2013 - This N That - Getting Caught Up

Happy New Year everybody! I know – it’s been a minute since I last sat down and chat with you about issues in my world. What to tell you, I’ve been going through some stuff and lost my desire/motivation to put my fingers to the keys. But I would be remise if I did not take a moment to weigh in on two major issues from last year that has no doubt affect some, if not all of us, in some way.

Okay, so let’s start with the federal government shutdown which lasted for 16 days (October 1 – 17, 2013). While I learned that government shutdowns are not uncommon, this was technically one of the longest period of time a shutdown has lasted. The first major one I am aware of lasted from November 14 to 19, 1995, and then from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996, which was during the Clinton Administration. The shutdowns of 1995 and 1995–96 were the result of conflicts between Democratic President Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress over funding for Medicare, education, the environment, and public health in the 1996 federal budget. Apparently the government shut down after President Clinton vetoed the spending bill the Republican Party-controlled Congress sent him. Much like this time, the federal government put federal workers on furlough and suspended non-essential services from November 14 through November 19, 1995 and from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996, for a total of 27 days. The major players were President Clinton and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives at the time, Newt Gingrich. Similar to that shutdown, this shutdown, from October 1 through 16, 2013 came about after Congress failed to enact legislation appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014, or a continuing resolution for the interim authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2014. Regular government operations resumed October 17^th after an interim appropriations bill was signed into law.

Just a little history/sidebar for those of you who may have no idea what a government shutdown is exactly or why it happens. According to Wikipedia, “In U.S. politics, a government shutdown is the name for the process the Executive Branch must enter into, when the Congress creates a "funding gap" by choosing not to or failing to pass legislation funding government operations and agencies. If interim or full-year appropriations are not enacted into law, the United States Constitution and the Antideficiency Act require the federal government to begin a "shutdown" of the affected activities. If the funding gap lasts long enough that shutdown plans must be enacted, the law requires the furlough of non-emergency personnel and curtailment of agency activities and services. Programs that are funded by laws other than annual appropriations acts (like Social Security) also may be affected by a funding gap, if program execution relies on activities that receive annually appropriated funding.”

Basically the real issue that caused the shutdown last year was the Republicans' desire to delay or defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), which was signed into law back in 2010. What I found interesting is just how far the Republicans were willing to go to stop something that “the people” had already voted on or rather to undermine President Obama’s leadership. Not only that, they used every opportunity to blame the shutdown on President Obama even though they were the ones who were refusing to approve the fiscal budget if the Healthcare Act was included.  Oh and the media did not help any with their daily bias reporting of the situation and their persistent inferences that President Obama was to blame for the shutdown. One reporter even went so far as to call for President Obama to sit down and negotiate with the Republicans to reach a compromise. He even cited that at least when the shutdown happened during the Clinton Administration, that President Clinton was “talking” to the Republicans, but President Obama was not willing to do so. Are you kidding me? What was there to compromise/negotiate/talk about? The people had already spoken and the bill was already passed. I love the fact that President Obama was unwavering in his decision and stood his ground. I don’t know about you, but I sleep a whole lot better knowing he is in charge. My other issue was with the media reporting that federal employees who were furloughed or who did not report to work during the shutdown would not get paid. Please – everybody knew they would get paid. They always got retroactive pay whenever the government shut down in the past. What made them think this time would be any different? As far as I am concerned it was all just sensationalism and ratings for the media to have something to say. This was one time it would have been best if they had adopted that old saying, “if you ain’t got anything good to say then don’t say anything.” As you know, in the end, a bill to end the shutdown and fund federal agencies through January 15, 2014, passed the Senate and the House and was signed into law on October 17, 2013. And as I suspected all along, federal employees got a 16-day paid holiday for that time.

Finally I have to say something about the whole “Mylie Cyrus” saga. First off please note that I in no way condone or approve of her performance with Robin Thicke on the VMA last August, but let’s face it, it was all staged. You know it was all a part of the producer/network’s attempts to increase rating. It was/is equivalent to Janet Jackson’s supposed “wardrobe malfunction” back in February 2004 when she performed during halftime with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII, which was broadcast live from Houston, Texas. And while the FCC fined CBS a whopping $550,000, it was later voided on appeal in 2011.

That little escapade spent months in the media forefront and generated much of the same frenzy as Mylie’s performance. That “nipplegate” as the incident was sometimes referred to, “was ridiculed both abroad and within the United States [much like the Mylie incident], with some American commentators seeing the incident as a sign of decreasing morality in the national culture.” Say what you like about Mylie, but you have to admit that after that performance she became the most talked about celebrity of the year. Whether you hated or loved her performance, which was a far cry from the simple, coy girl on Hannah Montana, the fact still remains that she gained world fame/recognition after her appearance on the VMA which came shortly on the heels of her new album release and world tour.  

Bottom-line is you really can’t blame Mylie, or any other artists for that matter, for allowing the networks/producers to use them however they see fit to increase ratings. In their desire to be popular most artists no longer think for themselves and are willing to be portrayed any which way for the all mighty dollar or fame, which ever means the most to them. So don’t be shocked or outraged when you see an artist doing something outlandish. Just chop it up to yet another publicity stunt designed to increase ratings and promote/launch that artist’s career. Keep in mind that networks/producers will go to any length to increase ratings. That includes baring a breast, fondling one’s self, or twerking a butt in public.   I’m just saying – I got issues. What about you?)i(

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