Adventures of Millennium Mom

Huckabee v Portman and the Kick Off of 2012 Campaign Season

2011-03-05T14:38:16-06:00

It feels as if we just elected a president. But no, Campaign 2012 has pretty much kicked off this week with the Fox "News" suspensions of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum--pending their confirming or denying their candidacies--and the following little gem from Mike Huckabee:

Video at: abcn.ws/ehUDQw

Seriously? First, Mike, did you learn nothing from the Dan Quayle v Murphy Brown catastrophe of 1992? Some of you may be too young to remember this classic political goof (the debacle of the attempted criticism, not the VP, who was also a debacle and goof--but that's another story). If so, read the original Time magazine article here. Did Huckabee really think aligning himself with Mr. Quayle was a good thing? Did he think at all? And is that a trait we want in a president?

Second, Huckabee doesn't have the criticism correct. At least Mr. Quayle was correct in the storyline, even if his opinion was more akin to the 1940s than the 1990s. Hollywood was not glamorizing Ms. Portman's pregnancy. It was awarding her an Oscar for a highly acclaimed role that she played in "Black Swan" (which I am renting when it is comes out on Netflix). Ms. Portman was definitely not pregnant in the movie (where she plays a ballerina, for god's sake). "Black Swan" has nothing to do with pregnancies. I'm surprised Huckabee didn't say something about the lesbian love scene--but maybe Mike liked it.

Huckabee has pretty much alienated a huge demographic here: single parents of all types (single mothers, single fathers, widowed mothers and fathers, deserted mothers and fathers, divorced mothers and fathers with deadbeat exes, etc.). For simplicity, because Huckabee has insulted such a large group of people, let's focus on single, never-been-married mothers for the purpose of this blog.

Single motherhood can occur by accident or on purpose. There are hundreds of thousands of successful single women who have reached the midpoint of their childbearing years without finding the man of their dreams but with the desire and knowledge that they want and can support children of their own. Thanks to sperm banks and adoption options, these women make wonderful mothers to hundreds of thousands of children. They have planned their children, cherish them and raise wonderful human beings--just like old-fashioned two-parent families.

Now we come to Huckabee's traditional view of the single mother: poor, uneducated, young who are seen as a drain on government resources. True, these young women have a struggle ahead of them--but Huckabee and his fellow stuck-in-the-1940s Republicans are doing teens and young adults absolutely no favor by cutting the budget of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provides contraceptives, STD screening and information for millions of women each year--and helps young woman from becoming Huckabee's idea of the single mother. The Republicans may be against abortion, but by coming out anti-Planned Parenthood, they are attacking one of the most effective community organizations available to young people and family planning (get it Huckabee? Planned Parenthood). By cutting Planned Parenthood's government funding, there is likely to be an increase in single parents living on government subsidies as well as an increase in the abortion rate, which has been declining annually for the past 20 years. According to one source, almost each Title X dollar saves $4 in Medicaid costs at a later date.

I'm a huge supporter of family planning. Anyone who is emotionally mature enough and financially able to support a family is a prime candidate for parenthood. By mature, I mean that person or couple is willing and eager to put their needs behind that of their children, to be responsible, loving parents and try their darnedest to raise equally responsible, loving, educated people. Mothers and fathers do not need to be married or heterosexual to succeed as a parent. There are plenty of middle-aged, middle-class, married, heterosexual couples out there who fail miserably as parents, financially and/or emotionally.

Parenthood is the absolute toughest job out there. It is not for teenagers. But we, as a society, have to give these kids the education and resources (contraceptives) they need to avoid becoming a statistic, including funding public school sex ed courses that go beyond "Just Say No" and increasing--not decreasing--the funding for Planned Parenthood and similar organizations.

As we seem to be suddenly plummeting into the muddy depths of Campaign 2012, everyone needs to remember that both sides of the political aisle have pluses and minuses. But even if moderate Republicans have some good fiscal policy ideas, the moderate Democrats will never hear those ideas over the loud voices of the far-right conservative moralists (the ones who usually end up having sex with prostitutes of either sexual persuasion). Republicans need to reign in their moral judgments and clean up their own house (that is, toss out the prostitutes and hypocrites). Democrats, we need you to focus on what we all need to hear: how to create real jobs that can support real, college-educated people who are entering the workforce by the millions each year.

(up next in Campaign 2012: What to Do After Undergrad? Grad School or McDonald's--a Higher Education Dilemma)

Looking for a Snow Day

2011-01-30T15:52:45-06:00

As the January calendar winds down, and February appears on the horizon, I find I am really ready for a snow day. Sure, the kids had MLK off--and they have President's Day, Pulaski Day and and some teacher in-service days ahead, making February and March a minefield for working parents. But that's different. I'm hoping for an unplanned-can't-do-any-homework-all-activities-cancelled kind of snow day. A Big One, where even my husband can't go into work. We haven't had any snow days for a couple of years--it's time.

I love the idea of the snow falling so hard that the world just sounds quieter. I like hearing the rumble of the plows (although I don't like digging the cars out for alternate-side parking). I'd love a day where we snack on what we have (perhaps cleaning out our freezer in the process), curl up together to watch TV or movies, and hang out in our own little unexpected snow dome.

The good news is that there is a particularly hea
vy "snow band" heading our way for Tuesday. The bad news: I doubt we'll get hit. And if we do, it is less than likely that the district will call a snow day. But for now, I can hope.

Getting Ready for Santa!

2010-12-13T20:42:59-06:00

I haven't been paying as much attention to my blog recently as I should. After a day of writing or designing or being creative on behalf of a client, sometimes it is just hard to sit down and think of something to say that's mine. I just hit that creative wall. Now, I have been writing some short-and-sweet newsy / info writing for hubpages.com (see user CarolineChicago). And I've actually had a couple things posted with Associated Content. But Millennium Mom has been suffering, and I do apologize for that.

Like most of you, I'm spreading myself thin right now. End of the budget year work has me scrambling. (I was actually instructed to bill ahead for a huge project that straddles one client's fiscal years, so that the department won't lose their money next budget year. Feels kinda funny to bill ahead--but, hey!, I do have bills to pay!) Then there is the big Christmas shopping plunge. Almost done--but it does cut into the work day.

And how about those school winter concerts?! So far, not a Christmas, Eid or Hanukkah song to be had. Wouldn't it be great if they just moved those all to January when we as parents and people just weren't so darn busy?!

Traditionally, I am known as a scrooge. But this year, I am really trying to force myself into the whole Christmas spirit kind of thing. It's worked so well that my 13yo daughter actually recognized this with approval. "Wow, Mom," said she as I bumped my head plugging in lights under the piano. "You never get into Christmas. What's up?" What's up is just that I used to be so into Christmas that I burned myself out before the oldest was 7! Heck, the littlest one can't remember Mom being thrilled about the season, so I'm pushing myself. I might --emphasis here on might--even do some Christmas baking this year! We have a long stretch from the first day of winter break to actual Christmas. I might as well put the little elves to use and have them help me do some cooking!

Balancing the U.S. Government Family Budget

2010-12-07T17:22:06-06:00

Today it was announced that the Democrats and the Republicans sorta / kinda / almost worked together to continue unemployment extensions for those who can't find work in this god-awful economy and at the same time keep the Bush-era tax cuts from expiring on the poor, the middle class and the incredibly rich members of society.

Problems? You bet:
1. This "I'll trade you your tax cuts for wealthy captains of industry for extending unemployment benefits" isn't really a compromise. It is more of a temporary cease fire between two sides of a government that can't manage to think of anything but their own constant reelections anymore.

2. The government isn't taking money from somewhere else to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy, for the continued unemployment or the tax cuts for folks like you and me. The Republicans continue to believe in Reagan-era trickle down economics, which never trickle any where but to the bank accounts of the wealthy. The Democrats don't know how to trade: 13 months of unemployment extensions in exchange for 2 years of tax cuts.

3. And this is the very sad part: When it comes to funding unemployment, reducing the tax burden for the middle class, and contributing to education and health for its own citizens, our elected officials fight and scream about funding. However, we seem to invade, bomb, rebuild and fund other countries with a blank check.

Originally formed to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity," our federal government has turned into a huge, over-bloated bureaucracy (to see just how bloated, check out A-Z Index of U.S. Government Agencies http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml).

Surely, it cannot take $3.8 trillion to run this country--not when we also have functioning state, county & local governments. Unfortunately, "our" elected representatives, who have to be rather wealthy in order to run for office, have lost touch with their constituents. They have forgotten how important an extra $500, $800 or $2000 can be when we push the e-file button on our tax returns.

The time has come for some serious budgeting. Not just the "guidelines" that our representatives pass in our names--but some really serious emergency budgeting.

Let's face it, most of our elected members of congress are men. My husband won't pay the bills. It makes him sick. I know several other women who handle the bills and the budgets because their husbands can't take it, either. No wonder our country is in such bad financial shape. These guys just can't pay the bills--it makes them ill.

The government needs women who run their family budgets, pay the bills, prioritize and save for purchases, and suffer the tension headaches on behalf of their families to come in and fix things.

And that is what we should be--the great American family. In times of economic crisis, we don't stop caring for Granny in order to rebuild the Jones' house. We might want to--but we just can't. Nor do families pay for the luxury of a pedicure or a housekeeper when they are straining their purse strings to put food on the table.

The government needs some true Millennium Moms to step in. Women who know what is needed to keep a family of four or five people afloat at a time when annual raises are stuck at 2%--we are the ones with the common sense to reduce and reorganize the government into a lean, mean finance machine. They need some Moms who know what's necessary to a family and what's not ("No, you cannot have a new space shuttle! What do you think? That money grows on trees?").

If you go through the A-Z Index of U.S. Government Agencies, there are tens of agencies hiding in departments that could just be cut right off the bat. Boom. No one will ever know except the bureaucrats who work there--and they can enjoy unemployment benefits while they look for a new job ("You think maintaining a base in the Arctic Circle is more important than helping 5,000 unemployed, uninsured accountants and their families? I don't think so. You can do that when you've put some money in the bank").

For instance, the Administration for Children and Families handles topics that are duplicated at the state level: child abuse, child care, child support, the "Healthy Marriage Initiative", etc. Cut, cut, cut. The Department of Education only causes everyone headaches. It demands expensive testing and more testing and higher standards--but where's the funding. I do understand that it spends more at the college level. So perhaps it should become the Department of Higher Education, and remove the primary and secondary education divisions. Here in Illinois, our public school education is pretty much paid for by commercial and homeowner property taxes. The feds and states don't do much for us.

Now, look at how much I've already saved the US! And this is just one mom.

The budget is up there for everyone to view. You can download/view it in sections at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy11/index.html. Make it a resolution this coming New Year to sift through the parts of it. See if there is something that you think can be axed--that just isn't in the US family budget anymore. Look for duplicates. We don't duplicate work efforts in our homes or small businesses--so why should the federal government duplicate what the states do?

When you do find something, post it as a comment here--and be sure to e-mail it to your rep in congress and the senate. Whether you are a republican or democrat, show them where you think the family should be putting its money.

RON SANTO | 1940-2010

2010-12-03T16:22:21-06:00

A sad surprise awaited Cubs fans this morning when we awoke. Our leader--probably the biggest, best Cub fan to ever live--had passed away. I was only a preschooler when Santo retired from baseball after 14 years with the Cubs and one final year with our South Side rivals, but you just need to look at his numbers to know he was one of the best third basemen to play the game--a player who should have been sent to the Hall of Fame during his lifetime but has been denied 19 times by the BBWAA and the Veterans Committee.

It was as a broadcaster, not a player, that Ron Santo became a familiar figure in our house through his WGN Cubs radio. Just listening to this guy, you knew he bled Cubbie Blue. He is truly the leader of all die-hard Cubs fans. You didn't need to know the score when you flipped on the radio. You could tell how the Cubs were doing that day by the tone of Ron's voice. Unfortunately, his style of announcing is pretty much an endangered species now, as broadcasters opt for universal voices of impartiality even among home announcers.

WGN Cubs broadcasts were king in my house when I was a kid. Growing up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, you were either a Reds fan or a Cubs fan. Sure, there were some Cleveland fans in there somewhere but I don't think I've ever met any. We were a multi-generation Cubs family. I'm not sure I even knew the White Sox existed until I was older.

During spring and summer weekends, my dad always had the Cubs broadcasts going from his big radio in the garage. This wasn't just any transister radio--this thing was about 1 foot long, 1 foot tall, several inches deep and had a special weather button. And you could hear it over the power tools. The Cubs on the radio were as much a part of my childhood and coming of age as my bike and Barbie dolls. That radio kept dad company through the building and re-building of an upper deck, a lower deck, and his decorative decks. To this day, the smells of gasoline, fresh mowed grass and sawdust instantly take me back to Dad's garage and summers with the Cubs in the air.

Later, when Harry Caray was switching between WGN-TV and WGN radio, my dad, who really didn't like Harry, would reverse switch. Off the radio would go while Caray, who I really didn't mind, was on--and on the radio would go when Caray was off. Dad would use Caray on the radio as his excuse to run downstairs for a coffee break and watch those innings on TV.

It wasn't until after I had left for college, Santo became a Cubs commentator. Dad loved Santo's enthusiasm. So does my husband--and so do I. For another generation, I'm sure Santo was the voice coming from garages across Cubland in the summer.

When you heard his voice and genuine enthusiasm, you couldn't help but think "this is a good man." And indeed he was. He not only courageously battled debilitating effects of Juvenile Diabetes but gave freely of his time, name and money to help kids with Type-1 diabetes and help raise awareness and research money. From news accounts, his optimism inspired so many people. Even Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, said today on ESPN radio:

"On the field, Ronnie was one of the greatest competitors I've ever seen. Off the field, he was as generous as anyone you would want to know. His work for diabetes research seemed unparalleled. Ronnie was always there for you, and through his struggles, he was always upbeat, positive and caring. I learned a lot about what it means to be a caring, decent human being from Ron Santo."

If all players were the role models that Santo was, I have no doubt that baseball would have a better reputation today than it does. More people would still care about the game and the boys of summer. Home run streaks wouldn't be looked at suspiciously, and kids could have worthy heroes again.

For Cubs fans, today was a sad, sad day. In addition to the loss of a truly wonderful person, with the passing of Santo, not much remains to tie today's Cubs to those non-corporate days of long ago, when players stayed with their teams more than long enough to bond with their fans, signed autographs for free, and broadcasters could cry, "Oh, no" or "Holy Cow" with abandon.