America Is In A Ticked Off Frame of Mind!!!
"Ticked off"? That's putting it mildly, gang. According to a brand new poll, most of us are very upset about the condition our condition is in!!!
Check out these poll numbers....56% of Americans are losing sleep over this! (I admit to being one of them!) 63% of Americans say they've experienced a lower sex drive! 68% of Americans believe that the bought and paid for (by lobbyists) Congress people are wrong about reducing taxes for the rich as a way to balance the budget! 68% and climbing! More on that coming up later in this blog. 70% of the American people are nervous about their retirement! (As am I!) Because of this economy, 57% of Americans say their relationship with their spouse has become worse! 50% of Americans think President Obama has no real plan to balance the budget! 40% think he does. (I'm in the "don't" category!) So this all means big time "love" for Republicans, instead? Ain't there! 58% of Americans say the GOP is just laying the blame on Obama rather than making their own proposals! 29% of Americans have "love" for the GOP. 67% of Americans are mad at God for this economic mess of ours! (You know Americans are big time ticked off when they start blaming GOD!)
There is more in this poll, but I'm not leaving out anything that would make the GOP or Tea Party people happy.
I have some possible solutions and I'll tell you the kind of country we might have if ultra conservatives had their way, but first, I'd like to share a letter to the editor that was written by highly decorated WWII veteran and "Boss Radio radio legend, Bill Mouzis.
"Let me see if I have this right. The Republicans get us into the worst recession of our lives and now they are campaigning on the grounds that Obama has done nothing to get us out of it?!? Also, with high unemployment rates continuing to drag down the economy, one has to wonder where are the jobs that were to be created as a result of the massive tax cuts for the "wealthy" engineered by Bush and his merry band of bandits, Cheney and Rove."
Thank you, Bill Mouzis! Ah, yes! Those tax cuts for the rich! The "Big SOLUTION" for our economic mess. More of that trickle down nonsense that has never worked for anyone BUT the rich! The first President Bush had it right when he referred to that kind of thinking as "Voodoo Economics"! The architect of the "trickle down" theory, David Stockman, has since stated (publicly) that he was wrong.
What I'm about to write now are (in my view) a few possible solutions for the mess our country is in, a policy statement regarding opinions expressed on this blog and what might possibly be the type of country we'd end up with if ultra conservatives had their way.
Opinions and or endorsements stated by me are not bought and paid for by anyone! Never have been, never will be! While working with the great broadcaster Joe Benson here in Los Angeles, Joe, while smiling, once referred to me as a "contrarian". I accept that description. A description that has cost me previous broadcast employment and advertising revenue for this blog by people who want "A voice" in the opinions I express here.
I don't pretend to have all the answers required to get us out of the economic mess we're in, but I do have a few ideas that if implemented, would in my view, get us started on the right track back to solvency.
Medicare and Social Security are labeled by many on the "Right" as being "expensive albatrosses" that must either be ended and or totally revamped.
Counter argument: The fact that a lot of that money that we (the workers) put into those systems was used by Congress people for other things is a glaring reason that we have a "trouble revenue problem date" that is a lot earlier than it should be.
A solution that (sadly) might be too late: MAKE IT A FEDERAL CRIME TO REMOVE ANY OF THAT MONEY FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT IT'S MEANT FOR!
Our deficit problem, a problem that could lead America into bankruptcy.
Yeah, that's serious business, folks. But do you see who or what gets blamed for this? The usual kinds of folks or "safety net people" who can't fight back.
And I'm not referring to illegal immigrants who "game" our system and cost us billions of dollars. The fact that our government has allowed this to happen is a crime unto to it's ownself. We're told that it would be impossible to deport all these illegal immigrants, but I would have no problem if we at least tried to do that. More on the illegal immigrant thing later in this blog.
Back to our deficit problem and a few things NO one talks about regarding how we got into this deficit problem mess.
Iraq, Afghanistan and recently, Libya.
We've had troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for what? 10-years and counting? Countless numbers of our troops have been killed and or returned home with one or no arms, one or no legs, a combination of those horrific injuries, off the charts mental injuries, etc., etc. The injuries requiring treatment will be paid by us for the rest of their lives. And let us not forget death insurance we pay for those killed in the line of duty. Let is also not forget the massive amounts of equipment, planes, helicopters, ammunition, etc., etc. that we are continually paying for.
And HOW have we been paying for all of this during the last ten years or so? By "credit card"! Trillions of dollars. You think THAT might have something to do with our deficit? I do! And from day one of the Afghanistan and Iraq "adventures", I have felt like a lone voice while stating in essence, "If these wars are so important, why aren't we adding a tax to pay for them and or why aren't we considering a reinstatement of the military draft and find out how important the rest of America thinks these wars are!"
And now Libya. Also on the "credit card". And our deficit continues to rise.
FOREIGN AID: We're going broke and we continue to give foreign countries billions upon billions of dollars in cash and equipment? When the White House recently announced that they were giving billions to Egypt, I felt like puking.
What do you think giving billions upon billions to foreign countries is doing to our deficit?
But no, the people with the loudest voices say (in essence) the biggest deficit problem we have is associated with Social Security, Medicare and anything else that smacks of being a "safety net" of some kind for people who aren't wealthy.
I'll be happy to listen to that argument once you tell me why wars get a free ride, it's okay to steal money that is meant for Social Security, Medicare, etc., etc., illegal immigrants get a free ride and foreign countries (with their hands held out) get a free ride.
REDUCE THE DEFICIT? Yes, I'm in favor of that. But I'm not in favor of reducing taxes for the wealthy while we need to reduce the deficit. I'm not in favor of outfits like the former Blackwater crowd getting billions from us for our war activities while we show no desire to have all of America participating in the cost of these adventures.
And let me fast forward to what kind of country we could become if we were to take the direction as suggested by our extreme Tea Party, Conservative and Liberal "bought and paid for" types. Pakistan. Want a cool homework assignment? Check out their tax situation, how they feel about religion, gays, bending over for the rich, let the down and out have to fend for themselves, etc., etc.
Thoughts and or comments? Write to me at scottstjames@sbcglobal.net and I'll respond ASAP. All "Anonymous" emails are ignored.
Other quick stuff:
Are we tired of Weiner Gate, yet?
Will former Senator John Edwards end up going to jail?
Have you heard about "Mama Grizzly" being upset with the new close male friend her daughter Bristol now has? She's quoted as saying that relationship could make the family "look bad", but Bristol has reportedly told Mama Ex-Governor to "Back off and let me lead my own life!"
I stated earlier in this blog that there would be something else relating to illegal immigrants that I would write. What you're about to read is a letter a North Hollywood reader sent to the Los Angeles Times that was printed yesterday:
"What is it with our elected officials and police chiefs who make reference to illegal immigrants who should not be deported because it may cause hardships to them and their families? So what if they didn't commit any serious crimes. For starters, what about illegally entering the country?
Silly me, I thought elected officials and all law-enforcement officers swore an oath to uphold and enforce all laws. They should not exclude those crimes that may provide political or other advantages.
I guess selective law enforcement is the new standard (except for my parking tickets--no selectivity there)."
Short commentary: Amen, Brother!
ENTERTAINMENT STUFF:
James Arness! The lawman we loved to watch. For 20 years on the television show, "Gunsmoke"! He was 88-years old when he died two days ago. As you probably know, Arness wasn't the first choice for this role. The network and the producers wanted John Wayne. Wayne wanted nothing to do with the hours that are associated with a television show and he was also a friend of the man who would eventually be known as, "Marshal Dillon". Wayne recommended Arness, but Arness had just begun a little bit of a film career that included working on four films with John Wayne, but Wayne talked Arness into taking the role and the rest, as they say, is history.
P.S. Before the first episode of "Gunsmoke" aired, an on camera announcement was made. By none other than John Wayne, who at that time was the biggest star in Hollywood. Wayne told the audience that, "I knew there was only one man to play in it, James Arness. He's a young fella and may be new to some of you. But I've worked with him, and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me."
Can you imagine what the introduction from John Wayne must have felt like to the (then) very young James Arness?
You done good, Mr. Arness. R.I.P.
One new television show and two films to tell you about....
"Franklin & Bash", Wednesday nights on TNT. It stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer, Malcolm McDowell, Reed Diamond and some terrific supporting players. Fun show.
In 2009, the film, "Brooklyn's Finest" was released. I saw it on cable a few nights ago. It stars Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Vincent D'Onofrio, Will Patton and Ellen Barkin. This is a dark drama that I couldn't take my eyes off of. Heavy stuff, folks, but these fine actors make the viewing worth your time. If you haven't seen it, check it out.
"Takers" is a film that made it's television debut on STARZ last night. It was released in 2010 and stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, Idris Elba, T.I., Zoe Saldana, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Zulay Henao. This is about a gang of upscale criminals who are very good at what they do. Matt Dillon plays one of the detectives who tries to catch these guys. A lot of "cat and mouse" kind of stuff and near the end, a whole lot of ammunition is used. In between the action are a couple of very interesting side issues that keep our attention. This is a good popcorn flick and when you're in that kind of mood, I highly recommend this film.
QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS? Please write to me at scottstjames@sbcglobal.net and I will respond to you as quickly as I can. Please don't write to the blog because there's no way for me to know your email address so I won't be able to respond to you. All "Anonymous" emails are ignored.
The Next Blog? I'm shooting for next Sunday, but things have been a little crazy lately, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If for whatever reason I have to delay, I'll write a short blog stating that and what the new date will be.
Meanwhile, I hope that all of you have a great week!
Check out these poll numbers....56% of Americans are losing sleep over this! (I admit to being one of them!) 63% of Americans say they've experienced a lower sex drive! 68% of Americans believe that the bought and paid for (by lobbyists) Congress people are wrong about reducing taxes for the rich as a way to balance the budget! 68% and climbing! More on that coming up later in this blog. 70% of the American people are nervous about their retirement! (As am I!) Because of this economy, 57% of Americans say their relationship with their spouse has become worse! 50% of Americans think President Obama has no real plan to balance the budget! 40% think he does. (I'm in the "don't" category!) So this all means big time "love" for Republicans, instead? Ain't there! 58% of Americans say the GOP is just laying the blame on Obama rather than making their own proposals! 29% of Americans have "love" for the GOP. 67% of Americans are mad at God for this economic mess of ours! (You know Americans are big time ticked off when they start blaming GOD!)
There is more in this poll, but I'm not leaving out anything that would make the GOP or Tea Party people happy.
I have some possible solutions and I'll tell you the kind of country we might have if ultra conservatives had their way, but first, I'd like to share a letter to the editor that was written by highly decorated WWII veteran and "Boss Radio radio legend, Bill Mouzis.
"Let me see if I have this right. The Republicans get us into the worst recession of our lives and now they are campaigning on the grounds that Obama has done nothing to get us out of it?!? Also, with high unemployment rates continuing to drag down the economy, one has to wonder where are the jobs that were to be created as a result of the massive tax cuts for the "wealthy" engineered by Bush and his merry band of bandits, Cheney and Rove."
Thank you, Bill Mouzis! Ah, yes! Those tax cuts for the rich! The "Big SOLUTION" for our economic mess. More of that trickle down nonsense that has never worked for anyone BUT the rich! The first President Bush had it right when he referred to that kind of thinking as "Voodoo Economics"! The architect of the "trickle down" theory, David Stockman, has since stated (publicly) that he was wrong.
What I'm about to write now are (in my view) a few possible solutions for the mess our country is in, a policy statement regarding opinions expressed on this blog and what might possibly be the type of country we'd end up with if ultra conservatives had their way.
Opinions and or endorsements stated by me are not bought and paid for by anyone! Never have been, never will be! While working with the great broadcaster Joe Benson here in Los Angeles, Joe, while smiling, once referred to me as a "contrarian". I accept that description. A description that has cost me previous broadcast employment and advertising revenue for this blog by people who want "A voice" in the opinions I express here.
I don't pretend to have all the answers required to get us out of the economic mess we're in, but I do have a few ideas that if implemented, would in my view, get us started on the right track back to solvency.
Medicare and Social Security are labeled by many on the "Right" as being "expensive albatrosses" that must either be ended and or totally revamped.
Counter argument: The fact that a lot of that money that we (the workers) put into those systems was used by Congress people for other things is a glaring reason that we have a "trouble revenue problem date" that is a lot earlier than it should be.
A solution that (sadly) might be too late: MAKE IT A FEDERAL CRIME TO REMOVE ANY OF THAT MONEY FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT IT'S MEANT FOR!
Our deficit problem, a problem that could lead America into bankruptcy.
Yeah, that's serious business, folks. But do you see who or what gets blamed for this? The usual kinds of folks or "safety net people" who can't fight back.
And I'm not referring to illegal immigrants who "game" our system and cost us billions of dollars. The fact that our government has allowed this to happen is a crime unto to it's ownself. We're told that it would be impossible to deport all these illegal immigrants, but I would have no problem if we at least tried to do that. More on the illegal immigrant thing later in this blog.
Back to our deficit problem and a few things NO one talks about regarding how we got into this deficit problem mess.
Iraq, Afghanistan and recently, Libya.
We've had troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for what? 10-years and counting? Countless numbers of our troops have been killed and or returned home with one or no arms, one or no legs, a combination of those horrific injuries, off the charts mental injuries, etc., etc. The injuries requiring treatment will be paid by us for the rest of their lives. And let us not forget death insurance we pay for those killed in the line of duty. Let is also not forget the massive amounts of equipment, planes, helicopters, ammunition, etc., etc. that we are continually paying for.
And HOW have we been paying for all of this during the last ten years or so? By "credit card"! Trillions of dollars. You think THAT might have something to do with our deficit? I do! And from day one of the Afghanistan and Iraq "adventures", I have felt like a lone voice while stating in essence, "If these wars are so important, why aren't we adding a tax to pay for them and or why aren't we considering a reinstatement of the military draft and find out how important the rest of America thinks these wars are!"
And now Libya. Also on the "credit card". And our deficit continues to rise.
FOREIGN AID: We're going broke and we continue to give foreign countries billions upon billions of dollars in cash and equipment? When the White House recently announced that they were giving billions to Egypt, I felt like puking.
What do you think giving billions upon billions to foreign countries is doing to our deficit?
But no, the people with the loudest voices say (in essence) the biggest deficit problem we have is associated with Social Security, Medicare and anything else that smacks of being a "safety net" of some kind for people who aren't wealthy.
I'll be happy to listen to that argument once you tell me why wars get a free ride, it's okay to steal money that is meant for Social Security, Medicare, etc., etc., illegal immigrants get a free ride and foreign countries (with their hands held out) get a free ride.
REDUCE THE DEFICIT? Yes, I'm in favor of that. But I'm not in favor of reducing taxes for the wealthy while we need to reduce the deficit. I'm not in favor of outfits like the former Blackwater crowd getting billions from us for our war activities while we show no desire to have all of America participating in the cost of these adventures.
And let me fast forward to what kind of country we could become if we were to take the direction as suggested by our extreme Tea Party, Conservative and Liberal "bought and paid for" types. Pakistan. Want a cool homework assignment? Check out their tax situation, how they feel about religion, gays, bending over for the rich, let the down and out have to fend for themselves, etc., etc.
Thoughts and or comments? Write to me at scottstjames@sbcglobal.net and I'll respond ASAP. All "Anonymous" emails are ignored.
Other quick stuff:
Are we tired of Weiner Gate, yet?
Will former Senator John Edwards end up going to jail?
Have you heard about "Mama Grizzly" being upset with the new close male friend her daughter Bristol now has? She's quoted as saying that relationship could make the family "look bad", but Bristol has reportedly told Mama Ex-Governor to "Back off and let me lead my own life!"
I stated earlier in this blog that there would be something else relating to illegal immigrants that I would write. What you're about to read is a letter a North Hollywood reader sent to the Los Angeles Times that was printed yesterday:
"What is it with our elected officials and police chiefs who make reference to illegal immigrants who should not be deported because it may cause hardships to them and their families? So what if they didn't commit any serious crimes. For starters, what about illegally entering the country?
Silly me, I thought elected officials and all law-enforcement officers swore an oath to uphold and enforce all laws. They should not exclude those crimes that may provide political or other advantages.
I guess selective law enforcement is the new standard (except for my parking tickets--no selectivity there)."
Short commentary: Amen, Brother!
ENTERTAINMENT STUFF:
James Arness! The lawman we loved to watch. For 20 years on the television show, "Gunsmoke"! He was 88-years old when he died two days ago. As you probably know, Arness wasn't the first choice for this role. The network and the producers wanted John Wayne. Wayne wanted nothing to do with the hours that are associated with a television show and he was also a friend of the man who would eventually be known as, "Marshal Dillon". Wayne recommended Arness, but Arness had just begun a little bit of a film career that included working on four films with John Wayne, but Wayne talked Arness into taking the role and the rest, as they say, is history.
P.S. Before the first episode of "Gunsmoke" aired, an on camera announcement was made. By none other than John Wayne, who at that time was the biggest star in Hollywood. Wayne told the audience that, "I knew there was only one man to play in it, James Arness. He's a young fella and may be new to some of you. But I've worked with him, and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me."
Can you imagine what the introduction from John Wayne must have felt like to the (then) very young James Arness?
You done good, Mr. Arness. R.I.P.
One new television show and two films to tell you about....
"Franklin & Bash", Wednesday nights on TNT. It stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer, Malcolm McDowell, Reed Diamond and some terrific supporting players. Fun show.
In 2009, the film, "Brooklyn's Finest" was released. I saw it on cable a few nights ago. It stars Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Vincent D'Onofrio, Will Patton and Ellen Barkin. This is a dark drama that I couldn't take my eyes off of. Heavy stuff, folks, but these fine actors make the viewing worth your time. If you haven't seen it, check it out.
"Takers" is a film that made it's television debut on STARZ last night. It was released in 2010 and stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, Idris Elba, T.I., Zoe Saldana, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Zulay Henao. This is about a gang of upscale criminals who are very good at what they do. Matt Dillon plays one of the detectives who tries to catch these guys. A lot of "cat and mouse" kind of stuff and near the end, a whole lot of ammunition is used. In between the action are a couple of very interesting side issues that keep our attention. This is a good popcorn flick and when you're in that kind of mood, I highly recommend this film.
QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS? Please write to me at scottstjames@sbcglobal.net and I will respond to you as quickly as I can. Please don't write to the blog because there's no way for me to know your email address so I won't be able to respond to you. All "Anonymous" emails are ignored.
The Next Blog? I'm shooting for next Sunday, but things have been a little crazy lately, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If for whatever reason I have to delay, I'll write a short blog stating that and what the new date will be.
Meanwhile, I hope that all of you have a great week!
posted by Scott St. James at 8:27 PM
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