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The Anti-Ten Commandments

The radicalism of the Republican Party is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the Ten Commandments. I propose a new set of commandments which today's Republicans can adopt.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly wasted taxpayer money voting to rescind what they derisively call Obamacare. I wonder if women take offense at the fact that as of this week, 47 million women will be finally able to access preventative health care without having to make a co-payment to the doctor.

Among the services are covered are: an annual check-up for adult women to get recommended preventive services; gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant, and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes; breastfeeding support; supplies, and counseling for pregnant and postpartum women; and domestic violence screening and counseling for all adolescent and adult women. (An estimated 25 percent of U.S. women report being targets of intimate partner violence during their lifetime.)

The party of Lincoln has attempted to impose their anti-love agenda to all areas of our lives. I wonder if this is causing Abraham Lincoln to repeatedly turn in his grave as if he were a rotisserie chicken.  

It is time for the Republican Party to unveil a new set of Ten Commandments:


1. The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament begins with, “Remember, I am the Lord who took you out of Egypt.” In thirty six places the Old Testament reminds its readers to treat the stranger kindly reiterating, “Remember, you were once strangers in Egypt.” Substitute instead, “Remember that your ancestors were once wealthy European landowners. Do not treat strangers well.”

2. In place of not taking the Lord’s name in vain substitute, “Frequently invoke God’s name to promote your ends.”

3. In the Book of Exodus and again in Deuteronomy it states: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath in order that your workers and animals will be able to rest. Instead substitute, “Thou shall not raise the minimum wage nor allow workers to protect themselves against employers.”

4. Replace “Respect your parents”, “Follow the Tea Party leadership blindly, even if it is counter to your interests”.

5. Instead of the commandment not to commit murder, substitute, “Fill your homes with weapons. Do not kill the unborn but ignore the plight of the living.”

6. Replace “Do not steal”, with “Protect the wealthy and squeeze the middle class by having them carry the tax burden.”

7. Replace “Do not testify falsely under oath” with “Trample on the facts and vilify President Obama any way you can. Take bribes from lobbyists and violate your oath of office.”

8. Replace “Do not covet your neighbor’s home” with, “Let our infrastructure crumble and destroy the infrastructure of other countries.”
 Abraham Lincoln repeatedly stated the following principle: The Constitution was made to put into action the principle stated in the Declaration of Independence that, “All men are created equal”. He stated in his July 4th 1861 message to Congress that the main object of the federal government, “is to elevate the condition of men; to afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.”

9. The party of Lincoln has an alternate vision and principle. “The federal government’s role is to refrain from elevating the condition of man and to not afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.”
 Not long before he was murdered, Lincoln stated his concern that the power of corporations would be the ultimate undoing of the Union.

10.  The party of Lincoln is trying as hard as they can to turn Lincoln into a prophet. I suggest as their final commandment “Let corporate interests operate unfettered no matter the cost in human suffering.”

Dave August 7, 2012 at 02:48 pm
haha
Sadly, everything Avi says is true.
BJ August 7, 2012 at 03:01 pm
Kelly Politikos:
You write that Social Security has been a success because it has keep "legions of seniors out of the ranks of the poor...". Your ignorance is all too clear. It has been a "success" because it is doing what it was designed to do: Keep seniors poor AND dependent on the government. Instead of working, investing, and living within their means, the government has promised to take care of "legions" of dependents who will faithfully vote to keep their Masters in power.
cirrus August 7, 2012 at 03:24 pm
Regrets heartfelt. I inadvertently copied the wrong address..
Here is the real one. Apologies for the mistake. http://www.salon.com/2012/08/05/republicans_slouching_toward_theocracy/
cirrus August 7, 2012 at 03:25 pm
And you alternatives?? poverty and grinding health problems that were the norm before SS??
Scott Lingenfelter August 7, 2012 at 03:28 pm
The Patch started off as a website that provided a usefull forum regarding local news and issues. Now it has become useless, and nothing more than a forum for the leftist agenda in this State.
I would encourage any advertisers to stop advertising on this crap site, but since it's primarilly Obama's campaign that advertises on here, that will do no good.
LB August 7, 2012 at 03:30 pm
Amen! And this thread is hysterical. 322 comments on a post that's mainly humorous while articles of serious news/merit go without any comments at all. Makes ya wonder about *everyone's* priorities and just how skewed they might be. I wonder if anyone here reads what they're posting or even thinks about what they're posting before they hit 'submit' . It seems most here are just giving out knee-jerk reactions in an attempt to keep the lame-brained "My-Side-Is-Better-Than-Your-Side" attitude amped up. Since everyone's so busy arguing and shouting how 'right' they are (most of you are anything but!) nothing gets done and we all remain in gridlock. Good job! Way to go guys & gals. Smoke screens and opinions abound. Answers and solutions still remain elusive.
J. Sosallter August 7, 2012 at 05:20 pm
Click "like" to that LB. If each individual is the only source of what they need to know, what we get is what you described.
Jay August 7, 2012 at 05:35 pm
Better yet, join me in Not patronizing any patch advertisers...
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 05:42 pm
BJ, I think you do not know of which you speak. For many seniors, including single women who often worked at low-paying jobs in the forties, fifties and sixties, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and MS who were forced to leave work in their most productive years, widows of Social Security recipients who often live much longer than their husbands, homemakers and mothers with working husbands, divorced women and men, and many others it has been a God-send. Social Security has succeeded in keeping them from being homeless or relegated to the basement of a grown child's home, eating a steady diet of canned beans (no offense to the bean), toothless because of no dental care, and just as importantly, humiliated because they are poor and therefore considered a burden and of no value in a society in which some individuals only value what is in a person's bank account. Before the introduction of Social Security, this was the fate of many of our elders.
And those of us who have had investments know that the value of investments go up and down, and they can really go down. And if you happen to retire during a down period, you are in deep trouble because you may not only lose your return, but a great deal of your principal as well. I certainly wouldn't want you as my investment advisor.
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 05:56 pm
Mr. Y, did you earn your home mortgage interest deduction, charitable deduction, medical deduction, educational deduction and all those other deductions and credits you take on your tax return? I think not. I think that instead of "giving you an entitlement," instead of spending which is politically problematic, the federal government reduced your taxes and put extra cash in your pocket. Some people do not get these deductions. An entitlement whether an outright gift through spending or accomplished through the tax code is still an entitlement. Cash in the pocket is still cash in the pocket.
Why do you think Congress goes to all the trouble of giving you these deductions and credits? Why do you think the tax code has so many of them? It wasn't just to keep accountants steadily employed.
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 06:26 pm
Some members of the far right who have taken over Congress decide that an 80-year-old widow no longer should have to depend on Social Security, but instead Social Security should be privatized. The widow is given a list of reputable companies where she can "invest" her money. Well, she picks an investment company and it is thrilled to have her $100,000 and "invests" it in high-risk derivatives for her because they offer both a high return and high fees for the company and the broker handling her account. She trusts the company's broker because he appears so sincere and concerned about her welfare. Unfortunately, the bubble for those high-risk derivatives bursts within a year. The top management of the investment company and the broker get bonuses for their "good work." The widow loses 60 percent of her principal. She will live 10 years longer. So what does she do? I suppose she could try going back to work and living within her very limited means as BJ suggests. But the American people get good and angry about the widow's predicament and Congress decides to insure all retirees' investments under the new privatized Social Security system. The investment companies are thrilled; they get to keep their gain. Any losses are borne by the taxpayer.
R Eleveld August 7, 2012 at 06:27 pm
Jay, the Patch is owned by AOL and run under the Huffington Post from what I understand. I give credit because the reporter indicate their leaning and few places disclose that. Our reporter/editor here in Windsor works on being fair to both sides to his credit.
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 06:33 pm
Not useless. While I think there is deep disagreement about political philosophies and widely differing world views, there appears to be a lot of agreement about specifics. And local issues are still covered. November's election is an important election, and I would expect there to be a lot of interest in politics.
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 06:50 pm
It should be called the Affordable Care Act or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I do think the far right uses the term "Obamacare" for the reasons I gave earlier. Whatever the headline writers use (which is done for space requirements), we should use its correct name. I just wanted to point out that Mitt Romney was the original proponent of the model for the Affordable Care Act.
R Eleveld August 7, 2012 at 06:57 pm
Maria, your propaganda is showing.
Prior to Social Security the extended family was the responsibility of the family and the community. Elderly people were held in a position of respect. The family took care of them. The long term unintended consequence of SS is that families no longer had to take care of their own as was the case before the 1930's. Is that good or bad? You can decide. You characterization is insulting to millions of those that took care of the elderly. Maybe that scenario was your familial experience as it seems quite specific like from personal experience. I am absolutely sure the majority were held in high regard and taken care of by those that loved and cared for them. You then go into deduction envy again… same old saw. Nothing needs to be added. As I have said a flat tax with no deductions is the long term fairest approach. Also FYI less than 50% of those that file returns have a mortgage or any other deductions. Also accountants love these things. Then Maria you go on with the “far tight” comments. Privatization is a concept that might be applied to those under the age of 40 or 50. It clearly has nothing to do with your 80 y.o. granny. To say otherwise is propaganda form the far left. The investment programs that have been discussed are very limited within clearly defined Federal requirements.
R Eleveld August 7, 2012 at 06:57 pm
Your total lack of understanding of investments is clearly evident and your comment is showing your total ignorance of investments by using buzzwords you read somewhere. It is an insult to any of us who are in the profession
The fact is those that collecting SSI are receiving it from the current payments we make into FICA taxes and other taxes. It is a pass through system. It was and is from day 1. The whole “trust” comment is plainly disingenuous. It is claimed that when FDR discussed SS he said that as long as people pay into this system it will have to be funded by the government no matter what happens. Those prophetic words are so true. (No source is available but that should be OK with Maria)
Maria Giannuzzi August 7, 2012 at 06:57 pm
Well, inherited wealth can be revealing, too. I'm not sure what marrying into money reveals. I do not know the specifics about the politicians you mentioned. But if they were running for President, I would think their tax returns and other information about their finances and livelihoods would be relevant.
MAC August 7, 2012 at 07:05 pm
Maria, many (if not most) of your propagandistic arguments are "toothless"** because you are so short on facts, but rather operate from distorting history and exaggerating your sob stories as if they are the norm.
It smacks of your desperation also, which I guess is not surprising, since you may sense that your misguided "social justice" demands are now on the losing side, which will be proved again in November. More importantly than your miffed feelings, the "New Road to Serfdom" which Obama and other career politicians (both parties) have had us on in recent decades has BANKRUPTED our nation! It has come from that wrong-headed and un-Constitutional view that people are "entitled" to force others, by government mandate, to PAY for their housing, food, and medical care, and to feed and support their children! PLEASE at least inform yourself as to what an "entitlement" is! I know you hate taking away from your 'spewing your opinions' time on Patch, but you might at least hope to convince someone if you did not make so many factual mistakes. http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/entitlement_program ** People don't have to be "toothless" if they use decent dental hygiene including daily flossing, and avoiding excess sweets and sodas! Your constant use of hyperbole and straw man arguments is tiresome in the "extreme."
DisgruntledInClinton August 7, 2012 at 07:06 pm
We'll miss you Joel. Thanks.
DisgruntledInClinton August 7, 2012 at 07:07 pm
DHHS Class of 71: You forgot to add that Glenn Beck's rally needed no clean up. People picked up after themselves. Jon Stewart's rally had to hire a cleaning crew because they KNEW their people would be slobs.
DisgruntledInClinton August 7, 2012 at 07:29 pm
I stopped reading Maria's comments altogether. She is a very confused person. "Nuff said.
Malvi Lennon August 7, 2012 at 07:56 pm
I can attest to it because I was there. AWESOME! It was wall-to-wall people from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. The best-behaved crowd ever. Families, singles, white, black it was great. One of the best speakers was Dr. Alvida King MLK niece. However, the cleanliness and well-behaved crowd is nothing new. I have been to countless rally’s in DC and locally and leaving the premises cleaner than we found them, respecting private property, and obeying the authorities is just a given.
Leslie Hutchison August 7, 2012 at 08:37 pm
Hello fervent commenters! I have changed the set-up so all comments have to be approved for this blog. I believe it's time to move on and concentrate on other Patch blogs. Thank you for your (mostly) civil discourse!
Maria Giannuzzi August 8, 2012 at 04:14 pm
I think those who are interested should do their own research and not rely on what anyone says on this thread about American history or our current cirumstances. The information is out there. In many cases I have presented facts, but some of those commenting can't accept them so they lash out in hostile and sometimes inappropriate ways. The statistics are available, both historical data and current data. We can look back to get a true picture. And we can look at present circumstances. People will have to decide for themselves who are truly the entitled in this country.
cirrus August 8, 2012 at 04:27 pm
then write on FAUX news blogs
cirrus August 8, 2012 at 04:29 pm
My parents remember well the suffering before SS.. Talk to any 80 yr. old what it was like before. How extreme the difficulty was to just make ends meet IF you had family. Your argument is one of the oddest anti human comments yet. You have little knowledge of history.
Maria Giannuzzi August 8, 2012 at 05:09 pm
There were many families who helped their elderly parents with both living costs and medical expenses, which could be quite high. They often had to do so at the expense of their own children and their retirement. Of course, there were seniors who had no family or no family willing to help out. So what did they do before Social Security and Medicare?
I learned yesterday that Harry Truman was the first person to be signed up for Medicare. I also learned that in 1948 President Truman was calling for universal health care for all Americans.
Maria Giannuzzi August 8, 2012 at 05:22 pm
I'm glad to hear that proposals for privatizing Social Security would be heavily regulated. But that is not the free market, is it? And what would happen if a retiree under a private program has a big loss when he retires? Or are there no losses? That doesn't sound realistic. Does the investment company eat the retiree's loss? Or does the government guarantee the retiree against losses? Or is it that the retiree can only lose so much? He would still have benefits under regular Social Security to offset any losses in his private investment account.
I really don't know what the point of privatizing Social Security is then. Anyone is free to invest now if they have the extra cash. If you don't have the extra cash, I would think it would be very foolish to gamble with your limited Social Security contributions.
MAC August 8, 2012 at 05:36 pm
Maria, you are misusing the term "entitlement" as it applies to government programs, so you obviously did not read this source of facts, which I cited yesterday.
http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/entitlement_program People using legitimate, congress passed tax incentives, deductions etc. (such as for mortgage interest and charitable donations) are NOT receiving "entitlements." If you will read the above article then you will be better informed as to the difference. Also, when you blast people who receive more than they put into SS--which is usually the case, and probably will be for YOU, too--you are neglecting to acknowledge the fact that their employers also matched the contribution for the employee, into SS! And the fact that if the person's contributions had been in a savings or investment account, it would have accrued interest/dividends/cap. gains. etc. Personally, I am old enough to take a reduced SS income now, but probably won't take any SS until after the age of 70. As I don't have children, and SS survivor benefits for children only apply to minors anyway, if I die before receiving any SS, all of my contributions, and my employers' for me, will go to "Others" and "Strangers"! I will thus receive nothing of that to which I am rightly "entitled," Maria. It is odd that you urge others to look further when they disagree with your opinions, but you won't extend the same courtesy, or admit it when you are proven wrong.
R Eleveld August 8, 2012 at 06:52 pm
@MAC I would like to disagree with one statement.
" if I die before receiving any SS, all of my contributions, and my employers' for me, will go to "Others" and "Strangers"!" Social Security is for all intents and purposes and always has been a pay as you go system. You send in your $1,000 and it immediately goes out the the then current beneficiaries. We originally had 20 workers per beneficiary so a $1 benefit cost the 20 workers $0.05. Today we have fewer than 5 and by some estimates 3 workers per beneficiary and that works out to $0.20 to $0.33 per $1 in benefit. Now many will say that there are trust funds that have money to support benefits. Yes and well No. Excess FICA taxes were "invested" in special treasury SS Bonds, that in theory could be used to support SS benefits at a later date. The Treasury issues these special Bonds and uses the money to fund government expenses. Reality check. You need to run a budget surplus in order to retire debt. You need to earn more than you spend to retire debt (pay of SSI) or you need to pay principal and interest like a mortgage payment. The government does not do that. There is the rub.

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