Hey girls, we’re just sitting around waiting for our hurricane to get here, hatches battened, listening to heavenly MUSICA. The storm’s been downgraded quite a bit and will likely just give the Island some high waves and a little wind. Not to worry. Our house is old and strong, we have our candles, there’s chicken stock on the stove, we can make a fire, we are 
60 feet above sea level, we are the lucky ones. I’m much more worried about the folks down south and our darling friends in Mexico City. Prayers for so many these days.
60 feet above sea level, we are the lucky ones. I’m much more worried about the folks down south and our darling friends in Mexico City. Prayers for so many these days.I have something to share, and because it’s somewhat impure in message, I will purify between each paragraph with my collection of WHITE photos . . . you will like them, they will give you some breathing space of sweetness and light . . . so here goes:
Somewhere around 1990 my life was changed in a totally unimagined and unexpected 
way. Just like Julia Child put sparks in my mind about food and cooking and entertaining, and Joseph Campbell excited me to look to my childhood to find “my bliss,” and Beatrix Potter showed me it was possible to consciously choose the life you want ~ a man named Ross Perot added his voice to my repertoire and changed the way I thought about our government. During the next years, I thought I’d hear about it again . . . but I never did, not in the clear lesson-learning way I heard it that day.
While flipping through TV channels, a speech to the National Press Club given by a little guy with big ears caught my attention, and despite the fact that I’d never heard of him and had zero interest in government or politics, I listened. His down-home Texas accent and common-sense words rang true, and what he had to say was an eye-opener for me, and I have to say, a shock. Even though I was over 40, I barely voted at the time. I couldn’t have told you if I was a Republican or a Democrat because when I did vote, I voted for whoever I thought was the best person. I thought I knew how our government worked, that our President and Congress were taking care of business on our behalf and didn’t need me to help. I was so wrong.
Ross Perot talked about things I never learned in school, but things that every school child should be taught, and certainly every adult should know, and what he said has rung in my ears ever since. I never forgot it. All these years later, I can still hear him.
Jane Austen’s Cupboard
Lately, the little voice that resides in my head has been urging me to tell you what he told me. “Tell them,” it cajoles constantly. “Shut up,” I beg, “they probably already know, it’s not my business.” But the voice won’t shut up. I wake up in the morning with that voice in my head, “Don’t assume everyone knows,” it says. “After all, you didn’t.” Once more, the voice is right. The voice says that due to age and love of cooking, I have teaching credentials. It says we’re all in this together. It says I only have one life. It says you won’t hate me. It better be right. So here I go. Doing my best to put this in a nutshell. After that, you can do whatever you like with it.
Always drink upstream from the herd. Will Rogers
You know I share every heartbeat I have with you, Girlfriends, many of us grew up together. And despite my interrupting our normal tiny vases, quilts on the clothesline, apple crisp in the oven, England, home and family-connections conversations that we love so much (just for today!), this too matters, because it’s everything for home and family. I wouldn’t be a Girlfriend if I didn’t tell you.
First off, breathe easy, I promise this has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats. It’s about the way our government works, because outside of the three branches we all think we know about, there’s an invisible fourth branch, and in some ways, this one has more clout than all of them. Those in charge would rather we don’t know about it, it’s gone on forever, and lurks behind every decision made in Washington, everything that affects the health and safety and pocketbook of every American family, and covers its tracks with the words Freedom of Speech.
But they really don’t like to talk about it:
“We’ll just go with no comment,” said Stephen Cohen, a Goldman Sachs spokesman.
“We are not going to comment — it’s just not something we comment on,” said Dan Whitten, vice president of strategic communications for America’s Natural Gas Alliance.
“We never comment on any of our lobbying activities or lobbying expenditures,” Joy Sims, senior communications director for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.
Lobbyists. That’s what they don’t comment on, but what Ross Perot taught me about. You’ve heard of them, every big company in America employs them. Foreign governments 
and corporations hire them. The job of the lobbyist is to talk to their voting-buddies in Congress to get laws made that favor the companies they represent. There are somewhere around 10,000 registered lobbyists working in Washington DC this year. Many of them are lawyers who’ve worked for our government. Half of retiring senators (such as Bob Dole (R), Tom Daschle (D), and Joe Leiberman (I) have become lobbyists. A third of retiring house members become lobbyists ~ not to mention their staffers ~ all insiders who cash in (lobbyist salaries are literally more than a thousand times higher than government salaries). They work for oil companies, the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, airline industry, gun manufacturers, food industry, the Chamber of Commerce, communications industries, the movie industry, charities, you name it. These lobbyists and the companies they work for are the real people who make our laws. All in their own favor, even if it hurts us. Lately they’ve been “taking it underground,” trying to stay out of the limelight, to obscure their activities as best they can.
and corporations hire them. The job of the lobbyist is to talk to their voting-buddies in Congress to get laws made that favor the companies they represent. There are somewhere around 10,000 registered lobbyists working in Washington DC this year. Many of them are lawyers who’ve worked for our government. Half of retiring senators (such as Bob Dole (R), Tom Daschle (D), and Joe Leiberman (I) have become lobbyists. A third of retiring house members become lobbyists ~ not to mention their staffers ~ all insiders who cash in (lobbyist salaries are literally more than a thousand times higher than government salaries). They work for oil companies, the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, airline industry, gun manufacturers, food industry, the Chamber of Commerce, communications industries, the movie industry, charities, you name it. These lobbyists and the companies they work for are the real people who make our laws. All in their own favor, even if it hurts us. Lately they’ve been “taking it underground,” trying to stay out of the limelight, to obscure their activities as best they can.
Public servants: Persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft. Mark Twain
Lobbyists and their corporations contribute HUGE amounts of money to election campaigns, they organize fund raisers with high stake donors (which are needed because 
part of this terrible game is that the average Senator must bring in $14,000 a day in order to stay in office), and they lobby both R’s and D’s. For example, after all the haranguing and back and forth, if the votes for something the gun lobby is advocating go against them in Congress, they withdraw their support from those who voted against them, and instead, give everything to the campaign of their opponents in the next election, both money and media, positive and negative. And, by doing so, they teach the rest of the congress a big scary lesson. Vote our way, or we will use all our powers against you, you will be out of a job. 
And so, when little children are mowed down in a first grade schoolroom by a lunatic with an AR-15, nothing is done, and life goes on like nothing happened. 💔 And why, despite huge profits during what have been relatively lean years for the rest of us, do oil and gas industries continue to get massive multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies? Lobbyists. In their ear, full time, with money and influence, every day, where we cannot be, making laws that affect everything we do, handing out subsidies with our tax money. When we subsidize extremely profitable companies we are using money that could go to schools or infrastructure or healthcare. It’s our money. It should be used for us. We think since we are the ones who elect them, they should work for us. But that’s not how it works.⚡️
part of this terrible game is that the average Senator must bring in $14,000 a day in order to stay in office), and they lobby both R’s and D’s. For example, after all the haranguing and back and forth, if the votes for something the gun lobby is advocating go against them in Congress, they withdraw their support from those who voted against them, and instead, give everything to the campaign of their opponents in the next election, both money and media, positive and negative. And, by doing so, they teach the rest of the congress a big scary lesson. Vote our way, or we will use all our powers against you, you will be out of a job. 
And so, when little children are mowed down in a first grade schoolroom by a lunatic with an AR-15, nothing is done, and life goes on like nothing happened. 💔 And why, despite huge profits during what have been relatively lean years for the rest of us, do oil and gas industries continue to get massive multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies? Lobbyists. In their ear, full time, with money and influence, every day, where we cannot be, making laws that affect everything we do, handing out subsidies with our tax money. When we subsidize extremely profitable companies we are using money that could go to schools or infrastructure or healthcare. It’s our money. It should be used for us. We think since we are the ones who elect them, they should work for us. But that’s not how it works.⚡️
Nowadays, lobbyists fix it so Congress people barely have to work. Under direction of the 
corporations they work for, these professional arm twisters often write the talking points for new laws ~ and to make it even easier, they’ll pull together co-sponsors for the bills, and write the bill themselves, word for word. Do the congressmen even know what they are advocating for? Not if they don’t read the bill. And what difference does it make, as long as they get re-elected, which takes money, and the lobbyists are the ones providing it.
corporations they work for, these professional arm twisters often write the talking points for new laws ~ and to make it even easier, they’ll pull together co-sponsors for the bills, and write the bill themselves, word for word. Do the congressmen even know what they are advocating for? Not if they don’t read the bill. And what difference does it make, as long as they get re-elected, which takes money, and the lobbyists are the ones providing it.
Don’t get me wrong, not every politician caves. Some do stick up for us. Some are hard at work year-round, even when not in session (Congress will be in session 133 days this year🤢).There are many good companies and organizations that, in order to keep up and get their piece of the pie, have lobbyists too, such as the American Cancer Society. But, it’s a huge difference when they give technical assistance on a cancer funding bill versus when one of the largest banks in the world writes a bill that will give it access to public deposit insurance to fund it’s exotic financial activities. Especially when that bank has just been bailed out with our money, while they foreclosed on our neighbors. Banks are happy, that’s what matters.😘
But watch, when there is a hero-Mr.-Smith-Goes-to-Washington kind of Senator or Congress person who speaks for us, wants common sense regulations for banks, big business, oil companies, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, etc, they are punished. Those corporations will use their considerable power, in commercials and other media (which more and more, they own), to vilify this person with false or misleading claims in places as seemingly benign as Facebook or on Twitter, to make them the evil one, so they can continue to do their dirty deeds, perhaps get them unelected, and use our tax money to do it. They know we don’t have time to check every story we hear.
Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.
Adolf Hitler
“Too many government regulations” is the battle cry. Corporations don’t want regulations, regulations cost them money, and that’s all they care about. Regulations that help us, for health care, for safe cars, roads and bridges, for clean air and water, for food that isn’t tainted with drugs, for product safety and fairness in banking and identity protection on the web, for keeping guns out of schools; but instead, regulations are removed, and laws are written to benefit corporations. 
No regulations on credit bureaus means they didn’t need to protect our personal information, leaving the people (me included) to figure out what to do to keep our identities from being stolen. Now I think the government should fix this by issuing all of us new social security numbers and let Equifax pay for it. They won’t. No zoning law regulations in Houston, so the building industry had free reign to pave it over, got very rich doing it, and didn’t care that there was no place for the flood waters to go. Drug lobbyists work incessantly to reduce regulations, and now spend over 4 billion a year on TV ads ~ the average American sees 16 hours of drug ads per year (against our will) and we are now in an opioid crisis. Our prescription drugs are the most expensive in the world, while Medicare is prevented BY LAW from using its huge bargaining power to lower prices (thank you big pharma lobbyists, and chicken faced Congress who let that happen). To hold onto their insane profits, big Pharma will fight tooth and nail against Medicare for all of us. Will our Congress let them? Probably. Who do you think will benefit if they cut healthcare? We can go bankrupt if we get very ill, lose our homes and everything we’ve saved for all our lives. Perfectly legal.
No regulations on credit bureaus means they didn’t need to protect our personal information, leaving the people (me included) to figure out what to do to keep our identities from being stolen. Now I think the government should fix this by issuing all of us new social security numbers and let Equifax pay for it. They won’t. No zoning law regulations in Houston, so the building industry had free reign to pave it over, got very rich doing it, and didn’t care that there was no place for the flood waters to go. Drug lobbyists work incessantly to reduce regulations, and now spend over 4 billion a year on TV ads ~ the average American sees 16 hours of drug ads per year (against our will) and we are now in an opioid crisis. Our prescription drugs are the most expensive in the world, while Medicare is prevented BY LAW from using its huge bargaining power to lower prices (thank you big pharma lobbyists, and chicken faced Congress who let that happen). To hold onto their insane profits, big Pharma will fight tooth and nail against Medicare for all of us. Will our Congress let them? Probably. Who do you think will benefit if they cut healthcare? We can go bankrupt if we get very ill, lose our homes and everything we’ve saved for all our lives. Perfectly legal.
While our 22 year olds go into massive debt in order to get an education in the richest country in the world. Now they say, “tax reform,” and you get one guess to see who will benefit on that. While they shout “Freedom!” and “Clean the Swamp” and we believe them, and they go right on, swamping it up on our money. There are thousands of examples of how they put their money making ahead of our safety. They don’t want us to vote (doing everything they can to stop us from doing so) or be educated, because if we don’t vote, if we stay ignorant about all this, they can go on whooping it up on our tax money. They’re so blatant about it these days, it’s shocking. They think they can get away with it and they do. But my darling girlfriends, knowledge is power, and we have knowledge. Tell your friends. Alert your children. Call your representatives and tell them you want money out of politics.📞
benefit on that. While they shout “Freedom!” and “Clean the Swamp” and we believe them, and they go right on, swamping it up on our money. There are thousands of examples of how they put their money making ahead of our safety. They don’t want us to vote (doing everything they can to stop us from doing so) or be educated, because if we don’t vote, if we stay ignorant about all this, they can go on whooping it up on our tax money. They’re so blatant about it these days, it’s shocking. They think they can get away with it and they do. But my darling girlfriends, knowledge is power, and we have knowledge. Tell your friends. Alert your children. Call your representatives and tell them you want money out of politics.📞“When every man in a state has a vote, brutal laws are impossible.” 💖 Mark Twain
They tell us there’s no such thing as global warming, confuse us with argument, try to turn science, something we loved and revered as children, something that ended polio and took us to the moon, into a joke. They turned us against one another so they can go on pouring CO2 into the atmosphere, digging and fracking and tearing this beautiful gift from God, our earth, to shreds so they can add billions to the billions they already have. And the laws they write themselves says it’s all okay.
Only one thing will stop it. It’s not term limits, that’s like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound. It’s no more money in politics, period. Election campaigns that last six months, an 
equal playing field for all candidates. No contributions over $1,000. No contributions from corporations, no more corporate fundraisers. No lobbyists, both state and federal, (yup, we put them all out of work, too bad, so sad, your dad, get a real job). Government for the people by the people. And no, corporations are not people. People are people. And we the people can MAKE them change the laws to take the money out of politics. We really can. I am the Shirley Temple of positive thinking. I believe anything is possible.
equal playing field for all candidates. No contributions over $1,000. No contributions from corporations, no more corporate fundraisers. No lobbyists, both state and federal, (yup, we put them all out of work, too bad, so sad, your dad, get a real job). Government for the people by the people. And no, corporations are not people. People are people. And we the people can MAKE them change the laws to take the money out of politics. We really can. I am the Shirley Temple of positive thinking. I believe anything is possible.
So that’s it, I wasn’t wild about this information when I first heard it, but I’m still very glad I know. I hope you feel that way too. I don’t want it to turn you against our government, which I truly believe is the last best hope of a kookie, never-perfect world ~ it didn’t do that to me, it just made me take notice and do what I could to change it. But we need help if we’re going to do this, we need everyone to know, we the people need to be our own lobby, we need to be the ones whispering in their ears, we need to be the strongest of them all.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke
If I were running for office, my motto would be “A kitty in every house!” The voice can 
leave me alone now, I did my part. What a relief! And always, always, when you’re looking for the truth in this complicated big-business world we live in, all you have to do is follow the money. And there you will have your answer. Ask yourself, “Who benefits from this?” That’s the question of the day. Here’s your diploma dear Girls, you just graduated, Government 101. Thank you, Ross Perot, you did a good thing.
leave me alone now, I did my part. What a relief! And always, always, when you’re looking for the truth in this complicated big-business world we live in, all you have to do is follow the money. And there you will have your answer. Ask yourself, “Who benefits from this?” That’s the question of the day. Here’s your diploma dear Girls, you just graduated, Government 101. Thank you, Ross Perot, you did a good thing.“No country can be well governed unless its citizens, as a body, keep religiously before their minds that they are the guardians of the law, and that the law officers are only the machinery for its execution, nothing more.” 💕 Mark Twain
🎶 I am a Yankee Doodle Girl. 🎵
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming which is, as always . . . .
Direct from the woods of Martha’s Vineyard.🍂
Besides walking in the woods, saying thank you God every day, I finished the designs for two more cups! And like the first two I showed you, these will also arrive in our Studio in early January. We are going to put them up for presale soon, and thought at the same time I would give you a link for a special card you could print out, like a promissory note, so you’ll be able to give them as gifts or stocking stuffers this year. We’re working on that. This first one is called “Girlfriends Tea” and it’s a big one, the 16 oz size.
Here’s the handle . . .
This is the back, with a quote by our darling Nancy Luce, who could have used a few Girlfriends in her time (but now she has us 💞) . . . and on the bottom it says, “If friends were flowers, I’d choose you.”🌸
And to go with the Autumn cup, here’s Winter (in the smaller, 11 oz size, perfect for hot chocolate!)
The handle . . .
Here’s the back, and on the bottom, it says, “Not fit for man nor beast.” Hope you like them!
Off I go Girlfriends, need to go try and put a freeze on my credit! Hope all is well with you, safe and cozy, making something delicious to share with the people you love. XOXO
Thank you, your thoughtful comment couldn’t be more needed. I hope change will come soon for the good of our country.
Perfectly said, thank you. xo
Susan – Waiting for a hurricane in Houston that didn’t leave for 3 days was not what I hope to experience again. I was one of the lucky ones not to have 6 feet of water in my home. You are lucky to be 60 feet above sea level and not at sea level. We had more rain than I could ever imagine. At least 30 inches at my home. Here’s hoping you never experience a hurricane like Harvey.
I know, I’m not wild about “climbing the hill” when I walk back from town, but when I was hearing about those walls of water, I wanted to find out how high our hill actually was. This Island is a bad place for hurricanes, not easy to evacuate, especially if you might wish to take your car with you on the boat! We have the Gulf Stream around the Island, nice and warm. We’ve had a few here. Not only are they destructive, they make a mess, it takes forever for them to get there, and forever for them to leave. I wish there was a way to drop a sort of exploding puff ball into the eye, to change its course, lasso the thing, and haul it away from land. I’m so happy you are okay Carol. I know people are still dealing with it … We’ve been sending money, and our prayers, for all affected by these hideous storms and that awful earthquake in Mexico.
Our former Senators and Representatives of any party should be legally prohibited from becoming lobbyists at all. As you so clearly and eloquently stated, they serve themselves and not the people!!!
To return to a more pleasant topic, I love your new cups, I love them both so far!! I’m going to need a new kitchen with extra cupboards. God keep you, Joe, the fur kids, and your neighbors safe.
Thank you so much Memarge, for those sweet words. xoxoxo
I worked on Ross Perot’s campaign and truly I had forgotten his input until you reminded me. So many have been so disheartened and confused by what is happening to our country that at times it’s overwhelming. I try to keep up with it all, I do tape all Rachael Maddows programs and learn every time I watch.
I thank you for taking the time and effort to state the facts of what we should be paying attention to. Follow the money! You have every right to use whatever means you have to inform those of us who love, not only your beautiful writing, your wonderful art and the kindness and beauty of everyday wonders. I appreciate you. Thank you.
I loved that he explained that to us so much, thought it was so brave of him, I set up my card table at the local market here on the Island to get signatures to get him on the ballot. Too bad the swamp rose up to smote him! (first time use of “smote!”, but it was pretty terrible to watch.) Thank you Janet. xoxo
As Joe Friday would say “the facts Ma’am, nothing but the facts”. You have said everything I know to be true, but so much more politely than I ever could.
For those who think it is “political” and are swearing off your blog, I say good riddance! They probably are card carrying members of “The Flat Earth Society”. The real world is made up of more than cookies, kitties and cups of tea. Those are simply some of the things that make a world worth living in. Thanks for interrupting our regularly scheduled program with a little wake up call. Obviously many of us have been thinking the same thing. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and hope things will get better. “We the people” need to
stand up and be heard!
LOL, I tried so hard to make it a discourse that all sides could find a home in… we have so much more in common than our differences, and we’ve been fed such a long line of BS for so long. Yes, there is more to the world than kitties. One thing I have always loved about women, our facets … we have so many sides. Thank you Kathy! Onward and upward!
I was wondering how long you could take what has been happening without saying something about it. We have, with increasing tweets, executive orders and blundering speeches, been losing our nation. We need to speak up before it is too late. We need to call our senators and house of representatives; we need to email and write actual letters; we need to march; we need to have discussions and join like-minded groups; we need to donate; WE NEED TO CARE! Thank you for having the guts to care and put it out there.
It has long been the case that money buys government seats. We have to take our share of the blame for that.We are too readily influenced by negative ads and smear campaigns. Ads and campaigns that are paid for by ,as you said, large corporations and now by foreign powers. The saddest thing of all is that not enough people are incensed by the part that the Russians had to play in our Presidential election (and they are still hacking into our systems). Are we just willing to turn our country over to them? Are the people who voted for this President really going to turn a blind eye to this or keep denying that it even happened. I thought we had learned from the past(does Hitler ring a bell?) but apparently not. We are in a very serious state of affairs right now and we need to fight for what the United States of America really stands for.
Right now the Senate is trying to ram a new healthcare bill down our throats. The fact that the majority of the American people are against it apparently doesn’t phase them at all – they just need to save more money for the coffers of the wealthy and, more importantly, to dismantle any program of former President Obama’s that they can. I never thought it was possible that so much hatred could exist in our country. The majority of people in this country are still good, caring and fair minded but we need to SHOUT these beliefs from the rooftops. It is indeed a scary time right now but I do believe that we will survive it because the majority of us ARE good people and we will not allow our great nation to die.
Remember how great we are during times of tragedy, how we come together and help one another, let’s continue to do that now. Donate to agencies helping the people in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, the West coast and Mexico (and don’t forget the animals too) and keep fighting to save our country.
Thank you again Susan for taking a great risk (although you do know that the majority of your girlfriends will stand by you) and starting a very important dialogue. I truly respect you for doing this.
As for a lighter note (since I can’t tell jokes, can’t draw and can’t add lovely pictures to my text since I am computer illiterate) I will say that the bluffs and trees in Decorah, Iowa are starting to turn gorgeous shades of orange and yellow and we did have 5 dog and 1 cat adoption last Saturday at the Northeast Iowa Humane Society. Ain’t life grand sometimes!!!!!!
Much love to you and yours!
LOL, how long I could take it! I had to ask myself, what’s the reason our congress does what they do, against us, no matter who is president, simple little questions brought me the answers, like, why do they find money for war, but not for early childhood care? Thank you Patricia . . . I loved that Eagle’s Nest you had in Deborah, loved watching the seasons change on that site! Life is grand sometimes, and our gift from God is the ability to see it no matter what else is going on. xoxoxo
❤
THANK YOU !!! You’re ” preaching to the choir ” here in this household . Lobbyists should never have been allowed! I read where one person calls it “Dirty Money .” What a shame that this money basically makes our laws , in my view. I am old , and it’s beyond disheartening to know that my vote is wasted . I call their offices but I know they are going to vote straight party line regardless of the person’s qualifications ( of lack of qualifications .)
Thank you for sharing this . . . thank you with all my heart .
Dark Money too. Almost invisible. Beyond disheartening. Really most of the time the only way I can live with it is by ignoring it totally and turning on Shirley Temple movies. Which I think is healthy to a certain extent. Just have to add in a couple of phone calls to go with it, for a balanced life! I think it’s how many calls they get that matters. They would like nothing more than to dishearten us so much that we quit trying.
I think the book “Dark Money”, about the Koch Brothers should be required reading.
WHAT an eye opener!
wow!! once again…I must say….wholeheartedly…thank you….for being you!! if anyone is not totally convinced re: climate-change…..then, PLEEEEEZ explain how & why the hurricanes we’re having…just this year alone….keep getting stronger & stronger with each successive storm!! what say you??????? aaah. not much, yeah? come on!! as for $$ in politics….oh, yes. $$ talks!! loudly!! i’d explain like this….if you come to my home to do work for me….and, you are being paid by me….then, I TELL YOU how I want the work done. IF, however, you are doing the job as a favor to me….then, I do NOT direct you. see?? the lobbyist pays….and the politician is “directed”….if not compliant…the $$ goes away. got it?? also…..NO politician should be there for years and decades!!!!! enough, already!! they live well….have GREAT healthcare….want for nothing…and, WE PAY THEM!!!!! wow. nice work….if you’re corrupt enuf to get it. and…in the bargain….they vote AGAINST us!!!! mmmm. something is deeply wrong. one more thing….the word “entitlement” makes me SCREAM like you can’t believe! soc. security is an EARNED BENEFIT!!!!! we pay IN. and, everytime anyone calls it an “entitlement”…they should be IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED!!!!! then & there. “period”!!!!! sorry (NOT REALLY!!) for all the “caps”…..yes, I really AM yelling!!!!! CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS!!!!!!! each & every time an issue comes up. yes, it IS exhausting….particularly NOW!! yes, it IS necessary….particularly NOW!! make your voice heard! constituent-pressure is still a strong tool. USE IT!!!!! if not….you will, indeed, lose much. thank you, dearest Susan!!!! proud to stand (& make calls!!) with you!!!!! all love. oxxo
LOL Chris, could you PLEASE try and drum up some PASSION about this? Love you dear, as always . . . xoxoxo
You, dear lady, are “entitled” to one free blood pressure pill. I passed it to you through the cyber pharmo…hope that you got it. I paid for the uncovered insurance cost!! Take it with a cup of tea in one of Susan’s cups!
I got a giggle or two, even three out of your written format…no beginning sentence caps, caps for emphasis ONLY. Exclamation points spilling onto your page…racing to exclaim your talking points!!!
On second thought, swallow that pill with wine in Susan’s cup. RUN outside, GRAB a rake and CLEAN OUT the garden beds with a FURY that leaves you spent…done-in…pleasantly exhausted. Look to the clouds, listen to the birds, take a deep breath and WISH that your short-term memory ERASES the daily news!!!
Here’s to good health, good companions, smart thinking and balanced living. I hate my worked-up, “spun” days when the out-of-control country/world takes control of me…I turn into a tornado of thoughts and emotional outbursts…you think Harvey was bad? Frustrated tears and fears can blow out the windows to our hopes for the future, for sure.
It is good to have thoughtful conversations…to get it out…to agree to disagree at times, but agree to be open-minded to expand our compassions and understandings of friends and neighbors. It is a test of one’s maturity to let other people’s opinions flow…(even if the river of words turns into HOT LAVA)…perhaps to plant a new seed in our own thoughts. Somewhere in the middle is where consensus should be, but that requires respect, compromise and forward-thinking to always be ahead of the game to keep us (PUT US!) on the path for workable solutions to any and all problems in life…politics, friendships, marriages and family cohesiveness…both personal families and the world family as a whole.
I love and appreciate the free “muscle relaxant” that Susan’s blogs and Willard’s offer me, but I also like the tornado inside of her that bursts forth on the rare occasion for us to hear the strength of her winds!! I like her gusto which is, I believe, driven with a compassion and frustration for the better good. When I walk with a good friend, we spew and then chew the fat of the ridiculous and frustrating current affairs. We walk faster and sweat it out…then we go home and sit and talk and talk and talk about non-sensical, unimportant things that make us smile…Nicole Kidman’s drop-dead-gorgeous RED gown at the Emmys…the dolly-girl who just won America’s Got Talent…our fear that Christmas is coming around the corner TOO FAST and our thankfulness for so much in our lives!!
As a friend in Susan’s welcoming world I am thankful that she provides her cyber-living room and kitchen to just be friends and pet Jack, our collective cat. I am happy to let her be mad once in a while. She has my patience, understanding, and respect. Our real friends show the depths of themselves, not just the light-hearted that can hide a person and oftentimes keep the friendship on a glossy, surface level.
Fall is peeking around the corner. Wish upon fallen leaves…may they soothe all of us with the beautiful colors and their dances on the wind. We need to look to the beauty to soothe our frustrations. AND! In addition to the pro-active acts to instigate changes in whatever form you wish, we need to collectively ask the heavens to continue to keep our planet and all that it holds a viable nest for living. Like the Whos down in Whoville, we need to project joy and hope. Let’s face it…they changed the Grinch’s heart…a miracle, for sure. 😊
OOOOPS, how can a short paragraph of thought turn into a long conversation??? Well, we are the chatty-Cathy’s and Susan’s couch is SOOOO comfortable…she may have to make up the bed in Peter’s room because one more glass of wine and Joe will have to carry me up the stairs!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Chris and Fay E, how I love to sit and listen to smart women! I enjoyed the conversation very much! Let’s do it again real soon! I will bring the snacks!
Love all you girlfriends!
OMG! I voted for Ross Perot also and agree with every word you have written! So refreshing to hear someone with intelligence. Was listening to Rachel Maddow and reading your blog, and thinking she would agree with you also! Thanks for voicing your opinion! It is important! Especially because I agree with you, LOL! Thanks for your Blog, it makes my day!
Funny because I emailed her last night and suggested an in depth show about how the lobbyists work. Her show is one of the rare ones that goes in depth on a subject, and her staff are great fact checkers. They don’t put snake oil into the air! I would rather hear the truth I don’t like, than a lie of any kind. How do we keep a strong foundation if it’s built of cards. xoxoxo Thank you Carol!
What a terrific idea, Susan. I find on this kind of stuff, I go deaf, it makes my head ache, I want to be Pollyanna and have it all go away, but I’ve been resisting that urge since November and Rachel is brilliant and DOES make me understand things I want to tune out. Please know that lobbyists weren’t something high on my radar and clearly they should have been…it makes me feel stupid to have kept pushing the subject out of my mind…I needed a Civics refresh (frankly, I never learned anything in that high school class; the old guy teaching it should have retired 20 years before he did; he had zero enthusiasm for what he was doing, which translated to us impressionable teens in a bad way)…so the subject of lobbying prompted a HUGE discussion with my husband last night when he came home from work and he, of course (’cause he’s smart like you and Rachel, too), said it’s been all about the money trail from as far back as he can remember, so this has opened up a big thing in me now and I’m fuming inside (between this and being victimized by Equifax, I’m now on fire and, because I can’t sustain that forever, I need to put some of it out, so I’m gonna watch “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” [which I recorded recently on TCM] tonight, after I’ve checked my bank balances for the 10,000th time, and addressed several postcards to my elected reps this afternoon [bought a bunch of cards this morning on an early trip out for errands]). See what you started? If you ‘woke up’ even one person (raising my hand) with this post, Susan, it was worth your days of thinking whether or not to do it (you done good). It’s empowering to do something, anything…rather than sitting around feeling helpless and frustrated, worried and scared.
Thank you Vicki! Lovely words, excellent action. Google “Contact Rachel Maddow” and ask her to do an in-depth (I asked for a week-long) investigation on the lobbyists and how our government really works. The more of us asking, the merrier! Have a wonderful day. You Go Girl!
Oh, I did even more; I actually sent Rachel a snail-mail letter, too!
You good girl!
So sorry, Vicki. Citizens should never be victimized by Equifax, or any other corporation. Let’s not forget Enron!! BUT! Our government isn’t speaking out for victims re: the Equifax breach AND! the “safeguards” put in place after Enron probably won’t protect us against more losses down the road, but will protect the institutions.
Let’s factor in lawyers when it comes to our victimization…corporate and government lawyers who protect the mighty with their legalize. Take a pill…any pill…and if it harms you, you better believe that the lawyers have the manufacturer’s back covered and you are left harmed. (Let’s not forget the divorce lawyers who feed off of us…not me!…but the collective divorced in our midst. How sad that they make so much money off of marriage dysfunction!)
Hey…how about a class action suit against Equifax???Request settlements for mental stress and high anxiety…insufficient security measures…NO easy avenue to put a lock on our financial privacy…and a monopoly…where is our choice to have our credit reviewed…is there a choice?? OH, hmmm, we would need to hire a lawyer!
Back on the Equifax topic…years ago I said that the next “world war” would be through the internet…and so it begins…grid breaches, money institutions…voting formats. Perhaps it is time to make our mattresses our savings accounts again!!! (Throw away your matches!) Perhaps it is time to go back to hard copy Willard’s mailed to our homes so that we don’t have our opinions “breached” here on the “safe” Susan Branch blog!!! (Extreme idea, I know…)
My heart goes out to so many…victims…people like you, Vicki with Equifax, hurricane damages and the overwhelming tasks before the communities, those dependent on good healthcare, and those whose health is compromised from all of the worry that bleeds us into frustration and many times hopelessness.
Speaking of disaster damage…how about our insurance companies? Even if one has flood or earthquake insurance there is a high probability that the flood or earthquake damage is not covered…read the fine print…just because you pay the premium, don’t assume that the insurance companies have our backs…BUT! they will raise our rates to cover any cost they may incur…believe it! Again, victims.
Kudos to “our” Girlfriend’s portion of society…we ARE representatives of GOOD…we are level-headed and don’t want to take advantage of anyone, but we want justice and fair-minded representation from government, financial institutions, healthcare laws…and on and on. We don’t deserve to be collectively raped by anyone.
Off to walk off my thoughts. You will hear my feet pounding the pavement. Hugs to all and may your day bring love your way. 😊
I wrote to a class action legal site yesterday and asked if we could get one against the lobbyists taking our government away. Half tongue in cheek, but not really! I’m not counting on it! Cahoots and all that jazz! xoxo
As an attorney, I must tell you that there are more reasons for such a lawsuit to be dismissed on motion than I could count, but your desire to have this practice of big biz buying our government brought to an end is a noble one. You may instead want to start a petition. I expect that it being YOUR pen, it may really be mightier than a sword. I’ll be happy to sign.
Lots to think about from girlfriend FayE, who writes SO well, and compassionately.
I think the class-action suits have already started with Equifax.
My husband loved the part where you can sign up for Equifax’s ‘free’, now-too-late credit checking…as long as you sign on the dotted line that you won’t then sue them for the breach of your personal info.
What I’m doing right now…which goes against everything I was probably ever taught, from my first piggy bank, with coins in the envelope going to my little savings account at the neighborhood savings & loan…is basically draining my overworked checking account right as my husband gets paid; I don’t want the cash from the auto-deposit of his paycheck sitting in there for very long. I’m withdrawing cash (as in green paper money; remember that?) and I’m paying bills in cash, like going to pay them in person, like my mom did in the 1960s. It sounds neanderthal, I know. I’m retired; I can afford the time it takes. I’m in a small town with a small account, so I can do this small thing…because I have to do SOMEthing. I’m only leaving enough money in there to cover already-set-up auto withdrawals, like for car insurance, although I think the convenience of auto withdrawals and auto deposits are over, with me. And I’m considering putting any leftover cash in the safe deposit box at the bank; it can just sit there for awhile and not draw interest. Highly impractical situation and of course impossible with people who have more money/income/investments than I do.
I feel lucky we’d already been paying for a identity-theft protection service when this crippling scandal was revealed (credit card activity, for instance). The biggest task is trying to freeze credit and we don’t have that worked out completely (yet). And I’d put off drawing my Social Security and now don’t know who’ll get to my benefits first. They’re also telling us to file our income taxes immediately, so that we don’t get told by the IRS that a refund has already been issued…to the crook out there who has all the identification he needs to rob us.
It’s hard not to catastrophize on the above concerns. Trust nothing and no one. My mind’s been going crazy; have lost so much sleep. I’m going to even be checking life insurance policies to make sure nobody’s changed our beneficiaries without us knowing. All they have to see on my auto-withdrawals, once they hack my bank statements, is the life insurance company’s name and phone number. This potentially-spreading menace has more tentacles than I think our minds can take in…a lurid shape-shifting thing that we have no defenses against, I fear.
Excuse me while I go get a cookie. And gain another five pounds. But I need the distraction of tea and a cookie at times like these!
Thank you for your thoughts about this Equifax thing. I hope everyone is checking to see if they’ve been affected: just go to Equifax.com ~ they’ll ask for your last name and last 6 digits of your social security number … and right away it will pop up whether your info has been stolen. When I found out our info had been stolen, I called my local bank and was much reassured hearing they had, long ago, changed the fire walls around their online banking info. Call yours, see what they say about your protections, it might make the cookies taste better! xoxo (OH yes! we did put a freeze on our credit on all three bureaus!)
I’m glad you were successful on the credit freeze, Susan; my husband took that part over and he’s still working on it (he better hurry up!). Yes, I did get a lot of assurances from my bank people…and, yes, my husband feels, to a degree(!!), that I’m overreacting(!!) and I’m sure I’ll relax a bit of tension on the subject at some point…but not too much, although it sure got me to paying my bills more on time and paying more attention!
OMG Susan – 1145 comments and counting; you poor dear; thanx for being so sweet on paying attention to reader comments and I know I made ‘way too many this go’round; I hope you’re having a lovely Monday evening; we’re HOT-HOT-HOT here in SoCalif, Santa Anas and low humidity (weather changed quickly again!) but the sunset was SO beautiful over the water yesterday evening; we were down at the marina and the sun set as an orange ball of fire, turning the water to duck-egg blue, north/east sky to pink; I kept thinking, ‘I’m so glad to be alive’ and it was just so much bigger than me, our gorgeous, precious Earth and gorgeous, precious people on the beach at end of weekend, dogs chasing a ball, lovers in sweet embrace, children running just because it feels so free to RUN and go wild; old people taking a walk, arm and arm to support each other from a stumble; my husband by my side; the sea air so salty-strong and the sturdy gulls so vocal. I tried really hard to not think of nuclear war, Viet Nam, identity theft, climate change; just moments of bliss where I could pretend and be present and grateful; cup runneth over…
Husbands, as darling as they are, always think we over-react. If a hurricane comes, Joe goes out to dangle his legs off the end of the pier, flirting with the angry sea, snorting when I harangue him to bring in the “projectile” Adirondack chairs! That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love! I felt like if I was going to ask my Girlfriends to read something so dry, a. I needed purification photos in between the words, and b. I should answer the comments. It’s been so interesting to me. And I can’t wait to show everyone the beauty we’re experiencing here in Maine. Hot though, I’m ready for fall up here! Leaves are drifting . . . it’s a start!
I’m so glad you gave voice to this Susan – thankyou! You can see it all so clearly when you take the time to look (or someone bravely spells it out for you!) but how many of us take that time? Although I’m not a US citizen, Australia is facing much the same issues – where the US goes, we follow! – and we have never been more poorly served by our elected representatives. Being aware of just how the system lets us down can be disheartening but I think it’s the all-important first step!
Thank you Heather. I guess these government folks saw an opening and took it. We used to have all these cowboy shows on TV here when I was growing up, Bonanza, Davy Crockett, Rawhide, and even Little House on the Prairie. And every one of them would, sooner or later, have an episode where a kind of gypsy wagon would pull into town and set up on Main Street their little business of selling bottles of elixir they said would cure anything ~ but even as kids we knew it wouldn’t! Snake oil it was called. And, oddly, lines for that stuff were long, people were paying. And it goes on today. Same thing, same snake oil, and oddly, we still line up for it. 😘
Agree and thank you for taking the time to speak up! I think the time has come for term limits – and President Trump has made it so that members of the White House staff – when they leave their current position, cannot work for a Lobbying group for 5 years. It’s a start at breaking that bond of influence, etc. Term limits would prevent bureaucrats and elected officials from putting roots down in the Swamp. And I wholeheartedly agree that our election system needs a complete cleaning out – if enough Americans stand up, support and do something about what we all know is right – things will improve.
Term limits won’t help because when the unexperienced new guy comes in, the swamp is there, already waiting for him, fully experienced and ready to pounce. It’s the money that has to go, the lobbyists and the corporate money that work against the people. Each administration throws us a bone or two, to make us think things are changing, but no President can be everywhere, and the truth is that there are over a hundred former lobbyists who were given ethics waivers so they could work in the current administration . . . for example, Lance Leggitt helped collect $400,000 in fees last year while working as a lobbyist influencing Medicare policy at the Department of Health and Human Services — an agency where he now serves as chief of staff. He can now shape policies that benefit his former clients. And that’s just one example. It’s a vipers nest. Ethics waivers. How can they waive ethics? Thank you Penny, to do what you say will need us all. xoxo
Thank you, thank you. What a brilliant post. I don’t watch news because of the big Pharma ads (except PBS newshour). It’s all so depressing. Most of my reps and both of my senators are all fighting this, so I don’t have to convince them. And if you are not the right zip code, no other congress persons will accept your emails or calls. So they are very insulated from our negative opinions of their activities.
Yes, I’ve tried too. But you can talk to the leadership no matter which side they’re on. And don’t forget your own senators and reps enjoy hearing from you a “You Go Girl” to give them strength to keep up the good fight. Course, maybe not if they are a You Go Man type. xoxo
Same here in Washington state. Our district’s representatives are fighting the good fight and Bob Ferguson, our state attorney general, is so passionate about the rights of everyone, especially those who cannot fight for themselves. He is always on the front lines fighting back the tide of corruption and illegal stances that is happening now in government. We are lucky to have him.
You are so lucky! I know the lobbyists work in all levels of government, but I think the states, because they are so much closer to the everyday concerns of their people, listen better.
I have never quite been able to get my head around the American Political process, probably because I have spent my whole life with a parliamentary government, even as a child in Canada. I know what God says however, and that is that “The love of Money is the root of all evil.” And that is what I see all around me today … all that is good being drowned in the evils of the “love of money.” Thanks for your post. Brave and true. Ohh, that winter cup! I am in love. Better start saving my pennies. I hope it will be for sale over here like the others! When all feels lost, lose yourself in a hot cuppa served in a beautiful cup! Yours will do quite nicely! xoxo
I know, I can’t quite get my head around the British system either (hard enough to keep up with ours), but I try! Whose idea was money anyway? Terrible idea! Do you have this system of lobbyists? And yes, the new cups will definitely be available in England! So happy to be able to say that. Have a wonderful day Marie!
I don’t think we do Susan. Very happy about the cups remaining available over here! I have already told my husband to set aside a special date in May for a picnic by the way! Happy First Weekend of Autumn!
Makes me happy to hear that!!! See you there!
You have summed up what many people have been thinking! Thank you so much for sharing the information and sparking the candle to burn brightly. I’m so impressed that the color white is so beautiful in your pictures. Hope all is well after the storm in your area. Autumn is in the air except for our temperatures right now in Ohio have been in the upper 80’s! The nights have been cooling down and the crickets are chirping!
I think we will have all that same weather the moment the wind dies down! Our crickets are clinging to branches right now . . .
An occasional political post is acceptable but personally I think it’s destroyed Mary E. Hope she can rebound. Thanks for all the charm. You do it well.
Thank you back Valerie. xoxo
Wonderful post Susan. I like that you can raise serious issues as well as light hearted issues, and without the hate-filled rants that so many use, which are designed to intimidate and silence those who disagree with the speaker. And remember that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. We can all make a difference in one way or another. It is not directly a government issue, but my personal campaign at the moment is to send a polite email to any organisation that provides adequate toilet facilities for men, whilst women have a long wait to use the facilities, pointing out that this is blatant sex discrimination. We will only change things by getting involved.
Eternal Vigilance ~ such a good phrase. If I was first lady, I would get all the electrical wires put underground. I think Lady Bird Johnson would agree with me! Thank you for getting involved, it means the world to so many.
Thank you so much Susan for being brave to share with readers something so important. Just wanted to say that your quote from Dinah Maria Murlock Craik is wonderful and Im saving it. <3 <3 <3
One of my favorites! Thank you Maria!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Susan Branch. Lobbying is a big dirty secret in Washington. One of the first things we need is a law that says,”No former congressman can ever be a paid lobbyist for the federal government.” Of course, we will never have that law because guess who would have to pass it. Can you say,”Fox- henhouse?”
Yes I can! With you all the way Sandra!
Thank you, Susan! You are singing my song!!!
😘 Ruth!
I can hardly wait for the Girlfriends Tea mug to be available; I have girlfriends who need to be encouraged and enjoy the moment to “sit a spell”.
Me too, can’t wait, I think it’s really going to be pretty on that white china!
Gosh, I detest labels but I’m about to put my pin on as a conservative AND “try to walk as a Christian” and say I found nothing but an educated opinion in your well said piece. Both sides of the gate are doing lobbying. Both sides are culpable to our children and grandchildren. And the media??? Lord, help us!!!!
I find it fascinatingly awful that we live in this beautiful, democratic, free speech country ( your presentation was wonderful/peaceful/hopeful) and yet here are folks responding with an anger (well that’s what I got!) and saying they’re not coming back!!!!! Why discussion and a good ol’ heated dissent are one of the worthy principles our country is founded on!!!!! When I post something or speak to someone and I know my opinion differs I try to come from Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my lips and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you Lord, my rock and redeemer.” Well that’s exactly what you did and bravo girl!
Yay girl! Lord help us is right! I’m thrilled with what I’m reading . . . out of over 700 comments so far, there have only been a couple so blinded by the smoke screen of anger they couldn’t see the truth. But someday they will. They’ll see how we’ve been used as fodder for their game. Adore this: Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my lips and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you Lord, my rock and redeemer.” Thank you, Colleen. xoxoxo
Have an awesome day friend, God bless ya!
You too, awesome. happy. xoxo
Good rant and loved the pictures. But Ross Perot was anti LGBT don’t forget.
Well, he was from another time and being so new to what went on in politics, there were lots of questions I didn’t ask then that I do ask now, freedom for all is the only happy way to live … we didn’t get as many choices in those days!
I have been wondering for years, what happens to the people we elect to represent “us”. I keep waiting for Mr Smith goes to Washington and am usually disappointed in the end. They talk to us, pat us on the head and take money behind our backs. They always leave office with lucrative job offers or have already lined their bank accounts with enough to retire.
They must think we are chumps! More and more of the authors I know and follow, are speaking out politically, sounding an alarm. it is definitely scary times, not just here, but the whole world. And to cover what they are doing, they push out legislation that they know will divide us, so we can keep fighting among ourselves and never see the real issue.
I will do what I can, but it never seems enough. I think my hope for this country died in Newtown, when the ones elected to protect us, did nothing. They were too afraid to lose their money and by that time they owed the devil.
So sometimes you just have to tune it out and keep buying cups! Please get all the cups done by 2018……I want to retire!!
Love you always!❤️
It’s a scary time, but it’s also a reawakening time and that HAS to be a good thing! Like the song, God is Watching Us? We are watching them, like never before. Eyes on the Prize dear one. xoxoxoxoxoxo
I was so disappointed in Mary E making political commentary and now seeing this, feeling sad. Keep to what you do best and leave politics to each of us to discover and decide and vote. Not angry, just disappointed. You are my happy place and I don’t think adding your political comments will really change much. I, too, am discouraged by our political climate, but let me see your beautiful pictures and mugs and writings and recipes because that takes me away from this sad world. We need more happy and you, my dear, are the queen of happy. You do it well; keep it up.
Thank you Jan . . . I discovered the control unelected lobbyists have over our daily lives because someone was brave enough to talk about it. I felt compelled to do the same. What I wrote is truly not politics. It’s just the way things are done, a true thing, not an opinion thing. Don’t worry, I love all my facets, and the ones you like best, will always be front and center on this blog. xoxo
Jan T.,
I felt the same as you. Just a bit disappointed and sad. I appreciate your comment as I didn’t feel so alone when reading it. “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it” Aristotle
Jan T, I assume by Mary E you mean Mary Engelbreit. I thought I would point out to you Mary has a grand daughter Mikayla (yes of paper doll fame). Her grand daughter is half black and Mary and her husband are raising her since her son has passed away. It’s my impression she felt she had to take a stand on these matters because of her love and concern for the future of her grandchild here in America. Regardless of her Mikayla race and sex I admire Mary E. for standing up for her beliefs which part and parcel our right as Americans. Politics is not pretty but when done for betterment of its citizens it’s pretty great.
Could not agree more. Good for Mary. She walks the talk. xoxo
Good Morning, Susan!
Thank you for a wonderful & brilliant post….well said!!
My large Bluebird cup will be filled to the brim all day today!
Going to bake your molasses cookies recipe, it’s that-kind-of-day.
Thank you for always keeping it real. Stay safe. Warm hugs.
Best wishes,
Charl
PS Please tell Joe that I just purchased his cookbook. It is fabulous!!!
I will do that Charl! He’ll be thrilled! xoxo
Joe’s cookbook? What????
From the way back machine. Joe ran the Black Dog Tavern here on the Island for 25 years ~ he put out a cookbook for them … called, guess what, The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook!
Thanks…looking for a copy now!
Did you see the reference to the he Black Dog in Judy Blume’s book Summer Sisters?
Does she live on the Island?
She has, not sure she does now. . .
How did the word “he” get in there? Crazy!
Anyway, I believe food is a matter of personal taste and she could have left out the character’s comment.
I found Joe’s cookbook!
I have my own secret chowder recipe. 🙂 Great Lakes style!
Thank you for this post. This could not be more important than it is right now with another last ditch effort to overhaul the healthcare system. I know what we have is not perfect, but what is being proposed does not favor the average American. We need government to be “for the people” again. Thanks for being brave. We need more of this.
You’re so right, it isn’t perfect, but the powers that be are making it less perfect by the moment, so they give themselves a reason and “proof” to replace it. Why not just make it better. This thing they’ve just clapped together in order to get some sort of “win” has nothing to do with the health of citizens. I’m using #forthepeople often now on Twitter. I like it.
Hi Susan, Just think….if all of the girlfriends banded together maybe we could put a stop to the madness!!?? So tired of blow hard politicians and their crummy lobbyist friends. Girl power is needed.
xoxo Pam
Agreed. We need to make sure everyone knows! Thank you Pamela!
Well Done!! Thank you so very much for your wise words. Corporate money – or even tons of private money, for that matter – will be the downfall of our democracy. Putting this “toothpaste” back in the tube will NOT be easy, but we must never stop trying. XOXO!!
Excellent analogy. Gotta do it! xoxo
I had a hard time sleeping last night and woke up thinking about Trudeau, Angela Merkel, Theresa May, Macron – all world leaders, regardless of ideology, dignified, educated, have integrity, intelligent. How can it be that the USA does not have someone to lead us who is dignified, educated, has integrity, intelligence? Can you imagine if we did, what we could accomplish with these other world leaders? Regardless of ideology. I thought of you….and needed to share….
I can only believe things happen as they do for a reason. I think I see a reason beginning to come clear in the fog of verbal violence we’ve all be forced to live through. It seems to me that more than any time in my lifetime, people who at one time didn’t care, were complacent and trusting, are beginning to care now. I also think that no matter what side we might be on, we are all pretty much angry about the eroding of the middle class, the loss of our treasure and our jobs, the excusing of the banks, the allowing of the oil companies to wreck the earth, all of that. So now we need to fix it, but I think it’s much more about the lobbyists than it is about the leaders. They have nothing to lead. They can’t lead unless they do what the corporations tell them to, or they will be vilified and taken out of power. We gotta get rid of that. xoxo Thank you Regina!
Thank you, Susan! Well said and very informative! I hope Rachel takes you up on your suggestion because she does explain things very well and goes into great depth. You can tell she thoroughly does her research. Love her and you and appreciate the fact you also talk about “other” things on this blog. It is a big world out there with lots to cover and lots to learn even for a 64 year old woman. You go girl!
Thank you Mary … xoxo
Thank you. It is brave for you to talk about politics in any shape or form in these divisive times. True, we come to your blog for light and happiness, but it is also important to know how the world works. Let’s support folks who make the world a better place (like independent artists) and keep our support (money) away from those who would do us harm. I hope you weather the storm (natural and political) well and enjoy a blissful autumn.
Thank you Megan, it’s been quite a rewarding last couple of days, the comments have been inspiring. I feel much better for having done it. xoxoxo Happy autumn, our fave.
Hi Susan!
I will always be one of your “girlfriends!” You have inspired and continue to inspire me more than you will ever know, and for that I am abundantly grateful. Thank you! As I read your words, which I completely agree with, I felt fear. This is what I tell myself when events scare the you know what out of me. I tell myself, “God is control and He knows what He is doing.” Then I choose faith over fear, do what is mine to do, and let go and let God. Thank you for doing what is yours to do.
On a brighter note – any news about the movie? I sure hope it is in the works!
Have a wonderful day!
Terry
It’s still in the works, more on the side of hope than of actual works, but they’re still doing what needs to be done to get it into the system! Thank you for asking Terry! xoxo
Thanks for bringing this to my attention and saying it so eloquently. I did some digging and read about the American Anti-Corruption Act. I found it to be very interesting but I’m not sure yet how effective it is. I need to dig deeper! We all need to be aware and educate ourselves!
Good for you Renee, good for the digging. If ever you wonder “Could this be true?” you are not alone . . . it’s always good to check the author and sources. Or, to make it simple, put your true or false question to Politifact.com or FactCheck.org ~ they pride themselves, have won awards for, truth.
Hi Susan, Thank you, as always for your blog. I know it was probably difficult for you to put your thoughts out there. Unfortunately, greed drives so much in our world. It is one of the seven deadly sins, after all. There are plenty of lobbyists on both sides of the fence. Between the politicians and the media, the majority are afraid for themselves and they could care less about the rest of us. Social Security is supposed to be our money yet it’s tossed into a general fund and then we keep hearing how it will go broke. The same with Medicare; dollars were taken out of it and they’re saying it may go broke also. Why does it take a natural disaster like a hurricane or earthquake or terrorist attack to bring people together. We are all in this together; people are the most important ingredient. Yet money seems to be the be all to end all. On a lighter note, I love the new cups! And thank you for all of the beautiful “white” pictures. Be well and be happy! Love, Karen 🙂
It will go broke because they steal it from us, you are so right. I’ll shut up, now we have to do something. Thank you for your good words Karen, I’m so happy you love the cups!
Social security was set up as a sort of ponzi scheme, unintentionally I am sure. The tax dollars we contribute now pay the social security monies paid today. When I retire, it will be a problem because (1) there will be a significant number of seniors drawing down on it compared to number of people working to support those pledged benefits and (2) we have far fewer people earning sufficient salaries to collect tax dollars on. I recall reading that roughly 60% of employees in the U.S. earn less than $32,000 per year. That is not sustainable, on so many levels. But it isn’t that government is stealing SS, it is that it is not properly set up to remain viable.
I don’t know, I look at how much is coming in via taxes, and what is done with it, and it doesn’t make sense to me… They spend way over their budget, if they even have one, bail out everyone but the actual taxpayers, give entitlements to themselves, take us to war and don’t plan how to pay for it, so I don’t know, but I think a major redistribution is in order. I think our money should go toward the greater good. Greater. Look at this guy who was just caught flying around on taxpayer money to the tune of $300,000. I’m just a bit fed up.
I don’t know how you envision redistribution, but if you mean the manner in which the Scandinavian countries do, I am all for it.
I know so little about that, I need to read more.
The Nordic Theory of Everything sets out the case for the U.S. adopting single payer healthcare, publicly sponsored day care, free education through college, and pension for all. It works throughout the nordic countries, and the author argues, I believe successfully, that it can work here, if we have the will to do so. The personal account of Helen Russell, a British ex pat, is told through her fun-to-read book, A Year of Living Danishly. The Danes, Swedes, and Finns are definitely on to something. They are consistently rated the happiest people in the world.
I wish we could find a way to that. A better life for everyday citizens, that’s what makes a country truly great. Every homeless wanderer, ill in the streets, is a sign of cultural failure. Every suicide by a child. Something happened along the way, a drop through the cracks. Course no government can solve all problems, but it does help if it’s a little bit on the side of the people.
One thing we were always told when at Embassy events…do not discuss politics, sex, religion, or race. I can understand why you were hesitant to open this can of worms. Some of the comments show how divided we are as a country. I believe that is what those in power want. While we are fighting each other they are taking away our rights bit by bit. The best thing we can do is stay calm and use our laws and our voices to put things to right. Democracy dies in the darkness.
That’s what my Grandma said, something I’ve practiced pretty much all my life. I really had no choice, both my grandma and my mom were born in Iowa and they are a stoic but happy lot. I really have a problem with people making money on these things, making money on dividing us. I’m with you Barbara! xoxo
Well stated, Susan. I don’t think you’d lose a reader over this. (Maybe even pick up a few more kindreds!)
I’m grateful that Jose isn’t messing with the Vineyard too much. I’ve been worried about that and with all the other stuff going on — weather and not — I wasn’t hearing a lot about it, so that’s a big relief. Smart move, that 60′ above sea level!
And on another note, my Vineyard mug (for me) and Isle of Dreams (Christmas for a friend) arrived the other day. The timing couldn’t have been better! Lovely in every way.
Yes we’ve been very lucky. It’s been stormy for three days, boats still aren’t running this morning . . . but it’s only a storm, and not a hurricane. I’m dying to get out for a walk and see what’s gone on out there . . .I’m so happy you like the cups, Jeanie. I’m thrilled we are able to make such a nice gift for everyone to give! 😘
I taught school under Ross Perot’s reforms in Texas during the Eighties. We went into it kicking and screaming, but you know what happened? We turned the system around. “No pass, no play” is firmly entrenched in our education system to this day, as it should be. Teacher evaluation requirement tools are stringent but fair. We need Ross Perot back to help our legislators understand those are real kids we are working with and we. Red funding to educate them. Thank you, Susan Branch. I love your soapbox! I’m heading up to the grocery store to get a soap box of my own!
Interesting information I never knew about! Thank you Susan. xoxoxo
Thank you for the education. I sort of knew some of that, but you explained it beautifully. Hoping for change won’t make it so. We, the people, must work for change and push for it. I was reading this and your previous post to catch up with you, as I have been on vacation and still trying to get back into the groove. I enjoy your tea cups every morning, and I thank you for making them for us. My sister and I took my daughter to tea here in San Diego at a little English Tea Shoppe. Now we want to have a tea party for our girlfriends as you do in your loverly garden. First we must go thrifting for tea pots. Every time I read a post, Susan, I wish I could meet you and sit and chat with you. You seem so much like me. We are both artists and cat lovers and garden lovers. Thank you for sharing your days with us here. And here’s to a loverly autumn.
The great tea pot quest. You’ll likely have as much fun with that as you will at the Tea Party!!! Always the best parties ever! All my best to you, Charlotte, no doubt we are kindred spirits!
Charlotte — I find the most lovely teapots around San Diego County at antique stores. So much fun to shop in them and prices are generally very reasonable, too!
Love your new mugs, will definitely be ordering, I have all of them so far. These are so gorgeous. Please, please, please get back to regular programming! 🙂 Love you.
I rarely veer out of my lane unless I can’t help myself. All will be back to what passes for normal very soon.
Thank you Susan for using your blog once again for shedding light, love and the TRUTH on the world. These are troubling times and I for one (along with about a million Girlfriends) thank God for YOU!!💕👏
PS: Just wondering – remember those safety films that showed children getting under desks to protect them from nuclear fall out – will the climate change deniers look like this to future generations – I hear them yelling – what were they thinking!!!!!!
Very extremely possible. Our kids deserve better. Our planet, gift from God, deserves better. xoxo
Have you watched the documentaries What the Health and/or Cowspiracy? Great information about how the money makers are influencing what the public sees as ‘healthy’. It is GREAT information to have. It empowers us to do something to make a difference and offers a concrete way to do that which I’ve started and I love. It has a good end to the ‘oh my God what can I do’ thoughts you have while watching it.
Love it Rachel, thank you for the information. Had to look up Cowspiracy … thinking perhaps spell check was at it again! But no, spelled just right and so interesting looking!
Further to my previous comments, every single president has had lobbyists. This is not a right of center thing as some people may think. Obama had over 1,400 unregistered lobbyists. It seems greed can hide behind the scenes. And Rachel Maddow? Since we are all grown women and can respect each other’s opinions, I have one word for her – yuck! Since the election she and countless others of her political bent have been nothing but rude and tasteless.
Love you, Susan, for your bravery in voicing your thoughts.
Love, Karen
I don’t think anyone who understands this fourth branch of government, our lobbyist system, thinks it’s right of center or just started with this administration. Definitely not me, that’s for sure. It’s been around forever (although they are getting more blatant) and they are after everyone. Greed does not know the difference in the parties. Ross Perot on the other hand, was right of center. I love Rachel too, I love her because she and her people investigate deeply into things, and once in a while, when she gives out an incorrect fact, she is on the very next night with an apology and a fix. I think she’s dedicated to the truth, which is hard to come by these days. But don’t think I blindly believe everything she says. I like to make sure for myself. And so far, I have no complaint about the info I get from her. And, absolutely, Karen, we can all think differently on the media, the candidates all that, but we agree on this lobbyist thing. It’s hurting ALL of us. No president can change things for the people as long as lobbyists get more of our tax money than we do.
I love America!!! Now I’m going to go and pat my very big kitty.
Nancy Jo
Brilliant!
Sometimes I feel so liberal and sometimes I feel so conservative, and sometimes I feel so confused and befuddled that I don’t know what I feel. Thanks (again) for putting things into perspective for me. What you said points out the really important things and the evil of the lobby racket. And how we need to all pull together and make sure that what is right is right!! And I love your suggestion about Equifax!!! Thank you again for lovely pictures, wonderful quotes, beautiful mugs, and thought provoking information!!! You help keep me centered. Keep it up!!!
Ha ha ha, join the club Carol! xoxo Thank you for being here!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Well thought out, well stated, and full of information that we either have forgotten or didn’t know in the first place.
Thank you Tina!
Oh Susan,
What a troubled world we live it. We can feel it from the east to the west and all the way over here on Maui. Thank-you for your words. It was a risk to take for you to peel them off and share with the open and close, minded. I believe your right! Hopefully this message will be shared those capable of listening. We all need to open up and pay attention. This life will go on and on to our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. What are we doing for them?
Thank-you my friend! We will continue to send prayers to all those unfortunate family’s effected by all these hurricanes! So sad!😔
Count your blessings, everyday! I do!☺️
Aloha,
Susan from Maui
You are so right, Susan, future generations depend on us. And thank you for your prayers, which I hope have wings that spread and cover the whole world. xoxoxo
Honest, this is my last comment on our ongoing conversation about the state this country has come to…this was hot off the press this morning…if My people who are called by My Name would humble themselves and pray I will heal their land. How could I have forgot this answer!? It was there all along. I guess I better try it God’s way since He has already told us the way to get this mess taken care of and, vote better. I may not have to spend time chopping wood in Alaska after all. Just spend that time on my knees right here where I’m at. Ah, its a good day! How does that go…any day above ground is a good day, ha,ha! Everybody stay sweet. Bye!
Agreed! As Susan has mentioned again & again, it is God’s world – so, following His way makes sense: ‘if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’.
And, as others have mentioned, following a money trail (in whatever sphere it appears) can be illuminating: ‘for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil’.
I appreciate your blog (re:lobbyists)-so (too) many issues being hurled at us (the populace) that require confrontation. It’s difficult to prioritize challenges;- Gerrymandering is major issue in PA.
On a lighter note, a new rose has been named ‘Jane Austin”celebrating the novelist, in the 200th year since her death’ -The English Garden Oct./Nov. ’17
Gerrymandering is huge. How do they get away with that? It must be our fault. Pretty bad that we can’t trust the people we have VOTED FOR to take care of our country in an honest way. Did these people not have mothers? You would think they would know the difference between right and wrong!!!
What a wonderful message today, Susan. Thank you for the info. I’m (& most of my friends, men & women) so distraught over what’s happening to our country. We’ve been taken down on to our knees. It’s not only sad, but frightening. Anyway I can help to make a change, I am SO willing.
Me too. Let’s be thinking about it some more, and while we do, make calls, write postcards. Bedevil the bedevilers.
Thank you, Susan, for this very thoughtful and eloquent post about the state of our government. I thought I was going nuts hearing all of the pharmaceutical ads on television – one more insipid from the next – with all of the side effects. At one time they were only in publications (magazines particularly). They are all horrible.It feels like they think we are all a bunch of silly geese with no common sense!
I am so grateful for people like you who are not afraid to speak up. I just wonder if any of these “power houses” can stop and listen to the average person? Advertising runs the programming on our networks because money talks.
Thank you for your beautiful art and products. Thank you for your outspoken
honesty. It means a lot to me as a member of your girlfriends.
Janet O’Connor
xoxo
Don’t the side effects blow your mind? I hear them and think WHO WOULD TAKE THAT? Side effect: Death. Or, almost worse: Side effect: loss of bowel control, perhaps in supermarket or when you are out with friends.😜 Hello? But they are making jillions on these ads, and turning the medical world into drug pushers! Makes you wonder. Thank you back Janet, I love having you here! xoxo
I’m encouraged that many hospitals and clinics are now beginning to offer alternative, wholistic approaches to medicine along with Western medicine. The drug companies don’t like it because there’s no money in it for them, but too bad! I’ve taken a Reiki course and have used it on my dog (along with traditional vet care) when she had a deep cut and a pulled muscle. Both injuries healed up much faster than the vets predicted. I like to think the Reiki helped. Presumably, a dog can’t experience the Placebo Effect. We need more studies on wholistic health and treatments. I think it’s ridiculous that we take medicine that requires more medicine to treat the side effects of the original medicine and on and on in a vicious cycle. Enough, already greedy drug companies!!!
Acupuncture is the alternative that worked for me, actually saved my life . . . love the western doctors who use both!
I just realized I never think of you as ever having any kind of health problem, Susan…but I guess you’re just like the rest of us of a certain age! I’ve got a physical therapist who swears by acupuncture…for himself!
Hurray, Hurrah! Agree so much with you about “the money”! Always follow the money to find out the facts. It’s much like doing research or finding out who said what: “consider the source.” We can not hide under bushel baskets any longer- we must be awake!
I also like your new cups-especially the winter ones. I love winter!
Thank you so much for speaking up! We need more folks like you. I would be glad to call you a sister and a friend. God Bless you today and always!
The feeling is mutual Bebe, thank you so much!
As a conservative Republican, I heartily agree with you on all points! If you saw the movie “Lincoln”, you saw all the wheeling and dealing he had to do to get the 13th Amendment passed. I fear things have always been and will always be this way. Term limits? Does anyone seriously think these Congress people would vote themselves out of office? They think they have a cushy job for life. I believe if you serve even one term, you’ll get a very nice pension forever. Think they’ll vote themselves out of their Cadillac heath insurance program? Hardly. I once read a phrase that said “Think of how much could be accomplished if no one cared who got the credit”. If a good idea comes up, the politicians first have to figure out who originated it and then decide if they will vote nay or yea. Ridiculous. As for swamp people, what about Presidents and First Ladies who make hundreds of millions of dollars a year after leaving office? You never heard of the Carters doing this. Just as much as I find the lobbyists and politicians mostly (but not all) despicable, I have come to despise most news people. I don’t have cable so am stuck listening to regular broadcast news. I can’t stand having some NBC reporter with a smirk on her face, who makes no attempt to hide her loathing of the President and all Republicans, begin her report with “It was a bad day for the White House”. How about just giving us the facts and let us decide if it was indeed a bad day? I may not have cared for our last President, but I respected the office and respected what a difficult job that was. I think he did the best he could. It would not have occurred to me to march in the street proclaiming he was not my President. He won fair and square and I can live with that. I don’t mean to just vent here. But like all of you, I think it’s time the people of this country had a voice. Sadly, I don’t see things changing. I spend most of my days knitting for charity; it may not seem like much but at least it is a small way I can make the world a little bit better place. Thank you for allowing me to write. Yours was the first blog I ever followed and I have many of your books.
It’s gotten horrible out there, but we easily find common ground, such as, it’s gotten horrible out there! Thank you Linda, I appreciate how you feel. As a body, we have to quit allowing them to obscure what is really going on with their giant emotional smoke bombs of wedge issues they never intend to fix, only to use to keep us busy screaming at each other. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we found something we could ALL agree on and go after it? A little prayer. xoxo
Thank you, Linda B for voicing my feelings exactly! Bingo, bingo, bingo! All points……..I was very respectful of the former president and like you said of Carters……..though he was not my choice for President, I admired him greatly as a person. He was a healer, not a “harmer.” He loved humanity and he was genuine. I admired him and the First Lady ever so much as leaders of good people.
He’s been a perfect role model, hasn’t he ~ done so much for humankind, with his own bare hands. Love him.
I agree with everything you just said and am so happy to have read it here, in such an eloquent manner. Thank you!
I, too, am praying for our southern friends and neighbors, both in the US and the world, who are enduring these terrible storms as Mother Earth expresses her displeasure at what we have been doing to her.
And lastly, I can’t wait to pre-buy that WINTER cup!! I wanted that bluebird cup so badly but by the time I could afford it, it was sold out.
I have been priced out of the housing market in Seattle and am selling my little cottage and moving to Virginia where I can still afford to live as a single, middle aged woman. I hope to be able to use your lovely WINTER mug every morning as I observe the snowfall and other adventures the east coast promises me.
Virginia is so gorgeous. Do you have friends or family there, Paula? Thank you dear . . . and I hope your move will be easy!
Oh Paula, you are going to LOVE Virginia! My sister moved there last year and is loving it. They left N.J. because of the taxes and other high cost factors. Both my sister and brother-in-law are retired and their money goes much further in Virginia. Good luck!
Susan, I absolutely agree with you! You are my G(enius) girlfriend! Love Mr. Smith goes to Washington! How about Susan Branch goes to Washington? A little bit of your love and common sense is just what this world needs. I want to reserve 4 of your new tea mugs. I love the saying, perfect for my Tea parties…had a contentment challenge here, but I really need those mugs., so contentment challenge supspended temporarily. Love your leaves…I collected some great ones on my walk. Check them out on my page. Love ya. Xo
What is a contentment challenge? xoxoxoxo Love you!
Contentment challenge is no spending for 90 days except essentials, food and health care. Stress can certainly make the challenge difficult, stress eating and spending seem to be a common occurrence for stress relief. The contentment challenge is meant to see all of the good things already in our lives and appreciate those fully. I have also been working on a Transformation tracker. Mine is pretty simple, but I think you would like it..transforming a little everyday, as we change so does the world. It’s a nice thought anyway… there’s a reason my family calls me Annie upper. Let’s hope high together, shall we? Xo
Come live on an Island, it makes it so much easier, as long as you don’t hit the shopping sites on the Internet!!! I like this challenge, sounds quite wonderful. Contentment is such a gift. And we do have it all. Unless we turn on the TV! Annie Upper. Perfect. Thank you, High hopes forever. 🤜🤛
Ross Perot and a crazy, brilliant, liberal college professor opened my eyes to the nasty game of lobbyists in 1990 as well. I feel heartsick that greed continues to win over ethics. The mudslide is taking us all out and for the first time in my life I am seriously considering moving away from this country I have loved. Greed trumps all in our government and my hope is that the good that will rise above will be folks waking up and demanding better. Thank you for your bravery-your blog and books are my go to reads when the world gets too heavy. Women will save the world, but we have to know the truth, face it and be ready to take to the streets in protest. Let’s lock arms girlfriends. All my love-xoxo
Losing our good people would be the worst travesty of all. Thank you dear Julie, but if you do go, you have to take us with you!
I voted for Ross Perot back in the day…I liked his “non political” persona. Thank you for your post…can I say, “Ditto”?
Ditto covers it quite nicely Kat!
Good Morning Susan, Girlfriends. what a beautiful and chilly morning we have here… good excuse for keeping my warm and comfy slippers, keep my feet warm and toasty. okay Susan how many leaves did the winds and rain knock down??? 😉 tomorrow is the first of Fall, hard to believe it finally got here, so goodbye to summer and believe me I am not sorry to see it go.. too hot, too dry and too much fires. at last the air is sweet and clean again, and boy do I have a project for the weekend, taking down the curtains, washing them to get that nasty smoky smell out of them, ironing them and getting them back. my husband borrowed a friend’s incubator to hatch out some duck eggs, so hopefully we may have 11 ducklings in about 21-24 days. just what I need…. 11 more ducks… quack, quack. 🙂 plus the quails arrive tomorrow, and he plans to try when they start laying eggs to hatch a few more of those out…. I think the geese and turkeys are going to get jealous here I think… LOL!!! they are already frustrated because I put the clothesline away too early and they have nothing to do to torture me until spring… poor babies… LOL!!! the ducks are already wearing their Fall colors, they shed their bright colors or feather and grow feathers that make them blend in with the weeds and Fall colors about them.. hides them from duck hunters. the chickens are getting fat and fluffy for winter, so are the geese and turkeys, and Tom turkey is out strutting his stuff and showing off his fine feathers… the big ham!!! life in the barnyard is going about its normal business. I have a busy day ahead of me, laundry to do ( bedding and towels), and finish the windows for the Fall. just have the front window left to do and that is a big job. at least I can safely say all the windows are sparkling clean, and Fall cleaning is in full swing around here. also trying to decide between pot pies for dinner or roasted chicken. well off to go start the laundry and start work on the window, Happy Fall everyone, many Autumn blessings. have a wonderful day today. stay warm and comfy. and stay safe. hugs everyone….. 🙂
SO happy you are experiencing beautiful and chilly . . . it was way too smoky way too long! I don’t have to tell you to have a good day! xoxoxo
Blessings to you, Susan, for your truth! You’re a brave person to speak your mind in this way and to get us thinking, talking and taking action. Even those who don’t think as you/we do will hear another way to look at things and assess their viewpoints. Only, besides our votes, it’s so hard to know what to do and how not to be silent. So let’s keep talking, even if it’s not on your blog. Perhaps, with all of your free time(!), another political blog where we could share ideas and actions. Of course, I’m sure that can and is done on social media but I find the GF format here comfortable and safe.
To ALL who find inspiration and comfort in the Susan Branch world, we must remember that the love we have at home for those dear must spread to our neighbors, our communities, and out to the world. That radiates from the Heart of our Homes (to borrow from you, SB.)❤️
Beautifully said, Patty. If you have time, read some of these comments, the conversation is soooo good. One good idea coming forward is that we should ask our prospective candidates for ANY election what they think of all this and what they intend to do about it, and get a promise that they will move to get money out of politics. Make them write it in blood if at all possible. 🤑 But not yours or anyone you know! Thank you dear, always nice to hear from you. xoxo
Oh Susan — you are so right, in so many ways. We live in a wonderful country, and when disasters happen, we see the goodness and kindness in our fellow Americans. Unfortunately, that goodness and kindness seems to have a hard time reaching our elected officials for the very reasons you write about.
Speaking for myself, I find it hard to respond to everything that worries me (the changes of late are making my head spin). Political surveys and petitions have now filled my personal inbox to the point that I can hardly find an email that comes to me from an actual friend! I agree that we all need to make our voices heard by our elected representatives. I’ll strive to do better! The country our grandchildren and nieces and nephews inherit is at stake!
On another note, I just want to tell you how much I’m enjoying my bluebird mug. I take it out in the early morning, sit in my Adirondack chair over looking our koi pond and just enjoy that first cup of coffee — it holds A LOT! No need to get up for a second cup!! Sitting there, it’s hard to believe that bad things are happening in the world.
I want to compliment you on how clearly and succinctly you explained U.S. Government 101. These are thoughts I’ve had, as well as the gerrymandering that has run rampant.
Big deep breaths of fresh air, turn off the tv, and make a pie (take a nap or have a bubble bath). That’s my remedy for when I begin to feel overwhelmed. I’m right there with you JoAnne. I’m so happy you like your cup! Thank you for being here! xoxoxo
I read your article with mixed emotions – I wanted one place I could run to and not have politics have a platform – not that I didn’t appreciate your passion! It saddened me to lose my lovely spot where I found refuge from reading political thought. I am glad you feel passion for our country but I really just wanted your calm, peaceful blog to soothe my burnt, ruffled and politicized feathers!
Don’t worry, my calm and peaceful blog isn’t going anywhere, I love it just the way it is! I’ve written many posts, and this kind of thing is almost never the subject matter. But this really wasn’t politics, or opinion, to me, it was just like when I give a recipe, or a link to something interesting, tell about jars with red lids, or show a garden in England . . . it was important information I thought our Girlfriends would like to have, besides, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do it. xoxo
Dear Susan,
I agree with so much of what you wrote, and I found the background stuff on Lobbyists particularly interesting. However, I especially wanted to comment on your link re: Nancy Luce. Today, Sept. 21st, my calendar notes is International Day of Peace. Something poor Nancy did not see much of. I am very taken with her story by you, as well as the link in your comments for ediblevineyard.com/index.php/stories/article/nancy_luce
Boy, what interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing her memory:
Here’s some musica for you! 😉
{Mildred Bailey, Thanks for the Memory 1938}
youtube.com/watch?v=qphrZd2JhP4&index=6&list=PLO__6yUBAtk_Pahtwrbd_BL8G3GSwHyap
It is so sweet of you to honor Nancy on your new mug. Will you be offering one in the 11 oz. size as well? I find giant 16 oz. mugs to be too much. They go cold so quickly and are harder to store.
Anyway, this political writing is so interesting, I plan to share it with my dad and brothers, who might not normally read your blog, but this time I think they should 🙂
God bless… hugs, and a cup of tea!
Heather Elizabeth
Love Nancy Luce. I understand how you’ve been taken with her story. Her life was so very touching. You can’t help but relate to what she must have gone through, but she never gave up, although it really never got better for her. I am very proud of her. As for the cups, most everyone requests the larger cup, so far, I’m only doing the four seasons in the smaller size. But this is only my first year of cups, so we’ll see what happens in the future. I promise this bone china does hold the heat well. Thank you for sharing, Heather Elizabeth! I LOVED the song!
You have hit the proverbial nail on the head Susan – I believe as individuals we all have a moral duty to speak out loud and clear when actions, principles and systems are ethically or morally wrong – it’s not revolutionary it’s an obligation of mankind, a commitment to improve conditions.
There are some that find the subject matter not to their taste, however I am minded of the gardener who toils to make beautiful a patch of earth, pulling up the weeds and casting away the stones as he goes – I applaud you Susan as not only have you given us the beauty of your world but you have also opened up a meadow and the burden of responsibility lies with all of us to tend the ground and plant seeds that will equally prosper alongside one another.
Yeah, if you don’t know what compost does in the garden, and you don’t put any on, you miss out on a LOT!! Thank you dear. I love our Girlfriends. We are SO SO SO SO creative!!!
I appreciate your post, Susan. While I may not agree with all of it, I read it because you presented it so thoughtfully and you provided an opportunity for me to learn. I recently attended a lecture given by Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer prize winning presidential biographer and historian. I love his opinion on partisanship and differing views.
“Partisanship is not intrinsically bad. It’s in the nature of things, in the nature of human beings, to hold fast to views and allegiances, to heroes and creeds, to the exclusion of other views and other allegiances, other heroes and other creeds. Such is politics, which is both an emotional and a rational undertaking. What is worth avoiding is reflexive, rather than reflective, partisanship. The point of America is not for all of us to think alike; that’s impossible and undesirable in any event. Autocracies are about total agreement, or at least total submission; the American republic is founded on the notion that even the person with whom I most stridently disagree might have something to say worth hearing and heeding. The only way I can figure out whether that’s the case is by listening to the other guy, by weighing the relative merits of what is said, and by then, and only then, making up my mind. The danger lies in my reflexively dismissing a point because of the person making that point. Such is a foreclosure of reason—and a concession to the primacy of passion.”
It is so important for us to be able to share differing opinions without being afraid. Thank you for all of your posts!
Lovely Amy, I like Jon Meacham too. Smart guy. xoxo
Thank you for this thoughtful and informative post. As my daughter likes to say to me “You do YOU” – please don’t ever stop saying what you feel. It’s what drew all the girlfriends to you from the beginning – your honest love of family, home and country – everything that makes life rich and worth living. Sending love from SLO Town. 😘
Lovely words from your daughter! Thank you Patty! Love TO SLO Town. xoxo
I couldn’t agree more Patty! Of course we love all of the Charm City posts and inspired pics and recipes. But I love that you are REAL. That’s why all of the blog posts and books and art work are so lovely…because you are authentic. Not a conglomeration or automaton, but a woman wearing lots of hats, just like us! And that’s why we all feel like we know you! Ha! ♥️
“Just like us” ~ because I am. And I love us just the way we are! Thank you Tawni!
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!!!” Open your window and shout it to the world… Thank you, Susan Branch, for writing what I have been thinking for months. Amen to that! Love you…
I know just how you feel!!! xoxo Thank you Loretta!
Thank you, Susan, for sharing this. You came across as sincere in your desire to do something. I learned a lot, but I knew lobbyists are bad for our country. This explains why nothing ever seems to change despite changes in who’s in office. I think people are waking up and want to save our country, just as you do. Again, thank you.
My pleasure Sharon, thank you for listening. xoxo
Well…..Well….Well! You caught me by surprise! Well done, my dear! Definitely food for thought and I will have to read this again a little later because you caused my brain to activate and then trip over it’s feet!!! I WILL go back and re-read this post. It truly interests me how other people think. I have a mind for a reason……to take in information!! Have been very worried about you and Joe and Kitties……and house! Sending prayers your way. This whole storm issue is AMAZING!! Hold on tight!!!! Love you tons!!
Love you back Pat! xoxo
Love this post, Susan. Not talking about things doesn’t make them go away – it just fosters ignorance. I knew lobbyists were not a good thing, but I really appreciate your explanation. We do need to keep money out of politics.
I read this quote yesterday in a book, and wanted to share it with you and the girlfriends.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Take care, dear Susan.
Susan M.
They do fail, so far, it seems they have. xoxo
Yes, yes, yes to everything you wrote. Unfortunately, none of it is news to me, but it seems as if all of what you said is getting worse. There are no simple solutions to complex situations. But knowledge is power, and once you know, you can’t pretend you don’t know. Thank you for voicing your thoughts.
Thank you back Carol!
This brings back good memories of Ross Perot. He had a real common sense approach to fixing problems in the government. He was a wealthy man who had a heart for the working man. I loved that take charge, can do attitude that he had. That was the attitude that my parents had. My Dad fought in WWII so that we would have the freedom to speak our opinions and have religious freedom as well. You very sweetly and diplomatically shared your opinions.
I thought I would chime in with my opinions as well:
*You are spot on about the lobbyists. I have gone up against them at the state level when I would advocate for help for people with disabilities (I have a disabled son). All the legislation that I tried to get passed was killed by the lobbyists. The amount of money we needed to fund the programs was often less than the salary of just one of those lobbyists.
*I have a degree in science and have studied for years some of the issues you discuss. Global warming is on very shaky ground scientifically. Climate change happens. You really have to study historical weather patterns. However, companies do need to stop polluting our world, because it harms everyone. Fracking is causing many problems. For one, water sources are being depleted in order to do fracking. My aunt has no water in her town because the oil companies drain it from the local lake. They had to run a pipe to a neighboring town to draw from a small lake. I grew up in the oil patch, and if bad decisions had not been made in the past, we would not need to frack now.
*I believe in the right to bear arms. The bad guys can always get weapons. No one would walk into a school and start shooting if they knew the teacher could shoot back. Just Sayin.
*It is silly when people fight over politics. Here is why. When congress gets out of session these politicians get on private jets with their sworn political enemies😉, and they fly to beautiful and exotic places and vacation together. Behind closed doors they are very good friends, because however mean they are to each other in the news and on the senate floor, etc., they are actually well paid, well dressed, well spoken actors who say the words that they are paid to say by the people who write the scripts, the lobbyists. (Usually from big Pharma and insurance companies.)
So my dear we have come full circle. I love you, your blog, and your beautiful creations. I will never leave you or forsake you, because you express opinions that I may not agree with. I hope that every one is more tolerant of each other’s opinions whether they are red, blue or purple.💜
Thank you for throwing in the purple people! 😊 Thank you Kara!
I think we share that same “little voice”… You could not have expressed this better. We need to change. Fast… Lots of little voices can become one very…LOUD…voice.
SO agree Melanie!
very well said, it reminds me that despite what we are told by politicians, news media and all those others that we are not a world of separate races, like the Asian race, the black race, the Hispanic race and so on, red, white, blue, green, brown, purple, yellow, plaid , polka dotted, or striped we are all one race, the human race and we had concentrate on getting along with each other. we’re all we have. and the same goes for opinions, we all have our own thoughts and opinions on all subjects, some agree, some do not. but then that is makes us so diverse… we can all agree to differ. we have different cultures in this world, but that is what makes us so interesting… the difference.
meant to say we had all better concentrate on getting along with each other. I keep hearing black lives matter, well what about the rest of us, we matter to.
Yeah, just happens to be this little thing about innocent black boys being basically mowed down out there. Very scary world for them and their families. Their moms are having to lecture them on “how to behave when the police stop you.” Maybe it’s not being reported, but I don’t hear it happening to white boys. So, you can understand how this might be a rallying cry. All lives matter. Black lives matter too.
well I can remember a long while back when I asked my grandma about race and colors and what she showed me and talked to me about was simple: she took out my box of Crayola crayons and dumped it on the table and told me that this was what race and color was all about. just the colors in a kid’s Crayola box and it was a pretty silly thing to get all upset and worked up over and it seemed to her a silly thing to die over, just the simple colors in a crayon box.
Sweet Grandma thing. But racism does exist and to say, “what’s to get upset about” would be a hard thing for many to take. I’m always trying to walk a mile in everyone else’s shoes.
I can’t wait until the entire planet is filled with beige people. Then it will get better. You’re so right. It’s why I love New York. You can be some places there that you can’t tell what country you’re in, mode of dress is interesting and colorful, and the FOOD is fantastic!!!
Thank you for bring this point up. It is something I have been saying for years. It is unfortunate that many people in this country do not want to believe this about are government.
It’s been a fairly good secret is what I think. You only hear a word or two, but the whole story is something I’ve never heard but that one time.
A book to check out from your public library: The Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen. Highly recommend!
Looks fascinating! Thank you Sally!
Sadly I think there are not enough Congressmen who would vote against lobbyists because it is a future source of income. They are, in one way or another already lining their pockets from big business and can’t personally afford to not take money from the horses mouth. The swamp just keeps getting bigger and deeper. If we had any idea how much our congressmen were taking beyond their salary they would probably all be voted out of office. Susan you are absolutely right about following the money. This is exactly what is wrong with the government. It’s all about the money and not the people.
Maybe if we threaten them at voting time, either they pledge to do it, or they lose our vote. I’m pretty sure they don’t know we are serious. xoxo
Thank you, Susan, for such wise words. I was angry with you back when you commented on the last election results. But that was wrong on 2 counts – the first being that time has shown you to be completely correct, and the second is that it is important for each of us to speak up for the things we believe in and the things that matter. Your thoughts are spot on, and our wonderful country needs to make some big changes, and that has to start with each one of us standing up for what is right – not political parties and all the mess that comes with all that – but what is right and strong and true. I wake up each day now afraid to turn on the news and see what outlandish thing is happening or being spoken. The best thing to come of all this is that we are all waking up to realize that we must all be involved, and it will take millions of our voices and efforts to make the changes that will be required. Again, thank you so much for being you, and for sharing your thoughtful and helpful comments with all of us that love you.
LOL, well, that is very sweet of you Sherrill. You’re a doll. Your words mean a lot to me. xoxox
Oh my! That quote by Adolf Hitler made me cringe! Sadly it is so true and damaging as you see all over t.v. in our day and age.
I read it so long ago, and I have never gotten it out of my head, although I refuse to put it in my handwriting! There are several very telling things said by both him and his hideous henchmen that pretty much tell their entire philosophy of how to fool and take over a suffering nation. xoxoxo
there is a movie about this about how the Nazi movement and how it took over in Germany, planting the idea that all Jews were evil and not to be tolerated but eliminated and encouraging people to turn them in, get rid of them, shun them and it was horrifying. the movie is called ” The Mortal Storm”, starring James Stewart, Robert Young, and Robert Stack. it portrayed Robert Young and Robert Stack as brothers how Hitler’s philosophy ripped their family in half and how others saw this coming and were leaving only to return to help others leave for their own safety. very sad movie but it showed how Nazism crept into German society and very innocently. you should try to catch it on TCM or find it on DVD.
It sounds so familiar . . . I will look for it. Thank you Pat!
My great-aunt unexpectedly came into money in the 1930s, so she and my great-uncle traveled the world. (I should say, only after first, and unselfishly, helping [financially] a lot of family, friends and neighbors who were still very much suffering in The Great Depression of the U.S.) Well before World War II … I think 1936 … my auntie & uncle sailed across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary from New York (only her 2nd time out as the great ocean liner, homeward bound for Southampton) to explore Europe. They were just a couple of footloose ‘kids’ in their 20s, ready to have fun, themselves having grown up as children in the pit of hardship in the earlier days of The Depression (which, of course, lasted ten long years [plus]).
Auntie would tell me a lot of stories when she was old; she liked to reminisce, good and bad, about her colorful life (lived to be almost age 100!). One story was from that year of 1936, that particular trip to Europe…of passing through Germany as naive/’green’ American tourists, and seeing the preteen German boys marching as soldiers in formation on the streets – – the two of them, Auntie and my uncle, clueless and woefully-uninformed to know that this was the Hitler Youth, right in front of their very eyes – – and how it seemed wrong and very odd (the feeling that something was just not quite right), because everything else they were seeing, traveling through Germany in the usual tourist spots, seemed ‘okay’ … but, ‘average’ people like my American small-town aunt & uncle had no way of knowing what was really going on behind the scenes; instead of reading world headlines that had been raising red flags about racism in far-away Germany, my young aunt & uncle just read travel ads about cruising the beautiful Rhine and seeing castles; the travel brochures didn’t talk about Nazis.
I don’t mean for this to make my aunt & uncle sound shallow and insensitive (they were givers/philanthropists, til the day they died). The shadows of war fell soon enough. And my aunt would talk of how chilling it was to belatedly realize/learn they’d been in Germany when terrible things were going on; it made her and my uncle feel badly to think that while tourists there, others were suffering in those first concentration camps created by monsters who’d slowly but surely…an insidious creep from deep within a troubled government/country…gained the upper hand, manipulative and dishonest; deceptive.
I’m not well-read on World War II but, in reading I actually HAVE done on the subject, it seems there indeed was resistance on the part of good, conscientious German citizens to go against the Hitler regime and who wanted no part of his philosophies/decisions/’rule’, but it wasn’t strong enough, it sounds like some of it was a case of ‘too little, too late’, and there weren’t enough of them to go against something that got so huge. It’s a forewarning that leaves ME chilled, some 80 years later.
They don’t sound shallow, they sound normal. Good people have a very hard time accepting that such evil can actually exist. That’s what gave it such a foothold in Germany. Nobody could believe it until it was waaaay too late, exactly like you say. We think, especially when young, that the way we think is the way others think. That’s much to much of a learning curve for me! And now? There are people out there that deny the holocaust. That’s why, boring as it is, it’s important for us to care and stay strong. xoxoxo Thank you for that interesting and very telling story Vicki.
not to take away from this posting but have some very happy news to share with you all…. The Chetco fire is now 98% contained and all fire evacuation orders are cancelled. we are no longer on level alert, its all over with….. WOOHOO!!!!!! thanks to the rain, this fire is under control and just about over with.
Love to hear that Pat, it’s been going on waaaay too long!
Well said. You spoke what’s in my heart. Thank you. You’re a blessing!
Thank you for including R and D in your political rant…they, and us, are all to blame! I’ve never missed an election since I was old enough to vote; it’s my way to thanking our military for doing the ugly deeds to keep us safe. I do agree the problem, at least part of the problem, are the lobbyists and the obscene sums of money they throw toward getting more and more money in the form of government handouts. The good ones in government are few and far between; it’s been that way for donkey’s years.
The amount of graft in Obamacare is also obscene…I used to have the largest flock of colored sheep in the Commonwealth of VA yet I was against $5Million going to the wool industry. What, pray tell, did that have to do with health care? Those 1200 pages were full of such pork; it wasn’t about healthcare, it was about re-distributing tax dollars and it’s still about money.
I despise the lobbying situation and would love for it to become illegal – HA! not a snowball’s chance in Hades of that happening…the inmates run the asylum and have for decades! I’m for term limits…I think the rascals should have to do honest work after “serving” the people.
I’m for being able to fire government employees when they aren’t doing their job.
I’m for tolerance…going both ways. We can agree to disagree, agreeably, when our views clash.
Come November, I’ll vote again…God only knows for whom because the rascals running aren’t worth a toot…none of them! But I will vote.
Me too Sandra…some of us have been talking, we should ask our prospective candidates: Do you promise to work and VOTE to get money out of politics? How, exactly? Will you promise to work on a bill to remove the lobbyist system from our government? Things like that. You can probably think of better ones than these.
The sad truth presented thoughtfully with pauses of beauty so our hearts won’t falter. I am with you!
Thank you Susan!
Thank you, Susan, for your heart-felt comments. It is up to each generation to fight for Democracy and we all have to be ever vigilant. I am not at all sure this country is going to survive, but there is always hope. Your wonderful spirit does much to heal us and help us appreciate the simple things in life. Than you for putting so much positive energy in the universe when we need it the most.
I love your new mugs!
It ain’t over till it’s over. 😃 Thank you Carol!
Thank you for sharing your incredibly astute and thorough insight with us. I am retired but worked for many years in environmental compliance and remediation. I can tell you that it makes me so angry when the government wants to deregulate everything and chip away at our environmental treasures – consequences be damned – so the oil industry can drill for more oil! I can tell you from experience in a long career, self regulation does not work and once a site has been contaminated, it takes a long time, lots of work, and truckloads of money to repair – and then it’s never the way it was before. I have friends who are still working in the environmental field and the stories, especially from USEPA, are horrifying. We are in for a rocky ride.
The lovely, white photos between your dialogue was greatly appreciated. I try to stay current and aware, but at times it’s overwhelming. We all need to balance out watching/listening to/reading news to being outside, appreciating our homes and all we have, and spending time with loved ones. “White photos” will now be my code word for when the world of politics is closing in on me.
I am also a fan of Rachel Maddow (I saw someone else mentioned her), and appreciate the research she does. She does an excellent job of following the money.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new mugs coming in January. I will have to step up my pace with decluttering to fit a few more exceptional mugs into my cabinet. I love the ones I have purchased so far. They are in constant use. Also, they are remarkably strong. I enjoy drinking my morning tea outside and use your mugs all the time. I accidently knocked one over on a metal table. It survived unscathed (however, the tea was a total loss…). I am more careful now. Had it fallen on the patio, it probably would have been a sad story.
Thanks again for taking the time to pull together this blog and make us all more aware. I truly appreciate it. Also, thank you for helping remind us of what is really important and making it easy to find something to smile about (white photos). Peace be with you.
I laughed at “self-regulation.” Greed triumphs every time. Once we accept that as a reality, we can learn how to curb it legally. I hope. It is overwhelming! You are so right. Do me a favor, Lorraine, Google “Contact Rachel Maddow” ~ they give you an email address, write her and ask her to do an in-depth look at how the lobby system works, dark money, in politics. I did it, but we need help. I would like to see this information out there in a much bigger way. Love that you love the new mugs!!!! I’m so excited about them! Love your testimonial. xoxo Peace.
Great idea! I will send an email and ask her to do some digging. She may have already done it and just needs an update.
Maybe, I haven’t seen it though. Which of course means nothing! 😜
Oh dear Susan!
Yes, I totally agree with you and I can understand why lobbyists have been on your mind. Some definitely serve a great purpose, but for the most part, large corporations are out for themselves and right behind them is Congress. You made a couple of points I was not aware of, thank you for the enlightenment. There are times when we must speak what’s in our hearts and share an opinion. Some will understand and others would want to argue with you. All in all you did the right thing. I, for one, will continue to keep abreast of what goes on in our country and continue with daily prayers that someday we will all wake up and smell the roses. In the meantime, your blog is a breath of fresh air and calms the sometimes unsettlement in my heart! I continue to believe there is more good than evil in the world and that all will come to pass. Will continue my prayers that the hurricanes will pass you by and pray for those who had to go through the horrible disasters. Just keep it coming dear Susan! And, thank you!
I totally agree, way more good in the world than bad, but bad is so much more determined than good is. We have to change that! Thank you Merci. xoxox
TESTIFY, Susan!!! Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, and dare I say, maybe the top billing. As my husband often says, capitalism is a failed experiment. I, like you, believe in democracy (with a minor tweek of socialism, I.e. Universal healthcare and free education.) the sad part is, how do you get the recipients of this avalanche of money to vote for stopping it? I get so sad when I think of what we’ve become. Thanks for speaking up.
I like a little socialism with my meals too. All it means is “for the people.” “They” have tried to demonize it, give it a meaning like communism or something, which is ridiculous, but just more proof of how they are against us, and want to spend our tax money only on them. Smart kids? That’s the BEST HOPE for this country. Free education, like they have in so many other countries, would be such a huge help, for all of us. I think the way to do it is to ask every single candidate that interests you, whether in office now or not, before you give them your next vote, you ask them face to face, what are they going to do to end the lobby system. Make them talk about it. Thank you Lynne, as you can probably tell I am still waking up in the midst of a dream about this subject! Ha ha ha!
Thank you, Susan. My book club and I would wholeheartedly agree. Thank you for putting this into words and letting us know that we are not alone. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot say. We are all entitled to our opinion and our right to have one. ❤️
Thank you Jerrie, it does my heart good to hear that. Hello to your book club!!! xoxoxo
We should be working to overturn Citizens United and prohibiting lobbyists. You are right. This should be ground zero.
Yup, without this, nothing else really matters. xoxo
What does it mean to be white today? I feel like I have done something wrong by just being white. I was taught that God loves us all,red,yellow black and white all Gods children. I feel we are caught in a news media web, damned if you do damned if you don’t, I live in an area where there is a large black population, and every night there is a shooting, stabbing, or murder. Almost all committed by young black men or even young boys, I wish I knew why, but I don’t. Mothers crying because their children are face down in a pool of blood. committed by another black youth.I don’t feel you really have that on Marthas vineyard,you feel safe , me not so much.
SUCH an important conversation. But, HUGE, so big, there are experts that can explain better than me. You sound like you care, there are many web sites that help us understand what we need to do. But generally, if you look at societies where there is no middle class, where good jobs are hard to find, where schools are financially starved, where mental illness is not treated, where there is no early child care, where people are kept down by the system, where children grow up with violence around them and learn and believe that all is hopeless, that’s a society that is brewing violence. READ THIS for a better understanding. As long as part of us is kept down, we all stay down. White is fine. It just can’t rule totally, that’s wrong. We are in it together, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight . . . ” People need a voice. We all do. You and me have one (perhaps to our own detriment), but there are many that feel silenced. Brave question, don’t stop looking for the answers because this thing about whites being put down is truly a talking point you never want to go with again. It’s not true. One glance at our congress will tell you, we are well represented. God Bless us one and all. xoxo
Yes indeed, we are all precious in the sight of God. Being half Mexican and half anglo, and having been with my African-American husband of 39 years until his death 5 years ago, I can tell you that racism in America has improved greatly over the years (good job, Americans!) but there is still a long way to go. Many people think that because they don’t personally experience racism and because there are many laws in place to try and prevent it, that it no longer exists in our country. Not so. We must stay vigilant and keep fighting the good fight until all people in our country, no matter our race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual identity or sexual orientation have a level playing field. I believe with all my hear that we can and will get there as long as we keep our eyes open to the truth and commit ourselves to helping one another in any way we can!
It HAS improved, quite a bit I think, I love hearing that from you Marianne. But yes, we have a lot more to do. The kids get it much more than the oldsters, thank God for them. I believe, as you do, with all my heart, that it can get better. Joy for all people on earth, no matter skin color, religion, gender, on an on. You’re human? You have rights. 😘 It’s actually pretty easy. No “leaders” suggesting otherwise in order to spread fear. UnAmerican! xoxo
Thank you Thank you Thank you Susan!
What you shared with us…needs to be said & shared ….
Our country is starting to come apart at the seams…
there are sooo many of us who believe in our country …
And can be ever hopeful…but we all need to speak up
and take action.
You’re so right… the lobbyists are taking over whatever they
can ….and doing it at our expense. So scary
And trying to keep it low key so we don’t know what’s
happening.
Speak up & speak often.
Contact your senators & congressmen….but also local
politicians. Lobbying is happening in our states too
& not just in DC
We need to do ‘an intervention’ and take our country back!
Yeah, agreed. If you and any of our Girlfriends have time, please Google “Contact Rachel Maddow” ~ an email contact will show up, click on it, write a message that says, “Please do a week-long detailed expose of the lobby system, of dark money, of how money works in politics, how we are losing our votes because of it.” She could move this forward … Thank you Claudette. xoxo
I will always remember what Jimmy Carter said after he was out of office (at least that is when I heard about it)…something to the effect he THOUGHT he was elected the president till he got into office. I suspect that is often the case. We were SUPER involved in our state’s caucus…clear to the state wide convention. THAT is when we became painfully aware that ALL decisions had already been made behind closed doors…that convention was simply a cheer leading party…of which I never was keen on in high school and certainly was not in government. The candidate (a great woman as it was) was not even supported by our party…not funded…even though she had the support of the majority. Hmmm, how did that happen? I personally do not think votes count. Even not considering the electoral college. And as for the evil ones? So many…so so many. Yes, there are great people like so many here commenting…but I fear we are far outnumbered. I have no idea what on earth might actually make things as they ought to be…getting rid of lobbyists would be a great start…but…so much more. The insurance companies of this country are a huge shame. Yea, they and the outpriced medical services will take us all to the poor house if possible. We have to help our daughter who has some larger than average medical expenses (thank you immunizations…it ruined her stomach indirectly…due to making her so sick she had to be on antibiotics for most of her first 10 years of life…long story and I could write a book…and no don’t tell me that is just our problem…and if you got off lucky and your children are fine…good for you). But because of the mess Obamacare made of the wonderful deal her little family run company had going for the employees, now we, on our limited social security and tiny pension, have to help pay for her medical expenses. She was doing it ok on her own prior. Long story…but we really DO NEED her little company…you know what they are doing?? In a small obscure town in the middle of NC? They are developing fuel cell technology. No one there is paid all that well…but it is a wonderful bunch of folks to work with and we just wish the govt would plain leave them alone!! Esp. instead of causing so much grief for those like our daughter…hard working, very upright, generous, kind person. I better quit while I am ahead. I do think about the best thing we can do at our age at least, is pray and ask GOD for mercy and help and then as we can help others. By the way, our credit union is helping victims of the hurricanes…matching up to $250 donations, which go directly to those hurting…and no stupid so-called “middle men” inbetween…so I hope others will keep their eyes open so us poor folks can at least help others in a bad way right now!! Maybe if the younger generation with the energy and perhaps the money sees us sacrificing to help others…maybe it will catch on and they will have the ways to change things…hope so!!
I’m afraid you’re right about votes not counting, that’s the thing that HAS to change if we’re to survive as this wonderful country we love so much. Blessings on you and yours Elizabeth. I understand the struggle. I really don’t know anyone that hasn’t at least a piece of this in their lives. Does Washington realize how they’ve pulled the rug out from under the middle class? I guess not. It’s a fatal mistake in my opinion.
I kind of think it possible at least, Susan, that the powers that be, well know they are destroying the middle class (educated people often at that)…certainly I doubt anyone much cares at all here in this state…and in some other states I have friends in as well. I am grateful my parents and grandparents are not here to see this day!! Truly!! I am so sad for our kids and grandkids…I personally do not think we can save this country or the world…I think it will be only GOD who one day finally fixes things for good!! THAT is my hope! Meanwhile, every day I am doing every last thing I can to make things better for others. And I will say, though we did come VERY close some years ago, due to the NAFTA agreement that caused my husband to be laid off…we did come close to bankruptcy…but we never went hungry (and did not go bankrupt)…had to eat very simply, but we always managed to have enough and often fed others too. Tacos, sandwiches, burritos, stuff like that…cheap stuff…but ok food. Yet during that awful time, was the very best 20 months of life when the most of our kids were home…there can be serendipity in spite of everything. Your life story is a great encouragement to me too, by the way…things were surely at a very scary point for you too and look where you are now!!
Joe had a bankruptcy when the banks walked off with the country’s money in 2008. He had JUST opened his new, very expensive and well-received restaurant, and then suddenly people stayed home in droves. We worry too. I don’t know a soul that hasn’t felt this. We do what we can, don’t we, and put a little flower in a vase, and dance in the kitchen and start again. xoxoxo
Aww…that was awful for your Joe…a job means so much to a lot of men…I think my hubby loosing his was perhaps the hardest thing in his life. But so wonderful how things have worked out for you…I have most of your books on my shelf…and enjoy often going to look at them, having read them all the way through…and looking forward to your next adventure…do hope you 2 will be safe in your travels!! xoxoxo back to ya!!
I do have to add this bit of humor to our story…some years later, long after hubby was gone from that company that laid him off, they had to send for our son to come help the company out…sent for him from the east coast clear out here to WA state…hahaha…they HAD to have known he was his dad’s kid…looks like him, same unusual last name…so life does hold some vindications!!
It was the same for Joe, devastating. No choice but to “pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.” We did a rethink, changed everything about what we do and how we do it, and been fighting back from it ever since. LOL, love these sweet kinds of vindications. xoxoxo Best to you Elizabeth.
Thank you for giving us this information. We can make a difference. God bless you (and Joe and Jack) and keep you safe.
And to you Nelle, thank you. xoxo
Thank you for an insightful post we need to stay woke✌
I love this “Stay Woke” thing. Thank you Antonia!
Thank you Susan, for giving us hope, we can change government. It’s not that we don’t know this we never stopped long enough to really think about it. You are correct. This has gotten so out of hand. I will spread the word and do what ever I can to work on correcting this problem.
If we put our head together we can change this. Thanks for pulling our skirts. Love you and all your beautiful things, have lots of them. Just started using this beautiful cup, even tho I have five. Don’t want them to get broke. Now I know you have more that I can purchase. Love you lots
Don’t worry about the breaking. The man from the company visted us, slammed one of them, right in front of me, hard, on my kitchen table, and scared the bejeebers out of me. But it didn’t break. I wouldn’t DO that, but I’ve used mine constantly, in and out of the dishwasher and they still look like new. And thank you for the interest in that post. We’re in it together. xoxo
Thank you Susan🐦Before I read your blog this evening I had finished the first draft of my monthly letter to my states Senators and Congressmen. Your lesson cheered me up and I will need to work on a new draft. I’m feeling a little road weary from political news. Then I think how fortunate I am and how all the people affected by the hurricanes have had their lives turned upside down. Wishing you and Joe safety from the storm. Thank you for bringing me back to reality.
As you are weary from the knowing, others are just discovering, and our team of enquiring minds is growing ~ knowing that is what helps me with the weariness. Love your letter. Never give up. xoxoxo
Thank you for sharing your perspective- it has made me think about how much I don’t really know about the mechanics of our government.
I appreciate your honesty and diving into an uncomfortable subject.
I appreciate your open mind, thank you Carol.
I have to be honest, I don’t understand it all but I thank your for planting the seed! A government for the people by the people!
A lot to think about and re read for hopefully a better understanding!
Took me a while too, but soon the pieces will fall together in your mind for quite an aha moment. Knowing is disappointing, but it’s way better than not knowing. Thank you for caring Daralyn!
Dear Susan,
Nothing could change my love for you and what you do. Sharing your thoughts and convictions is brave in this country these days so YOU GO GIRL! I loved every one of your white pictures. You always make me smile. Thank you!
Melissa
Love having you here Melissa, thank you!!
Apathy——far too many people populate this country and expect so much but give so little. Not just talking money but time–time to educate themselves about who to vote for. You can’t force people to think and that is what is required to turn this country around……fast food, fast talk, give me this, give me that, all without so much as a thank you…. they just expect it and are not willing to work on changing anything–let the next guy do it……..apathy.
I worked in politics on a local level and would try to have caucuses so people could meet the candidates and ask questions……..well good luck…it interfered with Monday night football or bridge night or a million other excuses……….apathy. So yes, I got out of politics as I felt I was beating my head against a brick wall.
So Susan—don’t ever stop expressing your views as a spark might ignite in some apathetic heart and spread from there one person at a time. Even if only one person gets educated from this posting it is one more than yesterday,
One of our Priests said it is better to save only one person than to do nothing so keep on posting.
Linda from Idaho where our daytime temps dropped in 2 days 43 degrees! We went directly from mid 90’s to 50″s!!! Will pray the storm does you no harm.
Almost seems like politics has become the new national hobby! Looking at Twitter, it’s the subject of the day. I really give the credit to our President. It’s such a good thing (not discounting the chance of nuclear war)! We have lived in la la land about what is true for waaaaaay too long. Thinking our vote for President will actually change the way things work. I so agree with your priest, waking from the dream will be the thing that saves us, one curious mind at a time. Thank you so much Linda from Idaho. Yikes on that weather, I thought we were the freaky ones at 63 degrees today! I heard it was snowing in Poland! Just ridiculous! Always good to hear from you!
Thank you so much for this post! I agree 100%.
We are in Cape Cod right now and are enjoying the nor’easter with the wind and rain ☔️! The ferry isn’t running so it was difficult to find a place to stay in Falmouth. We miss New England so much. We are going to a wedding in Boston and are in a holding pattern on the Cape.
The greatest heist of our Democracy has happened by our enemy because of a sick Congress held in the grips of lobbyist and “Citizens United”. You know the old saying that money is the root of all evil, I am praying that at least the courts will save the US. We are losing our precious and fragile Democracy and I am hoping the country as a gasp in horror will rise up and save it. The first step is to see what is going on. The only hope is for the voters to stay informed with the truth, and not be conned.
More and more I’m hearing your voice in the media, I just hope people are believing it! I think the renewed interest in politics, due a lot to Donald Trump and his talk about fake media, is making people look deeper for the truth. No one enjoys being fooled. This is a good thing in a very scary time. I’m sorry we didn’t give you some better weather, but since you love New England, I have no doubt you are finding something about this wildness to revel in. Stay dry! xoxo