HR 3200, What I did and did not find....

So,my Math final is due this Saturday. Am I prepared? NO,because I have spent 99.9% of the last week researching HR3200 ( with the exception of brief bathroom breaks and the occasional pause for food.)

Okay,so I did in fact,find out the Pregnancies will be covered? To what degree? That is the question.

While reading this bill...(I have never read anything so vague in my life), I realized that more than anything,in my opinion,it seems to be a blank check for Health Care Reform or more,a blank check for power,the bill actually has very few coverage details. You would think that out of 1017 pages, it would be packed with coverage details,not so. What the bill IS packed with is bureaucratic double talk and lots of provisions outlining the framework for Health Care Provider payments,Reporting requirements and Disclosures,Education Scholarships, Health care Facility Staffing requirements and Sunshine Quality of Care Payments for Doctors (basically kick backs for keeping costs down. That is the main incentive to reduce costs,lengths of hospital stays and the number of re admissions.) So, in effect doctors will now be monetarily inspired to deny services and apprehensive to treat a patient for any extended amount of time. (since the faster your patients "heal", the more quality points the doctor will receive.)

Something else I found very interesting was the fact that Regulatory Secretaries will be appointed, such as experts in Bioethicis? Sound familiar? Remember my last post Ezekiel Emanuel and John Holdren,ring a bell? Under these secretaries, regulations and details of coverage will be made after their appointment and I am guessing, after the bill passes? "Ethics programs" and Regulations with then be put into place. A little scary since really Congress doesn't know what they are getting when they vote for it. It's like one of those discount surprise paper grab bags,you don't know what is inside,but you know it's value,it's a good deal,buy it!

Okay, so my fingers are practically numb and raw from continually scrolling through 1000+ pages and my eyes are so in need of rest from this computer screen, I can actually hear them squeak as my eyelids blink, they remind me of windshield wipers to trying to wipe a window that it not entirely wet,and they get stuck half-way across. ;) Too much info? I am so good for that...till we meet again!

Obama's Czars and their Political Influence...

So,we already learned about Cass Susstein,the Regulatory Czar whom believes animals should have the right to sue.

Now a little information about the Science Czar,John Holdren. Here are a few things he has been quoted saying in Books that he authored...

"Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not;
"The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food;
"Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise; People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) 'can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility' -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized.
"A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force."

And the one that really sent me over the top....

“The fetus, given the opportunity to develop properly before birth, and given the essential early socializing experiences and sufficient nourishing food during the crucial early years after birth, will ultimately develop into a human being,” John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in “Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions." Please tell me, are these not scary suggestions? What are the implications? How could his influence affect health care or has it already?

From someone who spent a good portion of my adulthood as a professed Liberal and Democrat (now turned Independent out of sheer fear), this is the stuff of Science FICTION novels or movies, isn't it? I mean, we already know that Obama tends to associate himself with some, whom many would consider, extremists. (Ayers,Susstein and Ezekiel Emanuel (Bio-ethicist) as an example.) If you are not familiar with their ideology,I urge you to research it! I personally find it threatening to our democracy as a whole and I have to ask myself,what could Obama possibly have in common with these guys? It's easy enough to say, he just happens to have a friend or so with this sort of mindset by coincidence,but when you look closer and see that nearly all his advisors and close friends are so far left,I don't even know where they would rank on the scale,as I can only think that the word "Communist" might actually be too mild a label for them,since their ideology tends to make Communism pale in comparison,you have to,at this point...wonder.

I need to go sort through the HR 3200 mountain now and get to the bottom of the Pregnancy coverage rumor? Anyone know about this? Rumor is,it will be limited to no coverage until after 6 mo of pregnancy. I will report on the accuracy of this as soon as I find out for sure!

Looks like yet,another lovely day!

Today's Healthcare Thoughts...

This morning,Senator Arlen Spector(D-Pa.) held a town hall meeting in Lebanon,Pennsylvania. At the meeting,the question was raised by a woman in the audience on whether or not we will be paying for abortions under the proposed plan. The Senator skirted the issue and replied(and this is not verbatim) that no one would pay for an abortion if they didn't want to,you choose your plan,it's either in your plan or not. If you want the abortion option as part of your plan,you will simply pay a slightly higher premium.
He completely avoided what she was REALLY asking,which was will we be paying for abortions with our tax dollars...and the answer is YES, it doesn't matter what plan you are on. Others will have plans that pay for abortions and yes,your tax dollars will help pay for it. There is no way the premiums will be enough to fund this monster.Don't you love politician double talk? Question...just because an issue becomes law,does that also make it moral? And at the cost of "rights given" (I have never considered the termination of a life,a right, but in any case.),rights will be taken away and Religious Hospitals will be forced to do procedures that are against their morals.
So,what next? Don't think it could get much more extreme than that? Think again... We've already been told Obama's lefty Czars that the life of fourteen 85 year olds is equal to one fourteen year old. So,what does that tell you? This bill will give preference to those aged between 15 and 40. The very young,old and disabled will be discarded. As extreme as it may sound,read the bill yourself. Almost seems like eugenics to me. This does not sound like a plan to help Americans,more like a plan to sentence Americans to death. Population control maybe? Finacial control? (access to our bank accounts) Whatever it is,the ultimate agenda here is not a good one. On top of that,the arguement that this program will lower costs couldn't be farther from the truth and the CBO (Congression Budget Office) has already reported otherwise,that is will not only, NOT lower healthcare costs, but that,healthcare costs are likely to RISE!
I smell a rat,or two,maybe more....

Red Hot Town Hall Protests!

Seems the Health Care bill has created quite a bit of heat with everyday Americans and they are showing up in crowds exponentially at these town hall meetings to have their message heard.

Unfortunately,they are being called 'Un-American' by Nancy Pelosi and among other things by the President such as an 'angry mob.' Question...did the President ever ask himself what they could possibly be so angry about? It couldn't be the front the White House is putting on about Health care,could it? That they are trying to sell us a rotting piece of meat disguised as Obama's "pie" ? Just because you coat something with sugar,doesn't mean we will swallow it!

I happen to disagree with Nancy Pelosi and her definition of "Un-American." I personally think of Un-American as the OPPOSITE of allowing your voice to be heard. When I imagine people who are Un-American, I imagine people bowing their heads in abeyance in droves,regardless of how they feel about the situation in their hearts...loyal subjects.

We are not loyal subjects.(yes,I know...sad but true.) We are Americans and if there is one thing I know about Americans,it's that we won't go down without a fight and we won't lay down like a door mat to be walked all over on. Our founding father's didn't tread dangerous and uncharted territories for nothing!

Interesting thing about these Health Care protesters (I love to see people exercising their rights!), it is being said that it is a 'right wing conspiracy', that 'these people are actors' and that the protests are 'organized and staged',unbelievable...if that is the case, then why is it that the Pro Health Care protesters all have the same signs? Looks pretty organized to me. The opposition,on the other hand does not, their signs are all different and mostly hand made...now which protests are set up here?

More on Health Care to come,this is my pinnacle issue of choice right now and I am fighting it with passion. If you are objection to the H.R. 3200 Bill,please write and/or phone your representatives as I have and if you are interested in reading the some odd 1000 page + bill...here's your chance!Click here.

U.S. Deficit topples $11.4 Trillion meanwhile is the Economic Stimulus Package adding more damage?

The U.S. is making history as our debt continues to cruise passed the $11.4 trillion mark and head straight to,what seems to be a perpetual,endless black hole of infinite debt.

As everyday Americans try to 'get by' in the worst economy witnessed since the Great Depression,all attempts to soften the blow seem to be only making it worse and at the same time pushing us further down that hole of debt.The $787 Billion dollar Economic Stimulus Package(America Recovery Investment Act)was full of high hopes,with likes of repairing our nations crumbling infrastructure,(thousands of unsafe Bridges throughout America),increasing job growth opportunities and stimulating the economy.

On the contrary to the good intentions,however,there has been a serious misuse of the funds abroad.As an example,the National Education for Art Association granted $50,000 dollars worth of Stimulus funds to Framline Film(a porn film company...you read that right.)Insane!! If that's how it's gonna be,sounds to me like porn is the business to be in. With all that our Nation is facing right now,$50,000 to a Porn Film Company? Is this for real? I mean,while $50,000 may be a drop in the bucket to the deficit,to any struggling family who is dealing with a surprise lay-off or small businesses failing due to the plummeting economy,it is a slap in the face!

Wait!,there's more!As the Stimulus Funds continue to be divided out,crumbling bridges continue going without repair,while other's(bridges with sound infrastructure and high safety ratings) are receiving funds!In fact,out of the 2,476 bridges scheduled to receive stimulus money,so far 1,123 bridges (or about half) have passed inspection and are approved for a share of $1.2 Billion dollars in funds,even though their high ratings would have normally disqualified them from such.

Meanwhile,in Massachusetts where over half of their 5,063 bridges have been deemed deficient they are so far only spending stimulus funds on one bridge! Some bridges are so old and rickety that they are major a safety hazard to thousands of cars that inch across daily. We are taking about wooden bridges in some areas!
"The wooden bridge built in 1900 carrying Harlan Springs Road in Berkeley County, W.Va., is one of the nation's unsafe structures not being repaired. About 2,700 cars cross it every day. But with holes in the wooden deck and corroded railings and missing steel poles, only one car at a time can travel the 300-foot rickety span." (taken from the Associated Press.)
Out of the money allotted to transportation,70% of it is being used on easy projects,like repaving roads,while only 12% is going to bridges and reconstructing our nation's unsafe structures.

One of my personal favorite spending sprees the White House is currently going (sarcasm is my friend)on is the $.09 Billion dollars of Stimulus money used for the creation of the CNCS (Corporation for National and Community Service)and next year the Organization is expected to receive another $1.1 Billion. Am I just crazy or is this a REALLY bad time to be spending money on civilian volunteer organizations?

Aside from the irresponsible and mindless spending of our State's Bureaucrats,and our topping-the-charts-deficit, it's no wonder that China is apprehensive to buy more of our U.S. Treasury Bonds. Secretary of State,Hilary Clinton recently took a trip to China and urged them to continue buying U.S. Treasury Bonds, but while China already owns about $739.6 Billion of our Bonds(debt),they are worried about the guarantees on their loans and loaning us more and with good reason.Although,they will likely continue to do so since their economic livelihood and ours are intertwined. As Hilary Clinton said,"We are truly going to rise or fall together,”
So,other Nations are paying our bills and buying our bonds,which essentially is not lowering our debt,it's only moving our debt around and after interest? Increasing it.

With figures like we are seeing now that it's hard to imagine how we will ever get out of it.
What is the solution? Do you have one? Check out http://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html, it is our Nation's Debt in REAL time and it is Astounding!

Sorry for the depressing article? Hope you have a beer in the fridge? Or for those of you whom don't drink,uh...chocolate milk?

Cheers!

Attacks on Surgeon General are 'No Holds Barred'!

So much talk about obesity in America,as if once we correct our overweight image,all will be well again? How about more talk about what a RUDE America we are?

I find it shameful not that our society as a whole is overweight,but that our society as a whole would unabashedly and ruthlessly attack Obama's new pick for Surgeon General,Dr. Regina Benjamin because of her weight!

Are you kidding? This is a joke right? Who does that? Apparently a lot of people. Fox News has gone so far as to have guests on their show remarking that she "doesn't say no to the M&M's or Twinkies." I am astounded. On top of that,she has been called,'unfit' to be a Surgeon General.

This is unreal to me. First of all, insinuating that the only way a person can become overweight is by being inactive or over-eating is grossly ignorant. The fact is,there are many factors behind our physical make-up,genetics being one of the biggest and other health concerns such as a dysfunctional thyroid also play a role.

Aside from this,what does being overweight have to do with ones ability to full fill the qualifications of their position. I personally do not recall any of our past Surgeon Generals looking like bodybuilders do you?

The truth is,we know nothing about her lifestyle and to make such over-the-top assumptions is downright dirty. To me,this indicates nothing more than,the Republican Party is getting low on ammunition,so low that they would resort to attacking someone for their weight?

And,C'mon,she's not that overweight.She is actually very well proportioned,I think her large chest makes her look bigger than she is.

I am tired of others picking on what they can see externally. Everyone has something going on that others don't necessarily know about,maybe a porn addiction or an alcohol addiction or maybe they are abusive to their spouses,but the point is you never know what goes on behing closed doors,including what the contents of their refridgerator is. It disheartening to me that some would attack others for flaws that they wear on their sleeve,while the ones with flaws UP their sleeve's,simply get off scott-free,no criticisms,only praise for what we can see (which is the image they present.)
Let's start being more realistic here and as my Grand Dad used to say "First pluck the log from your own eye,before trying to remove a splinter from someone Else's!"
Anyone else have a take on this?

Deficit Woes...linked to Illegal Immigrants?

California is singin' the Deficit Blues right now as their debt plunges into the $26 Billion Dollar range.This is a huge crisis for the state,I mean they house roughly 36.5 million people. When the most populated state in the nation can't afford to pay their bills,we are in serious trouble.

The problem has exploded so far out of control that the state has actually been forced to issue I.O.U's to their vendors and as a consequence,vendors such as medical supply companies are now shying away from doing business with California. As you can imagine, many of these vendors supply very basic needs to the state that are really essential to keep it in functional operation.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has had enough and recently during a press conference that while legislature has had the opportunity to scale back State positions,as Arnold put it, "They care more about their seats than they do you."

So,while scaling back on Government in California would've helped,it was thrown out by legislature.

As a part of their new budget proposal,they have really only been left with one viable option,as legislatures' refusal to not only not cut back on State Employees,but also Arnold's vow to not raise taxes,the result? Deep gouges into State Funded Programs. Personally,I think one of the smartest slices out of the Budget pie is the cut-back on assistance to illegal aliens.I know..big meany that I am.(which only makes up a tiny fraction of the new budget,around a billion dollars (which also covers U.S. citizens and really only represents the Health Care trimmings as a whole.).

You know,so many people have sympathy for illegal immigrants. I personally do not. Do we feel sorry for a Bank robber because of his financial situation or that he desperately needed to take care of his family?? No. Point in case. The law is the law and the fact is, "officials estimate $4 billion to $6 billion of the state's roughly $105 billion budget is spent on California's roughly 2.7 million illegal residents." (Times Report).

That is alot of money and the thing is, while so many are down on Gov.Schwarzenegger right now for the decisions he has made,the fact is,he has to to get the money from somewhere. And honestly? Illegal immigrants have been one of the largest burdens financially to the State over the last decade and the problem is only growing. I honestly wish the new budget would've have included more cut-backs on illegal assistance than it did. Perhaps,if they weren't being dished out so many hand-outs,the incentive to come here would be less than it currently is.

Let's face it,while so many want to take on the 'Good Samaritan' role,there comes a time when we must realize that we HAVE ALREADY given the shirts off our backs,and our pants,and our socks,and...well,you get it. We have to take care of ourselves too and our Nation is practically Bankrupt.I mean,if Arnold was Jesus and could make a few fish in a basket enough to feed an entire State,that would be swell,but since he does lacks the ability to produce such miracles,perhaps Budget Reform is not such a bad idea.

Is this a sign of of overzealous and irresponsible spending? Or is it a valuable lesson to be learned from the Immigration crisis and how it can affect our economy? It's my personal and unprofessional opinion that it's how California got into this mess in the first place.I hope we can use California as a helpful example in preventing this sort of crisis elsewhere. Pretty simply put "don't bite off more than you can chew." (As the perfect hypocrite that I am, I found it fitting to end with a motto,that I, myself have never been able to follow.) ;)