Saturday, August 20, 2011

Interesting comparason.

The USA and Cuba.

Lifespan approxiamately the same at 77 years. Cuba has one of the lowest child mortality rates in the world - even lower than the USA. Generally speaking they are as healthy or healthier than Americans.

The reason appears to be their health care system, which puts the emphasis on prevention rather than treatment. All mothers are checked throughout their pregnancies, all children receive all their vacinations and get regular visits and screenings.

The cost of health care in Cuba is 1/14th of the cost in the US!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Delusional.

Is it just me or do all of our politicians seem to be delusional to you too? It is clear that all of our politicians are delusional and incapable of doing anything but posturing and jockeying for power and influence and prestige. And the more that they jockey the more ridiculous they look to me. And the more ridiculous WE look for having elected ANY of them. If this is what a democracy produces in what we have always believed is the greatest country on earth, then one would have to believe that a democratic government is a failure. It can only produce the same venality, tyranny, stupidity and utter lack of connection with the people (not the special interest groups) that autocracies produce. Our two hundred year old experiment in government has failed.
Not sure what comes next, but something better, I hope.

"Quotes"

There are a lot of "Quotes" posted on the Internet. I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in about them. In my, considerable, experience with checking out these quotes I would like to say that they are almost always either mistakes, errors, made up or more often outright lies.

I just read one about our President. I can immediately imagine that 50% of my readers are already saying "It is true". The other 50% are either saying "it is probably not true." or they are saying lets see it. Well I am not going to post it, because it is 100% made up. And the 50% who said "It's true" without seeing it, would almost undoubtedly pass it on.,

What I will do is print the first sentence in the post, which is - "I ceased to advertise my mothers race". I will then tell you that these 7 words were taken from a much longer sentence which was in turn part of a paragraph. When a few words are pulled out of a sentence and presented as a complete sentence it does not take an English major to know that the entire meaning of the sentence, and paragraph is probably changed entirely. As was the case with this "Sentence". And it was obviously intended that you would misconstrue it, by someone who is consumed with hatred and has no problem with telling lies. This person is of a much worse character than that the person whose character he is trying to assassinate.

Anyone who believes the hundreds of stories making the rounds, without first checking out their veracity, is as guilty as the person starting them. If not more guilty.

There are stories being made up on the Internet by the thousands, mostly about politicians (most of whom deserve to be criticized!) but also about companies, and others. None of them, or anyone, deserves to be lied about. And it is my experience that AT LEAST 95% of these stories are either mistakes or outright lies. Usually completely fabricated.

Having said that I know that I have wasted my time, Conservatives or Liberals will believe whatever story they read and want to believe. The more outrageous it is, the more likely they are to believe it, and the more likely, and the faster to pass it on!

For my part I believe that the Internet will destroy us. It is getting more and more difficult to believe anything that is published. Even if it is true - how likely is that? you don't know whether to believe it or not.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Tea Party.

Some common sense appears to be returning to at least some segments of the American public - approval rates for the Tea Party are dropping.
After their showing in the debt ceiling debate where everyone acted like a bunch of spoiled kids in the back seat of the car on a road trip across Texas, in August, with no air conditioner, it is welcome news indeed.
As more and more Americans learn about this disturbing party their approval rating drops, thank goodness.
Shouting in loud strident voices that Government is the enemy, taxes are bad, death panels are sweeping senior centers, Obama wants to destroy America, appeals to some, but not all of us, I am glad to see. Maybe we will wake up and see what these extremist fear mongers are doing to our country. They have taken control of what was once one of the great parties that along with the other fine party provided the country with balance.
Their only purpose appears to be to destroy the economy. Why? So that THEY can 'save' it?

Persid meteors.

A follow up on my last blog about the meteors. I went out at midnight and saw no sign. Awoke early morning but there seemed to be complete cloud cover. So yet another year has gone by without seeing a meteor. Maybe next year.