January 2014

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  The solution has to begin far earlier than trying to stop disturbed people with evil intents.  Society has to take more responsibility for those slipping through the cracks.  Laying off more DCFS workers isn’t the answer.  We need Head-start and preschool, and catching those in peril earlier.  The courts need to quit giving kids back to abusers, and stop perpetuating cycles of abuse.  Schools need an infusion!  The latest research shows that individuals learn differently: auditory, visually, and kinesthetically .  Schools need to teach life skills, like problem solving; and teaching methods need to be geared to how kids learn.  Kids need more physical activity, especially in the younger grades.  Engage them early and keep them engaged!  We need a coalition of schools, nonprofits, and churches to join forces to ramp up youth programs such as The Boys and Girls Club.  Recharge the city’s Youth Commission with those who are truly invested.   Societal measures cost money, but failing to employ them costs innocent lives all across our nation!

Definitely!  I think “Bridge-gate” is the tip of the iceberg that will sink his ship.   I’m confident that the combined investigatory committees will find several charges on which to indict Gov. Chris Christie.  GOP leaders are beginning to call for Christie to step down from his appointment to the RGA.  Former assist. U.S. Atty. Reid Schar, was the lead prosecutor  in former Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption trial, that landed that Illinois governor in prison.  Reid Schar has been appointed as special counsel to advise the New Jersey legislative committee probe on: potential misuse of taxpayer resources for political power, conspiracy, obstruction, and possible abuse of powers, etc. by Governor Christie and his cohorts.   The outcome of the probe will hopefully uncover “what Christie knew and when he knew it”.  I believe that findings will eventually show that Gov. Christie used his power to punish all those who did not support him or his pet projects.  New Jersey has a statute that “prohibits public servants from benefitting or from depriving another of a benefit  through the “unauthorized exercise” of their official duties”.  And who wants such a bully as our country’s President?  Not me!

If “money is the mother’s milk of politics”,  and always has been, it will remain so.   Money has too much influence in every venue it enters.  Money talks loudly, and political candidates must amass huge sums of money to be competitive in our current political system.  In the wake of Citizens United, which basically determined that the political speech rights of American voters and corporate entities are the same, the ultra-wealthy actually have undue influence in political campaigns, as Super Pacs act in House and Senate races as well as in presidential races, but it’s not the last word or Mitt Romney would be our president.  “The times….they are a changing.”  Grass roots support for real values should count for more, and I believe that we’re seeing that throughout our land.  **  Vote – Bustos!  **  Suggested finance reform calls for public funding for federal congressional elections,  which would match at a multiple rate the small contributions received from constituents (like New York City’s successful program), instead of candidates receiving the huge contributions from lobbyists and others advancing their own agendas; it aims to reduce the influence of special interest groups on elected officials and enhance voter participation, which is the key!  Money may buy lots of ads, but votes count more!  Be informed and VOTE!     ******    There’s a lot at stake in this country; this do-nothing Congress needs a wake-up call!  Read about the candidates and vote your values; my vote will be for:  U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, who has a strong record for her first term, looking out for the 17th Congressional District of Illinois and all the rest!

I’d go with Time’s pick of Pope Francis as Person of the Year for 2013.  The first Jesuit pope, and first pope from the Americas, he is the 266th and current pope of the Catholic church.  His choice of the papal name Francis, in honor of St Francis of Assisi, shows his heart and his humility.  “Throughout his life he has been known for his concern for the poor, and his commitment to dialogue as a way to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs and faiths.  He has said that “in order to dialogue it is necessary to know how to lower the defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth”. (Wikipedia)   On Christmas day, Pope Francis said in his talk “to the city and to the world” that “Peace calls for a daily commitment”, and asked nonbelievers “to join their desire for peace with everyone else”.  “Pope Francis, while affirming the present Church teachings, has stated that Catholics have concentrated excessively on condemning abortion, contraception, and homosexual acts, while neglecting the greater need for tenderness, mercy, and compassion.”  He has inspired my New Year’s resolution: to think and be more peaceful in all my interactions.           (I love the quote by Ghandi:  “We must be the change that we would see in the world”.)

The bar of expectation on Congress cooperating and doing its job is certainly low, so when it does step up and pass any budget deal, instead of shutting down the government, it’s newsworthy.  Nancy Pelosi told fellow Democrats last week to “embrace the suck”, and vote to pass the paltry bill, “It sucks, but it’s the best we’ll get”.  Obviously it’s no “grand bargain”, but lawmakers did compromise to step back from the brinkmanship we’ve seen from them lately.  We can be hopeful that the budget agreements passed may lead to future progress. I was heartened to see John Boehner’s outburst last week against the extreme conservative groups that influenced and led to the Republican’s government shutdown.  He said, “They’re using our members, and they’re using the American people for their own goals.  This is ridiculous!”   Whatever Boehner’s motives may be for lashing out at the special interest organizations, I found it refreshing.