FEAR -- FLIGHT -- FALLACIOUS LANGUAGE

I brought up the topic of courage in my previous post which prompted some interesting reader comments.   The topic evolved into some other thoughts for me as I consider what’s happening with bald eaglet Simba becoming fly-worthy, also daily life issues we each encounter plus the challenges presented in our nation and the world today.

Rain who writes at Rainy Day Thoughts observed discerning between what might be considered a courageous act and, in fact, is actually foolish can be a challenge.  I suppose if the action is judged successful we consider it courageous, but failure might be viewed as our having been foolish to ever having undertaken it in the first place. 

Terra who writes at Terra Garden contrasts overcoming the fear some experience of even leaving their house versus those we view as courageously circling the earth in a space shuttle.     

Jean at Misadventures of Widowhood writes of the courage we exhibit whenever we act outside our comfort zone.

Raman’s Musings from India included his report of the courage he needed to leave a long-established career in his late forties to start a new career.

Goldendaze Ginnie reports living in the midst of a geographical area where we could surmise it might take courage to express less than popular views from those of the predominant group's religious beliefs.  She cites the Serenity Prayer’s sentiments as guidance which I concur can be pertinent in life.

Courage and fear seem to be intrinsically linked as Arkansas Patti who writes at  TheNew Sixty notes – the latter stimulating or needing to be overcome for action we often describe as being courageous. 

Nick in Northern Ireland who writes at Nick Here and Now introduced being “...impressed by the courage of Labour Party whistle-blowers who've spoken up about virulent antisemitism in the party and incurred the wrath of the party leadership.”  

Perhaps we could use a few more such courageous types in our President’s political party.

Seems to me we’re seeing some interesting displays of fear, courage, or lack thereof.....

..... as I also wonder what eaglet Simba is experiencing? 

Perhaps there are skills Simba needs yet to acquire before he initiates flight.    Maybe he is not afraid to fly, is not lacking in courage.  Maybe his parents, Shadow and Jackie,  know this and have been directing he must develop these skills or acquire more strength and stamina before launching into the air.  

All we know is Simba is well into the timeline when eaglets begin making their beginning flights and we humans are impatient for him to do so.  We’re still waiting for his maiden flight as I write this Saturday night, July 20^th. 

Earlier today when I did a more lengthy check on Simba than the occasional brief visits I make during the week, I observed his continued activities were limited to hopping about the nest, short flights from a branch into the nest, picking up and moving small branches in the nest, positioning himself on various larger branches from which he could launch into the air, lots of wings extension with flapping, lengthy time periods perching quietly with eagle-eye surveying of his surroundings. 

Before dusk there was considerable bird talk with a larger variety of communication soumds than I’ve heard before,  presumably with his parents.   Then, his father, Shadow, flew into the nest with a fish Simba ate.  Simba produced lots of whining sounds, seemed agitated with his father in one instance, was finally fed a few bites before Shadow ultimately left the nest.   

Later when Simba perched on a launching branch there was lots more parental bird talk conversation, wing strengthening flapping but without his talons releasing their grip on the branch to actually fly.  Darkness came and Simba appears to be spending the night alone, perched on the launching branch as his mother, Jackie, never flew in with a fish as she often has in the past. 

Political view alert....

On a human note I’ve long been concerned that so few leaders in our government have had the courage to contradict or denounce our President’s words, actions that are counter to what I’ve believed represent the basic values of our nation.  This has become increasingly true ever since the current leadership has been in power driving and bullying our country toward becoming an autocracy with efforts to subvert the other branches of government and attempts to nullify the Fourth Estate, the press.  

Government departments have been weakened with ineffectual or unqualified leadership, often with only acting department heads.  Criteria for appointments is blind absolute loyalty to a President whose actions suggest a disloyalty to the very nation's values he serves.  

Setting an example that fosters violence, then offering meaningless disclaimers are hallmarks of this leader’s techniques that breed dissension, not unification.   One could conclude deliberate tactics are being utilized to create unrest or worse throughout our country.  Token actions are occasionally taken to garner press attention, then ballyhooed as demonstrating the magnanimous nature of this individual. 

Even citizens supporting our President seem to have set aside their professed values as they make some of the most bizarre interpretations excusing his worse-than-offensive words and deeds.   Fear seems to be a factor for many of those in our government who give him cover with such defensive distorted views as do those who remain silent, a betrayal to the electorate.   Might this be a demonstration of lack of courage? 

We are long past a time when individuals, especially those in our Congress, need to stand up for our nation’s values, even if it means challenging and contradicting their political party’s leader.  This is not a time for political partisanship.  This is a time for dedication to preservation of our constitutional democratic republic and values with the individual freedoms we so cherish. 

I expect readers have been exposed multiple times to the most recent as well as past profound pronouncements from our nation’s leader which prompts my commentary here.  I choose to not repeat any of them which would only further the distraction they were likely intended to be when uttered. 

I wonder if less attention was assigned to the asinine outrageous verbiage our President so often espouses would be better?  What if such deliberate attention-seeking words of his were just ignored?  

What is the best way to deal with such a public figure?  

Should other public figures as part of their professional obligations to their constituents courageously speak out against such language and/or actions they find offensive?  If they remain silent should we assume they agree or merely that they’re cowards -- which should be of note to voters come next election?   

Oh, and what is the likelihood Bald Eaglet Simba will fly this week?  

POSITIVE FUTURE POSSIBLE

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them, the first time."  

I wholeheartedly concur....with Maya Angelou.

The Republican Party Presidential candidate has repeatedly shown us who he is -- we need to believe him.   He clearly at heart is not the person he's been trying hard to present this past week or so prior to the election.   His Party's platform, assuming he would even try to promote it -- and I don't trust what he might do -- will not lead our nation to prosperity, especially since the financial approach is a repeat of a previously unsuccessful plan.    He and the wealthiest class will benefit most despite the platitudes of his caring about the rest of Americans -- campaign platitudes which are just that and nothing more.   If in doubt, consider news reports showing workers and businesses who've lost income owed them. 

A positive future is possible, I believe, with Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
I trust this candidate will make every effort possible to promote prosperity for this nation with plans she has outlined.  Hopefully, the legislative branches, especially the House of Representatives, will recognize they are long overdue to accept and engage in meaningful compromise for the good of the people which is precisely their job.   I am aware of her alleged shortcomings but believe them to pale in comparison to those of her opponent.

My perspective.....
I've given serious thought to what is at stake in this election as likely most readers here have also done.     I observed with great interest all the prospective candidates as they each burst on to the scene -- then their numbers were whittled down to the two major political party candidates.  I've been aware of all the shenanigans of one candidate turning this election into the basest of reality entertainment -- heard all the lies, innuendos -- noted the media suckered into providing free promotion of that individual, lessening the credibility of much of the serious news media in the process.   

Consider this.....
Third party candidates will receive votes from a small percentage of people who believe they're making a statement.  Unfortunately,  the reality is this is an empty gesture that will  serve to do little more than sway the election to one of the two realistic potential winners.   This is a critical time for our nation that would be best served if a choice between the top two candidates is made  based on major party platform, consideration of probable need  for Supreme Court nominee appointments.

After the election, third party voters need to then align themselves to actively promote whoever their favored candidate is for the future and build their party  to viable numbers for the future elections.  Some may well believe we need to relegate to lesser status that major party taken over by their current candidate repelling so many of their number -- or maybe some of that party can form that third party, and other possibilities.      

MORE ELECTION THOUGHTS

This is a momentous election year---with choices unlike any others in my lifetime --- so
--- we better get it right on who we select to be in charge of decision-making for us and our nation ---  if we want to retain our constitution's democratic republic as intended by our founders. 
Our next U.S. President needs to be------


... someone who understands our nation's importance and place in the world for our own security and need to foster peace
... someone who respects our country's various relationships with that of other nations
... someone who recognizes the significance of fostering unifying actions within our country
... someone who demonstrates genuine understanding of the needs of all socioeconomic groups 

... someone who actually offers realistic plans and solutions for problems facing our nation rather than simple-sounding grandiose or previously failed trickle-down financial schemes

.... someone not afraid to release their income tax form to demonstrate the truthfulness of claimed charitable contributions, true net worth
....  someone whose life's work has evidence of public service beyond self-aggrandizement
....  someone who speaks civilly of all genders
....  someone who does not disparage, ridicule, belittle and bully other individuals
....  someone who can verbalize meaningful ideas so does not have to resort to name-calling


....  someone who appreciates the need to value and preserve the fourth estate  instead of automatically condemning the press when they report the truth or what is unfavorable to them  
....  someone capable of using reason to recognize and build on what's positive in our government
....  someone  who.........there are more positive comments that could be written .......

VOTE TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER 8, 2016

PRESIDENT OBAMA RE-ELECTED!

President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden have been re-elected to lead this nation another four years.  

Former Gov. Mitt Romney has conceded the election for himself and running mate Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan.   

Those voters who desired this outcome can enjoy the moment.  Ohio was the state whose votes clinched the election for the Obama/Biden ticket. 

Thanks again to Ohio Elderblogger, Kay, at "Kay's Thinking Cap" whose dedicated volunteer election efforts to re-elect President Obama benefited all of us, since many of our states voting outcome wasn't as much in question.  Knowing my former home state, I'm sure the community in which she tirelessly toiled was a particularly significant one in which to make voters aware of the candidates and issue differences.  Certainly all of our states were important in the election's outcome, but Ohio voters proved to be key as analysts predicted.  Their votes clinched the necessary Electoral College votes for President Obama.   

Much work lies ahead in resolving this nation's problems.   We still have a Congress composed of political party divisions similar to those existing during the previous four years.  There will be a few new members, including women you may read about in this Huff Post.  What meaningful effect to facilitate constructive governing action they and the few added new men may have remains to be seen.  

Hopefully, all returning Senators and Representatives will seriously  reassess why we elected them, consider how they can take effective action to move our nation forward.   

We have a job, too!  That is to see to oversee and direct the actions they take for the good of all our citizens, not just a few.   Expect you already have your list of what you want accomplished.

(I've always enjoyed The Carpenters so am using this occasion as an excuse to play their rendition of "We've Only Just Begun.)



 

CAMPAIGN $$$ -- MONEY LAUNDERING?

V O T E   Tuesday November 6, 2012 if you haven't already.

If you're still uncertain about your vote, please read the preceding "Undecided" post.

Clearly I have a point of view about the candidate I hope will be elected.  Ideally we will know by Wednesday who our next President will be, but I wouldn't be surprised if a variety of voting issues result in a more prolonged determination period -- though I would hope not.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OHIO'S KAY at "Kay's Thinking Cap" .......
for all her campaign efforts !

CONGRESS:
I'm just as interested in the candidates elected to Congress -- in both the House of Representatives and Senate.   I would like to see the back broken of the legislative block that has been dedicated to preventing solving the problems facing this nation in order for them to prevent the current President Obama from demonstrating successful governing skills, but whether or not that group will be weakened is uncertain.

California redistricting has eliminated one of those long time legislators, Republican David Dreier, who exhibited such misguided non-problem solving behaviors  contrary to many of his constituents wishes, including my own.  His replacement will be determined in this election, so we'll see what contributions will be made by this new legislator.

MONEY LAUNDERING POSSIBLE:       LEGAL BUT MORALLY ETHICAL?
California officials are currently investigating the possible money laundering from other states (Arizona, Virginia) through numerous non-profit organizations to influence an important California state proposition.  The actual source of these funds is being hidden, but accusations are being made that laws may have been broken.  KNX - all news radio is reporting from their sources that allegations have been raised about whether known Republican Party supporters, including Karl Rove and San Diego oil billionaires Koch Brothers, are possibly involved.   This Los Angeles Times article provides some specifics that should concern citizens in every State:  

"...the disclosure was revealing in its own way, showing how a chain of blandly named organizations can shuttle money around the country with little transparency."

CAMPAIGN $$$ TO NATIONAL DEBT OR NATION'S NEEDS
Ban all Campaign Money.....Limit Candidate Campaign Time to One or Two Months

Maybe then our Congress would have time to do the work for which we pay them and give them all sorts of benefits and health insurance coverage so many of them  begrudge us.

When I read and hear about all the $$$ being spent by greedy self-interested individuals, companies, groups to subvert our government for selfish gain I do have to wonder how such people can claim to be moral, ethical, or dedicated to the basic tenets on which our nation was founded.   I also have to wonder how any religious groups can justify supporting and defending them. 

Frankly, I'm disgusted with all this financial manipulation -- part of which we can thank some of what is a result of  legal interpretations  by what I'm beginning to conclude are the more disreputable members of our  Supreme Court.  I think the founding fathers of our nation must be sick at heart over how some of those Justices stand law, order, common sense on it's head  in the name of the constitution to the detriment of this nation.

If all campaign monies were simply devoted to lowering our national debt, or dedicated to this nation's basic needs we could come much closer to coming out of this financial crisis brought on by the exploitation of the many by the few.  Perhaps then we could begin to move forward at a more rapid rate toward a more stable United States -- with a necessary strong middle class, making aid provisions for those of less means to change their status, and enabling those whose skills and talents result in their acquisition of great wealth to each live in a United States where we can all benefit.  

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Here's another slightly edited commentary I wrote recently at BlogHer in an effort to reach readers outside my regular reader's frame of reference.  Perhaps, some of you may be doing the same there or other places.  I would be interested in knowing about your experience in doing so.  

Well, we  have the beginnings of some effort to provide health care to all Americans in this nation.  Let's hope we can constructively build on that rather than having Congress waste time and energy trying to dismantle the program. 

Since this is a Presidential election year, is it too much to expect our Congresspersons to concentrate on creating meaningful legislation instead of all these phony political posturings I'm seeing them take?  If many of them received job performance reviews they'd be quickly judged to be engaging in "busy work" that offers no value to the recovery of this nation from one of the worse financial situations our country has endured.

But then, many of them are millionaires in their own right or will be, so have an increasing disconnect with the majority of Americans like you and me.  Some do still identify with us and are capable of fully appreciating  our work situation, health care needs and living choices.  Others don't have the faintest notion of what ordinary survival living entails, including one Presidential candidate who never experienced such a life in his privileged childhood, much less as an adult.  Unfortunately, by his own repeated words and actions, he seems unable to empathize or even imagine what a regular American's life is really like, since he had been busy investing the monies of already wealthy individuals to make them even richer.  No matter if a few companies and workers jobs were lost in the process -- just the price of doing business to earn investors more money. 

The country's problems can be attributed to those in both major political parties, our government and even some of our ordinary citizens seeking to fulfill the American Dream.  Yes, and us, too, because we didn't carefully monitor and make certain those we entrusted were functioning in their positions as they should.  As the popular Pogo comic strip of years ago said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Contrary to what we would all like to believe, or is being promised by various candidates, there is no quick fix.   There is much that can be done to aid in the recovery but not if ideologs fail to refocus their attention from self-interest.  We each need to closely scrutinize what activities and actions engage each of our Representatives and Senators.   We need to directly contact them to express our expectations to these individuals who are our employees and hold them accountable in this Nov. election and those elections to come.

We need to pay attention to sources that reveal where our Congressperson derives his/her financial campaign support -- "Follow the money!"   How do those $$$ correlate with his/her legislative positions?   Take SuperPac ads content as a grain of salt, if you're unable to avoid seeing or hearing them,  since they are suspiciously secretive about revealing their contributors.  You can be confident they have an agenda for what is in their funding sources best interests -- but not likely in the best interests of the average American.  

If you limit the intake of your news sources to a select few whose views mostly coincide with your own, or who promote emotional rants and rhetoric  as a way to distract from the facts, do yourself the service of listening to calmer more rational reports so you can discern what is really happening.  There are neutral non-partisan  fact-check sites you can easily access on the Internet to verify truth from fiction.  There's a lot of fiction being spread.  We must do our homework -- men and women have died protecting our right to have these  freedoms we enjoy. 

Some of you live in critical States said to be the ones to determine how this 2012 election will conclude.  I don't happen to live in one of those States, but it's vitally important to me that you take your responsibilities seriously, know the facts for what and whom you vote since your actions, or lack thereof, will affect me and my family.  I know my Congresspersons and their stance on issues, how to contact them to provide support and/or express my wishes (not that they're always followed,) but the point is the action is vital for this Republic to survive.

I do not want to live in a plutocracy (a nation run by the extremely wealthy,) or a theocracy (a nation dictated to by any religious group,) or any such combination thereof, much less a faux republic/democracy.

Let's move forward toward the gradual rejuvenation of this nation in a manner dedicated to re-building our middle class.....

...creating jobs that are not limited to just the service industry as being good enough,

... insisting our government take action to rebuild our nation's infrastructure,

... re-assessing the allocation of government funds that do not penalize the least among us,

...expecting all, including the most wealthy among us.  to pay their fair percentage of taxes,

...determine government budget cuts in many unnecessary subsidized areas,

... institute budget cuts the military/Pentagon has even specified as being appropriate,

... reassess the allocation of all foreign aid within the context of today's world government alignments, 

....revolutionize drug purchasing practices with pharmaceutical companies for Medicare/Medicaid/insurers, 

...demand accountability for the financial industries giants and corporations through the regulation with which they do not self-police and our officials have been negligent in enforcing.

Let's do more than just yell out the window... "we're .mad as hell and not going to take it any more!"

What are you doing or what all do you think we need to do?  

CONGRESS ENTERTAINS -- INSURERS PLUNDER

I don't know whether to laugh or cry with what's happening in the legislative halls of our government. There's little doubt about my reaction to insurance companies horrors which will blatantly be blamed on the Health Care Plan by those dedicated to undermining it, rather than refining it. I fear the track record of so many Americans unthinkingly believing lies (even after the falsehoods have been exposed,)suggests they might do so again on that issue.

These thoughts have been prompted because I've been reading news accounts of the goings on in Washington D.C. with all our newly elected Congresspersons. Many of the Tea Party's Tea Pots are reportedly quickly adapting to Washington ways, including hiring those lobbyists they condemned prior to election. H-m-m-m!

Then there's that House majority group that has said they are amenable to compromise, but also have been quoted as saying that the minority party has to do all the compromising. That's not compromise -- that's worse than bullying.

What do we make of House majority party's b-i-g-g-g gavel symbolism?

TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live had a little video editing fun with Pelosi passing the large gavel especially requested by the new Speaker of the House Boehner:



I'm really impressed with the political theatre that same majority group demonstrated by reading the U.S. Constitution to all the members. I guess I rather naively thought all the Congressional old timers would have read it. Or was it for the newcomers? Had they not read those words earlier this year before taking their oaths to uphold the constitution? In fact, I thought any individual taking such an oath would have long ago had their own copy before they ever decided to serve in our government. Wouldn't that be kinda basic job preparation?

The Heritage Foundation offers a free pocket size copy of the Declaration of Independence and U. S. Constitution that can be ordered by clicking HERE.

With all the serious issues facing our nation, the House majority's grandstanding vote to re-call the previously passed signed-into-law Health Plan is a waste of time and energy. Everyone knows the Health Plan will not be reversed by this action. More political theatre! This is the same political party whose leaders have repeatedly said they're committed to the demise of Social Security and Medicare. They've persisted for many years in ignoring numerous proposals that could preserve these programs that provide a citizen social support system.

Congressional members from all political parties bear responsibility for the fact the pharmaceutical and health insurance companies continue to financially abuse the American public. Last year a major insurer attempted to raise rates an obscene amount but was denied in California. Conveniently, that was at a time when the major insurance companies were presenting themselves as cooperating with the Health Plan which they realized would become law. That same insurance company did manage to raise the rate $100 a month on a healthy young single parent in an opposite Coast State.

Now with the House majority party clearly supportive of the health insurance companies I expect we'll see a new onslaught of efforts to increase insurance rates. Already, here in California we see the insurance companies tactics as described in the Sacramento Bee:

"...plans to raise premiums by as much as 59 percent on nearly 200,000 Californians who buy health coverage on their own."

As I write this, other States are experiencing health insurers raising rates. Most States Insurance Commissioners have no legal power to rein in these increases. The Federal Government can only advise individuals to protest by contacting the Governor of their State.

Placing some rate increase limits on insurance companies would be meaningful legislative action that should be taken in each State.

REGULATIONS, RULES AND ROGUES

Beware of rogues who promote the idea rules and regulations are the cause of America’s problems. Our federal government was led for too many years by a philosophy such requirements weren’t needed, that the American people could count on those in the financial and corporate world doing what was right for all citizens. Additionally, those at administrative lower levels were lax, possibly encouraged or instructed to not even enforce existing regulations. I understand the desire to do as we darn well please, but I draw the line at allowing my willful acts to impinge upon what might jeopardize the welfare of others. Unfortunately, there are individuals who don't share such concerns, so laws, rules and regulations are made for our own protection.

We individuals have been subjected to the undesirable consequences of those who exploit in the name of money by ignoring regulations. We’ve seen this to be true in the automobile industry, in childrens products, in the food industry, and in coal mine operations to name just a few business types. I recall news stories during the past months involving major corporations around the world. We’re still reeling from our nation’s financial status coming close to collapse, but saved only because of the dollars you and I paid to bail out the offenders.

Even now the legislative battles continue over making needed changes to prevent a repeat of such folly. Congress is currently in the process of creating changes into a single bill before submitting for our President’s signature. So far, bankers and Wall Street’s financial managers have initiated few voluntary corrections to right prior corruptive practices in their institutions and markets. So, we must expect our legislators to adopt needed reform and top level administrators to insure regulations are enforced. We must monitor and continually prod our congressional and executive branch officials to act on our behalf. Frustratingly, all too often parties “log jam” meaningful action. They rigidly adhere to ideological positions – in the name of garnering power -- instead of genuinely participating in the art of compromise.

Presently we are exposed to another example of company officials hiding behind their distancing from ordinary people by virtue of what I refer to as “corporate think.” Those officials apparent prevailing beliefs based on their behaviors justify actions that might otherwise be considered immoral, unethical or questionable at best, just because “it’s business.” (Sounds like organized crime’s approach – think, “Godfather” movie.) Such a state seems to foster lack of respect for rules, regulations, and guidelines generally established to ensure operational or product quality and safety. The unscrupulous ignore these protective measures against potential disaster as in the instance of deep sea oil drilling. Possibly this has been due to willful negligence, but ultimately the major impact is on people and our coastal environment.

Certain drilling standards have allegedly been circumvented causing the operation to go awry. Compounding this violation, there were no provisions as required to address preventing oil spillage in the event a worst case scenario happened. This is contrary to guarantees implied or given by the company. Disaster has resulted. We can’t trust such companies to be honest. Regulation must not only be required but responsible regulators must check and be accountable. I don't really like the fact circumstances persist that incite me to write about such negligence, especially deliberate offending actions taken in the name of acquiring money, gains for excessive profit -- but that is “corporate think” in action.

Listening to the BP President's testimony before our U.S. Congress regarding polluting gushing oil, following that notorious Gulf of Mexico deep sea oil drilling rig explosion for which his company is responsible, was appalling. I suppose we can’t expect him to be too forthcoming given the potential legal liability, as I’m sure his attorneys have cautioned him, especially since the investigative determinations about precisely what happened has not yet been completed. Are we to believe he was a renegade whose behaviors didn’t reflect his company’s approach to business? That company president has been relieved of overseeing day to day recovery operations following his taking time off to attend his yacht Bob’s race. What do we expect from his replacement? Better public relations acumen?

Consider BP’s safety track record. The Alaska Dispatch describes BP is paying fines in the millions from a 2006 Prudhoe Bay oil spill on land to which they admitted guilt. BP is fighting additional fines you can read more about in Jill Burke’s article:

“BP denies the 2006 spills polluted wetlands, shorelines, rivers or the Beaufort Sea. It also denies it mishandled asbestos, a federally regulated substance, during work to prepare the pipeline for inspection. And it denies dozens of allegations that it violated a handful of other federal regulations.”

Reading this gives me real concern for conditions in our Gulf affected States – so far Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama.

What is required to insure BP behaves responsibly? Our President’s expectation that BP establish a sizable escrow account is a meaningful effort to insure financial security for some incurred costs. Read more and view videos at this White House website link.

(The Congressman from Texas sullied the name of Barton with his apology to big oil so come re-election time voters know where his allegiance lies despite his later forced muddling apology. I wonder what his reaction would be if oil from the ocean were polluting parts of his State? )

See this BP history of pollution fines with a quick glance timeline chart beginning in 1960:

Is BP another corporation “too big to be allowed to fail?” Shouldn’t we continue to forge ahead at full speed to eliminate our nation’s oil dependence?

A Federal Court Judge’s ruling has negated our President’s 6 month moratorium on deep sea oil drilling. Presumably the ruling will be appealed. Some fishing and other businesses protest the moratorium as creating more financial loss and human hardship in jobs. Others believe the long range goal for businesses and the environment is best addressed by determining more effective preventative and corrective measures for possible future spills before resuming drilling. Legally the ruling may be just, but law application does not always result in fully moral and ethical results in every respect.

The oil pollution saga continues with many more unpalatable facts yet to emerge I fear. The hurricane season has begun with expectations the storms may be as severe as the year that brought the devastation of hurricane Katrina to New Orleans, Louisiana. Their effects of spreading oil on our nation’s Gulf shores do not bode well for either wildlife above or below the sea’s water. Deep in the ocean the oil keeps gushing at a rate far greater than BP officials led all to believe as the estimates have kept increasing with each pronouncement of company and government officials.

Live feeds from remotely operated vehicles (ROV) can be downloaded at this BP link

The consequences of this environmental disaster exceed any meaning the word tragic conveys, considering the number of affected human lives and the likely alterations for generations to come. Is it too much to expect that maybe – just maybe in the future.....

– responsible individuals will enforce established regulations at official governmental regulatory levels, in the financial world, and at corporations?

– elected officials representing the people will enact legislation to insure there are no loopholes enabling others to escape their legal, moral and ethical responsibilities?

- consumers can be confident in the quality and safety of products?

– voters will scrutinize the actions of those we elect to determine who acts on our behalf and who doesn’t, then vote accordingly?

What do you think?

Congress Listen -- Americans Want Change!

Congressional Senators, Representatives -- are you listening?

The American people are angry!

The American people want change, Change, CHANGE!

We don’t care to which political party you’ve given your allegiance, since both major parties have been betraying the American people through too many Administrations.

We don’t like much of what you’ve done for many years, regardless of the political party in power, or who is President.

We don’t like much of what you’ve NOT DONE for many years, either, including allowing our health care and social security systems to flounder without taking truly meaningful measures to ensure their solvency.

We don’t reject the idea of jettisoning both major political parties for a third party committed to the American people over the special interests you’ve come primarily to represent.

We don’t like what you’re doing now to protect the commercial interests over the interests of the individual in the instance of health care reform.

We don’t like the fact that all American citizens will not have health insurance.

We don’t like that many of you ignore the fact the majority of American citizens want a public option in our health care reform.

We don’t like the fact so many of you are determined to provide for-profit insurers more money by requiring citizens buy insurance from those companies rather than providing a truly viable competitive public option choice.

We don’t like the fact you’re not willing to make available an affordable health care plan to all American citizens such as we offer you.

We don’t like the fact some of you made an effort to hoodwink us into believing adding a “trigger” to a healthcare plan was an effective helpful addition rather than the meaningless proposal it was.

We don’t like all the campaign contribution $monies$ you receive from for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical companies with the unsavory implications that behavior suggests.
(Readers, check on “Open Secrets” the $$$$ your Representative(s) and Senator(s) have received.)

We don’t like the fact that financial markets self-policing regulating authorities did not do their job leading to banks, investment houses, other institutions dissolving and little has since been done to correct that situation.

We don’t like the fact that through the years government regulations were eliminated contributing mightily to the financial markets collapsing debacle.

We don’t like the fact that what market and government financial regulations did exist were not enforced.

We don’t like the fact that meaningful regulations are not now being established for both our banking industry and the financial markets.

We don’t like the fact that financial insiders from the previous Administration literally gave away our tax money to the financial world which the current Administration enabled while individual citizens continue to receive little or no benefit.

We don’t like the fact our tax monies were given to all those banking corporate entities without requiring accountability.

We don’t like the fact so many years went by and so little was done to address the critical issues surrounding climate change.

We don’t like the fact that even now select energy commercial interests are being promoted by many of you under the guise of responsiveness to climate change, despite knowing those companies products are detrimental to citizens health.

We don’t like the implication you do not respect American citizens strongly expressed views as evidenced when you disregard us.

Quite frankly, there are many more actions you've taken, or non-actions, that we don’t like, but I’ll let others describe those here or elsewhere.