Thursday, March 25, 2010

Buuuuuuck!!! You're......Fired!!!

That's right...he's outta here. For those of you unfamiliar, Buck "used to be" my number one alter ego. Yeah, yeah, I know...he was just one of many, but still...he WAS number one. He was the part of my psyche that would call me on my shortcomings, even when they didn't exist. As I told you in an earlier post, he was sort of a cross between John Wayne (former famous movie star) and my ex father-in-law, George...you know, a man of few words, but useful words nonetheless. He quite often, would keep me from sticking my foot in my mouth.

Alas, I had to give him his walking papers. Yep, he let me down. I spent almost an hour and a half writing a "rebuttal" the other night...and it should never have seen the light of day. No, not because it was substandard; more because it caused a certain population considerable distress. Let me 'splain...I have always received numerous "forwarded" e-mails, the majority of them from right wing friends...and for the most part, I read them (if they're not too dumb) and delete. Recently, I have also been receiving "forwards" from several friends on the left.

There's not much difference between the two. You know, it's either Nancy Pelosi on a broom, or George W. Bush falling off a horse...you know...lame, but benign. However, one came across my mail box which made a case for prosecuting the aforementioned Bush, not for war crimes (as per the norm), but for premeditated murder. Okay, okay, not a problem...I mean, hang around Dick Cheney long enough and they're bound to "pin" a body or two on ya...

But, several of the folks on the "e-train" responded, one even submitting a monologue about Bob, a clueless American (Republican) who with one hand will use all the services provided by the federal government...and with the other, shake his finger at others who do...and the e-mail pointed out the hypocrisy and, sure, it was funny, rather sublime, and quite thought provoking. The e-mail was well-written and gave clear examples of a guy (Bob) who complained constantly about the government, but took for granted the good things government provides, like clean water, fresh air, inspected food, etc.

So, anyway, I thought I'd join the fray and take things a step further...I changed the main character's name to Myron and his party affiliation to Democrat...I then gave (what I thought were) examples of government incompetence. You know, the usual...bail outs, stimulus bills, even Bush blaming...I tried to show the folly of absolutes on BOTH sides of the aisle...and I also thought I was well short of being mean-spirited. I mean, hey, Buck woulda told me, right?

Wrong! I sent it off...and I received five responses, all indicating that they were sick and tired of all the divisiveness and each one asking to "disembark" from the e-train. Now I KNOW there were folks from both political spectra among the mailing list. However, I don't recall anyone on the right requesting removal...and here I thought the "left" were the tolerant ones...hmm...

Anyway, Buck...you're outta here...it was your job to "reel me in," when I climb a little too far out on the limb. But, guess what? I've already found his replacement...and right here in good ol' Sacramento, CA, from where this blog originates. Sorry, I can't introduce him just yet...he might not allow me to send THIS post. Til next time, peace...

Friday, March 19, 2010

Maybe I've been looking at this all wrong...

Since Health Care reform WILL pass, you know, maybe I've been looking at this all wrong...

...maybe health care SHOULD be a right...heck, public education is a right...isn't it?

...maybe responsible people WILL receive better assistance than the irresponsible.

...maybe politicians will demand to LEAD the way (ALL OF THEM) by enrolling in Medicaid.

...maybe the second decade of reform will save EVEN more than the first, uh, six years...

...maybe Republicans WON'T say it's a failure no matter what success might come about...

...maybe Democrats WILL finally admit there might still be big, BIG problems to overcome.

...maybe Republicans will admit we ARE already paying for the irresponsible anyway...

...maybe Democrats will admit that we SHOULD stigmatize the irresponsible.

...maybe both sides should just END THE CHARADE and pass it already.

...maybe we should all SHUT our collective mouths and live with it...

...maybe I (that's right, "I") should get in line for a subsidy (even though I won't qualify)...

...maybe I (and we) shouldn't begrudge those who DO qualify.

...maybe my stepson will be one to finally receive the coverage he DOES deserve...

...maybe he won't be LAID OFF by his boss because of the employer mandate.

...maybe the individual mandate will work; even IF Keith Olbermann ends up in prison...

...maybe I should stop WHINING about consequences for others and just help myself.

...maybe I could...maybe I...naaaaahhhhhh...

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Three Strikes doesn't go far enough!!!

Every few weeks, months, etc., media outlets in the less than great state of California, will post their blanket editorials calling for the "repeal," or "roll back," or "lessening of," the dreaded Three Strikes Law (i.e. the statute which mandates a 25-life sentence for any felony conviction which is subsequent to TWO plead and proven serious or violent felony convictions. That's the gist of it...

"Oh, my God...it's sooooo unfair. It targets the poor and disenfranchised. It's draconian. It's just filling up our already overcrowded prisons. It's not doing what it was intended to do. The people (voters) were hoodwinked. They didn't vote for locking up 80 year old pizza thieves." And the whining continues, ad nauseam...

By the way...I'm ALL FOR the Three Strikes Law, and even "stacking," (full term, consecutive sentencing). In my career, I had an intimate knowledge of hundreds of strike cases and I can honestly say that not one, NOT ONE, of those sentenced under the law...was unfairly sentenced. As a matter of fact, most of these folks deserved more time...I remember a co-worker of mine, upon hearing an inmate tell him, "365 years!!?? I can't do 365 years!!!"...to that, my co-worker simply responded, "just do what you can, son." But I digress...

As a matter of fact, I'd like to propose that we EXPAND the law...to include DUI offenders. No, not a three strikes, two strikes, or even one strike variety...whereby, if the drunk driver injures another...blah, blah, blah. Nope, my proposal is much simpler, much cleaner, much fairer. Simply put, if you have been convicted of driving under the influence to ANY extent whereby you are placed on any sort of probation or parole...and you commit a SECOND driving under the influence offense (or ANY collaterally related offense)...25-life...yep...25-life...AND if you EVER get out...and commit a THIRD, that's it...Life, LWOP, Life without Parole...for good...

This past Saturday, here in Sacramento, a scumbag name Omar Carrasco, age 25, was driving a vehicle which was involved in a collision which killed three young men--Gregory Valenzuela, age 22, Raoul Perez, age 23, and Manuel Ruiz, age 24--the three were burned to death (a fourth was taken to the hospital and expected to survive). Carrasco was ON PROBATION for DUI and had his license reinstated just two days before the crash. Also, his license had been suspended on FIVE separate occasions since his first suspension in April 2007.

Was he DUI again? Most likely...that's why I included the "collaterally related offense," rider. Because, you see, the scumbag fled the scene and was not apprehended until a few hours later when he sought treatment at the Kaiser Permanente South Medical Center. IT WAS STILL A COLLATERALLY RELATED OFFENSE!!

Three Strikes IS draconian...it IS harsh...it IS at times unfair...is there anecdotal evidence to support those claims? Certainly...HOWEVER, there is much, much, MUCH, more statistical significance to claims of the law ACTUALLY doing what it purports to do...MAKE US SAFER. All the posturing (and whining) that it costs "sooooo much" to incarcerate these offenders, blah, blah, blah...all the while no one, NO ONE, computes the total, TOTAL cost of allowing these offenders to remain on the street...

Hey, nobody ever factors in, law enforcement time, corrections time, court time, victim(s) time, insurance company time, etc., etc., and if you really want to get anecdotal about it, doctor time, coroner time, AND mortuary time...like my former co-worker would tell Mr. Carrasco..."just do what you can, son." Unfortunately, he CAN'T say the same thing to the three victims...

Friday, March 5, 2010

Responsibility (or lack thereof) IS the word...

Once again...ONCE AGAIN...no one is saying it...regarding the Health Care bill meandering its way through the White House, Blair House, both houses of Congress...no one is saying it, SO I WILL...the bill will only benefit the irresponsible...people, entities, consumers, et al. What?!?! That's right...the winners will NOT be the "responsible" people...people who I believe SHOULD be the beneficiaries of any type of reform...and that's a shame...

And really, there is not much of a difference between the status quo and any kind of reform, as fronted by either the Dems or the Reeps. Sure, the GOP has their own "incremental-ism" i.e. health care reform enacted one step at a time...and the Dems have their so-called nuclear options (pronounced nuke-u-lar...if you're Jimmy or "W") whereby we throw an "s" load of money at the wall (money we don't have, by the way), using budgetary trickery in order to make it "look" doable. Nope, there is really not much difference, EXCEPT responsible people WILL suffer under the reform being fronted by present day politicos...

Both parties say, if only for posturing purposes, that the status quo is unacceptable. They are wrong...and I'll say it...because NO ONE, NO ONE else is...the status quo is, IS preferable to what is now being offered...in that under the current system, RESPONSIBLE people aren't "mandated" to take a "back seat" to the IRRESPONSIBLE. Wait...don't label me racist, or elitist, or a hater...I NEVER SAID the irresponsible should not be helped. They should be. HOWEVER, they should NOT be assisted with ANY SORT OF PREFERENCE (legislative preference) over those who ARE responsible.

What do I mean? Well, certainly...responsible people can and do suffer at times under the status quo. People get sick...lose their jobs...have their coverages cut and/or denied...YES, at times, the current system can be very unfair. But why, WHY do we want to "legislate" MORE unfairness? And that is what health care reform, as presented by the two major parties, is unfortunately designed to do...

Whether you "blanket" cover ALL pre-existing conditions (come on...something like obesity IS AND SHOULD BE treated differently than, say, juvenile diabetes)...or if you "mandate" that everyone purchase coverage (yeah, right), you will NOT be helping any of the people who are responsible in the first place...I mean, the folks who DO take care of business, even WITHOUT the mandate(s).

Why bring this up now? Because...BECAUSE...regardless of the type of health care reform, it WILL NOT make any difference. The poor will still suffer. The rich will still get preference. The middle class will still pay for everything...and it appears we WILL have some sort of health care reform. It is inevitable. HOWEVER, the only...ONLY way things will ever improve...is if we inject the word, "responsibility" into the equation.

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