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[quote=”Imxploring”]it’s an addiction…[/quote]
The addiction was created by the inaction of our elected Congressmen, all of them. So the issue remains: What is to be done to correct the problem of welfare?
I think you and I can agree that there are those who need and deserve our help.
WE ARE OUT BROTHERS KEEPER. There are several issues that need to be resolved along with the main.1 – The average voter in the U.S. does not take the time to think through the issues that are important to their lives. Economically they overspend, politically they vote their emotions and they pay little attention to the direction that our Congress is taking. The best example of this is how Social Security, initiated as a safety net for retirees, became a tax like any other that was available to the government to cover financial shortfall.
2 – If [b]bureaucracies[/b] are not the solution to running these programs then what?
[b]Commercial businesses[/b]? There are issues here, too, of profit and competition for a government guaranteed payout.
[b]Non-profit organizations[/b]? What issues might be faced in going this route?
[b]Foundations[/b] such as Bill Gates, George Soros and the Kaiser family (Kaiser Permanente) have initiated? How are the managers who run these foundations held accountable?Addressing the issue of managing a welfare system first, we have examples of each of our options.
Bureaucracies become management top-heavy and those who are appointed to run them do not necessarily have the skills or knowledge to manage them.
Commercial business requires a profit which, in this case, is inappropriate to the solution of reducing costs.
Do we have examples of non-profits that are well managed and are held accountable for the funds spent? I have investigated a few and am not enamored of the percentage used to run them.
Do we have examples of foundations that are well managed? This is a question that only the men and women who fund them can answer.
My thoughts, and I accept valid argument with alternative solutions, are these:
Social Security, as with any account with excess assets, should have been invested from the beginning. If this had been done we would not be discussing the issue of welfare. This was a huge lack of foresight on the part of every elected administration and Congress since 1938. I am not aware of any elected official who has thought issue about this much less proposed it in Congress.
Medicare and Medicaid were barely funded from the start. As should have been done with Medicare/Medicaid the first five years of any healthcare plan should be over funded.
There has to be a way to calculate the necessary over funding in order for investment purposes to assure that it is solvent from the start and there must be a limit for the over funding written into the legislation from its initiation with the stipulation that the funds can not be invested in any government issued instruments. Interests paid on Treasuries and government bonds are too low. We cannot depend on Congress to terminate the over funding when it has reached an adequate balance or to consider it a source of government funding as Social Security has become.
While it is true that the markets face downturns, look at the results that would have funded Social Security over the decades. I don’t believe you can find a decade in which investments were down.
[quote=”Imxploring”][quote=”DavidCMurray”]When you lurk behind a pseudonym; You could be the biggest fool on the block[/quote]
This has gotten off into a series of personal attacks rather than a discussion of the issues.
If you look at the history of the U.S it is a history of two Americas.
The first U.S., from 1776 until WW I in 1917 and accelerated with WW II in 1941, the U.S. was pretty much a backwater nation. What we lost during and after those two wars was our family connections. Up until then families generally hung together in the same households or at least the same communities. Most homes were multi-generational and the generation or generations in the middle provided for the care of the oldest and youngest generations.
World War I brought about a change and the second war propelled young men from the farms and cities to new places that they found interesting enough that many of them returned to their original homes only briefly and then left for other places thy had seen. They married in locations distant from their parents and the family disconnect was in progress. The older generation no longer had the close support of their children and grand children.
Since the Second World War we have been a nation on the move. We have relied more and more on the government to provide the assistance that had been previously provided by close family ties. There were a host of additional factors like the availability of employment, corporations buying out family farms as examples which added to the family disconnect.
Now the U.S. is certainly in decline. I think we all agree on that point. We wont see the destruction of the U.S. as happened to Rome. It will simply become “just another nation” among many.
The return to our previous multi-generational families is not possible. Who then cares for your mother and father in their old age? You can say “My parents are well set in their retirement.” or “My retirement is assured.” but certainly all of us will not be well set for retirement.
If you divorce, who cares for your children? Many men are not providing the support that their children need and you can always take the tack of saying “Not me. I am a responsible father.” This then implies that you are able to see into the future and predict your future circumstances. What happens to you and your family if, God forbid, you become unable to provide for your family for any of a number of reasons?
Bureaucracies are, by their nature, not the most efficient or effective organizations to deal with these problems but what other options do you provide for us? I have seen no alternative solutions here. All I have read is the ranting of fear for the loss of a dollar to help someone you do not know and in whose shoes you and I have never and can never walk.
Are we our brothers keeper? or do we just ignore the vet who lost his limbs in war or a mother whose ex-husband has decided he will not pay for his progeny?
I reiterate a previous statement that I made: It is the responsibility of every citizen to make sure that only those who deserve our support are getting it.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]And that freedom to worship in any we wish has implicit within it the freedom not to worship at all. Freedom [b]of[/b] religion surely implies equally freedom [b]from[/b] religion.[/quote]
Which then means that one person can dictate to millions that they have no right to freedom of expression.
Being reasonable would mean that the child would exit the room for the minute or so that it takes to recite the pledge…but then who wants to be reasonable?
[quote=”philharmonic”] Dumbing down of America[/quote]
The vast majority of American citizens don’t bother to take the time to inform themselves in several areas, most notably poitics, economics and their rights as citizens.
If you read the Constitution thoroughly, [b][u]Amendment 8[/u][/b] lays out the things that Congress is required to address. There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits Congress from spending your tax money in any way they see fit.
Among the items that are required of Congress are to [b]”provide for the common Defense and [u]general Welfare of the United States.”[/u][/b]
One of the things that I see as consistent under that requirement is for the assistance of those citizens in [b]NEED[/b]. I precluding those who are fully capable of making it on their own but are too lazy to do so and those who have assets that are outrageously inappropriate to the definition of needy.
That said I have several arguements regarding the current interpretation of several of the Bill of Rights. Some take into consideration the times in which it was written.
If you want to argue something worthwhile consider the fact that one lone athiest in California, with the aid of the 9th Circuit Court and the Supreme Court, was able to stop the Pledge of Allegiance in schools because he didn’t want his daughter exposed to the phrase “One nation under God”.
The first amendment does not entitle anyone with freedom [b]from[/b] religion. Its intent was to allow us to have the freedom to worship in any way we wished.:cry:
[quote=”philharmonic”]NO WELFARE ALLOWED.[/quote]
Like I said – I can see that neither side will convince the other.
[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”DavidCMurray”](But I wonder what the risks/penalties might be.)[/quote]
Deportation and jail time?:lol: Kind of expensive for no taxes due.
All the IRS is interested in is that you owe.[/quote]Second thought Scott, you scare the hell out of me. The IRS would come after “their $10,000” whether justified or not.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”](But I wonder what the risks/penalties might be.)[/quote]
Deportation and jail time?:lol: Kind of expensive for no taxes due.
All the IRS is interested in is that you owe.I have three LLC’s, none with income. I don’t think the feds want to hear about them.
[quote=”mpgyacht”]It also has no water and I got an estimated price for drilling and installation of a water pump of $35K. [/quote]
There are two prices for everything in Costa RIca. What the Ticos pay and what Americans pay which is about three times as much.[quote=”philharmonic”]Yes I do advocate a 10% accross the board tax for individuals and Business.[/quote]
A drop in the bucket!!!!
Watching this discussion play out I can see that neither side will convince the other.
What I do know is that left to voluntarily helping those who truly need help will never work. Those who have enough, however you define enough, there is always something else that is more important. I am an example of this myself.
Unlike those who are younger, who can be categorized in several ways from just getting by to those who play one-ups-man-ship to those who are keeping up with the Jones’s to those who are outright greedy, we who are retired live in a different situation. Our work lives are done and our income is what it is.
We, my wife and I, are in Costa Rica because we know that we have a guaranteed income, small as it is, but we also have a need to pay back to society for a decent life. We have never been rich, never owned a new car or anything near it. What we can do in Costa Rica we could never do in the States.
There are those who think that, no matter what they have, more is better and there are those who think I have a little extra that I can give to help.
The current situation in the States is what I consider dire. In my lifetime (post depression) things have never been worse. Eight years of GWB comes about as close as anything can to destroying the U.S. as an economic and military power. The Congress is perpetuating programs that outlived their usefulness long ago. They are wasting taxpayer money every time they turn around and catering to the lobby industry against the best interests of the public. David has argues against term limits but the longer our elected officials are in office the less they head the wishes of the public they represent.
My view is, leaving God and church out of the argument, we have a responsibility to those who cannot do for themselves.
With that said, I know that there are going to be some who take unfair advantage. There are those who are capable of earning a living but are too lazy to do so and there are those who own a Cadillac but cannot afford to feed their family.
It is the responsibility of every one of us to do everything possible to weed these people out of any welfare programs.
[quote=”maravilla”]the renewal thing is pretty easy in san ramon. my experience was about going to La Uruca to get my FIRST license.[/quote]
I went to Uruca for mine, first license, and had it in about 30 minutes. Seems like “all day” is pretty much nonexistent.Even Migracion has improved. Even though it has been 16 months in process, I rarely spend more than 30 minutes each time I am there.
[quote=”paula1″]Is it necessary to be a resident of CR to obtain a Costa Rican driver’s license?
Thanks
Paula[/quote]
I have had my documents in Migracion since August 2008. No residency yet but I obtained my CR drivers lisnece last March.[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Interestingly, the Obama Administration didn’t establish any of these. Not one. It inherited them all.[/quote]
There are those who believe that when Obama became president he was responsible for all of the problems he inherited.
You an I disagree on term limits but I would hate to see another inept term with GWB.
Before he was elected I said he was a failure at everything he attempted now we can add president of the U.S. to that list.
With Cheney and all of the appointees that were tied to Project for a New American Century the administration had a definite leaning toward Fascism.
Most voter didnt dig deeply enough to find out what they were voting for. This is truly a lack of intelligence, literally and figuatively.
[quote=”jamesgoshen4″]I have spoken to my parents who reside in the Guapiles area. They have reported that there has been quite a few earthquakes tremors that have been experienced. Any one else out there have any comments?[/quote]
All quiet in Ciudad Colon. The November quake was two sharp raps and done. Nothing else but little quivers. One thing, though, a whole lot of small quakes generall prevent a large one. One of the things I looked at before moving to CR was earthquakes. I didn’t find anything in the past 20 years above a 6.5. I’ll accept that.
[quote=”Scott”]I must confess that I do NOT understand the concept that the US is moving towards “socialism.”
Surely we are talking about fascism…?
The fourteen characteristics of fascism from [ http://www.fascismusa.com/ ]
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights – Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause – The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military – Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism – The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media – Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined – Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected – The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections – Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.[/quote]
That sounds like a description of the George W. Bush administration.
[quote=”sueandchris”]Over the last couple of years, there have been a few mentions of the average cost of electric bills in Costa Rica. Members have posted figures that range from $35/month up to $500/month. It would be VERY helpful to those of us who are looking at real estate purchases/rentals if some of you who already live there would “chime in” with some figures. However, these estimates would only be helpful if you would also state what appliances and usage comprise those numbers AND the general size of your home. This is the sort of detailed information that I’m sure many of us would greatly appreciate! Thanks![/quote]
We are probably atypical with 11 persons ([b]7 school kids[/b]) in our 2500 sq ft home but have most of what you would consider American needs. No heat or air conditioning and our clothes dryer and kitchen stove are gas.
Washer, hot water heat, computers, 2 refrigerators, 7 cuft freezer, 3 sterios 4 TVs and all the small things that usse little juice individually but combine for quite a bit.
Our bill runs [b]about 70,000 colones ($125)[/b] per month.
