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.