RSS:
Publications
Comments

Data Privacy – Ordering a pizza in 2015 – Parody by ACLU

August 21, 2009 | Author: Terry

Recently, I watched a video by the ACLU that I actually thought was interesting. No, that is not a typo, I did write ACLU, as in American Civil Liberties Union. Normally, these guys are anything but friendly to conservative causes, but just this once they got it right.

Their video stresses the need to limit government intervention in private citizen’s lives. Keeping your health care records, store purchases, etc. secret should be within your rights.

Now, I rarely agree with these guys, but they got it right. We can’t just blindly trust that every action that government takes is for our own good. We must realize that sometimes personal aspects of our life are personal for a reason.

Once you give that information to a government bureaucrat, they cannot help but use that information to “help you live a better life.” And their definition of better may not match up with what you had in mind.

So before you let Uncle Sam or Big Brother into the doctor’s exam room with you (through ObamaCare), remember that they will bring their bureaucrat friends with as well. Good luck getting quality care then.

What free market solutions exist for health care?

August 18, 2009 | Author: Terry

Throughout the current health care debate, there has been a sense of emergency to defeat the current ObamaCare package. Unfortunately, we conservatives have needed to move to the defensive to stop the socialization of this segment of our economy.

After the debate is over, we will need to move to the offensive and begin to show the nation just how great free market solutions can be.

In my home state of Minnesota, gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert has proposed some great free market health care solutions. See his video below:

Some great alternatives to the ObamaCare package include:

  • Nation wide competition – Allow people to get and keep health insurance that is offered in states other than their own. Rather than having six options for health insurance in Minnesota, you could have hundreds.
  • Health Savings Accounts with Catastrophic Care Insurance – This is a plan where you contribute over the course of your life to a Health Savings Account (HSA). For major medical care (over a certain dollar amount per year) you would receive insurance coverage. Marty Seifert does a great job explaining how this works in the video above.
  • Encourage free clinics for the poor – Greg O’Connor, of the Americhris foundation, proposed that we find ways to encourage the growth of non-profit, free clinics around the country. There is currently a network of about 1200 of these nationwide. They cater to those that cannot afford health insurance coverage. If someone needs advanced care, such as a surgery, these places work with local hospitals to get the person into surgery for free.
  • Remove mandates from current health insurance laws – Removing mandated coverage for certain avoidable conditions would greatly reduce the cost of health care. Currently, a healthy adult, non-smoking, non-drinking, male can expect to have drug and alcohol abuse coverage, quit-smoking coverage, and pregancy coverage. If a person could eliminate some of these options, they could save a bundle. Following the same path, many people would see the advantage of “cleaning up their lives” and going for the cheaper coverage eventually.
  • Tort Reform – When people hear this, their eyes glaze over, but it is true that tort reform would reduce health care costs. If we implemented a loser pays system, combined with maximum lawsuit limits for doctors doing pro-bono work, we could encourage more charity work while providing cheaper overall health coverage.

Mark Skogerboe on the Price of Freedom

August 17, 2009 | Author: Terry

This is a good speech by Mark Skogerboe on the sacrifices made by those who founded this country.

Listening to what these men went through, and what they gave up, makes me very proud to live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

Town Hall Protester Threatened at Night by ObamaCare Thugs

August 11, 2009 | Author: Terry

Mike Sola, a father of a child with Cerebral Palsy,  went to one of the now infamous town hall meetings to confront his representative (John Dingell of Michigan’s 15th Congressional District).

After his confrontation with Representative Dingell, Mike received threats at his home from supporters of President Obama’s proposed socialized health care laws.

The article that Mike Sola is referencing can be found in it’s entirity here. It’s title is “Deadly Doctor’s” and it is written by Betsy McCaughey of the New York Post.

So what is in the Obama Care package?

August 6, 2009 | Author: Terry

According to the Whitehouse, there has been a lot of “disinformation” about the socialized ObamaCare plan that is currently being debated in congress. In fact, the White House just issued the following statement:

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care.  These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

If I had more time, I would go into just how truly Orwellian that statement is, and would mention how we have had other leaders around the world that have asked citizens to spy on each other for political thought crimes, but that is not the point of this post.

Today, I want to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. I believe he is right that the facts have not been laid out clearly enough. So, in bullet point form, here are the issues that freedom loving citizens should be concerned about in the health care bill, complete with page numbers and all (The full bill can be found here):

  • Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!
  • Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill – THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
  • Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
  • Page 42 of HC Bill:The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
  • Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise
  • Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
  • Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to you ur banks accounts for elective funds transfer.
  • Page 65 Sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations: (ACORN).
  • Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange.
  • Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!
  • Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example – Translation: illegal aliens.
  • Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
  • Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members – your Health care WILL be rationed.
  • Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
  • Page 124 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
  • Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what you can make! (salary)
  • Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!
  • Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.
  • Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
  • Page 150 Lines 9-13: Business’s with payroll btw 251k & 401k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.
  • Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
  • Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
  • Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans finances /personal records.
  • Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that!
  • Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors, low income and poor are affected.
  • Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same!
  • Page 253 Line 10-18: Govt sets value of Doctor’s time, proffession, judgment etc. Literally value of humans.
  • Page 265 Sec 1131: Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.
  • Page 268 Sec 1141: Federal Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
  • Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!
  • Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever Govt deems preventable re-admissions.
  • Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission -Govt will penalize you.
  • Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own!
  • Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
  • Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Can u say ACORN?!!
  • Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.
  • Page 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.
  • Page 354 Sec 1177: Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! Unbelievable!
  • Page 379 Sec 1191: Govt creates more bureaucracy – Tele-health Advisory Comittee. Can you say HC by phone?
  • Page 425 Lines 4-12: Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life patients.
  • Page 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
  • Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. (assisted suicide)
  • Page 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.
  • Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
    Page 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVT!
  • Page 429 Lines 13-25: The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
  • Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life!
  • Page 469: Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?
  • Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATION. 1 monthly payment 2 a community-based organization. Like ACORN?
  • Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.
  • Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.

Democrats get nervous as protests at townhall meetings gain momentum

August 5, 2009 | Author: Terry

President Barack Obama had planned for a smooth transition of people’s health from the private sector to the Federal government. To facilitate that plan, he thought that he could send his fellow democrat politicians out on a mission.

Their mission was to host town hall meetings to promote the institution of federally controlled socialized medicine. However, his colleagues did not plan on opposition…

If there is a townhall meeting in your area, head on over and make your voice heard (You may have a hard time finding one since the democrats have been broadsided by the opposition to the new socialist medicine plans. Most have been cancelled, or changed to a more censored format, like the web.)!

Walpin-gate… Obama fires man who reports friend of administration misusing federal grants.

August 4, 2009 | Author: Terry

Obama is in a little bit of hot water after firing an individual who reported the misuse of federal grant funds by Kevin Johnson, a popular Obama supporter. From Fox News…

[Gerald] Walpin, the former inspector general who was appointed by President George W. Bush, contends he got the boot because he issued a report that found misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an Obama supporter and former National Basketball Association star.

Obama, for his part, initially said he had fired Walpin because he had lost confidence in the inspector general. When senators pressed for a fuller explanation, the White House didn’t hesitate to play hardball. The counsel’s office issued a letter stating that Walpin, 77, had been “confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior” that led the board of the National Service corporation “to question his capacity to serve.”

Walpin has taken his case to conservative TV talk shows — going so far as to take an on-air senility test to prove his mind is sound. Now two Republican senators are asking for a congressional hearing into whether the firing was appropriate.

So the message seems to be, if you cross Obama, or his supporters, get out of the way. You will be slanderd and fired if you have even legitamate criticism for Barack Obama’s friends.

Obama video – Health plan would eliminate private insurance

August 3, 2009 | Author: Terry

A video just surfaced where President Obama tells an SEIU audience that he will not be able to eliminate employer coverage immediately. But, he says, that the government run system would eventually be able to take over all coverage.

Barack Obama is becoming his own worst enemy. His own words are the clearest contradiction to what he now says is true. Obama’s health bill will lead to the elimination of all private health care, thereby eliminating competition and options in the marketplace.

Democrat Congressman says there is no point in Reading the Bill

July 28, 2009 | Author: Terry

Democrat Congressman John Conyers really put his foot in his mouth this time. He just told the press that he does not see the point of actually reading the health car bill (yet he supports it).

It seems that it would be too much effort for him to do the job that people put him there for. Maybe it’s time the 14th congressional district in Michigan elect leaders who actually will do the job they are commissioned to do.

To be sure, Congressman John Conyers should not feel alone. President Barack Obama also admitted that he did not read the bill. In fact, he said he was not even familiar with it.

Mountain Biking Murphy Hanrehan

May 23, 2009 | Author: Terry

Today, Jessica and I went mountain biking in Murphy Hanrehan park with a couple of friends of mine (Samar Upadhyay and Adam Bavier). It was a great ride, just like most of the MORC trails.

Jessica rode the beginner and intermediate loops with us, and to my surprise Adam and Samar were up for the expert loop.  The total length of the trail is about 10 miles with about 60% of this being on the expert loop. You can find a copy of the map here.

Here is Jessica doing the great job she always does on these trails!
IMG_6440

On the expert trail, there are several obstacles. Some are natural, but the most challenging ones are man-made. For example, there is an amazingly long 1 foot wide pull bridge. It curves and twists while staying about four feet off the ground for most of it. At the end, it has a teeter-totter to get you off the bridge.

I tried it first and could not ride straight enough to make it to the higher sections.

Adam Bavier had an awesome fall, which is definitely worth watching. That’s what he gets for starting in the middle.

Samar Upadhyay also tried it, and he did pretty good at it:

Finally, we saw some guys come by who must have had no fear of death or dismemberment. One of them was able to do the bridge in parts. He made it look just easy enough to encourage us to come back and try it again on another day:

Just about six miles in to the trail, I took a banked curve a little too far. When the bank ended I tried to quickly turn to follow the trail. Unfortunately, there was a slippery spot. My front tire turned sideways and I flew over my handlebars.

The next thing I knew I was on the ground spitting out blood and feeling very sore. I yelled a couple times for help, but eventually rolled off the trail and laid there until Samar came by. He was a little shocked, and came over to help (and document the moment!).

IMG_6470

All in all, it was a fun time. I can’t wait to get back on some of the other trails around the Twin Cities in the near future.

« Older Entries Newer Entries »