Cynthia Rose has my vote! I too have had money, and been poor, but time takes the cake. I’ve worked to make money. And when I couldn’t work, I’ve wondered where we’d get the money to put food in the frig. When I had the money, I had no time to do what I wanted or needed to do! When I had the time, I had no money do do what I wanted or needed to do! I seem to be one of those who doesn’t get to have enough of either! Money can buy you “things” - but it can’t buy happiness. On the other hand, having time to spend with kids & family, & do things you love - is priceless!

Sorry Girls, I’m not a fan of “Mother’s Day”! First place, my Mom is gone - 13 years now, and the last 3 she was stuck at age 40 (she was 82 when she had a stroke). Second, of my own 6 kids, only 2 are nearby. Third, well it’s all become too commercial! We’re told to buy this, go out to dinner, etc. I’d rather “spend” more time together than just this one, opening gifts! I’m sad remembering those days when my Mom, the kids, & hubby spent the day just having fun in the sun. But I digress. Like my Mom? She was beautiful (even at 84!), not I - she was a spelling whiz, I tanks God for spell check - a vocabulary, language, & writing whiz, I did catch a tiny bit of - a “social activist,” that I caught, but not to the extent she was. And I still don’t cook as well as she! Then too I’m no where near as disciplined as she. She finished college at age 69! Values are caught, not taught! But her love of family, & history, & politics, & current events, her sense of justice, compassion, patience, and tolerance, and good taste in decor, classic attire, & in creating my own style - yes, I thankfully am like her there. But I’m also a product of my Dad. In many ways, I’m more like him, my laisser faire attitude toward money, time, and all those other things Mom always worried about. I’ve lived by 2 of his many mantra’s, Shakespeare’s “To thine own self be true…” & another fella’s “silence gives consent.” (Pop must have memorized every famous saying, and used them profusely throughout our lives!). I always, even as a kid, admired her, and my Dad. My hubby says I put them on a pedestal - well, they did SO much in their lives to admire! Guess that’s why I like this site so much! You get to speak your mind & other’s listen, and you get to see other’s thoughts. I haven’t had that since Mom died! After years away we came “home.” Mom & I spent every day together, for 10 years, till her stroke. For that I’m ever gratefull! We solved EVERY problem, Locally, Nationally, and Globally! Our solutions were just full of common sense, we couldn’t figure out why the powers that be didn’t think that way. I miss her tons. I can’t get her a card so I’ll skip Mother’s Day.

Boy have you asked the right question! Why aren’t we walking, yelling and screaming, on DC about the tax structure? I think most of us agree, taxes are OK - BUT - within reason, please! Maybe a million taxpayer march would do it? (Course, we’d need to do it in each State too.) When we were in the military, I was appalled to find that Prez. Nixon, with an income of $200,000, paid LESS taxes than we did, making $6,000 annual income! (And he had more free “perks” too!) Unfortunately, it’s still that way. Today in some states, ALL items in a grocery store are taxed, foods included! With all the sales taxes, lopped on top of Federal & State Income taxes, & State property taxes - we are footing the bill for corporate America! Look at the severance packages for “retiring CEO’s” - in the millions! (Bet they don’t pay the “lump sum” tax, they have lawyers & CPA’s to insure they don’t! the poor in the south (north, east, west & middle can’t afford that.) Kay, I can’t believe you believe that drivel! We ARE in the predicament we are now - because we have “let the market operate freely” for decades! Deregulation led to the junk bonds & Enron debacle, the mortgage crisis, and on and on. And hedge funds only help those who deal them! Even Mr Buffet calls for more regulation on business, and fair share payment of taxes. I am part of the St Vincent de Paul society. You can’t tell me that the poor are that way, because they can’t manage their money! We have several who come to us for help who’s jobs went overseas, and most others work 2 and 3 jobs. Yet, the “Yuppy-ing” of our city leaves them broke. Rising costs of rent and utilities, higher food and clothing costs and the insult of increasingly high taxes - brings them to us for help. More charities, like the food banks, are turning people away - because we’re taxed and priced out of the ability to share. All the while our GNP is based on the “futures” and “commodities” of a very fickle Stock market - RATHER than on the productivity of our citizenry. Liz, that “bridge” you mentioned is nothing more than a boon for the AK Senator & his ilk. I lived in AK, Liz. Did you know, that Alaskans voted - 4 times - to move it’s capitol closer to where 90 % of the people lived? The politicians didn’t want it, because then people might be able to get to them, and voice their descent on issues! So why should he, or any of them on Capitol Hill pay attention to the Senator who asked him, out loud, in session, to give the idea up “his” bridge, in order to fix the one between Miss. & Louisiana that was destroyed by Katrina!!! Because it doesn’t benefit them!!! Call me cynical, but after 50 years if watching politicians & businesses lie in bed together, for their own benefit, has made me so. Kathleen E LPV

Edith Ann, I don’t know who your Dr Lopez is, but how astute of you, to see that adults are wrong to think “Education” is “having the right answers” (& at the right times, too!) In school I never did … they didn’t know about learning disabilities back then. Well, they didn’t acknowledge it! I was fortunate to have a bunch of “Nuns” (actually Sisters of Charity) who taught me it was better to “observe” as Old Crone said, and to “think for myself” (both echoed by my parents)! That didn’t help me much, when test time came. ‘Cause I knew it meant going to the next grade or not. It’s something we’re afraid of doing today, as “socially harmful.” Well, I was left back, Math & Spelling were my nemesis (Tanks God for spell check now). It was the worst summer of my life, but the next (same) grade was the best I ever had. Sr Marie Peter welcomed all 6 of us second timers, and encouraged and pushed us in just the right way to go beyond the books, beyond the tests. Her mantra was, “Observe, observe, observe” every day, every way. She gave us “permission” to ask our own questions too, allowing children to be heard (also echoed in my home)! Maybe Math has it’s “right” answers, but Science wouldn’t get very far, nor would any other field of learning, if we didn’t ask those questions, especially “Why?” So, Edith Ann, and all of us, maybe we should work to foster an education system that does more of what Dr Lopez proposes. While we’re at it, why not downplay the “grades” for our kids & grandkids, and to “observe” all around them along the way.

Emcye - I’ve read your “tongue in cheek post several times. Though it’s very imaginative, with a bit of sarcasm, it hits on all we’ve had to endure these past 7 + years. There is just one word to describe it … Perfect! Kathleen E Lo Pinto Vignolini

If you really want to see that Bill Moyers episode, just go to PBS.org - and if you have a “fast” internet server (unlike my “modem”, I refuse to spend the extra $$$), you can view the video tape of it. As to my “great name” - I use both my maiden & married name as a visual artist & writer. Thanks for the compliments. But that’s my point - why read or listen only to the “male dominated” news folks? (Am I right, Liz & Lesley???) With the internet, you can find out so many facts in every realm, about the truth! Loveyouse, Kathy LPV

When we moved into my childhood home, after my Dad died, I told my “kids” - “I was born into this house & I want to be buried from it!” (That way our children will have to do the clean up, not me ;+} It’s always been “home” for me. Why? It’s quite simple. While my husband and I were in the Military, we lived in 7 states and a total of 13 apartments & 1 house, all within 11 years & 4 months!!! I am NOT moving again (IF I can help it!) Most of all, I love the fact that my Dad designed this house / home after a minor fire. He turned our 3 story Victorian into a nice size ranch with lots of light, large rooms, more closet space than I’ll ever need (though we’ve managed to fill most of them), a flagstone fireplace for cold North Eastern winters and power outages, etc. etc. etc. Outside, he built up compost flower gardens, decades before they became fashionable! I’m still transplanting his Daffodils, Iris, Crocus, Lilly of the Valley, and Hydrangea, Peony, and Lilac bushes too - thinning them to give them to family and friends. We have lots to fix-up yet, but have also done lots of work on it, which I know Dad would like. I also love that I can walk to the local Post office, Bank, Pharmacy, Hardware store, Pizza Restaurant, Library, etc. (When I was young, we even had a bakery, and National Grocery store here!) I don’t have to drive everywhere, like some in the suburbs and small towns around here. I’m also less than a mile to the beach, a bike ride or brisk walk away. What more could anyone ask for or need than this? Kathy LPV

WoW! is this an eyeful! I agree - there should be a flag set up for misogynistic males - but then they just might come in on their wives or girlfriends addys! But I want to ask is - Did any of you watch Bill Moyers’ interview (LOVE my PBS) with Jeremiah Wright last Friday? Leave it to the media “sound-bites” of information! Bill showed Wright’s WHOLE speech - and I yelled YES! He spoke more about what we’ve become, and how in thousands of years, we haven’t learned to accept each other, but instead treat those of other cultures with distain. Sadly, we’re given the smallest morsel of what a person says, and come to the same conclusion the “reporter” wants us to have. (Another point made by Dr Wright). How can we ever to change this world, when we’re still being told what to think by some “know it all” who gives us a snippet of what a person says or does? I was taught some very good lessons on this. First, DO NOT believe every thing you hear or read in the “news.” Second, DO go out and research both sides of any story, before you make up your own mind. Come on ladies, don’t let the “con men” lead you down the rocky road! Kathy LPV

Ha! That’s one reason I’m glad I haven’t opted into “Cable TV.” But don’t kid yourselves, ladies, EVERY TV pundant is putting Hillary down, wanting her to quit? And WHY should she? Why don’t they want ALL the voters to cast their ballots? Perhaps, in their egoism the media “theys” think they know better than we, what’s best for the rest of us? You make some good points, Liz! “They” would be up a creek without a paddle, no news worth broadcasting (not that there is now!). But I don’t get much fun out of listening to it. They haven’t seemed to learn (even from the early States this last year) that the Polls aren’t always accurate. And God Forbid, if the candidates make a “misstatement” - WOW, let’s run it into the ground! BUT when “they” do the same, well, it’s no big deal! You expect maturity? Are you kidding, Liz? It’s like being back in Grade School where some kids had to pick on somebody just to make themselves look like big shots! As to the so called “bickering” between the two Democrats in this campaign - could someone PLEASE tell me when that didn’t happen, in any Presidential campaign, in either party? It’s just part of the game politic. It really annoys me when newscasters and pundits say that this will destroy the Democratic party … it ain’t gonna happen folks - we’re so disgusted with the last 8 years, we’d probably vote for Bugs Bunny at this point. But we WILL come together, there’s plenty of time - After the convention. (On that point, why spend all that mulla and go through the process - if we already know who the candidate is? The only other item needed, would be writing the platform, which could be done in some smoke filled back room, where it’s always been done!) Funny thing is, they make a big to-do when Hillary & Obama, or Hillary, Obama and Mc Cain seem to be talking nicely to each other too! Guess “they” just need to spout their “wisdoms” for us dummies. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the rest of the show ladies, it’ll be a while. ;+} Kathy LPV

Good idea to do Joni, a whole section devoted to making a better world. I’d say your list is a bit “academic” in some ways. I’d sum up your list by having the first thing on the agenda: To start thinking about our globe like our Native Americans do … “We are the keepers of the earth, not for ourselves … but FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN!” It’s Western thought that wants to “conquer” the earth, its lands, and resources (i.e. its wealth), and people for personal gain. How did they say it, “the one who dies with the most toys, wins”? We have to get that idea out of our system, and more importantly, out of our Public Policy. It isn’t so much about “greening” of the earth, but as Christendom (& Judaism, Buddhism, & every other faith tenant) states - we are to be “good stewards of all that is on and in the earth” - and that includes how we treat each other, of every class and culture. So, instead of sharing our expensive IT technology (save medicines) with the poorest nations, we should not be cutting them out of the human rights to be self sustaining, sharing the earth’s wealth by not pricing their goods at the bottom of the scale while we subsidize our own, or to demand those “conditions” on loans that deprive children of an education - because we prefer the government build a dam or resort - for us to frolic in! We need to have fair, culturally aware policies in place, not force other people to adapt to our “western” world way. It didn’t work well from the 14th to 20th centuries and it won’t work now. It is part of why we in the West aren’t trusted! So, Ladies, it’s time we not only speak up, but get involved - yes daily, but also in our political processes, that includes running for office - local to national. Personally, I firmly believe, if more women were in a position of running this system, we wouldn’t be in the sad state of affairs we’re in today (well, most women would run governments - with their hearts as well as their heads.) And isn’t that basically what you’re list is about - living in our small world with a big heart? Peace - Kathy LPV

Gut, instinct, intuition, feelings, all are valuable. As an artist, I usually listen to my “inner voice” - that something inside saying do this, do it this way, or in my life - go there, call that person, whatever is on my plate. BUT, I temper that inner voice with my head. Sharon has it, head and gut in sync works best. If I just go with my feelings I get nowhere and nothing gets done! There are times when I have to think things through. It maybe that my initial feeling is validated, but I revert to the adage, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. I use my intuition, but I check things out too. When a friend of my 3rd child was missing, I went on a neighborhood hunt for her the next day. As I was walking up the steps, a thought came, “look in your own house.” Why? Weird! But as I walked into the house, something about the way our daughter acted when we got the call about the missing girl came to mind. Her reaction seemed odd. I checked our daughter’s closet, and viola, there she was, reading. So gut, and thought, and checking it out, worked.

Come on Leslie, et al, when was the last time you heard a candidate running for the highest office “tell the truth”? Did Bush, about his military service? No, and when Dan Rather tried, and was dumped. Did Bush 1, about his being “out of the loop” with Iran-contra? Pl-ease! Did Reagan, about his “anti-abortion” stance? (As CA governor, he quickly signed the bill for abortion.) Three things push a candidate into the White House: 1. the candidates’ staff writing creative sound-bites, 2. the lack of real in depth investigative reporting by the Press into those bites and, 3. pure unadulterated POWER! Though I do admire you Leslie, and those you work with, but since it became “not nice” to ask the tough questions (poor Mr Reagan & Bush 1), no news group is giving us a “fact vs. fiction” glimpse into any of the candidates statements. That said, why not? Why do we accept the scrutiny of Hillary, but not of the other candidates? Because we too, have become lazy. We accept the pabulum fed us by the candidate and the press (all media). We listen to what we want to hear, what makes us feel good. Just like in our need for revenge, we dismissed the few who questioned the “reasons” given to go into Iraq. Because what we don’t understand, we don’t question or try to learn more about. “The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” Robert Maynard Hutchins. (1899-1977) But thank God, we now have two candidates who are moving more people to get involved! Let the pundits say what they will. And let us ignore the fracas of division they want us to buy into, and those sensationalists’ who want to draw our attention away from the issues at hand. Otherwise, we WILL get what we ask for!

L B & M G hit the nail on the head. MWC - you expect THIS Administration to foster Transparency??? That will only happen … when hell freezes over! And why should I pay for big business greed, when so many are hungry, loosing homes, paying high prices for gas, credit, utilities, rent, interest, health care, etc? Bear Sterns are in the position they are in, because of their own ineptitude! And, the only ones with a vested interest in having the Fed back the loan for this buyout are the Wall Street junkies! It will do not one blessed thing for the economy, except for Wall Street. I’m sick of our GRP being hostage to the Stocks, since so many of them are about “futures” rather than jobs or the present status of thousands of smaller stable companies.

I too like Obama, though my political sense is that he’d be hit with the same dirty tactics that Rove used against Gore & Kerry. As a LiberaL - I think some of his ideas are good, new, and fresh, but only some. Problem is, he’s too new to National politics, and naive just as Prez Bush was, and look where that has gotten us! Personally I think, Hillary has the heart and, excuse my french, guts to shake and move things back to more humane national and global policies. We really - need - a woman’s touch to get us out of the mess we’re in! Women clean up men’s messes, don’t we?

Opps - voted wrong - “the one thing I CAN do without” - I gave up on Foundation YeArS ago, made my face feel clogged ‘n dry! I’ve used moisturizer since I was 18! (Advice from our nursing school teachers). But don’t take the tweezers or Mascara - the need for all the rest is negligible to me.