Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

As a "recovering" whatever I might be - and a spiritual, although not fundamentally "religious" person - I have stated, previously, my displeasure with President Obama's continuation of the Office of Faith Based Services (renamed, I believe) --- and with other aspects of the status-quot (be it local or national, past and/or current) that exploit and/or persecute (generally through group onslaughts and lobbyist groups) non-believers, free-thinkers and --- at this point --- perhaps business-oriented folks (Have we lost all respect for individualism, for innovation, for personal initiative? for the ability to THINK for ONESELF?) for the good aspects of Capitalism? [Every business person is NOT a crook, and every self-proclaimed religious guru is NOT a exemplary American citizen!]

I don't know.

But I do know that it seemed decidedly "weird" to be the only (that I know of) small "for profit" business that applied locally for a Community Development Block Grant [CDBG; start up / business expansion funding only] --- and that all of the other CDBG grant hopefuls present (to my knowledge) were "not-for-profits" --- some of whom already have assets in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) --- and are still requesting (and some apparently receiving...) MORE (ahem) "help."

Whatever.

I can "take my business" - and my HOME - elsewhere - if I so choose...

Which is what business after business after business - in the City of Kingston - has been doing - and probably (if current trends continue) WILL be doing...

Because you apparently can't receive (as a "for profit" enterprise) a buck around here --- OR MAKE A BUCK around here --- UNLESS YOU ARE (THERE CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE SOME TRICKERY AFOOT - DOESN'T THERE?????) a "PROFITABLE" (AHEM... Isn't this a very strange oxymoron?????) "NOT-FOR-PROFIT..."

And it appears as if even the "not-for-profits" that have modest assets --- some as low as $0!!!!! --- are shut out and/or unaware of these little ('tis my impression / opinion) government / not-for-profit... (tangled in sheets of green?) "fun and games!" (??????!!!!!!)

I could be wrong, of course.

I'm certainly not an expert on any of this...

But I think some things around here could use a serious "look see" / investigation by some folks (preferably from out of the area and NOT connected to the local big-bucks folks...) that are empowered (attached to the state Attorney Generals office?) to do such things...

That said, I would prefer not to be panhandled by homeless folks and/or addicts (though my heart goes out to both) when exiting a local establishment...

But I would personally rather be panhandled (as long as they are not violent) by the above (homeless / addicts) when exiting a local establishment... than by a church group or groups... which is exactly what happened (this actually happened to my husband, who handed me the fliers when he got into the car) when he was leaving a local establishment / business (on Broadway) last night... [You can apparently donate your money and/or goods to these folks online... or even leave your home/property to them in your will, if you so choose...]

Iyiyi.

Anyhoot, the following was received (via email) from the Freedom from Religion Foundation [ffrf.org] and I thought - today - since I am feeling a little "grrrrrrrr" - that I would pass it on:

--------------------------------------------------------

“ . . . I've come to realize it's time to sound the alarm.

Whether we brights are a minority or, as I am inclined to believe, a silent majority, our deepest convictions are increasingly dismissed, belittled and condemned by those in power -- by politicians who go out of their way to invoke God and to stand, self-righteously preening, on what they call 'the side of the angels.'

. . . Politicians don't think they even have to pay us lip service, and leaders who wouldn't be caught dead making religious or ethnic slurs don't hesitate to disparage the 'godless' among us.

From the White House down, bright-bashing is seen as a low-risk vote-getter. And, of course, the assault isn't only rhetorical: the Bush administration has advocated changes in government rules and policies to increase the role of religious organizations in daily life, a serious subversion of the Constitution. It is time to halt this erosion and to take a stand: the United States is not a religious state, it is a secular state that tolerates all religions and--yes--all manner of nonreligious ethical beliefs as well.”

-- Daniel C. Dennett, "The Bright Stuff," The New York Times, July 12, 2003

----------------------------------------------------------

You may agree with some or all of the above --- or no...

That - of course - is your "business" (Is there a pun in there somewhere?) and your right.

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS