Artful Dodger: Businesses don't collude today they say.....

Yeah right.. 1000's of firms in the UK were caught out price fixing.

Guess those economists don't get out much!!

Ferris Bueller: You prefer to speculate in the opposite direction. Either way, you have to speculate.

Artful Dodger:  Re. FDR, we know what actually did happen.  Your sources can only talk about what might of happened in a reverse scenario.  Conservatives site these things as absolute fact, which they are not.

Ferris Bueller: Health insurance rates have already gone up substantially nation wide. When taxes go up to pay for all these entitlements, you'll simply run out of excuses.

Artful Dodger: Nobody is under the illusion that covering the whole nation with healthcare won't cost money, it will.It is simply a question of priorities.Most major nations of the world have decided it is worth the sacrifice of additional taxation,maybe Americans aren't as interested.The same goes for gays in the military, few other major nations feel it's a big deal, the USA does,you are what you are, and will make your own decisions on these issues.

Jim Dandy: I don't think this is the case at all. First, the costs can't be sustained. Eventually, something will give. Likely, that will be in the form of health care cuts, long waiting lists, and denial boards. That's exactly what's happening in other parts of the world.

There is no right to personal health care. It's not up to the government to force me to pay for your health care. I've spent my lifetime working hard in many jobs and I've always provided for my family. When we were without insurance (when the second child was born) we paid out of our pocket. We didn't beg the government to help us out. When I was laid off, I found whatever I could and I worked. I didn't sit on unemployment. And for a long time I worked three jobs. I wasn't rich or particularly smart, but I was a hard worker. I returned to school, received three degrees, and have worked for everything I now have. And my new reward for a lifetime of hard work and saving is that I get to help bail out failed businesses, support lazy welfare slobs, and help pay for the health care costs of those who didn't put in the work to support themselves and their family. That is NOT a deal to me.

Artful Dodger: never a truer word spoken...it is the same here...you work hard to support the lowest forms of life....Kids who are spoiled by their parents and wont work and others who cry poor and get everything they ask for....Over here they join the forces...they take all in sundry.

Bernice: A friend of mine has a step son. He lives off the State. He gets all his medical free AND gets a monthy paycheck (as does his daughter who is 3). The mother of the little girl is a meth head. So she can't care for her own kid. The father of the little girl has muscular dystrophy. But he is able to do many things. He drives, has parties, and seems capable of doing many tasks. Yet all he does is live off the State. He was into drugs when younger, conceived his daughter with his meth head lover, and now can't deal with the consequences of his actions and so people like me are supporting him via our taxes. That is not right. He stays up late and sleeps late into the day. His step-dad is forced to watch the grandkid because the dad is too out of it! He is one of thousands across America with little incentive to work. And the State has no problem taking my money out of my pocket and giving it to him so he can sit on his ass and do nothing.

And get this: His step-dad and mom take care of him (he lives with them). They are actually getting paid as he is a ward of the State and they have become his licensed caregivers. So, The mom and step-dad get a monthly check, his daughter gets a monthly State-aid check, and HE gets one too.

Paid by people like me. nice.

Artful Dodger: yep....sounds as if you have lived in Australia......and probably the UK, and most other places as well that has welfare for bludgers to sponge off...

Bernice: If a person is capable of working, and they won't, they should be left to the consequences of such irresponsibility. It's my view that entitlements are largely responsible for the serious problem of generational poverty. I depended on me and what I could do to provide for my family. Even when I was single I would work more than one job. The only time in my life where I didn't work two jobs was when I became a teacher. But by then I had a savings to fall back on and while teaching full-time, I was also still going to school nights for my Master's degree. I grew up in a family of 9 so we were not well off. But I have two certificates from Vo-Tech schools and three university degrees. And I paid for all of it myself. I have little sympathy for those that say they had a "hard life" or that they didn't have opportunities. Neither did I. I made my own. And there are thousands like me - hard workers who take responsibility seriously. A bum can stand on a street corner for hours but he can't wash dishes for a living (I've done that as well as janitorial work and fast food work). Why can't they?

Artful Dodger: I agree with you wholeheartedly...and with regards to """become a reflection of Britain with their excessive entitlement programs """" we also are the same. Over here you get a book when you register for the DOLE...and you must have at ;east one signature each week saying that you have been looking for work...but of course you have the university professors (or those that think they are) who think they are so clever, all they do is go for jobs they would never qualify for in a million years.....full of gab and NO getgo. Sound familiar??

Bernice: totally familiar.

Artful Dodger: Beautifully said!
It is pathetic that so many people feel the need to be "taken care of" by the government. (Which means the rest of us) We need to get back to the times where we pulled ourselves up, and when help was needed, you turn to your family, if they are able. Not complete strangers who are busy taking care of THEMSELVES.

rod03801: Interestingly, the left has no adequate response to questions they are being asked regarding Obama's policies. Instead of answering the people's questions or responding to their concerns, the left simply vilifies the opposition.

I heard a caller on a radio program respond to the question about Republicans fixing things if they get into power. But the caller rightly said it's not Democrats or Republicans we need, we need public servants that honor the historical intentions of the constitution, and seek to do the will of the people. American's don't want to become a reflection of Britain with their excessive entitlement programs (which are failing). We need politicians who will seek to honor the rule of law, end the mad spending, reduce government control on our lives, and allow American taxpayers to keep more of their hard earned money. And we need to stop all recess appointments. It's been abused by too many administrations (and excessively abused by Obama. This country is about "We the People" and NOT "We the elite politicians."