Current Events

All kinds of current events happening over the last couple of weeks. I’m not sure what is more important. Health care reform? Floods? Or my child’s school research presentation on Persians? I’ll cover them all, taking on a personal challenge of how to tie them all together. It can’t be done, you say? Just watch.

US News - Health Care Inform

First, the new Health Care law, because I think this is the most important for our country. Before starting, let me state that, in my opinion, I am not a democrat or a republican. I lean more towards independent, because I believe that neither party represents all of my viewpoints. My stand is typically on the issue itself, not on where my party sits. When it comes down to it, both parties are flawed. For example, neither party supports my idea that the government should take care of my lawn every 2 weeks. Hey, I pay taxes on my property. If I let my property decline to a point where it becomes a safety hazard, you can bet that they'll be fining me for it. I supposedly OWN the land that I'm to take care of, yet at any point, eminent domain could kick in and the government can take my land away from me. So shouldn't they mow "their" lawn? I'm being facetious. It’s preposterous, right?

How about this. Some folks don't want the government coming on their property and telling them how to live their life. But with the recent floods in New England, these same people wanted the government to step in and save them and their house. They wanted the National Guard to sand bag the heck out of the river banks so it didn’t reach their property, right? And what about the people screaming that health care reform was unconstitutional and claiming the US is turning into a socialist country? All the while, these same folks are collecting unemployment benefits and welfare. Do they not understand that that too is part of socialism? But I guess that’s okay since they directly benefit.

It’s a contradiction to say that you don’t want the government running your life, but then expect the government to bail your butt out should you need assistance. It amazes me how good the political spin doctors are when they are able to get people collecting medicare to agree with the Republican stance on the health care reform. (Medicare, the socialist answer to health benefits for older adults and the first thing folks of 65 years of age sign up for because it's their right!) The Republican way that has the rich not payng their fair share, and the middle class keep getting poorer. Is it all because they tout “Americans don't want to pay any more taxes”? Don't they really mean, "RICH Americans don't want to pay any more taxes and they support my campaign so I need to do what they say...screw the rest of you...but it will sound good if I say I'm fighting for all your rights to pay no more taxes"? And the Teabaggers are even MORE scary, with their "we want to take our country back" which translates into, "we don't want a black man running our country." Or, according to Sarah Palin, they just want the country to live up to and abide by the constitituion. As if the rest of us that don't believe her rhetoric do not live by the constitution. Hey Sarah, if you want to really stay true to the Constitution the way it was intended 100 years ago, then you shouldn't be allowed to vote, never mind run for political office.

Here’s my thought on the nonsense that has taken place over the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill. The House of Representatives and Senate are made up of intelligent people on both sides of the aisle. Can we at least agree on that? Ok. If we agree on that, then you need to ask yourself, how is it that 219 smart, educated, informed people said "yea" to a new law that would supposedly cause the end of our country, as stated by the opposite side? If for nothing else, I trust THEIR judgment on the health reform issue more than I do, let’s say, the cashier at Walmart. Most people right now are getting their information about the health care reform from their co-workers at water cooler conversations. No offense, but unless you work with all doctors, lawyers, or have a degree in political science, the opinions you are getting from your co-workers are based on what they watched on TV the night before. True or not? You wouldn't leave your kids with most of your coworkers, so why would you take what they are telling you about health care as gospel? I'm not trying to insult your friends and coworkers. But I am trying to make a point that we elect public officials to handle these matters because they are educated. Say what you want about our politicians, but I don’t think ANY of them want to see our country face the end of the world because they signed a Bill.

I hear some folks say, what about important things like the job market and the economy? Due to the health care reform, more jobs will be created. Each state will be receiving funding for opening offices for offering support of health insurance consumer assistance. Jobs people! If you’re unemployed, go apply now!

I could cry over this next point alone. If they passed this part alone, it would have been huge. HUGE, I tell ya! Ok, down and dirty, the new bill provides help to those who retire early (ages 55-64) by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the cost of expensive premiums for employers and retirees. How many people do you know that have retired and then had to go back to work due to not being able to afford health insurance? Does bagging groceries at Walmart sound like a great retirement to you? In this country, why should we have to work just to maintain health insurance?

Under this bill, new plans will have to provide FREE preventative care - no co-payments and no deductibles for preventative care. FREE! Go get your cancer screenings. No excuses now!

If you have kids that are under the age of 26 who can’t find a job and living home with you, this Bill may have just saved your kid’s life and your home. Scenario – your 24 year old unemployed uninsured child gets into a horrible car accident. He/she is in the hospital and rehab for months. Who do you think was going to pay the hospital, doctors and lab technicians for that? Did you think it was free because your child waltzed into the hospital and claimed low income and no insurance? Before this Bill, we, the people, paid for that, because the hospitals, doctors and everyone in the health care industry who got screwed out of payment had to then go up on MY insurance and health care needs to compensate for the loss. So what appeared to be free, wasn’t. But now, that same child will be covered under your policy, and the insurance company has to pay for it. Yes, the insurance companies that would pay bonuses to their employees for declining claims; who reward the top executives with 6-7 figure salaries. Is this a good thing for the majority of Americans with adult children living home? Yes! I now know that my daughter can live with me until she’s 26 years old (if she wants to) and if something catastrophic happens to her, I won’t lose my house over it. How do you spell peace of mind?

Under the topic of getting married for insurance purposes, how many people are smacking themselves in the head with a "I could've had a V-8" kind of slap, over marrying someone for insurance coverage? Whoops! Tied the knot to get insurance when you could have stayed single and had coverage now? Yeah, I can see why you hate this bill! It came a little too late for you folks! But think of your children and know that they will never have to get married for health benefits.

The poor people of our country are covered under the “socialistic” medicaid. The rich can afford their premiums for insurance. It has been middle Americans that have suffered from this whole insurance debacle. Other countries that have Universal Health care are laughing at us right now. Especially when Republican politicians made speeches that claimed that the new law is going to cause Armageddon. Puh-lease. What these speeches came down to was Republicans ensuring their job placements in the private sector after finishing their terms in office. Ever ask yourself what politicians do when they are not re-elected? Hmmm. Ever ask yourself what companies can afford a huge salary to pay ex-politicians? This happens on both sides of the aisle. But you have to ask yourself, what did the Republican politicians have to gain by basically boycotting the Bill? And who is funding the campaigns?

Ah, and then there was the answer. This week alone, a dozen Republicans made speeches and reached out to their constituents for campaign donations. Waving their promising fists in the air, “We’re gonna’ repeal this thing!!! But we need your money to do it!!!” I wonder how many of the people donated to Senator McCain’s campaign in hopes of fighting this law. Are these the same people that claim they can’t afford the insurance premiums but are writing checks to their Representatives and Senators? Are these the same people that are upset about the fines that will be imposed if they don’t purchase the insurance? Funny, how they can find the cash to support their politicians though. Use your money to better causes people! I was happy to see that as of Wednesday, March 30, the polls showed that not all people were falling for this. Although it was somewhat discouraging that people donated $109 million to the RNC (Republican National Committee) as of that date, and probably rising. Oh, what $109 million would do for our economy and debt, huh? But instead it will go to politicians to build their campaigns against Democrats, to expense staying in fancy hotels, fly on private jets, and the latest current event that happened last week, expensing visits to bondage strip clubs as an expense that we tax payers pay for!

The Democrats are saying that the American people won in this victory. You don’t hear any Republican politicians saying this but some Republican Americans are saying that the insurance companies won. Some Tea Baggers are saying that the Government won. You want to know who won? Insurance Agents, that’s who! Insurance Agents earn their income by earning commissions from selling health insurance. With the pre-existing condition clause eliminated, insurance agents just increased their commissions by expanding their pool of people that they can sell insurance to. I hold every financial license there is to hold (Life, Securities, etc.). I sure wish I had my Health license right about now. So many people that will need to, (and CAN!) purchase health insurance now. It’s a missed opportunity.*

Recently, someone said to me that because of this new Bill, they wished they worked for an insurance company. Why? Do they think as an employee they'd be rich because of this new law? I have lived in CT my whole life. I have worked for insurance companies. I know people that have worked for the insurance companies. Connecticut is the insurance capitol of the world, and believe me, the insurance companies were not throwing parties after the Bill was signed into law. As much as they might be gaining in premiums by the mandate, (which by the way, is based on your income), their payout of claims just increased. They no longer have the ability to deny claims. Huge! No more benefit cap. Most people don't even know they have a cap on their health insurance. May I suggest that you go to work today and ask your employer if there is a cap on your benefits. I have a cap of $1 million over a lifetime, which isn't a lot when you add it all up. Once that cap is used up, I would be virtually screwed. One accident leaving me in a coma would have potentially put my family in the position of hitting that cap, then having to decide to pull the plug because the insurance reached the cap. (Who am I kidding? They would pull the plug on the first day! LOL) But seriously, as of last week, it is illegal to put a cap on one's health insurance. How do the insurance companies win on that? How does an insurance company win by now having to pay out claims and can't deny them? If this person wanted to work for an insurance company with the expectations that they would have shared in the profits of taking advantage of the sick, then the last 100 years would have been the time to do that. As of last week, the playing field was evened out just a bit.

What a week. After the bill was originally signed, there was an uproar from the Republicans, Tea Baggers, and all that opposed it. There was violence directed at supporters of the Bill. Then the Bill was “fixed”. The Republicans sure didn’t offer any teamwork in the creation of the Bill, but were sure quick to criticize the things that weren’t right. Republicans tried to rile the public and attempt to make the Democrats look stupid, by making speeches about how the Democrats want to “give Viagra to perverts”. For cryin’ out loud. Do people really believe that? It was an oversight people. But the Democrats showed them. With all the courage in the world, they fixed the oversight errors and held ANOTHER vote. It passed yet again. After that, there was no more political rhetoric. The Republicans seemed to have disappeared on the subject. Even Glenn Beck, the self appointed REAL president of the Republican Party, on the most important day of our history in a long time, didn’t even cover the signing of the Bill on his show. Kind of like the kid who didn’t win the kickball game, he picked up his ball and went home.

Regardless of how you feel about what took place, it is now law, which means that we all should familiarize ourselves with how this impacts us. And by that, I don't mean listening to the bs on Fox News or the people who voted against it. I mean read up on it yourselves. If you doubt what I am saying, or doubt what your politicians are telling you, inform yourself! Read what this law will do for you and your family. Go to www.whitehouse.gov and read up on it yourself.

I work for a sovereign nation. I'm waiting to see if they fall under this new law so I can get the benefits of what just happened. It blows my mind how others who have it coming naturally are trying to find fault in it. I'm actually PRAYING that the Native Americans that I work for have to abide by this new law!! People like me might have to fight for what the rest of you just got! Feel any better about it now?

Is our health care system perfect now? No. Is it a step in the right direction for all Americans? Yes. All it takes is to know one person who has died prematurely because they didn’t get covered by their insurance company, to know that this Bill was the right thing to do. Right ALWAYS prevails!

Now For Your Local News

On Monday morning, Rachel had to deliver her research presentation to her classmates. Her research was on Persian Cats, and since she got one for Christmas, she thought she should learn about them. I supported the idea. She worked diligently on creating her poster board of facts; her “Persian Answers” Television show, of which yours truly was a stand in for Swiffur (her cat); she made a scrap book of pictures as her art facet (with scrapbook materials given to her by Sandra Davis Hill); and her most important part of her presentation materials – Swiffur himself was to make an appearance at the school!

We woke up Monday morning to torrential rains and wind. The walk into school is trying on nice days, never mind adding the elements. Rachel was dropped off at school so she wouldn’t be late. But I waited until I could maybe get a parking spot closer to the door. I had to carry the poster board, video camera, the scrapbook, the quizzes she created for her post-presentation, and, of course, SWIFFUR, in the cat carrier. Not easy.

Persian Answers. Mostly every time that Rachel does a research project, she includes a TV show where she interviews people. We’ve had “Electricity Answers”, “Canada Answers”, “Sea Lion Answers”, “Senior Center Answers” and “Soccer Answers”.

(Tune in later this week when the video will hopefully be posted here. Having technical difficulties.)

The teacher in the class said I should consider doing voice-overs. But I think I’ll keep my day job. (After all, I have health insurance benefits there.)

Rachel did her presentation and then gave me the “nod”. “Mom, when I nod at you, you bring Swiffur up and take him out of the cat carrier.” I got the nod. I took out Swiffur and let the kids in the class pet him. I am happy to report, he was a good boy. He let all the kids touch him. He even allowed the dog-loving, cat-hating teacher to pet him. When he started to sense the hamster in the cage behind me, I felt it best to put him back in the carrier. I didn’t want to have the lesson become about the circle of life. All-in-all, a great presentation.

Upon leaving, I had to weather the rain and high winds again. Swiffur LOVED that. It sounded like I was killing him. I brought him home and went to work. When we got home that night, the basement had a little water on the floor. No biggie. It happens. I just turned the dehumidifier on and that should have taken care of it. The next day, I woke up and, for some reason, the first thing I did was put on the TV. I never do that. Usually (true confession time) I check Facebook first. (I know, I’m pathetic.) I’m glad I did turn on the TV because school was cancelled. It had rained so much the night before that the rivers were swelling and threatening to flood. I checked my basement and sure enough, there were a few inches of water covering the floor. I won’t go into detail because it’s boring, but it was no small task getting the water out of the basement. I live on a hill and my front yard reminded me of the movie A River Runs Through It.

In watching the news, the local rivers were promising to rise up. The National Guard was called in to assist with the lining of the river banks with sandbags. (That’s our government. Always meddling in our business!) Local businesses were four feet under water. Schools were cancelled for a few days. Roads were obstructed by deep waters. Bridges had collapsed due to the force of the water rising up and taking the bridges with it. Roads were cracked, up heaved, and impassible. Then the thought occurred to me, and lead me to my conclusion for this week...

My Kaneclusion: With all the destruction caused by unlikely events like earthquakes in California and New England dealing with Floods, maybe the Republicans were right! The signing of the Health Care Reform Bill IS causing Armageddon!!!! Or at the very least, the Apocalypse! Man, those Republicans are powerful and all-knowing! Rush Limbaugh, who do I make the check out to, to save our country?

But alas, the rain has stopped, the waters have receded, the basements are drying, and Home Depot/Lowe’s saw a profit. The weather has been beautiful since. Swiffur is calm now, and knowing that cats go a little crazy when it’s going to rain, has me feeling a little less like over-throwing my government. The signing of the Health Care Reform Bill and the floods were all just a coincidence. But I am still waiting for Glenn Beck to draw some parallels on his white board about it.



* These are my views and not the views of the insurance company I represent.