Welfare is Poverty

            Watching television there is talk of a depression, a recession, that will happen if we as Americans do not help these companies in crisis. I sit confused, questioning our government. I see the mom with her kids sitting in Taco Bell. I watch the homeless on the corners in the morning and walking the streets at night, finding a place to sleep. If we are not in a recession, I hate to see how much further we can go into poverty.

People have been scrimping by – paycheck to paycheck – to continue to live. They save pennies, nickels and dimes to pay for gas. They pay one credit card with another trying to cling to some sense of normalcy. Watching the same news program telling us we are headed for a recession, the next thing I see is a commercial for a new car. We live in a society built on fear and consumerism. We are shown each day how we must fight the terrorists, and what to buy to feel safe, peaceful, or like everyone else.

For the purchases I make, there are many stores I refuse to enter – that I have boycotted. One I have boycotted for seven years is Wal-Mart. Not only because of the poor way they treat their employees, but also because they keep America poor. Each day promoting the newest “low” price, they cause people to buy they things they do not need or have the money to buy. Everything at such low prices, no one makes money in the deal except for Wal-Mart. Seeing their workers going in every day to work for low wages, struggling to get ahead. I feel justified in my boycott.

I believe there is a misconception of why people do not get off welfare, because there are equally as many of why people are on welfare. They are lazy, stupid, or working the system. Each of these may be happening, but I believe there are more people out there who like to be working – working for a decent wage, healthcare benefits, and security. However, in a consumer society, we find out that is not always the case. Company CEO’s have to worry about the bottom line at whatever cost, and the cost is the worker producing the widget. Each worker hopes for a better future.

I believe many welfare recipients are afraid to move out of what they know into what could cause them more aggravation and grief. They know how to work within the confines of the system. They know what they have to do to get the services. There is no guesswork. I believe if we took more time to connect with people, find out the underlying issues, we would be able to help more people find the work they love, get the help they need, and become more productive and healthier people. But we do not. Not yet.

The welfare mom being able to take care of her mentally challenged daughter and get her the services she needed. The recently released convict who is asked to get a job as part of his probation, and being scared of how a future employer will look at him. The immigrant worker who works the fields to send money home for the family – so they do not starve, saving only what he needs for food and clothing here.

The systems are in are like wheels in a cage; so hard to get away from, and so hard to work within. The immigrant worker sending money home has to pay more in money wiring fees because he cannot get a bank account. He does the work here, but cannot use any of the services. The welfare mom who has to miss a paid day of work to speak to her caseworker, show her receipts in order to continue to receive the food stamps. The other services she desperately needs are so hard to obtain, like a sitter to watch her children. 

We are a country of hypocrites. And the hypocritical thing is we say we want to help these people in times of need. But we usually get there too late.

Mental Block - Change Your Mind

To your your health & well-being

Not waiting for new year's to plan a resolution of weight loss (and then stopping in February), I have begun jogging. Day three of training, and a new goal has been reached - four miles. 

A couple of weeks ago, the mile gain alluded me. A mental block of sorts caused such pain, it felt death or a cold floor would be the only solution. Panicked, a visit to the doctor was in order. Passing the "nothing wrong" physical, I realized it must be mental - an attitude adjustment was necessary. 

It took a while to get my body into the shape it is - a mini pear. Realistic it will not change overnight. But it was the mental attitude taking the longest to get into the game. A belief about running needed to be changed.

You see, a long time ago... in middle school, after clocking a 50 second quarter mile, running became an obession. Well, everything changed after almost blacking out during my first mile run (at 6am on a Saturday morning). The words my father spoke that morning "was there an elephant in the house this morning?" hung over my head each time my feet got on the treadmill. There was serious mental challenges ahead.

How did I break the one mile and overcome the chatter in my head? Good question. I had to change my belief about how far I could run. Now, goal setting and the like are great, but my beliefs ran deep - they were locked in my subconscious. I had to weed out the negative pattern. Here's how mine worked:

Each night before sleep, I saw myself running strong, with good lungs taking in deep breaths, and my feet moving in the direction of finish line. Imagining myself finishing a mile, two miles, and so on, I changed the belief I had about how far I could run.

Try it tonight: Imagine yourself in a yoga pose, running a marathon, or walking around the block. Whatever your goal is... really see yourself doing it. Take five minutes and hold that image. Start reframing your belief system about what you can do and you'll be amazed at what you will do.

TED - Pictures to see

Pictures to see

Moved to tears this morning by an email I received from TED (Ideas worth sharing). The picture show is from James Nachtwey who photographed the conditions of the world - and mainly the pandemic we are seeing with the XDRTB. XDRTB stands for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

In the photographs we see people dying around the world from a disease that was controlled so long ago. However, with the new conditions of our world - famine, no clean water, and no immunizations or adequate healthcare, we are facing a strain of that kills people within in weeks of contracting it.

Please view the pictures at www.ted.org or www.xdrtb.org

They will change your life.

Welcome!

Andi, moved into the little house and set up her writing studio immediately. There was no time to waste. The three Labs under her feet barked with excitement and danced around while Andi set up her desk. They knew mom was going to be working from home. She would never have to work away from them again.

Short Bio:
Recently jumping from a corporate JOB, Andi decides to make this writing thing work for real.

Skill level:
Knowledgable in computers, current events, and extraordinary sillyness. Writing waxes and wanes during each full moon.

Extracurricular:
Yoga, running, reading as many books in a day as possible, and working out to P90X.

Political Question of the Day:
What questions do you want answered at tonight's presidential debate? Would them being answered make a difference in who you vote for? (qotdapplicant)

Philosophical Question of the Day (qotdapplicant):
What seed planted in your soul/heart/consciousness have you cultivated today?

Optimism rings

Waking from the fog of fear this morning, the song of free-thinking people rings out. The people have spoken in a resounding way. In a time where we ask how we want to be defined as Americans, we step up to the challenge of knowing we may have to fall to the bottom in order to find out.

Standing together we realize what we will stand for and what we will not stand for any longer.

Question(s) for the day (qotdapplicant):

What will you stand up for today? Have you stood up for an unpopular opinion before? What was it?

Stand up today for yourself, for someone who cannot stand up. Make a difference today!

Bailout? Stupidity?

As I read the Washington Post this morning, I am astounded by the stupidity of the American people. To allow the possible passage of the EESA (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) thinking that it will save your money, your house, the econony is a farce.

With politicians getting into the game a little late, they have no true concept of what the American people are going through with paying for high gas prices, low wages, and trying to feed and clothe their family. Worry about how to pay for the roof over their head is constantly on their mind. Why now Congress have you decided to get into the game?

This is a rant because I am tired of politicians who think they know what is best. How can politicians make decisions for the people when we -as the people do not let them know what is really going on? We have an obligation to the people WE elected into office to let them know the REAL story of our struggles.

Wall Street and the American people need to work together. We both do not want an economic crash similar to the 20's. We need to keep our money in the banks, in the stock market (yes, moving your money to another stock is just fine), and listen to Warren Buffet instead of the mouthpiece of Washington, D.C. Keep your money in the bank. keep it there because while it may look grim right now, it will get better.

Question for the day: Yes, political....

What suggestions would you give Congress, President Bush, and Secretary Paulson to really help the American people? Now, I know there is currently an email campaign to give the $700 billion to each American. While that is ideal... it is not going to happen. Give me really thought-provoking answers/suggestions.