Hot Springs Politics

2014-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

Letter to the Editor

February 6, 2014

Every time I watch a 'news' show or listen to the pundits debate the worth or value of increasing the minimum wage, it seems to me that from the corporate side, their defense AGAINST it is that it will raise prices. Every time it is suggested that remediation or mitigation be included in the price of development of any resource whether it be oil, gas or coal, we get the same response, it will raise prices.
The sacrosanct message is that ALL PROFITS are to remain at the same outrageous extreme level they achieved through wage suppression and environmental irresponsibility. No matter what anyone says to the contrary, their message remains the same, profits must remain as they are now. No taxes, no sharing of the wealth, no responsibility to the country or states being exploited.
Am I the only one hearing this? I don't hear anyone challenging them on the profiteering that is taking the WORLD down the rathole.

2013-12-02T23:44:00.000-08:00

The Law 1994

Welfare Reform

I went to the Library of Congress to research what the law says exactly about working and drawing welfare. I remember when the laws were changed, Clinton was president and drew wild accolades from the right for instituting the new maximum and minimum requirements to draw welfare. No more sitting on your lazy ass taking care of your kids, no, you had to pay someone else to do that so you could go to work and earn less than the babysitter.

Herewith are the laws as copied directly from the registry. You are welcome to go read them in all their details if you are so inclined. It took several hours for me to locate these so 'you're welcome'.

I have included some child support laws because I don't think many women know the courts are supposed to see that you receive your due from the father of your children.

H.R.5252
10/31/1994 Became Public Law No: 103-432.
(see below)

SEC. 232. MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING OF WELFARE RECEIPT.

(a) CONGRESSIONAL POLICY- The Congress hereby declares that--

(1) it is the policy and responsibility of the Federal Government to reduce the rate at which and the degree to which families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt, consistent with other essential national goals;

(2) it is the policy of the United States to strengthen families, to ensure that children grow up in families that are economically self-sufficient and that the life prospects of children are improved, and to underscore the responsibility of parents to support their children;

(3) the Federal Government should help welfare recipients as well as individuals at risk of welfare receipt to improve their education and job skills, to obtain child care and other necessary support services, and to take such other steps as may be necessary to assist them to become financially independent; and

(4) it is the purpose of this section to provide the public with generally accepted measures of welfare receipt so that it can track such receipt over time and determine whether progress is being made in reducing the rate at which and, to the extent feasible, the degree to which, families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt.

(b) DEVELOPMENT OF WELFARE INDICATORS AND PREDICTORS- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the `Secretary') in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture shall--

(1) develop--

(A) indicators of the rate at which and, to the extent feasible, the degree to which, families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt; and

(B) predictors of welfare receipt;

(2) assess the data needed to report annually on the indicators and predictors, including the ability of existing data collection efforts to provide such data and any additional data collection needs; and

(3) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, provide an interim report containing conclusions resulting from the development and assessment described in paragraphs (1) and (2), to--

(A) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;

(B) the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives;

(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;

(E) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;

(F) the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate; and

(G) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

===========================================================================================
S.1795
Latest Title: Welfare Reform Act of 1994

Welfare Reform Act of 1994 - Title I: Applicant Job Search, Voucher Program, Transition and Work Program, Etc. - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require State AFDC plans to require AFDC applicants to search for a job while their application for AFDC is being processed; (2) make reimbursable job search expenses for transportation and child care; and (3) require the State to have in effect an employment voucher program under which eligible individuals receiving AFDC or food stamps shall receive vouchers in lieu of such benefits after they have obtained employment with a qualified employer.

(Sec. 103) Amends SSA title IV part F (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program) (JOBS) to require State JOBS programs to include specified transition and work supplementation components.

AND in THIS CORNER WE HAVE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(Sec. 602) Directs the HHS Secretary to make welfare block grants to the States for aid to low-income households. Prohibits the use of such funds for abortions or for any counseling related to abortion. Sets forth general work, job search, and training requirements for aid recipients, as well as certain participation requirements for States. Denies cash or direct food assistance to young unwed parents as under title II of this Act, or to noncitizens, fugitive felons, or probation or parole violators.
AND THEN WE HAVE >>>>>

H.R.4512
Latest Title: Welfare to Work Act of 1994
Sponsor: Rep Gejdenson, Sam [CT-2] (introduced 5/26/1994) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 5/26/1994 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY AS OF:
5/26/1994--Introduced.

Welfare to Work Act of 1994 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable credit for the hiring of qualified former recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) under title IV of the Social Security Act.

Prohibits replacing existing workers in order to obtain such credit.

=========================================================================================
S.1668

(Sec. 332) Welfare Indicators Act of 1993

Declares certain policies of the United States, among them: (1) reducing the rate at and the degree to which families depend on welfare and its duration; (2) strengthening families; (3) improving the education and job skills of welfare recipients and individuals at risk of welfare receipt; and (4) providing the public with generally accepted measures of welfare receipt so that it can track it over time and determine whether progress is being made in reducing family dependency on welfare.

===========================================================================================

SB 86

1/21/1993

Prohibits employment of any individual under age 18 who is not a high school graduate unless the employer has in effect a certificate for such employment issued annually with the approval of the minor's parents and appropriate local school officials. Requires employers to notify the State agency when they employ a minor.

Requires employers of minors who in the the course of employment suffer death or injury resulting in lost work time of more than three days to provide the State agency with a written description of the death or injury within days after its occurrence.

Directs the Secretary to find and declare as particularly hazardous for employment of children between the ages of 16 and 18 the following occupations (among others): (1) poultry processing; (2) fish and seafood processing; and (3) pesticide handling.

Sets forth child labor protections relating to migrant or seasonal agricultural labor. Prohibits under the definition of oppressive child labor, employing any person under the age of 14 in agriculture, except where the child's parent owns or operates the farm.

=========================================================================================
H.R.2048
Latest Title: Citizens Election Campaign Reform Act
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Nancy L. [CT-6] (introduced 5/10/1993) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 5/10/1993 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY AS OF:
5/10/1993--Introduced.

Citizens Election Campaign Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce the amount that multicandidate political committees (PACs) may contribute to candidates and their authorized political committees.

Prohibits a candidate for the House of Representatives from accepting contributions: (1) from persons other than individual residents of the State in which the election is held; and (2) from outside the congressional district involved that are in excess of the contributions accepted from inside that district.

Entitles nonincumbent candidates for the House of Representatives to free bulk rate postage for two mass mailings to residents of the congressional district involved.

=========================================================================================

HR 2790

HR 5252

passed into law 10/31/1994 Public Law No: 103-432

(Sec. 499CC) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) children should have a consistent source of income to meet their education and medical needs; (2) the provision of public assistance to a custodial parent for the support of a child with respect to whom the noncustodial parent owes child support does not absolve the latter of the obligation to provide such support; (3) the States must continue to vigorously pursue efforts to establish parentage and establish and enforce child support obligations; and (4) OCSE should develop a mechanism to publicize the best State practices in child support.

===========================================++++++++++++++++++++++++=======================

H.R. 4767
related bill H.R. 5252

(Sec. 247) Requires States to: (1) ensure cost-of-living adjustments for child support awards; (2) establish a simplified process for review and adjustment of certain child support orders; and (3) ensure that the State does not provide to any noncustodial parent representation relating to review or adjustment of a child support order, unless the State makes such provision outside the State agency.

2013-11-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Letter to Senator Boozman

November 12, 2013

Dear Senator,
You keep sending me the same response without any concrete cures for what you say ails our country, to quote:
"...

I think the best way to do that is by allowing families to keep more of their income, invest in the infrastructure of our country, and create lasting jobs.
..."
What families are you referring to? The top 1% or the poor that aren't paid a living wage by companies like Walmart or McDonald's? When President Obama put forth a recommendation to increase the amount of spending for rebuilding our infrastructure you voted NO. You have voted against every effort to increase the pay and the better paying jobs for all Americans in favor of kissing up to the corporations that currently are running Washington. You refuse to even return the tax level to pre Reagan levels when our country was seeing the greatest economic growth in its history.
Deficit! That's a boondoggle and you know it. Get your facts straight before you send me your 'canned' ignorant misinformed claptrap.

I signed with the usual name attached on his website.

My problem, I believe, is I expect a straight answer when I ask a question. Giving me sound bites and spin is not what these guys were sent to Washington to deliver. I hope everyone writes these guys and reads them the riot act about this kind of stuff being passed off as 'information'.

2013-10-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

Medicare

Fucked and sold out

I decided to change my Medicare supplement because the one I had with, Coventry, was misrepresented to me and there was nothing I could do until the plan year change occurred. That was October 5, 2013.

I received as did many of my constituents the usual booklet identifying all the programs offered, costs and benefits for each. What a crock of shit.

When I enrolled 5 years ago I received in the mail 2 BOOKS listing every option available to me and what the separate costs were for each. I admit I had a time wading through the wherefores and why-nots but I eventually settled on a supplement that fit my budget and lifestyle. I decided after a year I would try another because I wasn't that satisfied with the handling of any of my bills, etc.

Last year I received 1 BOOK. It had less information but since someone was offering a 'free' seminar with lunch to learn about a particular supplement, I thought "What the hell" I can always use a 'free' meal.

I was told I would get the same services with a few exceptions as my previous supplement such as instead of a 'paid' membership in Silver Sneakers I would receive a check for the amount and I could join any gym I wanted to.

AFTER I became a member I was told the amount I would receive was in the amount of $250. That barely covered 3 months at the Y. I was pissed. I now had to wait another year before I could change companies AGAIN!

This year, looking forward to having the necessary information in hand I could now, after so many fuck ups, really pick a service that gave me what I wanted. WRONG!

This book listed companies (fewer than before), same telephone number for different plans under the separate companies and no information.

I called the numbers of Humana and Windsor (they were the only ones that I felt I could afford without giving my right arm or leg plus my oldest child). I requested more information, please. ( See, I can be polite) Humana said I had to make an appointment with a representative to show me their plans. WHAT? When did I get senile?

I fired off emails to both President Obama and Senator Mark Pryor. complaining about having to be 'spoon fed' what I was clearly cogent enough to decide without a 'goon' from an insurance company invading my privacy trying to sell me something I could surely decide for myself whether I wanted to buy their program or not.

I let the representative come over from Humana. Nice guy, but you know what nice guys are, a pain in the ass when they don't know shit.

Long story short, I bought from him another policy that he said I should not tell Humana he had discussed with me since it was my appointment with him that I had made through Humana. See what I mean? Bull fucking shit.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I get from Windsor (the company I went with because I was assured they offered Silver Sneakers in their plan). (You still with me or have you gone to sleep yet?)

The brochure I got in the mail from Windsor showed a 'cheaper' policy that had no monthly premium included (in other words $0 out of pocket after Medicare which is paid for). I called and got this really nice lady on the line that told me "Oh, yes, Silver Sneakers comes with the plan but I would receive a BALL, some instructions twice a year on how to use the fucking (my term) ball." WHAT? Now this is when I REALLY went ballistic. I explained in no uncertain terms that I was on a first name basis with our Attorney General in Arkansas and that I had received information from the State of Arkansas about FRAUD from SHIIP and that my next phone call was going to be to Dustin McDaniel and I hung up.

I thought for the benefit of staying out of jail I had better call a friend and unload on her which I did. Before I could call Dustin, my phone rang and it was the same 'nice lady' but this time she wouldn't let sugar melt in her mouth. She was terribly sorry about the misunderstanding. Yes, Silver Sneakers did include membership in the Y. Yes, I could change policies but I would need to reapply over the phone to get the cheaper plan.

That sounded like a winner. hahahahaha (laughing hysterically)

I called the number she gave me and this time this lady hadn't been threatened with Dustin so she could really care less whether I was a happy camper or not. I got hung up on.

I redialed, got a different indifferent agent and explained what I wanted. Now just for the record, I don't make a lot of money on Social Security so the state of Arkansas is kind enough to underwrite my prescription medications (of which I don't use any unless my dog scratches me and I get an infection or a tick bites me giving me possibly Lyme's disease).

The policy that I was asking to join does not have prescription coverage. I explained that it didn't matter, the state paid for my prescriptions and all I had to do was show a letter to the pharmacy to that effect. She was very insistent that the state would no longer cover my prescriptions if I didn't have a prescription policy. WHAT THE FUCK? Having gotten nowhere and my voice rising not by notes but by octaves, I decided it would be in my and her best interest if I called the state, clarified exactly what it was I was getting from them and hung up.

I called the state and was informed the lines were so long please leave a message, a short description of the information requested (by now I'm a pillar of self-control) and a number to call back, someone would get back to me as soon as my call came up.

So here I am trying to be a 'normal' person dealing with a bureaucracy gone berserk and not enough money to get so damn drunk I won't give a shit.

Any ideas? I'm open to any suggestions at this point.

2013-10-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor

October 30, 2013

Dear Editor,
Watching my country sink into the quagmire of self-delusion and exceptionalism is (there are so many emotions it's hard to identify the strongest) breaking my heart, causing extreme anguish or just pissing me off. All these people pretending to be 'patriots' while seeing who they can cheat, lie or steal from the most in order to feather their own nest or further their own agenda are deluding themselves,
Michelle Bachmann is a case in point. She has been pushing to remove the minimum wage law as, according to her, "it would solve the unemployment problem by putting EVERYONE to work."
First off, let's just give her the benefit of the doubt and 'believe' her heart's in the right place. Who will benefit from 'free' labor? Oh yeah, the ELITE. Now let's get to the niddy griddy. She is a "WANNABE" elite. Sucking up (in my commoner vernacular) is a fool's game. The ELITE will never accept her into the 1% because she doesn't MAKE ENOUGH.
Then we have our 'fearless' leaders in Congress. All are or are near multi-millionaires in their own right. Still their aspirations are NOT to improve Our (by "our" I mean people that don't have lobbyists beating a path to their door) lot in life but to ensure that they can rub elbows with the ELITE as long as they can breathe that rarefied air. Trips to Scotland with their wives and family or sailing on some multi-million dollar yacht in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean bouncing from Greek island to Monaco free of charge is so hard to give up when it's just the people of America who are going hungry or have no future other than minimum wage jobs with health care that their employers are screaming about being 'too expensive'.
The banks that bamboozled the 'Middle Class' into 'joining' the great American Dream by buying their OWN home lied, cheated and committed fraud in order to get them to sign on the dotted line taking away their dreams, their retirement and their future. What happened to them? NOTHING! Bank of America is fined a whopping $9 million dollars which is chicken feed compared to what they screwed the general public out of. Anyone going to jail? Not at this date. Anybody get their homes back that were cheated by BOA? No one that I've heard of.
Is this the America I grew up in? No. Is this the America I want anybody to grow up in? NO!
I am saddened beyond belief that more people aren't going to the streets and demanding that we be the democracy that we sent our youth to Iraq and Afghanistan to die for.
What a waste of energy. What a waste of humanity. What a waste of money, not just tax dollars but salaries not increased because 'we can't afford the cost of paying more'.
McDonald's management gets to buy a new jet to fly around the country in while their employees ask for food stamps that our Republican Congress people want to deny because we are becoming a 'welfare state' if WIC and SNAP are subsidized under the Farm bill which will give billions to mega farms for growing NOTHING!
Are you mad? I am. Are you disappointed in the people you sent to Congress? I hope so.

Judy Ladd
XXXXXXXXXX

2013-10-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor

October 23, 2013

It’s interesting to note the demands people are putting on large corporations to start paying a living wage. Just what is that and what is the consequence of NOT paying a living wage.

First of all, it is described as the minimum wage to keep a person out of poverty working a straight 40 hour week. This will vary regionally. It costs more to live in California than say, Arkansas.

What happens when people are forced to work at below the poverty line? ‘Forced’ sounds pretty harsh but anytime someone needs work to put food on the table or a roof over their heads and the only jobs available are below the poverty line in earnings, it is ‘forced’ labor. Paying substantially less than what it takes to keep body and soul alive is dehumanizing and borders on ‘enslavement’. As they say, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Slavery by any other name is still slavery.

These large corporations are getting a ‘free’ ride in our society because they have convinced their representatives locally and nationally, that it is in society’s best interests if they DON”T pay any taxes. The burden then falls on the worker bees that they aren’t paying a living wage. Public services are cut to help the impoverished (low wage earners) or to supply necessary safety services such as fire support, police support or ambulance support to those who stay behind from choice or lack of ability to leave. No income means no services.

Detroit is a case in point. They cut taxes to the corporations, services declined to almost non-existent and now the city is on the auction block to be sold to the people NOT paying for the services that any city must supply to its residents.

It is said that ‘people’ force the private businesses out of business when stores like Walmart, Lowe’s or Home Depot move into a neighborhood. If they wouldn’t shop there those big box stores would leave. That is very true except for one small fact. If the only store sells the only things they can afford on the minimal wages earned, they will shop where they can maximize their earnings. People need clothing, shelter and food, that is a reality. When wages are so low they cannot afford to buy from no one but their ‘bosses’ they become chattels. Their choices of who to buy from become limited because they cannot afford to buy from a competitor that must sell higher because its labor costs are higher especially if it’s a local business.

It becomes a round robin system where the low wage earner loses and the big box store justifies keeping wages low as their profits soar. Jobs lose in any market when the big box stores move in. California did a study and proved that as the stores moved in with their 200 or so jobs the rest of the area lost considerably more than that as businesses folded due to a lack of support. Where is the justification of giving these monstrosities a ‘free’ ride? The jobs created are low wage jobs. Local companies are forced to shutter their doors because they cannot compete with ‘low prices’.

As cities lose the ability to supply necessary life support to its residents, those that can, leave. Those that can’t, stay and get kicked in the teeth and are told they need too much, demand too much, won’t work hard enough to take care of their needs.

Someone must pay for fire support, police support, and ambulance support. All are paid for with tax dollars. If the people left to pay for these services can’t feed themselves, where is that money going to come from? The corporations already know they don’t have to pay, they get a free ride from the city managers to bring ‘more’ jobs to the area.

Soon or later America will have to wake up and smell the coffee. You’re being swindled.

2013-10-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Response to Tom Cotton

October 29, 2013

Dear Mr. Cotton,

You are right, we do not see eye to eye on hunger or poverty,

"...

The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act (H.R. 3102),

....

This bill would encourage work and personal responsibility by applying work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. It would also eliminate a wasteful policy that pays bonuses to state governments that enroll more people in food stamps, motivating states to waive income and asset tests in order to get more federal dollars.

..."

If people had jobs that paid a living wage which you opposed by the way, people would not need food stamps or any other assistance. Telling people that they must work is the dumbest thing I've heard you propose since you first ran for office. Most of those applying for assistance HAVE FULL TIME JOBS or are WORKING 2 or more jobs.

Get real, Mr. Cotton, this is reality for many Americans. Going hungry should NOT be a part of that equation.

Sincerely,

Judy Ladd

xxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Judy:

Thank you for contacting me about issues of importance to you--of particular interest are your concerns with the food-stamp program (also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding. It's good to hear from you, as always.

Like you, I am saddened that so many Americans—47 million—now rely on food stamps. In our struggling economy, hunger is a very real problem for too many Americans. I believe that certain safety net programs for struggling citizens are an important service that the government provides. Though perhaps more important are the similar efforts of private groups: charities, religious organizations, and community food banks. As the Old Testament reminds us, the poor will always be among us and we should endeavor to help them freely.

I believe that we must consider the federal programs that provide this help, such as food stamps, with a fiscally prudent approach. As we are seeing with the deprivations in some European countries, the federal government simply cannot keep spending money that it doesn't have, or financial markets may lose faith in our ability to manage our debt, precipitating an even greater economic crisis than we've seen in recent years. Such a fiscal crisis could imperil all of our social programs, threatening assistance for millions of people most in need.

The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act (H.R. 3102), introduced by Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK), passed in the House last week, addresses necessary reforms to the food-stamp program, saving billions of dollars while ensuring the truly needy receive aid. This bill would encourage work and personal responsibility by applying work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. It would also eliminate a wasteful policy that pays bonuses to state governments that enroll more people in food stamps, motivating states to waive income and asset tests in order to get more federal dollars.

I understand that we may not see eye-to-eye on this issue, but I trust you'll understand my principled disagreement. I look forward to working together on other matters of shared principle in the future. Please be assured that I will support efforts to reform the program along these lines to eradicate fraud and promote opportunity for all, while helping the truly needy.

I'm truly honored to serve as your representative—please know that your interests and affairs have my unceasing attention. Always feel free to call my office at (202) 225-3772 or visit www.cotton.house.gov .

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton
Member of Congress

2013-10-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor

October 13, 2013

"America, we have a problem."
Apollo 13 said these words "Houston, we have a problem" when their mission went horribly awry. Today, we in America, have gone horribly awry. Our leaders have traded political ambition and personal gain for everything America stands for. They have no concern for the damage or pain they are inflicting on the general public so long as their agenda is achieved.
These same people have voted down an increase in the minimum wage or to increase the taxes lowered by Ronald Reagan when he was president even though we were sent to fight in 2 countries unfunded and underequipped.
Women's right to decent healthcare has been curtailed and the issue of abortion is used to control and deceive a patriarchal group of white males fearful of losing their power to a woman.
Greed and avarice define the rules governing those in Washington as they negotiate the tricky waters of corporate oligarchy and fear of prosecution for treason. Prosecution for treason is almost a laughable matter if it wasn't so painful to watch what is happening to our country as it is bartered and sold to the highest bidder, foreign or domestic.
Our president has prosecuted more whistle blowers than at any time in our history while banks and individuals go free for lying to Congress, money laundering, dealing in drugs, selling illegal military arms to foreign countries and enslaving whole populations.
Our private lives are being surveilled by NSA because Google and Facebook have computer service centers in foreign countries which transmit IMs and internet emails from American citizens. This gives the NSA the 'right' to monitor all public and private transmissions since it goes through a foreign country. The fact the IMs and emails never go to anyone outside of the US is unimportant.
The Prime Minister of Canada has tried to coerce President Obama to approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline through our heartland to the Gulf coast. I thought we were a sovereign nation. I seem to remember that from history books back when I was a child. Congress and President Obama seem to conveniently forget that when they negotiate away our resources and our privacy.
None of these issues are being addressed because we have a group of right wing, corporate owned, self-serving egomaniacs that would probably be best described as psychopaths, holding our country hostage.
People have tried to protest the direction our country is going and they get maced, fire hosed, tear gassed and arrested. The First Amendment is nothing in the current police state in which we live. The Second Amendment is waved like a red flag in front of a bull to keep people from recognizing the destruction of our country by a few fascist oligarchs. We shoot each other and so we have become our own worst enemy. What better way to manage a population than to turn it upon itself? Anybody that has ever seen or heard of dog fighting and the way they are pitted against each other should recognize our current society. "Stand your ground" laws dare anyone to question another's right to defend themselves from real or imagined threats.
The Supreme Court has turned its back on the people and has turned the government over to the highest bidder. Citizens United opened the floodgates to money influencing Congress and buying anything else their selfish, little, worthless hearts desire.
In the meantime, Congress sits and argues pointlessly for days over something that every civilized country in the world gives their people; affordable health care. Ted Cruz was born in Canada and I bet his parents paid very little for his delivery. He will destroy America to keep us from having decent health care here. Is this hypocrisy or just a manipulation of a segment of society that believes America is for sale and its people don't deserve anything more than to be enslaved and manipulated for the benefit of the 1%?
We need to address the problems facing us, especially global warming and rising sea levels. We don't need to waste our resources running up more debt arguing over "who's daddy's bigger", mine or yours, like school children.

Judy Ladd

2013-10-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Letter to the editor October 2, 2013

The Republican Congress decided that their agenda trumped the needs of all Americans. Voices from the far right are poopooing shutting down the government as no big deal. No one will be hurt too much especially since its just non-essential agencies that are being closed or furloughed.
I talked to tourists on the streets here visiting OUR national park. Their response was one of disbelief while making arrangements to cut their visit short. All the shops on Central have and will continue to be negatively impacted by the closing of our park. To Congressmen Cotton, Boehner et al- no problem.
Medical research, especially in the area of experimental cancer treatment where the patients are all at stage 4, have been shut down. I don't know about how you make something like bread, but how do you put something to 'cook' and then make it stop until you decide to continue baking?
These people will die but according to the Republicans, no big deal.
First Step will close or reduce services for children at risk because under the sequestration bill their funds were already cut drastically. WIC has been defunded. No big deal, the churches will pick up the slack and help all the children get to classes or find food like infant formula.
The Republicans say President Obama won't negotiate. My memory is obviously better than theirs because I remember him negotiating away everything and they still weren't happy back when he first came into office and the debt ceiling came up. Our government was funded day to day and our international credit rating went down for the first time in our history. Everything has to be their way or the highway. Who died and made them GOD? ACA is the law of the land as is Social Security and Medicare but does that stop these greedy miscreants from wanting to stop or remove these public services that are the safety nets that keep people from being homeless and sick? No. That money should go to the top 1% who work so hard managing their hedge funds and offshore accounts. Their money will 'trickle down' eventually so let them manage our safety net services.
The EPA and the FDA have both been shut down. That means the meat you eat will no longer be inspected before being delivered to the supermarkets. Salmonella or e.coli will become the next 'no big deal'.
If the government shut down they just orchestrated is any indication of what the Republicans REALLY think of the general public we better just lay down and die after we give them, FOR FREE, all our hard earned labor. We are less to them than the garbage they discard from their dinner tables. In fact, I don't think they want anyone to even get their scraps.
Someone made a comment on Channel 7 last night that this shut down would be good for the general public because it would show them they don't need all these government agencies. I wonder about people who think like this because if they vote they must use the size of the ad to decide who will get their approval at the polls. They certainly have no idea what it is the government does day to day.

2013-07-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor 7-23-2013

It’s interesting to note the demands people are putting on large corporations to start paying a living wage. Just what is that and what is the consequence of NOT paying a living wage.

First of all, it is described as the minimum wage to keep a person out of poverty working a straight 40 hour week. This will vary regionally. It costs more to live in California than say, Arkansas.

Soon or later America will have to wake up and smell the coffee. You’re being swindled.

2013-07-23T11:32:00.002-07:00

Letter to the Editor 7-20-2013

The dismantling of America by the Republican goon squad led by the Koch brothers funded Tea Party, is just the most maddening thing I've watched in my entire life. To deliberately set your goal to undermine the public sector, sell off all public assets to multinational corporations glutted with 'public' tax largesse and lawless disregard for the people doing the dirty work is worse than criminal. It is inhumane, filthy, dishonest and despicable. Not to mention unAmerican.
Anyone watching the selling off of Detroit by the Republican governor and his elected goons who does NOT get so angry they take to the streets, just doesn't get it. You're next. The manufacturing jobs and equipment in Detroit were dismantled and shipped to China taking the middle class with them. Homes and businesses dependent on the auto industry that could not leave, went bankrupt. Public services have been reduced so low no one will move there. If it takes 58 minutes to get an ambulance or police to answer your call for help would you move there?
Austerity measures are designed to make YOU the abuser of public assets, YOU, the greedy 'me me me' glutton of our wealth and resources. You, the one 'suckling at the teat of state' demanding to be cared for. You, the one 'needing' state funded programs because you are too lazy to work.
Every Republican in office knows (and everyone waiting in the wings to replace any Democrat, Green party or liberal candidate presently in office) you put the onus, your ineptitudes, lies and corruption, on your opponent. Make them the 'bad' guy. Make them the ones having to undo the lies and misinformation printed or said about them. Make it impossible for them to achieve any 'liberal' agenda or goal by leaving office with the country in financial disarray and near bankruptcy. Make them spend all their money and resources trying to 'prove' they are NOT doing what the Republican party is doing behind your back. Make them spend their time and resources correcting the loss of public trust and bailing out the corporations the Republicans count on for their support and financial gain that sold YOU down the river for personal profit while hedging their bets that YOU couldn't save yourself from their corruption.
How much money did you get when the housing bubble burst? Bank of America, Wells Fargo and all of Wall Street made billions. Yet today BoA is STILL cheating, lying and dissembling on the loans they have in their control.
All of Detroit will be on the auction block; public schools, public services, public housing, you name it, ALL will be sold off to the highest bidder at firesale prices.
When the dust settles and Detroit is just another corporate town, people will get their education but it will cost more, be less comprehensive, more corporate oriented and NOT for the general public, it will be what is left after the profiteers have taken their 'share' of the tax dollars you will continue to pay. If you are the 1%, your child will go to a 'private school' funded by your tax dollars and taken as 'the best' education money can buy. Unfortunately your child won't get to go, you're too poor to pay for 'private' school. Medical services will be doled out as the need is determined to keep you 'healthy' as long as there is a place you can fill in the labor market. If you're not needed or become too old to work, you will be cast aside. Latin America is the example you can look to. It is your next stop on the economic road to poverty.
Everything will be based on profitability. If you can't make the corporate bosses a profit, you will be just left to figure out how to survive on your own. Look to India and China where a 'few' are allowed to control the wealth of the state. They drive through ghettos in their Lamborghinis and Porsches, have apartment buildings and homes several stories high but never 'see' the poor, the slums, the streets running in raw sewage at their feet.
Is this what you want for America? The Republicans do. Our assets are theirs and theirs alone. They scream "NO MORE TAXES!" while they pay NONE!
There will be NO public property. You have no right to own ANYTHING! Not even public land, not even the schools you educate your children in, not even the roads you drive on or the water you drink or the police paid for with your taxes to protect you or the prisons to keep the 'bad' guys off the streets. The police will protect only those who have the means to build high fences or gated communities. 'Break the law', and the private prisons will accept you as a non-paying member whose labor can and will be used to improve the corporations bottom line that owns that prison.
You will become a chattel of the corporation, to be done with as they see fit all because they believe you are too stupid to have this much wealth at your disposal and not profit from it. Our national parks will become like DisneyLand, only the very rich will be able to enjoy them.
If this is your idea of "America" count me out. The next election cycle is in 2014. If you enjoyed being 'played' by the Right Wing Tea Party you will continue to support their '2nd Amendment' right to own assault rifles, no health care for women just invasive illegal 'probes' of a woman's most private body parts by unqualified 'men', voter fraud laws (when there is no proof fraud exists), all designed to keep you from focusing on the 'real' issues of grand theft and larceny. If you care at all about what is left of our country you WILL vote. I hope you vote in favor of MY country. It's not going to be mine or yours for long if you don't. Your vote becomes more precious every day as the Republicans work to make it impossible for you to exercise that right.

2013-07-23T11:12:00.004-07:00

Letter to the Editor, 7-15-2013

Never before have I seen our country so divided and proud of it. When a person can 'kill' another human with impunity, you have to ask yourself, "Where is our moral compass?"
There appears to be a lack of respect by some for the community in which we all live. The minorities have learned early on they don't count. They are a social liability and will always be just that. The jobs many are given are of the lowest on the pay scale, promotion is arbitrary, health care is subsidized by the state proving once again they are unable to support themselves and marginalized as 'children'.
Florida has put a target on the back of every young black male in America. SCOTUS has gutted the Voting Rights Act because there is no reason for it anymore since we elected a black man to the position of president. If that was true why are the Republican legislatures across the country introducing voting restrictions such as picture ID, gerrymandering to limit minority power to elect their 'kind' to office? They are using their power to limit the number of voting machines available in minority communities so that every voter that wishes to exercise his/her right to vote must stand in line for hours.
The 'minority' schools across the nation are sub par or are being eliminated completely so people are forced to travel great distances to the next available school. The program is 'school to prison'. Maybe a few weeks working a minimum wage job but ultimately, they will be prison bound. Our privatization of prisons has made it the most lucrative business in our country second only to owning a bank. Well paying jobs are going to those who can afford to go deeply into debt through higher education aka college degrees.
If this is 'America, Land of the free' maybe we need to rephrase that to be what it actually is, 'land of the white'.
Unless we learn to respect each other for what we are and not for the color of our skin or our country of origin, we are doomed to never enjoy the sanctity of 'one nation...'. Letting ALEC write state laws giving gun control to anyone with the money to purchase one or allowing anyone to use 'deadly force' when that was always restricted to those who were sworn to uphold the law (police) is undermining the safety and security that we once enjoyed or should definitely try to achieve.
I stand with every American that is in the streets demanding that we rethink our humanity and our society. Second class citizens are not what our founding fathers had in mind even though they owned slaves themselves. Don't you think it's time we joined the 21st century and got over the civil war? It's been over a 150 years. What ever you think about the win or lose outcome of that war, we are one people, one country, and to some that repeat the pledge of allegiance 'one nation under God'. Start acting like it.

Early Voting

2013-04-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

City Government election May 14

Early voting will be held Tuesday, May 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 at the

Garland County Election Commission. Election Day is May 14 and nine sites

within the city limits will be open. ONLY Garland County Registered Voters

residing within the City Limits of Hot Springs will be allowed to vote.

If you like the current government you must vote AGAINST this ballot initiative. It was proposed by someone that does not live in Hot Springs but resents the city's right to regulate the installation of water and sewer pipes within a 5 mile radius of the city limits. He wants us to go back to the Alderman system that was so corrupt the retirement funds for the police and firemen were absconded.

We have to keep a professional BUSINESS person in charge of the daily operation of bill paying not some special interest good ol' boys bunch of hoodlums.

Breaking News From Little Rock

2013-04-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

The 'Boys' are at it again

The Republicans are trying every dirty trick in the book to get you to not have a voice in our so-called Democracy. The current plan is to eliminate ALL election commissions and then replace them with appointed commissioners from the Republican districts. Please call your Representatives ASAP and tell them to vote NO on SB 722.

We do not need an oligarchy or a plutocracy running Arkansas.

SJR 7 is a bill defining Rules and Regulations. It will be used to discriminate against us voters. Vote NO, go to Little Rock and sit in on these committees and watch what happens when we aren't paying attention. Our country is being systematically robbed out from under our feet.

These are the names of all the Senators that voted to fund Planned Parenthood, please call and tell them how much you appreciated their support for this organization that does so much for the poor and indigent in Arkansas.

Senator David Johnson
Senator David Burnett
Senator Eddie Cheatham
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Senator Joyce Elliott
Representative Deborah Ferguson
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Senator Keith Ingram
Representative Greg Leding
Senator Uvald Lindsey
Representative Fredrick J. Love
Representative Reginald Murdock
Representative Mark Perry
Senator Bobby Pierce
Senator Larry Teague
Representative Butch Wilkins
Representative Hank Wilkins, IV
Representative James L. Word
Senator David Wyatt

The legislature passed the voter ID law and it will go into affect next January. If you know anyone that does not drive offer to take them to get a photo ID. Get as many IDs as you can so in case you lose one you'll have a spare.

I have to look up all the bills being introduced and will report back with more details. We are under seige in Little Rock, make no mistake. The Republicans want us enslaved and on our own without any kind of government support. If this is your idea of what our government should be like, please move to Saudia Arabia.

Breaking News From Hot Springs

We will be voting on what type of government we want to run our fair city. Right now we have a City manager/mayor system. It means that we vote who represents us and hire a manager to run the everyday business of managing the city. Some unhappy contractor got the prerequesite signatures to force an election to change our government BACK to Alderman/mayor type. He lives in the county and yet because he got the signatures we have to pay to keep our form ogf government. That means that we will have I think 12 people deciding what we will do rather than the 8 we now have. Under the system this guy wants to reinstate, the city built more water pipes across the state than we have in the entire city of Hot Springs.

I would appreciate anyone diving in on this and getting all the details straight as I'm not much of a detail person. I like to paint with broad strokes. Thsi election is coming up the first of May and you need to Vote NO or AGAINST this proposal. We got rid of the corruption under the Alderman form of government, we don't need to go backwards just because this guy doesn't like the idea that Hot Springs can tell him how to put in sewer and water lines. Would you rather let him put them in any old way he wants and then when the city annexes the property, the city has to replace all the existing pipes to bring it up to code? Or when we hook up to his services have to replace all his stuff so we can supply city water to the homes he built and sold without annexation.

Never a dull moment around Arkansas. The national news is full of our fiasco at self determination.

Letter to the Editor

2013-04-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

Latest Submission to the Sentinel Record

Dear Editor,

The last time you published my letter I received an anonymous call from someone who did not identify himself. In the usual cowardly way he told me I was a 'frigging moron'. I would put his phone number here but it would probably be removed.

His name calling didn't bother me because I realize there are a lot of cowards in the world. They don't all live in and around Hot Springs either.

Yesterday his ilk proved it in the worst possible manner; someone set off 2 bombs with the distinct purpose to wreak havoc amongst the gathering of celebrants and contestants of Boston.

My caller did no real damage to me or my ego. He didn't make me afraid to send my opinions into your newspaper. It just showed me that cowards are everywhere. There are just degrees under which they operate.

Judy Ladd

(address available elsewhere)

I was going to go on about what an idiot he was when I decided to respond to his phone call but Boston happened and put him in a whole new context.

I guess I just don't give a shit whether anyone likes my opinions or not. I lived under threats most of my life and I learned you can't run from them or turn your back on them. You have to face them out in the open and in the light of day.

I hope everyone is doing well and that we can survive this too. Terrorists only succeed when we let them terrorize us. It's a game of cowards.

We're Off to see the Wizard

2013-04-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

A Day at the Capitol

This is an observation of my day at the 'legislature'.

On Monday, April 8, 2013, Barbara Butler, Melinda Nobel and I went to Little Rock to confront our legislators on the latest effort to screw up "Obamacare'. We met with Philip Adams, liaison for Health and Human Services, at the office of Governor Mike Beebe. We had a long discussion about why the health care bill currently under consideration, is a bad idea. It lets the insurance companies 'cherry pick' the healthiest people to insure while the state picked up the uninsurable, disabled, aged and sick.

He explained that as the situation was today Blue Cross-Blue Shield had a 'monopoly' on health care in Arkansas. You either used their insurance or pretty much went without. As a compromise, it was determined that in the interests of 25,000 Arkansans that are currently NOT insured, it would be best to let other competitors into the market. This plan will be in effect for 3 years only (at which time I'm hoping Arkansans have wised up and voted these imbeciles out of office). Philip said it was better to settle for 'good' rather than hold out for 'perfect'. With that information, we went on the attack.

I met with Bruce Cozart who has maintained the sleezy personality that he expressed when he first ran for Representative of my district. The NAACP asked both Cozart and Jerry Rephan to debate their positions to those interested in the 2 candidates running in District 24. In the course of questioning I asked him if he was for the ERA. His response was he knew nothing about it but would get back with me. When I could get my jaw off the floor, the 'debate' went pretty much as you would expect. Jerry well informed, Bruce hedging and 'how religious he was' and that his business experience as a contractor gave him the edge when it came to running government. FYI, government is NOT a business. Anybody need help, get out your dictionary.

Meanwhile back at the Capitol, I asked Bruce if he'd figured out what the ERA was. He responded with (as near as I can remember, a direct quote): " I realized I was in a set up situation so I decided it's best to play ignorant and just say I knew nothing about it".

I'm sure that the NAACP would love to know that. They are a non-partisan, non-profit group dedicated to the improvement of race relations and to give its members an opportunity to learn first hand from the candidates the issues and their positions without partisanship or bias. Everyone is welcome to express their opinion and make their case.

Well done, Mr. Cozart. You're a typical Republican who will never understand why minorities don't buy into your ideology.

Back to our reason for approaching Mr. Cozart. I asked him if he was for the health care bill and he said he was still undecided. I think that meant he was not going to discuss it with me. I explained my position and though it had changed after talking to Philip Adams, I hoped he would support it.

Later, after all of us had hit the halls of 'higher echelons of governance', we went to John Boozman's office. He doesn't have a sign saying the door you enter is 'John Boozman's office'. You have to ask unless you've been there before.

We presented our individual cases to his emissary ( I can't find the card he gave me with his name on it. Maybe Barbara or Melinda can update this blog if they like) for what we wanted Boozman to support and asked if his position on gun control was in keeping with the majority of Americans. I told his liaison that if Congress was not going to restrict or limit guns and magazines for them then tax the bullets. He laughed at me. Barbara pointed out to him (which took the smile off his face) that that was how Al Capone was brought down.

We explained that the ERA was an important issue that needed to be resolved, women will always stay under the gun until they reach parity with men. Until that happens, we will always be used as a political football. Each of us gave examples of why it was not government's role to restrict or regulate abortions. He said he was against abortions, period. I asked him how many babies he'd had? Since he hadn't had any I didn't give a damn what his opinion was. Barbara gave him a card to Foster care volunteers since he said he wasn't even involved in the care of those children he insisted women give birth to. It will be interesting to see how many in Boozman's office take up Barbara's offer to foster care these children he feels so attached to. I told him 24,000 children went to bed hungry every day in Arkansas, why wasn't he concerned about that.

All in all, a very interesting day with nothing to show for it except exhaustion and the knowledge that we had done our best to participate in our Republic and its politics; good, bad and very ugly. Damn its hard being a woman sometimes. I realized that after all the hard work, politicking and picketing I had done for most of my adult life, I was further from equal rights with my male counterpart than I was at 20. At 20, I had youth and good looks on my side. It's a bitch being a 2nd class citizen and old.

Latest and Greatest

2013-03-11T16:14:00.001-07:00

Letter to the Editor

Here is the latest effort to get a letter published. You can read it here in all its entirety. The Sentinel Record has a habit of editting some of my more colorful comments:

Dear Editor,

President Obama signed into law the reinstatement of the Violence Against Women Act. This was a landmark act considering that it was up for renewal last Fall. It took this long to get reinstated due to the efforts of the Republicans in the House trying to remove the changes made to the original document to correct those women denied protection under the original bill.

We elect the people to represent us that are supposedly of higher moral character and who will best represent us in Washington. Unfortunately, that isn't true for the residents of Arkansas. We have some people that still believe there should be 2 sets of laws protecting our citizenry, those that meet their views of what is proper and good and those that need to be castigated and relegated to the sidelines to be treated as worthless or 2nd class citizens. Our representatives from the Republican party supported that view by voting against VAWA, Representative Tom Cotton from District 4 and Senator John Boozman. Instead of doing the 'right' and noble thing by voting for the protection of ALL women, they chose to take the low side of the debate and voted to deny every woman protection under the law. For whatever their personal reasons, they have no business representing anyone in Washington. They have already proven they only want to represent those that share their prejudices and animosity. Our country is moving forward into the 21st century and we don't need 18th century representation.

I hope that every woman that was ever hit, beat, raped or molested at any time in their life will consider that when they go to the polls in 2014. We need people of moral character and high ethics to represent us, not some backward misogynist trying to reverse the clock and move women back into male domination and servility. As you can see, my opinion of most voters here in Arkansas will get me censored. Just bear with me and you can read it here in all its vainglorious prose.

2013-03-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Still Fighting the Good Fight

My latest letter to the editor of the Sentinel Record follows:

Dear Editor,
President Obama signed into law the reinstatement of the Violence Against Women Act. This was a landmark act considering that it was up for renewal last Fall. It took this long to get reinstated due to the efforts of the Republicans in the House trying to remove the changes made to the original document to correct those women denied protection under the original bill.
We elect the people to represent us that are supposedly of higher moral character and who will best represent us in Washington. Unfortunately, that isn't true for the residents of Arkansas. We have some people that still believe there should be 2 sets of laws protecting our citizenry, those that meet their views of what is proper and good and those that need to be castigated and relegated to the sidelines to be treated as worthless or 2nd class citizens. Our representatives from the Republican party supported that view by voting against VAWA, Representative Tom Cotton from District 4 and Senator John Boozman. Instead of doing the 'right' and noble thing by voting for the protection of ALL women, they chose to take the low side of the debate and voted to deny every woman protection under the law. For whatever their personal reasons, they have no business representing anyone in Washington. They have already proven they only want to represent those that share their prejudices and animosity. Our country is moving forward into the 21st century and we don't need 18th century representation.
I hope that every woman that was ever hit, beat, raped or molested at any time in their life will consider that when they go to the polls in 2014. We need people of moral character and high ethics to represent us, not some backward misogynist trying to reverse the clock and move women back into male domination and servility.

I don't know if it was published, I rather doubt it since I 'disrespected' the citizens of Arkansas and the idiots they elected to office in the 4th District. I call every day to Washington to remind them that some of us really do care when they vote against our best interests such as Social Security and Medicaid. As many people that live here that are dependent on these programs you would believe they would be strong advocates for their protection. NOT!

2013-01-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

Politicking ala Hot Springs

I put out there on the web that I needed people to join me to campaign against assault rifles and large magazines.We have had too many people die needlessly from these types of guns. The toll is at over 1000 since Newtown, Connecticut.

Barbara Butler was the only one to join me January 17, 2013. We did get a response from a 'guy' that thought we were a couple of nuts who didn't know what we were talking about because I put on my poster >>>CLIPS

He said clips did not fit in assault rifles. I explained 'magazines' didn't fit on my sign but I was sure everyone would know what I was talking about particularly since the people in Congress used the two names interchangeably.

Saturday, January 19, she and I joined Planned Parenthood on the steps of the Capitol in Little Rock for a rally there St. Senator Joyce Elliot and Dr. Jocelyn Elders (former Surgeon General) were guest speakers. If you ever get a chance to meet Dr. Elders I recommend you do so. She is an honor to our sex and a wonderful humanist.

I will be having more gun rallies if anyone would like to join me. I usually will have them at Reserve and Central in downtown Hot Springs. The time will probably be Wednesday at 12 noon. If I get enough interest the time can be adjusted to meet the needs and desires of those wishing to join me.

Here is my latest submission to the Sentinel Record for those that may not get the paper. This is by no means a proof of publishing. Submitted 1-21-2013:

With the passage of time it has become more apparent than ever that the corporate agenda for America is its Africanization of resources and its population. Corporations are not held liable for environmental damages they incur through their business practices of raping and pillaging to get to our resources. Mountain top removal is the most ambitious and destructive of these practices.

The processing of tar sands in Canada shows that the practice has moved beyond our borders to Canada where the indigenous people's lands are systematically being stripped and ravaged at no little cost to the environment. Illness and health issues that they had never experienced before have become the norm. As these caustic oils are removed from the ground, we are being used as the pipeline to move these tar sand oils across our 'bread basket' of the plains states to the refineries on the Gulf Coast. The fact that the shortest pipeline already completed through Michigan had ruptured and contaminated the water supply there is not to be concerned with. It won't happen with the pipeline being built now, because We have rules and laws to prevent that from happening.

We have fracking across the US that has proven to be so destructive that Europe has banned the practice. Water supplies are being contaminated, people and animals are dying. Yet the practice goes on. We are told it's for our use to make us less dependent on foreign oil and yet these petroleum products are being exported to Europe and China. The coal fields of the Dakotas and Montana need a railroad to the west coast to ship OUR coal to China.

The broader issue is not so much that the Keystone pipeline, coal mining and mountain top removal are dangerous and hazardous at best, it's what it means to us, the people of the United States. The wealth being 'taken' is not being shared with the people most impacted by the destruction of these areas. We are now becoming just another inconvenience to the taking of our natural resources from the earth that we are told is public property. Our representatives in Washington take money for their election coffers from these companies and then write legislation that makes it easier and less painful to extract this wealth.

For the truth about the consequences of environmental disasters, check out how much Exxon has paid out for the Valdez incident. Look at BP's compliance with environmental law and how much they have compensated the residents of the Gulf Coast.

Wages have been flat ever since the mid 1970's. This has been planned and when states like Michigan and Wisconsin enact 'right to work' legislation those wages will go even lower while the corporations make off with the spoils. This is 'Africanization'. The people work and receive a pittance while the rich get richer at our expense. If there is an environmental disaster, OUR government will step in and with OUR tax dollars, clean the mess up.

In Africa, it was called 'colonialization', what will we call it here but the Africanization' of the United States.

2012-11-25T16:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Weekend Update

What to do when the world doesn't give a crap and it scares the crap out of you

My letter to the editor was published last Friday according to a friend. That is good news because I felt really strongly about the mess in the Gaza Strip. You can't hold people hostage and harass them and then expect them to sit down and like and do whatever you ask.

Politics in Hot Springs are starting to get interesting. Barbara Thexton got a discussion group going to see what can be done to take back the legislature. We don't need to lose the governor's office in 2014 either. Dustin McDaniels is going to have the ride of a lifetime if we don't get something happening here soon. Arkansas has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the US. We don't need voter suppression here, we need people to take voting seriously. When I moved here in the mid 50's, we had a poll tax to suppress voters. It was declared unconstitutional and now people just don't vote. No one seems to mind sending our troops over seas to support and democratize the Middle East and Africa but as far as voting here, you've got to be kidding, they just don't have the time or won't take it.

Claudia Reynolds LeBlanc and I picketed Walmart on Black Friday at the Albert Pike store here in Hot Springs. There were very few customers going through the light where we stood. They must have all gone to the store on Central since it may be the bigger store here. I put some sandwich boards on Tigger so he could earn his keep. He's a great little campaigner. If you need him at your function, he works cheap. Several people had told Claudia they would show up to help. Apathy extends beyond the voting booth here.

Here is my letter to the editor for those that wish to read it:

The attacks on the Gaza Strip by Israel requires a close examination of the cause and effect of this 'military action'. At first blush it looks like Israel is completely in the right in defending its country against the Hamas.

This is the simplistic view that the politicians would like you to believe and not examine any further. We are pro-Israel without a doubt. Anything they say or do we are in complete agreement with. The question is; should we be?

The Gaza Strip was given to the Palestinians as a surrogate country until an agreement could be reached satisfying both sides of the argument establishing statehood for Palestine. Israel sent in settlers and essentially confiscated the lands designated Palestinian. Israel then set up road blocks, check points, boycotts and other extreme measures restricting movement into and out of Gaza vital supplies such as food and medical supplies. Given these conditions, the Hamas resisted and is now almost completely annihilated by the technology sold to them by the USA.. Today the missiles Israel is firing into the Gaza Strip are nothing more than target practice.

Now let's take a look at a world view and not just the myopic one being peddled by the pro-Israeli faction.

What will happen if Israel can justify in the way it is currently headed, an attack on Iran? We keep hearing they are Israel's biggest threat. Secondly, Egypt is sitting by not doing much more than obfuscating to appease the US. Israel's biggest fear is Arab retaliation to its aggressive behavior against Iran.

Now to the serious business of a war between Israel and Iran. This is Obama's second term and what if it were possible to lay at the feet of his administration the ultimate war in the Middle East? I do not see a peaceful solution when China, Russia, and the Arab Emirates chooses sides in this unwinnable war. His administration will be known to be more inept even than George W. Bush's.

We are asked daily to honor our military and yet the military establishment squanders the personnel aka soldiers like so much toilet paper. Do you really believe we have the concerned population that will continue to fight for a global war that they didn't start and have no way of winning? Only 1% of the population is in the military. That means 99% of us sit on the sidelines wondering what Kate Moss' latest tatoo looks like and where it may be located.

It is time we got our heads out of the sand and demanded from our leaders a solution to the Middle East crisis and I don't mean more bombs and missiles.

Judy Ladd
x

2012-11-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I was here. It seems I was so involved in getting my friends elected I forgot about this page.

Well, Arkansas did its stupid thing again,and voted for the 'rich' guy. I was a poll watcher and I was not surprised to see the majority of voters were old white men and women. Considering many were retirees from up North you'd think they would have voted more progressively. NOT!

Romney took the electoral college votes and for the first time in 138 years, we have the Republicans in control of our state legislature. This next session will be a thing to behold as we turn the clock back and start teaching biblical 'evolution' or is it called Divine intervention?

Our state rates 3rd from the bottom in education and after having had former governor Huckabee push ignorance in our schools we are sure to drop even lower on that scale when this legislature comes to order.

Sex education will be demonized and the teen pregnancy numbers will climb and more children will be raising children without benefit of a good paying job or an education. Of course, we have ARKids to support them but I wonder where the taxes will come from to keep those services afloat when all those white retirees don't want their little IRAs taxed anymore. All their capital gains can't be taxed either.

David Reagan got elected to JP District 1. Congratulations, Dave. He said going door to door is what won the election and the help from all his sign holding friends at the polls put him over the top. Maybe the other candidates could take a hint from his success.

Many people worked the phone lines from the Democratic Headquarters here. They did more out of state calling than here local as I understand. Maybe they shouldn't have given up on Arkansas so quickly. We might have saved some of the state from the complete takeover by the Republicans. The Tea Party didn't do as well as they thought they would but then we're still living here in the 19th century so who knows.

I joined the Arts Advisory Council here in Hot Springs. I believe that the only way to change the future is change our kids' attitude towards their city or community. Making them a member of their society or community will instill pride of ownership. Art is an easy step in that direction. We have many public buildings that are just terrible looking and if the kids were given a paintbrush and the freedom to express themselves they may take pride in where they live.

Well, live long and prosper. We can still kick ass by calling the village idiots in Washington on a regular basis to make sure they understand that we may be down but we ain't out. Don't forget Little Rock. Those guys need to hear LOUDLY from us too.

Where oh where has the time gone?

2012-01-06T02:24:00.000-08:00

Politics in Hot Springs are about as exciting as watching paint dry.
I wonder when someone is going to run for office that really cares about Hot Springs and not just what will bring in the most money. You know we do have a national park within our city limits.
We need to start getting with the program and start making our water and sewer system as green as possible. Some places have already put in operation a system that recycles all the water through a natural filtering system that utilizes nature rather than big holding tanks and intense energy usage. They are raising talapia in the waste water using ponds like nature uses. We could certainly learn a lot from those towns that don't have as much water as we do. We just need to stop wasting it.

Andi Davis vs the Judge

2011-06-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Attorney Andi Davis was required to appear in front of Judge Marcia Hearnsberger today at 10am to show cause. I went as a friend of the 'accused' and to see what actually occurs between the 'defendant' and the 'law'.
The animosity wreaked from the judge towards Andi. Every statement was ignored and the judge demanded that Andi agree that taking an emergency decree to another judge was intentionally designed to get Judge Hearnsberger from denying the decree (my opinion). Judge Cook signed the emergency order when Andi's clerk had determined that Judge Hearnsberger was not available to do so.
I would hate to be a defendant in Judge Hearnsberger's court if the judge had such a dislike for my representative. It's politics is local again. Andi's a good Democrat and from her affiliations and places that she associates, I conclude that Judge Hearnsberger is a devout Republican.
I believe the point of the whole procedure was to make Andi look incompetent and the judge all powerful. It was like watching a stern parent tell the child 'you were wrong'. The child is left with no recourse but to agree in order to get the parent off his/her back. Definitely below the standard that I would expect from the judiciary.

Politics is Local

2011-04-09T23:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Saturday, April 9, 2011, Rep. John Vines (D-Dist. 25) came to the Webb Center to address his constituency about the current legislature in Little Rock. Judging by the turnout, not many people were interested. Claudia Reynolds- Lablanc set the meeting up and told me she had also invited District 24's representative Cozart to attend but he politely declined saying after the treatment he received after his debate with Jerry Rephan for the position he now holds he just didn't want to be subjected to that again. It turns out, I guess, he got his feelings hurt when we weren't impressed with his lack of knowledge about the position he was seeking . John described the ongoing struggle the legislature is having with the issue of redistricting. It has to be done after every census so guess what, we get to be the lucky recipients of this year's results. He said some want to divide Garland County into 2 or more parts, putting some of it in District 4, some in District 2 or even 3 with Little Rock and Conway. The result would be our influence would be significantly reduced and we would be effectively removed from the decision making political process. He said he thought some Republicans had a good solution and then some Democrats had a good solution but dividing Garland County was not one of them. He would stand firm on keeping the county undivided.

Ginna Watson brought up the issue of keeping local taxes in the school district in which they were raised, not sent off across the state to other districts. I told them both, her and John, it was bullshit. Schools from poorer counties or districts would get the short end of the deal while the 'rich' schools got the best of what is available. I was offended by anyone, particularly a Democrat, that would bring up such an idea in the first place. It reeks of selfish, greedy, self-serving right wing Tea Party ideology.

I just wish more people were concerned about what is happening locally so that this kind of mindset would be brought to light and people could see what is keeping them down and our state from being the best that it can be by educating everyone equitably and fairly. This does not mean diluting the system so that everybody gets a mediocre education, it means that parents and the citizens of every community have a stake in all children's education. The only way to make it work is to share the burden and demand that the schools spend the money wisely and not just on sports equipment. Parents have to be involved as much as possible. They must be reassured that their child counts no matter how poor or rich. If we have a lottery to give scholarships to every child, we owe them the best foundation to utilize that money wisely and effectively.

District 24 Representative Contest

2011-02-12T19:23:00.001-08:00

Today (Saturday February 12, 2011) the NAACP held an open forum to let everyone interested in District 24 Representative election scheduled for March 8, 2011 to meet the candidates, Jerry Rephan, Democrat and Bruce Cozart, Republican, and ask them the questions that are of the most pressing concern to the voting public. Judging by the turnout, not many are interested. I guess that will explain the Republican candidate Bruce Cozart being in the race.

Jerry Rephan, the Democratic candidate, was the most informed concerning what the issues are and how he plans to attack them when he gets elected to office in Little Rock. He explained very clearly his close family ties to the community, what he feels and knows are the driving issues behind failure in our schools, and the need to get children involved in their education at the grade school level and making them participants in their communities rather than future inmates of the penal system.

Each candidate was given 6 minutes to state their case why we should vote for them. Afterwards, the audience had 4 minutes to ask questions of each. Very few questioned Cozart, me being the first to raise their hand. I asked him if he was in support of the ERA amendment. He said he did not know anything about it but would research the issue. When I got my jaw off the floor, I could not hide my chagrin and disgust with a man purporting to run for an office while knowing nothing about an amendment that has been around since 1968 trying to get ratified. Someone that ill-informed is not someone I want representing me in anything, not even as dog catcher. He would probably have to research what the job involved and what a dog was. But I digress.

Jerry was so well-informed and forceful in his stance for improving our little part of Arkansas, I felt it was no contest. I hope anyone that reads this blog gets out there and does whatever it takes to get Jerry Rephan elected. We need educated, informed and interested people that truly care for us representing us at the local levels of government.