Please, take more of my money

"John Edwards says if he's elected president, he'll institute a New Deal-like suite of programs to fight poverty and stem growing wealth disparity. To do it, he said, he'll ask many Americans to make sacrifices, like paying higher taxes. "

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/FRONTPAGE/710260384

I've never understood the "wealth disparity" argument. I mean, really, it seems to me that some people make more money because they've put forth the EFFORT required to get a better job to make more money. Why should they be punished because Joe Dumbass down the street doesn't want to do anything but take handouts or complain about his poor life?

Hillary speaks -- making sense this time?

Clinton Says Universal Health Care Plan Will Not Cover Illegal Immigrants

Hmmmm....interesting, it not a bit unexpected.

Will Hillary ever stop?

Now Hillary wants to spend another $20-$25 BILLION on 401k retirement plans for everyone.

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/09/everybody-gets-a-401k-plan/

Health Insurance

If you've watched the news in the past week, you'll know that President Bush vetoed an expansion to the S-CHIP program. Details on the veto here.

Michelle has a great post about how the Dems are holding up one particular family in their fight to get the veto overturned.

All I really want to say is that from 2001-2005 and then from 2007-now I have been self-employed as a software developer / consultant / contractor. During that time, we built a house and have purchased two new vehicles. I have also paid for private health insurance for my family during those times. We currently pay close to $600 per month to cover two adults and two kids (ages 4 and 6). We're all pretty healthy and don't smoke. Is it expensive? Hell yea, but would I ever be without health insurance coverage? No way. Not with two young children.

I'd love to pay less for my coverage, but I DO NOT WANT, nor will I support any kind of national healthcare.

Chicago-area schools and holidays

Update: School Keeps Christmas, Halloween; Adds Ramadan

Anger Rises Over Rumors Of School Nixing Halloween

Interesting article.

Elizabeth Zahdan is at the center of the storm, a Muslim mother of three who requested that her children be separated from others at lunch during the Ramadan fast.

The schools agreed, but many parents didn't. Ok. Fine.

The schools agreed, but once non-Muslim parents turned up the heat, Superintendent Tom Smyth said, "I go back to our policy which says that public schools are to remain neutral in this respect."

What's neutral about allowing the Muslim students time for Ramadan, but taking away other traditional US holidays?