X marks the spot
During the past many years, many of us Christians objected to the term of "Xmas" because we felt that it was taking Christ out of Christmas. When I looked up the history of the term I found a different story.
"Form 'X' the Greek letter 'Chi', the first letter of Greek Khristos, (Christ)." Usage note: "Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the 'X' represents a Greek chi,(Christ). In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian.(Christian). But people unaware of the Greek origin of the 'X' often mistakenly interpret the Xmas as an informal shortened pronouncement. Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas."
I still don't like the term, but now that I understand that it does not really take Christ's name out the Christmas, I can accept it.
We have heard liberal pundits, Bob Beckel one loud one, braying the Republicans don't have anything to replace Obamacare, or improve health insurance. When told that Republicans have passed over 30 bills, many which would improve costs, and have said a hundred times what could be done, he simply blows it all off.
The only ideas he recognizes as valid are parroting the Democrat line. So, our ideas don't count, and they're dumb, because he doesn't agree with them.
Genius; he will never lose an argument with his circular mind games.
Meanwhile, unusual thick ice in Antarctica has trapped a Russian ship studying who knows what. I guess global warming hasn't actually reached the North, or the ice doesn't know it's supposed to be melting. Ice breakers can't break thru the ice. Where is Al Gore? Let him talk the ice into melting with his normal money-grubbing b.s.?
Resolution grab bag
New Year's Resolution Grab Bag (choose at least two):
Learn the difference between weather and climate, write a persuasive essay in favor of CEO pay scales (average $16 million per year), try living on $1.40 per meal for one week (average SNAP benefit), watch the BBC news instead of sports for one week, volunteer at a nonprofit for one month, visit your local library and read two books, go meat free for one week, avoid Wal Mart for one month, take a walk outside without earbuds in your ears or a cellphone in your hand, shovel or snowblow your neighbor's sidewalk when you do yours, bring a reusable shopping bag into the store and use it, meditate, talk to people who don't look like you, clean up that old bike and ride it, listen before talking, recycle your waste properly, hug your kids and spouse/partner, pet your pet, ditch the smokes and e-cigarettes, read a newspaper, avoid any "reality TV" or "talk radio" for one month, try yoga for one month , follow your doctor's advice, buy and install at least two CFL or LED bulbs in your house, fix something using tools, embrace silence.
Wrong hands, wrongheaded
Other than plugging a computer in the socket, I know very little if anything about how they operate. I am aware they have been a boon to society, but also can be a bane. They have helped us immensely since their inception, yet in the wrong hands they are dangerous. I refer to the recent happening by hackers at Target Stores. It would seem to me if these individuals channeled that knowledge in an honest direction alot of good could come of it. I would think they worked hard to be the crooks they are, too bad they feel being unlawful is more profitable than being legal.
Pushed into a corner
Right-wingers are both crowing and gagging about their "deal" to fund federal government operations for the next two-ish years. They voted for this only because they were pushed into a proverbial legislative corner. Nothing the right did will save "the people" any money at all. Real reforms, the kind that save taxpayers money without compromising services or security, are suggested below.
? Social Security. Eliminate the cap on taxable Social Security income--right now, the wealthy only pay SS taxes on the first $108,000 of their income, while everyone under that line pays SS taxes on all their income. Eliminating the cap would mean that the wealthy pay SS taxes on every dollar of their income, just like everyone else. Make the SS tax progressive, that is a greater percentage after the first million dollars of income would generate much more revenue. Add a means test to SS recipients - those with millions of dollars clearly don't need SS, and the program is solvent until the 22nd century. And remember, it is not a retirement/savings bank for all, it is a social safety net, and the wealthy don't need the net.
? Medicare/Medicaid. Again, tax those with incomes over a limit ($ 1 million) more, and make them pay into a special Medicare/Medicaid fund. A means test here would also generate considerable savings, since those with millions of billions can pay for their own medical expenses and do not need Medicare.
? Defense. Cut the defense budget by one third. There are currently $2 billion planes (F-22 and F-35) that neither the Air Force nor Navy wants, but they are being built anyway. Close some bases overseas - does the US need a military presence in 145 nations?
? Increase Revenue. Yes, that's right, increase taxes. Huey Long was right when he said "tax the rich" and he was killed for that view. Those of us who advocate the same idea today are similarly threatened and should similarly worry about our safety. The right-wing has conceded that they cannot debate the merits of any plan that changes anything (unless it shovels more to the rich), and they cannot propose any alternate plan that doesn't put millions of Americans, including tens of thousands of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, into cardboard boxes on the streets.
And after reading my suggestions, I am certain that several will pillory me as a "socialist" or a "communist" even though they don't know what those terms mean. I'm OK with it as long as I have helped spark a much-needed debate in these pages.