" I just logged on today (2/2) to see if anyone had any comments about my letter and found, to my amazement, that there were 25 comments. Wow! But then when I went through and read them, 24 of the comments really didn't have an opinion on what I said but about other stuff. What the he_l is going on? People are just starting to ramble on about anything and everything except the subject matter. I give. By the way, on Friday, the jobs report was issued and we had a net LOSS of 17,000 jobs, when economists were forecasting a gain of 70,000 jobs. Nice going Mr. President... But hey, even with this dismal jobs report and the fact that "The number of claims for unemployment benefits has risen in recent weeks..." JWB still doesn't want to include an extension of unemployment insurance benefits in his ecomonic stimulus package. So much for our 'compassionate' President. I'm sure that 'rd' will go along and agree with JWB's decision, right? "

" Rd I took very good care of gramma! I never said Your higher taxes should pay. I said the SS system needs a makeover-gram worked at the local school her hubby worked until his death-a 2-3% cost of living raise is NOT enough for seniors. I have yet to see our 535 members of Congress only get a 3% raise! And after that raise, deduct a 5% medicare payment! It's really not seniors like my gram you should worry about-its the illegals that collect more than my gram ever did, thats sucking your gucci wallet dry! "

" Sorry, rd--nothing personal, I wasn't calling YOU "names" , just characterizing the type of Conservatives that really rile me up. The "Scrooge" type would be an appropriate moniker.
BTW, regarding Ann Coulter "preferring" Hillary---I can see a "divorce" in the pipeline here for a certain member of this forum....? LOL!!!! "

" DD, if you truly believe in fiscal conservatism, why do you continue to support and illegal and immoral war which is insanely expensive, and shows no promise for anything besides making some oil companies and defense contractors rich?

And what makes you think your "labor" is so much more deserving than say a ditchdigger. I think a ditchdigger deserves more pay than financial managers - they work much harder. "

" Karl L I was just thinking we were going to be friends till you called me all those names!!!!! "

" CM its your responsibility to take care of your old grama if she can't take care of herself.What kind of stupid thinking leads you to believe its my responsibility to take care of your family. Our founding fathers would roll over at such a ludicrous idea that its ok to take from those who earn and give to others. Be responsible for your own family as I will be of mine so that you don't hit me up for a handout. "

" AJ--Financial Manager--and for the record, I don't agree with a stimulus package. I believe in a fiscal conservative program. Far too much money is being spent on pet programs that do very little for the general public. Does anyone remember the tens of thousands of dollars spent doing a "study" on what type of street lights we should install downtown? Who cares what type of street lights we have, as long as they do the job, and are efficient. Now, for those of you that are under a popular misconception--the money is not being sent out to help the recipients--it is meant to help merchants by spiking sales with the "found" money. "

" news flash ----


Coulter prefers Clinton over McCain.

This is really weird folks...

"

" Just curious DD, what is it you do for a living? "

" Karl, it's all just "funny" money anyhow.

Wow, that reminds me, things are even worse than they seem! Somebody help us, please!!!

Tax and spend or borrow and spend. I would take the former - it's a pay-as-you-go system. "

" rd--another stingy, uncompassionate, poor-hating Conservative--Mr Ebeneezer Scrooge would be proud of YOU, rd!.
Man, I hate those types.
Having said that, the "economic stimulus" is called "DEFICIT SPENDING" and isn't going to do a damned thing t "stimulate the economy"! This is akin to giving little Johnny $300.00 for a new X-Box system when the rent is a month overdue! STOOOOPID!
Secondly, what a stupid and irresponsible lesson to be teaching people in this time of massive debt and lack of personal savings--give away money and tell people to spend it when what they need to do is conserve and save after paying off their bills. It's no wonder we have such a rotten economy.
Where is Chris Van Coulter telling us how wonderful the economy is now? LOL! "

" DD, first off, do not confuse me with someone who likes Hillary Clinton. I think she is pretty phony. I also feel this way about much of the Democratic party. While I agree with their STATED ideals, I am not convinced they mean what they say. I also suspect that many so-called democrats are really republicans anyways, liebermansh_t is a good example but only one of many. Call me paranoid, but it seems the party has not only been bought off but has also been infiltrated, with repugs masquerading as democRATS.

Most progressives are totally disgusted with the democratic party as it currently stands, and I am one of those. "

" My point AJ, is that it is not suprising that the Democrats have done nothing to change anything. Neither have the Republicans. He seems suprised that the Dems haven't fixed anything once in office. I just bring up the point of Hillary Clinton. With all of the promises she made--what legitimate program or policy has she been responsible for that has benefitted us in upstate NY? In addition,I know the Republicans are no better in alot of ways. "

" WE all know that the SS system needs a drastic change! My gram living in heaven now was getting a mere 512.00 a month including SSI..yes its a bit more than your average CUBANS recieve in daily pay in Cuba--but no where near the amount to afford an apartment-let alone food, clothing, MEDICAL CO-PAYS! She would go without alot thru the year just to save 5.00 per grandchild for Xmas, her fav holiday and she was always saddened that she couldnt give more! Except for the times she came to stay with me for 2 weeks that lasted 6/8 months-You see I NEVER charged my gram a dime for staying with me-she came every other year! Her daughter however charged her 300.00 a month plus a share in utilities and food! If the government wont take care of our elderly then families need to, instead of calling gram CHEAP they need to walk a month in her shoes. My children would die if they had to live on 512.00 a month! NO cell phone, No car, No movies, No Ipods, No internet, and No McDonalds, the list of they haves is longer than I care to type! The government promised workers a decent retirement-they have LIED! If SS doesnt get fixed and soon--the we as workers need to look way ahead to provide for ourselves -or be nicer to our children for WE will need them just as they needed us for 18+ years! "

" Brew--you bring up a good point. However, it needs to be fair. My wife and I pay more in taxes than most families make. We will still spend money in the area, but is it fair for someone to get the rebate, and not me, who pays more taxes in a year than someone else does in 10? "

" Brew, is that really you? First thing you've written in a long time that makes sense and I can agree with. "

" RD, don't be so generous and compassionate - it makes you look bad!

lol


"

" You're right DD, and by the same token you cannot spell Neo-con without "CON".

Regarding the raises - are you suggesting the rethuglicans have not done so.

As I undertand it (and this may have changed), it was setup for automatic pay raises unless it was specifically brought up for a vote and voted against. Don't recall which congress enacted this, but it was a decade or more ago.

As far as I'm aware the rethugs never objected at the very least, if they didn't outright institute the policy in the first place.


"

" Thanks, brew. "

" The idea was a rebate of your taxes to stimulate the economy. If you don't pay taxes you can't get a rebate. If those on social security can't live on their allotment then the system needs to be changed to real cost of living increases. A larger distribution to lower income levels is a better plan because these people will probably go to their local Walmart to buy the things they haven't been able to afford due the the increased gas, electric and heating costs. Those in the higher income levels will only stick the money in the bank and not stimulate the economy at all. Just common sense. "

" Bill, if you feel a need to help the people you referenced just give them money out of your pocket not mine!!! Somehow I doubt that that will happen. "

" I feel the seniors should be added into the program--but I feel if you are ON the system and NOT working and have kids you should get ZERO! That would be about 1/2 of Auburns residents, the monies to them wouldnt aide the economy it would aide the local drug dealers' pockets! "

" Farmer girl,Don,t you understand that your so called wealthy pay most of the taxes and DESERVE to get their rebate as well as or MORE than people that don,t pay any taxes. The purpose of the program is to stimulate the economy not to redistribute income. You seem to lacl compassion for people who work hard and make more money than you feel is fair. Karl Marx would be proud of you. "

" Farmer's Gal----the refund is to stimulate the economy by providing excess cash to people. It is to help keep people off the unemployment line. Since when does a couple making more then $150,000 get the full rebate? Maybe I'm wrong, but they cut the rebate back at certain income levels. "

" The Democrats --by the way you can't spell Democrat without "rat"--when they're on their way up, they promise everything (like Hillary), and when they get there they forget abpout all of their promises (like Hillary). Does it suprise you that the Democrat contolled house votes itself raises, and make a career out of their position? Call your congressman and ask him or her why they feel they deserve a lifetime pension and healthcare when there are people who can't afford the staples in life? "

" And the Senate wants to tack on tons more money -- to give refunds to families most people around here would consider wealthy -- single incomes of $150,000+ or combined incomes of $300,000+ Why do we have to add on the rich in order to add on the unemployed and the elderly? Makes no sense to me.... "