Well, I got through the week, and that's something. The worst did happen - my job has been cut - and I am surprisingly calm, not overly angry (though I would be less than honest if I didn't say that I am furious), and starting to look at my options. I don't have that many but I do have a few. Come June, I may well feel worse than I do now, but again, I am leaning on my faith and I know in my heart of hearts that I will be fine. The finality of it all has not hit me yet - or perhaps it has and I'm not aware of it. Doesn't really matter; I have to move on and look to what lies ahead. I have what I need to do that, and with vacation this upcoming week, it's the perfect time. Now if I just had a working printer... I've done a lot of thinking about the state of the state and the country of late ~ who hasn't? The more I consider it all, the more frustrated I become. Many people have posted surveys online to ask if the president deserves another term in Washington, and thus far, I honestly don't know how to respond. He's no saint as far as running the country is concerned, but I'll tell you, he's far better than GW ever thought of being. When I think back on my life under the Clinton Administration, and I am talking about Mr. Clinton's presidency, not his extracurricular activities, I have to say that it was infinitely better than it is now. We had a balanced budget, we were able to buy our first home, keep up with the monthly bills, and still have some left over to save for our daughter's education. Then came GW, and inflation increased by I-don't-know-how-much, we got into a war over oil and suspected weapons of mass destruction, every ounce of privacy we've ever enjoyed is gone, and countless other changes that have made life difficult at best. I believe that the best government is the least government, which would peg me as a republican, but I also believe that charity begins at home and we have a moral responsibility to take care of those who are unable to take care of themselves adequately, which makes me - in some people's eyes anyhow - a bleeding heart liberal democrat. What strikes me as being the most idiotic is that this country has completely lost its common sense. Take for example the current budgetary concerns on both the state and federal level. What are the first things to be cut? Well, on the federal level, education, Medicare and Medicaid - I will address that in a minute - and other social programs, to name a few. On the state level, pretty much the same things. I get infuriated that education funds are severely curtailed, while at the same time, people bitch and moan about test scores being low and how the US isn't first in the world in education. You cannot have it both ways, Mr. President and Governor Lynch! You have to compromise somewhere and somehow! Now, about Medicaid. I am one of those bleeding heart tightwads (how's that for an oxymoron?!) who believes that we need a total overhaul of Medicaid funding. There are people in the world who need Medicaid and welfare programs in order to survive, and I don't want to deny anyone who truly needs help. However, these people who refuse to work and prefer to stay home and have babies have to be put on notice that we, as Americans, should not be responsible for supporting their habit of copulating. Articles of clothing have zippers for a reason, people. Let's start keeping them closed for once! Now, for those who truly need help and are willing to work, then for the love of God, help them! Get them jobs, education, whatever they need in order to get off assistance! Stop the ridiculousness of shutting off benefits just because someone has a job that pays only minimum wage. HELP people to do better, manage their money, take care of their kids. DO something besides dole out checks! And while I'm at it, let's examine Medicare and retirement. Now, in NH, retirees are in danger of having their benefits reduced, and they now have to pay a portion of their health insurance. I fail to see the logic in this. Retirees are not working...and their benefits are reduced? Retirees are on fixed incomes! Wake up! Why do you want to decrease the benefits of people who no longer work?! Where is the sense in that?! Medicare and disability benefits are the same - where is the sense in that? Did I miss something somewhere? Anyway, that's my rant for the day. Enjoy yours, everyone.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Here we go again...
Well, I got through the week, and that's something. The worst did happen - my job has been cut - and I am surprisingly calm, not overly angry (though I would be less than honest if I didn't say that I am furious), and starting to look at my options. I don't have that many but I do have a few. Come June, I may well feel worse than I do now, but again, I am leaning on my faith and I know in my heart of hearts that I will be fine. The finality of it all has not hit me yet - or perhaps it has and I'm not aware of it. Doesn't really matter; I have to move on and look to what lies ahead. I have what I need to do that, and with vacation this upcoming week, it's the perfect time. Now if I just had a working printer... I've done a lot of thinking about the state of the state and the country of late ~ who hasn't? The more I consider it all, the more frustrated I become. Many people have posted surveys online to ask if the president deserves another term in Washington, and thus far, I honestly don't know how to respond. He's no saint as far as running the country is concerned, but I'll tell you, he's far better than GW ever thought of being. When I think back on my life under the Clinton Administration, and I am talking about Mr. Clinton's presidency, not his extracurricular activities, I have to say that it was infinitely better than it is now. We had a balanced budget, we were able to buy our first home, keep up with the monthly bills, and still have some left over to save for our daughter's education. Then came GW, and inflation increased by I-don't-know-how-much, we got into a war over oil and suspected weapons of mass destruction, every ounce of privacy we've ever enjoyed is gone, and countless other changes that have made life difficult at best. I believe that the best government is the least government, which would peg me as a republican, but I also believe that charity begins at home and we have a moral responsibility to take care of those who are unable to take care of themselves adequately, which makes me - in some people's eyes anyhow - a bleeding heart liberal democrat. What strikes me as being the most idiotic is that this country has completely lost its common sense. Take for example the current budgetary concerns on both the state and federal level. What are the first things to be cut? Well, on the federal level, education, Medicare and Medicaid - I will address that in a minute - and other social programs, to name a few. On the state level, pretty much the same things. I get infuriated that education funds are severely curtailed, while at the same time, people bitch and moan about test scores being low and how the US isn't first in the world in education. You cannot have it both ways, Mr. President and Governor Lynch! You have to compromise somewhere and somehow! Now, about Medicaid. I am one of those bleeding heart tightwads (how's that for an oxymoron?!) who believes that we need a total overhaul of Medicaid funding. There are people in the world who need Medicaid and welfare programs in order to survive, and I don't want to deny anyone who truly needs help. However, these people who refuse to work and prefer to stay home and have babies have to be put on notice that we, as Americans, should not be responsible for supporting their habit of copulating. Articles of clothing have zippers for a reason, people. Let's start keeping them closed for once! Now, for those who truly need help and are willing to work, then for the love of God, help them! Get them jobs, education, whatever they need in order to get off assistance! Stop the ridiculousness of shutting off benefits just because someone has a job that pays only minimum wage. HELP people to do better, manage their money, take care of their kids. DO something besides dole out checks! And while I'm at it, let's examine Medicare and retirement. Now, in NH, retirees are in danger of having their benefits reduced, and they now have to pay a portion of their health insurance. I fail to see the logic in this. Retirees are not working...and their benefits are reduced? Retirees are on fixed incomes! Wake up! Why do you want to decrease the benefits of people who no longer work?! Where is the sense in that?! Medicare and disability benefits are the same - where is the sense in that? Did I miss something somewhere? Anyway, that's my rant for the day. Enjoy yours, everyone.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Looking toward tomorrow
It's not always the easiest thing in the world to do what is right, but I think I try hard and I'm usually successful. I have my challenges, just like everyone else, but I rarely go to bed at night feeling that I didn't do the best I could to make someone's life better or at least happy. I have learned to keep my mouth shut when I would rather be critical and I have learned to be accepting of others and their lifestyles. People who know me best know that there are some practices or behaviors in which people engage that I don't approve of, but I try not to judge them because I am far from lily-white and I don't want others judging me. I believe in God and in His goodness and mercy. I believe that He has my life planned out for me, and that all He wants is for me to participate in His plan. I believe that God has called me to do good and that I should always be looking to offer life and hope to those who need that proverbial kind word or look or touch. When I find out that someone is pregnant, I make a baby blanket. When someone dies, I make food. When my daughter calls out to me in pain ~ whether physical or emotional, such as when she misses her boyfriend more than usual ~ I hold her close and remind her that I love her and that she is never completely alone. When my husband feels low or struggles to walk about or get up from a chair, I stand by and offer my arm or my ear, or especially my heart. I have great peace in my faith and I am blessed.
And yet, tonight my heart is heavy with worry and fear. I feel alone even though I am most certainly NOT alone. My job is about to be decided upon by a school board of people who are faced with having to cut $50,000 from an already lean budget, and my principal has deigned that if there are to be positions cut, mine should be it. I used to have a great deal of respect for this woman, but that respect has dwindled steadily since September. I feel that I have been set up to fail and I believe that no matter what I did this year as a teacher, there was nothing I could do right or well. I have had no positive feedback at all this year; any feedback I have received has been negative. I have been questioned about my lessons and the rationale behind them, and have not received the help I have asked for all year.
With the aftershock of the sinful and evil economic practices of the Bush Administration, our current economy is a shambles and people like me are suffering. I'm not the only one who will lose a job this year, and heartbreakingly, I will not be the last. There is no doubt in my mind or my heart that we will be taken care of and we will prevail in the end. God has us in the palm of His hand, and He is not about to abandon us. Nothing can change my mind about that. I am, however, human, and I cannot help but be worried and hurt. I have been in a toxic situation for some time, and for me to want to continue in that environment is ludicrous. Yet, it seems preferable to me over being unemployed again. I do not wish ill on anyone involved at the school, but I remain hurt and even bitter over the way the year has progressed.
When I look at the picture I posted above, I am reminded that there is a real, loving, vibrant world that I have yet to fuilly experience. I hope that the pain and angst will be worth it all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)