An interesting comment given in a recent showing of CNN news..."the Bush administration has compiled more national debt than the last 42 adminstrations combined."

Apparently Bush has problems in seeing/understanding who pays for his solutions...

the Druid

Ya know...it's amusing how much money is spent on one man's idea (about Iraq) much to the neglect of those who need it most...development of the infrastructure would benefit the people of America much more than high gas prices...something quite similar happened in the 70's (reflecting on the Southeast and the people who line up to fill their cars with gas). So, what about the renewable energy issue and the reliance on foreign oil? What will it take for some important people to realize the necessity for keeping our resources for the future? Essentially a lot of finger pointing in Washington...it remains to be seen what will happen next...what will marblehead do to safeguard our economic future?

Information is abundant, Wisdom is scarce...the Druid

Jesus came here offering the gift of God's rule, God's love - it was still rejected.

The Declaration of Independence is outdated. It was written by a group of people declaring their independence from Britain.  I think it is time for a new one. Not all men are created equal - all humans are. And we are born with certain inalienable rights - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness being among them. No man, nor government, has the right, or the authority, to deny any human being these rights (again without just cause). If you murder someone, then yes, you are stripped of your rights and sent to jail. 

However, our current government has given itself just cause to strip all americans of their rights - especially the right to privacy ( among others).

Religion and government do not mix. Each was created to control humanity - nothing more.

 Our  ancestors came to this country to escape religious persecution, not to have it shoved down their throats by well intentioned fundamentalists. Too many wars have been started over whose god is better. There is ONE GOD (with many names/forms) and s/he has taught us love and acceptance of ALL. Too bad people can't see beyond the religion to the truth.

thats very true, Jesus was killed, and killed by HIS own people, but NOT because HE came to rule at that time, HE came to sacrifice HIS life for the sins of man, and to reconnect sinful man with a perfect, sinless GOD in the only way it could be accomplished in GODS economy, a free gift, sent because of GODS love for us, offered to whosoever will, HE covered our sin, so GOD could relate to us through HIM and only HIM.. JOHN 14:6  HE knew what HE came for, and what was going to happen... thats the heart of the Christian faith.... Jesus crucified, and gloriously ressurrected to rule and reign. I look forward to HIS soon return.

GODs sovereign rule was rejected way back in Davids time, when HIS chosen nation wanted a King, like all the other nations around them, and they chose Saul, rejecting GODS rule, but GOD allowed it, and when Saul would not listen to GOD, GOD chose David. Its ancient history, and here we are, still rejecting GOD, and GODS man for the job. What do I really think about it all, well.....I would never vote for Obama...never, he is scary, have you read his book? he thinks that the Declaration of Independance is out-moded, this document declares that all men are created equal, and are endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights...Obama says that it means we are born into this world free, and arrive with a bundle of rights that can't be taken away by any person or state without just cause...hmmm, wonder what just cause would take away our rights? being old? disabled? he already thinks that the unborn have no rights, and an infant that survives an abortion should NOT be protected.... this country has lost a great deal of respect for life because its value has been diminished and the dollar has become more important...what I am writing is all too true... so whos next? the old, or the disabled? as for Mccain, I am not enthralled with him either, but for me, he is the lesser of two evils. I have this magnetic sign on my car....see below

 "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not (against me you've appointed unholy people to lead my nation): of their silver and their gold have they made them idols (your money was more important to you than your moral beliefs), that they may be cut off. (Cut off from what? -- From God's protection) (When we appoint non-Christians to lead us we literally bring about our own destruction) Hosea 8:4

so you see where I am at, and for IMHO a very good reason, the benefit of all humankind, GODS will, WILL be done, I KNOW HIM, and thats just how it is....plain, simple, and honest.

I am sure I will be labeled a crackpot... or perhaps a cracked pot... I don't care, I am not in a popularity contest for humans, I love them, and care about them, I am one and I am here on earth to serve GOD, the best way I can, the good Lord willing. the truth, is the truth, pretty or not, popular or not, and I don't believe there is one truth for you, and another truth for me, and another for someone else, if that were the case truth would have no meaning...its truth, or its not truth!!! I know that truth will prove itself with time.

I have read a portion of the article (8 pages?! OMG!) and your comments and I have to say ( because I can never keep my mouth shut) that although he speaks/means well, I think Obama will be nothing more than corporate america's puppet. He will be the poster child (so to speak) for middle class america. Just a figure  head, nothing more. There will be others, behind the scenes, pulling the strings. That is, IF he is allowed to run. Now there is a question of his citizenship. Apparently there are rumors which say he is NOT a natural born US citizen - a requirement for presidency. Whether people choose to believe it or not, this presidency is about race. Whom would you prefer the same old stuff with a rich old white guy OR a young, black man who promises a better way of life? One who remembers when the phone was invented or one who carries a blackberry? One who thinks everyone whould be a POW or one who thinks our guys/girls should be home NOW? 

Would he be better than McCain? I certainly hope so. He'd do a hell of a lot better than Hillary.

Regarding justmenow's comment - while I do agree with most of your thoughts, I do have to disagree with one. People were given the opportunity to have God lead them - they crucified him. What do you think they would do today if Jesus Christ announced his candidacy? 

I know what I am about to say may fall on unreceptive ears, and you may find it comical, this is ok, I understand where you are coming from. I put ALL my trust in GOD, and believe staunchly, and unequivocally that HE owns, and is in control of everything. I think money and power are useless things to fight over, or worry about... fleeting and very temporary, a drop in the bucket of eternity, if even that. I believe, however, that moral issues have great value, are worth fighting for, and shape generations thereby dictating what our world is like for the human race both now AND in the future. I also believe everything that is occurring now, GOD has planned for, and in it, has a purpose. I believe out of all of it that HIS will is going to be served, despite mans ideas to the contrary. GOD loves us, and will only allow degeneration of the earth, and mankind to go just so far and those that wish to continue, against HIM, will only destroy themselves. I think that those who are very rich, with great power have no beneficial plans for the sheep of the United States pastures. I believe they like to have poor, and dependant masses, they make great guinea pigs for the huge pharmaceutical companies, and are helpful in making their "generous" [perhaps that should read onerous] benefactors look good when they toss them crumbs. I could go on and on, I am of course disgusted with all of it, and its all out of our control, people sat by, and watched their freedoms dissovle, would NOT stand up for what is right, and decent.... they didn't even whimper as long as they felt economically secure, and had plenty of government hand-outs to keep them from feeling any unpleasantness. I think its already too late to make much-needed change, and that those who are hoping, and working for change are focused on the wrong things!

I believe we should be governed by GOD, a theocracy, as it once was...for you this statement borders on fairytale I am sure, and the way things are now most people do not have a personal relationship with HIM  they don't  really know or care who Jesus is or what HE has done or what was meant by any of it....so its just not possible but this will not always be so. I know we are coming from an entirely different spectrum of belief so I do not expect you to think what I am saying here to have any validity...but watch and see it all unfolds before our very eyes, GOD is awesome in HIS majesty and power. Jesus sits at HIS right hand forevermore    For it is written, As I live, saith 
the Lord, Every Knee Shall Bow to me, and every 
tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:11,12

and GOD will rule and reign forever more

GOD bless you Emil, I am sure we can agree to disagree, and I have learned over time that things change :)

by the way I  already read all of the Mccain and Obama exchanges, their mistakes, and  comments... and I really believe they are both way out of touch with what Americans want and need and they both are pandering to a public that has lost a lot of interest in the whole fiasco... not sure either of them could tell you what the price is at the gas pumps and I AM sure that neither really cares

Thank you for the "soft" (meaning civilized) response... Frankly, I was preparing for a harsher politicized exchange here... :)

About McCain's positions on important moral issues - I just don't believe him when he says the things he says just to get your vote.

I think the Republican party is using moral issues to take as much voter attention as possible away from the main battles fought in Washington - the battles for money and power. I believe that people like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and John McCain had never any intention to really mix politics and moral issues. And they are, in a sense, right - politics (especially at the federal level) shouldn't be about people's moral choices. The US is a huge country of 300 million people of all kinds of races, religions, beliefs, etc... (and it is only going to get bigger and more diverse) - you can't and shouldn't let a federal government bureaucracy tell people what to do in their bedrooms. People in a small town in Texas should be free to live differently from the way people in San Francisco live. There is no other way for the US (the many United States) to stay united.

When you vote for US President (the ultimate federal bureaucrat) - you better NOT vote moral issues... because you are knocking on the wrong door (the right door would be your church door I guess). The federal bureaucrats should be taking care of the issues you see here on Aidpage - Americans who cannot afford health and dental care, Americans losing their jobs and living in fear of becoming homeless because of the failure of businesses to stay in business... while the "responsible" executives still get their multi-million dollar bonuses and happily go into their next business "venture" (in reality, it is never a risky venture for them - but it is a truly risky venture for the employees)... Americans not having the means (time and money) to get the education they need to be competitive in an already global job market, etc...

In one word - the US President has nothing to do with God. The US President is NOT a king (what was the American Revolution about for God's sake!)... It is deeply wrong to mix political power with God... as it is deeply wrong to mix money with God - as we do by printing religious beliefs on our federal dollars. I wonder what Jesus would say about our federal "dollar" expressions of belief in Him... but I'm sure Wall Street bankers and the Washington politicians they bankroll only love the mix up. It clearly works well for them.

Now... on a lighter note... here is what I found about Obama's and McCains' notions about who's rich and who's middle class in America today.

Rick Warren's question to Obama: "Define 'rich.' I mean, give me a number. Is it 50,000, 100,000, 200,000? Everybody keeps talking about, well, who we're going to tax. How do you define that?"

Obama's answer: "If you are making $150,000 a year or less as a family, then you are middle class... or you may be poor."

Rick Warren's question to McCain: "Okay. On taxes, define 'rich.' Everybody talks about, you know, taxing the rich and -- but not the poor, the middle class. At what point -- give me a number, give me a specific number. Where do you move from middle class to rich? Is it 100,000, is it 50,000, is it 200? How does anybody know if we don't know what the standards are?"

McCain's answer: "So -- so -- so I think if you're just talking about income, how about 5 million. So -- no, but seriously, I don't think you can -- I don't think seriously that -- the point is that I'm trying to make here seriously -- and I'm sure that comment will be distorted, but the point is -- the point is -- the point is..."

Sources:

• http://www.rickwarrennews.com  
• http://www.rickwarrennews.com/docs/Certified_Final_Transcript.pdf 

And finally - thank you for visiting my other blog... :)

Best,

Emil

haha... I think we have terrible choices, and its too bad we can't go backwards in the way candidates are selected, as it is now they buy their way in, and no one without large sums of money can even get themselves considered. Sad. I vote for moral issues, as you know I have great faith in GOD, and believe HE is in control. HE alone can make things work, and I refuse to go against what HE outlines as right. Having said that, I will say this, you are correct I do NOT know what Mccain considers middleclass but I do know where he stands on some important moral issues and thats what really matters to me. I don't think he is a good choice, just, in mho, the lesser of 2 evils and nothing will convince me otherwise, just as nothing will make you think differently than your strongly held beliefs... in that I am sure we can agree. I would, out of curiosity, like to know what Mccain thinks is middleclass. I find a lot of their rhetoric amusing, and since they are running for the [publicly acclaimed] most important, and influential [also publicly acclaimed] position in USA government that I also find sad. GOD bless you, I enjoy your site and your comments.      oh and by the way, GOD does ignore time, to HIM a thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years.... 2Peter 3:8

Do you know what McCain considers middle class?

If you don't (which is obvious), try to guess first... and then we'll find out the answer... and we'll post it here... how about that?

oh....obama..... he thinks $150,000 a yr wages  and under is middleclass...bet he can really relate to us.....

"In some fundamental ways, the American economy has stopped working.

The fact that the economy grows - that it produces more goods and services one year than it did in the previous one - no longer ensures that most families will benefit from its growth. For the first time on record, an economic expansion seems to have ended without family income having risen substantially. Most families are still making less, after accounting for inflation, than they were in 2000. For these workers, roughly the bottom 60 percent of the income ladder, economic growth has become a theoretical concept rather than the wellspring of better medical care, a new car, a nicer house - a better life than their parents had."

Read the full NYT article... 
(warning!... the article itself is long and rather difficult to read)