I Am Not A Surgeon But...

I am sure I can correct your heart problem. I haven't had any training, I know nothing about sanitizing surgical tools, or if something goes wrong, but I've seen E.R. I'm sure I can figure it out.

I'm not an electrician, but I'm sure I can install your lights. I mean, I have no idea how wiring works or how to make sure circuits don't overload, but it's just cutting holes in the wall and plugging things in, right?

I'm not a mechanic, but I'm sure I can fix your car. I mean, how hard can it be to swap an exhaust system on a 2013 VW Jetta?

This is what our problem is. We think it doesn't matter that we don't have training. We think as individuals we can do anything. But WE CAN'T. How can you possibly know what the right thing is when you do not have any knowledge of the subject? How can you possibly know what the right thing is when you have no firsthand experience?

Training matters. Knowledge matters. Recognizing that you don't know what the hell you're talking about is important. I'm sorry but I don't want some random person I picked up from a pub working on my teeth. I'm sorry but I don't want some random person who has no understanding of construction building my house. I'm sorry but I do not want someone who does not believe in SCIENCE making decisions ABOUT SCIENCE! I'm sorry but I don't want a man making decisions about WOMEN'S BODIES. I'm sorry but I don't want people who send their kids to private schools making decisions about PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I don't want rich people, who were born rich, making decisions about SOCIAL SAFETY NETS.

That is just stupid. It is just crazy.

Training matters. Knowledge matters. Ask the experts what they think - the people with years of training, specialized skills, and experience. Then make decisions. Doing anything else, and we're no better than monkeys playing "human."

Poor? Then You're Bad

If you are poor, you are bad. Why else would the American society, government, and economy be set up to penalize the poor? Let's explore all the ways the poor are punished, and how this punishment keeps people impoverished, and even works to further impoverish those on the bottom.

Firstly, in a capitalist society where money is king, poverty is connected with low status. Necessarily, someone who is poor not only has little power, as capital is a type of power - a way of changing one's environment or situation - but a poor person has low status because they are labeled as a loser in the game of capitalism.

Along with "loser" label comes the associated visible distinctions. Someone with high net worth has a certain appearance - they have nice things, they have good health (because up until this point health was something someone had to buy), they have good education, good connections, and the list goes on. These things are visible to even the most casual observer in how clothes fit, their condition, to even the vocabulary and cadence of a person's voice.

This highlights the problem of quality of life. Because a poor person doesn't have the capital to take care of such needs, like preventative health care, a good portion of their income ends up being spent on emergency situations. For example, I can't afford to pay a dentist for a regular check-up so I wait until my teeth hurt and instead of getting a cavity filled, I now require a root-canal. The cavity would have cost less, but because there wasn't spare income to cover regular check-ups, the care was put off. The result is a more significant intervention that costs more time and money - two things a poor person doesn't have to spare.

Time is invaluable to a poor person. The reason is a poor person likely has to work longer hours for lower compensation. The result is someone making minimum wage at two or three jobs, and often times this still isn't enough to cover basic living costs.

The irony of this, is government programs require a person to have no assets in order to qualify for pitiful subsidies (think: $44 a week to cover food costs). So having a job that pays more than minimum wage, an IRA, or even a car can hurt the poor more when applying for food stamps (and traditionally federal medical coverage). Also, keep in mind that good food tends to cost more money. So in order to be really healthy, as a poor person, you'd have to either make more money at your job, or try to find a food pantry that gives out fresh produce.

Now that we've covered the problems with social stigma, healthcare, and government assistance, what happens to people who'd like to better themselves? That's the American dream - the myth that keeps everyone working hard; if you work hard enough, you can better yourself.

But if you're poor, that's pretty unlikely. The reason is a poor person needs resources in order to get out of poverty - resources he doesn't have.

Let's say this person has some debt because he fell on hard times (an emergency situation like an ER visit or car problems caused him to spend some credit). Debt is built to penalize the debtor. This is because the debtors ends up paying much more than the initial money credited him. This is made even worse when he can't pay.

Take a step back and think about this for a second; the debtor can't pay, so his account goes delinquent, and then we charge him more fees that he can't pay, so we charge him more fees... until his credit is shot and he has no way of digging himself out of this indebted hole.

I don't know about you, but this makes NO sense to me at all. It's one thing if a person is refusing to pay but when they simply can't afford to pay? That's crazy. And this poor credit impacts other aspects of this person's life - his ability to rent (because of course he can't buy a house, and even if he could, he probably couldn't get a loan at a good rate), to buy a car, and even to get certain jobs...

Now let's say our poor person wants to change their fate - they want a better job. But how can he get a better job?

First, he needs a computer, printer, and a phone. He needs the computer to research potential jobs. He needs to printer to print off application forms and resumes. He needs a phone so he can call employers and employers can reach him regarding interviews.

These three things are crucial, yet many are simply out of the realm of possibility for a poor person. Even one of the $99 Chromebooks is an extravagance when you're worried how you're going to buy food or pay the electric bill. And let's not even get into all the little fees and costs involved in having a smartphone, which might substitute for a computer in a pinch...

Let's say this poor person somehow, miraculously, is able to land an interview. What are they going to wear? If he's lucky, he'll find something at the thrift shop that is in reasonable condition and is actually his size. He might not be able to wash it beforehand (laundromats are more expensive to use than having your own washing machine in the long run).

Maybe our man gets the job. What is he going to wear to work? He can't wear the same outfit everyday. Is he going to find 5 suits that fit him and are in good condition at the thrift shop? It's unlikely, but it isn't impossible. But again, he needs to make the time to search for these things....time he may or may not have. He'll need to be at the store when it's open...which might or might not happen, especially if he's reliant on public transit which frequently takes twice as long as a car in most places (and his credit was so bad, he probably doesn't have a car).

In every aspect of the poor man's life, he is penalized. He has to work longer hours for less pay because he doesn't have as good of an education. He doesn't have time with his family because he has to work so long. He doesn't have as good of clothing so he looks like a lower status person to society. He can't afford to cover preventative care, which means he waits until things are emergencies and this usually results in a worse situation for his health as well as his wallet. He is charged fees when he can't afford to pay his bills which puts him into an even worse situation. This screws up his credit so he has difficulty renting an apartment or getting a loan (which makes it hard to start a business as well!). He can't get a good job because he doesn't have the communications equipment to find and apply for one, let alone the wardrobe he would need to hold it down.

All this happens when you are poor in America. Because of this, the logical conclusion is that poor people are bad and have little to no value. Why else would everything in society be set up to punish you?

40 Things I'd do as a Politician

The more I read about these "austerity" measures and various things being voted into law, the more convinced I am that fewer and fewer politicians actually care what happens to us (Elizabeth, you're actually amazing and I kind of love you btw).

Because of the way politics is currently, and the incredibly judgy nature of the American public, I doubt I'll ever get into politics. But the whole scary mess before us got me thinking, what would I do if I was a politician? How would I make the world different for my unborn child?

So here's a list (in no particular order) of things that I'd do:

1. Decrease student loan interest rates. People trying to better themselves should not have to become indentured servants in order to do so.
2. Break up big banks and keep them separate from federal funds. This seems like a no-brainer, but apparently it's uncommon sense.
3. Increase corporate loan interest rates. This is a route to decreasing our debt.
4. Support capital gains tax. It's an easy way to address our national debt.
5. Repeal Citizens' United, however it needs to happen. This is just wrong.
6. Break up telecoms for trust violations and buy/possess the lines. This has been an on-going issue since the industry's creation, and prevents any real competition, much to consumers' detriment.
7. Revoke corporate personhood. Corporations are not people. They should not be treated as such.
8. Close corporate tax loops, simplifying the tax structure. Companies making profits must pay taxes. The current situation encourages large corps to be taxed no more than the average non-profit!
9. Increase taxes for high-networth individuals. To whom much is given, much is required.
10. Put low caps on political campaign spending. This would place candidates on an equal footing as well as prevent corporate interests from influencing the political process to voters' detriment.
11. Require companies to have certain number of workers in country if they want to sell products/services in country (dependent on industry and product/service). This would ensure jobs were kept in America as businesses would be foolish to lose such a market.
12. Have stricter environmental regulations and inspections for agribusiness. There have been many disturbing situations regarding agribusiness, and the industry is unsustainable in its current form.
13. Give tax credit to individuals using contraception. Population size is a concern, and so is general sexual health. To prevent unwanted pregnancies and additional burdens to tax-payers, this would incentivize pregnancy prevention.
14. Require restaurants to compost and recycle as part of health requirements. This would create more jobs and help reduce our carbon footprint (as well as enriching the soil by placing nutrient rich compost back into the earth).
15. Charge product retailers per plastic bag/paper bag (or ban plastic bags altogether). This would help decrease landfill waste and as well as ocean pollution.
16. Institute a one-payer system of health care. Socialized health care is effective elsewhere. It would give many people peace of mind (and by many, I mean the majority of the population that currently has to make job choices based on health care benefits if they are able to do even that!).
17. Require a year of service in either military or AmeriCorps (or other volunteer civil service program). By having young people do a year of civil service, we have a cheap labor force that can help correct a wide variety of projects on the community level.
18. Decrease military spending. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on the military when other parts of our nation need greater attention.
19. Pull military back from excessive engagements. We need to concentrate on issues at home rather than spreading ourselves too thin across the globe.
20. Allow schools more autonomy to address issues at local level. Schools know more of what they need than we do at the federal level.
21. Increase educational funding. This is an area that has received too many cuts and continues to suffer, thereby weakening our workforce and our ability as a nation to compete.
22. Place limits on how many residential properties one individual or entity can own. This would allow young families more opportunities to own homes, as opposed to investors owning the majority of the land.
23. Require property owners have primary residence in country, as opposed to foreign investors purchasing residential property without any kind of repercussions.
24. Require that a certain number/percentage of workers should live in the community where they work. This decreases carbon footprints from commuting as well as increasing the connections within a community (i.e. creating a sustainable community).
25. Institute a living wage. If we want a sustainable economy, we need to take care of all of our workforce. They need to be able to live while working as anything - including being a waitress or flipping burgers at a fast food joint.
26. Require paid sick time for all workers. Duh.
27. Require at least 4 weeks paid vacation (like the majority of the world!) for all workers. This is a good idea because people won't burn out or get sick as much. In short, we'll be happier - and happier workers are more productive.
28. Require paid parental leave. This helps keep able-bodied workers in the work force while allowing them financially safe time to bond with a new family member.
29. Give credentialed midwives the same status as obstetricians regarding attending low risk pregnancies (insurance coverage etc). Why wouldn't we?
30. Make contraception free for low income individuals. Duh.
31. Make contraception free without parental consent to minors. Duh.
32. Require companies of a certain size have childcare for workers on site. This is better for productivity and for workers.
33. Require companies smaller than a certain size provide stipend/voucher for daycare within a 10 mile radius from work site. Same as above.
34. Institute restorative justice programs for at the very least, low-level offenders. This is cheaper and more effective than more punitive measures.
35. Decriminalize marijuana possession (and possibly legalize, with the expectation of taxing marijuana products). This would decrease jail populations, and if legalized and taxed, the marijuana market could become another source of income that would address national debt.
36. Give community/municipality tax credits/incentives for community gardens/CSA. This is a way to build more sustainable communities as well as facilitate healthy eating habits (and therefore increase disease prevention in the greater population).
37. Institute free wi-fi in cities. This would be a part of acquiring telecom lines, and would level the playing field for potential labor. Without internet access, it is difficult to be competitive or to become educated/access services. This would address several issues at once with little cost to municipalities.
38. Would continue to protect private information, period.
39. Beef up Social Security to something that actually supports retired people. It doesn't make any sense to penalize people who have spent their lives contributing to their communities by ceasing to care for them.
40. Live in the community I represent (as opposed to owning a house far away from the people who are actually impacted by my policy choices).

Phew! That was a LOT! There are more, but these are the ones that stick in my head the most - that keep me up at night. Just imagine what would happen if these changes were actually implemented and supported by our representatives? Our country would be an amazing place. I'd actually be proud to call myself American when I went abroad...as opposed to wanting to hide to avoid projectile rotting fruit or vicious slurs.

Yes, I can't wait for the day when our representatives make choices that work for us, as opposed to hurting us over and over again in favor of corporate interests and antiquated ideas about how the world works. May I live to see that day.

Psychopathic Companies - Inherited Organizational Culture

Recently I've become fascinated with personalities and inherited traits. It makes sense considering that I write about people, and with book 3, Lilith and Ammon, I have been writing a lot about parents and children.

The truth is there is a case for the heredity of personality traits. But that isn't my main concern (I already know I'm like my parents). Personality traits are just the beginning - psychological profiles are much more interesting to me. Let's talk about mental illness for a moment.

Mental illness is at least partially hereditary, though generally it doesn't frighten me. Someone who is schizophrenic or depressed doesn't bother me one bit. If the person sees a therapist regularly and continually takes their medications, they can be a contributing member of society. It's relatively easy to spot, and assuming the person has health coverage (a different issue), it is treatable. But what about hereditary traits that aren't treatable? What about psychopaths, for example?

Psychopaths are scary. I don't mean the serial killers out there. Of course those guys are scary. But they haven't successfully integrated into society. I'm talking about the corporate psychos. I'm talking about one of my ex-bosses. These are people who are willing to do whatever it takes to win at the corporate game. So on the one hand, they're charming and wonderful, and on the other they're manipulative and horrible. They victimize whomever in order to win, which means they become C level in a short period of time.

There are some who argue that corporations are psychopaths (which we know is possible, because they're now legally people). If we follow this logic, a company has a set organizational culture which is developed by its founders. Once set, it is nearly impossible to change. If a company is a person, then the founders are effectively parents. Personality traits are hereditary - passed from the genes of parents to children (i.e. companies). Therefore, the founders of these psychopathic companies are psychopaths themselves.

But what about socially responsible companies? What about places like R.E.I.? There are alternatives to the psychopathic company out there. Their parents have good genes and so they do good in the world.

I am glad alternatives to the psycho corps are out there. It gives me hope. It makes me feel like we have options. Unfortunately, we all have to suffer the consequences of the existing psycho corps. I say, don't bail out these crazy companies. Let them fail - and fail they will. Once they do, let's replace them with new creations of good genes. I could stand a few more R.E.I.s and Seventh Generations in the world. In the mean time, I'll watch the other corporations stab each other repeatedly while I drink my coffee at the beach.

I'm not psycho at all... I swear. :-D

Cutting Healthcare Is Russian Roulette - Go Single Payer!

Little blue sparks. I have recently seen little blue sparks in my field of vision. It is completely freaking me out, because it might be something or absolutely nothing.

Since the age of 8, I have worn corrective lenses. I hate it. It's hereditary, and more than half of my family has suffered this annoying fate (and not because they are over 45!). My grandmother, bless her, even has glaucoma. It is easy to imagine how nervous I got when I began seeing little blue sparks.

From what I have read, little blue sparks are caused by changes in eye pressure. Eye pressure can change from any number of things, including aging. I have (literally) always seen the world differently than others. Blue sparks are not completely abnormal for me. Getting them once a day, however, is a little odd.

Three months ago I would have had to pay out of pocket to see an eye doctor. Now I have complete coverage thanks to the healthplan Christian has through his work. I can't help wondering how this would have ended if it wasn't something as simple as aging when I wasn't covered. What if I was uninsured and had a retinal tear? What would I do then? I cannot imagine what I would have to spend just to see.

This might not be a life threatening situation, but it certainly addresses the issue at hand. Many businesses want to cut costs, so they limit what kind of insurance is available to their full time employees. Christian was one of the lucky ones to have vision and dental included in his plan options. Not all full time employees are so lucky. Part time workers can forget benefits altogether.  I love my job, but I have to negotiate even paid prep time. People at both of our jobs depend on us and rely on us. Being exposed to sharps, heat, and solvents, Christian has great potential for injury. I work with the public, and am constantly exposed to viruses and bacteria. Wouldn't it be nice if we had good preventative and after healthcare? But that is incredibly expensive for most businesses.

Because of this excess expense, it seems all businesses would benefit by backing a single payer system. Even Walmart wants a single payer system, because it would be one less cost to the company and they understand the importance of a healthy workforce.

Unfortunately, we're a long way from a single payer system. If Mitt or Newt (what's up with these names?!) comes into office, it will move even further away. In the mean time, businesses still need to pay to protect their employees' health.

When a company denies healthcare, they are not just telling their employee his or her life is expendable. If a person has a serious and chronic medical condition, a difference in coverage can literally be life or death. Therefore an unwillingness to pay or a denial of coverage are both kinds of death sentences. I don't know about you, but I wasn't aware we had begun executing innocent people in the name of money.

Yes, private healthcare is expensive. Rather than complaining about the cost of private companies that frequently deny coverage, let's change to single payer. Businesses should all support this idea - it benefits them by ensuring their workforce is healthy while also removing a potential cost. Plus, business owners might sleep better. Their decisions wouldn't result in untimely deaths.

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American Pluralism - If You Don't Love It, Leave It

My husband is repeatedly exposed to country music at his work, which regretfully gets stuck in his head. Don't get me wrong, there is some good country music with good messages. There's even some country music I enjoy. But just like all music, there's some really bad stuff out there too.

Then of course, there's stuff that makes me want to punch people.

This side of country music represents a certain portion of the population that misses the "good ole days" when everyone was the "same" in America. Fightin' Side of Me and songs like it, represent the provincial white American protestant male. And these boys are scared. They're scared because suddenly there are a lot fewer of them and a lot more "others." While living in the Bay Area, the average person was about five or six indefinable ethnicities. The blond and blue-eyed were much more rare.

The problem with the US is it has never been a country where everyone was "the same." In fact, that is one of the best things about America. Difference defines us. It makes this country stronger because we fight with each other until we figure out a common ground. We have people of every race, culture, creed, and religion in this country. We have people of every political and socio-economic persuasion. It is increasingly impossible to look at a person and know who or what they are. We have to ask. And this characteristic is a pain in the ass, no question. But it makes us better because when we struggle through our differences, we become stronger. We know and love ourselves better, and we adhere to our convictions that much more.

Despite the positives, some would rather not have this high level of difference. This particular characteristic - pluralism - is annoying to those who long for a mythical past where everyone was white bread, drank lemonade, and had mothers who looked like Donna Reed (Sorry guys, but that only happened on television!). In a world where the white American male is already a dying breed, and identities become increasingly complex with lines constantly shifting and blurring, it makes sense this group would get angry.

But I've come to put a little perspective on this. Boys, calm down!

There are reasons why people come to the US. We are ultimately a nation of immigrants. Let me give you a few examples. When I studied abroad in Hungary in 2004, some of the students I met made anti-semitic comments. I distinctly recall my shock at the words coming out of these kids' mouths. Did they not remember the Nazi party of their own country? Could they not see the beautiful but empty synagogues testifying to the systematic destruction of European Jews? I couldn't believe this was still alive and well. It makes sense to me that certain groups would want to leave a place where they were still unwelcome after all these years. But anti-semitism isn't the only reason why someone might come to the states.

When I was visiting Nicaragua in 2002, I saw the deep lingering scars left by their civil war. The abject poverty of mountain villages was astounding; even a 10 cent bag of rice was out of reach. I can understand why those people would struggle to move to a place where they could be safe and have opportunities to make more money to provide for their families. Economy and security are just two more reasons why someone would become American. But America isn't just a land of opportunity - America is the land of equal opportunity.

While I was in India in 2007, it struck me as strange that it was impossible to get away from ethnic origins. Every single surname pinpointed the exact location of a person's family - from their region and dialect, to their caste. As much as someone wanted to be heard and valued, as much as someone wanted to work to better themselves, there was always a painful, and acknowledged, glass ceiling. It makes sense then, for these people to move to a place where they could, in theory, change their economic and social fate.

There are many reasons for people to come to the US. These are personal examples of times when I could see why someone would move here. However, these aren't the only situations. In other places it is still possible to be persecuted for what a person believes or thinks. It is still possible to be jailed for speaking out against the government. Luckily for us, that is something that distinctly goes against the American grain. We have freedom of speech. It's great! I love it! And I will defend that right for those with whom I adamantly disagree. The reason is I think it is important. It is one of the ways we become a better society.

It is patriotic to disagree. It is patriotic to stand up for what we believe in. It is patriotic to say we should work for peace, rather than killing people. It is patriotic to say that corporations should just be companies, and not considered people by law. It is patriotic to say rich people should give back that much more because of all they have taken from their fellow citizens. These are patriotic opinions that have a place in our American political conversation. Why? Because they all strive to make this country better. And they require all of us to address these issues. We really can't ignore these voices when we live in a democracy. It's immoral, and frankly it's un-American.

I'm  willing to put up with the consequences of living in a society of difference. I love it and value it. It's one of the things that truly makes me proud to be American.

And to those who don't have the balls to do the same, well, you can leave.

Sometimes a Fetus is Just a Fetus - In Defense of Women

 Once again, courtesy of the Republican candidates, female reproductive rights are under fire. One issue in particular that puts bile in my mouth is granting person-hood to fetal cells. There are several reasons why this is a horrible idea that should be squashed immediately. The first that troubles me greatly is that of miscarriages.

I don't know about you, but I have never met a woman who wished to miscarry. Sure, I've known women who had abortions, but abortion is not miscarriage. Miscarriage is something completely different.

Miscarriage is one of those topics very few people are willing to talk about. Women who do miscarry often feel like something is wrong with them. After all, how come they weren't able to carry to term? Could they have done something differently? Were they not taking the right vitamins? Are they just cursed by God? These are some of the questions women will ask themselves after they have miscarried. They become depressed and filled with self-doubt. Often their relationships suffer. These are women who want their babies.

This is one reason I find it so atrocious that anyone is moving to establish person-hood for fetuses. The implications of legally granting person-hood to fetuses are frightening. This would make any woman who miscarries liable for the pregnancy they lost. And that's a problem. Miscarriages aren't something planned. A woman can do everything in her power to carry a pregnancy to term and still miscarry or have a stillborn birth. How shameful for us as a society to suggest that such a woman be further humiliated by forcing her to go through legal proceedings to determine if this was a criminal act!

I've heard some doctors say that miscarriage is the body's way of saving us from heartache later (if there was something wrong with the fetus for example). Perhaps it is true that some pregnancies could have been viable in other wombs. Perhaps other fetuses should not be carried to term (for a variety of reasons). But I am not going to judge women who miscarry. It is not their fault. They should not be punished for circumstances outside of their control.

Of course, this is not the only issue that concerns me when talking about granting fetal cells person-hood. We also have the abortion issue. This is concerning in several scenarios. In the case of rape or incest, I could never judge a woman for choosing to abort an unwanted pregnancy. To be forever reminded of that trauma would be horrific, and I don't feel it is my place to require that woman live with consequences outside of her control. Just knowing that a product of such trauma was out in the world could be enough to horrify a woman with such experiences. Adoption isn't necessarily an option. The self-loathing and depression associated with such a pregnancy could be too much to bear. It is not my place to require a traumatized woman to go through yet another horrible and humiliating experience.

The last abortion scenario would be where the pregnancy is life-threatening for the woman. This could be a tubal or other type of pregnancy (extenuating circumstances, diseases etc). In most situations of this sort, the pregnancy isn't really viable (i.e. tubal) and so I can't understand how a woman should be prevented from saving her own life when it would be impossible to carry to term. In others, the pregnancy might be viable, except we end up weighing a present life with a potential life. A fetus doesn't have relationships. It is not a member of the community. It is a potential community member. How can we weigh a potential with something that is real and present at the current time? I cannot judge a husband and any children for wanting their wife and mother to live. These people should not be held liable.

Of course, if we are going to talk about person-hood of fetuses, then we also need to discuss how to be more responsible about pregnancies. Often those individuals in the pro-life camp are unwilling to discuss contraception. This is irresponsible and immoral. Anyone who has lived through their teen years - which would be everyone over the age of 19 - has been horny as hell. Unfortunately, this is also a time when it is difficult to come by birth control. Add to the mix those lovely abstinence campaigns which research has shown do not work, and we have a recipe for a whole bunch of unwanted pregnancies. This is not even touching the fact that many insurance companies will not cover contraception. This makes it more difficult to engage in thoughtfully planning when to have children. If life is so sacred, why would we place women in situations where they might have unwanted pregnancies and therefore may want to have an abortion? It is counterintuitive.


All of these issues seem to be enough to counter the argument for fetal cell person-hood, but there is one final question that should be raised. By granting person-hood to fetuses, we would be encouraging population growth. Already the world is overpopulated. When we consider the amount of elderly that are continuing to live longer lives as well as the thoughtless people who have more than ten children, our world has come under quite a great deal of pressure. Let's be honest with ourselves - increasing the population size is not a good thing. It is dangerous. Supporting such an idea is immoral, considering we already have resource strain as it is with fuels like oil. Anyone who has visited a country like India knows that a large population is difficult to control and strains infrastructure in addition to resources. Considering the strain on our infrastructure from the economy, it seems additional strains from population growth would be more than unwelcome.

As we can see, person-hood for fetal cells is a personal, political, and moral issue for a variety of reasons. Not only does such a change in law impact women and their families on a variety of levels, but it also impacts society at large by encouraging population growth. We have an obligation to protect  women, their families, and our communities from such irresponsible and thoughtless legislation. When considering who to support in 2012, look to those who support women. They're fighting for you and for me.

Get a Job? Stop Being So Self Righteously Retarded

Somebody told me recently to get a job. What an asshole.

Here is why anyone who says something like that is a jerk and needs to take their judgemental bull and have it rubbed roughly in their face.

It is true that some people aren't really trying to work, but they are few and far between. Let me explain just how few and far between they are! One of my sister-in-law's friends owns a pizza shop. She put up an ad for a busser or something equally skilled - she got over 400 applications. Right. 400. Applications. For. A. Busser???

I am a skilled person. In the Bay Area I got a total of three interviews during the 9 mos I lived there. Since being in Bakersfield, I've gotten 3 so far (what a change - only 2 mos!). One of the jobs here I was offered. It pays a measily 10$ an hour, which for California is just north of minimum wage. I took it because I need the money, despite the fact that it doesn't speak to my skill set, nor does it pay me what I'm worth. It's a bad fit personality wise too, but again, I need the money.

So lucky for me, I was in a place with awesome skills, that I could get a job that was beneath me. That's something I can feel good about, because it isn't sucking my soul out daily or degrading to my personhood and keeping me from doing what I really want to do.

But I'm a lucky one. I keep telling myself that. I'm lucky to have this situation, right? It's a good deal...

There are people out in the world in a 1000 times a 1000 worse situations. There are people who are underemployed with no second income. There are people who can't get even a crappy job at a fast food joint. I don't know how they keep going, but they do. They are amazing to me, determined and beautiful as they trudge through the muck life has given them. I don't have the grace for that. I'm not strong enough. I'm kind of wussy that way, I'll be the first to admit it. But just because I don't have the absolute worst dalit conditions doesn't mean I can't appreciate how ridiculous it is for someone to tell me to "walk it off," so to speak.

So, if you're one of those people struggling and someone has the gall to tell you to suck it up and get a job, or grin and bear it, do me a huge favor. Punch that asshole in the nose and explain to them in no uncertain terms, they have no idea what the shit on the ground is like when they're looking down from their high horse.

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All Things Are Not Equal - Cost of Living

So because we're in the throws of planning our next geography, Christian and I have been researching how much we would need to live in various locations.  This led to some tangential searches, in particular, a comparison of Santa Barbara to Bakersfield.

First I should mention, Bakersfield is still on the table.  I know I knocked it, and my view of it certainly warranted it at the time. However, I did go with Christian to check it out, and we saw some reasonable areas of the city, and their BMW shop is pretty awesome.  Plus there is the added benefit of being close to family, the Sequoias, and the Pacific.

Now, Santa Barbara is often compared to paradise, whereas Bako (as I have deemed Bakersfield) is compared to an armpit. Keep in mind that minimum wage is around $7 - 8 in California. That said, California is a large state with a wide variety of climates and topographies, as well as demographics. If someone is making minimum wage in Bakersfield, when we account of cost of living, it is the same as living on $36,000 in Santa Barbara. Now, if someone is living on minimum wage in Santa Barbara, it works out to be the equivalent of living on a little over $7000 a year in Bakersfield. That is roughly $3 an hour. Put this in perspective - people picking strawberries, working illegally in Bakersfield, making $5 an hour, are living better than someone on minimum wage in Santa Barbara.

I say this to put things into perspective for those who think that the poorest people in the country are trying to take advantage of a system and they should pay the same percentage taxes as the richest one percent. Clearly, someone who works toward taxing the working poor as much as the richest 1%, is evil.

We don't want to pay more for our McDonald's hamburger, which means that some people will always make around minimum wage. There will always be poor people. To that end, we need to make sure these people are cared for. Even the aristocracy cared for their serfs (granted, it may have been a bit more heavy handed, but still...). Even the dogs get scraps from the table.  Having health care, education, transportation, and food for these people is not too much to ask. If they aren't cared for, who will do these jobs? What will happen when they won't accept being stepped on over and over again? I know what I would do...

Technically, I'm Homeless

I'm a prideful person.  It's true.  But there comes a point where you have to acknowledge your situation in life - facts are facts, and the reality is, I'm homeless.

What is homelessness? Most simply, it means not having a home.  But what exactly does that mean? When do you become truly homeless?

Most people think of cardboard boxes, sleeping bags, and shopping carts filled with cans when they hear the word "homeless." But homelessness is more complicated than the common street person, especially in this economy.  Many people are living on couches, floors, or in garages, or tents in yards of relatives because they are no longer able to pay a mortgage or rent.

I'll be honest.  I haven't checked into my eligibility for government benefits too thoroughly.  But the reality is, I don't have any income right now.  I'm here through the goodness of my parents' hearts.  I think food stamps and medicare are probably services I could get.  The problem is, I don't have proof of my income.  I don't have proof of my situation.  How do I explain my financial situation to a service provider?

"Are you working?"
"No." Though I would consider my writing to be something of a job.
"Are you married?"
"Yes."
"Does your husband work?"
"He's a student." Well, except he's not a traditional university student.  He's doing a summer program across the country with BMW which doesn't make him eligible for federal aid. 

I don't have any pay stubs, any check stubs, or anything proving my story.  So what does that mean if I get sick? I don't know.  All I know, is it's not a clear cut place to be. And I don't like it.

Normally I keep my living situation fairly clean and tidy, but since sleeping in my parents' office I can't bring myself to completely put things away.  Part of it is I know this situation is temporary and I don't want to get too comfortable with being homeless. Part of it is that I hardly spend any time there and when I get back to my little room, all I want to do is crawl onto my futon covered in fleece blankets and drift into oblivion.  But it doesn't soothe that part in the back of my mind where I feel adrift.  And I do.  I feel how much I'm coasting.

I think I speak for everyone in my situation, and those who have it so much worse, when I say it would be amazing to have a home.  This is one of the big reasons July can't come fast enough.

P.S. If you live in Alameda County, get hooked up with the nonprofit, EveryOne Home that is working to end homelessness in Alameda County.  They're great people and they do great work.

Hitler is Dead - So Antisemitism is over, right?

Osama is dead, apparently. Then some idiots started dancing in the streets celebrating.  That's just what they were - idiots. They are idiots because not only is this premature, as far as celebrations go, but also because a single person is never responsible for an entire movement.  A single person is a symbol.

You can destroy a symbol in a symbolic fashion, but just because a single symbol - one of thousands - is destroyed doesn't mean a thing is over.  Think of it as a hydra.  When you cut off one head, two come back in its place.

Because Nazism is a favorite of internet forums everywhere, let's use our favorite Nazi as an example.  Hitler is dead.  In fact, most high ranking Nazi officials were systematically hunted and put through trials in order to humiliate them (as well as exact some kind of justice for the atrocities committed) - and they did a great job at it.  Germany is still trying to live down World War 2.  All this is true.  But if you look around Europe, there is still antisemitism.  White power is still a serious right wing movement that has held sway in many places, including my own "favorite" state of Arizona.

So we killed Osama.  Tell me something we did that was useful - like reforming corporate taxes, our education system, or executing a global multilateral plan to address climate change. That would be something that would cause me to dance in the streets.  When it happens I will tape it for you.  I promise - and I expect you to hold me to it.

Birthers are A Racist Xenophobic Ploy - Let's Talk Taxes

Last night, I was relaxing with my parents drinking a glass of Addamo Syrah and The Ed Show came on the television. They were talking about Birthers, the conspiracy theorists contesting Obama's citizenship.  Listening to the discussion got me thinking about what I had learned regarding our presidential elections.

When I was going through high school, and then into college there were several accepted facts that politicos made regarding the American presidency.

1. You have to be tall.
2. You have better chances if you went to Harvard or Yale for something.
3. You do better if you're from the South or the middle of the country, but don't even try if you're from New England (exceptions exist, but are a small percentage).
4. The more closely related to the Royal family you are, the more likely you are to win.
5. Your name needs to be suitably WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) - a notable exception is of course, JFK.
6. You have to get New Hampshire.

Well, Obama doesn't follow the rubric, which by my estimation is a good thing. He's broken barriers we weren't sure when they would come down.   The problem is of course, he's black.

Not only is Obama black (gasp!) but he also has a foreign sounding name.  Many people have said that Birtherism is actually just a trumped up form of racism, and I think that is true.  But more than that, Birtherism is another avenue for middle-American xenophobia.

Yes, Birthers are racists who are afraid of cultural difference.

So why would the Republican party be so keen to allow this to continue even though the theory has been proven universally false?  It's a distraction and it's completely on purpose.

With people so riled about the racist Birthers, they aren't pushing as hard on things that really matter - like Ryan's budget proposal, or the revenue problems we have that could be fixed by corporate tax reform.

So, for the last time.  Get your heads out of your butts! Obama is absolutely an American citizen and we ELECTED him. He's got his faults, but being black or having a Kenyan father ARE NOT FAULTS. He's a brilliant man who is one of the best orators we've had in the white house for years.  Give the guy a break.

Instead, let's get talking about how tax holes and loops need to be closed in order to fix our revenue problem.  I want to talk about THAT.