just for massachusetts voters please! (how much, employment, public schools)

[swbtoo]

Latest report is that absentee votes are running 16% ahead in favor of Brown! It is said that history shows absentee votes track very closely to subsequent in-person votes.

All right! Go out there, vote for Brown, and be with the winners! The rest of us will cheer and salute you, and you will go down in history as bringing about true change for the people, by the people!

[brightdoglover]

Brown is anti-abortion.
End of story for many of us.

[miu]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Brown is anti-abortion.
End of story for many of us.

Half of the US population is pro-life being christian and/or catholic. And Bush was also pro-life and we didn't lose our right to an abortion.

While I am very much a pro-choice woman, I can't let a candidate's stance on abortion be the only or main factor in deciding whether or not to vote for or against them. Maybe it's because I'm 51 years old and I've been diligent with the use of birth control pills.

I also don't trust Obama's vision of the country. I don't want there to be 60 Democratic senators so that his bills just breeze through. Having Brown in will ensure that the Democrats HAVE to work with the Republicans in order to pass their bills. We need active bi-partisanship going on in Washington.

And this healthcare bill needs to be completely re-worked, I don't want it to pass. As it is, the MA healthcare system isn't working and I see no one trying to revamp it. And look at how awful our welfare system is, it was a mistake from the start and we're stuck with it. There is no such thing as a completely free lunch. And when I heard Kennedy's widow talking about free doctor's care and free mammograms, I knew that this healthcare bill is not for our country. People need affordable healthcare, not "free healthcare" paid for by our taxes... which is actually not free. And currently we don't have enough doctors to staff all these future free healthcare visits that the poor are suddenly going to want to have. Instead, we have to ease into this. As in federal funding for medical students that will be obligated to pay back their loans by working in low cost healthcare clinics which should be open 24 hours in order to move people away from using emergency rooms frivolously. And our goverment should help pay for the expensive medical equipment so that tests like mammograms can be affordable to all. There is nothing wrong with all of us paying for our healthcare. It can be on a sliding scale fee system, but it should never be "free".

In addition, in high school there should be mandatory home and life economics courses where the youth is taught about personal finances and the importance of having good work skills and family planning. And bring back auto shop courses too.

I also see some anti-Scott ad about him voting against smaller class sizes. But my feeling on this is that in this poor economy, we can't have everything. Smaller class sizes cost more money, and therefore means higher taxes to pay for it. As a childfree person know that I don't want higher taxes to support this. And if those families with children want smaller class sizes, then YOU all figure out how YOU are going to pay for it and leave me out of it. Quality education for the young is very important to me also, but it's time that the parents start being more active in teaching their children. If parents would help their kids go over their classroom notes and homework, then smaller classes wouldn't be necessary. And their parents should know this material anyway, and if they don't, they can study the course material along with their kids or hire a tutor. After all, high school level academics is not rocket science. And parents shouldn't count on the public school system to raise their children for them.

[miu]

I forgot to add that we all need to be covered by affordable health insurance for catastrophic care. But again, this sort of coverage shouldn't be free, just affordable and on a sliding scale fee system. And the poor need to learn how to live responsibly and productively. Creating health clinics will provide many jobs of all levels.

[SCGMetroWest]

Originally Posted by miu

Half of the US population is pro-life being christian and/or catholic. And Bush was also pro-life and we didn't lose our right to an abortion.

While I am very much a pro-choice woman, I can't let a candidate's stance on abortion be the only or main factor in deciding whether or not to vote for or against them. Maybe it's because I'm 51 years old and I've been diligent with the use of birth control pills.

If many Republicans had their way, you wouldn't have access to birth control either....and you definitely wouldn't be able to teach young people about being responsible regarding sex.

How about his stand against gay marriage? Lack of environmental controls? Typical tax cuts for the rich, cutting programs for the poor? Those are all the reasons I will NOT be voting for Scott Brown today. It will be a very sad day in this state if someone like him wins the election.

[floridasandy]

i cannot vote in massachusetts but, like many americans, i am certainly hoping that mandatory forced health insurance payments get handed a major setback by the massachusetts voters. this is a big issue facing america and massachusetts can stand up for the rest of us today!

go scott brown

[JViello]

Originally Posted by SCGMetroWest

If many Republicans had their way, you wouldn't have access to birth control either....and you definitely wouldn't be able to teach young people about being responsible regarding sex.

I don't need you teaching MY young people (kids) about sex. That's my job as a parent, not the governments or yours. You seem to want government out of the bedroom below (Which I agree with) yet, above you don't.

Pick one.

Originally Posted by SCGMetroWest

How about his stand against gay marriage? Lack of environmental controls? Typical tax cuts for the rich, cutting programs for the poor? Those are all the reasons I will NOT be voting for Scott Brown today. It will be a very sad day in this state if someone like him wins the election.

Typical "hype" points that do nothing but attempt to personalize and demonize. I've got news for you, it's already sad in MA. Look around. Socialism and nanny state mentality abounds. Time for a change.

We've got Dodd out of CT, now we need to block Dodd Jr, Blumenthal - another Democratic shill from furthuring the progressive movement that is killing us.

[SCGMetroWest]

Originally Posted by JViello

I don't need you teaching MY young people (kids) about sex. That's my job as a parent, not the governments or yours. You seem to want government out of the bedroom below (Which I agree with) yet, above you don't.

Pick one.

Problem is, a lot of parents don't. Then taxpayers complain about supporting babies born to welfare mothers. What's wrong with presenting ALL the options? It's okay for schools & the government to preach about abstinance but not being responsible? BTW, I am a parent also, so I'm not talking in hypotheticals. I'll teach my kids at home but I also have no issue with school presenting them with age-appropriate options that may just help out their peers who don't have parents that will talk to them about uncomfortable topics such as this one.

Typical "hype" points that do nothing but attempt to personalize and demonize. I've got news for you, it's already sad in MA. Look around. Socialism and nanny state mentality abounds. Time for a change.

We've got Dodd out of CT, now we need to block Dodd Jr, Blumenthal - another Democratic shill from furthuring the progressive movement that is killing us.

Personalize and Demonize? Not sure what you are referring to here. Trust me, I agree with you...MA has tons of problems. Until we get rid of our government's 2-party system we're going to continue this far-right vs. far-left battle.

[swbtoo]

Originally Posted by SCGMetroWest

How about his stand against gay marriage? Lack of environmental controls? Typical tax cuts for the rich, cutting programs for the poor? Those are all the reasons I will NOT be voting for Scott Brown today. It will be a very sad day in this state if someone like him wins the election.

How about Obama's stand on gay marriage? Is he for it? Why did you vote for him?

What benefits has Massachusetts seen from all the programs that residents are paying for through exessive taxes? Could those programs not be delivered more efficiently and effectively? Are they all necessary? Many other states do without some of them, and still provide for the needy. I haven't heard anything good from anyone in MA that the healthcare system there works well or that they are getting their money's worth for the taxes they pay.

Think about it before you give in to knee-jerk reactions. The issues we face around the country, state by state, are too important for anyone to follow political talking points that reflect the way business has always been conducted. It really IS time for a course correction - a real change that benefits the country.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by SCGMetroWest

Problem is, a lot of parents don't. Then taxpayers complain about supporting babies born to welfare mothers. What's wrong with presenting ALL the options? It's okay for schools & the government to preach about abstinance but not being responsible? BTW, I am a parent also, so I'm not talking in hypotheticals. I'll teach my kids at home but I also have no issue with school presenting them with age-appropriate options that may just help out their peers who don't have parents that will talk to them about uncomfortable topics such as this one.

It is not okay for the government to dicate morals to children, and that's what happens more than not in schools. EITHER SIDE. Sex education should NOT be in the schools.

So you mean to tell me that if your daughter was taught how to put a condom on a cucumber, you would be okay with it? If she was taught that "abortion" is an option and she doesn't even need your permission to get one, that's okay too?

I wouldn't. It's not the place. If you are okay with the above, that's fine for you and your family. It's not for mine.

Moreover, telling a 16 year old it's okay to have sex, but just be "responsible" and giving them the tools to do so is rediculous. They are 16, they are NOT adults, and should not be making adult decisions. They are KIDS. Kids need parents. Period.

I have an idea, if you want a "program" how about one for ADULTS and PARENTS that teaches them how to BE a parent! Leave the kids alone and stop indoctrinating them through a public program.

School is about math, history, science etc. Not sexual education. We need the government out of our lives and people need to start being more responsible for themselves.