Retaliation. All Too Common

It is unlawful to retaliate against someone who brings a charge of discrimination. It is. But human nature, being what it is, retaliation is a fact of life. Some people retaliate, and tell themselves they are not.  No one is above retaliation. People in responsible jobs retaliate. Public servants retaliate. Famous people retaliate.

I have a case where I just discovered a well known person with considerable public responsibility retaliated against my client who was already being retaliated against by his supervisor. It's really despicable. I can not divulge any more about the case, since it's ongoing. I wish there was a way to test a person's character before placing him or her in positions of power.  As our president would say, "Sad!" Retaliation can destroy a person. It is really sad.

Human Rights Are For Everyone, Including Muslims

Today I was at the FDR Library in Hyde Park, New York. The special exhibit displayed the consequences and reality of Japanese Internment Camps. Despicable. The United States is not immune from discrimination, and history proves this.  We were a nation founded on original sin - slavery.  We have discriminated against the Irish, the Italians, Jews, Asians, etc.  Now there have always been people in this country who fight prejudice, like Eleanor Roosevelt. But, too many of us react derisively against anyone who is not like them or believes differently or were raised in a different ethnic environment.

Now we our President is trying to ban Muslims. Again, despicable. I can argue why this mindset is reprehensible, but I shouldn't have to argue why that is. You know why Islamophobia is repugnant. I don't need to tell you why. You know. I am embarrassed that we still treat people so badly. Sigh.......

REPOST - Getting Affordable Health Care At Any Age

Do you need health insurance and you are scared Obamacare will be repealed. Here is what you should do:

1.  Apply to be a "community" or "visiting" student at a college like the University of Missouri-Kansas City. No need for transcripts, etc.  adjust get permission to take a course for credit. (I have taken the History of Rock and Roll, Physics for Non-Majors, and Women's Studies.) This semester I am taking Ancient Classic Literature. 

2.  Enroll in the course. Take the class.  An added benefit is learning new things. A three credit hour class costs about $1000 a semester.  

3.  Sign up for domestic student health insurance. At UMKC it is with Aetna. You can sign up per semester, or on August 15, for a year. The annual cost is approximately $2500. The insurance is great, since most people in the group are 18-22 year olds. $4500 per year (a class for 2 semesters, plus the insurance) averages $375 per month, about half of what comparable insurance costs for me, a 64 year old, under Obamacare, assuming no government subsidy. 

The student health insurance for an older non-smoker ineligible for subsidies, like me, is much better than Obamacare, and cheaper, and not subject to political whimsy.  I paid less than $2500 for great health care coverage for an entire year, as compared to $800 per month with the ACA.  Check out the college of your choice. I bet you can find a good deal. 

When Did Civil Rights Become Un-American?

The Missouri Legislature is on the verge of gutting civil rights statutes. The majority party has been trying to look out only for the "big" guy ( read: corporations)!instead of the "little" guy for ten years. Lower verdicts, higher standards of proof, anything to protect businesses that discriminate. This year, chances for a veto are slim. Sigh.   When did it become popular to be mean and heartless?

If you are being sexually harassed at work, or discriminated against because of your religion, race, age, gender or disability, you better complain soon. Time is running out before your Rights are extremely curtailed.

I don't know what to say, except contact your legislators if you disagree with SB43 or whatever else is thrown at regular workers. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice."  That is no consolation to the woman fired because she is pregnant.