BUDGET HOSTAGE, DAY 27: THE AWAKENING

A U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson tells CBS 21 that the purpose of the investigation is to protect state workers rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department says now that an investigation is under way, there is no need for any more state workers to call and complain.

Sounds like the governor got a little talkin-to over the weekend. He's now THINKING. And more importantly, he thinks we need to "get the government running again."

Tomorrow I will be protesting in Penn Square, downtown Lancaster. Across from the brand new Convention Center, and right outside Central Market. Should be fun!

Some people took tomorrow off to head to Harrisburg too. The momentum's shifting.

BUDGET HOSTAGE, DAY 26: EVE OF DESPERATION

In March 2003, I was still in the Air Force and stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. I had a set of orders and plane tickets to Turkey, somewhere along the southern border. There I would be setting up a base "from scratch" in order for the war with Iraq to begin. Although, I was never sent to Turkey I was scheduled three different times to fly out. All three canceled by a call in the middle of the night.

Needless to say, this was a very stressful time in my life. As a result of this experience, I formed an ever-growing discontent with the government. Because of what it personally put me through, and what I've come to find out it puts millions of people through everyday.

July 2009 is now comparable to March 2003. And it has the potential to surpass 03 this week. I am very concerned about how coworkers will react this week. It gets no realer than knowing you will not be paid when your livelihood, as well as your family's, is dependent upon this pay. These conditions, caused by our employer, are going to make good people do bad things. And it will not be their choice; it will be human nature.

Desperation is defined by Merriam-Webster as "loss of hope and surrender to despair." People have definitely lost hope, and I'm confident as this week progresses it will become obvious that folks can't think of anything else other than how they are going to provide for their families. The patience the governor has asked for is wearing thin. If he and his chain-of-command keep ignoring the health issues involved, I'm afraid the patience is going to turn to patients.

I'm sure that I have acquired some sort of "condition" as a result of this impasse. I say that because I am obsessed. And I'm enraged that the lawmakers do not share my obsession. I cannot effectively do my job because I cannot quit thinking about how to make them do theirs. (NOTE: I am aware of my obsession and this is NOT a threat towards anyone.)

The lack of leadership and management is disturbing. I am not "classified" as a worker who should be recognizing warning signs and proactively trying to prevent "traumatic events." But lack of classification should not discount my concerns. Until now, they have been. In a formal meeting on June 17, we requested SEAP to provide us a service. They declined and offered individual assistance.

I've spent a lot of time on their site, along with our other state-provided resource liveandworkwell.com. EVERY article, regulation, powerpoint presentation specifically states: DO NOT IGNORE warning signs.

From an article they have posted on their site titled, "Depression Costs Billions,"

"And many people don't recognize depression as an illness. Symptoms of fatigue and indecisiveness are often seen as personality problems, laziness, or weakness."

From an article by the Mayo Clinic titled "Job Burnout: Understand Symptoms and Take Action"

What are job burnout symptoms?

Ask yourself these questions to see if you're experiencing job burnout signs or symptoms:

* Do you find yourself being more cynical, critical and sarcastic at work?

* Have you lost the ability to experience joy?

* Do you drag yourself into work and have trouble getting started once you arrive?

* Have you become more irritable and less patient with co-workers, customers or clients?

* Do you feel that you face insurmountable barriers at work?

* Do you feel that you lack the energy to be consistently productive?

* Do you no longer feel satisfaction from your achievements?

* Do you have a hard time laughing at yourself?

* Are you tired of your co-workers asking if you're OK?

* Do you feel disillusioned about your job?

* Are you self-medicating — using food, drugs or alcohol — to feel better or to simply not feel?

* Have your sleep habits or appetite changed?

* Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, neck pain or lower back pain?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing job burnout. But because some of these symptoms also can indicate certain health conditions, such as depression, be sure to consult with your health care provider about your symptoms.

PLEASE, everyone be strong.

"HILLARY TAKES BREAK FROM SENSES"

HATS OFF TO JEFF HAWKES OF LANCASTERONLINE.COM!!!

Hillary takes holiday from senses
By JEFF HAWKES, Staff

Hillary Clinton yesterday repeated her call for a summer-long gas tax holiday, but she's not stopping there.
Hoping for an upset victory in today's North Carolina primary, Clinton proposed a temporary repeal of the law of gravity.

"My proposal would lighten the load for the hardworking families of America," Clinton, who toured a pogo stick factory, said. "I have seen very personally the challenges patriotic, churchgoing, gun-toting Carolinians are facing in these troubled times.

"They've been knocked down by predatory mortgage lenders and greedy oil company executives, and I believe they deserve a little help getting back on their feet," said Clinton, adding that when she was first lady she pushed behind the scenes for a holiday on gravity, while Bill thought it was more important to reform welfare and balance the budget.

"If I had known then what I know now, I never would have gone along," she said.

HILLARY WEIGHS IN

Clinton said she would be ready on Day 1 to tackle gravity, in contrast to her opponent, who she accused of being out of touch with gullible voters and being in the pocket of the heavy-equipment industry.

"Shame on you, Barack Obama," Clinton said before she and daughter Chelsea illustrated an escape from gravity by boarding a balloon filled with hot air.

In a conference call with reporters, Clinton campaign communications chief Howard Wolfson said the senator's novel proposal demonstrates the lengths to which she will go to lift up the growing number of pudgy Americans weighed down by eight years of failed Bush-Cheney economic policies.

Later, returning to the White House from Camp David, President Bush responded to the criticism by telling reporters, "We're concerned about gravity inside our White House. Make no mistake about it."

He added, "Ben Franklin discovered gravity, and he did a heckuva job out in that storm. But if weapons of gravity get into the hands of our enemies, my answer to that is, bring them on."

An open letter signed by more than 100 physicists warned that a gravity holiday, even just a three-day weekend with no gravity, would likely do more harm than good.

"While it's true the suspension of gravity would reduce the number of falls among the elderly and eliminate the need for suspenders, we can anticipate tradeoffs," James Neutron, president of American Society of Physics, said. "Zero gravity, it can be shown, would be problematic for lumberjacks and Olympic divers."

Wolfson countered that physicists are elitists who hold conferences in San Francisco.

QUESTION DODGED

On "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," Clinton was asked to name a credible scientist who thinks a break from gravity is feasible, let alone responsible.

"Well, you know, George," Clinton responded, "I think we've been for the last seven years seeing a tremendous amount of government power and elite opinion basically behind policies that haven't worked well for the middle class and hardworking Americans. From the moment I started this campaign, I've said that I'm absolutely determined that we're going to provide health insurance for every American and obliterate Iran if I have to, because, as I proved in Pennsylvania, I'm harder to knock down than Rocky."

"But can you name a scientist who thinks this makes sense?" Stephanopoulos pressed.

"Well, I'll tell you what," Clinton said, "I'm not going to put my lot in with scientists, because I know if we get it right, if we actually did it right, we won't have a President Obama, who's not a Muslim, as far as I know, and, boy, will we have dodged a bullet, which I remember learning how to do in Bosnia."

E-mail: jhawkes@lnpnews.com