[goldstategop]

The existence of the welfare state has never troubled me. I think we should keep pushing for changes in the Medicare program and Social Security. I don't have any problems with taking care of seniors both cause they worked hard all their lives and they have the right values. What the programs have in common that make them different from welfare is the beneficiaries contribute to them and they don't reward undesirable individual or social behavior. They don't encourage dependency. And if the changes we envision happen, individuals and families will have greater freedom to choose how to care for their health and plan for their retirement years.

[chris1]

I hate to say this, but I know of many seniors who abose the medicare program and go to the doctors like you and I go to the bathroom. I am not saying that they should not get taken care of, but there are no incentives for productive use of resources and finding alternatives to massive drug prescriptions. I grandfolks are on something like 30 drugs by now. It is crazy.

[NittanyLion]

The existence of the welfare state has never troubled me.

Given the fact that 15% of my pay comes straight off the top for Social Security, Medicare, et al, it troubles me. And that doesn't even address income taxes.

Surely you realize there are folks out there who could better use this money to pay for their own expenses?

If you're still okay with these programs, have you considered what will happen as the baby boomer demographic becomes eligible for them?

[Trteamer]

I like President Bush less and less every day now. I not only feel abandoned, but have been. I feel like puking, but instead will just hold my nose and vote for him again. That is all I must do. The alternative is worse, not a whole lot worse, but worse.

As far as the future of the Republican Party I think we are at a crossroads. If the conservative base gets active, vocal, and picky with our campaign contributions, we might stand a chance of reversing the direction we are headed. If the conservative base jumps ship, or doesn't raise hell for liberal voting then we are doomed.

I am going to go to my state convention and raise a lot of hell. I may just FReep my own Republican state convention.
I may picket outside, then go vote inside.

[kitkat]

I don't know anything about you, goldstategop, except for your political views, and

I think I love you.