35) Does the new Homeland Security Dept grant the fed govt grant too much entrée into citizens' lives?
85029
DHS and it's agents are just an other arm of the government. These brave men and women are tasked with keeping our borders safe and keeping terrorists out. They have no special powers to suspend your 4th Amendment rights. They like any other law enforcement agency are here to protect and serve. \n\nConstant propaganda by various far wingers only adds to the already difficult job of the DHS. If you would like to really know what they do, go to their web site or maybe give them a call. You will find that they are just people like yourself.
23409
Very doubtful today, what with the Patriot act, Homeland Security, Governments fear of new and alternative life styles, things, and people striving for need or greed in general everyday life. If we tried to be Utopian, Washington would shut us down. I know, I know I am a paranoid, but look around your world.
278782
The Defense Budget is the largest part of our Federal Budget, however only a small part of what we pay for defense is going to fight the war in Iraq.  My vote would have to say that even with all the new regulations on Medicaid and assistance that it costs the Government more to pay for Welfare Programs than it does to fight the War in Iraq.
241585
You bet your shotass, Paula! I hear you and feel your pain! We have been over taxed and abused by the Empire State for years. Serious welfare reform is needed. Gov. Pataki started the workfare program, but more needs to be done. There are some people that can't work, and should be given assistance, but all able bodied and capable persons should indeed earn their keep!\nPS - Don't listen to the liberal drivel from those pinheads above. It's liberals like them that have allowed the welfare in NYS to get out of control the way is now. Get off your high horses, pinheads. Your programs are the reasons people write things like this, you self righteous windbags! Have a nice day!
284912
Every day I work for a salary.  I will only bring in about half of that salary by the end of a year.  Why?  The federal government!  Anytime I purchase something, I give a little more to that same government.  This is a daily ritual.
231533
Yes, I think the government intrudes on our personal life way too much.  A parent could be arrested for spanking their child.  The Dept. of Human Services has become a threat to every parent.  Your kids can be taken away a lot easier these days.  My neighbor will lose her kids if she misses too many counseling appointments that were set up by DHS.  It's getting ridiculous.....
791029
Unfortunately, one of the most corrupt government spending programs is entitlements/welfare.  I really dont know how to fix it now since it is far out of control.  It would be hard to reform the system and "fine-tune" it when it is so far out of control, but we should give it a go.  I say out of control because some people who as far as I can see receive these entitlements now are not worthy of such benefits.  I think people who are deserving of these benefits are only the eldely and handicapped (mentally or physically).  Any person who can physically work should be working, ceteris paribus!  I understand that is an issue for debate with some.\n\nFurthermore, I think taxes should be levied entirely on a user basis.  I am speaking not only of school taxes, but I am going to take it a bit further by saying there should be no income taxes, instead tax items for sale.  Basically, what you buy is taxed by the government in place of the income tax.  Why should people have to pay taxes on items they do not benefit from, ie. school taxes for single homes.  I understand there are some issues with this, but it is just a thought.
688015
I agree, but why stop at just the drug testing?  Every regulation they put upon Americans should apply to them aw well.  They should not have special retirement packages, just the same Soc. Security/Medicare that they engineer for everyone else.  Their pay raises should be more closely tied to the government's financial performance (including 'net worth,' factoring in the national debt!)  And so on.
175422
In a few cases that may be true but the way our country is now being run has a lot of peop;le upset and I for 1 do't bnlame them one bit It's time for the people of this country to start doing some serious house cleanig in washington D.C. and in their state and local govements. Its supposed to be ga governmemt of for and by the people. not government for by and of politacians and Fat cats
1083602
Well, I think that if the citizens of San Francisco sit back and allow this, then they deserve what they are going to get which is a huge influx of illegal immigrants into their city and all of the costs and damages that go along with it such as overburdening of the school system, the health care system, the social services system, police/corrections, etc.  Then, I hope they won't expect the Federal Government to come to their financial aid to support all of their newly acquired citizens.  Just wait and see how much they like it when word spreads amongst all of the illegals that they can get shelter and hassle-free living in San Francisco!
330309
youre wrong fusion. the freedom to govern & protect ourselves eliviates the need for federal protection. the fed is 200 years old, is the outcome good? no, we're high on everyones shltlist, our economy is based on variables rather than actual wealth (gold, silver, jewels, ect) http://www.philipdru.com/griffin_stream.html , we're constantly at war, tollerate obvious inhouse attrocities (waco), we're 28th in education globally, agh!!! to much to list. point is, aint workin out. if we all have the means to peotect ourselves the crazies will come out in mass, true. itll be anarchy, but very short lived (so to speak). the more we rely on the fed, proven, the worse off we are. name something the fed does better & more efficient than private enterprise. no way, give me freedom, i'll handle my own security. shlt, this side of town handles its own security now, cops dont come here without military trained swat.
687296
Clinton passed the most sweeping welfare reform bill in 50 years - welfare to work. I think welfare is a solid program as long as it's not abused and is not a lifelong meal ticket. As far as Social Security goes, what ever happened to personal responsibility? Why are we paying what is basically a tax to Washington when we could be investing that money and getting higher returns? Social Security will not be backrupt in 20 years. It is bankrupt now. There is no money in the social secutiry trust fund. It has all been spent and replaced with IOUs. Washington is spending "our" retirement money. There are 2 ways to fix the system. Raise the ceiling for SS contributions from $72,600, where it is now, and "lock box" them, or disband the system.
772722
First of all, I don't think the govt. will pay any monies to its citizens, due to the welfare issue......Trust me, they will find other ways to spend that saved monies.....But you make a great point, MANY MANY Americans move retire to Mexico every year, due to the lower cost of living....I find that hypocritical.....I mean its bad when illegals come here for a better life, but its ok when Americans retire overthere because of the lower cost of living....
582377
well, maybe a change in who deserves full citizenship rights and who doesn't.  Like all us veterans and those that pledge 2 or more yrs of federal service have full rights and those that don't volunteer for fed service lose the right to vote or run for office.  Things would be better for everyone, even those with minimal rights.
801486
Nice! \nDemocrats all the way baby!!!\n\nRe: Mei-Lin...You have no knowledge of assistance programs if you are going to make the claim that people that receive assistance simply are refusing to work. Taxes fund lots of programs such as social security and Medicare--do you want to take that assistance away from your grandparents? If not why then are so programs people deserving of and others they are not according to you? Are you aware that the large majority of people seeking welfare do not actually get it? In 1996 the nation had a major welfare reform. Welfare is no longer an entitlement program. If people seek welfare and they are able to work they typically receive no cash assistance. These programs are not easily accessable. So, that FAMILY may go without food or housing or heat until that parent can find a job. Is that ok with you? Do you want children going hungry? And, the majority of people receiving welfare are on it short-term, an average of 1-3 years. Also, people receiving welfare overwhelmingly have major life problems. A large percentage of recepients have a history of domestic violence, learning disabilities, mental illnesses...and the list goes on. Thus, these are not parents refusing to work these are parents with significant barriers to healthy life functioning, which includes maintaining employment. There will always be people that need help in any society and if those people do not recieve adequate help it will negatively effect the society. \nSecondly, in your republican mantra you stated that people should get their money back because they work hard. Question...city services among many other things need to be funded do you understand that that requires taxing people? It always seems that conservatives fail to see that taxing is necessary to provide citizens adequate services. You get something in return for the money you pay.
54355
I'm glad you asked this.  This is indeed what true Conservatives are constantly trying to preach.  Lessen the government, DO NOT grow it.\n\nThe more of your tax dollars that go to Washington will end up NOT going where you want them.\n\nThe conservative mantra is that Federal Government should be a tiny, tiny, tiny part of your life, ONLY dealing with national security and few other programs.\n\nThey then continue that government should really only be large in the areas such a local and state.  That way when you are being taxed you have a little bit more of a say (and you actaully benefit) from your own tax dollars.\n\nIt's such a simple concept that I wish more Americans would embrace.  Unfortunatly I think the liberal politians will eventually take over the US and socialism will take hold.  At that point government will guide us from birth to grave and hover over us with heavy regulation and heavy taxes due to wealth redistrobution that will sand blast  ambition and entrepreneurship right from our national image. Let us hope and pray that we don't let that happen, thats not the way the US got to where it is today.
369152
Most people have been scared off of this half-baked ideas for various reasons.\n\nFirst, alot of people feel very uncomfortable giving the cornerstone of their retirement to the same people who stole the retirement accounts at Enron, Worldcom, etc.\n\nSecond, there were too many foolish promises made by the President, who said people could be as reckless as they wanted and still have some minimum guaranteed amount at retirement.\n\nMy personal feeling, however, is that the government has grown too addicted to skimming off of the Social Security collections in order to hide how much in debt we truly are. The government currently works with two sets of figures, the debt amount we admit to and the total debt we really owe which is much scarier.