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I find that incredibly ironic. Cheers Aj |
the most powerful image of this whole
The most powerful image of this whole health care debate (or screaming match if you will) is the man with Parkinson's disease who simply sat in front of the people who were wanting to deny him health care (to be his personal death panel).
His name is Robert Letcher, he has a PhD and was a nuclear engineer before being diagnosed with Parkinson's 15 years ago. He is also a Martial Artist and he said he used his breathing exercises while he sat there and absorbed the hatred and condescension that was being violently hurled at him. Personally I consider him an American Hero because of that moment. Like Martin Luther King Jr, like Gandhi, like others have shown us throughout civil rights struggles in the past pure and centered, righteous peace in the face of injustice really can change people's hearts. And when you have changed their hearts, they will change their minds :praying: |
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As an aside, while I admire both Gandhi and King I think, sometimes, we idealize these men without taking their actions in context. Gandhi and King were able to use non-violent protests because the people who were the oppressors were, for the most part, civilized people. By that I mean that, for instance, both British and American culture had (maybe still have) at their cultural cores the idea that it is just *wrong* for a stronger (read armed) person to beat up a weaker (read unarmed/unresisting) person. So both men and their followers were facing people who *could* be reached, eventually after enough bodies were broken. Had Gandhi or King had to face down the Nazis then I think history would have turned out *very* differently. Post-Weimar Germany had, at its core, an ethic that the strong had every right and, what's more, every *reason* to beat up the weak. Non-violent resistance would have just *encouraged* the Nazis because it would have shown them that blacks or Hindus just weren't willing to fight back. One of the things that makes me so concerned about what I'm seeing and the actions of the national GOP leadership (who are standing in a puddle of gasoline and playing with a lighter) is that I can't yet tell if we are dealing with the British circa 1940, the Americans circa 1960 or the Germans circa 1936. What I saw the other day, in the pictures of those Tea Party protesters throwing money at this man with Parkinson's was closer to the latter than the former two. What I saw were the healthy and strong chomping at the bit to do something to the weak and sick. Cheers Aj |
[I'm curious. If someone comes up to me and starts yelling at me that I'm a ni--er or calling me some homophobic slur or telling me that I'm hell-bound what am I supposed to compromise on? What side am I supposed to be seeing? I hear this a lot from people (usually white people--sorry but there it is) that I should "see all sides" or "focus on what we have in common". I'm equally curious why *I* should have to compromise. Why is it incumbent on the *targets* of bigotry to do the compromising, to see all sides, including the side of those that hate? I rarely see anyone asserting that it's the bigots who should see all sides or compromise. In that situation--which isn't about policy it's about personhood--what am I supposed to be compromising *on* exactly? What side am I supposed to be seeing? What is it that I'm supposed to understand there? ]
Dread, I hear what you are saying. And I agree, taking the higher road can be a pain in the hiney. I am also not Black so I dont know what it is like to have the n word hurled at me. I do know that many Black folks have accomplished, developed, designed, and done a lot of great things for this country. And they have endured and overcome a lot of hardship and obstacles to do so. That, to me, is a triumph of spirit, determination, and belief in self. It is something to be very proud of. I am gay tho and if someone had the audacity to come up to me and tell me I was going to hell....I would try and remember the song....let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. I refuse to make someone elses views define me, nor will I be provoked to defend something that to me doesnt need to be defended. My concern is the person I am and who I want to be, not the person who might be harassing me. But, thats just my way of being in the world. Trust me, sometimes I struggle with a desire to just haul off and slug an idiot. But thats just not who I am or who I want to be. |
this is true and scary
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The Germans, 1933-45 by Milton Mayer he interviews people (Non Jews) who lived through the Holocaust. Here is an excerpt: "You see," my colleague went on, "one doesn’t see exactly where or how to move. Believe me, this is true. Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don’t want to act, or even talk, alone; you don’t want to ‘go out of your way to make trouble.’ Why not?—Well, you are not in the habit of doing it. And it is not just fear, fear of standing alone, that restrains you; it is also genuine uncertainty. Key: I think for the time being we have a fundamentally decent leader in the Whitehouse so we (hopefully) will not see any huge loss of rights, and we may even see some gaining of rights (DADT being repealed) but the scariest thing going on right now is the Supreme Court being so tilted towards corporate facism. This Fascism paired with these ignorant tea partiers is a dangerous combination indeed. Perhaps in Germany, if the right people had done the right thing (hello, Christian Churches?) things would have been different. |
kobi, Someone comes up to you hollering stuff,,,mean stuff slurs and all that crap.......
do what my daughter does....slap the shit out of them! or my other daughter............slaps the shit out of them! or what my other daughter does.......... "tells the person...I love You and then makes kissy faces at them" or what my other daughter does....she says "Excuse me but i am a heathen leasbian witch,,careful or i will cast a spell that all your children will grow up and be democrats!" or me.....i just start grunting and groaning and call the person uncle bill and keep asking where my butterscotch pudding is.....(they seem to run). All i know is Kobi i agree stop letitng people tell you to open your mind, see both sides and all that crap.... enuf with having to be the wiser, kinder, gentler soul...dont show you are a bigger person by not responding or responding with kindness,,,, i at long last agree with my daughters and say dont be a doormat slap the crap out of them! :hippie: |
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Yes, this struck me deeply. Change of heart, exactly. I am having a hard time with all of this because I turned 59 today and for the very first time in my life (have been an activist for decades), and no longer believe much heart changing will happen in what is left of my life. And for the first time, I am seriously considering leaving the US. Very seriously. At least an african American has been elected president, but my well of hope is drying up. |
for you, ALH, and all others who are tired soldiers, who have lugged signs or signed petitions or sat in large groups or jumped on buses or formed a human fence...who are greyer now, move stiffer, and see not quite as well...I say this...
it seems as though all your work has been naught enough. You look around Today and you think, where is all my effort? Surely there has to be more progress....more noticable change? When I look on tv or on the internet or listen to the radio, Why do I not hear how radical the differences are? Why does it seem its all in vain...why is there not enought change? to you, I say, to you, who battled to open domestic violence shelters when women were still considered objects for you who fought to make rape a crime of power and not an act of unrequited lust for you who said 46 cents to a man's dollar is not enough for a woman to live on for you who said racial intolerance is unacceptable and dared to drink at the only the fountains as anyone could.... for you who said education should be for everyone, not just the 12% who own 95% of the nation's wealth for you who saw children and knew they had no rights...and committed to them a career that most would never want for you who understood that saying "he" and "mankind" to refer to all of humankind was WRONG for you who dreamed a life where orientations could co-exist together in a non hierarchal platform in the nation, let alone a neighborhood for you who voted and voted and voted AND VOTED to put the right people in... for you who fought wars to protect our nation and for you who fought so wars wouldnt be needed to be fought... for you who made the statment "hate is not a family value" a household phrase for you, I thank you.... and caution you...not to look ahead and think of how much is yet needing to be done. Each generation has their own legacies that they inherit, of what is still not done. Instead, look back and see all that has been done .... by you the individual and the era's collective heroes... and while your work is done, oh silver ones...yes, THE work is not all done. So to those young who step up to the plate... thank you for continuing onward.... =AtLastHome;71638] Yes, this struck me deeply. Change of heart, exactly. I am having a hard time with all of this because I turned 59 today and for the very first time in my life (have been an activist for decades), and no longer believe much heart changing will happen in what is left of my life. And for the first time, I am seriously considering leaving the US. Very seriously. At least an african American has been elected president, but my well of hope is drying up. [/QUOTE] |
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Now, 17 years later and I have just entered my third decade out of the closet, I have a great deal more sympathy for where he was and I have to admit, I was wrong then. I thought I knew what I was talking about at the time, I didn't. No, I haven't bought a gun (yet) and most likely wouldn't carry if (when) I did but simply for home defense. I'm not arguing nor would I, in any ordinary circumstances, argue in favor of getting in people's faces and matching blow for blow. If there's a way *to* walk away, I think one *should* walk away. That said, I also believe that I do not owe the bigots the favor of being walked upon. I do not think I have to understand their bigotry, I think I have to accept that there will always be bigots and that we should order society in such a way that we minimize the effects of bigotry--including our own. I hope I hold no foolish prejudices and that I am always mindful of the old Pogo cartoon "we have met the enemy and he is us". But should I have prejudices or bigotry I hold, I do not want my problem to become someone else's problem. Your daughter's reactions rock! Cheers Aj |
I have not read that although it's now on my list. (If there had been a Kindle edition I would have bought it but alas, no) The last book on the period that I read was "Hitler's Willing Executioner's" by Daniel Goldhagen. It was a chilling book because it really brings home the reality of Hannah Arendt's phrase "the banality of evil".
Terry Pratchett , as usual, manages to describe it wonderfully: "And what it means is this: that there are hardly any excesses of the most crazed psychopath that cannot easily be duplicated by a normal, kindly family man who just comes to work every day and has a job to do." Cheers Aj Quote:
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Of course you have to do what is best for you
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http://www.thomhartmann.com/ Anyway, he is always reminding his listeners about how this moment we are in is part of the larger story of our very young, very immature nation. If you do not know of him I just wanted to turn you, and everyone on to him. he might be able to replenish some of your hope reserves. Happy Birthday BTW. :pacman: |
from our guy in Ohio...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXxpjSXtWyA&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Congressman Ryan Denounces Protestor Behavior[/ame] |
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Thank you.... I needed this. Very disillusioned of late. To the point of just pain in terms of the human cruelty around us. Yes, I do get tired and frustrated. What I need to focus on when I feel this way is what I experienced with working along side much younger people during Obama's run. I was encouraged by seeing students back in the process and people that have never voted. On election night walking in SF to the election parties and seeing the street filled with bright, young, hopeful people did my heart good. I just am feeling that this energy must continue during such times as mid-term elections. And even though I can get mad at Obama about some things, I know that it is very important that I continue to support him and others I voted for. I have to get the energy to once again, and get back to the precinct work needed before November. Just feeling so frustrated! And in many ways, I want to hand off the candles to younger folks. Live a little more of my own life for me. Last night while watching some political strategists on CNN I was so angry with not just GOP analysts BS about these infractions in DC, but also those from the Dems making excuses for this behavior! They talked about how high tempers were and how both parties were reacting via being tired. So, that means that this kind of behavior can go on without taking some responsibility with making it clear that it will not be tolerated? The GOP wants the tea Bag votes and frankly, so do the Dems! The only people that said they were offended and made it clear that this behavior cannot be tolerated were the African American analysts! However, the head of the GOP national Committee, an African American man, made excuses for this, too! [B]THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!! They are just courting votes and do not give a damn about this display of bigotry!![/B] |
Perhaps it is just my simpleton way of viewing things, but I personally feel that it is time for a clear cut anti-discrimination/ pro human rights bill/ law in this country. When FDR said " we have nothing to fear...." and when LBJ said " until we are all color blind.." and when Clinton said.."don't ask don't tell".. they were all well meaning in their attempts for us to put aside our fears and bigotry. Even though years later, those very ideas may have become outdated and even in some cases failed miserably, these leaders tried to make a difference.
We are at a point in our brief history where once again the population is bubbling over with fear and discrimination and it is obvious every time we turn on the news or open our computers. The way I see it, Pres Obama has the perfect opportunity and in my opinion, obligation to help end all of that. Not because he is a POC, but because he is our leader. In much the same way that our little planet here is attempting to discuss and create an anti- discrimination statement, our country should be doing the same thing. It could end DADT, DOMA, and a great many of our healthcare issues, by simply stating "we are all equal" under they eyes of the law. Gays can marry and receive equal benefits. Differently abled or ( sick) people can get healthcare without risk of losing homes/ properties. POC cannot be denied jobs/ housing/ growth opportunities based on skin color or ethnicity. We should have "hate laws" that reflect discrimination on it's many levels. I agree with dreadgeek in that we can't legislate "prejudice" or "thought". We can however legislate behavior. Senators/ Congressmen especially should be held to higher standards, as they represent larger groups. Sanction/ fine their asses when they show them. I like the statement Linus posted regarding CAN and how they view the "freedom of speech" notion. For me, we elect officials to go in there and do a job. If they aren't doing it then we have been dubbed and hopefully we will replace them with someone else we think will do it. I don't know exactly what "the" answer is regarding our politicians and our ongoing discrimination in this country. I do however feel strongly that a human rights bill would go a great distance in ensuring a more level playing field. How do we do that without becoming "big brother" ? Do we need more government involvement in our personal lives? Where does thought end and action begin? How do we truly move from the "dark age" to an enlightened equal country? I think it is very easy for us to see what is "wrong", but it is very difficult to create laws that truly do make things just for everyone. There will be resistance to any movement that takes away "privilege" as some folks see it, as they equate what they have come to know as their "rights" for "privilege". Someone mentioned car insurance and wondered if it was not the same as health insurance. Well, frankly, it's not. The "privilege" of driving a car on state and federally maintained and monitored highways, is just that , a "privilege". Having healthcare available for all human beings should be a "right". Perhaps in all of our distraction with this healthcare reform ( which falls short of the goal) we should be more focused on human rights. It just feels an awful lot like we are doing ( as a nation) what modern medicine does. Fix the symptom and not the illness. My 2 cents about the "dark age" of politics, that's all. |
[B]THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!! They are just courting votes and do not give a damn about this display of bigotry!![/B[/COLOR][/FONT]][/QUOTE]
Mr Smitty the one eyed rocking on limping kitty says that sometimes a skid-daddle is just a skid-daddle and not a run for anything but... to transcribe that, he means, sometimes politics are just politics and not actually have any basis in being political. We who work the trenches and not the policies can never forget thats its all politics! ...because we know that its all personal, and that all personal is political. But those who practice policy, laws, words, not WE the People, well, sometimes they just run crazy with their words to justify their neediness to win their battles... |
I read this book for my Psych 305 class, Motivation and Leadership. Thus book made my skin crawl to the point as to where I never finished it and gave it away.
I will never own such an evil book again. Zimmy Quote:
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Verbal Assualt Is No Longer Given a Free Pass.
I invite you to join in this effort of letting our elected officials and the US Capitol Police know, we as a people will not sit passively and quietly while this assault upon our elected officials takes place in our nation's capitol while doing the work of our nation.
Where was the US Capitol Police when United States Congressmen were being spat upon and being subjected to implied threats, racists and homophobic comments? Must we wait for one of them to be seriously and permanently injured or worse? I think not. It is time to take back OUR country from the Right Wing Extremist that are leading this Republic down the path of destruction. For the record, if Left leaning people were acting in this same manner, I would be just as disturbed by such despicable behavior. Finally, please do not give me the "Freedom of Speech" sentiment. It is not Freedom of Speech to use hateful disparaging language that incites fear and to spit upon another human being. _____________________________________________ Ray Taliaferro - KGO Talk Radio Tuesday, March 23, 2010 1:00a.m. - 5:00a.m.: Ray expresses his outrage over a group of tea party protesters who on Saturday menaced and harassed three Black Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a hero of the civil rights movement, Representatives André Carson of Indiana, and Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri. The protesters hurled the N-word at the Congressmen as they walked to the Capitol to hear President Obama’s final speech on healthcare reform. One of the lawmakers, Emanuel Cleaver was spat upon. Teapartiers also shouted the homophobic slur “faggot” and “homo” to Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), as the group laughed. Ray is encouraging KGO listeners to express their outrage over the spitting and slurs directed at the lawmakers. To express your outrage, contact Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi's District Office in San Francisco at (415) 556-4862 or her Capitol office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-4965. Email Congresswoman Pelosi at: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov To register a complaint with the United States Capitol Police, call (202) 224-9806. To reach the Congressional Switchboard, dial 1-866-220-0044 and ask to be connected to your district representative's office. |
Thank you AtLast for starting this thread! I live in a state I refer to as Hell. Two years ago come early June, I found out what rights I had in this state. My former boss asked me to come into her office. She informed me that I was being written up for sexual harassment. I giggled at this thought since I know the laws about this. I then informed her that it was really about me being gay, it was a female dominated job and they were all straight; and I would use my sexual discrimination card if she tried me. Needless to say she wrote me up for causing an intimidating work environment. After I left work that night, I contacted the ACLU and told them everything and then emailed my HR rep. By the time I was done, that company had the ACLU watching them and she was severely reprimanded. I left that company on June 27th and I don't regret anything I did. I wasn't going to allow that company to mistreat ppl and get away with it.
That is why until someone gets elected as governor here, we will never have any rights, Zimmy |
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Cheers Aj |
Hey AJ,
That is what I meant by evil. The book is very disturbing and one I can honestly say I never could finish. It was a book the professor recommended since our report was on Hitler. Have a good day, Zimmy Quote:
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Uh... FAIL! This is so wrong on many levels. It's disrespectful, invasion of privacy and potentially dangerous. I hope that this individual is held responsible for any criminal activities that happen as a result of this (emphasis mine):
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Bob Herbert's column in today's NYTimes John Zogby's piece at Huffington Post Chris Hedges' piece on this subject at Alternet Stephen Schlesinger's piece at HuffPo Dana Milbank's piece in yesterday's Washington Post I single these pieces (that I would highly recommend reading when you have a spare 30 minutes) out because of *who* they are by. Herbert, Hedges and Milbank are absolutely mainstream, consensus journalists. Zogby is a mainstream and highly respected pollster. Schlesinger is a fairly mainstream scholar. With no insult to either Noam Chomsky or Amy Goodman meant, but if *they* are claiming that right-wing conservatives are a frightening threat to our democratic republic that's no big deal. Dog bites man, no news. But when you have mainstream, consensus journalists, historians or other scholars starting to say it then it's time to sit up and take notice. I'm familiar with everyone *but* Schlesinger and not a one of them strikes me as anyone's radical with Hedges coming closest and still, to my mind, missing it by a comfortable margin. We truly do live in interesting times. Oh and let me also recommend a very good but sobering book that is available free online. It is The Authoritarians by Bob Altemeyer. I became aware of Altemeyer's work when I read John Dean's "Conservatives without Conscience" a couple of years ago. Altemeyer has done excellent and apparently exhaustive work on right-wing authoritarians. He is giving the book away in PDF format or you can get it as an audiobook as well but that will cost you about $15.00. Cheers Aj |
that political blogger is a prime example of political vigilantee-ism at its worst...
I am horrified over the blatant overt uncoded deliberate HATE that is being use to intimidate and breed fear into the lives of individuals for the "good" of the masses these idiots are thinking they are serving. This is no more than fanaticism...terror in a different degree but terror none the less... it was one thing, wasnt it, when they went after the abortion doctors it was one thing when they went after the little girl who needed a drink of water from the water fountain it was one thing when LGBT wanted a public place to gather and not be harassed by police it was one thing when they targeted illegal immigrants and it was one thing they refused to hear the cry of the religious who arent christians... but now..they refuse to hear themselves... they arent hiding behind politics..they are lashing out in the name of politics.. now we REALLY get to see them for who they really are.. they arent as polished and as shiny as the mighty knights they made them out to be, to save the nation against the sins of their unacceptables... now we see them and their angry bigoted hateful souls.... I knew this day was coming...now the world is changed forever more...most will think it didnt make a difference... but I know better...the pandora's box has been opened and now they cannot hide behind their sheep's clothing... |
An open letter to Conservatives
This is a fantastic piece!
Here's the beginning and it only gets MUCH better after that: Dear Conservative Americans, The years have not been kind to you. I grew up in a profoundly Republican home, so I can remember when you wore a very different face than the one we see now. You've lost me and you've lost most of America. Because I believe having responsible choices is important to democracy, I'd like to give you some advice and an invitation. First, the invitation: Come back to us. Now the advice. You're going to have to come up with a platform that isn't built on a foundation of cowardice: fear of people with colors, religions, cultures and sex lives that differ from your own; fear of reform in banking, health care, energy; fantasy fears of America being transformed into an Islamic nation, into social/commun/fasc-ism, into a disarmed populace put in internment camps; and more. But you have work to do even before you take on that task. Your party -- the GOP -- and the conservative end of the American political spectrum has become irresponsible and irrational. Worse, it's tolerating, promoting and celebrating prejudice and hatred. Let me provide some expamples -- by no means an exhaustive list -- of where the Right as gotten itself stuck in a swamp of hypocrisy, hyperbole, historical inaccuracy and hatred. If you're going to regain your stature as a party of rational, responsible people, you'll have to start by draining this swamp: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com...ive.php?ref=mp |
The Deep South...
Ok this maybe totally off topic sice it's not political.... But, I moved to Mississippi 3 months ago. And never in my life have I heard the N word used more in my life!!!! And they just don't blink an eye. I myself have been called a "Damn Yankee" "Coon" " N_____ Lover" To my face on many many occasion. In the 3 months that I have been here. I never in my life thought that in 2010 a place would exist like that. But, it does deeply here. Ppl in this town are proud to be rasist! And truly this town is stuck in 1950!! This is the main reason that I will be moving in the next to weeks to the place I used to call home. Wher I can be friends with who I was. Date who I want. And Live how I want. And The N word isn't part of everyday conversation.
Til another time...... P.S. Again may not be on topic.... But, I found on Youtube awhile back a thing by Bill Maher Titled America Isn't Number One.... Worth Checkin out in My Book....... |
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Wishing you the best in getting the hell out of there! |
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:elefant: Drained Elephants find your way back home!!! |
BUMPING this post- USE THESE phone numbers! Send letters, emails... this has to STOP!! ACT!!! Thanks Greyson.
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every moment in history is unique
so any comparisons I make in this thread I make knowing full well that they are incomplete and inadequate. I post anyway.
Imagine the US in the early 1770's. Imagine being a revolutionary thinker like Thomas Payne. Imagine the courage it took to question the authority of the strongest military, the mightiest empire on the planet. It blows my mind that the signers of the Declaration of Independence were literally signing their own death warrants - if things had gone differently. The courage and ACTION that is required today is no less (but no more) than what was required then. The sad thing is that the enemy today is within our midsts. I am very sad to say that my own blood relative brothers an sisters, while I would never expect them to spit on or yell derogatory remarks, get their information and encouragement from the same sources as those that do. If I could have my way I would file our country for a no fault divorce. The divide that led to the civil war is still with us. It has just been festering underground. The only thing that has changed after the civil war is that on the surface, our better angels prevailed. Our lesser devils went underground. The house that was divided then, is still divided. I wish we could just split up once and for all. I do not regret that Lincoln kept the states together, because slavery (in America) ended (even that went "away" into far off lands, but still has not ended). I would honestly like to start a secession party. For the good of all of us. This may be the one area where the sane and crazies among us can agree. :mob: |
Although, I can't get behind the Coffee Party movement (too conservative, but might help drain the Tea Party swamp, dunno...) , this quote says a lot to me-
"If our children acted like our politicians are acting right now they would be grounded for a very long time," says Ryan Clayton, a Coffee Party spokesperson in Washington DC. I do understand why people are freaked about our national debt. It does hurt us all. I want the new Health-Care Reform actions to be fully funded so that they can work! But there has to be a way for this concern to be addressed in a manner other than via racist lunatics! While watching Obama sign the health-Care Reform Bill, I cried for my neighbor and best buddy, Kenny. An African American man that died 3 years ago as a 57 year old, uninsured citizen. A hard working self-employed carpenter with a heart of gold. He was such a good friend to me. As I saw him getting sick, and not being able to get diagnostic care as well cancer treatment, I was outraged. Yet, he represents so many. Other people's relatives and buddies, parents, kids. I also cried for Kenny when Obama was elected because Kenny didn't live to see him take office. Kenny had all of the untreated ailments that so many uninsured POC have (high blood pressure, etc.) that are easily treated with preventative care and access to medical care. His cancer might very well have been detected in time for it to be treated. His mother (in her late 80's) does have SS and MediCare, but can't afford supplemental insurance. She skips taking prescription medications she needs continually. And kenny's common-law wife had to work and could not be home with him as he was failing. I used to go over during the day and fix him lunch and watch sports with him. I loved spending this time with him, but saw how his wife earned to be able to be with him during his last weeks and days. I am so tired of these conditions in the USA.... and I am happy to pay more in taxes if it gets to needing more $ from people under that $200,000/year mark. My property taxes are nuts, but, if somehow they had an attached tax for health care for all, I will pay it with a smile. And, I have no problem at all with any immigrant of any status getting health care. To raise healthy, productive children, parents need to be healthy! Sure, I feel the impact of higher taxes and want the government to make sure they stop fraud and abuse in our health care systems (MediCare), but there is no way that I want private insurance companies to continue make profits of over 400% on my back and have people go without medical care! |
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I used to be a Libertarian, back in my idealistic days. I used to believe the federal government had overstepped its bounds, that the individual states' rights were being eroded, that the individual citizens were being taxed unfairly and wrongly. I don't believe those things anymore. I believe that only the federal government (including the federal judiciary system) has the ability to force the states to respect the rights of all individual citizens, and I believe that it is foolish to believe that we could run a country this size without taxes. I also believe we pay lower taxes than most similarly developed countries. Are we under attack? Oh yes, indeed. Is it bringing out the very worst in some of our citizens? Oh yes, indeed. Will it probably need national outrage at the corporate greed and inflamed bigotry to get our country back? Oh yes, indeed. This is the time, right now when we most want to give up, to leave, to withdraw from the fray and just let them have the place, this is the time when we are most urgently needed. There are loads of ways to make a difference. I have never, ever been a politically active person, but I found a way to make my voice heard after the voting booth. I joined change.org and they routinely send me alerts that include emails to send to my Congressperson. Here is their link about the Tea Party. http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_congressional_republicans_to_denounce_the_vic ious_tea_party_attacks I also joined Organizing For America. They send me emails that include the direct phone numbers to my Congresspeople, so that I can call and register my wishes on any particular issue. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ There are other ways which are more active, but even these small ways can be part of the bulwark that stands firm and says, "no more hate!" Please, don't go away. Don't be diverted by the seeming power of hate. Don't allow them to take your own country away from you. Take positive action, even a very small positive action, even so small as signing petitions and sending emails--because every positive action YOU take will double the positive action I take, and together we will double the positive actions taken by just two of our friends, and together we will double the positive action taken by four of our neighbors--and soon WE will be the sweeping tide of change, unstoppable, demanding that our country be run for the good of all. Please, now is when we need you the very most. Please, don't go. |
You are welcome and thanks for asking for clarification. Have you read a book called, "Things Fall Apart?" by Achebe? If you haven't it is a good historical book.
Have a good day, Zimmy Quote:
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Good Afternoon AtLast,
When I resigned from my job and put in for a transfer with my company so I could move to be with my ex, my regional manager terminated me and I lost my health insurance. I received the paperwork to continue the COBRA coverage, but it is over $500 a month, which I cannot afford since I no longer have a job. Since this is a right to work state, he can fire me for anything... Have a good day, Zimmy Quote:
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WOW, that is as much as I pay per month for a group policy myself, which is high- I'm stuck with this at the moment due to pre-existing conditions. So, as soon as the part of the new bill goes into effect banning the pre-existing refusal, I will look around. And I live in a state that is usually more expensive in every damn thing! Now, from what I can tell (and yes, I have been watching this closely all year), the new legislation will also cut the costs for high risk policies or eliminate them. I know we have to wait out the complete process of implementation of the new legislation, but, I think you may now have a chance for some coverage within 6 months that is more affordable. I in no way see this as a panacea, only a single-payer system would be that for me. I also know that I am in a group of people that will not reap much savings for a few years. But, I am OK with this for now because of the millions more that will get some coverage and preventive care. I am especially concerned with poor people that are at such risk with obesity (including their kids) and things like diabetes. They have no means to get care and education about nutrition and better ways to prepare food. What is so amazing to me is that this has brought to the forefront the most ugly of the ugly of people that have so much and don't want to give a little for others to become more healthy. This will cut costs in the long run as well as give people a fighting chance. We have to get people to stop using ER rooms for primary care! That is such a waste of money!! I have been thinking about a way to just have a small group in my home to teach food preparation that cuts down fat intake. Trying to figure a way to start this. Maybe via my community center where I live. I would love having a few teen mothers on a rotational basis to just bring them some basics. Gotta explore how I might be able to do this. No gourmet here, but have some good basic skills with low-fat cooking. One really great thing about retirement is having time to do these sorts of things. yes, my working and professional life gave me a lot of satisfaction, but, this is another way to feel this in a much broader sense. Quote:
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COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under ARRA The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended on March 2, 2010 by the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, provides for premium reductions for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. To qualify, individuals must experience a COBRA qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of a covered employee's employment. The involuntary termination must generally occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on March 31, 2010. (An involuntary termination of employment that occurs on or after March 2, 2010 but by March 31, 2010 and follows a qualifying event that was a reduction of hours that occurred at any time from September 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010 is also a qualifying event for purposes of ARRA.) The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage that began on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to 15 months. See Temporary Extension Act of 2010. linkyloo |
FYI: hope for the GOP to "drain the swamp?"
GOP, step away from the Tea Party
After the racist and homophobic insults used at a rally against healthcare reform, Republicans should Denounce the Tea Party http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ist-homophobic Lola Adesioye Over the past year, the Tea Party movement has grown to the point where it can get a great deal of press attention and exposure. While that may be a good thing for the Tea Party, it is proving to be not necessarily so for the Republican party, which has jumped onto the Tea Party bandwagon. Some Republicans may have become affiliated with the Tea Party movement in the hope of aligning themselves with an invigorated and energetic grassroots conservative movement. Instead, Republicans are now finding themselves in alignment with a movement in which some members feel that it is OK to shout out racist and homophobic insults (including the N-word) and spit at Congressmen as happened this weekend when the Tea Party protested against healthcare reform on Capitol Hill. Despite the weekend's shocking behaviour – one Congressman and civil rights leader, John Lewis, said he had not experienced such attacks since the 1960s – Republicans, particularly GOP chairman Michael Steele, spent the weekend defending and rationalising those Tea Party goers' actions. This is dangerous ground for the Republican party. There are some benefits of getting involved in a movement that is not clearly defined. The Tea Party was originally framed in the media as an umbrella movement for a bunch of disgruntled Conservatives, whatever their discontent may be. On that level, the Tea Party presented an opportunity for Republicans to gain some leverage. The flip side is that a movement with no specific cause attracts all sorts of people with all sorts of agendas, which can put the GOP in a tricky position, and potentially turn important voters against them. The idea of what a "conservative" or "Republican" is continues to be shaped and distorted by a minority of people on the fringes who get the most attention. This does nothing to attract new supporters or independents and it may indeed turn off existing, more moderate Republican supporters. This is not a good strategy for the 2010 elections – unless that is, the GOP is looking to portray itself as a very rightwing, almost extremist party. The obstructionist attitude may have worked while healthcare reform was still going through Congress, but with its passing, it is likely that public sentiment may continue to warm in the president's direction. The fringe elements of the Tea Party will only start to look more and more repulsive which would only harm the Republicans, making them look even more narrow and one-dimensional. "Appealing to the base" seems to be a key concern of Republicans, but if the base is the type of people who were at the rally this weekend and Republicans do not denounce that type of behaviour, the Tea Party may start to be of more harm to the Republicans than good. Yet, this all leads back to the question that was raised after Barack Obama's election, which is what the GOP actually stands for. Right now, it looks like the Tea Party is getting to say who the Republicans are. And that's a type of tea that many people might not want to drink come election time. ********************* FYI- Huff Post article on the 13 Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit Over Health Care Reform http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_407684.html ********************* And- Obama, Democrats Begin Reaping Political Benefits Of Reform http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_510563.html "Only hours after the president signed health care reform legislation into law on Tuesday, the immediate political benefits for the Democratic Party are already coming into focus...." read more via the link... |
Good Evening Ms,
Thank you for this information and yes I could afford it. Have a good evening, Zimmy Quote:
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Really?! Responsibility not required, huh? (emphasis mine) Quote:
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