I picked up a copy of 'Landmark, America's New Health Care Law and What it Means for You', and sadly it did not really say what it means for me.
It does seem that it is trying to push America into health care exchanges which would not be bad except that there is no COST control whatsoever.
I really think we should have gone the route of single payer and take the layer of profit that the insurance companies make out of the equation. Cost control one.
I really think that doctors should be educated without having to go so deeply into debt. Educate doctors for free. Cost control two.
Instead this book claims that this law will "maybe" slow the growth of health care cost increases. Slow the growth? We need to bring this to a screeching halt. Why does it have to be so expensive? You can go to other countries for a fraction of what you pay here for almost everything.
It also claims wages are stagnating because the rising health care costs. I agree. Furthermore, once health care costs quit rising employers will pay higher wages. Ya, right. Never underestimate greed. Once a wage is lowered it is hard to raise, esp in this economy.
It also states the government assumes that once you reach the magic income of 88K per year you can afford 8-12K in premium costs, not to mention copays and medicine, and hey dental care which is completely left out.
What it does not say is how insurance companies will be regulated, like do they have to cover well care? The book claims these laws have yet to be written. I thought the thousand page document covered this.
Some people claim this is a start. I agree with Dennis Kucinich. It is a start to privatize health care. The book even agrees that the new health care will be people buying there own policies (being forced to in fact) through government run exchages. Seeing how the insurance company lobbies have such influence in Washington this does not bode well for Americans.
Oh Canada, you are looking better every day
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Timidly stepping into a church
No I didn't think the roof would fall in. But I did expect to be fed some Glenn Beck style political propaganda, I expected to be told who to hate, what to believe in order to conform and therfore not be condemned, how much money I must give and if I did not have that much to give I must be a sinner.
I even expected to be segregated from the men because women are inferior, or to have the sermon begin with "if you came here to feel good you came to the wrong place". Yes, that honestly happened, and being a sane person and actually wanting to feel good I started to leave but my husband begged me not to so as not to embarrass friends.
So I started to think about buying a Bible cover and enclosing a good read into it, or a kindle and who would know what was being read.
I started writing notes about how I loved trees and nature and science and the miracle of life and that is where I feel more spiritual, that you cannot find spirituality in a book or a building.
But then I got surprised. I started hearing things from the pastor that took me back decades, things about love and forgiveness, and a sad story about his kid who got bullied by neighbors that actually brought a tear to my eye.
So I started actually listening. Pastor said that you are supposed to love people who are of different faiths, and different beliefs, and even people who hurt you. He prayed for his son's tormenters. I prayed for the rich and greedy.
Then I wondered, does the Bible promised that the blessed will be poor and go to heaven only to appease them so the rich get left alone and get to live good right now. But then I thought, no, having that kind of hate and greed may get you some nice things, but your soul has to be suffering.
So maybe this book that is thousands of years old has some good points.
I know I dont like the hate that has been inspired in others and in me by the political atmosphere and class warfare in this country.
I honestly am glad I saw this pastor and not the Beck spectacle. I wish all of America had seen it. And this was a mostly conservative, mostly white, middle to upper middle class crowd. All listening about love and tolerance. And praying for your enemies.
I wish someone in the mainstream media would pick up on messages like this and play them over and over again. God knows our country needs it.
I even expected to be segregated from the men because women are inferior, or to have the sermon begin with "if you came here to feel good you came to the wrong place". Yes, that honestly happened, and being a sane person and actually wanting to feel good I started to leave but my husband begged me not to so as not to embarrass friends.
So I started to think about buying a Bible cover and enclosing a good read into it, or a kindle and who would know what was being read.
I started writing notes about how I loved trees and nature and science and the miracle of life and that is where I feel more spiritual, that you cannot find spirituality in a book or a building.
But then I got surprised. I started hearing things from the pastor that took me back decades, things about love and forgiveness, and a sad story about his kid who got bullied by neighbors that actually brought a tear to my eye.
So I started actually listening. Pastor said that you are supposed to love people who are of different faiths, and different beliefs, and even people who hurt you. He prayed for his son's tormenters. I prayed for the rich and greedy.
Then I wondered, does the Bible promised that the blessed will be poor and go to heaven only to appease them so the rich get left alone and get to live good right now. But then I thought, no, having that kind of hate and greed may get you some nice things, but your soul has to be suffering.
So maybe this book that is thousands of years old has some good points.
I know I dont like the hate that has been inspired in others and in me by the political atmosphere and class warfare in this country.
I honestly am glad I saw this pastor and not the Beck spectacle. I wish all of America had seen it. And this was a mostly conservative, mostly white, middle to upper middle class crowd. All listening about love and tolerance. And praying for your enemies.
I wish someone in the mainstream media would pick up on messages like this and play them over and over again. God knows our country needs it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Stem cells again
Just when I was wondering about the ethics of a profit driven health care system the stem cell silliness is back. Here we go again.
I first found out about the religious fervor against anything dealing with embryos when I was going through fertility treatments. I found out what I was doing was considered the same as having an abortion to some. Seriously, trying to have a baby is the same as killing a fetus? Some of these people didnt stop there, birth control pills were a form of abortion and I remember the heart of the silliness where some pharmacists were even refusing to give women there medicine.
But then some states took over with stem cell funding and eventually Obama overturned Bush's crusade against the medical research and all was going in the right direction or so I thought.
But here we are again. Its not ethical to sell kidneys or other body parts (that I have to agree with), but it is okay to sell health. Life and death is all about money here. But not when it comes to fetus, the unborn, or even the potentially unborn (only a small percentage of embryos actually make it to the fetus stage as I sadly found out when my treatments didnt take).
I dont get it. Life is so precious when its not even born, not even to the stages of potentially being born, just a couple of separated cells of a fertilized egg, but a real, living breathing human being-well THAT life is only worth how much money it has
I first found out about the religious fervor against anything dealing with embryos when I was going through fertility treatments. I found out what I was doing was considered the same as having an abortion to some. Seriously, trying to have a baby is the same as killing a fetus? Some of these people didnt stop there, birth control pills were a form of abortion and I remember the heart of the silliness where some pharmacists were even refusing to give women there medicine.
But then some states took over with stem cell funding and eventually Obama overturned Bush's crusade against the medical research and all was going in the right direction or so I thought.
But here we are again. Its not ethical to sell kidneys or other body parts (that I have to agree with), but it is okay to sell health. Life and death is all about money here. But not when it comes to fetus, the unborn, or even the potentially unborn (only a small percentage of embryos actually make it to the fetus stage as I sadly found out when my treatments didnt take).
I dont get it. Life is so precious when its not even born, not even to the stages of potentially being born, just a couple of separated cells of a fertilized egg, but a real, living breathing human being-well THAT life is only worth how much money it has
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Rotten eggs
I heard on the news that if we want our chickens grow safely we are going to have to pay more. He went further to claim we have 'cheap' food supply. Not by my checkbook, things are going up by my checkbook.
But I went out and bought some cage free eggs and yep, they are more expensive. I think it is right we need to eat less meat. I could never stomach the idea of actually killing an animal but dont like veggies enough to be a vegetarian.
So while we can legally raise chickens on our own property (if they survive the dogs) I dont think I could.
So here we go with regulations again. There are so many regulations that are imposed on anyone that wants the organic label. And it is right there needs to be regulation because we have seen in our egg supply that there are going to be people who put profit over safety (and in the oil, mining, etc).
But cant we regulate a little more efficiently? There is an opportunity to privatize. But the govt not the industry would have to pay the regulators. And of course the regulators would have to be regulated to insure they dont get paid off by the industry....
Oh boy, I am rethinking the home grown chicken thing
But I went out and bought some cage free eggs and yep, they are more expensive. I think it is right we need to eat less meat. I could never stomach the idea of actually killing an animal but dont like veggies enough to be a vegetarian.
So while we can legally raise chickens on our own property (if they survive the dogs) I dont think I could.
So here we go with regulations again. There are so many regulations that are imposed on anyone that wants the organic label. And it is right there needs to be regulation because we have seen in our egg supply that there are going to be people who put profit over safety (and in the oil, mining, etc).
But cant we regulate a little more efficiently? There is an opportunity to privatize. But the govt not the industry would have to pay the regulators. And of course the regulators would have to be regulated to insure they dont get paid off by the industry....
Oh boy, I am rethinking the home grown chicken thing
Saturday, August 21, 2010
About free speech
It is wonderful to be able to express oneself. It feels good to vent, to complain, or just to be able to talk about an issue. After all nothing can be resolved if it cannot even be discussed
Yesterday I complained about religions that discriminate against women, esp Muslim. But let me be perfectly clear that my aim was not to incite rage against Muslims or fundamentalist Christians or anyone else.
Words can be used to incite violence. I would never tell anyone to load their guns. I was just expressing an opinion about a wrong that I perceived. I perceived it in a lot of Christian churches so I stopped attending them.
That is all that needs to be done. Stop condoning the sexism and subscribing to it. Unfortunately some people see it as natural, normal, our subscibed 'roles' in life. Well, they saw slavery that way too. So I am here to hope sexism goes the way of slavery, and the burkas all get burned the way the bras did in the sixties.
But sexism is hardly mentioned anywhere. People only want to talk about whatever the media throws out there as important or as a distraction like Ms. Lohan's many misadventures. Hence the Mosque being talked to death and I let it pull me in because it was all over the news.
But like free speech, I believe in freedom of religion. But I would argue that if a religion calls for rituals like human sacrafice should that be tolerated? Everyone would say no to that I would hope. Yet we tolerate a lot of sexism in our religions. Nobody is getting killed, but there is damage being done IMO. So I do not believe religion should be free to do whatever they want.
Dr Laura is a piece of work. I think she made the right decision to leave radio, especially when the poor woman she verbally accosted was asking for some advice. Not a good way to use your freedom of speech, doc.
Why don't people on the radio try to inspire something good? It's easy to get people fired up, gun toting angry. But what is not so easy is to help solve problems, like the women who's husband I believe was calling her names.
Well Dr Laura welcome to the internet where you do not have to care about those things. I happen to care, but I don't have to.
Yesterday I complained about religions that discriminate against women, esp Muslim. But let me be perfectly clear that my aim was not to incite rage against Muslims or fundamentalist Christians or anyone else.
Words can be used to incite violence. I would never tell anyone to load their guns. I was just expressing an opinion about a wrong that I perceived. I perceived it in a lot of Christian churches so I stopped attending them.
That is all that needs to be done. Stop condoning the sexism and subscribing to it. Unfortunately some people see it as natural, normal, our subscibed 'roles' in life. Well, they saw slavery that way too. So I am here to hope sexism goes the way of slavery, and the burkas all get burned the way the bras did in the sixties.
But sexism is hardly mentioned anywhere. People only want to talk about whatever the media throws out there as important or as a distraction like Ms. Lohan's many misadventures. Hence the Mosque being talked to death and I let it pull me in because it was all over the news.
But like free speech, I believe in freedom of religion. But I would argue that if a religion calls for rituals like human sacrafice should that be tolerated? Everyone would say no to that I would hope. Yet we tolerate a lot of sexism in our religions. Nobody is getting killed, but there is damage being done IMO. So I do not believe religion should be free to do whatever they want.
Dr Laura is a piece of work. I think she made the right decision to leave radio, especially when the poor woman she verbally accosted was asking for some advice. Not a good way to use your freedom of speech, doc.
Why don't people on the radio try to inspire something good? It's easy to get people fired up, gun toting angry. But what is not so easy is to help solve problems, like the women who's husband I believe was calling her names.
Well Dr Laura welcome to the internet where you do not have to care about those things. I happen to care, but I don't have to.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Enough about the Mosque already
I am sure it is a big deal to some people and I am not making light of what happened at the site of ground zero. But what Im saying is that there is so much more going on in this country, like the economy.
And I am going to be politically incorrect to say that I do not like the Muslim religion. No, I don't think all Muslims are extremists and terrorists and I that they are not good people. A lot of good people are in with screwy religions.
I don't like the whole burka thing. It angers me as a woman. Now I know, that probably as many Muslims dont do the burka thing as Catholics dont do the abstain from birth control pills thing. But the religion has a deep down bias against women, as do many religions. Most of them dont wear it on their sle....I mean heads though. Now the Catholic church as well as many Christian sects are male supremists as well. However I believe there is hope for evolution there. Catholic nuns fighting to be ordained priests, etc. They have a lot of good things too but the priests should be allowed to be women and in light of all the issues they have had marriage should be a *requirement*
Can Muslims evolve into a more female friendly religion? I don't know. But the burka will always give me that knee jerk repulsion to it.
And hey, lots of troops came home from Iraq!!!! Its a start, now we need them back from Afghanistan.
But I am sure a lot of people are happy and celebrating. Obama fulfilled a promise!! Maybe there is hope for an evolution of this presidency as well
And I am going to be politically incorrect to say that I do not like the Muslim religion. No, I don't think all Muslims are extremists and terrorists and I that they are not good people. A lot of good people are in with screwy religions.
I don't like the whole burka thing. It angers me as a woman. Now I know, that probably as many Muslims dont do the burka thing as Catholics dont do the abstain from birth control pills thing. But the religion has a deep down bias against women, as do many religions. Most of them dont wear it on their sle....I mean heads though. Now the Catholic church as well as many Christian sects are male supremists as well. However I believe there is hope for evolution there. Catholic nuns fighting to be ordained priests, etc. They have a lot of good things too but the priests should be allowed to be women and in light of all the issues they have had marriage should be a *requirement*
Can Muslims evolve into a more female friendly religion? I don't know. But the burka will always give me that knee jerk repulsion to it.
And hey, lots of troops came home from Iraq!!!! Its a start, now we need them back from Afghanistan.
But I am sure a lot of people are happy and celebrating. Obama fulfilled a promise!! Maybe there is hope for an evolution of this presidency as well
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Musings on regulations
Hey aren't you happy I am not writing about the mosque! TMI on that sit if you ask me.
I just discovered I am free to use foul language on this blog! More freedom! I still don't know if I will but I like it that I can:)
I can relate to businesses not liking to be regulated but when I do not know if the next thing I eat will give me salmonella I see the wisdom in it.
I can tell you as a parent how regulated I am. The buckling up of seatbelts in carseats can be a half hour routine in winter. Heck, there are laws I did not even know about at first. I was enjoying a cheap cup of Kwik Trip coffee when my daughter was a baby until I realized I could NOT leave her in the car, not even right in my view for a minute in very mild weather.
And my two year old son had a temper tantrum at the mall because he wanted to be carried. Any parent knows you go down a slippery slope when you start rewarding temper tantrums. But is there a law against public tantrums. Actually, yes disturbing the peace, and judging from the other people in the mall they were ready to convict me so my son got his way.
So none of us even in this free democracy can do whatever we want when there are consequences to others, or in the coffee case paranoid reactions to stuff (or a godsend to Starbucks who has a drive thru so they can sell their overpriced coffee).
Do these regulations cost me money? Yes, besides the coffee price differece, the cost of car seats and many others.
So I have little symathy for companies that want to save a buck on safety measures that may have prevented say a huge oil spill.
Still, I know some regulations are overboard. I dont know why my dog cant poop (perfectly natural biodegradable stuff that he puts right on top of the bunny poop) anywhere but our yard yet our neighbors can pollute the air with huge clouds of bonfire smoke and leafburning smoke and wood burning (and trash burning, although technically not legal) smoke.
I know its unpleasant to step on dog doo. But it washes off. Damaged lungs are much harder to fix.
But since burning is popular in my neighborhood, there is no regulation. So lack of regulation in this case costs ME money in the form of extra albuteral inhalers, other prescriptions, downtime from being sick and trips to the doctor.
Then there are subdivisions who regulate what you can plant, what fence you can put up, even whether or not you can have a rummage sale. And some people like that amount of regulation.
I think we all have more regulations that we dont want and not enough of the ones that we do want. But it is hard to please everyone.
I just discovered I am free to use foul language on this blog! More freedom! I still don't know if I will but I like it that I can:)
I can relate to businesses not liking to be regulated but when I do not know if the next thing I eat will give me salmonella I see the wisdom in it.
I can tell you as a parent how regulated I am. The buckling up of seatbelts in carseats can be a half hour routine in winter. Heck, there are laws I did not even know about at first. I was enjoying a cheap cup of Kwik Trip coffee when my daughter was a baby until I realized I could NOT leave her in the car, not even right in my view for a minute in very mild weather.
And my two year old son had a temper tantrum at the mall because he wanted to be carried. Any parent knows you go down a slippery slope when you start rewarding temper tantrums. But is there a law against public tantrums. Actually, yes disturbing the peace, and judging from the other people in the mall they were ready to convict me so my son got his way.
So none of us even in this free democracy can do whatever we want when there are consequences to others, or in the coffee case paranoid reactions to stuff (or a godsend to Starbucks who has a drive thru so they can sell their overpriced coffee).
Do these regulations cost me money? Yes, besides the coffee price differece, the cost of car seats and many others.
So I have little symathy for companies that want to save a buck on safety measures that may have prevented say a huge oil spill.
Still, I know some regulations are overboard. I dont know why my dog cant poop (perfectly natural biodegradable stuff that he puts right on top of the bunny poop) anywhere but our yard yet our neighbors can pollute the air with huge clouds of bonfire smoke and leafburning smoke and wood burning (and trash burning, although technically not legal) smoke.
I know its unpleasant to step on dog doo. But it washes off. Damaged lungs are much harder to fix.
But since burning is popular in my neighborhood, there is no regulation. So lack of regulation in this case costs ME money in the form of extra albuteral inhalers, other prescriptions, downtime from being sick and trips to the doctor.
Then there are subdivisions who regulate what you can plant, what fence you can put up, even whether or not you can have a rummage sale. And some people like that amount of regulation.
I think we all have more regulations that we dont want and not enough of the ones that we do want. But it is hard to please everyone.
Conspiracy theory
The headlines read many think Obama is a Muslim. Oh Pllllleeeease. Why on earth would we be at war with ONLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES! I am not a big fan of Islam, but can't people even THINK anymore?
Here is my theory-BO is really German, a direct descendant of Hitler, in fact and this time around the Nazis want to finish off the Muslims because they couldn't win against the Jews.
Or
He is really a woman, in a gay relationship with Michele. The gay community planted him there to carry out their agenda. Even though he is not. And he is not carrying out their agenda because he does not want to be too obvious. But just wait. They are going to make us all gay!!!
Serously
Where is the outcry against the suggestion of privatizing Social Security. You know starvation and hypothermia can kill grandma as much as lack of medical care.
Or do people really think trusting our SS to the same people who robbed us of a huge chunk of our 401k's and home equities is really a good idea. Now I would expect a few people to be fooled, but we are talking about a population who believe in the birther and secret Muslim theories.
BTW let me know if you believe any of mine
Here is my theory-BO is really German, a direct descendant of Hitler, in fact and this time around the Nazis want to finish off the Muslims because they couldn't win against the Jews.
Or
He is really a woman, in a gay relationship with Michele. The gay community planted him there to carry out their agenda. Even though he is not. And he is not carrying out their agenda because he does not want to be too obvious. But just wait. They are going to make us all gay!!!
Serously
Where is the outcry against the suggestion of privatizing Social Security. You know starvation and hypothermia can kill grandma as much as lack of medical care.
Or do people really think trusting our SS to the same people who robbed us of a huge chunk of our 401k's and home equities is really a good idea. Now I would expect a few people to be fooled, but we are talking about a population who believe in the birther and secret Muslim theories.
BTW let me know if you believe any of mine
What's so good about America?
Well, to some capitalism, capitalism, capitalism. And you can own guns:) And they see government as baaaaad and are afraid government is taking over our government.
In all reality business is taking over our government. They are not all that bad, they create jobs and wealth and all that good stuff. But some of them frankly do not give a hoot about anything but their bottom line. And since many are multinational there is absolutely no interest in the health of the American economy and people.
What's so good about America? We are smart, innovative, at the top of the game in technology, health care, science, etc. We take care of our own and extend that generosity to other countries. Our infrastructure is strong. No way a bridge is going to collapse here. We can depend on eating food that is free of taint, breathing clean air, and drinking clean water. WAIT
I was dreaming of yesterdays. None of that is happening now. We are still the biggest military for what thats worth. Maybe that is why we get into so many wars. It's all we know how to do now.
There is freedom of speech!!!!! Yes! So guess what I am going to keep taking advantage of this before the corps' propaganda machines fail to hypnotize others (my dream) and the turn to the internet to express themselves, then of course, net neutrality will have to go.....STOP. I am going to try to not be negative.
I still have free speech.
Obama you are a wimp for breaking all your promises. Hey no police!
Tea partiers you are just plain crazy. Wait, that may prompt some gunfire.
But I can still say it and I will.
The Extemely Angry party is crazy. The conspiracy theories they come up with should be really funny jokes, and would be if people did not actually believe them.
So maybe next post I will start craxy conspiracy theories and see who I can get to believe them
In all reality business is taking over our government. They are not all that bad, they create jobs and wealth and all that good stuff. But some of them frankly do not give a hoot about anything but their bottom line. And since many are multinational there is absolutely no interest in the health of the American economy and people.
What's so good about America? We are smart, innovative, at the top of the game in technology, health care, science, etc. We take care of our own and extend that generosity to other countries. Our infrastructure is strong. No way a bridge is going to collapse here. We can depend on eating food that is free of taint, breathing clean air, and drinking clean water. WAIT
I was dreaming of yesterdays. None of that is happening now. We are still the biggest military for what thats worth. Maybe that is why we get into so many wars. It's all we know how to do now.
There is freedom of speech!!!!! Yes! So guess what I am going to keep taking advantage of this before the corps' propaganda machines fail to hypnotize others (my dream) and the turn to the internet to express themselves, then of course, net neutrality will have to go.....STOP. I am going to try to not be negative.
I still have free speech.
Obama you are a wimp for breaking all your promises. Hey no police!
Tea partiers you are just plain crazy. Wait, that may prompt some gunfire.
But I can still say it and I will.
The Extemely Angry party is crazy. The conspiracy theories they come up with should be really funny jokes, and would be if people did not actually believe them.
So maybe next post I will start craxy conspiracy theories and see who I can get to believe them
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
First day at the new blog
Well first day at any blog. Writing any blog that is. I could write about politics but the more I think I know the stupider I actually am. We are in the midst of some really bad times and the government seems more interested in campaigning than fixing anything.
I am looking into refinancing my barely above water mortgage but the TARP money never trickled down to the local banks.
It seems the people who have all the answers, or think they do, ie the pundits and academic types do not have the power to do the things they want.
And the president claims to be held back by Congress. Could he actually affect any change if we did away with Congress, and if so would he? It's hard to tell.
But hey, I found a cheaper place to buy groceries (why ARE grocery prices rising in this economy?) and found that my kids love mac & cheese so we can substitute that for meat and potatoes to cover the doubling of our prescription costs (another thing rising besides wages)
But even though I have dental work I need and cannot afford, debt up the yahoo, home maintainence plan that includes fix only those things that have completely broken, I will rest assured this country is indeed deep into recovery because the Wall St people are making profits, and the richest of them and the richest of the richest in our country will not have to suffer with a horrible tax increase. Lord forbid they have to do without a yacht or two.
But on the bright side, I always wanted to live in the tropics and global warming has made Wisconsin practically a greenhouse this year. My garden is doing great.
Time to go to bed and wake up in a better mood.
I am looking into refinancing my barely above water mortgage but the TARP money never trickled down to the local banks.
It seems the people who have all the answers, or think they do, ie the pundits and academic types do not have the power to do the things they want.
And the president claims to be held back by Congress. Could he actually affect any change if we did away with Congress, and if so would he? It's hard to tell.
But hey, I found a cheaper place to buy groceries (why ARE grocery prices rising in this economy?) and found that my kids love mac & cheese so we can substitute that for meat and potatoes to cover the doubling of our prescription costs (another thing rising besides wages)
But even though I have dental work I need and cannot afford, debt up the yahoo, home maintainence plan that includes fix only those things that have completely broken, I will rest assured this country is indeed deep into recovery because the Wall St people are making profits, and the richest of them and the richest of the richest in our country will not have to suffer with a horrible tax increase. Lord forbid they have to do without a yacht or two.
But on the bright side, I always wanted to live in the tropics and global warming has made Wisconsin practically a greenhouse this year. My garden is doing great.
Time to go to bed and wake up in a better mood.
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