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Originally posted by MagiK:

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Originally posted by Timber Loftis: [qb]By the way, I will note that you didn't manage to discredit anything I said...just criticized me for having said it. [img]smile.gif[/img] cheers!

And into my trap you fall. I was hoping you'd pick up on that - because it's exactly what I was accusing you of doing.



As for Jeffords weasely ways - why don't you ask the voters of Vermont how they feel about him? They're the ones he's accountable to. If his party is not pursuing his constituent's needs, he, IMHO, absolutely *must* switch sides (or pick no side at all). See, we have this thing called a representational republic - oh, never mind.

Actually I heard quite a LOT of bitching and moaning about Jeffords from vermonters on every single talking head show on television and in the press...which is why I formed the opinion I did...what? you think I just pulled the opinion out of my ass? I don't speak for any or all Vermonters? Vermontans? Vermontonians? Vermin? I just base dthe opinion on the facts that I could easily gather.

Suffice to say, as a resident of Vermont 97-00, I must chime in and say I'd bet they support him there. The willingness to do what tugs at his heartstrings rather than toe the party line is something that both the "true" Vermonters (10 generations of self-proclaimed stewards and common folk) as well as the "new" Vermonters (who fell off the Grateful Dead bus, bought suits and SUVs, and ended up controlling Chittenden County) would agree with - and possibly even the other "true" Vermonters (live in a trailer, beat their wives, and throw their beer bottles in the back yard) would support it as well. It's that very thumb-your-nose-at-the-institution-if-you-so-please attitude that is one of the few very romantic things beholden to most all Vermonters.

Oh my god...your saying he is ....what are you? some kind of...never mind no name calling here... I cannot even begin to comment on how this part of your entry sounds to me. The words gag, vomit and puke all come to mind but don't really hit the mark. (I suppose I sound much the same about things I like)

I also am agahst that you would trash decent honest people just because they live in mobile homes and assume that they all beat their wives swill beer. You might want to check out your own prejudices. Of course I have actually lived in the environment you have such a loathing for. For your information, I don't drink beer, can't stand the taste and don't/didn't throw trash in the yard.
I think you are being totaly over the top here, glad your proud of your state, but I have been there, It ain't ALL that. Pretty in the Fall but it is not the grass roots promised land neither.

As to the merits of what Jeffords had to say, it's obvious and I see little need to repeat it. Regarding this confiscation of your money for education, need I remind you of Mr. President's own promises and stance on education? Waste in government - no sh*t? Does that mean we shut down the system? Quit building tanks (make no mistake $420 for a screwdriver for a tank is also governmental waste)?

You know, that $420 screw driver you talk about was $420 because your precious Mr. Jeffords and the rest of congres that run the congressional oversight comittees had idiot civilians writing government Mil Spec. stating that each screw driver must be exactly 4.00000000000000 inches long and weigh exactly 1.7598736453846627348 ounces, which caused the contractor to have to build a fabricating plant to specially manufacture these precise instruments...rather than buy them in bulk at sears.
This also shows how out of date you are, now that the Military is allowed to purchase COTS (Commercial off the shelf) rathern than strict. Mil. Spec. these kinds of things are very RARE now. On the other hand Your Reresentative can't use regular office furniture, he has it all specially made at huge tax payer expense. I suggest if you want to dis the military get a more current issue. I will also state that it was the Democraticly controlled house and senate that were using these ridiculous Mil. Spec. standards to bring home the pork for their constituents (guess where those precise manufacturing plants were built)
This whole issue is sooooo 70's and was rooted out and killed in the 80's. Untill the 80's it was against the law for the military to buy stuff from anyone but congressionally approved vendors.

Corruption is always a part of managing any system (government or private business). Yes, corruption and waste is a problem to address. As my other half works for the State, believe me I see it every day and am disgusted. [img]graemlins/1puke.gif[/img] But the existence of that problem does NOT give us a reason to simply return to a laissez-faire state of nature with no governmental spending.

As well educated as you may or may not be, you show complete ignorance of military matters (and spending) over and over again(noticed this in several other posts too). My earlier post to someone else says all I have to say about military spending. (why not cut out the welfare fraud and put that money toward schools?) You can throw money at your problems all you want, but quit stealing mine. I work damn hard to earn it and the way of thinking that you seem to revere, pisses me off in a serious way. You say Im not addressing the problem, I gave you A pure and simple solution and you ignore it and tell us to put more money in. I say actually DO soemthing about the problem not just speachify about it on the boob tube when you need a few votes, Attack the problem not the symptom.

As for your snide remark about how I address each issue seperately as somhow invalidating my thoughts on the issues. I find that commenting on each issue in paragraph style helps to keep me on topic and not to ramble quite so much. So excuse me if I intersperse my points among the original post rather than write a huge bunch all at the end.

Unless you're a Malthusian, that is. And if that's the case, I hope your in that top 5% income bracket or your plan will end you as well as the rest of us plebes.