This blog is an offshoot of my previous blog, Spreading Our Wings... http://www.spreadingourwings.blogspot.com.
As before, this blog is personal and political... serious and sometimes silly...
My goal is to relay what I deem to be important information, express some of my viewpoints, engage in some online creativity - and find out (please comment appropriately) what others are thinking, as well!
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."
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]
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?
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.
[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 ]
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.
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?
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.
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]:
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 ?????
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!
Sunday 'Happyish Holidays' Toons
-
With his tariffs, his privatization of the postal service, & his planned
cuts to everything from Social Security & Medicare to the farm bill,
Trump's rural...
What to Describe in a Scene
-
Sometimes, it's hard to decide what to include in a description of a scene.
The trick to deciding is to remember that you're in a character's
viewpoint. ...
Liberty Metals Group Review
-
Liberty Metals Group is a company that sells precious metals products. But
according to Yelp and their Better Business Bureau page, they've gone out
of b...
Ebook Download User Guide Manual For Windows 10
-
Ebook Download User Guide Manual For Windows 10
When one is encountered to the issues, several choose to seek the
inspirations and amusement by reading. Ar...
Please find our events on Facebook
-
For our current initiatives and events, check us out on Facebook or join
our mailing list. This site is outdated and currently under redevelopment.
Coming ...
The Voters Have a Right to Know
-
The Ulster Town Board is holding a special meeting this Tuesday to decide
whether to grant FOIL requests to release a police dash cam video of a
traffic st...
Congratulations to Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler!
-
It should surprise no one, and delight everyone, that Richard Thaler has
won this year’s Nobel in economics. Congratulations! Thaler is a big reason
I pe...
Adjust contrast of a pdf free
-
Closer to the eye of the shooter, this is because Preview is quite
literally applying a filter to each individual page of the PDF you are
saving. the proce...
This is not good for Children
-
The Texas Legislature has a bill in front of it that would allow not only
faith-based adoption agencies but all others to refuse to allow Jewish,
Muslim or...
Election 2015
-
Is it me, or is this like the third year running that while trying to find
election results all we get from the UC Board of Elections page is this?
For hou...
BROADWAY TREES
-
So, who is responsible for the maintenance of the trees along our Broadway
corridor?
Oh, thats right. We have a tree commission don't we?
...
Ulster County 2015 Tax Lien Foreclosure Report
-
We are once again at that time of year when the County is faced with the
unenviable task of auctioning off properties to meet tax obligations. It is
not on...
Memorial Day 2013
-
IMHO, the best way to remember and honor our fallen men & women in uniform
is to practice democracy. The concepts of "liberty and justice for all"
means fo...
Ellis Island - Baggage and Dormitory Building
-
View of one of the many dorm areas which comprise the bulk of the Baggage
and Dormitory building; during its peak, this area would have held as many
beds...
Gov. Christie to Keynote GOP Convention
-
Gov. Chris Christie will keynote this year's GOP convention. While I am
supporting Barack Obama and hope very much so he is reelected in November,
I en...
A Bit of a Twist
-
Events in town recently have been much like the past winter's snowfalls,
'few & far between', but like politics, less is often more. In the case of
the Tow...
Proposed New York Senate and Assembly Districts
-
Well folks the State as done it. I present to you links for both the New
York State Assembly Districts and New York State Senate Districts.
Ulster County ...
We're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
*Are you tired of Blaber, MoJo, Cahill, Clark and the rest of the bloggers
of Ulster County? Well back by popular demand your Fishbowl is here again!*
*St...
Kevin Cahill Remembers Dietrich Werner
-
Dietrich's wife, Gayle is asking that in lieu of flowers for Dietrich, that
donations be made in his name to the Century House.
Below is a link where donat...
Czars to oversee Czars
-
*The problem with talking about things is that sometimes you give people
ideas that they may never have thought of. Like when you are talking to
kids abo...
Did You Know?
-
Did You Know? Kingston Community Radio has an archive of past shows, which
can be found on the website here. The most recent show features county
executive...
Stop the smear of Schneer
-
This was in the Kingston Times 9/30/09
Stop the smear of Schneer
Less than 24 hours after Judge Deborah Schneer won confirmation as our next
Ulster County ...
Top Ten Things Overhead at the Board of Elections
-
10. Acceptance? I need to file what? Nobody told me about that.
9. I didn't know that petitions had to be filed by July 16.
8. I don't have enough signatu...