Archive for category Politics
Health Care Reform: Ten Facts
Posted by Leslie M. Quesenberry in Politics on 05/09/2010
Now that health care reform is law I think it’s important that we move past the political rhetoric and look at the real facts of what this reform means to the lives of average Americans.
#1 Extends Coverage To 32 Million More Americans
Because of this bill 32 million of our fellow Americans will have health insurance coverage. While our country still will be short of true universal coverage, we will be a lot closer to that goal(we should be up to 95% coverage because of it.)
#2 Reduces The Deficit By $1.3 Trillion
Over the next 10 years the deficit will be reduced by $130 billion because of this bill. That’s very impressive and it should be something that anyone who is concerned about the deficit is excited about. The news is even better over the longer term as it will cut the deficit by $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years.
#3 Expands Medicare Coverage
Contrary to the lies spread over the last year this bill will actually expand Medicare coverage. It will close the “Donut Hole” and it will let those on Medicare visit the doctor without having to pay any co-pay at all.
#4 Extends Coverage To Young Adults
Young adults often fall through the cracks with the old system. This health care bill goes a long way towards fixing that problem by extending family health insurance coverage to young adults up through age 26.
#5 Denying Coverage Based On “Pre-Existing Conditions” Is Illegal
Prior to this bill it was perfectly legal for a health insurance company to deny coverage because of a “pre-existing condition.” This meant, for example, that a newborn baby could be denied coverage because the baby was born with a heart condition. Because of this bill that will no longer be legal.
#6 The Biggest Tax Cut For Small Businesses In History
New tax credits to help small businesses pay for the health insurance of their employees (they will cover up to 50% of the cost) will save small business a huge amount of money on their taxes making this the biggest tax cut for small businesses in US history.
#7 Bans Health Insurance Companies From Dropping People Who Get Sick
What’s the point of having health insurance if they can cut your coverage when you need it most? Thankfully because of this bill we no longer need to ask that question.
#8 Bans Lifetime Limits
Many people have gone bankrupt due to medical expenses because of health insurance companies having a “lifetime limit” on how much they would pay out. Again, what’s the point of health insurance if it may not be there for you when you need it most? This bill bans these lifetime limits.
#9 Free Preventative Care
There will be no co-pays on preventative care with new private health insurance plans because of this bill. This should encourage people to visit the doctor more often which should help to prevent illnesses before they occur.
#10 New Limits On Health Insurance Company Profits
Because of this bill health insurance companies will be required to spend at least 85% of the premiums they collect on actual health coverage (rather than on profits, lobbying, and advertising.)
Health Care Reform is nothing like the Republicans made it out to be. It’s important to remember come election time that President Obama told the truth about this important bill while the Republicans lied about it. Read This Men’s Health Blog.
The Government Stole Their House And I Never Knew It
Posted by Sandra S. Smith in Politics on 03/09/2010
Horror Tale: A family in Texas had a large oak tree limb hanging hazardously above their house, so they decided to have it cut down. The tree man told them no special permits were needed. However a nosy neighbor reported them to the local district, and they were cited for being in violation of a policy involving the removal of trees. The homeowners re-landscaped, and the district inspected the new plantings and indicated they had fulfilled the obligation. They were respectable and did everything properly, or so they were told.
Roll forward 5 years later when they hit some hard times, and they looked to take a new loan out on their home.Can you imagine the alarm on finding out that a lien was placed on their home to the tune of 125 thousand dollars for not responding to the tree removal violation!
This is an bad report, and you’re thinking and hoping, thank heavens it’s not me. But be conscious of the risks so it does not happen to you.
Statistics show that nearly forty percent homeowners in the U.S. have, or will have, a lien or judgment placed against their residence. For whatever reason a lien is placed on a victim’s home, you needs to have it removed before you can sell or refinance a victim’s residential home.
If you are in a financial need, one of the best ways to help pay your debts is to tap the value in your home. The last thing you want to happen is to find out at the last second you have a lien against you that must be solved in order to proceed with the loan. You need to figure out a way to search nationally to find past-due liens against your residential home. Review the details thoroughly. Better to know about these problems now rather than later so you have time to straighten out the matter and have it removed.
The other danger in having an outstanding lien is that the lien holder can attempt to foreclose on the lien and force you to sell your property in order to pay the debt. You want to sell or refinance your home when it is convenient for you, not them. So the sooner you know about the lien, you will be able to correct any mistakes or find the money to pay off the debt.
There are also loan sharks out there that buy tax liens and then try to foreclose in order to obtain residence , in effect stealing it from you. Don’t let this happen to you or your family! Find out today if there are any liens against your property.
If the government or a company is “Liening” on your home don’t pause and do nothing! There is by and large a time period of quite a few years following which a lien expires and cannot be enforced if neither the the holder of the lien nor the homeowner takes any action. But keep in mind the lien could show up on your credit report lowering your score, and a tax lien can last for ten years. During that time period the tax man or the state can take your land or put a lock on any of your bank accounts, sometimes even those you own jointly with another individual. So don’t delay and dilly-dally and wait for the lien to be fixed on its own.
Real ID – Outstanding Idea or Sad Idea?
Posted by Sandra S. Smith in Politics on 03/09/2010
The Real ID Act of 2005 is planned to battle terrorism, identity theft, and other crimes by strengthening the precautions of government-issued ID cards. The act calls on each state to execute a set of bare minimum national standards in a number of areas:. Information and security so-called-safeguards that must be built into each card. Proof of where you were born, date of birth, SSN, lawful citizenship status, and primary living address. Verification of the source ID provided by each of us.
The edict requires somebody wanting to come into a Federal building, fly on an airplane or open a bank account to use the Big Brother recognized Real ID or a passport. It would also put every Real ID holder in a centralized database. In theory good, but the reality is that the Real ID annhilates on our privacy and invites thieves to steal personal info without making the US more safe from terrorists or deterring illegal immigration.
Sadly, Real ID is a catastrophe waiting to occur. Some have even said that it is a sign of the apocalypse. The original estimated expense was fifteen billion dollars, it’s been “abridged” to about four billion (a whole lot of money) by giving your state greater flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 is a U.S. national law that imposes a selection of principles for the state driver’s licenses, to be used by the federal government for “official purposes”.
Utah joins the protest — The Utah House voted in early February 2010 for the state to opt out of the federal REAL ID Act in a stunning upset to be in opposition to what many legislators judge an arrogant national government. Utah legislators said that the feds must stand back. Sandstrom acknowledged his proposed law is supported by a widespread range of interests, from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Utah Eagle Forum. House members also liked it, saying AYE to it on a 68-3 vote and sending it to the Senate. Of note,so far, 15 states have opted out of the act, even as 13 others are taking into consideration it, Sandstrom said. As one expert recently stated, the Real ID Act is one small step at a time for man, one giant wait at Department of Motor Vehicles. In a surprising alignment of interests from the liberals and conservatives, the transgendered community is as upset about the act’s implications as the conservatives are. Evidently, privacy harks free in the US of A! In yet another form of protest, Pennsylvania is refusing to put into service Real ID until the government cough up more money!
So where do we go from this point, and ws there any choice? It’s too late to stop Real ID, now you must shield yourself. The Official ID site shows you additional ideas, at www.officialid.info. Want proof of what’s going to happen? Just check this out, a database of millions of cell phones is now online, exposing YOU and millions of others: www.PhoneNumbers4.me. Take charge at this moment. The private rights you save may be your own!
The Dietary Supplements Safety Act and Its Effects on Health Supplements!
Posted by Robert Nazarro in Politics on 03/03/2010
What with the recent debates on healthcare reform, health-related legislation is a hot topic in the United States. However, the facet of health legislation most on people’s minds has to do with how much of healthcare should be public, whom can avail of these services, and where the funding will come from. Debates concerning state regulation of medicines, supplements, etc., have been pushed to the side.
This is rather a shame, given the important bill currently being pushed through the American Congress and Senate, which would, in effect, suppress the sale of supplements, particularly those being produced and marketed by small companies. Let us take a look at how this bill works.
This bill, spearheaded by John McCain, is known as the Dietary Supplements Safety Act. It aims to give the FDA more authority in order to purportedly keep unsafe or adulterated supplements away from consumers.
Of course, this bill must not be discussed purely in isolation, but also in the context of existing legislation on the same subject. The Dietary Supplements Safety Act is directly related to the existing Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Rather than building upon the legislation we already have, McCain’s Bill proposes to wipe out large chunks of it.
Under the present legislation, supplements are protected if they are either from food products that people already eat, or were sold as dietary supplements before 1994. In effect, certain types of supplements are shielded from arbitrary interference and banning by the FDA. However, if the new bill is passed, the FDA will have far more power. It will be allowed to more or less turn the market for supplements static, if it likes. A list of “allowed” supplements can be compiled, and everything not on the list will be banned.
Firstly, such practices are bad for the research and development of new supplements. More red tape, and the prospect of easy, arbitrary banning can discourage scientists and/or those who fund their research. Yes, companies looking to formulate new, better supplements will suffer. However, consumers will suffer, too, as they will be less likely to be able to take advantage of improved versions of existing products, or altogether new supplements.
Secondly, it must be understood that the prospect of granting the FDA even more power than it has now is problematic. Many people trust government agencies like the FDA on the assumption that the agency is disinterested, or can be trusted to give unbiased information. This is not so. Pharmaceutical companies constitute a powerful lobby within the United States, and are able to thereby exert a great deal of influence upon the FDA. Therefore, if the DFA or national legislature puts forward a certain policy that just happens to benefit large pharmaceutical corporations, one must question the motivation behind the policy.
There is something you can do to address this problem. Let legislators know that you are not happy with the prospect of this upcoming legislation. Write congressmen to ask them to stop the bill. If you want to make a statement, try starting a petition to block McCain’s bill, and get like-minded people to sign it.
Join Our discussion on the The Dietary Supplements Safety Act! Also find out more on HGH laws and anti doping issues in the Olympics and other sports.
New Orleans Election Shows Black Politics Can be Colorblind
Posted by Todd A. Smith in Politics on 03/01/2010
From the historic 1965 election of Carl Stokes as mayor of Cleveland to the momentous joy felt throughout Black America after President Barack Obama’s election in 2008, the history of Black politics has been filled with highs that still cause many in the community to be filled with jubilation years later.
However, during President Obama’s historic rise to the highest office in the land, critics of Black politics have argued that Black America seemed content with just electing a person of color, regardless of his qualifications or what was best for the community.
True, many rejoiced at the fact that they could now honestly tell younger generations of Blacks that they truly could aspire to achieve anything in life, regardless of whom they were or where they came from.
The joy seen throughout Black America in 2008 was similar to that experienced in Cleveland in the mid-1960s. It was simply a reflection of a people who had experienced so much pain in life, finally experiencing what true joy felt like.
Nevertheless, Black America is still a microcosm of America as a whole, just with a darker skin tone. And what all Americans want is what is best for themselves, their family and their community.
Although many have doubted whether Black politics could ever be truly colorblind, the recent election of Mitch Landrieu in predominately Black New Orleans is a blow to all of those critics that said the majority of Black America voted for President Obama simply because of the color of his skin.
The city of New Orleans has suffered like no other city in recent American history. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina seems like yesterday, when residents of this mighty city helplessly cried out for salvation as the rest of the country watched in agony, not knowing how to be of assistance.
Children and grandparents died. Homes were destroyed and lives were permanently uprooted as a result of the catastrophic storm.
While some have returned to the Crescent City, the recovery has been slow if not nonexistent and many of the residents of this city in which Black politics has been a mainstay for decades, had simply grown tired of politics as usual and elected the first White mayor since 1978.
Mayor-elect Landrieu stated the city decided to “strike a blow for unity, strike a blow for a city that decided to be unified rather than divided, a city that understands where there is equal opportunity, there is equal responsibility.”
In a state where the Landrieu family is the equivalent of the Kennedy’s in Massachusetts, the mayor-elect’s father Mitch became a historic figure in the area as he spearheaded the city’s integration efforts and was the last White mayor of the city.
The reputation the senior Landrieu had in the Black community undoubtedly assisted his son in his attempt to gain the Black vote. However, it shows more importantly that Black politics is simply politicians and policies that affect the Black community. And at the end of the day, the Black community simply wants the politician that is going to look out for the interest of the community, not necessarily the one that looks the most like them.
And that disproves the myth that the Black community is unable to view life through a colorblind point-of-view.
Todd A. Smith is publisher for ; Regal Black Mens Magazine The publication focuses on ; African American Community News Politics Sports Health The magazine features a ; Local Online Classifieds & Job Classified Black Business Directory Visit to read about ; Black politics
The Political Role
Posted by Chuck E Perry IV in Politics on 02/19/2010
Politics is about getting re-elected and nothing else besides. It is a common error to assume that the politician’s role is to create jobs, encourage economic activity, enhance the welfare and well-being of his subjects, preserve the territorial integrity of his country, and fulfill a host of other functions. In truth, the politician has a single and exclusive role: to get re-elected. His primary responsibility is to his party and its members. He owes them patronage: jobs, sinecures, guaranteed income or cash flow, access to the public purse, and the intoxicating wielding of power. His relationship is with his real constituency – the party’s rank and file – and he is accountable to them the same way a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) answers to the corporation’s major shareholders. To make sure that they get re-elected, politicians are sometimes required to implement reforms and policy measures that contribute to the general welfare of the populace and promote it.
At other times, they have to refrain from action to preserve their electoral assets and extend their political life expectancy. But, how does a leader become a leader? In this article, we are not interested in the historical process but in the answer to the twin questions: what qualifies one to be a leader and why do people elect someone specific to be a leader. The immediately evident response would be that the leader addresses or is judged by his voters to be capable of addressing their needs. These could be economic needs, psychological needs, or moral needs. In all these cases, if left unfulfilled, these unrequited needs are judged to be capable of jeopardizing “acceptable (modes of) existence”. Except in rare cases (famine, war, plague), survival is rarely at risk. On the contrary, people are mostly willing to sacrifice their genetic and biological survival on the altar of said “acceptable existence”. To be acceptable, life must be honorable. To be honorable, certain conditions (commonly known as “rights”) must be fulfilled and upheld. No life is deemed honorable in the absence of food and shelter (property rights), personal autonomy (safeguarded by codified freedoms), personal safety, respect (human rights), and a modicum of influence upon one’s future (civil rights). In the absence of even one of these elements, people tend to gradually become convinced that their lives are not worth living. They become mutinous and try to restore the “honorable equilibrium”. They seek food and shelter by inventing new technologies and by implementing them in a bid to control nature and other, human, factors. They rebel against any massive breach of their freedoms. People seek safety: they legislate and create law enforcement agencies and form armies.Many politics reporters state that although the improvements are not enough to rapidly change the overall state of the nation’s economy, many are going to reap the benefits of this growth pattern. Many in politics even say that we are not going to feel the effects of the growth of the nation in the coming years in its entirety, but we are certainly on our way there.
buy rap beats! Provider Dating forum
Republic Racism Democratic Accidents!
Posted by Chuck E Perry IV in Politics on 02/19/2010
Current Affairs Over the weekend we were treated to the height of Democratic hypocrisy, and the stars are none other than our old friend Billy Jaye, (We miss ole Bubba!), and Senate Majority Leader Harry (Squeaky), Reid. In a new book called “Game Change,” written by Mark Halperin of Time Magazine, and John Heilemann of the New Yorker, both esteemed liberal magazines, there are some typical hypocritical white liberal quotes, and the thing I’m amazed at is that they were published at all. This is the kind of backroom speak that goes on in Washington, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and many other liberal strongholds, that usually is not repeated in public. Over the Christmas holidays I attended, (after death threats by my wife), a large corporate gathering where all the top dogs backed the Obamessiah for the election over a year ago. I can tell you that these same people would never let black people live in their neighborhood, and that they have used all kinds of hidden pressure to insure it won’t happen. They mouth all the slogans of the moment, and talk a mean game, but reality is something far more different. It isn’t just me who noticed this hypocrisy.
My daughter picked up on this stuff in her freshman year in high school when she attended events and parties at some of the McMansions around the area. In the book, ole Billy Jaye is talking to Teddy, trying to get him to back Hillary, and he tells Teddy that, “come on, a couple of years ago this guy, (Obama), would have been getting us coffee.” The story is that this quote so offended Kennedy that he quickly endorsed Barack. Squeaky Reid was quoted as saying that the Obamessiah was an ideal candidate because he was “a light skinned black man with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted one.” This morning I watched in amazement as the NAACP came to Reid’s defense, saying he had apologized, or misspoke, or had been “awkward,” take your pick.
Democratic leaders, including the Obamessiah, all seem to have the same talking points. This is in stark contrast to when they went after the former Senate Majority Leader, Trent Lott, who was forced to resign for his remarks. Senator Diane Feinstein said that when Lott made his remarks, “I saw no other Democrats jumping out there and condemning Senator Lott.” This is in direct conflict with a statement she made in 2002, according to a news report. “This statement casts a dark shadow over Senator Lott’s ability to be a credible party leader.” Squeaky also piped in, as quoted in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Mr. Lott’s remarks are not good for the country; it’s repugnant.” He also said Lott had “no alternative but to resign, because he had dug himself a hole.” And I would be remiss if I didn’t include remarks from Lt Cmdr Dithers, (John Kerry), who said, “I simply do not believe the country can today afford to have someone who has made these statements again and again be the leader of the United States Senate.” That quote came from the Boston Globe. Let’s get in the time machine and go back to back to the famous remarks of Tricky Dick’s Attorney General John Mitchell, who has been dirt napping for a spell. Big John said, “Don’t pay any attention to what we say, watch what we do.” He was referring to the Nixon administration at the time. Indeed, we are watching; Bubba, Squeaky, Diane, John Boy, and all the rest of you sanctimonious hypocrites.
November is only 10 short months away, and there will be nowhere to hide. I’m thinking of building a carny game. The contestants will get a Mace Pepper Gun, and will stand 20 feet away from the targets, which will be Squeaky, Diane, John Boy, Little Al (Franken) Fat Al (Gore), and I probably should include Bill Maher and Jeanine Garafolo, maybe Fat Mike (Moore), there just isn’t any end to candidates. You pay your ten bucks, (I am a capitalist), and you get a shot at your favorite liberal pig. If you make ‘em holler, you get a free shot at another. Now who wouldn’t be happy with that twofer? Now maybe I could mix in a few local mooks too. Just your every day car jackers, burglars, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, and so on. Then I could add a terrorist or two if you were willing to go for twenty bucks. I could keep a data file on what people wanted to shoot at most, local mooks, current politicians, or terrorists. I’m betting most folks would rather shoot at Fat Al and Squeaky over everybody else. Gina here in the office says John Boy would win, and Hank in the warehouse wants to use real bullets. (Maybe I’ll have to back the contestants up a hair.) No…much as that would be fun, it just wouldn’t work. (Funeral costs have skyrocketed.) But remember, having a Mace Pepper Gun in your pocket is smart business, and I’d go so far as to say it’s therapeutic. Stay aware, alert, and have a plan.
buy rap beats! Provider Dating forum
Unemployment Rises Motivation Declines
Posted by Chuck E Perry IV in Politics on 02/19/2010
Many Americans have been unemployed at some point during the course of the last few years. As a result of the recession, those that have not been unemployed, were on the cusp of becoming unemployed. Either way, the average American has been afraid of the mere possibility of becoming unemployed. Well, it is a new year in the day and age of politics in the United States of America. This new year in politics has afforded many opportunities in terms of job opportunities. A great deal of President Barack Obama’s Recovery Act funding is now being released to help stimulate the economy. A large sum of the money has been allocated in order to take on a two-fold approach. The politics circuits have reported that in addition to the money being distributed in order to create jobs, the money will also serve the purpose of improving the quality of life that we, and generation to come, will have while living on earth. Additionally, these jobs that are created will also see to it that we gain more of the Independence that the country has fought so hard throughout its time in politics to get. So you will see a great deal of work going into the green movement, as well as the national development and refining of United State’s solar, wind, and energy supplies. 1. Politics news reports state the nation’s advances has caused the decline of employment to fall. There is so much promise that is shown in this regard that it is quite possible that there is going to be a boost in employment in the coming months. Many have said that they have seen there industries start to gain positive growth already. 2. Politics news stories say that there are also great data in the polls that express that there will be a positive jump in the nation’s state of employment. Politics circuits say that many companies are going to largely expand over the course of the coming years. 3. Politics news circles state that this is one of the biggest boosts in the economy in the last few years. They say that there is evidence that shows the upward growth of the nation’s employment. 4. Many politics reporters state that although the improvements are not enough to rapidly change the overall state of the nation’s economy, many are going to reap the benefits of this growth pattern. Many in politics even say that we are not going to feel the effects of the growth of the nation in the coming years in its entirety, but we are certainly on our way there.
As I Said:
Many Americans have been unemployed at some point during the course of the last few years. As a result of the recession, those that have not been unemployed, were on the cusp of becoming unemployed. Either way, the average American has been afraid of the mere possibility of becoming unemployed. Well, it is a new year in the day and age of politics in the United States of America. This new year in politics has afforded many opportunities in terms of job opportunities. A great deal of President Barack Obama’s Recovery Act funding is now being released to help stimulate the economy.
We can fix this!!!
buy rap beats! Provider Dating forum