From the looks of the well-heeled, elderly citizens sprawled comfortably in their lawn chairs here in little ole’ Punta Gorda, Flori-dah?, I’d venture to guess that the majority are current beneficiaries of those scary “socialist” programs that everyone loves to hate. Dare I name them? Social Security, Medicare, possibly Medicaid to maintain a frail relative in a nursing home, and other perks that so many of the very comfortable elderly enjoy……at the expense of their younger, working neighbors. So much for the threat of “socialism” coming any time soon.

Regarding taxes going up. Get a grip, people. The president you fear so much has just signed an income tax cut for 95 percent of you! You’re paying less in federal income taxes now than you did under Ronald Reagan. What you are paying more for are local taxes; but that’s because most states with a bad economy, such as Florida, have had to cut funding to many county programs. (You’ve heard of “trickle-down”. Right?)

So, if you have a gripe, complain to your state lawmakers, or to your local county commissioners.

Spontaneous outrage? Hardly. The tea bagging was a well-planned (well, maybe not so well planned), display of political theatre. Nothing else.

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. BUT WHEN A LONG TRAIN OF ABUSES AND USURPATIONS, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

I emphasized that last bit, it made me so sick! Someone needs to put these rabble-rousers in a camp somewhere!

Perry is and always has been Bush’s boy. Senior Senator Kay Bailey Hutcheson has announced her intention to run against Perry for governor and has a serious chance of winning. Perry is doing anything he can to build support from anyone includingthe fringe groups.

Hutcheson is a serious Republican player and may gain the support of the states rich Republican contributors.
His turning down of federal money, his speaches about succession are just the opening salvo in the election. Look for even more madness to come.

Clothesline project showcased at UOG

BY BERNICE SANTIAGO • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • APRIL 17, 2009

Dozens of painted and decorated T-shirts, representing women who have survived violence, hang on a clothesline at the University of Guam.

They are part of the Clothesline Project sponsored by the Violence Against Women Prevention Program at the University of Guam. The shirts are displayed “as testimony to the problem of violence against women,” according to the national project’s Web site.

Clients from the Healing Hearts Crisis Center and Guma’ Mami decorated the T-shirts two years ago. Messages such as “Stop the Violence,” “Violence is Not an Excuse,” and “Love One Another,” are written on the shirts, said Junelyn Hautea, Education and Training Coordinator of the Violence Against Women Prevention Program.

“They’re positive messages about what they’ve been through, how they’re recovering,” she said.
The shirts are located behind the Humanities and Social Sciences building and will be displayed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday.
Hautea said staff members will be available near the display for visitors who want more information about violence prevention.
The program will also feature a movie about sexual assault titled “Speak” at 5:30 p.m. on April 30 in UOG’s CLASS Lecture Hall.

University of Guam received a grant in 2007 to create a Campus Violence Prevention Program. It aims to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. It also offers counseling for victims of violence.

Obama’s Support
President Obama recently proclaimed April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. He urged Americans to respond to sexual assault “by creating policies at work and school, by engaging in discussions with family and friends, and by making the prevention of sexual assault a priority in their communities,” according to the April 8th proclamation.

Aside from the Clothesline Project and Movie Night, Guam is marking the month with a Guam Coalition on Sexual Assault and Family Violence Motorcade and Wave on April 29th, starting at Island Girl Power in Dededo at 4pm.
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Hafa adai

Anna