Reaching Deaf Ears...

Force Congressional Transparency Referendum - Let the People Decide

2017-07-20T05:22:00.000-07:00

When the Head of the Office of Government Ethics says our government representatives are, "Close to a Laughingstock" in the world, it is time the people of this country demand a referendum.

So...What is transparency? The answer is simple. The people of this country need to know what their elected officials actually do while they are in office. For instance:

When are they actually IN Congress doing their job
What legislation are they backing
When, What and How did they vote
How many 'Pet Projects' or Earmarks paid for with our hard-earned taxes are they sneaking through on legitimate legislation
Whose LOBBYIST DOLLARS are they accepting
How are they spending the $900,000 credit they receive for operating costs

THIS IS TRANSPARENCY. Here's one solution to Items 1 through 3. Link the automated voting system in place in Congress to a computer program that automatically tallies each representative's vote into a secure data base. Allow anyone in this country to sign up for access to this data base and receive emails weekly or monthly related to their representatives in Congress.

Items 4 through 6 are a little harder. These problems would require our Congressional Representatives to be HONEST and REPORT these activities as they occur. Of course, there should be penalties levied or even expulsion from Congress for false reports or not reporting issues in a timely manner. HOWEVER, if the citizens of our country do not come together and force these things to come about, the United States of America will continue to decline due to the ever-growing greed of our governing bodies.

Check out this article from The New York Times about retiring Head of the Office of Government Ethics has to say about our elected officials: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/us/politics/walter-shaub-ethics.html?smid=fb-share

USA Prison System: Big Money for Congress & Corporate America

2017-07-16T21:05:00.002-07:00

There is a quote that says, "Men fight for their freedom, yet when they get it, they immediately start passing laws to take it away again..." AND...Who in this country gets elected and passes these laws? ANSWER: The CONGRESS, i.e., the WEALTHY and Corporate America.

A LARGE percentage of the American Penal System, glaringly biased against the poor and middle class, is run by Corporate America. FACT: The majority of our inmates are non-violent offenders that need help, not bars. When counseling for mental health, drug rehabilitation, job training, education or other mandatory programs would turn their lives around, offenders become dollar marks in our penal system's bottom line. Tossing them into a cage doesn't cure anything but irreparably damages their lives, stacking the odds against them ever succeeding after getting out.

HOW CAN THAT BE? Inmates in this country are simply caged and submitted to a LOT of inhumane treatment, i.e., In the beginning of their incarceration, not affording them proper representation in a timely manner because they are unaware of their rights, forcing addicts to go through detox with no medical attention, housing them in unairconditioned units where temperatures rise into the 120's or more, providing improper nutritional intake, using them as 'slave-labor' and strip and cavity searching them multiple times a day. The list goes on and it's NOT RIGHT!!!!

Until our ELECTED OFFICIALS start making the needs of the citizens of this country a priority over pleasing the Lobbyists and their lackeys, real issues like our jails will never be addressed. The ultra wealthy own Congress. In most instances, they can BUY THEIR WAY OUT of this unbalanced legal system and profit off of it at the same time...

CHRISTIANITY'S POPULARITY BRINGS OUT THE DEVIL IN SOME

2015-10-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today, opening up Facebook, the following picture of Ted Cruz was a glaring sore spot on my screen. The post from DefendReligiousLiberty‬ stated,

"As Texas Solicitor General, I had the great honor of successfully defending the ‪Ten Commandments‬ monument that still stands at the Texas Capitol grounds today. But sadly, the removal of a similar Ten Commandments monument from the Oklahoma Capitol grounds overnight is just the latest chapter in an ongoing assault on religious liberty in America."

Really, "...assault on religious liberty in America." Our Constitution's First Amendment simply promises 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...' So here is Ted, again, involved in religious legislation!

Thomas Jefferson and others coined the phrase, "Separation of church and state" expressing an understanding of the intent and function of that amendment. Maybe a Christian monument's removal is insulting to Christians but possible justice to the other myriad people who do not sway that direction.

Although gifts don't step on my belief system, no one should have lenience in light of our Supreme Law. Therefore, if you take some gifts and refuse others because you don't agree with their SO-TO-SPEAK 'RELIGIOUS TINCTURE', then there is a BIG PROBLEM.

Example: Notice the second satirical picture of Ted Cruz beside a monument touting 'the Tenets of Atheism'. Of course, Mr. Cruz, a Christian, would be appalled at this representation of him. Simply, he believes it's OK to stand up for his religious tenets, (lord knows he is forever trying to legislate those beliefs on our country's population). But, an Elected Official in the USA, pledges to uphold our Constitution which allows for ALL RELIGIONS...NOT JUST CHRISTIAN. Maybe he's never read it?

If we abide by the intent of our 1st Amendment, NO GIFTS in conflict with that law should be publicly displayed on government owned properties. We are a Melting Pot not a Religious State. Our people need a neutral government to prove elected officials are committed to everyone without bias as guaranteed and under this inspired document.

The point is, Ted Cruz, Presidential candidate (scary), should fight just as hard to keep any religious monument as he did for the Ten Commandments. Sadly, it's not going to happen. At this point in our history, there is the gigantic chasm between Christianity's popularity, their assumption of rights and the lesser importance of everyone else's belief systems. Politicians, smelling the votes, have been beating that Christian Band Wagon and riding legislation through state after state with those voters in mind, i.e., Mr. Cruz and his Ten Commandments. Greed before the Constitution! Oops! The devil in some!

Stop Self-Interest From Destroying Our Democracy

2015-07-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

Normally, visitors to this site find foot notes and related documentation to read and determine for themselves the facts behind my statements. However, this is a commentary on my personal beliefs demonstrated within the entire collection of my previous blogs. Its purpose is to portray the dangers of Elected Officials putting self interests BEFORE the common good of citizens and the devastating effects their actions have on our country, the Bill of Rights and our Constitution.

Do-Gooders are trying to legislate their belief systems...When any issue cannot be resolved, it should not fall under the purview of government regulations. Abortion, gun control and religion (among others) have been debated for ions. There are no right or wrong solutions, simply pros and cons on either side of the debate. However, over the past few decades, a growing group of unethical elected officials, in an attempt to please their benefactors, HAVE PASSED 'moral laws' throwing the citizens of this nation into legal battles over unsolvable issues. What should be very private has gone VERY PUBLIC and volatile.

Now the whole focus of our government seems to revolve around these particular topics. Citizens, Lobbyists, Religious Organizations, etc. are either demanding repeal of the laws OR more and stricter ones. The concept of doing what is right for the entire country within the boundaries defined by the Constitution is falling aside into the shadows. The debacle is creating Civil Strife.

Accusations litter the media while campaign trails and our government's effectiveness is coming into question. Brothers are fighting brothers. States are threatening to secede while zealots are crawling out of every corner of the nation to run for office. Everything is intertwined with the failure of our elected representatives. Their apathy, covetous nature and willingness to accommodate the highest bidder is like a virulent cancer infecting the USA.

The longer we allow unethical men and women to be elected, our country will continue to decline and the number of morally dividing laws will escalate. Sadly, cracks in the foundation of our Democracy are evident today. It will spread like a cancer until the damage cannot be cut away. Families will be split and sides will be taken. Civil War, mushrooming from the frustration and dissent of our citizens, is a distant shadow on the horizon. The USA, its Bill of Rights and our Constitution will fall into decline like so many powerful countries throughout history. We, the citizens, MUST take a stand NOW! Demand positive results from our representatives or get them out of office. But how?

SOLUTION?
1. Do not elect or re-elect any representative pushing for moral reform.
2. Elect individuals who have experience effecting changes good for the country and its people...ALL OF US!
3. Assure elected officials honor their oath of office and have NO TIES to special interests groups.
4. Impeach anyone in office found bartering or manipu-lating the system for their personal benefit.
5. Assure their willingness to repeal 'moral laws' and pass an amendment to prevent them in the future.

Let's take our country back from the crooks. It's is our job as voters to make this happen. An imperative for our country's survival...

Reaching Deaf Ears...: Remembering...

2015-05-24T17:06:00.001-07:00

Reaching Deaf Ears...: Remembering...

Remembering...

2015-05-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my Dad had us stand every night, cross our hearts, recite the Pledge of Allegiance & sing the Star Spangled Banner as the American Flag waved bravely until our TV faded into darkness. He made us proud to be an American. His words still ring through my thoughts reminding me to never forget why we should cherish the freedoms we have. He would say, "That flag symbolizes who we are. Every man & woman in our great country, despite their differences, colors, tenants, or biases, have ALWAYS risen up TOGETHER forming an impenetrable wall against our enemies. It is our job to continue protecting these sacred rights, our Constitution & our way of life. NEVER FORGET THEIR COMMITMENT & THEIR SACRIFICES TO PRESERVE THEM!"
So...This Memorial Day I say, "When I see all the racial comments being thrown around, the divisions in our country, people taking up sides against one another, attempts to force personal tenants on others and most of our elected officials only worried about getting richer...I remember my Dad's words & continue to honor those countless American who knew what was most important to maintain what we have... I pledge to honor their memory & their sacrifices by continuing what my Dad taught me..."

2014-11-15T15:19:00.001-08:00

Education Reform - You Decide

My soon to be 40 year old daughter has been teaching for the past seventeen years. She CHOOSES to work at the Kindergarten level because she believes children need a GREAT introduction to education and a caring roll model who makes learning fun.

Her portfolio includes a Master's Degree in Administrative Education, a B.A. in Education, multiple certifications in Early Childhood Development, Teacher of the Year and a nomination for Disney Teacher of the Year. During staff orientation at the beginning of the new term, the district uses her room on their tour as a model for new Kindergarten teams and provides her name if they need to ask any questions about being a success in their field.

A work day for this awesome young woman starts at 7:30 am and usually stretches into twelve hours or more. The proverbial summer vacations critics site when demeaning teaching as a so-called cushy job, are dotted with different continuing education requirements and preparations for the next year. You see, each year the classroom must be redone, a new theme created and work packets designed and copied for each student. The job is physically and mentally exhausting and pays very little when compared to other degreed positions.

Most teachers love what they do and are willing to accept the rigors of their profession. What they fight against and are force fed in many instances are rigid mandates from the district higher-ups and state education agencies that stifle creativity and classroom time with their students....Sadly, in an effort to improve education, lawmakers and administrators are accomplishing just the opposite by their micro-managing techniques.

Everyone has heard the expression, "Teaching the Test" In Texas, that is exactly what teachers are expected to do in order to satisfy the ranking a school district must achieve to continue receiving their state funding. Instead of giving teachers a curriculum and saying, "TEACH THIS" then evaluating them on their individual performances, the powers-that-be maintain a short leash and actually chastise educators when they deviate from the 'SCRIPT'. You might as well hire minimum wagers off the street. As long as someone can follow an explicit outline, why does this type of system need a TEACHER.

There are some alarming statistics about the United States presented by Mark Rice, the Chair of American Studies at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. In his essay (1) for Forbes dated October 30th of this year, he provides charts ranking the U.S. in several areas, the following seemed relevant to this blog:

2nd in General Ignorance About Social Issues

24th in Literacy

17th in Educational Performance

23rd in Programme For International Student Assessment Science Scores

54th in Educational Expenditures

72nd in Girls Going to Grade School

85th in Boys Going to Grade School

18th in Reading

10th in Teachers' Salaries

34th in Math Progress

134th For Government Commitment to Education

...seems 'Teaching the Test' is NOT working.

My daughter IS a TEACHER. There are many instructors with the same special skill sets. Passion, knowledge, experience, commitment and creativity will allow them to identify each child's limitations and strengths and use that information to clear roadblocks to learning. Children will excel under their tutelage. Scores will rise. If an individual cannot do the job, get rid of them. Don't Teach the Test'...Find a TEACHER and PAY THEM WHAT THEY ARE WORTH...

1 https://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/category/education/

2014-11-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

The Recent Election...The Next Stage in the Destruction of America

Sorry I've been absent for a while. The situation was beyond my control. So, just a short note today...

Since my last blog, nothing has changed. Elected officials continue putting their personal biases in front of the primary needs of our country and keeping it strong.

The Republican dominated House has blocked and tried to taint everything President Obama has done while using their social media to SELL their propaganda to us, the people of this country. They realize if you shout something loud and often enough, soon, the lies flowing into Voter's ears are spread as truths from many unwitting mouths...

For eight years, the old Pachyderm Party's relentless assault on the President has gained them a large following. Why? A mass of voters have the same biases, others are unwilling to research the facts, the largest majority are becoming apathetic and suffer from the 'nothing's going to change' attitude, while common sense has been thrown out the door. Whatever category one falls into, no one has fought back enough in public to dispel the heinous character assassination or the shameless innuendos. It might damage THEIR chances for re-election...

Now the Republicans control both the House and the Senate...What a travesty! They are not content with lining their pockets on the backs of taxpayers. Instead of fixing what's broken in our Democratic System, they are like a giant cancer creeping into the Constitution, tearing down important legislation made from the bloodied deaths of countless women butchered in back alley abortions. They make a mockery of the words engraved on the Statue of Liberty, "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses..." They want to build a Berlin-Type wall instead of coming up with a workable system for people escaping their horrors...OMG! Have we sunk so low? What is our nation evolving into to?

Poor Being Imprisoned For Debt in USA

2013-10-18T17:13:00.001-07:00

Just recently, a relative was arrested for shoplifting. Without going into details, I will tell you she has been living off and on the streets for five years following a brutal event in her life culminating in the destruction of her successful career and comfortable life. Her story, although tragic, is far too common, epitomizing how the mental health and justice systems in this country fail the mentally ill and persecute the poor.

This blog will only address a small part of that problem and will discuss how the poor are being jailed for their inability to pay fines and fees levied on them by the Justice System. Although I have provided four different sites supporting the following facts, there are thousands. Simply search DEBTORS PRISONS IN THE US.

FACT: Literally thousands of poor and indigent individuals in our nation are being imprisoned for debt. Sadly, most of those caught in this unconstitutional practice are like my relative...doomed because she is poor. (a) (b)

Carl Takei's article, "Courts Should Stop Jailing People for Being Poor", (b) points out some blatant facts: "Courts have found that incarcerating people for debts they couldn’t afford to pay violates the 14th Amendment. Further, it creates hardships for men and women who already struggle with re-entering society after being released from prison or jail, and wastes resources in an often fruitless effort to extract payments. In an age when more Americans are deprived of their liberty than ever before, unnecessarily and unfairly, we should be shutting down debtors’ prisons, not creating more of them."

Obviously, releasing people from jail incarcerated simply because they can't pay their fees, would empty a lot of beds, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for the taxpayers. That's a given and will not be discussed in this blog. I want my readers to focus on the injustice of this all and the fact our elected representatives are doing nothing to stop it. Instead of correcting a situation violating our rights under the Constitution of the United States, they continue to allow this practice while wasting time legislating personal morals, their rich benefactors money demands or letting our country come to the brink of financial ruin.

Because so much information is simply a click away on the internet supporting the truth of this blog and very little denying it, I will let the words of others confirm the truth of today's subject while I convey how this nightmare is hitting in my home and eating away at the life of my relative.

She is a first time offender at 30 years of age needing money to get home and see her critically ill Mother. After trying to borrow the money without success, in her mind, the only course of action was the one that landed her in jail...She tried stealing something to sell and get the money she so desperately desired. She got caught. She pleaded guilty, got deferred adjudication and 5 years probation. Then, American Justice kicked in.

THE CHARGES DON'T FIT THE CRIME: First, she was charged with a felony robbery when all she stole was a $79 rechargeable battery for a drill. Why? After she realized the store staff knew she had stolen something, they started chasing her. She stopped inside the store and dropped her purse where she had hidden the battery. At least five adult male employees of the hardware store grabbed her and violently held her down until the cops arrived. She repeatedly begged them to let go because they were hurting her. Even though she had stopped and wasn't running, they did not relent. She bit the one twisting her arm. For this reason, her small theft of a battery became a felony.
THE TRUTH OF COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS: Unlike you see on TV, court-appointed attorneys don't come running to the rescue of those unable to pay. As a matter of fact, her attorney never came to see her until they went to court, made no attempts to get the case reduced to a misdemeanor due to the extenuating circumstances or bothered to contact her when her court date was postponed multiple times. He did talk to her once on the phone.
PRISONERS, UNABLE TO MAKE BAIL, SIT IN JAIL FOR UNDETERMINED AMOUNTS OF TIME: Prisoners do not get to go to court right away like you see on TV. Without her attorney available to explain how the system works or what she should expect, the only answers she got about anything were from other inmates! She sat in jail, unable to make bail for almost two months, scared, confused and suffering from the symptoms of her severe depression.
JAIL FOOD: Food provided for prisoners in the complex where my relative was held was the same everyday...bad and very small amounts. Although she gained about 20 pounds in two months, she was always hungry, what they were given was not seasoned and mostly inedible. Other inmates told her she was gaining weight because there are additives in what they are served to make up for the quality and lack of nutrition. Breakfast started at 4 am. There is a commissary that sold snacks, stamps, shampoos, etc. at ridiculously inflated prices, but that required money. Understandably, extra food purchased from there was coveted and had to be guarded at all times if you did not want someone stealing it.
THE COMMISSARY: I've already mentioned the commissary and its over priced goods. For instance an individual package of ketchup they give away at fast food joints costs $.25. Two sheets of notebook paper...$.25. Use your imagination on the prices of real snacks, personal care items or stamps! Being indigent, means no shampoo, no deodorant, no toothbrush, etc., etc., etc. The fact inmates have to purchase anything they need while incarcerated at horrendous prices makes my husband and I wonder where our tax dollars are being spent.
THROWN INTO THE STREETS: When she was released, she had no way to call for someone to pick her up, no bus fare, no money, no where to stay...nothing. She was simply dumped out the front door with no assistance. Does this sound like a system that cares anything about rehabilitating people caught up in its clutches? She borrowed a phone from a passing stranger and called her mom. Luckily, she was out of her coma, had just been released and was recovering at home, When her parents learned of their daughter's plight, they borrowed money for bail to bring her home. Now, she is providing most of the care for her disabled parents.
COURT COSTS: The court accessed her over $5000 in court costs to be paid monthly in the amount of $100. If she misses a payment and cannot pay the whole amount, a warrant will be issued for her immediate arrest, probation cancelled and she will have to serve her entire sentence in prison. This atrocity is happening in America, not the Middle Ages!
PROBATION SYSTEM INHIBITS REHABILITATION: The day before her first probation meeting, my relative called to verify she had the correct time and place. Although no one had bothered to call and cancel the appointment, she was informed the official was not at work that week. Her appointment was rescheduled. At the rescheduled meeting she was chastised about asking for an extension, charged for it anyway and told not to make it a habit if she didn't want her probation canceled. She was flabbergasted! She explained her money situation and inability to locate a job, but was not offered any assistance with those. However, the probation officer gave her information to sign up for community service and mandatory classes, both involving more fees. This system is not concerned with helping those in its grip. It is all about the money!
PROBATION FEES: Speaking of money, she has to pay $100 for the privilege of meeting with this probation officer and peeing in a cup! Drugs were not involved with her charges. It is my opinion, if the probationer is not receiving anything but instructions on what they have to pay next, the state could save a lot of money by sending an email, firing the officer and sending these offenders to a clinic to take care of the test!
FEES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE: Her 250 hours of community service was accompanied by a $55 fee for the orientation class. It would be left up to her to find some place to satisfy the 10 hour monthly requirement. For a $79 battery?
COSTLY OFFENDER CLASSES: She was also told to attend a 14 week Outpatient Behavioral Health Service class designed for violent offenders. The cost? $560! Why? Remember the bite? For this, she will get to meet 28 times with violent rapists, murderers, child molesters, etc. The system is actually bringing her into contact with very undesirable people. Great for rehabilitation!
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY: The monthly fees accessed her are $200, plus another $615 due before her second visit with her probation officer. That is a total of $815 she has no way of paying unless she borrows or steals the money. Results...Her probation will be canceled and she will be thrown into jail for a felony charge of stealing an item valued at less than $100 accompanied by the fact she tried to defend herself from assault!
AFFECTS ON FAMILY MEMBERS: The system is making her life worse. Unable to find a job or cope with the day to day pressures involved in working, she has no means of paying these fees. The first month her parents, living on social security disability, made a partial payment for the probation officer fee and an uncle covered the court fees for his niece. The Mom had to defer her car insurance payment in order to pay that partial fee. This decision meant a double payment the next month on her insurance, depleting the amount of money left to buy food.
INABILITY TO BORROW MONEY AND GET A JOB: Because of mental health issues, this highly educated young woman has not been able to to hold a steady job for the last 5 years, i.e. she's been lost on the streets, cut off from her family. In addition, her once perfect credit rating bit the dust a long ago making her ability to borrow money legally impossible.
A SYSTEM FOR THE POOR...NOT THE WEALTHY: A wealthy person is not bothered with such concerns. Their high price attorneys usually step in making something as minor as this situation go away. If charges are filed, they simply pay all the fees up front, don't have to see a probation officer, don't have the impending threat of going to prison hanging over their head and go out into the world to do as they please. Therefore, this system is discriminating horribly against the poor!
THE INJUSTICE: In less than three weeks from this blog entry, this beautiful young lady who was the victim of a merciless crime five years ago and failed by the mental health system, is in jeopardy of being incarcerated for several years because she stole a $79 battery, tried to ward off her assailants in the store and does not have the money to navigate the legalities of our failing justice system.

"In his 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon B. Johnson said: "Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope - some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity." (c)

Now, 50 years later, our country has digressed to the shameful status quo. The subject of today's blog is just one of many issues our legislatures need to address immediately. Instead, lawmakers turn a deaf ear to the cries of the poor, middle class and seniors. Their primary concerns appear lining their own pockets with riches, legislating personal tenets and accommodating their benefactors. Among their many, many outrageous actions, is a web of laws skirting protections guaranteed under our Constitution and establishing a system of debtors' prisons. Of course, no elected official actually refers to them as that... I suggest reading a report published by the ACLU entitled: "In for a Penny: The Rise of America's New Debtor's Prisons" (d)

Outrageous? Yes! Remember, hundreds of years ago, nameless poor people shed blood in our Revolutionary War and endured unspeakable hardships through indentured servitude to escape the debtors' prisons of Europe. To what end, I ask? So history can come full circle allowing that injustice to run rampant today at the hands of out of control, rich, apathetic elected officials? The fact that it is happening now in America makes the likelihood of a civil war in our future a reality I never thought possible...

(a) http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57577994/as-economy-flails-debtors-prisons-thrive/
(b) https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/courts-should-stop-jailing-people-being-poor
(c) http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17939-debtors-prisons-once-a-19th-century-relic-again-wreaking-havoc-in-us
(d) http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17939-debtors-prisons-once-a-19th-century-relic-again-wreaking-havoc-in-us

REPUBLICANS DOUBLE TALK CONTINUES

2013-10-10T18:04:00.002-07:00

Every time a Republican gets before a camera, or any media for that matter, more lies and half-truths fall out of their mouths. (a) A few days ago, Barton of Arizona was comparing our President to Hitler but now denies it. (b) She released more unmitigated, slanderous misinformation on her Facebook than I've seen since the McCarthy era.

The Tea Party Republicans' fanaticism has gotten so bad, according to a "New York Times" article (c), the huge business lobbies that paid for them to get elected are seriously considering pulling their support. They quoted David M. Cote, the chief executive of Honeywell and a steering board member of Fix the Debt, as saying, “It’s clearly this faction within the Republican Party that’s causing the issue right now.” The article went on to say, "... they agree in principle with conservative lawmakers about the need to cut federal spending or roll back parts of Obamacare, but said using the threat of shutdown — or worse, of a debt default — to extract those concessions was both ineffective and dangerous."

Today in an effort to turn some of the heat off the Republican party, a whole bunch of GOP representatives, including Speaker of the House, John Boehner, went on national TV stating they, "...will give President Barack Obama a proposal extending the government's ability to borrow money through Nov. 22 — but only if he agrees to negotiate over ending the partial government shutdown and a longer-term increase in the debt ceiling." In other words, "Give us what we want or we'll bring this country to its knees."

President Obama HAS NEGOTIATED WITH THESE EXTREMEST during the last few showdowns to no avail. Therefore, the President said enough's enough. There will be no compromise while GOP uses the Affordable Care Act as leverage. Still.they continue to threaten a pending economic disaster to push their personal agendas.

"There are reportedly enough votes in the House to produce a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown for good. But until Boehner is willing to buck the hardliners in his own party, that vote is never going to happen." according to an article in Rolling Stone Politics. (d) They quoted a New York Times that notes, "the GOP plan to eliminate Obamacare – even if it means grinding the government to a halt – has been in the works for a long time. The current funding standoff is the result of a detailed blueprint drawn together by special interest groups, conservative lawmakers and billionaire donors." A preponderance of evidence points to just that fact...the GOP course of action is a planned attack to change the government to their bigoted ideals or bring it down.

It is the responsibility of the voting public to educate ourselves so we aware of those elected officials attempting to sway our opinions by hook and crook to their biased, single minded opinions. All those serving in the House, Senate and Presidential Office were elected to work for the good of EVERYONE in this country instead of tearing down what they personally do not like.

For the last 8 plus years, our Government has stopped functioning because the Congress lines up on party lines instead of voting for the good of the American People! The Republican Tea Party zealots are greatly responsible for that fact. DON'T CONTINUE TO LET THEM PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES! WRITE, EMAIL, CALL AND TALK TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. TAKE AWAY THE POWER OF THESE RABID POLITICIANS AND ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SOME POSITIVE STRIDES FORWARD.

(a) http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/10/house_speaker_john_boehner_say.html
(b) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/brenda-barton-hitler_n_4074388.html
(c) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/us/business-groups-see-loss-of-sway-over-house-gop.html?ref=federalbudgetus&_r=0
(d) http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/8-flagrant-examples-of-republican-shutdown-hypocrisy-20131007

Barton/Tea Party Republican's ARE Disrespectful Connivers

2013-10-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

How dare Brenda Barton, Arizona Representative, disrespect (a) our President so blatantly in a public media! He is our President, elected by a huge majority of the people in this country. His office alone demands respect because of what it is and what it represents. She's proven to be a conniving, self-motivated fanatic using our right of freedom of speech to achieve her own ends...Shame on her!

Ms Barton and those like her are doing more harm to the United States of America than Hitler could have done with all his armies. By manipulating their positions in our government to complete their egocentric agendas... by besmirching a man the majority of the voters chose to lead them, Ms Barton and her assassins are putting a pipe bomb in the foundation of America! Terrorists masquerading as the 'good' guys! How can they sleep at night.

She is so ready to compare our President to Hitler, but Hitler used HER tactics to oust the German Government at that time. He and his henchmen inflamed the people by fueling old hatreds and touchy topics to fire up their emotions in the name of patriotism. His lies, half-truths and fanaticism tore Germany apart and left the monsters in control. So who should we compare to Hitler? Ms. Barton and the Republicans entrenched in their character assassination to achieve their self-motivated agendas or our President who has attempted to negotiate time after time with them? Well, that's an easy answer...It is Ms. Barton and her co-conspirators.

President Obama and the Democratic Party were left holding the bag for the Bush Republican disasters and have done much to repair the damage. Just think! If the Ms. Barton types in the House hadn't thrown road block after road block up in President Obama's plans to get the United States and her people and economy back on track, where could we be right now? The last two Congresses have been the worst in the history of this country mainly due to the efforts of these fanatics!

To Ms. Barton I say, "Look in the mirror and pat yourself on the head. Call or email congratulatory sentiments to your buds. Our country and people are suffering through a major crisis right now because of you. You are a group of nasty, mean-hearted, unpatriotic kooks and should resign."

(a) http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-de-fuhrer-barton-obama-134942788.html

Non-Voters Allow Fanatics To Do As They Please With Our Government

2013-10-07T06:23:00.002-07:00

The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. (a) (b) Not to legislate their personal preferences and those of their rich benefactors...

One of the most overused quotes EVER is “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke (c) Why do you think that is? Probably because EVERYONE realizes the truth being conveyed and wants those sentiments repeated until someone listens.

I'm shouting those words now! We, the eligible voters in this country, have allowed some fanatical, rich greedy-gourds to get into a position of power over the laws governing our country. It effects us all, especially women, the poor, middle-class and elderly. So...we can blame ourselves for the current state of affairs in America. Question is what are we going to do about it?

Robert Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, calls the Tea Party Republicans, "bullies" and "extremest" in his article "Why Obama and the Democrats Shouldn’t Negotiate with Extortionists". (d) I think he is being spot on in his descriptions, plus he offers the names of the ultra wealthy backers of these fanatics and warns, "...a handful of hugely wealthy Americans who are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into this extortion racket..." plan "... to not just to take over the Republican Party. It’s to take over America." Scary, huh? I strongly suggest you read this article and come to your own conclusions.

Frankly, this blog has always been about my views. Although they may not be yours, I respect your right to disagree. What I do not budge on is the fact legislating personal morality and beliefs alienates most of the citizens of the US, benefiting a select few, i.e. deaf ears. It also gives these bought off legislators the ability to keep topics in the news that fuel great emotional riffs among us. This turmoil is what they thrive on and allows them to sneak in regulations and laws the majority of the population never hears about until it's to late to stop them. It also gets them elected because a growing number of people are becoming apathetic when it comes to politics, not taking the time to educate themselves concerning the facts and, eventually not voting.

I'll end with a quote from Karen Marie Moning. It pretty much hits my own philosophy square on, “Most people are good and occasionally do something they know is bad. Some people are bad and struggle every day to keep it under control. Others are corrupt to the core and don’t give a damn, as long as they don’t get caught. But evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Shadowfever (e)

And we've got some real 'evil' going on in Washington right now! Let's stand up and shout, wave our arms, write letters, send emails, get on the phone, BUT, MOST OF ALL, get out and vote these bastards out of office...

(a) http://answers.ask.com/society/other/what_is_the_purpose_of_congress
(b) http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/legislative-branch/
(c) http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/evil?page=1
(d) http://robertreich.org/post/62690696498
(e) http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/evil?page=3

The following websites will also offer you insight from different perspectives about the government shut down, its affects, what lawmakers are refusing their salaries and some of the richest ones on capitol hill:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/10-horrifying-things-about-the-government-shutdown-20131004
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-government-shutdown-will-work/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/01/which-lawmakers-will-refuse-their-pay-during-the-shutdown/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-30-richest-members-of-congress/2013/08/21/f182de02-0a52-11e3-b87c-476db8ac34cd_gallery.html#photo=30

Guns...ANOTHER Elephant in the Room

2013-03-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, America, watching someone gun down our children in mass or even losing a loved one to a shooting is devastating to say the least, BUT, let's not kill the good people's ability to access fire arms by overlooking the REAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. Guns are not the problem. There are THREE MAJOR REASONS...in my opinion.

NUMBER 1: Because some people have no desire to be bothered with a child, they shouldn't bring children into the world. This fact crosses socioeconomic lines. Who you are and how much money you bring home is not important. All sorts of 'parents', and I use that word lightly, do not take any personal interest in their children, abuse and neglect them or pawn them off to nannies or day cares. There is a growing percentage of parents who simply don't care what their children do or where they learn their 'rules' of right and wrong unless it personally effects them. As a result, lots of children are learning their moral values on their own and in places where 'teach your children well' does not exist. There is no substitute for a caring, involved adult being there when a child needs comfort, protection and questions answered, instead of the alternatives.

NUMBER 2: America is allowing millions of these unwanted children to suffer gruesome childhoods by turning our eyes away from the plight of abused and neglected kids. The CPS's, Child Protection Services, in this country are complete failures. Underpaid, overworked and understaffed individuals put in charge of intervening in the lives of these tortured little people are overwhelmed by the hopelessness confronting them daily. After years of dealing with insurmountable case loads, apathy has oozed into the cracks. Burnout rates for counselors is enormous. The system has literally become accustomed to the nightmarish lives of their clients and has adapted a 'what can I do' attitude. AND THE LEGISLATORS WHO COULD THROW MORE MONEY TO HELP THESE CHILDREN TURN A DEAF EAR TO THE PLEADS FOR HELP, being more interested in cutting programs the last few years...

NUMBER 3: Our mental health system is a raving joke. Children and anyone else who seriously need help are not getting it in a majority of cases. For most people, it is economically impossible to afford. The ones able to seek help are finding most phychiatrists have become pill pushers for the drug industry and shuffle off patients to the nearest drug store or put them into the hands of a Physician's Assistant...AGAIN...Money trumps caring.

Just a note...Growing up, I did not know meat came from a grocery store. We stocked a freezer with fresh venison, fish, wild game birds, rabbit and squirrel. Every weekend when my dad wasn't working his everyday job, he was responsible for stocking our freezer with meat. To do this we hunted, fished, cleaned and packaged our own. In order to accomplish a necessary part of our life, we, as kids, were taught to shoot, fish and preserve this meat. That involved guns, knives and a variety of other skills. Naturally, all these tools were an everyday part of life.

From an early age, gun handling and upkeep were drilled into us just like taking a bath, washing dishes, following the rules, being kind to your fellow man and 'passing it forward', as my Dad always called it. Because caring adults drilled these skills into us and the importance of love and caring not just for yourself but of others, we had a set of rules to live by. The throw-away children from that time were also watched over by those same adults. Less than desirable habits they picked up were usually frowned on by their peers.

Today, children are alone too much and looking for someone who cares. Parents working more and more hours to earn money just to exist find it harder to be there for them. Others never wanted them to begin with. Gangs acting as pseudo-families get a lot of these kids. Their only rules are get what you want, any way you want...lie, cheat, still, hurt and maim. Members suffer pain to become part of the family and must die to get out. Cults pick up more of them. We're talking major crazy there. Other kids just try to make it on their own with no guidance from anyone. Drugs and all that nightmare permeate these worlds. Forced to survive in such situations, a large percentage of human beings become numb to normal feelings and callous at an early age. Some lash out because of the hurt, i.e., mass shootings and individuals out of control mentally. Scarier still is the fact a lot of these crazies (a) are having children...

In effect, the world is creating monsters and the numbers are increasing exponentially. The safety net (CPS) is damaged...the mental health system literally does not work...and the people who could make changes and lead this country to better times sit on their duffs, drawing cushy salaries and trying to legislate their personal moral beliefs instead of addressing pressing issues.

BANNING GUNS WILL NOT HELP...IT IS OUR SOCIETY'S LACK OF CARING THAT SHOULD SHOULDER THE BLAME... Guns are simply tools. When they are banned, we'll see bombs....Are we going to shut the grocery stores, feed stores and pharmacies? We must address the root or continue to suffer the results...

(a) In this text, 'crazies', is the gross term I have chosen to represent the mentally ill who have fallen into the almost 'no hope' category because of the horrible life they have had or untreated mental health issues they suffer. I believe most of these sad individuals could have been saved had they been identified at an early age and received proper treatment and follow up. Most teachers are aware who these children are and report them through channels to CPS systems across the country starting in Pre-K and forward. Nothing is usually done. Parents are not held responsible and the child becomes numb...incapable of real emotions after a while. But these is another subject for another time.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET...THE ELEPHANT IN THIS COUNTRY

2013-02-19T09:40:00.001-08:00

Just a short note today: Congress is again trying to HACK EVERYTHING BUT THEIR OWN INFLATED, PORK INFESTED BUDGET! Why? Because they want the American people to provide them with every luxury while they are in office and after they leave.

From the people who hang their coats to child care to salaries to benefit and retirement packages...Our Congress can and HAS voted themselves every imaginable dream item they can fantasize! They do it silently, without advertisement or a cursory thought about who is paying for their luxuries.

YET...these same men and women put on a good show when the media is in their face...empathetic, protectors of the Constitution, hard working servants of the people....Yeah Right! They are a bunch of the richest men and women hacking away at the programs protecting America's elderly, poor, military and unemployed! Robin Hoods they are not. Their motto should be, "Take from the poor and downtrodden and shove the plunder into our pockets!"

If you do not believe the truth of this blog, go to the last budget passed by a US Congress and read it...ALL OF IT. (a) If it doesn't shock and make you nauseated, then you must be very wealthy or an elected official...

(a) http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid='0E%2C*PL%5B%3D%23P%20%20%0A

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz, said, "...CHOKE THE MONSTER."

2013-01-24T06:39:00.001-08:00

Yes, Congressman Franks...You are very right and CONGRESS IS THE MONSTER and your CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET should be first in line for the choking.

ALIGN YOUR SALARIES WITH THE AVERAGE ANNUAL PUBLIC TEACHER PAY.
TAKE AWAY YOUR EXTRA PAY FOR EXTRA WORK.
TAKE AWAY YOUR ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET, TRAVEL BUDGET, CLOTHING BUDGET OR ANY OTHER BUDGET ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR SALARY.
CUT YOUR STAFF TO ONE PERSON IN WASHINGTON AND ONE PERSON IN YOUR DISTRICT. THE REST...HIRE OUT OF YOUR OWN SALARY!
PAY FOR YOUR INSURANCE
CUT OUT YOUR RETIREMENT
PAY FOR YOUR OWN OFFICE SPACE.
PAY FOR YOUR UTILITIES.
IN OTHER WORDS, PUT YOURSELF ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD WITH MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN WORKERS WHERE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO DO, NEED TO DO OR WANT TO DO COMES OUT OF YOUR SALARY.
GIVE THE AMERICAN VOTERS AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE YOU FROM OFFICE IF YOU DO NOT UPHOLD YOUR OATH.

When you have finished this MAJOR step to reduce our national deficit, then tackle all the FLUFF currently padded into our Federal Budget. TAKE OUT ALL THOSE KUDOS THE LOBBYIST HAVE PAID THE CONGRESS TO PAD IN FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

Unless you, Congressman Franks, and all the rest of our elected officials are not willing to bite the bullet first, DO NOT ASK AMERICAN VOTERS TO GIVE MORE. We're tired of the baseless arguments to cut needed programs in light of your proclivity to continue getting your over-inflated salaries, bonuses and obscene benefits. While you spend precious hours trying to pass warped social agendas and waging war against women, the old and the poor, serious strides could be made to identify and cut the real unneeded programs gobbling up our Federal Budget.

YOUR SAME-OLD, SAME-OLD RHETORIC IS NAUSEATING AND NEEDS TO STOP...NOW! AMERICA IS TIRED OF THE BIGGEST DO NOTHING, OVERPAID GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY...

Boehner and House Republicans Tell AMERICA...SCREW YOU!

2012-12-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

JOHN BOEHNER AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS and other elected officials sit at home doing NOTHING while our country comes to another crisis CREATED BY their inability to do anything more than live it up on fattened salaries and mega-benefits while spewing moral hypocrisy. YOU ARE pushing 'we, the people' to the brink.

Thomas Jefferson said, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." (a)

This decision is not a hard one. Turn your eyes on the Congressional Budget for your budget cuts...LEAVE MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAID ALONE!

Thomas Jefferson went on to say, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." (a) This note is me not remaining silent. I am letting you know, collectively, this Congress is the biggest failure in our country's history of elected officials. When will you take the blinders off and listen to the majority of the people in this country and DO YOUR JOBS!

President Kennedy invited the brightest minds in the nation to a dinner when he was in office. At that dinner he said, "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

He would probably be physically ill watching the carnage you are reaping on our nation. AND WHERE ARE YOU? ON VACATION....

(a) http://www.brainyquote.com

Newtown: Suffer the Children in Our Country...Crys Fall on Deaf Ears

2012-12-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

Again, more children have died at the hands of a madman and we try to backtrack to find the reason. Everyone cries and asks why. Let me offer one explanation. The Elephant in the Room...

Child Protective Services, in Texas at least, is a joke...Every time one of these tragedies strikes, somehow or other it tracks back to a child's cry unanswered, the proverbial hole in the system. RESULT: A child left living in a nightmare until that child turns into the monster it tried so desperately to escape...Evil left where an innocent child once was.

Where do I get my facts? From my daughter, a very dedicated and wonderful elementary school teacher who has desperately tried during her fourteen years teaching in an at risk, Title I. public school in Texas to get help for hundreds of children caught in this cycle of terror. Teachers are our front line defense against this dark blemish effecting our society. They know VERY WELL which children are being abused and neglected. It is obvious in the child's actions, physical appearance and eyes. These children are begging for help from more than one direction and are being brushed aside by Child Protective Services (CPS).

In conjunction with her colleagues and school counselors, my daughter has fought to get CPS to intervene in case after case after case of obvious child abuse and neglect. In her classes alone, children have been so sexually abused they can't sit and suffer incontinence. Little ones beaten so badly from their ankles to their necks, the belt marks forced them to stand in their classroom...Others so filthy, with open sores, they are constantly sent home from school getting them behind on their work...5 to 8 year olds with severe emotional and learning disabilities forced into mainstream, overloaded classrooms where their frustrations mount because they cannot cope in that environment...A little kindergarten boy who constantly exposed himself to the other students and laughed as he drew pictures of gorillas raping boys and girls...The beautiful blond haired 5 year old little girl, obviously being sexually molested by her foster parents who were allowed to adopt her....Shall I continue? Each and every one of these poor children and their cases and hundreds more like them were and ARE BEING documented by my daughter, teachers and school's counselors everywhere at an alarming percentage. SHOCKINGLY...NOT ONCE IN FOURTEEN YEARS OF TEACHING HAS CPS REMOVED ANY OF HER STUDENTS FROM THE HORROR AND VIOLENCE BEING VISITED ON THEIR YOUNG LIVES...NOT ONCE...

The emotional toll this system takes on my daughter and other teachers is devastating. Having to watch the effects of this horror in a child's life on a daily basis and not being able to stop it causes nightmares, feelings of guilt and a helpless desire to rescue the child. The frustration is unbearable and the toll is huge. My daughter suffers from severe health issues all directly related to the stress of her job. Can you imagine an innocent child being torn down in the most horrendous ways, reaching out to you for help and not being able to do any more than love them in the hours they are in your care? What can you say to them? My heart breaks not only for the child but for my daughter...

I console her on a daily basis. It's part of her coping mechanism. Every year gets harder for her to go back, not because of the children, but because of the bureaucratic system and its callous and apathetic approach to public education. They ignore the Elephant in the Room effecting a child's ability to focus and learn. Instead of correcting neglect and abuse problems dominating the lives of a large population of young students, the powers that be constantly come up with other 'REASONS' test scores are down. Sadly, much of the blame falls on the teachers forced to function in a broken system, constricting their ability to use skills obtained by years of teaching experience.

In summary, CPS is allowing monsters to create monsters in our country. Their reasons are many, underpay, understaffed...burnout...etc. Elected officials stand by silent and useless while the teachers are utilizing ever tool at their disposal to help these children. My own daughter came very close to being the victim of violence involving irate parents who had been interviewed by CPS about the severe abuse of their daughter. Luckily, her locked door kept them at bay until the police arrived to deal with the situation. Although she was safe, the child came to school even more battered the next day. CPS again was called but never removed the kindergarten student from harms way. She slowly gave up saying the bruising was from falls, etc. Her grades plummeted and she became very quite. My daughter said the light just faded from her eyes.. Teachers report incidents like this daily, again and again. BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. Until this fact is no longer the status quo, there will always be more and more of the Newtown incidents. .

When our elected officials refuse to act on the critical information being forwarded by our teachers, these anguished cries for help will continue to be lost in the black hole we call CPS. The ELEPHANT WILL MAINTAIN ITS DEADLY PRESENSE, and more of these sad, lost children will turn up in the national media leaving rivers of blood as they end their life and the lives of others...How long will we allow the cycle to grow exponentially?

FISCAL CLIFF...Congress Ignores Cuts to THEIR BENEFITS & PAY...Goes After Programs for Middle and Lower Income Americans!

2012-12-10T20:11:00.001-08:00

While the Republican dominated House quibbles over keeping tax benefits for the rich and cutting Medicare, Social Security and other mainstay programs primarily benefiting middle and lower income Americans, they completely IGNORE THE NECESSITY OF CUTS TO THEIR OWN OVER-INFLATED SALARIES AND BENEFITS!

Severe permanent reductions in the Congressional Budget would make a large dent in our federal deficit. Sadly...The only people in this country who can effect those changes have no intention of pursuing that avenue. Most Americans are teetering on the brink of financial ruin as we watch this pompous display of selfishness in Washington.

Staunchly refusing to slice out waste and spending in their own Congressional Budget, our ultra wealthy Congressmen and Congresswomen, (many of them millionaires plus, plus, plus), continue to brazenly cater to the rich as well as their lobbyist benefactors during their shameless pursuit of cutting public programs to the bone. How can any of them look their constituents in the eye, scream about morality on one hand and drain the life out of America with the other?

Thomas Jefferson once said, "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." (a) The question is, how can we, the people, force an unconscionable collection of spin doctors manipulating public opinion through various media outlets to own up to their corruption and force needed reforms in Congress? It is time for these men and women to quit preaching moral choices in this country and start doing their jobs. Abraham Lincoln voiced this opinion very clearly when he said, "We the people are the rightful master of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." (b)

No matter what our elected officials claim publicly, their actions prove the only ones benefiting from their terms in office are themselves. Don't let the rhetoric spewing out of Washington tear the United States apart. Don't let them start a Civil War! With their approval ratings at an all time low, the time for forcefully removing some of these people from office is drawing ever closer. All Americans need to get on the phone...NOW...and tell them to cut Congressional programs and salaries FIRST, straighten up their act and vote for America.

a: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_jefferson.html#FQ3Aw3jm5fwG7TLo.99
b: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin109278.html#XkWtHiQrPoVhl40c.99

Fiscal Cliff: 28 Days Till CONGRESS Rips Us AGAIN!

2012-12-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: There are 535 men and women in our United States Congress. They CONTINUE their onslaught to cut social security, medicare and other programs and tax incentives overwhelmingly effecting middle and lower income Americans. Personally, I believe the Republicans are more blatant in their charge against the non-wealthy, but everyone in Congress is on the money train. Here are some interesting facts from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) reported by Michael Brush in his article for MSN Money in January of this year. (a)

Consider these numbers:

Nearly half of the members of Congress are millionaires, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), a Washington watchdog.

The median net worth of a U.S. senator was $2.63 million in 2010, the most recent year for which financial data are available. That was up 11% from the year before, says CRP.

The median estimated net worth for House members was $756,765.

The median net worth of House members almost tripled from 1984 and 2009, while the net worth of Americans declined slightly during the same time, according to the Washington Post and the University of Michigan. (a)

Please keep in mind CRP's data is at least two years old! What is the current increase? The fact is, in 1984 when the House members jumped on their lucrative money train, Ronald Reagan was President and his 'Trickle Down Economics' was in full swing. Since then, a lot of that 'trickling' seems to have made it in the pockets of our elected officials in Washington!

WAKE UP AMERICA! Twenty-eight (28) days from now, these boys and girls are going to rip us again! Let's make them give back to this country some of their plunder. Call your representatives in the House and Senate and tell them we want passage of emergency legislation to take effect immediately including the following:

-Reduce Congressional salaries to match the average national teacher's pay...

-Make their base pay the only pay they get...

-Stop all Incentives from Lobbyists for Members of Congress...

-Require all Members of Congress to pay out of pocket, for the following (no government discount or

match just like the majority of American Citizens):

a. Heath, life, car, house, office, liability and any other insurances they deem necessary...

b. Any retirement packages...

c. All their office expenses, coat room expenses, day-care expenses, auto expenses and any

other government paid perks they currently receive...

d. Travel, meals and entertainment expenses...

BUT, MOST OF ALL, WE WANT AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRING ANY LEGISLATION DIRECTLY INCREASING THEIR PAY AND BENEFITS TO BE A LINE ITEM ON THE THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT EVERY FOUR YEARS.

Getting elected to the US Congress in this country is a person's ticket to unlimited riches and the perks to match. Because of that fact, elections have become a wealthy person's playground, a game to see who's ads can bias their constituents emotions enough to vote them into America's Playground for the Rich and Famous. Until we, the people, get off our apathetic rear ends and force a change, the status quo in this country will not change. The following is a simple way to find the numbers to contact your representatives:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

(a) http://money.msn.com/investing/latest.aspx?post=70cc8f98-07b4-4e4e-923e-5569bd82627d

GREEDY CONGRESS...Gives NOTHING...Takes ALL

2012-11-29T12:36:00.001-08:00

President Obama sent an email:

Speak Out to Keep Taxes From
Going Up on the Middle Class

If Congress fails to act before the end of the year, every American family’s taxes will automatically go up. A typical middle-class family of four would see its taxes rise by $2,200 starting in 2013.

Tell us what $2,000 means to you and your family. (a)

My husband and I are both disabled and live on social security and social security disability. We have about $200 left in savings. Our total income is $3027 a month so we do not qualify for any government assistance. When the mandatory bills average at least $2032, we are left with $1000 to pay for Dr. visits, medicine, gasoline, food, clothing and EVERY OTHER LIVING EXPENSE.

We're forced to set our thermostat on 88 degrees during Texas summers, wrap up during winter months to stay warm and limit our food budget to basics. If we go out to eat at family celebrations, we share the least expensive dish on the menu. If we can't afford a medication, we don't take it. BUT most of all, less income means our being a bigger burden on our children and friends who magically come to our rescue those times we can't make ends meet. We worked all our life and it is humiliating to be so helpless. So... What do you think reducing our monthly income will do to us and those people who come to our rescue?

I see Congress, their salaries, their benefits, their WASTE, their complete disregard for the plight of people in this country and I want to puke, especially when they throw the blame on everyone else. These people have gotten us into the mess we are in, therefore, if anything is cut, let's start there. (A big perk will also be a tremendous reduction in our deficit!)

Make Congress reduce their salaries to those of a teacher. Force them to pay out of their own pockets for insurance, meals, flights, cars, staff, their set up and moving expenses. Take away their perks, their multiple offices, their retirements and ability to pass any legislation effecting them personally. Force them to live within the guidelines the bulk of American citizens are forced to live within. THEN... ASK US TO GIVE UP MORE...UNTIL THEN...WE WILL ONLY BECOME ANGRIER...

(a) http://www.whitehouse.gov/my2k?utm_source=email186&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=middleclass

America...The Republicans are telling us 2 + 2 = 5...Are you going to listen?

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Do yourselves a favor and go to this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four The following are some of the terms from this nightmarish fictional world. See if you can't relate them to what is going on in America...

Newspeak is a fictional language in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four... it refers to the deliberately impoverished language promoted by the state...greatly reduced and simplified vocabulary and grammar...whose aim is to make any alternative thinking—"thoughtcrime", or "crimethink" —impossible by removing any words or possible constructs which describe the ideas of freedom, rebellion and so on.

(Newspeak: Miniplenty) - The Ministry of Plenty rations and controls food, goods, and domestic production; every fiscal quarter, the Miniplenty publishes false claims of having raised the standard of living, when it has, in fact, reduced rations, availability, and production. The Minitrue substantiates the Miniplenty claims by revising historical records to report numbers supporting the current, "increased rations".

(Newspeak: Minitrue) - The Ministry of Truth controls information: news, entertainment, education, and the arts... "rectifying" historical records to concord with Big Brother's current pronouncements, thus everything the Party says is true.

(Newspeak: Miniluv) - The Ministry of Love identifies, monitors, arrests, and converts real and imagined dissidents...the dissident is beaten and tortured, then, when near-broken, is sent to Room 101 to face "the worst thing in the world"—until love for Big Brother and the Party replaces dissension.

(Newsspeak: Doublethink) - ...the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary...basically the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.

Are we going to allow ourselves to be manipulated by the Republican dominated media?  Are the people in this country completely naive? Have we forgotten how to think and route out the truth in situations? OMG! Open you brains, America! Have you forgotten so soon how Bush brought this great country to its knees financially, socially and in context of our freedoms? Bush's total disregard and pludering our Constitution?  (http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-01-18/opinion/17197865_1_bush-presidency-bush-administration-military-tribunals) The devastation President Obama was handed on his first day in office?   Can't you remember how the Republicans cost this country its top credit rating by caring more for their politics than stepping up and working with the Democrats on the budget?

And now!  They are flooding every media outlet they have with their lies, half-truths and scare tactics to debunk the current Democratic President and his administration. Just turn on any news station and listen.
You know, in the book, 1984, the government kept telling its victim 2 + 2 = 5, Eventually, after constant mind games and negative reinforcement, he succombed to their lies. 2 + 2 in his mind was 5.

The Republicans are telling the American people 2 + 2 = 5 as we speak. They are back on their soap box of giving everything to Corporate America...That's the only way to save us!!!!!  Bush did it for eight years! Do you feel saved? All Corporate America did during Bush's eight years was get richer, screw the American public and run off with trillions of dollars to line their personal pockets. Let's not forget Wall Street, the Banks' bailouts, the mortgage fiasco. Now the keepers of the wealthy are singing the same songs of pending doom if any programs President Obama has on the table are implemented.  Who knows if they will work! Their direction surely doesn't! God...are we dumb...

Truly, the only way to make a difference in this country is to force the Washington elite to FIRST CUT THEIR CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET, THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS IN HALF, CLEAN UP ALL THE LOOPHOLES THEY HAVE CREATED FOR THEIR BUDS IN THE TAX SYSTEM and SLICE YEARS OF CRONY RELATED PORK OUT OF THE BUDGET. If Congress will do that, then this country might begin to take them seriously...

Whatever you do, make up your own mind and don't listen to the constant birage of BS spewing out of Republican television, newspapers, radio stations, TV media and more...Remember 2 + 2 = 4...

Elected Officials Have Failed Us AGAIN...

2011-08-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

For info on your Congressmen: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/newsroom/how-to-contact-congress-.html

A Word to Congress…Listen To What America Wants and Pass It On…

The entire deficit could be reduced substantially or completely eliminated if Congress would simply take care of business and stop their boring political rhetoric. BUT, A ‘Super’ Committee? Where in our Constitution does it say twelve (12) individuals get to determine the future of this government? You cannot change rules as you go…

Quite frankly, the Citizens of this country have watched for years while our Congress and its predecessors have abused the powers of their offices to personally profit from inflated salaries, benefits, undeserved raises and an obscene system of perks and redundant compensation rules. In addition, the Washington ‘Elite’ have financed partisan programs for avaricious benefactors and passed biased legislation favoring lobbyists, their bosses, and the wealthy, siphoning trillions of taxpayer dollars away from Americans.

When tax dollars and trust funds were not enough to cover this Congressional ‘cartel’s’ need for more, current members and their archetypes shamelessly borrowed funds to cover shortages in our Federal budget, gradually thrusting the US deeper and deeper into debt. Legitimate legislation, burdened down with Earmarks and non-related attachments grew exponentially until they became the norm instead of the exception on every bill.

Entangling this financial nightmare even more, programs have been established that fall outside Congressional powers that were never challenged by Judicial…some creating an underbelly of poor in this nation slaved to the government, others annually hemorrhaging billions of taxpayer dollars, many unconstitutional. Still, we trusted the ‘next’ representatives we sent to Congress on our behalf would make things right…that has never happened.

Fast forward to August 2011. The newest crop of men and women reigning in Congress has continued that legacy of mismanagement of US affairs. After years of gutting America, they have left our government dysfunctional and bankrupt. The latest budget compromise is yet another in a long line of bait and switch tactics Congress has pulled on middle class and poorer Americans to keep the money floodgates open. We say, “Enough is enough…”

The Constitution did not structure the Federal Government to micro-manage this country. There is a tremendous need for our system to undergo major restructuring to remove Congress’s chokehold on America. The plan detailed below is a step in that direction. The “First Step” needs no explanation..

The tax liabilities and Congressional changes under 'The Second Step' could be passed quickly through both houses and reduce the federal budget immediately. BUT...our elected officials must get on board!

Finally, the budget items listed under 'The Third Step' deal with Departments in the US government. Some bordered on unconstitutional when established, others have little regulation, poor record keeping while many overlap other existing programs within the government. Whatever the issues, they all funnel dollars away from legitimate budget items and add tremendously to the deficit.

The entire package, if done properly, could reduce or even eliminate the ENTIRE DEFICIT over the next 10 years without touching Medicare and Social Security.

FIRST STEP…STOP THE FOLLOWING:

a. Congressional focus on partisan issues

b. Shortsighted Thinking (The ‘Super’ Committee)

c. Any Balanced Budget Amendment

d. Cuts to Medicare, Social Security and our Armed Forces Salaries and Benefits

e. TAX CUTS for businesses UNLESS they can prove they have significantly added to the workforce using a % formula for gross profits versus total new employee salaries paid during a fiscal year. This way, larger, more profitable companies would be forced to hire more new employees than smaller ones before claiming the exemption. Companies who didn’t bother hiring people would not qualify for it.

SECOND STEP…ENACT THE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY:

TAX SALARIES IN EXCESS OF $150,000 at a higher rate.
Tax Corporate Bonuses paid in excess of $100,000 a year to individual employees at a higher percentage than regular gross salaries.
Make MAJOR Congressional Budget Cuts:

Cut Congressional Salaries in Half
Reduce Staff Requirement by half
Cut miscellaneous spending in half
Stop Carrying Over Monies from prior budgets
Eliminate All

q Representational Allowances

q Redundant Compensation Rules associated with various titles, chairs and positions (One elected official, one salary, one office, one office expense and one expense account)

q Car Allowances

q Office Expenses for a Congressman who is no longer holding office

q Payments to Widows and Heirs of Congressmen

d. Pass a Constitutional Amendment providing for the Removal of Federally Elected Officials From Office by National Referendum or Recall for violation of their Congressional Oath of Office

e. Take Congressional Salaries out of Mandatory Budget Items and require any Changes to Congressional compensations be approved by the People on a detailed proposition item every four (4) years on the Presidential Ballot

f. Tie Cost of Living raises for Federal Employees to the ones in the Social Security guidelines

g. Require the Judicial Department to confirm all new legislation is Constitutional BEFORE Congress can vote on it.

h. Publish the details of all pending and newly passed Congressional legislation in a freely accessible, dedicated government web site

THIRD STEP…CUT OR DRASTICALLY REDUCE AND DOWNSIZE THE FOLLOWING:

Dept of Health and Human Services:

1. Medicaid

2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

5. Food and Drug Administration

6. Health Resources and Services Administration

7. National Institutes of Health

Dept of Agriculture
Dept of Commerce
Dept of Education
Dept of Transportation
EPA
HUD
Small Business Administration
Department of Homeland Security

Regulations to oversee a major government reconstruction are very important. We need the ability to identify unscrupulous individuals attempting to profit disproportionately. Penalties for violating guidelines should be in place before starting. They should be severe and enacted quickly once the guilty are identified.

Of course, many people could be negatively affected if these changes are made irresponsibly. WE MUST attempt to absorb the surplus employees in other areas and make unemployment compensation accessible during transitional periods for those temporarily displaced.

An undertaking of this magnitude will require dedicated elected officials intent on the well being of the United States of America who can act decisively and not cater to partisan demands or profiteering. Most of our currently sitting Congress have demonstrated they are not up to a challenge...

Let us whisper in your ears AND don’t ignore us…

2011-07-25T03:15:00.000-07:00

As elected officials, the people in this country rely on you to take care of government affairs, to make sure the framework and guarantees set up by our Constitution are strictly adhered to. Make no mistake, over 300 million people have entrusted you with this honor because our personal lives are complicated, our problems many and we cannot micromanage something on this scale. Our votes placed you in the unique position to make this country healthy by your honesty and hard work or destroy it by your incompetence and/or greed.

Shamefully, for over 200 years, the majority of you and your predecessors have chosen the latter. Passing rules for what is legal and what is not, Congress has created an oligopolistic system to skim billions of taxpayer dollars under the guise of salaries, office expenses, staff requirements, etc., etc., etc. Your greedy, backdoor, legislative conniveries are unconscionable and continue to funnel rivers of money into your expanding coffers, the pockets of your benefactors and lobbyists willing to pay the price to buy your vote…

What you call necessary, legislative, line item, budgetary expenses, we call theft on a grand scale perpetrated by a good-ole-boy system that severely punishes newcomers who don’t play according to the rules. When voters demand accountability, you simply ignore us…now, your years of business as usual has brought America to the brink of disaster.

Thomas Jefferson left us with a little advice. He said, “If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.” After 200+ years, we have trusted too greatly.

He further said, “Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” Look where we are today. History has repeated itself many, many times and is doing so again.

His solution… “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.” “Every generation needs a new revolution.”

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congress…Our elected representatives…

1. You need to get off your self-serving backsides and remember who put you there and why. WORK TOGETHER!!!!

2. Make sure EVERYONE IS TAXED EQUALLY!!!!

3. Start by cleaning your own house before insisting on slicing chunks away from the people in this country who are struggling to make ends meet! Adhere to the Constitution and its law.

4. And finally… Don’t think the sleeping beast cannot be prodded out of its slumber. That rumbling you hear is growing exponentially… We are not of one color, one faith, one gender or one political persuasion. Our tenets are as different as the part of the country we live in. We are patriotic Americans, who, if awakened, will serve you up as our first meals, replacing you with others willing to honor our Constitution. How we choose to do that is up to you…

A Solution to Last...

2011-07-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

One of my dear friends and I are always having discussions about religion, politics, families and life. Because of our opposite views when it comes to political parties, she has always joked that her vote cancels mine out in every election. That statement is pretty much a fact, but at least we vote and care enough to serve our nation through our democratic process.

In the past year or so, although our political views still have a wide gap between them, the opinions we maintain of our elected representatives are pretty much the same...the majority of them are more interested in the benefits of the position than they are the responsibilities of serving this country. America is bleeding out and it's business as usual in Washington because they are insulated from the realities of life for most of us.

The people have made it clear we need EVERYONE in our government to work together to come up with a viable plan to pull our nation out of its economic spiral into the financial maelstrom we have sailed into. That means looking at the facts and stopping all the rhetoric. (a) (b) (c) (d)

WE CANNOT BALANCE THE BUDGET! STOP TRYING TO MAKE POLITICAL KUDOS WITH BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT LITERALLY WATER DOWN THE STRENGTH OF OUR CONSTITUTION! An excerpt from this July 6, 2011 article from the American Thinker (e) agrees with this line of thinking:

"Currently, Washington Republicans are mulling over two versions of a Balanced Budget Amendment. One, sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch and John Cornyn..." and another by "...Sen. Mike Lee would be similar...

"Both versions, however, are fundamentally flawed and therefore utterly unacceptable...

"Firstly, and most worryingly, both proposed amendments would effectively undo all the limitations on the federal government currently listed in the Constitution...the principle of enumerated prerogatives, the nondelegation doctrine, and the 9^th and 10^th Amendments. Both versions would effectively mean that the federal government will be allowed to meddle with, legislate on, and spend money on anything, as long as its total annual spending doesn't exceed 18% or 20% of GDP (whose estimates it could falsify to justify higher spending)."

Getting America back on track will require a multi-faceted approach. There are many thoughts in the wind, but a plan must be adopted and put into play. For instance:
1. Yearly audits conducted by non-government firms could identify unnecessary line items to be illiminated, hidden earmarks, waste in the government's operations and duplicated efforts between departments.
2. Madatory eliminations and reductions in Congressional staff, salaries and benefits could be implemented and the 'retired' staffing guidelines illiminated completely.
3. Capping Congressional salaries to be equal or less than the average annual teacher's income in the U.S. would assure elected representatives are not overcompensated and forced to live within as strict budget.
4. Anyone wishing to lobby the U.S. Congress could be required to pay a Lobbyist Membership into the federal coffer and be limited to specific locations and times to conduct business.

These corrections and more are 'short term' fixes but could reduce the budget by billions of dollars yearly.

The 'biggies', medicare, medicaid, social security and defense, will require MAJOR COOPERATION between everyone in Washington to construct a LONG TERM plan to repair them. A first step could be considering the argument of unconstitutional departments in our federal government.  If these were reviewed, could they be closed down?

      "The Departments of Education, Agriculture, HUD, Transportation, and Commerce are patently unconstitutional, as is the EPA, the SBA, the DHHS, all three big entitlement programs, subsidies for anything (including agriculture), the Davis-Bacon Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the War on Drugs, the cap-and-tax scheme, CAFE standards, renewable energy standards, ethanol production obligations, executive regulations of the economy, and all congressional and presidential drilling bans and drilling moratoriums. The Constitution does not authorize any of these things; all of the issues they pertain to are reserved by the 10^th Amendment to the states and the people." (e)

Whatever the politicians do, needs to happen quickly and with the Constitution and the whole country in mind. Partisan politics has no place in this process.  A plan needs to be longterm with failsafes to prevent future meltdowns like we have experienced over the last 75 years.

Do we have the people in D.C. to accomplish this?  I fear the worse but hope for the opposite. So far all my efforts to contact them and urge them to make positive changes have fallen on deaf ears, i.e., my blog.

a: http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/04/news/economy/reducing_debt/

b: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/04/where_the_budget_deficit_actua_1.html
c: http://www.federalbudget.com/taxnews.html
d: http://www.federalbudget.com/
e: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/05/why_the_balanced_budget_amendm.html

A Challenge to the American Public...Look For the Truth in the Political World

2011-07-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Today, I sent the following letter to President Obama*. I feel he is basicly a good person thrown into the catastrophic rubble left over from the eight year nightmare created by the radical politics from the Bush years (a) in office. ("Of 415 historians who expressed a view of President Bush’s administration to this point as a success or failure, 338 classified it as a failure..." ) (b) Now, the Republicans and Tea Party groups, in their attempts to regain the White House, are starting to lie, twist facts, lay the blame for our morbid state of affairs on the current administration plus convince voters we are suffering from a break down in our moral fiber.

Who are they kidding? They are fear mongers! We live in a diverse country and are, for the most part, basicly good people with a myriad of different tenets struggling to raise our families the best we can whether that family has a mother and a father, a single parent, foster parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister or parents of the same gender. However, Republicans and Tea Party press releases want voters to think without their Political parties moral fixes steeped in Christian morality, America is doomed.

Sadly, a lot of people are stupid or naive enough to be taken in by these tools of the twisted political system. Until we get off our duffs and realize these are just ploys of self-centered individuals determined to snag the lucrative jobs held by elected officials, nothing will change significantly for the better.  Voters have to start sending people to Congress who will put the good of our whole country in front of special interests. I believe President Obama is a step in the right direction therefore, I faxed him this letter:

"To My Honorable President:

Some of my earliest memories are standing in front of an old black and white TV each night as it went off the air. My Dad’s eyes would fill with tears as our family stood there saluting our flag and singing the National Anthem together. His stories of being an orderly on the U.S.A.H.S. Marigold, the hospital ship that sailed into Tokyo Bay long before the fleet arrived to accept Japan’s formal surrender, still are vivid in my mind. Because his job was caring for the physically maimed and psychological casualties of World War II, he made sure we knew the price our freedoms cost and instilled his unshakeable patriotism forever into our being.

I am compelled to send you this letter because of those values and, also, as a plea to honor the sacrifices made by so many throughout our great history to preserve our Constitutional guarantees. The movie, ’Dave’, keeps flashing through my mind. An everyday man cast unwittingly into the role of President and thrown into the devious world of cutthroat politics in Washington is able to slightly open the door to positive change in his short time there. A fairy tale...true, but one based on hope.

I believe you could be our ‘Dave’ and start turning things around where the wealthy have become our rulers and most elected officials cater to their benefactors and special interests. Although, in no way are you an everyday man, your meager beginnings exposed you to many of the obstacles we are facing in our current, hard knocks world, a debacle where the dog-eat-dog political climate is having devastating effects on the middle class and poorer Americans.

My husband and I accept our responsibility to make our own way, but see millionaires, billionaires and hugely profitable companies, some who should have been prosecuted, fined and jailed, manipulating the system to receive mammoth amounts of assistance from our government. How can we condone these actions when we couldn’t even qualify for the Making Homes Affordable program even though our next disability check doesn’t arrive till July 27th and we only have $130 to our name? Something is definitely wrong.

We need our elected officials to work together, cut out the excesses and quit squabbling over social agendas that should be left in the churches. The waste in the Congressional Budget alone is criminal! Please...don’t let Washington politics destroy what we, the people, are so willing to die for. Use your influence and help us, please..."
a: http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-18/politics/poll.bush.presidency_1_approval-rating-poll-greatest-presidents?_s=PM:POLITICS
b: http://www.hnn.us/articles/5019.html


*During the past few months, I have been attempting to get my elected officials to do something about the 'Making Homes Affordable' program guidelines.  Although Congressional hearings determined very little of the money made available to persons in need of this assistance were given out through this initiative, neither Congressman Kenny Marchant, Senator John Cornyn or Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison did anything to correct the problems or even bothered calling me back personally. Hutchison's office didn't even bother responding at all. They are all part of a system that insulates themselves from their voters except in election years. We have to make changes and rebuild the Washington establishment where it serves the Constitution and not special interests.

Reaching Deaf Ears...

Force Congressional Transparency Referendum - Let the People Decide

USA Prison System: Big Money for Congress & Corporate America

CHRISTIANITY'S POPULARITY BRINGS OUT THE DEVIL IN SOME

Stop Self-Interest From Destroying Our Democracy

Reaching Deaf Ears...: Remembering...

Remembering...

Poor Being Imprisoned For Debt in USA

REPUBLICANS DOUBLE TALK CONTINUES

Barton/Tea Party Republican's ARE Disrespectful Connivers

Non-Voters Allow Fanatics To Do As They Please With Our Government

Guns...ANOTHER Elephant in the Room

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET...THE ELEPHANT IN THIS COUNTRY

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz, said, "...CHOKE THE MONSTER."

Boehner and House Republicans Tell AMERICA...SCREW YOU!

Newtown: Suffer the Children in Our Country...Crys Fall on Deaf Ears

FISCAL CLIFF...Congress Ignores Cuts to THEIR BENEFITS & PAY...Goes After Programs for Middle and Lower Income Americans!

Fiscal Cliff: 28 Days Till CONGRESS Rips Us AGAIN!

GREEDY CONGRESS...Gives NOTHING...Takes ALL

Speak Out to Keep Taxes FromGoing Up on the Middle Class

America...The Republicans are telling us 2 + 2 = 5...Are you going to listen?

Elected Officials Have Failed Us AGAIN...

A Word to Congress…Listen To What America Wants and Pass It On…

Let us whisper in your ears AND don’t ignore us…

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congress…Our elected representatives…

A Solution to Last...

A Challenge to the American Public...Look For the Truth in the Political World

Speak Out to Keep Taxes From
Going Up on the Middle Class