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Urine or You're out

Can't claim this one - Just a great email I received that would help with the "redistribution of our wealth":
 
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Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though . . . Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!!
 
Guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.
*************************************************************

Gordon at the Cafe
New Century Conservatives ...site coming soon 
 
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Holder - Ayers will really be free

So, since  Holder (Barack's new AG) pardoned other former Weather Underground members, does that mean he will wipe Bernadine's slate clean and tell everyone to leave poor Bill Ayers alone?
 
I wonder if he will be as generous to the border guards?  You know those guys who committed the terrible crime of covering up that they shot a drug smuggler in the butt while he was running back across the border?  For that they will serve 10 years +, but Ayers was never convicted of his numerous bombing directed at government buildings due to a technicality.   So he is allowed to lecture at universities and mock the rest of us, never having served a month in prison, much less 10 years. 
 
And last, does that line him up to pardon all the Gitmo guys that Barack is going to set free as soon as he takes office?
 
Gordon at the Cafe
Stop talking and DO something!!
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The Aisle - Where are the BraveHearts?

Does anyone have a list of Democratic Senators and Congressmen who have voted against their party in the past that they might be convinced to stand by our side and hold off the social and economic revolution that has started?
 
Can we convince some of them to officially cross the aisle and save this country?
 
Can we convince them to break from tradition and support the vast number of regular Americans who do NOT support any of the radical left's agenda?
 
Senators and Congressman, we know some of you actually read these sites.  Will you come to the defense of all the middle aged and elder Americans who have kept this country  the greatest on earth?  Will you save our country for the children and for those yet unborn? 

We do not want to be Europe.  If so we would already live there.  We do not want to be part of the emerging one world government.  We want to be what the Creator planned.  A society of free thinking people accepting of all races, religions and points of view.  Have we made mistakes.  Absolutely.  But we are still a very young country. 

This country will no longer exist as the entity our Founding Fathers fashioned if you allow the radical leftists to force their agenda  on the rest of us without protest or question.  There is already tremendous pressure to watch our speech and thoughts.  It will only increase. 

Our children, who are already not taught history, will become automatons if they are allowed to arrive on the planet at all.  This is not hysteria.  It is already happening.   I have watched children laugh at other children who voted for John McCain in the mock election and run chanting Obama into the school building.  These young people and their parents have NO knowledge of what Mr Obama actually thinks, believes or stands for, or for that matter how our elections work.  They can only hear the empty promises.  Our college young people have been bombarded in every way possible by the MSM, the Obama campaign, and the Internet, to just accept the thoughts of this man as good for our country. 
 
Please consider the future of this country, take a stand, and help her to safely arrive at her tri-centennial as the United States (plural) of America, not the United State (singular) of the New World.
 
It's up to you.
 
 
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NEW PARTY!!! WHAT WILL WE STAND FOR???

Dear Friends,
 
I have decided that I am going to devote my efforts to creating the new conservative party that I have talked about previously.
 
New Century Conservatives is a winning name for this new party.  It is timeless, because we will always be approaching a new century and this party WILL be conservative.  It has a good abbreviation NCCP...(sneakily like another famous abbreviation) and could even be gen X'd to Nc2p.

I think we can be conservative while talking intelligently, without insulting everyone who doesn't think like us (that didn't help us in this election).  However we can state facts about the differences.  Above all, we must decide what we DO stand for and then communicate that in a hopeful way to every age group, race, ethnicity and and socio-economic demographic in this great nation.  We must be a party of PROMISE, not a party of peevishness.  At this point I would like to recruit Sarah Palin and Gleen Beck as leaders in the is party (still researching them but I know they communicate to me).  I believe they speak to much of what we hold dear.
 
So.... I am opening this forum to ask YOU what you believe the uncompromisable stands of this party should be.  I will list a few.  They could be more erudite, but much of our country does not understand erudite these days and I want this party to be accessible to all.  Please feel free to differ, offer different wordings, other ideas, etc.  I am not a politician and don't consider myself an intellectual.  This is just what I know at 10:30 pm as a tired teacher.
 
1)  Small government that lives within its means and takes care of its basic responsibilities and no more - national security, the infrastructure and the judiciary which rules according to the consititution and does not rewrite our founding document.
 
2)  Representatives at all levels of government that legislate and respond to national  questions and crises based on the desires, beliefs and demands of the constiuents that put them in office and for the good of the country at large, not bowing to the pressure of Political Action Groups, long-time office holders, industries or unions.
 
3)  Taxation that is limited to what is required to meet the bare bones budgetary needs of the country with the top 25% used to pay down the debt.
 
4)  No welfare except in the form of disaster relief.  Instead give to community charitable organizations.  No industry bailouts.  Everyone deserves a hand up, not a hand out, so that when they are successful they may help the next person trying to achieve.
 
5)  Marriage was ordained of God to be the union of one man and one woman.  No other definition is acceptable.
 
READERS - The following is a policy that thinking people could agree on.  It does not completely abolish Roe v Wade, however, if enacted it would abolish 90% of abortions, save millions of lives and stop the cash, unregulated, medically unsafe profits that doctors are raking in based on "inconvenient" pregnancies.  I believe we have to be willing to give just slightly in order to get most of what we want.  If you disagree, please tell me what you would do.
 
6)  Abortion must be abolished except in the case of rape and incest and then only in the first trimester.  Threat to the life of the mother must be a decision that is reached by the physician and both parents or if the mother is unable, the father  must have a voice in the decision.  This would result in a cesarean delivery and then all neonatal care possible  to preserve the child's life if at all possible.  In order to help young ladies who carry a child to term, all possible means to create supportive maternity homes, adoption agencies and parenting classes to help them raise the child or successfully provide a child to a family that desires one.  No one under the age of 18 may undergo the surgical procedure of abortion without a parent or guardian being informed. Even in the case of incest, at least one parent or guardian must give their consent.   
 
7)  Freedom is not free.  We believe in a strong well-funded, well-equipped volunteer armed forces.  If someone attacks our country we will retaliate in kind and incapacitate the source of attack in order to preserve this nation for furture generations.
 
8)  We believe in the right to bear arms and defend our families and our property against predators.
 
9)  We will not appease our enemies or form our national policies in order to satisfy fringe elements, world community members, or celebrities who are not responsible for our success as a nation.
 
10)  This one is my pet project - Education must be well-rounded, well-funded and renaissance in nature where all areas of human endeavor and governance are examined - History, Geography, Civics, Science, Literature, Reading, Writing, Math, Physical Fitness, the Arts and the Humanities.  Teachers must have basic mastery of all these areas as in the days of one room school houses and family tutors.  If NCLB stands there should be national rather than state wide assessments.  Teacher certification requirements must be equalized across state boundaries so that teachers may relocate as need be and get right to work.
 
OK...that's it for now.  PLEASE share your thoughts.  I will be getting a web site up soon ( have the hosting, will develop the site over my thanksgiving break).   I would like to include your thoughts in the forum on that site when it is up and running. 
 
IF YOU have experience organizing a non-profit organization, I need to have discussions with you.
 
*********************************
 
New Century Conservatives... The time is now...HOPE is in our hands!
 
Gordon at the Cafe
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BAILOUT SHMAILOUT!!!

Working Americans are NOT responsible for the future of the big union big 3 auto companies.  We have too much on our plates already and too many hands in our pockets digging hard.
 
Teachers do not get bailout packages when state budgets are slashed and they lose their jobs.  Enron stockholders did not get a hand out.  Miltary famillies are not getting the help they need.
 
It is not our job to pick up the slack for CEO's who have mismanaged the indredible opportunities they have had, bowed to Union pressure which the democratic leadership wants to increase, and not been teachable enough to learn from their foreign counterparts.
 
Would innocent people be hurt?  Yes, but no more so than DHL, Sprint (in previous years) , and multitudes of other down-sized companies. 
 
The companies need to take responsibility for themselves, file chapter 11 if necessary, fire their Execs, merge if need be, sell off assets, in general do what the rest of America is doing...keep on moving and trying to solve their own problems rather than laying it on people who are already hurting.. It all comes back to us eventually.  They need to  stop jumping to meet every new environmental demand that requires expensive retooling, rather than phasing in change as it is proven necessary.
 
My only concern in this is protecting senior citizens and other lifetime workers who once again are at the mercy of poor management regarding their crucial company pensions.   Who is going to look out for them?  I can promise you the bailout will not trickle down to increased benefits for these fixed income citizens.
 
To our Senators and representatives..I have always been warned about throwing good money after bad.  Did you not get that same lecture?
 
***************
The future is now and it is in our hands. 

New Century Conservatives movement!

 

 

 
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Military and due process

So, in our new technologically up to date GOP, can we possibly push forward an immediate Federal  move to have all military ballots submitted on-line, so they are automatically counted?  This must happenb by 2010.  The challenges they face with trying to take part in the democratic process they are fighting to defend are absolutely absurd!  This should be a federal change and something the left and right could both veterans could both agree on. 
 
Lost absentee ballots.  Having to have the address of a witness confirmed in order for their vote to count (hmm..does that include park benches?)?  Waiting for overseas snail-mail in order to participate?  This is certifiably insane.
 
A secure voting web site for active military, their spouses and adult children, and veterans should be an easy thing to accomplish.  I say veterans because so many veterans from WWII, Korea and VietNam are in nursing facilities or figthing disabilities because of their service and have trouble getting to polling places.
 
Here is a true story of these difficulties from a comment from Saltwater:
 

Not a new problem

I was active Navy and overseas for the first general election in which I was eligible to vote. Months before deployment, I made a special trip to the elections office to submit all the forms and information required for an absentee ballot.

My absentee ballot arrived three days before Election day. With or without my vote, Nixon handily beat McGovern, but I still felt cheated never knowing for sure that my ballot was accepted upon return.

The men and women in uniform deserve to know that their input to the electoral process is honored and expidited.
************************************
 
Let's take care of those who have watched out for us.
 
*******************
 New Century Conservatives movement!

Gordon at the Café

Hope is in our hands

 
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Real Life

Ah, the real battles are on the football field.  Just wanted to give a shout out to any Giants Fans out there!
 
9-1!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Had to take a break from trying to change the world   ....   and go see my GIANTS!! 

Brandon Jacobs...His Indian name is Tree Running.
 
O-Line - unbelievable
 
Eli - just keeps leading and Fighting
 
Bring it on Bradshaw - mighty man behind the Tree.
 
Ravens don't give up rushing yards?????????   Say What?
 
G-Men 30,  Ravens 10 ........  G-Men 207   yards rushing...again!
 
Philly and Cincy tie - how sweet it is!
 
Now if the Boys and the Skins could do the same tonight...awesome! 
 
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What will it take? More than talk

 I have been talking about a viable Third Party . I've come up with a name, New Century Conservatives. I've talked about getting our base talking electronically in a loud voice.

Now though, Mike Huckabee has his Verticle Politics Institute coming, which is supposed to give us a chance for input. The GOP has their Rebuild the Party Beta site coming. Will this help? I am waiting to see. I have written to Mike asking if somehow these sites, plus the many other private startup "organize the revolution" sites can be combined for greater impact.

What is the best step for the common folk? I don't have all the answers, or even a few. BUT we need to start talking EVERY DAY to our Senators, Representatives and state leaders till they realize we are not going to go away. We are not going to settle for warm soy-based dehomogenized milk, when we need steak and eggs in order to survive. 

We are not going to settle for "let's have everyone to dinner and make nice" when their agenda is to completely vandalize and tear down our house so they can build a new one on the spot that our ancestors and theirs have fought and died for.

Is the best answer a Political Action Committee rather than a new party? I don't know that either. But the discussion must continue.  WHAT DO YOU THINK???

I am going to start a blog either on Blogger or through Coastland Technologies (will allow a more ineteractive site and possible internet radio) that will stand on its own, called New Century Conservatives. I have tried to get it started here but it gets lost in the shuffle of the daily positings, many of which don't deal with things that are vital at all.

Join me.

I'll post when it is live.

******************

The future is now and it is in our hands. 

Talk is cheap…what will you do to help chart our course? For now, check out my blog http://gordoncafe.blogtownhall.com and join the

New Century Conservatives movement!

Gordon at the Café

Hope is in our hands

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the Presidency - Respect and Dissent

We have come to a time where true to our values we must continue to respect the office of the Presidency.  In that respect I will pray for the man who will sit in that office, his advisors and his cabinet.  I will pray for wisdom and safety for them and this country.
 
However, I will not allow my voice as a citizen of this country to be silenced.  I will not give up my rights without a fight.  I will not say I agree with him in order to please the PC police.  If  I feel he is correct in something I will support him.  If I feel he is not, I will dissent. 
 
I am building up my typing and sitting stamina so that I can contact every leader possible to fight agendas that are fraught with peril for the future of our nation and our children.
 
The survival of this country, and the freedoms that have been fought and died for by millions, are my only agenda now.
 
Stand up and fight for America.  You are not alone. 
 
If you have ever organized a major campaign, will you help us build up the New Century Conservatives PAC?  We need a solid voice that cannot be ignored.  I originally spoke of this in my blog as a new party (Moving Forward) rather than a political action committee, but perhaps the VOICE  and $$ crying loudly from a PAC setup will force the existing powers that be and MSM to open their eyes and ears.  Please contact me at newcenturyconservatives@gmail.com
 
I have a day job but am willing to give this my heart and soul, in defense of the principles I hold dear.
Tags: stand up   PAC  
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Thank you Thomas

Having been impressed by Thomas Sowell's article about President-elect obama entitled "Ego and Mouth", I looked further down his list and found these insights:
 
http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2008/10/07/the_real_obama
 
Looking forward to reading the rest.
 
*********************
 

The future is now and it is in our hands. 

Talk is cheap…what will you do to help chart our course?   New Century Conservatives movement!

Gordon at the Café

Hope is in our hands

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Alliances - Yes they matter

"The election is over, the majority of the American people said that Ayers did not matter, so why are we still talking about it?"  That's a paraphrase of Alan Colmes of Fox trying last night to say the people believe that BHO's alliances do not matter.   

52% of the nation was either too illiterate, uninformed, self-seeking, gently hypnotized or otherwise brain-washed to know who Barack was allied with.  They refused to examine or even think about who he has  looked to for support and mentoring and who he has pledged to support.  Radical poets in Hawaii, Planned Parenthood (FOCA will happen), Rev. Wright and yes, William Ayers...
 
Alan, have you really examined the news cycle lately?  We have a man who, because of the "atrocities" our service people were performing in trying to protect us against the domino affect of communism in Southeast Asia,  says on national TV that he did not do enough, that he only blew up buildings (including trying to blow up one where a family of 5 was sleeping), not people.  This man sits in FREEDOM while he pontificates and plans the radical socialist indoctrination of our children. He is not one bit sorry for the acts he was involved in, saying he did not do enough.  Dare I wonder, if he didn't do enough,what might he have planned? But he sits in FREEDOM.
 
In other parts of the country, churches are vandalized and parishoners terrorized, an elderly woman knocked around and the primary symbol of the Christians who make up a large part of this country, the empty cross, is trampled on....those perpetrators sit in FREEDOM.
 
Recently, Senator Barney Frank, who is another primary supporter of BHO and who had an affair with a male officer of Fannie Mae, refused to accept responsibility for forcing the the sub prime mortgage issue with that same entity...he remains in FREEDOM, in office and holding great power.
 
On the other side of NO FREEDOM we have a broadcaster in Britain fired for requesting a particular type of taxi driver for her 14 year old daughter.  We have people losing their positions or having their small businesses put in danger for trying to make their original vote against gay marriage count in California.  We have two United States servants, putting their lives on the line, sentenced to 11 years in prison for shooting a drug smuggler in the backside while he is fleeing back over the border.  They failed to report that a gun was used because they believed he was uninjured since he was able to quickly flee, only reporting his injury two weeks after the fact.  These guardians of our society lose their FREEDOM.
 
If the first group, Barack supporters all, can sit in FREEDOM, while the second group is under fire, I have to ask, what will the average American's rights be under the new administration?  Who willl that administration be watching out for in the effort for Change?
 
It's certainly not the majority of citizens in the United States who just want to live ordinary, lives and have some control over what happens to them.  No, Alan, we will have to watch our words and our actions for fear of not meeting the left's tolerance requirements or causing embarassment to his administration.  
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Moving Forward

I was extremely disappointed with the Republican (my current party) effort in this election in their work for McCain-Palin in the face of these challenges.  The problem is top down.  No vision at the top and too many litmus test voters at the bottom.   Perhaps this election will cause Republican leadership to completely rethink and retool  their vision and their efforts.  I just don't see it happening. 

Who am I?  I am a social and fiscal conservative who believes in small goverment, a strong defense, and a quality renaissance style education within a technologically current environment.


I was one of those who tried to contact the GOP where no one was available on the weekend.  No specific email addresses, no telephone numbers that went to a live person.  This was true on the state level here in Florida also.  The web sites are very patriotic but very staid for anyone under 50 (I'm 55 but teach youngsters all week).  I have finally come to the belief that we need a new party. starting now to prepare for 2010 and 2012.

In order  for this to happen, we have to have the funding to build the same sort of effort that happened for the other side.  That means finding conservatives in Hollywood, the recording industry, sports, business, private citizens, education and yes politics, who have the funds to  supply the initial capital.  It will require a supervisory board to ensure that legal and accounting issues are above board.  We need the most creative conservative minds from Madison Ave to create a saleable image in MANY forms of logo wear, etc.  We need chapters on every college campus made up of the brightest young conservative minds. 

I am going to forward this idea to every true Center-Right lawmaker, congressman, entertainer, sports star etc.  I will be asking if ANY of them have the guts to put their money where their mouths are and create the new entity called the New Century Conservatives party.  It has a great ring, good abbreviation, and will always apply because we will always be approaching a new Century.  It can be extended to things like New Century Conservatives: for Constructive Change. It sounds GRAND and we need something on a grand scale

It needs to be guided by thinkers and doers and those that are both.  People that come  to mind are Sarah Palin, Thomas Sowell, Star Parker, Glenn Beck, Michael Steele, Lionel Sosa, Bobby Jindal, Harry R. Jackson, Jr., and and other young conservative governors.   Yes, we need some of the regulars who are THINKERS and students of history such as Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Jack Kemp, and Fred Thompson...but those need to be supporting players and cabinet members.  Why?  Whether we like it or not we live in the age of sound bites and visual images, not deep thought.  However if those sounds bites and visuals are the result of deep analytical thought, it can be a world altering combination.

Our country is moving so far  from what the Founding Fathers intended.  All is not lost, however.  It takes everyone of us who truly want to see a return to basic values and create new traditions.  I am asking that if you are a militia member or neo-nazi or extreme right  person spiritually, you think before you join this movement.  I am a conservative Christian who believes in gun ownership.  However I also believe that progress requires thoughtful compromise so that we can accomplish 90% of what we envision.  We cannot draw a line in the sand and say nothing is worthwile unless it fits 100% of our agenda.  The result of that equation is a negative number.   That is why 2000 and 2004 were so close and why we lost this time. 

WILL YOU SIGN ON?  I have added my personal information to my bio and created a gmail address, newcenturyconservatives@gmail.com  just for this effort. I will appreciate your responses there, as well as comments here.  Please give your thoughts as to basic tenets for this party.  I know what is important to me, and those thoughts will follow, but you may have other thoughts and I would love to hear them.
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letter to Michael Steele

So here is a letter I wrote to Mr Steele but could not get through because of no viable email address...then tried to "endorse the plan" and add some thoughts there, but was sent to a blank page.  Thought I would post it here
**********************
Dear Michael,
 
I have always enjoyed you on Fox.  Thank you for stepping out of the regional box and onto the national stage.  I teach low income African-American children and they SOOO need other role models who are more in the likeness of their grandparents and great-grandparents than their very young and uninformed parents.
 
I have been blogging recently about the need for a truly viable third party because the old guard in the GOP is so entrenched and really not giving folks like yourself a chance to take the lead.  However, if some of you can move to the front of the visibility pack in the Grand Old Party, perhaps it will become Grand again...may we even think about GREAT.
 
Can you convince columnist Thomas Sowells to be more publicly involved?  His writings are so incredibly on point.  Check out his one on "Mouth and Ego" on Town Hall and I believe you will feel the same.  He has the same educational background as Barack but in a different era with a completely different result.
 
Michael, I desperately want to be a bigger part of the background workings of making the party grand again.  If it does not become so QUICKLY, the American people will be done a great disservice. I am beginning to not recognize the country that I love and that is my home.  I teach in a district that is incredibly liberal and voted 85% for Obama. But I tried to help McCain-Palin. 

Please tell me HOW I can stop teaching and work for the party somehow but in a paid capacity where I don't lower my already low  income (currently 38.5K after 55 years teaching...a sad commentary) because I can barely pay my bills as it is.  The application that has been on line leaves a great deal to be desired as far as presenting onesself for employment, and I would like to direct mail a resume somewhere where it will actually be seen and considered. 

I have done a adult training in the past and would be an excellent volunteer trainer.  I also have a lot of office background and a very analytical mind that is also visionary.  At 55 I want my life to have stood for something and made a difference.  I have no children and am willing to relocate.  I am an incredibly fast study on new ideas, technology, methods, etc, and would immediately be a productive asset to the party.
 
Here is my blog.  If you will read past the formation of a new party, I believe the points will be obvious.  Perhaps you can use "New Century Conservatives" as a slogan or subtext in your work for the GOP.  I have also attached a copy of a column I wrote called "Grieving in America".  I hope you will enjoy it.  It explains the hurt we regular folks are feeling and ends on a hopeful note.
 
********************
 

The future is now and it is in our hands. 

Talk is cheap…what will you do to help chart our course? Check out my blog http://gordoncafe.blogtownhall.com  and join the

New Century Conservatives movement!

Gordon at the Café

Hope is in our hands

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Election night projections and undue voter influence

So now there are reports of people not voting because the news pundits brodcast projections that made it appear that McCain-Palin's cause was lost.  Shades of 200 and 2004.
 
Here is a simple solution that  would help everyone!  Especially those west of the Mississippi.
 
1)  Allign polling times to allow for a time zone differential so that all polls across the country close at the same time on Election Night.
      For example:
            EST            9 AM - 10 PM
            CST            8 AM - 9 PM
            RMT           7 AM - 8 PM
            PST            6 AM - 7 PM
      Alaska and Hawaii could vote the day before with votes sealed until the West Coast polls close.
 
2)   NO NEWS PROJECTIONS until 51% of the votes have been counted.
      
This means we have to get out of our news junkie, immediate gratification mindset and actually wait. 
If we can teach ourselves to do that, the results will be much more representative.  The 8 million votes out of 122 million that determined this election (and made the left feel they have a mandate for change) were very possibly influenced by the early projections based on 1% of the votes in EST and CST states.  This is totally unfair to the western half of our country.
 
I remember the misery of a November night in 2000 in Florida when the state was projected before polls in the Panhandle had closed. 
 
Though reporting has become instant-information based, election night  is still run the way it was before the information age.  This must change by 2012
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Grieving in America - Part I

 11/7/08

Dear Fellow Americans –

Fifty-two percent of the citizens of the United States woke up on Wednesday or stayed up late on Tuesday and embraced elation, pride and a feeling that “it’s finally time for us”. 

I am proud that Americans were able to step above color lines and elect a well-spoken ambitious young man of mixed race. 

Forty-eight percent woke up to grief.  I am not talking about anger.  I am talking about unabashed grief.  We are not upset that a man of color was elected.  That was a great day for America.  We are grieving because the man of color who was elected stands so diametrically opposed to so much that we value.  Those values built the America that so many, who are overjoyed with the election results, are expecting to take care of them.  We are grieving because the media sold the people a president rather than presenting all the facts and encouraging all citizens to make informed decisions.

We are not grieving for our pocketbooks, our mortgages or our elitest rights.  I represent many of the average Americans who make up that 48%.  I am a public school teacher in a Title I Renaissance school.  My school is 92% economically disadvantaged, 84% African American or mixed race, 12% Hispanic and approximately 4% Caucasian. 15% of our students deal with some form of disability.  I am a Caucasian of American Indian, Romanian, Scottish and English descent.  I serve this community because I believe I was put on this planet to serve, not to be served, to make a difference, not lodge complaints, and to be appreciative of this remarkable country through good times and bad.  I will not always agree with her actions, but I will always believe in the principals she was founded on.

We who are grieving believe it is each community’s job to take care of the truly needy, not the federal government’s.  We volunteer in our schools and houses of worship.  We contribute regularly and quietly out of the little or much that we have to community food banks and clothing drives.  We serve in shelters, provide aid to unwed mothers, and answer with our time, finances and labor in times of national and international disaster.  These actions come not out of creed or patriotism but out of values that have been passed from generation to generation and out of the belief that it is the right thing to do.  “There but for the grace of God go I”.

We believe that opportunity is there for every American to succeed but that it takes hard work, education, a teachable spirit and the desire to make the world better, whether through a product, a service or an idea.  We do not begrudge anyone’s success or think it somehow takes away from us.  We know that Presidents have very little control over the economy and that it runs in cycles.  We know that we suffered a traumatic financial attack on September 11, 2001 which took many years to recover from.

We believe in living within our means.  When we make a poor or inopportune choice economically, like buying into inflated property values, it is our job to find a way out, not the Federal government’s.  I have a school loan that was taken in the faith that it would prepare me for a career that would provide for me more adequately in my single middle-age and allow me to retire someday.  It did not.  I am now trying to decide how to handle a loan that is well beyond my means to pay.   But I am not asking the government to solve this problem. It is mine and I will work at it till it is solved.  I will be working till I am 90 in order to do so, but that is MY problem, not the government’s.

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