Maine Writer

Pay for Performance in the US Congress

2012-01-28T04:45:00.000-08:00

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/2012MilPay/a/2012-Military-Base-Pay.htm
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2012, President Obama said in his State of the Union address (SOTU):

"Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought -- and several thousand gave their lives."

When President Obama spoke before the nation and a joint committee of the Congress, he addressed a group of lawmakers who have total control over America's military budget. Using his bully pulpit, President Obama used the speech as an opportunity to extol the value of the American military.

American military personnel are comprised of a diverse group of well educated people who succeed because they study how to practice teamwork. In fact, the American military deserves credit for making out nation safe from acts of foreign terrorism attacks. US Navy Seals, of course, appropriately assassinated Osama Bin Laden, the perpetrator of the September 11 attacks on New York City.

But how do we value the military? They are paid far less than members of the US Congress, who oversee their compensation.

Of course, the point being, when it comes to what tax payers value in productivity, desirable outcomes and quality of services provided, the US Congress appears to be well paid to obstruct progress, while the American military is under-valued. Check the two links above to see the differences in pay - US Congress averages about $174,000 salary per person without counting the perks and expenses related to maintaining federal and state constituent services. American military pay is graded by ranks and rates, but even admirals and generals do not receive the average base pay of a US Congressman.

Americans are justifiably proud of our military. Inversely, we are overwhelmingly disgusted with our US Congress for their inability to lead with statesmanship and leadership behaviors.

I submit we pay our military and the Congress according to what each body is worth, in sort of a "pay for performance" model. In other words, if a Congressman wants to earn a $174,000 annual salary, the outcomes of his or her performance in Washington DC must meet the criteria of working for outcomes consistent with the teamwork studied and practiced by the US military.

More to the point, for the hand full of Congress people who hold up legislation impeding economic incentives for Americans, just because they can, then we, as the ultimate payers of their salaries, should demand a refund of our money.

GOP Primary - No "Dance With Who Brung You"

2012-01-22T07:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/newt-gingrich-wins-south-carolina-primary/2012/01/21/gIQAKTxBHQ_story.html

Although Governor Mitt Romney lined up his political dance card with all the right partners, his attempt to sway South Carolina voters stepped on too many conservative toes, as rival Speaker Newt Gingrich was the bell of last night's rightwing primary election ball.

In fact, South Carolina's rightwing coalition decided against voting for the candidate their own state governor Nikki Haley decided to dance with - as she supported second place Romney.

What's a rightwing Madame governor to do when her rightwing constituent voters move to the rightwing of her own political tune?

Maybe Governor Haley needs to change the band music she dances to - maybe President Obama can even teach her to sing melodious Al Green tunes. In any case, Governor Haley needs another dance partner.

Speaker Gingrich's South Carolina primary win came with chilling rhetoric. Mr. Gingrich raised a response from rightwing voters to his racist and anti-Canadian rhetoric - stereotyping food stamp beneficiaries as free loaders and allying Canada's business deals with China as somehow un-American....like, "Hello?" Americans would be justifiably upset if Canadians said we have no business dealing with China, but that's essentially what Gingrich said in the South Carolina primary winners speech. In raising the now popular Canada to Texas gas pipeline lyrics, Gingrich said Canada is antagonizing American business interests by doing business with China, instead of with us. This is another example of rightwing hypocrisy as "business is business", once upon a time, was the basic tenet of Republican free enterprise doctrine.

So, South Carolina voters rudely decided not to dance with Romney, the one who came to their state claiming two GOP primary victories. Of course, Palmetto voters could claim to be the ones jilted when it turned out Romney only won one primary, because Senator Santorum really took the Iowa vote after all were counted.

Most upsetting about the new post South Carolina dance card of GOP presidential primary front runners is their gladiator style "gottcha" politics. They waste millions of dollars slamming each other in negative paid ads, just to win their political party's nomination. Their unending negative attacks against each other are literally filling the political dance hall with rancid noise. My ears are loosing any ability to sort out how the front runners will make a positive difference for our nation.

Nonetheless, Democrats better create a midnight ball soon, as dancing in the GOP political arena reaches a frenzy point. Unbridled rightwing political noise could well consume voters into the fire exploding from chilling and deafening hypocritical nonsense.

Of course, to win a national election, the GOP needs to decide, and soon, who their dance partner candidate will be for the duration of the presidential campaign.

In a last dance effort to win the White House, they could collapse from exhaustion prior to their really big 2012 party convention in Tampa FL.

ANA files brief in support of individual mandate | National Nursing News

2012-01-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

ANA files brief in support of individual mandate | National Nursing News

As a member of the American Nurses Association - Maine and chair of the legislative committee, I'm proud to be part of a professional association to support health care reform. Many people simply don't realize how all of us are paying real dollars to cover the cost of care for the uninsured. The individual mandate is similar to other "mandates", or requirements to purchase home owners insurance or automobile insurance, except, with health care coverage, the chances are good for most beneficiaries to use their benefit- and, to improve their health!

If the individual mandate in the new health care reform law is stuck down by the US Supreme Court, I submit the mandates for all other insurances are also at risk.

Let's hope legal briefs in support of the health care insurance coverage will prevail.

Romney Speaks French! Who Knew?

2012-01-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

My North Carolinian friends, the Dubays, regularly communicate with a Canadian family, especially about American politics. Don Dubay is a retired US military officer.

Following is Don's response to the Canadian friend's query about recent European and French bashing going "viral", targeted toward GOP Presidential Contender Gov. Romney:

Don's tongue in cheek remark: "Ah, to the uninitiated, our Republicans are convinced that Europeans are akin to godless communists. They (Europeans) actually have government run medical care, and even provide child care to unwed working mothers! Why, it's rumored those latte sipping, white wine drinking socialists disapprove of everyone carrying guns. Not only that, they have these high speed railways that go everywhere, encouraging people not to drive their gas guzzling cars, which is supposed to be a god given right - heck, these cheese eating limp wrist monkeys probably don't even own pickup trucks."

Don concludes with this perspective: "Welcome to our world where presidential primaries dominate the airwaves, morning, noon and night, for at least two years before the actual elections, and where the most inane utterings spill out of the mouths of seemingly sane people. The Repubs are down to six of their original eight candidates, so far having gotten rid of Crazy Lady Bachman and Herman 'Pizza Man' Cain. All but one of the remaining six want to invade Iran, bring Christian religion into public schools, do away with all environmental protections, drill for oil and mine minerals in our national parks, kick out Muslims, and do away with child labor laws. The loner (Ron Paul) is the real crazy one, who wants to do away with all government and let every one fend for themselves, all in the name of "freedom." And he's the guy who's presently in second place! Help!!!"

My note: One distinction between the "real GOP nominee", whoever "he" is, and President Obama may be that one speaks French and the other (meaning President Obama), does not! Hypocritically, it's the conservative RWE-RWE's (rightwingextremists) who truly believe the French are all Socialists, but it's their own presumptive Romney candidate who is fluent in le francais!

Some web pages run fact checking stories on all the candidates. I submit another column needs to include a hypocrisy meter.

Oh my God (OMG), how much more ridicule can our country be subject to. In Catholic lexicon, it's called something like "self flagellation"!

"Bou-oum!" E.M. Forester: A Gov. Romney Echo

2012-01-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

Governor Romney seemed inappropriately gleeful as he surreptitiously told a Chamber of Commerce audience how he likes firing people, during a Nashua New Hampshire campaign talk.

It reminded me of the famous echo episode in E.M. Forster's classic "A Passage to India", written about England's colonial period known as "Raj" (1848-1947).

In Forester's story, the English characters Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested are excited about visiting India's famous Marabar Cave. A horrible encounter with a frightening echo within the cave turns an innocent sightseeing expedition into a tumultuous court trail. Tragically, Adela's encounter with the echo explodes from an unfortunate incident into a controversial accusation of assault, fueled by class discrimination.

"Bou-oum!" is how Forester described the echo, in this passage: "The echo in Marabar....the same monotonous noise replies and quivers, up and down the walls until it is absorbed into the roof..."...

Romney's "I like to fire people" hits the roof in the daunting Republican debate about who is the most electable candidate to potentially defeat President Obama in November 2012. His "firing people" statement was unrehearsed, for sure, but the echo of it raises the specter of class discrimination, in much the same way Forester's "bou-oum!" eventually caused chaos among the established English Raj.

In other words, the same monotonous noise repeating his comment in the media, is causing Romney's Republican colleagues to squirm. They are completely unprepared to defend a capitalist concept at odds with the prevailing work ethic they mantra. "Get a job" is their response to all things tax supported. In GOP speak, if you work for the government: "Get a real job" (Bou-oum!). If a poor person needs Medicaid coverage: "Find a job to pay for health insurance, in spite of how expensive it is!" (Bou-oum!). If your company looses money due to competition from cheap labor markets: "It's the capitalist way!" (Bou-oum!)
How do you turn an unprofitable company into one that generates profits? "You lay people off" - euphemism for "fire people". (Bou-oum!)

In Forster's novel, the character Adela is put on the witness stand and questioned about the Marabar Cave incident. She is compelled to relive her encounter with the echo. To the embarrassment of everyone, including her English colleagues, her mentor Mrs. Moore and the people of India, who collectively felt indicted by her accusation of assault, she cannot substantiate her accusation. But Adela knew she could not recall the emotional damage caused by her emotional accusation.

Likewise, Governor Romney cannot take back his terribly mistimed remark. It will resonate like the echo in the Marabar Cave. Like the Raj, his comment opened an economic schism, by creating an unpleasant environment, just as treacherous as walking the crevices of the Marabar Cave.

He raised the economic disparity issue, similar to the Raj, a period when native people in India felt marginalized by the colonial English.

Indeed, the entire Capitalist economic system, now on public trial, must defend how ordinary people are protected by our free market system, rather than becoming a by-product of profiteering.

"Bou-oum!"

Romney's comment about firing people is his Passage to India echo. It may render him as not electable.

See the report of Governor Romney's comment:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/romney-sees-need-to-be-able-to-fire-service-providers/2012/01/09/gIQAF18alP_blog.html

Grand Old Party Creates Balkanisation - Unfit to Govern?

2012-01-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

It's not enough to hear about individual differences among Republicans vying for the office of President of the United States. Now the newscasts are loaded with regional slams as well.

"He's a Northeast Republican", is one slam, as though being from the US Northeast doesn't qualify one for being a "real" Republican, in favor of smaller government and lower taxes.

Do these regional labelists know where America originated, or not? Apparently not.

Another label is "Massachusetts Moderate", a slam referring to Republican Governor Romney as the past governor of the state, where the real December 16, 1846, Tea Party occurred in Boston Harbor.

How are Americans supposed to stand and honor our beautiful red-white-and blue flag representing unity of 50 states when the candidates coveting the nation's leadership position misuse concepts to Balkanise, (separate into quarrelsome states) our country?

Republicans are so splintered that being from the Northeast taints one as not worthy of being a "true" member of the Grand Old Party - essential to our nation's democratic two party political system

By the way, one term Governor Mitt Romney was not re-elected by Massachusetts voters. This is yet another reason why all voters must think again about Governor Romney's presumed "electability" to win against President Obama later this year.

Electability? Add up the questions: (1) Iowa voters were twice lukewarm about Romney as a Republican president in their state's caucuses, in spite of rigorous campaigning and ridiculous spending by the candidate's campaign and political action committee (PAC); and (2) Romney struggles to maintain a decisive lead in his home state of New Hampshire while the Manchester Union Leader newspaper endorsed rival Newt Gingrich; (3) The Boston Globe, a leading US newspaper located in the Massachusetts, the state where the candidate was once governor, endorsed the former Governor of Utah, John Huntsman! Add up the facts and they don't equal "electability" to me.

My conclusion is that Republicans are not fit to govern at this time. They are balkanised among themselves because they cannot agree on who is a "true", or "real" or "neo-conservative". To be other than one of the above creates the impression one is a moderate conservative. Paleeeze! This micro-examination of the concept of "conservative" is splintering the candidate's credibility and creating unflattering neologisms reflecting their individual narcissist political purposes.

As it turns out, the incendiary issues are not about how "conservative" each of the candidates are at all. Rather, it seems their constituents are obsessed by their individual religious beliefs and opinions about irrelevant social issues like homosexuality, or, "What is a Christian, anyway?", birth control and/or their belief (or not) in Creationism.

GOP faithful: Please explain to me and other mystified voters where the ideology of the current Republican line up of Presidential "wanna-bees" is indicative of at just one person who can unite and govern the 50 United States of America under the US Constitution that, by the way, was written in the Northeast.

Why is this happening? What can I do?

2012-01-03T03:47:00.000-08:00

Why is this happening? What can I do?
http://oneturkeyrun.blogspot.com/2011/12/medicaid-spring-broken-promises-and.html

My blog response to proposed cuts to MaineCare, a budget cutting policy that will shift health care costs to the private sector and public safety. The proposal will impact on 65,000 Maine people. If passed, the poor, frail, disabled and mentally ill will be without access to quality and affordable health care.

2012: A Political Mayan Calandar Year

2012-01-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Is it possible the Mayans ended their compulsion with calendar making in the prophetic year 2012, because they foresaw the destructive forces of political gridlock?

Perhaps, what the Mayans really envisioned wasn't strong planetary alignments, as astronomy scientists believe; but, rather, they saw political polarization.

Were Mayans confused between political and astronomical alignments?

The analogy of a New Year's Day football game rises to the occasion as the US emerges out of a completely avoidable tax and gridlock polarization saga at the end of 2011. This year ending drama is now suspended in a temporary vacuum. Nonetheless, both sides of the debate are in their respective political locker rooms.

Will the Republicans and Democrats come back to Washington DC after the Holiday truce, with the intention of working out a compatible budgetary game plan, for the betterment of the American People?

Or not?

I submit the Republicans, already entrenched in obstructionism, are intent on making sure no new ideas on the budget and tax reform gain any traction. In other words, "NNI = No New Ideas". So, a Mayan Calendar symbol for the political prediction might look something like this: GOP+2012=NNI. Any progressive ideas might help to re-elect President Barack Obama, the only game plan the negative GOP appears to care anything about. (And these GOP obstructionists take an oath to uphold the US Constitution!)

Democrats, on the other hand, are handing over Republican ideas for good job creation like a dealer at the poker game table. Dealer turns a card, "federal money to fix crumbling bridges". A GOP wager = "fold". Dealer turns another card = "tax cuts" - to help middle class wage earners who (by the way) aren't receiving much in the way of inflation pay adjustments. Another GOP wager on tax cuts = "fold". Quickly, GOP officials disappear from the game table like a magnet has pulled them into limbo. Only the dealer remains, holding a deck of job making offers, none of which the GOP bidders want to claim as a winning hand.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is looking Presidential.

Yet, it won't be long into the 2012 New Year before the dueling political factions in Washington DC will taint President Obama with their Mayan negativity symbols. Indeed, Mayans were apparently good at creating monster masks.

My hope, prayer and fervent New Year's Resolution is simple. Let's bust the Mayan Calendar political myths by rising above destructive and polarizing gridlock in Washington DC.

Republicans and Democrats must raise taxes on the wealthiest of Americans who earn more than $1 million a year. We absolutely must give a tax cut to middle class Americans who need some income relief to keep up with rising costs. Then, let's work together to support a jobs bill that will create better bridges, improve our nations roads and support a high speed rail system - like other civilized countries are already doing.

Prediction: When the Mayan Calendar ends at the winter solstice 2012, perhaps the date will mark the beginning of a new era of bipartisan cooperation and American nation building. (After all, my prediction has as much credibility as all the others floating around.)

Maybe, the calendar obsessed Mayans didn't really mean for their calendar to end at 2012, at all.

Rather, let's assume they intended for a new generation of human beings to focus our sights on improving the human condition. Maybe, Mayans realized that 2012 was the year when political forces holding our nation in suspended gridlock, must end.

Let's begin a progressive 2012 calender, by giving the Mayans credit for handing over the time mantle to a society intent on getting things done.

"Medicaid Spring" - Broken Promises and Maine's Budget Cuts

2011-12-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

Maine's Governor LePage and his administration supports cuts to the state's Medicaid program (MaineCare) by proposing to remove 65,000 people, in a state with only 1.3 million population, from coverage. Maine Care provides the money to care for low income, mentally ill, disabled and elderly people. The 65,000 people proposed to be cut are those who are single and receiving Maine Care benefits.

In other words, the cuts will include the seriously and persistently mentally ill living in rehabilitation group homes, the homeless, the severely disabled and elderly living alone. The cuts will also remove the thousands of jobs associated with care for these vulnerable populations.

Maine Care provider groups report that Governor LePage's cuts will affect every family and every community in Maine, putting at risk the public health, public safety and the state's economy, by pulling out millions of federal dollars needed to care for the beneficiaries. These cuts will be shifted to stretched thin charity care systems and more expensive hospital care, or, the needy people will simply go without.

Governor LePage says more Maine people receive Maine Care than the number who file income tax.

Well, sure, Maine is a poor state and the oldest state in the nation. People are poor and old.

But here's a better fact: removing 65,000 people from Maine Care, because they're categorized as single, with little regard for their status as frail elderly, seriously disabled or mentally ill, also cuts into a margin of voters who could be enough to swing the result of any Maine election (presuming, or course, they all vote).

Not identifying who these people are, but simply writing their numbers on a flip chart for newspaper photos or television cameras, helps reinforce the idea that they're not really human beings, but just numbers that soak up Maine Care dollars.

Maine Care beneficiaries are, tragically, the brunt of one budget cut after another, a situation that stereotypes the program as somehow being wasteful. Every time the state needs to balance the budget, the legislators and administration zero in on the largest target they can focus on - Maine Care. The program is now cut to the absolute minimum, any more will seriously impact the quality of the programs covered.

Beneficiaries of Maine Care, on the other hand, live in a state of fear that the next letter from the Department of Health and Human Services will be the one that removes them from the program.

Moreover, average people don't understand that state's aren't alone in paying the the cost of people on Medicaid. Federal dollars match by $3-1 the cost of the program. In other words, if shipbuilder Bath Iron Works asked Maine for $1 tax dollar to attract $3 federal to fund building a destroyer, what do you think the response would be? Medicaid is the same, only the $1 state dollar is spent for the poor rather than to build a defense project.

So, I say, it's time for a Medicaid Spring. With income disparity in the US and around the world driving political unrest, and with Time Magazine's person of the year being "the protester", then it's time people who are the brunt of stereotyping to respond with their own "Spring".

Medicaid beneficiaries should take up social networking and, most important, register to vote, to remove from office, the powerful people who write numbers on flip charts to show the media how much they know, without demonstrating compassion for the people behind the numbers.

Particularly at risk in removing 65,000 Maine Care beneficiaries are the mentally ill, who work emotionally hard with their caregivers, in supportive residential treatment programs, to achieve a level of mental wellness. Pulling the rug out from this population by removing their group home support systems is another boot to the mentally ill, who never realized the promises made to create safe community care systems post institutionalization. But, the mentally ill are voters who need to consider this electorate power very seriously. They are among the margin of voters who can make a collective difference in the next Maine election.

In America, the metaphoric equivalent of an "Arab Spring" occurs every time we hold an election. For those who advocate to continue cutting Maine Care, the number 65,000 written on a flip chart can be enough to Spring you out of office.

The Lancet - Championing Good Health for People With Disabilities

2011-12-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61825-4/fulltext?rss=yes

"There has been a move away from the medical model of disability towards the social model; with the spotlight on how societal barriers disable individuals, the health of disabled people has received insufficient attention and investment."

Unfortunately, disabilities can lead to chronic ill health. This article link from the Journal "The Lancet" calls for more attention and resources to be made available to help people with disabilities to maximize their abilities and efforts toward social and medical wellness.

The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness supports educational programs to teach communities in schools and workplaces about how all people can be supported to lead productive lives, regardless of disabilities, whether they are physical, emotional, learned, acquired or inherited.

Upcoming programs for 3rd & 4th graders at the Breakwater School in Portland, and for children, and parents at the Small Elementary School in South Portland, will teach and emphasize our mission!

Newt Gingrich and the Harvard Medical School Lab - According to Mark Shields

2011-12-03T05:33:00.000-08:00

"....if Newt Gingrich is the nominee, Barack Obama will coast to a second term...Because, it will be all about Newt Gingrich. Newt Gingrich -- Newt Gingrich is such a flawed vessel and such a flawed candidate. He has more skeletons than the Harvard Medical School lab does...."
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec11/sandb_12-02.html

Ahhhh, punditry!

Wonderful quote from pundit Mark Shields on the Friday night (Dec. 2nd) News Hour, with Jim Lehrer, who moderated a discussion on the show's commentary segment, "Shields and Brooks".

"Skeletons" are a metaphor Shields used to describe New Gingrich, a flawed candidate, a man who knows how to steal a political "Christmas" from the grasp of his Republican presidential "wanna-bees", but unable to live up to the appeal of Santa Claus, who was a man who cared about the welfare of others.

Gingrich is more than flawed when comparing his moral character with President Obama's, especially if the inquiring news reporters will pursue a discussion of the former House speaker's admitted infidelities with his current and past wives.

If candidate Mitt Romney is unable to garner the Republican presidential nomination, in competition with Newt Gingrich, then the presidential race 2012 will be about Newt Gingrich as a flawed candidate. It will be a presidential campaign about character rather than substance.

If Christian RWE-RWEs (rightwingextremists) sincerely believe morality is more important in a president than intellect and political prowess, then they should start the voting line today in support of President Obama's second term.

On the other hand, if morality truly is the key ingredient to making RWE-RWEs politically satisfied, then they need to warm up to Mitt Romney, because he can stand toe to toe with President Obama to pass the morality litmus test, regardless of his many politically flip-flopped opinions.

Skeletons are good teaching tools, but when Harvard and other medical school students need experience, they need to work on real people. Is Newt Gingrich a champion of "real people" or a political opportunist?

For example, real people should realize how Gingrich's opinions on child labor are scary, especially because a foot in the door on this issue will lead to exploitation. If Mr. Gingrich wants to employ idle children who have no role models, so as to teach them work ethics, then he needs to support more programs for Head Start, and educational initiatives, to keep poor and inner city children in school, through college.

Caring people don't discuss divorce with their wife while she's recovering from surgery, either. (I hesitate using this story because it's so incendiary, but well documented.) "she was recovering from surgery to remove a tumor, and the former House speaker admits that they 'got into an argument'." http://factcheck.org/2011/12/the-gingrich-divorce-myth/

In the same New Hour segment, Mr. Shields says a presidential campaign about Newt Gingrich and his character will be bad for our country, because the issues will be overshadowed by character judgments.

So, as I see it, the GOP presidential primary is about how much Christian conservatives can compromise with their own very high bar regarding who is qualified for American leadership.

Maybe Christian conservatives need to examine an actual laboratory human skeleton, so they can learn to realize how every human structural support system is flawed at the bones.

Internet Love Messages and Grover Norquist

2011-11-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

On this Thanksgiving weekend Saturday morning, like so many others, my husband and I enjoy tuning our radio to Scott Simon's news program on Weekend Edition (National Public Radio).

Perhaps listening to the radio seems old fashioned these days, but Simon is a modern news man with old fashioned experience. In other words, Simon reports the real news (not entertainment), accompanied by balanced commentary.

Frankly, I apologize for linking Simon's august program with the name of a sleazy lobbyist like Grover Norquist. But, this morning's show included commentary from former Senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyoming), who segued this blog for me. Thank you, Senator, for revealing, with appropriate disdain, the evil impact Norquist has in his campaign to dismantle modern American politics. Norquist uses procrustean (i.e. coercive) tactics, by spending inherited money, for the nefarious political purpose of dismantling government. In fact, Norquist wants to reduce government to a small enough size to fit inside a bathtub. For many, who abhor this intent, the unsaid action following the bath tub analogy is obvious, allowing government to "circle the drain". In so doing, his intention is to eventually eliminate spending on government sponsored programs like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Pell Grants for poor students and foreign aid. In other words, cut government programs for the poor where ever in the world they happen to be.

Who is Grover Norquist? He's an American lobbyist born on October 19, 1956, and a radical conservative activist. By conservative, I mean, his idea of government flies in the face of Christian principles, which call us to care for the least of our people.

Norquist is the beneficiary of the Polaroid company money, which he inherited; but, he's best known for having all Republican Senators and Congress sign a "no tax" pledge (meanwhile, they've also taken a pledge to uphold the US Constitution.)

In a Norquist world, if our publicly paid elected officials refuse to sign his no tax pledge, his political action committee launches a campaign to defeat them in their primary elections. A threat? Is this coercion really "ransom". Isn't ransom illegal?

Which brings me to the point of this blog.

During this Thanksgiving weekend, I've been party with millions of Americans to receive a litany of messages about how grateful we are for our Constitutional freedoms. Of course, this freedom includes Norquist's quest to do whatever he wants with his inherited money - which he didn't earn.

Some people who generate these Thanksgiving love messages are professed Christians. Nonetheless, I dare say, some might jump in line to follow Norquist, especially if he provided them with enough of his money to parrot the "put government in a bath tub" mantra.

If we really believe these colorfully flowered "gone viral" messages, illustrated with American flags and fall foliage, then it's time to step back and think about the essence of their meaning.

By appreciating our freedoms, we also want every citizen to enjoy opportunities to live in a country where government is compassionate. I want my American governmental freedoms to include providing opportunities to all citizens.

Compassion is more than prettily packaged Internet messages. Isn't it time for "nation building" at home, as well as for other countries? Let's provide health care, good roads and retirement security to all our citizens.

Norquist is looking for a special bath tub to flush out Americans who live on the edge of financial disaster, who work three jobs to make ends meet, as Scott Simon reported on this morning. It's not because these hard working people are paying too much in taxes - some hardly earn enough money to pay much in taxes at all. They struggle because they're poor.

In a Norquist world, Darwinian survival of the fittest is the rule, providing security for those too financially fat, like he is, to slip down the drain.

Keeping with the Thanksgiving spirit, I will extend this Internet love message to Grover Norquist.

Dear Mr. Norquist "....what ever you do for the the least of my brothers (and sister), so you do unto me...."

Mr. Norquist, many Christians may not know the intention of your bath tub message. In my Internet world, the Thanksgiving message is simple "...he who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker..."

Super Committee Super Salaries

2011-11-19T05:55:00.000-08:00

It doesn't take a rocket scientist blogger to figure out this message.

It's a "no brainer" where Congress should look first when debating deficit reduction.

After all, when Congress acts, somebody else, somewhere else, suffers the consequences or reaps the benefits. It's time they start cutting budgets from within.

Look at the math for those who have this high level of power over our future (some data is from Wikipedia):

There are 12 members of the Congressional Super Committee authorized under the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Six members of the Super Committee are appointed from the House of Representatives and six are from the Senate, making this a Joint Committee of both houses of Congress.

	Democrats	Republicans
Senate members	Patty Murray, Washington, Co-Chair Max Baucus, Montana John Kerry, Massachusetts	Jon Kyl, Arizona Rob Portman, Ohio Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania
House members	Xavier Becerra, California Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Chris Van Hollen, Maryland	Jeb Hensarling, Texas, Co-Chair Fred Upton, Michigan Dave Camp, Michigan

The annual salary of each senator, as of 2009, is $174,000;^[27] the president pro tempore and party leaders receive $193,400.^[28] In June 2003, at least 40 of the then-senators were millionaires.^[29]
Along with earning salaries, senators receive retirement and health benefits that are identical to other federal employees, and are fully vested after five years of service.^[28] Senators are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). As it is for federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Under FERS, senators contribute 1.3% of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. The amount of a senator's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of their salary. The starting amount of a senator's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of their final salary. In 2006, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under CSRS was $60,972, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was $35,952.^[28]

"The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so."http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/ss/Wealthiest-Members-of-Congress_2.htm
Many in our US Congress are already multi-millionaires.

Twitter reported that US Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford (D-AZ) wants to introduce legislation to require the deficit reduction process include reductions in Congressional salaries.

When the US Congress looks to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the US Military, and Pell Grant funding, among other programs, they should begin by demonstrating ethical leadership.

In the spirit of medical ethics referred to as the Hippocratic Oath - first do no harm.

Deficit cuts should begin with the US Congress and their super salaries, before doing harm to others.

Presidential Race Vaudeville

2011-11-12T05:37:00.000-08:00

There's several theatrical analogies circulating about this year's litany of GOP Presidential candidates, but Vaudeville is my stage setting scene for how the field of wanna-bees lines up.

It doesn't take much imagination to create a comedy spectacle with the GOP candidates acting like wanna-be Presidents. Perhaps it's time for a heroic parade entourage to save this comedic scene from turning into a tragedy.

In my mind, the funniest Vaudeville scene was when two competing Presidential candidates, Congressman Ron Paul and Governor Mitt Romney, both, tried to save Governor Perry's botched debate response last week, but he still couldn't get the words out. It was like watching elementary school kids passing notes while the teacher writes on the blackboard. Governor Romney doesn't need debate coaching as much as he could benefit from simple civics lessons. Just how many government agencies are there and, using simple subtraction, how many does he want to eliminate? Governor Perry stumbled not just because his brain's cortex momentarily froze, but he simply didn't know the information he was presenting. This stumble isn't funny for a potential US President and World Leader. It's not a Vaudeville Moment. It's a melodramatic scene in need of rescue.

Even more startling is how Governor Perry's debate debacles ( the series of them) are lost in the spotlight of Herman Cain's sexual harassment situation with multiple women now willing to corroborate the charges.

So, in my Vaudeville courtroom, the judge looks over the bench at these two candidates. He eyes Governor Perry and says, "I sentence you to 6 weeks of public speaking and civics lessons. You are dismissed." On the other hand, the same Vaudeville judge peers over at defendant Herman Cain, slams his gavel and says, "Mr. Cain, I order you out of this presidential race, effective immediately!"

At this point, the Keystone Cops remove both candidates, exit stage left. Then, the judge orders the bailiff to find for the GOP a brand new, fresh, candidate- somebody who won't embarrass the courtroom with their presence.

Bailiff approaches the bench to stage whisper, "But Judge, what about Governor Mitt Romney?" The Judge rolls his eyes and asks, "Oh, yes, forgot about him."

Next act of this Vaudeville is the brilliant White House, where the "Beaver Family" lives in harmony. In fact, before heading for work, the husband faithfully kisses his wife, and kids and pets the dog before going off to solve the serious problems he faces every day. Mr. President is experienced, polished, goes to church on Sundays, and, he's never had any personal scandal worthy of being a scene stealer.Plus, this President even knows how to speak in public without looking Vaudevillian.

Final Act is the line-up. All GOP Presidential candidates, without Mr. Cain, are summoned by the Judge into the line up to be evaluated by their performance, based on their knowledge of government, public speaking abilities, demonstrated leadership skills, and the ability to convince the judge they should remain on stage despite hooks on the sidelines trying to remove them.

As a reader audience asked to evaluate this Vaudeville performance, I probably don't have to provide an ending to this story. It could be a Three Stooges ending, leaving everybody laughing.

On the other hand, the ending could be a knight in shining armor saving the day! Somebody, a hero, who enters from stage right, "Very Right", to sweep away the farcical stage rubbish.

We hear piano music bouncing in while the curtain falls. Then, a very cute blond smiling girl with sparkling red high heel shoes walks on stage with a sign board reading,

"....Intermission... until the performing candidates figure out how what it means to act Presidential".

Ethical Courage - Andy Rooney RIP

2011-11-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/andy-rooney-former-60-minutes-commentator-dies-at-92/2010/09/21/gIQA3gz3oM_story.html

Journalism was once a profession where people sincerely believed what you said or wrote or reported in the news, books or visual media. Of course, "belief" did not necessarily mean "agreement", but reporting the news is not supposed to be about being popular.

Andy Rooney and Daniel Shurr were among those highly respected ethical news observers who sincerely reported, with courage of their convictions, regardless of what other people or advertisers thought about them or their messages.

Now, both are deceased. With them passes an era when ethical courage was a noble attribute rather than a character trait people "took you out" on with labels, slander or electronic bullying.

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop on courage sponsored by MaineBiz and Key Bank, held in Portland Maine. I went because the concept of courage has always fascinated me. It was also a nice way to enjoy lunch with 300 business colleagues.

Motivational speaker Cindy Solomon spoke to us about "The Courage Challenge". She humorously (and Andy Rooney would have appreciated her candor) explained four kinds of courage: "Role" courage; "Core" courage; "Blind" courage and "Crisis" courage. In a nutshell, her message of self-awareness informed us how all of us in the audience probably harbored a little of each kind of courage. I would sum the 4 attributes up by saying each one calls for the person to, first, be ethically courageous.

Andy Rooney and Daniel Shorr are both spiritual comrades, sharing these 4 traits, framed by ethical courage.

I certainly don't want to paraphrase Cindy Solomon, so I'll refer you to her website www.cindysolomon.com.

But I will say, Andy Rooney and Daniel Shorr were the journalistic equivalents of "death-drop" journalists - to use an analogy humorously presented by Solomon in her motivational talk.

Did you ever wonder what being a journalist was like when commercial interests did not interfere with reporting the news? Andy Rooney was a World War II journalist. Yet, he didn't believe in war and said so; but, he also said, ".....I want us to win." He was a patriot before pacifist. He told the brutal truth.

At times, it probably pained Rooney to be ethically courageous, week after week, on his 60-Minutes essays. It takes courage to tell the world how you "really feel" about Modern Art or your messy desk. Rooney's ethical courage was the antithesis of political correctness, as he seemed to relish taking side aim, to miss being polite.

Nonetheless, with Rooney's death, the National Football League has certainly lost an avid fan.

Daniel Shurr was one of President Nixon's "enemies", but he never seemed to loose his ethical courage, just because a powerful man wanted him to fail. Shurr outlived Nixon and went on to become another role model for "ethical courage".

Now that both Rooney and Shurr are no longer with us, I want to be sure their legacies are not passed over as they have left this mortal earth. I'm looking for the next courage in ethical journalistic leadership - but I'm in need of a powerful telescope to find one. Perhaps Richard Engel can make the cut, if commercial interests don't interfere.

Respected pundits are everywhere, of course, but they reflect on public opinion. Rooney and Shurr spoke and wrote candidly, regardless of what the public thought about them or what they reported on. They used their Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech to spread truth, and that takes real courage - all 5 kinds of it.

Rooney spoke about death in his last interview with Morley Safer. As a realist, he courageously expressed honesty about how his days on earth were numbered. Obviously, at age 92, he may also have been experiencing poor health. It took courage to go before the vast 60-Minutes audience one last time, without the cover of nostalgia or hoop-la, to say good-bye his way - speaking the truth about his mortality.

Global news will report on Rooney's life, the time between the dash, but I wonder how many people will truly understand his ethical courage? Did you ever wonder what 60-Minutes would be like without Andy Rooney?

His courageous career now passed, may Rooney now take the rest of eternity to know he lived a life expressing the truth and Rest In Peace.

Scarlett O'Hara or Henny Penny - Coming to a Convention Near You!

2011-10-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

A little more drama is reported every day within the Occupy Wall Street movement, whereby disenfranchised or unemployed (or both) people demonstrate in public areas against the concept of corporate greed.

Since there's no outstanding leader to point out, either to demonize or canonize, there isn't much "new news" to report about the movement on a daily basis - except, these people don't go away.

Perhaps a surprise October major snow storm in the Northeast will put some indoors for awhile; but, come Spring thaw, I predict this group will emerge, angry as ever. They'll especially be attracted to the media flocks preparing to gather at both the Democrat and Republican national hoop-la-las, called Party Conventions, preparing for the election of the US President, 2012. But, I worry that both parties are intentionally marginalizing these people, sort of discrimination by avoidance.

Marginalization of the Occupy Wall Street movement by political parties, do so at their peril. Maybe they're afraid of being called Henny Penny's by their respective party strategists, trying to avoid the "sky is falling" potential of Occupy Wall Street. Or, on the other hand, they might adopt Scarlett O'Hara's mantra, to simply think about this movement tomorrow.

"Fiddle-dee-dee!" Let somebody else care!

Hopefully, both parties are sitting in cloistered strategy sessions trying to figure out what to do next. Democrats might be the Scarlett's of this strategy, pointing out how Republicans don't care about people who are out of work. Are Republicans saying "Fiddle-dee dee" while their GOP party implodes on their short sighted economic ideologies? Let's worry about balancing the budget by cutting taxes?

On the other hand, Republicans can drape the Occupy Wall Street movement into a group of Democratic wanna-bees. Are the Occupy Wall Street people just whiners? Are they the Henny Penny crowd?

Usually, the truth is someplace right down the middle of these ideological runways. Although I'm an outside observer, I suspect conservative and liberal factions exist within the Occupy Wall Street movement. They appear to be unified by their circumstances - a group of intelligent, young, upwardly mobile, and educated people who are out of luck and lacking opportunities to achieve their piece of the American Dream.

Hmmm, isn't this how have modern social revolutions began?

Both political parties must have a strategy in place for validating the Occupy Wall Street Movement before their national conventions convene. Validation is neither acceptance nor endorsement - but levels the discussion so that people can be heard.

Republicans are not very adept at this sort of appeasement - I can't imagine a rightwingextremist saying "I understand your pain".. But, I suggest Republicans learn from the fate of Scarlett O'Hara, who lost the love of her life for lack of interest in Rhett Butler's attentions.

As for the Democrats, when the Occupy Wall Street movement closes in on a party convention near them, I suspect their best strategy is to co-opt the Henny Penny mentality. Indeed, if you are a person among the employable but unemployed, then, indeed, the sky is falling on you. If Republicans say tax cuts produce jobs, then where's the evidence of this idea? As the US is the lowest taxed nation in the world, our unemployment rate should correlate to "zero". So, low taxes are clearly not the answer or this economic bullet would have worked by now.

Rather, the answer is to get Republican obstructionists everywhere to convince their corporate friends to hire rather than marginalize people who want jobs.

In the end, Scarlett O'Hara never resolved anything in her short fictional life.

Henny Penny, on the other hand, called people to action.

Borders - International Communities with an "Imaginary Line"

2011-10-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

"You said I don't want to build a fence," Romney said. "You talk about magnets -- you put in place a magnet."

Another down and dirty GOP debate about (ho hum) "immigration" continues causing angst among Republicans.

I swear, the ghost of President Ronald Reagan was whispering in the background, "There you go again...."

Governor Romney hammered his former colleague on October 18, about Governor Rick Perry's duplicitous policy to prevent illegal immigrants from traveling through Mexico, to cross the border into Texas - to find jobs and hope for a new future.

Apparently, while the Texas governor preaches a hard party line against illegal immigrants, the state offers their children an opportunity for subsidized education. Of course, this Texas policy makes no Republican sense and Governor Romney is correct to raise questions about its duplicity.

But, in my mind, the bigger issue is how to manage international borders, especially when imaginary lines in the ground create the equivalent of the Great Wall of China, separating people based upon where they are born or pay taxes. By the way, although it's a magnificent tourist attraction, The Great Wall of China eventually failed to keep marauders away. In modern times, Germany's Berlin Wall created decades of obstructionism. When the 20th Century Cold War finally ended, the wall's breakdown was a hugely symbolic symbol of freedom. Lessons learned? No. Republicans have not learned from the history of failed walls. Not yet.

American Republicans perpetrate a myth about border security. We can try, but it doesn't work.

Millions of US dollars are wasted creating barriers, negatively impacting innocent people who might want to cross international borders with Mexico or Canada, just to visit relatives or for tourism. Illegal immigrants sneak into the US via clandestine methods, paying unscrupulous wetback transport services, putting their lives at risk of suffocation while hidden in trucks or the potential to die of thirst abandoned in the Texas desert. Meanwhile, the employers of illegals get a modest fine if they are caught hiring people without immigration papers. Instead of building walls, shouldn't American law enforcement declare a no tolerance policy for hiring illegals?

America's international borders with Canada and Mexico are imaginary lines. Communities of people lived on both sides of our international borders for thousands of years before lawmakers separated families for the sake of protecting territories, most likely, to divide tax revenues.

Jacques Poitras writes a wonderful history about borders in "Imaginary Line: Life on an Unfinished Border". He describes the cross border community of Madawaska, located in Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. In 1842, a border was created between Maine and New Brunswick by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. Nonetheless, people didn't pay much attention to this 1842 imaginary boundary. Although locals respected the laws put in place at the borders, it didn't do much to impact their lives until post the September 11, 2001 security, which sliced their once friendly communities in two. Even so, enhanced border security created stress for a few tiny towns in Northern Maine, where people cannot travel from one place to another without crossing the international border with Canada, because roads in dense forests simply don't exist to support direct transportation.

Although the intimacy of the Texas border with Mexico might not be as tight as between Maine and Canada, the boundaries existing between these states and countries are, nonetheless, just imaginary lines drawn by people who, over one hundred years ago, thought they knew what they were doing.

America's immigration policy should not inflict punitive damages on innocent people who are doing what their ancestors have done for centuries, to create friendship, trade and harmony in spite of imaginary lines drawn in the dirt.

Governor Romney and Governor Perry should stop throwing dirt at one another about immigration.

Instead of trying to appease a RWE-RWE (rightwingextremist) GOP base, who clearly deny their own immigrant genealogies, the two potential world leaders should find ways of creating international trade agreements and cultural business opportunities. Let's protect policies to reinforce what people living along imaginary boundary lines crave - to reunite their families and, plainly, get along.

Jacques Poitras' book "Imaginary Line: Life on an Unfinished Border" is a wonderful history story, published in 2011 by Goose Lane Editions in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Governor Christie - Republican Regional Favoritism

2011-10-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/10/11/team-perry-on-christie-northeast-republicans-are-sticking-together/?mod=WSJBlog&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

Republican persons who want to be the President of the United States, now and in the future, must learn to speak as leader of all 50 states and territories.

The badly needed rising star of the Republican party, Governor Christie of New Jersey, wrongly commented against President Obama for creating class distinction to get re-elected, but his tangential statement lacked statesmanship. I expected more of Governor Christie than finger pointing rhetoric, all the while giving an excuse for his own unwillingness to run for the GOP presidential nomination. "It's not my time," he said.

In other words, according to Christie, President Obama is being unnecessarily incendiary because he's putting rich against poor, or using other socio-economic discrimination factors to get re-elected.

Another example of Republican hypocrisy stirred up after Christie's statements: Soon after Governor Christie declined his chance at the GOP nomination, he went on to endorse Governor Mitt Romney for the job. Governor Rick Perry didn't use the Christie endorsement to say anything substantial. Rather than rise above this spotlight on Romney, the Republican "wanna'be" Governor Perry accused his New Jersey colleague of "regional favoritism". Now, there's a non-unifying statement - worse than the socio-economic marginalization projected on President Obama by Governor Christie!

When will Governor Perry begin acting like a presidential candidate who is interested in being President of the United States of America? He's even written about Texas secession. Now, he points fingers in the direction of creating a Balkan US North East, even singling out respected members of his own political party.

Likewise, Governor Christie has no business wrongly accusing President Obama of creating class distinctions in America when the problems of "have's" versus the "have-nots" are as evident as New Jersey Turnpike's tractor-trailer trucks.

Governor Christie is an intelligent man who might want a future run for President of the United States. Meanwhile, he should practice-practice-practice statesmanship and learn to rise above the lowest rhetorical common denominator to engage public attention.

Most important, as future presidential material, Christie needs to speak the truth. Plan speaking, he's good at that, is not always truthful speaking. Accusing President Obama of creating class distinctions, especially when they already exist, is just an attention getting gimmick, unworthy of Governor Christie's intelligent political aspirations.

Potential Republican presidential nominees must stop whining and start producing new ideas. Rather than creating crises, they need to propose solutions to problems. If this lack of leadership continues to implode the GOP, I suspect the accumulated ineptness will create even worse political divides - it happened once before, creating divisions so horrible it caused a Civil War.

Not only do we endure the horrors of Democrats versus Republicans, we have the Christians suspect of all the other American based religions and now, another new dilemma, labeled "regional favoritism".

This sand throwing in the play ground is regressive behavior. Worse, divisive rhetoric is a terrible harbinger for a strong and united future for all Americans. Do we really mean it when we Pledge of Allegiance to the "United States of America"? Our political leaders should, indeed, they must, start setting a unifying tone.

Twitter Twitizens in #Occupywallstreet

2011-10-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

When social change happens or people are in the midst of systematic upheaval, there's usually a leader to point out, "that person did it!". These individuals are usually the brunt of unflattering scapegoating.

These high profile people may not be the original initiators of change movements, but, somehow or other, they wind up being the king pins.. Also, they're, sometimes, picked off by the enemies of the change they initiate.

It's not so easy to label Twitter-Twitizens.

This is problematic with those trying their best to vilify the Occupy Wall Street momentum. Whether or not this protest against corporate greed is a viable social movement, as professed, or another profound example about how quickly the world can respond to real time change agents, are still concepts waiting to be tested.

Nonetheless, what's real is the fact that enemies of change cannot attack Twitter Twitizens, because they're motivated to "dent the universe" (Thank you Steve Jobs, may you rest in peace!)

For example, on the morning's WCSH6 TV Portland ME, a rightwingextremist (RWE-RWE) pundit was allowed time to put an inappropriate label on the #occupywallstreet demonstrators. This RWE-RWE (nameless because they sound rhetorically alike) said the anti-greed movement is simply a way to get President Obama re-elected. "There you go - labeling again!" (Thank you President Ronald Reagan). This particular pundit RWE-RWE is not an original thinker, cannot come up with a "label" to vilify who the #occupywallstreet enemy might be and, therefore, invents a scapegoat.

Shame on WCSH6 for allowing such name calling on a respectable television interview without a challenge. "Why do you think this movement is a way to re-elect President Oabma?" is the appropriate follow up question.

Instead, the commentator let the tangential comment stand. Not good journalism; but, television measures rare opportunities to challenge what's said; which is why, what's "said", is often taken as fact, without proof, just because...

In our tumultuous human history, there are often tragic consequences for people who initiate social change. In my lifetime, President John F. Kennedy passed the Civil Rights Amendment - he suffered merciless vilification. Recently, we saw the terrible end of life for beautiful Benazir Bhutu. Both leaders were hated by their mirror opposite opponents. President Kennedy was mistrusted because he was a Roman Catholic and a supporter of Civil Rights for American Negroes. Benazir Bhutu was marginalized, mostly because she was an iconic Muslim woman leader. There's dozens of other names, some of them nobel people, others with evil intentions, but most of them share the distinction of being dead before their time, often by nefarious means.

Not so with Twitter Twitizens. Enemies of #occupywallstreet can do their best to vilify the movement, but inappropriate labels scapegoating an entire group, just because you oppose with their message, is a cowardly way to disagree with people.

Even the T-Party, the mirror opposite of #occupywallstreet, did not receive the same public vilification by liberals in the mainstream media as the RWE-RWEs are not attributing to this more liberal momentum. Suppose the RWE-RWEs agreed with #occupywallstreet? Hypocritical loyalties to not foster trust.

But, to be hones, the T-Party had a "real person" leader, named Sarah Palin, who, by my analysis, did a terrific job standing up to (or looking down on) her detractors. Although I don't agree with Sarah Palin, she's a good leader of the T-Party movement. What she needs, to move forward, is a group of Twitter Twitizens to back her up.

So, I cheer - "You Go Twitter Twitizens!". By your flash ability to mobilize change, perhaps you'll be able to "dent in the universe", a tribute to Steve Jobs, and protect the change agents who too often become the victims of scapegoating.

Michele Obama: America's First Lady With Heart

2011-10-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

No doubt about it, Michele Obama is a charismatic first lady of the United States.

She's beautiful, articulate, compassionate and brilliantly able to communicate her heart felt and positive messages for America. Yesterday, she poke to a crowd in Portland ME. Being with her was like having your favorite Aunt come to dinner. Her smile lights up an entire room - a big room.

My favorable impression of Mrs.Obama was firmly planted when my husband Richard and I saw her speak yesterday afternoon to an enthusiastic group of supporters at Portland's beautiful Ocean View Terminal, a picturesque facility on Casco Bay

Supporters of President Obama expect the First Lady to rally followers. But, Mrs.Obama exceeded expectations. She reached out to the audience with an appeal I've not seen from other political speakers.

She uses natural language, putting her audience at ease with a heartfelt request to join with her in supporting a 2012 Presidential Victory. Her appeal seemed more like an invitation to become her personal friend than a political campaign speech.

I overheard most of those leaving Mrs. Obama's speech, (there were approximately 800 of us, but I'm not good at estimating crowd size), carrying a sense of pride at having the privilege of being in her pleasant company.

Of all American First Ladies, I can't think of another who could sincerely rally a crowd like Mrs.Obama. Although other First Ladies are influential by virtue of their special access to their husbands, Mrs.Obama seemed able to share her window to her husband, through her compassionate heart.

What did she say? It was mostly about the touching way she said it. She spoke about our children. She said if one child is hurting, then all our children are hurting. She said if one person is hurting, then all Americans are hurting. She said, if one family is on hard times, we Americans feel the need to respond. "We are our Brother's Keeper." This is what her husband President Barack Obama is trying to accomplish. He wants all Americans to have opportunities to share in the American Dream.

Of course, the serious side of Mrs.Obama's message was clear. The alternative to her husband's re-election is to turn back the clock on progressive policies. In eloquent style, she spoke about the need to protect small businesses, the environment, to pass The American Jobs Act, to support the Affordable Care Act (health care reform) and for the appointment of progressive Supreme Court justices.

Thank you Mrs.Obama, for bringing your warm and caring style, grace, sense of joy in being an American and political enthusiasm to Portland, Maine. Speaking for those of us with you yesterday, Friday September 30, 2011, we are, indeed, "with you", as you requested.

I suspect, if Mrs.Obama's charisma reaches every American, there would be no need for Republicans to waste millions of dollars trying to bring down her progressive husband as President, or to obstruct his ability to succeed.

By the time the 2012 Democratic Convention in Charlotte, South Carolina convenes, I suspect Mrs.Obama will have perfected her campaign style to the point where the entire country will have an opportunity to share the joy we felt yesterday, listening to her in Portland.

Her message and style are nearly impossible acts for Republicans to follow - none of them have demonstrated compassion for Americans. Nor, are they able to articulate a positive unifying message. Mrs.Obama claims a copyright on both.

Her heart is likely big enough to reach out to Republicans, too, if they would abandon rhetoric and respond to Mrs.Obama's message: "We are our Brother's Keeper".

Staten Island Ferry Voters

2011-09-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

Riding the Staten Island Ferry in New York City's Harbor is a beautiful way to view the Manhattan skyline and The Statue of Liberty. Sailing on board the ferry is also like being in a mini-United Nations.

Families of all "types and stripes" use the ferry for the 5 mile transport between Manhattan and Staten Island. These families, many with young children in strollers, speak in their vernacular languages while passing time waiting in lines and sailing New York Harbor. While riding the ferry recently during several crossings, I listened to identify languages like Spanish, French, Slavic languages (perhaps Polish), Chinese, other than American accented English (Irish?), Indi (or Tamil), different Asian languages, Tagalog and various American English accents.

Let's just suppose we created a voting district called The Staten Island Ferry. We're talking about 20 million people a year or 60,000 people a day, says the website. So, for the sake of creating a voting district, let's say our Staten Island Ferry District includes people on only one crossing.

Based on my observation, I'd say the ferry boats I rode included about five hundred people each crossing, speaking at least six different languages that I could identify, not including American regional English accents.

Again, based on my observations, it's impossible for me to believe the microcosm of America's melting pot represented on the Staten Island Ferry would choose to vote for candidates with right wing extremist views. Although this is only my observed opinion, the families I saw do not look like the type of people who would support a president who raised the rhetorical specter of illegality towards hard working immigrants, like Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul or their followers.

During my observation, I imagined how the Staten Island Ferry riders, while sailing past our amazing gift from France, the beautiful Statue of Liberty, each time they rode, must reflect, as I did, about why they are in New York City, in the first place.

My Italian grandparents made it possible for me to be visiting New York City. I recall my grandmother, Alessandra Dini telling our family what it meant to see The Statue of Liberty when she and her husband, Eugenio Anselmi, arrived from Italy. She cried while telling the story, in broken English, over and over again.

Millions of other ferry riders could each tell their own compelling stories.

Which is why I simply cannot fathom how the Republican Right Wing Establishment can preach against immigrants. Their own ancestors were among those who saw Lady Liberty in New York Harbor, along with my grandparents.

Although RWE-RWEs (rightwingextremists) use the word "illegals" as a euphemism for their extremist views when referring to immigration, by inference, their labels impugn all immigrants, including my grandparents.

Riding the Staten Island Ferry was an amazingly peaceful experience. I suspect many of the families who enjoyed the 25 minute ride could tell horror stories about their home countries where people simply don't get along. It's a miracle to see how all of these diverse populations sit side by side in quiet comfort while riding the Staten Island Ferry.

Prayerfully, I hope this microcosm of America's heritage might flood our patriotic immigrant pride.

Politicians who rail against immigration would never want to hold their election in my Staten Island Ferry voting district.

President Obama and United We Stand

2011-09-10T04:41:00.000-07:00

(Since writing this blog - a letter to the editor in Maine's Portland Press Herald was published by another reader, a link to the letter is below, it's the perfect summary to this blog*)

Regardless of how much Americans complain about the regressive divisiveness of our politics, it was only 10 years ago on September 11, 2001 when we came together as "United We Stand". This slogan appeared on bumper stickers throughout the nation.

Before he was even a presidential candidate, President Obama fired up the Democratic convention in Boston MA with his "we are a United States" speech.

President Obama was a US Senate candidate from Illinois when he reached out to the Boston MA audience on July 27, 2004, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19751-2004Jul27.html

"- it is that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work"

"... there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America..."

"There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America"
"We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states."

"We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

Americans can reach back to the United We Stand message. Let's embrace the concepts so eloquently expressed by President Obama in the inspiring "We are A United States of America" speech of July 27, 2004. Frankly, it is essential for us to reach beyond our differences. We can look beyond divisiveness, to the greater good.

Our nation was built on hope, that's not a slogan, it's a fact. We can hope for a healthier, more prosperous and politically united nation. When Americans wish for something, we do something about it.

I recommend we stamp the words "United We Stand" on the margins of ever American flag sold from this day forward, and pledge allegiance to it.

http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/131377443.html - United We Stand letter to the editor.

Jobs - Unemployment in the New Math

2011-09-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm dating myself, but I recall how devastating it was when I had just learned the old math, to have some academics come along to decide there was a "new math".

In my mind, this change was some ethereal method based upon "concepts" or "groups". It didn't really feel like math at all.

Whatever new math was (or is), it never replaced the old math, in my mind. But, since we've learned math the new way ever since, let' me give the 9.1 percent Unemployment Statistics an analysis by applying the new math, the way I understand the data.

In new math language, the unemployment percentage may be irrelevant. Why? Because, if you're among the 9.1 percent of unemployed Americans, the reality is simple. Unemployment is 100 percent in your "unemployed" universe or group. (You see, in new math, the number of unemployed is now a "group". In the group of unemployed, 100 percent is the actual statistic.)

Compared to those who are employed, the data creates a ratio of 9.1 percent; meaning 89.9 percent of Americans are employed.

When labor statistics were considered excellent indicators of a thriving economy, the number of unemployed was stable at about 4.9 percent. In fact, unemployment has never been "zero". Never.

A baseline for the unemployment rate might be 4.9 percent, because it's seldom the number drops below this level in a good economy. So, using "Julie's understanding of new math", we might say 4.9 percent unemployment equals "zero" unemployed, because the data rarely goes below that number. In a conceptual universe, the normal unemployment rate is usually 4.9 percent; therefore, let's use this data as our baseline.

Employing real math subtraction, an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent minus 4.9 percent means the number of people unemployed exceeds the normal by 4.1 percent. In other words, the percentage of unemployed who are above the baseline are less than the percentage included in the baseline.

Nonetheless, if you're among the "group" in the 9.1 percent, or the 4.9 percent or the remainder 4.1 percent, your universe of unemployment is still 100 percent.

And the moral of the new "Julie Math" jobs concept is this: When Republicans rail on the dismal 9.1 percent unemployment rate, they are adding and subtracting using new math. They aren't offering solutions to the equation.

In other words, if Republicans are subtracting jobs from the economy by cutting money to federal programs like the US Post Office, Medicare, the US Military, Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps, farm subsidies and the public service areas they can root out, then how can the private sector absorb these unemployed?

There is no plan, only whining. If the GOP really believes the private sector will absorb the 4.1 percent of "employable" unemployed, they must be living in an ethereal universe.

Let's get to squared root of the jobs problem. Let's discard politics as usual, dump the T-party and work together like scientists to solve the unemployment problem. Surely the rhetoric, absent solutions, we're hearing from political candidates now is just as fuzzy as "Julie's New Math".

Politicians: Learning from a Red Sox Nation

2011-08-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Baseball thinking can help Governor Rick Perry, Representative Eric Cantor, ex-Governor Sarah Palin and Representative Michele Bachmann to become statesmen and women.

It occurs to me how the bumper sticker seen around New England reading "Red Sox Nation" can provide behavioral leadership training for extreme partisan politicians like the GOP wanna-be presidential line up. Those bumber stickers supporting New England's faithful Red Sox fans just might offer support to politicians who are intransigent about ideological differences.

Red Sox Nation means New England, the regional place where the USA democracy began. It's where the Shot Heard Around the World was fired on the bridge at Lexington and Concord Massachusetts signaling the start of the American Revolution.

All kinds of people live in New England, i.e., rich, poor, Republicans, Isolationists, Socialists, Independents, Democrats, Libertarians and Green Party types, to name some. But they put differences aside when it comes to being a Red Sox Nation. New Englanders love their Red Sox.

Baseball fans know how New Englanders stuck by their Red Sox for decades, despite the team never winning a world series, until they broke the "curse of the Bambino" in 2004 . But this blog is not about winning, it's about loosing. When the Boston Red Sox lost the 1986 World Series game, it was because an individual goofed; but he has since been vindicated. He is Bill Buckner. I want to thank Bill and give him credit in this blog, because this gentleman makes my point

If Red Sox fans today can stand up to cheer Bill Buckner when he throws out the first pitch of a home game at Boston's Fenway Park, then I submit that intransigent politicians can surely get over their ideological differences and solve problems. Even in loosing, the fans understand the team is important and Buckner was just one player on the Boston Red Sox. He can't take the fall or the glory alone.

Okay, life is not like a baseball game, or is it?

Red Sox Nation people get along despite the diversity of the six close knit states called New England. Despite high levels of emotion spewed out during a baseball game, the Red Sox Nation stands steadfastly behind the entire team, even honoring Bill Buckner.

Some American politicians entrenched in narrow minded thinking lack respect or deference for how others feel or believe about the role of government. They should take lessons from the place where our Democracy began.

To be statesmen and women, they could learn a little about compassion from the fans of the Red Sox Nation.

Statesman and woman are compassionate, intelligent human beings who rise above partisanship. Their leadership skills demonstrate love of country more than support for polarizing ideology.

When right wing extremist presidential candidates are in New England testing their messaging during campaign bus trips, we should invite them to watch a Red Sox baseball game at Fenway. They will see fans from six or more US states (and maybe Canada, too) all rooting for the same home team.

Dominionism and Constructionism

2011-08-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Regardless of how the concepts "Dominionist" and "Constructionist" are defined, they're both frighteningly iconic words. They're similar attributes when applied to the rhetoric of American Right Wing Extremists (RWE-RWEs). But they are polar opposite concepts.

As I understand it, Dominionists, in a nutshell, espouse that America is divinely destined to be Christian. Of course, supporters could say my simplistic definition is too abrupt, but they can't deny the religious manifest destiny of my understanding of Dominionism.

Constructionists, on the other hand, take a concrete literal interpretation of the American Constitution authored by Thomas Jefferson.

How can both concepts be supported by Dominionists who are also Constructionists?

Thomas Jefferson wrote and the US Constitutional Congress adopted:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
This statement was later upheld in the courts and subsequently interpreted as calling for separation of the church and state. If the strict interpretation of Jefferson's words are supported by Constructionists, then they simply cannot, using any reasonable thought process, claim Dominionism.

Therein, of course, is the root cause of RWE-RWE antics. By declaring their ideas true, they eliminate logical thinking as a path to improve their understanding of how to inspire, lead, compromise or influence people.

RWE-RWEs rule by decree. They embrace concepts whether they're supported by science, or not; based on logic, or not; even standing up for beliefs proven to be untrue.

For example, RWE-RWEs believe global warming is not real, regardless of the science to support the argument. Illogical support for Dominionism and Constructionism, as tenets of Americanism, are confusing to challenge, but RWE-RWEs love it when their convoluted thinking goes unchallenged.

RWE-RWEs were the group claiming President Obama was not born an American citizen in the US state of Hawaii. These fringe political attackers of President Obama simply said what they believed to be true, regardless of the proof of "truth", otherwise.

In a world where mass communications transmits lies faster than truths, it's important for Americans to demand accountability from leaders, lest we fall off a political cliff due to some cooked up ideas spewed by a fringe political group.

Let's nip Domionism and Constructionism where it hurts the most: let's take out these concepts by applying the light of logical interpretations.

In other words, let's correctly define Dominionism and Constructionism for those hypocritical people who harbor both concepts for the sake of getting their own political way.

Can Governor Perry Pray His Way to Christianism?

2011-08-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

Comedians certainly get laughs by creating buzz around hypocrisy, so why doesn't somebody go for the hilarity of a politician who prays for guidance but espouses anti-Christian social policies?

Politicians like Michele Bachmann (Sarah Palin without the charisma), Sarah Palin (Michele Bachmann with charisma) and now Texas Governor Rick Perry (Sarah Palin's wanna' be) would make wonderful anti-Christian dark night comedy fodder, if their hypocrisy didn't harm vulnerable people. These high profile politicians and their followers espouse cutting social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, programs for immigrants and military retirement benefits. All the while, they pray for guidance.

But wait! There's more. Each one of them is endorsed by the right wing extremist (RWE-RWE) T-Party that, hypocrisy cubed, are not a political party at all. Rather, T-party "baggers" are like a pack of junk yard dogs whose tails are wagging the nation's respectable Republican party faithfuls.

I'm not kidding when I ask for your prayers about this blog. Help me understand where in the New Testament did Jesus Christ speak about exclusion of the elderly, poor, immigrants or veterans? No where. Rather, Christ's message was completely opposite what the RWE-RWEs preach.

When Jesus Christ performed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, he did not ask if people in the crowd were unqualified to be among his followers.

I was impressed when a friend sent my a column blog by Tom Zirpoli who writes for Maryland's Carroll County Times:
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/tom-zirpoli-christianism-differs-from-christianity/article_443f74de-bd02-11e0-b162-001cc4c03286.html

Zirpoli doesn't make light of the hypocrisy around Christians who speak anti-Christianism rhetoric:

"A Christian, by definition, is a follower of Jesus Christ." (Writes Zirpoli). "While it has been a few years since my Catholic schooling, I remember that Christ's main teaching was to take care of 'the least of my brothers'."

"Christ wanted his followers to feed the poor, to provide them shelter and to generally care for the poor as if the person were Christ Himself. Proverb 14:31 reads, 'He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God'."

"Being a Christian in America today seems to have a whole new meaning from what I learned from the Catholic nuns. For example, how did Christians go from believing that we are all God's children to the belief that some of us are illegal and need to be sent away?"

Thanks Tom, for printing up to the hypocrisy of the Christian Right. I find it funny that many people among the Christian Right hold the US Constitution up next to the Bible, as being inspired writing, but they deny everybody but themselves the right to free speech.

Extremist Republican political buzz is focused like a magnifying glass collecting sun rays on the RWE-RWEs praying their way to political power. Governor Perry would have us believe he spent 40 days and nights in the Texas dessert before announcing his candidacy for US President. During his meditation, Perry surely found an Oasis of cash in them there cactus, because he'll need a Texas oil field full of it to win the 2012 Presidential election. Meanwhile, I wonder if Perry prays for as much money as possible to fall from heaven, just to keep his prayers answered.

As a practicing Roman Catholic Christian woman, I find right wing Evangelicals to be devout in their religious beliefs, but laughable when it comes to putting their values into caring for all people, i.e., everybody - they act like the poor, the disabled, the veterans, the elderly, the children of immigrants and non-Christians must wear their cloth and speak their rhetoric. Jesus Christ saved the sinners, he forgave those who crucified him and he offered salvation to the man who was hanging on the cross next to his tortured body. Let's pray for Christian politicians to follow the values taught to us in the New Testament.

Let's pray Governor Rick Perry will not become a hilarity icon of Saturday Night Live.

Pledge of Allegiance and the No Labels Balanced Approach

2011-07-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

Among the frustrating metaphors already in the e-media, this blog will add little to the commentary of the justifiably angry electorate among those appalled by obstructionist "debt" behaviors in Washington DC this summer.

Yes, the heat in Washington DC has melted brain neurons among T-Party RWE-RWEs (right wing extremists). Political leaders who swear an oath to uphold the US Constitution seem to drag this founding document out when it suits them to do so. Otherwise, when they aren't showcasing the Constitution, they act like children on a political playground.

It's the duty of elected political leaders to solve problems. Our Constitution was founded on the principle of compromise and so it goes (Thanks Kurt Vonneguart!)

Among thousands of twitter blogs, the one I re-tweet most often comes from No Labels. This non-partisan non-profit claims the motto: Not Left, Not Right, But Forward.

A No Labels 140 character message carries some semblance of hope, while most of the others usually re-state frustration. Many No Labels "tweets" announce call in conferences with individual polarized on both sides of this debate, the very people who should be talking compromise.

Most notably, a recent No Labels call included an invitation to the No Tax Pledge self appointed aficionado Grover Norquist. This man has nothing but money and time on his hands. He's the guy who gets right wing extremists worked up about NOT paying for the national debt while he lives off of millions of dollars (no worries about his government check in the mail) and the Congress people he recruits earn big government salaries.

Thank You No Labels. This man must be held accountable for insisting on giving political leaders a "no tax" pledge. In other words, if they vote for any kind of revenue increase, he gives their names and faces a big black X, meaning they loose their jobs.

A No Labels organized message, instead, insists on supporting a balanced approach to supporting our nation's debt healing debate. It's certainly reassuring to read from at least one source of "tweets" where No Labels solutions are offered, instead of reframing heated rhetoric.

Check out their the website at www.nolabels.org says it all "No Pledge But the Pledge of Allegiance"!

My metaphor of the day is this. A Norquist No Tax Pledge is like asking a drunk to go to confession while he has a hangover. When the headache is gone, what was the point?

Taking a No Tax Pledge just to win an election, because Norquist says you must, is plain manipulation and brain washing. Even RWE-RWEs must know they cannot gain political traction on a pledge taken outside of the one where they raise their right hand on a Bible.

Rabbi Shmuley Apologetics

2011-07-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

My sincere condolences to the peaceful citizens of Norway are extended today, as the country unravels from the impact of a right wing extremist who executed an evil act against innocent people in defense of ideological and delusional thinking.

This heartfelt message to the Norwegian people is not intentionally meant as a passageway for a message to America's Rabbbi Shmuley; but, it's nonetheless a timely method to, perhaps, have him understand why my blog is directed his way.

I could not believe it when Rabbi Shmuley recently published an apologetic column defending right wing extremist politician Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, because, in the Rabbi's opinion, the right wing extremist was a kind man. After all, wrote the Rabbi, Rep. Cantor is known for being polite and answering all of his mail. (The Demonization of Eric Cantor July 19, 2011 in Jewish Journal.com)

This is like a bad joke. Surely, the Rabbi is using apologetics to help readers conclude that his point of view must be challenged. So, I'm challenging him right here.

How many dozens of times do we read about nice young people who are quiet and generally friendly AFTER their names are headlines for executing horrid behaviors? Rabbi Shmuley needs only to look at his own Brooklyn people and the heinous death of a young man to realize we do not apologize for people who harbor extremist points of view or harbor harmful thoughts, either on the right or on the left of our spectrum.

When I think about RWE-RWEs (right wing extremists), they do not conjure up images of nice people who write letters to constituents just because they can. Rather, they are more like the character Screwtape created by C.S. Lewis, using cunning as a way of gaining confidence for nefarious purposes.

Representative Cantor uses an extreme point of view on taxes to hold the entire American economy hostage while, at the same time, we get the impression from Rabbi Shmuley, he is jotting off notes to say hello and wish people well. None of us will be well if Cantor's ideological policies are supported. It's usually the case that one right wing extremist act just leads to another and another, copy cat fashion. Supporting a no tax pledge ahead of the Congressman's oath to uphold the US Constitution is just a trough to plow through more extremist policies. Regardless of how many sweet notes the Congressman writes to cover the wake created by his actions, this no tax pledge, if it prevails, will spin off uncontrollable right wing behaviors that, I predict, will lead us backwards into uninspired public policy.

I believe Rabbi Shmuley should write an apology for his apologetic opinion piece because people like me believe he should be a leader who teaches us about the dangers of RWE-RWEs rather than creating ambiguity about their intentions.

As for the Norwegian people, they deserve an outpouring of love and support while they grieve the inconsolable tragedy perpetrated by what appears to be one of their own right wing zealots.

"Read My Lips" - Unemployment in Health Care Will Go Up

2011-07-09T04:59:00.000-07:00

Although unemployment numbers are stubbornly stuck at 9 % plus, this disappointing figure will increase if Democrats cave by supporting cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Cutting these programs for the sake of a debt deal is a right wing extremist trick to see unemployment rise in advance of the 2012 elections.

RWE-RWE's (right wing extremists) are not interested in doing what's right so long as they win in the next election cycle.

Cutting programs for senior citizens, the poor and those who rely on their social security checks are no way to solve a money crisis when alternatives are quickly available. Yes, increasing taxes on the rich seems like a solution where no pain is inflicted on anybody, even on those who absorb the tax increase. After all, isn't the theory of capitalism based upon the concept of sharing wealth?

Moreover, for millions of people who work in health care and in human services sectors of our nation's economy - PALEEZE wake up! Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will cause layoffs in the only sector of the economy where jobs are somewhat available! In other words, unemployment will increase if a debt deal is made on the back of health care benefits.

Tax increases on the rich and super rich are the right thing to do. Our US Congress needs to do what is right rather than stall about solutions that will hurt average people. RWE-RWEs need to learn compassion rather than greed, leadership rather than obstructionism and compromise rather than regressive political posturing.

Tribute to Jefferson's Monticello - Immigrants Welcome

2011-07-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

Americans celebrate 235 years of our Democracy this July 4th, while we also take time to praise the vision, leadership and inspirational writings of Thomas Jefferson, our third US President and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Therefore, it's fitting for this innovative leader's beautiful home at Monticello Virginia to be the serene place where thousands of new Americans are sworn in as new US Citizens.

Monticello's brilliant designer's spirit are evident in the home's eloquent architecture and the beauty of the plantation's grounds. This special place Jefferson created for his home is aptly shared today by Americans on Independence Celebration Day, when, for the past 48 years, his home has welcomed new citizens into our nation, populated by immigrant ancestors. After all, the tribute is consistent with Thomas Jefferson's family roots, because he was the descendant of immigrants, having written briefly about them:

"'The tradition in my father's family,' he wrote in old age, 'was that their ancestor came to this country from Wales, and from near the mountain of Snowdon, the highest in Great Britain. I noted once a case from Wales, in the law reports,' he continued, 'where a person of our name was either plaintiff or defendant; and one of the same name was secretary to the Virginia Company . . . but the first particular information I have of any ancestor was of my grandfather, who lived at the place in Chesterfield called Ozborne's . . .' Of his mother's illustrious family, the Randolphs, he was even more brief, noting only that his mother was the daughter of Isham Randolph, that she had married his father at the age of 19, and that her family could trace their pedigree 'far back in England and Scotland, to which," he wrote, "let every one ascribe the faith and merit he chooses'."
http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/jeffersons-ancestry

And to my own family, the Anselmi's, and Dini's of Italy; and to the Jubinsky's, and Halladay's of the Ukraine, many thanks for taking huge personal and financial risks to brave your way into New York's Harbor at Ellis Island, to contribute your energies to help build our immigrant nation.

My family is equally grateful to Rose Anna Morin L'Heureux and her husband William L'Heureux, whose ancestors left the security of their French speaking homes in Quebec Canada to find economic security in New England. My father-in-law William was a World War I Veteran. My husband's uncle Napoleon Morin was a tragic victim of the Second Battle of the Marne, in France, during World War I.

All of our immigrant ancestors are American heroes, no less brave or visionary than Thomas Jefferson, whose home pays tribute to every one of them, this Independence Day, July 4th , 2011.

Dr. Nancy Snyderman Needs Hospice Training

2011-06-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

When Jack Kevorkian died a natural death on June 4, 2011, the commentary by NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman highlighted the hypothetical "missed opportunity" the deceased assisted-suicide promoter had by being unable to raise the bar on end-of-life conversations. In other words, in my opinion, Dr. Snyderman appeared to support what Kevorkian tried to conceptually accomplish with his strange suicide paraphernalia where helpless people fell victim to his death cult.

Trouble is, Dr. Snyderman made no mention of hospice end-of-life care where the terminally ill receive the palliative care they need without resorting to suicide. By giving any credence whatsoever to Kevorkian and his suicide cult, Dr. Snyderman ignored, like a snub, the alternative of hospice care. Dr. Snyderman did not mention hospice in her NBC Nightly News commentary.

I'm a registered nurse, not a physician, but I've told a few doctors "a thing or two" in my career. To Dr. Snyderman, I'm saying "shame on you" for not recognizing how hospice care has been "raising the bar" on end of life care for decades. If you don't know this, Dr. Snyderman, then please take a hospice volunteer course so you can be knowledgeable about the subject you are speaking about. Unfortunately, your misstatement on NBC Nightly News has already caused many supporters of assisted suicide to find yet another outlet for their misguided philosophy of end-of-life care.

Hospice care promotes dignity at the end of life without resorting to cliches like "raising the bar".

Dr. Snyderman should provide a retraction of her NBC Nightly News commentary and, additionally, host a documentary story about hospice volunteer training.

Newt Gingrich on Meet the Press Now "Trumps" all GOP 2012 Candidates

2011-05-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Please don't misunderstand me, I don't mean trump as a noun.

I mean to say, the Meet the Press interview by David Gregory on May 15, with 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich created a trump of Republican candidates.

Gingrich and his non-defensive answers to Gregory threw Newt's "flame thrower" style political personality into the limelight. During the interview, Gingrich effectively sucked the oxygen out of Sarah Palin and all the other Republican who I cannot remember. In other words, he's a captivating personality.

Therein is the usefulness of Newt Gingrich. By officially entering the presidential race, he finally ignited some energy into a ho-hum Republican presidential race, enough so that news programs can put substance into their campaign hype. Otherwise, without Newt, the campaign coverage was (yawn) lackluster, at best. News viewers, pre-Newt, were no doubt switching cchannels to the shopping stations where electronic mattresses and garden statues were more interesting to watch.

Therein is the danger of Newt Gingrich. He cannot be taken for granted despite his personal and political failures. Thankfully, Mr. Gregory was completely blunt with Gingrich, asking him about his adulterous affair (maybe affairs) and three marriages. Newt didn't get defensive. He's ready for the heat. As a matter of fact, as a flame thrower, he seemed poised for a boomerang. Poor Mrs. Gingrich (if that's her name). What woman would want to hear her husband admit to adultery on national television? Nobody! Even President Clinton had the good sense to deny infidelity. Call it a lie, sure, but think about the wife, "hello"?

Therein is the slyness of Newt Gingrich. He believes people will forgive him his sexual hypocrisy because he asked to be forgiven, but where's the penance for past sins? Forgiveness, as he asks for it, begs penance and Newt still has lots of explaining to do, as far as I'm concerned. I wish he'd work as a social worker in Detroit for a year before announcing his intention to be President. I'd consider voting for a repentant sinner. But, vote for somebody who simply asks for forgiveness with no penance attached? President Clinton had plenty of public penance and we don't even know what torture Hilary put him through.

Therein is the attraction of Newt Gingrich. He can be a sympathetic person. But watch out! Gingrich has yet to be truthful with the American people. He speaks in sound bites without substance. When asked if he intended racist comments against President Obama in some recent remarks he made, Mr. Gingrich brought up the subject of Detroit. "Are we in favor of food stamps in Detroit or jobs?" Rhetorical questions with racist overtones are unbecoming a man who asks to be forgiven. Of course, he understands the value of sound bites, doesn't he?

But the overall value of New Gingrich for President 2012 is his ability to trump Sarah Palin and all the rest of those wanna-be candidates who people cannot remember. Gingrich will ignite interest in an otherwise emotionally sagging Republican party. He knows his sound bites are unsustainable as far as being intellectually accurate, but given the right set of circumstances, with a stroke of luck, he could well become the candidate of choice for Republicans and Independents who are tired of paying over $4 a gallon for gas.

And therein is the problem. What would Mr. Gingrich do to bring down the price of gasoline? Would he insist the people in Detroit finally produce more fuel efficient cars? Will they even listen to him as President if he labels them as food stamp abusers?

Newt Gingrich is like the cliche Ground Hog Day political candidate who could one day see his shadow. Therein is the real problem. Newt might be a political flame thrower but he can also ignite a deja-vu era of irresponsible sound bite politics.

Memo to US Congress: "Hello?" Medicare is an Insurance Benefit!

2011-04-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've tweeted, blogged and posted all over the Internet about Medicare being an insurance benefit.

It's supposed to be paid for with premiums deducted from beneficiaries' Social Security checks plus the contributions made from payroll FICA withholding. So, last night on the PBSNewsHour with Jim Lehrer, there sits intellectually savvy David Brooks railing on Mark Shields about how money paid to Medicare is holding back our nation's ability to meet Medicaid obligations. Oh boy! This is exactly how misinformation gets perpetrated. There's absolutely no way this lowly blog will educate Mr. Brooks about what he doesn't know, but I'm going to at least try "Medicare 101":

1. Medicare is the best health insurance program in the world. (Yes, David Brooks, in the world!). Because the cost controls are built into reimbursement caps to providers while premiums are supposed to meet the costs. So, it's true, it doesn't really happen like that, but why? Well, before Medicare was sold to Managed Care, the administrative cost of the program was less than 10 percent. Then, of course, the Republicans wanted their insurance company friends to have a piece of the "aging of baby boomers" insurance pie, so the US Congress was sold on the idea of "competition", and Medicare Managed Care proliferated. It was an awful decision except for one provision. Medicare Managed Care put more emphasis on wellness initiatives thereby helping the insurance programs to become better than "sickness care". Everybody knows, keeping people well brings down the cost of sickness care. But, in order to reach this astounding conclusion, Medicare Manged Care consumed 25 percent of the money received from qualified beneficiary contributions, i.e., money used for advertising and administrative cost. If US Congress wants to bring down the cost of Medicare, they should go back to the tried and true intention of the program - let the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) run the program, reduce the administrative cost back to under 10 percent, hold on to those wonderful and cheap wellness benefits and get rid of Medicare Managed Care. Meanwhile, CMS and MedPac, the group that advises Congress about Medicare and Medicaid policies, could recommend a risk adjusted premium/cost model whereby my first sentence in this explanation would become reality.

2. Of course, the above won't happen. So now what? I'll tell you what. By increasing the beneficiary pool who are enrolled in Medicare, the program would benefit from higher premium contributions while spending less money on those who are younger than 65 years old. It's a risk based model. Let's say you have 100 people in a pool of people paying into Medicare but they range in age from 21 to 100 years old rather than being 65 and older - it's simple math. Each beneficiary pays a defined contribution based upon their age, but let's average $115 a month into the program for each person per month. At the end of just one month, the sample Medicare program collects $11,500 from beneficiaries. Now, multiply this by 12 months = $138,000 in one year from 100 beneficiaries. Now, we see the 21 year old beneficiaries go a full year with no costs against the premiums. Perhaps 10 of the 50 year old beneficiaries use outpatient services at a total aggregate cost of $30,000. We now see a remaining $108,000 left in the fund to use for the roughly 85 other beneficiaries. This is how Medicare should work. The remaining $108,000 should be spent with less than 10 percent allocated for administration and the remainder of the money could be put toward the cost of providing care. Some people in the 85 persons risk sample will be healthy and not use any of the money while one person will likely consume about 25 percent of the entire pie. An actuarial analysis can be done based on something like my model and, "Voila!", Medicare can become a wonderful risk adjusted insurance program where everyone shares in the benefit, not just the expensive to care for 65 plus year old beneficiaries.

3. Medicaid, on the other hand, is nothing like Medicare. It's a federal poverty program that's going broke because nobody seems to want to fund poverty.

4. Medicare, on the other hand, can be risk adjusted, the premiums can be increased or decreased based upon actuarial data and - MOST IMPORTANT - payments to providers like doctors and hospitals can (and are!!!) capped!!! So, if the program is running deficits, the risk of running out of money can be shared between providers and beneficiaries - higher premiums and capped reimbursement.

Obviously, my simple Medicare 101 blog cannot cover the thousands of pages of Social Security, Title XX and Medicare laws which have been amended countless numbers of times.

Therein are the programs detail problems, i.e., the volumes of paperwork associated with these huge programs have a daunting effect on people's ability to learn the basics - like Mr. David Brooks, who speaks as though he has authority and knowledge when he has neither when it comes to the differences between Medicare and Medicaid funding, reimbursement methodology and actuarial analyses.

Although I enjoy David Brooks, as he and Mark Shields are my two favorite pundits on television (thanks to NewsHour for carrying them weekly) it's clear neither of these gentlemen should speak facts about programs they don't understand. At least, in the Friday (April 22) commentary where Brooks mis-spoke, it was Shields who stood the moral ground in favor of protecting Medicare and Medicaid without assuming any authority about the concrete policies of either program.

Again, I say, make Medicare the single payer health insurance program it should be and include everyone who works over 21 years old in the beneficiary pool. For those who don't work, they should be included, so long as somebody pays their risk adjusted premiums based upon their actuarial data. Perhaps, by creating a Medicare single payer universal health program, we might even eliminate or marginalize the poverty Medicaid program for all but the most indigent and those who cannot care for themselves. But, let's face it, the reason our government is unwilling to try this sensible approach is because a ton of money is being made by private insurance companies to sell useless plans, charge high premiums and not pay providers their costs. So, as the political debate heats up to save Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, we must educate people like David Brooks to understand the way Medicare should work.

# Beneficiaries x premiums - (less) $costs = Medicare.

Balance the equation.

Maine Governor LePage and Other Iconoclastic People

2011-04-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Iconoclasts destroy important images, particularly targeting popular spiritual or otherwise meaningful symbols.

People who overestimate their personal importance seem drawn to taking down popular public images. For example, I quietly worry about how America's insidious anti-immigration movement might perceive our famous Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor if the group ever became a majority political movement. The image of liberty is threatening to people who don't understand "liberty and justice for all".

Now, Maine's Governor of two months Lepage joins a list of iconoclasts. If he is allowed to get away with removing images of Maine's labor history by decreeing it "one sided", what other history might he be looking to change in the meantime? In my opinion, removing an otherwise benign mural puts the Governor in line with others like the Taliban who dynamited in 2001 the magnificent 6th century structures of the Buddhas of Bamyan, in Afghanistan; and let's add the Soviet Communists who in 1924 changed the name of St. Petersburg to Leningrad because they didn't want to be reminded of the Russian Czar.

People care about all of their history, the good, the momentous, the bad and the offensive. Political leaders should acknowledge the past while letting go of it.

For some unbelievable reason, iconoclasts are threatened by images offensive to them, the proverbial ego of one. As evidenced by the public aftershocks of Governor LePage's removal of a mural quietly hanging in Maine's Department of Labor office, iconoclastic acts cause collateral damage. Governor LePage is now the subject of national negative news coverage. One would think iconoclasts get the collateral damage caused by their selfish acts, but they apparently don't.

By removing the labor murals and storing them away from public view, Governor LePage was an equal opportunity iconoclast. He offended the State Museum Curators who wrote a statement opposing his actions. Backlash from Maine constituents of Republican leaders are likewise offended because they are distracted by trying to understand the Governor's actions. Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquerella wrote to Governor LePage as reported in the Boston Globe, saying that removing the labor mural "conjures thoughts of rewriting history prevalent in totalitarian regimes."

History takes care of iconoclasts. US Congressional House Speaker Newt Gingrich's saw his tenure as a political leader short circuited after he removed a painting by Ralph Fasanella from the Capitol House labor committee room, a painting depicting the 1912 "Bread and Roses" strike in Lawrence, Mass, an event led by mostly immigrant women textile workers (Boston Globe "Revisionist Art History"April 3, 2011).

Maine Governor Lepage wants to tell the world how this New England state is open for business. But, by wasting time, money and political capital on iconoclastic actions, he sends the opposite and wrong message to potential employers and the state's employees who, by the way, are essential to the growth of ANY business.

And speaking of business....just where are those "employers" Maine Governor LePage was so concerned about offending because they were not depicted in the labor mural he abruptly removed from public view?

Iconoclasts must learn that the way to revise history is to look forward, not backward.

GOP senators express 'dismay' with LePage | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

2011-04-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

GOP senators express 'dismay' with LePage | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME
The litany of state and national press Op-ed pieces full of criticism of Governor LePage and his actions as leader of Maine are becoming a deafening drum beat of disdain for a man who has set a bad tone for doing business in Augusta. I will be adding my own commentary soon but the above link is certainly a rebuke from reasonable Republicans who call it like it is. Thank you to Maine GOP for demonstrating leadership in the face of pressure, and calling on the carpet the actions of this distracting Governor.

Bill Nemitz: Latest LePage order a piece of work | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

2011-03-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Bill Nemitz: Latest LePage order a piece of work | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

I cannot write this blog any better than Bill Nemitz comments in today's Portland Press Herald.

Baby Boomers in Asia - Five Countries in 30 Days

2011-03-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

Public Health and Infectious Disease Observations: Five Asian Countries in 30 Days

So, my husband and I thought we were 30-somethings again. We decided to trek around Asia, unescorted, for a 30 day and 5 nation vacation.

Along the way, I made mental notes about the public health I observed. We visited Singapore, where my husband’s nephew and family live; and where the quality of the government run health care is excellent. We noticed a marked change in the public health after we left the modern safety of Singapore. Third world countries like the two sites we visited in Viet Nam and two places in Cambodia appeared less focused on public health than what I observed in progressive Singapore.

In Beijing China, I observed an interest in improving air quality and emphasis on hand washing in bathrooms and restaurants.

Finally, Kyoto, Japan appeared to be as modern and focused on providing for good public health as any western nation, including the United States.

We planned an itinerary using frequent flyer miles. Our intention was purely personal, but my nursing instincts drew me to pay attention to the public health of each country we visited.

Of course, I was also vigilant about our exposure to infectious diseases that are either prominent or endemic to Asia – like, Malaria, Tuberculosis or Dengue Fever.

Additionally, we were aware of our risk for contracting intestinal disorders due to the variances in water quality common in Asian countries. Obviously, we didn’t want to think about the risk of unexpected accident or injury.

Our local travel clinic in Brunswick was non-specific about special health risks we could be exposed to. We received advice about having our tetanus immunizations updated. Thankfully, our primary care physician provided a prescription of Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) in the event we needed help fighting off gastrointestinal or urinary tract infections.

Fortunately, our 30 day journey left us with beautiful memories and in reasonably good health given the exhaustive pace of our 5 nation travels. We never used the Cipro.

Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to check the resources on the Internet before taking an extended visit to third world countries like Cambodia and Viet Nam.

While I observed public health measures in effect in Asia, the effectiveness of initiatives and facilities to treat illness, infectious diseases or medical emergencies are not uniformly evident. For example, first aid or medical alert signage was noticeably not existent in the ancient Angkor ruins of Siem Reap, Cambodia; likewise in the Cambodian jungle where the 10^th century temple at Banteay Srie is located. Both of these Cambodian tourist sites present challenging terrain for travelers who may be unprepared for the arduous walking required, especially in 95 degree humid temperatures.

A visit to China’s Great Wall was an unbelievable travel experience for tourists like my husband and me. Nevertheless, be advised about the difficult climb on ancient steps while touring this Great Wonder located outside Beijing. Driving in Beijing is also a public health risk because there are too many automobiles and novice drivers clogging virtually all the city’s highways.

This is a summary of what I learned by asking questions while we took our tours:

· Singapore – public health facilities are excellent. Record keeping is current about the incidence of infectious disease. Electronic body temperatures are taken of all visitors at immigration. Immigrants entering with a fever are quarantined until illness is determined and/or treated.

· Viet Nam - provides health care for citizens up to 6 years old. If private insurance is unavailable or unaffordable for those over 6 years old, the patients must go to charity hospitals. Air quality in Ho Chi Minh City in South Viet Nam appears to be problematic, as some people were routinely observed wear surgical masks while commuting in the city.

· Cambodia - appears to down play risks of Dengue Fever, Malaria and even the remote chance of finding an undetected land mine in some remote villages where tourists are seen hiking on jungle paths, like at Banteay Srei . Building a tourist industry is the focus of improving the country’s poor economy. Public health seems to be provided by Europeans and at some Swiss run hospitals.

· Beijing, China – appears to be struggling to get a handle on how to implement public health initiatives like improving air quality and prevention of infectious diseases. Nonetheless, public toilet facilities in Beijing were modernized for the 2008 Olympic Games. Hand washing was encouraged in all public places.

· Kyoto, Japan* – appears to be on par with Western nations regarding sanitation and infectious disease prevention. Hand washing stations in public facilities were emphasized and centrally located. As in Singapore, electronic body temperatures were taken during immigration checks and electronic finger prints were required before entry to Japan.

My recommendations, for those baby boomers who want to take up a back pack or fly from place to place, are to research the Internet before embarking on what could be the journey of a lifetime. Asia is a fascinating cluster of countries to visit, but travelers should be prepared for variances in economies, public health and often challenging terrain.

*Since writing this story, the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan has caused extraordinary damage to the beautiful country we visited. Although Kyoto was not directly hit, the collateral damage must be devastating throughout Japan. I am deeply sorry for the Japanese people at this time; but I'm confident their culture will not be set back by the horrific destruction caused by the catastrophes of a 9.0 earthquake, a tsunami and resulting nuclear energy plant malfunctions and fuel leakages.

WLBZ2.com | Bangor, ME | Bates College orchestra holds fundraiser for Japanese town

2011-03-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

WLBZ2.com | Bangor, ME | Bates College orchestra holds fundraiser for Japanese town

My understanding is this concert sold out but benefit donation info is included in the article.

Japanese need disaster support and help - Maine Psychiatric Physicians suggest assistance

2011-03-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Readers have contacted me via facebook to say the images out of Japan are haunting them. Victims of other disasters are understandably re-traumatized by the current images of lives lost and the dreadful threat of nuclear plant meltdowns in Japan. Although attention is focused on the urgency of the immediate needs, the long term emotional impact of this disaster must also be realized. This article is from today's Maine Medical Association weekly newsletter:

Maine Psychiatrists Respond to Those Affected by Japan Earthquake from Maine Medical Association Newsletter weekly update March 14, 2011:

"Anthony T. Ng, MD FAPA, Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Acadia Hospital in Bangor, is a nationally recognized expert in psychiatric responses to disasters and traumatic events."
The Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians (MAPP) joins all Mainers, Americans and the international community in mourning the tragic loss of life that occurred as a result of the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan.
We express our deepest sympathy to the residents of the communities affected by the catastrophe, as well as to our Japanese students and expatriates who live in Maine. We express our support to those who are still awaiting word on the fates of family members, friends, and colleagues in the affected areas. We also wish to convey empathy with those who are experiencing the effects of disruptions of social supports and destruction and loss of property. The grief associated with this disaster is universal, and touches all of our lives.  Psychiatrists, as part of the world medical community, reach out to those who are affected by all forms of disaster.

Maine psychiatric physicians have an important role to reach out to our communities, including schools and universities that are hosting Japanese students, as well as those who work with these students.  In particular, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals may be called upon to provide treatment for individuals with particular vulnerabilities, including pre-existing mental illnesses, who might become more severely disabled without specialized care. At a broader level, health care and social service providers, and other responders in the community should be aware of strategies for helping to promote people’s psychosocial wellbeing and resilience and further reduce distress or harm to disaster victims. In addition, MAPP offers a reminder to parents, teachers and the media to limit children's exposure to upsetting images on the television and the Internet.

Anthony T. Ng, MD FAPA, Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Acadia Hospital, is a nationally recognized expert in psychiatric responses to disasters and traumatic events.  "People who have been affected directly and indirectly by disasters or traumatic events may experience an array of psychological or bodily reactions, including fear, anxiety, sadness, emotional numbing, sleeplessness, and various bodily ailments such as headaches. Reactions may also include distrust of others and a loss of confidence in themselves," advises Dr. Ng.  "As the world psychiatric community engages the challenge of reaching out to individuals in Japan, it will be particularly crucial that any supportive as well as therapeutic interventions appreciate and respect cultural variations in grief reactions and coping strategies.  It is important for health care providers and others to avoid defining as pathological normal stress responses in disaster situations. Many of these reactions are transient and may resolve. In some instances, however, it may be appropriate for affected persons to seek treatment for trauma-related emotional states."

Individuals seeking information or other resources are encouraged to contact MAPP at 622-7743. Also, the American Psychiatric Association and other organizations have helpful websites where interested individuals can obtain more information about coping with the mental health aspects of disasters.
http://www.psych.org/Resources/DisasterPsychiatry.aspx
http://www.redcross.org/en/
http://nctsnet.org/
http://www.pqmd.org/cms/japan_earthquake
For more information contact:
Anthony T. Ng, MD FAPA
Medical Director, Psychiatric Emergency Services
Acadia Hospital
Tel: 207-973-6345
Email: atng@emh.org
James Maier, MD DFAPA
Public Affairs Representative, MAPP
Email: maierj@mmc.org
Tel: 207-883-5420
Julie Keller Pease, MD DFAPA
President, MAPP
Email: jkpeasemd@gmail.com
Tel: 207-409-8621
Contact for questions regarding guidelines for donations of pharmaceuticals:
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
Executive Committee, MAPP
Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety
Email: gressitt@gmail.com
Tel: 207-441-0291
Contact for general questions about Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians:
Warene Eldridge, Executive Director, MAPP
P.O. Box 190, Manchester, ME 04251-1090
Tel: 207-622-7743
Email: weldridge@mainemed.com

Beautiful Country Devastated - Post Earthquake Japan

2011-03-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

Visitors to Japan "pre" last week's horrific earthquake and resulting tsunami waves were impressed by the country's organized beauty. Guests were treated to an orderly country. People were polite to a fault. they were graciously efficient with time, resources, transpiration and energy.

Japan is the only country in the world to endure and recover from two attacks with nuclear bombs at the end of World War II. It is completely unfair for this nation consisting of small group of islands to undergo yet another series of catastrophic events, this time by the destructive brutal forces of earth's moving plates along the Pacific Ocean's rim.

We visited Japan as a US military family in the 1970's, traveling to Tachikowa, Tokyo and Kamakura. Just last October 2010 we visited the old capital city of Kyoto during our month long Asian tour. My husband and I love Japan for it's simplistic beauty and friendly people.

Obviously, I join the people of the world in praying for the Japanese who are desperate in the face of a triple disaster, the 9.0 earthquake, the resulting force of the tsunami waves and now the breakdown of the country's nuclear power plants. Triple tragedies have happened in a country best prepared to withstand the powerfully significant events, yet the compounded forces of all of them occurring at the same time are overwhelming a grieving nation. Thankfully, the US military is among the first disaster aid teams on the scene to offer assistance to the population who are dealing with water, food and power shortages.

I'm glad to say I've had the opportunity to visit Japan before March 10, 2011. There is no doubt the Japanese will eventually recover from the combination natural and man made nuclear disasters now demoralizing the country's people.

Unfortunately, the Japan I will remember may not be the same during my lifetime. As for the nuclear power plants, the double edged sword of risky energy sources driving Japan's economic success, I doubt these will ever again be functional, but I'm certainly not a scientist.

Worse, the nuclear waste these plants leave behind in the wake of the meltdowns will be a pox on the sculptured Japanese landscape for at least a generation, probably longer.

Our hearts pour out to the Japanese people who are faced with challenges beyond comprehension as the world watches the events of March 10, 2011 continue to unfold. Thank you US military for being there, helping the Japanese when you can. Although there is no way to mitigate the destruction of the triple earthquake disasters, our US military presence is symbolic of caring Americans who pray for Japan's well being.

Maine Governor LePage - Why Did You Fire Physician Dr. Dora Mills? It's the Company You Keep

2011-03-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Disclosure - I have been honored to know Dr. Dora Ann Mills as a public health policy leader and as a neighbor in Brunswick, Maine. She is respected for her advocacy on behalf of responsible public health policy and as an advocate for nursing, especially regarding the public health policies protecting Maine's women, infant and children. Obviously, I blanched and nearly dropped my newspaper when, after returning home from a relaxing vacation in Rome, Italy, I read the headlines tucked into my mail slot.

Why did Maine's Governor Paul LePage fire Dr. Dora Ann Mills, the former state public health officer, as Maine's Medicaid director? No rational reason was given. (Perhaps it was a political decision? Ouch!)

To Dora, I know numerous others in Maine join me in congratulating you on your professional response to the irresponsible action taken by the Governor LePage administration in your employment.

Especially concerning is the lack of recognition for your 15 years of service to Maine people and for your reputation throughout the nation, by those who know you, as a wonderful public health official.

Another question in my mind is how a new gubernatorial administration will fill empty high level Maine positions, several left vacant because of precipitous firings, in a way that will prepare the state and this Republican Party state house majority against an inevitable emergency?

Examples: Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer was understandably unprepared for the murder of innocent people during the shootings where Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford was shot in Tuscon. Louisiana's Bobby Jindal was equally challenged when the British Petroleum (BP) oil rig exploded off the coast of his state causing an environmental catastrophe. All state governors live with the risk of unwanted disasters happening during their administrations. We cringe in anticipation of a Governor LePage response if, God Forbid (!) something unforseen and horrible happens in Maine.

When the LePage administration fires key public policy people who have proven leadership during times of crisis, in my opinion, he puts at risk the health and welfare of Maine people by allowing political appointments to trump responsible leadership. Firing Dr. Mills without having a replacement in place is poor management at best and, otherwise, an error in judgment.

Governor LePage's advocates say he has a right to hire his own team. Well, these rhetorical advocates better watch the words they continue to parrot to support the mis-steps by this inexperienced administration, because you are graded by the company you keep.

My thanks to Dora for keeping your cool during this uncertain time. I apoligize for the LePage administration for not publicly recognizing the value of your leadership as a public health policy leader, as an outstanding citizen of Maine and as the mother of a wonderful family. Neighbors, friends and colleagues of Dora are proud of the company we keep.

Future of Nursing - Highlighted in Institute of Medicine Report (IOM)

2011-03-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Page 4 ANA Maine Journal February, March, April 2011
Initiative on the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action

http://www.nursingald.com/Uploaded/NewsletterFiles/ME2_11.pdf

Panelists at the Future of Nursing program said the initiative’s final published report is similar to the 1910 Flexner Report sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation, credited with transforming the standards for physicians and medical education.

by Juliana L’Heureux, BS, RN, MHSA

Professional nurses are essential in the efforts to improve the nation’s access to quality health care, said Donna E. Shalala, chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing initiative.

Shalala spoke at the Nov. 30, 2010, Summit on Advancing Health Through Nursing, in Washington, D.C.

Shalala is the committee chair of the initiative that presented the report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Shalala served as secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) under President Bill Clinton.

She called for collaboration among nurses and healthcare colleagues to transform the nation’s healthcare system and to improve patient care.

“There is not a more challenging time for health care than right now,” said Shalala in the program’s opening remarks. The presentation was also webcast to approximately 100 other locations in the nation including St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine.

“Nurses can and should play a fundamental role in transforming and improving health care,” she said.
The country’s more than 3 million nurses are vital in implementing and supporting the objectives set forth in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the legislation that provides the most sweeping healthcare overhaul since the 1965 creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according to the report. (For more information on the report, go to http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx or http://tinyurl.com/2brrusk)

Moreover, nurses were voted the most trusted healthcare professionals for eight years in a row, in a Gallop Poll reported by the American Nurses Association (ANA) on Dec. 9, 2009.
In anticipation of the passage of national healthcare reform, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine launched a two-year initiative to respond to the need to assess and transform the nursing profession. “It’s time for nurses to step forward and take responsibility for the future of health care,” says Shalala.

Panelists at the Future of Nursing program said the initiative’s final published report is similar to the 1910 Flexner Report sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation, credited with transforming the standards for physicians and medical education.

A committee was appointed by the IOM to develop the RWJF-funded initiative on the Future of Nursing. The purpose of the joint IOM/RWJF effort was to report an action plan or blueprint for the future of nursing.
Five key action-oriented objectives detailed in the report are:
• Scope of Practice: Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training.
• Nursing Education: Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
• Removing Barriers to Practice: Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other healthcare professionals, in redesigning health care in the U.S.
• Data Collection: Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.
• Fostering Inter-Professional Collaboration: Private and public funders, health care organizations, nursing education programs and nursing associations should expand opportunities for nurses to lead and manage collaborative efforts with physicians and other members of the health care team to conduct research and to redesign practice environments and health systems (The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, 2010, S-9).
Additionally, five desired outcomes were cited to evaluate how the blueprint will be implemented:
• Establish leadership in the nursing community to help drive and engage in the Future of Nursing report’s recommendations.
• Raise the visibility for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations and expand a support base to include stakeholders from key sectors, including government, higher education, consumer organizations, health professionals and others.
• Further the discussion of the IOM recommendations and contribute to the analysis and understanding of emerging perceptions about the recommendations.
• Plan action steps and follow-up to provide further engagement beyond the Nov. 30 rollout meetings. Educate local and state media about the recommendations.
• Engage state lawmakers and/or key policy leaders to learn about the recommendations.
Affiliated groups in five states—California, New Jersey, New York, Michigan and Minnesota—were selected to participate in pilot programs for the measures recommended in the Future of Nursing report:
• California—Betty Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis; California Institute of Nursing and Health Care
• New Jersey—New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; New Jersey Nursing Initiative
• New York—Institute for Nursing; New York State Workforce Center; New York AARP Executive Council
• Michigan—Michigan Health Council
• Mississippi—Mississippi Department of Budgeting and Administration; Nursing Workforce Center
Donald Berwick, M.D., interim director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), delivered a keynote speech in support of the IOM/RWJF report. He praised the Affordable Care Act and pledged to include nursing leadership during healthcare reform’s implementation.
Information about the Summit on Advancing Health Through Nursing and the entire report is available at www.thefutureofnursing.org.

Shalala’s video statement on the Future of Nursing is available at
http://www.thefutureofnursing.org/resource/detail/video-statement-donna-e-shalala
or at http://tinyurl.com/6hj3qdx.

Maine Mental Health Parity Coalition - Supporting Access to Mental Health Care

2011-02-19T06:12:00.000-08:00

Note date and time of public hearing and LD 364 number.

Title: Maine Mental Health Parity to Protect Access to Mental Health Care

Public Hearing for Maine LD 364 Resolve, Directing Updated Review and Evaluation of Maine's Mental Health Parity Law is scheduled for Wednesday March 2, 2011 at 9:30 AM with the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services room 220, Cross Building in Augusta.

Consumers of Mental Health Care are supported by the language in this resolve.

Advocates for Maine’s mentally ill, including those who care for them and consumer groups quickly developed a broad based coalition in the fall of 2010, to support a coordinated and forceful pushback to prevent attempts to repeal health care reform initiatives involving Mental Health Parity for insurance beneficiaries.

Former Maine State Representative from Auburn Susan (Dorr) Lamb, now Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in Augusta, joined the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians (MAPP) to assemble a group of interested parties to strategize against any potential legislative roll back of Maine’s first in the nation Mental Health parity law.

What is Mental Health Parity? Parity means “equal”. In a nutshell, mental health parity protects care covered under the beneficiary’s health insurance plans, requiring they be paid for like any other medical health care claims. In other words, parity means no extraordinary exclusions for mental health care coverage.

Maine’s mental health parity law became a national public policy leader when State Representative Dorr led efforts to pass the law when she was in the legislature.

In effect, the Maine Mental Health Parity law mandates offering coverage for all individual and group plans for serious mental illness for company plans, but with a 20 employee or less exemption. It provides coverage for broad-based mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders.

Mental Health as a Medical Health Benefit:

As health care costs increase, many public and private health plans have imposed stricter cost containment techniques on the health benefits beneficiaries pay for in their insurance plans. Many plans have subjected addiction and mental health benefits, often called “behavioral health” benefits, to an even stricter form of cost containment, often in the form of higher co-pays and deductibles, shorter day and visit limits, pre-approval or “prior-authorization” for these services and other forms of “medically managing” these benefits that are more stringent than how other medical benefits are managed. (Parity Toolkit for Addiction and Mental Health Consumers, Providers and Advocates.)

Background on Parity

Most Americans with health insurance face greater barriers in accessing services for

mental illness and addiction than they face for accessing care for other medical

conditions. The majority of health plans impose higher out of pocket spending

requirements and more restrictive treatment limitations on addiction and mental health

benefits. Today, with new medical technologies like MRIs and PET scans that allow scientists to look inside the brain, the evidence that mental illness and addiction are brain diseases is more compelling than ever before. Unfortunately, reimbursement policy has not kept up with science. Since 1992, advocates have fought for health care equality for those with addiction and/or mental illness. A federal partial mental health parity law was passed in 1996 that was a significant step forward. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was passed in 2008 to correct discriminatory health care practices against those both with a mental illness and/or addiction. Significantly, the law aims to curb both the financial and non-financial or “non-quantitative” ways that plans limit access to addiction and mental health care. Individuals with mental illness and/or addiction, their families, professionals in the field and employers worked together to pass the law.

Does Mental Health Parity save health care dollars? The Maine Mental Health Parity coalition is requesting in the Resolve for the Bureau of Insurance to provide an evaluation of the state’s law in light data showing how access to mental health care reduces acute care health expenses.

Linked to this blog are two documents: (a) Mental Health Parity Tool Kit http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Parity1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=108469 or at http://tinyurl.com/5rhxco3

and (b) a copy of LD 364 the Resolve, Directing Updated Review and

Evaluation of Maine's Mental Health Parity Law. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billpdfs/HP029001.pdf

The Maine Mental Health Parity Coalition appreciates personal written testimony in support of the resolve to the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Affairs Committee at the address: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/jt_com/ifs.htm

Insurance and Financial Services
c/o Legislative Information
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Egyptian Zen

2011-02-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

Egypt's brave people showed extraordinary resilience during their facebook revolution, rising up against 30 years of governmental tyranny. Therefore, I hope the Egyptians will kindly accept my Zen advice knowing it is offered with extreme admiration.

Zen Buddhism is not my specialty, but having watched the movie Charlie Wilson's War recently, the character played by the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman tells a story worth repeating here. His character warns Congressman Wilson about the Zen of winning a war. I'm adapting the story to Egypt and it goes something like this:

"A young Egyptian boy gets a pony for his birthday. His village is so happy, they say 'isn't this good?'. But, the father says, 'We'll see'. So, later, the boy badly damages his leg when he falls off the pony. The village people say, 'this is not a good thing'. But the father says 'We'll see'. Then, Egypt goes to war with Israel in 1972, but the boy cannot serve because of his injured leg, so the village says 'this is a good thing'. But the father says, "We'll see". At the end of the story, the outcome of Charlie Wilson's War was not what he intended when he began his Congressional deal making. His victory was short lived.

In other words, although the Egyptian people are justifiably exalted about their recent revolution to overturn a dictator, the unintended consequences and benefits are yet to be determined. To coin a sometimes overused cliche: "Freedom is Not Free". There may be a price yet to be paid for the people's victory.

Facebook gets credit for providing the matrix to fuel the people's demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak; but it was the dictator himself and his autocratic rule that caused the Egyptian revolution.

The Middle East is now a tinder box as a result of two back to back revolutions fueled by the power of social networking media - Tunesia and then Egypt. Two revolutions will cause a physics-lab type of equal and opposite reaction on the part of other Middle Eastern dictators, of which there are apparantly several.

In the Zen philosophy, facts are not necessarily what they seem.
Egypt's euphoria may be short lived. "We'll see".

*Note: March 3, 2011 addendum - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12634117
"Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq Resigns"

Juliana L’Heureux: Franco-American Studies sponsored by Rep. Brian Bolduc | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

2011-02-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

Juliana L’Heureux: Franco-American Studies sponsored by Rep. Brian Bolduc | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

French settlers pre-dated the Plymouth Pilgrims by 17 years by settling St. Croix Island and Canada in 1604. Yet, French settlements in North America are taught like they don't matter much. More emphasis is given to the exploration of rivers than to settlements that pre-date the English colonies like Plymouth and Jamestown. It's time to include the St. Croix Island history in all school curriculum. In New Brunswick Canada, a Provincial legislator once told me St. Croix Island is like the Canadian Plymouth Rock. Rep. Bolduc may be starting a national curriculum trend, but let's lead by adopting this history in Maine, where it all began. Dirigo!

Maine's Eloquent History

2011-01-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

Politicians usually enjoy a good "buzz" either about something good they have been involved in or something negative about their opponents. It's a natural inclination to learn what the water cooler folks are saying about the state of the state. In Maine, my experience about water cooler talk is reticence - the people generally don't like to cause trouble. Except when the newly elected Governor LePage makes the news over and over again because of his miserable communications. An echo of discontent about the Governor and his poor judgement with regard to communications is growing into a deafening rock concert of disbelief. Now we read a rather substantial article in the January 25, 2011 edition of Newsweek Magazine, where the lead sentence credits the right wing Tea Party with the Maine governor's election. What's worse, the rest of the article goes down hill from there. Portland Press Herald owner rightly wrote an op-ed piece in the Maine Sunday Telegram saying Maine has too much at economic risk with a Governor who cannot manage his communications. In other words, the Governor must clean up his style.

In the weekly Forecaster newspaper, contributor Edgar Allen Beem said the Governor's latest objectionable remark regarding the NAACP and the Martin Luther King Day events he didn't want to attend (i.e.the " kiss my butt" statement), was as "appealing as passing gas in a crowded room...." (Forecaster January 28, 2011, p. 7).

And so it goes (to borrow a Kurt Vonneghut phrase).

Most troubling about the LePage honeymoon mis-comments is the morale reflected in the tone of the Maine State House, where it seems as though people are walking on rotten eggs. My impression, after being in the Capitol Rotunda two times this past week, was like I entered a medieval movie plot. People who I usually know to be outgoing were whispering in the wings; the usual camaraderie between legislators and the public was obviously strained. Nobody wants to be caught "on mike" talking or answering questions about Governor LePage or his administration. Behind the scenes, however, I have never heard such bold "water cooler" talk in Maine government. One legislator commented to me about how Governor LePage gave his daughter a $40,000 job in his administration. This particular legislator said, "I wish the Governor would offer me a $40,000 a year job to work here!" In fact, Maine legislators are only paid a few thousand dollars a year for their two year term of public service.

How can Mr. LePage wake up in the morning knowing he inherited the eloquent legacy of Margaret Chase Smith, Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator Susan Collins, Secretary of State Muskie, Senator William Cohen, Senator George Mitchell, Governor John McKernan, Governor Angus King and General/Governor Joshua Chamberlain, to name a few, and then proceed to act so poorly in word and deed?

So it goes. And we are only two and a half weeks into this LePage administration, but who is counting? Ahem! Newsweek will probably want a follow up story.

LePage is not generating good "buzz"

Blunt Talk Could Hobble New Maine Governor - Newsweek

2011-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

Blunt Talk Could Hobble New Maine Governor - Newsweek

Sitting Together - Eliminate Hyper-partisanship

2011-01-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

We know what it means to play nice in the sandbox.

Therefore, wouldn't it be nice to see our elected US Congress follow the advice of the kindergarten teachers who taught us to play nicely together? There's a proposal moving forward for Republicans and Democrats to sit side by side, rather than in separate blocks, during the State of the Union Speech (Tuesday January 25th), when President Obama leads our nation into a discussion of the goals and objectives under his administration.
No Labels supports this proposal.

No Labels is a political movement organizing with the purpose of eliminating hyperpartisanship in our government. In other words, one purpose of No Labels is to balance the extremism currently creating the viral and toxic environment in media discussions about politics and public policy issues. A crescendo of this hyperpartisanship reached deafening levels following the tragic assasination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tuscon, where 6 people were killed including a 9 year old girl, a US federal judge and a 30 year old congressional aide.

Entirely too many people are, sadly, dead as a result of the Tuscon shooting incident.

Although hyperpartisanship did not cause a crazy gunman to shoot innocent people in Tuscon, the poisionous tone of political rhetoric these days was vetted by the media as a result of the killings and assasination attempt.

Let's get behind the No Labels movement to end hyper-partisanship. In so doing, we support open discussion of issues without fear of retribution from anybody. Freedom of Speech means just that, period. We can debate issues for the purpose of resolving differences. Compromise is how we all move forward. Civics 101 teaches us that America's greatest moments came when our leaders engaged in compromise for the purpose of reaching a common goal.

US history calls us to emulate the leadership of our founders. They, too, had serious differences. Nonetheless, history teaches us how they put individual issues aside in order to form a more perfect nation.

Hopefully, the US Congress will take the lessons of this past tragic week in Tuscon very seriously, by leading us into an age whereby bipartisan discussion is supported rather than disdained. Let's see our elected leaders sitting together during President Obama's State of the Union Address.

Working together as Americans is a goal of No Labels. Let's eliminate hyper-partisanship in government.

Thank you to our kindergarten teachers for molding us according to The Golden Rule. God Bless those who died in Tuscon. May we, the living, protect the freedoms we value to preserve our nation's future.

Check www.nolabes.org. Not Left, Not Right, Just Forward.

Fodder for Saturday Night Live: Maine Governor LePage Needs an Agent - Please!

2011-01-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Regardless of how Maine people voted in the 2010 gubernatorial election, Governor LePage is now fodder for anybody who wants to make a living by using his inappropriate language with the press. Believe it or not, Ripley would be able to make money off of Governor LePage by posting his outrageous language in a larger than life museum. Thirty-eight percent of Maine voters supported this man, even after he was filmed saying he would tell the President of our country to "Go to Hell!” He lied during his campaign when he denied knowing anything about the Tea Party. Yada...yada...yada!

On Friday January 14, 2011, he said "Kiss my butt" (did he mean "ass"?) in response to a reporter who asked about the Governor not attending an NAACP ceremony in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

In the spirit of Martin Luther King, it's time for Governor LePage to read some of the late Civil Rights hero's quotes to memorize for future use. As the leaders of all Maine people including children, Governor LePage should learn the quote. "A leader is not a searcher of consensus but a molder of consensus".

In the Governor's inauguration speech, he called for Maine to work together, but he is dividing the state into small slices by using inappropriate language unbecoming of a head of a state. Mainers are embarrassed, they are defensive and stunned. A few are just as inappropriately calling the Governor's quotes "cute" and refreshing, as though he doused them with a blast of Arctic air. Well, I ask, would those star struck defenders say the same if a professional teacher in their child or grandchild's school system used the very same language in front of a classroom? Even more, what about using this language in a letter to parents? I don't think so.

These blogs and newspaper stories are divisive, definitely not building consensus around policies as important as the economy and education are to Maine's future. When he thinks he's being cute with inappropriate language, all the Governor is doing is erasing whatever message he wants Maine people to hear about his policies.

As a role model, shame on you, Governor LePage.

It's inevitable for spoofs of Saturday Night Live or the Maine comedian Bob Marley to have a fun with the Governor's language. All of which is to say - if Saturday Night Live would like a real politician doing jokes live from New York on a weekly basis, then ask them to connect with Maine Governor Paul LePage.

Does Governor LePage have a theater publicist or agent, yet? Take him, please.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford - A Tragic Clarion Call

2011-01-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Rather than post a rhetorical blog against the evils that lead to senseless murders by gunfire, the killing of Americans who are not at war, for apparent insane reasons, let's begin with another premise. The tragic shooting today, January 8th, of Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona, and the unnecessary murders of innocent bystanders including a federal judge, are avoidable deaths. In a hospital, an incident with far less significance would bring up licensing issues and questions about the safety of policies to protect the public.

Political polarization is the root of the hatred which likely led to the shootings in Tuscon, with Congresswoman Gifford the target and innocent victims the collateral damage. One crazy person with a gun was intent on murder and he succeeded because the victims had no defense.

How much more evidence do Americans need to finally get it? While politicians and self appointed gurus waste time and money worrying about turning our country "socialist", we are, instead, risking anarchy if gun control is not taken seriously.

Moreover, political rhetoric must become civilized! Of course, civility is difficult for the media, that thinks spreading unsubstantiated emotional turmoil is a freedom of speech issue. We must behave responsibly when discussing political differences because the louder political pundits criticize one another, the more virulent their deafening messages become in the ears of those with mental illness who happen to own guns.

I am so sorry for all those who were shot today in Arizona, the result of a crazy person who wanted to kill people who were practicing their right to free speech with Congresswoman Gifford in a supermarket.

My sympathy to the people of Arizona who must come to terms with these senseless murders. Yet, after all the gun powder is cleaned up and the funerals take place, how will we fix the root cause of this enormous tragedy?

Perhaps the the enemies of Congresswoman Gifford should take responsibility for creating her political dehumanization. I did not hear anybody from the Tea Party calling for sympathy about Congresswoman Gifford and the other victims.

Where are you Sarah Palin? Where is your clarion call for sanity?

No Labels - A Hopeful Post 2010 Election Movement

2010-12-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

Although I have not posted since the November 2nd election of 2010, my energy has been somewhat renewed by the invitation to join with a group of tri-partisans who are thoughtfully leading the No Labels movement against hyperpartisanship.

Indeed, I am discouraged by the short term memory loss of our American electorate who voted Democrats into power only two years ago, only to move many of them aside like yesterday's dinner leftovers in the November 2nd election.

In the No Labels movement (recently kicked off with a conference on December 13th in New York City) the Democrats, Republicans and Independent voters are side bars to political progress. A refreshing idea is taking hold with No Labels followers, like me, to educate voters about how politics really works.

Indeed, while we vote as political partisans, governing is an entirely different process from pre-election rhetoric.

Polls tell us the American people want politicians to govern from the political center, to compromise and work together. After all, isn't compromise how we function in our daily lives? How many of us get our way at work with our bos, in our families or even with the prices we pay at the grocery stores? We work within our means to find the best solutions to daily problems, including the cost of shopping.

Politicians need to work the same way - through reasonable discussion and by reaching compromise. Our US Constitution was written the same way - the document's authors made compromises without sacrificing their core principles of forming a "more perfect union".

To that end, No Labels needs more than poll numbers to educate people how politics works "in the middle". We're looking for people to sign on to the movement so the principles in the Declaration posted on the No Labels website:

http://nolabels.org/

We are not labels – we are people.

We care deeply about our country.

We are frustrated and concerned about the tone of politics.

We are passionate about addressing America’s challenges.

We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

Most importantly, we are Americans.

We believe hyper-partisanship is destroying our politics and paralyzing our ability to govern.

We may disagree on issues, but we do so with civility and mutual respect.

We believe in the vital civil center — a place where ideas are judged on their merits.

We believe that together we can make the future better and brighter — and give us what we all deserve — a government and a political system that works — one driven by shared purpose and common sense.

We believe our politics can change, so that government will work again and produce better results.

The consequences of inaction have never been greater, because the issues we face have never been more serious, more complicated, or more dangerous.

And yet, we have a crisis of governance – A crisis that compels us to work together to move America forward.

We must put our labels aside, and put the issues and what’s best for the nation first.

A promising future awaits us.

I'll write more about No Labels as the next US Congress convenes. Hopefully, the movement will be at least one way around the exhausting hyper-partisanship already re-surfacing in the US Congress after a reasonably bi-partisan lame duck session. Meanwhile, please sign on to No Labels - it's free!

Maine's Paul LePage and Luke Chapter 16:1

2010-09-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Paul LePage is running for governor of Maine as a Republican. I like Republicans but cannot imagine the Mayor of Waterville LePage as the governor of our beautiful state.

Obviously he is grumpy and not forthcoming unless supporters are cheering him on.

More urgently, he doesn't measure up to Biblical standards where honesty is measured.

Nonetheless, LePage is ahead in the polls. How can this be? His right wing extremism is beyond ideology. He's not truthful.

His recent statements to the press are challenged by the Bible in Luke's Gospels 16:1- 10-12. Hey, I'm no Bible quoter, but this time I must communicate in the same speech the LePage supporters may understand.

Luke 16:1:10-12 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11- So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12-And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?"

Mr. LePage made grumpy headlines with statements he attributed to media bias. Mayor LePage says he is being singled out because he is a Franco-American. Yet, he has yet to produce one single piece of evidence to substantiate this claim. When asked if his name was ever on a piece of property his wife used as a homestead tax exemption in Waterville, he said "no” - moreover, he said "never was". Then we found out he "forgot" his name was on the title, after all.

Rather than explain himself, he looses his temper. Today, the Portland Press Herald's Bill Nemitz called on LePage to stop telling lies:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/front-runner-doesnt-let-the-truth-get-in-his-way_2010-09-22.html

In fact, Mr. LePage personally told me he is backed by the Tea Party; but when asked by reporters if this was the case, he said he didn't know much about the Tea Party. He lied because he certainly predicted to me he was going to win the Republican primary election because the Tea Party was backing him - and that was back in February 2010.

Yet Mr. LePage told reporters: "Well, I don't know why you're associating me with the tea party." http://www.dirigoblue.com/diary/1873/paul-lepage-lies-again-claims-he-did-not-seek-out-tea-party

And so on.

In this highly stressed out economy, how is it people are willing to jump on the LePage bandwagon for governor of Maine? Prove to me this man cam be trusted.

Read Luke's common sense story in verses 16:1.

Mr. LePage should read Luke's Gospel before supporting the teaching of Creationism in public schools.

A governor's oath office says "So Help Me God".

Mr. LePage, are you telling Maine people the truth, so help you God?

Prophesy and the US Mid Term Elections

2010-09-05T05:27:00.001-07:00

Prophesy is a good way for newspaper pundits to get attention.

Some practice prophesy when it comes to predictions about a Republican right wing take over of the US Congress in the nation's November 2010 mid term elections.

New York Times columnist E.J. Dionne says a tsunami is on the horizon for Democrats. Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal writes, "How Do You Stop An Elephant Charging?" http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html.

Well, here's my prediction, made without resorting to cataclysmic metaphors: We need another metaphor. Democrats must get off their asses and tell American voters why they are so angry. Voters have reasons to feel skepticism and concern, but the anger is being fed by lies - about health care, about President Obama's citizenship and religion (he is an American born Christian!) and how we are somehow going to loose our rights to Freedom of Speech and to bear arms as guaranteed to us in the US Constitution - these lies are growing like weeds among the uninformed electorate.

Democrats need not face an election of "no confidence" if they stand up to the unabated lies perpetrated in the negative lame stream media (I resent using a Sarah Palin media concept, she invented it, but - yes, even a broken clock gives the right time twice a day).

Democrats must use their considerable campaign monies to fight the enemy of democracy, i.e., right wing extremism, and counter the election predictions driven by anger stirred up in the voting public. I'm convinced the "no drama Obama" administration is not serving Democrats who must use a simple law of physics to counter the prevailing prophesies about a Republican right wing take over. In other words, fight back lies and right wing extremism with a force equal to the venom spewed by conservative negative spin egotists like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

Hilary Clinton labeled this band of extremists "the vast right wing conspiracy". She used her First Lady bully pulpit, at the time, as a force against extremists who were perennially stirring up trouble for her and President Clinton's administration.

When President Harry Truman was challenged by Republicans, he labeled them the "do nothing Congress!".

We need a slogan to counter the prophesies of a right wing take over of our country.

Right Wing Extremists are RWE's - "really weird egotists". Worse, they concoct cauldrons of negativity, infecting our country with black smoke, perpetrating lies faster than a computer virus.

Maine's Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud said the single most common sense statement in a short speech he gave recently at a political rally - he said Democrats must get energized. Yes, Congressman Michaud is correct. But the force for this energy must begin today. Let's stop this nonsense of the inevitable, about a RWE takeover of our country. Rather, let's change the course of prophesy with Democratic action!

Peggy Noonan's elephant metaphor could become a stampede of donkeys!

Truth

2010-08-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

Freedom of speech should support truth telling. This Constitutional privilege is abused by liars.

For example, Americans have the right to say President Barack Obama is a Muslim. Freedom of speech allows us to say these kinds of unproven statements. Whether he is Muslim or not must be proven by the truth tellers. Liars are using Freedom of Speech to simply put out a lie without having to explain themselves. Liars just say what they want because they have the right to do so.

This logic creates havoc in our present communications age because a lie boomerangs into a false "truth" a full 24 hours before the facts can catch up.

So, when a television interviewer puts a microphone in front of a lady from New York who is attending a rally led by right wing extremists Glen Beck in Washington DC, and flippantly tells the world that President Obama is not supporting the US Constitution, this lie reverberates around the world before anybody else can say, "Hey, whaaaaaa?". Indeed, the lady can tell an untruth like that, because she can. Her freedom to lie is evidence that the US Constitution is supported. Moreover, the television interviewer did not use the microphone to ask the lady why she believed such a lie.

Of course, it is true, President Obama is supporting our Freedoms under the Constitution. I submit the lady from New York does not know what the US Constitution says. Rather, she was reciting rhetoric heard from leaders of liars like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh. These people and others like them are focused on what brings glory on themselves. Truth or untruth is secondary to their egos.

In other words, the lady who lied about Freedom of Speech has the right to do so because our US Constitution allows her this privilege.

But, where are the truth tellers? Those who believe truth will ultimately prevail don't appear to be getting the right message out. We must energize our truth telling efforts. Accountability must be demanded from those who get their lies out before the truth cycle catches up. Furthermore, we must pound home the truth to drown out the lies.

Untruths and proving truths are consuming precious time. Rather than discussing issues in a calm and factual manner, media people are trying to disprove lies, which only perpetrates the problem.

Pretty soon, everybody gets confused, which is precisely what the liars want to see. Confused people tend not to vote. Rather than vote on a confusing issue or for a person they don't understand, voters tend to stay at home and keep quiet. It's a reverse political strategy. Energize your base and keep your opponents confused, quiet and at home.

It's called "Freedom of Speech" - you have the right not to vote. Use it to your advantage, say the liars.

Truth tellers must shout louder than the liars. Freedom of Speech requires us to do so if we are to protect this right in the face of those who are abusive of the privilege. Most important - truth tellers and the believers of truth must use our Freedom of Speech rights to vote for truth.

Taxes and Yellow Ribbons

2010-08-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

Like overt profanity, the word "taxes" seems to generate as much angst as using four letter obscenities.

Yet, reputable news sources report economic growth and stability from three important countries where people pay a lot of taxes. Great Britain and Germany are both experiencing economic growth. Japan's currency, the Yen, is stronger than ever against the US dollar.

Today's Wall Street Journal (August 13th) reports the euro-zone economy grew at the fastest pace in four years. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960004575426572933053474.html?mod=djemalertEuropenews.

Americans, on the other hand, are experiencing weaker than expected economic growth. Of course, waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan not to mention other world hot spots like Korea, don't help to reduce expenses. Raising taxes on the rich appears to upset Congress. These are the men and women who are likely living in the tax bracket of incomes where higher taxes take money from their personal checkbooks.

Americans have lost sight of the greater good with regard to taxes. We want young men and women to defend our nation but we pay them with yellow ribbons and thank you parades. Public servants like police, fire, and rescue personnel are required to train non-stop in life protecting exercises; but people who depend on these services balk at paying higher taxes to compensate the providers who maintain law, order and safety in our communities.

Americans are upset about the use of federal stimulus money to help bail out banks and Wall Street. Rightfully so, because these companies are among the very wealthy that often find ways of not paying their fair share of taxes, i.e., the source of the money that went into the billion dollar bailouts, in the first place.

If everyone really paid their fair share of taxes, then a bail out of rich companies could have been seen as a rescue effort rather than a reward for incompetent leadership and inventing investment schemes like credit default swaps (what ever that term means!).

But, Americans are becoming more greedy and myopic. Other nations, which were once our enemies, are now economic engines. Several wars were once waged against Great Britain. Germany and Japan were destroyed by American military might. These countries are now experiencing stable economies while America's is stumbling along. Taxes are high in all of these countries, yet the people have a very high standard of living and good health care.

It's time to stop making political headlines with the word "taxes". Instead, the word should be a euphemism for future investment. Like running a household or a small business, we squirrel money away today so it can grow with interest to be used at a later time. Taxes should be viewed the same way.

Paying taxes should be a patriotic an exercise. Along with flying an American flag or pinning a yellow ribbon on our front door step, we need to pay for being a strong and free nation. A formula for our future should read thus: Patriotism + Taxes = Economic Security.

Moslem Mosque Politicized

2010-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Building a Muslim Mosque and community center near to the Ground Zero site of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City is not so much about American freedom to practice religion, as Mayor Bloomberg says, but about America's inability to create a national memorial for this earth shattering assault on our nation.

It is entirely possible that the controversial Mosque currently creating a bru-ha-ha, because it could send the wrong political message about the attack to the Muslim world, is simply a transference of our nation's inability to honor this sacred site with our own memorial.

Even the Russian government dedicated a September 11th Memorial in New Jersey (check http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com/2009/03/awesome-russias-9-11-tribute-and-gift.htmlwebsite).

On the other hand, the last time I visited ground zero, a hole in the ground was decorated with home made memorial posters pasted on the chain link fence surrounding the site, creating the aura of a prison appearance in the area.

I suspect the growing opposition to the proposed Mosque would be much less evident if Americans could just come up with our own memorial to honor this sacred site. Maybe France can donate another Statue of Liberty? Americans should be embarrassed rather than upset....

We have a Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii. Americans need and expect a Ground Zero Memorial in New York City. A Mosque connected to a Ground Zero Memorial is fine with me, but first things first.

Let's get our own Ground Zero Memorial in place first, please.

Moreover, let's pray we never need to build any more memorials.

Maine's Mayor Paul LePage in a Lame Stream Media Feeding Frenzy

2010-08-02T18:08:00.000-07:00

When Tea Party activist Sarah Palin speaks about the lame stream media, she certainly isn't reading the flood of commentary currently in Maine print about the conservative Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mayor Paul LePage, of Waterville.

In fact, plenty of sharks are lurking in the gush of opinion pieces appearing in several newspapers throughout Maine - all asking the same question. Where is the evidence that Democratic Party Chairman Arden Manning said, wrote or documented in any way a statement about the Mayor's Franco-American ethnicity? Apparently there is no evidence or somebody would have produced it by now. But, evidence is mounting that Mayor LePage made up the story.

While I was attending a dinner party in Kennebunkport, ME, on Saturday evening, the LePage conversation kept going and going like the energizer battery bunny. People are fearful of Mr. LePage because he is using smokescreens and incendiary comments to dress down the media while not explaining his views on the issues people want to hear about.

The Maine Sunday Telegram reported that Mr. LePage did not complete a survey requested of all candidates about their views on education policy. Mr. LePage is also quoted as wanting to receive all media questions in writing so he can respond in kind - (what is that about?).

Disturbing to me is the response I received from the LePage campaign when they told me (quote):
"We will be seeking to conduct interviews with those that will provide a fair analysis of Mr. LePage’s actual policy statements and proven record, not hyperbole and false statements from opponents..."

Perhaps Mr. LePage is the only person who is allowed to make false statement?

Alarmingly, recent Maine public opinion polls show Mayor LePage was still leading Democrat Libby Mitchell and Independent Eliot Cutler about two weeks ago, but the lame media drip-drip-drip of commentary, all calling for accountability, will surely erode this margin.

Nonetheless, Maine elects a governor with a plurality of votes. In other words, Mayor LePage could become governor with 37-38 percent of the total votes cast in November. This unthinkably conservative possibility exists, given there are three candidates running who could easily split the votes.

Mr. LePage's unscripted comments are causing a media frenzy. Damaging as his comments are, they divert important attention from the larger salient questions about what he will do and say as Governor.

Is Mr. LePage supporting the Republican conservative party platform calling for closing Maine's borders with Canada? How will this policy help Maine's economic growth when 8 million people living in Quebec Province are potential tourists and trade customers?

Our state's lame stream media needs to turn up the water pressure on Mr. LePage by asking the really tough questions while, at the same time, seeking out that invisible document he falsely attributes to Arden Manning.

Personally, I am calling for Mayor Paul LePage to withdraw from the Maine Gubernatorial race in November because, frankly, he demands accountability from those who seek media interviews but provides unsubstantiated statements to the press when he sees fit to do so.

So, Mayor LePage, I have put my request in writing.

Finally! Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Should be a Role Model

2010-07-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

Finally, people can travel to Arizona without worrying about being stopped and checked for immigration status.

Judge Susan Bolton thoughtfully struck down provisions in the Arizona law which would have allowed for drag-net police actions against people who looked suspicious or "illegal". This law would have put everyone on notice for proving immigration status, without regard for how innocent people would have been impacted by such precipitous police authority.

I suggest Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer demonstrate how much she personally supports the law which she signed by being the first person to be called into question for her immigration status. Hopefully, there would be media coverage to witness the event. Let's see Governor Brewer be a role model for her own law.

Arizona's proposed law empowered police to clean up the state's illegal immigration problem like giving them a dirty dust rag to keep employers clean. Rather, I suggest the state's intolerant citizens who support the drag-net provisions focus, instead, on the crack down on the employers who solicit and hire illegals. Therein is the core problem! Judge Bolton upheld provisions in the law which focus on solving the problem without violating the US Constitutional right of Americans to live in freedom from unlawful imprisonment. How many Americans carry our immigration papers with us when we go to the grocery store?

Although Arizona will appeal Judge Bolton's ruling, the law Governor Brewer signed will likely be re-written regardless of how other federal courts rule.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of all immigrants, legal and illegal, I am thankful for one Federal Judge who is standing up for the rights we are guaranteed under the US Constitution. Finally!

My Grandparents - Independence Day in New York Harbor

2010-07-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

It was 1913 when a young married couple named Alessandra Dini and Eugenio Anselmi arrived in New York Harbor as Italian immigrants. They left their beautiful home in Tuscany, Italy, to start a new life in America.

They raised four daughters (the oldest was my mother Elda) and grew a small grocery business in Monesson, Pennsylvania while Eugenio prepared for his US citizenship swearing in.

Several years after establishing themselves in Pennsylvania, they sent for their only son, who was back in Italy, to join them.

Although the Anselmi family experienced many hardships, they never looked back. American was their home. They were Italian Americans.

Today, many ill informed people are making it increasingly difficult for young immigrants to reach the same American dream my grand parents worked hard to achieve. Regardless of a person's citizenship status, an immigrant's life is never easy. They are sad about the life left behind, even if they are refugees. Yet, the tide of anti-immigration rising among some Americans is making the transition from immigrant to citizen more difficult than ever before.

Every single American is a descendant of an immigrant. We should honor the brave people who came before us to blaze the democratic road to our economic and social freedoms.

Instead, an anti-immigration movement is rooting itself in the hearts and minds of some people who simply forget where their own ancestry came from. These hypocritical people are likely unable to pass the same citizenship history tests given to newly sworn in American citizens. In fact, a recent survey by the Marist College in New York reported that 25 percent of those interviewed did not even know what country Americans fought to achieve our independence.

"....a new poll suggests more than 1 in 4 Americans don't know which country America declared its independence from. According to a new survey from Marist College, 26 percent failed to correctly identify Great Britain as the country the United States fought an eight-year war with to gain its independence." http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-ticker-producer-alexander-mooney/?fbid=GMP7hvGmtFN

As Americans celebrate our heritage, freedom and security from wants, we must also honor those who made the sacrifices we appreciate and remember on July 4th - Independence Day.

To do otherwise is to denigrate the very occasion we joyously salute with fireworks, parades, and decorative bunting topped by flags and highlighted by sparklers. Let's always remember where we came from.

My grandmother Alesandra Dini Anselmi loved the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor because she knew it was a symbol of all the freedoms America stands for.

God Bless America.

Arizona Bishop Olmsted - "First Do No Harm"

2010-06-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

http://ncronline.org/news/ethicists-fault-bishop%E2%80%99s-action-phoenix-abortion-case

I'm a fan of reading The National Catholic Reporter.

This week's lead story is an objective report about how Germain Trisez, who teaches Christian ethics at Mount St. Mary College and Seminary in Emmetsburg, Maryland, is challenging the ethics of a horrible decision made by Arizona Bishop Thomas Olmsted to excommunicate Mercy Sister Margaret Mary McBride, because she supported a critical decision to allow an abortion for a woman whose life was in imminent peril from complications caused by an 11 week fetus. Trisez makes several points in the article to contradict Bishop Olmsted's ruling. Essentially, "intent" of the decision to permit the abortion is not thoroughly vetted in Bishop Olmsted's act.

Above is the link to the on-line National Catholic Reporter story.

Bishop Olmsted should pay attention to the words in the physicians Hippocratic Oath - "First Do No Harm". Bishop Olmsted's precipitous decision to excommunicate Sister McBride has caused harm to many living people.

Obviously, everyone who served on the hospital's ethics board and supported the life saving decision to abort the 11 week fetus has been harmed by the Bishop's precipitous decision. Ethics committee members must be just as responsible for saving the pregnant woman's life as is Sister McBride.

Nonetheless, if committee members were Roman Catholic, they were apparently spared the stigma of excommunication. Sister McBride is harmed because she supported saving the life of a 27 year old woman who is reported to be the mother of 4 other children. Of course, it goes without saying, the young mother was harmed because she quite likely feels a sense of shame for receiving an abortion which has now caused emotional pain on her family and brought harm to those who saved her life.

Bishop Olmsted is not God. Does he need to be reminded of this obvious fact?

Let's pray for Sister McBride. Moreover, let's support the revocation of Sister's unethical excommunication from the church. Sister McBride bravely participated in a life saving decision to protect four young children from growing up without a mother due to complications of an 11 week pregnancy. Bishop Olmsted, I am a Roman Catholic nurse who would have made the same decision as Sister McBride.

Suffering and Leadership

2010-06-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama is caught in a leadership vice caused by the Deep Water Horizon disaster.

Polls released prior to his address to the nation from the Oval Office on Tuesday night show 52 percent of Americans are disappointed about how he is responding to the tragedies caused by unbridled oil spewing from the exploded Deep Water Horizon well owned by British Petroleum along with other companies.

As President, Obama is suffering our anxiety and pain while trying to "kick ass" where appropriate. Unfortunately, he is not moving our nation forward, even though the horrific mess he is faced with was caused by British Petroleum and Halliburton's incompetence.

President Obama is in a delicate position. He must protect us from moving backwards while trying to move us forward. For example, a national response to renewable energy consumption is critical right now, but we must also clean up the disaster of the here and now.

As President, he can't extend promises unless he can fulfill them, especially about compensation to the people in the Gulf. Likewise, he is strapped about pointing any more fingers to BP or Halliburton, or anybody else, even when blame is deserved. Unfulfilled promises or justifiable blame will only exacerbate an already incendiary situation, made all the worse by the egregious errors BP made leading up to and following Deep Water Horizon's catastrophic explosion.

What's interesting is how the President's adversaries in Louisiana seem to have all the answers to solve this crisis, so long as plenty of money is attached to their conceptual solutions. In my mind, unlimited money will not solve the underlying problem about how these oil wells are allowed to be licensed in the first place.

Truth be told, we cannot do everything that everyone is asking for to fix the fiasco caused by British Petroleum and its companion company Halliburton's greed run amok. These companies are responsible for financing the fix of this horrible mess.

Even local volunteer fire departments don't allow new construction in a municipality without knowing, before hand, how to rescue people in the case of a fire. Yet BP and Halliburton were allowed to license the Deep Water Horizon well without demonstrating adequate safety back up systems.

Therefore, the blame for this explosion and the resulting chaos is on BP, Halliburton and the regulators who allowed this oil well to be licensed (yes, reach back to the source, in the Bush II administration).

President Obama must communicate these facts to Americans while continuing to support those suffering and grieving for loss of their livelihood and culture. We instinctively know it may take generations for the Gulf region to return to normal, if ever. Let's acknowledge this fact.

President Obama's ambiguous leadership style, at this time, may be troubling to some. Nonetheless, I don't see anyone waiting in the wings to take the challenges he faces, other than those demanding more money to solve everybody's problems.

Louisiana's Governor Jindal carries on about lots of issues, but he has yet to provide evidence that he is not complicit in the licensing of the Deep Water Horizon well.

Can Governor Jindal raise his right hand before a US Congressional Committee and say he had nothing to do with allowing deep water oil drilling without adequate safety measures in place? How about the other Gulf Coast state governors? Let them take an oath to say they are innocent in the licensing of dangerous oil rigs. Good luck.

Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen is doing a terrific job keeping BP focused on the Gulf recovery efforts. Yet, even an Admiral's authority can be limited in an event of this magnitude. Truth be told, BP is out of compliance with everything imaginable. It's questionable if even a "kick ass" Admiral can raise the company's alert level any higher than it already is.

President Obama is not responsible for the Gulf disaster but he is responsible for the clean up. I suggest he move Vice-President Biden into the area - put a temporary executive residence in the Gulf Coast. Admiral Allen and Vice President Biden should hold daily briefings about what is being done to respond to this disaster.

Furthermore, British Petroleum and Halliburton executives need to pay for the suffering caused by this disaster, even if it means they go to prison.

President Obama must lead us toward recovery.

"Kick" as a Presidential Quote

2010-06-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks for comments from Old Scold in Virginia and Mary Anne in Maryland:

So what. President Obama responded to TV interviewer Matt Louer with a "kick ass" statement regarding who should be held most accountable for the Deep Water Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Pundits who criticize the President for his poor choice of words have not answered the question. Who do you fire and remove from power as a result of British Petroleum's (BP's) Deep Water Horizon fire, which is now saturating the Gulf of Mexico with seemingly unstoppable spewing oil?

Opponents of President Obama are desperately trying to pin him with the blame for this environmental fiasco. At least, critics say, his response should be more animated.

Okay. Just whose ass would administration opponents kick if they were in charge right now?

I submit, the blame seekers should be kicking their own asses if they belonged to the "drill baby drill" chorus, led by energy wonks who put profit before safety to find more oil faster.

Here's how I see it. President Obama should be crystal clear about the facts regarding how the Deep Water Horizon fire happened. He must tell Americans the truth. His administration should put extraordinary pressure on BP and on federal regulators to find out how much oil is polluting the Gulf. His administration officials must tell the world how this disaster will affect the oceans of the earth. Furthermore, President Obama should squeeze every dollar his administration can find out of available budgets and BP's cash coffers to pay legitimate claims resulting from this oil spill. Reasonable compensation should be made for the loss of the way of life in Louisiana - which may be gone for the foreseeable future.

Cleaning the Gulf of Mexico will take generations. A multi-generational population of caring, focused people will be needed to fix the Gulf. They cannot loose this moment due to frustration or lack of will to get the job done.

Outside of being accountable for finding dedicated people to help, providing facts and finding money - what else can be done?

What cannot be done includes:

1. President Obama cannot promise unlimited tax resources to fix the Gulf of Mexico.

2. No one can promise a return to normal to either the people or the wild life in the Gulf. In fact, they are all challenged to find a way to live in a "new normal" environment - whatever that entails.

3. President Obama cannot stop current oil drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico because, to put it bluntly, this horse is out of the barn and running wild. To do so will jeopardize even more jobs, stressing the economy of the Gulf region.

4. Americans cannot push back on British Petroleum, when it was our own federal regulators who allowed Deep Water Horizon to be built in the first place.

Louisiana's Governor Jindal wants more oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico because, he says, the operations will just go somewhere else, like South Africa, for example. Well, of course, that's true, but dealing with the graft and corruption of doing business in a third world nation will eat up nearly as much profit as fixing the Gulf of Mexico.

Governor Jindal likes to make political statements without examining the impact of his rhetoric - oil companies don't like dealing with third world nations. Nonetheless, they'll probably do so if they have to, until profits run dry. I suspect BP and other companies would rather get credit for cleaning up the Gulf than work with some third world countries, my opinion.

Governor Jindal's misplaced anger with the White House should be directed within - like, where was he when Deep Water Horizon was licensed?

American people must take charge right now. We must stop political finger pointing. Let's get to the quick and kick ass with alternative energy sources like hydro power, wind, solar and geothermal energies.

Let's kick ass with our own living habits. Let's help to solve the energy access problem by efficiently using mass transit, automobiles, sewage recycling and electric appliances. Making energy sacrifices now may not make our lives easier but the alternative is to suffocate the earth with more environmental disasters. Our high standards of living cannot continue without consequences.

Finally, regardless of how tired pundits put him down, I suspect President Obama's "kick ass" quote will go down in history as one of his best lines.

Maine Governor Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell

2010-06-09T04:40:00.001-07:00

Admirable congratulations are enthusiastically extended this morning to the winner of Maine's Democratic primary election for Governor 2010!

Maine's Senate President and former speaker of the legislature's House of Representatives, a career public servant with an extraordinary political resume, is as close to being the state's Governor elect as any candidate I can remember. Although Mitchell has a general election to face off this coming November, her candidacy will galvanize Maine's Democratic party to carry her to the Blaine House where the governor lives.

Let's get focused to comb the rafters and find every registered Democrat in Maine to support Mitchell this November. Likewise, we'll need a lot of independent voters, as well, to help seal the victory. Her victory will be much more than a political win. She must win to push back against right wing politics.

Senator Mitchell will run against a surprise Republican candidate who came out of political nowhere to win against formidable opponents who held extraordinary political resumes. LePage spent far less money than his closest rival, Les Otten, and won with a shoe string of an organization.

Mayor of Waterville and Marden's Department Store Executive, Paul LePage, defeated 6 other pedigree Republicans. Yikes!

Kudus to Mayor LePage, but no thanks as governor!

Maine's Grand Old Party is hanging low this morning. There are no post election press conferences to tout about the 38 percent decisive Republican victory.

LePage is a likable person, but philosophically, he's a creationist. Moreover, he carries a copy of the US Constitution in his shirt pocket like a prayer book - because he uses the document's words to fundamentally substitute for his intellect. Be wary of those who use the concrete intentionality of words to define their points of view.

LePage is a concrete thinker who will run Maine like it's a Marden's department store - a discount warehouse filled with merchandise people think they want to buy. Often, their Marden's purchases wind up sitting in the back of closets or cupboards. Why did 38 percent of the Republican primary vote to "buy" LePage and his message? Well, why do people shop at Marden's (discount) Department Stores? Because, they're looking for bargains.

I don't think LePage is a Marden's bargain. Rather, he's a pig in a poke. He's a tea party candidate cloaked with populist appeal.

Beating moderate and intellectual Republicans in the primary was a rout for LePage. He defeated Senator Peter Mills, a lawyer, a Maine State Senator, US Navy officer and Viet Nam War Veteran; he defeated Les Otten, a philanthropist, ski company mogul and former Boston Red Sox executive; he defeated Steve Abbott, who enjoyed the backing of the state's traditional party backers and he defeated Dr. Bill Beardsley, a man with two Ph.D degrees, one from Johns Hopkins University. Indeed, Republicans are stunned about this come from nowhere victory and anxious to figure out how LePage pulled off a 38 percent victory against such impressive opponents.

Maybe the large LePage family and the candidate's siblings beat the streets getting the unenrolled voters to register on his behalf. Frankly, the data is not yet ready to analyze because opponents are still licking their wounds. Of course, LePage says right wing extremists, like the Tea Party, helped to pull him out of the gate, when most pundits only expected him, on a chance, to show.

Nonetheless, the good news for Democrats is the Governor's office in November is ours to loose. Let's get behind Maine's Governor Elect Libby Mitchell and put her charisma, charm, intelligence, political skill, public policy expertise and dedication to work putting Maine back on track.

Let's sharply and decisively oppose dangerous right wing extremists who swept LePage to his polarizing defeat of Republican primary political insiders.

November's election will be THE one for Maine's Democrats to unite over. Let's get everyone to vote for Madam Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Elizabeth Mitchell on November 2nd!

Clintontonian Age: Hilary Clinton - Madam Secretary Extraordinaire

2010-06-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

Feedback on this blog was more about Isreal than Secretary Clinton. Thanks to all responses! Caroline from Virginia responded to the subject so I've attached her comments below this commentary. Reader responses about how Isreal is handling the Gaza blockade are attached. John and Kait have excellent comments.

While President Obama is figuratively immersed in the Louisiana oil spill tragedy, the rest of the world is literally fending off wars at historic hot spots.

Korea, Gaza, Israel and the Japanese anger about the US military base in Okinawa, are several serious global problem spots where the local people could care less about our US oil leak and British Petroleum's (BP) stock prices.

Rather, these countries are among a host of other unstable areas where conflagrations are taking up America's foreign policy energy, absorbing our international diplomacy efforts like giant sink holes. Our BP oil spill issues are tragically soaking the environment in the Gulf of Mexico while the rest of the world is permeated by conflicts.

Thankfully, the most timely and competent decision President Obama made when he was elected US President was to ask his political competitor to be the Secretary of State. In my opinion, Hilary Rodham Clinton has grown from First Lady of the Nation to Madam Secretary: First Lady to the World.

Secretary Clinton is a diplomatic God send to our nation. Her important role as US spokesperson to other nations is enhanced by her competent, and professional expertise and sensitive ability to understand diplomatic communications.

Americans are exceptionally fortunate to have her steering the nation's foreign policy, especially while President Obama is otherwise doused in dealing with domestic, economic and environmental problems caused by policies promulgated by the Bush administration.

Some examples where Secretary Clinton's expertise is vital:

1. North and South Korea share the world's most incendiary relationship. While I'm certainly no expert on foreign relations, when we visited Seoul and Pusan Korea in the 1970's, I saw a South Korea always on alert for war. I'm reasonably sure little about South Korea's preparedness has changed much since my husband and I visited. Politically, South Korea is a functioning democratic government, but the nation is still at war with the North. Obviously, North Korea's attack on a South Korean Navy ship recently was a startling reminder about how this war of the 1950s is still unresolved. It probably doesn't matter why the South Korean ship was maneuvering so close to North Korea. The attack was an act of war. Secretary Clinton is working the issue, which gives me confidence in South Korea's ability to practice restraint against the overt North Korean attack on their Navy, for the time being.

2. Japan is again voicing its pent up anger about the US base in Okinawa - they want it gone. This is probably not the time for the US to give up a military base so close to the Korean conflagration. Okinawa doesn't want the US in their island state, but I'm reasonably sure the economy of the region is heavily dependent on the base being there. It's a dicey diplomatic problem for Japanese and US international security. It's also another important reason for Secretary Clinton to be communicating with the Japanese at this time.

3. Israel - and all the issues about protecting the Israli nation and its people. "Oy vey!", is one expletive that comes to mind. Thankfully, Israel is a country where the US doesn't need to engage in nation building, because the Israeli men and women take military care of themselves. But, Moslem's and Palestinians seem intent on pulling Israel into one conflagration after another. Secretary Clinton is a calm voice for all the players in the Middle East. Let's pray for her success to maintain peaceful relations for Israel and its threatening neighbors.

Dozens of other world nations welcome Secretary Clinton. Nations like Russia, the Balkans, Asia, India, the nations of Africa and South America, seem to be on her 24/7 itinerary. Secretary Clinton is a welcomed ambassador in nations throughout our politically fragile world because she projects impeccable timing. Her nuanced tone will express frustration, when it's called for, but peace whenever possible.

Secretary Clinton might be an indispensable foreign diplomat. Although her motivations are noble, her political ambitions run deep and long - and hopefully, she will carry her enormous international appeal into another try for the White House.

In diplomatic years, Secretary Clinton is only middle age. Maybe her political old age will be enjoyed as Madam President.

In a tribute to both Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, regardless of where their personal futures might lead, historians might one day identify these days as the Clintontonian age.

Hi Julie,

I enjoyed reading your comments about Hillary Clinton. She is a diplomat like no other. One must think about her incredible talent which has grown over the years as she went from wife of a governor of Arkansas to Secretary of State. Few people are able to be accepted on the world stage as she has.

She has not only been accepted, but embraced, by people of the world wherever she has gone. She prepared herself so well, from her academic years to the present, to understand and accept divergent views. Women and men alike listen to what she has to say and share their nations' views even if they disagree. She has the charisma of a respected diplomat.

Hillary has proved herself through so many trials. It is obvious to me that if she wants to run the gamut of slurs and hatred again to vie for the Presidency, which would surely be mounted with a vengeance, she will need a strong Democratic Party.

An aside: let's hope that the pleasure commentators take in commenting continually on her hair and clothes will be tamed. I only see the incredible energy and fortitude she has to work so diligently for the American people.

Caroline

Louisiana - Governor Jindal and His Barrier Islands

2010-05-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

Governor Bobby Jindal's expensive idea to build protective barrier islands off the coast of Louisiana, would provide a place where he and washed up oil could live together, after the fallout from the environmental man-made oil rig explosion and disaster are evaluated. Of course, tax payers would foot the bill for Jindal's experimental coastal barrier islands, if they are ever built.

It's difficult to believe Governor Jindal is completely innocent of British Petroleum (BP) and Halliburton's exploitation of the Marine Mineral Services (MMS) regulatory oversight of off shore oil drilling.

Politicians and regulators fell dismally short of requiring back up safety systems to be in place on Deep Water Horizon while it was running, which might have prevented the unprecedented oil contamination now being observed in real time, polluting the Gulf of Mexico.

Here is the fact: Deep Water Horizon was dug too deep - a mile down under enormous water pressure.

BP built the oil rig without sufficient back up safety systems in place to meet the physical pressure challenges caused by drilling in such deep water. I know absolutely nothing about oil rigs, but given the report of sensing alarms which sounded on the day of the oil rig explosion, coupled with the urgency executives expressed to avoid costly construction delays, it seems ridiculous to state the obvious: i.e., the regulatory oversight of this dicey off shore oil project was lax.

In short, Deep Water Horizon failed.

Building barrier islands would hardly have held back the millions of gallons of oil contaminating the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, scientists are saying the depth of the spewing plume coupled with the force by which it is coming out of the broken pipes, are causing a degradation of the oil's hydrocarbons, which are impacting the water below the surface. Oil molecules are breaking apart. In other words, we don't know how much oil is in the water because much of it is apparently degrading before it reaches the surface.

Loose hydrocarbons are not good for ecosystems. They cannot be seen or easily filtered, but they will be absorbed by plankton, which feeds fish - causing a chain reaction of unknown physical and environmental concerns.

It makes more sense for Governor Jindal to aim his anger where the problem lies, with BP and Halliburton, rather than rail on the government because the Army Corps of Engineers didn't approve his plan for building barrier islands.

Nonetheless, Louisiana may soon be able to drill all the oil that's available off it's fragile coast. After all, the environmental disaster caused by the Deep Water Horizon explosion may leave nothing of the state's coastal environment left to protect. Drilling for more oil could be all that's left to do in the Gulf.

In which case, Governor Jindal needs to be accountable for this horrific event.

He and others who overlooked the strict enforcement of oil rig regulatory processes might see an offshore island already in place - Alcatraz.

Louisiana Oil - My Momma Said

2010-05-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

An environmental tragedy like the British Petroleum (BP) oil drill fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico lends itself to cliche rationalizations. "What goes around comes around", might be one way of looking at the disaster.

In other words, people who told us this kind of an explosion would eventually happen, were right, after all. Should we be shocked and surprised?

Now, some people in Louisiana and British Petroleum are screaming for the US government to lead the fix and clean up of the environmental catastrophe caused by a methane gas explosion on the off shore oil drill.

Rig workers told BP's internal investigators that the deadly blowout of the oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was triggered by an escaped methane gas bubble that shot toward the surface. Now, oil is spewing into the Gulf uncontrollably from several busted pipes, with no end in sight. BP says Halliburton and other companies should help them to absorb the blame. Corporate finger pointing is now spilling over into a call for the government to fix the problem. It's like asking your mother to come out in the middle of a neighborhood fight to tell the bullies to leave you alone.

We are horrified by the impact of this oil spill on the Louisiana culture and commerce. Fishing is halted in many areas, while oil washes up in sensitive marshes where bird nests are protected.

Pictures of pelicans doused in oil are hard to watch.

Nonetheless, as difficult as this story is to look at every day, I cannot support those trying to drag the US government into taking the lead on the clean up and recovery of the mess. This BP and Halliburton problem is not ours to fix. These two companies supported by all those people who thought they could have it all - environment, high paying jobs, plenty of oil, commerce with tourism and fishing and their quaint Bayou culture. It's a cake with many layers, which is now melting into its own frosting due to the oil rig explosion.

Good people supported the BP off shore oil business because it was a fabulous second or third job for fishermen who subsidized their income by working in both industries. Local merchants enjoyed having the high paying jobs which came with the oil drilling business. It made good economic sense all around.

But, like mother said, "You can't have your cake and eat it too".

Louisiana people who did all they could to keep the government out of their oil business when the wells were drilled, should call on the same companies they supported to get this disastrous mess taken care of, with as little government involvement as possible.

Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal should be giving marching orders to BP and Halliburton executives to pay up, rather than railing on the US government to fix the problem. Jindal wants to build more barrier islands to hold back the oil spill. So, who will pay for new barrier islands? Tax payers, that's who. I thought Republicans, like Jindal, didn't want the government involved in their business.

Our US government should not be Superman to the rescue. Of course, I'd like to scoop up the oil myself, so it will stop harming wildlife, fishing, a way of life and polluting our environment. But, private sector companies caused this oil explosion by their own negligence, so they should fix it.

Tax payers should provide reasonable support to the Louisiana people.

Nonetheless, the US government should not take the lead in the clean up because, in so doing, the tax payers will give BP exactly what they want - corporate fat cats want their cake so they can eat it too.

I'm appaled by the Louisiana and Gulf of Mexico environmental oil disaster. Still, the spill is a horrible collateral problem caused by greedy corporate oil moguls and those who supported them in their quest for money.

When we did something wrong while growing up, our mother said, "Did you learn your lesson?".

This BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf is a very hard way to learn an environmental lesson.

Email response from Caroline in Virginia: Hi Julie,

An interesting article in the WashPost this weekend talked about the money BP has given to environmental groups. They have all benefited.

Yes, the Republicans and Tea-party nuts what a small federal government. Does this mean they will all go down to the Gulf and lend their support? As I read it, Jindal and the rest want to feds to fix things. You are correct that Halliburton, BP, TransOcean and the others must pay for the repairs and clean-ups. I don't want to hear about the huge profits they will have at the end of the year and the huge bonuses their executives will reap. What a mess!!! Caroline

Julie enjoyed reading Kait's comments posted on line.

Tea Party Sits on a Three Legged Stool

2010-05-21T17:10:00.000-07:00

If someone from outer space asked you what the Tea Party stands for, what would you say?

Baggers seem to rest their decaying laurels on three principles: (a) anti-immigration (b) anti-education and (c) anti the 1964 US Civil Rights Act.

It's tragic and incomprehensible for me to be writing about these archaic Tea Party principles, which I believe are unenlightened and regressive.

Nonetheless, to take this party for granted, to pretend it will go away for lack of oxygen or sunlight deprivation is, sadly, delusional on my part. Consequently, I continue my personal quest for knowledge about who the Tea Party is and what they mis-represent.

Baggers appear to sit on a three legged folding stool. (1) They are descendants of immigrants, but they rail about immigration. (2) They are educated people who can read and write, because Americans provide everyone with access to free education, but they rail against education. (3) Baggers exist because they enjoy the right to free speech as American Citizens, but now they're tinkering with the philosophical idea of the US Civil Rights Act (so says the bagger's newly elected dumbo, Dr. Paul of Arkansas).

Hypocritical baggers fold up this three legged stool and tuck it away whenever it's politically expedient to do so; but they plop their rumps back on or use it as a soap box while getting supporters riled about their "anti" rhetoric.

Americans look back in horror at the terror campaigns reigned by the Ku Klux Klan decades ago. In my opinion, baggers appear to long for the days when terror ruled the night. Like the Klan, the baggers are fired up with brimstone fed by hate. All the while, during those dark days of segregation, immigrants, blacks and anyone who just didn't fit in prayed they didn't hear knocks on their doors in the middle of the night. Knocks could be ominous signs of lynchings to come.

So, what do Tea Party baggers stand for?

Without the support of the three legged stool, they are valueless - lacking compassion, charity, or interest in supporting international relations with neighbors Canada and Mexico. They may even want to repeal the values Americans hold dear, like every person's right to quality education taught by qualified teachers.

In other words, philosophically speaking, baggers are dangerously dumb.

If I had my way, baggers would be assigned to sit on their three legged stool in the corner wearing a dunce hat.

While sitting, they should be required to read the New Testament Sermon on the Mount, i.e., the Beatitudes, by Jesus Christ, followed by the books, "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

Meanwhile, we who oppose the baggers need to support our own three legged stools - built on enlightenment, charity and guaranteed civil rights for all people.

Comment sent to my email from Father John: Dear Julie,
My understanding is that the Tea Party movement is supported and used by three groups, who sometimes overlap in membership. There are the libertarians, like Ron Paul, who believe in laissez-faire capitalism and the right of each person to do what he or she pleases with as little government interference as possible. There are the followers of Ayn Rand, who are into selfishness as the prime virtue. They believe that selfishness is the engine that drives the economy and that deregulation is the key to prosperity. Alan Greenspan, an admirer of the Rand philosophy, was shocked when it didn't work. There is also the Club for Growth gang who believe in dismantling most social programs to lower taxes and allow the rich to get richer. The jailed Jack Abramoff was one of the partisans of this position. They foster the growth of neo-conservative think tanks to counter liberal think tanks.
Peace in the Power of the Holy Spirit,
John, SJ

Also read commentary: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052402991.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions

Testing Sarah Palin's IQ - a Personalized Intelligent Quota Test

2010-05-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin tires me out. I'm weary of her.

Unfortunately, right wing Tea Party baggers are smitten by Palin, along with her rhetorical anti-themes. She seems to shriek against everything except gun control, families (both the functional and dysfunctional varieties)and God.

Right wing Tea Party dunkers find her appealing, so I'm trying to find out why?

So, here is my personalized IQ test for Sarah Palin, written in an effort to organize my thoughts about her message. In other words, this blog is like an exercise in transference. By answering these questions, perhaps I can transfer the Sarah Palin message to others in a succinct bumper sticker slogan.

Please answer each of the following 10 questions with one response: (a) Yes (b) No, or (c) I don't know

1. Are Sarah Palin's grandparents immigrants?

2. Did France give the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor to the United States?

3. Do the words engraved on the Statue of Liberty begin with the phrase "Give me your tired, your poor, your masses yearning to be free?"

4. Were German people overwhelmingly happy when the Berlin Wall, built by the Russians to separate the people in East and West Germany, was torn down?

5. Did President Ronald Reagan say, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall?" when he spoke at the Berlin Brandenburg Gate?

6. Did President Ronald Reagan grant amnesty for illegal immigrants during his Presidential administration?

7. Does God care if a person shoots to kill wolves while firing at them from a low flying airplane?

8. Are millions of people in the United States without health insurance and, therefore, deprived access to consistent quality and affordable health care because they cannot afford to pay the insurance company premiums?

9. Is Medicare a government run health care plan?

10. Was Alaska a state in 1967 when Sarah Palin was born?

Hint: A correct response to the 10 questions above tells me you are a reasonably intelligent person who knowingly understands the hypocrisy of the Sarah Palin message.

If you answered "yes" to the 10 questions above, then please explain to the Tea Party, and to me, how you can possibly support closing US borders like a sealed box, kill animals from airplanes, question President Barack Obama's motives about upholding the US Constitution or oppose health care reform?

My simple bumper sticker slogan is, therefore: "Sarah Palin is a hypocrite!".

Maine's Republican Party and the Dark Ages Manifesto

2010-05-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

(Addendum - love the comment from both responders and I have likewise responded to The Sanford Tattler below)

On Mother's Day weekend 2010, Maine's Republican Party expressed glee because their state convention numbers were higher than expected. Out of the 1,800 people who attended the Convention in Portland, how many of them are the descendants of immigrants? In other words, all of them.

Which is only one of the reasons I am furious at the Maine Republicans who passed a Tea Party led platform which included calling for Maine to close its borders with Canada. Although a Democracy allows for a person to make such a ridiculous motion, it is the responsibility of voting people to oppose it.

But, oh no! The platform motions passed! Maine's Republican platform now supports closing our state's borders to the 8 million people who live in Quebec. Moreover, the platform approved a resolution to eliminate Maine's Department of Education.

Platform writers said their purpose was to bring Maine Republicans back to their core values. Oh yeah? How did their immigrant ancestors feel about core values? I hope the writers checked with their Memere's or Pepere's. Additionally, how many of the 12 platform writers received their reading and writing education in a Maine public school?

There was a time when I believed Maine's Republican Party was really the GOP - the Grand Old Party, or the loyal opposition necessary to preserve the nation's two party democracy. Now, I see Maine's GOP as a party of selfish people who do not understand their own history as a free people.

In my opinion, the Maine Republican Party passed a Dark Ages Manifesto rather than a platform. They might as well have adopted a platform endorsing racial purity.

Furthermore, the platform writers are showing a lack of respect for the educational institutions where they learned how to read and write. By recommending the removal of the Department of Education, they must mean to eliminate educational standards so children will learn by rote memory rather than by teachers who will challenge their God Given intellects.

Shame on Maine's Republicans for passing an egregiously right wing party platform. Your GOP standards are not grand at all. Rather, your platform values are more like the acronym "gop", or the glop that grows like mold at the back of an infected refrigerator.

It's time to get an efficient and caring model of the Maine GOP. Let's find a new group of people who know what it means to return to their ancestral roots and core values. Burning the Dark Ages Manifesto is at least one way to generate some alternative heat energy.

I also recommend the platform writers find their local genealogical society where they will be able to determine who their immigrant ancestors were and where they came from.

(I appreciate the comment from Joe Niemczura - Maine's GOP has gone off the deep end and the State Mental Hospital is located close to the state house)

Dear Sanford Tattler, you are precisely the reason why I'll never move to Europe or Canada. I was a US Navy Wife for 13 years, my husband is retired USN, and he fought for our country so people like you can walk the streets without being put in jail for sedition. Maine's frail and elderly are part of the needy population you precipitously refer to as "welfare". Shame on you.

Mother's Day

2010-05-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day this year, I'm making a list of what I wish would change the world for the better.

My top ten Mother's Day wishes for people to practice to build a better world are:

1. I wish greed would disappear. Sounds too simplistic, perhaps? But, it's my number one wish. Charity and love should prevail, like King Arthur's dream for Camelot.

2. Health care should be available for everyone without regard for income, social status, citizenship or previous health status. Everyone who needs health care should have access to quality physicians, nurses and treatments for diseases. Support for prevention of illnesses should be ongoing in programs conveniently offered throughout every person's life span.

3. Children should be offered free education, period. When children qualify for education by their age or interest, they should be advanced to a level of learning they can aspire to without regard for who will pay for it. Childhood education provided through young adulthood is an investment in improving our human condition.

4. Political parties should learn to get along. I pray for an end to partisan politics. It's destroying the foundation of our nation because the constant bickering between Democrats and Republicans is sucking vital energy out of our Democracy. We need every American to take pride in being American. Pox on the partisan divides. Differences of opinion are one thing, but damaging partisan bickering for the sake if ideology is destructive behavior.

5. I wish every family would write their own history book to hand over to the next generation. Each family has a special story to tell within the context of the times and generations in which they live. Oral histories can transmit positive traditions from one generation to the next. Eventually, positive elements of a society will outweigh the negatives. Even sad or tragic stories transmit something learned by the experiences. Thanksgiving is a time when family story telling could accent the positives. Let's document our family stories and archive them like they belong in the Library of Congress - a good wooden box is a nice place to store the archives.

6. Be religious - this is somewhat controversial because the trend is to be spiritual without regard for a particular religion. By being religious, I would like to see people pray to God and celebrate our American freedom to practice religion in any denomination we choose. Let's take advantage of our freedom to practice our religion. By the same token, let's applaud the rights of others to peacefully practice their religions while we celebrate ours.

7. Practice humility. Remember to say "I'm sorry", even if you may not be to blame. For example, I'm sorry for people who are greedy. They need sympathy.

8. Thank people for everything. Say "Thank You" often to everyone, especially to those you love. Never take the saying of "Thank You" for granted. Even if it seems awkward, say "Thank You". It works and can even improve your own self esteem.

9. Remember the importance of ceremonies. It's more important to celebrate a birthday than it is to work until 9 PM because a deadline is looming. Christmas or New Year's is a time to remember everyone who has helped or supported us throughout the year. Mother's Day is a time to say "I love you", and "Thank You". Family memories and friendships are built upon ceremonies - they should be nurtured and preserved.

10. Practice the Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith ;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

My Mother's Day Wish is for Peace to All Mothers- especially those who have children serving in harm's way - like in public safety, the military or homeland security.

Americans as Illegal Immigrants

2010-05-01T04:54:00.001-07:00

American US military dependents living in the Philippines sometimes felt like illegal immigrants. At least, I sometimes felt illegal because, as a nurse, I was unable to work in the Philippines even though Filipino nurses routinely found jobs in the US. My skills and education were on par with those of the Filipino nurses, yet they could work in my home country while I was prohibited from working in the Philippines.

Don't get me wrong, I never sought a job as a nurse in the Philippines. Third World health care, like that provided in the Philippines, did not support desirable places for anybody to work in, Filipino or otherwise. My point being, I was prohibited from applying for work, even though I might have been better trained than the nationals.

Remember the 1961 diary "Black Like Me", by white man John Howard Griffin? He described his experiences on a bus, as though he were a black man, while travelling around the US segregated South. Griffin's story is a classic observation in race relations and US civil rights history. My point being, Griffin's black man experiences became real to readers who put themselves on the side of those who bore the harsh burdens associated with "back of the bus" 1960's brand racial discrimination.

Americans today don't really know discrimination based upon race, ethnicity or immigration status. We can learn from associated experiences or read a book, but we don't know what it's like. My point being, the current political debate about immigration fueled by the recently signed Arizona state law is simply filled with hypocrisy. We Americans are the descendants of illegal immigrants who are now judging the fate of others, based upon race. In other words, I simply cannot imagine an Arizona sheriff stopping a bus of white Canadian tourists to check their immigration status. I hope TV's 60-minutes will witness this, if the situation ever happens.

American immigration history is filled with hope inspired by the American Revolution and the concept of manifest destiny. Ironically, both events were the result of our own immigration history. American colonials were illegal immigrants in a country we didn't govern when we won the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. American settlers were obviously unwanted illegal immigrants when we claimed land we were not authorized to own from Native American tribes while settling the American west. Still, we have no right to force our norms and values on other immigrant groups simply because we can.

Arizona's law allows police to stop people and ask for proof they are in the United States legally if there is any "reasonable suspicion" to the contrary. Opponents like me see it as a recipe for racism. Forced documentation of one singular group of people, i.e., Mexicans, is shameful and no way for Americans to show the value of living in a Democracy.

Moreover, random "suspicion checks" must be unconstitutional unless everyone, including Americans and Canadians, must also demonstrate citizenship. US jails don't have enough room to house child molesters, never mind those who happen to be illegal without their "papers".

My education about immigration was enlightened about 8 years ago when I happened to visit a cultural gift shop located on a street corner in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. While touring the shop, the proprietor introduced me to a magnificent shrine he created out of paper flowers and votive candles to honor President Ronald Reagan. Of course, I was stunned to see a shrine, typically reserved for the adoration of saints, dedicated to America's icon of conservatism - i.e., a euphemism for "hold the line on immigration - these people are not like us". However, the proprietor enlightened me. "President Reagan allowed my mother to become an American citizen," he said. Indeed, President Reagan allowed for amnesty when he tried and failed in the 1980s to stop waves of illegal immigrants entering the US from Mexico.

Today, I think of this Phoenix experience as my micro "black like me" moment. This grateful proprietor, who honored his mother alongside President Reagan, helped me to understand what it must have been like to live in fear as an illegal immigrant in America. Thanks to President Reagan, all future generations of this man's family would, henceforth, be proud to show sheriffs their papers, rather than live in fear of deportation.

All Americans should be proud of our immigrant heritage. May 1st is a good day to "Celebrate Immigration Day". Maybe, we can even design a multi-colored ribbon to apply to this occasion.

Like the proprietor in Phoenix, I'm proud to say my heritage is linked to immigration because both of my parents were the children of immigrants.

My point being, reflecting on my experience in the Philippines, it's not fair, ethical, right or constitutional to discriminate based upon citizenship alone. In my opinion, Americans who advocate for random immigrant paper checks are just downright hypocritical.

Catholic Nuns Speak Truth to Power on Health Care Reform and Abortion

2010-04-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

American women religious in concert with the Catholic Health Care Association were the coalition the US Conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives eventually listened to when they voted on March 23rd, to pass the long overdue health care reform legislation.

An April 16, 2010 article in the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) tells the story about how the Catholic Health Care Association aligned with women religious and lay groups to educate the US Congress about the need to pass Health Care Reform.

Meanwhile, the American Bishops appeared fixed on including the most restrictive anti-abortion language imaginable in the bill. Rather than focus on the bill's badly needed reform measures, the Bishops pushed, instead, for even more restrictive language than is already included in federal Medicaid law.

Thankfully, the voices of persuasion and reason prevailed with the Conservative Democratic legislators who were ultimately convinced to vote in favor of the reform. This Catholic coalition victory also puts women religious into the arena of being politically influential. These intelligent women rose above the useless bickering about how restrictive the "restrictive" abortion language should be, while keeping their focus on supporting the common good in the bill.

A quote in the NCR from a "prominent theologian" said the Bishops thought the health bill should be defeated because they wanted to be the sole moral arbiter on complex legislative issues. They did not appear to be so worried about the common good.

A coalition of Pro-Life Women Democrats who proved they were able to work collaboratively with Pro-Choice legislators is really good new-news. These women added clout to their spiritual and political networking. By combining their compassion with their life experiences, they convinced the word-smithing skeptics of reform to think less about abortion language and more about the needs of the uninsured, the under-insured and those whose lives depend on receiving quality care, regardless of their abilities to pay.

Meanwhile, American Bishops continue their focus on the Republican party as the only way to reliably enforce the government's policy position against funding abortion.

Women religious like Sister Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Services who is a member of the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, spoke truth to the power of the American Bishops. It was the right thing to do.

Campbell is identified as a long time legal advocate for the poor. She and the coalition prevailed in the health care reform vote. They are to be congratulated for standing tall, by supporting the common good.

American Bishops should also congratulate the coalition, but I have not heard a peep out of them. Nonetheless, in their positions, they don't worry about where their personal health care insurance is coming from. They don't pay emergency room bills if their children become critically ill in the middle of the night. Bishops have never turned away from a drug prescription counter because they couldn't afford to pay the price of the medication. Our American Bishop's should take every opportunity to become attuned to the needs of common people.

Whether one is pro-life or pro-choice, health care problems are faced by thousands of Americans during every hour of every day. Abortion is the not our nation's biggest health care problem. Yet, access to quality and affordable care is a right we all deserve.

I hope the Catholic Coalition who helped pass health care reform keeps on growing. There are certainly hundreds more problems in the world to fix for the common good.

American Bishops, on the other hand, need to be non-political and more collaborative. It's how Health Care Reform, with politically astute Catholic Nuns in support, finally became law.

Comment from Caroline in Virginia: This article is good Julie. If ever there was a group of women held down by a male organization, these nuns have finally added their influence to health care. Caroline

Our Florida Tax Money - Following Judy Woodruff

2010-04-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Maybe Uncle Sam could put a big purple dot on every tax dollar my husband and I paid this year. It would be great to find out how many dotted bills show up in Florida.

Judy Woodruff of PBS Newshour provided superb journalist news by following the tax debate in Florida, a state where lots of our tax money flows to keep the economy vibrant.

Let's count Florida's Military bases. A website www.usmilitary.about.com says there are 7 US Navy Bases, 6 Air Force Bases and 11 Coast Guard bases in Florida. In contrast, there are soon to be zero military bases in Maine but one Coast Guard Station is left standing in South Portland.

Therein is my point. If Uncle Sam put a purple dot on my tax dollars earned here in Maine, it would be interesting to see how many of the bills would wind up at a military base in Florida.

Tea Party activists and the conservative Republican Senatorial Candidate Marco Rubio are angry because they say the state's Governor Charlie Christ is too liberal because he had the graciousness to thank President Obama for the stimulus money.

Florida's stimulus money includes my tax money. I want to thank Governor Christ for thanking President Obama for using my tax money to help Florida.

Now, for Tea Party people who complain about Governor Christ's honesty, please do the American tax payer a favor and raise your hand if you or anyone in your family has a job related to Florida's 24 military installations?

Ahhh, yes, I thought so - thank you for being honest hand raisers. Your hands are too many to count. I suspect there's even a margin of error in the reticence of those who held back their hands. In fact, Florida's economy would sink like an untethered off shore oil refinery if the US military was not evident everywhere.

My husband is a retired US Navy Veteran and we use the military facilities throughout Florida when we vacation. Thank you Florida for making our vacations affordable by using our Maine tax dollars to support your state's military installations.

Tea Party Tax Dunkers should learn how government works before criticizing their governor, who is honest with President Obama about the positive impact of the stimulus money and other tax revenue put to use in Florida.

Following PBS journalist Judy Woodruff's coverage of Florida's tax debate helped to restore my confidence in responsible investigative news reporting. I thought this kind of interview-journalism was loosing ground to "gotcha" news or tabloid headlines. Woodruff'sr coverage was especially impressive when hosting a town hall style Q&A with Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in President Obama's administration. Woodruff ensured that all the questions were validated. Most important, the questions were answered. Audience questions facilitated by Woodruff allowed Romer to debunk some Tea Party myths. For example, Romer politely responded to one question from a lady who asked why the recently passed health care bill was rammed through Congress (a typical Tea Party Urban Legend)? Romer answered with a smile while calmly informing the questioner about how the health care reform bill took a full year to be debated before it was voted on. It was polite discourse, of course, but a dunk for the Tea Party's ill informed rhetoric.

But, about our Florida Tax Money.

Tea Party advocates want to reduce or eliminate government spending. Rather than demonstrate for television with their overwhelmingly white faces, they should, instead, ask Governor Christ to please send me a refund on my tax return.

Meanwhile, these Baggers who fight taxes should be prepared to take our tax dollars by standing in unemployment lines while watching Florida's economy implode like an inflated tea bag bursting inside a cup. In fact, our Florida tax money keeps the state's Tea Party activists economically afloat.

Governor Baldacci's Meat Sauce Recipe

2010-04-15T03:55:00.001-07:00

Several online and personal responses were received about this blog. Thanks to all the feedback received!

Maine's gorgeously unseasonable warm spring weather brought out multitudes to sample Governor Baldacci's famous Italian spaghetti meat sauce recipe at Portland's Italian Heritage Center. Wednesday evening's dinner was also a recipe for success. It was a totally successful benefit to support Preble Street Resource Center, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen serving the neediest people in the Portland, Maine community. Governor Baldacci and many of Maine's key political leaders added special ingredients to the evening by busing dining tables. Administration officials worked while the Governor served spaghetti to hundreds in the quarter mile long buffet line. Apron wearing volunteers beamed smiles of joy to the many hundreds who came together for the purpose of helping Preble Street.

As a political recipe, the evening was cooked to perfection!

Preble Street suffered an unexpected blow to its current financials when Bishop Richard Malone of the Portland Diocese announced the Catholic Church was pulling more than $17,000 of support from the poverty program. The Bishop's caustic decision was made because the Preble Street administration supported the same sex marriage ballot question during the November 2009 election. Although the Diocese of Portland won the referendum election which overturned the same sex marriage law (which, by the way, Governor Baldacci signed earlier last year) the Bishop, nevertheless, took action against Preble Street which was listed among the coalition members that supported the law. As a recipient of Diocesan money, Preble Street had signed a contract which precluded it from taking such a position.

Unfortunately, the poor people served by Preble Street were the brunt of the Bishop's precipitous decision.

My husband and I attended the benefit dinner because we simply couldn't believe our Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland would cut funding to a poverty program to make a political statement.

Dinner supporters saw the Governor wearing jeans and a t-shirt while serving a hearty scoop of spaghetti with meat sauce. By serving spahgetti, Governor Baldacci provided executive presence to the charitable mission of Preble Street. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the Governor and those who wore aprons to assist the dinner guests demonstrated service to the poor.

Thankfully, the Governor's spaghetti dinner was entirely focused on the charitable purpose of the benefit. We enjoyed terrific food with friends from all around Maine.

Governor Baldacci's family's meat sauce recipe was delicious. It's probably the same recipe served for many years to patrons at the family's Mama Baldacci's Restaurant in Bangor. I hope the Governor will continue to share last night's recipe for supporting the common good. Like in the movie "Big Night", about how an Italian restaurant returned to its cultural roots, the governor's meat sauce recipe brought attention to the purpose of politics - which is to serve the public good.

Response from John SJ: Dear Julie,
Although I am saddened by Bishop Malone's withdrawal of funds form Preble Street, as I witnessed the good that it has done, I also recognize the pressure that he was under. Aboot two weeks before the Campaign for Human Development collection took place, some vicious e-mails went out from some Right to Life groups saying that the bishops had sold out to the abortionists and the gay rights movement because some of the groups that CHD funds went to supported the possible choice of abortion and gay marriage. A couple of very involved parishioners forwarded these attacks to me and asked if the allegations were true. I sent the inquiry on to the Diocese. They sent back a reply that the Campaign for Human Development had made pointing out some of the inaccuracies in the attack, but also saying that the campaign would withdraw funds from those groups that did not follow the guidelines that the funds came with.
One of the main attack groups is the Family Research Council which often seems to act as a front organization for neo-conservative Republican politicians. It is sad for their position, except for the protection of the unborn and the rejection of homosexual marriage, is often opposed to Catholic social teaching. They confuse many good Catholics.
You may share these comments if you wish.
I would have loved to have tried the Baldacci spaghetti sauce.
Peace in the Risen Lord Jesus,
John, SJ

Coal Mine Media Disasters Compound Tragedy

2010-04-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Twenty-nine coal miners working in the Massey mine in Naoma West Virginia are now confirmed dead as a result of a potentially preventable explosion of methane gas inside the mine. We assume these explosions are preventable given the safety checks expected to protect miners from these deadly incidents.

My father worked in a Pennsylvania coal mine when he was in high school. My grandfather expected his son to be a coal miner for the rest of his life. But, my grandmother told him to run away from home rather than stay in Shenandoah Pennsylvania where his only fate was to be a coal miner. "Leave home Jack", she told him. So, at 19 years old, he did.

My father ran away to become a hobo hitch hiker during the Depression, living in box car trains until he wound up in California. Once settled in California, he took advantage of free education to become a master electrician. Still flat broke, he helped business people to rig their electricity around the meter box so they could cheat the electric company for free service. He earned $100 cash rigging these wires. It was enough cash to buy a train ticket back home to Pennsylvania without hitch hiking. He never worked in the coal mine again, thanks to his mother's advice. Instead, he became an electrician at the Sparrows Point Bethlehem Steel Plant in Maryland.

Mine disasters are tragic. Stories of personal loss about people who cannot run away from home are tear wrenching. Compounding the tragedies are the media glitches the management of these mine fiascoes cause. Mining bosses won't face up to their shortcomings by preventing methane gas explosions. It appears the Massey mine was riddled with safety violations, but media reports say is was cheaper for the company to pay $168,000 a year in violation fines rather than pay to fix the problems.

Mining families are faithful to their communities knowing every day the risk their family members take when they enter work in the coal mining industry. Even the few miners who manage to run away from home rather than work in the mines find their earning potential outside of mining is limited. Mining pays good wages for those willing to work in such a high risk occupation.

Coal miners know their risk of death or disability is increased compared to other occupations. Nonetheless, miners and their families cannot assess how unscrupulous the mining management can be when it comes to minimizing the risk of death by methane gas explosion.

It seems to me the safety risks in coal mining are something the miners are willing to take. What they don't deserve is unscrupulous management of the mines for the sake of profit. Does it seem strange to see West Virginia's Governor Joe Manchin speaking to television media about how the rescue efforts are progressing for the victims of the Upper Big Branch mine accident? Management has not been so available.

Massey CEO Don Blankenship has used social media sites such as Twitter.com to communicate about the disaster. He isn't seen on television.

"Pray for the families and the rescue workers," he tweeted. "First thing that comes to mind is the dignity, compassion, understanding, and expressions of the miners' families."

What about safety?

Perhaps it's time for coal miners to go on strike until stricter safety measures are enforced and violation fines are meaningfully implemented.

Indeed, my grandmother spoke for every mining mother and wife when she said, "Leave home, Jack".

Names of some victims of the Upper Coal Branch mine methane gas explosion reported in the media:
Steven J. Harrah
Benny Ray Willingham
Carl "Pee Wee" Acord
Deward Allen Scott
Robert Clark
William R. Lynch
Jason Atkins
Joe Price
Mike Elswick
Ricky Lane

Check out this link for a story about Massey Energy's risk management policies:
http://tinyurl.com/y6kjn8a

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Massey-Energy-Bought-Worke-by-Dave-Lindorff-100409-283.html

Comment posted by Bill Brennan of Virginia:
"This is a wonderful column. Miners can't strike, however, if they can't get organized. Massey has a reputation as a union busting company that will spend any amount to rid itself of employees with a bent for organizing.

Run away young man or woman is still the best advice."

Bill

President Obama - Cashing in Joy in Maine

2010-04-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Maine Democrats were beaming with joy when President Barack Obama spoke during his April 1st visit to the Portland Expo sports arena. Sparked with energy generated from the crowded Expo, the president gave a charismatic speech to enthusiastic supporters of the newly passed heath care reform bill. Republicans, on the other hand, probably wished the President's visit was an April Fool's joke because their politically dour mood could not dissuade the exuberance generated by the President's uplifting speech.

Kait Roe of Portland said it was remarkable to see so many Maine people come out to support President Obama. "I am honored to be a part of something which includes this man. He is intelligent, eloquent, thoughtful and funny. Most of all, there is no mistaking his love of this country. Additionally, he is charismatic. If he hadn't gone into politics, he could have made a mint (of money) as a preacher- he is that powerful a speaker," she said.

President Obama carries joy with him like an amulet wherever he goes. His joy transcendes the negativity people try to stir up around him. His joy is contagious - you can see it emanate from his wife, his children and to everyone he speaks with. Even the antagonistic Fox-News reporter Bret Baier could not stifle smiling while he interrupted the president during a pre-health care vote televised interview.

Nonetheless, Preisident Obama's charisma seems to bounce off the kryptonite door Republicans have closed solidly against him and his progressive agenda. It's like President Obama is a political Superman who can bounce joy like radio beams off of tall buildings but cannot penetrate the dense Republican kryptonite minds.

I happened to be in an Augusta, Maine restaurant on Thursday April 1st when President Obama came to speak in Portland. I overheard a group of Republicans at a nearby table speak about heading home to hide in their hot tubs so they didn't have to listen to President Obama speak. (True story!) How selfish! President Obama is the leader of our country. I thought Republicans believed in the US Constitution which gives our President authority over the entire country. They preferred to hide in a hot tub when a great orator and leader came to give a meaningful speech.

I don't understand this Republican aversion to all things Obama. They appear to live every political day as obstructionists. This is not helpful to our country - it doesn't promote freedom. Republicans who hide in hot tubs to avoid hearing President Obama speak are living the proverbial cliche, "either lead, follow or get out of the way!"

They are doing all three. They lead themselves away from engaging in bipartisan progress. Like lemmings diving over a cliff, they follow each other to obstruct President Obama's agenda. Finally, they get out of town when President Obama tries to build consensus for the most comprehensive health care reform our nation has seen since Medicare.

If President Obama could transmit his joy into gold coins, those who appreciate his magnanimous leadership would surely be weighted down by the richness of his words.

Democrats who share President Obama's joy have a responsibility to carry the richness of his words to Republicans who are blocking his agenda. If we could cash in joy for tax credits, we might even entice hot tub soaking Republicans back into the light of believing we can, together, build a better United States of America. Maybe Republicans would understand and support President Obama if they could find a cash rebate in sharing his joy.

I Apologize on Behalf of the Pope

2010-04-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Penitence was reluctantly offered from the outset when the litany of Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals and cover ups were disclosed several years ago. As a practicing Roman Catholic, I am horrified to learn about the numbers of these criminal acts perpetrated by priests who should have been fired rather than protected by bishops around the world. Nonetheless, I am defending the overwhelming majority of priests who have never been involved in the scandals. Unfortunately, innocent priests and parishioners like me are suffering the consequences of the Vatican's mishandling of the entire scandal.

Today was the worst of it when the Vatican, on Good Friday, allowed a senior spokesperson to compare the criticism of the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal to the Holocaust against the Jews. I apologize for this offensive comparison. This and other miscalculated statements are exposing the incompetence of Vatican officials. Rather than fixing the mess they've created, they are launching the Church into a communications abyss the likes of a magnetic black hole. Each church misstatement appears to propel the church into an abyss from which it may never recover its equilibrium.

Expressing inappropriate defensiveness rather than penitence raises the suspicion of guilt. It confirms the perception that practically all church officials, especially bishops, were guilty of the daunting sexual abuse cover up.

Perhaps the centuries old requirement of priesthood celibacy contributed to the sexual misconduct and criminal behavior of some unscrupulous priests. I believe the church should change this man made rule. Priest should be allowed to marry prior to ordination.

Modern research appears to confirms that celibacy is not the cause of criminal sexual behavior, but a change in the man made celibacy rule, in my opinion, would demonstrate a willingness to move forward. Right now, anything proactive would at least change the conversation.

Certainly one Roman Catholic woman like me will not change how the Church responds to the sexual abuse scandal. I cannot save the bishops of the world. But, I can apologize to everyone - Gentiles and Jews, for how the Vatican offensively compared the response to the sexual abuse scandal to the Holocaust.

I am sincerely sorry.

Response received from Susan from Maine: We’re all having a hard time with how the institution that sheltered the perpetrators has become the so-called victim of public criticism. What did the church expect? They need someone to manage their community relations…

Susan

My Birthright to American Citizenship

2010-03-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

George Will's Washington Post column on immigration published on March 28, 2010 sincerely irritated me. I sent him an e-mail to complain. In my opinion, his commentary raised the hideous specter of ethnic purist elitism as the criteria for being an American citizen. He may also be challenging my citizenship.

Will raised questions about applying birthright as a qualifier for American citizenship. In other words, by an interpretation of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to US Constitution, children born in the US to illegal immigrants are American citizens. Will calls for a reconsideration of this privilege by looking at the intention of the amendment's language.

http://townhall.com/columnists/GeorgeWill/2010/03/28/a_birthright__maybe_not

Will says birthright citizenship might be a misinterpretation of the 14th amendment to the US Constitution which reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." Will writes, "From these words has flowed the practice of conferring citizenship on children born here to illegal immigrants." He says "...ratifiers (of the US Constitution 14th amendment) could not have intended birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants because in 1868 there were and never had been any illegal immigrants because no law ever had restricted immigration".

But Will raises a hypothetical situation because we don't know what the ratifiers were thinking. Surely, ratifiers knew what they meant when they wrote the amendment. It means what it says it means.

All of my grandparents were immigrants. They raised children in America before becoming American citizens. In fact, I'm not entirely sure if my Ukrainian grandparents ever became citizens, but they must have done something to legalize their residency during their American journey. My Italian grandparents could hardly wait to become citizens. They protected their citizenship paperwork to prove their legality. As a result of my grandparents being immigrants, my parents were born to illegal immigrants. My mother was born in Monesson Pennsylvania prior to my grandparents becoming naturalized. My father was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in 1908, which made him an American citizen by birth as well.

I believe Will is calling into question my citizenship. If his twisted logic takes hold, he could be saying my grandparents should not have called their children American citizens. Carrying this logic forward could infer that I should not be an American citizen.

George Will is loosing his conservative mind! By raising the specter of ethnic purism as a requirement for citizenship, he may even be calling into question his own citizenship. This is dangerous thinking and totally abhorrent to my understanding of citizenship. Being an American citizen is an honor because my immigrant grandparents worked their fingers to the bone to insure their children had citizenship status. Citizenship is not a birthright but an honor my grandparents worked hard for. God help us if we become a nation of entitled citizens! It will lead us to becoming a nation of DNA specimens - where did your DNA originate?

Will owes me and my grandparents an apology for his sickening attention getting column written to stir up more mistrust about the intentions of hard working illegal immigrants. Immigration reform is one thing. Cultural elitism has no place in this debate. Constitutional purists should writhe at changing the intention of the Constitution to fit their own liking. If conservatives like Will want to tinker with the US Constitution, then I vote to word-smith the right to bear arms protected in the 2nd Amendment as well.

Anti-immigration fanatics should first examine their own genealogies before arbitrarily questioning the interpretation of the Constitution's 14th amendment.

Roman Catholic Priests and the Eastern Rite - Time for Change

2010-03-28T07:02:00.001-07:00

My father was a Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic. This means, his tradition is recognized by Rome under the umbrella of the Vatican. Eastern Rite Catholics are under the Roman Catholic Church, not the Orthodox Church.

The Ukrainian (Russian) Eastern Rite reunited with the Roman Church in about 1595.

Eastern Rite priests are given permission to marry and raise a family, prior to being ordained. In other words, Eastern Rite Catholic priests are usually married and Rome says it's okay.

My father said the Eastern Rite is older than the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. I'm not a theologian or a religious historian, but I believe my father was correct because Roman Catholic priests say my personal tradition is Eastern Rite due to the precedence of the older tradition. In other words, I'm not Roman Catholic. In fact, I'm an Eastern Rite Catholic, although I practice the former.

My point is, if the Eastern Rite has a historic precedence over the Roman Rite, then why aren't Roman Catholic priests allowed to be married?

Which leads to the point of this blog. Eastern Rite Catholic priests do not appear to be stained by the current sexual abuse incidents now eroding the foundation of Roman Catholicism. The egregious conduct of some Roman Catholic clergy whose criminal behavior was ignored by church administration is threatening to undermine the Vatican's universal religious mission and good social teachings to help the poor.

I have not heard about the sexual abuse behavior infecting Eastern Rite married clergy.

My lay person cure for the criminal sexual abuse cancer eating away at the Vatican are as follows:

1. Call for the resignation of all bishops who are implicated in the sexual abuse cover up.

2. Change the celibacy rule for Roman Catholic priests to be consistent with those of the Easter Rite ordination to the clergy.

3. Focus on the spiritual development of the faithful by inspiring prayer, reflection, forgiveness and benevolent social policy - following the lead of the religious orders of nuns around the world who seem to "get" this.

There is hope to overcome this scandal if the Roman Rite is prepared to undergo a renewal and return to the spiritual roots of its success. Excoriate the sexual abusive behavior by ripping off the celibacy condition as a requirement for ordination to the Roman Catholic clergy.

Certain religious orders may still choose to continue the celibacy tradition. This tradition, selected by a few, should not preclude all men who want to become priests from taking the Sacrament of Marriage. Precedence for this policy is established among widowers, as well as those ordained converts from other Christian religious traditions, like the Episcopal Church, for example.

Most of all, whatever Rite of the Christian faith we celebrate, let's join together in prayer by calling for an improvement in the universal human condition. In my lay person's understanding of faith, we are precariously off course right now and headed to a schism caused by the cover up of this scandal.

Clergy celibacy is a man made rule. Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) said: "A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational".

Our beloved faith must get back to what's humanly rational.

Majority Rules - Republicans and Health Care Reform

2010-03-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

I watched the US House of Representatives vote to pass historic health care reform while working on a laptop computer. On Sunday night around 10 PM, on March 20th, while voting began, I was inside Maine's historic capitol building with a group of vigilant advocates. We were keeping ourselves awake while monitoring a Maine legislative Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs who were working on votes for the state's budget.

Democrats were easily differentiated from the Republicans in our antechamber of lobbyists. All (I mean all) the Democrats were mesmerized by our laptop computers while watching the health care reform vote on C-Span on the Internet. Republicans, on the other hand, were in the upper room attending a caucus. They clearly snubbed us Democrats by not joining with our colleagues during the history making vote.

Today, President Obama signed the Health Care reform bill into law. One would think the sky was going to cave in as Republicans whined and carried on about this landmark legislation. Although it's raining in Maine today, I expect the sun to shine tomorrow. Gloom and doomsday predictions by the Republicans are saber rattling rhetoric aimed to scare America's right wing tea party advocates into mobilizing for support of repealing this important legislation.

Respect for "majority rule" doesn't seem to hold with Republicans who now vow to repeal the reforms. They conveniently use the law to their advantage but discard the fundamentals of a majority in a democracy. Republicans often carry the US Constitution around in their pocket like a prayer book, but appear to turn on the basic tenet of a democratic government. Although the vote was not bi-partisan, it was a majority vote margin. Health Care Reform is now the law of the USA.

Truth be told, Republicans want nothing better than to stir up trouble for all social programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and now health care reform. Those who support progressive social policy must diligently protect the last century's social reforms. We must protect every American's right to a life secured by an earned retirement accompanied by access to quality and affordable health care, regardless of a person's ability to pay. It's the right thing to do. Republicans who argue about doing the right thing should explain otherwise. They can't. Rather, they invent meaningless slogans like "Socialized Medicine!" Listen up, Socialism is not medicine. It's like saying Democracy is oceanography.

Now that majority rules on health care reform, we Democrats are required to protect what our predecessors fought for and, thus far, achieved. We now carry the torch for supporting social reforms to care for our fellow Americans, regardless of their political persuasion. Let's act like a responsible majority and rule with enlightened compassion. Let's also pray for good guidance during these politically charged times.

Thank you to all Democrats who voted for Health Care Reform - finally!

Centennial Celebrations and Death Valley Days

2010-03-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Of all the worthy Centennial Celebrations to write about, this particular blog is a critical comment on the 100th anniversary of the late television host of the old "Death Valley Days" shows.

There are certainly worthy Centennials going on this year. In 2010, the care giving nurses of the world are celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the death of our professional founder Florence Nightingale. There's a Centennial Celebration going on with Catholic Charities throughout the United States. Millions of people are cared for by Catholic Charities agencies in the US and around the world. Nightingale and Catholic Charities should be honored in the US media this year.

But, instead, a Centennial commemoration is being promoted on national TV about the host of the old television show titled "Death Valley Days". This particular Centennial is sponsored by General Electric because the host of "Death Valley Days", as you have figured out by now, was the late President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), who was an actor when the GE theater shows were taped for television. Regan hosted "Death Valley Days" and GE Theater during his television years prior to entering politics to become governor of California. During the 1950s, Reagan traveled the nation as GE's goodwill ambassador.

Nancy Reagan is quoted in a press release about the General Electric tribute to her late husband. "The opportunity to represent GE back in the 1950s, and the encouragement he received from the employees he met along the way, really launched Ronnie's career in public service," Mrs. Reagan said. GE's gift includes lots of money. $10 million in cash will accompany advertising and promotion to support the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration. A Presidential museum refurbishing will open on the eve of Regan's 100th birthday. Reagan was born Feb. 6, 1911.

Reagan's Centennial celebration probably has nothing to do with politics. Shun the thought! Or NOT? Nostalgia about the late president can stir up thoughts of Happy Days, when Morning in America seemed only one more tax cut away from making us all supply side millionaires. Americans are still paying our way out of the debt created by the Regan economic revolution. Today's tax hawks should look back to Regan, the icon of conservatism, for digging the deficit hole when his administration drove the country $1.2 trillion into an economic abyss. Reagan was a mediocre actor, but he set the stage for today's insurmountable deficits.

In my opinion, President Reagan was a terrific host for "Death Valley Days". He introduced each show with the ambiance of an aging cowboy who wanted to tell you a good story. His entire Presidential mystique was wrapped up in his ability to communicate one good old story after another. He was a professional actor who never won an Oscar for his talent. Nonetheless, he made history on June 12, 1987, when he ordered President Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!" in Berlin, Germany, during a speech he gave at the Brandenburg Gate.

Reagan's much quoted speech sounded more like a re-run of the electrifying "Ich bin ein Berliner" or "I am a Berliner" speech which sparked the world when President John F. Kennedy professed his support for a free Germany during a June 26, 1963 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. Reagan simply acted out a 24 year old re-run of the Kennedy speech, in my opinion.

Let's pretend General Electric is running nostalgic "Death Valley Days" footage of President Regan for patriotic reasons. Hopefully, this Reagan Centennial campaign is not a jump start for the 2012 presidential election. Let's say the GE campaign is not a back door way to keep President Regan alive, six years after he died.

I've always believed the Republicans would vote for Ronald Reagan today if there was a way to prove he had the after life sightings of Elvis Presley. Thank You God for giving President Reagan the grace to die with dignity with Alzheimer's Disease. Dozens of people among his family and friends could verify his slow decline and demise. Otherwise, it is possible "The Gipper" President could be rolled in front of television cameras again, to host a sequel to "Death Valley Days".

It's nice to know GE wants to give money to the President Ronald Reagan museum. Thank you GE for this corporate generosity. Please, however, let the "Death Valley Days" host rest in political peace.

Centennial celebrations should focus people on how to improve our frail human condition. Florence Nightingale's life should be exhumed this year. All the people cared for by Catholic Charities agencies could hold hands around the world. I prefer to focus on purposeful Centennial celebrations, rather than be media fed a suspiciously political cause for a "Death Valley Days" actor.

Maine's Team of Rivals - Governor 2011

2010-03-13T16:54:00.000-08:00

Many Maine advocacy groups are taking time to carefully interview the state's new governor. Only one out of the herd of about 27 talented people will be elected to lead Maine beginning in 2011. Yes indeed, at least 27 people were running when I last checked. They are a formidable team of rivals. Their political parties are Republicans, Democrats, Green Independents and Independents. There's a menu selection of names running in each political party.

Participating on nine interviews was one of the best jobs I've ever been assigned. Although I admit to entering these interviews with some preconceived ideas about who the candidates were, I was deligtfully surprised by the outcomes in the nine meetings I attended. I was fortuante to interview exceptionally talented, qualified and dedicated people who sincerely want to build a better Maine. Their diverse talents came together when they discussed how to fix Maine's struggling economy. They want to do whatever it takes to improve it.

Of course, supporters of individual candidates will take issue with my sweeping generalization about the credentials of those I interviewed. My response is for critics to interview the candidates I've interviewed so we can compare notes. I'll wager it will be as difficult as sapping Maple in July to collect negatives about Maine's team of gubernatorial rivals.

Whew! A rival team of decent and qualified people running for the governor of Maine, the most economically needy state in New England. Maine badly needs visionary leadership to attract people with 21st century skill sets to the state. Jobs in technology and science are badly needed if young people are going to claim Maine as their home. Maine is a beautiful place to live but, unfortunately, too few high paying jobs are available to make living here worthwhile. Lost manufacturing jobs have not been equally replaced by new or innovative industries. I met a young man in Northern Maine several months ago who said he could not name even one new business coming into the city of Caribou in the past year, 2009. Ouch!

I'm not an economist nor a political science major, but I have a good sense about when change needs to happen. Maine has a good team of guvernatorial candidates among the 9 who I interviewed. But, which one can lead as a change agent?

New ideas for economic growth are badly needed here.

Hopefully, my interviews introduced me to Maine's next leader. I suggest the new governor hire all those who ran in the primary election of 2010, because this team of rivals will undoubtedly put Maine economically back together again.

Readers, no doubt, want to know which candidates I interviewed. In alphabetical order they were: Beardsley, Cutler, Jacobson, LePage, Mills, Otten, Poliquin, Richardson and Rowe.

Each is a formidable candidate who has the will to win and lead change. It's a good idea for Maine people to carefully engage in an interview process of their own making to meet this team of qualified rivals.

Republican Baby Boomers

2010-03-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today's Maine weather was unseasonably warm. Our Topsham neighbors came out of hibernation to clean up the yard's winter kill. Enjoying a walk on paved roads absent ice patches is a rare March event in Maine.

My Republican neighbor stopped her yard raking to chat. Our conversation led to a discussion about retirement. At 64, she still needs to work to pay for health care insurance.

"Next year", I told her, "you will know how wonderful it is to have a government run health care plan. Medicare will cover you!"

She cringed, but said, "I hope Medicare is still around to cover me."

The rhetorical point of this blog is to ask: What is it about health care reform the Republicans simply don't get? My Republican neighbor has been paying for health care Medicare insurance throughout her working life. She doesn't know this is an earned entitlement.

Medicare is a quality government run health care plan. Providers complain about Medicare because, they claim, it doesn't pay them enough. What's enough? Margins are made based upon efficiency. If a physician or hospital is efficient, providing quality care while demonstrating clearly positive outcomes, the payments made over time will exceed the expense of providing the treatment. Medicare rates are one source of provider payments. Other sources in the payer mix are Managed Care, private insurance, Medicaid and private pay. Medicare beneficiaries are, by far, the largest users of the health care system. Aging baby boomers will continue to improve the efficiencies needed to generate Mediare margins to health care providers.

Meanwhile, the Medicare consumer has complete freedom to choose who they want for their provider.

Obviously, more Republicans need to turn 65 before the value of health care reform kicks in.

Senator John McCain, of course, has used a government run health care plan since he was born because his father was retired military. As a survivor of cancerous melanoma, Senator McCain shouldn't have any complaints about the government run health care he has received from being a retired Navy officer and a United States Senator.

Health insurance companies have spent many-many millions (some say a billion) dollars to defeat reform. What would have happened to Social Security or Medicare if powerful lobby groups were around in the 1930s or the 1960s?

My Republican neighbor might never be able to retire if Social Security in the 1930s and Medicare legislation in the 1960s had been put through the same devious media campaigns that health care reform is exposed to.

Powerful and well funded special interest groups have manipulated people into believing there is something sinister about providing quality and affordable health care coverage to everyone.

What's the solution? Aging.

When every Republican is over 65 years old - as they all march toward this inevitable developmental age - they will become consumers of a single payer government run health care program. Moreover, they will love it because the alternative is working until they die.

My neighbor said she dreads turning 65. What is her alternative?

Health Care Fatigue

2010-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

Comment from Caroline in Leesburg VA at end. "Perhaps it should be suggested that each Congressman reveal his personal health plan and what the premiums are."

I'm not tired of the health care debate. Not at all.

What I'm sick and tired to death about is the political theater. Somewhere along the road to reform, the concept of Health Care became a euphemism for political gridlock.

Where's the "health" in the health care reform? Health Care Fatigue is the purposeful way Republicans are deflating the public's tolerance for a debate which no one understands, except, of course, if you are among the 30 million people who don't have health care insurance.

That's who this debate is about. It's not about Ohio's Representative Boehner, who has health insurance coverage. Instead, it's about people like my husband's nephew who works 60 hours a week in his own business but cannot afford health insurance.

So, President Obama held a publicly televised summit to flush out the divisive issues on C-Span. Nothing changed. Thirty million people who didn't have coverage before the summit, still don't.

Instead of having CNN cover the summit story's after-spin, maybe the public would have learned more from a consumer broadcaster. Perhaps an expert anchor, like in competitive figure skating. A person who really gets what the problems are. Surely, finding someone to talk on TV would not be difficult with 30 million people to choose from. At least one person among 30 million uninsured is likely to have broadcast experience, and maybe be unemployed, as well.

Republicans look fatigued, as well, giving their repetitive responses to health care reform. They're like parrots repeating the same sentences over and over because it's all they know. "This bill.....is.....too big." Really? Tell us something we don't know. Republicans in Congress all have health care coverage; they don't know what it's like to be among 30 million less fortunate people who don't.

I'm not tired of Health Care Reform debates. Debating is always educational, in a level playing field. When one side of the debate lies, twists the truth, relies on rhetoric rather than fact or simply makes stuff up - then I call this "truth fatigue". For example, it's a lie that health care reform is a big government program or socialism. It's a lie that health care reform is going to cost too much money. It's costing us too much money not having health coverage for everyone. Socialism, by the way, is not a health care system, it's a political and economic system. Oh God! I'm so fatigued trying to defend the truth, I never get around to explaining what health care reform really is.

Which is precisely the point. Republicans who have health care coverage don't care one hoot about those who don't, or else, they would stop this exhausting banter and get down to doing the right thing.

I'm energized by people who do the right thing, aren't you?

Getting health care reform accomplished will energize a country where political fatigue is now the politically correct way to deal with problems. Just take the oxygen out of the debate and the patient will suffocate. Shame on everyone who has become an obstacle to helping 30 million Americans get health care coverage.

I'm sick and tired of Republicans who don't want to share their good health care coverage with less fortunate American citizens who deserve better.

Hi Julie,

Pandora's box has been opened by the many forms of communication we have and there is no such thing as debate any longer on health care programs. It's just astounding to see our Congressmen refuse to even think about the lower economic levels of our American society who have been suffering through the decades. When they are talking about the options people have for a health care plan, they are not talking about people without jobs or those already devastated by disease or accidents. As I understand the health care system, everyone with a health plan is already paying for those without insurance through higher premiums--just like with automobile insurance.

Perhaps it should be suggested that each Congressman reveal his personal health plan and what the premiums are. Wouldn't everyone be surprised at the deal they have?!

Caroline

Progressives On the Move: Engage Maine

2010-02-20T04:38:00.000-08:00

Democrats and Republicans are equally mystified about why a 60 vote super majority in the US Senate didn't move health care reform legislation to a definitive vote, at least not yet. I recently told a Democratic activist and leader in Augusta's Maine State House that it didn't make any sense to be a registered Democrat if the party isn't leading. Why be a Democrat when the party doesn't take a firm stand for something and stick to it?

I know state legislators who say they don't want to rock the political boat because it might mean loosing the next election. Give me a break (!) - they worry about the next election, in Maine? We live in a state with term limited legislators. Eventually, in a state with a population of only 1.2 million people, there's plenty of time for the tenacious of heart to be re-elected, given the rate of legislative turnover.

Out of this timid political re-activeness, one group bolting out of the gate to change the debate is Engage Maine. It's young, progressive, intelligent, professional and doing what no political party dares to say publicly these days. Engage Maine is standing for progressive values where others fear to tread.

In fact, Engage Maine is supporting a professional communications campaign to raise awareness about the importance of raising revenues to meet Maine's budget needs. Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen, step right up and see the one, the only, the amazing - brave group of activists who dare to use the "t" word in public.

Taaaaa-daaaa!

Remember when taxes meant revenue sharing? Like, revenue sharing to improve essential government services, as well as to support social programs like long term care, public health, education and the right for every citizen to have health insurance coverage. People too quickly blame the current Great Recession on everything economically dismal these days. But, it was during the Great Depression of the 1930's when Social Security was implemented. In my opinion, the Great Recession is a Red Herring - a diversion from the social responsibility we have to make meaningful changes for the future.

Engage Maine is a re-emerging precious relic of the days when taxes meant spreading the wealth so every one's quality of life is enhanced. Rather than costing money, Engage Maine supports revenue sharing for the purposes of stimulating jobs and economic prosperity. They in Engage Maine are the future everyone talks about when we say, "Let's do it for our grandchildren".

Why fear taxes? Taxes will get America out of the debt everyone is so worked up about. Taxes will help our nation's crumbling highway infrastructure and improve our antiquated railroads. Taxes will support public health technology so people will have access to better vaccines when pandemics like the Swine Flu H1N1 unexpectedly erupt. Taxes will allow all women access to expert reproductive health care at a time when birthing babies should be a bonus to families and our aging society's progeny. In other words, taxes and the accountability about how the revenues are appropriated, will improve American lives. Want proof? Look at Singapore. Can't get there from here, you say? Well, Canada is a beautiful and good example of revenue sharing.

Of course, negative people say America doesn't want to be like Singapore or Canada. People who make these ill informed statements have obviously never been to Singapore or Canada. To believe the Singaporeans or Canadians have a lesser quality of life than Americans is preposterous. These governments require their people to pay taxes- but the value of their investments are obvious.

I congratulate the movers of Engage Maine, with the Honorable Ben Dudley, himself a former Maine legislator, in the lead. It's admirable to see a state like Maine, with the oldest population of all 50 states, engaged with an energetic progressive group of dedicated people who factually exemplify the state's motto "Dirigo" (I lead).

Perhaps Engage Maine will produce visionary leaders the likes of Franklin and Elenore Roosevelt. I'll be glad to remain a Democrat with people like Engage Maine, who stand firm against the current political status quo of ambiguity. Thank you Engage Maine.

http://www.engagemaine.org/web/

Thanks for the comments posted on this blog and to my e-mail Juliana@mainewriter.com

Comment from Andrea in Massachusettes to mainewriter: We need an Engage America!!! The state of our government with our partisan squabbling is so disappointing. Nancy, Harry, Sarah and Dick are the voices in the media and they will never choose to find common ground. Therefore, it's very difficult to move forward. Maybe Maine can lead! Andrea

Passion and Politics on St. Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Passion is a word easily associated with sex.

Making the connection with politics, the New York Times columnist David Brooks says he looks for passion in social movements because that's where the future lies. In other words, majority groups don't move the world. Rather, it's the small passionate numbers who initiate change, says Brooks.

This is my opionion: I think there's plenty of historic precedence for this passion concept, like the American and French Revolutions among the many examples. Brooks' statement on political passion is not new news. But, on Valentine's Day, it's worth a blog discussion about how passion is impacting on America's conservative Tea Party movement.

Indeed, the Tea Party's political dunkers are a group steeped in passion. Although I've not seen a flavorful manifesto, the likes of politico Newt Gingrich's Contract with America, the brew of passion stirred up by The Tea Party can probably be summarized on the palm of your hand.

Here's my selection of three Tea Party issues as I read and absorb them from the media:

1. Patriotism - Tea Party activists play the "I Love America" bagpipe like they blended the concept all by themselves. In my opinion, they believe the way to be patriotic Americans is to drink ideas like medicine from the cup they hold. Well, this is a bitter way to define Patriotism. A la Tea Party patriotism is not a passion I'm willing to accept. Patriotism is a sexy seductress, especially when it's clouding freedom of expression in an aromatic cauldron of Red White and Blue steam. For example, is it patriotic to criticize the President of the United States, who is designated as our country's leader in the US Constitution, because he uses a teleprompter to give speeches? It's more patriotic to praise American technology for bringing teleprompter technology to the aid of every person in the world who can afford to use it for public speaking.

2. Taxes - This is the shop where Tea Party proprietors sell their wares. They don't believe in paying taxes, but why? Do these people drive on highways? Do they know it was Republican President Eisenhower who used the power of the government's right to eminent domain to build our nation's highway system? Do Tea Party people receive Social Security Benefits? Do their families have relatives who live in Nursing Homes receiving Medicaid? Look at our nation's struggling public health system. Tea Party people shouldn't complain about Swine Flu (H1N1) because, without public health money, there would be no vaccine available. Have you noticed how the number of mortality numbers reported in H1N1 cases has declined since the vaccine finally became available? Why was American one of the last civilized countries to have this vaccine? It's because the public health system is operating on financial life support, that's why. Tax money is the water our public health system drinks to stay current with modern science. Influenza vaccine is still being made using the same technology in place 45 plus years ago - yet, DNA science is available to vastly improve our ability to respond to a pandemic with vaccine. Oh, hell (!), I'm going to throw this argument overboard because it's a drumbeat sinking into the rhetoric of health care reform.

3. Big Government - Tea Party people are passionate about overthrowing big government. Nonetheless, we don't hear what kind of government would be better suited to our taste. Big government is a strong tasting euphemism for no government at all - which means we'll drain down our US Constitution to a piece of antique paper protected in a sealed vault. If government is reduced to a study of history, then the US Constitution will be no more relevant than the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls that were found sealed in pottery canisters centuries after they were written.

On Valentine's Day 2010, I prefer my passion to be appropriately placed in romantic sentiments rather than controversial political discourse. Physiologists maintain that sex and politics are immersed in the same areas of the human brain. I wonder if there is a tea remedy for this potentially harmful synapse? Like a chicken soup for the passionate brain made with tea and bitters, maybe?

Activists like those in the right wing Tea Party would be better off, in my opinion, if their sexual preference for political passion was kept in the privacy of their bedrooms.

Palin Report Card - and blog comments

2010-02-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

Note - in the 24 hours since I first wrote this blog, Sarah Palin already failed another test. She couldn't answer a question from a comentator on FOX-TV without reading crib notes written on the palm of her hand. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/mary-kate-cary/2010/02/08/palin-hand-notes-are-alarming-embarrassing.html

Palin gets a F for not knowing what priorities her tea party candidacy should focus on if they (or she) runs for president of the USA. (Comments at end of this blog from Barry in Maryland and Joe in Bangor, Maine).

It's time to give Sarah Palin a grade for her performance as a wanna-be public person. She was a failed Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2008 presidential election. Her one term as governor of Alaska failed to be completed. Let's see, she failed to answer questions a 6Th grader could have responded to when interviewer Katie Couric asked what newspapers she reads. During her 2008 nationally televised vice-presidential debate with Vice President Joe Biden, she failed to remember the man's full name, calling him "Obiden" at the end of the program. We later learned her faulty memory was triggered to recall his first name, which is why she asked in the opening of the debate if she could call him Joe ("Can I call you Joe?", she asked). Palin simply could not remember the name "Biden", her handlers said in a recent 60-Minute TV interview.

Palin fails history and geography. There is no way she can see Russia from her Alaska window in the state's capital Juno. Moreover, McCain campaign handlers said Palin did not even know about World War I or the Korean Conflict.

Okay, Palin has a best selling book "Going Rogue". Who wants to elect a rogue Presidential candidate? Going Rogue means she made a decision to be a dishonest, knavish person; a scoundrel (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rogue). I give Palin an F for her book, too. I don't particularly care for dishonest, knavish people and neither do others I know. Ms. Palin forgets, our US Constitution was not designed by Rogues, but, rather, by intellectual men. Our nation is great because we are law abiding people, not rogues.

All the hype about Sarah Palin is dangerous because she is rogue. Her brand of politics is dangerous because she plays on negative emotions. When was the last time you heard Ms. Palin say something positive, or constructive or even helpful? I give Palin an F for intellectual capacity. She can, of course, do extra credit work by coming up with one helpful or constructive thing to say about the USA that isn't couched in right wing politics.

Senator John McCain, you let a dark genie out of the bottle when you chose Palin, and she isn't going to be corked back inside. Nonetheless, since Senator McCain created the Rogue, he should be the person who tells her to go back to Alaska and stay there. She's beginning to smell just like the fish we throw away when it hangs around too long without cooking.

It's unhealthy to eat spoiled fish. Likewise, it's becoming dangerous to let Palin carry on about politics when she can't even say the name Biden correctly.

If John McCain is the patriot everyone gives him credit for being, then he should prove it again by facing down the political mayhem he created with Palin's rise to media-ocrity. Please help us to put the tea bagging "rogue" Palin back in the genie bottle. I'll give Palin a grade of C if she peacefully takes her piles of book and speaking monies back home to Alaska.

Note received from Barry in Maryland (used with permission): "Palin Report Card" article - I just want to tell you it is an excellent piece and right on the money. Palin and all her negative freenzy hoopla is bad enough, but what really scares me is how many people believe and follow that type of nonsense. Thanks for the Report Card, Barry.
Note received from Joe in Bangor, Maine who wants readers to know about www.kingoftheroadmusic.com. Joe says, "I don't enjoy Sarah Palin. I remember seeing and hearing her go on and on talking about the American Armed Forces who are doing God's work. (Listen!), No matter who does it, I have a hard time believing it is God's work. Then, I just saw a clip of her talking about playing the War Card with Iran. She was chastising President Obama for not being stronger on Iran....Let's see now...we are in two wars and Sara is suggesting we play the War Card. I suggest that Sarah be the first one to volunteer to attack Iran. She won't take my suggestion because she happens to be too busy making tens of thousands of dollars milking out those unfortunate folk at their Tea Party."

Blog of September 26 - 2008 - and Nothing Has Changed

2010-01-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

With the tragic circumstances we're witnessing in real media time, events occurring in the aftermath of the 7 magnitude earthquake to devastate Port au Prince, Haiti, last week, the only glimmer of hope in this tragedy is how the USA quickly responded. Unlike past political administrations, our American aide is first on the scene and growing exponentially. Nonetheless, this blog I wrote on September 26, 2008 reminds me how we forgot to remember...

Saturday, September 06, 2008
Haiti - Americans Must Act and Care About What Happens to Haitians

See one comment below:

The Jerusalem Post is headlining the tragedy of floods caused by Hurricane Hanna in Haiti. Where is the American mainstream media on this story? They're no doubt watching election polls.

http://tinyurl.com/55ykuy

Dateline Jerusalem Post and Associated Press September 6, 2008

"Floods caused by tropical storm Hanna claim 529 lives in Haiti
By Jerusalem POST STAFF AND Associated Press

Death tolls reached 529 in Haiti, as more bodies were discovered on Saturday when Hurricane Hanna flood waters continued to recede.

Hanna weakened to become a tropical storm after hitting Haiti.

UN peacekeeping troops began handing out food and water to famished Haitians on Friday after the first shipload of aid sailed into a crumbling port on the outskirts of this flooded city, where tens of thousands were stranded in the wake of Tropical Storm Hanna.

But the respite was expected to be brief. Hurricane Ike, a dangerous Category 3 storm, was forecast to pass just north of Haiti on Sunday. Even if Haiti avoided a direct hit, Ike was almost certain to bring rain to the fertile Artibonite Valley, whose rivers funnel into Gonaives, Haiti's fourth-largest city, and the surrounding flood plain.

On Friday, the European Union promised US$2.85 million to provide storm victims with food, water, shelter, basic medical care and household equipment."

Americans are so consumed with news about us, the "US", and are therefore media-oblivious to the enormous tragedy happening to people living poverty in our hemisphere.

Now Hurricane Ike is likewise going to affect these same desperate Haitian people.

Can Americans do as least as much as the European Union, by reaching out to these afflicted Haitian people with money, health care and emergency food?

Hopefully, America will quickly rise above our political angst right now, to care for the poor vulnerable people in a suffering Haitian population.

And, we must pray for them to have the strength to endure.

Response from John in Salem New Hampshire:
Dear Julie,
You might want to check the Catholic Relief Services web-site for what CRS and its partners are doing in Haiti and elsewhere.
Peace in the Lord Jesus,
John, SJ

Street Kill in a Home Town Newspaper

2009-11-10T02:36:00.000-08:00

"On Friday afternoon, as employees of Keary Advertising on Rolling Mill Road readied for their annual Halloween office party, Dundalk resident Dennis McLaughlin parked his car next to the building and walked through the front door with a pistol. About three minutes later, at 12:33 p.m., McLaughlin, who had just fired five shots into owner Wayne Keary, walked outside to the front lawn, pointed the gun at his head and pulled the trigger." The Dundalk Eagle, October 30, 2009

Where I grew up, my hometown newspaper was The Dundalk Eagle. It's one of the oldest weekly newspapers you can find anywhere, publishing in a town which is really the population of a small city, located in Baltimore County, right outside the Baltimore City boundary line.

Once upon a time, the front page of the Dundalk Eagle reported on local events like parades, high school graduations, or unusual weather. I checked out The Dundalk Eagle's recent website to find out what was happening in my old home town, to discover a lot of violence reported. The above tragic story was below the newspaper's front page fold, because, another murder involving a police officer was the headline lead.

This commentary is not a nostalgic cliche, reflective of the peaceful good old days. Rather, it's like Rip Van Winkle waking up from a nightmare and wishing he were still asleep. Since when has hometown news turned into double murder stories?

Americans are, unbelievably, becoming ambivilant about murder. For some reason, we don't want to acknowledge that more people are killed by crazy people who buy guns than die in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, I checked. In fact, in 2004, the number of violent murders in the USA was 16, 137. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/violent_crime/murder.html

This grim statistic was reported in the context of the violent crime incidents being down from the previous year. But, in 2003, the rate was 16,528. Big deal.

Nevertheless, we have become a nation of mourners. We are now experts at creating memorial services. There are too many teddy bears in coffins.

Now, we have seen a grizzly attack by a Muslim American Army officer at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 13 people. With this horrible murderous incident, we have reached the point in America where safety is an elusive concept. If we can't be safe from terrorism and random acts of violence on a US military base, then safety itself is nowhere to be found. Three girls watching stars in North Dakota are found drowned in a lake. A man in Orlando walks into a building and shoots former co-workers. It's become a daily ritual, like the parades, high school graduations and unusual weather reports we once read about in our home town newspapers, like The Dundalk Eagle.

As a nation, we need psychoanalysis. Something is gruesomely wrong and we need to find a cure for it. Please.

Most Valuable Player - President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from a magnificent 10 day vacation in France, I observed how the United States may be loosing relevance with the European nations. In France,at least, the research and development technologies in energy, transportation and the health care industries are growing in stature. Nevertheless, the average European citizen is not necessarily more prosperous as a result. Although they enjoy an expensively high standard of living, the average worker needs a decent job to make ends meet.

Economic prosperity for Europeans means they need jobs driven by American interests - like tourism, or customers to buy the technology being developed. Therefore, research and development notwithstanding, the United States matters to Europeans. Although our neighbors in Western Europe are organizing their political and economic clout through the European Union (EU), they continue to look to the United States as their beacon for world leadership. Perhaps the memories of two devastating World Wars during the last century, with their associated cemeteries, are continual reminders of European dependence on the United States. European freedom, after all, was achieved with the blood of Americans.

Therefore, it is highly significant to learn how the Swedish Nobel Prize Committee awarded the foundation's most prestigious Peace Prize to President Barack Obama. What did he do to deserve this outstanding honor? Europeans notice the sea turn in US foreign policy. They like the stability this fresh attitude poses for their own continued growth, economic development, prosperity and peace.

One fact I learned in France is that the American tourist industry dropped off by 80 percent after the US invaded Iraq and received a snub by the French for doing so. Well, being right on the Iraq War doesn't translate into good business for the average French worker. So, Americans' willingness to spend money, matters.

As a result, I applaud the Nobel Peace Prize for President Barack Obama. He is our world's most valuable leader. He presents a peaceful face for Europeans to relate to when they think of Americans. Likewise, congratulations to all of us who support our new President, because his Nobel Peace Prize is our achievement for voting for him. Think of President Obama as receiving the Most Valuable World Player Award.

Our sincere appreciation extends to the Nobel Prize Committee for recognizing America's choice for a 21st century world leader.

What Were You Doing on September 11th 2001?

2009-09-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

My daughter-in-law Cheryl Grabowski L'Heureux posted this living September 11th memory on facebook. I've cut and pasted the story into this blog because her experience is a compelling and living reminder of the horror Americans witnessed on September 11, 2001 when thousands of innocent people were murdered by an act of terrorism.

On 9/11/2001 I was on a train on my way into NYC. I was going to the WTC to meet up with a few employees...Nichole Gonzales was one of them. We were going to look at the site where my company was building a new store in the mall (not sure if ya'll know, but there was a really nice mall in the bottom of WTC.

That morning, I lingered in bed, not really wanting to get up. I was now running late and needed to leave. Roger dropped me off at the train station and kissed me goodbye. The train ride into NYC is always quite, business men and women going to work.

At 8:48 am my cell phone rang. My store manager of my South Street Seaport store, who lives in Battery Park, called and screamed "a plane just hit the WTC!" I repeated back to her, "a plane hit the WTC?". Sounding alarmed others looked up over at me and started asking "what happened?" I said "a plane just hit WTC".

I hung up with her and immeditaly called Roger. He had not heard about it yet and he turned on the radio. While we were talking he screamed "another plane just hit the other tower". I yelled out on the train "another plane just hit the other tower".

At this point, every single person is on their cell phone with family, work, friends, trying to find out what was going on. Roger said "get off the train at the next stop and I'll come get you". I got off the train and waited for Roger. I called my Mom, crying, and getting her anwering machine. I told her I was OK and did not make it into NYC that day. I called my Father,Grandmother, and friends as well.

Roger picked me up and as we were driving on the NJ Turnpike we saw a huge plume of smoke. We looked at eachother, horrifed, and said OMG, the towers just fell. I was numb at this point. I could not believe what was happening. It felt so surreal, it was unimaginable that this was happening here, in the USA.

At home, I could not take my eyes off of the tv set. I needed to know why this happened.

Fate has a funny way of showing herself...if I would have gone to work earlier, I would have wanted to meet with the mall marketing manager before the mall became busy. This means I would have been on a higher floor, not sure which, and would have experienced the tragic nightmare firsthand.

For all of those who lost someone on 9/11, I pray for you and for them. For those who have loved ones fighting for our country, I pray for them and their families.

Congressman Mike Michaud Health Care Forum in Bangor Maine

2009-09-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

In the absence of Town Hall screamers, the health care forum hosted by Maine's Second District Congressman Mike Michaud was a thoughtful presentation from multiple health care providers about the current issue of health care reform.

Thank you Congressman Michaud for hosting this civilized and informative forum in Bangor. Too bad there weren't any big network news anchors attending to cover the issues. Following is the report of the forum by the Maine Medical Association and a copy of my own testimony on behalf of mental health parity:

Report From the Maine Medical Association Newsletter:
Congressman Michaud Hosts Forum on Health Care Reform

Congressman Mike Michaud (D-2nd District) held a forum on the national health care reform debate from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. For more than 3 1/2 hours Congressman Michaud and members of his staff listened to members of Maine's health care provider community express their views about the national health care reform debate generally and H.R. 3200, the one bill voted out of committee in the House so far, specifically. Most speakers seemed supportive of health care reform in concept, but many expressed concern that Congress not act hastily and mentioned concerns specific to a particular provider type. Physicians were well represented in the list of 25 or so witnesses and the following testified:

Gary Palman, D.O., Maine Society of Anesthesiologists
Stephanie Lash, M.D., MMA
Jon Fanburg, M.D., Maine Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Julie Balaban, M.D., Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians/Maine Association of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Joel Kase, D.O., Maine Osteopathic Association
Larry Piazza, M.D., Maine Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons
Larry Mutty, M.D., M.P.H.
Charles Pattavina, M.D., St. Joseph Hospital
Congressman Michaud and his Health Legislative Assistant, Jill Brimmer, also heard testimony from representatives of hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, dental hygienists, ambulance companies, community mental health centers, chiropractors, and hospice providers.

Physicians who wish to communicate with Congressman Michaud's office about the national health care reform debate may reach out to Jill Brimmer at jill.brimmer@mail.house.gov

Testimony of Maine Association of Mental Health Services
Memorandum: Friday August 28, 2009

From: Juliana L’Heureux, BS, RN, MHSA
To: Congressman Mike Michaud

Ref: Testimony on Health Care Reform – Public Hearing in Bangor

Good morning. My name is Juliana L’Heureux. I am a registered nurse and the Executive Director of the Maine Association of Mental Health in Services (MAMHS) in Augusta.

MAMHS represents 27 Community Behavioral Health Centers throughout Maine.

Thank you for including mental health care to participate in this forum. Mental health providers truly appreciate your remarkable support for quality mental health care, especially for Veterans.

I also want to acknowledge the eloquent remarks from the psychiatrists who spoke before me, about the need to improve access to mental health care.

Our MAMHS members understand the complexities involved in health care reform. We are here to be a clear voice for mental health parity to be included in whatever public policy is ultimately passed. As you know, health care policy specialists worked hard for many years to achieve mental health insurance parity. Therefore, I speak for all health care providers and the clients and families we care for when we speak in support of providing mental health parity in health care reform, especially, providing for covering the cost of providing quality care. Moreover, I support the testimony from Eastern Maine Medical Center about the importance of providers being able to negotiate rates with payers. Negotiating rates is, likewise, important for community behavioral health care providers, as well.

We also seek your support for funding Community Behavioral Health Care to obtain electronic medical records.

Mental health care predisposes many physical health issues, which we know is the concept put forth in integrated care and medical home models. Certainly, we support all models of care where people are cared for out of institutions and as close to home as possible, whenever possible.

Therefore, please continue to be our advocate for protecting mental health parity in any health care reform regardless of where care is provided, including the appropriate use of tele health services.

Thank you again for your generous allocation of time to host this forum.

Juliana L'Heureux BS, RN, MHSA, Executive Director
Maine Association of Mental Health Services
45 Memorial Circle Suite 103 Augusta, Maine 04330
Telephone - (207) 621-4111 Fax - (207) 621-4999