Every day it just gets worse. Yesterday's Press Conference was unbelievable! The man, you know who I am speaking about, was not even coherent most of the time. I could not watch much of it as it made me ill.
So Michael Flynn has resigned because of his conversations with Russian government officials and "misled" the Vice President. Now it is rumored that the FBI will not bring charges against him. That was not the first time he collaborated with the Russians as it was done during the campaign also. What make me furious is the fact that this was known in the fall and then President Obama knew it and did nothing because supposedly Mitch McConnell told him he would publicly blame him for interfering in the election. Well, he should have done it anyway and now we are stuck with this buffoon. I hope the Senate Intelligence Committee calls Flynn as a witness and makes him testify under oath and he sings like a bird! If anyone believes that Pence did not know all this was going on then I have a bridge to sell you! McConnell and Ryan knew and I think they should be called as well as Barack Obama. There is much more to this story that needs to come out.
Also yesterday, the president signed an order repealing the regulation that said coal companies could not dump their waste in the rivers and streams. So now it is okay to pollute the waters. This should have a great effect on people's drinking water! If Scott Pruit is confirmed as EPA Director it will get even worse.
So to all the people who said you have to give him, trump, a chance and see what happens in six months just look at the damage he has done in a month. Are the republicans so evil that they hate the people and the country that much that they are willing to destroy our government, take away health care, roll back environmental protections, sell off public lands, and destroy the EPA that looks out for the health and safety of the country? I wish I was rich and I would give lots of money to get rid of the bunch of them. I will be honest in my opinion that we are in terrible trouble and our way of life is threatened. At eighty years old I may not live to see the destruction of our planet but I fear for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
WHAT CAN WE DO?
I spend most of my days between anger and fear! There is much to be angry about and much to fear. One of my biggest fears is the position that Steve Bannon holds in the White House. Many of the executive orders have apparently been written by him. Trump will sign anything put in front of him just so he can hold up his signature as if he knows what he is doing. One example is the executive order naming Bannon to the National Security Council. Now Trump says he did not realize just what he was signing. That is just one example and it is a scary one. The man does not belong there. Bannon is an avowed white supremacist and has been quoted as saying that he wants to bring the government crashing down. He is well on his way.
The Republicans are using Trump as a cover so they can do their dirty work behind the scenes and at night. They voted to do away with the Election Assistance Commission, "which helps states run elections and is the only federal agency charged with making sure voting machines can’t be hacked." ( The Nation, Feb. 2/7.2017 Ari Berman.) This makes it easier to steal elections. Can they do this on their own? It is bad enough that they have gerrymandered so many districts in their favor. It will make it doubly hard for Democrats to win over the Senate and especially the House.
Speaking of the Democrats! They are their own worst enemy. Are they waking up to the reality that they have served their corporate masters too long and have not represented us? I think they may be feeling the heat from all of the protests and phone calls, emails, petitions, etc. In retrospect they ran the wrong candidate. While I voted for Hillary she was a flawed candidate and the democrats were to stupid to see it. They have lost state houses, governorships, the senate, the house because they have not, in my opinion, kept in touch with the people.
Right now what are Maine democrats doing to keep the resistance going? We should be getting action items from the all the time. They should be actively looking for good candidates to run against Poliquin. We should be recruiting very good candidates to run for governor in 2018. They should be speaking out against the outrageous Trump cabinet nominees along with those of us who are making almost daily phone calls to Senators or meeting with their staff people. That is called leadership! If they are doing those things they need to keep us informed so we can be part of the process.
I have gotten off track! I had intended in this post to review the cabinet appointees as they are a large part of my fear and anger. But I also want to encourage you to watch Robert Reich online each week day night at 8:00 pm. He bring us up to date with what is going on, actions we can take and in general tries to encourage us. Another great resource is Rogan's List. She is a former university librarian who researches during the day and them posts a list of actions that we can take. You can subscribe by going to http://roganslist.blogspot.com/.
Also join a Facebook group like Suit Up Maine where there are also actions that can be taken.
I encourage you to be active and engaged. I know it is discouraging and tiring but we cannot let up.
We can make a difference. Carry on bravely!
The Republicans are using Trump as a cover so they can do their dirty work behind the scenes and at night. They voted to do away with the Election Assistance Commission, "which helps states run elections and is the only federal agency charged with making sure voting machines can’t be hacked." ( The Nation, Feb. 2/7.2017 Ari Berman.) This makes it easier to steal elections. Can they do this on their own? It is bad enough that they have gerrymandered so many districts in their favor. It will make it doubly hard for Democrats to win over the Senate and especially the House.
Speaking of the Democrats! They are their own worst enemy. Are they waking up to the reality that they have served their corporate masters too long and have not represented us? I think they may be feeling the heat from all of the protests and phone calls, emails, petitions, etc. In retrospect they ran the wrong candidate. While I voted for Hillary she was a flawed candidate and the democrats were to stupid to see it. They have lost state houses, governorships, the senate, the house because they have not, in my opinion, kept in touch with the people.
Right now what are Maine democrats doing to keep the resistance going? We should be getting action items from the all the time. They should be actively looking for good candidates to run against Poliquin. We should be recruiting very good candidates to run for governor in 2018. They should be speaking out against the outrageous Trump cabinet nominees along with those of us who are making almost daily phone calls to Senators or meeting with their staff people. That is called leadership! If they are doing those things they need to keep us informed so we can be part of the process.
I have gotten off track! I had intended in this post to review the cabinet appointees as they are a large part of my fear and anger. But I also want to encourage you to watch Robert Reich online each week day night at 8:00 pm. He bring us up to date with what is going on, actions we can take and in general tries to encourage us. Another great resource is Rogan's List. She is a former university librarian who researches during the day and them posts a list of actions that we can take. You can subscribe by going to http://roganslist.blogspot.com/.
Also join a Facebook group like Suit Up Maine where there are also actions that can be taken.
I encourage you to be active and engaged. I know it is discouraging and tiring but we cannot let up.
We can make a difference. Carry on bravely!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Collins Chooses Party Over Public Education
In spite of thousands of calls and emails and letters from her Maine constituents and from people all over the country, she voted to move the nomination of Betsy DeVos to the full Senate. It really shows that she does not give a damn about what her Maine people think. DeVos has given large sums of money to five members of the HELP Committee. Those five should have recused themselves. They are Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Timothy Scott and Todd Young. She has stated that when she donates money she expects some thing in return. So it is the old pay to play game.
In voting for DeVos Collins went along with DeVos' public education is "a deadend." She also must believe that Charter Schools are better than public schools. She advocates for the use of vouchers even for religious schools. She has no teaching or administrative experience. She was not asked about the Common Core or how she would handle racial inequity in education.
What really angers me is the fact the Susan Collins would vote to approve someone even when her constituents plead with her to do otherwise. Elected officials seem to forget that we pay their salary and the huge benefits that they have.
I suspect that she, Collins, will disappoint us again on other nominees. I will address some of them in another post. Even though we are angry and disappointed we must continue to call and make our positions known. It is easy to give up but we cannot let up.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Reviving My Blog!
It has been a long time since I have used this blog but I have decided that I need to be able to express myself in a format other than Facebook and Twitter. This will consist of opinions that I hold but will hopefully be based on facts. If any of you do not want to receive posts by email just let me know and I will remove you from the list. I will most likely post links to this blog on my Facebook page also.
I will probably post a couple of times a week but sometimes if events call for it I might post more frequently. Those of you who have been selected to receive posts by email were selected because we share many things in common and you are special to me and I value your opinions even if they differ from mine. So happy reading. Be well and be safe! More posts will arrive in the next few days.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Maine Senators and the President's Budget
I have not posted in a while as I have been so depressed and angry at the current state of politics in this country. The level of hatred that is exhibited towards our President is outrageous and, frankly in my opinion, totally inexcusable and very unpatriotic. I consider actions by John Boehner and Mitch McConnell and the forty seven senators that signed a letter to the Iranians treasonable and seditious. If the Democrats had done that to George Bush there would have been a hue and cry and all kinds of investigations. I am so disappointed in our government. I really do not trust many of our elected officials. What a sad state of affairs.
Well to the purpose of this post. I watched the news on WCSH TV last night when Senators King and Collins responded to the Presidents budget. First of all they both talked about the national debt. It is important to note that the programs the President is supporting are paid for by closing certain tax loopholes. That to me is very sensible. How can these two senators not support programs that will help many needy Maine families? I have written the following letter to Senator Collins. I will do a separate one for Senator King. The letter is below. I hope that I can urge many of you to write to them also. I know it feels as though it does not do any good but sitting on our hands does not accomplish anything either. So the eternal optimist that I am keeps on writing and making phone calls and hoping that others will do the same.
Dear Senator Collins,
As I watched your response to President Obama's budget on WCSH6 i was stunned to hear you mention the federal debt. Might I remind you that you helped create that debt by voting to fund two wars that were never paid for and for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest citizens. And also allowing the former President Bush to borrow or I should say steal money from the Social Security fund and never paid it back. President Reagan also did the same.
President Obama's budget pays for those programs by closing certain tax loopholes. I support that. I just paid my federal and state taxes and I am very angry that so many wealthy citizens and corporations pay less than I, a 78 year old woman, or that they pay nothing. I am sure that you can see the inequality in that. Everyone needs to pay their fair share It is time for Congress to close all the loopholes and subsidies that they have created.
I would urge you to think again and support the President's budget that addresses the needs of many Maine citizens as well as those around the country. If cuts need to made, make them from the military budget. We are spending too much money on the military and there is too much waste there. We spend more than nine other countries combined. That is pretty outrageous.
Please stand up for the people and try to overcome the extreme hatred of our President.
Sincerely,
Priscilla Payne
Well to the purpose of this post. I watched the news on WCSH TV last night when Senators King and Collins responded to the Presidents budget. First of all they both talked about the national debt. It is important to note that the programs the President is supporting are paid for by closing certain tax loopholes. That to me is very sensible. How can these two senators not support programs that will help many needy Maine families? I have written the following letter to Senator Collins. I will do a separate one for Senator King. The letter is below. I hope that I can urge many of you to write to them also. I know it feels as though it does not do any good but sitting on our hands does not accomplish anything either. So the eternal optimist that I am keeps on writing and making phone calls and hoping that others will do the same.
Dear Senator Collins,
As I watched your response to President Obama's budget on WCSH6 i was stunned to hear you mention the federal debt. Might I remind you that you helped create that debt by voting to fund two wars that were never paid for and for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest citizens. And also allowing the former President Bush to borrow or I should say steal money from the Social Security fund and never paid it back. President Reagan also did the same.
President Obama's budget pays for those programs by closing certain tax loopholes. I support that. I just paid my federal and state taxes and I am very angry that so many wealthy citizens and corporations pay less than I, a 78 year old woman, or that they pay nothing. I am sure that you can see the inequality in that. Everyone needs to pay their fair share It is time for Congress to close all the loopholes and subsidies that they have created.
I would urge you to think again and support the President's budget that addresses the needs of many Maine citizens as well as those around the country. If cuts need to made, make them from the military budget. We are spending too much money on the military and there is too much waste there. We spend more than nine other countries combined. That is pretty outrageous.
Please stand up for the people and try to overcome the extreme hatred of our President.
Sincerely,
Priscilla Payne
Monday, December 15, 2014
MORE OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL!
This is a letter that I have sent to Senators King and Collins. I wish there was some way that I could get other folks to do the same. We, the people, need to stand up and let our views be known. These people we have elected have a responsibility to us the citizens and not to their corporate donors.
Dear Senators King and Collins,
I am writing to let you know how disappointed and angry I am that you voted in favor of the 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill. That bill contains many things that are detrimental to our economy and to us as individuals Number one is the fact that the bill rolled back provisions in the Dodd-Frank bill that now allows the banks to gamble with taxpayer money. The use of risky derivatives could crash our economy again and we the taxpayers will have to bail them out!
Number two is the fact that now there will be even more money in politics since the cap on single donor contributions has been raised by a huge sum. The programs that would have benefitted regular people and the poor have been slashed again. WIC slashed 300 million dollars, food stamps slashed again, and allowing corporations to cut benefits for current employees of which I am one. Maybe we should slash your benefits! How would you like that? But then most of the people in Congress are so wealthy they do not care!
Provisions that take away the ability of the EPA to regulate and enforce the clean water act were also in that bill along with many other things that are harmful to out economy.
This bill was a give away to the the big banks, and corporations. I have decided that the only time you and other elected officials care about your constituents is when you are trying to get elected. Then you go to Washington and could care less about the general welfare of the people and the country as a whole. It is pretty bad when a bank like Citigroup gets to write the legislation for you. I suspect this is more often true than false.
I will try once again to have you listen (yes, i did call your office asking you to vote no on the spending bill and perhaps if enough had done so we could have had a better bill)as I urge you to vote against confirmation of Antonio Weiss for a top job in the Treasury Department. It is rumored that the company he works for, Lazard Financial Services, will give him a 20 million dollar bonus if confirmed. If this is true it is just a bigger sign of the corruption that has invaded Washington. Why would you want another person in the treasury who has been advising Burger King to avoid millions in tax dollars so they can move their business to Canada! Please do not vote to confirm him.
So you can tell that I am one angry and very disappointed constituent! Our country has lost most of the values that we were founded on Corruption is so rampant in our government that one does know who to trust anymore. It is a very sad situation.
Dear Senators King and Collins,
I am writing to let you know how disappointed and angry I am that you voted in favor of the 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill. That bill contains many things that are detrimental to our economy and to us as individuals Number one is the fact that the bill rolled back provisions in the Dodd-Frank bill that now allows the banks to gamble with taxpayer money. The use of risky derivatives could crash our economy again and we the taxpayers will have to bail them out!
Number two is the fact that now there will be even more money in politics since the cap on single donor contributions has been raised by a huge sum. The programs that would have benefitted regular people and the poor have been slashed again. WIC slashed 300 million dollars, food stamps slashed again, and allowing corporations to cut benefits for current employees of which I am one. Maybe we should slash your benefits! How would you like that? But then most of the people in Congress are so wealthy they do not care!
Provisions that take away the ability of the EPA to regulate and enforce the clean water act were also in that bill along with many other things that are harmful to out economy.
This bill was a give away to the the big banks, and corporations. I have decided that the only time you and other elected officials care about your constituents is when you are trying to get elected. Then you go to Washington and could care less about the general welfare of the people and the country as a whole. It is pretty bad when a bank like Citigroup gets to write the legislation for you. I suspect this is more often true than false.
I will try once again to have you listen (yes, i did call your office asking you to vote no on the spending bill and perhaps if enough had done so we could have had a better bill)as I urge you to vote against confirmation of Antonio Weiss for a top job in the Treasury Department. It is rumored that the company he works for, Lazard Financial Services, will give him a 20 million dollar bonus if confirmed. If this is true it is just a bigger sign of the corruption that has invaded Washington. Why would you want another person in the treasury who has been advising Burger King to avoid millions in tax dollars so they can move their business to Canada! Please do not vote to confirm him.
So you can tell that I am one angry and very disappointed constituent! Our country has lost most of the values that we were founded on Corruption is so rampant in our government that one does know who to trust anymore. It is a very sad situation.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL
This is a letter that I have sent to Senators Angus King and Susan Collins. I will also send it to Chellie Pingree. I called their offices but those folks who answer the phones do not know what is in a bill so no blame goes to them. I cannot believe that a spending bill had so many secret provisions added with no debate. All I can say is Thanks to Elizabeth Warren for giving a blistering speech about the roll back of provisions in the Dodd Frank bill.
Dear Senators King and Collins,
I am so angry and frustrated about some of the provisions in this spending bill. It is evident that the people of this country do not matter to Congress. All they care about is getting the big contributions from the big banks, corporations and big donors and the average person's voice is not heard. The heart and soul has been ripped out of our government by a corrupt Supreme Court and an equally corrupt Congress.
I am very concerned about the items that have been slipped into this bill such as the repeal of portions of the Dodd Frank bill that would protect the taxpayers against paying bail outs for risky bank behaviors. Also I am concerned about a provision that allows pension benefits to be cut for current retirees. Do you know what that would do to millions of seniors who are barely making it. Wealthy donors can now give more money to political candidates.
Then in the area of the environment there is a provision that the EPA cannot enforce parts of the clean water act. What kind of nonsense it that?
Safety??? Now truckers can now drive without adequate sleep. That endangers all of us on the road.
What are you people there in Washington about? It sure is not looking after the interests of the people who elected you! I am so disgusted and disheartened. Merry Christmas to the American people! What a gift. The only good thing is the government won't be shut down.
Priscilla Payne
Dear Senators King and Collins,
I am so angry and frustrated about some of the provisions in this spending bill. It is evident that the people of this country do not matter to Congress. All they care about is getting the big contributions from the big banks, corporations and big donors and the average person's voice is not heard. The heart and soul has been ripped out of our government by a corrupt Supreme Court and an equally corrupt Congress.
I am very concerned about the items that have been slipped into this bill such as the repeal of portions of the Dodd Frank bill that would protect the taxpayers against paying bail outs for risky bank behaviors. Also I am concerned about a provision that allows pension benefits to be cut for current retirees. Do you know what that would do to millions of seniors who are barely making it. Wealthy donors can now give more money to political candidates.
Then in the area of the environment there is a provision that the EPA cannot enforce parts of the clean water act. What kind of nonsense it that?
Safety??? Now truckers can now drive without adequate sleep. That endangers all of us on the road.
What are you people there in Washington about? It sure is not looking after the interests of the people who elected you! I am so disgusted and disheartened. Merry Christmas to the American people! What a gift. The only good thing is the government won't be shut down.
Priscilla Payne
Sunday, November 30, 2014
HATE! GREED! FEAR!
I am certainly no psychologist but I have to confess that I do not understand the kind of HATE that seems to be rampant in this country at this time. Has it always been there or are we just seeing it more in the open now? What causes a man like John Boehner to hate so much that he will obstruct needed legislation in order to spend $500.00 an hour of taxpayer money to sue the President? Is he so filled with hate that he will ignore the plight of people in this country who are struggling just to survive? Is it hate or is it corruption or both?
Is it hate that makes a policeman shoot a little black 12 year old boy who had a toy gun? Is it hate that makes a policeman shoot a bullet into a car windshield of a black father trying to get home to get his daughter's inhaler because she is having an asthma attack? What is driving this senseless shooting of black men and boys? I thought we had come farther than this.
Power can be a very destructive force and I see those with power being driven by hate and rage. It is very scary and I believe that chaos will be the result across this country as it has been in Ferguson.
Is it greed that drives people to trample one another trying to get the best deals on Black Friday? Or is it desperation? Is it Greed that drives men like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell to abuse their power so that they can line their pockets with huge campaign contributions?
Is it fear that drives someone like Senator Chuck Schumer to abandon his democratic values so that he can maybe keep his place in the Senate? Is it fear of losing her support from campaign donors that someone like Susan Collins votes against the best interests of her constituents?
I am totally perplexed and concerned about where our country is heading.
Here it is the First Sunday of Advent, a time for waiting and reflecting. In my mind it is a time to look inward and see where I am failing in my care for myself, my family and my country and then look for steps to correct these failings. Today many people will light the first Advent candle of Hope yet how many are truly hopeful?
Honestly I am not a very prayerful person but today I would urge people to pray that this country can get back on track and that we can see that fewer and fewer people have to live in fear of being shot by a policeman who they should be able to trust, fear of being cold and hungry, fear of losing their homes, fear of not being able to access health care and fear so many other things. I would hope that Hate, Greed and Fear can become a thing of the past and that we can be a more compassionate society.
Is it hate that makes a policeman shoot a little black 12 year old boy who had a toy gun? Is it hate that makes a policeman shoot a bullet into a car windshield of a black father trying to get home to get his daughter's inhaler because she is having an asthma attack? What is driving this senseless shooting of black men and boys? I thought we had come farther than this.
Power can be a very destructive force and I see those with power being driven by hate and rage. It is very scary and I believe that chaos will be the result across this country as it has been in Ferguson.
Is it greed that drives people to trample one another trying to get the best deals on Black Friday? Or is it desperation? Is it Greed that drives men like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell to abuse their power so that they can line their pockets with huge campaign contributions?
Is it fear that drives someone like Senator Chuck Schumer to abandon his democratic values so that he can maybe keep his place in the Senate? Is it fear of losing her support from campaign donors that someone like Susan Collins votes against the best interests of her constituents?
I am totally perplexed and concerned about where our country is heading.
Here it is the First Sunday of Advent, a time for waiting and reflecting. In my mind it is a time to look inward and see where I am failing in my care for myself, my family and my country and then look for steps to correct these failings. Today many people will light the first Advent candle of Hope yet how many are truly hopeful?
Thursday, November 13, 2014
CLARIFICATION
In my previous post I called the Democrats week willed and by and large they are. But I did mean to point out that in the State of Maine two candidates stood out on their willingness to engage in the real issues and they were Shenna Bellows and Emily Cain. Shenna ran an excellent campaign on little money taking on Susan Collins who was funded by large corporations and PACs, and addressed the real issues. Emily Cain did the same and if it had not been the horrible, lying ads produced by Poliquin's campaign I think she would have won. Kudos to both of these women.
On the national level the Democrats like Al Franken and Gary Peters won because they addressed the issues that people are concerned with Instead of running away from the good things that have been accomplished during the Obama Administration they embraced them while others were afraid to do so and suffered the consequences.
Now let's hope that the basically corporate owned and corrupt Supreme Court does not take away the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (We need to stop calling it Obama Care and use its real name!) and toss millions of Americans off their health care. Prayers are sure needed.
So folks maybe petitions and letters do not do anything but let's keep the pressure on and keep signing, writing and calling and maybe we can affect some change.
On the national level the Democrats like Al Franken and Gary Peters won because they addressed the issues that people are concerned with Instead of running away from the good things that have been accomplished during the Obama Administration they embraced them while others were afraid to do so and suffered the consequences.
Now let's hope that the basically corporate owned and corrupt Supreme Court does not take away the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (We need to stop calling it Obama Care and use its real name!) and toss millions of Americans off their health care. Prayers are sure needed.
So folks maybe petitions and letters do not do anything but let's keep the pressure on and keep signing, writing and calling and maybe we can affect some change.
OUR VOICES MEAN LITTLE TO ELECTED OFFICIAL
I have been lax about posting here on my blog but I feel that time has come to an end. The recent elections will have disastrous effects on all of us. People campaigning for office whether it be local, state or national say great things and make good promises but when they take office they really do not represent our views, wishes or desires. They spend a fortune in money and spread misleading ads on TV which people get so fed up with and then flood you with emails requesting more and more money and make numerous phone calls with unidentifiable numbers until you are forced to unplug the phone. Then they get in to their ivory towers and are isolated from the very people who elected them. and never listen to them.
It seems as if everything that is done is done for a political reasons and not because they really care about those who are struggling just to get food and shelter or because they care about the environment or that the banks and big corporations are ruining our country. Why? Because they are owned by the big corporations and are beholden to them. Something is terribly wrong with this country.
In full disclosure, I am an ardent Democrat. While not a Democrat Bernie Sanders is my hero! Elizabeth Warren is my heroine! I care about what happens to my neighbors, the environment, the economy and many other things, It should not matter if my representative is a democrat or a republican they should listen to me and others who contact them. We are not stupid. We follow the issues and have valid opinions but little of that seems to matter once they get elected. Republicans stick to their issues and in my opinion do a great deal of harm to our society. Democrats on the other hand are weak willed and afraid to stand up for the values of their party. While many of these folks are really good people they are not responsive to their constituents.
A good case in point is Senator Susan Collins. If you call her office to ask her to vote for or against an issue and want to know where she stands on an issue this is the response you get from her office. "I am sorry the Senator has not made a public statement on the issue." if you ask when she might let her views be known so we would know whether or not to support her position or urge her to vote a different way you get the same answer. "I am sorry but the Senator has not made a public statement on the issue." By the time she has made a public statement the votes have been taken and our voice was totally discounted and not heard at all.
On the opposite side Representative Chellie Pingree's office is very open about her positions and they will actually have an intelligent conversation with you.
On the state level a state senator, who is no longer there, thank God, refused to even answer emails or return phone calls. Of all the times I have contacted him I received two responses and one was a question about an issue as he was not familiar with and it was coming up for a vote! I was able to give him the information he needed.
The same is true at the local level. Members of the Town Council have their preconceived ideas so firmly in their heads that they do not welcome any input that may differ from theirs.
So now in Windham we are updating the comprehensive plan and that needs to be done. There will be two meetings for the public to have input and there is an online survey and these are good things. But in the end a document will be written with nice language and adopted and then it will sit on some shelf gathering dust and elected and appointed officials will forget it exists just as they have done with the present one and go their own way and again the public's views will be forgotten.
So you can see that I am very disillusioned with government in general. Now I am getting on in age and will probably not be around to see the devastation of our environment and the worsening struggles of the poor and middle class because of the widening income inequality but I care about what my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren will have to face and unless we make serious changes to the political process I feel we are doomed. We are no longer the innovative society that we once were. We are falling further and further behind other countries in education, health care and many other issues. Racism has certainly reared its head and I would hate to be a young black man living in this country at this time. Our President, whether you agree or disagree with him, is treated with disrespect and hatred because he is black Terrible things have been said to him and about him. I really thought we were better than that.
Thank God, there are still some caring people who will try and feed the homeless, unless they get arrested for doing that, who will help folks winterize their home and provide fuel either in wood or oil, who will support food pantries, run soup kitchens and try and stop pipelines and save the environment. But we are too big and it takes the government to step in and help.
Well enough of this rant but everything I said is important and I care deeply about our country and our state and I am sorry that elected officials are so blind to the real problems we face. I am usually a very optimistic person but I have to say that I do not feel very optimistic at this point in time.
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Five Keys are Teachers (no surprise there!) Principals (again no surprise) Data, Small Schools and More time in school.
Teachers - This could be a difficult one as I have worked in education and I can see problems for change here. The author also recognizes this but it is imperative that teachers always need to be working at becoming better and finding ways to engage their students. I understand the anxiety that teachers have about evaluation but the author suggests some different ways to evaluate such as video evaluations, student learning growth and student surveys. The student surveys might sound threatening but in those surveys the questions have nothing to do with whether or not you like the teacher but questions such as "The teacher in this class encourages me to do my best" or "Our class stays busy and does not waste time" or " My teacher takes the time to summarize what we learn each day."
All of us in other public jobs get evaluated every year and while there is some anxiety it is just part of the job and if one is working hard, has good relationships with their colleagues, the administration and the public and is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve it should go well. No, I don't live in a fairyland but base my opinions on experience.
Principals and other administrators - The Principal is critical to improving the schools and it is important to hire principals who are not just managers but ones who are out and about the school, in classrooms and who set a positive tone for the school. The author talks about the importance of creating the principal through proper training. Leadership may not come naturally but must be learned. It is also important the the bosses (Superintendents) have the same training so they can be supportive of their principals. In doing the research the author and his team found that principals spend less time on the most important thing that affects student learning and that is instruction. Principals in top performing schools spend approximately 80% of their time on instruction. They model best practices, observe, and spend time in the classrooms. When this becomes an established procedure it is no longer threatening.
Small Schools - The data shows that small schools with 400-600 students are able to achieve a definite impact on student learning and achievement. It is easier for a principal to supervise a school with fewer students. Some people who implement small schools do it over a period of time using one grade at a time and training teachers and changing the culture of the school. This may be one of the hardest to implement as it would take remodeling or constructing new schools. Some of the most successful schools in advancing student achievement have begun in the last 20 years.
More Time in School - The author advocates for longer school days and longer school years. We no longer need to be an an agricultural calendar as most students are not working in the fields any more. These longer days and years help those in less affluent families more as those in more affluent families often are offered outside activities that help them to retain and even grow in knowledge.
I have to agree with most of these ideas but I do see problems in trying to implement them over a wide area partly due to cost and then partly due to the existing culture in many schools. I have worked in education and have seen first hand the rebellion that arises when change is being implemented. I have also seen principals who put their own goals ahead of those that may be best for the students and I have seen good and bad teachers but most of them are basically good and have the student's best interest at heart but need to be challenged and shown how to change to create a thirst for knowledge and energy in the classroom.
I have also seen parents who want easy grades for the children and have not put the value on good and challenging education. I have seen an emphasis on athletics that overshadows the academic. In my opinion this has has come about over the last 20-25 years. It did not use to be this way.
Regardless of my opinions this is a book that can challenge educators and parents to rethink how they view the educational process ands work to achieve higher student achievement.
Small Schools - The data shows that small schools with 400-600 students are able to achieve a definite impact on student learning and achievement. It is easier for a principal to supervise a school with fewer students. Some people who implement small schools do it over a period of time using one grade at a time and training teachers and changing the culture of the school. This may be one of the hardest to implement as it would take remodeling or constructing new schools. Some of the most successful schools in advancing student achievement have begun in the last 20 years.
More Time in School - The author advocates for longer school days and longer school years. We no longer need to be an an agricultural calendar as most students are not working in the fields any more. These longer days and years help those in less affluent families more as those in more affluent families often are offered outside activities that help them to retain and even grow in knowledge.
I have to agree with most of these ideas but I do see problems in trying to implement them over a wide area partly due to cost and then partly due to the existing culture in many schools. I have worked in education and have seen first hand the rebellion that arises when change is being implemented. I have also seen principals who put their own goals ahead of those that may be best for the students and I have seen good and bad teachers but most of them are basically good and have the student's best interest at heart but need to be challenged and shown how to change to create a thirst for knowledge and energy in the classroom.
I have also seen parents who want easy grades for the children and have not put the value on good and challenging education. I have seen an emphasis on athletics that overshadows the academic. In my opinion this has has come about over the last 20-25 years. It did not use to be this way.
Regardless of my opinions this is a book that can challenge educators and parents to rethink how they view the educational process ands work to achieve higher student achievement.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
FINDING COMMUNITY
Last night I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the movie You've Got Mail. How many of us remember the day of AOL and awaited the message "You've Got Mail"? I know I did. Every time I watch that movie I take away something that makes me think.
If you have never seen it you should watch it. It is not only a nice and unique love story but there are some very good issues in it. Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly owns a lovely bookstore in New York City and Tom Hanks as Joe Fox of FOX Books are adversaries. Fox Books puts Kelly's bookstore Shop Around the Corner out of business by moving into the same neighborhood and building a huge discount book store. Does this remind you of Borders (now gone), Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books A Million? How many small independent bookstores have been put out of business by these retail giants?
This also applies to other Big Box stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and others. How many small businesses have gone by the wayside because of these giants?
What is the point of all this you might ask. Just look at this movie and see the personal touch and the knowledge of books that is given in The Shop Around the Corner. Then go to FOX Books and see how the people working there have very little knowledge of the books and authors they are selling. Just think what we have lost. We have lost the sense of community that can be built when we develop relationships with the people in shops.
Last winter I needed window washing fluid for my car. I went to the local Aubuchon dealer and yes, I know it is also a national chain but is owned or franchised by locals in small stores. After I bought the fluid the young man at the counter said let me fill your fluid in the car. Now that would never happen at Lowe's or Home Depot or Walmart. Small stores bring a caring and a desire for good customer service that these big stores do not have. They only care about the bottom line.
When I grew up in Acton, MA we used to shop in Maynard and there was a variety of small stores and I especially remember a small clothing store. I think it was called Beryl's. She know her customers so well that when my mother went in she would say, "Ruth, I think I have just the thing for you." Can you see that happening in many places today? No, we have to go through racks and racks of stuff that has no appeal and no one who cares a damn about what you might want or need.
Today here in my little corner of Maine there is a new small shop in Gorham called Carter's Green Market. They carry lots of local products and when I go in that store I feel welcomed and they know who I am and we share cooking ideas and other small snippets of information and I feel at home there. It is unusual to find that anywhere today. I sure hope the local folks appreciate what they have and support them.
A few years ago there was a book written called Bowling Alone and it is about how disconnected we as a society have become. It talked about places where you can find community and it sure was not in the Walmart's of the world but in small places like libraries and other places where people gather to find community.
Our culture has so separated people that one can feel very alone even when surrounded by lots of people. So when you get an opportunity to shop visit the small local places like Nonesuch Books in South Portland, Terra Cotta Pasta in South Portland, Molly's Cupcakes in North Windham or Carter's Green Market in Gorham and you will find a welcoming smile and helpful folks to assist you and appreciate your business.
If you have never seen it you should watch it. It is not only a nice and unique love story but there are some very good issues in it. Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly owns a lovely bookstore in New York City and Tom Hanks as Joe Fox of FOX Books are adversaries. Fox Books puts Kelly's bookstore Shop Around the Corner out of business by moving into the same neighborhood and building a huge discount book store. Does this remind you of Borders (now gone), Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books A Million? How many small independent bookstores have been put out of business by these retail giants?
This also applies to other Big Box stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and others. How many small businesses have gone by the wayside because of these giants?
What is the point of all this you might ask. Just look at this movie and see the personal touch and the knowledge of books that is given in The Shop Around the Corner. Then go to FOX Books and see how the people working there have very little knowledge of the books and authors they are selling. Just think what we have lost. We have lost the sense of community that can be built when we develop relationships with the people in shops.
Last winter I needed window washing fluid for my car. I went to the local Aubuchon dealer and yes, I know it is also a national chain but is owned or franchised by locals in small stores. After I bought the fluid the young man at the counter said let me fill your fluid in the car. Now that would never happen at Lowe's or Home Depot or Walmart. Small stores bring a caring and a desire for good customer service that these big stores do not have. They only care about the bottom line.
When I grew up in Acton, MA we used to shop in Maynard and there was a variety of small stores and I especially remember a small clothing store. I think it was called Beryl's. She know her customers so well that when my mother went in she would say, "Ruth, I think I have just the thing for you." Can you see that happening in many places today? No, we have to go through racks and racks of stuff that has no appeal and no one who cares a damn about what you might want or need.
Today here in my little corner of Maine there is a new small shop in Gorham called Carter's Green Market. They carry lots of local products and when I go in that store I feel welcomed and they know who I am and we share cooking ideas and other small snippets of information and I feel at home there. It is unusual to find that anywhere today. I sure hope the local folks appreciate what they have and support them.
A few years ago there was a book written called Bowling Alone and it is about how disconnected we as a society have become. It talked about places where you can find community and it sure was not in the Walmart's of the world but in small places like libraries and other places where people gather to find community.
Our culture has so separated people that one can feel very alone even when surrounded by lots of people. So when you get an opportunity to shop visit the small local places like Nonesuch Books in South Portland, Terra Cotta Pasta in South Portland, Molly's Cupcakes in North Windham or Carter's Green Market in Gorham and you will find a welcoming smile and helpful folks to assist you and appreciate your business.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
HOW CAN WE LET THIS HAPPEN?
I am so distraught about the new cuts to the food stamp program. How can anyone live with themselves knowing that millions of children go to bed at night hungry? How can we live with ourselves knowing that not only children but adults and seniors go to bed hungry? How can we live with ourselves knowing that millions of seniors are being taken off Meals on Wheels?
Here is a little story about Meals on Wheels. I was so upset that seniors were losing one meal a week that I called the local chapter to see what ordinary citizens could do to help out. The woman I spoke to told me, in a very cold way, that due to regulations they could not accept food from us. I even offered to have my kitchen inspected. I told her that here in my neighborhood we could supply all the desserts they needed and she told me that they were cutting back to one cookie a day! Now to us that cookie may not be important but to a senior living alone that cookie may be the highlight of their day. She also said I would need to get in touch with someone who had more authority. I was disgusted. We are told by some in government that individuals and churches need to take up the slack but when one tries to do so we are not allowed due to "regulations". Does anyone realize how important those meals are to the seniors? It is not only the food that is important but the connection with another human being who delivers their food and stops to have a word or two with that person.
How can we make our elected representatives understand just how these cuts affect the people they are supposed to represent? How can we get the public to rise up and complain about these cuts? We sit in our comfortable homes, well dressed, well fed with all of our smart phones and wide screen TV's and other luxuries and do nothing! Aren't we supposed to be our brother's keeper? Aren't we supposed to feed and clothe those less fortunate than ourselves? Doesn't our government have a responsibility to see that its citizens are fed, clothed and healthy?
We have 1% of our society that have so much money and then a huge proportion of people who have little or nothing. Here in Portland we have seniors in homeless shelters and the shelters are full to overflowing. Something needs to be done. How are we to accomplish this?
Now the House of Representatives is talking about a long vacation as there isn't much to do. What are they thinking? There is a lot to do and we are paying them good money. I say take their pay away and give it to the programs that have need and then end the sequester cuts that are hurting so many. No one is talking about the sequester. Does anyone really care? How can any representative or senator go home and look those people in the eye and see the eyes of those who are hungry and discouraged and not want to act to help them? I do not have the answers but I do know that unless the people rise up and demand change it will not happen.
So won't you join me in hounding our legislatures to fix these critical problems? Or will you choose to sit at home and ignore the existence of the plight of the poor, the unemployed, the disabled and the children? That is the choice that faces us.
Here is a little story about Meals on Wheels. I was so upset that seniors were losing one meal a week that I called the local chapter to see what ordinary citizens could do to help out. The woman I spoke to told me, in a very cold way, that due to regulations they could not accept food from us. I even offered to have my kitchen inspected. I told her that here in my neighborhood we could supply all the desserts they needed and she told me that they were cutting back to one cookie a day! Now to us that cookie may not be important but to a senior living alone that cookie may be the highlight of their day. She also said I would need to get in touch with someone who had more authority. I was disgusted. We are told by some in government that individuals and churches need to take up the slack but when one tries to do so we are not allowed due to "regulations". Does anyone realize how important those meals are to the seniors? It is not only the food that is important but the connection with another human being who delivers their food and stops to have a word or two with that person.
How can we make our elected representatives understand just how these cuts affect the people they are supposed to represent? How can we get the public to rise up and complain about these cuts? We sit in our comfortable homes, well dressed, well fed with all of our smart phones and wide screen TV's and other luxuries and do nothing! Aren't we supposed to be our brother's keeper? Aren't we supposed to feed and clothe those less fortunate than ourselves? Doesn't our government have a responsibility to see that its citizens are fed, clothed and healthy?
We have 1% of our society that have so much money and then a huge proportion of people who have little or nothing. Here in Portland we have seniors in homeless shelters and the shelters are full to overflowing. Something needs to be done. How are we to accomplish this?
Now the House of Representatives is talking about a long vacation as there isn't much to do. What are they thinking? There is a lot to do and we are paying them good money. I say take their pay away and give it to the programs that have need and then end the sequester cuts that are hurting so many. No one is talking about the sequester. Does anyone really care? How can any representative or senator go home and look those people in the eye and see the eyes of those who are hungry and discouraged and not want to act to help them? I do not have the answers but I do know that unless the people rise up and demand change it will not happen.
So won't you join me in hounding our legislatures to fix these critical problems? Or will you choose to sit at home and ignore the existence of the plight of the poor, the unemployed, the disabled and the children? That is the choice that faces us.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
THE POWER OF CITIZENSHIP
I don't know about any of you but when I was in the 7th grade (that was many years ago!) we had the most wonderful teacher, Ray J. Gray, and he taught Civics. Mr. Gray was a short round man with chipmunk cheeks and while we all laughed at him at times we all came to love him. We learned all about how government works and the power of the vote. He was passionate about this topic.
When our class had its 50th reunion the group that I hung out with all were there and we shared life experiences and then talked about school. Each and everyone of us talked about Mr. Gray and the impact he had on our lives. We all acknowledged that we never miss an election and the opportunity to make our voices heard. This is the impact that a good teacher can have.
I believe that passion for Civics and the power of our voices is missing in our schools. We took that class for one half of the year and the other half was Geography. How many kids now know what is east and west of the Mississippi or what the state capitals are and where the states are located? How many kids understand how important it is to become a lifelong voter and to participate in the government at a local, state or national level. Does anyone really care anymore? If they don't care then we are in bigger trouble than I thought.
I could go on and one about what I believe should be taught in schools but that would take a book!!
Speaking of books, the title of this post comes from a new book written by Scott Reich titled The Power of Citizenship. He takes off from the words by John F. Kennedy. "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." How can we make those words come to life for today's young people? We need to try. While I have not read Reich's book I am ordering it. I saw him interviewed and he exhibits the same passion that Mr. Gray did for the power of citizenship.
Mr. Gray passed on a few years ago but his memory and passion stayed with at least 20 of us and I suspect many more too and continues on today. In that small group of people who gathered many are bloggers or journalists or have important jobs but all are active in some way in the political process.
I wish for our students and other young people to be imbued with that same passion as I believe that is the only way we can save our democracy.
When our class had its 50th reunion the group that I hung out with all were there and we shared life experiences and then talked about school. Each and everyone of us talked about Mr. Gray and the impact he had on our lives. We all acknowledged that we never miss an election and the opportunity to make our voices heard. This is the impact that a good teacher can have.
I believe that passion for Civics and the power of our voices is missing in our schools. We took that class for one half of the year and the other half was Geography. How many kids now know what is east and west of the Mississippi or what the state capitals are and where the states are located? How many kids understand how important it is to become a lifelong voter and to participate in the government at a local, state or national level. Does anyone really care anymore? If they don't care then we are in bigger trouble than I thought.
I could go on and one about what I believe should be taught in schools but that would take a book!!
Speaking of books, the title of this post comes from a new book written by Scott Reich titled The Power of Citizenship. He takes off from the words by John F. Kennedy. "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." How can we make those words come to life for today's young people? We need to try. While I have not read Reich's book I am ordering it. I saw him interviewed and he exhibits the same passion that Mr. Gray did for the power of citizenship.
Mr. Gray passed on a few years ago but his memory and passion stayed with at least 20 of us and I suspect many more too and continues on today. In that small group of people who gathered many are bloggers or journalists or have important jobs but all are active in some way in the political process.
I wish for our students and other young people to be imbued with that same passion as I believe that is the only way we can save our democracy.
Friday, October 18, 2013
THE SHUTDOWN IS OVER??????
Well the government shutdown and debt ceiling crises is over. At least it is over for another three months when I am sure we will go through the same thing again. It was totally unnecessary!
Unfortunately the likes of Ted Cruz and his cohorts as well as the spineless Speaker of the House John Boehner relish actions like this. They care nothing for what the American people want. They do not mind hurting hungry children, pregnant and nursing mother and babies as well as seniors who rely on Meals On Wheels. They do not care that their actions could have hurt millions of retirees retirement money.
And the battles are already engaged. Who does the House of representatives appoint to work on te Farm Bill which includes the food stamp program but the most anti food stamp person, Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL). He would throw millions of needy folks off the food stamp program. So that battle line is already engaged. Why they will not appoint someone to work on a jobs program that will put people to back work is beyond my ken. Putting people back to work would solve some of food stamp issue but these people have not even proposed a jobs program even though they say all the time JOBS JOBS JOBS.
The shutdown cost us the taxpayers an estimated 24 billion dollars but the Congress still got paid and for what? Telling lies and more lies and sitting on their thumbs while keeping the nation in an uproar not knowing what would befall us.
There is a petition calling for the Justice Department to arrest leaders in the House for sedition! I say go for it and get rid of them before they can do more harm. In my last post I called them political terrorists and I still believe that and if we think it is over, think again!
It is such a joke to me that Senator Susan Collins is getting high marks for helping end the shutdown when she voted for it TWICE! She talks out of both sides of her mouth and wants it both ways.
Well, we shall see where all this leads and hopefully reasonable people will prevail.
The shutdown cost us the taxpayers an estimated 24 billion dollars but the Congress still got paid and for what? Telling lies and more lies and sitting on their thumbs while keeping the nation in an uproar not knowing what would befall us.
There is a petition calling for the Justice Department to arrest leaders in the House for sedition! I say go for it and get rid of them before they can do more harm. In my last post I called them political terrorists and I still believe that and if we think it is over, think again!
It is such a joke to me that Senator Susan Collins is getting high marks for helping end the shutdown when she voted for it TWICE! She talks out of both sides of her mouth and wants it both ways.
Well, we shall see where all this leads and hopefully reasonable people will prevail.
Monday, October 7, 2013
DEFAULT???????
It is very hard to believe that Republicans are ready to let this nation default on its already budgeted items. It isn't creating new expenditures. It is paying for what we have already contracted for. Boehner says he doesn't have the votes to avoid this but he does!!! All he needs to do is bring a clean bill to the floor. All he is worried about is his speakership. He cares nothing for this country or its people. I would call him and his cohorts political terrorists.
We are reading about the dire consequences of default and people are scared and I guess they should be. This would be a global crisis that would devastate the global economy. There is no way to prepare for a crisis like this.
How can these supposedly intelligent men and women take this country to the brink. They are so isolated from the world as they sit in their ivory tower in Washington still getting paid, having insurance and a safe secure retirement that they cannot even see what will happen to ordinary people like you and me.
Boehner should be scared too as he could not only lose his speakership but his seat in the House and I hope someone challenges him and brings out his cowardly ways. He should be easy to beat although his district is probably one that is gerrymandered.
I am afraid that people will be so devastated and scared that there will be tragic consequences. Someone is going to get hurt over this and someone already has. An unarmed woman with a baby in her car was shot SIX times. I think that is unnecessary. They could have apprehended her instead.
It is a fact that Senator Susan Collins speaks out of both sides of her mouth. She talks a good game about the dangers of a shutdown but voted with her party to go ahead with it. She needs to be voted out when this term expires. She cannot be trusted to vote for the good of the people of Maine.
Well, we shall see how this all plays out but I am fearful about the outcome.
We are reading about the dire consequences of default and people are scared and I guess they should be. This would be a global crisis that would devastate the global economy. There is no way to prepare for a crisis like this.
How can these supposedly intelligent men and women take this country to the brink. They are so isolated from the world as they sit in their ivory tower in Washington still getting paid, having insurance and a safe secure retirement that they cannot even see what will happen to ordinary people like you and me.
Boehner should be scared too as he could not only lose his speakership but his seat in the House and I hope someone challenges him and brings out his cowardly ways. He should be easy to beat although his district is probably one that is gerrymandered.
I am afraid that people will be so devastated and scared that there will be tragic consequences. Someone is going to get hurt over this and someone already has. An unarmed woman with a baby in her car was shot SIX times. I think that is unnecessary. They could have apprehended her instead.
It is a fact that Senator Susan Collins speaks out of both sides of her mouth. She talks a good game about the dangers of a shutdown but voted with her party to go ahead with it. She needs to be voted out when this term expires. She cannot be trusted to vote for the good of the people of Maine.
Well, we shall see how this all plays out but I am fearful about the outcome.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
FRUSTRATED! ANGRY! DISCOURAGED!
It is so hard for me to believe the direction this government is taking. How can so many people vote to cut 40 billion dollars from the food stamp program? So many people depend on it for sustainability. This is how they feed their kids. They are not all slackers either. Many have jobs at Walmart, MacDonald's or other big chains where the wages are not enough even to feed one person especially if they are trying to support a family and keep them in housing.
Eric Cantor who praised this bill and strongly supported it has 85,000 people in his district who are on food stamps. Yet he voted to cut this program while never trying to get a jobs bill passed so that maybe more of his people could work. Also some of the republicans who voted for this bill stand to gain thousand of dollars in farm subsidies.
From Buzzfeed.com
"During the food stamp debate, GOP Rep. Stephen Fincher, who received thousands in farm subsidies, responded to a Democratic Congressman during the debate over the cuts by quoting the bible, saying “the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”Fincher himself has received his own large share of government money. From 1999 to 2012, Stephen & Lynn Fincher Farms received $3,483,824 in agriculture subsidies. Last year he took in $70,574 alone.
Eric Cantor who praised this bill and strongly supported it has 85,000 people in his district who are on food stamps. Yet he voted to cut this program while never trying to get a jobs bill passed so that maybe more of his people could work. Also some of the republicans who voted for this bill stand to gain thousand of dollars in farm subsidies.
From Buzzfeed.com
"During the food stamp debate, GOP Rep. Stephen Fincher, who received thousands in farm subsidies, responded to a Democratic Congressman during the debate over the cuts by quoting the bible, saying “the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”Fincher himself has received his own large share of government money. From 1999 to 2012, Stephen & Lynn Fincher Farms received $3,483,824 in agriculture subsidies. Last year he took in $70,574 alone.
Another Republican congresswoman who voted to make cuts to the food stamp program was Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri. Her farm received more than $800,000 in Department of Agriculture subsidies from 1995-2012. In 2001, her farm received $135,482 in subsidies.
Rep. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who also voted to make cuts to the program, was a partner in Racota Valley Ranch, her family’s farm and previously had nearly a 17% stake through 2008. The farm received $3.4 million in subsidies from 1995-2012. The Environmental Working Group, which analyzes subsidy data, says the “estimated amount of subsidies attributed to Rep. Noem from 1995-2012 is $503,751.”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a Republican Rep. from Indiana also received his fair share of government subsidies. He personally took in nearly $200,000 for the farm he co-owns with his father."
They use words from the Bible to support their actions. Well, there are plenty of words in the Bible that tell us to take care of the poor and needy. I am tired of people who profess to be Christians but act in unchristianly ways. Now the new Pope Francis says we need to take care of the poor and he lives like he believes it.
I believe that many of these people are true hypocrites. Take from the poor and fill my own pockets as well as those of my biggest donors is their philosophy. They care nothing for their own constituents because they think those who are poor will not vote. Well we need to prove them wrong!
A millionaire Georgia Republican even whined that $172,000.00 was not enough money for working 126 days.when the median income in his state is approximately $49,000.00. What a nerve and he is also estimated to be worth between 3 and 7 million.
We need to find a way to make some serious changes in who represents the people in this country because neither party is doing a very good job of it.
I believe that many of these people are true hypocrites. Take from the poor and fill my own pockets as well as those of my biggest donors is their philosophy. They care nothing for their own constituents because they think those who are poor will not vote. Well we need to prove them wrong!
A millionaire Georgia Republican even whined that $172,000.00 was not enough money for working 126 days.when the median income in his state is approximately $49,000.00. What a nerve and he is also estimated to be worth between 3 and 7 million.
We need to find a way to make some serious changes in who represents the people in this country because neither party is doing a very good job of it.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
OKAY! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!
I am sick and tired of old white mostly Republican men trying to rule women's bodies! When a man can get pregnant then maybe they will have a clue! While I personally do not feel that I could have an abortion I sure want the choice in case of rape or health issues and I want all women to be able to make that decision with their doctor in the privacy of his or her office.
Not only are these men anti abortion they are also anti women's health. Planned Parenthood does a lot more than abortions. In fact abortions are a very small part of what they do. They do screening for other women's health issues such a breast cancer, STD's and other health issues. To defund them is taking away some very basic health care for many women.
In the process of passing these laws that are anti abortion they make very inaccurate statements and some of them are doctors who should know better. I wonder where they went to medical school? But to talk about "accurate intercourse" being the only way to get pregnant is ridiculous. Passing a bill meant to be about sharia law and tacking anti abortion laws onto it is a very sneaky way to do this so the public does not know what is really going on. Oh and when you are raped the body can shut down so that you don't get pregnant! What a bunch of crap! Then when they sign a bill the pictures show all white men and no women. I am repulsed by this behavior!
Do these men have mothers, wives, daughters, sisters? Do they honor them or just want them to be submissive. Do they care about their health? The old saying "keep them barefoot and pregnant" sure has more meaning today!
The other issue surrounding this is that while they want no abortions they refuse to take care of these babies after they are born. They cut WIC, food stamps and health care for the poor. Many of these children are born to single mothers or those in poverty who do have the funds to care for them but then government is too big and need to cut essential services. So have kids who go to bed hungry, have little shelter or clothing but we don't care what happens after the child is born. So as long as you have that baby we will be happy!
It is time for not only women but men to really rise up and show they care about their women and their health and the future of their children.
Here these men are talking about the government becoming too big and being a "nanny state" when they want to control our bedrooms and our health. That is being pretty invasive! It is time to vote these old white men out of office!
Not only are these men anti abortion they are also anti women's health. Planned Parenthood does a lot more than abortions. In fact abortions are a very small part of what they do. They do screening for other women's health issues such a breast cancer, STD's and other health issues. To defund them is taking away some very basic health care for many women.
In the process of passing these laws that are anti abortion they make very inaccurate statements and some of them are doctors who should know better. I wonder where they went to medical school? But to talk about "accurate intercourse" being the only way to get pregnant is ridiculous. Passing a bill meant to be about sharia law and tacking anti abortion laws onto it is a very sneaky way to do this so the public does not know what is really going on. Oh and when you are raped the body can shut down so that you don't get pregnant! What a bunch of crap! Then when they sign a bill the pictures show all white men and no women. I am repulsed by this behavior!
Do these men have mothers, wives, daughters, sisters? Do they honor them or just want them to be submissive. Do they care about their health? The old saying "keep them barefoot and pregnant" sure has more meaning today!
The other issue surrounding this is that while they want no abortions they refuse to take care of these babies after they are born. They cut WIC, food stamps and health care for the poor. Many of these children are born to single mothers or those in poverty who do have the funds to care for them but then government is too big and need to cut essential services. So have kids who go to bed hungry, have little shelter or clothing but we don't care what happens after the child is born. So as long as you have that baby we will be happy!
It is time for not only women but men to really rise up and show they care about their women and their health and the future of their children.
Here these men are talking about the government becoming too big and being a "nanny state" when they want to control our bedrooms and our health. That is being pretty invasive! It is time to vote these old white men out of office!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
WAR HAWKS
It seems like the traditional war hawks are at it again. Senators like Lindsay Graham and John McCain are beating the drums of war again. While the crisis in Syria is terrible we do not need to be in another unpaid war. Nor do we need to be sending troops to that country. We still have troops in Afghanistan. Look at the mess Iraq is after we have basically destroyed that country. Let's not kid ourselves. There are some situations that we cannot solve. We are not the world police.
We should be trying every possibility to avoid having our troops on the the ground. Haven't we lost enough young men and women in combat. Why should we want to try again? We should be working with the United Nations and NATO to be sure that we are not in this alone.
We have enough problems right here at home that need to be dealt with but where are our elected officials? Home on vacation AGAIN!
People it is time to speak up and try and prevent another armed conflict.
We should be trying every possibility to avoid having our troops on the the ground. Haven't we lost enough young men and women in combat. Why should we want to try again? We should be working with the United Nations and NATO to be sure that we are not in this alone.
We have enough problems right here at home that need to be dealt with but where are our elected officials? Home on vacation AGAIN!
People it is time to speak up and try and prevent another armed conflict.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
My Letter to Susan Collins
I am absolutely furious that the senate and house could make exceptions to the FAA budget and not fix the things that help the elderly, pregnant women and children. I am so frustrated with our government. We are being betrayed every day. I could ramble on and on about all the things that I think are wrong but for today I will just post the letter I sent to one of my senators.
Dear Senator Collins,
I am actually appalled that you could fix the FAA situation that occurred under the sequester just because a few people were delayed. I also respect that all of the employees will now not have to be furloughed. But how could you fix this and not fix other things like the cuts to Meals on Wheels where the elderly depend on that food. Still you support kicking kids out of headstart, cutting nutritional programs that help pregnant women and little children. What about the long term unemployed? I know several and they beat the streets every day looking for a job that will help them support their families. There are none to be had. What ever happened to a jobs bill?
The priorities of this country are totally screwed up. We have always sought to help those who have the greatest need. But no more. You in Washington are all so disconnected from the real life of your constituents. The heart and soul of this country and of its government has been ripped away by devotion to big business and corporate interests and to the wealthy who are certainly not creating any jobs.
You want to balance the budget and cut the deficit that you had a huge part in creating well, cut the subsidies to big oil, big pharma and big agriculture and close the tax loop holes that allow companies making huge profits to pay 0 income tax. If I didn't pay I would end up in jail.
For God's sake think of the average people here in your own state and begin to represent them.
Dear Senator Collins,
I am actually appalled that you could fix the FAA situation that occurred under the sequester just because a few people were delayed. I also respect that all of the employees will now not have to be furloughed. But how could you fix this and not fix other things like the cuts to Meals on Wheels where the elderly depend on that food. Still you support kicking kids out of headstart, cutting nutritional programs that help pregnant women and little children. What about the long term unemployed? I know several and they beat the streets every day looking for a job that will help them support their families. There are none to be had. What ever happened to a jobs bill?
The priorities of this country are totally screwed up. We have always sought to help those who have the greatest need. But no more. You in Washington are all so disconnected from the real life of your constituents. The heart and soul of this country and of its government has been ripped away by devotion to big business and corporate interests and to the wealthy who are certainly not creating any jobs.
You want to balance the budget and cut the deficit that you had a huge part in creating well, cut the subsidies to big oil, big pharma and big agriculture and close the tax loop holes that allow companies making huge profits to pay 0 income tax. If I didn't pay I would end up in jail.
For God's sake think of the average people here in your own state and begin to represent them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
