Socialism State Run

This points up something that seems to be overlooked when Americans dismiss European-style social-welfare systems: they are not necessarily state-run or state-financed. Rather, these societies have chosen to combine the…

QOD

Should people with more money get better health care? bonus:  Remember that torture thing a week or so ago?

Required reading for all especially people looking for Common sense logic

Not Brian recommended this to read:  Going Dutch

For the first few months I was haunted by a number: 52. It reverberated in my head; I felt myself a prisoner trying to escape its bars. For it represents the rate at which the income I earn, as a writer and as the director of an institute, is to be taxed. To be plain: more than half of my modest haul, I learned on arrival, was to be swallowed by the Dutch welfare state. Nothing in my time here has made me feel so much like an American as my reaction to this number. I am politically left of center in most ways, but from the time 52 entered my brain, I felt a chorus of voices rise up within my soul, none of which I knew I had internalized, each a ghostly simulacrum of a right-wing, supply-side icon: Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp, Rush Limbaugh. The grim words this chorus chanted in defense of my hard-earned income I recognized as copied from Charlton Heston’s N.R.A. rallying cry about prying his gun from his cold, dead hands.

And yet as the months rolled along, I found the defiant anger softening by intervals, thanks to a succession of little events and awarenesses. One came not long ago. Logging into my bank account, I noted with fleeting but pleasant confusion the arrival of two mysterious payments of 316 euros (about $410) each. The remarks line said “accommodation schoolbooks.” My confusion was not total. On looking at the payor — the Sociale Verzekeringsbank, or Social Insurance Bank — I nodded with sage if partial understanding. Our paths had crossed several times before. I have two daughters, you see. Every quarter, the SVB quietly drops $665 into my account with the one-word explanation kinderbijslag, or child benefit. As the SVB’s Web site cheerily informed me when I went there in bewilderment after the first deposit: “Babies are expensive. Nappies, clothes, the pram . . . all these things cost money. The Dutch government provides for child benefit to help you with the costs of bringing up your child.” Any parents living in the country receive quarterly payments until their children turn 18. And thanks to a recently passed law, the state now gives parents a hand in paying for school materials.

and here’s a shocker:

And in talking both with American expats and with experts in the Dutch system, I hear the same thing over and over: American perceptions of European-style social welfare are seriously skewed.

While in Church Funny Haha

So I went to church today and boy did I pick a mass to go to.  It was my daughter's May Crowning.  Something that St. Hedwig still does.  It's a…

F’ing with a Supreme Ahole

I love this quite honestly. Last week, we wrote about the Fordham law professor who assigned his information privacy law class to compile a dossier on Supreme Court Justice Antonin…

QOM

What movie have you recently seen at the theater?  Rented or Borrowed? Me, I am on a man-date to see "Wolverine".  I now have a buddy that I c an…

Casting Call: “Leviticus Deux; The Second Coming”

You might have missed this in the NJ but this Saturday at Love Park in Philly they are doing casting calls for a new movie funded by Lions Gate.  “Leviticus Deux; The Second Coming” is going to be a modern day bible story.  Set in the year 2002 Jesus was apparently killed by Islamic Terrorists.  The movie opens with mourners running to the pile of rubble that once was the location of Dollywood.  The busty singer is on her knees asking, “Why God, Why Jesus again”.

The apostles are on a mission.  Literally.  And they need to find out who killed Jesus, this time and who is planning to kill him next time.  They need to know NOW!!  God is supposed to be sending another Jesus and the crazy fundamentalists apparently know when and where and mean to kill him.  AGAIN!  Nothing is left to chance and these guys mean business (insert gutsy, manly voiceover).  They have been chosen for a reason.  They have grit.  They are rugged.  They are men.

They are going to Evangelize!

They are seeking the would be killers…and this time…their isn’t time to break bread…..(insert solemn powerful car chase type apocalyptic music) only heads.

The casting company is looking for people to play the parts of the apostles.  There are 12 of them I think and here is spirit of the what they want or are writing in for each character:

Peter/Simon (exact name never is sorted out):  The mastermind that was Jesus’ right hand man.  He keeps his hands clean and get’s the men to carry out his mission.  He sits in his holier than thou office and works the phones and keyboard.  Sending out letter after letter to those that will listen and will follow his word.  He knows it’s hard to live the way Jesus did and will (again) but some people have to die and be tortured if we are going to follow the word of Christ.

Andrew: He is the clandestine operative that snatches the would be killers and brings them to their doom.  He operates under a Shroud from Torin or some shit like that.  His cloak of darkness allow the audience to empathize with him as he follows the word of God all while terrifying the ever living excrement out of his captives.  It has to be done, “God’s Will” he recites into the hooded victims.  softly as he clasps their heads to his breast, “God’s will my son” Chilling and Dark Andrew will be a main player in this film.

James: He plays a small part and is killed by one of the murders.  His martydom doesn’t go unnoticed and John his brother froths to avenge his death as well as his savior, Yahweh.  He is referred to more than once after his untimely death and is the rallying point for John his brother and unredeemed soul mate.