How is this Affordable Health Care?

Reagan was elected in the early '80's when I was coming of age. When I was working for a pizza franchise back then I has free medical, hospitalization, vision, dental, disability and life insurance. This job I had was above the minimum wage but, I was by no means rich. In fact all full time positions I held came with these benefits. Those were the times of high interest rates so I suspect the premiums paid by my employers were then fairly low and the insurance companies were investing the premiums with great returns and able to pay claims easily. I guess the population then was much younger overall so less expensive to give care.

The '90's, as I swung into full career mode, health care changed a little. Co-pays, much higher deductibles and co-pays for prescriptions were appearing. I work for a small research lab and the owners were beginning to feel the strain of higher premiums. Folks in our small workforce were having the normal life things going on: having kids, the beginning of relatively normal chronic ailments, mostly things that folks that are approaching middle age have. The owners of this business prided themselves by providing health care for free to us, but, it really staring to cut into their bottom line.

That was when I began to really notice the creeping health care crisis. Hillary Care was killed and problems of folks getting coverage really started gathering steam.

In the late '90's I was self employed. I bought a "catastrophic" health plan. I was in great health at the time, so I figured that was all I needed. Boy, it was real expensive. $200.00 a month got me a $5000.00 deductible to pay for the hospital. That was all I got. No doctor visits, no prescription, no primary care.

I don't really have to go much more into time to demonstrate how costs for health have just skyrocketed in to the stratosphere. For the past 9 years or so I know a lot of folks that have not received any real raises because their employers want to keep high quality health care for their employees. So many have lost jobs and lost employer coverage. Those who can afford it face uncertainty in the health care market that what they buy from these health insurers will actually cover them.

I posted a while back why the Senate Bill was a real bad deal for the middle class. I used Nate Silver's graph of a family of four's cost under this plan. Nate Silver argued that this was such a better deal for these folks. Good Lord. He exposed himself as an out of touch member of the elite. Dang. (And I actually wanted him to be my boyfriend. I think smart is real sexy. Oh, well. Sigh.)Nate actually thought that a family cutting back on luxuries could make it. Got news for you, Nate, a family of 4 on $54,000 a year HAS NO LUXURIES. OK? You can return to Versailles with the other out of touch librul elites, now, and have this absurd conversation with your other friends. You are not helping, sorry. Your arguments are getting in the way.

Marcy Wheeler spells this out for the ones who don't get the point that the Senate Bill helps only the health providers and really screws the middle class. All this brings a real moral dilemma to bear, because, there is a lot in the bill that will help the extremely poor. No wonder there is such fierce arguments regarding all of this.

The fix is in. This is a "bail out" for health insurers , no doubt. I hope those elected in Congress up for re-election next year enjoy the dollars they earned by screwing us.

Oh, BTW, a few blogs posted this link to see how different folks will come out under the senate and the house plans. Worth looking into........

Taking Time this Season

I have been enjoying the season and taking more time with the folks and relaxing a bit. I have all kinds of ideas for posting in the coming new year. Also, I have gotten out my blogger handbooks to learn more and add some bells and whistles and really learn more (pretty much for my own satisfaction.)

I will be heading down to the "Forgotten Coast" around Apalachicola, FL for the New Year's holiday. Hope to talk to the folks at the "river Keeper" group to get an idea how the Chattahoochee/Flint Tri-state water wars are playing down there.

I feel asleep so early last night I am up so I brewed some coffee and hopefully can write a few posts before my departure.

He Heard Exactly What We Heard On Meet the Press

I hit this link on Crooks and Liars and this was so funny......

This was exactly what I heard. I said I don't watch the Sunday shows because there is the internet...

So funny!

Poll Numbers on the Public Option and Mandates

It has really been a long week. The Senate bill on health care is nonsense.

Daddylonglegs told me last night that so far most of my postings had a snarky "Paula Dean" tone to them, but, when I got on the Senate bill I switched to a "Molly Ivens on a quart of tequila" tone. Fair enough.

Here are some poll numbers at DemocracyforAmerica.com. These numbers really paint the picture of how every imaginable demographic's opinion on the public option and mandates. Down here in the Deep South...... well they are tripping out in the most willfully ignorant way. It is pretty clear the for the most of the country mandates and no public option are not popular right now.

I am going to watch "Meet the Press" this morning. I usually don't watch the Sunday shows because I get so annoyed and there is plenty of "post game" analysis on the internet.

Update: Howard Dean was awesome on Meet the Press! Run (again), Howard, run! Markos, too.

Kill the Bill: Outrage on the Left

The healthcare debate is exploding with outrage.

Taylor Marsh has a post that expressing outrage at the mandates for health care but no public exchange or option basically giving the Health Insurance Industry the monopoly. A video is included of Dylan Ratigan smacking down Rep. Wasserman-Schultz after she avoids any explanation why health insurance stocks are rising rapidly. Ratigan says it pretty plainly the fix is in and she is supporting it.

Marcy Wheeler has a post that the mandates for health care are "Neo - Feudalism." She suggests if this becomes law the health corporations will have an even stronger grip on our govermment just like the miltary contractors. Marcy's post pretty much sums it up: if this passes we will have no power to fix it.

Please check these posts out!

Joe Klien: Idiot

Dear Joe:

I know you are well insured, That is a fact. And I feel you missed your calling as a sports reporter. It is easy for you to say...... I read your post.

I am having a hard time here. What part of "moral" are you saying? I am not getting this. What you say?
It is my "moral" obligation to give to a for profit organization by gubmit mandate?? YOU ARE AN IDIOT.

The moral responsibility of individuals to buy in seems obvious as well: If you're 25 and healthy, and intentionally uninsured, you're asking the rest of us to pay your way when you have an accident and turn up in a hospital emergency room. Furthermore, if you're 25 and healthy, you won't always be. Someday you'll be 80 and frail--and you'll be looking to younger, healthier people to expand the pool and keep premium costs relatively low.

Hey, Dude, the plan does not involve any collective, gubmit program that can make that possible health "CARE" affordable that the people that need it the most..... We can't afford it now ..............

I hate you..... YUK

A Graphic Representation by Nate Silver Why the Senate Bill is a Shit Sandwich

This is graphic on how better a family of 4 with an income of $54,000.00 is going to be "less fucked" by if the Senate version of  "Health Insurance Reform" (not HCR) becomes policy. This family will be mandated to give up around 9.5% of their income to health care policy.

I just don't think any family of 4 that has an income of $54,000.00 could shell out that much. And I mean that is $500.00 dollars a month. That's a lot of money for a family.

I think the twenty questions, Nate, are moot.

This family is fucked, less fucked, but, STILL FUCKED by change you can believe in.

This is the Real Scary Thing in Afghanistan: Private Contractors No. 2

Running behind this morning. I did want to post these articles I linked to from the Huffington Post.

President Obama to increase private contractors in Afghanistan .

That one is from TPMMuckraker.

This is an article in the Washington Post.

Scary. Really.

Couldn't Have Said It Better

I have been watching closely the developments on the HCR Senate bill.

Big Pharma won out.... no surprises there.

Joe Lieberman is an ass hat.

There are so many things to discuss, but, I just don't where to start.

Daddylonglegs sent me a quick note that I saw this morning.....

"They are actually on Hardball right now selling this piece of shit health care bill. Incredible. Fucking rollover sellout pieces of shit."

I Found This On My Truck at Big Lots

Really? Good.

Roadtrip!

Heading for Nashville for the weekend!

This is the Real Scary Thing in Afghanistan: Private Contractors

President Obama has said during his campaign that he would be sending more troops to Afghanistan. So, all the folks that are wringing their hands over this really should not act so surprised. The scary thing going on with the "War on Terror" or whatever it is called now is the extent that private contractors are being used. I have always thought extensive use of private contractors in these wars seems irresponsible and dangerous. My fears is that we will be fighting the power of these contractors at some point in the future.

Here are some very scary statistics from Facing South's Sue Sturgis.

More on Mayor Wiseman in Arlington, TN

Last Sunday in "Letters and Opinions" I had a post about Mayor Wiseman of Arlington, TN accusing President Obama of using his speech on Afghanistan to block the Christmas message to be aired on the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special." Wiseman even had the honor of being one of Keith Olberman's "Worst Persons" this week.

But, wait! There is MORE! A gentleman named Rick Kelly in Tennessee took offense to Mayor Wiseman's remarks and thought he was obligated to voice his opinion to the Mayor. The Mayor using a nome de plume
"City of Arlington" shot back at Mr. Kelly. The exchange is rather exciting.

You can experience all the drama, fireworks and the comments of bystanders at Southern Beale.

It's a hoot!

The Double Secret Senate Health Care Plan

I have been "Googling" all about the Senate HCR proposals and I can find few facts, but, piles and piles of speculation with opinion.

Here are what I think are some facts. There will be a Medicare buy-in for people 55 to 64. I am pretty sure this is in there. There is an option to buy into a national non-profit group overseen by the Office of Personnel Management. The details on this are sketchy. Reid's version would allow states to opt-out. This has been batted around all along. Senator Franken proposes an amendment setting mandatory loss ratios creating more competition. I didn't hear repealing exemption from anti-trust laws for insurers. Reproductive rights should stay intact.

Tonight is the big double secret meeting. Hopefully, this won't be a dress rehearsal for some kabuki theater.

This is No Surprise

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has skirted impeachment measures over his Argentine mistress, misuse of state planes and being absent for five days leading his staff to believe he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He was facing over 36 ethics charges and possibly $74.000.00 in fines. Sanford will be facing the State Ethics Commission that may bring civil charges against the governor involving travel expenses and campaign money.

Many in the legislator did not think his conduct "did not rise to the level of impeachment." I guess his actions didn't meet their "high standards" for impeachment.

Really? WTF else would he have to do to meet this "high standard?"

Here is the story from The State Newspaper.

29 Years Ago

It's Wrong to Throw Tomatoes at Sarah Palin

Or for that matter, anyone else. I know that some people are laughing at someone throwing tomatoes at Sarah, but, it is wrong. It does not matter they missed, either.

You wouldn't want someone throwing tomatoes at you, would you? No.

I don't like her or agree with her very much at all myself. It is still wrong to throw tomatoes at Sarah Palin.

No. No. No. It is still wrong.

K?

That's a Lot of Water

The Water and Sewer Authority in my county west of Atlanta put an information leaflet in my water bill that I received last week regarding the big floods of last September. There was a lot of road and culvert damage in the county and there are some roads and bridges that are not repaired yet. Overall, the county's response was pretty good to me considering the enormous amount of rain.

Parts of the county received 21 inches of rain in 24 hours. A 500 year rain event in our area is considered to be 9 inches in 24 hours. That's a lot of water.

On average, 25 million gallons of water enters the county's largest reservoir everyday. The day of the flood over 40 BILLION gallons of water went over the not yet completed new dam causing some substantial damage. That's a lot of water.

Sweetwater Creek rose high enough to cross over I-20 blocking the freeway for two days. The USGS said at the peak of flooding 28,000 gallons of water per second flowed past the bridge on I-20. That is a lot of water.

The damage to homes and property was extensive and by all accounts unavoidable. One potential disaster that was avoided was illness from water contamination. The "Code Red" system in the county was able to contact 124,417 residences to notify them to boil their tap water before use. Good news in a bad situation!

Book Review: Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is a trulely amazing character. She came on the scene during the Presidential race like a bulldog. She wants to take on the corruption of Washington and replace it with a brand of her own. Sarah has drive and ambition.

In her new book, Going Rogue, Palin wants to reveal the truths about her faith, her life, her family and the campaign. I have read a few reviews of this book. But, I found one on Amazon.com that was truly compelling. You can find it here.

Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson Resigns

Apparently it was no shock to anyone in the state that Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson has resigned. An attempted suicide attempt in November and his ex-wife going on tee-vee news last week in Atlanta saying that the Speaker had an affair with a lobbyist for Atlanta Gas Light made it nearly impossible for Richardson to continue as House Speaker. Richardson was the first Republican Speaker since Reconstruction and was once a star quality member of the Georgia GOP that was considered governor's material. A tasteful, journalistic account of the situation can be found here by the Gainesville Times.

Of course,  we all like a little schadenfreude and that can be delivered. Mad Dog over at Left on Lanier gives a good condensed version on his posting from December the 3rd. Gray on his posting on Left on Lanier that the will be very little ripple effect for the Georgia GOP over this. Erick at the Peach Pundit serves up a juicy posting about rumors swirling around Georgia's finest members of the GOP and how they may make out in all this turmoil.

I was on Facebook today and one of my Paulding friends was tagged in a photo on Glenn Richardson's fan page. There were around 30 comments from well wishers and folks praying for Richardson. Bless his heart. I, of course, will refrain this holiday season from talking about this matter at any of the cocktail parties up Ga Highway 92. It just wouldn't be polite, no matter how many times I have heard "I love you, but, not your politics" from folks up there. I am sure they are taking this hard.

Tebow Wept

Orange teams are wrong.

Florida lost.
Clemp-son lost.
Texas will lose soon.

Right and order has been restored.

Orange teams are wrong.

Really.

I Joined a Credit Union

I have had a checking account at my bank for 20 years. When I first opened this account my bank was a statewide bank. I few years later a big regional bank out of Charlotte, NC took over the bank. My bank was taken over by a very big banking company based in San Francisco.

This very big bank got a lot of bailout money. I guess they used some of that to gain my bank, I am not sure. In fact, the change from my bank going from a regional bank to a part of a nation wide bank was almost unnoticeable.The biggest change was I receive a lot more junk mail from them.

I started to think about how my deposits here we being used. Are they lending money to local interests? Was there any way to know? How was the area benefiting from the deposits in this bank. It seemed to me that my big McBank really had to answer to the stock holders. Surging profits and a bailout just didn't seem right to me.

I decided to move my bank business to a credit union. Credit unions are non profit and member owned. The depositors are the members! The one I chose the members have to be residents of the surrounding counties in my area. The credit union benefits the members of my community.

Now the credit union is a little different than my old bank. The online services are not as high tech as the big bank. I was worried about ATM access, It has turned out that I have access to the ATMs at all of the location of a major grocery store chain.

I did have to call the credit union to ask a few questions. I was not on hold very long at all. I got a real person that lives here in my state. At the end of our conversation this real person gave me her direct phone number if I had anymore questions.

So far, so good.

Here is a link to find a credit union.

Letters and Opinions

Tennessee Mayor Claims Obama blocked Peanuts Christmas Special

Alex Koppelman at Salon reports that the mayor of Arlington, TN, Russell Wiseman is accusing President Obama of using his speech on Afghanistan to block the Christmas message in the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special." The mayor posted this on his Facebook page.

The Commercial Appeal's Matthew Woo said only people on Wiseman's friends list had access to the posting. Woo reports Wiseman has around 1600 friends. You can read his article here. The best stuff is in the comments.

Larry Sinclair Sets Blogger Straight

Florida U.S. Congressional Candidate Larry Sinclair dropped Pam Spaulding at Pandagon a note about getting her facts "screwed up" on her post on Pam's House Blend on December 1st. Sinclair, you may recall, had a press conference at the National Press Club in June 2008 claiming that he and Obama had sex and took drugs together. Sinclair took particular offense to Pam not getting is criminal record correct.

Welcome to My Blog

When I was in college I spent a lot of time just walking the stacks in the library and looking for anything that looked the slightest bit interesting. I would check out items pretty much at random and pick up all kinds of information, useful or not. That was a very long time ago.

Now with the Internet I have even more access to all type information I could ever want at the touch of a search engine. I have found all kinds of things on the Internet through the years. It is mind boggling what all is out there.

During the election primaries I gravitated to a lot of the more politically left of center "Net Root" blogs. I was looking for information, but, as the dramas unfolded from primaries, to conventions to the elections in 2008 the lefty group of blogs were becoming very entertaining. I was amazed at the tremendous amount of talent and creativity in some of the blogs I discovered.

I have lived in the "Deep South" all of my life. There is a lot politics, culture and lifestyle down here that is (to put it mildly) unique. But, I guess a common thread would be that the South is still part of the U.S. Hopefully, I will be able to find and post items of interest.

I, of course, have no delusions about my writing abilities or talents. I absolutely have no qualifications to make commentary except that I am a citizen and I do read a good bit. I do have a good sense of humor and I hope that will come out. Or, maybe, this blog will fall in the dust bin with the other abandoned activities like when I took up knitting......