are the dems gonna cut the military?

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

Or help rebuild Iraq?

I have to say that too many people on this forum blame shift every problem to illegal immigration, when it is not the root of our problems, it is a product of our problems.

Well it is huge problem and when they have taken over our country which isn't far off, don't say I didn't tell you so. And I don't "blame shift" anything ..facts are the facts.

Cant I add some humor now and then ?

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Well it is huge problem and when they have taken over our country which isn't far off, don't say I didn't tell you so. And I don't "blame shift" anything ..facts are the facts.

Cant I add some humor now and then ?

No you can add humor but I find all this illegal immigration talk a bit distasteful and it has definite racial undertones. Your opinion is your own, but when you simply blame shift everything to illegal immigration and how it is ruining our country you are missing some of the larger problems, which in return have helped illegal immigration become a problem.

It is a very unilateral way of thinking. Plus on this forum it gets blown way out of proportions, with people claiming that there are 12 million illegals in L.A. alone, which is a ridiculous claim.

Yes, it is indeed a problem but they are a product of our economy, and you can't blame anyone for wanting personal freedoms and to better their life.

When they don't invade us and take over our country and replace our flag with a Mexican flag, I will say I told you so.

[Mad Hatter]

tlarkin - I did not mention a specific country (even if I had, I cannot change what country is at our southern border so that is not "racist" by any stretch). We have people coming in from all over the globe illegaly, and yes they are entitled to a better life but let them do it the right way like the vast majority of U.S. citizens.

Enough said

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

tlarkin - I did not mention a specific country (even if I had, I cannot change what country is at our southern border so that is not "racist" by any stretch). We have people coming in from all over the globe illegaly, and yes they are entitled to a better life but let them do it the right way like the vast majority of U.S. citizens.

Enough said

I wasn't calling you out on anything specific but there has been blatant racism on other threads by other people on this very forum. I just don't like it how every thread is derailed by illegal immigration or by another hot topic that is beaten to death on this forum.

Most of the illegal immigrant conversations on this forum are far from factual, and they get blown out of proportion vastly.

You are entitled to your opinion and that is fine, but lets not derail this thread with illegal immigration, lets keep that on the illegal immigration thread.

[Mad Hatter]

NO PROBLEM !

[punkndisorderly]

A word of advice about the military from someone who served: your experience will be what you make of it. Strive to get all you can get out of it, and you'll do well. Sit back and coast and you'll come out with little more than you went in with. Pick an MOS and be the best you can be at it. Take advatage of all the opportunities you can, be they military schools and training or civillian college courses. Do everything you can to shine, from looking like a soldier when you're in garrison to going to boards to doing PT on your own to max your scores. All of this will help you rise to the top (since promotion points are based on the above) as well as in civillian life.

Do everything you can to get a college degree. It will help you while you're in, and it'll act as insurance if you get out. People get hurt, especially in combat arms, and are often forced out. Speaking from experience, there's not much need for "cannon cockers" on the outside world.

Lastly, stay single as long as you can. When I was in, there were lot's of guys that fell into the trap of marrying one of the local girls, hatching some kids, and running up their base credit cards. The result, they were stuck living paycheck to paycheck and couldn't get out even if they wanted to. Worst, most of the time the marriage wouldn't last 2 years, and poor private Snuffy was back in the barracks with most of his paycheck going to take care of the former Mrs. Snuffy and his two kids.

As far as an MOS, here's how I approached it. If you want to get a chance to do things you'd never be able to experience in civillian life, go combat arms (I went artillery). If you want training that will help you later on, go with one of the support MOS's like a mechanic. Also, keep in mind that the more expensive you are to train, the less you'll get to train (and the more time you'll spend picking up trash and mowing grass). Infantry spends lot's of time in the field and at the range training. Artillery was expensive to train and so we spent only 3 months of the year in the field training (though shooting the gun was a total blast).

[Coeloptera]

Just something to add for everyone who thinks that the world is a lot simpler than it is.

Congress Eyes Major Expansion Of GI Bill, Democrats Push Key Election-Year Bill That Dramatically Expands College Aid For Military Vets - CBS News

Democrats want to expand the GI Bill,
"President Bush is expected to veto the measure if it is sent to him with added domestic spending, including the GI bill. In a closed-door meeting last week, Bush urged a group of House Republicans to reject the bill and uphold any veto if the legislation doesn't adhere to his request. Bush has indicated he supports a modest expansion of GI benefits - particularly allowing service members to transfer unused benefits to family members - but wants to address it in legislation separate from war spending."

"House Republicans acknowledge the upcoming vote will be a tough one. GOP members want to expand GI benefits, even if they think the Democratic proposal goes too far. And some Republicans whose home states have taken an economic hit also are likely to find it difficult to reject increased unemployment benefits."

Now this is the test for Republicans. Is what they actually want and seem to know to be right what they will vote for? Or will they play partisan games again?

Oh, and "A companion bill in the House, introduced by Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., has attracted more than 290 co-sponsors, or about two-thirds of that chamber."

The Democrats led this one and yes, used a bludgeon to try and get greater benefits for servicepeople under the GI Bill.

Never assume someone's party affiliation means much when it comes to how much they might support the military. The 3 sponsors of the Senate one are 1 D and 2 Rs.

- Coeloptera

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

No you can add humor but I find all this illegal immigration talk a bit distasteful and it has definite racial undertones. Your opinion is your own, but when you simply blame shift everything to illegal immigration and how it is ruining our country you are missing some of the larger problems, which in return have helped illegal immigration become a problem.

It is a very unilateral way of thinking. Plus on this forum it gets blown way out of proportions, with people claiming that there are 12 million illegals in L.A. alone, which is a ridiculous claim.

Yes, it is indeed a problem but they are a product of our economy, and you can't blame anyone for wanting personal freedoms and to better their life.

When they don't invade us and take over our country and replace our flag with a Mexican flag, I will say I told you so.

and yet again the liberal blames it all on the USA.

How about whining about the Spanish taking over Mexico in the 1500's for awhile? You are offending real Americans.

[Rave]

That's all I have heard lately,everywhere,race,race,race,
Dam,but I am so sick of it
Every form of media it's the same thing,mostly by folks that will profit from playing the race card,and there are plenty,and those that are obsessed with it,like a holy grail
When ever there is a conversation someone is bound to start screaming racism,bigotry,and all kinds of assorted BS.
It really gets old and it stifiles any constructive thought to solve any problem.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

and yet again the liberal blames it all on the USA.

How about whining about the Spanish taking over Mexico in the 1500's for awhile? You are offending real Americans.

Oh I didn't know I wasn't a real American, glad you are the authority on the subject. Then again maybe it is beyond your capacity to understand what I am getting at, and that is why you resort to name calling.

[jimkim]

I think 12 million foreign nationals here illegally is an invasion.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

Oh I didn't know I wasn't a real American, glad you are the authority on the subject. Then again maybe it is beyond your capacity to understand what I am getting at, and that is why you resort to name calling.

what you appear to be getting at is a self loathing of all things American.

Can you not be happy with ME loathing you for such warped view of reality?

Your number in the game of Liberal Debate rules ARE 17,8, AND 16 (see below). I am docking you ten points for those long winded, self absorbed answers you choose to post. No guy cares THAT much what another guy thinks. Please trim the bandwidth accordingly and PLEASE watch a few John Wayne movies or something.

From Liberal Debate Rules:

17. Never admit that anything could be positive about the United
States.

8. Never recognize the fact that every idea of Karl Marx's was
debunked over 150 years ago. Never read any social science written
since Marx. Never admit that you know that Marx was a racist and
anti-Semite.

16. Always support proposals that make real problems of the world
worse as long as they make you feel caring and righteous.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by jimkim

I think 12 million foreign nationals here illegally is an invasion.

You're kind of unreasonably reasonable there, jim.

Last time I tuned in, some folks were claiming there were that many in Los Angeles alone. I'm not sure how that could be, since there aren't that many people in the entire county, but hey--why let facts get in the way of a little racist paranoia.

Yes, I believe illegal immigration is a serious problem. But those people streaming across the border are a symptom of what's wrong; they aren't the cause. With business, cheap labor trumps patriotism and everything else.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by troy2000

You're kind of unreasonably reasonable there, jim.

Last time I tuned in, some folks were claiming there were that many in Los Angeles alone. I'm not sure how that could be, since there aren't that many people in the entire county, but hey--why let facts get in the way of a little racist paranoia.

Yes, I believe illegal immigration is a serious problem. But those people streaming across the border are a symptom of what's wrong; they aren't the cause. With business, cheap labor trumps patriotism and everything else.

Isn't this a cut and paste from a previous post?

Do you really own a gun, Troy?

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

what you appear to be getting at is a self loathing of all things American.

Can you not be happy with ME loathing you for such warped view of reality?

Your number in the game of Liberal Debate rules ARE 17,8, AND 16 (see below). I am docking you ten points for those long winded, self absorbed answers you choose to post. No guy cares THAT much what another guy thinks. Please trim the bandwidth accordingly and PLEASE watch a few John Wayne movies or something.

From Liberal Debate Rules:

17. Never admit that anything could be positive about the United
States.

8. Never recognize the fact that every idea of Karl Marx's was
debunked over 150 years ago. Never read any social science written
since Marx. Never admit that you know that Marx was a racist and
anti-Semite.

16. Always support proposals that make real problems of the world
worse as long as they make you feel caring and righteous.

Sweet, you are now an expert on how I think too. For crying out loud Mitch have you ever read any of my posts? Immigration is indeed a problem but I have different views than you. I don't want secret immigration police grabbing immigrants and just deporting them, jailing them or otherwise detaining them. I also don't want a nation ID system nor do I want a 50 foot wall on each border and throttled sea and air ways. I don't want to live in a minimum security prison. I don't want the military involved or any of that. I am not sure where you get how I am anti-american about that. I also haven't heard any of your ideas, but I am sure they are just excellent, well thought, and probably better than most, oh and that was sarcasm if you couldn't tell.

When did I ever say anything negative about the USA?

When did I ever even bring up Marxism?

What in the hell are you even talking about?

Do you read what anyone else even posts?

Instead you are already labeling me and going for the low blows, and the funniest thing is, I am really not a liberal, I just have liberal views about certain things.

[jimkim]

Troy I didn't say anything about race. I said foreign nationals are illegally crossing the border. That is an invasion. I don't dispute why they are here I just pointed out they are here. I think we should go after the people that hire them. The people that rent to them. And enforce the law. The same way they do down there. Shut down the border and remove the incentives to be here.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by jimkim

Troy I didn't say anything about race. I said foreign nationals are illegally crossing the border. That is an invasion. I don't dispute why they are here I just pointed out they are here. I think we should go after the people that hire them. The people that rent to them. And enforce the law. The same way they do down there. Shut down the border and remove the incentives to be here.

I agree but it just isn't that simple, they are integrated into our economy now as a crutch of cheap labor. Greed has solidified their presence as well as some industries, one being the service industry. Many restaurants and bars rely on cheap man labor since they can get away with keeping it below minimum wage because they can work for tips.

It is indeed a problem but it is a very complex problem. People on this forum just blurt out insane numbers, like how there are 12 million of them in the LA area alone, when in fact that is completely farce.

I don't think anyone here is saying it is not a problem, I think some of us are just saying it gets blown out of proportion on this thread, and there is no quick viable fix for the issue.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by jimkim

Troy I didn't say anything about race. I said foreign nationals are illegally crossing the border. That is an invasion. I don't dispute why they are here I just pointed out they are here. I think we should go after the people that hire them. The people that rent to them. And enforce the law. The same way they do down there. Shut down the border and remove the incentives to be here.

I'm sorry, jimkim; I didn't express myself very well. I was trying to give you sort of a backhanded compliment for NOT sounding racist, and for not blowing the problem all out of proportion or blaming it on the wrong people. Sometimes I get too clever for my own good...

It sounds to me like we're actually pretty much in agreement.

[jimkim]

I have been hearing about it for years now. All of you have too. I don't believe it will be quick. I do believe it can be fixed but it wont happen if we don't start. I say we start by enforcing the law. Why is that a problem? If your house is on fire do you discuss how it started or do you try to put it out? We already have laws that can be used to prosecute. Extend the Rico act to include the people that hire illegally. If a person takes part in a conspiracy he should loose his property and funds gained in this illegal activity. This would include everyone involved with the conspiracy. Oh thanks Troy I saw the smile so I figured we sort of agreed. I just think we should do everything we can to make it a money loosing proposition. I'm not endorsing kicking in doors. When we arrest them part of the check for warrants should include citizenship status. Just enforce the law.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

Sweet, you are now an expert on how I think too. For crying out loud Mitch have you ever read any of my posts? Immigration is indeed a problem but I have different views than you. I don't want secret immigration police grabbing immigrants and just deporting them, jailing them or otherwise detaining them. I also don't want a nation ID system nor do I want a 50 foot wall on each border and throttled sea and air ways. I don't want to live in a minimum security prison. I don't want the military involved or any of that. I am not sure where you get how I am anti-american about that. I also haven't heard any of your ideas, but I am sure they are just excellent, well thought, and probably better than most, oh and that was sarcasm if you couldn't tell.

When did I ever say anything negative about the USA?

When did I ever even bring up Marxism?

What in the hell are you even talking about?

Do you read what anyone else even posts?

Instead you are already labeling me and going for the low blows, and the funniest thing is, I am really not a liberal, I just have liberal views about certain things.

You constantly blame the US for every ill. This happens in nearly every single thread. I could go back and repost your nonsense but I just ate.