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  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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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!

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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.

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The “cash for clunkers” stimulus program ends tonight.  What a shame!  This has been an extremely successful program helping both the economy and the environment. It put people back to work in the car industry, kept some from losing their jobs, put taxes in local government coffers, helped people who needed a new car be able to purchase one and took about 600,000 gas guzzlers off the roads.  What’s not to like about this program?  Well if you ask a Republican, I’m sure they’ll come up with something…no matter how ridiculous the reasoning.  I say kudos to the Obama administration for a home run!

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“It was the best of times…it was the worst of times.”  Baby boomers will remember that line from a book we all had to read in high school.  It almost describes this past week. The far right, fringeelement, racist and crazy wing of the Republican Party has reared its ugly head in a big way this week fighting health care reform. Again they are being made fools of  by racists and corporate whores who have convinced them to work against their own best self interests.  But forget them…let’s talk about what a good week we had.  Unemployment is down and lower than expectations.  The market is up! Ben Laden’s right hand man is dead.  Judge Sotomayor, the first Latina has been elected to the Supreme Court.  The cash for clunkers program which has been extremely successful in jump starting segments of the economy has been extended.  Two Americans have been returned safely from North Korea.  Two more Republicans and quit their political jobs.  All in all I think that’s a pretty good week.