Saturday, October 20, 2012
Political Party
It's a Political Party up in here. Hang out, or don't. I have a lot to say in the next few weeks. Not to change your vote, necessarily, but to share with you some of my thoughts/feelings/concerns, and to record what's going on in political history so I can look back and see how things changed throughout my lifetime. My blog, my geeky rules. My football season. God bless America.
Money in Politics
If you ask me what the biggest problem in our political system is (and there are many, of course), I would tell you that there is too much money. Too much money in the election process and too much money in the legislative process. Special interest groups spend a ridiculous amount of money to lobby Congress to get their bills passed, or our bills shut down. Corporations spend money on politicians' campaigns and then, in turn, those politicians pass the kind of legislation promoted by said corporation or special interest group. And then, in another kind turn, that company hires the politician after their time in office and gives them a great salary and wonderful benefits package. Win/win/win. For everyone but you and me.
There is a lot of focus on voter suppression (voter ID) this election season. I've yet to see a report where election fraud is an actual problem. Someone told me that there was a gentleman who got caught voting four times. Let me say this: 1. He got caught. 2. Four misvotes does not a national crisis make. We have actual issues to solve; this is a complete waste of our energy.
Do you know that our electronic voting machines are corporately-owned? Right. They're not even owned by us, the taxpaying citizen. Tonight, I saw a story that alleges Tagg Romney (Mitt's son) is part investor in a company that owns a block of voting machines in swing states. Fishy? You tell me.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I'm not making this up (and don't automatically assume I'm wrong because I'm a liberal. I have many conservative/libertarian friends who understand this issue well and who absolutely agree with me). We don't even own our own voting machines. Because that wouldn't turn a profit...heaven forbid.
This past year, the United States Supreme Court basically said that the government cannot limit the spending by special interest groups in the election process (Citizens United). Brilliant. Money buys advertising, and advertising works. We're very gullible people, programmed to believe what we see and hear at face value, partly because we're lazy, partly because we're fearful of the truth, and frankly, partly because we have access to so much information...it's simply too hard to wade through.
I believe in a democracy as it was intended. I want my voice to be equal to the voice of each and every American citizen. I want to discuss the merits of a particular piece of legislation without worrying that it's being purchased and paid for by someone who has no interest in the welfare of America, but in the welfare of the almighty profit. Once again, it's my humble and very resolute opinion that the bottom line is not the only way to measure success.
If you are even the slightest bit intrigued by my position on this (even if you think I'm blowing smoke), I suggest you look into it. At the risk of being an alarmist, I'll say this: The only way we're going to change what's happening here is by getting involved. And we need to do it now, before it's too late. Let not our democracy be for sale.
There is a lot of focus on voter suppression (voter ID) this election season. I've yet to see a report where election fraud is an actual problem. Someone told me that there was a gentleman who got caught voting four times. Let me say this: 1. He got caught. 2. Four misvotes does not a national crisis make. We have actual issues to solve; this is a complete waste of our energy.
Do you know that our electronic voting machines are corporately-owned? Right. They're not even owned by us, the taxpaying citizen. Tonight, I saw a story that alleges Tagg Romney (Mitt's son) is part investor in a company that owns a block of voting machines in swing states. Fishy? You tell me.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I'm not making this up (and don't automatically assume I'm wrong because I'm a liberal. I have many conservative/libertarian friends who understand this issue well and who absolutely agree with me). We don't even own our own voting machines. Because that wouldn't turn a profit...heaven forbid.
This past year, the United States Supreme Court basically said that the government cannot limit the spending by special interest groups in the election process (Citizens United). Brilliant. Money buys advertising, and advertising works. We're very gullible people, programmed to believe what we see and hear at face value, partly because we're lazy, partly because we're fearful of the truth, and frankly, partly because we have access to so much information...it's simply too hard to wade through.
I believe in a democracy as it was intended. I want my voice to be equal to the voice of each and every American citizen. I want to discuss the merits of a particular piece of legislation without worrying that it's being purchased and paid for by someone who has no interest in the welfare of America, but in the welfare of the almighty profit. Once again, it's my humble and very resolute opinion that the bottom line is not the only way to measure success.
If you are even the slightest bit intrigued by my position on this (even if you think I'm blowing smoke), I suggest you look into it. At the risk of being an alarmist, I'll say this: The only way we're going to change what's happening here is by getting involved. And we need to do it now, before it's too late. Let not our democracy be for sale.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Social Services
Among the discussions I have with my other political friends (and those who aren't), frequently the conversation steers to social services. And recently, I think I actually lost a friend who disagrees with me (man, I hope that's not true). But there are some things that don't have a "right" or "wrong" answer, just different philosophies. Allow me to share mine.
I realize that our experiences largely shape our political opinions. So it's no surprise that my friend, whose mom has repeatedly "abused" the system by taking everything the government was willing to give her, has the opinion that "welfare" is a system we cannot afford, and should do away with.
My experiences are with people who, by almost no fault of their own, do not have access to healthcare or income, or have served their country and are dealing with some kind of disability. Do I know people who take advantage of "the system?" Sure. But they are less in number than those I know who legitimately need the help of the government. Some examples:
A man who worked his whole life by the rules, paid income, property, and sales tax. Now is sick and cannot work.
A woman whose husband works three part-time jobs, none of which offers health insurance to their employees. One of her children has chronic illness and needs care.
A man who has lost his job because of outsourcing, and his children are hungry more often than they're not.
My philosophy is this: A government should have a vested interest in the welfare of its citizens. A nation of educated and healthy children will be stronger and more prosperous.
The argument is that we can't afford it. My question: Can we afford not to?
The argument is that we won't help people by giving handouts. My argument is that its hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you haven't boots to begin with.
The argument is that its not the government's job to take care of people. My question: Then whose? (Please do not say The Church. Or The Community. If those were effective, we wouldn't be having this conversation at all.)
I learned recently that Michigan has a great program for kids who are uninsured or underinsured. You can purchase a plan through the State for a nominal fee that covers treatments that your normal plan might not. People can take advantage of this plan so that their kids get the medications and treatments they need to be well, and takes so much stress of families who are dealing the stress of having a sick kid. Brilliant. This, my friends, is what is basically a public option, and something I have long supported as a federal solution to a very serious health insurance industry issue. How great would it be if my little friend Kendall's parents didn't have to struggle and fight with their insurance company for a medication that Kendall needed to be healthy. See that story here. How wonderful it would be if families didn't have to go bankrupt just because they were given a child with chronic illness? I wish we all had that option.
There is no right or wrong here, just philosophical differences. And watching people suffer brings me so much sadness, that I feel compelled to share mine with you. We can care for our people. We must.
I realize that our experiences largely shape our political opinions. So it's no surprise that my friend, whose mom has repeatedly "abused" the system by taking everything the government was willing to give her, has the opinion that "welfare" is a system we cannot afford, and should do away with.
My experiences are with people who, by almost no fault of their own, do not have access to healthcare or income, or have served their country and are dealing with some kind of disability. Do I know people who take advantage of "the system?" Sure. But they are less in number than those I know who legitimately need the help of the government. Some examples:
A man who worked his whole life by the rules, paid income, property, and sales tax. Now is sick and cannot work.
A woman whose husband works three part-time jobs, none of which offers health insurance to their employees. One of her children has chronic illness and needs care.
A man who has lost his job because of outsourcing, and his children are hungry more often than they're not.
My philosophy is this: A government should have a vested interest in the welfare of its citizens. A nation of educated and healthy children will be stronger and more prosperous.
The argument is that we can't afford it. My question: Can we afford not to?
The argument is that we won't help people by giving handouts. My argument is that its hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you haven't boots to begin with.
The argument is that its not the government's job to take care of people. My question: Then whose? (Please do not say The Church. Or The Community. If those were effective, we wouldn't be having this conversation at all.)
I learned recently that Michigan has a great program for kids who are uninsured or underinsured. You can purchase a plan through the State for a nominal fee that covers treatments that your normal plan might not. People can take advantage of this plan so that their kids get the medications and treatments they need to be well, and takes so much stress of families who are dealing the stress of having a sick kid. Brilliant. This, my friends, is what is basically a public option, and something I have long supported as a federal solution to a very serious health insurance industry issue. How great would it be if my little friend Kendall's parents didn't have to struggle and fight with their insurance company for a medication that Kendall needed to be healthy. See that story here. How wonderful it would be if families didn't have to go bankrupt just because they were given a child with chronic illness? I wish we all had that option.
There is no right or wrong here, just philosophical differences. And watching people suffer brings me so much sadness, that I feel compelled to share mine with you. We can care for our people. We must.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Ill Equipped
Okay, so know what? I realized recently that I do not have the necessary requirements to parent a teenager. Seriously. Who decided I am qualified to do this?
Last week, one day after school, Cole called to see if he could go to Caribou with some friends. My first reaction was, "I don't know! Why are you asking me?" After brief internal deliberation, I told him he could go, but be home in an hour. Then I called my mom and said, "Can my teenager go to Caribou after school?" And she said, "Oh, I suppose. For a little bit." And then I was super relieved that I said the right thing.
I mean seriously. When you're parenting a teenager, you need to think about things like:
Who are his friends? Are they nice? Do they drink coffee drinks nicely and study together or do they run around the coffee shop like idiots? Is it okay to drop in and check on them?
Who are their friends parents? Do they let their kids go to Caribou after school?
What happens if he goes out after school? Will he get his homework done? Is he with who he says he is? Is he where he says he is? Is it okay to buy spy gear to ensure I have necessary intelligence to make good decisions? Do I trust him? How will I know if I can't trust him?
Truthfully, I do trust him. I think he's an incredibly grounded young man. I think he will make good decisions. I think he will choose good friends. I think he will be a Democrat. (What??) I think he will be a really good human being and we will survive these years.
But I also think that for good measure, I'll make sure to have a pair of night vision goggles and maybe a lie detector kit on hand. And my mom on speed dial.
Last week, one day after school, Cole called to see if he could go to Caribou with some friends. My first reaction was, "I don't know! Why are you asking me?" After brief internal deliberation, I told him he could go, but be home in an hour. Then I called my mom and said, "Can my teenager go to Caribou after school?" And she said, "Oh, I suppose. For a little bit." And then I was super relieved that I said the right thing.
I mean seriously. When you're parenting a teenager, you need to think about things like:
Who are his friends? Are they nice? Do they drink coffee drinks nicely and study together or do they run around the coffee shop like idiots? Is it okay to drop in and check on them?
Who are their friends parents? Do they let their kids go to Caribou after school?
What happens if he goes out after school? Will he get his homework done? Is he with who he says he is? Is he where he says he is? Is it okay to buy spy gear to ensure I have necessary intelligence to make good decisions? Do I trust him? How will I know if I can't trust him?
Truthfully, I do trust him. I think he's an incredibly grounded young man. I think he will make good decisions. I think he will choose good friends. I think he will be a Democrat. (What??) I think he will be a really good human being and we will survive these years.
But I also think that for good measure, I'll make sure to have a pair of night vision goggles and maybe a lie detector kit on hand. And my mom on speed dial.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Adding a Fourth
Yesterday, when I was talking to a couple different friends, I realized something. One of them said I'm making parenting four children look easy. And I don't know if I've portrayed this experience well. The challenge isn't in parenting each child, but in bringing each component into the whole picture. The challenge is how differently I have to parent each child.
The rugrats are easy. They need basic logistical care, but not constant detail. Homework, feeding, cleaning, clothing, laundry. Stuff I mostly understand. And their needs are pretty simple, and the complications easy to solve.
Then I have a teenager. And he's a good kid, but I'm done with logistics, mostly. If I never cooked for him again, he wouldn't starve. He does most of his own laundry. I have no idea if his room is clean because I've stopped going in there. Heh. But I'm not done parenting him yet! This period is Life Skills. And it's not easy, but it's WAY important. Does he know how to treat a girl? Does he know how to use a checkcard? Can he apply for and maintain a job? Can he safely drive a car? Is he ready to be on his own in two short years?? It's easy to give him the least attention right now because he can survive without me. But I am constantly reminding myself how important these next couple years are in skills he'll desperately need when he leaves our nest.
Now throw a newborn in the mix, I double dog dare you. Everyone knows the attention and time a newborn eats up.
So am I busy? YEP. Am I tired? Absolutely. But I'm so doggone happy and feel so fulfilled. Some days I'm going to chase my tail all day and hope I don't make anything worse. But most days, I'm going to make a difference. I'm going to continue to give these kids the tools they need to be successful adults. And, I hope, I'm going to squeeze in a nap.
The rugrats are easy. They need basic logistical care, but not constant detail. Homework, feeding, cleaning, clothing, laundry. Stuff I mostly understand. And their needs are pretty simple, and the complications easy to solve.
Then I have a teenager. And he's a good kid, but I'm done with logistics, mostly. If I never cooked for him again, he wouldn't starve. He does most of his own laundry. I have no idea if his room is clean because I've stopped going in there. Heh. But I'm not done parenting him yet! This period is Life Skills. And it's not easy, but it's WAY important. Does he know how to treat a girl? Does he know how to use a checkcard? Can he apply for and maintain a job? Can he safely drive a car? Is he ready to be on his own in two short years?? It's easy to give him the least attention right now because he can survive without me. But I am constantly reminding myself how important these next couple years are in skills he'll desperately need when he leaves our nest.
Now throw a newborn in the mix, I double dog dare you. Everyone knows the attention and time a newborn eats up.
So am I busy? YEP. Am I tired? Absolutely. But I'm so doggone happy and feel so fulfilled. Some days I'm going to chase my tail all day and hope I don't make anything worse. But most days, I'm going to make a difference. I'm going to continue to give these kids the tools they need to be successful adults. And, I hope, I'm going to squeeze in a nap.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Maternity Leave
I've had myself a few crying jags today.
We've had the captain home for 17 days. 17 great days. Tomorrow, he starts back at work after "maternity leave." I'm going to miss him so much.
This guy, he never misses a beat. Not only does he just step in and do what is necessary around here, but he does it without complaining. He never makes me feel bad or guilty for all the extra stuff he has to do -- the laundry, cooking, the cleaning, the boys' baths/bedtime/general entertainment.
I feel a little panicky to be without him. Am I ready to take care of four kids alone? Will I get to Mass on time and keep everyone together? Will the lack of sleep make me crazy? Will I maintain enough patience for the rugrats?
I know. Suck it up. Other moms do it. But I've been spoiled. And I'm reminded to be thankful for the other (better) half of my team. I love you, Cory. Couldn't do this without you. Hurry home.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Clara Beff
Jack: I'm not going to call her that.
Me: No? What are you going to call her?
Jack: Clara Beff.
Well, of course he is. His brother is "Maffew" after all.
Love.
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