This Is Not The Way To Start The New Year: FEAR

This was taken from the www.whitehouse.gov:

Executive Order — Medical Countermeasures Following a Biological Attack

ESTABLISHING FEDERAL CAPABILITY FOR THE TIMELY PROVISION OF
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES FOLLOWING A BIOLOGICAL ATTACK

Basically, what he is saying is that following a biological (anthrax) attack the U.S. Postal Service is allowed to deliver medical countermeasures (antidote). Well, thank you Mr. President, that makes me feel all safe & confident that all the branches of the U.S. Government are doing their job (uh not!).

This Executive Order is released after a Nigerian man tries to blow up a plane last month, Newark Airport was on a Security Lockdown Sunday night and the masterminds of the 9/11 attack on America are facing a trial in New York.

So is the message we are getting for the new year to be afraid, be very afraid in 2010? Because when a President makes an announcement like that it kind of makes me believe it’s just a matter of time.

Mr. Obama didn’t anyone ever tell you that is not the way you show confidence in your government? The American people need you to do your job and do it right. You are focusing on all the wrong things and in the meantime we are sitting ducks for another terrorist attack.

Airport security measures have been tightened since Christmas Day, they never should have been lowered. The Nigerian man was on a terror watch list, so someone wasn’t doing their job letting him in the country to begin with. Now we are being told if we fly our lives will be disrupted further due to new screening measures, which please understand I am all for. However, as Americans are arriving early, subjected to more screenings and randoms checks, terrorists are still getting through.

This is why, two very simple reasons:

1) The people in charge of airport security are lazy. They don’t want to be bothered having to detain someone or go through all the procedures for people they know are of interest. Instead, they “randomly check” those who they know are not a threat. It’s fast and easy for them.

2) The people in charge of airport security are afraid of being portrayed as prejudice. If they stop someone to “randomly check” them because of their race, nationality or ethnicity they are yelled at and bullied into believing that it is racial profiling. That these people should not be picked out just because of their background.

Fix this problem and fix it fast. Also, Mr. President one more thing (for now) do something besides talk and spend money. All you have done since you took office is spend Billions and Trillions of dollars and we are no where near the end of this economic depression or any terrorist threat. Let’s make that your New Years Resolution!

Health Care Reform: The Obama Plan

The Obama Plan.  It has been the focus of many debates and knee deep in controversy.  I have a pre-existing condition so this affects me greatly.  I say we break it down.

If you have Health Insurance:

• Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. Those with pre-existing conditions are not denied health insurance.  Health Insurance companies are not allowed to deny anyone coverage if you can pay their premiums, they are however going to make it incredibly hard for you.  This was said to me personally by one of the biggest insurance companies.  Their representative said those words to me when I tried to obtain their coverage.  They will force you to pay high premiums while limiting your coverage and denying claims.  By them denying claims you are denied treatment.
• Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age. How?  If you can do that, do it now.
• Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most. It’s not that they drop your coverage, why would they if you are paying the premium.  They will keep taking your money and just deny your claims.
• Caps out-of pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick. Please see my thoughts below.
• Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money. Please see my thoughts below.
• Protects Medicare for seniors. If this is truly a concern for them why did they just cut budgets for Medicare and stop making premium payments for seniors who cannot afford them?  They did not give prior notice, they just took the money out of Social Security checks.  The checks these people rely on to survive and pay for the medical costs Medicare does not cover.
• Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs. Isn’t this why the created Medicare part D? The part D plan gives Medicare recipients who did not have prior prescription coverage the plan to cut the out-of-pocket costs for their monthly prescriptions.  Why not just expand the program?

If you don’t have Insurance:

• Creates a new insurance marketplace – the Exchange – that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices. This does not guarantee Americans will be able to afford it.  If you have no job, which is the issue millions of Americans are facing you still cannot afford to pay any premium.  They can compare plans now and buy insurance with the one who offers the lowest premium.  However, they can’t afford the premium period, even the lowest isn’t low enough.
• Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance. He speaks about tax credits on a sliding scale and cost- sharing for out-of-pockets expenses, but he doesn’t care to elaborate or explain what these are to the Americans who don’t know.  Cost-sharing is what they did to Medicaid, which made it impossible for some people with pre-existing conditions and life threatening disabilities to be covered under the program and excluded them from receiving health insurance.  Also, who exactly will be able to receive these tax credits?
• Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees. What about handing fines out to the employers who do not want to offer coverage or use the loop-hole and hire all part-time employees that they are not required to offer any benefits to.
• Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice. He also said it will be like Medicaid.  Then he contradicted himself and said that this public option will operate like any private insurance company – it must be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects. How if those on Medicaid cannot afford a premium?  If it will be like Medicaid why not just improve that program, instead of creating one just like it.  This public option is still on the table for one reason, no matter what he says it is geared toward those who already rely on public assistance.  If not, why not eliminate the option.  You are already supposed to be offering affordable coverage, so why does there have to be yet another option?
• Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with pre-existing conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created. Again I ask, how?  Who is going to provide this coverage and what will the limitations be?  Again, what if it’s not as affordable as you are leading people to believe?  You want us to accept what you say and wait for this new “Exchange” but we won’t receive it for another four years.
• Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized. Under the plan, if the savings promised at the time of enactment don’t materialize, the President will be required to put forth additional savings to ensure that the plan does not add to the deficit. He says this, but what if at the time savings are not realized he will do what he has been doing and say we will put forth additional savings but it will take time.  So he wants you to pass a bill that probably won’t even be realized during his Presidency and makes promises for future Presidents.
• Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform. Under the President’s plan, large businesses – those with more than 50 workers – will be required to offer their workers coverage or pay a fee to help cover the cost of making coverage affordable in the exchange. This will ensure that workers in firms not offering coverage will have affordable coverage options for themselves and their families.  Individuals who can afford it will have a responsibility to purchase coverage – but there will be a “hardship exemption” for those who cannot. There it is at the very bottom, the exception to the everyone pays promise, the “hardship exemption.” What qualifies as a hardship?  If you have not or do not pay taxes then you should not be allowed to be an exemption.  People on Social Security Disability have paid taxes at one point in their life, this makes them eligible to receive Disability, that should be the only exemption.

America needs Health Care Reform, that is not under debate, however there is a way.  It’s just not Obama’s way.  Instead of finding ways to make it easier for patients to pay hospital bills why don’t you make the hospitals accountable for what they charge.  There should be only one bill, a single bill received from the hospital, for services rendered.

There should not be a bill for each service.  A patient should not receive a separate bill, one for the hospital stay, one for medication, one for lab tests and individual bills for each person who walks through their door.

That person should not be responsible to pay for each nurse and doctor who enters their room, that is why they get a paycheck.  They should not be responsible for doctors they did not approve of who come in to read their chart and listen to their heart for two minutes.

Congress wants to cut health care costs and make it affordable for everyone, then start there.   Stop allowing doctors and hospitals to take advantage of us.

Another way to cut costs, make insurance companies accountable. Instead of trying to pass a bill making separate programs improve the ones already in place.  Instead of allowing these companies to profit off of us fine them for every legitimate claim they deny.  Lower the costs of medical services and prescriptions, which you can by demanding these medical and prescription providers not be allowed to mark-up costs to the degree they do now.  There can be a compromise between making a profit and offering affordable options.  That’s what any Commission you create should be focusing on.

I don’t want to hear that is government interference, government interferes with everything else, why not let them interfere with what can benefit Americans.

There are many more ideas just like these, so why don’t we get them out in the open and then maybe, just maybe someone will listen.

Source: WhiteHouse.gov

AIG Just Keeps Giving Millions Away

Robert Benmosche, the new CEO of insurance giant AIG, is most likely going to get his $7 million bonus and $3.5 million incentive program. This is not sitting well with shareholders and government officials and I’m sure not going to be welcomed news to taxpayers.

AIG has received $180 billion in taxpayers money over the last year. The company was bailed out or it faced financial ruin, but it has no qualms about handing over millions to one person. If you didn’t believe it before you certainly know it now. The root of their downfall almost was and still may be: GREED.

It’s being reported that Kenneth Feinberg, nicknamed “pay czar,” who was appointed by the Obama administration to oversee the compensation of top executives at companies which have received federal bailout assistance will approve the AIG compensation deal.

Mr. Benmosche wants what the board offered him or he will leave. So let him! I’m positive that you can find an executive with just as much, if not more experience than greedy Benmosche. Someone who wants to see the taxpayers money put to good use and actually start to turn this economy and AIG around.

The Obama administration needs to finish what they started. They handed out all this money, now see it through. They should put in place reasonable compensation packages to all executives, current and future. By reasonable, I mean by taxpayers standards. If they don’t want them, they can leave.

It’s their greed that got us in trouble to begin with. Let them go. There are enough people out of work and/or retired to choose from that can and will do the job effectively.

Murderer Should Not Be Shown Compassion

Today the man convicted of killing 270 people in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland was set free on compassionate grounds, allowing him to die at home in Libya from prostate cancer.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill claimed because Abdel Basset al-Megrahi’s condition has deteriorated he was bound by Scottish values to release him. That decision should not have been left up to him, every country that had citizens on that plane should have had a say.

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was one of two men indicted in 1991. The other suspect was Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah. Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, was found not guilty and freed.

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, a former Libyan intelligence officer, was convicted on Janurary 31, 2001 for his part in the December 21, 1988 bombing of Flight 103. It took them 13 years to convict him and since his conviction in 2001 he has only served eight years of his life sentence.

So what if he is dying. So what if he wants to spend what little time he has left with his family in Libya. He should not be given the benefit of any compassion. He should not be shown any mercy since he showed no mercy to the 270 people who died as a result of that explosion. As of today no one is being punished for murdering all those people. Justice has failed.

Cash For Clunkers Gets More Money

The “Cash For Clunkers” program was a success, because it increased sales for the auto industry, but the program was running out of money. The initial $1 billion had all but run out in just 10 days.  So what do they do?  What every other industry is doing, asking for more money and that’s just what they’re getting.

The Senate voted to keep the program alive, which gives consumers up to $4,500 in federal subsidies if they trade in their cars for new, more energy-efficient models.

The only problem I have with this program is that you are walking into a car dealership and yes, you will automatically get $4,500 for the car you trade-in, but who’s to say they aren’t ripping you off for the car you’re buying.  So you are helping an industry that is keeping consumers in debt.

The President had this to say, “Cash for clunkers has been a proven success,” Obama said in a written statement issued shortly after the vote. “The initial transactions are generating a more than 50 percent increase in fuel economy; they are generating $700 to $1000 in annual savings for consumers in reduced gas costs alone, and they are getting the oldest, dirtiest and most air polluting trucks and SUV’s off the road for good.”

Seriously, it’s been 10 days, how could he possibly know that.  This program was created for one reason, to give the auto industry a boost and that is what it did.  Why give it more money?  So consumers continue to pay for cars they can’t afford.  Let’s see they already spent $1 billion, so what’s another $2 billion dollars, that’s how much more they are planning to give.

I’m telling you this Obama gives out billions like candy.  I wish he’d give me some, but I’m not rich or poor and that’s the only people he gives it to.

Lawmakers Breaking The Law

Trust me.  Listen to me.  I can fix this.   I’m looking out for your best interest.  That’s what we hear from lawmakers promising us the world, but really just looking for our vote.  We all know most of those promises are always broken.  After all to the candidates they are just words.  However, we did start to trust them a little bit and hope they can change our daily lives for the better.  They were making someones life better, their own.

Now it’s become sort of a joke, hearing about all the corruption in the government.  These people are using the positions we gave them to get rich and powerful, while we suffer.

Everyday it’s something different,  two NJ Mayors and an Assemblyman arrested for money-laundering, among other things, former Rep. William Jefferson was convicted of taking bribes and federal agents found $90,000 in his freezer and really what politician isn’t having an extramarital affair these days.

A word to all those who seek re-election or running for the first time, we always find out.  Do not think that we can be fooled for long, because there are eyes everywhere.  Do not seek a position of power for your own selfish needs.  If you are lucky enough to become the next Governor, Senator, Mayor or President, then do your job and stop worrying about screwing around (I mean that figuratively and literally).  If you are elected follow through on your promises.  Try making us all proud not sorry.

White House Staff Salaries

The Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff – a report required by Congress listing titles and salaries of every White House Office employee.

OK I had this whole post I was going to type about how the President should be a little bit more sympathetic to all those who are unemployed and pay his employees wages similar to those they would be paid outside the White House.  I mean does he really need to pay $172,000 to 22 assistants?  Does he really need 22 assistants?

While it’s still true I don’t think anyone needs 22 assistants, I have thought about it and I would never want to work at the White House.  Although I am sure it is an an honor to some, those employees are over-worked and their personal lives undoubtedly suffer for it.

The jobs are demanding and stressful and I would never want to do them, but someone has to.  So you know what, if you have to follow the President around everywhere he goes and cater to his every whim, then you deserve $172,000 a year.

Is North Korea Looking For A War?

According to CNN and South Korea’s Defense Ministry, North Korea is at it again.  This time by testing three short-range missiles off its east coast Thursday.

U.S. Military Communications told CNN that North Korea had issued a warning to mariners similar to the one it issued in April, when it tested a long-range missile.

That April ‘military exercise’ was a nuclear test in May, which threatened U.S. and South Korean ships near its territorial waters.

North Korea is not listening to the warnings of Obama, no surprise.

If you ask me North Korea is looking for a war.  This is their strategy. They want to be able to blame big, bad America when it fires at North Korea when all they were trying to do was test their military weapons.

Read the Official Webpage of The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

They claim the Lee regime (Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea)   is inventing a nuclear threat from North Korea.  That Lee is trying to ignite a war, they continually refer back to the Korean War and the part the United States played, or as they put it, it was America’s fault.

North Korea has fired nuclear missiles and is not stopping, tests or not. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.

They state the nuclear test was a powerful sword, self-defense against the U.S. and it’s followers hostile policies against it, their way of defending the Korean Peninsula .

They state in no uncertain terms that the DPRK is building up their nuclear deterrent to respond to the US invasion with resolute punishment.

I think it’s important for everyone to understand how they think.  It’s really not all that different than those of a radical terrorist, always thinking we are trying to conquer the world.  If they pursue this vendetta and their progression of nuclear weapons will America be left with no choice?  Would it lead to WWIII, or what will undoubtedly be a Nuclear War?

I would really like opinions on this.

More Tax Hikes To Come

After reading an article on Wallet Pop about states raising taxes I am left disappointed in the people we voted for.  Their job is to look out for the best interest of their states and its residents.

It is obvious they understand that they are losing money usually gained from income taxes, because of the rising unemployment issue.  So what I don’t understand is why they would think it’s a good idea to charge those people who have no money coming in besides their unemployment benefits more money on everything?

NOTE TO ALL LAWMAKERS:  STOP TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE IT.  FIND ANOTHER WAY.

Stop handing out raises and bonuses to already highly paid executives. Actually, make sure the people that get to keep their jobs deserve it.

I would like to know where all the tax money has been going.  What about all the money being made from bridge & tunnel tolls, traffic or parking tickets, all the parking meters and every lottery ticket (and don’t tell me it’s going towards education)?  Just to name a few.

Every single thing we purchase has a tax on it and every pay check we receive decrease as the months pass.  Sure Obama gave us an extra $13.00 a week in our pay, that should really put a dent in our household bills.

Come on America…..WAKE UP!!

Submit Questions To Obama RE: Health Reform

The President is asking you to share your thoughts and submit questions on health care reform.  He will answer some of the most popular questions in a town hall meeting on Wednesday at 1:15 pm EST.

Watch the video on YouTube and learn how to submit your 20-30 second video asking your question.  Maybe your question  will be one of the lucky submissions he chooses to address.

High Court Rules In Favor Of White Firefighters

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of white firefighters from New Haven, CT.   It reverses a decision Sonia Sotomayor endorsed when she was an appeals court judge and these men were unfairly denied promotions because of their race.

The claim was New Haven did away with a promotions exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to pass, which would give them the opportunity to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results. The city’s action was based on a fear they would be sued by the minorities.

Sotomayor, who is nominated to take Justice David Souter’s place in the Supreme Court, was one of the three judges who ruled in agreement with New Haven officials and the city acted properly in throwing out the promotions exams because it would give the minorities a disadvantage.

The city was afraid of being charged with violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which included the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. However,  the EEOA is  against discrimination of any kind for any race, so by choosing to eliminate an exam based on a racial decision, wouldn’t that violate the Act?   The white firefighters agree.

The outcome of the case could and should alter how employers make job-related decisions.  The point of these exams is exactly what should be, to determine the best person for the job based on their knowledge and experience.  If there are some who cannot pass the test then they should not be allowed a promotion when certain knowledge is required.

Why Does Everyone Pick On Sarah Palin?

It seems that even though the election is over and her team didn’t win, Gov. Sarah Palin is still a target.  From Tina Fey to David Letterman and from her own state.

The Alaska governor’s office said there has been 15 ethics complaints against Palin or her staff which have been dismissed, but others are pending.

The ones filing the grievances are obviously trying to force Palin out of office by turning the public against her.  Also, ruining her chances of running a successful campaign as the next president, should she choose to do so.  They are using the legal system to hold Palin accountable for what they see as abuses of power.

Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn is going to introduce a bill to stop ethics complaints from being publicly discussed unless the state finds they have merit.  He states an ethics complaint filed against a legislator is confidential until it’s determined to have merit.  The bill would provide the same rule for complaints against the governor and her staff, if you talk about the complaint it’s dismissed.

The bill will go through much scrutiny by opposers to see if it’s not a violation of constitutional rights.  In the meantime Palin claims that lawsuits resulting from such complaints have put her more than $500,000.00 in debt.  She has also reimbursed the state $8,143.62 for nine trips taken between January 2007 and February of this year by her family.

Why haven’t other heads of state been forced to pay back money used for their own pleasure?  I think they all should.

Letterman Finally Issues A Somewhat Sincere Apology

After a week of back and forth bickering about a joke David Letterman made on The Late Show the host issues an apology.  The uproar was because the joke was about a young woman, Sarah Palin’s daughter to be exact, not only which one was in question but also why he would use the girl for laughs.  The joke, that a Palin daughter was knocked up by Yankee Alex Rodriguez.

Letterman tried to explain that he was not referring to the younger daughter Willow 14, but rather Bristol 18, who recently had a baby.  It didn’t really matter the damage was done and his attempts at explaining the joke away didn’t stop people from campaigning for his removal as host, such as the online petition to CBS (FireDaveLetterman.com).  So he did what he had to do, I’m sure it’s not what he wanted, but he had to save face.

This is not the first time he has made jokes about Sarah Palin using her gender for laughs.  Hopefully though he learned a lesson.  Try being a little more considerate when making jokes about women in general.  If you want to attack Sarah Palin or any other public figure, stick with her, leave the children out of it.  Also, do not make sexual references or jokes about young women.  Hear that Dave!!

A Change In The Priorities Of Government Funded Health Care Programs Is Needed

A change in the priorities of Medicaid and other government health care coverage is absolutely necessary. Eligibility should be based on medical necessity not income.

It is unfathomable that people in desperate need of health insurance are not receiving coverage.  In many of these cases their life depends on it.

The rules need to be changed.  Medicaid is automatically given to people who receive SSI, which is based on income or lack of.  However, those on SSD, which is based on disability do not get such consideration.  That is just plain backwards.

Major health care insurance companies, such as Aetna (just to name one but definitely not the only one), have waiting periods of up to 12 months for pre-existing conditions.  Which means they have to pay the high premiums for 12 months before they can actually use the coverage and even then insurance does not cover everything.

This needs to change and now.  There are too many people left out due to this loophole.  To think if Congress would put just some of the money they spend on their pet projects into the health care system and make the changes needed then the people who need coverage would receive it.  

They would receive the tests, operations and medicine they need to survive.  These are not options for many people, they are necessary for their survival and it’s unacceptable for them to not be receiving the coverage for all of these things.  Not in America!  Not when people come from other countries and receive it first.

The issue for health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and disabilities needs to be addressed.  It should take precedence over whether abortion should be allowed in Mexico, which was one of the first issues Obama confronted as President.  He even offered government funds for it.  Does he not think there are plenty of people here in America, the country he is supposed to be lookingout for need his help?

I would really like to read your thoughts on this subject.

 

Something Obama Says I Can Actually Agree With

The President preached to the students at Sunday’s commencement ceremony at Notre Dame where he was invited to be honored.  Notre Dame is a famously Catholic University, so you could imagine Obama’s invitation to draw some debate and it did.   The President spoke about the topics he supports, such as abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research, which are opposed by many on the campus.   

Obama preached, telling the students we will never get where we need to go as a country until we stop demonizing people who disagree with us.

 ”The soldier and the lawyer may both love this country with equal passion, and yet reach very different conclusions on the specific steps needed to protect us from harm. The gay activist and the evangelical pastor may both deplore the ravages of HIV/AIDS, but find themselves unable to bridge the cultural divide that might unite their efforts. Those who speak out against stem-cell research may be rooted in admirable conviction about the sacredness of life, but so are the parents of a child with juvenile diabetes who are convinced that their son’s or daughter’s hardships can be relieved.”

I have not agreed with most of what Obama has said throughout his campaign and even through the beginning of his presidency, but I do agree with him on this subject.  I have been saying it in my posts regarding the endless Miss California controversy.  No one should be persecuted for what they believe. 

We are lucky to live in a country where we are free to have different beliefs and religions and yet those who encourage and preach about this freedom are the very same ones who try to take down the person who doesn’t agree with them. 

They appreciate they live in a society that allows them to be who they are or who they want to be, but they don’t accept the people who feel differently.  

Take for instance the Miss California debacle, Perez Hilton is an openly gay blogger who asked Carrie  Prejean a question that is personal to him and he didn’t like her answer.  So what did he do, he blasted her in the media and to anyone who would listen and probably cost her first place in the Miss USA pageant.  All because she didn’t agree with him.  So Perez believes that society is supposed to accept him and the lifestyle he chooses to live, which is fine, but also according to him society is supposed to persecute those who don’t agree with his lifestyle.           

Personally, I am pro-life and don’t agree with embryonic stem cell research, but I can understand why those suffering with illnesses would disagree.  However, that is a post for another time. 

I think everyone just needs to agree to disagree.

Another White House Party

The President and First Lady are hosting another themed party night at the White House.  A poetry jam with music and more.  A headliner for the event is actor James Earl Jones. 

The East Room will be the venue for a celebration of poetry, music and the spoken word. Featured performers include authors, an essayist, vocalists, pianists, poets, and two Youth Poetry Finalists from HBO’s Brave New Voices.

The event is to be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov.

My question is when does he find time for the economy, health care, you know just some of the issues that need to be addressed in America.  Answer:  he doesn’t.  He’s too busy being a celebrity.  Kind of like another Democrat I remember being in office.  We all know what he was too busy doing.

Which also brings me to the point, isn’t it a little irresponsible to spend money on parties when so many Americans are fighting to get by.  Isn’t this what he berated AIG for, after they made a mockery of his bailout fund.  I really do think there are more important things he could be doing.  Don’t you agree?

A Must Read For All Americans

This is definitely a must read for all Americans.  She makes many valid points and interesting observations about our President.  Please leave feedback, I would love to read thoughts on it.

The President Who Hates His Country By Joan Swirsky

Taxpayers Always Pay More In The End

The following link is an article educating us on how much Obama’s “Making Work Pay” tax credit will really cost us come tax season 2010 (which is for 2009 earnings).

It makes complete sense and apparently the IRS is keeping it under wraps for now.  The IRS acknowledges problems with new tax withholding tables that could cause millions of taxpayers to get hundreds of dollars more than they are entitled to under the credit.  That money will have to be repaid at tax time.  However, they are not doing enough to warn taxpayers.

Those that may be affected include working, married couples, workers with more than one job, retirees with federal income taxes withheld from pension payments and Social Security recipients with taxable income.

Protect yourself against a surprise and listen to the advice of  Jackie Perlman, an analyst with the Tax Institute at H&R Block:  check your federal withholding to make sure sufficient taxes are being taken out of your pay. If you are married and both spouses work, you might consider having taxes withheld at the higher rate for single filers. If you have multiple jobs, you might consider having extra taxes withheld by one of your employers. You can make that request with a Form W-4.

 IRS withholding calculator:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id96196,00.html

How Will America Deal With Unemployment Issues?

A man angry over losing his job goes on a shooting spree in NY.  Will this be the only incident of its kind?  I doubt it.

It’s been proven in the past that desperation leads people to react in tragic ways.  When feeling desperate people kill.  They kill other innocent people, they kill their family, their former co-workers, their former bosses, and themselves. 

America is going to react to their unemployment issues and it’s only going to get worse.  What is the government planning to do about it?  Where did the money go that was meant to create jobs?  And how exactly is it going to create jobs?

Obama said to give tax credits to companies in an effort to create new jobs.  Unless he is sitting there directing people how to use the money how does he know what they will use it for?  He doesn’t.  That is why no jobs have been created.  He gave all this bailout money and the companies used it to make themselves rich. 

You want to create new jobs then that money should have been used to form new corporations to rebuild communities, roads, anything that will benefit the people of America.  That money should have come with all kinds of strings on what can be done with it and if those regulations were not followed there should have been consequences.

America should not be in the economic mess that it’s in.  The banks and individual people responsible for this mess should be held accountable and punished.  Instead their greed has ruined people’s lives and they were rewarded for it. 

The government should not be wasting BILLIONS of dollars on companies that dug their own grave, they should be using that money to actually fix the problem.  The banks are in trouble, the car companies are in trouble, don’t throw money at them, throw all those responsible out.  Hire new people, people with experience in rebuilding companies with the intention of making things better, not personal gain.

If the government wants to help these companies get back on their feet then they should put people in those companies whose sole purpose is to use the bailout funds given in responsible and productive ways.

The American people are in trouble, who is bailing them out?  No one.  Instead, you are giving us a lifetimes worth of debt.

In order to help America out of this financial mess regulations and caps need to be put in place.  The costs of gas, food, homes and insurance need to seriously be readjusted.  This doesn’t mean the government has to control everything, but with some regulations and rules America might be able to dig itself out of this mess. 

Instead, right now you have people in high positions profiting off of other people’s misfortune.  Including those in Congress.  Why was nothing done to stop the millions of dollars in earmarks Obama promised he would never pass?  I’ll tell you why, because the people running this country are in it for themselves, not for America or it’s people.

Obama Is Going To CA For Town Hall Meetings & The Tonight Show

I’m not sure if anyone has told him, but Obama is President.  He doesn’t have to campaign anymore.  So why go to California to give Town Hall Meetings and stop by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno?

I’ll tell you why…his numbers are slipping.  People have realized that he has not changed anything.  He’s spending money we don’t have and he has to go on TV to plead his case, charm his audience into once again believing every word that comes out of his mouth. 

Only problem is, now they know he is a liar.  So I can’t imagine how he’s going to make himself come out smelling like a rose, but knowing Obama and the way people see him as their Messiah, they will believe him.

If he wanted to be the President he promised he was going to be these meetings should have taken place before he signed BILLIONS of dollars away.  He should’ve taken the time to get our opinions, considering it’s our money he is wasting.  That would have made him a unique President that is for the people, but he didn’t do that.  The fact is, he has done things that he promised during his campaign he would not do.  Surprise, surprise.

It’s no secret alot of his campaign money came from celebrities, because Hollywood is full of dems and librals.  So of course he has to go there and reassure the people who funded him. 

Obama is also going to make an appearance on The Tonight Show.  Honestly, by doing this I think he is demeaning the title of President Of The United States.  He may be trying to be a more down to earth President than his predecessors, but now that he no longer needs to campaign he needs to uphold and respect the honor and entitlement of actually being The President Of The United States.

 

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AIG Rewards Incompetence

The government gave American International Group Inc.
(AIG) $170 billion in federal bailout funds to pay money it owed to U.S. and foreign banks.  Out of those funds $165 million in bonuses were paid to about 400 executives and traders at the company. 

This never should have been allowed to happen.  The government should have had restrictions in place on how that money can be used and should have renegotiated the executives contracts before giving the money.  This goes for all the companies receiving money from the bailout.

This government, and by that I mean The Obama Administration and the House ruling Democrats, are very free to hand out millions of dollars of taxpayers money.  However, they are not taking responsibility or acting responsibly in how it is spent.  

Somewhere, someone needs to step in and do something, because what’s going to happen is going to be much worse than the dire economic downfall the government wants you to believe will happen if they don’t give billions of our dollars out.

Obama Breaks Campaign Pledge

Among all the promises Obama made in his campaign, one of them was doing away with congressional earmarks on bills.  However, Obama is ready to sign a budget bill and it is filled with millions for lawmakers pet projects.

Of course the administration budget chief Peter Orszag and the White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel downplayed the $410 billion spending bill.  Didn’t he just sign a multi-billion dollar bill?

This was passed by the House last week to keep the government running through September 30th, when the federal budget year ends.  Taxpayers For Common Sense, identified almost 8,600 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion.  Of course, Democrats say the number is $3.8 billion.  I don’t care if it’s $1.00, that is a dollar more than what Obama promised.  See how fast things change when you’ve already won.

Obama, is going against what he promised as a candidate, to reject such tailored budget requests.  The director of the Office of Management and Budget says, “We want to make sure that earmarks are reduced and they’re also transparent.  We’re going to work with Congress on a set of reforms to achieve those.”   So what happened?  What he is basically saying is let us just get this last one by and we promise to try harder next time. 

Obama’s top people blame Bush as they slide the budget they created under Obama’s hand.  It’s George Bush’s fault they’re doing this. Do the Dems ever take responsibility for anything? Ever?  They just spend and spend and it’s always someone else’s fault.  How is it Bush’s fault that these lawmakers want to divert millions to pet projects?

Obama plans to set up his own budget on October 1st.  He made that proposal last week when he stated he would cut the deficit by half within his four year term. He’s off to a great start don’t you think!

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Obama Addresses The Nation

In Obama’s first presidential, prime-time speech he reminds us, “We are not quitters.”

Tuesday night he proclaimed his agenda that included jobs, a stable credit system, better schools, health care reform, reliable domestic sources of energy and an end to the war in Iraq.  However, he gave no specifics.  Isn’t that just like him, to leave out all the important details. 

He also acknowledged more billions may be necessary to stabilize the banking system.  Here’s an idea:  Instead of taking more from us tax payers, why don’t you sue the CEO’s and banking leaders who not only put us in this hole but profited from it?  Why should they get to escape unscathed and rich and we have to suffer for their greed?

During his speech, Obama named VP Joe Biden to oversee implementaion of his stimulus plan.  He also pledged yet again he will cut projected deficits in half by the end of his term.  How?  He’s been president for a little over a month and he’s already passed a $787 billion stimulus bill.

He said, “What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face and take responsibility for our future once more.”

I think there is a little confusion on who should be held responsible and who is being responsible.

Obama went on to say that the stimulus bill was designed to “put people back to work and put money in their pockets.  Not because I believe in bigger government-I don’t.”  Again I ask how?  How is the stimulus going to put money in the pockets of the people when they’re not the ones receiving the money.  It’s going into the hands of self-serving governors and other lawmakers.  I use the term lawmakers loosely, because what I should say is the makers of laws that help only themselves.  Unless, he is referring to his tax cut/credit plan, putting a wopping $13 a week back in our pockets.

He claims to have already identified $2 trillion in savings to be achieved over the next ten years and pledges to “root out the waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicaid program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier.”

Why doesn’t he start with Welfare, Medicaid and Social Security?  Weed out the waste, fraud and those who abuse the system.  There are thousands of people taking advantage of the system and living off the government, while those who really need the benefits aren’t receiving them.

I can’t wait for Obama to explain in detail how he and/or Joe Biden plan on spending the $787 billion, who exactly and how exactly it will benefit taxpayers, what jobs it will create, and exactly how we are going to be held responsible for paying it back.

Source:  The Associated Press

Tax Cuts Coming In April

April 1st is when working America should start seeing tax cuts in their weekly pay checks.  This is what Obama said boasting about his ”Making Work Pay” tax break  that will be in affect for two years.  When the banks (who started this whole mess) needed the money they got it in record time.  We have to wait.

This credit  (up to $400 for individuals and up to $800 for married couples) will be spread throughout the year in take-home pay.  It should allow workers to see about $13 a week more in their pay. In 2010, this credit will decrease to about $7.70 a week, if spread over a year.  Oh Boy!!!  Thanks Obama, $13 whole dollars more, what will I do with it?  How is $13 a week supposed to boost the economy?  McDonald’s for two cost more than that.

For those who don’t earn enough money to owe income taxes, they’re eligible for the credit too, to offset payroll taxes they pay.  However, for anyone who makes $75,000 or more the credit is phased out.  Whatever that means.

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I would much rather have had the one time credit/stimulus, whatever you want to call it today, sent to me in a check like Bush did it.  Unless, Obama wants to increase the $13 a week tax credit to $100 a week tax credit.

I want to give an example of weekly taxes in what some would consider a middle-class (you’re not poor, but you’re not rich) pay check in a NY working class family.  Out of the primary bread winner’s weekly pay over $400 is taken out for taxes, again that’s $400 a week.  Not including what his wife pays in taxes all year long.  At  tax time he files, but because he doesn’t own a home and not much to claim what does he receive back, a whole big $2,000 for working hard all year long.  They took out over $20,000 over the course of a year but he gets back $2,000. 

Please let’s not forget that even though someone doesn’t own a home they still have to pay rent.  Now, I don’t know about the rest of the country but here in New York, we pay top dollar.  If you are single, a studio will run you at least $700 but most of the time more.  If you are a couple with a one bedroom, you will most likely pay between $800-$1000.  If you have children, a two bedroom will cost you anywhere from $1,000-$1,300, a three bedroom $1,300-$1,600.  Those are apartments, if you rent a house you are usually paying $1,900 or more.

OK so I will stick to a working class family and I’ll throw in two kids.  A three bedroom is needed.  For arguments sake we will say they rent a house for $1,900.  That’s just rent.  Electricity which thanks to good ‘ol Con Ed has gone up three times in two years, even with “an economic crisis” is quite expensive.  During the winter it can be around $150 a month (that’s if no one is home and the lights are always off), during the summer good luck, it can run you way over $300.  That’s assuming you want air condition in 90 degree weather.  Gas and heat during the winter will be no less than $300, during the summer without needing heat except for your dryer will be approx. $200.  Then there is telephone or cellphone(s), cable, Internet access, car insurance, maybe a car payment and the all important groceries.  Add them all up..$3,700 a month and I added everything using the lowest bills you can possibly have in NY.  If the government is taking out $400 in taxes a week how much can the bread winner possible be taking home?  Possibly, between $500-$900 a week.  That’s between $2,000 and $3,600 a month take-home pay.  That’s not even enough to cover the bills.

So I ask, what is an extra $13 a week supposed to do to help the million of Americans who can’t pay their bills?  Where is our bailout?

Pelosi Claims Dems Will Be Held Accountable…For Spending

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying that the Democrats who voted on the $819 billion ”economic rescue plan” will be held accountable for how they spend it.

She said alot more, but that’s the gist of it.  Well, let’s see, since the Dems voted on it, are the only ones who want it and will be the only ones to spend it,  who else will they blame.  She claims they took action when the Republicans would not, they stepped up.  Maybe for them it’s easy to say let’s write a plan to use $819 billion more of taxpayers money and spend it how we see fit (that means on crap that serves their purposes and not in the taxpayers best interest).  How do they sleep at night?

Not to worry though, because they will be held accountable.  This is pretty laughable considering these particular Democrats (including Pelosi and all her cronies) never claim responsibility for anything.

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Our New President Makes His First Move

As our new President, Obama’s first order of his presidency was to suspend the war crimes trial of Omar Khadr and five men charged in the September 11th attacks.

A 120-day continuance was issued for the trial of Khadr by Army Col. Patrick Parrish.  The ruling to suspend the trial of the other five men is expected today.

A native of Canada, Omar Khadr, is on trial for supporting terrorism and allegedly killing in 2002 at age 15 a U.S. Army Sgt., 1st Class Christopher Speer.   Here is a kid, he was a kid at the time he committed the ”alleged” crime, that comes from what Canada calls ”The First Family of Terrorism.”  His father was killed by Pakistani forces for being an alleged al-Qaida militant and his brother is being held on accusations of supplying weapons to al-Qaida. 

The defendants in the 9/11 trial have opposed the delay.  They want to plead guilty, which could give them the death penalty.  Of course they do, they want to be martyrs.  Instead continue with the trial and let them spend the rest of their lives in jail.

There has been criticism from human rights groups as well as others over Guantanamo.  Obama wants to close Guantanamo and expects to put an end to the special war crimes court and chooses for the cases to be prosecuted in the U.S.  Now I ask, how could moving these trials to the U.S. not pose a danger to America?

Now in my opinion I don’t think the family of Sgt. Speer or the families of the victims of 9/11 will be too happy and they shouldn’t be.  They have waited long enough for justice.  Obama should have left the schedule alone until the detainees could be transferred to a more neutral territory and the trials continued.  Why suspend the trial and pro-long the process?  As far as human rights groups are concerned,  all these people have committed horrendous acts of violence against people of the U.S., whether they were soldiers or civilians.  What about the rights of the victims?  Shouldn’t justice be served in their name?

The main question is, should this have really been his first priority as president, to help detainees from other countries who have supported or murdered Americans?  Really?  I could have given a Top 50 list of topics that take more priority in this country. 

Another topic on his agenda for early executive orders would be to overturn the Mexico City policy forbidding U.S. funding for family planning programs that offer abortions.  I’m against abortion, but not against counseling on options (such as adoption) that is every woman’s right.  However, I do not think U.S. funding should be used to do either considering all the people in this country who do not have health insurance.  

If those funds must be used in a way to help family planning programs then use them here, let’s say for adoption.  I mean we are hurting here and their priorities and major concerns are for murderers and Mexico.  

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The BIG difference between President Bush & Former President Clinton.

While reading some news articles on the web and the comment threads, one of them stood out to me.  It explained, when asked how, President George Bush kept us safe.  The first WTC bombing in 1993 happened while Clinton was President.  The USS Cole (2000) was attacked, also when Clinton was in office.  Although that attack didn’t take place in America U.S. Soldiers were killed.  September 11, 2001 took place about 8 months after Clinton left office.  Which means the terrorists were allowed not only to enter the country (wasn’t Atta on watchlists), but to plot and plan our demise.  All this took place under Clinton’s watchful eye (yeah right!). 

Since 9/11 NO terrorist attacks have occurred in America and any attempts have been stopped before damage was done.  We have been kept safe under President George Bush. 

People like to say Bill Clinton was a great president, but when I ask what made him great they have no answer.  Clinton opened the gates to America and never closed them.  He also wasn’t too concerned about who was let in.  You want to blame someone for the rise in unemployment blame him.  If all these illegal immigrants weren’t here then Americans would have jobs.  We would have our health insurance and our public assistance – instead Clinton made an America that is the land of opportunity for everyone except those who were born here.