DEAR GRAND OLD PARTY

Dear GOP leaders,

Some of you must have watched the election returns. Apparently neither Speaker Boehner or Mitch McConnell watched. In an effort to reach across the shark invested aisle, President Obama called both gentlemen after his victory speech. Both Boehner and McConnell were sleeping. Dreaming of a white Christmas or a white president no doubt.

I actually started this post on Wednesday feeling very positive. I was feeling certain the federal government was going to come together now that we have a clear national mandate. I had a wish, a hope, a dream that the level headed, pragmatic members of the GOP would push aside the lunatic fringe that have been allowed to lead your party. I confess, I also had a nasty little fantasy of Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity being dragged away from cameras and microphones and air dropped on an island with nothing but Ted Nugent, Meatloaf and Chuck Norris for entertainment.

It took 2 years, billions of dollars and non-acts of Congress, but we citizens finally managed to have the actual election. The process itself, from hats being thrown into the ring to election night, is something between clown college and a fraternity initiation. Elections are bloated wastes of money and time full of half truths and complete lies. It is posturing, primal behavior which might be great for reality TV but as a way to elect the leader of our nation it is a joke. This issue, among many, is something Congress could actually change. Politics is more important to the Grand Old Party.

Let me explain to you the error of your ways as average Americans see it.

You are completely out of touch with the people you count on to elect you. You are more concerned about winning the political war than working on fair legislation to first heal and then grow the economy. You will not smack down the lunatic fringe of your party who make you all seem like, racist, misogynistic, elitist pricks.

In 2004 when George Bush won re-election your party boasted of having a clear mandate. President Bush himself stated he had a lot of political capital and he planned on spending it. Fast forward to 2012 and Obama's re-election. Your party claims his re-election is not a mandate. Let me run the numbers for you.

In 2004, George W. Bush was re-elected with 286 electoral votes and 48.3% of the popular vote.
In 2012, Barack Obama was re-elected with 303 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote.

If Bush had a clear mandate then doesn't Obama have a clearer mandate? Logic would say yes, but apparently logic isn't necessary in the GOP. You continually undermine the party with this kind of political strutting. It's not your job to protect and defend your political party. It is your job to protect and defend your nation. There is a vast difference.

Now, let me give you a few hints that might benefit your party in the future.

Anytime you have a candidate caught on tape talking about the pathetic 47% of the country that don't need to be worried about you are in serious trouble. When you have candidates talking about God sanctioned rape babies and abortion you are in trouble. When you let right-wing radio and television hosts become the voice of your own party you are in trouble. When you bank on the information coming out of Fox News you are in trouble.

So listen up.

The average American is not stupid. We will not be pandered to. Didn't you learn that lesson during the 2008 election when John McCain thought Sarah Palin would win the women's vote based on her gender? The average American is no longer white and male. The average American is not an evangelical Christian. The average American is sick of banks and money lenders getting away with ruining the housing market while continuing to make healthy profits. The average American is sick of paying outrageous prices at the gas pump while the energy companies post their highest profit margins ever. The average American is sick of knowing they pay a higher percentage in taxes than the wealthiest among us. The average American realizes that corporate profits and CEO pay have soared while workers are being laid off. The average American does not buy the trickle down theory of economics.

Your party has derailed. Time to set it back on track with both feet standing firmly in reality. Time to look for candidates who are diverse, intelligent, fair-minded and able to reach out to all Americans. Stop trying to make the rest of us fit into the, "white men are the average American", model. Not anymore. Not in a long time. Time to acknowledge the separation of church and state. Time to pay attention to education. Time to cut defense spending.  It's time for one or more among you to stand up and renounce extremism. It's time to tell Rush and Sean and their ilk to shut up. It's time to eat humble pie and work with the other party. I'm not sure you can do it with the leaders you have now. Look among your ranks. There must be a moderate or two.

Otherwise you could end up like the Whig party.

You're welcome,
Lillybellblues

AMERICA: THE CESSPOOL OF POLITICS

This is America. Land of the free, home of the brave and cesspool of politics. The, "land of opportunity", is becoming the land of, "you other guys SUCK". Election season magnifies the divide in our nation and between her citizens.  Like bacteria under a microscope our differences look menacing and potentially unbeatable.

We all want the same basic things in life.  Good health, happiness, shelter, the ability to pursue our dreams, money for creature comforts and the same for our families. The security to go about our daily lives without being harassed or threatened by roving gangs of criminals or over zealous police is expected. The comfort in being a member of a society living without constant threat of death or injury from a terrorist attack, foreign or domestic, is expected. In other words, a free society.

Freedom to live as we choose has changed time and again in our nation. Our ability to start with nothing and make something of ourselves is becoming the exception and not the rule in our current era. The cards are stacked against many in this country and more often than not few care so long as they or their families are not personally impacted.

American history is bloated with examples of people with power holding others back. Of corporations taking advantage of their workers.Of people being bought and sold as property. Of children being used as cheap labor. Of immigrants being used for the most dangerous and deadly tasks in manufacturing and building. Of robber barons monopolizing their industries. Of people being cheated out of their homes, property and way of life. Of non-white people and women being second class citizens or not citizens at all.

America has suffered through civil war, civil unrest, labor strikes, natural and man made disasters. It has taken slow, painstaking changes in our laws and societal thinking to create a level playing field for all of our citizens. Sounds like a land of progressive, thoughtful people. Sounds like a nation of citizens that care about those who do not have all the tools readily at hand to be successful. Sounds like a society who can change and evolve.

Yet we seem to be stuck. We aren't moving forward and moving back is not an option. Our nation is in debt. We have been involved in war for 11 years. We have well educated, capable people out of work. We have hunger and homelessness in every town and city. We have high crime. Our education system is struggling. Our veterans are coming home to no jobs and in danger of losing their homes. We have citizens who have no access to health care for themselves or their children.

We need job creators. We need to manufacture the best products to export to the rest of the world. We need sustainable, affordable energy. We need to provide the best education to give our children the skills necessary to compete and succeed in the world. We need visionaries to take us to new heights in science and technology. We need to have common national goals in which we can take pride.

So how do we, the voters, choose those among us to govern, to legislate? We listen to name calling, school yard level taunting, lies and witness underhanded behavior. This behavior is from our candidates and their election teams and not the lunatic fringe. Election season reminds me of those first few months every year in junior high when slam books were passed from student to student to express their real feelings about their peers. (For you youngsters, slam books were how we bullied each other in school prior to the Internet).

Electing our leaders has become like one, long tail gate party, side by side with rivals, that turns into a brawl. We even have team colors and mascots. The Red vs The Blue. The Elephant vs. The Donkey. We have warring spin doctors dominating every form of media 24/7. There is an entire industry that consists of spewing distorted versions of facts and conspiracy theories. One sided, political party loving, party excusing and explaining experts are everywhere. Finding dirt on an opponent is the number one priority. They preach gloom and doom if the other side should win. We have reached the point in history where winning is more important than the state of the union.

Both sides have demonstrated their unwillingness to resolve issues because they will not compromise. Members of Congress will walk away from their job rather than engage in the nasty business of working out legislation. They take their ball and go home. Conveniently they stop in front of all the cameras and microphones on the way out to drop some sound bites in time to make the next news cycle.

We should not stand for this. We aren't fans in a stadium rooting for the home team. We are citizens of a nation in turmoil in need of leaders, statesmen and people of reason representing we the people.

The founding fathers of this nation set out to create a society where one's fate was not determined by the circumstance of birth.  No Kings begetting more kings. No landed gentry begetting more gentry. No poor and enslaved begetting more poor and enslaved. No national religion to follow or to influence legislation. The founding fathers envisioned a nation where everyone was equal. Where opportunities were there for all. Where you could achieve things based on ability and merit. Where the good of the nation was above the good of any one portion of society. These men were so aware of history, of the natural selfishness of man and the addictive quality of power, they created a constitution that could be amended as the needs of society changed while preserving equality for all citizens. Three branches of government to maintain a balance. A peaceful change of power.

Were these perfect men? No. They were flawed, stubborn and self serving to varying degrees. They could not reach an agreement on slavery so they left the fate of those enslaved in the hands of history. They acknowledged their failings and weaknesses. But they laid the foundation for a dynamic Republic. We are the lucky recipients of their struggles.

America is at a crossroad. We are weaker in many areas than we have been in decades. This is the time people must come together. Compromise is necessary and when it cannot be achieved then consensus must be found. This isn't about who wins and who loses, this is about realizing what we do now will effect people here and now as well as in the future. This isn't about running America like a corporation or one huge social program. This is a time for truth from those who want to represent us in Government. This is the time for clear, actual plans to make positive changes. We do not need recitations of what is wrong with those across the aisle but civil discussions of what is and is not working for our citizens and our bottom line. This is about what America should be for the good of all citizens.

We flourish as a nation when everyone has the opportunity to grow, learn and find their niche. I don't believe we would be happier all wearing uniforms, goose stepping and towing the national line. Nor do I think we would be happier in a lawless, dog eat dog society where your rights are determined by those with the most power, money and/or the biggest weapon.

We must learn to discuss ideas and philosophies as intelligent, considerate, thoughtful human beings. Our leaders should be exemplifying that behavior. Role modeling as we called it in corporate America. The leader of the free world should be able to rise above pettiness and party politics. The leader of the free world should listen to all the representatives of the nation's citizens. The leader of the free world should be able to stand toe to toe with their peers around the world. The ability to throw a zinger or chant a good slogan does not a leader make.

I'm not saying vote for my candidates, I am saying demand better from those who lead and aspire to lead. Don't wallow in the shallow end. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. Don't be sheeple. Don't give in to petty name calling and spreading innuendo. Don't just listen to what you want to hear. Educate yourself. Read and listen to differing points of view. Search for unbiased information that is not skewed. Demand answers with back up documentation. We deserve that.

Alone we are but one voice. Together we are a choir. Demand better, it's the least we deserve.

You're welcome,
Lillybell Blues

CREATING A SAMENESS

America seems to need an enemy. Not just foreign but domestic as well. Our society gravitates to the ideologies that divide us and then we conquer ourselves. It is not enough to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is not enough to have a history of  saving the civilized world from destruction. We are driven to find something to disagree on or we become malcontent with our American Dream.

Gender divided this nation from it's inception until the 1920s. Race divided the nation before we were a nation. Religion has divided the world since creation. Native people across the globe have been removed from their land and had their cultures changed because they weren't white, Christian, Anglo Saxons. Practices that have divided us throughout history, for the most part, have been legislated out of existence. Of course there are still people who cling to their ism like a baby to a pacifier. Their ism somehow sustains their reason for being.

Politics, while always divisive, now holds the cleaver that hacks this nation in half. Politics is no longer a philosophical divide. It is now the calling card that defines you.

  "I am John/Jane Doe, Staunch Democrat/Republican. I cannot tolerate you or your political leaning."

  "How not nice to meet you John/Jane, as I am your staunch opposite. Let us find no middle ground or anything in common, for that would make me a liberal/conservative lover. Let me teach my children to hate your children and with any luck there will continue to be bullying and hate".

What an insult to all those who put their lives on the line to give us freedom. How foolish we are to think that defining our differences is more important than seeking what draws us together. How did we reach this current plateau?

I blame white men.

Now, men friends, don't get your knickers in a knot. I don't mean you personally, I mean your forefathers and their forefathers.

Apparently, since western civilization was formed all the rights and privileges were for white males. Women were property, blacks were slaves and white guys ruled the world. Literally.

Well, gentlemen, you have done a terrible job. In all segments of our society from government to religion you have practiced oppression and hate with your rules and your laws.

My paternal great, great grandmother immigrated to America from Norway. Her husband died leaving her with nothing except hungry children. As a woman she couldn't own property so she lost his money and his farm. Well, not all of his property. She still had herself.

Great, great grandmother Jensen came to America to make a life for herself and her children. Throughout my grandparents lifetime the family struggled. However, my father and his siblings all went on to be successful after growing up through the Great Depression and fighting in World War II. The G.I. bill was perfect for smart young men with no money for higher education.

We baby boomers were born into a great world except for one small problem. A large segment of our society still wasn't free. Segregation and racism were prevalent. Women, after finally being given the right to vote, were supposed to pop out babies and be their husband's domestic staff while smiling and wearing pearls. IF they wanted or needed a career they could be nurses, school teachers, secretaries, strippers and/or prostitutes. If they voted, they were expected to vote for their husband's candidate.

What society has learned from a male dominated culture is that keeping everyone beneath, "Important White Male", status was imperative to keeping us civilized. Through generations of hard work, protests, jailings, lynchings, murders and court cases, white men have been forced to get in line. Shape up a little and quit being such strutting cocks.

With laws no longer on their side, no laws keeping the white guys in positions of authority by laws written by white guys, what's a guy to do? Hammer at our differences and bring every man, woman and child into the fray.

People want to defend marriage, fetuses, bankers, market speculators, gun owners, chicken sandwich makers and gigantic corporations. The Supreme Court has defined corporations as people. Citizens are frightened everyday will tales of gloom about how poor people are killing America. Illegal immigrants are coming across our borders to nefariously harvest our crops. And those non-citizens are actually feeding their children, who work beside them in the fields, with money that American citizens could be making.

Gay people want to have lives. OUT IN THE OPEN! Noooooooooooo. That will ruin everything. That means that gay people can marry, raise children, be productive members of society! Can't have that. Let's pick on gays.

Women want to have insurance that covers birth control! Noooooooooooo. That is an affront to religion. Well, not all religions. Catholics. It's an affront to Catholics. We have seen what an upstanding institution the Catholic Church has been. Keeping people in poverty, keeping women in their place, keeping pedophiles on the payroll. We can't possibly offend the Catholic Church.

STOP IT! We have created a nation where finally, by law, all PEOPLE are equal. We still have issues, we still have problems. As a matter of fact, we have enough issues and problems just maintaining a nation to last our lifetime without throwing in every single hate and ism we can dream up.

Please, let us focus on what we all want. The right to live in peace, live without fear, healthy family members, good jobs, housing, food, clothing, warmth, coolness, freedom to be yourself. That's what we should all want. We should want that for every citizen. Not because we are socialists, not because we are subversive but because we are human.

If you want rights for yourself, want them for all. If you have needs, know that others have them as well. Help where you can. Give what you can to enrich some one's life experience.

And step away from all the Kool-Aid.

Create a sameness, not a difference.

You're welcome,
Lillybell Blues

HEALTH CARE...it's a good thing

The Supreme Court has found the Affordable Health Care Act to be constitutional. Finally, something for the citizens of the nation. This almost restores my faith. Not quite, Citizens United is still the worst decision by the court in my lifetime. However, for now, I am celebrating living in a nation where people are still important.

As soon as I heard the decision on NBC, I began surfing news channels to see how the decision was being spun. FOX and CNN made it sound like America was about to demand that all citizens dress in brown and goose-step across the nation in Facist revelry. On MSNBC I think Chris Matthews might have wet his pants. He should see a doctor about that.

 I decided to see how the market was reacting. Not at all surprising, Big Pharma, Big Insurance and other medical industry related corporations were in negative territory. Simply an indication that people with enough money to invest realized profit margins were going to be smaller in those industries and were jumping ship. That was all I needed to confirm what I already knew. What is good for citizens isn't good for wall street and vice versa.

Insurance was the first industry to sell nothing. Maybe in it's origin the purpose of insurance was noble but, over time, insurance became the Big Brother of our problems. Insure your home, car, property and body. Never worry again. For several thousand dollars a year you are guaranteed coverage unless you are affected by something that insurance won't cover. Or if you are sick too long. Or your illness requires too much treatment. Or if you have a chronic illness, a pre-existing condition or an Act of God befalls you, then you are screwed. By the way, they do not return the money you have paid them after they have denied your claim. That's called profit.

I have known people with great insurance coverage who still had to spend every single dime they could scrape together on pesky kidney failures, liver problems or some tricky cancer. I have known people to become ill with deadly viruses or sudden, painful, chronic illnesses and have their insurance company deny coverage. In every case I know of personally, the person with the illness ultimately had to file for bankruptcy, even with coverage.

What the insurance industry wants is for healthy people to buy their service and never use it. That makes them rich and happy. For people who dare become seriously ill, insurance providers become unreasonable quickly. Experimental treatments and drugs are too expensive. Transplants, too expensive. Chronic illness, too expensive. Drugs with no generic, too expensive. Go see one doctor to be referred to another doctor. Ever had an injury that was healed by the time you got to see the doctor who could actually treat you? I have. It's very frustrating.

So what happens now that Obamacare is constitutional? People who have insurance coverage can keep it. People with children can cover them on their insurance until they are 26. People with no insurance can either buy it at a reasonable cost or pay the penalty for not having coverage. Those who want insurance but still cannot afford it will receive subsidies from the government. Medicaid will be expanded. Insurance must cover pre-existing conditions and there is no annual or lifetime cap. Sounds horrible. For the insurance industry.

As it is now, people without insurance wait until they are very sick or suffer an injury or medical emergency and then rush to a hospital emergency room. Patients do not magically start spewing money out of every orifice when they enter the emergency room so taxpayers in the city and/or county and/or state cover their care. We pay for the uninsured no matter what. Now all patients can be treated early, can receive screenings, receive care early and don't have to worry about being denied coverage.

The humorous point to the healthcare bill is that it's genesis is based on the plan drafted by Massachusetts under Governor Mitt Romney. Now the GOP, including Mitt himself, must try to convince us that this will be the downfall of America. Mittens has to campaign by berating the bill he signed into law in his own state. That would be like Lincoln wanting to repeal the 13th amendment. Or FDR reversing himself on social security. Or W. denouncing the wars in the middle east. So, was Mittens a horrible, facist governor who forced mandated health care on his state or is he a candidate willing to say anything to keep his backers happy? I am guessing the latter.

So, suck it up, citizens. Now we are all equal under the medical law. Now the poor and disenfranchised can receive decent medical care as needed instead of waiting until their condition is an emergency. Insurance companies now have to actaully do their job instead of increasing their profit margins. This is good for the country as a whole.

There is only one more change I would like to see regarding medical care. Stop the advertising of drugs and medical devices. I am sick of hearing about peeing too often, not being able to pee, the dangers of a four hour erection, the best knee replacement, etc. These are conversations to have with a doctor. Big Pharma wouldn't have to charge so much money for their products if their advertising budgets were slashed. And I won't want to vomit during dinner when the Cialis commercials run.

You're Welcome,
Lillybell Blues

THINGS I KNOW

I recently mentioned that life is short. It is. Life is also incredibly unfair. I have spent enough hours in hospitals, Alzheimer's wards, and nursing homes to know that death is incredibly unfair too. If you have been spared the pain of waiting days, weeks, or years for someone whose quality of life is completely gone to die, then I know you are blessed.

I first learned that both life and death are unfair when I was 30 years old. My chosen brother, my friend, Scotty, did not reach his 30th birthday. The ravages of diabetes took him from his family, friends and from me. That sucked. It was not natural. He was young and had so much talent, heart and humanity. I had lost all but one grand parent by then. I loved them. They were old. They died. That made perfect sense. But losing my friend, my very young friend was devastating. If you still have all of your chosen friends, the ones you cherish, I know you are blessed.

As a society we have life and living, death and dying all messed up. Somewhere in time we got societal priorities completely out of balance. I know we need to refocus.

Life should not be our focus. Living should be our focus. There is a difference. Life is about statistics, accomplishments, expectations, milestones. Living is about learning, doing, focusing, creating, sharing, being. We have long judged people by where they live, where they were schooled, how much money they have. We are groomed to want the facades of success so we can be judged. We should judge people by their wisdom, talent, kindness, fairness and compassion. Their capacity to give love, receive love, share bounty and ease burdens. I know living is more important than life.

Death is something we should embrace, not fear. Dying should be as short as possible. Not for those left to grieve but for those who must do the dying. We keep people alive who have no cognitive ability. We give them medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease when they can no longer maintain their own most basic needs. We try to avoid death at all costs. Death is coming. It can come in an instant. It can take years. I do not know who will experience death next or who will be the last person on earth. I know not one of us will avoid death.

People keep themselves alive with painful, debilitating poison for as long as possible. They have surgeries and experimental treatments to stay here just a little longer. They postpone the inevitable. I understand this choice. It's best for loved ones. The dying want to be here for those life milestones. However, even if it takes a decade, watching someone die hurts. When they do die there is still pain. All their efforts to live may be worthwhile but it does not take away the unavoidable loss through death. I know death comes whether you are ready or not.

Now I am facing another loss. One of my chosen sisters, my friend is going to die. As I struggle to understand I realize I cannot imagine living without her. Yet I probably will. I will miss her like an addict misses their substance. I want to share more living with her. I need her wisdom, humor, honesty and her love. She is one of my rocks. She doesn't judge yet she doesn't suffer fools. She has every single quality of a chosen sister. She has raised an amazing daughter, shared a marriage with a wonderful man for 30 plus years and makes everyone feel like family. My wish for her family and friends is that we have her forever. My wish for her is that she not suffer and feels how much she is loved. She is cherished by many because her capacity for love is immeasurable. I know her next journey will reflect all the love she has given and received.

Live every day like it is your best friend's last. Try to remove selfishness from all aspects of your living. Try not to judge. Try not to be malicious, hateful or angry. Give of yourself without being taken. Love like it won't hurt. Forgive those who are not perfect. Including yourself.

I know this would make for a better world.

You're welcome,
Lillybellblues

LIFE IS SHORT...

In the past few weeks I have learned much about life and death. The emotional ups and downs are grueling. The peace is beautiful. There is just not enough time on earth to be with people we love. The process of losing a loved one varies from sudden, unexpected death to the long, slow goodbye. The end result is the same. Life changes just a bit in that final moment. The best thing that comes with death is clarity. Nothing matters except the people we love. That's it. One simple fact.

No one should waste time hating or judging any other human. We should all look for the good and the potential in others. We should all help when we can, forgive when we can and lift up those around us. Life is short even when people live to an old age. Help your fellow man. Strengthen the bonds with people in your life because someday you have to say goodbye and then it is too late to show remorse or seek forgiveness.

Losing a loved one is losing part of yourself, your history and your heart. The pain can be unbearable but we all must go on. The world should stop just a little when a loved one dies. It is a remarkable experience to watch common, everyday occurrences around you when your world is upside down. You want to crawl into your bed and stay until the pain and the sadness is gone. However, that is not how life or death works. Life is for the living so we get up and carry on. Death is the peace at the end of life and that peace is for all eternity.

Knowing someone is going to die makes saying goodbye much better. There is an honesty and realization of the love that exists between people. There is such clarity and the person who will die can make their peace, say goodbye and come to grips with the end of their time on this earth. The knowledge does not make losing them easier but being able to say that last goodbye, have those last laughs and sharing joy makes the dying process so loving and kind.

We should all live like this is our last day. Show love, kindness, forgiveness, remorse, forge bonds and alliances. Make someone else happy. Do things for them you may not want to do. It could be the last time you can show your love for them.

Our world and our lives are usually about, "me, me, me". Work hard to make life about those you love. Take nothing for granted. Appreciate every day. Do for and unto others as you would have them do for you. Love is all you need.

You're welcome,
Lillybellblues

HELP US, COMMON SENSE, YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE

At any hour of the day or night we can find hate and spewage to support any belief or leaning. Well funded, well developed half truths, falsehoods and propaganda permeate the airwaves. Turn on any form of media and it is right in your face. "Women who use contraceptives are sluts", "Obama keeps raising the price of gas", "your guns are in danger of being confiscated", "America is in danger of losing religious freedom", "if we lose this lizard every species on earth will vanish", "republicans are the spawn of the devil", "democrats are closeted fascists", "the Illuminati secretly runs everything", "aliens are waiting to take over earth", "Elvis is not dead", etc.

If all the hell had rained on us as promised by pundits over the course of my lifetime we would have anarchy and famine from sea to shining sea. Most of the people in our nation are intelligent and able to think for themselves. So why listen to people spread lies? People who opine offer validation, not information. I have heard many different people say the exact same phrases about what is wrong with America. These people have one thing in common. They listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch Fox News. I have not noticed this parroting among other network's viewers.  I had a long time friend scream at me in public once  about something the Democrats voted for as though I have control over Nancy Pelosi. I have seen people come to physical blows over whether or not Obama is a citizen. I know people who are very afraid that the United Nations is getting ready to round up their guns. I have read posts on social networking sites wishing other posters death, to get raped by Satan and/or get cancer for their political beliefs. This behavior has gone from shocking to funny to pathetic. It's time to take a stand and say enough. Reach way back in time, before we were surrounded by opiners and reach for your common sense.

The founding fathers of this nation were very familiar with tyranny, government unfairness and intrusion. The Constitution is the result of their collective experiences. The purpose of this amazing document is to maintain the balance of power in the nation and to provide all citizens with identical rights and opportunities. No King, no national religion, no defined social classes and a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Authors of the Constitution were forward thinking enough to allow for amending this document as necessary to meet the future needs of the Republic. For more than 200 hundred years their plan has worked quite well. The document has added amendments only by ratification of individual states.

Free speech is a right handed to our citizens. However, free speech does not mean speaking the truth. Free speech is the right to speak your mind even if you are a hate monger or a scam artist. Free will is the ability to believe or not believe what you hear. We are fortunate to live in a country where you don't have to worship the right God in the right way. You don't have to agree with the government or find yourself imprisoned. You don't have to vote for a certain political faction or soldiers come in the middle of the night to kill the men and rape the women.

Our fortune continues by living in a country where we can elect our leaders and not live under those who inherit or are handed power. This nation has prospered and failed under good and bad presidents.  It has prospered and failed under good and bad legislators. This nation has survived civil war and civil unrest. We have recognized our failings and tried to rectify them. Our citizens have disagreed on many critical, life changing issues and yet the Republic still stands. That is the point. We are a nation founded on freedoms of the individual citizen. We are a government of the people. We are allowed to vote for the leaders we want and if our candidate loses we are to remain law abiding citizens.

Those who spew rhetoric will use God, government, imagination, lies, hate and fear to further an agenda and earn a paycheck. That is their right. It is our right to be smart enough to recognize propaganda and exaggeration. Lately the GOP has chosen to put higher education in a bad light. Universities have been deemed a tool for liberal indoctrination and people with college degrees have been labeled elitist. The men using this rhetoric all have multiple degrees from well known universities. Logically, we should all know that college is great for some people and required for some professions. Common sense says that this issue is political drama being waved in the face of voters to divide them.

Recently, women's reproductive health has been a hot topic. Presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum, is using this issue to rally the religious right. His belief that birth control is a sin is based on his Catholic faith. Sorry, but that is the opposite of religious freedom. No one religion is recognized as the true religion in America. People are free to choose their religious beliefs or to have no faith at all. The GOP insists this women's issue is about unfairly forcing employers to pay for birth control if it is against their moral or religious beliefs. Pundit, Rush Limbaugh has started wagging the dog with absurd comments like, "If we are going to pay for women to have sex we want something in return. We want them to take videos of all this and post them so we can watch". Common sense tells me that Rush Limbaugh can always lower the civility bar, and that employers care about the bottom line more than any moral compass. Insurance that provides contraception is cheaper than maternity costs. This is a red herring flung to the masses to measure the morality of others.

In my lifetime I have known extreme liberals and extreme conservatives. Some of them are the exact same people. They voted for liberals and believed in their cause then took extreme right turns and now rail about what they used to be. And the opposite, I have seen conservatives take the left turn and hate their former selves. I have heard politicians and political operatives say that nothing is as important as their side winning. No, gentlemen and ladies, the most important thing is that the country survives and thrives. That citizens retain the freedoms granted them in our Constitution. That justice must be fair,n that citizens must not be singled out and punished for personal believes and non threatening practices. That citizens should not have to face retribution or humiliation in times of need or want. The survival of the republic is much more important than any side winning. Respecting the intent of the founding fathers and those who fought tyranny for our way of life is more important. Accepting that not every law will fit your personal needs or beliefs but meets those of other citizens is part of being an American. Working to reverse those laws as needed through our representatives is also part of being an American.
This is not the country I imagined as a child. False Gods, false patriotism and false standards are now the law of the land. We have completely lost logic and common sense. We don't need enemies as we are a nation of frenemies. Like junior high with meaner kids. When we refuse to pull together we rip ourselves apart. If we don't stop tearing at the fabric of our nation She will unravel.

Being a believer in free speech, I can't say, "take the spewers off the air". They have every right to say whatever they want. But let's not forget that we always have the power of the OFF button. Remember when there were polite rules of conversation like, "don't discuss religion or politics"?  Now we seem to have rules like, "say the most outrageous hateful, things you can to offend the largest number of people anytime, anywhere". Empires are being built on lies and hate. Our biggest enemies are no longer jihadists, they are political think tanks, media outlets and citizens willing to say anything for their own gain.

Always remember these things, no person or political party can make any changes to our Constitution on a whim, international law does not trump the law in America, free markets set the price of commodities and, most importantly, rarely is everything you hear the entire truth.

Ask yourself the following questions when considering any political issue:
"How does this issue effect me personally?"
"Who profits or benefits on this issue?"
"Can I actually do anything except vote my conscience?"

Always exercise your right to vote. It is the only act you perform that makes a difference in our political process. When your affiliated party isn't in power, maintain some dignity. When your affiliated party is in office, swallow your pride.

Every one's mom said it best, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".

You're welcome,
Lillybell Blues

AMERICA?

To the tune: AMERICA, from West Side Story:

INTRO
Founding Fathers
Our Constitution
Created a great institution
Words were so beautifully written
Their countrymen were clearly smitten
With religious freedom
And some room for heathen
Now we are clearly divided
Right, Left and those undecided

Is it our fate in America
Only to hate in America?
Nasty debate in America
Is it too late in America?

Elections now are so enlightening
How they are won is just frightening
Years of campaigning on issues
Give plenty of lies to the news crews

Is it our fate in America
Only to hate in America?
Nasty debate in America
Is it too late for America?

The GOP is out there whining
That Obama keeps on undermining
Everything we should all stand for
Picking on women and the poor

Is it our fate in America
Only to hate in America?
Nasty debate in America
Is it too late for America?

Republicans seem to be up tight
They say that our morals are not right
They speak with a deal of decorum
Til somebody questions Santorum


Is it our fate in America
Only to hate in America?
Nasty debate in America
Is it too late for America?

Mittens and Newtie are hoping
America will soon be voting
Them into office near the mall
Or we could get stuck with that Ron Paul

We're sick of your lies in America
Republican guys in America
You're making us cry in America
Obama is wise for America!


You're welcome,
LBB

TIME TO STOP THE WAR ON MARIJUANA

DRUG BUST ON TCU CAMPUS! If you live west of Grand Prairie, Texas this is big news. If you are any other city in America, not so much. Seventeen students were arrested this morning after a six month under cover operation conducted by Fort Worth police and TCU campus police. Four of the players arrested are starters for the Horned Frog football team. I guess I should say were starters. Pretty sure they will not be starting in the coming season.

The TCU chancellor had a press conference expressing relief that TCU was able to nip this problem in the bud. Mr. Chancellor, there have been drugs on your campus to my knowledge since the 1960s. My dealer went to school there. Where people smoke marijuana, the only drug mentioned in connection with the arrests so far, someone sells it to them. Why? Because you cannot go to the marijuana store. Why? Because this state, and most other states, would rather waste money trying to stop a practice that cannot be stopped than finally, "just say yes".

People, including teenagers, adults, professionals, rich, poor, old, young, all races, creeds and colors smoke marijuana. This has been a fact since I was in high school. I graduated in 1971. It is now 2012. I know parents who smoke with their children. I know children who procure for their parents. Not homeless bums but tax paying, productive members of society. Marijuana has been demonized since the 1920s. Musicians, BLACK musicians, used marijuana so of course that  made it heathen. In the 1960s young people adopted the use of marijuana the same way their grand parents and parents drank during prohibition. The media exploded about marijuana and it's evil. Parents everywhere panicked when they found a bag of herb in their children's rooms. All these lives were going to be ruined. These brains were going to turn to mush. This evil had to be stopped.

It hasn't been. It isn't going to be. There are so many consumers of marijuana in this country it would be like trying to eliminate beer. Grow up, America. Time for law enforcement to throw their hands up in surrender and let states regulate and legislate the use of this cash crop. Not for medical purposes, for social purposes. This nation would be a friendlier place.

As a kid it used to amuse me when some one's drunk parent would lecture us on the use of marijuana. "Itwillruinyourlifeandmakeyou, burp, stupid".  Or parents who needed Valium to get through life but were humiliated when their child was arrested for the awful offense of possessing a joint. "How will I be able to hold my head up at church...were are my VALIUM???".

Marijuana is a natural plant that produces a mild high. Not an incomprehensible, drunken, stupid, stumbling high, but a pleasant, "life isn't so bad", feeling. Marijuana does not leave you babbling and angry. Marijuana does not make you want to beat the crap out of someone who looked at you wrong. Marijuana is really rather benign. Marijuana is not the devil of society you have been led to believe.

Let's rethink this entire issue in America. Look around, we are broke. We need jobs, we need revenue. We have lots of farmers and land. We have the potential to introduce to the market place a product that is currently supporting criminal organizations. Our tax dollars are spent trying to stop these people from providing our citizens with a product they want. Not only are we losing out on the revenue of a cash crop, we are spending millions of dollars to save ourselves from it. We are paying to prosecute and incarcerate dealers and consumers of this product. It is a stupid cycle.

We could be creating jobs in so many areas. Agriculture, transportation, processing, package design, retail outlets, etc. A new industry creating jobs, revenue, taxed and regulated much like alcohol but with less harmful side effects. We could stop spending millions of dollars trying to put a band aid on an arterial flow. All the marijuana busts since my childhood have not stopped the practice.

America, time to wake up and smell the weed.

You're welcome,
Lillybell Blues

LIFE IN AMERICA WITH OBAMA, help us

We all know how horrible American life has become. If you have not noticed the decline in America then you obviously have not been listening to the GOP hopefuls and the media. I am not sure how we survive in a country so rife with government oppression and interference.

This all started, of course, when President Obama took office. Immediately the climate of the country changed. That Muslim from Kenya started changing our very basic way of life. First he saved the auto industry. That bastard. How dare he try to restore what was once one of our biggest accomplishments? How dare he return the American auto makers back to the top of the industry? The hand writing was on the wall. This man was putting people to work manufacturing something IN AMERICA! He could have saved more banks or hedge fund owners! What a socialist.

Bin Laden was killed. How dare he? How dare Obama authorize the death of the terrorist who has symbolized evil in our country for decades? Even George W. Bush told us Bin Laden wasn't important any more. Not only that, Obama brought our troops home from Iraq. WHAT? Cut our manpower dedicated to war by more than half? That is un-American. Since the nation was founded we have only had a scant 21 years without military involvement. How can we survive if we are not engaged in conflict? How can we live with ourselves if we are not putting our bravest in harms way? How can we not be beating people into democracy? Obviously we cannot go on much longer without a long term commitment to death and destruction. Any little, oil producing, middle eastern country want a little shock and awe? Just piss us off. OR give us time to create evidence against you.

How many of you women have had the government force birth control pills down your throat? That's what I thought. Only the Catholics. I assume this is part of Obama's plan to reduce the Catholic population. This will be necessary as part of his long term goal to make this a Muslim nation. I don't know about you but I have seen signs everywhere. The mandatory distribution of the Koran in hotels and public buildings. People stopping in the streets to face Mecca five times a day. Women forced to cover their heads in public. The public observance of Ramadan. Why last year I saw a man lose a pound through forced fasting.

Catholics are currently having to take time and money away from planning their defense strategy in several court cases involving pedophile priests. Why? To defend their right to not pay for birth control. Heaven forbid there would not be enough children to molest in the next generation. What would those celibate, holy men do? I do not understand why the Catholic Church will not share their secret for changing homosexuals. It must be too Godly for mere mortals to know. I do, however, understand their moral indignation. They are the one TRUE church. Except for the other one true churches.

That is just part of Obama's war on Christianity. I am sure you have noticed how fearful people are when they go to a worship service. In my neighborhood I can only see two churches from my backyard. I have to drive an entire quarter of a mile to see several more. Poor Christians, so afraid they call in police during services. The police appear to be directing traffic but you can tell it is to protect those still brave enough to publicly display their faith. Obama has set in motion the biggest assault on Christian beliefs since Stalin. I had to walk all the way out my front door to find other Christmas trees besides my own last December. My next door neighborhood flaunted her faith by brazenly displaying a nativity scene in her front yard. So did the family on the other side of her. And approximately 30 other people in my neighborhood. Take that, Obama.

What's worse? A Church in Frisco, Texas had to build a 10 story, 100,000 square foot cathedral, complete with coffee shop and bookstore, under the cover of darkness. The 7,000 seat arena must have been cloaked during the day otherwise this mammoth building would have stopped by  clandestine government officials. Yesterday this church opened with very little fanfare. The reporters said that even when the 3 ton pipe organ was lowered from the rafters to the floor of the arena, complete with a 100 voice choir singing, it was done with great stealth.

Now it seems possible that this Kenyan Muslim, born without a certificate, might be reelected. This is part of his plan too. Next he is going to eliminate the second amendment. When he signed the law extending the rights of gun owners to carry in our National Parks he was merely lulling us into a false sense of security. If he gets that second term all guns will be collected and all ammunition will be removed from the store shelves. The NRA knows it, I know it and so do you. I am sure you have noticed how guns are getting hard to find. Almost no place sells them. Except in gun stores, sporting good stores, at gun shows, on the internet, out of car trunks and other rare, hard to find places. This assault, no pun intended, on our freedom must stop. I only hear once or twice a week of an innocent bystander shot and killed these days. Ah, the good old days when the murder of innocent people occurred all the time.

Obama care will kill us all.  I haven't actually seen a death panel but I am sure they are coming. How on earth could we survive with affordable health care? We can't, of course. It makes much more sense for us to have outrageous medical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses. Why? Because otherwise the doctors, drug companies and hospitals would not be able to advertise 24/7. AND we would have no idea what drugs we need to talk to our doctors about during our next visit. I think we should all pay a little more for medical care so we can be even more informed on what will cure that disease we didn't know we had until we heard a commercial.

I have some friends who happened to be in Canada when their first child was born. There were some complications with the birth so mom and child had to stay in the hospital longer than the two days sufficient here in America. What did THAT cost? Nothing. Thank heaven their second child was born in America. You can certainly tell the difference. That free child is so...smart and adorable. The expensive child is so...smart and adorable, but he just has that little something extra. A price tag!

OH, and that's isn't all.

People who have children in college can continue to keep those children on their insurance. How crappy. I think those kids should have to pay for their own medical care in addition to school loans. With free medical care those kids may only be 80 or 90 thousand dollars in debt when they graduate. That isn't near enough pressure on a college graduate who has contracted some illness while in school. Let them carry the burden of illness into their young lives. As Rick Santorum says, "you will gladly pay $900 for an iPad but complain about $900 for medication that keeps you alive". Who could complain about having to pay less than $11,000 a year for a medicine to stay alive? Hell, get another job in between those chemo treatments. Wussy.

The main stream, elite media NEVER mentions all the deaths of people waiting for health care in other countries. Socialized medicine has them dropping like flies in, um, well, somewhere. I bet there used to be many more Brits, Canadians, Swedes, Finns and natives of countries who dare treat every citizen the same medically. Without insurance how could anyone expect to live with good medical care. That is so selfish.

Thank God we have people smarter and better equipped to tell us what is wrong and what to do. I am not sure how I would survive if every conservative and Christian man wasn't explaining to me that I am too simple to understand reproduction. That I really shouldn't worry my pretty little head about my uterus. Or other complicated things like voting and government. I am certainly incapable of understanding why I am not paying more in taxes. I am not rich or poor enough to pay no taxes so obviously I am not doing my fair share. I need my president to make my tax burden bigger. After all if I can't pay more than the 30% I pay now I am not American enough. What would happen if those giant corporations had to pay taxes because I wasn't paying enough? They couldn't create jobs over seas.

We need a government that will continue to point out the error of our ways in following science. We went to the moon on Angel wings, everyone knows that. We have created vaccines that have wiped out deadly diseases because God whispered the formula to someone wearing a white coat. We mapped the genetic code, which was a total waste of time because it is too sciencey. We could conduct stem cell research but that is WAY too sciencey. You saw what happened when they cloned that sheep. Hello Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. We have created inventions that have improved lives everywhere, even those of people we don't like. This has to stop.

We need a President who can save us from this mad man. This Obama. These last three years have been tumultuous. Unemployment has dropped, the auto industry has rebounded, Bin Laden is no longer a threat. We are out of a 10 year war that accomplished...we don't know what yet but rest assured some day some one will tell us. Maybe.

Our children are lagging behind other nations over the world academically. Thank heaven those school budgets keep getting slashed in all 50 states. If we get too much education, reality television might die.

What the hell would we do then?

You're Welcome,
Lillybell Blues

GOP, Grandiose Obnoxious Punks

Some people have asked why I have been so quiet on the blog front about the GOP nomination process we are being subjected to this year. The best answer I have is that I thought it was all a joke. These people want to be the leader of the free world? Seems to me that we would all be better off if the entire lot was removed from the public airwaves. I have never witnessed a political season so rife with idiots in my life. I have lived a long time.

Every election season brings out the most lunatic fringe of a party but they are usually weeded out of the process pretty early. This year the GOP has nothing but idiots. Even as a liberal I recognize that both parties have given us great leaders throughout history. This year the GOP is doing everything it can to prove to the citizens of this nation just how absurd the party has become.

Any reasonable, rational person can see that the GOP has split itself in two, They have the elite, rich, white man club. And the crazy, racist, not very educated, gun toting Tea Party. How these two segments of the party fell into bed together I will never understand. When W. was running for President in 2000 he was quoted as saying, and I have to paraphrase, that the "double wide" crowd really liked him. That is because he spoke their language, butchered English. When John McCain had a moment of stupidity and selected Sarah Palin as his running mate, she brought the crazies out of the woodwork. The Tea Party. Or as some of them would spell it The Tee Pardy.

I am not saying that all Tea Party members are stupid. I am saying that the ones on television are stupid. Anyone who would listen to Sarah Palin about anything except out dated hair styles is stupid. She is their beacon of dumb. When she told the good people of South Carolina to vote for Newt, they did. These are people who think Obama caused the financial crisis in our country, that Obama was born in Africa and insist that he is a Muslim. They don't believe in science, they want creationism taught in public schools. They dislike people of different races and ethnic backgrounds. The Tea Party is the bastard child of the John Birch society and the Klan.

After Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina the GOP list of hopefuls was weeded down to Romney, Gingrich, Paul and Santorum. This is the best of the GOP? I say the Democrats can rest easy and prepare to keep the White house and to retake the House.

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has a few issues. He is filthy rich. Good for him. He stashes money in the Caymans and Switzerland to avoid paying even more than the 13% tax rate he pays. He thinks in excess of $300,000 isn't, "much money". He is pro and anti health care. He is pro and anti abortion. He is pro and anti gay rights. He is a cardboard cutout of what a president should look like according to some. You know, white and Brooks Brothersish. He is also completely out of touch with the average American. Although he has paid his taxes according to the tax codes as written, he should realize that the average America who carries a heavy tax burden does not understand the unfairness of it all. He doesn't see that. He thinks that people will be trickled on by dismantling companies and firing the workers. It's a corporate practice that feeds greed. Yes, he may have saved the bare bones of some companies but this country needs people working, not the market doing well. The market doing well only means that the rich are getting richer. The average worker is spending their money on taxes, housing, food, transportation and hoping against hope they are not wiped out financially in one layoff, one family illness or one tragedy. The average worker doesn't have significant money to invest. If they have money in the market it is likely company stock that is part of their compensation. They are not jumping on the latest IPO or buying up Dow Jones favorites when they are at a low. Mitt, wake up. Take a walk in the average Americans shoes. And do not put your dog on top of the car.

Presidential hopeful New Gingrich has the past of a loser. He is a mean, vindictive man with an ego even bigger than his head. He is the poster child of revisionist history. As speaker of the house Newt was frothing at the mouth from the beginning. His Contract for America was his manifesto of conservative values. Make the rich richer and let the rest of the population die out. His personal life is the picture of a troubled man. I have been married four times. However, I recognize that I should not be running for public office. I carry my baggage with a mixture of humor and shame. He carries his with lights blazing and sirens flashing. He is indignant that anyone would question him about wanting to have an open marriage. Sorry, Newt, your ilk set the standard for probing into some one's private life. I don't dislike Newt for his personal life. I dislike him because he is a pompous ass. He has all but said that black Americans and white Americans are not equal and shouldn't be. He wants disadvantaged children to be janitors in their schools. He seems to think that the public will swallow his tale of working for Freddie and Fannie as a historian. Why in the name of reason would they need any help from history? They needed an insider with enough power to keep lawmakers in line.  The only thing that Newt is good at is science fiction. He wants to have a colony on the moon by the end of his second term. Right. Then, when the population is big enough it can become a state. Right. Newt Gingrich should face the facts. His own party didn't like him after a fashion. The left wants nothing more than to stomp him into bits. Newt says he is a good debater. No, he isn't. He is a brazen debater who tanked when he didn't have the faithful cheering his bluster. He isn't fit to run any office in government much less be the leader of America.

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is a good Catholic boy living in the 1950s. He is certainly not electable. He seems to think that God is happily handing out children through the act of rape. "Any child is a gift from God". Mr. Santorum, I can assure you that if your wife or daughter were raped and that act resulted in a child you would change your tune. No girl or woman wants to be reminded of the most horrible, violent moment of her life every day. Victims of incest do not want to have the children conceived from their abuse. Mr. Santorum also thinks that gay sex and heterosexual sex are not equal. He thinks that heterosexual couples should have sex to procreate and the missionary position is sufficient to serve that purpose. He is really a non issue in the race. Too many women in America vote and we really didn't like being second class citizens. We won't be taking that step backward.

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is crazy. He wants a lawless nation with as little government as possible. Sounds good on the surface. However in practice little government doesn't work. It could if we were a nation of honest, upstanding citizens. But in truth we are not. We have seen it over and over again. People are greedy. People cheat and lie. People steal and commit murder. People will screw you over in any fashion they can devise. I agree that the war on drugs should be stopped. It is a failed, never ending war. Instead of fighting the cartels, put them out of business. Prohibition brought organized crime to our nation. Someone will always be willing to disobey the law to make money. Lots of money. We might as well make that money as a consumer nation. As for the rest of Ron Paul's platform, it reads like some sort of Charles Dickens novel. Let the poor die. Gee, Dr. Paul, first do no harm.

The GOP is on life support. They have allowed the lunatic fringe to become their base. They are now pro life, pro death penalty, pro rich, pro war, pro Christian, pro guns, anti health care, anti immigration and anti education. Mostly they are anti Obama. Sorry, GOP. Sorry that President Obama won't stoop to your level. Sorry that you have nothing except lies to make any point. Sorry that you are becoming cannibalistic to one another. Not sorry that Bin Laden is dead. Not sorry our soldiers are home from Iraq. Not sorry that the auto industry is doing well. Not sorry that some people now have badly needed health care. Not sorry that you will be losing in November.

I am Lillybell Blues and I approved this message.

TIME TO MOVE POLITICS INTO THE 21st CENTURY

It's presidential election season again. The laborious task of choosing our leader is agonizing and expensive beyond words. It is also a ridiculous, out-dated show and tell that makes me question just how far we have not come. Our election process hasn't changed in decades while the world around us has changed dramatically.

Do we really need caucuses and primaries? Do we really need baby kissing and hand shaking to elect someone these days? I don't think so. We have wall to wall 24/7 news channels. We have more debates than we have smart candidates. We have constant ads on television telling us that the candidates are dangerous and evil. We have spewers on television and radio telling us what we should think, how we should vote and to remind us the candidate that they do not support is the worst thing that could happen to America. Billions of dollars are spent on slandering. No one runs on their own record or values when it gets down to the wire. It's all about the other candidate being a gay bashing, woman hating, corporate stooge, socialist who once kicked a puppy.

Why not move this process into the 21st century? For what it costs to get elected in America I bet every candidate could have their own broadcast channel where they could sell their platform and take jabs at their opponents 24 hours a day. That way we citizens could absorb or ignore all the misinformation we choose. This would save a lot of time and money on travel, food, hotels, buses, and security details. Not to mention we would also have an off button.

Those running for office who already hold an elected office wouldn't have to travel all over the nation. They could actually stay in their office and do the job we pay them to do. If Sara Palin can have a studio in her home, then candidates could have one in their office. "Hi nation, here doing my job, working to make your lives better. Remember my opponent used to pop the heads off chickens just for fun! Vote for me".

Caucuses and primaries? Really? Why not let America whittle down the candidates American Idol Style? Call 1-800-Liar, Liar to vote for candidate number one. Call 1800-I'm a Bigot to vote for candidate number two, Call 1800-Stupid to vote for candidate number three, etc.

In addition to using American Idol style voting in place of primaries and caucuses, let's hook up the candidates to lie detectors during the debates. It would make all that pesky fact checking by the "gotcha" journalists so much easier. The needles bobbing up and down on the graph paper during the debate would make a nice window next to the candidates as they tell their version of the truth. Technicians could also make lights and sirens go off during blatant lies.

Party conventions are  a relic of the past. Why do we need a week of glad handing, speeches and a pep rally to announce the candidate? We already know the candidates, we have heard all their rhetoric, we know all their sins and have pretty much made up our minds by the time the conventions roll around.

Political conventions were necessary before we had a three second news cycle. When a candidate puts their foot in their mouth at breakfast it is the lead news story by lunch. Let's take advantage of technology in the process of electing the leader of the free world. I personally would rather have a root canal than watch the conventions. They are a waste of time, money and brain cells.

Seriously, this is 1800s style politics with the addition of mass media. Let's make this process quicker, easier and less painful. Candidates can announce in January of an election year, get their studio, broadcast their propaganda, participate in the debates and perform a final dance as they are voted off.

You're Welcome,
Lillybell Blues

LIFE IS NOT BLAH AND WHITE

"I didn't say black people", insisted Rick Santorum on Bill O'Reilly's No Spin Zone. Yet there he was spinning like Rumpelstiltskin. Only he was producing pure manure instead of gold. "I said blah people". That was all of the clip I could stomach watching.

I disagree, Mr. Santorum. Admittedly, I was only watching the national news when I saw and heard you clearly say, "black people". The moment stands out in my mind because I immediately thought, "he just said on camera to a largely white audience that he didn't want to give their money to black people. Is he THAT stupid?" Sadly, Mr. Santorum, you are.

Newt Gingrich asked  for an invitation to speak to the NAACP so he could advise black people how to get off the welfare roles and on a payroll. Mr. Gingrich has also stated that unfortunate children who don't have fathers and role models should be allowed to work as janitors in the schools they attend. What a pompous blowhard.

Rick Perry apparently hunted on a lease known as, "Nigger Head," when he was growing up in Texas. Having grown up in Texas myself, this surprises me not at all. Being born in 1953 I clearly remember life before the civil rights movement. I remember hearing and saying , "You're a nigger and I'm not", and "last one in is a nigger baby". At the time these were just childhood taunts like, "I am rubber and you are glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you". As I grew up I realized how nasty and insulting those particular taunts were.

Ron Paul is probably the worst offender. He published many racists articles in his lifetime. He swears he doesn't remember writing or reading them, he just published them. Talk about being removed from reality. That is like Forbes Magazine saying they published some financial articles in their magazine but their publication is not about money.

Since the election of Barack Obama, I have been shocked at the racist attitude still alive and well in this nation. I have seen cartoons drawn of both the President and the First Lady as terrorists as well as apes.  I have seen rich white men froth at the mouth about Obama's birth certificate. Even after the White House released the full certificate that clearly shows our President was born in Hawaii some people won't believe the truth. Why? Because these people still believe that blacks are not capable of being equal to white people. The reality of having a black man as President and Commander-in-Chief is more than their egos can tolerate.

I have met people who do not consider themselves racists, they just don't like other races as much as the Caucasian race. "My best friend is black, I call him a nigger and he calls me a cracker but I like him, the color of his skin doesn't matter but in general I prefer white people". How could that be considered not racist? That is the definition of racist. "White people are just better".

The state of Georgia is trying to keep Obama off their state ballot for the election in November. Georgia has apparently sided with "birthers". Ergo they don't want a non citizen's name on the ballot. Add that to the fact that Georgia is currently in the news for the wording of math problems in one of their public schools: "there are 526 oranges on the trees, If eight slaves pick the oranges, how many will each slave pick?", I would say Georgia is still living in the 1800s.

The Tea Party is the KKK come out of the closet. Their rallies are only missing the robes and hoods. They can claim that they are all about getting back to fiscal conservatism and the Constitution but they certainly seem racist. I heard a Tea Party member explain to a reporter that even his black wife thinks that Obama is too black.  Too black? What is too black? Is it skin tone? Is it attitude? Is it DNA? "Too black", is a racist phrase.

Men like Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Ron Paul are so innately racist that I don't think they even recognize their racism. To assume that black people are the majority race on the welfare roles is racist. For New Gingrich to assume that he has the ability to explain to the NAACP how they can get their people off food stamps is racist. For Rick Perry's handlers to say that "nigger head" is what all the locals called the lease because of the shape of a rock on the property, is racist.

Baby boomers have learned over the course of a lifetime that many of the things we were taught as children turned out to not be true. One of the basic things we learned is that all people really are created equal. There are divisions in our society that are driven by socioeconomic status not skin color. There are many people in need in the country, many people on food stamps and receiving money from government programs. These people in need are Americans. They aren't black, white, brown, yellow, red or whatever color they are referred to, they are people.

Whites who automatically assume that blacks are lesser simply because they have a different skin color are racist to the core. Dr. King lived and died so that people could be judged not on the color of the skin but the quality of their character. I love that idea. Let's judge everyone on the quality of their character. Using that as the measure, I would say that none of the GOP front runners qualify to run this nation.

Life used to be black and white. It was evident everywhere. Separate neighborhoods, water fountains, entrances into businesses, separate sections on  public buses, hotels and restaurants for blacks and whites. No mixing in society. No mixed marriage. No relationship with blacks unless they worked for you.

Now life is apparently blah and white. At this point in history we are supposed to have evolved into reasonable, understanding people who see everyone as equal in the eyes of The Lord and society. Instead we have created little more than political correctness. Watch your mouth, not your soul. Don't say the wrong thing but thinking the wrong thing is fine. Back pedal when you are caught sounding and behaving like a racist. Make excuses for your ignorance, "I said blah people".

Mr. Santorum, you are the poster child for blah people.

You're welcome,
Lillybell Blues

and a HAPPY NEW YEAR...please

Every year people around the world go berserk one week after Christmas. Just in case all that celebrating wasn't enough it is time to ring in the New Year, so woo hoo, party on! I am not sure why this habit irritates me so much, but it does. It has since I was six years old.

In 1959 I was allowed for the first time in my life to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve. It was the beginning of a new decade. I had no idea what that meant so my father graciously explained to me the calendar, leap day, leap year, decade, century, etc. WOW, it sounded fantastic, a new decade starting tomorrow, 1960! After much pleading I was allowed to wait until midnight to see the decade change.

Nothing. Zip. Nada. I just didn't get it. The New Year arrived and I had to go to bed. The next morning every thing and every one was exactly the same. No gifts, no real celebration, lots of football. Yeah, I was incredibly disappointed. Big deal. It was midnight and then nothing changed.

Over the years I went to New Year's Eve parties, hosted parties, went to public events, went to private events, had dates, didn't have dates, was married or divorced. New Year's Eve is one stupid celebration. It celebrates nothing but having to remember what the heck year is it now?

People have long argued with me over this so called holiday. I contend it is much ado about nothing. They insist it is like turning over a new leaf. No, it isn't. No magic fairy dust gets sprinkled on your head and suddenly you are a better person. No matter what your "resolutions" may be, they still only work IF you are ready to do the work. That can happen any day of the year. Or not.

People set themselves up for disappointment and heartbreak because it is the day the calendar stops one year and begins again. They MUST go somewhere, they REALLY want a fabulous date. They want to look good and behave like contestants in an "I Am An Annoying Drunk" contest. Setting themselves up for disappointment before it is even midnight. Then after the sloppy and uncomfortable kissing of loved ones and/or strangers, it is time to tell the whole world, drunk on your ass, how you are gonna be better, stop smoking, lose weight, go to counseling, paint the house, train the puppy, get a job, whatever, so you can disappoint them as well as yourself. Great way to start a year.

On the actual day, January 1, millions of people world wide wake up with a hangover, possibly a stranger, and a vague memory of how they are supposed to get up and go to the gym  ...everydayuntilIlosethis25poundsreally. Nope, must go back to work tomorrow. And take down the Christmas tree. That probably won't leave much time for the gym, better start that next week. OH, my head. I really need a cigarette. Too bad I quit. Again. Maybe I should just cut back. MERCY! I think I must have the flu.

I talk to people who, "really didn't drink that much. It really just hit me all of the sudden. Let's see I had cocktails and then champagne and then a few more cocktails. Did I mention the Bloody Mary's I started with in the morning?"  They are stunned every year at how awful they feel. And how tired they are. WOW! It is shocking. My mother had "the stomach virus" every January 1 for years.

I still do not understand why people put themselves through this ritual. I could get with the program if we all woke up January 1 with something to show for the New Year. Wake up healthier, happier, wealthier, more satisfied with life and the world. But inevitably we wake up with the same joys and sorrows we went to sleep with. If there was any sleep.

With all my cynicism, my wish is the same every year. World peace, an end to hunger and suffering, a cure for all illness and love for every person.

And an attitude adjustment.

A happy, healthy, prosperous New Year and a better world for us all.
Lillybell Blues

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...or is it?

As a life long Christmas lover, I look forward to the holidays with Glee. Not the TV show, the actual feeling of glee. This year, again, due to family illness and travails that go along with it the holidays don't seem that appealing. Yet as the day draws ever closer I cannot help but get a little caught up in the revelry, the music, the incredibly sappy movies.

If it weren't for people I would still really enjoy the season.

A few days ago I was on a nostalgia Facebook site about my hometown. A gentleman prefaced his post with "RANT WARNING". He went on to vent about the, "taking Christ out of Christmas", myth perpetrated by Fox News. The gentleman's point was that Happy Holidays is as good as Merry Christmas and covers the period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day and included Chanuka and Kwanzaa.

Some of the Christians on the site went a little loco. "Jesus is the reason for the season". "There should be NO timid Christians". "I am a BETTER person than YOU for I am a TRUE Christian".

It was at this point I could not hold my tongue and told one of the Christians that she was simply mean. She aimed her venom at me. She accused me of being BOSSY and probably a DEMOCRAT. That is true. I can be bossy and I am a Democrat. I didn't find the Christians on the thread very, you know, Christian. They seemed hateful and so holier than thou. It's the new Christian movement. "We don't like you unless you are like us". I believe that lesson was part of the sermon on the mount, "and the Lord said, 'I do not love many people. I only love those who, like me, are perfect, sinless.  Ye of slanted faith will suffer miserably in death for verily I do not care for thee'."

I have seen Christians carrying the Christmas banner. I have seen Atheists who don't want any Christmas or Jewish related decorations on public property. Public schools have a terrible time satisfying all the parents of children of all faiths. I see homes decorated with Menorahs. The Jewish holidays are more accurate in terms of the history. There are written and oral histories that support their faith. Christians do not have that luxury. There is no record of a census in Bethlehem that would bring travelers to town. There is no record of Magi searching for a King. There isn't even corroborating accounts in the Gospels.

There have been studies and speculation about when and where Christ was born. History reports that Christians moved the celebration of Christ's birth to coincide with an existing pagan winter celebration. The idea being that eventually the pagans would turn to Christianity. They did. Constantine was the Emperor who converted to Christianity. He, like so many, felt everyone should worship the same. He converted many of the empire's citizens to Christian. As the church became politically powerful, man sort of tweaked the teachings of Christ to fit the political climate or to gain power. They threw out books of the Bible they didn't like. They turned Christian rules into law to keep the population under their control. They taxed people in the name of God. That pretty much went against the teachings of the man they call Christ. "Render unto Caesar..." and all that.

Santa Claus entered the picture when St, Nickalaus brought little gifts for children. As I understand it he left gifts in children's shoes. Pockets would have been better. In Europe several versions of Santa Claus appeared with different traditions and meanings but it was still in connection with the birth of Christ. Through time Christmas, Santa and December 25 became connected. So we celebrate the birth of Jesus and Santa's visit all on the same day.

The most wonderful time of the year has become a battle ground. It isn't just the retail wars, it is the war among faiths and non faiths that are beginning to ruin Christmas for me. It is supposed to be a joyous time of year to bestow love, care and blessings on your friends and family. I don't resent a Hindu or a Buddhist wishing me the blessings of their faith. Why should people be offended if  I say Merry Christmas?

In a card shop the other day I witnessed a man lose his cool when the clerk wished him a Merry Christmas. "I am not here for CHRISTMAS. I don't celebrate Christmas, I try to avoid all things Christmas!"  Wow. God bless us everyone, dude. The clerk told me they couldn't decide what to say after any purchase. I suggested they simply say, "thanks for the money".

There is, of course, the brouhaha over saying "Happy Holidays" as though that is a slap in the face to the baby Jesus. "Happy Holidays", has been a greeting for as long as I can remember. Now suddenly it is supposed to be politically incorrect to use that as a greeting because it takes Christ out of Christmas. No, it does not. Holiday is derived from Holy Day. Happy Holidays covers all the holidays from Thanksgiving, which is barely recognizable, to New Years Day. Thank you Fox News. We didn't have enough to divide us already.

I refuse to get caught up in the pettiness. This is how is should be:  Santa should be for children. Christmas should be for Christians who celebrate the birth of their Lord by rejoicing and reveling in His majesty and glory. Buying a tree, ornaments and gifts for everyone you know or feel obligated to should be called...End of the Year Retail Bonanza.

I believe that New Year's Eve is the dumbest holiday on earth. It celebrates changing the calendar. That's it. People go party, get ridiculously drunk and make resolutions to change their lives tomorrow, right after their hangover is better. People feel depressed or left out if someone doesn't toast them or kiss them at midnight. It's a holiday that celebrates nothing. However, I don't get angry and rip people's heads off when they say, "Happy New Year". I don't get peeved when people say, "what are you doing for New Year's Eve?" I don't celebrate it. I don't go out. I don't go party. I just try to remember what year it is. It is a completely man made holiday that celebrates time. That is what birthdays are for in my opinion.

Maybe we could all adopt this attitude about Christmas. People are merely sharing their love for a holiday whether they say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays not attempting to offend.

Whatever you celebrate or do not celebrate, I wish you all the best. I wish you health and happiness. I wish for us all a better world. I wish for harmony and friendship. I wish for mankind to be just exactly that, kind.

Peace and the joy of the season be with you and yours,
Lillybell Blues

TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS

There are days I feel paralyzed. Today is one of those days. I have spent large portions of my life waiting. Waiting for peace, waiting for contentment, waiting for, "ahh, done and done, everything is perfect". It is with a great deal of disappointment that I realize that moment will never come.

"You are so negative", I hear many of you thinking. I don't see it that way. I am a realist. I am tired of expecting contentment only to find hell. I spent my youth waiting to be an adult. It looked so easy. It seemed the perfect age - all grown up. Make your own decisions, get up when you want, go to bed when you want, work where you want, make some money and do what you want when you want. Never happens. The only people who live like that are imaginary. Or retired rock stars.

There is no such thing as living life for yourself. There is no such thing as getting everything you want. There is only working hard to get close. Then waiting for the rug to be yanked out from under you.

We've all had those moments. Life is good and in a flash it is not. That moment that changes your reality. That moment you always measure by. The moment that makes life drag on forever. One hour of hell is fifty time longer than one hour of fun. Why?

Why does horror grind to painful, slow motion agony and joy is over before you know it? Because life is a bitch. That is the best explanation I can figure. Good news is lightning fast and bad news is slow, echoing disbelief that never ends.

My life seems full of those moments. The very happy ones are fuzzy at best. The horrid are etched like leaded crystal. You have cancer. You cannot ever have children. There is no money. I don't want to be married to you anymore. We found his body. There is no cure. It will be a long, painful journey. Make all the decisions, their lives depend on it.

The last few years have been intensely difficult for my family. My parents decline into dementia turned our lives upside down. Mom is all but gone while dad is still there but no one I recognize as my father. I am consumed by guilt over their condition. No reason to feel guilty but it comes with the territory. There is nothing as helpless as the knowledge that your parents are the living dead. The people that raised you are gone yet people with their bodies live on.

There is no escape. Time to take pleasure in the little things, The sun shining through the autumn leaves. A cardinal at the bird feeder. A song in my head that I love. A laugh. Nothing is more hopeful than a laugh.

It's the holiday season. Friends and family gathering to share their happiness and joy. Thanksgiving is also my mother's 85th birthday. While you are with your kids and grand kids I will be watching someone feed my mom and explaining to my dad why I haven't seen him in a while. "Been dismantling your life, dad. Been deciding what's is important enough to keep and what is just trash. Been trying to figure out how to make your money last so you don't have to live in a horrid place. Been praying for mother to die so she will have her dignity back. Been trying to remember what it was like before you became my children and wondering how much longer we will all be in this hell."

Forgive me in advance if I show little sympathy for how difficult and hectic your holidays are. The grand kids were difficult? That's too bad. Mom was a bitch? That sucks for you. Mother-in-law brought that horrible salad? That does just ruin everything.

Enjoy your holidays. Try and capture the moments of joy and hold them close to your heart. Hug your parents a little harder. Appreciate even the moments of difficulty. I wish I had appreciated the joyous moments in my life more. As it is now all I see is the tunnel, the light isn't even shinning yet.

If you have joy to share, please call me. Make me laugh, it is the best gift.  If you need to whine, I won't be available this year.

LBB

PLEASE DO NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY

The scandal at Penn State did not shock me. It made me sick and appalled me to my core but it did not shock me. How sad is that? I have become so jaded by society as we know it that no level of depravity makes me go, "OH MY GOD", anymore. I just become more disgusted that we live in this world.

The culture of football is all about, "Coach". Coach is God. Coach is more important and pulls more weight that any other human in a players life. They start 'em out young to revere Coach. That is a lot of power over young men and young boys. Much like in the Catholic Church. "Father" is the man in the perish. Father is the representation of God on earth. You do what Father says.

The Boy Scouts of America have had similar issues but not to the degree as the Penn State and Catholic Church scandals because scout leaders aren't presented as some sort of God. They are usually men or women with their own children involved in scouting. This arrangement seems to be healthier than an all men, the leader is God kind of scenario. I would imagine that some where in scouting there is information about being abused and how to get help and now to help someone else.

My fury about Penn State is that someone witnessed an act of forced sodomy. They told the Coach. That kind of thinking is so skewed. First you help the victim, then you hold the son of a bitch perp until the police arrest him. Period. TELL COACH? Why? It shouldn't even be an option.

In the Catholic Church their mission was to cover up the fact that with a certain degree of frequency Priests liked fucking little boys and/or girls. What to do? Call the Monsignor, the Bishop, a Cardinal, the Pope? Cure the Priest at a retreat for Priests who have gone astray and move him around so  he can ruin more lives? NO, call the police. They are criminals. God can't fix that.

When I was a young teenager one of my best friends was a great diver. He took lessons in Arlington at the college there. His younger brother, a swimmer, had lessons at the same pool. Their sister and I would go to their practice, she to drive and me to hang out. Their dad always warned us about one of the coaches. "He's a perv. He likes little kids...stay away from him". We did. Several years ago the coach we were warned about was arrested. That gave him decades to abuse kids. Why didn't someone call the police on this person? It was obviously well known they guy was a creep and yet no one considered his future victims.

There seemed to be a culture of, "don't tell, it will ruin the abusers life". This seemed especially true if the pedophile liked boys. Boys don't cry. Boys take it like a man. Boys get over it.

No, they don't. No one gets over being abused. Male, female, young or old. Abuse at the hands of a stranger or some one you trust is damaging in ways that go way beyond the physical pain. The emotional scars rarely heal.

When pedophiles end up in prison rumor has it that they are the target of many rapes. This reality is fodder for comedians. Prison rape isn't funny. Rape isn't funny. Rape isn't sexy. Rape is not about sex. Rape is about power and control. Never is it funny. Much like, "she stabbed him in the eyes 500 times and sliced his penis into 4 equal sections after he raped her", isn't funny.

So, here are a few rules. No human should ever be so revered for anything that their actions are covered up to protect their abuse. Abuse of children should be so vilified that every human would stop some one in the act. If a coach, priest, minister, teacher, any human with power in your child's life wants to spend the night with them the answer is NO. HELL NO. Be a volunteer in your children's activities and get to know and observe the people in their lives.

I recently saw Darrell Hammond of SNL fame in an interview. He was horribly abused by his mother as a child. He has been tormented by demons since his abuse. They removed him from the offices of SNL in a straight jacket. He stopped me with one sentence, "monsters don't have witnesses". These people are clever and so dangerous you have to look for them. They will not often reveal themselves.

We all have to be advocates for the innocent. I am not saying there should be a witch hunt but I am saying don't be fooled. Monsters are so smooth on the outside. They hide their evil so well or are devious enough to surround themselves with people who turn a blind eye. That multiplies the horror of the victims. That is being victimized twice. Can you imagine how trapped you would feel? How worthless you would feel to be abused and ignored?

Children should know the kindness of strangers - not the indifference.

Please don't look the other way,
Lillybell Blues

IS THIS ALL THERE IS?

The days I spend at my parents house I wonder, "what on earth were they thinking?"  Apparently my parents suffered a real fear of running out of paper bags and aluminum pans. The kind that Sara Lee coffee cakes come in. If these two items were of monetary value I would be rich beyond Bill Gate's dreams.

I am the only in-town child of an only child. My mom had no siblings and tons of "family heirlooms". My dad is one of 7 children of parents who had food and dirt. My parents lived in their house from 1963 until the end of 2010. In these decades they inherited my mom's "heirlooms" and my grandfather's Hamilton Beach milkshake maker from Murph's Bar and Grill and an Olympia Beer sign from the same establishment. My mother inherited everything from her parents and many things from both grandparents. YAY.

I have found enough hand stitched linens and quilts to need a cedar lined house. I have ALL the family photos. There are portraits of people I have never seen or met. Some of these photos were damaged in a flood in 1939.

My mother's mink stole makes a total of three furs I will have in my closet that will never be worn. They go with the sable hat that will never be worn.

Mainly though my parents kept odd things. Aside from the paper bags and aluminum pans there are Kleenex in every pocket, every drawer, every purse and at one point covered all the table tops. I found boxes of Kotex pads. My mom is 84. She had a hysterectomy when I was in 9th grade. I found a phone book circa 1963 from Owensboro, Kentucky. The phone book wasn't in the back of a closet but in a drawer with approximately 100 Kleenex, used of course.

My dad's office is a treasure drove of things from his life. Presentations on wing structure and flutter tolerance. Letters from Generals thanking him for his help on certain projects. Confidential photos from the 1960s of missile testing. Information about a MIG that was ferried to an Air Force base in the 1970s by a pilot who wanted to defect. Dad and his team took the plane apart to get secrets. I knew none of this. He was just a man with a slide rule and the ability to fix anything.

My parents apparently belonged to the book of the month club in the 1940s. They have hundreds of books. "Look through those, we found money stashed in my parent's books", is the advice many people have given me. My parents stashed Kleenex, book marks and old letters from people I don't know in their books.

They kept our report cards. Thanks for that. "Acts before thinking" was my biggest challenge. I did, however, "work and play well with others". That's because I wasn't thinking.

My dad kept every tool he ever purchased including ones that are now broken and rusty. He left a hydroponic greenhouse and all the information I need to grow "hot house tomatoes". There's a money maker.

I have found receipts from purchases of clothing in the 1960s. I have found checks noted as "feed for the arc". I have found copies of tax returns addressed to Truman. I found my dad's Navy medical file. He weighed 133 pounds in 1943.

The purpose of this message is: CLEAN OUT YOUR STUFF. Do it now. Don't leave 7,000 microwaveable containers from those frozen dinners. Don't leave every Christmas card you ever received. Don't leave every unfinished project you ever started. You children will thank you. Maybe not thank you but they won't curse you.

Now, what to do with 3,000 bobby pins...

Lillybell Blues