Sanity and insanity on the Thanksgiving weekend

All from The Kansas City Star today.

First the insanity:

--some lunatic in Florida (thank God it was there) "opened fire on his family after Thanksgiving dinner."

I always wonder why these people don't do everyone a favor and put the gun at their own head, instead of anyone else. Granted, this guy is clearly nuts but, I ask you, wouldn't it be nice?

--The couple who crashed the White House State dinner the other night got to walk right up and meet and greet the President and First Lady.

Nearly unbelievable.

As I said, somebody's ass is out the door on that one.

--Now our Congress is considering doing a "Cash for clunkers" for appliances and that industry.

Really, our government needs to learn that we're unplugging a bit, as a consumer society. We've spent way too damned much money on virtually everything and the party is over. They need to stop throwing our own--now borrowed--money at us. First it was for houses--which they're likely going to extend--then it was for cars, now appliances. Give it up, ladies and gentelmen. We know we're over-extended on credit. When are you going to learn you are?

--Sady, some coupld from our own Columbia, Missouri fell asleep in a Caseyville, Illinois motel room "after leaving an infant and toddler in a running van outside."

Yikes.

I'm not even going to touch that irresponsibility and stupidity.

--Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid $100 million of his own money "to narrowly win a third term" for himself in New York City, "breaking his previous records for the most expensive self-financed political bid in US history..."

This is where we're headed, folks, with rich people buying our elections, only much worse, if we don't institute very real--and stringent--campaign finance reform.

--Former CNN host Lou Dobbs looks to be eyeing a run for President in 2012.

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry.

--It looks more and more like some idiot with a bomb blew up a train in Russia, killing 25 people and injuring lots more, of course.

--This last one falls in the insanity and sanity column, both. I reported earlier that our city is going to have a two-day free health care clinic downtown at Bartle Hall. The insanity is that we have to do this, here in the United States.

The sanity:

--Again, that we are having a two-day free health care clinic downtown soon, at Bartle Hall. God bless all the people who are sacrificing their time, talent and energy to do this for the less well-off.

--The Governor of Bali had put in a request to sacrifice "hundreds of rare reptiles"--turtles--that were "to be killed for religious ceremonies."

Thank goodness common sense prevailed.

--I'd almost put money right now on KU's head coach Mark Mangino being fired very shortly--possibly as soon as tomorrow. It might not happen but after reading what he's said and done with his football players, I'm thinking it's a sure thing he's out. He was just too politically incorrect--and way off base.

--It looks like China and Russia are backing a nuclear limits ban on Iran through the UN. International cooperation always looks good.

--It's a beautiful weekend here in the midwest US and there are loads and loads of people helping and doing things for, their fellow man (person, whatever).

That's always terrific.

Have a great weekend, y'all.

Link: www.kansascity.com

For anyone and everyone who thinks we don't need health care reform

This is what too many of us have come to.

The Kansas City Star reports today that there will be a free health care clinic right here in our own little cowtown. It is to be a two day event at Bartle Hall December 9 and 10.

As I said, this is what health care has come to here in the US.

The richest country in the world has the most expensive--and least available--health care system in the world.

These free health care fairs have been done in the Appalachians, the West Coast (LA), the East Coast (West Virginia) and elsewhere. For too many of us, our insurance and insurance companies have priced us out of having good, sound health care.

It's undeniable but people and corporations deny it, regardless.

It's sad.

It's pathetic.

Maddening.

Did you know that the US is ranked 37th, internationally, when it comes to mortality rates?

Yeah, we are.

We are BEHIND Costa Rica on this.

Costa freakin' Rica, people.

Think we have the best health care system in the world?

Think again.

And did you see yesterday in the media that we are ranked number 3, again internationally, in terms of obesity rates?

I'm not saying that's anyone's fault but our own, individually, but it adds up to a really ugly health care picture.

If one more right-wing, closed-minded, uniformed, jingoistic chucklehead--family, friend, whatever--claims we don't need health care reform, I may well go apeshit on 'em.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1597536.html