No one could quite say it like George could...

I love Alan Grayson, but couldn't follow his explanation of chained CPI

Okay, this part, I understand... "Social Security benefits are automatically adjusted each year to reflect increases in the cost of living, as determined by the consumer price index (CPI). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the CPI each month."

But, splain how he got this percentage, Lucy -

[div class=""Here is how the "chained CPI" would change things: Let's say that the cost of gasoline tripled, from $3.33 per gallon to $10 per gallon. Most people would call that a 200% increase in the price of gas. That's how it would be calculated under the CPI today. Under the chained CPI, however, it would be calculated at less than 200%, because some people couldn't afford to pay $10 a gallon. They would drive less. They might have to take the bus to work. They might take a "staycation" instead of a vacation.

Because a tripling in the price of gas basically makes everyone poorer, and thus less able to buy gas, the chained CPI doesn't count that as a 200% increase. It reduces the percentage increase in proportion to the amount of gas that people can no longer afford to buy.

In fact, the bigger the price increase (and the poorer people get), the bigger the gap between the actual price increase and the chained CPI adjustment. This effect starts off small, and barely noticeable, but then as time goes by, it swells like a blister. In fact, it swells from $1.4 billion in the first year to $22 billion in the tenth year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. So the chained CPI is inflation protection that, by design, inflation itself erodes. Ain't that just grand?"

"],

Well, it was a good day at the polls, but...

Our job in PA is far from over with this voter ID process.

I was standing in for the Democratic committee and had my certificate to watch the count, get updates and basically question and report if I thought voters were being delayed too long because of this voter ID "question" they were trained to ask.

"May I see your photo ID?", was asked to each voter. I knew this would be a problem for some, and one, in fact, complained that because one inspector insisted on asking this, the voter thought the line was getting too long, which made people turn away. True, some people turned away because they were trying to get to work, and I saw them return later.

However, I did warn the judge at this district that I would call into the authorities because I did had been given this complaint. I must say that an official from the Obama campaign followed up in a timely manner and even came to the polls later on (under control later on).

We have to defeat the notion that photo ID will be needed. This is just a warning shot. I do NOT like what this portends. There are too many mothers with babes in arms, children at the end of arms, people working job(S) and brittle elderly with walkers and portable oxygen requirements to put up with the 4 voting booths per district in response to the needs of the people.

We must do better, now that we've "dodged the bullet" of the Obama re-election. WE HAVE TO!

Thank you for your thoughts!

MMM

TOMORROW, I'M WALKING OFF WITH AN OBAMA SIGN...

... and stand in the busiest intersection in Pennsylvania for an hour at noon.

If you do, too, the sun's gonna come out right about that time... Really!


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I owe an apology to this group

I didn't stop to think for one minute Friday night to fall in with my Ann Coulter-centered hate to remark (and later get hid by a jury, my post). I fell into what I easily accuse others of doing - a snark of transgender for comedy. It clearly is not, and I'm glad someone pointed it out by jury. I needed to have it pointed out.

I'm sorry for being such an asshole and narrow about this. if I wish to compare AC to anything, then it should be something disgusting, not something trans gender.

MMM

MONEY... MESSAGE... MINDS....

I feel the need to blow a whistle after seeing all the concern for polls, in particular Gallup...

It's a private, and more conservative, I would imagine, therefore, heavily influenced POLL.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't be vigilant... That doesn't mean we shouldn't get out the vote.

But, we should not fall into the fear of being led by polls, which is likely to be a strategy of the FAILED REPUBLICAN CORPORATE AGENDA.

Eh, that's what I think, anyway...

Go Tigers! (from transplanted state)

A hearty congratulations and by the way..... Buh-Bye, Yankees... Go buy some more players!

I'm making my green tomato relish again...

My neighbor shared this Italian version, which I am making this year, due to all of my garden's left over green tomatoes. Tell me if you've never tried it, and I'll tell you TO try it!

Steps to the recipe:

~ 4 - 5 cups of finely sliced medium to small green tomatoes put into a non-metal colander, sitting atop a larger, non metal bowl to drain into.

Spread pickling salt over them, mixing to leave them thickly coated.

Press a heavy weight over a dish that covers this and give it 18 hours

Squeeze the bejesus out of it, draining fluid, place the tomatoes back in the large bowl and pour Balsamic vinegar over to cover.

Give it another 18 hours, then remove the tomatoes, squeeze them again, discard vinegar, and return to bowl.

Add LOTS of dried Oregano. Get some Ball jars out, Canola Oil and Olive Oil.

Meanwhile, peel and slice thick pieces of fresh garlic.

Now, place tomatoes into the jars, adding slices of garlic and fill MOSTLY with Canola Oil, but some Olive oil.

Tap out any bubbles and refrigerate. These are really ready to eat, add to an antipasto, or (I love) to spread over fresh Italian bread.

(I'm in the first phase of this, so I'll try to include a picture, but tell me if you've tried this ever and give me your opinion. My husband is not so hot for this treat, so I'll give it away as a gift to my garden partners (we raised 550 pounds of produce this year for local food pantries). It's a nice way to say, "thank you" to anyone (who loves this stuff, that is...)

Mmmmm!

Tribute thread to the unpublished memoirs ....

Or, may you not rest in peace over your single bullet theory, Arlen Specter.

THANK GOD SOMETHING REACHED OUT TO WOMEN...

The next presidency will determine the SCOTUS... and thus... Roe -v- Wade!