Ramblings of a Closet Commentator

Get Over It???

2016-12-21T22:53:00.001-08:00

I keep hearing the right-wing pundits and trolls saying "get over it, you lost the election, we have a new president". NO! I will not get over this. You know who needs to "get over it"? Bill O'Reilly and all the other angry old white men that see their white privilege slipping away. Bill O'Reilly thinks the left is racist. He thinks we want to abolish the Electoral College to take away the white man's power. He thinks the popular vote is unfair to the white working class American. Really?? Well, I've got news for you Mr. O'Reilly, you are quickly becoming the minority. So, why shouldn't we go with the popular vote so the MAJORITY can have the representation they want in government? You think we shouldn't count California's votes? Hmmm, last time I checked California was still a state in these UNITED States of America. I'm pretty sure the Democratic Party would have won the Electoral College too, if most of the red states hadn't jerry-rigged districts and made it nearly impossible for many minority people or democratic leaning people to vote. Over the past 30 or more years, the GOP has done nothing but cheat, lie and steal to get themselves into power. The kings of the cranky ol' white men, Charles & David Koch, have been working on this for years. They've nearly managed to take this country over. But, you know what? Senator Bernie Sanders, in my opinion, woke up a sleeping giant. We are not going down without a fight. I will say that one of President Obama's biggest mistakes was to try to work across the aisle with the GOP. He could've offered a pot of gold for every household and Congress would have denied it rather than give the President credit for doing something good for the country. I am hoping there are people out there that will be following in Senator Sanders', and Senator Warren's footsteps who will pull us up out of this national nightmare we are heading into. I have to have this hope, as the alternative is to hope for nuclear war and I'll be gone in a flash. I will be working with others within the Democratic Party to make changes and bring the party back to the working person. I'm not mad Hillary lost, I'm mad the tRump won. I cannot for the life of me ever understand why people thought he would make a good President. God help us all.

Warning: I am pissed off and I'm going to tell you about it.

2015-02-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

So, I have been just barely paying attention to politics lately. I've been busy with other things for awhile. But now, that I have come out of that and am starting to focus again on what's going on in DC, I find my head wanting to explode.
I want to know where these Republicans in Congress come from?? Who voted for these idiots? Do these morons even know what the Constitution is? They certainly seem to think the President doesn't know what the Constitution is. But, if you listen to them talk, they clearly have no clue how the government is supposed to run. I'm watching the news tonight and there is the idiot from Utah that has a problem with the fact that the fine citizens in Washington DC voted to legalize pot. He and 3 other Republicans think they have the right to tell DC they can't do it. http://on.msnbc.com/1Ew0oeo. What the hell??
Then a US Senator is throwing a snowball on the floor of the Senate to prove global warming is a hoax. http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/02/inhofe-snowball-climate-change. What the hell?? An now they are voting to keep DHS open for another week?? Seriously??

I am so sick and tired of the racist disrespect shown to President Obama. I am so sick and tired of people getting away with outright treason against this country. I am so sick and tired of the greed and corruption running rampant through the corporate community. These sociopaths that are writing laws and running corporations and running around in Congress are destroying this country. And, the little Faux Nooz watchers vote them all in because they think these freaks will get rid of the gays and stop abortions. Heelllooo! It's not going to happen. If they were going to "fix" these things, don't you think they would have done it when W. was in office?

Look, we are all human, we all have to share this planet. if we continue down this path, the end will soon be here and this planet will implode on itself, and then where will we be? What if this is supposed to be our heaven? I don't understand the blatant stupidity of people and the disregard for what we are doing to this planet.

Ugh! I have to stop, I am rambling now. There is just way too much stupid loose in this country right now.

Black Friday? How about GREED Friday?

2013-11-29T12:21:00.000-08:00

As I am sitting here this morning scrolling through Facebook and watching some news, all the talk is about Black Friday, which somehow this year rolled into Thanksgiving. I see a post from one of our local TV stations showing a protest outside a Wal-Mart store.

I am stunned to read the comments from people. One woman called it liberal BS. Really??? I couldn't let that one go by. Why is it liberal BS to want a living wage? Why should some one have to work 35 hours a week instead of 40 so the company doesn't have to pay for benefits? Why should we have to subsidize these workers with low income housing and food stamps?
The Walton family hold more wealth than 40 percent of the rest of the country. How much is too much?
The Machinists union rejected an offer from Boeing to build the 777x here. People are all in a dither. Not because the Boeing offer was crap. They are in a dither because they think Boeing workers already get paid too much. So, the solution seems easy in some people's feeble little minds, how about the Wal-Mart workers who want more money, just go work for Boeing? Simple right?
I have a better idea. Why doesn't Wal-Mart pay their employees a living wage? It's not like they are asking for the moon. And, why doesn't Boeing appreciate their skilled workforce they have in the Northwest, and remember that they had to spend a bunch of money to correct the mess with the 787. That was some big savings there wasn't it??
So, I am staying home today, like I do every Black Friday. And, if I shop anywhere tomorrow, it will be at a local shop.
And, don't forget what this season is supposed to be about. Love, giving, family & friends. Merry Christmahanukwanska

WTF is wrong with everyone???

2013-10-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Seriously! When did we become such a greedy, self-serving, pig-headed bunch of people? And that's not to mention the two-faced, bald-faced liars that inhabit the American Congress right now.
Congress shuts down the government at a cost of 24 billion dollars. And now they have to cut food stamps because it costs too much and people are moochers.
The Affordable Care Act is a disaster because the website can't handle the traffic. It's not because the Republican governors & state legislators refused to take the federal funding or set up state exchanges. (read the previous with lots of snark)
The State of Michigan does not exist in a democracy anymore. It's being run pretty much by the governor and whomever he appoints to run various cities.
There are still Americans that can't marry the person they love.
There are families being torn apart because we can't come up with some immigration reform.
Children are dying everyday because people can't keep their guns in a safe place.
People are dying everyday because our mental healthcare in this country is practically nonexistent.
Veterans are dying and suffering everyday because we can't seem to give a fraction back to them for what they gave to us.
In some states women can't get the private healthcare they are entitled to because of some creepy old men, and some really ignorant women making up laws to put government in your doctor's office. Some small government, huh?
People are being prevented from voting because of laws that are being made because the only way the Republicans can win now is to cheat.
I heard the other day that I should be making about $20k more than I am compared to 40 years ago. Yeah, that makes me feel better...

I suppose I can take comfort in knowing that soon, all this won't matter anymore because, according to some who think they know God's mind, the end is near and we will all be either going to heaven or hell soon. (more snark) That is, of course, if we survive the climate changes.

What Are We Defending Ourselves From?

2012-12-17T18:22:00.000-08:00

Today I had two fathers tell me they needed assault weapons to defend themselves. From what, I ask?? From the guys in blue helmets & black helicopters? From the big black boogey man in the White House? Just what is it that we are so afraid of?
Personally, I'm afraid of those right-wing tea bagging extremists that are distracting us with all this fear while they take away our decent wages, healthcare, and yes, jobs.
I saw a picture on Facebook today that showed armed to the teeth riot police protecting the Michigan capital building. That's democracy?? Ya think just maybe those representatives are trying to pull something over on the citizens of Michigan when they have to conduct their business behind the protection of riot police??
One of the fathers I spoke to has very young elementary school aged children much like those that were brutally murdered Friday. He says he teaches his kids how to use the guns. Great! If you have guns, you should teach your kids about them. But, should we be arming all our 6 year olds on the off chance some lunatic with an assault rifle is going to blast his way into their school? Would that really save them? Ask that little girl that was accidently shot one day when a classmate brought a gun to school.
I am so sad for the people in Newtown. I'm sad for all of us. And most of all I'm sad for the people who still think the 2nd amendment means we should all get to have an assault rifle with as much ammunition we can get our grubby little hands on. Wake up people! Before you lose a loved one to a senseless shooting.

Now that's over with...

2012-11-11T00:27:00.000-08:00

I have been trying really hard the last few days to back away from politics on Facebook. I'm tired and I don't want to play anymore. But today I was sucked back in. I don't want to play anymore. It just gets me all pissed off to see these people be all freaked out that the President was re-elected.

OMG!!! He's coming to get my guns!!! OMG!! We are all going to die from Obamacare!!! OMG!!! He's going to take my job!!! Yeah, like Romney didn't already do that? OMG!!! We're going to all become Communist, Facists, Marxists!!! OMG!!! How did he get to be President again???

Well, maybe it's because, thankfully, not everyone in this country watches or believes Faux so called News. Maybe because we realize that now that the President doesn't have to run for office anymore, he can get down to business & kick some ass in Congress. Unfortunately, Congress didn't get as cleaned out as it should have, but we made a pretty good dent. We got some of those right winged tea bagging lunatics out of there. Maybe now they can come together & actually get something done for this country.

I am so sick & tired of listening to Republicans accuse the Democrats of the very things the Republicans are doing. They never take any responsibility for anything. When the President was so lame in the first debate we all copped to it, even he did. But when Romney screwed up, the right blamed it on everyone but him. They accuse Obama of taking away our rights & creating large government, when it's the Republicans trying to camp out in my bedroom & Dr.'s office, & voting booth for that matter. What right does an employer have to threaten his employees if they don't vote the right way??

Obama takes a vacation, Obama goes golfing, Obama spent time with his family. Oh heavens! the man took a sanity break once in awhile! And, I'd venture to guess most of those golf games had business going on.

I apologize if this is rambling. I've just reached my limit with all this. I've been trying really hard to keep a loving attitude towards everyone despite the disagreements, but one can only do so much. I intend to go back to my sweet self tomorrow, and I'm going to stay away from the politics on Facebook for as long as I can. It's time to focus on some other things for a bit. I can't change peoples minds & they aren't going to change mine. I just hope to God that I can come back in a few months & say I told you so.

Does it really matter?

2012-09-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

Does it really matter if we vote? Does it really matter who is President? To the first question, I say yes. It matters if we vote and it matters whom we vote for. Right down the line from President to Dog Catcher. Someone told me they didn't care about who became Governor. We should care. There is a lot of control at the state level.
The answer to the second question is a little more complicated. Grover Nordquist, I believe, said we just need someone with enough digits to hold the pen to sign the bills. If you look at how many or what kind of bills have gotten through Congress in the last 3 1/2 years, it really doesn't matter who the President is. President Obama gave us lots of hope for some change, but he has really gotten very little of it done. What he has been able to get done has be very good and sometimes even great, but his hands are basically tied by Congress.
Mitt Romney on the other hand, now he's saying he has all these ideas for helping the middle class, but he won't tell us what they are. Just like he won't show us his taxes. And now this video has come out that proves the disdain I knew he had for most of this country. Why would anyone vote for him? Honestly, I want to hear a real solid reason why someone would vote for this man. And it has to be other than, He's not Obama.
A friend of mine posted this question on facebook. She's still waiting for an answer.

Who do you vote for? And why?

2012-05-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this question for a few days now. After talking with some of my more conservative leaning friends & family I wonder how they decide whom they are going to vote for. For that matter, how does anyone decide?
Do you vote by political party? "Daddy always voted ______ so I'm going to vote______."
Do you vote according to the candidates religion or views on social issues. Pro-Choice or Anti-abortion, equal rights for all or Anti-LGBT?
Or, maybe do you look at the big picture and think about what the candidate will do that is good for the majority of the people?
I really hope with everything I have in me that it's the last one. Because you see, there are a lot of people living in this country and, newsflash! they all aren't the same as you. All this talk that the Republicans, or Tea Party or the far right wackos are putting out there now about who can marry whom, and who can or cannot vote or what goes on between you and your doctor, or who is coming to get your gun, (no one by the way) is a huge distraction from the fact that as soon as they get into office they will screw you over so fast, you won't know what hit you.
Think back now to the 2000's, ol' W & his gang had control of the whole shebang. Did they outlaw abortion? No. Did they outlaw same sex marriage? No. Did they deport all the illegal aliens? No. What did they do? Spent a nice little surplus we has by taking us into two illegal wars and cutting taxes at the same time. Who does that? Crooks.
I could go on & on but I'm not going to dredge up the past. I just beg of you to think about who you vote for and why. Read the first amendment of the Constitution. For that matter, read the whole thing. This marriage equality thing has nothing to do with what the bible says or what you think God says. It has to do with basic civil rights for all humans. See this little spontaneous speech from Mayor Cory Booker. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/26/1058913/-Mayor-Cory-Booker-s-spontaneous-marriage-equality-speech?detail=hide
Our religious beliefs should really have very little to do with how we vote. It's not supposed to be about that. It's supposed to be about what is good for the whole country. What can make us great again. We have the freedom to believe or not to believe in the God of our choice. We need to keep that out of government. And keep government out of our private lives. I can't understand how a party of small government wants so bad to be big enough to see what is going on in my bedroom & doctor's office.

A week of Politics & Religion

2012-04-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

This week I got to participate in two of my favorite things. Politics and Religion. Or at least be in on the process of both. Although, the religion part was actually the politics of religion. Tuesday night I went to the campaign kick off for Dawn Morrell and Bill Hilton who are the Democratic candidates for the state legislature of the 25th district in the state of Washington. That was pretty cool to be in on the ground floor of that. Very exciting to see the enthusiasm and see young people there. A nurse and a retired state trooper. Sounds pretty good to me. They both have a lot of integrity and truly care about this community and I can't wait to help them win in November.
Wednesday, I went to a special presbytery meeting of the Olympia Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA). That was not really very exciting at all. In fact it was very sad. We had to vote to release four congregations from the Presbytery so they could join other denominations. You see, the PC(USA) is falling apart. All because of this stupid amendment in the ordination standards that allows, not requires, but allows LGBT people to be ordained. So, now, because we have lost sight of Jesus and what he was all about, the Presbyterian Church is once again splintering off into a million pieces. Why can't we focus on the fact we are all family in Christ and by the grace of God love each other? Makes me very sad.

2012 Elections

2012-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

Ugh! I'm already sick of the election stuff and we've only had one caucus. I even found myself watching local news and following more local politics this week just to get away from the Romney, Paul, Gingrich, Santorum show. None of them come any where close to what a President should be. They are all selfish, and purely into this for their own gain. You can tell by the inconsistencies of what they say and do. And, why in the world would you vote for someone to lead government when they think that government is evil?? Of course they will show you how bad government is by destroying it.
I think I'm going to watch a good old fashioned movie or two and forget about this for a few days. I will get my strength back to fight another day.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is 2012. So many predictions made about this year. So many "signs" that the rapture it coming. Will we see 2013? I say we will and we will be in a much better place than we are now. I don't know what it is, but I have this tremendous feeling that 2012 is going to be one hell of a year!
Politics are going to be very exciting. At least now we have a real reason to pay attention to who's running for President and what they are saying. So, what will it be? Will you vote for someone who changes their tune depending on the crowd they are speaking to? Or will you vote for someone who uses social issues to distract us from the real problems of this country? Or will you vote for someone who has actually tried to get something done? Albeit, hasn't gotten a ton done due to the Tea Party roadblock sitting in Congress. Congress! Bah! That's where we really need to shake things up. What a bunch of children!
That's where my hope for change is.

Whew! Do I feel better!

2011-11-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, I feel better now. I have been calmed down by some new articles and conversations with friends. The Christian Left posted this article: http://gocl.me/rrfYmo to shine some light on the Naomi Wolf article I panicked about in my last post. While we will probably never know the absolute facts around this, I see that Naomi is someone you have to take with a grain of salt. I haven't seen much of her before this so I admit, I jumped on that band wagon for a minute.
I was also calmed down about the whole vote in the Senate thing by a friend. I admit I was a bit leary of the original because it was coming from the ACLU and after all, there are protections against this sort of stuff (Americans being arrested & detained without charges indefinitely) in the Constitution.
I should've known better than to get all worked up about these things. You just never know anymore with the way Congress is behaving. I also shouldn't write in my blog when I've had a Vicodin and 3 ibuprofin for my aching back. Oh well, it was entertaining. I'm going to have to do a little more research and trust my instincts better before I go spouting off things on here.

The Occupy Movement.

2011-11-26T23:33:00.000-08:00

I have had several conversations and debates about #OWS the past few weeks and I figured I should get some of it on my blog. I'm not sure where to start now, however, after reading a couple articles tonight. The first one was about the coordinated attacks by the police to shut down several of the movements in many of the big cities. http://gu.com/p/33thv
Then I read another very disturbing article about a Senate vote this Monday or Tuesday for the
National Defense Authorization Act bill. http://t.co/iskWIrzO
This is insane! What is happening to this country?? This is like some bad nightmare coming true, or oh, look, 2012 is on my TV. That will be next.
Do ya think maybe the OWS people have hit the nail on the head? I think the .01% is starting to panic a little and are finding out the sheep aren't going to be such followers after all. Wow, I sound like some wacko conspiracy theorist. But you really have to wonder why all these peaceful protests are being met with violence from the police, when the Tea Baggers were bringing guns to their rallies.
Maybe some of my more conservative friends will start to see the point for OWS now. This is about all of us. Our basic American rights are being taken away. They are messing with voting districts and regulations and flaunting it in our faces. http://gu.com/p/33h8q
Yes, money is the root of all evil and it has a firm grip on our US government. We are so screwed.

Slightly Switching Gears

2011-07-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

So, I've been thinking for about the last week, I know, I smell smoke too, and I have come to a decision about my activism and posting on Facebook, and here for that matter.
Last week I copied a post from a friend:

Don't like gay marriages? Don't get one.. Don't like cigarettes? Don't smoke them.. Don't like abortions? Don't get one.. Don't like sex? Don't have it.. Don't like drugs? Don't do them.. Don't like porn? Don't watch it.. Don't like alcohol? Don't drink it.. Don't like guns? Don't buy one.. Don't like your rights taken away??? Don't take away someone else's. (re-post if you agree)

Anyway, some 47 comments and 10 hours later, I was exhausted. Then I posted something about not spreading the fear and my friend that started the debate last week started in on me again. Not that I minded, I was just still wiped from the last debate & actually pretty cranky about all things Congressional that day. Well, that solidified the decision I had already made last Friday.

I have around 300 friends & family on my list on Facebook. I love each one of them dearly. Even the ones I barely know or haven't seen in forever. We all have very different opinions about things. I have no problem with this. I love a good debate. However, some of the issues we debate can make us very angry at each other for a time. We are all entitled to have our own beliefs and opinions and I'm not out to change any one's.

So, TA, DA, DA! I have decided that in the future, I will keep my activism to things factual. Things that have documented proof that they are true and/or better for the country. I will not be posting things about Same-sex Marriage, Abortion or Religion. I have too many people in my life that vehemently disagree with me on some of these social issues. I don't want to debate those things anymore. While they are very important, I feel that at this time they are also a distraction from what is really going on in this country. I am going to focus on the Corporate take over of this country and help to restore the middle class to where we should be.
Thank you for your time. :-)

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching "1776" on TCM. I haven't watched that movie fully through since it first came out in 1972. It's kind of corn ball given it's a musical about the birth of our Nation, but I actually found myself crying at the end when the Congress voted for and signed the Declaration Of Independence.
I also found myself, throughout the movie comparing the original congress members to current ones. It was kind of funny in a way to see that things haven't changed in 235 years.
I love this country desperately. I pray that we will get this current crisis right as they did in 1776 when John Adams and the others fought so hard for our independence. I would really hate to see that fight go to waste after all these years...

This Marriage Thing

2011-06-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

So, now New York is allowing same sex marriage. There are people who, yes believe it or not, have a problem with this. What is so hard about this? This is not a "Gay" thing. It's a human rights thing. Homosexuality is not a choice. Allowing this community to get married is not a gateway to man on animal or some other perverted thing. Calling it marriage is not going to ruin the state of marriage as we know it. I'm in my second marriage with a man. It's also about to become my second divorce. I have a gay cousin whom recently married. I'll be willing to bet that their marriage lasts longer than my 2 put together. Her brother was married to a woman and that marriage is dissolved also.
What is so wrong with two people who love each other having a commitment to each other and having all the rights that go with it? Including raising children adopted or otherwise. They will not be "raising more Gays". As far as I know most homosexuals come from heterosexual parents. I really don't think it's something that can be taught. This is the exact same thing as Women's Rights and rights for minorities. This is a human thing. We should all have the right to love whom we love and have all the benefits that go with that.
This isn't even a religious thing. I believe that churches should still have the right to refuse to marry anyone they want. There is that separation of church & state. That is between them and God. My cousin found a church where she was accepted and allowed to marry. They are out there. But, no, that is one thing that can't be forced upon them by the State.
Why is it that the people who holler the loudest about government staying out of their lives are the ones trying to impose their beliefs on the laws and make government oversee our bedrooms and Dr. appointments?

Congressional Republicans ~ The New Two Year Olds

2011-06-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! When I heard tonight that Eric Cantor refused to continue the budget talks, I thought I was going to throw up! Like a spoiled little kid doesn't want to play unless he gets it all his way. Normally I try to stay very civil here, but I am really having a hard time with this. Then I saw a clip of Boehner saying we just can't have tax increases at this time. Sure, let's just cut all this spending and don't bother to increase revenue. Yeah, that'll work. You want to cut spending?? Start in the defense department. Start with Congressional pensions and benefits. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/43519193#43519193

"Government is bad and we should not have regulations." Except of course when we are regulating women's reproductive choices and workers the right to collective bargaining.
I just really really hope people wake up before it's too late. The middle class is about to disappear. We are losing everything. The Republicans (Tea Partiers) are taking over and screw everyone else. Look at what is happening in Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and now New Jersey. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/43519193#43519040. These Republican governors are running over the middle class. If they can't get the anti union bills passed, they are coming up with voter registration laws.
AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! I am so angry about this I can't even write any more. I've got to figure out a way to do something about this.

Not the end of the world, now what?

2011-05-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have to admit just a little teeny tiny part of me was sort of hoping Saturday was going to be the end of the world as we know it. My personal life isn't exactly going the way I would like and the stuff going on in Congress and some individual states is scaring the crap out of me.
I haven't ever read 1984, but I have read some other futuristic novels and have seen some movies that these times are bringing back to my memory.
I especially started thinking about this today as I listened to The Rachel Maddow show from Friday night. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/43117316#43117316 This clip shows what Wisconsin is up to now, and then there is a clip about #Ohio, and tonight there was a story about #Minnesota. And, oh yeah, what they are doing to #Benton Harbor, Michigan. http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/29/6555892-michigan-go-ask-your-father.

The Tea Party has gotten a foothold on our democracy and if we aren't careful they will destroy it. They do this in the name of patriotism and saving the constitution when, I'm guessing most of them wouldn't know the Constitution if you hit them over the head with it. Coming up with impossible voter registration requirements, that some how leave out the people that tend to vote Democratic. Cutting out workers rights, cutting back on education, to dumb us down. And in the case of Benton Harbor, completely neutering the elected city government by appointing a city manager to unilaterally make any decisions. I won't go into it here, but you really need to look at that.

Listening to some of these stories and seeing the clips of what is going on in these legislative sessions is making me feel like we are drowning and the people on the shore (#Koch Brothers, Republicans, Wall Street) are standing there holding the life preservers behind their backs telling us we don't need them, we should be able to do help ourselves get out of the deep end. One consolation I have is that the recalls in Wisconsin look like they will be successfull. I can't wait to see what happens when Governer Walker can be recalled.
I really hope we wake up this next voting season and get back to the America we are supposed to be.

The War on Women

2011-02-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

What the heck does abortion have to do with creating jobs?? And what the heck does the Republican party have against women? Speaker Boehner is supposed to be working on creating jobs for all those Americans that supposedly voted for him to do so. Instead he is taking us back to the '70's to try to outlaw abortion? And why are we letting all these old men tell us what we can & can't do with our bodies?
Do these people (I know it's not all old men, it's some very uninformed women too) realize what this country would be like without Planned Parenthood and WIC?? I was watching The View just now, yes I watch it every day despite Elizabeth's ignorant rants, and Rep. Gwen Moore made a very good comment about how Planned Parenthood has actually prevented more abortions than they have performed. That is so true. They provide many more health care services for a lot of women who wouldn't otherwise be able to receive that care. They provide cancer screenings, birth control and in a lot of cases they are a woman's primary health care provider. They provide safe low cost or maybe even free health care for low income women. And these people who complain they don't want there tax money going to fund abortions. Well, there is a law that prevents federal funding of abortions. OK, I don't want my tax dollars funding stupid wasteful military actions in the Middle East. Why can't we have a law about that?
And what about WIC? How can you defund that? WIC is sometimes all there is between having healthy food to eat and dying of starvation.
I am sick to death of these so called Christian right wingers calling themselves Christian and then turning around and kicking the less fortunate. So, you prevent some abortions. What are you going to do to help those mothers and children once they are born? How can you say you are Pro Life when you kill Dr's and believe in the death penalty and war?
What would Jesus do? He would turn over all your tables in the market place and yell at you and tell you you have no idea what His Father is about or how to love your fellow human beings.
I have to stop now before I forget I am supposed to love my fellow human beings.

The Arizona Tragedy

2011-01-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been thinking about this all week. What a sad, sad, day for our country on Saturday. Of course I was conflicted all day because I was also watching the Seattle Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints. I was having a hard time getting excited about the great game because I was also watching my laptop for updates on the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords.
I will admit that the first thing I thought when I heard the news was, Well it's started now. All that violent rhetoric had gotten to some crazy wacko and the killings have begun. But then of course, as I said, I followed the story the rest of the day and the days that followed. There is no proof that this wacko acted on anything but his own crazy ideas. But of course there is endless commentary on both sides about this. It makes me crazy that we all become like little kids when something like this happens. Everyone is pointing fingers at everyone else and very few are taking responsibility for the inflammatory discourse that has been going on the last couple years.
You know, we are all human. We are all different and have different opinions about pretty much everything. Can't we have a debate without the violent rhetoric? Do we have to use hunting or war metaphors? Can't we get "fired up" without "reloading"?
Maybe now after that wonderful speech of President Obama's last night people might begin to see how civil we can be to each other. I'm hearing that many on the right actually liked his speech. I gotta say I'm pretty surprised. Usually they manage to find something to pick at. Of course the usual right wing clowns had their criticisms, but that's what they get paid for.
I really think we need to stop and think about that little nine year old girl who was born on another day of national tragedy and was killed on a day she was pursuing a dream of doing something for her country. Only God knows what we lost with her. Hopefully, God has opened a window here for someone else to take her place and do something really great with their life. Maybe we should all think about what we can do to improve the world from our little spot in it. Something good has to come from this.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

Wow, what an amazing week. Those lame ducks weren't so lame after all. The repeal of DADT, and ratifying the SALT treaty, just to name two. I was really beginning to wonder about President Obama, but maybe he just might know what he's doing after all. Of course I'm still ticked about the tax cuts for the rich, but we are getting some good things out of that. I am just really worried about what will happen when we find out just how much of our debt the Middle East countries and China really own. I can't help but think we are still screwed.

On a lighter note, I pray that you all have a blessed holiday season and a Merry Christmas if you celebrate. Which most people I know do, even if they aren't Christian. After all is was a Paegan holiday first. ;-)
I just really hope this coming New Year will bring us all lots of love and happiness. And more tolerance for those different than ourselves, because, really, we are all the same when you get down to the basic humanitiy of it all.

So little time....

2010-12-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post on here today about how sick I am of the Republicans and their greed, but I had to reply to anonymous again & now lunch is over. Hopefully this weekend I can tell you how much I really want to kick my TV in right now.

People or Profit

2010-11-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Seems like that would be an easy choice. Well, it probably is easy for everyone I guess, it's just that a lot of business people choose profit over people.
I just finished watching the last half of the movie "Battle in Seattle", a fictional account of the WTO riots in December 1999. Wow! Was I out of the loop back then. If I knew then what I know now, I may have been down there protesting. Or, would I? Would I really leave my warm comfy house to yell & scream at people who don't even hear us? I don't really know. I am so angry right now about what corporate America is doing to us. And now the retail stores are so into it too that they are making their employees work on Thanksgiving just to get more of that almighty dollar. As we poor suckers fall for it every time. What's the point? The sales aren't going to stop on Saturday. And how about the week before Christmas? You think all the prices are going to go up when none of us are buying anyway? Do you really have the money to buy that ginormous TV or that fancy camera? Do you really need it? What about donating that money then, to an organization who can help someone who can't even afford food for their family, much less a TV?
Why don't you all take a good look around at all your material possessions. Do you really need more? Do you really need new? Do we really need something made by some poor soul in another country that can't even afford the stuff they are making?
OK, so, fair disclosure, I do work for a furniture manufacturer that builds the furniture in China & other countries. But, when I began working there, we used to buy from some American companies. The almighty consumer has put most of those companies out of business. We all want higher salaries, & our bosses want higher profits, but we don't want to have to pay for anything. You can't expect to have a high paying manufacturing job & have the company sell the product at a loss or small profit.
So, why do we have to always want more? Why can't what we have be good enough. Soon we middle class won't have anything. We will all be living hand to mouth while the big banks & corporations get richer & richer. We are no longer evolving, we are repeating a very bad time in our history. Great Recession? You ain't seen nothing yet...

Who's Buying your Vote?

2010-10-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Are you getting sick of the adds yet? Don't you just want to throw your TV out the window? I watch most of my TV on DVR and even I'm sick of the adds. Lies about him, Lies about her, lies about this initiative and that referendum. You don't know who or what to believe. Regardless of how you vote however, or how confused you are, you still have many days to do the research and get out there and vote. The research isn't easy, but you have to do your best to find the truth.
We can't let the big corporate money win this election. One of the ways you can research is to look into who's backing whom or what. If big money and corporations are backing something, you can pretty much be sure that you need to vote against it.
I am disgusted with the amount of money that is being put into this election season all around the country. In California, Meg Whitman & Carly Fiorina are putting their personal fortunes into their campains. Karl Rove is backing many a Teabagger. It's revolting the amount of money being poured down the drain. This has got to stop! 9.6% unemployment. Huge amounts of people on food stamps. Many, many families struggling with day to day expenses and these rich fat cats are pouring all this money into winning power over all of us to take us down even more. And on top of it, it looks like it's not just American rich fat cats.
We can't let them win! We have to stand up for ourselves and fight back. There's got to be a way to fight back. There's got to be some regulations put on these elections. The Supreme Court has totally and completly screwed the middle class.
People worry about us all speaking Spanish some day... I'd worry more that we all may be speaking Chinese in the next 30 or 40 years.

Why Can't we all be a little more like Oprah?

2010-09-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have been watching Oprah off & on over the past 25 years, just like most everyone else. This season I decided to DVR the show every day to see all the special shows she's going out with. I have always enjoyed her celebrity shows and admired her for her generosity towards her audience and others.
This week is blowing me away. Or maybe it's last week, I don't know, I'm a few shows behind. Last night I was watching the show where she made people's ultimate dreams come true. I was crying through most of it, with happiness for all the people she gave to. There were brides who got a Vera Wang dress & wardrobe for the honeymoon, and $3k gift certificate for any Marriott, and domestic airline tickets from United. There was a single mom who gets a whole years salary and $78k in loans that she had for her kids' college paid off. It was really amazing. Tonight I watched her talk about "Waiting for Superman" a documentary coming out about our country's education system. She gave one million dollars each to the top six charter schools from the Angel Network. The Angel Network had collected over 80 million dollars over the years from Oprah viewers. Did you know how bad our education system has gotten in this country? You should watch the documentary. I'm going to. And, yes, I know there are a lot of great schools & teachers out there. Puyallup schools have been wonderful for my daughter and my best friend is a teacher. But over all, if we don't do something soon...
Anyway, I just think it is so amazing what Oprah and Bill Gates and others are doing with their money. Now, I could be cynical and say they are doing it for tax deductions, but I'm sure most of it is out of the goodness of their hearts. Then we have the Boehner's & McConnell's et al that whine and cry that they can't be taxed anymore. They can't put money into the Social Security System, I bet if they go to church they don't even put close to 10% in the offering plate. Not that I'm judging.
I've gotten into discussions about health care and people say they aren't paying for any one else's health care, why can't everyone get their own heath care? Or the people with out kids or who's kids have grown, "I don't want to pay taxes for schools". Well, what are we supposed to do when everyone dies from lack of care, or there are no more educated people to take over when we all get old & die? Or what are we going to do when the Earth is destroyed because we have used up all the resources, or someone has finally pushed "the button" and we are all nuked?
The selfishness and hypocrisy I am seeing daily is really making me sick. I can't understand how people can be so uncaring and thoughtless towards other people. Yes, there are people out there who take advantage of the system and who have brought their troubles on themselves, but where is the compassion? These people out there that call themselves Christian don't have the first clue as to "what Jesus would do" in these situations.
A good education should be a right not a privilege. Good quality, affordable, health care should be a right, not something to lose your house for. You shouldn't have to worry if the fish you are eating is full of crude oil. You should be able to rebuild the house you own outright if a hurricane or earthquake flatten it.
I have relatives in Norway that pay high taxes, but they don't have to worry about getting sick or injured and they can go to college without taking out a loan that with take you till your retirement to pay off. Maybe I'll go live with them if the Teabaggers get a hold of the government... I'm not saying our government is perfect now, but I sure as hell don't want to see it when they get a hold of it. If you don't do anything else this year, make sure you vote. I don't care how you vote, just get out there & vote!