[funnyPasds]

I meant a "soft" draft as in drafting free volunteers in order to avoid an all-out draft.

(in my larry the cable guy voice) that there is some real fancy double talk missy!

[casinobonusa]

The world is full of double standards. Especially your quotes in your signature.

[funnyPasds]

The world is full of double standards. Especially your quotes in your signature.

there is no double standard in my qoutes. Yogi Berra was talking about who was going to win next years world series. Predicting the winners of specific sporting events in the future, like the winner of the world series, is very hard to do with any accuracy. The outcome of these types of events is random. That's why people wager on these things.

Trends however, especially for specific individuals, are very predictable. EXAMPLE: If you save and invest 10% of your earnings from every paycheck going forward and don't spend it, you will have money in the future in the event of an emergency. The higher the percentage of your income that you save, and the longer the time period, the more of a safety net you will create for yourself.

BUT, If you choose not to save any percentage and instead spend all the money you earn, you are making the decision to become a victim in the event of a catasrophe. Therefore it is your choice. Always.

You will probably say " but my bills take all of my check", or "I can't afford to save any money". To that, I say bullshit. Those are excuses. There are areas that you can cut back on, always. Start with cable TV, or your cell phone, or clothing, dry cleaning, dinners out, cigarettes, booze, Lottery tickets, etc. These are all discretionary spending choices. Your choices control your future. You make your own choices. Therefore you are responsible for your future. Always.

PS= When you take total responsibility for everything that happens in your life, your life will become 10 times better. trust me, I know.

[casinobonusa]

You will probably say " but my bills take all of my check", or "I can't afford to save any money". To that, I say bullshit. Those are excuses. There are areas that you can cut back on, always. Start with cable TV, or your cell phone, or clothing, dry cleaning, dinners out, cigarettes, booze, Lottery tickets, etc. These are all discretionary spending choices. Your choices control your future. You make your own choices. Therefore you are responsible for your future. Always I agree that you can control spending. I do all of my budgeting correctly and I always seem to have some money left over, but the line is thin. For others that make less than me, it's not that easy. It's not always controlable circumstance. Shit happens didn't you know that? You are a very sheltered man - no offense.

[funnyPasds]

I agree that you can control spending. I do all of my budgeting correctly and I always seem to have some money left over, but the line is thin. For others that make less than me, it's not that easy. It's not always controlable circumstance. Shit happens didn't you know that? You are a very sheltered man - no offense.

No, I'm not a sheltered man. I am a disciplined man. I come from a poor family. We had nothing, and nothing to put it in. I got a paper route at age 12. From this I learned how to budget and save money. Nothing sheltered about it. My sister is a study in contrasts. She blames the world for her situation. But we had exactly the same opportunities in life, I just made better choices. She's broke, I'm not. Choices. Simple.

[casinobonusa]

Obviously things went your way in spite of it all. Not the case for some.

[ahagotyou]

One thing I have learned over my 40+ years is that the SOTU address is loaded with the same platitudes regardless of who is doing the speaking. It's all just smoke and mirrors. Now, thankfully, we have a divided government (again) and nothing will get done. This means far less damage to our pocketbooks.

We can only hope. I am a proponent of occasional legislative gridlock and hopefully Bush's rubber stamp will just become a new chewtoy for Barney.

Bush will be going, "hey where's that rubber stamp, I could have sworn I left it around here soimewhere"

*looks under cusion*

*looks behind couch*

BARNEY!!!!

*Barney scurries off into a mousehole with the rubber stamp, refuses to come out till 2009.*

But seriously, I was wondering what he was talking about. Probably just giving the dog a bone. If it's some kind of you owe us civil service when you turn 18 commie bullshit I am totally against.

If it's some kind of, get more civilian contractors to take care of businesss, I'm for it.

[Thifiadardivy]

Obviously things went your way in spite of it all. Not the case for some.

You missed half his post. Nothing 'went his way' without interference. His attitude and actions made things go his way. His sisters attitude made things go the way they went for her.

[Andoror]

Maybe Bush would be able to grasp the purpose of the military if he had served.

He flew a fighter jet during Nam... Something Kerry could only dream of.

[Andoror]

Since were all speculating on what it is, perhaps it is simply an extension of the Army core of engineers. “Only qualified civilians with critical skills…”
I don’t see what ya’ll are so critical about. I don’t see you jumping at the chance to get out of that cubical and find out the real definition of being a man. This comfortable secure life you live is a temporary result of those who did.

[Ferkilort]

Alex, you said

"Your past decisions create your current cirmcumstances. It is always your choice, always." So, if I was one of the 3,000 people killed in the twin towers attack it was my choice to have a bunch of fanatic suicidal terrorists fly into my workplace and kill me ?

[Intockatt]

Since were all speculating on what it is, perhaps it is simply an extension of the Army core of engineers. “Only qualified civilians with critical skills…”
I don’t see what ya’ll are so critical about. I don’t see you jumping at the chance to get out of that cubical and find out the real definition of being a man. This comfortable secure life you live is a temporary result of those who did.

What is your definition of a real man ?

[casinobonusa]

You missed half his post. Nothing 'went his way' without interference. His attitude and actions made things go his way. His sisters attitude made things go the way they went for her.

I know this, thank you. I was just saying that inspite of everything he came out wealthy. In the world called "reality" it doesn't always work out that way. There is always "what if". People shouldn't take things for granted because things can be there one day and gone the next. Of course, his sister's attittude isn't helping her any. This isn't so much about attitude, but some people lose faith in things. It doesn't mean they suck.

[casinobonusa]

Alex, you said



So, if I was one of the 3,000 people killed in the twin towers attack it was my choice to have a bunch of fanatic suicidal terrorists fly into my workplace and kill me ?

Yeah that is what he means I think. This is why his statement is completely unreasonable, in my opinion.

[TheBestCheapestOEM]

So about Bush's new civilian corps....why do we need more civilians in Iraq?
We have 100,000 now.

• Their deaths are not counted.
• They cost us taxpayers up to $2,000 a day for the hired guns.
• They don't follow military law, US law, or Iraqi law

Oh is that why?

Democracy Now! | Blackwater Down: Fresh From Iraq, Private Security Forces Roam the Streets of an American City With Impunity

Our mercenaries in Iraq - Los Angeles Times

Here is what the military thinks about the civilian hired guns in Iraq.

The current business boom is in Iraq. Blackwater charges its clients $1,500 to $2,000 a day for each hired gun. Most security contractors, like Blackwater's teams, live a comfortable if exhausting existence in Baghdad, staying at the Sheraton or Palestine hotels, which are not plush but at least have running water. Locals often mistake the guards for special forces or CIA personnel, which makes active-duty military troops a bit edgy. "Those Blackwater guys," says an intelligence officer in Iraq, "they drive around wearing Oakley sunglasses and pointing their guns out of car windows. They have pointed their guns at me, and it pissed me off. Imagine what a guy in Fallujah thinks." Adds an Army officer who just returned from Baghdad, "They are a subculture." When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines -- Monday, Apr. 12, 2004 -- Page 1 -- TIME

[funnyPasds]

Alex, you said



So, if I was one of the 3,000 people killed in the twin towers attack it was my choice to have a bunch of fanatic suicidal terrorists fly into my workplace and kill me ?

You didn't choose to die or choose to have terrorists attack the building, but you did choose to be in that building at the specific time, so therefore you are ultimately responsible. PS: Responsibility is not the same as blame.

[Ferkilort]

You didn't choose to die or choose to have terrorists attack the building, but you did choose to be in that building at the specific time, so therefore you are ultimately responsible. PS: Responsibility is not the same as blame.

Totally disagree, The only thing I'm responsible for is being the building. I'm not responsible for actions outside of my control or knowledge, therefore the ultimate responsibility for my death or injury lies with those who caused it, that is: the terrorists

If the terrorists had not attacked, then at the end of the day those people would have been there unharmed. Thus their circumstances were changed and those responsible for that change were the terrorists.

[funnyPasds]

Totally disagree, The only thing I'm responsible for is being the building. I'm not responsible for actions outside of my control or knowledge, therefore the ultimate responsibility for my death or injury lies with those who caused it, that is: the terrorists

If the terrorists had not attacked, then at the end of the day those people would have been there unharmed. Thus their circumstances were changed and those responsible for that change were the terrorists.

IMHO, you are still responsible. You are not to blame, but you are still responsible. Keep working on it, you are halfway there!! If not, hey, no worries my friend. It is your life and you can choose to live it however you like. It's no sweat off my nose.

Personally, I accept TOTAL repsonsibility for EVERYTHING that happens in my life. Everything. The day I started accepting total responsibility for everything in my life, my life became better and better. Funny thing is, it just keeps getting better! Good Luck!

[Ferkilort]

IMHO, you are still responsible. You are not to blame, but you are still responsible. Keep working on it, you are halfway there!! If not, hey, no worries my friend. It is your life and you can choose to live it however you like. It's no sweat off my nose.

Personally, I accept TOTAL repsonsibility for EVERYTHING that happens in my life. Everything. The day I started accepting total responsibility for everything in my life, my life became better and better. Funny thing is, it just keeps getting better! Good Luck!

Ah well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Out of curiousity have you looked up responsibility in the dictionary ? It seems to have an awful lot more to do with how I view the situation than you do.

I assume then that if your house were to burn down tonight, you wouldn't summon the fire brigade or ambulance service if someone were injured?

[funnyPasds]

I assume then that if your house were to burn down tonight, you wouldn't summon the fire brigade or ambulance service if someone were injured?

why wouldn't I? that makes no sense. If my house burned down, it would (most likely) be an accident. As I have already stated twice in this thread, accepting responsibility is not the same as accepting BLAME. Blame looks backwards, responsibility is forward looking. That being said, I would accept responsiblity for the fire and move forward with my life. So of course I would call the fire dept or an ambulance, that is what responsible people do. I would be very bummed out, but like an intelligent RESPONSIBLE person, I have insurance for these types of things. Accidents can happen, they aren't your fault or blame. But you are still responsible for how you RESPOND to these things. Connect the dots yet?? if not, keep working at it. Just remember, no matter what happens you are ultimately responsible for your own life.