Bruce, I didn't think you would be, but I have a bad habit of throwing my opinions about politicians around where I should keep my mouth shut.

As I was saying, The news media (left and right) is making Ron Paul out to be a raving lunatic. He goes where most politicians dare not, but at least he believes in what he's saying (unlike most others running right now).

Too many are just... well, playing politics.

And as I stated, unless some dirty stuff comes out before the election, Hillary will probably be the next President.

I'm with you, I'm not ready for Hillary. A woman, yes, but not Hillary.

As much as I like Rudy as a good all around guy, I can't help but thinking in the back of my mind that voting for him is like giving the "OK" to use a national tragedy for his personal gain. If you look at his track record in NY, it's abysmal. The only thing he has going for him is 9/11.

Even though in politics, that seems to be the norm...I just can't in good conscience.

But Hillary......Can we PLEASE have someone in the White House other than a Bush or Clinton (I know, Jeb's next...is Chelsea 35 yet??)

Give him 8 minutes of your life if you're an American. Then try to tell me he's crazy.

Don't miss the bullets at the end.

YouTube - Ron Paul: A New Hope

Thanks Bruce.

Really good video and gives me a good run-down on what he stands for.

I especially like his thinking on the border issues we've been dealing with in Texas and most of all... less government involved in our lives including the current income tax structure.

No wonder he's getting so much flack from his own party and the main stream media.

Anyone who is for getting rid of the IRS and a new tax structure gets my vote. Problem is, getting the support of other politicians to go along with this may be a tough fight (from both parties).

In comparison to all the other Republican candidates, he looks like the most conservative.

Hello,
I do want an end to the Bush Clinton dynastic exchange. I think Hillery lack a lot of what made her husband a successful president. Shillery has a lot of the flaws but few of the bonuses. I just down want to here her speak on a regular basis . Bush may sound like an idiot. But she makes me want to plug my ears .

A tough question for Hillery. How can a government that can secure it's borders? (something third world countries can do). A government that can't educate it's youth? A government that can't do much of what it is charged with doing already . How can this government nationalize /Socialize one seventh of the economy? Then do the job. Yeah right .

Both political parties are out of touch. Neither can be trusted to run the government. I admit to being crazy . My belief that the government is soon going to hit it's credit limit. May just be a symptom. I may be wrong again . The main reason i see for the rapid increase in prices in oil and other commodities. Is not all do to increased demand. A good chunk is do to the debasing of the currency.

Even though i am very negative about the future of the U.S. Government. I have very positive view of the future in general . It's just not a place for people who want to turn tighten the same bolts on an assembly line. Or people who want to fill out the same 5 form every day for the rest of their lives .

wonder what will happen when the Government starts having to Downsize or out sourse.

Ken

I'm going to pop in here for a pull back to the topic. Some of you folks ought to take a Sunday afternoon and read Christmas Carol. What a bunch of Scrooges.

I mean, I'm all for capitalism, but what's with the 'you put yourself where your are, therefore you deserve it' mentality. Crimeny. 'Conservatives' are usually the first to claim patent on values and character, and then the first to jump off the ship when it comes to charity.

Ok...maybe I should tone that down. I do realize that conservatives are usually pretty generous with their cash, but you have to remember that charity starts in the head...not in the wallet. And charity, in my view, is the foundation of character.

I won't say that anyone should get a free pass. But I hope I never think like some of you. Druggies put themselves where they are. So do alcoholics, prostitutes, gamblers, and consumer junkies. Hell, so do seminar addicts. You might even say that anyone below poverty level put themselves where they are. But I just don't see that as a reason not to have a little compassion.

Davies...don't give in to them. Your very first post was dead on.

When you stop feeling sympathy for people, you live for yourself. When you live for yourself, you die.

Just to answer some foreseeable questions - No, I don't think the government should bail anyone out. Yes, I do think people ought to pay for what they buy. Yes, I do think the banks and CC company executives and marketers ought to be drug out in the street and shot...I know - that's not very charitable, but anyone who preys on another's weakness that way is a waste of skin. No better than the crack dealers.

But that's what we do as marketers Eric. I'm not accepting nor deflecting blame but that's exactly what we do as marketers and copywriters.

I disagree.

I don't take on a project unless I feel it has value to the target. I know that limits me, but preying on another's weakness is the one thing I won't do.

But who's to say what has "value" to the target and what doesn't?

And I say that if you are marketing anything you are indeed praying on a weakness.

Wow!

I never expected to read that on here!

But it's true.

However, there's a deeper layer. While it's true that behind every need and desire there's a weakness, the whole advertising - consumption dynamic also brings out these desires and stimulates them to the point of saturation.

I think it also depends on how you look at it. When you yourself are feeling vulnerable financially, you'll sooner feel that you are indeed 'preying'. However, when you're fulfilling a desire for the advancement of another individual, you're empowering a weakness and allowing others to grow.

P.s., Someone taking advantage of someone weaker is inherently a 2 way street. The 'predator' exposes a weakness in the 'prey'. The 'prey' adapts or dies, and those that adapt grow. The weakness is already in the individual, the one exploiting it is merely exposing it for the other to learn and grow.