Showing posts with label Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2014

Government Advertising

Why should a government be allowed to advertise services to the people?  After all, it takes taxpayer money to fund the advertising and costs more money when people use the services.   Sure, people need to be informed of services available to them in times of need.  But, most of the services advertised would only be missed by people living under rocks.


First, there is the advertising of Healthcare.gov. Really, do we need advertising to promote this? Do you know anyone that does not know about the ACA, aka Obamacare?

What about the cost?  It is no secret that many government plans cost taxpayers excessive amounts.  Just how much is being spent to advertise the handouts?  It is hard to say, since the numbers are so deeply buried in line items that it

Friday, February 14, 2014

Biden Embarks on Top Secret Pot Run to Colorado; Brings Back Good News to Democrats


(Please, excuse the sarcasm which is perpetuated throughout the ENTIRE piece!)


Vice President Joe "Gaffe" Biden opened his mouth and, naturally, lies came flying out again.  It is not surprising that "Say it ain't so, Joe" is creating his own reality again.  But, would you trust him under his leadership?  Do Democrats really believe the things that he says?  One can only wonder, but we don't have to sleep at night after saying these things.

"For the first time in my career, on every major issue, the American people agree with the Democratic party," Biden said while speaking at the House Democrats' annual retreat at the Hyatt Regency on Maryland's Eastern Shore, BuzzFeed reports
Really? That is not what most of us are hearing out in the real world, let alone in polls.  The Democrat Party is sinking faster than the Titanic and the only thing that can save them, and probably will, is the "Republican" Party.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Obamacare: Reinforcing Income Inequality

It appears that Obamacare is geared to increase income inequality in our country.  Is it any surprise that the Democrats would encourage "free time, less work, etc."?  After all, they are the masters of creating a problem that "only government can solve."  Those in the know, are acutely aware of the Democrat platform for upcoming elections; income inequality.  Amazingly (sarcasm), the CBO report exposes the talking point rather well.  Is there any doubt that the discussion and reinforcement of income inequality is intentional?  


This week, the Congressional Budget Office released their report on the impact of Obamacare on the deficit.  Contained within the report, was the following statement regarding employment:

“The estimated reduction stems almost entirely from a net decline in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply, rather than from a net drop in businesses’ demand for labor, so it will appear almost entirely as a reduction in labor force participation and in hours worked relative to what would have occurred otherwise rather than as an increase in unemployment (that is, more workers seeking but not finding jobs) or underemployment (such as part-time workers who would prefer to work more hours per week).”

Monday, February 3, 2014

Liberal Lies: Choice

Liberals claim to be the party that promotes choice, yet we do not see choices in Liberalism.  Choices are limited to the "approved" remedy of the bureaucracy and belief systems in Liberalism.  Choice implies freedom, yet, Liberalism always destroys freedom and choice.
As an aside, I now realize how odd the word choice looks when typing it repeatedly.  That is my random thought for the day!

Pro-Choice

Pro ChoiceLiberals consistently talk about the greatness of being pro-choice. After all, it is the mother's choice that matters, not the unborn child, right?
Let me ask this, what is more important in our society; a mother's choice or the right to life?  A mother's choice is nothing more than a decision to be made with horrific consequences, in this case.  God endowed us with the ability to procreate and our right to life.  We protect life on earth as being sacred in many ways; we even protect the rights of animals through cruelty legislation, etc.  Yet, how is an unborn child (a human nonetheless) less protected in the pro-choice argument?   
“No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.”
― Margaret Sanger
The choice has been made prior to the point of choosing whether or not to be a mother.  The choice was made when a person decides to have sex with a partner.  That was when the freedom of choice occurs, not after the fact.
Mother Teresa choices
“The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts--a child--as a competitor, an intrusion and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the dependent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters. And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners.”
― Mother Teresa
Where is the choice of that unborn child?  Liberals also claim to be the protectors of the weak, poor, and innocent children (but, only if they are born first).  The hypocrisy of this position is scathing and yet, no liberal will actually admit to the choice that was already made.

At least Liberalism gave one choice, the choice of birth control.....

Healthcare Choices

The Affordable Care and Patient Act (aka Obamacare) did not increase choice, it limited it.
liberal choiceMany young adults used to choose whether or not to carry health insurance.  This decision was made based upon their finances and other factors.  Yet, with the passing of Obamacare, they no longer have this choice.  This freedom has been stripped away in one fellow swoop of the pen by our Liberal leadership and Liberals in Congress.
Undoubtedly, our choices in insurance plans have also been limited.  Why? You might ask.  Insurance companies are not stupid; they will offer plans that conform to the requirements (no choice) of Obamacare in minimal terms to limit the cost to consumers.  You see, economically speaking, insurance companies want to earn our business by keeping rates as low as possible.  The only way to keep rates low for the healthy is to limit what is covered, especially when other stuff is unnecessary.  Men are going to be forced to pay for ob/gyn appointments and women to pay for prostate exams under this bill.  This is a requirement, not a choice.
"If you like your plan, you can keep it. Period." - President Obama
Sounded like a great choice.  Again, proven profoundly wrong.  No discussion needed and end of story.
At least we get to choose our doctor, right?  Again, no.  Our choice of doctor may or may not be available through Obamacare.
Yes, the choice has been made to not expand this section any further.  You see, this is my choice and I am making it.  To put it bluntly, there are few freedoms in Obamacare and therefore no choices.  I am certain that I could write a 2700+ page book on Obamacare, but this is not the place for it.

Religious Choice

Ah, the Phil Robertson section....yes, it is my choice.  But, it goes further than the recent explosion between Phil Robertson, A&E and the Liberal choosers.
One of the core foundations of our country is the Freedom of Religion.  This infers the right to choose a religion and follow its practices as well.
John Adams Letter to Benjamin Rush Date: 1812
Liberalism, through Obamacare, attempted to squash religious choice in implementing the law.  Catholics, who do not allow contraception in practice, were forced to provide birth control through their insurance plans.  Religious institutions appealed this requirement and were told it was a requirement, not a choice.  Thankfully, appeals to this requirement are slowly being upheld by the courts and should be overturning the requirement in time.  Nonetheless, it was an attempt by Liberals to destroy religious freedom and the practice thereof.

It is not just Catholics under attack.  Christians are regularly the targets of Liberal outcries for religious oppression.  Phil Robertson was attacked for his Christian view on gay marriage by the left.  It was A&E's decision to suspend him and that was their choice, which is not the argument here.  However, the fact that GLAAD (a LIBERAL group) would demand he be silenced is the attack on religious freedom.


religious choiceIn reality, all religious denominations have been under attack by some form of Liberalism in our country.  The examples, again, are so numerous that a book could be written.  Muslims, Islamists, etc. it doesn't matter; they are all being attacked by the Liberals.  Conservatives do not care what your religion is, you have every right to practice it, preach it, and show it.

The only "religions" that seem to be omitted from these attacks are Atheists and Climate Change worshipers.  Of course, they tend to be almost exclusively Liberals, so that explains a lot.

Economic Choice

Financial choices should be up to an individual or family.  Liberals force many things to not be choices when it comes to economics. Again, only the tip of the iceberg will be hit upon.
Individuals used to have the choice to spend their money on healthcare.  As aforementioned above, this choice has been retracted by Obamacare.
Taxes are government force, not a choice.  By forcing the top 40% to pay 106.9% of the tax burden (discussed in The Welfare State: Increasing Government Dependency), this economic choice has been removed.  Liberals are for a highly progressive tax code which steals from the "rich" and gives to the poor.
From the obscene to the absurd;
Nope, you don't have a choice to buy the lightbulb you want either.

Education Choice

Liberals are ALL about government control and NO freedom when it comes to school choice.  If you can not afford a way out, you are stuck with public schools.  Public schools are failing on the education front in so many ways, they are too numerous to list here.
Educational choices have been repeatedly proposed, yet they are shot down by Liberals.  Whether it is a voucher system, tax credits, or other means of allowing school choice, Liberals flatly oppose them.  Yet, we are continually falling behind the rest of the world in education.

Charity Choice

The Liberal "charity" continues to be our government.  Again, forcing people to pay taxes into a charity of Liberal persuasion does not allow for choice.  People have the right to do with their property (money) as they choose.  This choice should include giving to the charities of their liking.  This is not to mention, government is inefficient in actually helping the intended recipients.  Private charity is MUCH more efficient in helping those in need.  The split is astounding; 70% of private charity reaches the intended recipient while government only sends 30%.

Speech Choice (Freedom of Speech)

This is so obvious to me that it needs little said about it.  Here is the gist: Liberals do not believe in freedom of speech unless it supports their position.  They seek to silence any opposition to their worldview and attempt to do so every day.
For more information please read my friend's exceptional piece, showing how absurd this has gotten: Liberals Are Now The Freedom Of Speech Police.

My choice to conclude

While Liberals will argue that they offer choice in other arenas, one has the right not to choose those topics.  Granted, there are so many choices on the limiting of choices by Liberals, it is astounding.  To say the choices are endless (until my speech is censored) is an understatement.  All in all, it is a lie to claim to be Liberal and pro-"choice".

The Welfare State: Increasing Government Dependency

The welfare state is not just the state of our country, but the people who live in it and several actual states.  Many people rely upon these benefits for good reason (disabled, elderly, children, etc.) and no one argues that point. Welfare has spiked the last five years unlike any other time in the history of our country.  Not only are large amounts of people on it, but the duration and amount being received have gotten excessive.  For many, it has become a way of life, not just a helping hand in a time of need.  This is the state of welfare, as we now know it.

welfare unemploymentUnemployment spiked in 2008 due to the financial and housing meltdown.

Five years later, we still have high unemployment and much more debt to boot.  Government reporting standards have changed in order to sugar coat the real numbers, especially under President Obama.  The true measure of unemployment is the U6 measure; it is defined as:
Thus, it accounts for the unemployed and under employed.  This measure still has our unemployment rate at 13.2% today as opposed to the 7% being reported by the administration.

welfareWelfare pays out too much, taking away the incentive to find a job.

 2012 report highlighted how people on welfare are now taking in more than the median household in America.  Why work if you can live better than the median family in America?
+Walt Armour may have summarized this situation better than anyone, he stated:
Based on data from the Congressional Research Service, cumulative spending on means-tested federal welfare programs, if converted into cash, would equal $167.65 per day per household living below the poverty level. By comparison, the median household income in 2011 of $50,054 equals $137.13 per day. Additionally, spending on federal welfare benefits, if converted into cash payments, equals enough to provide $30.60 per hour, 40 hours per week, to each household living below poverty. The median household hourly wage is $25.03. After accounting for federal taxes, the median hourly wage drops to between $21.50 and $23.45, depending on a household’s deductions and filing status. State and local taxes further reduce the median household’s hourly earnings. By contrast, welfare benefits are not taxed.

SNAP is one form of welfare given out by the states. It is meant to supplement people's incomes for food.

An analysis shows that the average individual received $133.08 in monthly welfare from the program for 2013. In 2009, this amount was $125.31; an increase of 6% over that time. A family of four, on SNAP welfare, would receive $532.32 per month!  This program is meant to SUPPLEMENT people's income, not pay entirely for their grocery bill. At $0.39 per Ramen noodle container, it would cost approximately $140.40 to feed a family of four, three meals a day.  So, it is not like people are going to starve on this amount.  SNAP is just one of the many welfare programs, keep in mind.
During this same time period, the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation in goods and services rose 7.97%. The numbers are below, for those who will argue inflation the rest of this article:
Series Id:    SUUR0000SA0
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Area:         U.S. city average
Item:         All items
Base Period:  DECEMBER 1999=100
Download:
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2009
122.095
122.598
122.803
123.053
123.427
124.485
124.293
124.620
124.706
124.791
124.788
124.544
123.850
2010
124.987
124.972
125.442
125.620
125.678
125.521
125.536
125.756
125.830
125.969
125.920
126.143
125.615
2011
126.778
127.363
128.585
129.483
129.999
129.846
129.983
130.351
130.635
130.373
130.196
129.844
129.453
2012
130.363(U)
130.829(U)
131.649(U)
131.993(U)
131.902(U)
131.819(U)
131.614(U)
132.203(U)
132.702(U)
132.699(U)
132.212(U)
131.896(U)
131.823(U)
2013
132.272(I)
133.188(I)
133.506(I)
133.430(I)
133.652(I)
133.925(I)
133.944(I)
134.086(I)
134.257(I)
133.964(I)
133.724(I)
U : InterimI : Initial
As previously discussed in BASE-LESS…BOEHNER SHOWS HIS TRUE STRIPES,  the AVERAGE tax bill for the lower 47% of income earners is -9.1%.  Most people would love a 9% bonus annually on tax day.  This welfare system is what we call our current tax code.  It steals from the top and gives to the bottom.

obamacare subsidies welfareIn 2014, Obamacare will further the welfare tax laws to benefit the bottom 47%, yet again.

The 9% refund, previously discussed, is before these credits begin in our tax law. Much of the discussion, thus far, is prior to this monstrosity being in full effect.  Statistics will show, after 2014, the massive wealth redistribution and welfare program we are now running.  Families USA, a liberal organization, charted the welfare package included in Obamacare.  The known part of this welfare package is enormous.  And, keep in mind, no one knows all the impacts of this legislation as of yet.  We only know the general outcomes from common sense and what is already known.
The Brenner Brief recently posted a great article on the state of welfare, and its impact on America.   Welfare Dependency Destroying America takes a little different look at welfare dependency and offers much insight into this lifestyle.

sKtt9One cannot possibly cover all the welfare programs in a single article.

After all, the state of our welfare system has grown to epic proportions and programs.  Much like Obamacare, we just didn't know what was in it until we read it.  The charges that Republicans or any other group seeking to reduce spending on welfare programs is simply crap.  These programs provide more than just an assist; they are a way of life.  With the recent economic downturn, it will not be surprising to see many maintain their lifestyle on welfare.  Welfare is just like feeding the animals at the zoo; once they taste it, they are addicted and will come back.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Base-less...Boehner Shows His True Stripes

hump day, rino, base, mediocre, Can you believe it is hump day already?  John Boehner was so excited to get screwed, that he came out firing at Conservatives to celebrate!

The sheer idiocy among RINOs is simply amazing.  There are so many winning fronts that could be taken at this very moment, yet the lack of leadership in John Boehner is apparent.  The guy just came out and blasted his base for asking for some reasonable Conservative stances in policy.  Now, I may not be the political genius of Karl Rove, who can get every election wrong, but, I know some common sense when I see it.

As reported by nearly every media outlet, John Boehner blasted Conservatives as if we are the thorn in his side. Really?  Don't you know it is the other way around, Speaker Boehner?

Boehner stated:
"They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous," he said. "Listen if you're for more deficit reduction, you're for this agreement." 
So, the evil base, aka Tea Party aka Conservatives who supported Republicans, is using whom?  We are the least of the users in this country.  We are the people fighting for everyone else's freedom while they wander around in a daze, complaining about how the economy and jobs stink.  Yet, they don't even know why.  Well, we do!
base line budgeting, sequester impact
We know that the government spending is paralyzing the private sector through fear.  Why?  It is based on simple economic principles that say, if you spend money (the government), then the private sector has to be taxed to pay for it.  When spending becomes as outlandish as right now, the private sector is clamoring, wondering when the next big tax hike will come and hit us.

And since the job producers and  productive members of society are now carrying 106% of the tax burden, it would only be "fair" that they carry more.  Isn't that right Speaker Boehner?  After all, us crazy Conservatives in your base are just using the people of this country and your sheeple in Congress.

Us crazy people want, God forbid, government interference out-of-the-way in our health care decisions.  We don't want to see our fellow-man dying because he is no longer covered to see his doctor.  We don't want to see the previously insured lose their health insurance so that the same people who pay -9.1% of the Federal income tax burden to get YET ANOTHER handout!

As for your ridiculous statement regarding deficit reduction contained in this piece of crap legislation; it is based on false pretenses.  The current Congress can not hold the next to its spending policy. And, guess what this bill does?  Yes, the biggest cuts are in 10 years, long after the sheeple have forgotten.  But, here is the thing....Conservatives will NOT forget; we never do.  Unlike the sheeple, we are critical in our thought.  And, you, Speaker Boehner, just threw a liberal argument at us.  We don't take well to that.
de based, agreement,
Boehner and his new best friend

It also ends the Sequestration, while you may not think it is popular because of defense cuts, at least it cut something... So, in doing this, it increases the base of this budget to over $1 Trillion in discretionary spending next year.  Under Sequestration, we would spend $80 Billion less next year. I doubt any true Conservative will be Concerned with the FIRST EVER budget cut in our Nation's history.
It would be good policy to simply sign a Continuing Resolution and pass it along to the Senate.  It can be simple, after all, we already have a Conservative win by allowing the Sequestration to continue.  But, here we are again, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

A real leader brings his troops together and formulates a game plan using tactical maneuvers to position the group for a win.  Speaker Boehner is not positioning anyone to win, except Democrats who will undo what they hated in the first place; the Sequestration.  True fiscal Conservatives should have nothing to do with this plan.  Yes, I get it, it brings the power of the purse back to the House.  But, for what?  Why are the Democrats being allowed to control the conversation?  As a political "leader", Speaker Boehner should be determining the national conversation in favor of his party.  It would be perfectly acceptable to make an actual Conservative demand once in a while.  There is no leadership in this, only caving to the Democrats per the Republican playbook.
winning, conservative values
Here are some winning strategies or conversations that could have been used to leverage the power of the purse: Obamacare - People still hate it and it could be used as a wedge in negotiations with Democrats; Spending - There is strong support for reduced budget to bring the deficit down and bring more stability to the private sector.  In fact, 61% of Americans would support spending cuts right now; Fair Tax - With a 77% support level, why are we not tying tax reform to the budget?

I am just an above average political pundit, but I know that there is wide support for Conservative values out here in the real world.  It is time for Speaker Boehner and all Republicans to stop bending over and start manning up! Stand up for what you believe in, otherwise, you will just have a Base-less argument over who lost the election.  I can tell you, unless you start acting remotely Conservative, there will be no Base left for 2014 or 2016.  The Establishment is ignorant if they think they can win without 22% of their ardent supporters.  Right now, you represent nothing better than a Blue Dog Democrat.