The great divide across America is becomming like the Grand Canyon, or a rift deepening daily. Us adults who are participating in this drama see the rifts and cracks: the safety net has long since fallen way down into the canyon. Seeing this little cowboy cheerfully posing for his mother at the Grand Canyon last week, I could not help but focus on his image as one for all our hopes int he future. Even his GAP shirt has meaning here. What will the changes in Medicaid, Medicare, funding for social programs, and nuturing our resources do to this cowboy's life in the future? It is a symbol of what I think about when I see the messes and political fol-de-rol of the present Bush Administration. It's bad enough that the Bush vision of Empire must be forceabley spread to the world, but those of other nations should know too that there are visions of much-changed priorities that are becomming grim realities to common US citizens.

While the nation focuses on a few unfortunate souls - victims of the BTK killer (now caught) and Michael Jackson (you know there are far more than these few boy) , there are other people missing daily, like the little Jesse/Jessica girl taken from her bedroom. Yet with quiet words and somewhat hidden announcements, our government takes away rights and approved budgets that will seriously hurt lives of veterans, families in poverty, disabled and dependent adults, the elderly, and children. While at it, take away the guaranteed funds from Social Security and give that good idea into guaranteed funds for stock brockers on the Market. Make Mrs. Uncle Sam be forced to chose amoung her children which shall receive medical care and which shall be cut off.

Sometimes it is not the random acts of violence that do a society in. But looking at the media these days, we are all to focus on a few private horrors and ignore the pervasive horrors coming in with soft words, in obscure places.

At some point I remembered that I had a story still online (I hoped!) in Open Source Politics that I need to retrieve and save. When one decides to finally write a book, it is most helpful to see what you've already written! Flash, inspiration!

Back in September of 2003, I wrote a story of how a Cereal Bowl Leads to the Psych Ward in Open Source Politics. Thankfully, the good folks blogging there continue on with great writers bringing a variety of viewpoints to political issues. AND they had catalogued and preserved archives where the story is still available online. Whew, no need to enlist the Internet Wayback Machine today! Here is the link for those interested:
http://www.ospolitics.org/healthenv/archives/2003/09/21/how_a_cere.php

So what is the point? I am writing about the first 25 years of a family's history. This family. It is a non-fiction work, however some that will eventually read it will find it to be unbelievable in many recountings. Yes, one of my son's was born with severe disabilities, but I have three sons and what has been our lives thus far is a story that is repeated countless times over the years by so many other families. Without giving away too much at this point, yes, I am now collecting those tales told to friends and they will be part of the work.

And thank you Professor Kim, for seeing and taking on the Bush Administration budget cuts to the disabled in your blog. Not only did she catch the story on funding cuts by HALF for low income housing for dependent adults with developmental disabilities and other disabilties - but she ran the story and ADDED HERS on Friday. Salute!