WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE BILL?

Search for HR 3200 on the web and take your pick. Then, go grab your representative and Senator over the summer recess and get your resulting questions answered.

Please note, and I stand corrected, that some of the information in the July 29th posting is not correct, meaning that there is some incorrect info on the internet and we need to check what we are reading and writing for accuracy. I feel like a modern-day media representative. Sorry...

OLD FARTS HAVE FIVE MONTHS TO COVER THEIR MEDICAL BUTTS

When the new Government Health Care Plan takes effect, probably around January 1, 2010, the ball will start rolling to convert health care as we know it, into the new Obama Plan. Granted, it will take time to set up the new agency and related bureaucracy, and for the various oversight committees and government directorates to get their feet on the ground…let’s say five years. That’s about how long it will take for them to hire 200,000 administrators and to write and install the rules.

So, if you are 55 now, you will be 60 when things really start to get sticky. But, in the meanwhile confusion will reign. That means that no medical treatment or procedure is going to be given unless the initial rules say specifically that it’s okay. No one wants to risk jail by sticking their necks out.

The way I see it, if there is anything…any medical issue that you can possibly foresee, and if you will be 55 or over on January 1, 2010, you need to get it taken care of now, before it’s too late. After that, between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2015, you’re going to get the answer to the effect that the rules are “unclear.” After January 1, 2015, you are going to get diddly squat because…you’ll definitely be an old fart. And, as we know, old farts won’t count.

As a matter of fact, and beginning in 2011 at the very latest, you’ll be visited by a community health representative, probably from ACORN, who will tell you what you are required to include in your Living Will in order to comply with the new regulations. This visit will not be an option; either you comply or your Social Security benefits will be terminated until you DO comply. Your Medicare benefits as they exist today will be gone; that’s part of the plan and your contributions to the plan under the contract America has had with you up to this point… don’t matter. The government can break any contracts it “needs” to break…. at will and that’s because whatever rights you have emanate from the government itself.

Simply put, you’d be well-advised to start stocking up on all of the pills you might ever possibly need right now. If you have a toenail that could, maybe, become ingrown by 2015, get it examined now. Any possible thing that could medically hurt you between now and the end of your life, you need to get treated now. Do not depend on your children or grandchildren to save the day, because they will have no choice in the matter.

Even if you have $100 million bucks….you will have to leave the country to see a doctor if you’re over 65.

You have five months left to cover your future medical needs. Do it now.

That’s MY AMERICAN OPINION, based on what I’ve read.

HORRIBLE DETAILS OF GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE

SPECIAL POST

Remember good old ACORN, the outfit that is under investigation in many states and under indictment in some for its election activities? Remember ACORN, the outfit that is taking charge of the 2010 Census from the Department of Commerce? Remember ACORN, with its internal fraud and corruption that Eric Holder refuses to investigate?

Remember the provision in the new Health Care Reform Plan that government agents will come to your house to discuss your "choices" about health care in your twilight years? According to this information, if true, guess who is going to do that? ACORN, that's who.

Read on.

Subject: Health Care, details
People are starting to read the health care bill being considered by the House. As they say, the devil is in the details. Here are some that have been noted. If you feel the need please call or email your representatives, the website below will get you to your "representative"

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Also, forward this to others on your email list.

Note that this list only extends to page 498, and the bill is over 1000 pages.

Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill mandates that the Govt will audit the books of all employers that self insure

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - Establishes a Govt committee that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 29 lines 4-16 - Rationing of health care

Pg 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice

PG 50 Section 152 - Health Care will be provided to all non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58 - Govt will have real-time access to individuals' finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued

Pg 59 lines 21-24 - Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer

PG 65 Sec 164 - This is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in community orgs (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 - Govt is creating an Health Care Exchange to bring private plans under Govt control.

PG 84 Sec 203 - Govt mandates all benefit pkgs for private plans be in the Govt health care exchange

PG 85 Line 7 - Specifics for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare

PG 91 Lines 4-7 - Govt mandates "linguistic appropriate services." Translation: for illegal aliens

Pg 95 Lines 8-18 - The Govt will use groups (i.e., ACORN & Americorps) to sign up individuals for Govt plan

PG 85 Line 7 - Specifics of Benefit Levels for Plans. (#AARP members - your care will be rationed)

-PG 102 Lines 12-18 - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

pg 124 lines 24-25 - No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt Monopoly

pg 127 Lines 1-16 - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will set compensation for you

Pg 145 Line 15-17 - An Employer must automatically enroll employees into Govt plan

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 - Employers must pay for health care for part time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 - Any Employer with a payroll of 400k & above who does not provide public option pays an 8% tax on all payroll

pg 150 Lines 9-13 - Any employer with a payroll betwween 251k & 400k who doesn't provide public option pays a 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 167 Lines 18-23 - Any individual who doesn't have acceptable Health Care according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 - Any nonresident Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)

Pg 195 - Officers & employees of Health Care Administration of Govt will have access to all Americans financial and personal records

PG 203 Line 14-15 - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that

Pg 239 Line 14-24 - Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected

Pg 241 Line 6-8 - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same

PG 253 Line 10-18 - Govt sets value of Doctor's time, professional judgement, etc.

PG 265 Sec 1131- Govt mandates & controls productivity for private Health Care industries

PG 268 Sec 1141 - Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs

PG 272 SEC. 1145 - Controls treatment given at Cancer hospitals - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing

Page 280 Sec 1151 - The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmissions

Pg 298 Lines 9-11 - Doctors that treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission will be penalized

Pg 317 L 13-20 - Prohibition on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own.

Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 - Prohibition on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand

pg 321 2-13 - Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception to expansion rule, but "community input" (ie, ACORN) required.

Pg 341 Lines 3-9 - Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advanced Plans, HMOs, etc., forcing people into Govt plan

Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will restrict enrollment of Special needs people.

Pg 379 Sec 1191 - Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. (Health Care by phone)

PG 425 Lines 4-12 - Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consultations. Senior Citizens must meet with Govt representatives on a regular basis (more often if ill) to discuss "end of life" issues

Pg 425 Lines 17-19 - Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!

PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 - Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

PG 427 Lines 15-24 - Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends

Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An "Advance care planning consult" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates

PG 429 Lines 10-12 "Advance care consultation" may include an order for end of life plans.

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

PG 430 Lines 11-15 - The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life

Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services (ACORN Medical Svcs)

Page 472 Lines 14-17 - Monthly payments to community-based organizations (ACORN)

PG 489 Sec 1308 - The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage

Pg 494-498 Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those svcs

These details, if enacted, indicate to me that we are under the control of mobsters and gangsters, and they underscore why we have to take back control of our government before it's too late!

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, scared to death.

MY PROBLEMS WITH HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN

1. I’m on Medicare. I have a supplementary policy through AARP. I’ve got good coverage, have the doctors and the dentist I want, and I get good service. Why should I be forced to give this up for a worse plan?

2. There is so much fraud and waste in Medicare and in government in general. Why should I be forced to pay more taxes before they fix the management problems they already have?

3. Everyday, people go to the emergency room for a so-called “cold” or aching thumb, just so they can get out of work for the day. Why do I want to see that problem balloon?

4. Why can’t they rein in costs first, by capping malpractice payouts and allowing Canadian drugs into the country? They could also cap charges for hospital stays and insurance profits.

5. Since this is really a welfare proposal, why can’t it be handled like the Food Stamp program? You go in and qualify and get benefits tied into your ability to pay.

6. What do employers have to do with it? If an employee negotiates with his employer and the employer agrees to furnish the insurance, that’s part of the employee’s compensation package. If the employer pays the employee more wages and salary and tells the employee to get his own insurance, there’s nothing wrong with that. So, where do we get off telling employers that they have to provide the insurance or pay the penalty? Doesn’t that amount to taking the employers money or property, (a crime).

7. Why should a hard-working man or woman be forced to pay for the health care of someone who willingly sits on their ass and draws welfare?

8. If 12 million Mexicans are here illegally, where does Congress have the right to force ME, a natural citizen, to pay for their health care?

9. In order to compete with foreign countries in the manufacture and sale of goods, won’t more businesses just simply ship their manufacturing out of the country, adding to the unemployment numbers?

10. Won’t small business owners lay off their employees and get their family members to help them run the business?

11. How many federal employees and agencies will be added to administer and oversee the new program?

12. Part of the problem of high costs is that we don’t currently have enough qualified providers in the system. The new plan will cap pay and prevent good doctors and providers from earning according to their professionalism and abilities. This will lead to a further decline in the patient/provider ratio.

13. We have the best health care in the world. Why do we have to tinker with it?

14. Why is the President and Congress targeting seniors by taking away Medicare and capping the benefits and treatments they can receive? Isn't this, like abortion, simply government-funded homicide?

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S SALES PITCH...

SPECIAL POST

1. I can’t help but wonder if anybody has bothered to ask the medical and health communities if they can contribute a viable answer to the health care problem?

2. If we add 26 million people to the health care system tomorrow, how many of those 26 million people will be sitting in doctor’s offices by the end of the day looking for a free checkup?

3. What impact will the new plan have on service in the initial days and weeks?

4. How will we process those 26 million sign ups?

5. What about the 12 million illegals to be covered under this policy? Why?

6. Why was the Manager of the Congressional Budget Office called to the White House after he issued facts and figures which do not support the new Health Plan proposal?

7. Why won't the Members of Congress agree to read it before they vote on it?

8. Given its attributed costs, why won't the American public be allowed to see it before it is voted on?

9. Where does our President get the unmitigated gall to claim that the money we have spent and allocated has now saved the economy?

10. When we are the ones trying to slow this process down so that we can examine the new Plan and constructively debate it, why does the President say that we are the ones who want action now?

We do need changes in Health Care for our nation. But, we are talking a lot of money on top of a lot of money that, despite the President's statements to the contrary, has not been effective in straightening up our economy. And, we're talking about creating an entitlement to the American people that will last forever and ever. We need to move forward, but not until we have dotted the i's and crossed the t's.


That’s MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

THE PRESIDENT'S INFECTIOUS SMILE ON STAGE TONIGHT

SPECIAL POST

President Obama goes to the famous teleprompter tonight again, (he's got more TV time logged already than most Presidents have in a full term). He's set to convince us that his health care reform plans have to be passed and passed right now or the sky is going to fall in, just like the stimulus.

This is the way I see it. We have 25 million people out of work. While we all acknowledge that changes need to be made to cap rising health care costs, the very first priority this country must face is to get people back to work. If we don't get people back to work now, the sky WILL fall in.

We have no business taking on more debt for anything while people are out of work.

The President's ballyhooing about how his "stimulus" and TARP and Omnibus were going to cure the economy have proven themselves to be wrong. We do not need to be pushed, cajoled, or bullied into another costly mistake.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

WASHINGTON FULL OF MEAN-SPIRITED SCOWLERS

Have you ever seen Harry Reid when he wasn’t scowling? Well, what about Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frankfarter or Chris Dodd, or Barbara Boxer or…. ?? Have you noticed that even Barack Obama is now developing a glowering, sulking scowl? When you line their pictures all up together, the crows all leave the cornfield.

Nancy Pelosi comes out and accuses the CIA of lying to and misleading Congress on a regular and consistent basis. Then, in the face of denials from CIA Director Panetta, she stonewalls it. Finally, after weeks of shucking and ducking, stories surface that Dick Cheney and the CIA had worked on a plan to assassinate Al Queda leaders and then shelved it. The allegations are flying that Cheney and the CIA mislead Congress because they never told Congress of their “plans,” even though they never came close to the implementation stage. Pelosi would have us believe that every time somebody in the CIA starts conjecturing, she must be told about it. On that basis, Pelosi is guilty of micromanagement. The CIA has no obligation to inform Congress of any plans unless it intends to implement them. Therefore, Pelosi has simply manufactured a scandal smokescreen to divert attention from her prior statements.

But, wait! Her audacity is boundless! She has the unmitigated gall to suggest that the proposed Health Care Reform Plan is not going to cost the taxpayer one dime, but then announces with glee that Congress is going to raise our taxes anyway. And she scowls at us when we throw up our hands in disgust?

Then, you have the illustrious Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Oversight Committee who was at the helm pushing Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac to get the money out the door to unqualified housing buyers and we who then has the temerity to say that there was not enough regulation of financial activities. Who was in charge there? And he scowls at us when we throw up our hands in disgust?

Chris Dodd, embroiled in controversies and whose wife sits on the boards of several Health Care related organizations and corporations… Chris Dodd, whose ties to Countrywide Financial are almost as endless as his seemingly outright lies and deceptions… now stands firmly behind Ted Kennedy’s Health Care Reform plan and asserts that we need to get this done. Less than 1% of the Connecticut voters say they will vote for his reelection and yet… he scowls at us when we throw up our hands in disgust?

Barbara Boxer dresses down a military general for calling her “ma’am” instead of “Senator, then wags her pointing finger at the Chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and attempts to shout down his views on environmental issues that she champions and, when Harry Alford protests and voice his frustrations at her tactics, she dumps on him big time. He has since accused her openly of being racist, as it appears she is… and she scowls at us when we throw up our hands in disgust?

Nevada’s “Mr. Clean” Harry Reid has been trying to maintain a low profile ever since he raised the ire of millions of Americans when he tried to subvert the Constitution by refusing to seat newly appointed Illinois Senator Roland Burris last spring. Riding roughshod over the rest of the Senate herd, Reid has never hesitated to pull a dirty trick in order to ramrod his agendas down the throats of Congress or the American people. He scowls at us when we throw up our hands in disgust?

Finally comes our President, back from another international apology tour, who senses that the Health Care Reform Bill being tossed around the halls of Congress right now is in trouble because the American citizens are beginning to understand the future tax implications and losses of liberty that the bill embodies. In a true, tough Chicago basketball move, he puts on the full-court press and practically orders Congress to get the Bill passed before the August recess because he knows what Members of Congress are going to hear from Americans when they return to their states and he knows the Bill won’t stand a chance of passage as a result.

He too now scowls at us as we once more throw up our hands in disgust.

It’s as if they all would scowl together and lament, “Those damned, stupid citizens keep clinging on to their religions and guns!”

Don’t you think it’s time that we at least scowled back?

That’s MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

OBAMA: WE WILL HAVE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE: "INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION"

Our Dictator Has Spoken

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE?

REPUBLICANS STEPPING INTO MAJOR PILE OF DUNG

Let Obama’s favorability rating plummet a mere 15% to just a tad below 50% and the Republicans start ballyhooing and gloating as if they had just soared into control of the nation! Obama’s in trouble? No, the Republicans are in trouble.

As a matter of fact, the Republicans have been in trouble ever since Ronald Reagan left office. They’ve lacked cohesive leadership, a unifying platform, and firmness of conviction. They had the future of the nation in the grasp of their hands and they allowed their chance to assert positive control slip away with the sands of time. The party had crumbled to such an extent that, by the time of the November elections, they completely and totally waffled.

And, these guys think that somehow, through the horrible leadership of Barack Obama and his goons, the Republican Party has somehow gained stature among Americans? Don’t they understand that the failure of Democrat policy does NOT automatically mean that Americans are now rallying behind the GOP?

No way, Jose.

The Republicans were in charge during the first term of George Bush and, once past 9/11, all they did was to fight with the rest of Congress instead of buckling down and taking proactive measures to grow and protect the American economy and to improve our nation’s image abroad. Now that the economic crisis threatens to bring the country to its knees, the Republicans claim that the underlying problems with the housing sector started during the Clinton years. While that might well be the case, the fact remains that the Republicans did not correct the problem during eight years of the Bush Administration.

So, Republicans, don’t go running around throwing celebratory parties and crowing like happy hens because the nation is finally beginning to comprehend that we have a full-blown gang of idiots now in charge in Washington. The plain simple fact of the matter is that the Republicans are still pissing and moaning over November election results instead of picking up the shattered pieces and moving forward.

It’s been eight months since the elections. Do they yet have any clear leadership in the Republican Party? Not only “no” to that question, but “hell, no” is more like it. Have they even scratched the surface of defining their directions, goals, and platform? Another “Hell, no” to that one.

So, what do they have to gloat about? Are they insane? In taking this approach, all they are achieving is to totally convince the rest of the country that they have lost all touch with the reality of their position.

Here’s the real worry we Americans have right now. We have a Washington consumed with adulation for a “messiah” whose wheels are falling off and who has surrounded himself with the absolutely worst accumulation of idiots ever to occupy government office. But, if we were to find a way to get them out of their jobs right now… Who in the Sam hell could we replace them with? Who?

It seems to me, in my humble American Opinion, that the Republican Party is in so many pieces that even Humpty Dumpty cannot put them together again…. And there are no Kings Horse’s or King’s men around to lend a helping hand, either.

That’s what we’re stuck with, and it sucks big time!

That’s MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

ARE GOVERNMENT CROOKS PILLAGING OUR TREASURY?

SPECIAL POST

Here’s a well-known fact: Whenever there’s a lot of money around, there’s bound to be loads of people trying to figure out a way to get their hands on it. And, if there’s enough money to be had, even those on the inside will be looking for a way to snatch it for themselves. In order to do that, of course, you want to get rid of anyone on the inside who might be smart enough to catch on and to stop you from succeeding.

Various government agencies have “Inspectors General” to audit and oversee the movement of funds within the agencies. When some influence puts up a roadblock against an I.G.’s ability to do his job, we taxpayers should beware. And, if that influence is an outside political influence, the danger signals should be flying at full force... particularly when top government officials are admitting that they cannot account for all of the TARP money or the Stimulus Bill money that has been spent.

Before I go further along this thought-line, let me stop long enough to mention the $134.5 billion is U.S. Treasury notes that were discovered in a suitcase in the process of being moved by two Asian gentlemen across the Italian-Swiss border last month. There were a whole ton of questions arising out of this story, but the U.S. Treasury refused to confirm or deny anything, the two Asians were released, and no one knows what happened to the $134.5 billion in treasury bonds. Now, that is a lot of money to leave hanging out in thin air like that, would you agree?

Back to the story line. In June, Gerald Walpin, an Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service, was fired in the middle of his investigation into misuse of grant funds by St. Hope Academy; the founder is a close personal associate of… President Barack Obama.

Fred Weiderhold Jr., the I.G. at Amtrak, handed Congress a 94 page report stating that Amtrak’s lawyers were refusing to provide requested documents or were providing partially blacked-out documents in response to an investigation. The Administration immediately accepted his “retirement” papers.

At the International Trade Commission, Acting I.G. Judith Gwynne was pursuing contractor irregularities when commission officials allegedly forcibly removed purchasing documents from her possession. When she notified her boss, she was fired.

I.G. Neil Barofsky, who was overseeing the $700 billion TARP funds, was called in by the U.S. Treasury Department and told that he worked for them; he got sidelined when he protested that this could essentially amount to a conflict of interest and that Treasury would have the ability to withhold documents from him. This move came just as he started digging into Treasury’s decision to allow the AIG bonuses.

Back in April, the U.S. Treasury said, after persistent questioning, that it had $134.5 billion in TARP funds left at that time. Is that a coincidence, or did the money actually end up in a suitcase in Italy?

Why are these Inspectors General being dismissed in the middle of ongoing investigations?

Why has the Federal Reserve Bank been stonewalling a request by the Inspectors General and the Government Accountability Office to audit its books?

Is our Treasury being robbed by those who have the power to do so and to cover it up?

Is the Mob in charge here, or what?

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

************************************

Check out the new website: Burney Mountain Hermit

LONG OVERDUE SHORT SHOTS

Ted Kennedy has taped a campaign ad to support Chris Doddledung. Chris, ever the daring kind of guy, declined to take a ride with Teddy over the bridge at Chappaquiddick.

ACORN is changing its name, ostensibly to avoid continuing scandal and criminal charges. I don't know what they are worried about; neither the Attorney General, Department of Justice or Congress is willing to investigate anything to do with ACORN. Is the Mob in control here, or what?

Now that we've almost completely pulled out of Iraq, we can expect that the radical Muslims, such as Osama and his cronies, will now quit their campaign against the United States, which means that we can fold up the Department of Homeland Security. Isn't that just dandy? All of which explains why our illustrious Prez had invited Iranian diplomats to attend July 4th festivities at American Embassies and, we hear, at a White House Barbecue. Obama said that he had wanted to extend a hand of friendship and understanding, (while Iranian citizens were protesting in their streets over an obviously phony election?) Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced with great aplomb, that none of the Iranians had RSVP'd anyway. (Do you suppose they were so busy assembling IED's for the events that they forgot?)

Hacker numbers are rapidly increasing as attempts to get into our national security systems, military websites, banking institutions and utilities climb. Predominantly, these attacks are originating in Russia and China. This fact leaves the door wide open for the Administration to insert its increasingly intruding and bulbous regulatory nose into the Internet, and to start charging Americans a "use" tax or some other fee to cover the associated costs.

In one month alone, at one email address, I received over 400 emails from Nigerian sources promising to make me rich. The latest wave of emails purportedly comes from the FBI and, if you open one, your computer is going to be infected, big time. Now all we have to do is to figure out a way to redirect the FBI emails back to Nigeria.

Further on the fascism scene... Part of the proposed Health Care package provides for "random" home visitations by health care bureaucrats to determine whether or not safe and best health practices are being followed. If not, they would write out mandatory referrals that you would HAVE TO follow up on, or face the governmental consequences. To get you to buy into this, the line is going to be that we "owe it to our children."

More on the "Big Brother is Watching" scene: Remember those video cameras at intersections? There was an uproar of sorts when they were first introduced shortly after 9/11. The governments, (federal, state and local), were quick to assuage our fears by stating that they were there only for the purpose of helping to catch terrorists or to serve as a source of information in the event of a traffic accident. Besides, they insisted, there was no way that they could read your vehicle license, anyway. In 2009, however, there is a growing use of such video cameras to cite drivers for running red lights, failure to wear seat belts, and similar offenses. How can they do that if they can't read our license plate numbers? Do you think there might be some bureaucrat or politician out there plotting to put video cameras in homes to make sure you eat healthy foods and do not take in more calories than your allotted intake? No? Did it ever occur to you folks out there with video cameras in your laptops or desktops that Big Brother could be watching you right now? (As I type this, I can predict that 25% of readers will quit picking their noses immediately, 25% will adjust their bras or check their lipstick, 25% will go put some clothes on, and 25% will flip me the finger. )

In a not-so-puzzling case of "Big Brother is NOT Watching," the United States Attorney General decided to drop all criminal charges against the Black Panther Party for blocking and trying to intimidate Philadelphia votes in the November elections:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2OsPDW7p74

The Attorney General had originally filed charges, tried the case and won but, out of the clear blue and for no explicable reason, he decided to drop all charges on May 15th. Is the Mob in control here, or what?

On the gun control front, White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel, Attorney General Eric Holder, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, "Call Me Senator" Barbara Boxer and others are quietly working up a new theory.... Their argument will be that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prevents Congress from passing any laws to take away the right to bear arms, but it does not prevent a state or local government from doing so. Boxer was heard in April saying that she will sponsor a national gun registration law, it's just a matter of choosing the right time.

I vote that we also ban fireworks and fireworks displays. Fireworks do kill people and they start fires.

Don't know why the media is so upset with the "discovery" that Obama has been staging his "Town Hall Meetings" designed to drum up support for his Health Care Bill. By now, everyone should be aware that this President is a spoiled little brat who will do anything, and I do mean anything, to get his own way. Besides, the move was a strategy straight out of the old Clinton "Play Ball By My Rules" playbook and it's not as if this particular play has never been used before.

Tim Geithner, the financial genius who is going to save the country, is saying that the government needs to make homes more affordable. Tim, you're the money Czar. You and your cronies have managed to change the terms of mortgage loans and to make signed, sealed, written and notarized contracts as worthless as used toilet tissue. So, why don't you guys just pop off with a new regulation giving you the power to say that a new or used house cannot sell for more than $90 per square foot? It's just that simple, pal. My God, is the Mob in control here, or what?

Now that Washington has given all citizens one great, big headache, the Food and Drug Administration may be poised to take Tylenol, Excedrin and similar headache medicines off the shelf. Not to be outdone, the nice folks over at DHHS seem to favor some kind of penalty on overweight people on the basis that they have a higher risk for life-threatening maladies. Why not impose a "FAT TAX?" Of course, people who are underweight would get a tax rebate. You bet. Count on it.

Bernie Madoff's gone on an extended vacation. Do you suppose he'll hook up with O.J.?

Rumor is... South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Nevada Senator John Ensign may team up to pitch Cialis on the tube.

Have you ever wondered where the nation would be economically right now if McCain had won the Presidency? Well, for one thing, we wouldn't be looking at an extra $5 trillion in future tax bills heading our way. (Yes, $5 trillion. That's why they never mention the TARP, the Stimulus Bill that they still haven't read, and the new budget all in one breath.) The rest, of course, is purely speculation, but I'm inclined to think that the unemployment figures would not be as high as they are now. And, I won't be surprised if they happened to leak out the news late on a Friday afternoon a few weeks from now that the 9.5% unemployment rate just announced was actually understated by a few percentage points. That's another strategy out of the old Clinton book.

Speaking of "not read yet." maybe their excuse is that they have been busy "not reading" the Energy Cap & Trade Bill the House just passed... This new bill requires that homes be brought up to energy standards before they can be sold. Now, it's bad enough that most people who are in the process of selling don't have that kind of money to spend until the house has already sold, but I can just see the bureaucratic argument coming now: I want to sell my house and lot to ABC Company so they can tear down the house and build a car lot there, but I will have to bring my house up to Energy Standards first. You bet it will happen. (On the plus side, I guess they can't foreclose on a house until it is brought up to energy standards, either?)

Since Al Franken has been declared the winner in the Minnesota Senatorial race, none of the above matters any more. Congress is filibuster-proof and they can now do whatever they want, whenever they want, and however they want. As a matter of fact, if you think you've seen some weird legislation coming out of Congress, you're in for one major surprise. I hate to keep asking the question but, is the Mob in control here, or what?

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

ENJOY THE 4TH OF JULY, OR ELSE!

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The way this Independence Day is shaping up, it may well be our last.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION,respectfully submitted.

A LEADER SEES TARNISH ON THE REPUBLICAN HORIZON

Mike Huckabee has lashed out at the Republican Party, over its endorsement of a moderate candidate for the U.S. Senate in Florida. The Republicans endorsed Governor Charles Crist over another primary candidate, Marco Rubio. Rubio has an unblemished record, albeit it somewhat more conservative than Crist's.

“I’m disgusted that they would take a position in a hotly contested race when you have a quality candidate like Marco Rubio, who was the youngest Speaker in the Florida House,” Huckabee said. “This is not just some nameless, faceless guy that decided to throw his name in, who had no chance and no credibility.

“I thought that their endorsement not only was premature, but was outrageous. And they ought to get behind the guy who would do a whole lot more, in my mind, to unite and fire up Republicans, and that’s Marco Rubio.

“The establishment Republicans have made this endorsement for the same reason that they’re in so much trouble,” Huckabee said. “They go out there and support stuff like TARP bills and stimulus packages, pork-barrel spending and huge debt, and they wring their hands and act like, 'This is not good, but we don’t have a choice.' "

Well, Mr. Huckabee, now you know why there are one helluva lot of Republicans who are fed up, and who have been fed up since long before John McCain got the nomination. For one thing, the Republicans were in control during George Bush's first term and they fumbled the ball. They acted like a bunch of Democrats in a china closet, made a lot of noise, and didn't accomplish anything.

Frankly, I think most of them are closet Democrats, anyway.

There was a time, probably before your memory, Mr. Huckabee, when this country had backbone. We had firm and just beliefs about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and we refused to back away from those ideals. Yes, we wavered during the Johnson, Nixon, Carter years, but Ronald Regan restored our compass and got us pointed back in the right direction.

What has happened to this country, and to the Republican Party in particular since then, defies logic and it defies even the wildest imagination.

There are so many Americans in both parties right now who are beyond disenchanted with what is happening to our homeland. We want things to be right, but our leaders seem to want things to be wrong.

That's why the Republican Party needs to be ditched and a new party needs to be formed that has the guts, the courage, the backbone and the leadership to stand up in the face of almost overwhelming adversity and to do what is right.

And, we most certainly cannot wait until 2010 to start the project.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

THREE NEW AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION?

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28th Amendment: Except in times of war or national emergency, no bill involving the expenditure of federal funds shall be passed by the Congress unless there are sufficient funds in the Treasury.

29th Amendment: No bill for new or additional taxes or fees beyond those in effect January 1, 2009 shall be passed by the Congress without a majority vote of the registered voting citizens of the United States of America.

30th Amendment: With the exception of the postal service, the federal government shall be prohibited from owning any interest whatsoever in any business of commerce or lending any money from the Treasury thereto.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

BIG BROTHER TAKES OVER: MY GOD, WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

Be careful of what you say or do. The government, "Big Brother," is watching.

Several months ago, I posted that the technology was in place and had been tested so that, when the orange light in your car's instrument cluster turns on, a message will be sent via satellite to the state where your car is registered, which in turn could cause the state to send you a ticket for failing to maintain your car's emission control system. Now, of course, the feds are taking over the auto manufacturing industry which puts them in the potential position of being able to get you ticketed, ticketed, and ticketed until you buy one of their smaller, more fuel efficient cars.

Now comes the fat monitor. The device has been invented that will fit around your belly and keep track of what you eat. If you eat unhealthy, it will notify a computer data base someplace. Theoretically, then, someone from the Department of Health and Human Services could fine you. After all, as I heard it argued by some faceless far-left liberal, if the government is going to pay for your health care, it has every right to control how much you eat and how you exercise.

When you turn on the television and you watch the situation in Iran and you hear that the Ayatollah has decreed that the street protests ARE going to stop or else, ask yourself how you will feel when, in a few years, we get the same message from those in power in Washington. The fact is, we are already edging dangerously close to living in fascism.

What needs to happen is that the nation's populace needs to be educated. No one is taking it upon themselves to educate the nation about the real history of this country or about the vigilance that we must maintain to protect our liberty and freedoms. That needs to happen, and it needs to begin without delay. As it is, it's a shouting match between the left and the right, and since the left controls the schools, universities and media, they are able to snuff out the truth.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

AMERICANS' GROWING DISCONTENT

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I'm not a great fan of Bush, either, but am glad that he finally spoke up yesterday. I also agree with the woman who wrote the letter that Glen Beck aired yesterday. She was a lifetime Democrat, switched to Republican and has since discovered she doesn't like that party, either. What this country needs is a new party. If the Republicans were all that great, they certainly had the chance to shine during 2001-2005, which they did not, and to a lesser degree 2005-2008 which they sure as hell did not. Now, with the Dems totally in charge, the not-so-Grand Old Party may as well roll over and play dead, which I think they are doing to a great degree.

I did hear some interesting figures being tossed around yesterday. This health plan or lack of it, which they want us to approve anyway, $1.3 trillion will get 10 million more people on health care, as high as $3 trillion to get 40 million more covered.

Now, he wants to boycott Fox. Fox is "totally dedicated to making me look bad." He's made no bones about it, he wants Fox off the air. Fox has more viewers than CNN, CNBC and NBC combined, and he wants them off the air. Fox is still gaining in popularity and he wants them off the air. Why? From my listening point of view, I hear most of the commentators at least presenting both sides of the issue, except for Hannity. Hannity sometimes does go overboard in anti-Obama campaigning, but the network as a whole does present both sides. Obama wants them shut down because they do present both sides, unlike the rest of the media that only talks about HIS side. And, of course, history has proven that he who controls the media controls the country.

I don't think most Americans want to be controlled anymore.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

HEALTH CARE: DO WE HAVE TIME IN THIS "NATIONAL EMERGENCY" TO DISCUSS THESE QUESTIONS?

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1. Is everyone entitled to the same quality and degree of health care, regardless of financial position?
2. Are good providers entitled to make more than bad ones?
3. Is every American entitled to some degree of health care?
4. Are illegal aliens entitled to free health care at our expense?
5. Where will the providers come from?
6. Is there truth to the allegation that government run health care will make matters worse?
7. If there are inefficiencies in Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, why not create a task force to investigate and cure those inefficiencies?
8. Why not allow foreign corporations to sell pharmaceuticals in this country if they meet FDC standards?
9. How can we reduce administrative costs and get more money to the recipient's health care?
10. If there is so much waste in Medicare, Medicaid, Amtrack, USPO, and other federally operated programs, why do we think things will be different with nationalized health care?
11. Why are other countries with nationalized/socialized health care systems now moving toward privatized medicine such as we have in the United States?
12. Just because we spend more in health care dollars per patient than other countries, does that mean our system is bad?
13. Is it true that we will be required to have chip implants in order to receive health care?
14. If a health insurance company goes "belly up" because it cannot compete with the government run system, will we be obligated to bail them out? To what limits?
15. Who will make the decision as to what health care we can get? Under what criteria?
16. Is it true that we will no longer be able to claim tax deductions for medical premiums we pay or our out-of-pocket medical expenses we pay to providers we choose?
17. Who will cover the cost of nationalized health care and for how much per wage earner?
18. If a practitioner, employed by the Federal government, makes a negligent and tragic mistake that causes a loss of life, who do we sue? Or, can we sue?
19. If we disagree with the diagnosis of a federal doctor and want a second opinion, what are our options?
20. If a doctor refuses treatment in a particular case, such as later-term abortion, can he be sent to prison?

Those are MY AMERICAN QUESTIONS, respectfully submitted.

THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

TARP. Remember TARP? If the bill wasn't passed within a week, the world was going to end. It took three weeks and the world did not end. That was followed by another emergency calamity, and another. The world did not end. Money was admittedly....underscore that....admittedly misspent. The money spent has not saved one job, but it has caused many parties, celebrations and bonus checks.

Those three "cram downs," crammed down our throats whether we wanted them or not, perpetrated the biggest barrel of pork ever to pass through the halls of Congress and collectively indebted countless generations to come.

But, they're not through with us yet.

Gas prices are soaring. Despite predictions that gas prices would not reach $3.00 per gallon again for several years, gas prices have gone up 70 cents a gallon in northern California in the past six weeks and are at $3 a gallon. At this rate, they will be over $4 per gallon by the end of July.

It was in this column that I said last year that gas prices could not continue at those levels without having a serious adverse impact on our economy. I believe today that it was those high levels of gas prices that tipped the fragile economic scales and caused the meltdown. Now, we're in the melt down. We've burned through $3 trillion. Sales and other taxes, fees, and penalties are skyrocketing in an effort to bring money into federal and state coffers. And, the gas prices are on a rapid increase back to 2008 highs.

What the government is allowing to happen not only sucks, but the course is bound to throw the country into a depression that will make the 1930's look like child's play.

Now comes another emergency calamity. Health care. The President says the health care reform bills have to be passed before Congress goes on vacation or the sky is going to fall in. The world will end.

This is a lesson that we old farts have to pass on to the younger generation. Yes, we need to resolve the health care issue. But, we don't need to rush into another "cram down." The issue needs to be explored, solutions need to be vented, discussion needs to be had. It's not going to make one iota of difference to the timing of implementation whether we reach a good, solid conclusion in December or January or whether we rush into more stupid mistakes by the end of July.

The mere fact that the administration is trying to rush this through Congress by the end of July, thereby absolutely and affirmatively preventing public exploration and discussion of alternatives should tell us all something. The sky is NOT falling. We do NOT need to give Congress another opportunity to misspend our money and spread more graft and corruption.

By now, I would hope that even the younger generation is tired of bending over on the freeway. We need to stop these cram downs, and we need to join together and work together to bring some sense back into the way we are running our country, and we need to do it now.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.

BABY BOOMERS AND OLD FARTS: It’s Up To Us To Fix Our Country PART IV

HOW DO WE GET QUALIFIED LEADERS TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

The framers of our Constitution did not envision that Members of Congress would have a full-time job making big bucks with endless benefits; rather, they anticipated that Congress would be a part-time commitment with the positions filled by grassroots Americans who wanted to give to their country. And, patriots clamored for the Congressional seats.

We have now gravitated to the situation where big bucks are paid and those who would make good leaders for our country don't want the job. Maybe the problem goes back to the old adage, "If you get into bed with snakes, you're likely to get bit."

In the old days, candidates expected to be elected by the popular vote based upon their track records and qualifications for office. The press was not in the business of politics and ACORN had not yet been born. Today, any legitimate candidate is going to get boiled in oil by the press and the media and he's going to have to find a way to overcome the ACORNs of the world and the millions of crooked dollars that are being raised to operate campaigns.

However, when it comes to taking our country back, all is not doom and gloom. Throwing all of the incumbents out in the 2010 elections will totally upset the corruption applecart and, at the same time, those elected will be able to enact and implement much needed campaign reform that will, in turn, make it more attractive for good candidates to seek office. This can be accomplished by banding together as Americans and setting party politics aside. The common goal in 2010 will be to remove all incumbents running for office. We can, and we must, do that.

If we can make our intentions known, we can advance the stated intent to throw the bums out to the point that it becomes a subject for the polls; when the polls show that 85% of Americans are ready to throw the bums out and renew our government, it is my belief that those capable patriots who feel the same way we do will step up to the plate and run for office.

But, they're not going to do it until they know that they will have our undying support, not as Democrats, Independents or Republicans, but as Americans and that, with our support, they and we can together overcome the media, the press, the money and the corruption.

Let's start on this path today. Let's pledge together to throw the bums out.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, Respectfully submitted.

US JOURNALISTS CAUGHT IN NORTH KOREA: Special Post

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Two U.S. Journalists working for Current TV, were captured in March near the border between China and North Korea while working on a story; it has been alleged that they crossed the border into North Korea. That the news is just now coming out may well have something to do with the fact that the TV network was co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore.

Given the relations between the United States and North Korea, and given the fact that North Korea is under a very repressive and brutal regime, I find it incomprehensible that any one from the U.S. would be within 50 miles of that border for any reason. While I certainly would not want to be in their shoes, facing 10 years in a North Korean prison, I take the position that they knew of the risks before they made the journey and they chose to ignore them.

Why the United States should consistently be put in the position of having to negotiate with rogue countries to rescue stupid people who have done stupid things, I will never know.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.