I'm Back With More To Say

I'm back and there is still a lot to be outraged about.  While it is hopeful that on the eve of the Tucson tragedy that the pundits, the cable television networks, and the blogoshere (myself included) turn the heated rhetoric of 2010 that does not mean that there could not have and continue to have spirited debate.  I believe and have always believed that public discourse is the responsibility of all as long as it is based on accurate information.

Before I begin the next chapter of the Outraged Citizen, I must state what this blog is and what it is not.  The Outraged Citizen began as a person unhappy at the political bickering, the wasteful spending of our government, the scaling decline of morals, the love and obsession of celebrity and reality television along with the complete dismissal of common sense. There were way too many distorted truths from cable television and thought that I may not be the only person that wanted something more real, more intelligent and I know while my sarcasm and political affiliation may swing more left than right, I thought that I could be more honest the other things out there. My idea is and was not to promote hate or violence but to add a bit of satire, some humor, and to give a different take compared to what is found elsewhere.

For purposes of full disclosure, I started this blog angry at what our country had become mainly in 2008 and 2009.  When corporations like the one I worked for greedily constantly forecast to raise its gross revenue percentage to double digit growth year after year.  In this process they made bad decisions, made bad loans to people who didn't know any better and make huge profits.  Instead of accepting the consequences of making these bad loans they along their competitors who did the same thing were rewarded with a public-backed bailout.  In turn those same people what nearly sent these companies to bankruptcy were not received company bonuses back by the public that they wronged.  I was dismissed from my company which I will call the stagecoach after I made a decision not to make deceptive sales. I chose not to commit the same actions of countless others that cared less about the consequences of their actions --of not only themselves but consumers who believed in them, who thought that their best interest were paramount --to increase their own paychecks.  I did see some who tried to live above their means but the majority were wronged.  The wrong people were bailed out and most of those were the victims are still being wronged today.

We arrived at this place because of greed and that is what I was outraged with about the most.  I have seen money be the evil of people for over ten years and I am not surprised to see people continue to profit from other's pain.  Speaking of pain isn't it amazing that we only become human after something painful.  Why does it take a 9/11 or a massacre to notice that fact?  It is also sad that once that pain fades everything goes back to normal.

I'm back and maybe not as outraged, but the title is staying.  Thanks for reading!!

A Nation Divided, Uniting

On the eve of the violence, loss of life, and wounding in Tucson our nation is uniting once again.  It is sobering that this happens mostly in a sense of tragedy.   Politicians suddenly become human again and for some time the us versus them game is paused.  The arguments and the political backbiting has stalled on red states versus blue states and I am reminded and at the same time distantly hopeful that this is the way our politics should work.  We can have spirited and calm conversation.  We should have the ability to disagree that all should be able to state their ideas and their opinions without threat or reprisal.  It is the very essence of our country.  I just hope that we don't go back to yesterday and the bickering of 2010.

We have had this opportunity many times before.  I vividly remember September 12, 2001.  As I took the train that morning, people were human as they somberly walked to their destinations.  Strangers said hello with friendly glances and gone was some of the road rage that plagued the streets and highways.  We stood together united and some weeks later that unity began to break apart and we went back to business as usual.  There is an opportunity for us to try again and we must all take a part.

I'm Still Here...

Just wanted to let you know that I am still here. A nice new colorful page. Some quick things, yes President Obama is a US Citizen and a Christian. Case Closed! Dr. Laura should be ashamed and yes she knows better. California doesn't have a budget and probably will not have one anytime soon and speaking of that why is Meg Whitman spending over $100 million dollars to be Governor? She can't even spend her own money wisely. Just a few ramblings, will be back soon!

The OC.

A Nation Once United, Divided...The Perils of Health Care Reform and Broken Politics

Yesterday, President Obama signed Health Care Reform into law.  It was feat that dates back nearly a century since  President Roosevelt, (Teddy not Franklin) in 1912.  Over 30 million Americans will have health care and one would think that celebration would and should have spread across our nation.  Unfortunately, Health Care or probably more accurately stated Health Insurance Reform is the latest lighting rod that is not only dividing our country and our politics, it is becoming the catalyst for us to become downright uncivil.

The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I cite this because of what I am going to say next is true but not the most politically correct, but it is my right to express.

After 100 years of trying, we have Health Care (Insurance) Reform from the first African American President and the Party of Just Say No has become the Party of Hell No and they have launched their Tea Parties and their puppet commentators to stop and repeal this law without any fair effort to see if it can work.  We are seeing the elements of fear rise again.  You have seen this before when people speak without fact, when they turn to insults, to racism, to confusion, to anger and unfounded outrage.  They confuse socialism and say the President of the United States is a Socialist while they want to say other things that I will not say, but you know where I am going.

What ever happened to seeing if something works?  What ever happened to being proven wrong?  What if the problem with the person that is providing the reform and his difference in appearance to his predecessors?  For all of you out there, yes race is a part of this problem and it a part of the puzzle that we find ourselves in.  If you think not read on.

What has happened in the first 15 months of the Obama Presidency:

• The President disrespected in an emotional outburst while delivering an Address to a Joint Session  of Congress and the American people last September.
• The "Birthers" tried unsuccessfully to prove that the President was not a US Citizen at birth, (which would have disqualified him from being President) a feat that has never happened before and despite clearly dispelling these rumors, some media still spread this misinformation.
• Members of Congress has been harassed and some have received threats, some even death threats.
• Every trick in the book has and is being used from the Party of Hell No to stop this President from succeeding at anything while saying that it is not about him.
• The opposing party has given close to 0 votes on the critical issues that are plaguing the country.
• There are many others as well...

Finally, those out there are infuriated about the cost of Health Care reform, I have another number for you $3 TRILLION!  Yes with a T!!!  That is the total projected cost of the Iraq War to the United States economy from a country that did not attack us.  This is only the cost of the economy the other cost in lives,  broken families, and those who returned worse than they left.  Speaking of 9/11, we are far from the days of 9/11 and the days afterward when we rediscovered our unity; when we were at our most united, it is now a mere afterthought.  It appears that the next cold war will be with ourselves, our neighbors and our enemies will revel in our division.  All of this at a time where we have the most information at our fingertips why are we acting the most ignorant...ever.  We are at a crossroads and going down a road that will take a long time to return from if ever.

2009: What We Have Learned

I have been thinking of a way to summarize the year of the things that we (should) have learned.  As the year started with a terrible recession where some are say its over (it's not) and the triumphs of hope are fading.  Allow me in both an outraged and controlled way highlight some important truths.

1. We are going to need a lot more than hope to "fix" the things that are broken.  The Audacity of Hope has turned into many things, like the audacity of nope, maybe, and lessons unlearned like Wall Street triumphing over Main Street. For 2010 add an extra helping of faith to that hope. The too big to fail banks are bigger and with most of them repaying their TARP loans the insanity begins again.  Here's hoping that Timothy Geithner either grows some teeth (and a pair) or is fired and replaced with the more capable and knowledgeable Elizabeth Warren.  
2. The Real Political Party Civil War was the one with the Democrats.  In November 2008, the American people rallied behind the Democratic Party to bring change that we believed in.  Yes, I said that in past tense.  The Democrats managed to implode on itself and we saw that fragments and not the whole party.  With health care reform, the Democrats began to look like a three ring circus with Pelosi and Reid being ringleaders.  And yes Roland Burris somehow survived.
3. The real leaders of the Republican Party are not in Congress.  Rush, Cheney, Beck, and O'Reilly has more of a pulse with their party than any elected member of Congress with the exception of a former Governor who went rogue, wait I thought she went rogue last year.  All the real leaders of the Republican Party did was to derail most of what our new President wanted to do.  I call it the Just Say No way of governance. No votes on the stimulus package or health care (short one fearless vote in the House), and not really contributing to the solutions of the problems that they had a large role in creating.
4. The Banks and Wall Street were saved to the doom of everyone else.  The largest banks that were saved which include my former employer (for disclosure purposes) are now finding new ways to generate money--out of us.  They are sidestepping a new law that is supposed to limit credit card fees and most of you may notice interest fee hikes before February 22, 2010 when the new law is to take effect.  They are still charging unbelievable overdraft fees while their CEO's (retired and un-retired) are making more than ever.  That's a huge that's for the "low interest loans" that we gave them. Foreclosures are still happening even though most grew heart choosing not to foreclose on people during the holidays.  I say break them up AT&T style and don't allow them to slowly merge back together.
5. The price of fame and fame-seeking are too high.  From the newly jailed parents of ballon boy, Jon and Kate, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Jackson's death, Tiger Woods, The Kardashian Sisters, are all the result of a tabloid media keeping presses and internet pages alive.  Some like MJ's death were tragic, but I didn't need the marathon of coverage.  We are obsessed with celebrity, gossip, and scandal.  The sad thing is that it is only getting worse.
6. Sore Losers will say anything to keep up their unjust and unfound causes.  Tea Parties and birthers flocked to television and rallies protesting how our tax dollars are spent.  Most of these  people were really just upset with the election of President Obama and doing all things to discredit him.  The last administration spent all of the money, committed us to two wars, one just and another unjust.  Other chose to question a birth certificate which is real and declared it fake regardless of the information just to keep the story alike.  It's 2010, Obama is President, get over it!
7. We are violent, afraid, and things like that happen everywhere.  Stop the denial, we are a violent nation where murder, rape, kidnapping, many other heinous and unspeakable acts happen. Policemen are shot, pregnant women are a in a high danger demographic, children are murdered and harmed in horrible fashion while countless witnesses and onlookers stand and do nothing. We are still obsessed with reactionary steps to prevent terrorism. We still live in the reaction of events after the fact instead of prevention. The truth is on Christmas we were shown that even with the information and intelligence, incompetence and the lack of execution are still a danger to national security. During this last event we should have learned we are still the victims of our own fear and money alone cannot protect us.
8. We are nowhere close to a post-racial society.  The Professor Gates controversy with a Cambridge police officer was a reminder that we still prejudge.  A cold beer can do a lot but there is still work to do.  There are still mistreatment of citizens from police.  There are still terrible stories of racial profiling and it only the birth of YouTube and online media that brings this to the forefront.  It has been a year since Oscar Grant was murdered by a BART police officer.  The election of Barack Obama as President brought us one step closer to racial harmony, but the road is still long, uncertain and cannot be taken for granted.
9. Ignorance is STILL Bliss.  The best way to kill a great idea like a public option for Health Care reform is to dumb it down and confuse people. Congress write bills long enough (in the thousands of pages) that it takes half a day to read them during a legislative session.  Playing stupid is still unfornately one of the worst tricks in the book not only in the aisles of Congress but everywhere else. As Chris Rock once said (paraphrasing) "Agreeing or disagreeing about a bill or policy solely based on whether you are a Democrat or a Republican makes you an idiot."  I am amazed how our politics resembles high school or really bad reality television.  

I hope that some of you take deep a thought or two about this while drinking large quantities of alcohol or getting over hangovers.  Happy New Year everyone and it's twenty-ten, not two thousand ten.

The Outraged Citizen

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all.  Enjoy the holiday season for those who choose to celebrate it.  This is a time where the complaining can stop and action can begin.  Go out and help someone in need.  Volunteer some where and be thankful for what you have.  Until next year, or month I should say unless something is truly outrage worthy.

Ready, Fire, Aim

I have a question for all of us: When did we stop thinking?  Perhaps the question should be when will we start thinking again.  In various situations criminal, political, and tabloid alike there is a tendency not to think our actions through.  The long term effects (mainly consequences) are not considered which could be an embarrassing moment to the cataclysmic loss of life.  More and more I believe (and outraged) that we acting more and thinking less.

Here in the Bay Area, we have another subway transit controversy.  A man who is allegedly mentally disturbed was forced of a subway train by a transit cop and forced into a window that broke while he was being arrested.  The man allegedly was disruptive and was trying to pick a fight with other riders.  Fortunately this was also captured on You Tube just like the shooting that happened on New Year's Day of Oscar Grant.

Speaking of police and crime I have always wondered why police shoot to kill in situations other than when they have been fired upon FIRST.  I thought once that ever since police are expert (or supposed be) marksmen (and women) that they should be able to disable a suspect without killing them in most cases.  I thought that they would want to question suspects to find out why they do the things that they do.  I thought that they like to solve cases and not create new ones.

Unfortunately, as I said this is more universal than just crime and a worse example of ready, fire, aim exists in Washington, DC too. Remember the Patriot Act, the one that was passed in the middle of the the night.  The law that no member of Congress read.  Everyone in the Congress knew that something had to be done in the wake of 9/11 and haste overreaction and fear caused us to roll back civil rights 30 years. Even TARP which is now equally owned by Bush and Obama was and is still being handled too hastily.  Where were the Congressional hearings and the debates like the ones that we are now having on health care?  Where were the accountants, CPA's, and financial experts if there were a such thing?  Add to that the wars, the deficit, and the economy.

Tragically, what should be the least important is what we ironically talk about most.  Today is the last episode of Jon and Kate + Eight (smile).  I know that the tabloids will be sad as this alone has sold enough as revenue for the year alone there is also the Michael Jackson saga and his parents who want more and countless other stories what waste even more time that I will not mention.  The lengths that are gone for the exclusive usually results in inaccurate information.

There is plenty more that I could mention, but I believe that I have proved my point.  Here is to aiming at bit more often and stopping talking about the misfires.