Taking Notes

Speak up Against Racism

2013-05-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

Mexico City

I realize that being Latina/Hispanic/Spanish/White/Black/Lebanese/Haitian/French/British/Italian and (gulp!) White ... Makes me a completely ignorant ass who will never amount to anything. However, I still have to ask a few questions in the hope I may become smarter.

According to the white nationalists, my children and grandchildren will fall into the retarded category. All future generations will be cursed with the same affliction.

It is, after all, a curse in our DNA.

(does not explain all the Hispanic/Latino(a) kids I.Q's. that landed them in the talented and gifted program, or the fact that they are graduating H.S. with college credits and Honors)

Again, maybe my atrophied brain, small as a pea, is incapable of comprehending the subtle nuances of the inferiority premise offered below.

(I used big words above, sorry... my bad.)

For all practical purposes, we are so incredibly unintelligent that we should be on permanent disability, food stamps, and all sorts of social welfare.

I am so glad that these nice white folks finally figured out what is wrong with my entire family tree and all those billions of people of Hispanic Heritage.

After all, they should have known - or some white folks should have told them - that they would never discover America or any other lands. That they would never expand their language throughout the world and be the national language of most Nations.

Madrid - Spain

So what if they invented Lollypops? (known as chupa-chups and copied world-wide), the mop and bucket? (yes, from Spain), The submarine ?(yes, Spain again), The Beret? (no, it is not French, they are just a lot more stylish in the way they wear it.)

- Lord! is there anything a French woman looks bad in? - But I digress. It is a sign of stupidity on my part, of course.

A Mexican inventor (Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena) got the first patent for color T.V. - Maybe some of them white Gringos can say gracias?

Pancho Villa, Ceasar Chaves... The list of people goes on and they are Mexicans,

Bogota - Colombia

Puerto Ricans, Chilean, Peruvians, Argentinians, Colombians and more. The list of countries goes on as well, but my limited intelligence continues to show its signs of incompetence and I continue to digress.

Obviously, these superior white nationalists (of what nation?) must mean the slave labor that picks tomatoes that white nationalists are too incompetent ... Oops! - too intelligent to pick themselves.

Or the women they trust to raise their children because they are too lazy and uncaring... Oops!, too busy being "job creators" to do it themselves.

Which leads me to question the intelligence of white nationalists decisions to entrust their food supply, their children, and their homes, to such incompetent Latino pariahs.

White nationalists obviously don't know about people like Picasso, Diego Rivera, Miguel Angel Espino.... and the hundreds of thousands that gave life to paint, words, and many a sigh to the aspiring soul.

The racists, er... I mean, the white nationalist, must mean the brute and ignorant Mexicans that... beat the tar out of the French, Spaniards and the British.

Obviously a fluke in strategy and creative thinking. It can't possibly be that intelligent people found a way to push back against such formidable enemies. Right? - especially since they are brown?

It is such a relief that the quackery has explained our inferiority due to our ethnicity. It is good to know that our collective incompetence is through no fault of our own.

Nothing is.

Obviously God made us stupid for a reason.

It would be interesting - ramblings of an addled mind again - to ask the Koch Brothers if they are as racist as we perceive them to be. Or do they just put racist people in The Heritage Foundation prominent positions by accident? - If so, is that a sign of intelligence?, If not, can they just come out in their KKK sheets and be themselves?

I am just asking because I am too stupid to figure it out for myself.

Again, I humbly apologize for asking questions. Please be patient, and remember that I am, after all, an idiot.

A note to white supremacists:

White Europeans are not going to give up their higher quality of life and higher standards of education to increase your numbers. You see, they are white.

Just not stupid.

White Nationalists is a special breed we grow in the United States. It may have something to do with the fact that centuries ago, European garbage was dumped here. You know, the ones they were not fit for polite society.

Has anyone done a bit of research into your DNA?

Someone should.

It is just too embarrassing for Americans in general to allow you out in public without an explanation.

Respectfully, with sombrero in hand, I request you all burn in the eternal fires of hell for making my country (Yes the USA, you morons!) the laughing stock of every industrialized nation.

P.S. Hey GOP!, how is that "Hispanic Outreach" thingy working out fer ya? - From this angle, it is not looking muy bien.

Keep telling yourselves that the Republican party is not the party of racism and bigotry, because as you hope, Hispanics/Latinos may just be addled-brained enough to believe you.

Yes, we are laughing at you.
Adios Pendejos!

Watch this:

You may want to know:

Texas State University: Tomas Rivera Book Award

Famous Hispanic Inventors

Boston Marathon Tragedy

2013-04-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

By JIMMY GOLEN | Associated Press

It is too soon. It is too early. Let's not cast blame. Let's not politicize this horrific event.

Those are the words of people who don't want us to remember that when it is okay to be as political and polarizing as possible, they do it. They don't want us to remember their deeds and their actions.

A lot of us are sick and tired of the hypocrisy and think this is the perfect time to remember that those who devalue our work, our skills, our existence, and our purpose in life have no problem deciding that police, paramedics, firefighters, teachers, and all sorts of social infrastructure needs to be de-funded and privatized.

Today we learned that amputations were done on site due to the severity of the injuries.

Privatize that!

Hospital personnel heard about this event in their day off and did not think twice about running out their doors and providing their services to victims.

Privatize that!

Police officers, also off-duty, marched to the site and their precincts No one had to call them. They showed up.

Privatize that!

It would serve us well to remember these things now and not wait until memories fade, the shock is over, and the spin-masters begin to cast blame to garner political points and distribute their bumper-sticker slogans that pass for actual news and information.

Every Ron and Rand Paul comments about "Liberty" focuses exclusively on no government interference in any aspect of our lives. What they are really saying is "you are on your own. We will let the free-market (read corporations and Wall Street) decide what they wish to be involved in. If you are not part of their plan, too bad for you."

Funding of police officers, paramedics, emergency personnel, and fire-fighters is a necessity in all of our communities.

Tragedies happen. Accidents happen. Terrorism - Foreign and domestic - Happens.

No, it is not too early to remember all those people in Congress who work against the best interest in society. Vote them out.

No one has to politicize anything. Just remember what happened here today and realize who pays for the first responders, and how quickly, those who had their day off, bolted into action because that is what normal people do.

Who did this?

Who knows. Not yet. But we will know.

Theories?

They are abundant. People on social media are connecting dots, but the picture is not clear.

Some are blaming the government. Others are blaming each other. Racist groups, the NRA fanatics, the weapons industry, the "others"... The list goes on and no one has any of the facts yet.

What we need to keep in mind is that we need the services to be public. Not private.

The elected officials who don't have the guts now to say "We don't need these services unless they are privatized" know full well they can't justify it in the light of these events, but make no mistake, the ideological rhetoric will return as soon as our minds forget.

Do not forget.

These people are destroying the fabric of our society as systematically as any terrorist organization can do in a single event.

One thing is for certain, the systematic destruction of our social structure cannot recover if we don't stop this in its tracks.

It is not political. It is common sense. Do not forget.

Progressive Radio is Dead

2013-03-20T12:26:00.001-07:00

No choices for you!

KJFK was the only progressive radio station in Northern Nevada. Las Vegas has none.

KJFK had quality programming that included nationally syndicated shows like Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartman, Mike Papantonio, and the indomitable Stephanie Miller.

We listened live connecting with other progressives across the Nation and knew we were not alone. It felt good to have like-minded companions across state lines.

At the local level, we missed Cory Farley. A reasonable voice who had the pulse of our city and could talk about almost any subject under sun. Thanks to Cory, we had a clearer picture of what our local elected officials were up to and how it would affect us personally. He regaled us with personal stories and experiences that were both entertaining and interesting in terms of travel, home repairs, and national news. In short, Cory kept us informed on topics ranging from soup to nuts and we were better for it.

Once KJFK went exclusively to national syndicated programs we lost the local flavor and connection provided by our hometown news.

Reno's Spaghetti Bowl

For example, we knew right away when Evelyn Mount needed more turkeys and where the farmer's market was located that week. Book sales and activities at our local libraries were helpful. Commuters chimed in on road closure constructions and the mess in the Spaghetti Bowl.

During the holidays, information on new drop off locations for Toys for Tots or where to donate to help a local family whose house burnt down mattered to us. We learned the latest news on our beloved Wolf Pack and how to help our local high schools fund their music program, or basketball uniforms.

These types of connections are not specific to Reno, NV. We are just the latest casualty in the privatization of our public airwaves. The absence of local radio leaves behind a void that national broadcasts can't fill.

On March 18, 2013 KJFK radio died.

Part of the obituary:

Given the volume of rhetoric dispensed on-air from “the other side”, we felt it vital to remain on-the-air through the 2012 General Election, despite the fact that KJFK has operated at a loss of thousands of dollars a month. Since we launched the station with an appearance by Al Franken in 2005, when nearly 500 people joined us at the Atlantis for now Senator Franken's appearance just days after we hit the air, we’ve known a passionate audience has been with us all along. Unfortunately, this station was never able to generate the revenue necessary to sustain, and we simply cannot absorb the financial loss any longer.

For the entire letter contents click here.

Compliance and homogeneous radio programming is the name of the game. Raging Limbaugh or Glenn Beck provide "news" and "information" as liberal voices are silenced across the nation.

So far progressive radio has met its demise in typically democratic strongholds: Seattle's KPTK, Detroit's WDTW, and Portland's KPOJ. KJFK served Northern Nevada and could be heard on a clear day in parts of San Francisco.

How It all started

In many parts of the country, progressive radio ceased to exist when the monopoly that is Clear Channel took over local radio stations. Bain Capital gutted the industry and conservative talk radio became syndicated and saturated every market.

They killed community broadcasting first and went back to administer the final blow to the few stations that still served a grateful population.

Where and How can You Listen to Progressive Voices

While the overlords of our public airwaves have determined that conservative talk and sports will be the only thing on the menu and you must submit to their will, there are ways of ignoring them. However this comes to a cost to you in terms of financial cost and inconvenience.

PURCHASE the right to free speech through satellite radio. Sirius is popular and even though XM radio and Sirius merged a few years back, the subscriptions to their line ups are separate. You need to purchase the right satellite radio.

Con: The required satellite radio and monthly/yearly subscription can become an obstacle for those on a fixed budget.

Pros: You will never have to listen to commercials or be offended by the lies and misinformation of talking heads without credibility. Many people don't have to change the channel going across state lines or lose satellite signal even in the worst weather.

Other Options Available

1. Invest in a smart phone and download podcasts (also at a premium)
2. Glue yourself to your computer and hope to find a website that is broadcasting progressive radio live.

The problem with the second option is that you may not find the website when they broadcast live or even find a website that still does. More and more of those websites are no longer carrying a live broadcast because the stations are not there or because they only offer a pay-to-listen service.

We will miss the Progressive voices of Thom Hartman and the passionate voices of Randi Rhodes and Ed Schultz. We will miss the morning laughter brought on by Stephanie Miller that eased us into our daily commute. These voices have always been an Oasis in the midst of conservative screeching.

While Progressive voices are alive and well, the medium that brought them to us is now dead. Our public airwaves are privately controlling the message the populace hears while being held hostage on their daily commute.

Clear Channel wins. Progressives lose.

Leave us a comment:

Do you have a station in your city that still provides you with progressive voices? or do you miss what you used to have? Have you ever had anything more than conservative radio in your town?

Listen live on their websites if you can:

Ed Schultz: the Ed Schultz Show
Stephanie Miller: The Stephanie Miller Show (Listing of radio stations is not accurate)
Thom Hartman: Thom Hartman Show (Radio listings not updated)
Ring of Fire Radio: Listen Live Mike Papantonio Robert Kennedy Jr. (limited options)
Free Speech TV on line, or you can purchase a Roku player to watch at home.

Read:

Willamette Week: KPOJ Cancelling Political Talk Radio by Aaron Mesh
An Insider's View of the Progressive Talk Radio Devolution, by Peter B. Collins
Cory Farley: 2012 Should be the End of these 13 Annoyances
Evelyn Mount Community Outreach
Daily Kos: RIP: Seattle Progressive Talk

On Air Image Photo Credit: Salvatore Vuono /Freedigitalphotos.net

Clint Eastwood: His Best Performance Yet?

2012-09-02T15:30:00.002-07:00

We have had our fun with the improvisation on stage that was strangely out of place. In general, we felt badly for Mr. Eastwood, an icon of strength and movie machismo that was appealing to young boys and made young girls swoon.

His early roles represented the ideal straight man; He rarely smiled, never said more than needed to be said, and was always on the right side of things. He was tough as nails and we liked him that way.

In "Million Dollar Baby" he showcased the strengths of his previous characters with the added dimensions of having been tempered by age and experience. There was an underlying kindness and concern in that character not seen in the characters of his youth. In this film we see the man struggle with hard-set beliefs adapting to the reality of the situation.

He struggles with the knowledge of the damage that boxers endure, and yes, this is a tough girl but, a girl, nonetheless. He is forced to face reality as he understands there is nothing else for this girl. This is it.

A parent's worst nightmare: He can't save her, he can only teach her how to keep safe and let go.

Films like Million Dollar Baby and Grand Torino are meant to be savored more than once. These films are not made for entertainment purposes in which a mindless two-hours can be killed. These performances, the dialogues, and depth of the characters stay with us long after the film is over.

Grand Torino

The last scene was an impressive directorial achievement. We saw the endless possibilities of an uncharted future as a young man drove away from the confines of his environment --- In a vehicle that represents the hard work and tribulations of previous generations.

The imagery is powerful in this film.

So what was that performance at the RNC? Why did we feel so uncomfortable watching it? and why was everyone so confused?

Everyone who had anything to do with Clint Eastwood being on stage has adamantly denied any involvement with the performance or having any knowledge beforehand of what was about to develop. So what happened?

The short answer may be that just like in the Super-Bowl ad, Clint Eastwood went rogue.

In the Super-Bowl ad Clint Eastwood praised the recovery of the auto industry in Detroit - The republicans called it a political ad in favor of President Obama. He was maligned for being a RINO, and there was much disappointment in those quarters for the perceived political intent. It was akin to Charlton Heston coming out in favor of sensible gun control.

It is just not done.

The fact is that Clint Eastwood did not ask permission or counsel on doing the ad. It was a personal thing for him. It depicted the willingness of all sides to make the country healthy and whole. Yes, it was half-time in America and we had to make a choice between doing the right things for the country, or continuing to deteriorate beyond recovery

On his show, this past Friday, Bill Maher had high praise for what it takes to get on stage and do improv with an empty chair. Mr. Maher is having a good time this week on Twitter making fun of the event even if he is impressed by the 80 year-old's performance. Calling him a string of insults prior to praising him may be, in retrospect, unwarranted.

What did you see on that stage when Clint Eastwood was talking to an empty chair? Did you see an old white man who had lost his mind and forgot to comb his hair?

Or,

Did you see an accurate representation of what makes up the base of the current incarnation of the Republican party?

What did you hear?

Did you hear the ramblings of an actor who forgot his lines?

Or,

Did you hear a dye-in-the-wool Republican reproaching the leadership of a party who has destroyed all he, and those like him, helped to build? - Did they wreck his carefully maintained Grand Torino?

Oh! and the hair? This lady on the video below comes to mind.

Perhaps it is worth to watch the performance again through a fresh pair of eyes and pay close attention to what he is saying, how he is saying it, and most importantly, what is missing. Do you hear praise for either party? or a condemnation of what our political parties have become?

Million Dollar Baby and Grand Torino were unpleasant and uncomfortable films to watch because they did not allow us to escape into a magical out-of-space adventure, but kept us firmly grounded into the messy reality of our lives. Not unlike Clint Eastwood's performance on stage at the Republican National Convention.

All those performances are worth watching more than once.

*Update:

I gave Clint Eastwood such a wide berth didn't I? - From the liberal side it sure looked like a representation of the GOP "Base" - Now, he gives an interview and says, "President Obama is the biggest hoax perpetrated on the American people..."

If he had just kept his mouth shut, we would have continued to think that the incoherent ramblings on stage were a stroke of creative genius not many understood. Now? he looks like an old fool that would have done best sitting on the audience and clapping and booing on cue with the rest of the haters.

Author's note: I would like to thank Thurman Williams for a stimulating conversation that made this article a reality.

NY Magazine: Eastwood's Manager: Chrysler Ad 'Not a Political Thing'
Image(s) credit: Clint Eastwood: The New Yorker by Lauren Lancaster

Clint Eastwood's Chair has an Older Sibling

2012-08-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

I had to take my kid to her former school to do volunteer work and on the way over, right on my neighborhood, something that was not there yesterday. I had to take the camera and share with you all.

I have no idea if this was on the plans prior to last night's bizarre experience at the RNC with Clint Eastwood, but the timing evoked a chuckle. Enjoy!

In front of the evangelical church >>>>>
Designed for a giant and hard to miss.

The Republican Convention: Another Nail on the GOP Coffin?

2012-08-31T16:42:00.003-07:00

Yes, they built it!

The Republican National Convention (RNC) is finally over. After watching as much of it as it was humanly possible without bursting a blood vessel, we have reached the conclusion that the Republican party no longer exists.

Some of us expressed our embarrassment for our country and its people and hoped the rest of the world was not watching. (Me included)

Nice fantasy. This was a train wreck worth watching regardless of the need to grit our teeth and remembering to breathe.

The GOP has, blatantly, become the party of cheaters. They changed the rules on the spot to disfranchise a segment of their own party that very vocally demanded to be heard on the floor. No such luck.

Ron Paul supporters thrown under the bus

Perhaps a lesson learned is that if this party can manipulate the voting laws in all states, they can easily devour their own without giving it a second thought.

The RNC convention was a parade of hopeful republican governors touting their own horn and mentioning Mitt Romney in passing.

Each political official that took the podium made it abundantly clear that they were there to promote themselves into a better position in 2016. The RNC was a mixture of bizarre rhetoric and self-importance.

Blaming President Obama for the ineptitude of a destructive Congress and the failure of the previous administration was the theme of the night. The speakers threw as much red meat and as many lies as possible to a base that seemed jaded and bored most of the time.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Appealing to the Hispanic community was not a subtle event. Latino-descent governors paraded on the stage touting the grandiosity of a republican party that no longer exists.

Everyone of these governors recounted their humble beginnings - which are yet to be fact-checked for some and totally debunked for others - and their experiences in leadership positions within the party and their own states. Unfortunately, they were the only Hispanics on attendance.

The audience cheered and applauded on cue when the Hispanics on parade praised the Republican party, or humbly stated their gratitude to a country that gave them great opportunities to succeed. Overall, with very few exceptions, the enthusiasm was sorely lacking.

Mitt Romney did his best to connect with a Hispanic audience by hoping that those watching at home would identify with his Mexican-born father.

Unfortunately for Mitt Romney, no one is voting for his Mexican-born father.

The former governor also threw a morsel to the birthers. Perhaps it was a small offering to keep them from staying home on election day, but he would have fared better had he kept that doggy treat in his pocket instead.

As soon as it left his lips, the comment was plastered all over social media. "When the world needs someone to do the really big stuff, you need an American." - all that was missing here was the wink - This comment landed hard on those jaded on the stupidity of birtherism. Their disgust was expressed quite openly on Twitter and Facebook.

The GOP has no cause to wonder the reason they have 0 percent (0%) of the African-American vote, or, why the 'white base' is increasingly more democratic and embarrassed by a GOP association. Those who used to be proud Republicans no longer recognize this party as their own.

Mr. Romney also tried to connect with another segment of the population that is unlikely to vote for him: Women. Women of all ethnic backgrounds have been raked through the coals by the Republican Party over the past few years and, women, have very long memories.

Endorsing laws that disfranchise voters by virtue of their surname, ethnicity, and perceived political inclinations, has blown up in the faces of the GOP. These people are not likely voters for a party that represents oppression and control of personal freedoms, choices, and liberties.

There is no coming back from this. This party needs a major overhaul if it is ever to have any credibility as a viable option in a two-party system. Let alone in a system that would have more than two parties vying for attention and importance.

For a while we cringed as the minorities were both pandered and maligned with words of "opportunity" and "Welfare" - Social media exploded when the rapid-fire series of lies about President Obama and his policies begun.

The current GOP has not only offended the 'inconsequential' minorities but mortified the white population by attempting to appeal to racism, bigotry, and a hatred they do not possess. Some felt the need to state on social media: "They don't represent me." and "I am not like that." or, "I have nothing in common with these people."

They don't need to apologize or differentiate themselves from the fear-war-mongers. Actions have always spoken louder than words and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, skin color, or religious beliefs are irrelevant to most people.

Muslim Symbol of Peace

Which brings us to the next segment, Mitt Romney persisted on instituting "Freedom of Religion" if he becomes president. The audience was not sure how to respond to that at times. They seemed torn trying to assimilate what that meant. Do they not have that now? Was Mitt Romney saying Mormonism has been maligned by the Evangelical audience? Was he addressing members of his church?

What about Muslims? will Mitt Romney protect them too? - From the way he was talking about going to war with the rest of the (Muslim) world, it did not seem that way.

There was a time - Sarah Palin's time - when throwing red meat to the audience was energizing to a base that horrified the vast majority of the country. The audience last night did not seem to be responding well to what has become a smelly, odious, and rotten piece of meat. At times, it seemed the responses were forced and the audience had to be coached into having a reaction or paying attention.

Every good fisherman knows that they need to change the bait in order to attract the catch and appeal to a different variety.

Clint Eastwood talking to a chair

Clint Eastwood overshadowed Mitt Romney's speech. It was not a helpful stint for the hopeful presidential candidate's biggest introduction to the rest of the country.

On the bright side, the conversation about invisible President Obama is likely preferable to Mitt Romney's invisible tax returns

While there were some hopeful rising stars in the form of Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Ted Cruz, solicitor general of Texas, the overall feeling about the convention can be summarized as a failure of epic proportions. This convention was a public disintegration of a party that has lost its center and is hovering near the cliff of doom.

The contrast between the RNC convention and the DNC's next week will be sharp. The presidential debates will likely push the Republican candidate to the jagged edges of the cliff. If voters prevail, a new Congress of "Can Do" individuals will finalized the GOP demise as a political giant.

This coming November I will proudly cast my vote for President Obama again. I hope you'll join me.

Until next week - PEACE to all.

Fox News Latino: Opinion: Marco Rubio Speech Proves He Does Not Speak For Latinos
Politico: 0 percent of blacks for Mitt Romney
MSNBC Media: Poll results and questions asked.
TPM: Ron Paul Revolt Blows Up GOP's Unified Convention
The Huffington Post: CNN Camerawoman: Peanut Throwing Incident at Republican Convention 'A Wake Up Call
MSNBC - The Ed Show: Voter ID laws could disenfranchise 758,000 in Pennsylvania
YouTube: Two Former Republicans Tell Why They No Longer Support The Party
Republicans For Obama
The Palm Beach Post: GOP heaped praise on women, but will it win women's vote?

Photo Credits: MSNBC, ABC News,

President Obama Strengthened Medicare

2012-08-23T22:21:00.003-07:00

About 6 yrs ago, my husband was diagnosed with sleep Apnea and needed a CPAP machine to help him breathe through the night. The people in charge of providing him with the equipment charged Medicare over $1,600 and us almost $200 a month. This is a rental for 13 months, after this period of time, the patient owns it.

Do the math: 200X13 = $2,600 + $1,600 = $4,200

The mask did not fit right and the machine was as loud as a revving engine. Needless to say that no matter how hard he tried to sleep with a mask that resembled those worn by a fighter jet pilot, he just could not manage to do so.

The mask was not designed to move with the patient, and unless he slept on his back the entire night without moving, the stupid thing would slide and the hose would get tangled around his neck and shoulders.

After a few days of not sleeping (neither him, nor me), he complained about it and requested a mask that would allow him to sleep.

We were in for a fight.

The medical supplier's attitude was: "Get used to it and sleep on your back. It costs us money to give you a different mask."

After explaining to deaf ears that it is impossible for him to sleep on his back due to a failed Laminectomy (or stay in a position for very long), and that the metal rods and screws permanently embedded in his spine make this impossible, he ended returning the machine in less than a month.

Medicare was charged for at least two months of use and we were charged for one. Money down the drain for everyone involved except the supplier.

FAST FORWARD

CPAP Machine - Sleep Apnea

The day before yesterday, his primary care physician (PCP) went over his chart and asked about his use of the CPAP because of the other issues he is having, namely he thought, related to sleep and fatigue.

Dr. S., noted that recent studies show a correlation between people with sleep Apnea and the development of different forms of cancer. It was enough to make us pay attention, but there was more to it than that.

"The brain," as Dr. S. explained, "spends the night fighting for oxygen and unable to relax, even if you think you are sleeping, you really aren't." - "This," he continued, "Also creates other health issues that are harmful to your heart and other internal organs."

Dr. S. requested that we contact the sleep study facility and have them send the results and numbers to his office and he would get back to us in a few weeks.

We did as requested and the Sleep Study clinic faxed the documentation immediately. Late that afternoon we got an urgent call from a supplier of medical equipment to come in right away. Dr. S., had set up the appointment for the next afternoon. There was no quibbling over it, it was expected that we show up. Period.

Sleep Apnea

I know Dr. S., and if he got on the ball this quickly, it means that the numbers and results were alarming enough for him to move everything at the speed of light.

My husband got a CPAP machine today. It is A) quiet - as in you don't hear anything. Perfect for the spouse that does not need one.

B) they fitted him with the right mask and told him he had six months to try all the others if that one was not suitable. *WOW*

C) We signed the bill.

Here is the kicker: There was no COPAY to the patient and they charged Medicare half the price of what the previous company had charged years ago for an inferior machine and a Darth Vader mask that only fits right in the movies.

This is first hand knowledge on how President Obama has cut wasteful spending from Medicare by reversing the evils of the past presidency.

Mitt Romney Lies

Mitt Romney is lying about the funds cut off from Medicare. Romney is not stating the context of the so-called "Medicare cuts" because facts and context are detrimental to his goals. What has been slashed from Medicare is wasteful spending.

Medicare is providing better coverage to the elderly and disabled than it has in the past. The donut hole is smaller now and will be permanently closed in 2020. The damned donut hole costs thousands of dollars every year per patient and seniors and disabled patients have seen significant savings thus far.

Medications cost less too and we can feel that in our checking account, which just like my husband, will be breathing a little better moving forward.

THE EVIL MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

For those who don't know... MEDICARE ADVANTAGE is a PRIVATE insurance company and it cuts into the benefits that Medicare pays and double and triple charges for medical services Medicare can pay by itself at a fraction of the cost. YOU DON'T NEED TO SIGN UP FOR IT. It is a rip off. Furthermore, essential services a patient might need are NOT covered. You can thank President George W. Bush for this wasteful privatization attempt of Medicare known as Medicare Advantage.

I know we are not the only people out there who have seen a reduction in medical costs in the form of copayments and medications and that means a lot to people struggling to survive/live on a tight fixed income.

MEDICARE FOR ALL

Many of us are in our 40's and 50's and are too young to have Medicare, but after having experienced both systems, I can't wait until I do.

We spent years paying for all health related expenses out of our savings due to the "pre-existing" condition. Thanks to President Obama, the insurance companies can no longer deny anyone from a pre-existing condition and this is something that everyone needs to know.

When someone lives with chronic pain, their ability to fight for their rights is severely diminished. Since my husband got coverage through Medicare, I have not had to fight for his medical care with a $10 hr. employee hell-bent in saving the private insurance money and them getting a bonus through denying care (I had a neighbor who did this for a living. One of the most miserably unhappy people I have ever met.)

We all pay into the system through years of contributions. The coverage is far superior to private insurance and worth a mention, but can't stress loudly enough how much better than the coverage is not having to fight for the right medication or treatment options. Having no stress in this area is priceless when you are juggling a thousand other things and keeping your life as normal as possible when dealing with disabling conditions.

Case in point: When the surgeon who wanted to operate on my husband turned out to be a quack, we sought a second opinion out of state and had the surgery done safely with real professionals at Stanford Medical. Try doing that with a private insurance company.

We did not have to jump through hoops. We only had to figure out the price of a hotel, time frame, and cost of gas.

Everyone in this country should have that peace of mind. It is a human right that no one should be denied.

Nationalized Health Care works in every industrialized country and has shown to work here just as well in the form of Medicare for the elderly and disabled of any age. The military and government officials have socialized medical coverage. Only the Middle Class is excluded from having the same rights while they are the ones paying for it all.

The Mitt Romney's of this world want to privatize Medicare and Social Security because there are billions of dollars screaming to go to offshore accounts. They don't want us to know what it feels like to have Medicare, because in the words of Mitch McConnell: "We can't give this to the people, they would like it."

Damn right we would!

PEACE

U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Services: What is Sleep Apnea?

The New York Times: Sleep Apnea Tied to Increased Cancer

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine; Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cancer Mortality: Results from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

Mayo Clinic: Laminectomy; What you can expect

WebMD: Decompressive Laminectomy for Spinal Stenosis

The New York Times: Patients Would Pay More if Romney Restores Medicare Savings

The Washington Post: The Medicare Advantage Scam by Ezra Kline

ABC News: President Obama: I have Strengthened Medicare

Orlando Sentinel: Medicare patients get closer to closing 'donut hole' in prescription costs

Image Credit: By Habib M'henni + User:DMY [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Mitt/Pinocchio credit to PlanetPoV

Cosmopolitan: Helen Gurley Brown's Legacy

2012-08-13T16:31:00.005-07:00

Helen Gurley Brown - 1964
1922 - 2012

Helen Gurley Brown, world-renowned editor for Cosmpolitan Magazine, passed away at the age of 90.

Ms. Brown was a pioneer in a field dominated by men and became a success by not following the standard tried-and-true formulas of magazines geared towards women. While it is hard to dispute that the magazine is a lot of fluff and advertisement now, and has been for years, it is indisputable that Helen Gurley Brown tackled "taboo" subjects in magazine articles with refined elegance.

For many young women, the topics and divergent views from the previous generation was empowering. The raised eyebrows and curiosity kept people reading and helped shaped the discourse of what it meant to be a woman. Cosmopolitan stood out on the shelves.

The vast majority of magazines geared to women tackled the difficult issues of housekeeping, recipes, and how to become a Donna Reed clone. In essence, they boxed women into an inescapable, but acceptable container of societal comfort. Cosmopolitan magazine made the other publications geared toward women seem antiquated. Great care was taken to print articles that were relevant to the realities of single women.

Johanna Lasic - Miss Argentina

Cosmopolitan gave women a window to "something else" - Something besides the marriage track, kids, and dutiful homemaker. The glossy ads of flawless (air brushed) models in Park Avenue hair, make-up, and evening wear created a vision of "more and better" that translated well into designer sales.

Beauty salons were not only inspired to do things differently, but services that involved pampering, rejuvenation, hair removal, and many others, emerged and thrived. In short, and entire industry profited from women giving themselves permission to embark in professional careers and be as sexy as they wanted to be at the same time.

She tackled sexuality outside of the confine of marriage and created an uproar when she published Sex and The Single Girl: Before There Was Sex in the City, There Was (Cult Classics) Ms. Brown.

Helen Hurley Brown is largely responsible for women believing that "having it all" meant having it all at the same time. As we have found out with passing generations, having it all at the same time is not a one-size-fits-all, nor do we get to enjoy all of it. However, she made it possible for women to think and act outside of societal constrains. This made a huge difference to a generation of women that did not think twice about persuing their passions in science, music, research, and yes, CEO's of companies. - Having It All: Love, Success, Sex, Money Even If You're Starting With Nothing

Helen Gurley Brown quotes on women's sexuality:

"Good Girls go to Heaven, bad girls go everywhere."

"Cosmo is feminist in that we believe women are just as smart and capable as men and can achieve anything they want. But it also acknowledges that while work is important, men are, too. The Cosmo girl absolutely loves men!"

"One of the paramount reasons for staying attractive is so you can have somebody to go to bed with."

"... If you did not have a husband you might as well go to the Grand Canyon and throw yourself in..."

"...If you were having sex with a man and you were not married? Well, your reputation was just shot."

On her thoughts about work:

"I care, I care a lot. I think of Cosmopolitan all day and I run scared. So it is a combination of frights, caring and anxiety."

"My success was not based so much on any great intelligence but on great common sense."

"Beauty can't amuse you, but brain work - reading, writing, thinking - can."
"I was mousy on the outside but inside I am this tiger and I have to get on with it."

Rest in PEACE and thank you for empowering a generation of women.

Legendary Editor Helen G. Hurley Brown Dies

Image Credit: Silhouette Johanna Lasic: By Creator:Johanna Lasic (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to get State I.D. in time for Voting.

2012-08-11T20:40:00.002-07:00

Clinton Lester Booker (Deceased)

A Friend (@Olithechef) had her purse stolen and has been busy going about the business of reclaiming her identity. She found something interesting in the process of reclaiming her Social Security card and State I.D. - This may be valuable for those who need a State I.D. to vote in the most restricted voting states like Ohio.

This is specially helpful for those who are young and have a social security number, but no physical card. Many parents have held on to their kid's original social security cards and waited for the right time for the kids to have them only to find out that they were misplaced or forgotten.

Below is her recount:

The only think that the SS Department will accept if you don't have ID; they'll accept insurance information or a paper from the doctors saying you were there. You information must be on the paper, including your Social Security number. (They don't care about birth certificate, bills, tax infor. NOTHING except insurance or doctor.)
I asked him "What if you don't have insurance or have not been to a doctor for a while (ME - I am healthy as a horse) and he said; "Go to the free clinic, get an appointment for a general check up (which is free) and tell them you don't have ID."

So I did it. I walked in, gave them my information, got a check up and asked them to copy my information on the page. I went back to the Social Security office with ALL my papers, and the only thing he took was my paper from the clinic, punched it in, handed me a piced of paper back and said; "Your SS card will be there in 5 days."

At that time I'll take my Social Security card, two proof of address (Bills, letters) to the DMV and get my license or State ID. The license is the only thing that costs me. It is that simple."

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Image Credit: By United States Social Security Administration (United States Social Security Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Fear Factor: Louis Farrakhan is on the CIA payroll and Blacks will riot

2012-08-02T17:56:00.002-07:00

Racism in America

Today's article is longer than what the experts claim Americans can handle.

I hope they are wrong.

It has been a while since we wrote about the ugliness of racism and how it is perpetuated by those who need it to further their political agenda. We all know that divided people create easy pickings and the victor get the spoils.

In an article published back in August 20, 2011, we touched on different types of racists and how their primal fears are used against them to provoke chaos in society.

Below is an excerpt to set the tone on what the right wing nuts are predicting will happen in this upcoming presidential election:

The Arrogant buy AK-47s, military fatigues and survival rations. They know, they just know, that someone is coming for their women, their land and their food. They must be prepared for these upcoming events. The billion dollar industry that feeds on their paranoia continues to laugh all the way to the bank.

The Arrogant crowd are tired of being on edge and can't wait to instigate a horrific confrontation in which they will feel vindicated. They taunt by bringing their weapons to public places and use intimidation techniques to provoke "others" - specially if they are white, but liberal, or elitist democrats who betrayed their race by supporting an "Other" into the White House.... (you can read the rest here.)

The new conspiracy theory is viewed by the media as laughable and ridiculous. It has been dismissed as the ranting of lunatics that have invested heavily in tin foil hats while spending all their disposable income in stockpiling ammunition and military-style food rations.

Let's take a look at this conspiracy theory from a different perspective: Code for doing exactly what they hope one of these lunatics will do.

Watt's Riots - August 12, 1965

The Plan: instill fear and trigger a reaction that will result in riots. Racially motivated riots will give the lunatics the presumed justification for going on a murdering rampage of "Others"

In the article describing the hoped for events, the seeds of suspicion are clearly planted; The Trayvon Martin murder is cited as a key point in the conspiracy theory. The shooting that took place at the White House is another.

So far we have fear of black people, recognizable names, and actual (unrelated) events. Let the conspiracy continue.

Other important elements: A deep-throat-like source at the Department of Homeland Security - whose “super-secret code name.” is Rosebud. (I kid you not, this is what the author said) The author claims that the super-secret name's origin is only known to three people and one of them is no longer part of the scene. The suspense is killing us.

Or maybe not.

We could just infer that the author of this fantasy lacks imagination and ripped off the name from the movie "Citizen Kane" - A biography about Randolph Hearst.

Spoiler Alert: Rosebud was the name of Randolph Hearst sled.

Can we assumed that this character was invented by the author to create a bit of separation from his lunacy? or that there is someone claiming to be an employee of the Dept. of Homeland Security that has A) an ax to grind, or B) Homeland Security is not in the habit of vetting their employees?

Either way, the conspiracy theory gains a sense of mystery and danger that is essential to keep the hopeful reading.

Sarah Palin's Crosshairs map

Now we get to the really "good part," where this man, or men, draw a map for everyone whose tin foil hat has a tiny hole through which they can 'hear' the voices of impending doom and action.

This is akin to putting cross hairs on a map and not expecting an emotionally disturbed individual to take it upon himself to find a direction for his hatred.

The right wing consistently denies provoking the atmosphere in which these types of event can, and do, happen. In this case, they will deny any events arising from using the following rhetoric and making it go viral (which is a point of pride made on the article):

Watch for a false flag event against Obama or his family, something that will outrage ‘black America.’ It will be carefully choreographed, but executed in a manner that will evoke the ugliest of reactions and create racial chaos in this country that will make the Watts riots, 1968 and the Rodney King riots pale in comparison. That’s the third leg in this.” .... "....stating that “a civil war” is the more appropriate term." ..."...They are revolutionaries, and revolutionaries thrive on chaos,” "...Economic chaos, chaos through racial division, and chaos through class division, ..." "... Farrakhan (Working for the CIA) is to coordinate the Blacks and the Muslims to prepare for riots this summer, using any means necessary.”

Additional red meat found in the conspiracy theory article; "... It is common knowledge that Obama is not an American,..."

See what they did there? instructions and justification for anyone that answers the short electrical brain waves penetrating the tin foil. It should be obvious that they expect one of their unstable followers to reach into their stash of stale bullets, and go Rambo against our President and anyone on the street that looks like him.

Needless to say that "this summer" is almost over and the riots have not happened, but hey! we can't have reality intrude in conspiracy theories can we? - The worst part is that the hatred before the election is reaching critical mass in social media and we have reason to fear these lunatics.

People targeted in this bizarre article include:

Valerie Jarrett, Louis Farrakhan, Bernanke, Gheitner, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Henry Kissinger, Jon Corzine.

President Bush and Alberto Gonzales at the Ranch
August 26, 2007

In order to give the theory additional red meat, the following false statements are made against our president:

Look at his lavish vacations, his limited work schedule, and those with whom he is working. This is a very dangerous man who has, as his closest advisors, people who have orchestrated the revolutions of the 1960s.

Not enough red meat? A black man with limited work schedule (code for lazy. No reference to W. Bush spending the majority of his presidency MIA. The same thing he did when 'serving' in the National Guard)

Take a look how they represent Timothy Geithner:

"Do you actually think that the fact that Timothy Geithner’s father worked with Obama’s mother in Indonesia was coincidental,” .... "...including George Soros, Henry Kissinger,"

The plot and conspiracy thickens through invocations of European economic crisis and the hopeful implosion of the American economy. Chaos, chaos is invoked a lot. They love their chaos. The more confusion the better.

The real Homeland Security

Doug Hagmann is the author of this bizarre conspiracy theory. His reports are almost identical to anything created by the feverish imagination of Breitbart, and O'Keefe. Unfortunately, he has a following in Canada and the USA through the Northeast Intelligence Network and he is the director at **homeland security us dot com. Sound legitimate right?

I loathe putting a link to the full article here, so I'll ask that you Google "The planned re-election of Obama revolutionary style" , or Doug's name, or Canada Free Press. You will find this is just one of the many incendiary articles that are fodder for the nut jobs on the fringe of society.

What we need to be concerned about is that the whackadoodles are fondling their AK-47's awaiting for their moment of glory and orchestrated chaos.

As decent human beings, we may want to keep handy the following information and report any "free speech" about assassinating our president, and, or his family. Social media anonymity is easy to unravel by the real professionals.

United States Secret Service
Homeland Security
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Central Intelligence Agency

Articles on Racism:

Racism as Entertainment
Professor Cornell West and President Obama
Terrified Angry White Men

** The right wing organizations ALWAYS use names that will automatically link their corporations, organizations, and projects to the Federal government. It is a marketing technique that does not invite scrutiny of the organizations, newspapers, or the qualifications of the individuals involved.

Images credit:
KKK: Ku Klux Klansmen and women at a cross lighting in on November 12th, 2005.GNU Free Documentation License.
Watt's Riots: By New York World-Telegram (LOC) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Citizen Kane: By RKO (Citizen Kane, trailer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Bush at the Ranch: Public Domain

England Olympics: A Time of Reflection and Acceptance

2012-07-28T13:09:00.002-07:00

The Olympic torch was lit last night and the cheers from the crowd are the same at every Olympic venue; Hopeful, joyful, and exciting.

It means something to know that that flame burns brightly for us, regardless of country of origin or ethnic background. Regardless of ideology, political views or gender.

For some, their own aspirations to an Olympic medal or simply participating in a future event, fuels their determination to continue training and making the necessary healthy choices that one day, will get them there.

For others, the notion of a united and peaceful world becomes more tangible when they see that all nations are competing in the same games and do so with grace and civility.

There are those who are competitive and can't help but to compare previous venues and criticize the current planning, opening ceremonies, or complain about international judges.

It is worthy to note that these people have never had anything positive to say about present or past venues unless the games were held in US soil. The commentary on forums from previous Olympic games are horribly charged with ethnocentric, and often, racist vitriol.

One of the worst I had ever seen where the running commentary on a few forums during the Winter Olympics in Canada.

The Americans participants bashed everything about the opening ceremonies while the Canadian participants responded politely or not at all. Several Americans with an obviously more expanded world-view, responded in the same manner as the Canadians, while others felt it was more productive to retaliate against the embarrassment of their own countrymen by going straight for the jugular.

It got ugly.

It quickly became political. The shame of having these people show their ignorance and hatred in public was a National embarrassment. More than most could bear.

There were apologies on forums to the Canadians with disclaimers that all Americans do not fit that profile. Fortunately for us, Canadians are well aware of that.

Unfortunately for us, a great number of Americans are not.

via worldwidecrazynews.Blogspot.com

Now the Olympics are in Britain and many wonder if the British, due to their distance from our shores, are aware that all Americans are not as clueless, arrogant and offensive as Mitt Romney. Specially in light of British newspapers and commentary comparing Romney unfavorably to another American production and disaster: Sarah Palin.

The short answer is yes. They are fully aware that we are not all the same or are as uncouth and insecure as Mitt Romney.

Fortunately, they know we have a much better and positive side because their educational system teaches them about the world, not just their own history.

Ours? not so much. Our kids' lessons are all about American Revolution, American history, American supremacy... How can we expect the adults in the aforementioned forums to be civilized and understanding of other cultures when what little they have learned, has been slanted in such a manner that superiority is no longer a complex to be ashamed of, but to brag about viciously?

This has obviously been going on for a very long time, here is an excerpt from Mitt Romney's book and he is no Spring chicken:

England [sic] is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn't make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy. And if it hadn't been separated from the continent by water, it almost certainly would have been lost to Hitler's ambitions. Yet only two lifetimes ago, Britain ruled the largest and wealthiest empire in the history of humankind. Britain controlled a quarter of the earth's land and a quarter of the earth's population.

Bob Costas

Our media reinforces these insecurities by providing us with coverage from the same people we have come to associate with Olympic coverage. Every two years, there is an Olympic event, and every two years, the American public is bombarded with stories about our own well-heeled, pampered athletes.

We rarely hear about the likes of a Jamaican bobsled team unless it is to make a joke or dismiss them outright as not medal worthy.

Not everyone is blood thirsty. Many know a medal is not within their grasp but they want to participate in a peaceful world event because they too, want to represent their country in its best light.

What is it about this notion that is not sexy enough for the media? Why is this not more than enough for us to cheer each participant's struggles and achievements regardless of country or ethnic background?

Time to reflect and think.

Jamaican Bobsled Team - 1988

What did it take to be a group of people from a tropical island to be competitors in a winter event? How hard was this for them without the financial support of mega-corporations willing to brand every piece of equipment, and dish out lucrative contracts on the athletes afterward?

It took a lot. It took passion and determination for the Jamaican Bobsled team to get to the Olympics. Their goal was simple: They wanted to participate and join the rest of the world.

Nothing to laugh about. Certainly something to admire.

A movie called "Cool Runnings" brought these people into our collective frame of reference, but how many of these teams and individuals have we missed? How many great human stories have we been denied learning because they were not Americans? - Our loss.

Our national hero seems to be Michael Phelps this time around again. He is a phenomenal athlete and surely he will win some medals. He will be hailed as a god if he gets them all in gold, but degrading commentary from our own media will soon follow if they are silver, bronze... or heaven's forbid, none at all.

Michael Phelps

The media will make comments about enhancement drugs and will vilify the athlete's country of origin of whoever, rightfully, earned the medal. They will also say Michael Phelps was too old or jaded. Someone will bring up again the photos of him and a marijuana bong.

The beat goes on.

These events are multi-billion dollar events and not everyone is competing on a leveled field. I hope we take the time, and have the opportunity to get to know the athletes from American Samoa, Andorra, Senegal and those other places most of America can't find on a map.

It is truly worth it for our own edification and personal growth.

In the meantime, I predict, we will have to be embarrassed by our own media coverage and feel compelled to apologize to the world for comments on blogs degrading Britain and its people. So without wasting anymore time, here is a preemptive apology:

To all our international readers and citizens: I apologize for those Americans that offend you. We want you to know, we are not all like them. They are the reason we just can't have nice things or travel outside our own country.

Best wishes to all participants in the Olympics. This is your moment, your time, and our pleasure.

Thank you for keeping HOPE alive.

PEACE to all

Mitt Romney Needs a V.P.

2012-07-16T14:29:00.004-07:00

Bush Sr. Endorses Mitt Romney

The flurry of commentary regarding the Vice-Presidential options for the Mitt Romney camp are a lovely distraction from the fact that we have only seen hundreds of pages of tax returns instead of the massive quantities released to the McCain camp. The then hopeful V.P. candidate did not hesitate to release many years of tax returns.

No one can blame the Romney camp from attempting to run away from negative issues. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney, throughout his bid to become the nominee of the republican party touted his business experience and solidified the name Bain Capital into our collective psyche. It is hard to run away from what he claimed to be his crowning glory and meritorious track record.

The only other major advantage to Willard "Mitt" Romney's illustrious career is his record as the governor of Massachusetts, which he campaigned fiercely on until his work there was scrutinized. He was also proud of his achievement as governor of Massachusetts on the health care issue. A model for the nation and the basis for the unfairly maligned "Obama Care."

It stands to reason that the only two things left to distract the public from further scrutiny on Mr. Romney's record as governor, health care, and Bain Capital is the Utah Olympics and the selection of a running mate for the upcoming presidential election.

No one cares about the Utah Olympics. Sorry to say, but past Olympics retain little of their luster as the years, and new Olympic events take place. Also, The Olympic narrative continues to tie Mitt Romney to his tenure at Bain Capital because he was still receiving a salary from Bain Capital.

The salary portion brings up the inevitable tax avoidance, Cayman islands, offspring's trust funds, Switzerland bank accounts, and the Bermuda triangle of financial records involving a blind trust and whatever else has not been discovered yet.

In essence, this is not a good topic of conversation that will advance Mitt Romney's presidential bid.

That leaves us with the vice-presidential nominee.

Condoleezza Rice and George W. Bush

Condoleezza Rice is still being floated around as a potential candidate despite Sarah Palin decrying her "moderate conservative" leanings. Despite the evangelicals screaming foul, and in spite of Ms. Rice stating she was not interested.

Ms. Rice has been touted as one of the most likable and intelligent people in the GOP by democratic-leaning media pundits. We can picture them salivating as they dream of this unlikely nomination.

We will reserve our commentary on Ms. Rice's statements and track record during her tenure in George W. Bush's administration and focus squarely on the fact that the GOP has tried, for the past three and a half years, to disassociate itself from the George W. Bush administration.

Having Ms. Rice up front and center will only bring further scrutiny to an administration most people wish had not happened; the events of 9/11 and how it could have been avoided instead of botched, Osama Bin Ladin, Rudy Giuliani, disturbing photos of Abu Ghraib and a host of other issues that no one in their right mind in the GOP wants to resurrect.

Of course there is always the resurfacing of conspiracy theories that run the gamut; from our own government orchestrating the attacks so Halliburton could profit from the oil fields in Iraq to the weapons manufacturers milking tax payers for actual weapons of mass destruction.

There is also the theory of knowing, and letting, 9/11 happen so a war could be justified. There are tons of links to these accusations but won't find them here. Readers are smart enough to find them throughout the web, or even watch video on You Tube.

Mitt Romney with Jeb Bush - 2012

Jeb Bush is also being floated around as the other half of the ticket that would save Mitt Romney's bid for the White House.

It is claimed that the former Florida governor brings respectability, a proven track record, and strength of character.

There are quite a few holes that need to be plugged in the above paragraph, but before we do that, we need to understand the following:

A) The GOP tapped Jeb Bush to run in 2000, not his brother. He declined. He was happy in Florida.

It is rumored that Jeb Bush's presidential aspirations are for 2016, not 2012. B) The fact that Jeb Bush endorsed Mitt Romney in March, as did his brother, George W., and their father should be more than enough of the "Bush connection" for the public.

Our ability to tolerate the Bush dynasty has diminished greatly over the past few years.

The anti-Bush sentiment grew exponentially after Mitt Romney went to Wyoming to benefit from a fund raiser courtesy of former vice-president, Dick Cheney. Reporters stated that before they were kicked out of the rooms, Mitt Romney was overheard invoking the Bush name.

This may be the main reason why Jeb Bush's name keeps popping up in the media as a likely candidate for the position. However, we must go back to the sentence that needs to be scrutinized:

If Jeb Bush brings, according to the punditry, "respectability, a proven track record as governor of the State of Florida, and strength of character" - good questions to ponder must be: "Shouldn't the presidential candidate bring those qualities to the table himself?" secondly, "Can the State of Florida and the Supreme Court stand more scrutiny regarding George W. Bush's election fiasco?" and finally, "has anyone looked closely to Jeb Bush and his associations with shady Florida developers and their connections to organized crime?" - We have, and if Jeb Bush ends on the ticket, our readers should too.

So who? who would be the best Vice-Presidential candidate for Mitt Romney?

Palin and Paul

Mitt Romney should align himself with those who dislike him the most. He must force them to vote for him because they will follow the VP and its derangement to the ends of the Earth.

No, not Sarah Palin, like burnt toast, she's done.

We are talking about Ron Paul.

Whoever Romney chooses must bring enthusiasm and votes because Mitt Romney can't manage either one on his own.

What are your thoughts?

ABC News: Jeb Bush Endorses Romney
CBS News: Cheney has high praise for Romney at fundraiser
Los Angeles Times: Former President George H.W. Bush Endorses Mitt Romney Photo credit as well
Jacksonville.com: Jeb Bush Endorses Mitt Romney (via email) Photo credit

A 99% Response

2012-07-09T14:57:00.012-07:00

The Working Poor

To the 1% Lady from a 99% Lady,

Think Progress and other media outlets reported your insightful perceptions about us "low income" people who just "don't get it." You offer as examples the "nail ladies," college students, and babysitters.

It is with a heavy heart as I shake my head that I am forced to reply to the charges you made against us based on our income and lack of education.

Your comments clearly underline that it is you, and those you represent, that are clueless about anything outside of the 1 percent gated bubble. Your commentary clearly displays your lack of education and knowledge about your own country of residence and its people.

The fact that you state that the nail ladies, college students and babysitters don't agree with your perceptions is proof positive that they are well versed in the ins-and-outs of politics and how decisions made at the top affect the vast majority of the population.

They can't agree with your views because they pay the consequences. Capish?

You and your kind seem to be under the impression that you have earned a permanent position as the ruling class by virtue of your inherited trust funds. Thus, you must know what is best.

You don't.

The fact that you have babysitters is not unusual but I beg to make a distinction between what "we," the common folks, call babysitting and what your kind labels so carelessly.

First of all, like in most our communities, my neighbor's teenage daughter was the babysitter for a few other neighbors. She had taken babysitting classes and was current on her CPR license. Her babysitting took place on a weekend she did not have homework and only for a few hours, so the parents could go out to dinner to a place that did not involve speaking into a clown's mouth. (I know this reference is lost on you, Google is your friend)

Your babysitting is done by an Au Pair, a young student from another country who works 24/7 at raising the kids you spawned and had no intention on raising yourself. Your kids are trophies to be groomed into their rightful scheming positions of corporate nepotism. See picture at right. ---------->>>>

Your kids grow up to be Mitt Romney and George W. Bush. It is too bad you don't hang out with other people in your income bracket who do have a clue about the working poor.

- Have someone introduce you to the Kennedy's. Your world of knowledge will expand beyond your wildest dreams. -

Our kids are groomed to be good citizens that have a clue what it takes to earn a dollar and to be generous of their time and income to those less fortunate.

Which brings me to the point of being "less fortunate." What the hell do you think that means? - Do you think anyone below your economic status is "less fortunate" because your frame of reference is in dollars and cents?

To us, the less fortunate live on the streets and suffer mental and health problems. Their houses burn down and the insurance company your husband manages refuses to make good on the policy. They suffer a major illness and they are unable to pay for the horrific cost of medical care. These are the people we think of when we say "less fortunate" and none of it is through fault of their own.

Author: Martin Kihn

Yes, it is yours. Your being clueless about how society works and malfunctions is a huge part of the problem. You actually have the power to effectuate changes that benefit society at large and do not take away anything from your personal life.

The "nail ladies" and all others who make your life easy to live, have names and lives outside of their working hours. They live where the rest of us live and are fully aware of the disparity between your lifestyle and ours. They are more aware and educated that you have given them credit for.

We need to point out the falsehood of your statements. You don't want people to be educated beyond what they are now. It is hard to get "good help" when people know and demand their rights.

We will no longer enable you in your bad behavior. We will make sure we put enough regulations into place to prevent you stealing our natural resources and polluting our country. We even intend to achieve living wages and we know that pisses you off.

Your kind is notoriously cheap when it comes to labor and tips. We, the middle class pay and tip better than you do because we understand what it takes for that waiter to earn his paycheck.

You don't.

Unlike you, we are true Americans. We love our country and see all its faults. We try to fix those and make it better for generations to come.

What have you done for your country lately? (or ever?)

I can't continue to write this letter because I have children to raise, a home to clean, errands to run, and meals to prepare. I know you are puzzled by this but I have no time to explain.

I will leave you with a final thought, we don't envy your wealth - we resent your greed and sense of entitlement.

It is time for you to grow up and live in the real world.

Think Progress

Ten Reasons A Democratic Government Should Never Be Run as a Business

2012-07-08T14:51:00.004-07:00

US Government Spending FY 2012

We have been told countless of times that if the government was run like a business, there would be no wasteful spending. We have also been told that every aspect of our lives would run smoothly because companies and corporations know how to do their job better than any government. This is one of the premises in which Mitt Romney is basing his candidacy and it is worth exploring the touted benefits of running a government with the same dedication one would a business enterprise.

There are a number of reasons why democratic governance should never, ever, be given the same latitude as a business. Here are ten.

1. A business is a profit-hungry machine. It requires that cuts to expenses be made without regard for how it affects anyone who depends on the work provided by the business to survive. For instance, cost-cutting involves taking necessary positions away from one group of people and handing them over to another group of people who will do the same job for less pay and benefits.

We have called this outsourcing and off-shoring. Either way, it means that the corporation continues to increase profits while necessary positions are still maintained. A bottom line could care less who the employees are, or what country they are in. All that matters is the maximization of profits.

Credit to Automation.com

2. Governments build. Companies destroy. A company like Bain Capital shreds jobs, equipment, and manufacturing plants. A government invests the people's capital into infrastructure, national security, education, and more. A government ensures that food, water, and air are safe for human consumption.

Corporations need to maximize profits and operating under safety and regulatory standards is a burden that costs money and time.

We have had every major polluting industry introduce bills to Congress that will dismantle the safety net of regulations in order to maximize said profits. What corporations view as a waste of funds, government and people tend to view as a necessary element to prevent illness and early deaths.

3. Companies and corporations can be dissolved overnight and most people won't even notice. A government gone over night would create chaos affecting millions of people in an instant. The repercussion would last decades.

We can live without a corporation. We can't live without governance.

4. A democratic government ensures that its citizen's voices are heard through all levels of government. Decisions made must include the majority and include the minorities. Companies don't want to hear from their employees. An all-important ruler makes the final decisions based on profits, not human needs.

5. Corporations get rid of extra baggage. This includes employees that are too ill or old to perform at previous levels. They also get rid of knowledgeable and skilled people in order to hire "green", or younger workers, who will work for half the salary and less benefits. This is a cost-effective method to use up their youth and energies.

Unemployed Professionals NJ - Star-Ledger

A democratic government does not get rid of its people. It provides safety nets to account for the unfairness of life. Illnesses, accidents, mental impairments, birth defects, and natural ageing are some of the least profitable conditions that affect most human beings. Companies have no use for "broken" or "damaged" goods.

To a government, we are human beings. To a corporation, we are tools that are valuable for as long as they are useful. Once broken, we go to the landfill.

6. Speaking of landfills, it is the role of government to ensure that waste is properly disposed of with minimum impact to the environment. Corporations could care less, the faster, the better. Things got messy? too bad. (Think Exxon Valdiz and recent spill by British Petroleum in the Gulf Coast)

Recycling started out as a profit-free endeavor in order to minimize the waste and create less toxic by-products that will continue to affect subsequent generations. It was never the intention of corporations to adopt vegetable-based containers until they realized that A) there was demand from consumers that would translate into B) Profits.

7. Companies operate on a year-to-year basis broken into quarterly profits. Democratic governments operate on the basis of future generations and their general welfare.

8. A democratic government pays its bills. A corporation will avoid paying theirs at all costs. Bankruptcy, dissolution, reconfiguration of the company, and off-shoring the profits are tools used by Bain Capital and Willard Mitt Romney.

9. Corporations are in the business of gambling. They take risks because there are seldom any repercussions. They lend funds to average people at exponentially higher rates than they get their funds from the Federal Reserve. If the government operated at a profit and was in control of the Federal Reserve, these corporations would get borrowed funds at 22 percent.

image credit to student loans central

Instead, that is what they are able to charge for the privileged of using their preferred credit cards. By comparison, Student college grants are made available for free to ensure an educated population that would otherwise be unable to afford tuition and textbooks. Corporations are in the business of student loans and massive debt accrual to the individual.

This point cannot be overstated, a democratic government invests in the health of its population through education, upward mobility, and quality of life. Corporations do not. There is no immediate quarterly profit in this endeavor.

10. A business is a dictatorship that operates in a vacuum. A democratic government operates at all levels of society, making it possible for businesses to operate using and abusing public spaces.

There is ample room for free-enterprise and production. What we can’t afford is a free-for-all in which capital gains trump benefits to the population.

Federal Spending and Spending per State

Washington Post: Romney's Bain Capital Invested in Companies that Moved Jobs Overseas

JP Morgan Lost over 2 Billion Dollars - Huffington Post: JPMorgan Trading Loss: 3 Share Holders File Law Suits

Industrialized Countries are Innovative

2012-07-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

We could write about how we need to be creative and innovative, unfortunately, most people think it is nothing more than dreaming aloud. We once went to the moon as a useless pursuit to beat another country to the race and from that silly endeavor we got technology that has become common place in our every day lives.

We sleep in foam mattresses developed by NASA. We have communication technology developed from space exploration. We have medical equipment and medicine that can trace their origins to someone dreaming aloud and creating something useful. From the intermittent windshield wipers to LED lights.

Perhaps the video below will inspire Americans to dream out-loud again and create something wonderful that will spur others to innovate technology and create jobs.

Social Security and Ron Paul

2012-06-21T09:49:00.001-07:00

A recent story on the Huffington Post read that "Ron Paul Admits He's On Social Security, Even Though He believes It Is Unconstitutional." I passed this article on to social media because it matters. It matters that people understand that Ron Paul has a different perspective about what is important and personal to him and what it means for others.

Upon setting this article lose among my followers, a few interesting interactions begun to occur. Some had the knee jerk reaction that Ron Paul is a hypocrite and made no bones about it. Others defended Ron Paul's actions by justifying his reasoning.

Neither one is wrong. Those who view Ron Paul as a racist, a misogynist and a liar are also going to view him as a hypocrite.

Those who are inspired by Ron Paul's rhetoric feel that a hero of the people has been insulted. His ardent followers can't wait for ideology to become real. A Ron Paul presidency would ensure - at least in the ideological portion that has nothing to do with reality - legalized drugs, eliminating the department of education, and the Federal Reserve.

What the article from the Huffington Post highlights is that what is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. While Ron Paul has stated that older adults would continue to receive benefits into a system they paid into, younger adults could opt out of the system.

It makes sense, right? if we contributed, we should, like Ron Paul, reap the benefits. Unfortunately, the ideology stops there, at the threshold of reality. Reality has a tendency to be unpleasant because consequences make a brutal impact in people's lives.

Reality - Young people feel invincible. Feelings are not facts and Ron Paul does not go into the pesky details of reality.

17 yr old with traumatic brain injury
in a coma after car accident
via ABC news

What Ron Paul does not tell his followers is: "This is a fact: You are twenty-five years old, you have not contributed a dime towards Social Security and when you leave here tonight, you will be in a horrific auto accident that will leave you permanently disabled and in need of 24/7 care for the next few years. Maybe for the rest of your life. You will be in agonizing pain. You will need others to take care of you and above all, this is going to cost you money that you will never have."

Now what?

It could easily be a work-related accident. Workmen's Compensation Insurance will only carry the injured twenty-something for a few months, maybe two years. After that, he can go sit in a corner and beg for sustenance alongside the other homeless, decrepit, mentally ill and destitute individuals. If there is any consolation in this scenario is that they will all be in the same age bracket because people of Ron Paul's age and status in society, will be doing just fine. With or without, Social Security.

Just like Mitt Romney and everyone in his circle. Just like the Koch brothers or Donal Trump or Rush Limbaugh. It is very easy to take the high road when you don't have to choose between eating twice a week and keeping warm.

Ron Paul's idea of "liberty" means you are on your own. Nothing can be more appealing to a healthy twenty-something than to be free of "government interference" and feel as free as the wind. Unfortunately, a nation of laws without social structure that provides for all the things young people "feel" will never need is rather oppressing. Especially when they realize no adult has given them a second thought if things don't go as planned.

Who does not understand the ideology of living on your own and answering to no one? - How about keeping the extra $100 a month and blowing it on something cool? What young person would not want to keep 100% of his paycheck to spend and live for the day? - Hey! that's another bag of weed and if Ron Paul becomes president he has stated that all drugs will become legal. Waa Hoo!

Homeless Veteran
via AllVoices.com

Ron Paul wants people to do as they please. If they choose to pump raw heroin into their veins, so be it. But if their brain is fried and in need of medical assistance, rehabilitation services, food to eat and shelter... well, that's just too bad. Ideology shies away from crossing reality's threshold. The light is too harsh.

Young people won't have to worry about high tuition and a college education because once the public school system is gone, they will be lucky to know how to read and write. Those in college now may very well be the last bastions of education. No safety nets, no Pell Grants, no tuition-waivers and most of all, no restrictions on usury terms for college loans. This is "freedom?" this is "Liberty?" - No, this is the ugly reality of this meme of "freedom from government intervention."

Judging from the inability of some college graduates to differentiate from "Their" "There" "Their's" or "Your" and "You're" with our current system, it would be interesting to see what new turn our language takes with an absent DOE.

I can identify with the feelings of those who listen to the ideology because I have felt the same way not that long ago (at least that is what I tell myself). When I was in my twenty's I resented having to pay taxes or into Social Security and Medicare.

I was invincible and that was my money. I earned it all and I knew best how to spend it. Old age was a long ways off and after all, I had gone to college, was educated and a dedicated hard worker. I was the recipe for success. Just like everyone of my friends.

See? I knew better. I was on top of the world and the stupid government was harshing my mellow.

The stupid government in my state mandated that all employers provide health care for their employees. Two difficult pregnancies and deliveries later, I was still oblivious to the fact that someone in my position without health insurance would have died.

My life, and that of my unborn children, was saved twice and it cost me a total of two dollars when I left the hospital with bouncy happy babies. Hawaii was the state with the best health care delivery system in the Nation. I was lucky to have moved there to work and live so early in my young life.

When my husband broke his back saving his co-worker in a horrific power plant accident, workmen's compensation did not cover the endless years of recovery. Stupid Government intervention required the private insurance to continue making payments (less than 2/3 of his usual basic pay) until he was recovered, rehabilitated through physical therapy or declared unrecoverable.

This gave us the "freedom" to continue eating and feeding the two bundles of joy. Granted we were not financially secure, but we were not living on the street.

We were in our 30's. Invincible? No. Not by a long shot. Reality and ideology clashes are often ugly.

Our story is not unique. We see people at the supermarket shuffling painfully along the isles. Some are disabled from accidents, others from birth. The fact is that they are young. Very young.

Some are in their early 20's others look to be about 40 years old, but living with conditions that will never go away. That is the reality of life for these young people and the people who love and help them along. Those of us who are still contributing to Social Security are doing it gladly.

We now know that we are not investing money in our own personal accounts, but to maintain a social structure that works for all of us. The money that was taken out of our paychecks has gone to this general fund that was put in place decades ago to avoid having a multitude of destitute citizens begging for their daily bread in a soup line. Or freezing to death in the middle of winter.

Ron Paul is entitled to his social security benefits and so should everyone else. Not by "opting out" of contributing, but by continuing to contribute to our social structure. Because truth be told, no one knows when they will have to be Social Security recipients, not by choice, but by force.

One final thought is that if Social Security benefits are so offensive to a multi-millionaire, the right thing to do is to give it away to their favorite cause (often themselves) or return it to the treasury. These are people who don't need the money and can ideologically boast that since they were forced to contribute, now they are "sticking it to the man" by accepting the funds.

This reasoning is not logical, nor believable. Especially when someone is worth millions.

Huffington Post: Ron Paul Admits He is On Social Security
USA Today: Ron Paul is Worth up to $5.2 Million
Other Articles That Might Interest You:

For additional clarity, I highly recommend this one: Social Security and Other Distractions
For an official clear version of where we stand financially, this one: Social Security Press Release: Social Security is Solvent
Social Security and Government Rant
Healing, Empowering and Thriving

Ron Paul Photo via BlissTree.com

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

2012-06-17T09:03:00.001-07:00

I shamelessly stole this photo posted on FaceBook by my friend Sandy. It is true that a picture speaks louder than words. We can say the same thing for words and actions, but that is the subject of a much longer post.

Happy Father's Day to all.

Privatize America: Destroy Unions

2012-06-07T11:37:00.002-07:00

Huffiington Post: The Daily Szepz, Buying America

The Wisconsin recall has been touted on social media as a clear win for the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision. It turns out that corporations are people after all and boatloads of money is free speech.

Forty years ago, the above notions would have been deemed ridiculous if spoken aloud. Now, it is accepted as part of our daily political discourse.

Money, greed, envy, divide and conquer are some of the topics of the day and lessons that need to be learned by all if we are going to consider our form of governance, a democracy.

If we don't, a lesson to our children as they mature into their teenage years would go something like this: "In this country, money talks and the more you have, the more things you can buy. These include local, state and federal offices."

The overlords have an endless supply of cash and they are able to purchase messaging on media and billboards spewing lies and misinformation. They did this in Wisconsin and that was the testing ground for the November election.

Free-speech does not have to be truthful, it just has to be effective in order to achieve its intended purpose.

The pie charts of the amount of money that went into Wisconsin's recall election are simple enough for a child to understand, but mind-boggling on closer inspection. For instance, who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to keep a job that pays $137,092? - It seems illogical because it is.

The fact is that no one spends that kind of money to continue receiving such a small paycheck. The paycheck needs to be viewed as petty cash. The real money is displayed on that chart and Scott Walker governor's office is just a place to work from on behalf of the overlords who have some sweet deals behind the scenes.

Most Americans don't look into the financial assets, off-shore accounts and business partnerships of the people they elect. They are under the assumption that, like them, their elected officials live off their pay check and their sole reason for existing is to serve the community.

That's what government should look like in a democracy, but it is not the way it is. Corruption has been legalized and to make things even more unbalanced, only a selected few get to play their twisted game with our lives.

It is this narrow-view, this lack of thought that makes communities vulnerable to the ongoing manipulation.

Perhaps the most troubling manipulation of all is the influx of envy, so close to our reflections. The lack of understanding about our next door neighbors will be our undoing. For those who thought Wisconsin was a local issue, they need to take a look at the laws being passed in their states and see if there is any resemblance to what has been taking place in Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Indiana and Ohio.

For those who see a pattern of Union busting and privatization, congratulations! that is exactly the role these governors and congressmen are getting paid to do. So far, they have earned every Koch penny. They are good minions.

As we discussed the Wisconsin recall, the news showed footage of Scott Walker making the statement that the strategy was to "Divide and Conquer." - This has always been the foundation upon which GOP tactics have been built. A clear distinction with democrats whose policies can only be reached through consensus and unity.

The tactics of division are as old as dirt and not invented by the GOP, but well used in creating dissent among the royals and their kin. A perfect example is the HBO series, Game of Thrones. Except for the magical creatures, Ancient history books have the exact elements of greed and division.

Spain was divided and through royal marriages, united. Warfare in Britain. Ireland. Scotland. Chinese dynasties, Japanese Feudalism... American division. Same elements, same successes.

Wars have been successfully planned and won on the basic principle of dividing loyalties. Why mess with something that works?

Greed is divisive. Self-interest is divisive. Fear is divisive. Envy is divisive.

There are some among us, unemployed or underemployed who look at union workers with envy. Specially those in the public sector. They are under the impression that their tax dollars are exclusively used to fund their salaries and benefits, but completely ignore the services these workers provide and the general public expects. They also ignore that private sector union workers are heavily subsidized by the tax payers through benefits and loopholes that allow their employers to pay zero taxes.

Pension plans are largely funded by the employee's contributions and part of a benefit package that included less in salary up front but a promise, a contract, to be made up at the end of a person's working life. It is called, a pension plan.

Private and public sector unions have made tremendous concessions over the years in pay and benefits that have benefited the bottom line of corporations. Not the workers. These workers have earned every single penny in their paycheck and the promise of retirement benefits that the corporations are fighting hard to reduce or eliminate.

In the business world, this is called a breach of contract.

Companies go to court against each other to settle breaches of contract. What recourse do people have? People take to the streets and demand a government that works for them, or in Wisconsin's case, they initiate a recall because the blinders are off and everyone can see that the emperor, has no clothes.

Collective bargaining is not a dirty concept. It is an honest concept. It simply means that you agree to do a certain job for a certain amount of money and you have a right to live your life and not be an indentured servant.

It is a contract. A business contract between employers and employees.

Wisconsin voters seem to be under the impression that their neighbors with a Union job are somehow doing something wrong by being gainfully employed with pensions and living wages. They are under the impression that they are supporting these firefighters, police officers and teachers all on their own.

They are not. They signed a contract.

These civil servants have earned their paychecks and benefits all on their own. They pay taxes out of their paychecks, the same as everyone else. It is not their fault that the private sector is not as lucrative as it once was, nor is it their fault that their neighbor's private sector jobs have been exported overseas. Private sector employees need to look no further than their own employers to assign blame.

Jealousy. Envy. Divide and Conquer - It works. Why mess with it?

Wearing blinders to the outside interests with designs in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Florida and other states is a good way of preventing voters from seeing how the corporations are spreading its reach. Perpetuating poverty and stagnation while forcing people into a mindset of gratitude for having a job is a a very powerful form of control.

We always expect to get what we pay for and the Koch Brothers are going to get every last dime worth out of Scott Walker.

The voters? - they will get what they voted for and when their public sector neighbors lose their income and benefits, they will finally smile and be satisfied because misery loves company.

Or maybe not. After all, empty neighborhoods and reduced services will have them complaining about public sector workers even more. If that fails, they'll blame the government.

By the time they realize what the 1% has done to our democracy, it will be too late.

Blinders and division. An effective winning strategy.

Related Reading:

Sunshine Review: Wisconsin State Government Salary

Support Our Communities: Create Jobs

Michigan

The Power of Unions

Economics: Government Workers Cost Taxpayers Less

Minimum Wage, Health Care and Education

The People - The States

People Say: Mitt Romney is As Clear As Mud

2012-06-02T20:46:00.002-07:00

Planet PoV

For those who are following our "People Say..." series, you will be glad to know that Mitt Romney has "agreed" to a personal interview.

We will begin with the retelling of this fable from the beginning.

On one of those unadvertised stops in his seven-year presidential campaign, Mitt Romney agreed to sit down for a one-on-one interview on his way to Utah to visit a ~~sister-wife~~ "close relative" and ~~their~~ her five daughters.

Me: “Hello, please have a seat. May I call you Mittens?”

Mittens: “No.”

Me: “Great, Thanks!”

Mittens: “No problem.”

Me: “You recently went to Las Vegas with Donald Trump to raise wads of money from Sheldon Adelson. You know he hates the United States and has the common sense of a brick. Did he fall for it? Did he sink another $10 million dollars for you into the losing campaign's black hole? – Just like he did for Newt Gingrich?”

Mittens: “Well…uhm, that’s a lot of questions. I had a nice time in Las Vegas and when I am President, I’ll make sure everyone knows I spend time here and to come over and visit.”

Me: “We are not in Las Vegas. We are in Reno.”

Mittens: “What’s the difference?”

Me: “About 500 miles.”

Mittens: “I bet you $10,000 is less.”

Me: “I don’t have $10,000 to bet.”

Mittens: “Why not?”

Me: “I am middle-class and broke.”

Mittens: “Can I be frank? – I mean is not like anyone is ever going to read this… You know, I get angry when people say they don’t have money. I don’t understand what your problem is. It is one of the easiest things to have and frankly, I think people like you are just lazy.”

Me: “I am not lazy. I have worked full-time jobs all my life. I have a college education, I am fluent in more than one language... Besides, it is not fair to categorize people as lazy when there are no paying jobs with living wages in most states.”

Mittens: “You expect living wages? See? This is what gets to me about you people. You have impossible standards. What else do you do?”

Me: "I am a writer among other things."

Mittens: "You write good?"

Me: "Well."

Mittens: "Well what?"

Me: "Never mind."

Me: “Let’s move on to another question. Are you a hunter?”

Mittens: “I purchased a gun when I was a young man. I've been a hunter pretty much all my life." (He has hunted twice. Once at 15 and the second time at a GOP fundraiser)

Me: “In your long life as a hunter, what have you bagged? Beside Tea Party members.”

via Awkward Romney

Mittens: "I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear. I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Me: “Do you think that same-sex couples have a right to be married as a matter of legally entering into a contract – Like everyone else?”

Mittens: “I have always said that marriage is between a man and a woman and a woman and a woman.” He smirks and adds, “I know there are many circumstances where that is not possible, through death or divorce. I also know many gay couples are able to adopt children. That's fine."

Me: “So you think that gay couples should adopt?”

Mittens: “well, I said that it is legal in some states for same-sex couples to adopt.”

Me: “But you also said that it is okay for same-sex couple to adopt but marriage is between a man and a woman and children should be raised by heterosexual couples. I am confused, you are for the sanctity of marriage and for children to be raised by a married couple as a “family values” issue, but when it comes to same-sex couples, it is preferable for them to raise children “in sin”?”

Mittens: “I stand by what I said when I said it. Whatever it is I said. I stand by it.”

Me: “Do you think that everyone shares your views… whatever they were/are?”

Mittens: "I'm happy to learn that after I speak you're going to hear from Ann Coulter. That's a good thing. I think it's important to get the views of moderates." (Later, “moderate” Ann Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot")

Me: "You instigated a group of students to gang up against another student. They held him down while you traumatized him and cut his hair because you did not like that he was different from you and your group. Care to clean up your record here?"

Mittens: "Golly Gee Willikers! boys will be boys. What else do you have?"

By Topheerchris at Tumbler

Me: “Just between you and me, the spelling of Amercia was done deliberately, correct?”

Mittens: “Only my wife is supposed to get that name from me upon our arrival at a certain planet.”

Me: “Huh?”

Mittens: “I intend to run Amercia… I mean America, with the same precision and organizational skills I brought out during my tenure at Bain Capital.”

Me: “Are you saying you were a job creator at Bain Capital? Because my statistics show that not only companies lost their shirts, but hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, income, pensions and…”

Mittens: “My experience with Bain Capital is off limits, we can talk about something else.”

Me: “You brought it up, that’s not fair. But okay, let’s talk about the word on the street: They say Mitt Romney is a Polygamist and his birth certificate is fake. How do you respond to that?”

Mittens: “Oh, that reminds me…. Sorry, I have a plane to catch.”

Well folks, there you have it. Clear as mud.

Stay tuned for a future episode of Mittens and Trump.

A letter from the 1% to the 99%

People Say: Mitt Romney is a Polygamist

2012-05-30T17:50:00.002-07:00

We thought the birther issue was laid to rest with President Obama's birth certificate. Both the short and long form are easily available on the internet.

Some circles of people refuse to believe the facts and cling desperately to the notion that a black man can't possibly be a "real American" - Or as Romney calls it, "A real Amercian."

Donald Trump is king among these circles and he recently stated on CNN to Wolf(y): "I don't give names, there are people out there who are saying lots of things."

In light of the fact that Mitt Romney has not protested Donald Trump's birther nonsense, has not shown a backbone to stand up to Ted Nugent or Bryan Fischer (talk show radio host who forced him to fire his gay employee), we are starting a series of articles about conspiracy theories and rumors surrounding Donald Trump and Mitt Romney.

It is our understanding that anyone who staunchly hangs on to birther conspiracies in spite of the facts has the capacity and intellect to absorb a few more. After all, "people say..." is king among the offensive and insulting theories mass-produced about President Obama.

More than one can play this game and turn about is fair play.

The rumor that Mitt Romney is a polygamist started about five seconds ago.

These are the facts and factoids that make it impossible to deny that Mitt Romney is a polygamist.

* His great-granddaddy had five wives.

* He was raised in that environment. (word on the street is that his REAL birth certificate is in Spanish)

* Mitt, they say, is Mexican for polygamist.

* His "relatives" in Mexico are "closely related" (make what you will of this. That's the word)

* On St. Patrick's Day in 2005 and 2006 (Don Imus radio show) he made the same "joke": "I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman... and a woman... and a woman..." (this is true)

* A whole bunch of kids call him "uncle" *wink, wink* - in Mexico, they call him papi.

* Mexican illegal worker, Mitt's cousin, said that the existing renovation on the California house includes extra closets for the sister-wives.

* The garage elevator is for the sister-wives station wagons.

* So far, they have all lived in separate houses like "Big Love" but in different states to fool people into thinking that the blonde he is with is his first wife.

(Of course, these living arrangements are the reason why Mitt Romney had to commit voter fraud. He does not have a sister-wive in Massachusetts and pretended to live in his son's unfinished basement.)

* Mitt Romney has not been employed for the past 10 years because he has been hard at work developing the language of the new law of the land with the Church Elders. The rumor is that if Romney becomes president, all Amercians will be baptized into the Latter-Day Saints Church and expected to enter into plural, legal marriages. Women will be required to dress appropriately (see top picture)

* Some say that Mitt Romney's FaceBook profile said: "Married but available" before it was scrubbed clean.

The word on the street, some people say, is that Romney has ordered super-dooper, double-secret blueprints of the White House for additional bedrooms to be built in the residence portion of the building. He has renamed it "The Compound."

If that does not smack of polygamy, we don't know what does.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when we "interview" Willard Mitt Romney.

Gross People:

The Fallen and The Living

2012-05-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Life is hard, but war is hell. Memorial Day should be a reminder of what many have given up in the service of our country. Whether we agree with the wars fought on foreign soil or not, the fact remains that life was snuffed out of the very young, far too soon.

The casualties of war can be seen in Memorial walls and National cemeteries across the Nation. These women, these men had names. They all had a story. The all had families who will mourn them for the rest of their lives, not just on a pre-assigned day of the year.

When we think of honoring our troops, we may want to reconsider how we do this.

Slapping a sticker on the back of our cars is a nice gesture. So is placing flowers in the tomb of an unknown soldier, but if we really want to honor our troops and show our gratitude, perhaps being more proactive about their health care when they return and ensuring that the cost of war does not end when they return home, would be a more tangible solution.

Frankly, spending a weekend at the beach or relaxing at home is not something to be frowned upon. The middle-class will take a long weekend to recharge their batteries whenever they can take it. The real tribute is to ensure we don't forget the remainder of the year the true cost of war.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Repealed. We all Serve, we all bleed the same

While we ponder the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the men and women who love them, we'd do well to consider a man who puts his country and people above the pettiness of discrimination and greed.

I'll leave you with the pictures below. There is nothing more to be said.

Political Scams

2012-05-24T12:43:00.002-07:00

Just about everything in our lives is related to politics. Governing a country, a city or state requires politicians to behave like the civil servants they are and do what is right for the people they have sworn to serve and protect.

We expect police officers, fire fighters and teachers to do their jobs with excellent results, and yet, we have lowered the bar for those who hold the purse strings and are given the power to affect every aspect of our lives. Why?

When we apply for a position with a company, we are required to submit a resume, list references and be truthful about the information we provide in order to get the job and ensuing benefits. It is expected that we will do our job(s) without complaining and be an asset to the company. Are these not all the requirements of every position we have ever applied for? Why on Earth do we have different standards for useless governors, mayors, congressmen/women, senators and presidents?

Our elderly stand to lose more than the rest of us. They have worked longer than anyone else, they have health issues none of us has encounter yet - we will, it is just a matter of time - and they are the most vulnerable to unscrupulous predators who are fully aware of how alone and unprotected they really are.

Grandma and grandpa receive a lot of mail. Most of us probably don't get as much as they do and if we do, we quickly separate the unsolicited junk from the bills and dispose of things quickly.

What do our senior citizens do with all that junk mail? - Some savor it. Especially the junk that has been personalized and is requesting their assistance to help a non-existent child in peril.

These scammers know full well how to lure our seniors into parting with their cash. They feed into their loneliness and need to still be relevant in a world that has moved away quickly. Electronically, they are lost. They don't understand what Wi-Fi stands for or what it does. A router? A Sling box? A multi-function remote control?

Our elderly cling to their familiar treasures. Photographs of children and grandchildren long gone with families of their own. A new car is too complex and distracting. It won't make their lives easier with all the electronic gizmos. It confuses them. They cling to an old car that is unsafe, but within their comfort zone.

We are not that different from our elders. This is why we keep electing the familiar. It 'feels' normal. The new stuff has a learning curve and we are in no mood to be challenged.

Unfortunately, we are conditioned to behave in this manner. We have spent generations disparaging our politicians and demanding little from them because they conform to our expectations. Just like our elderly, there is comfort and security in what we know. Even if there is no safety involved.

It has taken a great deal of neglect on our part to see how our apathy has put in place some of the most dangerous scammers of our time in gubernatorial positions. Wisconsin has had enough and they are fighting back with a recall.

Mississippi, Michigan (some are) and Louisiana are not. They complain like our aging relatives but have no energy or desire to change what must be changed. They are not expecting more, they expect more of the same. That is exactly what they'll get.

Those states mentioned above are not unique. We can take a look at our own states and see people disconnected from reality. They know what they are comfortable knowing and, like our elderly pack rats, will not discard any of their notions or make a move toward the uncomfortable direction of learning something new or doing things differently.

We, like our elderly, are clinging to garbage. We are demanding less of a world that owes us more. We have in fact, answered the junk mail and hired the scammers to run our cities and states. They rail against abortion... a notion... of saving a non-existent child's live.

There is something to be said for the youth of this country and their willingness to buck a rigged system. Gratitude and support must go to our Occupy groups - young and older(er) - because they are not saying 'someone should do something', they are someone doing something.

They seem to have scrutinized the junk mail and are demanding accountability.

Protection from the scammers and preparing our future begins now. Vetting those asking for a job and staying on top of them to do the right things. Most importantly, firing them when they are ineffective and self-serving.

In this state, we have received sample ballots for our Primary elections on June 12. Early voting is available and a lot of research needs to be done to sort out the familiar names from those we have never heard from before. For instance, Dean Heller is one of those that must be fired. He has done nothing for the state and its people in all the years he has 'served' and yet, he keeps getting re-elected.

We recognize the familiar. There is no safety in the perceived comfort, but we hang on to what we know even when it is bad for us.

It is not easy when these people are total strangers and are putting their best face forward in unsolicited advertisement. They are hoping that the message they sent, based on polls we answered, will trigger an emotional response that will propel us to part with hard earned cash and our vote.

Who do you have in your state that needs to be replaced? Who will you replace him/her with? - Have you vetted the person asking for money and a job?

This is junk mail that can't be ignored by young or old. Not this year.

Who is Nicole Sandler?

2012-05-20T11:45:00.004-07:00

Nicole Sandler is one gutsy woman. Twelve years ago she adopted a beautiful child who needed a mother as much as she needed air and food. She took the plunge. Many talk about adopting, but very few of us are willing to go through the nightmare and expense of doing so. Hence how many of our children end up being "raised" in foster care.

Nicole Sandler often substitutes for Randi Rhodes on her radio show (owned by Clear Channel) and it is a joy to have the opportunity to listen to both on current topics with strength, integrity and knowledge. I say it is a joy because radio stations that broadcast progressive radio like Randi, Nicole or Ed Schultz are a dying breed. We had discussed this on a previous post.

Nicole is the woman who was arrested in Florida for asking a question of her congressman during a public forum at a town hall meeting and you can watch what happened here:

But Nicole Sandler is also a caring, loving woman who is proactive on helping others when their luck is down. She put together a place where 99ers could get help from people who were fortunate enough to still be employed. Remember that horrible Christmas when unemployment benefits ran out? remember how Congress blocked any effort to help their constituency? - Nicole Sandler did the best she could by connecting good-hearted people with one another and created Help the 99ers website.

I have always wondered who helps the helpers. As a spousal caregiver for the past 17 years, I know what it feels like to be invisible. Asking for help is not one of our strongest suits because we are always ready to lend a hand to those who have it worse than we do.

When I mentioned that Nicole was strong, I meant it. It takes real strength to reach out to others and admit they need some help. She did that today. She needs help to help her daughter.

Please, if you can donate $10 today to help this family go to "Help me Help My Daughter" and donate something. If you can't donate, RT on twitter to reach others who might. Post on FaceBook for the same reason and keep passing it on.

Jeff Sharlett has the means and proudly contributed. Some of your followers in social media can spare a couple of hundred dollars even if you are still wondering how you'll make the bills this month. It is worth the few seconds to help this family by spreading the word.

Join me in doing something for someone else.

PEACE to all

Help the 99ers
Crooks & Liars: Nicole Sandler Arrested at Allen's West Town Hall Meeting
Radio or Not

PayPal Nightmare

2012-05-17T18:07:00.005-07:00

Like millions of people, I have a PayPal account. Everyone has different reasons for having one. Mine is to receive payments from companies I freelance for when I actually get work. I also have student accounts to reload the kids' cards so if they have an emergency or are planning to go the movies with friends, they have access and a limit.

My relationship with PayPal has been flawless from the beginning. The freelance payments go there directly and when it reaches a certain amount, I transfer to my bank account to pay the inevitable monthly bills. There has never been a hiccup ...

Until Now.

On May 15, 2012 I decided to check my email and found the following:

You created a shipping label

Transaction ID:

Hello XXXXXXXXXXX, (removed to protect my privacy)

You created a shipping label using PayPal Shipping with U.S. Postal Service^®. Track your shipment

Your tracking number is XXXXXXXXXXXXXUS. Please keep this number for your records as it will get updated when the shipment clears the Bureau of Customs. This number also provides delivery confirmation in some countries. To learn more, check out the U.S. Postal Service^® website.

Please note that tracking information updates occur mostly in the afternoon or evening, so you might not see it until the next day.

Tracking number	XXXXXXXXXXXXX (removed to protect my privacy)
Label purchase date	May 15, 2012 14:55:24 PDT
Total shipping cost	$xxxx.xx USD
Insured value
Shipping label transaction ID	42D87107xxxxxxxx

Ready to ship?
You can:

Ship your items at any of the 38,000 U.S. Postal Service locations nationwide.
Give it to your mail carrier, or request a pickup for the next postal delivery day.

All you need to do is print and send. We'll email your buyer with all the tracking information.

Made a mistake on the label?

You have 48 hours to void it. We'll let the U.S. Postal Service know you've voided the label, and we'll respond within 15 calendar days. If your void is approved, we'll credit the amount to your PayPal account.

Need to print your label again?

You can reprint your U.S. Postal Service shipping label, but must do it within 24 hours of creating it.

Buyer

Shipping address - unconfirmed
agripka ustinov
zhukov pr. 7 168
Kiev
03190
Ukraine

Shipping details
Mailing date: May 15, 2012
Shipper: U.S. Postal Service
Tracking number: XXXXXXXXXXXX (Removed to protect my privacy)
Service type: Express Mail International®
Shipping Status: Shipped

I don't know anyone in the Ukraine - A red flag should be that the shipping address is unconfirmed (as stated in red in the email). I never authorized this charge.

Being a good citizen and a responsible adult, I immediately clicked on "You have 48 hours to void", entered the required information, and contacted PayPal to let them know that my account had been hacked, put a stop to that nonsense and refund my money.

The people at PayPal could not be nicer if they tried. They were concerned on my behalf and reassured me that they take care of their customers. Please give them 10 days.

No problem. I understand that they have their jobs to do and this things take some time to investigate. My feelings at the time were a bit raw and did not have time to think this through to the extent that I was forced to do so today. I went on Twitter and vented:

‏@freelance1m

I feel so violated. Someone hacked into my account & send themselves $ - Like I can afford it!

Collapse

Hello XXXXXX XXXXXXXX,

This email confirms that your shipping label cancellation and your refund request has been denied by the U.S. Postal Service® for the shipping label shown below because a package containing this shipping label was received by the U.S. Postal Service.

Ship To: agripka ustinov
zhukov pr. 7 168
Kiev
03190
Ukraine

Ship From:
(My Name)
(My Address)
United States
Carrier: U.S. Postal Service
Service Type: Express Mail International®

Sincerely,
PayPal

I was flabbergasted. Immediately I tracked the package:

ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

Proof of Delivery

Arrived at Sort Facility

May 17, 2012, 3:19 pm

ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

Depart USPS Sort Facility

May 16, 2012

FLUSHING, NY 11351

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

May 16, 2012, 1:32 pm

FLUSHING, NY 11351

Electronic Shipping Info Received

May 15, 2012

I called PayPal:

"The US Postal Service has declined refunding you because the label has already been used. Don't worry, we are not declining your claim. We are investigating and are in touch with the postal service to get your refund." -

He also gave me an email address they use to contact the postal service.

The e-mail address is the same as the people who took my money.

I Called the USPS department they routed me to and spoke with three different people. The last one was a supervisor who took down all the pertinent information and assured me he'd be in touch with Pay Pal to get me a refund.

Both PayPal and USPS are working to get me refunded and I expect that I will. My relationship with PayPal is still good and will continue to use their service since I have not had an issue with them in years. (until now)

However, I made the following observations and received no real answers. Just more of the "we are working to refund your money."

***Why did the "void" feature, which was done within a few minutes of receiving the email did not work?

***Why is the USPS not stopping the package from going forward since it is in their possession?

My concerns are that A) My name and address is on the return label and B) no one goes through all these illegal hoops to send candy abroad. Whatever is in that package is likely illegal. Drugs? Uranium? Plutonium? A Weapon of Mass Destruction? Underwear? - Let conspiracy theories begin!

I asked the supervisor at the USPS if this is not a Federal offense since it is going across state lines and what else can I do to inform the right people about this fraud that is apparently, nothing new. (see below for other people with similar issues)

He suggested I file a police report (locally) and the police department will file the necessary information with the Post Master.

Seriously? My police department needs to waste time doing this? - How about I get in touch with Homeland Security? or Attorney General Eric Holder? or at the very least, my own Attorney General?

But the police department? - Dude! they are keeping our roads safe and looking for missing children, busting drug operations and spending their meager resources patrolling miles of desert for real emergencies and injuries!

Give me a break!

Update: PayPal refunded my money. Today I made my first charge and they are monitoring the account - delaying payment until they verify the purchase. 5/30/2012

PayPal Community: USPS Unauthorized Payment Scam

PayPal Community: Unauthorized Payments to USPS

Made in the USA

2012-05-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

In the previous article we talked about purchasing American made goods and supporting Unions. Bookmark this page and when you need to purchase something for yourself or someone else, look here first.

We'll continue to update this page as time permits and with input from our readers. For now, we'll list clothing, vacations, cookware and local ranches and farms.

Clothing:

Due to illness and a bad economy - Justice Clothing is having a clearance on a variety of clothing. See if you can purchase something you need and help them out.

All-American T-Shirt Company (need we say more?)
Union Label - from underwear to outerwear. Made in the USA
New Balance - Not all items are made in the US. Some are assembled here from imported materials.
Eastland - Shoes and materials made in the USA

Americans Working has a long list of items made in the USA.

Vacations:

Disney, Sea World, State Parks, City Parks, Zoos and most baseball parks are staffed with Union workers. Go to Union Label.org to see the different Unions staffing our fun locations.

All of our National Parks support the local economies. They are YOUR parks. Enjoy them!

Boycott Hotels - Hotel Workers Rising

Cookware:

Cast Iron made in the USA: LODGE. - The enamel line is imported.
Regal Ware - They state their cookware is made in the USA
360 Cookware - Made in Wisconsin
CorningWare - Be careful, not all their lines are made in the USA. We have linked to one that is produced here. (ironically, the blue cornflower design is no longer made here. Wish I had kept my dad's set)
All-Clad - Made in Canonsburg PA - Here you have to be selective as well. Not all parts may be made in the USA.
Nordic Ware - Not only do they manufacture in the USA, but their vendors are also American Companies. - thought you'd like to know.
Pyrex - All their glassware is made in the USA. Plastic and metal items are not.

Farming and Ranching:

Anything coming from Hawaii is a great way to support Hawaii's small farms. Hawaii is the only place in the United States that grows coffee.
USA Coffee Company
Mr. Ed's Bakery - Preserves made in Hawaii from Hawaii's produce.
Kanalani Ohana Organic Farm - Coffee and Jams.
Ani's Bakery - I had to include them. I love their Portuguese Sweet Bread! - they ship to the mainland. (pricey! but totally worth it if you want to splurge)

Nick Ranch - California Grass Fed Cattle
Organic Beef Ranches
Alder Springs - Idaho (they grow more than potatoes)
Hearst Ranch - California (they have more than just the castle)
Eat Wild - California - Many locations to chose from and informative reading. Eat Wild - Texas. Eat Wild - Georgia

An extensive list by the Department of Agriculture of licensed organic growers in Nevada - Chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables and beef.

If you have a favorite, please leave us a note so we can add it to the list.