Every Day I Wake is a Miracle.

Sometimes we forget to thank the Cosmos or God or Higher Consciousness or whomever you owe your life to, for allowing you to experience this existence yet one more day.  It’s not like our survival is really up to ourselves, but more like some pre-ordained map or time line.  Having seen sudden, unexplained, unexpected death, I am so aware of the craziness of it all.  So I thank God for yet another day as me, as a human, as a mobile healthy person that so far has been able to overcome some of life’s tragic, unexpected and almost deadly experiences.  Thank You.  Now what is it you want me to do?

THE CASE OF VALID ID AND VOTING

Here we go again.  My question is this:  Is your social security card not enough of an ID to allow you to cast a ballot, especially when there are lists of registered voters?  You show your social security card to the registrar, he/she looks for your number in a computer-generated data base printout or directly on a computer and Viola!  Your number is flagged, you enter a ballot booth, you vote, a receipt comes out and you hand it to the poll officer who records the number in its proper place. Simple as that.  What's the problem?  There are just too many ways a person can prove they are who they are.  People lose things all the time, including IDs and social security cards.  The good news is that most people do know their social security number just like they know their telephone number.  So perhaps its not an ID card that should be required but a photo on file at the social security office database.  The real issue here is that whatever is decided cannot be decided or implemented for this election. I know it, you know it and 'they' know it.  There just isn't enough time for a smooth implementation.  If they were to try and enforce it, call in the ACLU because it just is unconstitutional.

On the flip side, given enough time to ascertain the ID (of which one should not have to pay for since it is government mandated), what is the issue?  If you are here legally getting an ID should not be a problem.  After all, in some states it is illegal for someone over the age of 18 to not have a valid state ID.  If nothing else, you should carry a valid ID at all times if only for your own peace of mind.  After all, with racial profiling and such why give the police an excuse to harass you or take you in simply because you can not identify yourself?  In most states and cities there are organizations that help poverty level persons acquire such things as birth certificates, state ID's etc. There really are.  One just has to have the motivation to acquire these things as a priority.  I have had a valid photo ID since I was sixteen years old..  Even people coming out of prisons come out with their photo ID and a sheet with listings of organizations in the city where they are being released, that can help them get the required  basics to start their life.  Some take advantage, some don't.  It's all about priorities.

I have even offered to take people down to the Department of Transportation and give them the 16.00 they needed to get their state ID. What I found was that most don't even have their birth certificates, neither did their mothers.  Now that is a problem.  It costs 35.00 to get a copy.  In neighborhoods where most are on some kind of state or federal assistance or nothing at all, there needs to be some kind of local government intervention. Having worked in Social Services in California, I know that the County can easily get birth certificates by simply using the interoffice mail system.  I have also witnessed benefits being forfeited because of a lack of ID.  Therefore one can conclude that its not the ID itself that is a problem but everything that one must do in order to obtain it: gathering the documents, transportation, and the fee.  But guess what?  It is do-able!    A valid photo ID is an integral part of society.  I have even seen people lose out on jobs because they didn't have a current valid ID.  One lady had warrants for unpaid tickets.  She was too scared to go and take care of them which was fine until she lost her ID at a club.  Six months later she lost her job and found she couldn't get hired for another without her ID.  The stories go on and on.  Now people are finding themselves in a catch-22.  It is complicated yet at the same time it is about shouldering responsibility.  We have to start somewhere for this does not just affect voting it affects one's livelihood.  You can't get a job without a valid ID.  Bottom line.

This is not the first time in our country's history where obstacles have been thrust upon us as a race of people, especially when it comes to election time.  Just read about the country's voting history and black people in the late 1800s-1960.  This is nothing new.  Nor will it stop here.  What needs to be done as a community is to get busy and make sure that each person who wants to stand up and be counted--IS!  Rally to make sure they get their ID.  This situation that has presented itself caught us off guard yet taught us an important lesson.  We need to take care of business!

ELECTION 2012

I have often wondered what prompts a person to vote for a particular candidate.  Person, here, meaning the average Joe or Jane.  You know the ones- with no financial investment in either candidate.  I wonder because if the majority of Americans do not fall in the six figure income category,  but more like the middle five figure, why, in heaven's name would they vote for a candidate that would not, could not identify with the problems they face on a day to day basis?  Does the average American really understand the dynamics of politics?  Do they know when they are being lied to?  Are they able to read between the lines?  Do they really believe that President Obama is the cause of the state we are in today?  Really?  The man has only been in office for three and two-thirds years and it has been nothing but an up-hill battle for him.  Can someone really say with a straight face that President Obama is the cause of all that is wrong with our government?  If so, shouldn't we look side-ways at that 'someone'?

In 1971, gas was twenty-five cents a gallon.  In 1978, a round-trip ticket to Paris, France from San Francisco was $425.00.  I know because I bought one.  Life had been good to a lot of people.  Then the 80's came with a new regime.  One that felt the mentally-ill should be able to take care of themselves leading to mental hospitals closing down and putting their residents on the streets. Racism in our country, during the late sixties and throughout the 70's, had taken a somewhat back seat in the business world presenting opportunities for 'minorities' to have a chance at a better life by being given a chance to go to college and work in white collar jobs.  Ah yes, life was looking good.  I  really couldn't say what it was looking like in the government's coffers but I do know since the revolution, the government has been carrying a large debt that as far as I know, has never been paid. In other words, the national debt just didnt occur since President Obama's election.  This I do know: inflation, since the 80's, has brought about increases in consumer prices to as much as 300% (e.g.: gas, rents, price of automobiles, homes, clothing, education etc.) and guess what? The drug use in this country has increased greatly during the 80s and 90s.  President O'bama didn't have a thing to do with that either.

What depresses me the most is the fact that the Republican candidates never address the real problems.  Who is to blame for price increases in this country and the high unemployment rate?  They never mention the fact that the big corporations take their hiring overseas, the same corporations that back their campaigns.  After all, it was the Republican regime that decided to allow the energy companies to have a monopoly on price gouging.  In fact, they don't seem to believe in keeping any big corporation prices in check. It seems they feel that the more money you can charge and collect, the better.  After all, they can afford it.  They, of course, meaning the rich republicans who financially fund the campaigns. We can't!  We certainly have paid a huge price for the ones that buy into their hype.  Look at the environmental health, our physical health, and our economy's health.  The republicans dont give a darn about big businesses taking their offices overseas where they can pay cheap wages for work americans were doing.  But that's okay, right?  And if the millionares and billionaires pay less to no taxes, someone has to make up the difference, right?  Health Insurance companies raised their prices so high that the small businesses couldn't afford to provide it for their employees. The insurance companies wisely invested in candidates whose office would back them up as far as deregulating the cost of insurance. That is what it's all about.  They take care of their own.  We are not part of that family circle.  The truth of the matter as I see it is this:  If you are in any way struggling financially or health-wise, you had better vote for the candidate that truly cares about that.  And there is only one at this stage. President Obama.  Let's be honest and face facts. It IS possible to have affordable health care for all.  That should be a priority over trips to outer space and six figure raises in congress.  Better yet, maybe we should spend less money fighting wars we cant seem to win while making world-wide enemies, and use that money to raise the quality of life for the american people.  Americans need to start looking at the big picture, not through that tunnel that we are so used to looking through.  Try it. You will be surprised at what you see.

I mean really, come on people.  It's not to say the Democrats are much better but at least they do appreciate the fact that there are people, the majority of the american people, who are workers not owners of corporations.  They do understand that we, the 'little' people, are the very foundation upon which their prosperity is built, so they do acknowledge our existence.

All I'm saying is please don't believe the hype because you are desperate to believe in something other than the dire truth of our future.  That truth is: we can not go on allowing the rich to become richer while everyone else becomes poorer.  You want to live the american dream, You want to believe in the american dream.  In order to make that dream a reality YOU HAVE GOT TO WAKE UP! before it's too late and that dream becomes a total nightmare.

Vote with common sense and your eyes wide open.  Do you really know what is the Obama Care Package?  How does it compare to the alternative?  In order to make a sound, intelligent decision on these types of things one must do the research!  A lie is a lie and told by a liar.  If you catch a candidate blatantly lying or talking in circles and you don't really understand what the heck he/she is talking about, then you need to look at another candidate.  If you don't get a clear concise answer to a question, instead you get a finger pointing to what another candidate didn't do...then you might want to rethink your position.

Bottom line is this:  There is NO them and us;  It is all 'us'  If this ship goes down, believe me when I say, we will all drown.  There is no perfect solution at this time for our country's woes.  Only steps in the right direction.  How can you tell a good policy?  The wealthy and the average american do NOT have the same needs.  And if it is something that the wealthy endorses you can pretty much expect it NOT to be in the best interest of the average american. I am not ashamed to say that if there was an honest Republican running for president and he or she had the interest of the majority of the american people as a priority, I would be the first to vote for them.  Likewise, if it applied to a democrat candidate (which it most certainly does in this election coming up).

Vote responsibly.

ARE YOU AWAKE NOW, AMERICA??????

So, here we are.  The midnight hour of the debt ceiling fiasco is nearing.  Well, what do you think all of you that have paid into Social Security, fought and put your lives on the line for this country when you hear Washington say your rightly deserved checks may or may not be in the mail on the third?  Does this now wake you up.  Can you now get your heads out of your butts and get behind your insidious racist mentality and face reality?  President O'Bama did not create this mess.  But I would bet my seat in heaven that before this is over some fork-tongued republican politician will fuel your ignorant and sheep-like mentality to have you disparaging your current president for what is going on in Washington right now. 

The sad thing about it is this:  those of you who spent so much time trying to convince yourself that none of this affects you are no longer able to deceive yourself into such crazy thought processing.  Now do you see that if you are not up there with the multi-millionaires and billionaires, your government does not give a damn about you.  NO MATTER WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN IS!  I can't even imagine any politician standing in front of a camera to be shown all over the country trying to convince us that the only thing they can come up with in trying to resolve the debt problem that has been going on for the last 40 years is to take the only source of income which should never have been used for anything else but social security entitlement to keep from taxing those that have created this mess to begin with from people who are barely surviving.  I am not talking about SSI that any immigrant from anywhere in the world can come and start reciving benefits.  I am talking about Social Security that I paid into all of my working life.

There is no reason for this country to be in such a state.  The United States has the most billionaires in the entire world.  They control about 34% of the worlds economy.  We are not the forerunner in the number of millionaires per capita but so what.   We have over 400 people worth over a billion dollars each.  And you don't think these people run the government????  Stick together to tax the very people that have made them billionaires? While they pay little or no taxes?  People who can barely live comfortably even though they work five days a week, paying all kinds of taxes out of their income.  Have you looked at your phone bill lately if you have a land line?  Have you looked at your cable bill lately?  Who is benefitting from those obscure tax fees?  Certainly not I.  Are you?

I paid into the Social Security Fund all of my working life.  I have worked from the time I was sixteen years old.  What ever they took out for federal taxes, they took out the same for SSA, before I even got my pay check.  At then end of the year, I dont claim the amount I ended up with each payday.  I must say I earned the money before the taxes came out, which is really a lie.  To me, if you earned something and were paid a certain amount that and that only is your income.  Then if I was fortunate enough to manage to have a little savings account then the interest that was earned on money that was already taxed, is taxed again.  A single person is taxed more than a married couple who share expenses, who pay the same rent, the same utility bills  and yet they pay more of a percentage of their taxes because they are single.

Do you think that the percentage that is charged to low to middle class citizens (whatever that is- just say working class) is the same as that the billionaires are paying?  What do you think our treasury would look like if they paid the same percentage and got less of a break with all these weird fake deductions that are only available to the very wealthy.  Why shouldn't they help the government pay their bills?  The government rushes to their aid at the drop of a hat (uh, hello? remember the bail-outs). 

What is wrong with this picture.  They vote to give them selves a 5 to 6 figure raise and at the same time veto any proposed healthcare bill that would aid the citizens of this country.  Yet they get free medical as part of their perks.

Get your head out of the sand and that hatred of races out of your hearts so you can see what the hell every other country can see.  That we are being &^*(ed by those you put in office.  It aint about the color of anyone's skin.  It is all about the almighty dollar of which you NOR I have enough of.

WHY IS OSAMA BIN LADIN ALIVE?

All weekend, on ID channel they have been advertising an upcoming documentary about Bin Ladin and why it is so hard to find and kill him.  My question is "really?"  Let's do a bit of critical thinking here:

If the government, amid all the bombing, smoke, fire, people, cars, buildings, etc, can find Saddam hiding 25 feet below the ground in some hole it makes you wonder why the CIA or whoever cant find Omar Gadafi and Osama Bin Laden  We might not have found any caches of bombs of mass destruction but we did find a hole in the ground harboring Sadaam Hussein(if they really did) all the way in Iraq, surely they can find the man responsible for the bombing of the Twin Towers.....right?  I mean this man is walking around, posting video broadcasts on-line and just plain doing his thing.  Ever heard the term hiding in plain sight?

From news and cinema we all know that we have satellites high in the sky, on the moon etc that can count the legs on a fly...so where are the two most notorious men who have really and truly done crimes against  America as a collective?...You remember Gadafi right, that was during the Nixon era on into the Reagan era continuing on with Senior Bush?  That was when we got thrown back into that middle eastern mess.

 There has been fighting among the Middle Easterners since biblical days.  No one interfered since the Suez Crisis situation and that was a throw off from the late 1800's when the Suez Canal was built, originally from Egypts point of view to ease trade but of course the barbaric Europeans( I consider any entity that is focused on taking by brute force something that never belonged to them instead of a peaceful co-existence Barbarians!), in this case Britian and France,(Europeans always have an unseen agenda which includes greed and strategic military advantages when stepping in as aid), made sure the Egyptians would be ruined and in debt and the heroic Britain stepped in to bail the Egyptian company out by buying 44% of the company's shares at a bargain.  Then Britain found an excuse for turning on Egypt...etcetc you know the story...help a poor country and then when you gain a foothold in it turn against them to finish them off and put your agenda in motion.   Anyway its an interesting bit of history, involving the Israelis, the United Nations etc etc.) leading up to the 50's when nations got together and said enough.  And it was that is, until Nixon.

Anyway back to Bin Ladin...a cousin of the royal family in Saudia Arabia, one of our biggest if not the biggest creditors.  Hussein and Iraq were just another Suez Crisis, (There were no weapons of mass destruction.  We couldnt find those great big bombs but we did find a little old man hiding in a hole in the ground.)and our friends until they served our purpose. Then we turned on them.  It will never ever happen with Saudia Arabia.  Never, for if we even looked like we wanted to screw them over they would call in their markers. Ask any economist what would happen if our creditors demanded payment in full.  Our country would collapse, and no one would be able to bail us out. And on the other end of the spectrum, is there a real person named Osama Bin Ladin.  Who is he and wtf did he come from?  Most importantly, how in the hell do we know what he really looks like cause if you ask me, every picture I see of him looks like stage costume or a caricature of what a Bin Ladin terrorist would look like.

The bottom line is they arent really looking for Bin Laden.  They know exactly where he is and what he is up to.  As long as he remains a "fugitive", it gives our government, as well as their pet company Haliburton, excuse and reason to go anywhere in the middle east and confiscate, and in Haliburton's case, make money by the millions, under the guise of the all famous manhunt. We have troops in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and anywhere else there might be a hint of untapped mineral,water, gold and oil resources.  It doesnt take a rocket scientist, just plain critical thinking and research if you are really wanting to know the truth.

For all of those who have lost loved ones in Desert Storm all the way up until now, I sympathize with you and your idealistic loved ones who gave their lives for what they thought was what? democacy?  For I would take arms against an enemy that threatened my country, that violated human rights and was hell bent on world domination, forcing their values down our throats, in a heartbeat.  Those young men and women I truly truly admire and my heart goes out to them.  But you know what...they have what they call "mercenaries" for the same job. Those are the ones they dont have to dupe into fighting their dubious battles.  No mercenaries fight for money.  No one threatened our democratic way of living and democracy has not proven to be best for all nations.  Some nations without it thrived just fine.  They have thrived for thousands of years without our interference, our greed, and most important our meglamania.  Im sorry, if this upsets your comfort zone, but if your mom or dad were a serial killer, with bodies buried in your backyard...just because they are your family, it doesnt make what they are doing right...right?

Eventually one of two things happens: you either get brave enough to realize what they are doing is wrong and turn them in to the authorities, or by your ignorance and failing to accept what you know is true, thereby justifying what they are doing, you yourself turn out to be another serial killer.  Bottom line. Let's be real.  Let's be honest.  They are NOT looking for Bin Laden.

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

While watching, I think, the Tyra Show about these people with severe birth deformities, I got down on my knees (one woman who's legs keep growing and growing could never ever do that) and thanked God or fate or whatever you want to call it, for my blessings. My blessings are simple.  BUT  they are blessings.  I can pick up a telephone, dial the number, turn the door knob, go to the bathroom in privacy, eat anytime of the day i choose, wear whatever i choose, feed myself, walk down a street in anonymity, smile and recieve smiles from strangers, not have to hide when i see a police car, breath on my own, drink a glass of water without boiling it first (i hope), get in my car if i need to go a long distance, arrive and return safely, I have hands that can pet my animals, arms to hug those i love, hear the sound of my own voice, see my reflection in a mirror, see the colors of the sunset and the beauty of the stars at night, smell frangrances without swelling up, go to sleep at night without hearing gunshots, wake up when i want to. turn the air condition on when i'm hot, speak to my mother on a daily basis, cry at something touching and emotional, and most importantly, i dont have hatred in my heart for any group of people, am mostly at peace with my surroundings, and feel humbled instead of cheated with my life circumstances.  I woke up today in anticipation of the good that I know is coming my way instead of dreading getting out of bed.  I can go on but the point is these are things I could take for granted but I thank God that I realize how blessed I am.  I have enough to survive, I take trips or vacations by looking at magazines or reading, I buy second hand clothes, I might have to take a trip to the pantry from time to time...and when I start to complain or feel depressed because of things that I lack, like the funds to go to the Art Institute, or just college for that matter, I think of my blessings I do have...and the fact that I woke up on this side of the ground, so I can hope for yet another day and find solutions to the obstacles that I do have...and keep being thankful...Count your blessings, they are more than you realize.

OKAY NOW WHAT?

Okay, so now that I've vented on my perception of what "recession" is, you might ask what do i perceive as the solution. The solution is "us". We have to engage our critical thinking processes. We need to slow down, take our blinders off, not be influenced totally by subjective media, but really pay attention to what we are being told, what we actually see, we need to read more, listen more, and above all else we need to "actually think" more. If a true "recession" exists, why doesnt everyone feel it? Bill Gates went to bed with 80 Billion dollars and woke up one morning with only 40 Billion...wow! He shrugged his shoulders and went on with his day. Our government has been claiming billion dollar debts for as long as i can remember, yet it is constantly spending billions of dollars overseas and in outer space...So I must ask myself, "why?" and who exactly is "recession" meant for? Me? You? Certainly not the Bill Gates and the Oprah Winfreys of the world. Hmmm...this gives me pause...I have to try and wrap my brain around this new concept. Until then...keep up the faith and keep your eyes open.