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| TommyT-Bone | As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Chair-man of the bored
 
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The United States drops bit by bit of it's formerly held position of being #1. No longer the top dog in so many areas, I feel it has been lost because of the non exsistance or application in three areas. I'm sure there are more but three I see lacking are Dedication, Disipline and Destiny. What do you think? Is being #1 for America all in the past?
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 18:00
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| bogus | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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I think we need to fall before we can recover.
We genpop need to be bitch slapped out of complacency. I am concerned, tho, that if the wrong ppl do the bitch slapping, it will not work. I was reading about post-war Germany recently. Their industrial base was literally wiped from the face of the earth by the 8th Air Force. I mean GONE. Nada. Yet they fought, they tested, they sucked it up and got it going. It started small, in the case of the article, it started via manufacturing. The country was trying to get it's footing again, and it was ready to scale up its agribusiness. So they needed tractors. Well, Porsche had a design from Pre-war, but one of the laws of the government was that unless you were actively manufacturing in that field, you couldn't move into it. The idea was simple enough, for now, lets get the old firms back and moving again, we will worry about diversification later. At the same time, Porshce was able to license the tractor to a firm in Austria and one in Germany. Within 5 years (1955), they were bought out by Mann. And by 1965, the entire project was about done. A third firm took over for a few years, but the reality was that German agribusiness didn't need this any longer. We can learn lessons from the Germany economic miracle. We are just too damned stupid to do so. Our manufacturing has died to the point where it is non-existance. It might has well been blown to bits, so, we help it back up. If the US is to succeed, we MUST have manufacturing. Transferring to a service economy is just not practical in the long run. We will create a population of air headed retail clerks and there will be no innovation... Our future will depend on our ability to consume crap made elsewhere. And that bothers me. Our economic future would depend ENTIRELY on the whims of some foreign nation. If they decided to raise prices, they could. And then we are powerless to do anything about it, because we have created a generation of lemmings who are too goddamned weak to say "NO!" If you need a parallel, check out what happened in the summer of 2008... Sure, the housing market was quaky... the jobs market was iffy... but what pushed us over the edge? Foreign oil markets. People started to play with the markets and, combined with currency exchange rates, we got fucked. Royally and completely. Did you know that while oil was quadrupling here in the states in price, in europe it barely doubled? That's how weak the dollar had become. Folks with their giant SUVs, with their giant mortgages, with their giant SUV payments, credit card debt out the ass, were pushed to the brink of total financial annialiation because of this price hike in gas. I remember vividly, paying $85.00 to fill the tank in my Vette!!!! $4.849 per gallon for 91. Scale that up to an SUV with a 35 gallon tank... can you say "tipping point?" Well, we tipped... and we are still paying for it. And will be for years to come. And all the while, we have politicians back in DC collectively playing the fiddle. More concerned with posturing for their party faithful than by trying to fix this. Did any of you see the headline, and associated photo on yahoo news recently? It was where the GOP was going to block all bills until they got their way on renewing the Bush tax cut. WTF? First off, the gents in the pic just pissed me off, looked like a couple of old school pompass white fat cats from DC. That's where the first bitch slap needs to occur... but don't they get it? These damned tax cuts, are great, but damnit, can't they see that unless they cut spending it don't do nothing. ok... I am done for now. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 19:21
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| CorvetteBob | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Elite Guru
 
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Oh GEEZ you guys............don't get me going on this crap.
I agree, America has turned it's back on it's manufacturing ability. From what I see, it's because wants their kids to have to do what they did to earn a living. Others think that working with your hands is just not good enough for their kids. There are political reasons more to blame, but Americans need to embrace their ability to make and build things. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 20:08
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Beauty, it’s in the eye of the beer holder |
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| DaleD | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Senior Guru
 
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You realize that to categorize people by race is by definition racist? |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:34
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Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart". |
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| Ultraman | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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2015 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
 
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Isn't one of the reasons we are losing manufacturing because of the cost of labor? Does some of that have to do with the unions? I'm just asking. You can't spend more than you make for very long, be it a family or a Government. You can't have an ecomomy based on that overspending.
As Andy states the price of gas became the tipping point. If that was all it took than it was just a matter of time before it all blew up. I think that we pay enough taxes, its the spending we need to regulate but as long as you can print money or keep borrowing it from China to cover your asses then who cares, right? If the folks in this country ever got to living within their means and saving a large portion of their paychecks the economy will never get to where the experts think it needs to be because we aren't out buying every new toy that comes along.......unless you take some out of savings instead of just slapping plastic. Mmmm those 3D TV's look exciting to me. All of this does not count in the purchase of stuff for our Corvettes. There you gotta do what you gotta do. The only Bush taxes I'm concerned about them changing are the death taxes and capital gains/inheritance taxes. The Govt does not have a right to get their hooks on what my folks scrapped and saved and paid taxes on all their lives. Or whatever amount I can come up with at the end. I will go to the wall on that one! Provide for the National defense, keep the schools top notch, make sure the roads and infastructure are in order then leave me the hell alone! |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:40
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2010 Grand Sport Coupe Gone but not forgotten... Vote DeSantis in 2024.... Make the IRS go away... |
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
 
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I pretty much agree with what you said, Andy except for some of the last paragraph. The pic would be almost identical with the one is saw of the Dems, Pelosi, Barney & company sitting in a meeting with G.W. They all looked like they had just sucked a lemon, the hatred on their faces was obvious. They didn't want to cut spending for their pet programs either. The Dems got bitch slapped some in this election, too bad the GOP didn't get it too. They all just don't get it. Hell, they just all killed a bill last week that would have cut out earmarks. What does that tell you? Manufacturing - yes, but, if they don't quit spending, they'll just keep taxing. And that is hearting incentives to increase manufacturing. SUV's? If they really wanted to, they could get the Ethanol thing done and gas mileage wouldn't be much of a problem. But they don't want to and neither do the oil companies. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:44
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Yea, paying a guy $100k a year to stand on a line and put 3 bolts in a Chevy Tahoe.................. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:46
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Well Said |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:46
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| Ultraman | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Bill, what's the Ethanol thing that needs to be done? |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 21:56
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2010 Grand Sport Coupe Gone but not forgotten... Vote DeSantis in 2024.... Make the IRS go away... |
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Throw enough engineering at it and products could be developed that would let cars run on a very high percentage of it (a renewable resource) including older cars. There's not enough desire to do so. Engineers and scientists could do it given enough resources. Hell, if they can develope the current phones that do everything but wipe your ass, they could do this. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 22:12
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Crap, and I was in a good mood today.
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Posted on: 2010/12/5 22:13
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| bogus | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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I am a bigot. I hate stupid people. Next. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 0:26
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| JrRifleCoach | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Elite Guru
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For crying out loud Andy!
You weren't bitchin' when the Dems were slamming thru "obama's health farce". And I haven't heard much from you when the Dems got handed their asses last month. So now that NPR and the other government run media sources are once again focusing on the GOP, your back to complaining about the Right Side again. Wad'else is news? The peoples republik of kalifornia is flush with Dems now, I want to hear how f'd this is gonna be? Watching small businesses pull up stakes and head outta here letting the fat cat dems figure out who to tax next? What? Our manufacturing capabilities are being strangled by government regulations, red tape and taxes? I don't hear your side supporting the removal of excess requirements to jump start the economy?..... As a matter of fact the proposition to postpone the latest smog requirements was voted out mostly by the same dems voting the loser back in office. What area will this new legislation hurt? Small businessmen. Sorry for kali. Other states should be watching closely as we become the model of the new failed socialist state. And your missing a big point. When this country falls there will be ciaos. It will take decades to recover, if that's even possible. We will be prime for government sanctioned takeover. Its just what the liberals have always wanted, and we're almost there now. So quit yer bitchin' and hang on. Your wildest dreams are close to becoming a reality. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 1:56
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As democracy is perfected, the POTUS represents more closely the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a fool and narcissistic moron. |
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| JrRifleCoach | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Elite Guru
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And not to mention that we have lost the faith of Russia and China.
Who better to realize our fate before we do.... |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 2:38
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| TommyT-Bone | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Chair-man of the bored
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As an independent voter I'm gonna throw down the guantlet on both parties, The House and The Senate. Political gridlock is a short term solution to a long term problem . La la la la I cant hear you La la la la.
 One day you must address the issues. The country as a whole is fragmented without defined goals or purpose. Special interests have ruined hopes of moving forward quickly. The global economy has a few teetering dominos that can fall in either direction wreaking havoc on the worldwide financial markets. For those of you that don't get it, we are bolstered up or drawn back by the actions taken in other nations of the industrialized world. Oddly this last recession nearly sunk the boat. Fuel prices receeded, markets stabilized but we are only beginning to see what the future holds for us. We are not out of the woods yet. Peaks and valleys. We were at an artificially maintained peak for over a decade. High deficit spending is never a solution. A healthy economy will generate the revenues needed to fill the coffers. Big talk about expanding oil exploration, development of biofuels, study in all areas of energy production. Cheap renewable alternative energy resources can turn this world on it's head. Then maybe we can get back to building something other than a chicken basket or triple cheeseburger. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 2:54
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| Ultraman | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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I think the desire is there as far as the ethanol industry is concerned but at this point there is a limit to what the country can produce. Corn is ok for the time being but to get to big production we are going to have to include switch grass and any other bio digestable products we can find. The only thing that is going to speed this up is a disruption of the crude supply coming from the sand people. We are moving ahead but it is 10 to 15 years down the road if the current crude supply stays intact. I think California is an example of how social services can bankrupt you. They still seem to open the doors every day though. It is all funny money anyway. A dollar is whatever the govt says it is because there is no gold or silver to back it up. I don't think the Fedral Reserve Bank is our friend. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 2:59
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2010 Grand Sport Coupe Gone but not forgotten... Vote DeSantis in 2024.... Make the IRS go away... |
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| Ultraman | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Don't get me wrong. This is a great Country and it has faced a lot worse but never underestimate the resolve of the working class. They will do what it takes to keep the boat upright. Sometimes what we need is some adversity, when it gets easy we all get lazy.
All the ordinary folk can do is vote and write letters or emails to the people making the decisions. If those letters are respectfully submitted without a bunch of F bombs they will be read. It's what we can do! Hey you fucking librals you can all kiss my ass, is not going to influence anyone. Instead try, Dear Sir, in regards to your last vote on health care I see that you have voted against what the desires of your patrons would want you to vote for. You intercoursing demecrats need to come down to my trailer house and talk closely to my exposed rear end. See nice is always better!  |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 3:18
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2010 Grand Sport Coupe Gone but not forgotten... Vote DeSantis in 2024.... Make the IRS go away... |
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| TommyT-Bone | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Chair-man of the bored
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May not influence anyone but it make me feel better.  |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 3:23
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| bogus | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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I am an equal opportunity complainer, Steve... You haven't been reading my really hostile rants over on Facebook. In short, I hate them all. GOP, democrats, take your pick, they are destroying this country in their biased games. Enough. I have had it. As for "Obama Care," I am still a proponent of some form of preventative maintenace health care. We either pay for ppls treatment now or later. Trust me, the outrage that would come if the system didn't take care of some poor person who got cancer... oh, from smoking, but they couldn't afford health care. Don't fret, I will jump into the Democrats shit once they give me a reason again. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 3:32
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| bogus | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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It's not about liberals and concervatives. THAT is the problem. What about the 80% of us moderates who are stuck in the middle of this god-forsaken fight? We are getting ignored whilst the far left and the far right fuck us all in our collective asses. You know it. I know it. We all know it. I am a moderate white dude, and I am PISSED. Enough of the posturing, enough of the games. FIX THIS SHIT AND FIX IT RIGHT. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 3:34
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| TommyT-Bone | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 3:38
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| CentralCoaster | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Senior Guru
 
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It's all Obama's fault. And uh, Bush's fault. Basically everyone but me. Enjoy the ride to the bottom.
I think what we've all learned here today students, is that to have any credibility, you need a token black guy in all photo ops.  |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 4:07
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1985 Z51, ZF6 |
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| CentralCoaster | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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I won't be outraged. Although it would be nice if those that are outraged would pay for his cancer treatments. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 4:11
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1985 Z51, ZF6 |
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| BillH | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 4:11
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| JrRifleCoach | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Elite Guru
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Freedom has been handed to the existing population. We are not worthy of it's design nor understanding of the sacrifices. So often we ignore those that violate the Constitution and exchange false security for it's written rights. So when those crooks in DC pull each others "wankers", we get upset and argue amongst ourselves. If all of us redirected that energy to letters and phone calls, maybe someone might listen. Rather than proclaiming ones bias,(Donkey, Elephant or middle of the road) why not embrace the Constitution and support the values that once made this country the greatest nation on earth? I swore my allegiance to defend this land against all enemies both foreign and domestic forty years ago. And I've not gone back on my pledge. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 4:35
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| bogus | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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To quote Pogo: We have met the enemy and he is us.
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 5:21
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| Epimax | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Elite Guru
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AMEN BROTHER!  |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 12:59
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| TommyT-Bone | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Chair-man of the bored
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That would be a really good start. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/6 13:43
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| CentralCoaster | Re: As we slide down the scale ..... PR&C | ||
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Senior Guru
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We're ok until China buys all our gold and then forces us to pay interest on our debt in gold.
Today's great compromise in congress is that in exchange for the dems preventing tax increases, the gop will allow unemployment exyensions to continue. Genius. Looks like we'll have this budget deficit tackled in no time. |
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Posted on: 2010/12/7 2:51
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1985 Z51, ZF6 |
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