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Margaret Bassett passed away August 21, 2011. She was a treasured member of the Opednews.com editorial team for four years.
Margaret Bassett--OEN editor--is an 89-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political philosophy. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboard into the lives of those who come after her.
Saturday, June 18, 2011 Working Hard or Hardly Working (3 comments)
Definitely "retired from paycheck days," I offer some thoughts to those who aren't there yet.
Sunday, May 22, 2011 Oreo, Reverse Oreo--How does the Cooky Crumble?
Mix a question of who's more vanilla or chocolate--and you've got a question of where investigative journalism fits. Chris Hedges took a stab at answering it. To soft pedal his role--let it be stated that his article is analysis and not reportage. He has reason to see President Obama's politics as it reflects his values. Even Reverend Wright of Trinity Church mentioned that. "A politician," he said.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 What Would You Do if You Were US President? (2 comments)
When I attempt to decipher government I tend to think of two Either/Or's. Domestic versus foreign policy. In plain old politics, Republicans and Democrats still assert themselves.
Saturday, April 2, 2011 Are You Better off than You Were on April 4, 1968?
Assuming you were old enough on that date to count money, to reckon with daily nutrition, and to have a place to call home--well, time to reminisce. If you are younger than 21 now, perhaps you supplement history lessons with conversation from those who were there.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010 Mercy me! What is MERS? (2 comments)
Apparently this is an introduction to what has become known as ForeclosureGate. And it is alleged to be a political and economic ticking time bond.
Sunday, December 5, 2010 Dilma Rousseff is a bric
She is also an economist and now she is president of Brazil. While we in the US were detracted by our own midterms Ms Rousseff replaced outgoing "Lula" by huge electoral margins.
Sunday, September 12, 2010 As California Goes, so Flounders the Nation
It could be said that gender, incumbency and ethnicity are prominent in California where two offices--US Senator and Governor--are being played out with gusto. Three women and a retread governor are on primary ballots. Through it all hangs a huge deficit (Illinois vies with them).
Saturday, April 3, 2010 Ersatz and Kaput
Fake(substituted) and Broken (unavailable) were words to describe "ersatz and kaput" as I knew them as a schoolgirl. Our family, in a derisive manner, talked about Hitler's attempt to cobble together a fighting force which we all feared would come to pass.
Saturday, March 27, 2010 Is it Spring Break or is Politicking Permissible ?
Bradford pear trees are budding out. Rhododendron are giving big promises. It's hard to concentrate on little tasks at hand. I want to know. What shoe is going to drop in the world of politics next?
Saturday, March 13, 2010 Moody as a Mid-March Day (4 comments)
The wind, for ill or not, is blowing up last year's half-rotten leaves. The sun presents itself just to tease. Skies are only partly drippy. It's enough to evoke sneezing spells and painful joints. Shall we mention state of mind?
Sunday, February 7, 2010 Flowers is Ready to Bloom in the Spring (7 comments)
Dr. Margaret, that is. She makes me so proud to be a woman. It's not just her determination to be heard, although that counts. And it's not just because she is ready to give up a career which others are holding onto by old platitudes. It's definitely not because she expects leniency because she's a woman. She's doing it for her patients, children who deserve a fair chance.
Saturday, January 30, 2010 What's Pelosi Got to Do with It?
The Knoxville Sentinel promised us a storm like the "blizzard" of 93. This morning they explained why it didn't come. (The eye went farther north.) Nevertheless there is a winter storm watch for another few hours and it will be cold tonight. And I'm still thinking about Barack Obama and his not so loyal opposition.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 It's About the Children
Originally I intended to write a little opinion piece about how the president doesn't seem to be paying much attention to education. And then I got to thinking it wouldn't make much difference whether American children were taught about the Enlightenment, or had perfect teeth and bones for their old age, or became good citizens. What would count is a world wide web of those born after the year 2000 who would soon be out campaigning--or something.
Saturday, January 9, 2010 Reading, Writing and Retail (2 comments)
This tells the difference between education and propaganda. Judging the difference is called "critical thinking." It doesn't take a rocket scientist.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 Is it Time to Call it Quits?
There comes a period when committing to an employer for a certain amount of one's time and talent is not feasible--not for health insurance coverage, extra income, or sense of worth. On the spectrum of womb to tomb, common sense requires tackling the question of mortality.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 Going Like 60, into a Speed Bump (4 comments)
In the telling of "womb to tomb" stages, and to cope, we have arrived to the voluntarily retired, the involuntarily retired, and the poor soul hanging on by fingernails. In short, ageism will raise its ugly head.
Saturday, December 5, 2009 Do You Work? (3 comments)
During my paycheck days, when accompanied by my husband, recent acquaintances would ask what they considered a yes or no proposition. These many years hence, I submit the long version of an answer I felt compelled to squelch then.
Friday, November 27, 2009 It's a Young Country - Let it Grow with Young People (9 comments)
I carry an image of a roomful of little darlings in a cheerful classroom, lined up in precise rows. On their heads are funnels, inviting information for life's lessons. It's expected that they will later be able to regurgitate what they memorized. My other image is of me, clicking my heals as a child, with a comb as a mustache and my arm raised in an "Ach Tung" salute. We were adamantly anti-Nazi in our household.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 Teenagers -- Who Learns, Who Teaches?
This is a continuation of what I have called Womb to Tomb stages in the life of human beings. It is not germane to call adolescence one stage, but then, if it were, the period would extend through the age of 24. For the purposes of this discussion, we could stop at the 20th year, which would take a young person through community college--if that be the choice.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 About Learning - the Second Stage of Womb to Tomb (5 comments)
In those "dear old school days" the most that can be expected is that the boys and girls will get enough sleep and plenty to eat, because young sprouts live as though there is no tomorrow. Telling them to study so they can get good jobs--you draw a blank.
Saturday, November 7, 2009 From Womb to Tomb, Starting at Pre-K
On a night when the US House of Representatives is putting health care, and insurance for same, in their sights it is only fair we consider another vital need for all human beings. Let's deal with the youngest among of us tonight.
Saturday, October 31, 2009 Terror, Torture and Tricks (1 comments)
As a child I was nonplussed. Why did I have to color cats black, and pumpkins orange at school? So I asked my mother. We didn't trick or treat--distances were too vast and snow was almost guaranteed. Mother said that Halloween was just a superstition. I gained a word. In time I realized the meaning of October 31 was a Hallowed Eve.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 Where were You when They Dropped the Bombs? (6 comments)
If you were not born yet, that's okay. You can be an historian, and this is just as good a topic as any. Less gruesome, maybe, are other wars. When the Guard shot students at Kent State or Jackson State, perhaps. How did you spend November 11, 2001? Wars are not all that history has to offer, however.
Saturday, October 17, 2009 Where Has all the Music Gone?
One night of TV, recalling the life of Joan Baez and her dedication to non-violent protest. The next night at the White House celebrating the joy of modern Latin tunes. How about the president's footwork!
Saturday, October 10, 2009 All Eyes on the Prize (7 comments)
How would I use the 1.4 million dollars which goes with the honor? Plant it and expect it to grow even more? Decide on a couple of "worthwhile" foundations and let them handle it? Ask school children to write essays (since the Obama girls will have to live with it)?
Saturday, September 26, 2009 Learning Happens, Teaching Tries (3 comments)
Despite the clamor of world conflicts, the angst over better health care in the US, and the usual criticism of election officials, it is time to think of more basic institutions. What is generally shoved off as "Education" needs to be thought of as a lifelong process.
Saturday, September 19, 2009 Ain't Going to Study War no More (10 comments)
So this brings us up to Cold War times--following the money and riding herd on the snoop trade--until once again Lucifer is turned loose big time. I guess it's for that reason I'm not going to worry about whether Petraeus led George W. Bush around or whether McChrystal has Barack Obama in his sights. I don't care about Limbaugh's battle plans. Sure, I'll be willing to tell young people how I was positioned on the side of peace even during the divisive times of Viet Nam.
Saturday, September 12, 2009 It's Not Your Tax Dollars Any More (8 comments)
You paid your taxes, didn't you? Then whose money is it now? Uncle Sam has it, and he sure needs it. If you think he's reckless with your hard earned cash, tell your Congresspersons. They appropriate. By the time it gets to the US Treasury it's out of your control.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 "Working" Studs' Way
How will one determine how to both enjoy work and be rewarded enough to take care of family needs?
Saturday, August 29, 2009 One for Me, One for You -- Hey, Don't Take the Whole Thing! (4 comments)
When my Kansas uncle came out to visit us, he tried to tell us we were wrong about FDR's Agricultural Adjustment Act. He had a minor management job in a bakery company. We were just wanting to get enough cash from wheat, beef and eggs to allow us to sell them. This was in 1936 and his guy lost--famously Alf Landon carried only Maine and Vermont.
Saturday, August 22, 2009 Health, a Job, and no Hassle (6 comments)
This healthcare debate can take one off into byways and deadends. As I sit here trying to be sagacious, I realize everyone is in the same place as I. So go tell that to the PR people, the politicians with a feel-good prescription!
Saturday, August 15, 2009 Crunching Numbers on Medicare (8 comments)
There are expenses which come before paying hospitalization insurance. Note I say: Hospitalization. In general, after WWII, we could hack a trip to the doctor and another one to the pharmacy if we weren't saddled with hospital expenses. Medicare was thought of in that way. Thus there is Part A and Part B. And in dealing with the hospital, the thinking went that ordinary stays in the hospital were not so formidable as long as they were short--major medical became important.
Saturday, August 8, 2009 Was This a Good Week? Or Wasn't it? (3 comments)
With a lot of chatter concerning Obama's future agenda, I still consider it important to think of legal issues. Even before the War on Terror became a password for tax and spend, and obfuscate, I have waited for where such vital issues as impeachment, torture, NSA warrantless wiretaps, and Attorneygate stood on the bench of legal skullduggery
Saturday, August 1, 2009 What is the World Coming To? (20 comments)
I'm coming from US political experience during the Great Depression. It was difficult for me to comprehend why peoples in the world were talking about another World War. I set out to discover why nations could not get along and found few answers by the time I left the university shortly after the end of World War II. One thing had happened, however. Warfare had new technology even more deadly.
Saturday, July 25, 2009 IBM Didn't Print THINK in Lots of Languages for Nothing
DEBE (does everything but eat). In 1966 when I began to train for computer programming on an IBM 1401, there was a handy little utility program which would read 80-column cards and print them. Thinking back to all the "bells and whistles" since then, I realize how hard it is to keep up with applications, here-and-gone.
Saturday, July 18, 2009 Getting Old is not for Sissies (4 comments)
Two important events occurred to me this week. One was listening to Rob Kall's radio interview of Maggie Jackson, where they talked about her book "Distracted." The second event happened a couple of nights later in a discussion of how to pay for America's healthcare insurance.
Saturday, July 11, 2009 Everyone has something to give! (7 comments)
Where better to start on the hard issues of American politics than with a piece of your mind?
Saturday, July 4, 2009 Memo to OEN Members - July 4
I have now watched a Capitol Fourth from the West Side of the Capitol. All those children! And why not? They had Sesame Street in celebration of its 40th Anniversary. And Aretha and Barry Manilow, and a wonderful Rhapsody in Blue. Every year I visit the PBS spectacular as a way to connect to my early years.
Saturday, June 27, 2009 Memo to OEN Members June 27 (9 comments)
Where were you in 1966? If you think of the King Years, as being what Taylor Branch writes in his trilogy, you are probably thinking of Lyndon Johnson before his exit from the stage in 1968.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 Memo To OEN Members June20 (2 comments)
Without good journalism in all it's media, citizens could not educate themselves. A democracy could not flourish--it's just that simple. Let's hear it for OpEdNews.com!
Monday, June 8, 2009 To Explain 87 Years of Personal Healthcare Coverage
There are days when I feel like I'm held together with baling wire. However, I recognize I'm still ambulatory, able to make life's small decisions, and must chart my personal course using medical advice when needed. And any spare time, I ask a bigger question: Why can't everyone have healthcare coverage like mine?
Saturday, June 6, 2009 MemoTo OEN Members -- June 6, 2009 (4 comments)
Where to start? With The Speech, of course. Like many,I have it stowed away in video and text to use as source in months to come. Wendell Willkie started with "One World" utopia over 60 years ago, and it seems people are splintering into ever more parts as they have TV and blogs to sort it out. He lost his voice while campaigning in 1940. Maybe this time things will go better.
Saturday, May 30, 2009 Memo to OEN members - May 30, 2009 (12 comments)
Documents deal with statistics of unemployment, foreclosures, bank failures, and the latest pronouncements from Washington. We desperately need to bring the story down to earth. Maybe a few more tent cities could help, but actually I'm thinking of how individuals are impacted. I guess the media calls it human interest. I look forward to seeing more of them on the queue.
Saturday, May 23, 2009 Memo to OEN members 5/23/2009 (4 comments)
As we enjoy time to think about life and death--complete with parades and eulogies--we can also enjoy a long weekend (for some of us.)
Saturday, May 16, 2009 Memo to OEN Members Saturday, May 16, 2009 (6 comments)
Last Sunday, in commenting on Rady Ananda's interview article of me, I responded with a comment that I would try to write a weekly diary. This is the first.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 Transplanted or not, I'm a Blount Countian (4 comments)
An article for the Reminiscing Writers Workshop at Maryville Towers. We were asked to write anything we wanted to say about the county where we reside.
Sunday, April 12, 2009 Looking at a Blank Screen on Easter Morning (5 comments)
The sun is outdoing itself for the early risers, which is, I suppose poetic justice, since on Good Friday evening I wondered if the wrath of the heavens would leave us dry and safe.
Thursday, April 2, 2009 Oh, My Aching Back! (7 comments)
I fell and engaged my left rib cage with the metal of baseboard heating. It's not a major deal, but I want to talk about the joys of Medicare and friends and just plain good luck. If you want to talk about it, I hereby release you from HIPPA.
Friday, February 13, 2009 Notes from a Querulous Editor (5 comments)
"Is That all There is?" Such is a song which pops in my head as February promises longer days, but produces roiling clouds and yoyo temperatures. Sitting at the keyboard, the song runs through my ears. Many may hear Frank Sinatra. My hear Lou Rawls.
Monday, February 2, 2009 What's the Difference - Inaugurations and Weddings (1 comments)
In our senior apartment building, a few of the residents meet monthly to read their essay on a pre-determined topic--this time "Inaugurations." Thinking of "the proof is in the pudding," I came up with a comparison to weddings.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 If Bush Has His Way, He'll Take Out Gov't Workers Too (1 comments)
Keep the dedicated civil servants (whistleblowers included). And then deal with the bureau stuffing of GWBush later. Article in In These Times deals with a last assault on dedicated bureaucrats.
Saturday, November 1, 2008 The Pause that Refreshes!
Thoughts on what an OEN editor can do when she's too old to campaign the last weekend of a presidential campaign
Monday, September 1, 2008 Happy Labor Day Everybody!
Hurricanes, McCain's day to shine, and maybe just a little homage paid to working people. The Prez stood waiting in Austin to tell us something. Demonstrators were making headlines. And I steamed some vegetables. All in a day's work.
Sunday, August 31, 2008 Maybe 08 is MORE Serious Than 68 (4 comments)
When Don Williams wrote his insightful essay on the Righteous Right's poor timing in praying for rain, I still believed that I'd seen more riotous fallout in Chicago than the Twin Cities could produce this go-around. I commented accordingly. But now I wonder.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Listen up, Progressives! (9 comments)
This is a pep talk. It's a diary because 600 words should do it.
Friday, July 25, 2008 From the Fourth of July to Christmas (4 comments)
I am a member of a little reminiscing writing group at the Towers and I thought you might like to know what I wrote. The Mission of Hope takes clothes, food and toys to those in the hollers of Kentucky.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 My Gullible Travels Through Googleland
It's easy to get sidetracked over an image during this election season. IMO, better to keep tuned on what the candidates say rather than what others say about them.
Saturday, June 14, 2008 School Days, School Days, Dear Old
This is a story of Great Depression days. Currently, when poverty is discussed, I think about those times. If I learned anything, it is that the worst poverty is lack of knowledge. And I put learning, formal or otherwise, as more important than money.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 From the Kindergarten of Wrinkled Babies
Wednesday, 11 June, 2008, this is my entry. I borrow the title from Maggie Kuhn of the Grey Panthers.
Friday, June 6, 2008 Eric Lichblau's New Book
I receive a newsletter for the NYTimes on books each week. Since apparently the Times does not allow QuickLinks, I take this method to tell about the review by Jeff Stein.
Friday, May 23, 2008 TGIF
Have a happy and safe holiday, everyone! I'm staying home and already anxious for a time of contemplation .
Saturday, May 17, 2008 Help Requested! (3 comments)
Political Wire pointed to a New Republic article, where an exclusive story analyzes why Hillary Clinton's campaign strayed. Because I have no subscription I could not post a QuickLink. If some one can help, it would be great.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 The "Old Warhorse" versus the "Young Whippersnapper"
Please bear with me. I'll explain the "name calling" in time. This is about war and agism. Mostly about how war, to the elderly, is the same sad song sucking the life out of the family and also the country.
Saturday, May 10, 2008 The Day I Met Hillary's Base (5 comments)
"Older white women" and "old white men"--could they be on the same side in November? Some Hillary supporters who cornered me in the locker room make me wonder.
Thursday, April 17, 2008 Are You Better Off Than 10 Years Agp? (6 comments)
Looking back at Viet Nam days, we mixed skim milk from powder with equal parts of whole milk for the kids. Buying a used Comet saved on gasoline. The only good part was I got raises based on the inflation percentage. Forget about it this time around!
Saturday, April 12, 2008 Open Letter to the Clintons (9 comments)
How does one tell Hillary and Bill Clinton that things are not the same as they were in 1992? I tried, in a letter here.
Thursday, April 3, 2008 Impeachment is Just Peachy with Me (16 comments)
Tonight I listened to Rob Kall talking with David Swanson about his day at the office of John Conyers. Then I read a letter PEN just sent about three House candidates in Oregon who are running on an impeachment ticket. So, I thought it might help to recall some earlier attempts.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Senator Obama, and 40 Years of Remembering (2 comments)
Senator Obama on race in his Philadelphia speech reminded me of what has happened since his birth.
Monday, November 26, 2007 Wingnut Awareness Week David Horiwitz & IFAW
Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week hit the DePaul Univ campus. Tired of polls and pols' barbs, I was jolted to thoughts of how campuses may fester. During Nam days in Berwyn, Il (home to highschoolers with spunk) the YAF were then shooting arrows from bows (because they weren't outlawed in city code). Coral Beach, upscale to Berwyn, rumbled recently. What gives? College kids vote! Do what? Rebut/ignore/punt? DePaul is symbol.
Friday, November 23, 2007 When did we become like Syria? asks a Syrian-American
Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen arrested by US officials, was sent to Syria under rendition. Now he has sued the US govt. Alia Malek, Syrian-American, writes "As I watched a surreal torture case unfold in a U.S. courtroom, the line between dictatorship and democracy seemed to disappear." Piece looks at it from the perspective of lawyers from both countries and recalls the reign of Hafez al-Assad, former Syrian dictator.
Thursday, November 22, 2007 The Early Show - Living, HealthWatch and Leisure
A video which explains the increase of autism. What happens to children when they are no longer covered by US funds. This describes North Carolina's projects to help training them.
Friday, November 2, 2007 On Domestic Spying Legislation, Talk Continues
Matt Renner writes on Senate consideration of extension/revision of Protect America Act, passed hastily and due to expire in early spring. Question involves retroactive immunity to communication firms who reveal data. House legislation to date allows such. Senators against include Spector, Feingold and Feinstein. Rockefeller, Intelligence committee chair, seems disposed, but with better oversight.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 Privacy Groups Target Online Advertising
How the cookies crumble! Privacy groups advocate a Do Not Track law similar to Do Not Call. AP article names those advocating, and explains a little of current software abilities. Privacy, old as computer usage, is interesting. But doesn't mention everyday "bonus cards" at the grocery.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 ABA President-Elect William H. Neukom Biography
William Neukom was made president of the ABA in 2006. In looking for legal stuff, this came up. It is of note that he used to be attorney for 17 years with Microsoft. If memory serves, this came after watching a C-Span program where the discussion centered around American company officials learning how to interact during the time of globalization.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Peace Activists to Retest Border Policy (1 comments)
Medea Benjamin of Code Pink and Ann Wright, retired colonel and former diplomat, intend to fly to Canada on invitation of some Parliament members. They were arrested on misdemeanor charges previously for trying to walk into Canada. It is essentially a test of US rules barring certain of its citizens from entrance to Canada.
Sunday, October 7, 2007 The Democrats who enable Bush
Helen Thomas writes that the three leading Democratic candidates don't have a plan to get out of Iraq. Mentions that the President is sending messages to Hillary Clinton concerning it.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 GM may close 2 more plants under deal
And besides the two agreed upon plants, perhaps at least one other at a later date. Lordstown gets to make some engines.
Friday, February 23, 2007 Don Williams Out. The Sentinel Lost.
So Don Williams has made the cut! I looked for his Friday column in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, our area's "big paper." I didn't find it until I read OpEdNews. It's a wonder MSM could tolerate straight talk on Mr. Bush's war for so long. My benchmark for newspapers' take on politics comes from 1948 when only two endorsed Harry Truman.
Friday, June 13, 2008 Letter re Impeachment to Chicago Sun-Times
Father Andrew Greeley is a well-respected columnist who is known for, among other accomplishments, his research on opinion making.
