Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

Buggy is very fortunate to have friend with a heart of gold, like your's RichieLion!

Wow, thank you so much Katz. Right back at ya!!

Originally Posted by buggyone

Bucco,

I am sure RichieLion knows the jest I meant in the writing of the little post you took offense to. I have mentioned the same thing face-to-face with him at the watering hole.

He is a big boy and can take care of himself. Trust me, I would not p-ss him off either in writing or face-to-face because Richie is a good guy and he works out on a regular basis with free weights!

I am sorry that I offended you and that you have taken a disliking to me for my viewpoints and posts. Feel free to block my posts or just do not read them. I have no dislike for you and am sorry you feel that way toward me.

Well said Buggyone and I agree with you about Richie. I wish I would have said what you said the way you said it. WOW, that was a weird sentence. Anyway, Richie and I both got reprimanded yesterday for saying things the wrong way. I will copy your post down and use it next time I get the hair up on the back of my neck if that is OK with you.

Richie, you say it's a "Freedom of Religion" argument. I *think* I understand where you're coming from in that respect.

I think the basic disconnect comes from the definition of that.

Religion, to me, doesn't require operating a hospital or a school. To me, religion is what goes on in church and in someone's heart. Not to say we don't benefit from (locally speaking) St. Joseph's Hospital, Catholic Medical Center or Bishop Guertin High School.

I think the basic problem is the idea that, if you're drawing a paycheck from anone but the church, you have certain rights under the law. But if that paycheck comes from a diocese, suddenly you don't have those rights - even if you don't belong to that religion? There were laws in Ye Olde Days that prohibited members of certain religions from certain jobs depending on the official religion of the day (I.e. No Catholic Lawyers when the Protestants ruled in England). We've gone away from that and more towards the idea that religion is and should be a PRIVATE matter.

The idea that the Church can hide behind their robes to deny people coverage wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for some of the OTHER things they hide behind those robes for. Maybe some OTHER religion could take the heat on this one if that were the case.

Still, some places here in NH won't get his by the mandate because they self-insure and that's one loophole that I suspect will get used more and more.

It's good to see an attempt at civility among those with philosophical disagreements.

.... and, now, back to the topic of What happened to Newt...