Lately I've been going through my old schoolwork trying to de-clutter and organize it in a way I can quickly reference it. It's taken me quite a while to get through my shelf full of 3-ring-binders, but today I am down to the last one, or at least, the last one on my first go around. It seems to take me 3 tries to get it down to a manageable size.
The last stack of paper is from my Diversity class. It was all about learning and being aware of the discrimination that people from all walks of life, face. Sexism, Racism, religious persecution, Sexual orientation persecution, to name a few.
I had a hard time with this class. I'm going to try to brainstorm exactly why that is in the following paragraphs.
There were texts we read that reiterated over and over again about the privilege that white people have, especially white males, over everyone else. Articles often stated that white people act racist and sexist all the time without even realizing it. And the cure was for white people to acknowledge and accept this truth, and to try to minimize their own discriminatory behavior. Furthermore, white people needed to realize and accept that others may lash out in anger about it on occasion. Additionally, being color-blind to race was not an excuse, but rather another way in which white people discriminated against other races.
I really struggled with this because I believe you can only discriminate if you're doing it on purpose (whether conscious or unconsciously). Otherwise, you're just being 'thoughtless' or 'clueless' or 'naive.' Discrimination is a strong word, and it doesn't seem fair to use it on every possibly perceived slight.
I was truly color-blind up until about 8th grade. About half the students at school and in my neighborhood were Latino, but I didn't see race. I just knew that a lot of people spoke Spanish. I feel that because I was color-blind, I wasn't treating them differently based on race, because I didn't see that difference between them and myself. And being able to speak Spanish is pretty darn cool.
Right out of high school, I was shadowing a guy for my first job. He was talking on the phone, selling product as a telemarketer, and switched to Spanish when he realized he was talking to a man who spoke Spanish but very little English. After the phone call, I said, "It's super cool that you speak Spanish." He said, "uh, Yeah! Duh." I was surprised at his response, looked him over, and realized he was Latino and I hadn't noticed.
One article countered that a Caucasian person cannot understand another person or where they are coming from if they are not aware of their ethnicity. My counter argument is that I've met Asians in America who are 100% culturally American and have very little, if any, ties to any country's culture in Asia. So to identify that they're Asian would only serve to create a perceived identity that the person does not necessarily have. (I should mention here that most 'Asians' don't like to be categorized as such; and would much rather be known by their country of origin. AKA Mongolian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) However, there are enough people who do identify their ethnicity and assume their background, that it does affect how they are treated on a regular basis.
We read 2 textbooks and numerous chapters printed off in mass quantities from other textbooks, throughout the semester. By the end of the semester, we, the classmates, understood that our Asian teacher was trying to teach us that 'middle-class white males' are inherently discriminating no matter what they do or how much they know or are aware. We also figured out that she was extremely discriminating towards 'white males.' This seemed to me to be a big red flag as to the problems with focusing on and studying discrimination. Studying discrimination does not eliminate it. If our teacher was showing extreme Racism and Sexism after teaching this class year in and year out, then being will versed in discrimination clearly did not reverse the problem, on even an individual level.
The LDS church doesn't generally talk too much about any particular minority group. They do mention that women should strive for an education and that children deserve to have two married parents - male and female. They mention that saints should be kind to everyone, even of the LGBT persuasion. But mostly they teach to Love they Neighbor, Serve others, and be Kind and Charitable always. Most Christian churches teach these things.
My observation is that focusing on qualities of kindness and forgiveness produce far better results than studying hate crimes and discrimination. Those who fixate on every way a person can be discriminated against become angry and victimized. They respond in a defensive way, no matter what the intent of the question or statement was. They are always looking over their shoulder for the next verbal attack, and anything that doesn't go their way is suddenly because discrimination took place. Didn't get that job? Must be because I'm Black. Couldn't possibly be because out of the other 20 applicants, someone else was more qualified or better suited for the job. People who think they're always discriminated against will perceive every slight as an act of discrimination; despite there being no real evidence.
That said, should it never be studied? Not necessarily. People will often have a hard time in adulthood trying to understand their childhood, and learning about discrimination may help to explain things they did not understand as a child. It may help people who don't understand why, a person who has internalized discrimination, behaves the way they do. However, studying culture could be much more beneficial for most, rather than studying discrimination and all the ways a person could be wronged.
I grew up in an area where kids were mean to each other all the time. Being different in any way was ammunition for teasing. My diversity teacher would say every student was discriminating. To an extent, I agree, however, I believe it had for more to do with the culture; a false belief, that there was a finite amount of 'self-esteem' to go around. And by putting someone else down, lower than yourself, it added to your 'prestige.' It was a survival technique. It was a taught behavior. It was a culture of rudeness and bullying.
And from that culture, grew adults who felt they were always being persecuted and could not escape being a victim. They (mostly women) are constantly feeling the need to defend themselves and crying foul and 'don't judge me.' The men are treating women poorly and leaving the relationship. Society has taught the men to have unrealistic expectations. Society expects very little good behavior from men. Men fulfill those expectations.
After 4 months, a semester, studying discrimination, I had learned near to nothing that would fix it, but this idea that awareness and self-evaluation might. But what I felt was a greater amount of anger and hatred towards general humanity and towards experiences I had had that didn't make sense until you put it under the lens of discrimination. And under that lens, it's very hard to forgive.
The good news is, it's almost all in their head. The bad news is, the head is the hardest thing to change. (I'd like to add here, that I am aware that severe violence happens to people and that they are in fear of their lives. I do not want to minimize that. However, in my corner of the world, I've never seen it. I speak to what I've seen, and what I've seen is that many problems are perceived.)
I feel like our American culture perpetuates discrimination even as they are trying to fix it by awareness. The more you fill out paperwork that asks for your ethnicity, the more it reminds you that differences matter. The more people assume that you speak Spanish because your Latino, the more it makes you feel less than everyone else. The more President Trump mentions Muslim terrorists, the more people there are committing hate crimes against Muslims.
Not to say we should never talk about it. Utah's failure in sex education is a fantastic example of creating problems by making a topic taboo. But to make a big deal about it either way or to focus on the negative is always going to result in negative results. Focusing on the positive side, forgiving others, and striving to be better as individuals and as communities, and most of all, creating friends and opening dialogue on an individual level will go much further than anything else.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Saturday, April 16, 2016
I am a County Delegate 2016
I am a County Delegate.
After 4 weeks of research and meetings with candidates, I've come to some realizations.
1. People tend to get voted in if they have good speaking skills; more so than their qualifications.
2. The quietest, least dramatic candidates tend to get less noticed, but, in my opinion, would be the best leaders.
3. I now hate the word, "conservative." I don't think it actually means anything.
4. All political leaders seem to be less effective, or less motivated on principles, the longer their in office. I suspect that they get comfortable with their salaries and lifestyle. They live in neighborhoods where everyone is living well, and begin to forget that there are penny-pinching Americans that can't make ends meet.
5. My "American Dream" is different from other people. The original dream is one of having opportunity to rise up from poverty into prosperity. My American dream, is that all people who work in skilled trade jobs, or college educated jobs, should be able to comfortably provide for a family - like $60,000-$100,000/ year. They shouldn't have to climb corporate ladders, work 80 hours a week, start a business, get into management or change jobs all the time, just to make ends meet. They should be able to afford insurance, and save for retirement, while paying the monthly bills and raising a family. They should be able to buy a small (about 2,000 sq. ft), modest house, own two cars, and have as many children as they want. They should be able to spend time with their families regularly.
I don't feel like that's the America I live in. I feel like the America I live in is chaos. The America I live in is one where either you're on the top, or you're on the bottom.
-38 percent of all American workers made less than $20,000 last year.
-51 percent of all American workers made less than $30,000 last year.
-62 percent of all American workers made less than $40,000 last year.
-71 percent of all American workers made less than $50,000 last year.
After 4 weeks of research and meetings with candidates, I've come to some realizations.
1. People tend to get voted in if they have good speaking skills; more so than their qualifications.
2. The quietest, least dramatic candidates tend to get less noticed, but, in my opinion, would be the best leaders.
3. I now hate the word, "conservative." I don't think it actually means anything.
4. All political leaders seem to be less effective, or less motivated on principles, the longer their in office. I suspect that they get comfortable with their salaries and lifestyle. They live in neighborhoods where everyone is living well, and begin to forget that there are penny-pinching Americans that can't make ends meet.
5. My "American Dream" is different from other people. The original dream is one of having opportunity to rise up from poverty into prosperity. My American dream, is that all people who work in skilled trade jobs, or college educated jobs, should be able to comfortably provide for a family - like $60,000-$100,000/ year. They shouldn't have to climb corporate ladders, work 80 hours a week, start a business, get into management or change jobs all the time, just to make ends meet. They should be able to afford insurance, and save for retirement, while paying the monthly bills and raising a family. They should be able to buy a small (about 2,000 sq. ft), modest house, own two cars, and have as many children as they want. They should be able to spend time with their families regularly.
I don't feel like that's the America I live in. I feel like the America I live in is chaos. The America I live in is one where either you're on the top, or you're on the bottom.
-51 percent of all American workers made less than $30,000 last year.
-62 percent of all American workers made less than $40,000 last year.
-71 percent of all American workers made less than $50,000 last year.
"It has been estimated that it takes approximately $50,000 a year to support a middle class lifestyle for a family of four in the U.S. today, and so the fact that 71 percent of all workers make less than that amount shows how difficult it is for families that try to get by with just a single breadwinner." (Oct 2015)
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/10/goodbye-middle-class-51-percent-of-all-american-workers-make-less-than-30000-dollars-a-year.html
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/10/goodbye-middle-class-51-percent-of-all-american-workers-make-less-than-30000-dollars-a-year.html
I agree with these statements and article wholeheartedly. My husband is an IT computer technician. He has a bachelors in Information Systems. Yet, after working for an IT company for 7 years, he makes only $40,000 (Gross). In Utah, which is a state that tends to pay less per cost of living than other states, particularly in the computer industry, but is also currently, in 2016, #2 in the nation, for being in the best economic situation of any state.
The sad part is, according to payscale.com, my husband is making more money than 61% of the other IT Technicians with similar jobs!
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The republican party was asking for donations. I feel like I'm morally against it, but I'm not sure I've figured out why. Maybe because I feel like they've failed us? When they were in office, they didn't do what they promised?
Maybe because I feel more like a Centrist, than a Republican?
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Meeting Celebrities
Normally I have no aspirations to meet a celebrity. I tend to get pretty shy and it just ends up being awkward. I can't even manage to ask for a picture with them. And I can never come up with anything to ask them about.
This morning I'm watching youtube videos with Andrew and we're watching a lot of Alex Boye music videos. And I realized, I really would like to meet him. He reminds me of some of my college friends. The thing is, I'd probably still be shy and awkward. So, I think I'm going to need an icebreaker friend there with me.
Like Warky. Steve "Warky" Nunez is one of my good friends from college and he's put out a couple CDs of mormon parodies and a lot of anime stuff. He goes to the anime convention every year... unless he's double booked, which he was this year. Somehow I met a lot of cool people through him, and he was the icebreaker for everybody. A 'cool' group that I would never be noticed by, would think I'm cool too. I didn't realize he did that for me, until I was thinking about it today.
This morning I'm watching youtube videos with Andrew and we're watching a lot of Alex Boye music videos. And I realized, I really would like to meet him. He reminds me of some of my college friends. The thing is, I'd probably still be shy and awkward. So, I think I'm going to need an icebreaker friend there with me.
Like Warky. Steve "Warky" Nunez is one of my good friends from college and he's put out a couple CDs of mormon parodies and a lot of anime stuff. He goes to the anime convention every year... unless he's double booked, which he was this year. Somehow I met a lot of cool people through him, and he was the icebreaker for everybody. A 'cool' group that I would never be noticed by, would think I'm cool too. I didn't realize he did that for me, until I was thinking about it today.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Most Important Political Issues
Just filled out a survey for The White House website/ webform/ newsletter I get in my email each week. Here are some of the questions they asked and answers I gave them.
What’s the most important policy area to you?
The federal deficit
What do I think about the Federal Deficit? That's a can of worms. I'm surprised you asked in this survey. This issue worries me the most because debt is a form of slavery. The borrower is slave to the lender and this country's government doesn't seem to understand this concept (nor many of its citizens). I think this country is heading for a historic fall similar the Roman Empire, due to a combination of debt, conflict and worldwide violence. I don't truly believe America will fall, but I think that we will suffer a great deal due to a dramatic increase in violence in the world and our own financial and social mistakes.
Second most important policy area?
Tax policy
I think that the Tax policy is too complicated. It's also making it very difficult for citizens to anticipate their taxes owed and causing stress on families. At the same time, all these complicated ways of determining if a person owes taxes that year and how much, is making it very difficult for state and federal departments to anticipate their revenue each year.
A flat tax would allow citizens to budget for taxes owed while giving the government a very simple math problem to determine what their revenue will be. (% of income earned of Americans minus deductions such as children and donations up to a certain %.) A clear picture of revenue would make it much easier for government to create and maintain a balanced budget.
But what if revenue was much lower one year because of natural disaster and economy downturn? Just as each family should have an emergency fund for things like their car breaking down, so should the federal government. Put Savings as a national priority, and suddenly you'll find yourself being Proactive to potential problems rather than Reactive.
What I've seen of the tax system is that some people are getting paid to live in America year after year, while others are constantly feeling like they're paying for 10 families. Some people get major penalties for accidentally filling the forms out wrong, including small businesses. Some of these people and businesses go broke because of little tax mistakes. No one should have the undue weight and stress of a complicated tax system. Hey, maybe Americans health will improve upon a simpler system being implemented!
What about all those people who will be unemployed at the IRS after the flat tax is introduced? Put them into the immigration department. Immigration is more than 7 years behind in paperwork. Get them some helpers.
What would you like to see less of on the White House website?
Fluff. stuff that's suppose to make everyone think things are getting better, hoping that that rumor will somehow actually make it better.
Also, hearing that a young adult is paying $24 a month for health insurance just infuriates me, because I know that means I'm subsidizing him and 10 lazy butts like him so he can afford buy booze and eat out every day. Luckily I have no interest in wasting money on alcohol, but it is frustrating that I can only afford to eat out about once every other month. I am living on $30 a week for groceries. I dare you do that. Bet you can't. And no, I don't qualify for Food Stamps. (I have both pride and anger concerning this topic. Pride that we are making it without help, and anger that the situation and government policies make it so difficult to get anywhere.)
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Black Thursday/Friday Mistakes
In previous years I've never gone to any Black Friday sales, because I like sleeping in more than "getting a deal" on something at 6am. Trying not to get run over or getting in a fight with somebody also didn't appeal to me.
This year, I was talking to a friend about it... she goes to Walmart every year and buys a new printer because a new printer is cheaper than buying a refill ink cartridge. So I went home and did a couple hours of ad searching trying to find something I would want.
When I shop, I look only for things I would use, have space for, and already want. Then I check reviews, and pick the best brand and model.
Looking at the ads, what I saw was: cheapest crappy brand = moderate sale price. And I didn't find a single thing that even approached a brand/model combo I was interested in. And that Walmart printer? It's $30 on ad instead of $40 regularly because it's just that cheap. 25% off is not a blowout deal.
But as each year brings on an earlier and earlier opening doors time, and this year, where stores open at 6pm ON THANKSGIVING, I'm disgusted. Disgusted that employees have to work because people will go shopping. I believe in boycotting stores on days I wouldn't want to work. That includes Sundays, LDS General Conference weekend, and holidays - including the day before and after.
This is where I admit I went to the store this Thanksgiving morning. It was kind of an ox in the mire. I was out of milk, and my 1 year old needs something to drink. So, on my way out, I tipped my cashier, and the grocery cart collector. They both were surprised and happy about it. And it made me feel good doing the giving. I definitely recommend tipping employees when you're shopping on a day you wouldn't want to be at work.
This year, I was talking to a friend about it... she goes to Walmart every year and buys a new printer because a new printer is cheaper than buying a refill ink cartridge. So I went home and did a couple hours of ad searching trying to find something I would want.
When I shop, I look only for things I would use, have space for, and already want. Then I check reviews, and pick the best brand and model.
Looking at the ads, what I saw was: cheapest crappy brand = moderate sale price. And I didn't find a single thing that even approached a brand/model combo I was interested in. And that Walmart printer? It's $30 on ad instead of $40 regularly because it's just that cheap. 25% off is not a blowout deal.
But as each year brings on an earlier and earlier opening doors time, and this year, where stores open at 6pm ON THANKSGIVING, I'm disgusted. Disgusted that employees have to work because people will go shopping. I believe in boycotting stores on days I wouldn't want to work. That includes Sundays, LDS General Conference weekend, and holidays - including the day before and after.
This is where I admit I went to the store this Thanksgiving morning. It was kind of an ox in the mire. I was out of milk, and my 1 year old needs something to drink. So, on my way out, I tipped my cashier, and the grocery cart collector. They both were surprised and happy about it. And it made me feel good doing the giving. I definitely recommend tipping employees when you're shopping on a day you wouldn't want to be at work.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Photos and Memories
There are pictures that were taken well and are beautiful. And there are some that are not. But what's most interesting is how sometimes the most well taken pictures bring back some of the worst memories. And as much as I would love to switch my good memories to the ones I have good pictures of, it doesn't work that way. And them, sometimes a very mediocre photo is the most important one.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
A Clear Picture of Why there is a Government Shutdown
What is the government shutdown all about?
Monday (Oct.1) evening I watched C-Span for 4 hours, back and forth between the house and the senate votes and arguments. It gave me a much clearer picture than what the Nightly News was reporting to me (Sunday, Sept 30th).
Basically there are a list of things that need to be voted on to be funded. The government has bundled several of them together for whatever reason. That's in the past. Republicans don't like Obamacare and are trying to get rid of it, so they are trying to extract that from the bundle. Democrats and Obama feel like Obamacare is their baby - their creation - and realize that if they fund National Parks, VA, etc etc separately from Obamacare, that Obamacare will never get it's funding passed because they won't have their 2/3rds majority.
So, despite the Nightly News saying that Republicans are holding the United States citizens hostage over Obamacare, it is technically the Democrats who are. You disagree? Let's review the definition of a hostage. A hostage is a person held by one party in a conflict as security that specified terms will be met by the opposing party. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hostage)
Democrats are holding the funding of National parks, VA, WIC offices, and other services used and depended on by citizens of the United States to force Republicans to agree to fund Obamacare so that they can save these other services that the citizens depend on.
What citizens are saying
Did I mention I was watching tweets all evening throughout the c-span live feed video? Most people are posting how angry they are about how it's affecting their lives, or else they're cracking jokes. And about 70% of the 'facts' people are throwing around, are actually untrue rumors. I suddenly understand why my brother-in-law gets so frustrated with people who cry political victim all the time and that's because they're arguing about things that didn't happen. But at the same time, I can totally see WHY that happens. Despite all the "research papers" I was assigned to write in school, not a single one of them required me to Find An Original Source. I think only a small minority know where to find the original source. But everybody knows how to watch the Nightly News.
Obamacare is good and bad and legal and unconstitutional?
Oh, and the reason Obamacare is unconstitutional? Let me explain: the legislative branch Writes law and the Judicial Branch Interpretes law, and the Executive branch Enforces the law but Obamacare is Written AND Enforced by the legislative branch. The penalty for not following the mandates of the law is a monetary fine via IRS taxes. The IRS is under the Legislative Branch. However, the Supreme Court has decided that Obamacare IS constitutional and it is their job to Interprete the law, so by that standard it IS legal.
An Update to my Last post
After watching all the arguments pro and con for Obamacare, my perspective has become a bit more rounded. I now realize I've been focusing on all the things it could and likely would break... and ignoring all the great intentions it has. So let me list them here: (I may forget some items and may add them later, as it has been 24 hours since I heard the arguments and have forgotten some of them. I'm also expanding a little on what was said, from life experience or the reported experience I've heard from others.)
PROS:
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE COVERED - Children born with major health problems can now get healthcare without sending their parents into bankruptcy. Children cannot be put onto a healthcare plan until they're officially born, so born with problems means instant uninsurability.
AFFORDABLE - Children, Teens and Adults with painful and difficult health problems can now hope to afford healthcare and receive a greater level of comfort and functionality without fear of bankruptcy.
ACCESS - Mental Illness patients can now receive help they previously had limited access to. Where previously if they couldn't afford to pay an extended mental hospital stay they were booted back on the street... now they can get continual help... assuming there are enough rooms. They can also consistently attend therapy and counseling... a vital piece to recovery.
COVERED - Young Adults and college students can be on their parents plans while they go to school or advance in a career to prepare to be in a place where they can afford to pay for their own health insurance.
COMFORT IN CRISIS - A health crisis does not cost a financial crisis or a "what should we do" crisis because people feel like they can go to the doctor without turning their whole life upside down.
CONS:
TOO EXPENSIVE - Insurance premiums will rise dramatically as they attempt to compensate for expensive prescriptions, surgical procedures and time consuming care that they are now required to cover for people they can no longer deny insurance to. Etna Health Insurance of Georgia sent a letter to the homes of their customers and to one in particular, saying, you can keep your current plan for 2013 at the current premium level of $300-something and then pick a new plan under Obamacare in 2014, OR you can enroll or be automatically enrolled into Obamacare for 2013 and pay a premium of $600-something. One 89-year-old man asked C-span after the broadcast, "Am I Worth Saving? What, I might live for an extra 3 months?"
PRIVACY BREECHES - The Health Exchange Website has now become the #1 hacking website in the United States. All of your contact information is on it. All of your financial information is on it. Your Tax information is on it (SS#). And all of your Health Information is already on it. (How do I know your health information is already on it? Have you seen a doctor? Did he put your information into a computer? Is your doctor compliant with "meaningful use"?) That means your information is on the HIE or Health Information Exchange where doctors all over the country can pull up your information and make sure you're not trying to get oxycoton from 5 different doctors in the same month. How's that for privacy? Great and frustrating for would be drug dealers; terrible if said drug dealer stole your month's stash of medication and you can't get more because every doctor in America already knows you got your months supply.
POOR SERVICE - For those of you who have waited in line at Wal-mart for a prescription have likely heard some old person freaking out at the counter trying to get Medicaid to behave because they need to start their refill TODAY! Every time I hear this, I thank my lucky stars... and God... that I don't have to be on Medicaid. If government ran like a business, everyone of them would be fired. They're inefficient and incompetent with a model of "one size fits all." If the clothing industry had that motto, we'd all be in big trouble.
WHERE'S DOC? - One of the biggest problems with Obamacare is the drop in pay that doctors receive. Doctors go through 8-12+ years of EXPENSIVE schooling to get a degree to practice medicine. They NEED a high income to CATCH UP with the rest of the middle class to pay off those loans and buy a house like an American with an American dream. The lack of pay Obama has allocated to doctors will insure that there Won't Be very many doctors in the future and has Killed one of the biggest Incentives to become one.
GOOD AND/OR BAD:
I wasn't sure where to put these points because it depends on your perspective.
SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE - Everyone has coverage and everyone has the same coverage. But no one has top quality coverage. Also, you will have to schedule everything 3 months in advance. The lack of doctors have left the doctors very busy.
In Conclusion
After all the arguments were all laid out, I realized I wasn't as opposed to Obamacare, or the IDEA of Obamacare, as I originally thought. It means well. It could be a good program. It some situations it might even be ideal. But my conclusion was still the same. America can't afford the programs it already has. Social Security has a death date at the rate it's being used. The United States can't pay it's debt without taking out another credit card (aka raising the debt ceiling - a discussion with a deadline of Oct. 15th; just 2 weeks away). And debt will catch up with the borrower... despite everyone's denial that it can't happen to a government... Especially one so "great" as the United States. (Titanic ring a bell?)
Who is Obama?
What I can't figure out is Obama's intentions. I think that he's a good Father. I think that he's a kind and civil person. I think that he is an incredibly talented public speaker. And I know he can't do basic Math. Because he gave a speech about his Math and said it works. And I did the Math with Dave Ramsey and hundreds of other Americans and his math doesn't work. He must have forgot to mention the ESW line. That stands for "Error Some Where".
But what I really can't figure out is an intention that, on the surface, looks to be of good will... but the policy implemented looks to redefine the balance of power in government.
Example #1 - Obama is credited with writing the Healthcare bill. Obama is the president of the United States. His job is the supreme decision-maker of the Executive Branch - the law enforcement branch. Previous presidents only signed bills and vetoed bills, but also directed government towards issues that particular president wanted to address. He's over-stepping his powers... to accomplish what? His immediate agenda? Or a future military takeover?
Example #2 - I just spent 10 minutes looking for it and I'll have to find it later - when it's not 2:30 in the morning. Obama passed some law and/or created a new precedent about 2 years ago, that was ambiguous but gave government the right to invade your privacy and disrupt or destroy your life on the suspicion of terrorism. It was mostly meant for national security and public safety but the allowances could give an evil man legal power to destroy the freedom of citizens in this country.
Example #3 - Obama said this week, something along the lines of, 'Raising the debt ceiling has happened 45 times and it is a Normal way of life. This is the way that government is suppose to run.' - - - Oh, wait, this isn't a mystery of whether he believes the lie he just told - - - he does, because we've already determined that he can't do basic Math. But he is a Clever Public Speaker because he can make you feel like you are the stupid one for not understanding his math.
Done
I'm done writing. This is already too long. And I feel rambling coming on. And my best thinking left an hour ago. Be Kind. Rewind. G'night.
Monday (Oct.1) evening I watched C-Span for 4 hours, back and forth between the house and the senate votes and arguments. It gave me a much clearer picture than what the Nightly News was reporting to me (Sunday, Sept 30th).
Basically there are a list of things that need to be voted on to be funded. The government has bundled several of them together for whatever reason. That's in the past. Republicans don't like Obamacare and are trying to get rid of it, so they are trying to extract that from the bundle. Democrats and Obama feel like Obamacare is their baby - their creation - and realize that if they fund National Parks, VA, etc etc separately from Obamacare, that Obamacare will never get it's funding passed because they won't have their 2/3rds majority.
So, despite the Nightly News saying that Republicans are holding the United States citizens hostage over Obamacare, it is technically the Democrats who are. You disagree? Let's review the definition of a hostage. A hostage is a person held by one party in a conflict as security that specified terms will be met by the opposing party. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hostage)
Democrats are holding the funding of National parks, VA, WIC offices, and other services used and depended on by citizens of the United States to force Republicans to agree to fund Obamacare so that they can save these other services that the citizens depend on.
What citizens are saying
Did I mention I was watching tweets all evening throughout the c-span live feed video? Most people are posting how angry they are about how it's affecting their lives, or else they're cracking jokes. And about 70% of the 'facts' people are throwing around, are actually untrue rumors. I suddenly understand why my brother-in-law gets so frustrated with people who cry political victim all the time and that's because they're arguing about things that didn't happen. But at the same time, I can totally see WHY that happens. Despite all the "research papers" I was assigned to write in school, not a single one of them required me to Find An Original Source. I think only a small minority know where to find the original source. But everybody knows how to watch the Nightly News.
Obamacare is good and bad and legal and unconstitutional?
Oh, and the reason Obamacare is unconstitutional? Let me explain: the legislative branch Writes law and the Judicial Branch Interpretes law, and the Executive branch Enforces the law but Obamacare is Written AND Enforced by the legislative branch. The penalty for not following the mandates of the law is a monetary fine via IRS taxes. The IRS is under the Legislative Branch. However, the Supreme Court has decided that Obamacare IS constitutional and it is their job to Interprete the law, so by that standard it IS legal.
An Update to my Last post
After watching all the arguments pro and con for Obamacare, my perspective has become a bit more rounded. I now realize I've been focusing on all the things it could and likely would break... and ignoring all the great intentions it has. So let me list them here: (I may forget some items and may add them later, as it has been 24 hours since I heard the arguments and have forgotten some of them. I'm also expanding a little on what was said, from life experience or the reported experience I've heard from others.)
PROS:
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE COVERED - Children born with major health problems can now get healthcare without sending their parents into bankruptcy. Children cannot be put onto a healthcare plan until they're officially born, so born with problems means instant uninsurability.
AFFORDABLE - Children, Teens and Adults with painful and difficult health problems can now hope to afford healthcare and receive a greater level of comfort and functionality without fear of bankruptcy.
ACCESS - Mental Illness patients can now receive help they previously had limited access to. Where previously if they couldn't afford to pay an extended mental hospital stay they were booted back on the street... now they can get continual help... assuming there are enough rooms. They can also consistently attend therapy and counseling... a vital piece to recovery.
COVERED - Young Adults and college students can be on their parents plans while they go to school or advance in a career to prepare to be in a place where they can afford to pay for their own health insurance.
COMFORT IN CRISIS - A health crisis does not cost a financial crisis or a "what should we do" crisis because people feel like they can go to the doctor without turning their whole life upside down.
CONS:
TOO EXPENSIVE - Insurance premiums will rise dramatically as they attempt to compensate for expensive prescriptions, surgical procedures and time consuming care that they are now required to cover for people they can no longer deny insurance to. Etna Health Insurance of Georgia sent a letter to the homes of their customers and to one in particular, saying, you can keep your current plan for 2013 at the current premium level of $300-something and then pick a new plan under Obamacare in 2014, OR you can enroll or be automatically enrolled into Obamacare for 2013 and pay a premium of $600-something. One 89-year-old man asked C-span after the broadcast, "Am I Worth Saving? What, I might live for an extra 3 months?"
PRIVACY BREECHES - The Health Exchange Website has now become the #1 hacking website in the United States. All of your contact information is on it. All of your financial information is on it. Your Tax information is on it (SS#). And all of your Health Information is already on it. (How do I know your health information is already on it? Have you seen a doctor? Did he put your information into a computer? Is your doctor compliant with "meaningful use"?) That means your information is on the HIE or Health Information Exchange where doctors all over the country can pull up your information and make sure you're not trying to get oxycoton from 5 different doctors in the same month. How's that for privacy? Great and frustrating for would be drug dealers; terrible if said drug dealer stole your month's stash of medication and you can't get more because every doctor in America already knows you got your months supply.
POOR SERVICE - For those of you who have waited in line at Wal-mart for a prescription have likely heard some old person freaking out at the counter trying to get Medicaid to behave because they need to start their refill TODAY! Every time I hear this, I thank my lucky stars... and God... that I don't have to be on Medicaid. If government ran like a business, everyone of them would be fired. They're inefficient and incompetent with a model of "one size fits all." If the clothing industry had that motto, we'd all be in big trouble.
WHERE'S DOC? - One of the biggest problems with Obamacare is the drop in pay that doctors receive. Doctors go through 8-12+ years of EXPENSIVE schooling to get a degree to practice medicine. They NEED a high income to CATCH UP with the rest of the middle class to pay off those loans and buy a house like an American with an American dream. The lack of pay Obama has allocated to doctors will insure that there Won't Be very many doctors in the future and has Killed one of the biggest Incentives to become one.
GOOD AND/OR BAD:
I wasn't sure where to put these points because it depends on your perspective.
SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE - Everyone has coverage and everyone has the same coverage. But no one has top quality coverage. Also, you will have to schedule everything 3 months in advance. The lack of doctors have left the doctors very busy.
In Conclusion
After all the arguments were all laid out, I realized I wasn't as opposed to Obamacare, or the IDEA of Obamacare, as I originally thought. It means well. It could be a good program. It some situations it might even be ideal. But my conclusion was still the same. America can't afford the programs it already has. Social Security has a death date at the rate it's being used. The United States can't pay it's debt without taking out another credit card (aka raising the debt ceiling - a discussion with a deadline of Oct. 15th; just 2 weeks away). And debt will catch up with the borrower... despite everyone's denial that it can't happen to a government... Especially one so "great" as the United States. (Titanic ring a bell?)
Who is Obama?
What I can't figure out is Obama's intentions. I think that he's a good Father. I think that he's a kind and civil person. I think that he is an incredibly talented public speaker. And I know he can't do basic Math. Because he gave a speech about his Math and said it works. And I did the Math with Dave Ramsey and hundreds of other Americans and his math doesn't work. He must have forgot to mention the ESW line. That stands for "Error Some Where".
But what I really can't figure out is an intention that, on the surface, looks to be of good will... but the policy implemented looks to redefine the balance of power in government.
Example #1 - Obama is credited with writing the Healthcare bill. Obama is the president of the United States. His job is the supreme decision-maker of the Executive Branch - the law enforcement branch. Previous presidents only signed bills and vetoed bills, but also directed government towards issues that particular president wanted to address. He's over-stepping his powers... to accomplish what? His immediate agenda? Or a future military takeover?
Example #2 - I just spent 10 minutes looking for it and I'll have to find it later - when it's not 2:30 in the morning. Obama passed some law and/or created a new precedent about 2 years ago, that was ambiguous but gave government the right to invade your privacy and disrupt or destroy your life on the suspicion of terrorism. It was mostly meant for national security and public safety but the allowances could give an evil man legal power to destroy the freedom of citizens in this country.
Example #3 - Obama said this week, something along the lines of, 'Raising the debt ceiling has happened 45 times and it is a Normal way of life. This is the way that government is suppose to run.' - - - Oh, wait, this isn't a mystery of whether he believes the lie he just told - - - he does, because we've already determined that he can't do basic Math. But he is a Clever Public Speaker because he can make you feel like you are the stupid one for not understanding his math.
Done
I'm done writing. This is already too long. And I feel rambling coming on. And my best thinking left an hour ago. Be Kind. Rewind. G'night.
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