Hi Spike Where shall I begin.Let me start with ome common items. We all breath and drink water so why wouldn't we want to protect these upon which we are so dependent. The relaxation of the coal water and mining refuse dumping sites next to rivers,lakes and streams places drinking water in jeapordy for millions of people. This refuse contains cadmium,arsenic,mercury and would require centuries to reclaim rivers,lakes or streams if they became polluted. These storage places do not have clay bases to prevent them from seaping into underground water supplies.Allowing the mining company to dump refuse into the ocean and next to one of the last salmon spawning grounds in Alaska is criminal. These coal pits are already leaking also.

Millionaires: the republicans win the race here with more than 4 times the number. In addition they sponser more foundations ( koch bros and their cronnies) run a large number of these foundations with nice names but are covers to donate funds to political candidates and get away with the maximum donations they can give. Yes dems do the same but no where near the same number. Then take the average donation. Dems average about $17 per donation, republicans average $100's. Many fund drives for rep start at $50 ( i belong to several sites so I know this to be true) . The average donation for dems start at $3.00 (I also belong to these). Allowing corporations to act as an individual person is just wrong because using their ability to donate simply outways the person and thus can influnce their ability to compete.

Gun laws: I have been a licensed gun owner ,shooter for 62 years and I own 20 weapons. I have never seen the need to hunt but expend about 300 rounds a week. I feel that gun licensing should be federal and the same in every state and with a permit I should be able to carry in every state without needing to reapply. The guns laws are made with fear and a lack of general understanding of guns. They would be better made by those who shoot. However there are some basic rules. On first application a medical exam is something that should be considered period. Second if I cannot clear an FBI inquiry I should not receive a permit. Third if I am convicted of domestic abuse my permit should be revoked based upon the number of these incidents that result in violance with harm to another person normally a family member or spouse. Forth, the federal government should maintain a record of the number of weapons purchased which would need to be accounted for if the permit was revoked. PS this already exists but is seldomed used. Insurance policies should be required to protect the family and the victum.

Health care: There was atime that healthcare was a not for profit business. Blue Cross Blue Shield did such a good job that every union and person wanted them. This was supported by the non existing unions of yester years. Premiums were great, service was great and everyone should in this courtry be provided with health coverage regardless of ability to pay. This should not be a problem being the wealthiest country. A single payor solution would reduce premiums ,eliminate for profit business. You do not agree ask why almost no new doctor opens a prctice that they own? They cannot capitalize on the volume discounts for insurance and office space plus personel. Doctors would prefer not for profit programs as it would let them really practice medicine the way it should be. Ask those who were on the old plans. Why do we pay more for drugs made in the USA than countries outside the USA for the same drugs. The drug companies need regulation. I have been taking Advair for 24 years. Up until two years ago it cost between $70. an $90 for a 3 month supply. It currently costs $543 for the same drug for 90 days for which there is no substitute. My other blood presswure drug went from $40 to 343 in the same time period. The cost of mfg these drugs has not risen that much so how can they justify these prices.

Small government: There are to many projests of size that demand federal control. Social Security is one of these. First if Reagan and Bush had not removed two Trillion dollars from the fund it would not have any problem today. I lived right after the depression which caused so many lives hardship and in some cases death. My grandparents lost their business which was weddings and funerials using horse drawn carriages. The ate the horses lossed everything they had saved in the market. Without socialsecurity I do not know what would have happened. They supported 10 children and four wifes when they could not get jobs. Not everyone has the ability to become fiscally wealthy for a mulitude of reasons . My father lossed his pension when the company went out of business and moved to Mexico. He had a little savings and the social security to carry him to his death. He had worked three jobs his whole life was a tool and die maker. It is not a scheme as I have recovered all thaty I have put in . I had a good paying job invested nicely until 2008 when in two days I lopsted 60% of my investment due to an advisor I was paying good money to from UBS. His response was tough that is the way it goes.Minimum wage jobs do not allow one to live a decent life yet be able to pay for health ins and save for retirement. Many are just not able to help themselves nand many are those who should have been aborted rather than live a life of misery,shame and hardship.The republicans are well known for wanting to bring everyone into the world but then forget about their needs wonce they are here. They also claim individual rights to be protected but then deny women the right to choose .This is government interferance. Small government cannot take on nationl problems like dams,.highways,military, education,healthcare,security and the right to life as laid out by the Constitution. These require taxes.

Taxation. The republicans in proportion to the average worker pays much less in taxes than the majority of the people. Five % of the population owns 90 % of the total wealth of the country. You mean to tell me that aperson with almost a trillion dollars cannot afford to assist a person with his healthcare needs. What exactly will the second trillion do for them. The same ap[plies to billionaires. Don't forget thee people did not gain their wealth without the aid of the lower and middle class. Since 2008 the wealthy have received wealth gains of 20% and weith the last tax cut the middle class wages have shown a 9.8% decline. Some tax cut. In addition they removed the second most important tax right off fot the middle and lower classes medicine and drugs. However they kept the deductions for planes and yatchs. I find the tax cuts for the wealthy deplorable and greed based , they care so little for the people that gave them their wealtjh that it is a disgrace.

War for no reason has been a large part of our debt. Starting with Vietnam we went to war without bonding and took the expense out of general budget and loans. In addition these wars were for the big corporations and for no other reason. Vietnam was fought for zink the largest producer other than south america. The Asia wars were to increase jobs in the industrial munisions and arms. The current military budget contains money to supply cannons ,vehicals and other weapon systems the military has deemed obsolete but we are still producing them and placing them in supply frields where they deteriate. Note this money could be used to pay our military a living wage so they did not need to go on welfare. Also the pay struction of officers to enlisted has become out of wack.

Why do the republicans oppose science to the degree that they do. A large part is the religious right . They opposed medical advance but then use it when it becomes available. This isn't any different than the old ages when the church opposed science.Science is the key to the future. We opposed solar pannels and now China dominates in the technology along with water and wind. This is because of the oil and gas companies attempt to keep us on these fuels agains our health requirements and climate change. Again wealthy oil people concerns are being met before the public's.

More will come as we continue to discuss. good bye for now.

@Marine My main point in the previous comment was that both major political parties have gotten corrupt, I'm not comparing who has more wealth or who taxes more per se. Things are not as they appear to be...

@SpikeTalon I totally agree and it is ashame that we must work with these parameters

Where/when did you hear That?!? I'm betting on Faux News!

yo know you really can think for yourselves, and not what the dogmatists tell you
Try it some time; you don't need permission

that'll never happen...do not underestimate women

you forget we already lost property rights with taxation, privacy rights with the IRS, CIA, FBI, and the attacks on the Fourth Amendment, and the fascists are chipping away at gun rights, the PC Nazis chip away at free speech, and as for the last election the DNC nominated someone even more horrible than obama AND Trump
Try modernizing your ideas to include freedom, not obedience in an authoritarian utopia

@moxy You are just like all the other republicans. You will take everything provided but do not want to pay for anything. Who pays for yhe military Taxes. Who pays for infrastructure Taxes I paid for soc sec and I paid for health care they are not entitlements. Republicans sabotaged pension plans with the 401 K which reduced pension by 50% and then they liminted the amount that I could even contribute. The only attacks on the 4 th amendment is in your head.

@moxy you are a fool!

@Marine why should I pay for wars, bureaucrats, and idiots like Trump?
your precious democrats sound like republicans, not I — everything is about your precious politicians, not the people
I'm an atheist in that religion, too