My mom and stepdad ended up getting long term care insurance that will cover them in case either need to be in a nursing home.

After one of my best friends ended up in a nursing home at age 33, I got long-term care insurance as soon as I was able to. I don't think most people realize how expensive nursing home and assisted living care is. My mom's care was around $5000 per month, and that didn't include things like her glasses and her dentures and buying the *good* adult diapers. Who the hell can afford that? Besides the really rich, I mean. We surely couldn't. If my sister hadn't had the brains to "game" the system and get mom's assets out of her name as fast as we could (within the rules, and there are actually rules to gaming the system; the gov'mint knows people are going to have to do it) she would have been left with nothing. Nothing in her own name and nothing in our names. She was in assisted living and nursing homes for five years. That's $300,000. She didn't have it and neither did we. If not for government assistance, she would have ended up living in my sister's house the whole time, which would have been devastating for the whole family. And we would still have had to spend tons of money for in-home care, because my sister has to work and is not a nurse. People who think everyone should just be able to do everything for themselves are living in a fantasy world.

I don't think his 47% comments are going to swing a lot of votes, but I think they give democratic voters something to get worked up about which I think was Obama's biggest weakness in the election.

The Democratic convention allowed the Democrats to close the enthusiasm gap. Maybe now they'll pull ahead.

Honestly, the shock isn't that I didn't think he thought this, on some level. But some of the time...looking for a way to "elegantly state" this, I thought I was being a. paranoid and 2. hyper-partisan. But, really not. Those tapes came into Daily Kos last week...Kos seemed to think they were fake, initially.(David Corn is a total pro...he checked) I can see why, too...it seems almost like a Democratic parody, "Shit Mitt Romney Says" Don't know about people just hearing this, but I'm going to work harder now.

I said this on Facebook, but a lot of the 47% (which is actually 46%) who don't pay income tax are Republicans. I would hope that they take offense at this.

I know I did - I moved from "whatever, Romney, he's not as lifelike as a Real Doll" to "OMG I think I actually hate him."

So good news, he made a human connection with at least one person finally!

I didn't think that video would make any real difference. Those in the 47% who like Romney don't think he's actually talking about THEM.

Didn't he try to do damage control last night, saying it was a poor choice of words?

Actually, he said it might have been a poor choice of words, but he said what he meant, and he meant what he said. And if you elect him he'll make sure you no longer have to be dependent on the government and he'll help you have dignity again. (paraphrase, but not much)

I didn't think that video would make any real difference. Those in the 47% who like Romney don't think he's actually talking about THEM.

Yes, that's where the cognitive dissonance kicks in. They don't pay income tax, but they used to, so they're ok. And they're not bludgers like Romney was talking about, and they don't vote Democrat even a little bit, so he can't have been talking about them.

Still, it does pick at the Repub alliance between pro-business fiscal conservatives and the social conservatives. It might reduce Republican motivation at the margins. Kickstarting wavering Democrats is the best chance though, I think.

Also, I wonder how many working people who don't pay income tax think of themselves as not paying income tax. I mean, look at how much gets taken out of their check! And sure, they get a refund, but they are still giving the government a shitload of money! (In social security, etc., other non-income tax things.)

Also, I wonder how many working people who don't pay income tax think of themselves as not paying income tax. I mean, look at how much gets taken out of their check!

Yeah, there are so many reasons that 47% number is bullshit.

I mean, look at how much gets taken out of their check!

True - they are paying property tax, payroll tax, etc.