Plain English

My brother passed THIS article by Betsy McCaughey on to me today and it's really interesting. I especially like that it goes into some of the alarming specifics (down to the page number) of what's on the table currently. Short, intelligent, worth the read.

A few excerpts to mull over:

"It's one thing to require that people getting government assistance tolerate managed care, but the legislation limits you to a managed-care plan even if you and your employer are footing the bill (Senate bill, p. 57-58). The goal is to reduce everyone's consumption of health care and to ensure that people have the same health-care experience, regardless of ability to pay."

"One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years (and more often if they become sick or go into a nursing home) about alternatives for end-of-life care (House bill, p. 425-430). The sessions cover highly sensitive matters such as whether to receive antibiotics and 'the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.'

"This mandate invites abuse, and seniors could easily be pushed to refuse care. Do we really want government involved in such deeply personal issues?

"Shockingly, only a portion of the money accumulated from slashing senior benefits and raising taxes goes to pay for covering the uninsured. The Senate bill allocates huge sums to "community transformation grants," home visits for expectant families, services for migrant workers -- and the creation of dozens of new government councils, programs and advisory boards slipped into the last 500 pages."

Time Management

Poor use of your time: Taking ANY time out of your busy schedule under the grossly misled assumption that you could watch an Obama press conference and get anything out of it other than a headache. What did he say?? Oh yeah, people need healthcare. Have we made that point already? Duh, they need food and water too. Let's not waste our time folks.

Good use of your time: Bobby Jindal's article here. It's intelligent and full of good ideas for discussion.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Congressman John Fleming caught my eye for the first time this morning. The former physician has drafted a resolution requiring members of Congress who support healthcare reform that includes a public option to enroll themselves. You can go to The Center for Health Transformation's website to sign a petition in support of this resolution by clicking here.

As written, the current legislation exempts members of Congress from enrolling in the public option they are touting as the answer to all of our healthcare woes. Here's a short clip with Congressman Fleming with more: http://fleming.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=24&sectiontree=23,24&itemid=199

Fleming's site also has a letter you can print out to send to your representative.

Seriously, this is keeping me up at night. The healthcare system makes up 1/5th of our economy. Government already has control over the banking and auto industry. What does this mean for us and our children? Don't even get me started on the 30 czars now running things. What about checks and balances??

Tea and Fireworks

Michelle Malkin reported that 37,000 people turned out to the Dallas Tea Party on Saturday.

37,000.

That's a lot of angry Texans. Inspiring, really.

When Is The Last Time You Read This?

Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government."

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - That's it. Not food, health care, housing, successful business endeavors...

Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed - I think we still have a voice. What's important here is that we remember that we SHOULD be in control.

Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes - So...what about the smell of pig manuer in Iowa? Retrofitting your house to be "green" prior to sale? Why do politicians even talk about this stuff?

Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves - This is true, but I hope the days of "silent majority" are over! They sure are for me.

Duty - It's not just a nice idea if we want to get involved. It's our duty.

I was easy on you and left out the list of complaints against the King of England, but if you'd like I can formulate one against the present monarch/dictator of our country. :)

I wonder what the face of our country would look like if everyone read this once a year? Now I've done my patriotic duty...off to decorate the backyard in red, white, and blue!

Happy Independence Day!

The Corruption of Walmart

I have a love-hate relationship with Walmart. From a personal viewpoint, I generally dislike the Walmart shopping experience - though like most, I endure it because from a rational standpoint, it's a great place to get a good deal. From a business standpoint, it's brilliant in many ways.

Walmart is the largest private employer in America. In the great health care debate, I've often cited Walmart as the ultimate example of how an unregulated free market provides the ideal environment for an organization to step up and meet the demands of the low and middle classes. There was a demand for cheap goods, Walmart saw it, met it, and profited from it.

Though I know it's not exactly that simple with health care, I would love to see the same free market idea happen. Let the brilliant minds of driven Americans come up with a solution to meet the demands of those who currently cannot afford to pay for their health care (because let's be serious - everyone is GETTING it) and let them profit from their brilliance. It's a stretch, I know.

Walmart has fallen now...they are official supporters of government health care. Official, like they are on the letterhead. It's craziness. It has nothing to do with doing something good for American citizens. It's all about squeezing out Target. What better way than getting in with the biggest takeover organization in the world? Now maybe my husband will get over my dislike of Walmart and deal with the higher grocery bill!