Susan from Glendale.

Why I defected from the Republican Party

Sunday was the day that my eyes were opened to deeply misconstrued ideological belief that I belonged to the "right" party. I stood as a Republican/Conservative for many years, holding onto the apron string beliefs that set that party apart from what seemed like a very confused party. The ideals that I held to were simple. I am Pro-Life, I don't like taxes and the government is best when it is seen but not heard. I know, kinda stupid right? That's what I held to. I disliked the Democrat party mainly because they are the complete opposite. I've NEVER believed in handouts for ANY reason. If I've taken a handout, I've returned the favor or have tried.

Then I opened up a book some of you may have heard about. "Common Sense" by author Glenn Beck. I have been watching Glenn Beck for years when he was no one on CNN. I thought he was another liberal but found out very quickly that I was wrong. I started watching more and more and saying to myself, "YES!!! Absolutely!! THAT is EXACTLY how I feel!" As I watched more I started seeing these people called Libertarians that belong to the Libertarian Party. Idistinctly remember not paying attention to anything they said. Besides Libertarians were probably lunatics with crazy ideas about how government works. When I flipped through the pages of the book, Glenn would take quotes from our founding fathers. Again I found myself in total agreement with them. This of course piqued my interest even more. I heard Glenn say in one episode that we need to elect Libertarians to office if you feel the country has gone off course lately. So I did some checking on it. And this is what I found.

Where do we stand?

* Foreign Policy: We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world and avoid entangling alliances.

* Gun Laws: We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition. For the LP's amicus brief in the Heller Supreme Court case, visit http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/pdfs/07-08/07-290_RespondentAmCuLibertarianNtlCmtt.pdf

* Privacy: We support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. The government should not engage in illegal surveillance of American citizens.

*Poverty and Welfare: The proper source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals--not the government.

* Taxes: All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution.

* Crime and Violence: Libertarians want a safe society where citizens do not feel that they are threatened by other individuals or by government itself. By focusing manpower on real crimes instead of prosecuting people for nonviolent, consensual crimes, police will be able to better protect and serve society.

* Environment: Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems.

To my surprise!!! I've been saying the exact same thing I've been saying for YEARS. That we as a country need to butt out of other nations problems to figure out our own problems. We have issues of our own that we need to figure out before we can go and help others. We get nothing out of it many times. I'm sorry but if we are bailing your ass out, we should be getting something in return other than friendship. Taxes! I work for my money, leave it alone. Just because I make money doesn't mean that I should owe anything to the governement including money. Mostly, I think that nothing gets done with Reps or Dems. There's too much bitching back and forth for ANYTHING to get done.

I believe that the Constitution is the backbone of this country. I believe that our PUBLIC SERVANTS that WE elect should uphold the law and be held to the law like everyone else. I believe that these officials should be paid accordingly and be given raises based on their works and how they progress our country for the better. I believe that THE PEOPLE are the deciders of this country and in a truly democratic society is one based on the voice of the people, not what elected officials believe is the right thing for us. I believe that to be a truly progressive country that the government needs to stay out of the personal lives of it's citizens. I believe that hard work and determination is what it takes to realize the American Dreams. I don't believe that handouts help the country.

frustrated

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Ever feel the need to write some shit down and can't find the damn words anywere. Nothing wants to flow, and nothing wants to see the light of day. So many things in my head and I don't know where to start. It's like I haven't written in so long that it all wants out at the same time.

The Ultrasound

Looks like we are having another girl! Don't know if you can see it BUT she's already a ROCKER chick!!!! Top pic on the right you can see her hand sporting the "rocker sign" or devil horns. Hell YEA!!!! And she could be a boxer, the next pic shows her fighting hands, she's got the hands up protecting her face. OR she could be my little drummer chick, AWESOME!!!



















Profile pics. She's 19 weeks old and she's already adorable. It's going to be a long teenage road for me. I'm warning all little boys now... Don't even think about it, I'll have a gun by the time your out of diapers. Think twice.

Nice guys really do finish last... Or do they?

So here's the deal. We had an ultrasound for our second child today. Last friday I had asked another co-worker if she would trade shifts with me, via text message. Well the whole weekend I didn't hear anything from her. So I figured, in my tiny little brain, that I would call my department boss and ask if I could be excused for a couple hours, go to the ultrasound (US) and return to work right after it was done. I simply wanted to go to make sure nothing was wrong with my wife or daughter, and if there was we could get a head start on it by talking to the doctor. US are NOT just about finding out the sex of your child. That's a huge bill just to find that out. They can find spinabifida, brain issues, cleft pallet, growth issues, stress issues, down syndrome and many many other issues. I'm amazed that there are people that don't know this.

So I called my department boss, he said he couldn't excuse me and that I'd have to talk with the HR manager. So I got off the phone with him, called R.L. our HR manager and left a message. This was around 1030am or so. I explained the issue apologized for it being a late notice but needed an answer before my shift was to start at 230pm. So I waited and waited and waited til 1230pm. Called 2 other times in there with no answer from R.L. Called my DB, again, and siad I was still waiting for an answer. He said he'd get to the bottom of it. Get a call at 130pm from my DB. "I talked to R.L. and she said...she's not... going to excuse your couple hours off..." We talked and he said "do what you gotta do."

So I called in sick. Not a biggie right. Well holiday pay is. I lost 8 hours for friday another 8 hours of time and a half on sat and since I had to call in cause they wouldn't excuse 2 and a half hours so I lost another 8 hours. And for what? My department ran ONE machine while I was gone. On TOP OF THAT, they were sending people home early cause we don't have work right now due to our contract negotiations. Then I find out that they allowed a coworker of mine to have excused time off for a european vacation. But I can't get 2.5 hours off, UNPAID and come back in to work the rest of my shift?

My issue with this is this.
1. H.R. manager R.L. didn't call me back because she "was too busy." Um excuse me but isn't your job to handle these types of issues in a timely manner, like before it causes someone to miss a Dr appointment or force them to call in?
2. We are running 1 machine and have little to no work that we are sending people home.
3. My record there is clean, and I busted my ass to get it back to clean (absenses) and to stay that way. I've followed the rules, I do my job and help make my company millions in sales every year, I do what I'm told without bitching (much, but never out loud) and have any and all paperwork done the way they need it so they can do their job.
4. I don't abuse the attendance policy, or the FMLA policy (because I don't have it and like last time never got it cause METLIFE doesn't know how to do their job) I don't abuse any policies that they have in place. I'm a by the book follow the rules type of guy, anyone will tell you that.
5. An Operator that's been there like 30+ years called in 3 days last week. M-Wed, comes in Thurs for 4 hours and is asked if he wants to go home and he does. Because he came in Thurs and showed up today, he gets his holiday pay. Why does he call in, he gets headaches. OH and he just got his FMLA back. So why not right?
6. I was on a 12 hour day continuous shift. (work 3 off 3 work 4 off 7 etc etc) and they put all of us back on 40 hour shifts. So today was my scheduled day off, it was set for my day off.

There's more but those are the biggest. I get fucked after following the rules, and people that abuse the policies still have jobs and still get their holiday pay. So it really is true. Nice guys really do finish last... For now maybe... I go into work Tues and I plan on filing a grievence with my union. And if it turns out that I get nowhere with them I plan on calling my union president. The head of the USW and explaining that the union does nothing to help it's brothers or sisters and it's all bullshit and it all depends on who you are if you get approved for anything. I'm tired of following the rules and being the one that gets it in the end. I'm tired of being the nice guy and getting slapped in the face. I'm tired of busting my ASS day in and day out to turn a profit for other people and being treated like a piece of shit when I need my company to understand. It's always about the company and the bottom line. Family isn't allowed to take any presidence or at least presidence over business. Here's a little something for my job. My FAMILY will ALWAYS come first!!! So eat it.