Hi Everyone:
Something is about to happen that should make all of us yell out our windows that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore! What I am talking about is that the big banks are about to dole out 140 billion dollars in bonuses. WHAT!!!!!! Yes! JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo are about to do just that. Bank of America will not be joining that group due to the fact that they lost a billion dollars. But the other 3 have just made the most money in their history and therefore feel it necessary to pay out huge bonuses.
Let's look at their recent history. Last year these same big 3 banks paid out 130 billion dollars in bonuses. Lest we forget that it was these same banks that thought it was a good idea to sell sub-prime mortgages which broke the camels back and pushed us into the "Great Recession". The same employees that pushed and sold the sub-prime mortgages were the ones who were rewarded with huge bonuses because they made an obscene amount of money for their employers. But wait, then the mortgagees then started to default on their loans and these banks didn't have enough reserves to cover the defaults. Then what happened? They asked for and received bailout money that was in the billions and billions of dollars. Where did all of that bailout money come from? The U.S. government of course, which we all know is made up of all of the hard working tax payers in this country.
Everyone in this country should be extremely outraged. Why? Well it seems that these banks have not fully paid back their bailout loans yet. They do not seem to care about reimbursing us, the tax payers first. What these banks seem to care about is to pay these outrageous bonuses to keep their so-called top performing employees. Top performing employees? These are the same employees who created the idea and then sold the sub-prime mortgages which led to the, (had to be anticipated) loan defaults, which led to our "Great Recession" which then ultimately led to them receiving the bailout money. These are their best employees? You have got to be kidding to me!
These banks have no right, what so ever, to pay out bonuses with our money without paying us back first. How dare they!!!!!!! The very sad and unfortunate part of this continuing saga is that these banks didn't make their most recent obscene profits from doing what banks used to do best and that was making loans. These banks, even with all of the bailout money they received, didn't make credit more available. They did the complete opposite, by making credit less available. First they used the bailout money to shore up their bottom lines and then they made all of these profits by doing anything but giving out more loans. They invested in risking ventures that happened to turn profitable. Good for them, bad for us. PAY US BACK OUR MONEY FIRST YOU SHYSTERS!
Now since they have no intentions of paying back the bailout money first, I have an idea that we should all consider..................... There are thousands of small town banks and who knows how many small investment firms in this country that did not sell sub-prime mortgages and are consequently in great financial shape. Why don't we all take our money out of the big banks and invest it in the small town banks and financially solvent investment firms? This would send a message to the big banks that they will understand and also tell them that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore.
Common sense rules and greedy banks don't make any sense.
Til next week.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Motorcycle Riding In CT.
Hi Everyone:
I was in Connecticut last week and I was amazed at what still goes on in this state. As I was traveling on a major highway, Route 84, numerous motorcyclists passed me. What was disconcerting to me is that one can still ride a motorcycle in Connecticut without wearing a helmet. None of the motorcyclists that passed me were wearing a helmet. The funny thing is that a few of them did have a helmet strapped down on the seat behind them. Since New York state requires wearing a helmet, they were prepared to cross the state line.
The lack of a law requiring the wearing of a helmet just doesn't make any common sense to me. A bad accident on a motorcycle is almost always worse for the driver then if they were driving a car. There is obviously no protective barrier in the front, back or sides. There are also no front or side airbags to help protect the driver. There are no seat belts. Though I'm not sure that would even be an option. So what is left to protect the driver? Besides wearing body armor, which no one would wear; wearing a helmet is about the only really protection a driver can wear.
Besides the obvious fact of a fatality due to a catastrophic head injury, non-lethal but severe head injuries can be devastating not only to the driver but also to their families and friends. Coma's are not an unusual result of severe head injuries. Even if the driver does not go into a coma, it is also not unusual for the driver to have to live the rest of their lives with: memory problems, speech problems, eyesight problems, or the loss of the use of a limb or two or all. Even after undergoing intense physical therapy and most likely occupational therapy (to relearn the regular activities of daily living), that can last for weeks and months, there are no guarantees that the person will ever be their normal self again. All of that because they chose not to wear a helmet because there was no law requiring it.
There are a lot of insurance policies that have caps as to how much the insurance will cover over a lifetime. The insurance companies call it the lifetime max. It doesn't take long to max out an insurance policy with severe head and body injuries. When that insurance runs out and they are still in need of medical care, maybe even lifetime care, they will then be covered by medicare which we all pay for via deductions from our paychecks. Then insurance costs increase and is passed on to each and every one of us.
Wearing a helmet doesn't guarantee that the wearer will escape a severe head injury, but it may minimize it. In my point of view, whether or not there is a law requiring the wearing of a helmet, it just makes common sense to wear one! The old saying goes that it is better to be safe than sorry. I'm not sure feeling the wind in your hair is worth the possible lifetime problems that can and do occur in a motorcycle accident.
Common sense rules and hair blowing in the wind looses.
Til next week.
I was in Connecticut last week and I was amazed at what still goes on in this state. As I was traveling on a major highway, Route 84, numerous motorcyclists passed me. What was disconcerting to me is that one can still ride a motorcycle in Connecticut without wearing a helmet. None of the motorcyclists that passed me were wearing a helmet. The funny thing is that a few of them did have a helmet strapped down on the seat behind them. Since New York state requires wearing a helmet, they were prepared to cross the state line.
The lack of a law requiring the wearing of a helmet just doesn't make any common sense to me. A bad accident on a motorcycle is almost always worse for the driver then if they were driving a car. There is obviously no protective barrier in the front, back or sides. There are also no front or side airbags to help protect the driver. There are no seat belts. Though I'm not sure that would even be an option. So what is left to protect the driver? Besides wearing body armor, which no one would wear; wearing a helmet is about the only really protection a driver can wear.
Besides the obvious fact of a fatality due to a catastrophic head injury, non-lethal but severe head injuries can be devastating not only to the driver but also to their families and friends. Coma's are not an unusual result of severe head injuries. Even if the driver does not go into a coma, it is also not unusual for the driver to have to live the rest of their lives with: memory problems, speech problems, eyesight problems, or the loss of the use of a limb or two or all. Even after undergoing intense physical therapy and most likely occupational therapy (to relearn the regular activities of daily living), that can last for weeks and months, there are no guarantees that the person will ever be their normal self again. All of that because they chose not to wear a helmet because there was no law requiring it.
There are a lot of insurance policies that have caps as to how much the insurance will cover over a lifetime. The insurance companies call it the lifetime max. It doesn't take long to max out an insurance policy with severe head and body injuries. When that insurance runs out and they are still in need of medical care, maybe even lifetime care, they will then be covered by medicare which we all pay for via deductions from our paychecks. Then insurance costs increase and is passed on to each and every one of us.
Wearing a helmet doesn't guarantee that the wearer will escape a severe head injury, but it may minimize it. In my point of view, whether or not there is a law requiring the wearing of a helmet, it just makes common sense to wear one! The old saying goes that it is better to be safe than sorry. I'm not sure feeling the wind in your hair is worth the possible lifetime problems that can and do occur in a motorcycle accident.
Common sense rules and hair blowing in the wind looses.
Til next week.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
H1N1 Flu Vaccine vs Common Sense
Hi Everyone:
I learned this week that a while ago, New York State passed a law that mandates all health care professionals to get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. Sounds like a good idea right? Well not according to a minority of health care professionals here in New York State.
It seems that there are some health care professionals that are against receiving the vaccine. They say that it is wrong to mandate it because it is against their civil liberties. They plan NOT to get the vaccine and fight having to receive it every step of the way, including filing a lawsuit. Oh you've got to be kidding me. Can these health care professionals be serious? Health care professionals are part of the first responders that care for people who are sick.
The 1918 flu epidemic that swept across the world killed millions of people. Even though this years swine flu will not be that bad, scientists are concerned that this second round of swine flu may mutate and consequently sicken and most likely, more people will die from it then last year, especially if they have other health problems i.e.: any type of lung disease. Why then don't those Health Care Professionals want to get the vaccine? Not receiving the vaccine is extremely short sighted and they are the ones who should and do know better. The bigger picture is that if the vaccine works, then it is good for the larger population so that the flu is not spread by the professionals who treat them. To me that is absolutely the only common sense approach to help stem the spread of the flu by health care professionals to others who may not be infected, including their own families and friends.
Of course there are other ways that all of us can help to stop the spread. A few of those ways are: 1) Sneeze into the crux of your elbow.
2) If you sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue out asap and don't put it in your pocket.
3) If you are sick, stay home.
4) Wash your hands thoroughly.
5) If you touch handrails, doorknobs, handles or any other surface that other people touch, do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Then wash your hands as soon as you are able.
6) Never press elevator buttons with the tip of your finger, use your knuckle instead.
7) Use common sense.
I learned this week that a while ago, New York State passed a law that mandates all health care professionals to get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. Sounds like a good idea right? Well not according to a minority of health care professionals here in New York State.
It seems that there are some health care professionals that are against receiving the vaccine. They say that it is wrong to mandate it because it is against their civil liberties. They plan NOT to get the vaccine and fight having to receive it every step of the way, including filing a lawsuit. Oh you've got to be kidding me. Can these health care professionals be serious? Health care professionals are part of the first responders that care for people who are sick.
The 1918 flu epidemic that swept across the world killed millions of people. Even though this years swine flu will not be that bad, scientists are concerned that this second round of swine flu may mutate and consequently sicken and most likely, more people will die from it then last year, especially if they have other health problems i.e.: any type of lung disease. Why then don't those Health Care Professionals want to get the vaccine? Not receiving the vaccine is extremely short sighted and they are the ones who should and do know better. The bigger picture is that if the vaccine works, then it is good for the larger population so that the flu is not spread by the professionals who treat them. To me that is absolutely the only common sense approach to help stem the spread of the flu by health care professionals to others who may not be infected, including their own families and friends.
Of course there are other ways that all of us can help to stop the spread. A few of those ways are: 1) Sneeze into the crux of your elbow.
2) If you sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue out asap and don't put it in your pocket.
3) If you are sick, stay home.
4) Wash your hands thoroughly.
5) If you touch handrails, doorknobs, handles or any other surface that other people touch, do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Then wash your hands as soon as you are able.
6) Never press elevator buttons with the tip of your finger, use your knuckle instead.
7) Use common sense.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Lack of Common Sense or Stupidity
Hi Everyone:
So my wife and I went out to dinner recently and we were astounded at what the waitress did.
The hostess seated us at a table that had just been cleaned off but had not yet been set up. A short while later the waitress arrived to take our drink order. She noticed that there were no placemats, napkins or silverware. She said she would be right back. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands.
While I was walking back towards our table I noticed that the waitress had returned and had already placed down the placemats and napkins. Then she did something that astounded me. She held the silverware by the business ends instead of the handles when she placed them on the table. By the time I arrived at our table the waitress had left. My wife hadn't noticed due to the fact that she was reading the menu. I mentioned to my wife what the waitress had done. My wife, in her infinite wisdom, asked me not to say anything. So we cleaned off our silverware with the napkins and I didn't say anything. My mistake!
The waitress then returned with our drinks. Unbelievably she was holding them by the top of the glasses, where our lips would touch, instead of the body of the glasses. I could not hold my tongue this time and I told her that was not the correct way to hold the glasses. She apologized. My wife and I then wiped off our glasses with our napkins and asked her for some more clean napkins.
Now I would presume and hope that she would have been trained on how to properly hold silverware, that's why there are handles, and the proper way to hold and serve glasses. Even if she had not paid attention to her trainer, you would at least think that common sense would have kicked in. But apparently that was not the case with us. In these times, with the regular flu and the swine flu set to rear their ugly heads, it is very important to try to not spread germs of any kind. Holding silverware and glasses incorrectly will undoubtedly spread any germs that are on the wait staffs fingers and or hands.
I am glad that I spoke up and told the waitress of her mistakes and can only hope that she does not do it again.
Common sense rules!
Til next week.
So my wife and I went out to dinner recently and we were astounded at what the waitress did.
The hostess seated us at a table that had just been cleaned off but had not yet been set up. A short while later the waitress arrived to take our drink order. She noticed that there were no placemats, napkins or silverware. She said she would be right back. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands.
While I was walking back towards our table I noticed that the waitress had returned and had already placed down the placemats and napkins. Then she did something that astounded me. She held the silverware by the business ends instead of the handles when she placed them on the table. By the time I arrived at our table the waitress had left. My wife hadn't noticed due to the fact that she was reading the menu. I mentioned to my wife what the waitress had done. My wife, in her infinite wisdom, asked me not to say anything. So we cleaned off our silverware with the napkins and I didn't say anything. My mistake!
The waitress then returned with our drinks. Unbelievably she was holding them by the top of the glasses, where our lips would touch, instead of the body of the glasses. I could not hold my tongue this time and I told her that was not the correct way to hold the glasses. She apologized. My wife and I then wiped off our glasses with our napkins and asked her for some more clean napkins.
Now I would presume and hope that she would have been trained on how to properly hold silverware, that's why there are handles, and the proper way to hold and serve glasses. Even if she had not paid attention to her trainer, you would at least think that common sense would have kicked in. But apparently that was not the case with us. In these times, with the regular flu and the swine flu set to rear their ugly heads, it is very important to try to not spread germs of any kind. Holding silverware and glasses incorrectly will undoubtedly spread any germs that are on the wait staffs fingers and or hands.
I am glad that I spoke up and told the waitress of her mistakes and can only hope that she does not do it again.
Common sense rules!
Til next week.
Monday, September 21, 2009
They're At It Again
Hi Everyone:
In my college Economics 101 class, I learned about supply side economics. If demand increases, supply goes down and prices rise. On the other hand, if demand decreases, supply increases and prices decrease. Everything you and I learned about supply side economics can now be thrown out the window or better yet flushed down the toilet because that theory no longer holds any water!
I have written about a similar problem twice before on 3/8/09 and 6/21/09; but today's topic is about natural gas prices. On 9/16/09, I read in my newspaper, an article that was buried in the paper and not front page news; that natural gas prices spiked more then 13%, while crude oil prices fell for the second straight day. Natural gas prices settled at $3.297 per 1000 cubic feet. That is up 33.7 cents. Now you might be thinking that natural gas prices usually do climb right before the heating season begins, but a 13% increase in prices? Not so fast with that way of thinking. Presently, there is an enormous glut in the supply of natural gas. We are also obviously still in a terrible recession which means with less money to spend, people conserve and use less natural gas in order to save money. In addition, people buy less manufactured products to also save money. That translates into manufacturers using less natural gas to build less products. All total it means less demand. But wait, supply side economics says that when demand is down and supply is up, prices decrease. That no longer seems to be true in this day and age of never ending greed with the investment banks.
If demand is down and supply up, why then the huge increase in prices when the prices should be going down? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Just like crude oil prices that more then doubled last year, the one and only reason I can figure out why there was such a huge price increase is due to.................drum roll please.................here we go again..................... speculators. What other reason is there? To my knowledge, there are no distribution problems. Last year it was speculators, (not the supposed increase of China's and India's demand as we were told) who drove up the price of crude oil to levels never before seen and they made a ton of money doing it. Investment houses greed is rearing its ugly head again because now they are starting with natural gas prices. What the hell?
With such a huge supply glut of natural gas and prices jumping 13%, why isn't this front page news and a hot topic for TV news. Why aren't all the millions and millions of natural gas customers yelling out their windows that they are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That I do not have an answer for.
I do believe though, that a law should be passed that forbids speculating on natural gas and crude oil. Let the prices of natural gas and crude oil be based solely on supply side economics without any outside influence, i.e.: speculators. Risking the health of our already terribly weak economy is absolutely the wrong way to go and will do more damage. If we head down that road, our recession could very easily turn into a depression and the current 9.7% national unemployment rate will seem like the good old days. Speculators, in my book, started this recession last year with their greed regarding crude oil and have to be stopped ASAP. If anything, our country's economy and also the world's economy needs stable prices in order to help us all climb out of this recession.
Increasing natural gas prices when there is such a glut makes no common sense and we need a whole lot of common sense right about now. Something needs to be done today because waiting until tomorrow just may be the straw that breaks the camels back.
What do you think? Post a comment and let me know.
Common sense rules and greed drools.
Til next week.
In my college Economics 101 class, I learned about supply side economics. If demand increases, supply goes down and prices rise. On the other hand, if demand decreases, supply increases and prices decrease. Everything you and I learned about supply side economics can now be thrown out the window or better yet flushed down the toilet because that theory no longer holds any water!
I have written about a similar problem twice before on 3/8/09 and 6/21/09; but today's topic is about natural gas prices. On 9/16/09, I read in my newspaper, an article that was buried in the paper and not front page news; that natural gas prices spiked more then 13%, while crude oil prices fell for the second straight day. Natural gas prices settled at $3.297 per 1000 cubic feet. That is up 33.7 cents. Now you might be thinking that natural gas prices usually do climb right before the heating season begins, but a 13% increase in prices? Not so fast with that way of thinking. Presently, there is an enormous glut in the supply of natural gas. We are also obviously still in a terrible recession which means with less money to spend, people conserve and use less natural gas in order to save money. In addition, people buy less manufactured products to also save money. That translates into manufacturers using less natural gas to build less products. All total it means less demand. But wait, supply side economics says that when demand is down and supply is up, prices decrease. That no longer seems to be true in this day and age of never ending greed with the investment banks.
If demand is down and supply up, why then the huge increase in prices when the prices should be going down? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Just like crude oil prices that more then doubled last year, the one and only reason I can figure out why there was such a huge price increase is due to.................drum roll please.................here we go again..................... speculators. What other reason is there? To my knowledge, there are no distribution problems. Last year it was speculators, (not the supposed increase of China's and India's demand as we were told) who drove up the price of crude oil to levels never before seen and they made a ton of money doing it. Investment houses greed is rearing its ugly head again because now they are starting with natural gas prices. What the hell?
With such a huge supply glut of natural gas and prices jumping 13%, why isn't this front page news and a hot topic for TV news. Why aren't all the millions and millions of natural gas customers yelling out their windows that they are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That I do not have an answer for.
I do believe though, that a law should be passed that forbids speculating on natural gas and crude oil. Let the prices of natural gas and crude oil be based solely on supply side economics without any outside influence, i.e.: speculators. Risking the health of our already terribly weak economy is absolutely the wrong way to go and will do more damage. If we head down that road, our recession could very easily turn into a depression and the current 9.7% national unemployment rate will seem like the good old days. Speculators, in my book, started this recession last year with their greed regarding crude oil and have to be stopped ASAP. If anything, our country's economy and also the world's economy needs stable prices in order to help us all climb out of this recession.
Increasing natural gas prices when there is such a glut makes no common sense and we need a whole lot of common sense right about now. Something needs to be done today because waiting until tomorrow just may be the straw that breaks the camels back.
What do you think? Post a comment and let me know.
Common sense rules and greed drools.
Til next week.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lack of Common Sense lead to a Lack of Civility
Hi Everyone:
Something occurred this past Wednesday, 9/8 that has never ever happened before in this country. What I am talking about is what Rep. Joe Wilson said during President Obama's speech to both houses of Congress.
As a side note, from 1800 to 1913, Presidents of the USA never addressed Congress. Since then when Presidents gave speeches to Congress, members of the opposite side of the aisle have occasionally booed or jeered as expressions of dissent on a specific point. Rep. Wilson has now taken it to a whole new level.
As we all know, Wednesday evening, President Obama gave a speech regarding his health plan initiative. I will not, as I said in my first blog, get political in my blog. I will try to stay apolitical. This blog is not about whether you are for or against the Presidents health care ideas. Today's blog is about what Rep. Joe Wilson from South Carolina said during the President's speech. I believe that President Obama gave the speech to correct all the mistruths and inaccuracies about his health care changes. Please see my 8/16 blog. At the point in his speech when he told Congress and the American public that illegal immigrants would not be eligible to receive a health care plan (as part of the uninsured); Rep Wilson took it upon himself to yell at President Obama, "You Lie". You could see the entire room look in the Representative's area with bewilderment and silence. Never before has any person verbally expressed one's opposition to a President's speech. I hope this is not the start of a new way to express one's self during any President's speech.
Prior to President Obama's speech, I firmly believed that the entire debate on health care has become less about facts and more about emotions. Boy I was surprised to hear Joe Scarborough on the evening news saying that exact same thing. Joe Scaborough added that what Rep. Wilson did shows that the Republican party lacks temperament. I am not in agreement with that statement because I do not believe that Rep. Wilson speaks for the entire party. He is though, a member of the GOP and his statement does not bode well for his party. Protocol and civility are both extremely important in both houses of Congress. There are proper channels to vent one's opposition.
To have an elected official call the President of the US a liar is not only a serious breech (accusations of lying are forbidden under House rules) per the Journal News, but also extremely rare in politics. It is okay to disagree, but do it with civility and debate the issue(s) with civility. It is obviously apparent that Rep. Wilson did not show any civility. But even if he didn't have any civility, if he at least had any common sense, he would have known not to have said what he said, when he said it.
I found it interesting though that Rep. Wilson did not issue an apology until forced by his own party to do so. I think he should apologize to the President on the floor. But I don't think that will ever happen, which itself is unfortunate.
As I do more and more posts, I really believe that politicians seem to be the largest group of people who need to learn about common sense and how easy it is to use.
Common sense rules.
Til next week.
Something occurred this past Wednesday, 9/8 that has never ever happened before in this country. What I am talking about is what Rep. Joe Wilson said during President Obama's speech to both houses of Congress.
As a side note, from 1800 to 1913, Presidents of the USA never addressed Congress. Since then when Presidents gave speeches to Congress, members of the opposite side of the aisle have occasionally booed or jeered as expressions of dissent on a specific point. Rep. Wilson has now taken it to a whole new level.
As we all know, Wednesday evening, President Obama gave a speech regarding his health plan initiative. I will not, as I said in my first blog, get political in my blog. I will try to stay apolitical. This blog is not about whether you are for or against the Presidents health care ideas. Today's blog is about what Rep. Joe Wilson from South Carolina said during the President's speech. I believe that President Obama gave the speech to correct all the mistruths and inaccuracies about his health care changes. Please see my 8/16 blog. At the point in his speech when he told Congress and the American public that illegal immigrants would not be eligible to receive a health care plan (as part of the uninsured); Rep Wilson took it upon himself to yell at President Obama, "You Lie". You could see the entire room look in the Representative's area with bewilderment and silence. Never before has any person verbally expressed one's opposition to a President's speech. I hope this is not the start of a new way to express one's self during any President's speech.
Prior to President Obama's speech, I firmly believed that the entire debate on health care has become less about facts and more about emotions. Boy I was surprised to hear Joe Scarborough on the evening news saying that exact same thing. Joe Scaborough added that what Rep. Wilson did shows that the Republican party lacks temperament. I am not in agreement with that statement because I do not believe that Rep. Wilson speaks for the entire party. He is though, a member of the GOP and his statement does not bode well for his party. Protocol and civility are both extremely important in both houses of Congress. There are proper channels to vent one's opposition.
To have an elected official call the President of the US a liar is not only a serious breech (accusations of lying are forbidden under House rules) per the Journal News, but also extremely rare in politics. It is okay to disagree, but do it with civility and debate the issue(s) with civility. It is obviously apparent that Rep. Wilson did not show any civility. But even if he didn't have any civility, if he at least had any common sense, he would have known not to have said what he said, when he said it.
I found it interesting though that Rep. Wilson did not issue an apology until forced by his own party to do so. I think he should apologize to the President on the floor. But I don't think that will ever happen, which itself is unfortunate.
As I do more and more posts, I really believe that politicians seem to be the largest group of people who need to learn about common sense and how easy it is to use.
Common sense rules.
Til next week.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Parental Instinct vs Stupidity vs Lack of Common Sense
Hi Everyone:
I have read about these stories for years, but it seems that parents continue to do this no matter how much publicity these stories get. I just don't get it! What I am talking about are parents who leave small children strapped in their car seats in a locked car. Doing this in the winter time is wrong and bad enough, but doing it in the summer time is twice as dangerous and can become lethal in a very short period of time.
Last month on a mid afternoon Sunday, a Bedford Hills, New York couple, yes I said a couple (mother and father), left their 1 year old twins in their car seats in a locked car. The police were called by someone who witnessed the twins in the locked car. Luckily, the police arrived quickly and the children were removed from the car. The twins were not injuired but both parents were arrested and charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child, which is a misdemeanor. The police also called CPS, (Child Protective Services) to look into the situation. There was no more information.
I have read a lot of the "reasons" that the parent(s) have stated as their reasoning for leaving a child(ren) in a locked car i.e.: forgot that they were in the car, the child was asleep and the parent didn't want to wake them up and they were just running into a store and would've been right back. I too am a parent (2 kids) and I never ever left any of my kids in a locked car for any reason. Obviously the reasons that the parent(s) gave were nothing short of excuses albeit poor ones for their mistake. In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason to leave a child alone in a locked car.
When I read about these incidents, my first thought is where is/are the parent(s) parental instinct? My second thought is that unfortunately there are some people who just don't have that instinct. My third thought is their stupidity in locking their child in the car. Finally I think that if they just had one ounce of common sense those parents would never have done that. They would have realized the inherent dangers of leaving a child in a locked car especially in the summer. I believe that it takes only a few minutes for the inside temperature to reach 90 degrees and then a few more minutes and the temperature will climb into the 105+ degrees. At such high temperatures, in a short period of time, serious medical consequences can and will happen to the child including death. I do not believe that the parents in these incidents willfully want to injure their child but what were they thinking?
In these cases presuming that the parents are of average intelligence but somehow lack basic parental instinct, common sense would then dictate to not do it. But if one doesn't even have a little bit of common sense as a last resort to help one make an appropriate decision, then these kind of incidents will sadly continue to occur.
Maybe common sense courses taught in high school and college is not such a weird or far out idea. It seems that the time has come to implement some kind of common sense courses. I do truly believe that if common sense was used more often in making any kind of decision, the world would be a better and safer place to live.
Til next week.
I have read about these stories for years, but it seems that parents continue to do this no matter how much publicity these stories get. I just don't get it! What I am talking about are parents who leave small children strapped in their car seats in a locked car. Doing this in the winter time is wrong and bad enough, but doing it in the summer time is twice as dangerous and can become lethal in a very short period of time.
Last month on a mid afternoon Sunday, a Bedford Hills, New York couple, yes I said a couple (mother and father), left their 1 year old twins in their car seats in a locked car. The police were called by someone who witnessed the twins in the locked car. Luckily, the police arrived quickly and the children were removed from the car. The twins were not injuired but both parents were arrested and charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child, which is a misdemeanor. The police also called CPS, (Child Protective Services) to look into the situation. There was no more information.
I have read a lot of the "reasons" that the parent(s) have stated as their reasoning for leaving a child(ren) in a locked car i.e.: forgot that they were in the car, the child was asleep and the parent didn't want to wake them up and they were just running into a store and would've been right back. I too am a parent (2 kids) and I never ever left any of my kids in a locked car for any reason. Obviously the reasons that the parent(s) gave were nothing short of excuses albeit poor ones for their mistake. In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason to leave a child alone in a locked car.
When I read about these incidents, my first thought is where is/are the parent(s) parental instinct? My second thought is that unfortunately there are some people who just don't have that instinct. My third thought is their stupidity in locking their child in the car. Finally I think that if they just had one ounce of common sense those parents would never have done that. They would have realized the inherent dangers of leaving a child in a locked car especially in the summer. I believe that it takes only a few minutes for the inside temperature to reach 90 degrees and then a few more minutes and the temperature will climb into the 105+ degrees. At such high temperatures, in a short period of time, serious medical consequences can and will happen to the child including death. I do not believe that the parents in these incidents willfully want to injure their child but what were they thinking?
In these cases presuming that the parents are of average intelligence but somehow lack basic parental instinct, common sense would then dictate to not do it. But if one doesn't even have a little bit of common sense as a last resort to help one make an appropriate decision, then these kind of incidents will sadly continue to occur.
Maybe common sense courses taught in high school and college is not such a weird or far out idea. It seems that the time has come to implement some kind of common sense courses. I do truly believe that if common sense was used more often in making any kind of decision, the world would be a better and safer place to live.
Til next week.
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