Why would people want to choose slavery to freedom? by: Laura Mirabal

Why would people want to choose slavery to freedom?  When people choose to live from the tit of government by accepting and demanding entitlements, they are choosing slavery to freedom. 

Why would a teenage girl choose pregnancy to abstinence or to use birth control?  If she decides to give birth to that baby, she can surely be guaranteed to be enslaved to a life of demands from that child that she should not have to deal with at such a tender age.  Her teenage years should be years of freedom to enjoy her youth without a care or worry other than when and where is the next party or what movie friends want to see that weekend.  Because this teenager, if she chooses to have the child, has no work skills, no education, and a phantom baby daddy, she will be saddled with a mouth to feed which she cannot.  So what is she to do? - Apply for government entitlements – here begins the enslavement of this young life. 

Unless this misguided child has a strong support group in her family, she is doomed to remain a slave of the state, and there is a good chance that her child will repeat her mother’s story when he/she reaches that age.  We see some families where this cycle of dependence on government entitlements cannot be broken.  So I ask myself, why would people want to choose slavery to freedom?

Is defrauding the government to get lifetime disability entitlement benefits so enticing that people will give up their freedom for it?  Apparently yes, it is.  I know 4 people personally, 2 women and 2 men who have done just this.  The 2 women proved that they suffer from bad nerves and, therefore, cannot be useful to society, and the 2 men proved that they have bad back problems so they cannot work – all 4 are receiving disability benefits for life.  We The People of the United States are funding the disability benefits for these 4 people and who knows if it is millions more just like them.

And these entitlements don’t stop here – we also have the entitlements to Cubans who are fortunate to reach our country.  I am Cuban and I have no qualms about receiving these exiles into my homeland, but these people should not be guaranteed and automatic receive monthly stipends, Medicaid, free education and food stamps from the government by virtue of their political status.  Many of these exiles were invited by their family members, who live here, especially in the case of parents, and then these parents stay here and immediately their families take them to the Social Security Administration to apply for food stamps and Medicaid.  Then they also place their parents on a waiting list for Plan 8 government housing subsidies.  The families of these exiles had to fill out a financial affidavit that they would be able to support their family members so that they would not become a ward of the state, but we know how quickly they take advantage of the entitlement programs.

A public worker pension paid by the private citizens of this country is another entitlement that needs to be stopped too.  Here is another example of slavery.  Why should private citizens be required to pay the pensions of public employees?  How can Wisconsin or Florida public employees demand that private citizens be responsible for their retirement benefits?  These retirement benefits are for public employees not for private citizens.  Paying these pensions is not an essential cost which should enslave us.  Each public employee, I included, should pay a percentage of our wages towards our own pensions – I do not find this to be an outrageous request of these governors.  It is audacious that union leaders are rabblerousing their union members to demonize these governors for doing their jobs in trying to balance an unsustainable state budget.

I am a proponent for teaching people to fish, rather than just giving them the fish.  If they only know that a fish will be supplied by the fisherman, and they never learn the skill of catching the fish, then they are slaves to the fisherman.  By relying solely on the fisherman for their survival, if the fisherman gets sick or dies and the fish cannot be supplied to them, they might die or suffer tremendous hardship because they have come to expect it.

We can learn much from the animal kingdom.  Momma and papa teach their offspring to hunt, fish and/or forage for their meals which in turn prepares them to survive out in the wild.  Then, when they are ready, the parents push their offspring out of the lair, out of the nest or out of the cave into the wild for their offspring to face the stark reality of their lives and these offspring survive.

I think it is time for us to push these people out into the stark reality of this world, as we live it by working for our meals and comforts, and teach them to provide for themselves – and we can be there to help them all the way.  I believe that this is true compassion - freedom.

Chairman Ryan's Budget Resolution Changes America's Course

America needs to change course. Our current direction is fiscally and economically unsustainable and politically and culturally bankrupting. It is threatening the well-being and future of our country.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R–WI) budget proposal, for the first time in recent memory, sets our nation on a different and better path. It tackles the massive spending excesses of the recent past and the entitlement crisis that is beginning to command our fiscal future. It rejects the politics of government dependence, massively higher taxes and the inevitability of national decline. No budget in decades has had the potential for so fundamentally improving the nation's prosperity and restoring its vast promise. This is a monumental budget proposal for monumental times, and it opens a serious and necessary conversation about the future of our nation and its great legacy of freedom, opportunity, and self-government.

Chairman Ryan's path toward solving the twin crises of spending and debt is achieved through real spending reductions and reforms—not new taxes or higher rates. The proposal includes welcome changes to the budget process, which, after all, is partially responsible for allowing spending to explode. This budget pares back non-security discretionary spending—the small part of the budget that Congress actually writes a budget for—and tackles other parts of the budget such as farm subsidies and the federal bureaucracy. The budget also repeals Obamacare. Most crucially, Ryan's budget tackles entitlement programs with transformative changes in Medicare and a solid approach to controlling Medicaid's spiraling costs. These changes will result in a stronger and bigger economy with more job creation, more savings and investment, and higher household incomes.

Ryan's budget resolution proposal brings non-security discretionary spending back below 2008 levels and then freezes it for five years. The budget cuts corporate welfare, rolls back Pell grants, reduces the size of the federal bureaucracy by 10 percent, and reforms federal workers' compensation. It also reins in mandatory spending by addressing food stamp spending and trimming farm subsidy programs that predominantly go to large agribusinesses; they cost taxpayers $25 billion annually even as farm incomes climb.

For Medicare, Ryan creates a new premium-support program for all future retirees in 10 years. With a premium-support program, each Medicare enrollee would get a fixed government contribution to the health plan of his or her choice. That is the essentially system that Members of Congress themselves enjoy. Health plans and providers would be compelled to compete directly for enrollees' dollars. The record shows that this approach to reform would control the growth of health care costs while increasing patient satisfaction. For good measure, the Ryan budget guarantees cost control through a cap on the growth rate of Medicare spending.

The Ryan budget puts Medicaid on a more fiscally sustainable path for both federal and state taxpayers through a block grant. The proposal replaces the open-ended financing arrangement with a fixed federal contribution to the states. In exchange, states would have greater flexibility to design their programs to better serve those in need. As Congress fills in the details, the best way to implement Ryan's budget changes would be to mainstream moms and kids from the poorly performing Medicaid program into more popular private health insurance options and then focus on delivering more patient-centered care to the disabled and elderly.

The Ryan budget would finally begin to take entitlements off autopilot, forcing Congress to consider the long-term costs of new entitlement programs beyond just the 10-year window. Importantly, the Ryan budget would lock in savings and require continuous cuts with multi-year enforceable spending caps not just on discretionary spending but on total government spending.

On the tax side, the budget resolution focuses on economic growth by reducing key tax rates. The plan reduces the highest-in-the world corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and the top individual income rate to the same level. The lower corporate tax rate would reverse the flow of jobs to foreign countries, and the lower individual income tax rate would improve incentives for workers and businesses to produce more and for investors and businesses to create new jobs.

Like any budget plan, which is the result of give and take, there are also elements in this plan that are missing and places where it is deficient. America's prosperity depends on the security we provide. This budget proposal rightly does not recommend pulling back on America's military commitments. This creates a challenge; the defense funding in this budget is inadequate. Lawmakers must fully fund forces to protect America and its interests around the globe. Doing so requires an average of $720 billion per year (to be adjusted for inflation) for each of the next five fiscal years, plus funding for ongoing contingency operations. Without a strong national defense, America cannot reap the benefits of a strong economy.

Although this budget does rein in welfare spending on Medicaid and food stamps, it continues to approach the rest of the $950 billion welfare system in the same piecemeal fashion of the past. More notably, Ryan has not touched Social Security, preferring instead to fast-track solutions outside the budget process. He has also opted to essentially grandfather the grandparents: Benefits for those in or near retirement will not be touched. That also means that spending reductions will come slower than they might otherwise. Must we exempt so many baby boomers from contributing to the most urgent economic problem we face? While it is politically difficult to consider benefit changes for this group, it is virtually impossible to balance the budget within the near term without doing so. This is a discussion we must have as a nation.

But in the end, let's remember where we are and what Chairman Ryan has accomplished. Last year, neither the House nor the Senate passed a required budget resolution. This year, President Obama proposed a budget that more than doubles the national debt. In the first budget of the new Congress, Chairman Ryan has forged a serious path to fix our nation's fiscal and economic crisis. The House, the Senate, and the President must now do their part so that we may reclaim our nation's future.

DOS CIUDADES TAN CERCA UNA DE LA OTRA Y TAN DIFERENTES

LA HABANA Y MIAMI, MEDIO SIGLO DESPUES
Autor: Juan Carlos León

La Habana solía ser la urbe que todos querían visitar hace 50 años atrás. Turistas de todas partes del mundo, especialmente de Estados Unidos, llegaban a la capital cubana atraídos por su vida nocturna, sus abanos, mujeres esculturales, playas, etc. Con la llegada de Fidel Castro al poder por medio de la fuerza todo esto cambió para desgracia de los cubanos.

Dice un viejo refrán que “A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores”. Eso mismo sucedió con Miami, quien se ha visto beneficiado en gran medida gracias a la destrucción total que ha provocado en la isla el castrocomunismo. La Capital del Sol es hoy en día una de las ciudades más codiciadas por los vacacionistas que nos visitan desde los cinco continentes.

De acuerdo a testimonios de nuestros padres y abuelos, La Habana era un lugar encantador antes de 1959. El peso cubano tenía el mismo valor que el dólar norteamericano, los autos del año se paseaban por El Malecón acabados de salir al mercado, el Cabaret Tropicana –de fama internacional- entretenía a los más exigentes espectadores y se respiraban aires de abundancia y prosperidad. Hoy el panorama que se ve en nuestra capital es todo lo contrario: ruinas, miserias y calamidades se observan por doquier.

Por otro lado, los primeros cubanos que llegaron al sur de la Florida a finales de los años 50 y principios de los 60 nos cuentan que Miami era prácticamente un campo, con Flagler como su calle principal y contados negocios. Poco a poco estos exiliados se fueron encargando de abrir grandes corporaciones, de desarrollar la construcción de casas, empresas, restaurantes, clubs nocturnos y cadenas hoteleras. Con el tiempo llegaron otros inmigrantes que también contribuyeron con nuestro crecimiento económico y cultural hasta convertir este lugar en el hogar adoptivo de todos los que vivimos aquí.

Tenemos que reconocer que en la actualidad experimentamos sentimientos encontrados: por un lado nos entristece ver lo que han hecho los Castro con nuestra Habana en el último medio siglo pero, por el otro nos enorgullece saber que hemos sido parte del éxito que ha logrado Miami con nuestro esfuerzo diario, trabajo duro y dedicación.

Esperamos que los aires de democracia que soplan por el mundo árabe lleguen a nuestra querida Habana pronto para que, no solo sea bella y próspera como lo era antes, sino también para que sea libre y democrática como lo es Miami hoy.

Miami, FL., USA
03/21/2011

NOVELA DE HEMINGWAY LLEVADA AL CINE LA CUAL ALCANZO UN EXITO ROTUNDO EN TODO EL MUNDO

 

POR QUIEN DOBLAN LAS CAMPANAS
Por José M. Izquierdo

En el pasado los campanarios se usaban para comunicar hechos importantes, indicar peligro, un muerto, la misa, incendio, Etc. “Por quién doblan las campanas” novela del escritor y periodista, Ernest Miller Hemingway sobre la guerra civil española, donde Hemingway trató de transmitir al mundo el peligro que representaba para la humanidad, los hechos que estaban ocurriendo en España utilizando esa metáfora, que sirve también para alertar a los estadounidenses. Estamos escuchando el sonar de las campanas en la nación, que han llegado a la Florida y no prestamos atención.

Los trabajadores públicos y sus sindicatos, están escenificando protestas en toda la nación en reclamo de sus beneficios laborales afectados por los recortes presupuestarios. En la Florida, las protestas por el presupuesto que Rick Scott ha presentado, recorren el estado y han llegado a Tallahassee.

Scott, un empresario que llego a Tallahassee sentado en su fortuna personal, está cambiando los patrones de trabajo tradicionales y trata de imponer su estilo netamente empresarial. Los recortes que propone son fuertes y afectan áreas sensibles como la educación, la salud, y programas de seguridad social. Pero esos recortes afectan también a los empleados públicos y ese es el fondo de las protestas. No se está protestando por los recortes a los servicios de salud, de educación y por los programas sociales en peligro, se protesta por salarios y beneficios laborales de empleados públicos.

Miramos el toro desde las gradas y pensamos que el único que está en peligro es el toro. No, las campanas están sonando para todos, nos están avisando que algo está pasando. Tal parece que Scott está apretando demasiado el nudo, puede ser una estrategia pedir mucho para lograr algo.

Pero hay algo que tanto en la Florida como en el país nadie puede cuestionar; Los presupuestos hay que ajustarlos, son tiempos de austeridad y eso se hace buscando más dinero, recortando gastos o trabajando con eficiencia. Esto último, nuestros funcionarios públicos no lo saben hacer.

Sentimentalmente todos somos solidarios en defender a los trabajadores dondequiera que estén, son parte de nuestra familia, amistades y vecinos. Pero los sindicatos de trabajadores públicos y sus empleados han disfrutado tiempos de esplendor y privilegios que nadie disfruta en el sector privado. Esos tiempos terminaron, con justicia y equidad tienen que ajustarse a la realidad.

Tampoco es justo que los contribuyentes que no pueden mas con la carga que tienen encima, tengan que ajustarse más el cinto para mantener beneficios excesivos a los trabajadores públicos y sus sindicatos y más que todo, a un sector de políticos y funcionarios públicos que son más beneficiados que los obreros.

Lo expresado por el poeta John Donne (1572- 1931) nos sirve bien a nosotros “Las campanas doblan por ti, por mi y por todos”, nos están avisando del peligro. Escúchalas.

josemizquierdo@hotmail.com

Hialeah, FL., USA
03/20/2011

Dennis Kucinich Wonders Why Missile Strikes Aren’t Impeachable Offenses

By Doug Powers  •  March 20, 2011 11:40 AM

**Written by Doug Powers
Yesterday, US and British forces launched over 100 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Libya in an attempt to knock out its air defenses.
A group of left-wing House Democrats are fretting about the constitutionality of this military action (military action seems to be about the only time this bunch worries about constitutionality). Rep. Dennis Kucinich — who recently awarded himself the Purple Molar for injuries he sustained single-handedly attempting to thwart an olive pit attack at the congressional cafeteria — is even talking about impeachment:

A hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus conference call on Saturday.
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Donna Edwards (Md.), Mike Capuano (Mass.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Rob Andrews (N.J.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) “all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president’s actions” during that call, said two Democratic lawmakers who took part.
Kucinich, who wanted to bring impeachment articles against both former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over Iraq — only to be blocked by his own leadership — asked why the U.S. missile strikes aren’t impeachable offenses.

I love the smell of a potential primary challenge in the morning.
Others on the left who helped carry Obama into office on their shoulders are going apoplectic as well. Michael Moore suggested that Obama return his Nobel Peace Prize and compared him to Bush (a charge that will be especially hard for Obama to avoid if he’s going to recycle W’s speeches, but at least that might help keep the greens happy). Louis Farrakhan asked Obama “Who the hell do you think you are?” Obama’s even lost Joan Baez, and you know how the old saying goes: If you’ve lost an aging folk singer from the 60′s, you’ve lost… well, not much actually.
**Written by Doug Powers

"Be Careful, brother..."

HotAirPundit makes note of this exchange highlighted by The Final Call of Louis Farrakhan speaking with talk radio host and “long-time friend” Cliff Kelley on WVON-AM 1690 on March 11:

From The Final Call:

To President Obama, Minister Farrakhan delivered a pointed warning: “Don’t let these wicked demons move you in a direction that will absolutely ruin your future with your people in Africa and throughout the world. They don’t like the way you handled (former Egyptian President Hosni) Mubarak! They don‘t like the way you’re handling the situation in the Arab world! So I would advise you to be careful-and move with wisdom and skill.
And then, Minister Farrakhan offered President Obama some divine advice.
“Why don’t you organize a group of respected Americans, and ask for a meeting with Gadhafi? You can’t order him to step down, and get out-who the hell do you think you are, that you can talk to a man that built a country over 42 years, and ask him step down and get out? Can anybody ask you? Well, well there’s a lot, now, [that are] going to ask you to step out of the White House, because they don’t want a Black face in the White House,” said Minister Farrakhan.
“Be careful, brother, how you handle this situation because it is coming to America! It has already started. Look in Wisconsin! Look in Ohio! Look at what’s going on in your country! And remember your words because the American people are rising against their own government: It’s not Muslims; it’s not Black people! It’s White militias that are angry with their government, and they are well armed. Are you going to tell them-’Put your arms down, and let’s talk it over peacefully?’ I hope so. But if not, America will be bathed in blood, not because Farrakhan said so, but because the dissatisfaction in America has reached the boiling point. Be careful how you manipulate the dissatisfaction in Libya and other parts of the Muslim world,” he warned.

I Am Not Into You By: Laura Mirabal

Just because someone likes you very much, doesn’t mean that you necessarily like them back.  

Why are relationships between men and women so complicated?   

When the woman does not reciprocate the advances of the man pursuing her, he should not harangue her and spew hurtful comments which do not make any sense at all.

A woman should not feel pressured into giving in to his advances, especially when they haven’t even met – only spoken on the phone.

There is a lot to be said about a man’s character when that man feels offended if the woman does not act as he would like her to act.

Where is it written that the woman owes this man even the time of day?

She has been nice in talking to him, and accepting his compliments, she never led him on to believe that there could, or would ever be any more than a friendship.

So, it is very curious that the man lashes out at the woman because she has not reacted the way he wanted her to at the prospect of his visiting her hometown, possibly with the intention of meeting her. 

Get a grip!

Mind, Body & Soul, By: Laura Mirabal

You and I may have the same philosophy, I stay away from people who might irritate me or bring me down psychologically and emotionally.  I am a very happy person, enthusiastic and friendly, and I tend to gravitate towards people who have the same traits; by doing so, I feel much healthier - emotionally, which in turn boosts my energy level.  Wellness is not just about the physical body, I must also include my emotional "body" too.

I believe that the way I "choose" to react to various situations also plays a huge role in my mental wellness.  I am a huge fan of using self-help and motivational tools and resources available to me.  Through the years I learned that I decide how much power someone or something will have over me.  No one can make me feel anything, I either allow something or someone to upset me or I decide not to allow something or someone to upset me - I am in control - not outside forces. 

I want to add that a happy person gains the most knowledge - and the more knowledge we gain makes us happier and it makes us feel more powerful.

From the Apostle to Ireland to A Reason for Partying… contributed by: Carlos Espinosa

There are few saints whose feast day elicits more enthusiasm than St. Patrick’s Day.

Unfortunately, instead of remembering and celebrating the life of the 5th Century Catholic Bishop, called the Apostle of Ireland for almost single-handedly helping convert the nation to Christianity, the day is more commonly known for parades, shamrocks (the symbol he is believed to have used to explain the Holy Trinity), green clothing (gotta wear green or get pinched), leprechauns (Irish folklore), and green beer, lots and lots of beer.  An old Irish saying states, “In heaven there is no beer… That’s why we drink ours here!”

Therefore, St. Patrick's Day, like Cinco de Mayo, is infamously known for partying and reveling, especially in the United States.

In fact, the day of the patron saint of Ireland, is one of the biggest days for alcohol consumption in the U.S. and one of the busiest days of the year for bars and restaurants.  And, you thought Fat Tuesday was the last day to party until Easter.

It seems almost every restaurant and bar has St. Patty's Day decorations, food and drink specials and activities.

One of my favorite “establishments,” Duffy's Tavern in West Miami, sets up tents outdoors to handle the overflow of patrons tonight and another restaurant/bar nearby, John Martin's Irish Pub in Coral Gables, hosts a yearly bash that includes street closures and a U2 cover band (which is appropriate considering that many of their lyrics have Christian undertones).

This year, since St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Thursday, it coincides with my men’s group’s weekly meeting, as we prepare for an upcoming retreat. Following our meetings, we usually go to Duffy’s to get a quick bite and share in some male bonding. However, yesterday, as we were getting ready for work, my wife asks, “You are not going to Duffy’s after your meeting this week, right?” Was that a question or a suggestion? In any effect, we probably will skip out on our regular routine to avoid the crowd.

But, for the benefit of those who will be going out tonight, let's remember why the Irish have been celebrating the day for over a thousand years.

Although many legends have surfaced about St. Patrick over the years.  According to the saints own Confessions, which is one of his writings authenticated by scholars, he was actually born in Scotland, and considered himself a Roman-Briton. At the age of sixteen, he was captured along with some of his father's workers and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.  He was kept in deplorable conditions in captivity for about six years, where he experienced many hardships, including hunger.

During that time, he turned to God.  After many months of prayer and fasting, he felt the Lord telling him to return home.  He continued growing spiritually, through continuous prayer and focusing on God.  Finally, one day, Patrick was able to escape and fled to the coast, where he found sailors willing to take him back to Britain.

St. Patrick writes that after returning home, he had a dream where he heard the voices of Irish children, including in their mothers' wombs' calling out to him to rescue them.  He became a priest and later ordained Bishop of Auxerre by St. Germanus, who was his mentor for many years, before being sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.

St. Patrick spent about 30 years going to one end of the country to another, preaching, converting, baptizing, and ordaining priests along the way.  Although, he met resistance, and there are stories of his life being threatened, he successfully converted the country's pagan nobility and their families, which served as an impetus to spread Christianity to the masses.  He also laid the groundwork for hundreds of monasteries, schools and churches that later spread throughout Ireland.  He died on March 17, 461.

The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday almost ever since.  On St. Patrick's Day, families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Because the feast day is during Lent, restrictions on the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage (the post effect of the alcohol and cabbage must not have been pretty!).

The tradition was brought to the United States before the Revolutionary War.  And the first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in Boston, then in New York and other U.S. cities before becoming a tradition in Ireland. 

So, before taking that first gulp tonight, think about St. Patrick and ask him to help convert your heart as he helped convert Ireland.

Cheers!

And, remember, although not known for the same type of celebration, St. Joseph’s Day is on Saturday…



For more information on St. Patrick, check out this article by Deacon Fournier of Catholic on Line.

BISCET, EL MACEO DE NUESTROS TIEMPOS

Autor: Juan Carlos LeónL GOBIERNO CUBANO EXCARCELA AL DR. OSCAR ELIAS BISCET

BISCET, EL MACEO DE NUESTROS TIEMPOS
Autor: Juan Carlos León

El Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet fue excarcelado recientemente, aunque no se sabe por cuánto tiempo el reconocido opositor estará en la calle, ya que según ha dicho: “No descansará hasta que Cuba sea libre”. La mala vida en la cárcel no pudo doblegar a este Antonio Maceo moderno del cual los cubanos nos sentimos tan orgullosos.

Luchar por la libertad de nuestra querida patria desde el exilio tiene cierto mérito, pero hacerlo desde el corazón de la isla esclavizada es admirable y son muy pocos los que tienen coraje para hacerlo. Biscet es uno de ellos, pero no el único, también lo han hecho Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Ariel Sigler Amaya, Guillermo Fariñas, Yoani Sánchez, entre otros.

El médico de 49 años fue uno de los 75 disidentes que el gobierno cubano encarceló en la Primavera Negra del 2003. Estos opositores pacíficos fueron sentenciados a largas condenas de prisión por el solo hecho de pensar diferente a los Castro. Ha sido tanta la presión de la comunidad internacional que los tiranos no tuvieron más remedio que dejar libres a estos hombres, los cuales han sido desterrados de su tierra natal en la mayoría de los casos, sin embargo, al doctor Biscet ni dándole candela como al macao hay quién lo saque de su Cuba.

De acuerdo a imágenes vistas hace poco, Biscet se ve más delegado y algo demacrado, canoso, e incluso le faltan algunos de sus dientes de arriba. Esto es lo que le hacen los dictadores a los hombres y mujeres que discrepan de ellos. El verdadero rostro de la revolución cubana ha sido puesto al descubierto para que el mundo entero vea que no era tan buena como muchos pensaron al principio.

Biscet se ha convertido en el Maceo de nuestros tiempos y un ejemplo a seguir para los que deseamos la libertad de la tierra de Martí. Su lucha continúa y debemos apoyarlo de cualquier forma posible. ¿Cómo? Usando todos los medios que tenemos a nuestra disposición, especialmente el internet y sus redes sociales (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), no participando en las actividades revolucionarias, escribiendo, hablando, denunciando, en fin, formando una resistencia unida y concatenada no importa dónde estemos.

El Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet merece ser seleccionado como el Premio Nobel de la Paz 2011por su lucha a favor de los derechos humanos de todos los cubanos y la democratización de la Mayor de las Antillas.

Miami, FL., USA
03/14/2011

BALSERO Amaury Gutierrez

BALSERO Amaury Gutierrez

The Anniversary

She could not breathe; her pain battered her heart like the waves of a roaring storm while trying to stand on the shore.

Just when she thought she could breathe again, again the wave would rush right back to shore to drag her back into the depth of despair and anguish.

Just as she was starting to feel that a silver lining was just peeking out of the ink-black dark horizon, her constant companion, sorrow, would embrace her and not let her go.

Why did this day have to come so soon? 

She wanted to stop crying, she wanted to stop thinking of what this day would have meant to them.  So many years she devoted to this fairy tale existence she so longed for. 

She dragged herself out of bed, absent-mindedly dressed to go out, and somehow found her way to the door, to face another day without him.

Would he remember the date?  Would he remember her?  Would he remember their life together? 

From the moment they met they never separated.  They were Siamese lovers; one could not do without the other. 

Where one went the other had to go too, they both had to breathe the same air, they both nourished each other with their intoxicating love.

There was only room in their world for them; no one else seemed to exist. 

“Oh,” she thought, “if I could turn back the clock and relive those years again.”

Our Dog Negra, by: Laura Mirabal

There are few times in our life that we are blessed with owning a precious dog that improves our quality of life, filling it with unconditional doggy-love, and making us feel fortunate that this precious animal was a part of it. 

Negra was our dog for 11 years. 

Every workday she waited for us, while looking out the living room window, at about the time we were supposed to return from work.  As soon as she saw us turn the corner to our apartment, she made a mad dash for the door. We knew what would be waiting for us - there she was, with a smile on her jaw (yes, dogs do smile), her stubby tail gyrating wildly, and her eyes so bright and gleaming with love, that we could read the message she was sending us, "I am so glad to see you, mom and dad!”

When I was cooking in the kitchen, she was my constant companion in that no-man’s-land.  She would lie on the floor with her hind legs spread-eagle and watch, with doggy-curiosity, as I prepared our family meals.  Sometimes, I would tempt her by holding a piece of meat just out of her reach –her hairy ears would flap up and down as she jumped while trying to catch the piece of meat.  I enjoyed this special exchange between us because she was very funny, and we alone shared it.

After our evening meal, the three of us would sit on the sofa to watch TV.  Negra always lay between us and she would usually roll over on her back to get her stomach or ears scratched.

We spoiled her by letting her sleep in our bed.  I don’t know what went through her doggy-mind, but from the first night she decided that she would sleep on my side of the bed.  Did this mean that she knew I was a girl just like her? 

She not only slept on my side of the bed, she chose to sleep at my feet.  She went through a ritual each night – she would do what all dogs do, go around in a circle, and then, after she lay down, she proceeded to push her butt up against my legs until she found her “sweet spot” to rest for the night.

Feeling her warm, small body next to my feet helped to relieve my stress and provided me with a good night’s sleep.

Negra filled our lives with unconditional doggy-love, over-abundance of doggy-licks and precious and funny memories that will last us a lifetime.

MI DESCARGA Y DE CORAZON: Por José (Pepe) Martel

VIVAMOS EL PRESENTE Y DEJEMOS A UN LADO EL PASADO. ¡UNA MARCHA QUE IGUAL O SOBREPASE EN SENTIMIENTO, CORAJE Y EN PRESENCIA A LA DE EMILIO Y GLORIA ESTEFAN!

NO EXISTE COMPARACION ALGUNA ENTRE UN INDOMABLE PRESO POLITICO EN HUELGA DE HAMBRE, LOS QUE QUEDAN DE LA PRIMAVERA NEGRA Y EL RESTO EN ESAS HORRIBLE CARCELES CASTRISTAS Y ALGUN MICROFONO ANACRONICO QUE NO DEJA DE HABLAR AQUI EN MIAMI.

SOLIDARIDAD Y EXCARCELACION DE TODOS LOS PRESOS POLITICOS Y DE CONCIENCIA EN CUBA, VENEZUELA Y EN TODOS LOS PAISES DEL MUNDO QUE SE ENFRENTAN A TIRANOS. SOLIDARIDAD CON TODAS ESAS NACIONES DEL MEDIO ORIENTE QUE HA DICHO ¡BASTA! Y HAN ECHADO ANDAR.

CON LA INTERNET SE HA COMPROBADO QUE SE MOVILIZAN SENTIMIENTOS Y SE UNIFICAN IDEALES. CON PROGRAMATIAS RADIALES SOLO SE REPITE POR MEDIO SIGLO "LO MISMO DE LO MISMO". NUEVAS IDEAS FRESCAS SURGEN Y SIGUEN VIENDOSE Y OYENDOSE. MÁS DE TRESCIENTOS MUERTOS EN LIBIA, LOS CAIDOS EN EL EGIPTO, BAHRÉIN, ARGEÑIA, TUNEZ, YEMEN, JORDANIA Y SIRIA. LOS VALIENTES ESTUDIANTES EN HUELGA DE HAMBRE EN VENEZUELA Y UN COBARDE Y MANIPULADO SECRETARIO DE LA OEA SIN MOVER SU TRASERO POR LO MENOS A VER LO QUE HACEN ESOS JOVENES QUE TIENEN MAS VALORES MORALES Y DE HOMBRIA QUE INSULZA Y LOS SATELITES QUE SE ENGENDRAN EN ESA ORGANIZACION REGIONAL. RL TIPO ESPERANDO EL PERMISO DEL CHACAL CHAVEZ. Y EN CUBA UN VEJETE CASI POSTRADO VA A SER REELEGIDO COMO SECRETARIO GENERAL DEL PCC QUE LANGIDECE EN AÑOS Y CONCIENCIA MUSTIA.

CRISTIANOS, MUSULMANES E ISLAMICOS PACIFISTAS TODOS UNIDOS RECLAMAN LIBERTAD A TODA COSTA OFRENDANDO SU PROPIA SANGRE. CUBA NECESITA ESA LIBEETAD TAMBIEN Y DESDE ESTA DIASPORA DE MAS DE 2 MILLONES DE CUBANOS Y DESCENDIENTES DEBEMOS LOGRAR LA UNION Y DEJAR ATRAS DISCORDIAS Y RESENTIMEINTOS DE CONCEPTOS CON GENERACIONES PASADAS Y PRESENTES `PARA DARLE EL ULTIMO GOLPE A LA TIRANIA.

UTILICEMOS TODOS LOS MEDIOS, INCLUYENDO EL MICROFONO, PERO ATRÁS LO QUE NO HA SERVIDO EN 53 AÑOS PARA LOGRAR NUESTRO PROPOSITO ANHELADO DE DEMOCRATIZAR A CUBA.

VEO UN INTERCAMBIO DE CORREO QUE ATRAJO MI CURIOSIDAD. UN MICROFONO DE ANTAÑO QUE SE COGIO LA SUPREMACIA DE UNA MARCHA EN PROPIEDAD. SI ASISTO A LA MARCHA NO ES POR “TOME NOTA” QUE ES EL MISMO DE “ANOTA FLORA”. CUANDO SE TIENE CONVICCION Y AMOR A LA PATRIA NINGUN MICROFO TIENE QUE IMPULSARTE.

¡OJALA ACUDAMOS MILES Y MILES DE CUBANOS Y SIMPATIZANTES DE LA CAUSA CUBANA! ¡OJALA QUE SEA UNA MARCHA GIGANTE DE SOLIDARIDAD COMO LA AUSPICIADA POR EMILIO Y GLORIA ESTEFAN! OJALA QUE SEA MAS GRANDE QUE TODAS LAS CELEBRADAS EN ESTA DIASPORA DE CUBANOS Y CUBANAS! ¡ESTO NOS ES DE MICROFONO SINO DE AMOR A CUBA Y DE UNIDAD DE TODOS LOS CUBANOS!

SIN IMPORTAR GENERACIONES NI ASPIRACIONES, DE PUEBLO, COMO O MEJOR A LA MARCHA ORGANIZADA POR EMILIO Y GLORIA EN APOYO A LAS DMAS DE BLANCO.

MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA.
joselmartel@yahoo.com

The Problem of finding myself: by Laura Mirabal

I want to learn how to enjoy and sustain this very special and surprising friendship I have with myself; but, to understand and accept the new me, I need to learn where the old me came from.

I was brought up on a set of values, moral, and ethical rules as seen through the prism of my parents who were born in the early 20^th century.  The proper and the right thing to do always prefaced any decisions and/or actions in our day–to-day lives. 

Whenever I was out of step from what they considered proper and right, they reminded me that I needed to get back in step or prepare for the consequences, the worst being the look of disappointment on their faces; I knew that I had messed up, and I would adjust my behavior to avoid upsetting them further.

Part of these moral values instilled in my brain, which make up part of who I am, included the moral rule that a single woman does not live alone.  I never lived on my own, ever, not even with a roommate, before I married.  The social mores was that a woman moved from her parent’s home to a new home with her husband – period. 

So when I married my first husband, I left my parents home to live with him to our new home; our marriage lasted 9 years.  After the divorce, when I suggested to my parents that I would be looking for an apartment for myself, they got sick and reminded me that a single woman does not live alone – what would people think; I moved back with my parents.

Of course, having this drummed into my head all of my life, it make sense when you are a divorced 42 years old woman.  So I returned to their home.  Shortly after my divorce I met my second husband.  We married and like the first time, I moved from my parent’s to my new home with my second husband.  To me, there was nothing unusual or odd about this course of events – from mom & dad to husband.

Last year after 15 years of marriage, my husband asked me for a divorce.  This revelation took me totally by surprise, since there was no indication of trouble to come in my marriage.  We had always been happy, and content with each other, we never had an argument of any significanhce the 15 years we were married.  I just sat there and pondered on the fact that this man, with whom I had shared the last 15 years of my life, whom I supported and loved, could decide that he no longer wanted to be my husband.

Our entire married life together, my ex-husband took care of every aspect of the household expenses, automobiles and even our vacations and social outings. 

Two months before he asked for the divorce, my mother had died.  I was still grieving my mother’s death, and now I was going to unexpectedly, grieve the death o f my marriage. 

I moved out of the house; as I packed my belongings to leave, I felt like the loneliest human on this planet.  I had no parents, to run back to, to nurture me and affirm to me that everything would be fine; I was alone.  I moved out of our home and into our condominium.

There I was, a 56 year old woman, no parents, no husband – how was I going to make it on my own?

I made a list of items I needed to take care of, such as transferring the utilities to my name, what and how many expenses I would have in a month and how far I needed to stretch my salary to pay them.  I worried about my computer; I had never had to worry about it before.  I worried if something went wrong with it that I wouldn’t be able to fix it.  Also, how would I connect the wireless modem, would I need to pay to have a computer technician do it for me?

The priority for me was to establish a budget.  I was terrified of not having enough money to support myself.  I created an Excel Spreadsheet listing all monthly expenses, the monthly amount due, and the date of the month each payment was due. 

I have set up all my bills to be paid online through my bank; this is the most stress free and time friendly method of paying bills.  I don’t need to worry about stamps or envelopes or due dates.

My self-esteem went the way of the marriage.  I blamed myself that the marriage ended because I was unattractive because I was fat.   I wanted to do something about getting it back and feeling happy about my body.  I knew I had to lose weight, because at 5’2” and 196 lbs., I felt like a billiard ball – round and fat.

I had been suffering with joint pain, I had already had knee surgery, and I felt fatigue and had allergies.  I wanted to lose weight as quickly as possible, because I knew that this would help me to survive the pain I felt and I thought that it would make me feel better about myself.

The first thing I did was go to the internet and search for celebrity weight loss secrets.  I found many sites that offered a good selection of hits to choose from.  I chose many sites and read through all the articles from doctors to personal trainers and nutritionists. 

I found articles which emphasized on portion control as an essential element in weight loss.  I also learned that many of the foods I was eating had to be eliminated; these foods are not good for the body to assimilate and turn into energy, instead the body turns it into fat.  These nutritionists and trainers suggested that a good multivitamin was necessary to maintain good health and the underlying message in almost all articles was to increase water intake.

Along with the research on the various diets to boost my self-esteem, I also researched articles that informed me on how to love myself and that it wasn’t my fault.  I read a philosophy book that I have; I concentrated on trust and self-realization for my life.  There was a chapter that was very helpful that talked about self-determination and how it was up to me to decide how I was going to handle my situation to bring about the best outcome in the end.

I learned through reading these chapters that I was in control of my destiny as far as how much power I would give the negative forces working against me.  I decided that I would give them no power at all.  I cannot name the sites I visited because I was distraught at the time and I just wrote done some sentences here and there for future reference in my journal, but I know that all the different articles combined were a great help in my emotional recovery.   I can only remember a small bit of information I read online by Tony Robbins called The Edge and a book I purchased called The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Warren.

When it came time to install the modem, I called my service provider and they talked me through the set up process and everything turned out right; I did it on my own.

I have used the information for losing the excess weight and feeling better about my health.  I started by following the suggestions I had read about cutting down on the bad foods and I increased my intake of good foods, such as vegetables, fruits and salads.  I substituted refined sugar for raw or unrefined sugar.  I eliminated all white starches and replaced them with whole wheat and whole grain starches, and reduced my intake of fats.  I ate more chicken, turkey, and fish and reduced the amount of beef to only twice a week and increased the amount of water to eight glasses a day.  I take a multivitamin every morning along with other nutritional supplements. 

The articles I read on weight loss suggested that along with changing my eating habits, exercise also had to be incorporated into the mix.  Being Cuban, I love to dance and salsa is the dance I love the most, along with merengue and the Caribbean Latin dances.  I had not been dancing in so many years, that I knew I would need to take some dance lessons.  I searched through the internet for salsa lessons in my area; I found a school and enrolled to take lessons three times a week.

Taking dance lessons not only helped me to brush up on my dance moves, I also received two bonuses: I made new friends and it was a great form of exercise.  A few months after starting the salsa lessons, Zumba classes were offered at my job and I enrolled and took the six weeks offered.

I noticed that the weight started to come off, gradually, and as the weeks and months passed, people started to comment on how good I was looking.  At the end of seven months, I had lost 59 lbs.  I went from a Size 16/18 to a size 6/8.  I could not believe how beautiful and petite I looked without that excess weight.  I am now at my ideal weight, and have a great feeling of satisfaction that I was able to accomplish this.  The combination of exercise and good eating habits paid off.

I discovered Facebook through my best friend.  She suggested that I open an account and play Farmville, she told me that this would help me through those lonely nights; I did, and I have been playing Farmville ever since; Facebook and Farmville saved my life.  I have made many, many friends through Facebook, and enjoy commenting on their walls and reading the myriad of information they post. 

I commented to my friend that I had a Facebook friend who had a blog, which I visited regularly, and how I wished I could have a blog too to post my writings and share them with people.  She suggested I create my own blog; it never occurred to me that I could do the same.  That night, as soon as I was home, I logged in the internet and typed, “How do I create a blog;” bam, the information came up immediately and all I had to do was follow the instructions.  Within minutes I had my very own blog.  I can’t describe my feeling of elation when I posted my very first poem and saw there – in print – my poem!  I spend the rest of that day posting all my writings.  Now, I have a place to post my writings and share them; people from all over the world visit my blog.

I have been on my own for almost a year.  I have maintained my dignity through it all, even through the toughest times.  I learned how to shake off my sorrow and enjoy myself.  I thank God for all my wonderful friends who have made this year unforgettable and a wild ride of emotions. My greatest desire is that I have made a positive impact on at least one of them because of what I learned this year.  I want to leave behind all the painful memories of this past year and look forward to the unexpected experiences of this New Year. 

My greatest and toughest achievement of all, was making friends with a wonderful, awesome, strong and beautiful woman – ME.

LO QUE SOÑÉ ANOCHE: REALIDAD Y NO FANTASÍA José (Pepe) Martel

Ni estaba en Túnez, ni en Egipto, Bahréin, Yemen, Argelia, Libia, Jordania y Siria. Era Cuba con una amanecer de rebeldía, la resistencia vociferando por la radio nacional ¡Ya somos libres! ¡Los Castro se fueron! De las 12 de la noche los principales aeropuertos del país se ha quedado vacio se marchó el Buró Político y gran parte del Comité Central PCC y no quisieron celebrar el anunciado congreso del partido. La radiodifusión en pleno se tornó distinta anunciando la concentración de todo el pueblo capitalino a la Gran Plaza Libertad, antes Plaza de la Revolución desde 1959 y anteriormente la Plaza Cívica “José Martí”. La televisión nacional en cadena transmitiendo escenas de un pueblo en calle gritando: “¡Ya somos libres, se fueron los Castro!”.

Una juventud jubilosa predominante en las calles. Familias y más familias unidas todas marchando hacia la plaza. Sonríen y gritan “al fin tenemos lo nuestro, somos libres y vamos a vivir en democracia”. La policía vistiendo camisa blanca y sin gorra simbolizando un cambio de represión a genuinos custodios del pueblo, miembros de las fuerzas armadas uniformados acompañados de sus seres queridos por las calles y avenidas todos a la plaza. Voluntariamente caminando con esa alegría guardado de tantos años de precariedad, desesperación y vacilaciones enterrando para siempre la palabra por prosperidad, felicidad y libertad.

Un cielo radiante azul y una brisa acariciando a todos. Los restaurantes y cafeterías del área CUC/dólar ofreciendo al pueblo ese día diversos platos de bocaditos, croquetas, rollitos de jamón y quesos; refrescos y el aromático y humeante café cubano y por primera vez a todos “el famoso cortadito de Miami”. Golosinas, caramelos, chocolates y galleticas de dulce para los niños. Aquello era una divinidad ver a todos unidos y gozando la libertad, la caída de esa tiranía de 53años y saber que nuevos tiempos avizora Cuba con nuevos cambios reales sin dictadura, partido, seguridad del estado, chivatos y asesinos uniformados y sobretodo sin cúpula oficialista castrista sometiendo a un pueblo noble y con deseos de tener lo que todo ser humano ansia ser independiente y progresista.

El cielo se cubrió de aves grandes buscando nido, eran aviones del Norte que pidiendo permiso de aterrizar repleto de cubanos de Miami, Nueva York, Nueva Jersey, Chicago, Los Ángeles, Dallas y de distintas ciudades de Estados Unidos que regresaban a participar de esa alegría bulliciosa de su patria liberada al fin. De Europa, Asía, África y Oceanía venían cubanos también. Se comenzaban a llenar los hoteles, moteles, casas de familiares y hasta algunos quisieron sentarse en el muro del Malecón habanero y algunos subirse hasta en algunos de los Leones del Prado.

La gente se besaba, abrazaban y con saludos afectuosos todos disfrutaban de ese encuentro de cubanos nunca visto. Y dentro de eso no me había percatado quienes ocupaban la responsabilidad del poder con la ausencia de los secuestradores en fuga. Se decía que una Junta Cívico-Militar asumía el control del país y una alocución de un líder provisional (civil) prometiendo la apertura de todos los derechos usurpados, creación de asociaciones y partidos políticos con el compromiso de crear una comisión de trabajo para la modificación de la Constitución de la República vigente en todos sus términos y párrafos derogando desde ese momento la autoridad dada al Partido Comunista y aboliendo todo tipo de decretos, resoluciones y medidas represivas que tanta sangre y lagrimas a sufrido el pueblo. Aquello era imposible de ver, todos emocionados sabiéndose libres al fin.

Las prisiones se abrieron para todos los presos políticos y de conciencia. Los responsables de torturas y crímenes fueron puestos tras las rejas y la resistencia organizada tomó esa responsabilidad. Hasta los presos comunes festejaban el momento como cubanos que son ya que sabían que sus condiciones de vida carcelaria mejorarían. Presencié algunos pero ya se manifestaba una nueva conciencia de cómo aplicar la verdadera justicia. No se observaron saqueos ni actos delictivos ya que todos querían cuidar lo que quedaba de Cuba y solo existían las buenas intenciones de reparar, mantener, construir y edificar una nueva nación sobre las desgracias dejadas por esos 53 años de pesadillas y martirio.

En ese sueño Cuba vivía de nuevo. Bailaba, cantaba y reía al futuro deseado. Muchos lloraron por sus seres perdidos pero al mismo tiempo se abrazaban al nuevo provenir. El reconocimiento de gobiernos y países se multiplicaba de forma impetuosa con la llegada de barcos y aviones con ayuda material mostrando la solidaridad de un mundo que quiso rectificar su desconocimiento a la causa popular. El primero en reconocer el gobierno provisional, Estados Unidos, anunciado la visita de su presidente acompañado por una delegación bipartidista y de inversionistas. Alemania, Eslovaquia, República Checa, Japón, Corea del Sur, Egipto, Brasil, Ecuador, México, Canadá, Taiwán y decenas más. Cuba era el centro de todos y una prioridad en cooperar y ayudar a su recuperación total.

Las noticias que venían del interior del país eran positivas. Desde el Cabo de San Antonio, Pinar del Río hasta la Punta de Maísi, Guantánamo era regocijo y alegría. Ciudades, pueblos, barrios y campo adentro resultaba un sueño verse dueños de sus destinos sin que nadie te impusiera nada y menos comunismo-castrista. Nadie dudaba que la juventud de cada sitio jugara un papel importante unido a la nueva tecnología de las comunicaciones (teléfonos celulares de últimos adelantos, el internet y sus blogueros). Los periodistas independientes manejando sus respectivas agencias, la resistencia civil representada por abnegados opositores y una disidencia fortalecida demostrando su valentía y constancia de trabajo. Un pueblo cansado, agotado de ser manipulado, engañado y reprimido dijo ¡basta ya! Y comenzó a lograr sus sueños de libertad.

El ejemplo dado por el pueblo egipcio ha sido inspiración para que Cuba no sea un sueño sino una realidad su ansiada libertad. Ojalá nunca despertara de ese sueño que relato y nunca olvidado. Ver a mi patria soberana, como nunca la recuerdo a cada instante. Con más pureza y honradez de cuando era republicana y después del 59 borrada para siempre ya que estos 53 años han dejado huellas imborrables para todos pero bien aprendida la lección ser mejores que antes y después.

Miami, Florida, USA.
joselmartel@yahoo.com

Ricardo Montaner - hoy tengo ganas de ti

Governor Walker: How Dare You!

I do not know how many of you have heard about, or have been following the uprising in Wisconsin between the unions and Governor Scott Walker, well, I have, and I am appalled!

I want to reprimand Governor Walker on the actions he has taken – he is totally out of step with the will of the people.

I want to tell Governor Walker this:

·         How dare you:

keep your campaign promise- to reduce the state’s deficit and work toward balancing the State budget?

·         seek to accomplish the work you promised your constituents - those who elected you to office?

·         you enjoy the support from the 52% of voters who voted for you and who are on your side and support your budget proposals.

·         you require that the 14 Senate Democrats - who ran away and hid in a motel so that they would not have to vote on this bill- show up for work?

·         you not blame your predecessor, Gov. Jim Doyle, for leaving you with a deficit of $2.5 billion – you should be following President Obama’s example of doing just that, blaming his predecessor for the deficit at every public speech he gives here and abroad?

·         you actually bring about proactive change to Wisconsin – when it was President Obama who campaigned for president promising to bring change and fundamentally transform America.

·         you require that these poor teachers, who get paid only an average  salary of $89,000 pay any money towards their retirement, how can they live with 5% less – like all private sector employees do?

·         you not capitulate to this thug union - who will not bend or negotiate for some common ground for compromise to prevent the complete bankruptcy of the State?

·         you not capitulate to this thug union – when President Obama is on their side and is encouraging this chaos.

·         you try to implement a mandate that “We must all live within our means,”  this is what President Obama himself has elicited from every citizen in this country since the economic crisis started two years ago?

·         you not care for the children of Wisconsin – because of you the teachers are so distraught that they cannot educate the children because they are in Madison protesting and the children are not in school?

·         you not embrace - Organizing for America members mobilized and bused to Wisconsin to agitate the demonstrators by orders of President Obama?

·         you not want President Obama meddling in your State business.

Really, Governor Walker, you are truly out of touch with the citizens of your State.