My new favorite song...

My Rainbow Race by Pete Seeger

Sing Along

Netflix delivered a copy of 'Pete Seeger; The Power of Song' and we watched it last night. Even if that era is 'ancient history' to you, you should watch this film. I learned so much from watching it. And one thing I learned was that the Right Wingnuts have been around forever, spreading hatred wherever they could. It was scary to watch ignorant Americans driven to such a fury that they would throw rocks at their fellow Americans. Children throwing rocks at children with their parents helping. You could have inserted an ancient news clip of Germans throwing rocks at Jews in the 1930's and you would not have seen a difference. The parallels with today's society were quite clear. If you don't understand something or someone, then it should be hated and destroyed. And Pete Seeger has always done the right thing throughout his life no matter what was done to him. He sang and sang again. He has never stopped singing.

What's the Border Fence Good for?

Subsidizing Mexican Scrap Metal Entrepreneurs |

Gosh! I hate to say 'I told you so' but I did. But hey, it's only money. The same money that could be used for education, health, etc, etc.

Change is good

I was reading about some fools in Arizona that want to eliminate the provision in the proposed health care bill that would mandate insurance coverage for all and they are citing 'states rights' as some sort of reason for their foolishness. Well, I've had it up to here with the 'states rights' rhetoric. This is the twenty first century and it's time to remove states altogether. Do we have to show our passport to move between states? Of course not. We're all Americans and that should be enough. Why don't we argue about 'county rights'? Or 'city rights'? it would make as much sense as it does to argue about states rights'. They are simply lines on a map and mean nothing unless you are a congressperson. Think of the duplication of services that we all have to pay for because of the state, county, city bureaucrats. It's time for a change!

What's New

I was wandering and came across a NY Times article that talked about 'Justice', the Harvard University lecture course that is now being web broadcast. The lecturer is Michael Sandel and he is great. Plain and simple...great. And well worth your time to watch.

http://www.justiceharvard.org/

It’s bothering me

After I read the morning news and went through the various blogs this morning, I had this feeling that I was on some sort of runaway train. The throttle is wide open and we're rocketing down the tracks, the passenger cars swaying from side to side as the speed increases. Now substitute our country for the train. Okay, I know I shouldn't let the news get to me like this…it's generated by people who want you to look at their product and not necessarily because they want to inform you. Eyes good, brain bad. I should think about it more carefully before I let the 'runaway train' scare me. For instance, aren't all of the networks in trouble financially? I read that cable is draining them dry. So if they are in that kind of trouble, why would I believe that the news departments are told to search out the truth, no matter what the cost is? Sorry, Walter Cronkite is dead. And it's the same scenario with newspapers, isn't it? Are they hiring investigative reporters to crack open stories that just might offend an advertiser? Or a possible influence peddling Congressman with local clout? I don't think so. I feel the train slowing down.

Now that the 'train' has stopped, the question is…where do we find good, responsible news?

Something I Found

Sarcasm is always fun early in the morning. It gets your brain moving.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Again

The day starts with this piece of news, "The top military commander in Afghanistan warns in a classified assessment of the war there that he needs
additional troops within the next year or else the conflict "will likely result in failure.""

Does any of that sound familiar? I heard it in the 60's and 70's and so it's very clear to me as to the meaning. What it is, is an advance warning of what will be a total failure on our part and the death of thousands of innocents. Afghans and Americans. Very much like what the Soviets experienced when they tried to subdue Afghanistan. In fact, it's exactly the same. Eerie.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear a top administrator say, "We need more books and teachers in Afghanistan. We are getting close to winning the war on poverty there and it will only take a few more million to build colleges and fund new co-ops." But that won't happen, there's too much money to be made from bombs and very little profit in books.

ACORN

CEO 'Outraged' by Behavior of Employees in Prostitute Tapes

I have to agree. Some of these people were acting just like members of Congress. Shameful!

But on the other hand, ACORN hasn't resorted to lying as Congress does. These folks were just telling the truth. And they apparently didn't ask for money for the information. Now a Congressman wouldn't let that opportunity pass him by. Or her.

From A Majority of Two:

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

Here it is again. A Republican lie debunked. How can these people (republicans) show their faces in public without embarrassment? Don't they do any research at all? Is it all off the cuff and let the chips fall where they may? It's shame that Democrats are too classy to shout 'you lie' to these people when it's obvious that they are lying.

From Orcinus

Orcinus

Here's a good story about Canadian health care, you know...the single payer form of health care that we so wisely avoid. No sir! No socialism for us. Anyway, the story has to be a lie from beginning to end. The US of A has the best health care system in the galaxy, certainly not Canada!

And I may hold my breath until I turn blue if you don't agree with me

Dancing is

good for your health!

Found this on Daily KOS

and I wanted to be counted when when it comes to the fight against socialism. Yes sir, count me in! I've already filled mine out so go ahead and use this blank copy to sign your name to this most patriotic document!

I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:

I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.

I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.

I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.

I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:

• Social Security
• Medicare/Medicaid
• State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
• Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
• US Postal Service
• Roads and Highways
• Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
• The US Railway System
• Public Subways and Metro Systems
• Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
• Rest Areas on Highways
• Sidewalks
• All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations)
• Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
• Public and State Universities and Colleges
• Public Primary and Secondary Schools
• Sesame Street
• Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
• Public Museums
• Libraries
• Public Parks and Beaches
• State and National Parks
• Public Zoos
• Unemployment Insurance
• Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
• Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
• Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
• Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
• Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
• Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
• Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies

If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care

I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:

• Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History
• The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
• The government-operated Statue of Liberty
• The Grand Canyon
• The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
• The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
• All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC

I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.

I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.

I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.

I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.

Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.

Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.

SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___.

_____________ _________________________

Signed Printed Name/Town and State

From Rachel Maddow --

Why Do 1/3 of New Jersey Conservatives Think Obama Might Be the Anti-Christ?

Please...watch the video. Mr. Schaeffer paints an all too life-like portrait of the Christian Right wing. Yes, they are very unintelligent, but they are extremely dangerous because of that fact. They left Christianity behind a long time ago and are pursuing an agenda that cannot be argued against...simply because they won't allow arguments. I've seen this happening in the small town that I live near. We even went to their church for a short time. But, my being a questioning sort of guy, I quickly saw that we were not going to be welcome there and we left. Now, one of their leaders has been elected to the city council and that scares the heck out of me. Who will be elected next time? And in how many cities is this happening?

From The Clever Pup:

Say Ahhhh!

"Canada's health care system has its share of problems, (long wait times, doctor shortages)"

Umh...can I tell you about my experiences with long wait times and doctor shortages right here in the US of A? I didn't think so. I know...you've heard it all before and even experienced it yourself. Yet the Wingnuts still claim the US is superior when it comes to health care. Where do these people live? Venus?

Acorn Sting

"Pimp" is Rutgers Alum Who Hates Lucky Charms | NBC New York

I know it's a serious story...but anyone who believed this guy was a 'pimp' really deserves to be fired for 'terminal stupidity' for letting the guy talk for more than a minute without throwing him out. I don't see corruption here at all, just stupid people.

Jimmy Carter...is right

Jimmy Carter gets flak for racism charge against Rep. Joe Wilson - even from White House

As someone who traveled extensively in the rural South during the early years of this century, I can say that once you leave Atlanta or any other large city in the South, you also leave this century...

From Just my little piece of the world:

10 Lessons for Tea Baggers, Hey Wing Nuts.. That Means YOU!:

"Conservative Republicans failed America over the past 30 years and did so without shame or apology using hypocrisy and false equivalency as tools of deceit and revisionist history."

Sadly true...whatever happened to real Republicans?

Traitor

The health care bill has been released…

Baucus is a fool and we have all wasted our money in giving him a salary during the past year. But wait…he doesn't need our money, he works for the insurance industry.

Am I upset over this? Nah!

Browser

I was browsing the Los Angeles Times as I usually do at this hour and I read an article I wanted to share. Well, I went through the usual hoops and then I saw that Firefox and the Times had a new way to share called Share This and so I have tried it. It works OK, but I do have to go back to the post and edit it if I want to add my comments. And then there was the fact that it posted the same article three times in a row. Maybe my fault? I think what I really liked was the fact that a major newspaper had put in a way for bloggers to easily share their articles. That's different. Now, will Share This work on other news sites?

Behind the right's attack on Obama -- latimes.com

Behind the right's attack on Obama -- latimes.com

Posted using ShareThis

From Roger Cohen

an Op-Ed Columnist - Get Real on Health Care - NYTimes.com

This guy lays it out straight and honest and with honest to goodness - logic! Why is this so hard for republicans to understand? Is it because they can't refute anything he says and that makes them cranky and stubborn?

So again, why do republicans hate America?

Venting

I'm getting crabbier each day as I read of the republicans attempt to subvert the health care bills. Without a Public Option we will have no reform at all and the democrats will have failed at the task they were mandated to accomplish. On a personal level, if anyone I'm talking with brings up 'socialism', I'm ending the conversation at that point and telling the person that I will not discuss important matters with the uninformed. Or the stupid. Depending on how crabby I am.

Just recently

I heard, first hand, of a discussion among some local citizens and the discussion centered around the question of whether or not you should trust and obey your government. What scared me, when I heard the responses was that all, except for my lovely wife, were of the opinion that government knew best and should be trusted. What? I simply do not understand their reasoning. First, we have already established, without any doubt, all government officials are quite likely to be liars. President's lie. Yes, they do…and it goes downhill from there. Even Reagan, a terrible liar himself (you could almost see his nose growing), said 'Trust-but verify'. My lovely wife asked the group if they thought Rosa Parks had done something wrong by defying the government? Confusion reigned.

I'm sorry to say, it's actually your patriotic duty to be skeptical of government and what they tell you to do. Governments needs to be tested at all levels and at all times. Complacency breeds disaster.

Child welfare:

The nanny state | The Economist:

"Nine states are well below the group average; these laggards include America. It is not just infant mortality, an essential indicator, in which America lags behind (see chart). Though it has the world’s most expensive health system and spends more per child than most oecd countries, outcomes are poor. Performance falls behind on several indicators, ranging from birth-weight to teenage pregnancies."

We may be just ahead of Mexico and Turkey in infant mortality rates but we don't have any of of that commie pinko socialist health care that Sweden, Japan and that evil minded France have. We're red, white and blue, through and through, even if we have to sacrifice some of our babies to do it.

Better Place

A much Better Place

Interesting concept; your electric car battery is swapped out at 'Battery Stations' by a robotics driven service device as soon as you feel the need for 'fuel'.. Just like going to the gas station. You rent the batteries and are charged by the amount of power you consume. It's rumored that if you use enough power, they will throw in the car for free. Nissan is already making the proper sized battery to fit the battery stations needs. It's a California company but they are working all around the world, just not here in California (that I know of) Didn't some wacko's suggest that California was losing corporations right and left?

Obama

rallies Minneapolis crowd for healthcare reform -- latimes.com:

"'I don't know if you agree with me, but I think the time for bickering is over,' he said. 'The time for games has passed. Now is the time for action. Now is the time to deliver on healthcare for every American.'"

It's getting late. It's time for the President to put all of his efforts into getting a decent health care bill passed and not one that republicans have watered down to a piece of meaningless paper. Yes, I wanted the single payer...and that was thrown away in 'negotiations'. And whoever negotiated it out needs to pack their bags and leave. And whatever happened to Medicare For All? Even the Public Option looks precarious now and if it goes, I'm through. I'm an independent voter and this is not what I gave my money for. No, I will never vote for a republican...I'm not stupid. But I will support the others that run for President because if this health care bill fails we will have a one term President.

Legislative year

ends with a whimper -- latimes.com:

"Sacramento lawmakers adjourn with little progress to pacify a restive public. Key prison and energy efforts got watered down, and the governor plans to veto most of the few bills that did pass."

Getting away with murder. Where is the governor in this? Why isn't he forcing the legislators back into session? He has that power but he doesn't want to offend the few republican friends he has left. They all need to be turned out! Yep, I'm still cranky!

Iraq's freedoms under threat:

Could a police state return? | The Economist:

"“This is the new Iraq.” Legal protections, he noted, count for little. “Power”, he added, “is held by the men with the guns.”"

This is what our trillions of dollars paid for...and we keep paying. But, hey...they get to vote. (as if it makes a difference...Saddam let them vote as well)

With Its Prisons Dangerously Full...

Why Is California Fighting for Custody of a Dying Prisoner Across the Country?

Ya know, I have to get out of this state before I'm crazy...
Is there a sane place anywhere in these United States? A place where intelligent people might gather to discuss and ponder those things that make up 'life'?

Pessimism

It looks like the health reform bill we need is going to be watered down and starved until there is little left to support…unless you are an insurance company. They will love it! Sure, I'm still writing to my Senators and to my idiot congressman, Wally Buffoon. I've heard back from one Senator so far and hope is fading for the rest. Wally Buffoon has even stopped sending me his form letters, does that mean he doesn't love me anymore? Whatever…hope fades.

So many people say that we can't afford to have a single payer option or even the public option. But that's not true. It's a lie. A very minor adjustment to the withholding tax rates (the cut off amount) would provide the money needed. And if they were really the concerned lawmakers that they say they are, they would be going after the obvious; over 70% of all corporations, foreign and domestic, pay no tax at all. None. Zero. Taxes are for peasants to pay. I saw it happen with the company I retired from. Some expeditious changes in the corporate structure and suddenly they were tax free! $6 million dollars in yearly taxes were suddenly the responsibility of the public sector. You and me. The peasants.

Of course all of this makes me very angry with the 'Fourth Estate', the so-called free press. These are the ones that should be calling out the liars and rubbing their noses in it. It used to be their job. It's what they went to journalism school for. Now it's a less than cohesive band of bloggers that are ferreting out the truth and what can they do with it? Sure they publish it on their blogs, but who reads it? Other bloggers. The sad fact is, the majority of the citizens are computer ignorant and they like it that way. They get their news from bobble heads on the 6 O'clock news and they believe every word they hear. They don't even want to verify what they have just been told. Doesn't anyone question anymore?

CIA -

The World Factbook -- Country Comparison :: Current account balance

Something I found while surfing. It's really quite interesting as it is found on the CIA's website and we all know that the CIA doesn't lie...well, not about this stuff.

So start at the top of the page and look at the worlds wealthiest nations; it starts with China which is no surprise. OK, scroll down. Hmmm? Where's the US of A? Keep scrolling. Wow! I bet you didn't know this many nations were on this planet. Keep scrolling. Weird names! Are you sure these are countries? Keep scrolling...ah! There we are at #190. Thank you very much Republicans. With your leadership, we are now poorer than Latvia.

Link to Just Ain't Right, where I think I found this bit of info

From 'Just Ain't Right'

Just Ain't Right:

"During the past 10 (and arguably as much as 28) years since the republicans were in the majority, this country has turned into a near third-world country. We have the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized nation, we are #42 in healthcare for our citizens. We have 45 million uninsured and a healthcare-related bankruptcy every 30 minutes. We have lost more jobs in the past 10 years."

I was wandering around the internet this morning and putting new feeds into my Sage Feed reader. I have to do this every now and then as my tastes change or blog authors go somewhere else. (Where do they go? Is there a rest home for tired bloggers?) Anyway, I was rummaging through Citizen K's list of blogs and found this one. I like it. I like anyone who can put thoughts together in a cogent manner. It's something I'm unable to do on a regular basis; it's a personality thing and all INFP's have the problem. When I feel passionately about something, my mind will not focus on the one thing it needs to and I'm soon mumbling...passionately. So I admire this author and many others of the same bent.

Obama

Speaks to Congress Tonight on Health Care:

"Between 18,000 and 22,000 people die every year for lack of money for treatment. Medicare will run out of funds in eight years. Health care costs will double or, possibly, triple in ten years along with the costs of the private insurance people buy now."

This is the scenario that those who oppose the Public Option want to continue. The deaths of all of those people can be laid at the doorsteps of the Right Wingnuts.

When did we become a nation that didn't care?

Home Again

The family reunion is over and I'm convinced that the great-great grandparents of the Dunn, Zumwalt and Deffebach families would be proud of us all. We live in a world that they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams. And that will happen to our great-great grandchildren as well. Life goes on…

Lake Tahoe was exceptionally beautiful during our visit and life was grand. The children were well behaved as were the adults. We couldn't have asked for a better time during this rare event. Can we do it again? There's talk of doing it at Lake Almanor in the near future and we will have to see if that idea gains traction.

Now that I'm back in front of my normal sized computer monitor, I've been browsing the sites that I usually visit and I see that Ronni Bennett has some good stuff on the health care crisis. She speaks well and she says exactly what I would say if I were as eloquent.

I must admit that I am totally baffled by the public response to the health care proposals. It's as if the citizens have lost their minds, or perhaps they have tumbled down that rabbit hole that Alice did and are now in 'Wonderland' where white is black, right is wrong and idiocy is sanity. Have we all lost our minds? Do we really want insurance companies to own us, body and soul? I for one don't want it and I don't want it for my children and grandchildren. Enough is enough; it's time for reasoned arguments and it's time to push Limbaugh, Beck and others of that mentality back into the holes they came from.

Link to Ronni Bennett

Van Jones quits

"he used a vulgar term to describe Republicans."

You mean they didn't deserve it? Of course they did, so what's the problem?

E-mails

on illegal immigration are eye-opening -- latimes.com

As much as I hate this kind of bottom feeding email, (just reading it gives me the creeps) it's best to read the truth and be prepared when some bozo wants to spread the 'facts' to your mailbox.

Life on the lake

A while ago, perhaps six month ago, my sister decided that 2009 would be a great year for a family reunion and so she went to work on the planning. This is a small family, less than twenty people at the present time but growing; even so, the logistics were challenging. The family is split geographically between Arizona, S. California and N. California. Most members have jobs and free time was minimal. We were the only retired couple and basically free for any schedule.

Short story, she did most of the organizing work before handing off shopping and cooking chores to volunteers and now we are all gathered together in one large house at Lake Tahoe. A 9-bedroom and 7-bath house at the north end of the lake. Truth is, only a few couldn't make it, but most are here and that's quite an accomplishment. Thanks, Kitty!

So here I sit, early in the morning, overlooking a very black lake that will turn a splendid shade of blue in just a few hours. The air is clean and clear and it has a hint of fall in it. Our family lies asleep all around me. I have a cup of coffee and a super fast wireless internet connection. Life is good.

From Bill Moyers Journal

"Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, has been fined a record $2.3 billion dollars as a civil and criminal — yes, that's criminal, as in fraud — penalty for promoting prescription drugs with the subtlety of the Russian mafia. It's the fourth time in a decade Pfizer's been called on the carpet."

Did we really expect otherwise? What would be a surprise, would be for someone (any0ne?) within the ranks of Pfizer to serve any jail time.

From The Economist

Reshaping Cisco: The world according to Chambers

Great article about a fascinating company; Cisco. Who knew that routers and servers could be so much fun to read about. And Mr. Chambers; who will often begin a conversation with these words, “What do you expect from this conversation?” Now that's a great line! But Mr. Chambers is a serious guy and this article tells you just how serious Cisco is in taking the lead in many aspects of digital technology... including Cisco in your home via Flip camcorders that will transmit HD video to your home screen via wireless. Yes, Cisco bought Flip.

What I really enjoyed about the article was the simple fact that new technology is back in the news and in a good way. If I had any money I would buy Cisco stock...

From Citizen K.

Health Care Town Hall Meeting

Even if you don't read the whole article, you need to read these facts...

• 47,000,000 Americans are uninsured, including
• 4,ooo,ooo since the onset of the recession
• 10,000 working families a day lose insurance
• annually, we spend $2.2 trillion (emphasis mine) on health care
• 60% of all U. S. bankruptcies are due at least in part to unpaid medical bills
• 80% of the uninsured work
• the rest of the industrialized world spends $2800 per person annually on health insurance or coverage compared to $6500 in the U.S.
• U.S. life expectancy is below that of Bosnia and Jordan
• as a per cent of the economy, health care costs have risen from 8% in 1980 to 16% today
• without reform, trends indicate that health care costs will be 35% of the economy by 2040

Still, read the article. Then write to those who claim to represent you.

Bill Moyers

Money-Driven Medicine - The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much | Health and Wellness | AlterNet:

"There are at least a dozen countries with lower rates of preventable mortalities than the United States and not one of those countries spends 60 percent of what we do on health care."

Item: I have a bone growth stimulator that I have worn ever since my surgery. It's a fairly simple looking device that connects to a couple of adhesive pads that allow a small current of electricity to flow between them and stimulate the bone. The device is plastic and is the size of a deck of cards. 1/3 of that size is a battery. Cost? A little over $4,000.

Innocent but Dead - NYTimes.com

"Cameron Todd Willingham, who refused to accept a guilty plea that would have spared his life, and who insisted until his last painful breath that he was innocent, had in fact been telling the truth all along."

How many others? When are we going to stop this barbaric practice that accomplishes nothing?

"...the state fire marshal who investigated the case and testified against Willingham “seems to be wholly without any realistic understanding of fires.” He said the marshal’s approach seemed to lack “rational reasoning” and he likened it to the practices “of mystics or psychics.”

From Time Goes By

and Saul Friedman : Trusts

Mr. Friedman does a great job here in exposing some simple truths that are being ignored by the American news media.

What I don't understand and never will, is why so many Americans believe that corporations have their best interests at heart. No. No. And no. Corporation's exist to make money and that is their only goal. Why would they care about your well being if it's going to impact the profit picture in some negative manner? They don't and they won't. The truth is all around us, but you will have to do some reading and investigating on your own; the news media has abandoned that responsibility and has moved on to more serious matters, such as the death of Michael Jackson or something equally important, and Lord knows, that certainly impacts us all!

Station fire

claims 18 homes and two firefighters -- latimes.com

It's tragic. And what is more tragic is the fact that these fires continue year after year with the same results. I grew up down in S. Cal and all of these names, Big Tujunga, Glendora, Acton, etc, are familiar to me because there were always fires there...and I'm 69 years old. You would think that after all of these years of tragedy, someone might have a clue as to where and how to build in these foothills.Easpecially because the fuel for these fires grows back every single year, without fail. And without fail, humaqns continue to ignore the obvious.

It's Tom again...

Why We Don't Need A Consumer Financial Protection Agency (Comics)

From AARP -

Where We Stand: Health Reform—The Time to Act Is Now

"many of you have expressed confusion, skepticism and even fear about what Congress is proposing.

These concerns are understandable."

I know that AARP is trying to talk nice to all of its members, but isn't it time for tough talk? The fact is it is not understandable that Americans are quite willing to be led by the noisy, ignorant and evil among us. Aren't these Americans able to read? Personally, I'm disgusted that we have come this far and we still have people who will not take the time to study the most important legislation that they will see in their lifetimes. And take the time, all of five minutes, to let their Representatives and Senators know what their feelings are on this most vital legislation.

Some

Roman Catholic Bishops Assail Health Plan - NYTimes.com

Shame on them! All fat and cozy with a health plan they don't pay for...yet they presume to tell the 'faithful' that health care for all is 'dangerous'. These men are evil!

From 'From This Corner'

Big time for Wally

Unbelievable! This buffoon (Wally Herger) is MY representative. Can I divorce him? Can I put a notice in the paper that says I'm not responsible for anything he says? Unfortunately, I live in a "RED' county and there are enough local buffoons around to reelect him every time...mainly because the Democratic Party won't spend a dime to help his opponents. They think it's wasted money. Well, we'll never know for sure unless they spend some, will we?

How depressing

I just read about the increase in the ten year estimate of the national debt...now it will be $9 trillion dollars. Hey! Let's make an even $10 trillion as that is what it will be after we get bogged down in the Afghan War. Doesn't anyone read their history books? Anyone? Afghanistan has defeated the worlds largest forces since recorded history began. Why and how are we going to change that? If you want to change Afghanistan, you have to do it with aid and education, not bombs. But, I'm talking to myself...

Another thought; didn't we have a surplus in the national debt when Dubya took over? Yes we did. Now, eight and a half years later we have his mess to clean up. Can we bill him for it?

Am I the only one...

that is wondering what is happening with our President and the health care bills? I did my part, I wrote and emailed my representatives and my Senators.(representatives don't deserve capitalization) and I let them know where I stood on the Public Option. Now where is the President? Where's the BIG SPEECH? Where is the concerted effort to get this passed? Sigh. Maybe we really are a nation of nincompoops an this is what we deserve.

An Editorial -

About Your 401(k) - NYTimes.com

Personal story; back in the good old days of the stock market, I worked for a corporation that offered a 401(k) program. Odd, but in the branch office where I worked, very few of us used the maximum amount of salary option (10%). Most people were afraid of the stock market because they didn't understand it and were reluctant to put a good sized chunk of their salary into something so mysterious. (These were educated 'white collar' folks) And there were a good number of people who used the 401(k) as a piggy bank by taking out loans against the principal whenever they felt like shopping. Their investments usually totaled up to 0. The corporation didn't offer 'training programs' to help people understand how these investments worked and so most never switched stocks when the stocks began to underperform. They just sat and watched the value dribble away.

Now it's all coming down around them...Thank you, Republican leaders.

California's overcrowded prisons:

Gulags in the sun From The Economist

An excellent article that describes how the legislators made every possible mistake in their so called 'war on crime'.

What If

Democrats Behaved More Like Republicans?

Comics from Tom Tomorrow

Republican Virginia Foxx:

Health Reform Is a 'Distraction'

A very mean lady who doesn't know the Constitution at all...aren't Virginian's embarrassed by her?

Terror from the Right

75 Plots, Conspiracies and Racist Rampages Since Oklahoma City

Tough reading material for early in the morning, but what struck me were the incredibly short sentences these would be murderers/terrorists received. Now if they had been caught selling marijuana in California, they would be put away for life!

I've done it again

I spent the last hour writing to my two Senators, Boxer and Feinstein, and to my Congressman, Wally Herger. It's not easy writing to them as their websites make it appear that you're sending your email to a circular file. I could be slightly paranoid about this, after all, I'm communicating with a politician and that doesn't give anyone a warm and fuzzy feeling.

I was writing to them about my concerns regarding the Public Option in any health care bill that is considered. I want it. I'm almost 69 years old and I have health care that works beautifully. It's a combination of Medicare and AARP supplemental. I'm lucky that I can afford the supplemental, but even without it, Medicare saves lives in more ways than one. Physical, emotional and financial lives are saved. Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to share this kinde of health care with my children and grandchildren? Of course not!

And right now, the Public Option is the only way I can see that my children and grandchildren will be able to see affordable health care in their lifetimes. The health insurance industry is fighting this with all their might and all because they want no competition. 3 or 4 of the major insurers have 90% of the business. And these are the same people who are making decisions for your health care. When you need an operation/procedure, guess who makes the decision to allow it? The cost analyst. I would prefer a federal bureaucrat over a cost analyt any time!

Anyway, back to the letters; this will be the second one to Feinstein and the fourth one to Herger. Boxer has only received one from me. But...more will follow. It sometimes seems pointless, especially when you receive the same form letter in reply, 3 times (Herger) but I know it's being recorded somewhere and assigned a value...so many for and so many against. And political creatures will sell their souls to be on the 'right' side.

I guess that's all we can do...write letters. Join me.

From Time Goes By

Everything you need to know...

About health care reform from and for people who are directly affected by the lack of reform. That's you and that's me and everyone in between.

Pizza, anyone? Anyone?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Too good! And oh, so, clear!

Be a pal to your children

TV-B-Gone Kit

Stop the dumbing down of America! Support education! You can make a difference! (and for only $20 and a little bit of time)

Mr. Taxman

I was thinking about taxes again. And I was thinking about the number of people in this country. So let's say we can't get our legislators to fix the loopholes that allow so many corporations to avoid paying any taxes at all. And since so many Americans are quite content to let those thieves stay in the office we elected them to…it's probably time to think about the tax increase option as a way of making things right. It's been projected that the number of households in America will be 115 million by next year. The population is expected to be around 310 million people. So let's say we ask everyone to give $10 a year. That's $
3,100,000,000. That is a lot of money for just a ten dollar bill per year. And if we raised it to $20 a year. Twenty bucks for a year. That's like a nickel a day…and we could have twice as much. So let's stop right there. Now we ask the Federal government to save that much each year. C'mon, it's easy. Don't build 2 F-22's and they have made their contribution. Now we're talking about some serious money and it could be used for us! Yes, things like healthcare and education. Especially education! If we can't educate people, we'll never see a change in health care. And we can do it for twenty bucks. Or ask our legislators to do it for free! You know, do the job they were elected to do, not to play partisan games while taking lobbyists money.

Reading Material

I've been reading some Op Ed pieces in the New York Times and I have been startled…no disgusted is a better word. The subject of the two articles I read was elders and health care costs. Both authors were of the opinion that the crisis in health care has come about because we spend too much money on health care for Grandma and Grandpa. Not one sentence, not one word was wasted on exploring the idea that there might be other costs that have brought about this 'crisis'. Pharmaceutical companies were not mentioned nor were the health insurance companies. The fact that our health care system is outdated wasn't mentioned; yes, patient records are still on paper and not digitized. I've heard rumors that collusion and scams cost Medicare millions of dollars a year, but that wasn't mentioned in the article either. It was all about us, the elders, who are the cause of it all. Think about it…we are.

Ranting

I can't believe it at times. Doesn't anyone know how easy it would be to take all of the problems away from Medicare and Social Security? (problems that are way overblown) It's simple, you raise taxes. It really is that simple. But, you say we are overtaxed already? Not even close! America ranks somewhere in the middle of industrialized countries when it comes to taxation. And if you don't like taxing yourself, how about fixing all of the loopholes that allow about 70% of all corporations in this country to pay no tax at all. 70%...no taxes. Do you have any idea as to how much money that would be? I don't know, but I feel like it ought to be a substantial number. But, back to taxes for you and me; we need to pay taxes to pay for all of the things we want. Gosh, that's simple. If we see that taxes are going to squeeze us a little, we should first look at how that money is being spent and how well our Representatives are doing in their job of safeguarding our tax money. Again, that's simple. That's Finance 101; it's what we do with our own finances. Or should. But what are they doing with that tax money? We don't have clue. We don't even know our Representatives name. So we're easy victims when the kooks and idiots start ranting and raving about the impending peril of 'socialism' if we should want to give ourselves a break with the 'Public Option' in health care. Please, Lord, save us from ourselves…

 

I had to include it...

American Ignorance

From Time Goes By, Read it and Weep

Healthcare rationing?

: Real scary -- a piece by Newt Gingrinch - latimes.com

Yes, I added the question mark in the title above. Because, as he is forced to admit...there is no rationing in the proposed bills. Then he uses conjecture and 'facts' without any validity. for instance, he says that medicare will be bankrupt within ten years. "Consider Medicare, which is projected to go broke within the decade." Who projected it? Newt? He provides no evidence to support that claim because there is none. On and on it goes, one rumor after another purporting to be fact.

Here is what I think is the real danger we are seeing; where are the younger supporters for universal health care? I already have my health care, Medicare, and it works. And I paid for it by working for the past 48 years. And some of that time I was working to support others who weren't lucky enough to have full time jobs or maybe no job at all. That is what societies are supposed to do. If we don't take care of each other, what kind of society is that?...

Op-Ed Contributor to the NYTimes

Why We Need Health Care Reform - written by our President, for NYTimes.com

It's a measured and respectful piece. It isn't meant excite you, it's meant to make you think. Something we all should be doing.

So...why is it that there hasn't been one single Republican voice of moderation during this time where crackpots rule the TV stations and we see people shouting down speakers who only ask them to think? Why not indeed? Does this silence from the right mean that these Republican leaders have decided to cast their lot with the wacko's? Why would they do that? I guess they do hate America...

John Mackey?

The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare - WSJ.com

Well, it is on the Opinion page. And like most people, John has one. But that's all. This guy has put together every falsehood and half truth there is and called it an article. Of course I should have known what kind of an article it was when I saw the quote by Margaret Thatcher. She had the same kind of mentality that Ronald Reagan had; in fact they were great pals. Now they are has beens and thoroughly discredited.

I heard a rumor that Whole Foods may be boycotted because of this article...I sure hope so!

Indeed!

A word or two for those idiots who blather on and on about how adopting health care regulations that would provide care for all Americans is a sure path to Socialism. Get over it! Socialism is part of American life and has been for as long as we have been a nation. To say otherwise means you don't have a clue as to the history of the nation. As soon as we constituted an army for ourselves, we became a little bit socialistic. A postal service? Even more. Fire departments. Police departments. And the big one? Public education. That put us over the top and we joined the ranks of all the other socialistic nations in the world. But, I speak in vain. These idiots are beyond redemption.

Compare International Medical Bills

Compare International Medical Bills is an interactive database of health care costs by country. No, we're not the best. Not even close, though we spend the most.

"...the end, when all costs are added up, Americans spend more money on health care per person with fewer people covered. (Data most recent available as of July 2008.)"

So why are the Republicans lying about this? Again. Why do they have a problem with the truth? You would think that they would be ashamed...but they're not.

(Well, we have been worried for years about the 'dumbing down' of America. We don't have to worry anymore. It's happened.)

Thousands

Line Up for Promise of Free Health Care - NYTimes.com

But wait, no one in America could possibly need 'free' healthcare...

New

New post on Short Laps

Wealth for the Common Good

Campaign: Reverse the Tax Cuts

Some pretty smart people here...we need more of them!

A Letter to Me

My Congressman, Mr. Wally Herger replied to my recent email to his office. In that email I had informed him that I was interested in seeing him support single payer health care or an extension of the very successful Medicare program.

Here is his reply and my comments.

"Thank you for contacting me regarding the health care system in the United States. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts on this important issue.

With health care costs rapidly rising and approximately 45 million Americans lacking health insurance, it is clear that our nation's health system is in need of major reforms. However, I would respectfully suggest that a "single payer" or "universal Medicare" model is not the best way to fix what is wrong with health care in America. I believe most Americans want decisions about their medical care to be made by their physician, not by a distant federal bureaucracy that is unfamiliar with their personal situation.
In other countries that have adopted a single-payer system, such as Canada, people face long waiting lists for medical care and talented physicians are leaving the program.

Notice that Wally repeats lies that are a standard part of the Republican assault on health care. I wouldn't say that he lies, but I would say that he doesn't check his facts very well. Perhaps he is an elder and should consider retirement? Anyway…

One, I use Medicare and decisions about my medical care are made by my doctor and myself. A doctor that I freely chose. There is not even a hint of a 'distant federal bureaucracy' involved in my health care.

Two, Other countries that have adopted a single payer system do not have the problems that Mr. Herger noted. He is simply repeating a lie without even checking to see if anything he says is accurate. It isn't.

The potential problems with a government-run health system can also be seen here in California with the Medi-Cal program, where low-income individuals have nominal coverage but often can't get the care they need. Health care providers often refuse to accept Medi-Cal patients because the program pays too little to cover the cost of providing services, while some rural hospitals that do treat Medi-Cal beneficiaries are losing so much money that they may be forced to close their doors altogether.

Three, The Medi-Cal problems are not in any way connected to Medicare. Both are government run systems, but one is run by a state that can't handle any of its problems. They are simply apples and oranges. I have no idea as to why Mr. Herger inserted this little bit of disinformation except for the possibility he wished to misinform. Possible?

Rather than creating a single-payer system, I believe Congress should look for ways to leverage competition and market forces to lower the cost of health care. Today, it is very difficult for Americans to find reliable cost and quality information about health care providers. We need to change this, in part through adoption of health information technology, which may itself be able to save over $100 billion per year to the system. And I believe we need to encourage state governments to develop innovative solutions to the problem of covering the uninsured.

Four, "…leverage competition and market forces…" That's exactly what we've been dealing with for the past 40+ years. That's why we're in the trouble we are in. Private health care providers make the medical decisions and not doctors. Disgusting. Thousands of people are forced out of private plans when it appears that they might actually be sick. Disgusting. Why do we have the highest health care costs in the whole world if competition and market forces are at play and have been for those 40+ years? Disgusting.

Finally, I believe Congress should reform the tax code to make it easier for individuals to obtain health insurance when their employers do not provide it. Almost everyone agrees that the current system, under which employer-provided health insurance is tax-free but individuals who purchase their own insurance must do so with post-tax dollars, is fundamentally unfair, although there is less agreement on the best way to fix it. As the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, I will keep your views in mind as I continue working for reforms that improve the quality, affordability, and accessibility of health care.

Five, 'reform the tax code' is pie in the sky and Mr. Herger knows it. I want health care fixed for all Americans and I want it now, not in the distant future.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future regarding this or any other federal issue important to you. In addition, I would like to invite you to visit my website at www.house.gov/herger where you can find additional information on my position on a variety of issues and sign up for occasional e-mail updates on the federal issues important to you.

You Say Tomato...

I just realized that I hadn't done any tomato pics this year. So I grabbed my camera...

This is what shows up on the counter every other day.

OK, that one looks a little ratty, but that's what happens when they hide from the picker.

From Time Goes By...

Crooks and Liars, Wackos and Cheats

The Crabby Old Lady says it all this morning and you don't want to miss it...

Hundreds Hurt

in 11-Hour California Prison Riot - NYTimes.com:

"A federal three-judge court ruled last week that crowding and poor health care were to blame for one avoidable inmate death each week and that the system was “impossible to manage.”"

It's too bad they don't arrest the parties responsible for this...the California Legislature; both sides. Or better yet, put them in charge. Give them the keys and walk away.

Health care

protests 'clearly being orchestrated,' senator says - CNN.com:

Civil discourse is not on the agenda when these health care 'Swiftboaters' show up. What I don't understand is this...where is the Sergeant-At-Arms at these events? It appears that no one is in charge and yet we know that this kind of behavior wouldn't be tolerated at the City Hall or the County Supervisors meetings, not even the John Birch Society would allow these kinds of disruptions. Again, why is it allowed?

"Both Durbin and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, signaled the precarious status of any 'public option'"

I have a feeling that we're being sold down the river on the 'public option' and it's beginning to look like the asylum is being run by the inmates. But, hope springs eternal...

Obama’s Embrace

of a Bush Tactic Riles Congress - NYTimes.com:

"Mr. Obama called Mr. Bush’s use of signing statements an “abuse,”"

Shame on him! Personally, I feel insulted by this President. He took my vote and then does this...a direct power grab by the President. And he's a Constitutional Law professor? There is nothing at all Constitutional about 'signing statements'. They were illegal when Bush used them and they are illegal now.

From Just my little piece of the world:

Rachel Maddow Investigates the Grass Roots Protests

You really should view this video. Listen carefully as it tells you everything you need to know about those who are attacking any revision to our current health care plan.

I stole it...

From the Unsilent Generation

BigPharma CEO Salaries

Try and ignore the Snap previews on this page (what a bother!) and just look at the salaries and then consider drug prices in America. Yes, we pay the very most among all the nations and yet we are somewhere around 14th or 17th in the world in quality of healthcare.

Fascinating

I was just reading that the American public is evenly divided in their support/disapproval of torture. This is in a country that self reports itself as over 75% 'Christian'. Apparently 50% of these 'Christians' know a different Jesus. I don't think I want to know that one...

CN&R

From the Edge

Anthony Peyton Porter and his take on current subjects.

(I love this guys style of writing!)

Finally

Sonia Sotomayor is confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice. Maybe justice will have a chance now…

Bad Decision

Darn. I made the unfortunate decision to upgrade my Firefox browser to version 3.5. A major version upgrade. Everything went wrong and now I'm trying to fix it. As far as I can tell, I can't download the older version I was used to and so I'm stuck with Internet Explorer 8 for the time being. And that browser doesn't treat RSS feeds as well as Firefox did. Plus, I have to rebuild my list of favorites. OK, that may be a good thing, the old list had a lot of duds and broken links that I had never cleaned out of it.

Back to the drawing board…

Wandering

I usually avoid reading the comments on blogs that allow Anonymous posting, but every once in awhile I get curious about what someone might be saying and so I wandered into an Alaskan blog and after enjoying the post, I began to read the comments. I was rewarded! For someone used the phrase 'Miss Quittypants' to describe you know who. It was perfect! Then, I decided to see what Google would make of the name. I Googled it and there it was, down at the bottom of the first page. It was seen mostly on Alaskan blogs and I even found a swell variation; 'Buttercup Quittypants'. You have to like that! Anyway, I'm just trying to spread it around in the lower 48. Doing my little bit. Alaska shouldn't keep it to themselves, it wouldn't be fair.

Should We Ban Tobacco?

From AlterNet:

"'I covered the Vietnam War. I remember the lies that were told, the lives that were lost -- and the shock when, 20 years after the war ended, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara admitted he knew it was a mistake all along. …

'And I cannot help but wonder how many more lives, and how much more money, will be wasted before another Robert McNamara admits what is plain for all to see: The war on drugs is a failure.'"

Words from Walter Cronkite...

Limbaugh

is still relevant - CNN.com

Danger. Scary stuff here!

Congress' own healthcare benefits

Membership has its privileges - Los Angeles Times:

"'If every member of Congress put their heads on their pillow every night like I do . . . knowing this could be the night I lose my house, we'd fix healthcare in a week,'"

That's from Representative Steve Kagen of Wisconsin, the ONLY Representative that spurned the healthcare packages available for members of the House and bought his own. (1 out of 435)

"He will continue, he said in an interview, until every American can enjoy the same coverage as federal lawmakers."

That's my kind of Representative...

Another from the CN&R

From the Edge

Mr. Porter gets it right again. And I've been to that SSA office that he describes so well. Sat in those same chairs and had the same thoughts...

CN&R

Fair wages help small business

Here's a guy that knows what he's talking about...

Says it all...

Found on Just My Little Piece of the World

U.S. Adviser’s Blunt Memo on Iraq - Time ‘to Go Home’ - NYTimes.com

- Time ‘to Go Home’ - NYTimes.com:

"...it is time “for the U.S. to declare victory and go home.”

Does this mean it's time to have a parade?

Somehow it just doesn't seem appropriate...

Senators

Seek Ban on Texting While Driving - NYTimes.com

A classic example of Senators doing nothing while appearing to be busy on behalf of the nation. They get their 5 minutes of face time on television for the sake of their constituents while ignoring the fact that there is no way to enforce this law. Even if there were, they won't include the money to do it. Bah!

New Poll

Finds Growing Unease on Health Plan - NYTimes.com

Brilliant. The rest of the world has to be laughing at us as we let media talking heads and polls lead us on our way to becoming a third rate nation.

"Over all, the poll portrays a nation torn by conflicting impulses and confusion." Confusion? No, ignorance!

Tomatoes

I was reading a post on the "Life on Peach Eater Creek" blog and found a link to this site, The Tomato Man's Daughter. I can't drive that far (Tulsa) just to get a tomato plant and it doesn't look like they sell seeds, but this site sure makes for good reading! And dreaming...

Unbelievable

I was just reading the headlines and I saw that President Obama is losing 'clout' on the health care issue. According to the article, many Americans would rather believe the lies they hear about health care than actually read what is being proposed. (Does this have anything to do with the crisis in our education system?)

I have a bad feeling about this. If the Republicans manage to deceive the American public, we can look forward to a continuation of our slide downward in the rankings among nations when it comes to health care. We're no longer the world's leader in health care; in fact, we haven't been for quite awhile...the last time I looked I think we were 14th.

The only good thing I see is the fact that I will be dead before our health care reaches the level of third world countries, or I hope I will be!

Odds and Ends

I just saw this a few minutes ago…

Microsoft and Yahoo Reach Deal on Search

Microsoft Corporation and Yahoo announced on Wednesday that
they had agreed to collaborate on Internet search and
advertising, in a challenge to Google's dominance.

I don't see this going anywhere. It's all about 'look and feel' and Google does that best. I've always been turned off by Yahoo and MS because of their 'look' and how they interface with the user, the 'feel'. But, that's just me…

The best part of this is the competition, users on both sides profit from it. Have you used Bing? I like it and it's an MS product. I can hardly wait to see what Google will do to up the ante.