Originally Posted by SteveZ

I have to admit that the lead post added comic relief to what started as a pretty quiet morning here in TV. The blue sky, no clouds, temps hitting the high 80s today, and no sounds of sirens and heavy traffic to mess up the serene nature of the place. No smog, either.

As an escaped prisoner from Tax-achussetts, remembering how that wonderful state sought more ways to separate me from my money than the Brits did in 1770, I think of a great bumper sticker available in many places nearby: "We don't care how you do it up North!"

The most heavily taxed State (NY, CA, MA, PA, MD, OR, WA...is there a pattern here?) citizens must feel that their plight needs to be implanted on the rest of the nation, with a "misery needs company" philosophy.

The percentage difference which changes elections is less than 10%. 40% of the population feels one way, 40% a different way, 10% is uncommitted and willing to try something different, and 10% won't vote except at gunpoint. So this "massive majority" wanting anything is tripe, with the 10% being the sway vote each time - and always ready to go the other way if they think they got lied to.

When the Republicans had the White House and most of Congress, the "Blue 40%" b----ed and moaned about what was happening, and voiced rather loudly that it was not unAmerican to dissent. They were right!

Now that the Democrats have the White House and most of Congress, the "Red 40%" is b----ing and moaning the same way as the "Blue 40%" did. The difference is the Democrats are have flip-flopped on what they considered proper, that being dissent. So, what's effectively was good for the goose is totally improper for the gander.

What we have in TV is different than the rest of the nation in many ways. We have people who have demonstrated the ability to work hard, save, plan, react to all sorts of adversity and rise above it, and, for all practical purposes, succeeded at the American Dream. That's pretty good company to me! It's better than a bunch of urban freeloaders seeking other people's money and who have banded together to commit legalized larceny.

I really don't care how they do it in in any other state, or any city within another state. Provincetown, the Bronx, Malibu, Gary, Newark or Rockville - and the states housing them - can set up all the local laws for how they want to live that they want. The 10th Amendment to the US Constitution assures that right. That also gives us elsewhere the right to live as we choose.

If I wanted to live under Tax-achussets rules, I never would have left there years ago.

Again, there is no "massive majority" demanding anything. The "Blue 40%" this time around were able to convince many of the "uncommitted 10%" to try it the Blue way. The real trick is for the Democrats to deliver on what was sold to the "uncommitted 10%." That particular 10% scrutinizes very hard, and remembers what was promised, and watches very closely on what is delivered which affects them personally.

If that 10% is not satisfied, "change" again is not that far away.

And yes, the TV population is probably more in that uncommitted 10% than in either of the 40% camps. We vote!

One last thing - The TV population overall is a bunch of seniors who have "made it" the American way. We have succeeded. So, it's kind of arrogant and short-sighted for the rest of the nation to tell us we just don't understand things, when in fact, they'd do well to look at us, learn from how we did it to get to the point to being able to retire with dignity, and emulate. But, the tendency today is to adore youth and discard anything "old," including seniors and the knowledge they have accumulated. They all "want to be me," but with our money!