Saturday, February 5, 2011

Fat Cats, Black Cats and Roses for Survivors... The Next Post - Below - Addresses 1st and 2nd Amendment Rights / Issues...





Fat Cats, Black Cats and Roses for Survivors
Photos by NS

Just a note to say that the computer did not want to cooperate - at all - when I was posting the thread right below... so it has been left (after many struggles to edit it) "as is."

Updated: Monster on My Head: Part I... Gun Control, Mental Illness, Discrimination and the 2nd Amendment


Monster on My Head
Photo by NS

A lot of issues are on my mind tonight --- but I'm going to address them one by one:

Monster on My Head:  Part I of a Series

I am going to start by addressing NY City Mayor Bloomberg's [correction made] recommendations regarding gun control ["Bloomberg’s gun control suggestion for Obama  The Empire"; http://empire.wnyc.org/2011/02/bloombergs-gun-control-suggestion-for-obama/]; because although I think some of what he has to say is valid and important --- I also believe that stricter laws and the application of same should be applied only to those with a history of committing crimes of violence. 

To include those diagnosed with mental illness would be to include a very large segment of the population - the majority of whom are probably in no way a threat to themselves or others.  To include those diagnosed with mental illness - a group of people [inclusive of many of our military veterans and the victims of violent crimes...] that are already unjustly stigmatized and ignored (in regard to thier social, economic and health care needs) would (in my opinion) be discriminatory and (potentially) in violation of the "2nd Amendment" of the "U.S. Constitution" ["The Constitution of the United States with the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation"; Fall River Press; 2002; p. 63] 

Why do I believe this?

"The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America..."
[National Institute of Mental Health]

"Mental Disorders in America..."

"Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.1 When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.2 Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 — who suffer from a serious mental illness.1 In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada.3 Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity.1..."

"1. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27"

"2. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates by Demographic Characteristics. Table 2: Annual Estimates of the Population by Selected Age Groups and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (NC-EST2004-02) Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau Release Date: June 9, 2005. http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/ " [Added]

"3. The World Health Organization. The global burden of disease: 2004 update, Table A2: Burden of disease in DALYs by cause, sex and income group in WHO regions, estimates for 2004. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2008. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GBD_report_2004update_AnnexA.pdf. ] [Added]

Primary Source:  "NIMH · The Numbers Count Mental Disorders in America"; http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml

In addition, when it comes to the possibility of denying the rights of gun ownership to "drug addicts" - where, exactly, would one draw "that" line?  Street drugs / illegal drugs (and addiction to same) are one issue.  The increasing abuse of prescribed drugs (ditto) is another issue.  Alcohol (very potent and addictive for some) is also a drug.  The marijuana and nicotine debates (in some form or another) are ongoing.  And, what about the number of folks on anti-depressants, etc. [feel free to look up these stats yourself...]:   Would they [remember, norms and laws are constantly evolving...] potentially be considered "addicts" too?

Bottom line:  If we were to deny gun ownership to those "labeled" mentally ill [How many folks have suffered at least one bout of severe depression?] and drug addicts [In my opinion the main pushers are not on the streets...] - how many folks - with the "right to bear arms" - would be left? 

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Also disturbing, but for different reasons [How many times must I (in one way or another...) ask: 

Whatever happened to the "1st Amendment" to the "U.S. Constitution"?????  ["The Constitution of the United States with the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation"; Fall River Press; 2002; p. 63]

As apparently...

NY City Governor Andrew Cuomo [whom I happen to like, on most topics, a great deal...]  "supports the CC [Christian Coalition] survey question on right to bear arms" --- which does not tell me what my neighbors think about the issue --- what non-lobbyists ["We the People" - as individuals...] think about the issue --- etc.

"Andrew Cuomo on Gun Control": http://www.ontheissues.org/governor/Andrew_Cuomo_Gun_Control.htm

From a link provided in the above document:

[1] "The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues...

[2]   "The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Further restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms..." ["Public Notes on 10-CC-q1":  http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_10-CC-q10.htm ]

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All of that said [and I am not necessarily opposed to the Christian Coalitions stance on gun control (I'm not even clear on what that stance is...)]; I simply do not want them speaking for me or (overtly or covertly) "buying" political influence. 

The NRA is a non-sectarian group (as far as I know) that already holds clout (and is more representative of the population as a whole) in that area.

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I will leave you with the following video:


["State of MiND:  Mental Health "; as submitted to You Tube by MinDTV; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEweKLEWh80]

Welcome to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) - featuring n...

Friday, February 4, 2011

Ice Curtain... Photo by NS


Ice Curtain [Photo by NS]

Wild, Isn't It?


Painting and Photo Of... Just Chillin'


"One Lizard Too Many"

Painting and Photo of Painting by NS

I've done three freehand oil based paintings (on canvas) in my life. 

This is one of them.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

What Part of "NO" Does the GOP NOT Understand... Say No To "Redefining Rape"... Petition... MoveOn.org Political Action


Photo (by NS) of a Painting

PETITION:

 
"MoveOn.org Political Action Redefining Rape": 

http://pol.moveon.org/smithbill/?rc=fb.share.smithbill.1.2.taf.alt.email.passalong.alt6
 
I just had a nightmare related to a rape scenerio. A BAD one. So I'd like to remind folks that the majority of the GOP [voting on some important legislation, covered elsewhere on this blog] recently took some other major swipes at women's (including little girls...) integrity and rights.
 
What part of "NO" don't "THEY" understand?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Link: "Income Inequality... Worse Than... Egypt"... "Say You, Say Me"... Lionel Richie... More

Photo (by NS) of a Childrens Book Cover:  "Jack and the Beanstalk"

Something I read - that has been bothering me...] a few days ago [For more info click on the link...]:

"Protests in Egypt continued for a seventh day today, and pro-democracy demonstrators are organizing a “march of millions” to take place tomorrow. As financial markets dip across the Middle East, financial prognosticators are trying to divine what continued unrest will mean for the economies of the Middle East and the price of oil.

One of the driving factors behind the protests is the decades-long stagnation of the Egyptian economy and a growing sense of inequality. “They’re all protesting about growing inequalities, they’re all protesting against growing nepotism. The top of the pyramid was getting richer and richer,” said Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the Middle East.

As Yasser El-Shimy, former diplomatic attaché at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote in Foreign Policy, “income inequality has reached levels not before seen in Egypt’s modern history.” But Egypt still bests quite a few countries when it comes to income inequality, including the United States:

According to the CIA World Fact Book, the U.S. is ranked as the 42nd most unequal country in the world, with a Gini Coefficient of 45.

In contrast:

– Tunisia is ranked the 62nd most unequal country, with a Gini Coefficient of 40.

– Yemen is ranked 76th most unequal, with a Gini Coefficient of 37.7.

-- And Egypt is ranked as the 90th most unequal country, with a Gini Coefficient of around 34.4.

The Gini coefficient is used to measure inequality: the lower a country’s score, the more equal it is. Obviously, there are many things about the U.S. economy that make it far preferable to that in Egypt, including lower poverty rates, higher incomes, significantly better infrastructure, and a much higher standard of living overall. But income inequality in the U.S. is the worst it has been since the 1920′s, which is a real problem.

Currently, the top one percent of households make nearly 25 percent of the total income in the country, after they made less than 10 percent in the 1970′s. Between 1980 and 2005, “more than 80 percent of total increase in Americans’ income went to the top 1 percent.”

According to the latest data, “the gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007.” And there’s even a stark divide within that one percent. “The share of the nation’s income flowing to the top one-tenth of 1 percent of households increased from 7.3 percent of the total income in the nation in 2002 to 12.3 percent in 2007,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted...."

Part of an article by Pat Garofalo; "Sourced from "ThinkProgress"; Copied and Pasted (with minor editing for placement here) from "AlterNet" [1/31/2011 Posting]:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/455106/income_inequality_in_the_u.s._is_worse_than_in_egypt/#paragraph3;

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I'm pretty burnt out today...

But what - "Say You..."

["Lionel Richie - Say You Say Me [ High Definition ]"; as submitted to You Tube by XVirusHD; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwAHOrccmVA&feature=fvst ]

About "These Dreams" [?????]

Economic Equality?
Fairness and Ethical Behavior in regard to Information Gathering and Distribution?
Child Safety in the US of A?
Women's Rights in the US of A?
True access - for all - to the "American Dream"?
Caste (be they overt or covert...) systems.................................................. ?
The chance that there will ever be "peace on Earth"?


What do you think about the face in the mirror?


What do you think about the child [ren] left behind?

What do you see............................. as solutions ?????

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Join Me in the Fight Against Child Abuse...


I am making a point here...
So enlarge this pic and check out the eyes...


For the many folks that wonder what I am all about...

I can tell you this.

A long time ago...

I went away.

Oh yeah, I did...

And although I'm "back" - to some degree - I also slip back into the above state (terrified, traumatized, spaced out, overwhelmed and "off somewhere else...") sometimes.

Help me fight against child abuse?

It is the greatest (my opinion) WMD in this country!

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[BTW, if you see this child (me) in any pics (ahem...) that are floating around out there... 
Please let me (post a note here)  know...]

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Thank You

Monday, January 31, 2011