You felt compelled to read this post, didn’t you? I apologize in advance, there is no actual emergency, this is only a test.
Woke up today and decided that today would be the day that I prioritize my morning ritual to meditate and do a bit of deep breathing and yoga before the day starts racing away. I don’t do a LOT, because I’m not that evolved yet, and I don’t do this every day. But I feel better on the days that I do, so I decided to make this a habit starting TODAY! I took 15 minutes to clear my mind and stretch out the old bones, and was feeling all smugly-new-agey and zen and energized and ready to conquer the day.
Then, I get in and check email, and I read this in a subject line from a client: “HELP!”
This particular phrase, or it’s best friend, “URGENT!” really set me on fire. That’s what those words are intended to do. “OH no, something terrible has happened, I must throw my entire plan for the day out the window and address this right away!”
It’s instinct.
Why must people do this? lol As if I should apply PANIC to the situation they’re experiencing and address it above anything else going on in my day.
And why is it that 99.999999999999% of the time it is OBJECTIVELY not an emergency situation? It’s always something like, “I made a word bold by accident and I can’t figure out how to unbold it!”
If I were a doctor, EMT, fireman, police officer, then I could understand. Unless you’ve blown up your website, please for the love of god, save the exclamation points for when you really really really need them.
*and back to my zen state of mind*
Have a lovely, peaceful, productive day. Dammit!
UPDATE: Ok, so I’m back. 45 seconds later, crisis averted. lol I just wanted to say that I LOVE my clients, and this phenomenon is not exclusive to work situations. I have friends who do this too. “HELP!” People freak out, and I think it’s fascinating and funny. I suppose I used to be that way, but I’m learning not to get so rattled about STUFF. Life is so much better that way. :D
I finally saw Sicko yesterday; this movie is worth seeing. Now, I can understand why people dislike Michael Moore: he has a point of view, and if it differs from your own, you’re gonna hate the guy. Even my parents, who are pretty open (not liberal, but open) don’t care to see his movies. Even if you do share his political leanings, he can be a bit much sometimes. I heard this film wasn’t as partisan as the last, so I was excited to see it.
This movie isn’t as political it could have been, so I give him credit for his restraint. He talks about how the insurance and pharmaceutical companies control our health care system and congress, but he doesn’t go after politicians or policy nearly as much as he could have. So in that regard, it’s more along the lines of his first film Roger & Me, where he takes on the issue of big business versus the little guy. Only this time, we’re all the little guy.
If you’re following along at home about the health care crisis, none of what he talks about is particularly new. But there are some dramatic moments in the film that really made me sad, angry and very very sad.
Are we the best country on earth? My answer will be partially in response to a question in comments from over the weekend which was, “ ... in spite of everything, the corruption, the dickheads, the stupidity--where else would you rather live?”
I’m embarrassed that our system is so broken. I don’t understand how I can continue to define our country as “the best” simply because I was programmed to believe that as a child, or because if I don’t buy into that, I’m somehow dishonoring all of the heros that fought and died for my freedom. This country doesn’t mean what it used to mean, it’s something very different now, and I don’t have to like it. (Yes, I read history.) I’d prefer for this country to be much, much better. THAT would be honoring the people who fought and died for us.
“If you don’t like it, leave it!!!” But you know what? That’s ridiculous. A) That’s not what America is all about. If I don’t like it, I vote. Or I become involved in and participate in the democratic process. I’ve done all that and feel I have no choice but to not bother. There is a part in the movie where an ex member of parliament from the UK says something like “it’s harder to govern citizens who are strong and confident. Easier to rule those that are hopeless.” Why are we at the mercy of a government that continues to serve the interests of corporations and big lobbyists? WE THE PEOPLE.
B) Not as easy as all that. It’s difficult to get a visa to live in a foreign country turns out (I’ve tried), they don’t so much want us there. Would I enjoy some time away to gain some perspective on what it means to be American? Yes, I would.
What is the American Dream to you? I think it means freedom. Freedom for the people to govern themselves, to express our beliefs religiously and otherwise without fear of persecution or punishment, the right to education and opportunities so that even the least among us has a fighting chance to rise above our birth circumstances and become the president or an important scholar or a wealthy entrepreneur.
But what’s our reality? We are a people that cares about the least among us. We, as individuals, can not provide health care for the country through charitable giving. It’s down to a social service or private enterprise. The private enterprise model isn’t working. It’s set up to keep us sick. The incentives in place are to keep costs down, not to reward those who make people better.
Our democracy (or republic more accurately) is about corporations, greed and “he who raises the most money wins.” With so much money in politics, how can the interests of the people be served? This is the core of the problem we face as I see it. I understand that people are paranoid about socialism, but what about fascism? Not so much? The movie points out that we already have a smattering of social programs - the US postal service, libraries, police and fire departments. And that other democracies are doing this and it’s a good thing. (As to whether *our* fucked up government has the values to run a universal health care system properly is another story.)
I won’t argue the topic of universal health care any further, but I do believe it should be the right of every American to have access to affordable care. As a self employed person, I spend close to $700 a month on insurance and medication (if money is tight, I skip buying medicine or I take lower than the recommended dosage and I feel “less great” than I could otherwise), that is on top of the procedures and office visits that my insurance company won’t cover for ridiculous reasons like “exceeds the average charge for your area” (instead of paying the difference, I pay it all, thanks assholes).
Over the course of one year, I have accumulated thousands of dollars of medical bills for preventative procedures. I had some tests to diagnose a breast lump and some procedures on my cervix to prevent cancer. Turns out I’m healthy, but I can’t afford to be healthy. I’m one of the lucky ones, sure I don’t get to drive a nice car or go on vacations but I can take care of myself (so far, knock on wood). God help me if I ever get sick. I shouldn’t have to feel afraid when I spend so much money on medical care and insurance. Not in this country, not in America. Dammit.
This is what the movie is about, people like me, the insured. And how the system really is designed for the insurance companies to be in control and to make a profit, which often means it’s a game to pay out as little as possible. Physicians and care givers are not calling the shots, suits in high rise buildings are. Our representatives and candidates talk a good game, but follow the money before you believe it. I, personally, am not sure I can give my vote to a candidate who is bought and sold by the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, not to mention the food industry which I feel is related to the quality of our health—but that’s another story for another day.
A comment over on YouTube expresses exactly how I’m feeling about the campaign so far.
This guy [Dennis Kucinich] is entirely too reasonable, honest, and thoughtful to get elected in this country. I’ll vote for him in protest of the bewildered herd that follows the Obama Hillary moneywagon.
I’m talking about politics a lot lately, aren’t I? So much for that promise not to. :/
I have a question about this whole Scooter Libby thing. He is guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice, right? I’m trying to understand how Americans can tolerate and justify his get out of jail free card.
I really couldn’t bring myself to celebrate the holiday yesterday, and I usually do. I normally pause to give thanks for all that is good in this country and for the freedoms I’ve been blessed with. I side-skirted it yesterday—did a bit of work, cleaned the house, watched Big Love on my DVR. I grow more and more disappointed in the corruption of our country and I just didn’t feel like celebrating much.
Consider if you will the following quotes from republican senators, swiped from great read over on Huffington today.
Sam Brownback (R-KS):
We have lost many things over the past few months: trust in public officials, respect for the rule of law, confidence in the truth of the White House’s public statements. But perhaps the most tragic loss has been the steady erosion of our societal standards.
Wayne Allard (R-CO):
“The Constitution is what preserves the rule of law, and guarantees that we remain a nation of laws, not of men.
“I hold the President to a higher standard because he is the chief law enforcement official of the nation. If he is above the law, then we have a double standard; one for the powerful, and one for the rest.
“The sworn oath is central not only to our Constitution, but also to the administration of justice. Our legal system would not function without it.”
John McCain (R-AZ):
“All of my life, I have been instructed never to swear an oath to my country in vain. In my former profession, those who violated their sworn oath were punished severely and considered outcasts from our society. I do not hold the President to the same standard that I hold military officers to. I hold him to a higher standard.”
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX):
“I was reminded as well, however, that the laws of our Country are applicable to us all, including the President, and they must be obeyed. The concept of equal justice under law and the importance of absolute truth in legal proceedings is the foundation of our justice system in the courts.
“A hundred years from now, when history looks back to this moment, we can hope for a conclusion that our Constitution has been applied fairly and survives, that we have come to principled judgments about matters of national importance, and that the rule of law in American has been sustained.”
All of these quotes were made in 1999 during Bill Clinton’s impeachment. Yet the right is for the most part, silent on this matter. If they’re saying anything, it’s to draw parallels to the Clinton pardons he granted when he left office. (Remember though guys, you were really steamed about that at the time. Didn’t your mama teach you two wrongs don’t make a right?) Hey, I think pardons are bullshit too. Right is right, wrong is wrong, and the president shouldn’t put himself ABOVE THE LAW.
At the core of this, though, is not punishing perjury or obstruction of justice - as in Nixon and Clinton’s cases in recent history. It’s about a matter of NATIONAL FUCKING SECURITY. Not blow jobs.
I thought republicans (the ones that feel that justice has been served here, I suspect or at least hope most of them are as outraged as the rest of us) had big old boners for national security. And, that the white house should be held to some sort of standard for the good of the people. No? Not so much guys?
Why are we, as a nation, putting up with this crap?
That is my question. Please leave answers in comments, thank you.
