A Time to Remember What to be Thankful For

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. What are you thankful for this year? I know I am thankful for my loving family, my dear friends, and the blessings which have come this year. I am also thankful for the freedom I have, or should have, as an American. I got to thinking today how great it really is to be an American and why so many people want to be Americans. A great thing about America is its openness to others. We gladly accept new citizens, who are legal, and love that they want to improve their lives by living here. We still are, or should be, the land of opportunity. When someone comes here, they take an oath of allegiance. It's much simpler than other countries. Once a citizen, we have so many liberties, or should have anyways. Just think of the economic freedoms we have, or should have. Here, everyone, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, etc., has just about the same opportunity to become great. There are environmental factors, such as growing up on the South side of Chicago, that may impede on your success, but I remain optimistic that individuals are the ones that shape their own lives, instead of the government. Here in America, we have the best health care in the world and a great educational system. Both systems have their flaws, but I'm much happier with what we have compared to Europe. Here in America, we provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, although there is waste there too (on those collecting entitlements who don't really need them). I will digress on this topic a little. Last year when we were flooded, we were offered food stamps to help out. We kindly said "no thank you" multiple times. We realized we aren't the ones who need them...the impoverished are. It's very admirable that we care for our citizens. America is such a great country, and we should all be thankful for the opportunities we have because we live here. Just something to think about come Thursday.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for reading.
Joe

The Power Grab

I like to remain fairly optimistic about the direction of the country. It has become harder as the fringe continues to try to take power away from the people and transplant it into the federal government, the source of the problems. I'm not blaming Obama; I don't think the grab is entirely his fault. The people at fault are the ones like Nancy Pelosi, pushing for extreme government regulation in the private sector; namely health care.

I would like to see people get health care. In a Utopian society, everyone would have access to America's world class health care system. However, in reality, the proposed way to go about this is not feasible whatsoever. With this massive overhaul, the government would be taking over one-sixth of the US private sector, the sector that drives this country forward and keeps this country great. I can't forget to mention the personal mandates either. How backwards must one be to even suggest fining and raising the taxes of one who refuses to buy health care or take the sub-prime government run plan? I think it is foolish for someone with sufficient resources to neglect such an important thing. However, it is their decision to be foolish, and they will learn from their mistakes. Essentially this bill will only be expanding the free clinic system. People think it will cover cancer treatments and stays in ICUs, but they don't know how expensive those procedures and hospital stays are. The government cannot afford to do that, so they will favor the younger patients over the older patients, (a.k.a. rationing). You don't have to be a conservative to acknowledge the fact that rationing will occur. Also, what will happen to survival rates? In European countries, 5 year prostate cancer survival rates are at about 75-80%. Here in America, 100%. Does this say anything about government run health care? I think so. And what about the doctors and PAs? Their pay will decrease, and fewer and fewer people will actually WANT to practice. I'm not trying to pass off the typical stereotype that physicians are selfish. I believe it is just the opposite. No one goes through so much schooling to care for others as a selfish matter. Most docs and PAs are underpaid as it is, anyways.

What we do need to fix is malpractice. It has become out of control. People don't want to practice medicine anymore for fear of getting nailed with a malpractice suit. Also, doctors aren't willing to treat illnesses as aggressively as necessary because of malpractice worries. Malpractice must be redefined. It is ridiculous that a doctor must pay thousands of dollars every year to have access to defense funds, and to have to practice medicine defensively.

Thanks for reading.
Joe

An Injustice: The War on FOX News

Mainstream media outlets as well as our Democratic leaders in Washington have had a lot to say about Fox News lately, and it's getting ugly. These people refuse to recognize Fox as a viable news source and constantly attack and denounce Fox. What they fail to realize is that in between those opinion shows is great reporting and very unbiased news. Once you sift through Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, (I much prefer the latter), you find great news! Only a small fraction of the daily schedule is spent on conservative talk TV. You have Hannity (1hr.), Beck (1hr.), Cavuto (1hr.), O'Reilly (kind of (1hr.)), and Huckabee (1hr). What's left? Straight forward broadcasting, that's what. I respect the other outlets, MSNBC and CNN, but first, why aren't they coming to defend Fox? They're in the same business, right? Also, MSNBC has got their opinion shows, yet no one rises a fuss about those. Why? Do Dems ignore MSNBC's opinions because it's LIBERAL??? I sure hope not...please excuse the sarcasm. On Glenn Beck's program, he showed a clip where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton actually PRAISES Fox News and their broadcasting during the campaign. A caller to the Rush Limbaugh talk show the other day stated that the LA FBI office said she should listen to Fox and talk radio to inform herself on ACORN. I'll post the link to the Dittocam. It's pretty impressive. Let Fox be, please.

Rush Limbaugh Dittocam

Nobel Peace Prize Reaction

This isn't going to focus on my views of Obama's receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, but rather the left's reaction to conservative criticism. I was reading through news feeds today on several MSNBC anchor's pages. As I was scrolling through, I found time and time again, people calling conservatives racist and jealous for not agreeing with the committee's choice for the NPP. They said that conservatives want Obama to fail, not forgetting to leave his skin color out of their statements. I can see that people haven't come too far on anything. Still using the term "racist" freely and without regard to its actual meaning and its past. Racism is a real problem, and shouldn't be taken lightly. I am sure that there are some people running around campfires in the country side hoping for Obama to fail because he's black, but it's not the general conservative response. This whole thing on Obama failing got started by El Rushbo. Limbaugh wanted Obama to fail because of his celebrity status in the news, not because of his skin color. Anyways, back to the point. One lunatic leftist said that the white hood conservatives were jealous. JEALOUS??? WHITE HOODS??? Conservatives must all be in the Klan then, right?... They went on to claim that conservatives wanted Cheney to win. I'm pretty sure I can speak for lots of conservatives that no one wanted Cheney to win. Conservatives oppose this decision because Obama has been in office for a mere nine months and was nominated within his first eleven days as president. Even that would seem a little odd. The committee in the past has awarded the recipients based on what they had done to forward a peaceful agenda, not what the recipient was hoping to achieve. I think Obama's speech this morning was great and he did a good job addressing all his points. I just want the crazy liberal fools to shut up about racism and jealousy. They're making Democrats everywhere look bad.
Thank you for reading.
Joe

Is This What We Call News?

I have decided today to write about the "news" in America. It seems that the mainstream media these days aren't really talking about news and actual important issues in society. Instead, they would rather talk about David Letterman's sex scandal, or other such topics. Just the other day on MSNBC's Countdown, a substitute for Keith Olbermann, who I find very funny, went a little over the line and the majority of the stories related to Letterman, his extortionist, and his future at CBS. This is upsetting and disgraceful. Meanwhile, The O'Reilly Factor was actually covering important issues, such as Afghanistan. I believe that what Letterman did was perverse and shameful, but it does not require a media firestorm. First off, he's not a politician or an influential leader, such as Spitzer, Blago, or Sanford. Secondly, to my knowledge, these affairs occurred prior to his marriage. Lastly, does the personal life of a late night talk show host really affect all of us on a day-to-day basis? I'll answer this one with a solid "NO!!!" A similar firestorm surrounded another funny man, Don Imus, who recently started a simulcast of his radio program on Fox Business Network. As most know, he referred to the Rutgers Woman's Basketball team as a bunch of "nappy headed hoes." Again, those words were hurtful and inexcusable, but it doesn't really require the attention of the entire country and the mainstream media. In my utopia, the media would cover the health care debate, the two wars, Iran, the threats to America, and other issues actually affecting us. Just something to think about.
Thank you for reading.
Joe

ACORN on the Loose

This evening, I watched a special on FOX News regarding the community organizing group ACORN. The host interviewed the founder of the organization and carried on a decent conversation with him. I knew beforehand that ACORN was a corrupt and ineffective organization tool and was violent in demonstrations, but this affirmed it. Thanks to the in depth reporting, details were uncovered about ACORN that I had not known before. Of course what sparked this is the recent leak of a secret video where ACORN employees try to figure out how to sneak prostitution/prostitution income by the IRS. ACORN's hypocrisy was also a main point in the one hour segment. While they supported a legal minimum pay above the minimum wage for low skill jobs, they asked states for exemptions from that law. They failed to realize that when I pay, per say, $15 per hour for a burger flipper at Joe's Burger Hut, I cannot pay as many people to do the work than I could if I paid twice the amount of people $7.50 per hour. I believe that some people do not have the standard of living that they should, but I also understand fundamentals of economics. Another heinous crime that ACORN takes fondly to is voter fraud. Just this last year, the organization registered tens of thousands of phony voters in Nevada alone. Thankfully, the Nevada Attorney General (a Democrat) pursued charges. This assault on our country's principle's cannot be tolerated. People say that ACORN wouldn't be an issue if McCain was president, but rather it is such a key issue because Obama had ties to them. I don't care who's president or what party they're from; if an organization is guilty of voter fraud, they must pay the consequences. ACORN isn't so great at auditing their funds either. For example, it turns out that certain monies designated for nonpartisan voter registration ended up paying for very partisan agendas. My last complaint: ACORN is secretive and deceiving in going about their activities. It turns out the founder's brother embezzled close to $1 million from various employee funds. The founder decided not to report it to the IRS, or the Board of Directors. They "solved" the problem personally (and lying while doing so). The chairs of the Board of Directors wished to pursue further auditing, but were fired immediately for "[...] trying to distract the organization from its core mission." Or something like that. This behavior is inexcusable and must be condemned by legislators, the president, and anyone else in power. I hope in my lifetime, to see ACORN return to calm demonstrations like the Tea Party goers display, or vanish completely.
Thank you for reading.
Joe

A View of Ineffective Education

Young Children Paying Homage to Obama

Please watch this video; the strange aspects occur mainly a little way through the video, so be patient. It is very irritating that elementary teachers are engaging in such conduct. The teacher is essentially brainwashing the children. Most of them probably don't even know what they're talking/singing about. I don't feel I can write too much on this video; it speaks for itself. At first glance, I was shocked. It seemed ALMOST cult-ish. Glenn Beck said all they need now is a statue of Obama to worship during class. The concept of children liking Obama doesn't bother me, but a teacher imposing her views on her students does bother me greatly. Just remember that tax dollars pay her salary. STOP TELLING STUDENTS WHAT TO BELIEVE. THEY MUST HAVE TRUST IN THEIR OWN VIEWS! This all speaks for itself.
Thank you for viewing and reading.
Joe

Respect our Country

This soap box installment is going to be on more of a local level. Last week, the West side Iowa City football team was up against the East side Iowa City football team, competing in the "Battle of the Boot." This rivalry has always been of interest, and Iowa City West High School tends to be on the losing end. The sports aspect is not what I will write about, however. The following week, the principal came over the intercom expressing his disgust with the etiquette of the West High student section during the playing of our national anthem. Students are not taking their hats off, they are not putting the cell phones away, and they are not being quiet and respecting this great country we live in. This is not something that should go unnoticed. Not only is it portraying this school as a bunch of rowdy thugs, but it is disrespecting the veterans standing on the field, holding the flag, who have put their lives on the line so these students can have a world class education. I have come to realize that many of today's youth do not fully appreciate what this country stands for and what war really is, or was. I will not go preaching what I believe our Constitution says, or our Declaration of Independence. What I will say is that many men and women in uniform have given their lives to preserve these sacred documents. Also, many children and adults don't realize the hardships of our former veterans; not just of the World Wars and Vietnam, Korea, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War. It is hard to fathom these days, fighting face to face with enemies, not using computerized missiles from countries away. I am not trying to diminish the duties of our soldiers today, but one must remember how determined people were during the early years of America, to fight and likely die for this country. These soldiers were killing enemies with bayonets; looking their enemy right in the eye as they killed them. The emotional pain must have been immense. Yet people still did it for the love of this country. So please, if you're at any sort of event: take your hat off, stand up, put phones away, and pay respect to this great country that has given you so much.
Thank you for reading.
Joe

Health Care in Despair

Today, I'm going to share my views on Obamacare/Universal Health Care. This debate has been going on for eternity, and in my view, this is a tough choice. On one side, I would like to see more people in this country getting access to our world class health care system. I know that there are people out there who don't have health insurance because they actually CAN'T afford it. If the government would only insure these people, we would save a lot of money. However, there are also people out there who don't have it but CAN afford it. On the other hand, I have a realization that regardless of what Obama or Congress says, we will go further into debt or we will see taxes increase; maybe not immediately, but down the road when my kids are the ones paying taxes. They say in order to fund this program, they will cut other government programs, but I don't see how they can make the $1 Trillion plus cuts without raising taxes on the people who pay the most in taxes, or borrowing more money from a foreign country. An interesting note on taxes; the top 25% earners pay 86% of taxes, and the top 50% earners pay 97% of the taxes. I know that our country needs medical reform. Malpractice lawsuits have become frivolous, and having a practitioner for a mother, I know how costly insurance is for our nation's doctors. Also, we need to make our current health care system more efficient, without rationing. Insurance companies are also in need of fixing. I love the private sector and I'm a capitalist, but insurance companies should lower prices so insurance is more affordable. This way, competition would spark, benefiting the American citizens as a whole. I can see the argument for a mandate on insurance. It would reduce ER visit abuse among other things. However, in my opinion, no government should force citizens to do anything. I like cars, so I'll relate this problem to car insurance. My dad's uncle was recently in an automobile accident. A woman ran a red light at 45mph that had been red for a good while now. She ran right into the passenger side of his car, spinning him around multiple times. She totaled his car. He is an eighty-four year old man, and thanks to God's grace, he is only a little scuffed up. However, she did not have car insurance. She has four kids, without insurance. It seems quite foolish. If you can afford a car, you can afford insurance. Now, my great-uncle may have to pursue this legally after he has spent over $6,000 on a replacement vehicle out of pocket. If you can afford health insurance, buy it! Lastly, I am worried about rationing. I tell myself that it won't happen, but it is in the back of my mind at all times. I have an eighty-eight year old grandmother with heart problems. If she wants a treatment done and her doctor believes it is safe, she should be allowed that treatment; no questions. I have many other older relatives who are on Medicare, and Medicare has been great to them. Medicare needs reform as well. There is a lot of waste in annual Medicare spending, and that must be corrected. That won't account for the trillions that this "overhaul" will cost. One final note for you to think about: If Obamacare is so great, why is Congress exempt? I think Obama is a great person, and has potential to be a great president and is very inteligent. He was victim of the times, along with the last president increasing government's size exponentially with bailouts and failed stimulus packages, but he needs to get us out of a recession before we go overhauling any health care system.
Thank you for reading.
Joe