my connection with the tea party

[kandrathe]

The term "tea bagger" has more than one meaning. In this case, it is used by those as a disparaging term to describe the group of idiots that call themselves The Tea Party. There is absolutely no sexual connotation in the term when it is used in reference to the political party.

Sure. Show me where the other meaning is defined.

As far as unwarranted wire tapping, suspension of due-process, secret prisons, and yada yada yada, no disagreement from me there. In fact, it just helps my point further that its time to get the hell out of here

The grass is always greener on the other side of the border.

I'm not saying government needs to do everything for us. It doesn't, and it shouldn't. But when it comes to healthcare, I will fight you tooth and nail on this issue.

Right, but we aren't talking about health care. We are talking about insurance and how health care providers get paid. Why do you think doctors, and nurses resist becoming employees of the government? Why aren't all hospitals owned by the State apparatchik?

We are the ONLY advanced democracy (well, if you can even call it that, I think that went down the toilet with the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United but that's another matter) that doesn't have universal healthcare. Sorry, but in this department, we are NOT the center of the universe my friend. We need to catch up to the rest of the world, not the other way around, in the healthcare department. Even friggin Cuba, a 3rd world country, has universal healthcare. Not that I would choose to live in Cuba over living here, but surely if they can supply this basic and most intrinsic need to its citizens, we can too. We just choose not to, because profits are more important than the well-being and general health of our nations citizens, yes? There is a reason why citizens of the other advanced democracies live longer, healthier, and overall happier lives than we do, and much of that is attributed to socialized medicine, among other reasons.

There are many factors you are ignoring. First of which is how the statistics are tallied.

That means me paying more taxes to take care of someone who I don't even know or will never meet or have no knowledge that they even exist. But as a good citizen, it is my duty to help out my fellow citizens (including the evil tea baggers, the very same people suffering from false consciousness that wish to have completely privatized healthcare at their own peril), for the sake of having a progressive civil society, therefore I'd be willing to do it. Gasp! Helping someone else out. People get hurt, people get sick. I guess in our country, that's a crime.

So, why don't you fight to get the same tax structure as say Denmark? Low income people pay 30%, and highest income people pay up to 52% which is far less progressive than in the US, where half of income earners pay no income tax whatsoever.

Congrats to your friend. But not everyone is that fortunate and/or lucky (especially in the current economy). For everyone who has such luck, there are many who do not. Your experience is purely anecdotal evidence, and not necessarily a reflection of the general of how things really are in the big picture.

Not necessarily, but it shows how an economy reverts to barter when we find ourselves without money.

Ever seen SICKO? Good documentary, give it a watch if you haven't already

I refuse to watch Moore's deceptive propaganda films.

Good for you that you can afford to pay 13,500 dead presidents every year toward the profit making commodity that is health insurance. Clearly, you are quite well off. Here's a cookie. Now...The median household income was just over $46,000 in 2010....I imagine that most if not all of these people can afford such a luxury, as $13,500 wouldn't be a serious chunk of change for them. Right. Tell me, where can I buy a pair of your rose-colored glasses at? And do they cost under $13,500?

I was quoting the average family cost for health insurance. Often the employer pays about 60% of that cost.

Beavis and Butthead? Mhmmm, your ad hominems (or weak attempt at) won't get you very far with me. Save em'.

It wasn't ad-hominem. It was a commentary on your use of the term "dill weed" made popular by Beavis and Butthead.

I have my issues with the democrats as well, but more so for their weak character and hastiness to appease and/or sell out to the neo-cons and less so for their actual political ideology or stances. Truth be told both parties seem one and the same right now.

They are one and the same because they serve the same masters.

Obama is a conservative democrat at best, but certainly not the progressive he campaigned as. At the end of the day, I don't think either party has ordinary citizens interest in mind (Obama even admitted this during his American Jobs Act statement last week!), but the Republicans, and especially the Tea Party, are extremely out of touch with reality.

They are all out of touch with "The People", and many with reality. Obama is President because his political operation catered to the right money machines, and he made good by handing out $Trillions$ to his political cronies.

Link doesn't work btw, but I know what the tea party stands for in general, and its all a load of crap and misinformation spewed forth by Faux News. Good day.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1436

It was -- "March 24, 2010 - Tea Party Could Hurt GOP In Congressional Races, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Dems Trail 2-Way Races, But Win If Tea Party Runs"