Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Yes, I called it Christmas because that's what I celebrate. If you honor a different holiday, good for you. Happy holidays to you. I respect your right to enjoy your traditions. Please respect mine. Thanks all.

What Makes a Person Start Writing?

In a recent writers' discussion about interview questions that catch you unprepared, the question, "What made you start writing?" seemed to stump several writers. Many couldn't remember why because they started writing at such an early age they couldn't recall when they started yet alone why.

For many, I'm sure it was the encouragement of a teacher during their schooling or a family member who advised them to write down something they found entertaining so they could share it. In later life, it might have been a friend saying something they did would make a great story thus the seed was planted. In any case, recognition of a worthiness of a person to write or a story to be told is the beginning. Then there are people like me.

What made me start writing? My writing usually starts with an idea that grows into characters, and those characters start interacting in my head. The jerks won't shut up until I get them on paper. They keep me awake at all hours of the night. He should do this, or she should do that. Until, I work on the story to finish and flush them out of my head for other ideas, their name is legion for they're many, to possess my thoughts.

So, the quick answer is to stop the voices in my head.

Enough Negativity Happy Holidays

Enough is enough when it comes to negativity from the politicians during the holidays. I'm pretty sure it was a bonehead error to give the super committee a Thanksgiving Day deadline and not done intentionally to ruin our holidays, but I don't think it helped our confidence in opening our wallets and purses as consumers. So, they start another economic sky-is-falling the day before the Black Friday sales. We may not be rocket scientists, but I think we all know why consumers aren't spending as hoped. Personally, I would have liked them to set the arbitrary deadline they were never going to meet toward the end of January about the time we recover from all the holiday food and beverages.

We took our two grandsons around to look at lights the other night. They both loved it, but I had to search for decorated houses. I guess I'm getting old because I caught myself saying back in the day, but it was true. Back in the day, almost all the houses on every street were decorated and maybe 1 or 2 dim. Sadly now, the opposite is true. So here is my wish this year, I hope our economy turns around so the holiday spirit gets going full blast. Merry Christmas everyone!

To Listen To My Interview From Australia On Mix It Up Radio

To listen to my interview on Mix It Up Radio in Queensland, Australia, and 48 countries around the world, you can download the podcast archive at  http://www.mixitupradio.net/ then clicking on the podcast link. Follow the instructions by clicking the listening icon, enter the username: talkback and password: radio1. The show archive you want to click on is In The World’s Corner the select the interview with Frank G. Poe, Jr. dated 12/01/2011. You really must want to hear the show interview. It was almost 1 hour and 40 minutes long and was originally only scheduled for 1 hour. I promised I’d post a link, but their archive requires the user name and password mentioned. It may take a little while to download depending on your internet speed. You'll need WinZip to unzip the compressed file.

Freedom of Speech Under Attack By Congress

Soon, Congress will be debating their power to shut down the internet, Twitter feeds, etc.

The internet has become too important to Americans' freedom of speech. By trying to remove that right from the American people because the public might not be saying or acting the way the government wants, congress is basically saying the US Constitution and Bill of Rights might as well be toilet paper because you're getting ready to wipe your collective butts with them.

For more information about how you can act to save our rights read the following letter from MoveOn.org and click on the link to sign the petition to let Congress know the American people will not stand for it.

Dear MoveOn member,

As soon as this week, Congress will start debating whether to give the government the power to turn off parts of the Internet. If that sounds like a terrible recipe for abuse of power, that's because it is.

If enacted, a new law would make it so a simple allegation of copyright infringement—with no review process—could lead to the shutdown of sites from YouTube to Wikipedia to MoveOn.org.¹ Any website, foreign or U.S.-based, could be wiped out on suspicion and made unavailable to everyone in the world.

For example, if you (or Justin Bieber) wanted to post a video to YouTube of yourself singing a Beatles song, a record company could force the Department of Justice to shut down YouTube. Really.²

But as you may have guessed, Congress didn't come up with this tragically terrible idea on their own. Lobbyists representing Comcast, Pfizer, record and movie companies, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce³ have been pushing Democrats and Republicans to pass bills to allow this new kind of Internet censorship. And they're close to getting their way.

But a small number of Democrats are standing strong and saying "No" to these powerful special interest groups. They need our help.

Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon is one of our champions. He has promised to start a historic filibuster of the Internet Censorship Act where he'll read the names of every person that signs a petition against Internet censorship.⁴ It's the perfect opportunity for 5 million Internet-connected progressives to visibly add their voice to a Senate debate. The more of us that sign, the stronger this effort to block this terrible law will be.

Click here to add your name and say NO to Internet Censorship.

We know that the Internet's openness, freedom, and lack of censorship are what make it a bastion of infinite possibility, continued innovation, and job creation. Innovative companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Mozilla, and Yahoo have spoken out against this law, saying:

We should not jeopardize a foundational structure that has worked for content owners and Internet companies alike and provides certainty to innovators with new ideas for how people create, find, discuss, and share information lawfully online.⁵

Internet venture capitalists say that the legislation is "ripe for abuse,"⁶ and leading law professors reject it because it will "allow the government to block Internet access to websites."⁷

We condemn censorship overseas when it happens in China or Iran. But today, we need to stand up for freedom of speech on the Internet here at home.

Click here to add your name and say NO to Internet Censorship.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Garlin, Elena, Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "House Version of Rogue Websites Bill Adds DMCA Bypass, Penalties for DNS Workarounds," Public Knowledge, October 26, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268060&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=5

2. "Why Is Justin Bieber So Hackin Mad?" SaveTheInternet.com, November 2, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268061&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=6

3. "Five things to know about SOPA," The Washington Post, November 16, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268062&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=7

4. "Wyden to read petition names during copyright filibuster," The Hill, November 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268065&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=8

5. "SOPA opposition from tech heavyweights Google, Facebook," CBS News, November 17, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268063&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=9

6. "The PROTECT IP Act Will Slow Startup Innovation," Union Square Ventures, June 23, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268064&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=10

7. "Law Professors' Letter on SOPA," Electronic Frontier Foundation, November 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268067&id=33343-19316290-mw1PNvx&t=11

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Unreal But Perfect Example of How They Use the 99% Taxpayer Dollars

I don't even want to think about where this is going, and for people who have read my books they know I can think of some twisted stuff to write. It is a perfect example how our public taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for research then handed over to big business. They claim we don't contribute to their wealth, but the 99% do.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alternet.org%2Fstory%2F153203%2Fcorporations_are_patenting_human_genes_and_tissues_--_here's_why_that's_terrifying%3Fakid%3D7907.285366.kM62so%26rd%3D1%26t%3D3&h=zAQEq9oufAQELq0bnGBNK9u9O3qYCtctL-ZD-2tbf7gp6xA

Thank a Vet on Veterans' Day and Big Business It Applies to You Too

I'd like to remind everyone to thank a vet this Veterans' Day. Give them a hug or a handshake, but you need to make sure they are okay with it first. Believe me, you don't want to surprise a vet.

After hearing the Pentagon's forecast of how long it will take the average vet reentering the workforce to find a job, I'd like to remind the top 20 corporations sitting on record amounts of capital thanking a vet applies to you, too. If it weren't for those vets protecting your right to make profits, all that capital you kept might belong to the party or state. Get my drift? The best way for big business to show vets thanks is to make sure they have jobs when they return home. So Top 20, part with some of that capital you're sitting on, and create some jobs for the vets who served.

BE HEARD!!!!!!!!! GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!

Tired of being ignored by the people who are representing you? Want to be heard? Today is election day. Go vote!!!!

Happy Halloween!

Wishing Everyone a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Archive of Saturday's Radio Show Interview

The Butterfly Effect Radio Show Interview

Put It On Warren Buffett's Tab

Is anybody else tired of hearing how the 1% pay all the income taxes, and how the 99% don't pay much if any at all? I was doing some Christmas shopping the other day and the bill at one store was $212.56. Out of which $12.03 was sales tax, and I kept hearing those words in my head about burdening the wealthy 1% with all the taxes and the rest of us not paying any. The thought crossed my mind to ask the checkout girl to remove the $12.03 from the bill since I don't pay taxes, and tell her to put it on Warren Buffett's tab.
The truth is the 99% pay the majority of the taxes just not income taxes. We pay social security taxes, excise taxes on gasoline, tires, vaccinations to name a few, sales taxes, sin taxes, real estate taxes, and personal property taxes. Check out your next electric, water, telephone, natural gas, sewage, garbage collection, satellite, cable, Internet or cell phone bill. Guess what like the mob, every level of government seems to be getting a taste of the 99%'s money in the form of taxes. We don't pay any taxes? Who do they think they are fooling, not me or the rest of the 99% protesting around the country.

Senator Bernie Sander's Update

http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100078492.196337.719&gen=1

Virtual March On Wallstreet Link

http://www.civic.moveon.org/joinvirtualwallstreet/index_rtd.html?id=31653-19316290-zkmiPAx

Take on Class Warfare Worth Reading by Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren Puts the Kibosh on GOP's "Class Warfare": Nobody in This Country Got Rich on His Own"

Newly-announced senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is proving her progressive street cred on her "talking tour" with powerful and sensible talking points on the usefulness of government in people's lives. She's doing the activists who petitioned for her entrance in the race proud.

Would that all Democrats could be this feisty!

Here's a transcript, via rumproast:

I hear all this, you know, “Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever.”—No!

There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody.

You built a factory out there—good for you! But I want to be clear.

You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for.

You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate.

You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for.

You didn’t have to worry that maurauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did.

Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea—God bless. Keep a big hunk of it.

But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.

Must See Film on Oil Industry Free Link

If you want to see an eye opening documentary about the oil industry, check out the following link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qbdTcvr8bQ

Spread the Word

Enough Is Enough March

Cartoon on the Latest Washington Fiasco

Only Option, Really? I Call Bullshit!

There is an old saying in Kentucky when you hear someone telling a lie or spewing a bunch of crap. It goes, " I call bullshit!" Basically, it is a statement to let the person spouting the nonsense that you aren't being fooled by them. It lets them know and everyone around them that you can smell the manure.
I only mention it because I just got an email from my House Rep saying he voted for the cut and cap plan. (R) Rep. Geoff Davis from Kentucky said we have only one option, and any family spending like our government would have to cut spending while setting a budget to pay down their debt.

Well, I call BULLSHIT! Once, again, the Republican Party line seems to be the main focus, and the focus is getting President Obama out of the White House and getting themselves re-elected. Where is the creativity that made our country great? Only one option, really?

If you're going to try and compare the U.S. government to us working stiffs then at least have the decency to observe what most Americans do to get by in these times. First, we're more creative than your one option plan; for example, we might try to increase our income to match or exceed the amount we are spending. I know that seems to be a radical idea to the folks in Washington D.C. because even though the majority of the country is screaming at them to create American jobs, you're staying focused on the slash and burn mentality. Come on Geoff, are you trying to tell me that out of the whole Republican Party none of you ever got a second job to make some extra money for Christmas or to pay off some of your bills? I think you'll have to agree; we do have other options just not the one the Republican Party wants to use for their selfish agenda.

Here is an idea which requires the government to put out seed capital, but it solves the problem at the roots. Instead of  lending money to banks at zero percent interest so they can use it to buy other banks or lend it back to you for a profit, (Thanks for being stupid with our money by the way.) loan money at zero percent interest to any American who can put together a valid business plan which creates sustainable jobs. You could even give priority based on the number of jobs created or you could give special consideration to companies which will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Hell, do both!

Before you spout more BULLSHIT about how we cannot afford to do it, we know better. As you Republicans said under President Bush, these are loans and they will be repaid so it really shouldn't count against our deficit. Both parties should work on this now, not later. Use the Small Business Administration to validate the business plans and distribute the funds. Allocate a fund for each state if you like. Do a test run with $100 million dollars, track it and see what happens. At least this money would be an attempt to put Americans back to work. How many millions did you send to Pakistan last year? I hope you get my point. I can think of businesses right now which could create immediate permanent jobs. All I am saying is give the American people a chance.  

Why Americans Are So Angry

By Senator Bernie Sanders

July 28, 2011

The rich are getting richer. Their effective tax rate, in recent years, has been reduced to the lowest in modern history. Nurses, teachers and firemen actually pay a higher tax rate than some billionaires. It's no wonder the American people are angry.
Many corporations, including General Electric and Exxon-Mobil, have made billions in profits while using loopholes to avoid paying any federal income taxes. We lose $100 billion every year in federal revenue from companies and individuals who stash their wealth in tax havens off-shore like the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. The sum of all the revenue collected by the Treasury today totals just 14.8% of our gross domestic product, the lowest in about 50 years.

To see the whole article follow the link below.

http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=23d554d6-dd0c-41a5-8b80-a95eb72be82a

Call To Action From The Coffee Party

Dear Americans,



This week, the American people are standing up to radical extremists in Washington who have pledged their loyalty to a rigid ideology instead of to our country. Our phone calls and emails are overloading communications on Capitol Hill. Now let's turn up the heat.







Please call and/or email Congress as part of our "Enough is Enough" campaign. Coffee Party USA has already contributed 23,000 emails sent to Congress so far. Our goal is to reach 50,000 emails by the end of the week.



We the People do not consent to the word's first Great Depression On-Purpose!
Please use our web tool and write a letter now

Please use this directory to call or fax your members of Congress

Please share this email with your network

Meanwhile, we are establishing a virtual gathering place to build momentum for an actual march on Washington a la Tahrir Square. Already, nearly 300 people have volunteered to spread the word on-line and help us organize!


On Facebook LIKE the Enough Is Enough March

We have only 4 days left in our July Membership Drive. Up until midnight July 31, you can become a member of Coffee Party USA, vote in our Board of Directors election this fall, AND receive promotional items including two documentary films that help to define the Coffee Party's genesis and its mission:



9500 Liberty is the award-winning film by Coffee Party founders Annabel Park & Eric Byler, capturing the only 8 weeks in U.S. history when an Arizona-style immigration law was actually implemented. It's an uplifting story about everyday citizens reaching across the partisan divide to repeal a law that was wrong for their community.



Pricele$$ is an eye-opening exposé by director Steve Cowan, exploring how and why elected leaders rely on special interests for their job security, instead of We the People. Pricele$$ interviews members of Congress and highly paid lobbyists to diagnose the problem, then introduces some possible solutions.

Thank you so much for you civic engagement and your support. You inspire us!



Sincerely,
Annabel, Eric, Debilyn, Billy, Mark, Shane, Diane, Egberto, Tabitha, Michael, and the Coffee Party USA Team

PS: Don't forget the Coffee Party Board of Directors election is coming up this fall. We are looking for nine good women and men to lead Coffee Party USA into 2012.





Visit us: http://coffeepartyusa.com/

Truth About the Debt Ceiling Crisis, Follow the Money

I believe I've just figured out the truth about the debt ceiling crisis. Think about it. The Democrats and the Republicans no longer listen to the people they are elected and paid to represent. They don't even act in our nation's best interest anymore, treasonous really. The only thing they seem to care about is re-election and campaign contributions which led me to the answer, follow the money.


It is one of the first lessons you learn if you go into journalism especially investigative journalism. If you want to find the truth, follow the money. So, I stopped asking myself why would they plunge our economy into chaos for political posturing or even to make President Obama one term. Who stands to benefit financially from this newly created fiasco? Now, the answer seems obvious. The same people who complained, not too terribly long ago, we weren't paying enough interest on the money we owed them, the Chinese.


Truly think about it, and it makes perfect sense. Our politicians from both parties are going to keep playing this game until we're paying more interest on our debt which both parties know will increase our budget problems. Everyone in America knows the answer to this entire problem is the creation of more sustainable jobs in this country, regardless if we need to spend more to accomplish the task. So, why wouldn't both parties, when every American knows the solution, work on that issue before all others?


Did we elect the dumbest people we could find? No, they're not really stupid. They're just playing dumb while they collect contributions instead of doing their jobs. You can check out my previous blogs to find out my take on the debt ceiling, fixing the economy and other things. Wake up America!

Tell Senate Republicans: It's crazy to cut Medicare and Social Security

Subject: Tell Senate Republicans: It's crazy to cut Medicare and Social Security
Dear Friend,

No matter how dire the situation, Senate Republicans seem determined to prove they can act irresponsibly.

Senate Republicans are unanimously supporting a draconian constitutional amendment that they claim will balance the budget, but is really nothing but a cowardly ploy to force devastating cuts to vital social programs, including Social Security and Medicare, while writing into the constitution an impossible requirement -- a two-thirds vote -- to raise taxes.

Last week, in a column called "Getting to Crazy," Paul Krugman closed by noting that "there has been no pressure on the G.O.P. to show any kind of responsibility, or even rationality -- and sure enough, it has gone off the deep end."

I agree. We both need to be part of that pressure. Even if it's unlikely that Republicans will break ranks and do the right thing, we must hold individual Republicans accountable to reality and let them know their constituents see through their fantasy proposals.

I just signed a petition telling Senate Republicans: It's crazy to cut our Social Security and Medicare benefits while protecting the Koch brothers and Paris Hilton from paying their fair share.

I hope you do too. You can find out more and take action at the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/senate_gop_crazies/?r_by=24414-3916483-mHCxV1x&rc=paste1

Let Them Eat Their Tax Breaks Not Cake

Why are the Republicans so steadfast at not letting the taxes go back to where they were before? Do you think the wealthiest 1% will be able to spend their extra 5% in tax savings if the whole country is in chaos? I think I'll drive through the riot to go play golf today. What an angry mob burned down the clubhouse? Let them eat cake! We all know where that attitude ended up. I say let them eat the tax break instead of destroying our country.

Nobody likes taxes, but I don't see those jobs they were suppose to create with the tax cuts they got for the last 5 years so take the tax cuts away. Democrats need to quit spending on the wrong things. If it doesn't create lasting jobs, cut it. Social Security is not some sacred cow. It is flawed. The wealthiest Americans get the largest checks every month while the middle and lower wage earners get barely enough to survive. Well, they paid in more so they deserve it. No, no they didn't, and no they don't.

I use to work on tax returns, and I know they play a game with hide and seek with their income. Working class people never get anywhere near to paying in the maximum amount for the 3 years it takes to get the maximum check paid back each month. The wealthy know the game, and they manage to show exactly what they need to pay in for 3 years to get the maximum back, forever. They have accountants do their books to take advantage of loop holes in taxes and to leverage their Social Security taxes to reap the max benefits.

Working people don't get that luxury. On average, the working people pay in dutifully for decades, not just 3 years, and they pay in a lot more in those decades than the rich ever do. I've seen it with my own eyes, people with million dollar incomes getting huge Social Security check. So, why do the workers get small Social Security checks when they retire and the wealthy get ridiculously disproportionate monthly checks? Because, they designed it that way.

Here is how to fix it without hurting the working class Americans, call it a tax not entitlement.  If people make more than a half million dollars a year in other income, take away their Social Security check. The first thing Republicans bring up is the system was suppose to be a social safety net not a full retirement plan. So, kick the rich off the system.
  
Both parties need to quit pretending the debt ceiling is real. We can always print more money with our own treasury to pay our bills. Why we borrow from other countries is beyond me. It costs us jobs by keeping down inflation. Maybe if we actually saw the inflation then we wouldn't spend so foolishly. Just independant thinking from a reformed Republican/Democrat who is sick of both parties.

Happy 4th of July Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July Independence Day from The Political Poet!

Sign Sen. Bernie Sanders' Letter to President Obama

Follow the link to read and sign Senator Bernie Sanders' letter to President Obama.
http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8

A Weiner Limerick

There once was a pervert named Weiner
Who had a perverted demeanor
Forced from the Hill
For acting like Bill
Now Congress is one weiner leaner

- unknown poet

Censorship On The Political Poet

I've caught some slack over a comment posted under a blog entry announcing the poetry contest. Although I do not agree with the comment posted as a poem, I believe in freedom of speech. Regardless of my dislike of a view, I will not censor my blog for a person having an opinion other than my own. If I remove the comment, it defeats the whole point of being a political poet. Opinions are important even if you dislike them. They let you know we are not all cut from the same cookie cutter design. Maybe listening to other's views and opinions to find out the reason a rift exists would avoid conflict between countries, religions, races, ages or sexual orientations? We might think the comment is ridiculous and think of a dozen rebuttals immediately, but if one person out there has that view then you can bet their are others. Feel free to write rebuttals and post them under the poem if you find it offensive. The only requirement is to not use profane language or overly sexual material. As I have stated before, these web pages are visited by younger students on a regular basis, and I will remove anything overly profane, sexual, or calling for violence; however, I will not remove a comment due to opinion.

Author of Raven Wings and 13 More Twisted Tales Joined the 100 Trees Project

To find out more follow the link.
http://www.topusnewstoday.com/raven-wings-and-13-more-twisted-tales-by-frank-poe-jr-has-joined-the-100-trees-project.html

Neither a Borrower nor a Lender Be

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend,” from William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a lesson our government could use right now. Our elected officials are borrowing money from China at the same time they’re lending banks money for next to nothing. For example, many banks showed great first quarter profits this year. Where did they get the profit? They borrowed the money from the government at zero percent interest, and they lent the money back to the government to earn interest. The interest was their profit.

It is like the banks are the thieves who take advantage of a blind vendor handing a single and telling them it’s a twenty dollar bill. It’s like the American people have a mentally challenged accountant in charge of our money, and I apologize to the mentally challenged because you’re not as challenged as our politicians. The point is no real world business or other country works that way. Our government is horrible with our money. They lend our money to countries around the world not expecting to be paid back hoping those countries will be our friends and allies, but they just feel resentment toward us. As far as our lender goes, China is starting to feel empowered over us. Telling us to get our financial house in order and saying we are in default on our loans are just a couple of slights they’ve sent our way in the last few days.

It’s time to stop the insanity. I don’t want to hear about a giant credit card maxed out by irresponsible and corrupt politicians. There is no such credit card and no such limit. It is our money and our government. We, the people, are the security behind our money. The gold standard went the way of the dinosaurs. These are just numbers being typed in on a computer. Do you really think China is sending us their silver, gold or even paper money? They’re lending us digital funds they typed in on their computer. As always, money only holds the value people place on it.

Wake up America! Our politicians are borrowing from China because they believe in the Chinese people more than they believe in America. We need to tell our government to float us our own credit because we, the people, are the security behind our money. Our treasury can type the numbers in the same as China’s. Quit borrowing from anyone. We will back our own money, Congress! It is our treasury! Electronically transfer all the money we owe China back to them at once. You’re just returning the electronic transfers they’ve sent to us.

Their game will be up then. I have nothing against the Chinese. I love their culture, art and food. I just think the American people should realize why the Chinese would agree to hold so much of our debt besides leverage over our government. They do it to keep their people working, not ours. They do it so we can keep buying their goods, not ours. The Chinese are masters of trade. We use to be, but our government has retarded our ability to trade on an even playing field. It goes back to political contributions, legal bribes as I like to call them. Our politicians rally behind anything that comes with a check attached to them. I explained in previous blogs how they eventually funnel those campaign contributions into their own back pockets perfectly legal. Gas prices are a perfect example. If our politicians gave a crap about doing what is in our interests, they would return to the days of regulating the commodities speculators on Wall Street. Gas would be cheaper, and $2.40 per gallon would be in our economic interest. For more information on how fuel speculators have driven the price of gasoline sky high check out Vermont’s Senator Bernie Sanders web pages. http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=542c37a5-dd63-4637-ab73-ddd1fe3454cf I believe he might be the only politician left in Washington, D.C. with the American peoples’ best interest in mind. I wish he was running for President as an independent.   

We, the people, cannot count on our politicians to right this ship. They are for sale to the highest political contribution from lobbyists foreign and corporate. Our best interest, our defense and protection of our constitutional rights are no longer their concern because regardless of whom we vote for we continue to get whatever the highest bidder wants.

In other words, we have to right our own ship. We, the people, are the economy. We, the people, are the security behind our money. We, the people, have to start making the extra effort to buy American. We, the people, have to spend our money on American merchandise even if it is a few pennies more. If we don’t see an American made product we need, we need to ask for one and refuse to buy the foreign version. It will not be easy. Currently, you will find it hard to find the American products you need. For instance, buy a copy of my book, written by an American and printed in America on American paper with American ink just click on the book cover on the right, sorry for the self-promotion. We, the people, need to be the soldiers on this front line. We need to make this sacrifice. It is the only way we can control putting fellow Americans back to work.

We, the people need to quit listening to all the doomsday politicians saying to throw the American baby out with the bathwater, gut our social programs, educational institutions and our American humanity. We, the people, are willing to put our money into American businesses that actually create jobs here. We, the people, are willing to put our money into making our children the best educated in the world thus making them the most competitive. We want the best healthcare in the world. We want our people to be the best fed in the world. We want our people to all have shelter. We want our infrastructure of bridges, roads, railways, airports, utilities to be the envy of the world. We want the best public parks because they are ours. We want the greatest art, music and theatre in the world. We are Americans. We can do all of this. We know it is possible because we, the people, are the security behind our money.  We, the people, need to tell Washington our great, great, great grandchildren don’t need to worry about this debt to China. We will back our own economy. We don’t need to borrow or lend. We, the people, are the security behind our money. We, the people, believe in ourselves, not the politicians.

Multi-Million Dollar NFL Slaves Unhappy

After Viking's Adrian Peterson said being in the NFL was like being in the slave trade, a friend of mine on Facebook was pretty upset with the pro football players, and she claimed she was done with those cry baby players. Recently, a South Park episode on Comedy Central called Crack Baby Basketball poked fun at Cartman's newly created sport being exploitative like slavery, and the big joke was he compared it to the NCAA.
I don't like throwing a word like slavery around lightly, but if you're comparing pro and college athletes then Matt Stone and Trey Parker used it correctly. Now, college that's a slave trade millions of $ to the colleges, but only a few of the athletes get scholarships. NCAA caps those. How about giving all the team members full paid scholarships, and they could pay a set amount of players capped small stipends. College athletes have to risk injury, attend classes and practices, but don't buy them a hamburger if they're hungry might lose their scholarship. The NCAA don't really care if they graduate as long as they keep all the $. Only the fans care if college players leave early to avoid injury or they need the money. After all that, they decide to go pro so they can make some money, pay some bills, and buy mom that house only to be locked out because some pros already knee deep in cash wants more. The funny thing is they want the new players to take smaller contracts so they can take more. Greed does not become football players. I love the game, but I'm starting to dislike the pro players.

Have a great Memorial Day!

FOLLOW THE LINK TO CREDO AND SIGN THE PETITION

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=7861&id=21125-3916483-5PQSwyx&t=1

Tell the Senators from Big Oil: Stop putting Big Oil subsidies ahead of the American people.

On Tuesday night, 48 Senators, including three Democrats and all but two Republicans, put Big Oil before the American people and helped defeat a bill that would have ended tax breaks for the five biggest oil companies.
How could anyone vote against a bill that would have kept $21 billion of American taxpayers' money out of the pockets of cash-rich oil companies?
One big reason is oil money in our political process. A lot of it. Oil and gas companies spent $39.5 million lobbying congress in just the first quarter of this year, and have donated nearly $18 million to the 48 Senators who voted to protect oil subsidies.¹
But make no mistake. Even though we didn't get the 60 votes required for passage, our pressure to end oil subsidies is already working. More and more legislators are acting defensive about their support of Big Oil over the American people.
In February, similar legislation to repeal some oil subsidies got only 44 votes. Yesterday, we got 52 votes. That comes after CREDO Action members sent more than 225,000 petitions to the Senate and made more than 1,000 calls yesterday to 11 key Senators, six of whom flipped their position and voted to end tax breaks to Big Oil.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said yesterday that despite this defeat, he will continue to push for ending oil subsides as part of negotiations on the budget and to raise the debt ceiling.²
We need to keep the pressure on. And one key to breaking Big Oil's grasp on our legislators is letting Congress know that we know about the millions of dollars that Big Oil has given them.
Let's make sure that our Senators' votes to protect oil company profits don't go unanswered by those of us who actually pay the price.
1. "Senators Opposing End of Oil Subsidies Received Five Times More in Big Oil Campaign Cash," Oil Change International, May 17, 2011
2. "Senate rejects bill to cut oil tax breaks," The Hill, May 17, 2011
Here are the 48 Senators who voted against ending Big Oil subsidies: Alexander (R-TN), Ayotte (R-NH), Barrasso (R-WY), Begich (D-AK), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR), Brown (R-MA), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coats (R-IN), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hatch (R-UT), Heller (R-NV), Hoeven (R-ND), Hutchison (R-TX), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Johnson (R-WI), Kirk (R-IL), Kyl (R-AZ), Landrieu (D-LA), Lee (R-UT), Lugar (R-IN), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Moran (R-KS), Murkowski (R-AK), Nelson (D-NE), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Rubio (R-FL), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Toomey (R-PA), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)

Meter and Feet Cheat Sheet

Although I'm not a big fan of forced poetry, see previous post I've Got Rhythm or Not, I've prepared these easy to follow tables because some of you asked for an easy to follow cheat sheet for meter and feet.

Writing Style	Type of Feet Used	Description
Iambic	Iamb	(u /)
Trochaic	Trochee	(/ u)
Anapestic	Anapest	(u u /)
Dactylic	Dactyl	(/ u u)
Amphibrachic	Amphibrach	(u / u)
Spondaic	Spondee	(/ /)
Pyrrhic	Pyrrhic	(u u)
Stressed =   /      and      Unstressed =   u

Meters	# of Feet
monometer	1
dimeter	2
trimeter	3
tetrameter	4
pentameter	5
hexameter	6
heptameter	7
octameter	8
enneameter	9
decameter	10

Understanding the names given to different types of poetry depends on the type of feet used and the number of feet; for example, a poem written in iambs (u/) feet would be labeled iambic. You then need to know how many times the foot is used to get the description for the meter; for instance, the use of five feet would be pentameter. You merely combine the two parts to get the complete description iambic pentameter.

For example, a poem using six Spondee feet (//) all stressed syllables would not only be loud and annoying, but easily described as Spondaic Hexameter. I wrote the example below using all stressed syllables to illustrate the loudness, and stressfulness of annoying traffic. I could have used pentameter, but it didn’t seem irritating enough. The poem works because whenever I verbalize it at a poetry reading the audience complains it is exactly that loud, annoying and stressful like traffic. It has even been accused of giving the audience headaches much like traffic does me. If you want to get rid of unwanted company, tell them your favorite poem is Traffic by Frank G. Poe, Jr., and recite it from memory. It is easy to remember, and clears a room.

Example: by Frank G. Poe, Jr. 

Traffic

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop,

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go,

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,

Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow,

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop,

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go,

Honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk,

Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow,

Free, free, free, free, free, free, free, free, free, free, free, free,

Speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed,

Cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop, cop,

Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow,

Lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights, lights,

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.