Friday, August 26, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
from the archives
two stages of the pencil roughs
Dark Teddy Pencils
Cover Inks
Dismaying final result
Friday, August 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
On leaving politics
I've written a few letters to my Democratic supporting friends worth sharing here. Briefly, the debt ceiling "deal" and it's ramifications have allowed me finally to let go and let the tide of ignorance and fear and hatred wash us all into the abyss. Because apparently we're going there no matter who is elected.
I am down to judging the administration by what they do, not what they hoped or planned to do but failed to do.
The individual points my freinds raise are valid; raising top taxes might not create jobs. It sure would undeniably add money to the till, and that would help save the safety net. Three years into his term, it really is time to look at the whole picture - where we were, where we are, where we're heading under Obama.
We're heading to where the Republicans want us to be, only with much more agony and arguing and embarrassment for the country, and a genuine crushing of the spirit of Democracy. If we're headed to the same place regardless of who is President - and i believe we are, representational democracy has ceased to exist - then just give the wheel to the Republicans and let's just look out the window and count cows.
The super congress will remove accountability for decisions that should be a job of the Congress, as they were elected to do. Now only 12 members will make these decisions, so the rest of the crooks can claim on election day they weren't for any taxes or cuts. The lobbyists can focus all their money on 12 people allowing them to achieve their goals quicker and easier with no public scrutiny. the shell game continues; more power out of the hands of people and into the hands of lobbyists.
The super congress will remove accountability for decisions that should be a job of the Congress, as they were elected to do. Now only 12 members will make these decisions, so the rest of the crooks can claim on election day they weren't for any taxes or cuts. The lobbyists can focus all their money on 12 people allowing them to achieve their goals quicker and easier with no public scrutiny. the shell game continues; more power out of the hands of people and into the hands of lobbyists.
My abandoning of the democratic party is simply doing what they have done to me. It's been 3 years now of capitulation and disappointment for the base. I don't think there ever was, or will ever be, a better chance to use the mood of the country to affect change than there was in 2008. And we got a candidate who promised massive, important change, but governed almost identically to Bush. We still have Guantanamo, we still torture, we still reward the wealthy while punishing the citizen, and oh boy, we have money for a third war now, undeclared, on Libya.
I NO LONGER believe we'd do worse under Republicans. We might do better as a people. Obama is a HUGE wet blanket for the Democratic cause. He's wiped my enthusiasm out with his frequent betrayals and failures and backpedalling - despite the good works he has done. I know he has done good things - but he doesn't inspire me like Clinton did, more often than not he makes me sad and helpless. I don't know a single Democrat with HALF the fire under them they had when Bush was in office. President Perry and VP Bachmann might be what we need to get people enthused about voting Democratic, or let me take that back, on saying Fuck The Tea Party.
Three years now and he still thinks if he says the right thing, the Republicans will join him and his agenda? That it's good strategy to praise Boehner's brilliance and patriotism while Boehner calls Obama a clueless communist liar? That makes Obama dumber n dirt in my book.
I'd rather just watch from the sidelines now, support independents if we ever get one that isn't a full blown lunatic, and wash my hands of culpability in a Democratic surrender to the worst instincts of our nation.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Another Reason "I Hate People"
I like to throw that phrase around; anyone who know me understands it selfishly means I hate what people do to inconvenience me, yet in general I am very nice to people - a sweetie even. But there are plenty of reasons to hate people, really, and I am reminded of one daily: the staggering amount of trash covering every bit of unused land in this city, and pretty much any city I have visited.
My exercise walks and rides take me through a wide variety of neighborhoods; rich or poor, one thing unites them: there are broken beer bottles, styrofoam cups, plastic shopping bags and cigarette packs on the edges of every street, and in every vacant lot or bayou or unused field.
Who the FUCK is throwing beer bottles and coffee cups and God knows what else out the window of the car? Does anybody know someone who does that?
I would bet you could ask a million people and they'd all proclaim their innocence. Yet it isn't being shipped in from a warehouse somewhere; there's trash EVERYWHERE.
I've never in my life seen anyone throw a beer bottle onto a street, but I guarantee you there is one on every street in this town. And the town I grew up in. And the towns I visit.
If I asked my neighbor if he throws garbage into my street and my lawn, he would surely reply NO!! in shock. It's a nice lower middle class neighborhood, integrated, child friendly, 50K income average. He's a well educated, married man in his 40s; they drive nice cars and take care of the yard. But two nights a week, they stack their garbage in front of the mailbox for pickup - in flimsy paper bags, garbage bags, old boxes. I'd bet less than 75% of what he puts out for garbage is still there when the garbagemen come to pick it up; the rest has been strewn about by dogs and blown around by the wind. Into my yard, yes, but more significantly into the general neighborhood. About half my neighbors can't be bothered to use a trash can, which costs, golly, at least $10.
Sidebar, this is possible because of another lovely aspect of human nature: the tendency to not think beyond or before the instant they are living in. More on that another day.
Some neighbors prefer the self-cleaning pickup truck method; put your garbage in the bed of the truck, drive a while, and the garbage evaporates, naturally, returning to the environment.
I don't have a coherent point here. I'm just musing on something that disgusts me, something that saps my hope for a better world, future, country. There are all these huge issues I debate on Facebook, political issues of budget and welfare and retirement, terrorism, religion... then I go for a nice healthy bike ride and realize as a species, we still haven't even learned not to shit in our neighbor's yard. That doesn't fill me with hope for a Utopia.
sigh. Sweet dreams!
My exercise walks and rides take me through a wide variety of neighborhoods; rich or poor, one thing unites them: there are broken beer bottles, styrofoam cups, plastic shopping bags and cigarette packs on the edges of every street, and in every vacant lot or bayou or unused field.
Who the FUCK is throwing beer bottles and coffee cups and God knows what else out the window of the car? Does anybody know someone who does that?
I would bet you could ask a million people and they'd all proclaim their innocence. Yet it isn't being shipped in from a warehouse somewhere; there's trash EVERYWHERE.
I've never in my life seen anyone throw a beer bottle onto a street, but I guarantee you there is one on every street in this town. And the town I grew up in. And the towns I visit.
If I asked my neighbor if he throws garbage into my street and my lawn, he would surely reply NO!! in shock. It's a nice lower middle class neighborhood, integrated, child friendly, 50K income average. He's a well educated, married man in his 40s; they drive nice cars and take care of the yard. But two nights a week, they stack their garbage in front of the mailbox for pickup - in flimsy paper bags, garbage bags, old boxes. I'd bet less than 75% of what he puts out for garbage is still there when the garbagemen come to pick it up; the rest has been strewn about by dogs and blown around by the wind. Into my yard, yes, but more significantly into the general neighborhood. About half my neighbors can't be bothered to use a trash can, which costs, golly, at least $10.
Sidebar, this is possible because of another lovely aspect of human nature: the tendency to not think beyond or before the instant they are living in. More on that another day.
Some neighbors prefer the self-cleaning pickup truck method; put your garbage in the bed of the truck, drive a while, and the garbage evaporates, naturally, returning to the environment.
I don't have a coherent point here. I'm just musing on something that disgusts me, something that saps my hope for a better world, future, country. There are all these huge issues I debate on Facebook, political issues of budget and welfare and retirement, terrorism, religion... then I go for a nice healthy bike ride and realize as a species, we still haven't even learned not to shit in our neighbor's yard. That doesn't fill me with hope for a Utopia.
sigh. Sweet dreams!
Friday, July 22, 2011
The original Cattywampus™
I first used the name on a single panel effort, and man, do I mean effort. Telling a good joke - a surprise, a new joke - in a panel - is tough indeed. My admiration for the few masters of the medium grew even more. Here's the few I finished.
My sketchbook has another dozen or so ideas, but pulling them into a coherent gag that I was satisfied with often eluded me and the lack of any deadline or payment for the creation kinda made it too easy to not finish. Here's some sketchbook bits.
My sketchbook has another dozen or so ideas, but pulling them into a coherent gag that I was satisfied with often eluded me and the lack of any deadline or payment for the creation kinda made it too easy to not finish. Here's some sketchbook bits.
NO CHECKS!! BAD DOG!!
Inspired by a true event, where three of us saw a yard with signs posting "no checks" and "bad dog" and broke out in uncontrollable laughter. I think we all pictured something a little different; what I got out of it was "I told that stupid dog never to take checks!" Could also be an admoniton not to write checks. And maybe you had to be there.
"What the - it - it's made of Chocolate!! "What kind of SICK JOKE is this!?"
Dogs Don't Get Easter
As we all know, dogs are allergic to chocolate and only some sort of sick freak would make a delicious, yummy dog enticing bunny out of the dreaded bean.
Almost certainly my best gag for the series, but I never went back to it. Mark Martin later finished it up on facebook.
Sorry, pal, the sign says HAPPY hour.
Shortly after drawing this, I went - wait a minute - isn't this a Gahan Wilson Cartoon already? And lost it.
Why your cat doesn't come in when you call him.
I was halfway through this - the cat is behind a shed while owner calls - when I once again realized, wait, this is a Gary Larson cartoon already.
Maybe there will be more.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Is Our Cats Learning?
Just enough time for a little note. Let me try to go a little lighter today.
It's legendarily hard to train cats, even for professionals, it is widely stated.
I often espouse my (varies from day to day) opinion of how the cat brain operates. I've long said they are aware of generally the last 10 minutes they have been alive, and may anticipate as far as 1 minute into the future.
But no further.
This observation came after years of dealing with cats that go to the door howling "let me out!" I open the door to the pelting rain and howling wind.
Cat realizes out is not a good idea.
For about 1 to 3 minutes.
Then cat wants to check the weather again.
None of my cats ever connected the bad weather at the rear door to the front door. If it was bad out back they'd run to the front and ask out there only to be bitterly disappointed. And loop for hours.
So, obviously, they don't easily connect the dots.
or
They may just be little assholes.
Seeing Caltiki learn with ONE taste of cream cheese how to sense from 3 rooms away that I am even thinking about opening some has shaken up the Stupid Cat Theory. In one sitting, or should I say swallow, Caltiki immediately learned to come running and crying at any or all of the movements, sounds or smells that she associated with cream cheese - again, in one taste. Bread being unwrapped? Yeoowrl. Knife from drawer? Heeerowwwl! Coffee brewing? Rowwwwwww. Toaster engaged? HUWAAGGHH! At any of these triggers she hurls to the window sill and howls, because, God help me, I first fed her cream cheese there from the breakfast table.
Yet this same cat apparently has not been able to figure out that sticking her ass in my neck and slapping my face with her tail when I am trying to sleep displeases me.
Little asshole.
It's legendarily hard to train cats, even for professionals, it is widely stated.
I often espouse my (varies from day to day) opinion of how the cat brain operates. I've long said they are aware of generally the last 10 minutes they have been alive, and may anticipate as far as 1 minute into the future.
But no further.
This observation came after years of dealing with cats that go to the door howling "let me out!" I open the door to the pelting rain and howling wind.
Cat realizes out is not a good idea.
For about 1 to 3 minutes.
Then cat wants to check the weather again.
None of my cats ever connected the bad weather at the rear door to the front door. If it was bad out back they'd run to the front and ask out there only to be bitterly disappointed. And loop for hours.
So, obviously, they don't easily connect the dots.
or
They may just be little assholes.
Seeing Caltiki learn with ONE taste of cream cheese how to sense from 3 rooms away that I am even thinking about opening some has shaken up the Stupid Cat Theory. In one sitting, or should I say swallow, Caltiki immediately learned to come running and crying at any or all of the movements, sounds or smells that she associated with cream cheese - again, in one taste. Bread being unwrapped? Yeoowrl. Knife from drawer? Heeerowwwl! Coffee brewing? Rowwwwwww. Toaster engaged? HUWAAGGHH! At any of these triggers she hurls to the window sill and howls, because, God help me, I first fed her cream cheese there from the breakfast table.
Yet this same cat apparently has not been able to figure out that sticking her ass in my neck and slapping my face with her tail when I am trying to sleep displeases me.
Little asshole.
But awfully cute.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Why this blog happened
Today, I spent half my day engaged in a facebook debate on the Florida requirement that any recipient of welfare must submit to drug tests.
Sounds great, right? UNLESS YOU THINK.
I remain aghast at how easy it is to pit Americans against each other by assigning them labels.
I recoil in disgust at what seems to me an overwhelming hatred and resentment of the weakest in our society while we fawn and giggle over Gagas and Sheens.
I revolt against a "punish everyone so no bad guys get away" mentality. That's how the 911 terrorist looked at things.
I despise the "someone is getting a free handout and I am not" whining from those who don't need help.
Here are some highlights from the discussion. I am not kind, but I try to get folks to examine why it is so easy for them to "just know" that people on welfare are also on drugs. And why only illegal drugs matter - there is no provision in the law for boozing, gorging, smoking. As I understand the part of the country I disagree with, what they want to address will in no way be addressed by this BAD LAW.
Florida is the first state that will require drug testing when applying for welfare (effective July 1st)! Some people are crying this is unconstitutional. How is this unconstitutional yet most every working person has to pass a drug test in order to support those on welfare? Re-post if you agree. Let's get Welfare back to the one's who NEED it, not those who WANT it... Go Florida Go !
OMG agree! Those who cannot pass the drug test can carry a cardboard sign on the road side which says "I need _____, God Bless".
DISAGREE STRONGLY BILL. Agree wholeheartedly Rick. Please don't fall prey to the right wing policy of ignoring billions of dollars of corporate welfare, use of your tax dollars to kill innocents, pay off bad bankers and hand overpriced contracts to your pals, while attacking the least fortunate amongst us. No one would argue some percentage of welfare recipients are not doing their best, but to curse all good people with bad luck to such an indignity is cruel and coldhearted and doesn't sound like the Bill I know.
I am extremely depressed and emotionally unstable in my current position. Bill, you think i should have to drive over to a lab every 2 weeks, wait 3 hours with dozens of people and pee in a cup and be judged - every 2 weeks - because I was laid off from my job for no bad behavior.
I did not know you were an atheist. I am, too, but remember how Jesus suggested we approach the unfortunate" drug test them and if they fail, ptu 'em in jail. Wait, maybe that was Bill O'Reilly. The sex offender. No, no, it was rush - the hillbilly heroin addict. Or maybe.. maybe.. it was SATAN encouraging you to hate those who are not you.
HUGELY disappointed.
Sorry, Tom, but I am not aware of your predicament. Wasn't addressing your own economic situation. Was simply agreeing with the original Post. No disrespect.
Thanks Janet, it's no hard extrapolation to say that the same rule would apply to unemployment benefits. I am very upset and sad because it is too easy for people to depersonalize the situation, see someone and judge.
Florida's policy comes from hatred and envy and selfishness. Who is paying for the drug tests?? YOU ARE. So now your tax dollars go to a pharmaceutical company, and we all know how they are hurting for money. DON'T LET POLITICIANS PLAY ON YOUR WORST EMOTIONS. Florida doesn't give a rats ass if the recipients are on drugs. THE ONLY REASON this policy was created is to divert millions of tax dollars to a billion dollar a day industry that owns the governor, under the guise of "saving money" and allowing people to hate a group that doesn't have a lobbyist. Same thing happening here in Texas. Your tax dollars are going to pay for sonograms of anyone seeking an abortion, which is another bajillion tax dollars going to those who backed our corrupt and evil Governor.
RECONSIDER PLEASE
I reposted this from another friends posting. However, I do believe that drug testing should become mandatory for welfare. If you have enough money to buy drugs and booze, you should also be able to take care of your family. It's no one's fault but your own if you're tool strung out or drunk to work. Those who need the welfare should be able to obtain it. Those who abuse it (and I believe there is quite a lot of this) should be forced to relinquish it. I see far too many people talking about "If I can have one more kid, I can get into a bigger apartment." Then these poor kids are put through hell, and grow up just like their parents.
Welfare was originally meant to be a helping hand until you were able to get back on your feet. Now it's abused to no end.
Bill, Evidence?? Or is this abused to no end thing something we all just "know" without proof. Bill I honestly believe this has nothing to do with identifying welfare fraud and everything to do with redirecting tax dollars to corporations and setting up the easy target for voter wrath, "the person getting something for nothing", as no one represents poor folk in the hallways of power. You noted booze yourself, so let's address this. There is no booze test. There is no french fry test, and they're deadlier than tobacco. This narrative is carefully constructed to allow you to dismiss a genuinely needy person as a drug user and sneer at them.
You must examine the scenario more closely. You want drug testing for welfare recipients. This punishes the good people on welfare, and I disagree with your suggestion that they are all abusers. So, the 65 year old chemo patient with chronic diahhrea needs to report to a doctor's office every 2 weeks so YOU can feel better about where your tax dollars go, or releive your anxiety over someone getting a handout.
I submit this is the definition of selfish, me-first behavior. Punish everyone, good and bad, rather than let the bad go unpunished.
And all so Drugtestco Conglom Inc., can scam a few billion more out of taxpayer's pockets.
This is my view; I hate to have been so rough on you, but I stand firmly and hope this does not drive a wedge between us. You are obviously a wise and good man, a hard worker and eager to help. I can't resolve what I know of you from your posts with this support for a law that is not only highly prejudicial and unconstitutional - it's just mean spirited.
Have a baby, get on Medicaid, pay $150/month for a nice new Section 8 townhouse, ( where your boyfriend can squat/ live and pay you rent...and get away with it unless Social Services catches you and they don't have time or personnel as it is...) get free rides to the doctor, free baby sitting, free rides to the babysitter, your $300 a month or so for spending money to buy your cigs, get your nails done, buy your crack, or not, get pregnant again and get more money. Let the state chase the father for child support. Show your child how it all works. And never hold a job where you pay taxes- ever! DON'T GET ME STARTED. But the sad thing is- now in Frederick County your child is going to go into the 1st grade with no Headstart and really be a child left behind.Pee drugs, don't collect. They'll figure out a way to give them 3 chances, just like they do in Frederick County MD where you can pee drugs 3 times before they bust you when you are on probation. Duh.
I didn't mean for this post to get so involved. I was just reposting someone else's post. First of all, I do believe that welfare works. I just see too many people who abuse it. There were a few people I knew who did this. I truly believe it's a no win situation. It's been abused by those who just don't want to work and have become accustomed to this way of life. While others who truly need it, should be able to obtain it because of it's benefits. Maybe drug testing is not the way to go with this. But I believe it will begin root out the bad seeds to those who should receive welfare. Just like the economy and healthcare, it's so broken, it's almost impossible to fix it.
Laurie - is your observation a result of personal experience, research in the real world, or "a guy told me" or "we all know"? I don't mean to be shi++y with that -- I just wonder, how do so many people know with a certainty the hearts minds and souls of people?? I also must re-state: punish everyone first, sort it out later? Want that applied to YOU? Anyone you know? It's absolutely a nightmare world you're building where we assume guilt on all and it is up to them to prove otherwise. UNAMERICAN sez I. The truth is, liars and cheats will always be with us - many of them elected to office. Peeing in a cup won't prevent boozers and abusers. The tactic you are supporting - test for drugs - does not even begin to address the issue that concerns you. You give a lengthy and accuarte description of how soemone can cheat the system. At NO POINT does it say TAKE DRUGS. So you must admit that this law has NO CHANCE of catching or correcting the very behavior you describe. Do all that, booze it up and beat your wife and shit in the park and you will still get your check.
DO NOT give away your rights or the right sof your fellow citizens without closely examining what you are getting in return.
All this gets you is your tax dollars spent on labs, a percentage of people kicked off welfare and into your street corner begging, and something for a sleazy politician to run on.
I TOTALLY ACCEPT your feelings about welfare abuse. I TOTALLY REJECT the idea that this law is any solution, or even a good idea.
Coming from the medical profession I have to add.... we test known drug users all the time. Most illegal drugs clear the system within a day or two. The only way for drug testing to work would be a surprise testing. Otherwise, you'll only test positive for pot which takes almost a month to clear depending on how fat you are.
Thanks Suzan, an excellent point. Supports my sense that the law is posturing and politically motivated because "it sounds right" when in fact it is ineffectual and only complicates bureaucracy and wastes tax dollars.
this was a whole day of discussion at work a few weeks ago. Why drug tests so bad for them if everyone else has to take a drug test that works why do they get to be lazy and high? so messed up
I AM curious where those who say everyone else gets drug tested all the time are coming from; I never encountered a drug test in the last 3 jobs I took; haven't been asked to take one since 1996. And Texas is as anti-drug as it gets. It seems to only be a requirement when working factories, loading docks, heavy equipment, where where it's a safety issue not a "you are a bad person" test. And you know WHY you are drug tested? Because INSURANCE COMPANIES, everyone's best friend and beloved businesses rammed it down business' throat and use it to deny coverage, YEAH. Here's a news flash: insurance companies are not out for your best interests. They hope you did smoke a joint last month, so they can deny you benefits this month. Jonathan, your argument makes a basic, classic mistake - apples to watermelons. Drug tests at work are done under the ruse of SAFETY, not to determine whether or not you are a good person. It simply is not the same.
Sounds great, right? UNLESS YOU THINK.
I remain aghast at how easy it is to pit Americans against each other by assigning them labels.
I recoil in disgust at what seems to me an overwhelming hatred and resentment of the weakest in our society while we fawn and giggle over Gagas and Sheens.
I revolt against a "punish everyone so no bad guys get away" mentality. That's how the 911 terrorist looked at things.
I despise the "someone is getting a free handout and I am not" whining from those who don't need help.
Here are some highlights from the discussion. I am not kind, but I try to get folks to examine why it is so easy for them to "just know" that people on welfare are also on drugs. And why only illegal drugs matter - there is no provision in the law for boozing, gorging, smoking. As I understand the part of the country I disagree with, what they want to address will in no way be addressed by this BAD LAW.
Florida is the first state that will require drug testing when applying for welfare (effective July 1st)! Some people are crying this is unconstitutional. How is this unconstitutional yet most every working person has to pass a drug test in order to support those on welfare? Re-post if you agree. Let's get Welfare back to the one's who NEED it, not those who WANT it... Go Florida Go !
OMG agree! Those who cannot pass the drug test can carry a cardboard sign on the road side which says "I need _____, God Bless".
DISAGREE STRONGLY BILL. Agree wholeheartedly Rick. Please don't fall prey to the right wing policy of ignoring billions of dollars of corporate welfare, use of your tax dollars to kill innocents, pay off bad bankers and hand overpriced contracts to your pals, while attacking the least fortunate amongst us. No one would argue some percentage of welfare recipients are not doing their best, but to curse all good people with bad luck to such an indignity is cruel and coldhearted and doesn't sound like the Bill I know.
I am extremely depressed and emotionally unstable in my current position. Bill, you think i should have to drive over to a lab every 2 weeks, wait 3 hours with dozens of people and pee in a cup and be judged - every 2 weeks - because I was laid off from my job for no bad behavior.
I did not know you were an atheist. I am, too, but remember how Jesus suggested we approach the unfortunate" drug test them and if they fail, ptu 'em in jail. Wait, maybe that was Bill O'Reilly. The sex offender. No, no, it was rush - the hillbilly heroin addict. Or maybe.. maybe.. it was SATAN encouraging you to hate those who are not you.
HUGELY disappointed.
Sorry, Tom, but I am not aware of your predicament. Wasn't addressing your own economic situation. Was simply agreeing with the original Post. No disrespect.
Thanks Janet, it's no hard extrapolation to say that the same rule would apply to unemployment benefits. I am very upset and sad because it is too easy for people to depersonalize the situation, see someone and judge.
Florida's policy comes from hatred and envy and selfishness. Who is paying for the drug tests?? YOU ARE. So now your tax dollars go to a pharmaceutical company, and we all know how they are hurting for money. DON'T LET POLITICIANS PLAY ON YOUR WORST EMOTIONS. Florida doesn't give a rats ass if the recipients are on drugs. THE ONLY REASON this policy was created is to divert millions of tax dollars to a billion dollar a day industry that owns the governor, under the guise of "saving money" and allowing people to hate a group that doesn't have a lobbyist. Same thing happening here in Texas. Your tax dollars are going to pay for sonograms of anyone seeking an abortion, which is another bajillion tax dollars going to those who backed our corrupt and evil Governor.
RECONSIDER PLEASE
I reposted this from another friends posting. However, I do believe that drug testing should become mandatory for welfare. If you have enough money to buy drugs and booze, you should also be able to take care of your family. It's no one's fault but your own if you're tool strung out or drunk to work. Those who need the welfare should be able to obtain it. Those who abuse it (and I believe there is quite a lot of this) should be forced to relinquish it. I see far too many people talking about "If I can have one more kid, I can get into a bigger apartment." Then these poor kids are put through hell, and grow up just like their parents.
Welfare was originally meant to be a helping hand until you were able to get back on your feet. Now it's abused to no end.
Bill, Evidence?? Or is this abused to no end thing something we all just "know" without proof. Bill I honestly believe this has nothing to do with identifying welfare fraud and everything to do with redirecting tax dollars to corporations and setting up the easy target for voter wrath, "the person getting something for nothing", as no one represents poor folk in the hallways of power. You noted booze yourself, so let's address this. There is no booze test. There is no french fry test, and they're deadlier than tobacco. This narrative is carefully constructed to allow you to dismiss a genuinely needy person as a drug user and sneer at them.
You must examine the scenario more closely. You want drug testing for welfare recipients. This punishes the good people on welfare, and I disagree with your suggestion that they are all abusers. So, the 65 year old chemo patient with chronic diahhrea needs to report to a doctor's office every 2 weeks so YOU can feel better about where your tax dollars go, or releive your anxiety over someone getting a handout.
I submit this is the definition of selfish, me-first behavior. Punish everyone, good and bad, rather than let the bad go unpunished.
And all so Drugtestco Conglom Inc., can scam a few billion more out of taxpayer's pockets.
This is my view; I hate to have been so rough on you, but I stand firmly and hope this does not drive a wedge between us. You are obviously a wise and good man, a hard worker and eager to help. I can't resolve what I know of you from your posts with this support for a law that is not only highly prejudicial and unconstitutional - it's just mean spirited.
Have a baby, get on Medicaid, pay $150/month for a nice new Section 8 townhouse, ( where your boyfriend can squat/ live and pay you rent...and get away with it unless Social Services catches you and they don't have time or personnel as it is...) get free rides to the doctor, free baby sitting, free rides to the babysitter, your $300 a month or so for spending money to buy your cigs, get your nails done, buy your crack, or not, get pregnant again and get more money. Let the state chase the father for child support. Show your child how it all works. And never hold a job where you pay taxes- ever! DON'T GET ME STARTED. But the sad thing is- now in Frederick County your child is going to go into the 1st grade with no Headstart and really be a child left behind.Pee drugs, don't collect. They'll figure out a way to give them 3 chances, just like they do in Frederick County MD where you can pee drugs 3 times before they bust you when you are on probation. Duh.
I didn't mean for this post to get so involved. I was just reposting someone else's post. First of all, I do believe that welfare works. I just see too many people who abuse it. There were a few people I knew who did this. I truly believe it's a no win situation. It's been abused by those who just don't want to work and have become accustomed to this way of life. While others who truly need it, should be able to obtain it because of it's benefits. Maybe drug testing is not the way to go with this. But I believe it will begin root out the bad seeds to those who should receive welfare. Just like the economy and healthcare, it's so broken, it's almost impossible to fix it.
Laurie - is your observation a result of personal experience, research in the real world, or "a guy told me" or "we all know"? I don't mean to be shi++y with that -- I just wonder, how do so many people know with a certainty the hearts minds and souls of people?? I also must re-state: punish everyone first, sort it out later? Want that applied to YOU? Anyone you know? It's absolutely a nightmare world you're building where we assume guilt on all and it is up to them to prove otherwise. UNAMERICAN sez I. The truth is, liars and cheats will always be with us - many of them elected to office. Peeing in a cup won't prevent boozers and abusers. The tactic you are supporting - test for drugs - does not even begin to address the issue that concerns you. You give a lengthy and accuarte description of how soemone can cheat the system. At NO POINT does it say TAKE DRUGS. So you must admit that this law has NO CHANCE of catching or correcting the very behavior you describe. Do all that, booze it up and beat your wife and shit in the park and you will still get your check.
DO NOT give away your rights or the right sof your fellow citizens without closely examining what you are getting in return.
All this gets you is your tax dollars spent on labs, a percentage of people kicked off welfare and into your street corner begging, and something for a sleazy politician to run on.
I TOTALLY ACCEPT your feelings about welfare abuse. I TOTALLY REJECT the idea that this law is any solution, or even a good idea.
Coming from the medical profession I have to add.... we test known drug users all the time. Most illegal drugs clear the system within a day or two. The only way for drug testing to work would be a surprise testing. Otherwise, you'll only test positive for pot which takes almost a month to clear depending on how fat you are.
Thanks Suzan, an excellent point. Supports my sense that the law is posturing and politically motivated because "it sounds right" when in fact it is ineffectual and only complicates bureaucracy and wastes tax dollars.
this was a whole day of discussion at work a few weeks ago. Why drug tests so bad for them if everyone else has to take a drug test that works why do they get to be lazy and high? so messed up
I AM curious where those who say everyone else gets drug tested all the time are coming from; I never encountered a drug test in the last 3 jobs I took; haven't been asked to take one since 1996. And Texas is as anti-drug as it gets. It seems to only be a requirement when working factories, loading docks, heavy equipment, where where it's a safety issue not a "you are a bad person" test. And you know WHY you are drug tested? Because INSURANCE COMPANIES, everyone's best friend and beloved businesses rammed it down business' throat and use it to deny coverage, YEAH. Here's a news flash: insurance companies are not out for your best interests. They hope you did smoke a joint last month, so they can deny you benefits this month. Jonathan, your argument makes a basic, classic mistake - apples to watermelons. Drug tests at work are done under the ruse of SAFETY, not to determine whether or not you are a good person. It simply is not the same.
More To Come
Hello, friends and enemies.
Several times in my life, I've found the future dim enough to consider saying Goodbye, Cruel World. That was foolish. I have learned by watching the world at large that it's better to say Fuck You Cruel World. Because the world is cruel only because people are thoughtless, mean and selfish. I have chosen not to leave, but to engage the absurdness of what we call a society with newfound rage for the inherent ignorance of well-meaning, but wrong-headed behavior.
Much of which I am guilty of myself. I do not appoint myself sainthood. Quite the opposite, my personal exploration of these reactions, feelings and prejudices within myself allow me to comment. I may be a leper, but I know a lot about leprosy and am qualified to speak on it.
Rather than throw these tantrums at facebook, maybe this is where they belong. That's my idea today at least; channel the rage I feel at being considered a leech on society, a lazy bum, a scammer, simply because I accept the unemployment benefits my 45 years of tax paying allows me to claim.
2011 has been the year half the citizens in the United States came out in favor of telling the some of the hardest working, least rewarded people in the country to piss off and die, while grabbing the balls of major corporations and corrupt billionaires and sucking on them like lollipops. I missed the press release that it is now easier for a rich man to enter heaven than for a poor man to get a helping hand.
Fuck You, Cruel World. You are full of shit. As am I. But let's pick through the shit and see what we can learn.
Several times in my life, I've found the future dim enough to consider saying Goodbye, Cruel World. That was foolish. I have learned by watching the world at large that it's better to say Fuck You Cruel World. Because the world is cruel only because people are thoughtless, mean and selfish. I have chosen not to leave, but to engage the absurdness of what we call a society with newfound rage for the inherent ignorance of well-meaning, but wrong-headed behavior.
Much of which I am guilty of myself. I do not appoint myself sainthood. Quite the opposite, my personal exploration of these reactions, feelings and prejudices within myself allow me to comment. I may be a leper, but I know a lot about leprosy and am qualified to speak on it.
Rather than throw these tantrums at facebook, maybe this is where they belong. That's my idea today at least; channel the rage I feel at being considered a leech on society, a lazy bum, a scammer, simply because I accept the unemployment benefits my 45 years of tax paying allows me to claim.
2011 has been the year half the citizens in the United States came out in favor of telling the some of the hardest working, least rewarded people in the country to piss off and die, while grabbing the balls of major corporations and corrupt billionaires and sucking on them like lollipops. I missed the press release that it is now easier for a rich man to enter heaven than for a poor man to get a helping hand.
Fuck You, Cruel World. You are full of shit. As am I. But let's pick through the shit and see what we can learn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)