Democracy for Vancouver

Image from WikipediaReceived this email from a friend I have known since 2nd grade (47 years). Now 47 years is too long a time to hold someone’s political persuasion against them. But the rigmarole I found is this email that he forwarded to me this morning astounded me:

Are you a Republican or Democrat? Don’t know? Do you REALLY know the difference? EDUCATE YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT…It has NEVER been SO IMPORTANT as this next election will be!!!QUICK LESSON on the two Parties…one believes you should be rewarded when you work hard for your money (meaning YOU should keep that money!)…the other thinks that your money belongs to everyone-even to those who ‘CHOOSE’ NOT TO WORK!

A Welfare child is very likely to live on welfare as an adult…as an adult, it is OUR RESPONSIBILTY to teach our kids RESPONSIBILTY!!!

‘VOTE’ RESPONSIBLY!!! AND PASS THIS ON J

Also remember…that it is OUR RESPONSIBILTY to “GIVE BACK” to society…not the Governments. How are YOU contributing?

I like the quote of Thomas Jefferson at the end…so true!

Remember this when it comes time for you to VOTE!

Your Social Security

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn’t know this. It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your kids. They need a little history lesson on what’s what .and it doesn’t matter whether you are Democrat of Republican. Facts are Facts!!!

Our Social Security Program

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be
Completely voluntary,

2.) That the participants would only have to pay
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
Incomes into the Program,

3.) That the money the participants elected to put
Into the Program would be deductible from
Their income for tax purposes each year,

4.) That the money the participants put into the
Independent ‘Trust Fund’ rather than into the
General operating fund, and therefore, would
Only be used to fund the Social Security
Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and,

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
Would never be taxed as income.

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
Now receiving a Social Security check every month –
And then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
The money we paid to the Federal government to ‘put
Away’ — you may be interested in the following:
———————————————————- —
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
Independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the
General fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
Controlled House and Senate.

——————————————————————–
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
Deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.
———————————————————————–
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
——————————————————————-
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving
Annuity payments to immigrants?

AND MY FAVORITE:

A: That’s right!
Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.
Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
Began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
Even though they never paid a dime into it!
———————————————————————-
Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the
Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of
Awareness will be planted and maybe changes will
Evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully
sure of what isn’t so.

But it’s worth a try. How many people can
YOU send this to?

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.
AND CONGRESS (Yes, that’s right The Republicans as well as the Democrats) GIVE THEMSELVES 100% RETIREMENT FOR ONLY SERVING ONE TERM!!!
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”
-Thomas Jefferson Can it be that so many that call themselves Republicans are so right and that so many that call themselves Democrats are so wrong? Of course not.

The above is just a tiny example of a symptom of the “us versus them” mentality that Bush has promulgated and solidified over his 8 year tenure. He has set us all against each other in order to “divide and conquer”. And it has worked quite well for allowing him to carry out a set of goals that most of us, Republicans included, had no idea was his actual hidden agenda.

If we somehow don’t get beyond this kind of divisive nonsense, we are doomed to forever be stuck in a war of meaningless spin between two parties that are accomplishing almost nothing for just about all of us.

If Obama makes it into the White House, I hope that he can find a way to reduce this endless, selfish, mindless and destructive rhetoric that has infected our country and which keeps us from focusing on accomplishing good things for us all.

What do you think is wrong with this email?