Why ACA is bad . . . A Response to Facebook Post

A friend posted a negative comment about ACA, the Affordable Care Act - also known as ObamaCare. Another person responded to his Facebook post with a lt of drivel about ACA. SO I thought I would post some links here for him to check out.

* United Healthcare exits Healthcare Marketplace - leaving lots of people with no choices.

http://time.com/money/4300900/united-healthcare-obamacare-exit/

2017 will see a rise in ACA insurance costs.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-27/obamacare-will-probably-cost-more-in-2017-top-insurer-says

There are still millions "falling through the cracks", identified as the working poor. And, of course, if not insured, you get fined.

http://healthjournalism.org/blog/2016/02/a-look-at-those-still-falling-through-the-cracks-in-aca-coverage/

Job do come as the price of Obamacare. Not just in the loss of real jobs being replaced by low paying / low hourly jobs . . . 

"It's easier to find a unicorn than a Walmart worker who has gotten a meaningful raise, or hasn't had their hours cut," United Food & Commercial Workers Union spokeswoman Jessica Levin said via email. "America's hard-working families expect better from a company that makes billions in profit a year."

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/20/news/companies/walmart-pay-raise-wages/

. . . but in the health insurance industry.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160204/NEWS03/160209875/blue-cross-parent-axes-workers-on-heels-of-obamacare-losses

These are just a few examples of the impact of ACA, in response to this individuals staunch defense. He obviously doesn't do much research and only believes what he is told to believe.

An example of a true American Sheep.

Don't be a sheep. Don't blindly accept spin.

But hey, as usual, this is just me Thinking Out Loud. Do your own research.

Have a great day.

Charles

Trump, Trumpism, Charles Murray and the Anger of Americans

COMMENTARY - Trump vs Murray?? Charles Murray wrote this back in October 2015: "It could be the 1850s and the Know Nothings. Same fear, same rhetoric, same fascist tendencies. And I don’t use “fascist” loosely."

Yet today Murray writes in the Wall Street Journal (online - which you can only read the full story by logging in or subscribing) "If you are dismayed by Trumpism, don’t kid yourself that it will fade away if Donald Trump fails to win the Republican nomination. Trumpism is an expression of the legitimate anger that many Americans feel about the course that the country has taken, and its appearance was predictable. It is the endgame of a process that has been going on for a half-century: America’s divestment of its historic national identity."

So which is it, Mr. Murray? Is Trump and all he stands for the same rhetoric as the 1850's Know Nothings, representing fear and fascism? Or is it an "expression of legitimate anger"?

Like most "pundits" and politicians today, they just don't understand the appeal of someone like Donald Trump. Do people ACTUALLY want to elect The Donald as President of the United States of America? Mostly not. But what other choice do they have to vent their anger and frustration at a government intent on lying to (poorly) and dividing (convincingly) the entirety of the American people? What other choice do they have when there are so many incompetent people in power who really don't get the economy like a businessman of The Donald's obvious skills in that area? What choice do they have when the other choices are people who are cowards in the face of international mayhem?

With the damage this current president has done to not only the fabric of American society by the psyche of the American spirit, not to mention the nilly willy way in which he consistently violates the separation of powers with his use (or misuse) or executive orders, the people are frustrated.

Its also why Bernie Sanders on the Democrat side engenders so much support. Even though he has been a part of the problem for decades, he "says" the right things to a people who would not support ANY Republican. He is their ONLY choice to vent.

So what is the answer? Do away with parties. At least for President. Everyone can run on their own merit, their own ideas, their own platform. The person with the most votes (by the people, not some elusive "Electoral College") gets the job. The person with the second most votes becomes vice president. Its the only fair way in today's environment of political shenanigans and payoffs via party PACs and donations.

The American people are neither Republican nor Democrat nor Green nor Socialist as a whole. And neither should the President be. The President is NOT the leader of his respective party. He is the duly elected Executive for ALL the American people.

But you know what? This is just my opinion and thoughts on the matter. You can have your own opinion and thoughts on the matter. But thats what is great about our country. We can each have our own opinion and try to convince others of our ideas being the . . . .okay, I was going to say the right ideas. But in truth, as in governmental structure, there is no "right" and "wrong" idea. Its the BEST idea among all the competing ideas out there. Whats best for US. And I do mean US as in the capitalization "us".

Bottom line, though, is that America is pissed. And it will continue to be pissed long after whoever is elected president is sworn in. Because none of the damage done in the past 70 years can be corrected overnight. Or even in four years. But even if it doesn't, and even if Americans stay angry, if something isn't done to make corrections NOW, it will just keep getting worse. And THAT is the appeal of Trump and Trumpism. So Murray might finally have it right. Not sure because I will not be paying for a subscription of the Wall Street Journal to rad the conclusion of this article of his. I just can't afford it.

So, as I always say here, agree or disagree, thats up to you. Just do your research and think for yourselves. Don't be sheep and think what the pundits or your "betters" in politics tell you what to think. Not even me. Because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Enough is Enough!

Stop catering to cowards and murderers who want nothing more than your annihilation!

I know this will cause some commotion. But I am so sick of the "political correctness" of remaining silent. I feel no pity for the people of muslim countries. I do feel sorrow for them, but not pity. They follow a religion that for centuries has been about the total domination of the world under an Islam banner. They believe there is no room for any other religion. And any muslim that says they want a peaceful coexistence with others is either lying to you or themselves. Their religion says its okay to lie to anyone not a muslim. So when someone cries about why there is no coverage of how we bomb them or shoot them or whatever, I just get so boiling mad. We would leave them be if they would stop doing things like Paris. Like 9/11, like London, like Moscow. We would leave them alone if they would stop trying to usurp our countries, our religions, our laws, our customs and our traditions. But they will NEVER stop. People really need to understand this. I do not want harm to come to anyone. But I will also not sit by while they decide to cause me, mine or other innocent people harm. Enough is enough.

Moderate Islam. Extreme Islam. Peaceful Islam.

These are all the same.

They want nothing more than the total annihilation of those who are NOT Islam. Thats it. Bottom line. Its what their religion, what their "prophet", what their entire ideology calls for. Their "great book" calls for the destruction of infidels. Make no mistake about it, thats us, folks. Thats anyone NOT muslim, NOT followers of the prophet. NOT believers in Islam.

For those who say "they don't know any better" I say BAH!

People have brains. People have common sense. If you are taught and indoctrinated into thinking this is right, then you are foolish. You are mindless. You don't know how to use your brain and think for yourself.

How many Germans fought against Hitler because they knew it was wrong? How many fought Stalin? The czars? These people were taught and indoctrinated into a certain belief. And they KNEW it was wrong. These people WANT to believe its right to cause the genocide of the world that is not Islam.

So I don't want to hear that they don't know any better because its what they were taught. Its like all those morons who were taught differently but decide to join these cowards and murderers. They WANT to do what is wrong!

So if you want to play all nicey-nice and sympathetic to them, and let them kill you. Go for it.

Me and mine? I'm not going let anyone do this. And you can call me mean, heartless or whatever. I don't play nice with someone dedicated to destroying me and my way of life.

Agree, disagree, I just don't care anymore. You want to be sheep and let them erase you, you want to listen to the spin that our bogus leaders are spewing, you want to NOT think for yourself . . . by all means, go ahead. This is just me, Thinking Out Loud and deciding enough is enough of being silent.

Thinking about voting for Hillary? Read this first . . .

If you are thinking about voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016 . . . all I ask is that you read this first. You can still vote for her if this and all the recent news from Benghazi to her flagrant snubbing of her nose at the law, Congress and the American people does not dissuade you.

And its not a woman thing. I know that will be what many people say. Just like they said (and still do) that any criticism against Obama is a race thing. Which is ridiculous. I could care less if he is black. I just just don't like him, his olitics, his arrogance and his vapid allegiance to everyone OTHER than the America people. Anyway . . .

But read this and then make up your own mind. Don't just believe me. Read and research the truth. Don't be fooled by SPIN. Think For Yourself.

But this is just me . . . thinking out loud!

Have a great day.

Charles

Thinking Out Loud - Straight Line Voting is killing America

“Tucked deep in North Carolina's election revision law that has stirred great passion is a provision that barely gets noticed.”

That's how an August article on the News Observer website begins. Gee, I wonder where this is leading? And as predictable, it rambles on how this is the Republican's way of keeping voters from having “a handy way to participate in many contests with a single mark for a party’s slate of candidates.”

Really? This is how you want your voters voting? In a handy way? I read that as a lazy way. And why this country is in such a shambles as it is. Instead of voting for the best person to represent them, they just lazily vote for the party that they think represents their values.

Yeah, right. The only values a political party cares about is one, how they can get elected / re-elected and two, how their “money” wants them to vote. Years ago, the Republican Party was the party of caring and the Democrats were the greedy corporate types. Somewhere along the lines, the Democrats convinced the people that they were the party of social change and caring and that the Republicans were the greedy SOB's. (And it became true. But then it changed again - but not in a good way.)

But, as always, the truth is somewhere else.

Today, the political party system is all about staying in power, catering to special interests and letting the less than scrupulous big money people frame the laws in their best interest.

The people are nowhere to be seen in the equation of modern government.

Gone is the government “of the people, for the people and by the people.” As much as we'd like to think otherwise.

So whats the answer?

Vote them all out!

Yeah, nice sentiment, but that doesn't really work, does it. Not only do they never get “all voted out”, the people who actually vote in numbers are the ones who are too lazy to look at all the candidates on the ballot.

So its just a popularity contests influenced by a media that is bought and paid for by the political parties they are supposed to be watchdogging.

Its a vicious circle. Truly it is.

But I have the answer. Not a perfect answer. But an answer thats better than allowing the 14 states out there that still have it. Do away with ALL straight party voting. Make the voters choose their candidates wisely and not through skewed news and campaign ads.

Okay, so the first part is easy. States need to do away with the straight ticket voting and their courts need to stop giving in to BS lawsuits trying to get it back.

Making people accountable for WHO they vote in is NOT racist. It is NOT a ploy by one party or another to gain an advantage. Its about making the voters do their homework before they get into the voting booth.

Wow, an informed electorate! What a concept.

But its the second part that is going to take work. There needs to be a law banning all negative ads. If you want people to vote for you tell them why they should vote for YOU. Don't tell them why NOT to vote for the other candidate. That's their decision. Anyone flooding the airwaves and the newspapers and billboards and mailings who stoop to negative campaigning should be ripped off the ballot.

And before you say that candidates would just sue their opponents claiming negative ads, there needs to be accountability. Have a strict set of guidelines on what is a negative campaign strategy and what would constitute a valid lawsuit. And in the second part of that, make the consequences of a spurious lawsuit be having the person bringing it ripped off the ballot.

Contrary to this article in the News Observer, and all the whining out there being done by both parties over this matter, straight ticket voting hurts America. It hurts all of us. And it is the lazy man's way to vote.

I know of people in the Democratic party that are really concerned citizens wanting to make a difference, wanting to serve their country and represent their constituents. I also know of republicans who are that way. And Green party and independents and people of every stripe and color.

They care. They work hard. But they cannot do their jobs if the people keep voting a straight party down the line without doing their due diligence before stepping into the voting booth.

If they vote straight Democrat than they are voting on the PARTY Agenda. Which means the republican on the ballot who is better than the Democrat doesn't get in. And America suffers. Same with the Democrat who deserves a chance but is wiped out by the straight Republican voter.

And then there are all those independent candidates out there who realize the party system is broke, but can't even get in the door to fix it because of the lazy voter.

Just take for example the guy in Texas who should never have been elected but was voted in because of the straight line voters. If the voters had done their homework on this guy they would have said “whoa, no way!”

In 1994, Steve Mansfield was elected to the state's highest criminal court . . . with no criminal court background, despite claims to the contrary, and a very dubious past. Part of that included being fined in Florida for practicing law without a license. Mansfiled himself said he didn't expect to win and said his campaign would have been “dead in the water” had anyone looked into his background.

This kind of thing will happen every time you vote straight line and do not KNOW who the heck you are voting for.

Stop being lazy! Stop being sheep and believing the lies the political parties feed you! You're not babies who need to be spoon-fed pablum, you're responsible adults who not only have a right vote but you have a duty to be informed. And for heaven's sake, stop being brainless masses for the irresponsible media to fill up with whats popular at the moment and spewing out the words of who's got the most power! I feel shame for my colleagues who don't have the backbone to stand up to the corporate bean counters who worry about ratings and access. They are shirking their duties as the fourth estate, the watchdogs they are supposed to be. (But that's a rant for another time.)

And don't just take my word for any of this. Look around. Research. (Lots of places to do this - but don't pick just one. Like PolitiFact and Snopes. And you can check voting records at GovTracks and Project VoteSmart.) Be responsible adults. Do whats right, not whats easiest or laziest or popular.

But hey, who am I right? This is just me, Thinking Out Loud! Have a great day!

Charles

Government shutdown . . . SMH

This was apparently an email that was sent out recently. Someone posted it on Facebook. Take a look.

From: Barack Obama

Subject: This has gone too far

Friends --

This has gone too far.

House Republicans are threatening to shut down the government -- and potentially default on our bills for the first time in history -- because they want to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.

Well let me state this as clearly as I can: I won’t let the Republicans prevent 30 million people from getting health insurance, and I won’t let them inflict economic pain on millions more just so they can make an ideological point.

But I need you standing with me. That’s why I’m asking you to step up before this fundraising deadline and help me defend everything we’ve fought for together:

Click here to give $3 or more today and your donation will be triple-matched.

House Republicans are promising to roll back all the hard-earned economic progress we’ve made.

I need you to show them that you won’t stand for it.

http://dccc.org/Do-Your-Part

Thanks,

Barack Obama

It truly baffles me how people can make (minimum $172,000 a year - for Obama its $400,000 a yr just from his job as President, although he is reportedly making in the million range) will ask hard working Americans to donate money so they can do their job. Don't they make enough to spend on themselves to "do their job". And really, we don't elect them to be intractable with each other, we elect them to go and represent us to work with those that millions of others elect to work with each other and so on. Dividing us on this point or that point is counter to their job description. If we went to work and were intractable with our co-workers and asked our bosses to give us even more money so we can be this way, plus we get our bosses to argue with each other, how long would we keep OUR jobs? yes, the President is right. This has gone too far.

And the link attached with the FACEBOOK posting took you to the website, "Democrats for 2014".

Here is what it asked for on this website.

"Support President Obama's Agenda

Will you chip in right now to help us fight back against Republican attacks and support President Obama's agenda?

The average gift today is $23.12

Your Contribution to DCCC

$25

$100

$250

$1,000

$ (fill in the blank here with what you are willing to sacrifice so they can stay in office)

(Disclaimer Note – that last part not in Italics I threw in.)

Then it has the gall to ask how many contributions you want to make. Its like you're renting or leasing a car. Instead, its renting or leasing a political party, a political candidate or a political ideology.

"Make this contribution...

Once

Each month for the next months"

Don't get me wrong. The other side has done this for just as long and is just as bad.

But don't blame them. We did this. We made them this way. We allowed this type of person to hijack OUR government. A government that is supposed to be of, by and for the people. But our collective apathy has led them to think they can do whatever they want, pull whatever wool over our eyes they feel like and trample whatever facet of our country's history that doesn't fit with their personal agenda, or the agenda of those manipulating them.

We have allowed them, through a lack of our own understanding of how this country was formed, through our caring about ourselves and each other.

Let me step back just for a moment to head off some of the objections to my last statement that will most assuredly be forthcoming.

The cries will ring out “If you cared, you wouldn't object to Obamacare, unemployment extensions, (fill int he blank for entitlement programs of your choice here).”

To the contrary, I care more than you do. I say that because you want to hand out and hand out and hand out – simply because it makes you feel good. I want to help up, empower and shuttle people on their way because it is good for them, for me and for America to have useful, contributing members of society rather than useless, unmotivated leeches draining from the rest of us. I want REAL healthcare reform that will address the REAL problems our country faces, not just a smattering of nice pieces here and there bundled in with all the stinking parts. I want doctors to treat patients for reasonable fees so they can provide for their family. I want enough insurance companies providing insurance to fill EVERYONE'S needs no matter what they do or where they live. I want an end to irresponsible and frivolous people who think they will get rich off of a lawsuit (one of the top three ways Americans think they will get rich) and who think they are ENTITLED to something without having to work for it.

I want jobs for people - in THIS country. I want companies to act responsibly, pay their employees and offer them reasonable benefits. I want unions to revert back to their original function of making sure workers are not taken advantage of, rather than the current situation where THEY take advantage of the workers, destroy the companies and cater to politicians all in the name of solidifying a power base of their own.

I want kids to get an education. And I want them to be able to further their education after high school IF THEY WANT without having to contract their first born child to indentured servitude. I want industry leaders to realize an educated workforce is better for them and their bottom line of profit so they combine forces to help fund education in this country.

But I also want other things. And this is where both the bleeding heart, liberal idiots and the right wing extremists and I part ways.

But lest you think that the rhetoric being bandied about is a concern about government shutdowns – the very plea the President and others are blitzing out there on the airwaves, beltways and cyberwaves. It isn't. Because it (looming shutdowns) happens all the time.

Like in 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/22/us-usa-congress-shutdown-idUSBRE88L03720120922

And in 2011. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0409/Government-shutdown-2011-avoided-with-11th-hour-budget-deal

In 2010 . . . http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/10/another-government-shutdown, 2009 . . . http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/Sep/25/house_passes_bill_to_prevent_government_shutdown.html . . .

In fact, threats of government shutdowns happen ALL THE TIME throughout our history. And there have been 17 times it actually happened. (http://uspolitics.about.com/od/thefederalbudget/a/Government-Shutdowns-In-The-Past.htm)

Before the 70's, arguments and late passing budgets happened all the time, and most people didn't care because it didn't affect them. But President Carter's Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, passed a legal opinion saying that government workers could not report to work until Congress passed a budget. Thus leading to the modern phenomena of shutdown threats and all the political posturing associated with them.

Which is what they are, posturing. They are political maneuvering for one side or the other to get what they want.

All to dupe the stupid voter into feeling relieved when a shutdown is either averted or finally ended. Politicians count on your gullibility, naivete, ignorance and apathy to use these shutdowns to score political points.

For which I say “Shame on you, Washington! Shame on you, Mr. President! Shame on you Senate and House leaders! And shame on you America for constantly voting in these frauds, these charlatans, these dissension-makers, these greedy, power hungry jerks year after year after year after year.

So who is to blame? Civiletti? Carter? Obama? Congress?

Not really. We let them think they could do what they want. We fall under their “spell” and become outraged by what they TELL US to be outraged about.

Therefore, its our own fault.

Personally, I'd say let it shutdown. Then maybe people will realize we need to vote them ALL out of office and become more educated with the people we elect to serve us. Maybe we'd be more in tune with WHY we are SUPPOSED to be sending these “representatives of the people” to Washington for in the first place.

I'd say that, but I'd know it would never happen. Americans are too lazy. Americans could care less about each other except where it makes themselves feel good, or gain something from it. Americans deserve what they get. And God help us all because we have to live with the stupidity and general haplessness of the American majority.

But you know what, you can agree with me or disagree with me and that is your free choice. In fact, I want you to check things out for yourself before believing anything I or ANYONE else tells you so you can be truly informed about what is really going on in this country. So its no skin off my nose if you agree or not, because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Do you even KNOW what a reporter does?

Its so annoying when people try to sound smart and just end up being idiots. Especially when they do so in such a way that those who don't know any better just nod their heads.

I wholeheartedly have to disagree with this Yahoo article. Both in its conclusion (though not necessarily its initial assertions) about the number 2 dying career, and their alternative suggestion of Public Relations Specialist.

The article states that that the #2 Dying Career is Reporter. It says "They say a species must adapt or die, and with the trend of the Internet replacing print journalism (you are reading this on the computer, after all), media folks who don't adjust might not survive too much longer."

With this I agree. In part. The part where reporters have to play the web and social media cards. They need to adapt to this new format. Just like when they had to adjust to going from the old typesetting and inkwells and every manner of technical changes have come along over the ages. This idea is nothing new. Its just a new medium to get used to. Some make it, some don't. Just like in the days when they had to adjust from radio to television.

"In short, many reporters could be going the way of their typewriters soon." In short . . . this is a ridiculous assertion on the article writer's part. Some will, obviously, not be able to adapt. But reporters have made the jump from inkwell to typeset to print to radio, television and digital pretty well.

And for anyone that brings up "citizen reporters" into the mix saying that these people will replace the experienced writer because they are cheaper have not seen the comings and (mostly) goings of venues that use them exclusively. Companies such as the publishers of The Examiner that created online venues using these "citizen reporters" found that quality over quantity was of great importance, even in the plethora of junk that is often the makeup of the internet. No one would put stock in poor writing, poor reporting and obviously slanted journalism. The cream rises to the top, they found, and began to tinker with how they, pick, maintain and assist with quality the writers they have.

The second assumption in the article is that a good alternative for a reporter is the career choice of Public Relations Specialist.

Really? Reporter to public relations??? Have they really met any reporters?

The author (and oh boy do I use that term loosely here) states "In the new world of Facebook, Twitter, and all things Web, the public image of a company has never been more important." And I agree. Even to the point of saying that in this new age, a reporter is essentially their own company when it comes to social media. Sure, papers and news shows and online venues have their own ways of publicizing in these arenas. But it is also incumbent on the reporter to do so also. But that is an adaptation in effect, not the be all and end all of what reporters do.

Now if you ever actually met a reporter or even just know what it is that reporters do, can you really seeing Woodward or Bernstein "evaluate advertising programs, write press releases, and communicate with the media and public to promote a company's public image"?

I am sure I cannot. Making people look good is so not the job of a reporter. Reporting the news is the job of a reporter. Informing the public of things they need to know about their government, businesses, the economy, American and worldwide society and culture, thats the job of a journalist. But making someone or something look good - well, that is just not their job. And saying this is an alternative career for a reporter is just plain naive.

I would have told this to the writer (Terence Loose) of this little bit of fluff on Yahoo's Education channel. But there is no place for comment. Nor is there a way to send them a little missive. And this bit of oversight is just the thing that a reporter in today's media needs to do in order to adapt. The reader feedback is a valuable asset to today's reporter, just as much as "Facebook, Twitter and all things web", as Loose makes a point of highlighting. So I am guessing we may not be hearing much from this writer.

You can agree or disagree with me on this, because that is your right to do. But its okay. I don't mind. Because, as the title of this blog states, this is just me Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Goodbye yellow brick road, hello yellow brick wall

Hollywood has sunk to a new low, even for them - capitulating to demands from an oppressive government not to insult them or their country. All for the sake of money.

And no, I am not talking about America. Because Hollywood has proven they don't care about demeaning America, Americans or American values. I am talking about how they are cow-towing to China and Chinese demands for "sensitivity".

This is pretty sickening. Hollywood has always been a bastion of morally repugnant heels, but this latest bit of "concessions" to the demands of a totalitarian government makes my blood boil. Hollywood has never failed to insult one aspect of America or the other, from the Bush bashing W, EVERY Roger Moore flick and the denigrating Julianna Moore depictions in Game Change to the constant barrage of white supremacy / black violence / homosexual acceptance that inundates the "silver" (yea right) screen. Yet no Hollywood producer cares about - and even hopes for the controversy from - the outcry from the public over these constant insults to America, American business or American values. Yet insult one aspect of China and they "excise" the film. Deplorable. And these low life scum who call themselves members of some elite group of artisans wonder what has happened to American audiences. I'll tell you, they are sick of paying your exorbitant ticket prices for mediocre movies that constantly assault our eyes, ears and sensibilities. Also, when it comes to paying these high prices (both in tickets and concessions) vs paying our bills, putting food on the table or buying medicine for our children, you lose . . . EVERY time.

I guess its time for another round of independent filmmakers and production companies. The last time Hollywood went too far afield, along cam such visionary independent companies such as Weinstein, Wachowski, New Line and others. Eventually, they were absorbed by the Hollywood megaliths of cinematography. Some, like Touchstone, were the big companies pretending to be independent. But these were quickly discovered and the ruse abandoned. But new indepndents will rise in response to thsi latest Hollywood depravity.

I hope. Otherwise, coming soon to a theatre near you, you'll be watching the new incarnation of Red Dawn, where it is America swooping into a country and toppling the government, only to be thwarted by the brave cadre of rice farmers who battle the evil invaders.

Anyway, agree or not, I really don't care. Just stop being mindless sheep and unconcerned drones. Think for yourself. But hell, its all good. This is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Texas Education? NOT!

This is what passes for education in the Texas school system. A teacher - whom the students say felt uncomfortable teaching this but it was "in the curriculum" - has students dressing up like Islamists, calling terrorists "freedom fighters" and sugar coating genocide (referring to the Holocaust as "ethnic cleansing").

Understanding other cultures is one thing, blatantly waxing over evil is something completely different.

If you are form Texas, you should be embarrassed by this story. If you are in the military, you should be outraged that this is what you are defending. If you are a victim of terrorism (here or in any where in the world) - which is, in my mind, nothing but the actions of cowards - you should be stunned and hurt. If you are an American, you should be calling the state officials responsible for this out!

The Holocaust was systematic murder with the intent of wiping out an entire culture, religion, heritage, genetic group. It was the actions of madmen who felt that simply by virtue of birth they were superior. ALL ETHNIC CLEANSING is this, no matter it was in Germany, Serbia, Uganda, Rwanda, ANYWHERE! It was / is murder. Cold, calculated, deliberate and premeditated murder. To say otherwise is sick. To teach otherwise is dangerous and reprehensible.

Islam has a long history of being a culture of advancement, beauty and richness. The modern version of extremist Islam is nothing but a bunch of thugs and manipulators with insane agendas. To represent it as anything else is not education, it is brainwashing.

Go ahead . . . agree or disagree. I don't care. But think about what this truly is and how it impacts not only the students of this twisted school system, but the future of this country. And decide if you want murderous thugs being portrayed as the good guys. If you do, shame on you. If you don't, get those letters and phone calls and emails flying to the Lone Star State! They need to be made aware of their sickness. But hell, what do I know? This is just me, after all, Thinking Out Loud.

Try to have a good day.

Charles

Afghans . . . good riddance

I am so sick and tired of reports like this and actions from Middle East (so-called) leaders.

BBC report of Afhan President ordering US Special Forces out of a particular province.

And even more sick and tired of our SO-CALLED leaders - from the White House on down - who cower from pompous, dictatorial, (oh I would so like to use profanity at this point) jerks.

An Afghan politician is "ordering" US Special Forces out. Who the hell do our boys and girls work for? OUR {PRESIDENT, not some loser who can't handle his own people. This jackal can ASK our President to remove our troops from a particular location. But just who the hell does this limp noodle terrorist puppet on a string think he is ORDERING our military ANYWHERE?!?!?!

So here is what I would do as President. (Which I know our loser commander-in-chief that couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag among REAL Americans will NEVER do because he is such a wimp!)

I would immediately order the start of removal of ALL our troops from these savage nations. (Don't get me wrong. This area of the world was once rich in culture and science and art - but is no longer due to fanatical losers who are brainwashed into blowing their own dumbasses up and taking their poor kids with them.) At the samer time, I would revoke all visas to anyone from this section of the world. I wouldn't care who they were, who they loved or what their situation was. They would be gone. Then I would restrict travel of anyone from this area of the world into the United States. They would all be routed to an airport that could be under 100% government control and had security out the ying-yang. (This would free up Americans who travel from having to have their three-year old wheel chair bound child from being patted down and traumatized.)

AND AT THE SAME TIME, I would cut off all foreign aide to these deplorable centers of fear, hate and cowardice (and letting them know this is exactly what they are and what they represent) and "redistribute" this wealth to our own people starving and homeless and without healthcare in OUR OWN COUNTRY.

Because charity begins at home.

some may say this is a bit extreme, but how should the United States react when they are constantly berated (and for actions that are the responsibility of their own people, not ours) for military actions but at the same time pleaded with to be the world's police force? How should the United States react when they are being called the "evil empire" with venom while at the same exact time being bled dry by people who can't take care of themselves?

The reason there are so many homeless, sick, poor, jobless, broken and hungry people in America (which is always being lauded as the richest nation in the world) is because we take care of so much of the world, we don't take care of our own.

As President, this is the first thing I would fix.

Well, maybe the second.

The first would be to get rid of all the special interest laden, self serving political structure that has been failing to lead us for decades.

But THEN I would send a message to the world.

ENOUGH!

Enough begging from us. Enough trying to kill us for your own shortcomings. Enough spewing your hatred at us, while all the time asking for our help. ENOUGH!

You take care of yourselves and we will take care of ourselves. Don't like it? Tough! Get your money and your rice and your oil revenues from somewhere else.

Which would be the third thing I would fix in this country if I were President.

But I'll leave that for later. maybe for my announcement in forming and exploratory committee to run for President in 2016.

Maybe.

Anyway, you all know the drill, agree or not, it doesn't matter to me. So long as I get you thinking for yourselves instead of listening to the spin and acting like sheep, then I will consider my job done for the day.

Have a great day.

Charles

Why liberalism without conservative oversight fails

I know its been a while but things have been kind of crazy here. And by crazy, I mostly mean just trying to survive. Since I started my self employment gig a year and a half ago, its been a month to month just trying to survive. Even though I JUST pay my rent and phone, and can contribute a little to my household bills (no TV or superfluous items in this house), I get NO assistance from the government. Sure, I could probably be eligible for some kind of assistance - food stamps and the like - I refuse to do so.

Stubborn, you say? Not really . . . okay, maybe a little. But honestly, I know there are plenty of people much worse off than me that really NEED our government to help them out. So I will not be a burden and possibly take food from hungry young mouths that have no other means.

But then I see things like this and it makes my blood boil.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that the government spent $2.2 BILLION dollars subsidizing phones for people, Cell phones. Fancy cell phones with lots of bells and whistles. Which really wouldn't bother me so much because even I have found the necessity of modern times where we all must stay connected. What really burns my butt is this:

"Until last year, FCC rules didn't require carriers to certify to the FCC that subscribers were eligible. Consumers could self-certify, and in many states documentation wasn't required."

And what is the government response to this failure?

Julius Genachowski pretty much summed it up. According to the WSJ article, the FCC Chairman said "The program rules we inherited were designed for the age of the rotary phone and failed to protect the program from abuse."

Come on. Really? But what can we expect from a government official simply following his great leader's example? Put the blame on the last guy to be in charge.

But I am not going there. Not right now. Where I am going is to express that THIS is a prime example of why liberalism without proper conservative oversight is a huge fail. (Note the lack of capitalization here. "liberal" and not "Liberal".)

To want to help your fellow man and fellow American is ingrained in our very existence. It is not just a religious idea (i.e. - Christian, Jewish, Wiccan, etc), it is an American ideal framed into our founding by men and women who KNEW what persecution and elitism and ignoring the poor and weak was really like. Dig into your history books and look at the glorious wrong doings of European leaders as they ignore the pleas of the hungry, hunted down and persecuted those whose religious beliefs were not in line with the powers that be, stole from those who had little to enrich their own lives. The founding fathers had left this world to create a new one. America.

So, yes, we all feel for those who need help. But without the common sense conservatism brings to the table, such programs of aide can be abused and can run amuck.

The poor in this country need help. And seeing how the government is wholly responsible for this condition, they have an obligation, a duty, to see to the needs of these people. But the lazy and the greedy (which includes ALL levels of American society and NOT just the top money makers, Mr President) and the unscrupulous not only need not apply, but should be prosecuted and forced to work off their debt.

The latter statement, of course, does not mean prison. Oh no, I am NOT paying for these people to get three squares a day (which many Americans do not), free healthcare (of which many Americans do not have), free internet and free education (again, which many AMericans cannot afford). No. They need to work off their debt by helping the very same people whom they have hidden among and stolen from.

There always needs to be a balance or things will swiftly tilt to the extreme. Dark must have light, good must have evil, wrong must have right. And liberalism must have conservatism. The ideals presented by various groups in this country have skewed the perception of Americans that one or the other is evil. The truth, however, is that without the balance of liberalism, extreme conservatism would leave far too many in dire needs. And without the balance of conservatism, extreme liberalism would bankrupt the nation and leave everyone in dire straits.

Liberalism is the heart of America. Conservatism is the common sense of America. And those who recognize this fact are the soul of America.

Agree or disagree, it doesn't really matter to me. But take a side, for God's sake, that doesn't rely on someone else telling you what to think. Not even me. Look at everything and make an INFORMED decision. Stop being sheep, stop listening to the spin of those who only have their own interest at heart. Either way, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Until next time, take care and have a great day.

Charles

Being a man in 2013

I love this letter by John Ransom on advice for how to be / what is a man.

http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/johnransom/2012/12/25/on-being-a-man-n1473616

John writes "Firstly, God has put a special responsibility upon you to help and protect those weaker than yourself, those less fortunate than yourself and those in distress. The measure of a man is in how he meets these challenges. A good man treats those around him with kindliness and consideration especially under trying circumstances."

Responsibility. This is what separates a man and a boy. A man accepts that he has responsibilities that do not include me, me, me. And takes responsibility for his own actions. A man acts responsibly, in public and in private.

One of those responsibilities, as John points out, is protection of those weaker and less able. That is the kid being bullied, the special needs person who just wants to live their lives in dignity without being ridiculed, the elderly and the infirmed who deserve respect as human beings. The measure of difference between man and boy is such that a man does it out of kindness and compassion. A man protects those who need him not out of some hero swaggering reason. He does it because it is right to do so. A boy does it to make himself seem important.

To head off the feminist and women who would claim this ideal of manliness must mean I am misogynistic or a throwback to the days of female oppression. Neither is true. As John himself points out "It does not however mean the man is the boss of everyone. It consists of accepting the responsibility of making decisions, without any prejudice, for the good of your family; and then being accountable to God for the outcome."

Women are important in life and in the household. But a man, as head of household, does not abandon his family for selfish reasons. He does not leave a mother and children to fend for themselves. And he does NOT lord it over them. A marriage is a partnership and a family is a unit. A man will accept responsibility for tending to and protecting his family. A man understands that it is not "my word is law" in a household; he will do what is good for the family, not what makes him feel good about himself.

One of the probelms with the world today is that there are too many boys playing at being men and not enough role models for them to look up to. Celebrities who abandon their families and responsibilities, who offer up as models to young boys "ownership" of women and poor treatment and the axiom that toys make you happy. These are childish, un-manly activities. But this is what young boys see.

And they see childish boys in government acting in childish ways. NOT doing what is good for their "family" of constituents, NOT being men of responsibility, NOT looking out for the weaker ones (that is, those without the power these "men" in high office have).

If more men of honor and responsibility stepped up and offered true inspiration, perhaps this country and this world would take on a more positive hue.

Until then, it is up to pundits like John to point out the boy behavior of those who claim to be men so that the young can see the truth in their actions and NOT model themselves after such children.

Agree or disagree, it doesn't matter to me. So long as I get you to think, then all will be well.

Have a wonderful and happy 2013. Make a resolution to avoid the Spin and stop being sheep.

Charles

Morgan Freeman is wrong

Good, now that I have the attention of celebrity hounds, maybe I can enlighten you.

Morgan Freeman supposedly weighed in on who is to blame. True or not, it has sparked a wave of people who "blame" the media for "glorifying the killer." A poll at the end of the article linked above showed that an overwhelming majority of the 1500 plus people (at the time of this writing) indeed blame the media. Very few said it was that some "people are beyond reason."

Neither one of those is truly accurate. But it is proof that the real blame lies deeper. And it lies with all Americans.

I just have to say that although I commend anyone for maintaining the focus on the victims of these senseless events and I am often at odds with my colleagues in the media, I msut - to their defense - say that it is not them who makes these "household names." In fact, I will bet my next print paycheck that there would only be maybe 1 in 100 - hell, 1 in 1000 - who can name the shooters from these past crimes beyond a week or a month after the events. I don't speak the names of the Columbine shooters at my house. I would have to look them up if I were to refer to them in an article. And I bet dollars to doughnuts that as brilliant an actor as Morgan Freeman is, even HE had to look these names up. Its the news. It gets reported. It SHOULD teach us a lesson. But if the lesson it taught Morgan is that kids will want to emulate these sickos, then he got the wrong message. (Although, as stated above, it has come out that maybe Morgan did not say this, it certainly feels like something he would say in light of his recent public statements.)

So, just going to say it. People will get pissed but they can just get over it. Two things about gun control. 1) You pass a law to ban gun ownership and you end up living in a country where there is no protection from a possible dictatorship or military coup. 2) CRIMINALS DON'T OBEY LAWS NOW, so why the hell do you think they would do so with some NEW law?? Okay, one more. 3) There are laws NOW about 

what a citizen can own, how they can own it and when they can own it . . . if the law can't uphold THESE laws, what good is passing a new one?

What happens when people kill lots of other people has nothing to do with gun ownership. It has to do with a society that has become lazy. When I was a kid, we knew if we did something wrong our parents would find out because our neighbors would tell them. We knew that actions have consequences. But in America today TOO MANY people don't even know who their neighbors are, they hide behind closed doors and curtains if they hear kids doing bad things outside and there is no belief in actions = consequences anymore. Not where there is no personal responsibility anymore.

Americans are responsible for these tragedies that are happening. If we want them to stop, we have got to make some DRASTIC changes on how we live our lives. Find out who your neighbor is, get involved in your community, ACTUALLY care about the people in your community, stop holding stupid grudges, smile once in a while, be more concerned about the quality of life than the quantity of things in life, hold yourself / your kids / others accountable for their actions and don't make lame excuses for bad behavior, get into the lives of those around you and get the government out of them. Otherwise, sick people will continue to go unnoticed, signs of erratic / irrational behavior will go unchecked and more and more these things will continue to happen.

I'm done now. Yell, scream, rant, rave. Whatever. But deep inside . . . you know I'm right.

Agree or disagree, it matters not to me. What matters is you stop being hypnotized by others and come up with conclusions for yourself by using your own brains. Look at the world around you, dig deep for facts (not speculation, innuendo or what the latest celebrity or politician has to say about it) and formulate your own opinion. Do that and I will have done what I set out to do. Because, after all, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Secession?

Okay, whiners are whiners, right? So Obama won. Big deal. Get over it.

This is the call from the left.

Its a mandate, some cry out. You lost. Stop whining you big babies.

All the Chris Matthews of the world clamber.

So what is with the rush by 30 states now to file petitions on the government's We The People website?

Is it really a bunch of people who lost the election crying in their beer that they didn't get their way? Is it a bunch of rich white people who hate poor black America? Is it thieving, conniving  Republicans who want to steal money form little old ladies, push grandma over a cliff and rip-off poor young students? Is it a bunch of racist pigs who want to stop poor latinos from getting into America?

Or is it something more? Could it be a reaction by true patriots who want to stop the madness that has left America on the brink of third world status? Could it be anger of the other half of America who don't want to see the country plunge into the abyss of European socialism? Could it be citizens who understand what the Federal government has been doing over the past several decades in gathering power they were never meant to have?

Maybe its just a bunch of pissed off people who are tired of a government intent on treating fully grown adults as irresponsible children all the while acting like the mindless irresponsible morons who couldn't figure out that 25 cents a pound is better than $60,000 a ton.

Maybe its a way for the common people to actually get a deaf government - who thinks they know better and we would too if they could only explain it better to us - to LISTEN to us.

The real issue behind the petitions of secession is to place the President on notice that there was no landslide, no mandate, and that the Federal Government as envisioned by the founders (read the Federalist Papers to understand how far we have traveled away) has been seriously eroded. Madison argued for a central federal government by dismissing claims that it would become too powerful and steal the rightful power of the states and the people. Despite Madison's assurances, this is exactly what has happened. These petitions are a response by a frustrated and angry citizenry. The President, Congress and the Federal government as a whole need to listen. If they don't, it will only get worse. These petitions of secession are not threats but cries for a government out of control to return to one of the people, for the people and by the people.

Agree, disagree, but stop listening to the Party apparatus on both sides. Research the things this is about, check out what the actual people are saying, ignore what the SPIN masters are saying and DECIDE FOR YOURSELF what you think about it. No matter how you come to a thought on this issue make sure it is YOUR thoughts. No matter what you decide, so long as YOU decide, then I will have done what I set out to do. After all, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Eliminate FEMA? Hell yes!

People are so upset that Romney wants to eliminate FEMA.

But what the heck is so wrong with that? I mean, FEMA is a federal agency, right? How are federal agencies funded? By us, thats who! Through taxes! So we pay less federal taxes. We will still need to pay taxes, but to the state emergency management agencies.

Think about it.

Local taxes to be distributed by local agencies for local emergencies. Makes more sense to me. Instead of having to go through all the federal red tape when we need emergency situation funding, we do it through our local agencies. No more crap from the feds on what is and what is not an emergency. instead of our governors begging for money from the federal government, they can just take care of it themselves.

$3.6 BILLION dollars to fund FEMA. But what if the states had access to that right away? faster response, better services and more accountability of the state governments to their local citizenry.

Americans have gotten so used to the nanny state mentality of the federal government. They have forgotten that when the founders created the federal government they envisioned a weak form that was accountable to the states and not the other way around. They have forgotten that if the federal government oversteps their bounds, the states have not only a right but a RESPONSIBILITY to stop them.

We need MORE federal government agencies cut! Not less.

But thats just my thoughts. Gotta go now because I have no power (thank you Hurricane Sandy) and have to leave where I am. So agree or not, doesn't matter, just so long as I get you to think and stop listening to the SPIN. This is just me Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day and be safe.

Charles

Binders full of women? Seriously?

"Binders full of women"?? Seriously, this is what you people have to talk about?

Good God in heaven . . . don't you trolls have anything better to do than find NON-ISSUES to make a big deal out of? Is this a liberal or Democratic flim flam? Because I cannot imagine people of good intellect taking that statement and running amok with it . . . 

Okay, so I am re-thinking this. Most people are willing to be told what to think. So I should not be surprised when someone is making a positive statement about how there are LOTS of women qualified to fill positions out there. And that this person went out of their way top break the stereotypical response of just hiring qualified men. AND THEN people go completely ape**** over the comment.

And THIS is the important thing you take from a debate over important issues.

You people are 100% daft!

To quote a fictional President, "We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them."

We need serious people to solve our problems. I just don't think there is anyone in politics that takes anything serious unless it has to do with their pay, what favors they can get for their cooperation and keeping their political office until they have milked it for all they can.

Another couple of quotes from that same movie has a lot to say about the people who are voting these morons into office. 

"Lewis Rothschild: People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.

President Andrew Shepherd: Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference." 

Yeah, that pretty much sums up the voting public. The American people are inundated and flim-flammed by so much spin, they just don't know the difference between charismatic and true leadership.

And they don't realize they will be paying the price for their stupidity.

To that thought, if the point of the President's debate strategy was to point out that Mitt Romney is a "rich guy who doesn't care about the middle class", this dumbo-eared nit wit needs to look in the mirror. He has (not single-handedly because there are hundreds in DC who are the same) destroyed the middle class in this country. And, um, he might want to peer at his checking account because he is a pretty "rich guy" himself.

Agree, disagree, it really doesn't matter. If I can get you to turn your on brain back on and stop listening to the guys who get paid the big bucks to tell you what to think, then there may be hope. EIther way, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

But remember, there is less than a month until election day. Something needs to give.

Have a great day.

Charles

Not a celebration? Really?!

A high school in Pennsylvania celebrated communism and the Russian Revolution at a football game half time show. This is disturbing. But also more disturbing than the issue of a high school band in the US that would not only have this as a theme but would also have their members wander around with sickles and hammers – what is more disturbing is the ignorance (go look up the definition before you start freaking) of our high school age children. Here is the response to the news article by one young lady who, by the sound of it, goes to the school. Young Ms Miller said, “Are you kidding me? It's a marching band for jeez sakes. Just because we do a war theme, doesn't mean that we're celebrating it! This "reporter" has failed to do his research, which should have been done better, and didn't realise that in the past we have done Freedom, The Homefront, and Medieval Images. Just because a marching band has a theme doesn't mean that that's what they celebrate. So does that mean that when the theme is spy, the whole band automatically become spies? NO. Or when they do a theme that has the colorguard dress like flappers, does that mean their whores, NOPE. So why is it as soon as a band does something that ONE parent doesn't think is right, everyone else jumps on the bandwagon and makes a big deal about it? We're all just highschool kids. We'll go along with anything that has a killer drumline and where we get to put our instruments down and actually do something other then march around the field and play. You don't see them out there marching around with smiles and jumping for joy. They are in no way CELEBRATING the Russian Revolution. All these comments make me sick to my stomach, talking about it being no different then marching around with a swastika, that's a HUGE difference. We live in such a messed up society today.”

First, my response to Ms Miller is, OMG (slang for Oh My Gawd, for those of you not up to speed), are you serious child? I continued:

The “reporter” (her brackets, not mine) did indeed do their So if Hitler were alive today, or Stalin, or if Manson were free, you would follow them because they offered you something with a "killer drumline"?? Do you learn nothing in school? "Just high school kids" who will "go along with anything"??? Not only don't you know or understand history, or the fact that when "a band does something" they are intentionally celebrating it. Are they not celebrating the music of the fifties when they do a "rock around the clock theme"? Are they not, as you mentioned the freedom theme, celebrating "freedom" with that? Even a teenage high school child should have more common sense than that. It is a messed up society where kids celebrate mass murder, cheer on celebrities who do drugs and abuse their spouses, and have no clear idea of what this country stands for. I not only blame the schools, but the parents who allowed the schools to teach our children these screwed up values and ideals.

There were some who read this article that were as delusional as this poor child. They encouraged her and said she had some good points. I have to wonder what points they felt were “good”? If they were all marching around with American flags it would indeed have been a celebration. So what would it have meant of they were all marching around with swastikas? Pretty freaking sick. And for all those who suffered under the results of the Russian Revolution – the victims of Stalin's own ethnic cleansing (the ethnicity being anyone who was against the state, anyone who placed God above the “common good of the state) – hearing of these high school children running around the symbols of oppression would definitely have felt the same as all those who decry the example of the swastika.

No matter how you slice it, the marching band, the half time show, were celebrating the Russian Revolution. And they must live with the pain they have caused. Man up. Take responsibility for your actions. If you admit it was a celebration, do it. If you realize “oh, crap, we did something insensitive” than grow up and apologize. Don't justify it as simply just doing what you were told.

That excuse has been used by so many to justify so much horror.

Agree or not. Doesn't matter. This is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles