Where In The Constitution...?

  When it comes to politics and the leadership displayed by our elected officials, I am concerned that our country's fore fathers who established our democratic government and constitution, would probably want to defect to another region of the world. It is downright shameful how our country has faltered in the face of adversity. I read the constitution when I was in school. I remember that it was ageless. The "original" constitution may have had some flaws, but our society is ruining the simple rights and principles this document was penned to protect.
  I am not an economist, politician, or communist. I am simply an American. As an American, I have the constitutional right to freedom of speech. But wait, that could all change. Think about it, if our constitution can be influenced by the large corporations through the politicians they are financially supporting, what keeps our freedoms and pursuit of liberty intact? Where in the constitution does it say that if you are a large corporate entity, you can influence government? Are our elected officials actually the "people's choice" or are they appointed by whoever has the most funding and backing of the industrial powers of this country and others? Yes, other country's corporations have invested in our elections. Makes me wonder if George Washington was influenced by greed. I'd like to think that wasn't the case.
  The poor economy seems to be the common thread in today's society that links most of the countries citizens. Basically, money seems to make the world go round. Now, let's put this into perspective. As the cost of living in this country increases, it is clear that the natural resources available to produce the products we all depend on to sustain our comforts and the people in control of these resources are the easiest to blame for our economical woes. As Americans, we need to shoulder our share of the responsibility of how we have allowed this country to deteriorate. We have stood idle watching the economists and politicians try to figure out the best way to run this country like a business. If we were a business, we would have closed our doors years ago. American citizens pay taxes on everything but oxygen. The population continues to grow and with each new taxpayer contributing to the fund, one would think the country should have a surplus instead of the deficit we now own.
  This brings me back to the original point about corporations steering the economy and ultimately our elected officials. Every product on the market requires a natural resource. Oil, petroleum, natural gas, and coal are the most popular for producing energy and polymers. But, think about all the corn our farmers harvest to add to our gasoline for "better" fuel efficiency. Soybeans are used in many products. What would we do without wheat and other grains? These natural resources are not only used in production, but also feed our citizens. Is it the farmers, fishermen, or miners fault we are in the worst economic state in history? No! The working class continues to pay high rates for every finished product and meal purchased.
  I've always thought that the petroleum industry is ultimately to blame, but we citizens continue to pay ridiculous amounts of money for gas and oil products to power our vehicles and homes. Fuel cost increases appear to have the most influence on the economy. When prices for fuel are high, the cost of getting products to market increases. When prices for fuel are high, residual funds deplete and businesses and families suffer from not having any surplus in their budget resulting in cut-backs and spending. So, when no surplus exists, consumers save and protect their income out of fear of additional increases or loss of employment due to their employer reducing its operating costs.  The petroleum that flows out of other countries into ours requires an even greater sacrifice. The sacrifice of life. Our service men and women are deployed to protect oil fields and foreign interests from rebels or insane dictators. Our representatives in Congress have placed a price tag on life. Willing to package basic human rights as the reason our military is engaged in so many battles, our government denies that the oil interests are even a consideration.
  Allow me to put this puzzle together. Natural resources from the United States and foreign soils are combined to create raw materials used by industries around the globe to produce marketable goods. The increase in costs of the raw materials has a negative effect on profit margins. Thus, a detriment to residual income which allows citizens and businesses to invest funds back into the market. The economy suffers, so taxable income suffers. Less taxes available put government initiatives at risk. Infrastructures weaken, natural disasters destroy homes & businesses, divisions in government, the unemployed, the deficit, homeland security, scandalous leadership, all leading to an end of the pursuit of happiness. If you are a corporation that has jobs available, but wants to wait until your funded candidate for public office is in place, then, the negative consequences of your greed should be your justified reward.
  Has anyone ever thought of how our country would be different if we acted as our fore fathers and prayed for God's direction, instead of allowing our greed to lead?

Technology: PDA to Ipad, What's Next?

I remember when the first PDAs hit the market. Their purpose was simple. They were a useful tool to organize your life. Basically, they were the modern version of those big, bulky day planners we all carried in our over sized briefcases. Most still relied on the information you entered using the touch screen or a stylus. A stylus is a lead-less pencil, whoever invented that thing is living large. Back to original subject. PDAs were very popular until our telephones started to organize our lives. Now, we didn't have to plug-in to download our activities, we simply found a hot-spot or Wi-Fi connection and we could send updates and information to anyone and anywhere. First was the Blackberry, original name as I really like the fruit, but the gadget, not so much. Who has stylus shaped fingers? Those keys were causing carpel tunnel and people to become cross-eyed staring at that small screen. The important people would refer to this thing as their private secretary. It was almost a status symbol. Oh yes sir, I see you have a Blackberry, please let me upgrade you to first class. Give me a break! Drum roll please. Enter the "smart" phone. Social media and blogs have now replaced friends meeting over coffee and community groups discussing issues face to face. We have entered an age of loneliness. We chat online with friends instead of making time to get together and share. Now, if we got together with our friends and used these forums to entertain and inform each other, I believe our relationships would be stronger. Ok, back to subject. I apologize, I tend to float off of point. Where were we? Oh yeah, I remember. Smartphones are in most cases smarter than their owners. I own one and I can not even scratch the surface of what this thing is capable of doing. Finally, we have the Ipad. Recently, a friend commented to me about her Ipad. She stated that this little thing, a little larger than a standard envelope, has all of her information stored. I asked what she considered all. I was blown away. Credit card numbers, account information, passwords, bank account numbers, account balances, birth dates and addresses for her entire family, social "security" numbers, of course her home address, pictures of her favorite memories, all of her music files, all of her letters and emails and word documents were on this Ipad. As she was telling me all these wonderful uses and tools this thing is capable, I realized that we as a society are urging technological companies to push the boundaries even further every day. I can't tell you how upset I would be if someone stole her Ipad and was able to get to all of that personal information for criminal gain. We now carry all of this personal information where ever we go, just tempting a crook to steal it. We show off our Apps and videos we discover and never give a thought of who may be targeting us at the next booth in a restaurant. Where has our privacy gone? Security of personal information has become less of a priority. I guess if you willingly put your private information on any device, you have considered and are satisfied with the possible outcomes of doing such. What's next? All of our lives are spread out on the web for all to see. If technology can replace our own brains, what's keeping it from replacing us? Thank God for dead-spots! Those people who can't connect to the internet are very fortunate as they are less likely to suffer from the hands of our own creations.

How Safe Are J-Turns?

Recently, another accident took a young life at a dangerous interstates intersection. Our prayers go out to all those who are mourning this tragedy. For years, families and friends who suffer the loss of a loved one to this perilous cross-over, have lobbied for the installation of an over pass. This intersection has a popular truck stop where big rigs frequent at all hours of the day and night. This intersection is also on the route to schools and shopping within Centreville, Md. The Maryland Transportation Authority reports that it is starting planned construction of a "J-turn" to be placed at this intersection. Recent reports from this agency quotes an 80% reduction in accidents where these are installed. Am I The Only One Who Sees This? I know I'm not! First, after so many deaths at this site, can you really put a price on the loss of life that has occurred at this intersection? Apparently, our state has a number in mind, because they have decided to install a much cheaper alternative to an overpass. Second, a J-turn, requires the driver to turn right and within a short distance, merge left across 2 lanes of traffic to access the J Turn, then merge right across another 2 lanes to make the turn onto their designated path. Oh yeah, that's safer! Not! Big rigs travelling south, will need to make a U-turn. This will cause them to block all lanes while they complete their turn. Does anybody else see the waste of money and time this solution creates? Eventually, an overpass will be approved after the money is spent on a failing J-turn project. How many J-turns do you see on the Western Shore? Get real! Use some common sense!

Falling Satellite

Am I the only one that sees this? Our country has spent billions of dollars on NASA projects. We have been to the moon multiple times. We have orbited the earth in space stations. We've even created the space shuttles that can land on a runway instead of the capsules that fell from the sky into the oceans. Wait a minute, did I say capsules would fall from the sky and land in oceans? Did these capsules during the free-fall through the atmosphere have the capability to steer. I don't think so. But NASA was able to pin point the capsules landing and rescue the astronauts. So, my point, NASA with its billions of dollars of technology, can't tell us where the falling satellite will/did land. With all of the technology circling the earth in the form of satelites, and who knows what governments have placed in orbit to spy on citizens, the best NASA can do is predict that the satellite will probably not destroy people or property. Here's where the common sense comes into play. NASA recently lost funding from the US budget for the space program. So, when the earth's inhabitants look to NASA for an answer to the question, "where will the satellite land?", NASA chuckles and sarcastically says, "wouldn't you like to know?". Common sense lesson of the day... Don't sacrifice knowledge for the sake of saving a few dollars. Rather, sacrifice frivolous government spending, $16 corn muffins? Do I need to say more?