this is something new for my area

[pafindr]

Although these gun programs can be good I wouldn't participate in them. I don't have any working firearms that are only worth $100-$150 I can sell them and get a bit more than that.
The drug program can be a slippery slope depending on the rules. What's to stop someone from quiting their meds for a full tank of gas.

Sparrow usually when you post a subject you are usually going to get an opposing view, it's just the nature of people to debate. Most of the time it's not being directing at you personally just the idea, and please don't take offense at it. A good debate can be really thought provoking.

I used to call myself a Republican but have noticed that many republicans in Congress are no longer Republican, they are what Democrats were 20 years ago. Both sides are becoming more and more liberal. I'm a conservative and side with the more conservative view point, whether it's Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, Libertarian, etc. Hopefully Republicans can realign themselves with fighting for a Republic as our nation was meant to be.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

There were some awesome Republican Presidents, Abe Lincoln, Ike Eisenhower, Roosevelt. I didn't like Reagan, I just didn't trust him. Nixon...let's not go there. First Pres. Bush - liked him too - there it stops. I have a high regard for the 'Old Republican Party' it's the tea partyers who don't seem to know anymore about politics than me and that scares the livin hell outta me. Sending Sara Pallin to a G8 Summit would be like sending Sponge Bob Squarepants. (sorry spongey if you're watchin)

People should vote principles and not personality. Unfortunately, that's not what happens.

[sparrow803]

People should vote principles and not personality. Unfortunately, that's not what happens.

I know what you're saying makes perfect sense, but people running for office will say just about anything to get elected....so I fall back on my gut and what it is telling me to do. If I have a "bad feeling" for someone, politician or otherwise, I go the other way. So far it's worked pretty good. Like I have said...I really don't know much about politics, but I have watched Sara P and Michelle Bochman and I want nothing to do with that. Now, if a Republican with a good moral history comes to the fore front that has some of the beliefs I do....well, miracles do happen. I know if someone was a member of the senate I could look back at the way they voted on issues but you can't count on that because of lobbyists, hands in the pockets, etc. go with the gutt babe

[Sgt. Slaughter]

That's why it's important to look at voting records. How many things did Obama say he was going to do that he has NOT done, or stuck with what President Bush had already been doing? Not that Obama had much of a record to scrutinize to begin with, but it's too late for all that.

Palin and Bachman are polarizing figures, but no more so than Feinstein or Pelosi for the Democrats. Most people will never find a "perfect candidate" that will be able to accomplish everything they set out to do in the first place.

[retdetsgt]

When I was young, I was a Democrat. I thought the idea of LBJ's "safety net" welfare programs were a good idea. But later on, I worked in poor Black areas and saw the unintended consequences and the complete waste of tax payer money spent for do nothing, feel good programs. Portland was a "Model City" under Nixon and received millions of dollars for poverty and crime fighting programs. After a couple of years and all that money spent, nothing had changed. When they pulled the programs, no one was any better off except a few charlatans that pocketed most of it.

I went through a period of being very conservative, a tea party person before they existed. I've since wandered back to the middle as the Republican party has drifted to the right too far, IMO. I wasn't a huge Bush II fan, but the man was honest. He did what he thought was right for the country, not for himself. That is not Obama. He is as self serving as the Clintons.

I think we have an obligation to take care of people who can't take care of themselves, the mentally, physically disabled and the elderly who have little or no means. A lot of people work hard all their lives and end up with very little. I don't however feel an duty to provide free medical, food and shelter to people who simply don't want to put out the effort.

I also believe most vocational, welfare, etc. programs should be temporary for most people. Provide REAL job training, most don't. These gun buy back programs are an example of something looks great on paper, has little effect and costs money.

I've worked for the government, federal or local nearly all my adult life. The thing I constantly see is that it's a lousy steward of our money. They only time they worry about it is when they run out. We are funding some of the most ridiculous things you can imagine and paying horrible prices for things, especially the military. Congress even forces the military to buy things they don't want because it helps some single member's district or state.

Democrats are demonizing the mortgage industry for that mess and ignore the fact they forced them to make shaky loans to begin with. Check the Community Reinvestment Act. (I think that's the name of it)

The tax structure is a joke. Democrats are all for taxing corporations and don't seem to grasp that they don't really pay them. They pass the cost on to the consumer. Congress in 1932 (a Republican Congress BTW) raised the maximum income tax from 26% to something like 63%. Unemployment went from 15% to 24% in a couple of months. Now Democrats want to make the same mistake.

Neither side are willing to admit that we can't get out of this financial mess w/o both cuts and raising taxes. We've been living on credit too long and someone has to pay it. The top 2% can't do it all. Both are to blame for the mess we're in, and neither seem capable of fixing it.