Are we great yet?

 Gas just hit $5/gal where I live. Diesel is $6/gal. Hey, are we great yet? 

The same day, I received an email about a general strike on Friday, May 1.   No work, no school, no shopping. 

I have friends who can’t afford to put gas in the car to travel downstate to see family and friends. 

I also know people who can’t keep their kids home from school because they can’t miss work. If they do keep their kids home and must go to work, they might need someone to watch the kids and that costs money.  Money that is already squeezed by increased costs. 

Many people I know simply can’t afford to take a day off, as their wages cover essentials like rent or mortgage payments, groceries, and fuel. Without mandated paid time off, missing work means losing pay.

I believe strongly there is a place for a general strike. I also want to acknowledge those who can’t afford, for whatever reason, to miss school or work or need to shop.  

Stop voting for the Liars!

 Please BEFORE YOU SIGN ANY PETITION, make sure you know what you are signing.

At the rest stop today on I-75, a person was collecting petitions to "secure our voting." I asked him what that meant. He told me that election rules and identification were up to the County Clerks and my signature would ensure state wide consistency with identification.

THIS IS A LIE. ALL LIES.

The Secretary of State governs elections and County Clerks have no jurisdiction to waive identification requirements.

When you register to vote, you MUST SHOW IDENTIFICATION. When you show up to vote, if you are in my e-pollbook, you have ALREADY SHOWN IDENTIFICATION.

STOP VOTING FOR THESE LIARS.

Good lord, people. Stop it. This is utter bullshit and nonsense.

Why I am voting for Callie Barr!

Callie Barr is running for Congress in Congressional District 1.  

For years, we have been represented by (Louisiana) Jack Bergman. Why Louisiana? Because he doesn't even in live in CD 1; he lives in Louisiana. 

WE DESERVE BETTER. 

Why Callie?  

Callie Barr is the only candidate born and raised in Michigan’s First Congressional District, where her family goes back 5th-generations. Callie is a proud graduate of Cheboygan High School where she met her husband, Matt. After 9/11, Matt enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Callie attended Central Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Callie moved with her husband 5 times in 15 years, raising two girls and eventually caregiving for Matt after he suffered combat injuries, including post-traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury. 

Frustrated by the lack of support for active military members and returning veterans, Callie became involved in advocating for the military and their families with Blue Star Families and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. Callie then went on to receive a law degree, graduating with honors from the University of Michigan Law School so she could better advocate for policy changes at the federal level. Callie is running for office because MI-01 deserves a representative that shows up, from here, for here. 

TOP 3 ISSUES

1. Protecting our democracy and freedoms: defend against extremism, protect women’s choice, build a coalition across the aisle, and protect veterans both home and abroad. 

2. Supporting the middle-class: reduce cost of goods and services, increase affordable housing, expand access to healthcare and mental health services, support our labor unions, small businesses, and bring good-paying jobs back home. 

3. Ensuring a future for our children: fight for clean air and water, support public education, and expand access to affordable childcare. 

Contrasts against Rep. Jack Bergman: 

● Bergman refused to investigate the January 6th insurrection and supported overturning the 2020 presidential election. 

● Bergman is an anti-choice extremist who supports zero exceptions, including rape, incest, or even to save the life of the mother. 

● Our polling shows that voters are ready for change, with nearly half of those who originally supported Bergman indicating that they would consider voting for someone else in the upcoming election.

WE DESERVE BETTER. We deserve Callie Barr. 

 

Voter Registration Day

Are you registered to vote? 

Check I WILL VOTE to make sure! 

The only way the GOP wins is if we don't show up to vote. Don't listen to the pundits. If you vote didn't matter, the GOP wouldn't work so hard to obstruct our ability to vote. Your vote matters. 

 

Mansplaining

 Recently, I read Bridge Michigan (a favorite and a news outlet I support) an article titled Speaking while female, mansplaining hurt women in workplace.  

Now, if you are a woman, you have first-hand experience with how this works. I don't know a single woman who hasn't experienced this, and it's usually at the hands of a mediocre white man.  

What is it? 

Mansplaining is a pejorative term meaning (of a man) "to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner". The term was coined by Rebecca Solnit in her 2008 essay "Men Explain Things to Me".

Mansplaining is often characterized by the following:

• The man assumes that the woman knows less about the topic than he does, even if she has expressed expertise in the area.
• The man uses a condescending or patronizing tone, as if he is talking to a child.
• The man's explanation is often inaccurate or oversimplified, as if he is simplifying the topic for the woman's benefit.
• The man ignores the woman's attempts to correct him or point out that she already knows what he is talking about.

Here are some examples of mansplaining (these are priceless):

• A man explaining to a woman how to use a computer, even though she is a software engineer.
• A man explaining to a woman how to drive, even though she is a race car driver.
• A man explaining to a woman about her own body, even though she is a doctor.

You can read the article here and while you are at it, sign up to be a supporting member. You can also read a delightful article titled Grant Every Woman the Confidence of a Mediocre White Man.  

Lastly, make sure to sign up to vote. Need help? Ask me. 

Why Voting Matters

Voting matters because it is a fundamental right and responsibility of citizens in a democracy. It is our way of having a say in the government and the decisions that are made that affect our lives. When we vote, we are essentially telling our elected officials what we want them to do. We are also sending a message to the rest of the world that we care about our democracy and that we want to be involved in the process.

There are many reasons why voting matters, including:

• It is our right as citizens. Voting is a fundamental right that is guaranteed to us by the Constitution. It is our way of participating in our democracy and making our voices heard.
• It affects our lives. The decisions that are made by our elected officials have a direct impact on our lives. Whether it is the quality of our schools, the cost of our healthcare, or the safety of our communities, our votes can make a difference.
• It sends a message. When we vote, we are sending a message to our elected officials about what we care about. We are also sending a message to the rest of the world that we care about our democracy and that we want to be involved in the process.
• It makes our democracy stronger. When more people vote, our democracy is stronger. It means that our elected officials are more accountable to the people they represent. It also means that our government is more responsive to the needs of the people.

Here are some specific examples of how voting has made a difference:

• In 2018, the midterm elections saw a record turnout of young voters. This helped to elect a record number of women and people of color to Congress.
• In 2020, the presidential election was decided by a few thousand votes in a few key states. This shows how important every vote is, even in a close election.
• In local elections, even small changes in the outcome can have a big impact on the lives of people in the community. For example, a vote on a school budget can determine whether or not a school is closed or whether or not teachers are laid off.

Is voting secure? Of course it is thanks to a number of safeguards that are in place to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the election process. These safeguards include:

• Voter registration. Voters must be registered to vote in order to cast a ballot. This helps to ensure that only eligible voters are able to vote.
• Voting equipment. Voting equipment is tested and certified to ensure that it is accurate and secure.
• Chain of custody. Ballots are tracked throughout the election process to ensure that they are not tampered with. This is key. 
• Audits. Elections are audited to ensure that the results are accurate.
• Security measures. Voting places are secure to prevent unauthorized access.

Should you vote? Absolutely; voting is your right, it affects your life, it sends a message, and it makes our democracy stronger. If you don't vote, you are essentially giving up your voice and your power to make a difference. So, make sure to register to vote and cast your ballot in every election. Your vote matters! 

H/T to Bard for help with this post. With love from the Lake. 

End of December

It started snowing in EGR on Thursday and on Monday, it's still snowing. We got snow and blizzard conditions (which are pretty difficult to meet apparently) right through Christmas.  It's been a long time, not since the Polar Vortex, that we have had this much snow. 

It doesn't help that we are in the lake-effect snow alley; and once it fires up, we get a lot of snow. Even for those of us who have been living like this for a while, it's a bit much.  Below is our poor grill; we cleaned if off once during the storm. What's piled on there is from round two of the snow. 

Before the chaos of the storm, I was able to meet a friend for breakfast. The benefit of having breakfast in a small town is running into other friends.  One of my other friends made mention of my ongoing commentary on TFG and his corrupt administration. He told me how much he appreciated the writings and my perspective. I laughed when I told him that was not a universally-held opinion; I have lost friends and distanced others because of my beliefs.  

In further conversation, what has changed is I am no longer gagged by a job that requires neutrality. I don't want to do work that requires me to stay silent on issues that matter.  So I don't. And that has some repercussions, all of which are worthwhile. 

The vote recount in Michigan for Proposal 2 and Proposal 3 is done.   

On Proposal 2, which was approved to provide nine days of early voting, the recount included more than 59,000 votes in four counties. The Proposal 2 recount found an additional 14 yes votes and 20 no votes.

The recount of Proposal 3, which voters approved to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, encompassed about 626,000 votes across 43 counties. The recount initially found 116 additional yes votes and seven extra no votes, for a net gain of 109 yes votes.

This was an interesting quote from one of the Board of Canvassers: 

Tony Daunt, a Republican and chairman of the canvassing board, said the recounts should put to bed questions about tabulators, which have persisted since Republican Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and falsely claimed the contest was stolen from him.

“Ultimately, since 2020, in particular, there’s a segment of the population that’s been deranged by Donald Trump’s nonsense, and it’s carried over into this cycle,” Daunt told reporters. “What’s positive is it’s a much smaller contingent of people.”

When conducting a recount, there are a number of reasons for small changes in outcomes. But it's done and, in Michigan at least, we have better voting rights and women's rights. Who the fuck thought I would be writing this in 2022?  

From the frozen tundra of West Michigan.  

vote

and vote for James Robert Redford for Michigan Supreme Court.

Randomness, post election.

Some random thoughts on the elections.

I woke up in Michigan with medical marijuana approved as well as stem cell research. California is still counting the amendment to ban gay marriage. I was confused - thinking that I woke up in California.

And taxes ... Upon reflection, I heard a lot about the economy, jobs, money and taxes. I don't know what voters actually think that our taxes are going to go down but I would like to meet you. Thinking about redistribution of wealth and entitlements, I can't imagine how that is possible. I wonder what entitlements I get? Perhaps a better question is what entitlements will I get to finance?

And on job creation ... No one with any business sense would promise new jobs. We can't promise jobs - especially jobs that are no longer relevant in today's market. Let me give you an example. I get a couple of a calls per month inquiring about jobs that are 'just receptionist jobs.' These callers have no computer skills and need a job that is just answering the phone. Well, those jobs no longer exist. Why? Because the work environment has changed. Business needs change. And if workers don't stay current, they become obsolete. There is not one job on campus that doesn't require a decent level of computer savvy. In the past five years, technology too has evolved in a revolutionary way, that previously complicated hardware and software skills are now so common place, that many positions are considered entry level. If any of our elected officials promised 'good jobs' or 'good, manufacturing jobs' we elected the wrong person. Those jobs are gone. Business needs are different and we will get NOWHERE by punishing businesses for hiring what they need to stay competitive.

And morons running amok .... we can't legislate common sense, accountability and responsibility. Holding people accountable for poor and foolish choices seems to be buried under the smokescreen in all this. We have bailed out Wall Street. We will get to bail out Main Street. So tell me, who is going to bail out the people who work for a living and fund all this bailing?

Glad that I have Mr. Handsome to help me rake leaves! Off to stay-cation day 3 !

Stay-cation - Election Day

Today is the big day. Get out and vote!

We may have record-breaking temperatures today (70s) and a perfect day for a good walk. Since the lines are supposed to be long, I am going to hold off going to the polls until later this AM. We have a relatively small polling area so about 10:00 am, I am going pop on my iPod, put on my tennies and walk up to my polling place - Wealthy School on Wealthy. I am hoping not to have to wait the 4-6 hours that some areas are suggesting. After I vote, I am going to walk over to Starbucks and get my free cup of joe. Then saunter home.

I have to hand it too Google. If you want to know your polling place, all you have to do is type in your address, and Google will show you your polling location, complete with pictures - here. And, check out Google's doodle for the election. Are they not clever?

Mr. Handsome is mightily confused about my presence at home. He follows me around as good herding dogs should but is positively exhausted. I know that he wants me to go back to work so he can catch up on his sleep. But no such luck, dude. I am here for the week! Enjoy the day.