Privatization

Here is a scary thought for you. What do you think of a private security firm like Blackwater acting in place of your local Police Dept?

That is a firm hired to replace the local PD by a company who by low bid won the right to patrol your neighborhood and enforce the community laws. This would be a enforcers who answer and tie to the community is the paycheck they receive. Am I the only one who see the opportunity for corruption and abuse of power.

Apparently this is what is going on in many of the communities in the US where budget shortfalls are using this opportunity to privatize the Police. I find myself thinking of stories of Bagdad with Private security firms racing through streets firing at will into crowds, using reinforced vehicles to drive through traffic jams. Abuse because they can. This is apparently what a lot of communities like Oakland Ca. and other similar sized communities are doing. They are following the example of New Orleans who used 150 Blackwater heavily armed men to patrol the richer neighborhoods after Katrina.

I am having a hard time articulating what I am trying to say but basically the ideal of a private security firm replacing local governmental Police Depts. as ominous. For I see it as once again the elite 1% ensuring their control and keeping the rest of us in line. It was bad enough the influence that the elite often had over the local PD but it will be ten times worse under a private firm who’s employees allegiance is it’s paycheck signed by stockholders. Again Not US.

Here is another thought for you while on this subject as of recent reports the greatest growth industry is Private Security Firms who not only shake door knobs but monitor security cameras and electronic info ie…emails, cell phones. You get the picture. A one stop we do everything for your security company. All of this will be justified as cost efficient and if we alone the way must give up some freedom for security then it is just the cost of protection.

But I would quote Benjamin Franklin who said in 1775 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”.

To help get a clearer picture of this log on and watch this Frontline documentary

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/are-we-safer/

Where is this coming from you might ask? My paranoia? Perhaps, but that does not mean someone is not out to get ya.

Projects-Books-Movies-

Spent the past week working on my old truck adding a trailer hitch and attaching a wheelchair carrier to it. Best thing I have done. It has made it easy for me to get around to areas that do not have electric shopping scooters. Not to mention able to get around to the places like hospitals and such, which are disable unfriendly.

Finished reading Peter Bowen’s book “Thunder Horse” a great fun read. Have started reading CJ Box mystery.

Reba and I have recently been watching on PBS George Gently biritish police dectictive set in the mid 1960’s.  It tends to expose a side of English PD that you often don’t get over here. Apparently they are rather racist. Also have been watching “Falling Skies” on TNT excellent alien invasion movie. Also on A&E the series “Longmire” has lived up to it’s expectation.

Like a Broken Record

I have been reluctant to write for fear I was sounding like a broken record. That I perhaps was bordering on the edge of tedium for some readers. But then again it is what it is and if I sound like a broken record then at least I am on record.

When Ideology and party loyalty becomes more important than the best interest of the people then someone should say “For shame!” Someone needs to cry out the king has no clothes on. To stand and pretend all is ok and all we need to do is elect a party to office and all will be ok is to build your house of straw just waiting for the wolf to come and blow it down. So with that having been said here goes.

Any party ie the GOP who primary and stated goal is to unseat a single man, President Obama, cut social welfare safety nets, and take the government regulations on the environment and economy back to 1929 and yet the common man, the guy who’s income has been slowly but aggressively falling since the election of Ronald Regan still votes for the GOP. Well, if we don’t try to inform these individuals, if we don’t try to get the message out then we get the government we deserve. Change comes only when the people will accept nothing else.

The OWS and 99% movement folks have it right I believe that change will only come when we take to the streets either physically as they do resisting the elite 1% and their bought and paid for political machinery and their security forces in peaceful non-violent demonstrations. Or, by using the opportunity of demanding change from our elected officials by showing up at their rallies and political functions. This is what ACORN has done in their community based activism when they show up at their city council meetings with questions and demanding answers and putting it to their local leaders wanting to know if they “Talk the talk do they also walk the walk” for social change.

This is what we must do. Support these groups who get out there and bring attention to our society problems. That is why Unions, as corrupt as they can be, still or viable alternative for representing the working man, both blue collar as well as white collar. That is why organizations like ACORN is so important for they act not just on a national level but in your neighborhood to assure fair treatment for all neighborhoods and not for an exclusive few.

If you believe as I do then ACT now before we slip so far down this slippery slope that GOP has us on and the Dem’s have allowed that the only way to correct is violent rebirth of our nation. Support those you believe in and act locally to affect global change.

It is going to take winning change by one precinct, one county, one district, one state at a time to affect true and everlasting change. This will not happen without you participating either with your physical presence  or your finical support.

For me, I will do as I preach. I will give of my time and available income to those who I believe in. And, even if this doesn’t work as I know some of you or scoffing at me as I write thinking it will be for naught, at least I can look my grandchildren in the eye and say I did my best for your future.

Projects, Books, movies

Well despite my way too much association with the medical profession I have managed to turn from a piece of scrap cocobolo a replacement joy stick knob for my power chair. Did you know that when you allow equipment to sit for a long time without use it tends to resist your efforts to setup. Apparently I need to spend more time at the lathe.

Recently acquired Peter Bowen “Nails” and just started reading after finishing Neal Stephenson book “The Baroqe Cycle” essentially 3 books in one and it weighed like it. But it was good a good read despite physical challenge of near 4 lbs of book.

TV can offer surprisingly good entertainment that is not meant to numb the mind. Example PBS Masterpiece Mystery theater with the Inspector Lewis series, the Zen series, and Inspector George Gently series. It can also inform you with shows like “Frontline” with exposes on Wall Street and how availability of dental care affects over 30% of our nations people health. Shows like these is one reason I support my local PBS and NPR  stations.

Enough for now.

Toughen Up Cupcake

Sometimes life has a way of getting in the way of what you want to do. Take for example something as simple as writing this blog. What I want is to be able to write and post a couple of times a week. The reality is that I am often pushed to post once a week and life is the reason for this late post.

When I retried two years and seven months ago I thought I would spend the “Golden Years” of my life working in my shop, writing, photographing, reading, finding a good 42 game and spending time with Reba and the grandkids and well my kids as well, although they aren’t as much fun as the grandkids.

Instead I have found myself without time or money for projects all too often, it is either one or the other. I spend way too much time with Doctors then grandkids. That same time spent in waiting rooms cuts into writing, photography as well. Reading is hard when you find your mind drifting thinking about what the Doc’s are going to tell you but somehow you manage to occasionally complete a book or magazine article.

Ok, enough whining.

It is time for me to “Toughen up Cupcake”. I will make to most of each day, each hour, each minute that I have. If that means that I find myself heading for the Doctors covered in sawdust and sweaty that is their problem not mine. When I find my mind drifting from what I am writing or the photo I am taking thinking about the next doc visit or what they said I will give myself a kick in the ass and remind myself that worrying about it is not going to change anything.

So here is the best advice I can give to myself and anyone else as far as that goes. When life has suckered punch you and has you on the ropes, cover up and push off the ropes and hit back. It isn’t over until the bell rings.

Projects – Reading – TV/Movies

I am sharpening my chisels and will take to the lathe to turn Reba a necklace rack. Hopefully by the next post I will have a photo of the finish product. I am also going to turn a joy stick knob to replace the one that was on my power chair. After that Reba’s potting bench and a series of 3 to 4 six foot tall book/TV cases. I think I need to go down to Woodcraft and take one of their sharpening classes apparently my skills or eye has deteriorated and I am not as good as I was when in my early 30’s at sharpening.

I have been reading Neal Stephenson “The Baroque Cycle” a great read but boy is that book heavy. You almost need a book holder to keep you from being wore out from holding it.

Movies and TV will I highly recommend watching PBS on line if not available Frontline recent documentary called “Money, Power and Wall Street”. It will one make you mad and two make you rethink your entire ideal of banks and money and their relationship to you.

I also have been watching on youtube “Zombies from The Stratosphere” a serial movie from 1952 with Leonard Nimoy playing a minor part.

Again on PBS and available on line Masterpiece Mystery “Endeavor” and the George Gently mysteries series. Totally English not to mention they show a side of British Police you normally don’t associate with them.

Well enough for now I got to go and get ready to see the doc.