Nevadans acting like crowded rats in a cage...

Like overcrowded rats in a cage, Nevada citizens

have begun to eat their own....

It occurred to me this morning as I read the rampant ravings of the RJ editor-there is nothing like stirring up the little people, pitting them against one another-to take the focus off the REAL

problem-

big business, banks, huge corporations yelling uncle and taking no responsibility for the shape of our country, state and local losses.

What a goldmine for them! Eliminate senior employees, outsource more work to cheap labor in other countries-hold back credit to the little businesses, ideally forcing them into bankruptcy and leaving a conglomerate of large monopolies to control the economy.

Until now, the money kept flowing -NPR reports Chase Bank CEO demanded a 10 million dollar bonus in December for "cobbling the deal with B of A-his TOILET in his office, cost 35,000.00

Employees are asked to take cuts, freeze pay, accept retirement losses and eliminations, endure layoffs and hit the unemployment office.

What is wrong with this picture?

The little people (workers) are eating each other up, pointing fingers, calling state workers greedy and unpatriotic, attacking one another in community forums-

While the elite continue to eat cake...

This has to stop.

As long as we are willing to kill one another over a few thousand dollars, and repeat the mantra, "Be glad you have a job"

We will continue to the idiots we have been acting like for the past eight years.

Stop it.

Think.

Hold those banks and corporations accountable.

Forget the letter writing campaign and the sit ins.

QUIT DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM.

Pull your money out of banks that deal with B of A and Chase and put it into credit unions,

boycott the very banks that hold your money and won't share it.

We have power collectively.

None divided.

Gov. Gibbons finds a way to starve poor people

I work with a little boy who has a rare medical condition and leaves his home for medical appointments only. His education consists of five hours per week-per school law-in home teaching.
He actually receives a great deal more because his mom is a fantastic teacher. He is a bright, creative student and it is a joy for me, as a teacher to be a part of his learning.

Because of his medical condition Mom cannot get a job.
Oh, she could, if she could afford to pay for nursing care for her son. The cost of care is prohibitive.

Yesterday my little student fell asleep as I was packing up my gear and mom told me the state cut her food stamps.
She used to receive 445.00 a month for food. They cut her stamps to 270.00 a month.
The food stamps they use to eat with does not cover such things as toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo , tampons, cleaning supplies or any other non food items. She must purchase this out of her "own" money. Which is zero.

This is how the state of Nevada cut her food stamps.
Income was considered at a rate of 450.00 per month. If she made more than 450.00 per month it affected the rate of her food stamp allotment.
They live on a small allotment of 450.00 per month from disability. This is supposed to cover housing and utilities.
The state of Nevada recently changed the income level and reduced it to 250.00
This means anything over 250.00 is considered excess and food stamps can be cut.

She is now considered over the limit because the disability check is 450.00 per month.

It is unconscionable to expect a family of two to live on a grocery budget of a little over 50 dollars over week.
"Oh, you say, let them eat ramen noodles, like everyone else." We are talking about a child with a serious medical condition. 50.00 a week doesn't exactly cover the food pyramid, does it??

Gibbons government cut their food budget by almost half in less than three weeks.

This is the reality of the state of Nevada.

While we quibble over "no new taxes" and "cut education", gold mines, businesses and other profit making entities in our state have no obligation to the little boy I see five hours a week.
In fact, he is an anonymous face to them, one who doesn't exist as they rake in their profits.

Shame on you, Gibbons, and shame on Nevada. These cuts are taking place on the backs of the poorest and the most vulnerable of our state citizens.

The future isn't about our adult selfish sides. You know, the ones who overspent, refinanced the equity in homes so they could buy an SUV or a new jet ski, pay down that credit card used to buy Ferragamo shoes and Dooney and Burke purses?

The last time I had to decide how to budget 50.00 a week for groceries was in 1978, when I was a student in college and my son was five years old. Even then we ate a lot of macaroni and (fake)cheese.
When you talk about tightening your belts you don't talk about living on less than 700.00 per month for rent, utilities, food and necessities.So you are on unemployment? You still receive more than this family of two receives.

The very sad fact is they have no choice. The future for them, with his medical needs, doesn't change. They are at the mercy of our decisions.

Gov Gibbons, how about giving your six percent cut to this family?
Maybe this little boy can have some fresh fruit in his diet.