence" vote. Then we could get rid of the whole damned lot.

"No man's life, liberty or property is safe while Congress is in session." - Thomas Jefferson

"Any society that would give up a little liberty, to gain a little security deserves neither, and shall lose both." - Benjamin Franklin