Feb

4

Starbucks and Guns

Posted on February 4, 2010 at 9:19 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 6 Comments 


I learned in an email from The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence today that Starbucks allows its customers to sit in their stores and openly display firearms.

Over the past few months, more and more gun owners have been gathering at restaurants and coffee shops like Starbucks with guns strapped to their hips, intimidating fellow patrons.

While it is legal to carry a gun into an establishment, it is also legal for that establishment to opt out of letting its customers carry weapons into their business. I know in Columbus, many businesses have signs on the front door stating “No Weapons Allowed.”

If five dudes are sitting in Starbucks packing heat and not wearing badges, I would feel uncomfortable.


 You’re not carrying a gun into Starbucks because you feel threatened, you’re showing off.

I have the right to lay a big fat slobbering kiss on my girlfriend in public, I don’t do it because I think it makes me look like an idiot. Just because you have the right to do something, doesn’t mean there aren’t situations where it’s inappropriate.

I’m not against guns and I’m sure this scenario does not apply to most gun owners. But I am for intelligent gun laws and responsible behavior.

But the big question is, why does Starbucks allow this? You can sign a petition here to let Starbucks know you find this policy unacceptable.

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Feb

2

Here are Some Scary Numbers for Central Ohio and the Nation

Posted on February 2, 2010 at 11:19 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


The Columbus Dispatch reported today on studies conducted locally and nationally regarding persons seeking emergency food.

The last comprehensive study on food emergencies was in 2005. Here are the new numbers.

People who received emergency food through the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in 2009 increased by 28 percent since 2005. Nationally the increase was 46 percent.

Of the 248,000 people who received help through Mid-Ohio last year, the food bank found that:

About 43 percent said they had to decide between making rent or mortgage payments or buying food - 48 percent more than in 2005. More than three-fourths - about 76 percent - of adult clients younger than 65 were unemployed…

…A growing number of adults who use pantries once had good jobs. About 18 percent of those seeking assistance said they had managerial or professional positions; in 2005, just 9 percent did.

Matt Habash, President of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank said many of those asking for assistance are former donors. He called the situation “alarming.”

Source: Number of people seeking emergency food help surges in central Ohio

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Jan

29

The Brady Center Gives Obama a Failing Grade

Posted on January 29, 2010 at 3:25 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 3 Comments 


This from the president of The Brady Center.

We know that President Obama supports sensible measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children.

Unfortunately, in his first year in office, the President showed no signs of leadership on the issue.

We understand that the President had a lot of important issues on his plate. However, he has a responsibility to speak about the serious problems facing our nation. And gun violence is a major problem. More than 110,000 people are killed and injured each year by guns.

Time after time, however, President Obama evaded this issue. In fact, he signed into law more repeals of good gun policies than President George W. Bush. That is why we gave him a failing grade for the first quarter of his term. Click here to read the report.

Please e-mail the President to urge him to join with us to solve the problem of gun violence.

The year started with statements being removed from the White House website that repeated support for gun violence prevention laws Candidate Obama had expressed during his campaign.

Then, after horrific, high-profile shootings last spring, President Obama and his staff studiously avoided any mention of guns.

When his cabinet members, Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder, expressed support for reasonable gun laws, they were quickly muzzled and backtracked from those statements.

In May, President Obama, without any indication of concern, signed legislation letting people carry concealed weapons in national parks. This fall, he signed legislation that allowed guns in checked luggage on Amtrak trains.

President Obama can still improve his grade by taking action to make our families and communities safer, but he needs to hear from you.

Please e-mail the President to urge him to join with us to solve the problem of gun violence.

Sincerely,

Paul Helmke, President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Here is a summation of Obama’s Brady Center report card.

Brady Background Checks: F
Gun Show Loophole: F
Gun Trafficking: F
Guns in Public: F
Federal Assault Weapons Ban: F
Standing Up to the Gun Lobby: F
Leadership: F

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Jan

26

One in Five Central Ohio Households Face a Food Hardship

Posted on January 26, 2010 at 11:45 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local, National, State | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


A new report by the Food Research and Action Center states that one in five Columbus area households faced a food emergency in 2008 and 2009. A “food hardship” is defined as not having enough money to buy needed food. The question pollsters asked was, “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed.”

In Columbus 19.9% of respondents answered yes.

Youngstown was #3 at 24.2% while Toledo was #13 at 20.8%. Cleveland and Cincinnati did not make the top 25.

Nationally, 18.5% of respondents answered yes.

I found it interesting that nationally, the highest month of food hardship was November. The month of the Thanksgiving feast.

You can find an adobe document of the research here.

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Jan

21

Kevin DeWine Demeans Social Workers

Posted on January 21, 2010 at 10:31 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 1 Comment 


Recently I posted about a CNN study that said Social Work the most stressful underpaid job in America. Yet these dedicated individuals continue to offer help to those most in need.

Still, Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine said the following regarding Governor Strickland’s selection of Yvette McGee Brown for Lieutenant Governor.

He’s had nearly a year to make this selection, and the best he could come up with in the face of an unprecedented fiscal emergency is a social worker with no experience in public finance or state government.

It is a cheap political shot that demeans an honorable profession whose sole purpose is to help.

Anyone who knows Yvette McGee Brown is aware that she is a talented committed citizen. To try and taint her with the moniker of social worker is an honor not a liability.

With a General Assembly that is filled with businessmen and lawyers who helped create this fiscal catastrophe, maybe it’s time we looked outside the box and added legislators who actually understand the needs of average Americans.

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Dec

31

Evangelical Minister Rick Warren is Begging for Money

Posted on December 31, 2009 at 3:03 am by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


This from an AP article in The New York Times.

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren who gave the invocation at Obama’s inauguration is begging parishioners at his Southern California megachurch to cough up $900,000 before Jan. 1 to keep the parish out of the red…

… He asks parishioners to donate before the new year to keep the Orange County church out of debt…

… A spokeswoman for Warren said the church does not release financial details, so it’s difficult to put the $900,000 shortfall in context.

Two thoughts come to mind.

One. You have a megachurch that is in Orange County. A megachurch in a county that is one of the most affluent in the country. Why would you need money?

Second. Your asking for 900,000 dollars but you will not release your financial records. I’m sorry, but if I am a parishioner or just a supporter I want to see where the money has been spent before I pony up.

Maybe the church is in financial trouble due to Bush fighting two wars while giving the country a tax break. A tax break that largely benefited people like those that live in Orange County. Not to mention his administrations lax regulation on financial institutions and business which resulted in our current economic crisis.

Or, it could be a typical money grab by a religious charlatan who preaches poverty while living a life of luxury.

In Central Ohio, Rod Parsley comes to mind.

The religious right has been critical of Obama’s stimulus efforts that most economists have said staved off an economic disaster. I wonder what they would say if he decided to spend some of that stimulus money to save Warren’s Saddleback Church.

Source: Calif. Megachurch Pastor Asks for Urgent Donations

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Dec

3

The Video the NRA Doesn’t Want You to See Highlights Ohio

Posted on December 3, 2009 at 2:00 am by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 2 Comments 


In 2005 the National Rifle Association (notice the word rifle not assault weapon) was slated to bring their national convention to the city of Columbus. However, Columbus had the temerity to stand up to the gun lobby.

The announcement came five days after Mayor Michael Coleman signed legislation outlawing the sale of certain kinds of military-style semiautomatic weapons and requiring people who purchased such guns before the law’s effective date, Aug. 12, to register them with the police.

The NRA canceled their convention in Columbus. Based on this recent video, nice job Columbus.

Of course the NRA brought up the second amendment. This from the NRA’s executive vice president Wayne LaPierre.

It’s simply bad politics to be on the wrong side of the Second Amendment at election time…

That ignores what the second amendment actually says.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Laws banning assault weapons are not infringing on a citizens right to bear arms, these laws are only trying to constitutionally regulate that right. The NRA’s position that assault rifles are covered under the second amendment is even more amazing when you realize the founders were talking about muskets and cannons.

Still, a Supreme Court full of ideological NRA supported Republican appointees were all too willing to ignore what The Constitution actually said.

But the NRA believes assault weapons fall under second amendment protection. Where does this madness end? How far will the NRA push their agenda of violent weapons? Are nuclear weapons also protected under the second amendment if they are delivered from the barrel of a “rifle?” Where does the NRA draw the line? Oh … wait a minute … there is no line!

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Nov

24

Support the Social Work Reinvestment Act

Posted on November 24, 2009 at 10:26 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Recently I posted about a CNNmoney article that said Social Work is the most stressful, overworked and underpaid profession. Today I received an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that referenced the article.

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask you, and every single NASW member, to contact your members of Congress and show your full support for the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R. 795/ S.686). This is the first piece of federal legislation ever introduced that will directly address the workforce challenges that our profession is facing. These challenges, such as low salaries, high educational debt, and serious safety concerns are making it difficult to assist the 10 million clients that social workers across the country serve each day. Take a moment to view this CNNmoney.com study, which rates social work at the top of the list of stressful jobs that pay badly. Rep. Towns recently discussed this study in a “Dear Colleague” he sent to his fellow members of Congress asking for their support for H.R. 795.

The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act is designed to address the workforce challenges we are facing, thereby helping to ensure that millions of individuals and families throughout the nation can continue to receive competent social work care. The legislation will establish a Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide a comprehensive analysis of current workforce trends and develop long-term recommendations and strategies to ensure an adequate social work workforce. In addition, demonstration programs will award grants in the areas of workplace improvements, research, education, training, and community-based programs of excellence.

We also want to thank social workers, Representative Towns and Senator Mikulski, for introducing this legislation and for their consistent dedication and leadership of the social work profession. We hope you will take a moment to thank them too. You can print this postcard and mail it to Senator Mikulski and Representative Towns or you can send them a quick thank you email. (View Senator Mikulski’s and Representative Towns’ contact information.) It’s important to remember and thank our social work advocates in Congress!

As always, we appreciate your advocacy and leadership on the issues that are important to our profession.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH
Executive Director

I suggest you support the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act as well.

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Nov

19

CNN Reports Social Work is the Most Stressful Overworked and Underpaid Job

Posted on November 19, 2009 at 7:20 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 5 Comments 


I am so screwed. According to CNNMoney list, the number one most stressful overworked and underpaid job in America happens to be my profession. Social Work. Checking in at number thirteen is substance abuse counseling. The subset of Social Work that I practice.

A great post on Trench Warfare turned me on to this. Trench Warfare is a Social Work blog that often times is hilarious, at least to Social Workers. You can see the full overworked and underpaid list here.

Here’s what CNNMoney says about Social Work.

Social workers step in when everyone else steps aside to help people and families in vulnerable situations. They provide patients with education and counseling, advise care givers and make referrals for other services. And with social workers in short supply and programs underfunded, few must juggle the work of many, while reaping little reward.

Just ask Heather Griffith, a social worker who works with children in intensive foster care in Boston: “You’re getting paid $12 an hour and kids are screaming at you, telling you that you are just in it for the money and you’re just like, really?”

Here’s what they say about substance abuse counselors.

Dealing with the needs of one addict is more than many people can bear, but these counselors do it by the caseload. Coordinating personalized treatment programs for addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling and other issues such as eating disorders are all in a day’s work.

“When the funding sources aren’t there, when people you know are losing people, it gets hard,” said Beth Rosenshein, director of the Substance Abuse Coalition in Charlestown, Mass. “These are people’s children and people’s families and yet that’s what drives you to do something about it.”

So, I work in two of the fields that are considered the most stressful overworked and underpaid professions in America. I’m sorry, I have to go now and get fitted for my straight jacket.



But seriously folks. Did you notice that both quotes mentioned the word funding. Why is it we spend billions of dollars on nation building, corporate bailouts, and tax cuts for the wealthy, but can’t spend a few million dollars to help people who are in need? Waiting lists for services in Central Ohio are incredibly long. Even when a client does finally see me, due to budget cuts, I am unable to do the job I have been trained to do because of a lack resources.

I love my job as a Social Worker. What I dislike is that it is not shown the respect that it deserves.

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Nov

12

Strickland Campaign Video for Health Care

Posted on November 12, 2009 at 6:56 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National, State | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I’ve been pretty tough on Governor Ted (I thought I voted for a Democrat) Strickland. But in the end, I’m certainly not going to vote for Kasich. So, I thought I’d share this new Strickland campaign video and a few words from the email that links to it. It’s an effort to show a little support for Ted.

President Obama has called for a health care reform plan that reduces costs, guarantees choice and ensures coverage for all Americans.

Now, that reform is closer than ever to becoming a reality. On Saturday, the House of Representatives voted to pass comprehensive health care reform. It was a historic moment for America — and for all Ohioans.

As Governor, I know how important this issue is to Ohio families. We just released a new video that talks about what my administration has done to improve health care in Ohio. I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished, but we’ll need the right kind of partnership with the federal government to finish the job. That’s why health care reform is so vital.

Now that looks like a Democrat.

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