Saturday, September 26, 2009

No One is Safe With Obama Care Legislation!

Watch out Federal civil service employees, you’re not safe unless you have a united and loud voice. If you’ve been sitting back, just not worried about what happens to health care because it does not affect you, read the article below regarding the amendments currently in work in the Senate and think twice. For those of you in California, Rep. Darrell Issa has been taking care of you; however, I have no faith in Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) nor Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Both Feinstein and Boxer tend to vote along party lines without regard to dissent and outcome. Also, keep in mind that Boxer will soon take everyone for a ride with the Cap and Trade green legislation she is 'marking-up' in the Senate. If you don’t do something now, you have no one to blame but yourselves for not getting involved. Write to your congressmen/women and voice your opinions:

Contact Senator Dianne Feinstein

Contact Senator Barbara Boxer

Contact Representative Darrell Issa

If you are not a resident of California or live in counties other than Riverside and/or San Diego, you can find your local congressmen/women on the internet or voice your discontent at www.Congress.Org; just input your zip code, then click on the word ‘federal’ under the blue box titled “write your elected officials.”

You can also use the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) web site to voice your assent/dissent. The preprinted text can be changed to suit your comments or personalize your message to your specific representatives.

Don’t sit back and watch things happen, get involved in your future.

Proposal would end federal health benefits plan
By Alex M. Parker aparker@govexec.com September 23, 2009

Several of the more than 500 amendments the Senate Finance Committee is facing as it begins a marathon markup of health care reform legislation would affect public servants' health coverage -- and one would end the federal government's health insurance program.

The provision, offered by ranking member Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would force civil servants to leave the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and purchase insurance through the state-based health exchanges that are a centerpiece of the health reform bill. Employees would move to the exchanges beginning in 2013.

The idea behind the amendment is "to require that elected officials and federal employees purchase insurance in the same manner proposed in the [bill] for private citizens," according to a summary on the Finance Committee's Web site.

Representatives from Grassley's office did not return calls for comment.

Daniel Adcock, legislative director for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, said his organization would oppose such an amendment. He noted the proposal could be designed to damage the overall bill's chances of passage. "It may be a way to drive a point home -- if the exchange system is good enough for the public, then it should be good enough for federal employees," Adcock said.

Another proposed amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., would allow some members of the general public to purchase FEHBP benefits. Qualifying citizens would join the same risk pool as federal employees, which could result in increased premiums for current enrollees, Adcock said. He added that NARFE would support the idea only if enrollees from outside the government were placed in a separate risk pool.

The Finance Committee began considering amendments on Tuesday; Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is aiming to complete the markup by the end of the week.

Full text: www.govexec.com

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

I received an email today from David Axelrod regarding the "vigorous debate about health insurance reform." He goes on to say "some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions." He stated that they have launched a website--"realitycheck" to dispel the "rumors and lies," as he calls them. In that same website is another link "we want to hear from you" that provides access for anyone to submit "questions about health insurance reform or suggestions on what topics they should address next." I did provide some input and here's what I wrote and asked:

Try telling the truth more often. You neglect to address the unsustainable costs for this ridiculous health care bill. No one in the white house, not even Obama, has enough experience with Senate and House bills and the language included to know IT STINKS. If the bill is approved, the language contained will be subject to re-interpretation by others to enact and WILL end up with possible detrimental policies to seniors and those less than perfect citizens of our country. It is a fact that Mr. Obama campaigned during most of his Senate career and was not in the Senate long enough to truly learn the processes associated with bill enactment. It is also evident by the responses during his "campaign" style town halls (with the hand selected audiences) that Mr. Obama has not read the bill in its entirety yet nor translated it into outcomes. Contrary to his representation of the bill as health insurance reform, it is nothing more than adding to an existing bad system. If much needed reform is to take place, enact the reforms that the CEO of Whole Foods discusses in his article "The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare." Start with these real reforms first to see health care costs drop. The bill as written by the House does NOT include these REAL reforms. Mr. Obama, address these real reform suggestions at you next town hall.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Corrupt Senate Members

I received the Jim Hill letter below via email for the third time today. I don’t even know if this is a factual letter or not, but I thought I’d blog it anyway because it reflects my sentiments towards Barbara Boxer (D-CA) as well. It also doesn’t hurt to keep reminding Americans what an arrogant elitist prig (Barbara Boxer) we have in the Senate. By the way, she is the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee that now says Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad did not do anything wrong with the sweetheart mortgage deals they got from Countrywide (Friends of Angelo). If I remember correctly during our ethics training at work, we could never accept anything from contractors or commercial entities that would give even the slightest appearance of a conflict of interest or possible ethics violation; we couldn’t take anything over a cost of $5.00. And they, senators Conrad and Dodd, got thousands of dollars resulting from mortgages with lower interest and points.

This has got to be the most immoral and corrupt Senate ever; and the unconscionable thought is these elected officials have access to trillions of our tax dollars and make decisions that affect our livelihood. Obama is right, it is time for change, just not the kind he thinks. It is time to oust those corrupt people from office, and I’m non-partisan, it doesn’t matter if they are democrat, republican, or independent. Those of us in California can start with Boxer in November 2010. There are currently two other possible candidates out there, so you have a choice. The two are Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore. There is no web site set up for Fiorina at this time; however, a Rasmussen survey reports a possible close race against Boxer, Rasmussen Survey. As for Chuck DeVore, he has formally thrown his hat in the race, you can view his profile on-line at his website Chuck DeVore for U.S. Senate. We Californians have choices; you decide, just don’t let it be Boxer.

Jim Hill's Letter to Barbara Boxer

Some of us witnessed the arrogance of Barbara Boxer (CA) as she admonished a brigadier general because he addressed her as "ma'am" and not "Senator" before a Senate hearing. This letter is from a National Guard aviator and Captain for Alaska Airlines. I wonder what he would have said if he were really angry. Long fly Alaska !!!!!

You were so right on when you scolded the general on TV for using the term, "ma'am," instead of "Senator". After all, in the military, "ma'am" is a term of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position. The general was totally wrong.. You are not a person of superior rank or position. You are a member of one of the world's most corrupt organizations, the U.S. Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congress is a cesspool of liars, thieves, inside traders, traitors, drunks (one who killed a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and other low level swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do anything to enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense of the People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be continually re-elected. Many democrats even want American troops killed by releasing photographs. How many of you could honestly say, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor"? None? One? Two?
Your reaction to the general shows several things. First is your abysmal ignorance of all things military. Your treatment of the general shows you to be an elitist of the worst kind. When the general entered the military (as most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank check, offering his life to protect your derriere, now safely and comfortably ensconced in a 20 thousand dollar leather chair, paid for by the general's taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front of millions.

Second is your puerile character, lack of sophistication, and arrogance which borders on the hubristic. This display of brattish behavior shows you to be a virago, termagant, harridan, nag, scold or shrew, unfit for your position, regardless of the support of the unwashed, uneducated masses who have made California into the laughing stock of the nation.

What I am writing, Senator, are the same thoughts countless millions of Americans have toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or time to convey them. Under the democrats, some don't even have the 44 cents to buy the stamp. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize that politicians are pretty much the same, and will vote for the one who will bring home the most bacon, even if they do consider how corrupt that person is. Lord Acton (1834 - 1902) so aptly charged, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Unbeknownst to you and your colleagues, "Mr. Power" has had his way with all of you, and we are all the worse for it.

Finally Senator, I, too, have a title. It is "Right Wing Extremist Potential Terrorist Threat." It is not of my choosing, but was given to me by your Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. And you were offended by "ma'am"?

Have a fine day. Cheers!

Jim Hill

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Healthcare Debate Goes On

This is my most recent email to Barbara Boxer (D-CA), posted on July 25th, in her "Join the Healtcare Debate" web page. Unfortunately, I personally think it will be trashed because it does not follow her very liberal and wasteful spending views.

I like and am very satisfied with my insurance coverage. I don't want any changes to it nor do I want a public/government run health care program that WILL inevitably create an unsustainable deficit, increase our taxes, CROWD OUT PRIVATE INSURERS FROM THE MARKET, encourage employers to stop providing coverage because it would be cheaper to pay the penalty than to provide private insurance, and quite possibly will lure employees from private insurance to the cheaper government option. A public option will make it even more difficult for many of us who already pay for private insurance to keep that insurance, which as your should know (with your Cadillac health care plan), provides far better benefits and less interference by a bureaucratic paper pusher than a government run public plan would do. A public plan would also inevitably lead to health care rationing in order to keep costs down, lead to someone other than the insured or family members making life and death decisions, and pay for unnecessary procedures such as abortion, which pro-life taxpayers DO NOT support unless a mother's life is at risk. We are a democratic nation but our voices are being ignored and drowned out by politicians making decisions that will only benefit the small minority of people in the uninsured category. You put at risk millions of peoples' current insurance coverage to cover a few (in comparison to the hundreds of millions that do have coverage) that do not have insurance, which by the way includes illegal immigrants and those that can afford their own insurance but choose not to obtain or opt out. Why do you act irrationally when there are other ways to achieve healthcare reform that do not put the majority of insured at risk or do not cost taxpayers or businesses trillions of tax dollars your current plans will incur? You could make changes to tort reform so mal-practice insurance cost for doctors can be lowered; you could change laws to allow small businesses to reach out of state for employees health insurance at a lower and more competitive cost; you could offer a capped refundable tax credit or a debit card system for basic health care to the uninsured; the government could compete and obtain contracts with over 1000 private health insurance companies to get the best price for insuring the true 20 million uninsured people (not including illegal aliens, those that qualify under MediCare, Medicaid, SCHIP or other current program, and those that can afford insurance). You are not rationalizing the effect of your legislation; you cannot see the forest for the trees.

Please vote smartly, not like you did on the stimulus plan. Thoroughly read and review the current plans and discuss all alternatives before making any decisions. And DO discuss all new recommendations and amendments in the Senate and the House--there ARE many better ideas out there that you have obviously rejected by voting down party lines. Stop this irrational and irresponsible behavior of voting down party lines and your grandstanding (I’ve seen you do this on C-Span) and consider our current economic health, the predictable ramifications of a public insurance option on our great private insurance system, and do not levy a burdensome tax to already strained wages and businesses that are struggling to survive and keep our economy going. Stop the incessant direction toward socializing our nation; this is not what our forefathers intended for our nation.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Civil Discourse Needed

I know what you’re all thinking, here she goes again with the political conservative ranting. But after reading the article by Clyde Middleton, I also have the same questions. As he expresses in the article, the answer “I won” just isn’t an appropriate solution to the perceived or actual outcome that may result from legislation being forced on many of us. Our elected officials should be having some civil discourse regarding the ramifications of their legislation, especially as it relates to our deteriorating economy. Below is a brief section I’m quoting from Mr. Middleton’s article, but, if you can, please take the time to read the entire article by Mr. Middleton, entitled "Liberals, libtards, and a proffered solution," at Examiner.com. And, please don’t just think, ‘here we go again, a typical conservative.’ To me, as with Mr. Middleton, it is more of a “look, I’m not dumping on you. I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why you won’t sit at the table and openly discuss these things.”

“For any liberal or libtard reading, explain to me why Obama can run deficits dwarfing W’s, yet W was an out-of-control spender. Explain to me why W’s “surge” in Iraq was bad, yet Obama’s “surge” in Afghanistan is good. Explain to me why you all screamed at W’s “overseas secret prisons for terrorists” yet are silent now that Obama said he will keep them open and functioning. Explain to me why 45 million “uninsured” is actually 6 million, yet you don’t correct him. Explain to me why the icecaps on Mars have receded and grown in sync with those on Earth, yet the “problem” here in man-made. Explain to me how you are going to pay the $1,000 annual fine for not accepting Obama’s health insurance. Explain to me how you will deal with your parent or child in pain as they lay dying because drug therapy has been rationed in precisely the same fashion it is rationed in every single socialized-medical system in use today. Explain to me how you can complain about Medicare and Medicaid today, yet it’s perfectly fine for Obama to expand those poorly functioning programs to every American. Explain to me why it is such a big deal to require someone that wants to vote being required to present a photo ID first. Explain to me why I have to produce a birth certificate to get a driver’s license, but Obama doesn’t have to produce one to be POTUS. Explain to me your feelings about having to buy your food from a grocery instead of the local farmer because the latest bill going through Congress will create such compliance problems that small farmers will not have the money to comply. Explain to me, on that same note, why we don’t respect religion by requiring that every farmer – the Amish included – be required to file all of those farm-compliance documents electronically. Explain to me why it doesn’t bother you that the Waxman-Markey bill will require you to upgrade your home to federally dictated energy standards before you can sell it. Explain to me why it doesn’t bother you that the federal government is going to make it a crime for putting more than 60 watts cumulative in your chandelier. And if any of these specifics are unfamiliar to you, then explain THAT to me.”

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

2nd Letter to the Senate and the President on Cap and Trade

President Obama, Senator Feinstein, and Senator Boxer,

It is very unfortunate that many of you are really out of touch with your constituents. The energy bill, cap and trade, will do nothing more than place a burden on many of us that use energy to heat and cool our homes, commute to jobs, it is guaranteed to raise prices on all consumer goods, including food, as taxes levied on business will be pass on to the consumer, and bring job losses at a time when the job market is in turmoil. All of you in congress and the white house are part of an elite group that do not see any change or detrimental effect in your daily way of life or course of living; let’s face it, you have adequate financial means and security.

Here are the facts:

* Contrary to the flawed analyses being advanced by the bill's proponents, Heritage estimates that the direct costs would be an average of $829 per year for a household of four, totaling $20,000 between 2012 and 2035.
* But when considering the total cost as reflected in the cost of allocations and offsets, the average cost to that family unit would be $2,979 annually from 2012 to 2035.
* Adding insult and hypocrisy to injury, the bill would hurt the poor the worst because they would bear a disproportionate burden of the higher energy costs the bill would trigger.
* The bill is also projected to harm the manufacturing sector and cause estimated "net" job losses, averaging about 1.15 million between 2012 and 2030.
* The overall gross domestic product losses would average $393 billion per year from 2012 to 2035, and the cumulative loss in gross domestic product would be $9.4 trillion by 2035.
* The national debt for a family of four would increase by $115,000 by 2035.

Today, California has a budget shortfall of $24 billion and not just because of their over obligation to provide nanny state services but because of the overall state of the national economy and the loss of revenues from salaried individuals. Passing this bill would further endanger the states with less revenue from increased unemployment. And, most disturbingly, it would endanger the welfare of individuals who may lose their jobs and those who would bear the higher energy costs inflict by this bill.

The energy bill is supposed to decrease energy consumption by increasing taxes on carbon emissions; but in fact, for the average taxpayer, it will increase taxes that will affect normal day to day living. There is nothing in this bill that can help the average citizen to decrease their carbon footprint or decrease energy usage, unless it expects them to live in extreme heat and cold, eat less, not drive to work, and for many, remain unemployed or become unemployed. The fact is, average middle class citizens consume only what is needed for day to day living. This bill will unwisely increase taxes and leave every state, not just California, more vulnerable to reduced revenue and, individuals with losses in wages necessary to survive in this pitiful economy.

This is reality.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Cap and Trade Letter to the President and California Congresswomen

President Obama, Senator Feinstein, and Senator Boxer,

It is very unfortunate that you are really out of touch with your constituents. The energy bill, cap and trade, will do nothing more than place a burden on many of us that use energy to heat and cool our homes, commute to jobs that are in excess of 30 miles from home, which is a norm for many in California as I’m sure it is in other parts of the country, it is guaranteed to raise prices on all consumer goods, including food, as taxes levied on business will be pass on to the consumer, and bring job losses at a time when the job market is in such turmoil. All of you in congress and the white house are part of an elite group that do not see any change or detrimental effect in your daily way of life or course of living; let’s face it, you have adequate financial means and security.

Let me lay it out in a clear way with real life examples:

Both my husband and I are retired and receiving annuities, my husband works a part time job teaching for a community college, and we care for our disabled adult son. The city we live in, Temecula, has cold winters and very hot summers. Today, we don’t pay too much for gas heat in the winter, it is affordable. However, in the summer, the temperatures, for at least three months of the year, exceed the high nineties and many times drift into the triple digits. Cooling our home to a comfortable seventy-nine degrees costs us in excess of $500.00 per month. As a middle income family, but because we both receive annuities, we will not qualify for any of the subsidies your bill has identified. At this point, your cap and trade bill will cost us dearly.

Although we no longer commute to work, when we did, our commute equated to 130 miles round trip. At the current cost of $3.00 per gallon for gasoline, it would cost us $135.00 a week for the commute to work. Adding any additional tax to gasoline, would seriously put a dent in our pocketbook just to be able to get to work. A high percentage of people living in our community commute to either the San Diego or Riverside area for work, just think of the detrimental impact an additional gasoline tax would have on these middle class American workers.

If just the two aforementioned increases in energy taxes, electricity and gasoline, affect my day to day living, they will also affect companies and businesses that produce, manufacture, sell and transport goods that we all consume. It is inevitable that these costs will be passed on to consumers. I can’t begin to estimate how much of an increase my food and clothing purchases will be, but I suspect there will be a large increase.

It is estimated that at least two jobs will be lost for every one green job. Both my daughter and son-in-law are unemployed at this time and they also have a three year old to feed and care. Can you guarantee that at least one of them will be able to find employment within the next six months when their unemployment benefits ends? The stimulus bill you previously passed and promised would create jobs has done nothing to help them and many others in California, where the unemployment rate is now in the double digits.

The energy bill is supposed to decrease energy consumption by increasing taxes on carbon emissions; but in fact, for the average taxpayer, will only increase taxes that will affect normal day to day living. There is nothing in this bill that can help me decrease my carbon footprint or decrease my energy usage, unless it expects my family to live in extreme heat or cold, eat less, not drive to work, and my children remain unemployed. The fact is we now only consume what we need for day to day living. This bill only increases taxes and leaves less available for my family for day to day living; if you believe otherwise, you are deaf and blind to the true plight of the middle income family. That is reality.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Letter to the President and Congressmen/Women on Healthcare

Our current health care system is at risk. I sent the following letter to my congressmen/women and the President. You can write to them also at Congress.org or use your representatives' individual web pages to send them direct messages/emails.

President Obama, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and Representative Issa,

I like my insurance coverage. I don't want any change to it nor do I want a public/government run health care program that will inevitably create an unsustainable deficit, increase our taxes, crowd out private insurers from the market, encourage employers to stop providing coverage, and quite possibly will lure employees from private insurance to the cheaper government option making it even more difficult for many of us who already pay for insurance to obtain affordable health care insurance. We are a democratic nation but our voices are being ignored and drowned out by politicians making decisions that will only benefit the small minority of people in the uninsured category.

The statistics speak for themselves (from: Townhall.com): of the 45 million people without insurance, about 14 million qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, veterans' benefits, etc., but are not enrolled and 9.1 million have incomes over $75,000 that can afford their own insurance buy choose not to buy or opt to pay as needed. Of the remaining half of the uninsured, 9.7 million are not citizens of this country. If we must providing insurance to the remaining 20 million uninsured people who really cannot afford insurance, then I think there are more viable alternatives to this over-reaching, over-priced, taxpayer funded, single payer system being forced onto us. One of the more viable alternatives is discussed by George Will at Townhall.com, and it suggests a refundable tax credit or a debit card system that would not cost taxpayers an enormous amount of taxes. The government could compete contracts with over 1000 private health insurance companies to get the best price for insuring the true 20 million uninsured people.

Please vote smartly, thoroughly review and discuss all alternatives before making decisions, and discuss these issues with all parties in the Senate and the House. Consider our economic health, the predictable ramifications of a single payer system, and do not levy a burdensome tax on already strained wages and businesses that are struggling to survive and keep our economy going. Stop the incessant direction toward socializing our nation; this is not what our forefathers intended for our nation.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Our Country's Financial Hole

Strange how everyone talks about how dangerously high the budget deficits have gotten in the United States; you hear it on the news, you see it on the internet, and you even hear it straight from the horses mouth, that "we are out of money." Yet, everyday we continue to read about more bills enacted by congress and more bureaucratic nonsensical positions created by the president that obviously keep digging us deeper into debt.

Just recently, congress voted for the "cash for clunkers" bill that will be enacted any day now; this bill will take my hard earned tax dollars and give them to anyone that will trade in an automobile for a new one that increases their gas mileage by at least two additional miles per gallon. Can you believe this? They (not straw men "they," but real moronic elected officials) are giving my money away to someone else to buy a new auto? I can't afford a new auto, but my money will be redistributed to someone else that can afford one so that they can buy a new one. If they can afford a new car, they don't need my "cash for clunkers" tax dollars!!! Does this anger me? YOU BET!

And, this is just the beginning. In the next few days, weeks, months, and years, more unnecessary spending will be enacted by those "not so brilliant" government employees we call congressmen/women and presidential representatives. This hole is being dug so deep that it will eventually collapse within itself, and we will be left with nothing for generations except the hole filled with debt.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Greta's "The Competition"

Several days ago Greta Van Susteren tweeted that she was giving away a pedometer to the first five people to contact her assistant. My thought was that I never win anything, but I would call anyway to see what would happened. Guess what, I won! Although I wasn't quite sure what this was leading to, I figured, what the heck, I could use a pedometer since I had recently started walking a few days a week with my neighbor. Today, Greta posted:

June 18, 2009 05:26 PM EDT
THE COMPETITION: Check this out!!

A quick note....I sent out 5 pedometers to 5 GretaWire bloggers (I asked them to come up with code names so we could remember them)...I want to start a competition among them for daily steps and here is day #1:

(by the way, pick your person to cheer for below....and just because TYG Mint is behind on day one doesn't mean that TYG Mint is not going to bolt ahead tomorrow!!!)

Alamogirl - 9,030.

Girl Scout- 7,300

The TYG Mint- 4,856

Deltagrace- 7,840

Still waiting for Texasroots

-------
UPDATE 6:21 ..below is an email my assistant just received from "Girl Scout" above...it puts pressure on the others!

To: Verducci, Kara
Sent: Thu Jun 18 17:58:31 2009
Subject: Saw the Blog

Kara, I just read Greta Wire. Wow!!! I feel my competitive nature kicking in! I don't blog under girlscout but I do tweet under the username ******

Off to the park for a ... what else but ... A WALK! I am so excited. Really pumped up!

And, as "girlscout" touts, my competetive nature has also kicked in; nothing like a good competition to get the blood pumping. I'm code name "Deltagrace" and I'm in.