Barbara

Dear Congressman,

I recently lost a friend to cancer. Barbara Cohen was a shining star from which light was shed upon us all. She will be missed.

In my narrow world
Information rushes in
In my narrow world
Your loss was an unqualified sin
In my narrow world
You brought a spark to a wanton flame
In my narrow world
I disavowed my contribution to the blame
In my narrow world
You showed me growth
In my narrow world
Your life was a lesson to us both
Because too many marriages are plays
Bowing to society and looking for praise
Barbara, you set the path
For which my quest did not always follow
Yet in time was satisfied
Not by conquest, boasting, or dominance
But by a laugh, or a touch of the hand
Or a simple glance at the partner you have chosen
In my narrow world
You were a part
Now my world is smaller
Now my world is sad
Now my world is changed
Now my world is truly narrow
Barbara, it should have been longer

You could be a .....

Dear Congressman,

During times of downturns in the economy, a strategy that is taken by many unemployed or under-employed citizens is to pursue additional education to enhance their job skills. Since there is such a need and nature abhors a vacuum, along comes the continued growth of "for-profit" colleges that promise to give you the skills you need to succeed in fields such as criminal justice and medical assisting, unlocking your potential for unlimited future earnings..

One such establishment in your district runs a TV commercial  that goes as follows:

Girl 1 and Girl 2 are standing together as they work in a retail clothing store. Girl 3 comes walking up to them.

Girl 1: Oh, there's what's her name. She always seems to have her life together.

Girl 3:(with massive grin on her face) Hi, how are you doing?

Girl 1: (with sour look on her face) Oh, you know, working here and going to college. (looks at scrubs girl 3 is wearing) You are working already?

Girl 3: Yeah, I got may degree in six months and have a great job as a Medical Assistant. You should do it too!

Pretty lame stuff if you ask me, but then I am not the intended audience. They are shooting for young impressionable females who have either neither the resources nor the patience to obtain a more advanced degree, thus making glamor out of the mundane.

In my alternative version, let's roll the cameras again, this time fifteen years later....

(Same store, only this time Girl 3 is working in the store and Girl 1 comes walking in)

Girl 1: Wow, I haven't seen you in years! How are you.

Girl 3: (with glum look) Oh, you know. Things are pretty tight right now, but I'm hanging in there.

Girl 1: I thought you worked as a medical assistant.

Girl 3: I still do. Just had to get a second job since Phil has been out of work for 3 years and we got 4 kids to feed. (stares at business suit girl 1 is wearing) You look like you are doing pretty good.

Girl 1: (with beaming grin) Yes, I just got promoted to senior vice president of Greed Enterprises. I came in to find a new bathing suit to wear in Barbados when Glen and I fly there next week to celebrate. That 4 year degree really came in handy over the years. You should do it too!