Rocky

Point 1: This reminds me of my earliest memories, as an "adult" of things political. I was still overseas, still an airman in the USAF. It was just before the 1976 general election. I remember having voted absentee, for a third party candidate for president. I remember being indignant about foreign aid... from US taxpayer tax dollars. I remember even writing to my US senator about it... of course, nothing ever came of the situation. I don't even remember receiving a response. I later came to understand just a little bit of the why's and wherefores of foreign aide... not much, just a little. Years later, in the early 1990s, while working as an accountant in a state government agency, my first real lobbying/activist activity... bugging Arizona lawmakers about a pending ban on smoking in state buildings. THAT seems so archaic of an issue now, but then, it looked like they weren't going to put a ban in effect. I won't describe my working conditions in detail, but I was subjected to second hand smoke wayyyyyyyyyy tooooooooo much. After that, (which finally did pass) I became more involved in state and school district issues... and actually got some things accomplished (not alone, but with small groups of committed people). Point 2: My point was not to deny there is hunger in America. I'm sure there is. However, there need not be, because of local initiatives (food banks/volunteers) as well as the federally funded Food Stamp program. Where it is occurring, there is obviously some breakdown in outreach and/or implementation. People who are determined CAN get through obstacles. People who are desparate and hungry may not know HOW to do so on their own, however. So, Kathy, please don't think I was saying you were less than truthful... I believe you... and I suppose that if I knew anyone in such a situation, I'd want to help find the path to overcome any obstacles. Because I know that paths are there to be found.

Don't lose sight of the RIGHT to ARM BEARS!

In case anyone is interested, tonight the History Channel is running a few programs on cults... Dish Network channel 120

Hey, I QUACKED out loud (er, laughed) when I read your post, Raf! What a hoot... er, QUACK!

It IS my understanding that that IS the case... and regardless of ability to pay the bill, and regardless of immigration status. THAT is one of the biggest concerns in AZ about the undocumented immigrant. Of course, the indigent (who cannot pay for their care) are by no means limited to "illegals." There are a LOT of working poor in AZ who fall into that category (unable to pay). IF there is NO legal requirement, there MAY be a requirement that in order to qualify for medicare/medicaid funding, indigent cannot be turned away without care. --------- Also, on the S-CHIP's I mentioned in my previous post, but forgot to mention -- to qualify for this program, I understand documentation of legal status for citizenship and/or legal resident alien IS required.

NONE of our children NEED go hungry. Besides Food Stamps for struggling families, most population centers have food banks. Congress HAS funded a program that funds State Childrens' Health Insurance Programs... Last I looked, the feds paid 80 percent to the states needing to chip in 20 percent. This is available nationwide (from the perspective of Congress/federal govt)... whether it's available in your state is dependent on whether your state legislature appropriates the matching 20 percent. I know that Arizona's legislative leadership (repugs) don't like it, even though it's a tremendous deal. Most federally funded programs require the states to match dollar for dollar. That's an example of WHY I take a dim view of many repugnican lawmakers.

Rightfully so! Completing a bachelor's degree in three years is no small feat. From the time I started (Aug 72) it was 14 years before I finished mine in May 86... of course, I threw in some of that wayfer stuff in the middle... And Rhino's partly right... I CAN recognize some good in (some) repubs, and won't deny corruption in Dems (who get caught) ...

Means test is WAIVED if the veteran agrees to pay copays for both visits and meds... that doesn't mean they won't ask your husband about it again.

Not me!

YOU are correct sir. Service-connected disability is service-connected disability. Period. There is NO (lawful) distinction.

Non-service-connected veterans... those who do not suffer service-connected injury/disability must complete a means test EVERY year. EVERY year, not just for a couple of years. However, once enrolled, a veteran may continue to be enrolled for the rest of his/her life, but whether or not the veteran must pay co-pays is determined by the means test. It's not EVER the decision of the president. CONGRESS ONLY can appropriate. Period. And you are correct that it is not something that can simply be "looked up" to determine quickly which president is responsible for what policies, policy decisions, implementations, etc. It takes a long-term study that generally comes either by way of work experience in a government or government related profession/situation and/or college education or some form of continuing adult education. Not that my background makes me any kind of an expert, but -- having worked for 8+ years for a state government agency as an accountant (and held certification as a CGFM, or certified government financial manager), and about four years reporting and doing technical research on the Arizona Legislature for a political newspaper -- gave me the opportunity to develop some degree of understanding so that I can look beyond the surface of news and opinions put forth by journalists and pundits. Some concepts are more or less the same for the federal govt. as for states.

This might be related to mentoring... helping each kid be successful in school. A kid that feels like he/she "belongs" when doing well in one or more school related activity is critical... primarily, doing well academically, but also in a shared experience of success in... sports, or music (i.e. band/choir), debate team... etc. Gangs happen because kids need the security brought by a sense of belonging. When they get that from positive group activities, they don't need gangs... at least that's my understanding.

Though I can't share any experience I had in cutting off a nicotine addiction (I never was a smoker, except trying it when I was a pre-adolescent), I can say I'm incredibly thankful my mother quit. It's been a long time for her, but I know she no longer craves a smoke... I just don't know how long it took. And since she shares a home with my first ex-sister-in-law who does smoke (outdoors, not in their home), I'm certain that she no longer has even the emotional urge... and at age 73, I'm also certain she wouldn't still be using those lungs of hers if she had NOT quit... This may be the one most difficult and important accomplishment (outside of raising children) my mother has done as an adult. And I'm proud of her for it. So, LindaZ, I'm proud of you too for making it six months so far!

Hmmmmmm... how about you start, pls?

Kathy, I have NO idea what you are talking about. Veterans ARE automatically eligible to receive VA benefits upon separation from active duty (I believe one must serve at least six months active duty), unless their discharge is dishonorable. Perhaps you are referring to something more specific? To which particular benefits are you referring? And Clinton did not "rob our military." IF you mean that military spending severely decreased during his administration, there's much more to it than an oversimplified blame game. Congress establishes budgets for each agency/department. Another word for it is "appropriation" or the authorized spending levels. I know that there were plenty of folks during his adminstration making the same claim... the process of "streamlining" the military, or reducing spending was actually Bush 41's legacy (or, it was started before Clinton's administration). IF you are referring to VA medical benefits, which are no longer automatically available to veterans, that too was well after Clinton left office... and more than likely someone at the VA was spouting off about his political views rather than giving you legitimate background on the reasons for it. After January 2003, the only veterans to receive medical benefits (and this has NOTHING to do with "friendly fire" incidents) either have service-connected medical needs OR have income/assets that do not exceed certain levels (a means test). And those income/asset thresholds also determine (each year) for enrolled (non-service connected) veterans whether or not they will be required to pay co-pays for doctor visits and/or prescriptions.

THAT is NOT true. Veterans injured/disabled (either partially or fully) in ANY way by ANY service-connected activity ARE eligible for medical care through the VA in a higher priority group than ANY who are NOT injured or disabled due to service-connected activity. Further, Veterans with ANY service-connected ongoing disability ARE eligible for disability pay through the VA. And CERTAINLY any pension any veteran is otherwise eligible for is also NOT changed/removed due to a service-connected injury. HOWEVER, the process by which veterans are DEEMED for such purposes to be suffering any kind of service-connected disability is often difficult and time consuming (as in it takes months and sometimes years to get it accomplished... which is also the case for persons seeking disability benefits through the Social Security Administration). I do not know much about benefit programs for which resident "aliens" (documented or not) are or may be eligible... since I don't know any such resident aliens (makes me think of the movie Men in Black).

That sounds a lot like my new years' tradition... except for the moderate drunkenness part... I'll let you guess as to which direction I vary on that

I'm pretty sure they sell that stuff around here, but I've never tried it... so, do you REALLY like it? (just kidding )

Very nicely stated FullCircle... thanks for your insights and thoughtfulness.

I'm with Excie... I thought Ex10 was talking about hair color! Otherwise, I'm pretty much with Mstar -- WHO gives a flyin leap what that schmuck uptown thinks? I certainly don't. I think I'm somewhere between not believing in God anymore and not doing anything for God. I retired early. And even IF I were doing things "for God" I would NOT see a need to submit either those things or myself for some bozo to tell me whether he/she approves.

It has NOT happened to me WHILE surfing GSC... BUT I have had to log in manually about once/week... otherwise, I just let it recognize me as signed in everytime I visit. So, since there was no poll option for my particular experience, I did NOT vote.... and I ALWAYS vote (in real elections anyway).

No doubt I would have done it in 73 (at age 18/19) ... in the fall of 73 I was in beautiful downtown Biloxi... back in school... but this time getting paid for it (meager pay as it was... when I first started active duty, starting pay for an E-1 was $307.00 (NOT per week) per MONTH... with room and board added to it). But it didn't snow that year on the Gulf Coast. What did we call skitching? Didn't have a word for it... just called it riding car bumpers on icy/snowy streets with slippery shoes. Skitching was probably dumb, but it beat the heck out of vandalism or fight clubs or whatever else young people do these days!

Make that 4 WEEKS from today. I also just read that the Texas stRangers have offered a minor league contract to Sammy Sosa (who did not play baseball professionally in 2006).

Hey George, my guess is that we were more afraid to tell our parents (or, perhaps afraid to let them find out) than we were of this amazingly dangerous activity (or else we WOULD be dead by now)!!! God forbid our kids did/would do it and WE find out!! hahahahahaha....... I have no doubt my daughter would do it if she were anywhere near snowy streets. Thank God she's in Chandler, AZ (I think... I know it's -- almost -- 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are?).

Oh, yes... and after reading CA_Dreaming's post, I remembered... there in Flagstaff... BEER factored into the equation significantly (by December 1972 I had turned 18 and back then 18 was the magic age for alcohol in AZ). And that probably played a big part in me getting that major cold/bronchitis that year.