Dear Senator Boehner,

You ran on a platform of “Where are the jobs” promising to make sure American’s get back to work. You had a plan to do so, you said. You won, and now we’re all still waiting to see your plan to get people working again, only you still haven’t shared it. You don’t seem to have one. It’s strange, I was raised to believe if you knew how to help people you did it freely and with joy because “it’s the Christian thing to do” or as many Americans are taught in Sunday school “sharing is caring”. I don’t know how you were raised but I was always taught and believe even today that people are more important than money. Somehow the Republican party seems to have forgotten that.

Please explain why with the Bush tax cuts in effect since 2003 we’re still losing jobs and have been for months. Please explain how cutting the size of government will increase employment, it seems to me that will in fact add more to the rolls of the unemployed. Please explain the mathematical formula you used to calculate that the democrats are at fault for a recession that started 3 years before they took back the senate and house. The blame game really doesn’t work anymore now that we’re in a world where things like wikileaks, anonymous and others dedicated to a free transparent open government expect. The historical record has a habit of not being kind to people who cheat and push responsibility elsewhere. Do you want that to be your footnote in the history books? Stand up for what’s right and be a beacon of hope instead of delivering more fear and blame.

I understand party affiliation, I understand fighting for what you believe in. But how can you say that giving the extremely wealthy a tax cut while millions of Americans can’t get a job is a good idea? If more Americans are out of work they stop buying retail goods, they stop paying utilities which in turn causes those companies to let employees go which compounds the problem. The evidence of that is in front of you yet for some reason your party sides with the wealthy every time. That’s your right as a free American to choose to side with the wealthy, but wouldn’t that also compel you to stop using the conservative base that straddle the poverty line to get elected? If you want to represent the wealthy don’t do it in government, do it in the private sector because in government you’re only hurting all Americans to enrich a very few.

Please if you care about this country and all it’s myriad people you’ll stop putting the wealthy before ALL Americans.

TSA

to the tune of the Village People’s YMCA

Young man, there’s no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, ’cause you’re flying to town
There’s no need to be unhappy.

Young man, there’s a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you’ need to feel aglow.
You can stand there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.
It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.

They’ll grab everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the TSA boys …

It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.
It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.

You can get yourself xrayed, you can have a good meal
You can do whatever if you just let them feel …

Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want it to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you’ve got to choose this TSA groping!

No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your keys on the shelf,
And just go get groped by the T.S.A.
I’m sure they will grope you today.

It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.
It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A..

They’ll grab everything that you need to enjoy,
You can groped by all the TSA boys …

It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.
It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.

You can get yourself xrayed, you can have a good meal,
Just so long as you let them feel …

Young man, I said take off your shoes.
I said, you look like you got the terrorist blues.
I felt him check if my bottom was tight.
I felt the whole world was so leaning right …

That’s when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk to your gate.
There’s a  place before there called the T.S.A.
Why not get hired since groping’s your way?

It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.
It’s fun to get groped by the T-S-A.

They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys …

T-S-A

It’s fun to stay at the T-S-A
Young man, young man there’s no need to feel down
Young man, young man take yourself to the T.S.A. ground

T-S-A

then just go to the T-S-A
young man, young man I was once in your shoes
young man, young man I said, I was down and out with the flying blues.
T-S-A.”

You know, I like flying. I really do. What I don’t like though is a system that hearkens back to the first time I played Half Life 2. We’re a free country so why do I have to stand in a line to be sexually assaulted or get inundated with xrays that even airlines are telling pilots not to use? Yeah the people who fly our planes are told to get sexually assaulted rather than get xrayed. That should tell you something. Our government officials heading up the TSA think that sexual assault is not a big deal for travelers.

I am pleased to note that you’re bringing your Star Wars franchise to Blu-Ray, really I am. I just really think the whole “Han shot second” crap undermines the story (him coming back to help Luke loses all meaning if he’s not established as a douche).

Since you started on the prequels, you’ve forgotten the story and only added special effects (which, contrary to your opinions, don’t actually improve movies). I think I heard you say at least once “it’s the story stupid”, though that might have been your talented, good friend Steven Spielberg. Who, speaking of him, really should have had you beaten repeatedly for the abomination that was the last Indiana Jones movie.

What you’re doing to the Star Wars universe is worse than anything a Sith lord could ever do to it. Just stop screwing up beauty,and count your piles of cash or something. The fact that you’re incapable of figuring out that you’ve become an awful director (in spite of those previously mentioned piles of cash usable to hire competent people) worries me greatly since it’s been 4 years almost since you announced a Star Wars tv show. The fact that you’re helming it makes me think it’s quite possible that finally you’ll top the Christmas special and release something so terrible that it is quickly outlawed for being toxic and a crime against humanity (yes I in fact mean something worse than “Tremors” the tv show).

If you truly care about your characters and want Star Wars to continue to be a popular beloved franchise, stop mucking it up already! The South Park guys hit the nail on the head: you’re sick, you need help, and all you’re doing is slapping a coat of new, cheap paint over the original masterpiece.

Sincerely,

A lifelong Star Wars fan (in spite of what you’ve done to the series).

We had eight years of
Bush and Cheney, but now you get mad!
You didn’t get mad when
the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a
President.

You didn’t get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy.You didn’t get mad when a covert CIA operative got ousted.

You didn’t get mad when
the Patriot Act got passed..

You didn’t get mad when
we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.

You didn’t get mad when
we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn’t get mad when
over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.

You didn’t get mad when
you found out we were torturing people.

You didn’t get mad when
the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

You didn’t get mad when
we didn’t catch Bin Laden.

You didn’t get mad when
you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn’t get mad when
we let a major US city drown.

You didn’t get mad when
we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.

You didn’t get mad when, using reconciliation; a trillion dollars of our tax dollars were redirected to insurance companies for Medicare Advantage which cost over 20 percent more for basically the same services that Medicare provides.

You didn’t get mad when
the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark, and our debt hit the thirteen trillion dollar mark.

You finally got mad
when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans… oh hell no.

AND NOW YOU’RE MAD?!

When you can actually act like grownups instead of screaming harpies that just protest without offering a balanced opinion then and only then will you be worthy of hearing out. Until then though you’re just more cacophony hindering progress towards a sustainable profitable tomorrow.

This is what you’ve come to Republican party: hysterical demagogues with no respect for the law, the constitution, or their fellow Americans.

Below is the text of my letter to Congressman Joe Wilson:

Rep. Wilson

You should be ashamed of yourself and apologize to the men and women of the great state of South Carolina, & the duly elected President of the United States for your abhorrent behavior during the President’s speech. During the past 8 years the democratically elected Congress was respectful throughout any appearance by the former President. It is surprisingly unshocking to see the Republican party unable to maintain, honesty, integrity, decorum or basic respect for the office of the President. It’s behavior like yours that made me leave the Republican party. The adherence to fearmongering, stalling and every underhanded tactic the party could use to amass more power. Power for what? amassing more power. What need have we of that? Does it help me ensure a better future for my sons? No. It serves only to feed more power to those who have shown over the last 10 years their inability to govern on behalf of their constituents but instead to govern on behalf of fear and profiteering.

It saddens me to see a party that once was a noble and inspiring group fall so far. Make an effort to truly do what is best for America and not the bottom line of a corporation. Your voting block is struggling financially, overwhelmed by medical bills and all you and your party can do is “stall” and say it’s fine. Last I checked you receive medical coverage from the government. What makes you more special than any other American? The elected representatives are supposed to be our brightest people, not our greediest.

Sincerely,

Chris O’Rourke
Father, Husband, American.

I’m a product of that marching program. Until I joined the band I was a completely undisciplined wallflower incapable of any real interaction with anyone. Now I’m a successful small business owner, father and husband. If it wasn’t for the tutelage and experience I received being a part of something bigger than my young high school mind could perceive I’d likely have not gone on to anything notable in my life. Curtailing a long running program because a. it’s too expensive and b. the new band director doesn’t like marching activities is idiocy. Why apply for the job if you want to eliminate half of it? Moron. Too expensive? Really? Music is time and time again proven to be better for academics as well as improving future prospects for success.

Here’s the note I received about the board’s decision:

In a very sad turn of events the Centennial School district board voted to shutdown the 2009/10 fall/winter marching program. A large contingent of Band Parent Assc members were present when the board was presented with the recommendation to continue the music program but only march for the rose parade. To our amazement the board pres. Shar Giard would not allow comment from any of our group even though it was clear they were acting on mis-information about the number of students currently participating in marching band and colorguard. They did not give any consideration at all to the members of the colorguard as they are not band students. We have had several meetings with the superintendent and members of the board and have had representation at all their meetings and all along they have been telling us that they are very supportive of the marching band program, that they wanted it to continue.
In case you had not heard we were also in a transition of directors this year, spearheaded in part by the band parents assc. because we wanted to see more dicipline and control of the program. Mr. Dave Mann has served as the director since Bret Cappelluti and with great enthusiam and effort. We applaud him for his time and wish him well in the future.
The position of director was posted and a number of very qualified applications were received. In the end the position was given to Mr. Claud Garrett, the current photography teacher at CHS, who had also applied. The administration said their hands were tied because of union rules and the fact that many teachers were being laid off due to the budget crisis. It seems Mr. Garrett had the right to bump anyone the school might have hired from outside. All that said the fact is that while Mr. Garrett has the credentials to teach music he has no interest in marching band, doesn’t even pretend to like drumcorps. He came to a band parent meeting last week and stated that the decision of whether there would be fall marching was out of his control. But it was very clear that given the choice he would not want to run it.

For all of you alumni I am greatly saddened as I was a parent during years when the CHS Marching Band and Colorguard was at the top of its game. I’m sure as you have chosen to be a member of this group that you too have fond memories of your marching days. It is very sad that there could be no future competitive marching band at Centennial.

I would ask that if you feel moved to do so you either write or call the superintendent, Dr. Mckean and all the current district board members and remind them that this is a program that has a rich history and should be preserved. You can find their contact information at this link..

http://www.centennial.k12.or.us/contacts/contacts_board.php

this group will continue and I invite a discussion on this matter

thank you

Mark Huff
CHS Band Parent Assc Communications Director

To the members of the board: You obviously weren’t members of the band so don’t understand the bond we all share regardless of what years we attended. If you want to kill something to save money why not cut out some of the athletic programs? More kids went through the music program then the athletics programs so it’s obviously a better investment. Regardless of anything the likelihood that I’ll ever donate money to the school again is exactly zero. I experienced how it was spent then and it doesn’t surprise me in the least that once again the band gets the sharp pointy end of the stick.

Oh and Claud Garett, obviously you aren’t qualified for this job in the least no matter what degree you’ve got. The Centennial band deserves someone who will appreciate their history. If you apply for a job do the whole job not just the parts that appeal to you.

Not opressed you say? Really? So not being able to visit your partner in a hospital without lengthy paperwork ahead of time? Not being able to have all of the same rights as any other couple in love? Seems like oppression to me.

Exactly when did the government have the right to determine who someone loves if they’re both of consenting age? Why is this still an issue in this day an age at all? Doesn’t case law from the 60s establish that discrimination is illegal? Meh it’ll take more than facts, truth and logic to sway the minds of blind stupidity, ignorance and fear.

I strongly endorse the idea of everyone on twitter, facebook, myspace wherever it is that you spend your online social time and be gay for the day, the week, the month. However long it takes for people to wake up and end the all too common standard of discrimination we live in.

Fuck oppression

Fuck discrimination

Fuck religious ideology being forced upon the masses.

The above is how I feel, apparently the courts think otherwise.

I’ll be hashtagging on twitter using #gayfortheday

3 days later I couldn’t handle the pain anymore (nothing really helped) so I went to a local dentist who could see me plus give me an xray for $35. The appointment took all of 15 minutes and I left with the knowledge that I had a cracked & impacted wisdom tooth:

Incidentally (heh pun intended) I discovered a dark side to dentistry. Apparently the dentist I originally went to is a “meth dentist”. Meth heads pay a pittance to come in and get a quick prescription for painkillers they can then use OHP/Walmart to get cheap meds to sell. Neato eh? “but they’re only trying to help people”. bah.

Anyhow, I notified the Dentist’s office that I was on unemployment, had no money to spare at all until my tax return came and was told “no problem we can work with that”. Went in for an initial appointment and was told that my top wisdom teeth needed to go as well but shouldn’t be an issue even though there was an added cost. Sadly I wouldn’t be able to get nitrous oxide since the dentist charges so much for nitrous, but no problem again right? If only that were the case.

Today arrives with much excitement as I know my horrifying wisdom tooth of agony +2 will be removed once and for all. I hopped a bus and arrived for my appointment only to be told “If you can’t pay $1500 up front then we can’t help you”. uh what? I was told the payments would be small enough to be manageable. If I had a spare $1500 laying around I’d have dealt with this weeks ago when it first became an issue.

Apparently because I didn’t have enough I’m not worthwhile of “emergency treatment” which is what the dentist told me I needed. Last I checked if it’s an emergency they’re not supposed to turn down patients without the revenue. Shows what I know.

What’s hilarious is if I’d been in Canada, the UK or anyplace with socialized medicine I’d likely have gotten in to see a dentist the day the pain started and then once antibiotics kicked in I’d have the teeth removed no harm no foul. Instead under our awesome capitalism based healthcare system I got to wait a week and a half for no treatment. Last time I checked the GOP morons always say that you wait for socialized healthcare and you never wait for medical care here. How delightfully backwards those cute little republican idiots are.

Funny how you’re only a person anymore if you have money. It’s never been a perfect egalitarian system but years ago you could count on the medical community helping people, now it appears in the day of the HMO that if you have no money you are persona non grata. I think they used to call that the fuedal system.

Ironically I’m pretty sure that this is how my family ended up emigrating from Ireland over to the US originally. They were tired of being peasants that continually got the sharp pointy end of the stick. Happily I learned at a young age to not get mad, but to just get even. This is why I’m going to find a new dentist, one with ethics and more concern for patient care instead of being interested only in money like the asshat I went to this morning.Once I find this new dentist I’m going to do everything in my power to bring him more patients.

Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go take my goddamned tylenol 3 and hope my jaw stops hurting. Also fuck you George Nowland. I just had to call the 5 people I referred to you and tell them to find a dentist that isn’t a soul soliciting pigfucker.