Medicare for All.
Considering what is spent for insurance premiums and co-pays already, increasing my taxes by $3000 would still be a bargain. People who wonder how to pay for it seem to forget about the outrageous premiums many people pay now. Frankly, I'd prefer a system whereby those who choose to go into MfA can, and those who prefer to keep their private insurance can -- provided that they pay something to support MfA.
Free College.
I don't see how this will work as long as we're spending hundreds of billions on war and Amazon pays no taxes. So stop spending so much on war and guarantee that corporations that make billions in profits pay at least millions in taxes..
Can a Democratic woman win?
Hillary's defeat soured many people on a woman. Maybe she wasn't the RIGHT woman? The primary process will winnow some people out (like all but one?), and my hope is that a woman will be in the final two in the race. If a man wins, then he MUST choose a woman for VP. And finally, if Dems do NOT get behind WHOMEVER is nominated, they can not complain when Trump wins again.
Does everyone need to carry a loaded gun all the time, everywhere?
A local columnist wrote about going to a family restaurant where she was startled by a middle-aged man open-carrying a gun. Here now, basically anyone can carry a gun almost anywhere, concealed or not, no permit needed. What I don't understand is why middle-aged white male conservatives feel the NEED to carry, all the time, everywhere. If they feel THAT threatened every time the leave their homes, maybe they need some psychological help.
Trump's not a racist.
So then why did he congratulate the #2 NFL pick, while ignoring the #1 pick? The first pick is black, the second pick is a white supremacist. Trump will be the first president since Truman in the late 1940s not to present the Teacher of the Year award. The recipient is black.
How can they continue denying everything Trump does yet believe everything he says?
Trump's supporters say he's not racist, and that the Manafort, Gates, Flynn, and Cohen confessions are "propaganda" and not true. Trump says Democratic abortion bill allows mothers and doctors to deliver babies, wrap them in swaddling clothes, then "execute" them. And his supporters BELIEVE this!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Cite Your Sources?
Before you start using internet references to back up your argument, please check the reliability of those references.
Not all internet sources are equal.
I just read a post by a "friend" on Facebook that quotes a website saying that all measles outbreaks here in the US were caused by foreigners traveling here, so therefore immunization is not workable, as we can not insist that foreigners be immunized.
First, we CAN insist on that.
Second, most of the outbreaks were caused by Americans traveling abroad.
But the worst part about all of this is the website that the "friend" cited.
It is the type of website that makes Breitbart look like real factual news.
It is the type of website that makes the National Inquirer look like the Times of London.
It is the type of website that is so full of outlandish and ridiculous conspiracy theories that one would have to be totally ignorant of all factual knowledge to believe anything it says.
Yet this person cites it as fact to bolster her anti-vaxx beliefs.
The articles cite all sorts of references -- references to totally discredited websites, or fellow-conspiracy "nutjobs" -- which makes them LOOK scholarly. But if all the references are pure crap and garbage, then the article, whatever its topic, is totally less than reliable.
Now people will come along and say, how do you know that YOUR sources are correct and accurate?
Well, I'd sooner rely on the old time standards for my facts, you know, broadcast media like ABC, CBS and NBC; cable media like CNN or (to a lesser extent) MSNBC, and certainly the world's major newspapers -- The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde, or any of a dozen other papers here in the US -- St Louis Post-Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, DesMoines Register.
If you can't verify that your sources are accurate and factual, and not based on outlandish conspiracy theories, then don't post crap on Facebook -- there's enough of that already.
Not all internet sources are equal.
I just read a post by a "friend" on Facebook that quotes a website saying that all measles outbreaks here in the US were caused by foreigners traveling here, so therefore immunization is not workable, as we can not insist that foreigners be immunized.
First, we CAN insist on that.
Second, most of the outbreaks were caused by Americans traveling abroad.
But the worst part about all of this is the website that the "friend" cited.
It is the type of website that makes Breitbart look like real factual news.
It is the type of website that makes the National Inquirer look like the Times of London.
It is the type of website that is so full of outlandish and ridiculous conspiracy theories that one would have to be totally ignorant of all factual knowledge to believe anything it says.
Yet this person cites it as fact to bolster her anti-vaxx beliefs.
The articles cite all sorts of references -- references to totally discredited websites, or fellow-conspiracy "nutjobs" -- which makes them LOOK scholarly. But if all the references are pure crap and garbage, then the article, whatever its topic, is totally less than reliable.
Now people will come along and say, how do you know that YOUR sources are correct and accurate?
Well, I'd sooner rely on the old time standards for my facts, you know, broadcast media like ABC, CBS and NBC; cable media like CNN or (to a lesser extent) MSNBC, and certainly the world's major newspapers -- The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde, or any of a dozen other papers here in the US -- St Louis Post-Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, DesMoines Register.
If you can't verify that your sources are accurate and factual, and not based on outlandish conspiracy theories, then don't post crap on Facebook -- there's enough of that already.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Mueller Time?
It's been 10 days since I last wrote, simply because there hasn't been anything about which I felt strongly enough to write.
But that has now changed.
With the release of the Mueller report, I have several concerns.
1 -- Impeachment?
As much as I would LOVE to see this "president" impeached, the Senate will not go along with the House on that.
And as such, the only thing impeachment in the House will bring is a circling of the wagons around Trump by Republicans, and fence-sitters.
Impeachment by the House is the best way to guarantee his re-election.
We need to investigate him to the ends of the earth, and let the lower courts, such as SDNY come up with whatever they can find on him.
Then we need to SUPPORT whomever the Democrats nominate for president, so Democrats WIN in 2020. Then with Trump out of office, all Hell can break lose over his head.
Sadly, I'm already seeing one group of Democrats saying "Bernie or no one" in so many words. That's what got us Trump in the first place, but they are too stupid, or too brainwashed to see that.
I was a Bernie supporter in the primaries. But when Hillary got the nomination (and frankly it's water under the bridge how she got it), I voted for her, because no matter how bad she might have been, Trump was going to be (and has proven to be) worse.
So rather than impeach the man, defeat him at the polls, then let the slow but steady wheels of justice take their course with him, his corrupt family, and his corrupt underlings.
2 -- Deflection?
Already, some are blaming Obama for not telling the country that we were under attack by the Russians prior to the 2016 elections.
But those who say that conveniently forget that Senate Majority Leader McConnell (a.k.a. "Turtle") told Obama that announcing that would be tantamount to rigging the election. So Obama kept quiet. And that was a HUGE mistake.
Shortly, James Comey announced that the FBI was re-opening an investigation into Hillary's emails. This announcement, only days before the election, seriously shifted popular opinion against Hillary, thus contributing to Trump's election.
So, with both "Turtle" and Comey coming out as they did, Trump won. Those weren't the only reasons, but they were both significant.
And now Republicans want to blame Obama for not doing what their OWN majority leader told him not to do.
Republicans want it both ways, apparently.
I just hope Democrats this time wise up to the FACT that we MUST remain unified or we'll get another 4 years of Trump, the statute of limitations on obstruction of justice will run out, and HE WILL GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING. We can bleat all we want about impeaching him, which will be an exercise in frustration. We can stay home if our preferred candidate doesn't get the party nomination. We can vote our consciences, as we did in 2016. OR we can beat Trump.
I'm for the latter.
But that has now changed.
With the release of the Mueller report, I have several concerns.
1 -- Impeachment?
As much as I would LOVE to see this "president" impeached, the Senate will not go along with the House on that.
And as such, the only thing impeachment in the House will bring is a circling of the wagons around Trump by Republicans, and fence-sitters.
Impeachment by the House is the best way to guarantee his re-election.
We need to investigate him to the ends of the earth, and let the lower courts, such as SDNY come up with whatever they can find on him.
Then we need to SUPPORT whomever the Democrats nominate for president, so Democrats WIN in 2020. Then with Trump out of office, all Hell can break lose over his head.
Sadly, I'm already seeing one group of Democrats saying "Bernie or no one" in so many words. That's what got us Trump in the first place, but they are too stupid, or too brainwashed to see that.
I was a Bernie supporter in the primaries. But when Hillary got the nomination (and frankly it's water under the bridge how she got it), I voted for her, because no matter how bad she might have been, Trump was going to be (and has proven to be) worse.
So rather than impeach the man, defeat him at the polls, then let the slow but steady wheels of justice take their course with him, his corrupt family, and his corrupt underlings.
2 -- Deflection?
Already, some are blaming Obama for not telling the country that we were under attack by the Russians prior to the 2016 elections.
But those who say that conveniently forget that Senate Majority Leader McConnell (a.k.a. "Turtle") told Obama that announcing that would be tantamount to rigging the election. So Obama kept quiet. And that was a HUGE mistake.
Shortly, James Comey announced that the FBI was re-opening an investigation into Hillary's emails. This announcement, only days before the election, seriously shifted popular opinion against Hillary, thus contributing to Trump's election.
So, with both "Turtle" and Comey coming out as they did, Trump won. Those weren't the only reasons, but they were both significant.
And now Republicans want to blame Obama for not doing what their OWN majority leader told him not to do.
Republicans want it both ways, apparently.
I just hope Democrats this time wise up to the FACT that we MUST remain unified or we'll get another 4 years of Trump, the statute of limitations on obstruction of justice will run out, and HE WILL GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING. We can bleat all we want about impeaching him, which will be an exercise in frustration. We can stay home if our preferred candidate doesn't get the party nomination. We can vote our consciences, as we did in 2016. OR we can beat Trump.
I'm for the latter.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Washington going to H3ll?
Trump is consolidating his power.
He has denigrated every facet of American society that is able to control him, and his followers are going along with it all.
The free press, the FBI, the IRS, the Department of Justice, and now the Courts -- all either criticized heartily by Trump, or now under his direct, personal control.
In the 1937s, Hitler made judges in Germany swear personal allegiance to him, not the Constitution. How far are we away from that here? Will the Constitution survive until the 2020 elections?
Cabinet positions are filled by "acting" administrators. That way Trump can appoint whomever he wants, and they don't have to be vetted or confirmed by the Senate, and then HE controls those departments.
The Secretary of the Treasury insisting that a 1924 law that is unequivocally clear doesn't have to be followed. So he's suggesting breaking that law, and has the support of the President.
Border agents, when told by the courts to let asylum seekers enter the country, are told by the President to lie to the courts and say there's no room.
An Attorney General in charge of a 2-year investigation refuses to release it to Congress, in violation of the law, because there may be something in that report that will be harmful to the President.
A President who tells, on average, 10 lies per day, and has gone back on every single one of his campaign promises, blames his former opponent, and the former president for his troubles.
Family members of the President who got security clearances because he insisted on it, travel to foreign countries. Then it's revealed that those trips resulted in business deals in those countries.
It's easy to get pessimistic, and I certainly know that feeling.
But please tell me, what reason is there for any hope?
He has denigrated every facet of American society that is able to control him, and his followers are going along with it all.
The free press, the FBI, the IRS, the Department of Justice, and now the Courts -- all either criticized heartily by Trump, or now under his direct, personal control.
In the 1937s, Hitler made judges in Germany swear personal allegiance to him, not the Constitution. How far are we away from that here? Will the Constitution survive until the 2020 elections?
Cabinet positions are filled by "acting" administrators. That way Trump can appoint whomever he wants, and they don't have to be vetted or confirmed by the Senate, and then HE controls those departments.
The Secretary of the Treasury insisting that a 1924 law that is unequivocally clear doesn't have to be followed. So he's suggesting breaking that law, and has the support of the President.
Border agents, when told by the courts to let asylum seekers enter the country, are told by the President to lie to the courts and say there's no room.
An Attorney General in charge of a 2-year investigation refuses to release it to Congress, in violation of the law, because there may be something in that report that will be harmful to the President.
A President who tells, on average, 10 lies per day, and has gone back on every single one of his campaign promises, blames his former opponent, and the former president for his troubles.
Family members of the President who got security clearances because he insisted on it, travel to foreign countries. Then it's revealed that those trips resulted in business deals in those countries.
It's easy to get pessimistic, and I certainly know that feeling.
But please tell me, what reason is there for any hope?
Monday, April 8, 2019
Maine's Implied Warranty Law
A friend on Facebook was complaining that a major appliance she purchased just over a year ago was out of warranty when it died. The place where she purchased it refused to do anything because the manufacturer only had a one year limited warranty.
But what few Mainers realize is that Maine is one of a handful of states that provides a MUCH longer warranty for durable goods.
In Maine, if you purchase a refrigerator, a computer, or a car battery, and it goes bad within FOUR years, the store where the item was purchased is obligated to repair or replace it for free.
I have had several friends who have needed this warranty.
One friend bought a battery for his boat, which went bad after three months. He took it back to the big box store where he purchased it, and the clerk told him there was nothing he could do. My friend asked for the manager, and then pulled out a copy of Maine's law. The manager told the clerk to get my friend a new battery right away.,
Stores do NOT want you to know about this.
Extended warranties? You know, when you buy a $100 item and they try to sell you an extended warranty for $17 that adds another year of coverage to the manufacturer's warranty? Don't waste your money. You're ALREADY covered for FOUR YEARS. Sales people are told they have to push these extended warranties, which simply add to the company's profit margin without giving consumers any more protection than the State of Maine gives them.
Warning though -- this warranty DOES NOT apply outside Maine.
http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=27922&an=1
But what few Mainers realize is that Maine is one of a handful of states that provides a MUCH longer warranty for durable goods.
In Maine, if you purchase a refrigerator, a computer, or a car battery, and it goes bad within FOUR years, the store where the item was purchased is obligated to repair or replace it for free.
I have had several friends who have needed this warranty.
One friend bought a battery for his boat, which went bad after three months. He took it back to the big box store where he purchased it, and the clerk told him there was nothing he could do. My friend asked for the manager, and then pulled out a copy of Maine's law. The manager told the clerk to get my friend a new battery right away.,
Stores do NOT want you to know about this.
Extended warranties? You know, when you buy a $100 item and they try to sell you an extended warranty for $17 that adds another year of coverage to the manufacturer's warranty? Don't waste your money. You're ALREADY covered for FOUR YEARS. Sales people are told they have to push these extended warranties, which simply add to the company's profit margin without giving consumers any more protection than the State of Maine gives them.
Warning though -- this warranty DOES NOT apply outside Maine.
http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=27922&an=1
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Spring in the Bluegrass
Well, I guess it's finally "spring" here in the Bluegrass. It's only 56 degrees out, but with the sun it's certainly warm enough to work outside. We had a total of about 5 inches of snow all winter, and I don't think that temps dropped below 0 all winter. But still, people around here were complaining about what a long, hard winter we had. Then I tell them about Caribou, Maine, and I don't hear any more.
We can expect some nice warm days, which will send all the flowering trees and shrubs into a frenzy of blossoming, leaves will emerge, and it will look and feel like spring.
Then, about the middle of April, we usually have one more killing frost. That's why, after 10 years, we have yet to pick a single peach, nectarine or plum off our trees, and why for one night, every cotton sheet in the house ends up out in the garden to cover everything we can cover.
This may be the last year we even try to grow fruit on the trees. We're both getting older, and they physical labor it takes, to say nothing of the expense of protecting from bugs (we MUST spray here or the bugs will get everything), if we don't get something this year, the trees are either coming down or we're not going to bother any more, and will just let them grow.
Our forsythia is blooming, as are others along our road -- ours always seems to be the last to blossom fully. We should probably prune this shrub, but I think I like it naturalized. Our neighbors have several they have pruned into round shapes, and they are beautiful, but ours looks more like the picture, and I think that's the way I like it..
The Bradford and Cleveland pear trees are blossoming. One can see their white plumage all over the place, which is kind of unfortunate, as the Kentucky biology powers that be have declared both trees to be noxious invaders, and they urge everyone who has them to cut them down and destroy them. I'm not sure what it is that makes them so bad but they do, as I understand it, upset the natural ecosystem, as invasive plants are wont to do. They are fragile, and with much wind at all, they break -- we lost one totally in 2009, and the other has been seriously damaged twice; next time, it's coming down totally.
The Eastern Redbuds are not quite out yet, but in another week, their almost iridescent purple-red buds will be spring from the bark all over the trees. Yes, the flowers grow right out of the bark, and when in full bloom, one can't tell there is actually a tree there -- the flowers just seem to float in mid-air. And it's not that they are showy like the pears, or the dogwoods (which won't be out for a few more weeks), so one can actually see them on the roadsides and yet almost NOT see them. I think they're my favorite tree.
So far, that's about it for our significant flowering plants. In another month, all of them will be green like everything else, but for awhile, they are colorful and enjoyable.
We can expect some nice warm days, which will send all the flowering trees and shrubs into a frenzy of blossoming, leaves will emerge, and it will look and feel like spring.
Then, about the middle of April, we usually have one more killing frost. That's why, after 10 years, we have yet to pick a single peach, nectarine or plum off our trees, and why for one night, every cotton sheet in the house ends up out in the garden to cover everything we can cover.
This may be the last year we even try to grow fruit on the trees. We're both getting older, and they physical labor it takes, to say nothing of the expense of protecting from bugs (we MUST spray here or the bugs will get everything), if we don't get something this year, the trees are either coming down or we're not going to bother any more, and will just let them grow.
Our forsythia is blooming, as are others along our road -- ours always seems to be the last to blossom fully. We should probably prune this shrub, but I think I like it naturalized. Our neighbors have several they have pruned into round shapes, and they are beautiful, but ours looks more like the picture, and I think that's the way I like it..
The Bradford and Cleveland pear trees are blossoming. One can see their white plumage all over the place, which is kind of unfortunate, as the Kentucky biology powers that be have declared both trees to be noxious invaders, and they urge everyone who has them to cut them down and destroy them. I'm not sure what it is that makes them so bad but they do, as I understand it, upset the natural ecosystem, as invasive plants are wont to do. They are fragile, and with much wind at all, they break -- we lost one totally in 2009, and the other has been seriously damaged twice; next time, it's coming down totally.
The Eastern Redbuds are not quite out yet, but in another week, their almost iridescent purple-red buds will be spring from the bark all over the trees. Yes, the flowers grow right out of the bark, and when in full bloom, one can't tell there is actually a tree there -- the flowers just seem to float in mid-air. And it's not that they are showy like the pears, or the dogwoods (which won't be out for a few more weeks), so one can actually see them on the roadsides and yet almost NOT see them. I think they're my favorite tree.
So far, that's about it for our significant flowering plants. In another month, all of them will be green like everything else, but for awhile, they are colorful and enjoyable.
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