Nothing Short of Theft
By louisehartmann
The days of guaranteed retirement benefit in the form of a pension are long gone. As numbers out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics show – defined benefit retirement pension are on a drastic decline since 1981. That was the year when over 80% of full-time workers in the private sector participated in a pension plan. By 1997, that number had plummeted to just over 50%. And by 2011, looking at all workers in all private businesses in America, fewer than 20% of workers have some sort of pension retirement plan.
This translates into economic insecurity for seniors – especially now that Republicans in the House are trying to turn Social Security and Medicare over to private sector profiteers. This also adds to the growing list of things that Corporate America is taking from their workers, in its quest for higher and higher profits.
In recent months – we’ve seen employers promise to reduce hours to avoid providing health insurance, we’ve seen the right to free political speech taken away, guaranteed vacation time and maternity leave don’t exist – workplace safety laws are getting watered down – heck, they’ve even taken our money by flattening our wages during a time of increased productivity. In some states, they even want to take away our bathroom breaks!
This is nothing short of theft. And pretty soon, we’ll be handing over the shirts on our backs, just so that our bosses can squeeze whatever profits they can out of them.
Comments
#2
Wow Ken W, I wasn't complaining, I was just stating a fact. Over all our system is very good. Basically if you have a minor problem or a life threating problem everthing is very good. If you have a knee, shoulder hip etc and need a specialist you could wait up to a year as it is rationed for surgery. I was just saying there is a shortage of doctors, but I think that is a global problem. Canada was one of the few counties in the world that didn't have a mix of private and Government health care but because of the long waits they are now alowing private clinics here. Please don't get me wrong I don't like your system down there I think we need to get something in the middle of both of us. It is important to know the Government here only supplies basic health care here all meds, teeth, eye, ambulance, etc. are not covered. We can buy additional private insurance for them though. Just so you know as I told NoFraud I had a MRI a couple of years ago and saw my heart so I have proof I am not heartless I can email you a copy if you don't beleive me.
#3
Kend - I did not mean to imply you were heartless, I do not think that at all. It is that I am so use to our right wingers saying healthcare for the poor is beyond our ability to pay, while they invest in new weapons of destruction without flinching. Like most Americans that hear about the Canadian healthcare system we just take it for granted that all your medical needs are covered. Sorry for misunderstanding the reality of your system. It sounds a lot like our Medicare program. I think Medicare is a good provider of healthcare for the retired and those who are too ill to work. It needs some improvement on how it is handled and the billing system needs to be revamped so there is less fraud. It is hard to believe but those creating the most fraud in our Medicare program are doctors! We have plenty of Specialists in California, but there seems to be a shortage of family doctors. The Specialist earns more than family doctors and that is why there is a shortage. My Ortho Specialist actually bragged about being in the top 2 % on one visit I had with him. He is a great surgeon and a good guy, so I am sure he earned his wealth unlike so many in the Banking Industry and Wall St. have not actually worked for their bank accounts, but that is another subject! Have a good day, it is sunny here after an overnight shower and it is about 66 F. degrees outside with winds, so it is time for a long walk! P.S. I knew you had a good heart right away when you mentioned you were a Grandpa! All grandparents have good hearts, it is something that just naturally happens!
#4
Thom - You have just stated why Unions provide a valuable service for their members. They actually have the power to bargain for the service provided to the employing party. I know I will read a barrage of negative comments from commenters that are on the right and anti-union. I am very sure if you had to work for a non-union employer or shop and then experienced the benefits of unionized workers, you would gladly pick the latter. And Unions actually do give into employer demands when negotiating new contracts for the employees or Union Members. They realize that things have changed in the last 30 years and take this into account during negotiations with employers. It is no mistake that the wages and standard of living has fallen on all graphs, while at the same time the Unions have lost members due to Union Busting from the CONservatives and keep-all the wealth employers. And for all of you who hate teachers and their unions you need to know not all unions are the same and pay differs from one district to another. The higher paid teachers with the same credentials as teachers that make a little less in their contracts is because the slightly higher salaries are paid to teachers who work in poorer neighborhoods where parents and students may or may not speak English and it is harder to communicate with both the parents and the students. And, generally it is harder to keep teachers in these areas due to a host of problems from communications to crime problems. I just had to mention this because teachers, firemen(women) and policemen (women) are usually the first people attacked when right wingers rant on about the Unions. We all know why they hate unions; it is because the unions usually support candidates on the left. And that is a no brainer to figure out!
#5
This is the result of Milton Friedman's Chicago School of Business, commonly known as neoliberalism. If you haven't read the Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, make it your business to read it and understand for all these years we have turned this country from a first world nation to a third.
We will all be feeling the pain.
#6
I have often wondered why all the big hospitals in Chicago are full of rich Canadians.
#7
Maybe the chemtrails will do us in, at least the frail with poor immune system. Or the insecticides in our food. They want to be rid of the "Useless Eaters" as the elite of the world call us.
#8
...watergate aside? i wonder what nixon would be doing today if he was in congress...
#9
Having sick and unhealthy and uninsured people is a Health Hazard to us all but a lot of people don't think about this. Maybe the person handing food or setting the table in a restaurant has a contagious disease? Or the sick person handling lettuce or apples. Or the sick child sitting next to their own child at school, or the sick child touching equipment at the park. They don't think about having sick people in the street passing disease. Or sick people touching the same doorknobs in a building or giving them a receipt in a store, or bagging their burger. So many in this society think that the poor are unworthy. Or they think like O'Reilly ---that he drove cabs and painted houses and "got his" so go get your own. If there is a hurricane, go fix your house and if you don't have the money, well it's your fault that you did not get better educated and make more money or invest better, etc.
That is what I hear on radio and TV. There is no empathy or compassion in these people. And they call themselves "Christian." I don't want to listen to the drama with Congress anymore.
#10
FLASH OVER-RIDE: Has anyone had the opportunity to read the front page of the N.Y.Times today? Well if not here is a tid-bit of news concerning the Corporations and Wealthy Americans we hold in great esteem. They, the above mentioned entities, are asking our President (MS. Obama, I refer to him as Ms. after his lack of any aggressiveness when dealing with the Repubkinuts. HE MUST have run out of any testosterone he may have had) to declare a Repatriation Holiday so they can bring the funds they have stashed in off-shore accounts back to America without having to pay any taxes on the Trillions they have made!!! I am not kidding; this is what the Times has reported. These guys were waiting until Romney was elected to bring their stash back to the U.S. without any taxation. So, when Ms. Obama caved into the demands to the Republinuts in the House and only raised the Capital Gaines tax a mere 5%, they began drooling at the mouth, like some mad dog, to get their money back into their BANKS as soon as possible! If Ms. Obama, House and Senate go for this insane idea, we will have absolute proof who runs Washington! As if we don't already know! They also reported that Washington is running flush with ex-politicians and lobbyist that are asking for big long term cuts in social programs like Social Security, Medicare and a host of other programs during the Sequestration talks. Like any vultures these people are hovering over the carcass of the old Obama, ready to pick his bones clean of any social responsibility he may have left. And they are waiting for the new Ms. Obama to be sworn into office this month, to see if he buckles under their demands to bring their trillions home tax free! Talking about wanting to vomit, after I read this article I felt like leaving my lunch on the floor. At this point I would not take any bets on whether this President will cave-in again to his wealthy masters and Corporations that keep feeding the political slush fund for upcoming elections. This is just my take on what the times has reported on their front page, this 10th of January, 2013.
#11
With regard to Social Security, the frightening thing to me is the sheer number of people who have become convinced that the program is a "government benefit". My older son, who just graduated from law school and who is quite capable of parsing the most complex issues, revealed recently that he takes this at face value. Why? The media, even the venerable New York Times with it's presumed liberal slant, hammers away at the same lie being peddled by the rest of the media: "Social Security is an 'entitlement' like Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment insurance, that is funded by tax revenues. It is most emphatically not! FICA may be regarded as a "tax" if you like, as it comes out of your paycheck and is matched by contributions by your employer (6%) which I have always regarded as deferred compensation. The program, in operation for 80 or so years, is a social contract America made with itself to provide some level of subsistence with dignity to the elderly when they lived beyond their productive years. Despite the bald faced lie that Social Security is unsustainable, fabricated primarily by corporate interests and circulated unflinchingly by the media, it would take comparatively little to make the program solvent indefinitely. I'll be happy to provide links to support this claim upon request. Think about it: Who would benefit hugely and immediately if Social Security were to be taken under the wing of the federal government and administered just like the so called entitlements? The 6% corporations kick into the program would sure look good on the bottom line, now wouldn't it? Do other huge and recent federal bailouts to private interests ring even a distant bell? But we hear nothing but how our welfare state, including Social Security, is taking food out of the mouths of our grandchildren. The real issue is this: Are we to stick with our original inter-generational commitment to keep grandma and grampa in their own homes with funds they themselves contributed (as opposed to living in Junior's garage or under a bridge somewhere) or are we going to roll over for the most audacious rip-off in the history of this country? And finally, no, the Social Security benefit I now receive is not coming out of YOUR paycheck. Had I had the option of putting this money in a low yield annuity starting in 1961 I'd be receiving three times the monthly payment I'm currently receiving over the next twenty five years. I won't live longer than that. I'm talking about YOUR future. Mine is relatively secure, thanks to Social Security and a frugal lifestyle, at least until our esteemed President sees fit to tap into what's left of my life savings in order to perpetuate the $ Trillion Dollar Plus annual "defense" spending that seems to be "off the table". I never thought I'd see the day arrive when so many Americans had turned so cynnical, calous and/or stupid as to allow this kind of a heist to be perpetrated upon us.
#12
Nixon would be selling used cars! Remember his famous quote; well this president is no crook! And I remember seeing posters everywhere that asked the question," Would you buy a used car from this man"?, with his picture on it. I was in the U.S. Air Force at the time, and besides a pay increase he gave to the military personnel (I guess he saw it as a bonus for fighting his War), no on liked or trusted this guy! That is one thing I remember very clearly...
#13
Old Blue - Well said, I couldn't agree more with your comments. I hope my daughter’s garage won't be my new home when that time comes! I can already hear the right wing conservatives grinding their teeth and ready to take a stance on how we just cannot afford this type of charity to the retired generation and those that are too ill to work. Also, people who have lost their husband or wives and children who have lost a parent(s) also benefit from this self-sustainable program called Social Security!!! Yes, I am sure I hear their hearts beating and minds churning to decry the end of all social programs because it will cost our Grand Children a good quality of life. Try cutting the trillions wasted on Defense Contractors and the un-needed programs that get shoved down our throats every year and that will be a good start at preserving the quality of life for future generations. And yes I do have a personal stake in the game, I will be a new grandfather for the first time and I am concerned about what kind of country he will grow up in. One that takes care of its people or one that takes care of the Industrial Defense Contractors and its shareholders that are bleeding this country dry and is a prime cause of national debt!
#14
WAIT A MINUTE!
Marches on Washington? Violent Riots? Sounds like the US all right. Before we do anything rash I suggest you take a few deep breaths and listen to my plan. Just because Civil Unrest has proven to be historically effective doesn't mean its the only solution. There are more than one way to scare the 'cooperation' out of a Senator
DOV! Democracy Online Voting is my idea! After hearing it I'm sure you will Love DOV. DOV involves the creation of a Federal website that enables citizens to purpose, formulate, petition and enact law on their own; in effect, completely circumnavigating both houses of congress and the Executive branches of government. It can also be used to immediately halt any military aggression, remove any civil servant from office, Amend the Constitution, or seek redress for any official action including those of the Judiciary by a simple majority vote of the online constituency.
It is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore, by dividing the power of the Federal Government into the hands of its citizens we take a situation where the FEW easily coerced or bribed members of our government are easily manipulated and spread that number out to several hundred million citizens making coercion and bribery still possible but quite impractical. This augmentation of our political structure in my view would completely eliminate corruption in our Government.
HOW DOES IT WORKThe main problem as many of know with the diebold voting machines is the integrity of the code that controles the machine. The same problem exists in my plan. However, my plan takes on open approach to maintaining the integrity of the code. To explain this I need to educate many of our readers.
#15
A BRIEF COURSE IN DIGITAL ELECTRONICSCODE a program or LIST OF COMMANDS that tell an electrical device how to work.Example: A Mechanical Arm - used to pick up a ball. The "List of Commands" might look like this:1. Start2. Open fingers.3. Lower Hand over ball.4. Close fingers around ball.5. Apply X amount of pressure to circumferance of ball (where X = lbs/square inch--here X = 2).6. Raise hand.7. End
This is an elementary example of a very simple code used to execute a task. It's an excellent example in simplicity because the code used in a voting service is equally simple. As you can imagine, even the slightest alteration of the code sequence would drastically affect the result of the task. For instance if I were to simply erase line #4, the hand would pat the ball but fail to grab it. In addition, if I were to change the value of X in line #5 to say infinity, the ball would explode. If I were to change the value of X to 0, the ball would be dropped. How then do we insure the integrity of this idea so that we don't "drop the ball" Pardon my pun!
ADDITIONAL TERMS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH:RAM vs ROM memory (Random Access Memory) (Read Only Memory) These are the media that code can be written to.
RAM memory includes Hard Drives, Magnetic Tape, USB Jigs and any media that can be erased, rewritten or in any way altered without being destroyed.
ROM memory includes CD's, DVD's, and even vinyl LP's from yesteryear. Once written on this type of media the information cannot be changed, erased or altered in anyway without destroying the media. You might remember how a scratch in your old records altered the recording and ruined the integrity of the music.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) This is a code written to a media that has a magnetic field that can be received an read wirelessly. It has been touted to be the future mark of the beast if and when implanted into people. I assure you that any mark of the beast has already been distributed to us all in the way of Social Security numbers. Any chip implants aren't going to do any more harm. We already carry with us positive identification markers in our retina, finger prints, teeth and DNA An implant is not part of my plan and I am firmly against any such efforts. It would be an affront to human dignity and dehumanizing. However, the technology is ideal for marking pets, live stock, and for researching animal behavior in the wild. The first legislation I might propose is a permanent ban on ever using this technology on free, law abiding human beings.
HANDSHAKE Like when people meet social protocol calls for a handshake, "How do you do," "My name is Bob," "I'm pleased to meet you.;" to take place before any communication can occur. The same term applies to when two digital devices attempt to connect and establish communication.
#16
HOW TO SECURE THE CODE?
Diebold machines security is so secure and complicated only the employees of diebold have access to it. By localizing the security personnel you create another small group that can be manipulated in order to effect the code controlling the voting. It is this security approach that makes their machines so unreliable. JFK once said, "The very work secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society." He was spot on. Therefore, I dedicate this idea to him.
In my proposal, secrecy will be banned. The very code sequence that controls the Governments Main Server will be written on ROM mounted in the Server's main mother boards. All home computers will be mounted with ROM containing the same code as the Government Server. All citizens who are legally registered to vote will be assigned a voter registration card when they register. On the card will be written in RFID the same code of the Main Government Server, their own computer, as well as their own voter register information.
A simplified version of the connection of a voter to the Main Government Server will involve a digital Handshake that compares and validates the integrity of the code that controls the entire system. It will begin by placing your voter registration card on top of your home computer. This as well as you password enables you to log into the Government software. The information then reaches out to the Government Main Server and does an identicle Handshake that identifies you as you and gives you access to the DOV Democracy Online Voting service.
It is my intent to preserve the integrity of my voting code by distributing master copies of it--Keys if you will--to all American Citizens, permanently burned into their voting cards. It's integrity will be verified automatically whenever anyone logs on to the service. The final step I would envision would be the publishing of the results of all voting. Voting will take place in districts to simplify review by citizens. All will be able to verify their vote as well as see the other votes in their district as well as other districts across the country. We will truly have an free and open society. There will be no encryption, no volatile memory, no secret codes used at all. The security of this system will sit in the hands of all voters and not a select few. Their will be no representatives to bribe and no elected officials to assassinate to gain advantage or favor. Corruption as we know it will cease to exist.
Thank you for considering my proposal
Sincerely,
DAnneMarc
#17
A current course of action I might suggest Ken is writting President Obama a letter with your concerns. It certainly couldn't hurt. I wrote him this letter myself this morning when I woke up:
Dear President Obama,
I am writing because I am concerned that you may consider cuts in Social Security and Medicare. Personally I know people--and professionally I see people all the time in my job--that are dependent on these programs. Unfortunately, they do not have enough benefits already to adequately survive in their marginal meager existence. I see senior, the handicapped, veterans, jobless family's, old sick and dying hospital patients, routinely on the street begging for anything to help subsidize any benefits they are receiving. This is an appalling affront to human dignity. I hope you are aware of these people and agree with me that this is a national tragedy. I feel that cutting these benefits in any way would be a national disaster.
I urge you to used your Executive Power that We The People have entrusted you with to send a message to those who would dare try to terrorize our country by using our most cherished and weakest members of our population as hostages. Please raise the dept limit yourself and demand that the only change you will approve to Social Security or Medicare is an increase in benefits.
Sincerely,
Thank you Mr. PresidentAnd may God Bless!
#18
Ken Ware: Thank you for your endorsement. And congratulations on your upcoming "grandpersonhood" It's my sincere wish that your grandkids and mine will end up just fine because our kids will force a good outcome.
#19
DAnneMarc: A good concept as far as it goes. The problem lies in the higher layers of the protocol, e.g. the transport layer. Even with 128 bit encryption the data passed is vulnerable. Encryption protected sites are routinely hacked as a person with your obvious technical credentials must be aware. The devil is in the details, and if someone were ever to come up with a failsafe way of getting your vote across the "cloud", they (and the back door) could likely be had for a price....
Oh and BTW, thank you for that letter to Obama. I write to him occasionally myself. One of these days he's going to have to start listening to ONE OF US!
#20
Your point is well taken. Maintaining security of the code will provide a noble and profitable job for hackers who now have nothing better to do but sabotage the current paradigm. I'm sure that insuring a true Democracy for a handsome paycheck with benefits will attract the most gifted to this cause than would be attracted to diminishing its effectiveness.
As you have foreseen I have anticipated this problem and called for electorate review of the results of voting as a last security precaution. Triple validation of the code will also help eliminate any 'mischief' as any discrepancy will shut down the entire system. It is a fool proof idea in my opinion.
#21
In a news release early this morning, the American Psychiatric Institute indicated that it has added a category to its list of mental illnesses: Rebublicanism.
According to American Psychiatric Institute director Humbert Loonie MD, PhD, republicanism actually spans a number of other mental disorders. Asked to specify which disorders republicanism spans, he smiled and said, "Go to this website- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mental_disorders - and take your pick."
When the reporter insisted on more specifics, Dr, Loonie said, "You want specifics in psychiatry? Ok, I'll diagnose you: your a dreamer, it's not going to happen!"
Then he winked and said, "Sorry, that's a little joke we pass around the office when we don't have anything else to do. Ok, I'll show you how we found out which mental disorders are common to republicans, and you can do your own test to verify our results: put a map from the above-named website of psychiatric disorders over a weegee board, say any republican politician's name out loud, offer to sacrifice a Hostess Twinkie in trade for information, and then grab hold of that weegee board pointer, 'cause it's gonna go crazy. So to speak. Now, I understand that the more squeemish among you might feel that it's not right to use this kind of witchcraft to diagnose republicans' mental disorders, but I assure you, the Hostess Twinkie does not feel a thing when you sacrifice it. Honest. I wouldn't kid you about something this important."
#22
"A drastic decline in pensions starting in 1981," There sure the hell was where I worked, it was a large printing company. It was my first year, and the company simply ended the pension plan without explanation. They gave lump sums to employees that had been there for decades. Some paid off their mortgages with this money. I remember one older co-worker soon after his so called retirement had to get a job at the local P&C grocery store. This guy had worked his ass off for decades on a sheet fed press and I could tell he was really tired and broken. I felt so bad for him and remember getting really angry inside about this obvious social injustice. I vowed never to forget moments like this in my life, and there have been many. I recall the owners of this large company seemed to always be on European vacations or fighting DWI charges. They never came to work, others ran the company. I also remember another older guy who worked next to me in pre press, he had throat cancer real bad, but had to keep working just to keep his freaking health insurance. It seemed sometimes like a nightmare, we often worked mandatory 70 hour weeks/13 days in a row, one day off, nonunion of course. I'm sure many can relate, having experienced what I'm talking about, most likely the majority of us.
A while after the pension plan ended the company started a 401K plan, around 1982, great for Wall Street, not so great for us. I'm sure that most of the 80% currently without pensions are not getting paid enough to stash hundreds of thousands for retirement. For this reason I believe we need to upgrade Social Security to a living retirement amount much like the living wage concept. RAISE THE DAMN CAP! We the 99% have damn well earned it, spending our lives making the 1% rich.
#23
Indeed it all is, "NOTHING SHORT OF THEFT!"
#24
I am sorry my buddy Ken W and I seemed to change the topic here. Interesting, Canada just raised the age of pension. I was born in 1961 an am the first age group to see the change I will get it at age 66 and My wife who was born in 1962 will get it at 67. I applaud my government for seeing that we had a imbalance in funding and doing something about it and giving my wife and I time to adjust.
#25
I know! I know! "The Edison Factor" I wish Thom would market something called "The Tesla Factor".
I digress! Here's a little something for our weary Senior population. Its a delicious recipe you can make at home that has nutritional benefits for the heart as well as the brain. Best of all it's free!! It is available on this blog:
http://teryakisalmonrecipe.weebly.com/
Happy Eats!
DAnneMarc
#26
Thanks for the laugh David, I sure can use it!
#27
DAnneMarc - If power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, what would prevent the corruption of the masses? After all I know many people who believe all Republicans are brainwashed or corrupt. And an equal amount of people believe that all Democrats are brainwashed or corrupt, especially during the election cycle. Having 7, 7,000 or 7,000,000 does not insure a state of mind where corruption through the promise of more of the pie would not corrupt the multitude. People in the millions are still humans with the same propensity for the same corruption that one person could be bought for more of the pie, thus corruption could logically be universal in its ability to corrupt all. Is this thought not so or do you know a human that does not have this inherent problem of wanting more. The communist thought they had found the answer to Western corruption and it was the same people who were corrupted by the power they vested to the people, but in reality they retained the power and were corrupted. Corruption is universal in its capacity to corrupt anyone with any measure of power to gain more of the pie through ones power and what this power could enable one to have more of the pie. Or is this a brain tease to see how corrupted one could be over the power to obtain more of the pie by the power of one being corrupted. I agree this sounds like giperish at best! Must be a night for sarcasm! Have a good night or day or whenever you may or may not read this....
#28
Hi Ken, Thanks for the response! I strongly suggest you try my recipe in comment #26.
As far as your response. You are right to a degree. I feel that corruption stems first and foremost from a feeling that the general overall norm is that of corruption. I feel that my plan changes all that. It changes the state of the nation to one that is not corrupt. If you can remember the state of the nation in the more simpler times, corruption was less the "way of life" that it is today.
In my beloved home town we have an unspoken crisis that manifests itself as "getting over on someone." This horrible social norm is characterized by people taking advantage of other people as a badge of accomplishment. It is reprehensible! It must be erased. However, I cannot blame my fellow citizens here for this problem. It is a manifestation of the general state of affairs in this country.
I've offered a plan to restore self-esteem that leads to this thinking beginning in comment #15 of this blog. I wish I could elaborate on my idea. it isn't perfect, but I have been working on it for 45 years now. It's the best I can do. I'd like to ask for the help of anyone who could improve my idea. I do honestly believe it is the solution we have all been looking for.
In the meantime, I strongly suggest you try my recipe! It has not only the benefit of tasting like candy but makes your house smell delicious as well while cooking. The health benefits from this recipe I'm sure you will recognize when you see the ingredients. Bon Apetitie! I'm sure you and your family will enjoy it.
May God Bless Us All!
DAnneMarc
#29
It is time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their fellow citizens and throw off the chains of suppression and band together in the streets, halls and chambers in a state of Revolution of the mind and body....Freedom or death should be shouted from the citizens of our great Nation. And I choose FREEDOM! Down with those who would suppress us physically, monetarily and morally!
#30
DAnneMarc - I was just playing with words. I will look up your recipe. Hopefully it doesn't contain sugar or too many carbs. I am diabetic! I have a feeling it is not a recipe that contains food, but a recipe that is good for the mind, body and soul! Have a good night. Or if it is food maybe I can eat it! Whatever your plan consists of, from reading your comments I am sure it is well thought out and beneficial to all.
#31
I am watching all.
#32
I'm sorry! You must be alergic to Salmon.
#33
WHAT?
#34
Oh, hi, it's li'l OLD me. Yes, I was fired from my job at the age of 70, last year. I am so glad I waited to until I could get the maximum amount i would ever be eligible for to retire. Well, it was not voluntary that I got fired, but I did wait. My unemployment just ran out, and I have not gotten hired, but I do have a craft that may be able to bring in some money. With the Social Security I will be getting, I may be ok if I live frugally. If they "privatize it" God help me and take me away soon. (Plus... I hope people remember that we PAY for Medicare.) With "privatizing" Social Security (as with continuing with "privatized" health care,) I simply don't understand the reasoning behind our needy citizens, such as myself, getting a better deal from a for-profit company than from the government, which does not run for-profit companies. I must be missing something. And I am getting seriously worried.
I like what you said today, Thom, "if you don't like the way your government is run, become part of it."
#35
DAnneMarc - No I haven't checked out the recipe yet, Salmon I can eat!
#36
Ken please be aware this recipe does contain sugar! You can eliminate the sugar ingediant with little effect to the taste; however, Teryaki Sauce and Hoisin Sauce also contain sugar. Please consult your Doctor before trying this recipe. I'm so sorry, I didn't know.
#37
My mother who was also Diabetic would eat this recipe without the sugar ingrediant; so, I know it is a little factor for type II Diabetes. However, this depends on the severity. Please consult your Doctor first. You might also want to substitute the white rice with brown rice or French Bread. Again, consult with your Doctor.
In any event, I stongly suggest you share this recipe with your family members who don't have Diabetes. It is delicious and good for them.
Sincerely,
DAnneMarc
#38
I'm sorry. Did someone leave the door open. I believe a rat has entered our gathering.
#39
DAnneMarc - It is no big deal. I always check out the ingredients first. Just one of those things some people have to deal with. I am actually in pretty good health in all other regards. I guess that is why I get a little crazy over healthcare for those who cannot afford it and those who mention we cannot afford it for the poor as a nation.
#40
No problem Ken! I'm respectfully going to turn in now. I've got a big day tomorrow. You all might want to check out 'revolutionary1' from comment #30. I think he's DATADA!; if you know what I mean. Talk to you all tomorrow. Good Night!
#41
Kend - Yes it is true, I do tend to get off the topic of Thom’s blog! Sometimes I carry the conversation over from the day before! I think the Republicans down here want to do the same thing with the retirement age of Americans. At 60 I am what they call grandfathered into the current system and my benefits would not change if Washington revises the age limits. Grandfathered in doesn't sound very complimentary! Well I will get to be a grandfather soon, so I guess I should not complain about the words they use! I am about a decade older than you! Starting to feel old all of a sudden. I never liked being called a senior citizen! Ha. Time to retire, for the night that is!
#42
yikes - wrong blogusphere!
#43
You're most welcome, 2950-10K.
#44
You only have to wait 8 hrs in LA? That's good! At Cook County Hospital it's 15 or20! It'll be longer if they cut the budget some more. I had a hernia opdration I had to wait 8 mos for and I was lucky, my doctor pulled some strings. Others gave to wait more than a year!
#45
I'm in Chicago and I gave MAMY friendr and relatives im the health care profe7pionr- most of whom work in horphtals here - and I have NEVER heard of rich Canadians in our hospitals, certainly not in any large numbers. I met a Canadian in Texas who told me of his friend who visited him from Canada and injured his leg while in Texas (this was back in the '80s). They figured out that gt would have cost less for his friend to fly back to Canada, have his leg treated there and to fly back to Texas than to have his leg treated there hn Texas. My Canadian acquaintance had nothing but praise for his country's system. I suspect - but I don't knmw as H am uninformed on the matter - that the Canadian system was stronger and better, years ago, before just as the Cook County and LA County systems were before they made all the cuts.
#46
LAST POST FOR A WHILE.
It has been a pleasure dicussing and bantering with y'all; even you Global. I have grown tired of the same ol same ol...Just a Bunch of half-witts - including myself - ranting and rambleing on about social and political issues...What's wrong with the system; yet not a one of us is truely commited to the sacrafice it would take in order to fix the problem. Sure each of us has a perspective and maybe as a collective something can happen to set the wheels into motion, but until then it's just a bunch of talk'in.
I leave you with a quote from my favorite author, Historian, and political Activist; Howard Zinn
"You are saying our problem is Civil Disobedience, but that is not our problem...Our problem is Civil Obedience.
Our problem is the number of people all over the world who have "obeyed" the dictates of the leaders of their governments, and have gone to war, and millions have been killed because of this obedience.
Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world, in the face of poverty, and starvation, and stupidity, and war, and cruelty.
Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand theives are running the country,
That's Our Problem!"
namasta
#47
I started receiving a poension from a company I had worked for eleven years and one day in 1994. I started working and paying into SS when I was 14, 70 years ag. I consiuder it to be a term insurance program, paid into by both my employer and myself with graranteed benefits to begin at a particular age depending on when I desired to retire and certain contractual age limits. I worked until I was 70 and began receiving SS at that age. SS provides about 85% of my family income. Since food is about 19% of income and housing about 35% of income and the state taxes boods, I would starve if not for SS! Fortunately I paid off my mortgage asnd now only have electricity, water, property taxes and maintenabce to pay (still quite a lot since property taxces are about 6% of income ans electricity is aboyr 11% of income..
#48
Hi Ken,
After sleeping on your remarks I realize that you may have touched on a major flaw in my idea. You are right that people on any level are corruptible. However, I don't think all the people can be corrupted at the same time. The 1%'s have vast resources in advertising and the media that they can use to influence thought. However, so do the 99%. BTW I don't mean by my idea that we should do away with Congress or the Executive Branch. I don't think The People really want to do their job. Someone has to sign the Social Security checks, fix the potholes, build the freeways, and make sure our mail is delivered on time. My intent is simply to remove the unsanctioned influence these servants have to deal with from unsanctioned sources such as the 1%, Corporate Lobbyists, and the Defense Industry. I want to make it so they are directly and instantaneously answerable to the will of the people--whatever that may be. An old "friend" of mine, Tricky Dick, once said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time; but, you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Kennedy said, "Never underestimate the power of an informed electorate." Power To The People! Right On!
#49
I can tell you are going to be a very good grandparent Ken W. it is great I love it and am very proud of the name.
I think the fact they are giving us over ten years to make up the difference is very important. What scares me is that most people don't know how little they give you to live on. Start saving.
#50
Sorry to hear that No Fraud. I have enjoyed your comments. I hope you will return soon and are simply frustrated. You will be missed.
I take issue with your comments about Civil Obedience being our problem. I disagree. It is the responsibility of all citizens to obey and respect their leaders. In my opinion, "our problem" is that our Government has lost it's credibility. In fact, all of our domestic problems stem from this fact. Unfortunately, this is a problem that we are limited in solving though citizen action alone. We can combine our resources and insist that the Government take the appropriate steps to regain it's credibility; but, it is the Government itself that has to take the crucial steps in order to succeed. I personally am against using any physical force to make the government comply. I love the model of our Government! I truly believe it is a great and noble idea that will serve us well in the future. It is worth the efforts to preserve it. Besides not only is the use of force a futile notion; but even if such an effort succeeded, it would not achieve any lasting positive results. What would we then replace it with that is better? It's perfectly fine the way it is. It just needs to have it's credibility restored and its unsolicited influences removed. Just a minor tweak or two and it'll run like brand new!
The Government has to return to the point where it began to loose its credibility--namely, Dallas, Texas, Dealy Plaza, November 22, 1963. It can begin by reopening the Warren Report and admitting to a second gunman; as, was obvious to everyone who watched the infamous Zapruder Film. It doesn't have to go much further than that. Then it has to go right up the line and offer Full Disclosure about every other lie and cover-up from the Gulf of Tonken, UFO's, 911, and the War in Iraq; as well as everything in between--including the stuff we don't know about yet.
This would restore not only credibility in our Government, but also endow it with a characteristic that it never had before--integrity. The ripple affect of such a Disclosure would have positive impact on every level of society and Civil Obedience as you call it would no longer be looked at as a mistake, but as a responsibility. The Government would come out of the situation here and around the world stronger than ever.
We can't do this. The Government has to. All We The People can do is Demand it and Encourage it, be patient, and pray.
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First posted on yesterdays blog; Kend - I must have not made myself clear when referring to the 8 hour wait. When you go to a Private Hospital Emergency Room you are seen reasonable soon. But when you end up in the Public Hospital System you have an 8 hour wait to see someone and that is not counting the wait to check into the system. I really think it is hard to grasp the problems facing children when they are sick and uninsured. Why do you think so little of your health care system, I am sure poor children would give their life to get the medical care you are afforded, and sometimes they do give up their lives waiting in the Public Hospital system down here! You seem to think anything the government does to help its people it does poorly. I know or I should say, I think the medical care for the average Canadian is much, much better than what the poor uninsured have here. Are you aware of the fact the life expectancy of the poor and uninsured here in the 50 states in, what you call down there, is less than many African citizens or lower than what the Russian Citizen experienced when their system began to crumble? They closed down one major Public Hospital in the Southwest L.A. ( the poorer section of L.A. ) because the State could not afford to keep it running, causing a massive back log for poor uninsured patients at other hospitals. And there are only a few Public Hospitals that are actually up and running here in California. Your right wingers will bitch about anything the Government does, as if the Private Hospitals and doctors aren’t causing the cost of healthcare to soar out of control! I really wish people who complain about healthcare for the poor being to expensive would have to experience it first hand when they become very ill or one of their loved ones falls prey to disease! I have really tried to address the CONservatives with respect and an open mind to your point of view, but you guys are really making it difficult especially when it comes to healthcare for the poor and middleclass that cannot afford insurance! Have a good day. P.S. I really wish you would have had to experience what poor and uninsured Americans must go through to get heart care in our Public System.( I actually would not want you or any person to experience what goes on in the Public System for the uninsured and poor). Many die waiting for their turn down here. I think you would have a different point of view on healthcare...And I believe your waiting time for illnesses that are at the critical point are taken care of relatively soon compared to non-critical elective procedures. And just for the record, here the children are not seen any sooner than the adults when seeking care in the Public Hospital System, unless they are bleeding out from a gunshot wound, and children being shot or stabbed happens more often than we would like to speak of. The United States has an extremely big problem with children and young adults being shot from being in the crossfire of some lunatic or gang member that acquired a gun or assault weapon illegally! I am pro-gun ownership of handguns and shot guns not assault weapons. And if all weapons were banned here in the U.S. that would be even a better solution for our country. But it is too late to get the “tooth paste back into the tube”, since there are already 300,000,000 weapons in the U.S. today.