Corporate and Elite Wellfare, What price?

Everyday I see more examples of how the recession has affected average Americans and then I look at the opposite and see the abuses of the wealthy and the corporations. We have bailed out, cut taxes and rolled over while our elected officials have played to corporate America. The are making more money and we are making less. They continue to receive more tax breaks and cuts while we are told that we are the reason the economy is in such dire condition. They take our money and laugh at the stupidity of the American citizen. They get checks from the government, even though they are making billions of dollars, and pay no taxes. We on the other hand are being tossed out of our homes. We are told to be responsible and save for our own retirement, even though we make minimum wage or slightly above. We are told that because the government used our money, we have to change Social Security, because we are ruining the economy. Wait one minute, think of what I just said! We give trillions, to wealthy and corporations, of our money, not theirs, and when we use our money from Social Security we have to change the system. They get free money and we have to beg for OUR money. This is welfare, plain and simple. They get welfare we get nothing and they are complaining about us.This has to stop. We have to take away the tax breaks for the wealthy and the corporations. They have to pay their part. The, so called experts will tell you that this will hurt the economy, because these are the people that create jobs. What jobs. What are they creating now except more wealth for their selves. This is a sham. This is what they want us to fear. They are trying to scare everyone into believing that they know what is best. We can not remain silent. Look into the faces of the homeless, that could be you next. Look at the children that have to sleep in shelters, this could be your children next. Look at the person beside you that is struggling each day to survive, this could be you next. They will not stop until every person is drained of all hope. Then they will have it all, and we will have nothing. Don't believe that it could happen to you? Do you want to take that chance?

Veterans Protect a Fallen Soldier's Funeral from the Westboro Baptist Ch...

'America Is NOT Broke': Michael Moore Speaks in Madison, WI -- March 5, ...

Vision for America

I have a vision for our country and right now it is somewhat tarnished. The America I see is one that fairness is the doctrine that we all strive to live by. We have moved to the point that greed and concern for self  has over taken all else. How much more could we all achieve if instead of finding fault and differences, we find agreement and solutions?  Fairness would be the mantra of a new generation and direction. Someone that spills a hot cup of coffee would not receive millions of dollars, but a hand full of napkins to clean up the spill. Companies that make billions of dollars would not seek ways to squeeze more out of us, but would find a fair price to make a fair profit. Tax payers, whether personal or corporate, would look to pay their fair share to help support the essential services that are required for a society. Elected officials would actually look at how to make lives for people and corporations better, instead of finding ways to get re-elected or line their pockets with money to sway their votes. We would look at ways to make, our Constitution come to life, by actually making all laws and directions equal. The wealthy and corporations would not be able to steal from everyone and almost destroy our economy without going to prison. Steal a loaf of bread to feed your family and see how fair the judicial system is for the poor. The needy would be able to work at public jobs, doing services for the community in return for the money or food stamps they receive. Children, no matter what side of the tracks they live on, would receive a great education. I am only beginning to see how we could change the destiny of our nation and the American people with one principle. Fairness.

I am pissed off, but why aren't you.

Yesterday, Pat and I watched, "Waiting for Superman", and I want to challenge everyone that follows me on face book or America's Voice to watch this documentary. If you are not as angry as I was, then you do not care and if you are as angry as I was then we need to start now to fix our education system. First, I want to say to all of the excellent teachers out there, I do not, for one moment ,want to hurt you. The incompetent teachers are another matter. The union that supports the people that do not want to work hard for our kids is another matter. Automatic tenor has to be taken out of the contracts and the great teachers have to be rewarded for their efforts. Teachers are only a portion of the factors that have placed us in the position we are in now. Politicians have, for decades, given not much more then lip service to  helping the children learn and the teachers, teach. They always say the answer is not money. That is what politicians and corporations always say when they are about to take away money and screw you. Money is not the ending, but it certainly should be a beginning. In Florida, the average cost for a prison inmate is $34,600 per year, while the cost per student is only $9,100 per year. Think of that for a moment. We spend almost 4 times more on a felon in prison then we do to educate our children to keep them out of jail. The national average is $33,000 per inmate and $10,300 for students. Great improvement there, we only spend 3 times more on a national level. Real progress. Each president and governor has come in and wanted to be known as the education president or the education governor and yet we keep slipping further behind. Our leaders in Washington and the state capitals are all talking about the economic crisis. I agree. What is their solution. Cut education. What, so we can pay 3 to 4 times more down the road when we fail to educate our kids. Are we trying to fill our businesses with qualified employees or fill our jails with more criminals?  In the movie, we subject our students and their families to the concept, that if you want to attend a good or great school, you have to win a lottery. That's right, we hold lotteries to either give someone hope of a better life or throw them into a life of failure. Maybe we should hold lotteries for our prisoners to determine whether they get into a good prison or they have to go to the worst prisons we have to offer, and then give all children a world class education. This is America and we don't give a damn that our children do not get an education. It broke my heart to watch students and parents sitting with fingers crossed, praying that they will have an opportunity to a better life. It was emotional to watch them break down crying and the look of desperation in their faces when they were not selected. I want everyone to watch this, and I am sure you will be as moved as we were. Then let's talk about ways we can work together to change the direction of our education system. We can not wait one more year, month, week, day or minute. It is the most important item we can address.

Where is the leadership, Mr. President?

Anyone that has been following my blog knows that I support President Obama. That support is still there and will continue. I will, however look at politicians and when I feel the need to criticize or offer an opinion, I will. Unlike some groups I will not look away from either party. Right now I want our president to lead. Whether you agree with his point of view or not, we need direction. We should know where our elected leaders stand on each and every issue. There are times when an important problem has no clear cut, black and white solution, but we should aways know where politicians stand. The problem with politicians, and right now the president they are looking at ways to answer questions and stay in the middle. They are waiting for someone else to make the first reccomendation, so they can attack the other side. Enough with the politicing. The president has to stand up and say, "We must start making changes to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare." He must address the need to shut down two wars, not later but now. He should lead the way on tax reform. I want him to stop the practice of corporate welfare at the expense of the average American. He should lead the way on election financing reform. There are so many issues we need to move forward on. He should stop the practice of waiting for Congress to set the agenda. The president is there to LEAD, not follow. He let Congress control the conversation on health care, don't ask don't tell, the oil spill, the wars and now the budget. Mr. President it is time to do what we sent you to Washington, to do, lead. Americans will follow, if we are told what direction we are going to and how do we get there. That does not mean we will follow blindly, but we do want direction. Take the "bully pulpit" and use it in the way it was designed. You stated that your concern was not whether you were re-elected, but in doing what is needed to move America forward. I will support you to another term, but you have to support all Americans with leadership. There is an old saying, "Lead, follow or get out of the way." Now is the time to decide what you are going to do, Mr. President.

If you really CARE about your children do this!

I have been writing this blog for a few weeks now and I have to be honest, as much success as I have had so far, it pales to where I want this to be. First off, this is not so much for me personally, although I certainly enjoy writing this and will continue to do so, as it is for all of you that read it. Right now there is a concerted assault on the American citizens and it is being done by the people we hire to serve us. The governors in several states, including Florida, are balancing budgets by portraying our state workers as lazy, money grabbing oafs. They want us to believe that the teachers who each and every day help our most valuable resource, our children, are unworthy of making a living wage. The police, firemen and all state and local workers are living extravagant lifestyles and are looking to retire with unsupported pensions. This is nothing more then a clear attack on the very people that sacrifice to help us each and every day. These are our neighbors, our friends and yet we are doing nothing to support them. I am also on Facebook, but that is not how I spend countless hours talking about nothing. Facebook and the social value it has is fine. Spending some time each day to reach out to our friends is fine. However we also have a moral obligation to use this network to educate ourselves and to change our lives and the people around us that we love so much. I am not only challenging everyone of my friend to read this and act, but to also pass this on down their friend list to get them involved. We must start first by contacting our representatives and letting them know that instead of starting the budget cuts at us and our neighbors, we need to start and demand that they start to have the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. Most corporations pay little to no taxes. They get subsidies and credits,(corporate welfare) to reduce or eliminate their taxes. Why not start there. The felon that we elected as governor in Florida whats to cut corporate taxes while he stands there and cuts pay and benefits for state workers. He turns down billions of dollars to build high speed rail, and thus turn away from the hundreds of thousands of jobs, but states that we need to cut corporate taxes to create jobs. Pure and simple BS. Right now companies are sitting on trillions of dollars in cash and not creating jobs. They will just sit on the additional money and pay themselves hugh bonuses. We must start now! Start with letter and E-mails. Let them know that their jobs are in danger. If this does not change their minds we need to then look at civil disobedience. We have to stop the assault on middle America. It is up to all of you. Your children, the children of the country, the teachers, the firemen, the policemen and each and everyone of us need to stand now. If you sit in silence we will all lose. If you do not act we will never affect change. If you do not act we all fail. If you do not act we cease to exist. They are taking everything they can and if you do not act they will take it all. Lastly if you do not know how to get in touch with your state and federal representatives let me know. I will help you. WE MUST ACT NOW!  United is our strength.