" http://www.bls.gov/
Be sure to check the inflation calculator PRE-Bush years!!! "

" Someone wrote "Tragic that Conservatives have no venue to contradict Liberals."

This statement is so bizarre and totally contradicts reality. Where do these people come from? "

" Why am I not surprised that you haven't watched the video Chris van Coulter? "

" brew you must have the education of a 3rd grader if you think even half of that aid is getting to the people. why do you think they wont let the un or us distribute it. they have a lot of military personell they need to take care of to keep them in power. people will die its a fact of life. you cant help every person in the world. keep our money here and make our people and our country stronger. there are people homeless and starving in america too. for real, what planet are you from "

" "Listen carefully now : DO NOT DESTROY OIL-WELLS" Dubya "

Your logic is impeccable AJ (note the sarcasm), for Bush to order that we not destroy the oil wells knowing that oil sales will help rebuild the country after the shooting war. Oil is the main revenue for Iraq, which in turn will spur their economy which will provide employment.

What planet are you from? "

" CM:Channel surfing late last night-I come across Obama on CSPAN talking at a campaign stop.
A few things he stated:
1. Comparing toasters to mortgage forclosures?"

FG:Out of context, I can't tell if that's silly or clever.

CM:2. Our banker is China and for years to come our kids/grandkids will pay for our loans. Also the reason we HAVE to purchase chinese products.

FG:Bad idea. But are any of the three viable candidates suggesting anything else on this score?

CM:3. The trillion dollars spent on the war in Iraq should be used to rebuild our infrastructure/energy projects.

FG:Sounds good to me, or better -- if we HAVE those trillion dollars, spend them at home and on finding a good, healthy, safe, affordable alternative energy source. If we don't, it's a good idea to stop spending money we don't have.

CM:4. $4000.00 per yr per person for college education.

FG:That's about what they want in a family contribution as it is (well, more like $4,600) -- and that's when the Student Aid report you get back from the government indicates that the "Expected family contribution" is one dollar. Can't wait to see what they expect out of me now it's based on MY income instead of my ex's.

CM:5. Early education schools/programs for 2-3 yr olds.

FG:Should be voluntary.

CM:6. Our WAR NEEDS to be with Afghanistan, fighting Osama and those like him. Bring troops out of Iraq BUT SEND them to Afghanistan!

FG:I've heard this talk from him before and I DO NOT LIKE IT.

CM:What makes his statements on these issues any different than we have right now?

FG:That's the problem with elections every year -- we only have the illusion of a choice (or a "change!")

CM:The mortgage crisis ISN'T just because of people getting scammed per say by finance companies. His ideals are for finance companies to PROVE YOU CAN PAY.

FG: And so they should be! People should not be given loans if they can't pay. Having just been "pre-qualified" myself under the "new more strict rules," I was SHOCKED at what the bank thinks I can afford. They figure 34% of your GROSS income can go to mortgage alone. That's usually about 50% of your take-home for mortgage alone -- without taxes, insurance, heat, electric, gas, water/sewer, garbage, etc or anything for maintenance, forget food, clothing, gas for your car or any other expenses. That is insane.

They reduced the amount they'd loan me based on how little I have for a downpayment and it's STILL a good $50,000 more than I can really afford when I sit down with my income and expenses.

So, yes, banks SHOULD make sure a person can actually pay before they give out mortgage loans, and they need to seriously rethink the formulas they use when they tell people what they can "afford."

CM:A blemish on your credit today will stop you from owning 5 yrs from now.
So expect alot of renters for a long time due to the recent economy!

FG:Well, you know, a bankruptcy is on the books for 7 years, but generally, banks will give you a loan sooner if you do all the right things after your bankruptcy is completed. We had one client who got a mortgage just 2 1/2 years after a bankruptcy -- an unusual case, but 3-5 years was not uncommon. Of course, now in retrospect, I realize a lot of those people probably should NOT have been given mortgages and should have spent more time repairing their credit before a bank would take a chance on them again.

CM:Our banker-CHINA owns us and will for the next 100 yrs-so we will always HAVE to buy chinese products!

FG:It's hard to avoid those products, but you can try, especially when so many of them are health problems, from rotten pet food to lead paint in children's toys. That's a thumb out from under which we need to crawl.

CM:If the trillion $ WAS borrowed and spent on energy/bridges/levies--WE would still be owned by our bankers-CHINA!

FG:Like I said, we have to stop spending money we don't have.

CM:Where will the monies come from for education upgrades? CHINA????

FG:Upgrades? Tuition with room and board runs about $35-$45 thousand for a private college right now. Any person who wants to get a higher education comes out of the system with crushing debt while there aren't enough jobs that need their areas of expertise. That whole system is a mess and could use some kind of reform.

CM:He's NOT for the war in Iraq but IS FOR the war in Afghanistan. His plan to have troops home in 16 months is only to SEND them to WAR somewhere else!

FG:Very disturbing, yet I don't know that anyone is willing to have the cajones to just bring them home, period. Too afraid of offending that smaller but still significant portion of the population who have bought the war excuses.

CM:Where will the monies comes from for that? CHINA???

FG:It comes out of us, one way or another, sooner or later -- WE pay for everything.

CM:ALL in all what makes him better than Clinton or McCain??
I see no difference!

FG:That's the problem in a nutshell. "

" Brew, I am not saying starve them-If we offered and THEY refused-why do we keep pushing until we get OUR way?
(Do we not think our democracy/religions/racisms should be FORCED onto others?)
I see it as plain stupidity on their part, suicidal values of the countries government! With such a horrific tragedy as it is I wouldnt care who I once hated--Help is Help! "

" Channel surfing late last night-I come across Obama on CSPAN talking at a campaign stop.
A few things he stated:
1. Comparing toasters to mortgage forclosures?
2. Our banker is China and for years to come our kids/grandkids will pay for our loans. Also the reason we HAVE to purchase chinese products.
3. The trillion dollars spent on the war in Iraq should be used to rebuild our infrastructure/energy projects.
4. $4000.00 per yr per person for college education.
5. Early education schools/programs for 2-3 yr olds.
6. Our WAR NEEDS to be with Afghanistan, fighting Osama and those like him. Bring troops out of Iraq BUT SEND them to Afghanistan!

What makes his statements on these issues any different than we have right now?
The mortgage crisis ISN'T just because of people getting scammed per say by finance companies. His ideals are for finance companies to PROVE YOU CAN PAY. A blemish on your credit today will stop you from owning 5 yrs from now.
So expect alot of renters for a long time due to the recent economy!
Our banker-CHINA owns us and will for the next 100 yrs-so we will always HAVE to buy chinese products!
If the trillion $ WAS borrowed and spent on energy/bridges/levies--WE would still be owned by our bankers-CHINA!
Where will the monies come from for education upgrades? CHINA????

He's NOT for the war in Iraq but IS FOR the war in Afghanistan. His plan to have troops home in 16 months is only to SEND them to WAR somewhere else!
Where will the monies comes from for that? CHINA???
ALL in all what makes him better than Clinton or McCain??
I see no difference!


"

" There is probably a few hundred people in power in Burma and millions of poor people trying to do the best they can but Queen Latrine wants to starve them all so that the big bullies won't get their hands on some rice and bottled water. You are the lowest form of souless being that lives on this planet. "

" Speaking of Myanmar, they finally let the USA bring in supplies. I am not sure WHY the USA made such a fuss about their refusal. We offered they refused, NEXT: China, needs due to earthquake, if they refuse, NEXT: Oklahoma or Florida where Americans are STRUGGLING due to tornados and fires!
BUT in the liberals small mind-30,000 people, 12,000 people, or a mere 1000 AMERICAN people!??
choices choices choices!

by the way, Obama put his PIN back on to convince us he's American! He's also heading to Florida--NO not to help aid the poor 100 families whom arent sleeping in their fire-burned homes,He will be in TAMPA, the OPPOSITE coast where it is SAFE!
"

" I think in the Citizen Voting Booth area, they should have a 3rd choice, one that says "who cares"!! "

" Speaking of Myanmar, and Keith Olberman...

The silver goes to Doug Goodyear, John McCain’s pick to run the RNC National Convention — until it was revealed that Goodyear’s lobbying firm netted several hundred thousand dollars for lobbying on behalf of the military dictatorship of Myanmar, which has been blocking cyclone relief aid from it’s own citizens.

Yep, it'll be more of "McSame", so vote for McCain!! "

" Coming from you cm, I'll take that as a compliment! lol.... "

" AJ's braindead remarks in the opinion area shows how quick he is to judge without knowing th whole story-I guess FAUX doesn't make everyday life a priority to report!! the remarks did however remind me of a funny story!

One week when my son was 3-our electric was turned off-lucky for me my dad lived in the apartment next door-so untill next payday we ran an extension cord from his place thru the cellar to mine.
I worked at the mall, so on the way to pick up my paycheck at night-my son saw that the LIGHTS were OFF at St.Francis' Statue of Mary Garden(which were always ON when we passed it before)-my dear child says,"mom did GOD not have money to pay for his electric bill either?"
I will never forget that!!!
In the mist of what I considered a crisis-he made me laugh so hard My stomach hurt for days! "

" Missy1941

Again, I'm sure Obama knows that there are 50 states. Haven't you ever tried to say one thing, but something else comes out. If you don't like Obama's propsed policies etc., thats one thing, but to harp on something so trivial just makes you look petty. "

" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3739500579629840148

"Listen carefully now : DO NOT DESTROY OIL-WELLS" Dubya "

" lets keep begging myanmar to take our aid so the brutal regime can keep it for themselves. might as well send them weapons and cash too. the usa cannot play god. id take a few free bottles of water and some rice rather than see it go to a military governemnt. it would make a nice lunch. "

" Oh, and I get a kick out of the fact that the slip Obama made with the 57 state thing the mainstream media didn't go after. If it had been anyone other than their favorite they would be all over them. "

" vic
You would think any one running for President of the United 50 States would know the right number.
It's like forgetting the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. Should not happen at this stage of the game!!!! "

" I like the new design mr, mrs, miss, ms, Webmaster or Webmistress. "

" MISSEY1941 wrote on May 13, 2008 9:24 AM:
" Therer are 57 ISLAMIC STATES,Look it up. "

Hmmm..... I wonder if he knows what country he is running for. Maybe he is running for Pakistan. Thanks for the information! "

" My God you people are petty. If Obama said he visted 57 states, he misspoke. It was an accident of speech. Haven't you ever misspoke! I am sure he knows that there are 50 states.
Now if he kept saying there 57 states over and over again (like McCain keeps on getting Sunni and Shiites mixed up) then you might have something. "

" Therer are 57 ISLAMIC STATES,Look it up. "

" Leon Kapowski wrote on May 12, 2008 3:23 PM
GOOD ONE LEON!!! lol.

FG, I agree this forum without the cut off lines is terribe to read!

HELLO EDITOR--please put it back the way it was!! "

" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3739500579629840148 "

" AJ, IF YOU DON'T GO BY FAUXNEWS.COM, WHY DO YOU REFER TO IT? Maybe the question is too hard. "

" AJ, I'm only going by the news that you refer to. Do you not know what news you really referring to? Are you afraid to admit where you get your news? The bulk of your post did not refer to anything I said, I guess you don't want to respond to what I post. JUST BS! "

" movedsouth wrote on May 12, 2008 5:19 PM:
" quiveringthigh, read my post! Obama said he visited 57 states! If you want that jacka$$ to lead our country, vote for him. I DID NOT IMPLY THAT THERE WERE 57 STATES, OBAMA STATED THAT! I know we have 50. "

I guess Obama needs to be corrected. "

" I agree with you FG. The best candidates are those made the least viable (by the corporate media) because they are fighting the status quo.

I have been noting this disturbing trend since the ealy 80's. It was bad enough then, but now it is just so out of whack it boggles the mind. It's unfortunate that the population is so manipulated "projection" by the media, which is a complete lie and convenient cover, and ultimately a self-fulfilling prophecy..

Back then, there were between 80-100 corporations controlling the information we hear, see, and read. Now it is down to about 5 or 6. I would guess that you probably read "The Media Monopoly" by Ben Bagdikian? He first wrote it in the early 80's, and it is still in print having gone through at least 2 more editions, I think. Each edition gets more frightening.

Movedsouth, get a clue, will ya?

"

" quiveringthigh, read my post! Obama said he visited 57 states! If you want that jacka$$ to lead our country, vote for him. I DID NOT IMPLY THAT THERE WERE 57 STATES, OBAMA STATED THAT! I know we have 50. "

" Keep dreaming Leon and movedsouth.

If the "other media" are indeed "left", as you claim, why did they not get behind the most progressive and sensible candidate Dennis Kucinich? He has broad support amongst the progessives in this country, yet most people weren't even aware of him. Any mention he did get in the "left" media, he was marginalized, and he was also forced out of the debates by same.

Faux newsers don't know what logic is or you'd figure out you're being played for chumps. "

" Right, Left, Liberal, Conservative -- it's all just a bunch of name-calling bunk. Pots calling kettles black! Give it up. A label is nothing more than a label, and it's defined differently be every person who uses it. Now there's a lot of Quack, quack, quack for you.

AJ, I know there are better candidates, but there aren't any better VIABLE candidates. I know it's the media and the PR machines which create viability and inviability and that it has little to do with the candidates' qualifications, positions or the public's wishes, but it's unfortunately still a reality with which we must contend.

Webmaster -- this new format is harder to read. I liked it better contained within a neat box, each poster's comments clearly delineated from others rather than smeared across the whole screen in a messy blur. MHO.

I was recently reading an article in Library Journal on why electronic books just have not caught on, not even among the younger generations who are much more used to reading things on a computer screen. There have now been physiological studies of what is and is not comfortable for the eye to do -- and when reading online, it is not comfortable to read to the edges of the screen -- most people skim/scan down the middle (perhaps without even being aware of it). Today I see (literally) what they meant -- it is NOT comfortable reading lines that stretch the full width of the screen -- much faster, easier and more comfortable to read text contained tightly on the sides and scan down.

P.S. Since when have we had 57 states (PLUS Alaska and Hawaii) in the United States?!??? You guys have me laughing out loud on that one. I'm pretty sure we learned the correct number in grade school, and we haven't added any states to the union since I was in school.... "

" Leon, Burma--Myanmar same place! If you are so against Fox news get your facts straight! Fox news, fair and balanced!! "

" Moved South, I do believe we only have 50 states, so you are implying 47 states, is that correct? "

" Which 9 imaginary states did he visit? "

" Obama visited 57 states, not allowed by his committee to visit Alaska and Hawaii. GO OBAMA!!!! "

" Obama has claimed to have visited 57 states, did not visit Alaska and Hawaii, because his committee didn't allow it. "

" Leon, NY Times reported powerful earthquake hits China. Filed at 3:43 ET. True or not, check it out. Others are reporting the same thing. "

" Fox News just reported a huge earthquake in China, and they had something on last week about a cyclone hitting Burma, millions in need of help... thank goodness all they report is lies, those things would be terrible if they were true. "

" fox news is the only fair news source. cnn, msnbc, and anything else are more to the left. everyone says its to the right but only because all the others are so far left. "

" AJ, I AGREE WITH YOU!! the lying mouthtraps from Faux news! You don't watch TV, so I have to believe you are referring to fauxnews.com online. What a great site. "

" AJ, you must be saying the bulk of people watching aren't very smart. Makes you wonder! "

" Doesn't take much to be smarter than Fox news viewers, movedsouth... "

" Actually, to be honest, I think the left attacks the right more viciously because they have to... it's harder to discredit someone who is using logic and fact as conservatives have a tendency to do, so they have to resort to namecalling and condescending put-downs in order to feel they've actually "won" an argument on an issue.

Also, being "conservative" means just that... less of a tendency to make a fool out of yourself by spouting off in an angry, frustrated manner at another person or group before you know all of the facts, then not being capable of admitting you're wrong when said facts are presented and you're on the losing side of the argument.

I can see this just by looking at posts on here... the "liberals" are constantly name-calling and using put-downs in their posts, the "conservative" posters seem to post their thoughts and replies without resorting to playground antics. If they can't successfully and factually attack the conservative's position, they attack the person. "

" AJ, you write about Faux news, I checked Fauxnews.com and found it to be a hate site for Bill O'Rielly. The Fox news channel is the #1 cable news network. I guess it just shows that you are more intelligent than the majority of TV viewers. "

" Excellent news from Patterson in Skaneateles today ! YESSSSSSSSSS!! "

" FG, there is one candidate that would be worth voting for (except she doesn't have a chance in hel! because the "liberal" media shows is only interested in marginalizing her. That is Cynthia McKinney. Her positions are clearly what this country needs, and are quite similar to Kucinich's. (The "liberal" media just loved him too.)

The other possibility could be Ventura - he may be able to run as a libertarian. I would probably vote for him. He has the name recognition and has come out for a new 911 investigation, and while I don't agree with him on a lot of issues, he may be our best hope. "

" Look, the reason people on the "right" get attacked more is because they tend to be idiots and have nothing worthwhile to contribute. There is nothing worse than regurgitated claptrap from the hateful, lying mouthpieces from Faux news, and it needs to be contested for the garbage it is. What do you expect? "

" So what, people, especially kids, are just supposed to sit back and take the bullying that they are getting? No reason to try to change it because its gone on forever? don't bother to try and teach kids that you can't treat others like crap, to not be what is essentially an abuser? How very sad, shortsighted and ignorant. "

" Auburn is cheesy enough! As long as people from Auburn might be working there, let them put it where they want to. "