White House

The White House is considering options. The Cash for Clunker program has disbursed the $1,000,000 already. It was thought the program would last longer than 4 days.

Possibly the White House needs to rethink other numbers.

The Obama Care program has promised in-home consultations with new mothers. Training is baby care and child development are promised.

Obama Care will provide specialized consultants for each senior citizen 65 and older every 5 years to influence end-of-life decisions.

Obama Care will overview all physicians to assure tonsils are not removed for financial gain.

Obama Care will put those ugly health insurance companies out of business in less than 10 years. If your coverage lapses or you become self employed, your only option will be the government. (Page 16-17)

Medicare for everyone.

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Good Intentions

The US income tax began in 1913. Most Americans paid 1% of their income to the government. The richest paid 7%. The people were told it would never exceed 10%. Ever.

When President Wilson decided we needed to participate in World War I (less than 5 years later), the income tax rate was increased to 7% with the richest paying 77%. That is not a misprint. 77%.

When Social Security was first set up, the average life expectancy was 63 years. A few would benefit while everyone contributed. We live longer, we pay in over 6 times the rate as initially established, and many receive the benefit.

Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac not own over 1/2 of all homes.

With good intentions, government helps a little. Then it's almost as if it feeds on its own greed. Soon we are all enslaved to its programs.

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Who Are They?

There are 47 million without health coverage. Who are they?

9.1 million of these uninsured earn more than $75,000.

17.5 million of these uninsured earn more than $50,000.

1.8 million are age 18-34. They are referred to as the invincibles.

Christian Scientists usually forgo health coverage due to religious beliefs.

There are millions who do not take advantage of Medicare and Medicaid.

There are the multi-millionaires who can afford it but can cover health needs independently.

These statistics are American citizens. Many sources state the actual number who can not afford (earn below $50,000 yet too much to qualify for existing government systems) coverage are less than 16 million.

To cover 1/3 of these (government estimate) it will cost you and me $1 Trillion.

Is it to help the helpless or to control the masses, Mr. President?

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Our Borders

Bob is out of town on business. He is in Toronto this entire week. To enter Canada on business he had to have a letter from the company there inviting him. He also took his passport. He was asked if he was bringing in any tools. He claimed his computer.

Canada would not let him in if they thought he was going to do a job that a Canadian could/should be doing. Bob is an independent set of eyes working for a company in the US that buys products made in Canada. His inspections are to assure the purchaser that certain procedures and records are appropriately being followed and done.

Why can't the US control the in-flows of illegals? Why can't we stop those who are coming in to do jobs that Americans should have?

The Obama administration has eliminated raids. He will arrest and prosecute employers found employing illegals but will protect the illegals. He has removed some of the power of local police in regards to illegals and has instructed the Social Security Administration to not follow up on "no match" social security numbers.

Under Bush if an employer hired more than a couple of workers whose name did not match the SSA records, they could be raided. But no longer will that happen.

If we are loosening our power over the hiring of illegals, what hope do we have? We pay for their education, their health issues as presented to the emergency rooms, and they give their vote (do they have a one?) to the Dems every time?

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11% Increase

If you owned a small business, you would cherish good workers and reward them according to their value to your company. If your employers earned minimum wage, today they are receiving an 11% increase in gross pay. Will that make a difference to your bottom line?

This is the third increase in as many years. This "pill" may be difficult for some businesses. Will it hurt the economy?

One economics professor believes that the Friday increase couldn't be happening at a worse time. The U.S. economy lost nearly 3.4 million jobs in the first half of 2009, which is more than the 3.1 million lost in all of 2008.

Some states have minimum wages greater than the federal $7.25 per hour.

One analysis shows that the 13 states with the highest minimum wage experienced higher unemployment levels than the other 37 states. The unemployment rates were higher by an average of between 1.75% and 2% in those 13 states during the three-month period ending in May.

Will the increase actually cost our economy?

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Can't Be!

From the Fox Nation: "The total potential federal government support could reach up to $23.7 trillion," says Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program."

Troubled Asset Relief Program is TARP. It all began last fall. Do you remember McCain coming off the campaign trail? Paulson was warning that the entire financial structure would crumble by the end of the week. So We The People starting giving $ to banks and taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Of course, somewhere in there, we let a few financial institutions fail but we forced $ on banks that said they didn't need it. TARP continued into this administration.

So the cost of letting things fail, enter into bankruptcy, sell off assets, regroup or not, and get on with things is nearly 24 million million.

I have no idea where one finds that kind of capital to cover the expense. I don't know one person who is worth one trillion. The Treasury workers at the presses are working over time. If we print more and more, is the bill in my purse worth less? Why wouldn't it be?

Is this the time for us to take on another $1 Trillion to take over health care?

I suggest we open the state regulations and open the doors of insurance companies to sell to small businesses and individuals under something called competition. A business in NY can not reach out to a program in PA or NE without an office in NY. Open the restraints and let competition work.

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Abortions

Obama believes all health coverage (private and his previous government run) should include coverage for abortions.

We know his plan will include full coverage for abortions. I think that particular procedure will be easier to get than a mammogram.

Please listen carefully to the critics of this 1,018 page bill. This bill has been published and read. That may be Obama's big mistake on this one.

But as the bill is read and questioned, Obama is stepping up the sympathy rhetoric. Today he appeared in a children's hospital with bleeding heart stories. He is sounding desperate as the critics are uncovering all the lies.

We will not get to keep our own coverage. We will not get to keep our own doctors. Those at the end of life will be denied, denied, denied. For most ailments, we will all end up in the emergency room or a clinic in a line waiting and waiting.

Obama is lying. Watch him carefully. This health care reform bill will cost all of us in taxes or loss of coverage or our very lives.

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Not Applicable?

You have health coverage through your employer or you purchase coverage because you are self employed. Obama will let us keep our policy and our own doctors. Repeatedly he has made this statement that Obamacare will not change what we already have.

He lied.

Investor's Business Daily discovered on page 16 of the 1,018 page bill something that clearly states things will change.

"Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of the year the legislation becomes law."

Those who have private individual coverage won’t be able to change it nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers.

The Lewin Group estimates that 120 million or more Americans could lose their group coverage at work and end up depending on the government run program. That would leave private carriers with 50 million or fewer customers. This is probably not enough to sustain the health insurance industry. Therefore, we will each be on the government dictated plan eventually.

Beyond this, the Democrats have wanted to do away with health savings accounts. They want to crush that alternative because nothing gives individuals more control over their medical care, and the government less, than HSAs. Bob and I have a HSA that we fund for future medical needs.

We can defer taxes on our contributions now but they are taxed when we need the $. Very much like a medical IRA. The Democrats prefer that we all become needy little children relying on the Nanny State.

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Kill the Messenger

Like Nancy P attacked the CIA for always lying to Congress, soon the President will slaughter the accountants who are coming back with the numbers regarding the harm the Obamacare plan will cause.

Kill the messenger. Deflect any who dare question you. Prosecute those who do not agree.

No, we are not a communist society. Big Brother is always right. The workers need to give more and more and more.

Kill all messengers and any one else who dare to disagree. Turn off talk radio. Arrest Levin, Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, and everyone at Ayn Rand's group. Lock them up without rights. They are lower than terrorists.

Kill the messenger. Some of us are watching and remembering. Elections have consequences. We are watching the destruction now but will vote in 2010 unless the right denied.

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Rob Jobs

Do you work for or want to work for a company that is in the business of making money? Contact your senators and your representative now.

While we were watching the debate on health care, they passed the Cap & Tax bill.

While we are attending to Sonia's revelations and worrying about the Cap & Tax, Obama will get his health care bill. Please watch. He demands it by the end of the month. Demands it.

Small businesses will be forced to fire employees immediately. A friend whose family has run a machine shop in eastern Indiana since 1956 is very worried. They employ 22 full time non-family workers. They will have to cut 3 jobs right away and may face closing the shop. The income from the shop also supports 4 family members representing 3 families.

I have wondered why GE is such a promoter of government run health care. I am convinced it's the money. If GE has employees who can get free coverage from Uncle Sam, GE is off the hook for their expensive plans. The government offered plan will improve their bottom line. It would be true for many corporations who don't pay taxes but pass profits on to stockholders. It is the small businesses who pay taxes that will die under the government run plan.

And, oh how efficient the government plan will be. Think Amtrak, think post office, think $200 toilet seats. Check out the VA hospitals for a glimpse of our health coverage options. Check out the lines outside clinics in Canada (where those who can own their own health insurance coverage). It'll be very bad to be enslaved to Uncle Sam.

The health care changes will not create jobs. In fact, eventually when all health insurance companies are closed down, there will be millions out of work. Millions more dependent on the government for health, home, and food.

This health care plan will be the final blow. The United States of America will die. I am thinking the great nation of Texas sounds pretty good. Call or contact your Senators and Representatives right now. Do it.

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Electric Bill

I am grateful that global warming has kept this July at one of the coolest of record for decades. The air conditioner has been kicking in late in the day. By mid morning we pull the shades along the south and west sides.

But more importantly we have the thermostat set at 78 degrees. It's not cool in here but with fans running, we sleep quite well. There is no need to set the air lower. It's there for comfort.

Still we know our electric bill will be higher than June's. We hope it's lower than last July's.

We all need to find ways to conserve power because power = cost. If the Senate passes the Cap and Trade bill, it will cost us all much more. This is especially true for the electric companies that burn coal. Join me in contacting both of your senators now.

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Timing

Yesterday's tale about our dream and our saving toward it was not meant to be a brag. It was meant to encourage goal setting, patience, and saving.

Bob and I both agree that if we had not discovered lake property the year that we did, we would likely have had to shelf the idea again.

With the economic rumbling early in 2008 and the panic of that fall, we would have known not to spend the dream money. And if we had waited until 2009, we likely would have realized such a set back in our investments (like everyone else) that the thought would be scrapped.

Besides dreaming, goal setting, and saving, there's the timing issue. Know when the time is right and not having to live with regrets.

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Dreaming, Goal Setting

Bob and I are enjoying our little lake house. Since we were first married (back in 1975), we have dreamt of a place on water. For several years I searched out farm land with ponds in Indiana. We actually came close on 15 acres in Whitley County but it wasn't meant to be. It made little or no sense to make mortgage payments and land payments while raising our daughter.

For 10 years or better we rented lake houses for a week each summer. For 4 years we drove 7 hours north into Wisconsin to a property that consisted of a lodge and three houses. One had one bedroom and was near the water, one had 5 bedrooms and 1.5 baths, and the third had 3 bedrooms, one bath, and a large screened in porch. We rented the last one each year. We would rent a boat with small motor and fish away the days.

For 3 summers we rented a small place on Pretty Lake in northern Indiana. It had one decent bedroom and a loft. It was rustic and quaint with a stone fireplace. The screened in porch there looked down over the lake. The steps down to the water were equal to 3 flights of stairs. It came with a fishing boat with motor. With no air conditioning we always ended up sleeping on the floor in the open room.

As we continued to dream of our own place on water, we investigated lakes in Illinois including Springfield Lake and the lake in Danville and some lakes along the border with Wisconsin. The dreaming continued. We stayed at a state park in southern Illinois once and loved to visit Bob's brother Roy in New York. He lives on one of the Finger Lakes.

In 2007 we finalized the details we would want in a place. Our dream had a definition. We decided to expand our search criteria still hoping to keep within 2 hours of home. We set a $ amount we thought was reasonable and I started searching on line.

In April of 2007 I drove to Fort Wayne to visit my dad. We talked a long time about the lakes in northern Indiana and the property his sister had back in the 50s and 60s. I recall those day trips and even renting a cottage near Uncle Bill one summer. Then Dad told me that he and Mom actually passed up a building lot on the water near Uncle Bill. With 5 kids, they did not have the $1,000. He said, "Don't live with regrets."

So my focus swung to northeast Indiana. There were dozens of places within our set $ limit. When Bob and I next got to the area we drove by several of them, judging them from the printed specs and the outside.

I mentioned that often the seller will settle for less than asking price and that I had printed a few that were just over our limit. So we took a couple of hours and drove by several outside our price range. One stuck us out from the outside and the specifications listed on the sheets. It met all but one of our criteria. It was on a well and had no option for city water. It was being sold fully furnished. The pictures from the web looked promising.

We called the realtor. She was very friendly and told us, "Oh the one of Witmer. It's been lowered to $XXX." Just within our upper limit! She met us and showed us the inside of Our Dream Home on the Lake.

Dream, don't give up. Dream and look. Dream and save. Bob and I found our Dream Home at just the right time. Our lake house fits us now and will fit us for years. Our savings covered the cost of purchase. We work extra hard to cover the duplicates in utilities, insurance, real estate taxes, etc. but it's not painful because we have our dream.

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Budget Preserves Reserve

Indiana struggled this week passing their budget. Amazingly the state followed the lead of Governor Daniels. The state will preserve their $1 Billion reserve. The caution was that income tax revenues will falter. The state has an above average unemployment situation and low income taxes (around 3%).

Rather than spend their reserve, they are saving it, knowing that the climate is unstable and unusual. The cost of living in Indiana is low. There is much of the state that relies on the auto industry. The northern counties are home to RV production. Thousands are laid off.

Indiana is like many individuals these days. All reserve cash is tucked away. Many small businesses are not hiring or purchasing new equipment. Many 401(k) plans no longer receive matches from employers.

It's like a boat at sea with a storm appearing at the horizon. Many are all battening down. They are watching their spending and dedicating themselves to preserving reserves.

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IOU

It has been reported that the State of California will be issuing IOUs as they are out of $. No more $.



I believe the first IOUs be issued to government workers starting at the top.



No, Arnold doesn't need the cash but you can bet each and every other legislator, most of the clerks, several of the guards, and all of the street cleaners will get the picture.



Something has to give. If you or I run out of $, something has to give. We'd sell things, eliminate cable TV, and stop eating out. Cut expenses wherever we could. Has California cut anything?



Let the IOUs begin in Sacramento.



California is not alone. Illinois is currently without a balanced budget. It's just a matter of time before Springfield runs out of $. They will be increasing our state income tax. Will the increase be just 50% or will they go for 67%. That's right.



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Trusting?

It's been a week since the ABC/Obama infomercial. Now we may think it was a smoke screen while the House was wrestling the Cap and Tax bill through; but, the world was riveted to the wisdom of our president.

One thing Obama suggested was to save costs do not spend $ on procedures the "evidence shows are not necessarily going to improve care" for the sick and the dying. He continued, "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller."

Maybe. But the question is, who decides?

Once again we Americans are considered idiots. We need the Nanny Government to direct our steps, provide our food and shelter, and protect us from ourselves.

Tylenol comes with warnings. It appears Americans have become so stupid that the Nanny Government must put in place one more guard rail. It has been proposed that Tylenol become a prescription med.

The Nanny Government will cost us a visit to the doctor's office (roughly $100) to get the 'script to take to Walgreens to get Tylenol.

Are there any reasonable Americans left? Any strong enough to take responsibilities for self medicating? Any strong enough to stand up against Uncle Sam deciding what procedures your loved one will get?

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