Frustration - A Pre-Existing Condition

The current political scene is dominated by frustration. Frustration on the part of the majority as well as the minority but the two sides are handling it quite differently.

Rather than working together as a team the Democrats who were elected in large part as a knee jerk reaction to the policies of the previous administration have not been able to get their acts together. They continue to try to be fair and bi-partisan with a group that has anything but fairness on their mind.

The American electorate spoke last November with resounding voice that they wanted change but the only thing that has changed is the side of the aisle that seats the majority in Congress. The same failed policies continue and no change will ever happen unless and until the Democrats realize that they are being played.

When the Republicans claim that they are not being listened to in the conversation about health care reform they are flat out lying. In fact they are basically the only ones being listened to as the Democrats continue to attempt bipartisanship.

One can have a constructive debate only if both sides argue within the framework of honesty and fairness. But when one side turns counseling the elderly on the choices they have about their health care into "Death Panels out to kill old people" then the debate ends.

There have been so many obvious lies thrown out by the Republicans and their Conservative friends that one wonders how they can sleep at night. Naturally the wonder ends when we realize that the health insurance lobby is controlling the argument with free flowing funds from their fat deep pockets.

The amount of money being made by our leaders in Congress is far more than they can make merely doing the job they were elected to do. These amounts are part of the public record and you may find out how large a bribe your congressman is getting very easily if you care to do so.

If Congress passes a health care bill that actually helps the millions of citizens of this country it will conversely hurt the bottom lines of the insurance industry. These companies cannot allow that to happen. Rather than lose billions they happily and readily spend millions upon millions to 'persuade' their puppets in Congress that it is in everyone's best interest to keep the status quo.

What can be done to stop this from happening? Not even exposing the lies seems to work. When Max Baucus caved in to many of the requests of the Republicans before finally coming up with his so-called health care reform bill he was supposedly trying to appease his counterparts on the 'right' and get them to vote for change. But when they subsequently said they still could not support the bill it should have become clear that they would never agree to anything that hurts their 'Golden Goose.'

Mr. Baucus himself is a recipient of some of that ill-gotten gold and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right thing either. It is up to President Obama to show us that he has right stuff to get the job done.

Can he? Only time will tell. And in the time it takes more Americans will die and others will go bankrupt while Insurance companies deny and deny and continue to get rich and fat on the backs of we the people.

Did I say there is frustration on all sides? That is not totally true. The full force of frustration is only on the side of the majority and the American people. The Republicans and the Conservatives are only frustrated in that they do not hold the majority and therefore cannot merely ignore the Democrats. But while they may be in the minority for now the minority rules!

Who Lies?

The President spoke and many of America listened. But as is usually the case with politics in the era of the internet and the 24 hour news cycle many did not.

And the problem is the ones who needed to listen and understand the most were among the missing.

They may not have been home or perhaps their televisions were not working or maybe they were watching Fox which chose to air another one of those sadly prolific and incredibly stupid reality shows instead of the speech.

But the worst ones who chose not to listen were sitting on the right side of the aisle in the very room in which the speech was given. I am of course speaking of those wonderful people from the GOP, Republicans.

And speaking of Fox, their News (that's a joke) station did have the speech and when Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina couldn't control himself and brain-farted "You Lie" at the President one of Fox's most trusted commentators laughed!

Who might that idiot be?
Glad you asked!
None other than Turd Blossom himself - Karl Rove.

I will not reiterate anything the President said during his time in front of the joint session of Congress as there are plenty of other places to find the actual and imagined words he spoke. But I will say that he was masterful both in presentation and content. He said what needed to be said and aimed his harshest criticisms at the LIARS on the right and the non-believers on the left.

The powerful insurance lobby will have to work overtime to repair the damage President Obama did to their bribery schemes. But I have no doubt they will merely open their wallets a little more and reel back many of the Congressmen who find themselves suddenly sitting on the fence.

Mr. President - The key here is to strike while the iron is hot and mold it into a workable health insurance and health care plan. Don't make it an open-ended process by allowing time and grass (or Grassley) to grow under your feet. Get the faithful together and ask them to help you twist an arm or two. You must turn the blue dogs who are still skeptical of what we the people need into responsible leaders.

Mr Smith may have not actually gone to Washington as in Frank Capra's sadly unrealistic fairy tale but we need A Few Good Men (and women) to get off that fence and protect us from big insurance!
We want the truth!
We can handle the truth!
What we can't handle are the lies!

It's Ranting Time Again

I listen to the news way too much these days but the key word there was LISTEN. Too many people in this country either do not listen or refuse to hear what is being said. there are also quite a few who are paid to repeat lies and therefore can not listen or hear the truth. For them it would be a conflict of interest in a big time way. These people are generally known as Republicans and some Democrats who are in fact puppets of the DC lobbies.

For example here are a few points boiled down to the basics.

Republicans continue to say that they are all for health care for all but among other things they fear the great costs involved.

First of all the costs have not been offered as yet since the entire plan has not even been written. For that I blame President Obama.
But the Republicans know this. However merely throwing out the fear that we could bankrupt the country they get a great deal of poorly informed people on their side.
They also talk about health care killing people! These morons love their oxymorons.

When Republicans look for reasons NOT do something they use the same tired old arguments and scare tactics that unfortunately have worked for so long; "It's too costly - It will kill old people - Women will die with breast cancer - It will mortgage our future - Think of your children."
It will cost a lot but we're worth it.
No old people will be put in harms way unless drafted.
Women should be outraged at this one!!!!
Our future is now and besides the mortgage system is the one that got us here! Fix it!
And I am thinking of the children!

Don't be surprised if the next Republican/Conservative TV ad is - "Guns don't kill people, Obama's healthcare kills people." And inthe background you;'ll see an old grandma dead.

The Republicans lost the last election in a big way and they are an angry minority. They need to get people onto their side or they are doomed.
Do they care about health care for the masses?
NOT AT ALL!
They have the best health care money can buy and those poorly informed masses are paying for it!

As for the rest of us we should be sick and tired of hearing the lie, "We have the best health care in the world."
Do you realize that America is actually ranked 39th?
It is a lie propagated by the Conservatives and Republicans and some Democrats (once again all of whom have great free health care) meant to use pride of country too get us riled up about change.
"We don't want Canadian health care or Great Britatin's health care or God forbid France's health care system of SOCIALIZED medicine here."

Why not?
Before you allow these lobby spokesmen masquerading as congressmen to make up your mind do a little research. You will be quite surprised at how good those other systems are.
No, they are not perfect, not by a long shot but they are light years ahead of our FOR TOTAL PROFIT AT THE COST OF LIVES system.

The opponents have no shame! They are not arguing truthfully and they must not be rewarded for lies! We cannot allow this to keep happening.

And what is more important than health?
Weren't we brought up on the phrase, "When you have your health..."

And getting back to children: Public school is a mandate. Education is a must.
Are the Republicans against schooling?
And what about all the other government run programs?
Are the Republicans against the military; the police force; the fire department; the forestry service; the post office and on and on...?

We mandate auto insurance but we don't regulate the insurers so they are free to increase your costs regularly. Those costs are killing us. If something is mandated then it must be considered a utility and have guidelines.

Let's do that with health insurance.
Let's do it right this time.
Mandate health Insurance for all citizens.
Allow the people a public option with regulated costs and fair terms!

We gave billions to big banks and they are voting themselves hundreds of mills in bonuses. when we say it must be regulated Republicans say no.
They say that government can't get involved in CEO compensation because it's a dangerous road to take and all the large companies will lose their talent to other companies willing to pay more the obscene amounts of cash they demand.
But one true statement they make is that the Board of Directors of these companies vote to determine compensation and they are the ones who should hold down bonuses or make them fit situation.
BUT THE BOARDS ARE MADE UP OF GOOD OLD BOYS WHO SIT ON EACH OTHERS BOARDS! That means they say to each other "You show me a big one and I'll show you a big one in return.

There is talk of taxing big trades on Wall Street and naturally the traders are against it.
I trade so I should be against it as well but I am not!
A typical trader talking on CNN said that he and his people could trade 10 million shares a day and even a tiny tax percentage could add up to $10,000 a day.
He said that because he knows that to most of us $10,000 is a great deal of money.
But everything is relative - He trades TEN MILLION SHARES A DAY!!!!!
Anyone with enough money to trade that much probably farts $10M.
Tell these guys to drop one hooker or take one less junket per year and they will save that much and more.

Obama and his team are showing that they are too weak and meek to get things done in big old boys land where the lobbies rule & the public's a fool If he and his team do not grow some big ones and soon we are all doomed to years and years of Republican / Conservative rule even when they are in the minority!

Prioritize Priorities Please

In order to get away from reality we pass time in a pastime we find rewarding and mind-numbing. Setting our priorities in proper order is important for a happy and healthy life.

I did just that when I recently went to a preseason football game at Giant Stadium in the Meadowlands of New Jersey looking for an enjoyable and relaxing evening away from stress.

Located in a semi-deserted area and supposed final resting place of Jimmy Hoffa this remote stadium is aging but still in great shape. Lacking only a dome to make it a world class arena fit for hosting a Super Bowl it welcomes the Giant faithful with open arms as well as open skies. That's because it is one of the few cold climate stadiums without a dome.

It was the open skies part of our outing that made it necessary for my daughter and I to carry umbrellas to the game since the forecast was for rain, heavy at times due to a passing tropical storm. (As usual the weathermen were wrong and they keep their jobs but that's another story.)

Arriving at the stadium under a beautifully clear sky with, among other things a camera, binoculars, umbrellas, some sandwiches and bottled water held in an open cloth tote bag we walked up to the security gates. This check-in area is manned (and 'womaned') by guards who screen you before you even hand in your ticket and enter the grounds of the stadium. Everyone is frisked! Contraband is either confiscated or sent back with you to store in your car. I came by train and therefore did not have that option.

Now I understand the importance of security and applaud efforts to keep us safe but some of the rules have clearly gone off the deep end.

NO UMBRELLAS (We had two)

NO TOTE BAGS (We had a big ominous cloth one)

NO WATER BOTTLES - Okay water bottles are allowed but NO CAPS!
That's right! You can bring water bottles in but they confiscate the caps! This is presumably so that you cannot fill up the bottles, cap them and use them as projectiles to throw onto the field!
Well they caught me on that one because I definitely paid $25 and traveled 2 hours on public transportation to the swamps of New Jersey with the single thought of filling up an 8 ounce plastic water bottle; capping it and throwing it from the upper level stadium seating in the hopes of hitting a player WHO IS WEARING PADS THAT COULD ALMOST STOP A BULLET!

Oh, and by the way I was informed of the no bottle caps on bottles rule so I carried 5 extra caps in my pocket and replaced the confiscated contraband once inside.
Anyone know the statute of limitations on bottle cap smuggling?

I lose umbrellas far too often and I was not going to lose these two beauties just because some silly Napoleanic/Cheney ruling said so. I put the smaller one in my front pocket and stored or rather shoved the other one down the back of my jeans. Walking became an adventure.

The cloth tote bag was then emptied, folded, rolled up and placed in the pocket of the jacket that I was now wearing that used to be in the tote.
I put the camera around my neck and found that the binocular case fit nicely onto my belt.
My pants were now being pulled downward by the extra items hidden therein.
The sandwiches were in a separate bag and thankfully we were not forced to eat them at the gate as they were cleared for entry into the oh-so secure stadium.

I realize that I committed several infractions but I assure you that no players were harmed during the duration of my stay. At least not by me.

As a juxtaposition to the Fort Knox-Pentagon style security at soon to be demolished Giant Stadium (A new one opens next year next door) I know someone who works as a Judge for the New York City Parking Violations Bureau with a completely different story.

If you get a parking ticket in NY and wish to fight it you may do so in many ways but none more satisfying than a face to face hearing with a judge. Every day disgruntled ticketed drivers pile into the mini-courtrooms where a single judge presides. This judge, an ALJ or Administrative Law Judge hears complaints and rules on the veracity and legality of the ticket in question. In other words this person tells you whether or not you have to pay the fine.

People come in angry and ready for a fight. They come in with their tickets and any evidence they choose to bring to defend their argument. They may also come in with capped water bottles, umbrellas, tote bags and unfortunately even guns because, you see there are no guards or metal detectors in place to protect these impartial judges!

And in order to protect a loose interpretation of the Constitution and the oft misused and misunderstood second amendment therein we allow crazies to carry weapons under the guise of patriotism. Even doing so to political debates where there are admittedly strong opinions on both sides of every issue.

In other words we as a society have decided that a fun venue such as a stadium should be locked down but a court of law or a Presidential Town Hall meeting is open game.

I am not advocating for free-wheeling gun-toting people who wish to do harm to others to be allowed to enter stadiums with weapons but shouldn't we prioritize things just a bit?

Water Works

Not long ago our homeowners insurance was canceled.

Perhaps we made a costly claim?
Not according to the insurance company who actually said the claim we made was small considering the cause.

Then the cause must have been frivolous?
Not unless you call having your home struck by lightning frivolous.

Then perhaps lightning struck the house too often during our 25 years of residence?
That was not the case since this was our first and only claim and it was made it in 1987.

So why, you may ask was the dastardly act being perpetrated on us?

Our insurance was being canceled because we live on Long Island and the insurance people claim that we are due for the ‘big one,’ as in a category 3 hurricane or worse.

Does this cowardly behavior on the part of our former insurance company worry anyone else? It should because it could signal the opening of the flood gates as other entities raise their rates based not on facts but rather probabilities and statistics.

For example, hasn’t it been 65 million years since that asteroid killed the dinosaurs? Wow, we must be living on borrowed time. Uh-oh, there go my life insurance rates!

But speaking of flood gates one of the main reasons the insurance companies are canceling policies is they fear more flood damage up and down the Eastern seaboard. They have even drawn up new maps defining areas they feel are more likely to cause a drop in their profits and have raised the premiums accordingly assuming they have not dropped them entirely.

You see they do not wish to be a part of the incumbent claims that would follow any possible catastrophic event. In other words they will only insure against the impossible. One must wonder why such risk averse companies chose to be in the insurance game in the first place.

But their fears should be examined. In light of the newsworthy floods flooding the airways this year perhaps we the people should also be thinking about flood damage here on the Island and what if anything we can do to minimize the effect.

These fearsome floods would most likely be caused by stronger than normal hurricanes and not necessarily the proverbial ‘big one’ although if it’s coming it is four seasons closer than last year. And with the debate continuing over global warming, or global climate change depending on your politics we may see more and more such storms in our future.

Many years ago I saw the Mississippi River flood, something it unfortunately does all too often. While watching the devastation this caused I had a simple thought. Why not build a nationwide system of interconnected water mains to effectively evacuate flood waters to areas less in danger or actually in need of the precious liquid. While one part of our country is experiencing a flood invariably another part is dealing with a dangerous drought or worse, brush and wild fires.

A project of this magnitude would take many years and put thousands of people to work all across America. If done properly this system could even have the extra added benefit of producing some power from the flow of water during flood caused exchanges. And one more side effect to consider; these jobs could not be outsourced to, say India.

Admittedly this would not be an easy undertaking. First rational people would have to convince the Republicans and Conservatives of the country that it was not a plot to kill grandma or something equally as stupid. Then it would require top minds working out many details beforehand but since when has that stopped Americans? We built a nationwide system of highways, rails and a power grid that allows utilities to find extra wattage when necessary. Why not start the same system for water?

The President is touting plans to shore up our infrastructure and looking for ways to jumpstart the economy. We on the shores of the Atlantic agree with him. I for one would like to see more action before the rest of the insurance companies turn tail and follow our old one out of town.

Is Health Care a Right

Some say that health care should not be a right automatically given to the people but rather a service that must be paid for. In a way they are correct but they miss one important point and that is the people of this country already pay for the service!

In a civilized country the citizens pay taxes that go into a general pool of funds. The money is then used to continue the quality of life to which the citizens wish to be come accustomed and is specified by their laws. In other words certain services are paid for and expected in return for their tax assessment.

One of the main points made during the founding of this country had to do with taxation and representation. We will not pay taxes if we are not represented in the laws and conversely if we are not represented in the laws then we should not have to pay taxes.

Naturally no one expects that every penny of every tax-payers money goes into a program that affects every citizen evenly but in the end we should all benefit proportionately.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is one of the most famous and beautiful parts of our Declaration of Independence.

That word 'life' is first and foremost in our minds and plays an important part in the health care issue at hand for without life nothing else would seem to matter much.

The point of my argument is simply that in this civilized country it must be the main job of our leaders to keep their bosses, the American people who pay their salaries healthy and happy. And a very important part of our happiness is to keep us free from pain and illness wherever possible. That means we must have health care available and at least in part paid for by a portion of our taxes.

Health care may not be a God given right but then again God has his own health care and he doesn't vote.

Headlines of 2015

On the Political front:

Jeb Bush announces his running mate - Jenna Bush for the run to the White House.

Daddy / Grandpa George was proud of the ticket while tottering Barbara was quoted as saying, "It's about time. I ain't gonna live forever ya know!"

No Barbara, we don't know!


Health Care News:

President Obama finally gives in to the powers that be and announces that he will no longer seek to hold Health Insurance companies accountable for the rising costs of Health Care. His reform hopes have been dashed for the last time as average monthly premiums reach $25,000.

Dick Armey, figurehead and spokesperson for the all-powerful Insurance Lobby could not be reached for comment at his penthouse suite in Dubai but his assistant, the Sheik Achmed Al-Ahrazian ben Dubadian Min Alrazi came out of a meeting with OPEC members to say, "We are trying to keep the costs down but you know how difficult that can be.

Perhaps you Americans should stop seeking yearly check-ups!" The sheik also announced that the Cartel promised to hold oil prices below $400 per barrel as long as the Americans stop this foolish search for alternative energy.


Breaking News on the weather:

Scientists are still trying to convince politicians that Global Warming is the cause for this years' record droughts across the mid-west and 49 major Atlantic hurricanes but lawmakers will have none of it.

Speaking for the loyal opposition Reverend Michael Chertoff said that there is no proof that this is not just a cycle. "I mean you expect to get a few Katrina-like storms over the course of a century. It's Gods will! There's no need to cause public panic. And those people who died in the Carolinas would be alive today if they'd have evacuated when we told them to!"


And finally in Sports:

The newest addition to the NFL, The Taiwanese Tigers introduced their quarterback to the media today.

Wearing number 4 Brett Favre promised to do his best to bring the Super Bowl to Asia!

Now is the Time for all Good Men

The end of that phrase above is naturally, "to come to the aid of their party." Some have the phrase ending with the word 'country' in place of 'party' but the idea remains the same nevertheless.

The country is the United States and the party is the Democratic one. Both are in dire straits and both are in danger of losing something near and dear to each, namely their freedom!

There is a fight going on in the nation and while it is centered around the issue of universal health care believe it or not it is much larger than that. Health care is merely the maguffin (I'll explain that word in a post later or you may comment directly and I will answer.)

There are generally two sides to every issue. You either agree or oppose but no matter what you try to change the mind of the other side. Alternatively you can stick your fingers in your ears and make baby noises (nyah-nyah-nyah) until the person whose views you don't like gives up and leaves.

But that is not the Democratic way and we don't do that in America.

NO?

At the end of the 2000 Presidential election when it was becoming clear that a recount might actually show that Al Gore and not Dubya was the winner in Florida and therefore President of the United States the Republican party came up with the Nyah Nyah strategy. They sent Republican staffers ON PAYROLL down to Florida with the sole purpose of obstructing and destructing the recount. That typically un-American way of doing things worked and the lesson was learned. Well it was learned by one party at least.

Now the same tactic has reared its ugly disgusting filthy anti-human head once again in an effort to stop the discussion on health care reform so desperately needed in our country. The original 'Public Option' reform plan was a sound one that could have worked to help millions and millions of uninsured Americans and quite a few others indirectly live better lives with a little more cash left in their pockets.

But the Health Care giants and their lobbyists that can and do dole out billions of dollars to stop anything that threatens their profit margin are doing just that. Just as the Republicans did in Florida they are sending paid political protesters pretending to be ordinary citizens out to every Democratic Town Hall meeting they can find once again with the sole purpose of disrupting free speech. These same people can be identified at many rallies and many States even though most do not even live in those States.

It is time for the Democratic Party AND ALL FREE AMERICANS to say to Big Insurance and their lackeys in the Republican and Conservative camps that we are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!

Since the minority party is not playing fair and they are using the tactic of stopping Democracy in its tracks the MAJORITY PARTY must finally give up on the hopes of bi-partisanship. When one team does not play by the rules the game must end! And besides, it's our ball! They had their chance and blew it.

President Obama must call in the entire Democratic Party for a meeting. He must tell them the following:

"The people need health care reform. We cannot allow the insurance industry to dictate how we govern anymore.

Now I realize that many of you in this room are being funded by the insurance lobby and I know that you feel obligated to let those bribes fulfill their purpose but this issue is too big for us to lose.

I am telling you that we will all be remembered for failing our duties if we allow this reform to falter. In fact I will make certain of that!

So I say to all of you that I will fight for you tirelessly in the future but right here, right now we must have solidarity!

The other side is so scared that they will lose billions of ill-gotten profits if we pass a Public Option that they are spending almost $10,000,000 a week to stop us! TEN MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK! Money they could have used to pay medical claims!

Well since they will not allow the citizens of this country the simple right of being heard and since they have orchestrated this heinous act of stopping the Democratic process so effectively we must now act to stop them. They cannot continue to subvert the American process.

I am asking you, each and every one to come back to the fold. Now is the time for all of you good men and women to come to the aid of the COUNTRY. YOUR COUNTRY!

They want to stop us?

We cannot allow them to do so.

I need 60 votes in Congress!

I need 256 votes in the House!

I need you!

And I will work with you on future issues but this one is mine! This one is for the people!

Are you with me and the people of America or are you against us!"

Thank you Mr. President.