This is a series of photos documenting my bus ride on the NJ Transit Rte 408 which goes from Millville to Philly. Its a 2 hour ride going though Camden, Glauchester City, Brooklawn, Westville, Deptford, Washington Twp, Glassboro, Pittman, Clayton, Franklinville, Vineland then ending in good ole Millville NJ. I went though the 5 points where I passed the 5 points Diner. Wonder if its a decent diner. It is sure in a prime location. I can see that that intersection could be dangerous at night These are all the towns I skip crusing along route 55. This was an interesting ride and I even met several nice people I hope to see again. Anyhow today was a good day off and back to work tomorrow but its 3rd Friday!! Today was the first real hot day. The AC's were going for sure. Enjoy!!!
Yesterday July 14 we at the Philadelphia County Assistance Elmwood District held a breakout to call attention to the Pa Budget Impasse. We did get coverage in the local Philly newscasts. Hell, even my letter to the editor made it in today's Philly Inquirer.
Harrisburg: 'F' for failure in a system of shame Inquirer reporter John Baer It's no surprise that our Legislature gets an “F” from the Center for Public Integrity in a national report on lawmakers disclosing information about assets, holdings or connections to special interests As a state employee I have to report any 2nd job I have but THEY(our Legislature pictured here) do not have to. And the budget impassed drags on.
Bill Moyers on what's wrong with our government, citing the Washington Post's recent embarrassment, asking for lobbyists and CEO's to fork out a load of cash for a cozy dinner at their publisher, Katharine Weymouth's house, until they decided to cancel it after one of the lobbyists leaked the story to The Politico. This shows how the elite really act!!
MOYERS: Quality, affordable health care's on the critical list in America. And so is the newspaper business. So maybe it's not surprising that one of the most powerful papers in the country attempted an unholy alliance, trying to turn a profit from its newsroom's coverage of the fight for health care reform.
You may have missed the story because it broke on the eve of the July 4th weekend. The publisher of THE WASHINGTON POST, Katharine Weymouth — one of the most powerful people in the nation's capital — invited top officials from the White House, the Cabinet and Congress to her home for an intimate, off-the-record dinner to discuss health care reform with some of her reporters and editors covering the story.
But she then invited CEOs and lobbyists from the health care industry to come, too — providing they fork over $25,000 a head, or a quarter of a million if they want to sponsor a whole series of these cozy little get-togethers. And what is the inducement she offers them? Nothing less than — and I'm quoting the invitation verbatim — "An exclusive opportunity to participate in the health care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done." The invitation reminds the CEOs and lobbyists that they will be buying access to "those powerful few in business and policy making who are forwarding, legislating, and reporting on the issues."
Remember, the invitation promises this private, intimate, and off-the-record dinner is an extension "of THE WASHINGTON POST brand of journalistic inquiry into the issues, a unique opportunity for stakeholders to hear and be heard."
Let that sink in. The "stakeholders" in health care reform in this case do not include the rabble — the folks across the country who actually need quality health care but can't afford it. If any of them showed up at the kitchen door on the night of this little soiree, a bouncer would drop kick them beyond the beltway.
In other words, before you can cross the threshold in Washington to reach "the select few who will actually get it done," you must first cross the palm of some outstretched hand. The dinner was canceled after the invite was leaked to the website politico.com — by a health care lobbyist, of all people. But it was enough to give us a glimpse into how things really work in Washington. A clear insight into why there is such a great disconnect between democracy and government today, between Washington and the rest of the country.
According to one poll after another, a majority of Americans not only want a public option in health care, they also think that growing inequality is bad for the country, that corporations have too much power over policy, that money in politics is the root of all evil, and that working families and poor communities need and deserve public support when the market fails to generate shared prosperity. But when the insiders in Washington finish tearing worthy intentions apart and devouring flesh from bone, none of these reforms happen. Oh, they say, "it's all about compromise, all in the nature of the give-and-take of representative democracy." That, people, is bull — the basic nutrient of Washington's high and mighty.
It's not about compromise. It's not about what the public wants. It's about money, the golden ticket to "the select few who actually get it done." And nothing will change. Nothing. Until the money-lenders are tossed out of the temple, and we tear down the sign they've placed on government — the one that reads: "For sale."
An interesting day. First off we went to the Auction at the Elks Lodge off of Broad Street in Millville. We did not see anything that would add to our gallery. I went to Summerfest for a short time nwhile walking my dogs. Met Rich and had a cold Coors Light. Next we left and went to Collingswood and saw the shoppes and went to the Perkins Gallery. We saw Steve Testa and ate at a nice mexican resturant.
Well, I must admit that its not as stupid looking as I thought and that is a good think. You can judge for yourself if you think if it was necessary. I have written about this dividing wallbefore but today I just took some photos. Hope the pine trees survive.
I just watched Bill Moyers on PBS. It looked how corporate lobbyists and insiders hijack the health care debate.The Washington Post was going to have a health care get together with insiders and charge big money for folks to show. It was to be invite only. It was leaked out in Politico.com and was cancelled. I am very pessimistic about any reform to pass. The powerful insurance lobby will not let it happen. With corporate Democrats like Max Baccus ofMontana holding important positions of power and Wall Street aiding the Republicans in defeating this reform. As the Pa Gov and legislature collect their per deims ( $158.00 per day)and squabble, some of us will not get paid and the cynicsm grows like weeds. PA is one of the very few states that actually had a decrease in the number of state employees from 2003-2008.. Also interesting is the following, showing that PA has one of the lowest ratios of state employees per 10,000 state residents.
All I know is I need to get paid and I will not be paid on July 31st if there is no Pa State budget is passed. Its all too much
