We are currently a week away from our Midterm Elections, and the big question on some peoples' minds still are what party to vote for.
First, a reminder: I'm not either a Democrat or a Republican. The Green Libertarian Party takes the best attributes it can find from both the Liberals (Green: Take care of the planet and people on it) and the Conservatives (Libertarian: Get rid of victim-less crimes, while still protecting public safety), and blends them. Note that one part of the Libertarian plank I do not support at all is "Corporate Libertarianism", as corporations have proven how little regard they have for the shape of Earth and the people on it.
One huge contrast between Democrats and Republicans is job creation, which is actually a bit funny, since Republicans are using our Jobless numbers, as a wedge to winning the Midterm Elections. However, a good question to ask Republicans is where they plan to create jobs! For one thing, I do not see much Republican support for the "Local Jobs for America Act", which has been introduced in both the House (H. R. 4812), and Senate (S-3500).
A fascinating book on the Foreign Outsourcing issue is "Take this Job and Ship it", by Senator Byron L. Dorgan. And please note that one huge wave of foreign outsourcing (this time for computer jobs) was in 2001 and 2003, the years of George W. Bush's Tax Cuts. I lived through that time period, and let me tell you, it was depressing watching my co-workers lose their jobs.
Please read the book, and vote responsibly. (But above all, please vote!)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Should BP Pay Dividends?
Dear readers of this BLOG,
This is real, folks! BP would prefer to pay their shareholders Dividends than to pay damages to the fishermen who are stopped from working, due to the Oil in the Ocean, near their work-places. The Story is here. Read it!
Who needs the money more, anyway? Shareholders? How about the fishermen who might not be able to continue their business? What should they do? What should BP do? What should Obama say when he meets with BP management soon?
Indeed: I would personally love to see BP management explain why they need to put their money into Dividends to their stock-holders, while they stare oil soaked birds straight in their eyes!
Note: I was unable to look these birds in their eyes without crying. Can the BP management? I really want to know. Seriously!
Thank you and best regards,
Ken Parker, currently in Seattle, Washington, but planning to move to Lousiana, to help with the rehabilitation of the Oil Soaked birds. I'm putting my consciousness where my mouth is. Can BP Management?
This is real, folks! BP would prefer to pay their shareholders Dividends than to pay damages to the fishermen who are stopped from working, due to the Oil in the Ocean, near their work-places. The Story is here. Read it!
Who needs the money more, anyway? Shareholders? How about the fishermen who might not be able to continue their business? What should they do? What should BP do? What should Obama say when he meets with BP management soon?
Indeed: I would personally love to see BP management explain why they need to put their money into Dividends to their stock-holders, while they stare oil soaked birds straight in their eyes!
Note: I was unable to look these birds in their eyes without crying. Can the BP management? I really want to know. Seriously!
Thank you and best regards,
Ken Parker, currently in Seattle, Washington, but planning to move to Lousiana, to help with the rehabilitation of the Oil Soaked birds. I'm putting my consciousness where my mouth is. Can BP Management?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Everything Needs a Start.
Yes, indeed, everything needs a start.
These were the words on the phone of the woman Barack Obama was using as the basis for a speech "today". (In politics, what day is it, anyway?)
My point is that this current health care bill is an Infrastructure, or foundation if you wish, to a highly needed shift in our health care. And I heard it over the phone on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
These were the words on the phone of the woman Barack Obama was using as the basis for a speech "today". (In politics, what day is it, anyway?)
My point is that this current health care bill is an Infrastructure, or foundation if you wish, to a highly needed shift in our health care. And I heard it over the phone on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Voting Irregularities in Massachusetts?
Hello folks,
Am I now hearing of Voting Irregularities in the special Massachusetts election?
Yes, I'm editing my own BLOG posts. Yes, there were "irregularities". But nothing that made it in the news that day got enough "horsepower" to go anywhere. So there goes another special election.
As a Troubleshooter of the Green Libertarian Party, one of my routine tasks is helping to keep our elections fair. However, at the time of the original post, much of my efforts were being spent in Haiti relief, so I might have been caught unawares. Oh well...
What the next six years gives us is anybody's guess. But the comedy of today rules!
Best regards,
Ken Parker, Seattle, WA
Am I now hearing of Voting Irregularities in the special Massachusetts election?
Yes, I'm editing my own BLOG posts. Yes, there were "irregularities". But nothing that made it in the news that day got enough "horsepower" to go anywhere. So there goes another special election.
As a Troubleshooter of the Green Libertarian Party, one of my routine tasks is helping to keep our elections fair. However, at the time of the original post, much of my efforts were being spent in Haiti relief, so I might have been caught unawares. Oh well...
What the next six years gives us is anybody's guess. But the comedy of today rules!
Best regards,
Ken Parker, Seattle, WA
Monday, January 18, 2010
Adopt a Republican -- A Proposal.
I have long felt that the Republican party is out of touch with the realities of the United States, especially where it fits in with "Main Street". But this became ultra clear when Obama was inaugurated. For example, the Stimulus bill was passed in the House without a single Republican vote. (However, a number of these Republican house members were happy to, with fanfare, accept Stimulus checks later on). One aside about the Stimulus is that I'm pretty sure I heard a Republican member of Congress suggest that unused Stimulus money go to the Afghanistan war. I find that very out of touch with Main Street, USA.
The health care debate is an extremely important one at this point, as there are a lot of people in the United States that have no health care, left to the mercies of Emergency Room care. I am one of them, as I am an out of work manager, living in Seattle, Washington. Back in March, 2008, I called 911, complaining of what seemed a lot to be a heart attack. My treatment at Harborview Medical Center here in Seattle was so bad, that it triggered a Nervous Breakdown, and the eviction from my Apartment. (Harborview apparently ignored my own complaints of the Heart Attack and latched on to Intellectual Confusion, instead. They gave me no evidence that they even tested me for a Heart Attack).
My life was turned upside down and inside out, leaving me with few tools to handle a Reality that includes Republicans that don't appear to care about the Main Street portion of their own districts and/or states. Suffice it to say that I had to use my own talents, including a Quantum Physics background, to get myself well (or at least functional). It seems that the rumors are true: The Republican plan for Health Care reform is to convince people to not get sick.
Financially, my experiences with Health Care in Seattle has been problematical. Yes, the Emergency Room of Harborview Medical Center, the hospital run by the University of Washington, would take care of me when I had a medical or psychiatric emergency, but then, they would send me a bill for the entire amount that they would say I owed them. My job, back in 2008, had a title of "Consulting Engineer", but since it was a Contract position, it included no benefits, such as Health Insurance. (This seems to be a common practice these days, including in the Computer field, which is where my job was). Then, in April 8, 2009, I was poisoned at an IHOP restaurant in Seattle, which cost me my Consulting job, throwing me on Unemployment Insurance, which also does not include Health Care. (In fact, when the money would be most important, such as if sick, it is denyed by definition, since I would not be "Ready and able to work" for that week). The punch line of my Harborview Medical Center experiences are the Collection Agencies I am now contending with.
My proposal is based on the fact that these Republican House and Senate members, who are coming up for election in 2010 have constituents too. Some of them might be out of work and possibly have no health insurance. Why can't we organize real Grass Roots support in the area, led by a local person or people who are hurting. If the Republicans can organize "Astro Turf" campaigns, why can't we organize real Grass Roots campaigns?
I can make no predictions at the moment, but will leave this post with a "What If" question: What if we were successful and got 80 percent Democrats in power after the November, 2010 House Election?
The health care debate is an extremely important one at this point, as there are a lot of people in the United States that have no health care, left to the mercies of Emergency Room care. I am one of them, as I am an out of work manager, living in Seattle, Washington. Back in March, 2008, I called 911, complaining of what seemed a lot to be a heart attack. My treatment at Harborview Medical Center here in Seattle was so bad, that it triggered a Nervous Breakdown, and the eviction from my Apartment. (Harborview apparently ignored my own complaints of the Heart Attack and latched on to Intellectual Confusion, instead. They gave me no evidence that they even tested me for a Heart Attack).
My life was turned upside down and inside out, leaving me with few tools to handle a Reality that includes Republicans that don't appear to care about the Main Street portion of their own districts and/or states. Suffice it to say that I had to use my own talents, including a Quantum Physics background, to get myself well (or at least functional). It seems that the rumors are true: The Republican plan for Health Care reform is to convince people to not get sick.
Financially, my experiences with Health Care in Seattle has been problematical. Yes, the Emergency Room of Harborview Medical Center, the hospital run by the University of Washington, would take care of me when I had a medical or psychiatric emergency, but then, they would send me a bill for the entire amount that they would say I owed them. My job, back in 2008, had a title of "Consulting Engineer", but since it was a Contract position, it included no benefits, such as Health Insurance. (This seems to be a common practice these days, including in the Computer field, which is where my job was). Then, in April 8, 2009, I was poisoned at an IHOP restaurant in Seattle, which cost me my Consulting job, throwing me on Unemployment Insurance, which also does not include Health Care. (In fact, when the money would be most important, such as if sick, it is denyed by definition, since I would not be "Ready and able to work" for that week). The punch line of my Harborview Medical Center experiences are the Collection Agencies I am now contending with.
My proposal is based on the fact that these Republican House and Senate members, who are coming up for election in 2010 have constituents too. Some of them might be out of work and possibly have no health insurance. Why can't we organize real Grass Roots support in the area, led by a local person or people who are hurting. If the Republicans can organize "Astro Turf" campaigns, why can't we organize real Grass Roots campaigns?
I can make no predictions at the moment, but will leave this post with a "What If" question: What if we were successful and got 80 percent Democrats in power after the November, 2010 House Election?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Bottom line of current Political Debate: Is it OK to Lie and Cheat?
The Bottom Line of our current Political Debate: Is it OK to Lie and Cheat?
You can see the "collateral damage" in this debate: The common person. Our Country's financial situation should attest to that.
The problem with this is that it's actually kind of hard to grow up without some deceit. Our entire advertising infrastructure is based on, at best, half truths and exaggeration. At worst? Also, I've heard that it's hard to get a high-paying job without padding your resume.
If it's something that "we all do" (which is an answer I often get), then what? (Another thing I often hear is, "Be creative, and don't get caught").
In our Health Care debate, it seems to be about throwing out lies to scare people, yet those lies talk about current practices.
For example, "death panels to deny coverage to old people because they cost too much". That's a current scare tactic, yet we currently have stories about existing companies canceling coverage to extremely sick policy holders, causing them to die. (The current story on The Huffington Post discusses revoking coverage for a teenager who was HIV Positive, for example. Isn't that an example of a "death panel"?)
Current difference between the political parties? Democrats tend to limit lying and cheating to their personal life. Republicans extend the lying and cheating to political affairs, including lying and cheating us into wars. Also, Republicans often expect others to "do as I say, not as I do", which is hypocrisy.
Where is our country heading?
You can see the "collateral damage" in this debate: The common person. Our Country's financial situation should attest to that.
The problem with this is that it's actually kind of hard to grow up without some deceit. Our entire advertising infrastructure is based on, at best, half truths and exaggeration. At worst? Also, I've heard that it's hard to get a high-paying job without padding your resume.
If it's something that "we all do" (which is an answer I often get), then what? (Another thing I often hear is, "Be creative, and don't get caught").
In our Health Care debate, it seems to be about throwing out lies to scare people, yet those lies talk about current practices.
For example, "death panels to deny coverage to old people because they cost too much". That's a current scare tactic, yet we currently have stories about existing companies canceling coverage to extremely sick policy holders, causing them to die. (The current story on The Huffington Post discusses revoking coverage for a teenager who was HIV Positive, for example. Isn't that an example of a "death panel"?)
Current difference between the political parties? Democrats tend to limit lying and cheating to their personal life. Republicans extend the lying and cheating to political affairs, including lying and cheating us into wars. Also, Republicans often expect others to "do as I say, not as I do", which is hypocrisy.
Where is our country heading?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
We need to take care of the Unemployed in Healthcare Bill
Hello folks,
One significant group of people fall through cracks and have an extremely hard time, regarding health care.
Due to our current financial environment, a huge number of people lose their jobs every month. What are they supposed to do about health care? Sure, there is Cobra but, unless you got a good severance plan, you are probably hurting financially when your paycheck stops coming. And Cobra requires you, as an individual to pay the premiums that were previously often included as a benefit. (When you no longer know where the next check is coming, is that the time to be paying a huge Cobra premium?)
There is an even worse situation out there, often in the Computer fields: People who are part time contractors, where their job did not even include benefits. My prior job at E-Net (software firm in the San Francisco area) fit that category. So my health care was to hope that I can stay healthy!
When my job ended April 8, 2009, I went on Unemployment and then found that the amount you make under Unemployment is too much for Medicaid! By definition, when you are on Unemployment, you are ready and able to work each day and making an active search. Illness or injury therefore poses a problem.
The solution, to be part of our Health Care plan, is to allow people who draw Unemployment to get Medicaid. There can, of course, be the other existing tests, to make sure the person doesn't have other financial resources. But just drawing the amount the Unemployment provides is currently a show-stopper for Medicaid, but should not be.
Please make Medicaid an option for those who lose their jobs!
Thank you,
Kenneth Parker, Seattle, Washington
One significant group of people fall through cracks and have an extremely hard time, regarding health care.
Due to our current financial environment, a huge number of people lose their jobs every month. What are they supposed to do about health care? Sure, there is Cobra but, unless you got a good severance plan, you are probably hurting financially when your paycheck stops coming. And Cobra requires you, as an individual to pay the premiums that were previously often included as a benefit. (When you no longer know where the next check is coming, is that the time to be paying a huge Cobra premium?)
There is an even worse situation out there, often in the Computer fields: People who are part time contractors, where their job did not even include benefits. My prior job at E-Net (software firm in the San Francisco area) fit that category. So my health care was to hope that I can stay healthy!
When my job ended April 8, 2009, I went on Unemployment and then found that the amount you make under Unemployment is too much for Medicaid! By definition, when you are on Unemployment, you are ready and able to work each day and making an active search. Illness or injury therefore poses a problem.
The solution, to be part of our Health Care plan, is to allow people who draw Unemployment to get Medicaid. There can, of course, be the other existing tests, to make sure the person doesn't have other financial resources. But just drawing the amount the Unemployment provides is currently a show-stopper for Medicaid, but should not be.
Please make Medicaid an option for those who lose their jobs!
Thank you,
Kenneth Parker, Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Myths verses Facts in the Health Care Debate
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I just saw Obama's Town Hall meeting for Today (Tuesday), August 11, 2009. Now, immediately after the meeting was over, I'm hearing objections, that the people were hand picked. Perhaps so. For example, the names that were chosen online might have been handpicked to eliminate those with multiple, and/or recent charges of Disturbing the Peace. Why do I not think handpicking went beyond this? Because I saw all sides of the issue represented in the questions, even Republican concerns. But what I saw was Civil Discource. Nobody shouting other people down. No loud booing. (Even only polite applause, without the long standing ovations at other Obama rallys).
This strongly encouraged me, after hearing about some of the Town Hall meetings the Democrats were recently experiencing.
I choose to get my input from all sides of the issue. In fact, one email list I belong to regularly posts right wing rhetoric on the Health Care issue. My timing for this post was this web site, that was linked from one of those emails, as it throws all of the Right Wing concerns out at once. This allows me to answer some of these concerns.
Death Panels: This is the high-emotion fear-mongering term for a group of people who would supposedly visit older citizens, to "help them plan their upcoming death". The idea put forth is that older Americans would be visited every 5 years to determine if they are "too expensive" to keep alive. The truth is that this twists a provision (added, via Amendment by a Republican) that simply says that if somebody wants to do a "living Will" (where the individual initiates the contact), it will be reimbursed. But I needed to look closer to see if there is something like this in existing plans. Scroll forward in this Glossary to "Lifetime Maximum" to see an existing equivalent in current use. In this case, you are not visited by Government workers for counseling. Instead, when you need it most (i.e. Cancer), your Insurance cuts you off cold and every expense, after an arbitrary point is paid by you alone, or your Family! (I wonder: Are you still required to pay premiums for the care you are not getting?) And why are you cut off? I can only guess that it is because you now cost the Insurance Company too much money! (You know, actuarial tables and some such).
The Democratic bill would add Government run Health Insurance, where none exists now: This one can be quite short. Medicare and Medicaid are both Government run Health Care. Note that the website cited in the third paragraph is quite vocal, against Medicare and Medicaid!
The Comments are open on this post. I welcome opposing opinions. However, abusive comments will be deleted.
I just saw Obama's Town Hall meeting for Today (Tuesday), August 11, 2009. Now, immediately after the meeting was over, I'm hearing objections, that the people were hand picked. Perhaps so. For example, the names that were chosen online might have been handpicked to eliminate those with multiple, and/or recent charges of Disturbing the Peace. Why do I not think handpicking went beyond this? Because I saw all sides of the issue represented in the questions, even Republican concerns. But what I saw was Civil Discource. Nobody shouting other people down. No loud booing. (Even only polite applause, without the long standing ovations at other Obama rallys).
This strongly encouraged me, after hearing about some of the Town Hall meetings the Democrats were recently experiencing.
I choose to get my input from all sides of the issue. In fact, one email list I belong to regularly posts right wing rhetoric on the Health Care issue. My timing for this post was this web site, that was linked from one of those emails, as it throws all of the Right Wing concerns out at once. This allows me to answer some of these concerns.
Death Panels: This is the high-emotion fear-mongering term for a group of people who would supposedly visit older citizens, to "help them plan their upcoming death". The idea put forth is that older Americans would be visited every 5 years to determine if they are "too expensive" to keep alive. The truth is that this twists a provision (added, via Amendment by a Republican) that simply says that if somebody wants to do a "living Will" (where the individual initiates the contact), it will be reimbursed. But I needed to look closer to see if there is something like this in existing plans. Scroll forward in this Glossary to "Lifetime Maximum" to see an existing equivalent in current use. In this case, you are not visited by Government workers for counseling. Instead, when you need it most (i.e. Cancer), your Insurance cuts you off cold and every expense, after an arbitrary point is paid by you alone, or your Family! (I wonder: Are you still required to pay premiums for the care you are not getting?) And why are you cut off? I can only guess that it is because you now cost the Insurance Company too much money! (You know, actuarial tables and some such).
The Democratic bill would add Government run Health Insurance, where none exists now: This one can be quite short. Medicare and Medicaid are both Government run Health Care. Note that the website cited in the third paragraph is quite vocal, against Medicare and Medicaid!
The Comments are open on this post. I welcome opposing opinions. However, abusive comments will be deleted.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
More ammunition against Nuclear Power
Hello,
It has been brought to my attention that there was yet another Nuclear Meltdown in the United States before Three Mile Island, PA: 1959 in Ventura, California!
How did this come to my attention? Simple: 2009 is the 50th Anniversary of a 1959 partial meltdown of a Nuclear Reactor at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory! See story here.
Nuclear Power? Safe and clean? Bah!
It has been brought to my attention that there was yet another Nuclear Meltdown in the United States before Three Mile Island, PA: 1959 in Ventura, California!
How did this come to my attention? Simple: 2009 is the 50th Anniversary of a 1959 partial meltdown of a Nuclear Reactor at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory! See story here.
Nuclear Power? Safe and clean? Bah!
Friday, February 27, 2009
If I haven't posted for a while...
Hello,
Yes, I've been quiet for a while. Part of it was being overloaded by my "day job" [computer professional], but part of it has been how fast things have been changing, as well as in ways that I like. (For example, I observe that people are more likely to post on their BLOG when they are upset about something).
About Obama's speech last Tuesday, I share the brief viewpoint Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) gave Keith Olbermann [as in Countdown with _____ on MSNBC]: He asked Senator Boxer, "You've seen and heard a lot of these. I'll give you the softball question off the start: Rank this one!" Senator Boxer responded, "A home run, a touchdown, and a three pointer. I mean, is that good for you for an analogy?" After a chuckle, Keith responded, "It works. Yes". [Note to the uninitiated: In Keith's "spare time", he's also an occasional sportscaster].
More later. Ken in Seattle.
Yes, I've been quiet for a while. Part of it was being overloaded by my "day job" [computer professional], but part of it has been how fast things have been changing, as well as in ways that I like. (For example, I observe that people are more likely to post on their BLOG when they are upset about something).
About Obama's speech last Tuesday, I share the brief viewpoint Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) gave Keith Olbermann [as in Countdown with _____ on MSNBC]: He asked Senator Boxer, "You've seen and heard a lot of these. I'll give you the softball question off the start: Rank this one!" Senator Boxer responded, "A home run, a touchdown, and a three pointer. I mean, is that good for you for an analogy?" After a chuckle, Keith responded, "It works. Yes". [Note to the uninitiated: In Keith's "spare time", he's also an occasional sportscaster].
More later. Ken in Seattle.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
