Roll on Capitol Hill

Last month, I was privileged to accompany Angie to Washington DC for the 2015 Roll on Capitol Hill event.  This would be my first trip to DC and also my first trip flying with Angie...hooray adventure time!  The pictures turned out poorly*

Angie, Jamie, and Jenn rolling on Capitol Hill

Roll on Capitol Hill is an event sponsored by the United Spinal Association allowing people with spinal cord injuries or disabilities to meet with their governmental representatives and advocate for disability rights and disability-helpful legislation.  I found the experience very interesting.  We were able to meet with Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley.  Both of whom, I liked more than I thought I would.  I am sure some of that is "being a politician" and being able to tell people what they want to hear, but I don't know that all of it was...I think there was some sincere interest, concern, and understanding.  It kills me to say that Joni Ernst actually seemed like a good person, so I discarded all my pig testicle and bread sack jokes un-muttered.  Understanding and sincerity does not guarantee support; but hopefully it will leave the legislatures with some positive impressions and influence future support.  We met with the staffers of other legislators who were not able to meet in person and dropped off some information for others whom we could not set up meetings.  So hopefully a productive trip.

The Senate & House office buildings are very similar many normal office buildings with a few exceptions.  Not surprisingly, there is the security...mainly you have to go through a metal detector and have your belongings x-rayed.  If you've ever flown or had to go to your local courthouse, you get the idea.  I was a little surprised at how easy it actually was.  Even though if you were going from building to building and back for meetings; it was a little tiring.  The other thing that stood out was that every office door was flanked by flags.  Lest anyone doubt their patriotism everyone had a United States flag and usually their State flag on the other.  However, some offices had more flags - flags for an armed service branch they may have served in, the POW/MIA flag, flags for various other local organizations that they Senators & Representatives supported...but as we walked from appointment to appointment, I only saw one Gadsden flag being flown (the "Don't Tread On Me" flag).  Thank you Steve King for living up to my preconceived notions (at least partially)...stay classy.   Steve's staff was nice and he did already support one of he bills we were advocating for...so I guess that counteracts some of my preconceived notions.



































*more on that later

A Message to Congress

As the new session of congress begins, I would like to say a few things.

First of all, to all the members of congress who are still current or were just voted out but helped pass a lot of important legislation in the so called "lame duck" session. THANK YOU.  Nothing pisses me off more than when the Senate and House sit around for a couple months because some people are leaving.  All members of the House or Senate were elected for a two or six year term and I expect them to work in one way or another the entire term.  Hey, I knew I was going to be laid off last summer, and you know what would have happened if I sat on my ass and didn't do my job those couple months before my layoff?  I would have been fired much sooner...without pay.  Every time there is a lame duck session where the congress does nothing, I as a tax payer want my money back.  I understand if there was nothing to do but to stall just because some people are leaving or control is changing to a different party is dumb.  Do your job...the entire time.  So thank you for doing that one of the first times in my life.

Secondly, to all the incoming Republicans, Tea Partiers, and existing congressmen who now want to spend the first couple weeks of the new session trying to completely repeal the 2010 Health Care reform...Fuck off.  It's not perfect, that is granted but it actually does have a lot of good parts.  So instead of wasting time trying to repeal the whole thing which nearly every considers next to impossible - repeal most likely won't pass the Democratically controlled Senate, and even if it did the President will veto, and let's be honest you do not have the votes to override.  Instead of wasting time showing off that you are against healthcare reform (a pretty stupid position in my book - why do you want to deny people with pre-existing conditions?), why don't you instead work to fix the parts that aren't as great?  You might actually be able to make some changes instead of just wasting time and my (tax payer's) money on useless endeavorers...because honestly doing that sounds like the typical "business as usual" partisan bullshit that most of you ran against.  PS - you get health care coverage that takes effect immediately, and don't have to worry about pre-conditions (coverage which is paid for 75% by tax payers).  Stop trying to deny every once else a chance for similar benefits.

Finally, just do your job.  Your job is not to be a total idiot listening to your party and doing everything that they want.  Your job is not to listen to big business or take lots of contributions for your political future (or your pocket).  Your job is to your constituents.  Listen to them, do what they want...we are your boss - not your republican or democratic leaders.  Benefit the citizens of the United States instead of looking out for your own interests.  There is a reason that it is called Public Service.  If you do this, the public will take care of you.


Thanks,
Gubby

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

I don't like to get very political on this blog.  You have your views, I have mine.  Yes, I know I have gotten slightly political in the past...like a few days ago with the Sarah Palin joke, mostly because I thought it was funny.

But I am going to get slightly political right now, sorry.

You too can own a whole line of Obama Dictator wear.

Seriously people - you are calling President Obama a dictator because he pushed for and eventually got health care reform.  Really?  Dictator?  You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.  Of course we have free speech so you can say that all you want (free speech in a dictatorship, crazy talk).  Just because you disagree with some one's policy doesn't make them a dictator...or any of the other stupid phrases that you say.  Saying that kind of thing basically just makes you looking like a fucking idiot.


I am trying to see how this makes the President a dictator - all I can think of is that you lost the right to not have health insurance.  Personally, I hope this is a good thing for people.  I know several people who have pre-existing conditions and have major issues getting health insurance and therefore the health care they need to live...but I can see how you would be upset about losing your right not to have insurance.


Since you are all about personal freedom...I am glad you were out fighting the renewal of the Patriot Act (an act that in my opinion eroded more of our rights and civil liberties than anything else since the founding of the country).  Burden of Proof, Evidence,Warrants for wiretapping and spying, Oversight and Accountability for government agencies, ability to refute National Security Letters - I guess you don't think we need any of those.  Oh wait, you didn't fight that because "your team" was in charge at the time?


I'm not for the Democrats or the Republicans...I just want our country to work as well as possible. I'm not sure if the health care reform will work or not, but I do know that health care hasn't been working for many people for years. We need to try to find some way to make it work.  My tax dollars pay for a lot of things that I don't like, health care for everyone is one of those things that I don't mind contributing to.


Oh, I might also like to add that just because you think the Health Care Reform is socialism, that doesn't make the President a dictator.  Those are two very different concepts.

Two Minutes Hate

Political Party Idiots

I don't care what a person political affiliation is - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Independent, etc... I think they all have valid viewpoints and all have good ideas on various topics. I think this variety is good for the country.

But, I don't like when someone is such a slave to their political party that they can't see or admit that another party might have some good ideas and do whatever they can to destroy something just because it was proposed by their opponents. This is shown most clearly in the Democrats vs the Republicans since they are the majority.

Politicians - I voted for you for your thinking power, yes you, not some person who is the the supposed head of your party. I voted for you to do what you think is best for me, for my neighbors, for my community, for this country. I did not vote for you to just follow what someone else tells you to do or to follow a set of predefined party rules. I want you to think, and think hard about what each decision and piece of legislation actually means for us, the people. I don't want you to automatically dismiss or oppose something just because it was thought up by the other side. You are there to compromise and work together and come up with the best solutions as part of a team that leads this country.

People - I am glad you are taking an interest and a stand in politics. That is great, everyone should have an interest in this and be involved as they feel comfortable. Like the politicians though, you need to think for yourselves...and show some respect. Maybe you don't agree with everything that is happening in Washington at this time - I don't either, but the way to combat this is not to yell and disrupt town hall meetings. That makes you look like an ignorant asshole. If that is how you handle things, I hope the people that you believe in NEVER get into power because I can only imagine that they will be idiots just like you. If you don't agree with something, come to the meetings and lets talk about the situation. Let's have a debate (note: a debate is not yelling and not calling someone a Nazi), let's look at facts and figures, let's gather data and talk to other people to find out what they need because it might not be the same as what you need. Let's look at a big picture and do the best we can for everyone. Maybe the best thing is to keep the current system, maybe not...let's study the issue and see if we can come to an agreement that is beneficial to everyone.

Everyone - being a total party whore makes you do stupid things...like making your children boycott a speech by the President. Seriously? He is the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES, the current leader of this country. I don't care if you don't like him or if he is a member of an opposite political party, the position in itself deserves some respect. If he wants to give a speech encouraging children to stay in school , you should encourage your child to watch and pay attention. I remember Republican presidents doing in the 80s and even though I didn't believe in Republican values at the time, I still found the speeches to be a little bit empowering and uplifting (and this from someone who at the time didn't care too much for school). Stop calling your children's schools and threatening them. Even if you don't believe in his policies and ideas, you should still listen when our leader, the Office of the President deserves that much respect.

Please note - I consider myself independent, and have voted for Democrats, Republicans, and others (no one from the the NORML party yet though). This message is not aimed at one particular party or policy, the examples are just currently favor one side due to leadership and majority...but there are just as many examples the other way too - I am just too lazy to find them at the moment).

End Hate

Picture borrowed from the website of the US Embassy in Dublin Ireland.

Well people like that reform. Maybe we should get us some.

I'm not big into the old politicin'. I know it is a fantastic part of country and I believe in it, I really do. It just usually isn't for me for many reasons:

• Most the time, I couldn't really care less and am bored with all the politics and TV/radio ads by January - so by the time that the actual election comes around, I literally hate everyone involved.
• I am usually pretty familiar with the main people running for the main positions (i.e. president, governor, state senator, etc...), but the other positions are often just a list of names that I know nothing about. Do I randomly pick someone? Do I pick a name that may be slightly familiar? Do I do as me and CT do on NTN trivia if we don't know and go with a name that is either noticeably longer or shorter than the rest? Do I choose a name that sounds nice or has cool alliteration? Do I choose C? This choice makes me feel anxious because I don't want to pick someone that sucks but how can I choose anyone if I don't know anything about them. I don't need that stress. I should study more before I reach the voting booth but seriously I am not going to remember the majority of the lesser positions any way. So I let someone who cares enough to learn or at least cares enough to randomly choose a name pick.
• I hate that there are really only two feasible parties. There needs to be more variety. Yes, I know there was the Green party, the Libertarian party, etc... on the ballot but since the two party system is so ingrained into US politics they have no real chance. I would like to see more candidates that can encompass more values from all the parties. I don't like that for the most part we seem to be "For Us" or "Against Us" when it comes to political parties. I can't seem to vote a straight party ticket, I have to vote for each person and position in their own right because I don't just want a "party drone" I want an individual that can think for himself and know when to tell the rest of his party to fuck off.
• The majority of the reason that I usually haven't voted is because I have been of the idea/opinion that there would be slight differences in styles and policies between presidents but with all their (presumably intelligent) advisers, cabinet members, checks and balances that for the major issues, the important issues - that presidents would all do pretty much the same job. With the W administration increasing the president's power, eliminating checks and balances, and deteriorating our civil rights - I no longer believe this.

This year is the first year that I have voted since my first eligible year to vote (1992). I did vote for Obama although I can see why people would vote for McCain. It's not that I didn't like McCain, I voted for Obama because he is a much more charismatic leader. I think that is the type of leader that will be able to rally people to change the country (hopefully for the better) and also keep people encouraged in the bad times (like the situation with the economy). I think both candidates would have made decent presidents...I just think that Obama seems a little bit more like a leader. Someone that I would follow. I hope he can help put our country back on track to being respected, rather than being seen as a bully. I hope he realizes that the government has over-stepped in bounds in the name of security and reinstates civilian rights and governmental checks and balances. I hope that Obama can lead our country out of a state of fear and that someday I will be able to fly again with my shampoo and without having to take off my shoes. I am hopeful that change has come and it will be change for the better. (I would hope all the same if McCain had won).

Some of my voting tips:

• Always vote not to re-elect judges and sheriffs. They have too much power to get complacent or comfortable enough that they feel they can start abusing their power.
• Vote for a person not their party.
• Feel free to write yourself in for any position where you don't feel comfortable making a choice.
• If you can vote for more than one candidate for a post still keep it limited to what you know. Just because you can vote for up to four people doesn't mean you have to...make your top picks count, don't dilute them for just for the sake of voting.
• Don't vote for the guy with the midget - no matter how stumpy...he is really a white supremacist and not a "friend of the little man."
• If you don't want to vote - DON'T! Don't let someone try to talk you into it if you don't want to (then you are doing what they want). This is a democracy - you can choose or not. That's what is great about it. Is voting a Right? Yes. But you don't have to take advantage of it if you don't want to. So is "keeping and bearing arms" and I don't own a gun (...yet) and I don't feel bad about that. I especially like when someone tries to tell me that "If you don't vote, then you can't complain." Of course I can! I didn't vote for the person.

OK enough politicin'. I hope the coverage is over soon...because I have long been sick of it. If I hear "Joe the Plumber" one more time, I am going to snap and kick that person in the shins. You will (most likely) not hear another word about it from me.