When senior citizens, who are depending on their Social Security checks as their only source of income, hear the word "denied," to a one-time stimulus $250 check to help them out because they have not had a cost of living increase for the past two years, one can be assured that many low-income families will be pushed back into poverty during the next two years.
If you look back before Obama, former President George W. Bush put us all into this great depression. The unjust war in Iraq has plummeted us into a giant quicksand hole that we might never be able to get out of.
Who will suffer the most? The children, elderly and the disabled.
As for the rich? Many will do everything in their power to get there.
For example, Sarah Palin, quitting being governor of Alaska just to boost her bankroll with speeches and book and television reality deals. Even Bush, who left a sinking Washington behind, moving into his new multi-million dollar home and a fat check waiting for him for the book he is now promoting.
Mainers, beware of Republican Paul LePage and his new Republican cronies who will be governing our state. They will make major cuts into programs that will be affecting the poorest of Maine citizens — the elderly, children and those who are disabled.
Rolande Caron, South Paris
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It has been said before
And should be said again. If Lepage wants to really help our state then he should move to cut the size of our State Legislature and Senate down in size. This is where the States waste is located. Sixteen counties > 16 reps and 16 state senators. To get the odd vote give the extra senate seat to the largest populated area and the extra rep seat the largest county that is largest land area. That would make both houses at 17. The savings would be in the millions. Then look at the RSU restructuing calamity. Is there going to be a real savings? I don't think so! Because the Dept. of Ed and our outgoing Governor made the mistake of saying that their would be no school closings. They have said that systems within this new RSU that have schools within an 8 mile radius will combine then you would have true savings. Common sense.
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some watchdog, first thing you would have to do is change the US Constitution, since what you propose is unconstitutional, according to the Supremes.
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The RSU just didn't go far enough, what happened to consolidating schools and programs? Instead of consolidating schools the remaining superintendents immediately began expanding their little chiefdoms by expanding the number of personel by adopting every program that was in any of the original SADs that went into their RSUs into every school with the personnel to do it in the new RSU, they also dreamed up a few new ones for good measure, none of these has anything to do with educating our kids, bullying, cyber bullying. . .all adding to the tax bill. Time to pull the plug on the superintendents that got to stay and replace them with ones who want to get down to the business of educating our kids in reading, writing, arithmatic, science, history, the arts, and other things they can get our kids ready for college, jobs, and life.
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Gov Palin saved Alaskan tax payers millions in legal fees brought on by Dem operatives who had parachuted into Alaske to "dig" up as much dirt and legal challenges as they could find. Or invent.
Mr Caron you conveniently forget Sen Dodd who announced his retirement after the bogus healthcare (stealthcare) bill was made into law. Mr Dodd is retiring to his estate in Ireland. (I'll give you a hint, it's a castle) Or HOW did Bill and Hillary go from owing MILLIONs in legal fees to being worth in excess of 100 million in six years? I guess we won't mention Charlie Wrangle, or Bawney Fwank. What is their real worth. What about....Al Gore....who loses, grows a beard.....becomes unhinged....establishes a new religion....wins a Nobel prize for it and who knows how much He is worth trading Carbon Credits that is a currency he helped invent, which many now worship.....How about O'Bama, he ANNOUNCES for president and writes a book and immediately makes millions based on a biography that may have been FICTION. And, he wins a NOBEL prize for not being George Bush. Jeez. They are all the same, we need to get rid of these people, they thrive on Power like vampire bats. Because....its a good career....write books....make lots of money....say what you NEED to say to be re-elected. Hey what a deal. But....WE are paying for it. Time to Cut them off. Incidentally, Social Security has become a LIE.
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GREAT posts, and I don't understand how anyone could/would argue with you!
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The parrot seems to think "on principle" would be a good reason. Typical liberal, eh?
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Boo-hoo, a mean old nasty Republican got elected and now he will starve the children, take away the meds form seniors, and push the disabled out of their wheel chairs. The state is in a budget crisis and the libs would rather raise taxes on working families than make cuts and live within our means. They play this BS game every time cuts are called for. "Not my program" is their favorite war cry. There are plenty of bloated programs that need the deadwood cut out and would save the state millions and still provide for those who can't provide for themselves for legitimate reasons. Just eliminating the over staffed bureaucracy alone would clear up payrolls and save plenty. Hire some independent consultants to hit every branch of state funded offices and clear house. Then clear the subsidy rolls of the deadbeats. Half could be gotten rid of with mandatory drug testing. And I would love to find out where our resident racist had a paycheck signed by a homeless person.
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Drug testing before for those getting food stamps and other assistance from the state. No extra money for those women having multiple children to get extra monies. One mistake is forgivable. Two is a no,no. The men who do the fathering should be paying the support price tag wehter married or not. If the female refuses to expose the father then no benefits should be given. There are many areas Gil that should be changed but will they. I doubt it because everyone is afraid of the whiners.
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I'll agree with you IF you agree to eliminate 'business lunches,' 'company' vehicles that are only used for personal uses, 'conventions', used primarily for vacations, and not the mention, the 'working' vacations, where people will meet someone for five minutes and then have the company pay all expenses. And eliminate all 'uniforms', country club memberships and all the other 'perks' that companies get the government to pay for. Let's completely equal the playing field and let the company heads pay for living, like the rest of us.
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Lepage has said all along that balancing the budget was going to be difficult. It is going to be difficult. Maine taxpayers simply cannot be asked to provide more revenue, and thousands of Mainers depend on social programs. If Lepage was all about reckless cutting, he would have said balancing the budget was going to be easy. If he was to indiscriminately slash spending he could balance the budget by lunchtime on his first day in office.
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but I never said indiscriminately slash anything. I said hire consultants to cut the deadwood. Show the redundancy and unnecessary personnel and real estate and get rid of it. At the same time start weeding out those who are ripping off the state and us through misuse of our tax dollars. It won't be overnight, but it could be rather quick if taken seriously.
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you people are insane
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you people are insane
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"They will make major cuts into programs that will be affecting the poorest of Maine citizens — the elderly, children and those who are disabled." It's so much easier to pick on those least able to defend themselves!
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How about a little Brie with the whine, Lilly?
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They gave our $250 check to millionaires and billionaires where it was most needed.
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Are you aware, Woody, that Pingree and Michaud, a couple of democRATS, by voting against the tax bill, voted against the tax cuts for the middle class?
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Actually, they both voted FOR the tax cut for the middle class, they simply voted AGAINST all the pork for the wealthy that was included in this bill. Excuse me, it's only pork if it benefits the little people, if it benefits the wealthy, they're 'entitled.'
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Not to mention voting against the extension of unemployment benefits for all the unemployed workers they profess to value and have such compassion for. But you all voted Miss, my residence is really in the Virgin Islands and I fly around on mine and my fiance's private jet Pingree and stick-it to 'em Michaud right back into their cushie money grubby offices so they could help themselves to some more and of course screw you some more too. You asked for it and they are giving it to you.
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Your boy,oBAMa, could have authorized it by Executive Order, but he didn't did he?
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Does Rolande even have a clue as to why there were no Social Security increases for the last two years? Probably not, but here goes: The annual COLA (cost of living increases) for Social Security recipients are directly tied to increases in the rate of inflation in the cost of living index. Since no increases in the rate of inflation were recorded for the last two years, thus, no raises for Social Security recipients. As far as denial of the $250 one time stimulus payment to offset this absence of a Social Security raise, you'll have to talk to your buddy, oBAMa, about that one, Rolande. The "denial" took place on HIS watch not Georg Bush's.
What, exactly, do you have against the rich, Rolande? Have you ever had a paycheck that was signed by a homeless person? Did you ever have one that was signed by someone who's salary was $39,000 a year? The rich are what make this country go, Rolande. They pay 80% of all taxes in this country. Why shouldn't they be allowed to participate in the BUSH tax cuts just like the rest of us? You'd probably see it differently if you were worth $30 million.
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No, Rolande has it correct. When the chance arrived to help seniors with a mere one time payment of $250, to help with the increase prices, the REPUBLICANS said NO, the few billions that it would cost will be a budget buster. BUT, the insisted that giving millionaires and billionaires TRILLIONS of free money, well, that was OK. The time for you rich SOB's to start doing your share to save this country, but I know you guys don't care.
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Excuse me, the Democrats have had the majority in both the House and Senate for 6 very long years, so how can it be the Republicans that stopped the $250 payment to seniors? Think again, it was those Democrats voting No who are alway blame Bush (out of office 2 years now) and the minority Republicans, otherwise the bill would have passed as, ahhh, it takes a majority not a minority to pass a bill. Had the majority, the Democrats, voted yes, the seniors would have gotten their much deserved $250. If the Democrats weren't fudging the numbers seniors also would have gotten a raise the past three periods with OBAMA (One Big Ass Mistake, America) at the helm. COLA not gone up, my ass, it is costing me more to live the same for sure. How about you? Gas, oil, electricity, food have all gone up. Obama's interests just don't include America's seniors or the truly disabled so they are getting screwed out of what they paid into Social Security all their working lives or they should get as truly disabled Americans.
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Denial of the $250 Social Security Raise? Obama's proposal last May didn't get to his desk for signature because the Republicans in the Senate (Champions of Fat Cats Everywhere) shot it down.
Last week it again went to the House - http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/12/08/house-bill-social-sec...
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
"A House bill that would have authorized a one-time $250 check to seniors, veterans and the disabled who collect Social Security was defeated in the House Wednesday. The bill was proposed to give citizens on the dole a boost because no cost-of-living increase, or Social Security COLA, was enacted for 2011. Republicans argued that the $14 billion in deficit spending required was out of the question."
We have nothing against the Rich. We simply don't want them getting richer yet at our expense. And yes - my paycheck has been signed by homeless people - as has yours. They get nailed for many more taxes than the 'Income Tax" which they somehow pay to pave and po-lice....
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"The bill was proposed to give citizens on the dole"....The dole? Am I the only one who finds that reference, as it pertains to Social Security recipients, offensive?
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"And yes-my paycheck has been signed by homeless people"
What am I missing here? Clarify that, please. And you're wrong about the Pirate. I've never had the pleasure of a homeless person signing a single one of my paychecks. Unless you're being metaphorical in a sly sort of way....
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Or cadges a ride with one of their buddies and gives 'em a buck for gas - eventually that $$ funneled through the coffers of Guv'mint to policing and paving. Our paychecks, Lad....
Don'tcha ever forget the liddle folks we worked for.....
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We pick on them mercilessly. When they slap us down, like Pirate, we should smile and say "Thank You." We shouldn't begrudge Pirate's gift of a second Mercedes for his wife, parked in his four-bay garage with his BMW and his cool little Spider. Nor should we mind when Pirate checks his Rolex to make sure he gets to the office on time once a week to sign the checks for the little people who work to line his pockets while he pays sub-standard wages with no benefits. We should smile, kiss his diamond rings and say "Thank You oh Worthy Master."
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its so funny that you think "rich" people should pay your way. They may have earned thier money the hard way, may have inherited it from someone else that earned it and you think your entitiled to it? Why cause you are alive? You are entitled to work for it the same way everyone else has or you can continue to whine....whatever you think will work.
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Don't think it was the Romanians.
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Ahh, but, Woody. The Pirate is a pirate of very modest means. I mean, with the economy and all, the pickings are pretty slim out there.
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Stimulus 'Black-topped' half the Boothbay Peninsula.....
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More to come in the spring, too.
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as soon as the rich get their bonuses and tax breaks this time its going to work after all Republicans love us all. One used to be able to work up from being poor, start a business and hire people. It is sad we only count on wealthy today as most of them either inherited money, became politician's and stole from tax payer's or sold drugs to get there. Buy American, this is the only way we will get jobs back that politicians and wealthy sent over seas. Do not buy their products and they will bring jobs back. If you do not believe this keep voting for Republicans and waiting for the trickle.
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The ones who inherited money, the politicians or the drug dealers? You make no sense.
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can"t be done anymore. It's the greedy wealthy americans who own the big companies that take their manufacturing outside our boundaries for cheap labor costs and add the profit to their pockets and eliminate jobs here in the US and the Feds let them get away with it. When I say Feds I mean all those elected officials that we voted into office to make the right decisions. Well, they don't. They don't contribute to Social Security but they will live good after they retire from office won't they. Who pays their insurance premiums, who pays for their hobnobbing around the country. Eliminate party offiliations. Wonder what would happen?
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OK watchdog, let's forget the idealistic reasoning and switch to more realistic reasoning for a minute.
First of all, if you owned a clothing manufacturing company, and because of the government regulations, federal, state and local fees and taxes, and the labor unions, you found that you could move your factory to Mexico and produce the same goods for 1/4th of the cost. Wouldn't you move it?
And, please tell me just how the feds/elected officials could stop you? Our finiancial system is based on free enterprise. Do you really think that Congress could legally stop you from doing business wherever you wish?
And, if you busted your rear end to build a company and become a millionaire, don't you think you deserve the finacial gain and priviledges that come as a reward for that sacrifice?
The reality is that with our government intrusion and excessive fees, permits, and taxes, we are driving companys out of the country so that they can make a profit.
Put the blame where it belongs.
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OK watchdog, let's forget the idealistic reasoning and switch to more realistic reasoning for a minute.
First of all, if you owned a clothing manufacturing company, and because of the government regulations, federal, state and local fees and taxes, and the labor unions, you found that you could move your factory to Mexico and produce the same goods for 1/4th of the cost. Wouldn't you move it?
And, please tell me just how the feds/elected officials could stop you? Our finiancial system is based on free enterprise. Do you really think that Congress could legally stop you from doing business wherever you wish?
And, if you busted your rear end to build a company and become a millionaire, don't you think you deserve the finacial gain and priviledges that come as a reward for that sacrifice?
The reality is that with our government intrusion and excessive fees, permits, and taxes, we are driving companys out of the country so that they can make a profit.
Put the blame where it belongs.
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