Attended my annual Town Meeting last night and sat next to known Bushbots

[merbex]

I know this couple because our kids are the same age and they have been on sports teams together. They are part of the 32% and will be among his supporters FOREVER

This was the first time that I heard nothing about how great he was though - no, tonight it was all "Our town is spending too much money; liberals in this town spend too much money, when is it going to stop?" "Why don't we just stop allowing development?"

The article we voted on was to appropriate $6.7 million dollars to design and construct a DPW and athletic fields; our present DPW is located in what most would consider a residential neighborhood - it is 80 years old and is so small that we have 2 other smaller satellite garages scattered around town. This article would consolidate the facililty and comes with 80 acres to create the playing fields.

On and on the husband and wife b****ed- I was trying to listen to the presentation but finally I said " If you think we spend too much here for something that is tangible and that might last another 80-150 years if we're lucky, then you really must be upset at the billion dollars a day we are spending in Iraq for essentially an illegal War. Now that's money."

She immediately shut up. I did notice people in front of us nudge each other as if to say did you hear that?

We appropriated the money and moved to the next article: appropriate $1.7 million to start the process to permit, design, and get the ball rolling for the construction of a new school and the expansion (of 1) and renovation of 3 others so that we will qualify for state reimbursement for school construction projects (up to 40-50% reimbursement)

Once again they started to complain. 'Where is all this money coming from? Spend spend spend.. why can't we just get a tax break when we have a surplus?"

I said "Oh you mean like the surplus the federal gov't had for about 5 minutes 6 yeras ago before Bush gave it all way in tax breaks to millionaires? And now we have deficits as far as the eye can see with nothing to show for it? That surplus?"

Once again she shut up. And I know I didn't imagine the nudges this time in front of us.

The $1.7 million passed also.

We value education where I live, thankfully. But it is no guarantee that the project will ultimately pass. T
hat vote will be some time in 2008-09;this just starts the process.

[babylonsister]

1. merbex ~

:yourock: :yourock:

[underpants]

2. Good for you

that's the way to be involved and be part of the solution.

Good for you.

[Inland]

3. Now, now. Iraq occupation only six to ten billion bux a month.

Not that we really know. The USG just spends money until it runs out, so we don't know what the current figure is. We won't know until Bush goes back to congress and asks for another shitload of cash how quickly it spent the last supplemental.

[400Years]

4. they shut up because they know they can't say anything back

they know bush blew everything and probably secretly hate him for it.

[DrZeeLit]

5. Awesome response. I only wish I could be so measured. You rock!

I hope the appropriations pass. As an educator, I realize it is nigh unto impossible to get the support and corrrect percentages of the vote in order to pass initiatives. Only once did a school district, in which I lived and worked, pass a bond issue for building (so that we could get on the state list for even more money since our school population had tripled in a very very short time). It took door-to-door canvassing by everyone from the superintendent down to kindergarten, plus all the other staff. We really needed the money, and we worked so hard.

If your town can get into that mode, you'll be able to realize the project.
Best of luck!

[mdmc]

6. fiscal conservatives are having a very hard time with the war money

To say that the occupation was cost feasible and well planned out is outragious. It was very poorly planned. Too costly.

[gratuitous]

7. A tangible benefit from public spending

What a concept!

Excellent points, merbex, well and timely made.

[meegbear]

Surplus? I think I just figured out the other 32% ...

no matter what they say about today, they're living in a 9/10 world.

[Bozita]

8. I hope you're wearing a big smile today. You earned it last night!

Thanks.

[MUAD_DIB]

9. You wasted your time with them

You should have just rabbit punched them.

I'd bet that you would have recieved a standing O for that. ; D

[warrens]

10. Perfect answers

When liberals spend money, we get a return, not pie in the sky "urinate down" economics.

[Coexist]

11. way to go!

Sometimes I am taken by surprise by angry right-ers, you were right on it.

[AllieB]

12. Bushbots in MA are scary, desperate critters.

You did really well, but I doubt it will ever sink in with these types. They are more consumed with their hatred of Ted Kennedy than the reality that Bush has ruined this country.

[tanyev]

13. "Why don't we just stop allowing development?"

Well, that's not a very Republican attitude. Sounds like your Bushbots are having to dilute their kool-aid to make it last.

[leesa]

14. That one struck me to. I thought all developers were Republicans

[merbex]

15. They would like to turn our town into a gated community; we have enough

population here, in their minds. They don't want to spend $ for a school or to improve the infrastructure - make do. Keep taxes low is their mantra

Classic case of " climbed the ladder and then knocked it down so no-one else can use it"
"I got mine screw everyone else"

[glitch]

16. It would have been very difficult sitting near you and not snorting.

Gasping, choking, snickering. Maybe even leaving the room and laughing loudly in the corridor.
I couldn't have been so discrete to limit myself to nudges. :applause:

[Orion The Hunter]

17. Good for you, Merbex!

I know Bushbots hate having reality interjected into their lives, but you did them some good!

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. Excellent!

[Mr_Spock]

19. Bushbots really are whining civets aren't they?

Never offer solutions, ALWAYS complaining about the money society needs to survive & progress.

Republicans are simple minded fools.

[helderheid]

20. Bless you!!

[yorkiemommie1]

21. good job!

kudos for advancing the truth!

[ms liberty]

22. Pentagon figures say...

$6.8 billion per month, according to a report I heard on NPR last week. Using a 30 day month to average, that comes to $266,666,666.67 per day (rounded; the sixes were infinite).

Do you think we could rebuild the Gulf Coast for that? It might at least be a start...

Great post - glad to hear you representin' for all of us - Thanks!

[Robbie Michaels]

23. That Was Awesome!

:toast: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot: