lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

How many of you know you're being held hostage - by your own government? Put aside the partisan rancor for a moment, if you can, and just look at things as though you're not involved. A recent case of hostage taking, was with the infamous Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare ). Democrats knew it was flawed legislation, and that some folks would be hurt by it, but refused to admit any such thing - all those people being held hostage for political expediency. Republicans knew it was flawed legislation and were quite vocal about it, but were likewise uninterested in coming to the rescue of the folks being hurt by it. After all, they got to blame Obama and Democrats for it, so why mess up a political goldmine? All those people were held hostage by BOTH party's, acceptable collateral damage for political purposes. How many people died? How many became permanently disabled? Only future historians will be able to answer that. Oh, BTW, how's your new Obamacare replacement going?

I'm sure you remember the many times we've gone to the brink on appropriations, with both sides holding different segments of the population hostage for political gain. We even went so far as to shut down the government over it. How many YEARS have we been doing the governments business with short term continuing resolutions? Those kids brought here illegally by their parents were held hostage ( still are ), with both sides accusing the other of holding the Armed Forces hostage - with some more political kabuki theater.

The average American was asked to sacrifice a lot, to ease the financial straits of the wealthy and large corporations - or you'd lose your job. I mean, those folks made more money since 2011, than they had in the decade prior to the 2008 crash, but they were one quarter away from bankruptcy all the same. Yeah, we all got a carrot, a tax break.......that's only good for one more year, but the wealthy folks can breathe easier knowing theirs is - permanent. So our economic security was held for ransom, to help the rich with their economic woes. Then we add an omnibus spending boondoggle, that hits us with a record deficit. Who do you think will wind up paying for it? Yep, your great great grandchildren. I know, we'd like to think entitlement spending is the real cause of these deficits, but the fact is - even with entitlements removed there's STILL a deficit, so that premise cannot be true. What we're being asked to believe, is that the cost of keeping us "safe" from all the worlds booger mans, must be deducted from the money we spend on our children, elderly and sick folks. How is killing a foreigner in a foreign country, a better value than keeping an American alive?

The United States spends more money than any other country - and gets less for it. Our peace of mind is being held hostage, to get us to agree to spend a literal fortune on "National Defense". Our economic future is being held hostage, to get us to agree to give away the store to those who already hold 87% of Americas wealth. Americas economic future is being held hostage, to get us to buy into the belief that our poor, elderly and sick...............are not worth investing in.

Aren't you tired of you and your family being held hostage - by your own government?

Carol Kelly

Would you want your son or daughter flying a fighter jet that was too old to hang together? Or sailing on a ship that had been pieced together for years. In the event that we are attacked, I’d want them to have first class equipment wouldn’t you?

Dr. Evil Loc: In Your Face

You really don't get it, do you?

old marine Loc: America home of the brave

He'll no I want our serviice to have the best equipment available at reasonable cost. No more six hundred dollar hammers..

Let's help make AMERICA great again. Demand respect, cut off foreign aid to countries that hate us. America first.

Stop career politicians by limiting to two terms then skip a term and run again. Limit salaries to a reasonable amount. Allow pay increases across the board federal, state, county, city workery, military, SSI welfare, Social security, minimum wages all get an increase according to the Core cost of living increase.

Finger print for voter verification and federal time clocks, you don't show up for work you don't get paid. Finger print to vote on legislation.

Any criminal acts while in office the penalty is doubled and no suspended sentences or pardon. Disqualified for life in holding a government office of trust.

It's time to make AMERICA great again, drain the swamp before we all drown.

Semper Fi brother and sister
Godbless America and President Trump

PLT Sarge Loc: Alabama

S

PLT Sarge Loc: Alabama

Some good points, food for thought. Don't know happened with the first reply, just got the s. My keys sometimes stick. Guess I'm gonna have to stop eating peanut butter and crackers when I'm typing.

maryjane

I believe we need a strong military, but I have concerns. First, I want my country to stop meddling in the affairs of other countries when it does not directly affect us, is not a threat to us. The USA needs to STOP trying to be saviour and protector and welfare program to the world. None are possible and that road is taking us to ruin. Second, I do not like the way today's military operates. Their whole meddling in social issues is a disgrace. Coddling Muslims demanding time and space for prayers 5 times a day. Allowing soldiers to decide to change genders and forcing taxpayers to pay for all medical actions involved. Censoring a Christian chaplain for referring homosexuals to another chaplain. Turning a large portion of its own responsibilities over to paid mercenary companies at taxpayers expense. Allowing non citizens, even foreign illegals here, to serve in our military and reward them for it with guaranteed citizenship. Military leaders publicly criticizing our president and taking political sides publicly. This is NOT the military that made our country strong and I don't like it.

maryjane

I agree with you, but I believe we should cut off foreign aid to ALL countries and greatly cut back on financial support to global organizations. Since WW2, we have given and given money to lots and lots of nations almost constantly and what has been the result. Nothing but greater and greater debt for us, disdain, even hate, from those countries who always have their hand out for more, no positive improvements for the people in those countries. Just over the past 16 months, our government has done such stupid things with our money such as giving $50,000 to help women bloggers in INDIA become better bloggers!!! America needs to accept that we CANNOT buy love. They will take all we will give and hate us for it. It is time to stop this insanity and let each country take care of itself. Lord knows, the USA needs to be taking care of itself and its people, which has not been happening for a long time.

jack sequim wa Loc: Blanchard, Idaho

I completely disagree with a few things, but looking past statements that you made of disagreement, I see the point you are making.
You have thought through an excellent post.

I saw another post "545 vs 300,000,000"
It was a long the same thinking as your post.
Our congress, Senate, President
545 people controlling three hundred million people.

The democrats knowing they had a flawed Healthcare designed to fail and then replaced with a national health care system, something of a combination of Medicare /medicaid. It was all a shame just as you stated, and buried in the thousands of pages was a mandatory chip that every American would be required to have to qualify for. And many other terrifying items Americans didn't know about and what did the GOP do? Not a damn thing.

You mentioned taxes (let's not debate this for the sake of your point, the average Joe, his tax cuts will be extended) the reason the GOP put a two year fuse was political trickery, it's a negotiation chip which intentionally will give the democrats something they want in a bill and in exchange the GOP can be the hero's winning more tax cut years for the American people.

Some of the hate is genuine between the political lawmakers, but "we the people" have lost the ability to control our congress and senate. Yes we are held hostage.

I laugh when I hear someone ignorantly state " we need to vote out the bad guys, and vote in some good guys"
So how do we do that, how do we remove as an example 350 of the 545? It's impossible. Corruption has like cancer, taken over the entire body of law makers.

Do we put an ad in the New York times "Honest Congressman wanted" then interview all the prospects, vetting their background, choosing the right one and then losing to an establishement that has millions of dollars in backing.

Your correct the American people are held hostage to the establishment, they do not what the people want, but what keeps them in power and wealthy.

Because of this, laws and bills are passed contrary to the constitution, the constitution is losing the power that it was intended to give the people.

Our only possible hope would be term limits and outlaw lobbying.

Great point, great post

Paybacktimeishere

American's held Hostage!

Maryjane: I agree with you, whole-Heartedly. After 8 Miserable, UN-American, Year's Of The
SOROS, "PUPPET"; "MUSLIM MARXIST MULATTO",
Our ARMED FORCES, are still "REAPING", the
Damage, SEWN, BY THESE TREASONOUS, RAT'S!!
Our Military, "WAS NEGLECTED", & Defunded, & Ignored( & DISRESPECTED). I've NEVER, In My
Lifetime, Seen So Very Many, Of Our Nation's
Helocopter's(AKA: "CHOPPER'S), Fighter JET'S, Ship's, Boat's, Tank's, Etc...Etc., "MALFUNCTIONING",(falling out of the SKY), Or "BREAKDOWN'S , Due To the LACK OF, spare part's to "FIX" them!!! The SOROS, & His Smiling, "MANDRILL", Half-Breed, along with The rest of his "CREW" Of
Neo-Leftist's, BOLSHEVIK'S!! They have nearly, "FUBARRED", AMERICA, & PATRIOTIC, CITIZEN'S, To Death!!! PRESIDENT TRUMP, & His "REAL" & "TRUSTED", Staff Member's, Have
One Hell Of A "JOB" To Do, In "CLEANING-UP"
The "DEM'S", & The "RINO'S" Unmitigated, ANTI-AMERICAN, "BRAINLESS", MESS!!??

jack sequim wa Loc: Blanchard, Idaho

Well put,

These crying libs/Marxist anti-Anericans that never served and completely disconnected by leftist media brainwashing defend Obama, claiming he increased the budget and brought the military into the future by eliminating don't ask don't tell and demanding transgender and women be assigned to combat.
Obama, the greatest fraud ever perpetrated on America.

SilentGeneration Loc: Michigan

Thank you for a thoughtful post on our condition as Americans. We do have an opportunity to clean house in the midterm elections.
We need term limits; we need to get rid of lobbying; we need to get rid of the high cost of running for office by mandating free political ads from any station licensed by our government. We need to shorten the campaign time frames so that politicians aren't spending the bulk of their time running for office. Political ads need to focus on issues and solutions; those running for office need to focus on solutions rather than on personal attacks.
We are still the American people. If we were to stop squabbling among ourselves and work together to clean house, those 545 who are currently running this country wouldn't stand a chance.

donald41 Loc: puyallup Wa