Closing up shop

Friday December 13th , the U.S. House of representatives are going home for the year, with the Senate to follow next week. They have after all earned a well deserved vacation, after all of the hard work that they have shown since their last break. Once they return in January, their sight's will then turn to the primaries for the upcoming 2014 Congressional elections so don't expect them to upset anything that could stand in the way of retaining their cushy jobs. Sequester, remember that untidy bit of brinkmanship? The House Republican's felt so strongly about the need for reining in spending that they allowed the Government to be closed down causing some 34 billion dollars in losses to the American economy. Roll back , now that many of the targeted programs have taken a hit as a result of the budget showdown, it's time to roll back this much cherished program of cuts, before it affects many of the rights concerns. Unemployment extension: sorry sure it's Christmas time and the fact that millions of American's will be losing their unemployment benefits at the end of the month are just the victims of timing. Perhaps if the House and Senate would of spent the year working on the concerns of the American people , there might be less unemployment and more American's paying taxes, What if. We don't like Obamacare. That's all well and good . The House has taken some forty some votes to try to turn back , stop , defund Obamacare at all cost. The supreme court has said too bad get over it, move on next problem. But this has kept America distracted long enough that nothing has been accomplished for another year. And next year, we have already shown that the elections will be all that matters. Are your Representative's working for you? How do you really rate in their plans for the coming year? Stay tuned.

Is this really what we have come to, or what the blank is this

Lately, I have really noticed the downward movement of the quality of the news that is being offered by Yahoo in particular. I went to check the other providers and found that they too just get their news from the major sources and they all are just " printing " what is being provided. Do you really care about North by northwest , or whatever they named their kid. I'm sure that a great many of you know who I am talking about, We spent months after all gearing up for this moment but does your life really depend on their every move. How about Jennifer Aniston, she's in the news again, or should I say still. There are of course some stories that are real and are of concern like China flexing it's muscles at the Philippines over the Spratly islands and perhaps a wealth of oil and gas. They are also threating over many of the other islands and reefs in the South China sea. But on to Kanye , he stepped out you know for a fathers day out. It must be hectic and emotionally draining, having a woman give birth to your child. But this is the fare that we are exposed to , day in and day out. There are of course human interest stories, like the one about Kylie and Jaden they were seen holding hands, earth shattering. How about the Glow In The Dark Car apparently driven by the Qatar's ruling family's youngster who did not have a license. All the while many American men and women are being killed daily in Afghanistan and our hired hands are just as ineffective as they have always been. Where's the story, there isn't one just more diversions, something to keep our minds off of the real world.

Full speed ahead , damn the populace

It looks like our elected representatives , ( hired workers ) are going ahead with their plan to give millions of illegal boarder crossers, a chance at citizenship regardless of the feelings of the millions of American's who oppose such a move. These paid workers will tell you that we need to change the immigration system so that we can bring in millions of low skilled workers to fill the many jobs that go unfilled, and to allow highly skilled workers the chance at becoming American because there apparently are no American's that can fill the many jobs that go unfilled at this upper level. Twilight zone ? it sure fills like it as I write this. Each day I read the many postings that are offered in response to the stories posted online by the different internet News providers, and one thing is clear American's would like to be represented. Every two years we American's go to the polls , either local state or federal and cast our votes for the candidate who lies to us the best and can tell the tallest of tales. Time for a change? , sure they all play the same song, that is until they take office. Once there, they realize that they did just win the lottery and all bets are off as far as doing anything that will upset the money train. November of next year 2014 , we once again have the opportunity as American's to elect the person in our home districts, who we feel is best qualified to bring about the desired change that is greatly needed. Incumbents, a thing of the past? This is what is needed, a one time House and Senate clearing, that will send the message that business as usual will not be tolerated any longer. Work for America, or go home. One can dream.

Not when we do it

Remember when, growing up in America as children we were taught about how America was superior to all other countries. We were taught about evil empires like the Soviet Union, China and Nazi Germany, where there were no personal liberties, and freedom of thought. Countries where the populace had to toe the line , or risk being taken away in the night never to be heard from again. America they said was above that sort of behavior we championed human rights, personal freedom of expression and dignity. Modern technology, has brought about great change in America as well as the rest of the world. Today, we have at our finger tips the ability to communicate with anyone in the world at any time. We have vast amounts of information available to us with just a click. Our Government now has as a result of all of this modern technology, the ability to monitor every phone call you make , every piece of information you might look at on your computer, who your friends are, where they live and could they and you be considered a threat. America , we don't do that sort of thing to our populace. You had better watch out for what you say how you say it and to who you may say it to, or risk being labeled a subversive, radical or rebel. Can't happen in America think again, the juries in and the facts are on the table. Remember when they taught us to duck and cover for at any time , any one of these evil empires could unleash at any time our demise. Now we have confirmed all of our greatest fears and our biggest enemy was U.S. all along.

Embarrassment by any other name....

Once upon a time in America it seemed, that our leaders had more ethics, integrity and were more honorable. Perhaps , it was just a sign of the times and they were able to hide most of their illegal maneuvers and inequities , as they did not have the internet and the access that it provides to the electorate. Today we as American's find ourselves only days away from what may or may not be one of the biggest mistakes made in our name as American's. Sequester, it was voted on by all of the House and Senate members as a way to keep a fire burning under the negotiations over the deficit reductions some nineteen months ago. At the first of the year, there was another negotiation, as both parties had failed to work out a compromise and now with the clock running down once again they settled for a quick fix , to give themselves a little more time. It's due now: Name calling and finger-pointing and of course the blame game. It's not my fault we did everything in our power to avoid this from happening came the chours from both sides. At last both side have agreed to do one thing , Nothing. It appears that in a few days we will once again be confronted with this man made obstacle on the road to deficit reduction, which will lead to many people losing their jobs. Many Federal workers will be furloughed and many organizations that rely on the federal Government will see their reimbursements slowed as of a result of such inaction. The American people are only on the hook for some 85 billion dollars this year , thanks in part for the year being partly over and for the fact that our politician's did find some 29 billion dollars of cuts during the deal made at the first of the year. Will there be a trickle down effect on the rest of the economy? There is hardly any way that there can not be a huge impact on every sector of our economy as well as the worlds economy. Why then are we still playing the games. A ten percent actual reduction across the board on all programs is not going to ruin the plans of any of the many programs , as most can easily find those kinds of reductions. But there needs to be reductions, crying about losing the rate of gain that was expected is for another time and place.

Election past, nothing changed

Well here we are in the third week of December , the election is past, nothings changed and life would be back to normal, if not for the sensless deaths that keep topping the headlines each week. The right to own and bear arms will again be foremost in the minds of the country , at least for the near future. There are valid concerns from both sides and I'm sure that nothing will ever get done , that will satisfy both sides. Armed security guards: Perhaps the easiest way to make America safer is to establish a standard , for the amount of training needed to become a security guard , then employ them at all places where large numbers of people attend. Other countries use this method and from what I can tell( without the records of mistakes made) it seems to work quite well. I have been frisked many times, ok a slight pat down as I have entered the malls in the Philippines, as they have check points set up at the entrances at all malls. Smiling happy friendly guards check to ensure that your not carrying. Go into any bank, and you will find guards with sawed off shotguns and assualt weapons. No crime here. Jobs : the providing of jobs is upmost in the minds of all politicians, and this would bring some relief. Security : equals big brother, not really. I have worked for a State facility and we had guards that would patrol the grounds each shift, and anything out of place , would be attended to. Having a guard at all schools would cost money that currently is not in most budgets, federal and or state aid? how safe do you want your kids to be.

Two days

Well , here we are with two days left until we elect the person that we hope will bring America back to where we belong. It has been a long and sometimes nasty campaign, and the division of America has never been larger. Blame: each party has blamed the other for all of the woes that are facing America, and they alone are the only answer. Mistrust and hate: Why do we as one country have to mistrust our fellow man ,in order to try to advance our ideas. The hatered ( according to the blog responses that I read daily) that has been displayed during this election has been mind boggling. It would be refreshing to have either and or both candidates come out and try to rally both sides of the American electorate. Sides : This in my opinion is the main problem that is now facing our once great country. Why do we need to have sides, as it is a sure way to divide any group. One Nation under God. It would be nice if that still means the same thing as when our country was founded. One Nation, implies that as a group we strive for the same goals and face the same problems as a united front. Under God implies that there is a higher power, that bestowed life liberty and the pursuit of happiness to us all. Sometimes we forget as a people, as we face our personal problems and endure the challenges of our daily lives. Sometimes we forget that we are all created equal. Moving forward as a group: Unity we have to learn to become united as our countrys name implies. We need to put all of this hatred and division behind us and lift each other up as we lift America back to the place where we belong.