Mayoral candidate integrity on immigration

One of my biggest pet peeves, and why I became the Las Vegas Conservative Examiner, is hypocrisy. I absolutely cannot stand a lack of integrity in candidates and politicians. As a discerning voter, I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about a candidate before I vote. It’s an interesting philosophy I learned in graduate school.

I attended my master’s program in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in Transpersonal Psychology, in Northern California – the land of peaceniks and libtards. The fact that I was one at the time is not wholly relevant to this story (but notice how I owned it anyway). As budding psychotherapists we were taught to be aware of cultural differences, because we may have clients from many cultural backgrounds. One of the challenges we were given was to be honest with ourselves about any and all prejudice we may experience. It was explained to us that everyone experiences some level of prejudice, and to own it, in order to work on it, not to deny it and pretend it doesn’t exist. For a liberally based graduate program, that was mighty mature of them to teach us, and demonstrated a high level of integrity.

Well, in my capacity as a journalist reporting pertinent information to the conservative community about candidates and issues, I felt it was very important to know where the mayoral candidates stand on the issue of immigration. After all; every single one of them, that I’ve heard speak, talks to us about job creation. Granted, some speak about job creation through education, or through movie studios, green energy, decreased taxes, and increased incentives… blah, blah, blah. None address the fact that many Las Vegas jobs have been hijacked by illegal immigrants - sponsored by the unions, and supported by the tourism industry (hotels, casinos, and restaurants). So it was with a sense of purpose that I wrote my op-ed about what the four candidates I’ve been blessed to interview said to me on the subject.

As I always do after writing an article and posting it on examiner.com, I added the link to my Facebook page and the pages belonging to each of the candidates mentioned. Imagine my surprise when I checked back today on each of their fb pages, to find that George Harris (or a representative of his campaign) deleted the article because it painted Mr. Harris in a less than favorable light regarding illegal immigration.

Now, I understand his fb page is his, and he is certainly entitled to have posted whatever he wants. But I find it odd that he deleted the link about the immigration story but kept the link to his profile article. To me, that indicates a desire to hide a fact that has the potential to dissuade voters from voting for him. It has now become an integrity issue to me. If he spoke openly with me, but didn’t like that I shared what he said, that indicates he doesn’t want to be open with potential voters. And if he is willing to hide something as pertinent as his stance on illegal immigration when running for mayor of a major city, what else is he willing to hide? Will he be a transparent mayor, if he’s not willing to be a transparent candidate…?

Early voting started yesterday, March 19^th, and I urged voters in an article not to early vote just for such a reason – there is not enough known about each candidate at this juncture. I have forgone early voting in this election because I am not done attempting to interview mayoral candidates, and will not make a final decision on whom to vote for until I have. To do so otherwise would be unfair and pretentious. I cannot vote for a candidate early and then pretend to be unbiased with others I interview; so I will wait until I’ve spoken with as many as possible. I urge all voters to do the same. To vote for a candidate on personality or Party affiliation only, is an irresponsible reason to vote, in my opinion. If we look at the most recent presidential election, we can see what happens when people vote uninformed based on Party affiliation or personality.

Before you vote, determine where integrity lies in your candidate’s political tool box.

Blessed with a sense of community

When I saw my mother unconscious Wednesday, after I got over the shock and took action, it occurred to me that I’m getting older. I was genuinely scared; for my mother, but also for myself. First, I didn’t feel old enough to be without my mom. Sure, I’m almost 50 (yes, I’ll admit it) and I have a son of my own; but this is the time in my life when I appreciate my mom the most. Believe me, when I was my son’s age, I had very little appreciation for my mother or what it must be like to be one. Second, seeing my mother dependent and helpless was a slap in the face that I had better get my act together and get back to a healthy lifestyle. Not at this age, or any age, do I want to be beholden to others to care for me. I turned to my son, as we waited for the paramedics to stabilize my mother, and asked him to please support me in getting back to the gym and eating healthy.

My grandma, bless her, is 105 years old. She didn’t begin to “act her age” until well into her 80s. Grandma used to have her own mobile home in Magalia, California; in a beautiful forested retirement community. I remember being a child, playing in the red clay and taking walks in the pine forest, seeing rabbits and deer as regularly as pet dogs and cats. In her 80s Grandma was still climbing on her roof to make repairs, driving herself into town, and tending to her property. After a nose bleed that she couldn’t stop, she got understandably scared that something could happen to her and no one would know. So she sold her mobile home and moved to Las Vegas to be close to my mom. Sadly, the move and loss of autonomy is also what caused Grandma to recognize her age – and she quickly got old and helpless.

My mom was about my current age when I enlisted in the Army. I remember my mom as being young, vibrant, and well coiffed. When I was a young child, back in the 1960s and 70s, my mom had the typical teased and sprayed hair style. I smile as I look back with my mind’s eye to her mini skirts (which weren’t as mini as they are now, and which were appropriate business attire – thanks to Uhura in Star Trek). When I left for Army basic training, my mom had just purchased her first property as a single person. She took up dancing and golf. Along the way, we both got older – and now my mom is the age my grandma was when I was young. It’s very disconcerting because in my mind I feel like I’m still in my 20s. I look at my son and I see the past 19 years pass before me. I was 29 when I gave birth.  But spending time with my son also makes me think I’m young again, as he challenges me to do things I used to or never have – and then I remember I’m not so young as I want to believe I am; when I become winded, develop pain, and have difficulty using my disabled arm. It is true what they say; youth is wasted on the young.

I found a clarifying moment in Wednesday’s events, besides realizing I’m aging myself faster than necessary with my dereliction of responsibility for and to myself; I have more support now than I have since graduate school. The outpouring of prayers and support for my mom and me Wednesday and yesterday, in response to my fb status changes and texts, was very humbling. Even in the face of the adversity, I felt very blessed. It was comforting to take notice of the fact that, even as time wears down on my mother and me, we have a community to watch the clock with.

No room and no place for hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is a lot like the ocean; it seems benign until you turn your back on it, and a wave washes you out to sea.

One of the things I vowed when I started as the Las Vegas Conservative Examiner is that I will point out hypocrisy where it blatantly raises it’s ugly head. That is why I wrote my Open Letter to Sharron Angle back in September 2010, during the General Election. It is why I call out candidates and politicians when their actions and words are incongruent.

It is also why I am writing this blog to address the recent passage of portions of the Patriot Act by Republicans who were recently re-elected on a constitutional conservative platform. With the exception of 27 Republicans in the House, who maintained their oath to the constitution, the USA Patriot Act Extension passed with majority support. Despite the very real threat we face from our enemy, the passage of the Patriot Act only assures that we have already lost. You see, the main tool of Terrorists is terror, and if we are willing to give up our freedoms out of fear than the terror-mongers have already won.

The last time we so blatantly manipulated the constitution for defense was when Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the internment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans in 1942. And perhaps you didn’t know; although the majority of Americans interned in these "concentration camps" (as Roosevelt called them) were Japanese, there was also interned thousands of Americans of Italian, German, and other European descent. They were classified as "enemy aliens." Kinda sounds like "enemy combatants," doesn’t it? Are we okay with internment camps now, because the Patriot Act poses the same type of infringement on freedom and the Bill of Rights. Check out the time line at IMDiversity.com to see how we are now repeating history.

How hypocritical is it to preach strict adherence to the constitution when we’re fighting to maintain our second amendment right, but are then willing to argue in favor of throwing out our fourth amendment right in the name of security? To me, that’s as ludicrous and hypocritical as the Democrats standing up against the Patriot Act, because it was initiated by a Republican president, when they handily supported Roosevelt in violating the rights of Japanese-Americans; and when they support the destruction of the constitution with Obamacare and special class rights.

As American citizens it is our obligation and responsibility to be informed. It would be nice if we could also stick to a platform with integrity. We are either for big government, or not. If we stand with the constitution, then does it not behoove us to stand with it always - even if that means the going gets tough? The constitution is not a fair-weather friend, and I argue that neither should we be.

My special valentine

Here we are at Valentine’s Day again - and yet again, I find myself without a valentine. But this year I have decided to do something different for Valentine’s Day. This year I am dedicating myself to falling in love - with my country.
Old Glory is the symbol of love to me today, and in everything I do my thoughts turn to freedom. At noon while driving my car from here to there, I was listening to my favorite country music station, as I do daily. While I was listening the DJ played the most beautiful love song; which brought tears to my eyes; The Star Spangled Banner, our great national anthem.
　
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
　
There are many days throughout the year dedicated to the greatness of the United States of America, and the troops who serve her; Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day... but today I dedicate Valentine’s Day to my homeland; to the greatest country ever founded on the principles of freedom. As I would with a blessed spouse or partner, whom I would vow to love for better or worse, until death do we part - I vow today to love my country for better or worse, until death severs my tie. And I vow to do whatever it takes to keep my country healthy and free.
　
Though I may have no one to snuggle up with tonight as I lay down my head, other than my trusty Smith & Wesson, I will fall asleep in the embrace of freedom, knowing that I can have no greater love than my son, G-d, and country.

The death of the candidate-as-superhero

Just pondering today: Whatever happened to all those cape-draped superheroes of the 2010 Primary and General elections who promised to be grand defenders of our constitutional values?

Take, for instance, the Primary for Congressional District 1. We know all too well what the outcome of that race was, and the subsequent General election. Certainly we didn’t really expect our candidate Kenneth Wegner to win, and we surly knew that Shelley Berkley would just give us more of the same. Yet, as I recall, the Primary was packed full of Republican and conservative hopefuls - ten to be exact; David Cunningham, Michele Fiore, Chuck Flume, Jonathan Hansen, Ed Klapproth, Craig Lake, Mike Monroe, Scott Neistadt, Joseph Tatner, and Kenneth Wegner.

So where are our caped crusaders now; what have they been up to since the election? I’ve seen Craig Lake about, from time to time. He worked on Dr. Joe Heck’s campaign for a bit, and I saw that he was a recent speaker at the Republican Men’s Club - though not having received my invitation (albeit a member), I wasn’t privy to what Lake had to say. Joseph Tatner was writing a column for the Las Vegas Tribune for awhile, until he quit when Michele Fiore was named the Director of Community and Political Affairs. Some resentments die hard, I suppose. I haven’t seen him around in quite some time. As the Director of Community and Political Affairs, Fiore was writing a weekly column for the Tribune, as well as leading the Editorial Board in endorsement decisions. Once the General election completed, however, Fiore chose not to continue with the Tribune. I did see her recently at the First Friday’s event at Stoney’s this month and understand she’s been focused on managing her home healthcare business and working hard assisting the disabled.

I’ve not seen hide nor hair of Kenneth Wegner since he laid down at Berkley’s feet, and don’t know if he’s given up on politics all together, or if he’s just resting in order to gain strength for butting his head up against the CD1 wall for a fourth time. There hasn’t been any recent news on any of the other candidates, and all I’ve seen of Klapproth is a campaign sign that remains on or about Tenaya Rd in the Northwest.

As for the gubernatorial race; although the mainstream press acknowledged only two of the seven candidates running, five of the candidates represented all manner of grassroots activism. Aside from our newly elected Governor Brian Sandoval, and the Democratic loser, Rory Reid, the other candidates who claimed to stand for ‘We the People’were; David Scott Curtis of the Green Party; Eugene ""Gino"" DiSimone, an independent non-partisan; Floyd Fitzgibbons of the Independent American Party; Aaron Y. Honig, an independent; and Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. of the Libertarian Party. Although some of the candidates reside outside of Clark County, they still should be vocalizing their thoughts on the current administration, and acting with other citizens to check and balance the system. Even the most recognized of the five alternative candidates, Gino DiSimone, seems to have disappeared off the radar, not even having an active Facebook page anymore.

Perhaps it’s harder wearing a cape than many realize. Maybe our hopes and expectations should be rested on ourselves instead of on others who have their own hopes and expectations guiding them. I know I don’t have any superheroes anymore. The change I want to see in my state will have to come from me, and I will work in the trenches with anyone else who wants to work as diligently as I do.
　
　

The anti-climactic cowardice of DETR Administration

It seems bull shit is as normal a part of life as the bulls that make the shit. So it really didn’t surprise me on Friday February 4^th when, at 3:45 PM, I received a call from Karen Belleni, the Personnel Officer III who has been manipulating my discharge alongside fellow bull Janice John, the Deputy Administrator of Vocational Rehabilitation.

The point of the call was, I suppose, to replace my request for an exit interview by calling me at the end of the business day on the day I had wanted to come in for a meeting. I had been perfectly clear in my letter to Janice John and in my voice mail message that I wanted an exit interview and that I did not intend to appeal the decision to discharge me prior to completion of my year-long probation. I was also clear that I wanted a meeting, and an HR advocate. That was effectively "shit no. 1" on my bull shit scale.

"Shit no. 2" was that the call to me was made by Karen Belleni and not by the Deputy Administrator with whom I’d made the request. As I’ve said for years; integrity is the most important aspect of any relationship, even with a spouse, and certainly something expected in both corporate America and government. It is obviously something lacking in both; hence the problems we face in our great country today. As a trained psychotherapist I suppose I should realize, as well, that a failure to have adequate role-models for integrity can lead to a lack of the understanding of it, and therefore a lack of individual integrity - another problem we are facing in our country. It was disappointing that Ms. John didn’t have the integrity, or wherewithal, to own her decision to cut me at my 11^th month and to face me. Cowardice is a luxury not allowed toward the top of the business food chain. As with a Commander of an Army; any decision you make as an Administrator is yours, and all repercussions are yours as well.

I politely spoke with Ms. Belleni as Ms. John hid silently on a second line. We went around about what it was I was requesting, and what an exit interview is. Apparently to the State of Nevada, or at least the bulls at DETR, an exit interview is something afforded only to permanent employees when they choose to leave. That was not how I understood the process from Michelle, the supervisor in Payroll, however that was the story as Ms. Belleni stuck to it. She finally admitted that they didn’t understand the way in which I was using the term ‘exit interview’ to which I retorted they might have had they returned my call and opened dialogue with me. ‘Shit no.3.’ In the end, Ms. Belleni told me what I had already learned from Michelle in Payroll; a supervisor with no ties to me at all, but who was willing to hear what I had to say and endeavor to find me the answers I need.

Only after the call was fairly well concluded, and Ms. Belleni had played her part as pitbull, did Ms. John bother to speak up at all. It was very anti-climactic, to say the least, having the woman on my hiring panel, who supervised my real supervisor, and appeared to care about my satisfaction as an employee of Vocational Rehabilitation when hired, suddenly sound up as the mouse in the background with a pathetic apology for misunderstanding my motivation. But what was really pathetic, and ‘shit no. 5,’ was the whole process of being treated by the Deputy Administrator as if I was an enemy of the State instead of an employee who had just worked 11 months in service to the disabled unemployed citizens of Las Vegas, and who had just been left unemployed myself - with no warning and no justification.

Week One - part deux

It’s a sad statement about the quality of people the State of Nevada promotes into administrative roles when the newly promoted Deputy Administrator of the Rehabilitation Division won’t even bother to return a phone call or set up an appointment with a recently discharged member of her own staff. As I last wrote, on Wednesday the Deputy Administrator, Janice John, left me a voice mail message in response to a letter I had hand delivered requesting an exit interview. I had returned the call within a couple of hours and politely requested, this time verbally, an exit interview reiterating my desire to have an HR Advocate present - not because I want to appeal the decision to release me from employment prior to making permanent status - but because I had been treated so suspect during the process.

Keep in mind that Ms. John had been on the interview board that hired me, and it was my belief that we had a good working relationship. I was always courteous, professional, and a team player. It strikes me as very peculiar that, after 11 months of employment, I would be refused the common courtesy of an exit interview; something that State employees are supposed to be able to receive, from what I’ve learned this week.

My voice mail message had been left Wednesday, and I requested a meeting for Friday (today). Ms. John was given ample time to return my call, and set up a "witness" on her own behalf, something she had been advised to do by the DETR Personnel Officer III she contacted, Karen Belleni. I became privy to their game plan when Ms. John didn’t hang up the phone after leaving me her message that she would call me back later - which she did not do.

Ms. John to Ms. Belleni, "I think I’ll ask her for a time... I won’t talk to her. I think I’ll just simply say we want to meet - the three of us."
"You might have someone with you, just as a witness...," responded Belleni, later adding, "I would try to keep her out of the Maryland Parkway office." Fortunately Ms. Belleni did recognize that I cannot be denied services, should I request them.

Fortunately, despite not being respected by the Deputy Administrator or the Personnel Officer III, I was able to find out most of the information I wanted and needed to know about my final pay and benefits by making about 10 calls yesterday to various agencies, each which referred me on to someone else, until finally I spoke with a very straightforward supervisor in State Payroll, Michelle. Michelle was able to explain to me that my last pay check, counter to what my supervisor mumbled to me as he escorted me out of the JobConnect on Monday, will be pay period 17 and will arrive on the regularly scheduled pay day in two weeks. My annual leave will be paid sometime in March, depending on how quickly accounting operates, after I have received my last check and accrued my last portion of leave (four hours every two weeks). As for my insurance coverage; I was specifically discharged on the 31^st of the month so that I would have no insurance for February.

The insurance issue was the most flabbergasting to me, given that I had incurred hand strain and back pain due to my job and the poor equipment I was given; was seeking treatment through my personal medical insurance (paying my own co-pays, etc); and have not even received word back from the neurologist as to whether the problem with my hand is carpel tunnel syndrome; and bam! The powers that be decided to make sure I had no access to insurance to continue my treatment. I didn’t file a worker’s comp claim, as I could have, I simply handled it through my insurance, although my unit supervisor, my supervisor, and the Deputy Administrator were all aware of my work-related physical problems.

The attitudes of the administrators in the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation exemplify what I absolutely cannot stand about working in social services. My job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor was to assist people with disabilities to find work. Yet when employees of BVR have problems at work, that can be temporarily disabling, they are ignored, swept under the rug, and treated as unimportant. Even in the larger organization, the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, I worked with a woman who had to use a cane to walk. Do you think the Site Administrator would give this devoted, but disabled, employee a handicapped parking space near back the door? Absolutely not - the back parking lot was reserved for supervisors and tenured folks.

In his famous "I have a dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. stated his desire to reach a point in time in which his daughters would be judged, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. My dream is for State programs such as Voc Rehab to be judged, not by the tone of the good they are supposed to do, but by the content of their character.