If we are really that broke, maybe we should just tell'em to keep that tax rebate. I would rather be safe than have money in the bank. The USA will never surrender!!

We could save more money by removing all the Illegal Aliens from America. Of California's 110 Billion dollar budget, 11 Billion is earmarked to provide Healthcare, education, welfare, etc for their Illegal Alien population. That's 9% of their entire budget. I wonder how much money we are spending on Illegal Aliens over here in SC. Make sure you pay your taxes, 20-30 Million Illegal Aliens are depending on us. Too bad I can't claim my 9% of an Illegal Alien's costs on my 1040!

That is right! Bush had a good start. But we should really pay attention when the Dem president and congress eat the rest of your rights away. Ironic ain't it!!!!

Say wha' ????? Clifford Henning's letter is a masterpiece of rambling incoherence. It's not real clear who his "bad guys" are. But I think I may have found at least one thing on which we agree: it's time to end religious intolerance! Muslims are intolerant of Christians, Christians are intolerant of Jews and non-believers, Evangelicals are intolerant of "mainline" Protestants, PSAers are intolerant of regular Presbyterians, and Southern Baptists hardly tolerate anyone! We sure would be better off without all this religious intolerance. That is what you meant, Mr. Henning, isn't it?

Denali: you are right on. In fact, it is only to the extent that illegal aliens have access to entitlements, that they put any kind of strain on our economy. Mind you, I oppose the current situation on humanitarian grounds. There's a reason that illegals can be coerced into working in unsafe conditions for miserably low wages, and that reason is that they're illegal. That's very bad for them, very bad for us--in that it makes us indirect participants in immoral behavior--but it's certainly not bad for the economy. Artificially low wages don't damage the economy, as long as overall production increases enough to produce a net gain in jobs at higher rates of pay. The only reason they're a "drag" on the economy is because, being illegal and earning tiny little paychecks, there's no way they're paying enough tax to compensate for the entitlements they consume. So socialism even manages to make cheap labor an economic ill...do we need ANY MORE PROOF of what a destructive philosophy this is?

What if the Shintoists are right?

howcanweknow: I guess irony is lost on some folks. We EELs have to remember that. My "point" was sarcastic, but your response underscored it, though unwittingly. Without the irony, my view is that since different religions do hold completely different views, and each claims to know the "truth," none are reliable. The end of religion would end the "tolerance" issue for good!!

Have to disagree with the notion that no religions are reliable. Surely, faith is a key to all, but there has to be a factual basis for faith, otherwise that faith is nothing but fantasy. I'm a Christian because I see the facts upon which Christianity is based.

All the adherants to a faith believe their faith is the right one. There is no compromise between Jew, Muslim, or Christian. Each have fundamentally different beliefs and to mix them would be an abomination to any of them. All this one religion talk is no religion talk. I don't have to tolerate others beliefs or views. I just have to respectfully disagree.

The writer is a typical Bush hater. He whines about having to have positive identification then complains about the illegals being here that the positive IDs are suppose to identify so they won't get a job and will either leave or be deported when found. Typical DIM who wants his cake and eat it too. True, McGroothand, the Mexican illegals work hard, but with what level of quality? Menial work maybe, but I wouldn't want them building my house.

EEL, I wasn't talking about "miracles" at all. I was talking about facts (not that I don't believe in miracles as well). Here's a good example: Dr. Hugh Ross, Cal-Tech. Astrophysicist, was evaluating the "creation accounts" from an assortment of religions. He said he'd seen some pretty outrageous claims (like the Hindu belief that the earth is supported on elephants). But, when he read the Bible's account of creation, he was blown away by the scientific accuracy of that report. He spent the next few months evaluating the factual accuracy of other things in the Bible (fact, not faith), and was so impressed that he became an Assoc. Pastor as well as a scientist. There are similar stories from highly-educated folks like Chuck Colson, Lee Strobel, and Josh McDowell -- all guys who set out to disprove the "myths" of Christianity, but much to their surprise, BECAME Christians because of the factual basis of it. Logic and facts convinced them. Read their personal accounts. That is what I'm referring to, and not just miracles.

Walk American, you are preacing to the choir.

Jack, you forgot "preacing" ins spelled "preaching". The way you spelled it, it would be pronounced 'pree-sing'. Try to only use words you can spell next time.

darth froggy.....now who is "preaching"? You should take your own advice. -"preacing" ins spelled- should be "preacing" is spelled. If you can't spell is, how did you ever get out of school?

The writer of this letter is right on. We don't need foreign made preprogrammed slot machines (diebold voting machines) deciding who our next commissar is going to be. We don't need illegal aliens, loans from China, national ID cards, and certainly not "the state is GOD" mentality, we need a restoration of the constitution. Quit following that carrot on the end of the media's stick, and start looking at the green pastures around you.