Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Republicans STOP Waging War On Women

10/09/2017 Nativegrl77

May_30_Health_Care_Rally_NP (312) (Photo credit: seiuhealthcare775nw)

Tell Republicans to STOP Waging War on Women

In an interview done in 2012, Romney, running for president ever so casually stated, “Planned Parenthood, we’re going to get rid of that” among other things he said that year was offensive and women didn’t appreciate it though it’s clear comments like those are tactics of winning by any means necessary along with threats to kill the Affordable health care Act just because it has the Obama signature on it, which btw IS helping millions of middle and lower class families. In response, most women voted for Barack Obama. In 2012 it showed just how out of touch Republicans were but now in this 2017 era of trump, Republicans don’t see enough tax breaks, enough revenue, don’t believe the middle and lower class folks pay enough while they have to pay in their minds too much in some form and that is a scary thought in itself, but the latest legislation against women’s rights indicates that cliche war on women is real. The conservative movement waging War on Women with a mission to take away the rights of women to decide what health care we want, need, can afford or access.

Women from all backgrounds who believe in choice need to Stand up and Fight back against this unseemly attempt to destroy and dismantle the Affordable health care Act while rolling

back the contraceptive clock which is headed toward a complete ban on abortion and possibly repealing Roe V Wade.

We are all Freedom Fighters on some level every day.

For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood has worked to improve women’s and men’s health and safety. They have made it possible for nearly 170,000 women to obtain low-cost clinical breast exams while providing more health services than any organization in the country such as mammogram referrals, all supported by grants. The attacks by Republicans on women, our health care and insurance rights have grown; to include congressional candidates and now the president . It is important to know that some of these very members of congress or political action organizers were pro-choice and a supporter of Planned Parenthood only a few years ago or voted pro-life but lived a hypocritical pro-choice lifestyle. Now, so desperate to win that they not only move to the extreme right of politics, flip-flop on financial issues and are willing to abandoned women as well. Thing is,though Women are not one issue voters, most believe a women’s right to choose is a daily pursuit on all levels in all its forms. The fact is, in 2012 over 65% said they did not want anyone defunding Planned Parenthood but the message has fallen on deaf ears since the republican trump’s trifecta realized what differences they can make … I wonder just how the women in their lives see these attitudes and if they have looked out the window later …a whole lot of women regret voting for the extreme right

Women’s health care should NOT be a political football

Women and Men who support protecting the right to choose ask Republican Political Candidates to put Women’s health care or access to safe affordable health care ahead of politically driven, conservative religious, anti-abortion groups to aid or fund tax breaks for the wealthy.

leave Republicans a message – thanks for taking action

~ my 2cents ...

More States and Countries are choosing to Ban and or Reduce access to Plastic Bags

07/11/2017 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

a repost … and more posts to follow on what is As the years go by Washington state is slowing banning plastic bags ..

happening now 2017 … Tacoma, WA plastic ordinance starts 7/12/2017 and 2012 seems like eons ago

I have to include an 2015 update to what seemingly was a ban in 2012, was in reality. a choice to pay .5 – .10cents for plastic bags if you want them? The good news is that the transition to an actual ban on plastic as a choice is happening in some parts of Washington state! YAY I have been shaking my head for the last 2yrs when more often than not the checker goes into auto-reaction mode and grabs the plastic if the consumer didn’t bring their own. I am not sure what I expected, but having forgotten my own bags on several occasions the response or offer for a reusable bag was seldom or none and makes me wonder just how much of an impact is being made since the statistics are probably tainted with how many plastic bags are given out each day versus paper or offering a reusable bag. Now, in this year of 2015, no plastic bags are available at more grocery stores and if you don’t have your reusable some of the clerks actually say paper or you can buy one of ours …. finally.

In March of 2012, I heard that Alameda County California voted to implement their “ban” on single use bags not regulate them sometime around January 2013. It just so happens that at or around the same time things were being finalized in different parts of our beautiful state of Washington. Though it has been a long struggle for Washington State to move towards an ordinance that would “ban” bags at retail outlets due to big MONEY in the plastics industry. However, in late December, word was that the City Councils Zero Waste Initiative to “ban” plastic bags in limited and in graduated way realized after four years. In 2008, the Council banned Styrofoam and though they tried to regulate plastic bags they got serious push back from the industry, which spent about $1.4 million, collected signatures with rumors of leaving out some info … then had the ordinance repealed. It was nice to read about Council Bill 117345, a bill to protect Puget Sound, our marine wildlife and our Environment in general joining about twelve states and up to twenty nations. The Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to implement the ban on plastic carry out bags.

After years of pulling out my small recycled bags for the checker to shove my groceries into, Washington State is joining the global movement to protect marine wildlife; the ordinance will take effect on July 1, 2012. It may be a cliché, but this ordinance is a change we can all believe in. I have to say, at first; in my experiences; checkers seemed a little annoyed at having to fight with the reusable bags. The word from most Checkers back in the day was, that plastic is just easier. Yes, the first reusable bags were too small, the dye ran the material was unforgiving, but as folks found better ways to make them; the cost came down and more people bought them including me.

Now, the bags not only cost a little bit more, they are bigger more stylish, last forever are definitely more flexible, and a highly recommended investment. The move to switch from plastic to” bring your own bag” will be difficult for some at first; I intend to carry a few extra to give away or sell; on my website because documented studies show that birds, sea turtles and other wildlife eat plastic bags and some are made with toxic chemicals that could be harmful. The time for a behavior change is now. We all know change is tough, but here we are in the 21st Century and that floating garbage circle, called the ” Great Pacific Garbage Patch“ discovered in the 90′s by Charles Moore, is only getting bigger. There will always be push back from the plastics industry, their supporters as well as environmental activists who all feel the government does not go far enough and they may be right, but we have to start somewhere.

It baffles me at how complicated people have made the effort to clean up our environment; we all know the need to reduce TRASH as a whole and it starts at home, although Seattle is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the nation, only 13 percent of plastic bags are recycled or re-used.

We owe it to our next generation…

Grocery stores, as well as food service outlets owe it to consumers and the environment.

It took quite sometime and we’ve come a long way from fighting the plastic industry to now finding that Indeed some Grocers feel the same way by eliminating plastic bags period ~ 2015

stay tuned in … who are the enforcers?

repost from 2013

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Politics: Born Again Birther Party – reminder from 2011

07/09/2017 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

doilookillegal In July 2008, a researcher “looking to dig up dirt on Obama” instead came across a birth announcement from 1961 in the Honolulu Advertiser documenting the birth of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in the state. The document, together with Obama’s certificate of live birth which showed his birth date, birth city, name, and parenta l information, definitively proved that Obama was born in the United States and is eligible to run for president. Yet, the conspiracy has lived on within the right-wing bowels of the Republican Party for the past couple of years. Most recently, real estate mogul and possible presidential hopeful Donald Trump has taken to the airwaves to challenge the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency. And while Trump claims that he’d rather be talking about how China and OPEC “are going to destroy us,” he has instead distracted the public with his fabricated controversy and used it to drum up right-wing support for his rumored presidential bid. Trump’s birtherism may have propelled him at the forefront of the Republican presidential primary, but it could also cause the credibility of the entire GOP 2012 field to take a steep fall.

RIGHT-WING BUY IN: Since the end of March, Trump has gone from being “really concerned” that “Obama was not born in this country” to insisting that his grandparents essentially lied about his birthplace to collect welfare and other citizenship “assets.” Trump’s colleagues haven’t backed away from his increasingly controversial comments. Instead, they have either tacitly or expressly supported his birther media blitz. Sarah Palin, who once said the “birther” issue is a “distraction” from the important issues, said on Sunday, “I appreciate that the Donald wants to spend his resources on something that so interests him and so many Americans, you know more power to him.” Pizza mogul Herman Cain was one of the first public figures who came to Trump’s defense, stating, “I respect people that believe he should prove his citizenship. He should prove he was born in the United States of America.” Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus has signaled that the RNC is willing and ready to embrace a Trump candidacy. Meanwhile, the GOP congressional leadership has its own history of tiptoeing around the issue. In the past, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has refused to call quest ions about President Obama’s citizenship illegitimate and declined to label such rhetoric “crazy,” saying “I don’t think it’s nice to call anyone crazy, ok?” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) hasn’t challenged his colleagues’ birther beliefs because, according to him, “it’s not up to me to tell them what to think.”

BIRTHER BILLS: The birther conspiracy has also been rearing its ugly head at the state-level. At least 13 states have had bills introduced that would require future presidential candidates to document their eligibility with birth certificates or other forms of proof that they were born in the United States. Committee actions have blocked such proposals in New Hampshire, Montana, Iowa, Maine, and Tennessee. Yet, in Arizona, the so-called “birther bill” is very much alive. Back in December, Arizona state Senate President Russell Pearce (R) was already bragging about the fact that Obama would have to “show his papers” to enter his state. Last week, the Arizona Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill which would require any presidential candidate to prove to state election officials that he or she was born in the U.S. by presenting a long-form birth certificate, a baptismal or circumcision certificate, a hospital birth record, a postpartum medical record, or an early census record. Trump was involved. Arizona state Rep. Carl Seel (R) scored a meeting with Trump and indicated that “Mr. Trump is very supportive of my bill to just simply require anyone running for president, or, in the case of Arizona, anyone running for any office, to show that they’re lawfully qualified to run.” Last Thursday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives also approved similar legislation. “A lot of people are classifying this as a birther bill which I don’t think it is,” said state Sen. Ralph Shortey (R). “The concern has stemmed from the questions that have arisen from President Obama.” The evidence that Obama has provided so far would not meet the eligibility requirements of Shorte y’s bill and would block him from appearing on the Oklahoma ballot. As David Corn of Mother Jones points out, these proposals are all “part of a well-orchestrated campaign to deny Obama reelection.” Despite their limited legislative success, the birther conspiracy theory isn’t passing legal muster in the courts. In Hawaii, an appeals court upheld the dismissal of a California man’s lawsuit which sought to inspect and review President Obama’s birth certificate.

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: Several conservatives have traditionally been wary of promoting birtherism just to pander to the right. In 2009, conservative talk show host Michael Medved called the movement’s leaders “crazy, nutburger, demagogue, money-hungry, exploitative, irresponsible, filthy conservative imposters” who are “the worst enemy of the conservative movement.” “It makes us look weird. It makes us look crazy. It makes us look demented. It makes us look sick, troubled, and not suitable for civilized company,” declared Medved. Former Minnesota Governor and presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty (R) has dismissed birtherism entirely, stating, “I, for one, do not believe that we should be raising that issue. … I think President Obama was born in the United States.” Karl Rove tried to distance the rest of the GOP from the issue, saying, “The right-wing base of the Republican party, I’m part of that right-wing base, is not in love with the issue of birthers. I mean, there is an element inside the Republican party, and outside the Republican party, that’s fallen in love with this but the majority of Republicans and the vast majority of Americans accept that he is a U.S. citizen capable of being president.” Rove is only partly right. While only 11 percent of the general public believes Obama was definitely not born in the United States, more than half of all GOP primary voters are convinced he is not a U.S.-born citizen. White House senior adviser David Plouffe dismissed Trump’s birther beliefs on Sunday, stating “I saw Donald Trump kind of rising in the polls. Given his behavior, and the spectacle of the last couple of weeks, I hope he keeps on rising. … There’s zero chance that Donald Trump would ever be hired by the American people to do this job.” “If I were them, I’d be really careful riding that birther horse too much,” weighed in former President Bill Clinton. “Everyone knows it’s ludicrous.” Others say it’s just downright racist.

now look at what we have! sigh

sources: Internet , originally posted 2011

Nativegrl77

Black History, ~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The 115th congress … no better than the 113th or 114th

06/05/2017 Nativegrl77

demsVrepub … just another rant

So, in 2016-2017, Paul Ryan told CNBC that republicans have spent years getting ready for a “UnifiedGovt” and are now going to “rock and roll.” There are several disturbing questions that come to mind! Like … what actions have republicans been taking to get here, was trump in on any of the steps toward a trifecta government, who exactly helped them over the years, did they cross that line of ethics and will some members of congress get kicked out and or held accountable for sudden sweeping of necessary oversight of Congress under a dirty House rug!, which was and still is led by Republicans btw.

Things to be reminded of … Congress, paid for by taxpayers lest we talk about the GOP’s seemingly big issue with “political privilege” could be on the agenda of several in Congress and putting the department under the House jurisdiction quashing not only the whole idea of an “independent oversight office of ethics” and that is absolutely offensive on its own, but knowing they planned, held a secret meeting quietly voting somewhere in Congress just seems appears and is un-American. Though, if we reach back to say… when the 113th Congress’ actions were found out, those of ted cruz and others, you are reminded this is basically the same crew who were willing to shut our government down twice; who also met in some restaurant pledging to do nothing for 4-8yrs because the likes of a President Obama,a bi-racial man was holding down the highest office in the land? And offended to him being in their White House on January 20, 2008-2017, but that’s my opinion. This move obviously means their plan will be to dump, cut, slash and burn what those of us leaning left of center believe are #AmericanValues

Again, just to remind you! Congress, led by republicans when Paul Ryan was there killed transparency, good governance, the ability for folks to file complaints, a path to reconcile any conflict of interest issues, ended a vehicle to challenge the behavior of congressional member’s that act up. If you have heard or watched any of the horrible stories your jaw would lock up .

and … on the list of honey do it to me, my family friends and co-workers

Dismantle Repeal and or totally dismantle ACA ?
Kill the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Rip up Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid
Give Tax cuts for wealthy Americans and big Corporations
Repeal Dodd – Frank- done
Privatize the VA

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

buyers remorse in Seattle

05/19/2017 Nativegrl77

So, my rant ….

thought I voted for someone … Mayor Ed Murray, who will work for all Residents in Seattle, WA …Washington state, but is this crap really happening ?

Mayor Murray statement on the election

November 9, 2016 by Office of the Mayor

Mayor Ed Murray released the following statement in response to tonight’s election: 11/9/2016

“Regardless of tonight’s national results, tomorrow Seattle will remain a city guided by the values of equality, inclusion and openness. Tomorrow we will continue to support women, we will welcome as neighbors our Muslim brothers and sisters, and tomorrow Black Lives will still matter. Our City will remain strong because of our diversity, not in spite of it.

“In Seattle, our results show a city ready to lead in building a more equitable and progressive future.

“As we look forward, we will challenge our people to live up to our values, to ensure we build on the foundation that was laid tonight and that we foster the equitable, inclusive world we envision.”

I have been disappointed since December of 2016 waited to post and given what we have all heard the buyers remorse issue has been solved. I still feel we need to push probe and challenge Mayor Ed Murray, the city council to do better and expect more demand better from our next Mayor … We need more transparency,more affordable housing,more jobs for local residents and mass transportation that eliminates buses unless they are for communities that have no transportation only park&rides … we expected light rail not if we had more money after what seemed like full out metro debacles, we should always remember the shady back room deals … the recent announcements for a mega detention center for children&adults was more than a disappointment it opens up the school to prison pipeline no one thought Seattle would try let a lone for that astronomical amount … diversion programs should be the only way to deal with our youth unless the actions of the youth are tracked with proof and history of obviously gross violent destructive behavior and warrant a different action.

Seattle Wanted Mass Transportation! Something went wrong and quite possibly the changes and not in a good way happened after we all found out about that ugly deal made by republicans some from the democratic party and our city council about metro transit and what we used to call the “FREEZONE” which used to be downtown Seattle’s 3rd Ave. This has, unfortunately snowballed into a serious nasty case of not only gentrification but moves … elite corporate society moves to deal with the homeless in class status behavior while wheeling dealing and putting out plans to build a Mega Police Precinct Building ? it stinks …Why? because Seattle, run by left of center is now overbuilding, folks who grew up here can’t afford to shop there lest we talk about living here … I know too many people, mostly black brown and Asian who live 1-2 hours away drive back in to work and this is NOT right. The disabled,folks who needed medical services were …yes, were on 3rd and or near who yes jumped on the #freezone bus to get from point A to get meds to smooth out,to stay sober etc. who didn’t have much money then even less now since the #freezone was taken away to make way for IT workers and their living spaces while reports of them making more money off tourists … ok, even i get that but plan plan plan because it became obvious the plan was about shoving pushing eliminating not just the homeless but the average joe is now suffering in a city that used to be about compassionate,environmentally and climate change aware pushing jobs and fair wages. Yes, we can blame voters who continue to vote against their best interests; though, given what we have seen in our own very legislature,the practice of vetting the Democratic Party is even more important than ever and that includes me because that hope that change we wanted for Seattle was for more jobs but NOT at the cost or risk of losing it’s middle and lower classes who live work drive keep this city moving

We need to challenge NOT only the Mayor of this great city, but the city of Seattle Council