Nothing Says America Like Swiss Bank Accounts and Not Disclosing Your Finances to the Public

I heard a quote the other day, from someone in the comments section of CNN. Yes I am that person who quotes the comments section. What. Anyway, this was it:

Please, in the upcoming election and every election following:
 

"Do not be a Republican or a Democrat.
Do not be a Liberal or a Conservative.
Be a reasonable person. Reasonable people think about the issues and decide who is best suited to address them. Reasonable people are conservative on some issues and liberal on others. Reasonable people don't always agree with each other, but they also don't just blindly follow a party or ideological line. They are also willing to compromise to do what's best for their country - something our politicians have not been able to do. The divisiveness of 2-party politics and lack of a middle ground is killing a once great nation.”

Honestly, this quote articulated exactly how I feel right now. 

I’m sorry I don’t care what team you play for, but if you don’t find the fact that Mitt Romney won’t release his financial statements sketchy in some way shape or form, you are clearly an ignoramus, and I bet yo mama dresses you funny. Oh yes I did.

I really don’t understand how you releasing your finances to the public that you are hoping to serve is not REQUIRED to be released when running for president. Can someone please explain this to me? Because for months and months while Obama was actually doing something like.. having Osama Bin Laden killed it was on the top of the republican agenda to make sure he presented a “true and valid copy of his birth certificate” to the point where anything that would get discussed was answered by a republican with  “show me a birth certificate.” 

Q:        So, yeah, hi my-ultra-conservative-I-used-to-think-you-were-normal-till-I-found-out-you-were-a rabid-republican-friend-so-now-I-know-you-really-are-a-sexist-racist-individual-who-I-now give-the-side-eye-to, what are we going to do about this economic crisis?

A:        Show me a birth certificate

Q:        What are your thoughts on same sex marriage?

A:        Show me a birth certificate

Q:        Healthcare reform?

A:        Show me a birth certificate

Q:        OMGAH did you see? DAYUM! Obama went and got Osama! Comeon you gotta give him props for that!

A:        Show me a birth certificate (and his name SOUNDS like Osama so hes a fucking terrorist!)

Q:        Dude.  All political stuff aside. You cannot TELL me Obama did not look kind of cool in his college smoking picture. Seriously. I’d hit it. The hair, the jacket.. HOT.. Don’t you think?

A:        Show me a birth certificate.

Q:        OMG did you see they presented Obama’s birth certificate??!!

A:        It’s not valid. 

 Seriously. I can’t. It’s like arguing with my teenage daughter when she comes home half an hour late with no phone call and wasn’t answering her cell. It’s infuriating to talk to her because you will never get a REAL reason. It’s literally like talking in circles. THIS is why so many regular normal republicans (I know that’s kind of an oxymoron) can’t bring themselves to stand behind their own party. Because this isn’t their party! From public healthcare to women’s reproductive rights, this party, whom I really believe should be forced to rename themselves isn’t representing the Republican party anymore.

Dear North Carolina

This post is dedicated to North Carolina, and the 29 other states that have banned gay marriage.

The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%

The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%

The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

 
When you dig even further into marital statistics you realize that significantly more people are divorced in the southern states -- infact, the southern states have the highest divorce rate in the entire country, while the northeastern states have the lowest.

According to statistics there are 10.2 divorces per 1000 men in the South (defined by the Census as Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) and 11.1 per 1000 women--above the national average of 9.2 for men and 9.7 for women in 2009. In the Northeast (defined as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) the rate is 7.2 per 1000 for men and 7.5 per 1,000 for women in 2009. Two notable exceptions are Alaska and Maine--two states where divorce rates for men and women rank in the top 10. 


So really North Carolina (and the majority of those 29 states with a constitutional ban on same sex marriage), seeing as you are among the group to have the HIGHEST fucking divorce rate in the entire country, yet claim to want to grasp firmly on to your  hateful "christian" values of the "sanctity of marriage" is laughable. So congratulations on going down in history as being the biggoted assholes in the history books. Your great grandchildren can cringe when they do their family history to see the values that you supported. Much like the many white Americans today that cringe when they look up their family history to see that their ancestors supported slavery.

Stop using religion as an excuse to be hateful.

The Republican Debate- Because Im a Fair Assed Lady

Bushies and haters!! How the hell have you all been?!?! Its been a while and Ive missed you all! Trustybush has been super busy with a move, then another move then a food blog then the soap company and my full time job, but you have all been in my thoughts. Every time I watch a debate or see a nominee I think "ugh I need to talk about this on trustybush" but Ive been a slacker. I even miss the comment haters! I hope you are all doing well and getting all flustered and disturbed in preparation for the upcoming elections!! I promise to be better!!

So last night was the third GOP debate. Exciting stuff. According to polls, Cain and his 999 tax plan is picking up momentum (which is both sad and shocking to me). I always suggest reading the transcripts of debates and conventions after watching because often when you read something its easier to digest it then watching someone with their best suit on, and their nicest "I am not a serial killer" face while they talk about crazy shit. Its like down south ladies who will tell you basically in their sweetest southern accents your a total piece of shit and deserve to die in a fire and by the time they are done you dont know whether they have just insulted you or complimented you when in reality they cut you and you dont even know your bleeding. Having hailed from Mississippi, my mom is a master at this. So I ALWAYS chose to read transcripts, because if you read any transcript on some of the shit my mom has said under the disguise of a sweet southern accent, Im sure my mother would have been stabbed by now. For those who are wise to this game like me, here is a link to the debate in its entirety on CNN for you kiddos to enjoy. Word of warning though. Dont read this before bed or as you snuggle with your kids or with small animals and sharp objects in the room.

Bachman and Santorum... both are fucking frightening people and I honestly feel they are there just kind of hanging out at this point because they cant possibly think that they really have a chance at this. When Santorum was asked why he thinks he should be the president of the United States rather than Mitt Romney, he stammered off about how he has ALWAYS been a conservative and won over Pennsylvania. You know, I dont think this is a positive thing. I would LIKE to think that even though people tend to hop on the side of their party that there are Americans out there who will vote on a Candidate and not the party. Hence, me watching the GOP debate. When Santorum called Cain "brother" he sounded outright ignorant. He was sloppy in his delivery lost control more than once, often shouting and going over his time. Hot angry mess.

Bachman sounded ignorant. That kind of makes me sad. I would love to see a woman in the republican nomination that kicks ass and takes names. Maybe even a littel grimey, because, lets face it. Politics are grimey. A woman that doesnt have the nasal Palinesque voice who talks facts and doesnt stammer off into words of crazy and refuses to use catch phrases like "anchor baby" when discussing human children. Her comment of "I think the person who really has a problem with illegal immigration in the country is President Obama, It's his uncle and his aunt who are illegal aliens who've been allowed to stay in this country, despite the fact that they're illegal." and when she says.. the fact is "the cake is baked Obama will be a one term president. Im sure of it." And know what Michelle? Im pretty sure you will never BE president. Those brownies are baked and burned on the edges. Her shoutout to all the moms was awkward to say the least. I would love to see an informed woman running for the GOP seat to spice things up. Unfortunately Bachman is not that person.

As for Cain, CNN referred to last nights debate as a full frontal assault on Cain, but honestly, I expected it to be worse. Everyone seemed to have their panties in a bunch about Romney and accusing Romneycare in Massachusetts of being the basis for Obamacare. Romney seemed to handle very calm and cool everything thrown at him. Props for that. Surprisingly according to polls, Cain seems to be picking up momentum. While I don't necessarily AGREE with Cain, I give him props for being the only candidate up there with an actual plan. Everyone else just seemed to want to bash each other which isn't smart for your party in the long term the election. There is a way to debate without breaking your already struggling party down further. Perry's attack on Romney seemed all personal but what we all wanted to hear were peoples stances on actual real issues. I do however find it bizarre that how the right criticized Obama because he only had the same exact amount of experience as Lincoln did when both were elected, and now they praise Cain who has never even sat on a school board or city council seat. BUT in Cains defense, he had an AWESOME song about his love and dedication for pizza. His Comment of "They might be frustrated with Wall Street and the bankers, but they're directing their anger at the wrong place. Wall Street didn't put in failed economic policies. Wall Street didn't spend a trillion dollars that didn't do any good. Wall Street isn't going around the country trying to sell another $450 billion. They ought to be over in front of the White House taking out their frustration." No Wall street used its bailout money to give their CEO exuberant bonuses, buy other banks in other countries and not using that bailout money to make loans to small U.S. businesses. Wall Street took part in predatory lending practices. I think the blame for this goes everywhere but Cains stance on Americans pointing fingers at the "WRONG" people is flat out WRONG. Ron Paul smartly responded with "I think Mr. Cain has blamed the victims. There's a lot of people that are victims of this business cycle. We can't blame the victims. But we also have to point -- I'd go to Washington as well as Wall Street, but I'd go over to the Federal Reserve. They create the financial bubbles." Work it out Ron.

Perry. I had to laugh when he kept using the fact that he has been the governor of Texas all this time so he "knows how to handle immigration issues". He also kept spewing off about Mitt Romney hiring illegal's to work at his house when Texas has the in state tuition policy that gives undocumented immigrants in-state tuition at Texas colleges. Every time Romney would respond that he hired a gardening company that in turn had some illegal's and when he found out he promptly fired him (and I do believe this to be true) Perry would interrupt him. Mitt Romney kept his cool. When Mitt Romney turned to Perry and said "you need to learn how to let others speak if you are gonna be president of the united states" I almost high fived him. Please Perry, SHUT THE FUCK UP. Furthermore, I cant understand just in general why we would want to DEREGULATE oil company's and promote more drilling in the gulf of Mexico which just saw a devastating oil spill two years ago. I just don't get that. I mean, I guess logically I could see someone saying ok lets tap into our resources (though I don't agree we need to encourage MORE) but lets regulate things to make them safer. But no, this crazy motherfucker is like lets go take all our resources and fuck regulation! Texas in the motherfuckin house!

Ron Paul. On paper I should hate his ass and honestly many of his views like that on gun control are not my views at all. But more often than not he is the voice of reason when teamed up with a litter of crazy kittens. I don't always agree with Ron Paul but my view is unless you are a millionaire he is the only republican candidate that will at least represent SOME of your interests. He has never voted on a pay raise for congress, Ron Paul identified the beginning of the housing bubble as early as 2001 while the rest of the GOP was busy fighting for even LESS regulation. Ron Paul also seemed to be the candidate most likely to not just be a conservative puppet. But many thought this was true with McCain. Every time Ron Paul opened his mouth it was to counter an ISSUE and discuss and ISSUE rather than a person. Many of his stances were very much not the popular view of his party. Everyone else seemed defensive angry and ignorant. I can't understand why Santorum would get press coverage over Ron Paul.

I'm hoping the Dems can do a better job at having a classy debate where people can debate issues without being unprofessional. We need role models. The state of politics has become more like Jersey Shore. Shouting matches with Santorum continuously going over his time and yelling at Mitt Romney was hard to watch. At the end of the day I think each party needs to figure out a way to debate issues without breaking apart the party. I think personal issues need to be kept out because at the end of the day ONE of these people is going to be running to represent the party.

After 8 years of Bush, now you get mad?

I got this today.. couldn't have said it better.

You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and
appointed a President.

You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate
energy policy.

You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.

You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.
You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.

You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.

You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.

You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.

You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.
You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.

You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark.

You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans...oh hell no.

Healthcare Anyone?

So Bushland has been a sleepy land with losing an old job, gaining a new one, pushing my business full time, arguing with the MTA, then deciding to go back to work again, new friends, and lots of events. But today's signing of the Senate Healthcare reform bill into congress was something that prompted me for comment. What I don't get is what the fuck the problem is. I have been cornered by angry republicans and received numerous nasty emails so I expect for the comments section to follow suit because the Republicans are freaking the FUCK out. Now, let me start off by saying in no way shape or form do I think the bill is perfection. But I do think the bill is better than what was in place. I do believe the bill is better than the alternative. The alternative is what scares the shit out of me.

So speaking of fear, the latest in fear mongering has come from the far right in the form of statements like

"we are all going to pay higher taxes" the reality is the only people paying higher taxes are those making over 200k individually. When you answer with that, the statement you get this:

"Obama wants us to be a socialist country and we cant make any money so that's why the rich are getting taxed"Are you fucking serious? Did you know that percentage wise the middle class is currently taxed more than the upper class (those making over 200k) so know what? I really truly feel awful that a few people will have to downgrade their caviar so people don't have to die due to lack of health coverage. Seriously. Wtf.

Then there is this: They want to fuck with our Medicare:
You mean YOUR Government subsidized health insurance?That Medicare? I guess you have forgotten where Medicare came from. The Democrats. And who fought against it. The Republicans. Infact here are some quotes from some of our favorite Republicans on the very plan they fight so ferociously to be left untouched.

Ronald Reagan, as part of Operation Coffee Cup in 1961, stated that: “[I]f you don’t [stop Medicare] and I don’t do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”

George H. W. Bush, while a candidate for the US Senate in 1964, described Medicare as “socialized medicine.”

Barry Goldwater in 1964: “Having given our pensioners their medical care in kind, why not food baskets, why not public housing accommodations, why not vacation resorts, why not a ration of cigarettes for those who smoke and of beer for those who drink.”

In 1995 Bob Dole stated that he was one of 12 House members who voted against creating Medicare in 1965. “I was there, fighting the fight, voting against Medicare ... because we knew it wouldn’t work in 1965.”

"They want to (insert gasp here) MANDATE people to have insurance": They want to mandate people to have insurance so the system can WORK. But remember that people will be given help to pay for their insurance. We are mandated to have car insurance, we cant purchase a home without homeowners insurance. So I guess I don't get it. I guess one could argue that it leaves out peoples right to have a savings account instead of pay an insurance company. But why not then make a provision that says ok.. if you don't want to participate in the plan we need proof that you have x amount of dollars in a dedicated savings account so that if you become sick, taxpayers don't have to pay for your uninsured ass when you do eventually get sick and have to go to the hospital or emergency room. As of now there is an amendment in the bill called at "Empowering States to be Innovative" amendment. This would give States the right to come up with their own plan that could either mandate coverage or not granted it meets federal requirements. This amendment was taken from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) Healthy Americans Act -- the far-more innovative health care reform legislation he authored with Republican co-sponsors. I know this seems like a stretch to the far right, since all they seem to know is how to destroy.. never to create-- since they had every opportunity to come to the table with an alternative and failed to do so. So here is something I can live with. How about all of you who are whining and bitching about the Mandate clause in the bill sign a waver that when you do get sick or have an emergency you waiver your right to have any sort of public assistance available to you? You know like when you run to the ER and then complain when you get the bill that you cant afford it.

It all leaves me to wonder if the right wing actually HAS an opinion on anything.. other than they are against change of any kind. Does it even matter what the change is?

And I will leave you with this little nugget from our friend John McCain was lovely:

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of this year," McCain said in an interview with KFYI radio in Arizona. "They have poisoned the well in what they have done and how they have done it."

So business as usual then, John?


"Our country is drowning in debt and now another trillion dollars for HC! This is not the right time for social health reform. We need to fix the economy first. Obama put himself above this country and this nation. It is all about himself and his name."
Really, and I guess the billions we are spending on a war in Iraq is more important than access to health insurance for people in this country? Or how about how our tax dollars go to contracts for corporations like Haliburton and Blackwater?

Shame On You MTA (Part Deux)

Shame on You MTA (part deux)

The last time I wrote a post with the title of "Shame on you MTA" was during the transit strike, when the TWU (Transit Workers Union) went on strike right before xmas and all public transportation shut down because the MTA workers who were part of that union wanted increases in their already higher than normal for a fucking bus driver salary. The whole city was held hostage and businesses lost millions in revenue. It was hard for me to feel sorry for people who were making more than I was and had sick ass benefits on top of it. The hardest hit were the small businesses who make much of their profits during the holiday season.

Now the MTA is at it again, again right before xmas (someone is totally getting a visit this xmas eve by some nasty little ghost of xmas past angels that I'm sure will bring them to me freezing my pale ass off last winter in sub zero temperatures waiting for a rideshare with complete strangers I found on craigslist so we could get across the 59th street bridge and get to work!) The MTA announced last week, a week before it was to be voted on that they would be cutting two subway lines and 21 bus lines and making huge reductions in service and making cuts to student metro cards.

I don't know if you fuckers got the memo but centered last year right here in NY the economy collapsed leaving thousands of New Yorkers out of work. So your answer is to not only increase fares, but to now cut service and programs including metro cards to students? Do you really want parents to chose between groceries and train fares?? Let me tell you I was trained very well in hopping turnstyles the 90s and I can hop a damn turnstile like a professional, and I'm sure my kid has it in her too.

NY City Counsel is proposing that the MTA reallocate $140 million of capital funds to temporarily close an unexpected gap in its operating budget. The additional funds would come from two sources: More than $90 million in unspent federal stimulus aid that may be allocated toward operating expenses through a congressionally sanctioned process known as "flex," and roughly $50 million in MTA operating funds that are currently being used to supplement the capital budget. The combined funding boost would be more than enough to offset the $129 million the MTA expects to save through cuts to subway and bus service citywide. However, given that the MTA hasn't given New Yorkers a chance to be heard at their private unannounced meetings and alternatives to be offered, it seems like we will all get the big middle finger once again from NYCs biggest bully. Why? Because they can. That's why. So MTA, are you done taking my lunch money? Cuz Im still pulling the wedgie out of my behind from your little fiasco 4 years ago.

Sign the NYC City Counsel's petition asking the MTA to at least maintain its current service so that middle class NYers won't be hit with lower service for higher fares. Please dont make parents chose between sending their kids to school or groceries.

http://council.nyc.gov/html/action_center/mta.shtml

The New Reform Bill

I could go on a tyrade of various stories of how this issue effects me. Down to my credit score, believe it or not. I’ve always worked. I’ve always had health insurance. I’ve always paid the premiums every month for myself and my daughter, yet, like so many other Americans had a procedure for my daughters ear surgery (she had hearing loss due to a bad ear infection) that was pre approved then after the surgery and 10 grand later, got denied citing a pre existing condition. As a 23 year old single mother, I didn’t have 10k in my bank account to shell out for this procedure, though I can honestly say Ive paid well more than that in insurance premiums throughout the years.

When the senate nixed the previous bill with a public health option, I felt like I had watched my favorite team make it to the NBA Playoffs then at a final moment just as the buzzer goes off, while both teams are tied, the other team makes a shot. And we lose the game. (Hi NY Knicks in the 90s!) only this time, I couldn’t turn my TV off and mope for a minute and vow to never watch basketball again. This time, I felt defeated by what is now brazen corruption. Its not like 15 years ago when all this stuff was kept under wraps to be discovered by the press years later. This is all out in the open. Equivalent to being mugged in broad daylight with a gun to your head on Madison Avenue with a cop standing across the street. What’s sad is we have grown to accept it. We lie to our doctors so we don’t get denied due to pre existing conditions. I had a friend pay cash at a doctor other than her doctor to have a physical and gave false personal info so that it wouldn’t get back to her insurance. This has become a normal day to day occurrence for all of us. Not those of us on Welfare, who already get Medicaid, but those of us who pay ridiculous premiums for sub-par healthcare. To offer some healthcare reform bill without a public option is like drinking an alcohol free beer or decaffeinated coffee... What the hell is the point?

So I say my prayers that they will find a happy medium in this new bill that offers the public option. Infact, I have my senate navy bean soup on the crock pot as I type this!