I Know This is Scary

OOOOOhhhhhh Look out Dems! Scary Tea Party radical!!!! Boo!

The lefties / progressives are practically peeing their pants over what they consider "mobs" and threatening radicals. Give me a very large break. I've been to "tea party" rallies and never once been nervous about my safety. I can't say the same about any lefty protest I've come across.

It's not violent to protest those who wish to rule over you. It's not violent to raise strong and passionate objections. It's not even technically violent to wish ill on someone...it's rude and stupid...but not violent. I have yet to hear ACTUAL threats of violence. I've heard stupidity and classless comments, but even those may not be what they seem.

In case you lefties have forgotten, THIS is what actual death threats are like. And THIS. Do you hear Palin crying or whining? (She's probably packing though! And I hope someone is investigating that lunatic.)

Conservatives are threatened and smeared all the time particularly when they start getting national attention. Remember Joe the Plumber? His personal and private details were illegally accessed in order to smear him because he dared, DARED, to question The One.

I've personally had my property defaced by some leftard...a bumper sticker on my car was defaced. Not a big deal but I would never...NEVER...touch someone's car to deface their personal property. It's wrong and rude. I had to remove the sticker (it was a troop supporting sticker, not even a pro-bush sticker which I don't even have on my car).

I have yet to see mobs of tea partiers with signs wanting to hang The One. We want to KILL the BILL...not the man. Yet it was just standard operating procedure to see signs calling for the death of Bush for a variety of supposed transgressions.

That's at an Obama campaign rally. Yup. No radical mobs here. Move along.

I didn't attend any official McCain rallies but I would be comfortable betting that there was nothing like that at one. If there had even been ONE single case of someone hanging The One in effigy it would be all over the news. ALL over. Just one. A single one. As "proof" that America is still a racist country.

The projection (not to mention hypocrisy) from these lefties who can't handle even a little bit of dissent thrown their way is palpable. We the People are fed up. We are tired of being told what to do by politicians who refuse to live by the same rules.

"This latest Dem hysteria over the scariness of tea partiers is just beneath contempt. Obviously nobody should do anything illegal, but, heck, you trample on people's basic rights in an area of intimate concern to them and put the financial survival of the nation at risk, and everybody is supposed to just lie down and be all polite about it? What a bunch of cry-babies. But dangerous crybabies. They're making omelettes like crazy, breaking eggs by the gross, and when one of them squeaks, "I'm a little chick, please don't hurt me!" it's all, the right wing terrorists are on the loose! Transparent, contemptible political theater and utter cluelessness about, you know, freedom. People, as in the People, have every right to be angry, furious, shocked, appalled and disgusted by what Congress and our ambitious young prince have done."

I'm planning to take my little baby boy who turns 6 months old today, to a "mob rally" tomorrow morning at the state capital (organized by Americans for Prosperity). Somehow I'm really not stressed about it and think he'll actually enjoy it a lot. Of course, he won't get all the interesting puppet shows to watch like he would at a lefty rally. But it'll still be fun.

I'll be sure to bring my camera to photograph those angry, threatening mobs.

Pretty scary and threatening looking aren't we. :) Well, Marshal might puke on you but that's the extent of our violent potential.

We Are Screwed

I'm beyond pissed. I'm livid. And I'm sick to my stomach.

Passed through trickery, back room deals, bribes, and I'm sure some outright threats...this bill does NOTHING - not ONE DAMN THING - to make our health care system better or more efficient and effective. NOTHING!!!!

So those of you who think this is some great new government Utopian program are crazier than I am. I am TRULY afraid of the consequences of this monstrosity. Will my medications be "approved" by some bureaucratic board somewhere in DC? And if not, what the hell am I supposed to do? Because my current health insurance will probably be completely destroyed and run out of business by government meddling and chicanery. And it's not a cheap medication. But if the government deems it too expensive, and my life not worth enough to save, then I'm screwed.

My son will be screwed if he happens to inherit my lousy genes. But he's going to be screwed regardless because the government wants him to be their slave. Any hard work he does will be punished. He will be encouraged to be a slug and leach off the government instead of working hard to succeed on his own. And how in the world do we as parents counter this message of "the government will take care of you"? Why should he bother to work hard? His salary would just be confiscated to pay for entitlement programs.

Then again, if enough people fall into the entitlement trap we will all collapse financially. It's just so depressing I can hardly stand it.

Do politicians just immediately lose their sanity when they are "hired" by us? Or is it just that the people doing the hiring don't care and fall for the bribes promises of said politicians? *sigh* There is no logic to this piece of crap.

Screw listening to the people. The majority of Americans do NOT want this piece of crap monstrosity of government intrusion.

I don't even want to think about it anymore. I have actual, you know, WORK to do. Not that the Democrats would know anything about a hard days work. Bastards.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Would you trust these people with your health insurance?

Photo stolen borrowed from Big Government. =)

I sure as hell don't. Nor do I trust them (or any other government...dem or rep) with my personal information. They already have more of it than I prefer.

We got our census form the other day and let's just say that I feel I met the minimum requirements as provided for in the constitution. The government now knows that we have three people in our house, the year each was born, and whether we are boys or girls. That's all they need. They don't need our phone number. They certainly don't need to know what "race" we are (I did answer...but I put down 'other' American).

My friend Marie said that technically I should have put "Human" as race because it is the only true 'race' ... all our definitions of race are actually ethnicity. But I think American works for my purposes.

We'll see if we get a government worker knocking on our door one day or if we get fined. I think this is one instance where I'd be tempted to fight it in court. The census purpose is to count the number of people...that's it.

Because, after all, what could go wrong with the government having our ethnicity or other information???

We're from the government and we're here to help.

We Just Don't Understand

Oh for Pity's sake...obviously the more things change, the more they stay the same. This video, posted by Instapundit, shows a congressman from way back in the 80s (I think I was 10 or 11 at this point) getting booed and chased by a crowd of angry seniors. Look familiar???



And that classic line, "they don't understand" what government is trying to do for them...

OH EM GEE!!! WTF?!?!?! These politicians really never change do they? They think we're all a bunch of ignorant schmucks who should just shut up and let the government run our lives. Get out of their way, because they know better.

I've never cursed so much as I have in this last year...and so much of the cursing has been at politicians.

Meeting with the director for my new job, he said that the health care bill would actually be good for Aflac. But I don't care. I'd rather stick with what we have now and sell from that perspective than ruin the entire economic system but benefit my new industry. Keep the government out of my health care!!!!

[P.S. HOLY COW...just heard on the radio that Walgreens will no longer fill Medicaid prescriptions starting in April...see how great "free" health care is!]

Great Analogy

At least from my perspective, this analogy for health care and government involvement makes the most sense. It comes from a commento on Megan McArdle's piece about first dollar coverage (and I know what that is now since I've been studying for my insurance exam!).

The comment was this...

It's more like groceries + flood insurance. For "normal" medical care, doctor's office type things, people pay out of pocket. You may need food to live but you buy the groceries yourself. The lower income people get food stamps. For big things, such as heart attacks, the government provides or subsidizes insurance like they do with flood insurance (plus probably making it mandatory), you may never need it, but it's there if you do.

 Exactly!

Do the majority of Americans really want the government to pay for their every day food choices? I certainly don't. But I do recognize that some people need government assistance even for the most basic need of food (the efficiency and effectiveness of the food stamp program is something to be debated though).

People should, for the most part, pay for their own food. Similarly, people should pay for their basic health care services.

Last year I went through a pregnancy and it wasn't an easy one. I'm a member of an HMO and so usually have a copayment, but not for maternity services. Except that I had to be referred to a specialist and I had to pay a portion of the cost. It wasn't exactly pretty, but we managed. It did give me a nice view into the actual costs of my treatment. A basic ultra sound was over $800!

It's sad that people with no kids, no plans for kids, single guys, et al help to subsidize my maternity care. It's even more sad that we aren't allowed to pick the exact types of insurance we want. Why should I pay a premium to cover hair plugs, chiropractor services, or psychotherapy if I don't need or want those things? (Granted, the psychotherapy is something I've needed in the not too distant past, but something I could have paid for out of pocket if needed.)

So let me pick my own coverage - which for us would include maternity care - and let our neighbor who isn't having anymore kids pick their coverage without maternity. Or let them choose to pay for basic coverage out of pocket and pay for a catastrophic plan only.

If the government needs to be involved, let it be at a catastrophic level (i.e. flood insurance) so that people don't have to declare bankrupcy in order to receive treatment. And if someone is so poor that they require food stamps, the government can offer basic coverage insurance options for them too.

Universal coverage will do NOT one DAMN thing to increase the actual health of Americans and will inevitably lead to more cost, less access, and way more waste & fraud.

Washington State Screwing Taxpayers - Again

Well, they've done it again. Gone and screwed over the taxpayers of this fine state. Bastards.

NO, not just bastards. RAT bastards.

I loathe these scum sucking, life draining weasels who are the elected officials of Washington State. The Democrats are in the majority and the Republicans are toothless and have no recourse to stop the out of control spending. This state has had a Democratic governor since before I can even remember - at least more than 20 years.

Who cares that the people of this state passed an Initiative to limit tax increases? Not prohibit tax increases mind you. Simply limit them so that it was hard enough to raise them so that they'd only be raised for necessary reasons.

Instead of cutting the outrageous and unneeded spending, the Democrat controlled legislature last night passed a suspension of Initiative 960. Well, almost. In their incompetence they only passed 90% of the bill, when they really wanted to screw us over 100%. So they're having another vote today.

""We'll be telling the people to shut up and pay up, and we know what's best," said Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake."

True. We're just the citizens of this state. Who cares what we think? Who cares that we are already struggling to pay our bills and keep our jobs? The queen needs money to pay her bribes promises.

"Another bill extends a freeze on pay raises for nonunion state workers. It was approved on a 33-15 vote and heads to Gregoire's desk."

Because gosh, it would just be wrong to freeze pay raises for UNION workers.

Photo shamelessly filched from The Liberty Zone.

What the hell is the point of having an Initiative process if the government just takes a crap on the will of the people the second they can?

I'm ready to move. Is there a state somewhere that doesn't screw over its citizens???

And in a related note...if they can't handle the money they already take from us what makes them think they can properly manage MORE of our hard earned dollars?

Think It Can't Happen?

Think again. The green police have struck.

Lawn height requirements!!!

Oh the humanity!

Although to me this is actually an anti-green measure. I mean, if you want to be truly green you just let your yard grow au-natural. And using a lawn mower means polluting the air with noise and fumes. That's just wrong I tell ya.

The premise of this new law is the same though...government interference into the private and personal lives and decisions of its citizens. The nanny state striking again for the good of society - whether you like it or not. Freedom be damned.

After all, they know better.

It's Not Charity If It's Forced

Reading a post on a blog that I subscribe to today...they mention that they are getting a refund check from their taxes this year. They also mention that they are one of those who pay fewer taxes and get more back in return. A pretty good gig if you can get it.

Anyway, he thanks people who DO pay taxes for the "charity" they've given. This line, more than anything else in his entire post, grabbed me and made me see red.

"If your income level is such that you do not qualify for a tax refund, I want to thank you for the donation that you have given the rest of us."

WHAT!?!?!

My taxes are not given as a DONATION for charity. They are forcibly removed from my earnings, often for purposes other than my choosing. I support the military. I want my taxes used for roads, fire/police, and community things like national parks. I do NOT want my hard earned money given to people who haven't earned their own

[By the way...Stew is actually very gracious about this. He totally realizes that his refund is technically not money he earned in any way. I get that. He is taking advantage of the way the system is set up and I don't blame him for that...I would too. I just think the system is broken.]

Our family does not make a ton of money (and are poised to make much less this year) yet we have owed money the last two years because we would rather keep our money throughout the year rather than loan it to the government interest free and get a "refund".

Last year we owed about $400 or so. Not a huge amount but still painful. And to know that there are people paying no income taxes getting "refunds" (aka welfare in the form of a tax refund) really chaps my hide.

I'd really like to see some sort of flat tax or at least a system where EVERYONE has a stake in the system. If everyone had to write a check for their taxes, instead of having it withheld from their paycheck, I think people would pay a LOT more attention to what our government spends and where. Maybe more people would realize how stupid it is for the federal government to fund things like the National Endowment for the Arts. Or public schools. Or the Post Office. Privatize them all. If you love the NEA so much, donate to them. Let the USPS compete for business. And let local communities keep their tax dollars and invest them in their schools...where locals know the issues and needs.

Instead our paychecks are raided and our tax dollars are allocated based on what some politician in a far away land deems worthy ... or where they think they can get the most political bang for OUR buck.

I Still Love My Toyota

Toyota is having a rough week. :)

And the government is piling on because they smell blood and are hoping that the injured Toyota will allow for Government Motors to move in and take advantage.

The thing is...even with all of their issues, Toyota is STILL a better company with a better product than GM or Chrysler. Just is.

I LOVE my Rav4. No, mine is not involved in the recall (it's a 2004) but it wouldn't surprise me if they expanded the recall to include it. On the other hand, I've already been through the sticky gas pedal situation and lived to tell the tale. If my accelerator stuck today I would know what to do and how to safely shut my car down without crashing or killing myself. Any GOOD driver should (even when I was a not so good driver, somehow I managed to survive the incident).

So let’s set the record straight about how a perfectly normal Toyota, or any other car, truck, or SUV, can accelerate wildly “out of control” with an even reasonably competent driver behind the wheel. Can’t happen. Period. End of story if the driver simply puts the gearshift in neutral (that “N” just above “D”) and safely steers over to the shoulder of the road. And if the engine races until you shut it off, so what? All you really care about is keeping you and your passengers safe.

Duh!

And don't tell me that if GM were having brake or accelerator issues that the government would be making ridiculous statements like 'just don't drive them'. They would be praising GM for taking action and letting people know about the issue, reassuring the public (and stock holders) that everything was fine.

"...Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to hold hearings about how Toyota has handled the recall. Let’s see, a Democrat from Michigan who represents a government that owns a good chunk of Toyota’s automotive rivals. What could go wrong?"

Maybe it's a good time to buy Toyota stock. I don't think the company is going under and I'm sure that they will recover from this (eventually) and continue to build good (non-union!) cars. Since the government helped the stock plunge yesterday it is basically on sale. :)

When I'm ready for a new car I will be looking at Toyota, but I admit that this incident has shaken my faith. So I'll probably also look at Ford...an American company not sucking at the government tit.

In 2032

I don't remember the first time I saw this movie, but it spoke very deeply to me.

What does that say about me? I'm not sure. But if you get past the fact that it is a Stallone movie, I think there really is a deeper message about freedom. (And Sandra Bullock rocks it.)

The more I hear about progressives wanting to force us into universal health care, monitor our speech to make sure we aren't "hateful", and trying to make us eat what "they" want... the more I think about this movie.

"I'm the enemy...cause I like to think. I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, Gee, should I have the T-Bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with a side order of gravy fries. I want high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon, and butter, and buckets of cheese okay? I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section.....

I've seen the future and you know what it is? It's a 47 year old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas drinking a banana broccoli shake singing I'm an Oscar Meyer weiner."

The BEST part of the movie by far is in the first three minutes of the clip above.

The world has become a bunch of sissies. Yup...I think they call them Metrosexuals now.

The Dinner Roll

This is, I think, a very powerful example of so called compassion run amok. Just because others are in need does not mean the government needs to forcibly take from some who have made good choices or had good luck.

Borrowed from the Liberty Zone who "stole" it from Misha.

The Dinner Roll

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There’s nothing that the government can do to me if I’ve broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. “Sorry ’bout that,” said the President. “Andrew is very hungry.”

“I don’t appreciate…” I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. “Of course,” I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. “And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty,” said the President.

I didn’t say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don’t want to seem unkind.My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.

“Eric’s children are also quite hungry.” With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. And their grandmother can’t stand for long.”

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President. “Their grandfather doesn’t like the cold.”

I wanted to shout, “that was my coat!” But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn’t moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

“Andrew’s whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven’t planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do.”

My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

“By the way,” he added, “I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I’m firing you as head of your business. I’ll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There’s a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can’t come to you for jobs groveling like beggars..we need to spread YOUR wealth around…”

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived.. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. “You should have stopped me at the dinner roll,” he said.

While the elite and government tell us we must be compassionate no matter the cost, they fly in their tax subsidized jets and eat their $100 a pound Kobe beef. They tell us to not have such high expectations and that we must all come down to some imaginary "fair" level. They insist that the regulations they impose on us are for our own good. And again they try to impose guilt - that somehow success is wrong and should be punished while relying on government is the only true way to live a fair life.

It's all bunk and it must be stopped!

Clearly, We Need a New Law

I mean, if people screw something up it's up to the government to fix it right?

So, if the government screws up they clearly need to create more laws to govern themselves. Right?

The best line from this article?

"When a mistake happens, "It doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't help them. What they want is what they're there for,""

Really? It doesn't hurt them?!?! Injecting someone with Insulin instead of the H1N1 vaccine could very well hurt them. What if they're diabetic and already have a slightly low blood sugar?!? What if they don't KNOW that they are diabetic or borderline?

Good grief, what a stupid statement. Insulin isn't just sugar water. I had to give myself shots for several months while I was pregnant and it most certainly is a big deal.

Maybe school nurses shouldn't be in charge of administering vaccines. But then again, a Dr's office is just as likely to screw things up. My Dr's Office gave me an expired vaccine several years ago. And if I'd been upset enough I could have changed doctors.

But don't worry...these types of mistakes won't ever happen when government is in control of ALL health care. And if they do...you can always switch to ... oh wait ...

Great Analogy

As I work from home today, I'm listening to the radio and Rush just gave a great example in regards to punishing success.

If I punish my son for getting an A, because it's not fair that he got a better grade than the neighbor kid who got a C, by saying that they both get Bs...what am I going to get in the future? It won't be a son who strives for an A and it won't be a neighbor boy who strives for a B. It'll be two kids who work less to achieve little.

The same is true of businesses. If you PUNISH success by raising taxes, increasing fees and regulations, and demonizing businesses that make a profit...you will NOT encourage growth in our economy. You will get fewer businesses and fewer individuals who strive to achieve through risk, development, new products, and success.

I understand that the Democrats really don't care about the little people...they care mostly about their own power (and let me add that most of those in the "elite" GOP have the same attitude - it's all about remaining in office...principles be damned). Through any means necessary.

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

Reading an article in the Washington Examiner about the so called "transparency" being claimed by the Dems and I get to the comments and start cracking up. Posted as "Inigo Montoya":

"They keep usin' this word "transparency" ... I do not think it means what they think it means."

ROFL Any reference to The Princess Bride wins my vote. LOVE that movie. And in this vein it is perfect for the situation in DC.

And "Inigo" is right...Inconceivable!

Apparently, in DC speak, "transparency" means holding closed door negotiations. Transparency means bribing Senators with tax payer money (an illegal act if done in the private sector). Transparency means breaking a campaign promise made eight separate times to allow C-Span to broadcast debate.

Clearly, transparency means something very different to Pelosi than to the rest of us.

Where's All This Transparency He Promised?

I'm not one of those folks who thinks every single move the government makes should be made public. There ARE national security risks involved and I don't need to know every move the CIA makes.

But damn... The One seems to just talk out of his ass. He campaigns on open government and transparency and then signs an executive order in December, clearly trying to be all nonchalant and quiet about it.

If Bush had signed this same Executive Order the press would have screamed to high heaven within 24 hours. It's been almost two weeks and most people haven't even heard of Executive Order 12425. Have you?

I read about it yesterday from a link on Instapundit, and then heard a bit more about it from a caller into Beck's program this morning (not my favorite show, but there's a sub in this week who is pretty good).

Can you even IMAGINE if Bush had let non US police agencies have this kind of authority and power in our country??? The left would be screaming and wetting themselves over the "police state" we were turning into.

As explained by Noisy Room...emphasis is mine.

"This now says that Interpol is no longer subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Their premises or staff can no longer be searched either. Their files are not subject to legal subpoena or discovery. Our government could just hand documents and files over to Interpol and Americans would no longer have access to them. Interpol can legally keep files now on all citizens of the US with no right to redress.

In reality, we have just handed over our sovereignty. Interpol headquarters in the US is currently headquartered in the Department of Justice. A ‘separate’ Interpol agency has been created in the DOJ – let that sink in for a moment. Interpol has been granted diplomatic immunity now by Obama – they have exemption from being subject to search and seizure by law enforcement, US taxes and immunity from FOIA requests, etc. This action could also be used to divulge American military secrets and a whole host of horrific practices having to do with going after our military. It’s the road to internationalism on steroids."

But go read the rest of the post...it just gets scarier.

Is this REALLY what you want from your government?

Too Good Not to Share

Mark Stein is so good with words. I could copy and paste his entire article, but go read it yourself...you won't be sorry.

Some of my favorites though...

"...The monsterous mountain of toxic pustules sprouting from greasy boils metastisizing from malign carbuncles ..."

That's how he described the "health care" "reform" bill that got shoved down our throats on Christmas Eve. A fitting and accurate portrayal if you ask me.

Oh but there's so much more...

"We were told we had to do it because of the however many millions of uninsured, yet this bill will leave some 25 million Americans uninsured...

...on the other other other other hand, if you're already enjoying government health care, well, you're 83 years old and, let's face it, it's hardly worth us giving you that surgery for the minimal contribution you make to society, so in the cause of extending government health care to millions of people who don't currently get it we're going to ration it for those currently entitled to it."

And don't be naive in thinking that it won't happen exactly like that, regardless of what the so called compassionate and caring Democrats say. They can call it anything they want, but rationing will be the reality and those deemed less important to society (of course, they won't put it that way) will be the first cut off.

"...even before it's up-and-running, Pelosi-Reid-Obamacare is an imprenetrable thicket of contradictory boondoggles, shameless payoffs, and arbitrary shakedowns."

And what pisses me off the most...

"...because it inserts the power of the state between you and your doctor, and in effect assumes jurisdiction over your body."

Whatever happened to "keep your laws off my body"?????

Well, Merry F'in Christmas

That appears to be the message from Congress. We can all go F ourselves and our freedom to choose. I thought they promoted freedom of choice? And doing it sneakily in the wee hours in the Senate and on Christmas Eve in the house...bunch of filthy cowards. The Dems can try to blame this one on the GOP but they are on their own...looks like every single one of the Republicans voted no. Which didn't do a bit of good, but at least they stood their ground...for once. Maybe if they'd kept up with their so called beliefs in the first place the Dems wouldn't have such a majority. But that's history and we have to look to the future.

If this monstrosity of a plan interferes in any way with me making a career change I'm going to be seriously and absolutely pissed off. I want to stay home with my son and I *think* I've found a way to make that work and still earn a living...a good living if I want to work hard and an okay living if I want to just do it part time. But it involves the health insurance industry ... nice, right? It's not health insurance exactly, but it's along those lines and works with health insurance. It's a fantastic product that I've had for eight years and I'm sure most of you would recognize (though I'm not going to mention it specifically yet...I still have to go through my testing and training...and I'm still working at my old job).

Oh, and if my MIL loses ANY of her coverage with Medicare (or Medicaid...not sure which she is on) I am going to lose my shit. She has been so strong and fought so wonderfully against this monster of Leukemia...and her coverage has truly been a blessing for all of us. I hate government being involved in things, but she is one who actually needs the coverage. I guess if she gets hit again with any illness the government will say she's SOL...seeing as how she's almost 70. She's lived a good life. *insert outrage here*

Hubby has been asking if we can sue the government if we are "required" to purchase health insurance. I said no because we can't afford it...but can we afford not to. If someone is going to sue them we're sure going to support them though.

Teaching

My two little cousins have been staying with me for a few days. Yesterday we went to do some fun Christmas errands and I kept my radio station tuned to Rush and Medved. The oldest is 14 going on 30 and she asked what they were talking about so I tried to not be too super political and explain the travesty of a health care bill.

My favorite portion of the explanation was telling her that they were going to tax tanning salons to help pay for this crap. The look of horror on her face was classic. She goes to those places and her response was ... "Isn't that going to make it more expensive for me?"

BINGO! She got it. Taxes are just taxes on some anonymous business that doesn't affect anyone else. Those taxes get passed on to the consumer. And she understands that it isn't just tanning beds.

She wants to be a nurse and someday an anesthesiologist in plastic surgery. I told her that was pretty smart because she'd make a lot more money with elective health care (as long as the government doesn't add it to the list of entitlements) than general practice where her salary will be limited to what the government declares is "fair".

She's a smart cookie. Too bad she's already in huge debt and going to be taxed beyond her comprehension.

It's For Your Own Good

Don't you peons know? The government is here to help you, take care of you, and see to it that your basic needs are met.

Of course, they're the ones who will define basic needs and if that doesn't include a life saving operation or preventative care ... well, after all, they know best.

All you women who think that getting a mammogram is important...well, you just don't understand. But don't worry. A government worker will explain it to you and then deny your coverage. Or if your doctor wants you to get a CT scan, "they" will deny it because it could increase your risk of cancer.

After all, there is a government task force that will decide what we need and don't need. Who are we to question them?

The goal won't be to save lives. It will be to (supposedly) save money...even though that won't really happen either because of all the fraud and waste that will occur at an even higher level than it currently does.

I'm truly scared that if this insane and horrifying piece of health "care" legislation passes that this country will go down a path that it can never recover from...and it will be a seriously scary and deadly place.

Sure, everyone will be "covered"...but nothing is ever truly free. And while you're "covered" for something you may just die waiting for treatment in the new government controlled system. Because we know how efficient the government is.

Bullies Don't Scare Me

Washington State is super liberal (at least on the Western side of the state) and I'm used to it, having lived here my entire life. I was raised to believe that liberals were supposed to be the tolerant ones ... the ones who wanted open communication, discussions, and everyone's views to be heard - and every vote to be counted.

But that clearly is only the case if they agree with your cause and I've seen it first hand in my own family as my own views turned more and more to the right in the last decade.

There is a referendum process in Washington State and anyone can petition to have a law voted on if they go through the proper steps and get the right amount of signatures (not really sure the exact specifics on how referendums vs initiatives work here).

One of those referendums is R-71...they're calling it the "Protect Marriage in Washington" referendum. The opponents were fighting it even getting on the ballot - through the courts of course - trying to say that there were illigitimate signatures.

Yes, I SIGNED the petition at Walmart one day (kind of a funny store on its own...but that's not the point here)!!! I hope my signature was validated. Since the court said that yes, the referendum qualifies, the liberal bullies who hate anyone who disagree with them are now trying a new tactic - threatening to post all the names of anyone who signed in support of the ref.

A political group called WhoSigned.Org has said it will publish online the names of people who signed petitions to get the referendum on the ballot. The petition-listing effort is not supported by the official campaign that had tried to keep R-71 off the ballot.

A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order to bar the release of signatures on R-71 petitions, and a hearing on that case will be held in Tacoma on Thursday.

I say ... a big ol' F&CK YOU! (And I hate the F word...but it fits here.) That just makes my support for the referendum stronger. I will not be bullied with scare tactics. I don't care who knows that I signed it...go ahead and release my name. I don't believe gay "marriage" is something that should be accepted in society.

I don't care if people want to have domestic partnerships...doesn't bother me. But don't try to call two women in a relationship a marriage. It is NOT. Words matter. Definitions matter. Marriage is one man and one woman. I don't consider polygamists marriages legitimate either. ONE man and ONE woman.

I harbor no ill feelings toward Gay/Lesbian friends and family (and coworkers)...in fact one of my hubby's coworkers is the most awesome lady - as is her partner - who came to my baby shower (she was his boss at one point but she's been promoted and moved out of the area, which we are sad about). But I don't support them getting "married." And it has very very little to do with my religious beliefs.

Our Senator is a complete moron...

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who has spearheaded domestic partnership efforts in the state, called it a "tragic day for the state, where we will put the rights of a group of our citizens up for a vote."

Yes, what a tragedy that the CITIZENS of the state are allowed to VOTE on an issue. Heaven forbid we live in any sort of democracy (I know...we're a republic...whatever) where the government does what the PEOPLE want. She's such a moron.

And if it doesn't pass...okay. I won't bitch and moan or sue anyone (unless there was clear and obvious fraud...which, in this state, isn't beyond the realm of possibilities). I'll be disappointed. But life will go on.

As for the attempted strong arm tactics of the left - screw them. I hope it backfires and makes people see them for the bullies and truly intolerant asshats that they are.