It seems like forever since I've been here and I miss this place but the fact is there are only so many hours in a day, and Facebook is addictive. There have been so many days where I have had thoughts on different events and failed to make it here to share them. So today I'll make time to clear the cobwebs, reflect a little and comment on what has been on my mind.
Happy New Year:
Now, I don't know about you but I have never been so glad to see a decade end in all of my life. I believe everyone was effected adversely at some point during the first decade of the 21st century. Here in Michigan, we have turned to calling it the "Lost Decade" as we have been in a ten year recession but elsewhere it has been just as bad. September 11th, two wars, two recessions, dirty politics, layoffs, downsizing, exporting jobs and a deteriorating sense trust in out society certainly has left everyone wishing for a "change". The problem is what it will take for that to happen.
What Year Is It:
I graduated from high school in 1971, as in "Nineteen Seventy-One" not "One Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy-One" or " One Nine Seven One". Does anyone besides me find it strange we can't decide how to universally address what year it is in the 21st century?
The Tea Party:
I have a love/hate relationship with politics as many of you know. My friends can't figure out whether I am conservative or liberal, and the truth is I try to explain to them I am neither. I am common sense, right and wrong, I vote based upon how I want to be represented.
Now, it is well known that I have a disdain for both the Republicrats and the Democans because, truth be told, I believe they all are criminals. Those are pretty strong words but they are not without merit.
When you and I exercise our constitutional right to vote for a representative to Congress the winner is charged with exactly that duty, to represent the will or best interests of his or her constituents. At least on paper that's how it's supposed to work but reality has shown us they do everything but that. We are the little people back home once they reach the capital or Washington. There they become a servant of the "Party", an ideology, special interests, PAC's and personal greed.
Doesn't it bother you that almost all of out lawmakers are millionaires? Yet they are supposed to relate to your struggles?
I was in a debate with a conservative friend of mine the other day and he didn't understand that I don't elect an official for his morals or values. I elect him to represent me, my morals and values, not his. If I need spiritual guidance I'll go talk to my pastor not my elected politician.
So people are starting to see the light and the "Tea Party" is the latest organization saying we need a change. Now, of course, the Republicrats are racing to embrace this movement like it is some sort of peoples mandate that they are against the Democans, when in reality it isn't nor should it be. I have a hot flash for the Republicrats and the Democans, you are no different!
I would hope that the "Tea Party" stays true to its origin, which is not about an ideology that leans to the far right nor the far left. It should be about moving towards the middle where the "common man" lives and not the special interests. What do you think?
How'd That Taste:
Hey Al Gore, explain to us again about this whole global warming concept, will ya?
Toyota owners, tell us again how much better your cars are built than the domestic auto manufacturers?
NBC, try mixing in a little Olympic coverage between interviews and commercials, OK?
Consumers, did you know the mortgage companies can still come after you for money after an agreed upon short sale?
The biggest rip off in America today is Homeowners Insurance! Can anyone tell me why I need to carry $218,000 worth of coverage on a house worth $149,000 that I owe $175,000 on? I bet you can't but I have to because it's the "formula". Do you think the government will take a look at this?
Hey people BOHICA they are getting ready to hose us again with artificially inflated gasoline prices. Not sure if it's to make the Democans look bad or just to ruin what little recovery we've had, but it will. Hey, President Obama, how about owning us an petroleum company? Just one that's all we need. Trust me nobody would complain.
Isn't it time we elected the most qualified person to lead us instead of the most marketable one?
Who reading this agrees that we are living in the "Fall of the American Empire"? I'm sure the Romans thought everything was going to be fine too, but look at the parallels. Waning trust in our system, greed, moral decay, crumbling infrastructure, and a world that despises us. Can you say "Uh Oh"?
Speaking of doom and gloom, do you think Mother Earth is doing a lot more payback lately?
Health Insurance:
The solution is simple folks. Give the Republicrats their "Tort Reform" in this text, if you are an Attorney and you bring a suite against a Doctor or Medical Institution for malpractice and lose, YOU go to jail for a year. That'll eliminate malicious prosecution.
Now from the Democans side, quit trying to reinvent the wheel, you honestly aren't that smart. The runaway medical costs are largely caused by a couple of things, an intentional shortage of doctors and going to the wrong place for help.
Every year over 300,000 QUALIFIED students apply for the 213,000 available openings to go to medical school. That means 77,000 people annually don't get in, yet you say medical costs are up because there are not enough doctors. Here's a thought, build a few more schools! Oh wait, if you do that Doctors may not make as much money due to a change in "supply and demand", and therefore they may not be able to contribute as much to your reelection, silly me! But we could do this without quadrupling the national debt.
We have these things called Hospitals all over the place. Now part of the problem is people without insurance go there, to the Emergency Room, when they are just sick. The costs involved with running an emergency room are exorbitant and so are the fees. So treating a cold may cost $500. Here's a thought, put clinics in those hospitals and staff them with Doctors that have federal student loans. Let the Doc put in 8 hours a week in lieu of paying back the loan. I'm guessing it would give the uninsured a place to go and not quadruple the debt.
Another thought, enough of the "you have to go to the Doctor for a prescription for this medication". So many of the common medicines we take in the United states are bought "over the counter" in both Canada and Mexico. Just think if we reduced the Doctors workload by 2,000,000 horny men looking for a Viagra script. Think that might free up some time for the sick and reduce medical costs?
Obama, Pelosi, and the rest of you in both parties, I'll share with you the old KISS theory, which means Keep It Simple Stupid. Funny how that seems to apply, don't it?
Talking Heads
I love listening to the Republicrats talk about how they are the Party of Morals, Values and God, because it makes them such an easy target. Even Stevie Wonder could see through this hypocrisy. Talk to a Republicrat for 24 hours and you walk away with the sense that there is a list of people they "hate" that is six feet long. Liberals, gays, foreigners, minorities, the unemployed, unions, and the list goes on, they are all part of the downfall of this country, according to the average Republicrat.
Then there is the talking heads, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and that ilk, with their rants on the liberal drive-by media, fem-nazis, Obama the magic negro parodies, calling people socialists, communists, abortionists, atheist and, extolling venom and hate. Now it's funny, because I am 56 years old and I can honestly say I cannot recall ever hearing Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson, Tom Brokaw, Frank McGee, Frank Reynolds, Howard K Smith, or any other nightly news anchor speak that way about an Republicrat. If they did, there would have been a common voice and demand for their removal, ala Dan Rather. But this is the unmoral "Drive-By Media", huh? How does that equate?
Then there is Glen Beck, this guy is a piece of work. I was walking through K-mart the other day looking for something and went through the book department. I noticed what I assume is his latest book on the shelf, and on the cover is Beck wearing what appears to be a Nazi Gestapo uniform without the insignias. Now, I'm of German descent and that offended even me. This is just wrong in so many ways that if I have to explain it to you, you are a sick puppy! But this guy is the face and voice, along with the other bimbettes, of the "Moral Majority"? The Righteous Right? And you wonder why you got swept out of office?
You people not only need to clean up your act, you need a reality check. You are a party of self serving clowns that will say or do anything to win. Two wrongs don't make it right!
Change:
Guys I'm going to leave you with this thought. If you are tired of the status quo, tired of having the political elite telling you how you need to live your life, tired of them telling you what should be important to you, then vote for change. And change will only be accomplished if you vote the sitting incumbents out of office. Put aside your political allegiances for once and send a message. You will represent me or I will vote you out too. We don't need term limits, we need voters to participate and exercise some common sense.
Thanks for listening, as always if you have comments I'm happy to hear them!
