Papadaddy

The current progressive income tax, as we know it, was a "war tax" ... to fund the Civil War...the Union side, anyway. And it was supposed to be temporary.

Ann, from one who has been a CM, DL, CC and SM, you have shown far more patience than can be expected from a volunteer. Being faced with that behavior at a Pack Meeting (that I was supposed to be in charge of), I would have, without a word, handed the microphone over and walked out the door, and never looked back. The woman is obviously on a power trip, or worse, suffering from a personality disorder, and no volunteer is obligated to spend their free time dealiing with such people. Bless you...but as Dear Abby used to say, "if you don't like being a doormat, you need to quit lying down in front of the door."

People call the Republicans "the party of NO" as if it's a bad thing. I think it preferable to the "party of yes we can", which most voters interpreted as "yes we can have it all for free". Like being a parent, sometimes you have to be the adult and say "NO" when your kids want everything they see, without considering the cost to the family.

Here is a quote from Wikipedia:

"Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax is a United States payroll (or employment) tax imposed by the federal government on both employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicarefederal programs that provide benefits for retirees, the disabled, and children of deceased workers. Social Security benefits include old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI); Medicare provides hospital insurance benefits. The amount that one pays in payroll taxes throughout one's working career is indirectly tied to the social security benefits annuity that one receives as a retiree.[citation needed] This has led some to claim that the payroll tax is not a tax because its collection is tied to a benefit. The United States Supreme Court decided in Flemming v. Nestor (1960) that no one has an accrued property right to benefits from Social Security.

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act is currently codified at Title 26, Subtitle C, Chapter 21 of the United States Code."

I have recent experience with SS in that my BIL just died suddenly at age 50. He paid his "tax" for over 30 years and never collected a dime of it. His son, who just turned 18 will get $1400 a month until the age of 19 and 2 months, even though he is LD and will still be a full time high school student for at least 2 more years, then would like to go to a trade school. At that age, payments cease and all of the rest of money that my BIL paid in will be given to others, leaving his son to fend for himself, and leaving us to pay for his subsistance. I don't think that's fair. Meanwhile, I see the daughter of a friend who was a druggie and "bad girl" who, at the age of 20-something, has 5 kids, doesn't work or go to school, is getting SSI and welfare, yet brags on Facebook via her iPhone about how great her new Kindle Fire is and how many free turkeys (5) they got from various charities for Thanksgiving. I recently inquired about getting a smartphone and decided not to when I found out my monthly bill would go from $60 to over $140 a month. Why? Because I need to save that money for my retirement, and I don't really "need" a smartphone. That's what "adults" do...

"During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, those present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes."

I read and interpret Federal law in my job. There is a difference between "should" and "shall", my friend. As in, "you SHALL purchase health insurance or be fined by the IRS".

Did he just call me a stodgy old coot? LOL...ok, I admit it.

I was tapped out and proud of it! A "tapout" was when the Indian (I forget which one) would walk around those gathered around the campfire and stop in front of a candidate and without a word, would "tap" the candidate 3 times on the shoulder. My taps were firm, but not painful. Legend has it, that in some Lodges, the "taps" would take the candidate to his knees. It is now called a "callout" when the names are just announced and the candidate steps forward to be escorted away. I see nothing wrong with tapouts, but as usual, a few overzealous morons ruined it for everyone. I think the OA is in decline because kids are being raised differently than we were. Today's youth is not really interested in "service" (read: volunteer work), much less being "cheerful" about it. It's all about me and what I can get in return, as evidenced by some of the posts above. The question shouldn't be, "what does the Order have to offer me", but rather, "How can I be of service through the Order?"

I was against the "tax holiday" when they implemented it last year. SS is already in a death spiral, and they are slowing down the life support IV drip??? Unemployment benefits have been extended to 99 weeks, and they want to extend it more??? A friend's daughter recently used up her 99 weeks, and miracle of miracles, found a job 3 days later! Granted, it wasn't "in her major", but she's getting a paycheck and benefits and paying taxes again. I'm afraid that, whatever the election outcome, the country is doomed...we can't afford more Obama, and there are no viable alternatives, as far as I can see...except Ron Paul, who will not get the nomination.

Not sure that combat deployments give anyone a special right to be rude. They, of all people should appreciate the freedoms that this country affords us...including the freedom to wear a hat if I choose. Federal Law? I'm raising the BS flag on that one, too.

Beavah's comment about shoes jogged my memory. A friend of mine married a Japanese girl and the custom in his home is to remove your shoes at the door, and they have slippers you can wear if you desire. I asked him about the custom, and he said, "ya know that puddle under the urinal...we don't want that in our home". Made perfect sense to me. A recent etiquette column addressed the question, "is it ok to require guests to remove their shoes?", and the learned answer was, "yes, of course". I am of two minds...while I would like to comply with my host's wishes, I don't think most bare feet are very attractive, and my socks are not always the most pleasant, especially after a long day. And I don't like wearing other people's shoes or slippers, either. Never did much bowling because of that. It's just gross. So, what is more important, the host's wishes, or the guest's embarrassment?

I'm already a NESA Life Member and a District Member at Large. I'm not paying another $35 a year for more email...

When I was the "training guy", all the other districts were running weekend training courses, so I set mine up to run in the evenings, and I always had a full house of people who appreciated not having to give up a whole Saturday. That might be hard with IOLS, but is there a requirement that there be an "overnight"? (my memory fails me). Perhaps you could recruit some trainers from the LDS community who could run an all day Fri-Sat course once a year to meet the needs of the LDS Scouters. Out of curiosity, how do any of them become Wood Badgers?

Of the units who "do" OA, are the OA Troop Representatives involved in the process? I never understood the attitude that "we don't do OA". That's like saying "we don't do Advancement" or "we don't do merit badges". It's part of the program, and to me, should not be optional if there are scouts willing to be members.

I was elected into the OA as a youth in 1970. It was what kept me in Scouting. This whole thread amazes me. The OP question was pretty straigtforward. The answer is, YES, a parent can attend and observe ANY scout function that their child is involved in. Period. No one at the Coucil, District, Lodge or Unit level can controvert that. And as far as "secrets" are concerned, a 5 minute Google search takes care of that myth. Perhaps the OA has lost its appeal...most kids nowadays are not interested in "cheerful service" unless it involves some payback for them. Not their fault...it's how they are being raised.

And cue Beavah....

Well, you are correct. I refreshed my memory and went back to the thread, "Lutherans and Honor Societies". The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has a specific to NOT support the BSA or GSUSA, based on the BSA Declaration of Religious Principle. And by extension, a youth or adult cannot belong to OA unless they are a registered member of the BSA.

"The ceremonies are not objectionable to any religious group.."

I think we've established that to be false. And my belief is, if most young scouts knew in advance what the Ordeal entailed, they would opt to stay at home with their video games. Being elected is no longer considered the "high honor" it once was, for whatever reason.

Yes, I believe they do. The mandatory reporting laws vary from state to state.

If giving someone an application and explaining the process is "rude" and "irresponsible", then so be it. Meet me for a cuppa joe and I'll tell you about our former Camp Director who is now a convicted felon. Impeccable references, Eagle Scout, Vigil, could sing and play the guitar and ran the best camp I ever saw. I would have trusted him with my kids and my life. When it was discovered he was "counseling" his young staff at camp and at his home back in town, it made the papers and shook this council to its core. I learned a hard lesson, and will NEVER forget it.

In my experience, Scouts often assist with disaster drills, serving as mock "victims", or older scouts can help with crowd and traffic control.

There were failures on all levels at Penn State, starting with the guy who witnessed an adult raping a child in the locker room shower. Is there anyone who would not have called 911 immediately in such an instance? As a former training guy who taught BSA Youth Protection, the only thing I disagree with is the policy of reporting everything to the Scout Executive who can then try to mitigate the PR damage. I'm not convinced that protecting kids is the top-most concern. It's up to us, the front line, to protect those in our charge. 2-deep, no matter what. No one on one contact, no matter what. Know the adults you are working with. We once had a young man "drop in" on a troop meeting (maybe 21-22 years old) who expressed an interest in "helping out". We were polite, but the threat alarms were screaming in my head (due to my YP training). I gave him an app and told him everyone had to be registered, and there WOULD be a background and reference check. Never saw the dude again. Could have been innocent. Could have been a pedophile probing our defenses. Ya never know. NEVER take chances with the kids.

Pretty clear to me:

From the Adult Application:

Adult citizens, or adult noncitizens who reside within the country, may register with the Boy Scouts of America in any capacity if they agree to abide by the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law, to respect and obey the laws of the United States of

America, and to subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle.

ONe of the little-used tools in the SM's pocket is the BOR and SMC which can be done at any time, not just for rank advancement. If the scout has "a couple of years" until he's 18, you need to start counseling him now as to what YOUR expectations are for the "Scout Spirit" and POR requirements. You cannot retest on past requirements...what's done is done, and you have to assume he did do the requirement if it's been signed off by your predecessor.

All Scouting is local.

Second what SP said.

I think we need to state this once more for all of the "outsiders" who may be Googling and reading: Official BSA policy is that any parent or guardian is permitted to "observe" any activity of the BSA, including OA ceremonies. If that is not being done in your Council/Lodge, you should have a discussion with your Scout Executive, who also holds the title of "Supreme Chief of the Fire" and is responsible for the Council (including the Lodge) of operating within BSA policy. And anyone who can't find the OA materials on the internet (including the "protected" stuff) is just not good at Google or eBay. If you decide that OA is not compatible with your families' religious traditions, then that's your decision, but no Unit leader should be making that decision for the rest of us.

It's Bush's fault.