Social security is WELFARE. You're not entitled to it. You're not guaranteed it. If I die, my kids get ZERO from my "contributions" (unlike, say, a 401k which may be taking a hit, but at least it is still mine) - unless they are under 18 (and then only till their 18, regardless of how much I've put in). What most people get out of it, they did not fund to put in to it - thus, they are getting other people's money (i.e. welfare). The government can increase or decrease it at will, unlike a contractual agreement on an annuity or other fiscal program. They are talking about making it means tested too. If it looks like welfare, acts like welfare and is treated like welfare - it is welfare.

Well, actually, since abortion kills a human, my problem is abortion. Your statement is akin, to me, as saying "the challenge is unwanted kids not child abuse. End (by killing) unwanted kids and you eliminate most abuse." Merely because the law fails to see humans in the womb as people worthy of protection doesn't make it right, as, in the past, this was the same treatment slaves got (being less than fully human) - the courts are wrong, abortion for any reason other than self preservation is wrong.

The life has an entirely separate set of unique DNA from conception and it is human DNA and it is alive. How is this different from you (you're alive, unique DNA and human DNA)? (please note these are facts, not religious references)

Fear socialism - nope, just know it is a horrible way to govern. As for Koch, I heard that charge, however, it wasn't money or Koch that got me to join a tax protest. It was the taxes, government rules and regulation that got me there.

Our rights exists apart from the government, they aren't here to guarantee our right, instead, to defend (from itself and outside forces) those rights which exist without their existence. For example, I have the freedom to say what I please - government can either affirm that right and defend it - or - suppress that right through laws. I have the right to defend myself - government can either affirm that and defend is - or - pass stupid gun control laws and suppress it. (and so on) - there is nothing the government can "grant" me in terms of rights, all they can do is affirm and defend my natural right or pass laws to suppress them.

Well, since the SCOTUS struck down sodomy laws, doesn't matter that the states have on the books.

I always love the "fear" line - like, somehow, I'm scared if two men hook up or two woman do. I do like how your fear and prejudice blinds you to multiple partner marriages (which existed for all of history and are even written in the bible) and, likewise, to incestuous and across species mating. If you support gay marriage you can't, logically, not support *anything goes* marriages. You have no basis to logically do so. Heck, you can't even deny pedophiles and minors the right of marriage - after all, we permit under age people to get married with permission in some states, why stop there? And, therefore, because Cuomo hasn't permitted incestuous and multiple partner marriages, he is just as fearful and bigoted as anyone else.

Never happen, too many politicians get political slush fund money from the interest groups - money talks, everything else loses.

So? I can never figure out why so many people are obsessed with what other people earn.

Hey Val, name's Paul Davis. Not a vet and, without proof, I'd not discount someone else's claim to be a vet. If their lying, which ... why???, they trade credibility for mere "one up manship" on a blog posting, not that impressive. Sorry that you feel the need to broadly paint people who don't agree with you with one broad brush, as I'm a conservative (leaning libertarian). I don't find a lot of what Hal says to be substantiated in reality, so I can understand people calling his credibility on the military thing.