Backward America - The Plight of the American People

You may not know what kind of difficulty you are in due to the political and social circumstances that affect your life in this country.

Let me get real personal ... Our infant mortality rate ranks 37th in the world. It used to be 15th in the world. That's a disgrace for a nation that seems so pumped up by its egotistical nature.

Many of the so-called lesser nations of the world have as their populations, people who live longer than you and your American neighbors. That's a disgrace!

We have no universal healthcare and we pay exorbitant amounts of money for healthcare, while many of our citizens can't get treated properly.

Insurance companies are in business to deny you the funds when you need to get adequate medical treatment. That's a disgrace and a ripoff.

The fat cats get richer and you get exploited.

Your politicians scream about the evils of socialism. Your education system is socialism up and through high school.Yet your children will be up to their necks in debt from borrowing money to get a higher education.

That's a ripoff and it's a disgrace. Higher education should be free and could be free like it is in other countries.

Working mothers are being ripped off by exorbitant day care costs, while they bust their chops trying to support themselves and their children. We need a free day care system, where the working mother can feel safe and secure that her children are being taken care of properly and that she's not going to go into the crapper because of lack of money. Let's end this disgrace and start to love our neighbor as ourselves as it says in the good old book.

There is a huge discrimination in the workforce towards senior citizens. They can't get jobs because employers don't want to have to pay health insurance for their high risk older seniors. Let's put the cream of our crop back to work if that's what they want to do and give them the support and health care that they need.

When Jesus was asked by a rich man how he could find the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told him to "sell all of your goods and give the money to the poor and then follow me".

If we are to be a true nation of people caring for and loving one another, then those of us who are richer and more fortunate have a duty and obligation to help the less fortunate. Our system needs to learn how to share the burden for taking care of the least of us.

The nursing home situation in this country is an absolute disgrace. Caretaking aging children are over burdened with enormous costs for finding proper care for their aging parents who need a lot of help. We need an entire reformulation and reshaping of our healthcare system for people who are on the final edge of their journey. There is no need for them to suffer because of lack of money and services. This is an absolute disgrace and our country should be ashamed of itself for the way it treats its extreme elderly people.

Did you know that emergency rooms and hospitals can't afford to provide services due to a lack of money? Drug companies get richer and many treatments are denied to people who need those treatments. The patient needs the money, not the executive who gets bonuses for increasing profits.

Your political dictators try to convince you that they care. But, that's bullshit! You'll notice that their pensions and health care is fully provided to them through your tax dollars. But you don't get the same benefits and privileges.

Your police and fire departments are socialistic institutions and because of government institutionalization, these needed departments have not let us down the hoary path of socialism. So, why are 2 million Americans in jail with excessive sentences and for behavior that may be sinful but not deserving of long term incarceration? Do you know that local governments harass ordinary citizens with exorbitant fines, where warnings would have been just as effective? You wonder why Americans don't fully trust politcians and law enforcement.

If we are to be a true democracy, we need to take care of our people and not have all of the wealth go to the fat cats, while a majority of citizens are struggling just to stay one step ahead of total fiscal collapse. Everybody is concerned about the so-called myth of the welfare state. Is anybody complaining about the warfare state? Do we need another super carrier? We are being practically defeated by homemade bombs and poor people. Why spend billions on the latest military tank and the most sophisticated airplanes, while our senior citizens and their caretakers are sweating their tails off trying to provide proper care.

It's a disgrace! Charity is not going to cover all of our basic needs. What we need is a total revamping of our political and social ideology. The Europeans are way ahead of us when it comes to taking care of their citizens. No wonder they live longer and happier and are free of many of the anxieties that plague Americans. It's time to come out of the haze that our political pundits have saturated us with. We need to start revamping our system, modern-izing it and spreading our wealth equitably and beneficially to those who need it the most.

You may think this newsletter is a little unusual coming from a psychotherapist. But my mental health training also includes social psychology and group dynamics. We are on the verge of seeing the collapse of our system. Our way of life must include an equitable sharing of the wealth and resources of this country and distributing it for the benefit of all of our citizens. This can only be done by learning from other countries who are way ahead of us.

We don't have to worry about a foreign enemy. The enemy is here at home and it is us and our blindness to our fellow citizens. Please don't send me any of your rants telling me if I don't like this country, I should go to one of those other countries that cares more for its citizens. There is nothing new on the face of the earth and we owe it to ourselves to improve our system and become the Golden City on the hill. We can do it ...

There has been a flood of information coming in from the media about the green movement. Meanwhile, a very expensive trash truck is picking up my garbage in the back alley. It makes sense to me that if you want to conserve energy, we can invent a way to turn our waste materials into recyclable energy right in our own homes.

In the meantime, I'm going to watch some homeless person dive into the trash dumpster in the back of McDonald's. Somewhere along the line, that person lost his dignity and he had to resort to trash picking just to eat. Why not have a section at a restaurant for indigent and homeless people to come and sit down and eat properly from the excesses that America is so fond of producing and throwing away. That's a great start!

In my own personal psychotherapy practice, if I don't keep up with inflation, I can't afford to support my family. Many potential clients come to me and want my services but they can't afford it. In some European countries, the government pays you to provide more (not less) treatment for those who need it. So if I treat more people who can't afford American prices, the government would reimburse me and I can help alleviate much of the suffering of our population. Oh ... So why can't these people go to a public mental health facility for low-cost treatment. I won't get into that. It makes sense that every American should have access and free choice as to who they wish to be their physician.

There is a part of me that says let the fat cats and their institutions fall apart and let's send our tax dollar bailout money where it is really needed ... to our healthcare system, day care system, medical facilities, infrastructure, and senior citizens.

Let's put love back to work and shove self-interest and greed into the pit where it belongs. I see a new day and a new age dawning. We have to come out of our own dark ages and see a new enlightenment coming over the horizon.

As a people, we need to go beyond the beyond that is beyond all beyondness!

If you can read between the lines of this article, you can see that I am trying to deal with the struggles that most people on this planet confront on a daily basis. Collectively, if we use our common sense, creativity and intuition we can effectively solve these problems and diminish many of these struggles. Let's take the burden of struggle out of individual hands and spread the burden further out collectively. That way, we can diminish anxiety and reduce suffering and pain.

I know many of you may feel powerless ...

But a change in one person's consciousness can start a flow that may reach a critical mass, at that point we may come to the realization of the messianic age, where true brother/sisterhood/mother/fatherhood sings from the mountaintops of Sinai to the rivers of Jordan to the oceans of Hawaii, the plains of Texas and the skyscrapers of Philadelphia.

Paul J. Hannig, PH.D. MFT is a licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist offering innovative and in-depth individual and group therapy. His expertise includes Deep Feeling Therapy, core identity work, psycho-spiritual therapy, hypnotherapy, marriage/relationship counseling, and his "Abstain Now" program for addictions. He is the author of "Feeling People", "Sizzling Relationships: the 401(k) of Love", and "Coping with the Disorder" along with profiles on mood and personality disorders. His office is located in Chatsworth, CA. Telephone Therapy is available as well. Visit PsychotherapyHELP (http://www.nvo.com/psych_help) for personal growth, relationship and therapy information, along with free articles to download, resources, and books and media to purchase. Watch his extraordinary video, "Deep Feeing Therapy: Healing Emotional Pain", at http://www.nvo.com/psych_help/feelingtherapy/. With the creation of PsychotherapyHELP, Dr. Paul brings over thirty years of his knowledge and expertise to all who search for answers to deep emotional pain and interpersonal problems.

Positive People Power - Taking Control By Being Proactive NOT Reactive!

WE MUST PUT A STOP TO THE EVER-INCREASING PRICE OF OIL!

In the last few months the price of many necessities has markedly increased. Sure, we can call it 'inflation' and say it's just a part of life - but it's a component which is slowly but surely strangling all of us, financially. The situation is now so bad that it is spiralling out of control, leaving most of the world's population without money for anything other than the bare essentials. Some of us can't even afford those!

Does it have to be this way? We say "no!"

For too long now, the corporate world stuck it to us. Their quest for ever-increasing profits, along with their crazy system, which actively encouraged speculation of all commodities, including oil and other energy sources, food and water, meant that prices were continuously going upwards. Since the price of oil is now escalating so rapidly, this will have a flow-on effect to all other aspects of our life. This can't be allowed to continue - but where can we turn to get help?

Surely our governments will put a stop to this. They could rule that speculation is illegal and could unanimously cap the cost of a barrel of oil. But will they do this? No.

They could stop taxing the people at the pumps and in this way, bring the price down. But have they done this? No.

There may be other ways to halt this greedy manipulation of prices - but have our governments done anything to address this issue? Absolutely not! Speculation and profits for large corporations are all part of their ideology. They don't care who it hurts. They don't consider the average family. They're only interested in supporting big business and large investors.

Fact: BP made Six and a Half Billion Dollars in twelve weeks in early 2005 and the other oil companies made equally as much, if not more, profit during that time.

Fuel costs are sky rocketing. We're at the mercy of oil producing nations, the oil cartels, the oil companies, our governments (in the form of extra fuel taxes and levies) and finally the gas station. (See how far down the 'food chain' we regular people really are?) As the end consumers, we're hit with the ultimate final cost. We're the suckers who are slugged the highest price after all the governments and 'middle men' have stuck their snouts in the trough. The whole system is designed to make massive profits for a few while we, the majority, are given no choice but to fork over more of our hard earned cash each week, if we want this product.

The price of oil is governed by greed and speculation. If the oil nations think we'll pay more, they reduce production and the cost goes up. If they then find that, when the price is too high we're buying less fuel, they'll increase oil production and reduce the cost per barrel. During the summer, the speculators think demand will go up and this pushes the price of a barrel of oil skywards. During the winter, they think we'll need oil for heating and again they use the stock market to push shares higher. When there's the threat of war near an oil producing country, again the price fluctuates. There doesn't have to be an actual war - just a rumour will do it. Not long ago the weather forecast indicated that a hurricane might cross the path of an oil well. This information drove investors into a frenzy. That particular hurricane came and went, and did absolutely no damage, but the prices stayed high.

The whole system is crazy. These corporate guys are pulling the strings and we're their puppets. Why do we put up with this? Are we such gluttons for punishment? The oil price is a world-wide problem. It affects anyone who drives a vehicle, takes a bus or travels by plane - and that's most of us. Why do we, the majority, put up with this form of dictatorship from a minority?

There are a few reasons.

1. We were brainwashed into believing that cars could only run on gasoline.

2. Oil companies made huge profits - so they were happy to perpetuate this myth.

3. Car manufacturers also liked the status-quo. They didn't want to put big bucks into research and development of vehicles which ran on alternate sources of energy.

Now that we have our new powers of reasoning, we can taking a step back from the problem and clearly see what issues are involved. Then we can begin to find effective, progressive resolutions.

SO, IS THERE A PLAN? ABSOLUTELY!

Now it's time for a change. This system is hurting us - the over six billion people who also have to live on Planet Earth. Now it's time for us to unite and say "Enough is enough." We need to exist here too. We have rights. We demand fairness. We won't put up with this any more.

SOLUTIONS TO THE OIL PROBLEM:

o There are millions - maybe billions - of us, the consumers, who ought to take a combined stand. We're the ones who pay the most - therefore we've got the most to gain. We need to unite and make it known that we've had enough and we're not going to take it any more.

o We can boycott those companies which collude and force prices to be high.

o We can threaten to vote out governments which allow speculation and put taxes on the necessities of life.

o We can demand the production of cars, or other rapid transit systems, which run on solar energy, hydrogen, water, sugar cane derivatives, electricity, oxygen or a hybrid engine which can use a combination of energy sources. The technology already exists but it's not readily available to the mass market.

o We've got to find ways of heating our homes which do not rely on oil.

o Those of us who are scientifically, mechanically or engineering-minded must work together to discover new methods for clean, 'green' transport and heating.

We need to find renewable sources of energy which do not pollute, are freely available and do not get manipulated solely for profit. Nikola Tesla, inventor and engineer, believed that there were supplies of energy which could be tapped into and utilized by everyone but the authorities at the time suppressed his findings.

Tesla said, "Electric power is everywhere present in unlimited quantities and can drive the world's machinery without the need of coal, oil, gas, or any other of the common fuels."

If Mr Tesla was able to find this source, the information must still exist. Like all knowledge which has been given to humanity, one day it will be found again and used for the benefit of all. Those who seek to suppress information which is meant for our world will ultimately fail in their attempts to hide the truth.

'The choices you make today, determine your tomorrow.'

"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice." George Eliot

We must choose to unite and solve this problem. If our politicians can't find answers, we must seek the solutions ourselves and here's how:

POSITIVE PEOPLE POWER.

Positive People Power isn't about protesting. People Power is having a say in the way things are and it's about making positive change.

If enough of us get together, we will be able to focus on finding new concepts and better ideas to make our lives, our community, and our world a much nicer place to live.

We can no longer leave it up to governments, or others, to solve our problems. Politicians are still looking at the world from the same perspective they've done for centuries and it's now obvious, that this isn't the answer.

If we ever want to progress, we're going to have to use new methods to find long-term answers - there isn't any other way.

Positive People Power is being pro-active not re-active.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of waiting for someone to find the answers for life today. I want to stop living this way and start working towards a new world. I want to shape the present and the future with others who are like me, and I already know how to do this. If I wait for circumstances to change or for that 'right moment', it might never come. Maybe today is the day!

I'm sure I have a way - a really practical way - to change society and make life more positive. I can give hope to millions of people, if only they will listen to what I'm trying to say.

The AlterQuest Organization has been formed so that people, in communities, town and cities all over the globe, can come together and work on new ways to solve old problems. If we work on the adage that for every problem there is a solution, we should be able to make the most wonderful changes in our world - as soon as we put our minds to the task.

AlterQuest is here to co-ordinate the charge for Positive People Power. This is a power we have grossly underestimated until now.

PEOPLE WHO JOIN FORCES HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER.

o We have the ability to change things which are wrong and are not in our best interests.

o We have the power to use all manner of concepts, which lead to the establishment of a better world.

o We have the power to say "There are over 6 billion of us on this planet and only a handful of you, who are having any say.

o We don't want your biased media with its vested interests in swaying our opinions. People have the power to make their own media - one which encourages positive ideas, progressive concepts and future growth of our civilization.

o We don't want your radio and TV, if it's only going to show the same old programs which inhibit our minds and stifle our creativity. We can make our own programs which will stimulate us and enthuse us to take positive action to make life better.

o We don't want your corporations. These multi-national conglomerates have amalgamated to quash their smaller competitors, steal their ideas, stomp on any new concepts, cut costs, downsize, cause billions of us to be unemployed or under-employed, keep us poor, manipulate our governments, pay virtually no dues and taxes - and generally suppress billions of individuals - all in aid of ever greater profits for the corporation and their stockholders. THIS IS WRONG! SO VERY WRONG!

o We'll teach those industries which try to screw us for every last cent that they can no longer do this. They may think they run the show, but they rely on our hard earned money to keep their companies afloat. Without our money, they'd soon find out who's really got the power. In the bible it said 'The meek shall inherit the Earth.' Well, we're the meek and we're claiming our inheritance!

o Positive People Power means all of us will have a vessel for change.

o It means regular people will have a say.

o We can make our own small businesses and employ others again. We can build and run small to medium sized businesses for all our essentials such as bakeries, grocery stores, butchers' shops, computer companies and more....

o We can even form our own power/utility companies, water management, newspapers, magazines and TV stations. We surely can't do a worse job than those who run these things now. We won't continuously put prices up, just to appease our stockholders. Heck, we'll all be the stockholders - every last one of us. So we sure don't want to hurt ourselves, do we?

o We can use our natural talents and the skills for which we studied or trained.

o We can establish good social welfare (but if I'm right, we won't need much - because with this system everyone will have the opportunity to have a job.)

o We'll bring the best health care to everyone and not just to those who can pay and we'll abolish the cruel and unfair system of private health insurance which exists in so many countries today.

o We can give every single person or family on this planet a way to move forward. A way to have some hope. A way out of poverty and a way to live in dignity.

"The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity - or it will move apart." Franklin D. Roosevelt

WHAT CHANGES WOULD WE HAVE TO MAKE?

o Democracy was meant to be about people having a say - but in reality, we've had very little influence over our world. This is about to change! Now we must learn from our mistakes.

o It's time to stop sitting on the fence. We don't have to take this nonsense any more. If you think something is wrong, say so. Don't put up with it, otherwise those wielding the power will think it's OK to continue doing the same thing to us.

o Money should not come before people. Civilization is not supposed to be about the economy - it's meant to represent the people who live in it. While we allow 'the economy' to be more important than the population, there will never be real and lasting progress.

o There are many possibilities for change - all we have to do is focus on the desire for progress and tap into the universe to find the many diverse answers.

o If we want to have a better world, we must address the fundamental issues which have, for so long, blocked our advancement. We must examine these problems, utilize all the methods possible to solve them, and put the resulting knowledge into action.

o The answers AlterQuest offers your communities are the same solutions which people in other towns, cities and countries are using in order to regain their sense of dignity.

o Happy people make for a happier world.

There are many countries where the conditions of the population are intolerable. No food, no income, no schools, no hospitals.

Who can these people turn to?

Do you think this is only happening in third world countries?

It's happening all over the planet! If you're a low income family anywhere in the world; if you have to work long hours for little pay; if your income does not cover your expenses; if you see wealthy people who have become this way by trampling on the rights of others - then, no matter which country you live in, the system is insufferable.

We all need to be empowered.

We need to have more say.

We should be able to have some control over our lives.

We must change destiny - before it's too late.

We have the power to alter our circumstances, if only we seize the chance.

We have the right to say "We're not going to take it any more!"

Don't get angry... get even.

Take affirmative action.

Mahatma Gandhi (ex Prime Minister of India) said, "I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she will make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith. What is faith worth if it is not translated into action?"

MONEY SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Do you know what the majority of us are, as far as the corporate world is concerned? We're 'consumers'! Fancy that. They've given us a label. Oh how I hate that word........ Consumers indeed!

The word 'consumers' is bandied about in reference to the billions of us who, in the eyes of the corporate world, have become nothing more than spending machines - Beings with available funds who are willing (and able) to purchase their products.

How often have you heard this used lately - on the news, in the financial report or used by politicians. They have made us into a sub-class of purchasers. As long as we're there with our 'consumer dollars' they think we are happy and content.

To a certain extent, we've allowed ourselves to be manipulated by these mega corporations. We've bought their products, eaten their food, worn their clothing, used their fuels, driven their cars and flown on their airlines.

What have they done for us in return? They've manipulated the cost of all our goods and services so we're constantly paying higher prices while they make ever-increasing profits. They've amalgamated until they owned practically everything. They've forced the closure of smaller businesses, which tried to compete. They sacked billions of us and forced billions more to work long hours for virtually no pay, until we were all in debt.

Well, money speaks louder than words so, if we all work together, these 'consumers' can turn around and bite these corporate types where it hurts!

If nothing else, we, the six billion people of the Earth have spending power and we have the right to withhold this, en masse, until we get our demands met.

Fact: Australians spent Eight billion dollars in the first two weeks of the Christmas period in 2004.

Wow. Eight billion dollars equates to a lot of bargaining power. We have the option to spend it where and when we choose. We also have a choice to bank anywhere we wish. So, all your corporations who think you can hog all the money you make in profit; not pay an equal share of taxes; not give back to our communities; pay the lowest wages and offer only part-time or casual positions with bad working conditions and lay off thousands of honest, loyal workers.... Think again!

Now, I'm going to reiterate my previous comments because they are so important.....

Until we make ourselves heard, we will always be relegated to the level of 'voters' or 'consumers'.

The only time we're really considered is when there's an election and our governments want our vote or when corporations realize we're not spending as much on their products.

We need to exploit this situation and turn it to our advantage. We are the majority. Those who wield all the power are, in actuality, the minority and it's time we tipped the balance back in our favour.

OK. I'm done convincing you. If you're sick of the way things are, there is NEVER going to be a better time to put Positive People Power into action.

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person," Mother Teresa, winner of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.

The following email came into my inbox a short while ago. It points out just how effective the combined power of people could be:

THE EMAIL.

It has been calculated that if everyone in the United States did not purchase a drop of gasoline for one day, the oil companies would choke on their stockpiles. At the same time it would hit the entire industry with a net loss of over 4.6 Billion Dollars which would affect the bottom lines of the oil companies. Therefore May 19th has been formally declared "Stick It To Them" Day and the people of this Nation should not buy a single drop of gasoline on that day. The only way this can be done is if you forward this email to as many people as you can and as quickly as you can to get the word out.

Waiting on this Administration to step in and control the prices is not going to happen. What happened to the reduction and control in prices that the Arab Nations promised?

Remember one thing, not only is the price of gasoline going up but at the same time airlines are forced to raise their prices, trucking companies are forced to raise their prices, which affects prices on everything that is shipped. Things like food, clothing, building materials, medical supplies etc. Who pays in the end? WE DO! We can make a difference. If they don't get the message after one day, we will do it again and again. So, do your part and spread the word. Forward this email to everyone you know. Mark your calendars and make May 19th a day that the Citizens of the Unites States say "Enough is Enough!"

I think that says it all......

"Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings." John F. Kennedy

If you think this is a plan - then please, join with us to make it a reality.

Take a look at the AlterQuest website: http://www.alterquest.org Join the Network. It's free - and it will probably be the best money you (n)ever spent!

We guarantee that with people-power, we can turn this world around and WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE!

Karen Fiala N.D. Email: network@alterquest.org

KAREN FIALA N.D. & GEORGE W. FIALA have a strong passion to help people to help themselves. They think the only way for humanity to move forward, is if people take control and stop blaming everyone else. Sure the planet is in a mess and most of mankind didn't do it, but man CAN change the way things are, and it's our life's work to show you how. A dream? Maybe. A passion? Definitely! A sense of purpose? Absolutely! We hope you agree. We are the founders of Alterquest.org which is developing in to a global think tank for regular people to unite and find useful ways to move forward. Please visit us at: http://www.alterquest.org

Reverse Cell Phone Lookups - Who Are These Annoying People That Keep Calling?

Are you among the many men and women that had been searching for a free reverse mobile phone look up program? A lot of the cost-free reverse mobile phone sites basically do not get the results you are looking for and it can be quite annoying. Lots of the websites are generally deceptive. Whats the difference between free and a fee based service.

Any time you need to perform a reverse cell phone number look up, exactly what does this necessarily mean? The one thing cell phones have got in common is certainly the fact that the identity of the caller will not be displayed on the cellphone, there is no information but the number. Since cell phone numbers are private, people who want to find out who is calling will need to use a service that will produce the identity of the caller.

Whenever you try to find a trusted reverse mobile phone look up service, you could encounter a lot of internet websites that will state the are free, however they are really not free. That is definitely not possible for any company to deliver zero cost solution, the problem is that a free service needs to have an enormous infrastructure, advanced technology, and a qualified work force to support the entire system.

What can these services do is let individuals to simply enter virtually any phone number and immediately receive the name the number belongs to along with their house address as well as every other numbers belonging to these people.

To complete any reverse mobile phone lookup you should utilize a reliable directory service. Although there's no free nationalized mobile phone directory site readily available because of privacy issues, you will find specialized web directories that will assist in getting the information that is required.

Governmental laws strictly forbid phone companies from publicizing cell numbers. The reverse cell phone lookup services require a modest fee to access these directories. Once the information is retrieved it is presented partially to the user to analyze to make sure it is the correct information. Once the information is approved the comprehensive information is then retrieved and formatted into a report.

By and large, the best, correctly maintained reverse cell phone directory sites, of which there are a many on the internet, can present you with quick legitimate data. Do some research before choosing a service and make sure the company is reliable and reputable.

Click here to use the most reliable and reputable reverse cell phone lookup service to find the owner of any phone number.

Information on Obesity - Why People Are Obese

Nearly two thirds of Americans are considered overweight or obese. Obesity numbers have risen from 15 percent of our population to 31 percent in only 20 years. This means that 93 million Americans are obese. Even more alarming is the fact that 17% or over 9 million US children over the age of 6 are considered to be overweight. What causes this terrifying trend? In this article we will examine three factors that are at the root of the problem. The first is our lack of physical activity. Next we will discuss our eating habits and the rise of convenience foods. Lastly we will look at emotional problems that make the situation worse.

The amount of food we eat and high calorie levels were not as much of a problem when we spent more time exercising. Farming and even blue collar jobs required us to work long hours and perform physical tasks. Today most of our jobs are sedentary, sitting in an office cubical, only getting up for another cup of coffee or a trip to the conference room for a meeting. At home, between computers, video games, and TV we get very little exercise and this lack of physical activity is having a major effect on our weight.

Convenience foods have become a staple in the American diet since the end of World War II. It is very tempting to eat meals and snacks that can be prepared in the microwave or need no preparation at all. We all know that fast food has too many calories, sometimes our total recommended daily intake in one serving of a burger, fries, and a coke. Food companies who market convenience foods spend millions telling us how wonderful their products are. Their ads are hard to resist. But studies show that these products contain 20% to 25% more fat and sugar than are recommended and this is leading to a national epidemic of obesity. We need to go back to homemade meals and healthy snacks with low salt, low fat, and high fiber.

Our emotions also affect our weight. For example, a new study shows a link between depression and obesity. If an individual is already obese, the messages our society gives him can result in a bad self-image and lack of confidence. "You're never too rich or too thin" is our mantra. The resulting depression produces a chemical imbalance that causes the body to store more fat. On the other hand, the same study shows that people who are not overweight but suffer from depression are at a higher risk of becoming obese for the same reason. The psychological stress produces the same chemical imbalance that causes the body to store fat. Treating the depression relieves the stress and helps depressed people to overcome their feelings of hopelessness.

Right now the CDC says 300,000 annual deaths are attributed to obesity but the number could be much higher. Solving our national epidemic of obesity will not be easy but each step toward more physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and addressing our emotional problems is a step in the right direction.

There are many easy ways to create healthy eating habits, and you will notice a big difference in how you feel! Visit our website to learn more information about how to use easy tricks to improve your everyday eating habits: http://EverydayHealthGirl.com

We the People: Toward a Fair and Just Society and How to Get There

In 1991, after over 30 years of research and original thoughts, I published my theory of the future democratic society in "Technological Democracy: A Humanistic Philosophy of the Future Society", and presented its more refined structure in my later publications cited below. Because of the global economic crises forcing people to look for a new societal system to replace the old corporate dominated one, I decided to publish a simplified and short version of my theory, in a manifesto form of only 64 pages for general public as a guide for taking action toward changing the system. I firmly believe this is the system of the future world which will materialize within this century. It will save many lives and opportunities if we understand it now and take action to materialize it before it gets too late to stop wide-spread violence and bloodshed.

The economic concept presented here is a part from a new scientific theory of technological democratic society which is thought, sooner or later but ultimately, to replace the present two centuries old chaotic and outdated system of, so called, representative democracy. People in nearly all developed and some developing countries are earnestly looking for a modern but just and fair system to replace it. The total and detail structure of this new societal system, which is presented in three books (over 1000 pages), obviously cannot be properly presented here. The reader needs to have this in mind when some questions arise. However, understanding it with a little use of logic and reasoning is quite simple, since the scientific base of the theory rests on the application of a single principle of equality of opportunity.

Our Constitution literally covers the principle of equality of opportunity but suppose, to clarify it, we pass an amendment to our constitution recognizing equality of opportunity as an individual right in every aspect of daily life. This immediately expands democracy to cover the whole system of the societal life: economic, political, as well as social. Let's see what happens to the economy of the country and along with it to individual liberties, political process, social order, employment rights, and equality regardless of race, gender, culture, and religion. Here is a very brief account of it..

The New Economic Theory

The manner by which property is produced, owned, and used, determines the economic structure of a society and, to a substantial degree, its social and political characteristics. A necessary condition for economic democracy is the equitable distribution of capital among the people and dispersed control over its use.

The Principle of Unjust Enrichment

The principle of equality of opportunity prescribes that every person has full authority of control and management of whatever he or she owns during his lifetime, but no one in a technological democratic society is allowed to gain opportunity over others through accumulation of wealth by profits achieved by exploitation and subjugation of others, or free transfer of assets. This principle is known as "prohibition of unjust enrichment." Such accumulation is allowed only through individual's own labor. Thus, no one can be enriched through inheritance or receiving property or assets without a comparable compensation. The reason is that such enrichment will disturb equality of opportunity by increasing one's opportunity, without his personal efforts, over those of others. Inheritance is allowed only to the extent that it does not affect equality of opportunity. Profit is another form of unjust enrichment since the capitalist receives it through exploitation of workers as well as consumers. It unjustly enhances the opportunity of the capitalist against workers and others. However, a nationally specified amount of return from the use of capital is justified.

Capital and Capital Accumulation

While capital is still one of the main forces of production, its characteristics is quite different with that under capitalism or socialism. Besides the capital accumulated through savings from a worker's own earnings, in order to attain equality of opportunity, each worker has also another source of capital accumulation. It is a determined number of shares of his employer's firm he receives every month along with and as a part from his salary. This process gradually and peacefully transfers capital from the capitalist to the worker allowing him or her increasing voice in the operation of the firm. A unique and fantastic result is attained by this process of transition; the distinction between the capitalist and working class disappears and both join together into one. It is important to note that the working class under this theory embodies anyone working in any production process from its top managers to its least qualified one.

The accumulated capital by the workers under this program stock-holding is non-transferable, but it remains under the ownership and control of the worker. It replaces the present Social Security system, providing him or her with income sufficient for a modest but comfortable living standards after retirement. Like Social Security, after the death of the owner, this non-transferable capital reverts to a public organization known as the Public Consumption Fund responsible for providing free health care and free education for all. However, in order to diversify his or her non-transferable holdings, the worker may exchange part of his or her firm's non-transferable stocks with non-transferable stocks of other companies in the stock market. In reality, these stocks are a part from the social capital in circulation providing a variety of beneficial functions, all under individual and private control. In addition, of course, the worker has capital accumulation by savings from the salary, income from capital investments in production firms, income from nontransferable stocks, and inheritance. The worker has full control over all these assets during his or her lifetime.

The Working Class, Shared Opportunity and Employment Right

The application of equality of opportunity creates a new mode of production eliminating exploitation and gradually making the worker a full participant in production and distribution process. At the workplace, it creates different opportunity levels based on each individual's education and experience.

Under equality of opportunity, employment is an individual right because there is no such equality present between those employed with those unemployed within the same level of competence. Each institution must provide employment for any applicant corresponding to his or her level of competency through the use of the principle of "shared opportunity" derived from the equality of opportunity principle. It requires that each employed person within the firm at the same level of competency as those unemployed applicants, to give up a small portion of his employment opportunity (e.g. 1-4 hours out of 40 hours per week) to provide the same employment opportunity for the applicants. The concept of supply and demand at each level of opportunity stabilizes the employment market for this and any other level of work nationwide. Shared opportunity causes full employment and lifetime job security for anyone desiring to work.

Work, Education, and Pay System

The general level of compensation is determined by a general position classification at the national level calculated and established by the National Economic and Production Council (NEPC) by the assistance of the Technodem, which is a national independent, self controlled electronic system and indispensable instrument in proper application of equality of opportunity, also known as the people's best and trusted friend. The Technodem by having access to prices of all goods and services and the cost of living, calculates and reports to NEPC the amount of minimum wage required for a minimum living standard. The NEPC designs a model position classification and pay system accordingly. This is fed to the Technodem equipped to supervise its application in every institution hiring workers. Each production firm then, following the national model, establishes its own position classification and pay system and feeds it into the Technodem which instantly compares it with the national model, and reports back discrepancies, if any, to be corrected. The position classification within each firm does not have to be exactly the same as the national model but it has to fit into the range specified by that model.

Education

In technological democracy, after twelve years of general education, the work system and education merge together. Everyone is required to complete the general education program. It consists of four years of preschool education starting at age three up to seven; four years of elementary and four years of secondary education. It contains a condensed curricula from grade one through twelve. After completing this educational program, the person who is about fifteen years old, begins to work part-time while starting his higher education full-time. His study program is equally divided between general-humanistic and professional-technical parts. The first part, develops him as a democratic person, deeply devoted and committed to the principle of equality of opportunity. However, the core part of his humanistic education is achieved through his or her 12-year of general education. By the age of 22, he or she achieves the knowledge level of an MA degree under our present system, and starts to work full-time and continues his studies part time for the rest of his working years. Every worker at the time of retirement, which arrives at his early 50s after 30 years of work, accumulates knowledge, far beyond the Ph.D. level, the highest degree in higher education offered today. This higher level of knowledge is required and necessary in a highly scientific and technological and ever-changing life environment at work as well as at home. This part-time education is a part from the worker's required working hours; for a 40 hour-per-week work program, he works 32 hours and studies 8 hours. Everyone starts the life from scratch and gradually moves to a high position and high income by the time of official retirement. There remains still two or more decades of active life left for each individual after retirement to enjoy life without worry spending it in leisure, art, music, travel or other creative and desired ventures.

The Government

The technological democratic society is based on the concept of the least government being the best. Accordingly, the national government has no domestic line functions. All national departments except for defense and State, all regulatory agencies and welfare programs are discarded. The state governments are down-sized by about 40 percent; while the size and responsibilities of local governments are increased by about 20 percent. The Technodem, production firms and local social organizations carry out most of the needed public functions. Under this system there is an incredible expansion of individual rights and freedoms, free education, fee health care, employment rights, and old age benefits all under full individual and private control.

The Transition Process

The transition has to be through a peaceful process, thus, it needs to be gradual stretching from two to four decades. The following is the process proposed here subject to replacement or modification if better ways are found.

The first and immediate step is to legalize the principle of equality of opportunity through a constitutional amendment, if it fails, then through a national constitutional convention. Immediately after its passage, establish a temporary National Economic and Production Council(NEPC) ( See We the People, cited below, Fig. 5, p.49). Its first task is to create a temporary national position classification and pay system based on a minimum wage calculated by the Technodem. For example, at $8.00 per hour minimum wage and 5 percent annual increase, the minimum annual pay will start from $16640 at the age 15 rising to about $100,000 at the age of retirement at 53. This is the highest executive pay any worker may receive at the time of retirement. It must be noted that under the new system there is no individual income tax, or other taxes such as Social Security and Medicare. Thus, these incomes are equivalent to the real income at the present after all deductions for taxes.

All employers are required to classify their employment and pay system according to the national model established, and feed it into the National Economic and Production Council's computer. This is the initial creation of the Technodem which plays essential role in supervising and sustaining the democratic system. As the production firms prepare their own position classification and pay system, following the national model and feed them into the NEOC computer, the Technodem progresses in its information storage and capability in taking over the supervision of the application of the principle of equality of opportunity at the workplace and ultimately its application in political and social aspects of daily life.

The period of transition will not be an easy one. There will be a need for good and sharp thinkers to smooth out the process. If Congress refuses to propose the equal opportunity amendment to the Constitution or obstacles are created by the national and state governments in calling for a National Constitutional Convention, the people will have no choice but resort to a general strike, as defined by the French philosopher George Sorel, until it succeeds. The nation may need a temporary commission composed of highly qualified individuals to put into effect the new system, supervise its progress, make necessary adjustments for its proper operation, and eliminate the old departments and agencies when they become irrelevant, including the Congress and presidency when it becomes appropriate to install the new National Legislative and Coordination Assembly and the National Executive Council. This must be the people's commission and its members chosen by the people or their chosen representatives.

In a technological democracy, the social goal and common purpose, for which society is to be organized, concern itself in providing equality of opportunity for everyone. In such an accomplished society:

1. Everyone starts life from the scratch. There are neither rich nor poor under the present meaning of the terms.

2. Everyone receives 12 years of free general education up to the age 15. Not only it is totally free but no obstacle can be created to hinder it.

3. Everyone starts to work part-time at age 15, starts full-time at the age 22, and works until retirement, never facing unemployment.

4. Everyone continues his/her education full-time after the age of 15, while working part-time, and continues part-time after the age of 22, as a part from his/her work program, until retirement. Such education consists of a balanced combination of technical-professional, liberal arts, and humanities subjects. It is reduced to two courses on each subject per year after the age 22, when the worker assumes full-time position.

5. Everyone receives free health and preventive care for life.

6. Everyone, starting from zero, gradually becomes a part owner of production of goods and services. These ownership shares, which replaces the present Social Security system but fully privatized, are destined for the support of the owner after his/her retirement, and thus are not transferable.

7. Everyone works full-time for at least 30 years or equivalent of it.

8. Equivalent to one-fifth of the working hours are allocated to

education. Accordingly, for a 40 hours per week work, the person works for 32 hours and studies for 8 hours.

9. Promotion is based on the level of education and years of experience, liberal art education having the same importance as the technical or professional.

10. The age of retirement depends on the supply of the young labor force for the purpose of allowing them equal opportunity for employment. However, to guarantee a comfortable retirement life, no capable person works for less than 25 years full-time before retirement. The general retirement occurs after 30 years of full-time work.

11. After retirement, which more likely occurs when an individual is in his early 50s, he or she has enough non-transferable assets accumulated to bring him or her returns sufficient for a simple but comfortable living standards. In addition, through his or her personal savings, he or she has other transferable assets under his or her full control.

12. All elective public positions:

a. Require very high qualifications relating to education and experience.

b. Are temporary and no one is elected for the same office for more than one term. Besides other benefits, this also allows opportunities to a greater number of well qualified retired citizens to hold public office and serve the people.

c. These two requirements would allow a better chance of being elected to retired individuals since they are better educated and well experienced and are not looking for a permanent position. They are still young, but matured and capable of fruitful participation in the public policy-making process and public service.

13. As a result of democratic norms and technological developments, family life is transformed from its traditional form into a democratic unit; parents being responsible, though in a different manner, for upbringing of the children up to the age of 15, after which the child, who is considered an adult, enters the labor market and is considered independent.

14 By the time of retirement, the family, more likely because of voluntary birth and population control, has no children to take care of; and free from this responsibility, the couple, if they desire to remain together, has many years of economically secure, very fruitful, still productive, dynamic, and enjoyable life.

15. After death, a substantial part of an individual's wealth, according to the principle of equality of opportunity, is returned to society, through the Public Consumption Fund, to sustain free services such as health care and

education for the new generation which is also to start from the scratch.

16. Though some individuals accumulate more wealth than others, the difference is not so great to cause class distinction. Furthermore, such

difference is only for the life of the person and disappears upon his death. In reality, this is a classless society with minor variations in material ownership.

17. An individual's obligatory relationship is within his family and his workplace. Outside these areas, he remains free to enjoy life with a great many things and means accessible to him in an infinite variety of combinations.

18. In its narrow application, equality of opportunity does not allow individual competition where the intention is to take opportunity from someone against whom the individual is competing. However, equality of opportunity not only allows but encourages each individual to compete against himself or herself to become better than what he or she already is. This is quite different from competing against a designated person even it may give the same result. Open competition is the backbone of the democratic market operation, but, it is free of fraudulence, propaganda, and false commercials. Self competition should be the motto of production here as well. It causes the production of better goods or services resulting in marketing success The exact specifications of the products are stated and left to the consumer to make the choice. Unlike the present situation where commercials are forced on the people by being inserted into television or radio programs, no one is forced, through any means, to watch or listen to commercials.

19. The wealth of a society is the sum total of individual wealth plus all natural and other resources which belong to the society as a whole. However, the important part of the wealth of a society is not economic and material, but technological in the form of knowledge, experience, and means which is the way of doing things.

20. More important than the production of wealth is its equitable distribution among the working class, subject only to the level of knowledge, and experience. Every worker receives nearly the same amount of income in the full period of his or her work as the others. There will be some differentiation but it will not be so remarkable to upset equality of opportunity. Each worker starts with the minimum wage and gets more as he or she climbs the ladder to higher positions or become better educated and more experienced. By the time of retirement, each worker is a high ranking official in his or her firm regardless of type of work he or she is assigned to perform.

21. In a democratic system, there is no class structure or class distinction. Differentiation is only at the work place, based on the level of knowledge, experience, and expertise. Working class refers to all working individuals including members of the board of directors, chief executives down to the least experienced.

22. The proper function of government is to establish, maintain and periodically revise the standards required by the principle of equality of opportunity, particularly relating to division of labor and compensation. The national government has no domestic line functions except some supervisory authority in the areas relating to the national consumption fund such as education, healthcare, and corresponding standards. Government is reduced to its minimum functional size.

23. Private wealth totally belongs to the individual for life. It is a wealth initiated, created, and accumulated through his/her own labor, use of his/her assets and not through profits by exploiting others.

24. Public wealth mainly constitutes of the society's natural resources. They belong to the society as a whole, and therefore, net proceeds created belong to the people. Equality of opportunity does not allow any private ownership of natural resources such as oil, gas, minerals, and forests. Such resources may be leased to specific firms to operate. Whatever is left after paying for all expenses including depreciation of tool, machineries and other properties used for production purpose, goes to Public Consumption Fund and used for public benefit.

25. The electoral system is managed by the Technodem, The only thing a candidate needs to do is to enter his or her name for the office he or she seeks to be elected, into the Technodem's list for that office. No additional information is needed, because the Technodem knows all about each individual in the society. It will present each individual's qualifications in three categories: personal, educational, and experience, and rank each candidate in each category. However, each candidate may have his or her own electoral website and may place in it additional information he may think beneficial for his campaign. No voter is obliged to vote for Technodem's first choice, Each voter selects his or her candidate from this list and votes for him or her, through the Technodem's electoral website, on the election day.

26. Political parties as we know of them today are eliminated since there is no need or justification for their existence or other organizations for electoral purposes. The electoral process is electronic, simple, and abuse free; during the election day, each qualified individual inserts his or her electronic ID card into the computer, it is checked against his or her background. If qualified he or she votes from anyplace in the world for the candidate of his or her choice for the national, state or local office.

27. There is a total private ownership of the means of production of

goods and services. This ownership is highly dispersed with no concentration in the hands of a few.

28. Giant corporations are automatically disintegrated into several smaller institutions once the workers take over the management. Huge overhead expenditures are saved.

29. A new free market economy is established with fair and open competition based on equality of opportunity.

30. No individual taxes, no property taxes, and no social security taxes.

31. There is protection of environment, preservation of natural resources, and meaningful use of them for public benefit and keeping them in proper shape for the future generations as the equality of opportunity requires.

32. A marvelous outcome of this system is the disappearance of all economic, political and social interest groups. There won't be any need or requirement for their existence. People, for the first time become free of all pressures, demands, and restriction of thousands of such organizations that exist today including all charitable organizations. What a wonderful freedom this would bring.

Morality Under Technological Democracy

The moral boundaries of technological democracy are very broad based on the principle of equality of opportunity. No conceivable common ethical code can be comprehensive enough to cover nearly boundless domain of these moral possibilities relating to such values as honesty, integrity, humility and freedom. It is impossible for any mind to comprehend the infinite variety of individual freedoms and good deeds ensuing from this foundation of morality. Whether one's interests center around his or her own well-being, or the welfare of others, regardless how broad and expanded these interests may be, the end that the individual may be concerned with, is always only an infinitesimal fraction of what could be possible under this democratic system. It is within these nearly limitless confines that the individual strives for his life liberty and pursuit of happiness.

________________________________________________________________________

References:

The following books and articles explain in detail a quite complex theory of a humanistic future society. Some 30 years of the author's time has been spent in its development. The readers are requested to be patient and deeply conscious in its comprehension and interpretation. After Karl Marx's theory of communism which ended up to be utopian and not actually applicable, this is the second scientific societal theory based on reason and logic; it is also pragmatic and practical. For the author's brief biography and books cited below and some relevant articles see his website and http://www.ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Reza_Rezazadeh

Technological Democracy: A Humanistic Philosophy of the Future Society, 1990, pp.365.

Technodemocratic Economic Theory: From Capitalism and Socialism to Democracy, 1991. pp.359.

Passage to a Just Society: Secrets of Democratic Life, Leisure and Happiness. 2003. pp. 374.

We the People: Democracy as a System, a Humanistic Philosophy of the Future Society, 2010. Frederick, Maryland.: Publish America, pp. 64.

This book is a very brief and simple presentation of the theory to the general public and a guide for a national movement and action including the general strike. For those interested in forming a successful movement or action, reading the author's article about the General Strike and some writings from the French philosopher George Sorel concerning his theory of general strike are recommended.

It must be noted that when the first two books were published in early 1990s, Vice President Al Gore had not yet invented the Internet.

Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin System,and a Fulbright scholar, a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual scholar with background in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.), Continental and Islamic Law (Licenciate), J.D. in American Jurisprudenxce, LL.M. in International Law and International Economics, Ph.D. in Political Science, Economics and Administration, and Doctor of the Science of Law (S.J.D.) the highest law degree offered in U.S. Fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Persian, Azeri-Turkish. Elementary knowledge of Arabic, Urdu, Russian and Italian. Patented inventions; an artist, a poet (oil and pastel), a musician (violin), with over 35 years of academic background in teaching, reseasrch and administration, research and cultural studies in many countries in Europe including USSR, Middle East, Central Asia, Northe africa, Central and South America. He is the author of 8 books and many scholarly articles listed in his website http://www.democracywhere.com

Produce Momentum by Hiring the Right People First

The economy of today is pretty tough. Thousands of people have been laid off or lost their jobs completely. Add to those numbers the thousands of college graduates newly out of school looking for their dream job. There are very few areas that haven't been hit by this economic trend. What this does to business is that it creates a huge hiring pool for new openings and overwhelmed recruiters standing knee deep in resumes and applications. For recruiters and human resources departments nation wide, the process of efficiently reviewing all job applicants for a given position can be a big task.

The larger the pool of applicants, the more businesses and organizations struggle with the decision of whom to hire. Those in a hiring position know that the standard background, reference and credit checks along with drug testing don't give a complete enough picture of the personality you will be adding to your organization. Many companies and organizations are turning to online assessment tools to both improve profile accuracy and streamline their hiring process. In addition, they can save time on employee evaluations and performance reviews, as well as, providing employee assessment tools, leadership and managerial assessment tools within their organization.

Online assessment tools are both easy to distribute and easy to use. They offer clear and straightforward reports for employee profiling and personality profiling. These tools offer a glimpse inside the mind of the new hire. Because humans beings are so complex, no single assessment will ever reflect the entire picture. You can, however, expect to receive a comprehensive initial review of your prospective hire.

Hiring managers who want to streamline their hiring process logically incorporate online assessment tools for assessing new hires. It's important to stress that hiring managers not rely exclusively on tools for hiring; personal interviews are an essential part of the hiring process. However, employee profiling tools are unsurpassed for taking your thousands of applicants down to a strong top 5 for personal interviewing.

Recent surveys have shown that over 75% of HR Managers are utilizing personality employee profiling to improve their hiring decisions. It is, however, key that those reviewing completed assessment tools be trained in their use and that they have the appropriate human resources experience to impart insight and value to the reporting. With proper use, assessment tools allow business owners and/or hiring managers to benefit from the insight gained through leadership assessment, managerial assessment and employee evaluation.

Personality profiling can also help a hiring manager identify great talent as well as a great work ethic. Additionally, assessment tools allow that same hiring manager to create an effective plan for employee development. One important aspect of an employee assessment is in the analysis of both an employees cognitive abilities and their ability to handle different situations on the fly. Hiring tools are designed to allow a manager to measure these elements long before a real situation arises. Employee profiling lets managers see how a potential candidate or employee may judge a particular situation, how they evaluate their surroundings and the results that come from their decision making, as well as their ability to judge with clarity.

Another valuable aspect of the pre-employment assessment tool is its ability to analyze a candidate's values and motivations. For a sales position, it's particularly important to understand what motivates that candidate. Later, in the midst of an employee's career, it is helpful to ensure that they are on the appropriate career path for both themselves and their company.

Today's businesses need real momentum to produce the results they desire. When hiring managers lacking the right tools become overloaded with applicants, companies can suffer poor hiring decisions and high turnover rates costing them astounding amounts of money and time. Online assessment tools for employee profiling, leadership assessment and managerial assessment streamline the hiring and promotional process allowing businesses to grow in a profitable direction.

Build your business Momentum with online assessment tools for hiring well, developing well and thriving in business. Get the tools for success from Momentum