The citizens of the United States are in trouble, more trouble than we’ve seen in two hundred years. We the people of the United States of America are being burdened with a budget deficit unseen in our short history without being asked if that is our wishes. If I’d been asked, I would have said no. We’ve seen our homes foreclosed on; thousands of workers lose their jobs, bank accounts depleted, bills going unpaid and dozens more taking the lives of their families.

We elected our first African-American President on his campaign promises of relief, better living conditions and a return to a prosperous America. Those campaign promises were broken within the first one hundred days of Barrack Obama taking office. We’ve seen him plea with Congress to pass his financial aid package, giving banks and financial institutions billions of dollars but none for the people of the United States. We’ve seen billions of our dollars go toward bonuses of the very people who drove their companies toward bankruptcy. Supposedly, we were lead to believe, that billions of dollars would go toward helping the American people. We’ve seen it go into CEO’s pockets instead.

As I write this, my own personal thoughts on the situation in this land, I am bombarded with calls from my creditors, the same creditors so eager to issue me a credit card or extend credit. The same creditors, a large bank who have received billions of dollars in bailout money (and that is what it is) while raising fees beyond a reasonable amount. At the time, a credit card for emergencies seemed like a good idea, I could afford the small payments or to pay off the entire amount. But then the economy went into the toilet, not because of anything I did but because of the greed of the large corporations.

It was not I who accepted loans from people who couldn’t afford them, I did not overestimate the company’s worth, I didn’t receive millions of dollars in bonuses nor did I have anything to do with creative bookkeeping practices. But I, and millions like me, are made to suffer because of it. Many of us have lost our retirement funds once thought safe, we’ve lost our homes, our businesses and our self-respect due to job loss. Where are the ones responsible? Safely counting their money and laughing all the way to the bank, probably in a foreign country. The ones responsible for this dire situation are the very ones being asked to fix it. Like a bank robber being asked to fix bank security after he robbed it, and being paid to do so.

There is something seriously wrong with this country’s leadership when they care for the banks and corporations more than they do for their citizens. They forget that it was the American people who made the banks successful by depositing their earnings. It was the American people who made companies successful by buying their products. President Obama has said that the way to fix the economy is to invest federal dollars in the bankrupt companies and that those dollars will trickle down to the American people. I must tell him that we need more than a trickle in order to survive. We’ve been able to survive on less than $50,000 a year for company executives can’t get by on less than a half million dollars. I would think that those executives need to return to reality, the real world and experience how the ordinary American citizen lives. Only then will they realize that for every action, there is a reaction.

With years of irresponsible spending and the lack of regulations in the financial sector, there is no doubt the US is undergoing a stress test. While other countries were spending cautiously, the US went into a spending spree simulating the fanatic heeding the prophecy of his spiritual leader that the world is coming to an end and the wise thing to do is to spend everything before time runs out.

Now, there is so much anger brewing in some quarters. The sad thing is that the enormous energy the anger generates is not used to create a pragmatic solution. Instead, it is used to only bash available plans. The notion that more anger is good for creative thought seems to have taken root.

As the financial crisis shows its wounds, policies are no longer crafted in the confines of the US Capitol building through meticulous deliberations. Policies are apparently engendered on air by talk show hosts eager to please their listeners.

The onset of a financial crisis does not come without panics. Sen. Burr of North Carolina is reported to have panicked at the dire news coming out of the financial sector that he immediately instructed his family to make many runs to ATM machines as his solution to the financial crisis.

Words like secession that were only commonly used in developing countries now begin to be used more frequently. Gov. Perry of Texas has flirted with the thought of secession because he has been given too much stimulus money by the Federal Government. It leaves one to wonder if the economic dent has pushed even elected representatives over the edge. Unlike in other parts of the world where regions secede because they receive very little money from the central government, Texas’ secessionist thoughts are otherwise unique.

Some people are now talking of a class war. A number of Americans are screaming that the lone economic recovery plan will help others milk the wealthy to death. Those bound to benefit from the plan say the wealthy have enjoyed a virtually tax free life and it is now time to refund what was gained by virtue of status and opulence.

The insurance industry is no novice to insurance fraud in times of financial difficulties. Car owners unable to make the monthly payments on their cars have resorted to roasting the cars in order to claim the insurance. Delusional gun owners see an impending chaos and have begun stockpiling guns because they believe law and order will crumble thereby rendering the police ineffective.

Americans have been at odds with illegal immigrants taking away jobs. The economic crisis has apparently aggravated that frustration. While some feel the outsourcing of jobs either created or worsened the financial crisis, others believe illegal immigration exacerbated it. The dilemma about illegal immigration is that though it is illegal, the low wages earned by illegal immigrants help reduce the cost of production thereby making some industries to remain competitive with countries that produce and sell cheap. Illegal immigrants are largely unskilled and whether they are draining the system or propping it up during hard financial times is another question with no easy answer.

Religious groups have also opined on the financial crisis like they did on the war in Iraq. Some religious groups contend that as some backsliders are pushed to financial extremities, they will be no other place to turn to, but to return to their former congregations. Other groups have likened the financial crisis to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the Christian Bible. Such prognostications and attributions are not new. Memories are still fresh about the frenzied spending in certain parts of the world in the closing days of 1999 which reverberated from the prophecy proclaiming that the world was to end in the year 2000.

For a lot of people who have gone through a series of stress tests in their life time, going through the economic crisis is only seen as another race just made longer by a few miles.

http://www.dream-services.com/

Republican unison by Maurice D.Williams

 

The Republicans think they hurt President obama,being unified as a party.Not passing the bill for the $800 billion dollar stimulus.All they really did was alienate themselves from him.They’ll really want a bill passed down the road!.Rest assured  he will veto it vehemently.About this 800 billion stimulus,I admit at first view to some extent it looked as the spending was relevant towards most programs.That was until the specifics were revealed.

 

There’s severe”pork”(over-spending) for certain programs that wouldn’t”jumpstart”the economy or produce jobs.Though admirable but probally not $460 million for contraceptive research.What I and other American citizens see is it doesn’t take geniuses or rocket-science to see where the money should go?,”to us that really need it”.The people of this country who have lost their jobs,savings ,homes have been foreclosed and have no healthcare.But all we are feed is the propaganda of  the big car manufacturers,wall st. and madoff need the bail-outs more!.They blatantly live high on the hog even after the bail-outs,”awarding themselves bonuses”.Total-disrespect and no accountability.”The hell with the American people”,but it’s us whose money you take for investments.

 

Yet the “fat-cats”in Washington the members of the senate too are exposed being the same as their counterparts.Dragging the people of the U.S. through all this red-tape to get this bill done.I believe there can be revisions of the stimulus where there can be compromised.Through Bipartisanship that it’s passed and distributed to us immediately!.The government and rich dislike that president obama’s”shutting-down”their over-spending on things irrelevant.Because if they hadn’t misused the money and pocketed it,the country wouldn’t be in it’s current state!.

AS SENT VIA EMAIL TO FORBES.com regarding an Article they penned about Chciago being the 3^RD Most Miserable City in the USA

TO THE STAFF AT FORBES:

Let me start out by saying: In these troubled times, I don’t know how smart it is to TELL IT LIKE IT IS. It’s like the old phrase my Mom would tell me about NOT hurting anyone by ‘putting SALT into their Wounds.’  Their ‘already open’ wounds. Now, I nearly feel like I’m using your Quotation Book there, reciting.

However, I like the fact that YOU ARE TOTALLY HONEST and that’s where you should be applauded, not hammered. What I’m commenting on is your latest Disposition (or as some Chicagoans are saying:  DISS-ing of The Windy City) about Chicago ranking as #3 on the MOST MISERABLE List.

Back on September 15, 2008 of last year, you said Chi-Town was amongst the most stressful; now it’s amongst the top ones as the most miserable. Actually, I’d rank it as #1.  My dear boss when I worked at the AMA: American Medical Assn., always told me to ‘MAKE NICE’ - when I typed her reports back in the early 80s, which I did and was proud of those. She was THE BOSS, after all, what else could I do…

However, with this eNote, I just wanted to tell you that I do not firmly agree with some of the Chicagoans who have been complaining about your Evaluation ‘on Chicago.’  I totally agree.

AN EXAMPLE IS: I have no idea how Kids date.  $100 bucks won’t get a guy & a gal into the movies, dinner.  They’d have to walk to the theatre as parking downtown is a week’s pay.  I commented on this very topic not too long ago (as a matter of fact). A friend of mine (a nice young man of about 23) is a banker. I said: “Eric, I have no idea how boys date these days. $100 bucks won’t get a couple far and it doesn’t guarantee that the ‘guy’ will automatically get laid! After all, you’re spending THAT kind of money…’ Although that sounds crude, he laughed so hard and turned so many shades of pink, I knew I had hit his funny bone. I don’t think he thought anything like that would come out of my mouth – the Mouth of a 56 year old woman. I then wrapped up our Conversation by telling him that when I first moved to Chicago in June of 1974:

The CTA (our train/bus system) cost 45 cents a ride. It’s now $2.25

&

my Studio Apartment was $155 and I lived ON Lake Michigan. That was considered prestigious because of the LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

CAPTURING THE PULSE OF THE HEART-LAND: Early this AM on NBC/Channel 5 local news (comparable to yours with Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker & Ann Curry), the 2 Anchors, Zoraida & Rob’s question of the morning was the FORBES’ Latest Summation on Chicago. Oh, people were mad – seething from the sounds of their comment(aries). They email their Thoughts in and then the better ones are read on-air. The first thing I thought was: “Whoops, FORBES’ Subscription rate is going to fall.”

From the Outside or taken from a Birds-eye View, the Cityscape, Skyscrapers, etc. looks nice, but if you can’t afford a night on the town (no matter what your age and MUST decide (if you want medication (even for high blood pressure – which many Seniors need – even if they don’t have real Ailments or Medical Problems where their Meds is much more costly), Chicago is a very uncomfortable place to be. As a 35 year resident, it has changed since the turbulent 60s… And it’s all based on GREED.

Other COMPLAINTS I have are:

1) Now, bus tour guides are ‘milking’ The Obamangle ® (what I named as the OBAMA ANGLE) although he’s not done anything FOR THE PEOPLE yet…

2) We have an Ex-Governor who would rather fly into NYC and do your fast-tracked, celebrity Talk Show Circuit in order to secure himself a SPOT in prime time after he serves a few years in soft-cell or Club-Fed. That’s my thought on that.

3) Our Flagstaff Newspaper, The Chicago Tribune has filed for bankruptcy. The horrible part about Publishing is that Writers have no where to turn to get their Big Break. If Papers are folding, who is going to GIVE them the exposure or article(s) they need to get those sales? I often discuss this with a friend of mine, Lowell Thompson who painted a lovely Portrait of Barack…and we just don’t seem to arrive upon an answer.

4) CONTINUING: The Chicago Tribune has problems selling The Cubs. One of our bigger malls on Michigan Avenue – the Magnificent Mile is totally empty.

5) The folks (Chicagoans) I know do not want the 2016 Olympics here. We don’t want our property taxes to go up ANY more. It’s bad enough we have the highest sales tax in the nation.

6) Even pets are ending up in Pounds or at the Humane Society because their owners cannot afford them. They are moving; their homes are in foreclosures and they have to ‘cut down.’ Even the Animal Kingdom is suffering here in Chicago. Nothing CHIC about Chicago these days.

What I ask is: WWMD? What Would Malcolm Do?

Oh, I could go on some more with homes, foreclosures, a failing school system where ½ the High School Kids don’t graduate, but your Reporters have already tackled that.

What bothers me moreso is the Double Standard of course.

What bothers me moreso than that is the Mixed Signals we are getting.

About 2.5 weeks ago, a 14 year old Black Kid impersonated a cop and rode in the squad car with one of the officers for several hours. He evidently had always wanted to be a cop and just TOOK THE INITIATIVE. He sauntered into a uniform shop, bought the appropriate uniform and went to his local police station.

The Mayor (Richard M. Daley) thinks this is horrific! The kid is being reamed over the coals. I think the Kid is an absolute hero and a fine example. I’ll tell you why. The Stats for Black Kids (mainly boys) is that they will be in gangs; moving drugs and breaking in. Many will end up behind bars. Here’s a kid that wanted to SERVE HIS COMMUNITY. He could have been out on the street, assaulting an old woman for her purse; breaking into an apartment or raping a woman. If he was found in a line-up for murdering a Pop Princess’ (ie: Jennifer Hudson’s) Mother, Sister and her Nephew, then the Chief of Police and Mayor could rant and rave as much as they want. He was working on his Profession. Cut the Kid some slack and let him develop his Skill. He could definitely impress his friends by going into a Life of Law Enforcement, instead of Breaking the Law. When I created Cartoonists Against Crime ©1991, I did a lot of research on Crime Prevention besides taking in all that Artwork and the term used was:

BLACK ON BLACK CRIME,

which I found to be un-understandable, but that’s another disturbing story.

I hope the Story you at FORBES released about Chicago gets our Officials to think about how to KEEP its Creative Citizens. I definitely think a BRAIN DRAIN where People leave (and estimates say about 75,000 people have already LEFT Chicago) for ‘easier living’ will make sad mark on Chicago History in the years to come.

BTW: I’m still reading FORBES! I happen to like HONESTY…which reminds me of Abe Lincoln – our 16^TH Pres(ident) is 200 tomorrow! In 1809, they surely didn’t have the COMPLAINTS we have today.

FROM:

ADRIENNE SIOUX KOOPERSMITH

Koopersmith’s Global Communications

“People read what Adrienne writes about…”

Chicago, IL USA

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 – 12:14 PM CST

Yes, think for yourself. As foreign as that concept is, it is probably one of the last freedoms that Americans have and the one most feared by politicians in Washington. For far too long we’ve neglected to consider the facts and arrive at a conclusion on our own, fearing humilation from Democrats and Republicans alike. The mind set in Washington is that the average American isn’t smart enough to consider all facets of a situation and arrive at a reasonable solution. Maybe that’s why there’s so many secrets on Capital Hill.

We’ve been led to believe that if the banks and financial institutions aren’t bailed out with taxpayer money, that we’ll sink into a depression to rival 1929. If the current stimulas bill is passed, America will be 1,550,000,000,000 in debt, beholding to those countries brave enough to buy the IOUs. The majority of Americans are against the stimulas bill, knowing that it won’t help the homeowner or small businesses but will only benefit corporations, banks and investment firms. Just look at what happened with T.A.R.P. and where the money went, to the CEOs bonus packages and golden parachutes. It didn’t benefit one American, thanks to former King Bush.

It is time, finally, to stand up and tell our legislators that we’ve had enough, that it is time for the American people to be given all the facts, depressing as they would be, so we can make up our own minds and decide what would be best for us. But it is an unfortunate fact that our elected offcials don’t listen to the American taxpayer, that they will consider what facts they have, take some money under the table, and vote the way their campaign contributors want them too. Washington D.C. has been sold to the highest bidder and it wasn’t us.

We were fed a carefully crafted package called Barrack Obama and we bought it. He said the right things to the people, he looked right, he brought his family onto the campaign trail and he played the race card beautifully, it got him elected. He’s had his honeymoon, now its time for him to carry out his campaign promises and help the American people, not the money behind the curtains.

I don’t think we’re being told the entire truth concerning the present financial fiasco, that the politicians are withholding facts that we need to know to make an informed decision. But then that is business as usual with Washington, falling back on the cold, false asumption that the average American is too stupid to comprehend the severity of the situation and the actions that must be done to correct it. Just as former King Bush lied to us about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction, so is Obama lying to us now.

I don’t relie on just one news source for information but read a number of publications not only in the U.S. but worldwide as well for there the truth is told. I read, assimulate the information and make up my own mind. I think it is time for the American people to demand the full truth, all the facts and allow us the right to think for ourselves.

There are few subjects that incite passion as does discussing the economy. The United States is in a world of hurt and sinking fast and no amount of money can save us. But just maybe… there is a way.

Think back ten years, or fifteen, to when Intel, AMD, Dell, HP, Westinghouse, GE and numerous other large companies announced that they were building plants in other countries and closing the ones in the US. Remember NAFTA was supposed to level the playing field and help Mexico deal with its unemployment. Remember China was given “favored nation” status by Reagan as his next to last act as president. He later pocketed a $2 million speaking fee in that country, for a 45-minute speech.

As a nation, we import more goods than we export (arms and weapons is not included), giving us the largest trade deficit in history, and its still growing. How did we allow this to happen? because the manufacturing lobbiests have a lot of money to throw around and did. They bribed our Congressmen into passing the legislation, selling out America for a few dollars. It was the American people who suffered as jobs were sent overseas, to India, Philippines, Cayman Islands and other countries. Millions of Americans lost their well-paying jobs.

There are several things we can do, if Congress would just get off their collective, lazy butts, to reverse this. Number One would be to tax any American corporation having plants in another country until they scream from the pain in their accounting department. Levy a tarrif on any product imported, any product. Only reduce that tarrif by the amount that that same country imports from the US. Don’t give tax breaks to companies for simply being in the US, tax them the full amount. If they want to lower their expenses, try automation but retrain those put out of work.

Even as we struggle, more than fifty countries still get a handout from our Treasury; its called foreign aid, or economic aid, or by some other name but it all means the same — free money from us. Slam the checkbook closed, put a padlock on it and let those countries fend for themselves, let them develope their own economies and sustain themselves. Israel alone receives $3 billion a year under a number of different programs, all at the first of the budget year, unlike other countries who have it spread out over the year. We wouldn’t need to send half a billion dollars to Mexico to fight their drug war if we simply closed our borders and used the military to patrol the air and sea lanes. We have agencies knowledable in patroling our states, let them do their jobs. Enforce the drug laws we have on the books and put the drug dealers out of business for good.

Make it worthwhile for Americans to buy American, appliances, cars, homes and groceries at reasonable prices, not extortion prices. Control the pay of executives, no man is worth $35 million a year for the title of CEO, control the amounts banks can charge on accounts (hidden fees are a killer) and regulate the business practices of brokerage firms but most of all, rid ourselves of the Federal Reserve. The FR is just bankers controlling the flow of money, and getting rich doing it.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? All we need is a president and Congress with the backbone and courage to do it. Will it happen? Probably not.

A Poem by puppascott
(with apologies to Clement Moore)

Twas the time after Christmas, and all through the land,
Worried workers were stirring, to prepare for “the man.”
The receipts and tax forms were gathered with care,
In hopes that a refund soon would be there.

The gloom of the deadline approaching is felt,
But the sprint to the finish line makes me feel svelte.
And a few weeks later, wouldn’t you know,
A letter, requesting my records to show.

To my house he came, so lively and quick,
An agent, with a briefcase, and glasses so thick .
More rapid than eagles his fingers did fly,
While he whistled and chuckled, uncovering lies!

“No write-offs, no credits, no business expenses!
No donations, no deductions!” He rips through my defenses.
He rifles through papers, receipts and then calls,
“Just throw away, throw away, throw away all!”

As ne’er I’ve seen, he grumbles and sighs,
And I watch as discrepancies mount to the sky.
Dissecting my work as a skilled surgeon might,
The agent, more villainous, squeals in delight.

And then, in a twinkling, some good news maybe,
A windfall or error or write-off to see.
As good thoughts fill my head, they are spinning around,
Down comes the axe with a terrible sound.

The agent aglow, from his head to his feet,
Finds more and more slip-ups to prove my deceit.
My blunders, like toys, makes his happiness grow,
And he looks like a toddler, dealing blow after blow.

His eyes - how they twinkle! His dimples how merry!
My anxiety grows as I reach for the sherry!
His droll little mouth drawn up in a smirk,
And I think to myself, “This guy is a jerk.”

The stub of a pencil held tight in his hand,
What terrible powers are at his command.
He has a broad face and a little round belly,
That shakes when he laughs, when he finds a real dilly!

He was chubby and plump; an accountant by trade.
And he laughed, when he saw me withdrawn and afraid!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I’d be better off dead.

He spoke not a word, as he finished his work,
And filed my 10-40’s away with a jerk.
I stood knowing I’d be left, with nary a dime,
With the uneasy feeling I’d be doing some time!

He strode to his car, his alarm gave a whistle,
And away down the road, he drove like a missile.
And I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“All your assets are frozen! Now have a good night!”

 

 

 

Let me see if I have this straight. Congress is voting on an additional $350 billion economic stimulas bill (with asking the taxpayer if this is what we want) that will infuse additional cash into corporations, banks, auto makers, financial markets and anyone with their hand out. Anyone but those of us who really need financial relief. If I can believe my banker and his slip of the tongue, Wells Fargo has their bid in for another $2 billion because there are a few other smaller banks they have their eye on. Chrysler says they’ll be out of cash by the end of February if they don’t get their money. Westinghouse said they need money because their profits are down 40%, people just don’t have any money for new appliances.

Citibank wants a few billion dollars because we don’t have the money to pay our credit card bills on time (don’t they realize that unemployment only reaches so far?”) yet they still spend millions to have their name on a football stadium and their call centers are located in a foreign country, two to be exact.

Even states are having a dificult time now days. Colorado says they’ll be $360 million short on the budget and need to trim a few corners, like cutting funding for mental illness programs and closing a few libraries. Every state is having problems and are holding out their hands for free federal money, free to them but we get the bill.

I admit that I’m behind on some of my bills, months behind and I’m living on a fixed income. Just about every day I get at least two calls from the same credit card company demanding — demanding — money, money I don’t have. I try to explain my situation to them but I’m talking to a deaf person. They interrupt me while I’m speaking, with a assinine question, and don’t even apologize for doing so. They ask me why I accepted the credit card if I didn’t intend to pay it. I accepted the card three years ago, when the economy was rosy and prices were low. Then they get around to calling me a thief, a deadbeat and a few other names; supposedly this call is being recorded for quality assurance purposes. They do go silent for a minute when I tell them that I’m recording this call for legal purposes. They just don’t know what to say at that, it wasn’t covered in “how to browbeat the card holder seminar”.

So to all my creditors out there, my situation hasn’t changed, I’m still broke for three weeks out of the month. Call all you want, it hasn’t changed since yesterday. I only owe you $700 but you got $2 billion of taxpayer money. Get a life.

I’m more than a little mad at banks in general, not only have many of the largest banks received bailout money but they refuse to disclose how they spent the billions. I know Wells Fargo used their handout to buy up Wachovia Bank. I asked my banker how it used the billions and he lied to me, saying Well Fargo didn’t get any of that money, yet is listed with the National Accounting Office (NAO) as receiving $1.5 billion. Now, Wells Fargo is raising their fees on many previsious free accounts or just holding customers money for two weeks, as they are doing with my daughter. Yes, she deposited a check for $1,700 last week and Wells Fargo still refuses to release her money, saying they have to verify that the funds are in the banks hands. To that I say, bull pucky. With today’s electronic banking system, Wells Fargo had their money within 48-hours, even if it were an out of state check. Beware of that little notice on the receipt that states that they can hold your money for 7-10 banking days, they’re doing it and collecting interest on your money while putting the customer in a financial bind.

To add insult to injury, the NAO also released a report that 83 out of 100 banks have off-shore activities that exclude them from paying taxes, or very low taxes, on most of their profits. These are the big banks, Bank of America, Wells Fargo are just two, that have received billions of dollars in bailout money yet still shaft their customers for a few more dollars. I’m seriously thinking about changing banks, one that puts their customers above profits. Granted, banks must make a profit on the services they offer in order to stay in business but not at the expense of the customer.

Have banks gotten so big and powerful that they think the customer won’t complain? It would appear so. I’m beginning to have the same opinion of bankers as I do used car salesmen or child molesting priests. Unfortunately, banks are a necessary evil, a place to put our money until we need to write a check or withdraw cash. If only we could go to a “cash only” society and put them out of business or at least give them a wake-up call.

 

SUBTITLE:  

The Analysis

or (more likely)

ANAL-ization of THE COMPLAINT

 

Complaining (in and of itself) is an Act.

 

However, the Discography of THE COMPLAINT itself is an Art.  Absolutely so.  It’s shrouded in Layers of pensive Thoughts, Behaviors and Attitudes that are as individualistic as The Person who airs them.  Even each ‘Airing’ (Rant or Rave) has a Degree of Severity (not Civility) in it.  Letting lose and letting go ‘of a COMPLAINT’ is a Method of De-Stressing much like an Alcoholic finds (temporary) Comfort (Northern or Southern in Locale) in a Keg of Beer, Glass of Wine, Shot of Bourbon or  Bottle of Champagne.

 

However, Whine-ing can be short-lived and THE COMPLAINER (for the most Part) is a Constant.  Said COMPLAINT remains unleashed. The Degree of Sentimentality may be lessened.  The Emotion may be temporarily gone, but as for its Physicality, a COMPLAINT is easily discernible and is like a Pimple:  It pops out and explodes when it wants to.  Bottling up a COMPLAINT can lead to dogmatic  Internal Problems that can be costly in the long run.

 

TRACING THE COMPLAINT:

The Core Group revolves around:

 

YOU:  Your COMPLAINTS, Grudges and Maddening Experiences can range from breaking a Nail to losing Millions in an ailing Financial Downturn.

 

FAMILY:  How Family Members annoy you can be summed up in a COMPLAINT (if not more). SO much for the ‘Extended Family’ that sociologists are touting.  If you are rated as a prolifically compulsive Writer, at times like these, the Merriam-Webster Synonym Dictionary (found at www.m-w.com) comes in handy and automatically eases THE COMPLAINT.  That is:  By finding an Outlet to spill your COMPLAINT may be therapeutic.  The Act of Reading itself (as in Reading others COMPLAINTS on this Website) acts cathartically.

 

FRIENDS:  You can choose your Friends and not your Family. INSERT:  And Experts wonder why so many People (including Adults) run away from Home. To continue:   Many Friendships break up (as Marriages do) because too many COMPLAINTS are lodged against that Person, Place, Things or Circumstances that becomes too unbearable.  After a certain Point, Intolerance sets in and it just does not pay (on and for any Grounds of Sanity whatsoever) to keep The Friendship alive.

 

AT WORK:  Bosses ignite an entirely new Level for THE COMPLAINER.  With a Degree of Power in place, no one really complains about what The Boss is doing.  Jeopardizing One’s Job (especially in this precarious Job Market) is definitely Taboo and not a wise thing-to-do.  This may be the leading Reason why World Economics is as degraded as it has become the last 3-4 years.  The Leader (in any Organization) is The Boss.  The Followers (in any Organization) are the Employees. A Class System again is put into place.  The above Subjects warrant Grounds for ‘COMPLAINTS.’  After a Month passes, an Assortment of COMPLAINTS begin to build.  Blowing The Whistle on The Boss is now an Industry of its own Accord that’s seen on every TV & Radio Channel, Website & Blog across The Planet. It’s a Travesty of Justice and Goodwill when COMPLAINING does not get to do what it does best, but is breached for the Advancement of a Cunning Few.  One Party always remains that is left in Despair with solidifying COMPLAINTS. 

 

Locating an Outlet that finally filters the Air (that acts as a Purification System) is a sure-fire Way to lay a COMPLAINT to rest, even just for The Present, as many COMPLAINTS have the Tendency to occur and resurface.

 

In a post-industrialized, techno-World that began at The Turn of The 1900s, Individuals began thinking (which is Step #1 to the complete Compilation and Registering of a COMPLAINT) along these 4-Lines:

 

Am I pretty or handsome enough?

Am I slim enough?

Am I smart enough?

Am I rich enough?

 

JUMPING INTO THAT TIME MACHINE:  Back in the Days of ‘Little House on the Prairies’ of Kansas in 1850, there weren’t too many Teen Magazines to thumb through; Colleges to attend or Diet Books to peruse.  The Amount of Time “getting down, dirty, nasty and spiteful about yourself was severely limited, as Survival (defined on Page 1187, Column One of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary ©1999)  in a new Territory was topping the TO DO List. Nothing else was of that utmost importance. Looks, Body Image, Brains or Money were not in their Top Ten List.   No petty and insignificant Acts/Actions that many (if not most) COMPLAINTS are structured around Today were posted on the TO DO List of 1850.  Their Value and Material System was plainly based on a different Set of Criteria than ours is. 

 

The Degree or Richness of a COMPLAINT is also interesting. After all, how good can a COMPLAINT be if there isn’t anything to judge it (up) against?  Would a COMPLAINT even be an Actuality if there was nothing to compare it to?  Time and Personalities are the Two (2) Factors that color a COMPLAINT and give it its Pizzazz - all the more, adding to its Dimensionality.

 

Is there not a slight Difference between COMPLAINING that the last Chocolate cream-filled Cupcake was eaten compared to a Ponzi Scheme that left a Family barren, broke, homeless and forlorn?  What’s considered serious to One Person may not be to another.  A serious COMPLAINT to one Person could be the Brunt of a Joke to another.  Besides Belief Systems, add in different Cultures, Borders and Political Parties and then, the Gamut of what is COMPLAINARY paints an entire different Picture. 

 

This Verbiage also brings up a few Questions and Facts:

 

How long does or will a COMPLAINT last?

 

How stressful can a COMPLAINT be before it garners Anxiety, a Heart Attack or Stroke?

 

And, of course, the Universal Differential that’s portrayed as COMPLAINT Severity, i.e.: 

 

Does Money buy a COMPLAINT-Free World?

 

As an Example:  Do those Individuals in Darfur (who are starving that managed to get through the Carnal Slaughter, Rape and Genocide), have time to complain.  If so, do their COMPLAINTS ever end? Whom do they complain to?   How long can they exist with this Clamor in their Lives?  Tracing a similar Plight, in the 1960s, Children in Biafra were starving.  Did their Pleas go up against Deaf Ears?  If not, then why is there such overt never-ending Poverty, Despair & Pain  in The World (now some 50 years later) if there’s Plenty of People (dealing in Goods & Services) and Organizations to complain to, whose Goal is to react in Kindness and Generosity?  How are COMPLAINTS registered at Customer Service Departments and what Percentage of COMPLAINTS are alleviated yearly? 

 

Can a COMPLAINT be heard and eased by a Greater Power than Mortal Man?  In other words, for those whose lives are based upon (a) Religion:

WWGCA:  What Would God Complain About? 

 

In other words, insulated in our own Home Units (whether it’s a Villa in the South of France, a Farm in Georgia, a Trailer Court in Kentucky; a Time-Share in Cancun or a Co-op Penthouse in New York City, COMPLAINTS permeate ‘The Scene’ and lodge themselves in The Psyche of Man so that Discussions (as these) can be aired on Websites as Richard’s.

 

A BEFITTING RITE: 

Many Global Religions and 12-Step Programs hold a Ritual each December 31 to cleanse themselves of THE COMPLAINTS they previously experienced as Arrogances and Troubles that followed them through the ‘Last Year.’  The Process is to list those Grievances on a Page of Paper and then toss them into a Vat burn or burn them up in a Fire(place).  Therefore, they are symbolically removed forever and  no one is haunted by them any longer.

 

AND THEY ARE CALLED ‘BIRD-BRAINS!’

No Research (to the best of my Knowledge) was ever done to see if a(ny of these) COMPLAINTS ever return, like the Swallows to Capistrano that arrive like clockwork on March 19 (after leaving Goya, Argentina (beyond the Andes) on the 18^TH of February, flying some 7500 Miles in 30 Days, at an Altitude of above 2,000 feet). Do those Swallows complain as they are ardently keep flying away from vicious Predators, Airbuses, Jet Aircraft and Miles of Smoggy Pollution on their Way to their Destination?   That, at most, is an ingrained Tendency.  COMPLAINTS are learned or acquired although some surface due to personal Traits or unforeseen Dramas.   Removing them appears to be more of a Psychological Cleansing.  And, if it alleviates The Problem – THE COMPLAINT or The Issue (at hand) then rest assured before long, another COMPLAINT will arise.   However, the Person is then free till the next COMPLAINT arises and can get something important done instead of ‘stewing’ in his or her COMPLAINT.  Seen another Way:  The Dynamics of the COMPLAINT has done its Job and served an important Purpose in The Daily Life of 21^ST Century Man. 

 

One Thing is for certain.  The COMPLAINTS a Person has at age 10 are totally different than those of a 30, 50 or 70 year old.  The Structure of a COMPLAINT grows more complicated as an Adult straddles through his/her Decades and with what(ever) he/she embodies, faces and knows.

 

Simultaneously, Location & Financial Standing (or Means) also play significant Roles in ‘The Everyday COMPLAINT.”  Historically and prehistorically, it was (only) Cave Man who had just one COMPLAINT. Their COMPLAINT was surviving The Day and making it through The Night without being eaten by large, man-eating Carnivores.  What was a COMPLAINT to Neanderthal definitely was not a COMPLAINT to Contemporary Man.  For the most Part, no large woolly Mammoths frightfully stampede  or lurk through the Cities or Forests of our Planet today.  Occasionally, We will see a Grizzly Bear or Deer check-out a backyard garbage can for a morsel or two if their Food Allowance has been jeopardized.  The Viewing of one’s Conditions is directly linked to THE COMPLAINTS We have, hold and pass along to Others.   

 

TOO MUCH TALK – NOT ENOUGH ACTION: 

How the COMPLAINT evolved:

Early Man did not complain about who won or lost the SuperBowl; if Bus Fares are escalating or if his mother-in-law is interfering (again).  It may not have been ‘that much of a COMPLAINT, as a perceived important life-or-death Goal to reach.  In other Words:  On the ‘Reichter Scale of COMPLAINTS,’ there are complaints and then, there are COMPLAINTS.  COMPLAINTS may appear ‘in disguise’ for you to CHANGE - a Change may do you good.

 

“If COMPLAINTS are perceived or interpreted as a Disguise that seeks for you to change or implants the Notion that ‘Change is in the Air,’ then that Message may hold positive good for The Recipient.   Unfortunately, for Contemporary Man, there are too many Choices than can lead him/her astray and into the cobblestoned Dilemmas of Living a Life filled with COMPLAINTS.  Knowing others are suffering with them, too, secures the Fact that DNA & COMPLAINTS are forever binding and are woven as a colorful Part of our Lives that we’ve grown to (for no other word) than to COMPLAIN about…” 

 

QUOTE OF:  ASK: ADRIENNE SIOUX KOOPERSMITH

Sunday, January 11, 2009 – 6:37 AM CST through

Friday, January 16, 2009 – 11:08 AM CST

askoopersmith(at)hotmail(dot)com