I've lived in Mtn Home since 1989, so that's...hold on...I'm thinking...WOW! Exactly 25 years! Boy, I think I can almost declare myself an Idahoan. But my family is British and I grew up in Louisiana around lots of other Brits so I still think I'm a little bit of a mutt. Those of you who have been around awhile may remember when I used to blog all the time. My opinions weren't very accepted and there was always an issue because I work for the county. That really wasn't fair because I NEVER blog at work! And I am still entitled to my opinions and thoughts about city and county issues, right? However, it stirred a lot of pots and those pots certainly can make a lot of noise! Since I'm a writer, I took what I wrote in my blog seriously so I spent a lot of time researching things which got exhausting to do when you're not even get a paycheck for it. So I stopped. That was a blessing to many! However, to this day, I still have people stop me and ask me why I wasn't blogging and t! hey missed it. I've missed it. Mainly because there are so many issues that come up and I have no voice except around my friends and I'm sure they are tired of it.

Worry List for Thursday.

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 9:32 AM

1. A major worry, as a parent, is the rising incidents of children and teens going missing. The girl who was missing since Monday in Florida has been found dead in a landfill. This was a little girl who just happen to run away from the group of kids she normally walked home from school with. Within minutes, she was taken and lives have been altered forever. Mere minutes! I know that there have been missing childrens for years, but it seems to be happening more rapidly. More and more sick and twisted child predators are being set free to stalk and kill at will.

2. Our society seems to be creating more and more serial killers and child molesters than ever before. I would think that it would set off a huge alarm to everyone that something is really off-kilter with the ability of a "village" to raise a child. The family as a source of strength has weakened tremendously. The future of the next generation has never looked more bleak.

3. The 9.8% unemployment-531,000 jobs lost last week, based on jobless claims continues to worry me. That doesn't count those who are still unemployed without claims. 49 states have lost jobs since Feb. Stimulus was supposed to create 3.7 mil but instead we have lost 2.7 mil. The Administration suggested that they have created 30,000 jobs.

4. I am proud of the job that the CIA did in preventing a major terrorist attack. It is a worry that these terror suspects that were arrested showed that they were ready and able to carry out a large-scale attack on Americans, including a plan to kill politicians and people in shopping malls. The terrorist that was arrested had no comment but his lawyer spoke on camera saying that "I am confident that the American people will but aside their fears and give this man the fairness that he deserves under the Constitution." I'm sorry, but I thought that the rights and fairness that we give prisoners is reserved for American Citizens. If you are not a citizen, does the Constitution cover them? Anyone?

5. According to the Health and Human Services: Healthcare costs are seen as rising over 2% under the house plan. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the big urgency to pass healthcare reform was to cut costs along with providing affordable insurance for those who don't have it. Common sense tells us that cost can't go down if you are trying to cover everyone. Of course, the plan is to get money from those who have so called "Cadillac" insurance and use to for those who have none.

6. The decision to cap the pay of CEO's of companies that took TARP money. That worries me because in a free-enterprise society, companies should be allowed to pay what they want to their employees. While I am amazed at the amount of money and bonuses that CEO's can be paid and naturally those who have not always feel some bitterness over those who have, I am never ever happy about the government taking control of any company. However, we all know that when these companies got in bed with the government, they knew that the pillow talk wouldn't last. These companies were warned by many other business experts to think twice before getting in between the sheets. You give yourself, body and soul to another; expecting a savior. Instead, what you figure out, before it's too late, is what you have is bondage and a stern taskmaster. The government will use the discouraged people who are worn thin by the fight to survive to get the support needed to CAP the income of others. All the while, not seeing what door is being opened and how impossible it may be to ever shut it again. Cap the amount of money a company can pay those at the top of the ladder and it will naturally trickle down and touch us all. But we don't care, do we? It's not fair that those CEO's make so much money! It's not fair that we make so little. We should take from them to appease the people! Right? Is that a free-enterprise? Is that a republic country? A democratic country? Or is it the start of a whole new ballgame for the foundation of a country?

7. A report just came out of an Iraqi man who ran over his daughter for being too westernized! That does make me believe that the runaway girl who wanted protection from being sent back to her Muslim family because she feared bodily harm from her father for becoming a Christian was a valid fear.

That's it for today. Seven worries placed in writing which somehow helps me release it. On a positive note: U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick, have join with many others to push for a bill to be approved that will require bills to be published on the internet for the public to read it 72 hours before it can be voted on. Our Congressional representatives say such a provision would give voters more chances to weigh in on hotly debated issues." According to an e-mail signed by all four lawmakers, "It simply isn't right to write legislation without giving the public - let alone members of Congress - the ability to read it first."" Idaho Statesman.

Yeah! You go Idaho! (Time: 8:30am- at home on my computer, not due at work until 9am. Bye now!)

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Great post Kim! My list for the day.

The HUGE interest rates being charged on credit cards to people with really good credit. Who can afford 29.99%? Really? If this is the rate for "good, valued customers" what is the rate for those who are not? Oh wait, they do not pay their bills so it is passed on to you and I as "good, valued customers." Bend over!

Thank you Mr. Obama for my 45 days notice to change in terms (new legislation).

So many more jobs lost by these firms that took money for all things...job creation and retention. Wow.

The 6 year old girl being evicted from her grandparent's home because they live in a retirement community of some sort. This little girl could end up in foster care as a result. I understand the "rules" regarding retirement/assisted living facilities, etc. but things happen. There has to be a better way. Take a child from a home where people love her to put her in foster care. Makes NO sense.

Hmmmmm. 90% pay cuts for the top 25 who did a crappy job anyway. Never fear! These cuts will be moved to "compensation" of some sort and paid anyway. They learned from DC.

Last. The general state of our country in general. As Kim said, missing children. More and more each day. Adults who have sex with children! General violence (guns, DV, etc.). With economic pressure it is probably only going to get worse.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 1:37 PM
What has become of our society with all these child molesters and murders? So sad ! Are they brain damaged at birth?..... Once caught and convicted they need to do quick Justice for them.... No years on death row !! Fry them !

Now there's a 9 yr old girl missing in Missouri, walking home from school

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 6:36 PM
Sorry for the interference, but the fact is, there is not more of this vile stuff going on. It's just that the information about these horrible acts has grown. Specifically the access to the knowledge and news of these things. It's the information age and the world it's not so large anymore.

Like the Disney song, It's a small world after all. Except with more information the cheeriness has faded and darkened. And Mickey Mouse has become a plague carrying rat.

The innocence and happiness has left the summer block parties of our youth. The beauty of all the worlds cultures have been transformed into a thing of fear and distrust. Instead of neighbors, we now have the threat of terrorists borrowing a cup of sugar to build ghastly devices of destruction.

We have heightened suggestibility in times of crisis,...with celebrity mouths giving us twisted words that only confuse and divide.

...trust, truth, and community have become empty wrappings burning down, away to ash, in the blast-furnace.

....so it goes.

-- Posted by censored on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 1:51 AM
Missy- always good to see you! I think your worry list is a valid one. I'm with ya!

MsMarylin: It is frightening, isn't it. Can our kids ride a bike or walk around the block anymore?

Censored, I agree that we have more media connection and therefore hear of these crimes more often. I knew that would be the reason against what I said. I don't buy it! It is not normal. It is not just more information available. It is just plain fact that we have more and more sex offenders and violent offenders than ever in our history. It is a clear sign that society needs to listen to. What to do? I have no answer. I just know that it is a warning that we need to be more vigilant, more aware and hold our children closer.

-- Posted by kimkovac on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 6:34 AM
I agree somewhat,... these pedophiles need to stop getting soft sentences in my opinion. It sounds horrible?, but in my head seems like they should get death or at least castration and removal of arms and legs. So all they can do is **** and crap themselves the rest of their meaningless lives. Oh and a large P tattooed on their foreheads, the scarlet letter style. Same with the violent offenders, minus the castration. They'll have a long time to think about their actions in life. Doesn't sound very left of me to say stuff like that, but I like a little balance to my ideologies. Sometimes,...? I'm still crazy left though!

Forgive me for the semi-artsy stuff posted above. I lifted it from a deeply troubled writer friend and mixed it into my comments. I had permission,...

-- Posted by censored on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 8:00 AM
Job creation is a politicians favorite phrase. They always overestimate it and always will. Unemployment is going to be high for awhile. Politicians, to be honest, have little power to change that.

When someone forms an analysis, they usually get an answer with an upper and lower bound. The lower represents the worst case scenario and the upper is the best case. Both have a low probability of actually occurring. The middle ground is not sexy nor is it inspiring. Politicians use the upper bound even though the chances are relatively slim that all of the events will unfold as such. I always take those numbers with a grain of salt. By the way, TV hosts and commentators use the same method.

-- Posted by twilcox1978 on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 3:06 PM
Regarding worry #4, if we believe that we were given our rights by God and not any government, we all have the same rights, no matter where we may find ourselves. All human beings have been given those rights, whether they are fortunate enough to live under governments that recognize those rights or not.

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 8:23 AM
Bazookaman: I did do a search and found the speech that I think you heard about. I posted it for everyone to listen to. I will download and read the Copehagen Treaty and report back later. Got to work this morning.

-- Posted by kimkovac on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 8:28 AM
Govt. intrusion can affect job numbers but the ultimate determinant is consumer demand. Consumers purchasing behavior has the biggest pull on the bottom line. The 3.7 million number is a best case scenario that has an abysmally small chance of happening. Second, just because jobs are created by this does not mean other jobs were not lost in the meantime. This number does not mean net gain. It does not account for other losses.

-- Posted by twilcox1978 on Sat, Oct 24, 2009, at 9:12 AM

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