FCC PROTEST

As a lot of people know, the FCC is trying to give the internet to corporations. This means our speed can be slowed whenever AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, et cetera, get the urge while the content we want to see may come with a charge--if we can get it at all.

Thursday, a lot of protests were scheduled all over the country, ours among them. We did not have a large turnout, but it was cold so I'm just glad we had people brave enough to venture out!

We met at the Verizon store. Not that we were protesting them in particular; their location just offered a good place to gather.

Then we moved to the street. If you look closely, you can see the Verizon sign right beside the McDonald's.

Here's the sign my guy made for me.

It actually felt good to be able to express our feelings about the crazy people up in DC. I only wish it would do some good. Maybe when the next election comes around...

RALLY FOR HEALTHCARE

As many of you know, the last election was upsetting to me. I had so many friends and relatives who were vehemently for Trump, I halfway expected the conman/charlatan to win but I still hoped. Afterward I was proud to be one of the millions who marched for women's rights, making an uncomfortable but unforgettable trip to DC with other like-minded women and men. Back home, I joined some resistance groups.

When we moved, I was fortunate to find an INDIVISIBLE chapter in our new town. This past week, we joined with two other groups to protest against the unconscionable healthcare bill -- WEALTHcare bill, as some of our number call it in reference to the big tax cut it gives the wealthiest one percent and insurance/medical corporations -- that McConnell is pushing in the Senate.

We met in front of the University Arches and for an hour held our signs and listened to some firsthand accounts of people who will be hurt by the bill. Several of them were there for their children. It's heartbreaking to realize these kids, through no fault of their own, will be the real people to suffer.

So here are a few pix from the rally, courtesy of my guy: And yes, it was quite peaceful because liberals generally abhor violence. Heck, I don't even like to get into arguments.

This one was in the beginning when we were gathering (I'm hiding behind my sign, as usual):

This was taken after our INDIVISIBLE banner got there:

And here is a wider view:

And one last shot as we aimed our signs at downtown traffic. This one was taken just before a nice policeman instructed us to leave a pathway for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and through the arches. Being law-abiding citizens, we of course obliged.

Many people don't realize it, but nearly half the babies born are paid for with Medicaid. (We had pro-life people protesting with us, because a baby legally declared a person at conception means our responsibility to it is just beginning.) Besides childbirth, about sixty per cent of people in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid, many of them who've exhausted their savings.

No matter what Republicans say (they are blatantly lying in order to sell their healthcare plan), people are going to be hurt if it passes.

By the way, I'm not a Democrat. I'm a proud Independent who has voted for Republicans in the past. I used to believe a man's character was more important than his party but now I'm having to rethink my views.

MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD

The exclusive island next to us hosts an annual conference for the American Enterprise Institute, a collection of billionaires and millionaires and other well-heeled right-wing people. Current or former members include Newt Gingrich, Betsy DeVos (no longer listed on the board), Dick Cheney, et cetera. There are also business officials from such companies as Coors, International Paper, American Express, Dell and others. People attending this year possibly included (they are very secretive) Mitch McConnell, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, George W. Bush, the Koch brothers, Paul Ryan and other government officials.

Anyway, there were over a hundred corporate or private jets parked at our little airport. Here's a photo of the ones parked on the back runway.

The bunch of conservative attendees came to the attention of a new resistance group I've joined. The island they met on is private, so on the last day, our leaders set up a protest at the airport gates where limousines enter to drop off passengers. A young relative helped make my sign:

Since our area is mostly conservative, we were unsure of the turnout but eighty to a hundred protesters showed up, some for a few minutes, others staying for over two hours. We were thrilled, especially since we had little time to let people know. Here's a picture taken before the limos started arriving:

After a few SUV limos went in, they stopped coming.

Ah, but we had someone following them out from the exclusive island who tipped us off: the limos were detouring to another entrance to the airport.

So a few of us ambled down about half a mile down the road to that gate. Here we are with our signs:

When we got there, a guard in a truck got on his phone and soon the limos stopped coming in there, too. So we went back up to the front for a while. Ended up coming back to the second gate. Finally had to give up about two or so hours.

Drivers in passing cars didn't know what to make of us. We had several go by shouting "Trump!" or "Make America Great!" or "Go home!" The nicer people among us called back "Thank you!" to every one of the jeers. I just hid behind my sign. One diesel pickup got up close to us and revved his engine, sending black smoke all over white outfits. But we persisted. And then people started driving by honking horns and giving us thumbs up. I didn't know we had so many sympathizers on our island!

I'm sure the bigwigs took little notice of us, but we got to voice our disapproval of what's going on in our government. And that's democracy, isn't it? That's what truly makes America great!

ONE MORE POST ON THE MARCH

After this one, I'll be through!

But I've seen some snitty articles and ugly pictures about the Womens March on Washington from conservative sites. My experience was nothing like what they wrote about and/or portrayed. Yes, there were signs some people might have considered obscene but most were not. Just simple thoughts made by people expressing their views. No violence on the march. Not a lot of hate. Some humor. Some pleas for sensible government. Everyone had their own opinion.

Here are some of them:

Like "I Voted"

And Trump compared to ringworm:

And various ones like "Super Callous Fragile Racist Extra Braggadocious" and "Save Our H(ealth)care - Obamacare Saved Me" and "NO!"

I like this one: "I MARCH BCUZ IM TOO DAMN OLD TO LEARN RUSSIAN"

And this one: "Women are like Cats - Will do as they please"

But the one I liked best, I didn't get a picture of. It featured an old-fashioned switchboard operator with her ear plugs in, saying: "Hello 1955? Please hold for the GOP" Some of the truest words there!

If anyone tries to tell you how disgusting and violent our march was, don't believe them. They're just parroting some of those "alternative facts" the con people in the White House seem so fond of spouting.