Frustration Galore

Yes, I am frustrated. This may be a 'why why WHY' post... so hold on to your shorts.

Let's start with politics, since that really is in my heart. So why do I get so frustrated when I do love it so? The politicians are acting worse than my 2 year old. Grown men & women. This infuriates me whenever it is seen - and frankly it is becoming more often. How scary is THAT? In business too. How can inept people still hold jobs when the unemployment rate is so high? And people wonder why America is in this state? I can tell you 4 good reasons off the top of my head. 1. It starts with acting your age. 2. It continues with taking responsibility for your actions. 3. It goes on with having your WORD mean something. You know - if you say you will do something, then DO it. (A good friend rants on this one too!) 4. It ends with taking some initiative & striving to IMPROVE items around you.

So I am not even 4 sentences into this topic, and I was OFF topic! Sooooo much stuff that just doesn't make sense. I thought I was rational.... am I really off-base here? Back to the politicians. The status of the Minnesota budget is horrendous. This is the case all across the U.S. A poor economy will do that. No surprise there - as evidenced by California's I.O.U.'s... yeah, how'd you like to get one of those? hehehe. I digress again. The budget. 1 week left in the session and the budget is outstanding. It's always handled last because it is the biggest bargaining chip used through-out the session. This I understand. This I do NOT agree with. The first item that must be handled in the session is the budget. Is there anything more important? No. Sorry Vikes, your stadium isn't making the priority list. There should be a law - NOTHING ELSE IS DISCUSSED UNTIL A BUDGET IS PASSED. Yeah - just try to go pass that one, I know. But that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do. Because it is. I know it is.

The best thing that happened last week was that the MN State Supreme Court found Governor Tim Pawlenty's 2009 unallotment to be unconstitutional. Not in the action, as that was a power given to the office by the Legislature. But in TIMING. Very key there. He unallotted while the Legislature was still in session. Unallotment was a power granted for EMERGENCY situations. 2009 did not qualify as the session was still running. THIS was an outstanding decision. Magnificent even. I did a dance in my den. It wasn't pretty - but it was joyous! And so many people didn't even take notice. But then, they didn't notice when Tim-baby acted like a dictator in 2009 either. So I suppose I really shouldn't be surprised. I find this so very interesting. The GOP & fear-mongering that is still rampant out there had NO qualms what-so-ever with Tim abusing his powers. But if the shoe were on the other foot - I am very certain - that outrage would have ensued & the Tea-Partyers would have camped out on the Governor's front lawn. How quaint.

Since this court decision was passed down, the Legislature is in an even bigger mess - the budget deficit larger than before. My solution? Cut everyone across the board. This MUST include all legislators, state employees of EVERY sort. All offices. I don't care what you take care of. Yes, that includes YOU teachers. And YOU politicians. Frankly, the politicians should have taken the cuts 1st. But that's just my opinion.

So we've got a week. But there's more. A week ago, Mr. Pawlenty sent a letter to the House & Senate leaders: Dear Schmucks, Good work on your budget. I hate it & I will veto it. Have a great day suck-wads. Love, Mr. President OOPS Pawlenty. SO, because the Legislature is working together to get something done, and HE doesn't like it, he won't 'play nice'. Nope. So, does anyone else find it odd that Tim behave this way & still gets respect? I have lost the smidgen of respect I did have for the man. Granted, he didn't have far to go for that to happen - but STILL.

So back to the Legislature. Please pass the budget with enough votes to override Tim's veto. PLEASE. MN cannot function appropriately by cutting, cutting, cutting! I know there is still waste out there. Yes it needs to be gone. BUT, there are programs getting the hatchet that cannot get the hatchet before people won't be taken care of. Literally. My example? The elderly. Last year's cut was 5%. Oh, not to 'nursing homes', but to any facility that accepts termed 'elderly waver'. (aka Assisted Living). This year - they are looking at another 5% cut. So, should the Legislature keep cutting, there won't be facilities willing to take care of people on this elderly waver program. What then? Their response is 'We'll deal with that after it happens.' REALLY? Haven't our elders put up with enough of your crapola? Then they'll have to worry about being taken care of as well? REALLY? Oh, but don't cut education. AHHHHHHH! Studies have proven that throwing money at education does NOT make it better. Studies have shown that if elderly stay home too long, there is physical danger to them, their families & their neighbors - hospital costs increase, fires happen. Yet MN is ready to drive down this road willingly & readily.

My blood is boiling & I am certain my blood pressure is going through the roof. I've called my Legislators. I've emailed. I've lobbied! It isn't enough.

People only care about their pocketbook. Know what? I do understand that. But - lets get realistic. There are items that do need to be taken care of and taxes do accomplish it. Yes, it may be a terribly economy as to why we are in this mess. So let's look at that. Why not have taxes automatically bump up a bit based on the unemployment rate? (And YES, they would automatically bump DOWN as well!) This way a budget deficit wouldn't be AS bad. This is something that can be easily accomplished. I think this is a great way to lessen the impact of the next recession - there will be one... there always is the next dip in the road you know.

Let's look at the postal system. They are already looking at cutting Saturday service. This I am very OK with. I thought of this last fall. But let's take this 1 step further. Did you know that every person in the postal system gets FREE health insurance? FREE. Sorry, but this needs to stop - like yesterday. Phase it out until Uncle Sam pays the 70% to match the rate included in the national health care reform bill. Nobody should get FREE health insurance. Same goes for YOU teachers.

Have I talked about retirement plans yet? I do not recall. So I will. Sorry - the 'average' business out there doesn't provide a paid retirement plan for their employees. Most don't even match a 401(k) percentage any more. No government agency or employee should have an automatic retirement plan included in their benefits. This needs to stop - again - like yesterday. This includes ALL politicians & teachers.

People think MN taxes are so high. We're not even in the top 10 in the U.S. For how much we plow, salt & sand roads, I would have expected us to rank higher. Not that that is the only consideration. How much cutting can be done & still have a state you WANT to live in? I've said this before - you can tell how good a society is by how they treat their least citizen. We're not doing so hot. In fact, we SUCK. I do what I can in my community to make it better. I give to the food shelf on a regular basis. I volunteer at a FREE community meal (& donate food to make it fly). To help people. I freeze meals for my 89 year old Grandmother (I call it frozen meals on wheels) so she can stay at home longer. I practice what I preach. I teach my kids what they need to do to make this a better place. That is all I can do as 1 person. But if every person did the same - wow, what an amazing country we'd have!