I previously posted "Health Care.....is it a right or a privilege?" and "How the government saved my family" on a couple of other open blogs, to see if I could drum up some interest in my blog. In the Health Care piece, I wondered if a cousin of mine had health care coverage. A few people accused her of not contributing to society; one even suggested that I should pay for her health care. In the government piece, someone questioned my father's decisions, which I took as an attack on my family. My response to him was "Do not base your judgements of my family based on what you would have done. We are not all alike."
It seems to me that people are too eager to judge other people, based on how they would handle a situation. But people are not all alike. They do not start at the same point in life. They do not all have the same life skills. And sometimes......sometime people just do stupid things that they normally would not do. Trust me, I know.
Four years ago my 82-year old mom, 2 sisters, niece, 10-month old great-nephew and I visited my sister and her family in Florida. They lived on 12 acres, amongst orange groves and palmetto trees. There were also alligators, flying bats, and bobcats. And snakes. Now, we live in the city, so we don't get close to wild animals unless we're in the woods. So for the first few days, we were always on the look-out. Always on guard. After we realized these critters weren't going to bother us, we relaxed. One hot afternoon we walked down the road to a neighbor's house to swim in their pool. On the way back to my sister's, as we casually strolled along the gravel path, we heard a noise in the bushes. Then a loud rustle of branches and the sound of feet running towards us. We all screamed, turned and ran in the other direction. My 82-year-old mother, sisters, niece, nephews, and me. We all ran.....and left my 10-month old great-nephew sitting alone in his stroller.
Fortunately, the noise was a dog inside a fenced yard. But what if it hadn't been?
I know without a doubt that all of us would have given our lives for that little boy. This was not our normal reaction. But for some reason, at that particular moment, our instincts told us to run when we heard the noise. We didn't run far, and would have had enough time to grab the stroller before a wild animal appeared.....but still......we all ran.
Let's try not to second guess some one's decisions in life unless we've had a chance to walk in their shoes.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
For Heterosexual Eyes Only
When did you decide you were straight?
Was there a moment in your life that caused you to want go live the life of a heterosexual? Were you an 8-year old girl with a best friend who dropped you for a more popular girl in school? Did you say to yourself "I'll show her! When I grow up, I'll get married to someone who looks like my dad"? Or were you a 7-year old boy who fought with your best friend about who got to be the pitcher in a baseball game? You went away and pouted, vowing to find a wife when you were old enough. Were you thinking about being gay, but then you had a crush on your new heterosexual teacher? Or maybe a happy heterosexual couple moved next door to your family, and you said "I want to be straight....just like them".
Do you remember when you made that decision?
You never decided? You were always that way? You always knew you were who you were? Is that what you're telling me? Well, every gay person I know has told me the same about themselves......they were always that way.....they just always knew.
Why would someone deliberately choose a life that generates so much scorn from people? (I'm sure there are some who do, but I think that's uncommon.) Many gays I know have tried living as a straight person, and even wished they were straight. But they can't, any more than I can suddenly become gay. I think we are just born that way.
One of the most compelling books I've read on this subject is called As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl, by John Colapinto. It's a true story about identical twin boys, Brian and Bruce Reimer, who were born in Canada in 1965. A botched circumcision on Bruce resulted in a decision to physically change him into a girl, who they named Brenda. A psychiatrist named Dr. Money used Brenda as an experiment, trying to prove that sexuality was a result of nurture, not nature. But it didn't work. Brenda always felt different, and never felt like a girl. In 1980, Brenda was told the truth, and is now living the life of a man. It's a sad story about Brenda's struggle to fit in, always knowing that she was different. And it's a disturbing story about how the adults tried to make Bruce/Brenda live the life they wanted him to live.
Comments?
Was there a moment in your life that caused you to want go live the life of a heterosexual? Were you an 8-year old girl with a best friend who dropped you for a more popular girl in school? Did you say to yourself "I'll show her! When I grow up, I'll get married to someone who looks like my dad"? Or were you a 7-year old boy who fought with your best friend about who got to be the pitcher in a baseball game? You went away and pouted, vowing to find a wife when you were old enough. Were you thinking about being gay, but then you had a crush on your new heterosexual teacher? Or maybe a happy heterosexual couple moved next door to your family, and you said "I want to be straight....just like them".
Do you remember when you made that decision?
You never decided? You were always that way? You always knew you were who you were? Is that what you're telling me? Well, every gay person I know has told me the same about themselves......they were always that way.....they just always knew.
Why would someone deliberately choose a life that generates so much scorn from people? (I'm sure there are some who do, but I think that's uncommon.) Many gays I know have tried living as a straight person, and even wished they were straight. But they can't, any more than I can suddenly become gay. I think we are just born that way.
One of the most compelling books I've read on this subject is called As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl, by John Colapinto. It's a true story about identical twin boys, Brian and Bruce Reimer, who were born in Canada in 1965. A botched circumcision on Bruce resulted in a decision to physically change him into a girl, who they named Brenda. A psychiatrist named Dr. Money used Brenda as an experiment, trying to prove that sexuality was a result of nurture, not nature. But it didn't work. Brenda always felt different, and never felt like a girl. In 1980, Brenda was told the truth, and is now living the life of a man. It's a sad story about Brenda's struggle to fit in, always knowing that she was different. And it's a disturbing story about how the adults tried to make Bruce/Brenda live the life they wanted him to live.
Comments?
Monday, November 24, 2008
Happy Birthday Mom!
Today would have been my mother's 86th birthday.
She died suddenly on June 5, 2007. We all miss her, but are thankful that she was able to leave this earth the way she had hoped to.....not being hooked to machines, and not being forced to live in pain.
As we approach Thanksgiving Day, a day that was sometimes her birthday, I am thankful that I do not have to say "I wish I could have spent more time with her". My mother was a simple woman, but also someone who truly appreciated all she had in life. What she appreciated most was her family. A few years ago I made a video of her life to give to her great-grandchildren. When I asked her what her favorite memories were, she said "Watching my children grow up". Family was always important to her, and she passed that down to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
My mother was a real trooper. We could get her to do anything, go anywhere. And go anywhere, we did. We went to the Oregon Coast and rode bicycles on the beach. We went camping. We spent weekends in SunRiver. More than once we went to Florida and Wisconsin to visit relatives. We went to Las Vegas. We had sleepovers.
She dressed in costumes and sang silly songs. She danced to YMCA at her granddaughter's wedding. She made funny videos with her grandsons. She played catch with her great-grandson.....even while using a cane.
Three months before my mother died, my niece had a birthday party for her 2-year old daughter. She wanted us to have a slumber party afterwards....with just the girls....her grandma included. My sister and her granddaughter from Florida surprised us all by jumping out of a giant present. My mom was using a walker at the time, but she stayed overnight and sang karaoke with us. My favorite memory is of three of her great-grandhcildren arguing over who got to help her down the stairs.
My mother was very patriotic, a life-long Democrat, and I don't think she ever missed an election. She loved participating in the 4th of July Parade, and continuously won 1st Place in the costume contest. She was not a feminist, but was awed by successful women. She love reading biographies of famous women. When we buried her, we noticed how fitting it was that her grave was next to a female doctor. Mom would have been delighted.
My siblings and I decided early on that it was important to spend time with my mom. We were lucky, because she was fun and easy to be around. But when we were planning one trip, one member of my family said she couldn't afford to go. Another member told her "You can't afford NOT to go".
I am very thankful that I appreciated my mom while she was still alive. Please do not let it be too late for any of you.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Where did they think we were all the time?
When my nephew was 13 years old, he had open heart surgery. Thank goodness his mother, my sister, had good medical insurance. Many people do not. It was a routine doctor's check-up that discovered the irregularity in his heart beat. Since they live on the other side of the country with no other relatives close by, one of my sisters and I flew out to offer our support.
The surgery went well, and within a day, he was anxious to get moving. I imagine that's what 13 year old boys must be like. His mom, brother, step-father, a couple of friends, and two aunts spent many hours in his hospital room playing games and making him laugh. But what he really wanted was some fresh air. A couple of days we took him in his wheel chair down the elevator to an outside courtyard for a picnic lunch.
Now, this is a very good children's hospital. One of the best in the country. Another wing of the hospital is separated by an underground tunnel. One day, while my nephew was napping, everyone wanted to get something to eat at the other wing. We had gotten tired of the hospital food we had been eating for the past few days. We didn't want my nephew to wake up all alone, so I decided to stay in his room. When he woke up, he wanted to know where everyone had gone. Being 13 years old, he said "let's go find them".
So, I put him in his wheel chair and off we went. Down an elevator, though a darkened tunnel, up another elevator, and across a lobby. When we finally met up with the others, we laughed all the way back to his hospital room.
After about 4 days, my sister and I had to fly home. As we were wheeling my nephew to an elevator, a nurse walked by and asked where we were going. "I'm taking my son downstairs so he can say good-bye to his aunts", my sister said. "Oh, no", the nurse replied. "He just had heart surgery. He's not supposed to leave the floor."
Oops.
I'm happy to report that fourteen years later, my nephew is happy, healthy and doing well, despite our shenanigans.
The surgery went well, and within a day, he was anxious to get moving. I imagine that's what 13 year old boys must be like. His mom, brother, step-father, a couple of friends, and two aunts spent many hours in his hospital room playing games and making him laugh. But what he really wanted was some fresh air. A couple of days we took him in his wheel chair down the elevator to an outside courtyard for a picnic lunch.
Now, this is a very good children's hospital. One of the best in the country. Another wing of the hospital is separated by an underground tunnel. One day, while my nephew was napping, everyone wanted to get something to eat at the other wing. We had gotten tired of the hospital food we had been eating for the past few days. We didn't want my nephew to wake up all alone, so I decided to stay in his room. When he woke up, he wanted to know where everyone had gone. Being 13 years old, he said "let's go find them".
So, I put him in his wheel chair and off we went. Down an elevator, though a darkened tunnel, up another elevator, and across a lobby. When we finally met up with the others, we laughed all the way back to his hospital room.
After about 4 days, my sister and I had to fly home. As we were wheeling my nephew to an elevator, a nurse walked by and asked where we were going. "I'm taking my son downstairs so he can say good-bye to his aunts", my sister said. "Oh, no", the nurse replied. "He just had heart surgery. He's not supposed to leave the floor."
Oops.
I'm happy to report that fourteen years later, my nephew is happy, healthy and doing well, despite our shenanigans.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
This is for Stwo...or whoever else finds this funny
Stwo, you commented on my Junk Jivin' post that you found a brand-new pair of overalls with a 'free' sign on them. Can you beat this purchase by my niece and sister-in-law?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Junk Jivin'
I've had a week of slams from Ann Coulter followers.....and opened up my family saga to complete strangers, so I thought I'd break for something lighter. This time, I'll expose my husband's family quirks.
My husband's family is the Master of Yard Sales. The Junkin' Giants. They know how to find a good deal, and how to turn some one's useless throwaway into a treasured gem. I don't know how they have the knack for doing it, but they do. It's a badge of honor to find a good deal and brag about it. And I'm not talking about tacky stuff. I mean good stuff. 1950's patio furniture by the side of the road with a "Free " sign attached. Old cars. Bikes. Antique furniture. A barn full of old beauty salon equipment. If it's broken, they fix it. If they can't use it, they'll give it to someone who can.
They don't do this because they can't afford to buy nice things. They do it....well...they do it because they can.
Family gatherings in their upstate NY hometown always include an afternoon of what they call 'Junkin'. We all hop in cars and set out to find the best deals at the local second hand shops, antiques stores, and yard sales. The first time I went on one of these excursions, I followed his sisters around....picking up tips....learning the trade. I learned that you dig through the stuff that no one else wants. That's where you find the gem....something that was overlooked. Something you can tell others later on "I got it for two bucks!"
One of the last Junkin' excursions before my mother-in-law died was one I will remember the most. My husband was driving the car, with his mother in front with him, and his two sisters in the back seat with me. We were heading down 15th Street on our way to the highway, when the two sisters shouted out in unison "Stop the car! There's a yard sale!" We stopped in front of a white house with chairs, tables, and a sofa on the lawn. My in-laws scanned the yard and then spotted the boxes on the porch. That's it! That's the good stuff. The five of us pulled clothes and other items out of the boxes, oohing and aahing our finds. After about 10 minutes a man appeared at the door. "How much is this?" my 80 year-old mother-in-law asked, as she held up a cashmere sweater. The man eyed each one of us slowly. "This isn't a yard sale" he said. "I'm just moving in".
My husband's family is the Master of Yard Sales. The Junkin' Giants. They know how to find a good deal, and how to turn some one's useless throwaway into a treasured gem. I don't know how they have the knack for doing it, but they do. It's a badge of honor to find a good deal and brag about it. And I'm not talking about tacky stuff. I mean good stuff. 1950's patio furniture by the side of the road with a "Free " sign attached. Old cars. Bikes. Antique furniture. A barn full of old beauty salon equipment. If it's broken, they fix it. If they can't use it, they'll give it to someone who can.
They don't do this because they can't afford to buy nice things. They do it....well...they do it because they can.
Family gatherings in their upstate NY hometown always include an afternoon of what they call 'Junkin'. We all hop in cars and set out to find the best deals at the local second hand shops, antiques stores, and yard sales. The first time I went on one of these excursions, I followed his sisters around....picking up tips....learning the trade. I learned that you dig through the stuff that no one else wants. That's where you find the gem....something that was overlooked. Something you can tell others later on "I got it for two bucks!"
One of the last Junkin' excursions before my mother-in-law died was one I will remember the most. My husband was driving the car, with his mother in front with him, and his two sisters in the back seat with me. We were heading down 15th Street on our way to the highway, when the two sisters shouted out in unison "Stop the car! There's a yard sale!" We stopped in front of a white house with chairs, tables, and a sofa on the lawn. My in-laws scanned the yard and then spotted the boxes on the porch. That's it! That's the good stuff. The five of us pulled clothes and other items out of the boxes, oohing and aahing our finds. After about 10 minutes a man appeared at the door. "How much is this?" my 80 year-old mother-in-law asked, as she held up a cashmere sweater. The man eyed each one of us slowly. "This isn't a yard sale" he said. "I'm just moving in".
Thursday, November 20, 2008
How the government saved my family
On July 28, 1998, (amid laughter) President Ronald Reagan told the Representatives of the Future Farmers of America "the 10 most dangerous words in the English language are, 'Hi, I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help'.''
Well, I'm here to tell you that statement is not true. You see, the government saved my family.
When my parents moved from the mid-west to Oregon in the early 1950's with 3 young children in tow, my father worked odd jobs as they made stops in Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho. While he looked for work in Portland, our family was on welfare. We received food stamps. He eventually got a job with the city, and was able to support his family, while building up a small pension, that was paid for by taxpayer money. My mother was a stay at home mom, having added two more children to the family.
In 1968 my father left the family, and my mom was forced to enter the workforce at the age of 47. She had 4 children at home; 3 school age and 1 in college. With no real work skills to put on a resume, she did not find a job right away. She did not want a hand-out, but had no other choice than to again apply for welfare and food stamps. She finally went to work in a factory, until she retired at the age of 65. The factory had slow periods, and instead of laying people off, they formulated a 'one week on, one week off' program. During my mom's weeks off, she collected unemployment. The only other time she missed a day of work was when she broke her arm. When she retired, her only source of income was social security, and 2 small pensions from her job and my dad's with the city. During all the time she worked, she did not have any extra money to put into a 401K, or other retirement account.
In 1974, my mom was able to purchase a modest house through HUD. She was proud of the fact that she was able to pay off the mortgage a few years early. In 2005, she sold the house for a nice profit and moved to a retirement community. In 2006, she broke her hip and needed to move to assisted living. We searched for a place that would take Medicaid, once her money ran out. But she never had to use Medicaid. She died suddenly in 2007, and left a small inheritance to her 5 children...the money left from the sale of her home that she was able to purchase through HUD.
My older sister and I were able to attend college through a federally funded work-study program. Two of my nephews attended college through student loans.
My sister and husband were teachers. My nephew is a teacher. My dad was a city employee. My brother is a city employee. These are jobs paid by taxpayers.
Sure, we had some help from family, friends, churches, and charitable organizations, but without these government programs, I don't know how we would have made it. These programs were all implemented to help Americans, and were created by....eek...that dirty word....liberals....
The Social Security Act of 1935 was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The act was an attempt to limit what were seen as dangers in the modern American life, including old age, poverty, unemployment, and the burdens of widows and fatherless children.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda. The law was intended to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in post secondary and higher education.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established on September 9, 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson.
Welfare was part of FDR's New Deal.
You see, we are the government. It was you, your parents, and your grand-parents who helped my family - and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Through welfare, food stamps, social security, unemployment, and college financial aid, we have been able to not just survive, but get ahead and live the American Dream.
We are all hard-working, law-abiding citizens who contribute to society.
President Reagan, tell me again.....what are the ten most dangerous words in in English language?
Well, I'm here to tell you that statement is not true. You see, the government saved my family.
When my parents moved from the mid-west to Oregon in the early 1950's with 3 young children in tow, my father worked odd jobs as they made stops in Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho. While he looked for work in Portland, our family was on welfare. We received food stamps. He eventually got a job with the city, and was able to support his family, while building up a small pension, that was paid for by taxpayer money. My mother was a stay at home mom, having added two more children to the family.
In 1968 my father left the family, and my mom was forced to enter the workforce at the age of 47. She had 4 children at home; 3 school age and 1 in college. With no real work skills to put on a resume, she did not find a job right away. She did not want a hand-out, but had no other choice than to again apply for welfare and food stamps. She finally went to work in a factory, until she retired at the age of 65. The factory had slow periods, and instead of laying people off, they formulated a 'one week on, one week off' program. During my mom's weeks off, she collected unemployment. The only other time she missed a day of work was when she broke her arm. When she retired, her only source of income was social security, and 2 small pensions from her job and my dad's with the city. During all the time she worked, she did not have any extra money to put into a 401K, or other retirement account.
In 1974, my mom was able to purchase a modest house through HUD. She was proud of the fact that she was able to pay off the mortgage a few years early. In 2005, she sold the house for a nice profit and moved to a retirement community. In 2006, she broke her hip and needed to move to assisted living. We searched for a place that would take Medicaid, once her money ran out. But she never had to use Medicaid. She died suddenly in 2007, and left a small inheritance to her 5 children...the money left from the sale of her home that she was able to purchase through HUD.
My older sister and I were able to attend college through a federally funded work-study program. Two of my nephews attended college through student loans.
My sister and husband were teachers. My nephew is a teacher. My dad was a city employee. My brother is a city employee. These are jobs paid by taxpayers.
Sure, we had some help from family, friends, churches, and charitable organizations, but without these government programs, I don't know how we would have made it. These programs were all implemented to help Americans, and were created by....eek...that dirty word....liberals....
The Social Security Act of 1935 was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The act was an attempt to limit what were seen as dangers in the modern American life, including old age, poverty, unemployment, and the burdens of widows and fatherless children.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda. The law was intended to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in post secondary and higher education.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established on September 9, 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson.
Welfare was part of FDR's New Deal.
You see, we are the government. It was you, your parents, and your grand-parents who helped my family - and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Through welfare, food stamps, social security, unemployment, and college financial aid, we have been able to not just survive, but get ahead and live the American Dream.
We are all hard-working, law-abiding citizens who contribute to society.
President Reagan, tell me again.....what are the ten most dangerous words in in English language?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Moving forward
Well, the mean-spirited comments about me continue on anncoulter.com. I had hoped it would ignite a discussion about affordable health care, instead, it became an assault on me as a person, and all of my views in general. But I'm moving forward.
We all know people who live in the past....who just can't get over something that was lacking in their childhood....and now they have a burden to carry for the rest of their lives. My husband has a relative like that. Mom and dad didn't do enough of this or that for her....blah, blah, blah...and now she's had to suffer for the rest of her life. I think it's sad that she's distanced herself from a wonderful family because of her imagined (or unimagined) memories. And she can't have a conversation with a brother or sister without reminding them of how bad she had it as a child.
Imagine how much more fulfilling our lives would be if we just moved forward.
On the morning of November 5th, when I saw pictures of people dancing in the streets around the world, I had great hopes for our country moving forward. For all mankind moving forward. We live in a global community, and I am hopeful that the world will someday be safer, residents of all nations will be richer and healthier, and everyone will have respect for each other. But we cannot do that if we stay in the past....if we berate people instead of discussing issues....if we do not have a desire to get along.
During the campaign, I had been having a friendly debade (via email) with my nephew in Florida. Just after the results came in from Ohio, and before the votes were counted on the west coast, he sent me an email that said "Congratulations. It looks like Obama's going to win". Then he went to to say that he thinks he'll make a good President, and he'll support him, because we should support our President. I wish I could have been as gracious in a loss. I hope we all use him as an example and move forward. Quit the bickering. Don't we all have the same goal, to make this a better country? To make our word safer? Our citizens stronger, healthier, smarter?
Thanks NTMc.....thanks for starting the move forward!
We all know people who live in the past....who just can't get over something that was lacking in their childhood....and now they have a burden to carry for the rest of their lives. My husband has a relative like that. Mom and dad didn't do enough of this or that for her....blah, blah, blah...and now she's had to suffer for the rest of her life. I think it's sad that she's distanced herself from a wonderful family because of her imagined (or unimagined) memories. And she can't have a conversation with a brother or sister without reminding them of how bad she had it as a child.
Imagine how much more fulfilling our lives would be if we just moved forward.
On the morning of November 5th, when I saw pictures of people dancing in the streets around the world, I had great hopes for our country moving forward. For all mankind moving forward. We live in a global community, and I am hopeful that the world will someday be safer, residents of all nations will be richer and healthier, and everyone will have respect for each other. But we cannot do that if we stay in the past....if we berate people instead of discussing issues....if we do not have a desire to get along.
During the campaign, I had been having a friendly debade (via email) with my nephew in Florida. Just after the results came in from Ohio, and before the votes were counted on the west coast, he sent me an email that said "Congratulations. It looks like Obama's going to win". Then he went to to say that he thinks he'll make a good President, and he'll support him, because we should support our President. I wish I could have been as gracious in a loss. I hope we all use him as an example and move forward. Quit the bickering. Don't we all have the same goal, to make this a better country? To make our word safer? Our citizens stronger, healthier, smarter?
Thanks NTMc.....thanks for starting the move forward!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Health Care Responses
I took the advice of "whipcreamy", one of the followers of my blog, and checked out other blogs (in hopes of drumming up more interest). I posted my 'Health Care...is it a right or a privilege?' piece on 2 liberal blogs (salon.com and thomhartmann.com) and one conservative (anncoulter.com). I received about 10 - 15 responses on salon and thomhartmann, and they were pretty much the same as those on my blog. In 8 hours I received 48 replies on anncoulter. Needless to say, I was shocked....SHOCKED....at how angry and mean they were. Here are some examples:
You don't even know if she has or needs health care or not. You, my friend, are looking at the world and searching for problems to complain about. You are a liberal troll. Go play somewhere else. I don't want to go to your site or hear any more of your stupid views.
You call yourself "progressive" which is another word for socialist. Most of us don't like socialists.
Doesn't anyone understand that those without insurance actually have the gold-plated, Cadillac Plan?
While I support your cousin's freedom to live her life and "pursue happiness" as she sees fit, I also feel that because of her life choices she has decided to be a "non-contributor" to the general well-being of society.
Excellent answers...conservatives.It was just a twit questoin..made al the more twittish by the screen name 'progressive" (is that another way to say "moronic usefull idiot of the communist"?)
If your cousin thought that health care insurance was important, she would figure out a way to get it. She has assets, has a job, etc. For the vast, vast majority of people in this country, it is just a matter of setting priorities. If she doesn't have it, obviously it is not a priority. Why should I pay for her insurance through my taxes?PS--Does she use Alar on her apples?
Given what you have posted, the answer is simple; If your cousin doesn't have health insurance, YOU should pay for it. If you do not wish to, you are a hypocrite for not setting a good example in supporting your own ideology
I have the right to tell Ms. Progressive that I've passed craps with more intelligence than liberals
I'm a little bummed right now. I didn't realize people could me so mean. Plus, they all missed the point. I was merely describing a situation that many Americans face today. Not everyone has the same potential in life to turn their apple picking job into a huge money making franchise. Yes, there are pople out there who are lazy and want to take advantage of everyone, and take hand-outs. But there are people who try really hard, but still can't get ahead. Not everyone has the potential to be a rocket scientist. And....we still need people to pick our fruits and vegetables for us. Someone has to do it. And if they're doing something constructive to help put food in grocery stores so we can buy it for our families.....well, they should have the right to have affordable health insurance. I never, ever said that my cousin should get it for free.
Am I wrong in my beliefs? Do those people sound mean and angy, or am I being a little sensitive?
You don't even know if she has or needs health care or not. You, my friend, are looking at the world and searching for problems to complain about. You are a liberal troll. Go play somewhere else. I don't want to go to your site or hear any more of your stupid views.
You call yourself "progressive" which is another word for socialist. Most of us don't like socialists.
Doesn't anyone understand that those without insurance actually have the gold-plated, Cadillac Plan?
While I support your cousin's freedom to live her life and "pursue happiness" as she sees fit, I also feel that because of her life choices she has decided to be a "non-contributor" to the general well-being of society.
Excellent answers...conservatives.It was just a twit questoin..made al the more twittish by the screen name 'progressive" (is that another way to say "moronic usefull idiot of the communist"?)
If your cousin thought that health care insurance was important, she would figure out a way to get it. She has assets, has a job, etc. For the vast, vast majority of people in this country, it is just a matter of setting priorities. If she doesn't have it, obviously it is not a priority. Why should I pay for her insurance through my taxes?PS--Does she use Alar on her apples?
Given what you have posted, the answer is simple; If your cousin doesn't have health insurance, YOU should pay for it. If you do not wish to, you are a hypocrite for not setting a good example in supporting your own ideology
I have the right to tell Ms. Progressive that I've passed craps with more intelligence than liberals
I'm a little bummed right now. I didn't realize people could me so mean. Plus, they all missed the point. I was merely describing a situation that many Americans face today. Not everyone has the same potential in life to turn their apple picking job into a huge money making franchise. Yes, there are pople out there who are lazy and want to take advantage of everyone, and take hand-outs. But there are people who try really hard, but still can't get ahead. Not everyone has the potential to be a rocket scientist. And....we still need people to pick our fruits and vegetables for us. Someone has to do it. And if they're doing something constructive to help put food in grocery stores so we can buy it for our families.....well, they should have the right to have affordable health insurance. I never, ever said that my cousin should get it for free.
Am I wrong in my beliefs? Do those people sound mean and angy, or am I being a little sensitive?
Monday, November 17, 2008
What I hope to accomplish
I'd like to take a moment to pause, and talk about what I hope people will take away from this blog. I hope people will start thinking, and not just accept as proof what they hear or read. That's one of the reasons I wrote about Mr X on November 14 (What we believe...or don't...) Some people believe what they want to believe, and nothing will change their minds. But I hope people will start using some critical thinking skills.
For instance, there are still people out there who still think Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and that Saddam had something to do with 9/11, even though the Bush Administration has acknowledged this is not true. I have a good friend who voted for Bush in 2000. In 2004, he had a bet with his brother-in-law - If wmd's were found, the brother-in-law would vote for Bush; if not, my friend would vote for Kerry. My friend ended up voting for Kerry. In 2008 he voted for Obama, a decision he made on his own.
There are people who think Obama is a Muslim, yet, he's criticized for belonging a radical Christian church. How can he be both?
When John Kerry was running for President, someone told me (while holding a bottle of Heinz ketchup) that Teresa Heinz Kerry was shipping all of her jobs overseas. She said she knew it was true, because "I read in in an email". Seriously. That's what she said. I kept my mouth shut, but what I wished I had said was this......Teresa Heinz Kerry has nothing to do with the Heinz company. She inherited her money from her first husband, Republican Senator Henry John Heinz III, who died in a plane crash. She is Chairman of the Heinz Foundations, which distributes money to various social and environmental causes.
I previously wrote a piece on Sarah Palin. One friend told me he thought I was a little extreme in what I wrote. Another friend thought I was too nice. I think it's great to have different opinions. But I hope people will think about what they believe, and why they believe it, instead of just accepting something as truth because they read it in an email.
I want to use this blog as a way to get people to start thinking. Let me know what you think.
For instance, there are still people out there who still think Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and that Saddam had something to do with 9/11, even though the Bush Administration has acknowledged this is not true. I have a good friend who voted for Bush in 2000. In 2004, he had a bet with his brother-in-law - If wmd's were found, the brother-in-law would vote for Bush; if not, my friend would vote for Kerry. My friend ended up voting for Kerry. In 2008 he voted for Obama, a decision he made on his own.
There are people who think Obama is a Muslim, yet, he's criticized for belonging a radical Christian church. How can he be both?
When John Kerry was running for President, someone told me (while holding a bottle of Heinz ketchup) that Teresa Heinz Kerry was shipping all of her jobs overseas. She said she knew it was true, because "I read in in an email". Seriously. That's what she said. I kept my mouth shut, but what I wished I had said was this......Teresa Heinz Kerry has nothing to do with the Heinz company. She inherited her money from her first husband, Republican Senator Henry John Heinz III, who died in a plane crash. She is Chairman of the Heinz Foundations, which distributes money to various social and environmental causes.
I previously wrote a piece on Sarah Palin. One friend told me he thought I was a little extreme in what I wrote. Another friend thought I was too nice. I think it's great to have different opinions. But I hope people will think about what they believe, and why they believe it, instead of just accepting something as truth because they read it in an email.
I want to use this blog as a way to get people to start thinking. Let me know what you think.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Health Care......is it a right or a privelege?
The other day I was listening to Thom Hartmann's national radio program on Air America. He and a guest on his show were discussing health care. Thom believes that health care is a right and not a privelege. He was explaining how people on minimum wage cannot afford health care. The guest said that people earning minimum wage were people just starting out in the work force, and if they wanted to make more money, they should just get another job. Thom's argument was that not everyone is capable of doing that. Not everyone has the same chance in life.
That made me think about my cousin. I'm pretty certain that neither she nor her siblings will ever read this blog, so I'm comfortable telling this story.
I have a cousin who is the sweetest, kindest person you could ever meet. When were were growing up, my siblings and I used to love to listen to her speak. She's from the mid-west, and we loved the way she said "yaw" for yes, and how her soft voice exuberated a sense of innocence. She's in her late 50's now and has always lived on the property homesteaded by her great-grandparents. She has her own home on the property, as do most of her brothers and sisters. She's a hard worker, and has always taken care of her family. She is caring and kind. She doesn't have much, but is proud of what she does have. She has a high school degree, but I'm not sure if all of her siblings graduated from high school. I do not know if she's ever had a job that required any skill above minimum wage.
A few weeks ago, two of my sisters and I visited the small mid-western town where my parents grew up....the town where my cousin still lives. In the summer and fall, she picks apples for a living. As I sat talking to her, listening to the same sweet voice, I wondered if she had health care. I doubt she does. She doesn't work for a company that provides it, and I'm pretty sure she cannot afford to pay for it from a salary of picking apples.
My cousin is not lazy. She tries as hard as she can. Even though the Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal, we are not. We have no control over the situation we are born into. Either by the fortune or misfortune of our birth, we are not all equipped with the same skills for survival.
I would like to hear the guest on Thom Hartmann's show tell my cousin to go out and get a better paying job, so she can afford to pay for health care.
What do you think?
That made me think about my cousin. I'm pretty certain that neither she nor her siblings will ever read this blog, so I'm comfortable telling this story.
I have a cousin who is the sweetest, kindest person you could ever meet. When were were growing up, my siblings and I used to love to listen to her speak. She's from the mid-west, and we loved the way she said "yaw" for yes, and how her soft voice exuberated a sense of innocence. She's in her late 50's now and has always lived on the property homesteaded by her great-grandparents. She has her own home on the property, as do most of her brothers and sisters. She's a hard worker, and has always taken care of her family. She is caring and kind. She doesn't have much, but is proud of what she does have. She has a high school degree, but I'm not sure if all of her siblings graduated from high school. I do not know if she's ever had a job that required any skill above minimum wage.
A few weeks ago, two of my sisters and I visited the small mid-western town where my parents grew up....the town where my cousin still lives. In the summer and fall, she picks apples for a living. As I sat talking to her, listening to the same sweet voice, I wondered if she had health care. I doubt she does. She doesn't work for a company that provides it, and I'm pretty sure she cannot afford to pay for it from a salary of picking apples.
My cousin is not lazy. She tries as hard as she can. Even though the Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal, we are not. We have no control over the situation we are born into. Either by the fortune or misfortune of our birth, we are not all equipped with the same skills for survival.
I would like to hear the guest on Thom Hartmann's show tell my cousin to go out and get a better paying job, so she can afford to pay for health care.
What do you think?
Friday, November 14, 2008
What we remember....or don't...
It's funny how the mind works. We believe things we want to believe, sometimes to justify our own actions, sometimes to help us cope with issues. This often happens in politics, but it also happens in everyday life.
For 30 years, my sister-in-law insisted that her father refused to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, because she got married in a catholic church. Years later, an old 8mm film showed up at a family reunion, showing....yep....the proud father escorting the young bride down the aisle.
I had my own moment of altered memory a few years ago; however, I like to call it my stolen memory. That's because I can't believe my mother and her 5 children would all have the same wonderful memories if they were not true.
It all started with my dad. When he wasn't drinking, he was a delightful person. Everyone liked him. He was always bringing home an assortment of interesting characters, much like you'd bring home a stray animal (although he did his share of that as well. But that's another story). His many friends that filled our home had names like Big Bob, Fat Bob, Shorty, and a woman we called Honey. Her real name was Ruby, but we didn't know that. Her husband called her Honey, so that's what we called her. Then, there was a man I'll call Mr. X. I won't reveal his real name, so as not to embarrass his family. Mr. X was a like a favorite Uncle to us. Partly because he had a funny name, and partly because he was so much fun to be around.
To this day, whenever we have family get-togethers, we laugh about stories about my dad's friends. And everyone has a story about Mr. X. We all remember big pots of spaghetti and berry picking. Mr. X worked with my dad and it seems like he was always at our house after work, making spaghetti or just playing with us. He would take a week's vacation in the summer and take us kids berry picking so we could earn some extra money. My older sister, the competitive one in the family, would race him to see who could pick the fastest and make the most money. Not wanting her to win, Mr. X would eat a sandwich in one hand and pick berries with the other.
We eventually lost contact with Mr. X, but we never forgot him. A few years ago, I saw his name in the Obituaries. I called my mom. We have to go to the funeral, I urged her. It was a nice ceremony, with lots of talk about what a fun guy he was (my mom and I nodded our heads in agreement), and how he was such a family man. What?!?!? He had a family?!?! You mean, we weren't his family?!?! I asked my mom if she had ever met his wife. Well, once or twice, she told me. After the ceremony, we searched for one of his daughters, who appeared to be about my age. We had to tell her how much her father meant to us. "Hello, I'm Mrs. A" my mom said. "Your dad worked with my husband, Mr. A. He came to our house every Friday night and made spaghetti". Blank stare from the daughter. She didn't know who we were. Had not even heard of our name.
I couldn't believe it. Mr. X was such an important part of our lives, but we didn't mean anything to him.
Now my family has one more thing to laugh about when we have get-togethers. When we talk about Mr. X, we add that we made him out to be the person we wanted him to be. Because that was what we wanted to believe.
For 30 years, my sister-in-law insisted that her father refused to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, because she got married in a catholic church. Years later, an old 8mm film showed up at a family reunion, showing....yep....the proud father escorting the young bride down the aisle.
I had my own moment of altered memory a few years ago; however, I like to call it my stolen memory. That's because I can't believe my mother and her 5 children would all have the same wonderful memories if they were not true.
It all started with my dad. When he wasn't drinking, he was a delightful person. Everyone liked him. He was always bringing home an assortment of interesting characters, much like you'd bring home a stray animal (although he did his share of that as well. But that's another story). His many friends that filled our home had names like Big Bob, Fat Bob, Shorty, and a woman we called Honey. Her real name was Ruby, but we didn't know that. Her husband called her Honey, so that's what we called her. Then, there was a man I'll call Mr. X. I won't reveal his real name, so as not to embarrass his family. Mr. X was a like a favorite Uncle to us. Partly because he had a funny name, and partly because he was so much fun to be around.
To this day, whenever we have family get-togethers, we laugh about stories about my dad's friends. And everyone has a story about Mr. X. We all remember big pots of spaghetti and berry picking. Mr. X worked with my dad and it seems like he was always at our house after work, making spaghetti or just playing with us. He would take a week's vacation in the summer and take us kids berry picking so we could earn some extra money. My older sister, the competitive one in the family, would race him to see who could pick the fastest and make the most money. Not wanting her to win, Mr. X would eat a sandwich in one hand and pick berries with the other.
We eventually lost contact with Mr. X, but we never forgot him. A few years ago, I saw his name in the Obituaries. I called my mom. We have to go to the funeral, I urged her. It was a nice ceremony, with lots of talk about what a fun guy he was (my mom and I nodded our heads in agreement), and how he was such a family man. What?!?!? He had a family?!?! You mean, we weren't his family?!?! I asked my mom if she had ever met his wife. Well, once or twice, she told me. After the ceremony, we searched for one of his daughters, who appeared to be about my age. We had to tell her how much her father meant to us. "Hello, I'm Mrs. A" my mom said. "Your dad worked with my husband, Mr. A. He came to our house every Friday night and made spaghetti". Blank stare from the daughter. She didn't know who we were. Had not even heard of our name.
I couldn't believe it. Mr. X was such an important part of our lives, but we didn't mean anything to him.
Now my family has one more thing to laugh about when we have get-togethers. When we talk about Mr. X, we add that we made him out to be the person we wanted him to be. Because that was what we wanted to believe.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
President Elect-Obama, How Can I Help?
I didn't live during WWII, so I don't have any first hand knowledge of the sacrifices Americans made during the war. But my father was a proud military man who served stateside (much to his chagrin; he wanted to go into battle with his three brothers, but couldn't because he had a glass eye), and my mom worked for Ford Motor Company, doing something with airplanes. They were both patriotic and it was their excitement for a young JFK that introduced me to my first election. I was 8 years old at the time. My best friend and I thought he was so dreamy, we kissed the TV screen whenever his image appeared.
But enough about me.
Those of us old enough still remember Kennedy's inauguration speech and his "Ask not...." line. Those too young have heard it many times. Even though I was a few months shy of 9 years old, that inspired me. As years passed, my younger sister and I dreamed of joining the Peace Corps. But a dislike for bugs and snakes and unfamiliar food caused me to change course. It's a bit of sad irony that I was in gym class when Kennedy was shot, because that's were we did the sit-ups and push-ups that were part of the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness. My husband told me that he and a buddy walked 50 miles for the President's fitness program.
But enough about me.
I was in high school when Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were killed, and in college during the height of Viet Nam. I thought I wanted to do something to save the world, so I studied sociology. Instead of the Peace Corps, I was going to work in poor communities in the US. Then I listened to some bad advice..."You'll never make money doing that. You need to major in business". Math being my weakest subject, I quit college and went to work for a bank. In hindsight, that was a good decision, because it led me on the path to meeting my husband.
But enough about me.
In 2000 and 2001, before I came to the conclusion that George W Bush didn't care about helping Americans, I thought he should do something like Kennedy did, and encourage fitness. Americans were getting fatter and lazier. Kids weren't getting enough exercise. Schools were cutting PE classes. And here we had a President who was the epitome of fitness. He exercised, appeared to eat well, and didn't smoke or drink. I kept waiting for him to get us all pumped up about health and physical fitness. I kept waiting for him to introduce a Presidential Physical Fitness Program. I think I even wrote him a letter. In my mind, anyway. I do that alot.
But enough about me.
When I woke up on November 5th, I felt full of energy. I wanted to do something for America and mankind in general. Barack Obama told me he won because of me, and I wanted to give back. He even wrote me an email that ended this way:
"We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack"
President-Elect Obama, I am excited about doing something to help get this country back on track. Give me something to do. I don't mean just by being a good American, voting and expressing my opinion. I want to do something tangible. Tell me how I can help.
You see, it's not really about me.
But enough about me.
Those of us old enough still remember Kennedy's inauguration speech and his "Ask not...." line. Those too young have heard it many times. Even though I was a few months shy of 9 years old, that inspired me. As years passed, my younger sister and I dreamed of joining the Peace Corps. But a dislike for bugs and snakes and unfamiliar food caused me to change course. It's a bit of sad irony that I was in gym class when Kennedy was shot, because that's were we did the sit-ups and push-ups that were part of the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness. My husband told me that he and a buddy walked 50 miles for the President's fitness program.
But enough about me.
I was in high school when Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were killed, and in college during the height of Viet Nam. I thought I wanted to do something to save the world, so I studied sociology. Instead of the Peace Corps, I was going to work in poor communities in the US. Then I listened to some bad advice..."You'll never make money doing that. You need to major in business". Math being my weakest subject, I quit college and went to work for a bank. In hindsight, that was a good decision, because it led me on the path to meeting my husband.
But enough about me.
In 2000 and 2001, before I came to the conclusion that George W Bush didn't care about helping Americans, I thought he should do something like Kennedy did, and encourage fitness. Americans were getting fatter and lazier. Kids weren't getting enough exercise. Schools were cutting PE classes. And here we had a President who was the epitome of fitness. He exercised, appeared to eat well, and didn't smoke or drink. I kept waiting for him to get us all pumped up about health and physical fitness. I kept waiting for him to introduce a Presidential Physical Fitness Program. I think I even wrote him a letter. In my mind, anyway. I do that alot.
But enough about me.
When I woke up on November 5th, I felt full of energy. I wanted to do something for America and mankind in general. Barack Obama told me he won because of me, and I wanted to give back. He even wrote me an email that ended this way:
"We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack"
President-Elect Obama, I am excited about doing something to help get this country back on track. Give me something to do. I don't mean just by being a good American, voting and expressing my opinion. I want to do something tangible. Tell me how I can help.
You see, it's not really about me.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Progressive Talkers I Respect and Admire
I live in a liberal community, in a liberal city, in a liberal state, so most of the people I associate with know the names Thom Hartmann and Carl Wolfson. But if you haven't heard them yet, please find them on your nearest radio dial. If not on your radio, check them out on-line. They are absolutely the most brilliant people you will hear on talk radio.
Carl Wolfson lives in Portland, Oregon and does a local show weekday mornings on KPOJ 620 from 6-9am. He's a gay, stand up comic, with a knowledge of history you wouldn't believe. He's passionate about the issues. You get a little comedy mixed in with progressive politics. Thom Hartmans sometimes joins him, and sometimes hosts for him in his absence.
Thom Hartmann is on Air America, and his national show broadcasts from Portland on KPOJ 620 from 9am-noon. Thom also lives in Portland and is brilliant. Literally. I think he's a mensa. He's written numerous books on subjects ranging from ADD to politics. I mean it when I say this man is brilliant! He practically has the constitution memorized. He has lived all over the world, most recently residing in Vermont, one of my very favorite places to visit.
Maybe I'm drinking their cool-aid, but I really believe both Carl and Thom are doing their shows because they believe in a cause, and not for entertainment. I have learned so much from them. Please check them out. You will not regret it.
Carl Wolfson lives in Portland, Oregon and does a local show weekday mornings on KPOJ 620 from 6-9am. He's a gay, stand up comic, with a knowledge of history you wouldn't believe. He's passionate about the issues. You get a little comedy mixed in with progressive politics. Thom Hartmans sometimes joins him, and sometimes hosts for him in his absence.
Thom Hartmann is on Air America, and his national show broadcasts from Portland on KPOJ 620 from 9am-noon. Thom also lives in Portland and is brilliant. Literally. I think he's a mensa. He's written numerous books on subjects ranging from ADD to politics. I mean it when I say this man is brilliant! He practically has the constitution memorized. He has lived all over the world, most recently residing in Vermont, one of my very favorite places to visit.
Maybe I'm drinking their cool-aid, but I really believe both Carl and Thom are doing their shows because they believe in a cause, and not for entertainment. I have learned so much from them. Please check them out. You will not regret it.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Open Letter to Sarah Palin
Dear Governor Palin,
I did not vote for John McCain. Even though I did not think you were remotely qualified, it did not have anything to do with you. I would not have voted for McCain, no matter who he selected for an running mate. That being said, I am appalled at how the GOP and the McCain campaign are treating you, now that the election is over. Governor, they used you! They selected you as the running mate to try to win the election. Now, they are using you to cover their backs.
I was deeply offended when you were chosen as McCain's running mate. In their minds, it was as if any woman would do. I knew we were smarter than that, and the election has proven it. But they paraded you out in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
Governor Palin, you cannot blame the media for what the GOP is doing to you. The media did not get much of an opportunity to get to know you during the two months you were in the national spotlight. What you are getting is a dose of the mean-spirited right wing Republican smear machine. Perhaps you didn't know what Karl Rove did to John McCain in 2000 when he ran against George Bush. Or what they did to Max Clelland, or John Kerry. They say things that they know are not true, just to win elections. Perhaps you don't know that Rupert Murdock owns most of the media. So, how can the media be liberal? They paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
When I first heard you speak at the GOP Convention, I thought you gave a good performance, but I thought you were mean. You insulted all community organizers when you said it was 'like being a mayor....but with responsibility'. Do you even know what Obama did while he was working in Chicago? In rallies, I heard you say that Obama 'palled around with terrorists'. Do you even know anything about the Annenberg project where Obama was a board member? In rallies I heard you say Obama wanted to 'spread the wealth around'. Did you ever listen to the entire exchange between Obama and Joe the Plumber? If you did, you would know that is not what he said. You called Obama a socialist. Do you even know what that means? If you do, you wouldn't be bragging about how you taxed the pipe line and gave money to the residents of Alaska. Governor Palin, they paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
There are many people in the United States of America who think Barack Obama is a socialist Muslim terrorist because of some of the lies you said about him during the campaign. You need to take responsibility for that. Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden never attacked John McCain's or your families. They never attacked your character, or your church, or your friends (although I did think it was sort of creepy that a witch doctor came to your church to get rid of evil spirits). They never made up lies about who you were. They stuck to issues, which is why they won. You are now getting attacked by the same people who attacked Obama. They try to attack character, because that is the only way they know how to win. Governor Palin, they paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
If you want to do anything to redeem yourself, out them. Out them now!
I did not vote for John McCain. Even though I did not think you were remotely qualified, it did not have anything to do with you. I would not have voted for McCain, no matter who he selected for an running mate. That being said, I am appalled at how the GOP and the McCain campaign are treating you, now that the election is over. Governor, they used you! They selected you as the running mate to try to win the election. Now, they are using you to cover their backs.
I was deeply offended when you were chosen as McCain's running mate. In their minds, it was as if any woman would do. I knew we were smarter than that, and the election has proven it. But they paraded you out in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
Governor Palin, you cannot blame the media for what the GOP is doing to you. The media did not get much of an opportunity to get to know you during the two months you were in the national spotlight. What you are getting is a dose of the mean-spirited right wing Republican smear machine. Perhaps you didn't know what Karl Rove did to John McCain in 2000 when he ran against George Bush. Or what they did to Max Clelland, or John Kerry. They say things that they know are not true, just to win elections. Perhaps you don't know that Rupert Murdock owns most of the media. So, how can the media be liberal? They paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
When I first heard you speak at the GOP Convention, I thought you gave a good performance, but I thought you were mean. You insulted all community organizers when you said it was 'like being a mayor....but with responsibility'. Do you even know what Obama did while he was working in Chicago? In rallies, I heard you say that Obama 'palled around with terrorists'. Do you even know anything about the Annenberg project where Obama was a board member? In rallies I heard you say Obama wanted to 'spread the wealth around'. Did you ever listen to the entire exchange between Obama and Joe the Plumber? If you did, you would know that is not what he said. You called Obama a socialist. Do you even know what that means? If you do, you wouldn't be bragging about how you taxed the pipe line and gave money to the residents of Alaska. Governor Palin, they paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
There are many people in the United States of America who think Barack Obama is a socialist Muslim terrorist because of some of the lies you said about him during the campaign. You need to take responsibility for that. Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden never attacked John McCain's or your families. They never attacked your character, or your church, or your friends (although I did think it was sort of creepy that a witch doctor came to your church to get rid of evil spirits). They never made up lies about who you were. They stuck to issues, which is why they won. You are now getting attacked by the same people who attacked Obama. They try to attack character, because that is the only way they know how to win. Governor Palin, they paraded you in front of us, and had you say things they knew were not true.
If you want to do anything to redeem yourself, out them. Out them now!
Just Beginning
This is the first day of my first blogpost. A friend of mine, with oppposite political leanings, was blogging before blogging was popular. He has encouraged me over to years to get a blog, mainly for my business. After much hesitation, I decided to go for it (but leaving my business out of it for now). The reasons are twofold: 1) I have some ideas and opinions I'd like to share with others, and would like to hear what other people from around the world have to say; and 2) I heard it was a way to make extra money. My friend makes money from ads, and from hits on his blog. So, I thought......what the heck.
Any ideas out there on how to make this a money maker???
Any ideas out there on how to make this a money maker???
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