Good evening, Daily Kos. I have had a rough month and a half since I came back from Egypt, and there were several WYFP diaries I wanted to writing tonight. Unfortunately, other diarists said what I had to say far more eloquently than I ever could. So tonight, I will play the crabby old middle-aged (well, middle-aged if I live to be 120) woman and give you a list of all my FPs. Follow me below the fold.
WYFP (which stands for What's Your Fucking Problem) is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else we think might help. Everyone, and all sorts of troubles, are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
My first FP is eldercare, but Keith Olbermann and Kodiak54 laid out the issues far more clearly than I ever could. In my own case, as many of you know, my mom is in her 90s. She is very deaf; her eyesight is poor; she has severe osteoporosis; and she has a degree of dementia. She broke her hip while I was in Egypt. She is not at death's door, but she is in pain and confused. What really chaps my bottom is that we can't even begin to have a conversation about end-of-life care without someone on the right wing screaming about death panels. We are spending money on drugs and procedures that may not increase the quantity or the quality of our most vulnerable citizen's lives. I will give you an example. My mom will be 92 this year. She has no history of heart disease, stroke, or any related problems. Until very recently, she was taking an expensive cholesterol medication. I asked the doctor whether she though that my mom really needed this (exactly how much plague was likely to build up in the next 2-3 years that had not built up in the first 92?). The doctor was taken aback, but she agreed to stop the meds. We overmedicate our seniors, and then we are surprised when they have bad reactions to the chemical cocktails that they are downing every day. And all this is happening in a country where kids are dying because they can't find a dentist who will accept a Medicaid payment.
My second FP is the generational crap, but stillonline did a wonderful job of criticizing Tom Brokaw's special on the boomers. I just want to make two points here. First, we are all on the same team. Divide-and-conquer politics are what the Republicans use. This is a Democratic blog. It is a pretty good bet that most of the "boomers" posting here did not vote for Nixon, St. Ronnie, Bush the Elder, and Bush the Lesser. Many of us actively worked to elect their opponents. Secondly, I am not personally responsible for what 76 million people who were born between 1946 and 1964 (I am using the US Census dates here) did or are doing now. I live in a small house, drive a Toyota Echo, sent my kids to public schools, and ride public transportation to work. I served on our local school board for 6 years, and I am currently a member of our town's Historic Preservation Commission. I do what I can. Moreover, my kids are in their teens and twenties. I really care about the world that we will leave them long after blue jersey dad and I join the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
I have lots of other FPs, both large and small. I am well represented in Congress (thank you, Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez and Rep. Holt) and in the NJ state legislature (special thanks to State Senator Shirley Turner, she's wonderful), but far too many of our representatives are bought and paid for by corporate and moneyed interests. I just gag when I see Blanche Lincoln working to lower the estate taxes. Everyone knows that the Walmart heirs need another tax cut.
There will never be peace in the Middle East until there is some solution to the I/P issues. Here at the Great Orange Satan, we do not seem to be able to discuss these issues without flame wars and lots of HRs. Unlike many people here, I have spent a lot of time in Israel, in the West Bank, and in Jordan, but I avoid the I/P diaries like the plague. That is just sad.
On a personal level, Son 2 will be moving to CA in June. While I know in my heart that this is the right move for his career, I will really miss him. Son 3 leaves for college in August, and I know that that will break dad's heart (mine too). I am truly grateful to have a good job, but I have felt very overworked since I returned from Egypt. I can't wait for spring break, but, of course, mine is not at the same time as son 3's so we can't do anything fun as a family.
In short, I am feeling crabby like Lucy (the cartoon character, not the cat). I want to pull the football away from someone. And hey, all you kids, GET OFF MY LAWN!
So whats' your FP? Lucy the cat and I are here to listen.