Republican Gun Control

 So let me get this straight, Republicans in the United States Senate are introducing a Bill to limit the amount of ammunition the Government can buy?

 A Senate Bill co sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)  Will Limit the amount of ammo the people we rely on to defend us can buy and possess.  Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

   Need I remind you that these are the same Elected Representatives that want the common Citizen to be able to purchase and stockpile as much ammunition as they want, which includes some convicted felons, thanks to these same brainiac law makers.

   So lets do the Math.  The Department of Homeland Security has 240,000 employees, if Wikipedia is correct.  Lets say half of them need to carry guns, and that's being generous.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau.  217 million of which are over the age of 18.  2.2 million of those are incarcerated in one form or another that leaves just over 214 million adults.  Let's say half of them are ineligible, for different reasons.  That's being more than fair.  So what do we have?  That leaves us with roughly 107 million legal U.S. Citizens qualified to own  as many guns, and as much ammunition as the see fit.

   Not to worry.  Even if just 1 percent of them are Fanatics, that's only 1 million 70 thousand  crazies running around with all the guns and ammo while 240 thousand well meaning Homeland Security Agents are chasing after them blowing whistles, and waving their arms telling them to stop because they don't have what they need to keep themselves safe, let alone you and me.

   Even if my math is off and I'm sure it is, it's my worst subject, you have to admit allowing civilians to have more guns and ammo than the cops is a stupid idea!  It is as idiotic as the people who thought of it!  If these Senators had to work in the real world, and presented a proposal like that to their bosses in the Corporate world, they'd be fired.

   No matter how you run the numbers, or how often it all adds up to the same outcome. Stupid will always be Stupid!

   Let me drive home the depths of the Grand Old Party's stupidity.  The people who will stop at nothing to make sure America will never have gun control is advocating gun control for the people who know how to use guns!

The Part They Left Out of Falling Unemployment Benefit Applications

  As news of falling unemployment benefit applications begin to fan the embers of economic recovery, it's important to note that some of those numbers are people giving up on a system that has failed them.

  Some find jobs, low wage, part time work.  Which makes them ineligible for further unemployment benefits.  After a time they are laid off and have to re apply.  Going through the entire process of proving their eligibility all over again.

  The ones who don't find work are subject to repeated call backs to come in to unemployment to verify and re verify then verify some more, only to find out they are not getting a check because the 'hand off' of paperwork was missed by someone.  And you have to go back in to prove it wasn't your fault.  Then wait another week for a check you should have gotten this week.

  But it's okay. It's only money, right?  (Sarcasm) What is important to remember is, to just keep quiet, do what the people with all the money tell you to do, and be grateful for the crumbs they throw you.  After all we got Obamacare. (More Sarcasm)

  Yes people are finding jobs, but not the jobs of yesteryear.  Not even close.  Hundreds of applicants line up for the same job.  In many cases a job that does not offer enough to dig ourselves out of the debt we have unwillingly accumulated since the "Great Recession".  Yup they are officially calling it the Great Recession.

  Are unemployment benefit applications going down because our economy is recovering?  Yes I guess they are.  But it's also because people are walking away.  They're tired, worn down, and beaten.  Is it okay tor Society to sweep these people under the rug?  I don't think so.

  Some...feels like most actually, see them as bums or panhandlers.  When in fact they are the ones who have done everything asked of them, just like you and me.  And when they asked their elected officials to do something for them, those same officials were to busy arguing over who is to blame.

  To say giving up and walking away is not accurate.  It makes them sound like they had a choice, when in fact they did not.  I don't know of a way to accurately describe what happened to these people.  It's like trying to bale out a sinking boat with bucket riddled with holes.  Eventually you sink.

  The people we chose to send to Washington to run things are doing the exact opposite.  They are doing nothing.  If they had to enter the work force like the rest of us, they wouldn't be employed long with that kind of work ethic.

The Right to Complain

   I can not believe the level of hatred and bigotry in this country.  While reading the business and economic news from various periodicals, I also look through the comments section per chance to find an intelligent and viable idea on how we as a Nation might proceed, to fix our woes and spur growth to create jobs.  Which are desperately needed.

   I usually find the same old blame game with some bright ideas sprinkled here and there.  But lately it's all been acrid slander spilling onto the page before me as if everybody at the party decided to vomit all at the same time.

   When did we become a Nation of complainers?  I understand the value of complaining.  Everyone needs something to complain about.  It's the natural order of things.  It helps to relieve stress when we're frustrated, angry and sometimes it's even helpful when we are bored.  You know, spices things up a bit.  But this is getting out of  control.  It's all the time.  Everyone is complaining and no one is doing anything about it.
There has to be a balance.  And the tone of complaining is astounding.  Vile, irreverent hatred coming from everywhere.

   It's often said that we have a right to complain.  If no one complained, we never would have had the American Revolution.  But to complain without action is fruitless.  By action I mean positive progressive steps forward.  Not holding our breath, stomping our feet, or even worse, do what ever it takes to get our way no matter who gets hurt.  Because I'm here to tell you,  complaining combined with negative hurtful actions is a cocktail for disaster.  I've seen the results of that for myself.  We all have.

   In the early hours of September 11th 2001 some 3000 people died in an hour and forty five minutes because of such a cocktail of closed minded hatred and selfishness.  Think about that for a minute.  1 hour and 45 minutes.  3000 mothers, fathers, sons  daughters, aunts, uncles, soldiers  firefighters, police, CEO's accountants, and janitors, gone.  For what?

   So we can cry about having to pay higher taxes?  So we can whine about who the real Americans are?  Did hundreds of thousands of families have their lives irrevocably changed so we could blame each other incessantly?

   We should be ashamed of ourselves.  If we as Americans were watching another country go through this we'd be disgusted and appalled at such childish behavior.  We should be honoring those men and women, as well as the military personnel who are fighting for us, and the ones that paid the ultimate price.

   We should be showing them that America is worth saving.  But instead we threaten Revolution and secession.  Running away from a problem never solved anything.  Working together will solve them all.

Veterans Day

   6,636 American Troops have given their all in Afghanistan and Iraq, 50,000 have been injured, 10's of thousands suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Even though winding down, experts at the Pentagon anticipate more casualties before it is all over.

   Delaware alone has lost 20 of our men and women, never to return to their families.  Not a large number when compared to the National totals I mentioned.  It may not even seem comparable to other States like California who gave 702 souls.

   But it is a significant number when you realize that day's before these brave men and  women set off to answer their Countries call, they were little more than children. Most fresh out of High School, where their biggest worries, no matter how important to them at the time, were nothing compared to the what they were about to face.

   I won't pretend to know what it must feel like for a parent to lose his or her child.  Nor can I fully imagine such a thing.  I do know that the thought of being told that very thing, haunted me for three years, until receiving news that my son was being separated from the Air Force, and that he was coming home.

   As with most of the events in my life, I considered myself very lucky.  My son is home, married and has given me and my wife two beautiful grandchildren.

  Twenty from Delaware are not home. Some of those leave children to grow up never knowing them.  Some haven't had the chance to have children.  But they all leave behind people, who loved them unconditionally.  And a grateful Nation.

   Let's honor the memory of those Brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, by putting aside our political differences and call on our Representatives in Congress and the Senate to give returning Vets the Medical care they need to deal with the problems they will face ahead.   The effort to make a phone call or e-mail to your Representative is minuscule compared to the efforts of our Veterans.

http://veteransupportcenter.org/

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.aspx

   

Divided We Fall

   There has been a lot of talk coming from Conservatives, GOP and Tea Party members about secession from the rest of the the Country. Blaming President Obama's win at the polls.  There seems to be a lot of hatred in this Country, for really no reason at all.  Certainly not any reason that can't be talked through and worked out.

   Some GOP Treasurer in Texas said the people who voted for Obama were maggots, Ted Nugent  referred to his fellow Americans as Pimps and Donald Trump called for a Revolution.  Seems he wants to march on Washington and take the Nation back by force.  That seems petulant to me, in fact it all seems petulant and childish to me.  And counter productive.  They are basically running away from their problems.

   I would have great difficulty voting for someone who runs at the first taste of defeat.  I don't recall anyone threatening Insurrection when George Bush Bankrupted America sending us spiraling into our worst Recession yet.  Nobody called Bush voters Pimps, or Maggots when he refused to invest in America, saying we are not Nation builders, all the while sending millions of dollars to build the Iraqi Nation.

   I'm not bitter about being temporarily laid off, or watching loved ones lose almost everything.  I'm even over the fact that I had to watch the quality of life of people I care deeply for drop to sub standard living.  One of the Tea Party denigration's called Obama voters "Cowards".

   Well that can't possibly be true because we are not running.  We didn't run four years ago, we didn't run eight years ago.  In fact we never ran, never threatened to run or secede.  We never called people names, belittled or bullied them in anyway.  In fact over the years we have behaved in the exact opposite manner in which we now find ourselves accused.

   And still we offer an olive branch, still we ask for our elected officials regardless of political affiliation, to fix this great Nation of ours.  This Proud Nation that we all love, that we have all Pledged our Allegiance to.

   We simply want to work for a decent wage.  Support our families, and have a quality of life that will ensure our well being.  Is having the right to marry the love of our lives to much to ask?  Is it cowardice to ask for the same pay as someone of the opposite sex?  Does having the means to support ourselves to a ripe old age make us maggots?  No, these things the GOP and Tea Party refer to, don't apply to us, they apply to them.

    Someone once said that what we fear the most, lies within ourselves.  I have always believed that in order to overcome your fears, you must confront them.  I don't know if that is true or not, but it might be as good a place to start as any.

Accountability

   I have been hearing a lot from groups like the Tea Party and Citizens for a better America on accountability.  Holding elected Politicians accountable for their actions.  Why? So no one ever decides to run for public office again.  So we end up with a Dictator State.  That's what will happen if they get their way.  We will see the biggest void in politics since the world was run by Monarchies.  We are talking about good men and women who decide to step forward to make our communities better places.  Everyone of them with the best of intentions  to serve the publics best interest and preserve our way of life for future generations.  Just because they don't have all the answers or make a bad judgement call, they want to punish them.  Utter stupidity! Do these groups have all the answers?  Have they never made a bad call under the impression they were making things better?  This is a completely idiotic idea!  For starters, we have an accountability measure put in place hundreds of years ago.  It's called not voting for a candidate you disagree with.  These groups are no longer grass root organizations with designs on making their neighborhoods better.  They are fronts for Big Business and Big Money, to make their lives better, not citizens lives better.  The people who join these groups don't realize they are being used as pawns by billionaires with personal agendas.  It's aggravating listening to them rant on about their moronic mission statements!  And it's almost impossible to avoid it, when they come knocking on your door with their questionnaires that are obviously one sided.  When you disagree with them they have the nerve to stand on your front step, on your own property and verbally attack and demean you.  If you don't believe me then go to their websites and read their agendas and mission statements.  At first they seem harmless and then they seem to make some kind of sense, but when you break it down sentence by sentence and think about what they are spouting, you realize they are the biggest bunch of bone heads since the Keystone Cops.  The only up side to that is, the Keystone Cops aren't real.  But I'm not sure these people know that.  The groups in question don't have the ability to make America Great, simply because the are incapable of bring people together.  Their focus is separating people.  Pushing them apart seems to be the real mission statement.  Dividing our Nation and feeding off of its polarizing effects.  What purpose could that serve?  It's like keeping a draw bridge in the up position all the time.  It keeps communities apart while allowing ships, shipments, and money flowing to the ones who are really in charge!

Conservatives

It is entirely possible to be conservative and be a caring, feeling, normal human being. Time was conservatives did care about others. They had their way and respected the fact that you had yours. I think most conservatives are still that way. We just don't realize it, because they are drowned out by right wing fanatics. In fact, I don't think they should call themselves conservative any more. You can't be a fanatic and conservative at the same time. Intentionally or not, they've sullied the very meaning of the word.  And about all the controversy lately over Famous personalities supporting conservatives. I say leave them alone. They've made their own decision and we should respect that.  Don't we ask for the same respect?  If you're deciding peoples votes for them, your in the wrong country.  It seems like everybody is so busy shouting to be heard they don't realize, nobody is listening to any one.  It's bad enough the politicians stopped listening to us, now we aren't even listening to each other.   I'm not a conservative but I respect their right to live as they see fit.  I only ask they do the same.  As for the Ultra Right Wing Extremist I say to you, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  So if you want to be berated, assaulted, belittled and humiliated, than by all means carry on.

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Joe is Joe

  All kidding aside, Joe Biden does care about America. Not just voters, it bothers him when Americans of all walks of life are in trouble, and rejoices when they are doing well. It may be hard to believe that a career politician cares, but he does. Take it from someone who knows Joe. No I have not had dinner at the Bidens,  he doesn't even know my name, but growing up in a small State like Delaware you get to know a guy without being his best friend, you can't hide secrets in this State. In Delaware we have a saying, when someones says "I know you from some where but I can't place it" we say, ''You do, this is Delaware after all". And that's true, talk to someone you don't know long enough and you will find someone in common, I guarantee it. Any way we see Joe all the time. Not just on the campaign trail, but around town. You know how during his campaigning he always says something about talking to people at stores or on the street. That is all true. I've talked to local politicians before, but Joe is the one that looks you in the eye, and you know he's listening. Tell him something happy or sad and he reacts like a human being would. I saw his eyes tear up when told a tragic story, and throw his head back and laugh hardily at a joke. Most other politicians just give you a fake frown and say that's a terrible story and I will change that when I get elected. He says silly things from time to time or makes gaffes, but we are used to that here, because we've seen Joes actions speak louder than his words. In fact they speak volumes. You may know about his career achievements, but most likely you don't know about his achievements outside Washington. Using his friends and influence to make a difference where it matters most, helping people. Getting Business' to donate equipment for volunteer organizations and professionals to freely give their experience to train Hot line Operators, are just some of the things he has done. If you think he's a goof or ill qualified, take the time to look up what he has done in and out of Washington. Like I said we are used to his verbal mistakes because he talks to you, and we value that more than being talked at. That's where we all end up eventually saying the wrong thing, because when your honest you are bound to offend someone. Like the saying goes "you can't please all the people all the time". As we say here in Delaware, "That's Joe"

Bill McLaughlin

We are the Government

    We have been hearing a lot lately from Politicians about who is right, who's wrong, who's doing a better job than who, and who is killing the Country. I still believe that anyone who goes into politics is doing it for honorable reasons, with the full intent to better the society in which they live. Sometimes they lose their way, some more than others, some end up selling out all together. But fundamentally they all start out meaning well. A radical change is sweeping America with a polarizing effect never before seen. Even during the Civil War our Nation was not as divided as we are today. Far Right Conservative Extremists and Extreme Left Liberals have stalemated National as well as Local Politics. Leaving no room for rational thought. Moderates both Republican and Democrats have lost their positions in Government. Knowledgeable , intelligent minds, capable of bringing this Country back on track, are gone or soon will be. The day President Obama was elected, the Tea Party publicly announced it will block every proposal the President puts forward. Going so far as to publicly threaten sitting Republicans to vote their way or face being voted out. And Liberals have sworn to stop Tea Party backed Republicans at every turn, tho not publicly as far as I know. So far both sides have done just that, very effectively. This is no way to run our Nation, be it on a National or Local level. As we have seen, America is dead locked, still suffering from our worst recession since the Great Depression. The jobs are not there, prices on everything from gas to milk is skyrocketing, and soon everyone's Taxes will be going through the roof if we don't decide on Bush era Tax cuts set to expire in January. John Adams once said "The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries" which simply put means no two people completely agree with each other but that doesn't mean we can't work it out. If open debate is the back bone of American politics, then compromise must be its savior.

Labor Day Parade

Wilmington, Delaware Labor Day Parade September 3, 2012

went off on time without a hitch. A light drizzle of rain started the

the Parade increasing as the participants marched on, ending

in showering downpour that did not dampen the spirits of those attending.

Among the Marchers were the AFL-CIO, Longshoremen, United Steel Workers,

University of Delaware Marching Band, as well as the Poly-Tech Marching Band,

just to name a few.

Among the Marchers were the AFL-CIO, Longshoremen, United Steel Workers,

University of Delaware Marching Band, as well as the Poly-Tech Marching Band,

just to name a few.

Also in attendance was Senator Tom Carper, always willing to ask questions

as well as answer them. Congressman John Carney was out talking easily with

everyone about the future of Delaware and Labor.

Dennis Spivack Candidate for Delaware Insurance 

Commissioner, talked about working with Labor, and Unions,

as well as Insurance coverage for women.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it so much, that it didn't look like they 

even were aware of the rain.

HYPOCRISY

The Tea Party has publicly announced they wish to return America back to the 1950's where it was strong and prosperous. An era in which every American citizen lived in fear of total annihilation  from tyrannical zealots and minorities were considered to be a burden on society and had no right to share in the American dream. Job well done Tea Party.

The Tea Party

When the Tea Party was first founded it was a grass roots organization with high ideals, and principals. I think that if you looked into it you'd see for yourself that it was admirable. That being said, it seems to have lost its way. Many of the day to day supporters and volunteers are good hard working people who still believe in the ideals of the organization, but the organization no longer believes in them. Tea Party leaders, and their donors have a new agenda. Money and Power...and lots of it. Secretly backed by billionaires, bankers, monopolies, and other Big Money. These powers behind the scene like it that way. The less you know the better. These Big Money backers are throwing millions at the political scene hoping to buy seats in Congress, the Senate, and even the Presidency. If they get their way all business in the U.S. will be deregulated, and they'll get to do what ever they want with no consumer protection. They will throw open the borders and have an endless supply of disposable labor, eliminate minimum wage, overtime pay, maximum hours worked in day, paid holidays, earned vacation, simply put Federal Labor Laws put in place to protect you. Not to mention the advancements in Women's rights. They have already threatened enough honest Republicans to vote their way or face being voted out. Subsequently they have managed to block almost every proposal our President has made to end the Recession and bring the American economy back on track. The stage for Big Money getting Bigger has been set. The Tea Party with their Puppet Masters pulling the strings have created the biggest division between Americans this Country has ever seen. Bigger even then the Civil War. I know this sounds like a conspiracy theory but you have to realize, I grew up in an America that was Free and United and nothing like the one we live in now.

Governor Christie

Well Governor Christie did it again. another speech all about himself. It's amazing how great he is. If you listen to him, he is always right and never wrong. It never ceases to amaze me how he's never to blame, it's always someone else' fault, no matter what it is. He was chosen to be the key note speaker at the Republican National Convention to tout the virtues of Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. But instead spent that time touting himself...as usual. What's it called when you compliment and insult at the same time? anyway he has a talent for it. Governor Christie repeatedly told the convention goers how he accomplished deeds that couldn't  be done with willing bi-partisanship, followed by a statement like, because we (Republicans) are better than Democrats. I don't think he gets what bi-partisan means. And the lies he spouted were just appalling. He said he cut Taxes. Truth is if you made a million dollars, you got $40,000 more back and if you made minimum wage you had to pay an extra $300. Christie bragged about how his Grandmother had to take three buses to get to work, just to put food on the table. Is that why he cut NJ Transit to the bare minimum? His father went to a publicly funded school on the GI Bill. So that explains why he cut public funding to schools. Christie proudly proclaimed how he took on the Teachers Union, and made the education system better. What he really did was promote teachers that promote children whether they learn anything or not, and punish educators who believe a student should learn to do the work required or face failure. I'm curious if this is the lesson the Governor's mother taught him when he said "my mother taught me hard work leads to success." Well Mr. Christie this may come as a surprise to you, but it won't to most, you are a Bully. You call people names, you shout at them instead of talk to them, and intimidate your way through everything you do. Society has put endless effort into eliminating Bullies, and people like you make that task almost impossible. Almost but not entirely, if a child can stand up to a bully, so can we.

BIDENISMS

    Here in Delaware we are used to Joe Bidens war on words, or what has been more recently coined 'Bidenisms'. Even here we have our own way of describing such gaffes, "Joe is Joe". That's not our way of brushing off or making excuses for such flubs, it is more an explanation that action speaks louder than words. Because what we are more accustomed to is results, and Joe gets it done.

    Joe Biden helped to craft the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act, the Violence Against Women Act, to name just a few. He wrote the law that created the U.S. Drug Czar position. And was instrumental in getting all these passed. He follows up on all the legislation he passes by getting local business and community involved by donating equipment and expertise. How many Politicians can say that? How many of you can say that?

    Joe Biden was outspoken about not putting U.S. troops in harms way overseas. But once the troops were deployed he was on the ground with them making sure they had what they needed to get the job done. He worked not only with the Legislature but again with Businesses, communities, fundraisers, and donations to help our troops.

    No one is perfect and we should stop expecting them to be. I'm not perfect and I don't expect you to take my word on any of this. Look up the facts. This is all public record. I would, however challenge you to find a person that is more successful and a hire achievement rate than Joe Biden, and if you do, vote for that person. That is who we need running for office. When we elect someone to political office we are putting our lives into his or her hands.

    Don't stop asking questions until you get an answer. Maybe that's why Joe makes so many Bidenisms, because he gives answers instead of rhetoric. He doesn't stop at "we are going to create jobs" he tells us how he's going to do it.