SERIOUSLY?...

Well, much has happened since my last rant. The stimulus, bank bailouts, skyrocketing debt (both personal AND national!), world tribulations, cash for clunkers, cash for applicances, Toyota & Honda recalls, and psycho politicians, to name a few. The current issue: HEALTHCARE REFORM.

Yea -- right. "Healthcare Reform." Sounds innocent enough, until you try to find out what it means. Impossible! They won't post it [the proposed "bill"] for the average person to read (in fact, no ONE person has read the so-called bill in its entirety yet!). Apparently, there isn't enough room on the internet for the 2300 pages it consists of. WHATever! I think they're just trying to hide the fact that this pile of *#^% includes MUCH more than just "healthcare reform." Billions of dollars of additional debt. Abortion. "Death panels." And a MASSIVE-sized government! They've even included education in the "bill." Not medical education. Not college. Primary & secondary education. Yep. Your run-of-the-mill-public-school-education. Hmmmm....

The biggest, longest-lingering question for me:
WHY can't they just fix what's in place?

FACT: Medicare & Medicaid are currently in place to a) insure Seniors & b) insure the impoverished. FIX WHAT IS BROKEN! Don't re-invent the wheel! The government needs to a) pay its bills, b) fix the programs that are in place, and c) make people who are on welfare be tested for drugs and do community service.

FACT: Many people who work have access to health insurance, but refuse to take advantage of it. Yes, it's true that many premiums are too expensive. So, let's try a) offering incentives to insurance companies to lower those premiums, b) offer incentives to small businesses to provide insurance for their workers, without forcing them out of business, and/or c) fill in the gaps, but don't re-invent the wheel, by reforming insurance rules & regulations (i.e., pre-existing condition coverage) and by paying Medicare/Medicaid bills so that docs will still take those patients!

FACT: If you go to the emergency room, and need care, YOU WILL NOT BE TURNED AWAY. Hospitals -- especially Catholic or other faith-based facilities -- provide millions of dollars' worth of charitable care each month. I don't mean nation-wide. I mean, each hospital provides millions of dollars' worth of charitable care each month. No, not all hospitals will provide it. But, most do. And, no, they don't advertise it. But, the emergency rooms seem to be flooded with illegal immigrants who don't pay taxes anyway. And, still, the hospitals provide charitable care, knowing they will most likely never see payment for those services performed. That's what they do. (Hey -- big government! The USA is THE most charitable country on the planet. Back off, and let the charities help how/when/where/why they want to! Gosh!)

FACT: Our government was created to have checks and balances, which is why there are 3 branches of legislation. We elect our officials to represent ALL of the people -- NOT just the individuals who voted for said elected official. Am I right? So, if the vast majority of contituents are opposed to a proposed bill, said elected offical should also vote against it, correct? Currently, they are pushing to use the "nuclear option," so they can pass it by skirting the law, yet supposedly staying "legal." You know what I think? I think that, if you can't be up-front & honest about the product, it probably isn't a good one! And, if you have to sell it THAT hard, campaigning and bribing your way to passage, IT REALLY ISN'T A GOOD PRODUCT!


Personally, I am disgusted with our elected officials, and really feel quite helpless in changing things. So, I'll continue ranting. I'll write my representatives in Washington. I'll petition my God in heaven for justice. And, I'll continue to pray for my fellow Americans to stay strong, draw close to our Father, and to remember that compassion and love are the greatest attributes a person can possess. Our politicians need to turn to Philippians 2:1-11:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but, in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And, being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross!
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (NIV)

I guess it's time to pray more, huh?

Politics Before 9:00 PM Make Me Cranky!

I'm angry. Spitting mad. Fur-i-ous.

I am SO SICK of the government throwing money at banks and big businesses, claiming it will stop the recession and save America's economy. I keep hearing talk about how tossing money at the banks is intended to encourage them to loosen up credit restraints, so that Americans (that means you and me) will spend more, thus increasing our personal debt. ??? WHAT are they THINKING????

Where's MY bailout? Who's rescuing ME (& my family) from MY financial demise? They want me to spend more? Max out MORE credit cards? Then who's paying off those credit cards? I'm trying, but how can I at 27.99% interest (or more)? You have GOT to be KIDDING me! Is that teaching our kids financial responsibility?

I grew up watching my mom pay with credit cards, muttering under her breath that she really didn't have the money to buy that new outfit, but doing it anyway. Later, they gave credit cards out in the college cafeteria, along with free candybars. I got 4, just to get the chocolate, even though I didn't have a job. Yea, that's right -- the companies gave them to me, knowing I had no income. I ruined my credit by the time I was 20. Later, when I tried to buy a house (8 years later), I had to beg for mercy to get a home loan, because of those slow-pay marks on my credit history. About a year after getting in the house, we refinanced and took out cash to pay off maxed-out credit cards. Later, we refinanced again, and took out a 2nd to pay them off again. So here I sit, with a house that I'm pretty much upside-down on, wondering what to do, trying to pay off (once-again) maxed-out credit cards.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not blaming anyone else for my financial irresponsibility. I've over-spent, suffering from the desire for instant gratification that our generation has grown up with. While I definitely was NOT taught good spending -- or SAVING -- habits, I'm an adult, and I must take responsibility for my own desire to acquire. I grocery shop with a list and no kids; I avoid those wonderful stores that sell everything from Avocados and Ace bandages to Zoo Pals and zebra-striped socks. (Sorry, Tarzhey & Super Wally-Mart!) I try to use cash whenever possible. My debit card has become the bane of my existence, causing me to wonder constantly if we have enough money in our account. (Thanks to "courtesy clear," we can potentially be $1000 in the hole before the card stops working!) How does anyone track all those receipts, anyway?

Still, I wonder if I'll be able to pay off my credit-debt by the time my kids are in college. Even, by the time I retire. I'm worried.

So, I ask again, Where's MY bailout?

My proposal:

I really believe the government should do one of several things:
1) Require these bailed-out banks and businesses to forgive the debts of every credit account holder they have, in return for Federal Tax-payer dollars. (Then, they need require the banks to reduce credit card limits and interest rates!)
2) Impose a mandatory "Interest Holiday" for at least one full year, for all consumers who hold credit accounts with these bailed-out banks and businesses, so that all payments the consumer makes go straight to reducing principal amounts.
3) Cut a "bailout" check to every person who files an Income Tax Return in 2008. NOT to those who are behind on taxes or who avoid them all together. Make it good. $50,000 (tax-free) would make a HUGE difference for my family. Then I could pay off my debts and spend a bit!

Write your Senator! Write your Congressperson! Write your mother! Tell everyone you know: "Stop the Insanity!"