Some friends and I went to see Sarah Palin yesterday. She's a remarkable woman, who is greatly under-appreciated by her opponents (or perhaps they are greatly threatened by her?).
The much reported rhetoric on her inability to reach the young people was flatly rejected by this crowd. Scores of teenagers and college students stood in line for two hours or longer to get it in to the rally along the beautiful banks of the St. Johns.
Sarah Palin's real threat to her opposition is that she is so real. For a person with twice as much political experience as Barrack Obama, a mother of five children, a wife to a hunk of a "First Dude," Sarah Palin is down to earth. Humble. Genuine. She connects. She is real.
The truth of her character is evident in her family, with all its challenges. She stands up for her beliefs even when it's difficult -- a woman who stands for life, she didn't abort her youngest and fifth child when she learned he was a Down Syndrome baby. Sarah and Todd gave Bristol loving support upon learning she was pregnant out of wedlock. Talk about a good role model.
One scene over the last couple months exemplifies the kind of people Sarah and Todd Palin are. It was during the Republican National Convention when the camera zoomed in on 6-year-old Piper holding her baby brother. If you missed it -- or would like to see Palin love in all its natural beauty, here it is for you.
No wonder Alaskans love Sarah Palin so. She's Piper's mom. What do you think?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Coming Out of a Funk
Right after Emo's last post (June 2), it became aware that our business was joining the ranks of 40,000 other small businesses that closed their doors that month. It's a tough ride.
I've learned some things along the way. First of all, a lot of good people exist in this world and they more than make up for the idiots out there. That's a lead in to the acknowledgment that Christ was right when He said, "Ask and you shall receive." More often than not, when I have asked people to work with me, they have. If I hadn't asked, they wouldn't have known I needed help.
Secondly, some people see a need and fill it. I can't say thank you enough to all the people who have been there for me. But every night when I get on my knees, I thank my Good Lord for you and ask Him to pour His blessings upon you.
Third, getting out of a business is a long haul. Closing the doors is merely the first of many, many steps. Some days I take baby steps, some days I can get up to a jog. But this is a marathon, so it will take me awhile.
It took me awhile to get back to writing and I hope to stay at it regularly. What does the old song say? "I pick myself up, brush myself off, and start all over again."
I've learned some things along the way. First of all, a lot of good people exist in this world and they more than make up for the idiots out there. That's a lead in to the acknowledgment that Christ was right when He said, "Ask and you shall receive." More often than not, when I have asked people to work with me, they have. If I hadn't asked, they wouldn't have known I needed help.
Secondly, some people see a need and fill it. I can't say thank you enough to all the people who have been there for me. But every night when I get on my knees, I thank my Good Lord for you and ask Him to pour His blessings upon you.
Third, getting out of a business is a long haul. Closing the doors is merely the first of many, many steps. Some days I take baby steps, some days I can get up to a jog. But this is a marathon, so it will take me awhile.
It took me awhile to get back to writing and I hope to stay at it regularly. What does the old song say? "I pick myself up, brush myself off, and start all over again."
Monday, June 2, 2008
My Friend Mr. Hoyt
My friend Mr. Hoyt and I have never been introduced. And I'm quite sure he has never heard of me. But Mr. Hoyt is a man I'd like to know and I would consider it a privilege to be his friend.
I learned about Mr. Hoyt in an email and followed the link to the video below. The email explained that he had a heart condition -- no details about whether this condition required surgery or is managed by medication, diet and exercise. Ah, but the story is lost in the details. Let me share with you what's important.
Mr. Hoyt's son asked him to take him running, which he did. Then the son wanted to run in a marathon together, which they did. Then there were more marathons. Finally, the son asked his father to take part in an Ironman contest, which they did.
I don't know too many fathers who are that involved with their sons. Running takes time. Marathons take an inordinate amount of time and commitment, and Mr. Hoyt gave both to his son. Obviously commitment is one of Mr. Hoyt's strengths. The Ironman requires a 2.4 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. And Mr. Hoyt completed the Ironman with his son.
But Mr. Hoyt's son can't swim, or ride a bike, or run, or even walk. Throughout each event, the father carries the son -- and it appears to be a joy for both. Talk about perseverance.
So enjoy this video. It is a remarkable journey that inspires the human heart and comforts the soul. And if you know Mr. Hoyt or happen to run into him, please, give him my thanks for being a hero in a hurried-up, not-now, throw-away world.
I learned about Mr. Hoyt in an email and followed the link to the video below. The email explained that he had a heart condition -- no details about whether this condition required surgery or is managed by medication, diet and exercise. Ah, but the story is lost in the details. Let me share with you what's important.
Mr. Hoyt's son asked him to take him running, which he did. Then the son wanted to run in a marathon together, which they did. Then there were more marathons. Finally, the son asked his father to take part in an Ironman contest, which they did.
I don't know too many fathers who are that involved with their sons. Running takes time. Marathons take an inordinate amount of time and commitment, and Mr. Hoyt gave both to his son. Obviously commitment is one of Mr. Hoyt's strengths. The Ironman requires a 2.4 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. And Mr. Hoyt completed the Ironman with his son.
But Mr. Hoyt's son can't swim, or ride a bike, or run, or even walk. Throughout each event, the father carries the son -- and it appears to be a joy for both. Talk about perseverance.
So enjoy this video. It is a remarkable journey that inspires the human heart and comforts the soul. And if you know Mr. Hoyt or happen to run into him, please, give him my thanks for being a hero in a hurried-up, not-now, throw-away world.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Forget Obama. Throw MO from the Train.
My childhood was idyllic in most ways. Although we went without iPods, remotes, and cell phones, we had freedom children nowadays don't have.
We lived in a middle class neighborhood -- a 1950s subdivision built for war veterans. Woods to explore. Creeks to fish. Open roads to ride our bikes. Open space to play baseball. Plenty of places to curl up and read a book. No concerns about child molesters or kidnappers.
One thing that wasn't idyllic was Motor Mouth Mo. She had two sons a year older and a year younger than I, a kind of creepy husband who was a civil engineer, no job, and a wicked tongue. Mo lived for gossip. She relished tidbits of information she could turn into full blown interesting but largely false stories that hurt people within the confines of our little neighborhood. It's a gossip's mastery to tell a story with just enough truth in it to catch fire. My family was burned by Motor Mouth Mo fires more than once.
Today, there's another Mo on the scene. This one, while not really gossipping, is more dangerous because she has a national audience and the potential to hurt millions of people. She is Michelle Obama (MO), who, not long ago, slapped American military men and women along with veterans and other every-day heroes when she said for the first time in her life she was proud to be an American.
Apparently, MO's mouth has given up some pretty hard ammo that will be used against her very own BO come fall. According to Hillary supporter Larry Johnson, some claim to have a tape of MO railing against "whitey" while speaking at Jeremiah Wright's church.
Whoa! That's right up there with Jesse Jackson's use of the "H" reference to Jews, and Marion Barry's use of the "B" word referring to a woman. If MO's use of the term "whitey" isn't racist, then neither is anyone's use of the "N" word. Blacks don't have carte blanche to use racist terms. No one does. It's just wrong. And it's not an endearing quality in a woman who finds pride in a country only upon her husband ascending the nomination platform to that country's presidency.
MO should know better, having had a good education and great career. A Princeton grad, MO went on to Harvard Law school, worked in corporate law and as Her Princeton thesis (written in 1985 and currently withheld from public viewing by Princeton's library until Nov. 5, 2008) declares that she apparently discovered her blackness at college: "My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before." Interesting that having been so in tune with her blackness for the last 28 years, she now emulates the late great Jackie KO, rather than a great black woman, such as Shirley Chisholm, Maya Angelou or Alice Walker.
I attend a Christian church, and I read the Bible. In Galatians it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (This can easily be understood to mean neither white, nor black, nor brown, nor yellow.) So, I'm not sure what kind of church Jeremiah Wright's is or what holy book they follow. But it sure doesn't correlate with what we read in the Bible. I just don't see this woman being the First Lady of this great nation. Personally, I want a First Lady (or First Mister) who can help a president envision a land in which all children, regardless of their skin, are free to explore, fish, bike or read in safety. Anyone else should be thrown from the train, as BO did with his grandmother.
What do you think?
We lived in a middle class neighborhood -- a 1950s subdivision built for war veterans. Woods to explore. Creeks to fish. Open roads to ride our bikes. Open space to play baseball. Plenty of places to curl up and read a book. No concerns about child molesters or kidnappers.
One thing that wasn't idyllic was Motor Mouth Mo. She had two sons a year older and a year younger than I, a kind of creepy husband who was a civil engineer, no job, and a wicked tongue. Mo lived for gossip. She relished tidbits of information she could turn into full blown interesting but largely false stories that hurt people within the confines of our little neighborhood. It's a gossip's mastery to tell a story with just enough truth in it to catch fire. My family was burned by Motor Mouth Mo fires more than once.
Today, there's another Mo on the scene. This one, while not really gossipping, is more dangerous because she has a national audience and the potential to hurt millions of people. She is Michelle Obama (MO), who, not long ago, slapped American military men and women along with veterans and other every-day heroes when she said for the first time in her life she was proud to be an American.
Apparently, MO's mouth has given up some pretty hard ammo that will be used against her very own BO come fall. According to Hillary supporter Larry Johnson, some claim to have a tape of MO railing against "whitey" while speaking at Jeremiah Wright's church.
Whoa! That's right up there with Jesse Jackson's use of the "H" reference to Jews, and Marion Barry's use of the "B" word referring to a woman. If MO's use of the term "whitey" isn't racist, then neither is anyone's use of the "N" word. Blacks don't have carte blanche to use racist terms. No one does. It's just wrong. And it's not an endearing quality in a woman who finds pride in a country only upon her husband ascending the nomination platform to that country's presidency.
MO should know better, having had a good education and great career. A Princeton grad, MO went on to Harvard Law school, worked in corporate law and as Her Princeton thesis (written in 1985 and currently withheld from public viewing by Princeton's library until Nov. 5, 2008) declares that she apparently discovered her blackness at college: "My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before." Interesting that having been so in tune with her blackness for the last 28 years, she now emulates the late great Jackie KO, rather than a great black woman, such as Shirley Chisholm, Maya Angelou or Alice Walker.
I attend a Christian church, and I read the Bible. In Galatians it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (This can easily be understood to mean neither white, nor black, nor brown, nor yellow.) So, I'm not sure what kind of church Jeremiah Wright's is or what holy book they follow. But it sure doesn't correlate with what we read in the Bible. I just don't see this woman being the First Lady of this great nation. Personally, I want a First Lady (or First Mister) who can help a president envision a land in which all children, regardless of their skin, are free to explore, fish, bike or read in safety. Anyone else should be thrown from the train, as BO did with his grandmother.
What do you think?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The World's Changing Face
Take look at the world. Make it a long, slow look. Drink in the rich cultures. Gondolas in Italy. The Riviera in France. China's patchwork of farms. Embed those pictures in your mind because they will not be around long.
And this doesn't have to do with global warming -- the hottest day on record was in 1934 and only three of the top 10 hottest days occurred in the last 10 years (check out this site for more information on global warming data).
Rather, the changing face of the world is about low birth rates and sex selection. Western Europeans are not reproducing at a rate high enough to sustain their populations. In fact they're 30 percent below replacement. This creates delicate situations. For one thing, the balance is topsy-turvy.
People are marrying later and having fewer or no children. Remember the family pyramid? Mom, Dad at the top with their three or so children, and their spouses and children? Well, now it's Mom and Dad and their child. This means more people who are older at the top, and fewer young people at the bottom. Old people are considered a burden.
(Think this is not so? Remember the heat wave in France in 2003 when 15,000 people died? They were sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes whose adult children didn't interrupt their vacations to return home and take care of their dead parents' bodies, but left it to the facilities to find refrigeration units to hold the bodies until they were claimed. And France had the audacity to criticize America for the 1,100 deaths in New Orleans during Katrina.)
The Easter European countries will survive, but not the nations, not their cultures, because Muslim immigrants are living, working and having families there without assimilating into the cultures. Check out this clip on an issue Italy is facing.
In Western Europe, Russia's population has fallen so low even the United Nations doubts it has a chance to rebound despite recently implemented incentives for couples to bear children. Russia has one-sixth of the world's land mass -- and much of its oil supply -- and only 142 million people, whose life expectancy is 55.
To its south is China with its 1.3 billion people, three-decade-old one-child law, and fanatical emphasis on male children. China has 70 million single young men, more than half of whom will not be able to find a young woman to marry. A migration north may be a plausible alternative.
While not a new phenomenon, this changing face of the world's population bears increasing importance in light of other issues brought together in an article by a former CIA official Herbert Meyer. His four points are worth reading as his perspective is clear, unique, and devoid of emotion. It's also a good defense of the Judeo-Christian society and its embrace of intertwining faith with life in the modern world. For Herbert Meyer's full article, click here.
In the meantime, look at the world around you. Drag out your old National Geographics. Enjoy the view while it lasts.
And this doesn't have to do with global warming -- the hottest day on record was in 1934 and only three of the top 10 hottest days occurred in the last 10 years (check out this site for more information on global warming data).
Rather, the changing face of the world is about low birth rates and sex selection. Western Europeans are not reproducing at a rate high enough to sustain their populations. In fact they're 30 percent below replacement. This creates delicate situations. For one thing, the balance is topsy-turvy.
People are marrying later and having fewer or no children. Remember the family pyramid? Mom, Dad at the top with their three or so children, and their spouses and children? Well, now it's Mom and Dad and their child. This means more people who are older at the top, and fewer young people at the bottom. Old people are considered a burden.
(Think this is not so? Remember the heat wave in France in 2003 when 15,000 people died? They were sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes whose adult children didn't interrupt their vacations to return home and take care of their dead parents' bodies, but left it to the facilities to find refrigeration units to hold the bodies until they were claimed. And France had the audacity to criticize America for the 1,100 deaths in New Orleans during Katrina.)
The Easter European countries will survive, but not the nations, not their cultures, because Muslim immigrants are living, working and having families there without assimilating into the cultures. Check out this clip on an issue Italy is facing.
In Western Europe, Russia's population has fallen so low even the United Nations doubts it has a chance to rebound despite recently implemented incentives for couples to bear children. Russia has one-sixth of the world's land mass -- and much of its oil supply -- and only 142 million people, whose life expectancy is 55.
To its south is China with its 1.3 billion people, three-decade-old one-child law, and fanatical emphasis on male children. China has 70 million single young men, more than half of whom will not be able to find a young woman to marry. A migration north may be a plausible alternative.
While not a new phenomenon, this changing face of the world's population bears increasing importance in light of other issues brought together in an article by a former CIA official Herbert Meyer. His four points are worth reading as his perspective is clear, unique, and devoid of emotion. It's also a good defense of the Judeo-Christian society and its embrace of intertwining faith with life in the modern world. For Herbert Meyer's full article, click here.
In the meantime, look at the world around you. Drag out your old National Geographics. Enjoy the view while it lasts.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Rules of Engagement
Well, this subject has been hanging around my "draft" files for quite awhile. It was a news item a few weeks back, and I started to write about it then. The lead I had was not too shabby: It was so obvious that the relationship was so wrong.
The news clip of the item features this guy who takes his girl to an NBA game and proposes to her during half-time. She says no and runs off the court. The national news jumped all over it.
Ok. Ok. It must have devastated him, I was thinking. But this nut was way off base. Obviously, his girlfriend didn't know what was coming -- it was devastating for her as well. After all, this happened at a highly publicized event. Then it hit the national TV news circuit. Even worse, now it's on YouTube.
And that's where I have a problem with this.
Because I like to know that what I'm writing about is valid, I do a little research. A search for "Proposal Gone Wrong" on YouTube will net 28 videos of varying situations and all of them focus on "she said no." When this got so many different hits, I realized this is likely one of the viral pranks where a couple pulls this off at various sporting events around the country. You know, the whole 5 minutes of fame phenom. It's possible that a few of these are even publicity stunts generated by publicists of some professional teams. I would hope it's not probable, but it is possible. It's also possible some rube really got rejected and humiliated on national TV.
Which was the original focus of "rules of engagement." Any person ready to ask another to marry needs to understand a few things. A proposal can't come out of the clear blue. No one wants to be sideswiped -- especially about lifelong love. So make sure some conversation about marriage, children, finances, faith, etc., has been covered. Also, a proposal should be a private moment unless extraordinary circumstances take precedence. And get some input on the ring you want the love of your life to wear the rest of her life.
But there is another aspect to the "rules of engagement." Publicists give public relations professionals a bad name. There is a huge difference. Publicity stunts are empty, showy events the main goal of which is to capture 20 seconds of fame on news clips. This is the new Hollywood game -- do whatever it takes to get in front of the TV camera. Bad publicity is better than no publicity.
On the other hand, public relations professionals work hard to create meaning that will develop relationships between a client and one or more targeted publics. The PR industry polices itself somewhat. In corporate America, public relations professionals must be prepared to prove their value to the bottom line. Most often, these professionals are facilitating the engagement of corporate executives in meaningful relationships in their communities. Mike Cascone, former board chairman of the multi-billion-dollar Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, has made a difference in his local community and the state. He personally has built Habitat for Humanity homes, championed Boy Scouts and led a capital campaign to ensure that inner city children would be able to attend parochial schools at little or no cost. That's substantive. (And just for disclosure, I'm not affiliated with Blue Cross, but I do admire Cascone.)
So to a publicist for a sports team or other nest of celebrities who seeks to get any publicity, step back and think about engaging people in meaningful work. Change the rules. Create an event that not only has style but also has substance. You'll discover you can rewrite the rules of engagement and find satisfaction as well as gratification.
Ok. Ok. It must have devastated him, I was thinking. But this nut was way off base. Obviously, his girlfriend didn't know what was coming -- it was devastating for her as well. After all, this happened at a highly publicized event. Then it hit the national TV news circuit. Even worse, now it's on YouTube.
And that's where I have a problem with this.
Because I like to know that what I'm writing about is valid, I do a little research. A search for "Proposal Gone Wrong" on YouTube will net 28 videos of varying situations and all of them focus on "she said no." When this got so many different hits, I realized this is likely one of the viral pranks where a couple pulls this off at various sporting events around the country. You know, the whole 5 minutes of fame phenom. It's possible that a few of these are even publicity stunts generated by publicists of some professional teams. I would hope it's not probable, but it is possible. It's also possible some rube really got rejected and humiliated on national TV.
Which was the original focus of "rules of engagement." Any person ready to ask another to marry needs to understand a few things. A proposal can't come out of the clear blue. No one wants to be sideswiped -- especially about lifelong love. So make sure some conversation about marriage, children, finances, faith, etc., has been covered. Also, a proposal should be a private moment unless extraordinary circumstances take precedence. And get some input on the ring you want the love of your life to wear the rest of her life.
But there is another aspect to the "rules of engagement." Publicists give public relations professionals a bad name. There is a huge difference. Publicity stunts are empty, showy events the main goal of which is to capture 20 seconds of fame on news clips. This is the new Hollywood game -- do whatever it takes to get in front of the TV camera. Bad publicity is better than no publicity.
On the other hand, public relations professionals work hard to create meaning that will develop relationships between a client and one or more targeted publics. The PR industry polices itself somewhat. In corporate America, public relations professionals must be prepared to prove their value to the bottom line. Most often, these professionals are facilitating the engagement of corporate executives in meaningful relationships in their communities. Mike Cascone, former board chairman of the multi-billion-dollar Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, has made a difference in his local community and the state. He personally has built Habitat for Humanity homes, championed Boy Scouts and led a capital campaign to ensure that inner city children would be able to attend parochial schools at little or no cost. That's substantive. (And just for disclosure, I'm not affiliated with Blue Cross, but I do admire Cascone.)
So to a publicist for a sports team or other nest of celebrities who seeks to get any publicity, step back and think about engaging people in meaningful work. Change the rules. Create an event that not only has style but also has substance. You'll discover you can rewrite the rules of engagement and find satisfaction as well as gratification.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Time for Tax Revolt
It's time for taxpayers in America to revolt. And a great solution is on the table. If you haven't studied the Fair Tax plan even half-heartedly, you have no standing in a debate about it. But I have to tell you, I am for it 100%.
For one thing, this country spends a lot of time grabbing money from honest, hard-working Americans and businesses while turning a blind eye to the people who work under the table (like Deadbeat Sperm Donors) so they don't have to pay taxes. Believe me, it takes a great deal of time to calculate and pay payroll taxes each month and reports every quarter. Time is money -- and oh, yes, your employer matches what you pay in Social Security and Medicaid Taxes. Plus, a big corporation pays taxes on its earnings and has to pass that amount on to its customers as an embedded cost. It then sends out dividends to stockholders who in turn pay taxes on what they receive. Can you say double taxation? The consumer pays embedded taxes on the corporation's earnings when the product or service is bought and then the stockholder pays tax on the same earnings again when they are distributed.
Secondly, the IRS has too much power. I don't know anyone who files a tax return with intention to defraud the government. About 23 years ago, my husband served as executor of his mother's estate. He set up the estate account at the bank where we had our personal accounts. The bank sent the IRS tax reports with my husband's personal tax ID number rather than the estate's ID number. The IRS sent us a threatening, nasty letter about under-reporting income and the penalties we could face. My husband called and explained the situation, to which the IRS rep said, "Don't you think we hear that story all day long? You need to send us the money you owe." So we did, along with a letter explaining everything. We also had the bank send in corrected papers. At the time there arose a lively, national discussion about Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The IRS sent us a check for the amount plus interest and a sickeningly sweet letter that didn't apologize but explained that "these things happen."
Third, no one in the IRS is accountable. Ever ask a tax question of the IRS and get an answer, and later you call again with the same question and get a completely different answer? All the good folks there are just doing their job and interpreting the 55,000 pages of tax codes to the best of their ability, so don't hold their feet to the fire. But they can hold YOUR FEET to the fire and it's not pretty when you're in the sights of the IRS.
Lastly, the time and money spent having accountants dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" on tax reporting could be much better spent having them analyze the business financials and helping business owners make better decisions.
What I respect about the Fair Tax plan is that it taxes greed not need -- and it accomplished that in only 130 pages (that's a 99% reduction in the size of the code!). First of all, we would get to keep 100% of our paychecks! Then we would pay a 23% tax on goods and services we purchase. But before we spend a penny, we would receive a "pre-bate" to cover the taxes on basic necessities as calculated by the government's poverty statistics. The roughly 22%-23% cost that's embedded in every product would go away (remember I mentioned that corporations end up passing on their tax costs to the consumer) will go away to be replaced by a 23% embedded Fair Tax. The more we spend, the more tax we pay. It's truly progressive. I can't imagine spending almost $70,000 for a new car, but if I did the essential cost to me would be the same under the Fair Tax as it is today. A $56,000 with embedded (undisclosed) taxes today would run about $69,000. With Fair Tax I would know that I was paying $12,880 in taxes on that $56,000 auto. On the other hand, if I could only afford a used car, I wouldn't pay any extra in taxes because it will already have been taxed when it was sold new.
Now if you're thinking Barack O'Bama's "change" will help alleviate the tax burden, think again. Study it seriously. (Those are the same words Jimmy Carter campaigned on; the economy was in the dumps under his administration as was the situation in the Mid-East -- remember the Iranians releasing hostages to President Reagan his first few days in office?) Any plan that taxes savings is a bad plan. We need to encourage people to save so we can get ourselves and our country back on an economically sound footing.
And if you're wondering whether the country can afford a Fair Tax plan, consider this. When the Deadbeat Sperm Donor goes to buy his new Eddie Bauer Edition Ford Expedition or his Tommy Hilfiger outfit or a Prada purse for his girlfriend, he'll be paying taxes that he doesn't pay now working under the table. Plus, when European tourists visit America (our dollar is worth half the Euro), they'll pay that tax and we both win -- we'll benefit from the tax and they're still saving 27%. (I see a big Cheshire grin coming on!) One more thought. Can you think of any way to entice business growth in the great U.S. of A. than to make it the greatest business tax environment in the world?
Here are some good, concise articles on the Fair Tax:
Syndicated Columnist George Will
Syndicated Columnist Scott Burns
Bob Martin, Americans for Fair Taxation community coordinator for Eau Claire, WI
And here's a Fair Tax calculator for you.
Look. I don't mind paying taxes. It invests me in this great country. But I think we all need to participate and I know the tax system can be fairer. Definitely. It's time for a tax revolt.
For one thing, this country spends a lot of time grabbing money from honest, hard-working Americans and businesses while turning a blind eye to the people who work under the table (like Deadbeat Sperm Donors) so they don't have to pay taxes. Believe me, it takes a great deal of time to calculate and pay payroll taxes each month and reports every quarter. Time is money -- and oh, yes, your employer matches what you pay in Social Security and Medicaid Taxes. Plus, a big corporation pays taxes on its earnings and has to pass that amount on to its customers as an embedded cost. It then sends out dividends to stockholders who in turn pay taxes on what they receive. Can you say double taxation? The consumer pays embedded taxes on the corporation's earnings when the product or service is bought and then the stockholder pays tax on the same earnings again when they are distributed.
Secondly, the IRS has too much power. I don't know anyone who files a tax return with intention to defraud the government. About 23 years ago, my husband served as executor of his mother's estate. He set up the estate account at the bank where we had our personal accounts. The bank sent the IRS tax reports with my husband's personal tax ID number rather than the estate's ID number. The IRS sent us a threatening, nasty letter about under-reporting income and the penalties we could face. My husband called and explained the situation, to which the IRS rep said, "Don't you think we hear that story all day long? You need to send us the money you owe." So we did, along with a letter explaining everything. We also had the bank send in corrected papers. At the time there arose a lively, national discussion about Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The IRS sent us a check for the amount plus interest and a sickeningly sweet letter that didn't apologize but explained that "these things happen."
Third, no one in the IRS is accountable. Ever ask a tax question of the IRS and get an answer, and later you call again with the same question and get a completely different answer? All the good folks there are just doing their job and interpreting the 55,000 pages of tax codes to the best of their ability, so don't hold their feet to the fire. But they can hold YOUR FEET to the fire and it's not pretty when you're in the sights of the IRS.
Lastly, the time and money spent having accountants dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" on tax reporting could be much better spent having them analyze the business financials and helping business owners make better decisions.
What I respect about the Fair Tax plan is that it taxes greed not need -- and it accomplished that in only 130 pages (that's a 99% reduction in the size of the code!). First of all, we would get to keep 100% of our paychecks! Then we would pay a 23% tax on goods and services we purchase. But before we spend a penny, we would receive a "pre-bate" to cover the taxes on basic necessities as calculated by the government's poverty statistics. The roughly 22%-23% cost that's embedded in every product would go away (remember I mentioned that corporations end up passing on their tax costs to the consumer) will go away to be replaced by a 23% embedded Fair Tax. The more we spend, the more tax we pay. It's truly progressive. I can't imagine spending almost $70,000 for a new car, but if I did the essential cost to me would be the same under the Fair Tax as it is today. A $56,000 with embedded (undisclosed) taxes today would run about $69,000. With Fair Tax I would know that I was paying $12,880 in taxes on that $56,000 auto. On the other hand, if I could only afford a used car, I wouldn't pay any extra in taxes because it will already have been taxed when it was sold new.
Now if you're thinking Barack O'Bama's "change" will help alleviate the tax burden, think again. Study it seriously. (Those are the same words Jimmy Carter campaigned on; the economy was in the dumps under his administration as was the situation in the Mid-East -- remember the Iranians releasing hostages to President Reagan his first few days in office?) Any plan that taxes savings is a bad plan. We need to encourage people to save so we can get ourselves and our country back on an economically sound footing.
And if you're wondering whether the country can afford a Fair Tax plan, consider this. When the Deadbeat Sperm Donor goes to buy his new Eddie Bauer Edition Ford Expedition or his Tommy Hilfiger outfit or a Prada purse for his girlfriend, he'll be paying taxes that he doesn't pay now working under the table. Plus, when European tourists visit America (our dollar is worth half the Euro), they'll pay that tax and we both win -- we'll benefit from the tax and they're still saving 27%. (I see a big Cheshire grin coming on!) One more thought. Can you think of any way to entice business growth in the great U.S. of A. than to make it the greatest business tax environment in the world?
Here are some good, concise articles on the Fair Tax:
Syndicated Columnist George Will
Syndicated Columnist Scott Burns
Bob Martin, Americans for Fair Taxation community coordinator for Eau Claire, WI
And here's a Fair Tax calculator for you.
Look. I don't mind paying taxes. It invests me in this great country. But I think we all need to participate and I know the tax system can be fairer. Definitely. It's time for a tax revolt.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
On Deadbeat Dads
Have you ever had the pleasure of listening to the story of an absentee father? You know the one. His ex is living high on the hog off the child support he pays. Or, he can't afford to pay child support because he needs to pay his bills -- for his new car, his expensive clothes, his legal (and often illegal) substances, his cool digs, football tickets and entertainment. Makes you want to cry. He can't tell you his kid's birthday or grades, or even grade for that matter. But he probably remembers the kid's name. He has no clue how much it costs to clothe, feed, school and care for a child but he's sure the ex has plenty. Yes, it makes you want to cry. But not for him. Try as I might, I've been unable to come up with a better name for a Deadbeat Dad than Deadbeat Dad, unless it's Deadbeat Sperm Donor.
An acquaintance told me that her ex called her yesterday. He left before their daughter's 1st birthday and squelched on child support. Exasperated, my friend turned everything over to the state's attorney to collect what he could when her daughter turned 14. That was 14 years ago. The ex lives comfortably in another state but doesn't work because he doesn't want to pay child support. His second wife supports him. They must have goofed up this year and filed a joint tax return because the authorities snapped up that refund check and sent it to my friend. Hence the phone call.
He explained to her that it was a mistake and that she should just deposit it and write him a check for the amount. His theory? The girl is grown so he doesn't owe it. Of course, my friend is no fool. She is giving every penny to her daughter.
My grandchildren have a Deadbeat Sperm Donor too. In the past 11 years, he has paid -- I'm going to be very generous here -- $5,000 in support for his 11-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. (A couple of checks came so he could get out of jail, and one came because he also goofed up once and didn't work under the table so his tax refund got intercepted too.)
The sperm donor's girlfriend is a dental hygienist. He works under the table for a house-painting company his brother owns and for tree cutting companies so as not to have a record of income. However, they rent a fabulous house, wear expensive clothes and drive the best of cars. The last my grandchildren saw of him, he was driving an Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition with all the whistles and bells. He took them to Burger King for lunch. And since he was upgrading his gaming system, he gave my grandson his out-of-date one. When my daughter asked for child support, he told her he had something she wanted and she had something he wanted (sex) and they should get together. In effect, his involvement in their lives has been the donation of sperm.
The State of Florida is no help. When my daughter called child support enforcement to give them her new address in case a check magically appeared, she offered to give them the Sperm Donor's new address. "Oh, we have to get that directly from the individual," the state employee, a male, said.
Standing beside her, I howled and said into the phone, "Let me get this straight. We have his address and can give it to you, but you have to wait for him to call you and say, 'Gee, I'm $30,000 in arrears for child support. I know you'd want my new address so you can have me arrested.' That makes perfect sense."
On the other hand, my nephew not only pays child support, but he travels out of town to pick up his daughter and spend time with her twice a month. Now there's a real dad for you. Makes me proud. (By the way, his daughter is brilliant and beautiful!)
It really was easier when people got married before they had babies and then stayed married for the sake of the children. (I'm not talking about physically and/or psychologically abusive situations.) My folks didn't always have a the greatest of relationships but they loved each other "in sickness and in health, until death." It doesn't always work that way -- I speak from experience (for the record, my ex always paid child support). But that is the ideal.
Both my friend and I are blessed enough to be in second marriages to the men we were meant to be with from the beginning. Men who love all the children in the household as their own. Who don't complain about the money. Real men. Men who make Deadbeat Sperm Donors look like the low-lifes they are.
An acquaintance told me that her ex called her yesterday. He left before their daughter's 1st birthday and squelched on child support. Exasperated, my friend turned everything over to the state's attorney to collect what he could when her daughter turned 14. That was 14 years ago. The ex lives comfortably in another state but doesn't work because he doesn't want to pay child support. His second wife supports him. They must have goofed up this year and filed a joint tax return because the authorities snapped up that refund check and sent it to my friend. Hence the phone call.
He explained to her that it was a mistake and that she should just deposit it and write him a check for the amount. His theory? The girl is grown so he doesn't owe it. Of course, my friend is no fool. She is giving every penny to her daughter.
My grandchildren have a Deadbeat Sperm Donor too. In the past 11 years, he has paid -- I'm going to be very generous here -- $5,000 in support for his 11-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. (A couple of checks came so he could get out of jail, and one came because he also goofed up once and didn't work under the table so his tax refund got intercepted too.)
The sperm donor's girlfriend is a dental hygienist. He works under the table for a house-painting company his brother owns and for tree cutting companies so as not to have a record of income. However, they rent a fabulous house, wear expensive clothes and drive the best of cars. The last my grandchildren saw of him, he was driving an Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition with all the whistles and bells. He took them to Burger King for lunch. And since he was upgrading his gaming system, he gave my grandson his out-of-date one. When my daughter asked for child support, he told her he had something she wanted and she had something he wanted (sex) and they should get together. In effect, his involvement in their lives has been the donation of sperm.
The State of Florida is no help. When my daughter called child support enforcement to give them her new address in case a check magically appeared, she offered to give them the Sperm Donor's new address. "Oh, we have to get that directly from the individual," the state employee, a male, said.
Standing beside her, I howled and said into the phone, "Let me get this straight. We have his address and can give it to you, but you have to wait for him to call you and say, 'Gee, I'm $30,000 in arrears for child support. I know you'd want my new address so you can have me arrested.' That makes perfect sense."
On the other hand, my nephew not only pays child support, but he travels out of town to pick up his daughter and spend time with her twice a month. Now there's a real dad for you. Makes me proud. (By the way, his daughter is brilliant and beautiful!)
It really was easier when people got married before they had babies and then stayed married for the sake of the children. (I'm not talking about physically and/or psychologically abusive situations.) My folks didn't always have a the greatest of relationships but they loved each other "in sickness and in health, until death." It doesn't always work that way -- I speak from experience (for the record, my ex always paid child support). But that is the ideal.
Both my friend and I are blessed enough to be in second marriages to the men we were meant to be with from the beginning. Men who love all the children in the household as their own. Who don't complain about the money. Real men. Men who make Deadbeat Sperm Donors look like the low-lifes they are.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Dis-Repectfully Yours
Time was when the Japanese represented a culture of respect. But that has gone the way of the ancients.
Witness the Toyota Sienna commercial (below). Dad has spent four weekends working on a fabulous tree house for his son. Rather than enlist Boy's help and cultivate Boy's vested interest in the project, Dad does all the work himself. Boy seemingly has spent this time sitting in the Sienna with Friend, playing Old Maid, watching movies, all the while enjoying the air conditioning, stereo system and leather seats. While Dad is talking, Boy interrupts repeatedly to ask whether the tree house has the same amenities as the minivan. Even Friend interrupts Dad to ask Boy if he has any three's. This commercial is just wrong, on several levels.
One, it's probably safe to assume that because Dad has been working weekends on the tree house, he works to support his family. Everyone needs to contribute to the household, and Boy needs to be helping Dad on the project. Contrary to what many -- including an ex-husband -- believe, giving children chores and expecting them to help out is not abuse. It is preparing them for life. So, Dad doesn't respect Boy enough to involve him in the project that will benefit him.
Two, Boy has all the power. His father, the slave, spends his free time working on a project for Boy, sans the air conditioning, movies, leather seats and conversation that Boy has enjoyed. Boy dismisses Dad's effort and enthusiasm. Boy is completely void of respect for Dad whose actions do not "look like a man" (thank you, Miss Swan of Mad TV).
Three, in an era when people are trying to reduce consumption, Dad has allowed Boy and Friend to sit in the minivan for four weekends (the equivalent of more than a week!) playing cards and watching movies. Talk about low mileage! No one in the commercial has respect for the environment.
As a former newspaper editor and marketing executive, I know the ad is not meant to be taken literally. Yes, I've seen all the claims that people and children don't learn/mimic behavior they see on TV and movies or hear in songs. Yet, companies like Toyota spend multiple millions to have their 30-second spots aired across the spectrum (they're after reach and frequency) to drive behavior.
In the case of this ad, the list of amenities is repeated articulately by a child actor reminiscent of Haley Joel Osment (no accident, I'm sure). Good for sales. Unfortunately, the message is framed by a total lack of respect.
Toyota, I expect more of you and your Japanese heritage.
Witness the Toyota Sienna commercial (below). Dad has spent four weekends working on a fabulous tree house for his son. Rather than enlist Boy's help and cultivate Boy's vested interest in the project, Dad does all the work himself. Boy seemingly has spent this time sitting in the Sienna with Friend, playing Old Maid, watching movies, all the while enjoying the air conditioning, stereo system and leather seats. While Dad is talking, Boy interrupts repeatedly to ask whether the tree house has the same amenities as the minivan. Even Friend interrupts Dad to ask Boy if he has any three's. This commercial is just wrong, on several levels.
One, it's probably safe to assume that because Dad has been working weekends on the tree house, he works to support his family. Everyone needs to contribute to the household, and Boy needs to be helping Dad on the project. Contrary to what many -- including an ex-husband -- believe, giving children chores and expecting them to help out is not abuse. It is preparing them for life. So, Dad doesn't respect Boy enough to involve him in the project that will benefit him.
Two, Boy has all the power. His father, the slave, spends his free time working on a project for Boy, sans the air conditioning, movies, leather seats and conversation that Boy has enjoyed. Boy dismisses Dad's effort and enthusiasm. Boy is completely void of respect for Dad whose actions do not "look like a man" (thank you, Miss Swan of Mad TV).
Three, in an era when people are trying to reduce consumption, Dad has allowed Boy and Friend to sit in the minivan for four weekends (the equivalent of more than a week!) playing cards and watching movies. Talk about low mileage! No one in the commercial has respect for the environment.
As a former newspaper editor and marketing executive, I know the ad is not meant to be taken literally. Yes, I've seen all the claims that people and children don't learn/mimic behavior they see on TV and movies or hear in songs. Yet, companies like Toyota spend multiple millions to have their 30-second spots aired across the spectrum (they're after reach and frequency) to drive behavior.
In the case of this ad, the list of amenities is repeated articulately by a child actor reminiscent of Haley Joel Osment (no accident, I'm sure). Good for sales. Unfortunately, the message is framed by a total lack of respect.
Toyota, I expect more of you and your Japanese heritage.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Out of Hiding and on the Hunt
Well, it surprises me I've been silent for two weeks. It started when I realized I couldn't pay the rent on the business on March 31. That sucks. Really sucks. The economy's "rough patch" has just turned into an economic downturn. No perception here. Just tough reality.
I figure if I have to close up shop and face the creditors, I'm in pretty good company. There are big companies out there who are in real trouble along with thousands of entrepreneurs like me. All day long, I see people traipse in and out of the nail salon next door all day long -- and I also notice the long lines at the fast food dives when I drive by, but there's little disposable income for the gym where people can save money on health costs by losing weight, managing pain and getting their endorphins going. Crazy.
A lifelong friend -- he taught me to bee-bop when I was in sixth grade -- has blessed me with sage advice. He reminded me that I am still above ground with thousands of blessings to count (my family and friends, you know who you are) not the least of which is an unidentified opportunity waiting for me to find it. He set off a bell in my head (I always did like a good mouse hunt) and energized me. Oh, and he made me write this down: Never ever, ever, ever, never ever, never ever, never, never, never give up. (That's a quote after Winston Churchill's heart.)
Here's a screwed up state of affairs. My friend has been a highly successful entrepreneur/business man for decades. He grosses more than a million a year. But he's been hit hard and is making some tough decisions. He consulted a business lawyer who advised him that his business doesn't make enough money to declare bankruptcy -- it takes a minimum of $11 million to handle the accounting and legal reporting that must be done in that situation.
So, I don't know my next move. But I know there will be a move. Whether it's literal or figurative, I'm thankful that cats always land on their feet!
I figure if I have to close up shop and face the creditors, I'm in pretty good company. There are big companies out there who are in real trouble along with thousands of entrepreneurs like me. All day long, I see people traipse in and out of the nail salon next door all day long -- and I also notice the long lines at the fast food dives when I drive by, but there's little disposable income for the gym where people can save money on health costs by losing weight, managing pain and getting their endorphins going. Crazy.
A lifelong friend -- he taught me to bee-bop when I was in sixth grade -- has blessed me with sage advice. He reminded me that I am still above ground with thousands of blessings to count (my family and friends, you know who you are) not the least of which is an unidentified opportunity waiting for me to find it. He set off a bell in my head (I always did like a good mouse hunt) and energized me. Oh, and he made me write this down: Never ever, ever, ever, never ever, never ever, never, never, never give up. (That's a quote after Winston Churchill's heart.)
Here's a screwed up state of affairs. My friend has been a highly successful entrepreneur/business man for decades. He grosses more than a million a year. But he's been hit hard and is making some tough decisions. He consulted a business lawyer who advised him that his business doesn't make enough money to declare bankruptcy -- it takes a minimum of $11 million to handle the accounting and legal reporting that must be done in that situation.
So, I don't know my next move. But I know there will be a move. Whether it's literal or figurative, I'm thankful that cats always land on their feet!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A New Young Voice, Real Change
Corey Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey, is a new, true, blue blood on the scene. He's young. Articulate. Intelligent. Inspiring. And he's not talking about change. He's making it happen.
Get this: Since Booker took his oath as mayor not quite two years ago, Newark's murder rate has decreased 70 percent.
How did he accomplish this? He's involved. He not only invites the people to come talk to him, but he gets out in the trenches and talks to the people as well. He's more than willing to help, but he expects personal responsibility to be the driving force. This mayor pulls people over in traffic if he sees them throw litter out of the car - and he gives their litter right back to them. This 38-year-old Rhodes Scholar, Standford football star and Yale Law School grad, left his comfortable home in the burbs more than 10 years ago to live in a Newark project for 8 years. He left that project for a rental unit in a drug- and gang-plagued neighborhood on Newark's south side.
Corey Booker doesn't talk about problems. He knows the problems first hand and he tackles them in a manner you would expect of a football star. He works for one America - a united America - and inspires citizens to take accountability to create it.
Oh, yes. Corey Booker is a black man. A black man who says, "My father grew up in a very segregated world. I grew up in a very integrated world." (newsday.com article here.) How refreshing.
This snippet from an interview with Bill Moyers gives one hope for a better America:
"What we have to realize is we can get caught up as pundits sitting there talking about sound bites and race, which is so not helpful. Or we can say, 'Hey, black, white or whatever, let's change policy to react to the concerns that we have.' My passion, my life is not about trying to create justice for one group over another group. It's to understand that we are one nation. We are in this together. We're either gonna race together to the bottom or we're gonna rise together to the top."
(Give yourself an inspiring moment and watch the whole interview here.)
Corey Booker is a man with the heart of Martin Luther King Jr. How well I remember that horrible April 4th, forty years ago when Rev. King was assassinated. It seemed something terrible was taking hold of our country. I was a senior in high school, and we all mourned the loss of Rev. King (as a Catholic school student, I had attended school with blacks in the South long before it was mandated by law.) Corey Booker wasn't even born, but Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is alive in his heart.
Too bad Corey isn't running for president. He's a reformer who could bring Americans together. Now that's a dream worthy of pursuing.
Get this: Since Booker took his oath as mayor not quite two years ago, Newark's murder rate has decreased 70 percent.
How did he accomplish this? He's involved. He not only invites the people to come talk to him, but he gets out in the trenches and talks to the people as well. He's more than willing to help, but he expects personal responsibility to be the driving force. This mayor pulls people over in traffic if he sees them throw litter out of the car - and he gives their litter right back to them. This 38-year-old Rhodes Scholar, Standford football star and Yale Law School grad, left his comfortable home in the burbs more than 10 years ago to live in a Newark project for 8 years. He left that project for a rental unit in a drug- and gang-plagued neighborhood on Newark's south side.
Corey Booker doesn't talk about problems. He knows the problems first hand and he tackles them in a manner you would expect of a football star. He works for one America - a united America - and inspires citizens to take accountability to create it.
Oh, yes. Corey Booker is a black man. A black man who says, "My father grew up in a very segregated world. I grew up in a very integrated world." (newsday.com article here.) How refreshing.
This snippet from an interview with Bill Moyers gives one hope for a better America:
"What we have to realize is we can get caught up as pundits sitting there talking about sound bites and race, which is so not helpful. Or we can say, 'Hey, black, white or whatever, let's change policy to react to the concerns that we have.' My passion, my life is not about trying to create justice for one group over another group. It's to understand that we are one nation. We are in this together. We're either gonna race together to the bottom or we're gonna rise together to the top."
(Give yourself an inspiring moment and watch the whole interview here.)
Corey Booker is a man with the heart of Martin Luther King Jr. How well I remember that horrible April 4th, forty years ago when Rev. King was assassinated. It seemed something terrible was taking hold of our country. I was a senior in high school, and we all mourned the loss of Rev. King (as a Catholic school student, I had attended school with blacks in the South long before it was mandated by law.) Corey Booker wasn't even born, but Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is alive in his heart.
Too bad Corey isn't running for president. He's a reformer who could bring Americans together. Now that's a dream worthy of pursuing.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Funerals and Cat Fights
Funerals
Funerals always make me cry. Not for the deceased. They are in a better place (I believe to my very core that heaven and hell exist). I often imagine my mother skipping along in a heavenly garden, singing "His Eye is on the Sparrow," kicking up her heels, and reveling that she is finally in a place where everyone (and I do mean everyone) considers even her beloved weeds beautiful. Her memory is perfect. She remembers everything she wants to remember, things that bring her joy and make her laugh (my mom had a great laugh). All other things have passed away. There, my father has regained the strength and vigor that made him a hero, and he no longer has the pain (whether physical or emotional) that birthed shards of anger. There, he is the consummate communicator (my sister and brother will laugh at that image, for he was a quiet man!). No, funerals are not for the dead. They are for the living.
This morning I attended the funeral of a friend who leaves behind a devoted wife of 35 years, two daughters and four grandchildren. As I sat in the pew, I marveled at their strength. Even young Christian, less than a month past his 11th birtday, walked before his grandfather's casket in stoic silence, although, I imagine he wanted desperately to bring back the one man who has loved and guided him since birth.
The death of a loved one bears great responsibility. Jose's family must honor his life. Respect his memory. There is work to be done. It's work that helps the living understand that life does, in deed, continue. It gives them purpose and structure at a time when the world has turned upside down and keeps on turning. And those brief moments of embrace and expressed condolences and love give them strength to take the next step.
I cried for them because I know they have a great loss to deal with -- and it will be a difficult time. I cried because regardless of belief in life hereafter, the reality is that, in this world, Diana will never again know the sweet touch of Jose's hand stroking her face, or the smell of his aftershave on his clean shaven face, or the sound of his love whispers in her ear. I cried because when loved ones die, our world is incomplete while our humanity continues its cry for wholeness. I cried because it was an intimate moment in a friend's life when my presence made a difference. And I knew it.
My mother taught us it is important to celebrate moments that count in life. Sometimes those moments are small -- a good report card, a good medical report, a new season of the year. At others, those moments are the stuff of life: births of babies, baptisms, weddings, great anniversaries, and yes, funerals. My brother and sister and I try to celebrate those moments. We've learned that those moments are pregnant with life lessons everyone needs on this journey. So, if you have an opportunity to share a sacred moment with another, don't let anything sway you from participating. Your life will be enriched. And don't worry if you cry. I'll bring the tissues.
Cat Fight!
Oh my. The ears are back, the claws are out and there's no sleep to be had in the Democrats' rendition of the Iditarod. Of course, no dogs allowed. Just cats. Mean cats.
I am not alone in saying I've had enough. Dyed in the wool Democrats who wouldn't DREAM of voting for a Republican (I seem to bleed red AND blue) have thrown up their hands in disgust. It's difficult to watch two alley cats go at each other, but we're talking about two people who want to run my country (sorry, Mrs. Obama, I've been proud to be an American all my life) without taking the high ground. The news is full of accusations (some real, some inflated) about racism, reverse racism, lying, ageism, anti-feminism, every vote should count, every vote doesn't have to count, naivety, encroachment, entitlement, fanaticism, etc., etc., etc.
If this is the best the Dems can offer, they are in for trouble. The fur is flying and the icy journey is far from over. At this point, the Republicans don't need to say or do a thing. These cats are not only killing each other, they're killing any shred of decency left in the race for the Democratic nomination.
This is one funeral I may opt out of attending.
Funerals always make me cry. Not for the deceased. They are in a better place (I believe to my very core that heaven and hell exist). I often imagine my mother skipping along in a heavenly garden, singing "His Eye is on the Sparrow," kicking up her heels, and reveling that she is finally in a place where everyone (and I do mean everyone) considers even her beloved weeds beautiful. Her memory is perfect. She remembers everything she wants to remember, things that bring her joy and make her laugh (my mom had a great laugh). All other things have passed away. There, my father has regained the strength and vigor that made him a hero, and he no longer has the pain (whether physical or emotional) that birthed shards of anger. There, he is the consummate communicator (my sister and brother will laugh at that image, for he was a quiet man!). No, funerals are not for the dead. They are for the living.
This morning I attended the funeral of a friend who leaves behind a devoted wife of 35 years, two daughters and four grandchildren. As I sat in the pew, I marveled at their strength. Even young Christian, less than a month past his 11th birtday, walked before his grandfather's casket in stoic silence, although, I imagine he wanted desperately to bring back the one man who has loved and guided him since birth.
The death of a loved one bears great responsibility. Jose's family must honor his life. Respect his memory. There is work to be done. It's work that helps the living understand that life does, in deed, continue. It gives them purpose and structure at a time when the world has turned upside down and keeps on turning. And those brief moments of embrace and expressed condolences and love give them strength to take the next step.
I cried for them because I know they have a great loss to deal with -- and it will be a difficult time. I cried because regardless of belief in life hereafter, the reality is that, in this world, Diana will never again know the sweet touch of Jose's hand stroking her face, or the smell of his aftershave on his clean shaven face, or the sound of his love whispers in her ear. I cried because when loved ones die, our world is incomplete while our humanity continues its cry for wholeness. I cried because it was an intimate moment in a friend's life when my presence made a difference. And I knew it.
My mother taught us it is important to celebrate moments that count in life. Sometimes those moments are small -- a good report card, a good medical report, a new season of the year. At others, those moments are the stuff of life: births of babies, baptisms, weddings, great anniversaries, and yes, funerals. My brother and sister and I try to celebrate those moments. We've learned that those moments are pregnant with life lessons everyone needs on this journey. So, if you have an opportunity to share a sacred moment with another, don't let anything sway you from participating. Your life will be enriched. And don't worry if you cry. I'll bring the tissues.
Cat Fight!
Oh my. The ears are back, the claws are out and there's no sleep to be had in the Democrats' rendition of the Iditarod. Of course, no dogs allowed. Just cats. Mean cats.
I am not alone in saying I've had enough. Dyed in the wool Democrats who wouldn't DREAM of voting for a Republican (I seem to bleed red AND blue) have thrown up their hands in disgust. It's difficult to watch two alley cats go at each other, but we're talking about two people who want to run my country (sorry, Mrs. Obama, I've been proud to be an American all my life) without taking the high ground. The news is full of accusations (some real, some inflated) about racism, reverse racism, lying, ageism, anti-feminism, every vote should count, every vote doesn't have to count, naivety, encroachment, entitlement, fanaticism, etc., etc., etc.
If this is the best the Dems can offer, they are in for trouble. The fur is flying and the icy journey is far from over. At this point, the Republicans don't need to say or do a thing. These cats are not only killing each other, they're killing any shred of decency left in the race for the Democratic nomination.
This is one funeral I may opt out of attending.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday AND a Full Moon!
A few ramblings at the end of a long week... it must be the full moon.
The Florida House has flushed its version of the Toilet Paper bill. Not sure what that does to the Senate version. But enough on "business news." Suffice it to say Emo Cat is happy to be out of the litter box and back reading the comics! ...
Purr....
One of Emo Cat's favorite people passed along two good commentaries on the situation with presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his spiritual mentor. (Thanks, Peebs!) I share the links here, not because I agree with everything in these two opinion pieces (although I do agree with most of them), but because they're well written by people whose prose is excellent and who add dimension to the discussion. It does seem BHO is trying to have it both ways.
1. Ann Coulter: Throw Grandma Under the Bus
2. Jeff Jacoby: It's Still a Question of Wright and Wrong ....
Scratch...
It looks as if there's going to be a cat fight about Florida and Michigan delegates to the Democratic convention. Hmmm... Nobody's coughing up the millions for re-votes. Obama didn't even bother to put his name on the ballot in Michigan. Hillary, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking ahead and made sure she was on the ballot. Will the DNC punish voters in these two (very BIG) states? It's going to be interesting. Seems to me if someone wanted to vote for a person who was not on the ballot, that someone would write in the person's name. I've done it several times when no candidate seemed palatable....
Purr...
My grandson is a Cub Scout. It's so good to see him learn how to do things a guy needs to do. He can handle a whittling knife safely, pitch camp (two tents, sleeping bags, gas stove, lanterns, coolers, etc.) by himself in an hour, fish, shoot a B-B gun as well as a bow and arrow, build a super fast derby car, and construct a pretty impressive marble chute out of paper tubes. Makes me wonder if he's reading The Dangerous Book for Boys. Scouting continues to provide quality, relevant programs, all these hundred years later...
Meow for now...
We opted for cats over dogs a few years back because we work long hours. Dogs need attention, and our schedules didn't accommodate that kind of time. The cats have filled the gap -- we have two Devon Rex cats and never knew cats could have so much personality. Hence, this blog's name...
So we won't be howling at the moon tonight. Actually we're waiting for gas prices to reflect the $5 a barrel drop in price a few days ago, and for credit card rates to fall in the wake of the Fed's action this week. We won't hold our breaths either. Rising prices are kind of like rubber bands -- once stretched they never get quite back down to their original dimension...
Have a blessed Easter -- hope your basket is full of catnip!
The Florida House has flushed its version of the Toilet Paper bill. Not sure what that does to the Senate version. But enough on "business news." Suffice it to say Emo Cat is happy to be out of the litter box and back reading the comics! ...
Purr....
One of Emo Cat's favorite people passed along two good commentaries on the situation with presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his spiritual mentor. (Thanks, Peebs!) I share the links here, not because I agree with everything in these two opinion pieces (although I do agree with most of them), but because they're well written by people whose prose is excellent and who add dimension to the discussion. It does seem BHO is trying to have it both ways.
1. Ann Coulter: Throw Grandma Under the Bus
2. Jeff Jacoby: It's Still a Question of Wright and Wrong ....
Scratch...
It looks as if there's going to be a cat fight about Florida and Michigan delegates to the Democratic convention. Hmmm... Nobody's coughing up the millions for re-votes. Obama didn't even bother to put his name on the ballot in Michigan. Hillary, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking ahead and made sure she was on the ballot. Will the DNC punish voters in these two (very BIG) states? It's going to be interesting. Seems to me if someone wanted to vote for a person who was not on the ballot, that someone would write in the person's name. I've done it several times when no candidate seemed palatable....
Purr...
My grandson is a Cub Scout. It's so good to see him learn how to do things a guy needs to do. He can handle a whittling knife safely, pitch camp (two tents, sleeping bags, gas stove, lanterns, coolers, etc.) by himself in an hour, fish, shoot a B-B gun as well as a bow and arrow, build a super fast derby car, and construct a pretty impressive marble chute out of paper tubes. Makes me wonder if he's reading The Dangerous Book for Boys. Scouting continues to provide quality, relevant programs, all these hundred years later...
Meow for now...
We opted for cats over dogs a few years back because we work long hours. Dogs need attention, and our schedules didn't accommodate that kind of time. The cats have filled the gap -- we have two Devon Rex cats and never knew cats could have so much personality. Hence, this blog's name...
So we won't be howling at the moon tonight. Actually we're waiting for gas prices to reflect the $5 a barrel drop in price a few days ago, and for credit card rates to fall in the wake of the Fed's action this week. We won't hold our breaths either. Rising prices are kind of like rubber bands -- once stretched they never get quite back down to their original dimension...
Have a blessed Easter -- hope your basket is full of catnip!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Florida Legislature: Serious Business
Now, I really don't have any political sense. Saying yes for yes and no for no bodes well for getting through life -- and the few times I've written elected officials and received a response, I've been left to wonder just whose letter they read. Virginia Woolf would say there was "no there, there."
However, in some cases, it's good to use a gentler word in an explanation. In my potty training days, my mother would sit me down and urge me to do my "business." She used the euphemism throughout her life to describe the serious work involved in ridding the body of waste. Less than a month into the current session, two Florida legislators are forcing the elected body to focus on serious business.
I'm not talking about public issues that cause the citizenry great angst, such as increasing gang populations, high crime, education woes, Florida's aging population, foreclosure rates, illegal immigrants, or the uninsured. No. I'm talking about, well, what my mom would have called "business."
State Sen. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat, hopes to tax each roll of tissue paper sold in Florida by 2 cents. That would add an estimated $30 million to state coffers. This proposal has taken a backseat to one by State Sen. Victor Crist (no relation to Florida's governor, Charlie Crist). The Tampa Republican has introduced legislation (SB-836) to require Florida restaurants to have "enough" toilet paper in their restrooms. The bill also would require state restaurant inspectors to check the cleanliness of restaurants' restrooms.
Both propositions raise questions. In our household, we prefer double size rolls, so does that mean our TP will be taxed at 4 cents? Is the tax (2 cents on 50-cent roll of TP is 4 percent) in addition to our 7 percent sales tax (which the Legislature may increase in the wake of the cut in property taxes supported by the governor -- no surprise here, folks!)? And when it comes to "enough" toilet paper, just how much is enough? Enough for one wipe per patron? Two? Three?
What will happen next? Will citizens resort to substituting Kleenex tissues or paper towels to avoid the tax increase on TP? Can they tolerate the increase in restaurant prices to cover costs of new TP tax and staff to police the quantity of available TP in the stalls? (Now, that's what I want on my resume: Toilet paper monitor.) Will it force the Legislature to pass future laws regulating the number of times a citizen can relieve himself/herself? Or laws regulating the quality of TP -- no corn cob roughness, just soft, cloud-like TP?
Sad to say this "business" issue is in the national news, and Floridians find it embarrassing to know that once again we're being depicted as goobers. This can't have caught Sen. Victor Crist by surprise since he owns an advertising agency and is, presumably, well acquainted in "sexy" issues that capture attention.
I can't be the only Floridian who thinks a legislative body focused on toilet paper is full of "serious business." Come election time, it's time for us to give them the "business."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I thought every vote must count?
Election years bring out the worst in us. I have heard crude yell-downs in restaurants -- and have seen the silent treatment nearly destroy families. As a Floridian, I witnessed the smallest occurrences blown out of all proportion over the last two Presidential elections. This year, I am wondering where all the "every vote must count" chants are.
The pissin' match between the Florida Legislature and the Democratic National Committee over the primary date is at least entertaining. Who can whiz farthest? It must be pointed out that it was the Dems in the Florida Legislature who proposed and passed the early run-through despite the threats of the DNC to strip us of our delegates.
The very discussion of holding a re-vote or a ballot by mail is an insult. With Florida in a recession fed by foreclosure rates to beat the band, another primary would have cost millions that can be better spent to help its citizens. We just cut property taxes to help property owners -- and face tremendous hikes in new fees all around the state. Schools are cutting programs, police departments are culling the forces, and fire departments are doing the same. Where oh where would the millions have materialized to pay for a re-vote? The DNC says it can't afford it -- well, Florida already paid for the primary once.
Of course, if the DNC holds to its stand and doesn't allow the delegates to cast their votes at the convention, then millions of Floridians who cast their votes lose their voice. It's worse than a hanging chad. These citizens -- all Dems -- cast legitimate, counted votes for their candidates -- and their fellow Dems say, "No. Your vote can't count because we must show the Florida legislators they can't make decisions without our approval. Our whiz is better than their whiz." (In all fairness, the Republicans are not going through a similar battle only because McCain decidedly won the nomination.)
The DNC is losing credibility on this one. There is no way to justify that every vote had to count in 2000 and 2004, but now it's OK not to count the votes because they don't like the wedgie the Florida Legislature gave them by moving the primary to January. They just don't get to have it both ways.
I once worked with a colleague who had a good response to people who whined about losing a pissin' match: Suck it up, cry baby.
The pissin' match between the Florida Legislature and the Democratic National Committee over the primary date is at least entertaining. Who can whiz farthest? It must be pointed out that it was the Dems in the Florida Legislature who proposed and passed the early run-through despite the threats of the DNC to strip us of our delegates.
The very discussion of holding a re-vote or a ballot by mail is an insult. With Florida in a recession fed by foreclosure rates to beat the band, another primary would have cost millions that can be better spent to help its citizens. We just cut property taxes to help property owners -- and face tremendous hikes in new fees all around the state. Schools are cutting programs, police departments are culling the forces, and fire departments are doing the same. Where oh where would the millions have materialized to pay for a re-vote? The DNC says it can't afford it -- well, Florida already paid for the primary once.
Of course, if the DNC holds to its stand and doesn't allow the delegates to cast their votes at the convention, then millions of Floridians who cast their votes lose their voice. It's worse than a hanging chad. These citizens -- all Dems -- cast legitimate, counted votes for their candidates -- and their fellow Dems say, "No. Your vote can't count because we must show the Florida legislators they can't make decisions without our approval. Our whiz is better than their whiz." (In all fairness, the Republicans are not going through a similar battle only because McCain decidedly won the nomination.)
The DNC is losing credibility on this one. There is no way to justify that every vote had to count in 2000 and 2004, but now it's OK not to count the votes because they don't like the wedgie the Florida Legislature gave them by moving the primary to January. They just don't get to have it both ways.
I once worked with a colleague who had a good response to people who whined about losing a pissin' match: Suck it up, cry baby.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Belly Buttons Gross Me Out
Ugly. Just plain ugly. That's the best way to describe belly buttons. And, great abs aside, putting a little silver bauble through your belly button doesn't make that umbilical cord scar attractive. It just puts the pretty little silver bauble on an ugly display. Part of my disgust of belly buttons extends beyond the visual to friends and acquaintances who spend an inordinate amount of time contemplating their own belly buttons. You know the type -- "it's all about me." Their mantra always boils down to: "What about me? What about me? What about me?"
Boomers who became parents (mothers especially) graduated the "it's about me" stage and matriculated into discussions about baby food, soccer games and pre-school or home school. At a recent Cub Scout meeting, I was talking with another grandparent who was disgusted that his daughter isn't involved in her son's life. Her excuse: She works, after all. Yeah, don't we all.
Why is that a 60-hour work week is easier if you're a Boomer than it is if you're in your 30s? He and I were talking how we always made time for our kids and made them the priority. Perhaps we focused too much on them and now they feel entitled to be the priority still.
The point is that whether the belly button is plain, dressed up with piercings, or the object of one's meditation, it's just plain ugly.
Boomers who became parents (mothers especially) graduated the "it's about me" stage and matriculated into discussions about baby food, soccer games and pre-school or home school. At a recent Cub Scout meeting, I was talking with another grandparent who was disgusted that his daughter isn't involved in her son's life. Her excuse: She works, after all. Yeah, don't we all.
Why is that a 60-hour work week is easier if you're a Boomer than it is if you're in your 30s? He and I were talking how we always made time for our kids and made them the priority. Perhaps we focused too much on them and now they feel entitled to be the priority still.
The point is that whether the belly button is plain, dressed up with piercings, or the object of one's meditation, it's just plain ugly.
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