Is it a Revolution?

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been stressing that he is spearheading a revolution on behalf of the American people. Thing is, that is not going to happen in the White House, but it sure as hell NEEDS to happen in Congress.

Congress no longer is beholden to the voters--they haven't been, not for a long time now. When Congress is constantly out panhandling for money to finance their next campaign, how can we possibly be surprised that our laws are written by--and for and to benefit--their corporate masters?

Just look at how are laws are passed today. There is no such thing as partisanship anymore.

Riders are hidden away, tucked safely AND sneakily inside where Congress hopes no one will notice. One way to rectify this is giving the President line-item veto, but that is never ever going to happen.

Recently, Michigan legislators faced the prospects of rectifying a horrible injustice unleashed upon the citizens of Flint, Michigan (by the governor) AND instead, what did these brave Michigan state Republicans do? They passed a law outlawing sodomy and oral sex! Yes, children, that pressing need demanded immediate attention to save their state from oblivion.

And speaking of Flint's water crisis, when Governor Rick Snyder was summoned to Washington to testify about the situation, he declined.

I ask you, since when can a governor refuse a federal summons to stand before Congress? Believe me, if Congress was not packed with one party firmly in control, and that said governor was not of that same party, he (or she) would never have gotten away with this. Mind you, if Snyder were a Democrat, he would have been slapped with a contempt of congress citation--and why has he not yet resigned?

A dirty little secret in our town halls, state houses and in Washington is that today's legislation is largely written not by our elected leaders, but by rich corporations and their paid lobbyists.

Corporations write the bills with their interests in mind and hand it off to our leaders--be it on a local, state or national level--and the pretense of addressing our needs is done with a wink and a nod.

Recently, both Michigan and Indiana states legislators have worked to pass laws making it impossible for Tesla to establish dealerships in these two states. Who do you think pressed for such legislation? General Motors, that's who.

I guess GM can't stand the heat of competition, something the GOP claims to publicly encourage (bah!). One has to wonder how much money GM has given to our elected officials to see their bidding done.

Think of it this way. Imagine that Congress is Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. With each election, we see our candidates (of both parties) dangling the hopes and prospects that they will act on our interests. Charlie Brown charges the football (our hopes) only to have his dreams dashed as Lucy yanks the ball away at the last second. This IS how Congress operates today, don't you know?

It is imperative we demand that lobbyists with their seemingly unlimited bankroll get out of Washington (and out of the courts, too).

Until this happens, change benefitting the common man is just a pipe dream. Bernie Sanders is right. A revolution is coming.

Can you hear me, Major Tom?

When I woke up this morning, I saw a blurb on a friend's page that David Bowie had died. I could hardly believe it. In fact, I thought it was one of those cruel celebrity death hoaxes and for a brief two seconds, dismissed it. After all, he had just released a new album last Friday and on his birthday, no less. BUT then I saw the breaking news email alerts from the New York Times, the Huffington Post, NBC News and CBS News, and my heart sank as it became apparent Bowie really had passed.

All day long those of us at work moped around as we mulled over the news. I know I was numb to it all. Before I helped Ben set up a "Life Remembered" display to honor him, I set aside a copy of his album "Blackstar," released just last Friday on Bowie's 69th birthday, for purchase. I'll be listening to it as soon as I think I can handle the emotions I know I will feel knowing of his passing.

I don't really know how to express this, but the man was more than just a hero to me. From the first time I heard his "ground control to Major Tom," to "Fame," I was hooked. His songs "Suffragette City, Fame, Space Oddity, Modern Love, Changes, Young Americans, Under Pressure (with Queen), Blue Jean, Let's Dance"... and so many more are all part of my life--and forever will be.

I will leave it to other artists to address his place in the entertainment world, but no one can doubt how he has influenced the music and film industry.

If you didn't think the man move to the scene, you would be right. Bowie didn't follow, he LED the scene! If he didn't pioneer glam, he sure took to the max. If he didn't pioneer character-persona driven music performances, he sure fine tuned it. And if you didn't think his personality crossed all lines, you obviously have never seen him sing Christmas songs with Bing Crosby.

Coming home from work today, NPR's Terry Gross was rerunning her 2002 interview with him. She obviously was in awe of him and was surprised when he said he didn't really enjoy doing live performances "in character," but he much preferred writing and recording, always moving forward.

I was surprised too. He made the appearance of performing look so effortlessly. I think one thing that made him so appealing is that he was never the same guy twice.

If music wasn't enough, he broke in the movie scene and took it by storm (more than 25 films and countless TV appearances). His performances included The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Hunger, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, The Prestige" and "Labyrinth."

I do not think it a stretch by any means by saying that David Bowie was to the music industry what Robin Williams was to Hollywood. Needless to say, his passing is a bitter pill to swallow.

I've always considered myself lucky. My son took me to see Bowie in concert (with Moby) for my birthday in 2002. It was one of the highlights of my life. It was an utterly fantastic performance and I am so glad Wes and I got to see them both.

David, Ziggy, and countless other personas, I--we--will miss you. There'll never be another you.

Released, today in 1962

"People generally see what they 

look for... and hear 

what they listen for."

--Judge Taylor, "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Here we go again. And again and again and aga...

Get used to it, America, the mass shootings in San Bernadino, California seems to be the new normal. We are a dysfunctional society and until our leaders and our people are willing to face up to it, we'll be revisiting these acts of terror again and again. 

TOO many damned guns; too much hatred; too much discord; too much distrust: too much unchecked violence; too much poverty; too much insanity and too few politicians, community leaders and religious leaders willing to do anything more than offer lip service offering too few viable answers--at least not ones that most people want to hear.

As I said, this is our new normal. You don't like it? Then do something about it. The cries of "oh, this is terrible. Oh, those poor poor people" just doesn't cut it anymore. Talk, talk, talk and next week... or the next, we'll be right here all over again.

I imagine my friends who are strong proponents of gun ownership groan every time *this* happens. I am sure they feel the hurt as the rest of us do.

I am sure they brace themselves for the inevitable "there are too many guns out there." They dig in their heels and say more strict gun laws and taking away certain guns is not the answer.

I don't want to hear, "oh, if only someone there had been armed, they would have shot the criminals." Sorry, that argument doesn't hold water and there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

I am waiting for the inevitable "it's my god given right to own a gun. No one's going to take it away from me" and "it's my Second Amendment right."

I tire of it. I do not believe the amendment was intended for giving average citizens access to military-style weapons. I do not believe that asking for sensible background checks is unreasonable ... and I am not alone and this scares the hell out of some people.

Personally, I think our founding fathers would be hanging their heads in shame as our country descends into paralysis over gun control.

Okay, so we have tried it you gun proponents' way for far too many decades and what has it cost us?

More guns bought... just today, more deaths--14 dead, 18 wounded... more children killed, more children maimed, more dead adults, more, more, more ... your answers have left you with blood on your hands.

AND the gun industry is laughing all the way to the bank. And there are far too many of you suckers buying into their lies and we're all paying for it.