This was a post about Madison, the Federalist papers the government's over reach. But right after I posted it . . . everything was gone.
I apologize to all my readers for this technical glitch.
I am too frustrated to try and recreate it.
But I will leave you with Ned Ryun's article about it being time to tell the "parties" that the party is over.
The Party's Over! by Ned Ryun of the American Majority.
Have a great day.
Charles
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Will they ever learn? Or care?
"Today, Mitt Romney is holding a $50,000-a-head fundraiser in the Hamptons with one of the Big Oil billionaire Koch Brothers.
They'll have a lot to celebrate together: Romney's campaign brought in a whopping $100 million in June and the Kochs have raised millions more for their outside groups.
Charles -- I won't mince words: If Mitt and his SuperPAC backers can bury us under a wave of corporate special interest cash right now, we will lose in November.
We need you right now."
This is from Robby Mook.
Here's my response:
"Yo, Robby. You and the President and all your PACS, along with Mitt, the Koch Borthers and all their PACS can go scratch and kiss my a**!
You guys want to win in November? And I mean you or Mitt or whoever? You morons want my vote? Get your priorities straight! Stop whining about how your going to be outspent. We don't want words or spin or rhetoric or blaming of the other guy. We want action. We want demonstrable leadership. Whining is not leading. Show you can be a leader who isn't intent to ask the people who are set to hire you (again, in Obama's case) for money to convince them to hire him (again).
I mean think about this for a second. Just use some freaking common sense.
If you went to Walmart for a job. Then went and asked all the employees, managers, owners and shareholders of Walmart to give you money so you can put up a billboard stating whay you should be hired and why the other applicants are lame. That is exactly what you are doing.
Stop begging and start doing. Stop whining and start listening. In 2008 President Obama did not "win by a mandate." He only got a liottle over half the votes. In my opinion, that means that he didn't get almost half the votes.
And you all spent an unbelievable amount of over $51 BILLION dollars for him to get the job.
Do you know how much food for food pantries across the country this money could have provided? Do you know how many Americans who have been kicked out of their homes that could have used some of that to get caught up so they didn't have to end up on the streets, in food lines, in homeless shelters, bunking with family?
You all really need to get your priorities straight."
I really sent this reply back. He probably won't read it. No one will probably read it. But that would be typical of politicians today. They don't get it, they don't hear it and they really don't care.
But maybe, if everyone sent replies back to all these stupid, whining, moronic emails, they might just start. I know that we got them to change their "raffling of the White House" with our campaign to end the "Dinner with Barack" campaign lottery. We got Mitt Romney to include a "no purchase necessary" line which made Obama do the same.
So who knows, maybe they will listen to the little guy if enough little guys gang up on them.
But who knows. I mean, who the heck am I? Who the heck are you? To them anyway.
Agree, disagree . . . doesn't matter. Just think for yourself, see these butt holes for who they are - buncha rich, fat cats, who only listen to special interest and really don't care about the common American. But hell, who am I? Nobody. Just a guy, an American with some conservative values that loves this country, Thinking Out Loud.
have a great day.
Charles
They'll have a lot to celebrate together: Romney's campaign brought in a whopping $100 million in June and the Kochs have raised millions more for their outside groups.
Charles -- I won't mince words: If Mitt and his SuperPAC backers can bury us under a wave of corporate special interest cash right now, we will lose in November.
We need you right now."
This is from Robby Mook.
Here's my response:
"Yo, Robby. You and the President and all your PACS, along with Mitt, the Koch Borthers and all their PACS can go scratch and kiss my a**!
You guys want to win in November? And I mean you or Mitt or whoever? You morons want my vote? Get your priorities straight! Stop whining about how your going to be outspent. We don't want words or spin or rhetoric or blaming of the other guy. We want action. We want demonstrable leadership. Whining is not leading. Show you can be a leader who isn't intent to ask the people who are set to hire you (again, in Obama's case) for money to convince them to hire him (again).
I mean think about this for a second. Just use some freaking common sense.
If you went to Walmart for a job. Then went and asked all the employees, managers, owners and shareholders of Walmart to give you money so you can put up a billboard stating whay you should be hired and why the other applicants are lame. That is exactly what you are doing.
Stop begging and start doing. Stop whining and start listening. In 2008 President Obama did not "win by a mandate." He only got a liottle over half the votes. In my opinion, that means that he didn't get almost half the votes.
And you all spent an unbelievable amount of over $51 BILLION dollars for him to get the job.
Do you know how much food for food pantries across the country this money could have provided? Do you know how many Americans who have been kicked out of their homes that could have used some of that to get caught up so they didn't have to end up on the streets, in food lines, in homeless shelters, bunking with family?
You all really need to get your priorities straight."
I really sent this reply back. He probably won't read it. No one will probably read it. But that would be typical of politicians today. They don't get it, they don't hear it and they really don't care.
But maybe, if everyone sent replies back to all these stupid, whining, moronic emails, they might just start. I know that we got them to change their "raffling of the White House" with our campaign to end the "Dinner with Barack" campaign lottery. We got Mitt Romney to include a "no purchase necessary" line which made Obama do the same.
So who knows, maybe they will listen to the little guy if enough little guys gang up on them.
But who knows. I mean, who the heck am I? Who the heck are you? To them anyway.
Agree, disagree . . . doesn't matter. Just think for yourself, see these butt holes for who they are - buncha rich, fat cats, who only listen to special interest and really don't care about the common American. But hell, who am I? Nobody. Just a guy, an American with some conservative values that loves this country, Thinking Out Loud.
have a great day.
Charles
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy Birthday, America!
Okay, so the birthday thing is a little off and often debated. Some say July 2, others say the 8th; some say August, others even argue for the years later thing. But why quibble the date. We picked one and thats that. Its not like there are no other birthdays out there we don't celebrate on a debated date.
But anyway, its been 236 years. Pretty good run, eh?
But we're not over yet. No matter what you hear from both sides of the political aisle.
Politics and Presidents and Senators and so on and so on are all just fleeting things. Good ones and bad ones come and go. As do huge country-wide ideological uproars.
Lets not forget, we had a bit of a row back in the middle of all this that nearly ended it.
But America kept going on.
Why?
Good question. And one I think I can shed some light on.
Americans.
We the people.
Through whatever adversity that prevails, Americans stay strong. We debate and argue, sometimes pretty heated. But at the end of the day (and some of those days are gawd-awful long), we go on.
Be it taxes, states' rights, moral dilemmas, ethical faux pas, or any nu,ber of things that "almost tore this country apart," we have come out the other side of the tunnel. Mayeb a little tarnished, maybe a little tattered. But the American spirit lives on.
The same spirit that took hold of the hearts of our founders. The spirit of independence. The spirit of freedom. No matter how much we may disagree on some things, we always step back, look around at what goes on in the world and say "whoa, we could have it so much worse."
There are countries in this world that really don't care what the people think. Their leaders just do whatever they fancy with no regard. At least in AMerica our silly politicians make a show of making it seem like they care what you think. And some actually do care. And its these that are the true leaders that guide us out of folly.
There are some countries that will actually take you out and kill you if you practice a religion. Or a religion the leaders don't like. In America, we have strong words aimed at religion and from religion. But in the end, we are offered the freedom to have that. Without being slaughtered wholesale.
There are some countries where the people are forced to eat pig slop, are told they like it and actually believe it. In America, there are those who are hungry, yes. And some even eat things the average person would lose their cookies over. But they know the difference. And there are people in America who go out of their way to help. AND in America, there are people who openly decry these conditions without being sent off to jail or to the bottom of some shallow ravine.
There are countries in this world who advocate the destruction of other countries because of a difference in religion, politics, manner of dress . . . whatever gets them to sleep at night in order to feel superior to the rest of the world. And no matter your opinion of one leader's policies or another, America is not one of those countries. We don't want to be the world's policeman . . . but are often called on to do just that. We don't want to be the mom and dad to the bad little dictators of the globe . . . but are often (way too often, in my opinion) forced to be just that.
As harshly as you may criticize American politics, leaders or whatever else you might have a beef about, AMERICA (and that is synonymous with AMERICANS) is the proudest, most giving and forgiving, generous to a fault shining light for so many out there who are amazed that we don't see it the way they do.
Yes, there are fanatics who want to destroy anything that is not them. America is the biggest kid on the block and the light they want to quash for everyone else. How can they be totalitarian if there is a HUGE example of how things can be free? Of course they want to extinguish that light.
Its not about "American imperialism". Its not about "America the nation builder". Its not about "America the bully." Its not about any of these things. The reason terrorist and others want America to fall its so they can shout, "see, we are better" and exert their power over people.
America is about freedom.
Plain and simple.
Freedom to express your ideals. Freedom to practice your religion. Freedom to disagree. Freedom to live and excel. Freedom to raise your family, go on vacations, be whatever you want to be . . . to live your life how YOU want to.
So, today, on America's birthday, the day of our celebration for independence, remember three things.
1) Freedom is never free. There are prices to be paid . . . but there are those willing to pay them, for you. SO,
2) Remember our military, their family and their friends. They are sacrificing so that YOU can enjoy those freedoms.
And finally,
3) No matter your political stripe or ideology or religious belief or moral code, we are ALL Americans. Today should remind us of the BIG PICTURE. 236 years of the BIG PICTURE.
We will survive. No matter what anyone internally or externally wants to threaten / warn / frighten you has to say. We will keep going on.
Happy Birthday, America!
Happy Independence Day, Americans!
Lets forge on for 236 more (and beyond).
Charles
But anyway, its been 236 years. Pretty good run, eh?
But we're not over yet. No matter what you hear from both sides of the political aisle.
Politics and Presidents and Senators and so on and so on are all just fleeting things. Good ones and bad ones come and go. As do huge country-wide ideological uproars.
Lets not forget, we had a bit of a row back in the middle of all this that nearly ended it.
But America kept going on.
Why?
Good question. And one I think I can shed some light on.
Americans.
We the people.
Through whatever adversity that prevails, Americans stay strong. We debate and argue, sometimes pretty heated. But at the end of the day (and some of those days are gawd-awful long), we go on.
Be it taxes, states' rights, moral dilemmas, ethical faux pas, or any nu,ber of things that "almost tore this country apart," we have come out the other side of the tunnel. Mayeb a little tarnished, maybe a little tattered. But the American spirit lives on.
The same spirit that took hold of the hearts of our founders. The spirit of independence. The spirit of freedom. No matter how much we may disagree on some things, we always step back, look around at what goes on in the world and say "whoa, we could have it so much worse."
There are countries in this world that really don't care what the people think. Their leaders just do whatever they fancy with no regard. At least in AMerica our silly politicians make a show of making it seem like they care what you think. And some actually do care. And its these that are the true leaders that guide us out of folly.
There are some countries that will actually take you out and kill you if you practice a religion. Or a religion the leaders don't like. In America, we have strong words aimed at religion and from religion. But in the end, we are offered the freedom to have that. Without being slaughtered wholesale.
There are some countries where the people are forced to eat pig slop, are told they like it and actually believe it. In America, there are those who are hungry, yes. And some even eat things the average person would lose their cookies over. But they know the difference. And there are people in America who go out of their way to help. AND in America, there are people who openly decry these conditions without being sent off to jail or to the bottom of some shallow ravine.
There are countries in this world who advocate the destruction of other countries because of a difference in religion, politics, manner of dress . . . whatever gets them to sleep at night in order to feel superior to the rest of the world. And no matter your opinion of one leader's policies or another, America is not one of those countries. We don't want to be the world's policeman . . . but are often called on to do just that. We don't want to be the mom and dad to the bad little dictators of the globe . . . but are often (way too often, in my opinion) forced to be just that.
As harshly as you may criticize American politics, leaders or whatever else you might have a beef about, AMERICA (and that is synonymous with AMERICANS) is the proudest, most giving and forgiving, generous to a fault shining light for so many out there who are amazed that we don't see it the way they do.
Yes, there are fanatics who want to destroy anything that is not them. America is the biggest kid on the block and the light they want to quash for everyone else. How can they be totalitarian if there is a HUGE example of how things can be free? Of course they want to extinguish that light.
Its not about "American imperialism". Its not about "America the nation builder". Its not about "America the bully." Its not about any of these things. The reason terrorist and others want America to fall its so they can shout, "see, we are better" and exert their power over people.
America is about freedom.
Plain and simple.
Freedom to express your ideals. Freedom to practice your religion. Freedom to disagree. Freedom to live and excel. Freedom to raise your family, go on vacations, be whatever you want to be . . . to live your life how YOU want to.
So, today, on America's birthday, the day of our celebration for independence, remember three things.
1) Freedom is never free. There are prices to be paid . . . but there are those willing to pay them, for you. SO,
2) Remember our military, their family and their friends. They are sacrificing so that YOU can enjoy those freedoms.
And finally,
3) No matter your political stripe or ideology or religious belief or moral code, we are ALL Americans. Today should remind us of the BIG PICTURE. 236 years of the BIG PICTURE.
We will survive. No matter what anyone internally or externally wants to threaten / warn / frighten you has to say. We will keep going on.
Happy Birthday, America!
Happy Independence Day, Americans!
Lets forge on for 236 more (and beyond).
Charles
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Money more important than deeds?!
Okay, I am calling out the President, Romney, the GOP, the Democrats, and all the money people out there who are so keen and intent on "buying" the Presidency.
You have all got it so wrong! Its not the money, STUPIDS! Its the deeds!
Obama spent 18 minutes complaining to donors the other day that he will be the "first sitting President to be outspent on his re-election campaign" in modern history.
What!?!? WTF, even!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You all really have your priorities screwed up. And the mainstream media is not helping by pushing these stories and not telling the people the records. Its not money, you frigging dunderheads! It is what you have done, what you have plans on doing and howw that sits with us, the Americans who would put you in office.
Negative campaigns, big dollar fundraisers, PACS, SuperPACS, "outside alllies"!
You JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!
But what the hell am I saying?! The dolts out there who listen to your BS and spread it around like fertilizer on the farms are just as bad. They actually listen to your whining and complaining and stupid arrogant platitudes.
I am so very fed up with the lot of you.
People are starving in America. That's right. Starving. If you put even a FRACTION of all that money you waste on these stupid things, America would be better off. Whole families rely on food pantries to feed their children. Food pantries! Its unthinkable that in today's America there would even be a need for a food pantry. And you whine about being outspent. Where the hell is your humanity? You patriotism? Your sense of service to the people. Outspent. Jeez! What a little baby you are. Not a man at all. And certainly not a true President of the United States.
People are being forced out of their homes at alarming rates. Foreclosures by banks YOU support and BEG for their campaign dollars. Oh wait, thats right. you expect the people who don't have homes to live in, money for gas and food to put on their table to give YOU money so YOU can keep being President. Or in Romney's case, want to be President. You guys aren't leaders in any sense of the word.
Americans are losing their jobs left and right. SPIN all the numbers you want. It ain't playing at this theater. Just go out onto the streets and ask a random person if they are jobless or know someone who is jobless. I will bet you a doughnut that you will get an affirmative answer every time. And that is not just sad, but it is pathetic. You think you are fit to lead this country? You don't even know what this country is going through. You don't know the struggles faced by AVERAGE Americans, the ones YOU want to donate to YOUR campaign.
In 2008, you all spent a total of over $50 BILLION dollars for the election. DO you know how much that $50 BILLION could have helped average Americans?? Of course not. Its not real money to you. Its not even YOUR MONEY!!!!!! You frighten it out of little old ladies. You cajole it out of people just trying to survive. You trick it out of people who might want just a small piece of history (dinner or lunch with a President or wannabe) so they can find some sense to go on in the misery YOU ALL have created.
Leaders? I think not! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Your priorities are ALL screwed up! Shame on you, Mr. President for your whining! Shame on you, Gov. Romney for your fear mongering! Shame on all the SPIN doctors and politicians and political parties and special interest groups and millionaire king maker wannabes! You have no clue what AMerica is, what America needs and who Americans are.
You only see dollar signs and power.
The lot of you should be thrown to the streets.
Agree or disagree, I don't care. If you can't see these people for what they are then shame on you, too. But what the hell, like you even listen to anyone else anyway. If they are not a celebrity or a big name politician or a person with huge chunks of money, you can't even believe they are someone worth listen to. But if you do listen, just for a brief second and see that they are all screwed up. Maybe you will be able to break out of the cocoon of SPIN and think for yourself. Thats all i can hope for. But hey, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
You have all got it so wrong! Its not the money, STUPIDS! Its the deeds!
Obama spent 18 minutes complaining to donors the other day that he will be the "first sitting President to be outspent on his re-election campaign" in modern history.
What!?!? WTF, even!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You all really have your priorities screwed up. And the mainstream media is not helping by pushing these stories and not telling the people the records. Its not money, you frigging dunderheads! It is what you have done, what you have plans on doing and howw that sits with us, the Americans who would put you in office.
Negative campaigns, big dollar fundraisers, PACS, SuperPACS, "outside alllies"!
You JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!
But what the hell am I saying?! The dolts out there who listen to your BS and spread it around like fertilizer on the farms are just as bad. They actually listen to your whining and complaining and stupid arrogant platitudes.
I am so very fed up with the lot of you.
People are starving in America. That's right. Starving. If you put even a FRACTION of all that money you waste on these stupid things, America would be better off. Whole families rely on food pantries to feed their children. Food pantries! Its unthinkable that in today's America there would even be a need for a food pantry. And you whine about being outspent. Where the hell is your humanity? You patriotism? Your sense of service to the people. Outspent. Jeez! What a little baby you are. Not a man at all. And certainly not a true President of the United States.
People are being forced out of their homes at alarming rates. Foreclosures by banks YOU support and BEG for their campaign dollars. Oh wait, thats right. you expect the people who don't have homes to live in, money for gas and food to put on their table to give YOU money so YOU can keep being President. Or in Romney's case, want to be President. You guys aren't leaders in any sense of the word.
Americans are losing their jobs left and right. SPIN all the numbers you want. It ain't playing at this theater. Just go out onto the streets and ask a random person if they are jobless or know someone who is jobless. I will bet you a doughnut that you will get an affirmative answer every time. And that is not just sad, but it is pathetic. You think you are fit to lead this country? You don't even know what this country is going through. You don't know the struggles faced by AVERAGE Americans, the ones YOU want to donate to YOUR campaign.
In 2008, you all spent a total of over $50 BILLION dollars for the election. DO you know how much that $50 BILLION could have helped average Americans?? Of course not. Its not real money to you. Its not even YOUR MONEY!!!!!! You frighten it out of little old ladies. You cajole it out of people just trying to survive. You trick it out of people who might want just a small piece of history (dinner or lunch with a President or wannabe) so they can find some sense to go on in the misery YOU ALL have created.
Leaders? I think not! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Your priorities are ALL screwed up! Shame on you, Mr. President for your whining! Shame on you, Gov. Romney for your fear mongering! Shame on all the SPIN doctors and politicians and political parties and special interest groups and millionaire king maker wannabes! You have no clue what AMerica is, what America needs and who Americans are.
You only see dollar signs and power.
The lot of you should be thrown to the streets.
Agree or disagree, I don't care. If you can't see these people for what they are then shame on you, too. But what the hell, like you even listen to anyone else anyway. If they are not a celebrity or a big name politician or a person with huge chunks of money, you can't even believe they are someone worth listen to. But if you do listen, just for a brief second and see that they are all screwed up. Maybe you will be able to break out of the cocoon of SPIN and think for yourself. Thats all i can hope for. But hey, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
Monday, July 2, 2012
Jail, SCOTUS and Obamacare
I guess it is jail time for me. The Supreme Court, in its 5-4 decision to uphold the Affordable Healthcare Act, just made that evident.
I am a self-employed, one person small business owner, and I cannot afford health care. How is this possible you ask? Didn't the President sign into law the Affordable Health care law so that millions of Americans like me can afford healthcare and not be a drain on society?
Yes and no.
Yes the President signed that 1,990 page monstrosity into law. No, it does not help millions of Americans like me.
There are many – okay, a few – parts of the thing known as Obamacare that are good. The keeping your kids on parents insurance until they are 25 is good. Lots of young people these days are struggling to become employable – college, looking for work, etc – and they cannot afford their own insurance. Covering children. That's a good thing and – believe it or not – a conservative's view of each American's responsibility to take care of those who can't take care of themselves.
But the law does little to address the real problems facing our broken health care system in this country.
TORT reform would have been one thing. If a doctor or hospital or whatever does something wrong they should be dealt with. You deserve redress of the wrong. But saying a person who is the victim of malpractice should be paid $250 million, $1 billion – hell anything over a few million is ridiculous – is just insane. It feeds into the sorry notion that people today will become rich through 1) the lottery, 2) inheritance, 3) litigation. Whatever happened to working hard and reaping the benefits of your hard work? This entitlement nonsense where people think they deserve to be taken care of, cradle to grave, is NOT American at all.
As stated above, limitations on how much you can get would help lower malpractice costs which in turn would lower healthcare costs. Another adjacent issue would be the elimination of frivolous lawsuits. If you buy coffee, and you did not ask for “iced coffee”, then you – YOU – should expect it to be hot. Suing a restaurant because YOU were stupid, is frivolous. This is personal responsibility. It shouldn't take a little warning on the cup “Caution! Contents may be hot!” for you to KNOW that coffee is hot. So don't spill it. If you do, clean it up.
Drug company recuperation of costs is another area of reform that should have been dealt with. In other countries, drug companies who put out the expenses to do research, do trials and come out with new life saving drugs do not charge the outrageous fees associated with getting their investment dollars back. But in America, they seem to feel since we are the “richest country in the world” we can afford to pay enormous costs for drugs in order for them to recoup their investments. This is wrong and should be addressed. Maybe a little of redistribution of wealth idea, but more a redistribution of responsibility and cost sharing. Instead of Burundi only pay 2,929.20 BiF – Burundi francs – (the equivalent of $2 USD) a bottle of life saving drugs and Americans paying $200 a pill, it could be more like everyone paying $10 a bottle.
And while we are at it – a side note, if you will indulge – what is up with all these drugs being developed for impotence and little attention paid to Lyme disease (which millions suffer excruciating pain from every day), Alzheimer, MS, and other less sexy ailments that the not so rich have to deal with? But that is another topic of discussion for another day.
Interstate commerce for insurance companies is an area NOT covered under this law that would do a world of good – and in particular to someone like me – that was absolutely not addressed in this so-called affordable healthcare legislation. Each state has their own insurance regulations. But if the federal government would mandate a set of compatible guidelines across all 50 states, insurance companies could offer their policies in all 50 states. This means that other like minded individuals, such as myself, could join together across the country and form an alliance where we could get a lower rate on health insurance and be covered. And the thing is, due to the interstate commerce clauses, this is an area the Federal government has purview over.
I could join with other self employed writers, such as a group associated with writing for Yahoo, and form a good mid-sized group (I imagine there would be at least 100 people who would go for this idea, if not many many more). Then we could get a group rate for basic coverage and Voilà!, no more depending on the government for our healthcare needs and being a drain on society.
(Funny how the bill's proponents are also the ones against strengthening immigration laws and yet the reason for hospitals across the country closing their maternity wards, emergency rooms and even the whole hospital is due to illegal immigrants coming in for service and unable to pay. N 2005 – 2006, California had 84 of them close. I do not make this up. There was a study reported in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons in Spring of 2005 – Volume 10 Number 1.)
But none of these very important issues were discussed in this nearly 2000 page document that Nancy Pelosi said had to be passed so we could then be told what was in it.
Which is one of the reasons I will be going top jail. This bill may be Constitutional according to the Supreme Court. But that is simply law. How many times do you know a guilty person was set free because the law said they had to be, not because they weren't guilty? So is the case here. The Constitutional issues that were brought before the Court were deemed to adhere to the law set down in the Constitution. But there is a higher issue involved. Obama care is not American.
America is about working hard and getting to be whoever you want to become. It is about the richness of possibilities not available in so many other countries. In India, a small poor from the ghettos of Calcutta could not aspire to be a prominent physician. A girl in just about any Middle Eastern country does not have a path before them to become a successful business owner or leader of their country. But in America the promise exists, thanks to those who founded our nation and those who strive to keep it free and democratic, for anyone to aspire to be anything. So long as they work hard for it. America is not about being lazy, getting a handout by the government and passing along your entitlement beliefs to the next generation – although it has been promulgated to be just this by unscrupulous blowhards who are only after power and wealth.
And this law is definitely not American. Unless you think it is American to force people to buy something they do not want to buy. Unless you think it is American to let the government be a nanny to you your entire life. Unless you think it is American to tax people over and over and over again to pay for irresponsible behavior of others.
I, for one, do not.
Which brings me to the other part of why I will be going to jail. It is actually three fold.
The first, I mentioned. It is simply not an affordable option, no matter how many times you stress, highlight, capitalize or italicize that word. I barely make enough to pay my existing bills, rent and food. It is a tough economy still. So without the law addressing the things that actually would make it affordable to millions like me, I cannot buy it.
The second is that taxing issue. There are hundreds of references in this law about taxes, taxation and penalties. Nothing about making insurance available across state lines. Including penalizing me for not having it to the tune of 2.6% of my annualized pay. What part of my limited budget do you think I can afford to pay that fine out of? My rent, my bills (which allow me to work as it is), my food? You tell me what you would cut out and I might consider it.
That takes care of not buying it and not paying the fine.
The third and final reason I will be going to jail is that I am a responsible American. And I am proud to be an American. And I will not be handed a diaper by my government and told when and how to wear it. There have been times where my existing insurance had gaffs and I could not cover the exorbitant hospital bill, or I was out of work and would have died had I not gone to the hospital or doctor. But in most other instances, I go to the doctor when I can afford it. I pay the doctor when I go. I will not be told by the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court or anyone else that I cannot pay someone for services rendered. This law states that I cannot. And to me, that is definitely not American. And I really doubt it is something that would be approved by those who wrote our Constitution.
(note - In 2009, President Obama said he did not want to classify this as a "tax". But since the Supreme Court of the United States said it could pass BECAUSE it is a tax, he now thinks of it as a victory. Guess if its the only way he can thrust this BS down our throats, he will sacrifice his principles. Pretty sad, Mr President. Pretty sad.)
So, as stated above, I am one American that will be going to jail because of the President's ridiculous political move to pander to the least common denominator instead of striving for the highest standards. And don't be naive, this is exactly what this law and many of this Administration’s policies are, whether they will admit it or not.
Obama has been running for something ever since he entered politics. He ran for state legislature. As soon as he was in, he began running for the US Senate. As soon as he was in he started running for the White House. And as soon as he got there, he started – despite his words to the contrary – to run for re-election. I feel sorry for him when he has nothing else to run for. He will be lost.
But me, I will be in jail, getting three squares a day, free healthcare and free rent.
Thinking Out Loud is a blog of my own thoughts and therefore my own opinion. You can either agree or disagree with me, which really makes no difference to me personally. The only thing I ask of my readers is to take a moment to think for yourselves on this and many other topics that come to my mind. STOP BEING SHEEP and AVOID THE SPIN are two things I would hope for you to keep in mind. Gather all the information about a topic, not just the SPIN from one side or the other. And believe me, it is ALL spin. Anyway, as I say, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
(author's note – this comes to my blog after Yahoo declined the article. My guess is that it is too opinionated for them to put out there and have their access denied by petty politicians who use their media access as a weapon to control the truth. I felt this was just and honest personal observation of how such a wide-reaching piece of legislation is going to affect a large number of Americans. But that, also, is just my opinion.)
I am a self-employed, one person small business owner, and I cannot afford health care. How is this possible you ask? Didn't the President sign into law the Affordable Health care law so that millions of Americans like me can afford healthcare and not be a drain on society?
Yes and no.
Yes the President signed that 1,990 page monstrosity into law. No, it does not help millions of Americans like me.
There are many – okay, a few – parts of the thing known as Obamacare that are good. The keeping your kids on parents insurance until they are 25 is good. Lots of young people these days are struggling to become employable – college, looking for work, etc – and they cannot afford their own insurance. Covering children. That's a good thing and – believe it or not – a conservative's view of each American's responsibility to take care of those who can't take care of themselves.
But the law does little to address the real problems facing our broken health care system in this country.
TORT reform would have been one thing. If a doctor or hospital or whatever does something wrong they should be dealt with. You deserve redress of the wrong. But saying a person who is the victim of malpractice should be paid $250 million, $1 billion – hell anything over a few million is ridiculous – is just insane. It feeds into the sorry notion that people today will become rich through 1) the lottery, 2) inheritance, 3) litigation. Whatever happened to working hard and reaping the benefits of your hard work? This entitlement nonsense where people think they deserve to be taken care of, cradle to grave, is NOT American at all.
As stated above, limitations on how much you can get would help lower malpractice costs which in turn would lower healthcare costs. Another adjacent issue would be the elimination of frivolous lawsuits. If you buy coffee, and you did not ask for “iced coffee”, then you – YOU – should expect it to be hot. Suing a restaurant because YOU were stupid, is frivolous. This is personal responsibility. It shouldn't take a little warning on the cup “Caution! Contents may be hot!” for you to KNOW that coffee is hot. So don't spill it. If you do, clean it up.
Drug company recuperation of costs is another area of reform that should have been dealt with. In other countries, drug companies who put out the expenses to do research, do trials and come out with new life saving drugs do not charge the outrageous fees associated with getting their investment dollars back. But in America, they seem to feel since we are the “richest country in the world” we can afford to pay enormous costs for drugs in order for them to recoup their investments. This is wrong and should be addressed. Maybe a little of redistribution of wealth idea, but more a redistribution of responsibility and cost sharing. Instead of Burundi only pay 2,929.20 BiF – Burundi francs – (the equivalent of $2 USD) a bottle of life saving drugs and Americans paying $200 a pill, it could be more like everyone paying $10 a bottle.
And while we are at it – a side note, if you will indulge – what is up with all these drugs being developed for impotence and little attention paid to Lyme disease (which millions suffer excruciating pain from every day), Alzheimer, MS, and other less sexy ailments that the not so rich have to deal with? But that is another topic of discussion for another day.
Interstate commerce for insurance companies is an area NOT covered under this law that would do a world of good – and in particular to someone like me – that was absolutely not addressed in this so-called affordable healthcare legislation. Each state has their own insurance regulations. But if the federal government would mandate a set of compatible guidelines across all 50 states, insurance companies could offer their policies in all 50 states. This means that other like minded individuals, such as myself, could join together across the country and form an alliance where we could get a lower rate on health insurance and be covered. And the thing is, due to the interstate commerce clauses, this is an area the Federal government has purview over.
I could join with other self employed writers, such as a group associated with writing for Yahoo, and form a good mid-sized group (I imagine there would be at least 100 people who would go for this idea, if not many many more). Then we could get a group rate for basic coverage and Voilà!, no more depending on the government for our healthcare needs and being a drain on society.
(Funny how the bill's proponents are also the ones against strengthening immigration laws and yet the reason for hospitals across the country closing their maternity wards, emergency rooms and even the whole hospital is due to illegal immigrants coming in for service and unable to pay. N 2005 – 2006, California had 84 of them close. I do not make this up. There was a study reported in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons in Spring of 2005 – Volume 10 Number 1.)
But none of these very important issues were discussed in this nearly 2000 page document that Nancy Pelosi said had to be passed so we could then be told what was in it.
Which is one of the reasons I will be going top jail. This bill may be Constitutional according to the Supreme Court. But that is simply law. How many times do you know a guilty person was set free because the law said they had to be, not because they weren't guilty? So is the case here. The Constitutional issues that were brought before the Court were deemed to adhere to the law set down in the Constitution. But there is a higher issue involved. Obama care is not American.
America is about working hard and getting to be whoever you want to become. It is about the richness of possibilities not available in so many other countries. In India, a small poor from the ghettos of Calcutta could not aspire to be a prominent physician. A girl in just about any Middle Eastern country does not have a path before them to become a successful business owner or leader of their country. But in America the promise exists, thanks to those who founded our nation and those who strive to keep it free and democratic, for anyone to aspire to be anything. So long as they work hard for it. America is not about being lazy, getting a handout by the government and passing along your entitlement beliefs to the next generation – although it has been promulgated to be just this by unscrupulous blowhards who are only after power and wealth.
And this law is definitely not American. Unless you think it is American to force people to buy something they do not want to buy. Unless you think it is American to let the government be a nanny to you your entire life. Unless you think it is American to tax people over and over and over again to pay for irresponsible behavior of others.
I, for one, do not.
Which brings me to the other part of why I will be going to jail. It is actually three fold.
The first, I mentioned. It is simply not an affordable option, no matter how many times you stress, highlight, capitalize or italicize that word. I barely make enough to pay my existing bills, rent and food. It is a tough economy still. So without the law addressing the things that actually would make it affordable to millions like me, I cannot buy it.
The second is that taxing issue. There are hundreds of references in this law about taxes, taxation and penalties. Nothing about making insurance available across state lines. Including penalizing me for not having it to the tune of 2.6% of my annualized pay. What part of my limited budget do you think I can afford to pay that fine out of? My rent, my bills (which allow me to work as it is), my food? You tell me what you would cut out and I might consider it.
That takes care of not buying it and not paying the fine.
The third and final reason I will be going to jail is that I am a responsible American. And I am proud to be an American. And I will not be handed a diaper by my government and told when and how to wear it. There have been times where my existing insurance had gaffs and I could not cover the exorbitant hospital bill, or I was out of work and would have died had I not gone to the hospital or doctor. But in most other instances, I go to the doctor when I can afford it. I pay the doctor when I go. I will not be told by the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court or anyone else that I cannot pay someone for services rendered. This law states that I cannot. And to me, that is definitely not American. And I really doubt it is something that would be approved by those who wrote our Constitution.
(note - In 2009, President Obama said he did not want to classify this as a "tax". But since the Supreme Court of the United States said it could pass BECAUSE it is a tax, he now thinks of it as a victory. Guess if its the only way he can thrust this BS down our throats, he will sacrifice his principles. Pretty sad, Mr President. Pretty sad.)
So, as stated above, I am one American that will be going to jail because of the President's ridiculous political move to pander to the least common denominator instead of striving for the highest standards. And don't be naive, this is exactly what this law and many of this Administration’s policies are, whether they will admit it or not.
Obama has been running for something ever since he entered politics. He ran for state legislature. As soon as he was in, he began running for the US Senate. As soon as he was in he started running for the White House. And as soon as he got there, he started – despite his words to the contrary – to run for re-election. I feel sorry for him when he has nothing else to run for. He will be lost.
But me, I will be in jail, getting three squares a day, free healthcare and free rent.
Thinking Out Loud is a blog of my own thoughts and therefore my own opinion. You can either agree or disagree with me, which really makes no difference to me personally. The only thing I ask of my readers is to take a moment to think for yourselves on this and many other topics that come to my mind. STOP BEING SHEEP and AVOID THE SPIN are two things I would hope for you to keep in mind. Gather all the information about a topic, not just the SPIN from one side or the other. And believe me, it is ALL spin. Anyway, as I say, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
(author's note – this comes to my blog after Yahoo declined the article. My guess is that it is too opinionated for them to put out there and have their access denied by petty politicians who use their media access as a weapon to control the truth. I felt this was just and honest personal observation of how such a wide-reaching piece of legislation is going to affect a large number of Americans. But that, also, is just my opinion.)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Things that have been bothering me
You know how it is when a multitude of things are bothering you but you can't seem to focus to get your thoughts together about them? I mean, the things that are getting you annoyed get so overwhelming that you just shut the laptop / newspaper / turn off the tube and just walk away.
Well, its been that kind of month for me (okay, its been that kind of year, but lets not quibble).
The President oversteps (again) his bounds of maybe not legality but common sense / morality / decency / et al. Here they are, in no certain order and not in any detail as I might have to walk away again before I finish.
Obama talks to kids in school about contraceptives, condoms and planned parenthood. Not that they don't need to know, but its NOT HIS JOB. If it was my kid in school, I would be outraged and the White House would be getting a call from me.
Obama gets tired of Congress not acting on his Dream Act and unilaterally tells his Administration to stop deporting illegal immigrants 30 years or younger, "because its the right thing to do." When only a few months ago he was saying his hands were tied because Congress had to handle the legislation. Talk about PANDERING! Sheesh!
Obama whines he will be the "first President to be outspent in his re-election campaign." Puh-leeeze!!! This is a real OMG moment! In 2008 Obama spent over $650 MILLION dollars. He and McCain spent a combined $1 Billion and ALL the money spent (by candidates, PACS, SuperPACS, etc) was over $51 BILLION! And as of March 10, Obama had outspent Romney 2 to 1. But now, Obama is spending MORE than he is taking in and Romney is getting more money in donations. I would have to say to the President "DO YOU THINK THERE MAY BE A REASON FOR THIS??!!" What A Whiner! ANd a hypocrite!
Obama, our "first gay President" (oh come on, that is such a rob of the actual first gay President, whoever he or she may be), gave a big bash in the WHite House and let his guests be pictured flipping off (yes, the middle finger gesture that means F*** Y**) former Presidents. Such disrespect of any former President is not a crime. But to do it IN the White House and the President to be oblivious of it. And the media, White House staff - oh hell everybody - to chuckle at it, is kind of sickening.
And on the topic of "do unto others but you better leave the Obama Administration alone", there is the whole return of the race issue in this election year. If you don't like Obama, you're a racist. If you don't like Obama's policies, you're a racist. If you don't like Eric Holder, you're a racist. If you don't tow the Democrat party line, you're a racist. If you breathe and aren't voting for Obama, you're a racist. Hell, you may as well just admit you're a racist until someone in the Administration clears you.
Okay. My blood pressure is starting to rise again so I am going to just hold off on any more annoying things.
So, anyway, agree or not, that's your prerogative. All I ask is that the agreeing or disagreeing are yours, not what some spin doctor or politician or talking head says you should be thinking. STOP BEING SHEEP and AVOID THE SPIN! Be your own person with your own brain and opinions. But hey, as usual, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
Well, its been that kind of month for me (okay, its been that kind of year, but lets not quibble).
The President oversteps (again) his bounds of maybe not legality but common sense / morality / decency / et al. Here they are, in no certain order and not in any detail as I might have to walk away again before I finish.
Obama talks to kids in school about contraceptives, condoms and planned parenthood. Not that they don't need to know, but its NOT HIS JOB. If it was my kid in school, I would be outraged and the White House would be getting a call from me.
Obama gets tired of Congress not acting on his Dream Act and unilaterally tells his Administration to stop deporting illegal immigrants 30 years or younger, "because its the right thing to do." When only a few months ago he was saying his hands were tied because Congress had to handle the legislation. Talk about PANDERING! Sheesh!
Obama whines he will be the "first President to be outspent in his re-election campaign." Puh-leeeze!!! This is a real OMG moment! In 2008 Obama spent over $650 MILLION dollars. He and McCain spent a combined $1 Billion and ALL the money spent (by candidates, PACS, SuperPACS, etc) was over $51 BILLION! And as of March 10, Obama had outspent Romney 2 to 1. But now, Obama is spending MORE than he is taking in and Romney is getting more money in donations. I would have to say to the President "DO YOU THINK THERE MAY BE A REASON FOR THIS??!!" What A Whiner! ANd a hypocrite!
Obama, our "first gay President" (oh come on, that is such a rob of the actual first gay President, whoever he or she may be), gave a big bash in the WHite House and let his guests be pictured flipping off (yes, the middle finger gesture that means F*** Y**) former Presidents. Such disrespect of any former President is not a crime. But to do it IN the White House and the President to be oblivious of it. And the media, White House staff - oh hell everybody - to chuckle at it, is kind of sickening.
And on the topic of "do unto others but you better leave the Obama Administration alone", there is the whole return of the race issue in this election year. If you don't like Obama, you're a racist. If you don't like Obama's policies, you're a racist. If you don't like Eric Holder, you're a racist. If you don't tow the Democrat party line, you're a racist. If you breathe and aren't voting for Obama, you're a racist. Hell, you may as well just admit you're a racist until someone in the Administration clears you.
Okay. My blood pressure is starting to rise again so I am going to just hold off on any more annoying things.
So, anyway, agree or not, that's your prerogative. All I ask is that the agreeing or disagreeing are yours, not what some spin doctor or politician or talking head says you should be thinking. STOP BEING SHEEP and AVOID THE SPIN! Be your own person with your own brain and opinions. But hey, as usual, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Mook is a . . . well, mook
Robby Mook is the Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He is supposed to be an intelligent person. You really couldn't tell it, in my opinion. But this latest email he is sending out makes one just turn their head sideways and go “huhnnnnn??”
Just take a look at this and ask yourself the question, “what the hell is this guy talking about?”
“I had to send this around -- it’s new poll numbers for the generic Congressional ballot just released:
You can bet Boehner and Cantor are really panicking now.
Let's win the House for President Obama. Chip in $3 right now >>
Thanks!
Robby
Robby Mook
DCCC Executive Director”
Wording-wise, its standard Democratic fare. We're gonna win, but we (the really rich schmucks in politics) need your money to do it.
But the twist is the poll he is so proud of. What the heck is it saying? Democrats 47, Republicans 43? First, that doesn't equal 100. So it isn't talking about how many of one or the other is going to win the House. Its not 50, so it doesn't represent the Senate. Is it an approval rating? Not likely, as those for Congress are down in the teens and single digits.
So what the hell is he really saying here?
I have my own thoughts.
He's saying: “Hey all you sheep! Ignore what I'm saying because it doesn't really matter! What matters is that I get you all psyched up to send us money! Because despite what we say on the campaign trail, its all about the money we don't have to spend and can soak you for all you got! So, come on, give us money! Right now! And we'll win! YEA!”
Well that's how I read it anyway.
But the worse thing about this email. Not that its doesn't really say anything important. That is just typical politics. All they care about is the power their position gives them. Oh and maybe the pension for life that most of us would kill just to get for a few years.
No what is really bad about this email is that there are millions of sheep ready to send these people money every possible chance.
Why? Because they are scared that the other “evil” party will get in. No matter that the party in there now has done so much damage, the OTHER party is the evil one. Or its because they are lazy sacks of you know what that don't want to see an end to the gravy train of entitlements. Or its because they have no mind of their own and believe whatever it is they are told they are supposed to believe.
No matter what the reason, the sad part is that this email – and so many like it that seem to be pumped out daily – people will give them money. Forget the fact that $3 to Obama and Mook is a tip on a cup of coffee in the morning, while it represents the weekly disposable spending of grandma Kelly and Mr. Jones down at the recycling center. To them, $3 is the difference between going one day without breakfast or buying little Timmy a birthday present.
The gall of these guys, and every politician like them – which most of them are – is that they just don't get it. The President gets $430,000 a year, and then every year after he's out of office as a pension. Congress gets $172,000 a year and also that same amount as a pension after being voted out of office (or more likely retiring, because none of these slugs willingly leaves such a cushy job). If they really want these jobs then these punks, most of whom were or will be millionaires even without the money they get for being politicians, they should have to pay for themselves.
Imagine you're going for a job with ABC Company. But someone else is going for the same job. So you put up bulletin boards on the boss' way to the office. You take out newspaper ads in papers he or she reads. You do television spots. All to get the job. Now imagine you go out and ask people at the company to give you money to pay for these ads.
Ain't happening. So why should it be this way in our government?
Agree with me or not about all of this. I just want you to LOOK at it and decide for yourself, without the whispering of political consultants telling you what to think. If you come to a conclusion without these leeches influencing it, that's all that matters to me. But hey, you know, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
Just take a look at this and ask yourself the question, “what the hell is this guy talking about?”
“I had to send this around -- it’s new poll numbers for the generic Congressional ballot just released:
You can bet Boehner and Cantor are really panicking now.
Let's win the House for President Obama. Chip in $3 right now >>
Thanks!
Robby
Robby Mook
DCCC Executive Director”
Wording-wise, its standard Democratic fare. We're gonna win, but we (the really rich schmucks in politics) need your money to do it.
But the twist is the poll he is so proud of. What the heck is it saying? Democrats 47, Republicans 43? First, that doesn't equal 100. So it isn't talking about how many of one or the other is going to win the House. Its not 50, so it doesn't represent the Senate. Is it an approval rating? Not likely, as those for Congress are down in the teens and single digits.
So what the hell is he really saying here?
I have my own thoughts.
He's saying: “Hey all you sheep! Ignore what I'm saying because it doesn't really matter! What matters is that I get you all psyched up to send us money! Because despite what we say on the campaign trail, its all about the money we don't have to spend and can soak you for all you got! So, come on, give us money! Right now! And we'll win! YEA!”
Well that's how I read it anyway.
But the worse thing about this email. Not that its doesn't really say anything important. That is just typical politics. All they care about is the power their position gives them. Oh and maybe the pension for life that most of us would kill just to get for a few years.
No what is really bad about this email is that there are millions of sheep ready to send these people money every possible chance.
Why? Because they are scared that the other “evil” party will get in. No matter that the party in there now has done so much damage, the OTHER party is the evil one. Or its because they are lazy sacks of you know what that don't want to see an end to the gravy train of entitlements. Or its because they have no mind of their own and believe whatever it is they are told they are supposed to believe.
No matter what the reason, the sad part is that this email – and so many like it that seem to be pumped out daily – people will give them money. Forget the fact that $3 to Obama and Mook is a tip on a cup of coffee in the morning, while it represents the weekly disposable spending of grandma Kelly and Mr. Jones down at the recycling center. To them, $3 is the difference between going one day without breakfast or buying little Timmy a birthday present.
The gall of these guys, and every politician like them – which most of them are – is that they just don't get it. The President gets $430,000 a year, and then every year after he's out of office as a pension. Congress gets $172,000 a year and also that same amount as a pension after being voted out of office (or more likely retiring, because none of these slugs willingly leaves such a cushy job). If they really want these jobs then these punks, most of whom were or will be millionaires even without the money they get for being politicians, they should have to pay for themselves.
Imagine you're going for a job with ABC Company. But someone else is going for the same job. So you put up bulletin boards on the boss' way to the office. You take out newspaper ads in papers he or she reads. You do television spots. All to get the job. Now imagine you go out and ask people at the company to give you money to pay for these ads.
Ain't happening. So why should it be this way in our government?
Agree with me or not about all of this. I just want you to LOOK at it and decide for yourself, without the whispering of political consultants telling you what to think. If you come to a conclusion without these leeches influencing it, that's all that matters to me. But hey, you know, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.
Charles
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