Old Soldier

“Obama inks defense bill with hate crimes provision”

WASHINGTON (AP) – Trumpeting a victory against careless spending, President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a defense bill that kills some costly weapons projects and expands war efforts. In a major civil rights change, the law also makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.

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“There’s still more fights that we need to win,” Obama said. “Changing the culture in Washington will take time and sustained effort.”

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“This is a landmark step in eliminating the kind of hate motivated violence that has taken the lives of so many in our community,” said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

“Changing the culture in Washington will take time and sustained effort.”  You and your party have already ‘changed’ Washington, Mr President, and I wish I could say, “for the better.”  …far from it!  When our legislators cannot foster enough support from fellow legislators and their constituents to pass a bill in and of itself, it is appended to a bill that must be passed.  That’s real up and up legislating, there!  It certainly exemplifies change in Washington that we the people had hoped for… NOT!

The [Shepard] amendment was opposed by far more than supported it.  It provisions the ability for the federal government to step in where it shouldn’t; it usurps the sovereignty of the States in adjudicating felonies in their courts.  Just why should a person’s sexual orientation matter in prosecuting a felony in a State?  ‘Hate’ speaks to motive and should be considered in the penalty phase, but should not facilitate the federal government stepping in and usurping a State’s judicial process.  As pointed out endless times, this amendment establishes a protected class of citizens.

Mr Barrios stated, “This is a landmark step in eliminating the kind of hate motivated violence that has taken the lives of so many in our community.”  Frankly, I would like to see that sound-bite validated with facts.  Of course it will never happen, because Mr Barrios’ claim will never be challenged by any responsible media.  I strongly suspect that more people die each year by choking on chicken bones than are gay lesbian victims of fatal ‘hate’ crimes based solely upon their sexual orientation.  Someone prove me wrong!

Murder is murder regardless of the sexual orientation of the victim… felonious assault is felonious assault regardless of the sexual orientation of the victim, etc.!  Come on, people get real and throw these errant lawmakers out of our government!  We deserve better than what we are currently getting.

“FACT CHECK: Health insurer profits not so fat”

It would behoove the politicians demonizing the health insurers to vet their rhetoric before throwing out accusations that are unsubstantiated.  I know it is chic for Democrats to demonize the ‘big guys,’ you know, the ‘ones’ that are filthy rich and earn rake-in ‘obscene profits’ in order to appeal to the ‘little guys;’ the moderate and lower income folks.  Too, it is politically correct for Democrats to advance the notion that the lower income earners’ situation is a direct result of the ‘rich;’ the ‘little guy’ cannot advance because the ‘big guy’ sucks up all the opportunities and wealth.  Hence the health insurers become the logical target for the Democratic leadership in their advancement of a government run/controlled healthcare system; however, some legitimacy to the ‘facts’ being bandied about would lend much more credence to the campaign.

I can’t help but wonder if Nancy and company are satisfied with a six percent profit in their [business] investments?

I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who stated, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”  I guess the Democrats bank heavily on the middle axiom… You can fool… some of the people all the time.

“U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects”

“Raiding those accounts to fund big-ticket projects the military does not want, but that benefit senators’ home states or campaign contributors, amounts to “rancid gluttony,” he said.”

Fire the lot them!  Not one should remain in office!  Representatives and Senators who care more about ‘buying’ votes to stay in office than doing what is right for America and the troops do not deserve our support!  It is a sorry day indeed when our federal lawmakers have decayed into corrupt gluttonous elitists!  Sweep them all out of Washington and let it be a lesson to the next batch that the people govern this country, not corrupt elitist congressmen/women!

“Lieberman opposes Baucus health bill”

Lieberman echoed concerns that the Finance committee bill would hike taxes on insurance companies, which would then be passed along to consumers.

“I’m afraid that in the end the Baucus bill is actually going to raise the price of insurance for most of the people in the country,” Lieberman said.

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“If you ask me, I’d say we should really focus on what’s called healthcare delivery reform,” Lieberman added. “To me, the first big step is to make some changes that really do bend the increasing costs of healthcare down.”

Lieberman (and I’m sure there are other politicians who…) gets it!  Increase taxes on insurance companies and the consumer pays increased premiums.  Corporations do not absorb taxes… they pass the cost along to the consumers.  So, please, stop trying to blow smoke up my a$$ by telling me (or implying) that the cost of healthcare will be offset by increasing the taxes levied against the insurance companies.

If you truly want to reform healthcare, then follow the money.  Healthcare insurance is costly because… medical costs are expensive because… malpractice insurance is high because… folks love to sue because… sympathetic juries award unreasonably exorbitant damages.  Tort reform must be part and parcel to any measures aimed at curbing the rising costs of health care.  Successfully targeted tort reform may not reverse rising cost, but if the escalating cost can be held to zero for several years, then gains have been made.

Government intervention into doctor and hospital earnings will only serve to de-incentivize the industry.  If you truly want to wreck healthcare, let the government start capping earnings; the smart and talented minds will leave the system.  Why should a young person spend ten to fifteen years learning specialized medicine only to be told his/her annual salary cannot exceed a government mandated maximum?  It is extremely costly in both personal sacrifice and financial expenses to become a leading surgeon or specialized practitioner.

Our government Representatives and Senators, along with our President, must stop this bullish rush to pass something labeled ‘healthcare reform.’  There needs to be more careful deliberation and communication to come up with measures that will truly help reduce the costs of health care and make insurance affordable for those who do not have, but desire, health insurance.

When my federal government espouses that a given healthcare bill is going to cost $829 billion, I have to ask, where is the cost reduction?  If the federal government incurs a cost of $829 billion, guess who pays the tab?  Nope, not the insurance companies…  If my health care costs decrease two percent, but my federal taxes increase twelve percent, have I experienced a savings?

Okay Congress, put the bong away and pull the pipe out of the public’s a$$.  Start earnestly discovering why healthcare costs are high and then look at measures that will reduce those costs.  Don’t charge me $10,000 a year (in taxes) for the ability to save $2,000 in medical costs.  Get it right or get gone!