A 21st Century Christmas Carol

The Republican dominated legislature of Arizona, along with the Governor , are proving the adage...The truth is stranger is stranger than fiction...armed with an admittedly skewed survey they unilaterally removed funding for those who had already received approval for transplant funding.   


People who were told that they would soon be able to receive organ transplants were shocked when they were told that there was no money available in the till, shocked to realize that the Republican controlled Legislature had disallowed the expenditure of funds towards those who qualified under Arizona's version of Medicaid aka AHHCS (access).


These folks had already been approved for the procedures in question; all were waiting for a donor. Most knew that finding a donor can sometimes be like looking for a needle in a stack of needles, but they were hopeful nonetheless. 


Francisco Felix is a man with Hep C who, in a cruel twist, located a liver from a relative who was a match, but since he was cut from funding, the liver he found was given to someone else. Removing those with Hepatitis C from financial assistance targets many of the poor, especially people of color who seem to make up an disproportionate number among those with Hepatitis C.


Another individual, Mark Price was the recipient of a gift from an anonymous angel who came forward to pay for the procedure, only to die just before the operation. He was next in line to receive a bone marrow transplant until he was removed from the list.   


One, but not all, of the reasons given by Jan Brewster, is that receiving some cancer treatments fall into the "optional" category and that there is no guarantee that the treatment will succeed, somehow ignoring the irony that she and the legislature have guaranteed the efficacy of no transplant, death.


In this 21st century iteration of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the bankers are played by the Arizona Legislature and the Scrooge character by Jan Brewer; she of the "headless corpses" in the desert.

It is increasingly clear that the policies put in place in Arizona have the heaviest impact on those of us who cannot afford the thousands of dollars needed in order to receive the "greatest" health care in the world.  


It should come as no surprise that the Republicans in power throughout the country will soon be emulating the tactics and policies in Arizona in order to balace their budgets.  They have made it very clear that they are no friend to those in need, whether they be poor or middle class. They will attempt to balance budgets on the backs of those who can least afford it.  


They know the poor and the sick have no advocates in the halls of Congress, no high priced lobbyists; they know that the media will only latch onto this story for only a few moments or until the next blonde goes missing.


They know that people would rather hear about the comings and goings of the half-term governor of Alaska and her brood, the next American Idol or which sub saharan country Angelina is going to adopt next. 


It proves the old saying...the rich are different...


Eso es así...






   

The Last Thursday in November

Two days before the annual eat-fest that is the last Thursday in November; i wonder whether some people are not really understanding what this day means to us who are not descendants of the Mayflower or unforced immigrants.

There are some who give a too literal definition of the Thanksgiving Ritual; for some it is a celebration of of life in the so-called New World, for others, it is a painful recollection of stolen dreams and vivid nightmares glossed over by images of black-hatted Puritans pushing ever westward towards the final conquest of a continent.

I won't try to bridge that divide, I'll leave that to others much more qualified than me to make that argument. My effort today is to give my opinions on what this day means to me and to perhaps other people of color. 

I don't believe that any of us have ever bought into the myth that about Plymouth Rock and Squanto of the Patuxet; and while there is a germ of truth in any myth, the reality is usually much different. I understand that we have all participated either as children or as parents in the ubiquitous Thanksgiving plays and activities, but I have to believe that while we smiled for the audiences, we knew that it was not our story.  

Our story is much different, it is a story that endures through time, forced labor, discriminatory practices codified as law; and outright hatred on the part of some people in this country. 

It endures because we keep out our eyes wide open to the injustices that befall many of those less fortunate, it endures because the basis of our hope lies within our families, families united in and by blood; families we create by choice, and even those parts of our families that at first blush may seem to be in an dysfunctional state.

It endures because it must; we have no choice in that matter, the shoulders we stand on will become the shoulders our children and grandchildren will stand on.

We know that Thanksgiving as an American holiday does not necessarily line up with our reality; but it does give us another reason to gather around people we love and even some we just tolerate, that is what I, and I believe many people of color take away from this last Thursday of November, we may have Turkey or Pernil, we may have have ham,  or lamb if we are keeping kosher or halal. 

We may be serving Pasteles or Tamales, many of us will watch a game or two on the box pondering whether we should have another helping, while others will be playing flag-football. Some will be celebrating the arrival of a new member of the family, or remembering those who passed before us. Sadly, there will be others who will take that celebratory toast a bit too far and we must find ways to help them find a way out of the morass that is not allowing them to be the best that they can be.

That is what makes the last Thursday in November a day to enjoy, reflect, laugh and sometimes cry; it's part of the whole megilla, el cuento total de nuestras vidas...

Open Carry, Arizona SB1070, Florida Bill No.6 and other Republican Follies

The past couple of weeks we have been treated to a traveling minstrel show know as the Tea Party Express, featuring half-term governor and fully failed VP candidate in the 2008 election Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, J.D. Hayworth and a cast of loony wannabees; courtesy of the Republican Party, although each has disavowed the other.

We’ve seen, or rather heard of the hundreds of protests attended by many dozens of people protesting everything from open carry laws to the nations’ slow but inexorable march towards ‘socialism.

We have seen or heard the commotion caused by the passing of SB1070, in the Arizona Legislature that seems to bestow powers to local and state law enforcement to stop and ask for papers proving one’s legality to be at that particular geographic locale. The Governor can sign, veto, or just allow the bill to become law by her inaction.

The bill has a provision that allows citizens to sue localities if they feel they have not been aggressive enough in the enforcement of said bill.

The title of the bill, “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” is similar in name to other Orwellian right wing obfuscations such as, clean coal, clean air and others that strain the imagination.

This bottom line effect is to empower local and state law enforcement agencies to stop and question anyone they deem has “a reasonable suspicion” of not being in the U.S. legally. The definition of ‘reasonable suspicion’ is so vague that one can rightly suspect that anyone having a taquito for lunch may be stopped and asked “where are your papers”…and…well, you get the idea.

I don’t think Governor Brewer will sign this bill, however, I don’t believe she’ll veto it either, right wing politics being what they are in Arizona, she will take the easy way out allow the bill to become law in 90 days…here’s hoping I’m wrong

On to Senate Bill 6 passed by the both houses in Florida and vetoed by Republican Governor Charlie Crist; among the more draconian affects this bill would have eliminated tenure for teachers and based their pay on outcomes, or more to the point what percentage of students in heir care scored on the various standardized tests being given throughout the K-12 system. It would not have factored in students with disabilities, learning or otherwise.

Anyone with just a smattering of common sense knows that some people don’t test well; you could well have ended up with a student who has done great work in the class room, great attendance, but tested bad on those three days of tests….

I don’t know what motivated Charlie Crist to veto this bill; it could have been any number of reasons, his sputtering primary run at the senate, his desire to free himself from imploding Republican Party, I just don’t know. Whatever his reasons may have been, he did the right thing.

Charlie Crist does not ask me for advice, but for what it’s worth, he’s a popular governor, he’s from the left coast of Florida, St. Pete to be exact, and that alone carries an element of cool that cannot be measured. He should drop out of the Senate primary, and leave the race; I suspect that there would be many a Democrat and Independents who would view this move in a positive manner.
And now to the fun part of this rant.
There have been several so- called “Open Carry” rallies around the country, protesting the alleged confiscation of weapons and other sundry and ridiculous moves by the ‘gummint’ against “real Americans”…the half term governor of Alaska and utterly failed 2008 VP candidate, Sarah Palin has been criss-crossing the country on the Tea Bag Express sending shivers up the spine of the ‘real americans’, warning them that at some point in the future the government will come in the dead of night and take your weapons from you; she screeches, “…don’t retreat, reload…”

She claims ‘they’ want to kill granny with their death panels, and that Jesus, was and is the leader of this Christian Nation, and if you don’t share her belief, well then, I guess you won’t be one of the cool kids.

She claims that ‘they’ will subvert the 2nd amendment, and several groups have formed around the country with the stated purpose to defend their perceived right to carry weapons openly wherever they go.

Gun Owners of America and the Oath Keepers are two of the most visible groups running around scared that the sky is falling. I don’t remember a single ‘open carry’ during the nightmare that was the Bush fiasco. I don’t remember a single ‘open carry’ rally when the Patriot Act was passed in the middle of the night by the Republican controlled Congress, that among other things, allowed no-knock home invasions by the police, ‘sneak and peeks’ allowing the government to go into your home and then get a warrant.

I wonder what would be the reaction if Black and Brown folks started attending some of these Tea Bag and Open Carry rallies with their legally purchased weapons strapped to their hips, what would be the reaction if Black and Brown folks carried their rifles and shotguns to political rallies as some anti-Obama protesters have done during the campaign.

Wait, I really don’t have to wonder, look at the political persecution that haunted Black Panthers after they staged their protests on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento; let’s not forget Wounded Knee, the Brown Berets, and the Young Lords Party in New York.



Well, as Vonnegut used to say…and so it goes…!

In Haiti and Chile: People or Property First

A quick and unscientific glance at what it is that seems to carry more weight; the care and comfort of the people, who by no fault of their own, are victims of natural disasters, or the protection of property held in private, and to a lesser extent, government hands.

While I have been subject to the vicissitudes of mother Earth, we had three hurricanes literally cross through my backyard a few years back, it was nothing compared to the damage my family endured when Andrew decided to” come a callin’”. My folks huddled for five or six hours in the only corner of the house that remained relatively intact; along with, if memory serves me right, my sister and her husband, a couple of dogs, a cat and a parrot named Cuca,who still suffers from the anxiety of that time manifested by plucking all her feathers when there is any sort of tension in the air.

When they emerged, what they saw would be permanently etched in their collective memories; the destruction and devastation was legion. Tubs on top of autos on top of roofs on top of swimming pools. Then as now, there were reports of looting and the state of Florida wasted no time in calling out the National Guard to primarily protect property, the food aid came later. We knew Andrew was coming, just as we know today, almost ad nauseum, when the next one is going to hit and where.

Having that information comes in handy, because we can generally agree on what actions we need to gather in order lessen as much as possible, the oncoming storms.

Earthquakes are very different; preparations on the individual level is limited to stocking up on water, candles, canned foods, emergency medical supplies and the like. In terms of infrastructure it is the responsibility of federal, state, and local municipalities to impose strict guidelines in earthquake prone areas. While it is true that some builders and contractors will try to game the system, it is also true that in those areas where natural disasters are not unexpected these highly enforced building plans are more able to withstand the natural course of events than those that do not. A cursory look at building codes after Andrew, Oakland and the Bay Area after the World Series quake, Los Angeles, Japans’ urban areas are good examples of positive reactive measures now being transformed into proactive actions on the part of government and the private sector.

What the hell does that have to do with the title of your post?

This morning, the headlines screamed how thousands of troops are headed to the quake ravaged region of Concepcion to stanch the outbreak of looting that some say is running rampant throughout the area. I watched some very interesting videos and still photos of some of the damage. Apartment buildings leaning in precarious positions; waiting for the next aftershock to finally bring them down; reminiscent of the buildings in the Marina District in San Francisco and throughout Los Angeles.

There were signs that some “looting” was\had been going on, but to place it in its’ proper, I don’t know that you or I would not have done the same. I don’t remember the bloggers’ name, but she\he made a very cogent argument for looting in the face of starvation or shelter.

It is without question that while the best of humanity can be measured by its’ actions in the face of adversity, the inverse is also true. The sharks circle the prey during these difficult times, if water is a dollar a bottle, it will climb to five dollars a bottle. If gas is $2.50 a gallon, the predators will make a killing with inflated prices. That seems to be the nature of the beast, and all the “We Are The World” videos are not going to change that.

However, as in Haiti, the Chilean governments initial action is to protect property first, and then to see to the needs of the people. The case in Haiti is a bit different because of the historical disregard the various iterations of ‘government’ ruling Haiti had and still has towards its’ people. That example actually worked to the advantage of the people of Haiti, since the ‘government’ was a sham, its’ inability to respond militarily was sporadic at best. The focus seemed to center on the humanitarian aid; with the occasional report of shootings by police guarding chain locked supermarkets and pharmacies, although we were not shown what was going on outside of Port-au-Prince.

The imperative to survive is central to any species, if your children are cold, you must provide shelter, if they are hungry, you must provide sustenance and if they are ill or hurt, it is your duty to seek help, even if it means breaking into a locked pharmacy, or a bodega covered with plywood.

Looting historically has been the way kings and queens paid their vassal troops after invading this or that nation state, tribe, and so on. Loot took different forms, most looting in the past has been for monetary gain; whether it was in gold, silver or human cargo, it did not seem to matter.

 I have seen firsthand, the hooliganism,  the riots in Harlem and the Bronx, in the early and mid sixties; and while the inequalities of justice and opportunities were at the forefront, the seamier side of humanity reared its’ ugly head. Shops were broken into; people were assaulted by the police and their fellow neighbors, fire and rescue personnel were attacked while trying to save what they could. That was looting pure and simple; for material gain and not as a tool for survival. Much has been written about these and other instances. The riots and looting in L.A and Detroit had no survival construct; and although the political reasons for these actions may be debated the actions themselves were unforgivable.

That was looting in one of its’ ugliest forms, destruction for the sake of destruction.

In Haiti, there was a photo of a man shot dead by the local constabulary in front of a store; clutched in his fist was the apparent evidence of his crime, a plastic bag with what seems to be three of four bottles of water. Which is the bigger crime, the need to provide for ones family or the need to protect private property?

In Chile, thousands of troops are being deployed to stop what the government and the media described as ‘rampant’ looting. The media and the government of Chile use words like ‘ransacked’ and ‘rampant’, as if the need to make it to the next day is a villainous act. As usual, the people most impacted are the indigenous people of Chile although an earthquake doesn’t give a damn who you are of where you’re from. I mention it because as a matter of demographics, if you live on the periphery of any society chances are you’re going to get the short end of the stick. I have seen the pictures; I have watched the videos and what I see is nothing more than the imperative to survive in full bloom. There was an AP photo on Huffington Post of what seems to be a pharmacy, the shelves bare of water and other things like bandages, medicines and water; prominent displayed in the very front of the store was a full shelf of productos íntimos; apparently these so-called looters were less interested in condoms than in emergency supplies.

The pictures are different in Haiti, what was already horrific, became more so; the years of corrupt governments aided and abetted by the West will not end with this outpouring of aid. Haitian children will still be eating mud the next news cycle begins. Haiti was pushed aside by the Olympics, and will be pushed aside again, this time by the tragedy in Chile or Tiger Woods.
The protection of property should never be at the cost of human beings trying to make it to the next hour, or to the next day. The media behaves like most corporate entities behave; they are not here to provide a service, they are here to protect their interests.

Governments on the other hand, have a moral duty to its’ citizens, and they should be shamed when they do not.

Oh…and if I’ve pissed anyone off…oh well…

Doctor Doctor, Can You Help Me Out

I’ve been watching the so-called “Health Care” summit for the last seven hours; I do this so you won’t have to. Unfortunately I am as uninformed now as when it started; I take that back, I think I actually know less than when it first started.

This is what I know to be true; there are too many people who face very difficult decisions about their health care; I count myself among the many that have made Hobson’s choices when it comes to allocating resources to medical and prescription expenses. I have a child who may have to face a future without proper health care because he has a pre-existing condition; I fully expect him to have a family and he’ll have to provide health care for his family, but may find himself placed in a position where the choice is no choice at all.

I have another who went many years without insurance for his family because it was prohibitively expensive; it was not until the company he worked for were finally able to offer health insurance that they were able to receive coverage, although I shuddered when I saw how high his premiums were; they will soon add another child to an already lovely family and their out of pocket expenses are sure to be through the roof.

I have a daughter with three beautiful children who, only by the grace of G-D, has not encountered any serious health problems, but I also know that she is hampered by her inability to provide preventive care for herself or her children.

I had the misfortune some years back to come down with a debilitating chronic illness, coupled with two spinal operations. The care I received was excellent…the chronic disease is under control thanks to a great immunologist and his ability to properly diagnose the condition. To clarify a point, the disease was discovered during an annual “let’s make sure you’re ok” exam, serendipity reared her lovely face.

I had pretty good insurance and my out of pocket expense were, let’s just say that the poor house was definitely on the horizon.

I’ve had two spinal operations two years apart and the prognosis is that I may need another one; and while the skill and care of the medical professionals were without par, I doubt that I will undergo another; the damn recovery is too painful. The fact that I had insurance did not eliminate out of pocket expenses, they were substantial and we’re still paying four years later.

One example, I get two injections every two weeks, my deductible…One hundred dollars a month, now I could stop the injections, but then I’d be in the emergency room and ICU every couple of months. That is just one example

I live in a household with my wife and her eighty-one year old mother. She has the Medicare Part D prescription plan, which she pays for, and for the first six or seven months, her out of pocket expenses average about one hundred-fifty dollars a month. However, when she hits the ‘donut’ hole; she has to pay full boat, and that figures jumps to about five hundred dollars a month.

We cheat…those medications that she and I have in common, I will share mine with her so that she does not have to pay the inflated price…that is not always possible, but we do what we can. My wife and I do the same thing, when we can.

There are too many people that are not as fortunate as I am, which brings me to the so-called Health Care Summit. Disclosure: I voted for President Obama and still see this presidency as a last roadblock to the laizes-faire approach to governing of the past twenty years.

Seven plus hours of back and forth bickering exposed what we have known for many years; the overriding concern of the Republican Party is to mimic the post-industrial society of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, or to paraphrase Dickens…are there no poor houses…?

I kept hearing that those who are very poor receive care because Medicaid will take care of them; I have a friend in Georgia whose spouse is slowly fading that would take issue with that statement.

Strawmen arguments put forth by the republicans were tort reforms, junk lawsuits, reconciliation, blah blah blah.

I firmly believe that this is a crucial time ranking with the Civil Rights Bill of 1964, and will dictate what direction this country will take.

Best line of the day: You are entitled to your own opinions; you are not entitled your own set of facts.

There ya go…

Things That Will Greatly Improve My 2010

It is no big secret that the world breathed a sigh of relief when 2009 ended. It brought to a head all the really crazy crap that has happened in the last decade.
Don’t get me wrong; there were some outstanding success stories that abounded throughout the decade that just passed. While the world was mired in Iraq a very successful little company made oodles of money off the suffering of others, I’m sure you’ve heard of XE nee Blackwater, which brought along with it levels of hubris not seen before. In fact, a Federal judge just dropped charges against five Blackwater guards involved in spraying live ammo all over a plaza thereby killing at least 14 whose only crime was a) being in the plaza and b) being Iraqi. Hubris thy name is XE…

The 2000 decade was also very good for those selling in derivatives market which in my understanding goes something like this…if I have “if” in one hand and spit in the other, what do I have the most of…but all was not lost…we learned that a C student really has no business being president…if you vote mediocre what else van you expect?

Which brings us to another little item…why did we allow the wolves (the Fed) that were guarding the henhouse (the banks), to keep the keys and allow them to Bonus (new 2010 verb) the very same people that left the gate open to begin with.
But I digress.
Lets get back to the theme of this stream…I will undoubtedly offend some folks, and for that I apologize, notice I did not say I’ll apologize If I offend someone, I apologize in advance because I know someone will get their panties in a bunch over what I say...so these are the
Things That Will Greatly Improve My 2010 in no particular order;

• All I want to hear about Tiger Woods is that he won or put up one hell of an effort to win the British Open. I don’t care if he has a girl in every port…it’s not my money he’s spending…although I think he’s an idiot for leaving such a trail of evidence…he must think it’s 1950…oh wait, if it were he would not be playing. So please no Tiger Woods stories unless they’re about his golf game.

• President Obama is not a magician. He came in with one hand tied behind his back. On the other hand we voted you in for change, not more of the same…if the Senate won’t confirm your appointees, use the damn Recess Appointment Process, it worked for the C student, and while I’m on the subject put some skin in the game when it comes to healthcare reform…not health insurance reform. Anyone who has had to endure the so-called Part D donut hole wants it GONE…not modified over five years, many of our seniors won’t be around that long if they to make the decision between buying medication or heating the house.

• To my Jewish friends who support sweeping away an entire people; I remember watching Adolf Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem via network TV and his answer to all the horrors done to the enemies of the Reich…” I was a lowly soldier doing what my superiors ordered”…think about that next time you level a Palestinian home or take over another Olive orchard.

• To my Muslim friends…Martyrdom is not something one seeks, it is a state achieved when the entire world against you and you do the principled and moral thing. You stand for those less fortunate. Period.

• To the few Christian Fundamentalist friends… and I think I have a few; Live in this world now. The Rapture if and when it comes does not have a timetable. According to your Bible, you were given dominion over the Earth…In my book it means that you should not stand by while we pollute the very water we drink, even though the Federales say there is an acceptable amount of crap that can kill you in that water...same with the food.
  

• Let’s stop with the sexualization of children…they are children for only a short while; there are times when you have to say no to them. A three year old who can “crunk” is not cute…a three year old who know her\his alphabet and colors, can dial 911 if necessary, now that IS impressive.

• A bit more respect…that’s not too much to ash for. Agree or disagree, the louder the tenor of your argument the less chance that I or anyone else will consider it.

• New babies will be one of the Things That Will Greatly Improve My 2010. Congrats to my son and lovely daughter-in-law.

• Fix California already…remember the adage as California goes the Nation will follow ten years later.

• If someone got rid of the phrase “Homeland Security” I shall be truly grateful…a little too fascist sounding to me.
• No more ersatz celebrities. Attention Paris, Lohan. Gossliens, Heene’s Whinehouse ad infinitum.
  

• Let’s stop being scared of the “other”. We are the “other” to others, and fear will always stand in the way of progress and peace
  
• To my LBGT friends, it is my opinion that you too will be able to participate in that time honored institution; Divorce!
• Finally, to all my religious friends, there is ONLY one Commandment, please pay more attention to that and quit judging others on some scale that even you cannot measure up to.

There you have it.

We Are Not Paying Attention

A few days back, in Richmond, California a girl was raped. I don't know this girl; I don't know anyone who knows this girl. Richmond, California is approximately three thousand miles away from where I sit, and yet, the story could have been set anywhere.

The little bit I know about Richmond is that it was north of Berkeley, one of my favorite places in the U.S, and a northeast of the best city in the world, San Francisco.

But I digress.

On the 26^th of October, what should have been a great moment in any high school kids memory turned into a nightmare seared in the memory of one young girl as it should be burned into all our psyches'.

A young girl who, as the newspaper stories say was a good church going kid and dreamed of joining the Police Explorers' but nonetheless wanted to "fit in" with the crowd in school.

When she left the dance and waited for her father to pick her up, she was apparently asked, lured into joining a group of students and non students who were, as we used to say, "drinkin' and actin' a fool."

She was somehow convinced to drink alongside this gang of fools and soon found herself the object of their insanity, and that is exactly what happened; a collective insanity that allows a group to attack the 'other' without any qualms, without any fear of consequence.

The news accounts go on to say that this young woman, a little girl really, she is only fifteen and probably just recently put away her Barbie's, endured a two and a half hour ordeal that can only be imagined. The goons were cheered on by their fellow ass-holes, as they repeatedly raped and otherwise defiled the soul of an innocent.

The San Francisco Examiner reports that the Richmond Police estimate that twenty or more men or boys were involved and that some had even taken pictures on videos on their cell phones.

The latest story out of Richmond is that this situation was inevitable, that the area where these heinous acts occurred was known to be a danger spot, and place just itching for the right elements to align themselves, as if this were a natural event that could not have been prevented. The area had no cameras, no patrols by school security, poor lighting and abutted a neighborhood known for gang activity.

That so many things were wrong and no action was taken is inexcusable, bordering on negligence and dereliction of duty; and I have read all the excuses…poor neighborhood, high unemployment, state budget cuts, and on and on. However at some point, we the people must take responsibility.

Little boys model what big boys do. Little girls model what big girls do.

To believe, as some do, that violent video games, sexualized hip-hop videos, the ugly words we call each other…bitch…ho…the inability of parents to monitor and behave in a way that sets an example to them.

These kids are no different than other kids in the U.S. most want to succeed in their dreams, but what they lack is a moral center, and if there is no moral center, well, nature abhors a vacuum.

Don't confuse 'moral center' with this religion or that religion, it has more to do with watching out for your kids and mine. Be aware of the influences that get in the way of growing a good human being.

Snitch, if the idiots selling their fear in our communities believe they can get away with anything, they will continue to hold our kids hostages and by extension they hold us in their grip.

As I said at the beginning of this rant, I don't know this girl, but I'm sure you and I have passed her on the street, seen her on the bus and probably sat next to her on BART.

Look to your left, and look to your right, she's probably standing right next to you.