Have you made up your mind about healthcare?

I have made 27 posts about Healthcare since June. I have pointed to real issues and solutions as well as mistakes and problems. There has been some things worthy of a good laugh and other things that have made me very mad. We have seen bills passed in congress that nobody read. Do we really want to make a change of this size with no trial period and no evidence that it would work?

Shouldn't we test out something this big? I want proof it works. I question if congress even has any authority under the constitution to do this. I can find no grounds for such an action. Some have pointed to the preamble as there authority.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I see promote as a synonym for encourage or press for. I don't see it as take over and force. We should also note that this was written as a focus on state unity under a common government and not personal unity and needs as some would wish it to suggest. The US constitution was written to help a small group of independent states defend and promote themselves. The federal government was carefully crafted as a balance of state interests and populous needs. We have moved a long way away from the government envisioned by our founders.

It might be your last chance to speak your peace about healthcare reform. Use the button on my side bar to write your senator and tell them and there staff what you think should be done about healthcare. Encourage them to actually read the bill. encourage them to push for a amendment that tests this proposal before it goes nation wide. I think this will ultimately cost us more and give us less. Tell me why you think I am right or wrong.

Not Your Father's Union

Unions have changed a lot since my father and grandfather entered the work force. We now see unions actually attacking the traditional values they once were instituted to secure.

Big Labor and Big Government Are Officially the Same Thing

Who do the words “union members” bring to mind? United Auto Workers building cars in Detroit? Teamsters truckers hauling freight? Steel workers in Pennsylvania?
Not any more. Newly released numbers show that the actual face of today’s union movement is the teller at your local Department of Motorized Vehicles.
Preliminary estimates of union membership this year show that most union members now work for the government. The overall unionization rate between January and September 2009 stood at 12.4%, unchanged from last year. However, this difference masks a large difference between unions in the private and public sectors.
Union membership has fallen to 7.3% of private sector workers – the lowest rate since Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act into law. But it is a completely different story in the public sector: 37.6% of government employees belong to unions, up almost a percentage point since last year. Those 7.9 million unionized government employees are 51% of all union members nationwide. Most union members today now work for Uncle Sam.
So when unions start lobbying, taxpayers should hold onto their wallet. Government employees don’t strike to get higher wages from a private business – they strike to get higher wages from you. Their pay is funded through your tax dollars. For government employee union members to get more your taxes need to go up. So that is what unions now lobby for. Just take a look at what the labor movement is doing to taxpayers on the Pacific Coast:
In Oregon the labor movement is donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund two ballot initiative campaigns to raise personal income and business taxes. The unions want tax hikes instead of cuts in the gold-plated medical benefits for state workers.
In California the Service Employees International Union spent $1 million on a television ad campaign pressing for higher oil, gas, and liquor taxes instead of spending reductions.
Washington State Democrats, however, have so far resisted the labor movement’s call for higher taxes. In response labor unions are threatening to fund primary campaigns against the Democrats who oppose the tax hikes.
This is not your father’s labor movement. Unions today want higher taxes and bigger government because they are the government.

What once saved middle America now wishes to rob her.

Still Watching?

It seems the race for the 23rd District seat in New York may not be over. I pointed to this as the race to watch and it is still worth watching. Yeah, I know the Conservative Party candidate Hoffman conceded but it is still possible that he may win and Owens may lose. The election results are still not in and the winner isn't official. Owens may have been sworn in but he may find himself tossed out.

Democrat Bill Owens, who was sworn into Congress last week and immediately voted for controversial health care legislation, still hasn't been certified the winner by local elections officials. His lead over Conservative Doug Hoffman has narrowed to 3,026 votes with about 5,800 absentee ballots received so far that have yet to be counted, according to a routine recanvassing of the votes.

The final outcome rests on uncounted absentee ballots, and more than 10,000 were sent out.

"Well 20/20 hindsight, if I knew this information on election night, I would not have conceded," Hoffman told Fox News' Neil Cavuto. "On election night with a 6,000 deficit in the voting, the 10,000 absentee ballots did not look plausible with a three-way race."

The county Boards of Election in the 23rd District are still recanvassing votes and it could be the end of November before a final count is certified in the special election. If the count overturns the election, Owens could be removed from office.

Owens was sworn in Friday, in time to cast a vote on a historic health care overhaul bill, helping House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reach the majority she needed to pass it. The House passed the legislation 220-215.

The state Board of Elections wrote to the House clerk last week explaining that the state hasn't certified the election because there wasn't an official winner yet.

Since he still leads by about 3,000 votes and the Hoffman campaign hasn't contested the race, Owens' swearing-in was legal.

But if recanvassing produces a different result, the Democratic-led House would have to determine how to proceed and whether Owens must be replaced by Hoffman.

Wouldn't it be a hoot if Owens is tossed. I'm looking forward to the end of the month to see how this turns out.

Article

This and That

First, I would like to offer my sympathies to the families of those effected by the Fort Hood Shooting. There appears to be much blame to go around, so we will need to wait and see how it all comes out.

For those of you completely overwhelmed by the shootings, the house passed the Healthcare Reform bill 220-215. All Republicans except the freshman from New Orleans voted against it. It looks like it will be extremely tough in the senate. Start your emailing and phone calls.

The DC Sniper finally got what he deserved. Lethal injection may be far to easy for a murderer of this caliper. He tormented millions yet leaves in relative peace.

The White house tossed another under the bus, Anita Dunn. How many America Haters has Obama placed in his staff? We the people are having to vet the staff because BO wont.

Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., called Monday for an international coalition to block gasoline deliveries to Iran because of its rejection of a U.N. plan to curb its enriched uranium stockpile. Since a major portion of Iran's gas is refined outside the country, why not use this for leverage. None of the other sanctions seem to have any effect. Perhaps this will cause enough pain to get them to the negotiating table.

I have been working long and crazy hours. Things need to be repaired and schedules need to be kept up. Hopefully, with all the changes, we will find a way to make it all work.

Where's Mine?

I have been waiting for a while to point this out. It has been bothering me for a long time so I thought I would bother you some.

The Stimulus Bill that was passed by the Obama Administration is reported to cost us $787billion.

There are almost 308million people in the US.

Small Businesses produce about 85% of the Jobs in America.

There are almost 23million small businesses in the US.

The Stimulus bill cost us almost $2600 per person. This does not include future interest on this additional debt. If 47% of Americans don't pay any taxes then the actual cost per person is $5600 per person who pays taxes. (This is skewed farther by able bodied workers who pay taxes.)

If the Stinulus would have been distributed to small businesses, each business would have gotten $34,250. This money could have provided one job at a living wage for one year for every small business, adjusting for employer side taxes and expenses. That would have created 23million jobs. Notice that the employer and the employee are immediately contributing back in the form of payroll taxes minimizing the net cost of the stimulus package. Don't forget to imagine 23million significant wage earners as consumers in the system. Now we are talking real stimulus.

If the US is statisticly suffering from 10% unemployment then putting the money to work by giving it to small business for job creation would have cut unemployment by 7.4%. Mathematically we would be at 2.6% unemployment.

Does anyone still think those in Washington DC have a clue on how to get the most bang out of our buck. Don't allow them to take anything more from us.

Keep saying NO to Healthcare.

Continued Government Failure

To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, It is now official you are ALL corrupt morons: The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before.. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure. You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??

Those Robber Baron Insurance Companies

I found the following article that confirmed my suspicions.

FACT CHECK: Health Insurers' Profits Not So Fat

WASHINGTON -- In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making "immoral" and "obscene" returns while "the bodies pile up."

But in pillorying insurers over profits, the critics are on shaky ground. Ledgers tell a different reality.

Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That's anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones.

Profits barely exceeded 2 percent of revenues in the latest annual measure. This partly explains why the credit ratings of some of the largest insurers were downgraded to negative from stable heading into this year, as investors were warned of a stagnant if not shrinking market for private plans.

Insurers are an expedient target for leaders who want a government-run plan in the marketplace. Such a public option would force private insurers to trim profits and restrain premiums to compete, the argument goes. This would "keep insurance companies honest," says President Obama.

The debate is loaded with intimations that insurers are less than straight, when they are not flatly accused of malfeasance.

The insurers may not have helped their case by commissioning a report that looked primarily at the elements of health care legislation that might drive consumer costs up while ignoring elements aimed at bringing costs down. Few in the debate seem interested in a true balance sheet.

A look at some claims, and the numbers:

THE CLAIMS:

--"I'm very pleased that (Democratic leaders) will be talking, too, about the immoral profits being made by the insurance industry and how those profits have increased in the Bush years." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who also welcomed the attention being drawn to insurers' "obscene profits."

--"Keeping the status quo may be what the insurance industry wants. Their premiums have more than doubled in the last decade and their profits have skyrocketed." Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, member of the Democratic leadership.

--"Health insurance companies are willing to let the bodies pile up as long as their profits are safe." A MoveOn.org ad.

THE NUMBERS:

Health insurers posted a 2.2 percent profit margin last year, placing them 35th on the Fortune 500 list of top industries. As is typical, other health sectors did much better -- drugs and medical products and services were both in the top 10.

The railroads brought in a 12.6 percent profit margin. Leading the list: network and other communications equipment, at 20.4 percent.

HealthSpring, the best performer in the health insurance industry, posted 5.4 percent. That's a less profitable margin than was achieved by the makers of Tupperware, Clorox bleach and Molson and Coors beers.

The star among the health insurance companies did, however, nose out Jack in the Box restaurants, which only achieved a 4 percent margin.

UnitedHealth Group, reporting third quarter results last week, saw fortunes improve. It managed a 5 percent profit margin on an 8 percent growth in revenue.

Van Hollen is right that premiums have more than doubled in a decade, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study that found a 131 percent increase.

But were the Bush years golden ones for health insurers?

Not judging by profit margins, profit growth or returns to shareholders. The industry's overall profits grew only 8.8 percent from 2003 to 2008, and its margins year to year, from 2005 forward, never cracked 8 percent.

The latest annual profit margins of a selection of products, services and industries: Tupperware Brands, 7.5 percent; Yahoo, 5.9 percent; Hershey, 6.1 percent; Clorox, 8.7 percent; Molson Coors Brewing, 8.1 percent; construction and farm machinery, 5 percent; Yum Brands (think KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), 8.5 percent.

I am shocked the Democrats would lie about profits.

Why Keynes Theory Didn't Work

Keynes was an economist who believed that the depression could have been reduced if not avoided if the government would step in and spend money to keep the economy stimulated while the public sector catches its breath and then re-engages the market. This would greatly reduce the fall in the market place and keep the unemployment level down and the economy moving forward.

What went wrong?

First, look at debt load. Our nation was vastly in debt and increasing spending only magnified the debt and the gloom and doom associated with excessive debt. Instead of embracing the spending, the debt and the future payments on it, out weighed the possible benefit.

Second, the government was late to the party. The economy started tanking in 2007 but nothing was done until 2008. To add insult to injury, the key issue that started the negative downturn was debt. Personal debt, corporate debt, state debt and federal debt all these debts and others weighed down our economy. The Bush administration racked up a great deal of debt and the weight and cost of terrorism made the debt more magnified.

Third, Keynes made no suggestion of public bailouts and take overs. These excesses further depressed the notion of the public sector becoming re-engaged in the market place. Companies that have been financial fortresses for decades were suddenly easy prey for an over anxious government system. Big debt was bought and controlled by bigger debt. The actions of our government are stained by the impression of communism and careful review of those who are in charge, furthers the assessment.


Well we are now here and want out. We are seeing the governments lust for power starting to show in its recent encroachment on executive salaries and compensation. When will the government encroachment end and the people restore the confidence in the market. I have been saying that it will take the public at least six months to gain any confidence after the government stops playing around. That will include any hints of meddling. I believe recovery would have happened much quicker if the government would have allowed private business to fail and adaptive. If the strong or the new innovators could have moved in and stabilized the market all would be far better.
With the government constantly changing the business market and picking winners and losers at random, the economy will continue to suffer. No confidence can be created in the marketplace by fictitious propping of the government. Confidence just like respect is earned.

Killing The First Amendment

The first amendment suffered a major blow last night. Perhaps you remember these words:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

They were ratified and adopted into the US Constitution on the 15th of December 1791. Last night these words took a direct hit from the senate as it voted 68-29 to adopt HR1913. It was attached to a military spending bill as a way to sneak it through. This bill attacks freedom of religion, freedom of speech and goes far enough to penalize an individual for their thoughts.
I tried to warn you of the dangers of this bill back in May, when I wrote HR 1913 Needs to be Stopped. We are now about to see this go before the president for his signature. Our only hope is that it is attached to a military spending bill he said he would veto. I can't imagine him not sighing the bill he has dreamed about signing just because of a pesky military spending attachment. His word and the value demonstrated by it in the past offers no hope at all.

Soon all sexual deviance will be allowable under the law with special protections. Your children and animals are no longer safe against these sexual predictors. We can expect a challenge taken to the supreme court but how many will suffer and how many will be silenced in the mean time.

article: Congress passes 'Pedophile Protection Act'

Choose Your Battle Wisely

That expression has been an important part of my life. Some battles need to be won in a direct and open forum while others can be waged in subtle non confrontational methods. Great care needs to be taken when deciding what method best suits the issue. In many cases, agree to disagree and move on. Future facts and information may better win the issue at hand.

The White House doesn't seem to think the subtle method is the right option for FOX News. They have gotten out the heavy hitters. Apparently meeting the needs of your general in the theatre of operation in Afghanistan isn't as high a priority as battling FOX News. Our economy is in the tank and our unemployment is at near record levels, but which battle is the White House taking on with its full force?

Ironicly, the white house is trying to use FOX's competition as a tool in the battle. They obviously are oblivious of the fact that one day they too could be in the target scope. The second and perhaps even funnier note is the combined veiwership for all the other news networks don't match the outreach of FOX. With that level of reach, FOX is even promoting the White House message and disarming it with finesse.

Looks like another poor choice for our President and his advisors. Add this one to the list. Even liberal Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas on Monday advised the Obama administration to stand down and avoid further fighting with Fox News and its correspondents. Perhaps the Pide Piper of Politics is starting to loose its grasp.


Follow Up Reading:
Thomas to White House: Stay out of Fox News fight
Media Wars: White House Crosses the Line
White House Urges Other Networks to Disregard Fox News

NY Race To Watch

It is a tight race and one that may change the future game. The race is between Democrat Bill Owens, Republican Dede Scozzafava and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. The key point in this race is where the conservatives are placing their votes. That's right, the Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

The GOP thought that simply running someone with their tag line would cause the voters to flock to their side. It no longer is as simple as "R" or "D". The people are waking up and they are realizing that character matters. They are pointing to conservative principles. The GOP can't ignore the fact that the people are flocking to a conservative. Dede in no conservative. List a conservative point and you will likely find her on the opposing side.

We can no longer count on a party or group. We need to carefully pick our representatives. We need a moral and just group of leaders who are willing to sacrifice selfish ambitions for true America first values. I don't care who the party of affiliation is. Can they be independent thinkers with the love of America and the determination for her success? That needs to be the standard of measurement.

I think this election in NY could be the waking point of this nation. If Mr. Hoffman wins it will change the perspective of the parties. The question is whether they will turn into an angry two year old and throw a tantrum or accept the clear image of what the people want for their representative.

We could expect to see this same line up playing out across America. I hope we all get a chance to vote for a true conservative. Better yet, I hope we all get the chance to see conservatives with America first values go to Washington DC and change the nation back to what our founders dreamed of.

Update 10/22/09: Sarah Palin bucks the Republican party and throws her support to Doug Hoffman. Keep watching this race, the future of America is riding on this.