Social Insecurity

Once again, Mr. Bush is successfully creating fear in the American public by creating imaginary cause and effect links. Just as his administration achieved its warmongering goals by consistently referring to "Saddam Hussein" and "al Qaida" in the same sentence, so they now are parroting "Social Security crisis" and "private accounts" in the same breath. And even when the questionably esteemed Alan Greenspan, in the same paragraph, observes that there is no immanent Social Security crisis, and that if there were, private accounts would only make it worse, but philosophically, the idea of private accounts is a good one, all the "liberal" media hears is "good idea."

No credentialed actuary, within or without the Social Security Administration, will make a case for a looming crisis. And yet that is the linchpin in Bush's case for private accounts. If he is successful, well then, yes, I suppose we will have a Social Security crisis. And the bankers on Wall Street will certainly be fatter and happier. But what happens to our senior citizens? And to us Baby Boomers?

The same goes for tort reform. The doctors and hospitals will certainly be happy that patients' legal recourse for malpractice will be eviscerated. But what of the patients whose lives are ruined by bad medical judgment and practice? I can't help but constantly remember that 50% of all doctors finish in the bottom half of their class. They are human beings, just like you and me, and they screw up, just like you and me, and, like you and me, they should be held responsible. Don't even get me started about the pharmaceutical industry...

We don't have a Social Security crisis. We do have an energy crisis, and what is the Bush administration doing about that? Nothing. We don't have a tort crisis, we have a healthcare crisis, and what is the Bush administration doing about that? About health insurance costs? About hospitalization costs? About drug costs? Nothing. Tort reform doesn't even qualify as a bandaid.

For what it's worth, I'm writing my senators and representatives in Congress. Professionals say that real, old-fashioned paper letters are taken more seriously than email. Maybe I'll do both. If you want names and addresses, email me and I'll send them to you.

– Roger Rebetsky of Taneytown

Living off the land

Scott butchered a hog on Friday, and I bought about 50-60 pounds off of him — including a huge fresh ham for Easter dinner. The freezer can't hold any more: a couple deer, a bunch of broilers I raised in the Fall, topped off with the pork. Still eating off the land in February, with salad greens growing in the sunroom and still plenty of the garden produce canned and frozen. Will start the first seeds for this year's garden in two weeks. Bon appetit!

Lauren Bacall

"Time flies, even when you're not having fun."

From And Then Some

Sanchu rekijitsu nashi

"No calendar in the mountain monastery."

5 Things

1. Compassion
2. Sensitivity
3. Loyalty
4. Thoughtfulness
5. Charity

Top 3 Kitchen Hygiene Tips

1. Microwave sponges for two minutes to kill germs and bacteria.
2. Rather counterintuitively, wooden cutting boards are less likely to harbor harmful organisms than synthetic ones. In either case, clean with a bleach solution once a month or so. The new "squirtable" bleach is great.
3. Several sources indicate it is not advisable to use any type of "antibacterial" soaps. Without exposure, your body can't build up resistance, and so you could be more likely to get infected.

Bonus: Baking soda is my best find for cleaning, especially for coffee-stained cups and water spots. Nothing I've found works as well.

A poem by Hafiz

JUST LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

I once had a student
Who would sit alone in his house at night
Shivering with worries
And fears,

And, come morning,
He would often look as though
He had been raped
By a ghost.

Then one day my pity

Crafted for him a knife
From my own divine sword.

Since then,
I have become very proud
Of this student.

For now, come night,
Not only has he lost all his fear,

Now he goes out

Just looking for
Trouble.

-Hafiz, c. 1320-1389

Mornin'!

Mornin'!
Posted by: rebetsky.

Mornin'!