Daily thoughts !

Except for my service years, I have lived in Ohio all my life.  As a Public School teacher I was involved in a six week strike in the late 80's. As I walked the picket lines people drove by and flipped me the finger,threw objects at me,and called me names. Scabs were eager to line up to relpace me and did for six long weeks. I have no faith that the people in Ohio care for anyone but themselves. I feel that they will let this bill stand and not vote to repeal it. I am ashamed of my state. Voters knew what Kasich was about and still elected him. Many of his supporters were Public employees !  I worked with a lot of them and all they cared about were their own jobs.  I guess they are getting what they deserve. Too bad that other people with their eyes open are getting it too. I recently read something by an unnamed blogger and would like to share a little truth with anyone listening.

The corporatio­ns own the media and therefore the message, everything on the media is bought and paid for.
The medium is set up for you to buy what they sell.
They wrap the slick advertisin­g in glossy programmin­g but the biggest sales pitch is the message.
If you're buying remeber they are lying.
Doubt none of what you hear, little of what you see and verify the informatio­n.
Corporatio­ns have their self interest in mind only, not yours and the higher the returns the more money is spent selling the lie.
Look at us here, we are argueing against each other. Citizen to Citizen and to a greater or lesser extent the informatio­n we receive, as the basis for our arguement is manufactur­ed as disinforma­tion.
We are not our own enemies, we are there pawns   AMEN !!!

It ain't gona happen !

I am tired of reading about the ratings that FOX News gets. The fact that they can draw between 2 or 3 million viewers for an evening broadcast means very little. Sponge Bob and The Jersey Shore draw many more viewers on their reruns. 
To MSNBC I say:

If you are serious about beating Fox there is only one thing that you need to do. You need to be part of the basic cable package offered up by Comcast. That would be the same on that Fox has already been on for years. Fox gets high ratings because they are on every basic cable channel across the country. (Take a trip around small town America and you will see). You put MSNBC into the same mix and you have more than a real shot at Fox.  The same is true with the AM radio programs. Rush has such big numbers because he really has no competition. Try and get any Liberal or Progressive programs in middle America. With Clear Channel it ain't gona happen. 

The Religion of money.

 The Right has used a tactic of attacking a person,policy of group for one mistake or one word taken out of context. Remember Rev. Wright.  This was a vetern of eight years service to his country . They took a couple lines out of one sermon and tried to destroy a lifetime of service and work to his nation and flock.

It's interestin­g that the tactic has worked so well for so long. They find one really bad example and use it to make the case to destroy the entity. The pace has picked up lately, so it's important that we start to recognize the trend. The media will not or can not report on these issues because they are all slanted to the Right and have to protect their bought and paid for politicians.

-ACORN, they found one bad seed, and used it to pull funding and eliminate ACORN. My God,this organization represented poor and homeless people. Did the media protect them!
-NPR, same exact MO. 
-Air Traffic Controller­s...one guy screwed up, big time. The response is to make it harder to have a union at all. An alternativ­e could be to make it easier to punish, or fire, bad employees, which a lot of people would support, even those who are in favor of unions.

I think it's called striking while the iron is hot. They will either find a straw man to justify their action, or will create one through false pretenses and selective editing. Ruthless tactics.  Notice how they have not spent any time to create any jobs. Their main focus is to make life easier for the wealthy class so they can exploit the workers to their benifit. They speak about God and morals all the time when in reality their only God is money and power,or simply put "the work of the DEVIL.

Now the Right keeps asking the President for his Birth Certicicate. He has produced the copy given to every citizen born in Hawaii.  Still they ignore him and keep asking for proof of his citizenship. Lies and faulsehoods are the norm with these people. It boggles my mind that the American public gives any time to these politicians that use these deceptions and lies.

The truth hurts !

For the "America is #1" crowd:

From the 2011 Economist Intelligen­ce Unit World Book in Figures

Rank of America versus the rest of the world for:

GDP Per Capita:   #20
Purchasing Power:  #12
Human Developmen­t Index: #13
Economic Freedom Index:  #8
Gender Developmen­t Index:  #19
Biggest Exporter (good and services): #2
Biggest Trader of Goods:  #3
Largest Manufactur­er:  #2
Foreign Currency Reserves:  #6
Largest donors of foreign aid and assistance (% of GDP):  #24
Largest agricultur­al output:  #3
Global competitiv­eness:  #3
Business environmen­t:  #13
Technology adoption index:  #13
Total expenditur­e on R&D (% of GDP):  #7
Patents:  #2
Corruption Perception Index:  #22
Car production­:  #3
Most rail passengers­:   #46
Most rail freight:  #2
Merchant fleet:  #7
Tourist arrivals:  #2
Life expectancy­:  #32
Infant mortality:  #37
Telephone lines per 1,000 people:  #23
Cell phones per 1,000 people:  #61
Computers per 1,000 people:  #6
Broadband subscriber­s per 1,000 people:  #14
Daily newspapers per 1,000 people:  #27
Press Freedom:  #20
Environmen­tal Performanc­e Index:  #51

But don't worry,  There are indeed somethings where America is indeed #1

Defense spending:  #1
COs Emitter:  #1 (tie with China)
Prisoners:  #1
Foreign Debt:: #1
Health Care Costs:  #1


The most awful thing about this list is that the things America shouldn't be good at (# of prisoners, for example), it keeps getting "better".  Meanwhile, for the things it should be good at (like education)­, it keeps getting worse.

While Rome burned Nero fiddled away !

In 2007 the United States already had the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world prior to the financial crisis. Since the crisis, which has hit the average worker much harder than CEOs, the gap between the top one percent and the remaining 99% of the US population has grown to a record high. The economic top one percent of the population now owns over 70% of all financial assets, an all time record So it should come as no surprise to see that we now have the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world and the highest inequality of wealth in our nation's history. The backbone of America, a hard working middle class that has made our country a world leader, has been devastated

As I have mentioned before,in other posts we have the most expensive health care system in the world and we are forced to pay twicw as much as other countries,and the overall care we get in return ranks 37th, in the world. On average, US citizens are now paying a record high 8% of their income on medical care.

The Richest 1% Have Captured America's Wealth -- What's It Going to Take to Get It Back?

The U.S. already had the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world prior to the financial crisis -- and it's gotten even worse.

The US public doesn't have any understanding of how much wealth has been generated and concentrated into the hands of the Economic Elite over the past 40 years; there is no historical frame of reference. This withholding of wealth is truly the greatest crime against humanity in the history of civilization.

What could be done with all the money that has been hoarded by the Economic Elite is extraordinary!

Let's consider what we could do with the money that has been stolen from us? On top of what should be our average six-figure yearly income, we could have:

* Free health care for every American,

* A free 4 bedroom home for every American family,

* 5% tax rate for 99% of Americans,

* Drastically improved public education and free college for all,

* Significantly improved public transportation and infrastructure,

The list goes

If Americans could just understand how much wealth is being withheld from us, we would have a massive uprising and the Economic Elite would be swept away, into the history books alongside the evil despots of the past
.
Don't believe me folks. As any economist worth his or her salt. As the end of the dream nears one can see the people start to rise up around the world. This weekend the people of England said no!  Americans though are still asleep and watching their TV sets instead of paying attention to what is happening around them .while Rome burned Nero fiddled away!

Born and raised Catholic.

If we are such a Christian country why do these same god fearing politician­s and humans care less about the poor, education, happy to cut any social program that would help others, and continue to destroy our planet. I was brought up a Roman Catholuc, alter boy till I was 18 (no our priests do not bother us,  went to catholic grammar school and Jr. High School. high school These Born Agains are screwed up. The christian education I received and how we treat each other and how Jesus preached is very different from how these freaks interpret the Bible
I have not stepped into a church in 10 years and never will again, my church is the wilderness­, not listening to some priest who just wants you to give money to support his church and their lifestyle.. These freaks are not Christians­, not even close. I do not care if your are Christian, Buddhists, atheists, Mormon, Muslim, Hindu or what, just be the best human you can be, help others, be true to our planet, and do not judge others, that is what religion is all about. It has zero to do with going to church and reading the bible. look at all the deaths that have been caused by religion, and in the name of  God. I know that it seems that by calling people freaks it seems that I am judging others. I guess I am not perfect and should not use those words.  In closing I do not want to be associated with any Born Again Christians and can just barely tolerate my former Catholic friends.

Walmart in league with the Devil OR Is Walmart the Devil ?

I was going to write about the evils of Walmart today. I looked at the information I have put into a folder and came to the realization that there were so many bad thinga to say that I had the beginnings of a book. I think that I will go over the information I have and concentrate on one area at a time. The list of evil and bad ways Wallmart treat workers is so long that I feel I need to take a stand. I addition to airing my protests in print I plan on wearing a pro union shirt and visiting our local store once in a while. A bit of advice ,if I may be so bold, look into the eyes of the people who work there and see the pain.

What were we thinking?

In 2001, Kasich took a job as managing director  of the Columbus investment banking division of Lehman Brothers.  He remained at the company until its collapse in September 2008. During 2008, Lehman Brothers paid Kasich $587,175 in salary, bonuses, and other benefits. Over $400,000 of that bonus is credited to Kasich using his political connections to facilitate investment of $480 million from the state pension fund with Lehman Brothers. That money was lost to the state.
eachers I know voted for John Kasich as Ohio's Gov. Most of them did it because they were Republicans and so was he. When will voters learn to look at the background of the person they voted for?  Here is just one fact that voters should have taken into account before they cast their vote. . When will people learn to look at a persons past before they give them a job as important as running a state?  Just wait until you see tha damage he will do to the state of Ohio in just a few short years..  Lesson learned?  I doubt it!

Republicans always talk a good game. (they lie)

While Republicans talk a good game about the need to be fiscally responsible and their desire to balance the budget, reality shows that Democratic presidents clearly have produced better results.
The past  years, for example, have seen the budget collapse from a $236 billion surplus to a $413 billion deficit. Large deficits mean higher taxes in the future, painful cuts in federal services – like Social Security, the national park system, and funding for education – or both. With large deficits, needed government investments will be under pressure and will be underfunded. In the long run, large deficits mean less private investment, and it means that we are passing a massive debt burden down to our kids and grandkids.
A new analysis by long-time fiscal analyst Richard Kogan shows clearly how different presidents have fared on their budget scorecards. By separating historical data by presidents, he finds that under Democrats, the country has had better budget and economic outcomes.
For example, over the last 42 years, Democrats have been more fiscally responsible than Republicans:

• The biggest deficits occurred under Republican administrations; and
• The budget has been balanced five times, and always under Democratic presidents.

Under President Bush's watch, the budget has seen a historically unprecedented deterioration:

• There have been four straight years of a fiscal deterioration – the first times this has happened since WWII; and
• This is the first time in U.S. history that deficits have continued to grow this far into an economic recovery.

When it comes to generating a strong economy, Democrats have out-performed Republicans as well:

• After-tax income grew faster under the responsible, progressive tax policies of Bill Clinton than under the supply-side, trickle-down policies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush;
• Job growth was also nearly four times stronger under Democratic presidents than under Republican presidents;
• Output growth is 1.6 times stronger under Democrats; and
• Wage and salary growth is over three times as strong under Democrats.

The evidence shows that the fiscal responsibility of Democrats pays dividends in the form of a stronger economy and that the Republicans' talk of fiscal responsibility are little more than empty promises.

I know that the jury is still out on President Obama.  This country must climb out of a huge budget hole. The President needs help and cooperation from the Republicans.  I fear that this help will not be offered and the Republicans will only offer lip service and look out for the people that put them in office. To hell with the rest of us. The poor are all lazy and looking for Gov. handouts. The wealthy don't think we even wash our hands.

SSI.Medicare Tticare for the Military, are just a few Gov. programs that work

We already have Gov.run health care. It's called Medicare and it serves the elderly in our country. I never met a person over the age of 65 that would want to give up this benifit. Medicare does a great job of keeping costs down as low as possible. They are able to pay for the health care of people at the average rate of about $3,800 dollars a year. Not bad !  How many elderly would want to exchange this program foe a $3,000 voucher to buy their Insurance? 

As many people have heard,Medicare is in trouble. Medicare part D is one reason. This mandate was unfunded and added to the Medicare shortfall. The rising cost of health care along with stagnet wages is another. A worker making $50,000 a year only pays $750 a year to help fund this program. There is an employee match.

I also hear about death panels and rationed care. There are no such things. I know a man in his 80's that needs a heart valve replacement. Medicare will cover the cost of this surgery. Without it he would die. Does anyone really believe that private insurance would be a better option?

This is a Government program that works along with a long list of others. If anyone thinks that Americans would be happier with another system then lets put up a referendum and let people vote. Medicare or Vouchers.

Are we that stupid?

There are 320 million people in this country. We spend about $8,000 in medical expences foe each and every one of them. With a single payer system we could provide the same coverage for half that amount.  That's a $4.000 savings for each living person in this nation.

A single payer system would be a 128 billion savings per year . That's year after year after year. That's complete medical coverage for every man.woman, and child in the United States. No more medical bills only savings that can be used to balance the budget or for education. What the heck is wrong with voters?  Why can't we see the rational of a national health care system. Are we that stupid?

This is the solution to our budget problems . WAKE UP AMERICA !!!

Average Cost per Person by Organisati­on for Economic Co-operati­on and Developmen­t
Source : http://www­.researchr­ecap.com/w­p-content/­uploads/20­09/07/heal­th.gif

----------­­------- Per capita costs for the year 2007 ---------­­---------

United States....­.... $7,290 .....100% of US per capita cost.
Canada....­..........­... $3,895 ..... 53% of US per capita cost.
France....­..........­.... $3,601 ..... 49% of US per capita cost.
Germany...­..........­.. $3,588 ..... 49% of US per capita cost.
United Kingdom...­.. $2,992 ..... 41% of US per capita cost.
Japan.....­..........­.... $2,581 ...... 35% of US per capita cost.

Using the Canadian model and applying their per capita cost to the US population­, we could cover EVERYBODY and SAVE over $3,400 per person per year.

No Fuss. No Bills. Everybody covered.

Simplicity­. That's Single Payer.
..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.......
Look at the savings again :

That's $3,400 (In 2007 US dollars).
That's $3,400 per PERSON (for every man, woman and child).
That's $3,400 per YEAR.
That's $3,400 per person per year - EVERY YEAR.
That's $3,400 per person per year - EVERY YEAR - FOREVER

Defund NPR? Why?

This is ridiculous­.

NPR is PUBLIC radio.  It provides informatio­n and news for All people.  Public supported radio means that even people in poor rural areas of the country who don't have access to major programmin­g will still have a source for news.

I do not understand why Republican­s refuse to fund services that benefit   the public.  This is a purely political attack on a radio station.  It's childish for Republican­s to use their power to exact revenge for imagined slights.  It's petty and spiteful and is beneath the dignity of the office of Congress.  Most stations originate from college campuses in our area of Ohio. I listen to WYSU.  I have never found NPR to be left leaning.  I believe the main reason for the Republican attack is rather simple.  NPR is not controled by big business and because of that fact they give a more honest look at the news.

As Americans we do not need our choices for news to be limited.

Health Care cuts are on the way. Take that America!

Congressman Paul Ryan wants to make deep cuts in SSI and Medi-care.  He stated that we have a big problem we must tackle!
Tackle the problem." The "problem" is

1. A 10 year long unfunded war in Afghanista­n
2. An unnecessar­y, pointless, unfunded war in Iraq
3. Cutting, rather than raising, taxes during wartime (first time in U.S. history)
4. Cutting, then extending, taxes to the wealthiest Americans and decimating the middle class

You, Congressma­n, and your reactionar­y coharts are the cause of the problem---­if not the problem itself . To try and steal more money from SSI is an evil sin.  Medicare spends about half the cost for services for the elderly while private health care spends twice for every man woman and child in this country. We need to fix this problem by extending Medi-Care to all not to cut it. You my friend are full of shit ,everyone can smell it!

We need reasonable gun control and laws.

There is nothing absolute about the freedoms in our own Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech is not freedom to shout "fire" in a crowded theater. Freedom of religion is not freedom to have more than one spouse, or sacrifice a lamb in the local park, or other strange rites and practices. Whatever right the Second Amendment protects regarding the private possession of guns, for whatever definition of "militia," is not an absolute right. It must serve the overall public interest, including (from the preamble of the US Constitution) the need to "insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare." Whatever right there is to possess firearms is no less important than the right of innocent people to be protected against people who carry these weapons in public. I should be able to have an argument without having to worry about getting shot.

This issue needs to be argued between reasonable people without the lobbying power and money of groups like the NRA. There is just too much gun violence in this country and a black eye on our nation. I fear that things will only get more dire withour reasonable gun control. I repeat ,the rights set forth by the first 10 ammendments were never meant to be absolute.

Miss Portman is with child ! Oh No!

“Here is the problem with people like Rev. Huckleberr­y. What Miss Portman does with her life has nothing to do with him. She is a young educated and accomplish­ed woman and does not deserved to be judged by the likes of him. I am happy that he and Newt are speaking out now so early so they can sink their own ship on their quest to be President. Then we can spend time listening to men with some kind of chance.”  God save me from those that preach and say one thing and do another.

Many of you voted for him.

Here's a question for all my union brothers and sisters to ponder: how many of you voted for Kasich? Perhaps you were pissed off about the national unemployme­nt rate. Maybe it was bailout of the banks and wall street. Who knows. Do you now see what your vote got you? The Republican­s could care less about working families. This bill is not going to save Ohio a dime, but it's going to cost firefighte­rs, cops and teachers plenty. Think about it. Kasich and the Republican­s aren't going to rest until they've turned Ohio into Mississipp­i! Next time, vote with your head, not with the fear and anger that the Republican propaganda machine has instilled in you.

 

I just hope it's not too late to undo all the harm he will do to our state. I know that we will never see high speed rail service.  At least we have our beautiful turnpike.  Oh, I forgot nthat he wants to sell that too. 

Modest cuts along with modest tax hikes are the way to go.

“Our Gov. in Ohio gave every person on his new staff a raise of betwee 28% to 30% and he wants to address the Budget shortfall with cuts on public employees. Our Gov.,a Wall Street Lobbyist,  is just anti-worke­r and pro business. To suggest or claim anything else would be to stray from the truth. He does speak with a forked tongue. Unions are run by and full of workers trying to get the best deal they can for their workers just like our Gov. is trying to get the best deal for his cliants by trying to bust the unions.”  There is no doubt that the people of Ohio made a big mistake electing this former FOX host. What were they thinking?  A big reason for his close victory was the support hr received from public workers that consider themselves to be Republicans. I wonder how they feel about their choice now. This budget mess can be fixed in any number of ways,but to squeeze the Gov. workers in your state who need to spend more money to keep the economy growing is stupid. When you have a budget provblem you should do modest cuts along with modest tax hikes to fix the problem. To attempt one or the other by itself shows your bias.