BANKS ARE NOT KEEPING UP


By Gigi




Most of us, who own homes, are concerned about the state of real estate. The mortgage bust has had a big impact on our communities and neighborhoods. There are too many empty and abandoned homes; due to the result of bank foreclosures or residents simply walking away from a home because they don’t have a job to support it. The impact is huge!!!


Neighborhoods look rundown because these homes get no maintenance, the lawns don’t get mowed and the trash is piled around the doorways. The banks are not doing their part to keep these properties (which they own) in decent shape and are moving too slowly to get them back on the market.


The market value of neighboring homes goes down as does the tax base. Counties and cities have less money to provide services like repairing the streets, mowing the medians and fixing street lights and signs. Schools suffer because empty houses don’t contribute to the school tax.


I believe that the banks which created the problem in the first place should be pushed to complete the foreclosure process on the homes that are currently in limbo, fix up the ones they own, get them on the market and offer them at reasonable prices with decent mortgages.


For retirees, most of their home represents a major portion of their assets. The lack of action on the part of the banks is devaluing the homes and robbing the retirees of their biggest savings. The banks need to be pressured to do something about the problem. If that means regulation, so be it. They obviously cannot keep up without oversight.

SOME HEALTHY, AND NOT SO HEALTHY DECISIONS MADE


By Gigi





The Supreme Court upheld a key part of Arizona’s crackdown on illegal immigrants on Monday, June 25, 2012, rejecting the Obama administration’s stance that only the federal government should enforce immigration laws in the United States. The nation’s highest court, in opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy, unanimously upheld the state law’s most controversial aspect, requiring police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop. But in a split decision, the justices also ruled that the three other challenged provisions went too far in intruding on federal law, including one that makes it a crime for illegal immigrants to work and another that requires them to carry their documents.



Then, about four days later on June 29th, a landmark Supreme Court ruling upheld President Obama’s historic health care law—a stunning decision that will define the 2012 White House race. The 5-4 decision, unexpected from a court led by conservatives, was a dramatic victory for Obama, who staked much of his term─and his promise to bring change─on passing a complex legislative solution to the nation’s staggering health care woes. Mitt Romney and his fellow Republicans say no. They are vowing to overturn Obamacare in Congress.



WINNERS


• President Obama – Biggest piece of legislation validated.

• John Roberts – As Chief Justice, this will likely be his legacy.

• The Uninsured – Millions will gain access to affordable health care.

• Hospitals – Fewer patients will be without insurance.



LOSERS


• Tea Party – Rabidly opposed government meddling in health care.

• Insurance Companies – Can no longer dump sick patients.

• CNN & FOX – Called it wrong.

• John Roberts – The Chief Justice is now viewed as a turncoat by conservatives.

• George W. Bush – Hand-picked Roberts, who sided with liberals on case.

IS THE DEVIL IN THE BROOKLYN HASIDIC COMMUNITY?


By Gigi




We’ve heard the stories in the past, but just as soon as it appears in the newspapers, it disappears just as quickly─can you say cover up? Just like the Catholic Church, the Jewish community is experiencing its own child sex abuse scandals. But for how long did that go on? No one knows since this particular community is all for hiding information that may lead to public harm and ridicule. Judaism laws against disparagement and slander are designed to protect from gossip. Meaning, rabbi’s are protected─including the identity of the accused. The Jewish community is even more insular and protective of their rabbi’s than the Vatican that shielded the Catholic priests of their misdeeds.



Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes was put on notice recently regarding his handling of child molestation allegation complaints coming from the Hasidic community. It was asserted that whenever his arm was twisted to arrest the Jewish perpetrator, the police would shoo away the reporters in order to not have the community be embarrassed with a front page picture of a perp-walking rabbi to go with the glaring headlines. It was made clear! THIS COMMUNITY WAS OFF LIMITS!! These criminals were shielded whereas others (Blacks, Hispanics, etc) were not. The New York citizens screamed DOUBLE STANDARD!!



Now, Brooklyn DA Hynes back pedaled with this statement, “We work to protect all Brooklyn kids, no matter their religious affiliation. I intend to put these perverts in jail where they belong. No one should be shielded who commits such a horrible crime. I will prosecute and put the guilty in jail and will not stymie public awareness.” But all this writer is asking, where are the national Jewish religious organizations? They are curiously quiet.

OBAMA GIVES SUPPORT FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE


By Gigi




Late Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 2012, President Barack Hussein Obama decided to get off the fence and come out in favor of gay marriage. President Obama already rolled back “don’t ask, don’t tell” and is no longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act which he stated, “tried to federalize what is historically state law.”



“I have stood on the side of broader equality for the community,” he stated in an interview; “I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient, that was something that would give people hospital visitation rights and other elements we take for granted. And I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs, and so forth.” The decision to talk comes after Obama was put on the spot when Vice-President Biden expressed his support for same sex unions on Sunday. That was followed by a similar statement from education secretary Arne Duncan the following day.



President Obama’s hesitation to initially give full support to gay marriage has been seen as politically expedient as he knows it is still unpopular with many voters. North Carolina voted on Tuesday to amend its state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, a decision that Obama called “disappointing.” A Gallup poll this week showed 50 percent of Americans now support gay marriage, but the ideological divide was clear with 65 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of independents in favor. However only 22 percent of Republicans say they support same-sex marriages.

DID SARAH PALIN REALLY CHANGE THE GAME?
By Gigi

I sat down late last month and watched HBO’s “Game Change”. I came away with a lot of feelings about it, and one of them is…Sarah Palin probably has ruined America along with John McCain’s desperate choice to drag her out of the wilds of Alaska! This docu-drama was carved out of a book by the same name; and it focuses on Sarah Palin instead of the entire 2008 presidential campaign. Sarah is portrayed as a blithering idiot and a bad liar!!! And if you’re worried that the characterization of Palin is harsh or untrue, well, many of her campaign aides vouches that the portrayal of her is dead on.

Within the racist GOP and Tea party platform, their motto seems to be, “vote for me, I know nothing and hate the same things you do.” Experience, knowledge, accomplishment─these key ingredients’ may no longer matter…at least not to Sarah Palin. And as the 2012 campaign for the presidency comes to a head, the GOP, Tea Party and everything racist and conservative will come roaring from the right proclaiming a hatred of all things Washington, Obama, liberal policies including compromise.

UNFAIRESS VS. FAIRNESS
By Gigi

Did you know that staffers of Congress family members are exempt from having to pay back student loans? Neither did I?!? This bit of information won’t get press or broadcast because most of Congress are republican tea party members. 35 States have filed lawsuits against the Federal Government Governors for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 States to convene a Constitutional Convention.

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform…in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn’t seem logical. We do not have elite that is above the law. I truly don’t care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or what ever…the self-serving must stop!!!

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.” According to Warren Buffet, who wants to effect change, proposed the CONGRESSIONAL REFORM ACT OF 2011… THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!

1. NO TENURE / NO PENSION. A CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN COLLECTS SALARY WHILE IN OFFICE AND RECEIVES NO PAY WHEN THEY’RE OUT OF OFFICE.
2. CONGRESS (PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE) PARTICIPATES IN SOCIAL SECURITY. ALL FUNDS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RETIREMENT FUND MOVE TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY. ALL FUTURE FUNDS FLOW INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, AND CONGRESS PARTICIPATES WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.
3. CONGRESS CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN RETIREMENT PLAN, JUST AS ALL AMERICAN DO.
4. CONGRESS WILL NO LONGER VOTE THEMSEIVES A PAY RAISE. CONGRESSIONAL PAY WILL RISE BY THE LOWER OF CPI OR 3%
5. CONGRESS LOSES THEIR CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND PARTICIPATES IN THE SAME HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
6. CONGRESS MUST EQUALLY ABIDE BY ALL LAWS THEY IMPOSE ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
7. ALL CONTRACTS WITH PAST AND PRESENT CONGRESSMEN/WOMEN ARE VOID, EFFECTIVE 1/1/12. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DID NOT MAKE THIS CONTRACT WITH CONGRESSMEN/WOMEN.

CONGRESSMEN/WOMEN MADE ALL THESE CONTRACTS FOR THEMSELVES. SERVING IN CONGRESS IS AN HONOR, NOT A CAREER! THE FOUNDLING FATHERS ENVISIONED CITIZEN LEGISLATORS, SO OURS SHOULD SERVE THEIR TERM(S), THEN GO HOME AND BACK TO WORK!!!!

WHAT A FEBRUARY!!!
By Gigi

February is Black History month. The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in the Super bowl AND the United States is waiting to see what Israel will do to Iran’s nuclear facilities. President Obama, “promises” to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, while Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that Israel could attack Iran as early as April!!! But President Obama is dismissing any worries that Iran might retaliate against the United States after an Israeli attack. Really?!?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit Washington in March, while his foreign minister Avigdor Liberman arrives next Monday to meet with President Obama. On Sunday, yesterday, Israel replaced its air force chief and is beefing up its military while the escalating war of words continues between Iran and Israel. Netanyahu stated that the ONLY thing that ensures their existence, security and prosperity is their military strength. While in Tehran, military officials warns that Iran will retaliate against ANY country whose territory is used to help Israel to launch a military strike against Iran…meaning the United States!! Scary!