Administration's response to oil spill pathetic

This administration's response to the oil spill in the Gulf is pathetic! Let me start by saying that I do not believe it is the President's responsibility to oversee every department in the federal government. I do not expect the president to know what is happening in every corner of the government. I do, however feel it is his responsibility to respond in an executive manner. I would like to think that if I were president I would have gathered experts in the field of oil drilling, representatives from every major oil company available, and anyone else who could offer aid in this crisis on day one. Then done everything possible to make sure that what needs to be done is done. I would have accepted help from those who offered help. And I would have initiated an investigation into what happened before attacking the company behind the spill. There is no question that Pres Obama has failed this country greatly.

The difference between Katrina and this spill is that Katrina was in a large part Louisiana's responsibility. FEMA was slow to respond, but in a large part due to the lack of organization and mobilization of the Louisiana state government. This oil spill occurred in federal waters by a foreign company, therefore it is a federal responsibility. Also, as I stated earlier I do not hold the pres responsible for every single corner of the government. I did not at the time believe that Bush should be held accountable for the poor response by FEMA and I believe that he did act as quickly as possible after the fact as well as taking responsibility for the poor response. Obama has had almost two months to react to this spill and still complaints are coming out that it is taking at least 5 days for the white house to respond to requests for more aid.

Furthermore, regardless of what assumptions we may all be making, one of the cornerstones or our justice system is innocent until proven guilty. If BP was negligent and broke the law resulting in this spill then the federal government should do everything to hold them accountable, but we have yet to know the whole story. They are promising to pay for the spill, they are doing everything they can to stop it - and for anyone who believes they are not what possible benefit would that serve them? The president attacking BP and threatening legal action without any completed investigation is blatantly irresponsible and very detrimental to foreign relations across the world. What foreign company will want to do business with this country if they are not treated fairly. This attack only fuels the anger around this situation and does in now way help to stop the spill and clean up the mess, if anything it takes resources away from resolving the problem. Let's save the witch hunt until we have contained the problem.

The United States of Mexico

I must begin by stating that I was wrong. I was wrong about the immigration law in Arizona. I fell victim to the media's incredible distortion of the truth. It appears now that the law in Arizona simply allows the state police to enforce the existing federal law due to a complete lack of effort by the federal government. And the resulting outcry is despicable. To simply hide behind a veil of racism because the individuals breaking the law are primarily of hispanic origin is pathetic. How does anyone expect to correct the illegal immigration problem in this country if they are not allowed to do their job without being branded a racist? This is NOT a racial issue. This is an immigration issue. Hispanics are illegally coming across our boarders - that is a fact - get over it.

Furthermore, statements that I heard today such as the hispanic girl from a school in CA being offended because a few students showed up at school on Cinco de mayo wearing American flags is further illustration of how much we have lost the soul of this country. If you are so proud of Mexico then GO BACK! The vice principal pulled the students wearing flag t-shirts into his office and asked them to change. Does anyone else see the absolute disrespect for America here? Some claim that it would be the same if hispanics wore Mexican flags on the fourth of July. It is not the same at all and here is why. THIS IS AMERICA!!! Not the United States of America and Mexico - AMERICA! If you don't like it get the F OUT! I am disgusted and enraged that American citizens are being told to take off shirts with the American flag on it - on any day of the year. I have nothing against immigrants - we are all immigrants in one way or another, with the exception of a few - but my ancestors who immigrated respected America - they were Americans first and foremost, grateful of the opportunities this great country provided and respectful of the laws of this nation. If we continue to allow our beliefs and values as Americans to be disregarded we have nothing left to offer our children - sadly someday this great country will just be another extension of the rest of the world without the singularity that makes us great. It is time to require those who have come here to take advantage of the opportunities while disrespecting the county to decide whether they want to be Americans or not - and those who do not should simply go back to the countries that they are so proud of and leave this great country to those who will appreciate it.

Illegal immigration politics

Is it any surprise that immigration reform has now taken the forefront in politics? I agree with many of the political analysts that Obama is using this subject in an attempt to gain the minority votes as well as deter public interest from his many shortfalls. And I am afraid that once again the American public will fall for his political maneuvering.

What the other side needs to do is split the immigrant population between legal and illegal. I say this not only as a political strategy, but as what I feel is right for this country. We need to stop rewarding people for breaking the law and start rewarding those who adhere to it. The best way to do this, while maintaining a respect for the laws of this nation, would be to place families of those who are here legally at the top of the green card list, at the same time cracking down on companies who are hiring illegals. We currently expend time and effort deporting illegal immigrants only to have them return to the same jobs within just a few weeks. There is no excuse for allowing these companies to continue circumventing the laws in such a manner.

Illegal immigrants currently export somewhere in the tens of billions of dollars every year. This is money that could be going towards hospital bills to keep emergency rooms open, teacher's salaries, or numerous other expenses that are bankrupting our states. Encouraging the legal immigration of families who have adhered to the law would not only stem the flow of money out of this country, but also promote the immigration of more responsible and upstanding individuals. A blanket amnesty program is insulting to immigrants who have jumped through hoops to get here and encourages illegal activity. Whether adjusting the green card list to accommodate families who have followed the law or some other method of rewarding these individuals is appropriate, something along these lines needs to be done.

Although I support states like Arizona attempting to solve the immigration problem I hesitate to allow individual police officers to have the power to require any individual to provide proof of citizenship without the appropriate burden of proof. Placing this type of power in the hands of individual law enforcement is exactly what our forefathers designed the constitution to avoid. We need to think long term and consider the future ramifications of such a law. I believe that the laws do currently exist to stem the flow of illegal immigration as long as states are given the support and ability to enforce them.

Planned all Along

I have no doubt in my mind that the government has planned the private health care fall all along and we are already seeing the beginning of it now. This week a number of large corporations have come out saying that as a result of the health care bill they will be paying out billions of dollars more in benefits. This will result in employers decreasing medical coverage or even discontinuing coverage for retires and employees. I believe that this consequence was obvious as soon as congress began discussing the pull back of the tax write offs. What bothers me is that it was not covered in the media. How could Congress and the media not have seen this coming? That is why I believe our law makers planned this all along.

The democrats' response to these corporations is that they are playing politics. It is their tactic to diminish and cover up any and every legitimate complaint against the health care bill under a mass of hate speech and accusations. The actions of a few have been used to undermine legitimate arguments, playing politics is used to avoid having to actually address the issues, and when those tactics don't work Obama comes up with a new cause to distract the public - If you think I am wrong just watch illegal immigration take over the headlines as health care falls under the raider picking apart the private health care system along the way. The Obama administration's end goal is a single payer system in the US - and we will see the pieces fall into place steadily over the next year.

Obamacare

Obama care is inherently designed to run private health care companies out of business. The way insurance works in a nut shell is that the people who aren't sick basically cover the people who are. It sounds unfair, but it's the only way that it works. Imagine if every person waited until they got sick to get health insurance. Their premiums wouldn't even cover the cost of their bills. This is why the "big bad" insurance companies have pre-existing condition clauses - to ensure that people have insurance even when they aren't sick. From what I have been informed about the wonderful health care bill is that it requires private health insurance companies to spend 80% of your premium on actual care for you and if they do not do that you get a refund at the end of the year. This sounds great - why shouldn't your premium be used for you? It is great - until you are the one that is sick. Here is a fact - health care is expensive. Shocker, right? Equipment, drugs, tests, doctors, etc... are all expensive. Your premium only covers a small portion of your medical bills - the rest is funded by responsible people who pay for their insurance and don't use it. It's the same as home owners insurance, car insurance, and life insurance. You pay so that if you have a catastrophe you won't lose everything. In the meantime your money goes into a pool to help fellow Americans who have had that unfortunate catastrophe. This process works as long as everyone does their share.

By the way, what the Obama administration doesn't want you to know is that HIPPA protects individuals from being dropped from their employers insurance plan - you cannot be denied insurance from your employers coverage as long as you have had continuous coverage and if in the event that your coverage has lapsed, they can only deny you for up to 12 months - then they have to cover you. So the only major problem with our system as far as pre-existing coverage is concerned is that self employed and unemployed people did not have similar protection. This is a problem that could have been rectified with a simple bill to protect the individual, but the Obama administration played on the plight of a minority of Americans to help force a bill through that will eventually run private insurance out of business.

If private insurance does not have the pool of money from premiums of people with no major medical issues they will not have the money to cover anyone. Then in swoops the government (our tax dollars) who do not have to pay tax and can operate at a lower level and lower cost and private insurance becomes a thing of the past. This is what happened in Canada and this is what will happen in the US. It's all about power and control. The requirement in the bill that you pay an extra tax if you do not have insurance is simply another way for the government to cheat you out of your money. They set this requirement in Massachusetts and it only resulted in people choosing to pay the fine rather that get insurance because the fine was far cheaper than the insurance premiums and since their is a government plan that covers anyone regardless of pre-existing insurance why bother paying the higher cost? Unfortunately the government insurance will consist of long lines, rationed care, and poorer quality. This is inevitable because without profit their is no motivation.

Mark my words, this bill is just one step towards implementing a universal health care plan by eliminating all the "big bad" health insurance companies.

Absolute Insanity in Congress!

I have just discovered that Congress truly does not have any boundaries. I have been suspicious for quite some time, but now there is confirmation that there is no rule that they can't break. Nancy Pelosi is now going to "deem" the health bill passed. I vote to "deem" her insane and "deem" it necessary to commit her to an asymlum immediately. Hmmm, think that will pass? Don't think so.

Pelosi is quoted saying "I like it because people don't have to vote on the senate bill". What????!!! So because so many Americans do not support this bill to the extent that even democrats in Congress are afraid to put their name on it we are now going to just skip the vote. How is it even possible that they can consider getting away with this? If this bill is so good and important to the American people why is it necessary to circumvent our government processes in a blatant abuse of power with an unprecedented use of policy - which is questionable at best?

Representatives are defending this by saying that the American people don't care about the process, but about the result. Who says? I'm American and I CARE! What part of state "representative" do we not understand? Over half of the country does not support this bill and do not want it passed. Pelosi and friends claim that we just need to get it passed and the American people will be happy with the results. Perhaps the American people want to see some success from the stimulus package before we support the government throwing billions of dollars at another pie in the sky project.

Reconciliation - Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right

So the democrats are now going through with pushing the health care bill through reconciliation. As a lowly American citizen, I do not know much about this process so I looked it up on Wikipedia. Reconciliation, by definition, "is a legislative process of the United States Senate intended to allow consideration of a contentious budget bill without the threat of filibuster...It was expected to be used together with the second resolution adopted in the fall, and was to apply to a single fiscal year and be directed primarily at spending and revenue legislation acted on between the adoption of the first and second budget resolutions." Correct me if I am wrong, but this appears to state that reconciliation should only be used to rectify minor budget disputes that arise after the adoption of the first budget resolution. How in the world did we get to a point where our health care is going to be changed dramatically - health care constitutes 1/6th of our economy by the way - by using a process which was never intended for this purpose. This, in my lowly opinion - I am just a citizen of this country whom the people in congress are supposed to be representing after all - is a direct violation of Due Process.

Supporters of reconciliation are using the defense that the Republicans have been using this procedure for questionable bills for years. Two Wrongs DO NOT Make a Right - even if you are Obama - the chosen one. In actuality, both parties have used reconciliation when it fits their agenda. In fact President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid are all on the record having been strongly against reconciliation in the past - I have to admit this was the first thing I have ever heard that I actually agree with them on, at least before they flipped. This procedure was never intended to be used for a bill of this magnitude, let alone for a bill which over half of the country has come out strongly against.

Abraham Lincoln's government "of the people, by the people, for the people." is being severely threatened by people who are encouraging a government which believes they know what is best for the people regardless of what the people say. I for one pray that this bill does not pass for many reasons. But what American's need to consider most is what is next. If we allow the government to blatantly circumvent the procedures that have been implemented and practiced in this country for so many years what are they going to do next? If we allow the government to ignore our voices and insist that we cannot know what is best for us where will it end?

I will leave you with this quote from one of histories most infamous characters, "For the bureaucrat, the world is a mere object to be manipulated by him." Karl Marx

Salt ban, what's next?

There is a democrat in New York who is proposing a ban on salt. Now, I realize (and seriously hope) that the likelihood of this ban coming into law is extremely low, but the fact that it even exists is extremely frightening. We already have bans in certain cities prohibiting people from smoking on their own patios or in their own cars. We have bans on using trans fat in restaurants. We have campaigns attempting to get junk food thrown out of schools. We are required by law to wear seat belts. And I can't even list the number of environmental regulations we are required by the government to comply to.

Many people would ask what is wrong with any of these ideas. Smoking is bad, trans fats are bad, junk food is bad, etc... But, my problem is that it was never intended that the government assume the role of telling us how to live our lives. I don't want the government controlling me and making decisions for me. Sure it starts with an innocent ban on smoking but what's next? Bans on soda? Bans on religion - oh but isn't that already happening in many ways? How about bans on what can be broadcast on TV or the radio? Wait, doesn't Obama attack Fox News? How is that not trying to influence the American people on what they watch? If he had had his way they would already be controlling the conservative radio shows. The government is slowly but surely reaching into our homes and taking away our freedoms under the guise of social wellness programs.

I support programs to educate people on the effects of smoking, trans fats, etc... However, I do not believe it is the government's role to tell us what is best for us. If we want to have some french fries or smoke a cigarette on occasion we should be able to - it's not illegal after all. I am a big proponent of everything in moderation and I do not need some bureaucrat in Washington who sneaks off to smoke cigarettes somewhere in the White House putting restrictions on what I can and can't do.

The Healthcare Bill

I recently got into a discussion with a self declared progressive regarding the health care bill. She came straight out of the gate condemning “those republicans in congress” for not supporting the bill. To which I replied that I thought they were doing the right thing and that, although I do believe that some changes need to be made to the health care in this country, I do not believe the 2,800 page bill being rammed through congress is the solution. I figured it would be pointless to point out the fact that until recently the democrats did not need a single republican vote to get the bill passed.

Here is where I stand, I have a chronic condition which has required and will continue to require continuous care for the rest of my life and I am extremely grateful for the ability to pay more and receive better care for myself to ensure a better life for myself and my family. I am not willing to give up that luxury. A universal health care system- or any form of government run competition - will inherently run private health care companies out of business. As has occurred in Canada, the private insurance companies cannot compete with a not profit government system. And the only result – which has occurred in both Canada and England – is long waits for treatment and denial of necessary drugs and treatments based on age and due to bureaucratic red tape. I pointed this out to my adversary who denied that the bill was that long and just continued to state that something needed to be done yet had no solution as to what and how to accomplish "something". She then discussed how she does not currently have insurance because it costs too much – yet she is selling a home worth over a million dollars and plans to purchase another home worth another million dollars. As I watched her drive away in her Mercedes amid a haze of hypocrisy I had to wonder who she thinks is going to pay for the “something” that she thinks needs to be done.

Who I Am

My husband is sick of listening to me rant about politics. I watch what is happening in the world and I am befuddled as to how I can feel so alone in my beliefs. I have friends, family, neighbors whom I respect and admire a great deal and I struggle to understand how my beliefs can be so different from theirs. I am aware that half of the country does not agree with me so I am not so arrogant as to assume that half of the country is wrong and I am completely right. Yet I feel so strongly in what I believe that I can’t understand how half of the country disagrees with me. We as a nation have allowed ourselves to be pitted against each other for so long that I feel we no longer have a clue what the other side really believes. “Republican” and “Conservative” have become bad words.

According to the definitions my political affiliation lies somewhere between or within conservative and libertarian. The most straight forward way I can put it is that I believe in America, I believe in the constitution of the United States, and I believe in the American Dream. Unfortunately, I feel that we are killing the American Dream little by little every day. I am not starting this blog with the dream of changing anyone’s mind or convincing people that I am right. And to be honest I really don’t expect anyone to pay it much attention. I am only attempting to send my thoughts out into the vast expanse of internet chatter in an effort to expend my frustration and to share my beliefs.

I guess I should start by admitting that I did not vote for Barrack Obama. Whew, I said it. Don’t shoot me. Before you accuse me of being a racist and condemn me to eternal hell allow me to explain why I did not vote for him. I didn’t believe him, I didn’t believe that “change” without a solid definition and an outline of what was actually going to be “changed” was the right direction for our country. I do not believe that “spreading the wealth” is a viable solution for America. And here’s why – it’s not realistic. Our economy is based on competitive markets, human nature is inherently competitive. If you take away the competition you take away the motivating factor for most Americans. Most of us are driven by one simple belief; if I work hard I will be able to live a more comfortable, successful life. When you start rewarding people for nothing you take away motivation. Now – here is the big misconception that many progressives would take away from my statements – that is not to say that I do not support a safety net for those in need. I will say it again in more straightforward terms – I am not a cold hearted greedy person who would kick someone when they are down, I believe in some programs to help people who really need it. Yet, even having stated that, I will be condemned as a close minded money grubbing republican. There will be no open debate over the pros and cons of capitalism or a trickle down economy. No one will answer the question of whether it is really fair to take over half of someone’s income to be put towards government programs that they may or may not support, they will simply do as Michael Moore and deny that it is true.

It is my belief that we as individuals can take better care of ourselves, and money is better put to use in the hands of the people rather than trapped in layer after layer of bureaucratic sludge.
The definition of socialism on Wikipedia – I chose Wikipedia because I believe it is a nonpartisan site -“Most socialists share the view that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital and derives its wealth through exploitation, creates an unequal society, does not provide equal opportunities for everyone to maximise their potential, and does not utilise technology and resources to their maximum potential nor in the interests of the public.” What part of “spread the wealth” is not covered in this statement? Yet if anyone refers to Obama as a socialist they are branded a radical right wing lunatic. In his defense he hasn’t actually taken over our homes, but wait doesn’t the government own the loans to our houses? But still, he hasn’t instituted a single payer health care system – but he would have if given the opportunity. Okay, okay, still he hasn’t actually taken over are financial system. Hmm, doesn’t the government pretty much control most of the American auto industry through Obama’s administration, aren’t they trying to put restrictions on the way banks pay salaries, make financial decisions, pretty much run their business? If it walks, talks, and acts like a duck it’s pretty much a duck, right?

Okay – in all seriousness President Obama himself has denied being a socialist so let’s take him at his word. But, wouldn’t we as Americans be remiss if we didn’t at least keep an eye on the many socialistic-esque policies being proposed and instituted in our government?

So that, in not so much of a nut shell, is the main reason why I didn’t vote for Barrack Obama for president. But if that doesn’t suit, don’t worry there will be many more reasons to come.