Michael1942's Blog

Many of the major “fast food” and takeout stores are “cross cooking”. A chain that has specialized in roast beef sandwiches is selling, chicken sandwiches and subs. Another couple of chains that are “burger specialists” are selling chicken nuggets and sandwiches. A sub chain is selling breakfast sandwiches on flat bread along menu items that are so extensive that it takes a period of study to order a sandwich. Several pizza chains are selling pastas,chicken pieces and an assortment of other sides not necessarily pizza related. What is wrong with a chain that made it’s “bones” on a certain type of food improving on what they already know as opposed to entering in other niches that require dilution of their original staple and reputation making venture. I for one would rather go to a take out restaurant for their specialty than have to negotiate an extensive menu of other stuff. Apparently these “restaurants” are catering to the convenience of people who take no time to cook at home, do not want to cook at home or can’t cook at home, maybe even too lazy to cook at home. This is not an attempt to stop people from eating at these places but just pointing out that diversity in some areas is not necessarily good.

As we enter another election season, the aspirants and incumbents are gearing up the troops for an all out assault on the minds of the voters. Voters need to remember 1 fact and one fact only. That fact is: the people we elect work for us and as employees we can fire them anytime! The current Congress has been a problem for us for the past 20 plus years yet we assail whoever the Commander in Chief is at the time for certain policies and Government situations. The C.I.C. is limited in what he (or She) can accomplish by the sitting Congress. In the past we have trusted the elected Congress to do what is right and in those days before “Mass Media” and high tech communications we just did not have enough information on what our Congress was doing. I pose the question of the salary, pensions and other office perks that our congress receives without our approval, any informed employer would have an idea of the compensation of their workers but we have some to none. The compensation issue has been brought up and quashed numerous times in the past but not so much now , even by the so called “tea party” members of Congress or their “conservative” allies. I believe a step toward legitimacy as far as our “employees would be to bring their salary, perks and benefits in line with their “bosses” as a show of good faith, perhaps then we can believe that they really understand our plight. We need to keep in mind that the advent of really mass media and electronic communication has allowed a broad access to the constant barrage of mis information that is so prevalent from our Governments (Federal to Local).The required steps required are voting the old guard out and a change in their pay, terms of service and pensions.

This is a great country and the American voters have made it so. The unfortunate thing is that we the voters trusted our elected officials to take care of us but they have failed. The folks we have elected over and over again have failed us in recent times on a consistent basis. Now the same elected officials are finger-pointing at one another while failing to do the job they were e;elected to do. We have an opportunity to really change government as we know it should be, all we have to do is vote and in that vote we need to get rid of the old timers in Congress who through several administrations have led us into an economy that equals the 30’s. These very same Men and women spend more of their time in front of cameras and in the media than any celebrity while apparently not doing the job they were elected to do. The government business should not be conducted in the media, while it is good to know what they are doing , it is ill advised to electioneer instead of performing the sworn duty of the office. Where was the media coverage when the laws that dictate their salary increases and office perks were being written and enacted? Why no media coverage on the back room deals that allow them the privilege of hiring staff and lowing certain protocols to be followed or not? This is definitely a great country but not for the deceived voters who are being electioneered at every turn.

When looking back on events in one’s life, there are times when you felt that you received some undue criticism or a reprimand. The people who unduly administer these reprimands or criticisms are usually threatened by your abilities and capabilities. You are feared because you know your job and you have the strength of character to do it well in spite of the administration’s instructions to do it wrong. At some point the higher ups feel the threat of your abilities and devise any method shy of being illegal to get rid of you. If there is security, you can bet they will have them escort you out.Thereafter their fear and guilt prompts them to mark you as persona non gratis and ban you from the premises.There is also the security precautions such as changing alarm codes and keys. Along with the banishment any current employee is forbidden to speak to you if you are on the premises. This administrative wall is designed to keep the current employees in line while curtailing any contact with a dissident (much like China and Myanmar)and hopefully checking a possible commiseration from the workers. These are the actions born out of deceit and fear.

With all of the media coverage, the office seekers are still missing the point. The voters have be so inured by the advertising based hype regarding each candidate that the truth is looked upon as a lie. It is time to change the thinking in America by telling the truth, Making it plain so that rational decisions can be made in the voting booth. Politicians have for so many years shaded the truth to the point of a lie more plausible and indeed an honest virtue. There is not one (1) office holder or seeker that can predict what their administration will do once elected. The only line close to truth is what debts they owe for support from certain factions and political allies. Who should be the winners in these contests? The true victors should be the taxpayers in having officials who actually tell the truth and are not afraid to buck the system to accomplish the necessary work of Governing. Since world war 2 this country has been laboring under the uncertain truths of politics, we have made significant progress in human rights, justice and economic development but with the ever underlying dishonesty of backroom deals which surface from time to time to our detriment.

I would like to propose a reason to oust every Congressman or Woman who have been in office over 2 terms. These “honorable” men and women no matter which part (Scamocrat or Dupublican) have made their financial futures secure through the laws they enacted regarding their pay, retirement and health benefits. Only Congress can change their financial benefits (aside from any other outside benefits), we as voters (who are their bosses(?) have no say in what they pay themselves and when they get pay raises. To look a little deeper, when was the last time a sitting Congress person offered to reduce the salary and benefits of their peers? The we are the good guys mentality that is rampant in the Government has put us all in the hands of the worst public servants in decades. Their perks alone would probably put a nice dent in the deficit but not one of them is eager to help us except when elections come around and then only to stay in office.We must keep in mind that the average member of the current Congress have been in office through 3-4 Presidents, so who really is to blame for our fiscal problems?

Why are we are still riveted to the idea that our Congress is doing what they need to be doing? These finger pointers and blame passers are running for election each time one of them says anything. Each time one of the minority or majority leaders speaks there is alway the line that the “American people deserve”, “the American people want” and “the American people have spoken”. These con men have made a living of scamming the voters time after time. There needs to be a resolution of parties as neither of them is worth their salt. Their names should be “Scamocrats” and “Dupublicans”.There are so many issues facing the government and these learned men and women apparently do not have the ability to do the job. The newly elected members are being tutored by the old timers and soon will be as useless as they are. The President of the United States is limited in what he can accomplish without the support of the Congress. He (the President) can veto bills or alter bills but it comes down to the Congress proposing sensible and sane laws that work. These last few years have become more a racial fight than a political one since the Congress has used race, religion and birth right covertly in blaming the Commander-in-Chief. The Presidency is the toughest job in this country and our Congress has made it tougher by politicking instead of doing the work that required to move the country forward.

The latest edition of the Illinois legislature in action has appeared. The State is in dire financial straits but the “leaders” have decided to impose a tax increase to cure the problem. This tax increase is supposed to be “temporary” but given the past financial malfeasance, this no doubt will continue beyond the projected expiration date. The voters of this state (and the Nation) have been snookered, bamboozled and lied to for years but we still elect the same morons because of sound bites and innuendo. The art of politics is to put on a theatrical production prior to elections and perform sleight of hand actions (that would amaze David Copperfield). These machinations have created a fiscal morass that appears impossible to overcome by the current administration. The entire legislature is to blame but no more that the voters (us) who put them there. The election season (season of signs, media ads and personal appearances) brings a mass media assault equal to a military campaign but no substantial content. These office seekers can be likened to whipped cream which goes flat when warm. The cure is to listen carefully to what these aspirants say and believe none of it especially if they have been in office for more that 1 term. The founding fathers intended that these positions would be part time not permanent or perpetual. The thought was to allow various views and fresh thoughts, we certainly have not seen much of that in the past 50 years or so. This latest debacle is not an oddity, it is more an ongoing process of line our pockets and lie to the public.The Legislative bodies of all state and the Federal governments has been legislated to protect and enhance the legislators, their cohorts and cronies. We the voters have been fooled in to believing we are well represented but we have not.

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