Our Broken Government, including Federal Agencies

[JME]

Many of these "do nothing" elected officials are in office, and remain there, because of the very statement that you just made about "not voting". They know that the majority of Americans are frustrated and don't vote anymore so all they must do to win is get their "special interest" groups to the polls and they have succeeded. This is exactly what I have been writing about in my postings these last several days, we must some how mobilize the disgruntled and down trodden voters and convince them that their vote does count! First and foremost we need to get them all registered and then urge them to cast their vote on election day next year, we can do this, it is going to take some work but it can be done.........keep the faith, I truly believe that we have Angels and God working on our side...........Jerry Ensminger

[Guest]

Jerry, I guess that's why I have been interested in this subject. You still believe that your vote and my vote matter. I have been doubting that my vote matters. I'm at a place where I must decide what to do. I have thought that, if I don't vote, I will be conceding defeat. That just feels wrong. If I just give up, then what? Do I get out of bed in the morning? Why? More of the same? My husband and I have discussed the idea that the bureaucracies are running the nation. The politicians seem to be figure heads and one politician plugged into a position is just like the next politician plugged into the same position. We've been denied "normal" lives for so long that its getting to be a bad habit. I wish it was possible to plug some of those politicians into my life and let them see things from my point of view. When I was in school, I learned that the Constitution provides me certain rights. I learned that the Constitution limits the scope of the government. Since I've gotten my own home, it seems that the system is determined to separate me from it. I haven't been able to understand the disconnect between what I learned and what I have experienced. I do believe that the United States is the greatest nation in the history of the world. That being the case, I wonder how terrible it must be in other nations? No wonder we have such a problem with illegal immigration. Sorry, I don't want to change the subject but that slipped out. I think its partly the same subject. I feel sorry for anyone who feels like walking away from their home. I've thought of doing the same thing but wonder where I would go. I don't have any other place to go so I stay. Hopefully, I'll feel the same way on election day. I don't have anything else to do, so hopefully, I'll go vote. I want to think that the politicians feel strongly about what they believe. I want to hear them say what they believe without taking a poll first. I want to believe that they believe what they say. I have spoken to someone who has spoken to Elizabeth Dole and that person seems to think that she is committed to helping Camp Lejeune families. From what she has done so far, that seems to be the case. I'm encouraged by what you say about the Senator with the trophies in his office. Such information makes them seem more real to me. Maybe there is not as big a gap between us and them as I thought. I have voted every election for years and years. Old habits are hard to break. For now, I am leaning towards voting in the future. You believe, maybe you're right. n/a

[Guest]

Jerry, I'm very disappointed. I tried to email some congressmen and women. The way they have the email service set up, it directs me back to my congressman's web site. It is set up so that we can't contact congresspeople from other districts. How out of touch can they be? Once they take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, don't they represent the whole nation and everyone in it? Especially if they are on any committees, they have a huge impact on what happens to every citizen in the country, not just their home districts. How can this situation get any worse? They have our lives in their hands and don't want to know what we think about issues. My husband served this nation at Camp Lejeune. He was contaminated at Camp Lejeune while protecting the liberties of everyone in the US including those congress people who are now out of touch with us more than ever. When my husband served at Camp Lejeune he did not just serve his home district. Now they want to limit his voice and my voice to our home district. Well, I say that everyone in the military should get to go home and serve only their home district. Don't serve what Congress wants. They evidently don't want to serve us or our wants and needs. They can't even take the time to listen to what we have to say. That's not just on one congressman/woman or administration, its the whole thing. n/a

[JME]

You can send messages to the committees (and sub-committees) that they serve on, for instance, if you wanted to contact Congressman Dingell about environmental issues but you aren't from his district in Michigan, you would contact the Committee on Energy and Commerce of which he is the chairman. All of them serve on committees and that is the way to reach them if they are not your specific Representative or Senator...........Jerry Ensminger

[Mpartain]

I read this post sometime ago and thought this would be the appropriate place to add this comment.

I used to teach World History to 10th grade gifted students. They were in a program called International Baccalaureate (IB). I began the school year with a discussion on how and why different forms of government developed over time. They would always argue that democracy was the most effective and fair form of government for a society.

I would counter with a simple observation. After the fall of the Roman Republic in 49 B.C. (the point where Caesar invaded Rome by crossing the Rubicon) until the year 1776, the idea of a democratic government did not exist on this planet. (England did not count because they were a constitutional monarchy). That is 1,825 years without a democratic form of government.

Democracies are precarious by nature. They depend entirely on the people's desire to work together for the greater common good. Education is the key. If you do not learn the ability to use your reason, then you are at the mercy of who ever controls the information upon which your decisions are made.

Simply put, people who can not think for themselves are easily led. Here is a case and point. I taught both regular and gifted kids. Many people quickly jump to the regular kids and say how rough it must have been to teach them. The truth was they were easy. All I had to do was to set the rules, follow up quickly on infringements and make the example. The rest would quickly follow. The gifted kids were the challenge. They were always pushing deadlines, finding new ways to cheat, delay an assignment or report, challenge a point I made in lecture...etc. They did so because they knew how to think for themselves and would not accept what was "delivered" to them by me. I loved them all for it and it broke my heart when I left teaching in 2001.

Today, I had the good fortune to meet with the District Coordinator for my Congressman here in North Florida. It was the product of hard work and respectful communication between members of his staff and me. I approached their office shortly after I learned about Lejeune. At first, I came asking for help. They assisted me by writing inquiries to the DON. Then in August, a gentleman named Mike invited me to the office to review what I knew about Lejeune. I did not make any demands at that time nor did I today. I simply laid out the facts supported by documentation of what I was saying. If I did not know the answer to a question, I said so and added that I would find the answer. The truth spoke for itself. This was the first time in my life that I have ever contacted an elected official. I maybe naive, but I do have hope that a simple man such as I, can make a difference in the world. Today, when I left the office I felt as if I did.

Mike

[Mask Rider]

Every time there's a republicans in the office, we end up in some other country back yard in a little dirty police action "war"spilling American blood for there oil, and when there's a democrate in the office ,we end up paying through the nose ,"Taxes" . I don't know about you but I 'am starting to have flash back ,"PTSD"about who's better than who ? I honestly believed that all of those who are running for the office of the big "P" should be required by law to stand in line an to participate in a random urinalyses, just like we where subject to when I was on active duty. When they "the republicans " spent billions on there so call terrorist buddies of Pakistan, and then that little turd tells us to pack our trash ,and get out, and yet G bushwhacker is still kissing his northern hampshire .I just don't understand what has happen to this 'America" and by the way "Who's really running this country those career politicians who can't seem to get a job in the real world , or we the people who spent our volt on worthless pieces of crap.

and why is there people who's working at the V.A who's never spent one momnet in those boots of a veteran, but yet those are the very one who are denying those veterans benifits.

and if you think for one moment that they care ,well you had better think again, because they have never had to work for a single thing, so why should they, after all there filthy rich ,living off our backs ,so I say we hold them totally 100% accountable.

Kidney Cancer

[JME]

This is a very important time in the history of our nation, if you are not registered to vote, please do so! If you are already registered, please educate yourself on the issues and cast your vote in your states primary election and then again in the General Election in November........Jerry

[Mpartain]

I just caught the end of a CBS show on global warming. The piece I watched discussed how the Bush administration essentially took over and supervised scientist reports and bulletins concerning greenhouse gasses and global warming. The Chief of Staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Phillip C Cooney, was where the buck stopped (he resigned and now works for Exxon). The scientific process was thwarted by the careful strokes of his pen. Phrases like the Earth's climate is changing was changed to may be. References to greenhouse gasses (fossil fuels) contributing to global warming were deleted in official reports...slowly but surely, the scientific data that was released to the public was softened up...to be less harmful. Sound familiar?

While writing this post, I found an article from the Washington Post from 2005 that discussed this matter. I could not find anything on the CBS piece other than an old story from 60 minutes. For those of you that are studied in the lore of Camp Lejeune, the following should come as no surprise.

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"A White House official who once led the oil industry's fight against limits on greenhouse gases has repeatedly edited government climate reports in ways that play down links between such emissions and global warming, according to internal documents.

In handwritten notes on drafts of several reports issued in 2002 and 2003, the official, Philip A. Cooney, removed or adjusted descriptions of climate research that government scientists and their supervisors, including some senior Bush administration officials, had already approved. In many cases, the changes appeared in the final reports.
The dozens of changes, while sometimes as subtle as the insertion of the phrase "significant and fundamental" before the word "uncertainties," tend to produce an air of doubt about findings that most climate experts say are robust.

Mr. Cooney is chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the office that helps devise and promote administration policies on environmental issues.

Before going to the White House in 2001, he was the "climate team leader" and a lobbyist at the American Petroleum Institute, the largest trade group representing the interests of the oil industry. A lawyer with a bachelor's degree in economics, he has no scientific training."
*************************************************************
If anything, this should be yet another reason to get out and vote...Lejeune is just another example of how our current administration has been sold out to the highest bidder. It is no coincidence that other fights against PCE/TCE are being hotly challenged by manufacturers and yes, the petroleum/chemical industry. According to the story on CBS, we have about 10 years to make the change before the climate is beyond our control.

I am and always have been a Republican. Now I am not so sure. I matured in the Reagan era and voted for Bush senior in my first Presidential election. My vote will be for the man/woman who will most likely be there for us and yes, the environment.

Mike

[Mask Rider]

Global warming is no joke , Yesterday we had 11.5 hours of heavy snow, yet there was no accumulation. The weather was bitter cold ,no ice just plain good ole fashion. Why I've got Roses Blooming , and Dandy Lions and all sort of spring flowers coming up ,and its' only January .

Sadly to say that we'er in a major drought. something like . I don't know 15 minus inches down for last year ,not counting this year, the utility company tell us that were in phase 3 maybe border lining 4. They have told us to cut our showers by x number of minutes , and no flushing the tollet unless it's necessary, forget washing your car, your dog, or watering your grass.

Now on the other side of town those rich cats are drilling wells ,now whats wrong with this picture?

At some point .I believed it's going to come down to this .The have nots are going to be taking from those who have it ,and that's going to caused a real nightmare , but those idiots in Wasington ,DC don't beieved it .

so in closing .I guess >WE had better learn to read and speak and write "Chinese" because that the way things seem to be going.

as most if not all of our so called elected officials have sold us out .Thanks to the bushwhacker.

[JME]

For all of our members (and visitors) who live in a state that is part of "Super Tuesday", 5 February 2008 is your opportunity to start fixing this "Broken Government". VOTE!!! Jerry Ensminger

[JME]

I hope that those of you who live in Wisconsin and Hawaii are voting today, it can and will make a difference.........Jerry Ensminger

[JME]

I realize that the Presidential primaries are still underway and we still don't have a nominee on the Democratic side. Up to this point I have pointed out the problems/corruption with the current administration but I have tried to remain neutral between the Democratic and Republican parties in my postings. I have decided that it is time to take the "gloves off" and reveal my true thoughts and experiences.

I must admit that I was a "dyed in the wool" devout Republican. I will admit to you that I voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election. I was making trips to Capital Hill back then trying to recruit political assistance with the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue. I couldn't understand why I wasn't getting any assistance from my party of choice on a subject that was so well documented and blatently obvious. I remember my frustrations from back then, it felt as though I had run into an immovable block wall.

Thankfully, the Washington Post saw fit to publish a well written story about the Camp Lejeune water contamination incident in January 2004. It was this article that alerted Congressman John Dingell and his staff to the Camp Lejeune situation and our plight in achieving justice. Shortly after reading the Washington Post article, Congressman Dingell requested a meeting with me. It was this meeting, and many of the things that transpired from it that began my transformation. Mr. Dingell asked me to tell the Camp Lejeune story at a hearing in April 2004. This hearing was being held because the Department of Defense was requesting ridiculous immunities from some environmental laws/regulations. Thankfully, these requests by DoD for environmental immunities were defeated by the efforts of Mr. Dingell and his staff. It was during this time-frame that I met the most intelligent person on environmental law that I know, Mr. Richard (Dick) Frandsen, a member of Mr. Dingell's staff. Mr. Frandsen opened my eyes to a lot of truths to which I had been previously blind. I can assure all of you that Jerry Ensminger did not vote for George W. Bush in the 2004 election!

After the successful defeat of DoD's immunity attempts in 2004, Mr. Dingell and his staff did not forget the victims of Camp Lejeune. It was through their efforts that we had the Expert Panel meeting that was held at Atlanta, Ga. in February 2005. It was from this meeting that the Camp Lejeune Community Assistance Panel (CAP) was born. I might point out that Mr. Dingell was only the "ranking member" of his committee at the time of these initiatives. Due to the fact that the Republicans controlled both houses of our congress at that time, Mr. Dingell and his fellow Democrats were having a difficult time achieving any initiatives to improve public health and the environment. It wasn't until the elections of 2006 when the Democrats won back the control of congress that Mr. Dingell once again became the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. For those of you who don't know, this is the committee that handles public health and environmental issues in our House of Representatives. It was because of Mr. Dingell regaining the chairmanship of the committee, that he formed the Investigative/Over-sight sub-committee, Congressman Bart Stupak, Chairman. Congressman Stupak heard my testimony in April of 2004 and to his credit, when he finally got the chance to do something about it, he did. This is how we got the June 2007 congressional hearing about Camp Lejeune!

There are a lot of people out there saying "the Democrats now have control of our congress, why aren't they achieving more?" Yes, the Democrats did win back control of both houses of congress in the November 2006 elections. What most people don't understand is the fact that the current Democratic control is of the narrowest margins. With the Republican administration still occupying the White House, the Democrats can pass bill after bill and send them to President Bush. If Bush doesn't like the bill, he vetoes it and sends it back to congress. When this happens, it takes a 2/3 majority in the House and and a 60 vote majority in the Senate to over turn a Presidential veto. Due to the fact that the Democrats don't hold strong enough majorities in either house of congress, George Bush's mis-guided loyalists that remain in congress are blocking the Democrat's initiatives! The term for this type of situation in our government is known as "grid lock." The Republican pundits on TV and radio want you to believe that the Democrats won back the control of congress and they aren't accomplishing anything because they are incompetent. No, they aren't able to accomplish anything because of political games being played by Republicans! Plain and simple, a case of sour grapes!

It doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to figure out the political mood of our country. I challenge all of you to look at the results of the primary elections for the Presidency that have taken place thus far in our nation. Forget about the names of the different candidates participating, look at the vote totals for both party's candidates, add them up. The Democratic candidates are receiving votes 3-1 over the republican field. It is my opinion and my personal hope that there is a Democratic "landslide victory" this November. We need Secretaries, Administrators, and Directors appointed to head our federal departments and agencies whose priorities are working to protect the American people and not just covering for the administration and their special interest groups! It is my opinion that if John McCain were to win the Presidential election this November, many of the people that are currently in place would remain there. This would basically mean business as usual and this is exactly what we don't need!

I can't close this posting without adding this fact. While I have pretty much blasted the Republican party, I must in all good conscience give my praise and support to the one (and only) Republican who has helped us with the Camp Lejeune situation. That Republican is Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. She stepped up to the plate and took initiatives on our behalf that I know put her at odds with many of her contemporaries and to her credit she did not wavier! Senator Dole set an example for all elected officials to follow, forget about party politics and do what is morally right by your constituents, that is exactly what she did! Jerry Ensminger

[kidney cancer]

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELETED DUE TO DEROGATORY COMMENTS AND RACIAL/ETHNIC SLURS.

Please see post by Andrea Byron titled "Banned User." Thank you.

[JME]

Kidney Cancer,
First and foremost, I am deeply involved in the political process and I watch all developments that occur on the campaigns daily. I have not seen this interview that you are touting in your posting where this young woman made these harmful claims about Senator Obama. Furthermore, as an adult you should know better than to repeat this rhetoric! This web-site does not, will not, and can not be an avenue for people like you to carry on your messages of hate and division! Your posting will be removed from this web-site along with your ability to post on it. People like you would be better served by signing on with the radio talk show host Bill Cunningham in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jerry Ensminger

[JME]

Those of you that live in the states of Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island have your opportunity on Tuesday, March 4 to have your voices heard and hopefully initiate a huge change in this Camp Lejeune situation. If you haven't already done so, please read all of the postings under this subject but above all else please vote!!! Jerry Ensminger