My power bill keeps going up and yet I'm regularly using less power each month than last year. I know I voted for that recent Go-Green ballot measure but it wasn't supposed to be a big increase and this steady rate hike has been going on for some time now. What gives?

Isn't there a formal public process for standard rate hikes?

Am I alone in this maddening sinking feeling of being robbed?

Should I just shut up and obey my cororate masters?

So, I am pretty sure that being a good patriotic citizen means patronizing local (all American) businesses in favor of behemoth multinational corporations that dress themselves in the stars and stripes while Headquartered on the shores of Barbados. I think I would exchange my money for goods and services here in my community instead of Exploit-all-Mart or Decapa-hella-Burton.

So Independence day came along and I was expected to buy paper tubes packed with gunpowder and to ignite them in the wee hours. This activity would have had the added benefit of traumatizing all the cats and dogs within earshot and fouling the air with sulfur and Nitric compounds which is also excellent for creating acid rain.

So here is the central thought: If I buy festive explosives; where, pray-tell do I purchase them? From the "All-Kinda-Bomb-Bros" in the parking lot of every local mega Church and chain grocery store? Or, perhaps I could buy the illegal wares from the Rez . . . Where their rockets and explosives are tipped with testosterone! Ohh, I just can't decide. Local, which is not really local. Or not local, but helping our Native brothers. Hmmm, Oh conundrum! Wait a minute! Don't they all get their neighborhood napalm from one source?!

I have a show that I volunteer for as a DJ on KOWA-LP 106.5 This low power station is a non profit organization affiliated with Media Island. My show is called the Nooner (it happens at noon), on Mondays. I focus on topical news issues and their relevance in mental health. I am knowledgeable in mental health (though not a Doctor), and feel the need to tear down the veil of ignorance since there is so little real discussion about mental health that doesn’t involve Big Pharma. I feel that its important to keep the subject on the table. People don’t realize that twenty five percent of the population suffers from some kind of depression at any given time. And there are a dozen of other mental health conditions that are looked upon with fear and ignorance. If someone likes satire, sarcasm and flaming liberalism, well this is the show for you.

I try to talk a couple of hours, but it varies and has lots of Danzio controversy, so I won’t detail it here. You’ll just have to listen to the show or read my blog. KOWA-LP hosts other shows that are relevant to our Olympia community. Hobo Radio hosted by josh is good example. A large population of homeless folks have active mental health issues. KOWA-LP has been around for about a year and is strapped for cash, has old failing equipment and is in desperate need of cash donations. It is a local voice that needs your support.

When I last suggested that EMMINANT DOMAIN could be useful for helping the disabled, homeless and elderly, by acquiring abandoned properties for the public good, the Republicans attacked! Well maybe they weren’t Republicans but the dogma some used sure smelled familiar and I was hit with crazy viral spam within a day. They reacted emotionally, ignored the premise, and used the standard “either/or” choice that uses fear as a means to discount the idea. Others commented more rationally with critical thoughts and questions. I appreciate critical inquiry much more than the Regan-esque call to the 9 scariest words (which was hypocritical crap because he was from the government). But I digress. Let me lay the idea out more fully and I invite comment.

First, the City counsel will not likely do anything to anger the local real-estate association., so out-right confiscation of used homes or businesses is unreasonable and highly unlikely.

Second, The City Counsel will not likely do anything to anger the voters, so out-right confiscation of used homes or businesses is unreasonable and highly unlikely.

Third, Subsidies are decreasing both in volume and substance. HUD/HATC, Food stamps, Medicaid, TANIF, public mental health, VA services and other related government programs meant to help the poor, disabled and elderly are serving a larger population with fewer dollars. That is a fact.

Fourth, EMMINANT DOMAIN involves adequate compensation to the owner, is a process beyond a single act, and is meant serve the public good. There is always debate.

I propose a solution to the homeless crisis, the social service crisis and the steady drop in funding for the poor, the disabled and the elderly. The City of Olympia, Tumwater or Lacey can declare EMINENT DOMAIN on an abandoned building and literally give it or lease it to a social service agency or Church or Non-Profit. This agency would then use it in trust, used exclusively for the purpoase of helping the 1000s in need. It is so simple. It is so easy. Naturally, Republicans will hate it!

Photoshop is amazing.