primuscbw

There is racism alive and well in the U.S.

If we can admit our racism perhaps we can do something about it. When we refuse to admit it exists, we only perpetuate it.

They see evil lurking everywhere. I read someone ranting about how Obama is a terrorist or there are terrorists lurking around every corner ready to take us over. Or, the hoards of immigrants are taking us over. Or, the liberals are destroying us and taking us over.

Are conservatives really so afraid of their own shadow that they see no course of action besides destroying enemies? The solutions they propose are militaristic and usually involve killing someone.

Why is it so hard for some to see that diplomacy might actually work?

Does their abject fear of anything or anyone different preclude any other reaction?

I recently set up an electronic funds transfer for my mortgage. When I realized it was for the incorrect amount, I placed a stop pay, following the directions of the bank and paid the fee of $25. After checking for a couple days to make sure the EFT presented and did NOT pay, I called my mortgage company and set up another EFT for the correct amount.

When I followed up a couple days later, I discovered that both had been paid and I was in overdraft for almost $300. Upon discovering this, I contacted the bank. The EFT was for the exact same amount and the exact same mortgage company. When the next EFT payment presented, they paid it as well, thus the overdraft.

I talked to the bank branch manager, who happens to be friends with my brother-in-law (golf buddies). I explained this to him and he informed me that since the EFT had been re submitted without a number the second time around, it was no longer the EFT that I had stopped payment on, so it was paid. I disagreed by arguing that since an EFT was presented for the same amount and to the same company the very next day I should have at least been notified if they were going to pay it, before they did so.

We had a heated exchange on the phone after he informed me that I would have to wait 7-10 days before I would have the original $ back in my account from the mortgage company. I pleaded that I had to have money because I have a foster son that I am legally obligated to provide for and I had no money for groceries, gas, bills, etc. and asked if he could just deposit a minimum amount into my account to cover essentials till the money was back from the mortgage company, which he declined to do. He admitted the mortgage company agreed to reverse the transaction.

He accused me of not taking care of business and that the bank employees could not be expected to "read my mind" and further told me I should bank somewhere that could read minds.

Two days later while speaking with my sister, she asked me about the "problem " at the bank! She proceeded to tell me that the banker had explained to my brother-in-law that I had overdrafted my acount and was complaining about it! He wanted to smooth things over with my brother in law and make sure that it didn't affect thier relationship. My brother-in-law is a financial advisor and broker and makes mucho $ and banks with this same bank.

Do I have any legal recourse for this breach of privacy on the part of the banker?

I care a lot about political discourse in this country and I am often heartsick about the full on attacks instead of any debate. What would yahoo political answers be like that actually had real debate instead of name calling?

Call me pollyanna, but I am not sure I care to inhabit a virtual world where people are so mean and nasty. I am on the verge of deleting it all! I'm about to say "good-bye" cruel political answers because it seems like a waste of time.

So, be nasty or be kind should I stop this crap and get a real life?

And also, would it be politically disadvantageous for a politician who voted to decriminalize drugs?

Notice I did not say legalize. Vast resources both human and monetary are wasted on a system that is aimed at punitive measures. Prisons should be for those who commit violent offenses and for drug traffickers.

Specifically, the issue of corporate person-hood and the distortions that may arise in a democracy from the granting of many of the rights of person-hood to corporations. Does it create any problem that those rights may come up against, perhaps overcome rights of individuals provided in the Constitution?

This question asks you to express your opinion of how you believe Jefferson might react (if he were alive today) to the power that is exercised by corporate America and its impact on the democratic process.

Conservatism is in such a pathetic state in America today. It has strayed so far from its roots. Goldwater was a conservative I felt I had something in common with.

The neo-cons, the religious right wingers, the Norquist ideologues and the Rush fanatics turn me off so completely, I don't think I'll ever be able to vote Republican again.

For instance, why do conservatives disdain intellectualism, science or anything that they consider progressive or populist. Conservatives hatred of science leads them to ignore volumes of evidence that societies that are more progressive and enlightened have higher standards of living, more contented people, less violence, less infant mortality, better education, healthier citizens, fewer people in prison, the list goes on and on.

These statistics of progressive industrial nations reveal their lives are healthier and happier than ours.

Conservatism is in such a pathetic state in America today. It has strayed so far from its roots. Goldwater was a conservative I felt I had something in common with.

The neo-cons, the religious right wingers, the Norquist ideologues and the Rush fanatics turn me off so completely, I don't think I'll ever be able to vote Republican again.

For instance, why do conservatives disdain intellectualism, science or anything that they consider progressive or populist. Conservatives hatred of science leads them to ignore volumes of evidence that societies that are more progressive and enlightened have higher standards of living, more contented people, less violence, less infant mortality, better education, healthier citizens, fewer people in prison, the list goes on and on.

These statistics of progressive industrial nations reveal their lives are healthier and happier than ours.

My sister and her well-to-do husband gave my parents an SUV about a year ago when they decided they would rather our parents have it than trade in the car on a new one and get little for it. The car is eight years old, but it was a rather expensive SUV when it was new and it is still in good condition.

Now, it happens that my father has come into a bit of an insurance settlement windfall on damaged property which he had insured. The windfall is approximately equal to half of what the SUV is currently worth. I bout had apoplexy when I found out that my brother in law has proposed that my parents pay this money on the car.

I need to add that my parents have only their social security payments as income and being elderly, have large medical expenses even beyond medicare. My sister acknowledges that nothing was said in the transaction originally that my parents should pay for the car if they were ever able.

My brother-in-law earns well over half a million a year and has been known to gamble away the amount in question in one evening at the craps table in Vegas.

Will you share your opinions on this please? I don't want to overreact.

Most are arguing that the unions are destroying the profits of the car companies and causing them to near bankruptcy. There is little to no discussion of health care costs associated with workers that are into the thousands of dollars per car. How much does this have to do with problems of the car companies?

Please answer intelligently, not with glib "political" answers.

It seems the prevailing attitude about unions conforms to the conservative position that they are socialistic, mobsters. I feel differently. I think we would have much better lives if we had strong unions.

If it weren't for laws restricting labor practices and unions, we would still have child labor and sweat shops. How do we keep capitalism honest concerning fairness to workers if the government does not enforce laws that are supposed to make it possible to unionize?

If you think I am wrong, try to convince me without getting personal! If I like ur answer, ill choose it even if it doesn't agree with me.

So many who wish to follow Christ seem to be preoccupied by what others are doing. Are they having the wrong kind of sex? Are they living their lives the way they should? Often it comes down to "Do they believe as I do? or "Are they like me?"

Isn't the point of following Christ learning to live one's own life the closest to Christ that one can? Why all the discord?