I keep reading, with utter dismay, of all the conflicts in the world that seem to drive up the price of essential commodities that promote human life.
In Russia and the Ukraine, people are freezing to death, and there is a fight. In the Middle East, there are wars on top of wars that seem to regulate the price of Oil.
Around the world, people are freezing, unable to afford the very thing that could prevent that, meanwhile the price of Oil keeps going up so the Oil Barons can get richer. To what end do these riches yield? “What value does a man have, if he gains all the possessions in the world and loses his soul? Praise the Dollar as God Himself!”
I question the bailouts in the US, for bailing out the ones that spend money foolishly and care nothing about the common man, I question the Oil Barons, who speculate on the price of a necessary commodity in this day and time, as if they were shooting craps at the casino. Guess what folks, there is an eventual crap out, where the house takes all the table stakes and your left with just a little bit in reserve, perhaps to speculate some more a push for more wealth, no matter what the personal cost is.
In Houston, Texas, as a disabled vet on limited income, the energy companies here don’t hesitate in the heat of summer or the dead of winter to cut the necessities of life for not paying the entire extravagant bills they send. There is no heart and soul in these actions, only dollar signs, and human life is not even worth a penny to them if it’s not in their pockets.
What’s happened to the world? I really don’t know, and I question all humanity on this issue. What happened to the days when people actually cared about other people, and would belly up and provide for each other, no matter what the cost. Have we become that selfish and self centered as a society? How about just sitting with someone, perhaps that person on the street, laughing with them, giving them your smile…..it doesn’t cost you a penny, but it does take about 5 seconds of your precious time. Sounds pretty cheap to me, except….time is the most precious commodity we have to give each other. To bad, in this hectic world, we take that for granted and spend the time we have chasing the almighty dollar that sharing God’s Love with each other.
Who knows, in an ideal society, there would be no hunger, no greediness, no lack of self worth, no suffering, no loneliness……perhaps we would be one people, together, with full lives and no worries about today.
“But of these, three remain faith, hope and love…but…the greatest of these is Love!”
Thank You God, for the precious gift of time (love) You give to me….I pray I give enough time and love back to You through human compassion and kindness……
Jere
Give me bankruptcy or give me death?
The Status Quo- Insurance Scam.
I work in the medical field and healthcare reform is a great idea. It's about time.
I've sat by powerless, while many people have died in my care waiting for insurance companies to authorize non-formulary medications or treatments. Most people are healthy and don't realize how small the list of authorized formulary items is, until it's too late. Bankruptcy or Death is not what Americans should have to choose between. Health Security should be a right.
Even greedy self-loathing hypocrites whom don't like being GUARANTEED protection will someday need more than they can afford, so then, its illness or bankruptcy or DEATH for themselves or a loved one. Anyone who has tried calling an insurance company knows the truth. There is almost no regulation and mostly people just dance in circles with the insurance companies until it is too late. Time is on the insurance companies’ side. For them, time is money and for us or our families it may be a matter of health or death.
As a member of society, I vote in this country as it is my right. I do my civic duty when I am called for Jury Duty; its a responsibility to our fellow citizens that we all should serve when called.
I believe that just like jury duty, public servants such as senators, governors and members of the house have a civic responsibilty to their fellow citizens. However, these days the elected officials are answering to citizens of a different kind, the corporate citizen. They are doing this to the detriment of the people in this country who need protection the most, the average citizen. I used the word protection in the previous sentence for a reason. Many times the corporate citizen's desires are in opposition to the average citizen's desires and basic rights. The average citizen needs protection from the corporate citizen. If a mutualy beneficial coexistance cannot be obtained, then it is the corporate citzen who should suffer, and not the real American Citizens for whom this republic was founded.
I want my elected officials to do what is right and proper for humanity, not what is wrong and profitable for greed! We need to change the lobbying rules and what is allowed to go on in this realm of politics. What ever happened to serving your country because you loved it and loved the poeple? What happens when greed, like a parasite kills it's host? Where will the citizens be left then?
We simply need to put our people first in everything that we do, and I hope that this simple message reaches those who would represent us. Simply take all the extraneous things out of the process of making laws, and focus on one thing - the people. With everything you do, ask yourself does this hurt or help our people, and if the answer is help people, then do it. If the answer is hurt people, don't do it no matter how much the greedy corporations want you to.
If anyone questions why the insurance industry is so deadset against health care reform, please check out this link.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/profile.html
The PBS show Bill Moyers Journal interviewed Wendell Potter, a Cigna whistleblower. Mr. Potter reveals just how greedy the insurance industry is.
People pass this on. Information is key. If we sit on our asses and do nothing- then we deserve what we get.
At the time when the economy is still trying to recover, when we are still reeling from the financial crisis generated by greed, and President Obama is working on legislation to curve the Credit Card companies from their aggressive and unfair practices these companies are at it again.
I have just received a notice (along with thousands of people) that Chase Credit is increasing the minimum payment on my two accounts from 2% a month to 5%! This is more than doubling the amount of money that needs to be paid to them on a monthly basis and this is for a customer who has NEVER been late in a single payment and has actually been paying a lot more than the minimum to one of those accounts (voluntarily) to reduce the debt.My current minimum payments are $310 and $160 every month, but under their new scheme, I will instead have to pay $775 and $400 beginning August 1st! So now I will have to come up with an additional $705 every month just to cover the minimum payments on two accounts in which I have never been late. When I borrowed the money, I entered into an agreement to pay an X percentage a month at a fixed rate and now they are changing this terms arbitrarily and have told me that my only choice if I don't like the new terms is to close the accounts and pay them in full within a month!
How can this be done by the same companies that are borrowing our money from the goverment to stay (allegedely) in business? How can these companies get away with this predatory practice at the same time when Mr. Obama is trying hard to stop them from bleeding us to death?
If this is not something worth investigating, there is not much that President Obama will be able to do to save the country from the greedy and the powerful.
If anyone has any suggestions or can get this example of abuse to Mr. Obama, please let me know!
Thank you for your attention,Daniel CarvajalPflugerville, TX
danielck@suddenlink.net
in the name of the fathers and their sons and the Colonialistswho proudly hailed toward some gleaming across the oceanby Natives saved from death the first winter, leaving twenty-threepaternalists never owning the genocide of nearly an entire racehistory not saying much different now, denying Native Sovereigntywhile descended from the Daughters of the American Revolutioni'm still steeped in false prides and dreams, woman and subjectamong slaves and Natives, would we comprise our own nationindivisible in shame, doubt and fear within, overlapping virtuesone with no pride, lying under a Governor that would tax Nativeswe shouldn't be prosecuting prostitutes for trying to earn a livingjust working to get where you are with the little she's been giventhat might be doubly enforceable if she had also been a Nativeraised lost herself, from life removed by her relations' massacressorrows handed down with depressions, as legacies like wealthas i strolled behind the scenes in the Museums of Natural Historynot one pre-Colombian pottery piece, closets filled with the samebear and animal skins collecting dust, spoils of hunts and safarishung on racks in rooms, like so many furs in a dry cleaning storei guess there was some point of a brass tribute to Roosevelt therewhen i and plenty of others with children cannot afford health carein school taught history, lessons of law and what is right or wronginsurance companies rape New York and politicians still get votescall the system "Admitted Carriers" crowned like elitist princessixty-nine articles or rules open to the public, i'm just small leaguecollaring poor Martha Stewart, rich woman in the patriarch gametrying to make it through the meet, entrenched to keep her securitygrowing girls away from indiscretion like we are born little whoresdo any damn newspapers print the true realities of life's hypocrisiesits been a man's world, and i am now told spirituality is on the riseto see common bonds between Christianity and Native religionsbeen there before don't you think, twist stories to fatten their hideswe've seen worse than prostitution from the abbots in the abbeyswhat more could we ask in lowering our commitment to this worldstewardship, self-determination, humbled by truths of generationsequality of birth; let no slave, Jew, Native or woman not earn honorspirituality belongs to the individual and their sacred conjugal rightsas each seeks their proper balance and a peaceful place in Natureto regain our status as human beings everywhere, perhaps in effectpermit globalization of the human society without a fear not to eatwhile we are sent back to school to keep up with new developmentstime has been calling us up, each and everyone to raise standardssmall groups march from West to East coasts to open new life cycleswe comfort in soft chairs behind screens to seek play and distractionwhile each have the power within to raise up our spirits' resurrectionredeem injustices suffered upon human beings, land and our futurewe need all wear the grimaces of foolish shame and shut our mouths same on all the faces of the leaders worn in a slide show i saw todayi'd never have thought i was good enough to run for elected officethat thought had left my mind some time just before my twelfth yeartrue leaders are born we are told, but heart can takes years to retrainthere is truly something on the rise, whether it be glorious or fearfulobviously we can't live under the crushing weight of our current lieshere comes the march upon each one, the place we meet our fatei can't apologize for yesterday, because i was meant to be here nowbut tomorrow will responsibility be sought for all that's yet to comejust what higher purpose may mean about grace and being rebornreality is a hard habit to break - salamandra
Written March 11, 2008, copyright MEWilson
Our country has been debating universal health care for over six decades. The chambers of Congress and the halls of the Whitehouse echo with endless reasons for or against. While this has perpetuated the mega-insurance companies have steadilly taken over the control of health care. Profit is their major motive. The Hippocratic Oath has been hijacked by corporate greed. Our health care management system has run amuck just as our financial and banking system. Unabated greed has taken over from dedicated medical practicioners. The family doctor who welcomes house calls is as extinct as the polio virus. Insurance companies will not pay for such frivolity.
As management greed and prices for health care have skyroceted many millions of Americans are unable to obtain even rudimentary care when needed. The millions of Americans who are too young to benifit from Medicare and work for the minimum wage or are unemployed are ignored by a Medical insurance system that essentially fattens the pockets of multi-millionaire executives while allowing the poor sick to get sicker. The voiceless in America who are overrepresented by the millions of poor people are never heard by those who buy off the votes of our Congress to protect the status quo. The loyal members of Congress suck up the moola from the Insurance Company lobbyists by the hundreds of millions while thumbing their collective noses to the majority of American people.
President Obama has the opportunity to eliminate the profit-oriented medical management system if he listens to the people of the USA and not the powerful corporate executives who determine who is eligible for health care and at what price. The voiceless in America must now let their voices be heard above the din of self-interest that seems to control Wachington, D.C. Be heard America and let the voiceless become empowered to secure non-profit management of health care made available to all of our citizens as a fundamental right.
How do you deter an enemy who is willing to kill himself in order to kill you? You strike at something more important to him than his own life. Defining that will be easy for me. The next question is can America be as ruthless as our enemies?
The time has come to end the fruitless and unsustainable effort to search and destroy every cave in Afghanistan and bomb every campground in bordering Pakistan. It’s counterproductive anyway.
What will put the fear of America into terrorist masterminds and those who would follow their orders is simple and radical revenge. Masterminds have families: Cousins, brothers and fathers. Eliminate them. All at once, or one at a time, it works just as well. The ones who survive an initial “hunt” will go into hiding. Having some adult male relatives killed and the rest hiding out in caves will demoralize masterminds and their loved ones. You cannot work and support your women like that. You can’t make more baby masterminds that way. You cannot continue the blood line. The women and children will pressure them to stop their plotting and bombing.
People want to leave a familial legacy, and they can’t do that under those circumstances over the long term.
Should America do that? Yes. Do we have the “intestinal fortitude” and sustainable motivation? I don’t think so. But we should, and it shouldn’t take another terrorist attack to get us there.
For the last seven years the CIA has been kidnapping people from other nations and torturing them. Why not just go in there and quietly shoot them to death?
Frankly, by not killing women or children the way those terrorists routinely do, we can even claim the moral high ground.
Creating a Tipping Point for Sustainable Economic Prosperity
The Status Quo is at it again - trying to blow the smoke of denial in our eyes. They would like us to rescue the Old Economy and bring back the old ways of manipulating commerce and unsustainable business practices.
What is actually required is to move forward and build the infrastructure for a New Economy based on sustainability, access and accountability. Yet the Sacred Cow that says, "Keep looking backwards" is front and center, stubbornly digging it's heels in to sabotage any real change.
Most people know in their heart of hearts that the old economy is dying. The Old Guard would love to feed the sense of hopelessness and fear with their carefully calculated doomsday predictions and the Media will gladly oblige.
What we can do to pull the plug on this kind of thinking is to turn our focus towards businesses and solutions that are being built now, rather than spending our precious resources on keeping the Titanic afloat.
Congress can do something about those AIG and Merrill Lynch bonuses, while at the same time raising some of the funds we badly need for President Obama's public works, education and health programs. It's quite simple and long overdue: introduce a new 100% tax bracket on all annual income exceeding $1,000,000.
We have a minimum wage; we need a maximum permitted income. Let's tax the greedy class. Surely no one should need more than $1,000,000 a year in income to lead a good life. If they do, they are the ones who should now be forced to sacrifice to help those less fortunate than themselves.
The GOP: A 'Rush' to Obscurity
Those of us who pointed out that Michael Steele was elevated to Chairman of the Republican National Committee as both a token, and as attack-dog-in-chief against President Obama should feel completely vindicated. No further evidence need be presented than what recently took place when Mr. Steele had the audacity to say that he was the head of the Republican Party, not Rush Limbaugh. In response Limbaugh all but literally told him to stay in his place.
Limbaugh said, "Yes, said Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, I'm incendiary, and yes, it's ugly. Michael Steele, you are head of the RNC. You are not head of the Republican Party." Limbaugh went on to say, "Tens of millions of conservatives and Republicans have nothing to do with the RNC and right now they want nothing to do with it, and when you call them, asking them for money, they hang up on you."
We need to give credit where credit is deserved: NAME this economic crisis after the man most responsible for it's creation.
$10 trillion deficit is what we had at the end of the Bush administration. In eight years, Bush more than DOUBLED all the indebtedness America had accrued in more than 200 years.
This is more than a talking point, this is a necessary reminder that should be made every day, so that the notoriously SHORT memories of Americans shall be stimulated on a regular basis.
Senator Dodd went rogue and inserted some crazy stuff into the new law, so the President will need to be creative. Perhaps we are looking for HEROES to run our troubled banks. A lot of wealthy patriots have made great financial sacrifices to serve in the Obama Administration. Like-minded people who don’t want to go through the vetting process and insane pubic humiliation of being outed on every little tax related or other embarrassment can now serve their country without becoming federal employees but while still consenting to be paid wages not all that far above that.
I see nothing different Obama has said or done since 2004 and today -- perhaps Gregg's understanding of it morphed overnight between the time he was begging for the job and yesterday, when it came time to vote on the stimulus plan. Gregg seems to claim otherwise.
Obama should have known Gregg either hasn't the courage of his convictions or , far more likely, hasn't got any deeply held beliefs other than politics. We demand omniscience! How DARE the President not realize a man like Gregg would say anything to further his own personal ambitions?
There's something wrong with a vetting process that cannot discern that a politically savvy adult who somehow got himself repeatedly elected to the US Senate would claim to have turned his back on Petty Partisan Politics but actually lack the moral fortitude to stand by his decision.
It occured to me today watching CNN and MSNBC while waiting for a call from my mechanic on the repairs to my car, Which is worse?
A. Bank CEO's who don't get it
B. Bernie Madoff who robbed to get it
or
C. Nadya Suleman, who apparently uses overburdened State programs to finance and satify her own emotional greed?
Tough call isn't it?
I watched with macabre fascination as the so called "Captains of the Universe" squirmed in their seats as Congressman after Congressman pilloried them in this oh so public forum. At the end of it, though, I still had the feeling that they still didn't get it. These chumps are supposed to be the best and the brightest in the banking industry? If that is so, folks, we are in way more trouble than we thought. Wayyyy More.
Ol' Bernie, now he is just a greedy asshole. He puts the "pig" in "Capitalist Swine". The Feds better put him away for a long time and not in a "Club Fed". Hard time in general population in a max security prison would be appropriate. Better yet make him cell with Charlie Manson. Bernie is just a criminal, those wonderkinds in the SEC should bare the brunt of responsibility on that mess.
Ms. Suleman is apparently from outer space, but to me her emotional greed is the most troubling. No job, no resources, no husband, and six other kids already? How can this be good for the kids? The arrogance of her collecting state ADC funds to support her brood when so many others are needy? Her interview was basically, "To hell with the world, I want what I want and I'm gonna get it, and you taxpayers support me" How did she pay for and rationally explain the need for more children when she already has six kids. What was her fertility doctor thinking? Suspend his license to practice , please. The plastic surgeon who did her lips deserves some jail time also.
One common thread for all of these Bozos is that they are all acting in a highly immoral manner. Do not these people have any concept of right and wrong? I'm hoping this is just stupid and bad people doing bad things and not true signs of the Apocalypse. I guess time will tell.
BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE
Is Rush Limbaugh on Drugs Again, or Simply the World's Biggest Ego Trip?
Ultra Conservative Political shock jock, Rush Limbaugh, seems to have finally slipped off the reservation. It is hard to know whether he's back on drugs, or if the recent election returns have caused him to lose his mind all together.
In his latest bloviation he's challenging President Obama to enter into negotiations with him on an "Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan," which would divide up a trillion dollars earmarked for stimulating the economy, according to the election returns. Limbaugh reasons that since the President has pledged to take a bipartisan approach to governing, in Limbaugh's view, that entails the president controlling only the percentage of the bailout funds that reflects his margin of victory in the election. In other words, since President Obama won the election by 53% of the vote, he should only control 53% of the bailout funds. The remainder of the funds, that percentage that reflects Sen. McCain's percentage of the vote, should be controlled by none other than Rush himself, to be applied to the economy as way he sees fit.
