What if politicians raised money for charity instead of elections?

What if politicians raised money for charity instead of elections?

It is estimate politicians spent more than $6,000,000,000 (BILLION) on election campaigns in 2012. These are individuals who purport to seek opportunities to better the lives of the country’s citizens.

Lobbyists spent close to $4,000,000,000 (BILLION) in 2012 trying to buy favorable votes in Congress.

Theoretically, individuals and corporations spent $10,000,000,000 (BILLION) on buying votes in 2012.

When taken in context with the overall federal expenditures, perhaps that numbers is insignificant. But think for moment – what if the people that spent so much time trying to buy elections or votes from our elected officials spent that $10,000,000,000 (BILLION) on neighborhood revitalization? What if Michael Bloomberg spent his billions investing in his scarred New York neighborhoods instead of spending his political and financial capital on gun control legislation or banning large soft drinks? What if the people who spend billions of dollars trying to get our votes actually used the money they’ve earned or raised for good works instead of advertising or pandering or posturing or dirty tricks or spreading propaganda?

This just struck me as I was listening to a news report regarding Michael Bloomberg’s investment in the Mayor’s Against Illegal Weapons PAC. He is willing to put his BILLIONS behind this PAC. What if our politicians, the lobbying groups, and individuals used the money they use to create new laws abridging the rights of the citizens or to curry favor, or to gain an advantage, or to get tax breaks, or to get some pork for a state - tried to make our cities safer by creating parks, safe housing, streets where a young person in a disadvantaged neighborhood could walk to school or ride the bus without fear of being shot or stabbed or robbed, brought grocery stores to poor neighborhoods, gave people hope?

Yes, tragedies like Newton, CT are horrifying. But they are no more horrifying than the murders that take place in poor neighborhoods in our cities everyday.  I believe the people of America, the lobbyists, politicians, churches, and community organizations can do what government cannot and should not – invest in our people and our neighborhoods to make them better and safer. In this context, the BILLIONS spent by politicians and lobbyists is criminal. They should all be ashamed.

Ah, Nostalgia! PBS Series “Pioneers of Television- Nighttime Soaps”

Ah, Nostalgia! PBS Series “Pioneers of Television- Nighttime Soaps”

Those prime time soaps of the late 70’s and early 80’s! I watched them all – “Dallas”, “Dynasty” and “Knots Landing”!  It was must see TV before “Must See TV”.  But it started with “Dallas” – which rose to worldwide prominence following the original cliffhanger. It truly was of worldwide interest. Everybody wanted to know “who shot J.R.”?

Maybe it was the times. Everything was big. Big hair. Big jewelry! Big shoulder pads! Ostentatious displays of wealth became acceptable. Greed was good! Women were striving to dress for success. Men wore yellow power ties.  Ronald Reagan made us feel proud to be American.  Tom Wolfe wrote “ The Bonfire of the Vanities”. Bryan Burrough and  John Helyar wrote “Barbarians at the Gate” about the ill-fated leveraged buyout of RJR-Nabisco, the original “too big to fail” conglomerate. It was a time of excess. And it was fun.

J.R. Ewing became an icon, a character to be emulated by greedy heads of companies.  Larry Hagman liked to think that “Dallas” was a cause of the fall of communism. I believe it more likely that “Dallas” was the prototype for  the corporate governance that shouted “ anything for a profit” or “A conscience is like a boat or a car. If you feel you need one, rent it."

And who can forget the evil machinations of Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington Colby and Diahann Carroll as Dominique Devereux. Splendid portrayals of strong women who could equal the business acumen of any man at a time when women in the boardroom were few and those who made it were denigrated.

Recall the scandal involving Mary Cunningham and William Agee of Bendix. After she graduating from Harvard Business School, Cunningham accepted a management position as Executive Assistant to  Agee, the CEO of the Bendix. She was soon promoted to VP of Strategic Planning. Following allegations she had essentially achieved her position through sex,  Cunningham resigned in October 1980. After she left Bendix in the midst of scandal, Cunningham accepted the position of  VP of Strategic Planning at Seagrams. So our nighttime soaps merely reflected the times. So she did eventually marry Agee. Chicken / egg/ chicken/ egg….

For a young woman entering the corporate world at the time these shows aired, Sue Ellen Ewing of Dallas, Alexis Carrington and Dominique Devereux of  “Dynasty”, Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner of “Knots Landing” and Angela Channing of “Falcon Crest” were role models, showing each week that strong women could not only survive but thrive in a man’s world.  They portrayed resiliency.  I can still honor that.

Why I Ignored Inauguration Day

Why I Ignored Inauguration Day

My reasons for ignoring the second inauguration of Barak Obama have nothing to do with ideology. His first inauguration was an historic event. Hordes of people traveled from afar to gather in Washington, DC to witness the swearing in of the first Black president of the United States of America. It signified sweeping change in the American psyche, a belief in a new social order for many, and the promise of transparency in government.

Ultimately, nothing changed. Stalemate in Washington. Higher taxes. More people are on the dole. Crappy economy. We’re still in Afghanistan. The government wastes my tax money. There hasn’t been a budget in 4 years.  Judicial confirmations are backed up for years.  And the promised transparency is gone with the wind.  The American people continue to reelect the same losers who have accomplished nothing for the last 4 years.  I have a great deal of antipathy towards both parties.

And, there is the traffic. I work in the District of Columbia. Traffic is abominable on even a Thursday in July. Metro is antiquated, breaks down regularly, and continues to operate on 1970’s technology. The roads into, out of and around DC were inadequate as soon as they opened. There is no rapid transit from Dulles Airport to the city.  This we face on a daily basis. Add to that the influx of humanity to experience the inauguration and its attendant festivities and I envision nothing but a nightmare of epic proportions with transit. From what I’ve read on the web this afternoon, my predictions were on target.

So, we began our holiday watching a documentary on the life of Dr. King followed by my manic obsession with organizing! The bug hit me last weekend when I found myself clearing my office of bad karma, eliminating excess paper, and investigating what was actually in my 1960 era piggy bank. (uhm…old pennies).

This weekend I found myself organizing my Civil War / sewing closet and purging my stash of fabric that would likely never be transformed into a garment of any era, clearing the master closet of 3 ½ inch plus heels, empty shoeboxes, jeans with too little spandex, tops that require ironing, & any items that has lost its luster.  While Washington celebrated its corrupt politicians, I celebrated my life moving forward with less stuff. And that, to me, is renewal. Freed from the weight of too much stuff I am now ready to face the coming spring.

Book Series: Matthew Shardlake Mysteries - A Hunchback Lawyer in Henry VIII’s England

Book Series: Matthew Shardlake Mysteries -  A Hunchback Lawyer in Henry VIII’s England

Today I finished the 5^th book in this remarkable series of historical fiction by C. J. Sansom. “Heartstone”, which takes place during the attack by the French Armada at Portsmouth in 1546. In this most recent entry, Shardlake has been retained by Queen Catherine Parr to investigate a ward ship that may have been exploited for financial gain.

 For anyone who enjoys a good mystery combined with the fascinatingly solid historical research that vividly describes the fear, corruption, filth, and intrigue of mid 16^th Century England, this is a series for you.

Sansom’s inaugural work, “Dissolution”, which was published in the UK in 2003, is set in 1537 and involves Matthew Shardlake, a hunchback lawyer, who is working for Cromwell, who has dispatched him to investigate a murder on the grounds of a monastery during the English Reformation.  I am an unapologetic fan of anything Tudor and found myself immersed in the political intrigue and machinations of the time.

After my first taste of Shardlake, I wanted more and eagerly awaited each new installment.  The character development is excellent. Shardlake begins his career as an idealist. He believes in right over might. He is an honest man in a time where expediency and political advantage reign supreme. His closest friend is a Moor named Guy. He is shunned because of his disability. But he soldiers on to do what he must for his clients, who are generally among the more disadvantaged.

I like Shardlake. His experiences bring him into the midst of contentious situations. He has powerful people among his enemies – among them, Sir Richard Rich.  But he never loses his resolve to do what is right in the dangerous world of Tudor England. 

For anyone with a fascination of Tudor England and a love of mystery and intrigue, I highly recommend giving these books a try.

Surviving Life as a Klutz

Surviving Life as a Klutz

While there are other definitions of “klutz” that are less flattering, I will confess to being essentially clumsy and go with that one.  I can and do trip over anything.

The most recent episode occurred this morning about 6:30. My dear spousal unit notified me the coffee was ready. I donned my cheetah print robe and cozy shearling slippers and scampered down the stairs, only to trip over the duffle bag my darling had left at the foot of the steps. My foot caught and I went flying. But, there was no lift and I landed with a thud prone, with my right knee taking the brunt of the impact. It was ugly. Complete with dizziness, nausea, and moments of blackout.  Damn – I did not have time for this. My knee swelled immediately right around my patella.  The first strategy – elevate and use ice.  The only readily available soft frozen item – a bag of walnuts. That wasn’t too satisfying. We did locate a bag of ice in the garage and cobbled together an ice pack with a freezer bag and the belt to my down vest. Fortunately, there was no fracture.

I am convinced that my tendency to exercise and keep relatively fit has saved me from more serious injury. Over the years I’ve sprained and re-sprained my right ankle so many times that I’ve a permanent bone bruise on the lateral portion. I can’t it cross-legged or flex my ankle in some directions. But, I’ve avoided fractures thus far.

That is amazing considering I fell out a window in an English manor house in 1979 trying to retrieve a bottle of wine that had been chilling on the balcony only to seriously sprain my ankle so severely it never healed. It was later exacerbated by unfortunate incidents with platform sandals; falling off ladders at least three times,  flying down the stairs while multi-tasking with a vacuum cleaner, cell phone and laundry, skiing down the driveway on my backside on the ice, stepping in a series of holes,  falling over my own handbag in my office, tripping over shoes I left on the bathroom floor, and walking into at least 2 door jams in the middle of the night. Just taking the trash dumpster down to the road can present a hazard. And ladders – now verboten.  There is a good reason that “grace” is not my middle name.

At this point in my life I’ve learned to eschew high heels and elevated clogs – much as I love them.  I lust for gorgeous footwear and have always loved heels. But I can’t avoid walking. My evil husband makes jokes about my premature qualification for a hover-round and lack of coordination.  But I keep on keeping on.

No fracture today. I have to RICE for the next few days. (Rest / Ice/Compression/Elevation). Well, I can do the elevation.  Trying to exploit my spousal unit’s modicum of guilt for leaving his bag in my path; however, ultimately, it was me. I should have seen it and walked around it, but I didn’t. My bull in the china shop approach to living is my worst enemy at times. But, it just goes to show that eating right; keeping fit,  & building strong bones and muscles protects and defends our physical selves in times of trauma. So, rest for the weekend and back to yoga and my mini trampoline by Monday!