December 5, 2012

Hmmm not really

NJ pays a lot into the Federal till each year but we get back far less than what we put in. I guess I look at it as getting money back we've used to fund the lowest ten states in terms of what they put in vs. what they get back . . .


We have extremely high unemployment here (higher than national average) - and I don't think these issues are just the fault of the current government in Trenton. They are much larger and have a longer history than 2009. I was listening to 101.5 this am (98.3 keeps playing the same Christmas songs over and over and over again -not festive at all) - and the discussion was about reasons why folks would not vote for Christie again/or vote for him a first time when I switched over during my commute.


Know what one guy said? Turnpike rate increases and the one we are facing come January. Add that to the new toll increases into Manhattan/State Island via the bridges. My achilles tendon - is not doing enough bring blue collar jobs back to NJ. I'm sorry - but I'm beginning to believe that we need a corporate tax structure similiar to places like Alabama and Mississippi. Even if it's only temporary. . .

In the meantime - as a high earner living in NJ? I want my money back. We pay far more into the Federal till than we ever get back - other states that put in less - no one looks down their nose at them. Well - it's OUR TURN. We've offset state income tax for places like Florida for years - so now we need them to take the hit so we can get ours and get back to good.

And that goes for the citizens of NY state too . . . asking us to pay for Florida's state budget and NOT fixing Staten Island, and Queens and Brooklyn is criminal.

Sandy is gone - but the damage is still there. We need help. The Fed needs to pay for the $79 billion dollar recovery with the money that New Jerseyans and New Yorkers have been paying in all of these years. This way we support ourselves and move forward in other areas.

October 8, 2012

I read this book in August

http://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/1451616651


Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession -

Chuck Thompson takes a hysterical look at the "threat" of "The South Is Gonna Do It Again" and turns the tables on the Take Our Country Back Crowd.

I have hesitated to post a review because we do have so many staunch liberal and progressive members at DU who come from the 14 states he makes a strong argument *nudge* for the rest of the country INSIST the South leaves the union.

The serious side of the book (layered throughout the humor) is the vast inequality that still exists in the South today. Example - how can we head into the future when the public school system is broken and RE- segregated? With people who wish to continue the inequality by their push of "charter" schools and the massive number of "Christian" (read whites only) schools that have sprung up in retaliation to the Brown V Board cases? Would the US be better to leave those 14 states Thompson outlines behind? Allow them to go so they can take science off the table and teach creationism without United States interference?

He touches on everything from the SEC College Football shakedown to the Jesus/Creation Museums, to the very definition of a Southern Strategy by one political party who benefits from the entrenchment of Confederate values, and how it could even become a huge tourist point for Americans . . . IE - made into an exotic foreign locale akin to Tanzania or Belize.

Might be worth a read - because while funny - its also a terribly sad analysis of perhaps WHY non Southerners and those who have no roots in the South (I'm in the North East - raised here but have Alabama red clay in veins) say . . . Why didn't we just let them go when we had the chance?

September 3, 2012

NJ's Hidden Poor

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/new_report_puts_a_harrowing_fa.html

Not a big fan of the Ledger - but read this yesterday. Highlights the Food Bank my husband and I volunteer at . . . We live in Bridgewater/Somerville. We "know" because of our efforts - but this rips off the Band Aid of those efforts.

HIGH COST OF LIVING
In a state with one of the highest levels for cost of living and lowest minimum wage (the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour), half of all jobs pay less than $20 an hour.

That’s not enough, says Joe Kunzmann, Somerset County Social Services director, who estimates a person living in New Jersey needs to make at least $25 an hour for a fair market rent apartment in Somerset County. Because Somerset is ranked among the top-10 wealthiest counties in the United States, according to Forbes magazine, its relative affluence drives up the cost of living for everyone. The Household Survival Budget for Somerset, as calculated by Hoopes Halpin, is $66,160 for a family of four.

"It makes it kind of harder for people that are just at the poverty level or above it to get by," Kunzman said. There’s this margin of error that is very slight. … If you’re making $12 an hour or $15 an hour and your car breaks down and you have to have it fixed and you need it to get to work, what do you pay? Do you have your car fixed or do you maybe not pay all your rent or do you skimp on your Public Service bill? A lot of people that we are seeing are people like that."

To follow DU rules - I selected as few paragraphs as possible. Good read when you dive into it on the working poor who are falling through the cracks.

July 20, 2012

She's no Marie Antoinette

*Reviewing what I've written below prior to hitting post and I want to make sure OP knows I'm not being snotty - just factual*.

Marie Antoinette never would have said and did not EVER say "You people'" - or "Let them eat cake/brioche" or "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche". It was most likely said 100 years earlier by Marie-Therese the wife of the Sun King Louis. She was too busy picking out shoes to even consider it. And keeping her hair from catching fire at parties.

Most of what has been attributed to her as 'legend/lore' was written by a German Author in a 1931 children's book. Chew on that a bit. Place France and Germany in that time and place understand the German perception that they were being punished by France by having to pay back debt from World War I.

And - if there is ever an inauguration of *I shudder at the thought* of a King Rmoney and Goody Ann - and if during the fireworks a stampede ensues - I highly doubt that they will do what Louis and Marie Antoinette did - and give their personal spending money for a year to those injured in said stampede or their surviving loved ones/families.

And in 1774 - when she became a very young Queen - she requested that a tax called "The Queen's Belt" be removed on the people of France.

Ann would do the opposite - The First Lady's Belt would be a tax imposed on those making less than 10K a year to make sure they have absolutely NOTHING so she can laugh at them and point her finger and call them 'you' people.

And with that said - it was the Propaganda of the Revolution that gave M.A. the horrible reputation. And it served it's purpose well.

I'm very well traveled to France, used to be highly conversant (learning Italian now since I married one ) and I am very well read on French history. She is one of the most fascinating female figures (she fascinates me in the way Mathilda of Tuscany does) of history - and her manners, reserve, discipline growing up in an Austrian household, sense of fashion - both glamourous and hippie, cosmetics, appearance, still influence women throughout the world to this day. You could say this leftist progressive feminist has a great deal of admiration for this woman who came into her own - could have saved her own neck, but insisted her husband was STILL the King of France and thus click, clack, chop.


Look up - Mrs. Romney is nothiiiiiiiiiiiiiing like Marie-Antoinette. She will never be. It is simply not in her to look at anyone else with empathy. Not even her dogs.

July 12, 2012

Rambling thoughts on Romney's speech at the NAACP Convention

So since yesterday - his speech has been critiqued, pulled apart, laughed at, and booed.

First rambling thought - No one in the media as stated this: When someone shows you who they are - believe them.

I think - that the attendees at the NAACP convention are the first group to see the REAL Romney. What he truly believes, no flip flopping, no bouncing all over the place, no etch-a-sketch stupidity.

In a weird way - it's kind of an honor for those who were able to attend his speech. The attendees truly got a glimpse into what a Romney candidacy would look like. Which leads to my second thought . . .

The black American exists in Romney's world to be a group to speak down to. I couldn't help hearing a touch of "I know better than you silly boys and girls." More of that - Black people should listed to wealthy white men to learn how to be better Americans nonsense.

Third - Booing in and of itself . . .
January 20, 2012
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-01-20/news/30649220_1_mitt-romney-george-romney-tax-returns

I did a quick dig through stories this morning from the time of that debate - and not ONE so-called journalist questioned the booing. No questions about whether or not it was appropriate, whether or not it was necessary, etc. etc. That same group of so-called journalists are pretty much ignoring the tax return issue now. Isn't that odd - if it was worth being booed at in the Primary and deserved lots and lots of media coverage - but the media now chooses to focus on 'booing at the NAACP' instead of important things . . . like Voter ID concerns and well - yep - his tax returns?


But when it's NAACP members - it's a Romney strength.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/07/mitt_romney_was_booed_when_he_addressed_the_naacp_.html

Or - it puts him in good company. . . They've likened in the below link Romney getting booed on serious issues like AHA and how he would be better for black Americans on par with First Lady Obama and Dr. Jill Biden being booed at a Nascar race, Sister Sarah Alaskastan's daughter on Dancing with the Stars, and then President Bush throwing out a pitch at a baseball game.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/romneys-not-alone-the-best-of-recent-political-booings/

Which leads me back to my first 'thought'. It's one women know who are SMART women and who choose romantic partners with a keen eye . . .

When someone shows you who they are - believe them. Oh - you better believe them.


Romney may very well be keeping the focus on what he wants it to be focused on, but he's already lost. "Obamacare" is here to stay . . . We have GOT to GOTV in the black community and make sure every single person has an ID, a blood sample, a DNA sample, a lock of hair from their first haircut, etc. etc. Especially in PA and Florida.

I don't think Texas is an option for Obama - but PA and FL have GOT to be won.

June 29, 2012

Rob Portman (Ohio) as Romney VP Pick?

https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanLance?ref=ts

I actually logged onto Facebook this afternoon to harass my CongressBullshitter but got distracted by a post he made on June 20th . . .



Thoughts? He's from Ohio. Listening to Sherrod Brown - it appears Ohio is very much behind Obama (policies which lead to job growth, auto industry, etc. etc.) . . . Any Ohio DU'ers know if this guy is super popular. I know the name - but not the 'legislator'.

http://portman.senate.gov/public/

June 8, 2012

So I come home to a 2012 Presidential Poll from Reince Priebus

Dear Fellow American: What issues do you want our Republican Presidential campaign to focus on in 2012 as we fight to make Barack Obama a ONE-TERM President? What follows is a four page back and front text dense letter filled with some of the stupidest drivel I've ever read.

Now- I'm not a Republican. And as I read through the questions on the enclosed document I said to myself, "Self ask not what would Audrey do. Ask - what would Jean Seberg do?"

And so I've answered such questions as:
How important is it to voters in your state to have candidates give attention to the following issues during the 2012 campaign?
Very important - Somewhat important - Not Important
*strengthening border security
*reducing federal spending
*keeping taxes low
*exposing Obama's radical left wing policies
*repealing Obamacare
*reining in government employee unions
*demanding free and open trade to get US manufacturing growing.

Everything is dripping in ObamaCare, Radical Liberalism, Reckless Spending, ans embarrassing foreign policy "statements"

My favorite question: Are you concerned that Barack Obama and the Democrats intend for their ObamaCare legislation to eventually lead to the creation of single payer government run health insurance and health care system?



My point in sharing this - they have mailed their ENTIRE play book to the enemy (based upon the language used throughout the documents we are indeed blood sucking cannibal lib'rals who exist to suck te bone marrow out of little Republican babies but I digress )!


You cannot read this and not see how their language is from their mouths to Bill O'Lielly's.

And the scariest question - as we have to gear up of a repeat from last August:

Section 2 - Economic Issues - Question 5
President Obama has indicated that if reelected (<- how they spelled it), he will fight to increase tax rates on individuals and families he considers to be wealthy. Do you support Obama's decision?


If re-elected . . . Not now. Not while these assholes have the House.

Truthfully - they have me convinced that this is the most liberal leftist progressive person to ever walk the face of the planet. A dangerous man who does not want to push the age one can collect social security back, a traitor who defied doma, a vile liberal who is so arrogant as to not want Roe v Wade overturned, and who believes in the public school system. They have me convinced he has a radical liberal agenda (they say it over and over and over and over again).

Now if someone who thinks a so-called radical liberal agenda is a GOOD thing is all excited to vote because she can see how they are trying to manipulate her - imagine this in the hands of a simpleton on the right.

You guys - we gotta win. If not for me - then do it for Jean Seburg. Because based on the language I've seen - that my home has been defiled with ths evening . . .they have very intention of doing to us what they did to her. I didn't even touch on so-called National Security Issues.

P.S. it's opposite day - opposite of everything they want to read. . With a few nasty barbs thrown in for good measure! You mail me Hate Mail and I'm going to retaliate.

May 17, 2012

CNN Story Title: White babies not the majority anymore . . .

http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/17/census-2011-data-confirm-trend-of-population-diversity/?hpt=hp_t2




This thread at DU: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014122950 - From NPR/Associated Press . . . Their title? Census: Minorities Surpass Whites In U.S. Births


And while watching MSNBC this morning - they flashed a huge graphic that addressed only Hispanics and black Americans.

More from CNN:



And yet - they keep telling the same story . . . over and over again. Careful with those comments at CNN - evidently we non-whites are ignorant breeders.

February 2, 2012

Our Governor's Harmful Policies / Cuts/ Tax Plans - I mean Scams

Since we seem to have the most 'popular' governor (even more so than Walker) to be discussed at DU - perhaps we can start a thread about the Policies being implemented to harm New Jerseyans. A running list if you will. Not about things he's said that the media reports on to increase ratings and advertisers - but the policies implemented by way of his bullying tactics.

I'll start - July 2011 Budget Cuts he wanted . . .
http://www.politickernj.com/49286/line-line-cuts-christie-made-dems-budget

Family Planning Services: $7.5 million;


AIDS Drug Distribution Program: $7 million;

Nursing Homes: $25 million;

Special Care Nursing Facilities: $4.4 million;

Mental Health Services Salaries and Wages: $9 million;

Mental Health and Addiction Services Community Care: $8 million;

Medical Prescription (dual eligibles): $13 million;

Keep Aged, Blind and Disabled out of managed care: $11 million;

Services to Blind and Visually Impaired: $1.5 million;

WorkFirstNJ Child Care: $6 million;



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Maybe this way when he calls people names - folks at DU can see we much bigger issues to contend with than outrage over name calling by the Tea Party Favorite.

January 28, 2012

Why Jan Brewer Should Keep Her Fingers To Herself

http://crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/white-womens-rage-5-thoughts-on-why-jan-brewer-should-keep-her-fingers-to-herself/

A friend of mine from high school posted this on Facebook today. Yesterday he sparked a wicked discussion on Facebook regarding Jan Brewers behavior. He made a good point - yeah it wasn't appropriate - but it also wasn't "lady like" and that perhaps he has a liberal feminist man married to a liberal feminist woman needed to re-evaluate his perception of gender appropriate behavior.

His wife then found this post on a feminist blog that explored how race and gender don't exist in separate vacuums. A bit of background on this man - his mom and my mom ran in the same circles in our home city. Moorehouse undergrad, Harvard Law, member of bachelors and Benedict, was a student of Malcolm X when we were in high school and is now attending Seminary school. He's questioning the concept of female rage being a stereotype of the "angry black woman". IE did Jan Brewer spark something that we were not aware exists? And he and his wife amongst others are exploring - and I'm sure you'll like this . . . Why feminist women don't behave this way - regardless of our skin tone.

I.E. Who is really angry - and is their anger justified. No answers from me - just a well written and thought provoking piece. Enjoy!