Tag Archives: common sense

Stupid Politician Tricks

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Just what are the minimum requirements to be fit to serve in public office?  I really have to wonder these days.  Aside from the blatantly criminal behavior evidenced by the boys and girls serving up in Albany, NY that is…..those jerks have really brought the bar down low, and it just seems politicians are getting less intelligent.  Governors leaving office because of sex scandals, jump immediately to mind.  Shouldn’t one have their personal life in order before they dare presume to order our public lives?

Consider the national Congress and Senate shenanigans, during speeches and on the Sunday shows, and you could make a case for the decline of American politics indeed. Some of the most stupid, harebrained, and racist comments are not made by some loopy blogger in an obscure location; they’ve been uttered by those already holding public office, and usually seeking a higher office.  I even wonder if politicians should be tested for mental illness. Continue reading →

Save The Postal Service, Save American Jobs

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The United States Postal Service is the finest, most reliable postal service in the world  Everyone knows this, and the fact that we can send a letter to any place in the United States to any other place for forty-six cents is frankly amazing.  I appreciate the ease with which I can ship packages all over the country with a minimum of fuss or trouble, and the certainty that my numerous internet purchases will make it to my door safely.  The USPS workers are our friends and neighbors; it is and always will be a large part of the fabric of American life and business.  So why all the fighting over the state of the USPS on the House floor?

It seems some in the Conservative crowd have a vendetta against the post office that we all know and love.  And they have manufactured a crisis designed to destroy the post office.  Check this link out:   Congressman Finally Takes Action To Remove Needless Requirement Bankrupting The Postal Service | ThinkProgress.

Correct me if I am way off base, but aren’t we guaranteed a Postal Service in our Constitution?  And aren’t most retirees unlikely to live seventy five years past retiring, let alone all?  Why was the United States Postal Service saddled with that stupid rule rather than businesses in the private sector?  You can imagine the furor if Fedex or UPS were federally mandated to pre-fund seventy five years of health benefits?  Continue reading →

FAA Inconvenience Leads Action, Unlike Impact To Vulnerable Americans

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How’s the sequestration treating you?  Most may ask, ‘What Sequestration?’.  Alot of folks stopped paying attention to this sort of thing, due to fatigue, so it is understandable that they would not know.  It’s a state of broad departmental budget cuts to government programs and services.  We are gifted with this albatross because the last Congress could not pass a budget.  The doomsday scenarios the White House and some Democrats warned against haven’t happened.  Yet.

The country has not imploded yet, nor been invaded by a foreign entity.   Personally, I haven’t been affected at all by sequestration, which I think is indicative of the experience of most Americans, because I am self sufficient, I have no special needs that require federal aid.  Unless you need a service of any kind…..that you depend on to eat, take care of yourself and family, to educate children.  You know, nothing of real importance to the media, or the average Senator and Congressperson.  Like booking a flight home from Washington!

Awareness has grown, since plenty of Americans, particularly business travelers were highly inconvenienced this week, as indicated by this article:  FAA Leads Sequestration Coverage Despite Impact To Vulnerable Communities.  Continue reading →

Ban Fracking Now

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If you are like me, you are deeply suspicious of industry that extracts fossil fuels, even “natural gas”.  The pressure from wealthy interests to get the ok to proceed with fracking projects in New York State is mounting on Governor Cuomo, especially for the jobs they supposedly would bring.  But when you see how other state’s environments have suffered after fracking, it is clear it would be a bad bargain for New York.  Last chance to express your position on the issue, folks.  Read on from Credo Action:

 

CREDO action
Governor Cuomo’s administration announced that the state’s health impact study will be completed “in the next few weeks,” paving the way for Governor Cuomo to make a decision on fracking in New York. That means now is a vitally important time to put pressure on the governor to ban fracking.
Click below for a sample script and the number to call:
Take action now ►

Dear Cecelia,

In February, we won a small victory in the fight to ban fracking in New York: Governor Cuomo’s administration announced that it would take more time to decide whether to open New York to fracking, saying it needed more time to study the health impacts of fracking.1

But, recently, Governor Cuomo’s administration announced that the state’s health impact study will be completed “in the next few weeks,” Continue reading →

Unlock My Phone! Hell, Yeah!

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Unlock your phone? Sounds crazy, yet when you think about it, the fact that you cannot do so whenever you want is pretty foul.  Maybe its the consumer that gets the benefit of some deregulation for a change!  Check out the message from Al Franken.

Dear Cecelia,

If you have a mobile phone, this is a big deal.

Right now, even when your contract with your mobile provider expires, you can’t legally “unlock” that phone — which would allow you to switch carriers. That’s right. It’s against the law.

But wait a minute. That’s your phone. You bought it, fair and square. Why should your cell phone company be able to tell you what you can do with it even after your contract is up? And why should the law be on their side? Continue reading →

PETITION: Let Medicare negotiate with drug companies

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Here is a petition that makes total sense.  Especially in light of all the conservative hand wringing about how “entitlements” are running up the debt, also at a time when prescription drug prices are way out of control, and definitely a burden on our Seniors. 

Check out the latest liberal, yet sensible nugget from my inbox, courtesy of Minnesota Senator Al Franken:

Dear Cecelia,

Here’s the best idea you’ll hear all day: Medicare should be able to negotiate with the drug companies to get better prices on medsprescriptions for seniors.

This simple reform would cut spending — by around $24 billion a year — without hurting seniors. In fact, seniors would end up paying less for their prescriptions. Continue reading →

The Gun Enthusiast

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You see and hear about them all the time.  They have nicknames like gun nuts, weapons collectors, firearms hobbyists.  The ones passionately proclaiming their willingness to kill anyone who attempts to take their guns away.  The National Rifle Association claims to have 4.5 million members, and even that number is in dispute.  And their desires count for more than the majority of Americans, numbered at well over 308 million in 2010.  Think about it for a moment.  This is a fact, one confirmed for us every time a massacre of gun violence moves the nation to even consider stronger regulation of firearms.

Let us examine the gun enthusiast for a moment.  We really should, since this small contingent of the United States population is loudly and vociferously holding back the overwhelming majority’s will on the issues of regulation of firearms in this country.  We know they love the some of the Constitution, but are especially fond of the Second Amendment.  Continue reading →

Too Big To Fail, Or Go To Jail

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Too Big To Fail came first with the bailout laid out on a silver platter for the big banks a few years ago.  They have many advantages because of fear that their failure would tank our economy: Cheaper loans, more leeway in investigations, hardly any regulation or oversight.  Large Financial institutions continue to make record profits, and continue engage in bloating up with the express help of our government.

Criminal behavior in the same industry has often been forgiven without criminal trials,  just promises made to not do it again, and payment of fines. No one even loses their job in most cases!  Recently, even though HSBC and its subsidiaries have been providing access to cash for enemies of the United States, caught laundering money for killers and terrorists, they only pay a stinking fine.  No prison time for anyone.  No revocation of banking charter.  After doing it again and again over the years.  Continue reading →