Does government pay attention? To anything?

Besides their own reflection in the mirror, that is.

                        Really?


One is inclined to believe that the controlled release of these photos demonstrates both a perceptive ability into just what their "subjects" desire, and a willingness of these world leaders to comply.

Not exactly.

It appears that "ego" is playing an increasing and ever more frightening role in the direction of our worlds many governments. After centuries of moving away from disastrous results of totalitarian rule, Americans and citizens throughout the world seem complacent, fat and happy with government 'hand feeding' them and are fast becoming willing participants in the precipitous slide into state run territories.

Not so in part of the former Soviet Union. Protests in Kiev continue as Ukrainian citizens reject principals of Lenin in favor of those established by America's founders. Recently a seething crowd toppled and smashed a statue of Lenin, the most prominent monument to the Communist leader in Kiev. The act was heavy with symbolism, underscoring the protesters’ rage at Russia over its role in the events that first prompted the protests: Mr. Yanukovich’s abrupt refusal to sign sweeping political and free-trade agreements with the European Union. Yanukovich only added to the demonstrators’ anger by stopping, on his way back from China, to meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Rumors immediately began swirling that Yanukovich had cut a secret economic deal with Putin that would lead to Ukraine joining a customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, a step that many Ukrainians believe would deliver their country’s future into the Kremlin’s hands. Both governments denied the rumors, but the protesters do not trust either Putin or Yanukovich, and opposition leaders used the matter to whip up the crowd in Kiev. “Today, they fall on their knees in front of the president of Russia and surrender us to the customs union,” said Oleg Tyagnibok, the leader of the nationalist Svoboda Party. “We demand to make public what these secret negotiations were about. They bring us back to the time of Stalinism. Is this 1937?”

Surely, Lenin is turning over in his grave, er tomb, uh mausoleum, display... whatever. Surely he is turning over again because dictators just cannot get it through their heads that people will only tolerate so much.

The peoples acceptance of rule by decree died with the era of kings and emperors. Sadly, and in sharp contrast to those in Kiev protesting to attain greater freedom, in the Yin Yang cycles of our world those with freedom are slowly exchanging it for handouts and the seemingly 'life-easing' that accompanies dependence.

Tales of virtues and ruggedness of the American Frontiersman (Yeah - sexist, I know. Get over it.) will soon be closer to Aesop's Fables than real American history. A willingness to sacrifice life or limb for reward has been replaced by pajama boy, a flannel footie wearing young adult (27 years old or older - remember, he was just dropped from his parents insurance) drinking hot chocolate, sitting on his parents couch and discussing how to take advantage of the latest government handout.

So despite the NSA's excessive and on-going efforts to spy on everyone everywhere, American leadership is not getting the general message we are sending:

We accept that life is not fair and desire to create equal opportunities for all that pursue them; we do not want you to assure us of equal outcome.

To the people of Kiev, time is on your side. You will get what you desire and exactly what you deserve. Persevere! Just take note: Americans are currently getting what we (thought we) desired and it too is exactly what we deserved.

In your quest for freedom from Putin's influence and oppression of totalitarian rule, I for one stand with you.

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”
James Madison

The Emperor's New Software

A Modern Fable...

In a not too distant land there lives an emperor who loves control so much that he spends all his kingdom's money on creating new regulations for his subjects. His only interest is in going to the theater or in riding about in his carriage where he can show off his dominion as he secretly creates new obstacles for the people to enjoy the same freedoms. He has a different speech for every hour of the day. Indeed, where it was said of other kings that they were at court, it could only be said of him that he was in his handlers prep room practicing with the teleprompter!

One day two community organizers came to the emperor's city. They said that they were programmers, claiming that they knew how to make the finest website imaginable. Not only were the colors and the pictures of the pages extraordinarily beautiful, but in addition, this website had the amazing property that the  truth was to be invisible to anyone who was incompetent or stupid. And since the emperor thought that most of his subjects were just that, he knew that this website would support the legacy he would leave for all the people of his land; the legacy which would henceforth be known as EmperorCare.

"It would be wonderful to have a program made from that vision," thought the emperor. "Then I would know which of my subjects are unfit for their positions, and I'd also be able to tell clever people from stupid ones." So he immediately gave the two computer programmers a great sum of money to weave their website for him.

They set up their networks and pretended to go to work, although there was no language at all in the computer program. They asked for the finest hardware and the purest gold, all of which they hid away, continuing to work on the empty programming, often late into the night.

"I would really like to know how they are coming with the website!" thought the emperor, but he was a bit uneasy when he recalled that anyone who was unfit for his position or stupid would not be able to see the truth. Of course, he himself had nothing to fear, but still he decided to send someone else to see how the work was progressing. "I'll send my honest old minister of health to the programmers," thought the emperor. She's the best one to see how the site is coming. She is very sensible, and no one is more worthy of her position than she.

So the good old minister went into the hall where the two swindlers sat working at their empty monitors. "Goodness!" thought the old minister, opening her eyes wide. "I cannot see a thing!" But she did not say so. The two community organizers invited her to step closer, asking her if it wasn't a beautiful design and if the colors weren't magnificent. They pointed to the empty screen, and the poor old minister opened her eyes wider and wider. She still could see nothing, for nothing was there. "Gracious" she thought. "Is it possible that I am stupid? I have never thought so. Am I unfit for my position? No one must know this. No, it will never do for me to say that I was unable to see the website."

"You aren't saying anything!" said one of the community organizers.

"Oh, it is magnificent! The very best!" said the old minister, peering through her glasses. "This pattern and these colors! Yes, I'll tell the emperor that I am very satisfied with it!"

"That makes us happy!" said the two swindlers, and they called the colors and the unusual pattern by name. The old minister listened closely so that she would be able say the same things when she reported back to the emperor, and that is exactly what she did.

The programmers now asked for more money, more hardware, and more gold, all of which they hid away. Then they continued to type away as before on the keyboard attached to the empty computer screens.

The emperor sent other officials as well to observe the programmers' progress. They too were startled when they saw nothing, and they too reported back to him how wonderful the website was, advising him to have it made into a single-payer program and that in the spirit of never wasting a good crisis, he could announce in a grand procession. The entire city was alive in praise of the soon to be rolled out website.

"Magnifique! Nysseligt! Excellent!" they said, in all languages.

The emperor bypassed his ministry and signed an executive order awarding the organizers with medals of honor, as they seemed to be cut from his same cloth, bestowing on each of them the title Programmer Czar.

The swindlers stayed up the entire night before the roll out was to take place, burning more than sixteen compact florescent light bulbs. Everyone could see that they were in a great rush to finish the emperor's new website. They pretended to access the various menus from the site. They typed as if they were enrolling. They selected from the choices which were not really there. Finally they announced, "Behold! The website is finished!" "Now all the kingdom will have unfettered access and unlimited entitlements!"

The emperor came to them with his most distinguished cavaliers. The two swindlers pointed to the computer monitor as though something was there and said, "Just look at this homepage! Here is the where you register! Here is where you enroll and make your selection! And this is the secret IRS / NSA information gathering page!" and so forth. "It is as deceptive as your previous Minister of State! You might think that you were exposed, but that is the good thing about the website".

"Yes," said the cavaliers, but they couldn't see a thing, for nothing was there.

"Would his imperial majesty, if it please his grace, kindly upload his new website." said the swindlers. "Then we will make it accessible for your subjects; do it here in front of the large mirror." The emperor uploaded the program, and the organizers pretended to walk him through the various drop down menus, page by page, of the website that wasn't there. They took hold of his waist and pretended to tie something about him. Then the emperor turned and looked into the mirror.

"Goodness, this website suits you well! What a wonderful fit!" they all said. "What a pattern! What colors! Such complete control over the people!"

"The canopy to be carried above your majesty awaits outside," said the grandmaster of ceremonies.

"Yes, I am ready!" said the emperor. "Doesn't the website define my leadership well?" He turned once again toward the mirror, because it had to appear as though he were admiring himself in all his glory.

The chamberlains who were to support and sell the illusion to the emperor's subjects sat at their desks hands just above their keyboards as if they were beginning to register. As they typed they pretended to be amazed by the choices and savings available to them in the website, for they could not let anyone notice that they could see nothing.

The emperor walked beneath the beautiful canopy in the procession, and all the people in the street and in their windows said, "Goodness, the emperor's new website is incomparable! What a beautiful legacy for his people. What a perfect fit!" No one wanted it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then it would be said that he was unfit for his position or that he was stupid. None of the emperor's regulations had ever before received such praise.

"But the website has higher premiums and greater deductibles!" said a small child.

"Good Lord, let us hear the voice of an innocent child!" said the father, and whispered to another what the child had said.

"A small child said that the website is deceptive!"

Finally everyone was saying, "The website has misled us!"

The emperor shuddered, for he knew that they were right, but he thought, "The procession must go on!" He carried himself even more proudly, and the chamberlains typed away on the website that wasn't there.

“There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.”
― Joseph Pulitzer

IPAB

Independent Payment Advisory Board aka Death Panel. Apparently the definition depends upon your perspective...

 

 

For the record the AMA continues to fight for the elimination of the IPAB which will impose arbitrary across-the-board cuts to physicians and other providers.

 

Last week I presented you with the Senate rule change. Now the reasons for Reid's abrupt proposal to change the rules are clear - it paves the way for President Obama to stack the advisory board, unobstructed, with his choices. Or, maybe, for Valerie Jarret to pay back her supporters... 

 

IPAB Board members are to include:

1. 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In selecting individuals for nominations for appointments to the Board, the President shall consult with: (i) the majority leader of the Senate concerning the appointment of 3 members; (ii) the Speaker of the House of Representatives concerning the appointment of 3 members; (iii) the minority leader of the Senate concerning the appointment of 3 members; and (iv) the minority leader of the House of Representatives concerning the appointment of 3 members;
2. The HHS Secretary, the Administrator of CMS, and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (all of whom will serve ex officio as nonvoting members of the Board).

The question of whether one's life is worth saving or one's condition is worth treating is a key part of the Affordable Care Act, even while being eclipsed by political maneuverings and enrollment difficulties. And having that decision made by a body such as IPAB has led to legislative efforts to pull the plug on the ACA itself.

Amazingly, or maybe not considering the rats are jumping off the sinking ACA ship, a House bill to repeal IPAB attracted 22 Democrat co-sponsors. Arkansas Democrat Sen. Mark Pryor co-sponsored a Senate repeal bill after spending the previous three years defending IPAB. The Senate and House measures had, at last count, 32 and 192 co-sponsors, respectively. Under the Affordable Care Act, the IPAB's board of 15 presidentially appointed "experts" will be empowered to make arbitrary Medicare spending-cut decisions with virtually no congressional oversight or control. Its decisions will not be made on an individual level, but it will decide what treatments and therapies are cost-effective and therefore covered, affecting and possibly costing the lives of those in need of them.

It has been documented for years how socialized medicine around the world, particularly Britain's National Health Service, makes centralized decisions based on cost-effectiveness rather than medical need, and how this has led to rationing and denial of service. People literally die while on waiting lists. The ACA tries to apply that same approach to Medicare through IPAB.

According to an article by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, 'the surest way to avoid rationing is to adequately compensate providers. One way to ensure adequate reimbursement that also allows market forces to work freely is to enroll more people in private insurance'.

Yet the President and his (suddenly) dissipating group of ACA supporters are going out of their way to reassure us that despite the IPAB's sole function of saving money by restricting access to health care - deciding if one's life is worth saving or one's condition is worth treating - there are no death panels.

JULIET:
      'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.
-From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1600

What matters is what something is, not what it is called.

America - our future IS in your hands. Dr. Ben Carson sums it up like this - "We've got to bring courage and bravery back." "Our goals are to return healthcare to the practitioner and to the patient, and not have a third party making medical decisions for people, and finding an appropriate way to pay for it. That's what we want to do."

Do we need another American War of Independence?

The American Revolutionary War was the culmination of the civil and political American Revolution resulting from the American Enlightenment. Brought to a head over the lack of American representation in Parliament, which was seen as a denial of their rights as Englishmen and often popularly focused on direct taxes levied by Parliament on the colonies without their consent, the colonists resisted the imposition of direct rule after the Boston Tea Party. Creating self-governing provinces, they circumvented the British ruling apparatus in each colony by 1774. Armed conflict between British regulars and colonial militiamen broke out at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. After petitions to the Crown for intervention with Parliament were ignored, the rebel leaders were declared traitors by the Crown and a year of fighting ensued. The colonies declared their independence in July 1776, listing grievances against the British king and legislature while asking the support of the populace. Among George's other offences, the Declaration charged, "He has abdicated Government here ... He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." The gilded equestrian statue of George III in New York was pulled down. The British captured the city in 1776, but lost Boston, and the grand strategic plan of invading from Canada and cutting off New England failed with the surrender of the British Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratogs.

 

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_jefferson.html#utwzexBkohq1vluu.99

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_jefferson.html#utwzexBkohq1vluu.99



When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Thomas Jefferson

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff412712.html#y6HjHcLbfWGDxG3o.99

"When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty."
-Thomas Jefferson

Today Harry Reid made history and for the first time since King George III ruled America, the rules of the Senate have been changed to benefit a political party and their ideology rather than the Americans who elected those Senators to represent them.

For the record, the Senate voted on and passed - a purely partisan vote by the way (like the Affordable Care Act) - a procedural rule change which allows the majority party to silence the minority by reducing the votes required to break a filibuster from 60 to 51. Interestingly those same Senators who (are currently in the majority) decided it was the right and just thing to do, vehemently opposed the idea when they were in the minority: Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Joseph Biden. In fact just minutes after the vote occurred, President Obama praised Harry Reid for his actions. Is Barack admitting that his hold on power is now more important to him than the fairness to American citizens which he so often cites? Harry must have changed his mind about our founding fathers and apparently Joe didn't pray hard enough... The bottom line in all of this is the facilitation of political divisiveness which is already at unprecedented levels under the actions of the Obama administration.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

Thomas Jefferson

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff125003.html#m9Y13wbX1fv9EKM8.99

"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
- Thomas Jefferson

So let's consider the points highlighted above:

Lack of American representation -
Today the Democrat majority in the Senate, on a party line vote, approved a rule change effectively silencing the minority party for the first time in over 200 years, rendering the 48 Republican votes - representing half of the country - irrelevant...

Denial of rights -
Since we had to "pass the bill to know what is in it" (thanks Nancy) we are now finding out. We do not have the right to choose our doctor, we do not have the right to choose a health care plan tailored to our individual needs and if we are in the minority we do not have the right to prevent our government from taking action to which we oppose; our voice is no longer relevant...

Taxes levied without consent -
The penalty in the Affordable Care Act became a tax thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts and in that change to the law, illegal according to our constitution, Americans will soon be taxed rather than penalized for not participating in a law that half of our country disapproved of at the time it was passed and over 61% disapprove of now!

With a president who has at times acted like a king through his abuse of executive orders and seems to be doing everything he can to divide rather than unite our country, are the reasons for demanding independence from tyranny in 1775 really that much different from today?

"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
-Thomas Jefferson

What is the purpose of health insurance?

It's a simple question. Yet ask 20 people and the number of different answers might surprise you. For my purpose, the answer too is simple - to provide health care when it is needed.

 

 

The dangerous behavior depicted in the photo above is a perfect example of why you might want to purchase health insurance. At the speed he is traveling, with no protective gear and in the middle of traffic, he is an accident waiting to happen.

 

Assuming I am right, and I usually am, a law that provides health care to everyone when it is needed is on it's face a good thing. If the law provides everyone with insurance but NOT health care then it is a bad thing. If the government seizes control of private industry it is called nationalization, even if the IRS is the enforcer rather than the military. And finally, if the law is not a law then it is fraud.

 

Stay with me.

 

In general and with limitations, health care has been available to all people - even non-citizens visiting our country and illegal aliens. That's undocumented immigrants to my politically correct friends. If you do not have health insurance and break your leg you can still go to a county hospital and have it set. You might wait for 8 hours while the gunshot and automobile crash victims (who also didn't have insurance) were tended to but you would eventually receive health care. So while you might be hard pressed to find a private orthopedist who would see you without insurance the county hospital will not turn you away.

 

Industry regulations have improved our health and the environment for years. The explosion in regulations in the last few decades however seem to have increasingly more political motives. The Nebraskans For Peace really have a valid point regarding their concern for the contamination of a major groundwater source. Does that mean the government should assume control of the oil and gas industry because, as the Nebraskans For Peace state, "building the pipeline would provide oil companies more incentives for further development of the tar sands in Canada"? For the benefit of its citizens, is it better for a government which has proven time after time that it cannot effectively run an enterprise (See: The US Post Office, Social Security, Fanny Mae...) to nationalize an industry or rather to simply provide it direction (approved of course by a democratic vote - NOT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER)?   

 

In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

-Robert Burns

 

Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution specifically states that ALL bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. The Affordable Care Act originated in the Senate (by no less than Harry Reid who was voted the most unpopular politician on the planet) with a "penalty" rather than a tax - and this is important - for not purchasing health care. When the legitimacy of the law went before the US Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts spent several pages in his written decision explaining in great detail how the penalty mandate violates the constitution if imposed under the Commerce Clause. Then, he inexplicably, ruled that the mandate was a tax, not a penalty, and thus fell under Congress's constitutional authority to levy such taxes. The Supreme Court effectively re-wrote the law changing the penalty to a tax, therefore it did not originate in the House of Representatives as required by the US Constitution. Considering it was passed in the dark of night, behind closed doors, on a purely partisan vote, contrary to President Obama's promise of transparency, this law really is not a law at all. It is fraud.

 

It turns out that Vice President Joe Biden was right. This is a big effing (content edited) deal!

 

In the end we have a law which violates our constitution, nationalizes health care - meaning it will be run in the image and with the success of the likes of the US Post Office and the IRS, and due to doctors dropping out of practice and Medicaid roles swelling we may all soon be waiting in line at the county hospital for our health care. Not only doesn't this fraud provide more health care but appears to be reducing the number of Americans who actually have health insurance.  

 

So of what value then is Obama's promise of health insurance?

 

A man with dangerous thoughts

History is filled with men and women whose thinking so shook the foundation of their society's beliefs that they were publicly ridiculed, excommunicated or worse; even burned alive at the stake. All of those courageous individuals have perished in time, as time will take each of us, but some of the institutions in which the condemners served still exist. Specifically in the form of governing bodies.

 

Giordano Bruno was an early proponent that the sun was just another star moving in space, and claimed as well that the universe contained an infinite number of inhabited worlds populated by other intelligent beings. It took a brave man to publicly express those beliefs in the face of the powerful Catholic Church during the Roman Inquisition. You can guess Bruno's fate.

“Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.”
― Giordano Bruno

Many governments carry on the tradition of maintaining that they are right in all matters concerning their citizens, any and all contrary beliefs are wrong, and disobedience by refusing to subjugate will be punished. We no longer burn people at the stake. Apparently though, America does use the IRS. Speak out or challenge the powers that be and you will be audited. Not the same of course, but make no mistake about it, the IRS can make your life miserable.

Today, defending why his previous statements - "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" and "If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan" seem to be misleading if not outright lies, the President, instead of admitting he got it wrong, told us what he meant to say was if your insurance plan meets the new government regulations then you can keep your plan. Or in the ultimate paternalistic big government knows best syntax, he actually said you people are too stupid too pick an appropriate insurance plan so we will pick one for you.

“If the butterfly wings its way to the sweet light that attracts it, it's only because it doesn't know that the fire can consume it.”
― Giordano Bruno

The President and Democrats have belittled, bullied and retaliated against every voice which has been contrary to their vision of universal health care and the Affordable Care Act. Let's not forget it was passed on a purely partisan vote. Translation: at least half of the population disagreed with it at that time. Interestingly the number of Americans concerned that health care will get worse under the new law continues to increase. And even more interesting is the fact that the main stream media is now reporting on the "inconvenient facts". The reason an increasing number of Americans are concerned about the Affordable Care Act is that as it continues to roll out, the inconvenient truths' are being felt where it hurts most, in our pocket books.

With a president who has played the 'dog ate my homework' card much too often we are left to conclude he is not deceitful, just inept. Apparently though, not so simple that he won't deploy the IRS when necessary... or at least have his minions do so without a clear trail to the oval office. President Obama will be well served to understand Deus est supra vobis.

Those of us speaking out against the health care law do so knowing the consequences and we persist despite the intimidation. The truth is becoming clear - we are not the one's with dangerous thoughts.

However, proponents of the law, those condemning contrary opinions, seem to be getting a little testy... Like the Catholic Church which for hundreds of years went to extreme lengths to silence opposition for fear the truth may undermine their authority, so too it seems the Obama administration is going to great lengths to prevent the truth from being revealed. I wonder why.

“Maybe you who condemn me are in greater fear than I who am condemned.”
― Giordano Bruno

This is the group that will be regulating your health care

 

A 2005 federal study found that the U.S. had virtually no affordable housing for the deaf. So the federal government helped build Apache ASL Trails, a 75-unit apartment building in Tempe, Ariz., designed specifically for the deaf. Ninety-percent of the units are currently occupied by deaf and deaf-blind seniors. But now, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development says Apache ASL Trails violates civil rights law - because it shows a preference for the hearing-impaired. "A preference or priority based on a particular diagnosis or disability and excluding others with different disabilities is explicitly prohibited by HUD's Section 504 regulations," says a HUD memo about the project. "There is no legal authority contained in any of Apache Trails funding to permit such a priority or preference."

So HUD is trying to eliminate the housing by forcing Arizona, at a facility with 75 units designed for the deaf, to limit the number of units for hearing impaired residents to 18.

"C'mon! What's'a'matter with 'ya?... 'Ya nuts?!"
- Moe

This goes to the heart of the concerns expressed by the Affordable Health Care Act's opponents - the government cannot properly manage it's current obligations so why would they ever place the health and care of their bodies in the hands of the government's minions?

Any of you who have experienced the helplessness and fear when an insurer denies health care might welcome a mediator or advocate to bring balance and support to the patient, and that is how the Affordable Health Care Act was sold. But consider for a moment combining the power of the insurer to give or refuse care with the bureaucracy of your local Department of Motor Vehicles, Drivers License Division... one can easily imagine questionable decisions being made by low level auditors in the Cincinnati office (wait, was that the IRS profiling?) or action delayed (by whom, we may never know - remember Benghazi?) in providing care due to improper paperwork. The size and complexity of this program means the opportunities for breakdown are limitless.

Oxycontin is a class IV drug meaning it is regulated in ways that other drugs are not. Bet you didn't even know we had a Federal Office of Diversion Control!

My late wife, Terri, was prescribed Oxycontin for pain while undergoing a brutal regiment for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Considering her prognosis, her doctors were liberal with their pain management - as they should have been - so over time, as her condition deteriorated her prescribed dosage increased. Following a particularly difficult week of radiation to the brain in conjunction with chemotherapy, her dosage was increased and a new prescription issued on a Friday afternoon. If you have ever gone to get your driver license on Friday afternoon then I'm sure you know where this is going. The pharmacist could not get authorization for the increase because at 4:15pm the only insurance company representative apparently authorized to give approval was gone for the day (weekend - only us peasants work on weekends). To make matters worse, the increase coincided with her normal refill date so she had just enough medication for the day under the new dosage. Following a short profanity laced, accusatory tantrum by none other than yours truly, the pharmacist gave me enough medication for Terri to make it through the end of the day on Monday allowing the insurance company to get back to their job of taking care of their customers. For the record, I apologized for my explosion. Just to be kind to the pharmacist, because I wasn't really sorry and have not forgotten the bureaucratic obstacles and lack of compassion displayed by everyone except the pharmacist.

I wonder if that pharmacist would make the same decision today considering the penalties and other new regulatory consequences provided for not following the rules under the Affordable Care Act?

Another interesting variable in the overall Affordable Health Care Act ponsy scheme came to light today. Like Social Security, the health care laws success is contingent upon young healthy members enrolling and paying premiums. The fact that they will not be utilizing many services allows their contributions to fund the services provided to our aging population. And our non-contributing population. We learned today that 15% of America's young adult population, age 16-24, those required to participate in the new health care law if it is to work, are currently not attending school and are not working. Hard for them to pay premiums under those circumstances.

Ponsy scheme's only work when another sucker comes along to participate. Today's youth apparently are not the rubes the health care act's architects thought they were. They know a free ride when they see one!

And I can't help but thinking those same young adults view our government the way they view the 3 Stooges. Old and no longer relevant. Not so funny when you think about it like that.

Tetrad: Four Blood Moons

Change is coming.

Of course the president and congress appear to be pushing it off again, the current proposal suggesting some time early next year. I find it stunning, literally unbelievable how our politicians - almost every one of them - run their campaign promising positive changes for the nations health and then immediately upon their election display the lack of courage necessary to take the steps required to accomplish just that.

Historically the Tetrad is just another doomsday prophecy. Maybe. But the science of predicting the astrological alignment creating a 'Blood Moon' effect is solid. The Four Blood Moons will occur.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for fiscal responsibility by the US Government. They have kicked the stability and security of the United States down the road again and are unwilling to make the tough choices and compromises required for our county's long term good health. The cowardice of our leaders foretells the struggles our nation and our children will face.

So much has been reported on the Tea Party's influence over the ongoing (could be ending today) budget and debt battle. But I haven't heard anyone recognize these facts:

The Tea Party did not create our $17 trillion debt.

The Tea Party did not create our $90 trillion (currently unfunded) entitlement programs.

The Tea Party did not support or are they responsible for the latest disastrous entitlement program wrapping its tendrils around the heart of our country's financial independence; the Affordable Health Care Act. It is not yet clear what this program will cost but health care represents about 20% of our economy or in the neighborhood of $2,500,000,000,000 annually. And like most government programs, cost overruns with this one are rampant -
The $2500 savings to each family promised by the President has become a $7500 expense.
The $900 billion estimated cost to implement the program now stands at $3.6 trillion and is climbing.
The $690 million price tag for the Health Care Act website appears to be a colossal waste of money as it does not work. And now we find out the real reason for the websites flaws... The design causing the websites access problems was intentional. It was purposely designed in a way that prevents an applicant from experiencing sticker shock by seeing the full cost of the insurance up front.

Who was overseeing this project? The NSA? Since they have all of our contact lists and email address books they could have just merged the information and signed up all of us automatically!

The Tea Party, however, is being blamed, in very hostile language I might add, by the President, the Democrats and even many Republicans for being the obstacle to our governments ability to spend more money. What is surprising here is that they are the ONLY voice of caution. The only voice of REASON!

For the record, the Tea Party supports health care for everyone. They do not support a government continually amassing greater power over the people or a bloated bureaucracy constantly imposing new taxation to satisfy its never ending thirst to spend without oversight.

Where is the voice for our children? Where is the voice for the future viability of the United States? Or for that matter the voice for the future relevance of the United States?  Certainly these wise men and women leading our country do not really believe we can spend beyond our means to perpetuity? We have to make a choice.

I urge you to take a moment to read this short bio on George Mason.

In 1787, Mason was chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he was one of the most vocal debaters.  Distressed over the amount of power being given to the federal government and the Convention’s unwillingness to abolish the slave trade, Mason refused to sign the Constitution.  One of three dissenters, Mason’s refusal to support the new Constitution made him unpopular and destroyed his friendship with Washington, who later referred to Mason as his former friend.

"As nations can not be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this."
-George Mason

 Yes, a change is comin'...

Permanent, severe and irreparable harm and injury

That's what will befall all viewing this photo. At least that's what the ACLU and Freedom from Religion Foundation want you to believe. Seriously? Just by looking at it?

 

 

When waiting in a lobby or office I make it a point to observe the pictures on the walls, the magazines on the tables and other items indicating what values the daily inhabitants of the location might hold dear. I cannot remember any of the pictures in any of the buildings I have been in over the last 50 years.

There are other portraits on the school district's Hall of Honor wall, presumably of successful individuals who no doubt made considerable contributions and/or brought about positive change to their community, town, city, state, country and maybe even the world. I don't know that, because the other portraits are not mentioned in the article and are barely visible in the accompanying portrait.

It is not possible that any of the other individuals in the Hall of Honor were more influential in the world-wide history of humanity than Jesus. Of course there are many individuals who have made amazing contributions to humanity and I know people whose personal beliefs place someone other than Jesus at the top of their list of most influential person in history. Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, when it comes to historical influence, no person in history has had a greater impact on our world today than Jesus. Nearly 2000 years after his brutal execution by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion people including 77% of the US population attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God.

And brutal it was - if you have not studied history or never seen the movie, this clip from The Passion of Christ will open your eyes to the unconscionable extent of Roman punishment. The scene begins with Pontius Pilate giving Caiaphas and the disciples of the Jewish Temple the choice of which prisoner he will release, Jesus or the terrorist and murderer Barabbas. The high priests and religious elders choose Barabbas to ensure that Jesus is executed. And ensure the riches they receive through the Temple are not interrupted. To them, a man who speaks the truth is more dangerous than a mass murderer. The clip concludes with Mary, Jesus's mother, watching in agony the horrible beating of her son. This is history, not propaganda. As a parent I cannot imagine...

For those condemned to death the verberatio, or scourging, is what you see at the end of the clip above. It is accomplished by beating the convicted with a wooden handled flagrum, a type of whip, containing bits of metal and sheep bone in it's leather tendrils. This instrument allowed legionaries of the Roman death squads to inflict maximum pain and damage by quickly ripping away flesh and muscle, often exposing internal body parts, bones and organs.

Jesus's lash marks extended from his head down to the back of his calves.

To be fair, Christians have also initiated many wars in the name of God and inflicted inhumane treatment on their adversaries for the same reason and still today some 'proclaimed' Christians espouse hate and intolerance. It is important to remember that was not in the teachings of Jesus. His messages focused on love, hope and truth.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
Jesus Christ

Actually, now that I think of it, I do remember one picture on a wall and it turns out it too was in a government building. It struck me as unusual so I took a picture of it with my phone. It didn't fit with the picture of President Obama in one of the other rooms and since it was from President Lincoln, I was surprised that I had never seen or heard of it before. I have included it below for your enjoyment. At the risk of having the ACLU remove this too, I am not disclosing it's location.

When the activities of the ACLU include censoring whose values American citizens might revere or emulate, they have effectively outlived their usefulness.

For what it's worth, Abraham Lincoln believed Jesus was God.

Grossly Tendentious / Cautiously Optomistic

Two Leaders, two speeches, one conclusion: One is a leader and one is not.

One understands interpersonal relationships, one understands fear based motivation; one wants the other side to realize and share success, one wishes the other side would disappear; one would tell you his opponents have a just cause if not appropriate methods, one would have you believe the picture below represents his opponents.

"Change is inevitable. Growth is optional."
John C. Maxwell

The news cycle the last 48 hours has been filled with the phrase 'historical'. What with the insurance exchanges officially opening and the shutdown of the government, each moment of political maneuvering has been deemed historical.

I believe the real historical events will be the ramifications of the two speeches given today and of course we may not know just what those ramifications are for months or years to come. I listened to both speeches. The first clearly identified the need to achieve objectives while acknowledging his opponents value and worth and that historical sacrifices would have to be made by his government if a compromise were to be achieved. The second also clearly identified the need to achieve objectives but the similarities ended there. The leader exhorted and blamed his opponents intimating that the opinion of a majority of the country's citizens were at fault; no value or worth for these opponents. He went on suggesting, no demanding that compromise was not an option as if change was in fact not inevitable; demonstrating also that growth is not on his agenda.

The historical consequences of these two speeches will in time be known. The legacy of these leaders revealed. As always, while I share my opinion, I also present the facts. And you get to make up your own mind, not just about the topic but also what future this brings to America.

As a side note, we must now call the furloughed workers expected / not expected rather than essential / non-essential. We wouldn't want to bruise any egos...

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

“Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Jim Nabors, along with his musical talents, brought my generation good clean humor as Gomer Pyle.

 

 

I did not understand it at the time but there were strong moral messages in the scripted humor and of course, you could count on Gomer to do the right thing. No matter the situation or the challenges to overcome and regardless of how it made him look, he always resolved the situation while displaying honesty and integrity along the way.

 

Sadly, public examples with that level of character are increasingly harder to find. With Congress' approval rating at an all time low and Harry Reid recently identified as the least liked American politician, our political system could use a good dose of Mayberry R.F.D. right now.

 

Today the Senate voted to strip a defunding provision from a cloture vote. If you follow these things then you know what was going on. If you don't follow these things then your head just might explode if you try to assign some rational reasoning to the process. And you would not be out of line when you asked the question "who do these guys think they are".

 

Let me try to explain.

 

As an election approaches, politicians who have their thumb on the pulse of the public - you would think that normal but no, not really - begin to re-align their image with regards to current issues and legislative proceedings that are important to their constituents. 

2014 is our next election year.

The Affordable Health Care Act is unpopular with the majority of Americans.  

With those two facts in mind, party leaders are providing "cover" on a range of issues for their members by giving them an "out" on hot topics like the Affordable Health Care Act. The House of Representatives approved and sent a budget bill to the Senate which included an amendment to defund the health care act. The Senate had no intention of accepting it but understood that some of it's members face tough re-elections in 2014 and feared that if they did not vote to defund the health care act in accordance with the current wishes of their constituents, that they might lose their re-election bid. The bigger implication for the party leaders is of course the potential to lose control of the Senate. 

So the answer was to provide cover by forcing a cloture vote which included a provision to defund the health care act, knowing all along that the provision would be removed immediately afterwards, which it was, and voted on again, which it was, and passed on a party line vote, which it was.

That allowed the politicians facing tough re-elections to publicly state that they voted to defund the health care act, thus capitalizing on current public opinion and retaining support in their re-election bids. Actually making that statement would be at best misleading and at worst an outright lie. Stay tuned to see who walks the plank on this one... 

 

How is it possible that this absence of integrity is not only considered acceptable by our elected officials but also, and it truly pains me to acknowledge, occuring without most of us (quickly becoming 'subjects') not even knowing what is going on.     

 

Aunt Bea would not allow this to happen in Mayberry. Neither would Andy or Gomer. Even Barney would see through it eventually. 

 

Why don't we? 

  

“There’s no going back, and there’s no hiding the information. So let everyone have it.”

― Andrew Kantor 

Dezinformatsiya! Beware!

The Vince Lombardi offense has disappeared but Putin has taken a sheet from the Soviet Era playbook with this bit of disinformation.

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes

Odysseus' plan to fool the Trojans was seen through by Laocoon as well as Helen of Troy... to no avail. Troy was sacked and whether the story is fact or fiction, we now know: Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

So too is Putin's 'Syrian Horse' editorial in the NY Times seen through by most of Congress and America. But will President Obama play the part of King Priam or listen to those who have instilled him with power? We will soon know. And considering that Iran continues racing towards the development of a nuclear weapon, North Korea is reputed to have re-started a nuclear reactor and Russia has announced they are reconsidering the sale of a missile defense system to Syria, we will also soon know the future of that region. China, by the way, is observing and tracking every player and every move.

In the meantime, Pelosi and Kerry are lauding the virtues of Odysseus's, I mean Putin's, efforts to mediate the crisis in Syria. Does 'fox in the hen house' or 'inmates running the asylum' mean anything to these [wise] leaders? They were both around before the collapse of the Soviet Union so are aware, or should be, of the practices that governing body implemented and surely must be aware of Russia's recent past when it comes to supporting UN resolutions against the bad guys.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey has indicated that the cost of war now will be huge but understanding we will be involved in war in that region if not now then in the future, the cost then will be greater. His letter to congress gives a brief yet clear indication that he is the right man for the job! Ultimately and sadly throughout history the president's advisers are just that.

With Sinon alongside the horse, sorry - I keep getting the names mixed up, I meant Putin... with Putin presenting the horse, whose advice will King Obama, dang it I did it again, King Priam... ugh... I meant Obama, whose advice will President Obama heed?

Like most, including President Obama, I believe that the great majority of all people around the world have nothing but good intentions. I am also keenly aware of history, recent and in antiquity.

There are now and probably always will be bad guys.

Ronald Reagan Quotes:
"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
"Trust, but verify."
"Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

"My credibility is not on the line" - President Obama

"America and Congress's credibility is on the line" - President Obama

 

 

This elitist attitude displayed by President Obama has gone largely unaddressed by the media with few exceptions; one notable exception being this article published in the NY Times.

 

A presidents decreasing popularity within any particular group of voters is typically related to a specific issue and generally does not change the support from other groups. However when every voter demographic registers a decrease in support then one of two things has happened:

 

1. The president has failed to meet many, many promises with at least one promise specific to each and every voter demographic.

 

2. The president has crossed a socially unacceptable line of behavior that is registered on a subconscious level, if not outright, by all people.

 

You get to decide which it is.

 

For me, the moment I heard the president make his statement's about credibility, I was reminded of concerns I have suspected before. That this president believes he is above not just all Americans but all people. And while I will give him credit for his advanced academic education, which in my mind has not served him well, that is where it ends.

 

President Obama would do well to heed the 10 Traits of Humble Presidents written by Jeremie Kubicek.

 

Mr President - while you have sought for 5 years to separate yourself from congress to highlight your ideological and political differences, you cannot separate yourself from America's values. We elected you. You represent us. We are one.

 

“Our mind is the canvas on which the artists lay their colour; their pigments are our emotions; their chiaroscuro the light of joy, the shadow of sadness. The masterpiece is of ourselves, as we are of the masterpiece.”  

Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea

 

If you are unable to proudly enact the will of America and execute it as if it were your own will, whether you personally agree with it or not, you do not deserve the position. A President of the United States does not exist separately from the country or it's citizens and by looking down your nose upon the rest of us suggesting that you do, you have again displayed your disconnect with the average American and added yet another contentious chapter to your legacy.

 

You are right, your credibility is not on the line. Long before today's comments it was fading fast here in the US and abroad. The good news is that America's legacy is reinforced and supported by a new leader every 4-8 years. And unlike yours, America's resolve has not been forgotten by the world's leaders.  

 

America, her people and values will persevere.     

 

 

President Obama's Astounding Disappearing 'Red Line'

Netanyahu's visual display at the UN of his 'Red Line' on Iran's nuclear ambitions was a clear signal of Israel's intentions and backed up by their bombing of Iraq's nuclear reactor for similar reasons in 1981.

 

Obama's 'Red Line' on Syria and subsequent waffling on his comments have not only created doubt about America's resolve to aid our allies and support human rights but have diminished our credibility with both our allies and our adversaries around the world. Despite America's long history of engaging countries or groups who would harm the US or their own people, the words of President Obama are falling flat on the ears of the world.  

 

In a telling example of the Obama Administration's inability to effectively deal with the worlds bad guys, John Kerry, a staunch anti-intervention democrat, made a compelling appeal to the American public for support of military action against Syria only to be contradicted by President Obama, another anti-intervention democrat, hours later.

 

As a side note, consider the following paraphrased statements made by Kerry:

 

If Assad had nothing to hide regarding chemical weapons then his response should be immediate transparency. (Does this apply to Obama's response to the IRS scandal?)

 

The UN has been stalled at every turn to investigate the claims of a chemical attack, this is not the behavior of a country that has nothing to hide. (What of our own congress in their investigation of Benghazi?)

 

Assad has used the worlds most heinous weapons against the most vulnerable people. (If information is the symbol of power, how do we interpret our government's extensive spying on it's own citizens?)

 

Let me be clear about anti-intervention politicians of any stripes: their insistence for justification is a good thing! When it turns to indecision or worse, inaction in the face of over 100,000 deaths it is a bad thing. Make no mistake about it, America has no business in the civil wars of foreign countries. We do however have not only an interest but an obligation to defend the basic human rights of all peoples and provide support for our allies safety and security. Innocent Syrian civilians are being killed. Jordan, Turkey and especially Israel are directly threatened by the continued expansion of this war.

 

Because just like in the game of chess where a move on the board cannot be un-done, a missile fired or bomb dropped cannot be recalled therefore every possible scenario must be considered from every angle before the move is executed. What makes Obama's disappearing 'Red Line' astounding is not his second guessing. Rather it is his failure to calculate the right move. To provide creative solutions that our global neighbors will support - create a coalition of nations. History is filled with the successes and failures of American Presidents foreign relations as well as their relationships with the leaders of foreign countries. I think I may have seen this rodeo before...

 

As a reminder, the primary function of our Executive Branch is to:

Approve or Veto Legislation (not write it)

Enforce Laws (regardless of personal views)

Conduct Foreign Affairs (does anyone still revere America?)    

 

 “When you find a man you wish to marry, Tessa, remember this: You will know what kind of man he is not by the things he says, but by the things he does.”   

Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

 

 

 

 

 

     



What message is the DOJ sending? And where did it originate?

Watch the video!

In yet another example of the Obama administrations priorities, the DOJ has decided not to sue a state in order to stop the federally illegal use of marijuana while proceeding to sue a state for their attempts to provide better education to it's students. What destiny or possible outcome will this provide? And do Americans still want equal opportunity or, like our current president, want equal outcome?

No, really, when it comes to this administration, I Don't Know is on 3rd, What is on 2nd and Who is on 1st! And Tomorrow is not just the pitcher, it is apparently when Obama plans on dealing with the country's problems!

Let me see if I've got this right:

Vouchers allow students to transfer out of a failing school and into a passing school where they will receive better education, thereby increasing the graduation rate.
Marijuana increases a students likelihood of dropping out of school.

Vouchers improve workplace productivity as higher graduation rates are directly linked to a better prepared workforce.
Marijuana will increase the demand on jails and prisons (taxpayers) since there are still federal AND state laws prohibiting it's sale and distribution. Not to mention peripheral crimes associated with all drug use.

Vouchers will improve the deterioration of the family since an educated and responsible individual is more likely to make better life decisions.
Marijuana, like any drug used to escape reality, slows or stops the maturing process and will therefore continue the trend of a break down in family values.

In an administration where decisions are based on pop culture and whatever feels good at the moment, is it any wonder the world now has less respect for America than at any previous time in history?

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
 Mahatma Gandhi

America should we not adjust course, our destiny awaits us. An unpleasant one at that.

Where is the outrage?

Would our governments response to the atrocities currently occurring to Christians in Egypt be any different if the same thing were happening to Muslims and their mosques?

Christians and 2000 year old Christian holy sights are being openly targeted by the Muslim Brotherhood, the same group supported by the Obama Administration as the "peoples democratic choice" to govern Egypt. Except the people of Egypt and fortunately the Egyptian military see the brotherhood differently.

Once again Obama's lead from behind strategy is resulting in death and destruction. Only this time it is happening in a country considered to be a strong American ally. So what did the president do as this situation unfolded? Went on vacation of course. Like his fundraising efforts as the attack on Benghazi resulted in the murder of four Americans, the president has revealed his true colors: Ignorance and Procrastination. To make matters worse, both Russia and Saudi Arabia have offered to step up military aid if America's - Obama's - hand wringing over what to do continues.

Today we learned that the employees placed on administrative leave - no one was disciplined - for the incompetence displayed by our government officials (note: none of the actual decision makers {leaders} were identified let alone accused of wrongdoing) during the Benghazi attack, were reinstated. It appears someone in leadership determined everyone did their jobs correctly. Really?  If there is justice, history will reveal the extent of the current administrations corruption and the lengths to which they went in order to cover-up their ineptness. All in the name of advancing a political agenda.

America's statements to the world through the inaction of the Obama administration have been nothing less than confusing and in many instances weak, indecisive and impotent. The presidents attempts to improve America's standing in the world by displaying compassion for and understanding of the very groups who condemn American beliefs and values has backfired big time. Extremists of any persuasion never turn out to be the 'friends' you hoped they'd be. For reference compare Genghis Khan's relationship with the Roman Empire.

Maybe John Kerry, Hillary or Barack Hussein Obama (Mmm, Mmm, Mmm) will make a statement assuring us that this is all a big misunderstanding due to an inflammatory Islamic video produced by Salman Rushdie... once he is jailed everything will be ok.

Or not.

When a government polices itself the power of the people is diminished.
  Holder ordered to investigate DOJ review on illegal spying.
  Clinton oversees the Department of State review on Benghazi.

And when a government appoints itself the power of the people is removed.
  Rice and Nuland, both at the center of the Benghazi talking points firestorm, both promoted.
  Obama and his unprecedented number of Czars.

Wake up America - you are losing your country.