Catching wild pigs

[Guest]

I recently received this story in an email from my sister. Worth reading-
~There was a chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man, an exchange student, who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist regime.

In the midst of his story, he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked: "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?"
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said that it was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn.
"When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

"They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. "The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity."

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time.

One should always remember two truths: There is no such thing as a free lunch and you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. If you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends.

You may think the free ride is essential to your way of life, but God help you when the gate slams shut!~

[Guest]

Katz great story and so very true. Experts address the loss of freedom suffered by East Europe using the analogy "salimi tactic" meaning they took away their freedoms one slice at a time and the Eastern Europeans hardly noticed until it was too late.

Unfortunately what you are going to find are some posters who will argue a) it can't happen here and b) many people are in great need.

Well we know that because better than 49% pay no taxes and I wager a bet that no one is starving in america. In fact those below the poverty level own TV DVR cell phoes have subsidy for both heat and AC, etc.

We need to start thinking about giving a hand up rather than a hand out....and yes for my liberal friends I direct that at corporate welfare as well.

[Guest]

The story is a very accurate description of what is happening in America. I am shocked at the lack of responses.
It must be an indication of the truth hurts.

Thanx for the post, I will be sending it to friends and family. What I like most is there is no requirement for an R or D or race or religion to state the problem.

btk

[Guest]

A great little parable. I don't know why I waited until today to read it. I like BTK will share this with my other "communities".

Liberals are probably too embarrassed to comment. (I had to get in a shot:))

[Guest]

Once again, the Republican faction here is showing their lack of compassion for those less fortunate than themselves. They are the same Republicans who will wonder in November why their candidate lost the election. Do you honestly believe the less than affluant will vote Republican? Of course not! Do you honestly believe people of color will vote Republican? Of course not! Do you honestly believe gay and lesbian people will vote Republican? No!
Do you honestly believe registered Democrats will vote Republican? No!
Does this leave a large enough group of people to vote Republican and have their candidate win? OF COURSE NOT!!

[Guest]

Once again, the Republican faction here is showing their lack of compassion for those less fortunate than themselves. They are the same Republicans who will wonder in November why their candidate lost the election. Do you honestly believe the less than affluant will vote Republican? Of course not! Do you honestly believe people of color will vote Republican? Of course not! Do you honestly believe gay and lesbian people will vote Republican? No!
Do you honestly believe registered Democrats will vote Republican? No!
Does this leave a large enough group of people to vote Republican and have their candidate win? OF COURSE NOT!!

You apparently don't understand the meaning of compassion, Buggy.

[Guest]

buggyone, you have just proved the point i just tried to make on the Santorum Does It Again forum...the left is systematically making more and more people dependent on govt, either for jobs or for handouts, and thereby solidifying a stranglehold on power in this country...to what end? to push all of us, rep and dem and ind alike, into an eventual global government where property rights are stripped away for the sake of the society, and the US will be just another mediocre nation among many....is this what you want for your grandchildren? of course not! you just don't believe it could happen...but i believe it can and am fighting against it with everything i can.

[Guest]

buggyone, you have just proved the point i just tried to make on the Santorum Does It Again forum...the left is systematically making more and more people dependent on govt, either for jobs or for handouts, and thereby solidifying a stranglehold on power in this country...to what end? to push all of us, rep and dem and ind alike, into an eventual global government where property rights are stripped away for the sake of the society, and the US will be just another mediocre nation among many....is this what you want for your grandchildren? of course not! you just don't believe it could happen...but i believe it can and am fighting against it with everything i can.

Liberals don't get it and no matter what wisdom you're imparting above, never will.

You want to know whats happening to this country you only need to read the history of Argentina. A once prosperous country decimated by socialist policies that drained the lifeblood of that country.

Is Obama our Juan Peron? .........A case can be made.

[Guest]

The disability scams and foodstamp larcenies are breaking the backs of working people.

[Guest]

I've read this story before the big problem is the young people growing up really dont know what is going on and live with the changes and dont question anything this why I tell everyone educate the young and make them read history. Everything that is happening has happened before but the end result just keeps getting worse and worse.

[Guest]

The disability scams and foodstamp larcenies are breaking the backs of working people.

Yes, there are some people who do take advantage of foodstamps. I, too, have seen all the television lawyers advertising they will get you disability from the government (for a price).

However, have you seen first-hand the poverty around the outside of The Villages? I do a little volunteer work at a food pantry in Lady Lake. There are even some Villagers who need food - mostly older, single people living in the historic section - where they subsisting on $600 per month in Social Security payments. Do you want to cut these people off from food? Is that breaking your back?

[Guest]

Yes, there are some people who do take advantage of foodstamps. I, too, have seen all the television lawyers advertising they will get you disability from the government (for a price).

However, have you seen first-hand the poverty around the outside of The Villages? I do a little volunteer work at a food pantry in Lady Lake. There are even some Villagers who need food - mostly older, single people living in the historic section - where they subsisting on $600 per month in Social Security payments. Do you want to cut these people off from food? Is that breaking your back?

I don't think anyone's decrying the support of the truly needy. But there are far too many able people who are able to adjust to the government payments, and give up trying for a better life through the results of their own labor.

I'll say my favorite line again, "The safety net should never become a hammock"

[Guest]

Chachacha~ thought this movie would be of interest to you.
MONUMENTAL: A Search for America's National Treasure (http://www.monumentalmovie.com/)

[Guest]

Yes, there are some people who do take advantage of foodstamps. I, too, have seen all the television lawyers advertising they will get you disability from the government (for a price).

However, have you seen first-hand the poverty around the outside of The Villages? I do a little volunteer work at a food pantry in Lady Lake. There are even some Villagers who need food - mostly older, single people living in the historic section - where they subsisting on $600 per month in Social Security payments. Do you want to cut these people off from food? Is that breaking your back?

buggyone: Many of us have lived it. No one is going hungry in this country. However even in the animal kingdom they understand that if you don't forge for yourself you die. We have governmenr programs that are being run for political purposes only and without the needed leadership needed to differentiate between the needy and greedy. Those elderly folks you speak of certainly are the exception. However, how cruel is it to allow otherwise potentially productive people become totally dependent on a government system, a system where they never had any skin in the game. I have been acquainted with many disabled people whose pride and self detemrination made them chide at the thought of a hand out.

As stated in a previous post here we need to think more in terms of hand ups rather than hand outs.....as the old saw reminds us we can keep feeding people fish or e can teach them to fish on their own

[Guest]

Yes, there are some people who do take advantage of foodstamps. I, too, have seen all the television lawyers advertising they will get you disability from the government (for a price).

However, have you seen first-hand the poverty around the outside of The Villages? I do a little volunteer work at a food pantry in Lady Lake. There are even some Villagers who need food - mostly older, single people living in the historic section - where they subsisting on $600 per month in Social Security payments. Do you want to cut these people off from food? Is that breaking your back?

It's the fraud I'm talking about. I reread what I said and didn't see where I mentioned taking it away from the genuine needy, please help me understand.

[Guest]

I don't think anyone's decrying the support of the truly needy. But there are far too many able people who are able to adjust to the government payments, and give up trying for a better life through the results of their own labor.

I'll say my favorite line again, "The safety net should never become a hammock"

Precisely!

[Guest]

I don't think anyone's decrying the support of the truly needy. But there are far too many able people who are able to adjust to the government payments, and give up trying for a better life through the results of their own labor.

I'll say my favorite line again, "The safety net should never become a hammock"

I have squatters in my wife's house who are doing just that.

[Guest]

I don't think any of us are against foodstamp and disability fraud. You will find fraud to some degree in every program. Social Security is a good example. For example, there are lots of people in The Villages who would lose their survivor benefits if they got legally married. There are others who receive alimony who would lose it if they got legally married. Other people receive VA disability payments long after the person has died but they never report it to the VA. There is lots of Medicare and Medicaid fraud for services not rendered but doctors and nursing homes still report the medical services and procedures and get paid.

The foodstamp fraud is not breaking the back of working people. It is a drop in the bucket when compared to Medicare fraud. Look at the hospital group that was headed by (then CEO) Rick Scott - Columbia HCA.

Columbia/HCA pled guilty to 14 felonies and agreed to a $600+ million fine in the largest fraud settlement in US history. Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. They also admitted fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. They filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, they gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.[

In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the U.S. government $631 million, plus interest, and pay $17.5 million to state Medicaid agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims In all, civil law suits cost HCA more than $2 billion to settle, by far the largest fraud settlement in US history.

[Guest]

I don't think any of us are against foodstamp and disability fraud. You will find fraud to some degree in every program. Social Security is a good example. For example, there are lots of people in The Villages who would lose their survivor benefits if they got legally married. There are others who receive alimony who would lose it if they got legally married. Other people receive VA disability payments long after the person has died but they never report it to the VA. There is lots of Medicare and Medicaid fraud for services not rendered but doctors and nursing homes still report the medical services and procedures and get paid.

The foodstamp fraud is not breaking the back of working people. It is a drop in the bucket when compared to Medicare fraud. Look at the hospital group that was headed by (then CEO) Rick Scott - Columbia HCA.

Columbia/HCA pled guilty to 14 felonies and agreed to a $600+ million fine in the largest fraud settlement in US history. Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. They also admitted fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. They filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, they gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.[

In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the U.S. government $631 million, plus interest, and pay $17.5 million to state Medicaid agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims In all, civil law suits cost HCA more than $2 billion to settle, by far the largest fraud settlement in US history.

"The foodstamp fraud is not breaking the back of working people. It is a drop in the bucket when compared to Medicare fraud."

It all adds up. It is back breaking when the economy doesn't improve, the gas goes up and my home value keeps dropping. Then you have folks that suck the blood from me. At least you admit that there is food stamp fraud. Kudos.

[Guest]

What part of Virginia are you in, Posh? I know the Northern Virginia homeprices have not tumbled around Washington DC - unless you are in Manassas area. You should try and move away from Virginia which has high taxes to an area with lower taxes like Florida. The attached link will show you that Virginia is not the highest in your area, though.

Who Pays More Taxes? Virginia, Maryland or D.C.? - Raw Fisher (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2008/01/who_pays_more_taxes_virginia_m.html)

[Guest]

I don't think any of us are against foodstamp and disability fraud. You will find fraud to some degree in every program. Social Security is a good example. For example, there are lots of people in The Villages who would lose their survivor benefits if they got legally married. There are others who receive alimony who would lose it if they got legally married. Other people receive VA disability payments long after the person has died but they never report it to the VA. There is lots of Medicare and Medicaid fraud for services not rendered but doctors and nursing homes still report the medical services and procedures and get paid.

The foodstamp fraud is not breaking the back of working people. It is a drop in the bucket when compared to Medicare fraud. Look at the hospital group that was headed by (then CEO) Rick Scott - Columbia HCA.

Columbia/HCA pled guilty to 14 felonies and agreed to a $600+ million fine in the largest fraud settlement in US history. Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. They also admitted fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. They filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, they gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.[

In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the U.S. government $631 million, plus interest, and pay $17.5 million to state Medicaid agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims In all, civil law suits cost HCA more than $2 billion to settle, by far the largest fraud settlement in US history.

And he was elected as governor. My, my, guess Florida is getting what it elected and wanted. The same as all of us keep electing and returning to office the complete waste of skin that we call the Congress.

[Guest]

Social security fraud, medicare fraud, medicaid fraud food stamp fraud are costing taxpayers millions upon millions. How many millions well that's just the problem nobody really knows...it could be in the trillions.

IMHO that is just the problem because it clearly defines that the governement lacks total control over the programs it administers.

[Guest]

Social security fraud, medicare fraud, medicaid fraud food stamp fraud are costing taxpayers millions upon millions. How many millions well that's just the problem nobody really knows...it could be in the trillions.

IMHO that is just the problem because it clearly defines that the governement lacks total control over the programs it administers.




If nobody knows how much the "fraud" - as you call it - is costing us, then on what basis of fact do you make the statement that "social security fraud, medicare fraud, medicaid fraud, food stamp fraud are costing the taxpayers millions upon millions"? Or, are you just making this up?

On the other hand, we wasted between $800 billion and 1 trillion dollars in Iraq looking for imaginary, non-existent WMD's. And, all the while, the mastermind of 9/11 was laughing at us.

[Guest]

I recently received this story in an email from my sister. Worth reading-
~There was a chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man, an exchange student, who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist regime.

In the midst of his story, he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked: "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?"
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said that it was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn.
"When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

"They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. "The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity."

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time.

One should always remember two truths: There is no such thing as a free lunch and you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. If you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends.

You may think the free ride is essential to your way of life, but God help you when the gate slams shut!~





LOL - your sister should check her emails more often - this little ditty is at least 3 years old, that's the first time I saw it. Could be even older.

You cons are a riot .........

[Guest]

What part of Virginia are you in, Posh? I know the Northern Virginia homeprices have not tumbled around Washington DC - unless you are in Manassas area. You should try and move away from Virginia which has high taxes to an area with lower taxes like Florida. The attached link will show you that Virginia is not the highest in your area, though.

Who Pays More Taxes? Virginia, Maryland or D.C.? - Raw Fisher (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2008/01/who_pays_more_taxes_virginia_m.html)

I'm trying to move. Next stop will be TV and your "watering hole" HH. I'm out in the Western part of the Commonwealth.

[Guest]

I recently received this story in an email from my sister. Worth reading-
~There was a chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man, an exchange student, who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist regime.

In the midst of his story, he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked: "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?"
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said that it was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn.
"When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

"They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. "The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity."

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time.

One should always remember two truths: There is no such thing as a free lunch and you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. If you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends.

You may think the free ride is essential to your way of life, but God help you when the gate slams shut!~
Some observations about a rather silly story:
1. The method described seems like a very inefficient way to catch wild pigs.
2. It is clearly not true that you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. Medical care comes to mind as a good example.

[Guest]

"The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time."



You sure did not hear the Republican candidates talk about eliminating tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops away when they were stumping for votes among farmers in South Carolina, Minnesota, or Iowa, did you? In fact, Michelle Bachmann and her husband receive thousands of dollars in subsidies for the family farm each year.

[Guest]

Hey, Buggyone~ While we are on the topic of what kind of money politicians are living with, here's a question for you.
We all hear about not legislating morality. But at the same time we hear about how much we should be required to pay in tax to take care of the less fortunate among us. Isn't the desire/need to help others a morality issue? If so, why does it need to be legislated? And if those in DC think it is so important to give money to programs or whatever is needed to help folks, why aren't they freely giving all their millions? I can live far less than 100,000 for all my life, plus given to the poor and needy, AFTER TAXES! I have never stopped the likes of Pelosi, Obama, or anyone on the other side of the aisle for that matter, from giving to the poor and needy. How much are those politicians worth anyway? 435 in Congress and 100 in the Senate, and one president= 536 total. If each gave 1million dollars=$536 million! That is a chunk of change!

Here is the list of the TOP 10 RICHEST POLITICIANS IN CONGRESS. Looks like alot of them could probably afford much more than 1 million donation...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/the-wealthiest-lawmakers_n_700821.html#s132909&title=Sen_John_Kerry

[Guest]

Some observations about a rather silly story:
1. The method described seems like a very inefficient way to catch wild pigs.
2. It is clearly not true that you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. Medical care comes to mind as a good example.

1. You're an expert at catching wild pigs? What is a more efficient method of catching wild pigs? We're all on pins and needles.

2. This doesn't make sense. If you're talking about something beyond someones ability, there'd be no way to make a comparison on frugality concerning a serious medical condition, but many people go to doctors for ailments that are inconsequential, and your point would fail there. In most cases anything you can do is going to be cheaper that hiring it out. It's just common sense. No labor cost; no material mark-up.

[Guest]

Some observations...
2. It is clearly not true that you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. Medical care comes to mind as a good example.

Alot of medical problems, stem from how the person has taken care of (or not) their most precious possession-their own body. Ever heard of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"...?