Not just in DC but all over the 'so-called' Western World.  Everywhere is seeing the same rubbish, where both sides of politics have gone so far down the shite shute [toilet], that neither is capable of bringing things back from the brink...

This, in part, is because too many politicians are merely puppets of people in high places and serve big business before their electorates.  Then there's the self-serving politician, who simply occupies a seat in order to draw a fat salary and a huge pension after doing little or nothing to earn it.  Oh, and let's not forget the politician who lends his/her ear to the wealthy lobby groups who have agendas not in the better interests of the greater good.

Sadly, yes!  The thing is, true poverty need not exist when so many available resources are kept greedily in the hands of so few... or are dumped to create landfill rather than donate them to the less fortunate.  Yes, dumped!  In my time at a major Australian supermarket chain, I saw tons upon tons of perfectly good food dumped on refuse tips, rather than donate it to the needy.  The philosophy behind that: "Well if we give them this, they won't come in to buy that."  Yeah, right, when their entire salary is swallowed up by ever increasing mortgage repayments and utility bills, and as such, they have NO money left for food.

I also saw a supermarket contracted farmer plow a huge crop of carrots back into the ground because the going price had dropped below what was considered profitable.  Why wasn't it donated to the needy?  Because the supermarket chain held the contract for all his produce and it could not be sold or even given away elsewhere.

These two examples are just the tip of an enormous iceberg.  On a global scale, billions of tons of food are dumped each year, simply because the 'dumping' company cannot make a profit on it.  So no, there is no need for poverty or hunger when there are more than enough resources to go 'round if only distributed more responsibly/fairly.

You wanted facts so I gave you a whole bunch. Yes Bush. He caused it and those are the facts. Facts facts facts.

So 600,00 people who would not have health care if not for Obama Care are chopped liver? Think about it. Think about the fact that you need to have people to process the forms for 600,000 people and nurses and doctors and the drug stores selling prescriptions to 600,000 people. That's good for the economy and that's good for those peoples health. That is a fact.

My wife moved to a small town in Iowa from Ill. when she was a teenager. The people in that town never accepted my wife's family. In fact she was told that people who had lived there for 30 years were thought of as outsiders. To me you are an outsider.

"My type" huh? Born on the south side of Chicago in the 50's. Ike was my president. At night I could hear the trains going by a block away. Further south a couple miles away the never ending sounds of factories. In 59 I remember when Mayor Daley had them turn on the air raid sirens when The White Sox won the pennant. Most of the families living in my neighborhood were either Polish, Italian or Irish. The Moms were home with the kids and the Dads worked. Most of the Dads worked at Union shops. Life was good. On Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day every house sported an American flag. The next day the flag was gone. Not like now when the flags are everywhere and are left out day and night. Back then it was very special to put out the flag. I am an all American boy. That's my "type".

I cited their record. Did you not read the "facts"? Plenty of "facts". You say unlikely to pass? After 2010 when the Tea Party took control of the house nothing gets passed. There is no compromise. Slaves of Grover Norquist. That's also a fact. What's up with that? Explain that.

I posted, what I thought were a lot of points in defense of Obama but I don't see much in the way of rebuttal to them. Point by point. All I see is the same old republicon bitching about lazy people and socialists. Talk about tired old lame ass nothing.

This is also somewhat relevant and should put a smile on starkers face.

http://news.yahoo.com/protests-against-wall-street-spread-across-us-071054976.html

So does the economy, attempts at massive social change, Obamacare etc etc.

You don't get to take credit for the good things, and blame everything else on someone else.

Chasbo, we are indeed, philosophically , morally and personally different.

 I assumed ur much younger actually... Look, I respect that you have your own opinions and I think, you probably have the best intentions, I just disagree completely with most of what you say. Doubtful that will ever change. We are not going to convert each other.

Maybe there can be some compromise, that will make us both happy.. but as far as the cry's of socialism, and laziness goes, as long as it persists, there will be those cries, from those of us who, at heart, despise it, and it's effect on us.

I hope for a better future for me and for you. I doubt u can say right now, that ur very happy with the status quo either.

Only just!  To crack a proper grin, I'd have to read that bankers are being arrested, not protesters who denounce their greed...

... and for a good belly laugh, to see on the 6 o'clock news, bankers being sprayed with pepper gas and rubber bullets.

For total hysterics.... the 7.00pm Report showing bankers having their gonads removed through their armpits.

Follow the LINK to a book by a lifelong Democrat and just read the free preview PDF attachment. Starting on the 3rd page of the PDF is an ACCURATE history of the current economic situation which actually started with Jimmy Carter (not to say he's responsible, he just signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act). If you really accept FACTS you'll see there is more blame to be laid at the feet of any number of Democrats than at Bush.

Which branch of the military did you serve in?

I read the PDF Lantec and I'll admit I am quite surprised. Not by what the Dems did but by what I didn't pay attention to. I knew there was a reason I voted Republican but that doesn't let Bush off the hook. His father got it right went he went into Iraq the first time. His son got it wrong when he decided to finish the job. It may not relate to the demise of the economy in 09 but it hasn't helped it either by spending all that money on a lie.

I didn't say Bush was blameless. I just said he wasn't THE ONE THAT CAUSED IT. Waaayyy more blame for the economic failure and the current situation can be laid at the feet of the Democrats.

As far as Iraq.....the liberals have VERY short memories. There was an investigation by the Democratic Congress into whether Bush had lied to get us into the war and....guess what? The findings ended up unreported or on page 6 of most MainStream Media sources. The liberal media rarely admits to being wrong.

It seems that the current Democrat philosophy is if you say anything loud and long enough people will believe it true or not.....just look at Wasserman Shultz.....recently even Obama says Americans are NOT better off now than they were when he took over..... but she insists (over & over & over) the recovery has already happened and the Stimulus('s) have been a sensational success and things are peachy keen. She's a major nutjob that Florida will shed itself of soon.

Right.....Reid won't even bring it up for a vote because his own party won't support it........but go ahead and blame it on the Republicans...I'm sure if you say it loud and long enough someone will believe you.

I try REAAALLY hard not to, that woman would deny killing someone while holding their severed head in her hands.

To me she really epitomizes democratic politics. It doesn't get.. more partisan.

I truly wonder how she sleeps at night.

I love Rush's nick for her Debbie Wasserman 'blabbermouth' Schultz

Perfect.

I think you may have the parties mixed up here, but...

WTF does that have to do with being a patriotic citizen? I never got drafted when I was of age but if I had been drafted I would have served. I feel your comment is insulting. Thank you.

As Ren from Ren and Stimpy would say Rush is a "Big fat bloated idiot". Every time I hear his disgusting druggie voice I feel like puking. The hateful lying drivel he spews is a cancer of the air waves.

The Tea bagging morons are going too far. Even Fox was revolted by Hank Williams Jr. Kudos to ESPN for dropping the slack jawed idiot. He needs to lay of the beer and whatever else he takes.

Debbie is a inspiration to me and I love her for telling it like it is, like it was and like the way it shall be!

RIGHT ON! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

One more comment and then I'm pretty much through with this thread.

This has been fun going back and forth and although we disagree I will defend the right for anybody anywhere in the U.S.A to say what they want. Even Hank Williams Jr. Hell I compared the Iraqi invasion to the Nazi's invading Poland.

The only thing I take back is what I said about v not being an American. I am sorry about that vStyler.

So cheers and let's look forward to a crazy 2012 election year.