September 7, 2009
Good God! Now the Right Wingnuttia are objecting to President Obama giving a back to school presentation to the nation's children to mark the beginning of the new school year. It was inevitable that this would happen in the current political climate. Patently ridiculous, is the proper reaction here, but as usual we are not hearing that. As with the yellers and screamers at the town hall meetings across the country, who at no time had as their purpose a reasonable exchange of ideas, here we are again with a situation, "...Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ("Shakespeare's Macbeth")
Lets summarize. These disruptor's are generally not from the districts in which the Town halls were conducted. They in fact were bussed in by Insurance companies and their lobbying groups to do exactly what they were doing. They did their jobs well. I used the town halls example to show the climate existing in this Health Care reform struggle going on in our country right now. If you yell rudely, comport yourself like a jerk and otherwise avoid a healthy change of ideas, you will be effective. That is where we are. It is against this back drop that has made this really inspirational effort by past Presidents and OUR current President, turn into an ugly just ugly situation. Here's the mantra from the crazies. "I don't want the Obama brainwashing or indoctrinating my kids." I found the one hour lesson plan of the President's on line. It is inspirational, thoughtful and encouraging. That is the sum of it. There is nothing the Republics will not resort to to cause problems. The entire thing is disgraceful. Please get over the fact that our new President is a Black man.
Lets get down to what this is really about, in my opinion, right here, right now. Given there are some really debatable points of contention in our Health Care reform debate. That debate is quintessentially American. The Wingnuttia, as I've indicated has hijacked that debate, and progressive action on this monumental Health Care problem is losing ground. Pervasive, but unspoken in clear terms, are the machinations of latent, and most assuredly, in some venues, racism beyond the latent position. Am I suggesting the Republic brain trust are racists? Not necessarily. They are however using the racism that exists in our country as a vehicle to their best advantage. These Republic movers and shakers are the worst kind of moral criminals that exist today. They and the Insurance lobbyists are tapping that irrational pool of fear and hatred that persists in our society. The obvious but below the surface statement: "there is no "Black person" (or use your imagination on the disgusting appellation probably used) is going to tell me what to do or as in the case of the school presentation, influence my children. This is where we are. These immoral tactics and twisted social views writ large, might bring down meaningful Health Care reform.
President Obama will address a Joint session of Congress on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009. I am hoping he can re-frame the Health Care question more clearly. He and his Administration ceded the month of August to the Republics and wingnuttia on this question. I have serious questions whether or not he can affect change. If President Obama loses this battle, I believe the right wing machine will consume the rest of his presidency. This would put the President Obama in grave danger of being a one term president. I have to say that these are not panicky words, quite the contrary, they are a clear headed look at the possibilities. There is some middle ground available with regard to the chief point of contention. That issue, at this point, is the defining go/no-go question for adopting meaningful Health Care reform. That issue is the public option which would be run by the Government. The purpose of the public option is to force Health insurers to keep their prices in line. Simply stated, if the Insurers keep on as they are, people will opt for the much more competitive public option. I love the idea and embrace it fully. All of the efforts discussed earlier are pointed towards defeating this option. Additionally the latent and not so latent racism in our culture is insidiously aligned in opposition to this goal. If the public option is defeated, which it may have been already, I am having a tough time imaging a bill which has much to commend it in terms of comprehensive Health Care reform. We will see what happens after September 9, 2009 and thereafter.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
America's Healthcare, at the nexus of need and politics
I watched a little of the Sunday talk shows this morning, and I was forced to retreat to the AMC cowboy movies, because the entire fare was Newt Gingrich, little dick Cheney, his daughter, and the endless discussion of Rush Limbaugh's, "with talent on loan from God," blowhard commentary, Yawn, stretch, look out the window. Somewhere in all this baloney, I did see some comments by Robert Reich, former Clinton administration Secretary, voice some dire warnings about about health care reform. He is well connected in Washington and he is warning that we must take action now on the tremendous opportunity we have to literally shake the tree and reconfigure the self/profit serving healthcare apparatus that we have presently. He says that the Big insurance and big Pharm fix may be in and now is the time that we need to rock the legislators and demand that a single payer system and a public option be available. Big lobbying money says that a public option will create unfair competition. I am a perfect example of why that claim is false or at best self serving. I have what amounts to a public option: Medicare. It was a Godsend when it was enacted in 1967. I am grateful for the coverage. It turns out that Medicare is not quite enough coverage given my income level and health condition, So, I have the option to purchase, on the free market, supplemental insurance. I have done so and I am OK. In my view, that is a fairly healthy marriage of public and private. Big Insurance loves Medicare because it takes all the unprofitable people out of their production and profit equation. A sound and viable public option is absolutely critical to the forty six million people in America that have no medical insurance. We should be ashamed of ourselves; that is, our legislators. As we speak, there are millions of dollars pouring into the anti-public onslaught, and the majority has gone to or will go to those legislators. The question is this: Profit or solid Medical Care? Given what we can observe and the cold hard facts, profit is winning. The real answer is not at all difficult. Do any of the legislators have the courage to say no to the big money cabals?
A concurrent question is the "Single Payer" objective. Of course the Republic meme is "Government can't do anything efficiently and correctly. There are numerous historical examples that simply trash that stupid claim. TVA, Federal Highway program, Nasa........ I could go on, but why, the bought and paid guy won't accede to example and the reality blind conservatives are so inculcated in their dogma that it is a hopeless case to make any attempts towards them. (But, I guess that is what I am doing. We have to try.)
Of course big insurance, big pharm, and to some extent big medical do not want single payer. Frankly, a single payer will cause them to dismantle a very awkward, bulky, and expensive billing and documentation system that each of these entities and their affiliates have in place. Humm! Where is the bad in that? Uh Oh, common sense is coming to bear. Why don't we reduce medical costs by tens of billions of dollars by invoking a single payer system? Same old answer of course, profitability, Income would be lost. In the whole "anti" herd, there is never any mention of the number of people who could be treated by dramatically lowering those costs. In fairness, we even hear, to a lesser extent, objections to placing present medical records into an electronic format. Something about privacy, yada yada and so on. That's fine, but lets get back to the real answer. Yep, it will save billions, but will cut existing profit kingdoms.
Let me give you an example of the cost cutting writ small. I have medical records at three different Doctors offices. I am trying to get into a clinical trial with UC Davis med center. The med center needs the records from the other Doctors. I have had to use my time to initiate this, but that is OK, I have the time. I will say the multiple telephone calls verifying what I had asked for when I signed the release forms were annoying. Now, inturn each office spends some time and a small amount of resources obtaining, compiling, and sending the records. There is cost involved. For a single transaction, the cost is not much, but of course, multiply that by millions and that is a pretty good piece of change. Remember now, this process starts up again at the recipients office. Now, I ask you which is simpler, the rigmarole I just mentioned or if the administrator obtained my records, with my permission, on line. I rest my case. So again I ask why are we getting guff even on something as straightforward and obvious as this. Up jumps that word again, Profit! There is in place infrastructure that deals with this medical evolution. Oh, lets not forget Republic intransigence.
The time is right now, everyone! If we lose the grip on this slight handhold in the wall and it will be many years before it will present itself again if the tamping down process succeeds. Come on folks, I mean everybody, call the legislators daily. Apparently, we don't do torches and pitch forks any more, I guess we will have to rely on shaking up the legislative branch. I am not convinced we, the populous have the guts to start and stay with a campaign. Remember, my countrymen, the hot air from the halls of Congress, the big money from lobbyists,and the rants from the operator of this little keyboard will continue unto resolution, satisfactory or not. What I want all of us to do is keep a daily count of the lives bright with promise and deserving we lose each day because of inadequate or no health insurance. The number is significant. Please check into it and you will be as dismayed as was I.
A concurrent question is the "Single Payer" objective. Of course the Republic meme is "Government can't do anything efficiently and correctly. There are numerous historical examples that simply trash that stupid claim. TVA, Federal Highway program, Nasa........ I could go on, but why, the bought and paid guy won't accede to example and the reality blind conservatives are so inculcated in their dogma that it is a hopeless case to make any attempts towards them. (But, I guess that is what I am doing. We have to try.)
Of course big insurance, big pharm, and to some extent big medical do not want single payer. Frankly, a single payer will cause them to dismantle a very awkward, bulky, and expensive billing and documentation system that each of these entities and their affiliates have in place. Humm! Where is the bad in that? Uh Oh, common sense is coming to bear. Why don't we reduce medical costs by tens of billions of dollars by invoking a single payer system? Same old answer of course, profitability, Income would be lost. In the whole "anti" herd, there is never any mention of the number of people who could be treated by dramatically lowering those costs. In fairness, we even hear, to a lesser extent, objections to placing present medical records into an electronic format. Something about privacy, yada yada and so on. That's fine, but lets get back to the real answer. Yep, it will save billions, but will cut existing profit kingdoms.
Let me give you an example of the cost cutting writ small. I have medical records at three different Doctors offices. I am trying to get into a clinical trial with UC Davis med center. The med center needs the records from the other Doctors. I have had to use my time to initiate this, but that is OK, I have the time. I will say the multiple telephone calls verifying what I had asked for when I signed the release forms were annoying. Now, inturn each office spends some time and a small amount of resources obtaining, compiling, and sending the records. There is cost involved. For a single transaction, the cost is not much, but of course, multiply that by millions and that is a pretty good piece of change. Remember now, this process starts up again at the recipients office. Now, I ask you which is simpler, the rigmarole I just mentioned or if the administrator obtained my records, with my permission, on line. I rest my case. So again I ask why are we getting guff even on something as straightforward and obvious as this. Up jumps that word again, Profit! There is in place infrastructure that deals with this medical evolution. Oh, lets not forget Republic intransigence.
The time is right now, everyone! If we lose the grip on this slight handhold in the wall and it will be many years before it will present itself again if the tamping down process succeeds. Come on folks, I mean everybody, call the legislators daily. Apparently, we don't do torches and pitch forks any more, I guess we will have to rely on shaking up the legislative branch. I am not convinced we, the populous have the guts to start and stay with a campaign. Remember, my countrymen, the hot air from the halls of Congress, the big money from lobbyists,and the rants from the operator of this little keyboard will continue unto resolution, satisfactory or not. What I want all of us to do is keep a daily count of the lives bright with promise and deserving we lose each day because of inadequate or no health insurance. The number is significant. Please check into it and you will be as dismayed as was I.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Veterans demand responsibility
I am a Veteran, however, I have never been one to participate or advocate these "Pet a Veteran" occasions. I always found that the participants, while well meaning, were essentially disingenuous and hypocritical. Most of these same people were the very ones who cried out the loudest to send our young to war, oftentimes, for dubious purposes and motivations. During the runup to a conflict, a lot of these folks were more than willing to place your children in this horrible danger. Then after the fact, they come to the parade and wave flags and weep at the poignancy of the moment when the honor guard carries the flag past them. Then they go home, satisfied that they had properly honored the Veterans. The citizen’s lives go on. However, the Veterans who died are still dead. The maimed and horrifically injured Veterans are still maimed and injured. Their lives go on sort of! I may hear: "So, you are telling me we can never commit our citizens to War? What would you have us do?" My answer is "Don't be stupid! Think before you speak." World War II required a complete national commitment. Our survival was at stake. Of course we commit whatever resources are required to prevail. A clear-cut decision was required and the cost of lives and treasure would simply have to be borne. Another example: The Civil War, horrendous in its toll in lives, the lives that were lost were our own citizens no less. Do I think the Federal Government needed to commit whatever resources that were needed to preserve the union of the United States of America? Yes, absolutely, yes. The preservation of our union required that supreme act. Our Revolutionary War is perhaps the most pristine example of a purpose that is higher than oneself with regards to war and the attendant casualties. We committed the necessary lives and material to form this precious entity we call the United States.
So, you see I don't advocate war, but there are instances where it is justified and necessary. The three examples I just mentioned, it seems to me, verify that claim. So, you ask me: "Why are you against honoring those who served with a parade and recognition?" I reply: "I do not object to the expression of thanks." I object to the fact that the very same people who line the parade route, did not line the streets when our military were placed in foolish, immoral, and illegal jeopardy. I cite Vietnam and Iraq. There are many more instances, but those two will do quite well for my purposes here.
During Vietnam, there was widespread protest. It is important to note that the protest came primarily from the young. Typically, not the folks you would see waving the little American flag as the Veterans day parade units went by. In fact, any of the protesters who might show up stood a good chance of getting their ass beat and/or arrested. Again, the people waving the flags sniffed their noses and muttered "Damn Hippies". I submit the following question. "Who were the loyal Americans in this instance?" It is a good question because it can be answered in terms of emphasis and degree. Was it Mom and Pop waving the flag or those "Damn Longhairs"? I submit to you that it was those "Damn Longhairs". Why? Because they risked something for what they felt was right. It is that simple. Mom and Pop herded their kiddies’ down to the parade and when the festivities were completed, then they all went home. They were all filled with self congratulations and patriotism. They took from the festivities. They gave nothing! 50,000 Americans, in the case of Vietnam were still dead and I can't even talk about the wounded, injured and maimed.
Where was mainstream America during the ramp-up to Vietnam? I realize participation in this conflict was a gradual slope. But where was Mom and Pop America before the dizzying speeds were reached? Those "Damn Hippies" had it right. Remember how we treated them? Our Vietnam Veterans deserve so much and received so little. This national disgrace ranks up right alongside the fact that we were even in the war.
This brings me to the present. Here we are losing lives in a country called Iraq. Huh! I am not even going to get started on the immoral/illegal..... aspects of this debacle. It is already documented that this Administration led by bush is an abject failure. History will record the crimes of this man and his cabal. Where I want to go again is : Mainstream America, where are you? You had every opportunity to say no to this substandard, in the extreme, President. Here again, you marched in lockstep and to date nearly 4,000 of our youth are dead and tens of thousands maimed and wounded. It is obvious to the world that invading Iraq was and is an obscenity. Yet, you will be down on the street waving the little flag as the kid motors by in his wheelchair. Why weren't you out in front of the Whitehouse at the beginning of this fiasco? Why aren't you right now beleaguering your elected representatives to end this immoral adventure in Iraq?
Just some good advice: If you truly honor the Veterans and service men and women, protect them as the precious national resource that they are and insist loudly and authoritatively that they be used only under the most righteous and necessary circumstances. Do something for them other than filling yourself with patriotic zeal, at their expense, during a Veterans Day parade.
As a Veteran, I want, very much, the thanks of my fellow citizens, but, I am simply arguing that I want that thanks to be genuine, heartfelt, and committed. Citizen, Don't use me to satisfy your conscience. I am not yours to use. As a Veteran, I was an active part of our Democracy. I want you to become an active part in our Democracy in all circumstances that apply to the use of this precious resource. Sucking up the atmosphere around a Veteran is not getting involved, it is theft of their soul.
So, you see I don't advocate war, but there are instances where it is justified and necessary. The three examples I just mentioned, it seems to me, verify that claim. So, you ask me: "Why are you against honoring those who served with a parade and recognition?" I reply: "I do not object to the expression of thanks." I object to the fact that the very same people who line the parade route, did not line the streets when our military were placed in foolish, immoral, and illegal jeopardy. I cite Vietnam and Iraq. There are many more instances, but those two will do quite well for my purposes here.
During Vietnam, there was widespread protest. It is important to note that the protest came primarily from the young. Typically, not the folks you would see waving the little American flag as the Veterans day parade units went by. In fact, any of the protesters who might show up stood a good chance of getting their ass beat and/or arrested. Again, the people waving the flags sniffed their noses and muttered "Damn Hippies". I submit the following question. "Who were the loyal Americans in this instance?" It is a good question because it can be answered in terms of emphasis and degree. Was it Mom and Pop waving the flag or those "Damn Longhairs"? I submit to you that it was those "Damn Longhairs". Why? Because they risked something for what they felt was right. It is that simple. Mom and Pop herded their kiddies’ down to the parade and when the festivities were completed, then they all went home. They were all filled with self congratulations and patriotism. They took from the festivities. They gave nothing! 50,000 Americans, in the case of Vietnam were still dead and I can't even talk about the wounded, injured and maimed.
Where was mainstream America during the ramp-up to Vietnam? I realize participation in this conflict was a gradual slope. But where was Mom and Pop America before the dizzying speeds were reached? Those "Damn Hippies" had it right. Remember how we treated them? Our Vietnam Veterans deserve so much and received so little. This national disgrace ranks up right alongside the fact that we were even in the war.
This brings me to the present. Here we are losing lives in a country called Iraq. Huh! I am not even going to get started on the immoral/illegal..... aspects of this debacle. It is already documented that this Administration led by bush is an abject failure. History will record the crimes of this man and his cabal. Where I want to go again is : Mainstream America, where are you? You had every opportunity to say no to this substandard, in the extreme, President. Here again, you marched in lockstep and to date nearly 4,000 of our youth are dead and tens of thousands maimed and wounded. It is obvious to the world that invading Iraq was and is an obscenity. Yet, you will be down on the street waving the little flag as the kid motors by in his wheelchair. Why weren't you out in front of the Whitehouse at the beginning of this fiasco? Why aren't you right now beleaguering your elected representatives to end this immoral adventure in Iraq?
Just some good advice: If you truly honor the Veterans and service men and women, protect them as the precious national resource that they are and insist loudly and authoritatively that they be used only under the most righteous and necessary circumstances. Do something for them other than filling yourself with patriotic zeal, at their expense, during a Veterans Day parade.
As a Veteran, I want, very much, the thanks of my fellow citizens, but, I am simply arguing that I want that thanks to be genuine, heartfelt, and committed. Citizen, Don't use me to satisfy your conscience. I am not yours to use. As a Veteran, I was an active part of our Democracy. I want you to become an active part in our Democracy in all circumstances that apply to the use of this precious resource. Sucking up the atmosphere around a Veteran is not getting involved, it is theft of their soul.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
An open letter to my wonderful Daughter
3-1-2007 9:48 AM
From the Garth Brooks song "The dance".
"and now I'm glad I didn't know the way
it all would end, the way it all would go,
our lives are better left to chance,
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance"
These words are quite profound to me right now, particularly when I think about our interaction throughout your life. I have already mentioned that the experience of writing/expressing all of this is and continues to be quite cathartic for me. I have almost by accident ordered years of random thoughts and consequently faint glimmers of insight and understanding which are seen, ever so briefly, emerging from the surface of the sea of nonsense that has occasionally marked my existence prior to this moment.
While the preceding may be a poor vision of my existence, this sea of nonsense thing, it is in my view, true. Islands of common sense have emerged and these have awakened me to examine life in terms of the entire range of possibilities. Now, I have emerged to my present circumstance and that, in the aggregate, is now helping me see more clearly.
One of the great benefits, if not delights, of our journal project is that I was able to review and place in context a lot of my lifes experiences. What that means, simply, is that I was able to view everything, essentially from afar, and Looking at each period and occurrence in the context of when it happened and what was going on at the time. This was tremendously helpful to me. Consequently, I have been able to come to several conclusions and realizations.
1. My deepest regret is that we did in fact lose valuable time together.
2. Although, I have the ability to generate a great deal of love and joy, In my life
I could have done more in that respect..
3. I never told my Mother I loved her.
4. I am learning to forgive my Dad for being emotionally aloof during my childhood. Although he was my hero, I found that he was as flawed as the rest of us.
Given the above, In a pure logical construct, my outlook for the future would appear unsure, yet that is not how I feel at all. There appears to be a fundamental contradiction. The best I can come up with is that life is all about "the dance" and therefore, all about the pain. I could have been a better person and caused and suffered less pain, but I wasn't and didn't.
What I have learned through this is that the dance is self renewing. As the conditions for the dance change, I have the option to be a better person tomorrow. If I opt to not be a bad person, then the pain can and does become less.
On those days when I feel no pain and cause no pain, I feel grateful beyond speaking. The pain I have suffered and caused gives me perspective to appreciate a good day. The pain wouldn't exist without the dance, and neither would the potential for growth from the experience of that pain.
Dealing with the pain is a measure of our character and abilities, and that can only be achieved at and after the dance. I am glad I didn't miss the dance and because of that, I did not miss the pain, which taught me the value of changing my circumstances and learning to love and appreciate what is real and good in my life.
From the Garth Brooks song "The dance".
"and now I'm glad I didn't know the way
it all would end, the way it all would go,
our lives are better left to chance,
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance"
These words are quite profound to me right now, particularly when I think about our interaction throughout your life. I have already mentioned that the experience of writing/expressing all of this is and continues to be quite cathartic for me. I have almost by accident ordered years of random thoughts and consequently faint glimmers of insight and understanding which are seen, ever so briefly, emerging from the surface of the sea of nonsense that has occasionally marked my existence prior to this moment.
While the preceding may be a poor vision of my existence, this sea of nonsense thing, it is in my view, true. Islands of common sense have emerged and these have awakened me to examine life in terms of the entire range of possibilities. Now, I have emerged to my present circumstance and that, in the aggregate, is now helping me see more clearly.
One of the great benefits, if not delights, of our journal project is that I was able to review and place in context a lot of my lifes experiences. What that means, simply, is that I was able to view everything, essentially from afar, and Looking at each period and occurrence in the context of when it happened and what was going on at the time. This was tremendously helpful to me. Consequently, I have been able to come to several conclusions and realizations.
1. My deepest regret is that we did in fact lose valuable time together.
2. Although, I have the ability to generate a great deal of love and joy, In my life
I could have done more in that respect..
3. I never told my Mother I loved her.
4. I am learning to forgive my Dad for being emotionally aloof during my childhood. Although he was my hero, I found that he was as flawed as the rest of us.
Given the above, In a pure logical construct, my outlook for the future would appear unsure, yet that is not how I feel at all. There appears to be a fundamental contradiction. The best I can come up with is that life is all about "the dance" and therefore, all about the pain. I could have been a better person and caused and suffered less pain, but I wasn't and didn't.
What I have learned through this is that the dance is self renewing. As the conditions for the dance change, I have the option to be a better person tomorrow. If I opt to not be a bad person, then the pain can and does become less.
On those days when I feel no pain and cause no pain, I feel grateful beyond speaking. The pain I have suffered and caused gives me perspective to appreciate a good day. The pain wouldn't exist without the dance, and neither would the potential for growth from the experience of that pain.
Dealing with the pain is a measure of our character and abilities, and that can only be achieved at and after the dance. I am glad I didn't miss the dance and because of that, I did not miss the pain, which taught me the value of changing my circumstances and learning to love and appreciate what is real and good in my life.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Our Veterans, absolutely no room for error.
March 4, 2007
I watched some of the Sunday morning Talk shows today. George Will is still irritating and brilliant. “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert was actually objective today. Within the past few days, a terrible revelation has surfaced. The horrid conditions at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. came to light.
The Veterans Administration (VA) and it's performance is a subject near and dear to me. It is not immune to political fortunes in terms of leadership and an active commitment to the success of the VA mission in our country. We owe each and everyone of these Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airman lifetime care for their service. Period! Arguments about the efficacy of the United States invasion of Iraq are and will remain a painful question. The Veteran's responsible care is now in serious question also.
I watched some of the Sunday morning Talk shows today. George Will is still irritating and brilliant. “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert was actually objective today. Within the past few days, a terrible revelation has surfaced. The horrid conditions at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. came to light.
The Veterans Administration (VA) and it's performance is a subject near and dear to me. It is not immune to political fortunes in terms of leadership and an active commitment to the success of the VA mission in our country. We owe each and everyone of these Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airman lifetime care for their service. Period! Arguments about the efficacy of the United States invasion of Iraq are and will remain a painful question. The Veteran's responsible care is now in serious question also.
Two points have my attention here. First, and of course foremost is that beyond the initial medical care provided wounded Veterans, the VA care system goes from an initial river of care to a mere trickle in terms of facilities and aftercare. Second, the lack of critical and then preventative investigations into conditions at the Walter Reed hospital and across the country. There had to have been complaints from families and patients about the facilities and care. Why was there no action taken? Where was bush and his cronies. He (bush) is quick to commit United States resources to danger, consequently, the following question is needfully posed, where was the equality of "quickness" when these young Americans were spewed out the other end of this neocon dream after their war experience? Also, in the past five years, where was the oversight with a Republican led Congress? This oversight is not an option, it is a constitutional duty. This is shameful and disgraceful. Then there was Abu Gharib. Congress and bush have much to answer for. This says nothing about sending Soldiers and Marines to Iraq not properly equipped, multiple tours, suspension of Habeas Corpus, electronic phone and email monitoring, torturing prisoners, and starting a war with what has been verified as lies and misrepresentations. There is much more, but this is enough. I’ll stop.
I will say this about my fellow countrymen. I ask the often asked question, where is the outrage? It is a good question that demands an answer in my view. I think we are complacent. We must demand that proper care and facilities are available for our returning Veterans. The Executive and Congress need to stand up and be counted.
The voluntary military without a draft, I think, is a large part of the perception problem. Even if the mindset is "those military personnel are volunteers" and they knew what they are getting into is put forward, the need for meaningful and substantial quality care is still present. I’ll say it again, isn’t it our duty to provide it?
Now, here I go. It seems to me that this logic can be applied to the war itself and to the consequent occurrences. Case in point here, Walter Reed Hospital. I am nearly moved to tears when I think about trying to express what I feel in my gut every time I read yet another obituary about a 21-year-old dying in Iraq: What a waste of humanity, of bravery, of patriotism... of a future that will never be. We now find that we are not even providing complete care for those who are injured, and will survive. We also learn that they are laying around in infested and otherwise substandard facilities. Finally, we learn that bush has formed some bullshit commission to look into the problem. American's, I ask you again,
Where is the outrage?
The Vietnam experience, for me, demonstrated the awesome power of the American people when sufficiently motivated to take responsibility for their countries actions. Protest against our actions in Vietnam were taken to the street. The 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago was a horrible mishandling of a protest by a brutal Police force against a organized antiwar movement. We saw the tragic over-reaction of the National Guard against war protesters at Kent State in Kent, Ohio on May 4, 1970, where four students were killed and nine injured.
As I mentioned, the protesters in that era were motivated. There were many reasons but two very prominent ones were the draft and the full news coverage of the coffins with the war dead being filmed daily arriving at in Washington D.C. These two factors made this everyone's war. There were many, many other contributing factors involved here, however those two that I mentioned, during that time frame had the most horsepower. We do not have those motivators now. Our Iraq and Afghanistan dead are flown in under a press ban that is tightly regulated and adhered to. We do not have a national draft. The wasting and sacrificing of our national treasure, our youth, is pushed back from the forefront because it is an all volunteer force. I regret saying this and I would love to be wrong, but it is very easy for a busy and non-critical thinking American to say to themselves, "Well, they volunteered". I regret deeply writing something like that about my fellow countryman, but I fear it is at least partially true. That statement does make it easier to not take to the street and take command of this national disgrace perpetrated on our country by a cabal of chicken-hawks who assiduously avoided Vietnam and other conflicts.
The single most important question facing us is are we going to take action (Legislative or protest or both) to put an end to this "all hat no cattle" President's messianic pipe dream? Our national character is at stake here.
Remember the publishing of the surreptitious photographs of the Iraq dead? Here is one of them. The Photographer was proscecuted.
With apologies to Paul Jamiol, I offer this to some of my good hearted, but uninvolved fellow Americans.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
High School's over. Look out world.
College or the Military or the nexus of want and reality.
Part un
Let me set this up. It is June, 1962. High School Graduation was over. It is time for this young man to get cracking. Life was out there waiting and I wanted a chance at claiming some of it. Because of application deadlines, I was faced early on with the decision of whether or not to attend Sierra Junior College in the Fall. I was tired of school for a while, so I chose to either find a decent job or go in the military in the Fall. This decision brings me to the following narrative which I would like to share with anyone interested.
This is rather lengthy, so I have split it into three separate pieces. Don’t be to serious here; just have some fun following this kid through his process.
With High School graduation over, it now was time to start making some moves towards getting my adult life phase moving along. I went to work for a man who was breaking ground for a Highway rest stop near Verdi, Nevada. This was to be a last chance type of facility for travelers returning from Reno, and was situated right before the California border on the westbound lanes of Interstate 80. This sounded pretty good and so I signed up. When I arrived for work in the morning, I was the only one there. The owner handed me a pick and a shovel and showed me where to start digging the footing trench for his building. I'm still looking around for the rest of the workers or the backhoe. There was just me. I looked at the building stakes and this building was huge. I started digging and moved along fairly well. It was kind of tough going. There was a lot of hardpan, but, I had done this kind of work before and knew you had to be patient. At lunch, I asked the owner if there were other employees. He said no, I should be able to handle the footing trench. With raised eyebrows, I said OK. At the end of the day, I had about had it and the owner comes up and says "I need three times more than you did today at the end of the shift tomorrow." I handed him the shovel and pick and said "Have at it; I'd like my time". He shook his head and said "I can't keep you guys on the job" I thought to myself, no small wonder there. I made $16.00 for that day's labor, and I was out of work.
I then went down to Truckee, CA and found employment at a sawmill. They put me on the Greenchain. I'm here to tell you that will make a man out of you. Teams of two men stacked the newly sawn green lumber readying it for insertion into the kiln for drying.
The illustration shows the stacking racks and to the right are the conveyers that bring the green, freshly cut, lumber down to the racks. One man was stationed at each end of the racks. These boards are extremely heavy and you have to quickly develop a coordination of movement symmetry with your partner or you will fight each other and end up working each other to death. Watching those experienced men was a thing of beauty. It didn't appear that they even broke a sweat, so smooth they were. When I started, it took quite a while to get on to the system, but before the day was over I was told I had become barely tolerable. I took that as quite high praise. The first two hours, though, my partner wanted to throw me over the fence. I did manage to keep my big mouth shut and did the best I could to pick up the rhythm. My partner’s arms were the size of my legs, and he, in no uncertain terms, told me he would come down and whip my ass if one of his fingers got caught between the boards. It is amazing how attentive to instruction you can become with the proper motivation. I really enjoyed this job because once you got into it, your mind was freed up to speculate about other matters. But, having achieved minimal success, I had already come to the conclusion that I needed to be doing something that was a little more thought provocative.
Now in my limited experience that need for challenge manifested itself as a desire to do something else in the sawmill. There is some real ambition! I checked with the Mill Boss and he said he needed a Pond Monkey. I told him, sounds good to me. When I answered him, a quizzical look registered on his face, but He said show up in the morning at the log pond. Bright and early the next morning found me at there standing tall and the Mill Boss handed me a twelve foot Pike pole.
Continued in Part duex
Part un
Let me set this up. It is June, 1962. High School Graduation was over. It is time for this young man to get cracking. Life was out there waiting and I wanted a chance at claiming some of it. Because of application deadlines, I was faced early on with the decision of whether or not to attend Sierra Junior College in the Fall. I was tired of school for a while, so I chose to either find a decent job or go in the military in the Fall. This decision brings me to the following narrative which I would like to share with anyone interested.
This is rather lengthy, so I have split it into three separate pieces. Don’t be to serious here; just have some fun following this kid through his process.
With High School graduation over, it now was time to start making some moves towards getting my adult life phase moving along. I went to work for a man who was breaking ground for a Highway rest stop near Verdi, Nevada. This was to be a last chance type of facility for travelers returning from Reno, and was situated right before the California border on the westbound lanes of Interstate 80. This sounded pretty good and so I signed up. When I arrived for work in the morning, I was the only one there. The owner handed me a pick and a shovel and showed me where to start digging the footing trench for his building. I'm still looking around for the rest of the workers or the backhoe. There was just me. I looked at the building stakes and this building was huge. I started digging and moved along fairly well. It was kind of tough going. There was a lot of hardpan, but, I had done this kind of work before and knew you had to be patient. At lunch, I asked the owner if there were other employees. He said no, I should be able to handle the footing trench. With raised eyebrows, I said OK. At the end of the day, I had about had it and the owner comes up and says "I need three times more than you did today at the end of the shift tomorrow." I handed him the shovel and pick and said "Have at it; I'd like my time". He shook his head and said "I can't keep you guys on the job" I thought to myself, no small wonder there. I made $16.00 for that day's labor, and I was out of work.
I then went down to Truckee, CA and found employment at a sawmill. They put me on the Greenchain. I'm here to tell you that will make a man out of you. Teams of two men stacked the newly sawn green lumber readying it for insertion into the kiln for drying.
The illustration shows the stacking racks and to the right are the conveyers that bring the green, freshly cut, lumber down to the racks. One man was stationed at each end of the racks. These boards are extremely heavy and you have to quickly develop a coordination of movement symmetry with your partner or you will fight each other and end up working each other to death. Watching those experienced men was a thing of beauty. It didn't appear that they even broke a sweat, so smooth they were. When I started, it took quite a while to get on to the system, but before the day was over I was told I had become barely tolerable. I took that as quite high praise. The first two hours, though, my partner wanted to throw me over the fence. I did manage to keep my big mouth shut and did the best I could to pick up the rhythm. My partner’s arms were the size of my legs, and he, in no uncertain terms, told me he would come down and whip my ass if one of his fingers got caught between the boards. It is amazing how attentive to instruction you can become with the proper motivation. I really enjoyed this job because once you got into it, your mind was freed up to speculate about other matters. But, having achieved minimal success, I had already come to the conclusion that I needed to be doing something that was a little more thought provocative.
Now in my limited experience that need for challenge manifested itself as a desire to do something else in the sawmill. There is some real ambition! I checked with the Mill Boss and he said he needed a Pond Monkey. I told him, sounds good to me. When I answered him, a quizzical look registered on his face, but He said show up in the morning at the log pond. Bright and early the next morning found me at there standing tall and the Mill Boss handed me a twelve foot Pike pole.
Continued in Part duex
I become a Pond Monkey
Part duex: Continuing the Summer after Graduation.
This pole is used in the Logging industry to manipulate logs in water. There is a spiked point and a hook shaped barb on one end. The pole is made of wood or aluminum.
The Mill Boss told me what my duties were at the log pond and then he was off to other matters. My purpose in life was to feed floating logs onto a conveyor chain, wherein they were conveyed into the mill for cutting. I stood on a floating pier and with my pole, remember the hook on the end, and directed the available logs up the ramp quite professionally. Well, it just so happened that eventually, I ran out of available logs. "Hum? What to do?" It becomes obvious that I will have to walk out on the floating logs and pole them over to the pier area.
This was not a problem. At Fresh Pond, California, the company my Dad previously worked for had a great millpond and I had walked the logs many times as a lark. I considered that experience made me quite competent for the task. The poling technique, I figured I could just develop. All of this turned out to be true. I was doing OK.
Now life shows us, on occasion, curve balls. Said curve balls began showing their ugly head immediately. Here is the scene. Young "Studly Cool breeze" (I was a legend in my own mind) is dancing around on the millpond using that Pike pole with deadly efficiency and herding those logs up that conveyor with dizzying speed and with flair. I was quite sure the girls passing by on Interstate 80 were maintaining control of their vehicles with only the greatest effort. In my mind, I had become a danger to public safety. That is how cool I was. I had to find a way to tone it down. (Stay with me here; tongue in cheek. :-))
As it turned out, the Mill Boss’s brother assisted me in this effort. I was out on the logs doing my thing, and I noticed the brother had fired up what was called the "966". This was the Caterpillar model number of the front end loader that the company used to unload the logging trucks that had hauled their loads in from the woods. He grabbed the entire load with the 966 and unceremoniously dumped it in the log pond. Two things happened here. One, it was pretty awesome to see a whole truckload of logs hitting that water. Second and entirely the opposite of awesome, the wave that was created proceeded to toss my, oblivious to the danger, Butt into the water. I use the term water loosely here. Millpond water can be described as runny black Jello with beetles, bugs, rotted foliage, and a host of other smelly and disagreeable ingredients. I got the whole treatment, head under Jello and all.
What emerged from that pond was not cool anymore. My appearance, you can well imagine. I swam or sort of pulled myself through the goop to the shore and emerged, with my pole, Ignominy was to be my lot today, because the brother and the truck driver were standing over by the truck and, by the vernacular, were “laughing their ass off”. This was a catastrophe. " Studly Cool breeze was gone. My co-workers were laughing at my expense, and to top it all off, the Mill Boss came out of the mill raising hell because there were no logs coming into the Mill. He took a look at me and, shook his head and turned around and left. I proceeded to get with it, but I wasn't cool anymore. Three days later, I did see some justice, The brother drove the 966 into the millpond. Completely submerged it. Now, I was “laughing my ass off.” That was awesome!
Continued in Part trois:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
