Don't forget the Internet and web browsers. Both developed by the government using socialist tax dollars.

Nice effort, but to paraphrase you on another post, nobody is arguing in favor of eliminating all government services. Some of these are valuable services that should be provided by local or federal government but many are not.

Garbage service? Provided by a private company in Pleasanton and many places. Why does the government need to be involved? They provide a monopoly to the garbage companies rather than allowing competition. You refer to this as "regulation". This valuable government service is what limits our choices with cable service providers and insurance carriers. It leads to higher costs.

American Medical Response is a private company and not a government service.

Sesame Street? Hahahaha. Dump it now!

"I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare". I'll sign up for that one! Why shouldn't elected officials be using the same healthcare and retirement program they want us to use?

Opt out of Social Security? I'd be glad to do that in exchange for keeping the 15% that is "contributed" to that rat hole on my behalf.

R,
Re: "nobody is arguing in favor of eliminating all government services. Some of these are valuable services that should be provided by local or federal government but many are not."

This oath is not in response to that. This is a direct response to all the hysteria that "obama is driving us towards socialism" as if this is all something he's cooked up in the past 6 months. People don't seem to realize how much of the services they enjoy on a daily basis are provided by either government agencies or funded by the public. This is a direct response to all those people who say "government can't get anything right" while enjoying the freedoms and services that despised government provides.

You can make a claim that private alternatives to government-run services can do it better or more cheaply or more efficiently, but you can't discount that fact that the government does a lot of things very well. And how well it performs is usually based on whether the people in charge believe in the role of government in improving the lives of its citizens. Putting a political party in charge of the government that doesn't believe in the role of government to help its citizens is what directly led to something like Hurricane Katrina. It's often the case that a GOP takes over an agency, lets it fail miserably by not doing his job, then points to it as an example of how government doesn't work. (Heckuva job, brownie!)

Nice cut and paste from dailykos PB

JimF, Thanks. :) Do i still need to update my talking points?

Poster boy,

unless you are like me, retired, then you need a job because you have far to much time on your hands. It is possible you are a teacher as it is after 3:00.

Bob, Actually I do work, bring down a good living, own a home, support 3 kids, pay taxes, support my local schools, love this country, and love pleasanton. I also enjoy discussing the topics, making arguments (backed by facts), and trying to counter some of the misinformation out there. But you're right, been spending too much time on this, when I should be cranking out code, so will refocus. Have a nice weekend.

Poster Boy,

your comments and your blogs make it very hard to take you serious as no one can be that bent on destruction for not only themselves personally but also for the union. No comment on your blogs.

I think PB has a pretty good point. The Obama is a socialist line doesn't work for most Americans because it isn't true. You could just as easily say that Sarah Palin is a Socialist for supporting government bailouts and takeovers of companies (TARP). Yet, I have yet to here of someone yelling "socialist" at a conservative political rally when the name Sarah Palin was mentioned.

The government built the Grand Canyon?

Excellent post - almost all of those things can be removed from public funding. I'm not even sure that Sesame Street even received public funding anymore. If we could all get by with all the excess public funded crap that you list then we would be much better off.

I'm for neighbor helping neighbor. I adhere to the code that if a neighbor of mine needs help, I will help them. Of course that means I actually have to know they are a neighbor, not some people who stay locked in their house and then complain because I have a party or two a year. If you are an evil person you will have no "neighbors" to help you in your time of need. If your a a helpful person, everyone will be there when you have needs.

Its simple, yet magical and come all back to the Golden Rule.

And thank you for pointing out that the government charges me for using "public beaches" and "public parks". So I have to pay taxes to have the wonderful places, then I have to pay again to enter almost all of them. I guess top ay for the people to protect what I have already paid for to be protected. This truly makes no sense in my brain.

By the way, you should look up the definition of socialist.

Mee Too wrote: "And thank you for pointing out that the government charges me for using "public beaches" and "public parks". So I have to pay taxes to have the wonderful places, then I have to pay again to enter almost all of them. I guess top ay for the people to protect what I have already paid for to be protected. This truly makes no sense in my brain."
Would you rather they tax you for the full amount of maintaining the public areas? Charging people to use the beach seems like a way to lessen the tax burden on everyone. And no, the government didn't build the Grand Canyon, but I think you knew that. It is part of the National Parks system. Upcoming series by Ken Burns on the subject, if you are interested - though I should point out that it is airing on public television.
I am sure Poster Boy knows the definition of socialism. Perhaps you should look up the definition of satire.
If we could rely on everyone following the Golden Rule, I don't suppose we'd need a government.

Me too,

So you'll be providing health care for any neighbors who require it in their time of need as long as they've never complained about you? How generous! Paying someone's rent or mortgage that has been out of work for a long time? What a guy! Do you think everyone's neighbors will be able to do this to?

Please explain how all those things can be removed from public funding. Which private enterprises are going to invest in those things without expecting a profit?