"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.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
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.
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
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...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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"
.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
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.
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