I got soul but I'm not a soldier

Liberal Minnesota Democrat Betty McCollum hoped to team up with tea party-backed GOP freshmen to bar the Pentagon from spending taxpayer dollars to sponsor NASCAR race teams. She said such sponsorships can cost millions of dollars, simply for placing decals on race cars and for a few driver appearances.

The Army, the Air Force and the National Guard each sponsor cars with the aim of boosting military recruitment, but the Navy and Marine Corps dropped their NASCAR sponsorships in recent years, saying they didn’t know whether they were effective.

“Here’s the $7 million question: Does slapping a sticker on a race car convince a young man or woman to volunteer to serve our country in the armed forces?” McCollum said. “Not according to the Marine Corps.”

(Unfortunately, I can’t find either the original text or audio from the story I heard this morning on Morning Edition)

Really? Clinging to using NASCAR for advertising? Could we be even more obvious about striving to recruit war-pawns from the lowest income brackets in the country?
And really, if the Marine Corps has decided it’s not effective… take the hint, guys.

This stuff really matters.

If the public votes in a new Congress because a majority of voters think this one tripled the deficit, and as a result the new people follow the policies that actually tripled the deficit, the country could go broke.

If the public votes in a new Congress that rejects the idea of helping to create demand in the economy because they think it didn’t work, then the new Congress could do things that cause a depression.

If the public votes in a new Congress because they think the health care reform will increase the deficit when it is actually projected to reduce the deficit, then the new Congress could repeal health care reform and thereby make the deficit worse. And on it goes.

There has been a growing disconnect between the priorities of the American public and the agenda that is debated in Washington. To give power back to the American people and restore these broken bonds of trust, House Republicans are asking all Americans to be a part of building a new governing agenda.

Vote on other people’s ideas and/or submit your own.
They’ve asked for your voice—whether or not they listen is their decision.

This site was developed as part of an official effort to increase the dialogue between Americans and their Congress. Here, Americans are provided a new platform to share their priorities and ideas for a national policy agenda. As House Republicans, we are committed to our principles of limited, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for strong national security. This is an open forum, however, where all Americans are welcome to respectfully offer their opinions, regardless of party affiliation and whether we endorse them or not.

It is our hope the active engagement of the American people will produce a robust debate that will aid in the construction of a new American agenda. This website is paid for with official funds of the Office of the House Minority Leader – no political or campaign funds have been used for any portion of the America Speaking Out project.

“It seemed like the right thing to do,” said Mr. Freret, 63, adding that he has always tried to adhere to the code of conduct instilled at his alma mater, Washington and Lee University. “The honor code called for you to be a Southern gentleman: ‘Don’t lie, don’t cheat and don’t steal.’ ” he said.

marqmywords:

I’m still reeling over the comments one of my classmates made in my ethics class. She was bitching over the idea that her tax dollars were going to pay for fat people and their ailments such has heart disease and type 2 Diabetes.

She, then, went on to complain about the unnecessary taxation of tanning beds. Another classmate mentioned that 75% of people who use tanning beds will develop melanoma (skin cancer). The girl quickly replied, “But Melanoma isn’t that bad. It’s cheaper to treat.”

….I’m sorry? What? Did you just tell me that cancer is not that bad? Skin cancer is not that big of a deal? It’s CANCER!

To address the “cheapness” of treating cancer, let’s do a comparison. With diet and exercise, a fat person can be healthy. In fact, diet and exercise is pretty cheap. A doctor says “You’re fat. You need to lose weight. Here’s how you do it. I’ll monitor your progress.”  Pretty simple. Even a disease as serious as type 2 diabetes can be reversed by weight loss. Heart conditions can be improved through exercise and cutting out fatty foods.

Now…If you have CANCER, you have to get cancer treatment/s such as radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. Last I checked, chemo was not cheap at all.

How are you going to criticize one but be completely fine with the other? I’m confused.