Making My Way

Beyond time to Act - Recall Efforts Now!

2011-03-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

The situation is DIRE. The republicans are in control all over the country. They are ready and poised to take legislative action to destroy the middle class, get all the money for the rich and propel their own interests, some already have done this.

Our elected officials are supposed to GOVERN. What does that mean? It means to CARE for those you represent. Make sound decisions in the best interest of the public. Arbitrary cuts in services, raising taxes on middle class, cutting taxes for the corporations and laying the burden of the financial and economic problems on the backs of the already down trodden is NOT the proper way to govern. Don't be fooled. If you did not make a million dollars - you are not the people they care about.

If you have a recall effort going in your area - sign your petitions! Exercise your rights!

If you are not registered to vote, then go register and sign the petitions!

The public is apathetic and have short memories, we forget what was done to us, we forget who did it, and soon we are swayed by the empty promises of pretty little liars.

Stand up, stop taking the abuse from the elected, and throw them out!

Time to cast the vote

2010-08-23T21:39:00.001-07:00

This is the primaries. This is the time to cast your vote for the best candidate to throw into the ring to either keep the progressive seat or win one!
In the case of Arizona - We need a good candidate to take out Daddy McCain!
So I am casting for John Dougherty.
I hope he is all he says he is!

All the Politics

2010-08-18T20:16:00.001-07:00

so we are winding down to the primaries. who is it gonna be for each party to go head to head in the smack down?
I know that old man McSame needs to be put to pasture.
Brewer was never elected to Govenor in the first place.
I want to keep Harry Mitchell.
We shall see . . .

Republican Bullies/Terrorists

2010-03-25T18:46:00.001-07:00

I am utterly appalled by the behavior of the right wing conservatives! Bricks through windows? Threatening voice messages? Wishes of death in emails? White powder sent in a package? Really? And these are supposed to be the "Pro-Life" people?!?!?
No matter what your opinion/belief/creed - terror and threats and name calling and spitting are not civil, not American and not mature! If I were a republican (thank the goddess I am not!) I would be embarrassed by the behavior of those that have set about to be an example of what I stand for . . .

healthcare

2010-03-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

so they passed a bill. Good. I know there is a bunch of flack going around - especially in this state! I think the bill is a good thing, the bill in not necessarily good but the spirit of the change is. The Republicans are just mad because they lost the fight. Republicans did not like Medicare when it was put into effect, they did not like Social Security when it was put into effect either. NOW they want to protect Medicare with all their might - why? Votes!
I wanted the reform, I hope it will live up to what America needs, I hope the Public Option gets put into legislation in the near future - the mandate without Public Option will be disastrous.

Nuclear Option - explained:

2010-03-04T06:29:00.001-08:00

The right/conservatives keep barking that the Left is going to use the Nuclear Option - Not True. the Republicans threatened to use this tactic back a few years ago when they were trying to get Alito and others confirmed and the Dems were not cooperating. This is how it was supposed to work: A single Senator would raise a point of order regarding the filabuster and claim it is un-constitutional. By doing this, they could then vote on the point of order call with a simple majority (51 votes) once the GOP (who had majority but not a super majority) killed the Filibuster, then they would be able to get the confirmations done through a simple majority (51) votes instead of the required 60 votes. Basically - the GOP was going to break the Senate rules in order to change/break the Senate rules. Thus- Nuclear.
Currently, the Dems want to use Reconciliation, this is NOT nuclear, it is completely within the rules of the Senate. As a matter of fact, the GOP used it SEVERAL times while Bush was in office - resulting in tax cuts to the rich and other such nonsense!
Again I appeal to all your sensibilities: don't believe the lies the talking heads of the conservative wing-nuts spout off! They are trying to control you and let corporate interests prevail - not the peoples' !!

Is it time for the Left to step up?

2010-02-24T12:33:00.001-08:00

I say YES, and it is about time! The Dems control it all, it was voted that way for a reason, not by accident - trust me! Those in position need to take action and prove to the people they are going to do EXACTLY what the public wants them to do . . . fix the health insurance issues! They need to stop pandering to the GOP and do what they were elected to do. If the people had wanted what the GOP has to offer - they would still be control. Take the hint that is slapping them in the face and get it done!
I am hoping President Obama is able to prove to the people that the GOP has been apeased enough - what they asked for was put in the bill and they are still simply being obstructionistic and agumentative! The summit at Blair House should (I hope) be a big eye opener for all to see!

Officially #1, but no cheering!

2010-01-20T20:44:00.001-08:00

Well I think it is official that Arizona is the WORST run state in the nation! We are faced with some 3.5 billlion dollar deficit and the Governor does not know what to do, so she decided she will cut expenses by reaching into the pockets of the employees that make the state keep running and siphon up to 5% of our pay! Not only that, she says close all of juvenile corrections, close all state parks, and sell the prisons. So effectively she is pushing the custody of juvenile prisoners into the hands of the counties, she is closing one of the few state agencies that actually MAKE money (people PAY to enjoy the State Parks) and turn over the custody of housing inmates to the hands of private companies so they can attempt to make a PROFIT from the incarceration of people.
I have worked in private industry and the currently in the public sector. When I worked in the private sector - we got raises every 6 months to a year - based on our performance. It might have only been 25 cents/hr increase but we saw a little more on the paycheck. In the public sector, raises have to be passed by legislation, and it has NOTHING to do with performance. You can be a waste of skin with a state job and make the same pay as the next person that busts there ass and works hard. Now here's the thing: they want to take up to 5% of our pay. The last raise we had in our department was 3 years ago, it was like 2% (cost of living goes up at least 3% per year). The raise before that was 5 years before that one, and only about 2%. So a 5% loss of pay, will, in effect, set state employees back about 10 to 12 years in pay. I am not even including the increase in the cost of living.
I vote to raise the sales tax by 1% and leave my pay alone. They take our pay - the greedy bastards will NEVER give it back! Also, did they (legislators and the executive officials and Directors of Departments) include themselves in the pay reduction? I mean 5% of $200K is much more than 5% of 35K.
Hmmmmmmm, my guess is a resounding "NO". Hell, they were crying foul last summer because their pay was so low at $24K for 100 days of required work. They wanted an INCREASE! That comes out to about $55K if it was an all year, full time job.
It disgusts me how nonchalant the lawmakers are about the future of the livelihoods of the approximate 80,000+ state employees. Well, we vote,and expect a job waiting for you past the next election!

Why doesn't Dick Cheney shut the hell up?

2010-01-04T21:00:00.001-08:00

I am not too sure who keeps asking that blow hard his opinion but please stop! And if no one asked him, why does he tell us anyway? Whatever happened to that 5 year cushion when the previous administration stays quiet and lets the current administration do its thing? What a class D asshole!
I do not give a flying fuck-a-roo what Cheney has to say! I do not care if he started spouting off the true meaning of life, or the answer to extraterrestrial life! He had a total disregard for the American people when he was in office and NOW, all of a sudden, he has this caring, soft spot for the PEOPLE! Go fuck yourself Dick! all you care about is your money and how much more you will get from us staying the course in the War!

Dems do not have the vicious in them

2009-10-31T23:20:00.001-07:00

I have found that the GOP will do and say WHATEVER will push their idealogical agenda. Lie, cheat, steal, slander and otherwise bully others to get what they want.
The Dems won't do it (at least not to the boldness of the GOP) and as a result - do not get what they want. the Dems won't play rough, they won't play dirty. What was good for the Goose (GOP) is apparently not good for the Gander (Dems). It seems that the ends justify the means for the GOP. The Dems say if we can't get it by being out in the open, then we don't get it.
Now on the one hand - I want the Dems to go in there and treat the GOP EXACTLY the way they were treated by the GOP . . .
Push them out, push them down and drown them out! They do not deserve the right to have a 'say" in the bills. To hell with bipatisanship! The GOP did not care about bipartisanship when they were in control of congress - why should the Dems?
The Progressive movement needs to step up and say - if we have control - there is reason for it! The people want the changes so make the changes! Failing to act will get them nowhere and may cause them to lose the next election. Progression cannot afford the loss!

What ever happened to not lying?

2009-10-26T07:05:00.001-07:00

My Momma told me I had to tell the truth.
If I was to lie and she found out, then the punishment was way worse than if I had just fessed up.
So, what happened to that anecdote with adults? Now, because I am an adult, I can SAY whatever I want - even if it is a lie. Freedom of Speech! Well I think that is crap!
the politicians, the lobbyists, the insurance companies, the oil companies, the cigarette companies, etc etc etc can all say whatever they think is going to get them a vote, money, sales, bigger market share or whatever! Even if it is a LIE!
So I ask you - if we continue to allow the people who are supposed to represent us speak lies, condone lies and continue in office with the lies - what does that make us?
"There outta be law!" But we seems to "law" ourselves to death! How about this new concept: "The truth will set you free!" I don't care how hard it is, or what the consequences are - Tell The Truth!
The biggest lies are the ones about the million page bills, because no one is going to read it! So they "tell" you what is in it. They lie to fit their own agenda and scare the people!
Demand the Truth!

OUT day

2009-10-12T23:12:00.001-07:00

I am bolstered by the speech President Obama gave at the HRC Benefit. It is about time someone in his position is unafraid to stand up for the rights of all people to be equal.
Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and repeal the In Defense of Marriage Act. Fight against laws that take away rights of ordinary, law abiding citizens and ensure equal protections of all persons regardless of any differences that do not effect ones ability to perform a job.

Double Standards and a weak media

2009-09-28T21:16:00.001-07:00

There have been some very sketchy and veiled threats to the Safety of the President. I find this DEPLORABLE. The next worst thing about the threats is that they are coming from TV, Radio and prominent personalities. It isn't so much that there is an outright and direct threat. It is a "call to action" kind of threat. Believe it or not, there are folks in this country that think the people on TV talk directly to them. When a personality like Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh make an "appeal" to the American Public asking for someone to "save us" Americans and the American Way FROM Obama - what do you think the "lunatic fringe" is going to do? Respond in a Militia Style rescue operation!
The kind of talk that is buzzing from the lips of the Conservative Right, the Dangerous Inciters and the Obstructionists is equal to the hate speech associated with the ultimate deaths of Harvey Milk, et al. Or the Conservative hate speech in the Dallas area in 1963. Did you know that 4th graders cheered when they heard JFK was assassinated? Now there are signs stating to let ObamaCare Die with Kennedy, or Be Buried with Kennedy. What kind of miserable sot would say such a thing?
If this had been 18 short months ago, this kind of rhetoric would have been plastered all over the media, bashing the ones who made the statements, and calling those who would even THINK such things to be Un-American!
If someone had brought a gun to a rally that Bush thought was right, they would have been carried off hogtied and gagged!
There is a Double Standard in play. If the GOP or right wing does it, it's right - right? And if the Left does the same thing when the tables are turned, it's wrong - right?
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!
They are lying to you. I feel like I am stuck in the book 1984! The propaganda and bullshit that the Right is feeding us is enough to make me want to march over to every Republican and slap them into reality!
Wake up!!! How much can you take? That is exactly what the Right wants to know? How long will you continue to swallow the bullshit while they tell you it is good for you before you realize it is really bullshit lies?
Finally - the media is so afraid of being called "Liberal" that they will not call out the Republicans for the misbehavior. It was not so long ago that Democrats were being paraded across the TV, newspapers and Radio as Un-Americans and "evil-doers" for saying LESS than the Republicans say NOW!

For Once: Could the media simply report the truth? Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian or Purple People Eaters - just tell the truth, stop calling everyone names and tell the REAL story - the story about how everyone is LYING!

Legislators in my pocket . . .

2009-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

This is the song of the Health Insurance Companies.
The only real question is how many of them are being funded by the Insurance Industry and K street Lobbyists to vote against the reform and how much are they in for?
We need Campaign Finance Reform immediately!
No more corporate money should be given to those running for office - it makes them biased and bought! They work for the people - elected by the people and then they make decisions and pass laws or shoot other measures down in the interest of themselves. They benefit in their pockets, benefit the Insurance Companies by allowing the high prices and control to continue and the people are bilked out of millions, no billions of dollars and going broke and dying without health care.
Whew - run on sentence - but you get the point!

Racist or Not?

2009-09-22T07:29:00.001-07:00

Yes they are Racist. With that said, I am with President Clinton when he says the opposition to health care reform is not racism. I think the opposition to health care reform is "classism". the rich and well off do not want reform - they do not need it! Why should they contribute to something (via taxes) that they do not need? Hmmmm - good question . . .
Maybe they should protest their contribution to the police and fire departments too - if they have never needed the response to their house, why should they pay?
How about those of us without children? Why should we contribute to the school system? What if I do not ever drive in a certain area of the state? Why should I contribute to the betterment of the roads there?
BECAUSE: We are a society, a community, we MUST all contribute to the betterment of all areas of our community - that must include the health of our citizens!

Obstructions

2009-09-17T08:07:00.001-07:00

I am abhorred daily by the continued behavior of all politicians that use obstructionist behavior simply for the sake of being so. The true reasons for blocking legislation or actions is not based on what is good for the people or for America but what is good for the politician PERSONALLY. What the politician has to gain for making certain statements or decisions. This behavior is not exclusive to either side of the aisle - both parties are guilty of this!

Just off of center . . .

2009-09-12T19:44:00.001-07:00

Had a great couple of conversations with my brother-in-law (love ya!) After our chats we both realized that we are not really too far off the same mark. He slants a little right, I slant a little left. But on the real stuff that matters - we are on the level.
It seems that it is always the extremists that divide us, the majority of us agree on more things than we disagree on . . .

SSDD

2009-08-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

In case you forgot: Same Shit, Different Day!
Health Care is such a hot topic. i want to relate a story that really happened - I was there and had the actual conversation.
I heard someone say something about the high cost of health care and it lead me to believe they were interested in the public option. So I said, "Yeah, bring on the public option!" To which she replied, "Oh no! I don't want socialized medicine!" (My mouth drops open)
"It's not socialized medicine, it's an option to pay less for insurance. That way we are not paying some CEO millions of dollars to run to company into the ground, instead the money will actually pay for health care."
"Oh no," she says, "it will make so all the old people will die, it is meant as a way to kill off all the old people! You can't tell me that if some twenty-something year old and some sixty-something year old were both in the hospital, that the younger one would get all the care, because the older one is closer to dying anyway." (My mouth drops open)
"Oh, my God, you do not really believe that do you?" I ask.
"Oh yes I do, I would rather pay $800 a month in health care than have socialized medicine." (Flies collect in my mouth as it still hangs agape . . )
After this frivolous battle, I commented that I did not know that she was such a scared republican . . .

Lies and more Lies - when will it stop??

2009-08-17T22:07:00.001-07:00

The only thing more incredible than the lies being generated by the right wing conservatives about the Health Care Reform, is the fact that people actually BELIEVE the bullshit spewing from the mouths of the likes of Rush Limbo, Glen Beck-and-Call, and Sean Hanky.
wake up people and pay attention! The Conservative talk show people make money because YOU listen to them, that does not mean they really BELIEVE the crap they are feeding you. They do not have your best interest in mind! They do not care if you do not have healthcare. Oh, and that "government run healthcare" you don't want? What do you think Medicare is? How about Social Security? OH, one more thing: The Congress and the Senate - they have "Public Option" healthcare, don't you deserve as good of care as they get?

Fake Outrage and the Irony

2009-08-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

All this protesting at the town hall meetings is getting ridiculous! First of all, most of the protesters are not even in those districts. Second, they are Republican "operatives" sent out to rally the protests, and thirdly - it isn't even "real"!
The funniest part is the other day one of the "protesters" was injured in a fight (of all the ridiculous things) with another attendee. The injured guy did NOT HAVE HEALTHCARE! So he needs assistance with his medical expenses!!!!!
Does that not beat all??? Seriously - he is there to PROTEST a CHEAPER way to get healthcare (he does not have) through a public option, gets hurt and needs healthcare?!?!?! WTF?
The Republican Machine is grinding away at the very core of what Americans need most: A way to stay healthy!
Is that the way they work? Is that the way the people are let themselves be treated? Fight for your right to be born (Pro-Life), Dumb you down (No child left behind), Keep you out of college (no grants and higher education costs), Keep you from working (companies going overseas, illegals, and union issues), make you sick (too expensive of healthcare) make you poor (tax you to death), then let you die (no healthcare because they did not fight for your right to have it!)
Give me a freakin' break!

C.A.R.S.

2009-08-04T07:17:00.001-07:00

the Cash for Clunkers is lined up for the chopping block. Now I am not personally taking advantage of this program. Do I think it should halt because I am not getting any money? No, I mean I do not receive welfare, food stamps, unemployment, medicaid, social security disability, tuition assistance, AHCCCS, or any other government assistance. Should all those programs cease just because EVERYONE is not involved in the benefit? That would be a resounding NO!
Frankly - if the people who need it, get it, then it keeps the economy going, keeps the population free from disease and therefore benefits all.
As for the Cash for Clunkers - there is a decrease in emissions, increase in fuel mileage and stimulated sales for the - wait for it - auto industry!!!! yeah! didn't they get some huge sum of money not too long ago? Why yes they did - Except FORD, and their sales are booming (in a matter of speaking).
By the way - Ford Forever Baby!

Healthcare - Round 2

2009-07-31T21:38:00.001-07:00

So, there are those in politics that want people to believe that a "Public Option" is bad. They keep portraying it as substandard care, then they try to say it will be bad for all of healthcare. Finally you find out, because one of the Congresswomen let it slip, that in reality, it will cause a drop in the COST of HEALTH INSURANCE and HEALTH CARE by about 30 to 40% !!!!! OMG! what a travesty! For the Health Insurance companies maybe, but not for the citizens! I don't know about you, but I am all for a decrease in premiums, copays and health care costs in general! I think the costs have become outrageous!
Now if you really think about it, why would a congress member NOT want the cost of health Insurance to drop? maybe because they are receiving campaign money from those companies! Lobbyists and Big Insurance are lining the pockets of those nay-sayers!
I warn all of the people - those that protest a reduction in cost to you - are benefiting in some way by the higher prices we pay!
I say bring on the public option. We already have "rationed" health care, just try to get labs or tests done and see if they try to give you a hard time! What about when you want or need the brand name because the generic does not work for you? And do not forget those that get dropped from insurance because they had to audacity to get sick! Access to health care, that is affordable, is a fundamental right! It says the "right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Preventive care and medicine to get well is the path to Life . . . what do you think?

healthcare . . .

2009-07-30T07:22:00.001-07:00

As I am short on time - I will just say that I am irritated by the lies that have been spread about healthcare and the new legislation.
More to come . . .

OMG do people HATE change!

2009-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

With all the hullabaloo about the budget, costs, expenses, cuts in pay, hours reduction and increased taxes - you would think that people would be willing to do whatever it takes to save money, time, supplies etc.
Think Again!!
See the heart of the matter is that people resist change harder than anything else that occurs on the planet, and the weirdest part of that scenario is that CHANGE is the most common thing to occur.
When attempts have been made to reduce the use of paper, put things online, on the server, on the network, in the system - people still want to PRINT it out!!! What for???? Can you guess the answer to that question? What For? "In case the system goes down." WTF - are you kidding me?
I am not the first one to tell you that the State is a paper monster - we are the graveyard for paperwork, we have to document everything - everything! So, no wonder the state employees are scared to death of not writing something down or having the hard copy.
Oh goddess please allow my colleagues to be released from their fear of the "please do not print this" order. They know not what lies ahead . . .

Semantics or Meaning?

2009-07-17T22:22:00.000-07:00

Obviously I jest! Back to Judge Sotomayor; Between the lying Jeff Sessions, the condescending Lindsay Graham or the racist Pat Robertson - I am not sure how much the GOP wants themselves to be buried! Lets look at this carefully now:
Jeff Sessions was denied a place on the Supreme Court due to his associations with known racists and KKK members. He is a white male, and he is afraid the non-white folk will displace his little world.
Lindsay Graham spoke to Judge Sotomayor like she was a child who needed redirection. He is from South Carolina, he is a white male. He dwelt on a few negative comments from a few lawyers concerning her temperament. Consider this is a woman who has served on the bench for 17 YEARS! I think that in that amount of time, there would be a few lawyers who did not get their way and retaliated by making a few anonymous statements about her. Notice Senator Graham did not say how many negative comments there were, nor how long ago they were made. He does take a moment to say there were many good comments - oh, but he did not have time to mention any specifically - Give Me A Break!
Now for Pat Robertson. Senator from Kansas, white male, religious representative and noted bible toter. He used words like she was "put" in Princeton and was "given" her suma cum laude. WTF! If I recall from my education - no one "put" me in my college, I applied and was accepted! Secondly, I was not "given" my grades I EARNED them! Judge Sonia Sotomayor atttended college 30 years ago, not just any college - Princeton! She EARNED her degree, oh, SUMA CUM LAUDE and then EARNED her way into Yale Law School! As an educated person, I am offended by his comments and statements insinuating that because she is a Latina Woman she was put in the right school and given good grades! His comentary about the whole issue makes it look as though she is being given an opportunity for this position even though she is undeserved and unqualified! Finally, Robertson stated that his school scores were probably better than hers anyway - Ah, Pat graduated Suma Cum Laude too???!?!? Um, that is a NO! He did not!
According to Pat Robertson, there MUST be some white male somewhere that is qualified for the job. I say, there probably is, but who cares? Since our country was established, we have had 110 Justices of the Supreme court, 108 of them have been male, and 105 of them have been white males. I think there is plenty of room for a Latina Woman who is smart, professional, well spoken and experienced on the bench of the Supreme Court.
It is evident that the GOP needs to make some changes: to their leadership, image and direction. Any smart Republican (if there are any . . .) will look at Meghan McCain and realize that she has the right idea.

Supreme Court

2009-07-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else put off by the Judicial Committee and Jeff Sessions? Think about this: Sessions has been associated with Racists for years. Now, he has the audacity to claim that Sotomayor is "racist" because of her comment regarding being a Latino Woman on the bench.

The thing is: they cannot find any dirt on her. Her rulings have been in line, nothing outlandish, nothing rebel-like. She is above board. So what have the GOP decided to? They are trying to discredit her because she has "empathy." Are you effing kidding me? All that means is that she has FEELINGS!!! I don't know about you, but I want to know that the people ruling on cases that effect the nation and our citizens do have feelings. Don't get me wrong, I don't want a SOP that can't make it through the day without crying, but this professional, educated and experienced WOMAN has been in the field of Law and on a Judicial Bench for many years. Not once has she broken down because of her "feelings" while performing her duties as a Judge.

I guess when all else fails, make something up or make a good quality seem bad - how does that make sense to ANYONE?
Til next time - don't drink the poison koolaid!

Temperatures are Climbing

2009-07-09T06:53:00.001-07:00

Well here we go! The temps are creeping toward "one-teens", We are expecting 115* or 116* this weekend. After 110* it is just hot-as-hell. There really isn't much difference between 112* and 118*. Think about it: do you really want to be out in it either way? I know I don't. Just walking to and from your car is awful. If your car has to sit in the sun all day - hope you oven mitts to touch your steering wheel. You learn to drive with just 2 fingers!
Add in a little mix of Monsoon and you get a slightly more humid environment which makes the heat that much more unbearable and heavy!
HOWEVER - I say it every time - no matter how hot it gets, we don't have to shovel it out of the way!
Ta Ta folks!

DO what you get paid for!

2009-07-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Now, if I did not go to work and do my job, I would not get paid and would probably get fired. I mean if I was hired to do a job and it did not get done, why do I deserve to get paid? So lets say my job was to answer phones and direct the calls to the correct person. If I did not show up to work, I could not answer the phones (my job) so I do not get paid. Or, I show up, punch in and then just let the phone ring. I would be fired for not performing my job. Or I would show up, answer the phone and send the calls to the wrong people. That's just BAD performance and I would be fired for that too.

Now look at the legislators: They were hired (elected) to do a job (analyze bills, pass laws and create and pass a budget) in a specified amount of time (5.5 months). Now they receive $24K to work 100 days. They complain that the job is really full-time and not part-time because it takes so much of their time, but they ONLY get such a small pay. (By my calculations, if you extrapolate the $24K to a full year of work, it is about a $60K a year job.) They did not DO their job in the time allotted! That is POOR performance! Why should we, the tax payers, pay them more money when they are unable to DO the job as it is described, in the time given for the tasks requested? My employees are educated and experienced personnel, they have not seen a raise in years and rightly DESERVE one! But do you think they will see one anytime soon? That would be a big HELL NO! Why? We are State Employees - remember the Budget that the Legislators were supposed to do in that 5 month period? Poor performance - They need to be FIRED!!

Oh, and the ones who did not show up for the Special Session today - Remember who they are and FIRE THEM!

July 4th Weekend

2009-07-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

So we had a great weekend, and spent it with friends by the pool and in the water, however, the water was pretty close to bathwater. Anyway, the company was great and we did NOTHING on Sunday, even stayed in pajamas and watched HGTV. LOLOLOLOLOL

Diane Taurasi was cited and released for DUI, how dumb is that??? Famous people can be so irresponsible!!!

Well, Steve McNair the QB of the TN Titans was murdered - I will speculate (cause I can) that the girlfriend put the 4 bullets in him then killed herself: "If I can't have you, no one can . . .!!! BANG"

A few people died from fireworks accidents, I am not sure if we lost any children to the pools.

So, back to work in Monday morning.

"We don't fail them anymore . . ."

2009-07-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

Are you effing kidding me? A friend of mine has a 13 year old son. He has been turning into and has become a PILL over the last 8 months or so. He has been talking back, getting into her face and acts too big for his britches! In addition - his grades have fallen, he finished 7th grade with 2 F's and a D. He was passed to the 8th grade. When my friend questioned the Teacher about the poor grades and why he was passed, she replied: "Oh, we don't fail the children anymore." She was livid!!!! She told the Teacher she was going to contact the superintendent, Channel 3 On Your Side, and whoever else she could come up with in order to get to the bottom of this absolute travesty of the School System!

No wonder we have so many kids graduating from High School with the inability to read, write and communicate. Much less understand history, math, and literature. If the system does not "Fail" the poorly performing student then the System IS failing the children! What an injustice and complete waste of resources to remove the most basic of "punishments" as to not hold a child back in school when they have failed to master or at least pass with a C an element of learning! If a student is able to move to the next grade without earning a C or better, then they are sailing through school just for showing up! We will truly be the dumbest nation in the world in a matter of 15 years. If they are going to do this, why not just hand out a BA with every Birth Certificate, hell the parents can even pick which field they want their child to be "educated" in, because it won't make a bit of difference!

So what is the budget tie-in? The Governor line-item vetoed the funding for education. She wants the legislators to put a special tax vote to the people and have THAT tax fund education. WOW, nothing like tying the hands of the voters - "Pay up or have stupid children".

If you want smart kids - fight with the school system!
Thank you Mom for fighting the school system!

Went to Work - No Budget . . .

2009-07-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

Lets get something clear: At some point around 2:50 this morning the boneheads that legislate in this State came up with some kind of Budget. It still did not include the tax increase the Governor wanted to send to the voters in November and it did include a Privatization of Prisons part.
Now how dumb is it to not include specifically what the Governor agreed upon and then to include some retarded measure to turn the State Prison System into a Private industry? I jump ahead a little, rewind: The Governor probably did not even LOOK at the budget they sent her. When she does, either the whole thing will get vetoed or she will line item veto parts of it and they will be in special session anyway next week, so they will have to look at it all over again.
Now the Privatization issue. Nowhere in the country are entire Prison Systems private. No other state has Max Custody and Death Row inmates managed by a Private Prison - it is about Public Safety and Liability. Secondly: Arizona runs on a "Complex" System (this does not mean it is complicated, we call the cluster of units a "Complex"). This design allows several units of different custody levels to operate under one Warden and be integrated in different ways in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. So a Complex has 1 Warehouse, 1 Transportation Center, 1 Pharmacy, 1 Warden, 1 Records Unit and so on. However, the Complex manages 4 or 5 different units that rely upon the shared services. In addition, the units are different custody levels or special units. This design allows lower custody inmates to work the grounds or kitchen duties and the like, while other, higher custody inmates can remain safely behind cell doors to keep the public, staff and other inmates safe.
Thirdly: The Value versus payment is so far off the mark it is ridiculous. The Structures (buildings) for all the Complexes exceeds $2 billion. That value does not include the land. Arizona would be asking for $100 million up front. Hmmmm, $2 billion for only $100 million? Sign me up! LOL!!!???!!? Seriously though, the State would still have to provide operating costs to the Private Owners yearly. Then it is up to them to make it profitable. Guess how they do that: Untrained, lower paid staff! When there was an escape last year from the Private Prison (2 murderers) guess who they called? Yes, the State Prison System to search for and recover the escapees! Hmmm, wonder why? If an inmate gets injured in a Private Prison, guess who is responsible for the care and liability - not the Private Prison, the State Prison System!
Remember: Don't Sacrifice the Public Safety for 50 years for a quick buck now, it will be way more costly than ever described to you - the voters! besides that, I would like to know what the lawmakers (who continue to submit the idea of the Privatized Prison System) have to gain if it did go Private. Sounds like quid pro quo. I don't know, I am just asking, are you?

So in conclusion - as far as I know, we still don't have a budget, but at least we are getting paid!

OMG "Children" were arguing over the Budget!

2009-07-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

Last night was a 1 ring Circus (my apologies to Barnum and Bailey!) The legislators were arguing over the smallest of issues last night, none of which managed to resolve the issue. Oh, and I must applaud the Native Americans' answer "Uh, we need the money". What!?!?!? That is the best argument you have? You deserve to lose funds if that is all you have!!
Several of the lawmakers made a point of order that they were violating the Arizona Constitution by not having a budget. Also, some of them spoke out for the State Employees and the uncertainty being felt across the state. Wow! Oh the State Parks were closed last night and campers were literally KICKED out of the parks! Um, in case you did not notice, this is a holiday weekend.
So here we are at 6:00 am and we are to report as usual to work and the rest will be figured out.
The news is reporting that State Employees are gathering at the Capital!! Yeah!!!

T - 3 hours and 41 minutes

2009-06-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

So here I am, 8:18 pm on June 30, 2009. Dead line is 11:59 pm for a budget. I stand corrected on the number of State Employees effected by this issue: it is roughly 60,000 persons wondering if they are going to work tomorrow. I was reading "comments" from ABC15.com regarding the issue. I am amazed everyday by the blatant ignorance of people who make comments on stories. I was compelled to put my 2 cents in - I can't stand when the ignorant have the platform with no restraint or rebuttal! Most of the comments were against the services for illegals, lying rich people who collect food stamps, well dressed women at the food bank, or the "Liberals" who messed it all up since 2003.
For me, it is simply about working hard, making a living and getting paid for the work I have done. If the government shuts down - it is about not getting paid! I work in the Public Safety domain. Everyday I make sure the bad guys stay where the courts put them! 90% of the State Employees make normal wages, we are not State Employees so that we could become rich. I play the Lottery in the hopes of becoming rich! I have 6 dedicated, hardworking staff that will not be able to report to work or get paid if the government shuts down.
If it shuts down, the hours we worked for the last pay period will not be paid out to us on Thursday. We have mortgages, credit cards, car payments, electric bills and groceries to buy. We won't have any health care during a shutdown! There is a helplessness attached to this event, we have NO control over the budget. Instead, legislators have the fate of our tomorrow in their hands and they are mishandling it! They are abusing us and the mental abuse is long ranging and painful. It is especially hurtful because the shut down has NO effect upon them.
If it shuts down - all non-working State Employees should go to the capital and show your numbers. Be visible and be heard!
Here's to an uncertain couple of hours.

29 hours and Counting!

2009-06-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here we go with the budget crap again! Just when you thought it was safe to go to the grocery store and get stuff for the empty cupboards - the Senate decides not to pass the budget, and send it to "Committee". That is just their way of avoiding making a decision!
So I heard a bird tell me that there are a few (and I use this term VERY loosely) businesses that have NOT paid the required Sales Tax to the State. Now consider this: You go to, say - Target and you buy your detergent, some soda, a new shirt, a candy bar and the new Wayne Newton CD. You pay your bill, which includes about $5 in sales tax, and leave - satisfied with your purchase and pride in your contribution to the State budget. Here is the problem - Target "collected" the sales tax from you, but over a period time, Target has collected thousands of dollars in sales tax but has failed to ever hand over the collected tax to Arizona!
So - I say - get the Sales Tax that is already paid from the businesses first before trying to tax me to death! Little Mamacita and Pappa who run the local Taco Shack are not paying the collected sales tax either!!!!

If you collected the Tax - fork it over!!!!

You don't know HOT!

2009-06-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

In Arizona - hot is a way of life. For example: it is 107* today. That is actually an ok temperature. You know we have 4 seasons here: Cool, Warm, Hot and OMFG~! I moved from the Humidity State back in '98 to Hell's Competition. Nothing like rolling into this State in March when it was cool and crisp in the mornings, sunny in the afternoon and cool again at night. As the months rolled into OMFG, the temps hit 120* "Yeah but it's a dry heat" LMAO!
Then we had Monsoon - what the hell was that? I mean I have seen hurricanes - but what is a Monsoon? Come to find out it is "Reverse weather" - during those precious months of "high" humidity in the desert (get ready for it) of 36% the sky rumbles, the clouds roll in and the great Haboob descends upon the valley! (Oh, almost forgot - Haboob is the Great Wall of Dust, it only occurs here and the Sahara Desert - remember in the movie Hidalgo? That was a Haboob!)
Then it rains so much at one time that cars float away and Stupid Drivers drive their cars into 10 feet of water! After 30 minutes max, the rain stops and all the Arizona "Natives" complain aboout how humid it is. LOL!!!!??!?!?!?
Anyway, they say after 5 years you become a "native" that just means you get used to the OMFG Season and are not disturbed by 120* on the thermastat. When the overnight LOW is 100* where you live - lets talk turkey!

All I say is: "Thank you for A/C and movie theaters!

Sigh of Relief

2009-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I am happy to report that there is an "agreement" about the budget. Now this does NOT mean that the budget is passed or signed. It means the GOP legislature has discussed a few points with the Republican Governor and they have reached a compromise.
Now the budget will be drafted and put to a vote by the legislature and then sent to the Governor for a signature. Nothing in stone til she puts pen to paper on the all important line.
However, we can all at least take a breath, in that we are 99% sure we will have our jobs continue on July 1.
I am to understand that there is a measure to make a flat percent for Arizona Income tax, instead of a choice of percentage, and there will be a proposed $.01 sales tax increase presented to the voters in November. Whatever - I still will be losing my stipends, so less money and more taxes!

Ta for now!

My Brain is Mush

2009-06-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

Still no news on the Budget - nothing has changed!
I have been in training for 3 days and I have one more day to go. I even have Homework but I am afraid I just cannot do it. My Brain is getting foggy and over crowded by the material we are learning because it is a crash course. We are learning to train the material - Ugh!

Until tomorrow - "Stop and Think", it may keep you out of trouble!

Governor Presses the Courts

2009-06-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the Governor went to the Supreme Court to get them to "force" the Legislature to send the budget to her. So, the Constitution requires the Legislature to submit the budget to the Governor, but it does not specify an amount of time to do it, the only stipulation is that it must be submitted by June 30th. They said - right on TV today - that they do not want to give it to her now because she will probably VETO it!
I say - "Give the Damn thing to her, let her VETO and go back to the drawing board and deliver a budget she WILL sign!" If she is going to reject it, then give yourselves time to get another one done before more than 40,000 people are left without income. The State of Arizona is the largest employer in Arizona.
The Governor does not strike me as one to let herself be pushed around but the legislature. Trust me on this one - she will shut the government down!

So - What's it gonna be?

Budget news

2009-06-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

Well the news is: There is no news!!! That is utterly infuriating! I mean seriously, this has to be the most important thing going on right now. Do people realize the services that will shut down if the budget issue is not resolved? The Department of Corrections will go into Emergency Status, half of the staff will be furloughed. the Department of Public Safety (the Highway Patrol guys and gals?) will be reduced in staff, if you do not wear a badge - you will not be working! Public health will be reduced to an anorexic skeleton crew! EVERYBODY else: shut down and no work! Oh, however - the Governor's staff, the legislature and the Attorney General do NOT get furloughed. So, that means the officials with our futures in their hands will not suffer from their lack of, or bad decision-making.
They have exactly 196 hours and 15 minutes to get this hammered out, voted on, approved, and then to the Governor for signing (that's if she doesn't veto it) before we go into Emergency Status. I truly believe she will do it too, No Doubt!

I hope every State Employee that gets furloughed because of this goes to the capital grounds on 7/1/09 at 8am (since they will not have a job to go to) so that "THEY" can see just who they are hurting with their political chest thumping!

the State

2009-06-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

Working for the State Government has gotten stressful. My job is not hard, it is not usually stressful, I love what I do. My problem is that the powers-that-be (literally) are chest thumping and peacocking around with the budget. Without a budget passed, approved, and signed - the government will shut down on June 30 at 11:59pm. This is not a good prospect if the State of Arizona signs your paycheck - Because you will not be getting one! In addition, we are getting wage cuts and the Governor wants to raise taxes. This is a double and for some - a triple hit! It is frustrating and irritating that our legislators will play with our emotions and our livelihoods. They are toying with our safety and security for the sake of politicking. It is deplorable and dispicable!

Hello Blog World

2009-06-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Arizona. This is not my first Blog, but it is my new Blog. My former blogging was about the Prison system - of which I was an EMPLOYEE not an inmate. Before that I blogged about Over the Road Driving, I was a truck driver.

Now I will focus my Blog on Making My Way thru life, work, love, family, politics, TV, the highway, friends and whatever I am dealing with at the moment. I bitch about stuff, I praise people and I vent when needed. You never know what you are gonna get. I also my jump around on topics, or stick to one topic for awhile if it is really on my mind.

So - here we go . . . .