Food Stamps

Yes REALLY! I disagree with your assessment. I think it has quite a bit of merit to it. Originally Posted by GP

Then let me rephrase my comment. Wanting to take food stamps away from a household with 3 kids in it because the mother smokes a prohibited topic, pretty much means you're full of it when you suggest that you "of course don't want any kids to go hungry".

Same exact thing i said in post #99.

So how about addressing the logic of what i said instead of throwing out some ridiculous rant about the way i worded it.

I agree with your sentiment, I just disagree with the way you conveyed it in such an offensive way.

Let me show you an example.

When growing up, did you hit your mother with your left fist or your right fist?

See? Not very fair is it? You use these "types" of unfair debate tactics when you make statements as fact when they are just your opinion. Why not try and participate in a fair discussion instead of using such ridiculous avenues of attack?

I am paying taxes in the 34% to 37% range. Originally Posted by GP

By "taxes", do you include your federal, payroll (Social Security and Medicare) and state taxes? Also, is that your marginal rate or your effective rate?

In any case, congratulations for being in such a tax bracket.

By "taxes", do you include your federal, payroll (Social Security and Medicare) and state taxes? Also, is that your marginal rate or your effective rate?

In any case, congratulations for being in such a tax bracket. Originally Posted by jackfengshui

I mean everything, federal, state, SS, medicare, NYS Disability. Everything and everything that is taken out of my paycheck by the government. I am no expert on the subject so I do not know what marginal or effective rate is. The only things i DO NOT COUNT that are taken out of my check are.......


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My union dues and other union deductions. Doove should love that one!

I don't think congratulations are in order. Like I said, I barely make ends meet.

I do not know what marginal or effective rate is. Originally Posted by GP

It appears that you are talking about your effective rate, i.e., that you pay 34-37% of your total income in taxes.

The marginal rate refers to your highest tax bracket.

Oh shit the thread is going into unions now? Why not cover all the bases.

Public assistance should come with requirements. I think most PROHIBITED TOPIC should be legal, if you can buy them yourself. In the example mentioned, the mother is taking from the children by using.

Then let me rephrase my comment. Wanting to take food stamps away from a household with 3 kids in it because the mother smokes a prohibited topic, pretty much means you're full of it when you suggest that you "of course don't want any kids to go hungry".

Same exact thing i said in post #99.

So how about addressing the logic of what i said instead of throwing out some ridiculous rant about the way i worded it. Originally Posted by Doove

Your example was quite plausible, probably the much more common case if food stamp recipients were required to be tested. I guess it would be ok if the person was a raging alcoholic because at least that's legal. There are probably more cases of alcoholics scamming the system than PT substance abusers. The fact that a certain PT substance is DECRIMINALIZED in NYS for personal use and it's fine is about that of a speeding ticket, matters much to the more neandrethal among us who don't know that there is a HUGE difference between the soft PT world and The hard PT world.

Oh shit the thread is going into unions now? Why not cover all the bases.

Public assistance should come with requirements. I think most drugs should be legal, if you can buy them yourself. In the example mentioned, the mother is taking from the children by using. Originally Posted by JohnnyCap

You ASSume she's paying for it, it wouldn't be unusual for a friend to give it to another friend whose down on their luck.

It is high time that we rethink this country's whole approach to the "forbidden subject". The law enforcement solution of what is primarily a public health and addiction problem is clearly not working - except packing our prisons, clogging our courts, endangering our neighborhoods, and making the PROHIBITED TOPIC lords very wealthy and powerful.

That's an interesting point Doc. If we want to be sure those on public assistance don't spend that money on drugs, drug testing might not be the best way to curtail it. You're right, a down on her luck mother should be able to take her friend's drugs.

One could say the drug testing might still be a good indication, if positive, that the mother might not be giving her best efforts. But then again, there's nothing wrong with a hard-working momma sucking down a spliff now and then, right? No sarcasm.

Maybe a better way to combat irresponsible use of public funds is to track the money. Load a non-cash ATM card so that usage can be tracked. A violation of civil rights? I say no, I say an instance of selling the civil rights. For some help, until things get better.

I'm not really a fan of drug testing, but I do think public assistance should be heavily regulated at all levels. Art grants, research grants, unemployment, welfare. That fucker that shot up Batman in Colorado was working with $25k of federal grant money. I think we can have a free society and still find a way to make sure grad students aren't using federal funds as he did.

Thanks for the caps doc. We're all asses at some point so there's no argument there.

It is high time that we rethink this country's whole approach to the "forbidden subject". The law enforcement solution of what is primarily a public health and addiction problem is clearly not working - except packing our prisons, clogging our courts, endangering our neighborhoods, and making the drug lords very wealthy and powerful. Originally Posted by jackfengshui

Washington and Jefferson were hemp farmers. Jefferson would roll a mixture of tobacco and hemp and give it as a party favor. The original bluntmaster. No wonder Jefferson's writing is so insightful.
All the evidence indicates decriminalization greatly decreases the problems with PT substances.

Those of us in favor of the legalization of hemp should go right along with the legalization of gay marriage. For it says in the bible: if a man should lay with another man, he should be stoned.

Originally Posted by whosdair

CRABS!!!