Judges and Justice

There have been several news reports about the shortage of federal judges in recent years. Why is that? Gridlock in the senate! The opposition party simply refuses to allow Presidential appointments to be confirmed. One senator has been able to simply put a secret "hold" on a nomination and nothing happens. The problem then becomes the tendency of the existing federal judges to use summary judgement to help clear the backlogged docket. And that's not justice! The U S Senate needs to clean up its act, reform itself and get about the nation's business.

PLAINTIFF BLUES Spring Book Sale

PLAINTIFF BLUES is the true story we just had to tell. After several false starts with traditional publishers and editors, self-publishing seemed the only option. Our experience with www.selfpublishing.com was just exceptional. The service was terrific. A book coach was free and answered every question promptly. Every bill was as quoted or less, every time estimate was right-on or early. PLAINTIFF BLUES was self-published in 2007 and won awards in 5 different categories in 2008. Since then, the book has been reprinted and sold more than enough copies to pay all the publishing bills and provide for a couple of "revenge" vacations to boot! (Check the revenge link www.plaintiffblues.com on the website) I've had wonderful experiences at book signings, book clubs and other speaking engagements. The book is always available online as a POD (print-on-demand) book from all the major websites including Amazon (including Kindle version), Barnes and Noble, etc.

However, several books remain from the last, off-set printing and we want to make them available to more readers. We have dropped the prices for the remaining books by 40% (including shipping). The rates are even lower for multiple copies - which will work well for book clubs or other groups.
Go to www.plaintiffblues.com to order.

Judicial Activism - Very Interesting!

Obviously, judicial activism is much like beauty or happiness. Either it's in the "eye of the beholder" or "it's a state of mind." The other possibility is that all political reference to the judiciary is hypocritical at best. Conservatives view any judicial decision allowing gay marriage as "judicial activism." Liberals view judicial decisions overturning Obamacare as "judicial activism." The one judicial hypocracy that stands out from the rest is Bush v. Gore (2000). Recall that five, states'-rights, conservative justices shot down the State of Florida to put Bush in the White House.

Obamacare PLEASE!

Opponents of the current health care reform call it socialized medicine and say they don't want the government coming between them and their doctor. They want to keep the current "free enterprise" system we have and be able to see whatever doctor they want and have access to all the care modern science can provide.

They are living in a mythical world. The only institution that ever comes between me and my doctors is my insurance company. I have heard my doctors complain on several occasions about having to get permission from the insurance company for a particular test or treatment they wanted to prescribe. After the third broken ankle, the doctor wanted me to have a bone scan to check for possible osteoporosis - only to be told by the insurance company that they wouldn't pay for the test unless I had a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Isn't that Catch-22?

As it is today, my insurance company stands squarely between me and my doctor. They decide what drugs I take, what doctors I see and what treatments I can have. They do it for profit! Before I retired, I couldn't even chose my insurance company because it was provided by my employer. Where's the private enterprise in all this? We have no choices anyway. Need a hew hip? Try shopping around for the best quality or the best deal! You can't get a single doctor or clinic or hospital to quote you prices - where's the private enterprise - competition - in all of this?

Opponents of Obamacare warn of government rationing of health care. Just another part of their mythical world. Rationing already exists, only it's done by income status and the insurance companies. Let's have some fairness - Obamacare is a good start.

Stewart Restores Sanity - AGAIN!

Following the tragic events in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend, the airwaves were filled with all kinds of agonized hand-ringing and polarized finger-pointing - culminating in the all encompassing idiocy, "we're all to blame." The most sincere, sane expression of the horror and confusion we all felt, without any of the nonsense, came from Jon Stewart in his opening monologue on the Daily Show, Monday, January 10, 2011. "We can't outsmart crazy." How ironic, that it takes a comedian on a fake news show to get it right!

Who Needs A Glock?

The tragic events in Tucson got me to think about my guns and gun ownership. I own several guns and would fight to protect my ownership thereof. But I don't love or worship my guns as it seems so many NRA folks do. I simply enjoy the activities that the guns are a part of. I also own three freezers that contain the fish and game we harvest. And I love figuring out how to prepare and cook this bounty. Check out the Living Well link under the list of Revenge Links on the lower left-hand side to see pictures of some of our "harvesting" adventures.

However, I do not own a semi-automatic 9 mm Glock. I can't imagine a reason to use one. Seriously, who needs one? What possible legitimate reason can there be for anyone to own or carry or conceal a semi-automatic hand gun or an AK47 or any other automatic weapon? Why do our laws allow such easy access for people to buy these kinds of guns that have absolutely no legitimate use? Near as I can tell, the only thing these automatic weapons are good for is killing a lot of people quickly. We need to get rid of the easy access to these killing machines

The Real Problem in Washington

Why can't Congress get together and pass legitimate health care reform? Why can't Congress pass a energy policy that makes sense for the 21st century? Why can't Congress enact the necessary regulatory reforms to prevent another Wall Street meltdown? Pick any number of similar questions related to needed solutions for the common good - the answer's always the same. It's the money! Until we get the corrupting money out of campaign finance - so our representatives speak for us and not the interests that bought and paid for them, the answer's always going to be the same - it's the money!