Healthcare

Oh, my it’s been long since I’ve blogged about politics. I’ve gotten so jaded, I have just about given up on following politics altogether. It’s hard to avoid the health care issue though.

You know, universal healthcare is a lovely, noble goal. I’d love for everybody everywhere to have health insurance. I’d also love for the world’s hungry to be fed and clothed, for there to be no war or famine … but are any of those things necessarily feasible in real life? Unfortunately, probably not.

This is the thing: I’d love to have every single person covered. But not if it means rationing care for everyone (cutting services) or raising taxes enormously – the only two options when you look at the facts. You can only do so much with a given amount of money. If we want to add millions more to the healthcare rolls, there will be NO other choices than to either raise taxes a lot, or to ration the services. I wish this wasn’t so.

I personally think that we should reform healthcare instead of just giving it totally over to the government’s control. (Because when is the last time you’ve seen the government make something better or do something right? That’s what I thought.) I would expand medicare and medicaid but require that EVERY able body pay a monthly sliding-scale premium based on income but capped at a reasonale amount. I would also extend amnesty to the illegal aliens on the condition that they pay their fair share too.

On the other hand is the drug companies that supply drugs worldwide at a fraction of the cost we pay for drugs here in the U.S. – because we are tacking on research and development costs to our drugs. I say if the world needs our medicine, they should help pay for the R&D as well. That would decrease drug costs here for us at home significantly.

So who’s with me?

But that’s the thing – no one wants to hear a sensible solution. The government is corrupt. Both parties. Don’t make me email you examples of government corruption … I can give you plenty, from both sides of the aisle. So why do we think that they would get into this and not screw it up MASSIVELY? Seriously, people, do you think the government is in this because they care about you? That’s just naive. They want to get their grubby hands on more of your tax dollars. If you can’t see that, then you need to open your eyes up.

So the bottom line is, there absolutely needs to be some common-sense reform. It stinks that people don’t have healthcare. But don’t sign all your freedoms away and get us into an even bigger mess before we try other solutions first.

I voted

I voted for the first time today. Woohoo.

On my way to vote, I had this exchange with Mikaela:

Mikaela: “Mama? Where we goin’? We goin’ to pick Gabriel up?”
Me: “No, I’m going to vote.”
Mikaela: “I want to go on the boat!!!”

Dave Ramsey on the bailout

My bro-in-law Glen has brought to my attention a Dave Ramsey clip on the government’s pending bailout of the mortgage/finance industry. It’s a good listen!

Your take?

So what do you think, dear readers (all five of you), about the fact that we’re now a semi-socialist country now that we’ve nationalized some of our major real estate and investment banks? Good/bad/indifferent?

Just shoot me

CNN posted a story today about the preparation for tonight’s democratic convention, with the line, “And now the selling begins.”

Come again? Then, what the @#)#) has been going on for the last YEAR AND A HALF?!?!

I’m going to go hide under a rock now until the election is over. Have fun.

Still think it’s just the middle eastern countries’ fault?

CNN reports that Exxon just boasted the biggest quarterly profit in U.S. history. Read that sentence again. Are you angry yet? How is that not price gouging? Why does there seem to be no one in our government (either the republican administration OR the democratically-controlled congress) with the testicular fortitude to stand up and do what’s right for our country?

Poooooolitics

So Nancy Pelosi and George W. Bush are trading barbs over their respective ‘failures.’ Bush complained of a do-nothing congress; Pelosi called him a complete failure as president.

You know, I’m going to have to side with Bush on this. Gas prices continue to skyrocket and what has congress done for us? Oh yeah, they’re not even brining the prospect of offshore drilling to a vote. That’s what they’re doing. NOTHING.

Now Bush on the other hand, of course he’s made mistakes. But I continue to be completely astounded that every democrat tries to act like they opposed the Iraq war from the get-go when they did not. Obviously that’s a quagmire no one would have gotten into had we a crystal ball, but … now that it’s turned out to be a bad decision, naturally democratic congress is going to point at the president and haughtily declare him good-for-nothing.

Is anybody else out there sick of all this crap? Can we have a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment and get some decent people back in our Capitol?

My two cents

If Obama was smart, he’d pick Al Gore to be his VP.

Weighing in

I have purposefully tried to turn a deaf ear to the election year drama because I decided I don’t want to hear a years’ worth of candidates’ blabbering … just wake me up in time for me to give the candidates a good look right before the election.

But if you keep up with the news (or if you haven’t crawled under a rock by now), it’s hard not to absorb some of the political goings-on.

Clinton scares me. But Obama scares me even more, with his smooth talking and his most-liberal-in-Congress voting record. Why does the presidential race basically have to boil down to who is the most convincing, moving orator? I could make an anti-Christ crack here, but I will refrain. Please, for the love of God don’t say something about him being black. That’s completely a non-issue to me.

I may as well give up and put a freaking Republican sticker on my bumper. If I ever found an anti-abortion democrat, he or she would probably get my vote, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. There are a lot of issues that I don’t agree with the GOP on, but none nearly as important as the sanctity of life. So, I guess, McCain it is.

Another Reason I don’t like Anne Coulter

Anne Coulter recently said that she’d vote for Hillary Clinton over John McCain in a general election. You can see the whole Coulter video here, on Fox’s Hannity & Colmes.

Seriously, Anne? SERIOUSLY?

Because I just joined the Facebook group “If Hillary Clinton is elected president, Texas is seceding from the union.”

And that might just be a little less crazy than your endorsement of Hillary Clinton as being “more conservative” than John McCain.

Not again

Has anyone else been noticing that every time Bush has opened his mouth recently, he’s said something about the threat that Iran poses to the world? Sounds like he’s ramping up to another war.

This is the thing that bugs me: why are we potentially going into yet another middle eastern country when we’ve had limited successes (and that’s an optimistic assessment) in Iraq and Afghanistan? If we’re still using the tired line ‘we’re fighting them there so we don’t have to fight them here,’ why isn’t border security being taken more seriously?

If we’d pumped all the money we put into Iraq and Afghanistan into our own homeland security/border security/airport security, I think we’d be a lot closer to a secure America than we have today. Instead, we keep stirring up hornet’s nests and then issuing grave threats about the terrorists’ murderous intentions.

The only reason I think we should be in the middle east is when directly supporting or defending our ally, Israel. I am very pro-Israel, and I am all for helping them out. (My reason: the Bible says that God will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse them. So I don’t plan on getting on their bad side!) But I don’t think that’s the reason why we’re over there.

Square peg, round hole

I received an email from a friend asking me how I could simultaneously be pro-Huckabee and anti-death penalty. ‘Tis the story of my life.

Most people I know who have “moderate” political views are socially liberal and economically conservative. I’m pretty much the exact opposite. Which means? I fit in nowhere politically. It’s really disheartening.

I’m forever having “principals” vs. “reality” arguments in my head. Like whether I should vote independent because I found someone with beliefs that match mine (if I ever do), or whether I should vote for a republican or democrat, knowing most independents have very little chance of winning?

The thing is, I don’t agree with at least half of the democratic and republican platforms. My own personal political beliefs are driven by what seems like the right, moral thing to do. I know … so naive and idealistic, but what kind of a person would I be if I just threw all my principals out the window to bend my beliefs into a certain party designation? But at the same time, if everyone else in my shoes decided not to vote based on the fact that no politician matches their principals, there sure wouldn’t be a lot of people voting.

I actually love politics. I minored in Poli-Sci and found it intriguing. I especially love talking about politics – but I am a little puzzled by the fact that many people are so secretive about their political beliefs, as if they’re trying to hide some sort of skeleton in their closet. I guess to each their own.

20 things you have to believe to be a Republican today

Another Wordpress blogger posted this, which has apparently been making its way around the internet. My comments are in green.

20 things you have to believe to be a Republican today

1. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re a conservative radio host. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

I do think that talking about being a ‘victim’ of drugs is ridiculous. We have free will, and we exercise it when we make bad decisions. Is addiction real and hard to break? Of course. Do I think drug addicts deserve prison sentences? No, not unless the person commits some other crime as a result of being under the influence.

2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

I think our highest national priority should be keeping America safe. I think we rushed into Iraq not giving it enough thought, and now we’re damned if we do leave, damned if we don’t.

3. Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness.

Switch that around and I’ll agree with it. Big business is in bed with both political parties in this country, and it’s sickening. And I think our national obsession with pot is ridiculous. If it’s illegal, alcohol should be, as well.

4. “Standing Tall for America” means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.

I don’t know if most republicans would agree with that, that accusation is a bit harsh.

5. A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation.

 As I’ve said in this blog before, I’m against abortion in all circumstances. No unborn child should have to die so a woman can “choose” not to be bothered by a pregnancy. And like I’ve said before, pregnancy resulting from rape and incest are extremely tragic and unfortunate (not to mention extremely rare), but two wrongs don’t make a right.

6. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

 Come on, do democrats REALLY think republicans believe that? God hates certain BEHAVIORS, not PEOPLE. And Jesus does love me. And He loves you too, as much as that might bother you.

7. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.

 Not liking the tone of this one. At the same time, I don’t agree with cutting veterans’ benefits or pay.

8. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican.

Not really liking the tone of this one, either, but at the same time, a lot of republicans I know do seem to have this kind of hypocritical attitude.

9. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex.

I know a lot of people who think this way, and it’s unfortunate. I’ll have to look up the study again, but I’ve quoted figures before on this blog that show over 90% of people have sex before they’re married. Sticking our heads in the sand isn’t going to lead to anything but STDs and unwanted pregnancies (and by extension, abortions).

10. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

I don’t know enough details to know if this is true or not, although I know it’s been alleged.

11. HMOs and insurance companies have the interest of the public at heart.

This is just like the one about big business. As long as the campaign finance system allows these industries to funnel large sums of cash to candidates, we’re going to suffer for it, while the pols try to appease those industries by making sure they get the upper hand in any legislation concerning or regulating them.

12. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

 I’m actually for universal health-care. It may not be the best way, but what we have now ain’t workin’, either.

13. Global warming and tobacco’s link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

I don’t know what to believe about global warming. Both sides seem to prevent convincing arguments … but how do I know who’s right?

On creationism, I think it should be taught as a theory, just like the theory of evolution.

14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush’s daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a “we can’t find Bin Laden” diversion.

 He was a bad guy, shame on Cheney and Reagan. Should we have gone over there and started this war? I don’t know. But I don’t think anyone can argue he was anything but a bad guy.

15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is a solid defense policy.

 I always thought the whole thing about Clinton and Monica was ridiculous. If Bush did lie, shame on him. I’d rather the president screwed one intern than the entire country.

16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

I don’t recall gay marriage being a constitutionally protected right? I do, however, remember something called the first amendment!

17. The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s driving record is none of our business.

 What? I must have missed this one.

18. You support states’ rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have a right to adopt.

I do support state rights.

19. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the 1980s is irrelevant.

Hypocrisy is bad. I think all politicians’ records should be an open book, but that’s not going to happen unless they’re forced to.

20. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist; but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

I can see both sides of this issue. I support fair trade, but at the same time, would our country be destroyed financially if we truly followed only fair-trade practices? I don’t know the answer to that.

Here’s the truth of the matter. BOTH parties are corrupt, hypocritical and self-serving. I’m sure someone could come up with 20 points on democrats as well.

The Sen. Craig Debacle

News of the Weird

Idaho Senator Larry Craig was recently involved in some kind of incident in a Minnesota airport bathroom, CNN reports. Craig had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in the case but has since recanted, saying: “Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been.”

Am I the only one who sees this as fodder for the late-night talk-show hosts? He talks about being gay like it’s something you might do occasionally, like a trendy diet or something.

I just thought that was funny.

TMI

CNN has reported that the growths removed from the president’s colon a couple of days ago are non-cancerous.

Do we really need to know all this information in real time? Can they just spare us and only report the final results? What’s next – a live video feed from the presidential colon-cam?

Bleh.

Caption me

This AP photo of Bush and Putin I found on cnn.com is just SCREAMING to be captioned.

Politics

Jay and I watched “Man of the Year” tonight through movies on demand (on behalf of all lazy people, I’d like to thank the creator of on-demand programming …)

It was a great movie, and it got me to thinking: why can’t we have a serious, viable, I’m-not-playing-by-the-rules independent presidential candidate? I mean, really, American politics at the federal and state level have turned into a mockery.

For one thing, why are we not demanding campaign finance reform? Does any of us really think that a politician can take campaign donations and then not owe that person or organization special favors or considerations?

I’m ready for a major change, and that doesn’t necessarily mean I want to vote a democrat in. I wish we could just wipe the slate clean, send all current Washington pols to an early retirement, and start over with a group of people who are uncorrupted by money and power.

Lofty notions, I know.

So long, farewell …

The end of the Texas legislative session, otherwise known as sine die (Pronounced ’round these parts like ‘SIGH-nee-dye’) approacheth.

I want to amend the Wikipedia page to include this definition: “Day on which Texas Legislature Adjourns, Everyone Throws a Huge Party and Gets Drunk.”

Your tax dollars at work.

Political woes

So, I recently took a quiz meant to match me up with my perfect 2008 Presidential candidate. What it told me is what I really already knew: I am a political misfit. I don’t really fit in anywhere. I feel so negatively about certain issues in both of the major parties’ platforms, I can’t bring myself to declare allegiance to either one. And as much as I believe in principal, I can’t bring myself to get behind an independent either, because – really, who are they kidding?

I’ve never voted, but I really feel like I need to in the 2008 election. I guess I need to do some real soul-searching before then.

 If you want to give the quiz a whack: 2008 Presidential Candidate Picker

Ha.

So long, Saddam

They say (they sure do talk a lot, don’t they?) Saddam is going to hang this weekend. I’m sure there will be sadness, joy, and more bloodshed. So it goes in the middle east. Remind me why we’re over there again?

I know, I know … I think we went into it with the best of fairly good intentions. Everyone thought Saddam had WMDs, even the democrats, who like to pretend now that they never said that. But now, we’re locked in a damned-if-you-don’t, damned-if-you-do situation, and I agree with everyone that says there’s no easy way out.

Don’t you wish you could fast-forward into the future and see how this one’s going to turn out?

Don’t get me started

So Charles Rangel wants to re-up the military draft.

I think this is a HORRIBLE idea, and one that I feel very strongly about. Some people are just NOT born fighters, and why would we want to force them to be? I will GLADLY shell out more tax money so they can raise military salaries to make it a more attractive career option. But for God’s sake, don’t send people who don’t want to go. It’s just not right.

Further, as the mother of a son, I would gladly take my son to Canada before allowing him to be drafted. That possibility is many years in the future, but the mere thought of it makes my blood run cold.

PLEASE don’t leave me comments telling me I’m spoiled and don’t appreciate our country or our military. That’s not even close to true. Last time I wrote a letter to the editor of the Tennessean (when I lived there) saying the same thing, I got a lot of hate mail. Save your breath. Or rather, your fingers.

The election

… is it over yet? Am I the only one out there who is just OVER IT?

Arrogant [insert R-rated word here]

I think the armed forces should band together and run John Kerry out of town on a rail. Or out of the country on a rail, as it were.

Why does some liberal always seem to shoot themselves in the foot right before an election, which will surely cause a backlash?

Pardon all the bad/mixed cliches. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.

Dear Mr. Clinton …

… Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

Bill Clinton: I got closer to killing bin Laden.

Why I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop

I’m sure there are many people out there who would think that I’m a smidgen (or more) paranoid. It’s in my nature. I like to think of myself as cautious, though.

But seriously, I think we’re headed for something really big really soon. The main reason is the recent video released that showed Adam Gadahan, the 25-year-old American-turned-al Quaeda agent, urging the American people to convert to Islam before it’s too late. It’s a common Muslim religious tenet that ‘infidels’ must be offered the chance of conversion before they are killed. And that’s what the video was – it was an open ‘alter call’ for the Muslim faith addressed specifically to the American people. In the video, Gadahan made references to the fact that our time is “short.”

Another recent video from bin Laden claims that they’re in the final planning stages of another major attack.

Also, Glenn Beck recently had a journalist on his show (sorry, don’t remember his name!) who was reporting the fact that Muslims in this country are being told to get out … especially of New York city and Washington D.C.

There are other things as well, like a congressional report that says a new attack is probably coming soon.

So then why aren’t more people hyped up? You’d think people would be a little more concerned. I’m personally trying to keep my fears at bay, but I DO have extra water and food on hand. Couldn’t hurt.

Of course, I know the only one who is ultimately going to keep us safe is the Lord. But I don’t see anything wrong with being reasonably prepared.

I want to hear from people – what do you think we as Americans can/should do now that we’re faced with this potential situation?

Remembering 9/11

I was home from work, in bed sick with a high fever while the whole thing happened. Jay and I were living in a small apartment in Franklin, TN. Jay was sleeping in with me, too – he’d just graduated from college not a month earlier and hadn’t found a full-time job yet.

Around 10:30 am I woke up and called in sick, apologizing for not calling in sooner. My co-worker, Jill C. answered the phone. After I moaned out an excuse for not being there, Jill said, “Melanie, turn your TV on. We’re under a major terrorist attack.”

I had no idea what she meant. Terrorism? Attacked? The U.S.? Surely not.

I flipped on the TV and watched the news reports, hoping that I was having a bad dream that I’d soon wake from. I felt like that for weeks afterward.

After watching the news, I remember crying and calling my dad and asking if this was the end of the world, or the start of the end of the world. It certainly felt like it was. He said he didn’t know.

That night, I went to my sister-in-law’s apartment while Jay went to work. We both sat watching the montage of pictures flip by, with Enya’s “Only Time” serving as a haunting musical backdrop. It was just all a blur.

I went back to work a couple of days later. We were told not to call any clients that week. I don’t think we actually got much work done that week at all… we spent most of the time huddled around a TV, watching the endless news coverage.

Today, five years later, I’m a little older, a little wiser (at least I hope), and certainly more jaded. I expect that we’ll be attacked again, and I try to stay at least semi-prepared for what could be thrown at us – I like to keep a pantry stocked with non-perishables and bottled water.

I try not to dwell on the threats that face us. My imagination has a tendency to run to the most morbid possibilities in every situation, so I could let myself be paralyzed by fear really easily. It’s actually something I have to pray for (peace of mind), and praying DOES help me cope. I think the main fear that I have is bio-terrorism. It’s the whole fear of the unseen and unknown.

My prayers go out to all affected by 9/11 … may God give you peace and safety.

A proposal

More than any other issue that our nation faces, none is as polarizing as abortion. There are the kind of people who are for it, and the kind of people who are against it – and I think I can safely argue that the vast majority of people feel very strongly about whichever of these views that they hold.

So, I have a proposal: let’s divide the nation in half – east to west. The east and west will be separate countries totally independent of each other. We can call the two countries and the states therein ”The Divided States of America.”

So, let’s say Eastern DSA can have the “pro-choice” people, and Western DSA can have the “pro-life” people. Each country can have it’s own government – comprised of executive, legislative and judicial branches – and draft it’s own extensive constitution that won’t leave as much room for interpretation.

And we’ll all live happily ever after.

The death of decorum

Let me start out by saying that I’m not a republican (actually, I’m not quite a democrat either, but that’s a story for another day). And I am a staunch believer protecting our First Amendment rights (free speech).

But, there are just some things that shouldn’t be said or done in a civilized society. Like making a fictional “docu-drama” about the assassination of a sitting president. And that’s just what’s been done in  Death of a President, a new British TV program that the director says is meant to spark dialogue about U.S. foreign policy.

What is shocking is that they don’t even have an Bush-lookalike playing the role; they are actually using digital technology to put the president’s face on another actor.

I for one think this is stepping over the line. Not just the digital-face-jacking … the whole thing.

This is just sad

Let me start off by saying I’m NOT a democrat. I’m not a republican either. My political beliefs are complex and I don’t really fit into either party. But that’s not what this post is about.

I just read an article full of nasty quotes by Fox’s PR department (see article below). This is ridiculous. If these people put as much brainpower and effort into something worthwhile, we’d surely have a cure for cancer by now … and heavens knows what else.

Before you start getting huffy and sending me quotes from the “other” news stations’ PR departments, let me say this: YES, I know, the pendulum swings both ways. Both sides are guilty in the endless, not-so-’civil’ war between the parties. It’s still just sad to me that our society has de-volved into this mess.

Fox Wishing Well

I’m not THAT PC

Political correctness has served some great, noble purposes in this country. Thank God it’s not PC to say the “N”-word anymore, for example – so, hopefully, most of the people who still think that way are at least keeping their mouths shut so the rest of us don’t have to hear it.

But I can only take PC-ness to a point. When people start trying to impose inter-societal mores on international relations, that’s when I want to scream.

One of the first things I learned in International Relations (I was a Poli-Sci minor): anarchy is the rule of law on the international stage. Diplomacy only goes so far, and the UN is, in reality, a bulldog with no teeth. One country ultimately has no control over another. Each individual country is only looking out for #1. So, to expect the United States or any other nation to play Mr. Nice Guy and “be fair” with other countries is laughable.

You may be wondering what riled my ire? Read this story:

Lou Dobbs: Where’s Our Sense of Decency in the Middle East?

Sounded prophetic to me.

When Kim Jong Il decided to fire some nice Fourth-of-July fireworks off, I was immediately reminded of the Soundgarden song, 4th of July, from their Superunknown album.

Well, the world apparently didn’t end then (not that I really thought that it was going to), but the lyrics are kinda creepy nonetheless.

“… Cause I heard it in the wind
And I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
And I thought it was the 4th of july

Pale in the flare light….

And leads the scorched ones here
And everywhere no one cares
The fire is spreading
And no one wants to speak about it …

Now I’m in the fall out…”