Saiga410: I am enjoying how people are infering a stance on policy from the use of one word to describe people that use govt programs.

That'll happen when you compare your fellow countrymen to parasitic insects...

and then insinuate death upon them

well, that would have been better if those two posts didn't sneak in there. way too slow.

keylock71: As someone who works in advertising, there's a part of me that begrudgingly admires the GOP's ability to twist words and craft narratives... Sure, it's a very small part, but there you have it...

The GOP's standard operating procedures really do earn the description of "Machiavellian." Seriously, these farkers are really, really good. Thing is, that advertising acumen you mention seems to stop with their media and behind-the-scenes guys. The candidates themselves are just farking god-awful, as most recently evidenced by Romney's pathetic attempts at faux-Americana and everyman populism.

Democrats are simply outgunned and outclassed by the Roves of the GOP. Another possible explanation is that the GOP's audience is already far more susceptible to the fertilizer conservative movers and shakers are selling. In any event, they have an uncanny knack for pushing the precise buttons that cause people to panic or sh*t themselves into mountains that used to be molehills. Like you, a part of me begrudgingly admires it. The rest of me looks on in horror, and more than a bit of jealousy. America will never again have a unified message that isn't tilted to the right. I guarantee it.

Tyee: IXI Jim IXI: Tyee: I remember this, didn't this experiment take place in Canada. Not that it matters so much at where as the fact that they were getting enough and didn't want to work for more.

Unless randomjsa is a Canucklehead, I'd say where it happened is a fairly important point, seeing he wants us to take his word on this

As I recall this was rural isolated town that lost it's industry or something, and it might have been the 1980 instead of the 90's but whatever. Anyway, so as not to have it become a ghost town the government tried an experiment. They provided the entire town with everything, cash, food, medical, welfare, everything for a utopian society to flourish. But it didn't, they stagnated and people just became dependent.

Well, with detailed data like that, who can argue that shouldn't just let the poor, crippled and sick fend for themselves... That's always worked out well throughout history.

1macgeek: Yeah! It's not like they are paying their own way, and for about 40 other people, too!

They're paying, but they're not paying enough. Raise rates on the upper brackets. Add new brackets for $1M, $2M, $5M, etc. Take that revenue and invest it back into the middle class in the form of infrastructure, energy and medical R&D, education, etc. Watch the middle class thrive again. A robust middle class is not the enemy of the wealthy class, it is the genesis of it.

dickfreckle: keylock71: As someone who works in advertising, there's a part of me that begrudgingly admires the GOP's ability to twist words and craft narratives... Sure, it's a very small part, but there you have it...

The GOP's standard operating procedures really do earn the description of "Machiavellian." Seriously, these farkers are really, really good. Thing is, that advertising acumen you mention seems to stop with their media and behind-the-scenes guys. The candidates themselves are just farking god-awful, as most recently evidenced by Romney's pathetic attempts at faux-Americana and everyman populism.

Democrats are simply outgunned and outclassed by the Roves of the GOP. Another possible explanation is that the GOP's audience is already far more susceptible to the fertilizer conservative movers and shakers are selling. In any event, they have an uncanny knack for pushing the precise buttons that cause people to panic or sh*t themselves into mountains that used to be molehills. Like you, a part of me begrudgingly admires it. The rest of me looks on in horror, and more than a bit of jealousy. America will never again have a unified message that isn't tilted to the right. I guarantee it.

Unfortunately, I can't disagree with that assessment these days...

smeegle

I find it rather amusing when the Fundie laden GOP foams at the mouth over programs for the needy, when their savior did say, "he who takes care of the least of us, takes care of me."

that just made me think if Jesus came back and ran for President he would have to be a democrat and the Republicans would rip him to shreds. Liberal, socialist hippie runs for President. Whar birf cert whar? Cut your hair hippie. Nice sandals. Socialist. Crucify him!

Philip Francis Queeg: randomjsa: In the 90s there was a local pilot program that would allow people on welfare to go to school and receive training. Everything you can possibly think of was covered: Daycare, transportation, even clothing to wear if they needed it. All they had to do was sign up and show up. Every single solitary accommodation that could be made was thought of.

1400~ people qualified in a small town of about 22k people.

About 150 "expressed interest"

2 actually signed up. Meaning the rest were perfectly content to stay poor and on welfare. So yes, tell me about societal leeches as if you actually understand them.

And irregardless of how much is spent on 'societal leeches', liberals would never let us do anything that cut them off and forced them to fend for themselves. This also doesn't change the fact that entitlement spending is going to absolutely bankrupt this country very soon. It also doesn't change the fact that Obama continues to ignore all warnings about deficits and the recommendations of his own debt commission.

Citation needed.

I believe him.

It is a systemic issue that we need to address. Do we stop giving welfare? No. Do we stop educating the poor and their children? No. Do we need to find ways of improving the system? Absolutely.

verbaltoxin: Leeches:

Retired people
Disabled people
Veterans
Children of veterans
Widows of veterans
Special needs children
Poor people
Unemployed people

Did I miss anybody else the right is trying to alienate?

My uncle is - and I hate this word but let's be honest - invalid. His smile is there, and his brain is sharp enough to read and absorb conversation. His heart is huge and pure. And my grandmother receives a very sizable amount of government assistance for his lifetime of needs. Sounds good, right?

Thing is, Grandma is a Tea Partier who can't be arsed to see that she's railing against a government that is single-handedly responsible for my uncle's long life (currently in his 50s). Hell, she can't even be bothered to assess her own personal benefits via medicare (et al) before spittle covers her lower lip as a Fox talking head triggers it. She is one of those people - and there are millions of them - who genuinely believe that her suckling of the government tit is somehow different and more noble than someone who needs food stamps to survive. Or a kid who might need a free meal at school. But that hospice nurse and reimbursement of inflated medical bills? Well gosh darnit, that's as American as apple pie!

It's so farking irritating and unnerving that I have to score street valium just to visit. Hell, maybe I should just see if there is a doctor out there who'll write a legit script based on the "holiday season teabagger stress disorder" bit. Because my dealer of many years just moved to San Francisco and kinda left me in the wind. Asshole.

Tyee: keylock71: Well, with detailed data like that

Yeah, you should like totally disregard anything that doesn't fit the narrative, and encourage other to do so also.
Hell, I'm not even going to consider looking for the case study on the experiment, sounds to much like work anyway.
I know it was posted here on fark a few years ago but ...I'm not working for it. Hell doesn't matter what it says I've got my worldview set in stone.

Oh calm down, Drama Queen. You're using it as proof. You back it up.

smeegle: We all know their is fraud in our tax supported welfare programs but throwing the baby out with the bath water is not the answer.
Fix the fraudulence and move on.

The cost of 'fixing' the problem is more than the fraud itself. Investigators cost money.
There are some leeches on society. But many are lawyers, bankers and televangelists.

Remember folks! A person on welfare costs less than one in prison.
An abortion costs less... and birth control even less than that.

Why don't Republicans understand money?

Tarl3k: I have read all your posts, and am now dumber for it. Congratulations, you are a really bad troll...or in other words, you are the leach that sucks the lifeblood out of discussions on the internet that could have been intelligent...

On Fark? Are you kidding me?

You've got to be trolling.

6/10.

1macgeek: The problem quite simply is that we about half of the US population either not paying any taxes at all

Seeing as how this isn't true, at all, not even a little bit, I'll take the liberty of ignoring your dumb example.

1macgeek: ƒDusk-You-n-Me: They're paying, but they're not paying enough.

Bullshiat.

You want them to pay "more", fine : define "more". How much is "fair"? Be warned, I will demand you define that, too. The "rich" already pay way beyond their numbers. The problem quite simply is that we about half of the US population either not paying any taxes at all, or they are receiving more than they pay in taxes.

But since you are too stupid to see the logical conclusion of your thought process, I will create a more personal example for you. I will assume you have two functioning kidneys. Let us begin :

You heartless bastard! Don't you know there are people who need a kidney? You only need one, and you have more than you need! You should give it to someone who doesn't have one. If you don't, you aren't paying your fair share. You are leech on society! You didn't get two healthy kidneys without society so you should give back!

Guess what? It sounds just as stupid when you say it about the "rich". But let's drive this nail home : By living in the United States at all, you are the 1%. So when can the rest of the world drop by to pick up their "fair share" of YOUR stuff?

/ Lord, save me from stupid people
// They are breeding like rabbits
/// but they aren't as smart.

1) Your premise is bullsh*t.

2) You pathological narcissists used to bother me. You don't anymore, because I've grown to understand that your internal lives are hell. I really feel sorry for you. Of course, by pitying you, and expressing my pity for you, I shame you by looking down upon you.

Alas. You can't be helped.

Tyee: IXI Jim IXI: Tyee: I remember this, didn't this experiment take place in Canada. Not that it matters so much at where as the fact that they were getting enough and didn't want to work for more.

Unless randomjsa is a Canucklehead, I'd say where it happened is a fairly important point, seeing he wants us to take his word on this

As I recall this was rural isolated town that lost it's industry or something, and it might have been the 1980 instead of the 90's but whatever. Anyway, so as not to have it become a ghost town the government tried an experiment. They provided the entire town with everything, cash, food, medical, welfare, everything for a utopian society to flourish. But it didn't, they stagnated and people just became dependent.

Link (new window)

Wrong. People actually wanted to work more. The only people that didn't were new mothers and teens because, gasp, they got to wait for a better job.

Do better.