BrentAllen

Sorry, double post.(This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

This has been discussed before, even under a different title. I remember discussing Eagle Scouts that barely meet the requirements, and some of the people lamenting the problems here were very quick to point out that if the Scout meets the requirements, he gets the award. I have found that setting a high bar solves most of these problems. We have a challenging program, and we attract a lot of Scouts. Knots? There are 10 knots a Scout needs to learn (Troop program here, not BSA advancement). First, learn to tie them on demand. Second phase, be able to tie them behind your back. Thir

boomer, I'm talking about using dry ice at summer camp, the original topic here. The comment about Northern Tier and MOHAB was in reference to having meals for a week that didn't require refrigeration. Dry ice is actuall pretty heavy, and kind of expensive. I don't think I'd ever use it (or a cooler) on a backpacking trip.

Basement, We've done that - at Northern Tier and MOHAB. No real challenge to it, if you like a limited menu. Why do that, when there are real skill lessons (using dry ice, for one) to be learned in keeping food cold for a week in the July heat of Georgia? It opens up so many other recipe opportunities and cooking lessons.

Nice article. But picking up your food at the commissary? How about each patrol planning their own meals for the week, and then buying the groceries, staying within budget, of course. How about learning to keep your food cold for a week in the heat of July, and how to use dry ice? How about some lessons about making sure you ration your food, so it lasts all week? Lots of rank advancement skills can be taught and learned when you do this.

Beavah, You are so dramatic! Need I remind you - again - that more DEMOCRATS voted against raising the debt ceiling than did Republicans? Also, I don't remember you getting so upset when Obama was in favor of default back when he was a Senator.

I like to go with freezer bag recipes for dinner (found at trailcooking.com). Breakfast is usually oatmeal and fruit/or fruit bar. I buy the Starkist Lunch To-Go Chunk Light kits for lunch. You can get them at Walmart for around $1.40. I'll also go with a Mountainhouse supper every now and then. We just boil water for our meals. Supplement with trailmix and dehydrated fruit.

Wait, you said those were all subsidies - you know, my interest deduction, and the EIC. Your words - they are all subsidies. So I said let's get rid of all subsidies and you said, "Yah, sure!" It didn't take long for you to start backpeddling. As for Britain, they are looking at their moral decline as the result of decades of liberal policies. I wonder if this is what B-P saw when he decided to start Scouting. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8702412/Mother-of-13-year-old-who-smashed-up-shop-blames-government.html Watch that video. "She is on benefits, does not

OK, so no more Section 8 housing, no more WIC, AFDC - just do away with welfare offices. Do away with public housing. Do away with Food Stamps, free school lunch. My taxes will be much lower without all that than they are now, even with my mortgage interest deduction. That's an interesting scenario you propose.

Beavah, I'll be glad to give up my subsidies, if everyone else will, as well. Keep Social Security and Medicare, if you want, but sure, let's do away with all the others. What do you say? Deal?

Beavah, I just called a local apartment complex for their rates. A two-bedroom runs $1,150/month. If the average Dunwoody homeowner pays $4,500 in property taxes and deducts the average $12,000 mortgage interest deduction, he will get a tax benefit of around $4,800 (30% bracket), which equals $400/month. Adding the $400 to the $1,150 rent payment for a total mortgage payment of $1,550 means you can buy a pretty good sized house vs. renting a two-bedroom apartment. The homeowner builds wealth and will have his living expenses drastically reduced upon retirement. The renter will have $400

perdidochas, I sort of agree, about the Simpson-Bowles plan. Isn't this new deficit commission just a repeat? packsaddle, I don't see why this is so hard to fatham. Homeowners have an average net worth of $200,000 while renters average $5,000. Which group is going to have their hand out to the government throughout their retirement years? As a conservative, I want to encourage people to build wealth so they can take care of themselves and not have to rely on the government. Encouraging home ownership also encourages marriage and two-parent families, all of which are good for our

Think losing the mortgage interest deduction would be no big deal? We bust seven myths to show why the cost is bigger than you think. Myth #1: The mortgage deduction is just for rich people The mortgage interest deduction helps mostly middle- and lower-income families. 65% of families who use it earn less than $100,000 per year. 91% earn less than $200,000 per year (thats where most economists draw the line between rich and middle-class). Only 9% earn more than $200,000 per year. This myth may have arisen because of a related fact: If you buy a house, youre much more

Packsaddle, My uncle in Odessa, TX told me they had rain the other day. Check out the article and picture: Prayers Answered: Texas Finally Gets Some Rain http://www.urbanchristiannews.com/ucn/2011/08/prayers-answered-texas-finally-gets-some-rain.html caption: Xavier Swain, 11, holds his hands in the air during a downpour Thursday in Odessa, Texas. The official rain total from the National Weather Service at nearby Midland International Airport reported .36 inches of rain, the most since September 25, 2010. (Albert Cesare / The Odessa American via AP) Looks to me like the

Basement, The mortgage interest deduction costs around $100 billion a year. Our deficits are running over $1 trillion. Eliminating the deduction won't " fix the problem....." The unintended consequences would probably cost more than you would gain.

Pack, You are correct - you can't deduct your mortgage payment. You can only deduct interest. Of course, on a new mortgage, those first payments are almost entirely interest. I've seen other estimates that homes would lose 15% of value if the interest deduction was removed. Whatever the number, I don't think that would be the worst cost to society. Stability, building wealth, etc. would be the worst casualties. Do we really want to become a nation of landlord barrons and renters? If the deduction were to be removed, maybe I could sell my house to my neighbor and rent it from h

Beavah, If you consider the mortagage deduction a subsidy, then you will have to do the same for every landlord or apartment owner that expenses interest. Homeowners are just cutting out the middleman. We bought a house in a great elementary school district, which I'm sure has had a big influence on home prices and stability. Test scores are in the 96 - 100%. People will pay to get their kids into our local school. We also have an incredibly powerful Dunwoody Homeowners Assoc. which has kept the county (and now city) zoning board in check. I'll let you determine whether buying a ho

A 2007 article claiming 7% returns on stocks is your best argument?? That article is ridiculous. It does not even address the main reasons for buying a house - long-term building of wealth, and paid-for housing upon retirement (with a much lower cost of housing during retirement years). The argument that "If you had $300,000..." completely misses the point. How many first-time home buyers are sitting around with $300K in the bank? Most have a hard time coming up with the downpayment, and can barely afford rent. Buying a house allows a young couple to build wealth over time, while giving

Sure, get rid of the mortage deduction. I'm sure that everyone's already depressed house prices will only drop another 25 - 30%, and the housing construction industry will get completely wiped out. Such a small sacrifice, right?

BadenP, I didn't mention a thing about Perry, or even about taking sides. I just mentioned that Packsaddle had done the very thing he was advising against. Your prejudices are showing. BTW, God is in charge of everything.

Packsaddle wrote, "This Eagle is opposed to Perry. I join Beavah on this topic. Keep the Eagle rank out of politics." Uh, ...didn't you just bring Eagle into politics with that statement?

I guess if the goal is to not look like a Scout, they have succeeded. If a bunch of them was to walk down an airport concourse, you couldn't even tell they were a Scout group.

Buffalo, I suggest reading this: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/boy_scout_gear_list_philmont.html Also, we used Oware 10 x 10 Pyramid tents at MOHAB - they weighed about 26 ounces and would hold 4 Scouts. http://www.owareusa.com/tents.html I think Scouts can get them for around $189. We are looking at taking them to Philmont next year (my first trip, as well). They don't have bottoms in them, but that wasn't a problem. We had individual grown clothes provided. We didn't get any rain while out there, so I can't give any reports from first-hand expe

Jason is a good guy - hate to see him go, but wish him well. We just lost several very good employees - see below, from our council web site: Congratulations are in order for several Atlanta Area Council staff members. Director of Field Services Jason Pierce has been selected as Scout Executive for the Del-Mar-Va Council in Wilmington, Delaware. Jason, who has been with the Council for 18 years, will report to his new post on September 1. Jay Stoecker, Director of Annual Campaigns, has been promoted to serve as the Director of Development for the Daniel Webster Council in Manchester,

Beavah, You do realize that more Democrats voted against raising the debt ceiling than did Republicans? So, who was more willing to default?? I don't know why you try so hard to be a conservative, when you clearly aren't.