TheVoiceOfJoyce

SYMPTOMS OF OUR TIMES: DOING NOTHING OR WELCOMING THE FRINGES. ?

The ” do nothing Congress” really exists according to the NY TIMES article, ” A do nothing Congress, well, pretty close? One can only speculate why there is a reduction in Committees and Bills proposed. House of Representative’s, Jeb Hensarling, a Texas Republican and chair of the Financial Services Committee, doesn’t see the need to author any Bills.   Do we forget Financial and Tax Reform in Congress this year?

Is what’s happening in Europe a lesson for America? Europeans are fed up with austerity measures, with massive unemployment and they are going to the polls to support Far Right Parties in most countries. These Parties eschew immigrants, tend to be anti- Semitic , and yet they represent almost 27% of the electorate. The hope is those in Power will listen to them and work towards creating jobs and a live able existence for all!   One can hope.

Or is the real activity happening  here, on the State level? Liberal Democratic States are passing minimum wage bills from $10.00-$15.00/ hour while Michigan has taken a step forward with a bipartisan supported wage of $10.10/ hour. Though a higher wage is desirable, it doesn’t create Millions of  jobs. Only a massive infusion of cash,  into the Small Business Loan program , or infrastructure ,  will increase the ranks of the employed and decrease the ” powerlessness that ” we the People” feel.

Meanwhile, the outrage over the recent gun violence in California has created an atmosphere for change. Californians wish to change the laws for gun owners and they are seeking a restraining order similar to one used in domestic violence cases, preventing ” those with hostile and violent tendencies” from possessing a weapon.  Chicago is considering curtailing gun sales and wants to institute  video surveillance of all those seeking to purchase a gun. All these  Laws are being considered to curtail individual mass violence and in Chicago;  Gang related deaths.

As one sector of the population has become more violent, the statistics corroborate that overall deaths from guns has gone from 10,000 annually to 15,000 .   Overall apathy pervades the working ” poor” as employees struggle to be valued , to be recognized , yearning for a way of life that has ceased to exist. In my  Community,  we understand the hardships of survival and commiserate with others, but we still have not taken enough ” baby” steps to propel individuals forward, out of poverty and the Middle Class malaise.

For proof of our sense of fear and our heightened anxiety at work, one only has to read the last 2 articles from the NY TIMES.  (the first article was cited in Post #268.)  The article , below, looks at our fears and their origins.  Not coming to terms with our fears ” hobbles” us emotionally. ( I know, I’ve been there.  )  The current scene is unacceptable and only a united People can change it. I rue the day when Corporations became People and Government was lost to millions of folks. I rue the days that I encounter well dressed , educated people living in the streets and wonder about their future and their survival. This is America, the land of ” milk and honey” no more!

http://nyti.ms/1jD80xd

The world isn’t more dangerous than it was before. But we are more afraid.