I taught at my daughter's civics class on Thursday

they were a great group of kids, fun and engaging. During the second half of my 75 minute session with them we started teaching about the different courts in the US and the first thing they identified with was Judge Judy. I had to tell them that if a real judge acted like that in a courtroom at some point very likely she would go before a bar review as to her behavior on the bench. It surprised me how elemental and minimal these students concept of the courts and legal process was. It was interesting at the end we talked about landmark US Supreme Court decisions and you just see the light go on in their eyes as to how court decisions directly affect their lives.

Cynicism: this isn't important but I was just sitting here thinking

it seems to me that this country was a lot less cynical. When did we become this way..IMHO opinion we began the slide into cynicsm after Kennedy got shot with the Warren Commission
it continued to grow during Vietnam
went way up during Watergate
and total went off the charts when the Supreme Court installed Shrub
and now it is almost beyond repair after the damage the tea party has done
just IMHO

Shame on you fucking Republicans!

I was just listening to a report on MSNBC about how the families of the soldiers being killed in combat in Afghanistan are being told that they can't get the death benefits they are entitled to because of the government shut down. SHAME ON YOU GOP!!!! I remember the soldiers coming to the door of our house when my dad got killed in Vietnam and how the gov't not only took care of us administratively (helping handle the civic part of the funeral) but also handled the financial arrangements as well and how grateful my mom was. Because of these tea party morons, that isn't happening right now. Yes, some repuke asshat came on the horn and said they are going to have a vote to fix that, but what about the poor soldiers family whose son, brother, husband was killed on the first day of the shutdown? The most elemental and primal function of the grieving is to be able to mourn and bury in a dignified manner and you god damn republicans are obstructing even that!

This coupled with cutting food to the hungry, withholding education to our youngest, having empty offices for our veterans, laying off those who inspect and investigate transportation and food safety...

HOW LOW WILL GO? SHAME ON YOU!!! grow up!!!

I am speaking to my daughters high school civic class on Thursday

she is a Sr. this year and her teacher has invited me in. I know I'll talk about my life narrative and also my experience running a city initiative and running for Congress, but I would love to have my colleagues input on here: what do you think a high school Sr. should hear from a guest speaker about politics.

I bet there aren't very many mirrors in a Republican home.....

because if I voted to stop Head Start for the tiniest among us, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to defund feeding millions of people, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to stop health care funding for millions, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to put our national safety at risk, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to make our food at risk of being unsafe, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to stop tax refunds for those who need them the most, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to make 800,000 unemployed, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to shut down our national treasures, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I threaten to ruin the US and possibly global economy, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to shut the accident response team in the US, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

because if I voted to cause chaos in the nations community, I couldn't look myself in the mirror.

It must take a hard shell to be a Republican.

All I can say is..."what so ever you do to the least of these, that you do unto me!"

I am a casualty of our health care system....on this day I SALUTE OBAMACARE!!!

I have told this story on this site before:

I was born in Frankfurt, Germany and as an infant contracted a case of encephalitis. This left me in a German hospital for 6 months. At the end of that six months, my parents were billed a total of $158.60 US equivalent.
Probably about $1,500.00 in today's dollars. Many years later I got cancer and while it was difficult, our family managed and we eked out a living and were able to sustain ourselves. (We had insurance) Then a few years later I got cancer again (in the days before insurance companies couldn't refuse for pre existing conditions) and this time it was much more serious than the last time and almost killed me. Since the insurance company refused payment and were legally allowed to, our family wracked up $192,000.00 in bills. We lost everything we had and are still recovering financially. The bills piled on and some providers were cutting off treatment. I filed bankruptcy and that stopped collections and also made the providers continue treatment til a resolution came to be. So it bought me time, but not enough. I kept on filing bankruptcies to stop the clock. Because I did so too quickly I was ordered by the federal court not to do so, but I was between a rock and hard place. I probably shouldn't have done it, but I did so and it got me through it. But it also got me charged with contempt of federal court and I was sent to a federal prison for 10 months. I wouldn't wish this struggle we had on anybody!

I am very fortunate, not only am I well, but I have a good white collar job and have pretty good insurance (even though the ACA would lower my premiums by 42.00 a year). But I feel for those who worry every time a cough comes and doesn't go away. I feel for those who send their children out to play and worry about them getting hurt. I worry about those born with chronic conditions and are not being treated. I feel for those who choose to put food on the table not seek medical treatment. I feel for those who have to cut medicine in half to make it last.

I feel that this is a private victory for me today (selfish I know) but all my life I have been a huge supporter of a single payer system and while I know this isn't it, it is way better than what we had on Sept 30th.

So I salute Obamacare (the ACA) and I celebrate with all who can get insurance for perhaps the first time in their life. Today is a wonderful day for that. I thank those who fought for it and I urge all of us to continue to fight on
for a universal single payer system. Medicine and health should never be up for profit!!!

How long do you think the shutdown will last?