General Music Chat

I remember when I was a kid my mom would go to the local nursing homes in Salem VA. She would cut there hair for free and she would take her guitar and do songs like mule skiner blues, amazing grace, joy to the world, and my favorite BAD MOON RISING. And just like what you did knowingly or not ,the memory of these kinda things are a great tribute to the heart felt people that most musicians are. If moore people in this world would offer there heart felt talents for free moore ofteen THIS WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE. Take some credit its OK! PEACE

Alexander, I am wondering your age? While I was staying in Riga Lativa in 03 and until present day I made friends with Pete Andersen, first Russian Rock and Roller. I played harp with his band a few times and sang a few rockabilly tunes with them. We are still in touch on occasion when my wife and I are back over there. I am curious if you know Pete or know of him? he showed us pictures of being arrested and some book someone wrote about him and being persecuted for being a rocker. Thanks for posting, Bluemax

Bluemax - small world. No I do not know Pete in person. I am almost 35.

Thanks for sharing all this wonderful information with us AlexanderN. Those people in this country who are far left leaning in their political views have NO IDEA HOW HORRIFIC LIFE BECOMES IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY. I did some work in a machine shop years ago with some co-workers who had escaped Communist Romania. The stories they told of the inhuman actions of their government were almost beyond comprehension. It's truly a shame how IGNORANT some people can be when it comes to the HORRORS of living in a Communist dictatorship.

There is a fine line between a socialistic benefits (quality public health care, guaranteed housing and world class education, guaranteed job and medical care, etc) and totalitarian regime. Sometime people confuse the two.

Politics are touchy subject and for the most part I always remain neutral – even after all the commie experience. Take Canada as an example. The health care is better then in US. Take Germany the job situation is much better.

As far as I am concerned there is nothing wrong with the benefits outlined above. I welcome them. But I do not want the government to dictate to me how I should live my life, whether or not I should enjoy this or that art, or choice of having my own business. As long as government guarantee free enterprise, and is there for the people, and I mean common folk not the fat rich 1% of billionaire oil tycoons (and other 'coons) then I guess I am fine with that.

It is when government tells me how I should breath, walk, talk, reproduce, what music I can/can't listen to what business I can't have, how I should dress and how I should think and what I can speak about – then I get pissed off. This is why I am an American or be it an American Russian not Russian American. There is a big difference.

As far as Democrats or Republicans - well 14 years in US is not nearly long enough for me to make my choice...

Convergence of socialism and democracy is a VERY good thing. That is, take the best aspects of each system. That is exactly what's happening in many countries of the world, especially here in the United States. I want to see a national health system here that works that is SEPARATE from the private health care system. In other words the government sets up THEIR OWN health care system and each citizen has the choice whether to opt into it or not. Just as you can ship a package with UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL OR the US POSTAL SEVICE, you should be able to choose whether you have Blue Cross, Aetna, Coventry or US HEALTHCARE. There have been huge economic reforms in Communist China. Mao Tse-Tung would be rolling around in his grave if he could see what's happening in China. I knew once they took over Hong Kong they would start implementing economic reforms once they figured out how profitable Hong Kong was. I don't fear socialism at all. We've got it now to a large degee (social secutrity, medicare, etc.) What I do fear is COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIPS. I couldn't agree with you more AlexanderN. Your presence on here and contributions to this Forum should serve as a real eye-opener to those readers who are extremely liberal minded. We need to be REAL CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER ALL THE ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY LIVES. Let them introduce socialism AS A CHOICE FOR ALL INDIVDUALS. What this will do also is make the private sector COMPETE and thus LOWER COSTS DOWN. It would be really ironic if increased socialism DONE RIGHT THE fisherman bob WAY would make all our lives easier by increasing competition between the private and public sector. That's one of the reasons why I LOVE SCHOOL VOUCHERS. Take some poor person whose children are in a decrepit public school system, who cannot afford to send their child to private school. Introduce school vouchers (a socialistic program) and then watch the public schools dramatically improve themselves. AlexanderN you're a good man. Later...

I nominate Fisherman Bob to be the president of these United States of America!

I nominate Fisherman Bob to be the president of these United States of America!

I second the motion,UHHHHHHHHHHH, Dose that mean its law now

I WILL run for President and announce it on Bandmix sometime in the future. I said this a while ago here but I didn't want to make my announcement so soon after the election of Obama. I didn't want to steal any of his thunder, maybe I should wait until after the inauguration, give Obama a little time to mess things up more, make it easier for me to win the Presidency. Later...