Caucus Schmaucus

Day 367 of the Iowa Caucus/New Hampshire Primary News: I am sick of hearing about the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. We have been hearing about them since at least January 1, 2007. I'm sorry (no I am not), but Iowa is not that important a state. It doesn't have a large population. Only a fraction of the population bothers to go to the caucus, they don't have a large electoral college presence. What is the big idea giving all of that time to farmers. Heck, many of them already get a subsidy - do they have to get all of the attention, too? The Washington Post had an article about Eight questions that the Iowa Caucus might answer (or something to that effect). The very first one was - will the contest be over (for the Democrats) after Iowa? Will the contest be over? What is the matter with the media? Could they make it any plainer that the remaining 48 states, with the bulk of the US population, don't matter. Only Iowa and New Hampshire matter. Why should I bother voting in the primary - Iowa and New Hampshire have already selected the candidates. Why not just let them elect the President and let the rest of us relax and wait for the writers strike to end. Let Iowa and New Hampshire suffer the commercials and news (as I am sure they have over the last months) - leave the rest of us in peace.

What really gets me, though, is that it isn't only the media that are overkilling in Iowa and New Hampshire. The candidates have visited Iowa and New Hampshire more than they will visit any other state in the Union - they have spent more money in those two states than they will spend almost anywhere else. This is getting out of hand. We really need to rethink haw we go about electing our national leaders. It should not be about money, media, attack ads, baby kissing, and rubber chicken. It needs to be about the issues that face our nation, especially as a result of the last eight years. It is time to change the process to one nation-wide primary, a restricted four-month (maximum) campaign (all those senators, congress persons, governors, mayors, etc should spend more time AT WORK!), restricted TV/radio ads (unrestricted print material), and an election.

We still have 11 months to go before the election. I don't know how I am going to survive and remain sane. Regards -

Pay-Go

Why does pay-as-you-go have such a bad rep, especially among those who are allegedly fiscally responsible - the conservatives? I always thought the pay-as-you-go was a good thing. Heck, that is how I live. If I want something, I have to either save for it or do without something else in order to pay for it. But, from the sounds of many conservatives, pay-go (as it is now called) seems a bad idea and I want to know where this started? When did going into debt become the desired solution to our problems? Why do some disparage those who choose to pay for what they want rather than go into debt? Government should set the example and Congress, as the keepers of the nations "purse", are responsible for doing so. I want to stop hearing negative comments about pay-go (particularly from the White House) and I want the Congress, indeed all of government, to begin pay-go - it is already law, as I recall. Let's make it work! Why should all of us "little people" have to be fiscally responsible and not Congress and the White House?

All the news unfit to print

I saw on the news this morning that the paprazzi were chasing Prince William and his flame for photos . . . again. The press, and particularly those who hold cameras, claim that the "people" want to know about celebrities. I don't know anyone who gives a rat's patoot about Prince William's love life. I don't know anyone who wakes up in the morning and thinks, "Gee, I wonder what Madonna is up to today." or goes to bed at night wondering if Lindsey Lohan would get into more trouble during the nightime hours. Most people really don't care. If nothing was ever said again about Pitt and Jolie, would anyone notice? If poptart-no-longer Brit Spears or Tom Cruise's family were never to grace another magazine cover, would they be missed and their careers end? If their careers ended, then maybe there was no talent there to begin with. So, why do we continue to subsidize the talentless. Those with talent will continue to sell tickets. Tom Hanks doesn't get this kind of publicity and he is a successful actor who sells tickets at the boxoffice. If we stopped buying magazines or newspapers with rude or embarrassing photos and stories about famous people, perhaps those publications would eventually have to print real news - important news, such as more about the laws that Congress passes (how they affect you as an individual) and the state of our infrastructure, or where are tax dollars really go. Either that or they would go out of business. And that would be a good thing, don't you think?

Customer Complaints #1

I positively hate clothing labels, especially those on the back of the neck of blouses, dresses, skirts, and trousers. Long ago, these labels were made from natural fibers and they tended to become softer with every wash. Today, the labels are made with various synthetic fibers and, as they are washed, they become stiffer. When I wear a blouse that has been laundered a few times, the tag corners are hard and curl so that it feels like I am being poked by a needle. I encourage the use of imprinting label informatin on fabric, like some of the mens T-shirts from a famous manufacturer. If anyone in the clothing industry read this, STOP using synthetic fibers for those tags or find someplace less painful to locate the tags - like on the bottom hem.

I would like to see the use of plastic "thread" too. Not only do the ends poke like needles, but they come unraveled far too easily. The "thread" does not knot well. Even for the least expensive clothing items, we are not getting what we pay for - a level of quality. No one should have to practically remake hems, and resew buttons because of cheap thread and poor workmanship. Yes, I know that many clothes are made overseas where tradecraft is not taught. Well, I didn't ship the jobs there.

Speaking of synthetic fibers, am I the only person who thinks that many synthetics feel scratchy? I have purchased dresses said to be crepe and they feel like Brillo on my arms and back. Eeewwww, that is very uncomfortable. And now, it seems as if I can't find a garment that does not have spandex in it somewhere. I certainly appreciate that spandex has a place in some garments, but it is like wearing a plastic bag on your body. Along the mid-Atlantic coast, in the spring, summer, and fall (when it is hot or warm and muggy), we want COTTON blends (only enough polyester to keep down the wrinkles so that we don't have to iron. Ditch the Spandex!

So long until next time. Linda