To American Voters

There are a lot of angry voters out there. Anger that comes from fear, anger that comes from disgust, anger that comes from desperation, and anger that come from mistrust.

There are a lot of voters out there who follow the pied piper of their choice because they hear music they want to hear, because they hear the music they prefer, because they hear the music that is different, because they hear music that hypnotizes.

There are a lot of voters out there who are idol worshippers because the idol of their choice is bigger than life, because their idol has made history, because their idol talks a good talk, because their idol just is.

There are a lot of voters out there who want. They want change, they want guarantees, they want justice for those who did them wrong, they want scapegoats, they just want.

How many voters are following their heads over their hearts? How many voters really know when they hear a misstatement, a half-truth, a lie? How many voters are taking score rather than taking notice? How many voters truly know the difference between a right, a privilege, and a responsibility?

How many voters remember John F. Kennedy (or at least studied about him)? How many voters remember he is the one who said "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."? How many know that he also said "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."?

How many voters remember reading in history books why this country was founded? How many voters really know what our rights mean? How many voters are asking "What's in it for me?" when they should be asking "What can I do?" How many voters understand what Thomas Jefferson meant when he said "What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?"?

This is the most critical election of my lifetime --- and I still have a lot of lifetime yet to live. My prayer is that the voters of America do these things:

• Vote: with careful thought
• Know the issues: at home and abroad
• Know the consequences: for the present and for the future of our children
• Think: with facts not feelings
• Contribute: with patriotism, honor, compassion, and truth
• Give your elected officials a report card now with your vote: pass or fail!
• Keep in touch with your government, not just during elections, but everyday; hold the elected officials responsible.
• Take a stand, don't pick sides.
• Speak up!

Recently I stated that I didn't want to use this blog for politics. Well, self-examination revealed that I wasn't practicing what I've been preaching, especially when it comes to speaking up, participating, and holding myself responsible as an American voter. In blogs we have a tool to use any way we want to. We can write without censorship. Whether to get people to agree or disagree with our words may or may not be the bloggers' goals. But to simply write is my goal and if I make a difference, so be it. I read what others write, because I can, and I do. Sometimes they make a difference, sometimes they don't, and that's ok, too. Wherever you are in the world, you are important, and what you have to say is important. Please don't be hurtful, but be compassionate; don't be hateful, but be understanding; don't be apathetic, be a good citizen.

545 People

I have held off using my blog for political commentary, but this came to me via email and I feel compelled to distribute it in this media. It is not Republican nor Democrat; it is not conservative nor liberal. It is what it is.

"545 People".....By Charlie Reese

"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.

Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!"

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel.

And keep in mind this Congress only worked 93 days last year! The shortest season in history and at a time when we are at war and the economy is tumbling!

What Do You Do When the Lights Go Out?

Saturday I went shopping to make sure I had groceries for what looked like a LOT of rain coming from the tropical storm Ike.

So I went to bed Saturday night under quiet skies, thinking about plans for a rainy day Sunday: blog about the one-year anniversary of my last day at American Express; catch up on emails and online bill-paying; catalogue new photos; work on cards..... it was going to be a very busy day. But Sunday actually started for me at 2:30 a.m., after I'd been asleep for only about an hour. Rain was pounding against the windows and the wind was picking up. Ok, check the TV for any weather warnings -- nothing. Crash! went something on the deck -- a couple of chairs blew over. Poof! went the power. Crap. Walking through the house using the hands and feet braille method to keep from bumping into things or stepping on animals. Found the cell phone first so used it's new Tinkerbell wallpaper to find the flashlight left in a handy spot --- my night stand.

By now the wind was howling and torrential rains were power washing the house on all sides. No thunder or lightning, which was good because one of my dogs would be scraping paint off the ceiling by now. She did, however, indicate in no uncertain terms that she wanted to go to the basement. Ok, away we go. At least downstairs only one wall of the house would be getting the deafening pounding like a wet growling beast trying to get inside.

At 5:30 a.m. I was still awake with 3 of the 4 animals either piled on or next to me. (Sure miss the computer -- I could have been blogging and creating all this time.) The beast outside was still furiously huffing and puffing, but weakening somewhat. Hmm, how long till daylight? I guess I fell asleep about 6:00 but woke up at 7:00 to near silence. Looking outside I couldn't believe the pale blue sky interrupted by curves of grey clouds, the edge of the storm. Still quite blustery, but not raining. No power, either. Well, up to bed; maybe it will come back on soon like it usually does. Quickly back to sleep until about 10:30 and the electricity made a feeble attempt to fire up. Then silence again.

Power or no power, certain things need to be done upon arising in the morning. Oh, the well pump is electric and two households are currently on that pump so no telling how long the reserve will last. Only one of me here (Jerry is on the road) and three next door. Ok, the shower can wait. Feed the dogs and cat then make coffee. Uh, scratch the coffee. Don't open the fridge, keep the cold inside. Ok, go outside and check for any damage. Everything looks good. Walk to Mom's, the air is so cool and fresh!

Had some nice talk time there; got a bite to eat; listened for some updates on the electricity but looked like we were totally cut off from the rest of the world for awhile. Finally came a prediction from the radio speakers that some households would be without power for another 20-24 hours. Crap! Well in case we were some of those households we were resigned to an evening of reading by lantern light.

Got back home and arranged the reading materials, lantern, radio, extra batteries and water. (God, how I miss the computer!) Caught up on my "Artful Blogging" magazine. Wow, there are some great stories in there. Gotta look up some of those blogs --- ok, maybe later. (I really wanted to blog today; by blog I mean read my favorites, find new ones, and write a new post.)

Ok, good tunes on the radio, a bit of static but lucky to have this. (Could have used my ipod but an earache prevented the headphones from being comfortable.) It would have been really quiet except for the sound of a generator droning on and on through the hills. It would be really dark, too, except for a bright full moon that cast a spotlight over our hills and took away the scary shadows. I went through the house and opened all the shades to let that moonlight in! Thank you, God, for that!

Too quiet to sleep.
Too tired to sleep.
Too bored to sleep.
Too crazy not to sleep, so I left the music playing to drown out the generator. (Could have been creating and/or blogging! Did I mention how much I missed that?) Somehow, hours later, I heard the TV in the living room. Woo hoo! The power was back on! The TV and everything else that was on at the time of the Poof! came back on just like that --- poof! What time is it? 5:30 a.m.! Cool, back to sleep for awhile. Then a v-e-r-y long hot shower!

So, after 27 hours did I trip over myself getting to the computer? Not quite --- I fed the dogs first, and made coffee. Then the demands of that day took over and it's business as usual.

But to the tune of oldies and the drone of the anonymous generator I gave much thought to what life would be like without electricity. I didn't like the prospect of it. Never, never, never take it for granted!

I also thought about the power of weather and how each area of the country had it's beasts: earthquakes, tornadoes, heat, cold, rains, snow, hurricanes. Then I remembered reading about Ike hitting the Gulf Coast and comments on that article. The very first comment was from an idiot who said it served those people right for living by the water and now HE had to pay for THEIR damaged property with HIS taxes. How pathetic is that? He was in snow country. Ever heard of white-outs, record-breaking snowfalls paralyzing highways and knocking out power --- that would mean your heat, buddy! What's even more pathetic than this guy? There were more like him!! I couldn't continue to read the comments. Only cowards hide behind anonymity.

Mom and I spent some of the quiet time reminiscing about one of the neighborhoods we lived in when I was growing up. It was our own "Happy Days" kind of street. We were able to remember nearly all the families and their names. Those were the days of backyards with no fences; we could play outside after dark collecting lightning bugs; all the moms knew all the kids and watched out for every one of them like they were their own; when my sister was born (after I waited through 3 brothers) our babysitter yelled from the front porch "Helen had a girl! Helen had a girl!" There was no one within a 2 block area that didn't either hear that or heard about it within just a few minutes.

I thought about what September 14 will always mean to me: in 2007 it was my last day at American Express in Phoenix. It was tearful and exciting all at once. I still hear from folks back there and hope I always do. I still miss them. I wonder how situations turned out. I remember some report names, but have forgotten all my login IDs and passwords. But I haven't forgotten the send off I received --- the biggest pot luck in the history of Amex pot lucks! So, the year since I left (has it really been that long?) --- have I accomplished what I wanted to? Yes and no. The "no" part can be blamed in part on the plummeting housing market, the high fuel prices, the general economic skid. The "yes" part is good, but I need to do much more of what I set out to do.

I thought about the stories I read in "Artful Blogging"; about why people blog and what they love about it. Since this is a magazine about "Artful" blogging, obviously there is creativity involved. That and wanting to reach out to others for give and take, learn and teach, show and tell, all around the world. Then I remembered why I started blogging and wondered if I am being fulfilled in that endeavor: uh, Yeah! Can I do more for others who are blogging for the same reasons? Yes. Am I being genuine in my blogging? Yes, I think so. Am I projecting who I really am in my blogs? Pretty much; gotta reserve some. Am I an "artful" blogger? Workin' on it and will be doing more.

All this thinking brought me to the big question for me: Am I developing my artist in the way I set out to a year ago? Honestly? No. Why? I think I know most of those reasons. Am I giving up? No! Why? Because all my life I've wanted to be an artist, because I knew I could, because I know I am. So, what will I do? Never, never, never give up.

Going Home Again---A Perspective

What's that old saying "You can't go home again"? Well, you can, but be prepared for changes. I grew up in Sioux City, IA until I went to college. Then came marriage, moving around as the jobs or life-changing events dictated. Most of my adult life so far was spent in Arizona, but there were many visits "back home".

I guess I didn't really "see" the changes. Oh, I heard about when a new building went up, or an old one torn down. The new mall took business from downtown, then downtown was revitalized. Then came the 4-lane highway that took miles off the trek from Interstate 29 to east bound Highway 20; it also took a chunk from the view of uncut hills that we could see from Dad's grave in Memorial Park. With that 4-lane came big-box retail stores and rows of stores encircling the mall until it, too, disappeared.

During those visits "back home" I saw an old bridge over the Missouri River replaced by a wider, higher bridge. That not only moved motor traffic faster between Iowa and Nebraska, but also eased the passage tall river traffic. Soon another bridge was built just a few miles down river and made a great shortcut to Nebraska for other communities.

The "old" East High School, my alma mater, was demolished leaving a great big empty spot in the neighborhood. The "new" East High School is now 34 years old --- and the school newspaper is paperless. "Old" schools continue to come down and new ones are built. The Sioux City Art Center building is "new" and a work of art itself. I learned of a satellite program in design with Iowa State University. The technical college is adding dormitories for the first time in 25 years; I didn't know it even had dorms! Morningside College continues to add enhancements that provide an aesthetically functional environment for students and faculty.

So, those are some of the "facts of change" in my home town. As for a factual support to that adage that "You can't go home again", well, you can but you will need a map to get around.

What do all those changes mean to my perspective of "home"? That is what was so interesting this past weekend. Now that I live much closer to my home town, and my family there, we can make more frequent visits. My brother and his beautiful lady took us on a tour of the city that formed new mental picture of the town where I grew up.

While the mall and all the big boxes gulped up acres of rolling real estate, they provide jobs for many, and shopping for many towns around. The revitalized downtown is a haven for quaint shops, antique-hunting and pubs sporting themes of World War II tributes and, well, sports.

The addition of the down-river bridge may have strangled the flow of traffic through So. Sioux City, NE, yet provides the Nebraska side with the same convenient route to Iowa for jobs, education, and shopping. The 4-lane highway may have sliced through the view from Memorial Park, but the sound of traffic is not disturbing to the tranquility, as if an invisible sound wall separates the cemetery from the world outside.

Old schools are torn down and new schools are built --- as it should be. A beautiful new grade school, just 2 years old, for the inner city children provides a modern, colorful, and safe environment. Higher education institutions play major roles in the communities. The symphony orchestra is alive and well; the Municipal Auditorium has been enlarged and modernized for cultural functions of all kinds. The Art Center is bright with an eclectic array of exhibits. A photography display drew us to the Center on that day.

On Sunday we went to services at the church our family has been a part of for four generations, with the fifth coming up. The sanctuary now has large screens for parishioners in the back to get a better view; the wireless sound system is clear and allows for mobility of those speaking; and some of the liturgy has been musically modernized. However, as I looked at the cross above the altar, the eternal candle, and the communion rail, my mind went back to many other Sunday services there. Memories of weddings (including my own), baptisms, and funerals also floated through the sanctuary as though no time at all had passed. There was no doubt about it --- I was back home.

So, you can't go home again? Oh, yes, you certainly can. Buildings, streets and people will change, but the heart of the city, and your own, will always be in sync.

Tuesday Tribute

In an effort to get back on track, at least once a week, I have joined other bloggers in a weekly tribute to important and/or colorful characters in our lives. These would be characters that helped to mold us, mentor us, and motivate us. Occasionally there will be a character that just simply makes us crazy and the tribute would be, first, to relate unbelievable human behavior, and, second, because the story just has to be told.

In this first such tribute I had to pick the one who just makes us crazy. It's a story that I have been encouraged to share, but since this is a somewhat public forum, the actual characters have been highly disguised to protect the guil..., uh, my life. And there are elements of molding, mentoring, and motivation.

Let's call this one:

Dorothy, the Sequel

I can't imagine a single person in the civilized world, and some uncivilized worlds, who has not seen The Wizard of Oz. The very presence of The Wizard of Oz on the television airwaves signals the orbiting satellites to beam Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, and Toto, too, to every TV set in the world! Who could forget the little farmhouse in Kansas whirling through the air, spinning and spinning, until it landed --- SPLAT! --- on the wicked witch of the East? Dorothy and Toto toppled into the Land of Oz. Well, this might be a stretch, but since living in the OZarks, and watching the paths of tornadoes, I have concluded that Dorothy actually took a little trip from Kansas into Missouri where she followed the yellow brick road to the beautiful Emerald City. Well, in her journey she defeated the wicked witch of the West, who, of course, melted after being doused with water. Once she did that she was able to return to Kansas.

As Dorothy grew up and was able to travel without borrowing her Auntie Em's house, she discovered that Oz was indeed a real place in Missouri. She found the Emerald City again and visited often. Eventually she just had to move there. The threats of the wicked witch of the West and her flying monkeys were gone, Scarecrow was using his brain to make gasoline out of the corn in Kansas, Tin Man was doing philanthropic work in Topeka, and the Lion was bravely patrolling the highways and byways for bad guys. So, Dorothy and Toto Two packed up and moved to a lovely place in the hills of the Oz.

Everyone was just as friendly as she remembered and wanted to help out. They called it being neighborly. Many Ozites said that 99.9% of the people were friendly and got along fine. In fact, they get along so well that the precious life-giving commodity of crystal clear liquid found to be plentiful in the ground was brought to the surface through a system of pipes and valves which neighbors shared. In Oz this liquid crystal is free and everyone shares the responsibility to keep it flowing to all.

Dorothy was happy in her cozy place but little did she know that the deceased witches had a cousin, not yet defeated by flying farmhouses or pails of water. As luck would have it, Dorothy discovered this crooked branch of the coven's family tree to be right next door. Eventually dubbed P.B. (think cult movie starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, and a word that rhymes with her relatives) she was most welcoming at first. You will remember that her Aunt W.W. of the West wanted the ruby slippers for more magical power. P.B. was driven by greed. She had the power to control the flow of the crystal liquid and waved her magic cursor to conjure up angst and fear in her domain. Not nearly as powerful as her ancestors, P.B. had only one flying monkey, dubbed "J" (think Steve Martin movie) who performed her every bidding, though obviously under an evil spell of subservience.

Totally without provocation and most certainly without regard to being a good neighbor, P.B. ordered J to stop the flow of crystal liquid to Dorothy's house. Her cackling and screeching could be heard throughout the hills. Officers authorized to keep the peace had no power over her. Even the USPS could not get her to take delivery of a missive of reason and consequences.

Dorothy still believed in the kindness of her good neighbors, who came to her rescue with access to the crystal liquid. For weeks there was no resolution. It was as if P.B. and J were basking in their power to perform such a dirty deed. One wonders if they realized the irony when their tree was split in half during a severe storm. Nah!

Finally, Dorothy had enough! Her meltdown came close to total evaporation. Enter the Lion who heard her cries and sped to Oz. With a firm rrruuffff and a bluff he had P.B. and J shaking in their little pointed boots and the crystal was flowing again. Dorothy learned from her first trip to Oz that it ain't over till the mean lady melts. So, when two weeks later the crystal liquid again stopped flowing she thought the worst. J was quickly summoned to fix the problem which had, ironically, created a flood under their house. Hmmm, split tree, flood?

This should be the end of this "tribute" except that molding, mentoring, and motivation of this writer has not been established. That is because we're not done yet. Up to this point it was Dorothy vs. P.B. and J. Then along comes the Lion's offspring to build a house and share in the source of the crystal liquid. Like a lightning bolt P.B. waved her magic cursor to exercise her power once again. She got J to deliver her threats at a carefully planned day and time. However, her magic cursor is no match for the Lion's offspring who practices the magic of being a good neighbor. The mean lady has not yet melted, neither has she come anywhere near Dorothy. But Dorothy is still cautious and keeps a bucket of water close by.

So, what has this writer gained from knowing characters like P.B. and J? Being a good neighbor is a most powerful act of magic.