SENATE SEATS FOR SALE...WHAT'S NEXT?

So now we have the Governor of Illinois accused of offering Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

We have numerous high ranking officials in both Houses of Congress under investigation for various potentially illegal activities.

And it seems that everyday we hear of another governor, mayor or other elected official being indicted or accused of improper acts.

It appears that things are going to get worse before they get better.

When hundreds of billions are spent on campaigns one can only assume that favors are expected especially from major donors.

Add in additional hundreds of millions that lobbyists spend and you have a system just asking for corruption.

The difference between what a lobbyist provides and what constitutes a bribe seems to be a very gray area.

The government then spends millions more defending the accused and the majority of them get to retire with little or no penalties and get to collect their pensions.

All paid for by the taxpayer.

It has got to stop.

Back in July we posted our request for the establishment of a political pre-nup which would hold elected officials and their staffs liable for their actions. (see below)

We also asked for any elected official to step forward and voluntarily make the commitment to abide by this plan.

Needless to say not even one has done so.

We once again call on our electeds to do the right thing.

Set an example and give us just a little assurance that there is some integrity in politics.

Major league sports have clauses enabling them to get rid of players do to conduct detrimental to their leagues.

Shouldn't our elected officials be required to at least pay for the same rules.

We think so and again call for a "Political Pre-Nup"

It's Time For A Political Pre-Nup

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43838

Why Aren't Our Children As Important?

As most of us prepare for the holiday season we have yet another family who will have to instead arrange a funeral for their child.

In Houston a 3 year old was killed, crushed by a falling television.

And this is not an isolated incident.

As the article below indicates one hospital in Houston had 6 tip over deaths in 2006 alone

For the past four years bills have died in Committee that could have prevented these deaths.

First HR Bill 1861 and now it appears HR Bill 4266 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas) will suffer the same fate as only 11 co-sponsors have signed on.

Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 2/7/2008
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 1/16/2008
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 2/6/2008
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 3/14/2008
Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 12/19/2007
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 2/14/2008
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 12/18/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 12/4/2007
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 2/25/2008
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 2/25/2008
Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] - 3/4/2008


Click link below for full details:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

So while Congress continues to bail out our banks and auto manufactures and spends months investigating baseball the most innocent and vulnerable of our population continue to be ignored.

And they continue to die because those in office just don’t give a damn.

More and more people are buying flat screen TV’s for their walls and the ones they are replacing wind up in the basement or in a child’s room.

Accidents just waiting to happen.

This bill will make people aware of the potential dangers of TV’s and other types of furniture and give them an opportunity to protect their children.

And unlike the hundreds of billions being spent on bailouts this bill will cost next to nothing.

Unfortunately Congress continues to think our children are not worth it

Please join the nearly 11,000 people who have signed our petition and contact your representative and tell them that we think they are.

Dennis

The HR4266, the Katie Elise & Meghan Agnes Act Petition to U.S. Congress

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?HR1861

For More Information


HR BILL 4266 (FORMERLY HR BILL 1861)

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=33







Link to the Houston Chronicle is below.

This brief article indicates that at this one hospital in Houston they had 6 tip over deaths in just one year (2006).

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6152482.html

“A GAMBLER’S CHRISTMAS”

As I was coming back from getting my newspaper this morning I noticed a group of at least 100 people (Mostly Seniors) waiting for the bus to Atlantic City.

This afternoon there was a group almost double that size waiting in the same spot.

As the economy gets worse more and more people are taking a chance.

And the government continues to try to bring draw more and more into this trap with ads in print on radio and on TV.

More and more seniors and young kids are getting drawn.

Something needs to be done.

This was first published last year and I thought we should share it again.

Take a moment and read it and the articles below.

A GAMBLER'S CHRISTMAS

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=4630

Do You Know a Family in Need?

Do You Know a Family in Need?...Become a " Where to Turn Angel"

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=46125

OPEN YOUR HEARTS

TOYS FOR THOSE IN NEED

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=46103

The Rich Get Richer Part III

The Rich Get Richer Part III

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=46091

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The Rich Get Richer Part II

We did a little more research on what is going on with World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company.

First of all click on the link below for a press release relating to the company and the mishandling of claims.



Press Release: Status of Compensation for 9/11 Illnesses

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=42103


Our first clue that nothing was going to come of this should have been that it was released on April Fools Day 2008.

As usual with how any 9/11 or WTC issue has been handled the joke was on us.

In response to the concerns addressed in the press release an audit by the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security found that the World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company did nothing Illegal and has the right to fight every claim.

This is like a scene right out John Grisham's "The Rainmaker" they will continue to deny every claim that comes in.

The only difference is in the book the client wins.

Here we have the Office of Homeland Security stating that it is perfectly legal for this company to use funds designated to help victims to pay legal and administrative fees.

The last time I looked grants and contracts for not for profits had to be justified by the number of people the program serviced.

Only a certain percentage of the grant or contract could be used for legal or administrative fees.

But it appears here that the World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company does not have to play by the same rules.

Over the last four years more than 99% of the costs charged have been administrative and legal.

Not a single dollar has been paid to anyone who suffered from toxic exposure as the only claims paid ($320,000) were for orthopedic injuries.

The company went as far as to try to have all the claims thrown out of court by arguing that the city had blanket immunity because the injuries were a result of a terrorist act.

But that didn't work so now they just litigate every claim.

So by the time they pay all the lawyers and staff, combined with what they continue to lose in the stock market it appears there will be little left to pay any claims.

And with the possible exception of Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein who has demanded that lawyers from both sides turn over information on each case and is pushing for trials and settlements and New York Post reporter Sue Edelman who continues to pursue this story, nothing is done.

And the claims continue to be submitted and at last count there were over 10,000 claims for respiratory and toxic injuries alone.

If they had no intention of paying claims they could have bought a rubber stamp marked "DENIED" for $1.99 and saved hundreds of millions.

The result for the victims would have been the same.

Hopefully the new Administration will take a look at this as it is time for a change.