not this cute anymore!I'm not an email forwarding kind of person...
But if I was, this is the kind of email I would forward.
It wasn't written by me, but I second everything it says.
But if I was, this is the kind of email I would forward.
It wasn't written by me, but I second everything it says.
So let me get this straight...........We're going to pass
a health care plan
written by a committee
whose chairman says he doesn't understand it,
passed by a Congress
that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it,
to be signed by a president
that also hasn't read it and who smokes,
with funding administered by a treasury chief
who didn't pay his taxes,
all to be overseen by a surgeon general
who is obese,
and financed by a country
that's nearly broke..
What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
This IS written by me:
If I had the time, I would write my feelings about our President and his staff and what I believe they are doing to our country. I would say that this health care reform is a disaster. I feel sad for our country. I am outraged that such a thing is happening. But I have other obligations (like feeding hungry children and picking up my disaster of a house) that are higher on my TO-DO list. I hope you can read my thoughts and know that I think a terrible thing is happening in Washington. How is this POSSIBLY passing???
If I had the time to sit at my computer and write all day long, I would say that the VERY same mistake was made years and years ago when the public school system was taken over by the government. It was decided that education was a right, not a privilege. I do not agree with this and do NOT believe our government should be in control or financially responsible for the education of MY children. It's reported that over $12,000 is spent each YEAR on every student in the public school system. After billions of dollars are spent and more laws are passed each year, the quality of education continues to decline. Qualified and hard-working teachers are getting measly paychecks and our poor students aren't learning. This entire system is a mess! The No Child Left Behind act is a crock of sh*t. It's the very kind of system that educated Mr. President and all of Congress.... Our country raised leaders who can't read or reason... and we voted for them to be where they are! What is the world coming to? Many of you won't agree with me on this topic, and that's perfectly okay. In fact that is one of the many beauties this country was built upon: our ability to think and say how we feel. I have a feeling that many Americans were outraged back in the day.. just as many of us are today.
I wish I had the time to say that I believe something needs to be done with our Health Care system, but NOT this. This is bad, bad news. Once it passes, how can it ever be reversed? No president or congress in years to come will be able to take away a program that was handed out in this manner. It can't be undone. It outrages me that the people who were elected to lead our country aren't even taking the time to READ the laws they are passing. They can't even EXPLAIN what they're signing. Oh, I wish I had the time to write about how I really feel.
Instead, I am going to feed a crying baby so he can grow to be healthy and strong and I am going to spend a few hours teaching my own children so they can be educated and honest and full of character. Our country is going to need these four strapping boys in about 20 or so years. They better be prepared for what's coming their way.
Posts
32 comments:
Agree. 100%. I'm reading The 5000-Year Leap right now, and it should be required reading for all American citizens. This healthcare fiasco has tyranny written all over it.
Karina,
That book is sitting on my husbands night stand as I type. I have yet to pick it up, but as soon as he's finished, I'm gonna.
Unfortunately this isn't a new concept. Bush pushed tons of stuff through that the Dems had no say about ie. the war, tax cuts, etc. I am in no way saying I support this but it isn't new and it's getting worse. You're right we will need your boys.
I agree with you a billion percent, campblondie. (If you were an American Idol watcher, you would know how annoying that phrase is.) But I wholeheartedly agree with you.
George W. Bush was one of the stupidest presidents to ever be raised by our education system. And we were the STUPIDEST country to re-elect him after he started a cold-hearted war. It was not a fight for freedom or protection. It was over money and oil and power. The Dems have the power to pass these health care laws because Bush left office with our country is such a state.
1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong
3. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
4. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
5. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
6. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
7. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
9. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
10 You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.
William J. H. Boetcker
Don't even get me started on this subject. It's a mess. We're in trouble.
I keep thinking about something that Gordon B Hinkley said, "When we cease to be good, we cease to be great."
oh I LOVE that quote by President Hinkley.
Amen to everything said. I know I need to learn more that my 15mins of driving in the car and listening to Rush Limbaugh, but what I have learned, scares me.
When I first found out Obama smokes, I knew we were in trouble. If the head of our country doesn't even care about what is killing his own body, then why would he care about what is killing his own country?
When my two little guys wake up, I'm going to continue to teach them values that the leadership of our country lacks!
Thanks Janet.
(I think the Lord is sending all these little boys right now for a reason. That puts the pressure on us as moms doesn't it?)
Janet,
I also agree with your post. My biggest problem is the information overload surrounding the issue so that regular folks like me (let alone congress) have no idea what's really going on. I guess I need to be more proactive about understanding issues like this, but even if I did wouldn't they just make me angry? If our elected officials can't get things done, how am I supposed to make a difference? Thanks for your post.
Rach, This is one of my biggest dilemmas in life. How MUCH do I put myself and my views out there and how much to I focus on making a difference in the environment that I have the most influence over?.. which is obviously in my home with my own children. There is NO DOUBT we have to take a stand in our homes.. teach our own children values, the difference between right and wrong and also to go above and beyond what is expected of them in school. Just because the government says they need to learning something at a certain age doesn't mean they stop there. Our standards as a nation are SO LOW... the current math level that high schooler studying today was an EIGHT year old's level of math comprehension at the time when our Founding Fathers established this nation. There has to be greater responsibilities in our own homes. We have to WORK for good things.. they aren't just handed to us.
If our children/nation thinks they DESERVE health care coverage or an education just because they are alive doesn't teach the value of hard work. Or determination. Or responsibility for your actions. If these fundamental values are being lost, our nation will most definitely fall (because we will continue to elect officials who aren't honest.. Democrats and Republicans combined.) So first and foremost we have to be educated and teach our children the importance of knowing what's going on in the world around them. Hopefully the contribution of raising good children will be enough, but I don't think it is. With whatever time or energy we have left over, we have to voice our opinion, stand up for the everything this country was founded on, and make a difference with our small circle of influence. For me, that's about all I can handle at this point. Eventually I can see you in the senate making killer-instinct decisions (oh how we need strong women like you out in the world!) but for now.. we have to take care of what's on our plates. For me, it's putting away the laundry that Simon spit up on yesterday. Here I go...
sorry about the typos. no time to spell check.
This comment is from my father in law. I hope he doesn't mind me posting it. He could/should write a book about it.
The CBO estimates that currently the government pays out approximately 600 billion a year in fraudulent Medicare charges. Oh yes, let's expand that system!
The insurance industry estimates that because of new requirements placed upon them, premiums will more than double in January of 2011 (what a coincidence -- after the mid-term elections). Also, the insurance industry estimates that the private insurance industry will be gone within 2-4 years since the new requirements will make it impossible for them to continue to operate profitably (almost as if it was planned that way!). Not to worry, I'm sure our president will have an answer (think: single payer system).
Janet, I agree with you that there is so much wrong with this bill that it would be exhaustive to try and point out each problem. The fundamental two problems however is 1) a reduction in our personal freedom and 2) a tremendous blow to our economy.
Is there any thinking person out there who seriously believes this will help the budget? .,... that this will create better care?......that this will reduce health costs for the working middle class?
Like you, I am very sad for our country.
By the way, did you read the 5,000 Year Leap yet?
Don't worry Janet, the state of Texas is filing a law suit against the federal government b/c what they passed is unconstitutional. We ARE in the promised land!
as a homeschooling mother myself, I struggle with the fact that my KIDS need to do their part influencing those around them. and they can't do that as much at home.
appreciate your comment anonymous. of course our kids need to be good influences in society and need to make a difference in the world around us. Do I think THIRD GRADE is the time they do make a big impact on their peers? absolutely not. There will come a time when their influences will be powerful. I don't think that time is now.
@ HAYHAY - You won't learn anything listening to Rush Limpbaugh or Glenn Beck.
I knew I could count on you Brent to make a jab at the Beckster. I would believe Glenn over Rush, that's for sure. Leave it to Fox news to freak everyone out!
But really Brent, what's your take on the health bill? Anything opposite of what Glenn Beck says?
Thanks for the book recommendation, Mom of 5 Boys-- I just added it to my reading list.
Janet, I'm wondering what you've read, listened to etc. that has influenced your opinion on the health care bill. My gut instinct on the whole thing is that it's a bad idea (a very bad idea), but at the same time something HAS to change when it comes to healthcare. I've tried reading the current bill, but honestly I can't make much out of it (though there are a few areas that raise huge red flags for me, which is why I'm wary). I would really love to get my hands on some good reading on the subject. Any suggestions?
Love the commentary.
Janet when one of your boys is elected president (and yes I will vote for him) the tabloids are going to have a HAY DAY with your blog - you know that don't you?
I have mixed feelings on this.
I think the big mistake the people make on this issue is that the government isn’t “taking over” the health care system. It’s putting stricter regulations on the Health Insurance industry. It’s too bad that the “free market” had 30+ years to provide a solution and couldn’t.
Anyway, here one of the few articles that I read that bests describes how I feel about HCR.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/23/AR2010032302347.html
Some excerpts: (if you don’t want to read the article)
“The legislation is a risk worth taking. Millions of Americans are without insurance, a national scandal that should have been addressed long ago. Rising health-care costs threaten the nation's fiscal security, and the new law holds the promise of beginning to stem the increases.
The status quo is unsustainable. A new study by the Urban Institute shows how, without reform, the numbers of the uninsured will rise, employers will continue to drop coverage and premiums will climb. “
The thing that makes me the most upset about all of this isn’t HCR at all, it’s how Fox “News”, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and the like, have covered it. How the Republicans acting like a bunch of a-holes instead of trying to solve problems. And the hypocrisy of most Americans for NOT being outraged at us for starting a war that has wasted almost a trillion dollars, to screw you, when it comes to helping our fellow countrymen get better access to affordable health care.
Anyway, I have wasted way too much time (to the determent of my job) the last few weeks reading/watching, etc…message boards, blogs, news, videos, etc… on all this crap. The worst part is, I have come to the sad, harsh, conclusion that the majority of people in this country are incapable of determining fact from fiction, hence the reason Glenn and Rush, etc.. are so popular.
Since you asked, I don’t trust anything Glenn Beck says, all he cares about is money. Glenn is like the piece of crap on the tray of jello, you know the crap hasn’t touched all the jello, but I sure as h*ll ain’t going to eat any.
Doesn't anyone think there is anything good in the health care bill? I've followed this a lot. There is much good like no exclusion for pre-existing conditions, young people who are going to college and can't afford tuition let alone insurance can stay on their parents plan until 26. The Medicare do-nut hole where seniors who have part D Medicare will be closed so they will be able to afford their prescription medication without worrying they will have reached their limit just a few months into a new year and many more good things. No cap if a person gets chronically sick. I agree--Rush Limbaugh preaches hate and Glen Beck is a a nit-wit. I used to listen to both until they got so radical. Rush especially so full of hate. Now he's back tracking on his pledge to move to Costa Rica. The states (including WA where I live) who file lawsuits won't get anywhere as a state can't overturn federal law. At least it's a start after 100 years of trying dating back to Teddy Roosevelt. Obama smokes rarely and will be a non-smoker soon. I'm very happy to still be around (an 81 year old who feels 30) to see the good things that are beginning to happen. I watch Fox, MSNBC and CNN. Don't waste my time on Shawn Hannity or Sarah Palin in addition to the two previously mentioned.
When you just watch bits and pieces of news and mainly listen to hate retoric you cant see the entire picture.
before I read the other comments, I want to respond to your post: AMEN. The government is not known for creating efficient or working systems. When was the last time you heard someone say, "Oh, you went to PUBLIC school? I wish I could have sent my kids to public school, it's such a privilege." No one does. There's a reason private schools are leagues ahead of the public ones: their goal is to make money and to do so they have to be the best- or else they won't have any students.
Is the current system broken? Definitely. But turning it over to the government is an immense mistake. When was the last time you sat at the DMV and thought, "Well, that was an efficient experience. So well-managed." Even the post office, which is privately owned but run by the government is a case study in How The Government Steps In And Ruins Things.
Hopefully this bill will be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court because from what I can see with my admittedly limited legal knowledge, it absolutely is.
My bishop said something last night that gave me a lot of peace of mind about it all, though. He mentioned how exasperating this whole debacle is, but then he said he also knows that the Lord will protect this country as long as we're righteous. So, I hope that I can do my part to help with that, and also, I hope that in the next election cycle, everyone gets out there and votes all of these yahoos out of office.
P.S. Ever read Atlas Shrugged? I'm in the middle of it now and WOW, is it pertinent to our day (and it was written in the 1930s).
Brent, your jello theory made me laugh out loud.. I could just hear your voice saying it and that itself is hilarious.
Bev, I always love to hear your perspective on issues like this. I am so glad you commented. It's a complicated issues and it's hard NOT to only get bits and pieces of information when you have little ones at home and have limited time on the computer. And I can tell you this right now, my kids aren't letting me sit through a news program, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin or anybody. I am still very wary of this bill and don't think anyone is being upfront about what will happen.
I read Brent Jeffery's last post after sending mine and applaud it. I enjoy listening to and reading things by people who can see good in our government along with the flaws. As a widow of a veteran of WW 2, Korea and Vietnam and living overseas for 6 years I can tell you there is no better country than the USA. Things aren't as bad as some people try to paint them.
We've had lots of conversations about the Health Care Bill at our house lately. I agree with your feelings and perspective on the whole issue. Too many people are getting free handouts and those are not are rights, liberty is. I like how you mentioned we need to know (and for a lot of people LEARN) how to work for things.
I also liked this post from this blog:http://chasingchaypril.blogspot.com
I like Glenn Beck. I find him ENTERTAINING and take what he says as that, entertainment.
I agree that the war Bush started has been a bigger mess than anticipated. The HUGE difference I see between the war and this healthcare mess (from my perspective here) is that when we went to war the majority of the country was FOR it. We had just been bombed. We were ticked. If I remember correctly, Bush had very high approval ratings at the time and I remember a sense of unity among Americans, like "let's go get 'em". We were concerned about our national security.
Contrast that time with now. Obama has low approval ratings. He BARELY gets this bill passed with millions of outraged Americans against it. He bought/coerced votes. And like others have mentioned, name ONE organization the government is in charge of that is run well. They are the brunt of all jokes: post office, IRS, DMV, public education, etc.
Also, I second Atlas Shrugged. I'm about halfway through it and love it.
Good debate going here. And I loved your post Janet.
@ Wendy – I have never read Atlas Shrugged (it’s in my book case maybe I’ll start it now), but I do know that Alan Greenspan was a huge fan of Ayn Rand and embraced her philosophy of “laissez faire capitalism” and that the “free market” will take care of itself. Anyway, there are many that believe that Greenspan’s “hands off” regulation style is primary cause of the 2008 financial crisis. So maybe whatever is in Atlas Shrugged perhaps isn’t as much prophetic as it is self fulfilling prophecy.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tentrillion/
@ Kristen – I have no problem with people liking Glenn Beck for entertainment, the problem is that some people don’t understand that, even you. Every talking point in your third paragraph is Glenn Beck - FOX news propaganda.
FOX news and the rest of the “Right-wing media” has constantly pumping that Obama has low approval ratings which is factually incorrect (you cannot trust FOX news polls because they have an obvious conservative bias). The millions of outrage Americans is correct as long as you include both sides, for and against HCR. While I mostly agree about government being bad at things (yes education is one), there are some things that are just too large for private industry to handle and it’s starting to look like health care could be one of those things. But, as I have said before, this isn’t the government taking over health care, it’s the government adding regulations to the insurance industry.
Obama is 100x more President than Bush ever was, because when something is popular (even when it’s a huge mistake) it’s easy to do, Obama is using a lot of “political capitol” for HCR, which means he cares more about the wellbeing of the citizens than he does about being re-elected.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/126929/Slim-Margin-Americans-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Passage.aspx
A rhetorical question: Should someone lose everything (home, retirement, etc…) they have worked for their entire life because they lost their job and then got sick?
keep up the great discussion. I am going to hit the hay... but I've loved what I've read so far. I've got plenty of articles to read tomorrow.
@Brent: You state "Obama is using a lot of “political capitol” for HCR, which means he cares more about the wellbeing of the citizens than he does about being re-elected." I really have a hard time believing a politician is concerned about my well-being, no matter what party they are from. And I know more about taking care of the well-being of me and my family better than he does.
And no, I don't think someone should lose everything because they get sick. I don't think our currently healthcare situation is working at all - my husband is self-employed so I have huge frustrations with all of it. But I don't think Obama's plan is the way to fix it either. There still has to be a better way.
And FYI, I haven't listened to Glen Beck for months - I don't even know which radio station he's on in my city since he switched. I never watch Fox news - can't because I don't have cable/dish. I read newspapers and I check websites for the major news outlets. I base my opinion on my beliefs - such as less government is better, and examples of what has happened in the past - such as public education. I don't let others form my opinion for me.
Oh, and thanks for the links! Interesting.
@Brent: AS I haven't yet finished Atlas Shrugged, I can't speak to whether or not it is prophetic for our day, but I do think it is pertinent. And yes, while deregulation on Wall Street and many of Alan Greenspan's policies created part of the perfect storm that led to the financial meltdown, let us not forget that there were many other contributing factors, not the least of which was an all-consuming sense of entitlement amongst the American population. The vast majority of us were living beyond on our means, buying anything and everything on credit, and feeling as if we DESERVED extravagance and toys and gadgets which our parents and theirs would have saved for and EARNED or done without entirely. Very few of us were actually taking responsibility for our money and being honest about we could and could not afford.
Also, you have to look back at policies instituted by other presidents. During the Clinton years, the banks were pressured to give home loans to people who clearly could not afford to pay them back in an attempt to help people get out of the ghettos and help out the "working poor". The idea was that they were giving people a chance at a brighter future. That began a spiral that led to zero-down and interest-only and negative amortization and no-doc loans, which led to a whole lot of people buying houses who shouldn't have, which led to absurdly inflated housing prices as we are seeing now. So, yes, while Greenspan certainly played a part, so did those who wanted to "do right" by the poor among us, who as it turns out, they only ended up hurting further.
I'm all for helping our neighbor and I think it is our responsibility as individuals to do so, and not that of the government. If someone wants free health care and government-subsidized education until they finish grad school, they can absolutely have it- in Denmark, where they'll also get the added perk of paying around 65% of their income in taxes.
I agree. Period.
@ Wendy – I pretty much agree with your comment. The part I disagree with is the Clinton years, and that banks were pressured to loan to people that couldn’t afford them. What you are talking about is the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act) which, I think, is still a good thing. There were many changes over the years to the Act, but I don’t think it was much of a factor in the meltdown, but I suppose I could be persuaded either way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_mae#Contributing_factors_and_early_warnings (I found this interesting)
"Unfortunately, Fannie Mae-quality, safe loans in the subprime market did not become the standard, and the lending market moved away from us. Borrowers were offered a range of loans that layered teaser rates, interest-only, negative amortization and payment options and low-documentation requirements on top of floating-rate loans. In early 2005 we began sounding our concerns about this "layered-risk" lending. For example, Tom Lund, the head of our single-family mortgage business, publicly stated, "One of the things we don't feel good about right now as we look into this marketplace is more homebuyers being put into programs that have more risk. Those products are for more sophisticated buyers. Does it make sense for borrowers to take on risk they may not be aware of? Are we setting them up for failure? As a result, we gave up significant market share to our competitors. "[12] –Wikipedia
In the end, it was everyone’s personal greed that ultimately caused the crash, which is why I believe that truly “free” markets don’t work. Unfortunately, regulation of the sub-prime market could have prevented this crash altogether.
I wonder what would happen if we removed speed limits? I suspect it wouldn’t take long for there to be a big CRASH. *sigh* It’s too bad the government has to protect us from ourselves.*/sigh*
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