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Thursday, July 28, 2016

Entertainment Overnight -- Beauty





Eric Greitens Has Started Getting Into Trump Territory



Eric Greitens, Republican, far Right Wing candidate for Missouri's next Governor (shudder) is starting to send out messages that he's very like Donald Trump. That is, not just wrong but misguided and downright scary. His latest TV ad got me both scared and even angry.

President Obama, the "worst President of (his) lifetime."

Forget that President Obama helped bring us back from the worst economic downturn in 8 years since the last Great Depression.

Forget that President Obama saw to the saving of General Motors which has since come roaring back, saving literally millions of jobs. 

Forget that the stock market has gone to new highs during his Presidency. Forget that employment has gone WAY up during this same Presidency.

Forget that the deficit has shrunk, actually, factually shrunk during our current President's administrations.

Deficit shrinks by $1 trillion in Obama era


Forget and ignore that 20 million more Americans have health care insurance than used.

More Americans Than Ever Have 

Health Insurance Coverage


And then ignore or forget that, because of "Obamacare", America is spending far less on health care.

Health spending post-Obamacare seen 

$2.5 trillion lower 


And a lot more. 

Yeah, forget all that. 

Just call President Obama the worst President in your lifetime, completely forgetting the laws broken by Ronald Reagan and the nationally and internationally illegal war George W. Bush got us into in Iraq, by his choice and lies. 


Then, also forget that the same George W. Bush totally and completely ignored his Daily Presidential Brief, warning him Osama bin Laden was planning and preparing an attack on our nation, resulting in over 3000 lives lost that fateful day, 9/11. 

Forget, too--if you ever even knew it--that George W. Bush flew planeloads, literally planeloads of our own money, US cash, straight from the Federal Reserve into Iraq after he "liberated it", only to have it squandered because, yeah, that really happened.


So, yeah, if you forget and ignore all that and a lot more, I guess you could come to the rather bizarre, slanted and misguided conclusion that President Obama is the worst President of your lifetime.

It isn't President Obama and his work and his successes, his personal ones and his successes for our nation, that I find offensive.

It's Eric Greitens and his ads and lies and all like him and any who believe this scary nonsense.

Be afraid, people. Be very afraid when people like Donald Trump and Eric Greitens and heck, for that matter, Catherine Hanaway and others like them are all out there, successfully getting money from the wealthy and corporations, just so they can peddle their extremist, Right Wing fear and even, yes, lies.

Better yet. Get out there and vote.

Links:


Monday, July 25, 2016

This Convention Vs. The Last



Differences between this political party's convention vs. the last

--This one did have humor in it

--It looks like America. It looks like a rainbow of color, not a box of saltine crackers

--The convention hall is full, not spottily or partially filled

--There are no calls at this one for anyone to be "executed" or "hung" or even arrested

--There ARE calls, however, for, finally and at long last, rebuilding and improving our nation's infrastructure of roads, bridges and highways, etc.

--Signs this week? About love. Literally. "Love trumps hate.'

--Tears. There were already, on the first night, tears of joy, tears of laughter, tears of inspiration

--No hate

--No fear

--At the end of this one, I would nearly bet there will be no musical groups insisting the political party or candidate not play their music

Finally, there's this:


A huge difference between what this Democratic National Convention, this week, in Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love" did vs. the Republicans' convention in Cleveland. One evicted them. This one found them beds and places to go.


Sunday, July 24, 2016

Another Scary, Right Wing Republican Candidate, Part II



There doesn't seem to be a shortage, especially this election year, of very, again, scary Right Wing Republican candidates running for office both statewide and nationally. Here, absolutely, is yet one more.


If he isn't a former military pretty boy who wants to wear--and is--his scary, nationalistic patriotism on his sleeve, then I don't breath air. He makes vague promises of "change" in his ads and that he will help us "take America back" but makes no specific policy stands whatever in all the ads of his I've seen.


Check out this headline from Mr. "I'm Going To Do Things Differently":

Eric Greitens Nabs Single Largest 

Campaign Contribution in Missouri History


    And then check out this little beauty. He frequently describes himself as a government "outsider." Yeah, he's outside government, all right. Heck, he's outside Missouri.

    Greitens' campaign mostly funded 

    by non-Missouri donors


    What's scary is that, besides being obviously handsome which, unfortunately, can get people like him votes, he's also a Rhodes Scholar, so he's clearly bright, but also, as mentioned a million times, at least, a former Navy Seal. That's one Hell of a package for an opposing candidate to go up against.

    Vote blue, Missouri. Vote blue but vote.


    Friday, July 22, 2016

    Question for the Republican Party


    How on Earth do you have a presidential candidate, on the last night of your big, once every four years political convention, go on for over an hour, promising the sun and the moon and the stars and balanced budgets and a wall between us and Mexico and equality to the LGBTQ community (who saw that coming?) and who knows what else and then, at the very end, once he's finally, finally finished, how is it you play "Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones?


    How do you do that?

    Was that code for "Suckers! You're no way getting all I just promised you!"?

    What the heck was that?

    It's not even the first time this was a thing for The Donald.

    'You can't always get what you want,' 

    Stones tell Trump


    It must be his way of telling the Stones, "up yours."

    Hopefully.

    That or he just told the American public that all he just promised was nonsense.

    Not that that wouldn't make some twisted, Trump-sense.


    Thursday, July 21, 2016

    This Convention Compared to the Next


    US President Barack Obama smiles as he arrives to address the final night of the Democratic National Convention at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, 06 September 2012. Obama accepted the nomination to run for a second term at the convention.  EPA/TANNEN MAURY

    Think about next week. Think about the Democratic National Convention, just days away from now.

    What a contrast.

    No hating.

    No calling for the opposing candidate to be hung.

    No calling for the other candidate to be executed.

    Far less fear, if any at all.

    People of color, minorities, far as the eye can see.

    The convention hall is full to capacity.

    There's excitement and happy anxiousness for it all to begin and take place. 

    And jokes. There will be humor mixed in, like there hasn't been at all, this week, from Cleveland.

    At least one former President will be on hand to see and be seen and speak because Democrats aren't embarrassed by, nor need to be of their former Presidents.

    And the sitting President gets to come out and speak and so many are looking forward to it.

    And why shouldn't they? Why shouldn't we?

    More people in our nation have health insurance than ever have before.

    We got out of Iraq. (Well, mostly).

    We've cut the deficit. Yes. Really.

    Deficit shrinks by $1 trillion in Obama era


    We've added more jobs, millions more jobs, since the horrible 2008 election and economic nightmare, with 248,000 added just last month.

    Not one true scandal out of this White House and/or administration in these 7 years. That's pretty huge.

    In fact, there's plenty for Americans to be both happy and proud of.

    So yeah, bring on this Democratic National Convention.  Let's put things back in perspective.

    Let's let the adults take back over the narrative.


    Republicans Have Gotten Out-and-Out Scary


    fear mongering Republican presidential candidates Ben Carson, Do

    The Republicans need to lose and lose big this Fall, in the elections, so they hopefully learn lessons and then "come down off the ledge", so to speak, and rejoin the rest of sane, mature, intelligent, educated, far less-emotional America.

    It's not about their political party being wrong and ours being right, either.

    This is about their calling for the opposing candidate to be killed, etc., etc. They've gone off a very dangerous and deep end.



    This, I think, is what we get for ugly, emotional, out of control hate and rhetoric from Right Wing radio and TV. It's what comes from having killed the "Fairness Doctrine" in our media, years ago.

    "Tom Tomorrow", as usual, has these people, and their convention, down. You should see all three of these.

    This Modern Convention: Day One




    And while Mr. Tomorrow is satire, there are extremely accurate, legitimate and even true descriptions of what has happened, what has actually taken place at this nearly insane and certainly irresponsible political  convention.


    Happy Birthday, Roy Inman!



    Yes, indeed, wishing a very happy, happy birthday to Kansas City's own professional photographer and area history recorder, Roy Inman.

    Roy Inman


    Roy Inman Photographs | Facebook



    No one has documented this city or area or region and people any more or better than you, sir. Thank you and kudos to you for your work, all these years. Terrific stuff.

    For, I believe, all his working life, Roy has been photographing and documenting Kansas City, the metropolitan area and region, at least. Some of the best photos of and in the area were captured by him. It was only last Fall, Roy got on top of Union Station, for just a moment, just a shot and got what I believe most everyone in the area thinks is the best photo of the celebration there for our world champion Kansas City Royals. (Go to his Facebook page to see it, at least. It's also available for sale).

    If you follow him on Facebook, you will frequently get some terrific Kansas City and local history as well as information on past trains and planes from the nation and world. It's interesting and fun, frequently.

    So, again, happy birthday, Roy Inman and thank you for all the years you captured us and our city. We appreciate all you've done and all you've captured for us.

    As an extra, added bonus this year, I know you are aware the President and Royals are giving you an extra special gift, too.


    Champion Kansas City Royals to visit 

    White House July 21


    Enjoy!


    Some Relevant Missouri History


    I saw this today from the New York Times. Given the presidential election currently proceeding, it's interesting to see how we've developed and changed--at least somewhat--and where our past leaders and current policies came from.

    Harry S. Truman

    Choosing a vice-presidential nominee has never been easy, but once upon a time the candidate at the top of the ticket didn’t have to sweat it, as it wasn’t his decision.

    In the latter half of the 1800s, the power to pick a running mate often belonged to the party bosses who ran the local political machines. They helped determine turnout, which helped decide elections. Their strategy centered on geographic balance.

    One of the their last great convention victories came on this day in 1944, when they replaced on the ticket President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vice president, Henry A. Wallace, with Harry S. Truman, a Missouri senator.

    Truman wasn’t the top choice of likely Democratic voters. A Gallup poll that July found that 65 percent preferred Wallace, and Truman came in eighth place, with just 2 percent.

    Roosevelt didn’t want him either. The three-term president said that if he were a delegate, he would back Wallace, whom conservative party bosses opposed. Roosevelt’s wishes were ignored, and when a delegate tried to enter the vice president’s name for the nomination, the day’s proceedings were quickly adjourned.

    The decision was momentous, as Roosevelt died less than three months into his fourth term and Truman ascended to the presidency. Today, it’s customary for a convention to honor the presidential nominee’s choice for vice president.



    One More Dangerous Right Winger Running For Office



    I just saw this ad, last evening, on television, for one Republican Will Kraus running, as I'm told, for Secretary of State.



    And he is, once again, dangerous as so many Right Wingers and Republicans are.

    And here's why.

    First, he begins by injecting (infecting?) religion into what is a race for a government position by saying he's "Sustained by faith in Christ..."

    Could we have at least a LITTLE separation of Church and State?  Please?

    Next, he comes out to support the Republicans' voter ID laws and we know what those are.

    Proposed voter ID law is both 

    unnecessary and expensive




    He follows that up by saying he will "... report Liberal schemes to cheat at the ballot box", all the while showing a sign for the Acorn group.

    Investigations and facts from these have since shown that the group that tried to "expose" the Acorn group lied and that Acorn was doing good and important work.




    Voter ID laws are famously, provenly expensive for governments, wasteful, unnecessary and discriminate against minorities, most notably Blacks and Hispanics but also the poor and elderly. Voter ID laws are created to take away the votes, disenfranchise Americans. Voter ID laws are decidedly un-American.

    Finally, he ends this ad with the claim that he will "...protect the voting rights of our troops fighting abroad..."

    Since when was that an issue? For whom is that a problem? Who is attacking American soldiers' voting rights?  Who's doing that?  No one I know. Not one person, not one group. I don't know where this is coming from.

    It needs to be said. It needs to be clear. This guy, given this ad, is just either empty or out and out dangerous. Disenfranchising Americans, for one, to begin, is just un-American. 

    He's dangerous the way Catherine Hanaway is dangerous and the word needs to get out.

    Who knows what else he's for but just this one, brief ad shows he's dangerous and should be avoided at all cost.


    Wednesday, July 20, 2016

    Donald Trump: What This Really Is






    Donald Trump's Republican National Convention, Night II


    New York supporters eager to represent Trump at convention














    Every time a candidate for national political office promises he's going to rebuild our military, as Trump just did, I want to scream.
    ______________________

    Suddenly, according to Mitch McConnell, they're "Clinton Democrats."
    ______________________

    I love this.

    Every time Mitch McConnell comes out to speak--twice tonight--he's booed.

    I love 'em.
    _____________________

    Republican, just now, on Hillary Clinton, says she would be a continuation of the status quo.

    Right.

    The first woman president. Ever. In the history of our nation.

    Got it.
    ____________________

    Now Chris Christy tells us Hillary is for Syrians, not Americans, not America.

    Yeah.
    ____________________

    That convention hall isn't full.

    Nowhere near it.

    Compare, in a week, to the Democratic convention.
    ____________________

    Trump's oldest son has made fun of Harvard and Wharton schools and students and "fancy colleges" just now.

    And not just once but twice.
    ___________________

    "Everyone can prosper, together."

    --Donald Trump's oldest son, tonight at the RNC Convention.

    They just need to be given a million dollars to start their career like his father.
    ____________________

    Donald Trump's oldest son says his father wants us to have the same opportunities his own children had.

    I'm hoping he has all our mailing addresses to send the checks.
    ___________________

    What you don't know about this Republican National Convention tonight if you've only watched TV, possibly, is that there were fights in the hall, among the Republicans, by different people, fighting for their states' votes, protesting the results of the vote and how their states votes were recorded.
    ___________________

    Donald Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., says a President Trump (shudder) will see to it all advance, not just the "crony elites at the top of the heap."

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Really. He has to stop. He's killing me.
    ___________________

    That this evening's theme for the Republican National Convention is "Make America Work Again" is, once again, rich.

    It's been the Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate, in Washington, that have, since 2008, since President Obama was first elected, that have blocked an jobs and/or infrastructure bills for the nation. Americans need the jobs, our infrastructure, heaven knows, needs the updating and improvements and the economy, then to now has needed the boost.

    But not one, not one jobs bill from this Republican Congress.
    ____________________

    Finally, at long last, someone on TV news mentions that the convention is grossly under-attended and the convention center largely under-filled.

    And the ones that are there are in deep disarray.
    _____________________

    People are being shot and killed in our city, our cities, our state, our region and the nation in small and large numbers, daily yet we still have candidates of all stripes, saying they're fighting for "gun rights."

    Wtf?

    How many more gun rights do we need?


    Isn't it clear it's "gun rights" that are getting all these people killed?

    And they don't see this?


    Tuesday, July 19, 2016

    Notes and Observations of a Republican National Convention, Night One


    Monday, Night 1

    So, what was that entrance, Donald Trump?

    According to one of the panelists just now on PBS, Melania Trump doesn't want Donald to be president, either.

    Suddenly I like her.
    ___________________________

    Good God. Tom Cotton.

    If there's a bigger, more empty demagogue, I don't know them.
    ___________________________

    Tom Cotton, a nearly bleached white boy from Arkansas, saying we're all born equal.

    If he were any less informed someone would have to tell him how to breathe.
    ___________________________

    "No enemy the American military can't defeat....."

    Well, except Vietnam.

    And Iraq.

    And Afghanistan.
    ___________________________

    For the Republicans, at this political party convention of theirs, to bemoan the shootings in our nation of late when they and their blinding support of guns and the NRA and their constant blocking of required background checks for mental stability and criminal history all got us to where we are is nearly maddening.
    ___________________________

    Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, bitching about not enough jobs in America. Not one Republican in Congress all the way back to 2008, ever wrote, proposed or tried to pass a jobs/infrastructure bill for those jobs, improved infrastructure and a rejuvenated economy.

    Then he goes on to say "Donald Trump will kill Obama trade."

    What?

    He wants more jobs but then he wants to kill "Obama trade"?

    What the hell is Obama trade?

    What is that old fool rambling about?
    ___________________________

    "Thank you to the Cleveland Police Department for protecting us!"

    ---Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani

    But we are not honoring your request to deny open carry of weapons at our convention!
    ___________________________

    How rich is that, for Republicans, now, to claim Hillary is a liar?

    Compared to Donald Trump?
    __________________________

    "Donald Trump loves all people!"

    --Rudy Giuliani

    Yeah, just not Muslims. Or Mexicans. Or gays. Or women. Or the poor. Or the disabled or physically-challenged.
    _________________________

    If the Republicans didn't want the power and the White House back again, they would be embarrassed. Embarrassed by this candidate Donald Trump. And they would know they should be.
    _________________________

    I hope the Democratic Party doesn't miss out on the opportunity to hear from an underwear model and their opinion on this campaign for the leader of the nation for at least the next 4 years.
    _________________________

    Stephen Colbert is savaging The Donald on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert just now. It's pretty wonderful.
    _________________________

    The Republican National Convention, 2016.

    The gift that keeps on giving.


    Monday, July 18, 2016

    Harvard Study On Guns, Summary


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    6. A summary of the evidence on guns and violent death

    This book chapter summarizes the scientific literature on the relationship between gun prevalence (levels of household gun ownership) and suicide, homicide and unintentional firearm death and concludes that where there are higher levels of gun ownership, there are more gun suicides and more total suicides, more gun homicides and more total homicides, and more accidental gun deaths. (bolding and italics added for emphasis).

    This is the first chapter in the book and provides and up-to-date and readable summary of the literature on the relationship between guns and death. It also adds to the literature by using the National Violent Death Reporting System data to show where (home or away) the shootings occurred. Suicides for all age groups and homicides for children and aging adults most often occurred in their own home.

    Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D. Firearms and violence death in the United States. In: Webster DW, Vernick JS, eds. Reducing Gun Violence in America. Baltimore MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013.



    Harvard Study On Guns V


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    5. More guns = more homicides of police

    This article examines homicide rates of Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) from 1996 to 2010. Differences in rates of homicides of LEOs across states are best explained not by differences in crime, but by differences in household gun ownership. In high gun states, LEOs are 3 times more likely to be murdered than LEOs working in low-gun states.

    This article was cited by President Obama in a speech to a police association. This article will hopefully bring police further into the camp of those pushing for sensible gun laws.

    Swedler DI, Simmons MM, Dominici F, Hemenway D. Firearm prevalence and homicides of law enforcement officers in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. 2015; 105:2042-48.

    Link: 



    Harvard Study On Guns IV


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    4. Across states, more guns = more homicide (2)

    Using survey data on rates of household gun ownership, we examined the association between gun availability and homicide across states, 2001-2003. We found that states with higher levels of household gun ownership had higher rates of firearm homicide and overall homicide. This relationship held for both genders and all age groups, after accounting for rates of aggravated assault, robbery, unemployment, urbanization, alcohol consumption, and resource deprivation (e.g., poverty). There was no association between gun prevalence and non-firearm homicide.

    Miller, Matthew; Azrael, Deborah; Hemenway, David. State-level homicide victimization rates in the U.S. in relation to survey measures of household firearm ownership, 2001-2003. Social Science and Medicine. 2007; 64:656-64.



    Harvard Study On Guns III


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    3. Across states, more guns = more homicide

    Using a validated proxy for firearm ownership, we analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and homicide across 50 states over a ten-year period (1988-1997).

    After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of homicide, particularly firearm homicide.

    Miller, Matthew; Azrael, Deborah; Hemenway, David.
    Household firearm ownership levels and homicide rates across U.S. regions and states, 1988-1997. American Journal of Public Health. 2002; 92:1988-1993



    Harvard Study On Guns II


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    2. Across high-income nations, more guns = more homicide

    We analyzed the relationship between homicide and gun availability using data from 26 developed countries from the early 1990s. We found that across developed countries, where guns are more available, there are more homicides. These results often hold even when the United States is excluded.

    Hemenway, David; Miller, Matthew. Firearm availability and homicide rates across 26 high income countries. Journal of Trauma. 2000; 49:985-88.



    Harvard Study On Guns I


    72434207CF006_Manchester_Po

    1. Where there are more guns there is more homicide (literature review)

    Our review of the academic literature found that a broad array of evidence indicates that gun availability is a risk factor for homicide, both in the United States and across high-income countries. Case-control studies, ecological time-series and cross-sectional studies indicate that in homes, cities, states and regions in the U.S., where there are more guns, both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly firearm homicide.

    Hepburn, Lisa; Hemenway, David. Firearm availability and homicide: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal. 2004; 9:417-40.



    Sunday, July 17, 2016

    Breaking: Baton Rouge Shooter From Kansas City


    Here's some sick, unfortunate news on top of the ugliness and tragedy and stupidity of the shooting of the police officers in Baton Rouge today.

    The shooter? Reported to be a Kansas City, Missouri resident.


    Baton Rouge shooter was from Kansas City


    Dammit.


    Donald Trump: Truth Bender



    Articles from across media in the last 24 hours.

    I saw this one yesterday, with video, showing as much.

    Tim Tebow Reveals Trump LIED About 

    Him Speaking At GOP Convention


    Then there's this one from the head of the IRS. I only saw it today but it's from last March.

    IRS Chief: “Trump Is A Liar, 

    We Audited Him


    Finally, this one from today's New York Times


    Anyone see a pattern here, folks?

    And people think Hillary's a liar?

    Additional link:

    161 Silicon Valley Leaders Warn America



    Sunrise


    Artie Shaw, kids. He used to be big. Look him up. Google him.




    Saturday, July 16, 2016

    Entertainment Overnight -- Smooth


    Reminds me a bit of Diane Krall. Smooth and wonderful.



    Hope you're having a great weekend, y'all.


    Kansas, You're Killing Us Here


    So Kansans elected and then re-elected the Right Wing, Republican, uber-conservative, "trickle down economics" demagoguing numbskull that was and still is Sam Brownback as governor and we all know how that's gone.

    Deficits, slashed school spending, robbing children of state funding for programs, lowered state debt rating, etc., etc.

    It's not gone well, to say the least.

    And with all that, it seemed they were learning, finally, at long last. Kansans had and have a large disapproval rating of Mr. Brownback, albeit far too late. So you'd think they'd be learning, right?

    Well, turns out you'd be wrong. This broke in the last 24 hours.



    PollTrump leads Clinton in Kansas

    What the freak?

    Are you kidding me?

    Do you people not know Donald "Don't Bother Me With the Facts" Trump supports the same kind of slash-the-taxes-for-the-wealthy policies as your failed and failing governor? Do you not know that?

    Do you learn nothing?

    Not only that but The Donald is far more emotional and less educated in politics and government than the Guv'. This guy is and would be a walking nightmare.

    But what the heck. It isn't like we don't have our own problems over here in Missouri. Eric Greitens, Catherine Hanaway and the entire Republican roster for our own governor being the source of many.



    Link:  The Shameless Catherine Hanaway

    Friday, July 15, 2016

    More Noblesse Oblige Than Some Would Like


    This past Wednesday evening, on PBS, they played the end of their series on the 9 months of pregnancy that creates a human.

    image
    This is the program overall:


    9 Months That Made You

    And it was this last part of the series I'm speaking of:


    It was interesting, period, no surprise, being on PBS as it was, but one part, especially, struck me.

    One part told of how, in Canada, there had been a huge ice storm that struck a city. A doctor used that event to study the effects of stress on pregnant women and their offspring. 

    The results were fascinating.

    The children born after this event were stunted mentally and even physically and by clear, even measurable  degrees. It seems the children were slower to gain speech as infants and not as developed in later years when it came to sports, etc.

    It's pretty stunning what this means, at least in part.

    While we're all human and lots of us put stress on ourselves and/or others, it shows that people with less means, the poor, are quite possibly if not likely to be exposed to this stress and so, hold them back again, mentally and physically. 

    I've known people, even friends who made fun of people "inbreeding" and their conclusion that was why they were stupid or poor or both or whatever.

    With this not completely surprising scientific revelation, it seems clear there's even more "nobless oblige" or responsibility of the moneyed or gifted people to help others than people might want to admit or recognize. That being "your brother's keeper" becomes even more real and actual.

    So when people or, worse yet, whole political parties say or claim that people really can "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps" or that we're all equal so none deserve any more help than another, not only are they not being very "Christian", it's also patently untrue, as this science shows.

    We have more obligation than ever to be "our brother's keeper" on this planet, in this life, in spite of widely held beliefs otherwise.

    Jesus was right.

    Not Right Wing but right.

    Who'da' thunk it?

    Links:




    The US Congress: Best Job in the Nation


    US Congress rejects amendments to cut funds for Pakistan

    Yes, I have to say, being a member of our own US Congress has GOT to be the cushiest, most over-paid, vacation- and benefits-laden job in the nation, at least, if not the world.

    I've been thinking this week about Congress since they are, yet again, about to go on "recess."

    A seven week recess, no less.

    What's a recess, you ask? We don't have those at my work.

    Why, that's what you call vacation when you're otherwise too embarrassed to be going on yet another. And the great thing is, like your own pay raises, you give them to yourself!

    Herewith is a list--partial, I'm sure--of just why being a Congressional representative, House or Senate, has got to be one of the best, if not the best job in the world.

    As said above, you create and give yourself, both your own pay raises.

    Congress Votes Itself a Pay Raise


    Even if things are going badly for the nation, for your constituents, you can give yourself a pay raise. Hey, whatta' they gonna' do?


    You create and give yourself your own vacations, as mentioned above.

    Worst Congress Ever: House Republicans Refuse To Vote But Give Themselves More Vacation Days


    How many days vacation this year, 2016, you ask?

    Congress: No Paid Leave For You255 Paid Days Off For Us


    To put all those vacation days in perspective:

    Here's How Much Less Congress Works 

    Than You


    Name recognition gets you re-elected, usually for as long as you want the job. And why wouldn't you?

    People hate Congress. But most 

    incumbents get re-elected




    If you're already in Congress, it's easier, far easier, to get campaign contributions.

    91% of the time the better-financed 

    candidate wins


    You have a FANTASTIC pension plan. And again, you created it yourself and gave it to yourself.

    How Your Retirement Package Compares 

    to Members of Congress


    You have a great paycheck, of course.

    Congressman's Lament: $174,000 Isn't Enough To Make Ends Meet


    You have an expense account. And like your vacations that have another name, you call it something else.

    What is FRANKING PRIVILEGE?


    Insider trading is 100% legal for members of Congress, and they refuse to pass a law that would change that. Naturally.

    Congress Quickly And Quietly Rolls Back Insider Trading for itself


    At this point, more than half of those “serving the American people” in Congress are millionaires.

    Get elected to Congress and get rich: study




    In 2010, the federal government spent $33,387 on the hair care needs of U.S. Senators.

    In 2010, U.S. Senators pulled $72,370 out of the “Senate Restaurant Fund”.

    In 2010, U.S. Senators took $166,673 out of something called the “Senate Gift Shop Revolving Fund”.

    Basically, let's face it, you're above the law.

    Finally, amazingly, really, for all the pay and recognition and benefits, you don't really even have to do your job.

    Congress is a dysfunctional messHere’s why you should want to work there anyway


    Our US Congress.

    What's not to love?