Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 19:23:46 GMT
Hi folks,
I am writing this thread because of the healthcare debate going on in America today (mostly because of all the loud and rowdy "town hall" meetings going on).
I haven't been online since the Fall of 2006. I am still using a computer at my sister's house. My plan was to set up a computer at my own house, but that hasn't happened yet. The problem is that I have nowhere to put it.
Back in the Fall of 2006, my sister and one of my female cousins both bought a new computer. One of them was supposed to give me their old computer, but I had nowhere to put it. So, in November 2006, I decided to clean out my bedroom and my den. I did this to make room for a computer and because those 2 rooms had to be cleaned out anyway. Going into it, I expected it to take me about 6 months to clean out those 2 rooms. Here I am, almost 3 years later, and I am STILL not done cleaning them out yet. But I am almost done. I'm about 90-95% finished. When I am finished, I will set up a computer at my own house.
You might wonder why it is taking me 3 years just to clean out 2 rooms. There is a simple answer to that question - because I am a "pack rat". You wouldn't believe the stuff that was in those 2 rooms in November 2006. There were just piles and piles and piles and piles of stuff (mail, papers, boxes, etc.). And everything had about 20 years' worth of dust caked up on it. I was so sick all those years that I just let everything go. I couldn't sort it or clean it for 20 years. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, months turned into years, and years turned into decades. The last time I cleaned my bedroom was in 1989. I have been cleaning and sorting stuff for 3 years now. I am just grinding through everything piece by piece by piece. Of course, my illness isn't helping any. It takes me a lot longer to do things than a healthy person.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 19:39:04 GMT
Hi folks,
I would like to give you a few examples of how bad it was.
I have a dresser in my bedroom. I couldn't open the 2 bottom drawers for 18 years. There was so much stuff piled up in front of them (and blocking them) that I couldn't open them. I was afraid to move anything because of all the dust that was caked up everything. The dust was almost a centimeter thick. Last year was the first time in 18 years that I was able to open those 2 drawers. I found clothes that I haven't worn since college. Obviously, they don't fit me any more. I've gained a lot of weight since then.
The same is true for the closet in my bedroom. I couldn't open it for 18 years. There was so much stuff piled up in front of it (and blocking it) that I couldn't open the door for 18 years. Again, I was afraid to move anything because of the dust - which was almost a centimeter thick. Last year was the first time in 18 years that I was able to open my bedroom closet door.
My bedroom is 100% finished. It's nice and clean now. The last time my bedroom was this clean was in 1989 (which was the year before I got sick).
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 20:06:54 GMT
Hi folks,
The same was true for my den - which used to be my sister's bedroom. When she got married and moved out of the house in 1990, I converted it into a den.
There was so much stuff in there. I have a sofa in my den. You couldn't even see it. It was buried under a ton of shit. You couldn't even tell that there was a sofa there. And everything had about 17 years' worth of dust caked up on it. It's nice and clean (and empty) now. About 4 weeks ago was the first time I was able to sit on it in 17 years. The last time I sat on that sofa was in 1992.
The same was true for my wall unit and stereo system. I took them back with me when I came home sick from Michigan in the Summer of 1990. My neighbor put them in my basement. In 1992, my brother-in-law put them in my den. I used them for about 6 months. In the Fall of 1992, I got VERY sick (because of the IV antibiotics). I stopped using them and just started piling stuff on them. In November 2006, you couldn't even see them. They were buried under a ton of shit.
About 6 months ago was the first time I could see my stereo in 17 years. I could actually see it!!! About 4 weeks ago was the first time I turned on my stereo in 17 years. The last time I turned it on was in 1992. It still worked!!! I never unplugged it. Back in 1992, I didn't think it would be 17 years before I would turn it on again. I didn't think I was going to be this sick for this long. So, I didn't unplug it. It still had its memory (pre-sets). Of course, all of the radio stations (102.7 WNEW-FM and 92.3 K-Rock) have changed their format since then. I had to re-program it. My pre-set #1 is now 105.5 WDHA, and my pre-set #2 is Q104.3.
This is yet another example of what my illness has done to me. It took me 17 years just to be able to turn on my stereo.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 20:25:20 GMT
Hi folks,
My wall unit has a glass face plate that is supposed to be mounted on it. For the past 17 years, I just had it leaning against the side of my wall unit - because I couldn't find the hinges.
When I came home sick from Michigan in the Summer of 1990, my neighbor unloaded the truck. He put everything in my basement. Unfortunately, he put the hinges for my wall unit with my computer desk - which was ALL the way on the other side of my basement. My computer desk didn't fit where all of my other Michigan stuff was. So, he put it on the other side of my basement (along with the hinges for my wall unit).
When my brother-in-law brought my wall unit upstairs in 1992, he couldn't find the hinges. So, for the past 17 years, I just had the glass leaning against the side of my wall unit. I just found the hinges a few weeks ago. They were sitting on top of my computer desk for the past 19 years. I was looking for them for 17 years. I just installed the glass a few weeks ago. My mother held it in place, and I mounted the hinges.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 20:38:20 GMT
Hi folks,
I still haven't unpacked yet - from when I came home sick from Michigan in the Summer of 1990. About 95% of the stuff that I took back with me from Michigan is still packed in boxes in my basement.
To this day (19 years later!!!), I STILL haven't unpacked yet.
There are 2 reasons for this:
1) Because of my illness, I was physically incapable of doing it.
2) It's a "psychological thing". I HATE Staten Island, and I've hated it ever since I was a kid. That's why I left in the first place. My illness forced me to return here - against my will. I do NOT want to plant my roots here. Right now, I am living here "temporarily". But "temporarily" turned out to be 19 years (and counting). If I unpack, then I will be planting my roots here. When I build a house in the Poconos and move there, that's when I am going to unpack.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 20:49:04 GMT
Hi folks,
In the November 2008 presidential election, I voted for Ralph Nader - mainly because of healthcare.
I like John McCain, but I couldn't vote for him for 3 reasons:
1) During the campaign, he turned into something that he wasn't. John McCain wasn't John McCain.
2) Healthcare.
3) He picked Sarah Palin (a cuckoo, crazy, retarded religious nut) as his running mate. She would have been one step away from being president. There's a scary thought. The ONLY reason she is governor of Alaska is because she won a beauty pegeant. She was kicked out of (and/or dropped out of) 5 different colleges when she was younger.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 21:09:43 GMT
Hi folks,
I didn't vote for Barak Obama - because he was an unknown. But I wish that I had. I think he is doing a fantastic job. He is doing everything right. I give him a grade of "A+". He inherited a VERY bad situation from Pres. Bush. He was dealt a bad hand. He is doing the best he can. Pres. Bush pissed me off EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!
In many ways, Obama reminds me of myself. He is intelligent and highly educated. He is an "intellectual". He attended college on scholarships. My parents couldn't afford to send me to college either. I won scholarships.
I am glad that Vito Fossella is no longer my congressman. He was no longer representing the people of Staten Island. I suspect that Vito read my posts on this board. Right after I posted those messages in the Fall of 2006, Vito made a quote to the Staten Island Advance. He said, "My job is to do what is in the best interests of the taxpayers of Staten Island." No, Vito's job was not to do what was in the best interests of the TAXPAYERS of Staten Island. His job was to do what was in the best interests of the PEOPLE of Staten Island - whether they pay taxes or not. Vito didn't "get it". However, Vito did reverse his Medicaid decision. The following year, he voted AGAINST Pres. Bush's proposal to cut Medicaid spending. So, he did redeem himself a bit. Maybe I had something to do with it. He said that the "hospitals need the money".
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 21, 2009 21:21:34 GMT
Hi folks,
My congressman is now Mike McMahon. I think he is doing an excellent job. I give him a grade of "A". He is trying to fix the problems in this country. He voted in favor of the "Clean Energy" bill (a. k. a. the "Cap and Trade" energy bill). He took A LOT of criticism for that (Staten Islanders were opposed to it 2 to 1), but he did the right thing.
He also supports healthcare reform. Staten Islanders are also opposed to that 2 to 1. About 2/3 of the people in Staten Island were OPPOSED to the "Cap and Trade" energy bill and are OPPOSED to healthcare reform. I don't know why. Right now, Mike is "undecided" on how he will vote on Pres. Obama's healthcare reform bill. I think he will do the right thing - even though he will take A LOT of criticism for it. He will do what is best for the country. I have faith in him.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 18:18:56 GMT
Hi folks,
Pres. Bush REALLY pissed me off because he refused to pass healthcare reform (universal healthcare).
In the fall of 2006, I sent a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). I had a feeling that I was going to get arrested. I don't have the financial resources to legally defend myself in court. So, I sent them a letter asking them if they would provide me with a free lawyer and represent me in court. They referred my letter to the NYCLU. They responded a while later. They told me that they didn't have the resources to defend me. But they referred me to some other organizations that may have been able to help me.
It turned out that it wasn't necessary for me to pursue that any further because Democrats suprisingly won the November 2006 mid-term elections. I knew that there was a good chance that healthcare reform would pass. I just had to wait 2-3 more years. So, I let it go. It was no longer necessary for me to continue down that path that would eventually have led to my arrest (for physically threatening Pres. Bush and/or other politicians).
If you don't believe me, you can contact the ACLU. They should probably still have a copy of my letter on file somewhere.
If Democrats did NOT win the November 2006 elections, I was going to start physically threatening Pres. Bush (for refusing to pass universal healthcare). And I would have gotten arrested.
I'm not playing f**king games here!!!
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 18:44:22 GMT
Hi folks,
Throughout the 19 year course of my illness, I have left my house only 5-10 times a year. That continues to the present. Last year (2008), I left my house 12 times. In 2007, I left my house 12 times.
So far this year (since January 1), prior to yesterday, I left my house only 4 times. I was at my sister's house yesterday. I am at my sister's house right now. So, I left my house 6 times so far this year.
The last time I watched TV was when the last episode of "Battlestar Galactica" was on. That was several months ago. I haven't watched TV since.
Anyway, here's my plan:
First, I must finish cleaning out my den (so I can get a computer set up in there). When I am done doing that, I am going to write an autobiography. When I am done doing that, I am going to file my lawsuits against the government (because of what they did to me all these years). Then, I am going to try to get these retarded laws in this country changed (about 10,000 laws need to be changed). Pres. Obama has already gone a long way in trying to get that (changing retarded laws) accomplished. I commend and admire him for that. He is trying to fix the problems in this country. When I am done doing all of that, then (and only then) I am going to try to get on with my life (get a job working from home, etc.). But I must get all of those other things accomplished first. I have a long and daunting list of things to do.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 18:56:25 GMT
Hi folks,
Okay, now I want to get down to the real reason I started writing this thread. I am REALLY pissed off at the healthcare debate (especially the town hall meetings) going on in this country. I can't believe the attitudes and the selfishness of my fellow Americans. I am really ashamed and disgusted. Every day, when I read the newspaper, it infuriates me that people can actually think this way. I don't know what the f**k is wrong with people.
Of course, in writing this thread, it is going to take me longer to finish cleaning out my den and longer to get to the writing of my autobiography. But what can I do? I can't remain silent.
I read the Staten Island Advance (our local newspaper) every day. There are always articles and op-edit letters from people in it pertaining to healthcare. They even re-print posts from their online newspaper.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 19:13:50 GMT
Hi folks,
A few weeks ago, some Staten Islanders actually held a "Tea Party" protest rally at the Conference House. They even protested outside Rep. Mike McMahon's office a few days earlier.
The rally was organized by Frank Santarpia. He criticised Rep. McMahon because he "continues to vote in favor of the Obama/Pelosi socialist agenda." Dr. Betsy McCoughey (former NYS lieutenant governor) spoke at the rally.
Don't these people realize what assholes they are making out of themselves? Pres. Obama is trying to fix the problems in this country and trying to do what is best for America. And because of their selfishness, thse people want to take us back into the Dark Ages. They are basically holding a gun to my head and forcing me, against my will, to be on welfare for the rest of my life.
I say a prayer every night that Mr. Santarpia's children get stricken with cancer.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 19:31:09 GMT
Hi folks,
One online poster actually referred to people like me as "freeloading losers". I am NOT a freeloading loser. I am someone who was a model of responsibility when I was younger, and I was stricken with a serious, chronic, catastrophic illness at a young age.
In a 7/25/09 letter to the Staten Island Advance, Josephine McKeon wrote, "Congressman Mike McMahon would be forced to explain his radical voting, including his vote on the "cap-and-trade" energy bill when the Coalition for Affordable Energy estimates that more than 3 million jobs will be lost."
What the f**k is this woman talking about???!!!
Poster "whiteonwhite" wrote, "[Obama] has no idea of capitalism..., but is a fanatic for state socialism. Any American can succeed. He wants to be a dictator..."
Obama is not a socialist. He is just trying to give people a chance.
I would like to amend the second sentence: Any HEALTHY, ABLE-BODIED American can succeed. A seriously ill/disabled American (who has hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in medical bills and no health insurance) CANNOT succeed. Why can't people understand this?
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 19:50:55 GMT
Hi folks,
In the 7/26/09 Staten Island Advance, there was an article by Harold Meyerson titled "Blue Dogs and the Spirit of No-can-do". It was a great article. In it, he writes, "Every other nation with an advanced economy long ago secured universal healthcare for its citizens..." He's right. America is the only major industrialized nation on the planet that still doesn't have universal healthcare (a single-payer system).
He goes on to write, "The Blue Dogs doggedly oppose proposals to fund universal coverage by taxing the wealthiest 1 percent of the nation's households. Their deference to wealth...is not to be trifled with. Centrist Democrats' opposition to health reform verges on the incoherent. The Republican opposition to Pres. Obama's push for healthcare reform...makes clear political sense. If they can stop Obama on healthcare, as South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint recently noted, it 'will be his Waterloo.' Why Democrats...want to cripple their own president...is a more mysterious matter."
Senator Jim DeMint is a real f**king scumbag. From what I understand, he is one of these religious kooks (a Christian Conservative). He is going to be sucking Satan's dick when he dies.
Augie
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Augie
The Fart Meister
Posts: 491
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Post by Augie on Aug 22, 2009 20:07:41 GMT
Hi folks,
In a 7/26/09 article by E. J. Dionne, he writes, "Republicans such as Sen. Jim DeMint and commentator William Kristol have been immensely useful in clarifying [things] - DeMint by saying that defeating healthcare reform would 'break' Obama, and Kristol by defining the GOP's position succinctly with the words 'kill it'".
Lovely people, aren't they?
He goes on to write, "There is nothing wrong with asking the wealthy to pay for covering the uninsured...". He adds, "But the only choice that matters is whether we want to cover all Americans and begin the multiyear task of fixing the health system, or whether we prefer, once again, to use the details as an excuse for evading what we know must be done someday."
I agree with him 110%.
E. J. Dionne is god!!! He is a perfect example of an intelligent, educated, fair American (who isn't a religious nut) who is trying to do what is best for the country. He realizes that America must use all of its resources (including ill, disabled, and uninsured people) to be a great country and to realize its full potential. He "gets it".
Augie
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