Kids from Poor Neighborhoods Trick-Or-Treating In Rich Neighborhoods

A Tom Simpson Image at Flickr Creative Commons

Slate’s advice columnist Prudence responds to a letter complaining of the cost of candy he or she needs to buy for the poor kids trick-or-treating in their rich neighborhood.

Although this person is not politically identified, he or she certainly thinks like a Republican: poor people are a burden on society, they need to make their own way, resources should not be redistributed to help those in need.

It’s a stark reminder of why I am a Liberal.

Some Cities Throw the Homeless in Jail Others Are Finding Another Way

Image by Kuenstlerhaus On Pixabay

No one should be homeless in the United States of America. It’s disheartening to know that our country doesn’t have enough respect and compassion for all of its people to make sure they have adequate shelter. It’s appalling when homeless people are treated as criminals just because they have no place to live except under our bridges, in our forest, parks, streets, byways, and other public places.

More Americans Will Die This Year from Afflictions Other Than Ebola

Juan Cole writes a great article today that provides another resource to the Ebola article I published on October 18.

Cole, writing about the irresponsibility shown in the reporting and exploitation of America’s Ebola fears, puts forth some things of which Americans should have greater concern, especially given the number of deaths they cause.

He concludes his article by stating:

“Whether it is the lobbyists for Big Coal who want to go on spewing poison into the atmosphere, or the NRA lobbyists for the four major corporations that manufacture hand guns or the restaurant lobbyists who want to evade regulation and want to be able to kill their customers with 4,000-calorie meals, or the cigarette manufacturers and distributors who are, like 0007, licensed by the government to murder, the common denominator here is that our corporations are often much worse for our health than a mere infectious disease outbreak. But these health deficits are almost never reported on in the media owned by the corporations. Instead, we’re encouraged to think about something else while our pockets are being picked– say, an exotic disease.”

Here’s the article: Top 5 Things More Americans will die of than Ebola this Year, including Guns

Ebola Reality Check, Many Messages Ignored

Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY) asks the question: 

“Has the media coverage to so far been helpful

or harmful in your efforts to have the public

have an appropriate concern and awareness 

what the situation is?” 

Here is a video clip of that question and 

a very carefully worded answer from 

CDC Director Tom Frieden.

(updated 10/21/2014)

News writers and television news anchors have taken what is essentially a West African epidemic and, to generate greater profits, marketed it as an American crisis ready to happen, irresponsibly exploiting America’s Ebola fears. All because the first Ebola patient died, and two of the nurses who treated him were tested positive for Ebola.

Future Ground War in Iraq Is Inevitable; the Déjà Vu Feeling Is Overwhelming

“I will not commit you, and the rest of our armed forces, 

to another ground war in Iraq.” 

Modified image: Flickr.com

When President Obama insists that there will be no U.S. combat troops on the ground in Iraq: don’t believe it. We will be dragged into another ground war in Iraq. The temptation for the U.S. military is too great to forgo putting boots on the ground. Mission creep is alive and well. It’s inevitably going to happen.

Teambuilding Is an Essential Skill for Managerial Success; Steve Jobs Provides the Perfect Allegory

Photo: Flemming Island. Pedersen / Danish Sailing Association.

Flickr Creative Commons

Effective managers are out of their office every day interacting with others in their organizations. They understand that they can’t progress and accomplish goals without teamwork. They are prepared to listen, learn, and share because they realize that they do not have all the answers. Teambuilding therefore is an essential skill every manager needs to be successful.

Privatization of Public Schools Is a Very Real Probability

By K Connors at MorgueFile.com

It’s okay for commodities and things that are nonessential to life be provided by for-profit corporations. But a life necessity, such as K-through-12 public education, should not be up for sale. Nevertheless that’s exactly the direction public education is heading.