Doing What We HAVE To Do

Why am I a secretary with a Master's degree who is NOT looking for another job?

This is a question that I ask myself sometimes daily, but the answer is always the same. Because the job I have is super stable and my family needs me to stay where I am for stabilities sake.

Sure, I could leave this job, go work in my field. But for every action there is a reaction, right? What would happen if I did that?

1) Well, I know for sure that my pay would be less than what I make now. I make really good pay.

2) I also would have to worry about the health insurance available through those (likely) nonprofits that I would be working at. With Trump and the Republicans so gung-ho to mess with the Affordable Care Act, how do I know I could even get health insurance in a year? Though, living in New York State, my changes are better than if I lived in a red state. And no, I do NOT complain about how much I pay in taxes, deal with it.

3) I have a very stable job. The likelihood of me being laid off or fired is EXTREMELY low.

My kids are my world. I need to remind myself daily, while I'm at work, frustrated when I am treated as if I am stupid and do not know anything by people who underestimate me. Or when I am yelled and shouted at on the phone.

What does piss me off are the articles that tell people that they could travel if they just budgeted better. Or they could have that dream job, they just have to go out there and get it. Yes, but what is the price? Sure, I could probably figure out a way to travel and change jobs, but my kids would pay the price and that is not something I want to put them through.

So in this new year of 2017, I am standing up even more than last year and saying NO. No, life is not black and white/either and or. Life is gray-scale and we need to find our calm and center even when we are at our most frustrated part. Even when we are at our most lonely and sad or angry.

LinkedIn spouted to everyone in my connections about my work anniversary, and every congratulations is a stab in my heart because NO, this is not what I want to do. This is not what I racked up student debt for and wrote page after page while sitting in class away from my kids. This was not my dream.

But as a mom, this is my price to love and adore my kids. To put my kids first and make sure that they have a stable childhood that is not jerked around by my whim.

I wish I could study Buddhism more, I wish I was calmer and less angry. I wish I didn't feel so alone so much of the time. But every decision I make is one that I can live with because it is the RIGHT one. I find joy in the hugs and cuddles of my kids. At our goofy laughs because somebody farted and it really stinks.

So here is to hoping that this year I am less angry and more proud of myself. Perhaps I cannot be necessarily grateful for this job, though I am to a degree. But I am proud of myself for being the unsung hero of my kids. Yes, I am ringing my own bell because I have not acknowledged this over the past two years. I am doing what is right. Perhaps that is the lesson my spirit needs to learn in this life.

Be well folks.
Jen

Stock Market Doing Better? Who Controls It?

This morning, as with a few other mornings in the past, I have wondered about the stock market while listening to NPR (National Public Radio). A few questions have lingered over the past year.

1) Who controls it/influences it?

2) Does the stock market actually effect the average person/general economy?

And more recently 3) Why would the stock markets rebound more recently since Trump's election?

I really wanted to know, so I went looking at .org, .edu, and news sites for some information.

First, I found out from the University of California at Santa Cruz, that the top 10% of the wealthy in this country controlled 80.8% of the stocks and mutual funds in 2010.

Chart from University of California at Santa Cruz website.

Here we go again. Progressive that I am, this makes me wonder. If the ones pulling most of the punches with stock market gains and falls are the top 10%, does that actually affect the general population? Or you and me? And how or why?

According to The Mises Institute, prices of goods rise when more money goes into the economy, which is ironic as prices keep rising for goods in the USA but wages are stagnate, so is this true?

Investopedia tries to explain how the stock market effects the general market, but it uses words such as "could" and "may" with no real hard evidence. And most of the evidence listed indicates that "trickle down" economics is how the stock market (or Wall Street) effects the average person. But does "trickle down" economics work? Sure, it sounds nice, if the rich are given tax cuts and help, they will help everyone else out, but does it really happen?

As I looked into all of this, I felt like I was going down a rabbit hole, leading from one question to another.

In researching the question about trickle down economics, I found that Fair Economy and the John F. Kennedy Harvard School of Government both explain how trickle down economics does not work and never really has. Cutting taxes for the most wealthy has not led to job growth or wage growth in the past 50 years.

Even though the stock market went down right after the election, the stock market has rebounded. Based upon the evidence that I have outlined above that describe that the rich have control of the stock market (which does not really directly effect the general economy), they want to get rich, stay rich and not pass it on by hiring more at their companies, keeping their companies in the USA and paying higher wages (which would ironically allow people to spend more, so weird.. sarcasm), or spend more on charities. It just does not happen, they hoard it.

Why did the stock market rebound? Because Trump is a rich fat cat (and ALWAYS has been) who is promising less regulation on industry (heaven forbid they do the right thing on their own, because history shows that is what happens), and nice tax cuts for corporations and the rich (sources: Forbes and NYTimes).

So here we have a rich guy in the presidency who is going to help out all his rich buddies (anyone surprised? If you are, you've been duped). The stock market is controlled by the rich, the corporations are controlled by the rich, and the rich just want to get richer. So where does that leave the rest of us?

Screwed. Welcome to the new United States of America.

 

My Response to Trump's Election

   Can I just start out, that I truly am mournful (still) that Bernie Sanders did not have the opportunity to drive Trump into the ground?

  It has been 3 weeks since the election, and I am still as disturbed and upset about the results as many others are. I am flabbergasted that so many millions of people bought into the lies that Donald Trump wove with hatred, fury and a loud voice.

  That people would still vote for someone who was recorded numerous times (not just the older recording about "grabbing them by the pussy's") as talking down towards and about women!

  That people would vote for someone who is so quick to make statements so void of any factual basis (illegal immigrants are rapists and murderers, for one)!

  That people would vote for someone who MOCKED a disabled reporter!

  Who picked a running partner so repulsive in his beliefs that evolution should not be taught in public schools, that LGBTQ should not be allowed to marry (and even arrested for trying) and anti-Planned Parenthood (even though, please remember that federal money NEVER goes to pay for abortions).

  Yes, I know. I'm a liberal. I did vote for Hillary Clinton, even though I wasn't a huge fan of hers and would have preferred Bernie Sanders. But I did my research and discovered that Hillary was not as bad as Republicans made her out to be.

  Every day I learn about more hate crimes, about the rise of the alt-right/White Supremacy movement that suddenly seems "ok" to talk about?!

  All I will say, in response to Trump's Election is this:
    If you voted for Trump, what the hell were you thinking? Did you really think that he would do anything good for this country when he has NEVER done anything for anyone else other than himself and his family? Did you really think that he would be able to build a wall across terrain that was not suited for a wall, and a Native American reservation where he has NO RIGHT to built anything without their permission? Did you really think that tax cuts for the rich would help the poor (trickle down is debunked, seriously)? Did you really think that Obamacare was so bad (and if so, are you in one of the states which refused to bring it in so have absolutely no experience with it)? Do you really believe it is your right to impose your beliefs on others?!

  I am baffled!

  I am sickened!

  I am truly worried about what the next four years will mean for me and my family, as well as my friends.

  If Trump tries to make any group in this country register themselves, I will also register because that is wrong and discriminatory.

  I will not be quiet, I will not accept his lies. I will not accept him destroying what this country has slowly built over the past 8 and more years with his demagoguery.

  I will explain with facts with any individual who supports Trump why I think they are wrong to do so.

  I will stand for the rights of everyone in this country, not just those of a European background.

  I am an ally and I ALWAYS will be.

Refugees, Terrorists and Trump vs Clinton

Today seems to be the day that I have a great deal to say, and I honestly do not want to comment on any other posts, I want to vomit my opinion out for you here.

I actually really hate the media, and do you know why?

Last night was the first debate between Trump and Clinton. I admittedly was a huge fan of Bernie, and though I will vote for Clinton, I was not thrilled about it. Well, she did fantastic last night and I am much happier about my decision to vote for her over Jill Stein (sorry Jill). I would never vote for Gary Johnson because I do not agree with free markets or trickle down economics, they don't work for anyone except the rich.

So Trump lost the debate, and the fact checks pretty much support that.

Then, as the day goes on, people are still going on about how Trump lost, Hillary did well, Trump said it's rigged, Hillary says nothing because she won so let Trump whine.

Then, there starts the fear-mongering. I very much wonder if it is a coincidence that the media has started talking about refugees and terrorists right after the king of fear-mongering lost an important debate by looking ridiculous while trying to mansplain Hillary Clinton off the stage, and failing.

So my local (which in upstate NY is usually still pretty liberal) ABC/FOX news channel starts to work on keeping people afraid. They shared this story: Homeland chief: Homegrown attacks an increasing threat which was published by the Associated Press today. But the quotes come from a statement released in JULY. So why is this news today?

Because Trump stuck his head up his ass yesterday and they need to distract Americans, keep them afraid enough to vote for him.

Yes, by all means, let us not allow refugees in (and if you are against allowing vetted refugees entrance the USA, stop calling yourself a Christian if you normally do, Jesus would be ashamed). The vetting system is outline here:

1) White House Info
2) Heritage Foundation
3) Times

I agree that we need a better system for people who come here on visas and disappear into the population, but let's look at facts instead of fear.

"In the 14 years since September 11, 2001, the United States has resettled 784,000 refugees from around the world, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute, a D.C. think tank. And within that population, three people have been arrested for activities related to terrorism. None of them were close to executing an attack inside the U.S., and two of the men were caught trying to leave the country to join terrorist groups overseas." The Atlantic

I went to the Migrant Policy Institute website and the article is worth citing on here again: The U.S. Record Shows Refugees Are Not a Threat 

So I'm going to leave a few images here for you, because I'm so frustrated and sad that so many people are letting fear rule us. Anyone else a Dune fan? Remember the mantra?

May the best of us go out and vote.

Please REGISTER  and VOTE!!!


 

America Divided

If you spend any amount of time on social media, you must be noticing this VERY disturbing trend.

Who are you planning on voting for? Trump or Hillary or one of the others on the side?

To be honest, I was always rooting for Bernie and am very disappointed that he did not win the nomination. But, in my view, Hillary is a better choice than Trump. I would consider Jill Stein, but she is just not getting the traction she would have needed to get the majority of votes to beat Trump. And we NEED to beat Trump.

I honestly do not understand how anyone could consider voting for him. He lies in most of his speeches and seems to waiver between outright racist and discriminatory towards anyone not male and white to middle of the road conservative (perhaps when his advisors manage to reign him in ever so rarely). He has no experience in any sort of government and has gone bankrupt how many times?

What frightens me most about Trump is the idea that his popularity spurs mostly from his television shows. How is that a way to gauge someone being capable of being president? He cannot come in and fire Congress if they disagree with him.

That's not how it works, that's not how any of this works!

 

So on social media there are people like me, who refuse to vote for Trump and though, to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Hillary (I'm kind of sick of the Clinton's), she is the only one with the numbers to beat Trump. Trump is like a walking WW3!

 

I honestly do not understand the hatred against Hillary. And YES, I have seen all of the news articles about the emails (which, by the way, Colin Powell and Condeleeza Rice both had private servers and you are not seeing them being brought in for questioning or being investigated, why is that?), and the Bengazi thing is done (she did nothing wrong, get over it), and her health does not appear to be any worse than anyone else her age.

 

So what is the real reason why so many hate Hillary? Could it be sexism? She is definitely not the first woman running for the presidency, but she is the first that may actually win it.

 

To be honest, this past year it feels as if the rose-colored film has been peeled away from the USA, revealing rampant racism (and the denial that goes with it), sexism, and a continued blindness towards what we are doing to the environment (North Dakota Pipelines).

 

Never have I claimed to be perfect, I am flawed. But, above all, I am trying to leave this world a better place than when I got here.

 

Are you?

 

Do you really think Trump is doing that?

 

I at least believe that Hillary would harm less, and of course would have preferred Bernie. But this is reality we are given.

 

Today, I am more worried about my daughters growing up in the United States than I have ever have been before. How can we help each other? If that is not how you are thinking, than do not call this a Christian nation because Jesus would be ashamed. This nation is full of people from all sorts of different places.

 

We need to educate each other and ourselves, as well as open our minds to understand each other and how we effect each other.

 

 If you are afraid to do that, ask yourself WHY?





Kids - Are We Holding Them to a Double Standard?

School has been starting all over the country this past week or two and already we are seeing stories of bullying online and parents asking for advice. We are seeing examples of schools trying to make an environment in which parents cannot bring forgotten items into school for their kids (this went viral recently).

Here is my take. We want to teach our kids to be little adults and problem-solve right? And we are also concerned with the lack of community in the world right?

Well these two can go hand in hand as long as we do not tell our kids that they are all alone. Seriously! If are hit in the face at work, we call the police and that person gets in serious trouble. So if your kid comes home and says that someone hit them, you should throw a shit fit because A) they told you so are asking for help and are frightened and B) we need to show them that they are not alone and we will stand by them.

Why the hell do we expect kids to resolve these on our own when as adults we don't? And we shouldn't! There is no reason to make a child solve these types of things on their own, our jobs as parents is to guide and protect our kids so that they see the best way to deal with a situation, not figure it out on their own somehow and then maybe even get into trouble if they make a decision that leads to trouble.

Why can't we help our kids? If we forget our lunch at work, we either can stop at the atm and go out and get a lunch or order in. Schools don't have that option, so why the hell can't a parent stop in and drop off a lunch? Homework I get, if you forget it, you're out of luck. But who hasn't forgotten something at home and had to drive home to get it, kicking yourself the entire way? But we could still leave, most kids can't.

So seriously, what is with this double standard we have for kids? Why are we so hard on them and call anything else helicopter parenting? It is only helicopter parenting if the kids don't want it at all in middle or high school. If they want it is called community, it is called helping each other out and isn't that the kind of adults we want in the world? What kind of lessons are teaching our kids?

When I was a kid, I needed help and never reached out to an adult because I didn't believe one would help me and I didn't want to make the situation worse. I hope to God that my kids do not feel that way and can turn to me.

My oldest rode a big bus to kindergarten and back and there was this little girl who sat next to her for a week or two. One day, on the way home from school, my daughter was pinched twice in the leg then smacked in the face by this little girl. She got off the bus sobbing and the bus driver hadn't seen what happened.

So I called the school and told them what had happened, and I didn't just complain to get the girl in trouble, I called because I wanted to make sure she was okay. 5 year olds do not just do that unless A) they are learning it at home or B) they are so stressed going home that they act out and maybe they need help.

Now my daughter is friends with this little girl and is going into 4th grade.

When I was in high school, I saw all sorts of bullying and sometimes I spoke up. I have a high sense of what is right and what is wrong and as an adult I am determined to speak my peace.

Think about it. Put yourself in their space. Parent compassionately. As an adult, how would you want to be treated if placed in this same situation? Remember, these schools are fishbowls and they cannot just leave like we can. They are trapped sometimes.
 

Affordable/Free College or the Circling Drain

Call me what you want, a freeloader, a communist. I do not care. Here are the facts. College used to be affordable, you could save up and pay for a semester, now you cannot. Seriously, you just can't.

I have a daughter who wants to be a teacher. I am supporting a husband who is disabled due to his time as an EMT saving people's lives. I work full time and have a ridiculous amount of student loans that I will NEVER pay off. Am I going to tell my daughter that she cannot be a teacher because I cannot afford to save up money to send her to college? NO.

At work, I am slowly working my way up the ranks from support staff (secretary) to professional (I have a master's degree). So this is good, but by the time she goes to college it will mean that she will get very little in aid from the state because supposedly I could afford to have saved enough to send her.

I don't take vacations, I don't even take staycations because I need my time for my husband and kids. So do not tell me that I am a freeloader. I want a better world for me and my kids. I want them to be able to get a college education and pursue the career that calls to them, that will make them most happy. Not rich, just happy in a regular job.

When my generation, and the ten years coming after me, fully reach the age in which the economy is expecting us to hold it up by buying cars and houses, they will get a rude awakening because there is NO way that I will EVER be able to afford a house. I cannot even get a new car because I just cannot afford it. This is life, this is what the high cost of college has done to us.

Circling drain anyone?