Open Letter to the Honorable President Barack Obama:

Dear Honorable President Obama:

For eight years, the Republicans could have cared less about reforming the health care system of our nation. As long as they could line their pockets on the misery of those needing health care services, they were content and happy to be in control of a failing system. So why now are we bending over backwards to support their ability to pro-offer opinions/solutions to solve the health care crisis when it is their failed policies that were in existence for eight years that caused much of our nation's financial problems and deficits?

If we, the voters, wanted the Republican's solutions/opinions, we as a public would have voted for that. We didn't. We voted for the change you promised. Now, respectfully sir, we will know you by what you do, not what you say. Although what you say sounds like it tastes good, we can't eat words. We need real jobs, real shelter, real health care and real food. We are watching your actions to match your words.

While you are bending to meet the Republican agenda half way, we on the bottom have not even been given the time to stand up straight after spending eight (8) long years bent over. It would appear your compromises and attempts at bi-partisanship just allow us to move 1/4 up from the ground, still bent over to serve as sex slaves for the wealthy and the corporations of the world. We didn't vote for that.

Where is the change you promised?

Justice, Ohio Style - Is Justice Moyer's proprosed reform, reform at all?

POST-SCRIPT:
SissCoKids has been informed that Ohio's Chief Justice Thomas Moyer has been appointed to an eleven member advisory committee that is part of a new national effort aimed at assisting state-based efforts to end the election of judges entitled the O'Connor Judicial Selection Initiative as reported in the Republican leaning corporate newspaper, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio in Editorials Christmas Cheer(s) published on Christmas Day, 2009. The below article stands corrected that this initiative to take away your vote is not merely Ohio based and is now a national effort and the prescription below still stands.

Don't be fooled. This push to take away your vote is not to ensure integrity in the judicial system. It is to cover up the money trail that leads right to the top!

Appearances of Impropriety! Republished, January 3, 2010!

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer wants to change the way justices are selected for the Ohio Supreme Court. He is concerned about the amount of fund raising and campaign donations needed to secure this high office, opting instead for a structural change in which the Governor and a review panel (no doubt comprised of lawyers) would select Supreme Court Justices, or in the alternative, a system of public financing of judicial election campaigns! (see The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, November 17, 2009, Page B2.

In plain words, Chief Justice Moyer wants to take away your vote.

It would appear now for reasons protected by confidentiality clauses that are imposed on parties and citizens (complaining), constructed by the judges and lawyers themselves, and written into the Ohio Administrative Code, the Ohio Revised Code, as well as the Rules of the Court and the Disciplinary Counsel Rules, that the Chief Justice is suddenly concerned that the money trail so prevalent in the lower courts just might be traceable to one or more Supreme Court Justices or candidates thereof, demonstrating major appearances of impropriety.

Doesn't it make one wonder what is occurring behind these moves? And if Chief Justice Moyer is successful in his campaign, will it actually rid the courts of these major improprieties, OR will it just destroy the money trail that is easily traceable and trackable through campaign finance disclosure laws?

Right now under the present system, you can trace the money from the lawyers, firms and/or businesses hands directly to the judge at the local court, the county court, the court of appeals, the campaign caucus(es), clear up to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Should the system change, do you really believe or think that lawyers and judges will stop doing their dirt, OR is the real goal to get rid of the money trail that proves their dirt with motivation?

Appearances of propriety are just that -- an appearance. My solution: Get rid of the confidentiality clauses and start holding these lawyers, judges and justices to a higher standard as leaders of the community and officers of the court and have a rotating public citizens panel (whose members are publicly randomly selected) review the complaints filed against offending officers of the court for their misconduct, with their infractions being sternly dealt with, instead of the present review in secrecy by their potentially equally infracting peers, creating a quid pro quo environment. Limit all donations to these campaigns to $25 per individual and/or corporation with full disclosure codified (written into law) and free and equal public service air time. Prevent judges from ever presiding over any case where they have received any gift and/or contribution from any party, forcing them to take cases where they have no vested interest.

The current system by which attorneys and judges are reviewed is a joke and rarely holds accountable the offending party (ies), despite what you see on the carefully scripted public television display (Channel 25.2 Cleveland). The decisions rendered by the courts of Ohio are all too often made in the back rooms of the court houses and area taverns with the courtroom just being the theater where the actors play out what is already decided in secrecy. One would be hard pressed to find integrity and honor in Ohio, although it may exist somewhere within. You can bet the recent high jacking of our country's financial system had attorneys at the root of the rotten vine, engineering and protecting the greedy at the expense of the masses. Let us not forget that most of our legislators that helped to codify these confidentiality laws are attorneys themselves. For the most part, they are the only ones that could afford to buy these offices. You can bet in most instances, you don't become a legislator without being an attorney, unless you have sold your sole to the caucus (also staffed by attorneys) for money to do their biding.

Should I have an inkling of what is really going on behind the scenes to initiate such a conference to change Ohio's Legal System (and I may very well), I would be prevented by law from telling you. So much for free speech and whistle blower laws! Under the present system, it is more important to the lawyers and judges to protect the appearance of integrity with secrecy in the midst of corruption, rather than revealing the truth! Their much aligned reputation, in my opinion and experience, is often well deserved.

Happy New Year Ohioians and Citizens of the United States!

MESSAGE FROM SENATOR SHERROD BROWN

An Important Message from
Senator Sherrod Brown about
Health Care Reform

Dear Friend,

You may have seen a lot of me lately. I've been speaking out and setting the record straight on why it's critical that health care reform legislation includes a public option. And now that the House has passed it, it's now up to the Senate to act.


I refuse to sit by watching families struggle to make ends meet while political pundits, ultra-conservative media talking heads, and the Republican Party blatantly spout misinformation and resort to fear-mongering. It's not only ludicrous -- it's dangerous and will end up costing our nation dearly.


As one of my most steadfast supporters, you know how important it is that we pass meaningful health insurance reforms -- which will provide each and every American with quality, affordable coverage.


We all know how difficult enacting these important changes is proving to be. At every turn, big pharma and big insurance -- along with their cronies in Washington -- are throwing up roadblocks and undermining our Democratic reform efforts.

I recently spoke about this very issue on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Watch it here:

http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .


Including a strong public option in the Senate health care reform bill would be a major victory for taxpayers, middle-class families, and American businesses.

It will inject much-needed competition into the insurance marketplace, keep HMOs honest, and ensure that families across the country have their choice of affordable, quality health plans.


Meanwhile, the GOP is doing everything possible to derail a strong public option and cling to the status quo. They're bending over backwards trying to protect their big-money supporters in the insurance industry, who are only concerned about their bottom line -- while my Democratic colleagues and I are looking out for the best interests of our citizens.


We must deliver reform for all Americans, many of whom have lost so much already as a result of the housing crisis, the financial meltdown, and the recession in the last year.


You can help spread the word by forwarding this email to as many people as possible; just click here:

http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .

Thank you again for your support. Together we will finally put middle-class families ahead of the insurance industry.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator, Ohio


P.S. Time is running out to ensure a public option is part of health care reform legislation. Help me get the word out by clicking here:
http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .
Set the record straight about the public option -- please forward this email to everyone you know. Thanks for doing your part.

JUST MAYBE WHY SARAH PALIN LEFT!

Some things are just more important than country and world events!

I have watched and listened for the past few days to commentaries from all the major networks theorizing why Sarah Palin quit her job as Governor of Alaska before the end of her term. Everything from aspirations for the Presidency, state and federal investigations, legal fees, and so on. I, also, listened to Sarah Palin's press conference and I have to admit, it first seemed bizarre at best, but her words stuck in my mind.

I'm no Sarah Palin fan, but I marginally sympathized with her watching the Republican Party use her during the campaign to bolster the old, tired image, honorable as he may be, of John McCain. Even though I supported Obama during the campaign, and still do, I often felt that she was being treated unfairly by a press ready to destroy anything in its' path for the sake of the sale of magazines and newspapers or to increase viewership. She seemed so naive.

As a parent of a severely disabled or Differently Abled Adult, I would cringe every time she claimed to be an Advocate for the Disabled, knowing full well that she represented a party that represents the wealthy. The same party that has demonstrated time and time again, that it cares nothing for the elderly and poor, let alone the disabled. The same party that nullified the American With Disabilities Act by exempting all of the small business and governments, while at the same time standing up and stating that 95% of all the new jobs were going to be created by the small businesses. They knew full well that 95% of America was not going to be accessible to the disabled. They stood up and touted that George H. W. Bush, Sr. passed the American With Disabilities Act, while at the same time failed to provide proper funding for it. All the disabled represented to most Republicans were dollar signs and a burden on the budget. That statement may, in part, be true for both parties today as States struggle to meet their budgets.

Often during the campaign, I would see Sarah Palin traveling about without her "severely" disabled son, with a whole entourage of people ready to deal with him. She often would grab him for a photo opportunity as she spoke of her advocacy and then handed him right back to the nearest person, pretending that she really knew what it was like to raise a severely disabled child in America on limited funds.

Well it now occurs to me that after being beat up by members of the press and her own party and after careful consideration of her circumstances and as her child grows and she begins to realize that he is not progressing the way a typical child does, that, perhaps, just maybe, the real reason Sarah Palin has decided to quit politics, at least for now, is that God has placed into her arms her greatest and most important challenge to date.....her "special" needs son. Being the dedicated, and what seems to be honorable person that she is, maybe she has finally decided her true calling and realized the real work that lies ahead for her! Her place may be with her family for now.

If that's the case, God bless Sarah Palin in her new endeavors. She is in for much work, heartache, joy, blessings and challenges as this unique individual that God has placed in her life reveals himself to the world. Sarah Palin will need all of our prayers and support and maybe, now, with her financial troubles, Universal Health Care with a single payer option. Godspeed Sarah Palin.

HEALTH CARE COSTS

WHY DO DEGREED PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EARN MORE THAN THE AVERAGE WORKER?



I realize this topic is not popular. The subject is greed. When is enough, enough! If you think about the three fields of professions where people make more money in a day than most make working a month or in a year in some cases, you focus on those in the professions of finance (banking, stock broker, insurance etc.), legal (attorneys) and those in the medical professions (pharmaceuticals, doctors, researchers).

Most of these people are undoubtedly bright, and have worked hard for their degrees. There is no argument there. Many have achieved their degrees on tax payer dollars in the way of grants, scholarships and low interest or low cost loans. Many don't even bother to pay their loans back and in years past, that has been overlooked. A chosen few have achieved their degrees on generational wealth that they have had bestowed upon them; wealth that all too often has been made at the expense of others.

Let's realize that these gifted individuals show their gratitude to society by graduating and demanding salaries that are far in excess of what the average person makes. Making more than even those average people that have been in the work force for decades. On both sides of the aisle and those in the middle, they work for the glory of themselves. They have been led to believe that they somehow deserve more than the average person working decades. Worst yet, the average person working has been programmed to believe that these gifted individuals deserve to coast through college on taxpayer paid low-cost loans, scholarships, grants and gifts from their families and that they somehow deserve to make more. WHY?

Do they work any harder than someone who sweats in a welding or machine shop for eight to ten hours a day, trying to support their families and paying their taxes? Do they work any harder than the department store worker who normally gets paid nominally and has to stand on their feet on a concrete floor all day? Do they work harder than the carpenter, the electrician, the brick layer, or the concrete finisher? Anyone who thinks so has never done an honest day's work in their life. Sure they are bright, but let's not discount the knowledge and expertise gained through years of work experience.

Sure they deserve to perhaps start work at a salary commensurate with their years of seniority for time spent at educational institutions; and, perhaps, in line or slightly above the average wage earner for their given working region, but do they really deserve to earn two, five, ten, fifteen times or more than the average worker? How many houses or cars are enough?

This greed has made it unaffordable for everyday hard working people to buy their shelter, food and clothing needs. This greed has made medicine unaffordable and has caused the average hard working Americans not to seek much needed health care and has forced others to buy these high deductible health care policies that are worthless in times of real need. This greed has caused our banking institutions to fail and has allowed the rip off of billions in the way of pension dollars and life savings and investments.

These same individuals want you to believe that it's all the unions' fault. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unions have done more to lift the wages of every American over the last seven decades than anything else. Henry Ford's philosophy was to provide an affordable product, and a livable wage to every worker so that they, too, could afford his product. That philosophy did more to make other employers compete with each other for workers and to provide livable wages which lifted the standard of living for most. I might add that Ford Motor Company did not ask for or receive any bailouts and they have a union.

It was only when the greedy bankers, insurance companies, attorneys and health care professionals thought that they deserved much, much more than the average worker that caused employers to start screaming about health care costs. This is not new. Since the late 1970s and on through the 1980s, employers across America have assaulted the blue collar worker, which was the base of American manufacturing, by removing hospitalization benefits, limiting wages and threatening the American worker that they had to compete with the rice patty farmer in China. Rather than stand up in America and scream at their legislatures to stop the excessive greed, Corporations touted free market enterprise and they no longer were loyal to America or Americans. They not only threatened, but proceeded to take the jobs, technology and wealth overseas. Now they gripe why Americans are no longer loyal to them.

Why were these Corporations and their executives not charged with treason?

When we talk about containing our national budget, a large part is health care costs comprised largely of Medicaid and Medicare spending, why don't we talk about taking the PROFIT out of health care and limiting the large excessive salaries that have caused our nation such hardship. We could forgive all college loans and make education free if graduates worked for the good of the country and its' people, rather than themselves. Aren't humans valuable and deserving of the most basic of human services?

We need a universal single payer health care system for all Americans. It is the only way to ensure that the public system is not rationed health care for the poor. We need to eliminate the profit out of health care so that we can still pay our physicians a fair market rate and provide quality, affordable health care for all. How much more we would get for our premium buck if we all pulled our money to pay directly for health care services and eliminate the insurance companies and health management organizations (HMOs). Medicare manages to run an efficient system and it is only the large population of baby boomers approaching retirement that threatens it. If everyone paid into the system, the taxpayer system would reap the benefit of profits to be redistributed to the taxpayer, rather than the insurance companies and the HMOs. Those workers could be re-employed to assist health care management through a single payer Medicare system at salaries that could be sustained and supported.

Your taxpayer paid degree does not give you the right to rape the American public!


Next Week: ?

Attorney Referral Service: Social Security Administration

SSA STANDS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ATTORNEYS

Each and every American is required to pay into the Social Security Administration's system as part of the planning for retirement and in the event of permanent disability. We dutifully pay and pay and pay into a system that promises to be there for us with the benefits when needed.
Then when needed, we are initially denied for the most part. Why?

The Why is the big part of the equation. Why would you be denied retirement or disability benefits initially if you qualified? My father was denied his disability benefits after paying into the Social Security Administration system for over 38 years and a stint in the Army in the Korean War where he suffered two bullet wounds for this country. In the summer of 1987 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and denied his disability benefits by the Social Security Administration. The day his denial was issued, he had been in the grave for a month. He never had a chance to even appeal or use one dollar of his benefits. Why would the Social Security Administration deny a terminally ill person their due benefits? The answer is TO MAKE THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES APPEAL!

Remember, where there is corruption, who benefits? Follow the money! My father and others like him are made to file an appeal after being left destitute. They retain an attorney and by the time the initial appeal is heard (usually in excess of three years), they have been starved into submission and are willing to turn over 25% minimum of their benefits by way of fees to an attorney because, without one, they would starve. This starvation is system designed and is your reward for trusting a government that is alleged to have been constructed to serve its' citizenry.

Is it a government by the people, for the people, and of the people OR IS IT A GOVERNMENT BY THE WEALTHY, for the people, and OF THE WEALTHY?

Doesn't the government have a vested interest in denying your Social Security Administration benefits to you? The Social Security Administration is an attorney referral service. It intentionally keeps them employed with your money. Not on a pro bono (free) basis or a flat fee paid by the offending party (Social Security Administration) but with your hard earned dollars. In order to keep the attorneys in business, they have a vested interest in denying you your benefits, EVEN WHEN YOU QUALIFY.

By the time you get your benefits, usually reduced and far less than what is deserved, you are so hungry, you will agree to just about anything. Attorneys agree to reduced benefits on your behalf because in this quid pro quo system, there is always another you to feed off of. The SSA has guaranteed them that!

Some say you can't fight city hall. I say it is time to stand up and fight for good government and STOP the corruption!

It is time to limit and take the money out of the equation. If attorneys are Officers of the court, make no mistake about it, they represent the system first, themselves next and you last. Their priorities are their own pocketbook and justice is a far cry off! It is time to recognize that your attorney does not really work for you. That appearance is deceiving by system design.

It is time to have the attorneys paid for by the very system they really serve. Limit the paychecks of attorneys and make the Social Security Administration pay them a flat nominal fee that is aligned with the average wage earner of the region they practice in, regardless of whether the client wins or loses, and a bonus is paid by the government ONLY if the client wins. The client should NEVER have to pay for what they have been unlawfully denied. The client should not lose one dollar of benefits. Otherwise, the government would have a vested interest in denying same. If the client loses, they certainly should not have to pay fees, as it is their right to redress their government, emphasis added.

Does the Social Security Administration represent WE THE PEOPLE or the ATTORNEYS?

Please don't bother trying to convince me that the system can't afford to pay the benefits or that the system is going broke. Take the payroll cap off of the Social Security tax that the wealthy enjoy (attorneys amongst them) that allows them to pay a smaller percentage of their income into the Social Security Administration system and they will be solvent for years!

Next Week: Why do degreed people that go to college on taxpayer grants and loans think they have the right to earn more than the average wage earner that paid for their degree in the first place?

TREASON, TEXAS STYLE

CAN THE GREEDY SWIM AND FOR HOW LONG?

Well, after reviewing news reports on the net recently, it appears not long!

I just read that Governor Rick Perry of Texas is threatening to have a vote to secede from the union of the United States. Texas was admitted to the union in 1845 and did secede during the Civil War. They were only allowed to re-enter the union after they ratified the United States Constitution's Thirteenth Amendment that banned slavery.

Governor Perry is incorrect. Texas is not allowed to secede from the union, see Texas versus White, U.S. Supreme Court, 1869.

But more importantly, why would he tout this treasonous act. Governor Perry of Texas obviously feels that Texas is being treated unfairly or unequally than the other states. It appears that Texas has more than its' share of billionaires that are yelling about their taxes being raised three (3%) percent after write-offs. He and more than a few of Texas citizens are complaining about unfunded mandates. Laws that are enacted that they have to follow and fund without the help of the federal government, or that are partially funded by the federal government.

All of this complaining is for one purpose. So that they can individually keep more of their money, regardless of its' ability to serve the greater good.

Texas wants autonomy (self-control), and after their selection of former President Bush, who was elected by questionable circumstances (see death of pilot, Akron, Ohio), got us into two of the most expensive wars in history. So here is a solution: Let's let Texas solely fund the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War and use all of their own citizens as soldiers over there (It's probably a price the wealthy would be willing to pay as long as the poor are the ones serving). They can re-elect George Bush, Jr. and Dick Cheney as their leaders and reimburse us all for the WALL that was constructed with our tax dollars to keep them safe from Mexicans. They can refund the United States Treasury all the FEMA tax dollars plus interest from years of disasters from numerous tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts and floods and they can pay the United States damages for causing the price of oil to skyrocket. (Just a side note, they may want to rethink choosing Bush and Cheney, as they may have to submit their newly chosen leaders for war crimes trials before the Hague.)

My bet is that they would apply for foreign aid from the United States to subsidize their new budget.

If Texas were allowed to secede, what would happen to their more vulnerable citizens? One has to look no farther than Austin, Texas where it has been reported that wide spread abuse occurs on a regular basis against the mentally retarded across the state, see
http://www.nospank.net/n-r15r.htm ,
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/04/12042008wacMexiaSS.html , and http://www.texaskaos.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3645 .
These are not my stories, they come from across the nation.

Without the protection of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individual with Disabilities Act, Amendments I through XXVI of the United States Constitution, but not limited to, ALL OF THESE ARE UNFUNDED MANDATES, Texas would have the ability to re-institute slavery, institutionalize the disabled and even execute the same as non-human, if they so desired. These unfunded mandates are collectively agreed upon by representation from all fifty states and they are equally imposed on all fifty states. They are debated and instituted by our elected representatives for the good of ALL. Without them, God help the citizenry.

Why is it that when corporations take our trade secrets and jobs overseas and Governors (Governor Perry of Texas, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska) spout secession from the union, it is not considered a treasonous act? Of course it is. They only want to go steady when they benefit. As long as they are on the receiving end, it is fine, but when it comes time to contribute their fair share, they want to run and hide. Not much of a marriage is it!

President Barack Obama has been fairly elected by a majority, I repeat, a majority, of the citizens, and suddenly, Texas feels and thinks that the vote of a democratic republic people is not valid. Shame on Governor Perry. This country is in its' worse economic shape based largely upon the policies touted by the far extremist right that caused deregulation and created the climate for the "legal" looting of our financial system. If there is one state that needs to stay and work on making this country a better place, it is TEXAS, since their choice for President created the current MESS and gave us the Patriot Act that they are currently screaming about since it now is being used against them and their extremist behavior! Now suddenly the shoe is too small for the other foot.

So let's rescue Texas citizens from the far right extremism that exists and send the full force of our American Government to protect them against this new tyranny, ALL IN THE NAME OF GREED! Let's call this behavior what it really is, TREASON! Contact your United States Representatives
( http://www.house.gov/ ) and Senators ( http://www.senate.gov/ ) and let them know you want them to move for hearings on Governor Perry's statement of treason. Let them know you want them to seize the assets of any entity that takes our jobs and trade secrets overseas at the expense of the American population. Most of these corporations made their money here off the backs of hard working Americans, and when it still wasn't enough, they went overseas in their attempts to get more. They have no loyalty to America, only their greedy selves.

STOP TREASON: ( http://www.house.gov/ )
( http://www.senate.gov/ )

Next Week: ?