A Cry in the Wilderness - Stand up and take a stand!

A Cry in the Wilderness - Stand up and take a stand!

Stand_up_flag
I am so sick of the 'us' vs. 'them' mentality and I say, by being complacent, we are complicit.  By not keeping informed, by not doing our research, by voting in the same people expecting different results, by tolerating the lying thievery, duplicity  and low ethical standards of our elected officials (and actually rewarding them), we are contributing to the fact that our government officials no longer have our best interests as their priority.

This is a comment posted on The Lookout by ‘Bobby’ on Friday, April 15, 2011 (originally written by Charly Reese, a retired syndicated columnist many years ago) and I believe it needs to be heard again:

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and 

then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are 
against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation 
and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on 
appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme 
Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are 
directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the 
domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that 
problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its 
Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally 
chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. 
They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, 
a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't 
care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The 
politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the 
lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine 
how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that 
what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con 
regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive 
amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, 
who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The 
President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to 
accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole 
responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and 
approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? 
John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow 
House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If 
the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree 
to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot

replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of 

incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic 
problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you 
fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the 
federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they 
want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they 
want them in
Iraq and Afghanistan ....

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement 
plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they 
hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and 
advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to 
regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let 
them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical 
forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them 
from doing what they take an oath to do.

Stand up and take a stand!

A Cry in the Wilderness – Enough of your Games!

A Cry in the Wilderness – Enough of your games!

Garbage_flooded
Let’s wade out of the garbage with which the media has flooded us!!!!

By being complacent, we are complicit!

We are tired of the political games being played by our elected officials.  We are tired of our elected officials putting their political parties before our best interests.  We have had enough of our elected officials selling out our interests in favor of big business in exchange for big $$$$$$ for their individual and collective coffers!

I say: ‘Off with their political heads’!!!   They should not only not be paid if they can’t represent us properly, but I vote that they should refund their salaries for the past few years for not doing their jobs! 

I am not alone in feeling this way.  Quit voting for them (on both sides of the aisle).  Vote for people without ties to the political machines and to big businesses.  Get rid of all lobbyists!  Raise a stink when the prevalent political machines use every dirty trick they can come up with to get a person voted on by us (the people) to withdraw so they can insert one of their own into the slot, re: Illinois.  Do some research and boycott the businesses that support these people.  They only understand 1 thing - $$$$.  Hit them where it hurts. 

Why do we keep voting for the same people and expecting a different result?????

We need to make our voices heard.  There are more of ‘us’ than there are of ‘them’.  Make a note of those officials that are blocking the newly voted in (without ties to political machines and big business) who are trying to do that which we voted them in to do. 

I say: ‘Shower them with love, but do not vote for them or their cronies in 2012 and do not buy products made or marketed by the companies that support them.’ 

Stand up and take a stand!  

This is my 10¢ worth.  Feel free to add yours.

Why Upgrading Your Dishwasher Is A Waste Of Money

I have an old dishwasher that doesn’t clean very well so I have to pre-wash my dishes.  My husband and I have finally come to a point where, based on our tight budget, a new dishwasher was close to becoming a reality.

 

However, after reading the article linked below, I believe that spending the money to upgrade my dishwasher would be a waste since the new dishwashers really depend on the detergent to work properly and the detergent makers have decided, based on the requirements of one part of the US - Washington State, to make and sell only the almost phosphorous free formula as of July 2010.  The article explains the reasoning and folly behind this.

 

When Procter & Gamble customer reps tell their customers who complain about how its detergent no longer works to consider hand washing the dishes instead, why waste your hard earned money on buying a new dishwasher?????  They will make money as you will still be buying dishwashing soap from them - the hand washing kind.   

 

Dishwasher manufacturers will most assuredly see a drop in sales as the word spreads, for who needs a dishwasher that because of detergent that doesn’t work - doesn’t work.

 

I, for one, will continue to pre-wash my dishes and use my old dishwasher to sanitize and dry them instead of buying a new dishwasher and still have to hand wash the dishes. 

 

The article is a bit lengthy, but well worth reading in my opinion, as it is quite informative and shows how common sense is non-existent when it comes to our governing bodies even in the face of contraindicating scientific evidence.  

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/weeklystandard/20110124/cm_weeklystandard/anothertriumphforthegreens

A Cry in the Wilderness - Stop the Insanity

Upcoming Elections in Illinois:

Let’s stop the insanity!

My votes go to Judy Barr Topinka for comptroller

and Dan Rutherford for treasurer.

Judy has a proven record of fiscal responsibility. This is one candidate that has always put the welfare of the people of Illinois first.   

 (In her race for governor, the ‘political machine – good old boys network’ supported her because she won the primary vote but did not support her campaign against Blagojavich financially with the big bucks because they knew it would no longer be ‘same old same old’ if she became our governor – look where that got us.)

 Also endorsed by:

 Chicago Tribune - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-statewide-20101011,0,6658378.story

 

 Chicago Sun-times - http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/endorsements/2787528,CST-EDT-edit10a.article

 

April's Fools - A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS - POLITICAL CLOUT? VOTE THEM OUT!

This is a non-partisan political commentary on Illinois politics but I believe it applies across the nation. 

POLITICAL CLOUT?  VOTE THEM OUT!

The arrogance of our elected officials never ceases to amaze me.  In the face of voter discontent over the mishandling, mismanaging and outright lining of their own pockets with our money, they continue to play the same old political games.  They are so infected with the viral lies they have spread that they actually believe them.  To appease us, they call for change but continually thwart those that they themselves have appointed to implement said change.  In response to our (taxpayers) calls for openness (our right to know what our elected officials are doing and how our money is being spent), they are scrambling to further reduce transparency and accountability. 

Our elected officials are ‘political machine’ power drugged rats that do not care that the ship is sinking because they will abandon us in the eleventh hour in life rafts that we’ve paid for leaving us to drown in the aftermath of their ‘political clout’.

It is time to show them that we are not ignorant, that we are not stupid and that even those of us that do not have a formal education have street smarts and common sense.  We have been complacent far too long - drugged by the seductiveness and insidiousness of their lies.  We are waking up to the fact that the emperor has NO clothes.  And contrary to what we have been led to believe, WE are the emperor!!!!  It is our hard earned money that has been wasted and stolen from us and our children and grandchildren. 

It is time to stop the ‘political machines’.  It is time to shout we the people!!!

POLITICAL CLOUT?  VOTE THEM OUT!

In Illinois, tell your state legislators that you oppose Senate Bill 3336 and any future attempts to reduce government transparency and accountability.

We, the People!!!!!


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March Madness - 'Worthless Sacrifices'

This can be considered political commentary given our current politicians' behavior.


Worthless Sacrifices

 

In the grip of insane chaos

Their hearts telegraph

A desperate SOS

Calling out for deliverance

 

From soulless zombies seeking

To rip them still beating

From their chests in

The deluded belief

 

That in devouring them with

The moon as witness

Miraculous screams of

Love will transform them

 

And bathed in their blood

They will be reborn as gods

 

© Alice Vedral Rivera - 2008


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March Madness - political comment - Illinois politics

What is the Fair Map Amendment?
The Fair Map Amendment to the Illinois constitution would change the state’s process for creating legislative districts.
Its intent is to make the redistricting process less political and more transparent.


What is the problem? Illinois’ Legislative Mapping Process is Flawed & Political
Under the existing system, legislator’s leaders name 8 people to a Redistricting Commission. Two members
must be sitting legislators.
For the last 3 decades, the tie breaking process has involved drawing a name from a hat to determine whether
the Republicans or the Democrats win full power to create the district map.
Districts are currently drawn to protect incumbents –with the existing mapping process, incumbents have won
their elections at a 95% success rate
The current system gives too much power to the General Assembly


What are advantages of the proposed amendment for a fair mapping process?
The amendment is based on a bipartisan Citizens’ Commission Proposal (Illinois Reform Commission).
An Independent Commission, rather than legislators, would draw maps. The Commission’s members
o Could not have worked as a lobbyist or for the state for 4 years before being appointed
o Could not be elected to the General Assembly for 10 years after their service.
Maps would be drawn in an open and transparent process, with public input.
Specific, neutral criteria must be used to draw maps to protect minority voting rights and aim to eliminate
partisan advantage
Map drawers may not unduly favor any political party. Maps would be drawn for people, not politicians.
Approval would require a 2/3 vote of the General Assembly; the Governor is removed from the approval
process
Currently a tie is broken by drawing from a hat to see which party controls the redistricting process. With the
amendment, if the legislature fails to approve a map after two have been submitted, the Independent
Commission will make the final decision.


Why should we handle this through an amendment to the Constitution?
There are two ways to change the system – through the legislature, or through the citizens.
o The legislature did not change the system in 2009.
o It is unlikely they will change the system since it currently serves their best interests.
To place the amendment on the November ballot, 500,000 signatures of registered voters are needed by end of
April. Voters must sign a petition specific to their election authority (e.g. Kane County). If the people vote for
the new IL Fair Map Amendment in November, it will become law and Illinois will have a redistricting
process that is transparent and fair.


Who supports the Fair Map Amendment?
Illinois League of Women Voters
Better Government Association
IL Campaign for Political Reform
Common Cause - Illinois
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Americans for Prosperity
Illinois Alliance for Growth
United Power for Action and Justice


When does redistricting occur? Every 10 years, following a Census.

What does my signature on the petition mean?
It means you are helping to place the amendment on the November ballot.


If this proposal is approved when will this new process be put into effect?
The first map using this new process must be provided to each Chamber by the third Monday in May 2011. The process must be completed by Sept. 30, 2011, at which time the redrawn districts will be in effect.


Where can I find more information about the Fair Map Amendment? http://www.ilfairmap.com/

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March Madness - political comment

Do our representatives in government really believe that passing a bill to find out what's in it is a good idea????   How stupid do they think we are????  Why are they still trying to pass bills full of 'pork' when the country is in financial crisis????  Yes, I know, they say they took the 'pork' out - but did they really and why put it there in the 1st place (rhetorical - I know it was a bribe for votes).  If you have to bribe to get votes, there is definitely something wrong - with the bill or the politicians, or as I believe - both!!!!  Same old, same old is what got us into this crisis.  It is up to us, the voters/taxpayers, to force change by challenging the old and voting in the new - districts and representatives.  This is my opinion - what do you think???? 

This is a non-partisan comment.  I believe there are bad eggs and apples on both sides and we need to keep voting for people to represent us that aren't beholden to anyone but us, the people they were elected to represent. 


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