Originally posted by Baptist in Richmond:
What is it with his comments that has you so animated? This would be rather humorous, if it weren't for the fact that there are far too many people who were devastated by the hurricane. This is yet one more chance for you to reproduce his comment, which you have already done. We all know what he said. Why do you like to reprint it? What does his comment change?
This is getting ridiculous.
Yep, Mayor Nagin's comments sure were ridiculous. I think he's an idiot because he, obviously by his own comments, believes God wants New Orleans to be a "chocolate" city. That's about as logical as claiming God favors whites over blacks or the black race is inferior by God's design. Such things are garbage and the thinking of fools.
But, aside from that, the counterpoints illustrate a real problem with liberals. They frequently confuse issues about problems have with what government should or should not be doing about it. They conclude that because someone somewhere suffers a loss the entire government effort to deal with it should be free of all critical comment and politicians who scream out idiotic statements like those of Mayor Nagin should get a free pass. Not so!
Well, I would agree with that, if you are ready to apply that to all facets of the government, not simply to the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. What about the current situation in Iraq? What about the government contracts that have been assisgned? What about corporate subsidies? What about pension plans for which we are now responsible? What about the misappropriation of the social security receipts? What about all that pork in the highway bill, most notably that bridge in Alaska? Are we going to apply the same test to these as well?
I have always been intrigued at how the money becomes "my" money when it is being used to fund something with which that person doesn't agree.
Yes, it's interesting how a person's perspective changes when they realize the money being spent doesn't belong to - nor is magically created by - their government but rather by their own work. It is "my" money. It's money taken from people that work and earn it, handed over to politicians, and given back out to others many of whom don't want to work or earn it or who made bad decisions and don't want to be responsible for them or who feel someone else owes them a lifetime of "free" living expenses. Politicians love this scheme because they get to use "my" money to buy votes to get themselves in office. What a deal!
Yes, there's a lot of problems with how our tax money is spent. Let's start another thread about the highway funding because that's a big one. On that point, consider that New Orleans not getting a repaired I-10 bridge but a six lane replacement for the four lane one that was severely damaged. Why? Because they now have a mandate for spending from a bottomless pit of federal money.
Yes, a lot of people are concerned about retirement income including me and the last thing I want is for the government to be responsible for mine. I do, however, want my return of principal and interest - as small as it is - for that which I've been forced to invest in "social" "security" over the years. They didn't give me a choice so I want back what I've put into it - nothing more and nothing less.
But, all these issues don't have anything to do with Mayor Nagin's "chocolate" city comments - the real topic of this thread.
... An interesting point: in your tirade against the "idiot mayor," you never once referenced the poor people in New Orleans, many of whom lost everything they owned. While you are so animated about the mayor's comments that you have reproduced yet again, did you ever stop and think about the people who have just had their lives turned upside down?
Like I said, this is a non-issue.
Regards anyway,
BiR
My comments weren't about people in New Orleans - or other areas - that were hurt by the hurricane whether they were rich or poor - both extremes of which were harmed. My comments were about the Mayor's comments. Liberals always think - or at least talk like - it's just poor people that get hurt. Lots of people get hurt in natural disasters - individuals and business - large and small - rich and poor. Hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, fires, bombs, and bullets don't care how much money you have or don't have. My own company and many of its employees were harmed by it. A large chunk of it is self insured meaning we pay for the repairs ourselves.
Yes, I have thought about those people harmed and, in fact, I know some of them - some family - and had the privilege of helping a few - not family - just a little bit when they were in need as did many people to far greater extent in my home town. Some of those I meet didn't ask for anything for the federal government. In fact, all they wanted was to go back home despite their Mayor's orders that they couldn't because it wasn't "safe" except of course for the army of contractors and government workers who swarmed all over the place.
I appreciate you keeping this important topic alive and at the top of the forum. I think it's a more important than you want to admit. It's a big issue in itself and the underlying problems it manifests.
