G- Good Government

 A good government is one "which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread that it has earned. - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) (inaugural address)

Good government is that which delivers the citizen from the risk of being done out of his life and property too arbitrarily and violently - one that relieves him sufficiently from the barbaric business of guarding them to enable him to engage in gentler, more dignified and more agreeable undertakings... - H. L. Mencken, "On Government"

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” - Ronald Reagan - Opening Chicago press conference with acknowledgment of farmers’ need for federal assistance, 12 Aug 86

What do you think good government means? Where have you seen good government? When have you experienced the government being there for you?

I know that I feel very lucky that the health care bill passed what it did. I was without health insurance for a year and a half and am now back on it, at least for the next two years. I can't afford to pay for my own, and so I'm grateful that I can be back on my parent's plan.

I'm grateful that while I was off of insurance, I was able to receive affordable birth control pills through Planned Parenthood and my hometown's Community Action program. Both organizations have some support from the government, and I am deeply in the debt of both organizations.

There are many things that I am not so grateful for, but I am grateful for this. I hope that these programs continue to exist and are supported by our government.

Again- What do you think good government means and where have you seen it?

F-Freedom to Be Free

F-Freedom of Speech/Thought

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they never use." - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (Danish theologian, philosopher, and religious writer)

OK. This is one of those topics which makes me lividly mad. Like, steaming out of my ears upset.

Like, how about those stories about pharmacists refusing to sell women the morning-after pill on moral grounds? Because they have the freedom to practice their religion by making decisions for other people who are asking them to do their jobs?

Or how each and every person who personally prevents gay marriage from passing as legal in any form of legislation? Please tell me how your are supporting freedom of speech if you are deliberately causing others to have to silence their own right to speak and to act as they see fit. Yes, you have every right to disagree with gay rights. Yes, you can pray and pray for all of those gay and lesbian sinners who will rot for wanting to express their love. But you are a hypocrite if you say it is your right to freedom of speech that allows you to actually stop it from happening. If you want to have the right to speak, then so does the GLBT community.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of speech for the majority. Freedom of speech does not mean that whoever screams out the loudest is heard (although I guess that helps sometimes). Freedom of speech does not give you the right to deny someone healthcare or deny someone to sign a certificate saying they are a couple.

We should make GAY and WOMAN a religion. Maybe BLACK too. How about IMMIGRANT? Then, maybe we would get somewhere, and could do whatever we wanted.

When is this nation going to grow up? I'm waiting for it to mature like many of our friends in Europe who see many of these things as simple truths. But we must struggle on, America. Don't give up hope. It's got to change soon, and I hope that it is in my generation, that we will begin to realize the true meaning of Freedom of Speech.

Parents, teach your children to be open, receiving, and welcome to people who are different than themselves. Teach your children to see that differing opinions aren't the end of the world. People who have different beliefs can share this planet as long as they are willing to accept that one opinion isn't necessarily better than the other.

Who is Soren Kierkegaard? Soren Aabye Kierkegaard on Wikipedia

E- Einstein on Empty Stomachs

Einstein on Empty Stomachs

"An empty stomach is not a good political adviser."

(may or may not be) Albert Einstein

 

 What do you think this means?

To me, it means that those countries who are hungry may also often be the ones in the most conflict. Look at many of the countries in Africa right now, who do not have the abundance we have in nations like my own, the United States of America.

It means that those countries who are hungry can only think with their stomachs when it comes to decisions, and sometimes it is not in their best interest in the long run. But who can blame them when they are hungry? It's hard to think straight when your stomach is empty.

D-Dangerous War on Drugs

D- The Dangerous War on Drugs

Although drugs are immoral and must be kept from the young, thousands of schools pressure parents to give the drug Ritalin to any lively child who may, sensibly, show signs of boredom in his classroom. Ritalin renders the child docile if not comatose. Side effects? "Stunted growth, facial tics, agitation and aggression, insomnia, appetite loss, headaches, stomach pains and seizures." Marijuana would be far less harmful. - Gore Vidal, THE WAR AT HOME, November 1998

I believe that the information on Ritalin has been changing since 1998, but thinking about Ritalin and its use on young children ages 3-5 is an interesting study on our nation's views on both "legal" and "illegal" drugs. The following information is taken from a drug study done over 10 weeks in 2006 done on 3-5 year olds.

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"In the drug study, 183 children took Ritalin for about a year, at varying doses. The average dose was 14 mg per day -- half the average dose given to children six and older.

The results of the study showed that Ritalin increased focus and impulse control in children aged 3 to 5. It also showed that it slowed those children's growth rate (both in height and weight categories) compared to predetermined expectations for that age group. Eleven percent of the children in the drug trial dropped out before the end of study due to intolerable side effects, including insomnia, extreme weight loss, constant nervousness and the development of skin-picking disorders.

The study's authors concluded that it is safe to use Ritalin to treat ADHD in preschool children, but that parents and doctors must weight the costs and benefits. Because the side effects of Ritalin, including weight loss, sleep problems and slow growth, appear to be worse in younger children, Ritalin treatment should only be used in the most extreme cases of ADHD in 3- to 5-year-olds.

These conclusions are questioned and contested by some other members of the medical and scientific communities. Their problems with the study focus mostly on several factors:

• At least some of the doctors (and possibly all) who conducted the study have been paid by the pharmaceutical company that markets Ritalin for various services. Some have been paid to speak at pharmaceutical-industry conferences about the benefits of Ritalin, for instance.
• The study was incredibly small. Those who take issue with the results claim that 183 subjects are not enough to draw any solid conclusions at all.
• The study does not indicate what happens to Ritalin-prescribed preschoolers beyond a year of treatment. For an age group that is in the very heart of its growth and development, a much longer-term study would have to be conducted in order for it to truly indicate the long-term results of the drug treatment."

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Quick recap of this study here,

1. It slowed down the children's growth. I know that children are a handful, especially when they have ADHD, and it can be really difficult for children to attend school when they are suffering from ADHD. But to stunt your child's growth with this medication?

2. Other side effects include insomnia, nervousness, and weight loss? This sounds like some of the side effects that can be caused by other "illegal" drugs. Meth, cocaine, amphetamine and other illegal drugs cause some of the same effects, probably in a worse way, but why do we see it as ok to cause these side effects in young children in order to keep them focused and less impulsive? Wouldn't this cause them to become more impulsive?

3. I love that the doctors in the study were paid to represent Ritalin at conferences. This is the point that bothers me the most. How many people have went on drugs recommended by their doctors who were also paid by the pharmaceutical companies to speak about their benefits?

I'm not paranoid about the field of medicine or anything, but I would rather find my own alternative treatment to this expensive madness. While pharmaceutical companies make off with our money for expensive medication, we are left wondering what is happening to our bodies in the meantime. Yes, there are cases when the side effects are necessary. Yes, sometimes you need to go to the doctor. But we are addicted to a quick fix in this country.

So, instead of declaring war on illegal drugs, we should focus some attention on the legal ones too. Let's make healthcare more affordable and stop pharmaceutical companies from influencing the doctors we so depend on for our health! 

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

C-Congress and Corruption

Corruption in Congress

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature..." 

James Garfield, the twentieth president of the United States, 1877 

This was for yesterday, but I fell asleep before I could post it : (.

I know many people out there who truly believe in voting. For instance, my friend Lauren always asks me about where I'll be voting, and she always makes sure that she gets in her absentee ballot in for her hometown's city and state elections. She values her vote a lot, and doesn't want to take it for granted.

There are others, however, that don't vote out of forgetfulness, business, or who choose not to vote because they believe their vote won't truly count, or that their candidate doesn't have a chance against big money candidates. Although have voted in nearly every election in the past two years, I sometimes feel this way, that even if I vote for the candidate I truly believe will change things, it won't matter because they are usually the candidate who is coming last in the polls.

So what can I do to try to change things in Congress, and the Senate, and throughout our government?

Well, as I am an artist, I have chosen to receive weekly updates from the Minnesota Council for the Arts. They consistently send out an easy form which I can fill out with either the information they have written, or write my own message, and email it to my representatives telling them how I feel about supporting the arts.

I've also discovered CREW- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which uses legal measures to target officials who consistently vote for special interests instead of the common good. You can check them out at http://www.citizensforethics.org/  to find out more.

If you feel strongly about something, you can always seek these kinds of groups, who will help you send your own message to the Congress or Senate.

How do you hold our representatives accountable to higher standards? Goodness knows most of the people who represent us are in it for themselves, and not for the people they say they represent. I do say it is about time that we all complained about this out loud, instead of rolling our eyes and muttering under our breaths "Oh, those politicians..."...

B-Banks Own the Earth....

Bankers Own the Earth

"Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them but leave them the power to create money, and, with a flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again... "

Sir Josiah Stamp (former president of the Bank of England, reputed to be the 2nd wealthiest man in England during his time)

Oy, on to letter B!

Thanks for all the thoughts on the first post, everyone. I really appreciate all of your brain power and your points of view.

Today, however, we are moving on to banks.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the value of money itself. Can money buy you happiness? Can money really not buy you love? Why is money such a huge problem in relationships? Admit it, when has money not become a stress between you and someone you love? So much emotional sh*t is tied to money. And yes, some people find ways to get around the stress, living live in a very alternative manner, but even those who choose to live a life "free" from money are not really free from money.

So, why is it that banks have so much power over something that causes everyone so much stress? And why can we not seem to figure out how to take that power away from them? It's true that they can simply create more to buy back what they have lost, if they lost it at all.

I think the power that banks and corporations have over the people that I know and love makes me feel the most helpless, and most sad. How can I get over this feeling of powerlessness? Do banks truly own the earth?

Yes, and no. I don't think that the banks can ever take away the sunset, or how it feels on the first day it hits over 70 degrees in Chicago, and you can finally take off your winter coat. Banks can't take away the feeling of grass under your feet. But they sure can limit your access to it. Think of all the people out there who don't even have a yard... And think of all the people who have to live in the filth and pollution from the factories built by these giant corporations.

Maybe the banks do truly own the earth. How do you compete with the banks? How do you comfort yourself when you find you are overwhelmed by the insanity of it all?

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

A- About (Illegal) Aliens

For this month-long challenge, I've decided to focus on a political quote each day and offer my own reflections on the quote, as well ask ask your own opinions on them.

I hope that it will lead to interesting discussions, both in agreeing and disagreeing with the quotes, and I hope that all who participate feel free to say whatever you want. I really want to hear from you all! And I really want to know how you feel!

I've chosen to do this because although I really like all the blogs out there that post pretty pictures of themselves, their things, their pets, their houses, whatever it might be, I would like my own blog to be more than that.

So, this month I'm really pushing myself to give my honest opinion on topics that I hope will interest you.

Enjoy!

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About (Illegal) Aliens and What It Means to be American

"Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian." - Robert Orben (American comedian and magician)

Until I looked up who Robert Orben was, I didn't quite understand that this quote was mean to be political humor. Of course, once I realized that Orben is a magician, the wheels began to turn concerning this quote. It's really funny, and really serious at the same time.

I find it surprising to live in a country today where many people look at illegal immigrants and see them as a threat to our nation, when at one point my ancestors were also seen as a threat and a nuisance. I particularly feel that if we were to open our arms more fully to any "illegal" alien, yes, there may be some issues we would need to iron out, but that our country would be enriched by this. Imagine all of the new viewpoints these persons from other nations could offer our country!

Of course, I know that not all agree with the thought that it could be an enriching experience for the United States of America. However, the main thought that I have right now about illegal immigration is that if these immigrants could become legal citizens, companies would have to pay fair wages to all workers and the rest of us already-legal citizens could in fact gain some benefits from this. Less of our police resources would be focused on the searching for and deportation of illegal immigrants from our country. Fewer people might die trying to cross the desert to our country. 

I'll have to touch on the issue of American Indians on another day... that's a whole 'nother issue!

But what are your thoughts? Is illegal immigration a big issue for our nation? What do you think about the rise of the Latino population in the United States?