New Home No Taxes

Now I know why none of the politicians are going to raise taxes. Are you ready? There won't be any taxes to raise due to unemployment and foreclosures. Without income and property ownership, there is no more money for the government. Of course, I'm sure the federal government with find a way to tax the air we breath.

I've decided to live in a teepee in the forest and go totally "green". I already know how to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, and I have enough polar fleece in my wardrobe to last a lifetime. I'll use my horses for transportation and their horse pucky to fertilize my forest garden. As long as our local government doesn't go to full assessment on my teepee, I should be financially secure for the rest of my life.

Think Outside the Box

Which one of these locations would you choose as your final resting place?

I'm an environmentally conscious person, and have decided to take ecology sensitivity to the grave. I want to go green when I die. So, here's the deal. I want to be buried without chemicals in a biodegradable shroud in the forest. I figure I will help fertilize those wonderful woodland mushrooms my family and I love eating on our salads.

There is actually a company called The Center for Natural Burial that will accommodate my wishes. The closest burial site is in Maine and is called Rainbow's End...and that's no horse pucky.

How's that for thinking outside the box?!

Health Care Reform is Horse Pucky

I was doing some research on campaign contributions from HMOs because I've been curious about how much campaign money comes from the health care industry. What I found were some pretty staggering figures. It has proved what I've suspected all along. Our federal government is being bought off by wealthy HMO CEOs. It's downright scary.

In 1990, when life was more affordable, the HMOs donated $310,323 to the Democratic Party and $130,682 to the Republican Party. In 2008, when you can't even afford to die, $5,916,887 was donated to the Democrats, and $4,416,729 was donated to the Republicans. We're talking millions folks, not thousands. So, fellow Americans, because both parties are in bed with the HMOs, do you really believe that our health care system will be reformed? It's more horse pucky as usual.

figures are from:

The Center for Responsive Politics1101 14th Street, NW Suite 1030

Washington, D.C. 20005-5635

(202) 857-0044

Watch It and Laugh

In case you didn't know, The Washington Post endorses Barrack Obama. One of my favorite political cartoonists for the "Post", Ann Telnaes, has created the perfect animated cartoon for Halloween, poking fun at the opposition. Click on the url following Ann's bio. Watch it and laugh.

"Ann Telnaes, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 2001, has published her work in newspapers and magazines around the world. Her cartoons have been exhibited at the Library of Congress, in Paris and in Jerusalem and have been collected in two books, "Humor's Edge" and "Dick."

"Telnaes has a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the California Institute of the Arts. Before beginning her career as an editorial cartoonist, Telnaes worked for several years at Walt Disney Imagineering as a designer. She has also animated and designed for various studios in London, Los Angeles, New York and Taiwan." -The Washington Post

When you click on the url below and get into the "Post" you'll hear a phone ring. After the phone stops ringing the animated cartoon begins. Happy Halloween!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/telnaes/telnaes_main.html

Vote for Bear

As I said in yesterday's blog entry, I'm voting for Bear, my cat. Below is a list of his qualifications:

• He's highly intelligent. Most people think so.
• He provides a valuable service to the public. All the neighbors are rodent free.
• He is loyal to his constituents. He's a sociable guy and loves everyone unconditionally, regardless of how much money they have.
• He is not class conscious. He doesn't care what socio-economic background you come from.
• He can be trusted. Bear comes with no agenda.
• He protects his homeland. He's very territorial and keeps unwanted intruders away.
• Balancing the budget is easy. Bear eats and takes only what he needs.
• Health care is not even an issue. He exercises and eats right.

If you know of national and local candidates who have all of the above qualifications, let me know. I may vote for them.

photo: Inga Mucha Photography

More Horse Pucky

So, whadaya think? It's only 15 more days until Election Day. The point is to be sure to vote. But for whom?!

Above are the choices for the national election. As for our local elections, there has been so much mud slinging going on from most of our NY politicians, I'm voting for the ones who have run a clean campaign, which pretty much means I'll probably vote for Bear. "Who's Bear", you ask? Bear is my cat.

He has perfect teeth just like Obama and Biden, he's fights for what he thinks is his rightful territory like McCain, and he's an avid hunter like Palin. All the great qualities you want in a leader. Other than that, it's more horse pucky as usual.

It Happened Again

It happened again! What's with drivers who insist on using their cell phones while driving, or worse...text messaging! Some moron (whose gender will remain anonymous) almost ran me off the road because he had a cell phone "glued" to his ear and wasn't looking where he was going (now you know the gender). It isn't the first time this has happened and I suspect it won't be the last.

It's illegal in New York state to talk on a cell phone while driving; text messaging should invoke immediate jail time. The fine in our state for talking on a cell phone while driving is $100 pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1225C. Hands free mobile phones are the exception.

Someone I know got fined $250. Apparently the state trooper who caught her (yes, women do it too) was in a bad mood that day...probably sleep deprived from tracking down all those "drive while you use the cell phone" blockheaded nincompoops.

If you need to take or make a call, pull over and do it. Use your common sense. The next time I see someone on their cell phone while they're driving, I'm going to take the law into my own hands. I'll remember their driver's license, get their address, and send them an extra large bag of fresh horse pucky.

We Grow Great Pumpkins

It's that time of year in upstate New York...autumn. I love the warm days, cool nights, beautiful colors found in our leaves and mums, and the wonderful fresh produce found at our local farm stands during this season.

Pumpkins are harvested this time of year and are used for many things: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, roasted pumpkin seeds, and decorations for Halloween..all things associated with happy childhood memories.

Bright orange pumpkins tossed into wooden bins, by the farmer who grew them, remind me of the hard work it takes to grow them in the first place. I remember planting pumpkin seeds, checking on them every day to see if anything had sprouted. It was so exciting when the first pumpkin finally matured.

I also remember sitting on my grandfather's lap while he drove his tractor, turning the soil with horse pucky tilled into the mix. My grandfather always said, "It's the horse pucky that grows great pumpkins." Think about that the next time you have a piece of pumpkin pie.

Dysfunction Junction

As soon as all this political claptrap is over maybe we can get on with what is really important, such as balancing the budget, health care reform, our almost defunct social security system, and trying to make peace with our off shore neighbors. I wonder if all that is possible as long as the politicians at dysfunction function continue to behave in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

It's time to grow up "boys" and "girls". Remember who is paying your salary and why we voted for you in the first place.

I strongly suggest you reread Lincoln's Gettysburg Address given in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, especially the last line; "...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth." I think we're in big trouble. We now have a government that's of the government, by the government, and for the government not for the people thanks to dysfunction junction.

I think it's time for another Boston tea party.

Let's Start Over

What you see in the picture above are a group of politicians. Oops, no they're really a congressional gathering of turkeys...same difference. I honestly think the turkeys would do a better job taking care of their constituents. Let's face it folks, real turkeys provide food for Thanksgiving and Christmas; I don't see our elected officials doing that.

I think we should start over. Let's fire everyone in office and elect someone who cares. As for me, I'm voting for the turkeys I "shot" in my backyard.