Francis...The People's Pope

For once we have a Pope that has become the  People's Pope of the world. For the first time all faiths look upon this man as a great religious leader because he speaks not just for the Catholics but all the human race, and animals as well, everywhere. I am not a Catholic, not even a Christian, but an Agnostic that literally hangs on every word Pope Francis says. I don't always agree with him, but I know what he is saying is sincere and from the heart. He will go down in history as a great leader but that is for later.

An MSNBC article lists Pope Francis as a different kind of Pope because of a broadened horizon where he stood up for equal pay for women, forgiveness for women who have received abortions, and couples that have been divorced or remarried. He's even been on the back of world leaders to do something about climate change before it is too late. While he he hasn't accepted same-sex marriage, one point I disagree with him on, he has at least tried to understand the problems of the LGBT community by working and talking with them. The Pope attended a luncheon for the homeless in New York, which is what we call getting down in the trenches.

He has tried to give those imprisoned hope and he has met with abuse victims of the Catholic Church. In other words, this man has managed to spread himself thin over the problems of the world but maintaining the importance of every issue. I am not a religious person but Pope Francis seems to bring out the best in me every time I hear him speak or read about his achievements.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

From 1971 to 1981, the combined Social Security and income tax bills of median income families shot up 329%, while the combined tax bills of individuals and families with income of more than $1 million fell 34%.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here's why Bernie Sanders should be Democratic nominee

Bernie Sanders looks happy

If you have the people you have the votes and this is just what Bernie Sanders is doing. Bernie "has broken the record for the number of individual contributions received at this point during a presidential campaign," as reported Monday by the Huff Post. He hit 2.3 million contributions during last Saturday's debate, breaking Obama's record of 2.2 million donations in 2012. It is significant to me that he broke the record of the man who beat Clinton in 2008. People were pissed off by Sander's treatment by the DNC and its chair, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

So far I cannot find Hillary Clinton's number of individual donors, but that may be withheld due to the fact that she is funded by many corp. donors and PACs, unlike Sanders. Individual donors translate into voters, as compared to large PAC contributions; I would hope individuals who are committed by their money given would also tend to go to the polls. Obviously Bernie's $41.2 million doesn't match Clinton's $76 million, but there is something to be said for those who donate what they can to the man they are convinced represents their best interests.

It seems Wasserman-Schultz DNC has lit a fire under Bernie Sander's followers with $1 million raised just during the Friday before the debate when the rumpus was going on. You see, Bernie's supporters know when he needs them and they come to his aid with what they can give. I'm pretty sure the candidate can depend on those same followers to come to his aid in November of 2016.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

To begin reversing the growing inequality in the distribution of wealth, we can rescind the tax breaks given to the rich over the last twenty years.

Will we get through Christmas without another mass gun massacre?

Mass shootings in the U.S.

It has been three weeks since two terrorists broke in to a Christmas party in San Bernardino, Calif., killing 14 and wounding 21. The two assailants, married, were heavily armed using assault rifles and handguns bought legally for them by a friend. Although they don't appear to have been a part of a terrorists network, they both had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Is this a prelude to what we can expect in 2015, with more guns going on the streets every day?

But going back to 1984, there have been no mass gun killings on Christmas day and hopefully we can finish 2015, without another one. The closest we came to this holiday was December 26, 2000, when Michael McDermott shot and killed seven co-workers at the Internet consulting firm where he worked. This, apparently because his wages were going to be garnished by the IRS. Three weapons were used in the attack.

The next closest is Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn., on December 14, 2012, where 20 six-year-olds were slaughtered by Adam Lanza using an assault weapon, before Lanza killed himself. He had earlier shot and killed his mother who had a regular arsenal in the home. After this one, and due primarily to the deaths of so many children, there was an uproar across America with promises of doing something about it but three years later...nothing.

Pres. Obama is preparing an Executive Order that will no doubt include particulars such as universal background checks, the gun show loophole and more. The gun nuts, backed by Wayne LaPierre's NRA are also preparing their onslaught to counter the President's actions of purely sensible gun restrictions that any sane person should welcome.

However, I still say that confiscation of all guns may very well be the only answer. I am convinced, though, that we are nearing the point where we can expect to solve at least some of the gun violence problems soon.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

One-third of the nation's work force is now "contingent" labor, without any job security.