Just a quick note, as I've a few notes to send on to my "Pen-pal's," who've I've been shamefully neglecting, of late.
Well, supposedly, sometime in the next two weeks, many of us Yanks will get Bush's tax rebate cheques...up to $500 for many Americans. The only Americans not getting this, I suppose, are the homeless.
The sad thing is, that while it's a welcome "relief" from the recession, it is costing my government ten times more to send the checks/and letters telling everyone in the US that they are getting the money, than the cost of the actual money being given away.
It's nice, don't get me wrong, and if I get enough money from it, than I can have the internet back at home, certainly. But, it saddens me...this is only an election-year ploy...I mean, it's soooo-obviously an effort to buy votes. The American economy is so far down the loo, that a 100 to 500 dollar cheque per person--even by 500 million persons, isn't going to rescue us from the credit/bank stupidity, the lay-off's, the sudden rise in food and oil, transport and housing prices.
I mean, you really gotta' know America is full of anti-intellectuals, when they buy into this as a recession-relief scheme!
And, it upsets me knowing what I do, about the REAL state of our American social system. I think about how much more wiser these funds could be invested: Healthcare, education, public transport, public & low-cost housing, and food relief programmes for hungry Americans, and feel nothing but disgust and contempt for Bush and the rest of the politicians in Washington....and for some of the religious leaders, who scream and holler about no prayer allowed in schools and the Ten Commandments being forbidden in courthouses (it's been in our constituion since the beginning, the admonishment (protection) against their being a melding of church and state--they remain seperate, to avoid religious persecution), but remain conspiculsly silent in the face of countless Americans genuinely suffering.
But, as I said, no real complaints, as I personally can use the extra funds right now.
Anyway, we had two weeks of glorious hot, summer-like dry weather, now, tonight, I hear there's a chance it may snow. It's going down to 27 F (-3 C) tonight, and down to 25 F (-4 C) tomorrow night, before warming up slightly for the rest of the week. So, I bring the plants indoors for the next few nights, and hope my cats don't eat the petunias or herbs.
So, that's all I've got to say, I'm afraid. Not a very exciting post, is it? I probably won't be online tomorrow, as I have an appointment at the cardiologist's directly after my shift's over.
Have a pleasant evening and a good day tomorrow, my friends. Cheers! Nancy G.
