A Blessed Christmas to All

I want to wish all of my friends here in the blogosphere a very Merry Christmas. I hope each and every one of you enjoys your family and friends and that you are all overwhelmed with happiness, love and good health.

The Domino Effect of our Banking System

As we know our Financial System took a major hit last year. Let’s take a little look see at how this played out, shall we…

The Community Reinvestment Act is a federal law that was passed in 1977 to “encourage” banks and savings associations to meet the needs of borrowers in ALL segments of their communities, which included low and moderate-income neighborhoods. Congress “felt” this law needed to be passed in order to prevent discrimination against low-income and minority borrowers.

There were Legislative changes made to the CRA over the years, but the most pertinent one, in my opinion, was the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, which required Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to devote a percentage of their lending to support affordable housing. Basically this Act instructed Freddie and Fannie to divide its business into three categories: low and moderate-income, underserved, and special affordable. The goal was to increase home-ownership among minorities and the poor in rural and urban areas.


In November of 1999, a part of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 was repealed with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1993 which permitted commercial banks, investment banks and insurance companies to consolidate. While The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act was a Republican backed bill, President Clinton said he would veto it unless it contained verbiage that would ensure banks wouldn’t cut back on mortgages to low income and minority borrowers.


Due to pressure from the Clinton Administration, in 1999 Fannie began issuing subprime loans, which increased the number of minority and low income home owners. The expansion of “easy credit” to home buyers with lesser ability to pay it back and then bundling them as securities made the CEO’s of Fannie and Freddie and many others on Wall Street a lot of money, but also made our market quite unstable.

In 2000 Fannie Mae launched the American Dream Commitment, a ten year pledge to provide $2 trillion dollars in low-income and minority home financing. By March 2003 Fannie and their lending partners had fulfilled over half of their goal. Other lending partners included: Bank of America; Bank One Corporation; Charter One Bank; Countrywide Financial Corporation; Doral Financial Corporation; First Horizon Home Loan Corporation; Fleet Boston Bank; Huntington Mortgage Company; Irwin Mortgage; J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; and Standard Mortgage Corporation and they were “applauded” for surpassing the halfway mark so quickly. Together they led the market in narrowing the homeownership gaps, increasing the availability of affordable housing and serving Americans of color and low-income.

The 2000 plan included $420 billion to help minority home financing but in 2002 it was increased to $700 billion in an “effort” to help “advance” the Bush Administration’s minority homeownership proposals. Fannie also met or exceeded HUD’s affordable goals for 9 consecutive years which included 52% of their business derived from low-income families; 33% derived from underserved families; and over 21% derived from very low-income families.


Fannie and Freddie loaned at first because they were pressured from HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) who was under pressure from Congress. With repeal of part of the Glass-Steagall Act it gave financial institutions and insurance companies free reign without any over-sight to basically sell debt onto our market, and make large bonuses to boot, and now we Taxpayers are left holding the tab. In my opinion, the CRA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act were two big factors in the downfall of our financial system.


I am in NO way suggesting that any bank, investment company or insurance company discriminate due to skin color or ethnicity; however, I do NOT condone giving anyone a home loan, a credit card or a car loan if they are NOT able to pay it back. The desire to increase home ownership in low-income and minority neighborhoods is a noble cause, but it may not be a feasible one, considering the outcome of many of these “loans”. I believe everyone should have a place to live—a home; but I do NOT believe everyone is ENTITLED to OWN a house. The two are completely separate from one another.

I believe if Congress hadn’t pressured HUD and HUD hadn’t pressured the banking institutions and if the CRA wasn’t abused AND if Gramm-Leach-Bliley hadn’t repealed part of Glass-Steagall we wouldn’t be sitting with this current banking mess. There is enough blame to go around, but I think it all began with Congress wanting to give something that wasn’t earned, i.e. the CRA.

A person must “earn” a good credit score, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Neither of which can be used against you on a credit application, by the way. HOWEVER your lack of a job; adequate funds; time with your employer; and past credit history MOST certainly do and those issues are NOT discriminatory. It’s time we stood on the facts and stopped being afraid of being called “prejudiced” when the FACTS prove otherwise; because as we can see, the results can be devastating.

I also don’t think that Government should be involved in every aspect of our lives, BUT over-sight IS important in certain areas, especially when large sums of money are involved. These Institutions, like AIG and JP Morgan should’ve had some kind of Clearing House. As it stands they did not and they got away with Billions.

And last, but certainly NOT least, when we Taxpayers bailed-out all these lame companies that placed us in this precarious situation there should’ve been stipulations on OUR money. It should NOT have been handed to them willy-nilly. As it stands we don’t know where it went and we don’t know why these banks aren’t lending. They SHOULD be lending and we should demand that they follow some rules. However, those decisions don’t seem to be up to us, although it’s our money.

Hopefully our Representatives on The Hill have LEARNED something! And they will begin to institute some REAL change. Change that will stop the corruption, not just on Wall Street and in Banking and Insurance Institutions, but in Congress, as well.

Crossed posted at Progressive Eruptions.

Democrats Bogus Job Creation Plan

It appears the Obama Administration wants to spend millions more for “Job Creation”. According to Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio the $787 Billion Dollar Stimulus Bill boosted our employment but “did it in a way that was not as highly visible as a lot of people would like.”

So let me get this straight. We spent $787 Billion dollars BUT we can NOT see the jobs it created. Unemployment is at 10.2%-- 17% if you count the people who have given up looking and those who have fallen off the radar… tell me again how the Stimulus BOOSTED jobs, Betty!


But wait, I may be jumping on Betty prematurely. Because she also said, “It did so in somewhat of a scattershot approach — a job here and a job there, trickled out over time. Far too many Americans are without a job, and far too many more are worried about what tomorrow is going to bring.”

Nope, I was NOT premature. A trickled job here and a trickled job there does NOT help when we have MILLIONS out of work! And with the way things look, hundreds of thousands more could lose their jobs!

Help is on the way though! Harry Reid HAS a plan! Yep, our Dear Harry wants to spend $600 Million dollars to SAVE jobs! Isn’t he a nice guy? Now I’m just being mean. Sorry.

Reid’s plan is a work-share program for all 50 states which will provide federal aid (or should we call it unemployment) to employees who accept less hours so that their employer can hire more employees thus averting layoffs. This approach Reid says will “save taxpayers money by keeping people on payrolls and off unemployment benefits.”

WHAT?! Wait, let me read THAT again. Save Tax Payers Money. We’re going to spend $600 Million dollars to enact this program but Reid says tax payers are saving money…um…am I brain dead? How the hell do tax payers SAVE money when Reid is spending $600 Million dollars of OUR money to get this program off the gosh darn ground? Saving tax payer money, I would think, and I’m not a Rocket Scientist, would be NOT implementing programs that require TAX PAYER MONEY in the fist place.

This program is sweet though, isn’t it? You only have to work half the time but get a full paycheck. It’s another entitlement program. Whatever happened to allowing businesses to do what THEY feel is best for their company? You know free will and all. If I were a business owner there is NO WAY I’d take one dime from the Feds. Federal money comes with strings. Just look at AIG. The next thing these small business owners will face is the Pay Czar telling them how much to pay their employees. Not a good plan. But then again, what Government program ever TRULY is? (Please don’t tell me SS; it’s soon to be bankrupt.)

I realize we are in a huge mess, however, just because the Democrats are in trouble of losing seats in 2010 does NOT give them the right to start another spending spree to try and save their butts. They OWE Americans a fiscally honorable plan. I’m tired of watching our budget go from red to blood red second after second. And I really don’t want to hear how it’s Bush’s fault, either. THAT ONE is REALLY old. This IS Obama’s economy NOW. It’s Obama’s war and it’s Obama’s unemployment. BUT he needs to start getting involved and stop with the stupid celebrity interviews and TV ads. I want a Leader who actually LEADS. So far that’s not what I’ve seen.

Thanksgiving-What it Means to Me

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The fourth of July being my most favorite; because without freedom I can’t very well celebrate the others. So, today I would like to express why I am appreciative.

First and foremost I am very grateful for my family. I am blessed with a very supportive and loving husband. He has been in my life for over 28 years and I truly appreciate him, even though I don’t always show or tell him so. He knows me better than anyone and loves me in spite of all his insight! I am indebted to him for bestowing me with two beautiful sons, who are the sunlight in my days and the joy in my heart. I never really understood unconditional love or the saying “I will die for you” until the day I looked into their eyes. I WILL die for my sons without hesitation. I have sacrificed for them since the day they were born to ensure they will be ready for adulthood and I do NOT regret one moment. It has been an honor being their Mom and I will always be proud of them and I will love them with all my heart…forever. They are THE two MOST perfect things I have EVER done in my life and I’m POSITIVE I will never do anything so perfect again.

I would like to say that I am blessed with awesome parents. They have been there for me in so many ways and I can’t thank them enough. They lead by example by loving and respecting one another which swells my heart with such happiness. I am always proud to introduce them to my peers and I’m honored when they introduce me to someone from their very large circle of friends because I know how respected they are in their community. I realize they are aware of how much I appreciate them, but I won’t stop demonstrating how very deserving they are of all the love, respect and adoration I feel.

I have a few health related issues; however, I am lucky they are not life threatening. Still, they have made my life difficult, but I’m a strong person who refuses to allow these “issues” to stop me from enjoying my life and those I love. I’m grateful I am strong, purposeful, determined and optimistic. I believe that we all have lessons to learn and this is another one of mine. I haven’t quite mastered it yet, but I’m hopeful the answer won’t be long in coming. Hope is what keeps me going…especially when I’m having a very bad day. I’m thankful for Hope. It’s a blessing unto itself. And just for the record: No one should ever take good health for granted. It’s extremely precious. No amount of money will ever buy one good health. It can purchase medication or something to aid in a recovery, but it will NEVER buy one into healthfulness. If you are lucky enough to be healthy, say “thank you” every single day and MEAN it.

I’m also thankful this year for the new friends that I made. Friends are cherished gifts. I say gifts, because they are given to us sometimes for no apparent reason yet they come when we need them the most. This is why we should feel appreciative and recognize we are worthy. Friends should be treasured, too, because a true friend is rare. So, when one is bestowed upon you, thank whatever higher power you believe in and know that you must’ve done something admirable.

I’m thankful I can read, write, do mathematics, and converse with people, even strangers, in a respectable manner. Heck, I’m grateful I HAVE manners! I’m appreciative I have the ability to feel proud but not arrogant; to feel compassion without pity; and sympathy while remaining true to myself.

And last but not least, I’m thankful for our great and glorious Country. Though we face many difficulties right now, I believe we Americans will prevail. We are unique people— Strong and courageous; loving and benevolent; intelligent and innovative. And with all our strengths, we will persevere and come through our darkest times stronger than ever. I thank my fellow Americans for their unwavering faith in our Constitution, our Military and in each other.

Happy Thanksgiving! May yours be blessed with everything that makes YOU happy.

Reid’s Health Care Propaganda

Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, has revealed his Health Care Plan and received a passing vote to continue the health care debate. His bill exceeded Pelosi’s 1,990 page monstrosity by 84 pages. One would THINK that with all the complaints about how HUGE and CONVOLUTED these bills are, maybe, JUST maybe, Reid would’ve shortened his a bit. But NO, he made his LONGER. Maybe his bill is a symbol of sorts; you know, kinda like a sports car to insecure men.

The first Health Care Bill, HR 3200 and Pelosi’s bill, HR 3962 were both horrible. The ONLY good thing about Pelosi’s bill is it disallowed pre-existing conditions. Other than that…well, you can use it in your fireplace, that’s where I believe it belongs and how much I believe it will help the American people.

I haven’t read Reid’s bill, yet. But, I’ll bet it’s pretty darn close to the other two. I can’t imagine Reid has much more vision than Pelosi. And these bills are written by pretty much the same people after all. What really makes me angry is this Health Care debacle isn’t about HEALTH or CARE. It’s about THEM and THEIR next election. My suspicion was proven to me when former President Clinton went to Capitol Hill and spoke to Democratic Senators on November 10th. He reiterated what the Obama Administration has been saying about it being more important to pass a bill even if it’s not perfect.

Clinton told Senate Democrats, “Just pass the bill, even if it’s not exactly what you want. When you try and fail, the other guys write history.”
Clinton told reporters after the meeting, “It's not important to be perfect here. It's important to act, to move, to start the ball rolling. There will be amendments to this effort, whatever they pass, next year and the year after and the year after, and there should be. It's a big, complicated, organic thing. But the worst thing to do is nothing."

Basically what Clinton means is pass the bill, even if it’s wrong. It doesn’t matter if you don’t give the American People a GOOD bill. It’s ALL about winning. It’s ALL about writing history as the Majority Senators and get “that ball rolling”! THAT to Clinton AND to Obama, Reid and Pelosi is MORE important than HEALTH and CARE!

Clinton also said, “I think it is good politics to pass this and to pass this as soon as they can. But I think the most important thing is it is the right thing for America. The worst thing to do is nothing.”

Of course they want to pass this “as soon as possible”. If they wait, it will be flushed down the toilet where it belongs! The longer these bills are out there, the more the public learns the TRUTH. The truth is, this is NOT about HEALTH and CARE.

Health Care is about the American People and we would have Tort-reform; Fraud and waste would be addressed NOW not in bills waiting to get passed that need to form yet MORE government agencies that NEED even MORE tax money; We would be able to purchase insurance across state lines; We would be able to take our insurance from one employer to another; We would NOT have ENORMOUS out of pocket expenses for costly life saving treatments…NONE of these bills save us from THAT AND THAT is what FORCES people into bankruptcy; Illegals WOULD be addressed with STRAIGHT talk without fear of the next election and Illegals would NOT be covered. PERIOD; There would be STRAIGHT talk about abortions, too, AND compromise, because OUR country is divided on the issue and we DO have rape, incest and situations where the mother’s life is in danger and THOSE issues ARE of grave importance; We would NOT have billions of cuts to our Medicare; We would NOT force the American people to buy insurance or GO TO JAIL; We would not be PENALZING the American people because they have “Cadillac Insurance Plans”; We would NOT force companies to cover employees if they can NOT afford it thus forcing them out of business; WE would NOT force the American People to pay for even MORE government bureaucracies to enforce even more mandates and taxes which will cost even more lost jobs and Americans to lose even more hard earned money.

Health Care would address the issues that Americans ARE facing. NOT impose yet more mandates, taxes and government jobs and programs. How does yet another Government official help an American that doesn’t have health care? It doesn’t. But, following the fraud money train of 64 billion a year in Medicare could help give hundreds of thousands of Americans coverage. No one, I repeat, NO ONE in Congress addresses the Medicare Fraud Train. Why is that? Is it because the tracks will lead to THEM perhaps? Are their pockets lined with some of THAT fraud? I’m beginning to suspect that it is. Or else they would be following it and STOPPING it. And if not, WHY the hell would we pay for yet another government department to stop fraud and abuse in a NEW health care plan? THAT is ridiculous! Wake up America!!

Clinton says we won’t have the “perfect bill”. I ask, WHY NOT? We are paying millions of dollars EVERY year, just in salaries, mind you, for the brain trusts on Capitol Hill. With all those “intelligent” people and all that money, not only should we have the Perfect Bill, but it should be written in GOLD!

Congress hands us crap and we accept it saying “Thank you” with smiles on our faces! THAT is NOT acceptable. We DESERVE the PERFECT BILL and we should NOT settle for anything less. We are their bosses! We pay them! They WORK for US. If THEY can NOT deliver the best damn bill, then we need to find people who WILL!

Why, as Americans, have we become complacent? Why have we just accepted that our Representatives are liars, thieves and cheats? It is NOT acceptable! Why have so many Americans declared that “it’s just the way it is” Or “there’s nothing we can do about it”?

For all you complacent Americans, don’t vote anymore— Stay home. But those of you who believe that we DESERVE more; we DESERVE better; let’s TELL Congress NO! WE WON’T SETTLE ANYMORE! And let’s vote this bill OUT! And make them work on a bill until it is PERFECT! That IS their job after all.

And how about no more 300 million dollar bribes tied up in Medicaid bows. There are 500 million dollars worth of cuts to Medicare in this bill, but we are going to give Louisiana 300 million in Medicaid aid, and for what? So people can STAY in poverty? Yeah, that works. Let’s not bombard them with education or job skills! Ah, no, Reid wants to give them money to stay poor. Goodness knows how well handing people money has helped them out of poverty for the last 50 years. Again, WAKE UP AMERICA!

I am one angry American. I want a REAL Health Care Bill, not some pet project plan that is actually a spending spree filled with more taxes, more government jobs and more payoffs to Senators. I want what is BEST for our Country and her People. I want EVERYONE to read this bill and see what is hidden inside. READ what it TRULY IS. Please, people, READ it and see the TRUTH.


We need to stop these out of control Bureaucrats NOW. We DESERVE better; We DESERVE so much more. If WE don’t stand up to them, who will?

Veterans Day

Thank you for all you’ve done.

For the sacrifices you made so that I didn’t have to make any.

Thank you for sleeping on the hard ground so that I could sleep in my warm bed.

Thank you for eating out of a nappy sack so I could eat at my kitchen table.

Thank you for wearing the same clothes, day after day, so I could wear clean clothing.

Thank you for staring at a picture of your loved one so that I could hold mine.

Thank you for reading letters from family and friends so that I could talk to mine.

Thank you, Dear Veteran, for your courage and honor.

Thank you for defending our Country so that I could live within her freely and safely.

For that I will always be grateful.

HR 3962 Health Care the Pelosi Way

Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990 page Health Care bill was unveiled Thursday, October 29th. Nancy Pelosi said they were at a historic moment with lawmakers and “on the cusp of delivering on the promise of making affordable, quality health insurance available to every American — and laying the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.” Affordable? For whom?

I’m not sure how small and medium size business owners and middle class Americans will be able to afford much of anything with this monstrosity, which includes 13 new taxes and will grow government to an even more colossal size. Our government already owns 30% of our private sector with car companies, banks, mortgage companies, student loans, credit card companies and Fannie and Freddie. Once they get hold of our Health Care, they will own another 18%. That’s almost 50% of our economy, which currently, is fragile, at best.

This bill doesn’t even address tort-reform. That doesn’t surprise me, with half or more of our elected officials being lawyers and all. I’ve heard the argument that tort-reform “won’t really save money”, but when I read this:

SEC. 2531. MEDICAL LIABILITY ALTERNATIVES.
(a) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL LIABILITY
REFORM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent and in the amounts made available in advance in appropriation Acts, the Secretary shall make an incentive payment, in an amount determined by the Secretary, to each State that has an alternative medical liability law in compliance with this section.

(4) CONTENTS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL LIABILITY LAW.—The contents of an alternative liability law are in accordance with this paragraph if—
(A) the litigation alternatives contained in the law consist of certificate of merit, early offer, or both; and (B) the law does not limit attorneys’ fees or impose caps on damages.

So, tell me again how tort-reform isn’t a factor. Because I’m really curious as to WHY Section 2531 would be in the bill if it weren’t. That section is to protect the lawyers—but forget the American people. Screw the doctors who have to pay exorbitant malpractice insurance premiums. Just make sure the LAWYERS get their money at ANY price, even if it means raising taxes on Americans.

Health Care Reform doesn’t have to be so complicated. Medicare and Medicaid have more fraud than our Representatives will admit. Why don’t they start there? Let’s save $60 Billion a year FIRST. Because when I read this among the 2 thousand pages, I wanted to scream…

TITLE VI—PROGRAM INTEGRITY
Subtitle A—Increased Funding to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Sec. 1601. Increased funding and flexibility to fight fraud and abuse.
(A) establish procedures to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse under the program;
and (B) provide for other program integrity methods.


If they can implement a program under Government Health Care for INTEGRITY and PROTECTION AGAINST WASTE, FRAUD, and ABUSE, why the heck aren’t we doing it NOW? This just blows my mind! Let’s start a whole NEW program and spend EVEN MORE money to begin an honesty and fraud protection program; but don’t do it with the existing program when we KNOW it’s hemorrhaging at least $60 BILLION a year in DECEIT. I’m not sure, but I think this would be listed under the category of utter stupidity. Not to mention just another way to spend OUR money, when they COULD be finding ways to recoup the money that has been wasted, or dare I say STOLEN, already.

One of the big arguments for a Government Health Care plan was because “the number one reason for bankruptcy in America is due to medical bills”. The stats on medical bankruptcies are sketchy. I’m not saying that people haven’t filed bankruptcy due to medical bills. What I’m saying is that many people who have filed bankruptcy would have filed regardless, and the medical bills just exasperated the situation. But if you read this:

(4) COST-SHARING.—The term ‘‘cost-sharing’’ includes deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and similar charges, but does not include premiums, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or spending for non-covered services.

(C) the maximum cost-sharing with respect to an individual (or family) for a year shall not exceed $5,000 for an individual (or $10,000 for a family).

Let’s say a wife gets cancer in July and needs treatment and her insurance doesn’t cover all her medical expenses. She pays out of pocket from July through December that year to the tune of $10K. The next year she has treatment from January thru August and pays another $10K. Her family is now in debt $20K for medical “cost-sharing”. They have a mortgage, a car payment AND $10K in credit card debt. There is a good chance they will file bankruptcy. So, again, HOW does Pelosi’s Health Care bill HELP Americans from filing bankruptcy? It doesn’t. THAT argument has NOT been addressed in THIS bill and will NOT be addressed; because medical bankruptcies are NOT a major factor and Congress KNOWS it. They used those stats for their own agenda, even though the stats were not accurate. Had the stats been accurate, they would’ve addressed them in THIS bill.

There are other goodies in this bill. Like Section 340L a Health Corps. Yep, we are going to fund and repay loans for people to go into the Health Profession. I guess we’re going to have to bribe them somehow because with price fixing no one is going to want to be doctors or nurses anymore. But a Health Corps? That’s an odd title, isn’t it? And has the cost of THIS program been added to the trillion dollar price tag? How could it, when we don't even know how many people will enroll in years to come!

Or what about all the expenses fast food restaurants and vending machine companies are going to fork out now that they have to divulge all the calories and nutrients on the contents of the food and snacks they sell. Yes, you read that correctly. A vending machine company has to list all the candy and its calories, etc., on the vending machine now. You mean to tell me that people DON’T know candy is filled with sugar and calories? If they don’t then they are NOT living in what we know as REALITY. But the American people are going to pay higher prices for everything from a Hershey bar to French fries because Congress wants to dictate what we’ll eat and when we’ll exercise. Because they are going to give incentives to employers who participate! Like in THIS section:



SEC. 2535. COMMUNITY-BASED OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Part Q of title III (42 U.S.C. 280h et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 399W the following:

‘‘SEC. 399W–1. COMMUNITY-BASED OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish a community-based overweight and obesity prevention program consisting of awarding grants and contracts under subsection (b). ‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities— ‘‘(1) to plan evidence-based programs for the prevention of overweight and obesity among children and their families through improved nutrition and increased physical activity; or ‘‘(2) to implement such programs. ‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant or contract under subsection (b), an entity shall be a community partnership that demonstrates community support and includes— ‘‘(1) a broad cross section of stakeholders, such as—
‘‘(A) hospitals, health care systems, community health centers, or other health care providers;‘‘(B) universities, local educational agencies, or childcare providers; ‘‘(C) State, local, and tribal health departments;
‘‘(D) State, local, and tribal park and recreation departments; ‘‘(E)employers; and‘‘(F) health insurance companies;‘‘(2) residents of the community; and ‘‘(3) representatives of public and private entities that have a history of working within and serving the community.


‘‘(f) PREFERENCES.—In awarding grants and contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities that— ‘‘(1) will serve communities with high levels of overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases; or ‘‘(2) will plan or implement activities for the prevention of overweight and obesity in school or workplace settings.


This means that grants will be awarded to companies and schools for implementing programs that prevent obesity. So, as an employer you’ll get money if you make your employees exercise? Eat fruits and veggies every day? Stop drinking and smoking? How will they monitor an employee’s behavior AFTER work? Will there be “snitches”? Who knows WHAT this COULD entail. All I know is I don’t like the mere SOUND of it.

I’m an ADULT. If I CHOOSE to eat unhealthy food, shouldn’t that be MY choice? By the way, I don’t eat junk food and I don’t drink alcohol or sugary drinks, but what if I did? What about the millions of Americans that do? Do “I” have the right to tell THEM they should stop? Do employers have the right? The Government? Where, exactly, does the line of freedom get crossed?

In closing, I will admit that I have NOT read the entire 1,990 pages of the bill. I read the sections that I thought looked interesting, although I haven’t listed all of them. I believe this so-called “Health Care for Every America” will cross a line that we can’t even begin to comprehend and we will pay monetarily and we will pay with liberties. I truly don’t believe that anyone wants that. Health Reform is necessary, but THIS bill, with its taxes and mandates, isn’t THE ONE. I truly believe our Representatives can do much better and it’s up to US to force them to give us a bill that is TRULY worthy of the title HEALTH CARE REFORM.

I’m Back

I’ve been away from the blogging community for a little while…reasons I won’t get into now, but a few from the community are aware of. I thank those who cared enough to inquire into my whereabouts. You find out a lot about a person when things get a little out of kilter in your life.

It’s absolutely astonishing, though. Blogging is very similar to Soap Operas. I haven’t really missed a thing! The bashing is still there. The ugliness. The vile comments made against others. What is wrong with people?

I realize I will NEVER be able to change people let alone politics, but it makes me sick to my stomach how people treat one another.

Our country is in a terrible mess. If unemployment were calculated correctly it would be an average of 17% nationwide. Our interest rates are low only because the Feds have the rate stuck rather than allowing the market to fluctuate naturally; or it would be double digits, also. We are in a war in Afghanistan that is failing and young men and women are dying daily. We have violence in just about every city, where our youth is killing one another—NOT with GUNS, but with boards and their fists! Our Congressmen and women are at one another’s throats, which then makes us go for the jugular of someone who has a differing opinion. Heath Care Reform is still a mess. The possibility of Cap and Trade could tax us into poverty. Fellow Countrymen far and wide are losing their homes and not able to feed their families. Not to mention people are experiencing serious health issues on a daily basis that terrify them to the point where they don’t even confide in their closest friends or family members. They bare the brunt of their terror— ALONE.

Yet what are we doing in the blogging community and mass media? Writing smearing, disgusting comments, when we COULD be trying to figure out a way to work together to fix our country, which has gone to hell in a hand basket.

Our Representatives are liars, cheats and thieves. Yes, all three, because where you find one, the other two are sure to follow. They need voted OUT! We need to band together as a Nation and get the bums out of office. We need honorable people representing us. Men and women who are willing and able to do the RIGHT thing.

Just as we need honorable people in the blogging community. Our journalists have let us down. True media has died. So, we need bloggers to give us reliable information. And we need them to do that in an honorable, respectable manner.

I am still a Conservative, that hasn’t changed. I am still disenfranchised. I still do NOT like the avenue that Obama and the Democrats have turned us onto. But I will NOT turn ugly and dishonorable over it. I will NOT defame. I will NOT be disgusting and vile. Not even to Obama. I will probably write a joke or two—tastefully, however; because that is MY belief.

In short, I am back. I have learned a few things during my sudden, unexpected sabbatical. My lessons will probably be reflected in my writing. But you’ll have to wait a few days to see how that plays out.

For now, just know that I’m glad to be back and I hope you all will welcome me.

9/11 a Day for Remembrance not for Service

8 years ago today our country was attacked by terrorists and we lost 2,740 Americans.

September 11th is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life even though I don’t live in New York City. I live approximately 1 hour from Shanksville, Pennsylvania where Flight 93 rests in a beautiful memorial built to honor the 40 Americans who died there that fateful day.

On that gorgeous September morning in 2001, I had just arrived at work when the first plane hit the 1st World Trade Center Tower. Then, I watched in shock as the 2nd plane hit the 2nd Tower in Manhattan. I thought I was watching a movie. It was surreal. My mind was whirling and telling me, “This isn’t happening.” “This is trick photography.” But when both World Trade Center buildings collapsed, one right after the other, I knew with horrified dread, it wasn’t a movie, but a stark reality.

I immediately called my husband, who was off from work due to a work related injury, and told him to pick up our son from school. I left work and joined my family. We watched television the rest of the day; trying to grasp the fact that our Country was under attack by terrorists who were using OUR domestic planes as weapons. When we heard about the plane that went down in Shanksville, we realized even we weren’t impervious from terrorists. Another 10 or 15 minutes and that plane could’ve landed on our house!

We hugged one another and our boys more times than I could’ve counted that day. We couldn’t stop being grateful that we were home— safe. We called our family and friends and told them we loved them. The brutal reality of that devastating ordeal brought forth the fact that our lives were fragile— ALL life is fragile.

Now on September 11th my family and I spend the day remembering that once beautiful, serene morning which spiraled into a horrific tale which told us that our country is not safe and that evil does reside here and it can strike anytime. We don’t know anyone that died 8 years ago, but we say silent prayers that the families who did lose loved ones found peace. We also watch memorials…tears still fill my eyes and at times I can barely speak.


This year September 11th is being tainted by The National Service Act, which President Obama signed into law. It was designated that because, they say, it’s a way for America to remember the spirit of the community, volunteerism and service response that came on September 11, 2001.

I am very upset about this selected date because September 11th is a day to reminisce, mourn and revere those who died on that fateful day. We lost 2,740 Americans on September 11th and it is a sacred day for family and friends to honor and remember those who lost their lives.

Our commitment to service and volunteerism was actually realized on September 12th, the day AFTER.

Representative Peter King said, “America came together in the aftermath of 9/11”.

The Serve.gov web-site states, “…in the days after the September 11, 2001 tragedy.”

Two quotes about the aftermath of service. It’s a well known fact that communities and Americans everywhere assisted the city of New York on September 12th. I worked with a man who drove to New York and volunteered for the clean-up efforts. This national day of volunteerism, to show our spirit of community, is for people to support their community and it should be the day AFTER, which is when communities everywhere actually got together and helped our firefighters, police officers and clean-up crews. Or it could be any of the other 200+ days we have available on our calendar.

I’m not sure, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I think most of the families and friends of our fallen Americans would not appreciate this day being diminished in this way. Just as I don’t think Labor Day, Memorial Day or even Martin Luther King, Jr. Day should be over-shadowed by any other ritual. They are days that stand alone— for very good reason. September 11th is a solitary day. It’s a private day to remember our fallen Americans; it is NOT a day of service. I am deeply saddened that it is being used in this manner.

Advice to a Teen

Susannah over at Get the Big Idea inspired this post. I consider her a friend, a great blogger and an inspiration. Thank you, Susannah, for all that you do and for all that you ARE.

It’s called the 10 x 10 and the scenario goes:

*You’re a woman on a bus, riding comfortably, when a young teen gets on, taking the empty seat beside you. She introduces herself & tells you where her stop is. You know that 10 minutes hence, she’ll get off & you won’t see her again. For whatever reason, you feel an urgency to impart the 10 most important things that you believe she’ll need to know, to carry her through the rest of her life. You don’t have time to plan & you don’t have time to poll your friends. When this girl gets off the bus, she’ll be gone forever. You will either have used the opportunity of 10 minutes, or you’ll have lost it.As a woman, what will you tell her? What 10 essentials can you absolutely NOT let her get off that bus without hearing? What really matters, to you, in life? *

My answer:

You don’t know me and you’ll probably think I’m a crazy lady. But I can assure you, I am not. I’m a wife and a mom and I want to give you some advice that I wish someone would’ve given me when I was your age.

I want to tell you that Respect is very important. Not just for others, but especially for yourself. For if you don’t respect yourself, you won’t think twice before doing something that could harm you or your reputation.

Be True to yourself and to others. Honesty is justice. If you are always honest you will never have to try to remember what you’ve said or the stories you’ve told.

Noble Character is determined by what you’ll do when no one is looking.

Personal Responsibility is challenging, but it builds character and that is something no one can ever take from you. Only you can destroy your character.

Forgiveness is a gift. Forgive yourself and others. Just remember that when you forgive another it doesn’t mean you have forgotten the bad deed or that you have accepted it. It just means you have forgiven them and you aren’t bitter. Bitterness will eat you alive from the inside out.

Be compassionate. Compassion expands our heart and guides us to love.

Patience truly is a virtue. Remember, sometimes it’s the anticipation of the reward rather than the reward itself.

Never stop seeking knowledge. Once your eyes and ears are closed, you become dead to everything around you.

Learn to accept yourself. You are perfect just the way you are. There is no other human like you and there never will be.

Find your purpose. Life has no meaning without a purpose.

You’ll remember my words one day, sweetling, and when you do, think about me with kindness. I wish you well. Now go and live your life to the fullest. Have fun and be safe.

My 10 X 10 may not be as spiritual as Susannah’s, but these are the truths I’ve found that have helped me throughout my life. I have spoken them to my sons. And I reiterate them here and there. I know they will make mistakes…that’s how they will learn. But I am hopeful they will remember my “nagging” or my “getting on their nerves” and it will help guide them when they need it the most.

What would be your 10 x 10? Have you ever thought of it? If not, maybe think of it now. It could change your outlook on life. And THAT could be a really good thing!

*Copied from Get the Big Idea*

America the Ugly

STOP THE PLANET!
I WANT TO GET OFF!

The Left say the Right are idiots.

The Right say the Left are idiots.

The Left say that Republican Presidents are morons. The Right say that Democratic Presidents are morons.

So, WE’RE SURROUNDED BY IDIOTS AND MORONS!

Who is running this country and how did we get this far if we’re ALL idiots and morons?

Not EVERYONE can be an idiot. And NOT EVERY President can be a moron.

Lately America has become a very ugly place. Not our scenery. She’s still beautiful. America is ugly because we Americans have turned her into a war zone. All our infighting is repulsive. We are ALL Americans, yet we can’t get past our political differences and join together in the fight toward a better Health Care System. It’s just pathetic and we should all be ashamed of ourselves.

What I don’t understand is WHY any American would consider another American his enemy. Political differences have been in existence since the beginning of our democracy, but I don’t believe I’ve ever read that our ancestors called one another “enemy” for having different views. (Excluding Britain) It’s quite disturbing.

It is even more disconcerting when one cannot befriend someone of a different political affiliation without being attacked. Or when someone from the opposite side of the aisle is considered responsible for the actions of the President just because they voted for him. They voted for Obama because they felt he was the best man for the job. Just as we Conservatives felt GW was the best man a few years ago.

I also find it unsettling when some Liberals don’t agree with my views so they call me stupid or accuse me of lacking moral character. Since when do political views equate to integrity? I am honest, loyal and benevolent. Just because my beliefs don’t match theirs doesn’t give them the right to twist it to equate that I’m the devil incarnate. Or because I don’t post about the town hall meetings or Michelle Obama, somehow that equates to me lacking sincerity or maybe I’m Satan in disguise…yes, that MUST be it! I can see the horns now –I better hide my pitch fork!

But seriously, what is going on? We DISAGREE. What is the big friggin’ deal? I debate with people all the time, but I do NOT insult them. I do NOT insult their integrity or their intelligence. I allow them to speak their peace and I speak mine. We may never see eye to eye and that’s OKAY, because we ALWAYS respect one another.

Here in the blogosphere it’s worse than a playground. Because on a playground the kids aren’t as mean to one another and there is a patrol if things get out of hand. I have NEVER heard such vile things said to and about people. I also have never seen more grown people acting like a bunch of big babies. It’s shameful.

We are on the SAME side here people. We are AMERICANS!

And for US to win, America HAS to win; because if she doesn’t, we ALL lose.

Show us The Way Oh Wise Left Ones

The Health Care reform debate has risen to heights of such ridiculous proportions that people, mostly on the Right, are being accused of such dreadful, repulsive adjectives they are stupefying. This list isn’t all inclusive and isn’t in any particular order: Nazi’s, Liars, Racists, Devils, Right-Wing Extremists, Domestic Terrorists, Mobsters, and Thugs…to name some.

I’ve been reading more blogs than I can count- Left AND Right. What I’ve encountered is this: The Right seems to be reading HR 3200 and stating numerous concerns with the language used in the bill. Some of the terminology can be interpreted in more than one way; which causes fear; which then leads to anger, because many of the questions people have aren’t being answered. When this anger and/or fear is expressed via blogs, many on the Left come out with statements of their own condemning the Right and/or the blogger and/or the blog. These criticisms include fear-mongering, lying, utilizing scare-tactics and rabble-rousing, to name a few.

What I have NOT seen is the Left blogging about how GOOD the Health Care bill IS. They are very quick to criticize anyone who is against it for ANY reason; even going as far as saying we are against it just because it’s a Democrat bill or just because it’s Obama’s bill. Now THOSE are allegations without substantiation if ever I heard any. They are statements based on how particular individuals think; therefore THOSE people believe everyone else sees the world through the same cynical lenses. Assigning one's own undesirable traits to other people is no way to go through life.

Some on the Left have also accused us on the Right of purposely misreading the bill, deliberately translating it or trying to pull the wool over their eyes, because we protest against it in all its superb legalese. I suppose if we all used colossal words or Latin quotes in our daily vocabulary, we’d be oh so much more reputable and be considered oh so much more intellectual. I don’t place a lot of stock in people who act like walking-talking dictionaries; because that never proved how intelligent, ethical or kind a person is, especially when they are using those words to condemn, insult and infer that we are less than we are by THEIR definition of moral character.

My suggestion, to those on the Left, who have an overabundant vocabulary and a surplus of knowledge and supposed moral integrity, is this:

Since this bill is SO very easy to comprehend—TELL the rest of us “learning impaired” what is FAVORABLE about it. Tell us WHY we SHOULD LIKE it. Give us “Uneducated Righties” the POSTIVE facts to refute our fears and negatives assertions. Show us the Way so that we can repent all our evil, vile ways and See the Light.

In short, instead of blogging about how evil, stupid and incompetent we on the Right are, the Scholarly Left should blog about the beneficial features of this bill… unless there aren’t any…

Reality Check Needed: But Not by Americans

This should make everyone rest easier, feel better and all of you can stop reading the health care bill, because The White House is on the job!

The White House launched an online web-site, called "Reality Check" to “debunk” charges of rationing, forced euthanasia, hurting small businesses and harming veterans and seniors.

Yep, you read that right.

The White House, the very place where President Obama resides; who approves of this monstrous bill; which practically takes a legal degree to interpret, has created their very own site to refute myths about the very bill HE wanted passed lickety-split!

Let me ask this. If you are already a little pessimistic about the government and are questioning the health care bill, why in the heck would you go to a web-site that is created and run by the very people who wrote the bill that you are skeptical about in the first place?


Do these people possess an ounce of common sense?

Health Care Scare

The Health Care Bill, as it stands, is 1018 pages long and as Conyers said,

“What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read the bill?”

REALLY, Conyers? How about you resign and we get someone who’s willing to do the job he was elected to do, like READ bills!

I did skim through the monstrosity. One section that caught my eyes and made them bleed was Section 1173A, STANDARDIZE ELECTRONIC ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSACTIONS. (Page 59 for the brave who want to make their eyes bleed, too.)

This section explains how our brilliant government is going to go to a National Computerized Health Records System to cut down on paperwork and errors by requiring everyone to utilize a National ID card. It also states that this National Computer System will be so clever it will be able to check your bank account in real-time at point of service. How’s THAT for technology!

I have a few problems with this technology though. But first, I want to hear all the Liberals screaming about the violation of our Constitutional Rights. You know, invasion of privacy, like they did when Bush wired taped Terrorist’s telephone calls. Because with THIS system every time you sneeze it’s going to be recorded. Not to mention you will be giving them your checking and savings account information in REAL TIME. If THAT’S not invasion of privacy, I don’t know what is. I find that MORE intrusive than Bush MAYBE wiring taping little ole Pamela’s boring phone calls in Pittsburgh. With this new system, the government WILL KNOW EVERYTHING about your personal health AND your PERSONAL finances in REAL TIME. Do I hear the outrage from the Left yet?

My other problem is this: Obama and the Democrats want everyone to support ObamaCare because they are so benevolent and wish for EVERYONE, including illegal aliens (read the bill) to have access to FREE health care, right? Well…not really free…they are going to raise taxes to pay for it, so some will get it for free while others will pay through the nose. That makes a lot of people get tingles up their legs, I’m sure. Tax those EVIL rich people! TAX THEM! TAX THEM GOOD!

According to Section 1173A:
Enable the real-time (or near real time) determination of an individual’s financial responsibility at the point of service and, to the extent possible, prior to service.

They want access to our bank accounts at point of service to determine our ability to pay.

WAIT!

WHAT?

I thought some of us were paying MORE in taxes for health care so that ALL our fellow Americans could benefit from ObamaCare. Why would they need to see our affordability at point of service if we’re already paying extra taxes?

See, they are LYING…AGAIN. Not only will we be paying higher taxes, but they will take any money we have sitting in our bank accounts, too. MORE taxes AND our banks accounts!


Don’t take my word for it. Don’t even read the bill. Why bother. After all, you only need to be a damn lawyer to understand 90% of it! Just continue to believe Obama and the Democrats who are telling you this bill is good for the people, good for the deficit, and good for the country; when in reality it’s good for NOTHING.

I am in total agreement that our health care has gotten way out of hand. But Government run Health Care is NOT the answer. And, folks, this IS Government run health care, with a Health Benefits Advisory Committee and a Health Choice Commissioner all appointed by the President. It’s something we can NOT afford. In fact, I think it would be disastrous to our economy, our privacy and our lives. It’s time people woke up, read this monstrous 1,000 page bill, or at least tried to, and saw it for what it REALLY is-An avenue toward socialism, a loss of privacy, and a road toward total destruction of our already fragile economy.

Obama SAID he was going to TRANSFORM America. I believed him, did you?

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yes, it’s MY birthday today. I’m not at all modest in announcing it. Years ago I was. I didn’t even celebrate my birthday. It’s a long, complicated story and one I will not bore you with. I will say this though, a birthday is to be celebrated because it is the day the world was blessed with your life.

Always celebrate the day you were born. Never be afraid of aging, because age is only a number and the older you get the wiser you will become if you are smart enough to keep your eyes, ears and mind open to the world around you.

I’m on Vacation

I’m leaving for Georgia this morning. A short vacation is in order.

I’ll have my laptop and I’ll check in with the blogosphere. But it’s not going to be number one on my list. I will be back to normalcy next Thursday. I hope everyone has a great week. Hopefully nothing major will happen while I’m gone…I’m pretty sure Michael Jackson will still be dead and hopefully Cap & Raid and Health Scare won’t be passed in the dead of night.

A Letter to Uncle Sam*

Dear Uncle Sam,

I know you’re busy, what with all your other nieces and nephews; but I wanted to write to let you know that lately, you’ve been on my mind and I’m compelled to write you. And you know me, when I’m compelled; nothing short of a natural disaster will dissuade me. Must’ve inherited that from dear old dad, eh?

The reason for my letter is really rather simple. I want to express my deepest appreciation to you of course, and all my other Aunts and Uncles there on Capitol Hill. I apologize for not getting up there for a visit. Working, raising children, taking care of ailing family members, my own health issues and other day to day activities just doesn’t leave much time for leisurely activities or vacations. Not to mention the expense. Gas, food, utilities, taxes, oh and my not getting a raise in awhile has left us cutting back in quite a few areas, so we can’t vacation again this year. Maybe next year, if this recession lets up. I hope you’re not too disappointed.

But I digressed. I want to say thank you, Uncle Sam. Thank you for all you’ve done for so many of my fellow Americans. Without you I don’t know where they’d be. You’ve made it possible for millions of people to survive! They have roofs over their heads, televisions with cable to watch the happenings in this great nation, utilities to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, cell phones to call the authorities in case of an emergency, you provide them with down payments for cars so they can get to the grocery store where they can use the money you send them to purchase food or nonessentials like soda pop, cookies and chips and you provide them with free health care when they are sick or have an accident. You are so benevolent and selfless. My heart just swells when I think of all the compassionate things you do for so many who won’t do for themselves.


I also feel the necessity to thank you for the regulations and policies you’ve set for us Americans. We wear seat belts because you tell us it’s safe and if we don’t we pay a fine. That’s a good law, because we’re not intelligent enough to do this on our own. We have fire safety cigarettes now because we’re not responsible enough to make sure our cigarettes are snuffed out and our houses could burn down. This is such a relief. But, even if our house did burn down, you made sure we have rules in place that require home owner’s insurance because we aren’t smart enough to know this is a wise investment when we have a home, with or without a mortgage. I’m also relieved that you made laws to ensure we pay our taxes, even though many Aunts and Uncles on Capitol Hill, who are experts on the tax laws or even wrote them, hiccup or don’t understand the very codes they’ve written, don’t pay them. It’s an oversight, I’m sure, since Capitol Hill is such a busy place with so many so concerned with the welfare of us Americans. For example, when you give each other pay raises in the middle of the night while I’m sleeping. It’s so considerate of you not to bother me with such petty things like increasing your salaries while mine stay stagnant. After all, I’m taking sleeping pills to try and sleep because I’m under so much stress due to the stock market crash and losing half my retirement and wondering how I’m going to put your grandnephews through college now or just worrying if I’ll even have a job tomorrow. It’s nice to know you have my back. I’m sure the rest of my fellow Americans are just as grateful. Being an American is, nevertheless, being compassionate, and if we can’t take care of our Aunts and Uncles in Congress, then who can we take care of, right?

I mean the least we can do is provide you with 175K a year salary, pensions for life, a fleet of vehicles that resemble a Mercedes dealership, first class air fare, your own cafeterias, paid vacations at Resorts while you discuss the Nation’s business or have classes on how to cut out unnecessary expenditures or wasteful spending and SS benefits even if you don’t pay into the fund. You are after all, public servants and should receive any and all benefits from the public!

Sometimes, Uncle Sam, I’m at a loss for words. There is just too much I want to say to you and not enough time or paper to express it all. But I want to say one last thing. I sure hope you can get that health care program passed. I know you said it would compete with private insurance. But I know you, Uncle, once you get involved in something it’s ALL or nothing. You’ll start out insuring the so-called “uninsured” for now, but before we know it, you’ll have EVERYONE insured! You’re amazing like that you know! You write those long thousand page bills that we average Americans can barely understand and you don’t even expect us to. It’s so thoughtful of you to not want us to waste our time, due to the busy lives we lead, to worry about what’s shoved into those monstrous amendments. I just hope the health care bill will tell me what I should eat, when I should exercise and I sure hope it taxes fast food places like McDonald’s and all those horrible sugary drinks and any food that is bad for me. I also hope you will make sure that anyone who doesn’t take care of himself, as you deem appropriate, and is obese or drinks alcohol or smokes, goes to the end of the line when trying to get doctors’ appointments or medical help. And I’m confident you’ll make sure senior citizens will pass a test before they drain our health care system. After all, they’ve lived long lives already and should be cared for after the young. But I’m certain you have this already figured out and I have no need for trepidation. The health care bill will probably pass like the stimulus, speedy-quick and without anyone reading it and it will have other items included which have absolutely nothing to do with health care. But why should I worry? You’re all so honest and you were placed in Congress to take care of me and my fellow Americans; to do what we want; so I should be able to rest peacefully…

Sincerely,
Your Niece


*For those who don’t know; this is satirical.

Happy Independence Day!

In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams wrote that Independence Day “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

It is my sincere wish that my fellow bloggers have a happy and safe Independence Day. I hope it is filled with family and friends, fun and happiness. But most importantly, I hope we all remember those who sacrificed and died so that we can enjoy all that we possess, especially our most revered commodity…our Freedom.

Thumper’s Mother was Wise

Recently a lot of bloggers are writing about other blogs and bloggers. I thought I’d jump on that bandwagon, too. However, I’m taking a different venue with my complaint.

I read a blog recently that said to ask yourself the question, “Why do you blog?” My answer to that is: I blog because I love writing. It’s my passion. I also want to get out certain messages I think are important. When I do that, I want others to comment and give me their opinions. So, in short, I am blogging as a sincere way to debate. It gets extremely exasperating when others come to my blog (and other blogs) and bicker back and forth like a bunch of children.

I give no awards to the blogger who has the largest cyber-muscles. I give no awards for the best insult. I have my rules politely explained in the upper left hand corner of my blog and they are also stated in the comment section. But for some reason, people ignore them. I suppose it’s easy to ignore rules in the blogosphere, because how can one find these people? They are hiding behind a computer screen. It’s easy to call someone names when one has a screen for protection. That screen makes it nice and safe to insult someone. I find it quite cowardly. I think it shows a lot about a person’s character.

I always tell my children, “What you do if you won’t get caught makes or breaks your character.” I follow that analogy myself. Also, I conduct myself in the blogosphere with bloggers the way I conduct myself with real people. Just because you won’t find me doesn’t give me the right to treat you with less respect than if we were face to face. That’s my motto, anyway.

My 3 wishes:
1. Act like you are in the bloggers kitchen
2. Pretend you are face to face
3. If you have nothing nice to say; don’t say anything at all (Thumper’s mother was wise)

I thought I’d throw this out there for something to think about. Also, see Jennifer’s blog; she makes a very good point in her post.

Happy Father’s Day

I would like to take this time to wish all the bloggers Daddies out there …

A Stupendous Father’s Day!

One of my favorite sayings is: Any male can be a father; but it takes someone SPECIAL to be a DAD.

My wish is that all you DAD’s are enjoying your special day and your children. Children are a blessing to be sure…however, Dad’s are so very precious and I hope with all my heart that all children appreciate their Dad everyday and not just this day.

Letterman & Palin- Enough Already

I'm sure just about everyone has heard what washed-up David Letterman said last week about Sarah Palin and her daughter. If not, I’ll stoop to Letterman’s disgusting level and tell you; because it’s relevant to my story.

“One awkward moment though during the game. Maybe you heard about it. Maybe you saw it on one of the highlight reels. One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game. During the 7th inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.”
**clap and laughter**
“You can see how that’d be awkward.”
**clap and laughter**
“Now cut that out!”
**clap and laughter**
“Get back in the dugout!”

Yes, that was the joke. If you want to call it a joke. I think it was a disgusting and vile thing to say. Sarah Palin and her 14 year old daughter, Willow, attended the Yankee game that night. There is definitely something wrong with the writers of that show AND Letterman. Not only did he read it, but he repeated it OUT LOUD to a LIVE audience that was being TAPED for millions of viewers. And then the audience! Why did they laugh? What is funny about a 14 year old girl and a 33 yr old baseball player having sex in the dugout? There should have been Boo’s coming from everyone in that audience. Or at least from EVERY parent! Where was the common decency in the crowd? Where were the morals?

Letterman also said this:

“The toughest part of her [Palin] visit was keeping Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter. That was the hard part.”

I can’t believe a 62 year old father would talk like that! I don’t care if he is a comedian! He’s a father and husband FIRST! How would he like it if Rush Limbaugh said something repulsive about his son? Well, this is someone’s child, someone’s daughter.

Governor Palin, being the respectable woman, wife and protective mother that she is, issued a well-mannered, but stern statement in reference to Letterman’s perverted comments.

“Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands - that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contribute to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.’”

Todd Palin also had something to say to Letterman:

"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."

I suppose David Letterman felt some heat, and decided he HAD to say something, because he went on TV and said this:




WHAT! You’ve got to be kidding me. So, what it comes down to is...Oops, sorry Sarah, I wasn’t talking about A-Rod, the steroid king, having sex in the dugout with your 14 yr, you silly girl! I was talking about A-Rod doin’ your 18 yr old! Letterman thinks it’s okay because it was not about the 14 yr old it was really about the 18 yr old, Bristol, who had a child out of wedlock. Which, for the record, is what Letterman’s wife did. Yep, she got pregnant to him BEFORE they got married, which was 6 years later. Anyway, Letterman never said I’m sorry Governor Palin, I’m sorry Palin Family or even I’m sorry Teenage Girls. He NEVER said he was sorry PERIOD. He said he PROBABLY regrets saying the joke. PROBABLY? He doesn’t know if he regrets it? If I say something I know if I regret it or not! Imus sure KNEW he regretted what he said

Speaking of Sharpton. Where is he? Why hasn't he weighed in on this issue? He went all ballistic when Imus said “nappy headed hoes.” He also said, and I HEARD him, that he was for FAIR treatment of ALL people. Well, these comments affect WHITE teenage girls. Where is the outrage from Al's sharp tongue?

The double standards are horrifying. But we on the Right expect no less. This is no surprise. If these comments had been made about one of the Obama daughters, the MSM would’ve been ALL over it and Sharpton would be demanding heads on a platter. CBS would’ve been hounded and threatened day and night until Letterman and his writers were fired. Except this is a Conservative’s daughter, so it’s no big deal.

Letterman hasn’t been funny in years, in my opinion. And his attempt at humor with his Top 10 Highlights of Sarah Palin’s Trip to New York didn’t even get a smirk from me. And #2 was offending to Flight Attendants.

“Bought make-up at Bloomingdales to update her slutty flight attendant look.”

As I said in my Wanda Sykes post, I’m all for good, tasteful humor. I laughed at SNL’s stints about Palin. But Slutty Flight Attendants? Really? Every Flight Attendant I’ve ever seen has looked exceptionally professional. Letterman owes Flight Attendants an apology, too. Let's just hope it's a REAL apology. And not another, I probably regret saying it.

On the bright side, however, NOW, the National Organization for Women, did issue a response, after all, they're supposed to represent ALL women. While it’s not as harsh as I would’ve liked and they just HAD to add something Rush said over 15 yrs ago*, I’m glad they added Letterman to their Media of Shame.

I hope this is a lesson to BOTH sides. Sexism is something we have to stop. It goes hand in hand with hate speech. Women and children shouldn’t be exploited and they shouldn’t be the brunt of disgusting, vilifying jokes. I’m with NOW, who stated it hopes Conservatives and Liberals will join together in fighting sexism. I hope BOTH sides will join together and fight comedians, talk-show hosts, journalists and anyone else who defames women and children in the future. This isn’t political. It’s just the morally right thing to do.


*For the record, I didn’t listen to Rush during the Clinton Years; however, if NOW is correct and he did say something about young Chelsea Clinton, that’s despicable. If he didn’t apologize, he should have.

Health Care Freedom and Choice

The furor now is Health Care Reform, Universal Health Care, and National Health Care; but what they ALL add up to is Government Run Health Care. Which, to put it mildly, SCARES ME TO DEATH, so I won’t need health care; because I’ll be ashes blowing in the wind since I want to be cremated when I die.

Why am I so terrified of Government Health Care? Well, let’s see, our government currently runs Medicare, Medicaid, our postal service, the IRS, the DMV’s, and the unemployment centers.

Let’s take a quick look at Medicare and Medicaid. First and foremost, they are almost bankrupt. The money that those of us have paid into the system for years and years will probably be long gone before we even get to retirement age. Why? Because the trusty government has dipped into the coffers for other things and all the corruption. The government has mismanaged the Medi-funds in numerous ways, but Americans are supposed to believe that government run health care, paid for with American tax dollars, is going to be managed properly and that the millions of dollars in corruption is just miraculously going to disappear. Or maybe we’ll just hire a few Health Care Czars to guard the funds! How about Medicare and Medicaid patients? Who do they currently go to when they are mishandled by the government system? NO ONE, that’s who. They are at the mercy of the government. Yep, that’s right. The government runs and controls the Medi-system and all those patients are FORCED to follow the government rules and regulations whether they like them or not and whether they are fair or not. Same goes for the IRS.

American’s most beloved entity is the Internal Revenue Service. They are so fair and all. You get a notice in the mail that says you owe, better pay up or go to jail. You are GUILTY until YOU prove your innocence. You have NO ONE to turn to. The government is the ONLY and FINAL entity in this transaction. Americans FEAR the IRS. The IRS can turn a person bankrupt with the stroke of a pen and there isn’t anything he/she can do about it. This government run system shows no sympathy, empathy or remorse. It takes your money all year long, makes numerous errors, but yet, somehow it’s YOUR job to prove THEIR error! Yet, we’re supposed to believe that another government agency is going flow more efficiently. Yeah, right.

Our postal departments, all over the country, are run by our wonderful government, too. We just experienced another postage stamp increase. Every time the post office needs more money there’s a postage increase. I realize 2 cents isn’t a king’s ransom; however, it’s NOT my fault or yours that the postal workers get every holiday off, 5 weeks paid vacation, sick days, personal days, pensions AND a yearly salary of at least $45K per year. I mean come on, does it take that much SKILL to work at the post office? Am I to trust that once the government gets its hands on my tax dollars for health care it won’t raise my taxes every six months because it needs more money? The the post office raises its postage rates every time it needs money and there is NO difference between the post office and government health care-they will BOTH be run by the GOVERNMENT.


I probably shouldn’t even get started on the Department of Motor Vehicles. Now these departments are Clusters Flusters no matter what state you’re in. Just about everyone has a driver’s license and has stood in line longer than necessary while watching government workers sit around doing nothing. Almost every home has at least one vehicle, some have two or three; but it can take up to 6 weeks for these departments to get a registration mailed out and there are times when they just plain lose the application. Yep, they will cash the check and lose the paperwork. Once that happens, it’s up to YOU to get duplicate paperwork so you can get your title and registration. Having been in the automotive industry for 25 years, I dealt with the DMV on a daily basis. One representative pulls the check off the paperwork and then sends that paperwork to another representative. If the paperwork gets lost, oh well, the check was cashed. Do we want this type of attitude with something as valuable as our HEALTH? Don’t tell me it’ll change, because it won’t. The government will hire people to handle health claims just like they hire people to complete applications at the DMV and the unemployment office or to plug in your income tax return. They hire people to fill positions. As long as they have bodies, the government is happy. It has nothing to do with competence. Just look at Congress.

The unemployment office is my all-time favorite! They KNOW they have YOU right where they want you. YOU need them, they do NOT need you. That attitude is reflective by the way they treat you on the telephone. I had to call the unemployment office. I was talked down to, yelled at and hung up on. I had to call back and was on hold for 30 minutes. These workers know that they aren’t going anywhere. They will NEVER lose their jobs. I spoke with one gentleman at the unemployment office about the woman that treated me poorly and he told me that there were numerous complaints on her but nothing has ever been done to her. Yet, I’m supposed to think government run health care, with government employees, is going to be better? If I have a question or a problem why would I think I’ll get quality service? I won’t, because I’ll be calling the government about their employees who are union employees and we all know they’re NEVER fired.

With government health care there will be no opposition. With no competition there is no incentive to make it more efficient or more innovative. Remember the days when we were forced to go with a utility company? Now we have choices. Look at all the cell phone companies. They are competing for our business. They go out of their way to get new customers which drives the prices DOWN. They even give free months service. If you call and complain they will wipe the charges for the month clean, because they don’t want you to be displeased and leave for one of the other 2 dozen companies out there. If we have only ONE government program, who will we turn to if we are dissatisfied? NO ONE. WE WILL BE STUCK!

Having choices has always driven the cost of goods and services DOWN while driving the quality of those commodities UP. With only one place or point of sale they will have the conglomerate, the monopoly. A person or entity who has the monopoly can DICTATE how something is performed, the price, the quality, anything and everything. Is that what we want? Are we so desperate they we will settle for the devil? And that’s what we’re getting if we allow the government to handle our health care...Satan. That may sound harsh, but it’s the truth.

As Americans we are about truth. We are also about Freedom and Choice. It’s our RIGHT to have both FREEDOM and CHOICE, and with government run anything we have neither.

Perception Speaks Volumes

I’m a little behind. I suppose if I were any slower I’d be going backwards. Even though the Wanda Sykes’ issue has been talked, blogged and ranted about, I didn’t give MY two cents. And I WANT to. So without further ado…

As just about everyone knows, Wanda Sykes was the comedian for the White House Correspondent’s Dinner May 9th. I’ve seen Wanda on the TV show The New Adventures of Old Christine and thought she was funny. Seeing her at the dinner was my first opportunity to evaluate her stand-up routine. I must admit, I thought a lot of it was witty. She took jabs at Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, G.W. Bush, the media, Animal Rights activists, Sean Hannity, and even the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Wanda made fun of how Michelle hugged and patted the Queen of England and Michelle laughed all in good fun.

Wanda made fun of President Obama, too, “This is amazing. You know. The first black president. I know you’re bi-racial, but the first black president. I mean, it’s proud. I’m proud to be able to say that. You know? That’s unless you screw up. And then it’s gonna be, What’s up with the half white guy, huh? Who voted for the Mulatto? What the hell?’”

THAT was funny, and President Obama laughed-AT HIMSELF; which is what is supposed to happen. A person with a good sense of humor laughs when a decent, witty joke is told. However, when the jesting turns ugly, demeaning in nature or attacks a person’s life, that’s when the line is drawn.

Wanda was downright nasty when she ridiculed Sarah Palin. I’m not going to repeat exactly what she said. You can Google the you-tube video. Sarah Palin wasn’t present and Wanda’s attempt at abstinence shouldn’t have been directed at Sarah. It wasn’t Sarah that had a child out of wedlock; it was Palin’s daughter, Bristol. If Wanda felt the need to bring up illegitimate children and birth control, she should’ve directed it at Bristol. The joke didn’t even bring forth a laugh from the audience. Heck, the crickets weren’t even chirping! Now, I’m not saying not to jest about Sarah Palin. I believe any public figure is fair game. I thought the spoofs about Palin on SNL were funny. What Sykes said at the dinner was NOT in the least bit funny. It was downright crude.

Wanda tried to cover up her gaffe by saying, “Aw, shut up. You’re gonna be tellin’ that one tomorrow, shut up.”

Ah, no, Wanda, I don’t think so; unless you have absolutely NO class.

Then Wanda went on an ugly rant about 9/11 and Rush Limbaugh. “Rush Limbaugh, 'I hope the country fails' -- I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? ... He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."

This brought forth laughter from SOME of the crowd and Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America, joined in on the amusement. The President who campaigned on Hope, Change and Unity was unified with the laughing crowd. The President, who signed an Executive Order to close Guantanamo Bay within a year and stop Enhanced Interrogation of Terrorists because it could be PERCEIVED by other countries and Terrorists as inhumane, laughed with the other inconsiderate audience members. The President, who just returned from a world tour where he wanted to transform the PERCEPTION of America to those abroad from hostile to supportive, smiled a wide toothed grin with other insensitive members of the crowd. Yes, the President of the United States wants other countries and their leaders, like Hugo Chavez and the Castro Brothers to PERCEIVE the United States as a Country of humanity, civility and honor and is concerned with how other countries PERCEIVE him and the United States but could care less that AMERICANS see him chuckling when a comedian wishes death to one of his OWN citizens.

I’m quite bewildered. An honorable man would care MORE about his OWN people than that of other countries. A man with integrity would NOT have laughed, chuckled, smiled or grinned when someone made a joke about the death or demise of a fellow American, even if that American didn’t agree with his policies. An honorable man would’ve sat there with NO expression.

Wanda is NOT someone that Obama has to impress. Nor is she someone who will enhance Obama’s political career or agenda. But how Obama responds to her shenanigans reflects on him as a person. And in my opinion, laughing at the demise of a fellow human being shows ME a very weak person indeed. I would NEVER laugh at a joke that wished a person dead. Obama can hide behind his rhetoric of torture is inhumane and health care for everyone because I care so much; but actions speak volumes.

A LEADER would’ve sat there STONED FACED because it’s INSENSITIVE to wish a hellish demise to a fellow human being. A man that stands on a pulpit and preaches that waterboarding is inhumane, which doesn’t do bodily harm as some doctors have attested to, would NOT have cracked a grin at wishing a fellow human being the painful, torturous death of kidney failure. A LEADER would’ve SHOWN by example that that type of callous, disgusting humor won’t be tolerated. The man that ran a campaign on unity could’ve made a stand on May 9th. He could’ve proved to the United States that he was a man of integrity; but instead he ran with the crowd when his laughter filled the room…and that tells me more than any speech on a teleprompter ever could.

Defiance101

I love and revere Mother Nature. When I was a little girl, my grandfather and father took my siblings and me for long walks in the woods and taught us about nature; Her majesty and beauty. We were taught not to litter and to give to nature by planting and nourishing. I save baby birds, bunnies and chipmunks then release them back to Mother Nature when they are ready. When I need to replenish myself, I go into my rock garden and meditate. My dream is to have acreage so that I can indulge whenever the urge strikes.

My father also taught us to conserve in other areas. When you leave a room, you turn the light off. When brushing my teeth, I wet the tooth paste, then turn the water off until I need it to rinse. I recycle, because it’s the right thing to do. I turn my thermostat down when I leave the house. It saves money yes, but that’s not the reason I do it. It’s just common sense; why heat or cool my house if no one is home? My point is, I do what’s right, because it’s the right thing to do, and I can do all this without being told to.

I’ve noticed lately that everything is GREEN. I go into the cleaning aisle and all I see are Green products. Even clothing is Green. The television is infested with commercials about going Green. I’m being bombarded with GREEN! It’s to the point I’m sick of GREEN! They are ramming GOING GREEN down my throat and I feel like I want to revolt.

I’m not a rebel. I love my country. I love nature. I want to do what I can to preserve our planet; but I can’t take being told what, when and how to do everything anymore. I don’t feel like I’m free to make any choices. This going Green feels like a Cult. And one thing I can’t handle are Cults. I’m not a Follower. I’m a Leader. I think for myself. And going Green doesn’t feel like I’m thinking for myself. There is NO proof that using Lysol cleaner is bad for the planet. There is NO proof that Green Works is better at killing germs and is better for the planet. There IS proof that plastic takes longer to bio-degrade, yet all the stores have the flimsy plastic bags. Whatever happened to the choice between paper or plastic? Now they want me to buy canvas bags and drag them to the grocery store every time. Oh that’s just great. I grocery shop once every 4-6 weeks. Do you know how many canvas bags I’d have to purchase and lug to the store! Just give me the brown paper bags that bio-degrade! Besides, I can use them for book covers for my kid’s school books or to wrap gifts or to send something to my sister in California. Yes, I improvise; again, I use my head all on my own. I don’t NEED someone telling me what to do.

Then we had Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28th. Everyone was encouraged to turn off their lights from 8:30 – 9:30. Needless to say, I didn’t participate. Why? Because I could make the CHOICE NOT TO. That may sound very immature to some, but I had to make a stand. I had to decide if I was going to be dictated to AGAIN. I didn’t revolt and turn all my lights ON. I just went about my normal daily life. We also have Earth Day. It’s been celebrated on April 22nd every year since 1970. I don’t celebrate that day, either. I don’t do anything rash like burn paint cans or anything. Again, I just go about my daily life just like I would any other day. I feel like Earth Day is a Cult, too. I am aware of our planet and I do what I can to preserve it, but I won’t become some Cult follower and believe that turning off all my lights for an hour is going to save the planet. We need to find alternative energy methods, but my lights have nothing to do with that and neither do yours. I think the government wants to see how many people will actually turn off their lights so they can see how many will follow their agenda. The next thing we know it’s a law that we have to turn off our lights for an hour every night. Sound extreme? Well, our government is extreme.

I don’t want to be defiant, but if they don’t stop ramming this stuff down my throat, I’m afraid I may become rebellious. Not an Uber! But I may rebel. I may start turning on ALL my lights just because I CAN. I may start throwing my newspaper and cans in the trash bag rather than put them in the recycle bin. That may not sound like major rebellion, but it’s the worst I could possibly do. No one would know, except me. I just don’t know if my conscience could handle it. So, at this point, they’re all just thoughts in my head that relieve a little stress.