THOUGHT OF THE DAY - UNIONS VERSUS CORPORATIONS

Unions are not perfect, but I am surprised at how many people would rather side with corporations than worker’s unions.

At least the ideals of the unions are just. If there's corruption, it should be dealt with. The problem is, when you privatize everything, it’s harder to sift out the chaff from the wheat. When there are public employees, if someone is not paying his/her fair share, they are seen and brought to justice. But, when it’s private corporations doing underhanded deals, it’s harder to regulate. But why should we stigmatize ALL union workers for the corrupt practices of a few?

I was turning around the channels the other day and they had a guest on CNBC complaining that unions are driving work overseas. He said most American companies move around the globe, and America didn’t catch up with the times. Then he said something, that I thought he was on a comedy news show...I thought he meant it to be sarcastic. He said, America just doesn’t get it, he said the future is “low wage manufacturing jobs”.

I was thinking, did I hear that right? So, are these the wonderful jobs that rich people are taking with them? People like Gov. Christie say, “rich people create jobs” But, what kind of jobs? I always wondered. Now I am glad to see the corporate world answered for me. "Low wage, manufacturing jobs".

That’s the future? I thought that was the past. Forget about doing better than my parents, I can’t even go past my immigrant great-grandparents (Wow, say that ten times fast).

Maybe I’ll be a fruit peddler, from Italy, like my great-grandfather. A true entrepreneur. :)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - WAKE UP, AMERICA

I don't want to see a violent revolution in this country, but, sadly, we may be heading there.

The gap between the Have-Nots and the Have-Mores is becoming larger by the second. One in four children go to bed hungry in this country, people are becoming homeless, and our young men and women are coming home in body bags for oil that we can't pay for anymore, anyway.

I'm for peaceful resistance, but we need to wake up, people!

Who cares about Lindsey Lohan and Charlie Sheen?! Who cares about all these senseless distractions?!

Kids in Egypt are using technology to start revolutions, and we're downloading endless videos of drunken frat boys hitting each other in the crotch.

There's a time when we, as a people, have to look up from our TVs, computer screens, and cell phones, JUST FOR A SECOND, and just look around our neighborhoods. Look at all the "For Sale" signs, look at all the people out of work, look at all the people who are trying to do whatever they can to survive, look at all the marriages breaking up because of finances, look at all the children who will be homeless.

America, for all it's fault, does the most humanitarian work of any country, anywhere, anytime in history. If we can look inward and take care of ourselves, maybe we will be stronger to help the world even more...

But it starts in our home, then our neighborhoods, then our communities, and then our world.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - TEACHERS

I grew up in the NY public school system, and for every teacher who is not doing their job, there are thousands busting their ass, and risking their lives, everyday. You know why kids don't want to study? you know why they don't want to work hard to pass their test? because there is a kid next to them making more money selling drugs, then working a legitimate job. Or the kid next to them is loading a gun at their desk, hardly an atmosphere conducive for learning. Or, better yet, they see Snooki and her fellow metrosexual guido dregs on Jersey Shore making $120,000 an episode...

No wonder our kids don't want to learn. Where is the incentive? Yes, kiddies, drop out of school, get pregnant, get high, get drunk, get stupid, and maybe, you will be on TV. How can teachers stop that tide? it's like trying to dry out a tsunami with a tissue. 'Nuff said!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - POLITICS

The problem with politics is Republicans have no brains, and Democrats have no balls!

No one fights for the working class people. Bush was Nixon and, unfortunately, Obama is turning into Jimmy Carter. You thought after, Nixon, there wasn't gonna be another Republican for another fifty years, but after four years of a weak Jimmy Carter we had 12 years of Republicans, and I fear we will go through that again.

And let's look at the "wonderful" Reagan-Bush years, shall we? We deregulated the banks and corporations, dismantled the workers unions, we kicked the Russians out of Afghanistan and made the Taliban take over, they "thanked" us with 9/11, we had Bush Sr as a Vice President which eventually led to 8 more years of his son ruining this country, we made enemies with Saddam Hussein and now have an 8 year war raging there for no apparent reason, etc. etc. Now we're fighting 3 wars in the Middle East and our kids are starving in the streets.

Ok, let's wage war on the working people after we just bailed out the corporations. Dude, something's gotta change or Canada is looking better by the day!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday has always been a somber day. It's a very reflective day, of course, for spiritual reasons...

But, lately, this day has seen more sadness since last year on Good Friday...a friend of mine died, WAY before her time.

It really begs the question, why all this suffering? What is the point of it?

I know after Good Friday is Easter Sunday. I know after death is resurrection. I know after Holocaust is Israel.

But, why, in order to get there, all the suffering?

Why can't everyday be Easter Sunday?

I know there will be a day when God will wipe away every tear...but why can't that day be now?

I can't explain it. I don't know why my friend died last year on this day. I can't see any "good" in it.

All I know is that I created this blog because I don't have all the answers, but I share with you, my friends and family. I also love when you share with me. As long as we share our suffering with each other, let's also share our joy. Let's journey together and try to find the way to truth.

Though I don't know about many things, I believe in one universal truth: Love exists, and it is good.

So, before, during, or after our suffering, let's hold on to that universal truth and share the love with as many people as possible.

In the meantime, all the best to everyone on Good Friday, Earth Day, and Easter!