History is Happening Today

"This is not a budget. This is a cause."

This is how Paul Ryan, Tea Party-backed GOP budget plan author describes their proposal.

Tuesday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (WI-01) announced the Republican’s budget proposal. It is unbelievably bad - literally. The GOP budget not only repeals the new health care law, it also eliminates Medicare and Medicaid as we know it.

The Republican’s proposal gives millionaires huge tax breaks, but seniors and hard-working families pay more for health care and get less coverage. Paul Ryan’s plan would radically undermine the economic security of America’s middle class. Yet it helps Wall Street-run health insurance companies make record-breaking profits! While the CEOs are paid outrageous sums to deny people the care they paid for and need.

As part of this radical ideological crusade, seniors will be force to clip coupons if they want to see a doctor. It includes huge tax breaks for the ultra wealthy and giveaways to Big Oil companies that are making record profits.

Nowhere in the Republican plan is there any shared sacrifice. There’s no fairness. The big corporations and super-rich are not asked to pitch in. Instead they get even richer while most families are struggling just to make it month to month. This budget would eviscerated programs that everyone in this country depend on. Republicans are attacking the people while pretending to be fiscally responsible!

This budget changes the rules and reshapes this country in a dangerous way. The Republicans and Tea Party backers think they can use the budget as cover to pursue their radical agenda to end Medicare and put seniors’ health care in the hands of Big Insurance CEOs.

But they aren't done with their outrageous demands. They want to do even more to hurt the people!
In this case women specificly - Thursday, April 7, thousands of Americans will descend on Washington, DC, to defend women's health from the extremists in Congress that are determined to roll back access to reproductive health care.

This assault is unprecedented and covers multiple areas. Several amendments have been added to what was already voted on weeks ago in an attempt to push these changes through the Senate. An ammendment that would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood offers cancer screenings to protect women's health. They offer education, contraceptives and seek to prevent unplanned, unwanted pregnancies. They help those that have been victims or are in hard situations by getting them professional help. Cutting these programs will put more women at risk.

But not one has mentioned how much it costs to raise a child that is placed into the system. No one talks about the many children that wait sometimes without hope for a family to adopt them. Why defund a program that keeps many unplanned pregnancies from happening?

They want to pass legislation that would impose an abortion tax on small businesses who want to provide abortion coverage in health plans. They have bills that would prevent elected officials from using local funds to pay for abortion care for low income and at risk women. This attack on women's rights must stop! Across the nation, people will be standing up for women's health.

Hidden in the budget is more cuts on funding to the Enviromental Protection Agency. This is our one defense against more BP disasters. It's the agency that protects the people by enforcing safety regulations. Protects the environment, the people and our ecology from the "profits before people" greed of these big Corporations. In Pensylvania the water resources are being contaminated due to the coal companies fracking to get at gas reserves. This is causing water to become flamable and not fit to drink. This practice needs to stop!

Already the big Oil Corps are pushing to drill for oil again. Why? With the technology we have right now - technology we've had since 2006 - we could have been using hydrogen for power. We've had the technology to use solar power, wind power and water power! Yet the greed and profit of "black gold" pushes the Corporations - Deep Water drilling has already been given the green light. The guy in charge of the energy commission in D.C. is an Oil Company shareholder. We need the EPA has the funds to function!

Congress MUST hear our voices and know that enough is enough!

Democrats have already ruled out defunding the year-old health care overhaul or to deny Planned Parenthood all federal money. And Reid has said he will not agree to any of the curbs Republicans want to place on the Environmental Protection Agency. Democrats will not just roll over without a fight.

In D.C. this week, hundreds of Tea Party demonstrators rallied outside the Capitol calling for budget cuts and to shutdown if necessary to get their way.

"Shut the sucker down," one yelled, and the crowd repeatedly chanted, "Shut it down."

Is this the America we want to live in? We need to stand up to the bullies on the Hill and take back our rights and our freedoms!

Check out these links:

1. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/04/ryan_budget_preview.html

2. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-06/ryan-s-budget-proposal-would-aid-insurers-a-top-source-of-campaign-cash.html

3. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/billofright/patient_bill_of_rights.html

4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-rome/republican-budget-plan-de_b_845256.html

5. https://dccc.org/page/contribute/shutdown3?source=040611_si,alld,med

6. https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3056&s_subsrc=110406_rally&JServSessionIdr004=rudkaoryj1.app217a

7. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/efficiencity/index.html

8. http://video.pbs.org/program/1305364341/
(especially this one: Hydrogen Hopes) http://video.pbs.org/video/1335040144 

Be a part of history - get involved and make sure the changes that are happening are the ones that you want.

Carpe Diem!

Can't find work? Then Hire yourself!

Everyone has something that they can offer someone else. From helping someone learn to read, to teaching someone how to do something. (like play piano, make a cake or how to knit) We all have life experience that we've got stored up inside. We all have hobbies, interests and things we're passionate or energized about. All of that that is inside can be put to work to bring in not only money, but it can make you feel really good about what your doing too.

But how do you get what you know, out of you and available to someone else? That takes some thinking and planning. But then looking for work takes some time and work too. The difference here is that you're doing it to make income for yourself not someone else.

Maybe you're good at teaching things, then you could find a way to share this with people that want to learn the skills you have to offer.

Not a people person, that's okay too. You can still teach things without ever even seeing a student. With so many easy to use programs and a digital camera you can make a video of yourself or someone doing step by step what you are teaching. Writing a how to book is also a great way to teach as you can have images to show how to do things. If you combine the two and make an ebook - you can offer it online and make it interactive with video and links to more resources.

Now besides teaching what you know, there are other things that are wide open. Services and information are the most profitable thing right now. So many people need information of a ton of topics to help them with their problems or situations. We are a society that is addicted to information. Services are also a great revenue creator. Think of all the services you've used over the years. Services that others use around you and then think if you can provide any services that people are needing.

Like Bigwell's motto "Find a need - Fill a need"

But don't jump ahead of yourself, I also try to remember what my uncle told me when I was younger. He gave two bits of advice that I try to keep in mind.

"KISS - Keep it safe and simple" and "Work smarter, not harder"

Often we make things a lot more complicated than they need to be. We also don't think about sticking to the areas that are safe - both money wise, legal wise & health wise. Another thing that many have to relearn is that working yourself into the ground isn't going to pay off in a big way like it did a century ago. Besides, it didn't rally pay off all that big back then either. Putting the biggest muscle to work - your mind is a step in the right direction.

People say we can think, it's what makes us both good and bad. We don't run solely on instincts - but not listening to that "little voice" can sometimes cost you everything. So try to find a balance between what you "feel is right" and if your head agrees with it. There is no reason to reinvent something that's already been invented - unless you can make it better. Try to think in ways that are not only out of the box, but from completely different perspectives. Brainstorming can be a lot of fun and offer a pay off in more than just cash.

If you've spend month trying to find work...don't you think you can spend some time evaluating what you could be offering or sharing in a business of your own...Plus you don't have to fly solo - maybe you've got one half and someone else has one half of a great idea. Bring the two together and you've got something really great!

The number one thing that you can do for yourself is to educate that brain of yours. Searching for a job won't expand your opportunities or broaden the possibilities ahead. But learning, that can open a huge range of nearly unlimited options that you can go after. Even if you decide to find work or a job rather than start your own business - new knowledge will make you more likely to find something that will be a great match as well as more rewarding.

Wherever you do don't create limits that you don't need. You should already know what your abilities are, what your strengths are and what you are good at. There's no need to stuff yourself into a small box when there are enough things trying to block you or put you down. Don't limit yourself more - don't deny yourself the chance to really find something you love to do...something that will give you more than just a paycheck or income.

Plus there is something that many don't realize. An online business at home is a way to level the playing field. You can be from any background, culture, age, or ability. You can be a parent, senior or even a group of teens. What your clients or customers see is a business. If you are professional, offer good services or products & have a positive attitude. Those that find you the first time will come back again if they are satisfied. To them, it's the business - not the business owner that's important. So don't thnk you're too old, young or whatever. This is an open door...walk in & see where it goes.

The best way to work is to find something we love to do and get paid doing it. Then it's no longer work - it just becomes a part of having a better life. Part of something you really enjoy. What could be better than that? Good luck!

Keep dreaming, keep moving forward and never lose hope...

Carpe Diem!

Elusiveness of Time

No matter how many hours pass within each day, there never seems to be enough to complete all that I've the need or desire to accomplish.
My list of projects and chores go forever on...
My time is claimed before it arrives. I find that even when I complete a task or two - that several more yet await my attention.
My days feel unending as I tend to the endless things that need to be done.
Three a.m. and 7 p.m. hold no difference as I work through my chores.
Sleep is something that descends upon me at unscheduled times as my exhaustion claims my consciousness for a few hours.

I can still recall my youth, of fresh cut grass and lazy summertime days that seem to go on forever.
Of fresh strawberries and whipped cream, swimming and catching tadpoles and tiny frogs.
I remember the early days of my motherhood, of walks to the boardwalk and playing in the sand.
Lullabies and little giggles, playing in the waterspout and having riding the carousel at the park.

I recall these memories out of time, I can relive them in a moment.
I see my children as they laugh and cry, play and work over the years as they have grown.
Yet I don't remember growing old myself, as I've watched them mature and go off on their own.
Following the path they have chosen for now, though I've still the younger ones safe at home.
I watch as they are changing, growing and I know that it won't be too long before they too will fly off into the world on their own road.

But time for all it's forever constant, it's eternal flow... It seems ever elusive to claim.
To mark the moments and save the memories, it's all I can do.
For I feel that no matter how many things I try to fill into those moments, someday I'll have none left to use.
And all those things I've wanted, desired or needed to do will be left undone.