I find the vehemence and passion of the protests against a health care reform totally amazing. This affects every citizen of this country. People should not have to die for lack of care or go bankrupt due lack of coverage.
Where were all these protesters when Wall Street was bailed out and executives rewarded for crashing the economy? Where were the marchers and venomous rhetoric against the bank bailouts which were used for executive bonuses and banks buying up other banks. Yet the businesses and people who were begging for a small piece of these billions for loans "WHICH THEY WOULD PAY BACK" were getting nada. Ahh ahh the same people and businesses who would stop foreclosures, produce products, pay their workers and get the economy going again.
Protest and disruption are great tactics. We children of the 60's and 70's learned that lesson very well. Unfortunately normally thinking, intelligent people are questioning the need for health care reform rather than the tactics that are being used to confuse and condemn any change. Apparently it is ok for the rich to get richer, but not for the rest of us to have the basics of preventative care and choice. The large insurance companies control 70 to 95% of the business in most states. There is no choice.
Is the govt perfect? No of course not, but changes are needed and it takes a giant and compassion to slay the other giants. All options require compromise, but to do nothing but accept the status quo rewards the wrong segment of society and may condemn many to bankruptcy or worse.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
HUMMER UPDATE
Apparently the original visitor "HUMVEE" as I like to call him/her as been joined by other greedy friends. A longer, skinnier version of the first and a smaller neck-banded male of much aggression. The battle ensues when one attempts a quick snack and run. Bombarding mites blow each other off course in a comical aerial act of foolhardy bravery. They literally fly sideways to avoid the evil wings and beak of the feathery flapping defense. He jealously guards the red sugar water that, trust me, one little bird smaller than the size of my fist could not possibly hope to demolish within his or her lifetime.
To be available for guard duty we have determined he must hang in a nearby tree or bush ready for instant attack should another hungry beastie approach. Metaphor for life I suppose. If you are not willing to share you are doomed to spend every waking minute defending your treasure from the marauding hordes who attempt to take it from you. Be sure it is worth the effort I say. He knows that we are talking about him fixing beady eyes on us through the window while pausing gracefully in midair flapping furiously to warn us off. Hilarious yet misguided courage as I am a low carb person uninterested in stealing his overly sugared treat.
To be available for guard duty we have determined he must hang in a nearby tree or bush ready for instant attack should another hungry beastie approach. Metaphor for life I suppose. If you are not willing to share you are doomed to spend every waking minute defending your treasure from the marauding hordes who attempt to take it from you. Be sure it is worth the effort I say. He knows that we are talking about him fixing beady eyes on us through the window while pausing gracefully in midair flapping furiously to warn us off. Hilarious yet misguided courage as I am a low carb person uninterested in stealing his overly sugared treat.
SCENES OF KENNEDY
Although not perfect; a family full of contradictions, excessive behavior, influence and power. One cannot deny that this family of wealth and privilege never forgot that public service is the highest calling and followed the practice to their death. I salute you Senator Kennedy and those that came before you. My hope is that others will follow the path you began.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
OF KINGS AND FEATHERS AND HORSEFEATHERS
Ok initial rant. Why a week's worth of obsession about Jacko Wacko? Come on, the guy had some good music, but face it what did he ever contribute to society? Did he discover a cure for cancer? Make the blind to see and the lame to walk? No. Get over it already or on the other hand, how pathetic that this caused anyone to weep and wail over his loss. He was an entertainer (more in his personal life actually) nothing more. How pathetic.
We certainly like to be entertained with our bread and circuses while Rome burns around us. This type of adulation should be reserved for the truly deserving and it makes me wonder if we are so starved for excitement we just climb aboard the celebrity wagon. Or should I blame the media that wastes so much time on the undeserving for the entertainment value.
Now more important things. My hummer has been making a regular stop at the cheap little plastic red thingee we put out there. When we had the handsome copper and red mansion, he turned his little birdee nose up at it. Apparently hummingbirds are the "common sewers" of the bird world and prefer the trailer with the tassels and spinning tops rather than the fancy pants feeder we were willing to provide for their dining pleasure. Chez Ide was too upscale for my buddy I have dubbed "HumVee".
I look each morning and evening. The Burt man said he was working outside today and it sounded like a freakin' helicopter when he was hitting the feeder. Apparently there is an issue with their little bodies and their long long beaks being too heavy for their wings-thus the constant flapping. Last night the light was on inside and he caught a glimpse of his hosts. I swear his visage showed major surprise and curiosity so much so that he forgot the sugar water and kept peering in the window. Peeping Tom HumVee. Probably the first time he realized that someone must be filling his juice banquet. We were appropriately nonchalant and unobtrusive as good servants should be until he settled down. But now I see him in unexpected places, no doubt trying to see if we are real or not.
We certainly like to be entertained with our bread and circuses while Rome burns around us. This type of adulation should be reserved for the truly deserving and it makes me wonder if we are so starved for excitement we just climb aboard the celebrity wagon. Or should I blame the media that wastes so much time on the undeserving for the entertainment value.
Now more important things. My hummer has been making a regular stop at the cheap little plastic red thingee we put out there. When we had the handsome copper and red mansion, he turned his little birdee nose up at it. Apparently hummingbirds are the "common sewers" of the bird world and prefer the trailer with the tassels and spinning tops rather than the fancy pants feeder we were willing to provide for their dining pleasure. Chez Ide was too upscale for my buddy I have dubbed "HumVee".
I look each morning and evening. The Burt man said he was working outside today and it sounded like a freakin' helicopter when he was hitting the feeder. Apparently there is an issue with their little bodies and their long long beaks being too heavy for their wings-thus the constant flapping. Last night the light was on inside and he caught a glimpse of his hosts. I swear his visage showed major surprise and curiosity so much so that he forgot the sugar water and kept peering in the window. Peeping Tom HumVee. Probably the first time he realized that someone must be filling his juice banquet. We were appropriately nonchalant and unobtrusive as good servants should be until he settled down. But now I see him in unexpected places, no doubt trying to see if we are real or not.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
GROCERY SCENES
After another annoying coupon debacle this morning I am forced to surrender to the grocery gods. Yes, you are more powerful and your rules are sufficiently obscure and impossible for most people. You seem benevolent and helpful as we merrily clip our "coups" and try to slide them into a cashier's hands, a smile on our faces, a song in our hearts. Soon our spirits are sent plummeting and we stand embarrassed by our inability to follow the directions and play the game, while the cashier smirks and marks down another point in their insane game of Gotcha. No doubt money is wagered and useless coupons displayed by the register jockeys like tiny colorful trophies.
Basically the rules are simple. Our job is to try to spend as little as possible. Theirs is to tempt you to buy products that you would not normally purchase in order to save money you wouldn't have spent anyway except YOU HAD A COUPON! See how the game goes? Point, game and match to the store. Yes I know there are coupon Queens and Kings who are actually "PAID" to spend money in the store. These people are not real. Even without a Finance degree I believe the stores would actually not be solvent if they allowed the "players" to win more than they wagered. The house always wins.
However it is fun to watch these experts in action. They wait until the groceries are beeped and bagged. As the eager hands reach out for the cash, the players present them with 100 separate coupons which leads to the hilarious game of bag scramble. That is, the baggies and cashies must frantically sort through the jars of yogurt, soup cans and bread to assure each item is in the proper sequence, amount and, no doubt color required. This is usually punctuated by the inevitable public address system announcement "Can I get a price check on the foot fungus medical pads and KY Intensive Sensation?" This is often repeated for maximum effect and embarrassment. The veterans stand their ground, a little smile on their faces. They refuse to accept the attempt at shopper abuse. Revenge is extracted however as the baggies quickly shove the bread to the bottom of the bag to be massacred by the heavier objects that follow.
Basically the rules are simple. Our job is to try to spend as little as possible. Theirs is to tempt you to buy products that you would not normally purchase in order to save money you wouldn't have spent anyway except YOU HAD A COUPON! See how the game goes? Point, game and match to the store. Yes I know there are coupon Queens and Kings who are actually "PAID" to spend money in the store. These people are not real. Even without a Finance degree I believe the stores would actually not be solvent if they allowed the "players" to win more than they wagered. The house always wins.
However it is fun to watch these experts in action. They wait until the groceries are beeped and bagged. As the eager hands reach out for the cash, the players present them with 100 separate coupons which leads to the hilarious game of bag scramble. That is, the baggies and cashies must frantically sort through the jars of yogurt, soup cans and bread to assure each item is in the proper sequence, amount and, no doubt color required. This is usually punctuated by the inevitable public address system announcement "Can I get a price check on the foot fungus medical pads and KY Intensive Sensation?" This is often repeated for maximum effect and embarrassment. The veterans stand their ground, a little smile on their faces. They refuse to accept the attempt at shopper abuse. Revenge is extracted however as the baggies quickly shove the bread to the bottom of the bag to be massacred by the heavier objects that follow.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
POLITICAL SCENES
This depressing trait that no one is responsible for anything and bad things happen due to circumstances beyond our control is wearing thin. It even translates to countries. North Korea sentencing two young women to 12 years of hard labor for stepping over an invisible boundary (alleged)? How anal are we? When our paranoia translates into destruction and mayhem for no other reason than we want to be noticed, we want more power or the most disturbing one of all-in the name of religion- we show we have learned nothing as a supposedly intelligent species capable of higher motivation.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
SCENES OF FREEDOM
I have been thinking a lot about what this country means to me lately. We are going through a terrible time, but innately I believe we will rise like the phoenix strong and beautiful again. It is in fire that metal is tested and made stronger. EWHH yeah I know, but I do feel like that.
In multiple discussions with many people about how they are feeling right now, certain truths seem to emerge. From a foreign friend. He criticizes this country,but he has to admit the energy of this country and the freedom to be who you want to be in America. From died-in-the-wool conservatives. Their frantic dance to criticize everything and try to pin it on one group, or one ideal or one philosophy. The more education we receive, the more we think, the more we explore, the more we debate, the more we realize it is not that simple. There are so many facets to what happens, so many reasons that things progress or regress for that matter. Global warming-civilization's indulgence in fossil fuels or inevitable ebb and flow of Mother Earth's cycles? Evolution or divine -why must they be mutually exclusive? Constant warfare in the name of religion? The lust for power at all costs. Religion-is it meant to suppress individual questions, control the masses or is it true enlightenment vs. fear of the unknown?
For me it all comes down to one or two significant events. My Mother who always espoused the liberal agenda, some might say. But who always dared to say you are allowed to think, apply logic and tell the emperor he has no clothes. Truth. Or a teacher I had in 6th grade, Mr. Molnar. This man had escaped from Hungary from behind the Iron Curtain in the 50's. That's what we called it then. Communism vs. democracy - it was so clear. Risking his life to come to America. When he attained his citizenship the local paper came to take pictures and celebrate this moment. He begged them not to publish the story as he still had family in Hungary who would be threatened by his success. 1961 and he had to protect his family from the tyranny of his home country.
To me that is what this country is about. When a president decides to eavesdrop on its own citizens, does not feel the need to secure a legal subpoena or considers torture in the name of security, I have to protest and say that is not the America that I know and love. I am willing to trade the "illusion" of security for the freedom that I was fortunate to be born to. So be it.
In multiple discussions with many people about how they are feeling right now, certain truths seem to emerge. From a foreign friend. He criticizes this country,but he has to admit the energy of this country and the freedom to be who you want to be in America. From died-in-the-wool conservatives. Their frantic dance to criticize everything and try to pin it on one group, or one ideal or one philosophy. The more education we receive, the more we think, the more we explore, the more we debate, the more we realize it is not that simple. There are so many facets to what happens, so many reasons that things progress or regress for that matter. Global warming-civilization's indulgence in fossil fuels or inevitable ebb and flow of Mother Earth's cycles? Evolution or divine -why must they be mutually exclusive? Constant warfare in the name of religion? The lust for power at all costs. Religion-is it meant to suppress individual questions, control the masses or is it true enlightenment vs. fear of the unknown?
For me it all comes down to one or two significant events. My Mother who always espoused the liberal agenda, some might say. But who always dared to say you are allowed to think, apply logic and tell the emperor he has no clothes. Truth. Or a teacher I had in 6th grade, Mr. Molnar. This man had escaped from Hungary from behind the Iron Curtain in the 50's. That's what we called it then. Communism vs. democracy - it was so clear. Risking his life to come to America. When he attained his citizenship the local paper came to take pictures and celebrate this moment. He begged them not to publish the story as he still had family in Hungary who would be threatened by his success. 1961 and he had to protect his family from the tyranny of his home country.
To me that is what this country is about. When a president decides to eavesdrop on its own citizens, does not feel the need to secure a legal subpoena or considers torture in the name of security, I have to protest and say that is not the America that I know and love. I am willing to trade the "illusion" of security for the freedom that I was fortunate to be born to. So be it.
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