No, I didn't abandon my blog...blogger and I were not on "speaking" terms...finally back. Will have a couple of posts soon!
I'm working on politics, of course, but a greater understand of our relationship with our soldiers---not "the troops", not "the military", but soldiers--the men and women who serve.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
SCOTUS, Makers of American Sharia Law, Part Two
So, after SCOTUS ruled that it's just fine to assault, intimidate, spit at, attack, even kill women walking into a Women's Health Center, they go on to make sure that more women may end up in that clinic.
First, I'd like to apologize for the next paragraph/rant...just that this really pisses me off.
Yep, I'm referring to the "Hobby Lobby" case. In this case, the plaintiffs make the argument that they should not have to offer certain types of birth control because its against their so called religious beliefs. The plaintiffs feel these are actually abortifacient, even though people with MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC degrees have proven that fairy tale a lie, and because of this LIE, they should not have to pay for them through insurance for their employees. Never mind that they've BEEN paying for these forms of birth control as EARNED benefits the employees have, never mind that the doctors and scientists have proven this is a fallacy, never mind that there is nowhere in the bible that states abortion is or isn't approved by their version of god(and we know that abortion has been around since at least the time of Socrates). Never mind that Hobby Lobby INVESTS in companies that MAKE actual abortifacients...OK for them to make money off of abortion, just not right for employees to receive medical attention for family planning which prevents abortion?????
OK, rant over. Maybe.
First, the batshit crazy rightwing law firm shopped Hobby Lobby to get the "name" status for the lawsuit. See, Hobby Lobby had offered all birth control without a second thought...until the black guy in the white house got a law passed saying that birth control would be covered under the Affordable Care Act. Their religious "crisis" didn't bother them until after the ACA, hmmmm, I smell a rat! Of course, their religious crisis doesn't include spending millions of $$ in China to buy cheap crap to sell either, even tho their money then can be used to pay for abortions in that country.
The case before the Supreme Court ended in its usual 5-4 decision with the catholic males on one side and the fair four on the side of constitutionality. The catholic males also said that this was a very narrow ruling, only dealing with 4 types of birth control and only applied to privately held corporations. Sure.
To begin with, the Affordable Care Act listed 20 types of contraception that must be covered by health insurance offered by businesses. The case that Hobby Lobby was involved in claimed that Plan B, Ella and two types of IUD's were abortifacients which violated their holier than thou religious rights. It didn't matter that all science proves this is not a fact, just cuz the HTT's(Holier Than Thou) believed it, the catholic geezers on SCOTUS went along with it since it gives them a hardon to screw over those that have less.
Justice Alito, who wrote the 5/4 opinion, tried, in the language, to say the scope of this ruling was limited, but then a series of orders released after the ruling show exactly the opposite of "narrow".
The first two dealt with 2 corporations (Autocam and Eden Foods), having catholic owners, by vacating the decisions of the US Appeals Court and said that the Appeals court must rehear the cases due to the Holly Lobby decision. Both of these cases centered around the Appeals Court decision that had rejected that these businesses wanted to eliminate offering any type of the 20 mandated forms of birth control. Even though over 90% of catholic women have used "real" (vs. the "rhythm method") birth control.
And then, there was the decision that the Wheaton IL college doesn't even have to fill out the form to file a religious objection because it violates their frail religious beliefs to even think about icky birth control/private lady bits. Wheaton College did not want to fill out the form that the United States Government requires which then enables the insurance companies to take on the responsibility of paying for those types of birth control that can offend those of such strong, but frail belief system(cuz they have to think about icky lady bits) and have to be smacked with actual scientific facts that these forms of birth control do not cause abortion. All they have to do is write a letter to HHS, saying, "Bad voo doo for religious people" or something like that.
So, with these decisions, the so-called "narrow ruling" has been broadened considerably and SCOTUS has determined that its OK to discriminate against preventative health care for women. You know the old Dred Scott decision? Separate but equal? Yep, this decision feeds on that type of bad decision of the past.
There is an up side to this. The last time that the right wing treated women in this manner, that we didn't count as much as white males and didn't deserve the protection of laws, we came out and voted. Against them. Hard. So, I hope to see many many women using their voting rights(before they take THOSE away) this November and send a message to the old fogies on SCOTUS. We do MATTER and we're angry with your stupidity and bigotry.
First, I'd like to apologize for the next paragraph/rant...just that this really pisses me off.
Yep, I'm referring to the "Hobby Lobby" case. In this case, the plaintiffs make the argument that they should not have to offer certain types of birth control because its against their so called religious beliefs. The plaintiffs feel these are actually abortifacient, even though people with MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC degrees have proven that fairy tale a lie, and because of this LIE, they should not have to pay for them through insurance for their employees. Never mind that they've BEEN paying for these forms of birth control as EARNED benefits the employees have, never mind that the doctors and scientists have proven this is a fallacy, never mind that there is nowhere in the bible that states abortion is or isn't approved by their version of god(and we know that abortion has been around since at least the time of Socrates). Never mind that Hobby Lobby INVESTS in companies that MAKE actual abortifacients...OK for them to make money off of abortion, just not right for employees to receive medical attention for family planning which prevents abortion?????
OK, rant over. Maybe.
First, the batshit crazy rightwing law firm shopped Hobby Lobby to get the "name" status for the lawsuit. See, Hobby Lobby had offered all birth control without a second thought...until the black guy in the white house got a law passed saying that birth control would be covered under the Affordable Care Act. Their religious "crisis" didn't bother them until after the ACA, hmmmm, I smell a rat! Of course, their religious crisis doesn't include spending millions of $$ in China to buy cheap crap to sell either, even tho their money then can be used to pay for abortions in that country.
The case before the Supreme Court ended in its usual 5-4 decision with the catholic males on one side and the fair four on the side of constitutionality. The catholic males also said that this was a very narrow ruling, only dealing with 4 types of birth control and only applied to privately held corporations. Sure.
To begin with, the Affordable Care Act listed 20 types of contraception that must be covered by health insurance offered by businesses. The case that Hobby Lobby was involved in claimed that Plan B, Ella and two types of IUD's were abortifacients which violated their holier than thou religious rights. It didn't matter that all science proves this is not a fact, just cuz the HTT's(Holier Than Thou) believed it, the catholic geezers on SCOTUS went along with it since it gives them a hardon to screw over those that have less.
Justice Alito, who wrote the 5/4 opinion, tried, in the language, to say the scope of this ruling was limited, but then a series of orders released after the ruling show exactly the opposite of "narrow".
The first two dealt with 2 corporations (Autocam and Eden Foods), having catholic owners, by vacating the decisions of the US Appeals Court and said that the Appeals court must rehear the cases due to the Holly Lobby decision. Both of these cases centered around the Appeals Court decision that had rejected that these businesses wanted to eliminate offering any type of the 20 mandated forms of birth control. Even though over 90% of catholic women have used "real" (vs. the "rhythm method") birth control.
And then, there was the decision that the Wheaton IL college doesn't even have to fill out the form to file a religious objection because it violates their frail religious beliefs to even think about icky birth control/private lady bits. Wheaton College did not want to fill out the form that the United States Government requires which then enables the insurance companies to take on the responsibility of paying for those types of birth control that can offend those of such strong, but frail belief system(cuz they have to think about icky lady bits) and have to be smacked with actual scientific facts that these forms of birth control do not cause abortion. All they have to do is write a letter to HHS, saying, "Bad voo doo for religious people" or something like that.
So, with these decisions, the so-called "narrow ruling" has been broadened considerably and SCOTUS has determined that its OK to discriminate against preventative health care for women. You know the old Dred Scott decision? Separate but equal? Yep, this decision feeds on that type of bad decision of the past.
There is an up side to this. The last time that the right wing treated women in this manner, that we didn't count as much as white males and didn't deserve the protection of laws, we came out and voted. Against them. Hard. So, I hope to see many many women using their voting rights(before they take THOSE away) this November and send a message to the old fogies on SCOTUS. We do MATTER and we're angry with your stupidity and bigotry.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
SCOTUS: American Sharia Law
For the last 6 years, I've been listening to hysterics on the right screaming about stupid things they think President Obama will do: FEMA camps,government implants, taking everyone's guns away, Sharia Law. None of these things have happened due to President Obama, but now, the Supreme Court reactionary justices are enacting christian sharia law....
In at least 2 of the latest 5-4 decisions, the right wing men of the Supreme Court have ruled that women are less than men. We are not worth being treated the same as men, we deserve to be less than men because of the old catholic right wing guys majority.
First the Massachusetts case: The Supreme Court, in a 5/4 decision(like that's a surprise) declared the Massachusetts buffer zone of 35 feet at abortion clinics against the constitution because it did not allow the protesters their right of free speech. By the way, the Supreme Court is just fine with a 100 foot buffer zone at the Supreme Court...hmmm.....
The reason this law was enacted at 35 feet was due to murders that occurred at the hand of those people who allegedly value live fetuses, but have no problem killing live men and women who feel they have the ability to make decisions for themselves...or work at a clinic. So SCOTUS seems to feel that its more important for protesters to be able to scream and spit into the faces of women than the women's right to safety and LIFE. Oh I forget, only fetuses have a right to life. And, as I said before, the Supreme Court buffer zone is almost 3 times that of MA abortion clinic, 100 feet. Guess if we have something to say to justices, we need a bullhorn...or maybe they have psychic, mind reading abilities.
Although the anti-abortion groups are having orgasms over this ruling, it does not take down every state's buffer rule(most are less than 35 feet), but they feel they're mowing them all down. Even tho the ruling does state that the Massachusetts zone was being found unconstitutional because of the length. Not like the groups understand nuance or anything after they hear "we win"....
So, after SCOTUS ruled that it's just fine to assault, intimidate, spit at, attack, even kill women walking into a Women's Health Center, they go on to make sure that more women may end up in that clinic.
But, remember those old guys who voted against a safety zone for women and workers? They feel that they still deserve a 100 foot safety zone from The People.
In at least 2 of the latest 5-4 decisions, the right wing men of the Supreme Court have ruled that women are less than men. We are not worth being treated the same as men, we deserve to be less than men because of the old catholic right wing guys majority.
First the Massachusetts case: The Supreme Court, in a 5/4 decision(like that's a surprise) declared the Massachusetts buffer zone of 35 feet at abortion clinics against the constitution because it did not allow the protesters their right of free speech. By the way, the Supreme Court is just fine with a 100 foot buffer zone at the Supreme Court...hmmm.....
The reason this law was enacted at 35 feet was due to murders that occurred at the hand of those people who allegedly value live fetuses, but have no problem killing live men and women who feel they have the ability to make decisions for themselves...or work at a clinic. So SCOTUS seems to feel that its more important for protesters to be able to scream and spit into the faces of women than the women's right to safety and LIFE. Oh I forget, only fetuses have a right to life. And, as I said before, the Supreme Court buffer zone is almost 3 times that of MA abortion clinic, 100 feet. Guess if we have something to say to justices, we need a bullhorn...or maybe they have psychic, mind reading abilities.
Although the anti-abortion groups are having orgasms over this ruling, it does not take down every state's buffer rule(most are less than 35 feet), but they feel they're mowing them all down. Even tho the ruling does state that the Massachusetts zone was being found unconstitutional because of the length. Not like the groups understand nuance or anything after they hear "we win"....
So, after SCOTUS ruled that it's just fine to assault, intimidate, spit at, attack, even kill women walking into a Women's Health Center, they go on to make sure that more women may end up in that clinic.
But, remember those old guys who voted against a safety zone for women and workers? They feel that they still deserve a 100 foot safety zone from The People.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Robin Williams, Mental Illness and suicide shaming
"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."
I think we've all heard this quote and, to a point, agree. On the other hand, if you've never experienced the sheer black walls of the abyss known as severe depression, you can't understand how just ending the pain, even if it means ending your life, can be enough at that moment in time.
Luckily, many more people attempt suicide than succeed. Of course, if people know about the attempts, those survivors, many times, are shamed, laughed at, called names. So they, no WE, hide behind our secrets not allowing others behind the curtains that lead to the abyss.
I have attempted suicide at different times of my life, looking back, some were for attention(cola and aspirin when I was 14 and upset with my parents comes to mind), but others I had the full intention to finish the job, to stop the unending, debilitating, suffocating pain that surrounded me, no matter what I did.
I've also been luckier than many who suffer from depression because, although chronic, I have more good days than bad, unlike others who live with the suffocating weight on a daily basis. Yes, I've tried therapists, psychiatrists, even anti-depressants, without much help, anyway not for long periods of time. I come from a lineage that has been plagued with depression, anxiety, addiction--dating back to at least my grandparents' times. Red hair, green eyes-one from each side of my parents...and addiction on both sides, depression maybe only one. Yes, it's heredity, but like other diseases, the whole family will not suffer alike. And all learn from an early age that we don't talk about it in the open, only in hushed tones in the kitchen with sourful looks towards "the crazy one".
In my family, those looks were usually fostered towards my mother. She had always been considered "high-strung"--she grew up in the 30's and 40's...anxiety wasn't something people knew about in those days. In fact, the doctor had my grandmother giving my mother a glass of wine before she went to sleep in her teens! That was how anxiety was treated. In the 60's she developed panic attacks, depression and later agoraphobia(fear of leaving the house). They gave her Librium, then Valium...and told her it was ok to have a cocktail in the evening to calm her nerves...they forgot to mention that it should only be ONE cocktail.
To be fair, my mother could be the life of the party; she loved to dance, sing, play piano. Her claim to fame was she auditioned and was accepted to the Chicago Opera, but she declined because "good girls and young women did not act like a trollop". It was the late 40's, early 50's and if you were on the stage, you obviously didn't have much of an upbringing. My mother, in the early 60's actually made more money than my father, she being an executive secretary(to a VP at a prestigious bank), he being a payroll/accounting clerk. But after the kids were born, her working role had to be closer to home. Then the panic attacks started(while she was taking Dexedrine to lose the baby fat because you must be slim and trim if you wanted to work in better places) and she had a blood vessel break in her nose when I was 9(I remember there was blood everywhere--still scary to this day when I think about it) and her world became smaller and smaller and smaller--until it was only her home. All drapes closed because she'd panic if she looked outside. And I began to grow up in the dark. With more monsters attacking on a daily basis.
My childhood completely changed. I won't bore you with the details(and I've shared as much as I can without drinking already), but by the time I was 10, I was getting my brother up for school, then both of my siblings. I would do the "shopping" for the week at the neighborhood grocery store(to pick up items my dad forgot on the real shopping trip or we'd run out of during the week, including my mother's cigarettes...just wrote a note to the store so they knew I was getting them for her, too bad for her that didn't work for the alcohol). I'd also travel with her on the train during the summer so she could see her psychotherapist, who didn't accomplish too much. Of course, I'm not sure how truthful my mom was to him about what was going on at home. As I grew older, my sadness turned to anger--which many people who suffer from depression rely on--see, if you say you're depressed, people pick on you, they stay away from you. If you're angry alot? People are ok with that in many ways. And, of course, I discovered alcohol...on my own.
First time I had alcohol outside the home? 8th grade field trip--to a Cub's game. Fruit soaked in liquor. Sweet and made me feel better. Yes, that was that downward spiral. But I didn't succumb until some years later.
By now, I was angry most of the time I was stuck at home. I'd be fine, for the most part at other relatives' homes, I'd be fine at high school and with my friends, but the suffocating darkness was something I fought daily at home. Yes, I blamed my parents. It was their failures that caused me to be this way. I'd mouth that, but I'd never really believe it. I believed I was just a horrible creature that didn't belong.
I would say I've consciously attempted suicide at least 4 times since my 18th birthday, the last time being 2003 or 4. Very stressful time in my life, both home and job. I was driving on the highway, not particularly thinking about anything, when the tendrils of suicidal ideation began...whispering...all I'd have to do is speed and launch my car off the tollway overpass...it'd be quick, no one would be the wiser and I wouldn't be in pain. I didn't make a "choice" not to commit suicide, see, I was too afraid that I wouldn't end the paid, I'd live through the "accident" and end up without the use of limbs or in a vegetative state or somewhere in between. See, I never had enough self esteem to think I could actually complete the job since I was such a loser and failure. Oh, I was also on an anti-depressant at that time and quit that shit.l
This all began because on the same day that Robin Williams ended his pain, another women lost her battle with cancer and one of her friends, being in pain, said Robin had the "choice" to live and her friend didn't. I've battled both cancer and depression--the cancer was much easier. People understand physical illnesses, but mental illness? It's something scary for many and misunderstood for most of us. After I post this, I'm sure that people who've known me for the last 40 years or longer will wonder what the fuck? NOT KIM. She's so determined, strong, independent, smart...and funny...Yes, KIM...depression is easily hid, specially when people, even loved ones, family and close friends, aren't looking for it.
Since I've retired, I've not thought of suicide as an answer. Yes, there are times I've been depressed...and I'm not sure how I will feel after I post this. I've been tearing up/crying while I write it, but I felt it had to be written.
Robin, may those depths be lifted, may you finally find peace. May your family know that you dearly loved them and they had no fault in this matter and remember the bright, funny loving man that you were.
And before you shame someone for suicide or an attempt, please think about this post.
And before you shame someone for suicide or an attempt, please think about this post.
I need to publish before I lose my nerve. Thank you.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Think You can't change what congress? Congressional Ethics Committee backs down after REAL LIBERAL media busts them
On July 2, the Congressional umm, Ethics Committee issued a small item about changes in what congress members had to report on their expense reports. See, the "Ethics" Committee(and I'm using that term very loosely) decided that those vacations that are paid for by corporations/private individuals? Well, its just redundancy to report those on the personal expense reports of congress members, let's just report those to the Clerk of the House and anyone who is really interested can find them there. Remember the saying, "needle in a haystack"? Oh, but it was done for EFFICIENCY. Not trying to hide anything, never!
Well. First CREW wrote about this bullshit, since most people have no idea that we even have a clerk of the house, but they do know how to check their respective house member's financial sheet, if so inclined.
Then we had a statement from Nancy Pelosi who agreed with those evil liberal folks that this should not be allowed. It had been done in the past and caused people to end up in jail, after we having to pay $$$ for the court cases. Most Liberal media posts picked it up and reported it, but I did not hear about it on the corporate media sites: ABC, NBC, CBS, of course FAUX NEWS, although Free Speech TV did cover it, along, again, with most liberal areas of the media.
So....on July 3rd? There was so much fall out(yes, we thinking people, aka, liberals know how to use our phones, email, twitter, etc.) that the Ethics Committee reversed their ruling and, now again, Congress members must report, in financial statements, any junket from private areas.
So, tell me again how it doesn't matter if you speak up? Don't vote? This shows that when we pay attention and do something, we make a difference.
Well. First CREW wrote about this bullshit, since most people have no idea that we even have a clerk of the house, but they do know how to check their respective house member's financial sheet, if so inclined.
Then we had a statement from Nancy Pelosi who agreed with those evil liberal folks that this should not be allowed. It had been done in the past and caused people to end up in jail, after we having to pay $$$ for the court cases. Most Liberal media posts picked it up and reported it, but I did not hear about it on the corporate media sites: ABC, NBC, CBS, of course FAUX NEWS, although Free Speech TV did cover it, along, again, with most liberal areas of the media.
So....on July 3rd? There was so much fall out(yes, we thinking people, aka, liberals know how to use our phones, email, twitter, etc.) that the Ethics Committee reversed their ruling and, now again, Congress members must report, in financial statements, any junket from private areas.
So, tell me again how it doesn't matter if you speak up? Don't vote? This shows that when we pay attention and do something, we make a difference.
Good JOB! Keep it UP!
Friday, June 27, 2014
Mitt Rauner(oops, Bruce), trying to talk to real people(yep, another version of deer in headlights)
As many of you may have figured out, I am a union activist, otherwise known as a union thug...or whatever the media likes to call me and, because of that I also have "union thug" friends, even some "union bosses" friends. One of those union boss friends that I'd like to introduce is my President, Larry Brown.
Larry worked at the max prison in the southern part of the state to earn his retirement benefits and he takes his benefits seriously. He also takes seriously how Mr. Rauner has been demeaning us in the press and receiving little to no push back. Don't worry, Larry can push back. Hard. With those silly little things called facts.
So...Mitt, er, Bruce Rauner decided to go to southwestern Illinois to speak to state employees and retirees about how he wants to "help" them. Larry was present at the meeting.
Mr. Rauner came out with a prepared statement, he was trying to garner some grassroots troops. The question and answer session lasted about 90 minutes and to his credit, did try to answer questions from the audience. He did say that he thought that SB 1(the pension theft bill) was "unconstitutional"; that doesn't mean he wouldn't support cutting our benefits, he actually thought it didn't go far enough, considering some of his comments in the media and his calls to Republican leaders in the General Assembly to vote against the bill, partially because he wants larger cuts and partially just as a black eye to the Dems.
Larry asked about SB1313, which AFSCME is also litigating and was signed into law in 2012. For those of you who don't know or remember, this is the bill that attacked retirees' health care. Now, I don't expect everyone to know this, but...if you're running for governor....Mr. Rauner had that deer in headlights look and told Larry(after Larry explained the law to him), "You gotta be kidding me, I'll have to check it out." Maybe we all need to start carrying fact sheets with us, eh? Help out Mr. Rauner's knowledge base?
So, more about pensions. Mr. Rauner stated he wanted a "Two-Tier" pension...Larry, again, informed him that Illinois has a two tier pension, since January of 2011. Mr. Rauner, "We do?" Yes, we do. So, we now know that what Mitt's talking about is a Three tier system; his idea is that those that are retired, their defined benefit pensions aren't changed. If you're still working, the defined benefit stops the day he takes office--for all, whether you are coordinated with Social Security or not. And from that day forward? Employees will be expected to figure out the stock market and use a (private) financial planner to get a 401K. You know the type, the hedge fund managers charge their fees and make $$$$ while the small investor watches his/her ability to retire get smaller and smaller because of "market forces". The other part of this silly idea that Mr. Rauner didn't address is if we have no funding from our working brothers and sisters(State and University employees pay up to 14% of their salary into the pension fund), if they are now playing on the market, how do you keep the pension fund solvent for the older retirees?
Mr. Rauner also wanted to assure the retirees and employees he was speaking to that he didn't have any problem with them, it was those corrupt "union bosses". So, Larry asks him, "Why are you mad at me?" Mr. Rauner stated he wasn't, he was against the bosses. They make the decision to fund corrupt politicians with your union dues. Larry informed him that he was a union boss, he was democratically elected and represents over 27,000 retirees in the state of Illinois and that the dues, by law, cannot be used as political contributions. Larry went on to tell Mr. Rauner that AFSCME does have a voluntary deduction for our Political Action Committee, called PEOPLE, but we also vote democratically, both the active and retired employees, on who we will or will not support. Larry asked Mr. Rauner if his company gave political contributions. Mr. Rauner answered yes. Larry asked him if those contributions were voted on by all of the workers in a democratic fashion. We all know the answer to that question, don't we?
So, it seems that Mr. Rauner has very little knowledge of what is law, what is being litigated in the state of Illinois, and very little knowledge on how unions function. And he's being touted as the front runner? He can't even figure out his own taxes(he took 3 property tax exemptions instead of just one), doesn't know that "union bosses" are democratically elected, doesn't know about litigation that will affect his governance, if elected, doesn't know that there are laws that make it illegal for his idea of "union bosses" handing money to politicians.
Can we really want someone who is so stupid about how the government is run...to run our government?????
I do understand, Quinn ain't the public's savior, but he's not trying to sell off Illinois. No one spends as much money as Mr. Rauner has on his campaign and expects nothing from it.
Larry asked about SB1313, which AFSCME is also litigating and was signed into law in 2012. For those of you who don't know or remember, this is the bill that attacked retirees' health care. Now, I don't expect everyone to know this, but...if you're running for governor....Mr. Rauner had that deer in headlights look and told Larry(after Larry explained the law to him), "You gotta be kidding me, I'll have to check it out." Maybe we all need to start carrying fact sheets with us, eh? Help out Mr. Rauner's knowledge base?
So, more about pensions. Mr. Rauner stated he wanted a "Two-Tier" pension...Larry, again, informed him that Illinois has a two tier pension, since January of 2011. Mr. Rauner, "We do?" Yes, we do. So, we now know that what Mitt's talking about is a Three tier system; his idea is that those that are retired, their defined benefit pensions aren't changed. If you're still working, the defined benefit stops the day he takes office--for all, whether you are coordinated with Social Security or not. And from that day forward? Employees will be expected to figure out the stock market and use a (private) financial planner to get a 401K. You know the type, the hedge fund managers charge their fees and make $$$$ while the small investor watches his/her ability to retire get smaller and smaller because of "market forces". The other part of this silly idea that Mr. Rauner didn't address is if we have no funding from our working brothers and sisters(State and University employees pay up to 14% of their salary into the pension fund), if they are now playing on the market, how do you keep the pension fund solvent for the older retirees?
Mr. Rauner also wanted to assure the retirees and employees he was speaking to that he didn't have any problem with them, it was those corrupt "union bosses". So, Larry asks him, "Why are you mad at me?" Mr. Rauner stated he wasn't, he was against the bosses. They make the decision to fund corrupt politicians with your union dues. Larry informed him that he was a union boss, he was democratically elected and represents over 27,000 retirees in the state of Illinois and that the dues, by law, cannot be used as political contributions. Larry went on to tell Mr. Rauner that AFSCME does have a voluntary deduction for our Political Action Committee, called PEOPLE, but we also vote democratically, both the active and retired employees, on who we will or will not support. Larry asked Mr. Rauner if his company gave political contributions. Mr. Rauner answered yes. Larry asked him if those contributions were voted on by all of the workers in a democratic fashion. We all know the answer to that question, don't we?
So, it seems that Mr. Rauner has very little knowledge of what is law, what is being litigated in the state of Illinois, and very little knowledge on how unions function. And he's being touted as the front runner? He can't even figure out his own taxes(he took 3 property tax exemptions instead of just one), doesn't know that "union bosses" are democratically elected, doesn't know about litigation that will affect his governance, if elected, doesn't know that there are laws that make it illegal for his idea of "union bosses" handing money to politicians.
Can we really want someone who is so stupid about how the government is run...to run our government?????
I do understand, Quinn ain't the public's savior, but he's not trying to sell off Illinois. No one spends as much money as Mr. Rauner has on his campaign and expects nothing from it.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Lindsey Graham, our very own Queen of Hearts, screams "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!", AKA: "IMPEACH! IMPEACH!"
So, to continue with this hysteria about President Obama and the Taliban loving Bergdahl, as the basthit crazy bigots on the right like to scream, ranting frantically until they finally fall in a heap, grabbing their pearls, on the fainting couch(Yep, I'm talking to you, Lindsey!), now starts the "IMPEACH! IMPEACH! IMPEACH!" wave of all good cooked up conspiracies that the right love to lie about.
We have the ex-congressman Allen West who demands, yes DEMANDS! that President Obama be impeached for prisoner exchange! He did it all wrong, didn't ask permission from congress...cuz he's supposed to cuz congress said so. We have John McCain saying that these prisoners were the worst of the worst! He'd never agree to this! Except that he had before he hadn't. That Obama was, again, shown weak in negotiating and knowing about terrorism! Oh, and let's not forget the real batshit rightwing crazies, aka, the "religious right". There's Bryan Fischer, of the Focus(as in target?) on the Family getting all apoplectic about the Taliban prisoners, Bergdahl and impeachment. OH! And let's not forget that "great patriot"(she says with an eye roll), Oliver North, who said that President Obama is financing the terrorists(he means the Taliban)! Yes, the Oliver North who was convicted of the Iran Contra Affair--you know actually financing terrorists! Yes, I know the conviction was overturned, but not because he wasn't guilty, but because of a technicality.
So, all this hand wringing, pearl clutching and fainting, there must be some truth in it, right? Ahh, not really.
Let's take all of these lies separately.
1. The Taliban are terrorists!
The Taliban have never been added to the list of Terrorists by Homeland Security. Although I would agree the Taliban are one of the worst groups to rule a country, they have never attacked America, that was Al Queda and those men were from Saudi Arabia, not Afghanistan or Iraq. Am I the only one who paid attention to geography in school? And on to the next silly hysterics:
2. These five were the worst of the WORST!!
Do we have to have all of the hyperbole? Really? Of the five that were released, only one could be actually considered a strategist who could be used within a terrorist organization. Three were involved in the Afghan government, including one that was in the police department. Check the link above for evul librul fact thingies.
3. It's against the law cuz Obama didn't report to the congress 30 days in advance.
Yes, there is a law, its tied to the funding of the military, that says that Obama must notify the congress. This "law" came into fruition right around the time that Obama became president...hmmm.....and every time it comes through, President Obama issues a statement saying that he will not abide by this law since he feels its unconstitutional and every time Congress attached this to a Defense funding bill, he'd attached the signing statement. Oh, and since Congress did not take it to court when he issued the signing statement, they, in effect, said he was correct and they agreed with him. This means that not only did he not break the law, Congress agreed that they, also thought it was beyond their reach and they knew it.
On the other hand, during this administration, Republicons has leaked more information to the press just to stop the President from getting something accomplished, so why would he trust them with a matter like this? In fact, Senator Saxby Chambliss has already said that if he had known about the exchange before it happened he would have told the press, even knowing that would jeopardize an American soldier(why should he care about soldiers?). In fact when there was a meeting on the trade, the majority of congress members didn't attend! So how upset or worried about this are they? Me thinks dost thou protest too much.
4. He negotiated with terrorists and we never do that!
Umm, check #1, Taliban are not on the terrorist watch list, have never been considered a terrorist organization. On the other hand, we've never done it is an outright lie. Ain't that right Ollie?
5. They will come back and attack us!
Under George Bush, Bush let go 500 Guantanamo bay prisoners, with a 30% recidivism rate. President Obama has released 80(yep, these 5 weren't the first, you must have been sleeping on a park bench for the other 75) with a recidivism rate of only 5%. So who is it that doesn't understand how people attack us and why? The same president who allowed 9/11 to happen in the first place. The White guy.
5. The Right object to this based on principle, not on Obama Derangement Syndrome.
I cannot believe you can tell that lie with a straight face. Or maybe you've said it so much you now believe that it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, but anyone who looks at the facts knows you are lying. We, in all of our history, have never left a soldier behind, no matter the reason for his capture, otherwise, we'd have left John McCain to rot in a Vietnamese forest. We'd have left Jessica Lynch behind since, obviously her convoy did not follow orders.
And, we, as a country, and as many if not all countries, have always released prisoners of war when a war in ending. It's just the right thing to do.
We have the ex-congressman Allen West who demands, yes DEMANDS! that President Obama be impeached for prisoner exchange! He did it all wrong, didn't ask permission from congress...cuz he's supposed to cuz congress said so. We have John McCain saying that these prisoners were the worst of the worst! He'd never agree to this! Except that he had before he hadn't. That Obama was, again, shown weak in negotiating and knowing about terrorism! Oh, and let's not forget the real batshit rightwing crazies, aka, the "religious right". There's Bryan Fischer, of the Focus(as in target?) on the Family getting all apoplectic about the Taliban prisoners, Bergdahl and impeachment. OH! And let's not forget that "great patriot"(she says with an eye roll), Oliver North, who said that President Obama is financing the terrorists(he means the Taliban)! Yes, the Oliver North who was convicted of the Iran Contra Affair--you know actually financing terrorists! Yes, I know the conviction was overturned, but not because he wasn't guilty, but because of a technicality.
So, all this hand wringing, pearl clutching and fainting, there must be some truth in it, right? Ahh, not really.
Let's take all of these lies separately.
1. The Taliban are terrorists!
The Taliban have never been added to the list of Terrorists by Homeland Security. Although I would agree the Taliban are one of the worst groups to rule a country, they have never attacked America, that was Al Queda and those men were from Saudi Arabia, not Afghanistan or Iraq. Am I the only one who paid attention to geography in school? And on to the next silly hysterics:
2. These five were the worst of the WORST!!
Do we have to have all of the hyperbole? Really? Of the five that were released, only one could be actually considered a strategist who could be used within a terrorist organization. Three were involved in the Afghan government, including one that was in the police department. Check the link above for evul librul fact thingies.
3. It's against the law cuz Obama didn't report to the congress 30 days in advance.
Yes, there is a law, its tied to the funding of the military, that says that Obama must notify the congress. This "law" came into fruition right around the time that Obama became president...hmmm.....and every time it comes through, President Obama issues a statement saying that he will not abide by this law since he feels its unconstitutional and every time Congress attached this to a Defense funding bill, he'd attached the signing statement. Oh, and since Congress did not take it to court when he issued the signing statement, they, in effect, said he was correct and they agreed with him. This means that not only did he not break the law, Congress agreed that they, also thought it was beyond their reach and they knew it.
On the other hand, during this administration, Republicons has leaked more information to the press just to stop the President from getting something accomplished, so why would he trust them with a matter like this? In fact, Senator Saxby Chambliss has already said that if he had known about the exchange before it happened he would have told the press, even knowing that would jeopardize an American soldier(why should he care about soldiers?). In fact when there was a meeting on the trade, the majority of congress members didn't attend! So how upset or worried about this are they? Me thinks dost thou protest too much.
4. He negotiated with terrorists and we never do that!
Umm, check #1, Taliban are not on the terrorist watch list, have never been considered a terrorist organization. On the other hand, we've never done it is an outright lie. Ain't that right Ollie?
5. They will come back and attack us!
Under George Bush, Bush let go 500 Guantanamo bay prisoners, with a 30% recidivism rate. President Obama has released 80(yep, these 5 weren't the first, you must have been sleeping on a park bench for the other 75) with a recidivism rate of only 5%. So who is it that doesn't understand how people attack us and why? The same president who allowed 9/11 to happen in the first place. The White guy.
5. The Right object to this based on principle, not on Obama Derangement Syndrome.
I cannot believe you can tell that lie with a straight face. Or maybe you've said it so much you now believe that it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, but anyone who looks at the facts knows you are lying. We, in all of our history, have never left a soldier behind, no matter the reason for his capture, otherwise, we'd have left John McCain to rot in a Vietnamese forest. We'd have left Jessica Lynch behind since, obviously her convoy did not follow orders.
And, we, as a country, and as many if not all countries, have always released prisoners of war when a war in ending. It's just the right thing to do.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
The Right Wing is cheering a POW's return? NOPE, The black guy did it.
I'm sure anyone reading this has heard about the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl that was engineered by President Obama and the cheers from the Right Wing...until they got the marching orders of "SSSSHHHH, the black guy did it, bad, bad, bad!"
I know, I know, I'm playing the race card, it has absolutely nothing to do with the black guy, it has to do with we've never done this before, trading prisoners or something for some silly soldier...except we have. Right John McCain? Well, that was different. OK, how about St. Ronnie? Trading 1500 missiles for 3 hostages and hosting the terrorists? To Iran? Which, the hostage takers then turned around and grabbed 2 or 3 more Americans to see what they were worth.
Oh! It's because he was a deserter! He walked away! He's not worth it!
OK, he may have walked away, may have left his post, but we don't know why. And, I, for one, have to question the sanity of any person who would walk away from the subjective safety of a military base into war torn Afghanistan...on his own...without any weapons or vehicle, supplies. So there's that. But, again, so we leave him with the Taliban? We don't bring him home? We don't care what actually happened? Even though we have worried, since his capture 2009, about what may happen to him?
BUT, due to the information leaked by Chelsea Manning, the New York Times was able to trace through the daily log of Afghanistan activities/chronology to find out that Sgt. Bergdahl had walked off the base on different occasions, always to return(reasons being to watch a sunset/sunrise, pretty non-terrorist stuff). Also blown out of the water with these logs was the story that 8 soldiers died looking for Bergdahl. Only 2 died during the active search and they died in another province, not looking for Sgt. Bergdahl.
But to watch the trashing of Sgt. Bergdahl and his family from the right is so heinous. Of course, the right says that "we" think of him as a hero. Only people I've heard throwing the "hero" label around have been the right. No, again we, on the left and most in the center, act as adults. Bring the young man home, sort out the details/facts and then figure out what should be done, but at best its all very muddied territory.
So why have they decided he's a traitor(besides the fact that Obama got him released without blowing anyone up)? Well, because the Taliban said so. They said he was helping them, because he was in 4 videos produced by them and he hadn't got his throat slit by them, so that means the Taliban is telling the truth. Of course the Taliban would have NO reason to lie to us, right? Why is he a "deserter" because the honest, truth loving Taliban said he walked away from his post/went out drinking/maybe he left to use the latrine/or it was because he decided to go AWOL for a few days in the posh hotels in that area...because the Taliban would not lie to us, right? Since we have shown them nothing but respect and honesty in all these years, right? The reports that have been released(thank you Chelsea Manning) are, at best ambiguous about why he walked off his post.
So, did he do something wrong? If he did, doesn't 5 years in Taliban custody warrant punishment? Or have we, as a country, gone off the deep end and enjoy to see torture of our own soldiers? Its time for him to come home, and, as adults, we can sort this out in our courts, our country. It's time for the right wing/republicans/teabaggers to grow the fuck up and act like adults, instead of petulant childish bullies just obstructing and gossiping their merry way to far right PACs instead of thinking about the young man that has been held prisoner and, like we have done in every other war, we didn't stop until we brought him home.
I say, Welcome home Sgt. Bergdahl, may peace be with you.
I know, I know, I'm playing the race card, it has absolutely nothing to do with the black guy, it has to do with we've never done this before, trading prisoners or something for some silly soldier...except we have. Right John McCain? Well, that was different. OK, how about St. Ronnie? Trading 1500 missiles for 3 hostages and hosting the terrorists? To Iran? Which, the hostage takers then turned around and grabbed 2 or 3 more Americans to see what they were worth.
Oh! It's because he was a deserter! He walked away! He's not worth it!
OK, he may have walked away, may have left his post, but we don't know why. And, I, for one, have to question the sanity of any person who would walk away from the subjective safety of a military base into war torn Afghanistan...on his own...without any weapons or vehicle, supplies. So there's that. But, again, so we leave him with the Taliban? We don't bring him home? We don't care what actually happened? Even though we have worried, since his capture 2009, about what may happen to him?
BUT, due to the information leaked by Chelsea Manning, the New York Times was able to trace through the daily log of Afghanistan activities/chronology to find out that Sgt. Bergdahl had walked off the base on different occasions, always to return(reasons being to watch a sunset/sunrise, pretty non-terrorist stuff). Also blown out of the water with these logs was the story that 8 soldiers died looking for Bergdahl. Only 2 died during the active search and they died in another province, not looking for Sgt. Bergdahl.
But to watch the trashing of Sgt. Bergdahl and his family from the right is so heinous. Of course, the right says that "we" think of him as a hero. Only people I've heard throwing the "hero" label around have been the right. No, again we, on the left and most in the center, act as adults. Bring the young man home, sort out the details/facts and then figure out what should be done, but at best its all very muddied territory.
So why have they decided he's a traitor(besides the fact that Obama got him released without blowing anyone up)? Well, because the Taliban said so. They said he was helping them, because he was in 4 videos produced by them and he hadn't got his throat slit by them, so that means the Taliban is telling the truth. Of course the Taliban would have NO reason to lie to us, right? Why is he a "deserter" because the honest, truth loving Taliban said he walked away from his post/went out drinking/maybe he left to use the latrine/or it was because he decided to go AWOL for a few days in the posh hotels in that area...because the Taliban would not lie to us, right? Since we have shown them nothing but respect and honesty in all these years, right? The reports that have been released(thank you Chelsea Manning) are, at best ambiguous about why he walked off his post.
So, did he do something wrong? If he did, doesn't 5 years in Taliban custody warrant punishment? Or have we, as a country, gone off the deep end and enjoy to see torture of our own soldiers? Its time for him to come home, and, as adults, we can sort this out in our courts, our country. It's time for the right wing/republicans/teabaggers to grow the fuck up and act like adults, instead of petulant childish bullies just obstructing and gossiping their merry way to far right PACs instead of thinking about the young man that has been held prisoner and, like we have done in every other war, we didn't stop until we brought him home.
I say, Welcome home Sgt. Bergdahl, may peace be with you.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
County board public comments, or..."I am a small business owner and I just stumbled on this meeting without any knowledge of anything"....
On 2/11, I to the DuPage county board meeting watching the republican government at work. We have 3 Democratic board members and 12 Republican so it can be a bit one sided. We are of the "upper middle class" venue if you listen to our...um....County Board. It is true that DuPage county has a much higher average income over many other areas of Illinois(our average is $78,000, Illinois average is $55,000), but there are 9 counties, that have an average income of higher than Illinois' median average, all but 2 are northern counties. My opinion? I think our "higher income" is not because of the republicon twitch, but because we're located near Chicago, as are the other 6 counties that make above the median(and that includes Cook).
Full disclosure: the reason I was at these particular meetings was due to my involvement with A Better Illinois, which is a grassroots group that is trying to get a ballot referendum on for the next general election that allows the voters of Illinois the ability to choose a graduated income tax(like 34 of the states now have) or stay with our antiquated misnomer tax system of "flat" which includes corporate loopholes galore. Illinois' tax system has not been really updated since the 1970's and is one of the biggest problems with our funding problems in the Land of Lincoln.
So...I'm sitting and listening to the workings of the board, who are basically wasting time and tax funds by holding a meeting to discuss the viability of sending a resolution to the State Assembly, which doesn't do anything at all in the actual process of putting the referendum on the ballot. Yep, just blowing smoke up their own asses...see how import'nt we are? Not much.
During the meeting there is time for public comment. Yes, I was there to speak, but I wasn't the only one.
There were representatives from different chapters of the League of Women Voters, IEA(one of the teacher's unions) and just regular old folks, shucks, who just came to speak...the same words...over and over again....blah blah blah"blank check", blah blah blah "we pay too much already", blah blah blah "businesses are going to move out!" All seemed to have the same message, sort of like the Stepford wife routine. I smelled something fishy. So, when I got home, I got on the google machine. See, the meetings are taped and you can watch everything over and over again...and everyone's name was right there so it was pretty easy to find out who these people were and what planet they're from.
So, one of the first person that struck me as a bit of a ranty lunatic was Glen Luckinbill who introduced himself as a "small business owner", in fact he said that he owned a business and his wife owned a business--the wording made it sound like there were at least 2 in the family, although there's only one that comes up on the web..which his wife is the president and he the sales executive(hmmm....wonder if they get that lucrative "minority" status since she's the prez?). He went on to say that they used to employ 30, now they employ 17 because of taxes(although the read on the company shows only 3 employees, including the Luckinbills, although I could be missing something), not, of course because of the recession that we've been in, that had nothing to do with it, just taxes. He also said that he and his wife are paying almost 50% of their profits in taxes now and if this went through, OH MY GOD! They'd have to move to another state. OK, so my first question, Who the Hell is doing your taxes?!?!!??!?! There isn't a smart business in this country that's paying that much and if that's true...DUDE, call me, I bet I can do better(but I will be charging him a "gullible" fee).
So the next brainiac I'd like to introduce you to is Jerry Schilling--talk about batshit crazy....I'm talking so far right, he don't make left turns when driving. He began his rant about how we pay too much in taxes, every year the state, county, municipal and other government institution raise taxes, fees, codes and we're being bled to death by taxes! He doesn't want to pay anything in taxes! OK. I really wanted to ask him how he thinks the roads would have been plowed by his house without paying taxes(we've had over 60" of snow), the snow plow fairies???? And the actual fact is that Illinois is a low tax state--we don't tax services, storage, entertainment, automotive service as do all of the states that surround us. We also have a lower tax rate than all of the states that surround us except Indiana(and its Indiana...where they tax services like hair cuts).
So, now what's his background? First, he's in his late 60's/early 70's so unless he's too silly not to retire, he's not paying state income taxes because Illinois doesn't tax retirement income! He runs a blog that complains about every little single thing that government does and he also writes for another rightwing blog(West Suburban Patriots) about, basically the same thing. He also seems to rant alot at the Naperville council meetings and is very upset by the whole smart meter thing, to the point of making a conspiracy out of it.
Then there's Victoria Deppe. Again, the phrases, "worst business climate", "worst unemployment", "highest sales tax", "will raise taxes on those making $18K), "Need to reform pensions and regulations" Illinois is "3rd highest in taxes and unemployment"...so many lies, so little time.
But who is Victoria Deppe? Well she writes on the Illinois Review right wing site, she's involved with the right wing Convention of States that wants to hold a Federal Constitutional Convention cuz they're tired of the Federal Government gettin' in their bidness. This "group" is the loving baby of Mark Levin and Glen Beck and...wait for it...ALEC--so that says how far right and out of step it is with the normal population. And she's a CHRISTIAN!!!! No, not a Christian, but a CHRISTIAN!!!!!, one that embraces the bible and bigotry if the websites that she's on are any evidence...again, she wants gomminint outta her bidness, but also wants gomminint all up in our bedroom bidness. And although I didn't see her being directly invovled in WSP, the Convention of States crap is all over that site.
Hmmm...do I see a pattern, not only of words, but of political bents?
But it gets stoopider....
We have Greg G. from Downers Grove who's unemployed...but he's also 51 and there has been so much written about how many workers have been laid off cuz of their age..no, that's not it, its cuz of taxes..and rich people are job creators(again, the rich person who doubles as the welfare agency...just create a job without profit? I don't think so). He can't pay more in income tax cuz he paid close to $6K for property tax...in Downers Grove...where I live...I had some scepticism about this cuz he was trying to play the "just middle class unemployed worker" so, since his address was mentioned in the hearings, I looked up his taxes...silly boy...don't you understand the interwebs? He paid less than $5K, yes still a lot, but why LIE about it unless you were playing dramaqueen? Again, property tax is not income tax...and, because of other laws in the Illinois tax structure, if Illinois had a fairer tax system, we in this area are assured to receive more funding which would bring down our property taxes...DUH. Oh...and he mentioned its a "spending" problem again.
So then we have Carol Davis who said she only made $40K a year working 2 jobs. She lives in Carol Stream. The only Carol Davis that comes up in Carol Stream is one that owns a business that makes over $70K.Now, those silly interwebs, they can come up with anyone that lives in an area that has a phone number/address...so, if this isn't the person that owns the $70K business, maybe she lives in a cardboard box behind McDonald's. She was all, "I've never resented a wealthy person, because I never got a job from a poor one"...OH HAHAHAH. And there's no rich person or small business person who makes up a job without having a need for it...and, again, that means that I'm the job creator(because my money is spent, not shipped to the Caymen Islands), not Mr. Moneybags. Oh, and she's on the West Suburban Patriots band wagon and a "prepper"(one that is preparing for the end of the world, as we know it). You know the ones that like to hoard food, weapons, etc. and talk about how their neighbors are the crazy ones? Cuz they're gonna have to shoot their neighbors when the collapse comes down.
So, on to the next economic superstar, Hugh Hamill. He owns a jewelry store...one that sells to other jewelers and customers that make appointments to be serviced...we ain't talking Zales, here! High end/luxury type customers. So, he says, again, we're bankrupt, too much spending, blah blah blah. Oh, and he's going to move his business to Tennessee because Tennessee has no personal income tax. Well, he's right on that to a point, but Tennessee does have an annual 6% tax on all income made by capital gains and investments..you know, stocks and stuff. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Hamill probably has a couple or 3 dollars invested and prolly will pay a capital gains tax considering his business and wealth--hmmm...maybe he didn't think this out too well?
Then there was Jan Shaw, from Wheaton, who's big splash on the google machine is that she ran for a School Board seat and made some disparaging remarks about special needs students...oh, and she is/was a board member on the teabagger site, West Suburban Patriots. This pattern isn't just developing, its a freaking snowstorm!
Then, there was Heidi Holan, again, she also is on WSP. She's also running for office in Illinois. She also has absolutely no knowledge about tax structures or math. Yep the, "spending issues", went into the definition of "fair" from Webster's Dictionary and then told this bizarre story about her 2 sons cutting wood, she pays them $10 an hour, one son works for 9 1/2 hours and she pays him 91.43(she took out the 3.75% for the old Illinois income tax) and the other worked for 10 hours and she paid him $89, cuz she took out the 11% made up income tax...huh?????? That's not how a graduated tax works anyway(both would pay 3.75% on the first bracket of $95, and only the other $5 would be taxed at a higher rate, no bracket jumps up by 8%) but there is absolutely nothing in the referendum about brackets! Is this how taxes work in Heidiland???? Because its not the way they work in the real world. So, she wants to be in the General Assembly and doesn't even understand basic taxes???? Really???? And who works their kids for that long chopping wood????
Of course there were the handwringers from the Koch and ALEC backed Americans for Prosperity and the Illinois Policy Institute, both of which have been shown to be partisan and lapdogs for the uber greedy rich. Both of the spokespersons mention how this would raise taxes on those incomes that were under $18,000, one of them said that it would start at $5000...again, no rates have been scheduled and the only structures that have been spoken about favorably all use similar scales as the CTBA, which would end at less than 7% for the wealthiest and no income tax for those who make less than $9000.., but then when you don't understand basic tax policy and think math is hard, I guess 7 and 11 are the same and paying no income tax until you reach $9000 is the same as paying taxes at $5000.
How crazy are these people? And, just how mean-spirited, selfish and greedy? Boggles the mind of compassionate, thinking people.
Full disclosure: the reason I was at these particular meetings was due to my involvement with A Better Illinois, which is a grassroots group that is trying to get a ballot referendum on for the next general election that allows the voters of Illinois the ability to choose a graduated income tax(like 34 of the states now have) or stay with our antiquated misnomer tax system of "flat" which includes corporate loopholes galore. Illinois' tax system has not been really updated since the 1970's and is one of the biggest problems with our funding problems in the Land of Lincoln.
So...I'm sitting and listening to the workings of the board, who are basically wasting time and tax funds by holding a meeting to discuss the viability of sending a resolution to the State Assembly, which doesn't do anything at all in the actual process of putting the referendum on the ballot. Yep, just blowing smoke up their own asses...see how import'nt we are? Not much.
During the meeting there is time for public comment. Yes, I was there to speak, but I wasn't the only one.
There were representatives from different chapters of the League of Women Voters, IEA(one of the teacher's unions) and just regular old folks, shucks, who just came to speak...the same words...over and over again....blah blah blah"blank check", blah blah blah "we pay too much already", blah blah blah "businesses are going to move out!" All seemed to have the same message, sort of like the Stepford wife routine. I smelled something fishy. So, when I got home, I got on the google machine. See, the meetings are taped and you can watch everything over and over again...and everyone's name was right there so it was pretty easy to find out who these people were and what planet they're from.
So, one of the first person that struck me as a bit of a ranty lunatic was Glen Luckinbill who introduced himself as a "small business owner", in fact he said that he owned a business and his wife owned a business--the wording made it sound like there were at least 2 in the family, although there's only one that comes up on the web..which his wife is the president and he the sales executive(hmmm....wonder if they get that lucrative "minority" status since she's the prez?). He went on to say that they used to employ 30, now they employ 17 because of taxes(although the read on the company shows only 3 employees, including the Luckinbills, although I could be missing something), not, of course because of the recession that we've been in, that had nothing to do with it, just taxes. He also said that he and his wife are paying almost 50% of their profits in taxes now and if this went through, OH MY GOD! They'd have to move to another state. OK, so my first question, Who the Hell is doing your taxes?!?!!??!?! There isn't a smart business in this country that's paying that much and if that's true...DUDE, call me, I bet I can do better(but I will be charging him a "gullible" fee).
So the next brainiac I'd like to introduce you to is Jerry Schilling--talk about batshit crazy....I'm talking so far right, he don't make left turns when driving. He began his rant about how we pay too much in taxes, every year the state, county, municipal and other government institution raise taxes, fees, codes and we're being bled to death by taxes! He doesn't want to pay anything in taxes! OK. I really wanted to ask him how he thinks the roads would have been plowed by his house without paying taxes(we've had over 60" of snow), the snow plow fairies???? And the actual fact is that Illinois is a low tax state--we don't tax services, storage, entertainment, automotive service as do all of the states that surround us. We also have a lower tax rate than all of the states that surround us except Indiana(and its Indiana...where they tax services like hair cuts).
So, now what's his background? First, he's in his late 60's/early 70's so unless he's too silly not to retire, he's not paying state income taxes because Illinois doesn't tax retirement income! He runs a blog that complains about every little single thing that government does and he also writes for another rightwing blog(West Suburban Patriots) about, basically the same thing. He also seems to rant alot at the Naperville council meetings and is very upset by the whole smart meter thing, to the point of making a conspiracy out of it.
Then there's Victoria Deppe. Again, the phrases, "worst business climate", "worst unemployment", "highest sales tax", "will raise taxes on those making $18K), "Need to reform pensions and regulations" Illinois is "3rd highest in taxes and unemployment"...so many lies, so little time.
But who is Victoria Deppe? Well she writes on the Illinois Review right wing site, she's involved with the right wing Convention of States that wants to hold a Federal Constitutional Convention cuz they're tired of the Federal Government gettin' in their bidness. This "group" is the loving baby of Mark Levin and Glen Beck and...wait for it...ALEC--so that says how far right and out of step it is with the normal population. And she's a CHRISTIAN!!!! No, not a Christian, but a CHRISTIAN!!!!!, one that embraces the bible and bigotry if the websites that she's on are any evidence...again, she wants gomminint outta her bidness, but also wants gomminint all up in our bedroom bidness. And although I didn't see her being directly invovled in WSP, the Convention of States crap is all over that site.
Hmmm...do I see a pattern, not only of words, but of political bents?
But it gets stoopider....
We have Greg G. from Downers Grove who's unemployed...but he's also 51 and there has been so much written about how many workers have been laid off cuz of their age..no, that's not it, its cuz of taxes..and rich people are job creators(again, the rich person who doubles as the welfare agency...just create a job without profit? I don't think so). He can't pay more in income tax cuz he paid close to $6K for property tax...in Downers Grove...where I live...I had some scepticism about this cuz he was trying to play the "just middle class unemployed worker" so, since his address was mentioned in the hearings, I looked up his taxes...silly boy...don't you understand the interwebs? He paid less than $5K, yes still a lot, but why LIE about it unless you were playing dramaqueen? Again, property tax is not income tax...and, because of other laws in the Illinois tax structure, if Illinois had a fairer tax system, we in this area are assured to receive more funding which would bring down our property taxes...DUH. Oh...and he mentioned its a "spending" problem again.
So then we have Carol Davis who said she only made $40K a year working 2 jobs. She lives in Carol Stream. The only Carol Davis that comes up in Carol Stream is one that owns a business that makes over $70K.Now, those silly interwebs, they can come up with anyone that lives in an area that has a phone number/address...so, if this isn't the person that owns the $70K business, maybe she lives in a cardboard box behind McDonald's. She was all, "I've never resented a wealthy person, because I never got a job from a poor one"...OH HAHAHAH. And there's no rich person or small business person who makes up a job without having a need for it...and, again, that means that I'm the job creator(because my money is spent, not shipped to the Caymen Islands), not Mr. Moneybags. Oh, and she's on the West Suburban Patriots band wagon and a "prepper"(one that is preparing for the end of the world, as we know it). You know the ones that like to hoard food, weapons, etc. and talk about how their neighbors are the crazy ones? Cuz they're gonna have to shoot their neighbors when the collapse comes down.
So, on to the next economic superstar, Hugh Hamill. He owns a jewelry store...one that sells to other jewelers and customers that make appointments to be serviced...we ain't talking Zales, here! High end/luxury type customers. So, he says, again, we're bankrupt, too much spending, blah blah blah. Oh, and he's going to move his business to Tennessee because Tennessee has no personal income tax. Well, he's right on that to a point, but Tennessee does have an annual 6% tax on all income made by capital gains and investments..you know, stocks and stuff. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Hamill probably has a couple or 3 dollars invested and prolly will pay a capital gains tax considering his business and wealth--hmmm...maybe he didn't think this out too well?
Then there was Jan Shaw, from Wheaton, who's big splash on the google machine is that she ran for a School Board seat and made some disparaging remarks about special needs students...oh, and she is/was a board member on the teabagger site, West Suburban Patriots. This pattern isn't just developing, its a freaking snowstorm!
Then, there was Heidi Holan, again, she also is on WSP. She's also running for office in Illinois. She also has absolutely no knowledge about tax structures or math. Yep the, "spending issues", went into the definition of "fair" from Webster's Dictionary and then told this bizarre story about her 2 sons cutting wood, she pays them $10 an hour, one son works for 9 1/2 hours and she pays him 91.43(she took out the 3.75% for the old Illinois income tax) and the other worked for 10 hours and she paid him $89, cuz she took out the 11% made up income tax...huh?????? That's not how a graduated tax works anyway(both would pay 3.75% on the first bracket of $95, and only the other $5 would be taxed at a higher rate, no bracket jumps up by 8%) but there is absolutely nothing in the referendum about brackets! Is this how taxes work in Heidiland???? Because its not the way they work in the real world. So, she wants to be in the General Assembly and doesn't even understand basic taxes???? Really???? And who works their kids for that long chopping wood????
Of course there were the handwringers from the Koch and ALEC backed Americans for Prosperity and the Illinois Policy Institute, both of which have been shown to be partisan and lapdogs for the uber greedy rich. Both of the spokespersons mention how this would raise taxes on those incomes that were under $18,000, one of them said that it would start at $5000...again, no rates have been scheduled and the only structures that have been spoken about favorably all use similar scales as the CTBA, which would end at less than 7% for the wealthiest and no income tax for those who make less than $9000.., but then when you don't understand basic tax policy and think math is hard, I guess 7 and 11 are the same and paying no income tax until you reach $9000 is the same as paying taxes at $5000.
How crazy are these people? And, just how mean-spirited, selfish and greedy? Boggles the mind of compassionate, thinking people.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Bruce Rauner--the new Jacob Marley...or a Romney wannabe
Bruce Rauner has been stomping on Illinois for the Republican Primary. He's been rallying against the "union bosses" and praising charter schools. Now? He wants to lower the minimum wage in Illinois which put a big smile on the other three Republican candidates. See, this is another chip in his "just a regular guy" armor. The whole nation, when polled, is in favor of raising the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour. Rauner wants to lessen our minimum wage which is $1 above the federal. So, then, he tried to pedal back...in the northern regions...thinking that the Southern areas wouldn't compare what was said in the Northern areas.
See, Illinois is the only state that travels through the "rust" belt, the "corn" belt and the "bible" belt of America...we are a microcosm of the USA in many ways( and yes, we have our tech belt also...and we're getting pretty good at wine also!). We have a very diverse population, but, I would venture a guess that none of us like being played for a fool and most of us have, at least, a TV and access to what candidates say in all areas of the state.
Mr. Rauner loves to do his commercials in Cabella gear and his $18 watch, but I really doubt that's how he looks at board meetings at his venture capitalist groups. In fact, let's talk about his home "roots".
To ensure that his daughter could get into one of the most prestigious charter schools in Illinois, he first bought and used the address of condo that's near Millennium Park. When it was shown that he used influence(and maybe a $250K bribe...err...donation) to the Walter Payton Charter school, he tries brushing away the reports by saying his daughter was good enough grade wise, it was because of illness that she didn't automatically qualify.This is just another political attack on him. Sorry, Mr. Rauner, but I'm sure there are many children who could qualify, grade wise, but because of absenteeism, were refused, but didn't have the ability to pull out $250K to smooth over the questions or to call their "friend", Arne Duncan(who was head of schools in Chicago at that time), to get some dispensation for their child.
Then there's the Stuart Levine thing.....
Stuart Levine is legendary in Illinois politics as a "fixer", he's testified for the prosecution against Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini and Tony Rezko and was sentenced to his own 5 year sentence for money laundering and fraud. Mr. Rauner's ties with him? Mr. Levine was paid a salary of $25,000 a month by one of Rauner's companies to acquire government contracts. Twenty Five Thousand dollars a MONTH. So, being fair minded, I looked to see how Mr. Rauner answered questions about this. He didn't. All he said is it just another political attack. I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm looking at a candidate, specially for governor, I'd like to think I'm smart enough NOT to vote for the guy who has ties with a convicted felon who took down another governor--this already smells really bad.
Then, comes the "fund-raising". Mr. Rauner's campaign is very proud of their "fund-raising" skills, having about $4 Million dollars. They don't mention that $3 Million has been donated by the candidate himself! So, in reality, the campaign has raised less than $1 Million. Yes, that's a good amount of change, but it doesn't mean that he has so much support, it means he can self-fund his campaign because he's a multi-millionaire/billionaire.
And let us not forget that last, "Regular guy that I'd like to have a beer with"...GeeDubya...2 illegal wars, the worst recession(I'd say depression) since 1930 and how many unneeded deaths and anger toward our country? Rauner ain't that much different, knows how to go walmart and laugh all the way to the bank as he screws the working poor and middle class.
See, Illinois is the only state that travels through the "rust" belt, the "corn" belt and the "bible" belt of America...we are a microcosm of the USA in many ways( and yes, we have our tech belt also...and we're getting pretty good at wine also!). We have a very diverse population, but, I would venture a guess that none of us like being played for a fool and most of us have, at least, a TV and access to what candidates say in all areas of the state.
Mr. Rauner loves to do his commercials in Cabella gear and his $18 watch, but I really doubt that's how he looks at board meetings at his venture capitalist groups. In fact, let's talk about his home "roots".
To ensure that his daughter could get into one of the most prestigious charter schools in Illinois, he first bought and used the address of condo that's near Millennium Park. When it was shown that he used influence(and maybe a $250K bribe...err...donation) to the Walter Payton Charter school, he tries brushing away the reports by saying his daughter was good enough grade wise, it was because of illness that she didn't automatically qualify.This is just another political attack on him. Sorry, Mr. Rauner, but I'm sure there are many children who could qualify, grade wise, but because of absenteeism, were refused, but didn't have the ability to pull out $250K to smooth over the questions or to call their "friend", Arne Duncan(who was head of schools in Chicago at that time), to get some dispensation for their child.
Then there's the Stuart Levine thing.....
Stuart Levine is legendary in Illinois politics as a "fixer", he's testified for the prosecution against Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini and Tony Rezko and was sentenced to his own 5 year sentence for money laundering and fraud. Mr. Rauner's ties with him? Mr. Levine was paid a salary of $25,000 a month by one of Rauner's companies to acquire government contracts. Twenty Five Thousand dollars a MONTH. So, being fair minded, I looked to see how Mr. Rauner answered questions about this. He didn't. All he said is it just another political attack. I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm looking at a candidate, specially for governor, I'd like to think I'm smart enough NOT to vote for the guy who has ties with a convicted felon who took down another governor--this already smells really bad.
Then, comes the "fund-raising". Mr. Rauner's campaign is very proud of their "fund-raising" skills, having about $4 Million dollars. They don't mention that $3 Million has been donated by the candidate himself! So, in reality, the campaign has raised less than $1 Million. Yes, that's a good amount of change, but it doesn't mean that he has so much support, it means he can self-fund his campaign because he's a multi-millionaire/billionaire.
And let us not forget that last, "Regular guy that I'd like to have a beer with"...GeeDubya...2 illegal wars, the worst recession(I'd say depression) since 1930 and how many unneeded deaths and anger toward our country? Rauner ain't that much different, knows how to go walmart and laugh all the way to the bank as he screws the working poor and middle class.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Illinois Politics, the Newest Soap Opera
In Illinois we are facing a very dark gubernatorial election; Governor Pat Quinn on the Democratic side and the four Stooges on the Republican side: third timer State Senator Pat Brady(the author of the "KILL THE PUPPIES" bill fame--he authored a bill that would allow mass euthanasia of shelter dogs by gas chamber), State Senator Kirk Dillard(who used to be a moderate republican, now has become a SKY IS FALLING teabagger shill), State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and carpetbagger....er...venture capitalist Bruce Rauner.
OK, so now you know how much respect I have for them, but I'm not supposed to, I'm the Union Thug Gramma! Oh, but there's not much love going on in the republican camps either....
Seems there's a new attack ad against Kirk Dillard, who, in many ways has been written off as a "has-been" because of how he ran so far to the right after the 2010 primary. Even tho he's had trouble raising money, mainly because of this turnabout from moderate to batshit crazy rightwing nutjob(OK, I'll take the nutjob back, he really isn't), that the right doesn't know which Kirk Dillard is going to show up for the governor's mansion. But, it seems that someone is trying to muddy the waters. See, Dillard has always said that Jim Edgar(Governor after Thompson, during the 90's--one term) and this video first uses the song, "I touch Myself" from the 90's and ends with saying this video was brought to you by Kirk Dillard and friends at MSI--which was a soft core scandal of Edgars that surfaced in 2000.
And then, there's the new group, Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs that just recently formed. The Head of this group is the former Aaron Schock Chief of Staff, Steven Shearer, Schock is another teabagger(aka batshit crazy) who is supposed to represent Peoria and Springfield(among other areas) in congress, but can't seem to ever make it out to his Peoria office, feeling much more comfortable in what could be called Illinois' beltway-Springfield. Now, this new group is saying they are just trying to educate voters about the candidates, but when Schock was thinking about running for Governor, Rauner paid for attack ads against him. Think maybe that might come back to haunt him? I hope so.
Now, Rauner has gotten the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Party(wow, all 30 of them?), but it still may become a primary Heathers trap---real bloody and lots of bad publicity.
And that's fine with me. Let's get the red meat out now and hope that people vote for someone who actually cares about the people of Illinois, not just the bottom dollar of campaign funds.
OH. The other big high school drama is "WHO'S BEING NICE TO DEMOCRATS...EWWWWWW" There have been push issues about Dillard giving less than $1000 to the Obama Inauguration Fund, not his campaign fund, but after he was elected. A whole $ 924. Like that was gonna make a difference, what, you think that paid for a table of republicans to go to the balls? The way the batshit crazy rightwing media is spinning it, you'd think that Dillard financed Obama's presidential campaign by himself!
On the other hand we have Rauner...who has given truckloads to Rahm Immanuel and,{PERISH THE THOUGHT} maybe even MIKE MADIGAN(OK, I feel I need drama music) and all of this will be coming out.
OK, gotta admit, love the hysterical drama queen persona of the republicant party when they turn it on themselves. Seems to fit well.
OK, so now you know how much respect I have for them, but I'm not supposed to, I'm the Union Thug Gramma! Oh, but there's not much love going on in the republican camps either....
Seems there's a new attack ad against Kirk Dillard, who, in many ways has been written off as a "has-been" because of how he ran so far to the right after the 2010 primary. Even tho he's had trouble raising money, mainly because of this turnabout from moderate to batshit crazy rightwing nutjob(OK, I'll take the nutjob back, he really isn't), that the right doesn't know which Kirk Dillard is going to show up for the governor's mansion. But, it seems that someone is trying to muddy the waters. See, Dillard has always said that Jim Edgar(Governor after Thompson, during the 90's--one term) and this video first uses the song, "I touch Myself" from the 90's and ends with saying this video was brought to you by Kirk Dillard and friends at MSI--which was a soft core scandal of Edgars that surfaced in 2000.
And then, there's the new group, Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs that just recently formed. The Head of this group is the former Aaron Schock Chief of Staff, Steven Shearer, Schock is another teabagger(aka batshit crazy) who is supposed to represent Peoria and Springfield(among other areas) in congress, but can't seem to ever make it out to his Peoria office, feeling much more comfortable in what could be called Illinois' beltway-Springfield. Now, this new group is saying they are just trying to educate voters about the candidates, but when Schock was thinking about running for Governor, Rauner paid for attack ads against him. Think maybe that might come back to haunt him? I hope so.
Now, Rauner has gotten the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Party(wow, all 30 of them?), but it still may become a primary Heathers trap---real bloody and lots of bad publicity.
And that's fine with me. Let's get the red meat out now and hope that people vote for someone who actually cares about the people of Illinois, not just the bottom dollar of campaign funds.
OH. The other big high school drama is "WHO'S BEING NICE TO DEMOCRATS...EWWWWWW" There have been push issues about Dillard giving less than $1000 to the Obama Inauguration Fund, not his campaign fund, but after he was elected. A whole $ 924. Like that was gonna make a difference, what, you think that paid for a table of republicans to go to the balls? The way the batshit crazy rightwing media is spinning it, you'd think that Dillard financed Obama's presidential campaign by himself!
On the other hand we have Rauner...who has given truckloads to Rahm Immanuel and,{PERISH THE THOUGHT} maybe even MIKE MADIGAN(OK, I feel I need drama music) and all of this will be coming out.
OK, gotta admit, love the hysterical drama queen persona of the republicant party when they turn it on themselves. Seems to fit well.
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