An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for February 2010
Since I Missed Her…
….I’m posting these two videos of Marsha Blackburn at the Obama Show.
If you watch the videos, you’ll notice that Obama did NOT address Marsha’s issues. He turned it around, as usual. We want to be able to buy across state lines, which will create more competition, and stop the monopoly of state regulations on the insured. Instead, he talks about letting more insurance companies into California, that would be regulated by that particular state.
When we moved down here from Wisconsin, I was able to keep the same insurance company, because it is “allowed” to provide insurance in Tennessee, but not the same coverage. My rates changed to reflect this states regulations. They actually went up. Since I bought that policy nearly 6 years ago, the annual rate increased dramatically. Every year. The last premium payment was a whopper! Why? Well, I had the audacity to actually use what I was paying for last year with all the heart crap. IF, we had the ability to shop around the country, look for the best rates with the coverage that fits our needs, perhaps I would have been able to find a much better deal with a company that doesn’t raise the rates at the drop of a hat due to the fear that I might just drop THEM.
I dunno, but I’d say an annual premium of $2400 increasing to $8400 was a bit of a push on the consumer. As one hospital billing person told me, it’s not so much the medical procedure that increases the rates, it’s the paperwork that’s involved. Paperwork?
The 7 Hour Obama Show
What we learned at the health care summit
Roughly halfway through Thursday’s televised summit meeting on health care reform, Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, told the president what many were thinking:
We should have done this nine months ago.
We should have tried to have an honest conversation about the crippling financial burden that the health care delivery and insurance system has placed on our country. We should have tried to draft a reform package in the sunlight. We should have had you, Mr. President, at the table from the beginning.
What we’ve had instead is a year of threats, secret deals, angry town hall meetings and polarizing debate between cocky Democrats and petulant Republicans. Democratic majorities pushed packages just over the finish lines in each chamber, but shifting political fortunes have put the entire project in jeopardy.
Read the rest here.
While this editorial board thinks ‘something will happen’, I, on the other hand, pray it doesn’t. At least not until the Democrat majorities are soundly defeated in November. However, in those few paragraphs, they’ve covered a great deal of what the American people have been saying.
If you watched any of the Obama Show yesterday, you will know that it was not so much a ‘give and take’, as it was a ‘photo op’ for the president. He was rude, condescending, and flat out oblivious. I won’t even mention the numerous “misspeaks‘. And even after the much publicized snooze fest took place, Obama and his minions have no intention of doing the RIGHT thing, and start over, as predicted by many.
IF, and I repeat that word if, the Democrats were serious about actual health care, and finding an honest way of making it more affordable, they would scrap those jokes they call bills, and go back to the drawing board. One issue at a time, starting with TORT reform, and moving on. ONE issue at a time! Not the over bloated tax and control bill they have been trying to force feed us.
Not Good News For The County
While perusing our local paper that arrived in the mail this afternoon, I came across something interesting. As usual, I’m having to type this out, directly from the print (typos and all), because there is no link available.
County is less healthy and more violent than its neighbors, survey says
Sandwiched between McNairy and Wayne counties, hardin County has signicantly [sic] poorer health outcomes and more violent crime than either, a new analysis shows.
The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation just released the first report to rank the overall health of the counties in all 50 states.
If you are interested, check out your county here – County Health Rankings.
Hardin county ranked 77th out of 95 Tennesse counties in terms of averall health. McNairy County and Wayne county ranked 54th and respectively.
Hardin County also led in violent crimes per 100,000 population, with a rather of 654 versus Wayne County’s 294 and McNairy’s 348.
“The health of a community depends on many factos, including individual behaviors, the quality of health care, education, jobs and the environment,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper.
There is one very important thing missing from their ‘snapshot’ of Hardin County. Drugs. You see, like many rural areas these days, there are meth labs are cropping up, in places that are difficult for the police to get to, not to mention, due to the small population, law enforcement is at a premium. If you know anything about meth, you will be familiar with the health issues, and a tendency to violence under certain circumstances.
The rest of the article includes more stats, but I’m not going to type the whole thing out. Nor, am I making excuses for the county. I’m just pointing out something that the study failed to include.
Side note: I might be a tad slanted, but the piece came across as a push for ObamaCare.
Zo Nation – Pillars
One Of The SMART Ones
Congress needs a WHOLE lot more like Rep. Paul Ryan!
Too Funny
Now why would the Department of State be Googling “Nanny Pelosi”??
Time Clock Totals
DEMOCRATS (Including President Obama): 233 MINUTES OR NEARLY 4 HOURS
REPUBLICANS: 110 MINUTES OR 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES
PRESIDENT OBAMA ALONE: 119 MINUTES OR 1 HOUR AND 59 MINUTES
So, in other words, the long winded clown in chief talked longer than all the Republicans put together.
#Shamwow Summit
Well, I suffered through the POTUS’ dog and pony show today, aka “Health Care Summit”. I’m thinking that there were several Republicans who went to this with the express intention of setting the prez straight on a few things, and they did. Rep. Paul Ryan comes to mind. Since DirectTV doesn’t provide C-Span 3, I missed some of the doin’s. However, it is obvious that it doesn’t matter what the people want, or don’t want, they are still going to keep pushing.
Gracious sakes. The Dems sure do have a lot of sob stories to share with the public. Ya know what? Everyone has a sob story, but that doesn’t mean we should whimper and whine ‘em all over the air waves.
This ‘toon pretty much sums up my feelings on the whole shabang.
But He Is…..
President Obama to Senator Alexander: “Lamar, both I and Lamar went a little bit over our original allocated time. I — not wanting to be a hypocrite — wanted to give you some slack.”
DEMOCRATS’ OPENING REMARKS REPUBLICAN OPENING REMARKS
President Obama 14 mins, 36 seconds Senator Alexander 13 mins, 10 seconds
Speaker Pelosi 7 mins, 57 seconds
Leader Reid 8 mins, 13 seconds
30 mins, 46 seconds
Sen. Alexander At The HC Shamit
It’s no secret I’m not a big fan of Tennessee senator, Lamar Alexander. We disagree on about 60% of the issues. But he did do a fairly decent job this morning.
“We don’t do comprehensive well.” Got THAT right!
Words To Contemplate
In December of 1776, Thomas Paine penned these words:
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. (source)
These words are just as relevant now, as they were more than 2 centuries ago. We find ourselves in a war for our very survival as a nation, although there are some who do not see it that way. They would be the ones who would see us fall to our knees to tyranny. Others are as oblivious to the dangers as were many during the that time period.
We are watching an administration, and Congress, behaving more and more like King George III, and less like an elected body, meant to represent the People. Perhaps they actually are starting to believe they have been anointed by God, as have a great many monarchs? Do they really have the right to oppress the citizens for their own gain, politically and financially? NO. They do not!
I don’t put much set in polls, but one of the most accurate, unbiased, and reflective of the mood of the citizens, is Rasmussen. I’m not a “poll watcher”, but over the years, I have found that this one can, pretty much, be relied upon to project the mood of the country.
In yesterday’s poll. 10% approve of the job Congress is doing. 10 PERCENT! Wouldn’t you think someone in D.C. would take notice? No, why should they? There are way too many smart people up there, and the rest of us are just too stupid to know what’s best for us. This morning also brings some bad news for the President. Only 1/4 of likely voters approve of his performance. 25%.
Last time I checked, I was long past childhood. I learned not to put my hand on the stove. I know it burns, I don’t need someone I’ve never met, telling me this. I am an adult, making adult choices that concern my life. Both my parents are dead. I’m a grandmother. I think I know right from wrong.
When my daughter was little, I held her hand. I didn’t want her to run out into the street, so when she would head in that direction, I pulled her back by her hand. In order to keep her safe, I would have yanked her arm out of the socket, if need be, to keep her from harm. It appears we need to be the parents now, yanking our nation back from the brink of destruction.
Like our Founding Fathers, we are now facing a serious hardship, but I pray we will have a glorious triumph. At present, we may not be fighting a physical war. A war of bullets and blood. But we are fighting a war, none the less. A war for the very survival of our nation.
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly…” We were handed our liberty by our fathers and grandfathers, who fought and died to save this nation from the tyranny that overtook Europe. Should we dishonor them by letting it slip through our fingers without a fight?
Not Just “Party of No”…
….we are the “party” of HELL NO!
What Part of ‘Party of No’ Don’t You Understand?
by Ann Coulter
Inasmuch as Obamacare has a snowball’s chance in hell of passing (but did you see how much snow they got in hell last week?), everyone is wondering what President Obama is up to by calling Republicans to a televised Reykjavik summit this week to discuss socializing health care.
At least they served beer at the last White House summit this stupid and pointless.
If the president is serious about passing nationalized health care, he ought to be meeting with the Democrats, not the Republicans.
Just An FYI For Our Little Patch of Tennessee
Darryl Worley Cancer Center Becoming a Reality
After years of ironing out the details, Darryl Worley’s vision and dream of one day opening a cancer treatment facility in his hometown is finally coming to fruition. On Wednesday (Mar. 3), the groundbreaking ceremony of the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center is set to take place in Savannah, Tenn.
(…)
“It’s been our dream to build this cancer treatment center here in Hardin County for several years now, and the people at West Tennessee Healthcare have done a lot to help make this dream a reality,” says Darryl. “We have a really high cancer rate in our general area and all of our lives have been affected by the dreaded disease so there is a lot of passion in this for everyone.”
(…)
The treatment center hopes to open its doors by early 2011. Donations to the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center can be sent to Hardin Medical Center, 935 Wayne Road, Savannah, Tenn. 38372.
Kind of curious they don’t tell ya exactly where this ground breaking is taking place. Granted, Savannah isn’t a huge metropolis, but still…… Perhaps it’s next to the hospital? Although, for the life of me, I can’t imagine where. I sure hope, where ever it will be built, they’ll have more parking than the hospital offers. 
Just in case you aren’t a country fan, and have no idea who Darryl Worley is…
Wanna Get Rich? Work For The Gub’mint!
Employment is up, wages are up, and job security is as firm as ever. Unfortunately, this is only true for federal government workers.
And who pays these wages?
President Obama is presiding over the largest federal work force in decades. In the current fiscal year, the number of civilian workers will grow by 153,000, to 1.43 million. These are the only jobs Mr. Obama can legitimately claim to have created. Unfortunately, they are subsidized by deficit spending.
Oh yeah. Putting the taxpayers further into debt by creating jobs paid for by the taxpayers makes total sense. /snark
Federal positions are not shovel-ready make-work jobs, either. Working for Uncle Sam pays extremely well these days. Government employment used to be a calling, a career in which a sense of fulfillment from public service offset low pay and spartan working conditions. Not so today. According to a study by the Cato Institute, 2008 federal worker pay-and-benefits packages averaged $119,982. That’s more than double the private-sector average of $59,909.
When we all become government employees, who is going to pay our salaries? To misquote Margaret Thatcher, “The problem with socialism is eventually, you run out of other people’s money.” Will the income tax be raised to 75% on salaries just so we can all pay each other? But what is actually being produces by these government jobs that is really worth anything? What goods are being manufactured? Not a dadburn thing!
In the Defense Department, which is adding the most new workers, the number of civilian employees earning more than $150,000 jumped from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009. Many highly paid Defense Department employees are retired members of the military who receive full pensions in addition to salary. This “double dipping” is extra costly for taxpayers.
Excuse me while I clean the coffee off my monitor. ………………. Ok, now, let me read that again. 1,868 in 2007 increases to 10,100 in just two years? PLUS, many are getting a nice pension, from taxpayers, in addition to their nice fat salaries? Does anyone else see a major problem here?
Federal pay keeps growing even as overall private-sector compensation stagnates. In 2009, federal employees received an average pay raise of 3.9 percent, more than twice the 1.5 percent wage-and-benefit increase for private-sector employees – that is, for those who still had jobs. Mr. Obama proposed a 2 percent federal pay increase for fiscal 2010, down from a projected 2.4 percent rise. This was supposed to save approximately $20 billion, but a zero percent increase would have saved $120 billion.
I will grant you that many who work for the government are necessary. However, that being said, there are many more who are NOT! Eliminate the thumb suckers. You know the ones….the redundant, a large portion of the union workers at the IRS who sit around and file their nails instead of answering the phone, any number of Congressional staffers, etc. Oh, hell. Just get rid of the gooberment unions altogether! Make folks actually save their own money for their retirement, like responsible grownups use to do not all that long ago. That would save a WHOLE lot more than just the $20,000,000,000.
A federal pay freeze is a reasonable proposal in times of record budget deficits, especially when federal workers already make much more than their private-sector counterparts. However, this would require the president to make one of those hard choices he likes to talk about but studiously avoids. Feds who think they have a right to regular pay raises should contemplate the hardships of the millions of Americans recently forced to accept 100 percent pay cuts. And a 10 percent cut in the federal work force would save additional billions of dollars and still leave the government larger than it was when Mr. Obama took office. Those bonuses for bureaucrats should end, too.
Yep, the opinion folks at The Washington Times are almost as smart as me. Just without the same amount of sarcasm thrown in for good measure. 
Here are some interesting charts from the CBO, just in case you are interested. (.pdf)
The Great Divider
Obama Giving Black Farmers $1.25B in Reparations
Black farmers – possibly over 70,000 of them – will get cash payments and debt relief from the federal government totaling $1.25 billion, in reparation for alleged racial discrimination suffered under the Department of Agriculture’s loan programs, the Obama Administration has agreed.
Alleged? No proof! Let me ask the obvious. Was Obama’s decision based on the color of their skin? Did the DoA not make the loans because of inability of the farmer to provide proof they would be able to repay the loan? Or was it truly a case of discrimination? Were there no white farmers who were denied loans as well?
House Majority Whip and Congressional Black Caucus member James Clyburn cheered the deal. “History has taught us to never give up when fighting for what is right,” he said in a statement. “What happened to these black farmers was wrong, and we now have the opportunity to make it right.”
Clyburn said, “I thank President Obama for his leadership on this issue” adding that “I especially want to congratulate my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for keeping the focus on the plight of black farmers.”
I wonder what the Congressional White Caucus had to say about any white farmers who were denied loans? Oh, that’s right. There’s no such thing, cuz well, that would be raaaaaaaaaaaaacist.
The National Legal and Policy Center some years ago examined slave reparations activism and found one proponent calling for the federal government “to pay $500,000 to every slave descendant,” which would total “more than $15 trillion and require a surtax of roughly $50,000 on each non-African American man, woman and child in this country (the median family income is not even that high).”
Are there any former slaves still alive? Have you ever owned a slave? (We won’t mention Muslims and human smugglers for the sex trade.) I don’t think I’ve ever met either. I’m old, but not THAT old! I’d like to point out one thing, if you are African-American, that means you immigrated from Africa, and became a citizen. But in reality, you would be an American now, wouldn’t you?
Pointing to “the staggering breadth of America’s crime against us,” TransAfrica founder Randall Robinson in his book, “The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks,” argued that “Solutions must be tailored to the scope of the crime in a way that would make the victim whole. In this case, the psychic and economic injury is enormous, multidimensional and long-running. Thus must be America’s restitution to blacks for the damage done.”
Ok, here is one HUGE problem with this guy’s assumptions. Take me for example. Half of my ancestors were already here when the first boat of Europeans landed on our shores. No doubt, some were actually enslaved by the Spanish, who used the indigenous people as slave labor. Does that mean the Spanish OWES me? The other half? Well, they didn’t show up until AFTER slavery was abolished. I don’t owe anyone a dadburn thing! Neither does anyone else!
According to the reparations mindset, therefore, President Obama’s $1.25 billion for 70,000-plus black farmers is hardly even a beginning.
I’d like to thank president Obama for exposing himself for what he is! A divider!
