Just my Opinion...

Healthcare reform... My 2 cents!

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 20:28:25 -0400

Why do we have the US Government looking at interfering and potentially taking over a fifth of our countries private sector - nationalize it like Hugo Chavez is doing in Venezuela. When did we decide it was OK to give up our freedoms to save money? Why is that we can’t create a reform without having the government getting in the way of our freedom? Are we so enamored with our elected politicians (many of whom have never run a business) that we are willing to allow them to take over something so valuable to each of us - our health care?

People need to understand that the government is trying to make the insurance companies the bad guys. Insurance is a risk product - you take insurance to avoid a financial catastrophe in the future. Unfortunately state governments and the federal government have put restrictions on the insurance companies on what they must provide and where they can do business which has stifled innovation and competition in the insurance industry. It is a good thing for insurance companies to make profits - that way they are healthy companies that can afford to pay claims.

When government gets out of the way consumers will have more choice, lower cost insurance. Consumers will be able to change carriers if they get poor service from their providers - making insurance companies work harder to earn your business.

US Congress Representatives- do your jobs...

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:53:11 -0400

I am Mad! I just got back from what was supposed to be a town hall on health care with my congressman and it was more of a lecture then a dialogue.

Then I am watching TV to see another congresswoman, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, state how she has to convince her constituents that the health care reform is best for them! Perhaps the Congress has forgotten what the word “Representative” means?

Congressmen take note - it is not your job to be Washington’s voice to the people. It is your job to be the voice of the people to Washington! Your job is to vote in the manner that the majority of your constituents want. Not vote the way YOU think is best for them!

The vast majority of people in the US are voicing opposition to a national healthcare bill. Proponents argue that this is what is needed in order to make the insurance company lower rates. Here is the answer - remove regulations prohibiting insurance companies from offering their plans across state lines - open up competition and America will choose the options they want which will drive costs down!

My Fellow Americans - do not let them take away your freedom! They will fine you if you do not have insurance! Insurance is a risk product not a health savings plan!

Gearing Up For The Holidays

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 21:29:30 -0500

So it is that time of year again: Christmas.

The time when we get out all the decorations for the house and tree. The time when we are going over the shopping lists looking at the gifts we have to buy and wondering how we are going to pay for it all.

Getting out recipes for the holiday treats - cookies, candies, and brownies that we will be baking for family and friends.

Some are making travel plans and others are getting ready for guests. Getting out suitcases or fresh sheets and pillow cases.

For me it is an amazing time of year - watching my two young boys learn about the meaning of Christmas and seeing their eager anticipation for the spectacular moment of Christmas morning when every little kids dreams come true - opening the celebratory gifts!

Of course being 4 1/2 they do not fully get the true meaning of Christmas - they know it has something to do with Jesus and they certainly do not understand why there are gifts but they do know the gifts are coming.

This year is fun also since they are getting the idea of a secret. They are privy to a few secrets and they like the whisper factor of it.

As a parent it is fascinating to me think back when I was a child and remember those feelings and then look at my own children and see them having the same feelings - the amazing excitement of it all; the eagerness for Christmas to be here; the sweetness that young children have about everything around them.

It has been exciting to see the simple joy in taking out the decorations. Seeing their fascination with each little ornament and watching as they help to decorate the house.

This year I know that may people have been hurt financially and that for many that will mean cutting back on the gift giving - I hope that they take the opportunity to either learn or teach about the true meaning of Christmas. That it really is a time to think of others and spend quality time with family and friends - gifts in hand or not.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Credit Mess

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:14:34 -0500

So the US and for that matter the rest of the world is in a giant credit mess. Too bad they can’t contact someone like Credit Hurts so that all the debt could be consolidated into one lump payment at a reduced interest rate!

Today’s news brings the highlight of the government bailout to $150 billion for AIG Insurance. That is like everyone in America writing a check for $500. I do hope that some of that money goes back to the treasury - I believe that our taxes are high enough already without having to pay for this disaster.

It amazes me that our government is spending so voraciously as if there were no end to the funds. It is now estimated that the US government will need to borrow over $1 trillion. That is: $1,000,000,000,000.00 or for more perspective it is $3,333 for every man, woman and child in the US. So if we add that to the current national debt of $10,622,166,941,631.68 (as of 11/07/2008 according to http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/ we each owe the US government approximately $38,740.51. The interest every year is over $400 billion. (yep another $1500 or so per year for each of us).

At least overall the interest rate on our national debt is around 5%. But think of what $400 billion could do if we didn’t have this debt. What if we could renegotiate the debt to 2.5% and free up $200 billion per year.

We could feed more of the world’s hungry, provide a better education to our children, or enhance our freeways and bridges.

Well I guess you sometimes have to throw good money after bad. And if you are in the US congress you have a pretty good idea of how to do just that.

The rest of us will be contacting Credit Hurts.

Valet Thieves

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 21:13:08 -0400

So we just returned from a family vacation where we took a drive up the coast and into Maine. Along the way we stopped in New York City for one night - primarily to go to the top of the Empire State Building.

None of us had ever been and it truly was a great experience. We were lucky that we arrived the day before and it had rained. The morning we went to the top the sky was clear and we could see for miles!

If you have never been to New York City before there is something you need to know - it is expensive! The hotel we stayed at was the Embassy Suites. At $400 per night (luckily we had a voucher for a free night). The hotel was downtown near Battery Park and right around the corner from the World Trade Center - Ground Zero site.

The Ground Zero site was incredibly moving. We were amazed at how choked up we were looking at where the WTC once stood. Everyone should visit and never forget. We took the time to talk to our kids about the evil people who committed such a horrific act and why our courageous military is still working to secure our freedom around the world.

Now, since we drove we parked our car at the hotel overnight. The hotel only had valet parking available at $65.00 per night. We did check other parking arrangements and found that the convenience of being at the hotel was worth the extra $10 that we could have saved at a nearby parking garage.

The part that really gets me is that we tipped the valet - both on leaving the car and on picking it up - a total of $10.00 (perhaps that is low but to me $5 to park my car or retrieve it is more than adequate). However, the valet decided to also go into our glovebox and take the quarters from our change holder!

Am I too upset? Should I just think that this is what happens? I don’t think so. I think that when you pay $65 for parking and $10 in tips that you should expect that what was in your car would be there when you return. I could understand if someone smashed the window and stole the money but to just take it! It is like I paid them to take it. That gets my gall!

I am going to call the hotel and see what they will do - though I am not expecting much. Perhaps they will surprise me.

I am grateful that the rest of our vacation was filled with fun and good times. Maine in July is beautiful and I recommend a good road trip to see our marvelous country. Get off the beaten path and see what you can see.