Category Archives: Women in Politics

Debates & Debacle (JJIJ)

Election 2016, Opinion, Politics, Women in Politics, , , , , , ,

So I watched the debates this last week, both of them. Did you?

I missed one of the Democratic debates, and chose not to watch the December Republican debate, but what I have seen is that the overall tone of the Democratic debates have been far more civilized and respectful than the Republican debates. All that testosterone on one stage maybe, I don’t know, but the Republicans seem to talk less about the topics at hand – the problems in this country and HOW they would alleviate them – and more about themselves and each other.

Hillary Clinton was on Jimmy Fallon last week. He mentioned something about her watching the Republican debates, and taking a shot every time they said her name – she laughed and said she wouldn’t “make it past the first half hour.” I noticed they did say her name A LOT. Shit, I would’ve been drunk if I’d a been playing that game – really.

It was a good interview.

After watching the debates, I could say so much, but let me just mention a few random thoughts . . .

The Republican debate is almost always a debacle at worst, a circus at best – and this one was no exception. Donald Trump was all over Ted Cruz and they argued back and forth many times. The moderators completely lost control of the event. Marco Rubio referred to it as Court TV – I suspect it was worse.

Several times Trump mentioned that we must repeal and replace Obamacare. Replace it with what? He never said, and I don’t think they ever asked. Couldn’t believe one of the questions was is Hillary Clinton an enabler of sexual misconduct. WTF kind of question is that in this context and setting?

About half way in, there was talk between them about how they shouldn’t be tearing each other apart – great, I agree, but I don’t want to be part of that discussion. Them treating each other respectfully should’ve been a given – so not sure why we would waste precious time discussing that, either. OH wait, maybe because they don’t really have any answers, or answers that most of us would like, agree with, or understand in the context of our problems.

John Kasich mentioned the 50+ year old unemployment problem, but I’m not sure retraining us is necessarily the answer, though that could be helpful in some instances. Our jobs didn’t go away and we didn’t become incapable of doing them with the same vigor. The insurance companies don’t want to cover us.

Christie cracked me up when he said he is kicking President Obama out of the White House this fall. We all know this is Obama’s last term, he has to leave no matter which party wins. And contrary to Christie’s belief, Obama hasn’t “brainwashed” me against guns, nor do I feel he is trying to take them from me. No one will . . .

Rubio vehemently said criminals do not get guns from gun shows. I disagree, and I know how easy it would be for them to do it. I’ve seen exactly how it works. I can show him, too. He also called the EPA the Employee Prevention Agency. Of course, I bet he has never lived too near a toxic waste site, or an EPA Superfund site, though they are way more common than you think. I’m sure he hasn’t had his whole neighborhood bulldozed and perimeter fenced with security guards. I have, and all that entails. This is why we need health and safety regulation, because we are still finding and cleaning up the irresponsibility of the past.

I’m not sure any of them actually get it or understand it . . . the real issues, I mean.

NONE of them think Bernie Sanders is a viable candidate! Kasich even laughed about it, saying no one will vote for Bernie – he’s not an issue. That may sneak up and bite them in the ass.

The Democratic debate was lively. Sanders mentioned the heroin epidemic and how the pharmaceutical companies are also to blame. Well of course they are – after decades of addicting people to their Vicodin and Oxycontin and when the laws abruptly changed to make these drugs mostly unavailable to all the addicts they have grown to spike their profits. Shame on you . . . and I saw the heroin epidemic coming, but that’s a story for another day.

Sanders said we need to stand up to corrupt insurance and pharmaceutical companies – that it’s time to end Congress being owned by big money, and get back to Congress meeting the needs of the people. Clinton didn’t touch that too much.

It was enlightening to know that Clinton makes a large sum of money from Goldman Sachs for speaking events. O’Malley didn’t get much talk time – Hillary is definitely noticing Bernie now . . .

Obviously, these were some of the little things that caught my attention, and sometimes little things are telling. I figured you have already heard all about the major points. Oh yeah – Saturday Night Live had fun with the Republican debate this last Saturday as well. I tried to find a link, but none are posted yet. That’s the one thing I LOVE about election season – Saturday Night Live’s (and other comedians’) parodies!

Oh, and what about those New York values . . . {shaking my head, laughing!}

Just something I was thinking about . . .

Also part of Just Jot It January – check it out over on Linda G. Hill’s blog.

jjj-2016

Hey Blog Buds!

Current Events, Elections, NaNoWriMo, Politics, Women in Politics, World Events, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello my Blog Buds!!

[I used that term in a comment to another blogger, a fav of mine Opinionated Man and decided to keep it 🙂 ]

I just wanted to thank you again for following me – reading, commenting, and engaging! I doubled my number of Blog Buds over the summer, something I never expected to happen. I’m glad you are enjoying my random rambling thoughts, as I have many! I read as many of you as I can when I can.

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I mentioned I am participating in National Novel Writing Month. Yes, I am definitely a glutton for punishment!

This is not my first attempt at this, but I hoping this will be my first success. I am proud to say that as of the end of today, Day 3 (just finished up for the day), I am 6543 words in, though my friendly counter reminds me that I still have 43,457 to meet my challenge goal.

I voted early last Friday. Political races are nasty here, so I’ll be glad when it’s over, tired of hearing all the bullshit. Today is Election Day – I hope you go and exercise your right to vote. Though inherently we all want and need the same things, we will never all think the same, nor should we – BUT we should think ☮

Why Do We Keep Giving Our Jobs Away?

American Infrastructure, American Jobs, China, Current Events, Employment, Future Generations, Life, Opinion, Politics, Reality, Thinking Independently, Women in Politics, , , , , , , , , , ,

This is an article I originally wrote back in December 2004 about the problem of outsourcing American jobs to other countries. I recently found it and was surprised at how nothing has changed in the last ten years and this piece is still pretty spot on. Actually things may be even worse. There’s a greater number of aging baby boomers to work some of these jobs, and they are having an even harder time, often being terminated from their jobs 10-15 years before retirement age, now dipping into their retirement savings to live – but that is another story for a different day.

I hope this trend of corporate greed at the expense of this country’s health and welfare changes soon. Personally, I think if you outsource jobs to other countries that can be done by American workers, you should be heavily taxed. I think companies who maintain their workforce in the United States should be given tax breaks, at least for a period of time.

I note in my article I am NOT an economist or historian, nor am I necessarily politically inclined, so I don’t know all the background about these types of things, but I know enough to know they can be done judiciously and pragmatically. Of course, this will most likely cut into some profit margins – so though it can be done, I am sure it would be a fight. In honor of Throwback Thursday, I thought I would share it with you & see what you think.

 Outsourcing American Jobs Dangerous Trend

I love to read Molly Ivins’ nationally syndicated column. Today’s article was Ivin’s review of two books. One of the books mentioned, “When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor” by William Julius Wilson, discussed the problems with joblessness in the inner city ghettos. She uses a quote from the book discussing his solutions, which she states as critical for all of us not just for poor inner-city blacks – “The problems of joblessness and social dislocation in the inner city are, in part, related to the processes in the global economy that have contributed to greater inequality & insecurity among American workers in general & to the failure of U.S. social policies to adjust to these processes. It is therefore myopic to view the problems of jobless ghettos as if they were separate from those that plague the larger society.”

This made me think, as I read, that a large percentage of the American workforce is now in danger of this “jobless ghetto” syndrome. I heard President Bush say, during one of the debates, that the key to ending unemployment and government assistance needs is EDUCATION for 21st century jobs. The way I see it, the market is becoming considerably service and technology based. The jobs of the 21st century are huge in the area of technical assistance (development, programming, maintenance) and customer service. These are also the jobs that have been outsourced to other countries, for considerably cheaper labor costs. This is a dangerous trend that has been on the rise in the last five years.

Now, I am not an economics or history expert, but the way it appears to me is that in the last half century jobs have increasingly changed in proportion concerning manufacturing and service-oriented jobs. In the early years of this country up until the first half of the 20th century, manufacturing was a huge part of the economic base. The last half of the 20th century saw a large majority of these jobs being outsourced to other countries because it was cheaper for the manufacturer. This left the service-oriented and technology fields as a way of providing jobs for American citizens. As proved from my last five calls to Dell, and other computer parts manufacturers they are involved with, ALL of their technical support has been outsourced, often times to places where the technicians’ English is accented so heavily, even if they are the most intelligent in the world, I can’t understand a word coming out of their mouths.

If we are sending all the manufacturing, customer service-oriented and technology jobs overseas, what jobs does that leave for Americans? Medical professionals, lawyers, dry-cleaners, and fast-food/restaurant jobs are a few of the jobs left. Do you recognize the large gap in salaries between the first two jobs I mentioned and the second two jobs – the haves and the have-nots?

Do not misunderstand me, I understand the importance of a global economy, but in my opinion we have taken the concept entirely too far. When there is no balance, a considerable amount of middle-class jobs disappear from the U.S. landscape. If this trend continues, jobless ghettos could be as common as tent cities during the Great Depression.

Just something I was thinking about, something I think about often actually.

(And RIP Molly Ivins, you are missed by many!!)

I Believe In . . .

Gun rights, Opinion, Politics, Thinking Independently, Uncategorized, Women in Politics, , , , , , , , , ,

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I had to laugh at this pic I saw on FaceBook, mostly because it’s pretty much how I feel. Probably doesn’t make me too popular with some people. I have always been told I tend to have a very unique way of looking at things, and at life. Quite frankly, I am happy about and proud of that fact. I am sure my dad, a raging Republican would cringe. Though he knows these things about me, I am quite certain he doesn’t understand me.

My significant other always tells me that when God made me, he didn’t throw away the mold, he locked it up to ensure he never used this combination of traits again . . . for whatever reason. I am told this is a compliment of the highest order. I often laugh when this is said, as I am not so sure.

I think I have mentioned, I do not have a political party line per say. I guess I am what some call an Independent. I just consider myself a person with a modicum of common sense, integrity, intelligence and compassion. I do not want others involved in my business without being invited, nor do I want to be involved in anyone else’s. For the most part, unless someone is being abused, I do not care what goes on behind other people’s closed doors, including their bedroom – as long as it doesn’t spill out of their doors. Nor is it anybody’s business what goes on behind mine.

I do not have a problem with gay people. I know many. I think if a person can find someone to share their life with and they love each other and are not hurting anyone else, then why is that even anyone else’s business. I’d be willing to bet you all know, and love or respect or both, someone who is gay – whether you are aware of it or not.

I believe if one wants to own guns and is responsible with them that is their personal business. I do not have a problem with that or background checks, only because I have had them done on me to get a job, so why not to buy a weapon with the capability of killing someone from a distance. If you asked me if I have a problem with the amount of information the government collects about us – I would tell you I most certainly do. But, there’s nothing I can do about that, per say, other than to go off the grid, which I must admit has been a tempting thought at times, if I had the resources.

Having been around the block a time or two, I am aware of what marijuana, alcohol, and other illegal and prescription drugs do to people, and often times their loved ones. Personally, I think cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription drugs are incredibly more harmful to people’s bodies than marijuana. But let’s be honest, the liquor and pharmaceutical companies are scared to death about their market shares and profit margins now that people’s attitudes about marijuana are beginning to change and the public opinion is influencing legalization laws – be it medical or recreational.

Having said that, we also have to remember that often what we do affects others. No one is an island, regardless of what one may think. The government shouldn’t have to point these things out to us, nor police society in that manner. Unfortunately, though I am glad we do not all think the same, there are some who have no common sense, intelligence, integrity or compassion. And compromise – many act like they never learned what that word means and it certainly does not apply to them.

So, if I have pissed you off, I certainly didn’t mean to. I just have my own ideas and opinions about things. I am sure you do too, and I’m the type of person, I would love to hear your ideas and opinions. I call it learning . . .

Just something I was thinking about it . . .

Image courtesy of:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152007476084915&set=a.375215934914.157525.299509864914&type=1 

Women’s Libidos – Really?

Healthcare Issues, Opinion, Politics, Reproductive Rights, Thinking Independently, Uncategorized, Women in Politics, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have been hearing and reading a lot lately about Mike Huckabee’s comments about women’s libidos and contraception. Apparently he said something to the effect that the Affordable Care Act provided free contraception to women because essentially some people think women can’t control their libidos.

As a journalist my first instinct was to go find the video and see it for myself, in complete context, but I didn’t – and I’ll tell you why. Regardless of what exactly was meant by what was said exactly and the various interpretations of this comment, my question is . . . .

WHY are we talking about women’s libidos and personal health care choices that involve their quality of life? This discourse included married women – like their husbands are going to be onboard 100 percent with their wives “limiting their libidos” to avoid pregnancy. And I have to admit – I believe the old joke 99 percent of the time – what do you call women who you use the rhythm method of contraception? The answer is mothers. Even weathermen and farmers use more than a calendar to make predictions and determine action.

Do we have these discussions about men and their “little blue pills,” or whatever they take, for their erectile dysfunction? It’s also pretty well known there are many men who take these pills who don’t need them, they just want to be able to have more sex or extended  sex – but that’s a libido discussion for another day.

Do we have women in our congress – Senate and House of Representatives, as well as in other key management positions in our government making healthcare decisions for men and their quality of life? The sexual part of their lives and identities in particular?

There is not equal representation out there for women when it comes to government mandated decisions regarding women’s reproductive rights and lives because women make up a  small percentage of those who hold office. This is a problem, and I think we need to start thinking about that in our future voting decisions – as well as the fact there are many young ambitious intelligent thoughtful women who could run for these offices now and in the future.

Notice I have not mentioned party-lines – not interested in that. I am interested in women who understand the ramifications, situations and specific concerns of being  a woman being responsible for, or at least involved in, making decisions or at least having a majority say in legislation passed that affects women.

And one other point . . . this is 2014. Have we not learned that sex is an essential emotional, psychological, physiological and personal part of being a human – whether you are male or female? Again, why would this or any political discussion involve the word libido at all?

Just something I was thing about . . .