By Mary MacElveen
December 16, 2009
As a non-paid editorialist for nine-years, I do not know how many Americans I shall reach as opposed to the main-stream media within the United States. But, here I go. At this point, I do opine that the current healthcare reform(?) bill presently before the Senate MUST be killed off and voted down. It will not help Americans by and large, but the insurance companies that some senators wish to protect at any cost. That cost is human lives. Please keep within your mind’s eye human lives through out this column.
Yes, we have heard not only from the president, and senators as well as some on-air pundits this is the best bill they can deliver at this point. To me it sounds as if they are trying to sell us all a ‘clunker’. They will cherry-pick the better highlights of this bill without delving into what is the worst this bill has to offer. Such as forcing Americans to purchase health insurance from private health insurance companies and if they do not what awaits them is a swift fine. In essence as Keith Olbermann opined turning those who refuse into “law breakers” Is this the best our elected senators can do for we the people, turning innocent Americans who are too poor to purchase these policies into law breakers? To that, I add, they have no business being in their elected offices. Besides, if someone does not have a job, how in the hell are they going to pay these insurance premiums?! Let us NOT FORGET that our national unemployment rate stands at 10.2 percent and where states such as Michigan, 15 or so percent. Exactly where are these new customers supposed to get the money to pay for these premiums. Rub a magic genie-bottle and wish for a huge windfall?
While some will solely demonize, Joe Lieberman, let us not forget others who seek to squash real healthcare reform and those are Republicans as well as Conserva-Dems. They too are to blame. What lies at the foundation of these senators voting habits within their body are those that own them and they are various insurance companies. In the case of Lieberman; Aetna. They donate and dictate how they will vote. No reform can be had until true campaign finance reform takes place, period! It must get back to we the people elect these representatives and not corporations. The sad fact is that will never occur since politics breeds greed.
Those ‘tea-party-baggers’ who seek to squash this bill are NOT doing so on behalf of suffering Americans, they are misguided fools just marching to the beat of the loudest voices within Washington, D.C. and the pundits who control their minds. Pundits such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. They are controlled by sociopaths such as Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann while turning their backs on their fellow Americans who are suffering and in so many instances dying. They will even listen to a pundit, Sarah Palin who is strikingly sounding more like a conspiracy theorist than a former governor.
While some of my readers may wish for me to take a swipe at Lieberman, here I go. Lieberman has always been a strong proponent of Israel. He has even been called, the ‘Senator from Tel Aviv’. As we all know, we give monetary aid to Israel in the billions of dollars each-and-every year. But, do you know what? Israel and not the U.S. has socialized medicine. Each-and-every Israeli citizen gets to see a doctor where Americans do not. What say you, Lieberman?
In the past nine-years, I have written for a Venezuelan news site, VHeadline.com and I can tell you that ALL Venezuelans enjoy UNIVERSAL healthcare aka socialized healthcare from birth-to-death. It may NOT be perfect, but at least they are not traumatized when they become sick. They get to see a doctor. They do not have to fret as to how they will pay for their doctor’s visit or hospital stay, it is paid for by the state. Does that occur here in the United States? No it does not and shame on all of us for not demanding the same care for our fellow citizens. Some may scream at the sheer notion of our government paying for healthcare, yet the overwhelming majority say nothing when it comes to paying for hit squads such as Blackwater. Remarkable. They will scream at how much true health reform will cost, yet fall lock-stepped behind a government who continues to wage war in the Middle East.
Point of fact: During the Bush years, the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez wished to deliver health care via eye-surgery for America’s uninsured through his ‘Mission Miracle’ program. He wished to sponsor 110,000 patients each year for ten years. Venezuela would provide the transport to Cuba and where Cuban doctors would perform the eye surgeries, but the Bush administration shut them down. Over that time-span over a million people’s sight could have been restored or aided through socialized medicine. Hey, tea-baggers: What do you say to that?
You will hear some on-air pundits state that this bill must be passed in its present form, but we must remember, they have health insurance. So, can we actually trust in their wisdom as millions go without? Please remember who signs their paychecks. Corporations. For once, I would love to hear from those who are presently uninsured or underinsured. Ask how they would feel being forced into the hands of private health insurers. Ask the thousands who have been served by the free healthcare clinics sponsored by Countdown’s, Keith Olbermann in key states to shame those who oppose real health care reform. Then again, there is no shaming those who live day-to-day while pretending to serve we the people when they do not have a conscience.
Please take time to listen to this Countdown interview between Lawrence O’Donnell and Dr. Howard Dean. Dean expressly states where health insurance companies will be allowed to charge some within our demographics higher premiums under this bill. You know the over fifty crowd who towards the end of their lives succumb to ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. He also stated to pass key portions of this bill and leave the over-arching reform when the new congress comes back in 2010. While he is gambling with the fact that Republicans can take back control, still the passage of this bill is truly a gamble the American people cannot afford and does nothing to aid them.
In essence the feeling I get through this healthcare bill is that these health insurance companies are trying to claim our assets and we must all say: Claim denied.
This bill must go down to teach this Democratic majority a lesson that they were elected to change the atmosphere in Washington, D.C. and to actually change the way things are done and not a continuance of the way things have been done in years past. They were elected to by we the people in astounding numbers in the past presidential and congressional elections, yet they have not delivered when it comes to this issue or job creation. This past election cycle proved that the electoral force that voted President Obama into office did not even bother to show up as the incumbent New Jersey Governor, Jon Corzine, Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi, and the Democratic Virginian gubernatorial candidate went down in flames. All suffered humiliating defeats at the polls.
To those who have a strong allegiance to this president please ask yourself: To whom should your allegiance go? A sitting president or someone who is at death’s door because they could not go and see a doctor to cure them of a disease that is curable? Who deserves your allegiance as many face bankruptcy from medical bills or will be forced to pay for healthcare which can also lead to bankruptcy?
But, let us not concentrate on their elections or elections to come, let us remember what is at the heart of this debate and that is human life. Today, tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month and next year, so many people will die unless this country gets its act together to pass true health care reform. Me, I would prefer single-payer, or a bill that contains a strong public option. We who are insured are all but one pay-check away from our own healthcare crisis. The lives lost due to a person’s lack of healthcare is far greater than the numbers taken on September 11th, 2001 and we went to war for those deaths. Yet, this government fails to wage war on health insurance industries who deny claims which translates into thousands of deaths. The deaths related to a lack of health insurance still scream out for mercy. It is up to all of us to hear their voices and put pressure upon our elected officials. Until then, kill the bill in its present form.
To President Barack Obama, I ripped into your plans to send more soldiers into Afghanistan and rightfully so. Should you sign this healthcare bill in its present form into law, I will back a true progressive candidate that chooses to primary you for the 2012 presidential election. My fellow Americans who live day-to-day without health insurance are more important to me than your presidency. That equally applies to those within congress. Those who side with health insurance companies and not the American people who suffer so, are truly the enemy of the people.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
In borrowing from China, we created our own economic ‘China syndrome’
By Mary MacElveen
December 13, 2009
For a few days, I have been reading several key articles dealing with China, but today a Washington Post article titled, U.S. firms lag in bids for Iraqi oil was the icing on the cake. In Twittering this article, I called it a blow-back to the U.S.
Let’s get real: Our invasion into Iraq was to control this oil and not because of WMDs. It was not about terrorism, but greed. Soldiers as well as innocent Iraqis lost their lives and we have spent over $700 billion to fight the war in Iraq. A large sum we borrowed from China to keep this war going. Who stands to profit in these oil bids? You guessed it; China. The excerpts from this WP article will simply blow your mind:
“Chinese diplomats in Baghdad have kept a low profile in recent years, working out of a hotel and drawing little public attention. But Iraqi officials say they have been struck by the caliber of Chinese diplomats, many of whom speak flawless Arabic and have developed a nuanced understanding of Iraqi politics.”
This eye-opening article goes onto report: "We all know that China is on track to become a major economic as well as technological power," said Assam Jihad, a spokesman for the Oil Ministry.”
Do not get angry at the Iraqis since it was their oil to begin with; it was our foolishness for believing in the Bush/Cheney administration on why we needed to invade Iraq in the first place. For two oil-men, they look pretty silly in light of this story.
These wars have sunk our economy into a sink-hole period! In borrowing handily from China, we created our own economic ‘China syndrome’. These U.S. oil firms must be facing their own ‘Shock and Awe’. China out-gunned them without launching one single rocket or sending troops into Iraq. They did so with brains instead of brawn.
To further prove China’s economic dominance in the world, one only has to read this explosive article published in the NY Times this past week: Recession Elsewhere, but It’s Booming in China There you will read where their rate of consumption has surpassed ours on goods such as flat-screen televisions, washers, dryers as Americans hold back on their purchases.
In fact as this article points out: "China is pulling ahead at this particular moment partly because Americans, debt-laden and worried about their jobs, are pulling back. After decades of gorging on consumption, Americans are saving."
What should be a wake-up call to those in Washington D.C. who control our economic destinies is where this article points out: "For the first time, China, not the United States, is a locomotive helping to pull the global economy out of a slump. But China’s tiny appetite for American exports means that the main benefit has gone to commodity exporters and to businesses in China."
As some free-market thinkers here in the United States rail against any regulation targeted at banks and Wall Street in particular, please pay close attention to this smart move coming from the Chinese government: "China’s Banking Regulatory Commission recently told banks to show restraint in lending for the rest of the year, fearful that some of this year’s loans could become bad debts in the next several years, as happened with the mortgage lending spree in the United States.”
China is acting like the grown-up here where the free-market thinkers here in our own country are acting like petulant children demanding they get their way. And who will suffer? All of us. In fact we have already been hit hard when so many continue to lose their jobs and as one reads where Homeless are Wherever Jobs Vanish as reported in today’s New York Times. I called people’s attention to this important story via my Twitter and Facebook.com pages. It sickened me as I continued to read it.
As China surged ahead of the United States becoming an economic behemoth and where their citizens are buying up a storm, one only has to read the sad facts here: "On Long Island, Nassau County officials have seen the number of people seeking shelter rise by 40 percent compared with this time last year, while in Suffolk, the number of families seeking shelter for the first time rose by 20 percent. In Connecticut, in an annual one-day survey taken in January, the number of people in emergency shelters was 33 percent higher than the year before."
As citizens tire of the finger-pointing going on in Washington D.C. between Republicans and Democrats where both at times refuse to speak with each other, this opinion by far is a salient point opined by Irvan K. Hakim, a co-chairman of the Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association: "Even the U.S. cannot talk to China.” One can read yet another eye-opening article relating to China's economic dominance: China’s Economic Power Unsettles the Neighbors.
We as Americans allowed for this to happen without any accountability demanded of those in Washington, D.C., Wall Street and those who thought going to war was for our benefit. Yet, what are folks talking about or the MSM reporting on? You guessed it: Tiger Woods. Pathetic if you ask me.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
December 13, 2009
For a few days, I have been reading several key articles dealing with China, but today a Washington Post article titled, U.S. firms lag in bids for Iraqi oil was the icing on the cake. In Twittering this article, I called it a blow-back to the U.S.
Let’s get real: Our invasion into Iraq was to control this oil and not because of WMDs. It was not about terrorism, but greed. Soldiers as well as innocent Iraqis lost their lives and we have spent over $700 billion to fight the war in Iraq. A large sum we borrowed from China to keep this war going. Who stands to profit in these oil bids? You guessed it; China. The excerpts from this WP article will simply blow your mind:
“Chinese diplomats in Baghdad have kept a low profile in recent years, working out of a hotel and drawing little public attention. But Iraqi officials say they have been struck by the caliber of Chinese diplomats, many of whom speak flawless Arabic and have developed a nuanced understanding of Iraqi politics.”
This eye-opening article goes onto report: "We all know that China is on track to become a major economic as well as technological power," said Assam Jihad, a spokesman for the Oil Ministry.”
Do not get angry at the Iraqis since it was their oil to begin with; it was our foolishness for believing in the Bush/Cheney administration on why we needed to invade Iraq in the first place. For two oil-men, they look pretty silly in light of this story.
These wars have sunk our economy into a sink-hole period! In borrowing handily from China, we created our own economic ‘China syndrome’. These U.S. oil firms must be facing their own ‘Shock and Awe’. China out-gunned them without launching one single rocket or sending troops into Iraq. They did so with brains instead of brawn.
To further prove China’s economic dominance in the world, one only has to read this explosive article published in the NY Times this past week: Recession Elsewhere, but It’s Booming in China There you will read where their rate of consumption has surpassed ours on goods such as flat-screen televisions, washers, dryers as Americans hold back on their purchases.
In fact as this article points out: "China is pulling ahead at this particular moment partly because Americans, debt-laden and worried about their jobs, are pulling back. After decades of gorging on consumption, Americans are saving."
What should be a wake-up call to those in Washington D.C. who control our economic destinies is where this article points out: "For the first time, China, not the United States, is a locomotive helping to pull the global economy out of a slump. But China’s tiny appetite for American exports means that the main benefit has gone to commodity exporters and to businesses in China."
As some free-market thinkers here in the United States rail against any regulation targeted at banks and Wall Street in particular, please pay close attention to this smart move coming from the Chinese government: "China’s Banking Regulatory Commission recently told banks to show restraint in lending for the rest of the year, fearful that some of this year’s loans could become bad debts in the next several years, as happened with the mortgage lending spree in the United States.”
China is acting like the grown-up here where the free-market thinkers here in our own country are acting like petulant children demanding they get their way. And who will suffer? All of us. In fact we have already been hit hard when so many continue to lose their jobs and as one reads where Homeless are Wherever Jobs Vanish as reported in today’s New York Times. I called people’s attention to this important story via my Twitter and Facebook.com pages. It sickened me as I continued to read it.
As China surged ahead of the United States becoming an economic behemoth and where their citizens are buying up a storm, one only has to read the sad facts here: "On Long Island, Nassau County officials have seen the number of people seeking shelter rise by 40 percent compared with this time last year, while in Suffolk, the number of families seeking shelter for the first time rose by 20 percent. In Connecticut, in an annual one-day survey taken in January, the number of people in emergency shelters was 33 percent higher than the year before."
As citizens tire of the finger-pointing going on in Washington D.C. between Republicans and Democrats where both at times refuse to speak with each other, this opinion by far is a salient point opined by Irvan K. Hakim, a co-chairman of the Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association: "Even the U.S. cannot talk to China.” One can read yet another eye-opening article relating to China's economic dominance: China’s Economic Power Unsettles the Neighbors.
We as Americans allowed for this to happen without any accountability demanded of those in Washington, D.C., Wall Street and those who thought going to war was for our benefit. Yet, what are folks talking about or the MSM reporting on? You guessed it: Tiger Woods. Pathetic if you ask me.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Pres. Obama: As we have spent $1 trillion on war, did Al Qaeda win?
By Mary MacElveen
December 2, 2009
As a part-time cashier working at a local grocery store, I earn $7.50 an hour. So, when the president mentioned in his speech that we will spend $30 billion this year to fight this ongoing war in Afghanistan, I felt the ‘tea bagger’ spirit rise within me. Do not worry, I refuse to turn to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh since both are idiots.
I am sorry, Mr. President, I do not want my tax money going to fight this war. If the Afghans want peace it is up to them period to solve their own problems. Problems like a corrupt government, a fraudulent election and more importantly, the Taliban. Wait? Wasn’t it Al Qaeda and not the Taliban who attacked us? Are we fighting the wrong enemy again? We already did so in our invasion into Iraq.
At this point, we have enough problems to solve right within our borders which are far more important to we the people, than what is happening a world away in Afghanistan. The terror Americans are facing are those who get sick and have no healthcare to speak of or jobs to support their families.
10.2 percent of Americans are out of work and in states such as Michigan, the rate is at a staggering 15 percent. Mr. President, address this issue before the American people and not what you wish to do in Afghanistan.
Millions who are unemployed or underemployed do not fear Al Qaeda. What they fear is the next bill coming to their homes which they cannot afford to pay. They most of all fear an eviction notice where many have worked tireless hours in search of their American dream. A dream turning into a nightmare before their eyes. Mr. President, you want to nation-build in Iraq and Afghanistan? Well how about we start to nation-build right here at home first as our citizens suffer so?
You have folks going to work sick in fear if they call up sick for work, they will lose that job. I battled a cold for weeks going to work with a temperature of 101 because I need this job. Thankfully, I am over it, but there are countless more who must do so in order to keep food on the family table and many and I mean many do not have any healthcare to speak of.
Each week, the union I belong to through my job sends out pertinent articles for its members to read and one really caught my attention. It is a column written for the Wall Street Journal by Jeanne Dugan titled: Working Two Jobs and Still Underemployed.
In reading this portion of the article the anger rose within: “Mr. Crane's electricity was shut off, he says. He paid the bill and had it restored. But he didn't pay the gas, which is about $175 per month. Instead, all summer, they cooked on the grill outside. Mr. Crane bought an electric hot water heater for baths and laundry. They lived that way for three months before finally turning the gas back on.” Mr. Crane according to this column looked for work such as a “sanitation worker, bridge painter, tree cutter and transit worker. There were some factory openings, he says, but they pay less than Lowe's.”
Before landing the job at Lowes selling lawn mowers, Mr. Crane was laid off from a job at a battery plant which paid $28 dollars per-hour before overtime.
Dugan also reported where Robert Reich expressed: “For decades, workers have been watching their salaries and benefits erode," He too, “took a pay cut of 8 percent along with the rest of the Berkeley faculty”
With the erosion of pay by countless Americans, why on Earth is our government fighting these wars on the backs of so many especially our soldiers who will continue to come home in flag-draped coffins? It is time to close up the war shop and bring our troops home.
On Thanksgiving Day, a family member of mine expressed her support for these wars because of 9/11 and does not wish another attack here on our soil. But, how long war? Is what I thought. We are fast approaching December 7th which is the anniversary where Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Are we forever at war with the Japanese? No, we just bombed them with nuclear weapons and called it a day and they soon surrendered. Everyone tends to invoke 9/11 while forgetting 12/07.
Speaking of nuclear weapons, while worrying about other countries having a nuclear capability, let history speak the truth where we were the only country to use two in war-time.
As millions of Americans sink into an economic and health quagmire, they are being forgotten as the defense industry makes out like bandits. As people’s electricity is being turned off, defense contractors keep their war machines humming and at tax payer’s expense.
Mr. President, you betrayed my trust in not putting an end to these wars. As I watched the Democratic presidential primaries, the true leader and one with conviction was Senator Mike Gravel. In an exchange with then Senator Barack Obama, then Senator Hillary Clinton and the rest of the candidates, he answered a question from the late Tim Russert, who asked if these candidates should suspend their campaigns to end these wars by stating: “If it stops the killing, then do it!” Meaning they should vote on cloture to end these wars.
Let us not forget that it was Senator Mike Gravel who ended the draft in Viet Nam by filibuster. Let us not forget it was Senator Mike Gravel who exposed the Pentagon Papers which proved the criminality of that war.
As we look at the failure of our educational system, our infrastructure, millions of jobs lost and no true healthcare system to take care of we the people, Gravel has opined at the top of the food chain is the military industrial complex. While that term ‘military industrial complex’ sounds like a conspiracy theory, truly they do receive the lion’s share of our hard earned tax dollars.
There is a saying, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” and one only has to ask the Russians just how successful they were in their invasion of Afghanistan. The proof is in the pudding how it drained their fiscal resources.
Al Qaeda has metastasized throughout the world as their numbers have been depleted in Afghanistan: Do we invade each and every country they are in? Will we forever be at war as our own nation crumbles beneath us? Perhaps this was our enemy’s intention all along to force us into wars lasting decades to deplete us economically. As political leaders reprimand Americans for borrowing too much and racking up credit card debt, they have racked up enough debt borrowing these war funds from China. A debt we all must pay and pay and pay.
One lone question should be asked: Did Al Qaeda already win as we have spent close to $1 trillion dollars on these wars? Think about it.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, email the author for permission.
December 2, 2009
As a part-time cashier working at a local grocery store, I earn $7.50 an hour. So, when the president mentioned in his speech that we will spend $30 billion this year to fight this ongoing war in Afghanistan, I felt the ‘tea bagger’ spirit rise within me. Do not worry, I refuse to turn to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh since both are idiots.
I am sorry, Mr. President, I do not want my tax money going to fight this war. If the Afghans want peace it is up to them period to solve their own problems. Problems like a corrupt government, a fraudulent election and more importantly, the Taliban. Wait? Wasn’t it Al Qaeda and not the Taliban who attacked us? Are we fighting the wrong enemy again? We already did so in our invasion into Iraq.
At this point, we have enough problems to solve right within our borders which are far more important to we the people, than what is happening a world away in Afghanistan. The terror Americans are facing are those who get sick and have no healthcare to speak of or jobs to support their families.
10.2 percent of Americans are out of work and in states such as Michigan, the rate is at a staggering 15 percent. Mr. President, address this issue before the American people and not what you wish to do in Afghanistan.
Millions who are unemployed or underemployed do not fear Al Qaeda. What they fear is the next bill coming to their homes which they cannot afford to pay. They most of all fear an eviction notice where many have worked tireless hours in search of their American dream. A dream turning into a nightmare before their eyes. Mr. President, you want to nation-build in Iraq and Afghanistan? Well how about we start to nation-build right here at home first as our citizens suffer so?
You have folks going to work sick in fear if they call up sick for work, they will lose that job. I battled a cold for weeks going to work with a temperature of 101 because I need this job. Thankfully, I am over it, but there are countless more who must do so in order to keep food on the family table and many and I mean many do not have any healthcare to speak of.
Each week, the union I belong to through my job sends out pertinent articles for its members to read and one really caught my attention. It is a column written for the Wall Street Journal by Jeanne Dugan titled: Working Two Jobs and Still Underemployed.
In reading this portion of the article the anger rose within: “Mr. Crane's electricity was shut off, he says. He paid the bill and had it restored. But he didn't pay the gas, which is about $175 per month. Instead, all summer, they cooked on the grill outside. Mr. Crane bought an electric hot water heater for baths and laundry. They lived that way for three months before finally turning the gas back on.” Mr. Crane according to this column looked for work such as a “sanitation worker, bridge painter, tree cutter and transit worker. There were some factory openings, he says, but they pay less than Lowe's.”
Before landing the job at Lowes selling lawn mowers, Mr. Crane was laid off from a job at a battery plant which paid $28 dollars per-hour before overtime.
Dugan also reported where Robert Reich expressed: “For decades, workers have been watching their salaries and benefits erode," He too, “took a pay cut of 8 percent along with the rest of the Berkeley faculty”
With the erosion of pay by countless Americans, why on Earth is our government fighting these wars on the backs of so many especially our soldiers who will continue to come home in flag-draped coffins? It is time to close up the war shop and bring our troops home.
On Thanksgiving Day, a family member of mine expressed her support for these wars because of 9/11 and does not wish another attack here on our soil. But, how long war? Is what I thought. We are fast approaching December 7th which is the anniversary where Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Are we forever at war with the Japanese? No, we just bombed them with nuclear weapons and called it a day and they soon surrendered. Everyone tends to invoke 9/11 while forgetting 12/07.
Speaking of nuclear weapons, while worrying about other countries having a nuclear capability, let history speak the truth where we were the only country to use two in war-time.
As millions of Americans sink into an economic and health quagmire, they are being forgotten as the defense industry makes out like bandits. As people’s electricity is being turned off, defense contractors keep their war machines humming and at tax payer’s expense.
Mr. President, you betrayed my trust in not putting an end to these wars. As I watched the Democratic presidential primaries, the true leader and one with conviction was Senator Mike Gravel. In an exchange with then Senator Barack Obama, then Senator Hillary Clinton and the rest of the candidates, he answered a question from the late Tim Russert, who asked if these candidates should suspend their campaigns to end these wars by stating: “If it stops the killing, then do it!” Meaning they should vote on cloture to end these wars.
Let us not forget that it was Senator Mike Gravel who ended the draft in Viet Nam by filibuster. Let us not forget it was Senator Mike Gravel who exposed the Pentagon Papers which proved the criminality of that war.
As we look at the failure of our educational system, our infrastructure, millions of jobs lost and no true healthcare system to take care of we the people, Gravel has opined at the top of the food chain is the military industrial complex. While that term ‘military industrial complex’ sounds like a conspiracy theory, truly they do receive the lion’s share of our hard earned tax dollars.
There is a saying, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” and one only has to ask the Russians just how successful they were in their invasion of Afghanistan. The proof is in the pudding how it drained their fiscal resources.
Al Qaeda has metastasized throughout the world as their numbers have been depleted in Afghanistan: Do we invade each and every country they are in? Will we forever be at war as our own nation crumbles beneath us? Perhaps this was our enemy’s intention all along to force us into wars lasting decades to deplete us economically. As political leaders reprimand Americans for borrowing too much and racking up credit card debt, they have racked up enough debt borrowing these war funds from China. A debt we all must pay and pay and pay.
One lone question should be asked: Did Al Qaeda already win as we have spent close to $1 trillion dollars on these wars? Think about it.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, email the author for permission.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Marc Alessi along with Stop and Shop customers help feed the needy
Mary MacElveenNovember 23, 2009
Last night, I wrote a column awarding NY State Assembly member, Marc Alessi my Founding Fathers award. In reporting to you of his efforts to help feed the poor and hungry here on Long Island through Island Harvest, I was unaware of how much was collected through the support of Stop and Shop customers.
In reading my emails this morning, I was contacted by Katrina Kieltyka who is Marc Alessi’s events coordinator. According to Ms. Kieltyka: “Yesterday's event was very successful; we collected about 450 lbs of food, including four turkeys, and an additional $230 dollars in gift cards.” Those gift cards can be used by our hungry neighbors to purchase food within our stores.
As our hungry neighbors sit down and feast upon these donations, they have this man to thank as well as the generosity of Stop and Shop customers.
In this follow-up column are pictures of Marc Alessi hard at work to feed the hungry. These pictures were taken by Katrina Kieltyka.
I would also like to remind my readers that Stop and Shop is hoping to raise $1 million dollars to feed the needy through our “Food for Friends” campaign. You can donate $1, $3 or $5 dollars at our registers.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
NY State Assembly Member, Marc Alessi wins my Founding Fathers award
By Mary MacElveen
November 23, 2009
In these dire economic times, we the people would love nothing more than to sock the nearest politician in the nose as we face such hardships trying to survive. We also often hear the term: “Walking the walk” as opposed to “Talking the talk” We the people love the former and despise the latter.
As a cashier for a grocery store, I am highly sensitive to the plight of the hungry when so many stick to their budgets or cannot purchase food items in these lean times or on the other end, those lucky enough to purchase their turkeys and all the trimmings that go with it.
On Thanksgiving Day we must be mindful that there are millions of Americans from coast-to-coast who will go without as opposed to many who cannot put one more morsel in their mouths. I just wish that Washington would think of that for at least once as they stuff their pockets with campaign donations coming from lobbyists.
In retrospect, I get sick-and-tired of politicos yapping their gums on any news program and just want them to get the job done to serve the needs of we the people. Don’t you? People are literally starving out there.
In ringing up my customer’s sales today, there were many who stated: “Can you please put these items in a separate bag so I can donate them to the man collecting food for the hungry outside?” With that, I said: “Yes, I will.” I wondered who this man was and it was not until my break time did I know who he was. The man turned out to be Marc Alessi who is a New York State Assembly member and one that I came to know through local politics. He was out there for hours collecting food for Island Harvest whose mission is to feed Long Island’s poor and hungry. Good on, Marc!
Quite frankly, we were both surprised to see each other: me as a cashier and he collecting food for the hungry, but it was an enjoyable encounter.
As we look upon Washington, D.C. where many politicians are trying to stop health care for all, especially the poor and the hungry as well as Americans in general, here is a lone politician giving up a sunny Sunday in order to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. How great is that?!
We are all but one paycheck away from being one of the millions that do go hungry day-to-day and it is truly an honor to know an elected leader in Marc Alessi whose call it is to walk the walk instead of talking the talk.
I hereby award my Founding Fathers award to Assembly member, Marc Alessi of the great state of New York for truly representing the needs of his constituents. Those being the hungry amongst us. Take that Sarah Palin as you try and enhance your financial portfolio in selling your book: “Going Rogue”
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
November 23, 2009
In these dire economic times, we the people would love nothing more than to sock the nearest politician in the nose as we face such hardships trying to survive. We also often hear the term: “Walking the walk” as opposed to “Talking the talk” We the people love the former and despise the latter.
As a cashier for a grocery store, I am highly sensitive to the plight of the hungry when so many stick to their budgets or cannot purchase food items in these lean times or on the other end, those lucky enough to purchase their turkeys and all the trimmings that go with it.
On Thanksgiving Day we must be mindful that there are millions of Americans from coast-to-coast who will go without as opposed to many who cannot put one more morsel in their mouths. I just wish that Washington would think of that for at least once as they stuff their pockets with campaign donations coming from lobbyists.
In retrospect, I get sick-and-tired of politicos yapping their gums on any news program and just want them to get the job done to serve the needs of we the people. Don’t you? People are literally starving out there.
In ringing up my customer’s sales today, there were many who stated: “Can you please put these items in a separate bag so I can donate them to the man collecting food for the hungry outside?” With that, I said: “Yes, I will.” I wondered who this man was and it was not until my break time did I know who he was. The man turned out to be Marc Alessi who is a New York State Assembly member and one that I came to know through local politics. He was out there for hours collecting food for Island Harvest whose mission is to feed Long Island’s poor and hungry. Good on, Marc!
Quite frankly, we were both surprised to see each other: me as a cashier and he collecting food for the hungry, but it was an enjoyable encounter.
As we look upon Washington, D.C. where many politicians are trying to stop health care for all, especially the poor and the hungry as well as Americans in general, here is a lone politician giving up a sunny Sunday in order to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. How great is that?!
We are all but one paycheck away from being one of the millions that do go hungry day-to-day and it is truly an honor to know an elected leader in Marc Alessi whose call it is to walk the walk instead of talking the talk.
I hereby award my Founding Fathers award to Assembly member, Marc Alessi of the great state of New York for truly representing the needs of his constituents. Those being the hungry amongst us. Take that Sarah Palin as you try and enhance your financial portfolio in selling your book: “Going Rogue”
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
There are far more powerful women in our lives instead of Sarah Palin
By Mary MacElveen
November 18, 2009
Why are so many drawn upon the supposed strength of Sarah Palin, when the true strength is found upon the millions upon millions of women who face such hardships in life or continue life as is? This, I cannot answer. Why buy a book to increase her bankbook or the publisher that published it? In these harsh economic times, save that money for what is truly important to your world and not hers.
At this point, I do not know the price of her book, but all I will add is to put that money towards food, clothing and housing. Feed your children instead of feeding Palin’s political aspirations. If it is meant to be.
Each day as a grocery store cashier, I see women come to work to make ends meet making a little over minimum wage and they are not grabbing any microphone they can. They are the women America should be listening to as they stand for hours checking their customer’s purchases out. If Palin truly wishes to know what the true economy is all about, let her stand in the shoes of those at the grocery-store check-out aisles. We not her know what America’s true economy is all about as she bloviates.
There are other women of strength such as police officers who strap on a bullet-proof vest to insure that they come home to their families as they arrest those who break our laws. Does Palin even know of their plight as she complains of her downfall in her “Going Rouge”? As their shift begins, they do not even know if they will come home to their husbands or children. Let her sit on that one for a while as she thinks what she (cough, cough) writes is important to us all.
There are women, who wear our military uniforms to insure this country’s safety day-in-and-day-out, but their faces are not seen or heard from as the media concentrates on her. Many of them have died in service to God and country. Who exactly does she think she is in denigrating those around her as women have come home in caskets in service to you and me?
Each day, we go to our mailboxes to collect our mail and little do we realize that post-women have delivered it. I have seen these postal workers wearing vinyl gloves to protect themselves from possible anthrax attacks. Yet, no one notices them. They are true women of strength delivering to we the people our bills and catalogues and if we still write them, a personal letter to a family member or friend.
On any given day, there are mothers and fathers sending their children off to be taught their lessons by a teacher of the female persuasion. They know all too well the crisis of funding our children’s education in today’s economic crisis. In fact they will often ask parents to purchase educational materials needed when a school budget cannot afford them.
At any given moment a home may go up in flames and over the years, fire departments have hired female-firefighters. They, like police officers put their live on the line for you and me. They, unlike Palin should be heralded for racing towards the flames as she ignites political flames.
On any given day, you and I sit down to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner if we can afford it. Little do we realize that farm-women work endless days to produce the food we consume. It is truly back-breaking work, but no one heralds these women, much less speaks of them as we eat our bacon and eggs or pork-roast. Don’t forget that peanut butter and jelly sandwich which many still love.
We love to eat our Post, Kellogg’s or General Foods cereals and grains, but what of the women working for these companies who are not seen by you and me in order to feed America? They are not heard from as we gobble up these grains. They make nothing compared to the amount Palin will make from this one damn book.
If we are lucky enough to own an automobile, most likely a female autoworker has assembled it. We pray that it is safe enough to drive from point A to point B and she is right there on the assembly line putting it together meeting all specifications. If we are not as lucky to own a car, there is a female transit worker insuring we get from those same points via public-transportation. Yet, no one sees them or knows of their struggles to make ends meet or their struggles on the job day-to-day.
As we have seen through this economic crisis, women along with men have been laid off, thereby losing their jobs, homes and health insurance. Yet, yet they are not in the bull’s eye of the media to tell their plight. Yet, yet, Sarah thinks she is deserving of it? Oh please let her live their lives for at least one day.
With this book coming out just before the holiday season, please know this: There are many powerful women that you meet day-in-and-day-out who work to provide for their families who do not stand to make millions. Why not spend the money on products or services that will help them provide for their own instead of Sarah Palin’s bank account?
Sarah Palin in quitting the governorship of Alaska proved she was not a fighter where many women out there truly are. Reward them and not her.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
November 18, 2009
Why are so many drawn upon the supposed strength of Sarah Palin, when the true strength is found upon the millions upon millions of women who face such hardships in life or continue life as is? This, I cannot answer. Why buy a book to increase her bankbook or the publisher that published it? In these harsh economic times, save that money for what is truly important to your world and not hers.
At this point, I do not know the price of her book, but all I will add is to put that money towards food, clothing and housing. Feed your children instead of feeding Palin’s political aspirations. If it is meant to be.
Each day as a grocery store cashier, I see women come to work to make ends meet making a little over minimum wage and they are not grabbing any microphone they can. They are the women America should be listening to as they stand for hours checking their customer’s purchases out. If Palin truly wishes to know what the true economy is all about, let her stand in the shoes of those at the grocery-store check-out aisles. We not her know what America’s true economy is all about as she bloviates.
There are other women of strength such as police officers who strap on a bullet-proof vest to insure that they come home to their families as they arrest those who break our laws. Does Palin even know of their plight as she complains of her downfall in her “Going Rouge”? As their shift begins, they do not even know if they will come home to their husbands or children. Let her sit on that one for a while as she thinks what she (cough, cough) writes is important to us all.
There are women, who wear our military uniforms to insure this country’s safety day-in-and-day-out, but their faces are not seen or heard from as the media concentrates on her. Many of them have died in service to God and country. Who exactly does she think she is in denigrating those around her as women have come home in caskets in service to you and me?
Each day, we go to our mailboxes to collect our mail and little do we realize that post-women have delivered it. I have seen these postal workers wearing vinyl gloves to protect themselves from possible anthrax attacks. Yet, no one notices them. They are true women of strength delivering to we the people our bills and catalogues and if we still write them, a personal letter to a family member or friend.
On any given day, there are mothers and fathers sending their children off to be taught their lessons by a teacher of the female persuasion. They know all too well the crisis of funding our children’s education in today’s economic crisis. In fact they will often ask parents to purchase educational materials needed when a school budget cannot afford them.
At any given moment a home may go up in flames and over the years, fire departments have hired female-firefighters. They, like police officers put their live on the line for you and me. They, unlike Palin should be heralded for racing towards the flames as she ignites political flames.
On any given day, you and I sit down to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner if we can afford it. Little do we realize that farm-women work endless days to produce the food we consume. It is truly back-breaking work, but no one heralds these women, much less speaks of them as we eat our bacon and eggs or pork-roast. Don’t forget that peanut butter and jelly sandwich which many still love.
We love to eat our Post, Kellogg’s or General Foods cereals and grains, but what of the women working for these companies who are not seen by you and me in order to feed America? They are not heard from as we gobble up these grains. They make nothing compared to the amount Palin will make from this one damn book.
If we are lucky enough to own an automobile, most likely a female autoworker has assembled it. We pray that it is safe enough to drive from point A to point B and she is right there on the assembly line putting it together meeting all specifications. If we are not as lucky to own a car, there is a female transit worker insuring we get from those same points via public-transportation. Yet, no one sees them or knows of their struggles to make ends meet or their struggles on the job day-to-day.
As we have seen through this economic crisis, women along with men have been laid off, thereby losing their jobs, homes and health insurance. Yet, yet they are not in the bull’s eye of the media to tell their plight. Yet, yet, Sarah thinks she is deserving of it? Oh please let her live their lives for at least one day.
With this book coming out just before the holiday season, please know this: There are many powerful women that you meet day-in-and-day-out who work to provide for their families who do not stand to make millions. Why not spend the money on products or services that will help them provide for their own instead of Sarah Palin’s bank account?
Sarah Palin in quitting the governorship of Alaska proved she was not a fighter where many women out there truly are. Reward them and not her.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Based on a Politico.com article: I am sick of game-playing politicians
By Mary MacElveen
November 17, 2009
I posted the below tweet on my Twitter page citing how a hug between Gov. Charlie Crist and President Barack Obama as being a game being played by Marco Rubio. This Twitter came forth after reading a Politico.com article which discusses it.
MaryMacElveen You know when staunch conservatives like Rubio are out of ideas when a hug is their best ammo against Crist: http://tinyurl.com/yl4lqhz
Not posted due to space constraints on Twitter, this to me is just a political game to win over votes. People are truly hurting out here and they want to know how best a candidate can help them instead of playing these political games.
Don’t flash images in front of us treating us like children, but treat the voters as grown-ups where you go into detail how you will best serve us all.
Tell us how you will get healthcare into the hands of each and every American. Tell us how you will get millions back to work. Tell us how you will keep taxes at bay since we are drowning in higher-and-higher tax rates. Tell us how you will educate our children to insure a prosperous future for them. Tell us how you will lower the cost of food. As a cashier, I do see prices increasing and people struggling to make ends meet. I have witnessed first hand how they have to put a food item back because they simply cannot afford it.
When their eyes meet yours they are filled with embarrassment and where they lower their voice saying: “I do not have enough to pay for that” Welcome to my world as a grocery store cashier. I see that, but game-playing politicians do not.
Tell us all how you will go up against the evil empire known as credit card companies who are charging higher-and-higher interest rates and keeping us all in debt-bondage.
Tell us all how you will save a family from losing their homes due to bankruptcy. This is our new way of life and quite frankly, the American people are sick and tired of the game playing. Who knows how many families are being sent foreclosure notices everyday and where the sheriff shows up to evict them and toss their belongings onto the street as well as change the locks.
We see through the Stupak amendment real games being played when abortion is inserted into the mix. In my opinion, the ONLY reason it was put in was to kill health reform in this country for those who truly need it. Rep. Bart Stupak has healthcare, yet is playing games with yours.
As I watched “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” last night, tears came to me as they aired the first free-clinic in New Orleans. This was done to put pressure on Sen. Mary Landrieu to back healthcare reform. She did not show up to this event and declined to be interviewed. COWARD! This as one thousand of her constituents showed up to see a doctor in which four had to be raced to the hospital. What a game player she is as thousands more suffer and millions more across this country. Sen. Landrieu has healthcare yet can deny her constituents the chance at seeing a doctor? If so, she deserves to lose her seat in the senate to one that will demand the right of every citizen to see a doctor.
If this is okay with tea-baggers, I will call them all unpatriotic, because they are not putting country first. Country first also means to me where each citizen has the right to see a doctor. Yes, even a woman who may seek to have an abortion. Patriotism, doesn’t only mean backing one’s country in a time of war. I prefer the former over the latter. The latter has all but drained out economy.
Exactly where were these tea-baggers and game playing politicians when it came to war funding? They want a balanced budget NOW?! Too late. You should have thought of that years ago.
The cost of both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is fast approaching $933 billion dollars, yet the right-wing seems to back these wars and not healthcare for all. What sanctimonious idiots they are. These right-wingers are truly showing just how unpatriotic they are.
They will tell us all in a bold-face lie that it is to win the war on terror. Sorry there is not a chance in hell of doing that. Due to our foreign policies abroad and keeping a military footprint in areas so volatile, we will always have enemies.
We can however win the war on terror on the medical front by insuring people can see a doctor where an illness does not become a catastrophic illness. To treat a catastrophic illness costs this country more. When a sick person cannot see a doctor, to me that is true terror!
So, game-playing politicians, tell us how you will help us with detailed plans instead of floating a picture of a hug between two politicians. If you are successful in your campaign, the hardest part is now upon you to actually get the people’s business done. My question is by using tactics like these: Are you even up for the job?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of it, please email the author for permission.
November 17, 2009
I posted the below tweet on my Twitter page citing how a hug between Gov. Charlie Crist and President Barack Obama as being a game being played by Marco Rubio. This Twitter came forth after reading a Politico.com article which discusses it.
MaryMacElveen You know when staunch conservatives like Rubio are out of ideas when a hug is their best ammo against Crist: http://tinyurl.com/yl4lqhz
Not posted due to space constraints on Twitter, this to me is just a political game to win over votes. People are truly hurting out here and they want to know how best a candidate can help them instead of playing these political games.
Don’t flash images in front of us treating us like children, but treat the voters as grown-ups where you go into detail how you will best serve us all.
Tell us how you will get healthcare into the hands of each and every American. Tell us how you will get millions back to work. Tell us how you will keep taxes at bay since we are drowning in higher-and-higher tax rates. Tell us how you will educate our children to insure a prosperous future for them. Tell us how you will lower the cost of food. As a cashier, I do see prices increasing and people struggling to make ends meet. I have witnessed first hand how they have to put a food item back because they simply cannot afford it.
When their eyes meet yours they are filled with embarrassment and where they lower their voice saying: “I do not have enough to pay for that” Welcome to my world as a grocery store cashier. I see that, but game-playing politicians do not.
Tell us all how you will go up against the evil empire known as credit card companies who are charging higher-and-higher interest rates and keeping us all in debt-bondage.
Tell us all how you will save a family from losing their homes due to bankruptcy. This is our new way of life and quite frankly, the American people are sick and tired of the game playing. Who knows how many families are being sent foreclosure notices everyday and where the sheriff shows up to evict them and toss their belongings onto the street as well as change the locks.
We see through the Stupak amendment real games being played when abortion is inserted into the mix. In my opinion, the ONLY reason it was put in was to kill health reform in this country for those who truly need it. Rep. Bart Stupak has healthcare, yet is playing games with yours.
As I watched “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” last night, tears came to me as they aired the first free-clinic in New Orleans. This was done to put pressure on Sen. Mary Landrieu to back healthcare reform. She did not show up to this event and declined to be interviewed. COWARD! This as one thousand of her constituents showed up to see a doctor in which four had to be raced to the hospital. What a game player she is as thousands more suffer and millions more across this country. Sen. Landrieu has healthcare yet can deny her constituents the chance at seeing a doctor? If so, she deserves to lose her seat in the senate to one that will demand the right of every citizen to see a doctor.
If this is okay with tea-baggers, I will call them all unpatriotic, because they are not putting country first. Country first also means to me where each citizen has the right to see a doctor. Yes, even a woman who may seek to have an abortion. Patriotism, doesn’t only mean backing one’s country in a time of war. I prefer the former over the latter. The latter has all but drained out economy.
Exactly where were these tea-baggers and game playing politicians when it came to war funding? They want a balanced budget NOW?! Too late. You should have thought of that years ago.
The cost of both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is fast approaching $933 billion dollars, yet the right-wing seems to back these wars and not healthcare for all. What sanctimonious idiots they are. These right-wingers are truly showing just how unpatriotic they are.
They will tell us all in a bold-face lie that it is to win the war on terror. Sorry there is not a chance in hell of doing that. Due to our foreign policies abroad and keeping a military footprint in areas so volatile, we will always have enemies.
We can however win the war on terror on the medical front by insuring people can see a doctor where an illness does not become a catastrophic illness. To treat a catastrophic illness costs this country more. When a sick person cannot see a doctor, to me that is true terror!
So, game-playing politicians, tell us how you will help us with detailed plans instead of floating a picture of a hug between two politicians. If you are successful in your campaign, the hardest part is now upon you to actually get the people’s business done. My question is by using tactics like these: Are you even up for the job?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of it, please email the author for permission.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Please participate in Stop and Shop’s “Food for Friends” program
By Mary MacElveen
November 10, 2009
People do not ordinarily think of grocery stores coming to the aid of hungry Americans, but in many instances they do. Take Stop and Shop for example: At this point in time each store is raising money to help feed America’s poor. Their program is called: “Food for Friends” At your checkout aisle, you can purchase a donation card for $1, $3 or $5. All donations will be donated to local hunger relief efforts. This program ends December 3rd, 2009 and Stop and Shop hopes to raise $1 million dollars.
But, your participation need not end on December 3rd, since Stop and Shop holds great sales from week-to-week.
In this week's Stop and Shop’s circular, one can purchase 10 cans of Campbell’s cream soups (chicken or mushroom) for $10 dollars using one’s Stop and Shop card. Think of donating half of those cans to your local food shelters.
One can also purchase 2 Stop and Shop grated cheese 8 ounce canisters for $5 dollars. Donate the other one.
Not a fan of oatmeal? Well it is a great start to the day for starving children growing up in this country. This week, one can purchase 2 boxes of Stop and Shop instant oatmeal for $4 dollars. All varieties are included in this sale. Why not pick up 2 boxes for your local food shelter or more?
If you love Arnold’s wide pan breads or Thomas’s English muffins, this week it is buy one get one free. Why not donate the free one to your local food shelter?
As you will see in your Stop and Shop circular: One can purchase 10 Pillsbury cake mixes or brownie mixes for $10 dollars using your Stop and Shop card. Think of donating some to America’s hungry. They love sweets too.
Before the plight of the starving within this country came into focus; I thought why would anyone buy 10 cans of soup or 10 boxes of cake mix? Perhaps hunger being the focus now, one can share their bounty as they food shop.
If you do not have a Stop and Shop near you, please look at your store’s circular to see how you too can help feed America.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
November 10, 2009
People do not ordinarily think of grocery stores coming to the aid of hungry Americans, but in many instances they do. Take Stop and Shop for example: At this point in time each store is raising money to help feed America’s poor. Their program is called: “Food for Friends” At your checkout aisle, you can purchase a donation card for $1, $3 or $5. All donations will be donated to local hunger relief efforts. This program ends December 3rd, 2009 and Stop and Shop hopes to raise $1 million dollars.
But, your participation need not end on December 3rd, since Stop and Shop holds great sales from week-to-week.
In this week's Stop and Shop’s circular, one can purchase 10 cans of Campbell’s cream soups (chicken or mushroom) for $10 dollars using one’s Stop and Shop card. Think of donating half of those cans to your local food shelters.
One can also purchase 2 Stop and Shop grated cheese 8 ounce canisters for $5 dollars. Donate the other one.
Not a fan of oatmeal? Well it is a great start to the day for starving children growing up in this country. This week, one can purchase 2 boxes of Stop and Shop instant oatmeal for $4 dollars. All varieties are included in this sale. Why not pick up 2 boxes for your local food shelter or more?
If you love Arnold’s wide pan breads or Thomas’s English muffins, this week it is buy one get one free. Why not donate the free one to your local food shelter?
As you will see in your Stop and Shop circular: One can purchase 10 Pillsbury cake mixes or brownie mixes for $10 dollars using your Stop and Shop card. Think of donating some to America’s hungry. They love sweets too.
Before the plight of the starving within this country came into focus; I thought why would anyone buy 10 cans of soup or 10 boxes of cake mix? Perhaps hunger being the focus now, one can share their bounty as they food shop.
If you do not have a Stop and Shop near you, please look at your store’s circular to see how you too can help feed America.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Stony Brook University Hotel is: Jobs, Baby, Jobs
By Mary MacElveen
November 7, 2009
A new report was released on Friday (November 6th, 2009) citing that the unemployment rate presently stands at 10.2 percent. That figure is nothing to sneeze at during this cold and flu season. It means that America is sick when so many Americans are out of work, or quite frankly have given up looking for work. In my opinion, this is a pandemic that has spread coast-to-coast with absolutely no relief in sight.
In my opinion THE MOST POWERFUL words in today’s economy are: “I have a job”, but for millions they do not feel such power. For many past bread-winners, they are finding it tougher and tougher to put mac-and-cheese on the dinner table.
In the past, I have reported where food pantries are barren due to our economic crisis. We can do better than that for our citizens and we must.
Just recently, I read a Newsday article that made the bile rise from beneath my throat. Newsday reported where Stony Brook University plans to build a hotel on their campus to be used in a multitude of ways. In my opinion the building of this hotel on the Stony Brook campus is a win-win situation. The reason, the bile rose within my throat is because some opposed the construction of it. Idiots!
While some are concerned this project will encroach upon the green-belt of Suffolk County, NY, exactly where have their voices been as suburban sprawl has encroached upon our county year-after-year? This suburban sprawl has put many to work and now through this sole-project, they are worried the green-belts will be decimated? Oh please as one looks at one baron strip mall after another.
I am still scratching my head that suburban sprawl has not been met with this same ridicule and protest as this lone hotel project has been.
According to Newsday some civic leaders: “worry that placing it on 11 acres in a wooded area near the campus' main entrance will jeopardize a "greenbelt" of trees along Nicolls Road and commercialize the roadway.” I would invite these civic leaders to look at Suffolk County as a whole and not the microcosm of this project. Just look upon the environmental impact at the expansion of Route 347 has had to Suffolk County. I have written of that before.
You want to look at an eye-sore? Just look at the development project that replaced the former Davis Peach Farm in Miller Place, NY to know what I speak of. The Davis Peach Farm produced local produce, now the land is block-upon-block of cookie-cutter homes with increased traffic surrounding the development. No one said boo about this development being built.
Malcolm Bowman, a professor of marine and environmental sciences stated: “The campus forest is our heritage, and we built this great university in the center of this forest, so we must do everything we can to minimize the damage," Let him state that to a tradesman who has been out of work for a long time and needs to feed his family. It will NOT compute. Me, personally, I would love to see that exchange.
Stony Brook University who has been at the forefront of building this hotel stated that the building of this hotel has been in the works since 1989 was not an “impulsive decision” In fact, Stony Brook University stated: “It took 20 years to come to an agreement with a developer that was interested in preserving the buffer and working within the university footprint guidelines.”
So for those who have a knee-jerk reaction opposing this hotel’s construction, you will see it has been a well thought out project.
Having acquainted myself with Kara Hahn via numerous Democratic functions in the past, I paid close attention to her sentiments on this hotel’s construction where she said, “her group was opposed to commercialization along Nicolls Road. She said after meeting with university officials last week, "I think they understand our concerns and I hope to work with them so we can maintain that buffer.", I have to wonder how many food pantries she has visited lately or has she been paying attention to the unemployment rate? Kara, people are starving for work and food.
Quite frankly, this hotel’s construction is about, jobs period. Jobs are our lifeline where breadwinners can come home with the bacon in order to feed their families. Those who will build this hotel will take their earnings to many points along the way feeding our economy. A local supermarket where these construction workers will shop to bring home that bacon will thrive from this incoming business as well as local delis and 7/11s. Should these construction workers need items to construct this hotel, the Home Depots or Lowes will benefit from increased dollars going into their companies. All of these companies that I have mentioned will surely see increased sales where they can retain their employees and their employees will NOT fear being laid off in this strenuous economy.
Once this hotel is completed, just think of the jobs it will bring to this local area. Not familiar with hotel market: imagine how many maids, laundry personnel, barkeep, restaurateurs, chefs, waitresses, front clerks and the list is endless that they can employ. These are good paying jobs where we as a nation need to put people back to work. If any of these personnel find themselves in these new jobs, think of where they can spend their money. The list is endless, but more importantly, they can put food on the family table. It truly boggles the mind how anyone can stand in the way of this economic progress.
This is purely a local stimulus package which should not be stopped, but embraced for the workers it will employ. I say, go for it!
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
November 7, 2009
A new report was released on Friday (November 6th, 2009) citing that the unemployment rate presently stands at 10.2 percent. That figure is nothing to sneeze at during this cold and flu season. It means that America is sick when so many Americans are out of work, or quite frankly have given up looking for work. In my opinion, this is a pandemic that has spread coast-to-coast with absolutely no relief in sight.
In my opinion THE MOST POWERFUL words in today’s economy are: “I have a job”, but for millions they do not feel such power. For many past bread-winners, they are finding it tougher and tougher to put mac-and-cheese on the dinner table.
In the past, I have reported where food pantries are barren due to our economic crisis. We can do better than that for our citizens and we must.
Just recently, I read a Newsday article that made the bile rise from beneath my throat. Newsday reported where Stony Brook University plans to build a hotel on their campus to be used in a multitude of ways. In my opinion the building of this hotel on the Stony Brook campus is a win-win situation. The reason, the bile rose within my throat is because some opposed the construction of it. Idiots!
While some are concerned this project will encroach upon the green-belt of Suffolk County, NY, exactly where have their voices been as suburban sprawl has encroached upon our county year-after-year? This suburban sprawl has put many to work and now through this sole-project, they are worried the green-belts will be decimated? Oh please as one looks at one baron strip mall after another.
I am still scratching my head that suburban sprawl has not been met with this same ridicule and protest as this lone hotel project has been.
According to Newsday some civic leaders: “worry that placing it on 11 acres in a wooded area near the campus' main entrance will jeopardize a "greenbelt" of trees along Nicolls Road and commercialize the roadway.” I would invite these civic leaders to look at Suffolk County as a whole and not the microcosm of this project. Just look upon the environmental impact at the expansion of Route 347 has had to Suffolk County. I have written of that before.
You want to look at an eye-sore? Just look at the development project that replaced the former Davis Peach Farm in Miller Place, NY to know what I speak of. The Davis Peach Farm produced local produce, now the land is block-upon-block of cookie-cutter homes with increased traffic surrounding the development. No one said boo about this development being built.
Malcolm Bowman, a professor of marine and environmental sciences stated: “The campus forest is our heritage, and we built this great university in the center of this forest, so we must do everything we can to minimize the damage," Let him state that to a tradesman who has been out of work for a long time and needs to feed his family. It will NOT compute. Me, personally, I would love to see that exchange.
Stony Brook University who has been at the forefront of building this hotel stated that the building of this hotel has been in the works since 1989 was not an “impulsive decision” In fact, Stony Brook University stated: “It took 20 years to come to an agreement with a developer that was interested in preserving the buffer and working within the university footprint guidelines.”
So for those who have a knee-jerk reaction opposing this hotel’s construction, you will see it has been a well thought out project.
Having acquainted myself with Kara Hahn via numerous Democratic functions in the past, I paid close attention to her sentiments on this hotel’s construction where she said, “her group was opposed to commercialization along Nicolls Road. She said after meeting with university officials last week, "I think they understand our concerns and I hope to work with them so we can maintain that buffer.", I have to wonder how many food pantries she has visited lately or has she been paying attention to the unemployment rate? Kara, people are starving for work and food.
Quite frankly, this hotel’s construction is about, jobs period. Jobs are our lifeline where breadwinners can come home with the bacon in order to feed their families. Those who will build this hotel will take their earnings to many points along the way feeding our economy. A local supermarket where these construction workers will shop to bring home that bacon will thrive from this incoming business as well as local delis and 7/11s. Should these construction workers need items to construct this hotel, the Home Depots or Lowes will benefit from increased dollars going into their companies. All of these companies that I have mentioned will surely see increased sales where they can retain their employees and their employees will NOT fear being laid off in this strenuous economy.
Once this hotel is completed, just think of the jobs it will bring to this local area. Not familiar with hotel market: imagine how many maids, laundry personnel, barkeep, restaurateurs, chefs, waitresses, front clerks and the list is endless that they can employ. These are good paying jobs where we as a nation need to put people back to work. If any of these personnel find themselves in these new jobs, think of where they can spend their money. The list is endless, but more importantly, they can put food on the family table. It truly boggles the mind how anyone can stand in the way of this economic progress.
This is purely a local stimulus package which should not be stopped, but embraced for the workers it will employ. I say, go for it!
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
In light of Fort Hood: Michelle Bachmann, shut the hell up!
By Mary MacElveen
November 5, 2009
Please forgive me as a non-paid columnist for using such strong language, but if there were any congress member, I would want to b-slap at this moment it would be Congress member Michelle Bachmann for staging her ‘insurgency’; movement inviting citizens to “look within the eyes” of their congress members to protest the public option.
In seeing news footage of this protest one can see pictorials of the holocaust and that is out of line considering the public option plan is meant to save lives, not murder. Even the American Medical Association and the AARP are backing the public option and they are far more learned on this issue than she is. Does she even think that she knows more than a doctor or a health representative for the aged? Oh please! They are after all at the forefront of this issue and know the details in depth as she spews her venom and consistently opens up her pie-hole. Me, I want to forever plug her pie-hole!
Just today we learned that a Major in the U.S. Army, Nidal Malik Hasan shot and killed 12 people and wounded 31. This is the true cost of war. Wars that the extreme right-wing back while innocents are taken from their loved ones.
I cannot even fathom as a feeling human being how the families of these loved ones are feeling at this very moment, much less coping. May God be with them in their time of great need. My tears and our tears are with them all.
The extreme right-wing would rather back at any cost the true cost of war in both Iraq and Afghanistan that have a detrimental affect not only to our soldiers, but innocents abroad. Yet, they can stand before our eyes and spew venom at a healthcare bill which can save millions of Americans? Oh help me to understand these miscreants for surely I cannot!
Tonight, Americans from coast-to-coast are trying to wrap their brains and hearts around this slaughter at Fort Hood, but we simply cannot. In place we can only send our prayers and support to the victims of this senseless massacre.
Is this what we have to look at for years to come as we redeploy more soldiers overseas to wars that are unwinnable? Are these wars worth funding, while the extreme right-wing nuts or psychopaths will deny any monies to heal our citizens? It sure seems so; right?
To my fellow Americans from coast-to-coast, when will you tell these extreme right-wing nut-cases presently in congress who will deny you healthcare yet funds these wars to quite frankly, SHUT THE HELL UP!?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
November 5, 2009
Please forgive me as a non-paid columnist for using such strong language, but if there were any congress member, I would want to b-slap at this moment it would be Congress member Michelle Bachmann for staging her ‘insurgency’; movement inviting citizens to “look within the eyes” of their congress members to protest the public option.
In seeing news footage of this protest one can see pictorials of the holocaust and that is out of line considering the public option plan is meant to save lives, not murder. Even the American Medical Association and the AARP are backing the public option and they are far more learned on this issue than she is. Does she even think that she knows more than a doctor or a health representative for the aged? Oh please! They are after all at the forefront of this issue and know the details in depth as she spews her venom and consistently opens up her pie-hole. Me, I want to forever plug her pie-hole!
Just today we learned that a Major in the U.S. Army, Nidal Malik Hasan shot and killed 12 people and wounded 31. This is the true cost of war. Wars that the extreme right-wing back while innocents are taken from their loved ones.
I cannot even fathom as a feeling human being how the families of these loved ones are feeling at this very moment, much less coping. May God be with them in their time of great need. My tears and our tears are with them all.
The extreme right-wing would rather back at any cost the true cost of war in both Iraq and Afghanistan that have a detrimental affect not only to our soldiers, but innocents abroad. Yet, they can stand before our eyes and spew venom at a healthcare bill which can save millions of Americans? Oh help me to understand these miscreants for surely I cannot!
Tonight, Americans from coast-to-coast are trying to wrap their brains and hearts around this slaughter at Fort Hood, but we simply cannot. In place we can only send our prayers and support to the victims of this senseless massacre.
Is this what we have to look at for years to come as we redeploy more soldiers overseas to wars that are unwinnable? Are these wars worth funding, while the extreme right-wing nuts or psychopaths will deny any monies to heal our citizens? It sure seems so; right?
To my fellow Americans from coast-to-coast, when will you tell these extreme right-wing nut-cases presently in congress who will deny you healthcare yet funds these wars to quite frankly, SHUT THE HELL UP!?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Why so many Democratic losses?
By Mary MacElveen
November 4, 2009
Forget about the NY 23rd congressional race that Sarah Palin, Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Gov. George Pataki interjected themselves in backing the Conservative candidate, Doug Hoffman over their fellow Republican, Dierdre Scozzafava. The true message of tonight’s Democratic Party slaughter can be found in the voice of the Nassau County, NY Democratic Party Chair, Jay Jacobs as reported by Newsday. He opined: "I just don't see Democrats coming out the way we would have liked," Jacobs said. "It doesn't mean anything terrible for the results, but it doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling right now."
Let me correct, Jacobs having worked numerous campaigns; the results are everything in the course of the body politics. Coming in second means just that. Second!
Well the results were terrible as the county legislature’s control switched tonight from Democrat to Republican. That is a FAR greater number of voters over the 23rd congressional district of NY. A message was lost to the party faithful and now they (the party heads) must own this defeat. Those who came out in droves to elect President Barack Obama last year; stayed home. The question is why?
What generated the Obama win was the GOTV (Get out the vote) via the net-roots and minority vote and perhaps they were not as engaged in this election than the past year. Are some elections more important than others when it comes to the political hierarchy? Local elections are by far the most important ones that directly affect a populous and the populous spoke back tonight.
Citizens are not really paying attention to far-away wars or who this country helps, they are paying attention to their personal bills such as, mortgages, property taxes and utility bills. So, if you are an Internet writer concentrating on foreign events, your words are lost to your fellow citizen as these elections proved.
As of this writing; Newsday reports: “With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Suozzi, a Glen Cove Democrat, leads Edward Mangano, a Republican from Bethpage, by 313 votes, according to the Nassau Board of Elections.” Yes, every vote does count. The Democratic incumbent, Tom Suozzi was thought to be a strong gubernatorial candidate a few years back and now he is in a horse race with his Republican challenger, Mangano? Either this does not compute or the times have significantly changed. This is surely to be a nail-biter to the very end as each vote is counted and thankfully done on lever machines.
Is this a slap-back at the Obama administration and the Democratic controlled House of Representatives and Senate? Or is the failure here in turning out the Democratic vote? Perhaps a little of both.
As an ardent supporter of universal healthcare for all Americans, perhaps Americans were frightened by the sticker-shock. Maybe, just maybe those tea-party-baggers did resonate in tonight’s election results when Governor Jon Corzine lost to his Republican challenger, Chris Christie.
As progressives rail against Joe Lieberman for even daring to filibuster healthcare reform, maybe the voters spoke out tonight? It will be a long time to dissect this election.
While the Florida representative, Alan Grayson spoke of the numbers who died each year due to lack of healthcare, I do suspect that voters could not conceptualize those numbers and only looked upon the numbers of their family budgets. Or they looked upon whether or not they had a job or not.
The Republican Virginian candidate, Bob McDonnell ran on a motto “Bob’s 4 Jobs” and to me that is a campaign message in a nut-shell with the national unemployment rate running at close to 10 percent. America so wants to work!
While the Democratic controlled federal government is trying to push forth healthcare reform when it needs it: My question is, if a person is without a job, how can they afford to pay any premium to an insurance company or the government for that matter? They simply can’t. If they cannot afford to pay either two since they do not have a job, should they be penalized? People’s first need is to eat in order to survive and they need money to pay for their groceries.
Perhaps that is exactly what the voters were playing with in their minds as they entered the voting booths today. Maybe those who refused to show up showed a weakness in the Democratic Party machine over the Republican machine. I can attest to the strength of the Republican Party here locally on Long Island as a former Republican. It used to be when you were called to show up, you did just that. That has never been the strength of the Democratic Party here on Long Island and perhaps that is the way other Democratic Parties operate nationally.
In my new job as a cashier for a food store, I do speak with my customers and in the fore-front of their minds is the high-cost of living. Sorry for all that are pushing healthcare, I have not once heard that. I see customers sticking to a budget. That is the real economy. With the unemployment rate hovering at ten percent, the most powerful words in today’s economy are “I have a job” and sorry to say, not healthcare. Perhaps jobs not healthcare for all should be the issue of the day.
While many progressives tried to paint the ‘tea baggers’ as a crazy bunch, there may have been something simmering just below the surface which delivered today’s off-year election results.
To close out this piece the difference between Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi and his Republican, Edward Mangano challenger is 237 votes. If you are a Democrat in Nassau County, this does not bode well. If you are a Republican, it gives you energy to fight another day.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
November 4, 2009
Forget about the NY 23rd congressional race that Sarah Palin, Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Gov. George Pataki interjected themselves in backing the Conservative candidate, Doug Hoffman over their fellow Republican, Dierdre Scozzafava. The true message of tonight’s Democratic Party slaughter can be found in the voice of the Nassau County, NY Democratic Party Chair, Jay Jacobs as reported by Newsday. He opined: "I just don't see Democrats coming out the way we would have liked," Jacobs said. "It doesn't mean anything terrible for the results, but it doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling right now."
Let me correct, Jacobs having worked numerous campaigns; the results are everything in the course of the body politics. Coming in second means just that. Second!
Well the results were terrible as the county legislature’s control switched tonight from Democrat to Republican. That is a FAR greater number of voters over the 23rd congressional district of NY. A message was lost to the party faithful and now they (the party heads) must own this defeat. Those who came out in droves to elect President Barack Obama last year; stayed home. The question is why?
What generated the Obama win was the GOTV (Get out the vote) via the net-roots and minority vote and perhaps they were not as engaged in this election than the past year. Are some elections more important than others when it comes to the political hierarchy? Local elections are by far the most important ones that directly affect a populous and the populous spoke back tonight.
Citizens are not really paying attention to far-away wars or who this country helps, they are paying attention to their personal bills such as, mortgages, property taxes and utility bills. So, if you are an Internet writer concentrating on foreign events, your words are lost to your fellow citizen as these elections proved.
As of this writing; Newsday reports: “With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Suozzi, a Glen Cove Democrat, leads Edward Mangano, a Republican from Bethpage, by 313 votes, according to the Nassau Board of Elections.” Yes, every vote does count. The Democratic incumbent, Tom Suozzi was thought to be a strong gubernatorial candidate a few years back and now he is in a horse race with his Republican challenger, Mangano? Either this does not compute or the times have significantly changed. This is surely to be a nail-biter to the very end as each vote is counted and thankfully done on lever machines.
Is this a slap-back at the Obama administration and the Democratic controlled House of Representatives and Senate? Or is the failure here in turning out the Democratic vote? Perhaps a little of both.
As an ardent supporter of universal healthcare for all Americans, perhaps Americans were frightened by the sticker-shock. Maybe, just maybe those tea-party-baggers did resonate in tonight’s election results when Governor Jon Corzine lost to his Republican challenger, Chris Christie.
As progressives rail against Joe Lieberman for even daring to filibuster healthcare reform, maybe the voters spoke out tonight? It will be a long time to dissect this election.
While the Florida representative, Alan Grayson spoke of the numbers who died each year due to lack of healthcare, I do suspect that voters could not conceptualize those numbers and only looked upon the numbers of their family budgets. Or they looked upon whether or not they had a job or not.
The Republican Virginian candidate, Bob McDonnell ran on a motto “Bob’s 4 Jobs” and to me that is a campaign message in a nut-shell with the national unemployment rate running at close to 10 percent. America so wants to work!
While the Democratic controlled federal government is trying to push forth healthcare reform when it needs it: My question is, if a person is without a job, how can they afford to pay any premium to an insurance company or the government for that matter? They simply can’t. If they cannot afford to pay either two since they do not have a job, should they be penalized? People’s first need is to eat in order to survive and they need money to pay for their groceries.
Perhaps that is exactly what the voters were playing with in their minds as they entered the voting booths today. Maybe those who refused to show up showed a weakness in the Democratic Party machine over the Republican machine. I can attest to the strength of the Republican Party here locally on Long Island as a former Republican. It used to be when you were called to show up, you did just that. That has never been the strength of the Democratic Party here on Long Island and perhaps that is the way other Democratic Parties operate nationally.
In my new job as a cashier for a food store, I do speak with my customers and in the fore-front of their minds is the high-cost of living. Sorry for all that are pushing healthcare, I have not once heard that. I see customers sticking to a budget. That is the real economy. With the unemployment rate hovering at ten percent, the most powerful words in today’s economy are “I have a job” and sorry to say, not healthcare. Perhaps jobs not healthcare for all should be the issue of the day.
While many progressives tried to paint the ‘tea baggers’ as a crazy bunch, there may have been something simmering just below the surface which delivered today’s off-year election results.
To close out this piece the difference between Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi and his Republican, Edward Mangano challenger is 237 votes. If you are a Democrat in Nassau County, this does not bode well. If you are a Republican, it gives you energy to fight another day.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Ineptitude of the US Gov’t in Continuing the War in Afghanistan
By Mary MacElveen
October 27, 2009
I just love when another’s prose hits you over the head and where you shout out: “YES!” That is exactly the response I gave after reading Paul Craig Robert’s piece: US Joins the Ranks of Failed States. So, much so, I had to spread it far and wide using Twitter and Facebook.com as you will see below. My suggestion to you is, READ IT!
US Joins Ranks Of Failed States: http://tinyurl.com/yh6yfoo Again, Paul Craig Roberts hits another home run! This is a MUST READ!!!
The other day, I wrote a column addressing war vs. healthcare titled: Baghdad bombings: We are a warrior nation instead of a healing nation citing the total amount of money it has cost so far in running these wars in the Middle East. But, thanks and I mean, thanks to Paul Craig Roberts, he breaks those numbers down further and will clearly show why we cannot afford healthcare. Example as cited in his eye-popping article: “According to reports, the US Marines in Afghanistan use 800,000 gallons of gasoline per day. At $400 per gallon, that comes to a $320,000,000 daily fuel bill for the Marines alone. Only a country totally out of control would squander resources in this way.” Exactly, how are these wars in our own national and even economic interests when we are spending money hand over many fists in order to pay for them?
In referencing a past column of mine which is no longer on-line: “You Don’t Defend America with a Lie” written back in May of 2003 I wrote: “A strong country means a country that is economically solvent, instead of insolvent. We have basically allowed a lie to put us in the red.” The lie I speak of is the Iraq War.
In addressing the ‘right war’; Afghanistan if any war is a right war, it too is draining us. First, we are losing our soldiers, innocent Afghanis and yes our fiscal treasure. We simply cannot afford this war.
To the war-hawks of this nation: Exactly how many years do you want to spend fighting this war? One year, two years, five years or a war without end? If you are in support of fighting a perpetual battle, then, hawks, you are fools! And some of you call yourselves fiscal conservatives. To that I add: Hah!
On September 17th, 2009, I came across an article on Truthout.org titled: Afghanistan: Where Empires go to Die. Alone, that title speaks for itself. No further words are needed given any nation’s history fighting a war in Afghanistan. But, according to this article: “The United States Empire is following a long line of empires and conquerors that have met their end in Afghanistan. The Median and Persian Empires, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, the Indo-Greeks, Turks, Mongols, British and Soviets all met the end of their ambitions in Afghanistan.” I highly recommend to all that they read this insightful piece.
Yet, some want the United States to stay the course in Afghanistan. History is indeed repeating itself even thinking we can win. We are sending our men and women into a meat-grinder as our country’s fiscal reserves are facing the same fate.
Think of this, we are printing dollar-after-dollar to fund these wars, borrowing handily from China and quite frankly handing all of them over to the defense industry. Those blood suckers are draining we the people.
Some will scream of the cost of healthcare; yet say nothing and I mean nothing when it comes to the cost of these endless wars. Do they think that at one point, we can defeat say Al Qaeda and the Taliban where they will throw up their arms and say: “You won!” at some point? Nonsense, this is a major blow-back just waiting to happen. Then again, we are already feeling the financial blow-back by throwing our good money down the drain in supporting these wars.
Again, reverting back to my 2003 column, I wrote: “should a greater threat occur, how will we pay for it?” That threat can come in many ways and perhaps it already has when we as a country cannot even afford basic healthcare for all. What of any new enemy that looms large on the horizon who can attack us given the right set of circumstances? Are they just laying in wait as we spend our selves out of control with these two wars going? Perhaps and more importantly, yes.
What of the millions we displaced in Iraq? Are a good number of them just waiting their turn as we turned their homeland into a hell on Earth? Just something to think about.
What of the devastation we may face should another attack occur within our borders or a series of attacks? A nightmare scenario would be if a nuclear plant was attacked. I have addressed this in the past and where the casualty rate will be higher than the casualty rates of 9/11. But since some would rather focus on the costs: Exactly how would we pay for said nightmare scenario or a series of attacks?
I will end this piece with a quote made by Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (former Chief of Staff to the former Secretary of State Colin Powell) who once said of the “ineptitude” of the US government: “If something comes along that is truly serious, truly serious. Something like a nuclear weapon going off in a major city or a pandemic, you are going to see the ineptitude of this government in a way that will take you back to the Declaration of Independence.” He opined this as he was interviewed on CNN's "Late Edition" on November 20th, 2005.
This ineptitude of fighting years-upon-years in Afghanistan is driving all of us off the financial cliff. $320,000,000 for a daily fuel bill in Afghanistan: How many uninsured Americans could be seen by a doctor using that figure?
I would like to add an addendum to this piece: In posting my article, I read where we just lost eight U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan today where October has been one of the deadliest months. How many more shall the US gov’t kill should we fight a war without end? Enough!
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
October 27, 2009
I just love when another’s prose hits you over the head and where you shout out: “YES!” That is exactly the response I gave after reading Paul Craig Robert’s piece: US Joins the Ranks of Failed States. So, much so, I had to spread it far and wide using Twitter and Facebook.com as you will see below. My suggestion to you is, READ IT!
US Joins Ranks Of Failed States: http://tinyurl.com/yh6yfoo Again, Paul Craig Roberts hits another home run! This is a MUST READ!!!
The other day, I wrote a column addressing war vs. healthcare titled: Baghdad bombings: We are a warrior nation instead of a healing nation citing the total amount of money it has cost so far in running these wars in the Middle East. But, thanks and I mean, thanks to Paul Craig Roberts, he breaks those numbers down further and will clearly show why we cannot afford healthcare. Example as cited in his eye-popping article: “According to reports, the US Marines in Afghanistan use 800,000 gallons of gasoline per day. At $400 per gallon, that comes to a $320,000,000 daily fuel bill for the Marines alone. Only a country totally out of control would squander resources in this way.” Exactly, how are these wars in our own national and even economic interests when we are spending money hand over many fists in order to pay for them?
In referencing a past column of mine which is no longer on-line: “You Don’t Defend America with a Lie” written back in May of 2003 I wrote: “A strong country means a country that is economically solvent, instead of insolvent. We have basically allowed a lie to put us in the red.” The lie I speak of is the Iraq War.
In addressing the ‘right war’; Afghanistan if any war is a right war, it too is draining us. First, we are losing our soldiers, innocent Afghanis and yes our fiscal treasure. We simply cannot afford this war.
To the war-hawks of this nation: Exactly how many years do you want to spend fighting this war? One year, two years, five years or a war without end? If you are in support of fighting a perpetual battle, then, hawks, you are fools! And some of you call yourselves fiscal conservatives. To that I add: Hah!
On September 17th, 2009, I came across an article on Truthout.org titled: Afghanistan: Where Empires go to Die. Alone, that title speaks for itself. No further words are needed given any nation’s history fighting a war in Afghanistan. But, according to this article: “The United States Empire is following a long line of empires and conquerors that have met their end in Afghanistan. The Median and Persian Empires, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, the Indo-Greeks, Turks, Mongols, British and Soviets all met the end of their ambitions in Afghanistan.” I highly recommend to all that they read this insightful piece.
Yet, some want the United States to stay the course in Afghanistan. History is indeed repeating itself even thinking we can win. We are sending our men and women into a meat-grinder as our country’s fiscal reserves are facing the same fate.
Think of this, we are printing dollar-after-dollar to fund these wars, borrowing handily from China and quite frankly handing all of them over to the defense industry. Those blood suckers are draining we the people.
Some will scream of the cost of healthcare; yet say nothing and I mean nothing when it comes to the cost of these endless wars. Do they think that at one point, we can defeat say Al Qaeda and the Taliban where they will throw up their arms and say: “You won!” at some point? Nonsense, this is a major blow-back just waiting to happen. Then again, we are already feeling the financial blow-back by throwing our good money down the drain in supporting these wars.
Again, reverting back to my 2003 column, I wrote: “should a greater threat occur, how will we pay for it?” That threat can come in many ways and perhaps it already has when we as a country cannot even afford basic healthcare for all. What of any new enemy that looms large on the horizon who can attack us given the right set of circumstances? Are they just laying in wait as we spend our selves out of control with these two wars going? Perhaps and more importantly, yes.
What of the millions we displaced in Iraq? Are a good number of them just waiting their turn as we turned their homeland into a hell on Earth? Just something to think about.
What of the devastation we may face should another attack occur within our borders or a series of attacks? A nightmare scenario would be if a nuclear plant was attacked. I have addressed this in the past and where the casualty rate will be higher than the casualty rates of 9/11. But since some would rather focus on the costs: Exactly how would we pay for said nightmare scenario or a series of attacks?
I will end this piece with a quote made by Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (former Chief of Staff to the former Secretary of State Colin Powell) who once said of the “ineptitude” of the US government: “If something comes along that is truly serious, truly serious. Something like a nuclear weapon going off in a major city or a pandemic, you are going to see the ineptitude of this government in a way that will take you back to the Declaration of Independence.” He opined this as he was interviewed on CNN's "Late Edition" on November 20th, 2005.
This ineptitude of fighting years-upon-years in Afghanistan is driving all of us off the financial cliff. $320,000,000 for a daily fuel bill in Afghanistan: How many uninsured Americans could be seen by a doctor using that figure?
I would like to add an addendum to this piece: In posting my article, I read where we just lost eight U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan today where October has been one of the deadliest months. How many more shall the US gov’t kill should we fight a war without end? Enough!
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Baghdad bombings: We are a warrior nation instead of a healing nation
By Mary MacElveen
October 26, 2009
We say we are a nation at war, but how can we actually say that upon reading that suicide bombers took the lives of 147 Iraqis and where 500 more were wounded? We the United States of America had a causal affect in these lone bombings since we destabilized this sovereign country.
As I have said from day one when we launched “Shock and Awe”, the Iraqi people have undergone a 9/11 event on a daily basis for six years without any end in sight. Through our own actions at the hands the previous Bush administration, we became the terrorists of an innocent people. When will it stop? We who voted for President Obama were hoping and praying for a real change, yet, the killings go on. They are not only felt in Iraq, but are consistently being felt in Afghanistan and as reports are filed; Pakistan.
How can we exactly say we are a nation at war when we are not suffering from daily attacks? Yes, our military and their families do, but not we the people. We would rather focus on the ‘Balloon Boy’, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton and the list goes on. We cannot even imagine the life of an Iraqi citizen or an Afghani citizen. Their lives are a daily hell on Earth.
While I am not a subscriber online to “The New Yorker” I was able to pick out key points in Jane Mayer’s article “The Predator War”. In it, Mayer writes: “reports of fatal air strikes in Pakistan emerge every few days. According to a new study by the New America Foundation, the number of drone strikes has gone up dramatically since Obama became President. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the defense contractor that manufactures the Predator and its more heavily armed sibling, the Reaper, can barely keep up with the government’s demand. With public disenchantment mounting over the U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan, many in Washington support an even greater reliance on Predator strikes.”
Just think about it: You are an innocent Pakistani family who had no part in 9/11 and a bomb comes crashing through your home through a predator bomb delivered by a drone. You are not Al Qaeda, but a family trying to get by in this arduous world filled with war and violence.
I wrote exactly the same way after the launch of “Shock and Awe” as it affected the Iraqi people.
Yes, ‘Tenthers’ you are paying for wars without end, yet gripe when it comes to healthcare. You cite where providing healthcare for all is unconstitutional: What of perpetual wars?
In reading my Sunday edition of Newsday, I came upon a photo where a group of protesters were holding a sign stating: “Our “10” Amendment Means NO!! To Gov’t Healthcare!!” I would love to pose the question to these protestors: What of warfare since we have been at war in the Middle East since 2001? Oops, I forgot about the Iraqi War during the first Bush administration and the sanctions during the Clinton administration. When exactly will we exit this region and put a stop to our footprint in this region? After all, we the taxpayers are paying for these perpetual wars without any end in sight.
In a tweet on Twitter.com, I posed this question yesterday: “GOP say Dems health care plans too costly: http://tinyurl.com/ygzutqx What price war?: http://www.costofwar.com/ $924 billion!” Tenthers, where is your angst at that amount of money being spent on wars? You gripe at the amount to be spent on healthcare, what of war?
Just before the previous Bush administration launched “Shock and Awe” those of us who protested this ongoing war in Iraq were not listened to, yet, ‘tea-baggers’ who oppose real reform in healthcare are? Our morals are skewed if we can see merit in being a warrior nation as opposed to a healing nation.
October 26, 2009
We say we are a nation at war, but how can we actually say that upon reading that suicide bombers took the lives of 147 Iraqis and where 500 more were wounded? We the United States of America had a causal affect in these lone bombings since we destabilized this sovereign country.
As I have said from day one when we launched “Shock and Awe”, the Iraqi people have undergone a 9/11 event on a daily basis for six years without any end in sight. Through our own actions at the hands the previous Bush administration, we became the terrorists of an innocent people. When will it stop? We who voted for President Obama were hoping and praying for a real change, yet, the killings go on. They are not only felt in Iraq, but are consistently being felt in Afghanistan and as reports are filed; Pakistan.
How can we exactly say we are a nation at war when we are not suffering from daily attacks? Yes, our military and their families do, but not we the people. We would rather focus on the ‘Balloon Boy’, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton and the list goes on. We cannot even imagine the life of an Iraqi citizen or an Afghani citizen. Their lives are a daily hell on Earth.
While I am not a subscriber online to “The New Yorker” I was able to pick out key points in Jane Mayer’s article “The Predator War”. In it, Mayer writes: “reports of fatal air strikes in Pakistan emerge every few days. According to a new study by the New America Foundation, the number of drone strikes has gone up dramatically since Obama became President. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the defense contractor that manufactures the Predator and its more heavily armed sibling, the Reaper, can barely keep up with the government’s demand. With public disenchantment mounting over the U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan, many in Washington support an even greater reliance on Predator strikes.”
Just think about it: You are an innocent Pakistani family who had no part in 9/11 and a bomb comes crashing through your home through a predator bomb delivered by a drone. You are not Al Qaeda, but a family trying to get by in this arduous world filled with war and violence.
I wrote exactly the same way after the launch of “Shock and Awe” as it affected the Iraqi people.
Yes, ‘Tenthers’ you are paying for wars without end, yet gripe when it comes to healthcare. You cite where providing healthcare for all is unconstitutional: What of perpetual wars?
In reading my Sunday edition of Newsday, I came upon a photo where a group of protesters were holding a sign stating: “Our “10” Amendment Means NO!! To Gov’t Healthcare!!” I would love to pose the question to these protestors: What of warfare since we have been at war in the Middle East since 2001? Oops, I forgot about the Iraqi War during the first Bush administration and the sanctions during the Clinton administration. When exactly will we exit this region and put a stop to our footprint in this region? After all, we the taxpayers are paying for these perpetual wars without any end in sight.
In a tweet on Twitter.com, I posed this question yesterday: “GOP say Dems health care plans too costly: http://tinyurl.com/ygzutqx What price war?: http://www.costofwar.com/ $924 billion!” Tenthers, where is your angst at that amount of money being spent on wars? You gripe at the amount to be spent on healthcare, what of war?
Just before the previous Bush administration launched “Shock and Awe” those of us who protested this ongoing war in Iraq were not listened to, yet, ‘tea-baggers’ who oppose real reform in healthcare are? Our morals are skewed if we can see merit in being a warrior nation as opposed to a healing nation.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Friday, October 23, 2009
A change of heart: Sex offenders who kill deserve the death penalty
By Mary MacElveen
October 24, 2009
This will be one of my shortest op-ed pieces within nine years of writing them, but I must come clean. In as much as I say that I am pro-life where I have stated I am pro-life from cradle-to-grave, I must, I must take back that mantle especially when it comes to child sexual predators. These monsters will at times take the lives of innocent victims, namely children. Our precious children gone before the promise of their lives not realized to all of us.
If a writer is to be honest with their readers, then they must be honest with themselves first and foremost. Over the years I have read up on pedophilia and have written of it. There are no words to adequately describe my feelings towards these predators. If I had to choose one word, it would be ‘hate’. That word at times seems tame.
In delving into the heinous world of pedophilia, one cannot take enough hot showers to clean themselves from reading story-upon-story of children raped and murdered by demons. I want these demons dead. I cannot stomach their apologists or those who try, try to explain away their deviant behavior. How dare they?! Let them face a child who has survived a predator or a parent whose child was taken by one.
I do not want these demons out within our neighborhoods being told to register under Megan’s Law, I want them locked up. Is that so much to ask of our stupid politicians who think this is the best way of dealing with sexual offenders? In doing so, it is their abdication of judicial responsibility to deal with these predators. They expect us to deal with them instead of them. I have stated that from the get-go, yet, yet no one listens.
Tonight, I had to put out a tweet on Twitter.com and my Facebook.com page this entry: “My tears and anguish go out to Diena Thompson whose daughter Somer was killed by a child predator: http://tinyurl.com/yzw7g4a. Fry him!”
It is my sincere hope that you sit and listen to Diena Thompson openly grieve fully knowing that her beloved Somer will not come back to her again and murdered at the hands of a predator. Whose rights should we as a society be protecting? The rights of the victim(s) or the rights of the predator(s)?
Somer Thompson and children just like her namely Jessica Lunsford will not be coming back to their loved ones or to us and it is time we stand up for them. We as a society must demand of our politicos that if you sexually harm a child and are declared a level three sex offender, you are never getting out of prison. If you kill a child in the act of any sexual act, you will face the death penalty. It is the least we can do for those most innocent amongst us; our children.
So, I guess I am not pro-life from cradle-to-grave; but justice for the most innocent amongst us rings louder in my ears. I hope that you hear them too.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
October 24, 2009
This will be one of my shortest op-ed pieces within nine years of writing them, but I must come clean. In as much as I say that I am pro-life where I have stated I am pro-life from cradle-to-grave, I must, I must take back that mantle especially when it comes to child sexual predators. These monsters will at times take the lives of innocent victims, namely children. Our precious children gone before the promise of their lives not realized to all of us.
If a writer is to be honest with their readers, then they must be honest with themselves first and foremost. Over the years I have read up on pedophilia and have written of it. There are no words to adequately describe my feelings towards these predators. If I had to choose one word, it would be ‘hate’. That word at times seems tame.
In delving into the heinous world of pedophilia, one cannot take enough hot showers to clean themselves from reading story-upon-story of children raped and murdered by demons. I want these demons dead. I cannot stomach their apologists or those who try, try to explain away their deviant behavior. How dare they?! Let them face a child who has survived a predator or a parent whose child was taken by one.
I do not want these demons out within our neighborhoods being told to register under Megan’s Law, I want them locked up. Is that so much to ask of our stupid politicians who think this is the best way of dealing with sexual offenders? In doing so, it is their abdication of judicial responsibility to deal with these predators. They expect us to deal with them instead of them. I have stated that from the get-go, yet, yet no one listens.
Tonight, I had to put out a tweet on Twitter.com and my Facebook.com page this entry: “My tears and anguish go out to Diena Thompson whose daughter Somer was killed by a child predator: http://tinyurl.com/yzw7g4a. Fry him!”
It is my sincere hope that you sit and listen to Diena Thompson openly grieve fully knowing that her beloved Somer will not come back to her again and murdered at the hands of a predator. Whose rights should we as a society be protecting? The rights of the victim(s) or the rights of the predator(s)?
Somer Thompson and children just like her namely Jessica Lunsford will not be coming back to their loved ones or to us and it is time we stand up for them. We as a society must demand of our politicos that if you sexually harm a child and are declared a level three sex offender, you are never getting out of prison. If you kill a child in the act of any sexual act, you will face the death penalty. It is the least we can do for those most innocent amongst us; our children.
So, I guess I am not pro-life from cradle-to-grave; but justice for the most innocent amongst us rings louder in my ears. I hope that you hear them too.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Email sent to Suffolk Cty., NY politicians regarding mass transportation
To My Elected Officials, October 22, 2009
At the bottom of this email to all of you, I will name all of you whom I elected to serve the people. I fully believe that transportation within Suffolk County, NY is key to getting people where they need to go. I am not speaking of cars or other forms of personal transportation, but mass transportation. First due to the economy, many cannot afford to own a vehicle, fill its tanks and pay for the insurance. How are they supposed to get from point A to point B? By bus? I invite all of you to look over the Suffolk County bus schedule and see if there are buses for you to take to your work or those who work for you.
As you will see, NO buses run on Sundays or after dark and people do work on Sundays and after 6 PM throughout the week. So, how are they supposed to get to and from work or shopping for that matter? This is where I wish that politicians would place themselves in our shoes for at least a week to see the burdens we face.
I can attest to the fact that being an epileptic who does not drive for medical reasons, being without personal transportation is akin to being a prisoner in one’s home. I am at the mercy of cabs for the most part and let me tell you as a cashier at Stop and Shop who makes $7.50 per hour the fare to my job costs $8 dollars per fare. Thankfully there is a bus that I can take, but it is not frequent enough and only costs me $1.50 to get there. However, it does take me ten-to-fifteen minutes to walk to my bus-stop and after being on my feet for hours, walking is the last thing I want to do.
If I am scheduled to work on a Sunday or at nights, I am out of luck and I am then at the mercy of Lindy’s Cab Company. How would you like a life like that? I have had friends and family say to me: “Call me if you need a ride” and while I am grateful, it is NOT their responsibility to get me to and from work. It is mine.
Do you finally get it now of the hardships we who do not drive for medical or economic reasons face? This is our world and welcome to it.
As a former political activist who routinely receives emails asking exorbitant amounts of moneys to donate to this campaign or that, it sickens me when I have to plead to all of you to help me get from point A to point B by bus. At times, I feel as if no one is listening to my pleas by only wish money sent to all of you in order to help you get elected or re-elected. Well my wallet is closed shut!
All I am asking or rather pleading for all of you to do is to help me and others like me get to work or shopping and liberate us from our prisons when we have no way of getting to where we want to go. That is what we elected all of you to do. It is time you serve we the people and not the other way around!
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Email sent to:
Congressman, Tim Bishop
County Executive, Steve Levy
County Legislator, Dan Lasquadro
Councilwoman, Jane Bonner
Assemblyman, Marc Alessi
State Senator, Ken LaValle
At the bottom of this email to all of you, I will name all of you whom I elected to serve the people. I fully believe that transportation within Suffolk County, NY is key to getting people where they need to go. I am not speaking of cars or other forms of personal transportation, but mass transportation. First due to the economy, many cannot afford to own a vehicle, fill its tanks and pay for the insurance. How are they supposed to get from point A to point B? By bus? I invite all of you to look over the Suffolk County bus schedule and see if there are buses for you to take to your work or those who work for you.
As you will see, NO buses run on Sundays or after dark and people do work on Sundays and after 6 PM throughout the week. So, how are they supposed to get to and from work or shopping for that matter? This is where I wish that politicians would place themselves in our shoes for at least a week to see the burdens we face.
I can attest to the fact that being an epileptic who does not drive for medical reasons, being without personal transportation is akin to being a prisoner in one’s home. I am at the mercy of cabs for the most part and let me tell you as a cashier at Stop and Shop who makes $7.50 per hour the fare to my job costs $8 dollars per fare. Thankfully there is a bus that I can take, but it is not frequent enough and only costs me $1.50 to get there. However, it does take me ten-to-fifteen minutes to walk to my bus-stop and after being on my feet for hours, walking is the last thing I want to do.
If I am scheduled to work on a Sunday or at nights, I am out of luck and I am then at the mercy of Lindy’s Cab Company. How would you like a life like that? I have had friends and family say to me: “Call me if you need a ride” and while I am grateful, it is NOT their responsibility to get me to and from work. It is mine.
Do you finally get it now of the hardships we who do not drive for medical or economic reasons face? This is our world and welcome to it.
As a former political activist who routinely receives emails asking exorbitant amounts of moneys to donate to this campaign or that, it sickens me when I have to plead to all of you to help me get from point A to point B by bus. At times, I feel as if no one is listening to my pleas by only wish money sent to all of you in order to help you get elected or re-elected. Well my wallet is closed shut!
All I am asking or rather pleading for all of you to do is to help me and others like me get to work or shopping and liberate us from our prisons when we have no way of getting to where we want to go. That is what we elected all of you to do. It is time you serve we the people and not the other way around!
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Email sent to:
Congressman, Tim Bishop
County Executive, Steve Levy
County Legislator, Dan Lasquadro
Councilwoman, Jane Bonner
Assemblyman, Marc Alessi
State Senator, Ken LaValle
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
An idea how to help the Clinton Global Initiative
By Mary MacElveen
September 23, 2009
Tonight, I watched former President Bill Clinton on the Dave Letterman Show and he asked if anyone has an idea to help those most needy not only in our country, but the world. I was personally touched when he reached out to the audience not only in the studio, but those viewing the broadcast.
As a writer, I am going to let you into my personal life somewhat. A few weeks ago for very personal reasons, I found myself not able to provide food for my two children ages 19 and 17. I will not go into those reasons why, but tell you that a dear friend of mine who works for my local church availed me of their food pantry as well as ways of gaining employment. I was extremely thankful to her and the church as well. The food we ate that came from that pantry tasted like manna from Heaven.
Since then, I have gained employment at my local grocery store and I have come up with an idea to help the Clinton Global Initiative. Each time you go food shopping, pick up items that you can donate to your local food shelters and pantries instead of the junk food one can purchase while shopping.
With obesity being one of the main killers in our society, my suggestion would be is to pick up canned fruit, or fresh vegetables to donate to one’s food pantries or shelters. It does not have to be costly, but merely a substitute for the high-fat and high-calorie foods the poor of our society have been forced to purchase due to the low-price of fast food. Let us all help steer them towards a food pantry instead of McDonalds or Burger King.
Many within our United States congress have been obstructionists towards healthcare for all and simply by purchasing food items that are healthier for the poor to eat, we can change the healthcare system. Instead of the poor in our society having to eat a burger from one of these burger chains, they can gain sustenance from a box of pasta with the sauce that goes with it. Please make sure that the sauce is low in sodium content.
In working for a local grocery chain, there are many weeks we do have healthy food items on sale. All it takes is for you, the consumer to look in your flyers to help your fellow citizens. Instead of that bottle of soda, you can purchase a staple item that will fill the bellies of children within your neighborhood. As they eat it, they will be grateful to you even if they do not know who you are. I can personally attest to this.
I am truly thankful that David Letterman had on as his guest our former president, Bill Clinton to spread ideas of how we can help our fellow citizens as well as people all around the world. Now let us go out shopping to help those most needy around us.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, no permission is needed, simply spread the word.
September 23, 2009
Tonight, I watched former President Bill Clinton on the Dave Letterman Show and he asked if anyone has an idea to help those most needy not only in our country, but the world. I was personally touched when he reached out to the audience not only in the studio, but those viewing the broadcast.
As a writer, I am going to let you into my personal life somewhat. A few weeks ago for very personal reasons, I found myself not able to provide food for my two children ages 19 and 17. I will not go into those reasons why, but tell you that a dear friend of mine who works for my local church availed me of their food pantry as well as ways of gaining employment. I was extremely thankful to her and the church as well. The food we ate that came from that pantry tasted like manna from Heaven.
Since then, I have gained employment at my local grocery store and I have come up with an idea to help the Clinton Global Initiative. Each time you go food shopping, pick up items that you can donate to your local food shelters and pantries instead of the junk food one can purchase while shopping.
With obesity being one of the main killers in our society, my suggestion would be is to pick up canned fruit, or fresh vegetables to donate to one’s food pantries or shelters. It does not have to be costly, but merely a substitute for the high-fat and high-calorie foods the poor of our society have been forced to purchase due to the low-price of fast food. Let us all help steer them towards a food pantry instead of McDonalds or Burger King.
Many within our United States congress have been obstructionists towards healthcare for all and simply by purchasing food items that are healthier for the poor to eat, we can change the healthcare system. Instead of the poor in our society having to eat a burger from one of these burger chains, they can gain sustenance from a box of pasta with the sauce that goes with it. Please make sure that the sauce is low in sodium content.
In working for a local grocery chain, there are many weeks we do have healthy food items on sale. All it takes is for you, the consumer to look in your flyers to help your fellow citizens. Instead of that bottle of soda, you can purchase a staple item that will fill the bellies of children within your neighborhood. As they eat it, they will be grateful to you even if they do not know who you are. I can personally attest to this.
I am truly thankful that David Letterman had on as his guest our former president, Bill Clinton to spread ideas of how we can help our fellow citizens as well as people all around the world. Now let us go out shopping to help those most needy around us.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, no permission is needed, simply spread the word.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September 11th anniversary: We must realize wars without end is not the answer
By Mary MacElveen
September 11, 2009
On both my Twitter page and my Facebook.com page, I wrote this entry concerning the of eighth-year anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks upon this country: “With reverence to the victims who died on September 11, 2001, we must realize a war without end is not the answer!”
At this point, hearing or reading upon death upon death, I do not care what your belief of how so many died on that day. All I care of is how many took place because a government dropped the ball and how many lives were lost due to those circumstances. Each life lost on that day was precious and most importantly we must realize that fact.
According to Anti-War.com, they have listed every single name of one of OUR soldiers who have died since May 1st, 2003 in Iraq without bringing those who lost their lives in Afghanistan. As we concentrate on beefing up the forces in that country, many more will die as we have seen with increased military deaths in the past few months. We must NOT forget of the civilian deaths in both Afghanistan and Iraq. What crime did they commit to die by the hands of our country? Nothing!
As many have concentrated solely on military deaths, I have taken important notice of the civilian deaths, especially babies. I have seen their photos and it sickens me to death. I have seen the photos of our soldiers whose faces and bodies have been ripped to shreds realizing there is NO purpose to these endless wars. Oh God, stop these wars!
Last night as our President, Barack Obama was discussing healthcare before a joint congressional message to both houses of congress, a South Carolina congressman, Joe Wilson called him a liar when it came to the question of coverage for undocumented immigrants of this country. According to the AP, he shouted out with finger pointed: “You liar”. At that point, I wanted to smack him across the face! I still do as he was forced by the Republican leadership to apologize to the president.
It galls me that if someone had done the same thing and directed it at former President, George W. Bush, he or she would have been scorned for a life-time and thrown out of either the senate or congress. Most likely, he or she would have been branded un-patriotic and thrown into GITMO.
Here we have a president who is trying to save lives through better healthcare as opposed to a former president who lied through his teeth to end lives. I would call that unforgiveable.
Looking back and remembering that bright-sunny day where over 3,000 lives were lost: one of the most memorable visual imageries I will take away from that day is of how many leapt to their deaths from the Twin Towers or the first-responders who climbed their own stair ways to Heaven in order to save lives. We must not forget their selfless sacrifice to our country and their fellow human beings.
I fully believe that we who cherish life must own this day forever more instead of those who seek to destroy lives. The victims of that day would be screaming from the Heavens above for us to do so. After all, they know what it is like to lose their lives where we do not.
As many of our fellow citizens scream out for healthcare not only for themselves, but for others, we must remember how much money is being spent on wars without end. While some estimates say this new healthcare package will cost $900 billion over ten years, the wars without end have so far cost you and me, a little over $908 billion dollars and still climbing by the second.
Do we say to the victims of September 11, 2001: We do not care how you died, we only care of war, or do we say to them we for once will get this right? What is right after all? Till we blow each other to smithereens or till we finally get it that life is worth preserving?
Attacks to our country come in many forms and one of them is nature. Nature has taught us that if man does not strike, oh she will. These lessons can be learned from the hurricanes that struck us in Katrina, Rita and Gustav to the firestorms that have hit California lately. All of these events bring about terror to their victims and let us not forget about the costs of helping these victims.
In these events, we do not have any body or any group to target, but the lives lost are as equally important to those who died on September 11th, 2001. Perhaps, that is our lesson after all.
To those who lost loved ones on September 11th, my heart breaks for you. All who died on that horrific day are forever in my prayers as I oppose these wars without end. We have had enough people dying and it is time to say enough and to change the course of this country.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: To use portions of this column, please email the author.
September 11, 2009
On both my Twitter page and my Facebook.com page, I wrote this entry concerning the of eighth-year anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks upon this country: “With reverence to the victims who died on September 11, 2001, we must realize a war without end is not the answer!”
At this point, hearing or reading upon death upon death, I do not care what your belief of how so many died on that day. All I care of is how many took place because a government dropped the ball and how many lives were lost due to those circumstances. Each life lost on that day was precious and most importantly we must realize that fact.
According to Anti-War.com, they have listed every single name of one of OUR soldiers who have died since May 1st, 2003 in Iraq without bringing those who lost their lives in Afghanistan. As we concentrate on beefing up the forces in that country, many more will die as we have seen with increased military deaths in the past few months. We must NOT forget of the civilian deaths in both Afghanistan and Iraq. What crime did they commit to die by the hands of our country? Nothing!
As many have concentrated solely on military deaths, I have taken important notice of the civilian deaths, especially babies. I have seen their photos and it sickens me to death. I have seen the photos of our soldiers whose faces and bodies have been ripped to shreds realizing there is NO purpose to these endless wars. Oh God, stop these wars!
Last night as our President, Barack Obama was discussing healthcare before a joint congressional message to both houses of congress, a South Carolina congressman, Joe Wilson called him a liar when it came to the question of coverage for undocumented immigrants of this country. According to the AP, he shouted out with finger pointed: “You liar”. At that point, I wanted to smack him across the face! I still do as he was forced by the Republican leadership to apologize to the president.
It galls me that if someone had done the same thing and directed it at former President, George W. Bush, he or she would have been scorned for a life-time and thrown out of either the senate or congress. Most likely, he or she would have been branded un-patriotic and thrown into GITMO.
Here we have a president who is trying to save lives through better healthcare as opposed to a former president who lied through his teeth to end lives. I would call that unforgiveable.
Looking back and remembering that bright-sunny day where over 3,000 lives were lost: one of the most memorable visual imageries I will take away from that day is of how many leapt to their deaths from the Twin Towers or the first-responders who climbed their own stair ways to Heaven in order to save lives. We must not forget their selfless sacrifice to our country and their fellow human beings.
I fully believe that we who cherish life must own this day forever more instead of those who seek to destroy lives. The victims of that day would be screaming from the Heavens above for us to do so. After all, they know what it is like to lose their lives where we do not.
As many of our fellow citizens scream out for healthcare not only for themselves, but for others, we must remember how much money is being spent on wars without end. While some estimates say this new healthcare package will cost $900 billion over ten years, the wars without end have so far cost you and me, a little over $908 billion dollars and still climbing by the second.
Do we say to the victims of September 11, 2001: We do not care how you died, we only care of war, or do we say to them we for once will get this right? What is right after all? Till we blow each other to smithereens or till we finally get it that life is worth preserving?
Attacks to our country come in many forms and one of them is nature. Nature has taught us that if man does not strike, oh she will. These lessons can be learned from the hurricanes that struck us in Katrina, Rita and Gustav to the firestorms that have hit California lately. All of these events bring about terror to their victims and let us not forget about the costs of helping these victims.
In these events, we do not have any body or any group to target, but the lives lost are as equally important to those who died on September 11th, 2001. Perhaps, that is our lesson after all.
To those who lost loved ones on September 11th, my heart breaks for you. All who died on that horrific day are forever in my prayers as I oppose these wars without end. We have had enough people dying and it is time to say enough and to change the course of this country.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: To use portions of this column, please email the author.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Is protecting health insurance companies truly healthcare reform?
By Mary MacElveen
September 9, 2009
We have all seen commercial ads for prescription drugs one can take for any number of ailments: such as taking Lipitor for one’s cholesterol and if I were an uninsured citizen of this country who suffers from high cholesterol, I would quite frankly see that ad as a tease. Oh sure, you can take this drug, but it is going to cost you. But before being prescribed this drug, one must see a doctor. Wait, without being covered and being able to see a doctor, one cannot get this drug.
Here is the latest Lipitor ad that is currently running on most stations? Is he simply an actor or someone that does suffer from high cholesterol? Regardless of who he is, still to produce that ad and air it costs money and more likely than not the cost of producing it trickles down to the price of the drug.
How many of us have gone to the doctor if we can afford it and say, “I want to be placed on this drug” instead of letting the doctor diagnose your ailment and prescribe the best course of treatment. Drug companies bank on you doing just that.
Just recently, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital began running ads on cable networks hoping that YOU will choose it should you need healthcare. It begs the question: If you do not have health insurance, just how are you going to afford to become their patient? If I were an uninsured person, it would be akin to a child looking through the window of a toy store knowing his or her parents could not afford said toy.
Ad-buys for drugs or hospitals cost money, so it should not be a total surprise to any of us why healthcare for all Americans is out of reach for the 47 million who presently are uninsured.
Here is an ad for Anthem-Blue Cross and I would love to know how much they spent in the making of that commercial which likely uses actors. How much did it cost them to buy ad-space on the television networks that carried it? Let us not forget the actors, since they are paid to appear in commercials. Do these ad-buys contribute to high premiums one must pay? You actually think the executives of these companies would eat the cost of making these commercials? Like any business, the cost is born by the customer.
Those politicos who are presently railing against the ‘public option’ or dare I say single-payer health care foresee competition between these health insurance companies as our best bet. Wait a gosh darn minute. In order to compete: Wouldn’t these companies need to advertise their rates and services by using commercial ad-buys?
In reading this article published today: How Much Do Television Ads Cost?, please take note of this passage: “It has been estimated that the average cost of producing a 30-second national TV commercial is nearly $350,000. But before you panic, understand that like any other form of advertising, a television commercial can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Not surprisingly, the cost to produce the commercial goes up as the quality and complexity of the commercial increases.”
We have all heard of how much ads cost to run during the Super Bowl and will these health insurance companies run ads during them all in the name of competition? Instead of $350,000 going towards patient care and coverage, competition between health insurance companies will bring about an explosion in ad-buys.
I can almost hear the salivating of advertising agencies just ready to exploit this fraud perpetrated upon the people called, “Health insurance company based health reform”
One does have to wonder if cable and broadcast networks are almost banking on the competition between insurance companies as being their best bet to make money. Should this be the reform that will be shoved down our throats: How much will cable networks such as Fox, CNN, MSNBC and others like it make? How much will broadcast networks like ABC, CBS and NBC make as well? I can almost hear the CFOs of all just waiting for the big-bucks to roll on in.
The AFL-CIO just recently reported of claims being denied out in California and where they opined that these companies are the truth ‘death panels’. These health insurance companies are first and foremost businesses who rely on people buying their product. Your dollars are their life’s blood. Instead of paying a claim: How many of them have been advertising and please keep that $350,000 ad-buy rate in mind.
Named in their report was PacifiCare which: “denied 40 percent of all California claims.” Interestingly enough, I found this PacifiCare ad on YouTube.com. How many will purchase their healthcare product not knowing they have denied claims to Californians? More importantly: What chunk of the claims benefits denied went into the making of this ad?
I cannot understand how protecting insurance companies is our best bet when this news report on PacifiCare told how they dropped a man’s coverage, which cost him $60,000. He had to have a kidney removed which had a cancerous tumor on it.
I know free-market thinkers and believers just hate the term regulation, but we saw the damage done by banks who went for years unregulated. If this is the health reform package shoved down America’s throat that solely supports health insurance companies, then they need to be regulated.
As we watch the President’s speech on healthcare reform tonight, look out amongst the sea of faces who would rather protect insurance companies than providing healthcare for all Americans. There are 47 million Americans who are in dire need of healthcare who have been shut out of our present system.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
September 9, 2009
We have all seen commercial ads for prescription drugs one can take for any number of ailments: such as taking Lipitor for one’s cholesterol and if I were an uninsured citizen of this country who suffers from high cholesterol, I would quite frankly see that ad as a tease. Oh sure, you can take this drug, but it is going to cost you. But before being prescribed this drug, one must see a doctor. Wait, without being covered and being able to see a doctor, one cannot get this drug.
Here is the latest Lipitor ad that is currently running on most stations? Is he simply an actor or someone that does suffer from high cholesterol? Regardless of who he is, still to produce that ad and air it costs money and more likely than not the cost of producing it trickles down to the price of the drug.
How many of us have gone to the doctor if we can afford it and say, “I want to be placed on this drug” instead of letting the doctor diagnose your ailment and prescribe the best course of treatment. Drug companies bank on you doing just that.
Just recently, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital began running ads on cable networks hoping that YOU will choose it should you need healthcare. It begs the question: If you do not have health insurance, just how are you going to afford to become their patient? If I were an uninsured person, it would be akin to a child looking through the window of a toy store knowing his or her parents could not afford said toy.
Ad-buys for drugs or hospitals cost money, so it should not be a total surprise to any of us why healthcare for all Americans is out of reach for the 47 million who presently are uninsured.
Here is an ad for Anthem-Blue Cross and I would love to know how much they spent in the making of that commercial which likely uses actors. How much did it cost them to buy ad-space on the television networks that carried it? Let us not forget the actors, since they are paid to appear in commercials. Do these ad-buys contribute to high premiums one must pay? You actually think the executives of these companies would eat the cost of making these commercials? Like any business, the cost is born by the customer.
Those politicos who are presently railing against the ‘public option’ or dare I say single-payer health care foresee competition between these health insurance companies as our best bet. Wait a gosh darn minute. In order to compete: Wouldn’t these companies need to advertise their rates and services by using commercial ad-buys?
In reading this article published today: How Much Do Television Ads Cost?, please take note of this passage: “It has been estimated that the average cost of producing a 30-second national TV commercial is nearly $350,000. But before you panic, understand that like any other form of advertising, a television commercial can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Not surprisingly, the cost to produce the commercial goes up as the quality and complexity of the commercial increases.”
We have all heard of how much ads cost to run during the Super Bowl and will these health insurance companies run ads during them all in the name of competition? Instead of $350,000 going towards patient care and coverage, competition between health insurance companies will bring about an explosion in ad-buys.
I can almost hear the salivating of advertising agencies just ready to exploit this fraud perpetrated upon the people called, “Health insurance company based health reform”
One does have to wonder if cable and broadcast networks are almost banking on the competition between insurance companies as being their best bet to make money. Should this be the reform that will be shoved down our throats: How much will cable networks such as Fox, CNN, MSNBC and others like it make? How much will broadcast networks like ABC, CBS and NBC make as well? I can almost hear the CFOs of all just waiting for the big-bucks to roll on in.
The AFL-CIO just recently reported of claims being denied out in California and where they opined that these companies are the truth ‘death panels’. These health insurance companies are first and foremost businesses who rely on people buying their product. Your dollars are their life’s blood. Instead of paying a claim: How many of them have been advertising and please keep that $350,000 ad-buy rate in mind.
Named in their report was PacifiCare which: “denied 40 percent of all California claims.” Interestingly enough, I found this PacifiCare ad on YouTube.com. How many will purchase their healthcare product not knowing they have denied claims to Californians? More importantly: What chunk of the claims benefits denied went into the making of this ad?
I cannot understand how protecting insurance companies is our best bet when this news report on PacifiCare told how they dropped a man’s coverage, which cost him $60,000. He had to have a kidney removed which had a cancerous tumor on it.
I know free-market thinkers and believers just hate the term regulation, but we saw the damage done by banks who went for years unregulated. If this is the health reform package shoved down America’s throat that solely supports health insurance companies, then they need to be regulated.
As we watch the President’s speech on healthcare reform tonight, look out amongst the sea of faces who would rather protect insurance companies than providing healthcare for all Americans. There are 47 million Americans who are in dire need of healthcare who have been shut out of our present system.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Monday, September 7, 2009
I know first-hand that Joe Kennedy serves the public good in heading Citizens Energy Corp.
By Mary MacElveen
September 8, 2009
While I suspect many in the political arena were wishing to see the Kennedy legacy move forwards by seeing another Kennedy in the seat recently vacated by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, it was not to be. Today, the former congressman, Joe Kennedy decided not to run for the senate office held by his late uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Am I sad concerning his decision not to run for his uncle’s seat? Absolutely NOT!
Service to the public good can come in many forms and I do think that the former congressman found his niche. He has worked tirelessly through Citizens Energy Corp. to deliver low-cost energy to the poor and needy within the United States of America.
As some within this country castigate the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez by stating he hates America, let me say nothing can be farther from the truth. It is through President Chavez’s love for the poor that Joe Kennedy is able to help heat the homes of America’s poor and I have seen it first hand.
Through Citizens Energy Corp. they are able to deliver low-cost heating oil to the poor and needy so they do not put themselves in danger by heating their homes from an oven. They are able to do so through men like Joe Kennedy.
Back in December of 2005, I covered a story for VHeadline.com where CITGO delivered oil to the poor of the Bronx titled: From Venezuela's Heart help came to the Big Apple. Within that piece which touched me to the core of my soul, I was able to interview the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez as well as Congressman Jose Serrano. For a non-paid editorialist, it was an honor to interview them both as well as to get their take on why CITGO and the government of Venezuela was reaching out to America’s needy.
In that piece, I wrote: “We did not create America’s poor.” Opined by Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez and his feelings were reaffirmed when Congressman Jose Serrano said “America is not taking care of its own, and this should not be looked upon as a political motive.” Both were and still are correct as we have moved forwards.
On that bitterly-cold day, I witnessed first-hand, high powered politicians and corporate leaders in Felix Rodriguez (the CEO of CITGO) move mountains in order to deliver low-cost oil to those within this country. This oil is sold to the poor and needy at 40 percent below market price the last time I checked. It is sold to America’s poor with the approval of President Hugo Chavez so fewer Americans suffer through the fall and winter.
In these lean economic times, I want you to place yourself in the shoes of those most needy in this country as they try and heat their homes.
This is the work that Joe Kennedy has been doing to help the people of Massachusetts and without legislation to approve his works. He is able to cut through the red-tape in order to help those he serves. And he does so without having to raise campaign donations and endlessly campaign.
If anything I have learned through this oil program that serves the needy, is that his Dad, and two uncles are smiling down from the heavens above knowing that he has served the public good. He is doing more for the needy than I suspect any politician has for a long time. While many politicians give stump-speeches, he is out there with sleeves rolled up, so that Americans can stay warm in the colder months. How great is that?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
September 8, 2009
While I suspect many in the political arena were wishing to see the Kennedy legacy move forwards by seeing another Kennedy in the seat recently vacated by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, it was not to be. Today, the former congressman, Joe Kennedy decided not to run for the senate office held by his late uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Am I sad concerning his decision not to run for his uncle’s seat? Absolutely NOT!
Service to the public good can come in many forms and I do think that the former congressman found his niche. He has worked tirelessly through Citizens Energy Corp. to deliver low-cost energy to the poor and needy within the United States of America.
As some within this country castigate the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez by stating he hates America, let me say nothing can be farther from the truth. It is through President Chavez’s love for the poor that Joe Kennedy is able to help heat the homes of America’s poor and I have seen it first hand.
Through Citizens Energy Corp. they are able to deliver low-cost heating oil to the poor and needy so they do not put themselves in danger by heating their homes from an oven. They are able to do so through men like Joe Kennedy.
Back in December of 2005, I covered a story for VHeadline.com where CITGO delivered oil to the poor of the Bronx titled: From Venezuela's Heart help came to the Big Apple. Within that piece which touched me to the core of my soul, I was able to interview the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez as well as Congressman Jose Serrano. For a non-paid editorialist, it was an honor to interview them both as well as to get their take on why CITGO and the government of Venezuela was reaching out to America’s needy.
In that piece, I wrote: “We did not create America’s poor.” Opined by Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez and his feelings were reaffirmed when Congressman Jose Serrano said “America is not taking care of its own, and this should not be looked upon as a political motive.” Both were and still are correct as we have moved forwards.
On that bitterly-cold day, I witnessed first-hand, high powered politicians and corporate leaders in Felix Rodriguez (the CEO of CITGO) move mountains in order to deliver low-cost oil to those within this country. This oil is sold to the poor and needy at 40 percent below market price the last time I checked. It is sold to America’s poor with the approval of President Hugo Chavez so fewer Americans suffer through the fall and winter.
In these lean economic times, I want you to place yourself in the shoes of those most needy in this country as they try and heat their homes.
This is the work that Joe Kennedy has been doing to help the people of Massachusetts and without legislation to approve his works. He is able to cut through the red-tape in order to help those he serves. And he does so without having to raise campaign donations and endlessly campaign.
If anything I have learned through this oil program that serves the needy, is that his Dad, and two uncles are smiling down from the heavens above knowing that he has served the public good. He is doing more for the needy than I suspect any politician has for a long time. While many politicians give stump-speeches, he is out there with sleeves rolled up, so that Americans can stay warm in the colder months. How great is that?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
President Obama welcomes children back to school: A speech every child should hear
By Mary MacElveen
September 7, 2009
As a parent, I want to send a message out to other parents who may keep their children home tomorrow because President Obama will deliver a speech welcoming the country’s children back to school: You are failing your job as a parent. Keeping your children out of school in fear of what may be said by the president is sending the wrong message to your children. Basically what you are teaching them is if something is being presented in school you or they may not agree with, it is okay to skip school.
Our country’s children are expected to attend school each and everyday unless sick and to keep them out for this one speech which by the way I have read, you are aiding in their truancy. If you do keep them out, it should be noted they were absent on that day.
Any school district who fails to air the President’s speech to our country’s children, you as well are failing as educators. You are allowing your politics of fear to interfere with our children’s learning and/or you are listening to either Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh way too much.
Having been raised by a single-mother, if he complained about getting up early to learn extra lessons from her, President Obama’s mom would say: “This is no picnic for me either, buster." I do suspect other single-parents have had that same discussion with their children.
Knowing that our president has two young girls both he and the First Lady, Michelle Obama are successfully raising: do you think for one moment he would put your children in danger? Both Sasha and Malia are growing up in the public-eye and while that can be hard for children born to presidents or celebrities, and they are a delight to behold.
As many schools combat a high drop-out rates, this president’s message to every single one is to stay in school and to work hard. No subversive message there, but a message all children do need to hear.
President Obama reminds our school children that nothing is just given them in life and that they also must work hard. As many are addicted to reality TV, the President cites: “I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.” I think that dose of real reality is something our children do need to hear.
Within the text of his speech he reminds children if they want to go on in life to fulfill their dreams of becoming a teacher, a scientist, a writer or even a politician, they must pay attention to certain classes they are taking and do their homework.
The President also cites that it is okay to fail, but to pick yourselves up and try, try again. One person he does use as an example is famed author, JK Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter series. Now she is richer than the Queen of England and she came from being on welfare.
It is important for each parent to read the full text of the President’s speech to see he is challenging our children to go on and live successful lives not only for themselves but our country. After reading his speech, if you as a parent are inclined to keep your child out of school, take a long look in the mirror and ask: Am I leaving my child behind?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
September 7, 2009
As a parent, I want to send a message out to other parents who may keep their children home tomorrow because President Obama will deliver a speech welcoming the country’s children back to school: You are failing your job as a parent. Keeping your children out of school in fear of what may be said by the president is sending the wrong message to your children. Basically what you are teaching them is if something is being presented in school you or they may not agree with, it is okay to skip school.
Our country’s children are expected to attend school each and everyday unless sick and to keep them out for this one speech which by the way I have read, you are aiding in their truancy. If you do keep them out, it should be noted they were absent on that day.
Any school district who fails to air the President’s speech to our country’s children, you as well are failing as educators. You are allowing your politics of fear to interfere with our children’s learning and/or you are listening to either Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh way too much.
Having been raised by a single-mother, if he complained about getting up early to learn extra lessons from her, President Obama’s mom would say: “This is no picnic for me either, buster." I do suspect other single-parents have had that same discussion with their children.
Knowing that our president has two young girls both he and the First Lady, Michelle Obama are successfully raising: do you think for one moment he would put your children in danger? Both Sasha and Malia are growing up in the public-eye and while that can be hard for children born to presidents or celebrities, and they are a delight to behold.
As many schools combat a high drop-out rates, this president’s message to every single one is to stay in school and to work hard. No subversive message there, but a message all children do need to hear.
President Obama reminds our school children that nothing is just given them in life and that they also must work hard. As many are addicted to reality TV, the President cites: “I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.” I think that dose of real reality is something our children do need to hear.
Within the text of his speech he reminds children if they want to go on in life to fulfill their dreams of becoming a teacher, a scientist, a writer or even a politician, they must pay attention to certain classes they are taking and do their homework.
The President also cites that it is okay to fail, but to pick yourselves up and try, try again. One person he does use as an example is famed author, JK Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter series. Now she is richer than the Queen of England and she came from being on welfare.
It is important for each parent to read the full text of the President’s speech to see he is challenging our children to go on and live successful lives not only for themselves but our country. After reading his speech, if you as a parent are inclined to keep your child out of school, take a long look in the mirror and ask: Am I leaving my child behind?
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please contact the author.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Why are those without healthcare at town halls treated like Al Qaeda?
By Mary MacElveen
September 4, 2009
I think that this will be one of the most brutal op-ed pieces written in the course of nine years. How I wish I had the power of Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow to deliver it, but I do not. But, here I go.
In watching the coverage of the town halls that primarily encompass the healthcare debate, I have seen the worst of America. We have always prided ourselves as the beacon of democracy where each voice IS supposedly valued. If I were a citizen of any other country looking in, I would frankly be horrified to see citizens of this great land of liberty shouting down others who share the same birthright. If I were a citizen of any other country who has healthcare for all, I would say to the United States of America: you just do not get it!
It takes GUTS to come to a town hall meeting to discuss any number of problems. In order to come to any town hall to discuss one’s personal problems such as the lack of healthcare, one must reach down deep inside to summon their courage to air this specific grievance. It takes a spine made of steel in order to do so and to somehow placate yourself in front of an elected official and those gathered.
When one is rebuffed by an elected official or the head of the RNC, Michael Steele for not having healthcare coverage, they are treated as if they are Al Qaeda or the Taliban. There, I have said it. Yes, they are treated as if THEY are the enemy of America where in fact those who are complicit with the status quo are indeed the enemy. They have accepted the notion that health insurance companies raking in the dough with giving little back to those they are supposed to cover as being the best this country can offer.
As these nut-jobs, birthers, tin-foil hatters look out to their neighborhoods seeing foreclosed home upon foreclosed home, they should really ask of themselves: How many of these foreclosures occurred because a person lacked health insurance. They must ask, how many of these foreclosures brought down the value of their homes? Something to think about, folks.
Getting back to Al Qaeda and the Taliban, to those who rebuff those without healthcare, you allowed for a previous president to lie this country into wars without end. So far these wars have cost the American people close to $1 trillion dollars. Imagine if that money could have been used to fund healthcare for every man, woman and child in this country? There would be no fear of your fellow American for going to the doctor for the slightest of ailments. Gee, they could actually take their child for an immunization shot.
In the past, I have written of Venezuela’s and Cuba’s healthcare and have praised them both. Each of those countries have not invaded another country using up their fiscal reserves, but chose to use their reserves on their citizen’s healthcare needs. I have been called every name in the book in doing so. Names such as communist, pinko-liberal and socialist. Let it be so. But, as I have spoken out on healthcare for all Americans, I pride myself as an American patriot first and foremost. I am sick and tired of hearing of my fellow citizens suffering because they have NO health insurance coverage. Any of us are just a heart beat away from being one of the uninsured and that is something we must all pay attention to.
As we pride ourselves a constitutional democracy, I want to point out to you that the Constitution of Venezuela specifically mentions their citizens rights to full healthcare in articles 83 through 85. Why can’t ours? Hmm, could it be the health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies having their grip on our politicians? Oh, you betcha as Sarah Palin used to say.
I wish to God I knew why those without health insurance are treated like Al Qaeda in these town hall meetings. Can’t Americans feel any compassion towards their fellow citizens anymore? Evidence throughout this summer proves NO!
It is my sincere hope that President Barack Obama delivers a speech next week in front of both houses of congress telling them each American gets coverage and their pockets be damned. It is my hope that he hears his mom who suffered from cancer and had to fight for healthcare coverage up until she died. It is my hope that he says to them that healthcare is an inherent American birthright and to deal with it. I for one am sick of my fellow Americans without health insurance being treated like Al Qaeda. They are human beings for God sake!
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
September 4, 2009
I think that this will be one of the most brutal op-ed pieces written in the course of nine years. How I wish I had the power of Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow to deliver it, but I do not. But, here I go.
In watching the coverage of the town halls that primarily encompass the healthcare debate, I have seen the worst of America. We have always prided ourselves as the beacon of democracy where each voice IS supposedly valued. If I were a citizen of any other country looking in, I would frankly be horrified to see citizens of this great land of liberty shouting down others who share the same birthright. If I were a citizen of any other country who has healthcare for all, I would say to the United States of America: you just do not get it!
It takes GUTS to come to a town hall meeting to discuss any number of problems. In order to come to any town hall to discuss one’s personal problems such as the lack of healthcare, one must reach down deep inside to summon their courage to air this specific grievance. It takes a spine made of steel in order to do so and to somehow placate yourself in front of an elected official and those gathered.
When one is rebuffed by an elected official or the head of the RNC, Michael Steele for not having healthcare coverage, they are treated as if they are Al Qaeda or the Taliban. There, I have said it. Yes, they are treated as if THEY are the enemy of America where in fact those who are complicit with the status quo are indeed the enemy. They have accepted the notion that health insurance companies raking in the dough with giving little back to those they are supposed to cover as being the best this country can offer.
As these nut-jobs, birthers, tin-foil hatters look out to their neighborhoods seeing foreclosed home upon foreclosed home, they should really ask of themselves: How many of these foreclosures occurred because a person lacked health insurance. They must ask, how many of these foreclosures brought down the value of their homes? Something to think about, folks.
Getting back to Al Qaeda and the Taliban, to those who rebuff those without healthcare, you allowed for a previous president to lie this country into wars without end. So far these wars have cost the American people close to $1 trillion dollars. Imagine if that money could have been used to fund healthcare for every man, woman and child in this country? There would be no fear of your fellow American for going to the doctor for the slightest of ailments. Gee, they could actually take their child for an immunization shot.
In the past, I have written of Venezuela’s and Cuba’s healthcare and have praised them both. Each of those countries have not invaded another country using up their fiscal reserves, but chose to use their reserves on their citizen’s healthcare needs. I have been called every name in the book in doing so. Names such as communist, pinko-liberal and socialist. Let it be so. But, as I have spoken out on healthcare for all Americans, I pride myself as an American patriot first and foremost. I am sick and tired of hearing of my fellow citizens suffering because they have NO health insurance coverage. Any of us are just a heart beat away from being one of the uninsured and that is something we must all pay attention to.
As we pride ourselves a constitutional democracy, I want to point out to you that the Constitution of Venezuela specifically mentions their citizens rights to full healthcare in articles 83 through 85. Why can’t ours? Hmm, could it be the health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies having their grip on our politicians? Oh, you betcha as Sarah Palin used to say.
I wish to God I knew why those without health insurance are treated like Al Qaeda in these town hall meetings. Can’t Americans feel any compassion towards their fellow citizens anymore? Evidence throughout this summer proves NO!
It is my sincere hope that President Barack Obama delivers a speech next week in front of both houses of congress telling them each American gets coverage and their pockets be damned. It is my hope that he hears his mom who suffered from cancer and had to fight for healthcare coverage up until she died. It is my hope that he says to them that healthcare is an inherent American birthright and to deal with it. I for one am sick of my fellow Americans without health insurance being treated like Al Qaeda. They are human beings for God sake!
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
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