The politics of the "So I created a YouTube video"

[Denis Korb]

Sad to say it but my first thought was...I am former Military, this guy is from the UK, possible terrorist. I was raised with a very right wing conservative mentality, and have been slow to change it over the years. I don't believe in being prejudiced, I simply believe in being cautious when meeting unfamiliar people or new things.

 

[DianaCox]

Seriously, your first concern was that this person might be a TERRORIST? Because he has a "foreign" (to you) name??

Hell yes, you are prejudiced. And ridiculous.

And, FYI, his name is of Sikh Indian origin, not Arabic.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Sad to say it but my first thought was...I am former Military, this guy is from the UK, possible terrorist. I was raised with a very right wing conservative mentality, and have been slow to change it over the years. I don't believe in being prejudiced, I simply believe in being cautious when meeting unfamiliar people or new things.

Toenails and fear of "the other" are quite similar...at one point, they were needed for our survival. Now they are as much a burden as they are a benefit.

Being suspicious of someone whose parents, "The Sandhus," would give their kid the first name Pandibar is just as reasonable as being suspicious as of someone whose parents, "The Obamas," would give their kid the first name Barack.

Well..it's reasonable for people who have not evolved beyond the point of needing those toenails and needing to fear anyone/anything they had not previously encountered.

 

[Denis Korb]

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Seriously, your first concern was that this person might be a TERRORIST? Because he has a "foreign" (to you) name??

Hell yes, you are prejudiced. And ridiculous.

And, FYI, his name is of Sikh Indian origin, not Arabic.

Believe it or not I recognized that, but there was a warning on the news that ISIS were actively seeking former Military members facebook pages, especially those wearing a uniform, for nefarious reasons, and this was quite out of the blue. Noting the beheading videos from Syria were related to a UK citizen, one might be concerned when receiving a message from the UK. Like I said, not prejudiced, just cautious, and while most of India are Hindi, there are many who follow Islam.

 

[Denis Korb]

Toenails and fear of "the other" are quite similar...at one point, they were needed for our survival. Now they are as much a burden as they are a benefit.

Being suspicious of someone whose parents, "The Sandhus," would give their kid the first name Pandibar is just as reasonable as being suspicious as of someone whose parents, "The Obamas," would give their kid the first name Barack.

Well..it's reasonable for people who have not evolved beyond the point of needing those toenails and needing to fear anyone/anything they had not previously encountered.

Sorry Spikey, but I am not a fan of our president by any stretch of the imagination. I don't care what his race or religion are, I care what his politics are, and he has done nothing that I have seen thus far that benefits this country.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Sorry Spikey, but I am not a fan of our president by any stretch of the imagination. I don't care what his race or religion are, I care what his politics are, and he has done nothing that I have seen thus far that benefits this country.

Imagine my surprise!

Makes me wonder, though, if that's because you haven't been paying attention or, Gawd forbid, you've been watching that network that, in study after study, has the LEAST informed viewers...you know...Faux.

But, in case you can handle a dose of reality, here's a list of 286 accomplishments you may have overlooked:
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/

And this?
"I don't care what his race or religion are..." That ranks right up there with sentences that start with "Some of my best friends..." in strength of persuasion.

 

[DianaCox]

Just curious Denis: can you please list all the government funded services you are getting, which your Republican idols would like to take away from you, because, you know, taxes, promoting self-sufficiency rather than a welfare state, taxes, entitlements, taxes, etc.? (Of course, it's THEIR taxes they are concerned about, not yours - and to ensure that any taxes that ARE collected go to paying for military incursions into countries we have no business meddling in, because those taxes primarily go to military contractors like Halliburton, and NOT to the members of the military irreparably harmed by their service. You know that, right?)

• Are you on SSDI?
• Are you on Medicare/Medi-Caid?
• Under what program(s) are you getting the services of a social worker?
• You go by ambulance to doctors' appointments? Who pays for that?
• Food stamps?
• What else?

You do realize the Republicans want to take ALL of that away from you, to incentivize you to get off your lazy ass and get a job, right? Especially to take away your health care coverage? And yet you think Obama has done nothing that benefits the country? Amazing.

 

[Denis Korb]

Just curious Denis: can you please list all the government funded services you are getting, which your Republican idols would like to take away from you, because, you know, taxes, promoting self-sufficiency rather than a welfare state, taxes, entitlements, taxes, etc.? (Of course, it's THEIR taxes they are concerned about, not yours - and to ensure that any taxes that ARE collected go to paying for military incursions into countries we have no business meddling in, because those taxes primarily go to military contractors like Halliburton, and NOT to the members of the military irreparably harmed by their service. You know that, right?)

• Are you on SSDI?
• Are you on Medicare/Medi-Caid?
• Under what program(s) are you getting the services of a social worker?
• You go by ambulance to doctors' appointments? Who pays for that?
• Food stamps?
• What else?

You do realize the Republicans want to take ALL of that away from you, to incentivize you to get off your lazy ass and get a job, right? Especially to take away your health care coverage? And yet you think Obama has done nothing that benefits the country? Amazing.

Yes I'm on SSD Insurance that I paid into for most of my young healthy life so I do not regret utilizing that which I paid for now that I am unhealthy, but I understand why it exists and what its to be utilized for. I am on Medicare which is part of the benefits again that I paid into that existed pre Obama, he had nothing to do with those benefits that existed pre Obama. I pay for an advantage plan above and beyond my personal coverage in order to afford what I need. My wife is still working and pays into the system. Now because of Obama the costs of my daughters and wives healthcare has skyrocketed. before they paid $143.00 dollars every 2 weeks at her job now we pay $343.00 thank you Obama for being so generous right...is that what you expect me to say? We do not use food Stamps, or welfare benefits...there was one time we considered it because things were very tight but because we live 251% of the poverty index based on gross salary we do not qualify by 1%. it has always been this way for my family...we make to much to get the help we need and to little to maintain our bills effectively which is one of the reasons I am working so hard this time around to get off SSD and back to work. I don't need the Government to tell me how to live my life If the Government hadn't taken so much from me in my healthy years perhaps I could have invested in private insurance and made a lot more in my unhealthy years without the stigma of negativity that comes part and parcel of being on SSD or Medicare.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/ssps/ssp2.html

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Yes I'm on SSD Insurance that I paid into for most of my young healthy life so I do not regret utilizing that which I paid for now that I am unhealthy, but I understand why it exists and what its to be utilized for. I am on Medicare which is part of the benefits again that I paid into that existed pre Obama, he had nothing to do with those benefits that existed pre Obama. I pay for an advantage plan above and beyond my personal coverage in order to afford what I need. My wife is still working and pays into the system. Now because of Obama the costs of my daughters and wives healthcare has skyrocketed. before they paid $143.00 dollars every 2 weeks at her job now we pay $343.00 thank you Obama for being so generous right...is that what you expect me to say? We do not use food Stamps, or welfare benefits...there was one time we considered it because things were very tight but because we live 251% of the poverty index based on gross salary we do not qualify by 1%. it has always been this way for my family...we make to much to get the help we need and to little to maintain our bills effectively which is one of the reasons I am working so hard this time around to get off SSD and back to work. I don't need the Government to tell me how to live my life If the Government hadn't taken so much from me in my healthy years perhaps I could have invested in private insurance and made a lot more in my unhealthy years without the stigma of negativity that comes part and parcel of being on SSD or Medicare.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/ssps/ssp2.html

Obamacare did mot raise the cost of your inurance. INSURANCE COMPANIES raised the cost of your insurance, as they have done every year since I started buying insurance in 1963.

All any insurance had to do to be grandfathered in was not change anything. Most chose to make coverage changes and blame the ACA for the attached premium increases.

But just for everyone's edification, we take more out of SS, even adjusted for inflation, than we put in...we take WAY MORE out of Medicare than we put in. So you are not "utilizing that which you paid for." None of us who use those benefits are merely collecting what we were "forced" to pay back in the day.

In fact, we are being supported by those who are currently contributing, just as we supported those who have gone before.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...re-and-social-security-what-you-paid-what-yo/

Taxes...the price we pay for civilization.

 

[Denis Korb]

Just curious Denis: can you please list all the government funded services you are getting, which your Republican idols would like to take away from you, because, you know, taxes, promoting self-sufficiency rather than a welfare state, taxes, entitlements, taxes, etc.? (Of course, it's THEIR taxes they are concerned about, not yours - and to ensure that any taxes that ARE collected go to paying for military incursions into countries we have no business meddling in, because those taxes primarily go to military contractors like Halliburton, and NOT to the members of the military irreparably harmed by their service. You know that, right?)

• Are you on SSDI?
• Are you on Medicare/Medi-Caid?
• Under what program(s) are you getting the services of a social worker?
• You go by ambulance to doctors' appointments? Who pays for that?
• Food stamps?
• What else?

You do realize the Republicans want to take ALL of that away from you, to incentivize you to get off your lazy ass and get a job, right? Especially to take away your health care coverage? And yet you think Obama has done nothing that benefits the country? Amazing.

Dr. Cox,

I did a little research because I know how much progressives like to scare people into thinking somehow their SSD or SSI can somehow be taken away by the "Republicans" so I'd like to clear that misconception up. And as I don't know where this conversation should take place, Southern Lady if you could move this conversation to the appropriate forums it would be appreciated.

It is impossible for the Social Security network to ever crash in this country, the whole argument is silly from an economic standpoint. The argument of money being taken out of SSI or put back into SSI or Medicare for that matter is all a lie. What people don't understand is that the Social Security Trust fund isn't money that was set aside by the government for the purposes of SSI or Medicare, the money in those funds are an accumulation of excess monies that were collected but not paid out of the system since the programs inception. if there were no trust fund tomorrow, Medicare and Social Security could still operate based on how the program is developed. The arguments in congress over the use of those funds in no way impede either sides argument. Obama taking 500 million from the Medicare fund in order to fill the shortfalls of Obama care has no real effect on the Medicare system it was simply a way to scare people into voting for the republicans, and the progressives claiming that Republicans want to take money from the SSI fund and give it back to the people is in my view the correct way to go simply because its excess monies that we all paid into the system and its OUR MONEY. That money doesn't belong to the Government, its the equivalent of IRS Tax overpayments and should be returned IMHO

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntharvey/2014/08/14/social-security-cannot-go-bankrupt/

 

[Denis Korb]

Obamacare did mot raise the cost of your inurance. INSURANCE COMPANIES raised the cost of your insurance, as they have done every year since I started buying insurance in 1963.

All any insurance had to do to be grandfathered in was not change anything. Most chose to make coverage changes and blame the ACA for the attached premium increases.

But just for everyone's edification, we take more out of SS, even adjusted for inflation, than we put in...we take WAY MORE out of Medicare than we put in. So you are not "utilizing that which you paid for." None of us who use those benefits are merely collecting what we were "forced" to pay back in the day.

In fact, we are being supported by those who are currently contributing, just as we supported those who have gone before.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...re-and-social-security-what-you-paid-what-yo/

Taxes...the price we pay for civilization.

Spikey SSD is an insurance you pay for, of course you pay less then what you put in. The key however is I paid my Insurance so I am entitled to receive it while I need it. However as a responsible member of society I should make every attempt to correct the issues that brought me to this point; so that I can return to health, allowing me to return to the workforce, so that I can again be a productive member of society.

 

[JackieOnLine]

And as I don't know where this conversation should take place, Southern Lady if you could move this conversation to the appropriate forums it would be appreciated.

she will, no problem. have you looked around? one off topic forum is The Lounge. I'm in there right now, drinking coffee and eating a soft-boiled egg. the chairs are comfortable!

 

[Denis Korb]

Obamacare did mot raise the cost of your inurance. INSURANCE COMPANIES raised the cost of your insurance, as they have done every year since I started buying insurance in 1963.

All any insurance had to do to be grandfathered in was not change anything. Most chose to make coverage changes and blame the ACA for the attached premium increases.

But just for everyone's edification, we take more out of SS, even adjusted for inflation, than we put in...we take WAY MORE out of Medicare than we put in. So you are not "utilizing that which you paid for." None of us who use those benefits are merely collecting what we were "forced" to pay back in the day.

In fact, we are being supported by those who are currently contributing, just as we supported those who have gone before.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...re-and-social-security-what-you-paid-what-yo/

Taxes...the price we pay for civilization.

Spikey,
After reading that Politifact argument, I again have to point out the forbes article that I linked in my last post. While its simplified it still applies to this fluffed argument. Statements like this:

While there is technically a modest Social Security trust fund, the federal government has long paid out most Social Security revenues to beneficiaries, leaving the government and future workers with what amounts to an IOU to cover the next generation of beneficiaries.

Are a Lie, as proven by a simple read of the Forbes explanation of how Social security works.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Spikey,
After reading that Politifact argument, I again have to point out the forbes article that I linked in my last post. While its simplified it still applies to this fluffed argument. Statements like this:

While there is technically a modest Social Security trust fund, the federal government has long paid out most Social Security revenues to beneficiaries, leaving the government and future workers with what amounts to an IOU to cover the next generation of beneficiaries.

Are a Lie, as proven by a simple read of the Forbes explanation of how Social security works.

1--did someone say SS was going bankrupt?
2--ALSO from your Forbes article, and pretty much exactly what I said earlier.. "It’s not a pension fund into which you put your money when you are young and from which you draw when you are old. It’s an immediate transfer from workers today to retirees today. That’s what it has always been and that’s what it has to be–there is no other possible way for it to work."

 

[Denis Korb]

Imagine my surprise!

Makes me wonder, though, if that's because you haven't been paying attention or, Gawd forbid, you've been watching that network that, in study after study, has the LEAST informed viewers...you know...Faux.

But, in case you can handle a dose of reality, here's a list of 286 accomplishments you may have overlooked:
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/

And this?
"I don't care what his race or religion are..." That ranks right up there with sentences that start with "Some of my best friends..." in strength of persuasion.

When I see things like this article all I can do is smile, Politicians get credit for things they have little or nothing to do with all the time. For example, blaming Bush for the financial crisis is funny, anyone with any intelligence knows that much of what happened was done in the private markets, propped up by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac advocated by Barney frank and Chris Dodd through bills in a Democrat(progressive) controlled congress and senate. There was little that Bush could do to stop what was going to happen. Regulators asleep at the wheel

"Failures in finance were at the heart of the crash. But bankers were not the only people to blame. Central bankers and other regulators bear responsibility too, for mishandling the crisis, for failing to keep economic imbalances in check and for failing to exercise proper oversight of financial institutions."

Who was the head of that committee to regulate : Barney Frank(D)

What did Barney Frank do to make things worse ...
"These two entities—Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—are not facing any kind of financial crisis," said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. "The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/sam-dealey/2008/09/10/barney-franks-fannie-and-freddie-muddle

That one comment from Barney Frank caused many in the financial markets to allocate resources to the stocks and bonds that propped up those 2 institutions until the collapse which caused many to lose their retirement funds.

I'm sure that Barney Frank meant well in his endeavors to bring "affordable housing" at least I hope he did, but he was probably more responsible than anyone for the financial collapse as he had a responsibility to regulate those that were "cooking their books" both within the government backed institutions and the market abroad.

http://humanevents.com/2011/12/03/top-10-barney-frank-offenses-2/