Red State 'Values'

“Hey SS, also check out how Sarge failed to address the issues I pointed out and then feigned ignorance. Or did he feign it?

So is this how you SS and Sarge bail each other out?”

“So what was I saying that was not true, Oh saviour of SS?”

“Yeah, be sure to check out his definition of "failed to address the issues I pointed out".

Make sure you're sitting down!”

“Speaking of feigning ignorance, notice how he ignored the answered request of when he said something about YOU, instead of the issue at hand.”

“It was all nice until SS felt he was losing and resorted to being patronizing.

“It sucks to be so embarassed, doesn't it mjc? ;-)
Poor Mississippi beating Massachusetts, oh my. ;-)"--SS”

“Agian Sarge. You don't address the issue.”

“Sarge can you draw me a picture?”

“mjc, Who do you think you are fooling here?”

“I think it's really sweet how serge and stovey poo defends each other's honor.”

“Not sure that I defended anybody. If I'm wrong, please post the quote.”

“Yes, it is so cute. They still haven't addressed the issues. Their tactic seems to be to ask questions without answering others peoples and make meaningless statements. Poor guys need help.
last edited: 11/22/05 1:39:34 PM”

“They sure do liven up the flaming. It makes working hard to do.”

“"If you want to brag about and keep giving through your "charity" (in which the majority of funds go toward running the darn thing), go ahead, pat yourself on the back."

Don't worry bacpac, when Buddha got called out about his own charity and giving he claimed he helped a friend put a roof on their house once.

He's all about kindness to the less fortunate.”

“Unlike some people, I don't brag about what I give. Where I come from, it's inappropriate.”

“ I don't brag about what I give. Where I come from, it's inappropriate

Yeah, I think lying about giving is inappropriate most places, actually...”

“And what evidence do you have that I lied about giving Mutt?”

“So let me get this straight about "Red State Values". It's OK to cut monies that go to social programs at the expense of giving money back to the rich, and big business. And when that happens, and people are in need, it's good to donate to charities, and then brag about it, or thump your chest and say "look, I donated this, what did you donate?"

You people are embarassing.”

“It’s not bragging Buddha if you rag on someone about charity and then are asked, “OK, what have YOU done?”. That’s honest disclosure.”

“I ragged on the fact that they boasted about charity, and offered a theory as to why it may be needed so much in the areas that give more. You people wouldn't know what "honest disclosure" was if it hit you in the arse.

Now there are two morons, way to take my own advice. lol.”

“Almighty Visor Boy has SPOKEN! So mote it be! LOL!”

“To deflect the wrath that is being cast on Buddha Bear in the spirit of SS and PFC. I give plenty to charity. I just gave to the Sierra Club and the Democratic Party. If they don’t need charitably aid, then I don’t know who does. I, by the way, am a lying prick.”

“Central Alabama United Way has one of the highest retainage rates in the country. I believe their operating cost are around 5%. This is in an industry where anything under 50% is good. Also, SA is great. Our local Kiwanis club does bell ringing every year. You want to get a taste for your local community? Go ring a bell for a few hours at Christmas. You'll also see who gives and who doesn't. It's a good feeling seeing folks have their kids come up and make them put it in the bucket.”

“Wow, that’s awesome. 5%? That’s nearly unheard of.”

“I'm pretty sure that's the number. United Way is huge in this area.”

“Accoding to the United Way Alabama is in the bottom 5 at number 46.--United Way State of Caring Index - Top and Bottom 5 Ranked States, 1990-2000

And they maintianed the bottom 5 for 10 years running.”

“Sorry if there is any offense, dayhicker. You did have a valid point.”

“I was specifically referring to the Central Alabama chapter and referred to how much they retain. I wasn't referring to your caring index.”

“Paying taxes is akin to charity?

Say what BB?!?”

“Notice how all these studies that are attempting to undermine the original one are all in MA? No really, we're generous. Don't listen to those other studies. Here's our report that tells how great we are. Plus, we're really smart since we're from the NE. Does that about sum it up?”

“LOL, dayhiker, that sums it up nicely.”

“BB - I actually agree with you partly on one issue. There have been huge social cuts recently. Who picked up the ball and ran with it? The charities, both faith based and secular. Thank goodness for both of them.”

“'faith based'
Say that really quietly dayhiker.
Don't want the spook the Left. ;-)”

“Notice how the orginal story by Catalogue for Philanthropy was also in MA.”

“And DC.


SS - I should have concluded with "Thank God for both groups." That's how I feel, but I didn't want anyone throwing a hissy fit.”

“I'm offended by your use of the word God. Could you please in the future refer to God as “the ambiguous being that may or may not exist?”
;-)”

“I would really appreciate it if the right stop trying to appropriate religion for themselves.

You're making baby Jesus cry.”

“Also note that Boston College is a well repected religious organization and the report was welcomed and called for by Catalogue for Philanthropy.”

“V - I'm assuming that wasn't directed at me.”

“If you would like to argue the facts and numbers lets do it otherwise you are just whining.”

“Vile is being really comical today. ;-)”

“The Massachusetts Catalogue for Philanthropy was the first of its kind—conceived in November 1996, as a "Foundation-Initiated Project" of the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation.

So yes then DC.”

“How about a bargain?

I’ll stick up for you guys when people characterize you as toothless, shoeless, trailer-dwelling hillbillies and you stick up for me when I’m characterized as a God-hating, latte sipping, flag-burning hippie.”

“Don't forget america hater.”

“mjc - I'm not whining. I went to "about us" on that site and it listed MA and DC. I added DC. I'm sorry if that came across as whining.

V - still not sure if you're directing that at SS or me. I know you're not any of the three. If you don't sip lattes then does that mean you slurp them?”

“LOL @ mutt”

“For 'god's' sake people. Can't you see these figures indicate that a whole bunch of people in the bible belt give a bunch of cash to their local churches. While most churches do great work, these figures almost certainly include grandma being conned out of her savings to give to the more questionable evangelicals, or the poor family going to an ever more glitzy church. It would also probably count money the local rev used to buy his new mercedes to carry out important church work in, or his personal assistant.

The fact that Churches in the Red States are good at getting money out of people is not news.

I don't mean to diminish in any way the great work being done by many religious bodies. I've always found it interesting just quite how grand and plush some of these churches often are compared to some of the communities they are based in.
last edited: 11/22/05 3:31:55 PM”

“I hear a whole lot of sour grapes bull going on. LOL”

“responding to y2:

True dat - I still remember when my grandmother, who lived in Lynchburg, Virginia took me by Jerry Fallwell's humble compound to show me what an industry religion could be.
last edited: 11/22/05 3:29:50 PM”

“y2 - that certainly goes on, but is not typical of the overwhelmingly large % of churches. I do the eng. design on lots of churches all over the SE. They all have one thing in common, they're short of cash. I can also say that from my experiences in my own church on both trustees and stewardship boards that fundraising is difficult.”

“I really don't know why Buddha is so upset. He is a 'Red Stater.'”