Sandra Bullock and tsunami relief

[Cliffy777]

hey those movie stars can sure act stupid, but i just wanted to give a shout out to my CPF sandra bullock. she is donating 1 million to the relief efforts following the quake/tsunami.
sure, she got some publicity out of it but a million dollars is a heck of a lot of money from one person. now i noticed that leonardo decaprio is following suit. maybe sandra will start a wave of stars reaching into their pockets.
dang - it sure impressed me (but i am from the mid-west and do impress easy!)
i am the type of person who likes to bitch when movie stars say or do things i figure are stupid so i figured i better brag on one who is putting her dinero where her mouth (heart) is.

[kbasa]

:thumb

[Rich]

I've always had a thing for that lady. Double :thumb

[BMWBeauty]

Two Thumbs Up!! :thumb :thumb

[BradfordBenn]

Yup. :thumb

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Good of her to do so, and don't forget she also donated that same amount to the victims of 9/11 :thumb :thumb

[rocketman]

I recon that the motivation for folks who donate large sums is not unppermost in the minds of the folks who recieve the relief it brings! Good for her for starting a trend, if indeed it does start one.

RM

[jgr451]

And she is so dang cute!!
Demolition Man?Cute,and smart...
Miss Congeniality? Cute,smart and funny...
The list goes on.
Sure she gets something out of the donation,but I can say in all honesty,
Isn't that magnificent??

[mthelmet]

She has my vote. :thumb
Now if the other so called STARS would step up to the plate, instead of bad mouthing everything.
A. Baldwin, Babs Stristrand, Mike Moore, S. Penn and all the others, Lets include the UN guy who called all of us in th USA cheap. :dunno

[JetDoc]

She has my vote. :thumb
Now if the other so called STARS would step up to the plate, instead of bad mouthing everything.
A. Baldwin, Babs Stristrand, Mike Moore, S. Penn and all the others, Lets include the UN guy who called all of us in th USA cheap. :dunno

Not only movie stars... Bill Gates and his buddies could rebuild the whole country out of their petty cash funds!

[Braddog]

Now let's hope some more of the "stars" follow suit. :brow

Good for Ms. Bullock, and I agree, she is darn cute. :thumb

I'm not going to criticize anyone for their lack of donation, though, until I write my own check to the relief effort. Since my wife is the CFO of our family, I suspect that check has already been written.

[username]

Not only movie stars... Bill Gates and his buddies could rebuild the whole country out of their petty cash funds!

it would be better if they donated their money to the US military.

[kbasa]

Not only movie stars... Bill Gates and his buddies could rebuild the whole country out of their petty cash funds!

Gates has a long history of philanthropy. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated to buy computers for schools in the past and is now funding AIDS medication in Africa.

He's a world class guy, no matter what someone thinks of his software.

[YB in IN]

It is reported that Michael Schumacher just coughed up 10 million for relief efforts. Also, some ot the starts of the NBA are goign to donate one thousand dollars for every point that they score in the their next series of games.

[dano]

Maybe Oprah will donate some Pontiac G6's? :D :dunno

Maybe it's just me and I'm suspicious by nature. If Sanda Bullock had wanted to donate $1M, she could have done so anonymously, and......have accomplished the same goal.

Same goes for all the other big donors. They're known by their names for a reason.

Hollywood isn't known for it's common sense and modesty.

[Cliffy777]

yeah, the could have done it without the fanfare, but i was thinking that maybe having some attention paid to the deed might bring more big donors out of the woods.
please pause here for a moment of reflection as this is my 1,000th post. dang - i wanted my 1k post to be pithy, witty, insightful, helpful, and able to leap tall furniture in a single bound. but no - i hadda settle for this.

[username]

Maybe Oprah will donate some Pontiac G6's? :D :dunno

Maybe it's just me and I'm suspicious by nature. If Sanda Bullock had wanted to donate $1M, she could have done so anonymously, and......have accomplished the same goal.

Same goes for all the other big donors. They're known by their names for a reason.

Hollywood isn't known for it's common sense and modesty.

by not being anonymous they also reduce the number of people who take pot shots at them and say, 'hey, sandra bullock is rich, why doesnt she donate 1M to the effort?' sometimes it's a good thing to be recognized for doing good things. anonymous deeds are not superior or inferior. a million bucks puts a lot of food on table over there, whether i know where it came from or not.

it also allows guys like cliffy to post nice notes saying that he noticed and thinks it is a good thing. it's part PR, part philanthropy.

there is a cloud around every silver lining if you look hard enough.

[sfarson]

I'm reminded of the words, "It isn't how much you give but how much you have leftover". Certainly a message for me.

[BradfordBenn]

I do give money to charity, and I give a lot of it anonymously. You know what my biggest pet peeve is about that. Then I get hit up again by them for money, so I started donating with my name and I don't get hit up again by those charities. Seems that the record keepers ain't always talking to each other.

Either way, if she was doing it to be noticed such is life. But she could have done something stupid to be noticed like be hit by a police car while riding a motorcycle... :stick

[username]

Either way, if she was doing it to be noticed such is life. But she could have done something stupid to be noticed like be hit by a police car while riding a motorcycle... :stick

i heard that some guy did just that - he got run over by the cops. he suggested that they shut down the military for a single day. the police thought he was serious, and that stupid, so they ran his ass down.

strangely, he had been convicted of several counts of cattle rustling!

the interconnectedness of all things can be fascinating! :D

[BradfordBenn]

:brad :rofl :rofl

Great, now I have spit water all over my laptop... At least it didn't come through my nose.

[username]

:brad :rofl :rofl

Great, now I have spit water all over my laptop... At least it didn't come through my nose.

mmmm, boogerwater.

[dano]

I donated a sizeable amount, well.....what I could afford, and for me, it was sizeable.

But.....I wanted to keep it (donation) anonymous. I was afraid that if I made it public, the media would find out, wanting to interview me, and then it'd just be a matter of time, until Hollywood found out, and they'd want to make a big star out of me.

Whew.....that was close........... :jawdrop

[rocketman]

I donated a sizeable amount, well.....what I could afford, and for me, it was sizeable.

But.....I wanted to keep it (donation) anonymous. I was afraid that if I made it public, the media would find out, wanting to interview me, and then it'd just be a matter of time, until Hollywood found out, and they'd want to make a big star out of me.

Whew.....that was close........... :jawdrop

Yup I understand that and so did the Beatles as in the following: (slightly modified)

They're gonna put you in the movies
They're gonna make a big star out of you
they'll make a film about a man that gave some money
And all ya ever did was act naturally

.........

:twirl

RM

[jgr451]

Stop it,stop it...

Y'all are killing me!!!


hahahaha!!!

Yeeeesssshh!!!

[Pat Carol]

Well I guess Ms. Bullock feels that she is doing the right thing. YES ! the tsunami was a horrific event in our world history.
Now I am curious. What are countries like Saudi Arabia doing for their fellow man. They have boatloads of cash and a majority of the countries hit by the tsunami are Muslim nations.
Well again here is the U.S. stepping up to the plate to help. We helped protect Muslims in Bosnia. Why are folks like Osama Bin Laden and Meatball Zarquawi wanting to kill all Americans. Those two Boneheads are giving good Muslims a bad rap.
Now getting back to Sandra. She has a nice posterior. She is hot. Now I wonder if she will give Alec Baldwin some money to get out of the U.S. Mr. Baldwin had stated in the first Bush term that he was going to move from the U.S. if G.W. was elected president.
A majority of the Hollywood scene has no idea what is really going on in the world. They are so busy making movies and snorting cocaine. They haven't the time to know the real deal.
I was floored when Ted Turner donated 1 billion dollars to the U.N. Man ! what a jerk. Then too he is the same guy married to Hanoi Jane. That was a big waste of money giving to the U.N. Believe me, I was assigned on some U.N. missions during my military career. I seen firsthand how incompetent that organization is ran.
Well I guess being a Veteran of the first Gulf War and of Operation Enduring Freedom, I heard how Hollywood hotshots bashed on my President. Then they also bashed on myself and fellow mebers of the U.S. Armed Forces. Well without people like me and my fellow brothers and sisters in the military. The
folks that voiced their opinions are lucky to have us defending their rights to free speech.
So take that Micheal Moorer you big fat sloppy unbathed piece of crap. I am ashamed that we live in the same state. I would walk across the street to punch you in that big fat double chinned face. Of course I would wear a Level A hazardous material suit so your ugly doesn't rub off on me.
Alright ! I am done ranting. Getting back to Sandra Bullock. Even though she might be a liberal kind of gal. I'd still jump her bones.


Woo Hoo
Pat Carol

[kbasa]

The same document that gives each of us our freedom also gives people we don't agree with the opportunity to exercise their freedom of choice and opinion as well. It's part of the "melting pot" we learned about in grade school. I might not agree with you, but I'll fight to the death to defend your ability to say it.

Hang one of these in there once in a while, Pat. "?" :D

And thanks for doing the heavy lifting in the service, man.

[tommy]

myself - if someone has the ability to give these folks a million bucks to help in the effort to get their lives back together - i don't care if they buy TV spots on the super bowl & tell the world that they did it - i made a donation to the Red Cross i know i wish i could have given a million! - tommy

PS - has anyone heard the latest death count? - i think the last number i heard was 200,000 men, women, children & babies - makes me wonder what god was thinking sometimes

[Fritzc]

Alright ! I am done ranting. Getting back to Sandra Bullock. Even though she might be a liberal kind of gal. I'd still jump her bones.
Woo Hoo
Pat Carol

And after Julie was done with you, it would be a week before you could see again until the swelling went down. LOL :D

[gambrinus]

I think it was very generous and kind of her to give $1million. The thing is that she could have given $2million. - She is one of the Hollywood hotties that has a standing offer from Playboy for $1million to do a photo shoot. So, if she would just flash the yummy bits for ol Hugh and the crew, then she would have another million to donate to the kids! Come on Sandra, think of the children!!!


RW

[GeoffMiller]

Gosh Gee Wilikers, Gambrinus!! You are a regular Mother Theresa!! Bless you and keep the kiddies in mind! :evil

[Fritzc]

This is unbelievable! The woman gives a million bucks to charity and all some people can do is trash talk her! Maybe some of these trash talkers should come up with a spreadsheet program on how much one is obligated to give away. These brilliant minds could arrive at a percentage in keeping with their income, persona, how many academy awards they have won or which political party they belong to. Some NASCAR racer supposedly gave 20 million $$$$$ to the tsunami relief fund. I didn't hear any one suggesting he give 40 million!!!!!! I'm a liberal democrat and I believe in paying my fair share in taxation, dues, reasonable charges for goods and services and association fees. Charity is whatever you wish to give and is no one else's business. Sandra Bullock did not have to give one cent. Let's give credit where it is deserved.

[Pat Carol]

I think it is very noble that Hollywood heavyweights give so much of their hard earned money to so many foreign countries. Then you have to wonder if any of that money is even making it to those in need that reside in that country.
A great example is Somalia. The government in that country was not getting the food to the needy. The money never made it to the needy of that country. Somali people are still in need. Then look what the warlords did to my military brethren. We were supplying food and they bit the hands trying to feed them.
So back to Hollywood. If they want to give their fortunes away. Why not help out the needy children in the United States. There is no reason that any person in this country should be suffering from hunger.
The schools are falling apart. I blame a lot on Hollwood and the liberal ways that those people preach. Parental rights have been taken away.( DON'T SPANK YOUR KIDS, YOU'LL GO TO JAIL ! ) They have taken prayer out of the schools. The Pledge of Allegience they want changed because it says "Under God"
Our country is going to hell in a hanbag real fast because of those that are in the spotlight are managing to influence the little people. Being liberal is not a bad thing. People that should keep their yap's shut have twisted the liberal way of thinking. It is going to come to a point to where we will be told how many squares of toilet paper is to be used to wipe our butts.
I think that people that are liberal should look at some that claim to be so liberal. Those in the spotlight claiming to be so liberal are destroying our country bit by bit. There are good liberals and bad liberals. There are good republicans and bad republicans.
Look how Micheal Moorer has twisted so much about the truth. He is a big fat liar with influence from Hollywood. If he is so great, What has he done for Flint, Michigan ? He is not a liberal. He is a communist ! He would be better off in North Korea. That is the kind of person that should be looked upon by the liberals. That is what gives liberals a bad rap.


One Proud American Republican
Pat Carol :)

[Fritzc]

This is me Pat. I hope I will still be welcome at your "Lighthouse Breakfast"
Fritz :dunno

lib·er·al ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbr-l, lbrl)
adj.

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.
Archaic. Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.

[dancogan]

Imagine that. No state imposed religion. Where can people pray if they can't pray in school? Oh, my goodness, what's the world coming to?

:stick

[BradfordBenn]

Imagine that. No state imposed religion. Where can people pray if they can't pray in school? Oh, my goodness, what's the world coming to?

:stick

As long as there are tests in school, there will be prayer in school ;)

[dancogan]

As long as there are tests in school, there will be prayer in school ;)

Very good!
:clap :buds

[kbasa]

Peculiarly, the dems and repubs seem to have somehow swapped sides when it comes to economics.

When I used to vote for them, Republicans were for less government intrusion, lower taxes, small government, respect for individual rights and opinions, and fiscal responsibility. Now, they're lowering taxes, working on a ban on gay marriage (the first Constitutional amendment to specifically remove rights from a group of people), increasing the size of government, enacting the Patriot Act and increasing governmental spending to the point that we now have the largest deficity in history.

I'm not sure what happened, but until they figure that stuff out, I'll keep voting Democratic. :dunno I can't see how we can fund a war and cut taxes at the same time. That just doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. When you add in the effect the deficit is having on the value of the dollar, I don't believe economic sanity is going to return to us any time soon.

Why can't the government be held to the same standards we all are: we only spend what we take in?

[username]

Why can't the government be held to the same standards we all are: we only spend what we take in?

i'm with you kbasa. i cant say anything more without my blood pressure doubling.

the current budget is such a bunch of baloney it isnt even funny. bush is not a good businessman, and i dont think he truly understands his fiscal "policy." i'll bet if you sat him down in a room one on one, he couldnt actually explain it.

that goes to the root of it.

[lorazepam]

I think prohibition was the first amendment to take rights away from all of us. :stick

[Visian]

Why can't the government be held to the same standards we all are: we only spend what we take in?

A tight budget was submitted. Lee thinks it's baloney. What do you think about it?

Ian

[gambrinus]

Overall spending has to come down in order to keep the economy rolling along. Sticky bit is to figure out where the cuts or "decrease in the rate of increase in funding" are to come. Same deal with Social Security. Everyone knows (but only some will admit) that there is a HUGE problem brewing. Sicky bit is to figure out HOW to fix it. It's like the man said, "the devil is in the details" -- Now if we could only get back to talking about Sandra Bullock....


RW

[Visian]

Same deal with Social Security. Everyone knows (but only some will admit) that there is a HUGE problem brewing.

One thing that many people don't know is that there are two aspects to Social Security and that they are both pretty hosed up.

One is the retirement benefit. That has it's own set of issues.

The other is the Entitlement benefits. And if you think the retirement issue is thorny, don't even begin to walk into this briar patch.

There are so many people voting for a living in the country and they are ripping all of us off. Prior to returning to graduate school, my son worked for three years in the Social Security Administration, on the front lines.

He can tell you stories about people living off the system that will just make you cry.

I think that's why I like the concept of "ownership" quite a bit. It's up to individuals to own the responsibility for their future. If we rely on the government, or work from the perspective that the government knows what's better for people than than the people themselves do, then we are permanently screwed.

Who is John Gault?

Ian

ps => I think Sandra Bullock is a good example of the ownership principle.

[kbasa]

A tight budget was submitted. Lee thinks it's baloney. What do you think about it?

Ian

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think we're screwed. We're already in deficit spending territory before we even add in the war costs.

The continued weakening of the dollar as we borrow to cover our debt will lead to inflation and cause us to lose our status as the leading currency in the world.

This can be spun any way you want, but government has grown in the last four years and has been the biggest job growth sector in the country. I can't see how we can maintain that we're making government smaller while the we have figures like these available.

I'm very concerned that we're leaving a huge mess for our kids. I don't have any, but I do have neices and nephews.

And yes, we do need to do something about SS, but I haven't clue one about what the best course of action is. I will say that if the rest of the government is broke, it doesn't leave much room to help the public. I really fear we're headed that way.

[Visian]

This was the same thing that everyone was saying when Ronald Reagan was first elected.

Now, if we can only control spending this time around, we will have an even greater result.

I have never seen the Democrats cut spending. The only thing I've ever seen them do is increase taxes. That will certainly fix things. NOT.

Guess what? Our dollar has been under attack for the past 30+ years by a consortium of governments led by the French. And guess what, our economy is *still* doing better than any other on earth! The only thing we can do is believe in the power of freedom and free enterprise and stop taxing the crap out of it.

That, and get off our asses and develop new sources of energy other than oil.

Dude, where is your faith in what makes this country great?

That's why I think the "ownership" concept is so important.

Otherwise, it's "Who is John Gault?"

Ian

ps => I hear about Howard Dean going back to the grass roots. I sure hope he helps the Dems find out that it's up to the people who make up those roots, and not the government. He is a smart man... maybe he will get a clue?

[kbasa]

Dude, where is your faith in what makes this country great?



I have huge amounts of faith in the values that made this country great, I just don't think the folks in DC are representing those values for me right now. I love my country, but I'm suspicious of my government, regardless of who's sitting in the big chair.

[Visian]

I love my country, but I'm suspicious of my government, regardless of who's sitting in the big chair.

On this we can agree. :)

Ian

[lorazepam]

I am still trying to figure out when they became "entitlements" instead of freeloading. I wish we could go back to the days when being on the dole was looked down upon and making your own way was the right way.

Maybe before we hit the skids too bad, more people will vote Libertarian and end the waste in government. Subsidizing AARP and Campbells soup are not in my eyes money well spent.

[username]

oh, i don't know, my neighbor waded ashore at normandy. i don't think of *him* as being on the dole for drawing SS, i think of *me* as being on the dole for having free freedom. i guess it's a matter of perspective.

you can learn a lot about a society by how it treats its young and its old.

[gambrinus]

Like soup baby..."MMMM, MMMMM GOOD!"

RW

[lorazepam]

I am more than happy for him to get his social security Username. It is people like my cousin in Ky who was deemed developmentally disabled after coaching by an attorney. He hasnt worked a day in his life, and recieves ssi every month. They built him a house, and he thinks it is the greatest thing on earth.
Guess I should have clarified what I was talking about. If you run out of welfare, the new thing is to become disabled and draw social security. There is an entire industry of doctors and lawyers who make this happen. We get to pay them for the privilage too. They dont show up on the welfare rolls, and the burden is shifted to social security.

[gambrinus]

Loraz, You are the man! Sad as it is, that last shot just made my day!

RW

[Pat Carol]

You are always welcome to the Lighthouse Run. I would never not want anyone to miss a good time. Heck I would invite Bill Clinton. He would liven up the party.
I always had a good time when Clinton was president. You never new what he was going to get into next. I was just disappointed that the most powerful man in the world got wrapped up with a fat nasty broad. He could have had any lady in the world. Monica was no prize. Also he wasted a good cigar. Silly guy.
Before Monica there was Paula Jones. WOW ! she fell from the same ugly tree as Monica.
Fritz The bottom line is that I need you to be at the Lighthouse Run. Your good humor and cheer is always welcome in my heart.
Are you going to the dinner banquet ?


Take Care
Pat

This is me Pat. I hope I will still be welcome at your "Lighthouse Breakfast"
Fritz :dunno

lib·er·al ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbr-l, lbrl)
adj.

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.
Archaic. Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.

[Pat Carol]

Well in my eyes I feel that politics is as bad as the illicit drug trafficing. The simple man can no longer run for a high political office. I am a firm believer that it is time to get the simple folk with good common sense in high positions of government.
The politcal system needs to let those who would want to run for an office do so without having to have millions of dollars to make it happen. It is time to get the farmer,factory worker, janitor, teacher the chance to step up to the plate and get involved. There are a lot of folks that carry those titles that have much more common sense than what is sitting in political seats in DC.
Take the big money away and let the little person step up to the plate. Stop the mudslinging and only let the potential candidates work on the issues of our countries needs.
The big name politicians discourage a lot of Americans not to vote due to the mudslinging. People need to get out and vote. I hope the American people learned a lesson from the Iraqi's. The people in Iraq dodged bullets and bombs to vote. I am proud of them and hope their country gets in some type of order.


Take Care
Pat Carol

I have huge amounts of faith in the values that made this country great, I just don't think the folks in DC are representing those values for me right now. I love my country, but I'm suspicious of my government, regardless of who's sitting in the big chair.

[Visian]

i guess it's a matter of perspective.


I am not disrespecting, or for that matter, disagreeing with your opinion.

But you could *really* benefit (bad pun) from spending a day behind the desk at any Social Security office in our country.

There is systematic abuse, it is rampant, it's getting even worse. And they are ripping us all off.

You're right... it is a matter of perspective. Your neighbor deserves everything he's earned. So do lots of other people. But as Lorazepam said, it used to be a matter of personal pride (responsibility, really) to be self-sufficient. Government support was perceived to be a safety net, not a means of making a living.

And, of course, this whole discussion doesn't even begin to touch on the benefits being received by illegal aliens. I personally am aware of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods and services being furnished to people who have not paid one cent into the system from which the funds are disbursed.

For anyone concerned about the amount of money being spent by our government and the deficits being generated, these situations should be given a real hard look.

Ian

[Visian]

... deemed developmentally disabled after coaching by an attorney. He hasnt worked a day in his life, and recieves ssi every month. They built him a house, and he thinks it is the greatest thing on earth.

Bingo.

This is a classic example. There is a whole process for making a living off the government that there are legal firms that actually specialize in the practice.

The government schools are also being systematically abused in the same way.

Ian

http://www.nndb.com/people/601/000023532/sandra-bullock-sm.jpg

[GeoffMiller]

OK, this whole thing is just getting stupid. Why are we showing pictures of Ms. Bullock? Take a photo of your check to help the poor sob's that got blasted by a natural disaster. Unless you can, well.....I guess that tell's us where you really are comming from! Blast me if you will, but put the money where your mouth is. I hope to be pleasantly proven to be full of crap!!

[lorazepam]

I dont see a picture of yours posted, and who I decide to give charity dollars to is my own business. If you read the thread title, it is about Sandra Bullock. That is why I posted those pictures.

[Fritzc]

Fritz The bottom line is that I need you to be at the Lighthouse Run. Your good humor and cheer is always welcome in my heart.
Are you going to the dinner banquet ?
Take Care
Pat

Whew! Thanks for the positive post. You know me well enough to be aware of my sore tongue from biting it all the time. I don't bite it because I regret what I said but because it is so firmly pressed against my cheek all the time!! ;)
No can't make the Dinner Banquet! I do plan on attending the March Planning dinner. Come by sometime and help me set up my Carbs on the /5 for me! It is only a 200 mile drive for you, isn't it? Oops! There I go again! :stick

[username]

The simple man can no longer run for a high political office.

ummm, pat? i think we have one of the simplest presidents in the history of our nation right now.

[username]

I am not disrespecting, or for that matter, disagreeing with your opinion.

But you could *really* benefit (bad pun) from spending a day behind the desk at any Social Security office in our country.

There is systematic abuse, it is rampant, it's getting even worse. And they are ripping us all off.

Ian

ian, while i have no first hand or even second hand experience with the SS system getting ripped off, it doesn't seem such a stretch. so you bring up a good point that maybe our president should be bringing up - we could decrease the likelihood of SS being "broke" by making sure we are paying people who need to be paid. of course, that'd require more government employees to do all the auditing, and that might cost more than the fraud is costing us. people entrenched in a bureacracy tend to either willfully do a crappy job, or have their hands tied up preventing them from accomplishing too much. it's not an easy situation.

in my opinion, able bodied people that are wealthy that draw SS are committing fraud. it just seems wrong. i went a stretch without working once, and i didn't draw unemployment. i had money in the bank, i live a simple life, and it just didnt seem right. most of the folks that found out i wasnt drawing it thought i was out of my mind, that the govt essentially owed me the money or something. i wouldve felt guilt laying around the house, swilling malt liquor, and playing video games, and drawing a govt check. i think there is a strong mindset of entitlement in the US right now, whether it is money, or "freedom" or "security." people think theyre owed these things with little/no effort on their part. now, i grew up with the same goverments, schools, teachers, weather, and constellations as everyone else. the big difference is my mind, and my parents. so when i think about the general trends, i don't blame the government, or anything else - i blame the people and the parents.

so everyone, if youre a parent, please consider working hard to instill a sense of purpose and responsibility in your kids. this is done by demonstrating these traits to them, not by telling them to do it. ownership is a mindset, not a government declaration or cessation of a benefit, as some would have you believe. and dont put political labels on it, or get all dogmatic - just do it.

ian - any ideas/estimates on the amount, both in real dollars and as a percentage of total benefits paid out that is fraud? that'd help size the problem and determine the sense of urgency.

[Visian]

so everyone, if youre a parent, please consider working hard to instill a sense of purpose and responsibility in your kids. this is done by demonstrating these traits to them, not by telling them to do it. ownership is a mindset, not a government declaration or cessation of a benefit, as some would have you believe. and dont put political labels on it, or get all dogmatic - just do it.

Dude, you are probably going to choke, but what you say here is *exactly* what conservative pundit Cal Thomas said in his column in today's paper that I read over lunch! :rofl

ian - any ideas/estimates on the amount, both in real dollars and as a percentage of total benefits paid out that is fraud? that'd help size the problem and determine the sense of urgency.

Not a real firm idea, Lee, although I am sure such numbers do exist.

I did google some things and found this information in an extremely dense Social Security internal audit document regarding overpayments to recipients under Title XVI, which covers disability payments made to people who have not paid any money into the system because they live below the poverty line:

SSA’s policies and procedures provided safeguards from fraud, waste and
mismanagement for SSI (Supplement Security Income) overpayment waivers; however, there was no documentation for 50.6 percent of the decisions to demonstrate that SSA complied with its policies. Discussions with field office staff confirmed that SSA policy was being circumvented by issuing waivers without the required request from the recipient. We also found waiver decisions had been made without the required development of the recipient’s fault and financial circumstances. Failure to document that waiver policies and procedures are followed or the inability to produce that documentation brings into question the integrity of this process.

We also found that SSA made waiver decisions contrary to SSA policy for 17 of 100 decisions for which documentation was available. As a result of these findings, the waiver process is susceptible to fraud, waste, and mismanagement.

In other words, we're giving money away to people even when they don't document their disability(ies) *and* they haven't paid into the system.

:banghead

Hey... how about this idea. How about instead of hiring more employees to prevent fraud, we have the government give a commish to lawyers for every fraud case they expose?

Ian

[username]

Dude, you are probably going to choke, but what you say here is *exactly* what conservative pundit Cal Thomas said in his column in today's paper that I read over lunch! :rofl

Ian

Ian, I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but my real name is Cal Thomas and I love using capital letters. I was hoping no one would realize that I was trying out ideas for columns on these forums.

or...

why would i choke? it makes good sense. i dont care what the label of the person is, i care about the substance of the idea/argument. the devil could advise me to eat three servings of veggies. if it made sense to me i would do it. a buddha could advise me to stick pins in my eyes. i wouldn't do it.

i dont think conservative pundits have a lock on common sense. ;)

[Visian]

i dont think conservative pundits have a lock on common sense. ;)


neither do i (notice the lack of cap usage ;) )

howard dean makes many good arguments that i agree with and he is a freakin' genius when it comes to raising money on the internet.

we've got tons in common... can't wait to actually meet you in person someday. :)

Ian

btw => the devil would be tellin' you wrong... you should eat 5 servings of veggies a day!

[Visian]

... forgot the obligatory sandra bullock pic! :p

http://galeria1.terramail.pl/sandra/g/sandra01.jpg

[Cliffy777]

now that we have strayed a bit from the start of this, i would like to inject that some of the best abusers of the system are the politicians of both stripes. the get us fighting over "red" vs "blue" and donkey vs elephant while they laugh their way to and from the bank.
i have some firsthand experience with government pork on a state level. the perks and bennies are "evil" as long as they are comitted by the other side - i.e. the side in power, but when the chance to milk the public cow (taxpayers) presents itself it is a rare man or woman who will pass up the opportunity.
ever look into the pension (retirement - whatever you want to call it) benefits for state and federal elected people? in michigan i believe they only have to serve a total of 8 years in order to qualify for a pension and the best GD health insurance plan on the planet. how real is that? the republicans ran michigan for a number of years and i didn't notice any of them scaling back the massive benefits they are elidgible for when they had the power to do so. i don't buy into any political party - i look for common sense (HA!) or else vote for the lesser of two evils.
all this bruhaha over social security - like the senators and representative give a ****? their piece of the pie is firmly locked away in the refrigerator, they don't care about the scraps left for the rest of us. dang.
here in lowell we had to listen to the teachers union scream and threaten a strike because the school system wanted the teachers to pay $50 a month toward their health insurance and that amount is the same for up to a family of four! (teachers have one of the most, if not the most comprehensive plans in our state) many of the teachers felt like fools - they knew how it looked to other working stiffs who may have little to no coverage for a whole lot more money, but they were afraid to buck the union. something wrong with that picture.
democrats and republicans are both way too fond of milk and pork.

btw - sandra bullock is a cpf of mine and she is so excited that someone in michigan is willing to sleep with her EVEN though she is wealthy, good looking, talented, and generous. and your reassurances about her butt being good enough mean so much - especially as she gets on in years. pat, you should have your people call her people and set something up.

[username]

all this sandra bullock talk... she can be seen around austin all the time. i feel bad for you folks in celebrity-less places. especially those of you that also have winter. after seeing celebrities, you realize that they are just like us, only really good-looking, filthy rich, and they can't eat a meal in public without someone asking for an autograph/photo. (exception: the last time i saw lance armstrong at dinner, he was completely left alone, with the lone exception being me standing next to him at the bar, and asking him why he looked familiar to me. that was weird. then i punched him in the mouth for not donating all of his money to tsunami victims. so technically, he got to eat his dinner in peace, but i bugged him at the bar.)

cliffy - next time sandra flies up to visit with you, i'll ask her to bring along some pork ribs. ;)

[kbasa]

Hey... how about this idea. How about instead of hiring more employees to prevent fraud, we have the government give a commish to lawyers for every fraud case they expose?

Ian

Attorneys are not in the business of law enforcement. They're in the business of representation of clients under the rule of law. It's a subtle but important differentiation.

[jgr451]

Ian, I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but my real name is Cal Thomas and I love using capital letters. I was hoping no one would realize that I was trying out ideas for columns on these forums.

or...

why would i choke? it makes good sense. i dont care what the label of the person is, i care about the substance of the idea/argument. the devil could advise me to eat three servings of veggies. if it made sense to me i would do it. a buddha could advise me to stick pins in my eyes. i wouldn't do it.

i dont think conservative pundits have a lock on common sense. ;)


Oh yeah username Custom User Text Cal Thomas:what is your REAL middle name???
Huh??
Riddle me THAT,Batman!!

[jgr451]

now that we have strayed a bit from the .

btw - sandra bullock is a cpf of mine and she is so excited that someone in michigan is willing to sleep with her EVEN though she is wealthy, good looking, talented, and generous. and your reassurances about her butt being good enough mean so much - especially as she gets on in years. pat, you should have your people call her people and set something up.

Uhh Cliffy??
If you would introduce me to Sandra,you could consider me too,to be a cpf...
What do you say?
At the Rounders Rally in Escanaba?
Sandra's butt is fine by me...the allure for me has always been her smile and her cleft chin...
Puhhlleessseee Cliffy!!

[Cliffy777]

sandra was considering the escanaba round up, but she is busy that week-end eating ribs for a group of people in austin. maybe username could.......

[BobFV1]

Sandra Bullock is smokin' hot, and smart, too. Donating a million dollars, done properly, can really help you at tax time!

Michael Schumacher, who could wipe his rear end with thousand-dollar bearer bonds if he wanted to, actually lost a very close, long-term associate and his son in the tsunami (his head of security) and I think that is a back-story on his 10 million dollar donation.

BTW, Bullock's cultural heritage is German as well. Achtung baby!

[username]

sandra was considering the escanaba round up, but she is busy that week-end eating ribs for a group of people in austin. maybe username could.......

i'd rather get between a mama bear and her cubs than someone and theyre bbq ribs. (BTW, it's pronounded ree-ibs.) while escanaba is a mighty strong temptation for anyone in texas wanting a dose of january in april, ribs are stronger still.

plus, if it's a charity rib-eat, i'm sure it's for a good cause, like preventing pig overpopulation. we're real worried about being over-run by pigs and cows down here, so we chop those beasties up and eat them as fast as possible. and just when we think we've got things under control, the chickens flare up, and we have to eat a mess of them. it's hard work. ;)

[lorazepam]

Username, you are welcome to come to Ohio and start on the deer any time. We have an overpopulation problem like you wouldnt believe. :eat

[Pat Carol]

ummm, pat? i think we have one of the simplest presidents in the history of our nation right now.

I am not one to bite the hand that feeds me. I suffered injuries during Operation Enduring Freedom and then had a heart attack at 38 years old.
The Air Force/Air National Guard retired me. I have a great pension and I am still alive to enjoy it. My definative medical care has been outstanding.
I served 16 years in the military. If I had to do it over again I would. Of course I wouldn't fracture my ankles and have a heart attack. Being injured and forced to retire was not the way I wanted to leave.
President Bush is trying his best. A lot of folks that have never been to the Mid-East are the harshest critics. A majority of the Iraqi's are glad that we did what we did. They are a friendly God loving people. They just happen to have a bunch of twisted radicals trying to ruin a good thing.
Sadaam Insane killed more people than Hitler.


Pat Carol, Msgt. (Retired) :usa

[kbasa]

Thanks, Pat.

[jdcoffman]

[.

you can learn a lot about a society by how it treats its young and its old.[/QUOTE]

Like the indiscriminate murder of unborn children??

Good for Sandra Bullock and her efforts, I hope some of the money actually made into the hands of those in need?

[dano]

This is unbelievable! Charity is whatever you wish to give and is no one else's business. Sandra Bullock did not have to give one cent. Let's give credit where it is deserved.


I agree.....charity is no one else's business......at least until you make it public and a big deal out of it.

When that happens.....guess what, it becomes everyone's business.

You wanna do the "right thing" and make it no one's business? Keep it to yourself. :D