Arguments!

Many of you may have dissenting opinions on this matter, but I think it's absurd. Recently it was announced that local governments will be increasing the number of traffic violation tickets they issue. Is it to assure that their citizens are safer? or maybe in preparation of some major event?? Nope, it's because they are running low on money.

Now if anyone knows how far from frugal governments are when it comes to money you will understand my frustration with this. Some may argue that it's better off in order to keep more people safe on the roads, and I would tend to agree, but does intent mean nothing here. If that was the intent it would have been done earlier when times were good. Not now when most people are closer to filing for bankruptcy than being able to afford a simple ticket.

This feels as though the government when squeezed turns on it's people in a heartbeat. I can guarantee there plenty of over inflated salaries, remnants of a brighter economic climate, that could use some trimming down before this type of an action ever becomes an option.

That might just be how I feel. Let me know what you think...

This was an email I received a while back.... it's kind of a sore point with me, so I wrote one in response!!

It's a little long but totally worth it!!


> Original Becoming Illegal: An actual letter from an
> Iowa resident and sent to his Senator
>
>
>
> Dear Senator Harkin,
>
> As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the
> Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your
> assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland
> Security in an effort to determine the process for
> becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.
>
> My primary reason for wishing to change my status from
> US. Citizen to illegal alien stems from the bill which
> was recently passed by the Senate and for which you
> voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions
> is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the
> United States for five years, all I need to do to
> become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income
> taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good
> deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process
> started before everyone figures it out.
>
> Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have
> had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the
> prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for
> paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply
> to be illegal retroactively?
>
> This would yield an excellent result for me and my
> family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.
> A dditionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using
> the local emergency room as my primary health care
> provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for
> medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save
> almost $10,000 a year.
>
> Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that
> my daughter would receive preferential treatment
> relative to her law school applications, as well as
> "in-state" tuition rates for many colleges throughout
> the United States for my son.
>
> Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve
> me of the burden of renewing my driver's license and
> making those burdensome car insurance premiums. This is
> very important to me given that I still have college
> age children driving my car.
>
> If you would provide me with an outline of the process
> to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and
> copies of the necessary forms, I would be most
> appreciative. Thank you for your assistance
>
> Your Loyal Constituent,
> Donald Ruppert
> Burlington , I A



From the desk of:

The Honorable Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Phone (202) 224 3254
Washington DC, 20510



MY RESPONSE:


Dear Donald Ruppert,


I thank you for your letter; though a very unique request, I believe I may have a solution.

In order to retroactively become an illegal alien there are several requirements, they are as follows:

You must:

Leave your family and friends(grandparents and children included)
Take all current cash and savings and leave them behind
Forgo your current position no matter how prestigious
Fly to a south American country and catch the next dilapidated over filled boat en rout to the US, with no provisions and nothing but the clothes on your back
Avoid capture by homeland security marshals
Avoid capture by local police
Avoid capture by government officials
Avoid being caught when one of your shipmates leaks your position after he himself is caught
Work for less than minimum wage at a job no one else wants, but be criticized for “stealing” said job
Walk around daily with your head down in hopes of not being noticed
Endure being made fun of and having people avoid you
Find a small one bedroom home to live in with 9 of your fellow shipmates
Live without healthcare despite the long hours you spend at work in the sun
Have no communication with your family and friends whatsoever (grandparents and children included)
Sleep 5 hours a night
Wake up at 5 in the morning catch the local work truck to your next job and try to get some rest in the back of said truck no matter how cold and uncomfortable
Leave work at 9 and return home
Work 7 days a week
Avoid upsetting your boss because he will have your deported
Never have any privacy
Forgo all your rights as a human being

After completing this small list of items for a minimum of a five year period, you can apply to become an American citizen. This will allow you to begin your new life as an American where you will have the opportunity to:

Get a pay raise to minimum wage
Loose your job because your current employer will not pay minimum wage
Find a job bussing tables or washing dishes for minimum wage
Pay taxes on your minimum wage
Get overcharged on those taxes because you don’t know tax laws and can’t afford an accountant
Avoid wrongfully being accused of being in the country illegaly
Pay for healthcare insurance
Pay for car insurance
Pay home insurance for your still illegal 9 housemates
Work 2 to 3 jobs minimum to barely survive
Never give up the hope of bringing your family over to be with you, no matter how long it has been (5-7 years)
Keep hope that your wife has not found another husband and your child will actually remember you (and perhaps even miss the birth of your child)
Work 10 times as hard as everyone else, with less pay and no respect
Continue being called an illegal immigrant no matter what your status
Feel like you’re a stranger in a land you now call home

After you have done all of this, you will finally be living the American dream for an illegal immigrant.

If you are still interested in retrospectively changing your status, simply contact my office and we will get the paperwork started. The entire process should take approximately six months.

There is one downfall I feel impressed to share with you before you start this process. The downfall is that no matter how much money and success you will achieve after those 5 to 7 years, you will never be accepted in the general society again.

Hope this helps,


Tom Harkin
Senator

Since its inception the iphone has been the holy grail of nerds all over the world. And what bigger nerd is there than the proverbial father of all nerd Bill Gates. Even before this wonder of user friendly technology surfaced, there were questions about whether or not Bill owned a Mac.

My take: I’ve heard of rumors from both ends saying yes he owns one because he gets them for free or no he wouldn’t be caught dead with one, but I say he does. Not only that but I’m pretty sure that one where out there you can trace an iphone 3G to the big guy himself. Yes I know that’s sacrilegious to the pc loyalists out there while the Mac fanatics are sporting their typical smug grin, but come on! Do you really believe that Bill Gates would not at least use it for research? Granted he doesn’t do as much hands on r&d, but let’s not doubt for a second that he’s still got his hands in a thing or two. I mean what nerd alive could completely retire from nerdum?
This brings me to my last point, I just got an iphone for the first time the other day. It marks my first Apple product (not including itunes) since the black and green screen apple computers (you know, the ones way before Steve Jobs discovered the black turtle neck). And I have to admit, I love it. I was a big pc fan in the past, but I’m starting to wonder whether or not the saying is true, once you go Mac… It seems that pc complicates things while simplifying them and Apple simplifies them while complicating them. By that I mean Mac adds technology and uses that technology to make things easier to use, PC adds technology and uses a 500 page handbook to help you use it. A little off topic I know, but still a relevant argument I think. What do you guys think? Mac or PC?

Adrien
TheNakedHippie Organic Tshirts

Unfortunately I think this economy will get worse, but at the same time this is a great opportunity. I think cutting back will be necessary, I feel a great deal for people who have felt like they have done everything right to be in a comfortable position and now they're faced with things they could never have imagined could have happened to them. But the reality is this no candidate is going to have a magic button and we're going to have to tighten up and start viewing this as an opportunity. Basically we need to play defense with one hand and offense with the other.

Just my opinion,

Adrien
TheNakedHippie.com
Organic Tshirts

Red Means Stop for Presidential Debate

Tuesday October 7th the two presidential candidates addressed issues in the second presidential debate so far at Belmont University.

This might not be a common point of view but as for me the both candidates are trying to prove the same thing, “I’m different.” Not to mention this back and forth on who voted for what is absurd, when the title of the bill voted for does not fully define the bill itself. So when I hear that McCain voted against a bill that sounds like a great idea or Obama voted for a one that sounds like a horrible idea, it means nothing to me, because I understand that unless I know the bill personally I don’t know what it all means!

But beyond all of that, is it just me or is it fascinating that two educated individuals cannot seem to understand a combination of three little colored lights that indicate how much time they have left to speak! I’m all for getting your point out, but “at the end of the day my friend” say what you have to and sit down. My old college debate coach now has a hole in his TV screen as a result of a wine glass he threw out of frustration over this. Personally I would like my president to understand red means stop!

Adrien




Adrien
TheNakedHippie Organic Tshirts