Why Illinois SUCKS.

Crooked politicians (dumb enough to get caught)

Board of Eduction just had to approve a budget cut that decimates our educational system.
-no after school programs
-no gifted programs
-major cuts in programs for the visually impaired
-up to 50% cuts in the programs we do get to keep

Major overhaul due to budget cuts in mental health services
-no afterhours crisis intervention
-no more rehabilitation for addicts (detox only, this means an addict may stay a couple of days to 'sober up' but no longer have assistance in recovery)
-no more womens services (this is the program that takes pregnant addicts and assists them throughout their pregnancy to prevent newborn addiction, etc..)
-much more... too much to list (almost 50% of jobs were cut at our mental health center)

The winters last from (lately) October to April.
-Hello to my seasonal depression

I have a lot more, but that should be enough to get my point across.

Right now, I am waiting to find out if I am one of the lucky 2 out of 10 people that are still going to be covered by Child Care Resource Services. This program is what enables me to keep Ben in a Christian based, trustworthy daycare center that he loves and has been going to for over half of his life. (ok, so he's just now 22 months, irrelevant..) If I lose this daycare assistance, I will have to quit my job (as will most single parents)...or I will have to put Ben in one of the low income daycares. (I drive a schoolbus for our public schools and, I'm sorry but my child can't go to anything deemed 'public' in our area. It can be downright scary. Those children- even the preschoolers- throw gang signs, talk about their parent(s) being in jail, curse like sailors and show hideous disrespect towards adults. I know it is not their faults, it's the parents, but I will move out of state before I will allow my child to grow up in an environment like that. For example, I had a bus full of preschoolers duck for cover one day when a police car passed us. Seriously, one child yelled 'GET DOWN, IT'S THE POLICE!!!' Um, hello ghetto ass parents! It was disturbing to say the least.)

I am very scared right now to see the outcome. I try to comfort these fears by remembering that although I am biting my nails over this, God isn't. Gods plan isn't always the most convienient for us, but it is to be respected...not understood. So, I will continue to try to think of a plan B (and C, and D......) in preparation for the worst case scenario. I believe God only helps those that help themselves and so I had better be on top of this, cause I definitely may need divine intervention. ;)

One more thing... Americans need to stop worrying about Brittney Spears or Michael Jackson or whoever... and find out what is REALLY going on in this country. We put more money into ... well, everything, than we put into educating our children. Education of the future leaders is more important than EVERYTHING else. Religion not included, but we don't even get to have God in our schools anymore so I guess..... HELLO! WAKE UP!!! We are sleeping through this most critical time in our country's history. We may rise or fall because of the way our leaders (and media) run this country. If you are one who says..oh, who cares, they're gonna do what they want anyways... please know, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! We live in a democratic society and if everyone cared and did the right things...the christian things, we could regain control of this nation. Instead, we worry about what we own, what our neighbors own, how much more we could possibly own... not to mention the fact that more money is spent on our looks every year... gotta have perfect skin, hair, eyebrows, lips..whatever it is.. STOP IT. Because it is RIDICULOUS.

Okay, I feel better.