July 25th, 2009
In this morning’s paper was a letter to the editor railing against the proposed health care reforms because “when the state pays for health care, the state gets to make decisions about who gets health care, and how much.” The author compared the current proposals to those of the Nazis and the Communists. Do I detect a trend here? Is this a Republican, Conservative, right-wing talking point?
First, I would like to call attention to the fact that the above mentioned health programs were run by RIGHT-WING nut jobs, dictators and despots. These are the same type of people who think it’s perfectly okay to wiretap their citizens and imprison them indefinitely without charges.
This is what drives me crazy about the Republican party and the conservative movement. Given my druthers I would love to run scans on many of their brains to try to gain an understanding of how their twisted thinking originates. But of course, that is something the Right would command, and the Left would never seriously consider.
The same people who urged government involvement in the very private matter of the Terry Schiavo case are the same ones who mischaracterize the current plan as a government plot to intrude in our health care decisions. Seriously, what cluster of brain cells is firing?
My insurance company has the absolute right to determine what care I get and how much of it I am entitled to. They also determine what medicines I can be prescribed and what tests I get. You may have heard stories of women giving birth and being forced to leave the hospital in a matter of hours. And how about the women forced to leave the hospital after a mastectomy and dragging their drainage tubes behind them? Kicking people out of hospitals early is not the decision of the hospital or the physician. It’s purely at the behest of insurance companies.
My daughter was delivered via caesarian section. I moved and changed insurance companies a few years later and guess what was specifically excluded from that new policy for several years? Anything that might have resulted from or could possibly be blamed on that c-section.
My mother is on Medicare. Her government run health care program is exquisite. No one tells her what doctors to see or what level of care is permitted. Those decisions are made purely by my mother and her providers.
My husband served in the military many years ago and has VA. His government run health care is terrific. His doctors spend considerable time with him, and with their sophisticated record-keeping nothing is missed.
The utter failure in our current health care system is the insurance-based part of it. It doesn’t work. It’s overpriced. It’s inefficient. It’s corrupt. It’s flat out cruel.
What the hell are these Conservative and Republican idiots talking about? Their arguments are pure “1984.” The rabbit hole. Lunacy.
If for no other reason than to actually force the insurance companies to compete, we need the public option.
Therefore, in the interest of what the editorial page letter writer referred to as the “collective,” I demand CT scans for all of those on the right who are making these specious arguments against government involvement. (And I also want to see their emails, bank records, telephone bills, employment histories, etc.)
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P.S. I talk to many people burdened with debt caused by this health care mess. They are being hammered twice — by their health insurance (or lack of it) and the financial crisis. If this describes you, I might be able to help. Please visit http://www.debt2zip.com
Categories: Commentary, Government, Personal Finance, Politics, Taxes, Uncategorized |
Tags: conservative, debt2zip, health, health care reform, insurance, Republican, Republicans, right wing | 4 Comments
February 1st, 2009
Don’t you just love it. The same people who had no problem with doling out hundreds of billions of dollars to the Lords of Wall Street with no strings attached have an issue with providing help to beekeepers. I guess those guys don’t read National Geographic. Without bees we won’t have crops to harvest, and a mysterious disease has been killing the bees. But I suppose it resonates nicely in a sound bite to call this small bit of assistance in the Economic Stimulus Plan pork.
Conservative ideology is sounding mighty mean-spirited these days. The Economic Stimulus Plan is not perfect, but it’s a far sight better than anything the Bush administration and Henry Paulson came up with. The Conservative message of cut, cut, cut has the feel of Marie Antoinette picking our pockets as she admonishes us to quit whining.
I just heard Mitch McConnell on CNN complain about spending $600 million for government-owned cars and say that’s not appropriate for this bill. What? That’s roughly 30,000 cars that would have to be built by someone. Sounds like job stimulus to me. And since the government doesn’t build cars, it sounds to me like that money will be going to big business. I really don’t understand their problem with it.
Conservatives consistently argue against bigger government. That’s their code for taking our taxpayer dollars and parcelling it out to their pals in the private sector to provide the services that government otherwise would. Which is fine, to a point. Some services are not suited to lumbering bureaucracies. But paying excessive sums to politically connected companies with little or no oversight is not. Halliburton’s Iraq contracts come to mind.
The Conservative argument isn’t about spending money; it’s about whose fingers it sticks to on the way past. For the last eight years there was a huge transfer of wealth to the richest Americans via tax cuts and decreased regulation. That was just peachy with Conservatives. But the Economic Stimulus Plan with its extending benefits to unemployed Americans who buy the goods that generate the profits for big business, not so much.
I don’t understand the logic, and if there isn’t any logic, it might mean it’s just plain old greed. Maybe those Barons of the Conservative movement and our Lords of Wall Street consider us peasants.
Not so long ago in England, a gentleman was someone who owned property. They were the gentry. Today very few of us actually ownproperty. It’s mortgaged, and that’s the biggest reason for our peasanthood. The way to free ourselves from this predicament is to get ourselves out of debt.
I can help. Please visit United First Financial to learn more.
Categories: Commentary, Economy, Government, Politics |
Tags: beekeepers, bees, conservative, economic stimulus, financial, first, ideology, plan, united | 2 Comments
January 11th, 2009
Some things just seem to require a little common sense, and fixing the mortgage crisis is one of them. I heard a story on National Public Radio a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t heard anything about the concept since, and it really requires more discussion.
According to an article in Wikipedia on the subprime mortgage crisis, “As of August 2008, 9.2% of all mortgages outstanding were either delinquent or in foreclosure.” (The source is the Mortgage Bankers Association website, http://www.mbaa.org/NewsandMedia/PressCenter/64769.htm.) Think about this for a second. Almost 10% of all mortgages are in trouble.
- Would you buy a toy for your child if there was a 10% chance the toy contains lead?
- Would you buy an electrical appliance if there was a 10% chance that faulty wiring will cause a fire?
- Would you buy a car from a manufacturer whose air bags fail 10% of the time?
Yet this is precisely what we’re being asked to do when we buy today’s mortgage “products.” (And that is the term lenders use.)
Current mortgage regulations date from the days when borrowers and lenders negotiated loan terms face to face. Those days are long gone, and yet the laws assume borrowers and lenders are on an equal footing. Not long ago I sat next to clients who were purchasing a home. We were at the closing, and they were seeing their loan documents for the first time. (Lenders now fax the documents to the closing attorney or escrow at the last possible moment.) They had gotten their loan through one of those Internet companies that promise cheap rates, and the terms of the loan were not what they had been told. Not even close. They called the 800 number and argued with the clerk at the other end. In the end they were told that if they didn’t like the loan they could refinance at a future date or they could go somewhere else.
Here’s the problem –
- You can’t get a new loan at the drop of a hat. It would probably take a minimum of 3-5 days under the best of circumstances. The property will need to be re-appraised, and the buyer would have to pay out more money.
- The seller may not be willing or able to extend the contract, and there’s no provision in a typical real estate contract for this type of circumstance.
- The buyer has made commitments. In this case, the buyers’ moving van was parked in the driveway of the new house. The buyer would have to pay storage for their household goods and incur the expense of staying somewhere else temporarily. Depending on how prudently they packed, they might have things they badly need for personal or business reasons buried in a box at the back of the truck.
Negotiating a mortgage loan is a far cry from negotiating face to face, and it can be a far cry from fair and ethical behavior from entities that hold all the power. If we’ve learned nothing from all the various corporate scandals that have come our way lately, it’s that we can’t count on large corporations to be fair and ethical with their customers.
The speaker on NPR had a brilliant solution, and I sure wish I’d gotten her name. Here’s how to fix the mortgage crisis once and for all: Mortgage lenders refer to the loans they make as “products,” and it’s true. They are. As such they should be overseen by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Forget the Treasury Department and the SEC and all those agencies who haven’t lifted a finger to protect consumers from these mortgage products. Let’s put oversight where it belongs — the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And let’s give them the budget and the inspectors they need to get the job done.
Lastly, here’s my little self-promotion — if you want to take power back from lenders who clearly don’t care about you or your interests, please visit my website: United First Financial. I can help you get out from under. Instead of contributing to what is probably the largest building in your town, I can help you keep your hard-earned money for yourself and your family. Basically, you can stick it to them by cutting down on their income. Perfect.
Categories: Commentary, Economy, Government, Personal Finance, Taxes, Uncategorized |
Tags: commission, consumer product, crisis, financial, first, fix, Mortgage, safety, united | 2 Comments
December 19th, 2008
Conservative politics makes me sick. I could never have conceived of a philosophy or ideology that is so morally bankrupt as to manipulate and abuse just about everyone it encounters. But that is what Conservatives have become.
Lie about going into Iraq? To quote Vice President Cheney, “So?”
To show some small element of support and empathy for the immediate aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina? I know. I know. Don’t leave your ranch and only do a quick flyby several days later.
To blithely turn over $350 Billion to big banks and Wall Street firms with almost no oversight and with a nifty loophole to allow big bonuses for those who broke their companies? Just peachy.
The fact that all that money is doing absolutely nothing to free up credit and help homeowners in danger of losing their homes? Sound surprised but don’t make any fundamental changes.
How about playing a big role in the downfall of the American auto industry because of the lack of credit caused by the companies above and then laying the blame on the United Auto Workers? Yeah, of course. What’s the problem?
I’m reading an excellent book by Bob Moser entitled Blue Dixie: Awakening the South’s Democratic Majority. It took thirty years for Conservatives to get us to where we are now, and there are some who don’t think they’ve brought us far enough. Until I read this book I didn’t know anything about Dominionists, but there are Republicans out there who actually think we should become a Christian version of Iran.
D. James Kennedy was quoted as saying, “Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors — in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.” Their goal is to “rewrite schoolbooks and curricula to reflect a history of America as a ‘Christian nation’; pack the courts with judges who follow Old Testament law; post the Ten Commandments in every courthouse; and make it a felony for gay men to have sex and women to have abortions under any circumstances.”
Does any part of this sound familiar? We’ve had fiscal Conservatism with it’s belief that companies and management come first and everyone else be damned. We’ve had social Conservatism with it’s belief that if you don’t follow their most unChristlike dogma, you are damned. Hmmm. Not too much room for most of us, is there?
P.S. Please allow me a little pitch for something that isn’t likely to turn you into Warren Buffett but could definitely put you in a position to provide for your kids’ education or your retirement. We can’t count on government to be there when we need it, and it is imperative that we find ways to protect ourselves. This is such a way. Please click this link to learn more — United First Financial.
Categories: Commentary, Government, Politics |
Tags: bankrupt, conservatism, conservative, Dominionism, financial, first, ideology, Politics, united | No Comments
December 1st, 2008
YAY! It’s been almost a month, and the reality has finally sunk in. YAY! America is a better country today, and I am very proud of our citizenry for seeing through the viciousness of the GOP and coming through to elect just the right man for this time. YAY! Do I sound like I’m please as punch over the outcome? You betcha.
North Carolina was a swing state. I’ve never lived in a swing state before, and we were inundated with negative campaigning from the McCain ticket. I had always thought McCain was an honorable man, but I could not possibly support someone who would say he was opposed to negative campaigning while burying us with negative mailers and robocalls. It was ugly, nasty and mean-spirited. I like to think we’re better than that.
Although I’d never been involved in politics before, I felt deep in my gut that change was imperative. The prospect of Bush’s policies being continued for even one minute past January 20th scared the heck out of me. I honestly can’t think of one branch of government that he and his cronies didn’t break. I can’t think of one branch of government that is working as it should.
I volunteered for the Obama campaign, and I made phone calls. Obama’s campaign was unbelievably professional and disciplined. I never heard anyone say anything bad about McCain or Palin to the people we talked to. Our job was to be positive and to encourage people to vote.
For anyone who is still unsure of the man, I can assure you that he’s okay. He might end up screwing up like so many other politicians, but he’s not Muslim or communist or a terrorist or anything else. How do I know?
He graduated from Punahou School in 1979. I graduated in 1968. The school is a first-rate private school that teaches its students that those who are given great gifts have a great responsibility to give back. This is instilled in children starting in kindergarten, and it is a major component of the school community. Barack was a perfect illustration of this with his work as a community organizer.
Another thing about Punahou is that we were required to attend chapel every week. The school is very diverse with children of all races, nationalities and religions, and they go out of their way not to make it too hard for kids of different religions, but the main undercurrent is Christianity. The school was founded in 1841 by the descendants of missionaries, for heaven’s sake.
The last thing is that my sister used to work for Barack’s grandmother. When you know someone’s grandmother, you get a pretty good sense of that person. My sister told me that Barack’s grandmother was a stern and tough boss, but she was fair. She was highly respected and admired, and she reached a position of considerable authority at a time when women had a great deal of difficulty doing so. Kudos to her on so many levels.
All in all, I trust that our country is in good hands. I’m so very happy that so many of us joined together to do the right thing.
And a shameless plug — If you’d like to do something really good for yourself while being a good citizen in this time of economic crisis, click here to find out how to pay off all of your debt — United First Financial.
Categories: Commentary, Government, Politics |
Tags: Barack, Bush, GOP, Government, North Carolina, Obama, Politics, Punahou | 29 Comments
October 8th, 2008
One of the consistent themes of conservatives is smaller government and how we’ll all save lots of money if only government were smaller. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Last year tens of thousand of pets died because melamine was put in pet food as a substitute for protein. Not long after that hundreds of Americans became sick from what we were originally told was tomatoes from Mexico. It turned out not to be tomatoes and the correct vegetable may not have come from Mexico, but hey, what the heck. Our beef cannot be exported to many countries because of fear of Mad Cow disease. Recently there was a big scandal in China with babies being poisoned by melamine in milk products. Initially we were assured that no tainted products had made their way into this country, but that’s not quite true. Melamine is showing up all over the place. For years now people have been complaining that their generic drugs are not performing as well as the name-brand drugs the generics are meant to substitute for. In some cases the generics are actually making people sick.
Smaller government means fewer inspectors at the Food & Drug Administration. Not to be facetious, but how’s that working for you?
Smaller government is a conservative canard. Yes, they mean cutting federal employees, but when they aren’t out to gut an agency they don’t believe in (like the FDA and it’s regulations on the pharmaceutical industry), they actually mean turning over government services to private industry. What a recipe for corruption. We’ve all seen the no-bid contracts coming out of the Iraq war, but I’m sure there are many more of these things that we don’t know about.
I remember when this discussion got started in the Reagan administration. Government bureaucracy at the time was bloated and unresponsive. Good luck finding friendly help when you called anyone. We were told this would all be fixed and money would be saved by having private business perform many government functions. It all made perfect sense.
And I have a bridge for sale.
The next administration, whoever it is, must cooperate with Congress, and Congress must actually do its job in ferreting out the corruption that has occurred under this administration. Money needs to be returned to the treasury and people need to go to jail. And we all have to think about what it really means when a politician says he or she is promoting smaller government.
Categories: Commentary, Government, Politics |
Tags: Congress, FDA, mad cow, melamine, money, pets, pharmaceutical, regulations | No Comments
