Updated 26 March 2006 Previous threads are now closed; the topics remain open so that people may go back and view them. Please post to the new rainbow threads!
Proposal to repeal the 22nd amendment OK, don't get over excited, but Congress has had this or a similar amendment sitting in the wings. From wiki: "Frequent attempts have been made, in recent years one or more per session of Congress, to modify or repeal the 22nd Amendment; none has yet been successful."
Of course the 22nd was enacted by a Republican Congress that had just suffered four terms of Roosevelt and two of Truman.
I'm not a fan of term limits: if there's someone doing a terrific job, I want to be able to vote to keep them in office. Particularly in the Senate, there is a great value to the institutional memory that the old timers bring with them.
And there's a huge difference between electing someone for a third or fourth term and having that person declare themselves the solution to a national emergency.
Regarding term limits: One of the ladies I used to work with came from the French country of Togo in Africa. She said that not having any term limits there made the politics of that country particularly dirty. She also said that whenever they'd vote their president out of office, he would just ignore the vote and stay there anyway (Hmmm... Sounds eerily familiar). I think their lifetime president died last year, but one of his sons took over. Even worse than that, she said, was that when people would protest, they'd just shoot them down in the streets.
Just the same, she said she wanted to go back there to live as soon as all of her kids finished college here in the U.S. (She had two who already had graduated, with two left to go by then.) She said the reason was because she didn't like the nursing home system in this country, and that in her country, elderly people's extended families would share in their care.
This is the best political blog out there. Whenever I check the other ones, everyone's always bashing each other. I can only imagine how these people interact at home with their families. The discussions never seem to be civilized. I think that sometimes it's just a tactic for getting out of having to back up their assertions with actual facts.
Marilynn, lets say your very favorite candidate gets elected, and does a great job, wouldn't you like to have the option of voting for him/her for more than two terms?
Rich and Dan, I just wanted you to know I didn't have a strong opinion in either direction about term limits. Mostly, I came here to learn. And I happen to enjoy the company of all of you here, because you're more interested in finding solutions than scoring ego points -- something I can't seem to find anywhere else. You see, having first arrived at this blog with next to no knowledge of politics, the only difference I felt I had to offer here is insight into the perspective of a person who had previously been mostly apathetic about voting.
I only voted in two elections in my whole life. The reasons I voted in those elections -- both for president, were purely emotional ones. I would have voted again for both of them for a third term if we'd had that option. Based on conversations I had with other apathetic potential voters, the same factors applied.
I don't know if it will help anyone to know what my reasons were on those particular occasions for being energized to vote. But apathetic citizens and uninformed voting are two major problems that need to be solved. And I'm thinking it might be easier to accomplish that, if we could ferret out the root causes.
The first time I voted was in 1984. I voted for Ronald Reagan and the straight Republican ticket. (Please go easy on me, it gets worse.) I was only 23 years old, it was the first time I lived on my own, and life just seemed so wonderful. I didn't have a clue about things like false economies or supply-side economics. On top of that, I lived in New Hampshire during those years, and "Republicanism" was more of a lifestyle than an ideology for young adults there in the 1980's. (Think Alex P. Keaton in the TV sitcom Family Ties.) All I knew is that Ronald Reagan had a personality much like both of my grandfathers, and life was good, and I just wanted it to go on like that forever.
The second and last time I voted was in 1992. I voted for Bill Clinton. I was back living in Massachusetts, and we were still in a recession, so life wasn't quite so easy any more. I knew I didn't want George H.W. Bush for a second term, but I still would have stayed home on voting day, had it not been for the silly "entertainment factor". (See what I mean?) Ross Perot's amusing personality kept me glued to the TV news during campaigning. I wavered between Perot and Bill Clinton. What finally motivated me to vote for Clinton was (you've probably already guessed) "I feel your pain." It didn't even matter to me whose pain he was able to feel, just that a politician could empathize with anyone's suffering.
I, and probably a lot of other uninformed voters would probably have voted for both of them for a third term, but would that have been a good thing? I still don't know enough to answer my own question here.
If I had to guess a reason why some people would have trusted George W. Bush, I'd say it might have something to do with the fact that Average Joe can identify with his stumbling over words. I mean, who would suspect deception from someone who speaks in a manner which is exactly the opposite of a slick-talking salesman?
I hope that in some way this helps you guys to know the thinking of an all-too-common U.S. citizen/voter.
Judy and Marilynn...hi...it's always good to see you here.
I have been thinking of ways to create the transparency in government/education that is desperately needed. Restoring the Fairness Act and nationally requiring states to send out voter phamplets is a step in the right direction. But much of what is happening in government on a daily basis is flying in under the radar, even for those who are searching to be educated. I was wondering if all of you have an idea of the best means to effectively tell people what is happening in government on a daily basis. I am thinking of adding an "amendment" to my Restore the Fairness Doctrine campaign.
Thanks for sharing Christin, would you mind if I copy your post to share at some "get out the vote" think tank sites?
Congrats, Richard, on becoming precinct captain. You are so needed in the decision processes, especially those involving changing the way we produce energy.
Ideas on the US having a sound economy even if oil isn't sold in dollars?
Christin, thanks for revealing so much of your voting history and your motivations. I'm sure it's a snapshot of the thinking of many occasional or non-voters. I found your details very interesting.
Congratulations Richard and Susan on such a successful use of film and your cable access channel. I thought public access was only available for local government. Thanks for the information.
Thank you so much Richard for the information on public access cable. I knew it exists and even watch it, but the "light bulb" over my head never turned on until your post. My kids would say...DUH...
Women dems seem to be the most active group in my low density county. I will present the suggestion to make a film for cable access and see what we come up with.
As always, I am impressed with your involvement in working to make our world a better place and thank you for assisting in educating me in ways for me to do the same.
I was researching cable access and came across this article. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing I believe that this is taking corporate "personhood" to a new level when corporations can have their own nonprofit organizations supporting their goals to make laws that they will profit from.
Yep...I'm outraged...from the article Dan linked to:
"These are small examples of what's happening at every level of society. In business, "stealth marketers" are paying people to casually talk up their products to friends and co-workers and get word-of-mouth buzz going."
...and the corporate version of Orwell's "1984" came to pass 22 years later...
Oh, and I need to find out if there are any companies "paying" for promoting the PHEV car and solar panels:-)
I didn't want to interrupt, but I just wanted to tell you guys that I was so happy to hear on NPR about the "guilty" verdicts for Skilling and Lay, that I almost cried tears of joy. I had to hold back because I was at work (still am -- I'm on break now. I tried to post this earlier on my first break, but I wanted to edit and this computer wouldn't cooperate, so I deleted it.) I'll check back again when I have more time to read your new posts, so I can stay on topic. Sorry to interrupt.
Speaking of "1984", there's another book that deserves wider reading, "The Space Merchants" by Frederick Pohl & CM Kornbluth. It's about capitolism run amok.
It was satire, but so much has come true it's more tragedy. Congress people no longer represent states, they represent corporations. The more money a corporation has, the more representatives it can purchase. Society is divided into three classes, Executives, Staff, and Consumers. Consumers are expected to consume into constant debt in order to keep the economy going. Conservationists have become so desperate that they have become terrorists.
The book sounds very interesting Cheryl. I read some on-line reviews. This is from a review by Eric Browl. "..but what makes The Space Merchants a classic is the fact that Pohl and Kornbluth, knocking out this short novel in New York in '51, proved to be eerily accurate foretellers of a future very much like the one we are now inhabiting."
I just came in from an incredibly delightful day with Christopher (yes, the one from Hawaii), his sister Robin, and his nieces Rachael and Alexa. We went rafting on the French Broad River in NC...tons of fun and beautiful. We jumped off of rocks into the river, floated one of the rapids without a raft and Alexa got to ride a rapid standing up.
We met Christopher's parents in town for lunch and wandered around the town a bit...which doesn't take long since there are only a few blocks that have businesses.
It happened by chance that Christopher found out that his parents live 20 miles from me...just in mentioning the NC mountains. We decided to meet up when he was coming to visit his parents.
Christopher and his family are all terrific people...I was happy to get to meet him in person. When we get our pics developed he will post some on his blog...and I'm sure he'll tell about the trip, which for him has included Fla.
Deb and Christopher, Can't wait to see the pictures of your adventures...
I hope some day soon I'll have the chance to do those kinds of activities again -- it's been way too long (sigh).
Right now, living vicariously through other people is one of the few things buoying me, as during my waking hours, mostly all I feel is the concrete warehouse floors under my shoes. Ouch. It's by no means the worst job in the world, but still, there's got to be a better way to live than this. I just need to find it.
Is there a way you or Marilynn's granddaughter could make it so we all could post pictures on this blog? I'm so curious to see all of you and the people close to you, and the places you come from...
Deb, I also wanted to ask you something about North Carolina. One of the reasons a lot of people in my state are no longer able to take vacations is because the cost of housing is so outrageous here. One of my friends at work told me that he has friends who live in North Carolina near the Virginia border. He said they told him that purchase prices of good homes, as well as rents in good neighborhoods, are very affordable there.
What is the average purchase price for a single-family home there? And what is the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood? Also, what kinds of jobs (besides health care; I'm very squeamish) are mostly available there?
Over the past year or so, I've been researching different areas of the country, in order to find a more affordable place to live. But every time I contact any of the Chambers of Commerce, I get bombarded with brochures and newspapers for months. I don't have enough free time to keep up with that much reading material.
I also would appreciate if the rest of you could give me some information about the livability of your states as well.
Massachusetts definitely has its good points, but it is so expensive to live here that unless you have a very high income, those "good points" aren't accessible. Even a lot of people whose mortgages are already paid off, struggle to afford the property taxes and high heating costs here. And since the wages are relatively high here, costs of goods and services are very high as well.
I am so sorry that so many problems are happening in your family. I hope and pray that your health and the health of your husband improves dramatically. Please keep us informed when you have a chance. I'd like to be able to give offers of help, but, since I'm on the other side of the country it just doesn't work. However, if there is anything that is pc related that would be of help to you I would be more than happy to help.
Yes, housing is very affordable in my little hamlet, but people are poor and there aren't many jobs. If Jeff didn't work shift work away from here we wouldn't have been able to move here.
I'm actually almost embarrassed to say what we are paying to rent a 3/1, fully furnished, clean, sound, 100 year old house, including all utilities...$675 a mo. The furnishings are from the 50's or 60's...solid, but need recovered (I do miss my own stuff).
The people who live here couldn't afford much more:
"The median income for a household in the town was $20,714, and the median income for a family was $30,882. Males had a median income of $30,714 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,497. 24.4% of the population and 16.1% of families were below the poverty line. 25.8% of those under the age of 18 and 29.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty level."
Most everyone has a vegetable garden and freezer to put up their own food. Work is seasonal and mostly is providing services for summer tourists. Poverty in Appalachia is real, but people live close to the land which is one of the reasons I like it so much.
This area is growing. The pop. of Asheville is 70K and expected to double in the next 15 years. Baby boomers are retiring and looking to this area. People (like me) are leaving the coast to get away from the hurricanes.
The average price of a home can be quite deceptive. The new gated subdivisions are selling above 1/2 mil. I looked at a 1,500 sq. ft. house in town similar to the one I am living in for 70K and we expected to put another 30K into it, which would have made it very functional and nice (extra bath/new kitchen).
I looked at a piece of property a couple of days ago for 10K, 3.75 acres on the side of a mountain with awesome views and a long drive to anywhere. It has an existing spring so no well would need dug. The septic would cost around 10K. You could build one of Judy's cob houses, or a variation of a block house, and have an extremely affordable house. Which, actually, many of the people here are doing. I have met more than a few people who live "off the grid".
Real estate and house building are 2 of the largest industries, however as interest rates climb those businesses are reduced.
Some of the people in this county have home based employment. One of our friends is a draftsman designing house plans. She works for a company out of Atlanta and goes to Atl a couple of times a month. She modifies existing house plans to suit the customers and does it by phone, fax and e-mail.
Of course any home based self-employment should suffice provided that the product was intended to be sold to more affluent areas.
There are "quotas" in federal and most state governments to purchase from women owned businesses...it might be something that you want to look into. The SBA has a division just for women owned businesses.
Good luck with your search for a better lifestyle.
I should have added that poverty in these mountains isn't the same as poverty in cities. People here are honest and good. They help each other out. Most of the crime here is domestic abuse type situations...a problem for sure, but it does exist every where.
A car was broken into last week and a purse stolen from it...it was quite the buzz for more than a few days.
Judy, my Mom often reminds me to appreciate good health while I have it. After nearly thirty years as a social worker who has always had to climb lots and lots of stairs to get to the upper floors of older city buildings to meet with her clients, her knees are now shot. She's going to need surgery on them, otherwise she'll continue to feel severe pain for the rest of her life.
I try to remember to count my blessings, and just appreciate that I have a lot of people who care about me, but I just wish I had more free days to spend with them before there aren't any days left for us, just like you said. I've already lost a lot of close relatives that I wish I could have spent more time with. It was always a matter of someday when I have more time... But now for a lot of those relatives, someday is gone forever.
Deb, Over the past several months, I've come to think of "poverty" and making low wages as two completely different things. For example, a drug-dealing, murderous "gangsta" will have tons of money, but in my view, that's the worst kind of poverty.
These days, I think of people who earn low wages as simply "being broke". I aspire to "live close to the land", the way you describe. Only two days ago, a friend of mine at work and I were talking about our retirement goals, and I told him that my goal in life is to live as close to the earth as possible (not literally like in a tent or anything). I don't know how realistic that is, though, since I love things like live theater and ballets, long drives on scenic back roads, and antiques and historic buildings.
But I see and feel something beautifully romantic in that Charles Dickens type of "poverty". I don't know why, but excessive wealth appears incredibly sordid and vulgar to me. A friend of our family once said to me, "You sure are your father's daughter...", because, as she told me, I reminded her so much of him. He was quite ascetic -- content if he had "just enough". My Mom is a little bit more materialistic, but certainly not excessively so.
I think life is so much better if costs are kept way down. That median family income in your town is fine if a nice, furnished house with utilities included can be rented for $675 per month.
If I'm not mistaken, the median family income in our state is over $80,000 per year, but mortgage payments alone generally range from $2000 to $3500, except for people who bought homes before the turn of this century. I've read more than a few local newspaper articles over the past five years or so about supposedly successful business women showing up at the food banks dressed in their expensive business suits, because their housing and transportation expenses are so high, they can't afford to buy enough food for the entire month to feed their families. It sure makes living off of one's vegetable garden look appealing.
Market rent for my apartment is $1200 per month. In fact, most people around here react with "That's all -- only $1200 per month?" I'm just lucky my landlord gave me a break because he's been gutting and restoring it room by room, and not too many people are willing to live like that. I'll happily tolerate living with perpetual renovation, to live in a pretty Victorian in a quiet suburban neighborhood like this. He also knocks off more of the rent when I work on his other properties in the city. I appreciate a lot of things about living here, but I just think costs in this area are way too far out of control. So I plan to move somewhere where costs are still sane.
Judy, I'm sorry that your family is going through such a difficult time. I hope you and your husband's heath improves soon. Congratulations on your daughter landing the Microsoft job.
Christin, Michigan is really a very fine state to live in. We're surrounded by the Great Lakes and we have thousands of inland lakes. The cost of living is fairly low and we don't tend to experience much extreme weather. Unfortunately the employment situation is pretty bleak right now. Until we take Debbie's advice and become the world's leading producer in plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Mi economy might struggle for quite some time. It's a shame because I'd love to see a thoughtful person like you added to the voter pool in our state.
Debbie, thanks for the father's day greetings. My two daughters brought over my three granddaughters for a really nice get together. I wasn't allowed to cook today but with some encouragement from the three girls, I became PaPa bear. With a mighty roar, I sprang to my feet and Sonia, Elizabeth and Abby had to run for their lives around the yard. They squealed with delight as time after time they managed to elude their PaPa bear who, failing to catch his dinner, had to finally settle for a hot dog. And the girls were rewarded with ice cream cones which they proceeded to decorate their faces with. It was a terrific father's day.
Dan, thanks for the nice compliment:)) It seems like the trick is going to be finding a place where the jobs sector is just starting to boom, so that the cost of living hasn't had enough time to inflate yet.
I'm still drooling over that $70,000 price tag for that house that Debbie mentioned. My Mom has already given two of my siblings each a $30,000 down payment for their homes, and the other three of us still have yet to use ours. One of my two single brothers has been talking about maybe two or three of us pooling our down payments and moving to somewhere where we could afford to buy a house outright with no mortgage at all. My next-to-the-youngest brother maintains the golf course at the country club behind my Mom's house, and I'm sure there are plenty of golf courses in North Carolina for him to find work. And I'd be able to work at one of the resorts -- even if only as a hotel desk clerk or a chambermaid. I wouldn't mind waitressing, except I want to know exactly how much I'm going to make from one week to the next. And my youngest brother repairs classic cars for a living, so I'm sure he could find work there too.
I'm just so afraid that if we choose our destination too quickly, we might close off a better opportunity. But at the same time, if we wait too long to make a move at all, a lot of good opportunities will pass us by.
Christin, I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. After reading all that you have written here I deeply feel that you could do most anything that you wanted. Have you ever mentioned college? Do you have a degree? If not it really isn't the end all to a great job.
Please be aware that houses that are 70K are miles from nowhere...that's why they are that price. Also, we looked at the house last Oct. This town has a pop. of 650. It's an hour drive to Asheville...if you don't get behind a slow moving car on the curvy roads.
I love being in a tiny hamlet. I, also, have the opportunity to travel with my hubby to terrific cities when he is working in one.
If you are interested you are welcome to stay here and check out the area. Jeff believes that soon he will be back on the 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off shift. When he is working would be a great time for you to come...and you are welcome to bring a brother or 2.
Oh, and Christin, I don't know how you feel about going to sea...but there are great paying jobs in Jeff's industry...only problem is that you are at sea for 3 weeks at a time...but, you are off half a year.
Dan, what a fun day. Papa Bears and little girls are the majic of dreams.
JG...fill us in. You wrote about "your girls" at SSB. I call my daughters "my girls" and am thinking that you did too...we want to know...are you a Dad? I helped you help someone with homework one day, was that your child?
"JG...fill us in. You wrote about "your girls" at SSB. I call my daughters "my girls" and am thinking that you did too...we want to know...are you a Dad? I helped you help someone with homework one day, was that your child?"
Three girls 21 19 4, two grandsons christian and christopher (twins) Am I a dad? you betcha, and a granddad! No the child you helped (he got an A) was my best friends son, my friend passed away some years ago so Cody looks to me for dad stuff.
My favorite thing to hear is one of these kids come running into the room "Heh I got an idea!, can we go bake bread with it?" you did not honestly think I came up with most of that stuff...did ya? A few times I believe they wanted to adopt Richard, Deb and Judy. "See dad the only one that thinks it's nuts is Richard...He's so smart" jeepers. Anyway, you guys/gals help me with my kids more than you probably realize, thanx to all of you. thanx for the father's day wish Deb, The kids gave me more landscape lights to go around the pond...
2000.00 a month mortage!? I do not pay that in a year! then again I,m old...
John, Obviously, I missed some of the conversations at SSB. I never would have guessed you could be old enough to be a grandfather. I thought you were probably a young graduate student. You still have so much enthusiasm for life and for new discoveries. I would have placed you at mid-twenties -- tops! I don't know how you managed to get through so many years without becoming world-weary and cynical. I have become so much so, that there are days I wish there were monasteries for women. I sense now that's what my Dad needed to do when he became a Christian missionary. But when we were kids growing up, he was just like you -- like an older brother to us, interested in all the newest scientific discoveries just like you are.
Georgia must be a nice place to live. My best friend's younger sister married a guy who grew up there, and they live there now with their two children. She told us that the job market has been booming in her part of the state for the past few years, and that the cost of living -- especially housing -- is still very reasonable. Is that the case in your area?
241 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 241 of 241What a relief... I thought that maybe there was yet another loophole in the system that I was unaware of.
I know:( I'm such a bummer:(
Proposal to repeal the 22nd amendment OK, don't get over excited, but Congress has had this or a similar amendment sitting in the wings. From wiki: "Frequent attempts have been made, in recent years one or more per session of Congress, to modify or repeal the 22nd Amendment; none has yet been successful."
Of course the 22nd was enacted by a Republican Congress that had just suffered four terms of Roosevelt and two of Truman.
I'm not a fan of term limits: if there's someone doing a terrific job, I want to be able to vote to keep them in office. Particularly in the Senate, there is a great value to the institutional memory that the old timers bring with them.
And there's a huge difference between electing someone for a third or fourth term and having that person declare themselves the solution to a national emergency.
ry
Regarding term limits: One of the ladies I used to work with came from the French country of Togo in Africa. She said that not having any term limits there made the politics of that country particularly dirty. She also said that whenever they'd vote their president out of office, he would just ignore the vote and stay there anyway (Hmmm... Sounds eerily familiar). I think their lifetime president died last year, but one of his sons took over. Even worse than that, she said, was that when people would protest, they'd just shoot them down in the streets.
Just the same, she said she wanted to go back there to live as soon as all of her kids finished college here in the U.S. (She had two who already had graduated, with two left to go by then.) She said the reason was because she didn't like the nursing home system in this country, and that in her country, elderly people's extended families would share in their care.
Richard, I've also always hated term limits. In a democracy, we should be free to vote for the person of our choice, including a long time incumbent.
Christin, even if GWB could run again, voters have seen the light...he couldn't win. We'll have some new menace to contend with.
This is the best political blog out there. Whenever I check the other ones, everyone's always bashing each other. I can only imagine how these people interact at home with their families. The discussions never seem to be civilized. I think that sometimes it's just a tactic for getting out of having to back up their assertions with actual facts.
Thanks for the link to "Wordsmith", Richard
Today's quote from Wordsmith:
Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. -Horace
Mann, educational reformer (1796-1859)
Marilynn, lets say your very favorite candidate gets elected, and does a great job, wouldn't you like to have the option of voting for him/her for more than two terms?
Nice hearing from you Judy. Good luck with your projects.
Marilynn, you made some good points.
Rich and Dan, I just wanted you to know I didn't have a strong opinion in either direction about term limits. Mostly, I came here to learn. And I happen to enjoy the company of all of you here, because you're more interested in finding solutions than scoring ego points -- something I can't seem to find anywhere else. You see, having first arrived at this blog with next to no knowledge of politics, the only difference I felt I had to offer here is insight into the perspective of a person who had previously been mostly apathetic about voting.
I only voted in two elections in my whole life. The reasons I voted in those elections -- both for president, were purely emotional ones. I would have voted again for both of them for a third term if we'd had that option. Based on conversations I had with other apathetic potential voters, the same factors applied.
I don't know if it will help anyone to know what my reasons were on those particular occasions for being energized to vote. But apathetic citizens and uninformed voting are two major problems that need to be solved. And I'm thinking it might be easier to accomplish that, if we could ferret out the root causes.
The first time I voted was in 1984. I voted for Ronald Reagan and the straight Republican ticket. (Please go easy on me, it gets worse.) I was only 23 years old, it was the first time I lived on my own, and life just seemed so wonderful. I didn't have a clue about things like false economies or supply-side economics. On top of that, I lived in New Hampshire during those years, and "Republicanism" was more of a lifestyle than an ideology for young adults there in the 1980's. (Think Alex P. Keaton in the TV sitcom Family Ties.) All I knew is that Ronald Reagan had a personality much like both of my grandfathers, and life was good, and I just wanted it to go on like that forever.
The second and last time I voted was in 1992. I voted for Bill Clinton. I was back living in Massachusetts, and we were still in a recession, so life wasn't quite so easy any more. I knew I didn't want George H.W. Bush for a second term, but I still would have stayed home on voting day, had it not been for the silly "entertainment factor". (See what I mean?) Ross Perot's amusing personality kept me glued to the TV news during campaigning. I wavered between Perot and Bill Clinton. What finally motivated me to vote for Clinton was (you've probably already guessed) "I feel your pain." It didn't even matter to me whose pain he was able to feel, just that a politician could empathize with anyone's suffering.
I, and probably a lot of other uninformed voters would probably have voted for both of them for a third term, but would that have been a good thing? I still don't know enough to answer my own question here.
If I had to guess a reason why some people would have trusted George W. Bush, I'd say it might have something to do with the fact that Average Joe can identify with his stumbling over words. I mean, who would suspect deception from someone who speaks in a manner which is exactly the opposite of a slick-talking salesman?
I hope that in some way this helps you guys to know the thinking of an all-too-common U.S. citizen/voter.
Judy and Marilynn...hi...it's always good to see you here.
I have been thinking of ways to create the transparency in government/education that is desperately needed. Restoring the Fairness Act and nationally requiring states to send out voter phamplets is a step in the right direction. But much of what is happening in government on a daily basis is flying in under the radar, even for those who are searching to be educated. I was wondering if all of you have an idea of the best means to effectively tell people what is happening in government on a daily basis. I am thinking of adding an "amendment" to my Restore the Fairness Doctrine campaign.
Thanks for sharing Christin, would you mind if I copy your post to share at some "get out the vote" think tank sites?
Congrats, Richard, on becoming precinct captain. You are so needed in the decision processes, especially those involving changing the way we produce energy.
Ideas on the US having a sound economy even if oil isn't sold in dollars?
Christin, thanks for revealing so much of your voting history and your motivations. I'm sure it's a snapshot of the thinking of many occasional or non-voters. I found your details very interesting.
Congratulations Richard and Susan on such a successful use of film and your cable access channel. I thought public access was only available for local government.
Thanks for the information.
Deb, go ahead and post it -- I just hope everyone at those sites is as open-minded as everyone at this one.
Hey Marilynn, did you notice this speed limlt proposal in Texas? Take a guess...lower speed limits to help save fuel?
What's up in Texas?"
Thank you so much Richard for the information on public access cable. I knew it exists and even watch it, but the "light bulb" over my head never turned on until your post. My kids would say...DUH...
Women dems seem to be the most active group in my low density county. I will present the suggestion to make a film for cable access and see what we come up with.
As always, I am impressed with your involvement in working to make our world a better place and thank you for assisting in educating me in ways for me to do the same.
I was researching cable access and came across this article. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing I believe that this is taking corporate "personhood" to a new level when corporations can have their own nonprofit organizations supporting their goals to make laws that they will profit from.
And even citizens protests aren't always what they seem.
Rage for Hire
Yep...I'm outraged...from the article Dan linked to:
"These are small examples of what's happening at every level of society. In business, "stealth marketers" are paying people to casually talk up their products to friends and co-workers and get word-of-mouth buzz going."
...and the corporate version of Orwell's "1984" came to pass 22 years later...
Oh, and I need to find out if there are any companies "paying" for promoting the PHEV car and solar panels:-)
I didn't want to interrupt, but I just wanted to tell you guys that I was so happy to hear on NPR about the "guilty" verdicts for Skilling and Lay, that I almost cried tears of joy. I had to hold back because I was at work (still am -- I'm on break now. I tried to post this earlier on my first break, but I wanted to edit and this computer wouldn't cooperate, so I deleted it.) I'll check back again when I have more time to read your new posts, so I can stay on topic. Sorry to interrupt.
Christin, while we're waiting to hear a little more from you on the subject, here's a little recap of the story.
George and Ken
From the NYT's opinion:
Masters of the universe
Speaking of "1984", there's another book that deserves wider reading, "The Space Merchants" by Frederick Pohl & CM Kornbluth. It's about capitolism run amok.
It was satire, but so much has come true it's more tragedy. Congress people no longer represent states, they represent corporations. The more money a corporation has, the more representatives it can purchase. Society is divided into three classes, Executives, Staff, and Consumers. Consumers are expected to consume into constant debt in order to keep the economy going. Conservationists have become so desperate that they have become terrorists.
The book sounds very interesting Cheryl. I read some on-line reviews. This is from a review by Eric Browl.
"..but what makes The Space Merchants a classic is the fact that Pohl and Kornbluth, knocking out this short novel in New York in '51, proved to be eerily accurate foretellers of a future very much like the one we are now inhabiting."
For Marilynn...juicy gossip about w!
I just came in from an incredibly delightful day with Christopher (yes, the one from Hawaii), his sister Robin, and his nieces Rachael and Alexa. We went rafting on the French Broad River in NC...tons of fun and beautiful. We jumped off of rocks into the river, floated one of the rapids without a raft and Alexa got to ride a rapid standing up.
We met Christopher's parents in town for lunch and wandered around the town a bit...which doesn't take long since there are only a few blocks that have businesses.
It happened by chance that Christopher found out that his parents live 20 miles from me...just in mentioning the NC mountains. We decided to meet up when he was coming to visit his parents.
Christopher and his family are all terrific people...I was happy to get to meet him in person. When we get our pics developed he will post some on his blog...and I'm sure he'll tell about the trip, which for him has included Fla.
Deb and Christopher,
Can't wait to see the pictures of your adventures...
I hope some day soon I'll have the chance to do those kinds of activities again -- it's been way too long (sigh).
Right now, living vicariously through other people is one of the few things buoying me, as during my waking hours, mostly all I feel is the concrete warehouse floors under my shoes. Ouch. It's by no means the worst job in the world, but still, there's got to be a better way to live than this. I just need to find it.
Is there a way you or Marilynn's granddaughter could make it so we all could post pictures on this blog? I'm so curious to see all of you and the people close to you, and the places you come from...
Deb, I also wanted to ask you something about North Carolina. One of the reasons a lot of people in my state are no longer able to take vacations is because the cost of housing is so outrageous here. One of my friends at work told me that he has friends who live in North Carolina near the Virginia border. He said they told him that purchase prices of good homes, as well as rents in good neighborhoods, are very affordable there.
What is the average purchase price for a single-family home there? And what is the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood? Also, what kinds of jobs (besides health care; I'm very squeamish) are mostly available there?
Over the past year or so, I've been researching different areas of the country, in order to find a more affordable place to live. But every time I contact any of the Chambers of Commerce, I get bombarded with brochures and newspapers for months. I don't have enough free time to keep up with that much reading material.
I also would appreciate if the rest of you could give me some information about the livability of your states as well.
Massachusetts definitely has its good points, but it is so expensive to live here that unless you have a very high income, those "good points" aren't accessible. Even a lot of people whose mortgages are already paid off, struggle to afford the property taxes and high heating costs here. And since the wages are relatively high here, costs of goods and services are very high as well.
Judy,
I am so sorry that so many problems are happening in your family. I hope and pray that your health and the health of your husband improves dramatically. Please keep us informed when you have a chance. I'd like to be able to give offers of help, but, since I'm on the other side of the country it just doesn't work. However, if there is anything that is pc related that would be of help to you I would be more than happy to help.
Take care and may God bless you and your family.
Christin,
Yes, housing is very affordable in my little hamlet, but people are poor and there aren't many jobs. If Jeff didn't work shift work away from here we wouldn't have been able to move here.
I'm actually almost embarrassed to say what we are paying to rent a 3/1, fully furnished, clean, sound, 100 year old house, including all utilities...$675 a mo. The furnishings are from the 50's or 60's...solid, but need recovered (I do miss my own stuff).
The people who live here couldn't afford much more:
"The median income for a household in the town was $20,714, and the median income for a family was $30,882. Males had a median income of $30,714 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,497. 24.4% of the population and 16.1% of families were below the poverty line. 25.8% of those under the age of 18 and 29.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty level."
Most everyone has a vegetable garden and freezer to put up their own food. Work is seasonal and mostly is providing services for summer tourists. Poverty in Appalachia is real, but people live close to the land which is one of the reasons I like it so much.
This area is growing. The pop. of Asheville is 70K and expected to double in the next 15 years. Baby boomers are retiring and looking to this area. People (like me) are leaving the coast to get away from the hurricanes.
The average price of a home can be quite deceptive. The new gated subdivisions are selling above 1/2 mil. I looked at a 1,500 sq. ft. house in town similar to the one I am living in for 70K and we expected to put another 30K into it, which would have made it very functional and nice (extra bath/new kitchen).
I looked at a piece of property a couple of days ago for 10K, 3.75 acres on the side of a mountain with awesome views and a long drive to anywhere. It has an existing spring so no well would need dug. The septic would cost around 10K. You could build one of Judy's cob houses, or a variation of a block house, and have an extremely affordable house. Which, actually, many of the people here are doing. I have met more than a few people who live "off the grid".
Real estate and house building are 2 of the largest industries, however as interest rates climb those businesses are reduced.
Some of the people in this county have home based employment. One of our friends is a draftsman designing house plans. She works for a company out of Atlanta and goes to Atl a couple of times a month. She modifies existing house plans to suit the customers and does it by phone, fax and e-mail.
Of course any home based self-employment should suffice provided that the product was intended to be sold to more affluent areas.
There are "quotas" in federal and most state governments to purchase from women owned businesses...it might be something that you want to look into. The SBA has a division just for women owned businesses.
Good luck with your search for a better lifestyle.
Christin,
I should have added that poverty in these mountains isn't the same as poverty in cities. People here are honest and good. They help each other out. Most of the crime here is domestic abuse type situations...a problem for sure, but it does exist every where.
A car was broken into last week and a purse stolen from it...it was quite the buzz for more than a few days.
Judy, my Mom often reminds me to appreciate good health while I have it. After nearly thirty years as a social worker who has always had to climb lots and lots of stairs to get to the upper floors of older city buildings to meet with her clients, her knees are now shot. She's going to need surgery on them, otherwise she'll continue to feel severe pain for the rest of her life.
I try to remember to count my blessings, and just appreciate that I have a lot of people who care about me, but I just wish I had more free days to spend with them before there aren't any days left for us, just like you said. I've already lost a lot of close relatives that I wish I could have spent more time with. It was always a matter of someday when I have more time... But now for a lot of those relatives, someday is gone forever.
Deb,
Over the past several months, I've come to think of "poverty" and making low wages as two completely different things. For example, a drug-dealing, murderous "gangsta" will have tons of money, but in my view, that's the worst kind of poverty.
These days, I think of people who earn low wages as simply "being broke". I aspire to "live close to the land", the way you describe. Only two days ago, a friend of mine at work and I were talking about our retirement goals, and I told him that my goal in life is to live as close to the earth as possible (not literally like in a tent or anything). I don't know how realistic that is, though, since I love things like live theater and ballets, long drives on scenic back roads, and antiques and historic buildings.
But I see and feel something beautifully romantic in that Charles Dickens type of "poverty". I don't know why, but excessive wealth appears incredibly sordid and vulgar to me. A friend of our family once said to me, "You sure are your father's daughter...", because, as she told me, I reminded her so much of him. He was quite ascetic -- content if he had "just enough". My Mom is a little bit more materialistic, but certainly not excessively so.
I think life is so much better if costs are kept way down. That median family income in your town is fine if a nice, furnished house with utilities included can be rented for $675 per month.
If I'm not mistaken, the median family income in our state is over $80,000 per year, but mortgage payments alone generally range from $2000 to $3500, except for people who bought homes before the turn of this century. I've read more than a few local newspaper articles over the past five years or so about supposedly successful business women showing up at the food banks dressed in their expensive business suits, because their housing and transportation expenses are so high, they can't afford to buy enough food for the entire month to feed their families. It sure makes living off of one's vegetable garden look appealing.
Market rent for my apartment is $1200 per month. In fact, most people around here react with "That's all -- only $1200 per month?" I'm just lucky my landlord gave me a break because he's been gutting and restoring it room by room, and not too many people are willing to live like that. I'll happily tolerate living with perpetual renovation, to live in a pretty Victorian in a quiet suburban neighborhood like this. He also knocks off more of the rent when I work on his other properties in the city. I appreciate a lot of things about living here, but I just think costs in this area are way too far out of control. So I plan to move somewhere where costs are still sane.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY
DAN
RICHARD
JOHN
:-)
Judy, I'm sorry that your family is going through such a difficult time. I hope you and your husband's heath improves soon. Congratulations on your daughter landing the Microsoft job.
Christin, Michigan is really a very fine state to live in. We're surrounded by the Great Lakes and we have thousands of inland lakes. The cost of living is fairly low and we don't tend to experience much extreme weather. Unfortunately the employment situation is pretty bleak right now. Until we take Debbie's advice and become the world's leading producer in plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Mi economy might struggle for quite some time. It's a shame because I'd love to see a thoughtful person like you added to the voter pool in our state.
Debbie, thanks for the father's day greetings. My two daughters brought over my three granddaughters for a really nice get together. I wasn't allowed to cook today but with some encouragement from the three girls, I became PaPa bear. With a mighty roar, I sprang to my feet and Sonia, Elizabeth and Abby had to run for their lives around the yard. They squealed with delight as time after time they managed to elude their PaPa bear who, failing to catch his dinner, had to finally settle for a hot dog. And the girls were rewarded with ice cream cones which they proceeded to decorate their faces with. It was a terrific father's day.
John's a Dad too?
Dan, thanks for the nice compliment:)) It seems like the trick is going to be finding a place where the jobs sector is just starting to boom, so that the cost of living hasn't had enough time to inflate yet.
I'm still drooling over that $70,000 price tag for that house that Debbie mentioned. My Mom has already given two of my siblings each a $30,000 down payment for their homes, and the other three of us still have yet to use ours. One of my two single brothers has been talking about maybe two or three of us pooling our down payments and moving to somewhere where we could afford to buy a house outright with no mortgage at all. My next-to-the-youngest brother maintains the golf course at the country club behind my Mom's house, and I'm sure there are plenty of golf courses in North Carolina for him to find work. And I'd be able to work at one of the resorts -- even if only as a hotel desk clerk or a chambermaid. I wouldn't mind waitressing, except I want to know exactly how much I'm going to make from one week to the next. And my youngest brother repairs classic cars for a living, so I'm sure he could find work there too.
I'm just so afraid that if we choose our destination too quickly, we might close off a better opportunity. But at the same time, if we wait too long to make a move at all, a lot of good opportunities will pass us by.
Christin, I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. After reading all that you have written here I deeply feel that you could do most anything that you wanted. Have you ever mentioned college? Do you have a degree? If not it really isn't the end all to a great job.
Please be aware that houses that are 70K are miles from nowhere...that's why they are that price. Also, we looked at the house last Oct. This town has a pop. of 650. It's an hour drive to Asheville...if you don't get behind a slow moving car on the curvy roads.
I love being in a tiny hamlet. I, also, have the opportunity to travel with my hubby to terrific cities when he is working in one.
If you are interested you are welcome to stay here and check out the area. Jeff believes that soon he will be back on the 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off shift. When he is working would be a great time for you to come...and you are welcome to bring a brother or 2.
Oh, and Christin, I don't know how you feel about going to sea...but there are great paying jobs in Jeff's industry...only problem is that you are at sea for 3 weeks at a time...but, you are off half a year.
Dan, what a fun day. Papa Bears and little girls are the majic of dreams.
JG...fill us in. You wrote about "your girls" at SSB. I call my daughters "my girls" and am thinking that you did too...we want to know...are you a Dad? I helped you help someone with homework one day, was that your child?
"JG...fill us in. You wrote about "your girls" at SSB. I call my daughters "my girls" and am thinking that you did too...we want to know...are you a Dad? I helped you help someone with homework one day, was that your child?"
Three girls 21 19 4, two grandsons
christian and christopher (twins)
Am I a dad? you betcha, and a granddad! No the child you helped (he got an A) was my best friends son, my friend passed away some years ago so Cody looks to me for dad stuff.
My favorite thing to hear is one of these kids come running into the room "Heh I got an idea!, can we go bake bread with it?"
you did not honestly think I came up with most of that stuff...did ya? A few times I believe they wanted to adopt Richard, Deb and Judy. "See dad the only one that thinks it's nuts is Richard...He's so smart" jeepers.
Anyway, you guys/gals help me with my kids more than you probably realize, thanx to all of you.
thanx for the father's day wish Deb,
The kids gave me more landscape lights to go around the pond...
2000.00 a month mortage!?
I do not pay that in a year!
then again I,m old...
Thanks for sharing JG.
A bit of interesting stuff for you and the family:
Faster-than-light
Interstellar travel
Solar sail
John,
Obviously, I missed some of the conversations at SSB. I never would have guessed you could be old enough to be a grandfather. I thought you were probably a young graduate student. You still have so much enthusiasm for life and for new discoveries. I would have placed you at mid-twenties -- tops! I don't know how you managed to get through so many years without becoming world-weary and cynical. I have become so much so, that there are days I wish there were monasteries for women. I sense now that's what my Dad needed to do when he became a Christian missionary. But when we were kids growing up, he was just like you -- like an older brother to us, interested in all the newest scientific discoveries just like you are.
Georgia must be a nice place to live. My best friend's younger sister married a guy who grew up there, and they live there now with their two children. She told us that the job market has been booming in her part of the state for the past few years, and that the cost of living -- especially housing -- is still very reasonable. Is that the case in your area?
Still searching...
Maybe Texas?
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