Here's your ice cream

From a teacher in the Nashville area

"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year...
 
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.  I decided we would have an election for a class president.
 
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.  To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
 
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
 
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.  The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.

I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
 
I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches. Jamie went first.  He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.  Everyone applauded and he sat down.

Now it was Olivia's turn to speak.  Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."  She sat down.
 
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes!  We want ice cream."  She surely would say more... She did not have to.
 
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
 She wasn't sure.
 
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it.
She didn't know.
 
The class really didn't care.  All they were thinking about was ice cream..
 
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide…
 
 Moral of the Story:  Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.  They want ice cream.

The other 48 percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."

This is the ice cream Obama promised us!

 

Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken from someone else.

Health Care Bill Becomes Law

Wow.  Not sure I would have called this a year ago.  I really thought we would be able to make the will of the American people known and this boondoggle would go the way of the dodo.  It seems obvious to me that while there are some reforms that were clearly needed with regard to health insurance, this takeover was not a good approach.  Let me be clear, I am very much against the new law, and I want to explain why because I am NOT all about letting children die on the streets.

First, of course people in America should have access to good health care.  There are laws in place to assure citizens that those in need of care will be taken care of regardless of their insurance status or their ability to pay.  What does that mean?  No one in need can be turned away from an Emergency Room.  Hospitals that are public (County or State financed) cannot turn away patients on the basis of insurance status or ability to pay up front in cash.  

Does this happen?  I have friends and family members in multiple states who have had cancer or other life threatening illnesses who had no insurance and no savings who were cared for very well or whose lives were saved despite their finances.   So, yes, America takes care of her citizens.

Second, people in this argument have constantly confused health care with health insurance.  ALL Americans have access to health care.  Period.  Most Americans get health insurance through their workplace as a benefit.  Most have co-pays and premiums so this health insurance is not free.  Nor should it be.  

Medical care is given by highly educated and trained individuals who spend many years learning their craft and spend a lot of money on education.  To make this service free would be ludicrous to the time and money it takes to become a doctor or other medical provider.  Plus - what kind of care would you get from someone who worked for free?  I mean, McDonald's pays people and they can't even get your lunch order correct.  Would you want someone who wasn't paid at all removing your spleen?

Third, the Bill which became law today is an absolute disaster.  Are there some good things in this Bill?  Yes, there are.  Is the Bill a good piece of legislation?  No, not at all.  Why?

• Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure.

• Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

• Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you.

• PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

• Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued.

• Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer to pay premiums.

• Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for HC plan.

• PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

• pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt.

• Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees plan.

• Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

• Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with a payroll 400k & above that does not provide health insurance pays 8% tax on all payroll

• pg 150 Lines 9-13 Small business with a payroll between 251k & 400k that doesn't provide health care insurance  pays 2- 6% tax on payroll.

• Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HC according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

• Pg 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from indiv. taxes. (Americans will pay)

• Pg 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial /personal records and bank information.

• PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that.

• Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill-  Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.

• Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same.

• PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of doctor's time, professional  judgment, etc. Literally value of human life.

• PG 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.

• PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

• PG 272 SEC. 1145. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - rationing of care.

• Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmission.

• Pg 298 Lines 9-11 If doctors treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission -Govt will penalize the doctor.

• Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own and if they can invest in a practice or hospital.

• Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand as the hospital board deems fit.

• pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required from groups like ACORN.

• Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates estab. of outcome based measures. HC the way the government wants.

• Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan

• Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs citizens.

• Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Cmtte.  HC by phone.

• PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Senior Citizens end of life counseling

• Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory

• PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides apprvd list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

• PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program 4 orders 4 end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends

I could go on, but 2700 pages is a lot.

Not enough for you?  Here is an article from "Investors Business Daily" that lists 20 drawbacks of the new law:  http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/capitalhill.htm

The point is, this Bill which is now Law is a disaster of a train wreck moving slowly towards us.  Hopefully, Texas will successfully sue on the grounds that the Law is unconstitutional.  I hope your state is successful too.

 

2010: An Odyssey

Well, I am astounded at where we are.  2010 - we used to say that year when we were kids like it was a fantasy - and now we are here.  I want to share my New Year's Resolutions for 2010 - because I believe that if they are spoken - or posted - in public, they are more real.

2010 New Year’s Resolutions

1. I resolve to let me hair grow without cutting it myself in frustration - not even the bangs.
2. I resolve to buy, prepare, serve and eat more healthy foods this year - allowing even less processed food in the house than in 2009.
3. I resolve to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise 4 x's weekly for myself this year.
4. I resolve to focus on being the best Mom I can be for my boys.
5. I resolve to be a better wife (and friend) in 2010 - and attempt NOT to get cranky at DT's corny humor - or what passes for humor in his mind.
6. I resolve to NOT get my "political" hackles up when the current administration does something stupid (daily). I will simply breathe deeply and count down to 11/2/2010 and 11/6/2012 with happy anticipation.
7. I resolve to work actively and daily towards my personal business goals while continuing to be the best Project Manager I know how to be.
8. I resolve to be spiritually and mentally open to personal growth this year; appreciating those in my family and my life for what they bring to our relationship - not what I want them to bring.
9. I resolve to look for the joy in life's little miracles daily.
10. I resolve to keep my resolutions and when I falter to start over again with a glad heart for the opportunity to learn more about myself.

 Happy 2010!

Tiger Woods issues are NOT Headline News

Why do we imbue sports figures and other "celebrities" with such unrealistic values? We, as a culture make these men and women into larger than life figures and then, when they show that they are human and not immune to the temptations of our materialistic world, we crucify them in public.

Do we do this because we are looking for modern day "heroes"? Do we do this so that we can make them into the people we wish we were? Do we just want a departure from the actual important stuff going on in the world? I don't know. What I do know is this: the smut that this engenders in the press doesn't qualify as "headline news".

Leave their personal, bedroom issues where they belong - in THEIR bedroom. Watching someone's marriage fall apart in the media simply cheapens us all.

No Freaking Way!

I cannot believe that Pelosi and crew passed this stinking sludge of a Healthcare Reform Bill.

Do people not get it? Healthcare is 1/6th of our GDP - a full 17% of the economy. The government is now looking at nationalizing that part of our lives. What does that mean?

The health bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bringing to a vote (H.R. 3962) is 1,990 pages. Here are some of the details you need to know.

What the government will require you to do:

• Sec. 202 (p. 91-92) of the bill requires you to enroll in a "qualified plan." If you get your insurance at work, your employer will have a "grace period" to switch you to a "qualified plan," meaning a plan designed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. If you buy your own insurance, there's no grace period. You'll have to enroll in a qualified plan as soon as any term in your contract changes, such as the co-pay, deductible or benefit.

• Sec. 224 (p. 118) provides that 18 months after the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will decide what a "qualified plan" covers and how much you'll be legally required to pay for it. That's like a banker telling you to sign the loan agreement now, then filling in the interest rate and repayment terms 18 months later.

On Nov. 2, the Congressional Budget Office estimated what the plans will likely cost. An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, for a total of $7,300 a year, which is 17% of his pre-tax income. A family earning $102,100 a year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out-of-pocket, for a $20,300 total, or 20% of its pre-tax income. Individuals and families earning less than these amounts will be eligible for subsidies paid directly to their insurer.

• Sec. 303 (pp. 167-168) makes it clear that, although the "qualified plan" is not yet designed, it will be of the "one size fits all" variety. The bill claims to offer choice—basic, enhanced and premium levels—but the benefits are the same. Only the co-pays and deductibles differ. You will have to enroll in the same plan, whether the government is paying for it or you and your employer are footing the bill.

• Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan. If not, you will be fined thousands of dollars. Illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement.

• Sec. 412 (p. 272) says that employers must provide a "qualified plan" for their employees and pay 72.5% of the cost, and a smaller share of family coverage, or incur an 8% payroll tax. Small businesses, with payrolls from $500,000 to $750,000, are fined less.

What part of these provisions are you okay with?

For those who foolishly thought this was "free" healthcare - how's it working for you now?