Gigi's Thoughts and Ideas

DOES THIS MAKE YOU ANGRY???

2011-12-14T09:06:00.000-05:00

A friend reminded me the other day that I haven't posted for awhile. That is true because at times it seems so hopeless and one wonders if anyone reads this blog or cares what is going on in the world. Why are people so apathetic? Maybe they are just hopeless and struggling to make ends meet or have other issues that are taking up their time. But when I saw the following it made my blood boil so I am sharing this with you.
We all know that corporations really do own the government and that is one reason why nothing gets done as everyone is trying to appease their contributors. The other is just playing a political game to make the President look as bad as they can make him.

Anyway, from Moveon.org, this chart that shows the 30 Corporations who want to buy our government and pay for it with tax breaks. This is eye opening and very scary.

There is a larger version of this chart at http://front.moveon.org/these-30-corporations-want-to-buy-our-government/?rc=fb.fan

Al Sharpton Rips into Olympia Snowe

2011-10-23T16:55:00.002-04:00

Just a short post but it is a must read and it is going viral here in Maine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Ia1QxvFyA&noredirect=1

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

2011-10-23T08:12:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from Vice President Biden. It was a fund raising appeal for the 2012 Obama campaign. Obviously I hadn't given any money at this point. That email really ticked me off. Every day I get at least 6 requests for money. They come from the Obama campaign, Moveon.org, Democracy for America, Emily's List, the Democratic Senatorial Committee, The House Democrats, Progressives United and who knows where else.
Now it is partly my fault as I have given all of those organizations money at one time or another and they do stand for the things I believe in, but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! When I think of all the money that is being raised for these campaigns it disgusts me. All of that money could be going to help feed the poor in our own country or to the Free Health Clinics that are being held all over the country for folks who have no insurance.
This country has gotten off the right track. Instead of caring for the people we are robbing them to pay for these huge expensive campaigns. I also understand the need to raise money when you have billionaires like the Koch Brothers who give millions and people like Karl Rove who collect millions to give to conservative candidates. But basically I think it is wrong and we need to work to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. Will that solve anything? It might help but now we are in rut and campaigns cost too much. That is why an ordinary person can't run for office and that is why we basically have only rich people running the government and don't kid yourself, they do not care about you and me, the average person.
Now I won't tar all of them with the same brush. You have good people like Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Chellie Pingree of Maine and there are others. But the majority of elected officials do not care one bit about the average American citizen.
I will say that this week I got notes, in the mail, from Chellei Pingree and Bernie Sanders thanking me for my donations and they didn't ask for more. Usually it is a form letter by email that has a big Donate at the bottom of the email. The personal touch is nice and it is effective.
So what is all this rambling about? It is just my thoughts on the state of campaigns and the amount of money being spent. I am tired of feeling guilty when I can't give more but the reality is that the recession has hit retirees hard and yes we are going to get an increase in Social Security but most of it will be offset by an increase in the Medicare payment so it will really not help all that much and for those of us on a fixed income it makes it that much harder. How can we change this race for money? How can we clean up the election process? I am afraid that I will not see it in my lifetime.
What do you think about this subject???

Corruption, Corruption

2011-08-19T09:10:00.000-04:00

Each day there are articles that discuss the corruption that is prevalent in our government. Yesterday I read an article by Matt Taibi in the current Rolling Stone. In this article he tells of whistle blowers who have given Senate and House committees evidence of the corruption in the Securities and Exchange Commission. It seems that this is a revolving door between Wall Street and the SEC. The SEC is being accused of destroying records of cases that have had a preliminary investigation. This has been going on since 1993. It also portrays an agency that has covered up crimes on Wall Street much to the detriment of our country.
I consider Matt Taibi to be a very good investigative reporter, I recommend that you all read his article at http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/is-the-sec-covering-up-wall-street-crimes-20110817. It is eye-opening but not particularly surprising since corruption in our government seems pervasive.
Then on the same day there was an article on the staff of Darrell Issa's. He is the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee. This article from think Progress details one of his staff members who was a vice president at Goldman Sachs. He left Goldman Sachs and changed his name and then became a member of Issa's staff. Here is this quote from Think Progress.

"ThinkProgress:
Has Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) turned the House Oversight Committee into a bank lobbying firm with the power to subpoena and pressure government regulators? ThinkProgress has found that a Goldman Sachs vice president changed his name, then quietly went to work for Issa to coordinate his effort to thwart regulations that affect Goldman Sachs’ bottom line."
To read the whole article go to http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/18/298485/exclusive-goldman-sachs-vp-changed-his-name-now-advances-goldman-lobbying-interests-as-a-top-staffer-to-darrell-issa/
This type of corruption which, I believe, exists throughout both parties and all agencies of the government is abhorrent to me and I hope to all of us. It makes me wonder if there is an honest person in Washington.
Then there is the issue of back taxes owed by federal employees. They owe billions in back taxes. If you or I were in that situation we would probably be in jail by now or at the very least being harassed by the IRS. What allows them to get away with this type of fraud?
We need to keep up the pressure on our elected officials to make sure that these things are cleaned up. It seems like a hopeless cause but we must prevail.

Will They Do What Is Right?

2011-07-31T17:02:00.001-04:00

A letter to Senator Collins and Snowe. Will they pay attention? No, they never do. Join me and send your letter off too.

NO ! NO! NO!
We do not need a super congress. We just need the rest of you to do your job. How can you be supporting this extreme measure when you have voted to raise the debt ceiling 7 times under Bush! You helped create the deficit and now you are willing to make cuts that will hurt the very people you represent.

I don't trust you or any one else in Washington. You are all corrupt and just trying to hang onto your jobs. Go ahead and cut medicare and see how many Mainers will end up selling their homes and going bankrupt. you are all set because we are paying your salaries, your pensions, your healthcare, supporting your gym and dining room yet you refuse to do the same for us.

I could get down on my knees and beg and you would just turn around and kick me again. I have never in all of my 75 years seen people so unwilling to govern and to represent the people.

You are all beholden to the big corporations and Wall Street. Am I angry? You bet I am and further more I am totally disgusted and frankly hopeless.
Priscilla Payne

When Will They Grow Up????

2011-07-18T11:39:00.000-04:00

After reading the news this morning on Huffington Post, I wonder when the politicians will come to their senses and act like adults. Now the Republicans in the House are letting the Tea Party reps take over the debt ceiling negotiations. This is surely going backwards. Their proposals are even more extreme than those of John Boehner and Eric Cantor.
I think we should just have an up or down vote on raising the debt ceiling and forget about extreme cuts to valuable programs. If they want to cut then cut the earmarks which still exist and Mitch McConnell is one of the worst offenders.
Both parties in Washington are acting in their own best interest and not thinking about the people who will get hurt by the cuts being proposed. When will they realize that getting out of Afghanistan and Iraq will save billions of dollars? But no, they will allow people to be thrown out on the streets and out of their homes before they will cut the war machine. They will take away food from children and mothers and close planned parenthood centers before they will raise taxes on the richest 2% of Americans.
I haven't heard of them cutting their salaries or benefits and closing their gym and giving up their classy dining hall. Let them suffer along with the rest of us. This situation is totally disgusting and appalling. Let's raise our voices and make them be heard. Call the White House and your senators and representatives today and tell them enough is enough!

To Maintain a Republic by David Bromwich

2011-07-04T07:49:00.000-04:00

David Bromwich is a Professor of Literature at Yale University. His article posted on Huffington Post today, which is below, touched me and made me realize that even 150 years ago Abraham Lincoln saw the problems of unnecessary wars and also the "policies of aggrandizement and intemperate self-interest" that certainly exist today. The question for me is how do we change the course we are on?

"July 4, 1861 -- exactly a hundred and fifty years ago -- witnessed the reading aloud, on the floor of Congress, of Abraham Lincoln's Message to Congress in Special Session.
The circumstantial appeal of Lincoln's message turned on his defense of the Union against the threat posed by secession, and that is the part most people have in mind when they recall the most famous words of the address: "This is essentially a People's contest." Lincoln was speaking for democracy. He was also speaking for a Union, popular in character and progressive in direction, as the heart of all future hopes for democracy.

Another part of the Special Message matters more to us today. For Lincoln saw
an unresolvable tension between the constitution of a democratic republic and
the policies of aggrandizement and intemperate self-interest that lead from the
manners of freedom to the slavish love of power. He spoke of the difference
between the work of establishing a constitutional republic and the longer task
of maintaining it. But maintaining it against what? Lincoln's answer was always
the same: against the internal pressure of greed, and the external pressure of
war. The predicament of the country in 1861, he said, "forces us to ask: 'Is
there, in all republics, this inherent, and fatal weakness? Must a government,
of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to
maintain its own existence?'"
We are now ten years into a policy shared by two successive administrations
to plant a new understanding of the spirit of the laws in America. That policy
has pretended there is a "trade-off" between liberty and security, and that in
a time of crisis, security ought to have the upper hand. The Cheney-Bush and
Obama administrations have accustomed us to laws and language concerned
above all with the "protection" of citizens -- as if there were something higher
or more worth protecting than the liberty that is guaranteed by our laws and
the framework of laws, the Constitution.
Today, as in Lincoln's day, we are involved in "a struggle for maintaining
...that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate
the condition of men -- to lift artificial weights from all shoulders -- to clear
the paths of laudable pursuit for all -- to afford all, an unfettered start, and
a fair chance, in the race of life." Yet the main peril in that struggle today
comes not from any foreign power capable of destroying us from without, but the
lapse of thought and faith that threatens us now from within. We are divided
between two parties: one that thinks government should be used for nothing but
wars, another that thinks government should be used for wars (whether justified
or not) in order to prove the value of government for other purposes as well.
Over the past decade we have taken many long steps across the divide that
separates a republic from an empire. The recovery of our proper ground depends
on our seeing again the rightness of Lincoln's recoil from wars that are not
wars of necessity. The words of his Special Message leave an incitement, too,
by listing the goods he valued above the new forms of power and luxury that war
can add to life. Elevating the condition of men. Lifting artificial weights from
all shoulders. Clearing the paths of laudable pursuit for all. By doing this at
home, we offer an example to those who would try it abroad. As Lincoln said in
other words in other places, that is the only honest way for a democracy to
advance the cause of democracy."

Have You Had Enough???

2011-06-13T09:05:00.000-04:00

I have! Why does the media make such a big thing about politicians and their peccadilloes? We already know so many of them are corrupt and obviously sick! I do not need to know all the details about Anthony Weiner's penis, Arnold Schwarzenegger's love child, John Edward's secret affair, Jim Vitter's madam scandal, Mark Sanford's affair and on and on. Then we have to listen to the Casey Anthony story. Do you know how many children are killed each day and no one cares? We focus too much on the lives of celebrities and athletes as though they are the most important people in the world when often they are just a bunch of overpaid egomaniacs who set very poor examples for our children.
In my opinion there are so many more important things going on like the failing economy and why isn't Congress focusing on jobs instead of trying to get rid of Medicare and privatize Social Security? Why don't we hear more about the foreclosure issues and how many service men and women are facing foreclosure on their homes while they are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Let's talk about the citizen's deep unrest with continuing the war in Afghanistan and throwing away money that could be used to create jobs here in America.
I am deeply disappointed in Weiner as he was one person who spoke out against what was wrong and seemed to care about the people. I sure hope someone takes his place in speaking out. Was he over the top sometimes? Yes, but that is often what it takes to get the point across. That being said I am still stating that we do not need to know the gory details and I sure wish we could make the press realize that most of us do not care about these issues but about the greater issues that need to be focused on.

The Stupidist Thing!!!

2011-06-05T18:55:00.000-04:00

Tonight on the evening news on Channel 6, WCSH, one of the lead stories was about the Department of Marine Resources laying off the two scientists being laid off. These two have the responsibility of testing the coastal waters for half the State of Maine. This is what keeps our clam flats and other shellfish safe. This is nor just about money but about food safety. It is also about an industry that could go under if the flats are closed due to lack of testing as required by the federal government.
We all have heard about the illnesses caused by people eating shellfish contaminated by Red Tide. There is also pollution of other types caused by us, the people, who use the resources in a negligent way. There are also other bacteria that can make people sick and wipe out a natural resource.
We have been reading and hearing about the ecoli outbreak that began in Germany. It is the height of stupidity to cut positions that ensure the safety of our food and that protects a profitable industry.
I drive by construction sites and see a half dozen workers just standing around doing nothing at our expense yet we cut what I consider to be a vital job.
Wake Up Augusta and remember who you work for and make sure that our food and businesses are protected.

The Sluggish Economy

2011-06-02T19:53:00.000-04:00

I find it utterly amazing that the Republicans think they have an issue to campaign on since the economy is not rebounding as we had hoped. I say Boehner, Where are the jobs? The Congress and the President have given huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans in the excuse that they (the wealthy) would be creating the jobs, Obviously that has not happened.
They have also voted to keep giving the oil companies big subsidies while the consumer is paying for it at the pump AND with their tax dollars. Food prices are rising yet they are cutting monies for food stamps and many families are now dependent on those and food pantries to feed their families.
When will the Republicans admit that they got us into this mess by putting us into two wars and allowing the banks and Wall Street to be corrupt. They squandered a nice surplus and put us into this deficit.
When will the mainstream media begin to make them be accountable for their actions. Now I realize that the Obama administration carries some responsibility in all of this but when you look at job growth and growth in the economy it is a complete change for the better from the Bush administration.
Unfortunately the mainstream media is too focused on every sex scandal they can find to pay attention to what is really happening in this country. There are few good journalists who really look into the truth any more.
As I have posted before Congress really does not care about the people but about collecting the most money from some big lobbyist or corporation so they can get reelected to continue the corruption that now exits. And then they say trust us to do what is right! Well, not me! I don't trust them at all.

"YOU GONNA EAT THAT?"

2011-05-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

That title comes from an article on Huffington Post which talks about the Republican's plan to cut millions from domestic and foreign food programs. They are showing once again that they do not care about the people. They profess to be Christians but I have yet to find a TRUE Christian who would deny the poor and hungry food which is the very basic need to survive.
Believe me John Boehner, Paul Ryan, et al will not go hungry. They are living high off the hog on our tax dollars. How many of the Republicans are denying their own constituents food! Do they want to see children go to bed at night hungry? Too many of them already do. We should be fixing this problem not adding to it.
From the Huffington Post article Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said the GOP budget "rolls back years of progress.This budget threatens the health and security of American families, while asking the most of low-income seniors and the most vulnerable among us," she said.
Where do our Maine Senators stand on this issue? There are plenty of Mainers who are hungry and struggling to survive. Try and find out how they feel as their offices never give out their position before they vote. The stock answer is, "The Senator has not made a public statement on this issue." So we have no knowledge of how they will vote. But let's keep calling and emailing them and hope that they will finally hear our voices.

This is Incredible and Unbelievable

2011-04-22T09:21:00.000-04:00

I am having trouble believing that our government is so stupid as to give Pakistan 85 small drone aircraft plus 3 billion dollars in military aid. This with our own infrastructure falling apart, people going to bed (if they even have a bed) hungry and then cutting essential programs here in this country.
I am beginning to wonder if President Obama is a republican in disguise. He certainly does not stand hard for the beliefs of the Democratic Party. He is not listening to the people as all the polls show that the majority of Americans support neither his nor Paul Ryan's budget. He is caught up trying to compete with the Republicans when there is so much need here.
But to get back to the issue of Pakistan, we need to remember that their government is almost as corrupt as that of Karzai in Afghanistan and yet we continue to pour money and equipment into both countries. I don't understand how we can continue to be sucked into giving more. All that results in more innocent citizens getting killed by our troops or our missiles and more of our young men and women getting killed.
When will our elected officials wake up and realize that these wars are killing our economy as well as hurting our own people?
At least Howard Dean has changed his mind on the wars and is urging withdrawal as soon as possible. Maybe he can have some influence on the President. As far as I am concerned Howard Dean should have been asked to serve in the cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. But the Obama administration has ignored a very important voice.

A letter to No Lables.org

2011-04-21T14:07:00.000-04:00

This letter is in response to an email from the organization No Labels sent out titled Left Behind which discusses the debt ceiling.

I am totally disgusted with the entire budget process. To those of us at home we see several ways that the deficit can be cut. First get all of our troops out of Afghanistan as we are losing too many good men and women and it is costing us too much money and a great deal of it is being used by the Afghanistan government in corrupt ways. Then pull all of our troops out of Iraq. We cannot win these wars and it is time we woke up and admitted it.

Second, we can take back the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts which put an unfair burden on the middle class. Those cuts added a great deal to the deficit and they were not paid for! But what happens? Paul Ryan’s budget is called “courageous” and President Obama’s is called not enough. Both of these proposals hurt the poor, the elderly and the middle class. Also we can stop giving subsidies to big oil and big agriculture and do more to regulate the banks and Wall Street. Can you imagine giving a 19 million dollar raise to Jamie Dimon? That is a travesty and it is obscene.

Everyone is Washington is crying about social security but the simple solution is to raise the cap on earnings. I paid on my full salary and so should everyone else. But elected officials are too blind and too interested in what person or corporation is going to give them the next donation so they can stay in office and continue to wreck this country. Greed and power are the problems here and the problems were not caused by the middle class.

But unfortunately I don’t see No Labels or any other group pushing for these solutions. It is all about COMPROMISE and who get hurt by these compromises? You know the answer. It is the poor, women, the elderly and the middle class.

The Republicans campaigned on jobs, jobs, jobs and yet not one bill has come out of the Congress that addresses this critical problem. If people don’t have jobs, they can’t spend money and therefore the economy suffers.

I could say so much more but I know you probably either won’t read this or will not pay any attention to it. But groups like this could have a huge impact if they fight for the right issues but people are beaten down and see no hope for the future and that lack of hope kills the country and the will of the people.

Poverty in John Boehner's District

2011-04-16T19:23:00.000-04:00

The Nation Magazine has a blog and recently there was a posting by Greg Kaufman describing the poverty that exists in Boehner's district. The poverty rate is 14%. The woman, Tina Osso, who has run The Shared Harvest Food Pantry for forty years has tried many times to contact Boehner. He neither responds or accepts her invitations to visit. She has worked tirelessly to get Boehner to recognize these problems. She has written to him and explained how the proposed budget cuts will hurt his people but still gets no response.
Kaufman reports, "Indeed in 2009, childhood poverty rose over six points in the Boehner district to reach 19.1 percent, or 29,173 kids. Overall, 14 percent of Boehner’s constituents live below the federal poverty line of $22,400 per year for a family of four. Shared Harvest’s work has more than doubled—it distributed approximately 7 million pounds of food in 2007, and 16 million pounds in 2010."
This is not the only problem. There are 152,000 people in this district who are struggling to make ends meet and hunger is a major problem. The food bank is only in a few of the schools but serves 2100 children each week.
Why, you might wonder, do I think this story is important. With these visible problems in Boehner's own district he is in favor of cutting the food stamp program and other programs that help the poor. It is one more reason that points to the fact that those in Congress do not care about the people they serve. As I mentioned in my last post neither Republicans or Democrats listen to anyone but the big corporations and wealthy who give them money for their campaigns.
Osso says this about the budget cuts. “It’s not just the cuts to the programs that we manage. It’s the overall meanness of this budget that targets the most vulnerable populations in our country—the weakest and the ones with the smallest voice,” she says.
I do not understand how anyone can not listen to pleas like this and call them selves Christians. Jesus believed in taking care of the least of these my brothers. If we follow him how can we allow babies and young children to go to bed hungry and old people to get $20.00 worth of food a month.
I shake my head in disbelief and weep for those who are so in need.

Does Any of This Surprise You?

2011-04-13T09:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday as I was flying home from a great vacation in sunny California I was reading an article in Mother Jones magazine. I just happened to pick up a copy at the airport and am I ever glad that I did. It reaffirmed what I have thought all along. I would recommend that you get a copy of the March/April issue as it has several very good articles in it.
In the article "Plutocracy Now" author Kevin Drum points out two things that we all need to be aware of. The first is the fact income inequality has grown since the mid 70's. He says, "the bulk of our growing inequality has been a product of skyrocketing incomes among the richest 1 percent and even more dramatically-among the top 0.1 percent."
The second things is that American politicians don't care about the voters who have moderate incomes. In a study by a Princeton political scientist done in the early 90's he found that US Senators respond more to high income voters than to anyone else. He also found that Republican senators do not respond at all to those voters with modest incomes. He also found that Democratic senators don't respond to voters with mosdest incomes either.
The author draws the conclusion that if neither party cares about the desires of the middle class and poor, and they have put in place policies that favor the wealthy. This has not only taken money out of the pockets of the middle class but that has deeply affected the economy. It has also put power into the hands of a few and that does not benefit most of us at all.
Mr. Drum connects this to the declining strength of the unions and the Democratic party. As unions have lost their political power and funding the Democrats have turned to Big Business for funding. This is one reason that they don't care about those of us with modest incomes. This is a long article with many charts and graphs and a wealth of information. I recommend it to all of you. Here is the link to the article http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-labor-union-decline
My own take on this article is that it verifies what I already suspected. It make me angry but I also know that those of us who care must keep up the pressure on our Congress people. It may seem discouraging but we need to make our voices heard by supporting folks like Russ Feingold and his new organization, Progressives United, http://www.progressivesunited.com and moveon.org. These groups allow many voices to be heard through a group that is organized and has more political clout. Other voices to support are those of Anthony Weiner, a congressman from New York and Senator Bernie Sanders an independent from Vermont. Both of these men speak up for the common person and I respect them for their courage and their willingness to speak out and to stand by their beliefs.
As you can tell this article made a big impression on me and I hope that many of you will read it and keep the faith that eventually we can change things.

Government Shutdown Averted. But At What Cost?

2011-04-09T13:53:00.002-04:00

Well, after weeks of scaring the beejesus out of the public and capturing the attention of the beltway media, Congress and Obama have come to an agreement. The problem is the cost to taxpayers especially the poor and middle class. The details of the agreement are not yet published so there is still much to learn.
But Ezra Klein of the Washington Post and MSNBC said that estimates of job loses from this agreement are between 150,00 and 450,000. That is just what we need. I find it very strange that the Republicans campaigned on job creation but have yet to sponsor one bill that actually creates jobs and the worst part of it is that the Democrats seem to be going along with them!
As usual it will be the middle class and the poor who will suffer. The fight over Planned Parenthood is just one example. So many women get benefits from that organization that have nothing to do with abortion. Women receive cancer screenings, mammograms, SDT screenings and diabetes screenings. This actually saves the government money as it is cheaper to prevent disease than to treat it.
The lies told about Planned Parenthood are ridiculous. Senator John Kyl (R) got up on the Senate floor and said that 90% of Planned Parenthood's money went towards abortion. When confronted with the truth his spokesperson said "that was not meant to be a factual statement." So that means that we cannot believe anything that Senator Kyl says. So why is he still in the Senate? Do they all lie like that?
It is mostly men who are advocating no funding for Planned Parenthood. It is mostly men who want to have control over women's health. Now if the women put forth a bill that said Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plan, would no longer pay for Viagra or Cialis there would be an uproar the likes of nothing we have seen. This is just another example of men in power who want to control women and not treat them equally.
Now don't get me wrong, not all men are like that but the majority of men in power are.
So when will we actually see all of the details and why is President Obama saying this is an historic agreement when he and Harry Reid have given in to the Republicans AGAIN! More on this topic as details become available.

WHAT???? Another War?

2011-03-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

I am totally shocked that President Obama is leading us into another war. Not only will we lose more young men and women but this is nothing short of an invitation to terrorists to try and take their vengeance out on this country. We do not need to be the caretaker of every country in the world. I thought President Obama was opposed to the War in Iraq. I think we have been misled and I for one do not appreciate it. I thought he was a peace loving man and not a warmonger.
We are spending billions of dollars a week in Afghanistan and who knows how much to keep troops in Iraq. The cessation of these two wars could help repair the deficit and avoid the horrendous cuts that the Republicans are making. So how can we afford to take on more?
I know that the President has said that he will not ask Congress for more money but obviously the money has to come from somewhere. Now we have lost an aircraft and how much will it cost to replace it? Thank God the two crew members have been rescued.
I hope everyone will write to the White House and express their anger and disappointment as I have.

An Open Letter to The President and to Congress

2011-02-20T11:28:00.002-05:00

Mr. President, Speaker Boehner, Senators Harry Reid, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Michael Michaud,
This business of budget cutting is getting out of hand. Yes, we need to cut the budget and control spending but we need to create jobs even more. We need to be fixing our infrastructure. You people are playing a game of chicken with the lives of American people to see who is going to give in first.
When you cut things like LIHEAP which will affect the working poor and middle class you are playing with fire. . My hero is Joe Kennedy! He knows how to help people. You are guessing that the price of heating oil will not go up. Well, I have news for you, it already is!
When you begin to take away the rights of women to choose and to receive basic health care screening such as screening for cervical cancer or mammograms you are saying that you don't give damn about women. When you try to redefine rape to make it seem like the woman is at fault you denigrate women.
I wonder why you are not proposing to cut your own government paid health insurance when you want to defund health care for the rest of us. Don't forget who is paying for that! The American taxpayer, that's who.
You want to freeze federal employees' salaries but not the salaries of the Congress. Come on guys and girls share the burden with us. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
But no, you will not share with the people and you will still kowtow to corporate interests in the hopes that you will get money from them to be reelected. You know this is not supposed to be a lifetime job . Don't forget you just gave huge tax cuts to the wealthy when we could have had that money go towards the deficit. You have shown who you care for and that is not the ordinary citizen. We are as corrupt as any other nation, thanks to you folks and Wall Street and the big banks and corporations.
Get us out of Afghanistan and Iraq and save the money instead of putting it on the backs of the American people. These two places are so corrupt that out tax money is being stolen away and we might as well get it back by withdrawing. Also make the corporations pay higher taxes. They aren't hiring people anyway and then they are discriminating against people who are unemployed. We sent you to Washington to fix these problems and they have just gotten worse.
The people aren't stupid and you can see from what is happening in Wisconsin and may move to other states, the people are fed up. So instead of taking a week off every three weeks put in a full year of working together (like the rest of the country does) to fix these problems

Who Wants to Cut Social Security and Medicare

2011-01-30T09:09:00.000-05:00

The answer to this question is obvious. It is the Republican "deficit hawks". Of course they weren't deficit hawks when they gobbled up a huge surplus and funded two wars and spent liberally. Today in the Maine Sunday Telegram Tony Payne had an article advocating these cuts. What follows is a letter to the editor in response to his article. How do you feel about this?
To the editor:
This morning I read the article by Tony Payne, "We must bite the bullet and cut back Social Security, Medicare". As I read I grew angrier and angrier. Mr. Payne must be one who is wealthy enough not to have to rely on Social Security. Even Representative Paul Ryan, who Mr. Payne mentions in his article and who doesn't have to worry as he will get a healthy pension and health insurance paid for by us, the United States taxpayers.
Recipients of Social Security have not had an increase in two years, yet the cost of food, clothing, heating oil, gasoline have continued to rise steadily. It is a balancing act to keep ahead of these rising costs.
He and others want to raise the retirement age. Have you gone to a grocery store lately or some other retail store or restaurant and seen the elderly working there when they should be able to be enjoying their retirement years but work to survive.
Maybe we should cut Social Security off for those folks who make over $50,000.00 a year in retirement. Lets raise the cap on Social Security so that income over $90,000.00 is taxed. But don't cut the benefits for those of us who need it to live on.
As for medicare, it always amazes me that people in power or who are wealthy want to see seniors medical coverage taken away from them.
Let's get real, and know that this is a country that has prided itself on caring for its people. We are losing that to the power and greed of the wealthy corporations who control Washington.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T13:44:00.000-05:00

Well, 2010 is coming to an end and we did survive but at what cost? Some good things happened. I had a new great granddaughter born in October. She is a keeper! My baking orders increased so I will have spending money for a vacation. My family members are well and I am still financially solvent. What more could one ask?
As I look at the year that I have had I am reminded of all the folks who haven't had such a good year. Too many are unemployed, uninsured, have no access to medical care, too many are homeless and living in poverty. Too many children go to bed at night hungry. This is America for heaven's sake. We can continue to fight two wars and send all kinds of money overseas, give tax cuts to the wealthiest 2%, allow banks to still cheat and still receive huge bonuses for doing that but we can't take care of our own.
We allow corruption in government by not calling our elected officials into accountability. Our government is being run by the big corporations and not by the people because so many of our elected officials are owned by big corporations.
In the so called "Lame Duck Session" finally the Senate did some work by repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, passed a law improving food safety, and extended unemployment benefits. But they were annoyed that they couldn't go home early for the holidays. What they don't realize is that most of their constituents had to work right up to Christmas and many worked on Christmas Day. They get so much time off on our tax dollars that it isn't funny.
In the spirit of the New Year let's hope that things get better. I urge everyone to become involved and to let your senators and representatives know how you feel and how you want them to vote. It can be discouraging as they seldom listen but we do need to keep trying,

So I will raise my glass in a toast to hope for the new Year and for happiness and health to every one.

This Week in Washington

2010-12-21T07:29:00.000-05:00

Well, some good things happened in Washington this week. Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed with support from Maine Senators, Snowe and Collins. I give them credit for breaking ranks with their party. It looks like the START Treaty may get ratified without changes that a couple of Republicans wanted which would have doomed the treaty and again our Maine Senators seemed poised to support the treaty.
I have to laugh when I hear the Republicans complaining that too much is being jammed into the "lame duck" session. You know if they hadn't blocked just about everything all year this would not have been necessary. It is as if they have never done the same thing. I hope Harry Reid keeps them there till after Christmas. They have just had a long break for the elections anyway and most of us are lucky to get two weeks off for vacation.
But on the other hand some bad things happened also. One was the two year extension of the tax cuts for the very wealthy which will cost the country billions of dollars even though many of the wealthiest like Warren Buffet said they didn't need or want them. So much for the hypocrisy of the Republicans worrying about the deficit. What did we get for that, a measly 13 month extension of unemployment benefits. Yes there were other things in the bill but basically the middle class got screwed again!
It looks like the FCC is going to pass some rules governing the Internet. Will it be true Net Neutrality? NO! The FCC and the Obama administration are again favoring the big corporations over the will of the people. Over 100,000 people signed a petition circulated by Senator Al Franken. He has been the spokesperson for Net Neutrality along with some progressive groups. So we have been betrayed again.
The Dream Act did not pass and that is too bad for so many young people who were brought here illegally by their parents. This would have given them a path to citizenship by attending college or serving in the military and it would help solve a portion of the immigration problem for these young people who have been brought here with no choice of their own.
The failure to pass the Omnibus spending bill which will fund the government will hurt the child care and Headstart programs which benefit those children whose parents are struggling to make ends meet. The days of taking care of the people is coming to an end and will get even worse under the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
I am trying to have a positive attitude but it gets increasingly more difficult as program after program gets slashed and government rolls to a stand still. Let's all keep writing and calling our elected leaders and hope that President Obama knows where the veto pen is and how to use it if necessary.
Hey, the Patriots won in a close game so that is good!

Don't You Love Bernie Sanders?

2010-12-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

This photo of Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, shows the passion that is such a part of this man. His passion and belief in the welfare of the American people make him a true hero!

He had the courage to conduct what some are calling a mini filibuster or as he said, "You could call it a very long speech.". For 8 1/2 hours he spoke about the tax cut bill and his opposition to it. During his time in the floor he said the following, "How can I get by on one house?" I need five houses, ten houses! I need three jet planes to take me all over the world! Sorry, American people. We've got the money, we've got the power, we've got the lobbyists here and on Wall Street. Tough luck. That's the world, get used to it. Rich get richer. Middle class shrinks."

He read from Arianna Huffington's book Third World America. If you haven't read this book it should be required reading for all of us. He also had charts and graphs showing the problems that Americans are facing. He called out the Republican's hypocrisy for wanting to decrease the deficit but then adding to it with tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans even when some of them are saying they don't need it.

We need more people like Bernie Sanders who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes is right for the American people. Contrast that with our Senators from Maine who follow the leader, Mitch McConnell, even when in their hearts they know it is wrong. Oh my, did I say hearts? I think they lost their hearts and souls long ago!

Anyway, Bernie Sanders is my hero!

What is the Stockholm Syndrome???

2010-12-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

I had never heard of this phenomena until I read a very interesting article by Frank Rich in the New York Times. He references an article Understanding The Stockholm Syndrome found in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. He explains it as the way captives win over their hostages. They do it by "winning a victim’s loyalty if they temper their brutality with a bogus show of kindness. Soon enough, the hostage will start concentrating on his captors’ “good side” and develop psychological characteristics to please them — “dependency; lack of initiative; and an inability to act, decide or think.”"
Rich uses this syndrome to explain President Obama's reaction to the Republicans and uses the example of the Republicans canceling the meeting with the President due to scheduling conflicts and then agreeing to come at a later date. This way Obama could then look at their good side.
In my mind this explains the President's behavior over the last two years. He reaches out and gets slapped down and then they give him a nice word or two and then he gives them just what they want. In other words bend over and I'll kick you in the rear again! This is leading us into a very serious situation where nothing gets done and every bill gets watered down so that it is almost meaningless.
The other part of the problem is that the Democrats in the Senate at least don't have the backbone to stand up and fight and tell the President the truth. They don't even have the backbone to fight for what is right. The lame duck session is almost at an end and still nothing has been accomplished. No repeal of Don't Ask, Don't tell, the tax cuts are not resolved, the budget needs to be addressed and the biggest of all is the extension of unemployment benefits.
Our government is at a standstill. It is a very sad and deplorable situation.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

2010-09-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

It is time for clean and fair elections nation wide. In the last three days I have received over 15 requests for money for different candidates and causes. I have received them from John Kerry, John Slotz, the DSCC, the DLCC, True Majority, Moveon.org, Joe Biden, Act Blue and many others. Can you chip in $85.00 for this, can you donate $5, 10,25, 50 or more for this. Now you could say it is my own fault because I have given some money for various candidates and causes but come on, I am on a fixed income and to be showered with these emails is getting very annoying.
Have you ever stopped to think what good all that money could do? Karl Rove is raising over $400,000,000.00 dollars to give to Republican candidates. Yes that is four hundred million dollars. So the Democrats obviously want to reach or surpass that amount so they can stay competitive. This is insane that so much money is being spent by both parties. My God we could begin to wipe out the deficit or feed millions of people with all of that money. All of this is to try and buy an election and therefore achieve personal power.
We need to clean up the system so that our monies can be directed in more valuable ways. Of course the powers that be in Washington will never support such a measure anymore than 100% of them would sign a pledge to clean up corruption in Washington. They like it this way!
So my friends it is time to out the pressure on candidates and elected officials to change the way the system works.

Corruption, Corruption Everywhere

2010-09-05T10:13:00.000-04:00

The news this week that we are bailing out Afghanistan's bank is very distressing! We cannot even get our own house in order and now we are going to bail out a bank that is failing because of the very corrupt society that it functions in.
We tolerate corruption in our own society and now we are asking our service men and women to give their lives trying to improve a corrupt society that we can never change. Only the Afghan people can change that.
It is time for us to get out of Afghanistan and bring our people home. Then we can use the money to help those in our society that are suffering because the government has not cared enough to make sure that our own economy improves.
150 legislators in Washington have signed a pledge to fight corruption in Washington. It is time to clean up our house before we attempt to clean up another government's dirty house.
I am so disappointed with the Democrats who seem to have lost their backbone. They are just letting the Republicans steamroll them and if you think we are in big trouble now just wait until they try to repeal health care, cut social security and medicare and extend tax cuts for the rich. Our government is run by the corporate lobbyists and believe me that is corruption at its highest level. The only bright hope is the President Obama will have the guts to veto such legislation if it ever gets to him.
This is one very liberal Democrat who is disillusioned that our own party could not stand together to get things done because they are just as corrupt as the Republicans!

Ethics and Corruption in Government, Corporations and Institutions

2010-07-06T09:10:00.000-04:00

I have contemplated the writing of this post for two weeks. I have long been concerned about the level of corruption that exists among elected officials. The Maine Sunday Telegram on June 20, 2010 had an article titled Big Business: Losing the Fight to do Right. ( http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/big-business_2010-06-20.html). This article examined the levels of corruption and unethical behavior by both corporate and public institutions. It was written by Dan Boxer and Peter Pitegoff. This article has weighed on my mind ever since.
Unethical behavior and corruption does exist at all levels and it is most evident when we look at Congress and see how they give in to the big corporations and do not act in the best interests of the people who elected them. Members of Congress are owned by big corporations and banks. Their lobbyists control the legislative process and the people lose out. How can Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe defend their votes against extending unemployment benefits to millions of people including thousands here in Maine. They say it is because of increasing the deficit. Well for the eight years of the Bush Administration they didn't worry about the increasing deficit and funding trillions of dollars for an unwinable war. If we weren't spending billionsof dollars a day on two wars we might be able to get our economy back into shape and bring back some jobs that have been outsourced. Where is their concern for their constituents?
At the state level we are decimating human services and education because no one is willing to think of a new way to do government. Do we need to increase the sales tax? Probably. We never should have decreased it in the first place. We always need to be prepared for the bad times as well as the good and we need to be prepared to take care of our neediest citizens. If the system isn't working then we need to look at what is wrong and how to fix it.
I believe that this unethical behavior permeates all of our institutions, political, corporate and religious. It is all about how much money you can wrest from the people. In tough economic times religious organizations need to put on hold capital campaigns that suck money from people who cannot afford it. Businesses, including the big banks and Wall Street, need to stop ripping off the consumer and ruining our economy by employing risky business practices..
Power and greed have taken over and we have lost all sense of community and how to care for each other and for our country.
I despair of ever changing this behavior. I fear that it will be the downfall of our society if it hasn't already begun.
I am usually a very upbeat, positive person but this is a very sad and dangerous situation for our town, state and country.

We Are Living In A World Gone Mad!

2010-06-04T08:12:00.000-04:00

How did we ever get to this place in our society where people are acting like madmen? Arianna Huffington wants President Obama to open a temporary White House in New Orleans, Keith Olbermann wants the president to show some anger and then someone else says he isn't paying enough attention to the economy. Many people will not be happy unless he dives down 5000 feet and plugs the hole himself!
The BP CEO wants his life back when his company has created the worst ecological disaster this country has known.
Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisianna, who has criticized the President's stimulus plan and hates "big government" is crying for government intervention in the oil spill. His state has received so much money from the oil industry that in spite of this tragedy and the ruination of environment of the Gulf Of Mexico he is advocating more drilling in the gulf and asking Obama to end the moratorium on drilling.
Israel attacks an aid ship going to Palestine where people are starving. Do they remember how it was to starve during the Holocaust?
Glen Beck attacks the young daughter of the president and makes fun of her.
Former President Bush admits to the war crime of water boarding and says he would do it again. Why are we not prosecuting him and Dick Cheney like we have others for the same crime.
The lobbyists have a strangle hold on Congress and the Republicans can do nothing but say no and the Democrats do not have the guts to push ahead.
The big banks and Wall Street still continue their bad practices at our expense.
Then at the state level we have so many people running in the primary for governor and only one of them has anything new to offer. We are budget cutting everything in sight and in reality doing nothing to improve our economy. Our kids are getting poor educations and the poor are getting poorer.
The we come down to the local level and the Town of Windham has elected a council that is self serving at best. They treat the citizens with arrogance and intimidation. They have taken land out of resource protection, they are allowing zoning changes that only favor developers and have deep impacts on established neighborhoods. They have spent over $450,000.00 of TIFF money to buy ten acres of some the worst property on Route 302 to supposedly fix a poor intersection when in reality it appears that it was just to help out a friend. They talk about economic development but give no thought to the cultural needs of the community. We have no bookstore, no decent shoe or clothing store and the development along Route 302 is an eyesore to the community.
We all need to step back and rethink where we are going and what kind of world we are creating for future generations. We need new ideas and a better sense of integrity and get back to caring about each other and realize how our words and actions affect others. We need people in office who have a strong sense of accountability and a strong moral code. We as individuals also need to stop and think about how we live and what do we do to allow this corruption and madness to exist in our country and in the world because if we cared we would be sure that it changed.

NO! NO! NO!

2010-05-25T07:03:00.001-04:00

The Federal government cannot let BP off the hook for the cleanup of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Also the moratorium on permitting and the drilling of new wells needs to be more broadly defined. How can new permits and waivers still be given out by the government? This mess in the Gulf will take decades to repair and look how many people have lost their livelihoods due to this spill which no one seems to be able to horrible spill.
Do we never learn any lessons? We should have been making progress towards energy independence since the oil crisis of 1973. We have had years to create affordable alternative energies and we have done nothing but suck up more oil.
Why can't anyone have the backbone to say to BP we are taking over this process and you are paying for it.
The one humorous aspect to me is that Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, is crying for government help when a year ago he was hitting the President and the Democrats for too much government intervention.
This is just another fiasco brought on by corrupt government permitting and greed of the big oil corporations. Tell me why they are getting huge tax breaks and government subsidies. This I do not understand when they are reaping huge profits.
When do criminal charges against the BP executives and members of the Minerals Management Service get filed. It is disgusting that federal employees charged with overseeing safety and permitting processes are basically in bed with the oil and coal companies. Doesn't anyone care that men have died because of their lax oversight? I would advise everyone to read the article in the New York Times regarding this situation. Here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/us/25mms.html?hp
What are we as a people to do when faced with such corruption?

Why Am I Not Surprised?

2010-04-17T08:58:00.000-04:00

Again our two Senators from Maine tow the party line to try and prohibit the bill containing some financial reforms and sign the letter to Harry Reid. They are following Mitch McConnell's orders again. They care not that the people of this country have been victimized by big banks and Wall Street. Pension funds of public employees, retirement funds of seniors, and college endowments funds have been decimated by corruption and greed. Bankruptcy has been visited on hundreds of thousands and families have been driven out of their homes due to foreclosure. Yet, in spite of all of this, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins cannot stand with the people. We should deluge their offices with phone calls and letters and let them know that it is time to stand up for us and not the corporate interests. After all they are a big part of the problem as they supported the Bush tax cuts and other policies that allowed all of this to happen
Bill Moyers and Michael Winship wrote an article called Crocodile Tears on Wall Street (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-moyers/crocodile-tears-on-wall-s_b_541032.html). In this article they tell of the testimony of bank CEO's in which these bankers say this was a big accident. Of course they knew what was going on. They were just too happy with their big salaries. They had no care for the people who put their trust in the banks.
There needs to be criminal prosecution in these cases and we need strong regulations so this can never happen again.
I recommend this article to all and also hope many of you will get the book 13 Banks by Simon Johnson and James Kwak. Most public libraries should have this very important book and if they don't you should ask them to buy it We all need to be better informed so we can help change the direction of this country.

Violence and the 2nd Amendment

2010-04-12T14:40:00.000-04:00

I am becoming increasingly aware of the possibility of serious consequences where weapons are concerned. While the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms, it does not give them the right to use those arms against innocent people, politicians or the government. When used against the government I believe it is called treason! When these weapons are used against other citizens I believe it is called murder.
Dennis A. Henigan wrote on Huffington Post an article entitled "Gun Rights" and Political Violence. In this article he writes the following: "
In other words, if we use the First Amendment to try to persuade our elected officials to our point of view, and we fail, then it's time to resort to the Second Amendment - that is, to threaten violence. And, ultimately, to use violence.
This is right out of the NRA's playbook. Last year, NRA Executive Director Wayne LaPierre explained it in chilling terms to the wild cheers of the Conservative Political Action Conference. According to LaPierre, when it comes down to it, the only freedom that really counts is the right to be armed - without it, "liberty is but an illusion." In the NRA's world, we are free only to the extent that our guns allow us to impose our will on others. Here are LaPierre's words:
"Our divine rights, they might have been endowed by a Creator, but they are preserved by mortals, if we mortals have the means and the will to make it stick....Freedom is nothing but dust in the wind till it's guarded by the blue steel and dry powder of a free and armed people....Our founding fathers understood that the guys with the guns make the rules."
I find the statement that "the guys with the guns make the rules" to be very frightening. It is one thing to keep guns for hunting for food and another to use them to try and influence politicians and ordinary citizens. That is nothing short of fear mongering and threatening. The whole idea of an armed citizenry is both frightening and threatening.
I surely don't want "the guys with the guns" making the rules of this country. Then none of us will have any freedom at all.

Consumer Price Index and Inflation

2010-02-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

A report that came out this week, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100219/us-credit-markets/, stated that the consumer price index rose only 0.2 percent. This was a smaller increase than expected. Of course this was after food and energy costs were stripped out. This always amazes me that the things people rely on are stripped out of the index. It is my feeling, and I am no economist, that this is very unfair especially as social security increases are based on this as are the pay increases of many folks especially those who work in the public sector such as teachers and municipal and state workers.
I don't know about you folks but the costs of my groceries has gone up and I am just one person. I can just imagine what it has done to young families with children. My natural gas from Maine Natural Gas went up by 10% in January and will go up another 12% in December. I just got a notice from the Portland Water District that they are applying for a rate increase through the Public Utilities Commission. Time Warner Cable raises their rates whenever they want as they are not controlled by the PUC. Now I know I can give up cable TV. Many consider that a luxury but that is my entertainment. I rarely go out to eat, I don't smoke and drink only 1 glass of wine a day. The cost of gasoline for the car goes up and down. The cost of health care keeps going up. Right here in Maine Anthem/Blue Cross is trying to increase rates by 23%. How are people to afford these increases when salaries do not keep up.?
It annoys me that these costs are not taken into consideration when Social Security increases are considered. It is disgusting that in this country of wealth and prosperity that we have so many folks going hungry or without medication that could save their lives or without heat to keep them warm. We are the only industrialized country in the world that does not provide health care for their people. How much of a raise is Congress getting this year. If you have the answer to that question let me know. Let's try to change some of these things.

Big Disappointments

2010-02-19T20:51:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I can't believe our government. I have been a loyal Democrat for as long as I have been able to vote but I am so disappointed in the actions of Congress, The White House, The Department of Justice and everyone else in government. I am disgusted by the depth of corruption and greed that permeates government and business.
Here the majority of the people want a public option in the Health Care Reform Bill but very few Senators are listening. I admire the courage of those Senators who have put their names on a letter to Harry Reid asking that the public option be a part of the bill and be adopted through the reconciliation process. Where is the presidential leadership on this issue? The Congress has the best health care available but they would deny their constituents the same opportunity. How can this be happening? The lack of concern for the ordinary citizen is unbelievable.
Then today the Department of Justice overrides a two year investigative report on the authorization of torture and claims that the attorneys involved are only guilty of poor judgment. This is wrong. Then Dick Cheney admits to being in favor of water boarding which is a war crime but will anything happen to him? Of course not. Where is the rule of law and why is it not being applied? If it was an ordinary citizen they would be in jail!
I could go on and on but it is too trying. Then the Democrats will wonder why people won't vote in the mid term elections. One reason is because we are so disappointed that the change we voted for is far from happening and very few elected people are standing up for what is right for the people and the country. To put it bluntly this country is in a mess and I don't see how we are going to put it right. How very sad and depressing.

Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation

2010-02-16T08:31:00.000-05:00

In January of 2010 a severe ice storm hit the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Electricity and water systems were devastated. People were without heat and water and food in a very cold time of year. Did you hear about this???? No, because the media and the politicians do not pay any attention to the plight of our Native Americans. To my knowledge the only national media comment on this was done by Keith Olbermann on Countdown on MSNBC. In just over 72 hours his viewers raised over $270,000.00 to support the Sioux as they try to rebuild their water system and get power back. This money also provided blankets, food and water.
As reported by the tribe, this money arrived before any FEMA money. There was no information on the website of the Indian Affairs Agency. One of the colleges in South Dakota advertised "Bring Your Sole to the Game" asking people to bring shoes that could be donated to the tribe.
Now I don't begrudge the money sent to Haiti as that was surely a tragedy but I do resent the fact that our government and we as their brothers and sisters treat the Native Americans as though they are less than equal. We need to do for them what we have done Hispanics and African Americans. We keep them on reservations and in poverty.
I have written to Huffington Post to ask where was their coverage of this event. I have written to President Obama and Senator Olympia Snowe asking why there is not a better response to this situation. Of course there was no response. Where is the heart of this nation? We can send money all over the world but we neglect some of our own.
This is a time when I wish I had the resources and the knowledge to set up a charitable organization to help the downtrodden in our society. But each of us must take the responsibility to advocate for all of those who have nothing when we have so much. I have included links to the page where donations can be made to this particular cause and a link to the website of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
http://www.razoo.com/story/Cheyenne-River-Sioux-Tribe-Storm-Relief-Emergency-Assistance
www.sioux.org/English/CRST_2010_Disaster_Relief.php

Are You Sick and Tired of the Lies and Stalling?

2010-02-16T07:59:00.000-05:00

I am! I am so disappointed in our elected leaders. The Democrats are afraid of their shadow and can't take the steps they need to get business done. The Republicans just tell lies and say no! Nothing is getting done in Washington as our elected leaders pander to the bid banks and corporate interests so they will get more money donated to their reelection campaigns.

It has become increasingly evident that they are not there to do the country's business or to serve the people who elected them. Those who voted no on the stimulus take credit for it in their home districts when stimulus money comes their way. At least Rachel Maddow had the courage to call Congressman Schock on it on Meet the Press this week. It is hypocrisy at its worst.

It will take a huge effort to make any changes and I hope anyone who reads this will write to their elected Senators and Congressmen and tell them that they need to be working for us or they will not be elected no matter how much money they get from big corporations.

Let's take our country back and make it work for the people.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T14:46:00.000-05:00

Well, 2009 is behind us and what a year it was. It was a year marked by sone of the most hateful politics in a very long time. It was a year that many folks lost much of their retirements. Employers laid off many from their jobs, states have trouble balancing their budgets and deep cuts in human services and education will certainly plague us for some time to come. Even though there is no inflation (says the government) prices of food, energy, clothing and utilities went up. This makes for hardships for families and seniors. There are few pay increases, no social security increases but the fat cat bankers and Wall Street management are getting even bigger bonuses than before the crash and on our tax dollars! Health Care Reform basically went no where. Let's hope something good comes out of the bill that has now gone to conference.

What will 2010 bring? I am not too optimistic as I don't see the politics changing either on the local or national level. This morning on Morning Joe I heard Mike Barnicle say something to the effect of the people are crying out to Congress hear our voices but Congress is not listening. He is so right! People are trying to tell elected officials what they want and need but the powers that be, both on the local and national level are not listening. Instead they continue to listen to lobbyists, special interests and big corporations who are paying big bucks to get them to listen. I don't see that changing in 2010.
Since this will be an election year we need to elect people who are not afraid to think outside the box! I have subscribed to the Smart Growth Network, http://www.smartgrowth.org. According to their website they state their purpose as "helps create national, regional and local coalitions to support intelligent and sustainable growth."
I have also subscribed to Maine Can Do Better (www.mainecandobetter.org) From their website,

"Like people throughout Maine, the partners of Maine Can Do Better believe in working together for the common good. We know that Maine's prosperity depends on the strength of our public structure -- our laws, our schools and universities, our public health and safety agencies, our roads and bridges, and our natural resources. Maine's core is the machinery that propels our economy, and must be responsibly managed and maintained to ensure the health and vitality of Maine communities, Maine families, and Maine people, now and into the future."

Both of these organizations have a vision for making the state, the country and the world a better place. I invite you to subscribe to these also and put pressure on candidates to think differently about how things can be accomplished. We need to hold them accountable. We can no longer sit back and let government do things to us but we need to make them do things that we want and need. We need to be more responsible citizens in 2010 than we were in 2009 and before.

In spite of the somewhat pessimistic posting I do wish all of you a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year.

Health Care Reform, Global Warming, Jobs, Wall Street, Banks, etc.

2009-12-15T15:06:00.000-05:00

President Obama,

It is time for you to stand up to Joe Lieberman and say Enough is Enough. How did he get so much power?
Stand up for the American people. As it stands now the insurance companies are being given a great Christmas present. People will be mandated to buy insurance from private companies and those companies will still raise havoc with our health care. Fining people for not buying health insurance isn't fair when they are struggling just to put food on the table.
The Democrats deserve to lose in the next election as they can't do anything even with a President and a majority in both houses.

My disgust is indescribable.
Above is my most recent communication to President Obama. The Democrats are worthless! They can't even pass a health care bill that will help millions of families. Of course the Republicans will stand in the way of anything progressive. They will also oppose any bill that improves the environment.
They scream about job creation but will oppose any bill that might help put people back to work. They don't want any consumer protection laws put in place so that Wall Street and the banks have to act with a moral conscience.
All that being said about the Republicans, it absolutely blows my mind that with 60 votes (Oh I forgot! Joe Lieberman is one of the sixty and he will also oppose everything and still be allowed to keep his chairmanship)
This whole political process needs to be changed so that elected officials follow the will of their constituents.

Health Care Reform and the Senate

2009-12-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

I am wondering when the Senate will get busy and pass some legislation. The House of Representatives has passed 100 bills and they are all waiting for Senate action. It is time for the Senate to adopt new rules on how they process legislation and they need to abide by a simple majority.
I am hoping that all Republicans and Democrats will support the Republican amendment to the health care bill that requires all Senators and Representatives and their staffs as well as the President, Cabinet members and staffs to use the public option. Why should they have anything better than the citizens of this country. As they said if they are in the plan they will make sure it is well run. What could be better for us?
Of course there is a catch here. When Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio attempted to co-sponsor the amendment he called the office of Senator Coburn and he was rebuffed 9 times. Also Al Franken and Chris Dodd and Sherrod Brown went on the Senate floor and asked for unanimous consent to be added to the amendment and it was agreed to. I suspect that this amendment is another blocking measure by the Republicans but I hope it passes and is included in the final legislation. If it isn't we will all know that the Congress looks out for itself first and the hell with the people.
It absolutely blows my mind that they can ignore the wishes of the majority of the public who support a public option. I thought they were sent there to represent us and not their quest for power and prestige. They continue to bow to the lobbyists and forget the people who elected them.
Do you realize that the amount of money being spent daily on TV and Radio commercials, both for and against health care reform, could have helped fund reform for all of those folks who have nothing. I don't know about you but the ads disgust me and I have stopped watching television during the day. I listen to the weather report and then shut it off until I watch the evening news and even then I often turn that off.
If there is that much money floating around that continuous ads can be run why do we have so many homeless, hungry and poor? We could easily feed them all and care for their health needs as well. I laugh when these folks call themselves Christians. They surely do not worship the same God that I do or follow Jesus, who cared for everyone. Who are they trying to kid?

So again I invite you to join me and write and call Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and President Obama and urge them to support the public option.

Another Letter to our Senators

2009-11-23T14:09:00.002-05:00

Again I am writing to our Senators in the hopes that they will do the right thing and support meaningful health care reform that covers all people. In this country of riches and bounty it is disgusting that we cannot care for all of our people. To have over 40,000 people die just because they cannot get health care makes this government akin to murderers. It is time to bite the bullet and pass meaningful legislation not something that will satisfy the insurance industry.
Dear Senators, Snow and Collins,
I am urging you to support meaningful health care reform with a strong public option and no Stupak amendment. Every American deserves to have as good health care as you enjoy and the majority of Americans support the so-called public option. You have government run health care and so do I through Medicare. Let's give everyone the choice.
This Sunday Bill Nemitz had a wonderful and very moving though very depressing article on the poverty in Washington and Hancock counties. These are your constituents! They have to choose between food and medicine, whether or not to heat their homes so they surely don't have the money to pay for health care.
We can afford to fund two wars that were started with lies but we cannot afford to feed and care for our own people. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. So forget about the insurance companies who are playing politics with our health care for their own greed and profit and vote for the people this time.

Somehow I doubt that you will do the right thing. I hope you prove me wrong.

What's going on in Windham Politics?????

2009-11-01T08:32:00.001-05:00

I have rarely ever seen such a turn in local politics as I have observed in this current election in the Town of Windham. It is amazing that some folks are so eager for revenge and power that they take out ads that present false information and accuse good citizens falsely.
What's up with lighted signs all over town? Someone is spending a great deal of money just to get elected to a seat on the Town Council. Are all of these candidates willing to faithfully attend meetings and do their homework on all the issues. Being a member of the council is a huge responsibility and requires an investment of time not only for meetings but doing the research and studying before the meetings so that one is prepared for intelligent discussion and decision making. It also requires building meaningful partnerships with other council members so that the town is well served. This is not a "shoot from the hip" type of job.
It is very sad to see revenge, bitterness and anger introduced into local politics. I hope most of the folks here in Windham are as disgusted with the antics of some of the candidates as I am. If I was running for office I would be very careful who I associated with.

My WTF Moment!

2009-10-17T08:04:00.002-04:00

As I read the news that the Securities Exchange Commission has appointed a 29 year old former Goldman Sachs employee to chief of its enforcement division, my temper boiled over. Now I have no problem with his age but it seems to me that the Treasury department and the SEC is increasingly becoming a place for Goldman Sachs employees.
When the Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner talks to his select friends on Wall Street more often than he does other banks and investment houses it just shows the control firms like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup have on Washington and on the Treasury Department itself.
What we really need is someone like Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren who oversees the TARP program. She is a voice for the middle class and the consumer. She is for Consumer Protection and is not afraid to speak out. Why can't the people in power recognize the need to have someone like Warren in a position of power who will represent the people. Instead we hire more and more of the employees of firms like Goldman Sachs who surely are tainted by that association and will not truly serve the people.

Baucus, Squawkus

2009-09-17T16:38:00.000-04:00

Can you believe the bill that came out of the Senate Finance Committee which is chaired by Senator Max Baucus. Our senator Olympia Snowe was part of the "gang of six" who supposedly negotiated the terms of the bill. Whatever were they thinking? This is just a gift to the health insurance industry. It does nothing to help the people of this country. Baucus is owned by the health care industry as they have given him over 3 million dollars.

Wendell Potter, who used to be the Vice President of Communications for Cigna, testified before the House Steering and Policy Committee this past Tuesday and made this statement. He warned that if Congress "fails to create a public insurance option to compete with private insurers, the bill it sends to the president might as well be called the Insurance Industry Profit Protection and Enhancement Act."

I hope that you will go to the following link to read more of Potter's testimony at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/wendell-potter-public-opt_n_287733.html

I called both Senators Collins and Snowe's offices today and told them that it is time to stop pandering to the lobbyists and the health care industry and begin thinking about the people they represent.
There is story after story about people having their policies canceled after being diagnosed with a life threatening disease. Just recently the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision to award 10 million to a man who policy was canceled, when he was a teenager, after being diagnosed with HIV. It is reported that bonuses were paid to health insurance workers based on the number of policies they canceled. Now this is criminal and unethical.
I am sure that I will be writing more on this subject as I am so disgusted with our elected leaders in the Congress who think more about reelection and campaign funds than they do about the people they represent.

What Is Going On In This Country????

2009-09-16T08:17:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have posted to my blog. The reason being is that I have no idea how to respond to the lies, hatred and the lack of concern for the people of this nation. It seems as though every politician, Republican or Democrat, including our own Senators Collins and Snowe, is owned by lobbyists representing some company whether it be Health Insurance or businesses who oppose Consumer Protection or who oppose climate control.

Take the State of Maine where the Department of Education is suggesting furlough days for school systems to save money. How can they even suggest such a thing when our children are already in school fewer days than many states. As it is education has become so watered down that our children hardly get the basics. We need education in order to improve the economy and to develop future leaders. This suggestion is insane and if the legislature and the Governor go along with it I question their sanity and their commitment to the children of this state.

Then there is the racism that is bubbling up to the surface all over the country. What are people so afraid of? In this day and age it is absolutely abominable that such hatred exists and that it is promoted by so called journalists on FOX News and CNN. Those folks are inciting people to carry weapons and to spread hatred. They should be banned from the airways. Former President Jimmy Carter expressed this sentiment so well in his interview with Brian Williams.

The news media hypes up entertainers who don't know enough to keep their mouths shut, they give murderers more air time than they deserve, they give the right wing nuts more publicity than they deserve making it look like it is a bigger movement than it really is and then they forget about the millions of people who are fighting for health care reform, trying to find jobs and begging the Congress and the President to listen to them.

Is it any wonder that people are discouraged and feel they have no voice? It seems to me that when 72% of the people want choice in health care, the Congress better listen to them or they can kiss the next election goodbye.

So my friends, let's raise our voices AGAIN and call our senators and representatives and voice our opinions.

In Memorium: Senator Edward M. Kennedy

2009-08-26T17:56:00.005-04:00

Today we mark the passing of one of the greatest statesmen of our time. The passing of Ted Kennedy from the cruel disease of brain cancer leaves a loss not only for his family and friends but for our nation.

His passion and caring for the lives of the common man was extraordinary. A man of wealth and power, he used both to try and improve the lives of all people. He knew tragedy and joy, responsibility and weakness. He set an example that will be hard to follow.

It is sad that he is gone and I shed tears at hearing of his death. It was as if each of us knew him in some special way. When he spoke it often seemed like he was speaking directly to each one of us. One of my greatest fears is that there is no one to take his place. Who will step up and carry on his work with the same passion? Time will tell.

I extend my condolences to his family and friends and hope that they know how much the people of this country loved and admired him. May God rest his soul and may God surround his family with love and comfort.

ANOTHER LETTER TO SENATORS SNOWE AND COLLINS

2009-08-16T10:57:00.005-04:00

Dear Senators,

First of all I am wondering how you can still call yourselves Republicans when one lie after another about health care reform is being told in your name. Getting people all stirred up to violence, carrying guns and being loud and rude is appalling and disgusting. Reasonable debate and asking questions is not wrong but hate speech, threats and lies are totally inappropriate.

As far as health care reform goes we do need the public option. There are too many people losing coverage, people who don't even have coverage and people being denied treatments that could save their lives. Talk about death panels, we have them now and they are called Health Insurance companies and HMO's. Go to the following link and look at the chart comparing the public option with the coop plan and you will see that the public will be the ones hurt by a coop plan. Also read Senator Rockefeller's discussion the coop plan. http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/6824

I truly do not understand why you would not want everyone to have health insurance coverage. Don't tell me that we have the best health care in the world. Stephen Hawkings is still a.live in Great Britain but my friend with ALS here in this country is dying very quickly because no one is willing to treat her the same way!

Again I urge you to support the public option and support you people. Obviously the government can run health insurance. It runs yours and it runs Medicare and I surely happy with the way my bills are paid and the coverage that I have and I am sure that you are too.

Romance Reviews

2009-08-12T11:17:00.001-04:00

For my latest Romance Reviews go to http://gigisromancereviews.blogspot.com

There are new reviews of books by Stephanie Laurens, Loretta Chase and Julia Quinn.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis : A guide for patients and families… by Hiroshi Mitsumoto, MD

2009-07-30T07:40:00.003-04:00

As we discuss health care reform, we also need to be looking at how we fund research and development for some major diseases like ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). This disease destroys the body in a slow process that takes away a person's independence and eventually their very breath. As my friend said, "You die inch by inch." The following book review is a comprehensive look at the disease and how it affects both patients and families. We need to be raising our voices to get more money for research.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis : A guide for patients and families… by Hiroshi Mitsumoto, MD
I requested this book as I am now being a supportive caregiver for a dear friend who has ALS. This book has an impressive list of contributors and Dr. Mitsumoto has a been given awards for his compassionate care of patients with this debilitating disease. There is an excellent index as well as a comprehensive Table of Contents.
The book is very thorough and goes into every aspect of the disease. In some places it seemed pretty technical and I am not sure that all families will take the time to read it all. I have a medical background that is very out of date so I appreciated reading about how the disease affects the person, what research is being done and how the symptom can be treated so that the patients are kept comfortable.
I especially liked the chapters on Hospice Care and Mourning. I think these chapters are essential reading for patients and families. Making end of life decisions are so important for all of us and the book certainly encourages that.
I will be giving the book to the family that I am helping so they can have a better understanding of what their family member is going through.
I rated this book 4 1/2 stars and I think it should be in every doctors office, public library and be given to any patient diagnosed with this disease.

Let's Stop Playing Politics With People's Lives

2009-07-30T07:27:00.003-04:00

I feel like a broken record! I seem to be consumed with anxiety about what the Congress will do with Health Care Reform. I am tired of the Republicans doing nothing but running ads and making statements that spread lies and scare tactics about everything from race, the economy, health care and other issues but do nothing constructive.

What follows is my most recent communication with Senators Collins and Snowe. I know I would like more people to get involved and communicate with their elected official and I also know that I am being unrealistic. I don't think it is because people don't care, although that is true of many, but they can't expend the energy and are hopeless. I am the type of person that cannot give up the fight and I am always hopeful that I can help affect change that will help folks. That is always my basic premise for the issues that I support. Unfortunately money from the rich and powerful most always wins!

Anyway here is the letter. Join me if you can.

Dear Senators Snowe and Collins.

I am begging and pleading with you to support the public option as part of health care reform. It is the only wat to protect the people of this country from the immoral practices of the insurance companies.

Also, if you support taking away S-Chip which covers 11 million children it will be one of the most immoral acts ever committed. This is a country that professes to love their children but we ruin their health care, their education, allow them to go to bed hungry and that is not loving or caring for the children.

Also you should be trying stop the the members of your party from spreading lies and scare tactics to the people on the health care and economy when they have been responsible for the breakdown of our economy by supporting the Bush policies and illegal activities.

Priscilla Payne
Windham, Maine 04062

Please Take Action on Health Care Reform

2009-07-21T07:20:00.005-04:00

This is a letter that I have sent to Senators Snowe and Collins. I hope you will all take action too. You can email them at:
http://collins.senate.gov
http://snowe.senate.gov
Go to their sites and you can email them from there. If you prefer their phone numbers are listed on their sites. We have this chance to reform our health care system and make sure that everyone has a choice and is covered. The stories of folks losing their homes and being forced into bankruptcy are sad and heart wrenching. Let's be a nation that cares for all and not just the select few who have coverage. I am one of those and I want my neighbors and community members to have the same. PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

Dear Senators Snowe and Collins,
I am urging you to support health care reform with a public option. I have said this before but you don't seem to listen. All people need to have health care at the same level that you do. Yours is paid for by us, the taxpayers and you don't have to worry about losing your health care or being denied treatment.

Go to this article in the Washington Post, read it and then read the comments. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072003363.html?hpid=topnews

Do you realize how angry the voters are that Senators and Representatives take huge sums from the health care industry and then vote against the people. Yes we are angry and we want you to listen to us. We want healthcare reform with a public option NOW!

The United States should not be #28 when it comes to infant mortality and we need to recognize that we are #30 in the obesity category. And you think we have a good health care system?

Stop trying to delay the process and make sure that there is a public option. The insurance companies are not honest and they treat their clients terribly. Let us have a choice! Stop voting with the lobbyists and insurance and health care industries and vote for the people.

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL AND WANT TO BE TAKEN OFF THE LIST, LET ME KNOW BY EMAILING ME AT pmpayne1936@GMAIL.COM

More on Health Care Reform

2009-07-19T09:23:00.004-04:00

I received an email from Democracy For America discussing which Democratic Senators might stand in the way of health care reform and it lists 8 Democratic Senators and how much money they have taken from the health and insurance industries. Here is the listing.
Here are eight senators who may stand in the way of the public option -- along with the total amount of money they’ve received from health and insurance interests. Who should we target first with local ads?

Sen. Max Baucus $3,973,485
Sen. Evan Bayh $1,565,088
Sen. Kent Conrad $2,154,200
Sen. Dianne Feinstein $1,749,887
Sen. John Kerry $8,994,077
Sen. Mary Landrieu $1,653,943
Sen. Joe Lieberman $3,308,621
Sen. Ben Nelson $2,214,715
You can go to the following link to vote on which senators should be targeted in ads.
http://vote.wewantthepublicoption.com/p-dfa-fe2

Take this opportunity and vote. Let's stop the lobbyists and insurance companies from determining how we will be treated, what medical tests we can have and forcing our doctors into seeing a predetermined number of patients regardless of the amount of time that might be needed to treat a patient successfully.

Snowe and Collins try to delay Health Care Reform

2009-07-18T09:17:00.006-04:00

Senators Snowe and Collins have joined 4 other "Centrist" senators to try and delay a vote on health care reform. The following link is to an article on Huffington Post by Ryan Grim. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/17/gang-of-six-centrist-sena_n_237750.html

Paul Krugmann, my favorite economist, writes the following in a New York Times op- ed piece. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/the-six-deadly-hypocrites/
"The six deadly hypocrites
Will the destructive center kill health care reform? It looks all too possible.
What’s especially galling is the hypocrisy of their claimed reason for delaying progress — concern about the fiscal burden. After all, in the past most of them have shown no concern at all for the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook.
Case in point: the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which denied Medicare the right to bargain for lower drug prices, locked in overpayments to private insurance companies, and did nothing, nothing at all, to pay for its proposed outlays. How many of these six self-proclaimed defenders of solvency voted no on the crucial procedural vote? One. (Joe Lieberman, to my surprise.)
And let’s not forget that Ben Nelson, who appears to be the ringleader, has fought tooth and nail against competition from a public option — which would almost certainly save a significant amount of money, as well as providing much-needed competition.
If the Gang of Six really does kill reform, remember their names; they will bear the responsibility for vast, unnecessary suffering over the years to come."

As I have mentioned before both Collins and Snowe are covered by the very best health insurance plan which is paid for by us, the taxpayers. They will never have to worry about losing their health care. I am totally amazed and disgusted that our Maine Senators are joining in this effort when over 72% of the public want a public option and reform NOW!
The cost of health care is rising at a formidable rate and is ruining the lives of many Americans who have either lost their coverage, been denied coverage or have never had health insurance. There are stories after stories of people who have been forced into bankruptcy, lost care and have died because of a lack of insurance and the lack of money to independently pay for health care.
If anyone thinks our health care system is the best, just take a look at our infant mortality rates which are worse than 28 other countries.(http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/oct2008/mort-o18.shtml). The US obesity rates are the highest out of 28 other countries with 30.6% of Americans being obese. (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity). If our health care system was better these figures might be lower and therefore cost for health care would be lower.

Therefore, for those of you who get this post by email, send it on and let's make calls and send letters to our Senators and let them know we want health care reform NOW and we want a PUBLIC OPTION!

An Open Letter to Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe

2009-06-29T13:15:00.003-04:00

June 29, 2009

Dear Senators Snowe and Collins:

Last night, I listened to a radio interview with T. Boone Pickens. In this interview, he detailed his solutions to America's increasing dependancy on foreign oil. He has spent $60,000,000 of his own money to inform the public about the problem and his ideas for a solution. As I'm sure you know, we consume 25% of the world's oil, most of which is imported from people who don't like us, and we are only 4% of the world's population. This country has known for nearly 50 years that this time was coming and yet no one, Democrat or Republican, has come up with a plan to decrease our consumption and develop our own resources.

Mr. Pickens offered one point that made my blood run cold. He stated that China has already made oil deals with Venezuela, Brazil, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and is now in talks with the government of Kuwait. In a very short time, we will be at the mercy of our enemies and we could find ourselves paralyzed on their whim. If we go to war over this (God forbid) all of our oil will go to the military and we will be helpless. Our economy will certainly collapse and vital food and supplies will no longer be shipped across country because of the prohibitive cost of truck transport. Even if this event doesn't happen, at the very least oil could be $300. per barrel within 10 years. This is only one point that Mr. Pickens expanded upon and the others were not comforting to ponder, either.

I am very angry that this government seems to spend it's time whining over what might have been instead of trying to get to work and keep this country from disintegrating in our lifetimes. Congress must have figured out by now that invading any random country in the middle east is not the solution. What is so difficult about funding alternative energy plans? Why not support giant wind farms in our Western plains? Why not start making cars that use natural gas? Wouldn't that boost these dying auto companies? Wouldn't that produce jobs? Wouldn't that revitalize cities and towns that are nearly deserted at this point? How about a few nuclear energy plants? For heaven's sake, we are the country who came up with the idea in the first place and we don't even use it! That is just plain lazy. Europe is laughing at our stupidity and lack of motivation to save ourselves from a certain fate.

Please don't allow this to happen to our country. I would ask that the US once again becomes the world leader in innovation and invention and gain the respect of our tired citizens who are sick of hearing nothing but hate, fearmongering, and conspiracy theories spewing from unqualified talking heads on TV and radio, who are nothing but gasbags who have figured out how to make millions out of promoting extremism. Don't let them take over YOUR job of representing those of us who have elected you and live the everyday life of American citizens. I don't want to spend my old age burning my furniture to keep warm while our "enemy du jour" controls the trickle of oil.

I do hope you will take this seriously and support Mr. Picken's programs. He is the only person who seems to have a committed interest and a viable solution to this soon-to-be catastrophic problem.

Thank you very much for your attention to this issue.

Sea Rose

The Media and Michael Jackson

2009-06-29T07:20:00.009-04:00

I don't know about some of you, but I am totally disgusted with the extent of the coverage of Michael Jackson's death. You would think the president or some world leader had died. This is a man who had led a less than exemplary life and he is now being held up as some sort of hero. What kind of an example is this for the young people of today? Let's face it. He was a druggie and lived a life of excesses and we want to hold him up as an example?

I do not know who is charge determining all this coverage but it is a huge mistake and I suspect money is involved. I turn on my TV and get the weather report and then turn it off. Does anyone realize that there are important things going on in the world? How many soldiers died or were wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq this week? How many families lost loved ones who led very nice, normal lives? How many people died fighting for freedom in Iran? What is happening on the health care front and on the energy bill?

Let's stop making heroes out of people who do not deserve it and concentrate on making the world a better place. Let's hold up decent people to be examples for our youth!

Health Care Reform and The Public Option

2009-06-23T08:38:00.003-04:00

The question that boggles my mind is why would anyone not want to support health care reform that includes a public option? Do these Senators and Representatives want to deny millions of Americans the same quality of life that they enjoy at taxpayer expense? Don’t they realize that m72% of Americans want a public option. They hardly ever listen to the people and they surely do not give us credit for our intelligence and our compassion for those who do not enjoy the same health benefits that so many of us have.
One reason that pops up for me is that they have all received so much money from the healthcare industry. For example, Susan Collins of Maine had received over $750 million dollars in campaign contributions from the healthcare industry. So is she going to sell out her constituents in order to pay back contributors? Now she is just one example. If one goes to http://www.opensecrets.org/ you can find out that information on any legislator.
Donations from the Health Care industry to a few of the top leadership people in the Senate follow
Mitch McConnell (R) - $696,450.00
Harry Reid (D) - $282,150.00
John Kyl ( R ) - $651, 883.00
Now maybe you can see why some Senators do not support the public option?
People, if healthcare reform is going to happen we need to get involved.

Dr. Howard Dean now has over 350,000 signatures that he will deliver to Congress this coming Thursday. You can add your signature by going to the site http://standwithdrdean.com/
Let’s make reform happen for the people of this country.

Today Show

2009-06-12T08:13:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you folks, but I have stopped watching the Today Show. You get about 10 minutes of actual news and then it is all lightweight entertainment shows and news.

They also give too much air time to people like Sarah Palin, Miss California and every murder that involves something spectacular. That is just giving publicity to those whose egos are fed by it. By giving air time to these people they are just feeding those extremists out there who want to destroy our society.

It is really too bad because I really like Meredith, Al Roker and Ann Curry. Matt Lauer is very arrogant and full of himself.

So, I watch the local news and weather and then shut the TV off for the day.

How do you all feel!

Sonia Sotomayor

2009-05-28T08:31:00.007-04:00

I have been totally disgusted with the way the media and the far right republicans have responded to President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court Justice.
To be calling her a racist and using her remarks out of context is abhorrent to me. All of their accusations have been debunked and yet they continue with their slander.
Her life story is very impressive and I think her experiences as well as her education will serve her well on our nation's highest court. I admire anyone who can overcome the odds as she has and then serve the country.
I believe that her accusers are the racists and anti feminists. When one considers that Clarence Thomas could be named to the highest court with all of his baggage or Samuel Alito for that matter, it seems that Sonia Sotomayor should be a shoe in.
We will never become a united country as long as we have bigots like Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney speaking for the republicans. They are destroying any opportunity for unity.
I sure hope she can give it back to them in confirmation hearings and I am sure that she can do this in a way that people will respect and cheer for her.

FYI

2009-05-28T08:28:00.002-04:00

I have moved all of my romance reviews and discussions to a new blog. http://gigisromancereviews.blogspot.com
This should make both blogs easier to follow.

2009-05-28T08:06:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I received this email from Free The Grapes. In earlier posts I have encouraged folks to contact their state senators and representatives and urge them to Support LD1008. Please read the document below and take action. I did last night and Senator Diamond said he supports this legislation. Passage of this bill would allow consumers to buy wines of their choice directly from the wineries and not be held to buying wines only provided by distributors in Maine. So contact your legislators today! Many thanks.

May 27, 2009

We have the best chance in a decade to update Maine’s archaic direct shipping laws with reasonable, proven legislation. But we need your help today!
ACTION:1. Call Your Legislator immediately: Ask them to “support the majority report from the committee” that reviewed LD 1008 and the direct shipping issue. You can find names and phone numbers at http://www.maine.gov/legis/contact.htm 2. Please click here and use the Free the Grapes! website to personalize and automatically send your legislators a message today to Support LD 1008. 3. Forward this email to your friends, family and colleagues in Maine.
As mentioned in previous emails, two wine direct shipping bills have been introduced to the Maine state legislature. LD 1008 will significantly expand consumer choice in wine by allowing you to purchase wine directly from in-state and out-of-state wineries licensed to ship to Maine consumers. Thirty-six states have passed similar reasonable legislation (the “model direct shipping bill”), recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court and supported by state alcohol regulators, consumers, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Please let your legislators know how you feel by taking two minutes now to: 1) call your legislators, and 2) use our website to personalize a message. We have a great opportunity this week to replace an outdated, anti-consumer statute with one that is proven to satisfy consumers and regulators alike.
Thanks for all your help.
Free the Grapes!

Collins and Snowe Screw the People One More Time

2009-05-14T09:50:00.006-04:00

An amendment offered by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont that would have capped interest rates that could be charged to credit card holders at 15% was defeated in the US Senate.

Senator Sanders said that one third of all credit card holders are being charged interest rates of between 20 and 41 %. I believe that is called usury or loan sharking and it proves once again that the banks own the Senate.

This amendment to the credit card bill would have been very beneficial to so many people.

Of course our Maine senators helped defeat the amendment which would have helped many people. But one must remember that they are always looking to make sure their campaign monies come in and forget helping the people. Susan Collins has received one million dollars from the finance, insurance and real estate sector of the economy so she is certainly easily influenced by the financial institutions. She has also received over $300,000.00 from lobbyists. (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00000491&type=C&mem=)

Olympia Snowe has raised $669,000.00 from the finance, insurance and real estate sector and $244,000.00 from lobbyists. (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?type=C&cid=N00000480&newMem=N&recs=20&cycle=2008)

This certainly influences their votes. Now admittedly they had plenty of help in defeating this particular amendment which also underscores the way the financial sector can influence the votes. I don't know about you but I am tired of being the last in line when it comes to voting on issues that affect so many individuals.

A list of the roll call votes in this issue can be found at the following site.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00191

My question is when do these politicians who are elected by the people begin to think about the people?

Christians or People Who Profess to Be Christian

2009-05-07T15:32:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I took a daytrip to Vermont with a good friend and this morning I had coffee with another good friend. During both times the conversations eventually veered towards the political realm. Yesterday was the day that we were all waiting to see if Governor Baldacci would sign the law legalizing gay marriage and he did! Good for him. We were also talking about the immorality of the banks and credit card companies and how hard folks are having it right now.
Then I came home and found that the Christian right and the Catholic Church are going to organize for a people's veto of the Gay Marriage bill. It made me wonder just how serious these people are about their faith. They profess their belief in God and follow Jesus the Son of God or so they say. But do they really? I was brought up to believe that we worship a God who loves us unconditionally. I was also taught that Jesus surrounded himself with the poor, the needy, the lost and the sinner. He talked with the prostitutes and the adulterers, He ministered to the sick and lame and forgave all sinners. In other words He treated all people equally.
So I have a real problem with people calling themselves Christian and then doing things that go against the very things that Jesus taught.
One person called in to a local TV station and even said that being gay is a choice. I have very good friends and family members who are gay. Believe me, I do not believe that they or anyone would choose that life style when I have witnessed the discrimination, the hurt and hatred that has plagued them. This caller even said that 50% of their marriages would end in divorce and that they needed to choose wisely. Hello! The same statistic is true of heteorsexual marriages and we have sure not all learned the lesson of choosing wisely and honoring our commitments to one another.
I do think the world is changing and I am hopeful that more and more people are becoming more open to learning about and becoming more accepting of all lifestyles, religions and races. I hope if this people's referendum becomes reality that it can be soundly defeated and put the issue to rest once and for all.
For me personally I hope that my friends can now enjoy the same legal rights that I have had the privilege of and that the world can become a more tolerant place for all people. I thank the legislators and Governor Baldacci for having the courage to stand up and do the right thing by passing and signing this legislation.

Collins Does It Yet Again!

2009-05-01T14:36:00.004-04:00

Susan Collins, again, decided to follow the party line and vote against the bankruptcy bill that would have helped some Mainers. When asked how her vote would play at home she said "I think it'll play just fine, because I view it as increasing the costs for homeowners, so it just wasn't the right approach."
Now doesn't she realize that every time a home is foreclosed upon the value of the other homes in the neighborhood decreases? Doesn't she care about the folks who have to go to bankruptcy court that if this bill passes they might be able to keep their homes by having a lower payment? Doesn't she realize that some of those folks will be homeless and that will cost us a lot more in the cost of food stamps, medical care, etc.
As Senator Dick Durbin said, "The banks own the Senate." How true, how true. A list will be published listing the senators who opposed the bill and how much money they have received in political contributions from the banking and insurance companies. It will be interesting to see just how much money Collins has received.
I also find it strange that when her office was contacted to see what her position on the bill was they could not tell me. I am sure she knew all along how she was going to vote but did not want her constituents to know ahead of time. What shoddy politics!

In an article on Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/30/cramdown-vote-banks-bough_n_193674.html) Ryan Grim wrote
"The measure is widely expected to fail, as crucial Democratic senators, whose votes are needed to overcome a filibuster, have publicly declared their opposition.Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mary Landrieu (La.) and Jon Tester have indicated they plan to vote against the amendment. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), who supported the bill last time around, expressed reluctance to back it this time. The banking industry has lobbied relentlessly against the reform.On Monday night, Durbin concluded that the banks "frankly own the place."The place came (relatively) cheap.The banking and real estate industry has funneled roughly $2,000,000 into Landrieu's campaign coffers over her 12-year career, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Bayh has taken in about $3.5 million. The financial sector is Nelson's biggest backer; he's taken $1.4 million from banks and real estate interests and another $1.2 million from insurance firms. Tester has fielded roughly half a million in his two years in office.That's about nine million dollars -- far, far less than one percent of the amount taxpayers have spent to bail out the financial industry."
I will wait to see the posting that gives the figures for all the senators who voted this bill down.
Today on Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/01/in-their-own-words-why-de_n_194589.html) Grim titles his column In Their Own Words: Why Dem Senators Screwed Homeowners. He also has the quote from Susan Collins and the article is worth reading.

What's Up With the Leaders in Windham????

2009-04-30T08:06:00.005-04:00

Have you ever tried watching the Windham Town Council on the local access channel 7? It is one of the most frustrating experiences I have had. First of all if anyone speaks at all it is almost impossible to hear them. Either the microphones are terrible or the councilors do not know how to use them. Liz Wisecup is the only one that seems to care if anyone can hear. The Town Manager can usually be heard but not always.
I have never seen a group of people who say so little about anything. I can honestly say that after watching a meeting I am never sure what anyone's position is. Either someone is late and misses a good portion of the meeting or they leave before important budget presentations. Then they are going to vote intelligently?? on the final budget? How does anything get done?
Then there is the issue of communicating with the public. I have left a very complete and very polite voice mail for Mr. Plante along with my phone number regarding an issue with Time Warner Cable that has affected approximately 200 families in the area and my call has never been returned. That was 2 months ago! I was told by the office staff that Mr. Plante was the person to speak to on this issue as he deals with the franchise.
I wrote emails to the Superintendant of Schools and a school board member and never even received acknowledgement that they received them.
I sent emails and written letters to both Senator Diamond and Representative Bryant on an issue that I was interested in and have never received the courtesy of a reply.
So what is going on? Do they not care that people have concerns that need to be addressed? Do they not care that someone has taken the time to get in touch with them? Are they so busy that they cannot respond to legitimate concerns? It really is rude behavior. I have been in a position where I had to work with town officials and the public and it was my policy to always respond as quickly as possible. I have always been supportive of local, state and national budgets and of progressive policies and initiatives that address the needs of the people. I also believe that is our obligation to be in communication with elected officials to let them know what we are thinking. I do this in spite of the perception by officials that we are ignorant and uninformed. We are informed and really do think about issues and care what is happening. Let me be clear, I am not usually a negative person but repeated incidents like those I have described can sure turn a positive person into a negative one.
This attitude seems to be pervasive among elected officials in Windham, the State of Maine and the nation. We faithfully pay our taxes, go to vote, contribute to campaigns and as soon as we do those things we are no longer considered important. When we do speak out we are treated as though we have no right to do so and are looked on as complainers.
It is time for a wakeup call to officials that they need to take the people seriously especially if they wish support for their budgets and policies.

FYI

2009-04-29T18:38:00.004-04:00

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois affirms my suspicions that "the banks own the Senate." Read my prior post at http://gigisthoughtsandideas.blogspot.com

Read the article to see what Dick Durbin has to say. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/dick-durbin-banks-frankly_n_193010.html

Call your senators and urge them to ignore the lobbyists for the banking industry.

Harry Reid is Caving in Again. This Time on the Bankruptcy Bill. Lobbyists Still Control Washington!

2009-04-29T16:18:00.004-04:00

The United States Senate is now debating the bankruptcy bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is again caving in to Republicans who are threatening to filibuster and prevent voting. Harry Reid needs to be replaced by someone who has the courage to take a stand and stick to it! I can honestly say that the Republicans have repeatedly denounced the Democrats for filibustering. If they did not like it then why do they try it now? They do it because they can and we let them get away with it!
The holdup is because the House bill includes giving bankruptcy judges the ability to lower a person’s mortgage payments under bankruptcy. Unfortunately it is called cram down which certainly gives it a poor connotation. But let’s face it, it is the bank lobbyists that are putting pressure on Republicans to remove that from the bill.
I have called both Senator Susan Collins’ office and Senator Olympia Snowe’s office to find out how they are voting. Both offices told me that the Senator has not released a public statement. I asked when they might be so inclined to let the people know how they might vote so we could be prepared for that. I was told that they would be happy to notify me in writing. I told them not to bother as it take 6-8 weeks to get a response and by then it would be too late to do anything.
I also asked if they would be part of the filibuster process to prevent this from coming to a vote. Collins office told me she rarely participates in filibusters and Snowe’s office said the Senator has not made a public statement.
I also asked if the Senators even got the comments from people who call in. Of course I was told that they carefully consider them. To be honest I have my doubts about that. I was very open about my feelings that this bill needs to be passed and that it is time for Congress to stop listening to the lobbyists that represent the banking industry which got us into this mess in the first place and to begin listening to the people and thinking about the people who are being hurt the most by this economic crisis.
I also asked what their positions are on the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen to head the Office of Legal Counsel and was again told that they have not released a public statement. While the Republicans have been critical of Johnsen, in an article on Huffington Post dated April 22, 2009, Neil Kinkopf, Professor at Georgia State University of Law refuted each point in the criticisms of Johnsen by stating facts about her opinions and ended his article with this quote,” Dawn Johnsen is an outstanding choice to lead the Office of Legal Counsel. It is not surprising that her critics have resorted to basing their arguments on fiction. We can only hope the Senate will see through this and quickly move to confirm her nomination.” His article can be read at the following site http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-kinkopf/correcting-the-record-on_b_190009.html.
I also mentioned that I was very disappointed that the Obama nominations were being held up and that most of the people who are delaying these nominations could not pass the vetting process or the confirmation process themselves.
So I have done it again! Sometimes I wonder how much effect one person can have and think I am crazy to keep trying but I know that if everyone raised their voices we could see change. So I will keep on trying as it is not an option for me to keep silent when so much is at stake.

Susan Collins Does It Again!

2009-04-28T15:54:00.001-04:00

Well, Susan Collins has done it AGAIN! She and Arlen Specter managed to get $900 million dollars designated for pandemic flu preparedness in the Stimulus bill cut out before the bill was passed. They did not see that it would create jobs. They never gave any thought to what a pandemic would do to the economy. Just look at Mexico and see the empty streets, stores and arenas and you will see what a pandemic can do to an economy.
They also never realized the extra jobs that can be created in preparation for a pandemic. This is due to the hiring of more biologists and lab workers to do research that could protect our people. Just think of the vaccines that need to be produced, masks and gloves that need to be manufactured and all of the other support type jobs that go along with all of these needs. How could they be so short sighted?
Now Susan Collins is speaking out against health care. As I have said before she will never have to worry about health care. We, the taxpayers, will be paying for her health care until she dies. How can she deny that for other people. For all the awards she has received for being bipartisan she most always walks the party line and in fact was a mouth piece for the Bush Administration on many issues.
All I can say is thank God I did not vote for her!

The Tea Parties And Taxes

2009-04-16T07:18:00.006-04:00

Grass Roots movements can be very effective and can change policy and change the outcome of elections and that is good. especially if it is a true grass roots movement. However the whole Tea Party idea, which has been touted as a grass roots movement, has been promoted by FOX News commentators and by prominent wealthy Republican. As one blogger on the Atlantic Magazine's website said, "a real popular grassroots movement wouldn't need to rely on a corporation like Fox News to get its message out."

What people are forgetting is the fact that already 95% of working Americans are receiving tax cuts. They are seeing more money in their paychecks as a result of the Obama policies. The taxes have not been raised on ordinary Americans and in fact taxes have not yet been raised on the wealthiest Americans.

No one likes paying taxes but also what these people involved in the Tea Party movement are thinking about is the jobs that have already been realized by projects funded by the stimulus bill. All over the country workers are being called back to work or new jobs are being created in construction. Over 2000 projects have already been approved by the Department of Transportation. That represents thousands of jobs!

In order to track how the Recovery and Reinvestment Act money is being spent, the website http://www.recovery.gov/ is excellent. This website also has links to the various departments where one can see in more detail how the money is being allocated. Also the website http://www.whitehouse.gov/ has very up to date information on the President's policies and a very easy way to contact is office. I have taken advantage of the contact form quite a few times. It offers an easy way to allow your voice to be heard.

President Obama is having his financial team look at the very complicated tax code to see where loop hopes can be closed and how to make filing taxes easier. I don't mind paying taxes if I know everyone else is paying their fair share too.

So, I have a word to those who protested through the Tea Party events. Look around at your neighbors and at yourselves and see who is benefitting from this Recovery and Reinvestment money and stop being goaded into action by people like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Shaun Hannity. They are using you for their own purposes and could be considered dangerous to your health with their rantings and ravings and innuendoes about revolutions and rearming America. They are promoting fear and one thing we do not need is fear of our neighbors. or of our government.

Cell Phones and Texting in Schools

2009-04-12T16:41:00.005-04:00

Easter can be a time of revelation in more ways than one. As families and friends gather and conversations flourish lots of information is passed along. I had no idea that students in schools can have cell phones although they are not supposed to use them except at lunch time. However many students text all through their classes. How do they learn anything? Where are the teachers and why don't they care?
Now I realize that in case of an emergency students having a cell phone with them could be extremely helpful but that is the only use they should have during the school day.
I have worked in schools and I have negotiated both support staff and professional staff contracts and have argued against merit pay for some very good reasons. However, I am coming to the conclusion that merit pay is needed and administrators need to be more involved in actually observing what is going on in the classroom.
It is no wonder that the United States is falling behind many other countries in educational achievement if students are busy texting instead of being engaged in the learning process. Our dropout rate is increasing and the percentage of students going on to higher education is decreasing.
I believe that the No Child Left Behind has weakened our educational system by taking away the creativity of really good teachers. Instead of inspiring students to want to achieve and be innovative and imaginative learners they are constantly having to teach to the test.
Now I might have digressed from my original intent in this post and you might say what has all of this discussion have to do with cell phones in school. Well, there is a disconnect between the students, teachers administrators and parents that allows this type of behavior. Where is the pride in seeing our children become active, engaged learners? Where is the desire of teachers to have control of their classroom so that all children can be active learners? Where are the administrators who are supposed to make sure that the rules are enforced for both teachers and students?

DOES ANYONE CARE ANY MORE????

Free The Grapes Explanation of Consumer Wine Bills before the Maine Legislature

2009-04-07T20:23:00.004-04:00

If it becomes law, LD 1008, the Free the Grapes bill, will significantly expand consumer choice in wine by allowing you to purchase wine directly from in-state and out-of-state wineries licensed to ship to Maine consumers. Thirty-five states have passed similar, reasonable legislation (the “model direct shipping bill”) which was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and has been supported by state alcohol regulators, consumers, and the Federal Trade Commission.

On the other hand, the politically connected wine wholesalers are supporting a direct shipping “poison pill” that promises that Maine will remain one of just 15 states that bans shipments. LD 1025 is a “wine connoisseurs’ permit” bill that requires consumers to purchase a state-issued license! Similar statutes, like the one in Montana, have proved totally unworkable. In fact Maine, repealed its statute because no consumers signed up for the permit! If that weren’t enough, LD 1025:

• Requires that you pay $75 per year for a state-issued license – there is no precedent for this in any other state;

• Prevents you from purchasing more than 12 cases from all wineries;

• Limits the wines you may purchase to only those not in wholesale distribution in Maine; • Requires that you physically visit the winery premises before placing an order.

SUPPORT – LD 1008
OPPOSE – LD 1025 and LD 1308

Free The Grapes!

2009-04-07T18:55:00.004-04:00

Help us Free The Grapes!

Free the Grapes! is a national, grassroots coalition of consumers, wineries and retailers who seek to remove restrictions on wine direct shipping. Our goal is to augment, not replace, the three-tier system with limited, regulated wine shipments from wineries and retailers to consumers.

Two bills have been introduced to the Maine state legislature, and a third wholesaler-supported “poison pill” was introduced more recently. Following this post is a post that more fully explains the different bills.
We need your help to:
SUPPORT – LD 1008
OPPOSE – LD 1025 and LD 1308
If made into law, LD 1008 will significantly expand consumer choice in wine by allowing you to purchase wine directly from in-state and out-of-state wineries licensed to ship to Maine consumers. Thirty-five states have passed similar reasonable legislation (the “model direct shipping bill”), recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court and supported by state alcohol regulators, consumers, and the Federal Trade Commission.
The two other bills are “poison pills,” supported by the politically connected wine wholesalers. Both of these bills promise that Maine will remain one of just 15 states that ban shipments.
Please let your legislators know how you feel by taking two minutes to personalize your message. We have the opportunity to replace an outdated, anti-consumer statute with one that is proven to satisfy consumers and regulators alike. If either LD 1025 or LD 1308 passes into law, it is likely to set back direct wine shipping in Maine for many years to come.
Thanks for all your help.

I have written to my state representative and my state senator. In addition to the wording suggested by Free The Grapes (http://www.freethegrapes.org/) I began the letter with my own words. The text of my letter is below. I hope many of you will also write and urge your representatives and senators to support LD1008 and allow consumers free choice.

Dear Senator or Representative,

Below is the text from"Free The Grapes" which I totally agree with. I have long been in favor of being able to purchase wine which I enjoy and cannot obtain in Maine. I certainly should not have to pay a license fee to do this. It is time that we, the people, have free choice in this matter and that our ability to choose the wines that we want should not be hindered by lobbyists for the wine wholesalers. I urge you to support LD1008 and oppose LD1025.

As an adult voter in Maine, I strongly urge you to support LD 1008 and oppose LD 1025.

LD 1008 is a Free The Grapes bill. It is based on legislation already working successfully in 35 states, was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court andhas been supported by state alcohol regulators, consumers, and the Federal Trade Commission.

On the other hand, the wine wholesaler-supported LD1025 is a poison pill for legal, regulated winery-to-consumer shipping. It will work against both wineries and consumer choice in wine because its provisions are arbitrary, onerous and have proven unworkable in Montana and even our own state.

I believe that consumers - not wine wholesaler middlemen - should decide what wines we can enjoy and how we purchase them - especially because a proven solution is working in other states. Support LD 1008 and oppose LD 1025 and let me know how you plan to vote on this consumer issue.

Sincerely,

The Obama Budget and Our Senators

2009-03-27T21:19:00.000-04:00

I am really upset with our Senators from Maine. While neither has made a public statement about how they will vote on the Obama budget, each has made statements that they are not supportive of the priorities in the budget.
First of all how can they vote against health care for all Americans when they have the very best health care plan paid for by us the taxpayers? Not only do they have it while they are in the Senate but they have it for life. Many of the people who are paying for their health care are not covered at all. They have no conscience at all in my mind if they do not support this health care plan.
Then there is the energy and environmental aspects of the budget. Since 1973 when the last energy crisis happened, we did not learn our lesson. The Republicans have been in power for a good portion of that time and have done nothing to solve the energy problem. Now that we have a proposal that would not only help us become energy independent but would create thousands of jobs they might not support this.
Now we come to education. The educational standing of the State of Maine continues to fall. The drop out rate has increased and fewer students go on to college because of the expense involved. If Senators Snowe and Collins really want to support their constituents they will support the educational portion of the budget.
Neither Senator will commit to supporting making the middle class tax cuts permanent. They will however support tax cuts for the wealthiest 5%. Where is the fairness in this? 25 hedge fund managers made 11.6 billion dollars in 2008 and will only pay a tax rate of 15% because of loopholes in the tax code. A person making $40,000.00 will pay a higher tax rate on their income than these very wealthy people. There are serious problems with our very complicated tax code and it needs to be addressed.
Why are we so afraid to make things fair in this country? Anyway, I have called the offices of Senators Snowe and Representative Pingree to urge them to support the Obama budget. I hope you will join me and make those calls.

The Fury of the American People

2009-03-21T10:29:00.002-04:00

The people of this country are outraged at the fact that AIG and CitiBank and others have taken taxpayer dollars in bailout money and have awarded enormous bonuses and are redecorating offices, building baseball stadiums, sponsoring golf tournaments and heaven only knows what else.
There is anger about the money but the anger goes much deeper than that. It is the immorality and greed that hits at the very soul of the people. These corporations that have brought down our economy are basically thumbing their noses at the American people. Do they really think that we are that stupid that we won’t notice?
New York Times columnist, David Brooks, wrote the following in his column of March 2, 2009.
“The U.S. has never been a society riven by resentment. Yet the Obama budget is predicated on a class divide. The president issued a read-my-lips pledge that no new burdens will fall on 95 percent of the American people. All the costs will be borne by the rich and all benefits redistributed downward.”
Where has David Brooks been that he does not realize that there is class resentment and always has been.? It has been getting deeper over the last eight years when the burden of supporting this country’s programs has fallen on the middle class. Does he really believe that the poor are not resentful at the way they have been and are treated?
Certainly the wealthy have tax loopholes that none of us have. Corporations have taken their businesses off shore to avoid paying U.S. taxes. They have also taken their jobs off shore and left the people here jobless.
People who have had a decent standard of living are now living in tent cities or on the streets because of job losses and subprime mortgages that have forced well meaning people and their children onto the streets.
Journalists and Republicans can’t wait to criticize President Obama and his administration when Congress passed the TARP and the Bush Administration gave the money away with no restrictions. Where is the outrage over that? Our Congress is as much to blame as anyone. All of this has not happened since January 20, 2009. It has been coming on for years and no one and I mean NO ONE cared enough to do anything about it and believe me there were people in power who knew what was going on but as always greed ruled.
This situation needs to be rectified with more regulation and honest people to oversee all areas of government. Are there any honest people left in Washington? It will take a miracle to convince me that they are truly looking out for us, the American people.

Save The Date - April 3, 2009

2009-03-02T19:01:00.003-05:00

Town Hall Meeting - There is a Town Hall Meeting April 3rd at Hannaford Hall at USM Portland 6:30 - that sounds really interesting. Below is a copy of a letter written by Sally Breen of Windham regarding the meeting. I plan to attend this meeting and will share information for those of you who might not attend.

"Town Hall Meeting

Below is a letter to the editor that will be published this Friday in the Windham Independent. I thought you would like to know about this Town Meeting, and I hope you will attend.
February 25, 2009
To the Editor:
Our state and nation are at a historic crossroads. The deepening recession has eroded the financial standing and optimism of a majority of Americans, nearly 2/3 of whom say that they have been hurt by the downturn. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in recent weeks.
With the new administration, there is hope that we can close the divide between the rich and the poor. There is hope that we can address the energy crisis. There is hope that we can have a health care system that provides care for every citizen. There is hope that we can address the looming environmental crisis.
But hope alone leaves us hopeless. Therefore, knowing that change always comes from the people, a group representing 45 organizations, has organized a Town Hall Meeting for Friday, April 3, 2009 at Hannaford Hall on the USM Campus in Portland. Doors will open at 6:30 where tables of literature will be available. The program is scheduled from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Speakers confirmed are Representative Chellie Pingree, and State representative Hannah Pingree. Others invited are Representative Michael Michaud, and Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Microphones will be available for the audience to discuss their concerns.
Important future actions will be determined at this meeting. It can affect how our legislators vote on state and national issues. Attend and let your voice be heard.
Sally A. Breen"

The Stimulus and You

2009-03-02T18:39:00.002-05:00

Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus package) it has become vital for all of us to keep track of where this money is going. It is our tax dollars after all so we have a vested interest in how the money is spent. There are two websites that are very important in keeping track of the flow of money. The most comprehensive site is the federal site http://www.recovery.gov There is a great deal of information there. You can read the entire bill, see the breakdown of how the money will be spent, a timeline showing progress, the ability to tell your recovery story and each state's progress and resources.
The State of Maine also has created a website that will allow us to know how the money allocated to Maine is being spent. Right now there are a number of documents giving beginning information as to how the funds are to be used and different reports that will be required. That site is http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/Recovery2009.shtml
Another site that was sent to me by a friend that details the "shovel ready" projects submitted by mayors of major cities in the report of the 2008 National Mayors Conference. The mayors of Portland and Lewiston submitted 72 projects for consideration. This site is http://www.stimuluswatch.org
This site is interesting as it allows interested viewers of the site to vote on how important they feel the project is and it also allows viewers to comment on the projects.
So keep informed and check out the sites and see how your money is being spent.

Lisa Ling's Report on Tent Cities

2009-02-26T11:21:00.005-05:00

I don't know if you saw the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday(Feb. 25) but Lisa Ling did a report on the tent cities that are springing up all over this country due to the recession. You need to go to http://www.oprah.com/ and watch the report. I support the Stimulus bill but it is not going to help the people who have lost jobs, homes and all of their belongings and are now forced to live in tent cities that are illegal where there are no services and cleanliness is next to impossible. Water is in short supply and it is difficult to keep clean and warm. Tax cuts do not help people who have no earnings. I have written to Barack Obama, Senators Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and John McCain to ask what they going to do about this situation.

We are supposedly the the most advanced country in the world and we have people living like this. It is disgusting! We pour billions into third world countries and then let our own people live in squalor. What is wrong with this picture.

One person cannot fix this. It is only government that can go into a place like this and help. There are families with small children living like this and no one seems to care. Children are being robbed of their education, health and a safe place to live.

People in Washington are so isolated that they have no clue as to the suffering of the people who are their constituents. This is a tragedy and no one seems to care. When people lose their jobs and are forced to leave their homes companies come in and clean out the house and all the personal belongings, furniture, computers, etc. are thrown in the trash. Supposedly agencies are overwhelmed with stuff. There has to be a central clearing house for these items as there are certainly people who can use the items. What a sad thing to have all of your belongings just thrown away because you have no place to take them.

Here we now have lobbyists planning campaigns that will cost millions of dollars to try and sabotage the plans for health care reform, education and climate change and subsidies. What a waste of money. Why can't they see that their millions could help regular people who are in dire straits. The rich fat cats of this country have had it too good for too long and I am furious that we allow this to happen in this country of plenty. I have asked the government to see that help is given to these unfortunate people. I am more than willing to do what I can but it takes a big organization to lead the effort.

I am asking all of my readers to go to http://www,oprah.com/ and watch Lisa Ling's report. If it does not move you to take action, I don't know what will. If we all act together maybe we can effect a change. Please join me in expressing your outrage.

A Response to a Post by Sudburiensis

2009-02-23T19:37:00.005-05:00

I am so in tune with what my friend Sudburiensis on his blog, http://sudburiensis.blogspot.com/ , wrote and I have thought the very same things myself. He discussed the fact that Bernie Maddoff and Alan Stanford are out free when they should be in jail. He also talked about the bankers who knew what they were doing and misled the public.

You and I know that the bankers and Wall Street fat cats knew what they were doing and they are walking scott free. I also think people in power who are voted to represent the people also knew what was going on and they didn't tell us so we all suffered huge losses and our retirements are no longer secure.I could go on and on but I guess the ranting doesn't really help.

I have always had a great deal of admiration for Tom Daschle but if you and I made a much smaller mistake on our taxes the IRS would have been after us in no time and we would not have been treated very well.

Then tonight I listened to Chris Matthews on MSNBC who said that the Dow Jones is Obama's score card. I don't believe that should be the scorecard. The American people are the scorecard and right now they approve of Obama's actions by 67%. My financial analyst told me today that it will take time for the stimulus money to have an effect on the economy. The markets are afraid that the banks will go under and maybe they will. How can they blame Obama when he inherited the whole mess from the very worst president we have had in modern times. At least the new adminsitration is attempting to do something and we should give him a chance.

What Are We Doing To Our Children?

2009-02-17T18:45:00.005-05:00

Tonight on the news a feature story was about Tweens and Teens having Spa Days! Two of the children were boys ages 7 and 10. They went to the spa to get their hair lightened. These kids should be outdoors playing and being the children they are.
It showed young girls getting their lips injected to look fuller, having their eyebrows waxed and even going in for bikini waxes. It reported that more and more teens are having plastic surgery and even using Botox.
What has happened to parenting? We are sending the wrong messages to our children that appearance is the most important thing. Whatever happened to allowing children to be children. We are allowing and encouraging our children to become small adults who do not have the emotional, intellectual or physical skills to act like adults. There is a reason for the stages of development and we are doing our children a disservice when we allow or promote the use of such appearance enhancing activities such as spa visits.
We as adults need to act like adults and set priorities and boundaries for our children. This means allowing age appropriate activities.
I believe that having the media show this story during what we might call family time is just putting more bad ideas into the minds of children and parents. This is not news we need to see.

Education and the Stimulus Package

2009-02-15T07:13:00.006-05:00

Did you know that in the recently passed economic stimulus package there is 100 billion dollars for education? I didn't realize it until this morning when I read an op-ed piece by Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times. He writes that he has changed his mind about Healthcare being the number one priority. He has now come to believe that education is the number one priority. I refer you to his editorial in the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/opinion/15kristof.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
I happen to agree with Kristoff. We are a country that professes to love our children but when it comes to budgeting education usually takes the biggest hits other than assiatnce to the poor and needy. If we are going to improve the lot of the poor and needy education needs to be a priority. Over the years I have seen watered down curriculum and a lack of focus on the academic side of education. There seems to be more of a focus on athletics. Now I believe that there needs to be a balance and that athletics have a place but we need to realize that not all of our kids will become college athletes or professional athletes. But all kids need an academic education to become productive citizens.
How will we solve the economic, social and scientific problems that the country and the world face? It will be by giving all children an education and making math, science, reading and writing more interesting and challenging and more important.
This takes good teachers who truly love their jobs and are willing to make needed changes to be sure their students are involved in the learning process. It will take higher pay for the people who spend so much time with our children and have an enormous ability to influence them.
It will also take supportive parents who want their children to be successful learners and who will accept that all children do not always get all A's. Parents need to make sure that their children do the work needed to be successful learners. Parents need to be supportive of the classroom teachers and respect their knowledge and integrity. This too often is not the case.
Teachers also need to get to know their students as people and learners and be willing to adapt to some individual needs.
This is not an easy problem to solve but one that needs our attention and support.

Proud To Be From Maine

2009-02-15T06:01:00.004-05:00

I want to congratulate our two Republican Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, for having the the courage to stand up and do what they thought was right for the American people and the people of Maine by supporting the Stimulus bill that Presdient Obama will sign this week.

Susan Collins worked very hard to bring about a compromise bill for the Stimulus package that she could support and that is to her credit. I have always admired the independence of Olympia Snowe and she showed again her strength and willingness to work in a bipartisan manner to support this legislation.

These two women showed up their Rebublican counterparts by putting the people first and not just going the party line and they are to be complimented.

I, for one, intend to write to them both and thank them and I hope others will do that too because it truly took courage for these two women from Maine to stand against the tide swell of Republican negativity.

Totally Disgusted (AGAIN!)

2009-01-26T13:42:00.004-05:00

Today comes the word that Citi Bank is purchasing a 50 million dollar very fancy corporate jet. See the story on Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/26/citi-jet-purchase-50-mill_n_160807.html

They already have 2 corporate jets. We gave them bailout money and they go and spend it this way. We, the people of this country, are victims of theft of our tax dollars. I will urge each and every one of you to call your Senators and Representatives and have them demand all of our money back.

Not only that but the CEO of Lehman Brothers has sold his 13 million dollar mansion in Florida to his wife for $100.00. After receiving taxpayer money he is doing all he can to protect his personal wealth. The audacity of these men is beyond believable.

Sometimes I think I am living in a world gone mad. Has greed and misuse of power always been this blatant?

Let's all do the best we can to see that these people are punished for destroying our trust and confidence as well as ruining our retirement accounts.

The End of Suburbia

2009-01-24T15:14:00.003-05:00

This afternoon I have been watching the movie The End of Suburbia. While this is a disturbing film, it presents a reality that we all need to be aware of. It talks about America's dependence on foreign oil and how the supply is decreasing. It also discusses how our lifestyles need to change so that we can adapt to a future with less or no oil.

There is a debate over whether or not we have reached the Peak Oil. It would appear that if we have not reached it, we will in the next few years. Are we prepared for the time when we no longer can depend on oil for our energy needs?

This film gives the history of the development of the suburbs, highways and automobiles and how these things have lead to our extreme use of oil. It discusses not only peak oil but also presents some ideas of how we might move ahead and recreate towns and neighborhoods that allow the use of bicycles, more walking, buying local and other ideas.

Are we ready to accept a new lifestyle? Does the government have a plan to help us get more energy independent? Do we still want sterile environments that have few trees, no clotheslines, no gardens and developments that have destroyed the natural world?

I would recommend that all people view this film and take what it says to heart. Begin thinking realistically about what you can do now to reduce your use of fossil fuels. What could we do?

We could convince the town to erect windmills and put up solar collectors to help power the community. We could encourage the development of community gardens. We can support local agriculture by getting our food at local farmer's markets. We can make sure that we unplug appliances that continually draw electricity. We can lower our heating temperatures and wear more sweaters. We can consolidate our trips so that we drive less. Let's put our collective minds together and see if we can make changes locally.

We all need to realize that in order to make the necessary changes we have to shed the "not in my backyard" state of mind. We need to accept the reality of windmills and solar collectors on roofs. This will be a stretch for many as change is hard to accept but we can no longer go on as we have been.

The Media and Tragedy

2009-01-24T07:55:00.002-05:00

The story of George Anthony's alleged suicide attempt shows how devasting a family tragedy can be especially when the media is constantly reporting it. The media has inflamed the community to the point that his home and property has not become a safe place to be. Where is the moral obligation of the media to back off and allow this couple sanctity and safety in their own home? It is bad enough to be constantly covering this story but to drive a person to take is own life is unforgiveable.

No one should be allowed on their property, much less being at their front door yelling at that them. Does no one have any respect or compassion for the emotional toll that this issue has taken on them? Also where is law enforcement that they would allow this?

What makes this case so spectacular that it deserves this type of coverage? Do you know how many children are killed or abused each day in this country and never receive any mention? Why doesn't the media use their power to make sure that children are protected instead of exploited?

People who harrass the Anthony's are responsible also. When have any of us been given the right to harrass anyone? I do believe that these people are ignorant and cruel but I also think the media is the most responsible for keeping this case in the forefront of the news.

The justice system will deal with Casey Anthony. Let her parents alone and use the influence of the media to calm the community and give these people the space to deal with their grief over the situation they find themselves in.

Are You Disgusted Yet?

2009-01-23T12:52:00.003-05:00

I am totally disgusted and furious about the news of the CEO of Merrill Lynch spending over a million dollars to redecorate his office when his company was in trouble. He gave billions of dollars in bonuses to employees of Merrill Lynch at a time when Bank of America was in the process of taking them over.

Then Bank of America asks for more money because Merrill Lynch was in more trouble than they thought. I am furious that the taxpayer's money is going to line the pockets of people who are already wealthy and have acted in a greedy way and misused their power. I am sure that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I don't believe that Merrill Lynch is the only company that has misused the taxpayer's money. We should be rising up in anger and putting a stop to this type of abuse.

Then there is the issue of the illegal wiretapping that occured during the Bush administration. One of the NASA analysts has now come out and told how deep the wiretapping has gone. He did not come out into the open while Bush was still in office as he was afraid of retaliation. As it is he was fired from his job when he began asking questions and it became obvious that he knew too much. I believe that there will be an investigation into this at least by investigative reporters.

This is another issue that we should all be rising up in anger about and writing to our Senators and Representatives and calling on them to look into this matter. Our rights have been compromised and we should be angry and concerned.

Three Days Later

2009-01-23T12:30:00.003-05:00

Well, I don't know how you feel, but still three days after Barack Obama's inauguration I am still hopeful and energetic. I can't wait to hear what the new president is doing each day even though the stock market is tanking AGAIN or should I say STILL. So far it seems like he is at least trying to get us back on moral and legal ground.
How long will this feeling last?
Already there are members of Congress who will be roadblockers. I think especially of John Boehner, Conservative Republication from Ohio. His state is one that has lost many jobs and industries and yet he will be one of the worst members of Congress in bucking anything that this new administration tries to do. I wish he and Mitch McConnell would heed President Obama's advice to put away childish things. This means, to me, that everyone needs to grow up and work together. Unfortunately, I fear that partisan politics is still alive and well in Washington, D.C.
Partisan politics do not serve the people very well. It will always be a fact and I agree that there needs to be debate but not animosity and hatefulness.
All I know is that the economy needs help, jobs need to be created, peace needs to be reached in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistani issues need to be solved and we can't have a bunch of sore losers delaying the solving of these problems.

A National Day of Service

2009-01-19T15:16:00.003-05:00

Today has been called a National Day of Service by President-Elect Obama. As I watched him helping to rejuvenate an emergency shelter for homeless teens I wondered what that call could mean to all of us.

This is not meant to be just one day but a change in the way we act from day to day into the future. Our society has become so introverted and focused on the individual and instant gratification that we have difficulty seeing what is needed beyond our own needs and wants. Many of us do not even try to reach out and do things for others in the community.

I see this call to service as asking us to begin to take responsibility to help get the country back on track. What can one do? There are all kinds of opportunities available. I have thought about what I would do. These are my conclusions though they could change.

I will knit mittens for the homeless shelter.
I will continue to purchase and collect food and personal care items for the Windham Food Pantry.
I will continue to work with the Windham Land Trust to preserve open space for the community.

These are just a few things that I am committing to. What will you, readers of this blog, commit to?

Acropolis Restaurant Review

2009-01-12T19:05:00.002-05:00

Acropolis Restaurant
If you like Greek food, I have the place for you. It is the Acropolis Restaurant and Banquet Center. It is located on Elmwood Drive right off Route 302 in the Prides Corner area of Westbrook. It is a pleasant place, with nice place settings. There is live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 pm -12:30 am.
My friends and I were the only guests at that time and we were entertained by the owners' three children, ages 13, 12 and 9. They played instruments and sang Greek music. They are very talented and we enjoyed them tremendously.

Two of us began with a nice, full bodied red Greek wine and one enjoyed a Greek beer. With the wine we were served warm toasted bread with Tzatsiki , which is a cucumber and yogurt dip. Then two of us indulged in a very generous bowl of delicious Kotosoupa Avgolemono. This is a chicken and rice soup with egg and lemon. The flavor was full and the soup was hot. That in itself was a treat. The soup was very filling and it could have been my whole meal. I highly recommend it.

One of our party had the lightly fried scallops, another had the Pork Souvlaki and I had the grilled lamb. All meals came with a choice of spinach rice or lemon roasted potatoes and a mixed vegetable combination that reminded me of Ratatouille. The lemon roasted potatoes were a nice change from usual restaurant offerings. Everyone raved about the meals. They were very good and the only criticism I would have is that the lamb was very thinly sliced and a little dry.
The service was excellent. Our waitress was very well informed and attentive. The owners were gracious and came to the table to speak with us. I hope word of this restaurant gets around and that it becomes very popular. I would give it four stars and encourage any readers of this blog to try it out.

Tony Boffa is one of the regular performers and once a month they have Greek Night with Greek music and dancing and that is very popular.

Transition Towns

2009-01-12T11:15:00.002-05:00

Transition Towns Meeting
Last Friday evening (Jan. 9, 2009) there was a meeting at the Windham, Maine Public Library. There was a presentation on Transition Towns. This is a movement that began in Kinsale, Ireland and then spread to Totnes, England. It has now become a world wide movement. The purpose of this movement is raise awareness and help communities prepare for climate change and peak oil. Information on peak oil can be found at this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

The concept of Transition Towns is to introduce sustainability and to reduce energy usage. There is an excellent article on Transition Towns at this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_Towns. Also Transition Towns has its own website.

http://www.transitiontowns.org

All of the above sites are worth visiting. One of the questions asked at the meeting was “When was your peak oil moment?” Mine was in 1973 when there was a shortage of oil and gasoline. I remember the lines at the gas stations and having to get gas on alternate days. I have been frustrated ever since because we never learned our lesson and began to make alternative energies affordable and accessible.

In the 1980’s my husband and I built an envelope house and heated with wood. We did have a backup system that consisted of a monitor heater that used K1 (Kerosene). This saved us a great deal of money both on heating costs and electricity. We also grew some of our food using the theory of square foot gardening. This allowed us to grow quite a few things in a relatively small space. We had deciduous trees on the south facing side of the house which allowed for cooling in the summer and more sunlight in the winter which helped with heating. On the North side of the house we were bordered by White pines which blocked the wind and cold in the winter. While this may seem to be irrelevant to the basis of this article, it is an example of how we tried to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and to try to become somwhat self sufficient and that is what Transition Towns tries to do also.

We as a people must now come together to find ways to reduce our energy consumption and find ways to support local agriculture. It costs an enormous amount of money and uses a great deal of fuel to ship lettuce , fruit and other produce 3000 miles or more.

Barbara Kingsolver wrote a book titled Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. In this book she chronicles her family’s return to a farm where they grew most of their own food and bought the rest locally. In order to do this the family had to change the way the ate. They ate seasonal foods and preserved the produce they grew by the old fashioned methods of canning and of freezing. This is an excellent read and for those of us who care about the environment and understand the consequences of excessive use of fossil fuels this is a must read. It is available on audio as well as in print format. Kingsolver’s website is very informative.
http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

The result of the meeting last Friday was to get a small group of people who could learn more about Transition Towns and see if we can generate enough interest in the community to get people to make some changes.
This is just an introduction to the concept of peak oil and Transition Towns. As I become more familiar with it I will be writing more on the topics. I hope any readers of this blog will explore the articles cited and read Barbara Kingsolver’s book.

Senator Harry Reid and Others

2009-01-07T16:28:00.002-05:00

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or beat my chest in frustration. Today Senator Harry Reid made the statement that he does not work for Obama but works with him. This was, of course, in relation to the seating of Roland Burris from Illinois. Of course this is true according to the Constitution. We do need checks and balances.
What I find so frustrating is if Reid had this attitude with George W. Bush we might not be in the position that we are in now. Reid and other Democrats rolled over and played dead for Bush. They were too scared to take a stand against Bush and the country suffered for it and continues to suffer. Now when they have a president in their own party they become belligerent.
I can't believe it! Politicians make me sick at times. They take their sense of personal power to the extreme. If anything positive is going to happen this is not the time to take a stand like that!
Wake Up, Harry Reid and realize that the people of this country want action, not grandstanding.

The other thing that has me laughing is that Joe the plumber, who really isn't a plumber at all, is going to be a war correspondent in the Israeli, Hamas confrontation. A person who was probably a plant and made famous by John McCain and Sarah Palin is certainly going strong.

The Lies and Half-Truths of Ann Coulter

2009-01-07T09:51:00.003-05:00

This morning NBC retracted its original decision and invited Ann Coulter to appear on the Today Show to promote her latest book “Guilty: Liberal “Victims” and Their Assault on America.” For a long period of time Ann Coulter has been proven to spew forth lie after lie. I am totally disgusted that NBC gave in and allowed her to discuss her book on air. I will say that Matt Lauer was a not a push over as he interviewed her. I do think that NBC made a mistake in reversing their decision and the interview infuriated me.
In this book she has a chapter entitled “Victim of a Crime? Thank A Single Mother.” She calls children of single mothers “future strippers.” She also writes that “Single motherhood is like a farm team for future criminals and social outcasts.”
Now I don’t know about you but I happen to know several single mothers who have done an excellent job of raising children on their own and the children have now completed college and are very successful. That type of generalization is a disgrace to all of us. I believe that a two person family is great and advantageous for children but there are many circumstances that put women in the position of being the only parent. Are there proven examples of children of single mothers turning to a life of crime or having other issues? Of course, there are. There are also many examples of children from two parent families who also become criminals, have teen pregnancies, and drug and alcohol problems.
Not only does she slam single mothers but she attacks Michelle Obama for being a “media-designated saint” and “Mother Teresa.” She insists on calling President Elect Obama, B. Hussein Obama in order to foster the misinformed opinion that he is a Muslim. She uses very colorful and inappropriate language to describe the democratic primaries and in the end even John McCain.
What I have an issue with is the generalization and tarring one group in our society with being the source of all of our problems. I also think the media is at fault for promoting a book so filled with lies, racial slurs and indecent language. In my opinion to give Ann Coulter air time is an insult to people of this country. It is obvious from listening to her that she is one biased and uninformed woman. Whoever unwired her jaw should be taken to court!

Celebrity Tragedies

2009-01-06T08:46:00.002-05:00

Let me begin by stating my sincere sympathies to the Travolta family on the death of their son. This is a tragedy for any family and they deserve all the privacy they can get so they can deal with their grief.
What really annoys me in these situations is the way the media dwells on it and tries to make something almost sinister out of it. There are implications made of a possible wrong doing, whether anything really exists.
I, personally, get infuriated with the emphasis on celebrities and their lives and missteps. Do you know how many families in this country lose children every day? How many women get murdered through domestic violence every day? How many families deal with teenage pregnancy and suicide every day? They all do this in their own quiet way with no fanfare or publicity.
I certainly am sick and tired of hearing about all of the missteps and tragedies of celebrities. The media needs to get real and address “real” issues. They need to be telling the stories of people who are losing their jobs or who cannot heat their homes instead of trying to make the death of a child or the murder of a woman into the news story of the day.
If they used those stories to accomplish legislation to prevent domestic violence or to make sure that children are protected it might be a little more acceptable. However, this does not seem to be the motivation for these stories.
As I write this there is yet another story that tries to raise questions surrounding the tragic death of this young man. I say enough is enough!

One Night For Love by Mary Balogh

2009-01-03T10:18:00.004-05:00

If you aren’t a romance reader, you will want to skip this post or maybe it will convince you to become a romance reader! I used to hide this addiction but I came out of the closet about five years ago! I found that it was very freeing to admit that I love happily ever after and I found many friends who are also into that genre. Unfortunately many folks think this is trashy literature but I can vouch for some very good writing in this genre. Many of the authors develop very strong plots and characters.
Now on to one of my all time favorites. Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors. She writes excellent stories with strong plots and very strong characters. She knows how to address issues that one does not often see in romance fiction. She has used disabilities such as facial disfigurement, lameness, and others. She can also write tender and exquisite love stories. That brings us to One Night For Love.
Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne is about to be married. In fact his bride has just arrived at the chapel when a young woman comes into the church and announces that she is his wife. Lily and Neville were married after a battle in Portugal and shortly after another attack came and Lily is shot and Neville thought her dead. He was also shot and taken away to England.
Lily is a wonderful, magical woman whose connection with the natural world is almost spiritual. Neville is a just the type of strong man who is logical but is also a caring and compassionate person who takes Lily in and then begins the story of their adjusting to new circumstances and a totally new world for Lily.
Balogh has written one of her best stories in One Night For Love. It is tender with a touch of intrigue. The relationships that Lily and Neville have with secondary characters seem realistic and the plot does not seem contrived. This is a book that I consider to be a DIK (Desert Isle Keeper) and I reread it at least once a year! If I were rating this book I would give it 5 stars!

Wrapping up the Bush Presidency

2009-01-02T18:29:00.004-05:00

As the Bush presidency comes to an end there are numerous articles being writen examining the last eight years. Even Alberto Gonzales says he is writing a book that will tell all and he believes he is a casualty of the administration. So it will be difficult to weed out all of the articles and decide which have real meaning.

An article from Consortium News has been brought to my attention. The article discusses the torture of Iraqi prisoners and the effect it has had on information, deaths of American soldiers and on the world's opinion of the United States. The article is titled "Torture and the Surge".

The link to the is article is http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/122608.html

The article uses an interview by one of a team of Air Force criminal investigators who discusses the impact of the torture on the lives of the American soldiers and how it actually increased the number of US and Iraqi deaths.

The article also uses, surprisingly enough, an interview with ex defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

What I found interesting is that from two very different men their conclusions were not so different.

The article is worth a read just to see what the future impact to our country could be as a result of the way we treated prisoners.

Happy New Year's Day

2009-01-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

It is very cold today. At 5 am it was 1 degree. The best thing is the sun is out. That gives a real lift to the spirit. Right now with the sun directly on the thermomenter it is 24. It is still very windy so the wind chill factor is very low. The snow yesterday did not amount to much. We got less than an inch. Just enough to have to scrape the driveway so we don't end up with ice!

The birds are very busy at the feeder this morning. So far I have seen numerous gold finches, two titmice, chickadees, a lone junco and a smart red squirrel who is getting a good meal from the seeds that get dropped. One little chickadee came right up on my porch as if asking for a handout.

For the first time this winter I have seen deer tracks in the snow. So the wildlife is alive and well here in Windham!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, peaceful, prosperous New Year!

Happy New Year

2008-12-30T20:10:00.000-05:00

In my opinion 2008 was not the best year in many ways. We all struggled through the political primaries and endless debates, two political conventions, the presidential campaign, which seemed endless and finally the election. Election night was a high point for me. The election of Barack Obama as the next president of our country gave me a sense of hope.
In 2008 the stock market was over 14,000 and then it dipped as low as 7600. Now it hovers in the 8000’s. Many people lost a great deal of money and it induced a sense of fear in many of us, me included. We felt a loss of hope and security. We saw friends and neighbors lose jobs and see their futures become even more insecure. In all of this it seemed as though no one really knew what to do and there was no one overseeing the billions of dollars given to financial institutions.
To me, it seems as though we have lost the ability to form cohesive communities where people really care about each other. We have gone through a period of introspection and withdrawal where the individual seeks self fulfillment at the expense of his or her fellow man.
While this post may seem to be very negative, I have a strong sense of hope that we may wake up as a nation and as local communities to come together to begin to solve the problems that persist in our society.
President-elect Obama has the opportunity to bring about positive change. He cannot do this alone. He will need the support of all of us and we need to become involved citizens to the extent that we are able. This may mean making a call or sending an email to elected representatives. It might mean writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Whatever we are called to do let’s hope we can rise to the challenges we face.
I wish all of you a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

Squeaky Clean?

2008-12-26T10:15:00.004-05:00

Today Dr. Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist, writes in the New York Times about the necessity of the Obama Presidency to present a squeaky clean government with honest overseers. Here is the link to the article http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/opinion/26krugman.html

Krugman uses the example set by FDR as he worked to bring us out of another economic crisis. I agree with all of the ideas stated by Krugman and hope that the Obama Transition Team reads it and heeds the advice.

On the other hand, I am wondering if it is now possible to have a squeaky clean government. While I am usually an optomist I have to admit to letting a bit of pessimisim creep in to my psyche. I see so much corruption and greed that comes from the misuse of power that it is hard for me to imagine that there are enough really honest people who can oversee projects to make certain that they are worthwhile and completed without ripping off the American taxpayer.

I see our elected officials still wanting pork in every bill and I see them closing a blind eye to corruption as they have done during the Iraq War. Billions of dollars have been squandered by companies like Haliburton and Blackwater and Congress (both Republicans and Democrats) have done nothing about seeing that the American taxpayer gets any retribution or return of funds.

The saddest part of some of this corruption is that our troops, who have been subjected to being served (??) by companies like Haliburton, have been the ones to suffer. Polluted water has been delivered to their showers. Meals have been served at times when the enemy could depend on the troops being in one place so they could take advantage of them. These are just two examples out of many that shows the lengths companies will go to steal from us. The immorality of these actions is mind boggling.

So, after this long rampage, the question is " Is it possible to be squeaky clean again?" I am more than willing to give the Obama presidency time and a chance to prove this but we must be on our toes to call them into accountability when and if they betray our trust.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T06:57:00.001-05:00

I am wishing you a very Merry Christmas. May the peace and blessings of the season be with all of you.

A Must Read!

2008-12-24T06:52:00.002-05:00

In today's New York Times author Thomas Friedman has an op-ed titled Time to Reboot America. I think that Thomas Friedman is one of the smartest people writing in America today and this is an eye opening article and I think he is right on. I know everyone is busy but the time taken to read this article will be well worth it. Here is the link to the article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/opinion/24friedman.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Bank Bailouts

2008-12-23T07:57:00.002-05:00

Last night on the Rachel Maddow Show she did a piece on the Bailouts. To view this go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#28358312
It is well worth the time to view this segment. She entitled it Bailout Rage and by the time I saw the entire segment I totally agreed with her.

Did you know that the application for the TARP funds is just 2 pages long and asks for very basic information. It can be found online by googling TARP application. Ordinary people would never get a loan or mortgage giving only basic information. We have to bare our financial souls. Also whereas the auto companies have to abide by very strict conditions, the banks do not. The auto companies had to sell their corporate jets while a company like AIG that has received $150 billion in funds still has four corporate jets and other top banks have anywhere from four to nine jets.

The banks are refusing to say how the funds they have received are being spent and the Bush Administration and Congress are not requiring it. I would say that the taxpayer's interests are not being protected. In fact the Treasury has purchased preferred stock instead of common stock. Therefore the government on our behalf has no voting rights. If they had purchased common stock they would have had voting rights and some say in how the companies are run.

While the auto bailout may be questionable there are many jobs at stake but at least there is some acountabilility whereas with the banks, there is none. I think we need to ask some serious questions of our representatives in the Congress.

Windham Has It All???

2008-12-21T15:14:00.003-05:00

I have been amused at the ads in the local newspapers for the last couple of weeks. The ad is titled "Windham Has It! Why Go Anywhere Else"and it appears several times in the paper. Windham does have alot but let's look at what they do and don't have.

They do have almost every box store going, Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot just to name a few. They have both Hannafords and Shaws and fast food restaurants galore. There are a string of gas stations and a few restaurants. There are places to shop where prices are reasonable such as Marshall's.

I like to shop at locally owned stores such as Aubuchon, Mills and Company and Hoagie's Meat Market and the Windham Jewlers. Card Smart is a great little shop.

One of the nicest areas is the Maine Bean and The Shops at Sebago. That area is an asset to the community. It is nicely landscaped and offers a touch of class to the community. The food at the Maine Bean is exceptionally good and they offer a very nice variety.

What doesn't Windham have? Number 1 is a bookstore. In town that has a population of approximately 17,000 and serves a much larger population area it is almost criminal that someone would have to travel to the Maine Mall, Portland or Falmouth to find a good selection of books.

It does not have a good shoe store such as Lamey Wellehan where one can find people who can assist you to get the right size and have a variety of quality brand names. It does not have a somewhat upscale clothing store where you can get quality clothing in some of the latest styles.

So Windham has alot but it doesn't have it all! Feedback welcome.

Raises for Congress

2008-12-19T17:44:00.001-05:00

So in these terrible economic times Congress get it's automatic salary increase that amounts to $4,700.00 per person or a total of 2.5 million dollars for the year.

They had the opportunity to vote for legislation that would have frozen salaries but they chose not to do this. With many of their constituents losing their jobs, and homes I think it is morally wrong of them to take the increase.

Instead of automatic pay raises Congress should be forced to vote on a salary increase each year. Then we could hold them more accountable when the economy is in shambles and people all over the country are struggling to make it from pay check to pay check.

On A Lighter Note

2008-12-19T15:49:00.002-05:00

I have just finished the book "A Seduction at Christmas" by Cathy Maxwell. I have been a fan of Maxwell for a long time and she never fails to disappoint me.
The characters in "A Seduction at Christmas" are very likeable. Fiona is struggling to survive after her father has died and her brother has left for the colonies. She and the Duke of Holburn meet in what turns out to be a very dangerous situation. He is noted for his rakish ways and Fiona knows that she must avoid becoming entangled with him. Fate has a way of changing what people think of each other and the relationship that develops is tender and sweet.

While they attempt to avoid some nasty and vicious killers they come to depend on each other. There is just enough intrigue to keep the plot moving and the developing romance is fun to watch.

There are some secondary characters that play a role in the story and it is interesting to see how Fiona and Holburn deal with them. All in all this was a very likeable book and I would give it 4 1/2 stars

Wall Street Corruption

2008-12-19T07:04:00.002-05:00

I would encourage any readers of this blog to go to the following link and read Paul Krugman's editorial in today's New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/opinion/19krugman.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Krugman raises the point of how this Ponzi scheme was allowed to happen when questions and fears had been passed on to the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also raises the question that I have had for a long time, How much does the money of the wealthy affect politics and the decisions made by our elected representatives. I suspect that it has a very powerful effect. Otherwise, why have the Democrats and Republicans not closed the loop holes that benefit the hedge fund operators and why is there so much reluctance in Congress to pass regulations that favor the ordinary citizen.

I think the reality that exists at present is that the ordinary middle class citizen does not really matter to the rich and powerful. Greed and corruption is rampant in our society.

Will you speak out against the abuses of power?