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.
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Tough news but well put. I've been out of work for 2 years now and off unemployment for almost a year. My own business is finally starting to take off and I hope to break even soon. Meanwhile my wife lost her job after 35 years of nursing because she had been given too many raises for outstanding work. Things are screwed up. The world we enjoyed was ruined by greed. All we can do is to keep trying.
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