Freewrite... Dealing with Reality... Some Construtive Ideas to Bounce Around... Input Appreciated

I've done some removals and revisions here - hoping the personal messages got through to the parties intended - and zapping the Les Miserables You Tube clip, which was - frankly - just too depressing [Is the local photo (ahem) better?]

So - what do I want to say? What topic to address - now?

Businesses have been and are moving out of Kingston.

People have been and are moving out of Kingston...

Taxes, health care costs, a lack of employment possibilities and such are leading to increased land and/or property losses [or "in lieu of" (a last ditch chance being kindly granted to some by the City Council) financial agreements...]

The crime rate (violent crime index) is rising (if tales be true) pretty radically around here....

I visit other blogs where it is obvious that at least some people (perhaps a great number of people) have lost most or all of their faith in the local government...

I build or buy a fence?

Get myself a pit bull or a Rottweiler?

Hole up in my house like the folks (I vaguely remember seeing this film...) in "Escape from New York"?

Still depressing, isn't it?

But, what is even more depressing to me?

The people that are pretending none of this is happening - the folks that are in denial that this is happening - and the folks that are (on a regular consistent basis...) taking a defeatist - "nothing can be done" - attitude.

What is next?

The fence is now pretty much a must.

The dog is probably (though not likely to be one of the above breeds) pending...

And - other than that -

I truly wish people would make use of this blog - as been offered - to post their Ward - or Citywide - or nationwide concerns and ideas - along with (yes, yes, yes!) some constructive [How do we get out of this mess?] ideas!

But find myself, thus far, "whistling in the wind..."

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Perhaps none of us should vote in upcoming elections without a written agreement [We could petition / put this on the ballot...] from each and every party that is running for office - ANY OFFICE - that commits them to holding (no excuses) a 3 hour community meeting - with transparency documents (relevant to their position / function) available at said meeting (s) - along with at least an hour of a question and answer period)...

With all of this to be covered - in full - on video - and made accessible to the public via Channel 20; Channel 23; the Internet (whether it be via newscasts, writers or bloggers) - the local papers (a little truth boost?] - and maybe even the Associated Press and one (or more) of the national (What a hoot that would be, with the local politicians knowing that Andrew Cuomo, Eric Holder, President Obama or someone in association with such offices "might" be watching...) stations (like CNN or MSNBC)... once a month [12 such meetings; one on one with EACH official - at the Ward, Mayor and UC Legislative Level]

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It might be a start...

And one could certainly write in (on this petition / to go on the ballot and be voted upon by the people...) that these public meetings (a minimum of 12 per year at no charge - fully accessible to the public) are a TOP PRIORITY for anyone that runs on a platform where they claim that they intend to "serve the people" - and that missing any of these meetings (dates could be rescheduled in the event of an emergency) would mean (no jokey, jokies here...) getting (immediate replacement...) "the boot."

Defeatism - including my own bouts - has got to (as best we can accomplish this) GO...

Learned Helplessness - including my own - has got to (as best we can accomplish this) GO...

Denial - including my own (still alive and well in some areas) - has got to (as best we can accomplish this) GO...

Unless we want this whole city (the potential seems to be there...) to look like the places depicted in the photographs (These are from one of my treks around the City of Kingston and the Town of Ulster - and there are plenty more where these came from...) above and below.

Truth, Love, Peace, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Freewrite...

I wonder...

How many people in America [What are the current poverty stats? Homelessness stats? Hunger stats?] are feeling like the lady that sang "I Dreamed a Dream" (in Les Miserables - or more recently) now?

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Freewrite:

Striking a balance between posting positives and negatives (and/or controversial information) is difficult sometimes; especially when one feels like there is a boot (as was "kind of" expressed by one of the letters in the "Daily Freeman" today) on one's head. And although I would like to be 100% optimistic - a purveyor (at all times) of "hope" - the only thing that "might" earn me is a 2 minute engagement (throw in a cat that can dance whilst juggling 10 mice...) on "America's Funniest Videos".

Therefore, for today, I guess I'll choose not to say much at all - except that I'm still here rooting for peace, love, truth, equality and humane justice - whilst cleaning up the mess I accrued from holding a lawn sale that earned me (after all of the work involved...) a grand total of .50 cents...

The City of Kingston is in a bad, bad way folks... And although the children that I gave (free of charge) some stuffed animals to undoubtably had a happy moment --- happy moments (free of charge) are not going to (despite also giving me a "feel good" moment" inside) pay the mortgage, the taxes, the gas and electric, the water bill, the insurance bill - and all of those (piling up, up, up) medical bills...

I do have to say - and this is just MY thought for THIS day - that although lots of government institutions, non-profits, businesses, etc. seem to be benefiting (one way or another) from either bailouts and/or the economic stimulus package (There is more news about the latter from Governor Paterson's office today...) - the piddling bailout and/or stimulus that was given to the people at the lower end of the economic spectrum (through a slight rise in pay, a small check in the mail - or whatever) is NOT (Which bill do we choose to pay? Which one goes on the pile?) going to (if someone out there really wants us to come out of this with homes and sanity intact) cut it...

Too personal? Nah.

Talk to my neighbors. Talk to my mother. Talk to my daughter. Talk to the people on the street. Talk to the families in the homeless shelter. Talk to the guy who bought the .50 cent slightly used bottle of men's cologne...

I am... She is... They are... He is... AMERICA --- and WE ("the people") could sure use [Am I missing something here?] a little help...

Peace, Love, Truth, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Attorney General Holder... Bush Jr... Cheney... Accountability... A Lot to Think About... Activism Link and Opportunity... You Tube Videos...

["Members Of Congress Angry About Being Kept In The Dark About CIA Secret Program"; as submitted to You Tube by VOTERSTHINKdotORG on July 12, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgqe4jXAw4]

["Cheney Ordered The CIA Not To Inform Congress On Secret Program"; as submitted by VOTERSTHINKdotORG
on July 12, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPFCuksTMvU]

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Quote:

“My parents did not practice any organized religion, although my father was raised Roman Catholic and my mother was Jewish. But there was always an ethical context to our lives, a very strong notion of individual moral responsibility.”

-- Harrison Ford, Parade, July 7, 2002

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Sample Letter Regarding Investing the Bush Administration - FROM MY EMAIL

"Subject: Tell Holder: Don't exempt Cheney from torture probe.

Dear Friend,

Newsweek reported Saturday that Attorney General Eric Holder is considering appointing a prosecutor to investigate whether the Bush administration illegally tortured terrorism suspects.

You can find a link to that article here:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/206300

A decision is expected in the next few weeks. Holder should investigate torture, and he should start with former Vice President Dick Cheney and his legal adviser David Addington.

I just signed a petition to tell Attorney General Holder to assign a prosecutor to investigate torture. I hope you will, too. Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/investigate_cheney/?r_by=4945-1963986-pVVetkx&rc=confemail"

Source: CREDO Action (credo-help-1963986-NXmjysx@list.credoaction.com; Mon 7/13/09 9:23 AM

This Link Will Also Be Made Available in the Sidebar >>>>>


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Beginning of Petition at http://mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

"Attorney General Holder, it is your duty to uphold the constitution and protect the rule of law. The evidence before you demands that you launch an investigation into possible crimes committed under the Bush administration and to prosecute if warranted. This investigation must not be limited to low-level foot soldiers, but should seek justice at the highest levels. Assign a prosecutor to investigate torture and do not rule out as targets architects of the Bush administration's torture program including former Vice President Dick Cheney and his legal adviser David Addington."

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My Addition (You can add your own comments to the stock petition (above), as well):

"The most important people to go after is the architects - Cheney, Bush (?), et. al... (?) The others were apparently (and they should be suitably held accountable at their level) "following orders." The torture that apparently occurred - especially (as I have heard about it) the waterboarding - is no more consciousable and just than the witch drownings and burnings in earlier centuries! Torture is as apt - besides being inhumane and a violation of the Geneva Convention and all that is moral - to bring forth false confessions as it is any glimmer of truth! If you do not hold the folks accountable for these atrocious actions (and other violations, in my opinion, of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights)... the people (including myself, a big Obama Administration fan!) are eventually going to lose faith in this administration as well...

You can't expect the people to be dignified and righteous - KIND and RESPECTFUL towards one another - if our countries leaders cannot even compose themselves in such a way - and/or are allowed to walk away from situations such as this with a smirk or a smile on their face - millions to billions in the bank - and millions likely pending in books deals that will most likely cast them in the best light (iyiyiyiyiyi...) possible...

Mr. Holder, I might not be saying this in the best manner - but it needs to be said. Accountability has to start at the top - and America's clock appears to be ticking...

The people need strong leaders with good ethics...

The people need to see justice done!

My apologies if anything written here is offensive to you. My heart, as always, is (I believe) in the right place.

With much respect,

NS"

[The latter has been spell-checked and edited slightly (not in any way intending to change the message put forth) for inclusion here.]

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For More Information Go To:

1. "If Bush and Cheney Commit War Crimes and Everyone Knows It, But Does Nothing, Are They Still Crimes... Constitutional Law Professor Charges Citizenry With Responsibility for Bringing Accountability..."

Brad Friedman; 12/18/2008 5:06PM; The Brad Blog; http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6761

2. "The Center for Torture Accountability... One Day, Justice... Richard Cheney
Torture Connection: The man behind the curtain..."

http://tortureaccountability.org/richard_cheney/


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Pertinent Links:

1. "AP sources Cheney told CIA not to discuss progam - Road Runner"

http://www.rr.com/home/home/article/rr/9000/8319766/AP_sources_Cheney_told_CIA_not_to_discuss_progam

2/ "Start torture investigation with Cheney and Addington"

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/investigate_cheney/letter.html?registered=1&country=United%20States&referred_by=&petition_id=278&mobile_phone_number=&mobile_phone_carrier=&x=124&track_referer=1&y=15&posted=1&redirect_url=%2Fcampaign%2Finvestigate_cheney%2Fletter.html&id=4945-1963986-pVVetkx&ga__full_name=

3. "Richard Cheney The Center for Torture Accountability"

http://tortureaccountability.org/richard_cheney/

4. "The BRAD BLOG If Bush and Cheney Commit War Crimes and Everyone Knows It, But Does Nothing, Are They Still Crimes"

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6761

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As always, please feel free to do further research and form your own opinions - and please feel free (respectfully) to post them here.

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Pertinent Link (should you be so inclined) for taking action:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/investigate_cheney/?r_by=4945-1963986-pVVetkx&rc=confemail

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Truth, Love, Peace, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS