Wednesday, July 27, 2011
New voices welcome
Gabi is inviting friends from Facebook to join in our discussions. We all hope you do. Is is a free-flowing conversation, kind of what's on your mind. Just play nice, dinner table rule. We can all learn from each other. If you have ideas on what we can do to make life better for someone, put it out there. A lot of people are having a really hard time and the kids usually have it the hardest because they can't do anything about it. So give a kid a hug
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
political talk
While my computer is working (for one hour or two or three days) I will get a quick post up. Last night the President addressed the nation on raising the national debt limit and then the House Republican Leader made his comments. Just a quick reminder, this is not new spending they are talking about and to say the President wants a blank check is either stupid or a lie. This is in order for the government to continue paying for those government programs that Congress has legislated. The President, by our Constitution, cannot spend a dime. Programs that cost money have to start in the House, be passed by the House, then the Senate and finally signed by the President. He can't pass a law, can't make Congress pass a law.
Now, the biggest reasons for the deficit and debt being so large now are: One, the so-called Bush tax cuts which the Republican controlled Congress passed and Bush signed in 2001; two, two wars that Bush started and two countries occupied, and it was the first time in our history that we went to war and didn't pass a tax increase to pay for it. We borrowed the money to pay for those wars; three, the great recession caused outlays for the banks, car companies and another tax cut and money for States so they didn't have to lay off teachers, cops, firemen (so-called stimulus).
When Bush was elected he inherited a surplus. In other words, we were collecting more in taxes and fees than the government was spending because of policies put in place by President Clinton and a Republican controlled Congress. When the Bush tax cuts were enacted in 2001, the reason they were to expire in ten years was because they would balloon the deficit. That was very publicly discussed and debated. That is exactly what happened and then we had the other things on top of that.
Social Security has never contributed a dime to the deficit. On the other hand, it has paid for a great deal of the government's expenses and the Social Security Trust Fund holds most of its worth in government debt, like a Treasury Bill or savings certificate. And the only way to corral health expenses in this country is for a single payer system similar to France and other European countries where the government has the ability to control the price of services. Shoving people into for-profit insurance companies does not control costs or improve health care. I was against that kind of health care reform in the 1990's when the Republicans were pushing it in Congress, I was against it when Romney got it enacted into law in Massachusetts and I was against it when Obama and the Democrats in Congress passed it.
So whether the retards in Congress can get it together before we crash the world economy, I don't know. Maybe but there are some in there that are fanatically committed to a particular philosophy and quite willing to take us all down with them.
Now, the biggest reasons for the deficit and debt being so large now are: One, the so-called Bush tax cuts which the Republican controlled Congress passed and Bush signed in 2001; two, two wars that Bush started and two countries occupied, and it was the first time in our history that we went to war and didn't pass a tax increase to pay for it. We borrowed the money to pay for those wars; three, the great recession caused outlays for the banks, car companies and another tax cut and money for States so they didn't have to lay off teachers, cops, firemen (so-called stimulus).
When Bush was elected he inherited a surplus. In other words, we were collecting more in taxes and fees than the government was spending because of policies put in place by President Clinton and a Republican controlled Congress. When the Bush tax cuts were enacted in 2001, the reason they were to expire in ten years was because they would balloon the deficit. That was very publicly discussed and debated. That is exactly what happened and then we had the other things on top of that.
Social Security has never contributed a dime to the deficit. On the other hand, it has paid for a great deal of the government's expenses and the Social Security Trust Fund holds most of its worth in government debt, like a Treasury Bill or savings certificate. And the only way to corral health expenses in this country is for a single payer system similar to France and other European countries where the government has the ability to control the price of services. Shoving people into for-profit insurance companies does not control costs or improve health care. I was against that kind of health care reform in the 1990's when the Republicans were pushing it in Congress, I was against it when Romney got it enacted into law in Massachusetts and I was against it when Obama and the Democrats in Congress passed it.
So whether the retards in Congress can get it together before we crash the world economy, I don't know. Maybe but there are some in there that are fanatically committed to a particular philosophy and quite willing to take us all down with them.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Babies and Bonding
I have been completely missing in action lately. Why? Well, let me tell you.
On July 7th and 1:48 AM my husband and I welcomed our gorgeous 6 pound 1o ounce baby boy into the world!
Everything is going fabulously and we feel super blessed as a family. Our daughter adores her little brother and has been adjusting well.
Between caring for a newborn and tending to my 21 month old toddler I have had zero time to sit down and blog. As soon as I find a moment I will be sure to post my responses to the previous posts!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Social Security Being Cut
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lawmakers-fall-short-debt-deal-045247357.html
Are these just threats to get what he is wanting?
Are these just threats to get what he is wanting?
Earlier College Topic
http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney
Another update on our earlier college topic.
Another update on our earlier college topic.
Catching Up
I believe that the jurors in the Casey Anthony case did just as they were supposed to. Based on the evidence provided it was their responsibility to find her not guilty. If you are one of those who are terribly upset about the verdict then do some research and submit the proof that shows she is guilty. If it is anyones fault then blame it on the prosecution for feeling like they had a shut case and not putting in the work that is needed. All we can hope for is that some new evidence will come to light one day and justice will be serve for poor Caylee.
For the housing market, well that is down right scary! I fear knowing that the market value of my home is going to drop even more. I am still in better shoes than most people because I owe less than what it is worth, but I am still hurt that it isn't worth what I paid for it. I hope one day it will be though.
I do believe though that we can not count on the government to help us with our economy. We need to take the situation into our own hands. People need to pay their bills, and everyone needs to look at what they believe is a MUST HAVE. I read an article yesterday about someone who has been collecting unemployment benefits for over 4 years. It said her home was now in foreclosure and that she had done everything she can such as lower her cell phone plans, Internet plans and cable TV plan. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why couldn't she cancel all those plans???? Those are wants in my eyes, her home would have been a must have. Now she fears her unemployment check will be cut since she has been on it for long so now she is going to widen her search for a job to other fields of work. Here is another ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!! After 4 years and all she is still be picky on what kind of job she should be working.
For the housing market, well that is down right scary! I fear knowing that the market value of my home is going to drop even more. I am still in better shoes than most people because I owe less than what it is worth, but I am still hurt that it isn't worth what I paid for it. I hope one day it will be though.
I do believe though that we can not count on the government to help us with our economy. We need to take the situation into our own hands. People need to pay their bills, and everyone needs to look at what they believe is a MUST HAVE. I read an article yesterday about someone who has been collecting unemployment benefits for over 4 years. It said her home was now in foreclosure and that she had done everything she can such as lower her cell phone plans, Internet plans and cable TV plan. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why couldn't she cancel all those plans???? Those are wants in my eyes, her home would have been a must have. Now she fears her unemployment check will be cut since she has been on it for long so now she is going to widen her search for a job to other fields of work. Here is another ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!! After 4 years and all she is still be picky on what kind of job she should be working.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Casey Anthony verdict
I noticed on Facebook there is a lot of angst over the verdict. First let me say that I did not watch any of the trial coverage and when I was working I refused to do murder trials when the victim was a child whenever possible. And I would remind all of you that a murder trial is not entertainment or a new reality TV show.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. In Canada and I believe England the same verdict would be read as not proved. A not guilty verdict does not mean the jury determined the defendant was innocent. It means that based on the evidence they heard they did not find proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And it is only based on the evidence they heard. The same thing happened with the OJ trial. Based on the evidence the jury heard I had to agree with that verdict, and that one I did watch the trial because I could not believe the sloppy way the crime scene techs and the cops handled the evidence. Polk County did a much better job than that. So based on the evidence presented to the jurors I had to agree with them. That doesn't mean that either one of these defendants is innocent. It means that jurors have to follow the law and they take their job seriously. And based on the evidence the jurors heard is not what you hear on TV. Sometimes what you hear the jury is not in the courtroom. And what the talking idiots say on TV is for ratings, not for the truth of what they say.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. In Canada and I believe England the same verdict would be read as not proved. A not guilty verdict does not mean the jury determined the defendant was innocent. It means that based on the evidence they heard they did not find proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And it is only based on the evidence they heard. The same thing happened with the OJ trial. Based on the evidence the jury heard I had to agree with that verdict, and that one I did watch the trial because I could not believe the sloppy way the crime scene techs and the cops handled the evidence. Polk County did a much better job than that. So based on the evidence presented to the jurors I had to agree with them. That doesn't mean that either one of these defendants is innocent. It means that jurors have to follow the law and they take their job seriously. And based on the evidence the jurors heard is not what you hear on TV. Sometimes what you hear the jury is not in the courtroom. And what the talking idiots say on TV is for ratings, not for the truth of what they say.
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