It's been quite a day.  I had a hybrid CT/PET scan this morning (surprise barium, yum-yum!), shopped for chemo week, had an appointment with my acupuncturist (Dr. Ho) this afternoon and in between read various articles that piqued my interest.

The shopping included a purchase of peonies.  I thought the full blooms would cheer me up this week (even tho it's chemo-lite, it never hurts to have a few "pick me up" items around the house).  I got the flowers home from the store...directly home I might add...and all but one of the five flowers immediately dropped its petals.

What a disappointment!  So I kept the one peony that didn't burst and went back to the store with the leavings of the rest.  The manager gave me my money back.  So I have a free, if lonely, peony on my dining room table.

When I got back from my hour with needles, I happened upon an article about teaching in the prison system.  The author, Robert Garmong, taught philosophy to prisoners in Virginia.  His experience transformed him and his perspective about prisoners while providing some of those same prisoners with valuable tools for lucid, ethical thinking.

It was interesting to read something that affirms my thoughts on what's at least part of the problem with California's penal system: almost all of the money spent on the system goes to the guards.  Imagine a world where we spent a little of that money on critical thinking skills.

Sure, many of the prisoners might still end up back in prison.  But how many wouldn't?  And how great if some of those that don't ended up living contributive lives.

One other article I read talked about the California State Budget and the "kabuki" theater that will soon happen as Dems put forth a budget and Repubs kill it because it contains some tax increases.  Just what we need...theater instead of well-thought out, bipartisan plans for sharing the pain of getting ourselves out of this mess.

Instead, we'll likely end up with draconian cuts across the board to services that primarily benefit the lower third of our citizens.  And folks that got their yacht taxes reduced will sail on.  Surely some kind of compromise would be better.

Last, but not least, was a thought provoking article about "California 2.0"--a constitutional convention and just how we might go about selecting members for the constitutional convention.

The author, Rt Hill, makes a persuasive argument for having the conventioneers randomly selected.  This would provide for a cross-section of the citizenry and leave out the opportunity for spots to be purchased, either with expensive campaigns or with influence.

Now that would be something to see.  It's about time for a convention, I say.  What's going on clearly doesn't work.

So I'll hope for a groundswell of support for the constitutional convention and for a seat (by random selection) on the committee.  Hey, a girl can dream.  Especially one with a free peony.







 


Comments

Hal

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:47:13

On the California budget, yes we need draconian cuts in the State government. It will be painful and it needs to be. We've been living outside of what we can afford for far too long. We need to not only cut services but we also need to cut programs and payroll drastically (either by layoffs or furloughs or both). Don't get me wrong, I'm not a masochist, I don't like pain. However this upcoming pain is way overdue so I guess I am looking forward to it. I don't have the answers nor do I really have suggestions on exactly how to do it but I do know we have only 60-days to get it done. The last thing we need are higher taxes or fees. Let's first figure out how to survive on the current revenue stream which is HUGE! Let the pain begin.

 

Hal

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:35:54

Sorry, can't resist another comment regarding California's budget fiasco. Here's my little analogy. I go to the dentist 3-times per year (yes, three, not the customary two) not because I like going but because I see frequent visits as being preventative. In fact, I really hate going to the dentist and I consider those 3-cleanings per year as very uncomfortable, sometimes even painful. There was a time in my life when I went to the dentist maybe once every two years or so and all of that neglect caused me to have a root canal (9-years ago) and believe me, that was no fun at all. So, I'll take the discomfort of cleanings and probing 3-times per year and will most likely avoid another root canal (or worse) for my future. For California, sorry, we unfortunately need that root canal now (or maybe worse, like a bridge or implants) so we're going to have to just deal with it. Maybe from now on we'll take better care of our teeth, oops, I mean budget. Also, please note, I'm not pointing fingers here at any political party or individuals. Nobody has clean hands in this monumental cluster fuck. OK, inject the Novocain now!

 

Laura

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:37:35

Hey Hal,

I don't disagree with you that we need to take the pain now...I just disagree that ALL of the pain needs or should come from program cuts.

But you're absolutely right. It's time to pay the piper (or the dentist).

 

Hal

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:04:28

As I said, "OK, inject the Novocain now!"

 



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