The Fifth Estate extends from the blogosphere to the community and the ways participants hold the powers accountable. The Fourth Estate, the media, held some of that responsibility, but communications is now more in the hands of the people.

http://open.salon.com/blog/onebyland

The Bucks Underground Railroad

April 30, 2012

The April 16, 2012 issue of Newsweek published a picture of an African-American woman holding a sign at a Trayvon Martin protest rally that said, “I don’t apologize for my blackness and your fear.”  It was a reminder to me that when my siblings and I were growing up in Doylestown we were raisins in a sea of rice.  We were always cautioned to be proper in our appearance and manners.  My dad would say to us, “You are colored and have to hold yourself to a higher standard.”  That sign symbolized the burden we carried throughout our childhood:  Apologizing.

The Civil Rights Movement forced the nation to look at how Being Black in America was an unequal condition.  In 1964 President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and all was supposed to be well in the land of the free, the home of the brave.  When Barack Obama was elected President in 2008 the hatred fed by prejudice and ignorance came out of the closet.  He is the first President whose skin is the shade of creamed coffee and many Americans are uncomfortable in accepting that reality.

National figures of Power granted permission for this racist attitude to go viral when during the President’s September 9, 2009  speech on health care to a joint session of Congress, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted “You lie!”.  Then four months later during the President’s 2010 State of the Union message, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito dropped his façade of decorum and angrily shook his head as he mouthed the words “… not true…”.  Both displays of disrespect gave subliminal approval for anyone to openly express their hateful ignorance of our 44^th President of the United States.

The thick magic markers came out of desk drawers and caricatures of the President as a monkey or wearing an exaggerated Hitler mustache flooded Tea Party rallies across America.  Although Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush were slapped with verbal abuse during their times in office, it never reached the level of hateful discord as continually occurs toward President Obama.  Here in the 8^th Congressional District, this past April 14 Representative Michael Fitzpatrick ramped up the hate level by accusing President Obama of treason.      

After the murder of Trayvon Martin a deeper wound of racist fear poured out, proving that what we thought was long gone is still with us.  The letters to the editor in our local paper were filled with lame excuses to justify the merciless killing of this young man.  An equal number  of letters were annoyed by the protests taking place in support of Trayvon.  Their main message:  Get over it.  In their ignorance some of the letters referenced black on white murder crimes as an accepted comparison to Trayvon Martin’s death.

Growing up in Doylestown in the 50s and 60s, the possibility of a relationship between a couple where one was white and the other black was considered Tabu.  Recently HBO featured a documentary of the Mildred Delores Jeter, of African-American and Rappahannock Native American descent who in 1958 married a white man–Richard Perry Loving.  Their home was CarolineCountyVirginia, a state where a 1924 law disallowed the “mixing of the races”.  The Lovings were arrested for miscegenation (marriage between different races).  The “crime” worked its way to the Supreme Court that heard arguments on April 19, 1967.  On June 12, 1967 the Court declared Virginia’s anti-miscegnation statue (The Racial Integrity Act of 1924) to be unconstitutional.

As the 21^st Century came upon us, mixed couples and mixed marriages have become so acceptable, no one takes a second look.  Raisins in a sea of rice is slowly disappearing.  Global-wide peoples of different skin shades—white, red, yellow, black, and brown are mixing it up.  Who knows—by the end of the 21^st Century the skin of every human being around the planet will be the same color. 

The Bucks Underground Railroad

April 26, 2012

On April 18 I traveled to Bristol for the regularly scheduled Commissioners’ meeting to express my concerns about registered voters living in nursing homes.  About a dozen people spoke and shared horror stories they experienced as they attempted to abide by this law.  My post of March 30, 2012 listed my concerns for my brother, now residing in a nursing home.   http://www.oneifbylandbuckscounty.com/blog/?p=902.

Since that posting I’ve learned that my brother’s nursing home has no plans to photograph their residents.  This decision came after a nursing home staff member made inquiries, only to learn that any photo ID created by the home would not be “acceptable”.  The home has not decided to transport by van to the Dublin DMV any of their 37 registered voters who do not have approved photo ID.

So many glitches are beginning to surface from this law:  Photos taken at a DMV are supposed to be free; however one of the speakers at this meeting said that when he went to get his photo taken, he was charged $13 dollars and change.  If you work, you’ll have to take time off your job running around to get these documents.  Time lost is money out of your paycheck!  The documents required in order to get an approved photo ID will not be secured quickly–Birth Certificates at least a month; Passports at least 16 weeks.

The horror story described at this meeting was the 89 year old woman—never having missed voting her entire adult life—who traveled to the Dublin DMV with all the proper documents, only to be rejected because her marriage certificate was in Hebrew.  The clerk at the DMV suggested she change back to her maiden name and then she could get her photo ID.  Happy ending is a couple days ago she was granted a DMV photo ID good for four years.  Oh–and in 2016, she can renew her Official Voter ID card for a fee (not yet determined).

Don’t have a certified copy of your Birth Certificate?  My recommendation is visit the office of your State Rep or State Senator.  They have proudly boasted in their newsletters and campaign literature all about their excellent “constituent service”.  Do it:  Request one of them to get your Birth Certificate.  It’ll be on your doorstep within two weeks!

The Tuesday Primary was not the best “dry run” for voters.  With only the D’s and R’s showing up–and a paltry 24% at my polling place–all the Libertarians, Greens, and No Party voters, unless they read the local paper won’t have a clue about this mess.

The cost to taxpayers as the State implements this unconstitutional law is tremendous.  Minority Commissioner Diane Marseglia stated the amount to be a couple million dollars.  The governor has cut funding for social programs but oh yeah, there seems to be money to devote state employees and resources just to make sure everybody knows who they are when they go into the voting booth.

It ain’t over yet.  Three days ago I received an email from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the ACLU.  Here’s their message I pass on to all of you:

It’s very important and URGENT that we find people who don’t have ID. If you think you don’t have the right kind of ID or someone you know doesn’t have an acceptable photo ID, please contact ACLU of PA at 717-238-2258 Voterid@aclupa.org.  They’re about to file a lawsuit!

There are many places in our communities—shelters, housing groups, houses of worship, or halfway houses to name a few—where there are voters who don’t yet have a photo ID.  If you regularly attend a worship service, make sure this information gets to all your members.  Imagine the number of people who live in cities and travel by bus but have no approved ID, not even a driver’s license.

This is a seriously horrific situation where as many as 5 to 10% of registered voters will be disenfranchised.  The pro-voter ID people believe this is not a serious issue and that everybody has an ID and there are ”…no problems…” to get the proper documentation. …….If only that were so.

And finally, there is a SignOn petition circulating by email, Facebook, and Tweet.  It reads:

People throughout Bucks County need to be educated about the new requirements to vote in November.  It is the obligation of the County Commissioners to run honest, efficient, and uniform elections.  In order to do so, the County Commissioners  must convene a Photo ID Task Force by May 15, 2012, to draw up a plan to educate the general public about the details of the Photo ID law and facilitate the processing of documents necessary for Bucks County residents to vote in November 2012.  The task force must be representative of the entire county and operate transparently.

Go to the link: http://signon.org/sign/county-commissioners.  Last time I checked, it was close to a thousand names asking for the Task Force.

To determine what acceptable voter ID documents you already have or will need, visit www.votespa.com.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

April 1, 2012

Another African American baby has been murdered.

6-year old Khalil Wimes died on March 19, 2012.  His death was the result of recurring physical abuse, neglect, and starvation meted out to him by his biological parents–Tina Cuffie and Floyd Wimes (aka Latif Hadi).  Khalil’s death sentence began in 2008 when Philadelphia Family Court Judge Charles Cunningham ruled that Khalil should be returned to the parents, and not remain in the custody of Alicia Nixon, a cousin to the Wimes.  Five other children were born from the Wimes’ union but had been removed for similar reasons of neglect.

Although Khalil was taken from the Wimes when there was confirmation of physical abuse, for some illogical reason Judge Cunningham placed Khalil back in harm’s way.  If there’s a blessing from this tragedy, Khalil’s 3-year old sister living in the house at the time of his death is now in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

When he died Khalil weighed only 29 pounds, 16 pounds off the 45-pound weight for a child his age.

This is the second incident of a child’s death through neglect and abuse that has happened in a family I know.  It’s horrific enough to learn of tragedies like this; but when it touches the lives of people we know it’s a painful burden we share with them.

I had the joy of meeting Khalil in the spring of 2008.  At that time he was barely two years old and in the custody of Alicia and her husband.  It was also a time when Alicia and family members were immersed in a futile attempt with Family Court to keep Khalil from being returned to his biological parents.  Back then, along with my friend and colleague Andrew, we had visited LaReine Nixon in her Philadelphia studio and gallery.  LaReine is Alicia’s mother.  We were there to deliver a couple dozen newly silk-screened Obama T-shirts to LaReine, T-shirts born from a unique portrait she had created of then candidate Barack Obama.  Shortly after our arrival Khalil came bounding in with Alicia, running on his little legs to LaReine shouting “Grandma!”

When I’d first heard about Khalil’s death, it brought back to me an image of that visit to LaReine’s studio.  There was LaReine kneelng in front of Khalil and slipping one of the Obama T-shirts over his tiny frame.  The shirt swallowed him, flowing down to the floor and covering his shoes.  LaReine placed her hands on his shoulders.  “Who’s this?”, she asked.  Khalil grinned, tapped his hands on his chest and said, “Bama!”

Alicia and LaReine briefly described to us the Court struggle they were experiencing to keep Khalil from returning to his biological parents.  They felt cautiously confident that the outcome would be in their favor.  I prefer the phrase “biological parents” because in many instances, people like the Wimes can never be defined as a mother and father.

In some developing countries or Third World countries there are no Courts to make decisions regarding troubled children.  Instead the decision is in the hands of the community.  Yet again, in our developed nation the Court’s decision to place neglected, troubled, or abused children into a blood relatives’ home is the right thing to do.

In Margaret Mead’s Coming of Age in Samoa she described how it was an accepted custom for children or youngsters, if difficulties or problems were prominent within the home; to move into the nearby home of a relative.   The child would become an integral part of his/her new family.

In the Maasai culture when a child dies, the family can adopt a child from one of their close relatives.  It could be the family of the wife or husband or possibly a child from any other extended family member.  In exchange a heifer is given to the family who gave their child out for adoption.

Although it’s true that Family Courts and Philadelphia Family Courts are overwhelmed with neglect cases such as Khalil’s, I can’t help but wonder—What was Judge Charles Cunningham thinking?  It was an egregious failure on his part to return Khalil to those heartless monsters, thereby robbing him of the love and safety and shelter from his Aunt Alicia and support from his extended family members.

Judge Charles Cunningham should do all future endangered children a favor and step down from the bench.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

March 30, 2012

Two nursing home facilities are sited in the precinct where I live and vote.  According to the 9/21/11 County of Bucks Voter Registration List for my precinct, there are 61 registered voters at these two facilities.  My brother recently transferred to one of the facilities in October from a nursing home in New Jersey.  A consistent voter in his former state, he has re-registered to vote in Bucks County and looks forward to the upcoming elections.

At a January 11, 2012 Voter ID forum held by the Bucks County League of Women Voters, State Senator Chuck McIlhinney (PA-10) was available to answer questions about Voter ID.  I expressed my concern that my brother does not have a current photo ID.  The Senator assured me that nursing homes have photo IDs available for their patients.

When I inquired to administrative staff at my brother’s nursing home I discovered they do not offer that option for their residents.  This is just one nursing home so I don’t know the policies of the other facility in my voting district nor of the several other facilities in the surrounding area.  With rising costs to provide quality care to the elderly, I can understand why adding Photo ID requirements to their costs would be prohibitive.

My brother has his original Social Security card and an original copy of his birth certificate.  He does not have a valid/current photo ID.  I can take him to DMV;  however he is incontinent and moves around by wheel chair.  A long wait at DMV may compromise his health.

• Should the nursing facility transport my brother and all other wheel chair registered voters at the facility to the nearest DMV office?  Or—
• Will one or two staff from the DMV travel to nursing homes to process a “valid photo ID” for my brother and all the registered voters at the facility?
• Should the nursing facility spend shrinking funds to hire staff to verify Social Security numbers?  Will that staff member be required to process/photograph my brother and others for a “valid photo ID”?  Will the nursing home facility’s valid ID be acceptable to the Board of Elections?  Will costs for processing Voter IDs be covered under Medicare/Medicaid?  Will these costs be waived?
• Will nursing home staff  complete requests to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for original copies of residents’ birth certificates?  Will the fee be waived for nursing home residents?  If not, will that fee be covered under Medicare/Medicaid?
• Will our state elected representatives take the financial burden of meeting requests from nursing home residents for original birth certificates?  Will the fee be waived?
• Will nursing home residents (some in wheel chairs) who are transported to their polling place on election days be given diligence and patience by poll workers?
• For residents voting by absentee ballots, will the County Election Board make staff available at nursing home facilities to verify each resident completing the ballot?
• What financial burdens will County Boards of Elections absorb for the Voter ID processing requirements?

So many questions……so little time.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

January 30, 2012

For the past decade the Lunar globe that’s rested on the file cabinet in my office may finally gain its rightful place in Our Universe.  Thank you Newt Gingrich for your prophetic announcement that by the end of your “…second term we will have the first permanent base on the moon and it will be American.”  Even more prophetic was your pronouncement that the moon would become “… our 51^st state.”

Great!  I submit for your consideration these Lunar-related names for our 51^st State:  Moonia?  Moonorado?  Moonizonia?  Moonalvania?  Outer Lunar?  Moonida?  Loony?

OK, ‘nuff said.

In the mid 1960’s I lived in Fairfield, California.  At that time when I arrived as a new bride to First Husband Joe–serving in uniform at Travis Air Force Base–Fairfield was a sleepy community sandwiched between San Francisco and Sacramento.  Just loved it out there! California had always been on my bucket list.

Some time after arriving in California I accepted a position with Explosive Technology in its Technical Publications Department (we referred to it as “ET” in our proposals and marketing publications).  ET, sited on the grounds of a dismantled Nike missile base just outside Fairfield, developed its products for the space and defense industries.   A subsidiary of Ducommun, to this day I cannot find any website reference for “Explosive Technology”.  Too bad because ET’s contributions are lost in America’s Right Stuff  history of R&D technology in defense programs and space exploration.

WAY before that dirty word “outsourcing” became part of our vocabulary–ET’s Engineering, QA, and Manufacturing departments produced successful R&D programs that contributed to America’s status as a pioneer in Space.   ET’s separation assemblies pushed our Saturn rockets into space.  ET’s ejection seats saved pilots from burning fighter jets.  Another product ET developed which I don’t believe is now in use was the “Jet Axe”.  The device—packaged in a box about the size of a case of soda or beer—when attached to the roof of a burning structure allowed firefighters to blow a hole in the roof so they could swiftly enter into the building.

Those of you who’ve been around long enough remember the Apollo Space Program when we sat on the edge of our couches glued to our television sets watching the first two American Astronauts on their moon landing.  You probably wondered, How the Eff they gonna get off there?   ET’s brilliant engineers designed a separation assembly in the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM).  With the flick of a switch one of the Lunar landing astronauts fired an explosive guillotine cutter that severed the wires from the spidery LEM.  The capsule blasted off from the moon’s surface to rendezvous with the mother ship circling high above them.

An ET co-worker and friend of mine always joked that we would forever be known as the company that trashed the moon.  Got me thinking that maybe Newt should send the first shuttle to the rocky globe filled with “Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods…” who “…have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works.”   Geez…They could clean up all that abandoned space junk.

Newt’s ”idea” for child labor is just one more statement he’s uttered to vilify minorities, be they Poor and Black, or Brown, or Red or Yellow.

Newt–you’ve talked yourself off the island.  See you on the dark side of the moon.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

January 27, 2012

A friend of mine has become a Disappeared Constituent.  Even before the 2008 Presidential campaign, she brought a bright, creative and aggressive activism to the Progressive groups she was involved with.  Then several months ago she became dissatisfied, frustrated, and disappointed.  She opted out of everything political including not voting in the last two elections.

She’s not alone.  There are 99% of American voters who are Pissed Off—either at the President, or their political party, or the lazy electorate, or inflexible federal legislators, or Big Money PACs, or the constant return to office of candidates whose interests are not for the Good of the People.  Having battled in the political trenches since 1982, there were times when my candidates won and times when they lost.  The losses always brought about a deep blue funk often difficult to overcome.  But I refused to go away and Disappear.

It was worth hanging in there all those years to witness the millions of voters who made Barack Hussein Obama the 44^th President of the United States.  Were you there in Washington during Inauguration weekend?  It was the ultimate natural high to mingle among the crowds of people gathered across and throughout the Mall.  To exchange conversations with strangers, or see, hear, and feel the positive energy celebrated about this historic victory goes back to that phrase…You had to be there!

Thousands of Americans for the first time in their lives, dove into the political trenches.  Before two years were over a great many of those fresh new activists became Disappointed and Disappeared from the landscape.  You’ve heard it before so here it is again:  Obama walked into a destructive mess worse than an F5 tornado.  His agenda was roadblocked by a legislative body that turned Hope for America into hatred for him.  If you visit the Obama for President website, the list of accomplishments show Change has begun.  Instant gratification never applied to politics.

Last week I finished “True Compass’, the autobiography by the late Senator from Massachusetts, Edward M. Kennedy.  When he came to Washington in 1962 he witnessed and was part of historical changes including the Environment, International Affairs, Health Care, Education, Civil Rights and Workers’ Benefits.  To get a grasp of the Institution he had become a part of, during his early months in office he devoted hours researching past narratives published by the Founding Fathers.   To his colleagues he was always respectful and open to compromise–two lessons that are lacking in the current slate of legislative newbie’s.  Their behavior speaks volumes about their disrespect of our nation’s legacy and their lack of civility toward the office of the Presidency.

‘Perseverance’, the last chapter of Kennedy’s memoir dwells on his battle with cancer and how throughout his career in the Senate he struggled through personal mishaps and family tragedies while waging legislative policies to improve the lives of Americans.  His message is an inspiration for all our Disappeared Constituents:  You don’t give up.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

January 14, 2012

The Republican Presidential primary campaign season has just begun and the last few wanna-be’s are confirming President Obama’s response about his preference for an opponent.  The President said he perferred to wait and see who will be standing after all the other candidates are “… voted off the island”.

In the meantime you and me gasp in embarrassment as we witness a group of shallow-brained Republican candidates insist they can lead America to a better future.  Their message is filtered through homophobic pronouncements, racist statements, exclusive economics, and religious piety.  It has caused laughter from people across all nations hundreds of years older than us–infants in comparison to the rest of the civilized World around the plantet.

This season of campaigning often described by media pundits as a “reality show” has caused many Americans to shut down, throw their hands up and in a deafening cacophony of wails, shout their disinterest and vow not to vote on November 6.  Voters are disappointed.

Somehow Pennsylvania’s Disappointed wrongfully morphed  into 65% of registered voters who  Disappeared in November 2011 leaving an average of 35% of registered voters to choose the new Rulers.  That disappointment margin has created a Republican party controlling government in Pennsylvania:  The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of our Commonwealth…They Now Rule. 

In Bucks County it returned an administration and a lot of Row Office holders consumed with ancient ideas that continue to produce a moldy, stagnant direction to lead.

The Disappeared also came true in the November 2011 elections in Bucks.  We were offered a genuine opportunity to change the direction of County government.  It was a chance to replace smarmy incompetency with dedicated leadership.  I know of what I speak:  As a former 20-year employee at the County, many times my head shook in disgust witnessing the lack of inclusive governance.  In my October 29, 2010 post, Now is the Time To Get In The Way, I wrote, “…they remind me of someone who’s been employed at the same place… who shows up for work every day; and with clipboard securely tucked under arm, struts throughout the building with a superior attitude, appearing to be irreplaceable, but in truth, not completing one iota of work for the betterment of the company.”

During the 2011 elections many voters were unaware that the 2012 incoming legislators going to Harrisburg were given the power to recommend a change of  legislative lines that will determine where you and I vote for candidates running at the State and Federal levels.  In many cases these lines give us a narrow voting choice and favor the majority legislative party at the state and federal level of representation.  In many cases these lines have divided your neighborhood and/or community.   So few know the power of this process which you can read in my April 11, 2011 post, Redistricting is the thief taking away my country.

35% of Pennsylvanians voted into office a governor whose support came heavily from the gas and oil industry.  This allegiance from Them to Him will forever change our Commonwealth –

Where trees will be replaced by ugly drilling towers.

Where polluted water, running unseen in acquifers underground across local-county-state boundaries, may pop up in wells or rivers or streams to cause irrreversible damage to humans, plants and animals.

Where narrow macadam roads, buckling from the recurring load of trucks transporting ditritus matter of all kinds will require the replacement of those roads.  Replacements where money is not available from local governments.

Where the air becomes so foul it permeates the bodies of resident and worker alike creating severe illnesses—many undiagnosed because the gas and oil drilling industry has no regulatory responsibility to inform you and me of the chemicals used to frack for gas from underneath Pennsylvania land.

Where proposed legislation allowing Corporations to use Eminent Domain may negate any and all local zoning rules in order to frack for gas on your land or your neighbor’s land. 

Oh yeah—I’m Disappointed.  But I refuse to Disappear.  Next Post–it’s all about the Nation.  Don’t be a Disappeared Voter who has become Disappointed.

The Bucks Underground Railroad

November 3, 2011

Two days after Doylestown’s successful and peaceful October 13 Occupy event, a handwritten note was stuck in our mailbox.  My sister caught only the back of a young man dressed in black, as he scurried up our steps onto the sidewalk, before fleeing across the street and disappearing up the block.  It seems my “TAX Millionaires” sign caused him such a fit of rage he chose to scribble a reactionary rightist message on a piece of paper–which is included below for your reading pleasure:

You are taking a lead from the most Divisive President in U.S. history… your meshia (stet) Obama! “Tax the Millionaires”

The top 1% of US taxpayers pay 20% of Fed Taxes

 ”               5%             ”        ”              40%                    ”

 ”               10%           ”      ”               70%                    “

The bottom 50% pay no Federal Taxes!

We guess you are in that bottom part.   A typical Loser “Taken Class” Liberal democrat who only knows class envy.

Whoa!

The statistics jotted on that note have always in the past been uttered time and again, by conservative columnists, writers, and newsreaders on Faux News.  John Fund, conservative published author and commentator repeated those exact stats on HBO’s Bill Maher’s October 14, 2011 show, during a lively discussion about ‘Occupy Wall Street’.

When extremely wealthy individuals can depart this earth and their families receive their inheritances tax-free, something is wrong.  This came to the media’s attention when Congress allowed a loophole in the federal estate tax to expire at the end of 2010.  In that year of 2010 New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Texas pipeline tycoon Dan Duncan died and as fortune would have it their families gobbled up the inherited millions without having to pay any federal taxes.

Even though the federal estate tax was renewed January 1, 2011, individuals will pay taxes only if their taxable estate is more than $5 million.  Still seems like part of the 1% to me.

Young Guy dressed in black failed to realize the “TAX Millionaires” sign was first planted in our front garden in August after Washington DC legislators refused to consider raising taxes on the 1% wealthy Americans who live large while the 99% rest of us hold up this Nation.  One final thought for Young Guy dressed in black:  I’m retired, receive Social Security and a small pension, both of which I paid into and are now subject to tax deductions.  Stop with your reactionary ka-ka.

Disregarding the 1% Millionaires who don’t pay taxes, Occupy Wall Street is also messaging the masses about bankers and investors whose pens robbed Americans of their pensions, savings, and houses.  If these overpaid Wall Street bean counters were gripping a gun in their hand instead of wrapping their fingers around a pen, they’d be locked up in a Federal prison.  Pitiful.  Just.  Pitiful.

Next time my thoughts about Infrastructure.

 October 15, 2011

 As an activist friend once commented,“If you sit on a bed of nails long enough, you’ll get up ’cause your butt is really hurtin’.”

The “Occupy …” movements that have sprung up throughout America and around the Globe are a welcome comeuppance for us who’ve never lost Hope that Change is Real.

On Thursday October 13, nearly 200 people of all ethnicities, ages, backgrounds and causes gathered at Main and State Streets in Doylestown Borough, the County Seat of Bucks County to voice their dissatisfaction with an unyielding Congress, wars with no end in sight, the abandoment of workers by American corporations, home foreclosures, the failure of American financial institutions to invest in this country, the bailout of Wall Street, a dangerous disregard for public sector employees, and the threat to Americans’ Right to Vote.

Doylestown was one of many Pennsylvania communities, large and small, to reiterate that the Middle Class represents the values, strength, and heritage of the Nation.  By the time this past weekend ended citizens of all persuasions from Allentown to Bethlehem, along with Lehigh Valley, Erie, Harrisburg, Indiana County, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, State College, Stroudsburg, Williamsport, and York filled the streets with a message to Washington DC:  We are the 99% of America that is America.  As this movement grows, expect additional Pennsylvania communities and others across the country to become part of this powerful movement that says, Silence is not an option  The 99% of America that is America has leaped off the bed of nails and are here to shout:  ”We are the real Voices of America.”

Mainstream media’s editorial decision to initially describe these national gatherings as “… a bunch of no-nothings without a message” was shameful journalism.  Our local newspaper, often  dismissed by many readers as a weak pillar of the Fourth Estate, was forced to acknowledge in its coverage of  Doylestown’s Occupation to be worthy of its Front Page.  Its publication also included not one but two photos must have surely produced shingles on the skins of the local ‘Pea Tarty’ extremists.

If you’re still sitting on that bed of nails, now’s the time to get off and in the words of the Bucks Underground Railroad Freedom Jockey,  ”Speak up, show up and get in the way” (http://www.oneifbylandbuckscounty.com/blog/?p=84).

The Bucks Underground Railroad

The Bucks Underground Railroad

October 10, 2011   Last night I attended a neighborhood event that announced the creation of a labyrinth to be placed near the Michener Museum in Doylestown.  About a hundred people were there to learn about the project.  A temporary labyrinth was created on the proposed site using tiny clear lights that formed the circled path that guides people to the center and then back out to the entrance.  After all my experiences over the past two and a half months, walking that labyrinth helped transform me back to The Bucks Underground Railroad.

My blog took its unscheduled respite in mid July.  It was around that time when my 77 year-old brother Jimmy was hospitalized for emergency surgery.  It brought a permanent life change for him and a realization to me and my siblings that our big brother Jimmy, who we always looked up to as “all that”, was no longer that lover of jazz, creator of iconoclastic modern art work, amateur photographer, and sophisticated lover to dozens of women.  He’s slipped into short term memory loss as well as a deterioration in his physical health.

My sister and I became the siblings to handle this change in Jimmy’s life.  Being the closest to his home in New Jersey, it became our responsibility to admit him to a care facility, clean out his apartment, initiate legal documents, travel back and forth to his New Jersey care facility, speak and meet with his health caregivers, and monitor his personal finances.  It became an all-consuming part of our every day lives, but he’s now settled in a long term care nursing facility close to our home.  Most days during that time I mused over how to write about this.

I now realize living wills and a power of attorney are important documents to put in place before a medical emergency arises.

Medicare and Medicaid:  health insurance benefits that should never be taken away from any of us.

The social workers who helped us through paperwork were Goddesses.

From the nurses, to the aides, to those in housekeeping, therapy, activities or administrative personnel—they perform thankless jobs all of us take for granted until we or a relative come face to face with the reality of a life-changing illness.   Five Stars to all of them.