The Old Fashioned Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.

So This is Christmas

Do you know the feeling when you are certain you lost something... or minimally, you fear you lost something?

Then you discover that it isn't lost.

The Apple Pie fell onto the kitchen floor... yielding merriment.

The Angels won't quit. Despite our failings.

A few random words loosely connected.

Hope beyond a slogan, in a heart.
Faith as weak as a human might be... remains... Connected to that which is as great as great can be.

Let's Go! Love keep that heart a beating. Cab driving my life today.

Guy
Fairfax , Ca.

A Sweet Hallelujah

Thanks to Richard in passing at a distance a couple of hours ago, raised his coffee cup and simply said 'Hallelujah' to me.

Om baby... God bless us all .. we can handle whatever comes our way.

Heart of Mine

My Life. On Dad's birthday it is almost 7:00 AM in California.
I have not slept yet. There are repercussions to my lifestyle.. it's not a lifestyle it's a DisEase of a major magnitude.
From Ativan to Tylenol PM ... ER visit.... Psyche ER visit yukkk! Over the last few weeks. Building over the years.

This Heart of mine, may not last much longer.

Incredible love and help from my little healing community on every level. I can't take it home with me, I try -- all the inspiration,
the hugs the love. Last night cab driving I thought I had made it through the passage. Maybe it was the Rescue Remedy my Mom
recommended.. it cooled me out and my optimism gained strength through the night.

Let's talk.. I'm a mess. Major guilt complex. Dream big complete nothing. Run from love. Not good.

This blog is coming to an end. My voice if it survives will have to find another channel.

I described myself as a tough nut to someone last year what I meant by that was my shell.
That shell has to open up. Maybe it is time for God to take me back or maybe I will
find my way to be Guy Wheeler Meyer, Jr.

Our Predicament/My Predicament

The consensus on the street is we are screwed. The consensus in Washington more..more.. more wasting lives, wasting money, wasting our Time on Earth. No problem.

Just a few weeks ago at a bar I told this bright dude I was an optimist. He looked at me quizzically. I just believed that we had to go through the '___ hitting the fan' experience and that we would be able to reorganize ourselves after along better lines as we faced the pressures of real survival. He was still skeptical and I cited 4th quarter Joe Montana as well as our few million beautiful children who we love dearly as grounds for optimism and that without optimism we are passing on nothing for their survival and future happiness.

Personally I am barely able to cope and if I was to say this country is hanging on or will be hanging on by a slender thread shortly so am I right now. As my 'alternative medicine' man told me today. You are going to have to fight for survival. I bring up the personal not for sympathy.. (thoughts & prayers welcome though) I am not sure why maybe for historical reference. Can you die from Heart Failure? Of course figuratively and literally it happens all the time. I have to breathe optimism when that seems like it's just an empty lie then I will be dead, maybe your optimism will live on. It's not one man show though I have for some reason never quite figured out this joining together thing, I love people, I love a good time, I don't know, I just end up retreating and now there's not much room at the end of my limb.

Everything I write needs to matter. We need to see that our whole culture our whole society needs to reset. We are not a nation
of Bleep You me first cynical yuppies, boomers, gen x, y or z. We must stand together our businesses must enrich communities not screw them. Right now what goes on on Wall Street and the whole sick contraption of our economy is how to suck up the most money from the Herd on the bottom. That's us. Their wealth is our poverty. Am I whining? Couldn't I have done just about anything well and found a way too make a decent living? Heck I could have been rich! Would I be complaining then, maybe not. Hard to believe that this (My Life) is the way it was 'supposed' to be.

When the world's economy takes the big fall someday when the sum total of bullshit that our country has become is too strong then we will see. That we must feed each other. That the cynical the greedy will move off to the side, sluffed off like an
old clo.. like shedding a bad dream. America will rediscover who we really are and there will be courage and goodness surging through us like a well from the center of the Earth or from Heaven if you will. We still have grounds to be optimists. We always new it was going to be rough many of us never believed we had a chance and therefore it justified all kinds of cynical behaviour. We will survive. Optimism is a tool for survival that we must use. Even if it seems you are a fool.

Love of the Land

You can't stamp that out. Even as it is sold off, carted off, paved off, developed off. The Land - prime economic commodity.
Let's just sell it all to the highest bidder... Ten cents on the dollar? That's what's going on. Not yet actually but that's the path.

Unbelievable.
Maddening.
2019 can we make it through?

Obama The Titanic....

Get the vision and hold on tight. The USA will survive. Independent, corporate free (just about) let the dinosaurs fall,
we'll all have to find ways of survival. We will find a way. We must. A return to a manufacturing base, a return to an independent
and wholesome agriculture. A return to accountability and respectful ethics. Slender threads. God help us.

Afghanistan and the USA (A False Alliance)

The President, our President Obama I have heard it said is going to announce his decision on further troop committments on his return from his FarEast mission. That I believe should be probably next week. If I was him I would put it off another couple of months.. why rush when making a bad decision? Take your time. (That's why I am a cabdriver.)

Well we must do something, so bad decisions or not, at least we're doing something. Reminds me of a good conversation at the Mayflower Pub last week I had with some young engineer on various worldly topics. We agreed upon quite a bit, which is a good and rare thing.. particularly for me. One thing we agreed on is that 'Nothing' has gotten a bad rap lately. As in we cannot sit here and do Nothing. That being the world will collapse unless we immediately authorize spending another (xxx) billion on ______ ______ , whatever.. you fill in the blanks, is next? The problem being is that I think we will soon encounter something really important where we have to come up with some real money and we are dangerously close to the magic point, where we have spent so much money that we don't have now, that people don't or won't trust the money that you don't have... and what will we do when we really need some money.

I was reading about Afghanistan.
It was interesting to read the NYTimes front page article on Secretary State Clinton's relationship with Karzai's.
Interesting article on so many levels as I once again decide to read and maybe refresh my knowledge of why this Afghanistan stuff smells like disaster. First off as I read I am taken that, by the way, fifth paragraph down where Karzai was sworn in earlier today, for another term as President of Afghanistan and I was thinking that's kind of interesting that the NYT editors didn't feel they needed an article on the actual inauguration of the President. Maybe there article is still being written and will be online by tomorrow AM. It is an intriguing article and has merit, brings forth some interesting tidbits, such as Obama's lack of
strong contact with Karzai delegating it as seems to HRC, which maybe is just fine. Strange little ......

Cool Water Flow

Pass the Peace. I need some right now. Pour the Peace over my brow...
In my heart, may it cool my soul. Let the Peace, let it Roll...
Roll through my bones..
Pass the Peace, breathe with me now
.......to find my Life, release my strife, cool water flow
Cool within to ease my soul, to ease my soul.
Night and day, Breathe out breathe in...
The waters flow...
In Peace, in Life, Holy Love to make me Whole.
Holy Love to make me Whole.
Cool water flow.

Take me back down where cool waters flow, yeah...

San Anselmo - Measure E -- The FAR Plan

  

 Regarding Measure E, the FAR proposal for the town of San Anselmo. 

  Is it a good plan? Could it be better?  What is the truth about attics and cellars, I hear a direct contradiction in the candidates statements in the clip below? Can someone address this on behalf of San Anselmo citizens?

San Anselmo - Guy's Questions

The Town Council election is coming in less than two weeks. There are 6 candidates for 3 seats in San Anselmo, I could have been one of them, perhaps that was for the best that I sit on the sidelines. Particularly since I still reside in San Rafael these days... (almost back-maybe.)

At the candidates forum which I attended and got permission from the Town Chamber of Commerce to videotape, questions were presented by the moderator Dick Spotswood to the candidates. It was a respectful cordial affair, as much of San Anselmo's politics have been for as long as I can remember being a witness (about 30 years). Sadly from my point of view, no questions were being taken directly from the audience, though cards were passed around for the audience to write their questions. The time at the end for audience questions was very short probably no more than 20 minutes, and the three questions I had jotted down were not among the few chosen to be presented to the candidates. 

  I was a little unsatisfied. I had some questions that I wanted answers for, it was a little late notice and unfortunately through the years I still haven't really got myself in the position

to be a respected voice of local journalism and that may likely never happen. So it was not surprising that candidates might declined to be interviewed by me and have themselves up on youtube. However two of the candidates have responded via email to answer my questions and I hope to post all 6 candidates answers by next Tuesday.

 Here are the 4 questions I asked of them.

  What lessons have we learned from the failed development on Red Hill?

    Knowing that the flood district is funded with millions of dollars and continues to do engineering studies what is your position on the future of The Corte Madera Creek  regarding a possible concrete channelization of the stream similar to Kentfield?


    A group of architects and citizens have put together a plan to redevelop the Southern end of San Anselmo. It has been a year since their public presentations at the town hall and in front of the Post Office. Are you in favor or opposed to the part of their plan that seeks to lease the green buffer median strip that separates San Anselmo Avenue from Sir Francis Drake to a developer shrinking  SFD southbound to one lane and build commercial and residential structures facing San Anselmo Avenue?

    Over the past 5 years as the town has battled budget short falls, reduced it's Town Hall operating time, reduced the Library Hours, the the budget for the Police Services has expanded.  Is the town becoming over-policed? Are you concerned?

 In regards to the 4th question regarding police services perhaps if I had checked my email diligently and read the Town Manager's comments directly addressing the San Anselmo Police's

roll in our town I might have chosen not to include that question. None the less I think It is perhaps a good thing to weigh the situation in our town and decide what direction we want to go, to make sure we have the appropriate sized police force and one that gets that we are a small town, that friendliness and civility is what we would like. Which is the experience that most of us have gotten with perhaps a few exceptions.

 Before I post what the Town Manager said, I will say that I disagree with the candidates answers to the question of possible consolidation of Police Services with the town of Fairfax. All were for consolidation with Ted Freeman giving slightly less emphatic endorsement than the others. A consolidation that is not going to happen because of the Fairfax's council being in apparent solid opposition to this event. Maybe some of the candidate's might give it some more thought - a consolidation though it might save some money lends itself to a loss of identity and accountability of our individual Towns, even though we being almost twice the size of Fairfax and would have a little less to lose we too would lose a little more of our identity. Let's keep thing's small and easily accountable. Moot point except it's all about what our representatives see for our future.

  Here is Town Manager Debra Stutsman's report on our Police.

  Frequently Asked Questions 

 

I have heard a number of questions out in the community recently about the Police Department, so we’ve put 

together some “Frequently Asked Questions” that I hope will be informative. 

Q:  How many police officers does San Anselmo currently have? 

 

A:  San Anselmo has 19 sworn police officers, two more officers than the department had in 1972. 

 

Q: How do you determine how many police officers are needed for a town of our size? 

 

A:  Because of law enforcement's varied service requirements and functions, as well as the distinct demographic 

traits and characteristics of jurisdictions (crime rates, calls for service, etc), the number of police officers per 

1000 residents differs, but according to the FBI, the national average is 2.5 officers per 1000 residents.  The 

Marin County average is 2.14 officers per 1000 residents.  San Anselmo has 1.58 officers per 1000 residents. 

 

Q: What is the cost per resident in San Anselmo for police protection? 

 

A:  $351 per resident, the third lowest per resident cost in Marin County. 

 

Q: How many vehicles does the police department have? 

 

A:  The department utilizes 5 front line patrol vehicles and 5 unmarked vehicles.  We have 3 motorcycles for 

traffic enforcement, a parking buggy and 1 vehicle for our community services officer.  In 1978 the department 

had 5 patrol vehicles, 3 unmarked cars and a motorcycle for traffic enforcement.   

 

Q:  Why do the police need a SUV? 

 

A:  The Ford Expedition is equipped as a command vehicle for major incident response as well as being utilized 

each day as the field supervisor’s vehicle.  An example of the equipment carried in this vehicle includes: 

 

• Maps of the layout of each school in our jurisdiction in response to intruder on campus situations. 

• Ballistic body shield, vests and helmets for use in the event of an intruder on campus situation. 

• Evidence collection equipment. 

• Traffic accident investigation equipment. 

• Command Post including pull out white board and layouts of all banks in Town. 

• Portable lap top computer and docking station enabling access to numerous data bases along with 

departments records information system. 

• Cameras, ladder, bull horn, and less lethal weaponry. 

Republican Rage

 I try to figure out why the Republicans are so bent out of shape and then I start thinking .. that I sort of resemble a Republican of late. 

 As I try to make sense of the direction Obama is driving our Country, i try not to get angry too

particularly where I live in Marin County, California where Obama worship is possibly at it's highest. So if you don't know I come from a liberal background, anti-war young guy, Draft Dodger, marched in a few demonstrations back in the 60's when I was a teenager, smoked pot, went to Woodstock, I believe in Ecology as a way of life, of course I drive a car again lately and consume crap and create waste like the rest of us.

  Anyways some how I have never strayed from being pretty deeply skeptical about many actions of government Republican and Democrat, national or local. I have tried to do better at being a participant in our system of government at least showing up at occasional town meetings where it seems like to often I am a day late and a penny short to do anything but watch things drift further down the stream of irresponsibility ('the never ending rape' as a female friend in the cab driving business describes it our actions toward the Planet Earth 'the pompous parasite' Kenneth Patchen american poet described us ...sorry don't mean to to offend sensibilities. I know you have to rush off tomorrow to jet away to explore some remote corner of the Earth that hardly anyone knows about. Cool. See ya. Maybe get a tattoo too while you're at it. Buy a condo there, real estate - always a good investment.)

  So we had Bush and Cheney and yes I thought Bush might have been an alien sent to our country to destroy it. Profoundly nightmarish experience unless you love torture, or perhaps you think constitutional liberties are for sissies, maybe you think only terrorist sympathizers care about keeping the government at bay-- 

     as a friend said to me just tonight. 

   Thank God Obama won. 

   I have to think about that. What is wrong with me? Why have I been so thoroughly unimpressed from the beginning? Well I thought the  inaugurational speech was inspiring.

Since then I realize all his speeches are inspiring.

    ......

  

  

911 Peace

 In memory to all those who have lost their lives, beautiful souls whose time on Earth ended abruptly in the unwanted battles of the world. To honor all those who have done their duty against all odds to serve with courage and even sacrifice their own lives on behalf of their fellow human beings.

 A pause to remember and seek inspiration.

  Guy

Woodstock, Counter Culture to American Culture

 That title just added up top is a bit of a challenge. The fact that I went to Woodstock 40 years ago, doesn't make me a counter culture expert. 40 years ago... damn!

 It makes me Lucky.

 I finally caught up with the Heroes of Woodstock tour on their last show, almost caught them at Bethel back in August (well almost is a stretch but I wanted to be there but I had a shortened East Coast tour this year). I also wanted to have caught the Roadshow up in Livermore, Maine. I knew that that was going to be great. Maine is simply... put it this way ... a perfect venue in the summer.  Dave Getz tells me (name dropper - hey I have friends in High Places...) that they had an awesome clambake there.

 One of the things about Woodstock that I think is mostly self-evident but I'll just say it anyways.. it was all about the Music. Not that a thousand hippie type young people, freaks, as

was the preferred way of referring to someone who was really cool or somehow privy to the knowledge* etc.. would refuse the opportunity to come together for a 3 day giant camp out in the country where they could make their own rules and have fun... woo hoo! It does sound like great fun even without the music... however the Music was the force that brought us to our feet

that had us, salivating weeks before the concert .... Hendrix, The Airplane, Canned Heat, Janis Creedence, Sly and the  Who. WOW!  I for one wasn't going there to make any countercultural statement... just let me bathe in the Music, 17 years old and maybe in Love with Music

I just wanted that music. Everything else was just the magic of the times, I kind of took it for granted. I was just a kid. Suddenly Boom! it was all going to be mine. The kid who the previous summer was playing JV Football during the summer and dreaming and wondering why dammit was I born so late that I couldn't be out there part of that wild Rock and Roll scene in SF. 

  What am I getting at? I forget.

  It was all about to come true. They were coming to me. Holy CMoly it did.

  I have been a counter culture believer for a long time, maybe that event kicked it off for me.

  

  Maybe that stuff was already deep in my bones just looking for a path of expression, just ride the music and we'll get there. The Gentle Spirit, was alive at Woodstock as well as the fragility of us all, the confidence in the construction and creation of the event, when I look at the photos in Barry Z Levine's and Linanne Scott's book.. The Woodstock Storybook.. incredibly moving.

I remember the sight of that magnificent stage. It wasn't ticky tacky it seemed like a marvelous piece of 'Freak' engineering. Genius.. maybe that is too strong. The stage stood through the downpours, the light towers stood through the rain and when the ground turned to a stew of mud by late Sunday afternoon --they stood strong and solid. Unlike me the cold and wet had me slept in on Sunday Night (we packed a tent) ah well Saturday Night was the night to never forget and God Bless YouTube and Michael Wadleigh the great cameraman, who I called up out of the blue about 10 years ago to talk filmmaking .. what a great artist. He went on to have a very successful career making incredible nature documentaries for National Geographic that some of you may have seen on TV though who would have guessed that some of the great and perfect beauty of those shows were made by the man who made 'Woodstock' the movie.

  I am going on this subject always makes me go on too much.

  I think I made a prediction somewhere back in my so called blogging career which goes back now maybe 10 years. It seemed like I had some revelation cab driving one night. I predicted that the Counter Culture with it's direct historic routes from Woodstock and from infinite places before and after will become the dominant culture of America, this USA. I believe this, I don't know what we will have to go through to get there but I still believe this. 

  Counter Culture!? What the heck do I mean by this. Define your terms sir. OK for me you can forget the drugs not necessary, forget the free love, cool if you can live it but everything has a price let me put it this way... TANSTAAFL As Kurt Vonnegut described it in Cat's Cradle or one of those 'counter cultural' classics. 'There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.'

  

 Maybe I need not even connect the dots to Woodstock it doesn't matter.. What will triumph I believe.... Well let me backtrack. I was cab driving one night in Marin County here just north of the city of San Francisco, when the dispatcher gave me an unusual call he wanted me to drive across the Richmond Bridge to some hotel over in a neck of the woods of the East Bay and rescue some girls who wanted to get back to Marin County. It sounded a bit adventurous with some promise for a good fare and though technically illegal as cab companies have usually prescribed territories that we jealously protect. (You don't pick up in ours we won't pick up in your territory.) Pirates all of us.. so I got over there and it wasn't all that big a deal. I found the Hotel with the big tour bus out front and two girls came running out of the dark from somewhere and (It's about 3 or 4 AM) They seem incredibly anxious, and nervous and crazy happy to see me and the cab and they said something about how they let themselves be talked into hopping on to a tour bus with some Rock nRoll actually it was a Reggae band and said they were very disappointed that they hadn't gone to a fancy SF location as promised with the group but some cheap hotel in the East Bay and whatever the players in the Band expected and what these girls got themselves into apparently it was not what they wanted and all they wanted was to get back to Fairfax. They were kind of nuts for in there mind they had just escaped some very dire situation..  but before we fled .. around the corner was a Jack in the Box and they were starving so Burgers and Fries coming up. I don't know why this reminded me of Woodstock but there were a couple of young people at the window of the Jack In The Box I don't remember what nationalities or sex or creed or whatever. But in the few minutes it took to take the order it just seemed that those kids serving the food were as happy and having as good a time as these two getting the food in the back and somehow I had the vision... yes children I received the divine Revelation... This is it! This happiness in being, in sharing, in serving one another in laughing together, was the most powerful force in the Universe. The spark of Life was firing joyful bullets back and forth and that really was what the best of all that 60's stuff whatever it was and it's not dead at all. That stuff will never die. Hey stranger, Life is fun! Here you want extra ketchup. 

   So taking it one step further and I might have stopped there but I will add that the so called counter culture, that died out back in the 60's or seventies as some say. That great gift that I think we got a taste of, a glimpse of, was this ability to see in anyone The Spark.. and the joy of sharing It... was great and what was happening and what needs to happen is for the world to recognize.  This is it World, it can't be stopped. We all carry the spark of Life, the Fire of Life unites us all.* I think we still need the Music too. It won't be stopped.  The fire won't go out.

  I sure go on don't I?

 

  Goodnight.

   Guy

    More Woodstock tales to come.. shortly

Optimist in the long run...

  "The Banks might fail, but the people Gonna' stand."

    The chorus to a song that I began to write last year about this time. Maybe I'll finish it in time for it still to be historically relevant.

    I think we are in for really tough times. I think the Health Care plan is way off target.

    Me and Obama, we just don't seem to agree on much of anything, still. I am a cab driver, photographer, he is the President surrounded by the greatest minds he could find.  Hey it's  very complex stuff he is dealing with.. what do I know?

   Out here in California there is an epidemic of business closings on Main Street. At least in Marin. I don't know why or how the landlords haven't figured it out? They want their price and their landlord lifestyles. Good Luck boys and girls. I think we are dealing with the most fundamental issue of Life on Earth and Western Civilization. In collision it seems to me.. that being Life on Earth and Civilization. How do we get ourselves to Harmony and Health on the Planet. I don't mean to sound too New Age but Hell, ... why do we want to create... Hell?

  There still seems to be a ton of Giant speculative projects around here like the Garbage called the San Rafael Corporate Center that hasn't gone bankrupt yet. You have the Millworks Garbage up in Novato in cooperation and Peace and Harmony with Whole Foods and I have a feeling we have a ton of crap projects all over California in the balance, only wanted by greedy developers and our craven Political leaders all over California all there because it's good for you.. it's progress... maybe even it's 'Green' , maybe it's 'Smart' growth ...because we have permanently spared some little piece of wetland in exchange for the right to build our Crap for your enjoyment or because they they own the land just because you are the people and you have formed a government to be a Union of the People to serve the People. I get so mad, sorry, I know I could handle this better.

They are nice people with families and they love their kids and their dogs and because they can get away with it and make tons of money they will keep building until California is a total wasteland, it's been going on for some time and there is no stopping progress. Right?

 Anyways someone in my cab told me that the banks are sitting on 4,800 homes in the Bay Area that they haven't foreclosed on because they are afraid to - because of what that will do to the real estate market. (Hearsay) Better to let people live there rent free or mortgage payment free then evict them. Strange days. The recession is over says the Federal Reserve I think 50% of Americans don't trust that organization very much maybe more than 50%. Let's see... we buy back $300 Billion of bad debt from the banks, by printing $300 Billion of US dollars that's an impressive way of solving the financial crisis. So simple. Debt eliminated... errr... well sorry kids but don't worry because just like after WW2 when the government stimulated, yeah baby, the incredible war effort and lifted us out of the depression we will go full steam forward. That's where all you incredibly talented developers come in let's go more Garbage... from sea to shining sea. More Condo's and Parking Lots and Malls and more people from every corner of the Earth to generate more money for our Economy. That's the plan 400 Million Americans when? Schwarzenegger says 50 million Californians by 2050 (proudly with a smile) (we are now at 30 Million - California Cordwood, I call us). Guess what your vision, your plan, your strategy for America and California and the world sucks. It will kill us eventually if it is allowed to continue.

 I remember what a member of the construction team who said 'please don't ever tell anyone I said this' for one of these national Home building empires probably listed on the stock exchange then. (probably not now)  They were building this garbage up in Ignacio that was formerly small two bedroom homes for military personnel at Hamilton AFB. They tore all that old stuff down, (it was in disrepair) and built this fabulous 'community'. Homes started at $650,000 and up, lots of square footage but you had no yard, a California tradition courtesy of developers. I call it ugly but you might disagree. Anyways I wasn't thinking of anything beyond the covering of the landscape with these giant homes, crammed in, I wasn't thinking about the Mortgage crisis... Just the beauty of California. I've told this story before on my website....Yes so what he said was.... "We F*** America." 

 Let's not let that continue. I am an optimist in the long run.

 Guy

 

    

Conversation with 'the Duke'

 Well Kid... here you are.

 I know, it's kind of embarrassing, living in this one room old hotel, cab driver... just can't seem to make anything work.

  That's you whining again, can't you see you can still make it work, you've got them where you want them.

   I do.

  Sure you do. You're Hollywood kid, you made a mess of your life but don't tell anyone that and they will never know. Don't let them know. Stand tall. 

  I don't know. I....

  First stop this I don't know crap. I don't know.. I don't know (uses a child's whiny voice to make fun of me) No one knows a damn thing! .. and what you know is a hell a lot more than your fellow chickens with their heads cut off Americans.. once proud people.

  I know I still have faith in the American People.

  Good for you kid because I am losing mine up here.

  I think we could use more of a can do attitude here, every one wants to leave it up to the government particularly now with our new President...

  Kid when stuff is wrong it's wrong. Throwing billions and billions of your own Hard earned

money taxed out of you is simply Wrong period. You have to give the devil it's due. The government must exist and we need one, it's the best damn system on the planet it's the People who aren't up in arms that are the problem, we have to get it back under control we must tame the beast. Kid.. don't get me started.

  Let the people know one thing kid when you destroy your own backyard trying to dig yourself out of your hole, when you dump all your problems on your Children to the tune of some $35,000 each, some thing is so off the track that I have to talk to someone even you, you whiny punk, yeah you Pilgrim you are in command of the

whole show I don't know how someone as weak a link as there might be, you, yes you, Pilgrim, got your role in this great play.

  John you are saying some powerful things to me I am humbled that you are talking to me.

  Call me Duke kid. You are just lucky kid. I was sitting with Sitting Bull, a true proud American up here and we were looking down on this crap going down in all directions. I get mad kid. 

    What do you mean though... 'you are in command'? I don't command anything.

    Yer damn life kid. You are a natural. Just walk proud, let life come to you.

    It's 5:08 in the morning I'll probably be a wreck again today, never enough sleep...

    Be a proud wreck kid, it's part of your charm.

    Life is hard.

    The hell it is, it sure as hell beats the alternative playing checkers all day with this old crowd up here.

     Get in there Pilgrim and treat your women more kindly whatever you do. That's really what it all comes down to. Don't be afraid of Loving someone. Heck I love every one of my women still even that hot headed little chiquita who tried to shoot me once. Maybe I wasn't so innocent as they said. (Chuckles.) Life is Life kid, take it easy... but take it.

    

   Thanks Duke, loved you in 'Stagecoach'.

  'Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

  

  

The Selig Era

 I love baseball. 

 Like almost everything else in our American culture, this country our USA. Like everything else forgive my exaggeration, (I am depressed) almost everything else, Baseball has been corrupted by greed.

  Why do our eyes continually have to be glued to A-Rod, Clemens, Ramirez on and on and on....?

   Why is their one man who still sits in charge of the whole sick thing?

   The man who was their when steroids began, who was their through the full scale jubilation of a million flashbulbs as Mark McGuire and then Barry Bonds ripped through Babe Ruth and Roger Maris records. Didn't we all know. I did, it didn't appeal to me the whole spectacle, their was something we all knew about those records and something we all knew about these substances, steroids. It was public knowledge.

  It was public knowledge and the man who ruled Baseball did nothing. He loved every minute of the sell out crowds, he loved every minute of the media frenzy. Big money isn't that what leadership is about?

  Then in the face of the truth as the weight of the fact that the world gradually wakes up to the fact that, no, cheating cannot be tolerated. It just doesn't work. How does the man responsible

for the sick show handle it? You do what politicians have perfected. Let's put together a commission or maybe an independent outside investigator find out who all those bad boys were who were giving our game a bad name. George Mitchell, the venerable one, a one time or was he currently on the Red Sox Board of Directors. Anyways hundreds of players were named in what seemed to me to be pretty much a witch hunt, no Red Sox players were named.

 Still it's not over.

 MLB did not have random testing for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs prior to 2003, though Selig circulated memos during the 1990s stating that the use of those drugs by players was strictly prohibited and could be cause for discipline. The players association declined to collectively bargain the issue at the time. <>

  

Cover Your Ass, I Mean your Cough

 Arggghh!

 So President Obama thinks his first hundred days were 'a little tense'..

 Get ready bro. 

  Hopefully right now he has decided to shut down all Mexico air as well as the border. Yeah I know it's all over Texas and the little specs on the map are growing larger from Maine to Marin County. Let's do it. I warned you not to squander all our credit on the God Awful Stimulus package. 

  What do I know? Just a someone who got started with this blog nonsense and can't seem to stop whether anyone wants me to or not though basically no one is paying attention here and that is fine.

 Obama's first hundred days? God help us. Hero worship taken to the extreme is pure blindness. 

   It's all too controlled up there,  sell the product, keep your teleprompters in perfect running condition, don't let them you know for all your genius and charm and good looks.

Not much there, there. Pragmatism is fine as long as it is not the key word for a politician to try to keep his sheep together when you actually have no vision as to where we are going or how badly we are buried in a debt society, in a gambler's vision of let's burn some money and get the economic growth we long for. At the loss of freedom, governmental bureaucracy it's not just a necessary pain in the ass. It can be the most stupid, labyrinthine, counter productive manifestation of fear and.... It's all about vision and Obama outdoes even the most ardent Liberal. Here I'll prove it to you he says. Here are 'Billions and Billions' (copyright Carl Sagan) let's have progress. Woohoo! I have no idea what his idea for America in the 21st Century is beyond some color blind utopia, (nothing wrong with that, Guy) 

  Ah well. The bottom line is I am an optimist as is Obama. As someone said we all knew that the USA was going to have to taste some bitter medicine someday. I think most of us did. Obama places his trust in the Government as a solution creator. I believe he ignores the Power of the People to regenerate ourselves. I actually believe that good government can achieve great things for the people. What a great country we are despite the corruption of wealth and politics. We'll get back to building a solid economy someday when we embrace the principals of protection of the land and Nature and the protection of a people's sovereignty. The people have to turn towards more personal responsibility, it's not an impossible dream. Just a necessary part of survival as we move forward with our lives.

Who is Obama?

From the Swamp a blog connected to the Chicago Tribune

In the East Room of the White House, the president is following a script: Calling on reporters whom his aides have identified ahead of time as those who will be called on for questions.

Obama also is speechifying. Twenty minutes after his opening statement, he had gotten through just four questions - largely because of the length of his answers.

Nearly 40 minutes in, just eight questions.

Could it be that the president is filibustering?

Crowding out his own news conference with his own answers? The effect of the uninterrupted responses of a clearly articulate, and tonight also wordy, president, is to curtail the overall number of questions that are coming his way this evening.

OK, Chip Reid?

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. At both of your town hall meetings in California last week, you said, quote, "I didn't run for president to pass on our problems to the next generation."

But under your budget, the debt will increase $7 trillion over the next 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office says $9.3 trillion. And today on Capitol Hill, some Republicans called your budget, with all the spending on health care, education and environment, the most irresponsible budget in American history.

OBAMA: Yes.

QUESTION: Isn't that kind of debt exactly what you were talking about when you said "passing on our problems to the next generation"?

OBAMA: First of all, I suspect that some of those Republican critics have a short memory, because, as I recall, I'm inheriting a $1.3 trillion deficit, annual deficit, from them. That would be point number one.

Point number two. Both under our estimates and under the CBO estimates, both -- the most conservative estimates out there, we drive down the deficit over the first five years of our budget. The deficit is cut in half. And folks aren't disputing that.

OBAMA: Where the dispute comes in is what happens in a whole bunch of out-years. And the main difference between the budget that we presented and the budget that came out of the Congressional Budget Office is assumptions about growth.

They're assuming a growth rate of 2.2 percent; we're assuming a growth rate of 2.6 percent. Those small differences end up adding up to a lot of money. Our assumptions are perfectly consistent with what Blue Chip forecasters out there are saying.

Now, none of us know exactly what's going to happen 6 or 8 or 10 years from now. Here's what I do know: If we don't tackle energy, if we don't improve our education system, if we don't drive down the costs of health care, if we're not making serious investments in science and technology and our infrastructure, then we won't grow 2.6 percent, we won't grow 2.2 percent. We won't grow.

And so what we've said is, let's make the investments that ensure that we meet our growth targets that put us on a pathway to growth as opposed to a situation in which we're not making those investments and we still have trillion-dollar deficits.

And there's an interesting reason why some of these critics haven't put out their own budget. I mean, we haven't seen an alternative budget out of them.

And the reason is because they know that, in fact, the biggest driver of long-term deficits are the huge health care costs that we've got out here that we're going to have to tackle and we -- that if we don't deal with some of the structural problems in our deficit, ones that were here long before I got here, then we're going to continue to see some of the problems in those out-years.

And -- and so what we're trying to emphasize is, let's make sure that we're making the investments that we need to grow to meet those growth targets, at the same time we're still reducing the deficit by a couple of trillion dollars, we are cutting out wasteful spending in areas like Medicare, we're changing procurement practices when it comes to the Pentagon budget, we are looking at social service programs and education programs that don't work and eliminate them.

And we will continue to go line by line through this budget, and where we find programs that don't work, we will eliminate them.

But it is -- it is going to be an impossible task for us to balance our budget if we're not taking on rising health care costs, and it's going to be an impossible task to balance our budget or even approximate it if we are not boosting our growth rates. And -- and that's why our budget focuses on the investments we need to make that happen.

QUESTION: But even under your budget, as you said, over the next four or five years, you're going to cut the deficit in half, then, after that, six years in a row, it goes up, up, up. If you're making all these long-term structural cuts, why does it continue to go up in the out-years?

OBAMA: Well, look, it is going to take a whole host of adjustments, and we couldn't reflect all of those adjustments in this budget.

Let me give you an example. There's been a lot of talk about entitlements in Medicare and Medicaid. The biggest problem we have long term is Medicare and Medicaid. But whatever reforms we initiate on that front -- and we're very serious about working on a bipartisan basis to reduce those deficits or reduce those costs -- you're not going to see those savings reflected until much later.

And so a budget is a snapshot of what we can get done right now, understanding that, 8, 10 years from now, we will have had a whole series of new budgets and we're going to have to make additional adjustments.

And once we get out of this current economic crisis, then it's going to be absolutely important for us to take another look and say, are we growing as fast as we need to grow? Are there further cuts that we need to make? What other adjustments are -- is it going to take for us to have a sustainable budget level?

But, keep in mind, just to give one other example, as a percentage of gross domestic product, we are reducing non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level since the '60s, lower than it was under Reagan, lower than it was under Clinton, lower than it was under Bush, or both Bushes.

OBAMA: And so, if we're growing, if we are doing what's necessary to create new businesses and to expand the economy, and we are making sure that we're eliminating some of these programs that aren't working, then, over time, that gap can close.

But I'm -- look, I'm not going to lie to you. It is tough. As I said, that's why the critics tend to criticize, but they don't offer an alternative budget. Because even if we were not doing health care, we were not doing energy, we were not doing education, they'd still have a whole bunch of problems in those out-years, according to CBO projections. The only difference is that we will not have invested in what's necessary to make this economy grow.

Is Lourdes (ph) here from Univision (ph)?

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. Today, your administration presented a plan to help curb the violence in Mexico and also to control any or prevent any spillover of the violence into the United States.

Do you consider the situation now a national security threat? And do you believe that it could require sending national troops to the border? Governor Perry of Texas -- Texas has said that you still need more troops and more agents. How do you respond to that?

OBAMA: Well, first of all, let's focus on what we did today. It's very significant.

We are sending millions of dollars in additional equipment to provide more effective surveillance. We are providing hundreds of additional personnel that can help control the border, deal with customs issues.

We are coordinating very effectively with the Mexican government and President Calderon, who has taken on an extraordinarily difficult task of dealing with these drug cartels that have gotten completely out of hand.

And so the steps that we've taken are designed to make sure that the border communities in the United States are protected and you're not seeing a spillover of violence and that we are helping the Mexican government deal with a very challenging situation.

Now, we are going to continue to monitor the situation. And if the steps that we've taken do not get the job done, then we will do more. One last point that I want to make about this. As I said, President Calderon has been very courageous in taking on these drug cartels. We've got to also take some steps, even as he is doing more to deal with the drug cartels, sending drugs into the United States, we need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to these cartels.

That's part of what's financing their operations. That's part of what's arming them. That's what makes them so dangerous. And this is something that we take very seriously and we're going to continue to work on diligently in the months to come.

Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes? Is Kevin here? There you go.

Guy Wheeler Meyer, Sr. (December 19,1914-February 22, 2009)

 

 Dad passed on this past Sunday Morning. 

 I haven't had the time to sit and put any words together, yet.

 I told cousin Chris via Email that Dad's presence has become all the stronger for his absence.

 In my typical fashion of just running my thoughts as they come along, here come a few. 

  Indomitable Spirit. His whole life. The essence of optimism, a fighter to the end, no matter the odds. He would not accept that he could no longer walk without falling over. Don't keep me in this bed. 94 years of living, last Sunday we shared lunch at the Station House Restaurant where he and his loving and devoted partner, Joyce would go every Sunday. The last two days before his passing things caved in on him having to be rescued twice by the local fire department, once he was down he was too heavy to get back up. I was not there. Greeting the fireman by his first name from the floor, was his natural style, it seems he knew every one.  The Point Reyes Voice was his own self publication where he could continue to place his enthusiastic thoughts and dreams of a world beyond War and his logical steps as to how to get there. A local 'crackpot' who wanted the town of Point Reyes to plant a tree in honor of all the young men who refused to carry a gun and refused to wear the military uniforms of the nations of the world, he believed we all needed to find a higher level of sovereignty that we could give ourselves to. Against the mainstream, a man alone,  ... almost, in his passion for a New World.

  

  Joyful enthusiasm. That's personal, that's what he gave to me, it took me  a long time to really see it and get it. Thank you Dad. He was giving it to me all along. That was always the case. 'Guy, your guitar playing is really getting better.' he told me just back around Christmas. I appreciated that because I know he was really being honest and he was coming with his Joyful Enthusiasm in my direction as he pretty much did with everyone. On Saturday night Joyce phoned while I was being a cab driver, she told me of his worsening condition. I planned to bring my guitar out there on Sunday and try to play and sing a whole song (I wanted his thumbs up to tell me whether I was ready to finally get back out there at an open Mic) to him. That didn't happen as I got the call early the next morning, that your Dad has gone.

 A very calm and capable Fijian Hospice worker was at his side during that last night. He said that Guy's last words before going to sleep were, 'I am going to have a good dream.' This was in contrast to the two extremely difficult days leading to that evening. His last breath took place while sleeping. A deep exhalation as is common I imagine, at that moment of departure. 

 A breath, a dream, perhaps of a warm breeze filling the sails of a wondrous and jaunty little vessel on an Ocean. Come climb aboard he' ll be saying.

He didn't really care for sentimental stuff when it came to turning the world towards Peace. It was his mission. Do something was his style.

  Guy W. Meyer, Jr.

Monday Economics (2_9_09)

  I listened to Obama try to sell me on the stimulus package. I am just very skeptical, I applaud the Republicans for saying no. I applaud the 'blue dog' Democrats for at least trying to put some conservative sense to it. I am not surprised but I wish the media would use more critical thinking and realize that many Americans besides Republicans have serious doubts about this plan of action. The media needs to share some greater scrutiny with the American public as to what's in this bill.

 I do not like Obama using the term 'catastrophe' as the impending result if this bill is not passed.

I think that is very... well number one it's bringing Fear to the forefront in this rush for 'swift' approval concept. Two and more important is and this is the second or third time that I have heard Obama use such apocalyptic language in describing what may very likely happen in the USA. We may have a real crash, right now things are still humming, but there is a lot of paranoia and 'toxic debt' which actually is more than we realize, I think many Americans who haven't been laid off yet are rightly reining in our overspending ways. Credit card debt is no good. There maybe way more in the 'toxic debt' department but let's not worry about that until it happens. We may very well have a greater crash, what is a President to do, bemoan and wail that we have a catastrophe on our hands. I hope not. Be confident in the American People and this Country if we have to hit bottom and work our way back up, no problem. We are tough or we will become tough those who are survivors and I expect that to be the case with most Americans. NO problem let's face our problems and not paper over them with freshly printed money courtesy of China. Talk about creating future toxic debts and I hope someone asks Obama at tomorrows press conference how does he foresee the sale of bonds to foreign countries? Has he had some in depth discussions with his advisors on this subject? Maybe he can explain to US (us) how that works? I know it will be done, I know it's been done in the past, but at what point down the road are we going to be in for trouble. Has he and his advisors tried to look ahead and get a sense of what scenarios might play out. Let's say if despite the big stimulus, the 'jolt', that somehow lets say it doesn't exactly show big results soon and for some strange reason Banks and Credit Card Companies etc those guys just keep on bleeding etc... You know what I am getting at.

  I think he has learned from George Bush remarkably well. You are either with us or with the terrorists. Now it's 'are we equal to the task'. What task? Passing this $850 Billion dollar bill. So if I disagree with your plan that makes me not equal to the task. Equal to the task of having full faith in the Presidency? I am going to stay skeptical there is no way I can fake it. 16,000 jobs in Maine, that is awesome, that is incredible I guess I'll have to wait and see. At what price 16,000 jobs in Maine? Sorry to my two Maine Senators who got sold on this project. What is the impact of 16,000 jobs in Maine? What is that all about tearing up the wilderness so more rich bankers can have summer cabins the size of.... Whatever? Who knows?

Om. Nobody knows what they are about to approve. Nor what it's impact is I am afraid the EIR for this project would not be a pretty sight for those who love the remaining Nature in the once America the Beautiful. No EIR necessary, no public knowledge necessary, when it fails blame the Republicans. Or maybe that Guy right over there.... what? Yeah you Mr. Bad Atitude, who doubts that the New Age has come and who greets every new venture this President announces, one of the greatest of the great Presidents, with skepticism and a critical eye... sorry years of observation of our fine leaders.

 I am into the New Age. Truly. Just today I said to myself forget Someday Somehow. That's over, that's old. It's now This day This way.. as it Is.  Can You handle it? I am moving in that direction. I am Beyond Hope and that's where I'll probably stay. Beyond Hope.

 Guy

Stopping the Layoffs - Zero Waste

 When you think of this fragile economy that seems to want to just go down now. When you look at where we are and our need to begin anew with fresh motivation towards a Planet and a USA that makes and builds products that bring long term satisfaction and Zero waste.

 Put a man on the Moon how about an economy that produces Zero waste. Why not? All matter is just bound up energy isn't it? Let's get a mission Obama why not aim high. Use your natural all inclusive people skills first to stop the bleeding. I don't know how you surrounded yourself with so many Wall Street type Guys for your advice but so be it. I guess your bold course is set and rather than stopping the bleeding you believe by more bloodletting (stimulus package) that we will 'jump start' this old economy that is about ready to tumble even further.

  I am hoping you might use your powers. Presidential Powers as Commander in Chief to First boldly Challenge all Corporate and Large businesses to rather than impose 10 or 20% layoffs instead impose across the board salary cuts for everyone in the company of 10 to 20% with the executives and management leading by example and accepting maybe a 20 to 30% cut or even better yet they all agree not to get paid any more than the President of the USA. Build a fighting team spirit on every company in America and challenge them to convert their business to Zero waste within 25 years. Every company should accept the challenge. 

 It's so easy being a cab driver and knowing just what to do. If I'm so smart how come I'm driving cab? I'm open to career changes including Presidential appointments, my lack of IRS payments over the last years shouldn't stop me after all I'm honest about being always broke. Never hired an illegal alien, probably should have married her. Besides from what I heard you are now furthering Bush's pathetic policy giving my, make that, someone else's, hard earned tax dollars to some wacko Religious group's Faith Based Social Programs. I find that horrendous and I ponder what's up there with that Obama? 

  What's up with the institutionalization of helping poor people. Is this like a Life career society endeavor where we always have poor people so we can always have 'non-profits' who always aid poor people so they can earn an honest dollar eternally helping the never ending supply of poor people who isn't their something fundamentally flawed about this policy

  Guy

  

 

Honor thy Father 'A Sailor's Wife' (2009 Part 1)

 My Father is still among the living. He is a tough son of a gun and is in no hurry to leave this planet. He turned 94 in December and his ailments are gaining the upper hand. For those of you know Guy W. Meyer Senior, this is not meant to give a real accurate description of who this Man is, my Father. It merely happens that in the days when we tend to think we are not going to hear one more new Poem that he effortlessly apparently memorized he springs one on us. This one exists to be shared as most of them do. Dad loved and loves among other types humorous epics (short epics) that go back to a world gone by so here for your reading enjoyment & most definite perplexity is one that might be titled :

        The Sailor's Wife

A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap and munched and crunched.

'Give me quoth I'

'Aroint thee witch, ye rum-fed runnion'

Her husbands to Aleppo gone,

master of the 'Tiger',

so thither in a sieve I'll sail

and like a rat without a tail,

I'll do,

I'll do,

and

 I'll do.

I am not sure exactly of the punctuation and quotation marks. He says that there are two women in his poem and one is the ' witch' or maybe 'retch'. It is possible that 70 80 or a hundred years ago here may have been a more definitive reading of this work.

  Anyways this was another of among many wondrous, songs, limericks ballads etc. that keep the awe factor pretty high when dealing with my Dad.

   OK answer to where do you find poetry like that: Shakespeare

   My Brother is in the same league as my Dad. At least within minutes of me reciting this he had the answer. Macbeth scene? what... the witches anyways still how does your Father recite Macbeth and particularly such a weird little excerpt? That's my Dad. He entered Harvard at age 16, bright and bold, he got yanked out the next year when 'the Wall' caved in, 1930.

 Guy

USA Ecosystem

We all live in Nature. Essential ecosystems for life on Earth - the minimum to sustain Life...?. 

Right about now is the time for a turnaround. Supporting the minimal Ecosystems that sustain life brings our Economy gradually on to the right track. 

  What is the most basic level of Ecosystems that we can preserve on this Planet, for the better

of all Life including the Lives of Barack Obama's daughters and their  future children?

  Guy

 

Responsibility equals Freedom add Reality

 How strong is my back? What about your backs?

 I am in let's say being diplomatic ...... poor shape.

 Perhaps I shouldn't be talking tonight.

 Let's have a moment of Reflection to thank an even say a little Blessing to our new President.

He has a very tough job.

 I don't know if anyone will forgive me for my outbursts of frustration and maybe even anger that have been published in these last couple of weeks. I am not even close to a expert on Economics, I may not even be close to being an average ... ( I want to say Fool but I need to keep my level of respect up to a higher level for all humans, then again I tend to have a soft spot in my heart for certain types of Fools on the Planet as I would hope that someone might do the same for me someday) (I mean Fool with the highest level of Respect for I don't think anyone on the Earth knows what is going on or how to extricate ourselves from our dilemma , our Economic Dilemma.) .... American  ... fool.

  Responsibility equals Freedom. If that were the case we all .... All I can think of is this plight of Humans on A Living Planet Earth. Living on this Earth in the midst of which is teeming Biology, which are all the living creatures on the Planet, the Plant Life and Insect Life and Ocean Life and Soil Life. Right now the whole Earth is possibly being Destroyed by Humans, forgive me for telling you what you already know. I don't mean to shock you or upset anyone but that is what is going on. Every extinction of species is an arrow pointing in the direction of our own extinction. We are part of something that is slightly out of our control. This evolution of Life called Human Progress. 

  Our present early stages of this Economic Slowdown are really a very fundamental unavoidable stage or state of engagement with Reality. We are a self-governing people. One fundamental step we have to take for our own Survival is an immediate across the board -across the land and then we have to get every Country on the Planet to join us in across the Planet moratorium on the destruction of all natural Biology. I don't wish to confuse you I am talking about our Land. Every vacant lot, piece of Field or Meadow needs to be Protected and Preserved. We cannot start up the Real Estate Machine again. Why? Because they all harbor Life, all those separate little pieces of the Planet. A life that we are a part of and certainly we are the most powerful species on this Planet.

  If we take the steps to protect our Life, be Responsible for Life Itself on Earth, to the best of our abilities then we we will minimally be living a Responsible Life. Yes I admit 'My Name is Earl' was conceived of because someone knew about my Life (only Earl is at a higher level of Responsibility than me, at least he wrote a list). Some of us should be kept away from accepting any more responsibility that can't be handled. I am an optimist, I think the acceptance of Responsibility somehow someway puts us in the driver seat. Behind the wheel towards taking care of our Insane Civilization and The Planet of Life that supports us. What makes us insane is this tendency to think somehow we are not part of Nature. I guess a lot of things can drive us crazy if we let them.

 Responsibility equals freedom.. if that were the case we would all be more than willing to put it on our backs. We just have to accept our world is going to slow down, that's OK. President Obama has to know that it is OK we have to just all just have to get 'Back to Basics' as so many say. Reality is the glue. What can you do about Reality?  Try to stay Peaceful in it. Responsibility equals Freedom am I right? How about irresponsibility what does that gain us?

Damn I have a mirror that I don't often enjoy looking in.

 Phew!   That was hard work, thinking. Some say you can stop thinking and it will aid your Mental Health. I've never figured that out. The proper ways of sharing one's thoughts is what I need to work on.

  

  The responsibility for Life lies with us, everyone of us. The more irresponsible we choose to be the greater the loss of Freedom. How much responsibility can your back handle? What if we were a Union of People wouldn't it suddenly become an attainable reality.

  Guy

Here it is... Dizzying.

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf

Makes me a little queasy, going through this. So much wonderfullness. So much improvement.

The Uninformed People of the USA

President Obama speaks about his efforts to convince Republicans to support his Recovery and Reinvestment plan 'In some cases they are not as familiar with the package as I would like.'

  647 pages.

  What about us the American People how are we supposed to get familiar with the bill?

  Isn't that part of Democracy to be able to know what your government is actually voting on so that you can notify your 'representative' if you feel that you are opposed or in favor.

  I guess I am naive. This form of Government has been going on for years and years now. Just because Obama is bringing it to the highest levels of a lack information combined with general complexity of the document itself shouldn't cause me to get so frustrated. After all..

  Why is it my business to know what roads and highways and bridges are now going to be repaired in California? Why is it my business to know what and where and how big are the wastewater plants that will be built in California? Why should I be concerned that all my medical records are now going to be centralized & computerized for the benefit of me? Why should I be concerned that we are going to be doubling available Alternative Energy (Yeah Baby!) though no one has told me where or what is going to be built? Why should I be concerned about the 'Smart meters' that no one knows anything about that will monitor energy use in our homes? And on and on know one knows what is in this bill.

  

  I went to look at the official ' Whitehouse ' web site looking for finally a rough outline of what this bill is. There isn't one that I could find. President Obama is setting up a new website to keep us informed about this bill. I found that out while looking on the Whitehouse website Thank you President Obama. It is called www.recovery.gov.

  Here's what he has to say.

 

 I guess that is the way business is done. That's Democracy reaching for the next level. If you thought Bush was Orwellian welcome to our brand new transparent world. 'An unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecesary spending in our government.' Bravo. Please don't be a rude American and actually ask to see how your taxpayer dollars are going to be spent before you approve what may be the most brilliant plan the Government has ever created or might be the worst collection of BS and a monumental waste of our money. A debt to be paid back some day of $825 Billion, no problem, just vote Yes and have Faith and more important have Hope.

 Argghhh... Just when we felt like we were winning and we are losing again.

 Guy (What do I know?) W. Meyer, Jr.

  Yahoo ... Rev up the Bulldozers, back on track tearing up the Planet!

Mass Stimulation (Ooooh Baby!) Vs Taking Care

                                                                        Touch Down....

 Not much left to say that hasn't been said about Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger.

      (cell phone(?) photo by Roy Gates submitted to the NY Times)

 

 As you might have noticed, I am not satisfied about much with Obama's Stimulus proposal.

It seems to me like he has cobbled together a humongous Christmas Tree of Ornaments just 

big enough to satisfy the Economists who think it has to be real big. Everything seems like a pretty good idea that probably would never go anywhere alone but put together as the Great Stimulus well. $820 Billion is really not that much. 

So far there is just no room for the American people to participate in the debate, I am still looking for the details.

  Despite that let the debate begin, without any details Paul Krugman lets those of Bad Faith have it right between the eyes. But his admonishments to Republicans and maybe me doesn't seem to address my desire to see the details of this plan before we Say Yea or Nay and or think about what we will never be able to do for our Country that is really waiting our attention

because we just blew $820Billion. You can print as much money as you want forever, for one year, for two years? Answer A, B or C ? Is it possible that the actions of our Federal Government are a fundamental reason behind the 'recession'?

   Here's how Krugman wraps up his argument....

But here’s the thing: Most Americans aren’t listening. The most encouraging thing I’ve heard lately is Mr. Obama’s reported response to Republican objections to a spending-oriented economic plan: “I won.” Indeed he did — and he should disregard the huffing and puffing of those who lost.

   Ouch! Most Americans aren't listening because they are too busy and they have given Obama full faith that we have the best President perhaps ever. That's not a good sign, Americans need to pay attention. Obama has to prove himself. That's how Democracy has to work. We don't have a Theocracy.

  Then finally I find the bill or at least now I know where it is though like all bills that become law the American People rarely get to look at them and if you trust the Federal Government to do a good job with $820 Billion... I don't care how nice a guy Representative Obey is. I know the depth of his commitment and hard work through the years, the man is a class act. Unfortunately things get too big, the center does not hold, there is no center to this bill, a hundred disparate projects, with a hundred disparate projects under them why don't we just create a new cabinet post to oversee this Bill with a staff of maybe a thousand. 647 pages makes me want to cry... that #1, the citizens of this country really have that kind of faith in the wisdom of our government and #2 such a profound super-rushed ill thought out, mess of garbage, a complete waste of money...

Guy how can you possibly say that? You haven't even read it. Plus it proves how poor your argument is because there is no way with spending 820 Billionz could it be a complete waste of money. People will go to work.

  .... a lot of so called improvements that will end up making our lives more complicated and more removed from anything remotely like Country people, living responsible lives and taking care of themselves, which is what I advocate for this entire Country, City people too. Yes We Can. Know your neighbors, be good neighbors, fend for yourself and find ways to serve your community that's how we will make a living. The Ancient Chinese scholars (now scorned over there) and Thomas Jefferson had something in common, they both believed that a Nation could and would prosper for the best when the Government intervened in the least.

 

  That's just it as usual in Washington DC no one will have read it except a few burnt out Senate Aides who will report back to their Bosses yup it looks pretty thorough. Yup. Good, because as a Senator and or Representative for the people of the USA who is just way too busy to find the time to read this work that looks something like the old testament combined with the Legal Codes of  then I'll vote yes because we must do something.

Call it the Department of Homeland Recovery. Might as well institutionalize it with the Federal Government taking such firm leadership we have here a competitor to Terrorism as a cause supreme to further bend people towards eternal supplication to the Supreme Leader whoever he is of the moment. Yes sad how quick I have lost faith in Obama. Turn it around Guy... Cmon 'Bama show me something real. Let's talk Sustainability.

   Where is it? This is supposed to be a transparent Government, remember O....hh.. we are very transparent and accountable that's why we will report back to the American people how this bill fares in thorough detail you will be able to monitor it on our transparent website. But I want to know what we are voting on? Maybe if you shared it with the American people first they could look at it and help you eliminate all the projects that aren't really necessary or are in fact destructive to communities. For instance you say you want to modernize 10,000 schools across America. That sounds pretty good I guess, but what exactly do you mean by that. What is the criteria you have used to choose 10,000 schools across America to work on. Is their someone that just hates 195os architecture and all schools

that aren't whatever... what is the criteria? You want to double alternative energy output in the USA, sounds great but what do you mean? What is the plan? 25 mile mirror array in the Southwest desert?

no thank you. It's time to decentralize. Every home in America capable of producing enough energy to 

sustain an economical energy supply of it's own that is an Alternative Energy plan I would vote for. Let's see if we divided 300 million Americans into 850 Billion dollars....? $5 dollars each..? I am not good at math. How about divide the $850 Billion dollars divided by all adult Americans who are willing to give up driving cars. BaM! WHOA BABY...! Talk about cooling down the Earth, solving the Homeless problem, and bringing billions of dollars right to the roots of the American people who are in trouble. Wow imagine the stir that would bring to the economy as thousands of us finally launched our dream businesses all of this percolatiing right where you need it on Main street. Thousands left the Rat Race for good! In fact if you think about it without a car many more will opt to live close to main street and you have got a dynamic of ecological and economic rebirth that would be possibly fantastic.

 So many brilliant options. Unfortunately the one we are taking is entirely crafted by those removed

from the people, and kept in secrecy until after it's voted on. That's why we voted for Change. Cause we are trusting people. We just never figure out our new man's philosophy until right about now. Federal Government to the rescue because we are the Good Guys!!!

   Guy (a bum and a lonely grouch) ( My Cat may not even really like me anymore, she's Black..)

      PS

    As people have told me don't sweat the stuff you can't control Guy, Take it easy....

    I might go to Mexico on a sabbatical, maybe Virginia maybe stay right where I am. Omm Baby and don't spare the Horses. I dare someone to comment on my rude Audacity of Questioning my Commander in Chief. I voted for him. I sat down to listen at the inauguration, I was elevated, I applauded heartily

  

Real Assets, Something Real Obama...

  What are they? Real Assets. We Americans need a good seminar in modern Economics. I don't think anyone knows what is going on?

   I am doubtful that anyone on Obama's economy team knows what is going on. I think if they did, they would see the benefits of taking the time to explain to the American People what is going on, so we could all understand what is being attempted. Perhaps Obama himself would take a pause in the  'bold course for  dire times' as USA Today called his plans, to figure out again what exactly we are propping up or building or hoping to create with this plan. Stop with the cool, calm, and collected, Panic. It sounds to me you are saying... Quick, Quick Americans! It all might collapse unless we pass this mish mosh of possibly beneficial projects, but who really knows, none of which are going to inspire you much, but Hey! We must do something so let's throw a bunch of money against the Wall and see what sticks. To further prove to you the efficacy of this project I myself will tell you, we are not just throwing a bunch of money at the wall. How many times in the course of your term will you have to push an $820 Billion dollar project through congress? Shouldn't it be proudly thought out and be able to inspire America? 

Is it possible that one year from now 2 years from now we will all look back and say Wow I wish we had that one to do over again. That was our money. Damn.

   So far the broad outlines seem to change every day, all I know is I don't know much ...

    

   "Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. And we could lose a generation of potential, as more young Americans are forced to forgo college dreams or the chance to train for the jobs of the future," Obama said in a five-minute address that the White House released early Saturday.

  "In short, if we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse."

       

Hail Obama, God Bless him, etc. etc. .... It seems like we are getting this rush from our wonderful, 'fully transparent government' President to get behind this project ... it reminds me of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Lord forgive me, how dare I? ...and yet I still have Hope. I think Obama is just in too big a rush. What are we getting behind and why not think about asking people who disagree with you to give input at your table?

       There is no real solid plan yet. So why this rush? Are there enough 'Bobbleheads in bubble land' as some writer who coined the phrase described us that if you all in Washington DC appear as if that you know what you are doing.... With a flourish of the pen and all the brand new leaders of this country standing around the table there for the photo op. Click! Then America goes back to being normal. We can go back to making and spending money.  I don't think that's going to work. Only something deeply real and fully transparent as in:

       We see the plan. We understand the plan. Let's go ... will do.

A day earlier, he invited Democratic and Republican leaders to the White House to hear their ideas on the economy, yet Obama didn't share the plan's specifics while they visited.

Many of the goals in the speech and report were familiar from Obama's two-year campaign, like shifting to electronic medical records and investing in preventive health care. Other parts added specifics.

Obama's recovery package aims to:

• Double within three years the amount of energy that could be produced from renewable resources, an ambitious goal given the 30 years it took to reach current levels. Advisers say that could power 6 million households.
• Upgrade 10,000 schools and improve learning for about 5 million students.
• Save $2 billion a year by making federal buildings energy efficient.
• Triple the number of undergraduate and graduate fellowships in science.

   

   Those two quotes above are from MSNBC from January 24, 2009

    From the Washington Post January 24, 2009 :

     House  Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said the goals outlined

    yesterday "will serve as a benchmark of progress to ensure accountability."

    I don't know how these end goals as noted above 'ensure' accountability of the measure in the present. We don't just vote on something and then you explain what we voted on.

   '   Among the other major goals are laying more than 3,000 miles of electric transmission lines;??Is this high speed Internet? Where are the details? installing 40 million "smart" utility meters, which help control energy use Do we know what we are getting with 'Smart' meters?, in U.S. homes; and weatherizing at least 2 million homes and 75 percent of federal buildings.OK I guess that costs billions Major infrastructure investments include enhancing security at 90 major ports and modernizing the nation's water system by launching 1,300 wastewater projects, 380 drinking-water projects, and 1,000 rural water and sewer system projects.  ' Has anyone required an EIR report on all these projects? It sounds benign but maybe they are big projects that aren't really needed? Who knows? If there is someone out there who knows where Americans get any details of this plan let me know.

Do we ignore people just because they are Republicans?

 From the Washington Post again:

Boehner spokeswoman Antonia Ferrier described the White House proposal as "just another unfocused, runaway bill loaded with slow and wasteful Washington spending on every conceivable goal."

Boehner criticized some spending proposals in the House Democratic plan, including $6 billion for colleges and universities, many of which have large endowments, and $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. "All told, the plan would spend a whopping $275,000 in taxpayer dollars for every new job it aims to create, saddling each and every household with $6,700 in additional debt," he said.

  I was wondering if any one knew when it was that is became OK for Banks to loan more money than they have assets to cover? Can someone tell me the year or during whose administration, or has it always been OK for that too happen? As someone pointed out to me today though I can't say I am surprised. You know they are still doing it. It being the same stuff that brought, almost brought down Wall Street. You mean gambling with other people's money? They are still doing it? Of course they are, that's Wall Street, that's what they do.  

 

   The White House can respond. An interview with Obama wherein he can explain to one

 not particularly bright, but willing American what it's all about, and we can pour over the  details with American Pride would set my mind and heart to rest.

   

   I'll be paying attention to Obama over here not because I am a nut, maybe I am, but some fool has to try to watch over our stupid government no matter who is running it? I am just one of them, By The People, of the People, for the People... people.

    

     Banks made loans without concern for whether borrowers could repay them, and some borrowers took advantage of cheap credit to take on debt they couldn’t afford.  Politicians spent taxpayer money without wisdom or discipline, too often focused on scoring political points instead of the problems they were sent here to solve. The result has been a devastating loss of trust and confidence in our economy, our financial markets, and our government. 

       Barack Obama from his January 8 speech.

(Maybe this should read... Banks made loans whether they could repay them,)

(Please take note Barack, are you confident in the wisdom and discipline gone into this bill? I mean really confident?) and

We don't need another devastating loss of trust and confidence.