Yes-23 » RodZ

Obama’s Fundamental Transformation

RodZ — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:18:40 +0000

This is the flow chart of how our President has circumvented the normal processes of a representative government. Flow chart is from Glennbeck.com. This is not leadership and it is not the normal way things should be done in our form of government. In my previous post, Bridgid, a friend of the site, thought I was only referencing the health care bill reconciliation, but as you can see I was talking about many of the processes and procedures used by this administration to implement policies that should have gone through the Congress.

Possibly Related Posts:

Poll: Is Sean Hannity still effective?

RodZ — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:47:25 +0000

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Possibly Related Posts:

Health Care & Student Loan Reform?

RodZ — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:47:24 +0000

I wonder why with all the controversy about the health care reform bill are they attaching student loan reform/government takeover to this health care bill. It seems to me that our politicians never miss a chance to get the extra mile/dollar out of us. I wonder what this education reform is going to cost us. Why do the politicians, in this case the Democrats insist on sneaking legislation through on the back of other legislation? Why does the student loan program need reformed? Why does the government need to run it? Aren’t the guarantees enough? Seems to me that the liberal/progressives just cannot help themselves, they have to shove every social program down our throats that they can think of.

I think the constant chant of we won the election from the extreme left of the party is not a valid reason to implement all the social programs on their agenda. Yes, you won based on folks being mad at Bush and the Republicans. The constant chant of fundamental transformation does not mean the same thing to the average American as it does to the progressives.

Let’s look at some definitions:

Transform: To change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose. To change in condition, nature, or character; convert.

Change: To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone

Fundamental: Serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or basis; basic; underlying: fundamental principles; the fundamental structure.

My opinion is that the progressives in Washington want to “fundamentally change” this country from a free society, based on a constitutional representative government into a society in which the collective is more important than individual freedoms. I believe the current people in charge, Obama, Pelosi and Reid and a large number of House and Senate Democrats do want to change this country into something that will no longer represent individual rights and freedoms and will enlarge government control over the people of this country.

I believe the average American voter thought that Obama meant he was going to change Washington into a transparent and ethical entity with the American people’s needs and safety first. What I think we have found is what I suspected all along, Obama is very liberal and his definition of fundamental transformation is far different than that of the average American.

The way the Democrats are moving the health care reform bill towards becoming law is clear evidence of their total disregard for the American people’s desires. We want a straight up or down vote on the floor in front of us, we want all the arm twisting, and threatening to stop. If your bill had our support and had not been written in secret you probably would not have to be whipping up you own house Democrats to support it. I find it is interesting that those in charge who are fairly secure in retaining their seats are willing to throw the rest of the representatives under the bus.

Possibly Related Posts:

What Happened to Representative Government? Deem It Passed?

RodZ — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:10:17 +0000

Ok folks let’s look at the health care reform bill. What do we know? We know that it was created behind closed doors, in secret, it will cut Medicare benefits, it counts dollars spent twice, the poverty level base line is raised to accommodate more folks in Medicaid, it will supposedly insure 30 million folks currently without coverage at great expense to all of us. We know that sweetheart deals were made to get votes, we will pay for 10 years to get 6 years of coverage, we know our taxes will grow exponentially, we know that when the exchange is created the government will control health care coverage, we know that we all will be forced to buy coverage or pay a fine, and on and on, show me the benefits.
Nancy Pelosi says we need to pass this so the American people will know what it contains. She and Harry Reid think we are stupid and don’t know what is good for us. I say we know what is good for us and this bill is not.
The Democrats keep saying that we the people are not concerned with the process and dismiss anyone who brings it up. I know I am concerned that this Administration and the Democratic leadership keep find ways around what used to be the constitutional process to get what they want, regardless of what the American people want. Go to Glenn Beck’s website or listen to his TV program today, he has a matrix he is going to publish that shows all the circumvention methods that these people have used, it is eye opening. I will try to repost it here when it becomes available.
We must continue to call and write these people in charge and let them know this is a Democracy and just because you won an election doesn’t mean it suddenly became a dictatorship.

Possibly Related Posts:

Andy Rooney, RE-TAKE AMERICA

RodZ — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:52:38 +0000

We as a nation should be tolerant, we as people of the world should be tolerant, we need to stop imposing our will on others. My rights end where yours begin, but that doesn’t mean a loud vocal minority should control the silent majority. Come on people stop the nonsense exhibit some tolerance and common sense, not to mention a little respect.

Andy Rooney and Prayer

Andy Rooney says:
I don’t believe in Santa Claus, but I’m not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don’t agree with Darwin , but I didn’t go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what’s the big deal? It’s not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They’re just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it’s a Christian prayer, some will argue..
Yes, and this is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect– somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer…

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn’t be offended. It wouldn’t bother me one bit.
When in Rome …..
But what about the atheists? That’s another argument.
What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We’re not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that’s asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don’t think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world’s foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It’s time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn’t care what they want. It is time that the majority rules!
It’s time we tell them,” You don’t have to pray; you don’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don’t have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!”
God bless us one and all… Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America , despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let’s make 2010 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions . And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.

Possibly Related Posts:

I lost 20LBS With this

RodZ — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:27:20 +0000

I just put this up for fun

7GP6TMAWHTGP

Possibly Related Posts:

Personal Responsibility: Part 3

RodZ — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:30:23 +0000

This is the last in a 3 part series of my opinions describing how personal choices affect where we are in life.

It is my belief that we as individuals could have mitigated some of the serious economic problems we are experiencing by managing our spending and responsibly borrowing money. The housing crisis could have been lessened by prudent borrowing of the individual. We should not have purchased mortgages we could not afford. We should not have 20 credit cards in our wallet. We as a community should have made personal choices to live within our means.

Having said that, what has happened to the moral compass and personal responsibility of corporate America. The personal decisions they made affected each and every one of us. Their decisions coupled with the lifestyle of millions of Americans have brought the greatest economy in the world to its knees.

Where is the moral compass and personal responsibility of individuals within the government agencies tasked with regulating industries? Where is it in our politicians? It is true the object of any business is to make money. It is true, government should have laws and regulations in place to protect us from unscrupulous business practices. The problem is that our business leaders, regulators and politicians have become “cozy” with one another. The American people are at their mercy.

It seems to me that our politicians are tied to the money they receive from corporate America and other lobbies. How can they make good decisions for we the people? It seems to me that a moral compass and personal responsibility have taken a back seat to advancing a career, staying in power and perhaps lining a pocket.

I wonder about the enormous salaries and bonuses CEO’s and executives within these corporations make, regardless of whether the company is doing well or not, again “cozy”. It has been reported that they all sit on each others boards and guess what? Your right they all get big paydays. Again where is the moral compass? Personal choice to disregard anything resembling the good of the collective seems to be the order of the day.

We are in the middle of a national debate on healthcare reform. We should reform a system that is clearly to expensive and growing out of control. I am tired of my premiums and co-pays growing beyond inflation every year. I don’t know what the out come of this debate will be but I am sure that with no moral compass in sight it won’t be what we expect. I do know that the personal choices of our government leadership will affect all of us and we will be where we are tomorrow because of that decision.

The only thing that I think I can do is make personal decisions that will shelter me from as much of the fallout of current situation as I can and prepare me for the future. I hope you all make a personal decision to do the same.

The weapons we all have, our vote, voice and our dollars. If we let the government know what we want, if we vote our conscience perhaps they will listen. Our dollars can be withheld from corporate America, I know that will get their attention.

In the first two installments I spoke of individual choices and how they affect where we are in life. As you can see I recognize that the choices of others will affect where we are in life also. I do hold to the idea that we as individuals are responsible for where we are in life because of our own decisions. Decide now, to get involved contact your representatives, let them know you are tired of a system that disregards we the people. Decide now, to put your personal finances in order and live within your means. Decided now, to not buy anything from or invest with those corporations that are unscrupulous. Perhaps we the people can make a difference because of our personal decisions.

Possibly Related Posts:

Joe Biden, Best Comment At The Summit

RodZ — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:30:22 +0000

I watched the entire health care bill summit yesterday. It was entertaining political theater at best. Joe Biden actually made the most intelligent statement of the day when he was giving his opening remarks. Our VP said he had no idea what the American people were thinking. This is a very telling statement that I think could be said of almost every politician in that room. I think the Democrats have no clue what the American people want and in the case of the health care bill I don’t think they care. The Republicans claimed to know and reduced what they think to, “scrap the bill and start over.”

I don’t know what the rest of America wants but I agree that they need to scrap that 2700 page monstrosity and look at true reform and cost reduction. I listened to both sides and could find valid arguments coming from both sides. It is evident that reform and cost reduction is really needed in this industry. One would think, with the resources available to the Congress, they could identify the cost drivers, government law and regulations that are driving the cost increases up and fix the problem. First they would have to set aside their ideological differences and work together. I think this is no longer possible in Washington.

The talking heads were interesting to watch as they analyzed they event. I watched Fox News and MSNBC. Chris Matthews was beside his self on how well the President and the Democrats controlled the meeting and seemed convinced that the bill will be passed. Fox folks seemed sure it was a set up to get public opinion on their side so they can take the reconciliation route and not get hammered in the 2010 mid-terms.

I don’t know what to think except that with a bill this size one has to know that a one day meeting after a year of contentious debate was not going to provide consensus. There is a big ideological difference between the two parties on this subject. I do know that we, the American people, will not have reform that will do what we need and it looks to me that we will have a bill that increases our costs, taxes and is mandatory. America is in trouble when the government tells us we have to buy something at prices they determine.

Possibly Related Posts:

Why New Jobs Bill? Last Stimulus Is NOT Working

RodZ — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:37:10 +0000

Ok folks lets get real. We hear how the stimulus has saved 2 million jobs and yet once again the latest jobs report says we just lost another 500 thousand jobs. What a bunch of crap. If you look at the big stimulus bill you will find a bunch on non job producing spending period. High speed internet for rural areas does not create permanent jobs. Studies and research for green technology does not create jobs. I have detailed many such items in previous posts. Government spending does not create jobs. Government spending on these levels only creates deficits and debt.
I have had conversations with some of you about the benefits of these policies. Many of you tell me that by putting money in the hands of people through extending unemployment benefits puts money into the economy. It does and it helps the unemployed for a short time. In addition one reader provided a link to an analysis by Mark Zandi Chief Economist at Moody’s Economy.com, published in Jan of 2009. I have read this report and now a year later I still think he got it wrong. Here was one prediction that I think will not occur “The House stimulus plan will not reverse the current recession, but it will provide a vital boost to the flagging economy. With the stimulus, there will be 4 million more jobs and the jobless rate will be more than 2 percentage points lower by the end of 2010 than without any fiscal stimulus. Without stimulus, unemployment will rise well into the double digits by this time next year, and the economy will not return to full employment until 2014.”
The unemployment rate is growing and certainly not be a full 2 percentage points lower by the end of the year. Full employment is not achievable by 2014 considering we need thousands of jobs a year just to employ new people entering the job market for the first time. He is right in his assessment that the plan will not reverse the current recession in fact I believe it will extend it long term. The more money the government borrows means less money available for private investment and growth. Private investment creates new business, expansion of existing business and JOBS.
We are faced with increasing taxes. The President has stated he gave 95% percent of us a tax cut. I won’t argue this but I will say that cut will be offset by the expiring of the Bush tax cuts next year. If you look at all the legislation you will find some tax relief to business but you will also find enormous tax increases in these bills. The state and federal governments are increasing consumption taxes. They are in the health care bill they are in the form of fees and taxes at the local and state levels. everything you buy or use seems to have a tax buried in it.
I know that if we continue to spend at this rate without regard to the long term consequences we will have an economic crisis worse that what we are experiencing currently. This government needs to look at the entire federal budget and reduce the cost of these programs. I don’t mind paying taxes, I don’t like paying taxes for social agenda items that we cannot sustain because the money is always spent on other things. Pay Go is a good idea but I don’t believe it will work without spending cuts, extreme spending cuts.

Possibly Related Posts:

Is Mandatory Insurance Coverage Part of the Presidents Plan?

RodZ — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:21:51 +0000

I pulled the following from whitehouse.gov, as you can see we will still have a requirement to purchase insurance. We can get a hardship exemption of course but a Washington bureaucrat will decide of your are eligible. I see nothing in the Presidents proposal that does anything to reduce the burden on working Americans even though we are being told there are tax cuts to protect us and enable us to pay for mandated coverage.

Obama and his crew are pushing forward a bill at any cost to fulfill the liberal dream of government run health care in the United States. The American people have clearly stated that the bills in the House and Senate are not acceptable. The Democrats have spun this by saying Americans are for the provisions in the bill if each element is polled separately. Yes the American people want reform and cost reduction, but not the, expensive, mandatory, government controlled cost increasing, bills soon to be pushed through via reconciliation. This is typical “progressive” tactics illustrating a we know what’s good for you mindset.

Again the following was pulled from whitehouse.gov. Please go to the site and read this for yourself.

The arrogance of this Congress and White House is beyond belief. I have never seen this type of government in my lifetime. Please continue to write and call your representatives and oppose this agenda.

Improve Individual Responsibility.
All Americans should have affordable health insurance coverage. This helps everyone, both insured and uninsured, by reducing cost shifting, where people with insurance end up covering the inevitable health care costs of the uninsured, and making possible robust health insurance reforms that will curb insurance company abuses and increase the security and stability of health insurance for all Americans. The House and Senate bills require individuals who have affordable options but who choose to remain uninsured to make a payment to offset the cost of care they will inevitably need. The House bill’s payment is a percentage of income. The Senate sets the payment as a flat dollar amount or percentage of income, whichever is higher (although not higher than the lowest premium in the area). Both the House and Senate bill provide a low-income exemption, for those individuals with incomes below the tax filing threshold (House) or below the poverty threshold (Senate).The Senate also includes a “hardship” exemption for people who cannot afford insurance, included in the President’s Proposal. It protects those who would face premiums of more than 8 percent of their income from having to pay any assessment and they can purchase a low-cost catastrophic plan in the exchange if they choose.

The President’s Proposal adopts the Senate approach but lowers the flat dollar assessments, and raises the percent of income assessment that individuals pay if they choose not to become insured. Specifically, it lowers the flat dollar amounts from $495 to $325 in 2015 and $750 to $695 in 2016. Subsequent years are indexed to $695 rather than $750, so the flat dollar amounts in later years are lower than the Senate bill as well. The President’s Proposal raises the percent of income that is an alternative payment amount from 0.5 to 1.0% in 2014, 1.0 to 2.0% in 2015, and 2.0 to 2.5% for 2016 and subsequent years – the same percent of income as in the House bill, which makes the assessment more progressive. For ease of administration, the President’s Proposal changes the payment exemption from the Senate policy (individuals with income below the poverty threshold) to individuals with income below the tax filing threshold (the House policy). In other words, a married couple with income below $18,700 will not have to pay the assessment. The President’s Proposal also adopts the Senate’s “hardship” exemption.

“Hardship” Waiver
Individuals and families are eligible for a waiver from the requirement to purchase health insurance if coverage is unaffordable – if premiums exceed 8 percent of income.

In addition, exceptions are made for religious objectors, taxpayers with incomes below the tax-filing threshold ($9,350 for a single or $18,700 for a married couple in 2009), and Indian tribe members.

Americans under the age of 30 and other Americans who are exempt from the requirement to purchase insurance are eligible for a low-cost catastrophic plan that covers serious illness and injury.

Nice of the Government to give us a break!

Possibly Related Posts: