LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE . . .

There must be a good many people running around with their pants on fire these days. I know I’m not alone in wondering if any one of our "leaders," anywhere, is telling us the truth about anything. There is a disturbing lack of trust that permeates beyond borders to every part of the globe. When people in positions of power make those reassuring remarks regarding issues that concern us, we find it almost impossible to sift through the crap to get to the truth.

For instance: when we are assured that we needn’t worry about radiation resulting from damage to the nuclear plants following the Japanese Tsunami, can we believe them? When we are told that the oil that lies below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico has dissipated and that the fish finding its way to our tables is totally safe to eat, completely unaffected by the oil, can we believe them? Are we to believe that in the short time since that catastrophic spill, everything in the Gulf of Mexico waters is back to normal?

Can we believe that we’re getting the truth regarding our activities in Iraq, and in Afghanistan, and in Pakistan, and in Israel, and in Libya and in Yemin, and in other parts of the world where unrest is taking place. There is a super-abundance of "facts" - most of them conflicting - that we are being fed on a daily basis. It just depends on who is telling the story.

Can we believe that our elected representatives are working for our best interests while they bicker about the myriad of financial issues that burden this country. The only thing we can be absolutely sure of, is that they are working for their own best interests, including being re-elected. And while our dwindling "middle class" continues to carry more and more of the burden, those at the top and their corporate buddies get richer and richer. We can believe that.

Our leaders have evolved over the years from people of character, integrity, idealism and strength to self-serving bureaucrats. We can’t rely on them to listen to us and actually represent our interests. They simply do whatever they have to do, including outright lying, to get our vote. And we, average Americans, have forgotten how to think for ourselves and stand up for what we believe. We are a nation of lazy, "feed it to me" people. We allow the "news" commentators to feed us information, tell us how to think, mold our opinions, and ultimately to control our destiny. Shame on us!

It was painfully clear when Katrina hit the gulf coast, that our government was more interested in looking good in the face of unmentionable pain and devastation than in actually doing everything possible, as quickly as possible, to meet the needs of their constituents. Can we ever believe our government when a natural disaster or man-made disaster occurs? Have they ever told us right up front the painful truth about what has happened and why, in terms of government assistance? Have they ever given us the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Nonsense! They just feed us "crap" and we swallow it.

Are we so stupid, so prone to hysteria, so incapable of hearing the truth that we must be spoon-fed tiny dribbles of the truth along with large portions of half-truths or outright lies, over an elongated period of time so as not to become unmanageable? And is that the ultimate goal? To keep us ignorant so we can be "managed?

I’m sick of being fed lies and half-truths. I’m sick of not knowing who to believe, or even if anyone can be believed. I’m ready to become "unmanageable." This country desperately needs some honest leaders who care more about the health of America than about their re-election campaigns. And we need more people who will put forth the effort to learn the facts and who won’t settle for less than the truth.

Someone once said, "The truth will set you free." It’s the truth!

IF WISHES WERE HORSES . . .

When I was a girl, Mom’s response to my many daydreams and wishes was always: “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

I wasn’t absolutely sure what that meant other than it was unlikely my wish would be granted. She was right, of course, most of those wishes didn’t come true.

For instance:

“I wish we were rich like the Hendersons, then I could have a horse.”

“I wish I could grow up to look like Loretta Young.”

“I wish my nose wasn’t so big.”

“I wish there wasn’t such a thing as cancer.”

Mom has been gone for many years, and I am still wishing, but some of those wishes have changed. Here’s a few of today’s wishes:

“I wish there was less hatred in this world.”

“I wish politicians cared more about doing the right thing than about being re-elected.”

“I wish no child would go to bed hungry tonight.”

“I wish people didn’t need drugs and alcohol to cope.”

“I wish Christmas was more about the gift of Love and less about gifts.”

“I wish the food I love didn’t make me fat or clog my arteries.”

“I wish there was no such thing as cancer.”

But, I know . . . “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

Who said, “hope springs eternal?” It’s true. Recently, I wouldn’t have given you a nickle for the future of this country or the millions of people who are desperate for a little ray of sunshine in their darkest hours. That ray of sunshine blasted through over the weekend when Healthcare Reform finally became a reality and my hope for this nation was renewed. Oh, I know - this is not the “Great Fix” for all of our ills, but it is certainly a step in the right direction in spite of the hysterical rhetoric of the Tea Partiers and our lunatic friend, Rush.

I am saddened by the racial and cultural epithets being hurled around so freely. I think we are better than that. I’m disturbed by the not-so-well disguised threats of violence and suggestions that we should “get our guns ready.” I know we’re better than that. We don’t need guns to bring about change – we have the vote. We don’t shoot people with whom we disagree, we try to work things out and if necessary, agree to disagree. We will never all be on the same page, but in this country we are all allowed to have an opinion and express it. We don’t need to express it in hateful and hurtful ways. WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT!

This country has been a great example of democracy in action through the years and my hope is that we will continue to exemplify greatness - great hearts, great minds, great spirits. See, hope does spring eternal!

HOW BIG IS YOUR WORLD?

Sarah ate a quarter. Not a quarter of an apple, or a quarter of a grape

Sarah ate a quarter of a dollar.

Sarah was always eating something or other (mostly other)

she wasn’t supposed to eat.

Sarah believed that your world is as big as you make it

And Sarah’s world was getting bigger all the time

Sarah’s world was filled with so many curious things

And she wanted to taste them all

Sarah had a big belly ache one day, a really big, bad belly ache

So bad, her mother took her directly to the hospital

Sarah would probably have loved this new adventure

But her belly hurt so much she could only cry

Sarah’s mom was angry and said some bad words to the hospital man

She wondered why, but her belly hurt too much to pry.

Sarah’s mom said, “Don’t worry, Sweet Sarah, we’ll find another hospital.”

Again, she wondered why, but she could only cry.

Sarah’s mom knew that if they only had insurance . . .

Someone would be helping Sarah now to feel better

And she began to cry.

Some people live in smaller worlds that don’t include everyone

Such a damn shame!

HEALTHCARE - A RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege? And do we, individually, have any responsibility to provide for our neighbor? I think I know how our Creator would answer that question. I wonder what God must think about the fact that we seldom consider what is “right,” but seek primarily what is in our own best interests. I understand that “self-preservation” is a strong human instinct, but I believe more is expected of us.

“. . . one nation under God . . ."

I think most would agree that our founding fathers and early leaders envisioned America as a Godly country, governed by reasonable, responsible and responsive leaders. A country where the citizens would enjoy freedom of speech and freedom to worship as they choose, as well as the assurance of justice for each and every one. I wonder what they would think if they could see and hear what is going on today.

Last week someone said to me: “I don’t want my taxes to pay for someone else’s healthcare.” I wasn’t shocked to hear that, but I am deeply disturbed by the lack of concern that person has for his fellow man and, of course, his position is not uncommon today. I am afraid that as a whole, we are becoming a nation of self-centered, “me-first” people who are willing to allow our fellow Americans to suffer catastrophic losses as long as it doesn’t affect us in a negative way. Have we, indeed, sunk so low? We’ve all heard the stories; no need to repeat the numbers or the facts. We desperately need to provide healthcare for those Americans who have lost their jobs, and as a result, their healthcare. We need to assure that those people whose medical costs have put them on the brink of bankruptcy, are saved from losing their homes and ending up on the streets. We need to be sure that no one has to make a choice between buying the medicine they need or buying food.

"He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.”

I don’t like labels and I suspect that if you have read this far, you may have labeled me either a “religious fanatic” or a “bleeding heart.” I would reject both labels, but I plead guilty to being concerned about my fellow Americans and I plead guilty to believing that God was involved in the beginnings of this country and is still involved in the evolution of this country. I believe that He must be disappointed that His children have so little concern for their brothers and sisters.

We seem to have lost even the ability to allow our brothers and sisters to express their opinions, to vote their hearts, and support their leaders, without vilifying them. Do we need to bring guns to public meetings to indicate our opposition or our outrage. What is that about? Certainly not about respecting our neighbors and their rights. I am frightened by such outright manifestations of potential violence and appalled that anyone would feel right about bring so blatantly threatening.

“. . . indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

If ever the people of this nation needed to be “One in Spirit,” it is today. Yet I have never seen more divisiveness and rancor. I think it was Patrick Henry who said: “United we stand, divided we fall.” Are we heading for the “Fall?” If, in fact, we lose sight of the fact that this country is only as great as its citizens standing together, hand-in-hand, determined to do the right thing, then we are lost.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?

Yes, you are! I believe that as human beings, “created in God’s image,” we have a responsibility to carry our brother’s burdens when we can do it. If, in fact, we are created in God’s image, and “God is Love,” then we do have a Spirit of Love within us - and love does not seek only for selfish satisfaction and well-being. We need to rekindle that Spirit of love and self-sacrifice. Let us, citizens of the United States of American, stand united, one nation - under God - preserving one another’s dignity and serving one another with respect, love, and courage.

“God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her

And guide her. . .”

CAN WE DO THE RIGHT THING?

Most Americans agree that we need to do something to change the healthcare situation in our country. But is becoming painfully clear that the operative word, “change” is also the scary word, “change.” Many of us fear change and thus are vulnerable to the variety of scare tactics flooding the airwaves these days. It would seem there are folks who will go to any extreme to defeat needed reform, more to further their political ends than to do the right thing for the citizens they represent. Lobbyists are spending boatloads of money to influence our representatives to kill this movement and I fear that our voices will be unheard over the sound of money changing hands.

I am appalled at the vitriolic attacks that have been launched at some of the Town Hall meetings and on some Radio and TV Talk Shows. When did we forfeit our responsibility to think, America? Why are we listening and being influenced by trouble-makers who want to stir up more hatred and cause reasonable people to lose their reason. Thinking Americans need to pull together and discuss this issue with intelligence and respect and let’s do that before somebody gets so stirred up he or she does something we would all regret for the rest of our lives.

Is there anyone reading this who doesn’t know that certain truths are undeniable? For instance, insurance companies are making decisions for us every day. They tell us what doctor we can see (if we want them to pay) and they tell us what medications to take (if we want them to pay). My daughter recounts her recent experience at the pharmacy where she was told that her insurance company would not pay for the medication prescribed by her doctor until she first tried another medication. WHAT?! The insurance company knows better than her own doctor what she needs to be taking? Ridiculous!

Insurance Premiums are increasing three times faster than our wages, yet we are okay with them refusing to pay for medication that our doctor prescribes? We are okay with them telling us that we can only see certain doctors? We are okay with them refusing to cover pre-existing conditions? We are okay with them cancelling us when we lose our job or change jobs?

Come on, America, it’s time for us to be heard above the money-changers in Washington and above the hysterical rantings of Radio and TV wannabees.

I, like most people past the age of sixty-five, am covered by Medicare and am very thankful to the visionaries who fought hard for this “government run” program for seniors. But I know, and you know, that there is room, and lots of it, for improvement in many areas. The President is right when he says that we need to streamline the record-keeping and eliminate duplications in testing, care and medications. I’ll bet most of us have friends or family members who have been made sicker by being over-medicated or even prescribed medications that work against or undermine the efficacy of other medications they are already taking. This is a problem that should not happen and wouldn’t if we had better record-keeping available to all medical providers. And many repeat hospital stays might be eliminated if we had such state-of-the-art records. There is room for improvement and ways to save significant money without reducing Medicare benefits.

We elected a man to lead our country who promised healthcare reform because we desperately need it and because it’s the right thing to do. This is America - land of the brave, home of the free; not land of the sick and home of the destitute because healthcare has bankrupted us. We cannot continue to accept the status quo which allows our friends and neighbors to be forced to make choices between seeking medical treatment when they need it, or putting food on the table and paying the light bill. SHAME ON US IF WE DO.