Jasper Schuringa,-it takes a Dutch citizen to do the right thing...

Jasper Schuringa was a Dutch citizen on the plane to Detroit. Jasper was the one who lunged for the bomb making passenger, burning his hands in the process of subduing the bomb maker.
Perhaps we could learn a lesson from him.
If we all chose to be proactive rather than expecting  authorities to "take care of us" our country could be a safer place to live.
I remember the stabbing death of Kitty Genovese on the street of New York City duirng the 1960's. Chased by her attacker, many saw the incident and chose to look the other way. No one aided her, she was stabbed to death in daylight-  as people watched.
Over the years, Americans seem to think safety is contingent upon authorities. We have stopped meeting our neighbors, we live in walled in communities, and rather than outrage and action, we tend to cocoon ourselves, insulating our families, cutting off meeting our neighbors, actively joining in community events and taking part in national, state, regional and local elections.
Our culture, as American citizens, has transformed from a "frontier" mentality to a rabbit society. Looking for safe havens, which will never be safe as long as we choose to hide, see ourselves as powerless and helpless. victims.
If we took control of the world around us, actively engaging in community, local and state government, perhaps we would not have such a chasm of hostility, greed and self centered righteousness between citizens.
It is time to take back our country.
In a good way.
Look outside today, not in the house. Look outside and ask yourself,
"What can I do to make this neighborhood, city, government, country a better place for those I love and for myself?
Then do it.

Tell Me it Was So

Take my hand one more time
in our old age of experiences,
tell me it was so

Years of us, children grown,
heads together, united

Take my hand one more time,
tell me it was so

Red sun nights,
darkness
bereft times,
sleep united
 moments of dreams connected,
rage connected,
joy connected

Take my hand one more time,
tell me it was so

As we move away,
 cords are tattered,
 newness shines,

No lingering hands,
disconnect,
darkness falls
sadness trails the sky
as if stardust streaks the skies as tears.

Take my hand one more time and tell me it was so

The Slow Slide

Slow sliding ,
imperceptibly obvious
no knock on the door,
no blast of  horn

slow sliding
impervious to improvements
unresponsive to my pleadings

slow sliding
ignores weeping,
scorns weakness,
seduces the mind

grasping what is left, holding tightly,
slowly sliding ,sliding,sliding
into the unknown

"Just Doin Business" Using Extortion To Avoid Doing The Right Thing

The government passage of  a bill forcing airlines to let passengers off the plane after three hours is a step in the right direction. The weak excuse that it will create more delays is  ironic.-how much more delayed can one get?
America has become the land of extortion-
complain about banks playing with your money by charging overdraft fees on the largest amounts first, or credit card companies jacking up your interest rate, "just because" and they will threaten to raise rates all around-claiming, "Well, if we have to follow laws that protect consumers the consumers will just have to pay more for the practices"
Credit card companies? "Well, if we have to play fair, we'll just charge the consumer more"
Services which can hold us hostage used to be regulated-
airlines, banks, credit cards, utilities, water, communications-
The argument for deregulation -then? Oh, deregulation will create all kinds of competition and the consumer can  only  benefit- resulting in lower prices and more choice.


When one can be held against their will for 7, 10 or even 24 hours on an airplane, when hard earned public dollars are literally stolen from bank accounts in the bankers little shell games, when consumers are charged exorbitant amounts for electric in a little town of Vero Beach, Fl. because the city government passed a little known ordinance to double the cost of utilities for those living directly outside the 17 mile city limit, with no choice to change, we can all see what deregulation has done for the consumer.

Since US companies and businesses choose to treat consumers like mindless cash cows, disregard any imperative but the dollar sign, and use the opportunity of deregulation to monopolize instead of compete,
the time to regulate is here.
It is time business recognizes their value is only commensurate to the value of those they service, and not the other way around..

There Will Be No Christmas Presents This Year..

This holiday season do yourself a favor-don't buy into it.
Who says Christmas a'la Santa has to be celebrated on December 25th?
I am going to start a tradition at my house-Christmas is in March.
I am going to buy my presents in January when sales are slow.
We will put up our tree in March.
In the meantime, we are going to celebrate the religious holiday by honoring only those religions which practice non exclusivity, teach  and practice kindness, love and concern for humanity . We will seek out religious practices which do not make up their own rules of condemnation-choosing who in this world, according to religion, is "bad" and who is :"good".
I wonder if Jesus wants our world to continue honoring him in the way in which we have transformed him?
According to christians in the US, all should worship him on the dollar bill, in schools, and in public. No other religion should be allowed the same freedom. No other form of deity should be recognized. In fact, it is Satan who planned these diversions from the "true" religion.
Now isn't that just like America?
To consider themselves so special that only they have the right to dictate others religious beliefs as right or wrong?
March. Tree. Santa.

Workforce Investment Act Wastes Billions of Dollars-Still No Jobs

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides increased flexibility for state and local officials to establish broad-based labor market systems using federal job training funds for adults, dislocated workers and youth-


Recently 500 million dollars was added for unemployed adults to obtain training and education. Another 50 million was added for unemployed youth ages 17-22. Is it working? 


Millions of dollars are being provided to states to help the unemployed find jobs, pay for education or training and or relocation fees for those who find employment in another region of the US.


But what really happens to that money? Some people are actually assisted . So many unemployed US citizens and so few jobs.
The Tampa Tribune recently did a little digging and you can read the article here-http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/23/tampa-bay-workforce-alliance-spends-20000-food


We need to start asking where this money is going?
This article is a drop in the bucket compared to the waste going on in our country of these WIA dollars. 


Questions to be asked?


Who are on the Workforce boards?
How many of these businesses are benefitting from these relationships?
How many people are actually employed vs the dollars allocated to states?
What are the qualifications and competencies of those hired to assist the unemployed and how successful are they at placing individuals?
Who are the individuals recruiting jobs for the regions and how successful are they at placing individuals in positions?
How are employees at Workforce treated? What is the turnover rate? 


Workforce should be the shining star in employment!
Unfortunately, the turnover, the low wages and poor benefits for the employees actually doing the work result in high turnover and low employee morale.
Many Workforce locations hire temporary workers through Kelly, pay no  sick time, holidays, or insurance benefits
.One catastrophe, such as a sick family member, a need for time off for funeral or a business matter creates a financial problem.
Many of these temporary workers qualify for food stamps.


Is this the best we can do for our country??
Those dollars could create jobs .
They are wasted -
and as usual, end up in the pockets of those who already have rather than those who are in need.

Lobbyists vs United States Citizens-Buy USED!!

 "President Obama's special counsel for ethics and government reform Norm Eisen announced that the administration no longer wanted federally-registered lobbyists appointed to agency advisory boards and commissions."
And it is about damn time.
Faster, quicker, how about NOW?
This "too big too fail" mantra gave Big Business the green light to keep screwing the American people.
Citizens are convinced if we don't bail out big business we lose jobs.
Wel, we bailed them out-
and the unemployment rate is 13%.
I want to know who out there believes Big Business Corporations are staying up nights fretting and handwringing over the millions of unemployed?
I say buy used!
We have enough product out there we can all sell to one another for the next ten years and then some.
Buy used. A small thing-but one we can control.
Quit buying big business products, let them suffer. Wall Street let us down. Let them down.

Why I Need Public Health Care

When did health care become a privilege for the upper class in the United States?
Did I miss some critical societal change in the past 56 years of my life working full time for someone else?
Last week a friend of mine took her husband to outpatient surgery to have a tumor removed from his back. The Doctor's office would not do it unless she paid fifteen hundred dollars up front.
She borrowed some from her daughter and he had the tumor removed.
Two days later he complained of chest pain and numbness in his arm. The debated whether to take him to the emergency room.
Can you imagine that?
They had all these other bills from his surgery and didn't have any money for additional care.
SHe took him to the emergency room. He was admitted.
She came to work after the night in the hospital. She had to leave him there to come to work because we work for a temp agency.
You see it saves corporations a lot of money f they use a temp agency rather than hire and pay full time
benefits. She could not afford to miss another day.
The hospital called her at the office and told her they would not do a stress test on him unless she came to the hospital and paid four hundred dollars.
He has insurance but the agency he works for chose a 2,000. deductible.
I have no insurance. I keep getting tachycardia  and irregular heartbeats. I can't go to the Doctor at all. I have no money. I make just enough to keep me off Medicaid. I could just quit my job, apply for medicaid, cash assistance and food stamps. I would have good health coverage, then.
Oh! I have an MSW and a teaching license. The first year I can't find a job.

Pig Out Day In America

250 million turkeys were raised in the US in 2009-weighing in at about 4.5 billion dollars.
An average of 13.8 pounds of turkey are eaten by Americans each year.
709 millions pounds of cranberries have been raised in the US in 2008. 1.8 billion pounds of sweet potatoes.
1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins have been grown in the US
65% of American people are overweight in America. Obesity in children has tripled since the 1980's.

The map above displays the states with the fattest people.

We Americans love overindulgence. We love the big, the better, the first, the best, the largest, the lowest, the dumbest, the first..
Our TV is full of realities dumbest, fattest, ugliest, 
Our favorite book is the Guinness Book of World Records.


We roll in our own.
If we go down blazing, it will the biggest, fattest, ugliest, meanest, sorriest, most awesome trailblazin' mess the world has ever seen.
We Americans love that stuff!
Enjoy your stuff-fest
By God, enjoy it...

Applying For Teaching Jobs With PATS-Just A Suggestion

Paperless Applicant Tracking System (PATS)


PATS seems to be a universal software preferred by school districts in the state of Florida and many other states.
It takes at least an hour to complete. It also requires many downloads of documents.
Connecting PATS software into a state wide software site would sure make it easier to apply for jobs.
A teacher could enter all the data into one place and when applying online at a school district, the application could be pulled, updated if necessary and submitted.
It would save hundreds of hours and probably streamline the application process for the districts.

Of course, PATS would lose a lot of money on the software-but they wouldn't need to-they could charge the districts for it and a small fee for connecting to the common application site.

Veteran's-We are not a Reality Show

The Vietnam War kept my cousin. It also kept a few friends of mine from high school and a boyfriend who just disappeared after he returned from his draft stint.
I spent two years in Germany working huge mainframe computers, eventually a short stint in Military Intelligence.
The Vietnam War is famous -our country turned on many of the men who returned from that hellhole war. Men who did not want to be there in the first place. People called them baby killers, spit on them. Men returned to the states and many have spent the rest of their lives fighting with those demons that came back with them-the ones in their minds. Vietnam Vets have never really been honored for the sacrifices they made. This was a not a war anyone but politicians wanted. It took years of shouting for the government to listen to the American people.

Starting with Bush, no pretending was necessary-Donald Rumsfeld understaffed the Iraqi invasion and George Bush pretended it was over months after the intial invasion.
Now we have men fighting in two countries oversears, dying in two countries, overseas, and I ask why??

Don't give me the history garbage of military strategy, how important it is to "fight" for democracy. Stand up for others..
Our imposition of our own ideals is every bit as repressive and invasive as any dictatorial regime.
The call for Manifest Destiny is the biggest farce of all-who chose us? We did!

While we yell about other countries violating humans rights we have become a nation that locks teen agers up for life, uses the death penalty and have violated human rights with arrest and imprisonment without charges, a right to an attorney or the ability to face accusers. George Bush started prisons in other countries in which CIA operatives would abduct "suspects" from a country and take them to the prisons.

If we aren't Stalinesque in our approach to law enforcement, we sure are a story right out of Twilight Zone.

The countries in blue are those that do not use the death penalty. Those in green have laws on the books but do not use it. Those in the dark red not only use it but will kill individuals under the age of 21.
If you notice most civilized countries do not use the death penalty.

Our boys are fighting this war. Our boys, mostly poor,of color. They go to war because it is all they know to do, and they hope to be recognized with honor.
It is very much like having a parent who never shows love. Young men, disenfranchised, unemployed, mainly men of color, looking for the approval of a nation which will never recognize the sacrifices.
Sadly, the approval doesn't seem to come. Many die.
I have been around long enough to watch one to many wars. There is no justifiable reason to kill in this civilized world. Not one.
Our young men, mostly boys when recruited, deserve better.. They desrve a promise and a hope from us, that we, as Americans will do right by our boys

But we don't. do we? Our country is so full of itself and our  ability to top another's "suffering" we don't get out of our "National narcissism" to recognize the sacrifices made by our men and women in the Armed Forces.
President Obama,
keep showing the body bags. Those dead soldiers are mama's little boys, all grown up, they  are husbands and daddies, brother, sister, cousin, niece, nephew and boyfriend, loved dearly.
Don't allow our country to keep the consequences of these deadly wars hidden.
War isn't part reality show.
It is reality. Real suffering, loss and pain. It is "real reality"
.

Homelessness Comes Home

I am two weeks from being homeless. My credit is gone. My credit is not only gone but the :fresh start" I attempted not only worsened the situation, it left me with fewer options.
I am an educated person. I am keeping my fingers crossed that a teaching job comes through next week. I don't think I even have enough money to make a move. So I don't know what I am going to do.

You know, when I hit bottom last night there was a peace that came over me.
Because when there are no more answers, the questions become moot. I have to move by the end of the month.
My 17 year old daughter is going to have a baby boy in five months. She graduates from high school in one month. My son is seriously mentally ill .
Yeah I know it sounds like one big messed up family.

The irony is I came from a seriously messed up family. I worked hard to overcome some serious obstacles. I got an education. I paid my bills. I owned homes. I am a responsible worker.

I moved to Las Vegas to help the foster mom who gave me a chance at this life. She believed in me.
I lived with her and her husband for 7 years, caring for them until she died after a long end life of alzheimers.
It was a difficult time. I started gambling. I went into treatment and stopped for a long time.

Then I started again. This time I lost my house. My credit, small as it was, destroyed.
When I moved to Vero Beach it was with the help of a good friend.
My daughter almost died drinking with his girlfriend. She won't admit to feeding my daughter alcohol. Her lie has destroyed the relationship between them and the 20 year friendship I had with her dad.

I could not find a job teaching. I found a temp job. It pays no insurance and holidays are not paid either.
Ironically what I do is help women who are receiving cash assistance get into school , gain marketable skills and get jobs.
But I can't find a job which supports my family.
I am in a house I can't afford the rent. The utilities are impossible. My lease isn't in my name and now I am ruining the credit of another person.

My daughter is growing up. I am so proud of her. She is a strong woman. She deserves better. She could have had an abortion or taken the morning after pill. She has a pretty good idea of what she is choosing. Ironically her choice to not abort her baby has consequences.  This is a small town.Her teachers are very supportive of her. She is facing a great challenge. But we are family and we will make it. She will go to college. Her boyfriend has grown up as well. He starts school in January..  He is looking for work. They are both scared. I think that isn't all bad. But they are taking responsibility for this baby. I am proud of them.

I believe life is like flight. . We only have so much control over our travel in the sky. We can have the best flight plans, but Mother Nature handles the flight and the sky is limitless. Who knows what challenges are ahead?
Death has a destination.
Life, to be lived in awareness, is only a ride in which we are guests.
So our life can soar or dip, wherever the flight takes us. I am hopeful I can control the speed, the pitch and the direction(to some extent) of this ride. The rest is up to the fates.
You know, I have had and lost many of the "things" in life. I pretty much started with nothing.
This point of travel really helps me acknowledge what is most important-
I have a family I love with all my heart. I have the skies, the sunshine and the rain.  I have green all around me and the sound of the ocean. I have a job I love even though I can't pay my bills! I have a new grandson on the way.
Sometimes I think it is easy to forget what real hope is when one has an abundance of "stuff"
I am pretty much freed of the shackles of "stuff" because I am almost out of it! I have a car I would like to keep because I think I can get a job eventually and we will need it.

The rest, I guess, we just have to figure out along the way.

215 "NO" Votes- Go Buy Your Own Health Care!!!!

15.7 million of us are out of jobs. 10.2 % of our nations citizens.
Think about it.
If 15.7 million are not employed, those people have no health insurance.
It doesn't stop there.
If 15.7 million of us are unemployed, each of us, 15.7 million, also have families which no longer have health insurance.
We are well beyond 15.7 million US citizens which have no health insurance.
 215 members of congress voted no for Universal Health Insurance.
39 Democrats and 179 Republicans voted no.

Let us put ideology into practice.
Since every one of them HAS Universal Health Care through a federally funded insurance program-throw them off the plan.
All 215.
Make them put their money where their mouths are-
Make them buy their own health insurance-through privately owned companies.
No Federal on the dole health for them.
Or better yet, make them join the more than 15 million US citizens and their families -with no health insurance.

Accountability.
If the 179 out of 180 Republicans believe their representation of us translates into not one of almost 16 million US citizens and our families do not deserve health care because we are unemployed, let us demand that Republicans live our lifestyle.
Unemploy them
Unemploy them so they understand the lifestyle of those of us who worked hard all of our lives, paid our taxes and paid through our employers our fair share of health costs-
Let us force them to live the lifestyle.
Those who believe money is far more important than the lives of our citizens in this country, let them become unemployed and without insurance.
As we unemployed know, money to support our families is essential but no profit and loss sheet ever replaced those we love, cherish and  hope will have the chance for  healthy, productive and joyous lives.

The bottom line? We love our families. Health care is a right and our lives should never be perceived as one big profit and loss statement.
We citizens are not and will never be considered as a liability for greedy, monolithic health care corporations and/ or other businesses in this country.

Welfare to Work-Ignoring The Root Problem

1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation ...also known as The Welfare Reform Act shut everybody up.
Those who believed people were driving around in pink Cadillacs living the life of Donald Trump got their lust for punitive measures satiated.
Those who liberally believed everyone needs to have a job, we just have to help a little, had their little golden souls appeased by the efforts to put those less fortunate in the workforce.
Lobbyists were out in full force for this juicy morsel of legislation. Money allocated for education and support totaled 16.5 billion dollars. That money in the form of block grants is given to the states to allocate it how they wish. Most allocate the dollars in grants of minimal assistance, for example Florida provides 240.00 a month to individuals with one children, and requires  at least 20 work or volunteer hours weekly  to continue receiving the monthly income.


Most states contracted with other agencies to implement the program. Many of the programs contracted with are concerned with one set of numbers.
The amount of time a client is engaged in activity for a month.
States require 20 hours  per week for single parents with children under age six.
Many private programs require 35 hours a week regardless of a child's age.
In addition, it doesn't matter how those hours are allocated-volunteer work, schooling, work experience and job search. The rules set by the state and the managing agency implement and enforce  the documented hours. Women who do not comply are sanctioned by the managing agency personnel.


Without providing an entire lesson on the Welfare Transition Program, (read the Act) a few events occurred which made this program look very successful. For awhile an abundance of minimum wage jobs existed. Clients moved on and off the welfare programs depending on the low wage job availability. Clients were hired at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's with little effort. In fact, prior job  and criminal histories mattered little. Educational levels were ignored.
Poor women with children weren't seen or heard from, voila! the program considered a success.


The unemployment picture today reveals a different picture.
1. Poor women can't get those fast food jobs anymore. They are turned away and told they need a high school education, or their criminal record makes them ineligible.
Internet applications don't give them a chance to get in the door. One look at their record and the application is often kicked out of the system.


2. The Welfare Transition Program is perceived as the bottom rung of social welfare thus the people hired to counsel, guide and draw from resources and community expertise are often making little more than a living wage. Many are hired from career /human resource fields and consider any behavior not associated with the quest for employment irrelevant and ignore the needsof the clientele-single mothers with little or no support systems, impoverished, uneducated and not prepared for the competitiveness of the marketplace0
in fact, not only unprepared but torn between the message that you work no matter what and the needs of the children.


3. The majority of the women who remain on the welfare rolls the full four years are ones who cannot obtain employment because of a criminal record. Many of these crimes are not serious, or a one time event, or years past-but they cannot obtain employment. 
These women are ignored by the system. It is the dirty little secret of welfare reform. There is no reform set up for these women. They cycle in and out. 


4. Keeping working women poor
The women are pushed into training programs which will still keep them at poverty level. Schooling and training classes offered are at service level-nurses aides, phlebotomy class certificates(no license), home health aide, clerical or data entry classes. The colleges run fully funded welfare programs to train poor women to work low wage jobs and tell them it is only a "start" they can go on with the education as they work" 
5. Bad Bad fit
Women are referred to these classes and when completed find out they cannot even take the state licensing test because they either do not have a GED or have a criminal record. The women are not informed of this.


6. Child Care. The fallacy of childcare. Women are forced to place children in state paid childcare. The rest of the world tells them they are getting a great gift. Their children get to go to "school" 40 hours a week while mom builds skills. The message? You are poor, you have children out of wedlock, you are in dependant circumstances, you don't have a choice about your children. You want this little bit of money?
Put your kids in daycare. Get a low paying job or volunteer fulltime.
Parenting is not as important as showing the state you are "productive" Parenting is not considered a productive activity. Women have no choice if they want to survive.


Our culture has changed over the past ten years. Many will say, "It's their choice."
"They don't deserve to be supported by the rest of us taxpayers""Lazy welfare moms"


The fact is most of the women on welfare rolls are  unmarried black women, with little education. Why haven't we addressed this plight before the road to welfare?
Black males have the highest unemployment rates in the country. Black males have had the highest unemployment rates in this country long before the 13% unemployment rate.


Most women applying for financial assistance in todays climate of unemployment, hostility and finger pointing express great shame at their perceived inability to move beyond their situation.
Sadly, with the poorly funded , uneducated workers, high turnover rates and misdirected counsel of clients, poor black women are doomed because we doom them.
Following the rules will not provide them with a decent paying job, it will only move them off cash assistance, where they lose food stamps and Medicaid for their children -to work low paying jobs until the next catatsrophe propels them back into the system.

Help Brandon find more friends? Does it look like he needs more Facebook?

It is just too tempting.
You know how facebook puts these little messages on the side of your page?
My son leaves his facebook open in perpetuity.
I shut my down.
Another ego driven narcissistic non way to communicate. Post your life to the world. Make short comments about others. Don't develop intimacy. Play with balloons and glitter. Poke people. C'mon grown ups-aren't we anymore?

Anyway here is a beautiful picture from my son's facebook.

 This Brandon and his beautiful son.
According to Facebook, Brandon needs help.
Brandon needs help-why?
Well, Facebook is asking my son to help him.
Did Brandon ask for help?
No.
Does it look like Brandon needs help to you?
He looks pretty sweet in this picture, I'd say.

Facebook doesn't think so.
They posted a little note on the side of my son's Facebook.

"Brandon needs your help.
Brandon only has 14 friends
Can you help Brandon find more friends?.


How pathetic and high school peer pressured moronic drivel is that?


Looks to me like Brandon is doing just fine.

Wachovia asks for Social Security # or Account # by phone recording???

Freak us all out about identity theft. Warn us that the security of our bank and credit card accounts is our own personal responsibility-
and then send me a phone message like this:

"Hello, this is Wachovia.
Please call 1-866-211-6980 between the hours of -------
Call the number-
I'm serious.

"Welcome to Wachovia Bank
You have reached the overdraft and recovery security department.
Please have your account number or social security number ready."

My account is not overdrawn. I have no unusual activity to note.
So I start enetering a bunch of bogus numbers figuring this must be a scam??
I finally get a real person.
"This is LaToya McKenzie, can I help you?
"How do I know this is really Wachovia, I ask?
"It is the recovery department."
"So if I check this number out with my local bank it is legitimate?
"You can call them" , she pleasantly answers.

I do. I call the 1800-516-4176 number.
"May I have your account number?" I am asked.
Maybe you can help me without it"- I reply.
I ask him if the number is legitimate.
He checks,
Yes it is, he states.
Why would I receive a recording, not identifying me by name-
and when I call it,, the first thing I am asked is to enter my social security number or account number?"
"Doesn't that seem like a breach of my security?" I ask.
"What if it wasn't you and I gave that information to some scam recordings phishing for my information?"
"Well, it isn't, he replies.

What do you think??

Mensa Activities for the Mensa challenged

Things to do in the dark:
1. Paint your fingernails
2. Sew
3. Shave
4. Put on your make up
5. color your hair
6. trim your nose hairs
7. hop backwards 20 steps

For Fun
1. Bake bread without a recipe.
2. Write the Pledge of Allegiance with your eyes closed on lined paper without going off them.
3. text your friends using numbers instead of letters.
4. Tweet using code your upper case numbers
5. check your mail at midnight

Ultra challenge
1. Attempt the sobriety test while sober.
2. Complete the Roschach test and look for results online
3.Compete with a friend- try to cry in thirty seconds or less
4. Write ten lists in 100 seconds. Start list one with the letter "A" and move on to "B"
5. Find twenty places to put a "?" in twenty sentences or less where they skew the intent

Are you really  doing these?
Send me the results, Mensa Challenged

Immersed in Time

this hour, this minute sometimes this second
time, I stand alone immersed in it,
time has control,
I do not.
whatever the moment pushed forward, resistant poof-
carried me.
My voice lost in the moving minutes,
yesterdays words,
tomorrows
now.
Words that flail, falling words,
 coursing through my brain,
pushing outward,
to the spans of  time.
Only my echo is heard
pushed away
this second,
this minute,
now.

More Opt Out Swindles-ATT&T

Your home phone is like a credit card. Unless you call your phone company, anyone who knows your phone number can call from your home phone and order services at social networks.
For example. IMVU and Gaia, social networks for kids will charge your home phone for any services purchased from them on the internet, with only the phone number!
No code, no password, no authorization code!!
Your kids, you may have already discovered, have free rein, with the permission of your phone company, to order additional services without your authorization!!
When I called AT&T they told me I had to order a block on additional services, even though I never gave permission in the first place!!
This scam of opting out of services you didn't order in the first place has got to stop!!
Just another way business screws the honest citizen, ordering services, just certain services, and gets screwed.

"Automatic Renewals-More "Opt Outs"

Did I ask to renew my Vanity Fair magazine?
No-But they are billing me for another year-because I didn't "opt out"
Did I sign a contract asking for additional years? No
But in the fine print it says I must cancel my subscription even though I paid them for only one year.
I didn't pay them for anything else but ONE YEAR.

TMobile pulls the same "opt out" trick.
If you do not call  the company and tell them you do not want incoming text messages-although you told them you do not want the texting feature-they  allow others to text you and charge you for it.

We have banks that require you opt out of overdraft when you didn't ask for it in the first place.
Satellite radio claims they have the right to bill you an additional month even if you have a contract for a specific amount of time-because you didn't cancel-I paid for a year of service, they claim I owe them an additional month.

This has to stop.
Sneaky, crummy business practices.
Make sure you ask each time you pay for something which you believe is for a certain amount of time-or for a specific service.
You may find yourself paying for something you never asked for.

Bizzarro America-Wall Street Bonus and Massive Unemployment

Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch are formally taking those last few bucks you have in those 401K's-the sham retirement funds lobbed off on American people a decade ago.
They call them bonuses-I call it theft.

If someone came to your door with an Uzi, busted into your house, held your family hostage while others raped and pillaged, you bet you would scream and call the cops.
Yet when Wall Street, after playing one sleight of hand card trick on American citizens comes back with another, "Look!, Now You See it -Now you Don't", not a peep from all those unemployed, out of benefits, homeless, Americans. Those who are employed smugly watch neighbors lose their homes, and go to bed each night believing, for some grandiose reason, they are immune.
What is the difference between blatant rape and pillage and polite rape and pillage?
We are supposed to be grateful they are polite while taking our last dollars?

What will it take for Americans to start running their government again?
This isn't  about President Obama.
God forbid we get in the Limburger crowd. Crazy loonies are who believe in conspiratorial birth certificates and Islamic heehaws these are just plain crazy and nonsensical.
Those who have Tea Bags in their eyes and deeply embedded elsewhere have a right to be angry--too bad they are so far off base in their protests.
They all got some big tax breaks for the next few years and they worry about the national deficit?
Unemployment isn't about finding another job in two weeks anymore.

The National deficit pretty much reflects the state of the average American.
Over extended-and broke.
Conservative fiscal spending isn't going to help us a bit.
Government needs to spend our money to get us moving again.
Too bad the business world has found a way to rape and pillage the government stimulus money as well.

The Day My Daughter Almost Died

It isn't as if she was just a little girl that needed our protection so much. It is the question I ask myself-How old are kids supposed to be when they take responsibility and adults take none?
My daughter was 16 when she was playing cards with her dad's girlfriend and sister one night. They fed her alcohol all night long. Enough to create a dangerous level of alcohol in her system-she stopped breathing and went by ambulance to the Emergency room with a blood alcohol level of  250.
The ensuing fallout between her dad, his girlfriend and myself went something like this-
(Since he did not go to the emergency room with us, stayed at his front door in his bathrobe watching me help her out the door)-since no one woke when she screamed and she called me at 330 in the morning-
his girlfriend denied she ever gave drinks to my 16 year old daughter. Claimed she must have had them after they all passed out.
The police came and asked me if I wanted them to investigate-and I downplayed it-because I did not want to get her father (who is well known in the community) in trouble.

Her father immediately blamed her, eventually blaming me-accusing me of poisoning her mind against him.
I knew the trashing of me might happen, but after having known him for twenty years, and considering him my best friend, I hoped with some time he might think about the events and start questioning the events, rather than blaming her.
He and his girlfriend responded by claiming they would keep alcohol locked up around her-because of course she drank without their knowledge.
This response brought only disgust and disappointment from our daughter.
All the claims of love by him or my running interference with her, didn't budge her off the fact he never even asked her about the events of that night, believes his girlfriends story and now blames me.
I grieve for my friend (or what I thought was a friendship) and I am sad that they do not speak.
If his girlfriend told him the truth there might be a chance for their relationship, I would gladly stay out of the picture for the remainder of our lives, if it made a difference for my daughter and her dad.
It saddens me that he would think I would trash him to his daughter. Although I have raised her alone, I have always supported their relationship, making the effort to keep the communication lines open.
Now that I am aware of his feelings about me after all these years, I wonder, did he ever really see me as his friend?
Sometimes I think women(me) paint pictures in their heads of things that maybe really don't exist.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew, when I took a stand on this situation, and told him I felt it was dangerous and his girlfriend could not be trusted with our daughter, that would be the end of any communication we had.
It is up to my daughter now, two months later and now seventeern.
She wants nothing to do with him.
She feels betrayed. She is hurt that he would disparage me -after years of seeing us get along.
Or perhaps, maybe she and I both thought that but it wan't true?
She is alive, and I am thankful. I love my daughter. Her relationship with her dad is up to her, not me.
No more running interference. I would call him and give him a heads up about how she was feeling, and try to do the same for him during the rough patches. I see that was a mistake.
Now that it is up to her-she doesn't want to talk to him.
Perhaps time will heal this for them.
For me, I can't seem to get the picture out of my head of her face, cold, blue and white, and unmoving, not breathing, in my arms, in the back of the car at 3:30 in the morning.
I am so thankful she is ok, as I write this, I realize, nothing else is as important.

Huffington Post Jumps the Shark

Huffington Post Jumps the Shark

"Huffington Post-Breaking News" has become a joke.
The headline? "Ariana -Why Joe Biden should resign -What the headline should read is, "Ariana, the new Rush Limbaugh-taking herself too seriously, now believing her own hype....
Huffington Post has become a parody of news.
Tina Fey, 24-Year-Old Virgin: I 'Couldn't Give It Away'

Glenn Beck Shows Off His Olbermann, Matthews Impersonations

Conservative Attack Dog Slams Fox News And Bush

Megan Fox Gets Armani Gig, But Who's The Hottest Celeb Underwear Model Ever?

Gov. Perry: Executed Inmate "Was A Monster

Huffington Post has become another sensationalized media rag. Add it to the junkpile with CNN, USA Today, and of course, the spokesrag for the Republican Party-Fox aka blatantly bizarro news for the crazies.

Huffington Post has gone to the "light side".

Light on news, light on intellect and light on reason.

The Glee in Taking down the government-Fox News

What is it about relishing taking down our government? Why is it okay?
"Fox News" can call itself whatever it wants-millions of us ignore it-yet they prey upon ignorant, angry or racist citizens by lying, twisting or outright challenging our current presidential administration.
What people don't get is they are in it for the dollar.
Your dollar.
The one Bush stole from you and gave to his rich buddies-including Rupert Murdoch(the Australian?)
While the Obama Administration tries to pick up the pieces of the biggest mess in the history of our nation, Fox News, with great fanfare and relish, spends 24/7 lying, ambushing, twisting and hammering.
Ah, Bring back the Bush administration, who received white glove treatment from Fox news, which led us to this disastrous war we can't seem to stop, the climbing unemployment of our citizens, New Orleans, Wall Street.

What is with this craziness in the United States?
Why not just hand over what little  the citizens have left to Fox News, the oil companies, Citibank, and other corporations taking your jobs and money offshore?
The United States of Fox News -taking down the US government one lie at a time-and taking your money with it. Fools

Let's Lobby the Lobbyists Out!!!

The first priority of President Obama when taking office was to restrict lobbying of our legislators and government officials.
Impossible. Their insidious tentacles weave throughout our government affecting every small business, farmer, entrepreneur, educational system, dairy farmer, health care,  government worker and yes, even the Avon ladies of our country.

Those who freak at media scares over the swine flu should be paying more attention to the virus currently killing thousands, if not millions in our country.

Lobbyists-for corporations which have taken our jobs overseas, broken the backs of unions, jacked up the prices of produce and dairy products, kept our energy prices exaggeratedly inflated, created massive layoffs in the auto industry by allowing foreign auto companies huge tax breaks to build in our country, won concessions from the government to hide massive amounts of our dollars in offshore banking institutions, and continue each day to rape our country of our natural and made made resources, leaving us citizens unemployed .
Welcome to the new poor.
Those having worked all their lives, followed the governmen'ts recommendations to invest in 401k's,
buy homes and purchase goods and services in the USA, now, losing their homes, no safety net, working as if we were in the early 1900's, for a pittance, with the corporations calling the shots.
The world of reduced hours which means no benefits, no health insurance and no holiday pay.

We have regressed. We need to recognize it and get mad.
Do not kill the messenger. Get over your prejudices. Those feelings are only a smokescreen for the inability to take responsibility for the stupid trust we have given to past administrations handing over our livlihoods to greedy corporations.

Our first step?
Kick the lobbysists out of Washington.
Now!
Kick them out.
Kick out any legislator who accepts anything -campaign money, a trip to the Bahamas, a dinner, a pen.
No lobbyists.
Force legislators to make policy based upon the citizens of this country.
Kick them out.
Our government system is so corrupt with payoffs and lobbyists, our nation has become a mass of angry cynics.
Rather than clean it up we are on a road to self destruct.
Stop acting like petulant, grounded teenagers.
Let's work together and unravel the tentacles which strangle our democracy.

Start our own lobby.
Each citizen is a part of it.
Lobby the Lobbyists Out!

President Obama-Nobel Peace Prize-Acknowledging Our Hope

I read somewhere that during our Presidential Election, many Europeans stated they wished they could vote.
A worldwide sigh of relief  waved over earth at President Obama's victory. His words -balm from a world of countries, many hundreds if not thousands of years older than our adolescent behaving country.
Sarah Palin spoke the truth about "going rogue". It is how the United States behaved, frightening countries, fearful; of our aggressive and unpredictable behavior. Wary and distrustful of an arrogant and immature government, so full of themselves, we sneered at global warning, ignored our citizens during disaster, and  told others, with a sneer and a spit to , "bring it on".
We believed our 9/11 was the most horrific event on Planet Earth, while genocide and starvation, rape and mutilation took place in a number of countries on a daily basis.
Slowly our own greed eroded our financial system, a cynical corrupt government overrun by lobbyists turned backs on Americans, and eventually, on election day, we watched, as our country's own greed and lawlessness rippled through our citizens, affecting the health and welfare from babies to seniors.

Civilized countries, struggled with the fallout of Americans greed and recklessness, yet the safety nets remain,
health care, senior care, infant care, remains a staple in those countries. We, however, seem to want to self destruct, hanging onto a belief that it ain't broke, so don't fix it.

That Nobel Peace Prize is a dove, holding an olive branch.
A message to President Obama and all those who elected him, that yes, we are on the right road- at last. Civilized countries reach out with that prize, to give us hope, encouragement and a heartfelt message-
Yes, President Obama, Yes, Americans who support his policies, You are on the right track-help us , our world, evolve, move toward a peaceful planet-where each of us is worth the effort to reach out, listen and solve problems in a non aggressive way.
Don't lose hope, President Obama. Stay the course. I believe in you. Do what it takes to lead us into that new world of civilized behavior. We will turn our backs on those who will do whatever it takes to destroy our vision. We will keep moving forward.
Let those who believe they would rather destroy our country than have a government which is led by a black President, who represents the hopes of our world leaders, cry aloud, cry "wolf" let them step up to say their piece so we can disprove them, reveal their lies and true mission-that  they would rather see our country disappear than work toward a better world.
Those of us who are old enough to observe history-we see the damage done to our country-the attitude and feelings of hate and cynicism. The loss of respect, the lack of values. The very fabric of our country's democracy has been torn, burned, mutilated- hardly recognizable.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the civilized world's gentle hand on our shoulder, nudging us forward , as we awkwardly, move through adolescence, into an adulthood of responsibility and consideration for all.

Another "Opt Out" Story We get what we pay for-no more-no less-the end

I bought twelve months of XM Satellite radio.
I paid for it with my credit card.
No contract.
Just paid for one year.
I get a collection bill in the mail for 26 dollars.
According to XM they are authorized to continue my service for one month beyond what I pay for and bill me for it.
Is this for real?
Since when do you get to authorize your own service to me when I paid for 12 months?
Suck it up, XM.
Take me to court..
I am sick of companies screwing us by "fine printing".
There needs to be a new law protecting consumers.
Consumers pay money for a certain service and a certain amount, period.
If businesses decide to not cancel after that  agreed upon amount has ended they need to eat it.
We get what we pay for -no more-no less-the end.

When Irrationality Drives Our Health Care Decisions..

What is it about affordable health care for all that makes normal people act irrationally?
I'm stumped.
Real facts, real figures, real experiences don't cut it with America.

I have worked in health care a good chunk of my life. I am old enough to remember the transition from treating need to treating based on ability to pay.
Twenty years ago the phrase, "Your insurance doesn't cover that" would have been against the Hippocratic Oath.
Now Doctors hide behind HMO's fearing the dwindling of income, mute.

Michael Moore wants to throw in the towel. Truth is not a motivator for outrage and change.
I don't understand and I am to the point where I don't want to anymore.

My country is full of crazy people where the number one TV station is Fox News, and they believe Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. They buy books written by crazy authors who tell them the rich need to be protected and for some reason they believe it.
They go to "Tea Parties" protecting the rich from tax increases.
They refuse to allow the President of the United States to speak with their children.
They believe the crazy media stories about dictatorships and socialism.
They begin to write about harming our President.

Insanity. Crazy, bizarre, unpredictable insanity.

Give this country psychotic meds.
When eighty year olds smugly tell 50 year olds they don't deserve the same Medicare benefits-"quit smoking and drinking"

I can't think about it anymore.
Crazy people will run this country. Crazy people own it now.
The day I have a fistful of dollars in my pocket, my visa, passport and citizenship will be left at the doorstep of the United States.
Don't bother with the insults, I've heard them all. Insults are a national past time.
The United States of America is one mean, ugly country today.

If The Government Only ..Everyone's An Expert..

"If they just quit wasting the taxpayers money"

"Cut spending"

"Wasted taxpayer money"

"Greedy politicians"

"Greedy (city, county, state, federal) government

"Irresponsible, incompetent"----

You fill in the rest.

Everyone is an expert in finance today.

Your favorite government party, angry newspaper commentators, editorials, yada yada yada

As the United States Economy tangos with failure, the passion of emotion overwhelms the steps.

Have you noticed?

We have no experts..if we did we wouldn't be in this mess.

And you, who zealously believe if the government only did it your way -we would all be just peachy-

are no expert either..

Any "socialist" countries out there need teachers?

The citizens in my country, the United States, do not believe all citizens deserve access to free health care.

The citizens in my country no longer believe we should have a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens.

Is there a country in this world who will accept me? I have two Masters Degrees and a BA in Social Work.

I want to live in a country which believes we are all created equal.

Opting Out-It isn't just banks....

Banks are notorious inventors of sneaky methods for parting you and your money.

The overdraft fee-infamous for the inability to opt out of it-along with debiting the largest amount first, so many overdraft fees can be generated on smaller amounts, are all methods of arrogant banks no longer interested in customer goodwill and if you have noticed, signs of monopolistic behavior. Let's not forget the "holding your money" if deposited after 3pm, but processing automatic withdrawals anytime after midnight, or holding a check 7 days -in the age of computer processing and fast access to accounts worldwide.Banks have become one of those necessities that many of us dread and resent.

Banks aren't the only sinners in this lust for stealing money from paycheck to paycheck Americans.

I find this opt out process is popular with other businesses and it really pisses me off.

I have been a customer with T-Mobile for 10 years. They play the same game. I have a family plan with unlimited texting-with teens-this is a critical component.

T-Mobile invented a new service called Family Allowances where you can pay extra to set limits on minutes, change services, decide what services can and cannot be used.

I have a beef with that.

First, I think buying a plan with allotted minutes means just that. If I buy a plan with a thousand minutes, it is a thousand minutes. If I buy a plan with downloads, it is a plan with downloads.

Phone companies make their money when someone doesn't follow the rules. Overages on minutes are prohibitively expensive.

I think the contracts should provide exactly what a purchaser pays for-no more and no less.

It isn't really a contract for a thousand minutes if it is allowed to go over the agreed upon number, is it?

I believe, once again, services should be an opt in, not opt out. If I pay for thousand minutes, I should get a thousand minutes. When I reach that limit, no more.

I have gone in and set those perimeters so many times, it makes me want to scream. I have paid for the ability to control the phones-and thought that was ridiculous.

Why should I pay to control a contract I am already paying for?

This practice is absurd.

After ten years, I'd had it.

I called them, cancelled the expired phones, and had one phone left on contract-mine.

I said, give me the cheapest plan.

21.95

No frills, I said.

Everyone in my house goes to Boost.

21.95 plus ten dollars for taxes and fees!

Half of my phone bill again, for the cost of maintaining the contract!

I asked, "is there any way of getting out of this contract?"

"For 200.00", I was told.

I asked, "What about texts?" If I receive a text, do I have to pay for it?"

"Yes" customer service replied. Unless you "opt out"

"There you go again," I point out.

"Another service I didn't ask for, which I would have to pay for unless I ask you not to give it to me, even though I don't have it on my plan"

"No texts".

See how it works?

Go Boost.

You get what you pay for.

A New Cliche-"Get Over Playing the Race Card..

We could discuss the meanness of the "new" American culture, but that would take volumes.

Part of this once repressed American cruelty, now blatantly expressed and richly primed by media sources, is the phrase, "Get over the race card, liberals, it's not the sixties".

Ironically, race as an issue hasn't changed since the sixties, minority populations are still at the bottom rung when it comes to education, income, location, professions, access to medical care, housing and just about any census statistic recorded.

Yes, race remains an issue.

Most prominently is the fact minorities are fast becoming the majority in the United States overwhelming the white population with their numbers and a new world order will emerge, whether whites like it or not.

The vested interests in our racist society in maintaining the current status quo no longer sneaks into policy, economics, civil and criminal law. It is obvious and blatant.

President Obama's election as first black President of the Unites States cannot be downplayed.

It is here. We deal with the ramifications of the repressed racist feelings of a nation, who for the past fifty years, pretended it wasn't an issue, all the while, ignoring the ongoing statistics of repression.

The media , while it believes it is ramping up ratings, is recording history, our history, of once again, trying to avoid the label of racist by calling our country's anger, "tea parties, tax protesters, etc."

Since when did this country worry about the national debt? Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a white President spent vast amounts of money pulling the United States out of a serious depression.

The protests of the 2000's are about race.

This is not a "liberal, white, issue". This is a "white, racist" issue, channeled as a weak excuse of protest by a large population of very angry racist Americans.

What is surprising is the vastness of this population in America.

Work and the Diminutiveness of Aging

Diminutive. It is the word that rolled around in my mind today as I was at work. The diminutiveness of my soul, or so it felt. Working in a job which I did 25 years ago for about the same pay. A women- the same age, 56, stopped by my desk and proceeded to tell me how important it was to wear makeup and always dress nice, even at Publix. Because age discredits us-whether we are competent or not-especially if we are competent-because our appearance is now the judging factor-and looking older is a mark against us-so always wear make up and nice clothes-never step out in sweats, or casual clothes. Look professional. Even at Wal Mart.

I ponder that advice. After having worked many years for both Masters degrees, running an agency, well actually more than one, and returning to school at age 39 to get a teaching degree in elementary education.

I consider how simple the judgement is made by looking at the wrinkles on my face, and the stoutness gained in my fifties. It seems the stereotypes offered to me are the Helen Gurley Brown, death mask of botox or the grandma wrinkles, which might make me employable at a daycare.

I observe the age old process of reinventing the wheel, and considering it new-something which occurs -an evolutionary process, repeating over and over again. The bright young minds with the new suggestions which have already been suggested, and yes, they are good suggestions, and for some reason over the past fifty years, someone considers these same ideas, not good. So often not tried.

My silence allows me to watch the assumptions of younger adults-those assumptions considering me old and out of ideas. I have learned, by presenting these ideas, it is the younger adults very youthful immaturity which replies back, the need to be competitive rather than evaluate what is best for clients.

A simple truth about is aging is yes, often, the judgement of younger days dissipates, what is left is the puzzle of what is best for the client. how can whatever program structure is on the table, best serve them. No ego. No threat. No territory to conquer.

Just focus.

Not looking for a better way to reinvent the wheel. Just want to make sure all possible methods have been exhausted of fitting it, before throwing in the towel, and once again, moving through the same repetitive evolutionary process, using new buzz words.

My face, my body, my words, often my expressions, which aren't hip, rob me of deep conversations with younger staff, unless I can engage them individually. I find most people fascinating-how they think, feel-how they got that way. What makes them tick.

My listening without interrupting, my silence, my patience are also what dates me as an older person.

All those skills which are so needed in our society of text messages, voice mail and e-mails. Real time. Real listening. Expression. Interest.

All age me in a society which values time more than intimacy, expediency over detail and judgement over compassion.

Racism In Denial-Is Destroying Our Country

Racism ramps up anger.

The fact President Obama is a black male appears to have lit a fuse to those who aren't so openly racist. The polarization of our nation has little to do with the issues.

In fact, citizens are so angry they have replaced white hoods with tea party signs, fighting universal health care insurance, which, much like medicare, would benefit every person in our nation, rich or poor.

Placards about taxes, which haven't changed for the middle class and poor, in fact, have been lowered, are actually protested.

It seems, any issue the Obama administration has addressed, be in credit, finance and bank reform, stimulating the economy, has been met with, not a majority of protest, but loud, racist, anitreligious , untruthful falsehoods and accusations.

Our history as slave owners, our violent protests to disallow integration, our subtle yet effective methods of maintaining high unemployment rates for black men and woman, our laws and lack of enforcing them have maintained our black citizens at the poverty levels, in the poorest schools living in the poorest neighborhoods .This does not seem to be at the forefront of issues for those who protest President Obama's administration.

In fact, racism in our country seems to have been given a free pass with President Obama in the White House.

Racism in denial, a dangerous form of racism, in which an individual will vehemently deny feelings or actions of bias and racism, yet feeling an uncontrollable rage and passion towards this administration, fighting against ghosts-such as the "Muslim issue, the birth certificate, the socialist and fascist accusations-are not only unreasonable and factually incorrect, but from an outside observation, appear to have created an insanity inside out country, one of absolute craziness and danger.

The fifties and sixties are still remembered by many of us. The dogs, the tear gas, the billy clubs.

Watching old films of black men and women walking in protest, beaten by the very people hired to protect them, living in the era, and watching the death of Martin Luther King, watching many cities burn, a violent era of fighting for the very rights each citizen is promised in our country.

Now I watch as we step backwards, calling the country's racism, "tea parties", goaded by a " anit-scrupulous" media- goading, the unease and that racism of denial, we head toward a disaster bigger than any issue our country debates.

As civilized countries around the world watched, amazed, the United States, as a superpower, is -no longer a stable neighbor.

We are quickly becoming, a gigantic threat, unstable, bizarre, blatantly corrupt, blatantly racist, and willing to destroy our own Constitution and form of government,.

Why? Because those in our country who cannot or will not deal with their anger and racism, divert that energy -many in great denial -would rather destroy our country than support a black man as our President.

Vero Beach town of 17,000 bans Presidents speech

Indian River schools alone on Treasure Coast in not allowing schools to air Obama's live address to students

Little Vero Beach, town of 17,000, home to Indian River County School district, decided to ban President Obama's speech -denying school children the ability to hear and discuss the speech in the classroom.

Superintendent Harry LaCava claims the speech needed to be censored prior to airing, thus the live broadcast would not be available to students.

This decision created an uproar amongst the conservative citizens of Vero Beach, delighted and welcoming censorship. Many racist and ugly comments printed in the TC Palm regarding President and the democratic party are available for your reading pleasure. (if you must know, this little town has a white population of 89%, divvy the remaining 11% between Hispanics, Blacks and Asians and you have a pretty good picture of the political; leanings of this little southern town, in which only 8% of business is owned by individuals of Black, Hispanic or Asian descent.

Interestingly enough, the level of poverty in Indian River County? 10.9 %. Gee, that just about matches the minority population of the county, doesn't it?

Many citizens believe a twelve minute stretch of the speech was omitted by President Obama after he was asked to provide the speech to the school districts in the nation. They believe this conspiracy, (the missing 12 minutes) must be the hidden messages President Obama intended for their children...

One of the few districts in the state of Florida to refuse to run a Presidential speech in the schools, little Vero Beach can be real proud of that dirty underwear flappin in the wind- showing the entire nation that even a little, "A" school district by AYP government standards, can still proudly display the adults' ignorance, racism and disrespect to the highest elected official in our country-to school children across the nation.

Be proud, Indian River county-hang in there and perhaps you can succeed with Texas and be your own third world country!

USA-The Unites States of Anger

Democracy is the abiity to express our own personal beliefs.

Democracy is not the freedom to assault others because we disagree with theirs.

Author: Constance Hays

Labor Day requiem-a generation of ignorance

Certain holidays are for old people, according to US citizens. Memorial Day, Labor Day and Veteran's Day are some of these.

Otherwise, for the rest of the nation, these are, "just another three days weekend" type holidays.

Now I am not a zealous patriot. I don't say this as some braggadaccio-honestly, I am not on that bandwagon. Yet I have become increasingly aware that even my little bit of patriotism to the ideals of this country are huge compared to the majority of my fellow citizens.

Labor Day was once an important holiday -a recognition of those who fought to end child labor, who stood and fought rich and greedy corporations and scions of wealth abusing the earnest labor of the working indiviudal.

Corporations did this in collusion with laws, law enforcement and even our own government.

Beating and arresting workers, killing ringleaders, threatening families, locking out workers and hiring "scabs", the labor unions fought for fair wages, reasonable hours and reasonable work expectations.

Now we have a nation which hates the unions. Considers them some kind of scam on the workers.

Or we have unions which really represent the coporations.

Fools. We are fast becoming a nation of fools.

Tea parties. Refusing to ensure all citizens have health insurance.

Screaming about the government's lack of response to the 13% unemployment levels across the country. Yet all the while blaming the government, refusing to take responsibility for the fact it took the citizens of the nation to get where we are today. Remember, that government of the past eight years? WE voted for it. Twice.

Millions of dollars entrusted to corporate individuals in the name of states, which continue to pocket the money and say, "Sorry, no jobs."

Ronald Reagan destroyed the air traffic controllers union. They went on strike in the 80's concerned over the lack of safety in the skies. Deregulated airlines. Unsafe practices. The liability of being responsible for too much airspace per controller.

Our citizens said, "yeah, way to go Reagan, don't let those unions control our "right to work". Free enterprise. Yeah!

Fools. Ignorant. silly, spoiled citizens of the United States-forgot the origin of your roots-haven't you?

All those "fascists"-those democratic socialists? They were the ones who passed regulations to ensure your food was safe, your medication and medical treatments were regulated to save your life, housing was available to anyone regardless of color, religion or sex.

Those "fascists" were the ones who made sure you had the right to vote- women, and your children didn't work sixteen hour days in a sweat shop, owned by your landlord, who maintained your entire fanily as indentured servants.

Labor unions provided people of color and without the silver spoon a chance at a middle class lifestyle. Look at Detroit in the fifties and sixties. People could afford houses. Automobiles.

Roosevelt,, branded a "socialist" (according to todays ignorant and spoiled citizens) created jobs, began social security and provided benefits for widows with children.

Today, as you are in the middle of your "just another three day weekend", look back at the past twenty years of "Republican rule", the ones you feels so very strongly represented you in this nation, and ask yourself, "How did we get to this point in our nation- No jobs, no health insurance, unemployment exhausted, losing homes, living with friends, no hope-

and then ask yourself,

Did those nice deregulated corporations, banks, Wall street, tax breaks to the rich, and the totally decimated labor unions, trade agreements with Mexico and other third world countries your tea parties and "no new taxes" make this country a better place?

How long has it been since you had a raise? A job? Did you lose your "401K" that those "non fascists" told you would be better than a retirement program required by your place of business?

I celebrate Labor Day because I honor those that fought for a standard of life we might all achieve through fair and equal labor laws.

As I watch all of it go down the toilet because a generation of ignorant and spoiled citizens who rarely suffered a day in their lives thinks if they throw temper tantrums, blame
"socialist, fascist" governments (for trying to balance the scales gain, -they don't even get that) believe our country will be free again.

I am sick of you.

We parents made grave errors in child rearing these past twenty five or thirty years. We did not allow our children to suffer.

Not allowing our children to suffer cheated them. Cheated them of the understanding that responsibility and restraint, compassion and loyalty, fairness and justice, are qualities we must practice to ensure the continuation of a strong and equal nation of citizens.

They just don't get that.