Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

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

TGIF &some News

08/05/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

The latest events or filibusters by Republicans in both Chambers of Congress have made me wonder if or when will the Democratic Party push back or beat back the ideology that is taking over up on the Hill. I do think a line in the sand may have been drawn when our big 3 programs came under fire and while you can see vids of Republican leaders say they got 98% of what they wanted in the debt deal, it’s obvious they change Republicans want was worth pushing possibly over the cliff. To those people who hated the deal, remember they will have to defend it, which will be interesting, especially if forced to this debt deal give full disclosure. I have to say the Debt deal and the FAA debacle proved to be a moment when we saw the Democratic Party unite against the ideology of Republicans who want to take down the entire system, as we know it. The assault on the middleclass by the Republican members of Congress is obviously very offensive and will continue until we the people get out the vote and put Democrats back in control. So, when Congress gets back from their five-week break let’s hold Republicans accountable and demand that Democrats not only stand up more but do it as a united Political Party because it makes you want to jump in and say just exactly what they are thinking but too cautious to say.

It’s time for the Democratic members of Congress the President and We the People to get on the same page and take back our Democracy.

The temporary Band-Aid that Congress has put on the debt, deficit as well as the things filibustered, or sitting on some table in a back room somewhere in the Senate will rear its ugly head again. Republicans are planning to bring back the Paul Ryan Budget. It is and ideological plan that should open the eyes of most if not all Republican constituents, well maybe… hey, I definitely an optimist. We all were scared about Sarah Palin becoming one person closer to being President of the US of A and thank goodness, saner minds prevailed. In a time when millions are unemployed, more layoffs coming and Corporate America is still outsourcing and holding middle class jobs hostage. The Republican Party continues to cut slash and burn American Workers in Republican controlled states. The party of No, which used to be just a conservative pro-life scary group, is now so extreme that the slogan “taking their country back”, is no longer code but an overt statement from Republican Tea Party members. Obviously, it is about not wanting “his kind” in the White House or as other as Sarah Palin and cohorts have spewed on various occasions. I don’t know about you but the BS about President Obama being too “other” from anyone outside of Congress is offensive but when those who took an oath to serve and protect the lives of all Americans not a select few or those who you signed that Grover Norquist pledge admit to putting ideology and pledges before the People.

We are all Freedom Fighters on some level every day

CSPAN …

U.S. Economy

117,000 Total Jobs Created in July: Unemployment Down to 9.1%

154,000 private sector jobs created

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Congress Agrees to Short-Term FAA Authorization

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Defense Department Faces Budget Cuts

Panetta worried about debt ceiling agreement

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Bachmann bashes Whoopi back in new fundraising letter

Bachmann Stands By Marriage Pledge That Links Slavery to Black …
Romney, Bachmann, Santorum Vow to Defend Marriage

Reich ’68 critiques US debt deal

Senate Passes FAA Funding Measure to End Impasse, Furloughs

NATO airstrike kills Gadhafi’s son: rebels

Factors behind the market sell-off

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

whiney Wednesday & some News

08/03/2011 Nativegrl77

The featured photo is from an article or event by the NMAAHC.

The Faces of My People
Margaret Burroughs (b. 1917)
Woodcut on paper

it’s just another rant …

About six days ago, an article popped up about slavery and while the topic is definitely, a sensitive one I do like to read what has happened because of the word itself has a history of pain misery and sadness. I have been hearing a lot about human trafficking, which is what I expected until I read the entire headline and went from interested to pretty pissed off in a matter of seconds. I don’t know about you but we don’t use the word slavery or slaves lightly where I come from.

According to wiki, yes wiki. I use them because i need the writer to read the formal use of the word in all its ugliness… Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property and are forced to work.^[1] Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase, or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation. Conditions that can be considered slavery include debt bondage, indentured servitude, serfdom, domestic servants kept in captivity, adoption in which children are effectively forced to work as slaves, child soldiers, and forced marriage.^[2]

Slavery predates written records, has existed in many cultures.^[3] The number of slaves today is higher than at any point in history,^[4] remaining as high as 12 million^[5] to 27 million,^[6][7][8] though this is probably the smallest proportion of the world’s population in history.^[9] Most are debt slaves, largely in South Asia, who are under debt bondage incurred by lenders, sometimes even for generations.^[10] Human trafficking is primarily for prostituting women and children into sex industries.^[11]

I responded to “the article” because many of us have ancestors who have experienced the institution of slavery in its formal definition and while the headline probably grabbed the attention of many I say shame on you for using the word so loosely so disrespectfully or remorse. There is absolutely no acceptable way of using the word “slave” when defining inmates of a prison. I will repeat wiki but it will be in my words because words matter and not only do they matter they have impact especially when the word is very specific to a person or group of people. The use of the word “slave” has a long awful history behind it and if i have tell you what it meant back in 1800’s then you need to do more research or stop writing about or using the word to gain more readers. I ask the writer, were these prisoners” “slaves” as you call them taken from their countries, homes, raped, branded just because, compromised or that families were split because the owner ordered a human being “slave” to be sold. I just do not believe or accept your article calling or using prisoners to do stoop work free can be considered slaves. I cannot begin to tell the writer just how disappointing it is to read such a nonchalant use of the word let alone the definition of the word which was taken way out context or a gimmick to gain readers not to mention a lack of true journalism forget about professionalism. I have to ask the writer, maybe ask the people who are nice enough to read this blog how anyone could in with good conscious acquaint slave labour to that of labour from prisoners. So, by all accounts prisoners are called prisoners because they commit a crime of some sort then tried and convicted for said crime and taken to jail or “prison” because they were bad to someone or something. I guess you might dispute this but the fact is people of colour were victims of slavery in the 1800’s and what ensued after being imprisoned was through no fault of people considered chattel or 3/5 of a person. That is undeniable fact not fiction and the way in which the writer used the term “slavery” is disrespectful to the people who lived it. Today, we have a more modern equivalent r of “slavery” … human trafficking.

The info below is from wiki is about the new modern lives of slavery …

There are more slaves today than at any point in history,^[4] remaining as high as 12 million^[5] to 27 million,^[6][7][8] even though slavery is now outlawed in all countries.^[7][133] Several estimates of the number of slaves in the world have been provided. According to a broad definition of slavery used by Kevin Bales of Free the Slaves (FTS), an advocacy group linked with Anti-Slavery International, there were 27 million people in slavery in 1999, spread all over the world.^[134] In 2005, the International Labour Organization provided an estimate of 12.3 million forced labourers in the world,.^[135] Thanks to the ILO Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour (SAP-FL), the work of the ILO has been spearheaded in this field since early 2002. The Programme has successfully raised global awareness and understanding of modern forced labour; assisted governments to develop and implement new laws, policies and action plans; developed and disseminated guidance and training materials on key aspects of forced labour and human trafficking; implemented innovative programmes which combine policy development, capacity building of law enforcement and labour market institutions, and targeted, field-based projects of direct support for both prevention of forced labour and identification and rehabilitation of its victims. Siddharth Kara has also provided an estimate of 28.4 million slaves at the end of 2006 divided into the following three categories: bonded labour/debt bondage (18.1 million), forced labour (7.6 million), and trafficked slaves (2.7 million).^[136] Kara provides a dynamic model to calculate the number of slaves in the world each year, with an estimated 29.2 million at the end of 2009.

Words Matter … I cannot stress how important it is to do research before using red button topics, words, phrases, or photos and suffice it to say the use of slavery for this story is just wrong.

Slavery is a crime but it is one against humanity …shame on you

Other News …

Tropical Storm Emily on path toward Haiti

Business Insider

US Job Cuts Surge 60% In July On Month – Challenger Report

A famine in Somalia, and a chronic political failure on humanitarian aid

FAA Shutdown to Continue as Congress Leaves

Syria Storms Center of Rebellious City

Secret Service captures second White House intruder in 48 hours

$150 million in promised upgrades at former Stevens Hospital begin

CSPAN …

Debt Ceiling Agreement Goes Into Effect

President & Congress avoid default with last-minute deal

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Relief Efforts in the Horn of Africa Face Obstacles

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Hearings on Housing Finance System & Debt Financing

Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa

Anti-Government Protests in Syria

~ my 2cents ...

Sunday mishmash &some News

07/31/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant

As Americans and the World watches Congress battle on national TV, ‘the media” seems to be putting a face on who we need to blame for the apparent Congressional rift. I am a democrat yet the face of blame from radio and TV seems far to right of center for my taste. I watch, listen and take all the rhetoric in but as always question the source, sort out fact from fiction, remember what has been happening over the last 24months and ultimately decide for myself… but then that’s just me. The fact is raising the Debt Ceiling is the job of Congress yet Congress and some of our fellow Americans have decided to dump that responsibility on President Obama … unfair. I support President Obama and I still believe he will have to invoke the 14th Amendment but only because our inept folks in Congress which have managed to do less and less since the midterm elections have all but thrown up their hands to defer our default and demise to the President. I know folks think it would be a great win for him, a strong choice and yes, i thought so too, only problem is our credit rating will be downgraded thus raising interest rates on everyone

For years, Congress has managed to raise the debt ceiling without much afterthought. However, after the midterm elections it was clear JOBs were not important to Republicans or their extreme group called the tea party. Republicans on the State& Federal level saw this as moment to force their beliefs and make changes to the way Americans live their lives and yes undermine the President of the US. I get the impression that the agenda to ruin the first Black President of the US of A started the night of his win. This has been a rough journey for our President and if he had a worthy Congress our move toward the 21^st Century would be big bold and progressive. We cannot ignore how malicious how far the Republican Party has gone to block progress and even so, our President keeps trying with the grand deal as another example. I feel both parties saw this as a moment to create change the other wanted to block it. The President saw the future in a grand deal while Republicans decided to use the debt ceiling & deficit as a tool, lest we even think about the reasons they want to amend our constitution. I do not know what will happen on Aug.2^nd and maybe the debt ceiling will be raised maybe not. I do wonder if the world will see us the same and will our credit rating decline anyway or will a deal be made only to find that all future bills with revenue included be filibustered and will Congress continue to act so irresponsible. The thing i really fear is if this is just the beginning of an all-out assault to bring President down by any means necessary with the default being one of many signs along this long road to Election 2012.

Other News

Education takes a beating nationwide

Jets reach agreement in principle with Burress

McConnell: Debt Deal Close Without Tax Hikes

Berlin threatens new sanctions against Syrian regime

Verdict for 2 Americans in Iran within a week

Misrata rebel forces seize arms after routing pro-Gaddafi troops

Space enthusiast mourns Apollo, not shuttle

CSPAN

Debt Ceiling Debate

Senate Back for More Debate on Reid Debt Plan

Still no agreement between White House, Democrats, Republicans

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GOP Presidential Hopefuls Bachmann & McCotter on C-SPAN

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at Western Conservative Summit

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Charleston, SC Featured on Book TV and AHTV

~ my 2cents ...

hump day …&some News

07/27/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

Americans are so used to hearing and accepting the status quo. The notion of a President actually working for the People is not only a novel idea, portrayed as something too scary to consider or accept as a reality. This thing called Shared Sacrifice has been making most on the right not only nervous but they are baring their ugliness with comments of how America is supposed to work, which usually means the privileged are in charge while anyone just below better pull up those boot straps. While those on the bottom better, work harder while the middle class if Republicans gain control will need to accept minimum wage jobs or risk having nothing, if you listen to the right wing nutty noise. It is beyond me to believe that health care for all is a bad thing, rescuing the American Auto-Industry was a bad idea, or implementing reasonable regulations on Banks and Wall Street is bad. Unfortunately, considering what happened 2yrs ago the current comments coming from Republicans, their benefactors or the Business Community are definitely outrageous and unacceptable . Yet, there is a group of people who truly believe that regulating banks, wall street or the amount of pollution cars or trucks put out is a bad thing or invades freedom and just another example of big government. The answer to why Americans have not moved into the 21^st Century, in my opinion is because of those bets made probably are still in full effect. The players might be quiet but as rumored even Republican members of Congress have investments that will do even better if the US status tanks, that is a rumor no real information has come out but hey if reporters would just ask we might all find out. We all have to know that at some point if the Private Sector cannot or will not fix these problems or move Americans toward the 21st Century, the Government has too. I come from a family of asthmatics and during the days of earth day, green for all … no President treated it as a viable issue to deal with like President Obama. Americans have been faced with issues of climate change and the effects of pollution for decades, have been avoided by many previous President’s or were unable to move Congress to making real efforts to do right by the people. However, President Obama has tried since taking office to move Congress into moving this country not only into the 21^st Century but has reached out to other countries in a real effort to make peace not war like reducing nukes, implementing immigration reform, better education, more jobs, healthcare and insurance reform that covers and helps everyone not a select few.

Yes, the difference between the Democratic and Republican Party is not only wide but also becoming more clear everyday but just so you know it’s in writing and documented look below. There is no required pledge to sign offered or forced by a private citizen, no so-called Pledge to America done in a matter of days … what you read below is what the Democratic Party is and has been all about for years.

www.democrats.org/about/our_party

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. -- President John F. Kennedy

For more than 200 years, Democrats have represented the interests of working families, fighting for equal opportunities and justice for all Americans.

Our party was founded on the conviction that wealth and privilege shouldn’t be an entitlement to rule and the belief that the values of hardworking families are the values that should guide us.

We didn’t become the most prosperous country in the world by rewarding greed and recklessness or by letting those with the most influence write their own rules. We got here by rewarding hard work and responsibility, by investing in people, and by growing our country from the bottom up.

Today Democrats are fighting to repair a decade of damage and grow an economy based on the values of Main Street, not greed and reckless speculation. Democrats are focused on rescuing our economy not just in the short run but also rebuilding our economy for the long run—an economy that lifts up not just some Americans, but all Americans.

Other News …

Abbas urges Palestinian protest to support UN bid

Q. and A. on the Debt Ceiling

Amy Winehouse’s Music Sales Spike

Casey Anthony judge blasts media, holds back juror names

Britain to expel Gaddafi diplomats

Scientists See ‘Hint’ of Higgs-Boson ‘God Particle’

CSPAN …

Fate of Boehner, Reid Debt Limit Plans Unclear

Boehner rewriting plan, Reid plan saves $2.2 trillion says CBO

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Leading CEOs Testify on Tax-Code Rewrite

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Credit Rating Agencies Get Congressional Review

S&P, Moody’s officials to testify on U.S. credit rating & debt ceiling

~ my 2cents ...

mashup Monday &some News

07/25/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

A Gallup Poll done in April reported that if a vote were taken from We the People for the current members of Congress it would result in 32% voting for Democrats and 31% Republicans. If this is true, folks we definitely need to prepare for Election 2012. I gotta say given the number of folks who stayed home or voted right of center for the Midterms, it is important that those living in states engaging in voter suppression get the ID that will enable you to make your voice count. We all know there is so much more work to do, so much at stake and to be honest the thought of living under a Republican ruler makes me sick. I voted for and know that President Obama is the right one for the position of commander in chief and while my support continues beyond 2012. I do not always agree with what President Obama does and I still have questions about NAFTA, the Public Option and some other things that remain a mystery. I do know that the Democratic members of Congress have either not wanted or are not able to go big or bold enough to move us into the 21st Century but given a choice for 2012 and fact is there is no option; we have to get Democrats back in control. The process of changing the way things get done on the Hill, policy and or making laws are not easy or pleasant but it should not be the reason for changing your attitude or your vote because of it.

Two years ago the HCR Bill, HR3962/HR3590 considered an impossible dream is surrounded by a lot of misinformation as well as being just one of several pieces of legislation that President Obama has presented, urged, and finally passed after much push back from the Republican Tea Party and some Conservadems. I wonder, do people remember the contentious dividing issues like that 15 Dems said they would oppose the HCR bill, that Senator Ben Nelson’s amendment to add abortion language like the stupak-pitts amendment, which, would probably block public or federal funds to women. Thus blocking women the right to buy and or pay for their own insurance that may cover abortions and it may also penalize companies that include it in their HC plans; luckily, Congress tabled it. We also know that Lieberman wanted a Medicare buy in and HCR before he didn’t; and ended up showing how Politicians can easily put aside the rights of their constituents and fellow Americans by voting no, or that in the end the House passed HCR with the issue and problem being in the Senate

It is obvious the new HCR bill will improve the lives of many rather than a select few or keep the status quo. The fact is our President has done more to improve out state here in the US and the journey has been tough and quite long but what President Obama did in his 1^st term is historic and a moment that everyone cannot possibly forget, unless you have been living under a rock or listening to the naysayers. The Media continues to speculate or re-enforce the negative impact on voting yes for good faith legislation that no doubt would be good but impacts all Americans; mocking President Obama’s so-called improbable agenda that includes climate change, immigration overhaul as well as stating that Democrats keep wavering on a votes.

This is a moment that the Democratic Party should be willing to create change that has been needed for quite some time and as the President has stated many times …if not now when -because we may never get this chance for a long time if ever.

CSPAN …