ENTITLEMENTS

Why is it ok to provide bailouts, tax breaks, etc. to large corporations, banks or Wall Street but not a handout to individuals who need assistance? I can only conclude that it is far easier to hate an individual and assume they are lazy then to blame the corporation who caused the situation.

BUTTERFLIES ARE DISTRACTING

Odd thing happened today. At the very moment Dad called to see if I wanted something he and Mother received as a wedding gift many moons ago, a butterfly was frantically trying to get my attention at the window. I know that messenger, so I said "yes". Symbols are where you find them and I always had a thing for brushed aluminum anyway....

CONVENIENT TRUTHS/POLITICAL SCENES & SCHEMES

Really hate this time of year. When the exaggerations and outright lies permeate the airways pretty much 24/7 or 31 as Jake says. If this whole economic mess was the fault of one person or two why haven't we taken them out already? So easy to sit on the periphery and point out what should be or should have been done. And, oh yes, it's the fault of one person, or one philosophy or one party. Grow up already! Shall we point out that this whole ball of yarn starting unraveling due to the unsheathed claws of the wall street traders, greedy CEOs (with no expectations, stake or loyalty) and unscrupulous bankers, as we merrily played along buying houses we knew we couldn't afford and running up debts that we were assured we had years to pay off....

The rallying cry "Let us have less regulation and let business run it's business". Would it be facetious (or obvious)to point out that business as usual is what probably caused this morass of molasses that we call the economy. Need I point out that jobs got moved out of the US when it became cheaper to ship things in then pay our own people? Ah well. That's business. Then when something goes wrong-think oil spill- the scream for govt regulators rings out across the land. Make up your minds people!!!!

Ok to bail out banks who don't make loans, wall street with its traders who are happily taking their profits with their manipulations of panic vs. optimism. However not ok to save an industry and it's suppliers that employed a lot of the middle class. And lest we forget-who is actually paying back the loans made by govt? Hmmmm makes you think.... Replace the incumbents with the other side and we take the same route the other way, wasting time and money merrily along the way again!

The anger and frustration is healthy. All I ask is "do the homework" "research the issues" "determine who is legit and who really has the interests of all at heart" "take care of your fellow citizens who need help" "offer assistance to those who just need a little something to get back on their feet" "say no to the power brokers who do not care what happens to you" "don't be swayed by personal or religious agendas" "do not believe the lies". Do your own thinking and do the right thing. I will respect you more.

THE SEASON OF PANDERING POLITICIANS

It is so amusing if it wasn't so tragic. Got to love this time of year when the politicians are throwing out all their fantastic ideas for fixing the economy. Duhh, begs the questions:

1) if you knew the answers how come you didn't tell anyone?
2) if it was that easy and obvious what do we need you for?
3) if you have good ideas why didn't you unselfishly put together a group of like-minded soothsayers and promote the changes that will save the world?
4) if it was that easy to change legislation and legislators how come nobody can do it?

But come January it will be back to business as usual and blaming the previous administration. Predictable and depressing...

PICKY PICKY

LSJ opinion this week-apparently I was the only one to oppose the prevailing sentiment. In response to whether we should give the primary over to the two highest vote getters I wrote:

"I am intrigued with the thought of actually picking the best candidates unhampered by party designation. As soon as some appear of course. The current closed system allows no chance for those of alternate and whimsical parties to even wet their toes in the murky pond called "fair and open" elections. It's about Michigan's economy not personal and private agendas. Independents unite and let's get this idea rolling! Partisan politics are dead! Long live freedom of choice!"

However what they printed was:

"I am intrigued with the thought of actually picking the best candidates unhampered by party designation. As soon as some appear, of course. The current system allows no chance for those of alternate and whimsical parties. Independents unite and let's get this idea rolling!"

Now I don't know about you'all, but those changes take away the "tongue in cheek" humor I was using to make a point that it's all about which party has the best machine and smear tactics. They forget the issues they are being asked to address and espouse support for "personal" issues that have nothing to do with the public needs. Humor that makes a point is ok, but don't change the "sense" with the editing.

75 words limitation is confining to say the least!

LEGAL BLOW

For June 13 the State Journal asked our opinion on making those fireworks that are currently illegal (you know the ones that climb into the air and go BOOM) should be made legal in Michigan. My response was:

"Yes. Safety is an issue, but it is with illegal fireworks as well. The careless will still thin out the herd with their foolish actions. Let the State reap the tax revenue from one of those pesky vices people will indulge in anyway, and free up law enforcement to chase "other" criminals. Also as long as we're at it, one of my clan thinks we should legalize fireworks fishing as well."

KRISTEN'S PEOPLE

Yes, I have been tempted to write about my own outrage at everything that is going on socially, economically, politically. But what it comes down finally, is that we are finally motivated-right or wrong. In a lot of cases we are angry at the wrong people or entities, but we feel helpless and are fighting for some sort of control. Enough said. Which brings me to the life-affirming issues and the cycles that we engage in and embrace.

Every year around our house it is not Spring until Kristen's people appear. These are those wooden figures that you see around people's homes that range from chickens, to slinking cats, bent-over ladies showing more than they should, etc. Ours came from Great-Grandpa to Kristen. The dutch boy and girl who Kristen would always place facing each other, though her father would toy with her observation skills by posing them in odd positions. She would always put them back where they belonged-face to face looking lovingly into each other's eyes. She's a romantic.

There's also the rabbit with the hoe whom old Farmer McGregor would have appreciated. A bunny who toils rather than steals. My Dad picked up a bb gun we kept by the patio door one day (to pop ground moles-LOL) and starting taking shots at Kristen's people. He remarked that he thought that was so accommodating that we supplied targets! NOOOOO. Ah well Kristen's people survived the onslaught. I put balloons out for him to shoot. (Note to self: bb guns are not that freakin' accurate).

Every Spring they come out and every Fall they go back into their dark little space in the shed. As inevitable as daylight, as comforting as a Mother's hand. Seasons progress regardless of the human turmoil that persists.

However this year Kristen, who has long since moved away and is busily creating her own family, her own cycles and traditions, found a little gift planted at her house while she and her husband were away. A whole new set of Kristen's people waiting amidst the bushes and flowers in her little garden spot. A hunting cat, red birds and of course, two little wooden people looking lovingly into each other's eyes. May they herald Spring at my beloved daughter's house as they always have at ours.

GRADUATED OPINIONS

The State Journal asked, as usual this time of year, what advice the community panel had for the 2010 graduates. Mine hasn't changed much over the past couple of years.

"Today you feel that you've climbed that mountain, but it's just a foothill to the rest of your life. Laugh more than you cry. Love your family because they are with you-good, bad and ugly and part of you no matter what. Point out when the emperor has no clothes even if you are the only one with the courage to say it. And, finally, if you don't own the business, you don't get to make the rules!"

As a safety professional and human resources director for many years, I have the most issues with the last one -LOL.

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

When asked by the LSJ which side I had more confidence in the legislature or insurance companies in setting car insurance rates, my response probably echoed most peoples'.

Frankly, I do not believe either "authority" at this point. Both sides are presenting noisy rhetoric and finger-pointing with little or no explanation. If bad credit scores make people crash their cars in sheer despair, let's hear the proof! Or does it make sense to arbitrarily (the legislature) cut rates wherever and for whomever with no rationale?

The insurance industry should be able to demonstrate statistical information proving who has a higher rate of claims and the legislature should quite playing to popular sentiment and weigh the facts. Maybe they could sit down, shut up and "listen" to each other?

COLOR ME BLUE

Latest rant. Why is such a big deal being made out of idiotic remarks made a couple of years ago? The President has accepted the apology and moved on. We need to do the same. How can he be the president of us all when certain interest groups continually want him to make "issues" out of everything. We have fought these wars before- racism, sexism, orientation. We are all human beings, each with our own talents, failures and humanity. Get over it already.

As a woman who broke several barriers in the course of my non-traditional career over the years, I understand what it's like to be different. If I carried a chip on my shoulder and rallied for "my rights" every day and on every issue I dare say I would have not been able to accomplish half of what I had done. Sometimes you just have to ignore the subtle insults and prove you can do the job. But making me stop to insist on my "rights" doesn't work people!

Eventually we all have to get along with each other and accept what each of us brings to the table. Do we have built-in bias' and fears? Of course. But the sooner we get over it, the stronger we will be.

TERROR SCENES

LSJ question this week was what were our thoughts about protecting the public against terrorist threats like the one in Detroit at Christmas. Serious stuff and opinion, but my answer did make me laugh.


Upon asking for input from my peers the best suggestion was landing everyone on an island and bringing them in on metal-detecting boats and buses. Also prohibit all carry-ons! That one seems obvious. Otherwise let's use a little common sense on the profiling. In most terrorist events, the perpetrator looks pretty much the same. Stop harassing the middle-aged professionally dressed female business traveler. Oh,and one more thought. We might quit advertising every detail of the security measures being used!