Secession: Be Careful What You Wish For!
As of this writing, the White House has received petitions for secession from all 50 states. The chances of any of those states actually seceding from the union are slim to none-even the governor of Texas, one of the only states to actually reach the 25,000 signatures needed in order for the petition to be reviewed by the Obama administration-has said he’s not interested in seceding. It’s really just a mass tantrum orchestrated by those who are upset that President Obama was re-elected. Perhaps some are under the mistaken idea that they can force a state to secede if they can get enough signatures? Not gonna happen. New York is staying.
Ever wonder what would happen if a state did secede? Speculation about another Civil War aside, here are some certainties that a state that left the union would have to deal with:
Federal Aid- This is the most obvious. The state would lose Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, school lunch program funding, funding for highways, schools, access to Small Business Administration loans, Department of Agriculture assistance for farms, FEMA, federally funded flood insurance and housing programs, funding to help maintain critical infrastructure, unemployment insurance, Social Security, etc. The U.S. does allow expatriates to keep receiving Social Security IF they live in a country the U.S. hasn’t leveled sanctions against. It’s not unreasonable to think the U.S. might not be very friendly toward a state that seceded.
Economy-The now ex-state would have to create their own monetary system and then have it recognized by the rest of the world. Until then their economy would be in collapse. Citizens that work for companies not headquartered there will see their jobs disappear until they apply for and are granted a green card, since U.S. companies are not allowed to employ foreign citizens without one. They also have to hope their companies will want to keep employing people from the now ex-state. If the state was home to military bases or facilities for federal entities such as NASA, they’ll be gone, along with all the jobs and tax revenue they gave the now ex-state.
Trade– The ex-state would not be allowed to import or export anything until they establish trade agreements with the U.S. and other governments. That means they must be entirely self-sufficient as they would not be able to stock their supermarkets with food from other states or countries, or their stores with clothes and other supplies.
Energy and Infrastructure– The United States has a national power grid that sustains all it’s states except Texas. Therefore if a state other than Texas secedes, they’ll be taken off the grid. That means no electricity. Oil and gas pipelines are also owned by the federal government, and sorry Texas and Louisiana, but the off shore oil beyond the first three miles belongs to the U.S.
A state that secedes will also have to maintain its own water and sewer systems, build and maintain their roads and bridges themselves, and figure out how to run their airports now that the FAA isn’t doing it anymore.
Day to Day Life- Citizens wouldn’t have cable TV or internet service, the now ex-state would have to create their own, but since they also won’t have electricity, they wouldn’t be able to use it anyway. Cell phone service won’t exist either, as U.S. cell companies don’t offer service in foreign countries. Instead they rely on roaming agreements with cell providers in those countries. Colleges and universities would no longer be accredited and would lose money when students from the U.S. leave. The National Weather Service would be gone, meaning the state would have to rely on its own means to figure out when a hurricane or other severe weather is coming. Companies with government contracts would lose them, which could lead to mass layoffs or shutdowns. Schools would lose funding, meaning programs could be shut down. Headstart and school lunch programs would end. Students would not be able to get federal student loans or grants any longer. Food shortages could be a possibility since the now ex-state won’t be allowed to import food shipments from the U.S. until a trade agreement is put into place. Say goodbye to all that lovely California produce,Idaho potatoes and New York apples.
Aside from what secession would mean for a state that chose to leave the union, it would also be a problem for the U.S. We would face having enemy territory in our own backyard. We’d lose valuable imports, tax revenue, natural resources, national parks, and our sense of unity. Companies based in a seceded state could refuse to do business with the U.S.
Let’s face it, secession hurts us all, and no matter what side you’re on, we all lose.
Bullyproof
When I was 7 years old I was beaten by the neighborhood bully. His name was Brian and he was about 12 and in 6th grade. I remember him vividly to this day, 35 years later. He knocked me off my bike, kicked me, hit me, laughing the whole time. Then he picked me up and slammed my head into the side of a central air unit. I saw stars as I staggered home. One side of my face was black and blue and swollen. I remember my mother making my father take me down the street to Brian’s house to show his parents what he’d done to me. As we turned to leave I saw Brian’s father take off his belt as he slammed the door shut. Years later, in middle school, I found out Brian was in prison for attempted murder.
Bullies aren’t just on the schoolyard anymore. They are in workplaces, in organizations, and even online.The problem is growing and in some cases is deadly. In 2003, 13-year-old Ryan Halligan killed himself after being tormented repeatedly by bullies, and we’ve all heard Megan Meier’s story. Bullying, cyber and otherwise, causes great damage to its victims. It destroys self-esteem, erodes trust and can cause deep depression and anxiety, and it’s not just kids and teens who are affected. Adults bully and are bullied too.
I know this because it happened to me, and I will be 43 in a few months. It happened in 2009. The bullies were grown women. Why did they do it? I really have no idea. What I do know is that I was set up, lied about, and had my credibility and reputation destroyed. I was ridiculed and berated and lost many friends-or at least I thought they were friends. I removed myself from Facebook’s directory to protect myself. After several months of quiet I thought it would be safe to return and within a few days I started getting friend requests from people I didn’t know with nasty messages attached. I promptly removed myself again for a few month. When I returned the second time, I was left alone.
I can’t speak for all bullying victims but I can tell you that it has caused me to fear for my safety and caused me to insulate myself. It’s made me anxious and depressed and totally destroyed my self esteem and my trust in people. I take some comfort in knowing I am not alone. Here is another woman’s story.
Why do people bully? Well some experts say its because they are deeply unhappy in their own lives and bullying others makes them feel better about themselves. Others say bullies are people that have been bullied themselves or were abused, and still others feel bullies have a personality disorder or other mental illness.
Whatever the cause, know this. If you’ve been or currently are the victim of a bully, you did nothing to deserve it. No one deserves to be bullied, tormented and abused for any reason. Period. So how do you deal with bullies? First, don’t respond to them. Although our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, it doesn’t work with a bully. It just adds fuel to the fire. Ignore them as best you can. If they are sending you emails, IM’s, text messages or any other digital communications, block them. If it’s happening in the workplace talk to a supervisor or human resources, and if you’re a kid, please tell your parents, a favorite teacher or other trusted adult. They are there to help, I promise. Oh and if the communications get threatening please contact your local police department. Cyberbullying laws are now in affect in many states and will soon be in many more.
The BBC has a website called Bullyproof that is full of tips and support. Check it out and learn how to protect yourself from bullies. The bullies may think they have the power, but in reality they have nothing. If you’ve been the victim of a bully (school, workplace, cyber or any other kind), you’re not alone and I invite you to share your story.
My Holiday 2012 Gift Giving Guide
As soon as Halloween ends it starts, those endless ads and commercials promising that they have the “perfect gift”. Lexus and BMW would have you believe that it’s one of their $50,000+ cars. Best Buy’s singing sales associates claim to know what the perfect gift is for everyone, and that’s generally a pricey gadget. Computers, iPhones, Wiis and Playstations, they all claim they are the perfect gift. They’re all wrong. The perfect gift is something money simply can’t buy and yet is priceless. You see, they always talk about this season being the season of giving and it is, but commercialization has turned that giving into material things when what we should be giving is ourselves. Our time, our attention, our care, and our love.
This year, we’ll wake up to a Christmas morning with no gifts under the tree. Our stockings will be empty. My husband was laid off and we just don’t have the money. Every dime we have goes toward keeping a roof over our heads and the heat and lights on. By the grace of God, we are surviving, and we have no complaints. We are truly and deeply blessed.
I know I just got through saying gifts aren’t what Christmas is about and it’s not. I believed that even in past years when we could afford to buy gifts. I love buying gifts for others, especially my husband. Not being able to buy gifts is really hard when it seems like every magazine and radio ad, TV commercial and song is about gifts and Santa. It makes you feel like a real outcast. I guess we can thank the rabid commercialization of the holiday for that. It sends the message that if you really care about friends and family you must shower them with gifts, otherwise you are a “Scrooge”. I’ll be honest, it really hurts. We feel really bad about the fact we can’t give to others this year.
I’m not ashamed of our situation. I know we’re not alone. Millions of Americans are dealing with unemployment and financial issues. I’ve shared it with some friends. Some have been extremely supportive and caring, and some have completely ignored us and our situation. I have to tell you that hurt deeply. To pour your heart out about a painful and stressful situation only to be ignored is like a kick in the stomach. Those that took the time to listen and reach out to us gave us a gift we will never forget. You see, just the simple act of saying “I care” is a priceless gift.
This season and throughout the year you hear a lot about helping those less fortunate-giving to charities, volunteering, etc, and those things are important. But look a little closer to home. Chances are you have a friend or family member going through financial problems too, or struggling in another way, perhaps with an illness, relationship or job issue. Reach out to them. Tell them you care and you’re there to help. Never assume they “just know”. Take the time to tell them how much they mean to you and that you care.
Give them the gift of you and your time, concern, and love. That is the greatest gift, and one we just don’t give each other enough of.
Maybe, Just Maybe…
The next time you are thinking nasty things about the person in front of you using food stamps, consider this. Maybe she lost everything in the hurricane. Maybe he lost his wife to cancer and has 3 kids to raise alone. Maybe she’s got MS or another chronic disease and can’t work. Maybe he’s an only child who had to quit work to care for his mom who has Alzheimer. Maybe she just left her abusive husband and has to make a new start. Maybe he’s in college and supporting his younger siblings because his mom’s in jail and his dad’s a deadbeat. Maybe her husband got laid off from his well-paying job and she had been a stay at home mom caring for their disabled child. Maybe they are human, just like you, except you’ve had just a little more luck along the way. Maybe someday you’ll find yourself in their shoes. Maybe you should be counting your blessings instead of scorning their misfortune. Maybe you should learn to empathize instead of criticize. We’re all in this together. Maybe we should love thy neighbor rather than hate what we can’t relate to or understand.
I Am…
I am not a percentage, a label, or a catchphrase. I am a hard-working, decent person. I am a wife, a daughter, a small business owner. I want a hand up, not a hand out. I want financial security, not financial windfalls. I want a country where government is by the people for the people, not by Wall Street and Big Oil for their own gain. I want legislators, not lobbyists, who compromise not criticize, and have their constituents best interests, not special interests as their priority. I want a country where no one has to worry about getting preventive care or life-saving treatments regardless of their bank account. I want clean skies and clear waters. I want change, not childish bickering, solutions not slander, and a government run by people passionate about public service, not power trips. I am an American. I am a New Yorker. I am but one vote in a sea of many but it is no less important than any other. We all matter, so VOTE!!! Let your voice be heard!