Our New President wants our input!!!

This is amazing! President-elect Barack Obama has a website dedicated to getting OUR input on what WE THE PEOPLE feel is most important. Like many others, I have just recently begun to take an interest in politics, in the face of the worst presidential administration I have seen in my lifetime. Barack Obama may not be perfect, and I'm sure he will make mistakes, but since the first time I saw him on the national stage I felt that this is an honest man, one who truly cares about the kind of world his children will inherit. With our economy broken, two pre-emptive wars and a government that has become OF THE CORPORATIONS, BY THE CORPORATIONS, our new president has his work cut out for him. We need to stay involved, and make sure our leaders continue to hear OUR voices. I have been writing to my congresspeople and senators for a few years now. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to write to the president and feel that there might be a chance of having my voice heard. Please join me in writing a note to Mr. Obama.

Here is my letter:

First of all, congratulations on your historic victory. As an ardent supporter of yours, I feel honored to be a part of history at this time.

As the first successful campaign to be overwhelmingly supported by small donations from millions of ordinary American people like myself, I hope that you will always work for us and repudiate the influence of special interests and lobbyists. This must start immediately in terms of regulating the expenses of all the companies which received bailout money. It is unconscionable that any executives of these companies be receiving multi-million dollar payouts, or throwing lavish company parties at the expense of taxpayers and shareholders.

Job creation should be at the forefront of your efforts. Give generous tax incentives to companies which create jobs here in the U.S. and raise taxes on those which are offshoring jobs. Raise import tariffs on goods that we can produce here.
"Green-collar jobs" should also be a huge priority. More tax incentives to producers and consumers of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Any bailout for the auto industry must also be accompanied by strict requirements to dramatically increase efficiency in a very short time frame.

Health care is of course another very urgent need. I know it is a complex task, and we don't necessarily want socialized medicine, but start by regulating the insurance industry. Require companies to provide coverage and to pool clients either by state or region. Institute caps on premiums. All premiums should be fully tax-deductible to whomever pays them (employers or individuals). Here is an idea: institute a nominal (1% or less) national sales tax on unhealthful items such as tobacco, alcohol and fast food to offset the tax deduction. Preventive medicine and integrative/holistic healthcare and education should be the cornerstone of a healthy society.

Of course one of the biggest concerns, and the largest drain on our national resources are the wars being waged in the Middle East. We need to get out of Iraq immediately while working on a withdrawal plan to get out of Afghanistan. If we MUST stay there longer, we need to work with our allies to get more assistance from them rather than shouldering the entire burden ourselves.

And most importantly, NO MORE PRE-EMPTIVE WAR!!! STOP the military-industrial complex. This goes back to being beholden to the people instead of the corporations that are profiting from the blood of innocent people.

No more unconditional support for Israel. They are our allies, yes, but as I see it they have been calling the shots. We need to use diplomacy to get them to play nice with their neighbors and renounce their actions when they overstep their boundaries.

These steps are just the beginning, but there is so much more to do. The system has been broken for a long time. It truly needs to be torn down and rebuilt so that Government once again becomes a servant of the people rather than of the corporations.

Once again, I am very happy to see that there will be sane and rational adult supervision in the White House. I will be paying close attention to your work as it unfolds, and am committed to doing my part in my community. I look forward to seeing the United States once more fulfill its promise as a beacon of hope and prosperity in the world. Yes we can!

Best regards,
Suzanne Ledo

No excuse for this!

A fellow coach sent out the message below. I cannot believe that this woman is not able to get some kind of healthcare assistance. I don't know how much she makes with her book, but it is obviously not enough to live on! A dear friend of mine has Hepatitis C. She works for a company that does not provide health insurance. She is not able to get private insurance at any cost. Her only hope right now, besides the herbs she's taking, is to get into a drug trial program, and hope whatever crap they give her works. Apparently, only people who likely won't use insurance have the right to get it, at a minimum cost of $200 per month. The United States is the ONLY industrialized country that does not guarantee basic health care services to its citizens. You are better off in some third world countries. Seriously. I lived in Brazil for 10 years. I was without health insurance once when I was unemployed there and managed to get treatment for a sinus infection. My housekeeper was able to get care for her son any time he was sick, and even free dental care. Sure, there was a waiting list for that, but here, you will be laughed at if you suggest the possibility of free dental care, let alone life-saving treatment for serious illness. The working poor are screwed.

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I am writing each of you to ask for a special prayer request for my friend Doreene Clement. Some of you may know her as the author of the book The 5 Year Journal. Doreene has suffered with health challenges for many years now and has overcome each time - including beating two different types of rare breast cancer using only all natural methods. You can see a bit of her story at www.beacancervictor.com

Doreene has been living with me for the past 3 years, due to the financial loss that the cancer caused, she has not been able to have a home or even a car or been able to work other than the sales of her book and doing a few small editing jobs. She is no longer able to even do the editing jobs because she cannot sit at the computer any longer.

In January of this year she became very ill again and has been mostly bed ridden. In late February it was discovered that she had parasites and worms that were eating away her intestinal wall. Again, using only natural methods she managed to kill them off but the after effects have been debilitating to the point that she is in constant pain and nothing seems to be helping. Two weeks ago she experienced severe back pain that then radiated down her legs. We have been taking her to many wonderful specialists - naturopathic doctor, neuromuscular specialist, organ massage specialist, colonic specialists, lymph specialists, acupuncture and using many different types of nutritional supplements and herbs. On Tuesday of this week the pain became so severe in her back and left leg she has not even been able to get out of bed to use the portable toilet at the foot of the bed. We have been using a female urinal. Bowel movements are a problem.

She applied for state assistance for healthcare and food stamps and was denied. They say she made too much money. Friends have been donating funds to her and because she is so honest she declared that money and the state has decided that it is income. She has an outstanding debt from a person who gave her a promissory note for $6,000 over 5 years ago and has only paid her a few hundred dollars. The state says that is an asset.

Doreene is a MASTER at overcoming pain and adversity and has been an inspiration and teacher to many. For the first time since I have known her she is crying out for help. Even during the cancer she always had a positive and upbeat spirit and attitude. Now, the pain is more than she can bare - I hear her crying - sometimes in just a whisper and whimper and other times out loud in a wail. She has said if it is now her time she is ready. BUT IF IT IS NOT - SHE WANTS PAIN FREE HEALING NOW!

I am not sending out this prayer request to ask for more treatments or supplements, but to ask for her what she is asking for. Complete healing with NO PAIN. And, if that looks like transition then so be it - that is NOT what she wants - but is willing to accept it if it is time. Please add her to any prayer request lists you may have or know of.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and, again, the power of your prayers for Doreene's highest good is most heartfelt appreciated. If you would like to call you can reach Doreene or me at 480-664-4170. Perhaps hearing your voice and a short prayer will lift her spirits. If she doesn't answer please do leave a prayer message for her.

Thank you for all you do for others in your life and your ministries and callings.

In Love and Appreciation!

Sandy Rogers

Another Reason to Hate Wal-Mart

I hate Wal-Mart. Some may argue that low prices are good for people who struggle with limited income. Yeah. But if a there were more of the manufacturing jobs that have been sent to China due to Wal-Mart's predatory policies, maybe people could get better jobs here. Another person told me that Wal-Mart provides jobs in rural areas. Yeah. But it also puts an untold number of mom-and-pop shops in said small towns out of business. Your point? Anyway, the Cornucopia Institute has the scoop on Wally World's latest outrage. I am already concerned about huge food corporations that continue to lobby to weaken organic standards. Mall-Wart actually has the gall to try to push non-organic foods off as organic.