+1

Great comment Brandon

Probably that's they way it will play out Brandon. At this late date I don't see them solving anything. Thye ignored the problem too long. Funny how you ignore it and it does not go away.

I would like to know what entitlement is?
Am i entitled to social security, if i have paid into it all my working life? Yes, i think so.
Am i entitled to medicare if i paid into it all my working life? I think so.
What are we talking about when we say Entitlement reform?

Saul, I think what most people think of entitlement is those who think we owe them a living off something that is meant to be temporary just to get them buy. I am not talking about those that need and deserve it but those who should never have gotten it in the first place. You don't have to look far to see it. I see it in my own family and I find it disgusting. We were not brought up that way. I have conditions which would allow me to claim disability an freeload, I can't do that. Others can and think they deserve more than they get. They really know how to play the system. They think they are entitled to it. Where the heck do they think it comes from?

And you think that the programs you personally disapprove of are the biggest drivers of our debt? That's... adorable.

Social Security is going broke for two reasons:

1) The Government (I think starting with Reagan) has borrowed money from it. Are they paying it back? Are they continuing to borrow even more from it.

2) There is a tax cap on how much each person puts into it from their wages each year. Once a person earns enough that year no more SSI comes out of it. I millionaire earning $1 million a year pays no more into it than a millionaire paying $50 million. I'm sure the cap is less than one million. I don't know the current cap. How about removing it and making it apply to all earned income regardless of how high that reaches. This should take the worries off of Social security going broke. The tax is actual on your paycheck as FICA. I think it funds multiple things as it was broken down into SSI and Medicare. There may now be a cap on only part of the fundings with others lifted. The cap needs to be removed from ALL of it.

Also, how about cutting each State down to only ONE Senator. And how about having the Federal Senator also be the State Senator. That would eliminate 156 Senators from the Government and from the payrolls (oops - more if you count the US territories). This rolls forward in future to eliminate 156 free-to-these-employees full coverage insurance policies; might help to reign in insurance costs.

Brandon: No deal will be successful without the top tax rate being restored to what it was under Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. You agree? Make the tax rate permanent for 98 % of the other personal tax payers and 97% of the small businesses.

Arthur DeLuca, its a retirement program with a cap on how much you can get out, remove the cap on out and keep in inline with the investment in and then you can remove the limit. as it is if you reach the cap (young) then you will never get what you put in out.

This should be the first type of "Entitlement" reform they tackle. All the hand wringing, and the world is going to end, and they grab a Billion of our money for themselves?
Plenty of money folks....it's how they spend it that's the problem

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2012/12/obama_hikes_pay_select_officials

because clearly its the illegal immigrants trying to vote in our elections that caused the issue in the first place...

Matt - there is definitely a cost to supporting illegal immigrants. You can't deny that.

Yes there is a cost, but I think if you look at the bigger picture, the additional cost to police and resulting benefit to society... I don't think it is worth the effort. I would rather focus on the bigger problems we are facing as a country as means to encourage growth, decrese spending and cut debt

I'll only except a requirement for ID's if they are issued FREE. Otherwise you are paying for the right to vote, which has already been struck down as illegal. Some States used to charge a poll tax to vote. This was established to exclude the poor from voting.

Tyler, you need to attend remedial classes. Look up how much of the U. S. tax burden is shouldered by the top 2%. Rethink your president's every growing culture of dependency. Try to approach the problem as a maker, not a taker.

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

Of course people are ok with a tax hike that won't affect them. That doesn't make it right. But to imply that the top 2% don't pay their fair share is ridiculous.

Reverend: I never said that was the entire solution.It amounts to 800 billion over 10 years. The Democrat plan right now is 1.2 T revenue enhancements & about 3 Trillion expenditure cuts. 3:1 is reasonable. every credible economist and even the negotiating parties fell 4 trillion over 10 years is the right approach. that much they agree upon.
So don't get ignorant and suggest that I " attend remedial classes". Nothing to "rethink".

I dont know anyone raising a family and owning property in Reading and making a household income of $250 k. who in anyway could be considered wealthy, they are the middle class atleast in this section of the country! The 51% of the American electorate that spoke was a coalition of made up of misfits,moonbats minorities, and gimme girls unfortunately the real middle class hard working Americans have to pay for that mistake. Americans that pay taxes went with Romney by over 60% of the vote, unfortunately the layabouts have equal say.

Alex - I guess it comes down to what you mean by wealthy,or middle class, or poor. When I use the term wealthy I mean someone who has income enough that they are able to acquire wealth and pass that wealth on to the next generation, this is different than a family which has the ability to save enough to retire comfortably, which is different than someone living pay check to pay check. The middle class means a lot of things to different people. But you can't be in the top 5% of earners and consider yourself part of the middle.

just a few facts , the median income family of 4 in ma was estimated at roughly 100k (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/statemedian/) and the median incom overall was 63k and boston itself. Reading is in line with those numbers..

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III: I took a moment to google you and you appear on over 30 patch sites - clearly you have a lot of time on your hands. Anyway... When people think about fairness they rarely think in absolute terms they think in relative terms. They don't see a difference in source of income (salary, dividends, capital gains etc.) What they hear is not that the average person making over 1M in taxes pays hundreds of thousands in taxes they hear that they pay a lower effective tax rate than someone making 50k /yr. People would like to see equity in burden carried. Just like the wealthy want to see the poor pay their share, the middle class wants to see the wealthy feel the same tax burden.

I am pretty sure that the owners of my company fall into the $250k per year category.
Do you really think that they are going to take a hit to the pocket? Of course not, they will just cut a few jobs, and or cut the hours of the 70kper yr people and they wont loose a dime. They will just pass the buck

They want to protect the rich because they ARE some of the rich. You are asking them to increase their own taxes. The Republican party was born out of the ashes of the Whig (or is it "Wig" - i forget) party, which was a party that believed in the principles of England; the country we rebelled against because we wanted something better than that. So all you rich people who don't like the way this country is being run; why don't you repatriate yourselves to England where the rules should be more to your liking and leave the rest of us to live under the Goivernment we chose this Country to be?

By the way, there was no federal Income tax until WWI. let's find out how the Government managed to operate back then and try it again. It will mean less of those entitlement programs that rankle folks so much - we'll need to start taking care of each other again, but it may just work out better than the way it's going now. We managed it for over 100 years without the massive problems this new version has brought us to.

The majority of people who can run for office and "afford" to run for office making the relatively wealthy to begin with - lets be honest, who can take 6 months off to campaign, not most of us here.

There was an election. Did things change? No they did not. What we got was the status quo....business as usual in Washington.
As far as asking the "evil rich people to pay their share" I say get over it. Even if we taxed these top 2% at a rate of 50% or more, we would be in the same position.

Tyler, maybe you need a civics lesson. The people returned control of the government pocketbook to the Republican's (House of Rep.) to control President Obama's out of control spending. He has offered 3 budgets to the Senate (with Dem control) and gotten exactly ZERO votes of support.

What about increasing the retirement age for government employees to 65. How come that's never discussed?

Or tie our employees incomes (ie. public employees) to the average income of their employers? Average salary for public employees are almost twice that of private sector. Upside down! PLUS they get the kiss in the mail when they retire.

That's for sure. I would have hired people to check on each and every case we are paying out to. We would be creating jobs and getting rid of freeloaders of which there are plenty. I see this each and every day how this is abused. There are deserving and that is who it is meant for. Obama had 4 years to show us he had something, not. I know at the end of the year I have to make a payment to the IRS, I work towards this all year, now wait until the last minute and try to figure it out. This could have been avoided by just having a leader to get us in the right direction. And yes, everyone is happy they are keeping their Obama phones.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

Jennifer, this isn't about the President. This about Senate/House Democrats & Republicans unwilling to compromise to find a amicable solution. Unfortunately, people like yourself can't get over the outcome of the election.

Jennifer: beg to differ with you. The "failure" comes from a "do nothing" Republican House and a Republican filbuster proof Senate. They have failed to put Country First. Stall Obama , then claim he failed - it's an admitted strategy. Fortunately the American people saw through that on Nov 6th.

Here we are all talking about methods to do something about what is probably going to be the biggest mess in US history before this joker is done, and he's planning his 17-day vacation in Hawaii!!! No, he won't be rolling up his sleeves and digging in to find a way out of this mess. We the taxpayers are paying for his family vacation....talk about rubbing his arrogance in all our faces, and everyone across the country... unfortunately the ignorant ones, who voted him back in again won't worry about it. Many of them are illegal...not working, and aren't paying taxes anyway!!! When it get worse, and the freebies stop, and it begins to affect their lives, only then will they realize it was just a matter of time before all the handouts, and "all good things must come to an end" !!! Hawaii anyone !!!

Noreen - you couldn't be more wrong! It's going to be a 20 day vacation.

Maybe i misread your statement. i have paid a lot into these two funds. 50 years worth. Speak for yourself, Rev.

Dearest Rev Pimperton,
Where is your church so those who agree with you can worship....?

Many in my day never lived to collect their social. Plus the Government stole from it to pay off deficets.

I agree with Dave Gray. (to some extent) and I think it is exactly what obama wants to see. It is his vision. No more middle. Hit the top earning "folks". they in turn take it out on the middle which will turn the middle into the poor. He knows that he can not turn all of the current have nots into haves because they often times dont want to even help themselves. Take from the middle, turn them into have nots and we are all equal. Just what he wants

I am in total agreement with Saul Glick. This whole mess is absolutely beyond belief. It has to be that some people just "don't get it". Maybe they don't read the newspaper or watch the news. I work for a physician who has been saying for the past year, after researching Obamacare thoroughly that it is going to be the downfall of the medical field as we know it in this country. It will have nothing but a disastrous effect on how we receive medical care, surgery, hospital tests, higher insurance premiums, etc., etc., and physicians will not be able to afford to run their practices. We have been known to have the best medical system in the world. People need to wake up, and get educated on what is going on in this country, because millions of people do not have a clue! It is so sad, as this has always been the most respected and strongest country in the world. Other countries have looked up to us, and all of that is changing. What is even sadder is that people are not paying attention to what is going on. Companies are not going to pay out increased premiums for their emplohyees. They won't absorb the cost. There will be layoffs, benefit cuts, hiring freezes, full-time cut to part-time work, salary freezes, etc., etc. Why can't people see that by going after the rich, it's the middle/lower class that will bear the brunt of it. Thus, more unemployment!

perhaps you should "wake up, and get educated." we have the highest per capita spending on health care in the world, yet some of the worst outcomes in the developed world.

how adorable.

Saul: you said- " Obamacare is s going to screw you all."? This is coming from someone that is getting Medicare from the government. Forget what you put in; it's not about you. In Obamacare, 32 million uninsured Americans will get the opportunity to go on a market exchange and BUY affordable healthcare insurance. The private sector has decades to figure out how to cover them and failed because they were not making enough money. They did not insure seniors over 65 because that is where all the costs are; elderly illnesses are expensive,so the government ( Democrats) had to step in with Medicare. the Republicans would tell you to pound sand and get a private policy because you are a "taker".
that is why we had an election . The smart people got it

Sau;: there you go again. the topic is the fiscal cliff and remedies, not psycho predictions about Obamacare, given you won't be affected because you have socialist Medicare. how about we cut your Medicare?

you cannot beat up business owners they run the country.

Oh for Christ's sake, shut up about the vacation. Such a trite thing to complain about.

Well deserved vacation, after working for 14 hours a day for the last 10 months. Bush took a 1000 days vacation, and managed to start 2 wars , relax while 911 was being planned, in Crawford. the fiscal cliff is Congress; Obama talked to republicans ; they are too stubborn to act for the country. BTW , Congress is on vacation , too.
Sour grapes?

there's a huge difference between disagreeing with someone and calling someone out for embracing an idea that is a demonstrable fantasy. the non-partisan congressional budget office crunched the numbers and determined that the ACA would actually reduce the deficit over the coming decade. that is what they do, their raison d'etre. but no, i should trust the unqualified opinions of alarmists like maureen. what are her credentials? she works for a physician.

Alicia,
I am not so sure about Maureen being an alarmist.(even if she is saul glick) Doctors know the health care system and health insurance better than anyone, this is what they do. They have to work with in the guidelines of what ever health insurance you carry. If the doctor that she works for tells her this is what could happen, I tend to believe it to be possible. Again all part of what obama wants. If there are poor who can not afford the same quality health insurance that I have, then thats just not fair, We need to take mine away and give us all equal care. Even if it is crap (obama care)

What if credit cards were eliminated? Then people could no longer buy things they couldn't afford. When you take out a mortgage to buy a home, the bank is protected from you defaulting because they have the home as collateral. If you can't pay off, they don't lose. When someone defaults on their credit card, the bank has no guarantee of payment.

Now take that common sense approach and force the Government to do the same; not spend more than they take in. Whether Democrat or Republican; in the last 30 years no President has managed this other than Bill Clinton. Maybe the solution is to elect Hillary Clinton President and she can chek with her hibby on how he did it, then do the same thing. Four years is a long time to wait, but do you really think any of the infighting clowns we have in charge now will be able to do as much before then?

Yeah, it's a trite and non-consequential thing to pick on for a situation you couldn't possibly comprehend.

If you were working essentially on-call 24-7/365 for 4 years straight at least, I'm sure you'd be here ranting and raving about how you don't get any days off.

Pick on policies, pick on tangible, actual things that are meaningful, but don't be a hypocrite.

what's a hibby?

Saul: the only problem with that is that Congress controls the purse strings according to the Constitution , and the President's role [according to the Constitution] is to sign or veto laws within 10 days . That is it as far as the Constitution goes. The big O has his pen ready. So take it up with Congress.

One clarification Mike: the term "fiscal cliff" was not made-up by journalists, but coined by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke earlier this year and quickly became a popular colloquialism, like "Obamacare" for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2012/11/21/worst-metaphor-of-2012-fiscal-cliff

Tom ... Correct, spending like drunken sailors is the issue. From what I've read the past days, the offers made by all the President's men are no different today that in the past (not only my interpretation) ... so what's to be done? The problem is so large ... I fear that we are genuinely incapable of resolving all of the issues and will truly fall off the cliff. And what then?

Tom: name your cuts. Not petty stuff either. Interested in hearing from you. put some $$$ next to the suggested cuts

Cut the entire Dept of Ed- Savings $71 billion. Cut every other department by 15%- savings $670 billion Cut the Defense Dept by 15%- savings 100 million. Cut the Dept of Health and Human services another 10%- savings 80 billion. Hows that for a start. Now if you want to raise taxes on the top 2% go right ahead but these cuts needs to be included

Saul: I feel the same way about FOX news. think they are actually" fair and balanced"? Of course not. FOX is a arm of the Republican party.

Does anyone actually investigate and report on what is actually happening any more? I have found far too many "news reporters" to be merely actors reading the press releases handed out to the media by the companies themselves. These reprts are at times incomplete. A good journalist would notice this and fill in the missing parts (see this happy many times when the MBTA increases fares. The reporters list only the changes they are given - have at times missed noticing the T failed to include the price increase for one category of T-pass. No one caught it).

You're right about one thing Paul, the government has assumed 'ownership' of OUR Social Security deposits, - and is now calling OUR OWN $$$ - an 'entitlement'.

Jimmy Carter helped that along when he decreed that foreigners who'd never paid in a dime could collect. For them it did become an 'entitlement'.

But for me, having paid in MY $$ since I was 14,...how DARE they say it is now an entitlement? Particularly since all those years I was self-employed – I paid in BOTH halves.

Paul .. I am concerned by your comments re: the military ... that area may be one of the first that people find fault with. In my opinion our military strength is of the utmost importance and I think you may just be mistaken when it comes to cyberwarfare, I think we are involved in every aspect of defense. I don't know what "exoatmosphere" is, would appreciate your educating me on this. I do know for certain that relaxing, reducing our military exposure in the world just may be an error in judgement. I think we have lost enough credibility throughout the world as it is and to risk further would be a mistake. There is always talk about this topic and always present have been the hawks and doves. Fact is (my thought) that having a strong military and presence is essential to our well being, as much as having a secure economy.

Explanations for deductions for taxes on SS will never be adequately explained and I cannot understand the term "entitlement" when it comes to it or to Medicare since we pay for it all seriously throughout our working lives. You just may be right re: future taxing of retirement accounts ... I think it just may come to that one day.

Answer: military industrial complex. and Romney wanted to restore the Cold War against Russia again. Dump money into defense contractors for weapons the military do not want , to pay off defense company political contributors. His plan was : it would create jobs [on useless weapons]. Glad the worm lost.

Robert: then deduct 60 million Americans on Social Security and Medicare from the Republican definition of "takers", and get the definition down to 30%. Might as well deduct, military pensions,military families, federal pensions, VA hospital care, Tri-care and get it down to 25%. That leaves Medicaid( 75% are children under 12 years, disabled , and elderly in nursing homes paid for by the state). How many REAL "takers"? Get rid of the fraud then and the medical suppliers, corrupt doctors , and seniors going for unnecessary visits.
As far as Social Security goes , if your combined income is less than $25,000, you pay NO federal takes. Looks like some "takers' there. Might as well add in Millionaires and corporations that pay NO taxes after all the deductions

Obama did not create the "gimme" culture, but he sure is hell-bent on perpetuating it.

The sad truth is that even if we were to totally eliminate the Welfare program and pay out NOTHING - this would be but a drop in the bucket towards fixing the problem. The Government wastes much more money running things the way they do. Let's get an efficiency expert to look at Government and suggest ways to streamline it. then let the people take those suggestions, get signatures to put these on a ballot (You don't think the Govt will actually put ti forth on their own, do you?) and make it a BINDING resolution that they change to the new system. This will have to be ratified state by state. it will be a long process but the goal is worth the effort.

steveB: the majority of the "takers' are in the Red States; the Blue states contribute more to the federal govt than they receive. A lot of discussion about the "takers" here, without identifying the 47%. when you do , you find, Social security and medicare recipients comprise the majority make-up of the 47% "takers". but those so-called "takers" , don't think they are takers. If true, then reduce the 47%, and quit quoting it.

Joe: the Rev., phony name!. the jokes on you. I worship at the Church of What's Happening Now, I'm E. Tyler Jozefowicz III. BTW: Jesus Christ was a Community Organizer, not a CEO, and threw the money lenders out of the Temple, unmarried, hung around with 12 guys and a prostitute, had a brother James, same virgin mother.

Please show some respect for Sailors! Even when drunk they are spending the money that THEY EARNED!

By contrast - your kleptocracy spendocrats are spending YOUR money.

When Sailors have spent it all, they stagger back to the docks and sign on for another cruise - to EARN more money...

When your Taxocrats have spent it all, - they use YOUR CREDIT to borrow more from China.

Jennifer..I know, can you believe that when he couldn't completely destroy this country after four failed years, there were actually people out there who gave him another four years to finish the job??? It is mind boggling that so many people do not pay attention to nor understand what is going on in the country, and what the issues are all about.

Sad and sickening

Harry, thank you for the articles. Very informative.

Anna: trying my best to ignore you. Suggest you ignore me and quit misrepresenting me. I am not addressing you in any way and there are no replies by me to your " opinions'. I don't want to waste the ink on mischaracterization- " so angry", "quick answers", " "talk about Romney", " relax a bit". All personal attacks by you. No one said the military was not important- I didn't. One of the rules here is to not get personal in anegative way. Since you disagree with my comments/opinions, does not me i am "angry". It's not me, it's my liberal opinions that you really take issue with. Why? because you do not call a few other total conservative whacko that publish here as " angry". Deal?

And I might add, Tyler, most of us pay for our own vacations our of our own pockets. We don't have the luxury of such a fringe benefit in our daily lives.

Chris: too much to comment on here. agree with some, disagree with others. One comment on the economic analysis: the "job creators "got tax cuts for 11 years now , and have not created any jobs; they ship plenty of jobs overseas, though, for the cheap labor, destroy the middle class. Don't tell me it's the regulations and corporate taxes either. It's the cheap labor ; fix that , and you fix the economy. Get rid of all the regulations and make the corporate tax rate zero, and the Romney-types will still ship overseas for the cheap labor.

I understand what you are trying to say Patty. The only thing that bothers me about this is...we have illegals getting handouts, some people who don't qualify on welfare getting anything and everything they need, and many people I am sure collecting unemployment rather than going out to work. Particularly the illegals are taken care of, and you're griping about people their 80's, most of whom have worked their entire lives and never got a dime they didn't work for. I say, take care of the elderly in this country. THEY DESERVE IT AND THEY HAVE EARNED IT.!

I am not saying we shouldn't take care of our elderly. All I was trying to do was clear up a misconception about how SS is funded. The main problem with SS is that it was not set up to be be used for disability payments for people with issues like ADD. Now that SS is cracking down on that issue children are being diagnosed as bipolar so they will qualify for disability. Let's take a good look at that abuse of the system.

Let's start with the illegal issue.. you obviously don't know or don't want to know that more illegals are being deported under Obama than ever before. and please, let's get over this birther issue. If you can't deal with Obama as president because of his policies don't cloud it with bs about his being born in Kenya. I'm sure 51 years ago his white mother would have quessed that there was a chance her African-American son would someday become president so she should falsify a birth announcement. It is complete nonsense!!!!

Juice: where was Obama born?? How and when did he sneak into the country?

Great comment and a question that all his followers try to dismiss by calling those who dont agree with them names.

"For every 1.25 employed persons in the private sector, 1 person receives welfare assistance or works for the government."

That includes teachers, police, fire, and the military. Well we can sure do without them, right? How about this - of 250 million males in the US under 40, only 99% have two testicles.

OK, Dave, all the government employees are teachers, police, fire and the military.
How about this: Eliminate entire departments that have not been effective? Energy, Fed Ed departments, "War On Poverty" departments, etc. By eliminate, I mean close them down, fire the people who work there. (By the way, NONE of those I just mentioned have ever accomlished their goals).
While we're at it. eliminate all government pensions and health care plans that are not Obama care. 401Ks and social security, same rules as the rest of us. Also, reduce every remaining department expenditures by 5%. All of them. And not the "reduce their budget by 5% BS, actual expentiture reductions compared to last year. Any one know what all that would save us?

While I'm at it, how about EVERYONE pays some taxes. Minimum $100 per year, whether you earned $0 outside government assistance, $1000, or whatever. Everyone gets the benefits of defense, transportation, food safety, etc. shouldn't everyone pay SOMETHING? If a large segment doesn't feel the pain of government spending and the subsequent taxation, that segment has no reason NOT to vote for tax and spend yahoos.

Who me?: the herald? Rupert Murdock's Herald?

Well Rev, several 'knowledgeable' Democrat ladies told me at standouts and debates this season that our $16.2 Trillion Federal Debt and our $103 Billion State Debt 'WEREN'T REAL'!

They said: '...the Government can ALWAYS PRINT MORE MONEY!'

Yep! They're here, they vote, and they breed!

They go after everyone's money except their own and Kerry's wife.

Carefull Raj - with ideas like that the Black SUVs will be at you house in no time...

The King needs his vacation and golf time...after all, he's worked SO HARD to get Black Unemployment up to 14.3% [35.4% for young Blacks]....

And he needs to rest up so he can be fresh for a new round of nation-wide campaign flights on Air Force One....

And soon enough it will be time for Princess Michelle to take the girls to Vail again for their annual sky trip...

Royalty must keep up appearances...

TY Anna. After the post I put up on RRB a week ago Saturday “Just Speculating: What Are The Chances?” I was SURE they'd come – Black Helicopters too...but they didn't...

Guys like Beckmann are predictable. He's an aging Somerville teacher – a left-over over-educated campus hippy looking for relevance in his life. So anybody who disagrees with HIS world view must be a Klansman. Gee, is that reverse-racism?

Beckmann – and those like him are trapped in the system they created. They are the overseers on the Democratic Voter Plantation. All his high-falutin' degrees, and his old age lifestyle is tied to a teacher's pension, - and social security, - and ObamaCare. No wonder he seethes with envy at the rich...

"One Adam-12....see Pimperton, the man ....over"

I can think of a few but they violate the rules here. Certainly not the comment below

No ponytail (high and tight), no composting toilet (field latrine over a slit trench or half a fifty-five gallon drum. I suppose if you left it there long enough it would compost, but diesel was used to burn it while stirring it with a paddle), went to university but didn't teach, and I have no clue what a Birkenstock is. Is it a new kind of golf club?

Of al lthose htings the only one I ever had (when I was 16) was a ponytail. Of course Jesus had long hair so I assume you hate him too.

Do "rat tails" count? Or are those more GOP? Had one of those too...so maybe that makes me an Independent.

Lets not forget Reagan was a democrat for a long time so I'm surprised you write every Democrat off because a matter of taste or style (or lack thereof...sandals are just silly, and hairstyles when you are a kid are supposed to be stupid...its the only time you can pull it off). Just remember - if Conservatives had been so Orthodox about despising their fellow Americans back in the 70s, you would never have gotten your Savior. He never would have got past the primary as a RINO.

i think you've missed the point of the term 'so-called'. so-called person writing a so-called comment on a so-called article appearing on a so-called website on the so-called internet.

there is hope for you yet, Kent. "Never worked a day in his life"? Seriously, you can accuse Obama (and most politicians) of many distasteful things...but that is plain silly.

Yeah, I know a lot of people who can get into Harvard, and be made the head of the Harvard Law review loafing around. I did it twice back in the 80's when i was avoiding a job. Honestly, I'd like to see your definition of "work". Pumping gas? Stamping sheet metal? Takes all kinds to make this economy run my friend. If guys who work on a computer typing code all day (probably not real 'work' in your mind) didn't do their jobs you'd be living in the 70s right now - technologically and economically, because that's what's driving the growth in this country.

Come with some honest criticisms if you have them, and since there are plenty of them out there I assume you.re being lazy. Otherwise you're just a whiner.

So what did Barry ever do for work?

Hey Andrew what are you talkin about you have 3-4 nics one person bashing on other posts. One guy is a girl. Where ya been? This is done for bashing purposes and insults.

Patty, Yea but Romneys time away did NOT cost the tax payers MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars !

Romney never took a paycheck from the taxpayers he gave his salary back. Have Obama or Patrick done that?

Have you noticed Bush is not President?

Bridget we had two Bush presidents. If you don't believe me look it up, I know you know how.

Aside from the standard Democrat Noise points how exactly did Bush fail with foreign policy and tax cuts? Did you mail your check back? Did you go to war? You have lots of little comments but no substance.

Still no answers just comments and your little jokes that make you giggle to yourself and nobody else.

I dunno, I laughed.

Director of the CIA - now THERE'S a ringing endorsement!

Paul ... Thanks for this ... needed a bit of levity after some of the tirades above >:)

I suspect those on Medicare are going to be the first to find out what Obamacare has done. You can't take 700 Billion out of funding of Medicare providers and not have it affect patient care. Not possible. I know some like to spout dem talking points, but no one has explained to me how by cutting $700b in medicare reimbursements is not going to affect the elderly. By the time we're that age, we'll be lucky if we can get a doctor. I bet starting in 2013 you'll start seeing doctors no longer accepting medicare patients.

That's just the start.

Patricia, you forgot to add the additional $400 Billion cut in the Presidents "fiscal cliff" proposal.

Well, saul, I'm one of the people who have no idea what OC is going to do to me, much less to other people. SO, would you kindly tells us what kind of increases in our fed taxes is going to occur? Don't be shy, tell us the facts,... BUT not your opinion. Thanx a lot.

I think it's safe to say, after this last election the "press" has lost any credibility it had left. They hounded Bush for his time in Crawford although he was working. Funny the pass this president gets. I like Mr. Obama and his family, I hate the way he is held up as some savior - he's not. He's got just as many faults as any other president but the press protects him and they are finally starting to admit it.

Quasi. I know the fiscal cliff has nothing to do with OBcare. I didn't explain it further.. You are required in Mass to have healthcare, and if your employer doesn't pay a fair amount they are fined $295.00 for each employee. Something like that.
OBcare has a fine of 3k for each full time employee. No fine for part timers.
This is a link about mass health care
http://www.massresources.org/health-reform.html
as far as Businesses and OBcare, II have provided numerous links on the internet, about national chains, and OBcare, and companies with over 50 full timers. It is their opinions that they will be downsizing to part time help if this takes place in 2014
Now quasi, stand up straight, read on the internet what businesses are doing and going to do. It sounds like people like you are going to get screwed by your hero president.
Do some research on the links i provided earlier.
Just google Obamacare and full time employees.

Quasi, you are missing something, in fact you are completely lost. The company that I work for (currently just over 200 employees) pays $6000 per employee for health insurance. This is half of the cost, we pay the other $6000. They have already made it known that they will drop the health insurance benefit once Ocare is fully implemented. Seems as though they would rather pay the $2000 per employee "tax" than $6000 for insurance. Go figure .I probably wont qualify for Ocare (not that I want it) so I will have to buy my own, sure to cost more than $6000. Thanks O. Also we have 3-4 openings that pay $40000- $60000+ but we are NOT hiring due to the expected tax increases on the "higher earning folks" (business owners). Good job creation O. Two part timers DO equal one full timer when you dont have to pay benefits. They also have no problem paying overtime to current employees to make up for the existing openings. Surprised?? Dont be, its common sense. Its ok though because O doesnt get it either

Even making that real easy to understand I am still not sure we can through what the big problem is here. Or maybe it's just me not liking debt.

Good day to sit back, watch, and learn. Those who are more worried about when American Idol is coming back on, or have been focused on getting folks in Tewksbury to help pay their high water bill for their green lawns, are going to get whacked upside the head in 2013 and 2014 as Socialism comes to America and we all begin the slide down the same road as Europe. California actually very close to bankruptcy already.

Remember folks, people get the Government they deserve.

https://www.newsmaxstore.com/newsletters/radar/obamacare_video.cfm?PROMO_CODE=1103A-1