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.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
THE BETRAYAL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
It is a terrible feeling to be betrayed by the very people who are elected to serve us and listen to us. We are betrayed on many fronts.
First ,we are betrayed by our President who many of us helped to elect by donating hard earned money, making phone calls and getting out and going door to door. He has promised to protect the working class people, to preserve social security, medicare and medicaid. But in his recent budget proposal he has gone back on his word by advocating for the chained CPI to figure social security benefits. This will hurt not only seniors but some of our veterans who and their dependents who rely on those benefits after being killed or maimed defending our country. All in all his budget will hurt more middle class folks and leave the rich happy.
Then when 90% of the country wants to see stricter gun control the senate will probably not pass simple legislation for background checks which could keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill or criminals. Their ratings with the NRA and their monetary contributions are more important than saving the life of even one child or perhaps helping to avoid another mass murder. They no longer feel accountable to the people just to the big money donors and corporations.
Another betrayal or I should say theft of the taxpayers money is the fact that they will take off 239 days this year and work only 126 days. We are paying these folks big money and not getting any value for it. They have lifetime pensions, health insurance, cut rate manicures and haircuts, a gym, a dining room and many other perks. Any American would love to have some of those perks. This is robbery of the taxpayers money.
They talk a big game about jobs but have we seen one real jobs bill come out of Congress yet? NO! They care little for the American people and the hardships they are suffering.
We are also betrayed by the mainstream media who will spend hours complaining about why the President did not use the word terror when speaking about the horrible tragedy in Boston but then fail to bring the elected officials into accountability over how much time they will work or how they have forgotten the American people. It is as if we, the people, no longer exist.
I could go on and on but for what purpose? It is wrong how our elected officials act and it is conundrum as to how to fix what is so broken.
First ,we are betrayed by our President who many of us helped to elect by donating hard earned money, making phone calls and getting out and going door to door. He has promised to protect the working class people, to preserve social security, medicare and medicaid. But in his recent budget proposal he has gone back on his word by advocating for the chained CPI to figure social security benefits. This will hurt not only seniors but some of our veterans who and their dependents who rely on those benefits after being killed or maimed defending our country. All in all his budget will hurt more middle class folks and leave the rich happy.
Then when 90% of the country wants to see stricter gun control the senate will probably not pass simple legislation for background checks which could keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill or criminals. Their ratings with the NRA and their monetary contributions are more important than saving the life of even one child or perhaps helping to avoid another mass murder. They no longer feel accountable to the people just to the big money donors and corporations.
Another betrayal or I should say theft of the taxpayers money is the fact that they will take off 239 days this year and work only 126 days. We are paying these folks big money and not getting any value for it. They have lifetime pensions, health insurance, cut rate manicures and haircuts, a gym, a dining room and many other perks. Any American would love to have some of those perks. This is robbery of the taxpayers money.
They talk a big game about jobs but have we seen one real jobs bill come out of Congress yet? NO! They care little for the American people and the hardships they are suffering.
We are also betrayed by the mainstream media who will spend hours complaining about why the President did not use the word terror when speaking about the horrible tragedy in Boston but then fail to bring the elected officials into accountability over how much time they will work or how they have forgotten the American people. It is as if we, the people, no longer exist.
I could go on and on but for what purpose? It is wrong how our elected officials act and it is conundrum as to how to fix what is so broken.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
112th CONGRESS
In doing research about the 112th Congress I was appalled to see how few days they actually were in session. The House of Representatives was in session 153 days and the Senate 149. (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ds/index.html) Why are we paying them so much money? Think what a business would do if they were only open that many days. Think of the impact it would have on workers if they only worked that many days. We would be in an even bigger mess than we are now.
I find it hard to believe that their hatred of Barack Obama is so great that they will bring this country to the brink of collapse as they have done over and over again and it appears will do so in the future. We are the laughing stock of the entire world and they just shake their heads in confusion and wonder how the United States has come to this impasse. I have never seen a more uncaring, selfish and incalcitrant group of individuals and I include both Democrats and Republicans in this category.
So many of them are millionaires that of course they want to protect themselves from paying higher taxes. Why should anyone who is a loyal and faithful American be able to shelter their money out of the country so they do not have to pay taxes?
The 112th Congress got next to nothing done except to try and legislate women's bodies and take away the safety net for the poor and most vulnerable in our country. They should be ashamed and I am angry that our tax dollars have gone to pay for such nonsense.
John Boehner and his cohorts are bullies and act like spoiled children. They are not even willing to acknowledge that the President has already made 1.2 trillion dollars in cuts and they continue their lies. John Boehner says the sequester was the President's idea when his own power point presentation to his caucus shows it was his but the lies keep coming and the Democrats do not have the spine to stand up to them. The Republicans refuse to accept any responsibility for getting us in this mess when they voted for two unpaid wars, gave huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and did not do any oversight of financial institutions. Well, the public has not forgotten! It was our money that bailed out the banks and paid for excesses in government.
When are the people going to make enough noise so they pay attention to what the people want and need and stop playing their games of chicken month after month?
SO LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD AND DEMAND ACTION!
I find it hard to believe that their hatred of Barack Obama is so great that they will bring this country to the brink of collapse as they have done over and over again and it appears will do so in the future. We are the laughing stock of the entire world and they just shake their heads in confusion and wonder how the United States has come to this impasse. I have never seen a more uncaring, selfish and incalcitrant group of individuals and I include both Democrats and Republicans in this category.
So many of them are millionaires that of course they want to protect themselves from paying higher taxes. Why should anyone who is a loyal and faithful American be able to shelter their money out of the country so they do not have to pay taxes?
The 112th Congress got next to nothing done except to try and legislate women's bodies and take away the safety net for the poor and most vulnerable in our country. They should be ashamed and I am angry that our tax dollars have gone to pay for such nonsense.
John Boehner and his cohorts are bullies and act like spoiled children. They are not even willing to acknowledge that the President has already made 1.2 trillion dollars in cuts and they continue their lies. John Boehner says the sequester was the President's idea when his own power point presentation to his caucus shows it was his but the lies keep coming and the Democrats do not have the spine to stand up to them. The Republicans refuse to accept any responsibility for getting us in this mess when they voted for two unpaid wars, gave huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and did not do any oversight of financial institutions. Well, the public has not forgotten! It was our money that bailed out the banks and paid for excesses in government.
When are the people going to make enough noise so they pay attention to what the people want and need and stop playing their games of chicken month after month?
SO LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD AND DEMAND ACTION!
Friday, January 4, 2013
WHAT DOES WINDHAM HAVE???
I have to laugh when I hear from the town council or the economic development director that Windham has it all! I have written about this before but yesterday as I drove to Cape Elizabeth to pick up fresh eggs, new spinach, winter squash and a few other things I drove by so many nice small establishments.
So what does Windham have? It has practically every box store known to man. It has more automobile repair shops per capita than almost any other town in Maine. It has many empty store fronts . It has Shaw's and Hannaford's. Hannaford's smells like fish immediately as you enter the store. It is also giving up many brands that customers have relied on for a long time.
It has nice places like Molly's Cupcakes and the Seasons shops. We need more places like that. In South Portland you have Scratch Bakery, Terra Cotta Pasta and several nice small eating places. In Portland you have Whole Foods and Trader Joe's as well as Big Sky Bakery. In Scarborough there is the Cheese Iron and many small shops and restaurants. Most of these places are in walkable neighborhoods and are nicely landscaped as these town have design standards.
You might ask why do I live here? I came here because I could find affordable housing. What do I like about this town? I love being involved in the Windham Community Garden and The Windham Land Trust. It is in those places where I found a sense of community that does not seem to exist anywhere else in the town.
In a community that has been an agricultural area we have no Farmer's Market. In winter you have to drive to Buxton or Cape Elizabeth or Falmouth to get fresh veggies and seafood. This does not seem right to me.
I do not know the answers of how to make this a better place or a more inviting place but I do know that Route 302 must be cleaned up and made more inviting to folks coming to the area. If a place is attractive people will come and they will support the good local businesses. You cannot market something that does not have "curb appeal".
Of course these are just my rants and opinions and I am jealous of other communities that offer so much more. What do you think?
So what does Windham have? It has practically every box store known to man. It has more automobile repair shops per capita than almost any other town in Maine. It has many empty store fronts . It has Shaw's and Hannaford's. Hannaford's smells like fish immediately as you enter the store. It is also giving up many brands that customers have relied on for a long time.
It has nice places like Molly's Cupcakes and the Seasons shops. We need more places like that. In South Portland you have Scratch Bakery, Terra Cotta Pasta and several nice small eating places. In Portland you have Whole Foods and Trader Joe's as well as Big Sky Bakery. In Scarborough there is the Cheese Iron and many small shops and restaurants. Most of these places are in walkable neighborhoods and are nicely landscaped as these town have design standards.
You might ask why do I live here? I came here because I could find affordable housing. What do I like about this town? I love being involved in the Windham Community Garden and The Windham Land Trust. It is in those places where I found a sense of community that does not seem to exist anywhere else in the town.
In a community that has been an agricultural area we have no Farmer's Market. In winter you have to drive to Buxton or Cape Elizabeth or Falmouth to get fresh veggies and seafood. This does not seem right to me.
I do not know the answers of how to make this a better place or a more inviting place but I do know that Route 302 must be cleaned up and made more inviting to folks coming to the area. If a place is attractive people will come and they will support the good local businesses. You cannot market something that does not have "curb appeal".
Of course these are just my rants and opinions and I am jealous of other communities that offer so much more. What do you think?
Saturday, December 29, 2012
CONGRESSIONAL RAISES? WHY?
I have to admit that I was in a state of shock when I read that President Obama had ordered pay raises for Congress, Federal Workers and Joe Biden. How can that have happened when they are trying to cut Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid? They should be taking a pay cut.
The House is in session for three weeks and then they have a week off. They take numerous long breaks and can't get any work done. Yet ordinary people toil day to to day and some with no vacation benefits or sick leave and barely survive AND get no raises and get benefit cuts.
I do not understand when we are supposedly going off the "Fiscal Cliff" how anyone in government can get a raise. It is certainly not deserved. 48% of the members of Congress are millionaires trying to protect their own money while stealing it from those who deserve it most. The unemployed need it so very much as it is their only source of income. The poor, homeless and disabled veterans need all the help they can get but no that money has to be fought over.
President Obama was right yesterday when he said that people outside of Washington do not understand how Congress cannot get things done as we do that all the time or we would have no jobs. I can tell you I will work to defeat anyone who says no to what I call a really bad deal. Susan Collins are you listening?
I sure hope that Ashley Judd does run against Mitch McConnell in 2014. He has been nothing but a road blocker and to think he will get a raise for saying he will do anything to defeat President Obama and blocking all sorts of important legislation is totally disgusting. And giving John Boehner a raise is even more disgusting.
Well that is my rant for the day. But I do want to ask, Where is the outrage? Where is the media? Why do they ignore this stuff?
The House is in session for three weeks and then they have a week off. They take numerous long breaks and can't get any work done. Yet ordinary people toil day to to day and some with no vacation benefits or sick leave and barely survive AND get no raises and get benefit cuts.
I do not understand when we are supposedly going off the "Fiscal Cliff" how anyone in government can get a raise. It is certainly not deserved. 48% of the members of Congress are millionaires trying to protect their own money while stealing it from those who deserve it most. The unemployed need it so very much as it is their only source of income. The poor, homeless and disabled veterans need all the help they can get but no that money has to be fought over.
President Obama was right yesterday when he said that people outside of Washington do not understand how Congress cannot get things done as we do that all the time or we would have no jobs. I can tell you I will work to defeat anyone who says no to what I call a really bad deal. Susan Collins are you listening?
I sure hope that Ashley Judd does run against Mitch McConnell in 2014. He has been nothing but a road blocker and to think he will get a raise for saying he will do anything to defeat President Obama and blocking all sorts of important legislation is totally disgusting. And giving John Boehner a raise is even more disgusting.
Well that is my rant for the day. But I do want to ask, Where is the outrage? Where is the media? Why do they ignore this stuff?
Monday, December 17, 2012
GUNS
The tragedy in NewTown, CT is an unspeakable horror. I cannot imagine the grief that parents and loved ones are feeling right now for those they have lost. To think that 20 little children died such a violent death gives me the chills. The adults who died protecting those children are true heroes.
It is time for us to look at the gun culture in this country. I know gun lovers will say guns don't kill people, people kill people. The reality is is that people use guns to kill people. We have too many guns and people too willing to use them against other humans.
It isn't just one tragedy but all of the tragedies that have happened and still happen every day on street corners in cities and small towns and in homes where domestic violence is all too prevalent.
I cannot see the need for anyone to have an assault weapon in their home. I agree that hunting is a part of our culture and I have no problem with people having a gun for that purpose providing they keep it safely stored and locked. I can see no need to have concealed weapons permits. I don't want to fear going to a mall or a park and having armed folks around me and never knowing which one will all of a sudden decide to shoot people.
Guns are not the only problem. We have not dealt with mental illness very well in this country. We have closed facilities that used to treat these people and thrown them out on the streets where they struggle to survive. We are afraid to identify those who need help and get them the help they need. This is really cruel treatment. When weapons are so readily available they can fall into the wrong hands. Obviously the mother of this most recent shooter had guns to protect herself and they ended up killing her.
Let's have a discussion about the need for more regulation. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
I do not see that every individual is a militia and the amendment speaks of "A well regulated Militia..." So we need to honor the words of the Second Amendment and have well regulated gun control as well as seeking to improve the way we deal with the mentally ill.
It is time for us to look at the gun culture in this country. I know gun lovers will say guns don't kill people, people kill people. The reality is is that people use guns to kill people. We have too many guns and people too willing to use them against other humans.
It isn't just one tragedy but all of the tragedies that have happened and still happen every day on street corners in cities and small towns and in homes where domestic violence is all too prevalent.
I cannot see the need for anyone to have an assault weapon in their home. I agree that hunting is a part of our culture and I have no problem with people having a gun for that purpose providing they keep it safely stored and locked. I can see no need to have concealed weapons permits. I don't want to fear going to a mall or a park and having armed folks around me and never knowing which one will all of a sudden decide to shoot people.
Guns are not the only problem. We have not dealt with mental illness very well in this country. We have closed facilities that used to treat these people and thrown them out on the streets where they struggle to survive. We are afraid to identify those who need help and get them the help they need. This is really cruel treatment. When weapons are so readily available they can fall into the wrong hands. Obviously the mother of this most recent shooter had guns to protect herself and they ended up killing her.
Let's have a discussion about the need for more regulation. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
I do not see that every individual is a militia and the amendment speaks of "A well regulated Militia..." So we need to honor the words of the Second Amendment and have well regulated gun control as well as seeking to improve the way we deal with the mentally ill.
"FISCAL CLIFF???"
All of this talk about the so called fiscal cliff drives me crazy. It never ceases to amaze me that the Republicans in Congress want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security but are perfectly happy to keep their own heath care benefits as well as their very generous pension. This is uncalled for and very hypocritical. They sure want their big piece of the pie but do not want seniors or the poor to have their small piece.
Where is the media in all of this? Why aren't they pointing this out and making a big deal of it. Probably because they are so secure in their big salaries that they do not see the hypocrisy in all of this.
There are areas of the budget that can be cut for sure but Social Security has not contributed one penny to the deficit that the Republicans caused with two unfunded wars and huge tax decreases for the wealthy Americans.
Now I have no problem with people being successful and making a lot of money but they should be paying their fair share and not hiding income overseas in tax havens which rob this country of income. Corporations are also robbing this country by hiding their profits in tax havens. Lets cut the subsides to big oil and big agriculture. They are making huge profits and do not need the money that tax payers are paying for. Let them help cut the deficit.
I urge everyone to call their senators and representatives as well as the President and make the case that there are ways to make cuts without hurting some of the most vulnerable..
Where is the media in all of this? Why aren't they pointing this out and making a big deal of it. Probably because they are so secure in their big salaries that they do not see the hypocrisy in all of this.
There are areas of the budget that can be cut for sure but Social Security has not contributed one penny to the deficit that the Republicans caused with two unfunded wars and huge tax decreases for the wealthy Americans.
Now I have no problem with people being successful and making a lot of money but they should be paying their fair share and not hiding income overseas in tax havens which rob this country of income. Corporations are also robbing this country by hiding their profits in tax havens. Lets cut the subsides to big oil and big agriculture. They are making huge profits and do not need the money that tax payers are paying for. Let them help cut the deficit.
I urge everyone to call their senators and representatives as well as the President and make the case that there are ways to make cuts without hurting some of the most vulnerable..
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