Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

Friday the 13th …

10/13/2017 Nativegrl77

To be sure, we have all thought about the history of Friday the 13… right

just another rant …

I think we have all used it as an excuse, but if you take everything our POTUS has had to address over the last eight years you hope that other superstition about everything happening in sevens is right around the corner. The 114th and now the 115th Congress, controlled by Republicans meets less, holds more hearings all paid for by taxpayers, debates and votes on legislation that does NOT always support their constituents or their best interests. They are the epitome of what Friday the 13 is all about and while voters were warned, we had eight years of experiencing the wrath of the party of no … why? because people continue to stay home instead of exercising their right to vote … #MidTermsMatter

In addition, the 2017 calendar is giving us 2 Friday the 13ths which happens more often than not but reports are that our fellow Americans in the northeast apparently get more snow blizzards with extreme cold … which can lead to flooding, while the NW is experiencing more than enough rain to make up for some drought

We must all remember that this is not only disaster weather season it is also when Republicans go into full campaign mode. We used to think that government is there when all else has failed. The fact is the Party of No says one thing does another hoping the voter sees nothing. Unfortunately, unlike the tornadoes, hurricanes and flooding that happens mostly Republican States, we see the disaster that seems atypical of the Republican Party of No. We all need to question those States with Republicans in control who have not in my opinion invested enough money or effort in making sure all their constituents are safe, have an emergency plan, a place to go or transportation to evacuate. Though, if you listen they want and advocate less government, less taxes, less debt, less spending unless their state needs money to plug their budgets or women who dare want need reproductive rights … just a few of several examples of why in this election year people need to be more aware.

We all know a vote for Rand Paul is a vote for going back in time when a certain group treated Women and Minorities like things or inanimate objects. In fact, the current class and culture warfare is enough to see why we the People should not vote for any Republican until they stop the racism, discrimination and that family values platform that takes women back to a time when being seen but not heard and producing babies all the time was the norm. It is not a healthy way to live and all I have heard from Republicans are unhealthy attitudes toward women, gays, children, and people of colour, who they really want to control and or disenfranchise at the ballot box. We only have to look at the number of brown and black men in our jails and or prisons, who more often than not are charged excessively compared to white defendants.

I think we all agree that this has to be the worse time or moment to be President of the US yet, if folks would do their research, the improvements or changes are moving us into the right direction but change takes time. Though we all heard about the meetings and requests for money from Wall Street and Banks by Republicans as reported by talking heads on cable or hearing Speaker Boehner made a visit and held a presser which showed him shaking hands with one if not both Koch brothers.

Speaking of Money, it is important to be reminded of the stimulus, which Republicans voted down but knew they were all going to get for “their” constituents anyway, gave out big checks and took credit for the money while bashing and stating the Obama Administration is spending excessively. Who knew that Republican Governors would plug their budgets, give the stimulus to their “special interest groups”, or make big bold statements at ribbon cuttings. I guess it should have been obvious to us that Republicans had an agenda that included eliminating social programs or persons employed by the State or Federal government. They say the best middle class jobs are created by small business people but the fact is most are public service positions. It is important to remind folks that Republicans say stop spending, stop entitlements and continue to be the Party of No while being pro-Wall Street, pro-Banks; maybe doing backroom deals or fund-raising with folks like the Koch bros for the upcoming elections; in spite of We the People. The question is …why if in the right state of mind anyone would vote Republicans into Political Office in the upcoming midterms knowing that it will be bringing back the status quo. The change in 2014 means voting for members of Congress who will have the courage in this vile environment to put People before Profit and Party, at this moment it is a Democratic Party. We all know that did not happen so our next attempt to get the positive change we need is to vote for the Democratic Party all down the ballot in 2016.

In my utopia, among the obvious those wanting to be in public service would be required to believe in equal rights for everyone, true Reforms of entities that gamble while creating products meant to fail that impact or demolish our economy locally and globally.

Nevertheless, that is just my dream and ok, it’s Friday the 13th

~ 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