Well, I am not so certain how the general chit chat section here would ever have an impact on future generations... I do think however that it is advisable for some folks to skip over the political dialogue in this section because it can be upsetting to them. This is a place where some otherwise really nice people who are often extremely helpful with photography related subjects come to vent about politics and yes, some of us hold some pretty deep seated beliefs so there is never resolution, only sharp commentary... It is a release nothing more, as I will never convince a hard core liberal to see the insanity of federal budgets loaded with graft and corruption, nor will they ever enable me to see that helping even one unfortunate soul is worth spending coming generations into a certain bankruptcy.

But, we do get things off our chests here.

Former Marine here. I turned down my VA disability pension because of my service connected incident, the reason was simple my Dad was 82nd Airborne Green Bret and was 100% disabled after his 2nd tour of Nam. He also served in Korea. I never felt my injuries compared to him.

Bottom line positive conversation has to start everywhere if we are to pull out of this mess. Otherwise there will come a day when ANC is bull dozed into something else.

By the way, Thank you for your service...

Righty-O, Comrade Brit, our nation has gone to hell because that dreaded Tea-Party is insisting on the three basic points of their irrational beliefs:
1. A smaller, less intrusive Federal Government.
2. Stop all wasteful spending in our Federal Government.
3. For our Federal Government to enforce and follow ALL
the Laws and points of our U.S. Constitution.
Oh, how could they be so demanding and irrational?
Oh, woe is us!
Let us all foam at our very mouths...(it's easier than thinking.)

I will agree with the wasteful spending in our Fed govt.
Too much "pork barrel" spending.
Smaller, and more effective Fed. Govt.
Compromising not obstructionist methods.
Need to really define the 2nd Amendment. Did "militia" mean all citizens or just the "militia" (now the national guard)?

:roll:

I admit I have no knowledge of your present or past, but something is gnawing at me about you being a Marine. I'm leaning to the side of not believing you, sorry!

Again you are living your life through your father's accomplishments, not your own.

"I never felt my injuries compared to him."
Also turning down a VA disability because of a conviction. How do you pay for pills, med treatment, and any other prosthetic(s) devices you may need? Or any other care needed? There is something fishy here.

I admit, I turned down two purple hearts because I felt at the time I wasn't as severely hurt as some of my brother Marines, after all, my injuries were just thorns from jumping through bamboo tree lines taking cover from incoming rounds , mortar, and rocket fire. But the big distinction is one is an award,(Purple Hearts) the other is necessary treatment for service connected disabilities. I may have empathy for you if your story is true, but I still think it's fishy.

After the amusing variety of responses to Henry Porter's article on gun control, I couldn't resist the following start to his latest effort. Full version on Guardian/Observer web site. It goes:-

If America is the world's greatest power, why the infantile politics?
The US is on the brink of disaster, brought to it by a movement unique in its startling lack of realism and rigour

A perfectly normal looking couple come to sit opposite you on the train. They seem pleasant enough and you fall into conversation, but you soon note that the man is not making a lot of sense and foam is showing at the corners of his mouth. At every turn, he contradicts his partner or, more weirdly, himself, and you realise that inside he is seething with violent and paranoid fears. You conclude that this character is going to do serious harm to himself, and may hurt other passengers in the process, so you leave and find a seat in another carriage.

That's our experience of living with the American right – the Tea Party activists who have brought the world's largest economy to the brink of catastrophe to make one last stand against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The world is powerless to persuade or intervene and we are at the mercy of what seems truly irrational behaviour.

After the amusing variety of responses to Henry Porter's article on gun control, I couldn't resist the following start to his latest effort. Full version on Guardian/Observer web site. It goes:-

If America is the world's greatest power, why the infantile politics?
The US is on the brink of disaster, brought to it by a movement unique in its startling lack of realism and rigour

A perfectly normal looking couple come to sit opposite you on the train. They seem pleasant enough and you fall into conversation, but you soon note that the man is not making a lot of sense and foam is showing at the corners of his mouth. At every turn, he contradicts his partner or, more weirdly, himself, and you realise that inside he is seething with violent and paranoid fears. You conclude that this character is going to do serious harm to himself, and may hurt other passengers in the process, so you leave and find a seat in another carriage.

That's our experience of living with the American right – the Tea Party activists who have brought the world's largest economy to the brink of catastrophe to make one last stand against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The world is powerless to persuade or intervene and we are at the mercy of what seems truly irrational behaviour.