Essay/Commentary: Backwards Texas Law Keeps Pregnant Brain Dead Woman on Life Support

Essay/Commentary: Backwards Texas Law Keeps Pregnant Brain Dead Woman on Life Support

            Only in Texas. A pregnant woman who somehow became brain dead was forced, against her own wishes and her family's wishes, to go on Life Support due to a Texas law. This cruel,misguided law overrules DNR[Do Not Resuscitate] documents, and puts potential life (a fetus) ahead of a woman's comfort in death. The party which supposedly believes in Small Government will always hypocritically abuse their power to enforce their morality or ideology on others, especially others who don't share their flawed value system of the powerful running roughshod over the powerless.

In a New England Suburb, Annual Creche Display Violates Separation of Church and State

In a New England Suburb, Annual Creche Display Violates Separation of Church And State

           In Norwood, Massachusetts, Where I reside, the town selectmen and women authorize the set up and display of a creche (Nativity Scene) in a public park around Christmastime. This would be less of an issue if other faiths or philosophies (including atheism, which is my philosophy) were also acknowledged, but this seldom happens. In the past, there have been lawsuits over such displays, but apparently because of the heavy Catholic population in town; the selectmen don't seem to care. In my view, the set up and display of the creche (or any religious symbol) is a slap in the face to every non-Christian is town. It basically says that the powers that be endorse Chrstianity and other religions or philosophies of townspeople don't count or don't matter. As for Christmas trees, wreaths and the like, those are really pagan traditions adopted be early Christians to make a smooth transition for religious conversion.

Canadian Lottery Winner Shows True Holiday Spirit

Canadian Lottery Winner Shows True Holiday Spirit

            In a time of materialistic hypocrisy, when too many people tend to prefer to receive than to give, Tom Crist, a well-off businessman who won  forty million dollars in the Canadian lottery; anonymously donated the entire jackpot to charity. When too many people show selfishness or indifference toward the pain and misfortune of others, Mr. Crist's philanthropy should be applauded and hopefully will spur those of means to empathize with those who are poor, needy or ill.  Mr. Crist is a true Yuletide hero, regardless of his religion or philosophy he may follow, if any.

Essay/Commentary: "THe Worst of the Worst"

Essay/Commentary:  "The Worst of the Worst"

           Once upon a time our Founding Fathers, such as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Ben Franklin, etc. were considered to be or actually were great men. Two hundred some-odd years later the majority of our political leaders or alleged leaders are anything but great men. Instead, too many of them are Machiavellian manipulators of the truth to deceive their constituents into supporting them in the voting booth or by way of political monetary or similar contributions. In my view, instead of the best and the brightest sacrificing a career for the greater good of service we get the worst of the worst who are primarily focused on enriching themselves or doing whatever is necessary to ruthlessly impose their own agenda. In many cases this agenda hurts rather than helps the many while enriching the privileged few (usually those at or near the top of the economic ladder). THese days, such ruthless politicians care little or nothing about the poor, the less fortunate and the Common Man, while going out of their way to appease the whims of the powerful. Too many politicians these days have little or no sense of Social Justice, for instance when billions are cut from Food Stamps to preserve tax cuts for the well-to-do. THe only solution is either to vote these bums out of office or to impose term limits.

Essay/Commentary: "The Real Problems of American Health Care"

Essay/Commentary:  "THe Real Problems of American Health Care"

         THere is no doubt that the American Health Care system is broken, as evidenced by health-related bankruptcies and exorbitant insurance premiums for too many of us. One major problem is executive pay and perks. THe astronomical cost of insurance and health care will never be controllable as long as executives (even at so-called non-profit corporations) pull in six or seven figure salaries, perks, stock options, and obscene pensions as well. Another way to control the cost of health care and insurance is to limit paper work. Make things as simple as possible and save it digitally or electronically.
In addition, all health care in this country should be non-profit. Without the incentive of profit, more money can go toward actual health care. Lastly, the only real way to control skyrocketing health care and insurance costs it to change to a single-payer system like most developed countries have. Obamacare isn't quite there, but at least it's a start.

Essay/Commentary: "Tea Party Terrorism?"

Essay/Commentary:  "Tea Party Terrorism?"

          Following the debacle of the 2013 shutdown of the U.S. Federal government by intransigent Republicans, can the most stubborn politicians of all in the Tea Party be considered terrorists?
Not a punch was thrown nor a bomb planted nor a bullet fired, but the Tea Party and many other right-wing Republican conservatives did use terrorist tactics in order to try to get their way when the usual accepted practice of majority rule didn't work. What they did was perpetrating an act of economic terrorism. Fortunately, the right-wingers ultimately failed, but during their temper tantrum/siege the economy took a hit for 16 days of around one billion dollars a day. Noone knows what the long-term ripple effect(s) will be on our economy and our international reputation. Hopefully voters will now think at least twice before they vote for Tea Party madhatters or right-wing conservatives. Unfortunately, in TExas, government shutdown ringleader Ted Cruz is now more popular than ever. Similar to how Islamists still believe that Ayatollah Khomenei and Osama bin Laden are  'great' men or even heroes, in TExas the masses feel hero-worship for this Tea Party madman Cruz.

       

Essay/Commentary: "Anarchy in Disgraceland"

Essay/Commentary:  "Anarchy in Disgraceland"

        With only days before the U.S Treasury runs out of money and the effluent hits the fan (default on U.S. debts and obligations) Congress seems no closer to a solution to this mess that it did at the beginning of the artificial, Tea Party-made crisis. Washington, D.C. ought to be renamed Disgraceland because a small minority of vocal radicals can hold our government and likely our economic solvency hostage over petty whims. THese stubborn, seemingly unaccountable politicians would rather our economy crash and our government go into a state of near chaotic anarchy if they cannot get their way. Kicking and screaming like spoiled brats, it is appalling that the American electorate puts up with any of these alleged leaders.  The Tea Party is a symptom of how broken and out of touch our Federal politicians are, particularly in Congress (both the Senate and the House of Representatives). Speaker of the House JOhn Boehner (R- Ohio) behaves as if he puts the whims of the Tea Party extremists ahead of the needs of his constituents as a whole. Hopefully, future voters will smarten up and avoid electing right-wing radicals, who prioritize the whims of the wealthy, powerful and connected ahead of the needs and wishes of the struggling Common Man. (tbc?)

Essay/Commentary: "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"

Essay/Commentary:  "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"

          Elected scoundrel Speaker of the  House John Boehner (R Ohio)  is using an arcane rule known as  "the Hastert Rule" named after former G.O.P. Speaker Dennis Hastert to ensure that the government ramains closed for the immediate future.  This notorious rule also referred to as  "the majority of the majority rule" (also used by former Speaker Newt Gingrich when he temporarily shut down the government in the Clinton era) is a bullying tactic commonly used by Republican Speakers of the House to refuse to allow a vote unless the majority of the party in power supports the bill. It is also used to punish maverick representatives who go against the Speaker's rule, as well as those of the minority party.  I guess Mr. Boehner is between a rock and a hard place. He either has to stand firm with his My Way or the Highway demand to delay or destroy ObamaCare , or he will lose his position as Speaker to someone who may possibly be worse, such as an unyielding arch-Conservative or a TEA Party nutjob similar to  Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but hopefully Speaker Boehner will put the solvency of our economy and international reputation ahead of self-interest and ignore the Hastert Rule to fully reopen the government; no strings attached.

Essay/Commentary: "No Government, No Pay Act" ; Is Political Money 'Free Speech' or Legal Bribery?

Essay/Commentary:  "No Government, NO Pay Act? ;  Is Political Money  'Free Speech' or Legal Bribery?

         Potential good news regarding the unnecessary Government Shutdown. U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, a Democrat from Minnesota has filed a bill:  The No Government- No Pay Act. I just found out about it today. If this bill is enacted, as long as the government is shut down Congressmen and women will not be paid. I urge anyone to put pressure to pass this bill, their Congressperson, particularly in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Congress was forced to go without pay when on a whim they decide to shut down the government, then I can almost guarantee that a compromise or a solution to this problem would quickly be reached. Hopefully if this Act is passed, there will never be a spiteful government shutdown ever again.
         Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that would potentially eliminate any limit on political contributions, under the ridiculous argument that political donations are  "free speech". If this decision is made the pernicious scourge of monetary influence in U.S. politics, particularly by the rich and superrich will only get worse. Already, Congress puts the whims of the wealthy against the wants and needs of the Common Man. Unfortunately, the usual suspects (Scalia, Thomas, Elite-o and Roberts) are likely to decide in favor of this abomination.

Essay/Commentary: "Under Siege"

Essay/Commentary:  "Under Siege"

         For almost a fortnight, the intransigent  and radical Tea Party supporting G.O.P. has held our government and our economy under siege over a my way or the highway opposition to the Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare. IN other words, the G.O.P. leadership and rank and file would rather tank our economy than for exorbitant health care and insurance be affordable to the masses. Speaker of the HOuse John Boehner refuses to allow a vote in the House of Representatives to end the government shutdown, falsely claiming that it is  "the will of the American people".  It may be the will of his extremist Tea Party colleagues, but a majority of the people do not want to put our economic prosperity at risk as a matter of principle or more accurately and bluntly typical political bullshit which benefits the few or noone. It is a shame that Mr. Boehner isn't held accountable or either recalled from office or even impeached for his arguably treasonous actions. His stubbornness can and will negatively affect nearly everyone for years to come.

Essay/Commentary: Who Are the 10%

Essay/Commentary:  Who are the  10%?

        The other day I was watching the Cable News Network while waiting for my car at a local garage. According to CNN, a poll regarding the approval rating of the U.S. Congress is currently at a paltry 10%, probably the lowest it has ever been. THe current crop of Congressmen and women has a lower approval rating of such things as  "head lice" and other unpopular things. I would expect the approval level to be much lower, as low as 1%, except that many people are misinformed by the propaganda of so-called  "Fair and Balanced"  [not!]  Fox News and such liars and frauds as Rush Limbaugh and  Sean Hannity.  The people who approve of these clowns in Congress are probably very conservative or very misinformed or uninformed. How can you approve of folks who are willing to ruin our economy and possibly our way of life as a matter of principle or ideology. It is ridiculous that the conservative Republican Party puts the wants and whims of approximately  10% of their constituents over 90% who disapprove of the politicians' performance. (tbc?)

An Open Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner

An Open Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner

re: THe Government Shutdown

     Shame on you for being a key reason why our Federal government has shut down. The Tea Party are about 20%, if that, of the electorate. By kowtowing to the demands of Tea Party extremists you are showing disdain for the other 80% of potential voters (not to mention non-voters), some of whom could vote you out of office. This shutdown was absolutely unnecessary. It is frustrating, aggravating and a true disgrace that Congressmen and women still receive their $3000+ checks while perpetrating this nonsense. To make matters worse this shutdown could affect both our domestic economy as well as economies around the world thanks to the Global Economy. Using your personal job security as an excuse for shutting down the government is ridiculous. Isn't the solvency of our fragile economy more important than whether or not you remain a U.S. Representative from OHio or Speaker of the House? Also, Obamacare is the law of the land. Sabotaging the law at this point will do more harm than the alleged 'good' you appear to risk our economy for. Forget your pride and ideology, do something to undo the government shutdown.
                                           Sincerely,
                                           Brian Mich
                                           Norwood, Massachusetts

Essay/Commentary: Congress Votes to Gut Billions from Food Stamps

Essay/Commentary:  Congress Votes to Gut Billions from Food Stamp Program

       In the last week or so the G.O.P. leadership voted to gut something like  $40 billion from the food stamp program. To the worldview of these swells, who probably dine on steak, lobster, caviar or similar extravagant repasts and drink expensive champagne to go with it; it is the fault of the poor or less-fortunate for needing food or other assistance.  THey have the arrogant attitude of  "Let them eat cake", or more accurately work or starve, even at a time when good-paying jobs with a Living Wage are hard or sometimes next to impossible to get, even with a college education and plenty of skills. Without an education, skills, or an able/healthy body, the poor are totally screwed. As far as these overprivileged A-holes in Congress are concerned, the poor can starve or die, especially those who are likely to vote for the opposing party. If only the elite are well fed or successful, then our society is in deep trouble. There is something definitely wrong when the top one percent owns or has more wealth than the bottom something like 40% combined. If this inequality is allowed to continue violence and social unrest is almost inevitable.  If, as some say,  "a rising tide doesn't propel all boats" then not only is the American Dream dead and buried, but our way of life is or soon will be as well. In closing, I sincerely hope that every single Congressman or woman who voted to gut the food stamp program and who has perpetrated the shredding of the social safety net will themselves know hunger once they are voted out of office.

Essay/Commentary: "587 Billion Just Pissed Away"

Essay/Commentary:  "567 Billion Just Pissed Away"

         Thanks for nothing George W. Bush.  According to Providence, RI radio DJ Geoff Charles, the Iraq war cost the U.S. taxpayer a grand total of something like  567 billion dollars.  Imagine all the good that money could have done.  If that money wasn't wasted on such a frivolous war, perhaps there wouldn't have been a near meltdown of our entire economy. To boot, we wouldn't likely have had to worry about the so-called fiscal cliff or the unnecessary sequestration that occurred largely due to the failure of compromise and bipartisanship between the legislative and executive branches of our Federal Government. Without a doubt, we didn't benefit one iota from this needless war based on deceit rather than necessity.  Five thousand some-odd American soldiers perished, and no doubt thousands more suffered physically or psychologically. Other than the demise of a dictator (Saddam Hussein), we undoubtably did much more harm than good by going to war in the Middle East. We killed untold thousands of Iraqis, we destabilized the region, and we radicalized who knows how many Moslems both in Iraq and even in the U.S. (such as the Boston Marathon bombers). Although still praised by many on the right, Geoerge Dubya Bush should be remembered in infamy and as a disgrace.

Essay/Commentary: Right vs. Wrong

Essay/Commentary:  Right vs. Wrong

         I never thought I would be saying this, but in some cases it shouldn't matter if a case is Constitutional or not. Instead, it should be according to whether things are right or wrong. Problem is, right or wrong are often subject to interpretation. For example,  an innocent person on Death Row should either be freed or get a new trial. More recently, I don't know if such a case would ever go to the Supreme Court, but if people sue over hydraulic fracking (in which potentially scarce water resources are made unuseable) then fracking should lose regardless of   "Constitutionality" or not.  (tbc?)

Essay/Commentary: The IRS and the Tea Party

Essay/Commentary:  "THe IRS and the Tea Party"

        This week (Sun. May 19) a big to-do was made by the G.O.P. when it was found out that the IRS targeted certain groups  with titles like "Patriots" and  the  "Tea Party". As usual, this is largely political BS to make Obama look bad. Although the IRS may have targeted these groups, such tax breaks were meant for nonpolitical groups, and not such overtly partisan organizations as the so-called Tea Party. In my opinion, the Tea Party does not deserve non-profit status. Where was the G.O.P.'s outrage when progressive groups, such as when  Green Peace were targeted during the Dubya Bush years? On the other hand, the Obama administration was dead wrong when they targeted notes and telephone and maybe computer records of the Associated Press under the pretext of so-called  "National Security" reasons.

Heartlessness at a California Nursing Home

Heartlessness at a California Nursing Home

         At an assisted living facility in California an octogenarian collapsed while having a heart attack. A nurse, who presumably could have performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), instead dialed 9-1-1 and decided to wait for EMTs to take action. THe 9-1-1 operator urged the nurse to save the woman, but she replied  "it is against policy" for her to help a distressed resident. Apparently the nurse put her own job security ahead of a vulnerable woman's life. She was eager to save her own ass, even if it meant ignoring someone in mortal danger. Almost needless to say, the woman who endured the heart attack died soon after the EMTs finally arrived. If it were up to me, at the very least the heartless nurse should be fired and barred from any future employment as a nurse. Also, she could be subject to a lawsuit by the family of the afflicted patient. Not only that, but the assisted living facility should be either heavily fined or shut down.

Essay/Commentary: On the Congressional Defenestration, er Sequestration

Essay/Commentary On the Congressional Defenestration, er Sequestration

           The sequestration has gone into effect. Both President Obama and the U.S Congress agreed that automatic, indiscriminate cuts of government services would go into effect if the Legislative and Executive branches of our Federal government couldn't come to an agreement of how to pay down our deficit. Sequestration was so onerous that it was assumed that the automatic cuts would never go into effect. Since Republicans don't want to give an inch, nay a millimeter to make Obama look good, it is with little or no surprise that sequestration, a totally unnecessary maneuver would be imminent under these intransigent conservative, Tea Party dominated G.O.P. majority House (of Representatives). Congress, and to a lesser extent the President have basically defenestrated (thrown us out the window) their constituents. I believe that the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party are elated that these cuts are about to go into effect. Even the military, sacrosanct to the G.O.P. will be affected by sequestration. Needless to say, the well-to-do will easily endure these cuts, while the Middle Class (if it still exists) and the poor will be the ones to bear the brunt of sacrifice and suffering.  To make matters worse the A-holes in the G.O. P. still continue to refuse the possibility of raising taxes on the rich. If only We the People could demand a recall or mass impeachment of those who put their personal ideology ahead of the needs of the country as a whole. (tbc?)

Good Bye and Good Riddance to the Pope

Good Bye and Good Riddance to the Pope

         After several years Pope Benedict, aka Joseph Ratzinger has abdicated as Pope. Under his reign many molester/priests have gone unpunished. Karol Wojtyla, otherwise known as Pope John Paul II could be considered the Molester Protector Pope, while Benedict, was the ex-Nazi (Ratzinger was one of the Hilter Youth as a child).  Under both John-Paul II and Ratzinger,  numerous molester/priests have gone unpunished and under their conservative outlook of Catholicism many ex-Catholics, myself included, have left the Church forever. What is most interesting about Benedict is that he is the first pope in centuries to abdicate before his death. Hopefully the next pope will hold a more contemporary outlook, but I wouldn't hold my breath to bet on it. Also, it is a disgrace that Cardinal Bernard Law was allowed to advance in the Church in Rome even though he reputedly looked the other way while the molestation scandal occurred Boston and elsewhere arguably due to an antiquated policy of clerical celibacy.

Essay/Commentary:Aaron Swartz Driven to Take Life

Essay/Commentary: Aaron Swartz Driven to take Life

       Computer genius Aaon Swartz (founder of Reddit and RSS) took his own life after being threatened with decades in prison for a victimless crime, that of illicitly making M.I.T. computer journals available to those who didn't pay for them. It is ironic but not surprising that a District Attorney went after a minor computer criminal while at the same time ignoring the major crimes of Wall Street criminals who nearly destroyed our economy and our way of life. I understand that Swartz was offered a sentence of less that a year, but his lawyer rejected the offer. Those at the top should not be exempt from the same harsh law that took a promising mind from this world with no justification except perhaps to make an overzealous prosecutor to look tough on crime, while ignoring the real crime from the financial world of Wall Street.
Correction: According to the attorney who prosecuted and/or persecuted Swartz, the unfortunate man was not subject to decades in prison, but the mere threat of jail for a victimless crime pushed him over the edge.

Essay/Commentary: "AIG or P-I-G?"

Essay/Commentary:  "AIG or  P-I-G?"

          A little over a year ago financial behemoth AIG, whose greedy actions nearly destroyed our economy and our way of life received a no strings involved financial bailout for supposedly being  "too big to fail". I don't know the exact amount, but I know it was over a billion dollars. Since it was a no strings attached bailout, they abused the privilege by handing out bonuses rather than for what the cash infusion was really intended for. Now, AIG is apparently considering filing a lawsuit against the Federal government (kind of like indirectly suing the taxpayers of this country) to evidently get even more money, while screwing over the average person (especially those poor souls undergoing home foreclosure). According to a website of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren AIG deserves to lose its tax beak privileges. As far as I'm concerned, they should have forfeited such privileges a long time ago. Also, there is no such thing as  "too big to fail". A lot of companies (such as Enron) have gone bankrupt or extinct. We'd all be better off if such companies were broken up or dissolved, and the greedy few at the top should be denied all perks, bonuses, and so-called  "Golden Parachutes".