Obamacare - EXPOSED!!! And Ron Paul's Solution

Kevin Floyd over at HCTP put up this awesome page concerning Obamacare.

Read and be appalled...


Truth about Obamacare:
- A $500 billion cut in Medicare (Source)
- 30 million new patients with no new doctors (Source)
- Health care rationing (Source)
- Require the uninsured to pay $8500 to buy policies (Source)
- Fine them 2.5% of their income if they don't (Source)
- And send them to jail if they don't pay (Source)
- Tax medical devices like pacemakers and automated wheelchairs (Source)
- Force up premiums for all Americans by $2,000 a year (Source)
- Add $500 billion to the federal deficit (by 2024) (Source)
- Raise income taxes 2.5% (Source)
- Raise capital gains taxes 2.5% (Source)
- Cut reimbursement to doctors who order too many tests for patients
- "Death Panels" (Source)
- Doctors and Specialist salaries are capped (Source)
- Pedophiles, Rapists, and Sexual Predators are given FREE Viagra (Source)
- Doctors must get Govt approval before surgery or "expensive" care (Source)
- Obamacare would raise taxes by 50%-60% (Source)

Now that we're all informed about the idiocy that corporatism (government and big business working together) and  pork and non-solutions rendered by politicians who are exempt from their own laws, let's move on to a statesman of integrity...Ron Paul. He has proposed a health care bill that is probably less than 20 pages (double spaced), compared to the bible-sized Obamacare 2000+ pages.

Here is his statement of introduction for introducing his version of health care. Notice it does not empower the government but empowers individuals via Campaign for Liberty...

Statement of Congressman Ron Paul

United States House of Representatives

Statement Introducing the Private Option Health Care Act

May 27, 2010

Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Private Option Health Care Act. This bill places individuals back in control of health care by replacing the recently passed tax-spend-and-regulate health care law with reforms designed to restore a free market health care system.
The major problems with American health care are rooted in government policies that encourage excessive reliance on third-party payers. The excessive reliance on third-party payers removes incentives for individual patients to concern themselves with health care costs. Laws and policies promoting Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) resulted from a desperate attempt to control spiraling costs. However, instead of promoting an efficient health care system, HMOs further took control over health care away from patients and physicians. Furthermore, the third-party payer system creates a two-tier health care system where people whose employers can afford to offer "Cadillac" plans have access to top quality health care, while people unable to obtain health insurance from their employers face obstacles in obtaining quality health care.
The Private Option Health Care Act gives control of health care back into the hands of individuals through tax credits and tax deductions, improving Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Savings Accounts. Specifically, the bill:

A. Provides all Americans with a tax credit for 100% of health care expenses. The tax credit is fully refundable against both income and payroll taxes;

B. Allows individuals to roll over unused amounts in cafeteria plans and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA);

C. Provides a tax credit for premiums for high-deductible insurance policies connected with a Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and allows seniors to use funds in HSAs to pay for medigap policies;

D. Repeals the 7.5% threshold for the deduction of medical expenses, thus making all medical expenses tax deductible.

This bill also creates a competitive market in heath insurance. It achieves this goal by exercising Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines. The near-monopoly position many health insurers have in many states and the high prices and inefficiencies that result, is a direct result of state laws limiting people's ability to buy health insurance that meets their needs, instead of a health insurance plan that meets what state legislators, special interests, and health insurance lobbyists think they should have. Ending this ban will create a truly competitive marketplace in health insurance and give insurance companies more incentive to offer quality insurance at affordable prices.

The Private Option Health Care Act also provides an effective means of ensuring that people harmed during medical treatment receive fair compensation while reducing the burden of costly malpractice litigation on the health care system. The bill achieves this goal by providing a tax credit for negative outcomes insurance purchased before medical treatment. The insurance will provide compensation for any negative outcomes of the medical treatment. Patients can receive this insurance without having to go through lengthy litigation and without having to give away a large portion of their awards to trial lawyers.

Finally, the Private Option Health Care Act also lowers the prices of prescription drugs by reducing barriers to the importation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmaceuticals. Under my bill, anyone wishing to import a drug simply submits an application to the FDA, which then must approve the drug unless the FDA finds the drug is either not approved for use in the United States or is adulterated or misbranded. This process will make safe and available imported medicines affordable to millions of Americans. Letting the free market work is the best means of lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

Madam Speaker, the Private Option Health Care Act allows Congress to correct the mistake it made last month by replacing the new health care law with health care measures that give control to health care to individuals, instead of the federal government and politically-influential corporations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

 Freaking elegant!

I Respond To A Floridian's Stance on Homosexuality / Military / Society

A gentleman over at HCTP made his opinion known about gays in the military and society.  It is well thought out and reasoned. He's an intelligent person so there were no flames necessary.

Head on over before you read my reply, or not.

Hi Scott,

You've obviously given a lot of thought to this topic and your well thought out and well written article is proof of your convictions. It's articulate and assertive without being pushy.  In spite of this, I must respectfully disagree with your stance on homosexuality in relation to the military and our society.

In the military, gays are already serving (generally) quietly. The most discriminated group is not gays, but overweight people. They are routinely chapter-ed out for failing to meet physical standards. The problem that we face in the military is not openly serving gays receiving equal treatment, but gays asking for special privileges. Creating a new class of service member and giving them preferred treatments will make other service members resent them.

As a Libertarian, I try to follow a principle of live and let live. If my neighbor is gay but doesn't infringe on my liberties, who cares? What's wrong with tolerance? As a Christian, I don't wear my religion on my sleeve, but I try to be a good neighbor. The old testament spoke against homosexuality, but Jesus never said anything about that topic. The old testament also said that we should stone adulterers. Should we gather stones or are we without sin to cast the first stone? To me, this sounds like a strong case for tolerance.

If homosexuality is a choice, then it is between two consenting adults. So why should we care? A tattoo or piercing runs contrary to logic or reason, yet in many cultures it is acceptable. If it is not a choice and some people are born like this, then do you propose that we keep them segregated?  I use this word also, because if we replaced 'homosexuality' with 'colored folks.' The results are eerie. (I hate to pull the race card, but similar arguments were made prior to de-segregation.)

Also, under the 14th Amendment, we have equal protection. So if we deny gays the opportunity to adopt or have children, that's discrimination against a class of citizen. Do we want to infringe upon the rights of a class of citizen, again?

Let me ask you a question concerning marriage. Do you know where marriage licenses came from? Why would the state need to be party to a spiritual union between two people? Let's put aside legal contracts and estates and taxes (whole other debate :D ). After the civil war, the state wanted to be able to prevent inter-racial marriages. It's not a just a formality. A magistrate in Louisiana did deny an inter-racial couple marriage just last year. If two adults want to form a common law union, again, why should we care?

Debra, Scott, we don't have to like gays or talk to them. We just have to tolerate them. My instinct and emotional response may be to abhor them, but I use my logic and intellect to be tolerant, just, and polite to my neighbor because he/she pays taxes and schleps to work just like I do. Do they care what I do inside my house, probably not, so I should offer them the same courtesy. My logic and reason overcomes any "ism". My faith gives me strength when reason and logic fail.

Is homosexuality unholy? I can't say. Is it natural? Not for the purposes of reproduction. But bonobos and dolphins have been found to have homosexual relations, so there may be something in nature that allows for homosexuality.

The way I see it. If we deny a class of citizen privileges or rights that we claim, then we infringe upon their rights. To grant them their rights and privileges cost us nothing but a bit of tolerance. You both are passionate and intelligent folks as evidenced by your reasoning and education. I may not have won you over, but I hope I have given you something to consider.

Teachers' Unions Have Outlived Their Usefulness

Check out this video about a teachers' strike...



This is one of those things that I don't like as a parent and Libertarian. Ever since 1983 when A Nation At Risk came out, we started throwing money at teachers to improve our educational system. Teachers' Unions became powerful lobbies and have since bullied local governments and badgered taxpayers with their pay hikes. Has yearly increases in pay improved our children's scores? No. We constantly read about other nations, South Korea recently, outperforming our students in tests every year.

This goes back to free-market principles. If teachers do poorly in public schools, they continue to get paid, but in a private or charter school system that teacher would be replaced very quickly because they have to please the parents (customers) lest they lose the parents to another school. Sure, poorly performing teachers are pulled out and put on administrative duties which can entail sitting in a room doing nothing for up to three years!! That's our tax money being wasted for three years! In a privatized school -- no way. Do the job or take a hike.

As you can see in the video, the teachers refuse a pay cut. They have their jobs, the district is hurting for funds, and 85% of the educational funding is for teachers' pay! I think the only solution left, then, is to fire some of them. How short-sighted those teachers are.

Another Candidate I'd Support - Jason Sager

A fellow Floridian Jason Sager is running for Florida's 5th Congressional District. He too supports a Constitutional Republic and strict interpretation of the Constitution.  Jeez people, have we become so pacified that we accept whatever these bullies in Washington throw at us? I hope my state's legislature takes a stand and starts flexing its own rights and authorities against the feds.

 

Go Jason!

Another Candidate I'd Support - Les Phillip

People like Ron Paul and similar like minded people are few and have very little influence in Congress, currently. However, the message is getting out. The message that our federal government is out of control and the Constitution is the restraining mechanism. We've got Rand Paul with a great chance for a senate seat in Kentucky. There's Peter Schiff in Connecticut also running for Senate. Here is Les Phillip; he's running for Alabama's 5th Congressional District. If I lived there, I'd vote for him.



and anther one... The money shot, "...and they're not going to call me a racist." Booyah!



Let's send a bunch of them to congress in 2010! Then we'll send some more in 2012! THIS is the CHANGE that should have happened.

Light + Video + Art = ZOMG!

When I watched this video, I caught myself smiling. There are some really creative people out there!


ENVISION : Step into the sensory box from SUPERBIEN on Vimeo.

Malicious Cops - St. George, Missouri

Heaven forbid you, as a sovereign citizen refuse to answer a question that the cops really don't have a need to know. It's one thing if the cop asks to see your driver's license and registration. There might be a state law that forbids you from denying it, so you should hand it over. It's another thing if the cop ask you where you're going or what you're doing, if you've done nothing wrong. Of course you really shouldn't say, "It's none of your business." That could be rude and end up getting you a ticket. Perhaps, you could say that you don't want to talk about personal business with the officer.

Could this kid handled thing differently? Sure. Did this cop exceed his duties? Judge for yourself.

New Topic - Malicious Cops

I'm going to begin posting all the negative news and negative videos and pushing sites that talk about bad cops. If there is something good to publish about them I might. Why the bias? Because it seems that good cops are being outnumbered by the bad cops and the "blue line" or blue wall of silence makes them all look bad. One of my childhood friend's dad was a cop. He walked his beat and didn't have to really mess with anyone. He told me that often times, he didn't need to bring a lot of misguided people. He rarely gave out tickets. He only pulled them in or ticketed them when the offender became violent or rude. I can agree with that. I mean, if you're in a bar fight perhaps you need to be hauled in to cool off. Is it really necessary to ticket every jaywalker and sidewalk spitter that a cop sees? That kind of policing behavior is pedantic, doesn't do any good for the public, and is often viewed as a money making scheme for the city/county/state. It's crap and so are quotas and unnecessary force. One of these days when I go back to the states, I'm going to work on getting on the review board for police officers. I'm going to track these complaints and do my best to make sure no bad cops go unnoticed.

This is my site, this is my bias, so take it with whatever amount of salt you'd like.

In the meantime here is a video of cops shooting a dog while serving a search warrant. Judge for yourself.

First Daughter Goes To Daycare

Recently, my wife enrolled our daughter in a daycare. In Korean it's called Oreenee Cheeb (Children's House). I don't know all the details of the Korean tax/entitlement system so I left them up to her. I like it that way for plausible deniability. hehe I won't get into any details, but we might be able to swing some discounts for the cost of daycare!

Score!

This daycare is pretty cool! For a single price we can keep her there for a few hours or several. Later when the wife is in the hospital recovering for two weeks, the daycare will drop off first daughter at the hospital if I need to work late. Imagine trying to get something like that back in the states!

We enrolled her because we were concerned that her social skills were not being developed, since she doesn't interact with anyone her own age. (I may act like a 2 year old when we run out of beer but that doesn't count) Also, with the addition of our second daughter, we wanted to get her accustomed to going to daycare and not associate her departures with the new baby. The wife could also use a break and do other things (like get me my beer, hehe). Why just the other day we did a little cleaning and took a nap!

On my off days, I like to walk her to school. She has this backpack that fits her tiny torso and doubles her charm. That and her toddler steps makes everyone that sees her, coo and smile. My chest puffs out with pride! I've also become a sort of subject du jour with the teachers there. You see, I didn't understand what they said to me when I went there to pick first daughter up, but then they said "ddong" and I understood. It must have been funny to them because they told this story to several other mothers. Supposedly I am affectionately called "ddong apa" or "poop dad." What do I care. I smile and bow politely and put on my good neighbor behavior. I'm just happy to be able to spend time with and hold my daughter while I can.

The Old Wooden Spoon Joke!

Always good for a laugh...

Spoon Prank WIN - watch more funny videos

I saw this a few years ago with 3 Indian(?) guys advertising a soft drink.  Here's it done again by some Europeans...sorry I don't know from which country.

Well Said Governor Brewer!

It appears that Governor Brewer, governor of Arizona, has received no support from the federal government. Fox news has the interview...

Here's the money shot: "Mr President, Secretary Napolitano - Do Your Job!

Section 4: Obligations of the United States, Clause 2: Protection from invasion and domestic violence

[...] and [The United States] shall protect each of them [the States] against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

As a Libertarian, I am opposed to the federal government going outside of its Constitutional boundaries, however, securing borders and taking custody of illegal immigrants is a FEDERAL function, and I expect them to carry it out in nothing short of excellence. Our military, our national defense, is exemplary, so too should be our secured borders. Perhaps if the congress and the administration wasn't screwing around passing un-consititutional laws, they could focus on what they're supposed to be doing.

An Email on Immigration

I received this email today from a friend and thought I'd share it with you. It's a little inflammatory, but it's a good summation.

A lady wrote the best letter in the Editorials in ages!!!  It explains things better than all the baloney you hear on TV.

Her point:

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Arizona is addressing the issue of illegal immigration.

Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests...

Let's say I break into your house.
Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave.
But I say, 'No! I like it here.

 It's better than my house. I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest
(except for when I broke into your house).

According to the protesters:

You are Required to let me stay in your house
You are Required to feed me
You are Required to add me to your family's insurance plan
You are Required to Educate my kids
You are Required to Provide other benefits to me & to my family
My husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest
(except for that breaking in part).

If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there.


It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself.  I'm a hard-working and honest, person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house and what a deal it is for me!!!


I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior.

Oh yeah, I DEMAND that you learn MY LANGUAGE!!! So you can communicate with me.

 I think a lot of the problems I see with the angry illegal immigrants are the ones that feel entitled or carry their country's flag over Old Glory. If you want to call me a bigot or prejudice, I'm ok with that. Those accusations are based on emotion and not on reason, so it's nothing more to me than my child in tantrum mode. My mother was an immigrant, my brother-in-law and wife are immigrants. They all followed the laws for becoming Americans. They are proud of their heritage, but they are more proud of being/becoming Americans that if they do attend a rally or voice their opinion, they do so in English and while holding an American flag. To hold your native country's flag and demand amnesty is disingenuous, dishonest, and disrespectful and reflects upon other immigrants from your homeland that are trying to enter legally. Shame on you!

End the Capital Gains Tax

Of course, you should expect me to be on the side of any argument against taxes. I'm not impractical. I know that we need government, that it is a necessary evil, but a limited government that does not intrude in our lives and protects our liberties is the best form compared to the current beast.

Here is a video from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity that gives us six reasons why we should end this tax.

My Audience Approves Then I Stroke Myself

This is a young blog. As you can see on the right side, it's no older than three months old. I'm trying to make it to six months. That seems to be the hump, after which a blog can be taken a bit more seriously. I think the next milestone is a year or perhaps two. Well, let's just focus on six months, shall we?

Being a young blog, I don't have many readers or commenters. Some of the comments have been from friends, but it gets waaaay cool when there are mysterious, anonymous commenters. One of these days I'll have a troll, then I'll know I have arrived. I mean, what's a blog without a troll or two?  Look at Marmot's Hole or ROK Drop or, dare I say, An Idiot's Tale, they have an orchestra of sock puppets, lurkers, trolls, commenters, guest authors, open forums, and a bunch of extras.  I can't say for certain that my blog will one day supersede theirs, but it's a target to aspire to.

That being said, I think I'm going to give myself a positive stoke. Attaboy, FloriDaegu! Ah, that felt good. That took me about three seconds, a personal best! Let me tell you why before I take a nap. A commenter gave me a compliment. Normally, a blog will receive smart ass remarks or flames, but not me, no sir. The commenter said, "Good to see you are intellectually honest."

I don't know about you, but THAT is an enormous compliment! Intellectual dishonesty is shameful. If a person has the smarts, but purposely sticks to a position just to be stubborn, that person does himself a disservice and loses credibility. Nothing's wrong with being wrong. I was once a Democrat, but now I'm a Libertarian. I thought LTC Lakin had a chance in his court-marshal, he doesn't. People change, minds can change. 

Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.

Ayn Rand

I Respond to ROK Drop's Article on Birthers

ROK Drop recently posted this article:

Army “Birther” Colonel Appears On CNN

Army LTC Terry Lakin is in some hot water for disobeying orders to deploy to the middle east. His reason for doing so is the "birther" (non)issue. Some people believe that President Obama may not have been born in the United States, a requirement for President. If this is true then all of his executive orders and any laws he signed are null and void. So, if the President is not eligible for office then his orders to deploy are invalid. LTC Lakin is taking a very big risk. He is putting his career, pension, and quite possibly, freedom on the line.

My comment:

 If this guy really believes in what he’s saying, then he’s doing the right thing. It takes courage to do that and in line with Army Values, so he is doing service to the uniform.

I recall this oath: “…I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…” Obeying orders comes AFTER that, so IF he is right, then he shouldn’t be punished, but of course, the stakes are painfully high if he’s wrong.

I’m not a “birther”, but there are enough lingering questions to cast some doubt. And IF the President is committed to transparency (thus far he hasn’t been, unsurprisingly) then this is an easy fix.

Of course there are the several commenters there that denounce his behavior. Read the rest.

 Update: I just got lawyered! 

Holy Crap! Here is what a commenter posted:

Sorry, that's not the way the law works. Try looking up the "de facto officer doctrine."
...

LTC Lakin is toast.

So I did. I read this web site with multiple citations...boy oh boy. I'm not a lawyer, but it does present impressive arguments that have been tested multiple times. I am/was wrong. All actions that President Obama has done, even if he is found ineligible, are de facto in force! It seems illogical, but there have been numerous examples where say an officer assumes command even if he wasn't appointed and executes commands without interference. I must acquiesce. LTC Lakin is going down.  This was eye-opening!

Lawyered!

12 Mill In Jail? Can't Do It. 30 Mil in Jail? No Problem

Taken from Sweetness and Light via New Patriot Journal.

Pelosi to Bishops: Use Pulpit to Promote Immigration Reform

In the rush of events we almost missed more of the ex cathedral views from that well-known Catholic scholar, Nancy Pelosi, at a Catholic Community Conference, via CNS News:




[At 1:50] We have to respect that dignity and worth, and recognize that the church has an important role to play in that. We don’t, as a practical matter, we can’t say to people — 12 million of you, ‘Go back to wherever you came from or go to jail!’ We can’t do that…

But isn’t that odd? Back on November 12th, 2009, we posted this chilling exchange between Shomari Stone, a reporter Komo 4 News (the Seattle ABC affiliate) and Speaker Pelosi:




Stone: Do you think it’s fair to send people to jail who don’t buy health insurance?
 
Pelosi: … The legislation is very fair in this respect.

Back then, Ms. Pelosi had no problem telling 30 million uninsured American citizens that they will go to jail if they don’t buy health insurance.

And yet she bridles at the thought of jailing people who are in this country illegally, and who have usually been rounded up because they were breaking another law.

Why is that?

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) Speaks Directly...

The original title of this video is "YouTube - Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) Puts A Liberal Reporter In His Place!" I know this small sound bite may take things out of context. Perhaps Gov. Christie is a prick. I don't know, but IF he is as he says he is, then I can get support this kind of politician.



Plato said, "The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state." While I can agree with Plato, it seems that politicians seem to abuse that privilege to the point where we can't tell if they are lying or not and are always leaving themselves a way out. It just seems cowardly, and while that it may be politically savvy, it is disgusting behavior and when it is found out, as most often is, then it only increases the disdain I have for these people.

Look just stand by your words, it's as simple as that. So, President Obama, when you told a crowd in Dover, N.H. on September 12, you said that you "...can make a firm pledge. Under [your] plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increases, not [our] income tax, not [our] payroll tax, not [our] capital gains taxes, not any of [our] taxes.” I expect you to stand by it. But since you couldn't, expect repercussions, such as opposition to any of your plans because you can not be trusted, sir.

Dujour Back Door Lover

I think this blog needs a theme song. I present to you, Back Door Lover.



Please try not to laugh.

Owwwie! My Va-J-J hurts!

It appears that when the media is shouts the laurels of our dear leader, President Obama, he loves and supports them, but when there are hard questions or opposing information, he says that the "...the information age could be too much of a good thing, [that] ...'information becomes a distraction, a diversion' that is putting 'pressure on our country and on our democracy.'"

This reminds me of another president...Mr. Roh Moo Hyun. I know it's bad form to talk ill of the deceased, but please allow me a small imposition. That guy was a piece of work that weakened and embarrassed his country. He did great things, no doubt, but many of his great screw-ups overshadowed his great achievements. I wonder if President Obama is also on a similar track.

The Batman Cometh!!

This is up there with Tron! According to Variety via Gizmodo, the next Batman movie will come out in July, 2012.  Awesome!  Some suggestions include Batman eating Halls to clear up that throat problem...