THE GOOD OLD DAYS

When truth was revered

And falsehoods feared

When voting was fair

Not in disrepair

Never had to explain

What’s a two-cents plain

Or translate what you mean

Ordering egg cream

When we earned a fair wage

When there was no road rage

When the water we’d drink

Had no lead, didn’t stink

Before schools had computers

Or active gun shooters

Our kids could ride bikes

And safely take hikes

When father knew best

And Loretta was young

On our days off we’d rest

And have clean family fun

Our parks were unspoiled still

No place for an oil drill

Picnic woes were lots of ants

Not constant tweets of vicious rants

When our leaders would lead

For OUR good not their greed

And promoted no hate

THEN America was great!

IMMIGRANT CHILD'S PLEDGE

The man-child was so impressed by the apparent respect North Koreans had for their 'Dear Leader' and by how easily Xi & Putin won their elections in their quest to be named Leaders For Life.
He too now wishes to be respected in the same way not realizing that respect is earned and certainly not demanded at the business end of a gun!
Nevertheless the traitor in chief insists the jailed immigrant children, stolen from their families stand and show respect for the American flag.
Perhaps some of the children would like to alter the forced words:

Immigrant children:
Stand up in your cells (No Kneeling) and recite the following:

I pledge allegiance
To the flag
Of the country that doesn't want me
And to the evil man
Who rules in DC
This former great nation
In the eyes of God
With malice
And hatred for all!   

REPRINT OF NEWSDAY'S 6/15 "THE POINT"

This article shows how out of whack Long Island's school taxes are!

That which was confusing in 1955, the year I started school in NYC, has grown into a behemoth for Long Island that threatens Long Islanders' way of life while arguably not returning the best results, at least not for the communities that cannot afford the high costs.

----------------------------------------------------------

From the archive:

Confusion spans decades

If you don’t understand the formula by which New York State doles out aid to school districts, you’re not alone. Now, or ever.

On June 13, 1955, Newsday’s editorial board published a cartoon mocking the complicated method of determining such funding. A bewildered taxpayer sits in a classroom with a confused teacher labeled “N.Y. State” staring at an impossible equation on a blackboard.

The editorial board referred to a “crazyquilt” and “hopeless hodgepodge” of laws stitched over 30 years that was “expensive and time-consuming to administer, and inscrutable to the people most concerned — the parents who pay both local and state taxes to send their children to school.”

The board also sounded an alarm about the growing number of school-age children on Long Island and rising property values that would “make school boards responsible for much larger amounts of school taxes before qualifying for state aid.” That, the board said, “could bring many districts, especially on Long Island, to the edge of financial disaster.”

That didn’t happen. And although there are probably several reasons for that, consider the actual bottom line. In that 1955 editorial, Newsday’s board noted that the State Legislature doled out $43 million in state aid that year to Long Island school districts — “cheery news,” according to the board.

Had that level of aid increased at the rate of inflation, it would be nearly $404 million today. But state aid to Long Island schools for the upcoming school year actually is $3.21 billion — nearly eight times as much. And despite that, it’s taxpayers who are closer to ruin.

Michael Dobie

#MAPA

How often have we heard that the cover-up is worse than the crime?
Watergate was bad but the cover-up doomed Nixon.
However he resigned prior to impeachment because deep down HE WAS A PATRIOT!
That's right, as much as I disliked the guy he understood the severity of the crime and he realized the damage the cover-up was doing to America and so he chose to end it with his resignation.

Fast forward to another GOP President, GW Bush.
He had some good points and clearly had many bad ones.
But while many viewed him as an idiot he was able to get enough partisan help to get elected twice so who were the dumb ones?
But in keeping with the theme we must admit he cannot be blamed for Hurricane Katrina devastating the State of Louisiana.
But he sure as hell can be faulted for the totally inept response of his administration!
Yeah, he sure did a heck of a job, didn't he?

Skip ahead once again to the culmination of ineptitude in governance, dt! (Sorry but I just cannot bring myself to use it's full name.)
I almost don't know where to begin with this AWFUL leader but in keeping with the crime & response theme:
Once again no one is to blame for Hurricane Maria BUT this bastard's response borders on treason against Americans!
Of course there are many problems in the country today and Puerto Ricans dying or living without power and sadly hope may not be the biggest one but it sure is a festering one!
You cannot fix their on-going problems by throwing paper towels at them like it was a spillage of milk!
And for those who'll undoubtedly say dt can't be bothered by little things I say true leaders know how to delegate.
Even mid level managers know how to delegate!
Have intelligent, caring and capable people in the administration work on helping Puerto Rico while his mind is elsewhere.
Sadly there ARE no intelligent, caring and capable people in his administration

But while his emolument filled pockets & greedy mind think only of himself and how he can gain accolades for what he thinks are his greatest deeds there is a group of mostly old white guys who could put an end to his traitorous behavior, the GOP Congress!
The GOP controlled House of reprehensible Representatives and the GOP owned Senate house the true criminals in this horror filled reality show.
Their silence is deafening!
With everything that has and is happening to America and the World that silence amounts to a criminally negligent  cover-up.

But we're not done yet.
There is still hope for America.
The window of opportunity is small and if we don't act it may  close.
Our next & perhaps last chance to right the wrongs the GOP Congress refuses to address comes on November 6th of this year.
It is clear what the GOP stands for & is standing for!
It also clear that we cannot allow them to continue ruining America.
REPEAL & REPLACE EVERY LAST REPUB & MAKE AMERICA PROUD AGAIN!
#MAPA

18 vs 81 (As in 2018 vs 1981)

It's 2018 but let's reverse the last two digits and compare the two years How has America & the World changed since 1981, 32 years ago? Then: The United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity. Now: dt tears up Iran deal the rest of the World wanted (except Russia.) Then: Rupert Murdoch buys The Times and The Sunday Times for £12 million. Now: His org has basically turned half of America into brain dead zombies doing as told. Then: After 19 years hosting the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time. Now: Our minority elected president considers any legitimate newscaster a purveyor of fake news. Then: U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley, Jr.. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady are also wounded. Pope John Paul II is shot and nearly killed by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish gunman, as he enters St. Peter’s Square in Rome to address a general audience. Now: Gun violence is not only de rigueur it is nearly promoted by dt as necessary vs his foes! Then: First combined heart-lung transplant in the world is performed at Stanford’s Medical Center. Now: One Political Party has no heart! Then: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 5 homosexual men in Los Angeles, California have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems (the first recognized cases of AIDS). Now: AIDS is still killing people at an alarming rate the World over. But some progress is being made albeit slowly. Then: Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales. Now: Different names - Same 'who cares' moment in England. Then: Repub God Reagan fires all 11,359 Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) for going on strike. Now: The GOP & Repubs are still trying to kill unions as they continue their strategy of destroying any group they feel is organized to support Democrats. Then: An IBM Model 5150 PC with 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 processor released in the US at a base price of $1,565. Now: Apple & Samsung et. al offer phones for less money that are light years more powerful and faster. Then: Pres Reagan appoints first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. Now: Mitch McConnel blocked a duly nominated justice, Merrick Garland, so he could subvert our democracy and get his hand picked puppet Gorsuch on the bench for life. Then: France abolishes capital punishment. Now: dt wants to bring back capital punishment for crimes he doesn't like. Then: Ronald Reagan was at the beginning of his 8 years in office. Now: dt is actually considering ways to postpone the 2020 election while he explores ways to become president for life! We may be able to right the ship of State and stem the tide of GOP activism against humans but we have very little time left. This coming November 6th vote for every possible Democrat on the ballot as if your lives depended upon it, BECAUSE IT WELL MAY!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A trump VOTER IF:

1. You let your 12 year old daughter smoke at the dinner table, IN FRONT OF HER KIDS!
2. You've been married three or more times and still have the same in laws!
3. The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth then your spouse.
4. You're amazed at how clean service station restrooms are.
5. Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.
6. You think the last words of Star Spangled Banner are Gentlemen Start Your Engines!
7. You lit a match in your bathroom & your house exploded right off its wheels.
8. You were asked to remove your toothpick by the photographer at your wedding
9. Your truck's Blue Book value rises & falls based on how much gas is in it.
10. Anyone in your family's last words were: Watch This!
11. You can't marry your sweetheart cause there's a law against it.
12. Your front porch collapses and kills more than 5 dogs. - AND -
13. Your family tree doesn't fork!