*** I hate to alienate any member of my tiny fan base, but Dale, get a grip.***

Don't worry about alienating me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm afraid I might miss something.

I have been to an inner city and it scared the sheet out of me. Being a 43 yr old white guy it's not exactly an environment I felt comfortable in. I couldn't wait to get out. I've also been to the Dominican Republic. Most of that island makes the worst of our inner cities look like Club Med. Those people as so poor they would move into an inner city neighborhood in a heartbeat. They literally have nothing yet they are the proudest people on this planet. My wife and I try to go there every other year. We always bring pencils, paper, and clothing to give to the children. They are always so grateful. I never feel scared although the conditions are far more desperate. There are no republicans or democrats in the DR. I'm sorry but I don't see the point you are trying make with that question.

The reason I posted my original post was to show, in very simple terms, the basic differences between the two parties we seem to be stuck with. Although I do tend to lean to the right I'm not so blinded by their ideology that I can't see, and appreciate, what the left is trying to accomplish. How many liberals on this board can honestly say the same thing? Wouldn't it be nice to hear, just once, Ted Kennedy say, "You know, maybe George is right." Or hear Trent Lott say, "Wow, Daschle has a point." Never gonna happen. This is what disgusts me.

You made a very good point with your counter-story. But the problem is there are "John's" on both sides. You speak of two different individuals. I spoke of  two different philosophies. But we both can agree on this; the rich will always protect their own regardless of their affiliation. It doesn't matter if they're a democrat or a republican. It's the rest of who will always suffer while they continue to prosper or get re-elected.