Really?
The election is over and the Republicans are still crying and trying to find an excuse why they lost.
They say that ACORN stole the election. Really? Do they have amnesia? Fox News (Republicans’ Holy Bible) shut down ACORN with their lies two years ago.
They say Barack Obama suppressed the vote. Really? Did they check to see how many white men didn't vote for Mitt Romney? The Republicans tried to suppress the minority vote, but it backfired.
They say that Obama promised us gifts. Really? C'mon, man. I didn't get my 40 acres and a mule.
They say that America is going to hell. Really? If it didn't go when George W. Bush was president, it’s not going with this president. But I guess they know what God is going to do.
For all of those who want to secede from the Union, I have a row boat that I will let them have. Have a nice trip.
LEE BLAKNEY
Winston-Salem
Altruism in our community
I’m a junior at Reagan High School, and recently I had to do an experiment for my psychology class on altruism. This time of year you can’t walk anywhere without hearing the faint ringing from the Salvation Army bell ringers, so we thought that by observing a bell ringer, we could get a pretty good idea of the altruism going on in our community.
Our hypothesis: Women are more likely to give to charity than men. To test our hypothesis, we worked as bell ringers and recorded every man and woman that walked by and whether or not they donated. We were right; more women donated than men. However, after looking at the statistics, we came to an entirely separate, worrying conclusion.
Out of the 300 women that walked by, about 8 percent stopped to donate. For the men, only 5 percent. That means that in the two hours we were at the mall, over 550 people walked by without donating even a penny. Has the Winston-Salem community forgotten what the holidays are all about?
In 2011, 24 percent of people in Winston-Salem were living in poverty. If those 550 people had each donated a dollar, the Salvation Army could help more of those people in need. This experiment gave me huge insight into what the Salvation Army bell ringers see every day. From now on, I will donate every time I see a ringer, and I invite others to do the same. Every bit matters.
LILY JONES
Winston-Salem
Homeowners under attack
Many recent reports about the “fiscal cliff” speculate that a change to the long-standing policy that allows homeowners to deduct mortgage-interest payments from their income taxes could be part of a deal in Washington.
That’s right. Some leaders in Washington are trying to balance the federal budget on the backs of homeowners. The Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) is under attack: The same MID that’s been available to homeowners as a tax benefit for the last 80 years.
As most of us know, the nation’s economic recovery depends in large measure on recovery in the housing market. That won’t happen if Congress doesn’t assure stability in homeownership benefits. Our leaders are being required to make tough decisions during this economic crisis. However, cutting benefits for homeowners is the worst decision they can make because those cuts have broad-based, long-term effects on individuals, families, the housing market and the state and national economies.
It’s important to note that losses associated with eliminating the MID and real-estate tax deductions wouldn’t be a one-year event; home owners would lose out on those savings each year. It’s estimated that the value of these lost savings could total $3.2 trillion.
The American dream of homeownership should be preserved, not weakened by the very leaders who have been elected to protect us. Please contact your representatives in Congress and ask them to do everything in their power to strengthen consumer confidence in housing by reaffirming support for the MID and other tax benefits that support homeowners.
BYRON EAST
PRESIDENT, WINSTON-SALEM REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
Winston-Salem
A new superintendant
First, the good news: Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Superintendant Don Martin has finally announced his retirement. School-Board Chair Donnie Lambeth will be moving on to Raleigh to be with his Republican buddies. But most importantly, the community has been asked for input in the selection process of a new school superintendant.
We're hoping that the chosen individual will be forward-looking, insightful, resourceful, innovative and creative — someone to lead the students and teachers into the 21st Century.
Now the bad news: The individual selected will be hampered by a school-board core of “flat earthers” led by Jeannie Metcalf, Buddy Collins and Jane Goins. These folks are wishing for a return to the era of “Leave it to Beaver.”
So good luck to the new superintendant. Let's hope, for Metcalf's sake, the new superintendant is not a socialist or, heaven forbid, a practicing Buddhist.
JOHN SHELDON
Winston-Salem
So Bucky, what IS your point about Smith and Wesson stock being up? Fact is the entire stock market has done better under president Obama than any other president since the first term of Ike. The top 10 stocks during the Obama years have been: 10. Starbucks 9. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 8. Fossil, Inc. 7. Expedia,Inc. 6. XL Group PLC 5. Apple, Inc. 4. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. 3. Whole Foods Market, Inc. 2. Wyndham Worldwide, Corp. and El Numero Uno. Priceline.com Inc.
ReplyDeleteWow, Priceline.com up 840%.
DeleteWhole Foods up 677%, over twice that of Smith and Wesson. Looks like Americans prefer arugula over arms.
DeleteGun Sales In 2012 Set Record, FBI Data Indicates
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/gun-sales-2012_n_2303513.html
_________
Gun sales will skyrocket (AGAIN) once things calm down.
"I should put Obama’s picture on the wall up there,” said one New Jersey gun salesman, asking not to be identified. “I’d name him salesman of the month!”
Delete"The biggest new group of buyers now are senior citizens," Larry Hyatt, owner of a North Carolina gun shop, said on CNBC's "Closing Bell." "Ten thousand Baby Boomers a day are turning 65; they can't run, they can't fight, they got to shoot."
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48943733?par=yahoo
Ruger's stock price since Obama took office-up 510%
DeleteSource: NRA Website
Really? The recent contest for president was a contest between nothing and less than nothing. Nothing came out on top because you can't beat nothing with less than nothing. If the writer would care to look around the nation, he would see the high number of Republican governors and legislatures. America will begin to revive itself one state at a time as the Blue governing model continues to dissolve. Witness the freeing of workers from union masters in the very blue state of Michigan.
ReplyDeleteAltruism in our community. It is good that young people are out doing these learning surveys. I too give to the bell ringers when I see them. Usually I ask them if they hear the bell in their sleep or something like that. They always appreciate some interaction. The other day I saw two ringers together. Naturally I asked them "stereo"?
ReplyDeleteHomeowners under attack. The MID is not going anywhere. Anytime a sacred cow is floated as a trial balloon, the stuck cow's defenders spring to a microphone and swear that such a thing will not be allowed. Something has to be done about our deficit...just don't dare do it. The down side of the MID is that a buyer can factor it in his buying price point and buy a house a little higher than he should simply because he is getting bailed out on the excess through the tax code.
ReplyDeleteLTE #2 - One cannot judge altruism by observing Salvation Army bell ringers.
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why people don't contribute to them, one being the bigotry of the organization.
Many others give through the United Way.
Many of my friends and I give to one charity, the Lighthouse Mission. I don't like their rule that their clients have to attend religious services, but I am willing to overlook that because they do far and away the best job of actually helping the homeless, rather than just warehousing them. I also give to the Samaritan Kitchen because it does a good job of feeding the hungry.
LTE #3 - Getting rid of the MID is a part of the Republican Partie's ridiculous attempt to avoid raising taxes by eliminating deductions.
It will not happen.
LTE #4 - Our school board, especially those mentioned in the LTE, is a disgrace. As if that weren't bad enough, Buddy Collins also used to be on the Forsyth Tech Board of Trustees. He is an arrogant ass…reminds me of Phineas T. Bluster. Fortunately, he has been replaced by higher quality individuals.
Sorry, that should be The Rescue Mission, not the Lighthouse, which is now defunct.
DeleteEven when religious people are handing out free meals to the poor, liberals always find something to complain about.
DeleteLeftovers from yesterday's discussion:
ReplyDeleteOT esteemed cousin, you said not having served in war, I should refrain on opining on certain subjects. This forum is open to all opining, minus dehumanizing remarks. Also, you forgave Bill Clinton's loathing of the military, an opinion, even though that was rendered in a letter to an Army officer in Clinton's effort to avoid service while you were indeed serving. I at least complied with a summons to AFEES, but the draft ended before I could be called up. My thanks to you and others for your service.
You also suggested that Hillary would be a fine USSC Justice. Based on what judicial service? Or what service as US Attorney? Or landmark legal legislation? Or her years in private practice? Please tell me you proffered her as a Justice to draw a response from me. Speaking of her sinecure with the Rose Law Firm, some of the firm's billing records ended up in WH residential quarters. How and why did confidential confidential client info depart the Little Rock law firm? I worked for Womble Carlyle for a few years. That is not the way we were instructed to handle confidential client info (all info is confidential, btw; we were not to even state who was a client, period).
Obsessions: I note you tend to light up on the subject of religion. We all have our hot buttons, don't we?
With that, I will disembark from the "f***ing Clinton train," though in leaving I note the appropriate modifier for "Clinton train," given Willard's infidelities.
Of course, you can opine all you want. I simply meant that one who has not served has no standing to criticize anyone else for not serving. Those of us who could have avoided service but voluntarily enlisted have all the standing anyone needs.
DeleteMaybe you need reading glasses or something...I didn't say anything about Hillary being appointed to the Supreme Court. The Economist said that.
As to qualifications for the court, only 46 of the 112 appointees have had law degrees. Because he was one of the smartest men in the country, FDR considered appointing Herbert Hoover, who had a degree in geology.
I don't really care about the Rose law firm or anything else that happened in Arkansas...all speculation and ancient history. I know a number of Womble Carlyle lawyers who regularly take all kinds of confidential documents home with them. In fact, I don't know any lawyers who don't do that...judges as well.
When I say "religion", I am referring to religion in general, the most destructive force in human history.
Very well, thank you for explanation. I will leave you in possession of last word, as I think we have worn the duo under discussion out.
DeleteI stand corrected on USSC qualifications.
Your clarification re religion is not arguable.
Another topic: I see that Sam Donaldson got busted for DWI. The report was on a conservative news aggregation site, so the commentary was gleeful, glee I don't share, though Sam should have had more sense at his age. I was actually gratified to learn of a newsman living up to the stereotype of the hard drinking reporter. Sorta like the semi-comical newsie in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," who did his work on a bar stool.
Honestly, the weird thing is why some people still have it in for Sam Donaldson...the only people who care are old farts stuck in 1985 -- sort of like if I did a happy dance if George Will was busted. At least Will's still a regular on This Week.
DeleteNot that I watch the Sunday morning talk shows any more. It's just the same old villager "conventional wisdom" over and over and over.
Come play with us, Danny....
Well, George Will has been busted, more than once...for lying.
DeleteHere is just one of many examples:
Another Conservative Myth Busted
Of course, educated people who consult a wide range of legitimate news sources have known this for a long time. But the one track mind buffoons are still parroting the myth, because myths are more comforting to the weak minded than the truth.
You know, like Hitler's "invincible Aryan" myth.
MID: Another example of self-destructiveness on part of Congressional R's. Like it is said of Social Security, the MID is a 3rd rail.
ReplyDelete"Can't touch 'dis".
DeleteYou wanna bet? With Obama in charge, he's apt to do anything.
DeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: The election is over, indeed. Time to move on to tackle existing problems instead of wallowing in the blame game.
LTE 2: Psychology is being taught in HS now? I'm impressed. Kudos on exercising the scientific method in an attempt to prove or disprove the hypothesis. There is one factor that Miss Jones may have forgotten to include in her calculation. People tend to spend quite a bit while Christmas shopping which makes the use of debit and credit cards far more convenient than carrying around a lot of cash. That may play a role in the seemingly absent of altruism displayed at the SA kettles.
LTE 3: The proposal may have been made in various quarters, but there ain't no way MID will be repealed entirely without every member of Congress being ousted. At most, there will be either an income limit (which will be set at a point where MID is irrelevant because those affected can pay with cash or their AMEX Black Card) or limited to one's primary residence.
LTE 4: Lambeth actually has a brain and could be trusted to make a wise decision. Based on the latest Forsyth CC appointee, I fear this will not be case for Lambeth's replacement. Will a superintendent who realizes that we are in the 21st century be hired, or will we find ourselves with someone trying to bring back the 1950's (or even 1850's)?
We're in the 21st Century all right. Sadly, we are not progressing as the progressives have suggested.
DeleteToday's insanity...
ReplyDeleteWho Is Crazier?
"We won't prevent" all violence, "but that can't be an excuse not to try."
ReplyDeletePresident Obama
__________
Makes perfect sense to a liberal:
Let's screw a bunch of law abiding citizens rights in order to 'try' to prevent a few nuts hell bent on murder.
Right..........!
What do they do?
ReplyDeleteThe same thing they've always done. They compare countries and their policies to the U.S. and its policies when other countries have an entirely different population make-up.
I'm sure you've read the Japan v. U.S. comparisons. Yeah right, like we're 'totally' like them?
Here's another one below.
____________
Will Lessons From Down Under Stem the Undertaker Here?
http://abcnews.go.com/International/australia-model-successful-gun-control-laws/story?id=18007055
State Dept. officials resign following Benghazi report
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57560026-10391739/state-dept-officials-resign-following-benghazi-report/
___________
I wouldn't be surprised if Obama STILL nominates Susan Rice. You know how liberals are?
iPhones caused Sandy Hook? My goodness. I haven't figured out how to load mine yet. How many rounds do they hold?
ReplyDeleteNever quite figured out the utility of the Bushmaster, unless you're talking about the 25mm autocannon on the M2 and M3 Bradleys, a fine piece of ordnance.
I got an attachment for my iPhone that lets you put a 100 round drum on it. There's an app that let's you switch it to full auto.
DeleteOne of my female friends has a pill dispenser that fires 1,250 rounds per minute. You wouldn't want to mess with her in a city park (easily the most dangerous places in town) or anywhere else.
But the worst threat is evolution, for obvious reasons...see three posts just before yours.
It was the gun. The nut behind it had nothing to do with it.
Delete-Spoken like a true irrational liberal.
______
What we need to do is make some hasty, emotional decisions right now before everybody starts to examine the facts and think clearly....Obama and the Democrats want.
1250 rpm is too fast, throws too many pills too fast, overheats the dispenser. I would find the 100-round drum unwieldy, will go with the approved 10-round one for the iPhone. I understand, however, there is a gamma ray laser app for it, but it shortens battery life, probably a bit hard on the operator, too.
ReplyDeleteEvolution: yes, point taken, further exemplified by "reality" TV.
You can't kill a bunch of people with a 10 magazine.
DeleteLiberals are such utter, ignorant idiots.
If you are as good a shot as Hopalong Cassidy, you can kill ten people with ten shots. And I have seen movies in which one round has killed as many as two or three people, so Stab's 10 round magazine is not as limited as one might think.
DeleteAnd Stab may have a backup whip, as well. Once upon a Saturday morning a long time ago, I saw Lash Larue whip the guns out of the hands of four bad guys...whpp, whpp, whpp, whpp...just like that.
She's got one of those experimental cobalt alloy barrels on her pill pusher, so temp is not a problem.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is carrying enough pills to maintain that high a rate of fire, because she is constantly being attacked by armed thugs in the city parks.
Another problem is that we have noticed a sharp drop in the birth rate of park wildlife.
Of course, as soon as Amazon ships my portable nuclear device, our problem will be solved. I will lend it to my friend whenever she wants to go for a walk in one of those dangerous city parks.
DeleteI had hoped for one of those infamous "missing" Soviet suitcase bombs, but alas, that is not to be. Amazon says that I will receive an American made Mk-54 SADM. The product details says that it is an 11 by 16 inch cylinder weighing 51 pounds, and that it comes with a backpack style carrying case.
It also comes with a converter kit that allows it to be fired by a recoilless rifle, but my recoilless rifle is not working right now, ever since I used it to light my grill one day, so that is a useless feature.
Carried in the backpack, it is not exactly a concealed weapon, but I doubt if the thugs who lurk in city parks waiting to shoot passersby will notice it...they'll probably think that it is just a picnic lunch. So let them pounce, and ZAP, they're dead.
The yield is a little disappointing, again according to the product details, only about 2-3 kilotons, way below the feeble Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. But my pal Bucklies® assures me that I can kill at least 30 million people with it.
So when (and it is "when", not "if")I set it off, duck.
Forget those sissy Bushmaster things.
DeleteShow your friends, and all the girls who have been laughing at you for repeating the sixth grade three times, who the real man is.
Get your real ManCard now.