Some thoughts after not posting for a while:
--Nu2salt, consider a chiropractor for your herniated discs. I had this condition and did not want the surgery and the chiropractor got me back in shape. I also want you to come up with a savings plan that fits in with your retirement programs. You need this and it is not a luxury. You have to have one to be able to retire. On a more serious point, virtually every conservative on the thread believes that your strategy of "tough love" is far more appropriate and successful than anything coming from the shrinks and extreme leftist apologists who would somehow blame you for these kids problems. You are part of the solution not the problem. The state and the "softies" have taken child rearing away from parents and rehabilitators like yourself and society is worse for it.
--Jon A, keep saving, great example of what can be attained in this day and age. My greatest regret was they didn't start IRAs, 401Ks, etc. until the middle of my professional career.
--Be careful of flat taxes. Perot and Forbes were the biggest proponents and they didn't design them to help the less fortunate. They are not progressive.
--Oil prices will drop after the election.
--Iraq is a very complex strategy that involves all of the Islamic terrorist issues, mid-east democracy and weapons of mass destruction.
--At the start of the war Sadaam had some WMDs but shipped them out of country or buried them. Remember, we have found artillery shells with Serin gas in them. Sadaam kept the inspectors out because it kept his antagonists guessing. I don't think he had a lot of WMDs, just enough, but he had the technology and intellectual property to create new ones in a heart beat.
--The war on terror is global. We are going to eliminate or transform all areas and countries in time including Iran, Syria, N. Korea, Sudan and at some point Saudia Arabia and the other friendly arab countries. Look at Libya. Khadafi saw the hand writing and capitulated, primarily because he already got one of his palaces blown up after one of his terrorist attacks. This will happen through out the Arab world just like communism fell. It is a macro plan and can't be argued on a micro basis like Kerry and Bush are doing. This is not something anyone in the U.S. wanted to take on but it is like communism in the sense that if you do not take it on and address it in every country at some point it can overwhelm us. Fight it on their turf not ours. Think global, macro and long term. Iraq is a piece of a big picture issue.
--Where was the press coverage for the first election ever in Afghanistan?

Den...is the glass always half full for you? Is there a perpetual cloud of gloom over your head?

Why try harder? life will just plain suck no matter what, huh?

You can discount the report all you want, people like you always do. If you are of a generally negative attitude you will always find something bad at the end of even the brightest rainbow, I feel sorry for you.

The report I cited is based in verifiable fact, however it is a nationwide synopsis and does not take into account your particular brand of localized misery.

NU....when I said,"I don't have the luxury of a fat state sponsered benefits package unfortunately." I really meant, "unfortunatly". I wish I had a set up even close to that. Sadly, such is not my lot in life. I have to get everything on my own, no paid holiday's, no sick days for me, paid vacations? I don't think so.

I don't dwell on it, I overcome.

I also don't have the benefit of higher education like John FM does, my choice.....I regret it now but not too much.

If you don't icefish, it's time you started....I'll keep you in mind when the first CTF outing gets planned.

Henry,

Please. FOX IS NOT A NEWS ORGANIZATION. IT IS BUSH'S MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA (Murdock is Bush's Dr. Goebbels). The Soviet T.A.S.S (state news agency) was less rigidly pro-Communist than FOX news is PRO REPUBLICAN. The words FOX NEWS are a F***ING OXYMORON.

Nu2Salt:

There are various medications that can calm you. Prozac and drugs similar to that would help your hostility and anger. You need to get it under control, otherwise, you will continue to think unclearly.

FWIW, my Minor degree was Psych., so I am aware of aggressive behavior and hostility, manifested in Political dribble and a hatred for a certain "class" of people.

Your distaste for those who've worked hard and attained something in life shows that you are not happy with your own success, or lack thereof. For that, I am sorry. Only you can make yourself feel better with where you are in life.

I can assure you though, that rambling about the "haves vs. have-nots" will not help you attain any internal peace. My condolensces.

Ice,
First of all I’m the type who always covers the glass and turns it over to observe all.

Not to discount anything and to uncover all situations, possibilities and types of reason.

I conclude my own synopsis and not to be preached what’s right or wrong, good or bad any certainly not to have anyone convince me of my decisions, including you!

What’s in a report? Statistics? Allowing yourself to rely on one source is your short coming, not mine. And hell,I have no sorrow for you. That’s your choice.

Do not try to “MindF__K me my friend, your physiological profiling tells me a lot about you and you’d love to have the misery that my life entails.

Your stance is all wrong my friend, you’re hooking extremely to the right!