Recent Advocacy Efforts
*Updated*
Read commentary I wrote during the wee hours of an all-night I pulled Saturday evening (March 28th), which relates to some of my recent advocacy efforts concerning mental health, homelessness and housing pertaining to Vermont and cross-posted on four different blogs, here (via Green Mountain Daily) as well as, here (via Beyond VSH blog), here (via Vermont Watch blog) and, here (via iBrattleboro).
*Update*: Video version posted online (via Seesmic):
*Note*: last updated on Friday, April 3, 2009 at 3:33 AM (EDT).
My Video Reply re: What is Art?
My long, windy and wandering video reply to (make sure to max your volume as high as you can, due to my having to try to be quiet and not wake anyone as well as also because of the background noise the laptop computer makes for some reason unknown to me):
Description:
a late comer’s reply to a really good question, one open to potentially infinite discussion & while there is no *one* answer or even a limited set of absolute answers, there are plenty of answers much as there exists many different pieces of various sizes and shapes to any given puzzle and this is a huge, ever expanding one as the process of art continues to unfold & evolve …
Pondering E = mc2 & Our Universe
Although it is not the first time that I have struggled with the concept before, I found myself pondering the equation of E = mc2 today, all while even more weighty matters of the universe were quickly spinning within my mind, at least those concerning my own very small portion of it anyway.
The results of this particular thought process can be found, here.
Crazy, Insane?
*Updated* (with the usual edits)
This morning after writing an initial version of the following and sending it out to some of those on my e-networks and, then after doing a rewrite, I submitted this version for publication as commentary to Counterpoint:
Crazy, Insane?by Morgan W. Brown
Stigma defined:
In sociological theory, a stigma is an attribute, behavior, or reputation which is socially discrediting in a particular way: it causes an individual to be mentally classified by others in an undesirable, rejected stereotype rather than in an accepted, normal one.via Wikipedia, here.
Although it is not really anything new when it comes to both society in general as well as within political circles at various levels and, the news media that covers such, it seems it is becoming even more common than usual for people and particularly the news media to describe or term in one manner or another and for one reason or another anyone as crazy or insane who they or others disagree with, do not understand or fail to accept.
Recent examples include the embattled Governor of Illinois who is being publicly tried within the press as well as the person he appointed to serve as U.S Senator to fill the seat of President-elect Barack Obama. However there are a multitude of examples provided on nearly a daily basis.
It also seems that these portrayals go completely unchecked. The problem is real and serious and it is just not one of being too sensitive about it or one of being politically correct either.
Not only are these stigmatizing (read: prejudicial) acts of negative labeling and public shaming damaging, they also raise issues concerning how, why and when our society labels others as crazy, insane or mentally ill anyone who they might disagree with, do not understand or fail to accept in one form or another, which is more of a political, moral or social form of oppression and exclusion in order to justify prejudice and discrimination.
These stigmatizing and prejudicial acts in fact act to neutralize and limit those so labeled, causing others to instantly question anything the person says or does, in effect marginalizing them by limiting their free speech rights as well as other rights, since through this process they are not to be taken seriously and this appears to be the aim.
As many already well know, this behavior then has an effect of how people think and act regarding those who become diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses as well as how people so labeled perceive themselves. something which can also have the potential of adding to the numbers of those who attempt or actually commit suicide.
In addition, these matters should also raise issues, concerns and questions about psychiatric diagnosing, labels and labeling in general, whom gets diagnosed or labeled and who does the labeling as well as the actual basis or roots such is based or judged upon.
While there are those who are working on these and related matters, there remains a growing need to find various means to begin to push back against the free for all taking place, particularly via the media in a variety of ways.
This is something that has been concerning me for quite some time now, but the continued daily bombardments of these forms of negative labeling and public humilation with political overtones is getting too overwhelming to be allowed to go virtually unchecked and not call such into question.
Concerning what to do or how to do so, at the moment I have no suggestions to offer, yet it is my hope the means can be found.
One approach of course is to exercise what one person had once mentioned to me in such instances: i.e., something along the lines of:
Free speech that bothers us can only be countered with more free speech.These are among some of my thoughts on the subject, what are yours?
*Note*: made several edits for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 6:54 AM (EST).
Ideas About How to Fix the Economy
*Updated* (with the usual edits)
Having revisited the Obama-Biden Transition Team Change.gov Website and, viewing the video of President-elect Barack Obama laying out key parts of the economic recovery plan (here), I followed the link for sending questions or ideas about how to fix the economy (here).
After viewing the short video featured on that page, I wrote and then submitted the following thoughts, insights, comments and ideas using the online submission form:
Re: Quickly and meaningfully work to address, both during the short-term as well as over the long-term, the dire affordable housing and homelessness crisis that has long plagued this nation over the last 30 years or soThere is a dire need to address the longstanding affordable housing and homelessness crisis within our nation.
The National Housing Trust Fund might prove to be an empty promise and not enough to address the need, not only because as I understand it the program would not begin drawing down monies until around 2010 or so, but now that the funding source was dependent on a stream from Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac and those programs are in peril and have basically been taken over by the government, it remains to be seen if the funding will be there for what is required for building and growing the trust fund. Even if it were, nothing would be coming from it until at least 2012 or later on. This is not either good or soon enough to address the problems at hand, either in the short or long term.
It is crucial not to make the
make[errors] of previous administrations as well as Congress and allow the problems to continue to be ignored. Nor it is enough to simply throw money at it in the manner as has been the case thus far.What is required to address homelessness among all those in need is affordable housing. Due to the serious need and also limited resources considering everything else the government needs to address during this time of economic crisis and not being able to do everything needed, what helps most in helping people get and stay housed is affordable housing as well as offering a menu of *voluntary* supports (without string[s] attached). Homeless shelters and transitional housing are not what works best and are only poor bandaid solutions, ones which cost lots of money and only help relatively few people.
Affordable housing needs to be understood as a crucial infrastructure need within the local community, county, state and nation as important and vital as roads and bridges to the economic engine and vitality of our communities, counties, states and nation.
It is also important to keep in mind there is a dire need in rural areas as well and not just in urban areas. In fact rural areas have been seriously neglected for far too long.
Instead of going to Mars or worrying about the space station or other such boondoggles as being above the housing needs of the citizens of our nation, let us prioritize housing as a fundamental right rather than either a privilege of those who can most afford it or a limited entitlement with never enough to meet the need.
In both training and putting people back to work in building and repairing existing housing, including making such energy efficient in all regards, this will help provide both need
s[ed] jobs and the housing many are in need of, including both those most in need as well as those whose incomes make it tough if not impossible to own their own or even rent an affordable residence.With all this in mind, it might be good to also consider newer and better means of housing, including building various types of [housing] along the lines of what is termed as Katrina Cottages depending on the housing needs and family size. This sort of housing would be more energy and cost efficient, as well as take up less land, etc.
Rather than depending on the type of huge apartment or housing complexes that either the private or public housing community have long relied on, which are usually very expensive as well, housing along the lines of the Katrina Cottages in the mix would also help lend to home ownership options, particularly for those like myself who subsist on limited incomes and are section 8 housing choice voucher eligible if only there was the affordable housing to use such a voucher and could use such a voucher toward a home ownership package.
With everything else the new administration is duly focused on, please do not forget those of us in serious need of real, affordable housing opportunities sooner rather than later.
One last thought on the subject is that people who live or formerly have lived homeless are not the problem, we are part of the solution. Thus one of the things that need changing is for programs to stop doing stuff to or for us and work with us at all levels and stages, including by having those who are or formerly were living homeless to be at the table in an equal and full manner as experts as anyone else from planning to implementation whether it be at the systemic level or during the process of a person seeking help to address their needs. We often know best what works and what does not, although we are not usually use to be[ing] included in meaningful ways, except maybe merely as tokens whose opinions and input is ignored.
Thank you in advance for any consideration given to these concerns.
Sincerely,
Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier, Vermont
If you have your own questions or ideas about how to fix the economy, make sure to submit them, here or, otherwise share your vision, here or, your story, here.
For those who might wonder if it would make any difference and matter to those within the new administration who will soon be taking power, it certainly cannot hurt to try, especially while they appear to be willing to listen and learn.
In addition, it certainly will not make a difference or matter if people do not try and share their concerns, stories, questions or ideas.
It is at least a place to start from, which is better than what usually happens, since people do not typically have any chance of being asked or heard about their concerns and ideas about their own government and the building of its agenda and policies.
fyi: National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF)
*Note*: made a couple of, mostly minor, edits for the purposes of clarification and readability; posted an embedded link to an informational page regarding the National Housing Trust Fund; last updated on Sunday, January 11, 2008 at 8:09 AM [ET].
Trying Out Intense Debate Comment Feature
While enhancing and adding to the social networking tools, whether those I have been previously using or those I have only recently begun using, I stumbled across the Intense Debate commenting feature via my FriendsFeed and decided to try it out on this blog, at least for the time being anyway.
Among the features in using it is not only the integration with some of my social media tools, but also it allows for the addition of various widgets in the sidebar, including the one I chose to use: i.e., the latest five (5)[most recent ten (10)] comment posts.
What will be one of my chief concerns about any decision in continuing to use the feature, given that it is an add on and not a Blogger-hosted service, is if were to significantly slow down the load time of the blog for readers.
Feel free to let me know if you prefer this commenting feature or not.
Under the Gun of Social Security Disability Review Process Again
*Updated* (with the usual edits)
*Note*: This is an updated and edited version of one I e-mailed out to my various e-mail networks earlier.
Although I tend to not always let people know much about what is going on with me or exactly how I am actually doing at times or, at least do not share all the details or depths of such, especially when I am really struggling, this year has been rather tough for me in one manner and degree or another and, during such experiences, finds me barely coping as a result.
When I checked my mail yesterday there was a disability review information and form packet mailed by the Montpelier office of the Social Security Administration.
This is my third review, the last being in 1998/1999, which was one I barely survived after initially having my social security benefits terminated through what was a flawed process on the part of the state disability review office, but then who finally revisited, reviewed and eventually reversed their decision once concerns and protest as well as additional authoritative information was brought to their attention on my behalf by others.
For more on the subject, read a reprint of: The Journey of dis-Ability: Reflections on How Income Can Benefit Outcomes (via The Independent; February-March 1999 Edition; Volume 8, Number 1; posted Friday, January 17, 2003).
It has been in the back of my mind for a while now that I could be the subject of another review at some point, especially given some of the more higher profile activities and blogging I have engaged in of late (e.g., the Vermont Watch blog), which could have come to the attention of certain persons and possibly causing some to question whether I was still qualified for these income and related benefits or not.
That said, I am not at all suggesting that this is indeed the case, only that I knew when I started my political blog there existed a greater potential of leading to such an end. That said as well, I also knew a review could happen even if I did not engage in such activities and blogging, so I had nothing to lose either way or so it seemed. Thus, whatever the case might actually be, it is a moot point since I have no control over it one way or another and have to focus on what is in front of me instead.
While I have about two weeks to fill out the forms included within the packet, I am already feeling fairly stressed about it (including experiencing attacks of both deep panic as well as severe anxiety).
At least in part, this is because when I read some of the enclosed information and questions on the forms, as well as the medicalized context within how they are presented, it would — and, also based on previous experience from the last time around — seem to spell major gloom and doom.
However, while I do believe that how this process will be done will be different this time around, it could easily still result in a decision to terminate my benefits and, if this worse case scenario were to indeed happen, then leaving me forced to have to go through an appeal process and not being able to endure coping with it.
Just because an individual has rights to appeal, does not always mean they survive the process either very well or at all, even if they could be successful if they were able to persist, something that can be very difficult to do even when a person has the help of others. I know, been there, done that both when I went through the lengthy process of initially getting the benefits as well as the last review.
The very thorough review in between those two was rather easier on comparison, yet no less stressful and troubling for me; in fact it was the first review in 1993 or 1994 or so that caused a lot of upheaval to the point that afterwards I moved out of the housing (Summer 1996) I had been in since the Spring of 1992 due at least in part to the stress of the experience as well as other factors leading to my no longer feeling safe and comfortable within those quarters.
All to state that if I either appear to be under more duress or become less engaged than has usually been the case of late, this could help to explain at least part of why.
It seems like this will be yet another chapter in the ongoing saga that shall be filed under the Journey of dis-Ability, with mine being just one version of journeys faced differently in one manner and degree or another by many others as well of course.
*Note*: made several edits for the purpose of clarification and readability; last updated on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 4:08 AM (ET).
Google’s Knol Project
For if or when you or someone else you know are thinking about penning future articles on a given subject one is knowledgeable about and would like a means to share them online, a new tool to consider using for such comes by way of Google by the name of Knol, which according to Google stands for a unit of knowledge.
Check out my Knol profile page, here. The knols I have contributed thus far can be found by scrolling down to near the bottom of the sidebar column of the right-hand side of the page.
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Trying Out Disqus Commenting Tool
*Updated* (with the usual edits)
Decided to try the Disqus commenting tool on my blog and, besides plenty of great features of its own — including some recent new ones and also an even better mixed comment tool for the sidebar, it is easy enough to install and only employs doing so with a template installation procedure and not a troublesome widget.
There does not seem to be an option to have the comments show under the blog posts right on the main or archive pages, however it quickly goes to the post page and to the comments section as the Blogger-hosted comment tool does.
While I have not tried posting a comment with it on my blog yet, I have previously posted comments using Disqus on other blogs and it works fine in that respect.
In addition, I’ve tested my blog using the Internet Explorer (IE) browser and it works fine on those browsers and there does not seem to be any blockage issues this time around, although the blog and also the commenting feature does load slower in IE than with Firefox 3 or Google Chrome (just reporting, not hinting).
Do not know about other browsers, but I think Disqus has been around for a while and may do a better job at browser integration as a result.
By the way, for iMac users, someone informed me today about a browser I never heard of before for Mac users: Camino, Mozilla Power, Mac Style.
Whatever browser(s) you may be using, please check it out and let me know how the blogs loads and works now, as well as feel free to try out posting a comment as well, particularly if you are new to using the Disqus commenting tool yourself.
*Note*: made several, mostly minor, edit for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 3:38 PM [EDT].
April 10, 2009 Posted by Morgan W. Brown | blog, comments, disqus, feedback, networking, opinion, social media, tools | Leave a Comment