Joel!! So YOU were the one yelling at McCain at that rally!! Now it all makes sense to me!!

First, I think it is a bit far-fetched to lay the blame for the entire economic crisis entirely on the Democrats. Now, I know this is about the time of the year people get all riled up. I, myself, got quite pissed when I found out that the LDS Elders in Salt Lake are telling the Mormons here in CA how to vote on a particular proposition. It's absurd; mind your own state's business! But, I think even you have to admit that things are not so easily simply, especially when dealing with matters of the economy. Both parties are very likely to blame, if you want to make a political connection at all. It's the most reasonable assumption to have when you have some folks saying the Left is entirely responsible and other folks saying the Right is entirely responsible. It's like how when you have two kids arguing over fault, you blame/punish both of them.

Now, while you are right in part that not paying someone for a service is to make their service meaningless, I highly doubt a national healthcare would be even allowed to be passed if it didn't include compensation for the doctors providing the service. One way or the other, they will get paid. Granted, in a nationalized health care system, it is the government who pays for it which, of course, means us. What I'd ideally like to see is a combination of the two systems. For those who can afford to buy their own health care, let them do so. If they can afford to have a $10,000 surgery right now, let them. If they can't, well, then they have a perfectly good nationalized health plan. As far as the distinction between right, responsibility, and priviledge, I think that where a country stands developmentally and economically should determine the status of health care. For developing countries, yes, I can see it being a priviledge and then a responsibility. But at a certain point, as in First World countries, I see no reason why health care could not be a right. True, I don't believe it is guarenteed in the Constitution, but as we're all aware, amendments can be added. There's no reason, in my mind, why a country as strong, great, and wealthy as ours should not want to, or be able to, give it's citizens decent health care. Utopianistic or socialist as that might be, it just seems that it's the right thing to do.

As for the taxes bit, you're gonna have to demonstrate and offer some examples here of how small a percent taxpayers actually pay in comparison to corporations. Because, a) it's really not that simple, and b) I really don't think you're gonna be able to convince many people that it matters one way or the other. Regardless, you made some pretty hefty claims with no support. Show me, show me, show me!

As for Obama, he may be a liar or a cheat or what have you. So is McCain. So is every politician, really. And really, so is everyone who has been, is, and ever will be human. We both know there's no such thing as true, genuine honesty. Especially when you're in the business of trying to convince other people of your point of view. A lot of whom we both know are irrational and live by the philosophy of, as my grandfather puts it, "I've made up my mind, so don't bother me with the facts!" If you truly think that the public would ever vote a truly honest person into high office, then you're a rather extreme optimist. It's unfortunate, yes, but that's how it is. Hooray for the juvenile, retarded citizens of the USA!

And now I must eat.