Dysfunction forever? Today's AP headlines summarize exactly what's wrong in the U.S. (2/23/10)

Summarized 2/23/10 Associated Press headlines/links:

"Wall Street Bonuses Up 17 Percent in 2009": (link to story:) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100223/ap_on_bi_ge/us_wall_street_bonuses 

"Confidence Relapse Intensifies Economic Fears" : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100223/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

"GOP's Scott Brown Labeled Turncoat for Jobs Vote":  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100224/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_jobs_gop_turncoats

 "Summit Will Not Break Logjam on Health Care" : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100224/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul


No wonder "regular" (non-celebrity, non-politician, non-CEO) citizens are thoroughly disgusted....Seems that way too much is just terminally "dysfunctional" ....Overall, it's just not working for (on behalf of) many people.


Bonus disgusting, gun-nut news item:  (Opinion piece about guns in Starbucks, from a few days ago.) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/opinion/20sat3.html?ref=opinion

(Petition Starbucks: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/ )
 

Old image from Google/LIFE archives

Amazingly, an extra, bonus headline of disgust from today:  "Toyota Recalls Won't "Totally" Fix Problem": http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100224/ap_on_bi_ge/toyota_recall

Update: Oh yeah...This happened on 2/23 also (link). School shooting, two kids shot for no reason with a high-power rifle, heroic bystanders (teachers) prevented much worse carnage. Etc., etc.
It is not, of course, but this now seems almost typical in gun-nut crazy America.

-> This post got you 'down' a bit?? Cheer up with a lovely song (link, language caution): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo 

Why can't the U.S. pay greater tribute like this? Canada's Highway of Heroes

Part of the repatriating of Canada's fallen heroes. (Note: "The 401" is a very busy highway near Toronto with many overpasses, where people gather to pay respect.):




This may have recently changed somewhat, but in the U.S. we (used to) "sneak" Iraq and Afganistan war casualties into Dover Air Force Base in the dead of night. Most ceremonies and honors are still held largely in private here.

The U.S. can learn a lot from it's Canadian friends and allies. (2/21/10: Except, it seems, in Olympic (prelims.) HOCKEY☻.)

"The Dover (DE) Highway of Heroes". (Or something similar. Even a route part or all the way from Dover to Arlington National Cemetary (for those who will be interred there). (2/23/10: Pls. see the end of this post for updated info.) A special railway train may be possible in that region as an alternative. For others, individual cities/states could also do something similar. I'm sure some smaller towns already include a procession....) 
Why can't that happen?  It should ....It stinks that something like it (i.e., a more public honoring of fallen soldiers) is not regularly done here. It is the least that we can do....






I'm doing a bit more research to learn more. But I'm going to send these YouTube videos with an electronic message to the Dpt. of Defense, my U.S. rep. or others, soon. (If possible.) I think that a public honor/tribute like this is a very good idea. (Please copy this blog post URL  if you wish and include it in a message as well, if you agree. Please include a link/URL for this post. Thank you.)

Update, 2/23/10. Please also see a further update detailed at the end of this post: I'm still researching the overall process for fallen U.S. personnel. Here is one link, describing "dignified transfer", from the "Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center (at Dover, DE). As can be seen, the focus is upon dignified, solemn transfer of remains to designated (usually family) individuals, in an expeditious manner: http://www.mortuary.af.mil/library/dignifiedtransfer/index.asp

I understand the focus upon "dignified transfer". This earlier article (10/29/03) from defense.gov states:

"Out of respect for families' privacy, defense officials do not allow

arrival ceremonies for, or media coverage of deceased military

personnel returning to or departing from  Dover Air Force Base

or Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, or any other site

where remains are transferred."

Policy has recently been changed to allow media access - upon consent from family or next-of-kin - to the arrival of soldiers' bodies at Dover. Here is a link to a Columbia Journalism Review article which provides greater details: http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/dover_behind_the_scenes.php

As I continue to investigate, I'll offer these (early) assertions:

1) In many cases, soldiers' remains appear to be quickly entrusted at Dover to next-of-kin. What happens after that is not yet clear, though it is likely that each family decides what to do next. I.e., funeral and burial arrangements. I'm sure in some cases the funeral etc. takes place in the soldiers' home town. Any processsion, honors, etc. would take place there. So at Dover AFB, it appears that remains are flown in (from overseas) and transferred to next-of-kin at the base itself, or other, additional transport arrangements are made - at least in some cases. (Need to do more research here.)

2) In the United States, the following armed forces service members are eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,VA (partial list of eligibility follows). According to Google Maps, the distance by car from Dover, DE A.F.B. to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is a little more than 100 miles. At least half appears to be over more rural/suburban areas of Delaware and Maryland (Eastern Shore area). It of course becomes more urban nearing Washington, DC. The suggested route also passes through Annapolis, MD.
I think that anyone reading can see where I'm attempting to "go" with this. (Given the information above.) Note: The distance from the Canadian air base to the (Canadian) mortuary is about 100 miles, per the NBC News video report, above. So it appears that the motorcades there are traveling a similar (i.e., long) distance. I will try to learn more about how soldiers' remains may "usually" travel from Dover to Arlington.....if that's what happens, at least in some cases.


Partial list of eligibility for internment at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery:

1. Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).
2. Any veteran who is retired from active military service with the Armed Forces.
3. Any veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training). 

 Please note: The original portions of this post are copyrighted, 2010.
"Angler's Smilin' at You"

Additional, 2/23/10 update:  This overall issue apparently was discussed in the following 2/14/09 article by John Barry for Newsweek magazine (link) : http://www.newsweek.com/id/184772    
 Mr. Barry concludes with an interesting idea that I also like, at first glance: Fly fallen soldiers remains into Andrews AFB, Washington, DC, then perform an honor procession - similar to the Canadian one above - from Andrews to Dover, DE (AFB). (Mr. Barry notes that such a procession might even be routed near the White House.) Mr. Barry says that currently, remains are sent from Dover AFB to the soldier's hometown for a military funeral.

Highest education level attained: Tea Party convention attendees?

Just curious.

If there had been an accurate way to tabulate the information, I would have liked to know the highest level of education attained by Nashville Tea Party convention attendees.

I'll cite a couple of U.S. Census Bureau statistics to elaborate a bit: Per 2008 data, the U.S. Census bureau reported that 87 percent of (25+ year-old) adults in the country had completed high school. And 29% had at least a bachelor's degree.

How did convention attendees (and perhaps speakers/leaders) compare with these statistics? Or "Tea Partiers" in general?

4/14/10 update: The following New York Times article by K. Zernike and M. Thee-Brenan contains interesting poll data asking similar questions. The link follows. This is my blog so I'll add (editorially) that we recently had eight years of an administration that largely favored the wealthy. We're still trying to undo the mess that these leaders facilitated, and will be doing so for quite awhile.(As with all major world economies, government stimulus spending has been part of the current solution. And could it be " working"? Link to a 4/15/10 Wall Street Journal article citing evidence mounting for a "strong recovery". Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304798204575183683432202678.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection)

Also, the ballooning federal budget deficit was increased significantly under the previous Republican administration, something a few (NYT) poll respondents have "selective amnesia" about: (Link to NYT article) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

(Back to the original post:)

One more item from the 2008 Census study to suggest a point here (direct quotation): "The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that workers with a bachelor’s degree earned about $26,000 more on average than workers with a high school diploma, according to new figures that outline 2008 educational trends and achievement levels."

In general  - there are exceptions (and assuming legal means used): It is an uphill "battle" to achieve a desirable standard of living in this country if you have not earned (at least) a college bachelor's degree.  And it has been that way for years.....

Some (maybe many) have significant disadvantages, especially affording college. (Without government-backed financial aid.) But, beyond that, your level of education in many instances is something that YOU mainly control.  (Perhaps more so as an adult.)

Isn't that correct, individual-freedom-touting, no "big"-government-aid Tea Partiers??