I hope everyone had a safe, happy and altogether good weekend. Sincerely.
I'll reply to posts in reverse chronological order.
Alexandre, I do have a reply. I did take offense to the Socialist remark. My country is not Socialist, we have elected leadership, the party system, and the House of Commons, a Senate, etc. Very similar to your government, just different names. Where the confusion happens is that we have some large social programs (as you do) with the main difference being our healthcare.
To clarify, that healthcare system covers basics, and we are on the hook for specialists, many treatments not covered, etc. It's like an HMO, but gov't run. It's not a perfect system by any stretch and has been subject to alot of fraud by identity. An interesting sidenote (and
not meant as a jab) is that many of the people seeking treatment under false pretenses here were "illegals"... and US citizens who had no or insufficient insurance is the US or could not wait for treatment. I think it's wrong for anyone to do that, however... I always try to temper my indignation by asking myself if it was my son or daughter who would not survive and there was no other option, would I do the same... There, but for the grace of God, go I.
On an aside, yes I have used the healthcare system, more than average in my youth... however, amortized out, our higher tax rates balance things out. And we get a shiny new tax on July 1st, the HST!
I don't know what government cheese tastes like. My wife and I have worked hard and continue to work hard for what we have, much like you and others here. We pay our taxes, try to raise our sons to be gentlemen and good citizens, and occasionally sit around on our boat having a beverage and relaxing.
Alexandre, we may disagree but I respect your right to your views, as well as the Service you rendered to your country. With your background I hope you can understand my aversion to being labeled anything resembling Communist.
Larglo, I used "checkpoint" as a term for any place a citizen would be detained and asked for proof of citizenship. I tried to come up with a better term but my vocabulary failed me. I think you get the jist anyway.
I notice you declined to answer my question, was that due to confusion about my terminology or because the answer is so obvious it needs no reply?
Also, I've worked hard and am highly skilled, I don't think my job is in danger from an illegal immigrant.
BFly, Those are some interesting stats. Kind of all over the map though, is it illegal immigrants, immigrants of any sort, or Hispanic immigrants you're against? I didn't see any reference to poor white folk either, guess they're OK because well, they look like Americans.
As I stated earlier, spin docs can take stats and use them to prove any stand, right
or left. My eyes did glaze over, though, as I realized I was reading far-right propoganda cut and pasted. That post ending with the "Republic" was a dead give-away. I could dig up the same kind of pap that would show numbers that prove fat Americans are more of a burden on your country than immigrants, but won't because it's all marketing. How do I know this? Because some of those spin docs are friends and marina buddies. And they'd be the first to tell you, don't believe a GD thing you read in any media but Reuters and AP, the rest has all been cooked, spun, packaged and coated with a film of BS to make it slide down "Joe Public's" gullet.
I love the part about Appalachia and Black Hills... like the white folk there are all millionaires
You put it right on the money- if All-American soccer moms start getting asked etc. Honestly, what are the chances that'll ever happen? ZERO.
When was the last time you were asked to prove your citizenship that wasn't part of entering another country or making a financial transaction?
Pretty easy to support laws that in no way will ever affect you personally.
Which, I guess, is why you're so cool with other people getting detained and asked. Do you have any friends who are American citizens who look Hispanic or Middle eastern... why don't you share your view that it's OK for them to be detained and ask how they feel about it. I also am still waiting for your reply to my question- if you and your daughters didn't look white-bread American and were detained asked to to prove your citizenship, how would you honestly feel after the first few times? I'm going to go out on a limb here as say you'd get feisty.
A barrage of right-wing propaganda doesn't constitute an honest reply.
Let me ask you this, if you and your daughters were walking down to your boat, and were detained by an American citizen (Named Juan Luis or Ramon or Ahmed) and asked to prove your citizenship, where you were going, what you're doing there, what's in your purse?... would you be just hunky-dory with it?
Didn't think so.
