$108,000...in cash...in a dufflebag? That's dirty money if I've ever heard of it. It's probably the cash paid to the Dean to keep his dirty little secret.

"Ron Paul is a Libertarian at heart"

People keep making this assertion. I understand that his ideals are closer to Libertarian than either Republican (who lost their ideals) or Democrat (never had any ideals), but he is really a Constitutionalist. Take a look at his policies and you will see that he is more in line with the Consitutionalist Party than the Libertarian Party.

To get a party platform policy changed overnight is difficult. He is just seeing it as a starting point in getting it removed from the platform altogether. You have to chip away slowly at the system to make real change happen (we'd have had socialism in this country 90 years ago if it were that easy...rather they have been chipping away at our society to get us where we are). I'm still not going to vote for him, but I am pleased to see he is making an effort.

I don't think it would hurt him if he ran under this policy. The religious right would be pissed off at him, but they're still going to go and pull the lever for him in November. These voters always vote (it's a duty) and there will be no alternatives but McCain in their republican eyes. On the flip side, it keeps a few more indies intrigued by McCain.

"When will Lou Dobbs step up and say he's going to run for President in 2008?
Lou would win in a landslide. Middle class America would carry him into the Oval Office on their shoulders."

yikes!

"Isn't this internet connection working?"
posted by JONRYKER

I think it is working. In fact, I would say that internet is one of our finest working products on the market. I am even going to go a step further and say it works so well because it is something that Government has stayed out of for the most part(except for gambling...damn republicans and their morality legislation).

"The governments agenda is serving the public"
posted by northguy

Please tell me you are not truly that nieve. That is it's "mission statement" if you will, but they strayed from this purpose long ago.

"Privatization simply doesn't work. Time after time we find that privatization is nothing more than cronyism."
posted by DANNI

And government funded is nothing more than indoctrination.
Posted by Pinkie at 2008-05-08 02:27 PM

"DUDE, than what would you call government de-funding? Absolution? Puh-leeze, back into the stinky with you, Pinky."
posted by ROBOT

I guess I should have written my thoughts out better.

JUST government funded is indoctrination. Kind of like JUST privatization in cronyism (I didn't see you jump on danni for that "absolute" statement). We need to have a balance of government and privatization in all facets of life, business, science and everything else we argue about. Forgive me for trying to find the middle ground.

Funding has to come from somewhere. You can have seven studies on the same thing and have seven different results, but all of them will favor the funder.

If you have government fund a project, the results will come out to give government more power. If it is funded by an agriculture corporation, the results will warrant more subsidies. If the study is funded by a catholic organization, the results will show ungodliness. If the study is funded by GE, we're all screwed.

Ironically, we actually had a study here in New Mexico on Title Insurance that was funded by the government and performed by UNM. They said TI was too expensive here and consumers are getting ripped off. The study found otherwise, saying that we protect the lower class, but charge more to the rich. The local gov is all pissed off and still wants to be charging the poor "their fair share." They are willing to hurt the lower class to say they cracked down on the industry and garner a few more votes.

"Privatization simply doesn't work. Time after time we find that privatization is nothing more than cronyism."
posted by DANNI

And government funded is nothing more than indoctrination.