This is where I think out loud about Life, the Universe and Everything. I consider life an adventure and this is part of mine whether I'm ranting on politics or taking you on a ramble through Kay's World.
Y'all know that I admire Robert Reich for his plain-speaking stand on the economy. Today two videos from him that speak for themselves clarify our current situation all too well.
Public vs. Private Morality . . .
How Mittens Got Rich . . .
And Cher started a Twitter storm . . .
I'm just going to leave all this to your judgement. I think y'all know by know that I'm an unrepentant liberal/progressive sort. Common sense tells me that it's my only choice. I'm dependent on my Social Security and Medicare (with no small amount blame to GOP policies.)
I don't usually do two posts in a day but this is important!
Tomorrow, July 28th, is the 46th Birthday of Medicare. That's right! For 46 years Medicare has been helping elders meet their medical costs! As a stroke survivor, I don't know what I'd do without it -- especially with the cost of healthcare these days. Actually, I do know what it's like not to have health care and it ain't pretty -- at that, my friends, is is a gross understatement. I got a note from We are One, one of the many groups whose newsletter I read, asking me to join them for a rally at the East side of the Capitol for a rally tomorrow afternoon. I obviously can't make it so I'm passing it on to any of y'all who are interested, able, and live in the D.C. area. I wish I could be there -- the rebel in my soul would love to go but I'd prolly get busted and D.C. isn't famous for it's luxurious jail.
Please take look at the comments today's earlier post and see what and check out Cop Car's research/comment re: her investment in Social Security. It's also posted on her blog. It's an eye-opener!
Also, keep in mind that Social Security is NOT an entitlement -- we PAID into it every hour we worked or that our spouse worked.
Just when the idiot Congressman my fellow citizens elected, it got worse. This guy owns nursing homes (and has been sued by patients and their families) and should be the last member of Congress to want to end Medicare and Medicaid!
Here's an the bulk of an email I received from ProgressOhio:
Here’s Your Chance to Send Representative Renacci Your message.
ProgressOhio is inviting constituents, seniors, and activists to attend a press event at Rep. Renacci’s office Thursday July 21st.
Give Renacci a Red Card on Medicaid!
Rep. Renacci’s security and staff controlled the debate at his recent Town Hall. He used tactics such as distributing Red Cards and Green Cards for the crowd to use and then he asked them questions in a way that confused them on how to use the cards to respond. Renacci also kicked individuals out of the meeting and his staff decided which questions would be discussed during the town hall.
Citizens both outside and inside the hall struggled to make their voices heard over the Congressman’s stifling tactics.
Now you have your chance to send Representative Renacci a message and REALLY have your voice heard.
Politicians are currently negotiating a deal in Washington that would cut Medicaid for seniors, people with disabilities, and children while at the same time giving millionaires another tax break. Their schemes could cost Ohio billions of dollars and thousands of jobs!
Medicaid is how most of us pay for long-term care in our homes, assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes. Do we want to go back to the days of the poor farms and old folks homes?
Let Rep. Rennaci know that he was elected to represent all of the people in his district and that we are opposed to cuts in Medicaid.
Join ProgressOhio, a Health Care for America Now (HCAN) partner, retirees, and activists on June 30th in Columbus to send a message to Rep. Renacci that we want our voice heard on Medicaid.
On one hand, I want to go and I want to holler really loud; on the other, his office is located smack in the middle of the richest township in our area and place where there is insufficient parking. AND the cops are the nastiest in the county. Therefore, I don't think I should go because y'all know I'm not bloody likely to sit quietly and swallow the swill he'll be spouting. I do think it's interesting that there wasn't an announcement of this in his latest email newsletter which tells me how interested he is in hearing from us.
I feel kind of gutless for not going but I can't afford bail but the only one who takes care of me is the old lady I see in the mirror every morning and Jiminy Cricket tells me to stay home.
I did, however, sign up to volunteer with ProgressOhio and I plan to help campaign against him in the coming election. Does that count?
I leave y'all with a very old joke: What the opposite of Progress? Congress!
My hero, Bernie Sanders, spoke for 90 minutes yesterday on the floor of Congress about a sensible solution for the financial crisis. Here's the video and y'all can visit his website and stand with Bernie by signing the letter he's sending to the President. When I signed there were over 65,000 signers and I hope thousands more are forthcoming!!!! Please help by signing and spreading the word!!!
I had other plans for today but I found this over at Political Ruminations and decided it was too important not to share.
Here's the text version if y'all have problems with video:
“Now, recently radio evangelist Harold Camping calculated that the world would end at precisely 6 p.m. on May 21st. Well, he was wrong. But much like Harold Camping’s wildly inaccurate predictions, the House Republicans have come up with their own apocalyptic vision: The Republican Rapture.
It decides, this budget decides, who gets lifted up into the
economic stratosphere and who gets left behind.
Under this scheme, if you are a millionaire or a billionaire, you get raptured, in to heaven, with all of your tax breaks remaining intact. But, if you're grandma, and grandpa, and you're dependent upon Medicare in order to take care of your health care needs, you get moved to Political Purgatory.
That's their plan.
Now, if you're one of the big five oil companies that are reporting record profits, you get raptured, with all of your tax breaks left intact.
In this budget, which we are debating here today, you keep all of your tax breaks. But, if you're a college kid hoping to get a Pell Grant, no, ladies and gentlemen, you are back in Political Purgatory. Your educational future is in question.
Now, if you're an insurance company executive, and you are now really, rapturously happy because of the privatization of Medicare, and the incredibly increased profits for the insurance industry, you're up here in heaven. You get raptured.
This is the budget we're debating right now.
Good news for all these wealthy people....but, if you have Alzheimer's or cancer, and you're hoping to find medical breakthroughs, they're [Republicans] cutting the NIH budget. The National Institute of Hope (Health) budget to find the cure for those diseases. Your hopes and dreams go to Political Purgatory.
And, if you have any hopes at all of having Medicare be saved, well, their budget guarantees that Medicare gets privatized. That Medicare is ended as we know it. And that Medicare budget, that Medicare budget, is completely and totally smashed.
So there's your debate here today, ladies and gentlemen. Are you with billionaires, big insurance, big oil...or are you with grandma, and grandpa, making sure that Medicare remains in intact for the years ahead, honoring the promise that we made to them for giving us this great country that we live in today?
That's the vote today. Vote yes or no on grandma. Vote no on that Republican budget and protect grandma's health care in to the future.” [transcribed by Political Ruminations]
So the bottom line is that we ordinary mortals are doomed if we let the GOP have its way. Let's all tell them that we are not happy about this.
I wasn't going to post anything more today but I went to catch up with Rachel Maddow and my blood pressure told me that I had to vent.
David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks segment has nothing on John Boehner and the Republican Party's antics on Medicare. Here is House Speaker John Boehner, who I am ashamed to say is an Ohioan, on the killing Medicare. He makes a big deal out of his humble roots but it's obvious that he's forgotten them and has bound himself over to the Philistines as he forced the vote on the 'Kill Medicare' bill. And smart GOP Congress Critters (Is that am oxymoron?) are ducking for cover. Rachel called his antics as "a very bad move" and that, my friends, is a gross understatement.
Apologies to all y'all who have problems with videos; I wanted to give y'all a short clip of his gaffes but my video editing skills are deficient at best. Y'all can see the full segment here :
The sun is shining in Ohio but my furnace is still running! Will we ever see real Spring weather? Will summer ever get here? Inquiring minds want to know. I'm tired of my sweaters who are begging for a rest and my spring/summer things are pleading to escape the closet. I love Ohio weather. :)
* I used some of the lovely eggs Gene brought me to make a truly stellar omelet last evening for supper. I added some Amish cheese and chopped up some Trail bologna (totally unlike any bologna y'all have ever had. It's an Ohio delicacy that I love.) and stuffed myself!
* Last Friday I went to open Miss Ruby's trunk and noticed that someone had tried to scratch his name on the trunk's lid. I looked around for Bryce and called him over to see the damage and ask if he saw anyone bothering Ruby. He said that his mom had yelled at the little kid who lives behind me and told him to get away from Miss Ruby. I called the cops. By the time they got here, he and his family were away and the nice officer said the detectives would be out to talk me. They haven't been so I had to call the detective bureau. They said they would send someone out. We'll see. Ruby and I want justice which, I'm told, will not happen. Body work is expensive. Sigh. Frankly, the kid's mother needs to pay attention to what her kids do but she doesn't.
Ronni Bennett asked us to share this video on our blogs. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth every single second. And it's right for our country. Now this makes some serious sense:
And here's an interesting history lesson from Lawrence O'Donnell that puts things in perspective about this week's events:
Quote of the Week:
"Michele Bachmann! For People Who Find Sarah Palin Too Intellectual!" -- Bill Maher
I'm just rambling today because until I can get my mind to stop asking what is wrong with the damned Republicans? Repealing the health care bill is unconscionable. If you have never been without decent health care, I congratulate you. You have been very blessed. I have been without healthcare in recent years and it is horrible -- especially if you have a chronic condition as I do. My Medicare is a blessing and I feel sorry for anyone who has no health care.
* My name finally came to the top of the waiting list for the complex I was considering and they asked me to come and take a look. It was a one-bedroom unit and it was quite nice but I said "no". My furniture wouldn't fit in it. I swear they lie on the dimensions of the rooms. I did like the kitchen but even it wouldn't hold my table and chairs as well as I'd like. I think a two-bedroom would be better -- maybe. I've pretty much decided to stay where I am -- it isn't perfect but I have room and good neighbors mostly so here I am and here I'll stay -- for now anyway. Some of you who are newer here might want to see my home and a while back I did a series and posted photos here, here,and here, And who wants to move during an Ohio winter?
* I'm actually going to be social for a change! I've been invited to a friend's gallery for the opening of an exhibit of quilts Friday night and on Saturday the Symphony is doing Bartok, Mozart and Liszt. I get to dress up twice! Cool, huh? My black dresses have been screaming "Wear me!" so I will.
* Here's a funny Photshop my friend Blue Gal made. Check out her blog -- and the Friday podcast -- it's some of the best, no-nonsense, liberal thinking around!
And here's Anthony Weiner talking sense again!!! I'm thinking that I like this guy a lot!
Everything took longer than I planned and I'm not done yet! So here's congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) making excellent sense on the floor of the House. He's always an adventure and I suspect that he could make it as a comedian.
[Note 1: Sorry I missed some of you -- for some reason I am having trouble getting Blogger blogs. I'll try again later.]
[Note: 2: This post is probably too long. Sue me. I have ingested so much information that I wanted to share since Sunday because of all the idiocy going on across the country. Trust me when I tell you that this is what's left after ruthless editing.]
I have gone on the record as being of no political party affiliation time and again here and I've pretty much decided that I will stay that way. However, the G.O.P. is doing it's best to lose my vote forevermore. Right now, as an American I am ashamed -- ashamed of the Republican party; ashamed of the Teabaggers; ashamed of the people who call themselves our leaders for their blatant disregard for us; ashamed of the racism I've seen from them and their plain damn ignorance. The Constitution clearly states:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
No, they didn't forsee a lot things when those words were written nor could they have. However, they were men of foresight and creativity who left room for change peaceful change and that is how it is supposed to be. They simply couldn't envision all the growth, advances, and changes in our society.
Those words seem to have been forgotten by an awful lot of people lately.
The list above from Sarah Palin's PAC is an example of why I feel that way. It's her "hit list" for November. She wants to destroy anyone who helped pass the health care bill. It includes my Congressman, John Boccieri. The wackos who support her have made threats against the people on it and their familes. How serious is this? The FBI has been called in and I hope they are doing something to protect these folks. In the meantime, the Republican party has given its soul to Fox News and allow wackos like Sarah, Rush and Glen to make their policies.
I have nothing against dissent. Dissent can be a good thing and it is healthy if it is done in a rational manner. I haven't seen too much rational coming from the Republican side. That Ms. Palin hasn't been muzzled by her party astounds me. Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan -- all good men -- are rolling in their graves along with every single one of the Founding Fathers.
This mercifully short video against illustrates what we're up against. I hope y'all laugh as hard as I did!
And here's another short video of my Congressman before the vote. He actually sent an email asking how we wanted him to vote. Our old Congressman just did whatever his corporate puppeteers told him to do.
He also sent an email explaining what the bill is going to do after it passed (color me seriously surprised and I can almost forgive him for voting for Cap and Trade):
Dear Kay:
Today we make history as President Barack Obama signs H.R. 3590 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. With the signing of this historic health care reform bill, insurance companies cannot dump you when you get sick, can’t deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition, or cap your insurance.
Our senior citizens should be proud that local Medicare Advantage plans are now strengthened and the life of Medicare itself is extended. Beginning today we will close the doughnut hole where so many seniors find themselves struggling to afford prescription drugs. A $250 check will be in the mail soon. Our small businesses can begin to hire back people and get a tax incentive for providing them with health care.
Upon the President signing the health care reform bill today, several provisions go into effect immediately or soon after enactment. Those provisions are outlined below:
1. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning for calendar year 2010.
2. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010.
3. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
4. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
5. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
6. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64. Effective 90 days after enactment.
7. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition - through a temporary high-risk pool. Effective 90 days after enactment.
8. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice. Effective 6 months after enactment.
9. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Bans health plans from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6 months after enactment.
10. NO DISCRIMINATON AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment.
11. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health plans from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.
12. BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts new plans’ use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months after enactment.
13. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment.
14. NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.
15. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits new group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.
16. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
17. ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
18. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
Today we can expect to reduce our deficit by $1.4 trillion over the next 20 years, reign in fraud, waste, and abuse and achieve a delivery system that works for all Americans.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
John Boccieri
Now tell me how any of that is going to ruin this country. And I'll bet every damned one of those old fart teabaggers will take the $250 and run -- if they truly believed in what they say, they would return the money.
Our Congressman here in Ohio's 26th District, John Boccieri, is one of the Democrats who was on the fence. President Obama even mentioned in his speech that that John has a 'tough district' and that's true. We are diverse in every aspect one can think of -- urban and rural, rich and poor, and when it comes to religion and ethnicity, we run the gamut so John has a real challenge to keep us all happy. I'm on his newsletter list and it is excellent and frequent and last week he asked us how he should vote on the health care bill. Y'all can bet I sent my two cents (and then some) along. For a young man, he brought a lot of experience to the table -- including four tours in Iraq as major in the Air Force Reserve. I've also noticed that he's a hard worker and has very quickly made himself a presence in Congress -- amazing for having only been there a little over a year.
Here's a video of him on the house floor as the last speaker for the Democrats on the health care bill. I thought he did just fine and did us proud!
I'm glad the bill passed despite a few misgivings on my part and no, it's not perfect but it's a start to solve a huge problem in our country and that's a good thing.
Don't be surprised if I'm not tracking well today -- it's been that kind of week. And if you have a quick fix for straightening one's sleep patterns, I want/need to know desperately!!!!!
* As usual, taking pictures didn't go well at the celebration last week. I dropped my camera and some are missing. I consider it a miracle that I have any at all and that my camera survived. We were disappointed that my nephew, Matt, wasn't in attendance but I'm guessing that he had to work. Here's a photo of Mike and his family after the ceremonies. Please note that we don't use the 'step' prefix in our family. Left to right: Shannon, my niece; Brianna, my adorable grandniece; Mike, my big little brother, holding Sarah, my other adorable grandniece; and Karen, my sweet sister-in-law. Mike loves little ones and looks forward to getting re-acquainted with his girls.
* All I can say about the healthcare bill at this point is what Andrew Sullivan has been saying for weeks: "Pass. The. Damn. Bill." Yeah, the public option would be nice but we have to start somewhere. And besides, the Senate is taking another look at the public option so it isn't dead yet -- unless it's just another cruel trick by our employees. Yes, they are our employees and I am not pleased with them and tell them, too. I recommend that y'all do the same.
* Wicked Politician of the Week: Senator Dan Riehl of California for his absolutely sick and twisted blog post. I think he needs to be fired or sued or both. And the Republican Party needs to do some talking to some of these venomous creatures in their party.
* Good Politician of the Week: State Representative W. Scott Oelslager for the interest he has taken in my dental/Medicaid woes. He does what our representatives are supposed to do: help his constituents. Isn't that why we elect them? And yeah, he's a Republican who is well-respected by everyone in our county.
* St. Paddy's was sorta nice. I ate my corned beef and cabbage like a good girl and washed it down with a wee pint which will hopefully will bring some good luck. Jeff called to wish me greetings of the day and to tell me that he and Shaughnessy will be back here by my birthday. Right.
* My needlepoint project was a waste of time. It looks okay but it doesn't work for the purpose I intended. Sigh. On the other hand, I enjoyed doing it which tells me I need to get to doing artsy craftsy stuff.
* Has anybody but me noticed how many old people are at the Teabaggers' rallies? And none have read the bill and all think their health care will be taken away. Excuse me? Did the Tooth Fairy bring their Medicare? She didn't bring mine. There's video here of the last Teabagger rally before the bill if your blood pressure can take it. I'm so tired of their crap, it hardly raised mine.
* From my Some-People-Have-Too-Much-Free-Time Department: Here's a video that left me laughing and marveling at the brain that produced it. Warning: it's a tad bawdy.
It's coming down to crunch time for decent healthcare reform. HR 4789 is is The Public Option Act Most of us understand and want the public option so let your Congress Critter know how you feel if he/she isn't one of the 66 (at last count) representatives who support and are sponsoring this bill. If you're congressman/woman isn't supporting it, you can call (202) 324-2132 and ask for his/her office. Or visit his/her website for contact information.
Rep. Dennis "the Menace" Kucinich Cleveland is on board and he's gone on record as saying that he won't support any legislation without a public option. The one thing we know in Ohio is that Dennis has the courage of his convictions. We also know that he grew up the hard way and understands how difficult can be. and He's been supporter of the public option for many years. The link is to his Q&A discussion on health care at Georgetown University. Or you can see it as a 3 part series on YouTube. He makes sense. I think he clarified 'public option' very well!!!!
I've have been at the saturation point with Fox News' lies for a very long time and what has confused me most about it is that the other news sources have been letting them get away with it!!!! Do you honestly think Huntley, Brinkley or Cronkite would have stood by silently for their lack of integrity and vicious lies? I don't. And I've been pleasantly surprised in recent days to trip across some folks who found their cojones and took a stand.
I read a lot of newspapers online on both sides of the fence that appears to exist in politics -- mostly the editorial pages but also the news --and I was delighted with this gutsy, courageous editorial by Howell Raines, former editor of the New York Times. He really says a lot about ethics and honesty and calls upon the media to take stand.
In this CNN's Rick Sanchez takes on Fox. What do you think?
"The Ed Show" is wacky and off the wall sometimes and sometimes right on but he usually makes sense and is good at skewering the idiots of either party and that's what I call that "fair and balanced". Today's show re: pubic option on healthcare is right on and scary.
My take is that y'all and I, as well as the rest of us ordinary mortals are not getting what we need and won't ever get it as long as our health is a political football. Sigh.
Thanks for all your good wishes for my family. It was a nice day. Now I get to go back to my irregularly scheduled traumas.
The young lady in this video is an Alaskan blogger and contributor to the HuffPost. She is part of group of Alaskan bloggers who are dedicated to exposing the truth about Sarah Palin. What she has to say is important -- especially for us elders so I wanted to share it with y'all.
And Bill Maher gave me some needed comic relief after some of the horrid things I've been listening to and watching. Unfortunately, it's probably "more truth than poetry" as my Daddy used to say.
It was a busy day. I crossed some things off my "gottado" list and added some new ones. Most importantly, I almost have my taxes ready to e-file but I need to get a couple things clarified -- grrr. I went out and took care of business and treated myself to a sub from Quizno's -- yum! Jeff called from Florida. He and Shaughnessy are having fun and his golf and tennis games still suck! No surprise there -- when I still could play, I could beat him at both sometimes (especially tennis) and I'm hardly a superstar. I miss that.
My hoped for move may not happen. Despite that it could save me greatly on my utility bills, I don't think I can afford the moving expense/deposit and my tax refund is going to be miniscule. Oh well.
A friend passed along these powerful videos by Keith Olbermann on healthcare and while I sometimes think he's sorta nutty, I think he really spoke from the heart and to the bottom line. I think y'all will agree. Each is about ten minutes long but I think they are worth your attention. I cried for a variety of reasons.
I am mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!!!!!!!!!
The health care bill helps no one in this country except the insurance companies and the politicians who will get huge campaign donations for passing it! We are getting, as my ex-husband would say, "screwed without getting kissed."
I like these folks at Firedoglake because they are pretty much centrist -- not so far to the right to be nutty and not so far left to be in la-la land. Mostly they make sense -- a rare commodity these days! While you're there sign up for their newsletter!!!!
Click on this link and weep over the ramifications of this bill:
It's a bright, sunny and cold day in Ohio and I'm cranky as hell-- and I haven't even brought in the mail yet to see what fresh hell awaits.
* Today is the 236th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and I encourage y'all, in memory of those brave men to contact your Congressmen and Senators to remember that they work for US.
* I saw Dr. Maria yesterday and am the not so proud owner of another scrip (which I don't think I need) and was advised that my potassium level was a little high so I should watch my diet -- no more bananas. I think I have figured out the biggest problem -- I drink too much coffee and Diet Coke so I'm going to try to cut that down. Sigh. Given the state of this country, I should probably drink heavily anyway. It may not help my health but I won't care.
* I had to take Miss Ruby to the car doctor yesterday -- it wasn't anything major but it still cost $78 bucks -- it took less than an hour. Sigh. It's going to be a reign of frugality for a while. Poverty sucks.
* I sent emailed and telephoned my Congress Critters today. Here is the letter/email that went via email to Senator Voinovich and Brown and Congressman Boccieri today:
Today is the 236th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. It was the day when the citizens rose against "taxation without representation" and gave birth to the American Revolution.
I think we need a new revolution so the citizens of this country can have decent health care whether we are rich or not.
I truly believe that people are dying because of lack proper health care. The way things are going, I will be one of them. I presently am being denied care that I need by Medicaid and it's terribly unfair to have one's health decided by a bureaucrat. It destroys one's self-esteem and I truly believe that people are dying because of it.
The Declaration of Independence states: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The above rights are damned hard to achieve without decent medical care.
Thank you.
Kay Dennison
* I have no enthusiasm for the holidays whatsoever so I'm mostly ignoring them.
* Here's a video clip from the film 1976 "Network" that speaks to us more relevantly today that it did back then. If you are fortunate enough to have a secure life, you might not agree, but there are many Americans -- especially elders -- who are suffering. And it's a disease that spreading due to the lack of concern or action by our representatives. You could be next -- and if that doesn't scare y'all, I don't know what will.
