My take on 2012

[Dune]

Hi, I'm hoping to keep this civil.

I don't consider myself to be conservative or liberal and I am definantely not in the middle. Middle to me means not-informed or indifferent. I'm just concerned with solving real problems with real solutions.

1. Social Security and Medicare. Do I want a voucher system for my grandmother who relies completely on medicare and social security like Paul Ryan wants. No.
2. Do I want to see Medicaid eliminated? Yes. It's a band aid system that doesn't really help anyone except illegal immigrants.
3. Do I want tax breaks for wealthy people and corporations when most corporations have reporting record profits? No.
4. Do I want a tax break for working class and poor Americans? Yes
5. Do I want a healthcare system based on private healthcare industry that makes so much profits off of screwing people over and makes the oil companies blush in terms of profits? No
6. Do I want a secure border? Yes. Do I want every illegal tossed out of this country? Yes.
7. Do I believe illegal immigrants do jobs Americans don't want to do? No. Americans will do any job, so long as the pay is decent.
8. Do I believe in cutting government? Oh yes.
9. Do I believe private contractors screw tax payers over? Yes. My father is a retired electrical engineer who had to fight tooth and nail with contractors trying to charge 1/4 million dollars for a train battery when it is only really worth 50k.
10. Do I believe that our war in Libya is illegal? Yes, no declaration of war was declared and congress was not consulted and did not approve of it.
11. Do I believe we should pull our troops home? Yes it is expensive and dangerous having our troops spread out all over the world. We have no business setting up Islamic democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq that are Sharia Law light.
12. Do I want to see an economy that seems to be based on speculation and consumer spending? No
13. Do I think companies outsourcing jobs to poor countries, paying them disgusting wages and working obscene hours should be illegal? yes. Americans can't compete with slavery. How do you compete with a product that costs .20 cents to make?

About the candidates:

Mitt Romney: I think he is intelligent and obviously understands economics from his experience and ability to raise money better than the other candidates. What I am afraid of is that he will use "economic expertise" to just give tax cuts to the obsenely wealthy. He is often too timid to take a strong stance against on any of the major issues and needs to grow a backbone.
I think all he needs is to be more bold.

Ron Paul: He wants to dismantle the CIA and their secret prisons. Smartest thing anyone has said, CIA is just a major foul-up organization that has caused more trouble than anyone can imagine. We wouldn't even have had this Bin Laden problem in the first place. Ron Paul wants to dismantle the federal reserve, another brilliant idea, just another F-up organization that tosses money wherever they please and dictates economic policies for our country with no oversight. He wants the country to obey the constitution...revolutionary. He is tired of seeing the United States going around the world nation building when we desperately need some nation building here...it's the economy stupid. He wants to secure our borders, privatize airport security, the guy has a lot of common sense.

Herman Cain: Smart guy, great leadership qualities, very take charge kind of guy...sort of what we need. Only problem with him is he goes around saying mosques shouldn't be built in the U.S., umm, ok we have this thing called the constitution. As much as I hate Islam as a religion, we can't be acting like the people in the Midwest and Northeast did to the Mormons, pretty much running them out of every state and murdering them until they got out of Chicago and seeked out Utah. And I've been to Turkey to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia which were gorgeous, I may not like Islam, but Islamic art is amazing.

Michelle Bachman: I wouldn't trust her with medicare and social security but neither would I with most Republicans or conservatives.

Gingrich: Slime

Santorum/ Pawlenty: Same face, different name.

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I feel like I am tired of seeing this country turned into a fascist state that tries to scare us at every turn. Scaring us to pour trillions into corporate crooks. Scaring us about non-existent nuclear weapons. Scaring us about not raising the debt limit as if the U.S. is really not going to pay its debts by not raising the limit....please, shame on you Obama and Ben Bernanke.
Just like to see a healthy population with a good economy and a government that protects us, not scares us.

And all the people that claim to be experts about the economy or "economists". If they are such experts, how did we end up in this mess and why haven't you fixed it. Cause they are in bed with the problems.

 

[GOBUCKS]

Another ronbot.

[NHSparky]

Jesus H. Tapdancin Christ, here they come again.

MAN THE GUNS, BOYS! 

[CG6468]

Are Ronbots allowed here?

[compaqxp]

Another ronbot.

One of many yet to come.

[NHSparky]

One of many yet to come.

Shit, here we go again.  Okay, I'm going to battle stations and warming up the Tomahawks.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well, Ronbot, I will say one thing on the taxes:  When we have a multibillion dollar diverse megacorp like GE paying NO net income tax, our "Highest in the industrialized world" NOMINAL corporate tax rate obviously has nothing whatsoever to do with what corporations really pay as their EFFECTIVE tax rate, so I would be all for stripping that down to essentials and reforming it.  However I also see no justification whatsoever for the Earned Income Credit, which should be renamed Free Unearned Income.

[GOBUCKS]

Ronbots wouldn't have to be so long-winded if they'd just admit that it's all about the weed.

[Dune]

ugh, not sure why people calling me a "Ronbot". I don't worship the guy, but the country could use a bit of Ron Paul Jeffersonian policy.

So would conservatives that want to destroy social security and medicare be called "Ryan-bots?" Create a voucher system that benefits no one except the Healthcare insurance companies.

And I disagree with Ron Paul on his drug policy. So, no, it's not about the weed.

[formerlurker]

There is no way he is a Paulbot -- unless he is a leftist who is liking the Dr. Ron isolationism.   His medicaid statement is bizarre when compared to the health insurance commentary (actually is a total contradiction).   

[rich_t]

ugh, not sure why people calling me a "Ronbot". I don't worship the guy, but the country could use a bit of Ron Paul Jeffersonian policy.

So would conservatives that want to destroy social security and medicare be called "Ryan-bots?" Create a voucher system that benefits no one except the Healthcare insurance companies.

And I disagree with Ron Paul on his drug policy. So, no, it's not about the weed.

Can you show us where the Congress had the Constitutional authority to implement SS and medicare?

[Dune]

Can you show us where the Congress had the Constitutional authority to implement SS and medicare?

Well it isn't unconstitutional. If a person wants to opt out of SS/Medicare, I don't see any problem with that. But there are millions of senior citizens where that is there life line.
Medicaid is a different story. It doesn't do anything, it just gives very small and very temporary benefits to the very poor. The benefits being so small it's really useless and really only benefits illegal immigrants.

[formerlurker]

Medicaid is a different story. It doesn't do anything, it just gives very small and very temporary benefits to the very poor. The benefits being so small it's really useless and really only benefits illegal immigrants.

Not even close to what Medicaid covers, but thanks for playing.

[Dune]

Not even close to what Medicaid covers, but thanks for playing.

What does it do besides give a couple small checks, temporary food stamps, temporary basic healthcare? It's like a bandaid. I have a problem with Paul Ryan treating medicare and medicaid like they are the same thing.

Oh forgot to mention, not only senior citizens depend on medicare, but also the disabled. And frankly Medicare is broken in terms of mental health, they won't pay more than 30-50 bucks for a psychiatrist because they consider them "specialists", so no good psychiatrist accepts medicare unless they see you for like 5 minutes. And if you have a mental disorder preventing you from working or working full time...that doesn't really help.

[GOBUCKS]

There is no way he is a Paulbot -- unless he is a leftist who is liking the Dr. Ron isolationism.

He said

Ron Paul: He wants to dismantle the CIA and their secret prisons. Ron Paul wants to dismantle the federal reserve, another brilliant idea, ... the guy has a lot of common sense.

No one but a ronbot thinks Dr. Nuts has either brilliant ideas, or common sense.

[formerlurker]

Medicaid is a means-tested benefit program that provides health care coverage and medical services to
millions of low-income children, pregnant women, families, persons with disabilities, and elderly
citizens.  Medicaid is financed jointly by the states and federal government, and is administered directly
by states.  Under broad federal guidelines, each state establishes a state Medicaid plan that outlines
eligibility standards, provider requirements, payment methods, and benefit packages tailored to the
needs of its citizen.

^snip^

Schools can provide a wide range of health care and related services to their students, which may or may
not be reimbursable under the Medicaid program.  The services can be categorized as follows:

•  IDEA-related health services.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed
to “assure that all children with disabilities have available to them… a free appropriate public
education which emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their individual
needs.”  The IDEA authorizes federal funding to states for medical services provided to children
through a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), including children that are covered under
Medicaid.  In 1988, section 1903(c) of the Act was amended to permit Medicaid payment for
medical services provided to Medicaid eligible children under IDEA and included in the child’s IEP.  

•  â€œSection 504”-related health services.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires local
school districts to provide or pay for certain services to make education accessible to handicapped
children.  These services may include health care services similar to those covered by IDEA and
Medicaid.  These services are typically described in a section 504 plan and are provided free of
charge to eligible individuals.

•  General health care services.  These services are typically mandated by the school district or state
and include health care screenings, vision exams, hearing tests, a scoliosis exam, etc., provided free
of charge to all students.  Services provided by the school nurse (e.g., attending to a child’s sore
throat, dispensing medicine) may also fall into this category.  These general health care services
often resemble EPSDT services.

Federal matching funds under Medicaid are available for the cost of administrative activities that
directly support efforts to identify and enroll potential eligibles into Medicaid and that directly support
the provision of medical services covered under the state Medicaid plan.  To the extent that school
employees perform administrative activities that are in support of the state Medicaid plan, federal
reimbursement may be available.  However, Medicaid third party liability rules and CMS’s free care
policy limit the ability of schools to bill Medicaid for some of these health services and associated
administrative costs.  

http://www.cms.gov/MedicaidBudgetExpendSystem/Downloads/Schoolhealthsvcs.pdf

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.558: TANF Contingency Funds; 93.563: Child Support Enforcement;

93.596: Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund; 93.658: Foster Care Title IV–E; 93.659: Adoption Assistance; 93.769: Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) Demonstrations to Maintain Independence and Employment; 93.778: Medical Assistance Program; 93.767: Children’s Health Insurance Program)

http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/fmap11.htm

The disabled are covered by Medicaid, not Medicare (and for adult services for the significantly cognitively disabled/medically fragile that is everything -- their housing (be that home, community shared housing or residential setting), food, dayhabs, work programs, transportation, etc.).

States count heavily on medicaid reimbursements to balance their books -- a part of the bleeding out that we are seeing states experience now (which is in addition to the burden of public employee health insurance premium increases and pensions systems that are not sustainable, and in the latter case of pensions are just not being funded by states which is an extremely dangerous practice) is the loss of the enhanced FMAP that we saw from Congress during the stimulus fund grab.    

You can say, hey get rid of Medicaid.  However the effects that will have on the states will be absolutely staggering.  

[formerlurker]

He said

No one but a ronbot thinks Dr. Nuts has either brilliant ideas, or common sense.

Very true.  Point taken.

[Dune]

The disabled are covered by Medicaid, not Medicare

I'm sorry but this is a mistake. Medicare covers the disabled. Medicaid might provide some minor services like rehabilitation programs but that same person can probably seek out their own private physician under medicare instead of seeking out a day program. Maybe under certain types of disability someone can get medicare and medicaid permanently, but as I am aware, medicaid I believe to be strictly a temporary aid in terms of most services like receiving checks.

Scoliosis testing....not really a major necessity. Very rare, and can be detected by any basic primary care doctor.

[Dune]

OK, why is not dismantling the CIA not a brilliant idea?

They are the biggest ****-Up organization ever.

1. Their decisions led to the present theocratic government of Iran
2. They support Afghans and Bin Laden to defeat the Soviets from Afghanistan
3. They refused to give clearance in the 90's that Bin Laden and Al Quaida were responsible for recent bombings hence halting a special forces operation to kill Bin Laden
4. They said that Iraq had WMD's
5. The French dragged us into Libya and then the CIA doesn't know what to do ending up investigating the rebels instead of helping end the war leading to a stalemate civil war
6. They operate secret prisons doing whatever the **** they want
7. They manipulate media overseas to their agenda, they operate above the U.S. government as their own government with their own agenda and policies
8. We have no idea how far their crimes reach because there is no oversight

And the department of Homeland Security?
What is it that they can do that the FBI can't? Seriously, what a waste of money.

[formerlurker]

I'm sorry but this is a mistake. Medicare covers the disabled. Medicaid might provide some minor services like rehabilitation programs but that same person can probably seek out their own private physician under medicare instead of seeking out a day program. Maybe under certain types of disability someone can get medicare and medicaid permanently, but as I am aware, medicaid I believe to be strictly a temporary aid in terms of most services like receiving checks.

Scoliosis testing....not really a major necessity. Very rare, and can be detected by any basic primary care doctor.

Ok, let's be super clear who I am referring to.  I am NOT referring to the drug addict, or the guy with the back disc problem who is a little depressed.  Not referring to SSI, and SSDI.  

I am referring to those with severe autism, downs syndrome, CP, and other debilitating disabilities.  Those who CANNOT live on their own.  Those with a functioning capability of a toddler.  Those people.

Without Medicaid they would be forced into institutions:

http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=3232

I am a fiscal conservative who strongly believes that safety nets should be funded for these specific individuals -- our most fragile residents of our country.

Medicaid needs a major overhaul -- that is for certain.  However it is the person with severe disabilities who seems to be the ones who suffers, while the deadbeat losers of society don't miss a check.

[Chris_]

OK, why is not dismantling the CIA not a brilliant idea?

They are the biggest ****-Up organization ever.

And the department of Homeland Security?
What is it that they can do that the FBI can't? Seriously, what a waste of money.

I'd put a priority on the Dept of Education before the CIA.  Waste of money, waste of resources.

[Dune]

I'd put a priority on the Dept of Education.

Me too. I'm a teacher in the private sector. Why? Because I want to teach my way and I am very effective at how I teach. I refuse to work in a school system where I am forced to teach things and methods I know are bullshit.

[Dune]

Medicaid needs a major overhaul -- that is for certain.  However it is the person with severe disabilities who seems to be the ones who suffers, while the deadbeat losers of society don't miss a check.

Social Security runs a pretty tight operation with giving disability. They reject most people. And even if someone gets disability they have a hard-cap limit of how much funds they can have.
Btw, someone with a severe mental disorder who lands in a psychiatric hospital several times can have a much harder disposition than someone in a wheelchair. So it's not a simple process.

[GOBUCKS]

1. Their decisions led to the present theocratic government of Iran
2. They support Afghans and Bin Laden to defeat the Soviets from Afghanistan
3. They refused to give clearance in the 90's that Bin Laden and Al Quaida were responsible for recent bombings hence halting a special forces operation to kill Bin Laden
4. They said that Iraq had WMD's
5. The French dragged us into Libya and then the CIA doesn't know what to do ending up investigating the rebels instead of helping end the war leading to a stalemate civil war
6. They operate secret prisons doing whatever the **** they want
7. They manipulate media overseas to their agenda, they operate above the U.S. government as their own government with their own agenda and policies
8. We have no idea how far their crimes reach because there is no oversight

1. Jimmeh, whose incompetence matches Ron Paul's nuttiness, ushered in the theocracy in Iran by withdrawing U.S. support from the Shah.
2. Is it now ronbot gospel that defeating the Russians was a bad thing?
3. I have no idea what the ronbot is talking about.
4. Every intelligence agency in the world said Iraq had CBW capability. It had been demonstrated on the Kurds.
5. We are in Libya purely due to the jug-eared muslim, whose incompetence matches that of Jimmeh and the nuttiness of Ron Paul.
6. The CIA extracts information from, and kills, blood enemies of the United States. I guess that's criminal in ronbotistan.
7. I guess in ronbotistan it's bad to try to influence public opinion overseas.
8. Unfortunately, democrats are included in the committees that exercise oversight over the CIA. They then leak the information to our enemies.

The agencies that need to be abolished most are the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the BATF.

I think ronbots are as incompetent as Jimmeh and the Kenyan combined, and nuttier than even their icon, Dr. Nuts.
I'm afraid our new paultard is one toke over the line.

[Dune]

2. Is it now ronbot gospel that defeating the Russians was a bad thing?

We should have let the Soviets had their way and demolish Afghanistan. And if you want to keep calling me Ronbot, then I get to call you dickhead, lol ok? j/k

Now we have a border tribal taliban/ Al Quaida and a Sharia Law Lite puppet Democracy all the while women are trapped in box-dresses in staggering heat.

Yeah, I'll take an Atheist, communist state over that.