![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WHAT A WEEK IT WAS IN OUR U.S.A
Jun. 27th, 2015 11:30 am1.) A senseless murder of nine innocents in a church in the south incites a huge outrage about the Confederate Battle Flag. First it starts out being about why this flag is being flown on government property - then it escalates into what seems like a call to erase all memory of Confederate leaders, flags, etc. from existence. To be honest, this is kind of par for the course in our country - but I am really noticing it because I find myself on the "unpopular" side of the rage. I don't have any reason whatsoever to defend the Confederate Flag or the flying of it. I don't actually condone flying the Confederate flag on government property - but I think it should be up to the citizens of Charleston or state of South Carolina to decide. I've spent a lot of time really digging down and thinking about why I am not feeling the rage and indignation that so many others are. I'm not from the south - I don't even have southern roots (except that I like country music). My niece Jerrica and I batted this around a little - and she helped me sort it out a little. I think I tend to kind of romanticize or get too touchy feely regarding the Civil War based on books I've read and movies I've seen. Here is an example - Cold Mountain. I am seeing my bias, but my ignorance isn't allowing me to feel the outrage others are feeling. I'm going to continue to think about this, and I'm going to try and follow the debate with an open mind. Maybe my views will bend a little. (as a side note - I can't help wondering if the NRA cooked up this major uproar to keep the debate off of gun control legislation.....)
2.) The Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate on the Affordable Care Act. Wow, this really has the anti-Obama people frothing at the mouth. I started out being extremely pro ACA; however, my feelings have changed over the past couple of years due to how the law is being executed. I hope things will improve as time goes by. Right now, if you are working poor - you get screwed with this legislation. I see the law as giving the insurance companies the ability to screw you over big time. How I know this is that it happened to me. I dropped my coverage I was paying $400 a month for because I could not find a single doctor in my location that would take my coverage. I will try again next year. I would much prefer Medicare for all if we are all going to be required to participate.
3.) The Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage will be legal in all states. The religious conservatives are beside themselves, and the rest of us are doing cartwheels. It's sad that the decision was 5-4. I was glad that the women on the court voted for Love. I'm so proud of our lady justices. I was appalled that Justice Thomas voted against considering he is an African American and well understands the horror of discrimination. I can't stand that dude anyway - he is always just sitting there like a bump on a log.
Fareed Zakaria on Healthcare
Mar. 25th, 2010 06:36 pmhttp://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/25/zakaria.health.bill.danger/index.html?hpt=T1
Why Are We Afraid To Tax The Super-Rich?
Mar. 25th, 2010 09:21 amEnlightening article posted by a Facebook friend.
Why Are We Afraid To Tax The Super-Rich?
I wonder if any sociologists are studying this because to me it is bizarre and a little scary. I don't know what to make of it, but I'd really like to understand it.
I decided to brainstorm possibilities:
* Could it be racism - are people exploding with emotion because they are subconsciously racists and must come up with anything they can think of nasty to say about him (save the "N" word).
* Could these (I assume) conservative people have snapped because they feel so powerless given the liberals ha(d) a super majority and the ability to pass anything they want if they had a mind to (which, apparently they don't have a mind to)
* Could they be acting out so extremely because an administration is in power that believes almost the polar opposite of what they do?
I'd like to have a conversation with some of these people to find out what is motivating their ugliness, but I feel it would be impossible to get them to simmer down enough to allow themselves to really get to the heart of their anger - or be able to express themselves without the raw emotion getting in the way of communication.
or am I just over-reacting....... maybe I'm seeing hostility and hatred where there is none.
Thoughts?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!
I am sending this to virtually all my close friends and that includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. The proposal is to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2009." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I know many of you will say, "this is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes.. Please add any ideas on how to get this done.
Thanks,
A Fellow American
***********************************
Congressional Reform Act of 2009
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans..
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people..
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/10.
The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
HealthCare & Politics
Aug. 30th, 2009 11:10 amI'm currently sick and tired of the venom spewing out of the mouths of the Fox News watching so called "conservative" morons over this Healthcare issue.
They go on and on about socialism, death panels, taking care of the illegals (the horror!), and Hitler (did Hitler have a health care plan? I missed that section in history class) - but not one is yelling out an alternative to what they disagree with.
Honestly - I think a healthy percentage of them are just Obama Haters who don't want the democrats to win the kind of huge victory that implementing Healthcare Reform would bring. I don't think they will be satisfied with ANY VERSION of Healthcare Reform (unless Fox News endorses it first - which would be when hell freezes over)
Just sayin......
Another Convert!!
Apr. 28th, 2009 11:56 amI'm not to proud to admit that when I first glanced at the headline I thought they were talking about Phil Spector, and I'm like WTF? I didn't even know he was a republican..... (apparently while I slept last night I lost another couple of thousand brain cells to old age)
Inauguration Day
Jan. 20th, 2009 11:51 am(can I get a WITNESS??!) :-)
(they should have put YoYoMa on first - and then Aretha could wake everyone up)
I was able to watch a half hour of pre-inauguration coverage as well as the swearing in of Biden and Obama - then I had to race to get to work on time.
I smiled when (eta: the Chief Justice made) Obama mess up the wording - - poor guy, he had to be a complete nervous wreck.
I'm taping the rest at home while I'm working.
* Someone please tell my why THIS SONG isn't a hit? I couldn't even buy the download at iTunes because they don't even know this group (you can download it free from Last.FM though).
* I got to work and pulled up next to an SUV with a homemade bumper sticker scotch taped to their back window saying
"LIBERALS: FRENCH FOR COWARDS" This is what I have to deal with........
* Tomorrow I go to the dentist. I'd like to do something else to make it a day, but I better get back home and get some stuff done.
* and finally - - borrowed from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
madamealexis - when I saw this they heard me laughing in Austin
Election Memories
Nov. 4th, 2008 09:20 amI remember when Mcgovern ran against Nixon in 1972. I was 9 years old, but I remember not agreeing that McGovern was such a bad fellow. My parents were very strong Republicans (well, my father - my mother just follows his lead) :-)
I also watched into the night when Jimmy Carter won the presidency. I remember being frustrated that I wasn't old enough to vote. I liked him very much; I'm sorry he isn't remembered so well as a good president.
I voted for the first time for Bush Senior only because Dukakis creeped me out.
I haven't voted for a Bush since.
On October 30th I voted for Change. :-)
Race (thank you minemouse)
Oct. 10th, 2008 03:44 pmThis is worth watching. After seeing ![[info]](https://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
joebanks video post about the mob at the McCain rally - it was nice to see this one right behind it posted by minemouse. The world is a very intense place right now. I sometimes just want to protect myself with a magical cape of love & kindness (pink with satin lining please) :-)
(no subject)
Oct. 8th, 2008 09:41 pm45 minutes 129 Avg hbpm (W00t!) 373 Cal/Burned Podcast: Daily Buddhism Episodes 19 & 20
It was slightly chilly this morning. I woke up in the middle of the night to turn off my window fan and put some jammies on. I'm going to have to rethink walking attire.
Debate last night.
I think Obama's performance was better for undecided voters - though he wasn't on fire.
McCain says businesses WANT to do the right thing by their employees by providing them with the best coverage.
I don't agree that all do - or that most do. Businesses have become greedy profit making monsters who generally begrudgingly offer benefits, and they will try and get away with as little as possible.
Furthermore, the lower income folks with less education and job skills get stuck with the crappiest of employers who are the worst offenders.
.....and McCain is a condescending ass (I'm just sayin')
Today didn't go exactly as expected; however, I refuse to focus on the negatives. Here are the positives:
* I had an appointment this morning with my new Optomitrist Dr. Patel convinced me to give a certain kind of contact lens a try. I'd sworn off them because I can't read ANYTHING with contacts in which means I have to wear reading glasses practically 24/7 - defeating the purpose. I was skeptical, but when he explained to me how the lenses work - I got excited to give them a go (sucker for any new hi-tech thingamajig). Wow! - they rock, I bet they are expensive. I'm wearing them for a week - then will see if I need to adjust the perscription etc.
* I got my hair cut.
* I listened to an outstanding dharma talk courtesy of
walksbeauty just the medicine I needed with the current political and economic stuff going on.Too Funny Not To Post
Sep. 17th, 2008 12:03 amThanks for posting it
illogicalduck 
