Category Archives: Government

Sadie’s world these days

America, Current Events, Election 2016, Government, Music, Opinion, personal, Politics, , , , , , , , ,

Hello my Blog Buds! I hope you have all been doing well, here so close to the end of May. The end of May already – I am amazed how quickly this year has flown by. I had so many goals for this year, and so far, I am no where near meeting any of them! I’m working on that, though some days are better than others.

I have been busy, back hot and heavy on the job hunt. I am always looking, but sometimes take a break from the all out full-time job of searching. I have a couple of really good leads, with people who know me well pulling for me – so I am quite hopeful. But, I was in this position in March, and nothing came of it, as another friend who is 10 years younger received the offer. (The interview had gone well, I had much more experience in the role than she did, and agreed to the lower salary they mentioned right up front. The person leaving that position, due to a promotion, even recommended me for the job.) I AM NOT GIVING UP, even if I’m not counted!!!

Today I made pineapple marmalade for the first time. It tastes great, but hope it gels properly, as marmalade usually takes a little time to set up. Fixing to make some more apple butter, and some blueberry jam, in the next week or so. Then I will have enough to rent a space again – this time at one of the farmers markets, as we have many around my area. [YEAH, I know . . . Fixing to, you know I’m from the south, though I smiled at how incorrect it was when I typed it. 😉 ]

Oh Lordy, the upcoming election . . . I am truly absolutely shocked and amazed and confused and frightened and apprehensive, and I could go on and on and on. Let’s be honest, NONE of the candidates from the beginning were the best choices – BUT no one else stepped up. And the issues and possible solutions are endless. Also, I can genuinely understand where some of these people are coming from, the depth of their discontent and disparity. I even get their differences of opinion. I also realize the sense of greed and lust and power and control others approach these matters with. What a dichotomy . . .

The government and others in power and control of our lives have let us down often. It seems much of their time and effort is spent furthering their own agendas, not the American peoples’. In doing so, “the powers that be” have eroded this country’s greatness and ability to be the best by eroding the basic security and self-esteem of so many that have worked so hard for it. We don’t all want to be rich, but we would like to make enough to survive and have a little extra, and to know that in our elderly years we won’t be homeless, or dependent on others. You know be reasonably comfortable.

I do know the world is different than it was when I was growing up – often to survive or succeed you talked tough and made few compromises. Once you kicked ass a few times and proved you could hold your own, you had it made and no one messed with you anymore. BUT, the world is smaller now, and larger all at the same time. Mindsets and tactics have changed, and everything is faster. Information about almost anything you want to know is available and on overload. Balances are delicate – you can’t bulldog your way through the china shop. We have to change the way we approach some things for this country to prosper and out-maneuver, or we’ll die – our democracy as we know it.

At this point, I’m just waiting to see what happens when the game of “52 Pick-Up” is over, and the last card falls to the floor. I will vote, and we’ll see what shakes out . . .
[That’s not to say I won’t write any other political thoughts, because I might!]

I doubt my backyard owls will return this year. The city has been doing sewage upgrades in my neighborhood, and they have been quite busy back in my little alcove, where one of the mains is located, even storing one of their small bobcat diggers back there for the last several weeks. All that noise and activity I’m sure will eliminate my little area as a suitable home. I’m pretty sad about that, as I enjoyed the little glimpses of them I was blessed to have.

After spending most of the day online looking for jobs, I have to take a break from the computer screen, so I have not been able to keep up with all of you lately; I am slowly, but surely, trying to visit you all! I miss you and what you share ❀  I’ll be coming around to visit soon. 🙂

Just some things I’ve been thinking about . . .

 

Those poor crazy rich Texans

Government, Opinion, Politics, Reality, , , , , , , , ,

I have to start by saying that for the most part, I love my state. It’s big, beautiful, friendly, and where I have lived most of my life. Texans do have a particular mindset, and believe themselves to be independent and rebellious in nature. Having said that, the politics can be mind-blowing — really. And sometimes, I can’t help but think how sheep-like so many of these Texans are — not rebellious and independent as they seem to think.

Reading the paper a few weeks back, it was brought to my attention that in the midst of all the important things going on right now, the Texas Legislature may reconsider  HB619. This bill caps the sales taxes on boats and yachts costing more than $250,000, to no more than $15,625. It would also eliminate sales taxes on boats sold to buyers from out of state.

austin-capital

Seriously . . . ???

Apparently, the Texas Gulf Coast yachting industry and associated jobs are ailing. I wonder if that has anything to do with all the unemployed younger baby boomers who should still be working . . .

I’m certainly confused on how that helps the industry as a whole, if they are enticing out of state buyers who will pay no taxes or any other boat-related costs in this state, other than enough fuel to sail away. Again, economics is not my strong suit, to say the least!

I’m sorry, but in my book, if you can afford a boat or yacht that costs more than $250,000, as well as the maintenance, slip, and fuel costs, well than you can probably afford to pay the full amount of the taxes. Y’all let me know if I am being too tough here . . . yeah that was meant to be facetious 😉

I never cease to be amazed at the gall of my state’s government and the entitlements of the top one percent. Do y’all ever feel this way?

So far the bill was defeated, thank goodness – clear minds prevail for now.

As a side note – it’s pretty scary when Donald Trump is the current leader in the polls for Republican nominee. I can’t wait for the debates 🙂 I don’t think there’s a decent candidate coming from this state – they are all crazy, narrow-minded, single-focused zealots. Bat-shit crazy, I tell you 😉

I often question why I still live in this state – but then I remember all my family and lifetime friends I am surrounded by. I took off over 25 years ago living in the Ozarks for a few years, but we came back and times are different now. Most specifically – there are grandchildren ❀

Anyway, just something I was thinking about . . .

(Wow – there’s been some changes on the WP format – I have been away too long!)

Do You Know What You Are Putting In Your Mouth

American Infrastructure, Business, Food Supply, Future Generations, GMO, Government, Health Issues, Politics, , , , , , , , , ,

march_against_monsanto_2BABYNOTEXP

When we go to the grocery store to shop for our food, typically we have over 47,000 products to choose from. Do you have any idea where some of this food comes from, how it’s made, who’s controlling it, who’s making the profits, and who’s overseeing the safety? I’ve been hearing rumblings that were quite disturbing for years, but lately, it’s hard to get away from the “rumors” with so many different ways for people to communicate.

Regarding grocery store produce, since there are no seasons anymore, fruit is usually picked before it’s ripe, ripened later with ethylene gas. And just what is ethylene gas?

After doing some research, I have discovered that the way we eat, meaning the way our food is grown, has changed a lot in the last 50 years, more so than in other time frame of our history.  I have tried to ensure I have done valid research, on this subject in particular, because it affects my family, my grandkids, me, and you and yours.

I am old enough to remember that when I was growing up autism was rare. I knew no one with it. I knew a lot of kids and I was the only one I knew with asthma, which my mother also had from the time she was a little girl. There was no ADD or ADHD, and a good percentage of children were not on prescription medication.  It is no longer that way.

From early on, I wanted to raise a few livestock of my own, and have my own garden, and buy other essentials in their natural state from my neighbors. I almost made that dream happen. See, I was paying attention to what was going on long before I even realized it.

As I began to really pay attention to what I was serving my family, I noticed that in tracing food back to its origins, that most of it was not grown or raised on farms, but produced in factories, factories that from the outside look like farms, but are anything but when you begin to understand how they operate as large assembly lines and/or scientific experiments.

Just as some have said about our communication and media sources becoming too sanitized distributing the same messages via a very small group of owners with specific interests being dangerous (another topic for another day), so too is our food supply.

Much of the food found on the shelves of the average grocery store is made and controlled by a small group of multi-national corporations – from the seed to the end product. Technically, a handful of companies are controlling our food system in the United States – what we eat and how it’s produced.

Big pharma and corporate chemical companies, with their genetically modified experimental commodities, are threaded thick through this food tapestry. And you might be surprised at the number of people who work back and forth between these corporations and government regulatory agencies over the years – I know I was.

Though food is absolutely necessary to our survival, don’t ever kid yourself, IT IS BIG BUSINESS and it is not about sustaining the population and its health, it is about PROFIT, pure and simple.

Stay tuned if your interested, as I have more to say on this subject, just don’t want to make this post too long.

Anyway, just something I’ve been thinking about, for quite some time now . . .