Do you remember these phrases? “I am not a crook” or “ I
did not have sexual relations with that woman” how about “ read
my lips no new taxes.” Do you remember these words? For those of
you who are not old enough to remember the first one is attributed to
President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal that forced him
into resigning from office rather than face impeachment. The second
was President Bill Clinton trying hard to deflect reports of him
having oral sex with an intern in the oval office which wound up with
him committing perjury and getting articles of impeachment drawn up
against him. The only thing that saved him was a lack of democrat
votes. The last is from President George Bush the elder who famously
said that during one of his campaign speeches. He won the election
but reneged on his promise and was defeated soundly in his next
election.
Fast forward to today. We once again have a sitting president who
has lied to the American people. His words, repeated over and over
again, concerning the ACA “ if you like your plan you can keep your
plan. Period” These words are what sold a large part of the
American population to elect him as president and reelect him four
years later. Now the truth has finally hit home. He lied.
I have watched and listened as his various spokespersons have been
out there trying to spin it that he didn't actually lie ,that he
either misspoke or we just didn't understand what it was that he was
saying. Really? Funny thing I watched a whole bunch of his speeches
and it seemed pretty clear to me. I didn't hear about any caveats or
qualifiers. I only heard him say (I and 330 million other Americans)
“if you like your plan you can keep it.” Not sure what part of
that sentence, repeated over and over, that I didn't understand.
Of course the newest spin is to blame it on the insurance
companies.
I actually heard the following on the radio.
The president said you could keep your plan as long as it doesn't
change and the president didn't tell them that they had to change
their policies....
Thank you for clearing that up for me.
So what exactly was the point of the ACA if not to force insurance
companies to change their plans to include more coverage, thus
ensuing higher costs and causing people to lose the coverage they
were told that they could keep? Someone else commented that these
were bare bones policies so they had to go. That's not the point. The
president said if you like your plan you can keep it. So why aren't
they able to keep them?
Another person said that there is no way that the administration
could have known that this was going to happen. Hmmm...I am not a
brain surgeon and even I knew that this was going to happen. Simple
economics would tell you this. If you buy a Yugo you are going to pay
a Yugo price. If you buy a BMW you are going to have to pay the BMW
price not the Yugo price, and if your forced to by the BMW your still
going to have to pay the BMW price. This is not complicated.
Now with people coming out and sharing their individual horror
stories on the major news networks and papers, the administration has
chosen to try and attack and marginalize these people, accusing them
of lying or of not giving out of all the facts. Yet the facts were
simple. They had coverage they liked and they were getting the kind
of care they needed but because of the new ACA regulations they had
to be changed and the people lost the coverage that they had or are
being forced into higher costing plans, what part of this is
misleading or lacking of truth?
There is also word out there that the Obama administration knew
that this was going to happen and even predicted that somewhere close
to 65 percent would loose their coverage and yet they continued to
preach that no one was going to loose it. The estimated number that I
have heard is somewhere between 50 to 129 million people, which is
essentially the entire individual market, are going to loose their
coverage.
The bottom line is that now that the ACA has rolled out the
American people are waking up to the truth. They can't keep their
policies and it's going to cost them dearly. Many are trying to
figure out how they are going to pay for the extra costs and they are
angry. Many things that have happened, prior to this, they mostly
ignored because it didn't effect them directly. This time it does and
they are voicing their displeasure.
When I was growing up there was always a price for lying and it
was always considered a better thing to confess your mistakes and
make things right. This is what I have taught to my own children and
I hope they will do the same with theirs. So here is my simple minded
solution for you Mr. President. Admit that you were wrong, stop this
madness and fix it. It's as simple as that. If not, you can expect
that your party will be thoroughly trashed, as every republican in
the nation will loudly remind everyone just who is to blame. You and
the democratic party.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Redundancy and Waste
While the news has been filled with Obama care troubles and the
NSA spying on our friends, one subject has seemingly disappeared from
the stage, The budget and debt ceiling. A couple of weeks ago you
didn't hear much else, yet now it seems to have vanished.
Just in case anyone has forgotten we get to go to the edge of the cliff again in the middle of January and already both sides are suggesting that they aren't going to get much done before then. Lest you have forgotten here is the simplified crux of the problem.
Democrats are unwilling to cut any programs and want to raise taxes. Republicans are refusing to raise any more taxes with out the cuts and the tea party wants Obama care defunded before they will budge on anything. This of course leads to nothing being accomplished.
There are some things that could be done though that might actually work, if we could find any real leadership that is. The first would be ending all the pork projects that get attached to bills, which have nothing to do with running the government and only politically help the person who attached the bill. A fine example was Mitch McConnell being able to get some extra funding for a bridge project in his home state as a way to get him to go along with Harry Reid temporary budget plan and push the battle again down the road.
The second would be getting rid of all the wasteful government run redundancy. I saw a small part of in a visit to a VA hospital in Boston for a simple consult...
When my wife and I arrived we had no idea of where to go but once we did we made a bee line for the desk that was clearly marked “clinic check in.” After waiting for the others that were ahead of me the lady took my card and swiped it through her swiper, for a lack of another term, and then informed me that I had to go to a different desk on the other side of that same area to check in. So off we headed to the other desk. Upon our arrival at that desk there was a gentleman standing there who was looking just a bit on the ticked off side while a woman sat at another desk on a computer. After about 5 minutes of standing there the lady at the computer turned around and informed us that there was no one there to check us in, the woman who does that had just stepped out and she had no idea when said woman would be back and she wasn't able to check us in so we should go to the other desk,the first one that we had been to,and have her check us in. By this time there was about 8 of us standing there waiting to get checked in and all of us told her that they had just sent us here from the desk she was trying to send us back to. She muttered something about “well you should sit down and wait because I don't know how long it's going to be.” Now gentle readers I am not a brain surgeon and I admit that I don't understand all the intricacies of running a government agency, but where I normally go we check ourselves in via a kiosk. If I can do it, with nothing more then a high school education, surely a government employee sitting right there should be able to. Also understand there were multiple “check in desks”all within 50 feet of each other. Not a single one could check us in. The lady sitting there was clearly capable of cruising through Facebook and her personal emails, her screen was facing us so we could see what she was doing, but she was not competent enough to swipe a card and putting a check mark next to our names on the paper.
After about another15 minutes the lady who did know how to swipe a card and check us in finally arrived. The other lady,as it turned out, was a nurse who's sole purpose was to take our vital signs. She also turned out to be the next person I had to see. Once I got to her she told me to stand there and wait ,quite rudely I might add, while she finished what she was doing on the computer. And what was she doing that was of such vital government mandated importance? She was writing an email on her Yahoo account. So I stood there for another 10 minutes while she hunted and pecked her way across the keyboard. To say that I was angry would be a massive understatement.
Finally I was checked in. I was an hour late for my appointment, but I was finally checked in. Twenty minutes later we were ushered into an examination room. The short version is that apparently the doctor never looked at my records. I spent an hour having another examination ,that I had already had,that was in fact the reason that I was there in the first place. Redundancy and stupidity combined. What was supposed to be a simple consult turned into a 4 hour marathon over something that shouldn't have taken more then a half hour.
Here is my point. If the nurse, or any of the other check in spots, had checked us in, they are all on the same system after all, they could have saved us all time and moved on to other vets who needed help. Better yet they could simplify by having one desk with say three people ,who all know how to swipe a card and check us in, thus saving time and money in wasted salaries.
Second if the doctors would actually take a minute to read the files of the veterans before they talk to them, then they would save a lot of time by not doing the same exams over and over (I had the same test and exam 3 times in the last 3 weeks) and they could move more quickly on to other Veterans.
Remember this was just one small area of this particular VA, if I saw the redundancy and wasted time there, just imagine how much of it goes on all over the VA system not to mention the rest of the government.
Just keep I mind,as we approach yet another cliff, that there is a lot of money that could be saved just by taking care of these two things that I have mentioned ,and I am sure that there is more that could be added to the list, but I suspect it will be those of us who are veterans,seniors or poor, that once again will be the targets because , after all, we are such leeches to society.
Just my Simple Minded Opinion.
Just in case anyone has forgotten we get to go to the edge of the cliff again in the middle of January and already both sides are suggesting that they aren't going to get much done before then. Lest you have forgotten here is the simplified crux of the problem.
Democrats are unwilling to cut any programs and want to raise taxes. Republicans are refusing to raise any more taxes with out the cuts and the tea party wants Obama care defunded before they will budge on anything. This of course leads to nothing being accomplished.
There are some things that could be done though that might actually work, if we could find any real leadership that is. The first would be ending all the pork projects that get attached to bills, which have nothing to do with running the government and only politically help the person who attached the bill. A fine example was Mitch McConnell being able to get some extra funding for a bridge project in his home state as a way to get him to go along with Harry Reid temporary budget plan and push the battle again down the road.
The second would be getting rid of all the wasteful government run redundancy. I saw a small part of in a visit to a VA hospital in Boston for a simple consult...
When my wife and I arrived we had no idea of where to go but once we did we made a bee line for the desk that was clearly marked “clinic check in.” After waiting for the others that were ahead of me the lady took my card and swiped it through her swiper, for a lack of another term, and then informed me that I had to go to a different desk on the other side of that same area to check in. So off we headed to the other desk. Upon our arrival at that desk there was a gentleman standing there who was looking just a bit on the ticked off side while a woman sat at another desk on a computer. After about 5 minutes of standing there the lady at the computer turned around and informed us that there was no one there to check us in, the woman who does that had just stepped out and she had no idea when said woman would be back and she wasn't able to check us in so we should go to the other desk,the first one that we had been to,and have her check us in. By this time there was about 8 of us standing there waiting to get checked in and all of us told her that they had just sent us here from the desk she was trying to send us back to. She muttered something about “well you should sit down and wait because I don't know how long it's going to be.” Now gentle readers I am not a brain surgeon and I admit that I don't understand all the intricacies of running a government agency, but where I normally go we check ourselves in via a kiosk. If I can do it, with nothing more then a high school education, surely a government employee sitting right there should be able to. Also understand there were multiple “check in desks”all within 50 feet of each other. Not a single one could check us in. The lady sitting there was clearly capable of cruising through Facebook and her personal emails, her screen was facing us so we could see what she was doing, but she was not competent enough to swipe a card and putting a check mark next to our names on the paper.
After about another15 minutes the lady who did know how to swipe a card and check us in finally arrived. The other lady,as it turned out, was a nurse who's sole purpose was to take our vital signs. She also turned out to be the next person I had to see. Once I got to her she told me to stand there and wait ,quite rudely I might add, while she finished what she was doing on the computer. And what was she doing that was of such vital government mandated importance? She was writing an email on her Yahoo account. So I stood there for another 10 minutes while she hunted and pecked her way across the keyboard. To say that I was angry would be a massive understatement.
Finally I was checked in. I was an hour late for my appointment, but I was finally checked in. Twenty minutes later we were ushered into an examination room. The short version is that apparently the doctor never looked at my records. I spent an hour having another examination ,that I had already had,that was in fact the reason that I was there in the first place. Redundancy and stupidity combined. What was supposed to be a simple consult turned into a 4 hour marathon over something that shouldn't have taken more then a half hour.
Here is my point. If the nurse, or any of the other check in spots, had checked us in, they are all on the same system after all, they could have saved us all time and moved on to other vets who needed help. Better yet they could simplify by having one desk with say three people ,who all know how to swipe a card and check us in, thus saving time and money in wasted salaries.
Second if the doctors would actually take a minute to read the files of the veterans before they talk to them, then they would save a lot of time by not doing the same exams over and over (I had the same test and exam 3 times in the last 3 weeks) and they could move more quickly on to other Veterans.
Remember this was just one small area of this particular VA, if I saw the redundancy and wasted time there, just imagine how much of it goes on all over the VA system not to mention the rest of the government.
Just keep I mind,as we approach yet another cliff, that there is a lot of money that could be saved just by taking care of these two things that I have mentioned ,and I am sure that there is more that could be added to the list, but I suspect it will be those of us who are veterans,seniors or poor, that once again will be the targets because , after all, we are such leeches to society.
Just my Simple Minded Opinion.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tin Foil Hat # who knows...
Late last week, and over the weekend, reports have come out of
Germany, France and Spain, amongst others, that show the NSA spying
on our allies. The reports are saying that they have been doing this
to the tune of millions of phone calls and emails. The white house
spokesman, Jay Carney, told reporters that the president knew nothing
about it and it was being looked into. Then another report came out
saying that he has known about it at least since 2010. Once again
the president knows nothing, just like fast and furious and
Benghazi....Oh wait 60 minutes showed that he and Hillary DID know
about that one apparently only lefties can point out things to other
lefties....
In Wyoming there have a couple of towns and schools that have allowed themselves to be used as human guinea pigs letting the feds put RFID chips into their bodies as an experiment to see how well this system can work. Apparently some parents were outraged when they found out that the schools had implanted their kids with them with out their knowledge but most seemed to be OK with it. Those that resisted it were concerned for various reasons, health concerns, constitutional concerns and some were for religious reasons. The author of the article went on to label those people as “kooks.” Now while I don't believe that RFID chips are the mark of the beast, as some extreme religious groups might, I do have to ask; why would anyone want an implant in their bodies that allow the government to know everything you are doing and everywhere you are going? Some argue that you can be tracked via your cell phone, and that true, but you can leave that at home
It has also been reported that with Obama care will come possible forced home visits for certain classes of people, such as mothers under the age of 21 and families of veterans who have had combat tours.
According the Health and Human Services website from the 15th of August it says that under the ACA government agents can engage in "home health visits" for those in certain “high-risk” categories.
Those categories include,besides the two mentioned above, Families where someone is a tobacco user;
Families where children have low student achievement, developmental delays, or disabilities, and
Families with individuals who are serving or formerly served in the armed forces, including such families that have members of the armed forces who have had multiple deployments outside the United States. Also mentioned were homeschoolers. One person suggested that the wording was so broad and vague that a large swath of the American population could easily be included. Hows that change stuff working for you now? To quote Ronald Reagan “ the scariest words ever uttered are I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”
When Alicia was 12 weeks pregnant, she took herself to a health clinic about a mile from her home in Jackson, Wis., for a prenatal checkup. But what started as a routine visit ended with Beltran eventually handcuffed and shackled in government custody – and at the center of a first-of-its-kind federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state’s fetal protection law.....
This is scary, she used the doctor patient confidentiality and it was used against her, Ill let the article speak for it's self:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/24/21117142-shackled-and-pregnant-wis-case-challenges-fetal-protection-law
I recently heard of an atheist group that was challenging a particular cities use of clergy at the scene of crimes or tragedies as being in any way helpful. While I respect atheists rights to believe, or not ,as they so choose here is my own thought for what it's worth. Re-posted from my Face Book page;
Just before the Iraq war officially started we had the CG call a halt to everything,except that which provided our security, to give Marines and sailors a chance to meet with chaplains and attend services of their choice. They had tents, big tents, set up for protestants and Catholics, they had smaller ones for those that were Mormons and Jews and even one for those few Muslims that we had in our unit. There wasn't a tent that was not packed. I was in the protestant tent and I had Marines from my platoon that were Catholic or non church going people in there along with us. They didn't care about PC or even if they were in the right place they simply wanted to make their peace with God, however they perceived God to be, before we went into hell. Later that evening , as we were getting ready to roll out, I watched as Christian chaplains and Rabbis moved among the troops praying with them and giving blessings. It didn't matter to most of us what religion they represented, they simply brought us comfort that God would be with us as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death. If you don't believe in God that is your choice, and I respect that, and as much as I am able I will defend your right to believe as you do, but please stop trying to make the rest of us conform to your beliefs or lack there of. I do not claim Christianity as my religion nor am I Jewish, though my beliefs tend that way, but if I am in distress and in need of comfort I am not going to argue about who talks to me or tries to bring me comfort or prays with me. Do chaplains of all stripes serve a purpose and bring comfort? Yes.
Tin Foil Hat Time
In Wyoming there have a couple of towns and schools that have allowed themselves to be used as human guinea pigs letting the feds put RFID chips into their bodies as an experiment to see how well this system can work. Apparently some parents were outraged when they found out that the schools had implanted their kids with them with out their knowledge but most seemed to be OK with it. Those that resisted it were concerned for various reasons, health concerns, constitutional concerns and some were for religious reasons. The author of the article went on to label those people as “kooks.” Now while I don't believe that RFID chips are the mark of the beast, as some extreme religious groups might, I do have to ask; why would anyone want an implant in their bodies that allow the government to know everything you are doing and everywhere you are going? Some argue that you can be tracked via your cell phone, and that true, but you can leave that at home
It has also been reported that with Obama care will come possible forced home visits for certain classes of people, such as mothers under the age of 21 and families of veterans who have had combat tours.
According the Health and Human Services website from the 15th of August it says that under the ACA government agents can engage in "home health visits" for those in certain “high-risk” categories.
Those categories include,besides the two mentioned above, Families where someone is a tobacco user;
Families where children have low student achievement, developmental delays, or disabilities, and
Families with individuals who are serving or formerly served in the armed forces, including such families that have members of the armed forces who have had multiple deployments outside the United States. Also mentioned were homeschoolers. One person suggested that the wording was so broad and vague that a large swath of the American population could easily be included. Hows that change stuff working for you now? To quote Ronald Reagan “ the scariest words ever uttered are I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”
When Alicia was 12 weeks pregnant, she took herself to a health clinic about a mile from her home in Jackson, Wis., for a prenatal checkup. But what started as a routine visit ended with Beltran eventually handcuffed and shackled in government custody – and at the center of a first-of-its-kind federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state’s fetal protection law.....
This is scary, she used the doctor patient confidentiality and it was used against her, Ill let the article speak for it's self:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/24/21117142-shackled-and-pregnant-wis-case-challenges-fetal-protection-law
I recently heard of an atheist group that was challenging a particular cities use of clergy at the scene of crimes or tragedies as being in any way helpful. While I respect atheists rights to believe, or not ,as they so choose here is my own thought for what it's worth. Re-posted from my Face Book page;
Just before the Iraq war officially started we had the CG call a halt to everything,except that which provided our security, to give Marines and sailors a chance to meet with chaplains and attend services of their choice. They had tents, big tents, set up for protestants and Catholics, they had smaller ones for those that were Mormons and Jews and even one for those few Muslims that we had in our unit. There wasn't a tent that was not packed. I was in the protestant tent and I had Marines from my platoon that were Catholic or non church going people in there along with us. They didn't care about PC or even if they were in the right place they simply wanted to make their peace with God, however they perceived God to be, before we went into hell. Later that evening , as we were getting ready to roll out, I watched as Christian chaplains and Rabbis moved among the troops praying with them and giving blessings. It didn't matter to most of us what religion they represented, they simply brought us comfort that God would be with us as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death. If you don't believe in God that is your choice, and I respect that, and as much as I am able I will defend your right to believe as you do, but please stop trying to make the rest of us conform to your beliefs or lack there of. I do not claim Christianity as my religion nor am I Jewish, though my beliefs tend that way, but if I am in distress and in need of comfort I am not going to argue about who talks to me or tries to bring me comfort or prays with me. Do chaplains of all stripes serve a purpose and bring comfort? Yes.
Tin Foil Hat Time
Friday, October 11, 2013
Tinfoil Hat Time
Due to a lack of government funding and partial shut down this
will not be nearly as silly or as long and I will have three armed
guards, who also are not being paid, watching you....
Number one today under the category of “I wish I was Big Bird” apparently the government was able to find money to continue to fund PBS to the tune of 445 million, while shutting down national monuments and threatening to chop money from seniors and disabled vets. When asked, Big Bird, who was heading south for the winter and is a senior himself thought that it was good that the government had it proprieties straight and that it was by far more important to take care of talking birds and a critter that lives in a garbage can rather then fund those who actually have done something like contribute to society.
Under the category of “2 inches is bigger than you think” a Rhode Island 7th grader was suspended from school for have a 2 inch plastic toy gun on a key chain. Apparently the keys, that were being held hostage by the toy gun, panicked and called 911 and after some intense negotiations with the SWAT team the gun surrendered and blood shed was averted.....
In a unusual posting the Washington Post apparently gave the president 4 Pinocchio’s, the highest number given for lying, based on a comment that Mr. Obama said, “never in the history of the United States has a non germane (relevant to a subject under consideration) bill ever been attached to debt ceiling talks” According to the post he only missed that by about 1400 starting with Ted Kennedy and Walter Mondale back in 1973. The words ooops comes to mind.
So while Vietnam vets are being arrested and WW2 vets are being barred from their respective monuments a rally was allowed in support of illegal aliens, complete with staging, guards and a wonderful guest appearance by Nancy Pelosi. Imagine that, we can celebrate those who come here illegally and demand that they have rights , all under the guise of free speech, while prohibiting those who fought for those rights from visiting the memorials built in their honor.
A town in New Jersey has decided that pan handlers need to have a permit to pan handle. I am a bit confused; how does someone who doesn’t have any money, hence they are out pan handling, get the money to buy this permit? They have also suggested that should someone be found with out one that they could go to jail...OK so lets get this straight If I don't have a permit and it's a cold January night you are going to arrest me and put me in a place that warm and that I can get fed...prepare for full jails....
A judge in Ohio has declared a man legally dead....even though the man was standing right in front of him...apparently this man wandered off back in 2005 and was declared legally dead by the same judge. Shortly after being declared dead he returned from the other side but the judge refused to acknowledge his presence in effect telling him he was still dead, the ghost defamation league has filed a formal complaint stating that the man in no way represents the ghostly community and should be restored to life......
Schools in NH and CT have decided that playing tag and using baseballs, footballs,etc are just way to dangerous for kids and could promote violence so these activities will no longer be allowed. When asked the children were basically non committal as they were busy playing Assassins Creed and Grand Theft Auto....
Number one today under the category of “I wish I was Big Bird” apparently the government was able to find money to continue to fund PBS to the tune of 445 million, while shutting down national monuments and threatening to chop money from seniors and disabled vets. When asked, Big Bird, who was heading south for the winter and is a senior himself thought that it was good that the government had it proprieties straight and that it was by far more important to take care of talking birds and a critter that lives in a garbage can rather then fund those who actually have done something like contribute to society.
Under the category of “2 inches is bigger than you think” a Rhode Island 7th grader was suspended from school for have a 2 inch plastic toy gun on a key chain. Apparently the keys, that were being held hostage by the toy gun, panicked and called 911 and after some intense negotiations with the SWAT team the gun surrendered and blood shed was averted.....
In a unusual posting the Washington Post apparently gave the president 4 Pinocchio’s, the highest number given for lying, based on a comment that Mr. Obama said, “never in the history of the United States has a non germane (relevant to a subject under consideration) bill ever been attached to debt ceiling talks” According to the post he only missed that by about 1400 starting with Ted Kennedy and Walter Mondale back in 1973. The words ooops comes to mind.
So while Vietnam vets are being arrested and WW2 vets are being barred from their respective monuments a rally was allowed in support of illegal aliens, complete with staging, guards and a wonderful guest appearance by Nancy Pelosi. Imagine that, we can celebrate those who come here illegally and demand that they have rights , all under the guise of free speech, while prohibiting those who fought for those rights from visiting the memorials built in their honor.
A town in New Jersey has decided that pan handlers need to have a permit to pan handle. I am a bit confused; how does someone who doesn’t have any money, hence they are out pan handling, get the money to buy this permit? They have also suggested that should someone be found with out one that they could go to jail...OK so lets get this straight If I don't have a permit and it's a cold January night you are going to arrest me and put me in a place that warm and that I can get fed...prepare for full jails....
A judge in Ohio has declared a man legally dead....even though the man was standing right in front of him...apparently this man wandered off back in 2005 and was declared legally dead by the same judge. Shortly after being declared dead he returned from the other side but the judge refused to acknowledge his presence in effect telling him he was still dead, the ghost defamation league has filed a formal complaint stating that the man in no way represents the ghostly community and should be restored to life......
Schools in NH and CT have decided that playing tag and using baseballs, footballs,etc are just way to dangerous for kids and could promote violence so these activities will no longer be allowed. When asked the children were basically non committal as they were busy playing Assassins Creed and Grand Theft Auto....
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
A Short letter to congress
Dear congress, I realize the chances of any of you reading this is
slim but perhaps the folks at the NSA could relay this message to
you.....
First the simple statement; You are toying with my life. Not just my life, but the life of my family, and many other disabled veterans. It's interesting to note that you have made sure the military is still getting paid,wouldn't want a bunch of unhappy, still active, combat veterans on your hands, which is well and good, and that those furloughed will get back pay, which is also well and good, but you are refusing to honor your commitment to all of us disabled veterans. From what I understand the house voted to continue funding the VA but the senate refused to even consider it. Mind telling me why?
Those of us who are disabled veterans already paid the price for serving the country and protecting your sorry backsides, yet while we will likely not get paid, and our hospitals and clinics get shut down, you will still be receiving your pay and benefits. This is wrong on so many levels.
Sadly I get it. You are so worried about how you will look to your constituents or to the radical factions in your parties that you are willing to sell me and mine down the river just to save face. You talk up a storm and try to be all sympathetic while the cameras are rolling or when you are with a friendly crowd but the bottom line is that you are all hiding behind a mask of sympathy while the truth is that none of you really give a care, you have your agenda and your pride and to hell with anything that will get in the way.
And why should you care? You're still getting paid. You will still be able to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, even if this goes on for months, and the worst pain that you are likely to see is perhaps not getting re elected ,but that's OK too because you will just move on to some lobbying group or write your memoirs. Bottom line is that if you do nothing it isn't going to hurt you.
For those of us who live in the real world, those of us who live from pay check to paycheck, your reality is not even remotely close to ours. This is going to hurt ,and hurt bad ,but I suppose that’s what you want; Cause pain and then blame the other side. Great, meanwhile we suffer.
Simply put; If we don't get paid, we won't be keeping a roof over our heads or food on the table. We will literally become a homeless veteran family and likely it won't just be us, it will hit thousands of families. You see my wife and I balanced our budget, unlike congress, and have determined that we are about to reach our limit. Unlike you though, we can't negotiate for more funding, we can't just opt out to not pay our debts. I can't go to the bank and ask them to lend me more money so that I can pay them what I already owe. By stopping our pay you are telling all of us that our sacrifice and the sacrifices of all disabled veterans is worthless to you. We only matter as a political tool. Just remember most of us vote, and if I am sleeping in a card board box eating only what I can find out of a trash bin. I won't forget and I will make damn sure no one else will either.
This is reality; this is no game.
First the simple statement; You are toying with my life. Not just my life, but the life of my family, and many other disabled veterans. It's interesting to note that you have made sure the military is still getting paid,wouldn't want a bunch of unhappy, still active, combat veterans on your hands, which is well and good, and that those furloughed will get back pay, which is also well and good, but you are refusing to honor your commitment to all of us disabled veterans. From what I understand the house voted to continue funding the VA but the senate refused to even consider it. Mind telling me why?
Those of us who are disabled veterans already paid the price for serving the country and protecting your sorry backsides, yet while we will likely not get paid, and our hospitals and clinics get shut down, you will still be receiving your pay and benefits. This is wrong on so many levels.
Sadly I get it. You are so worried about how you will look to your constituents or to the radical factions in your parties that you are willing to sell me and mine down the river just to save face. You talk up a storm and try to be all sympathetic while the cameras are rolling or when you are with a friendly crowd but the bottom line is that you are all hiding behind a mask of sympathy while the truth is that none of you really give a care, you have your agenda and your pride and to hell with anything that will get in the way.
And why should you care? You're still getting paid. You will still be able to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, even if this goes on for months, and the worst pain that you are likely to see is perhaps not getting re elected ,but that's OK too because you will just move on to some lobbying group or write your memoirs. Bottom line is that if you do nothing it isn't going to hurt you.
For those of us who live in the real world, those of us who live from pay check to paycheck, your reality is not even remotely close to ours. This is going to hurt ,and hurt bad ,but I suppose that’s what you want; Cause pain and then blame the other side. Great, meanwhile we suffer.
Simply put; If we don't get paid, we won't be keeping a roof over our heads or food on the table. We will literally become a homeless veteran family and likely it won't just be us, it will hit thousands of families. You see my wife and I balanced our budget, unlike congress, and have determined that we are about to reach our limit. Unlike you though, we can't negotiate for more funding, we can't just opt out to not pay our debts. I can't go to the bank and ask them to lend me more money so that I can pay them what I already owe. By stopping our pay you are telling all of us that our sacrifice and the sacrifices of all disabled veterans is worthless to you. We only matter as a political tool. Just remember most of us vote, and if I am sleeping in a card board box eating only what I can find out of a trash bin. I won't forget and I will make damn sure no one else will either.
This is reality; this is no game.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Tinfoil Hat after the weekend edition 2
As most of you know there was a shooting in DC that involved the
capital police and home land security. Apparently a woman rammed into
one of the barricades near the white house and after nearly running
over the capitol police she was shot and killed in her car. She was
un-armed and her one year old was in the car with her. DHS has tried
to justify this stating that she had some serious mental problems and
that she believed that Mr. Obama was controlling her mind through
radio waves. Seems to me that a number of the shootings recently have
involved people who thought they were under some sort of mind
control, the last one being the Navy yard shooter. I am usually
skeptical about anything mind control like but it can it all be just
a coincidence?
A.Rod is suing MLB and Bud Selig. Why? Because, according to his lawyers, they have been on a witch hunt to smear his name and it has cost him millions in contracts. OK so the fact that he has been caught twice using performance enhancing drugs and he has encouraged others to do the same has nothing to do with it? It couldn't possibly be his arrogance and selfishness that did him in? At least Manny Ramirez had class enough to quit....
In war news Afghanistan is going to be having elections soon! Running for president this time around is a man who is considered to be a warlord and he was the mentor to OBL. Just wonderful, we bomb the crap out of the Taliban and we supposedly have the bad guys on the run and in the course of trying to stabilize Afghanistan they are going to allow one of the original Taliban to run for president... I have a better solution; why don't we just send them all our congress people and president? They aren't doing anything right now anyhow....
In an incredible show of compassion for America's disabled vets, Harry Reid refused to even entertain the bill, which was passed in the house, that would have continued to fund the VA and all it's services to veterans. Of course he made damn sure to pass the bill that would allow active military to stay paid, wouldn't want active combat vets to be angry after all, and then he made sure that government employees are going to get at least back pay when this all over, but for those of us who sacrificed our minds, bodies and souls, all we're going to get is a foot up our backsides...
A high school girl recently found out that her t-shirt promoted violence. And what was on this frightening shirt? It was a picture of a hunter ,with an American flag in the back ground, and the words “NRA protecting Americas traditions since 1871” The only way that shirt could have promoted violence was if she had taken it off and started snapping people with it....but not to be out done we have the story of two 7 year old’s who were suspended from school for pointing their pencils at each other and making “ machine gun noises.” Now I understand the fear of pencils, lead poisoning and all that, but these were two boys, at least one of whom has a father that is a Marine, doing what it is that boys do, making noises and imitating their dads. We used to put them in rubber bands and shoot them at each other....
Ted Cruz reportedly said that the GOP was going to win...win what exactly? If it's about Obama care then perhaps you didn't get the memo? It went into effect the very same day that you shut down the government....that explains it then, with the government shut down you couldn't get to your email...you have lost this particular battle sir, for the moment, but you are in danger of loosing the entire war and destroying all of us at the same time..pick your time and your battle but this is neither...
In Saudi Arabia, 4 men were sentenced to 10 years in prison and up to 2,000 lashes, for dancing naked on top of their car. I will be the first to admit that this would have been a very traumatizing thing to see, from what I understand the car was impounded and is seeking counseling, but it seems to me that, compared to say water boarding that this is a bit on the extreme side....
DOJ is refusing to let a book be published that exposes all the screw ups in the “Fast and Furious” operation that resulted in guns disappearing into the hands of Mexican drug lords and has resulted in many deaths including border patrol agents. The reason they give? “Because it would have a negative impact on morale” Really? Who's morale? Eric Holder the mastermind of this stupidity or the president who refuses to do anything about it? Seems to me that there is an extreme conflict of interest here....
A.Rod is suing MLB and Bud Selig. Why? Because, according to his lawyers, they have been on a witch hunt to smear his name and it has cost him millions in contracts. OK so the fact that he has been caught twice using performance enhancing drugs and he has encouraged others to do the same has nothing to do with it? It couldn't possibly be his arrogance and selfishness that did him in? At least Manny Ramirez had class enough to quit....
In war news Afghanistan is going to be having elections soon! Running for president this time around is a man who is considered to be a warlord and he was the mentor to OBL. Just wonderful, we bomb the crap out of the Taliban and we supposedly have the bad guys on the run and in the course of trying to stabilize Afghanistan they are going to allow one of the original Taliban to run for president... I have a better solution; why don't we just send them all our congress people and president? They aren't doing anything right now anyhow....
In an incredible show of compassion for America's disabled vets, Harry Reid refused to even entertain the bill, which was passed in the house, that would have continued to fund the VA and all it's services to veterans. Of course he made damn sure to pass the bill that would allow active military to stay paid, wouldn't want active combat vets to be angry after all, and then he made sure that government employees are going to get at least back pay when this all over, but for those of us who sacrificed our minds, bodies and souls, all we're going to get is a foot up our backsides...
A high school girl recently found out that her t-shirt promoted violence. And what was on this frightening shirt? It was a picture of a hunter ,with an American flag in the back ground, and the words “NRA protecting Americas traditions since 1871” The only way that shirt could have promoted violence was if she had taken it off and started snapping people with it....but not to be out done we have the story of two 7 year old’s who were suspended from school for pointing their pencils at each other and making “ machine gun noises.” Now I understand the fear of pencils, lead poisoning and all that, but these were two boys, at least one of whom has a father that is a Marine, doing what it is that boys do, making noises and imitating their dads. We used to put them in rubber bands and shoot them at each other....
Ted Cruz reportedly said that the GOP was going to win...win what exactly? If it's about Obama care then perhaps you didn't get the memo? It went into effect the very same day that you shut down the government....that explains it then, with the government shut down you couldn't get to your email...you have lost this particular battle sir, for the moment, but you are in danger of loosing the entire war and destroying all of us at the same time..pick your time and your battle but this is neither...
In Saudi Arabia, 4 men were sentenced to 10 years in prison and up to 2,000 lashes, for dancing naked on top of their car. I will be the first to admit that this would have been a very traumatizing thing to see, from what I understand the car was impounded and is seeking counseling, but it seems to me that, compared to say water boarding that this is a bit on the extreme side....
DOJ is refusing to let a book be published that exposes all the screw ups in the “Fast and Furious” operation that resulted in guns disappearing into the hands of Mexican drug lords and has resulted in many deaths including border patrol agents. The reason they give? “Because it would have a negative impact on morale” Really? Who's morale? Eric Holder the mastermind of this stupidity or the president who refuses to do anything about it? Seems to me that there is an extreme conflict of interest here....
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Tinfoil Hat 2
Tinfoil Hat Time.
On Monday it was reported that various police departments around the country will be receiving,via government surplus, bomb proof, armored vehicles to help them “execute warrants and to fight crime.”When I went to Iraq we only had soft shelled hummers with sand bags at the bottom to protect us in a country where the bad guys planted roadside bombs everywhere. Exactly how many road side bombs or IED's are they really expecting to find? But I suppose the truth is is that they wanted an accessory that would match their tactical helmets and flak jackets and nothing says accessories like an armored vehicle.
On a bit of a lighter note, apparently McDonalds and Burger King are in a battle to see who can provide the healthiest form of junk food. It would seem that both of them have some sort of salad option and BK has introduced some sort of healthy french fry. A healthy french fry? I'm sorry but healthy and french fry just doesn't quite sing. Oh for the days of fast junk food where as soon as you looked at it your arteries would start to harden, salad... bah humbug...
Under the heading of “It's a part of American history and perhaps you should go read it.” The Virginia Flaggers Heritage group of Richmond, flew a rather large Confederate battle flag about 10 miles out side the city of Richmond over the weekend. Apparently there were some who criticized the group suggesting that the Confederate battle flag was nothing more than a symbol of bigotry and racism. The Flaggers, response to the criticism was that this is a part of our heritage and many of our ancestors fought and died under this BATTLE FLAG. This is a part of American history. Time to grow up and deal with it. Strange how no one tells the former confederate states that they should get rid of their individual state flags and unit flags that were there right beside the confederate battle flag.
On Tuesday the Energy Department hailed the Solyndra loan program a success. They went bankrupt. Not sure how that gets defined as a success but then we are talking a government agency associated with a fed that seems to think 17 trillion in the hole is a successful way to govern......
Normally I would say that the only dumb question is the one not asked.....Fox News had a question at the head of an article asking this; “Why won't Obama negotiate with republicans?” This can't be a serious question. ACA is his signature piece of legislation, if he compromises he is admitting to it having problems and he would rather sink the country then admit that there might be some issues, wouldn't want him to loose face or anything...
An 8 year old Florida boy was suspended from school for a day for the most heinous of violent crimes that I have ever heard of ( the words “violent crime” was used by school officials) he had the nerve, while playing cops and robbers with his friends, to point his finger at his friend and say bang! I understand that there was much trauma from this event, though the student were only really disturbed because he didn't use both his finger and thumb to make the proper gun.
Not to be out done; another school suspended several 7th grade boys from school for using air soft guns. Did I mention that they were in their own front yard and not at school? They were waiting for the bus to come when the violence and mayhem ensued. Allegedly, the criminals, who have been suspended for the entire year, were actually shooting at targets that they had set up beside their house while waiting for the bus to come. Not sure if it was the bus driver or a passer by who reported the crime to school officials but the boys were immediately expelled from school for the year. Did I mention they were on their own property? Apparently the school administrator believes that his jurisdiction includes private property....I'll keep you updated as I hear more about it.
WW2 vets weren't slowed down by the government shutdown. Men who faced death in the line of duty didn't even bat an eye as they went to see the memorial dedicated to them. In probably one of the brighter moments of this mess, the park police allegedly helped remove the barricades and did not interfere.
Under the heading of “There are many things I would like to say but this is a family friendly article.”
While 800,000 government employees are put on to un-paid leave, veterans and senior citizens ,as well as others, may find themselves with no paycheck at the end of the month. But according to the 27th amendment congress is still going to get paid. This situation, for those of you who are familiar with this term, is total FUBAR. They are the problem, not those of us who literally broke our asses protecting them. I can't even begin to come up with something amusing to say except if they are not careful the last laugh may be on them.
Postal Service defaults on 5.6 billion....another fine example of government spending....
Lawyers for the surviving Boston bomber have filed suit over his living conditions. Apparently he doesn't have any interaction with other prisoners and is not allowed to pray with other Muslims. Could it possibly have something to do with him “continuously trying to incite violent jihad.” according to prosecutors? The other complaint is that he is only let out to see his lawyers so I have a wonderful idea; lets bring in the victims of the bombing and let them interact with him for a while....in a locked room...with no windows or witnesses.....
Under the heading of “A picture says a thousand words” A picture circulating the internet shows the bottom half of a guard at the Lincoln Memorial and behind him, between his legs, is Lincoln on his seat. The title of this photo is “Obama’s America” no more needs to be said.
So today, in light of the budget disaster going on with congress, Mr. Obama hit the campaign trail. Apparently his staff has failed to notify him of his re election last November or to inform him he needs to lead now instead of running away every time Mr. Bohener looks at him cross eyed. If you want to win this fight Mr. President you really need to show up in the ring....
On Monday it was reported that various police departments around the country will be receiving,via government surplus, bomb proof, armored vehicles to help them “execute warrants and to fight crime.”When I went to Iraq we only had soft shelled hummers with sand bags at the bottom to protect us in a country where the bad guys planted roadside bombs everywhere. Exactly how many road side bombs or IED's are they really expecting to find? But I suppose the truth is is that they wanted an accessory that would match their tactical helmets and flak jackets and nothing says accessories like an armored vehicle.
On a bit of a lighter note, apparently McDonalds and Burger King are in a battle to see who can provide the healthiest form of junk food. It would seem that both of them have some sort of salad option and BK has introduced some sort of healthy french fry. A healthy french fry? I'm sorry but healthy and french fry just doesn't quite sing. Oh for the days of fast junk food where as soon as you looked at it your arteries would start to harden, salad... bah humbug...
Under the heading of “It's a part of American history and perhaps you should go read it.” The Virginia Flaggers Heritage group of Richmond, flew a rather large Confederate battle flag about 10 miles out side the city of Richmond over the weekend. Apparently there were some who criticized the group suggesting that the Confederate battle flag was nothing more than a symbol of bigotry and racism. The Flaggers, response to the criticism was that this is a part of our heritage and many of our ancestors fought and died under this BATTLE FLAG. This is a part of American history. Time to grow up and deal with it. Strange how no one tells the former confederate states that they should get rid of their individual state flags and unit flags that were there right beside the confederate battle flag.
On Tuesday the Energy Department hailed the Solyndra loan program a success. They went bankrupt. Not sure how that gets defined as a success but then we are talking a government agency associated with a fed that seems to think 17 trillion in the hole is a successful way to govern......
Normally I would say that the only dumb question is the one not asked.....Fox News had a question at the head of an article asking this; “Why won't Obama negotiate with republicans?” This can't be a serious question. ACA is his signature piece of legislation, if he compromises he is admitting to it having problems and he would rather sink the country then admit that there might be some issues, wouldn't want him to loose face or anything...
An 8 year old Florida boy was suspended from school for a day for the most heinous of violent crimes that I have ever heard of ( the words “violent crime” was used by school officials) he had the nerve, while playing cops and robbers with his friends, to point his finger at his friend and say bang! I understand that there was much trauma from this event, though the student were only really disturbed because he didn't use both his finger and thumb to make the proper gun.
Not to be out done; another school suspended several 7th grade boys from school for using air soft guns. Did I mention that they were in their own front yard and not at school? They were waiting for the bus to come when the violence and mayhem ensued. Allegedly, the criminals, who have been suspended for the entire year, were actually shooting at targets that they had set up beside their house while waiting for the bus to come. Not sure if it was the bus driver or a passer by who reported the crime to school officials but the boys were immediately expelled from school for the year. Did I mention they were on their own property? Apparently the school administrator believes that his jurisdiction includes private property....I'll keep you updated as I hear more about it.
WW2 vets weren't slowed down by the government shutdown. Men who faced death in the line of duty didn't even bat an eye as they went to see the memorial dedicated to them. In probably one of the brighter moments of this mess, the park police allegedly helped remove the barricades and did not interfere.
Under the heading of “There are many things I would like to say but this is a family friendly article.”
While 800,000 government employees are put on to un-paid leave, veterans and senior citizens ,as well as others, may find themselves with no paycheck at the end of the month. But according to the 27th amendment congress is still going to get paid. This situation, for those of you who are familiar with this term, is total FUBAR. They are the problem, not those of us who literally broke our asses protecting them. I can't even begin to come up with something amusing to say except if they are not careful the last laugh may be on them.
Postal Service defaults on 5.6 billion....another fine example of government spending....
Lawyers for the surviving Boston bomber have filed suit over his living conditions. Apparently he doesn't have any interaction with other prisoners and is not allowed to pray with other Muslims. Could it possibly have something to do with him “continuously trying to incite violent jihad.” according to prosecutors? The other complaint is that he is only let out to see his lawyers so I have a wonderful idea; lets bring in the victims of the bombing and let them interact with him for a while....in a locked room...with no windows or witnesses.....
Under the heading of “A picture says a thousand words” A picture circulating the internet shows the bottom half of a guard at the Lincoln Memorial and behind him, between his legs, is Lincoln on his seat. The title of this photo is “Obama’s America” no more needs to be said.
So today, in light of the budget disaster going on with congress, Mr. Obama hit the campaign trail. Apparently his staff has failed to notify him of his re election last November or to inform him he needs to lead now instead of running away every time Mr. Bohener looks at him cross eyed. If you want to win this fight Mr. President you really need to show up in the ring....
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