The CEO of Richmond Virginia’s SPCA accidentally left her dog in a hot car, where the dog later died after several hours. Emotions are mixed with some feeling that the CEO should resign.

What action, if any, do you think should be taken?    

There is a passage in scripture that says “my people perish from lack of knowledge”. On the surface, this fits the civil unrest erupting at Town Hall meetings held around the country about healthcare reform. Forums that started out as civil Q&A town hall meetings have turned into hostile shouting matches. Of course, we are not going to all agree 100 percent on everything, but we should and must be able to agree to disagree civilly with each other. In order to be on the same page, we have to dispel fact from fiction.

There’s a lot of miscommunication circulating through various sources of the media, talk radio, and even politicians. Let me just say that no matter the outcome of this issue, we should be taking names and note the untrustworthy actions of those political leaders that are leading us down this path of lies and deception. 

Ignorance is bliss when discourse is fueled by misinformation. Ridiculous claims that health care reform will promote euthanasia, reduce Medicaid, or bring about a government takeover of health care and, more outlandish, that reform will give the government access to personal bank accounts and take away the right to own a gun – this is all false and deceptive. With the internet, there’s no excuse in a time where information is readily available on any and everything inquiring minds want to know.

Set the record straight by sharing factual information. Get the facts at www.whitehouse.gov for a Health Care Reform Reality Check. We can’t afford to fall prey to the conservative hype, fear tactics, and false blame game rhetoric. We’ve been there, done that! Remember the so called weapons of mass destruction?  Don’t just take my word for it, check out the facts for yourself and help speak and spread the truth.   

LIVE LIFE WITH A PURPOSE, UNTIL NEXT TIME, BE FREE!  

During several of the Town Hall meetings for health care reform, those wishing to exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms have been in attendance with handguns and  assault rifles.

 
While no incidents were reported, does possession of weapons in this type of setting post a potential threat?          
 

Wassup at TanyaFree.com?

Unbelievable ! Bank Sold Woman’s Home by Mistake . Comment on this story or on any issue of your choice. What’s on your mind? 

We are constantly lured by advertisements offering so called free giveaways or deals that sound too good to be true. Just ask the shoppers that placed orders for the 52’ inch flat screen TV for $9.99 at Best Buy. This was apparently a fluke. According to the fine print, Best Buy reserves the right to “revoke offers or correct errors.”  While this issue is harmless for the most part, this is not usually the case in terms of loans, credit cards etc. 

How many times have you received an offer for a new credit card account at a very low interest rate? After months of charges, the initial introductory rate is adjusted to an exorbitant rate with the details buried in the fine print. The card member agreement, a binding agreement between the card issuer and customer, provides the terms of a credit card account. Or more simply put – it’s the information that can really cost you a lot more money because the devil is in the details! It is important to understand the terms of the agreement, especially if there is language that is unclear. Don’t sign anything until you completely understand all the terms and conditions.   

Protect your hard earned money. Take the time to read the fine print. 

An Australian court ruled that a 49-year old quadriplegic should not be administered food and water against his wishes. The patient is fed though a tube in his stomach. The ruling set a legal precedent in Australia.  
Should a patient be given the legal choice to administer their own treatment even if it includes death?     

Express yourself on the subject of your choice. What’s on your mind?
A 52 inch flat screen TV for $9.99? Watch the video and you be the judge. 

There has been a lot of talk regarding President Obama’s first 200 days in office, talk that has taken us away from the big picture.  Two hundred days ago, the administration inherited a $1.3 trillion dollar deficit, rising unemployment, a banking system on the verge of collapse and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two hundred days later, our involvement in Iraq is winding down and our new targeted commitment in Afghanistan is showing progress. The American Reinvestment Act has made critical investments in our economy, resulting in record profits on Wall Street, resurgence in the auto industry and a lower jobless rate for the first time in a year. Efforts are underway to continue the stabilization of the housing crisis and healthcare reform is pending. Our relationships have improved greatly around the world and communication in some instances restored.        

There are many who say that this administration is too ambitious and taking on too much at one time. I say that you play the hand that you are dealt. Now is the time to show your support if you believe the country is making progress. I agree with the group Organizing for America that we must continue to invest in and improve our efforts in healthcare, energy and education while restoring fiscal accountability in spending.

Don’t believe the media hype, the town hall disruptions, arbitrary poll grades, threats and misleading information regarding healthcare reform that is all designed to derail the progress made over the past 200 days. Compare the last 200 days with the preceding eight years. You make the call.

Show your support, stand up and be heard. We voted for change, not the status quo.
 

President Obama has been in office for 200 days. Based on the country’s present global and economic conditions, how would you rate his performance?

Watch This Week's Presidential Address here on www.TanyaFree.com

Today is your day to share the good, bad and the ugly. What’s on your mind?

New dress code or new mayor? Watch and post your comment.  

Racial profiling is nothing new and there is no question it exists. But, what a difference a few weeks can make or does it? Aside from who acted stupidly in the Gates vs. Crowley incident, for about two weeks, the issue of racial profiling sparked national media attention. Like surround sound, nearly every media source ran with the story on whether the ordeal was really an encounter of racial profiling. But, when the President weighed in on the situation with unscripted remarks, the media took a turn that diverted from the issue of racial profiling. 

With the help of the media, Crowley became the victim with the police unions calling for an apology from the President. The mounting tensions, played out in the media, gave way to the meeting at the White House, a meeting the media called a summit. A true dialogue on racial profiling was minimized to an off the record beerfest. While the buzz was centered on what type of beer Gates, Crowley and the President would be drinking, inconsistencies in Crowley’s report were unfolding. The 911 caller came forward to clear the record that she never identified or used the word “black” during the 911 call. It was too little, too late since the media had moved on to other issues.               
 
Two weeks of what appeared to be a national breakthrough on how people of color are interrogated, detained, or harassed simply because they are being profiled by a one size fits all stereotype got derailed by the media, perhaps by design. It’s unfortunate that a national dialogue did not prevail. Chances of a real summit may be better served between local police departments and citizens.
 

A 2004 Gallup Poll revealed that 67% of  African Americans and 63% of Hispanic Americans feel racial profiling is widespread in traffic stops compared to 50% of White Americans.  

Have you ever been a victim of racial profiling? Share your experiences here with the Tanya Free community.