emersonstreet talk 48

And another month has passed and we are still talking about, arguing about, lying about, negotiating and “teabagging” health care (health insurance) reform.  The need for reform is such a no brainer.  If nothing is done health care will blow a hole through the government’s budget and our personal budgets. Problem is the folks who have to pass the reform are the beneficiaries of the status quo. Don’t tell me Joe Lieberman and any of the other Senators/obstructionists opposed to the public option are concerned about the budget or the average citizen getting decent health care in America. He and his colleagues have the best plan and care available.  Ever wonder why they don’t think you deserve the same?  Our political representatives for the most part are only concerned about what’s in it for them and not the constituency that elected them to office.  And will somebody please tell the  ”teabaggers” that health reform is all about helping THEM?  The level of ignorance among the American public still surprises and disappoints me.

emersonstreet talk 47

It’s been a wild and crazy November.  My husband and I traveled with friends to Carmel, California  and took a 7 day Mediterranean cruise.  Both trips were fabulous! I could add a post about both.  But what I finally decided to talk about today is “Black Friday”.  It’s one of the few times that the word black in media talk actually stands for something positive.  It’s the time when the traditional Christmas shopping begins thus helping retailers end the year in the black (making a profit).  The day after Thanksgiving begins around 4:00 a.m. with the opening of major retail stores who are offering extreme discounts on merchandise.  I’m not  that early a riser so I began my shopping day around 7:30 a.m.  Being the loyal customer that I am, I started my shopping at the community stores in a local mall before heading to different malls that would provide my community no financial benefit.  I found a few items that I considered a pretty good deal, sweaters at $19.95, baby sleep wear at $9.95 and trouser socks for $2 bucks a pair.  These were door buster items.  I came armed with coupons offering  an additional 10, 15 or 20% off.  They didn’t apply to “incredible value” merchandise or door busters.  They were only for sale items.  I shopped for several hours and never found a single item on regular sale.  Which meant I either bought items at regular price or a door buster which had a time limit on availability of pricing.  That calls for some serious power shopping considering you lose time standing in line to purchase your items.  If you’re bold you keeping shopping from department to department carrying your items with you even from floor to floor hoping security doesn’t stop you and accuse you of shop lifting.  You stand in line to purchase only when you can no longer hold your items and select new ones at the same time.  But here was the deal of the day.  I found some Christmas wine glasses (box of 4) for $34 as marked on the box at 60% off.  Such a deal!  I thought I might buy 3 boxes at that price.  Interestingly, only one box was marked at $34.  The others had the stickers removed and one box was retagged at $50.  When I took the boxes to the check out counter, the computer rang up $50 which I immediately challenged since my box was marked at $34.  The sales clerk insisted the price was correct in the computer and asked if I wanted to speak with the manager. I said YES.  After a few moments, the phone rang and the sales clerk explained the situation to the, I assume, manager at the other end of the line.  When she hung up she said, “someone forgot to change the tag on your box”.  Now that answer was totally unacceptable and I expressed my dissatisfaction.  I thought they would at least honor the pricing on the one box.  The phone rang again and this time with a different answer.  The sales clerk again explained my unhappiness with pricing in such detail, it must have been a different manager.  This time the response was “Carsons reserves the right to change prices at any time”.  Now that answer pissed me off more than ever…so the incredible value/door buster sale deal at Carson Pirie Scott means… the real price of $34 is increased to $50 (which is about 50% higher than the original price) and then the customer is given 60% off which means what exactly!  Deceptive marketing.  Neither manager had the courage to at least face the customer.  They left that challenge to the non-decision maker, the sales clerk. So how good were your incredible deals on black Friday? Real or fake?

emersonstreet talk 46

  We spend more than any other country in the world and contrary to the opinion of some (Congress), we don’t have the best health care in the world.  Basic health care should be a right of all U.S. citizens.  The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote as early as this Saturday, Nov. 7th, on the most important piece of health care legislation in more than four decades. While the Affordable Health Care for America Act, (H.R. 3962) is far from an ideal health care reform bill, it is a necessary step towards repairing our failing, profit-driven health care system.  Send a message to your representative urging their support of the Weiner amendment for a national single-payer health insurance plan; failing that, members should support a stronger public insurance plan.  The constitution begins “We the people…”  Our government should be about protecting people not companies, especially those businesses that continue to send our jobs off shore!  Don’t complain…do something.

emersonstreet talk 45

What is this world coming to?  Everyday in the media we hear an overwhelming amount news about violence in the community. The senseless deaths of teenagers who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, school communities fighting against other school communities, carjacking the elderly, nursing home assaults and rapes, gang violence is becoming pervasive.  When did we stop caring about each other?  When did we stop respecting the elderly? What happened to make us hate ourselves so much that no one else matters either? What happened to honor among thieves or a fair fight?  There seems to be more churches with larger congregations than ever having less impact on what’s truly important than ever.  People, especially young people are full of frustration, full of anger, full of disappointment and as the garbage piles up they need a place to dump it. I pray they don’t dump it on me or you!  We all see kids carrying garbage around.  Next time don’t avoid it.  Try to help them unload it in a more positive, healthy way.

emersonstreet talk 44

Why are we so obsessed with famous people and their sex lives?  We seem to only be upset about behavior when it involves sex. Frankly, I could care less about the David Letterman scandal.  It’s his wife’s problem, not mine.  All this talk about CBS’s credibility regarding the scandal is insincere and a waste of time.  What we should care about is non biased accuracy and truth in reporting the news.  If networks were to fire all employees or celebrities having affairs outside their marriages, there probably wouldn’t be many folks left to produce the shows or star in them. Let’s talk about firing people who misrepresent the truth or blatantly lie in their reporting. Let the sex go.  It’s none of your business!

emersonstreet talk 43

Anyone heard the latest crazy words out of Michelle Bachmann’s mouth?  Is she mentally ill, a puppet, just plain evil or what?  I don’t know what to think of a person who willfully misrepresents everything. She lied again yesterday about the high school health services section of the health care reform bill.  She knows it says nothing will be done without parental permission yet she makes it sound as if the opposite is true. What is wrong with her?  I really want to know.  Will the people of Minnesota re-elect her?  Check out what Helen Philpot has to say about her at margaretandhelen.wordpress.com.

emersonstreet talk 42

Here we go again! The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether strict local and state gun control laws violate the Second Amendment, which means another battle over the rights of gun owners.  Weekly we hear in the Chicago news about another child being killed in gang crossfire or warfare. But we still need our guns…more than any other country in the world. In fact gun and ammonition sales have been astronomical since President Obama’s election.  A response that is clearly irrational.

The high court’s session starts on Monday, and the case will be argued next year. The court said it will review a lower court ruling that upheld a handgun ban in Chicago. Of course, crazy gun rights supporters challenged the gun laws in Chicago and some suburbs immediately following the high court’s decision in June 2008 that struck down a handgun ban in the District of Columbia.  It’s not the guns but the people who kill other people right?  The  problem is guns make sure that death of the intended or the innocent bystander is almost a sure thing when the people have made an emotionally charged decision to fire.  Whatever happened to an old fashioned fist fight between the two angry parties that rarely resulted in a death?

emersonstreet talk 41

Is it me or does anyone else think “Dancing with the Stars” has become “Dancing with the barely known”?  This season is the pits especially since someone even thought adding a low life, political hack like Tom Delay was a good idea.  Shouldn’t he be in jail by now?  Ewe!  And why is it every season the so called stars have less and less potential as a dancer?  They should at least have rhythm.  Geese…this crew is the pits.  I’m not watching one episode. I resent the intrusion of politics!  What do ya’ll think?

emersonstreet talk 40

I was appalled by the ignorant, disrespectful behavior of many of the Republicans at the President’s address to Congress Wednesday. It has taken me days to calm down enough to write this blog. Joe Wilson’s outburst was beyond belief.  Cantor sitting there using his Blackberry while the president talked truth shows the level of dishonor they bring to their positions. The sneering of Boehner and the waving of those stupid papers during the address shows how disrespectful and unpatriotic these people are. Like it or not, President Obama is the Commander and Chief of this country for the next 4 years.  He was elected, not “selected” to lead this country. Their behavior was worse than the stupid people showing up and being disruptive at town halls because these politicians are educated, informed and know better.  They have willfully decided to trash the president and the office of the presidency at any cost. They know exactly what they are doing for so called political gain. The party of NO has no plan other than disruption, confusion, lies and fear mongering. It will backfire!  Ye shall reap what you sow!

emersonstreet talk 39

Today we mourn the passing of “the lone ranger”.  As far as I’m concerned, Senator Ted Kennedy stood nearly alone in the Senate as one who was there as a public servant.  He was not there for personal gain, power, prestige or money, but for public service.  Senator Kennedy was larger than life, and his passing has left an enormous hole in all of our hearts and in our government.

He was without doubt the “greatest United States Senator of our time,” as President Obama said today. Teddy cared for the least among us.

He fought for the young, old, women, the sick, the poor and disabled. He cared about people denied the basic civil rights to which all Americans are entitled.  His loss is a big loss for compassion and unselfish consideration of others.  His loss is our loss, indeed.  Can the politicians, lobbyists and the health industry officials stop the hating and the greed long enough to see the “light” and pass, meaningful and decent health care reform for all of us?  If only we could have accomplished this in his lifetime.