Leave it as it is

From a short speech by Teddy Roosevelt on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon:

"

Keep this great wonder of nature as it is.

Leave it as it is.

You cannot improve it.

The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.

What you can do, is to keep it.

Keep it for your children, your childrens' children, and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights that every American, if they can travel at all, should see.

"

The cost of my healthcare

I am employed and have employer-subsidized health insurance. I pulled out my pay stub, opened a spreadsheet and did a little analysis. Here is an analysis of the up-front cost, not including co-pays or deductibles.

My employer and I pay $4,541.16 per year (me $1,213.16; employer $3,328.00) for health insurance coverage for one person (one friggin person!). If the government were taking it out, some people would shit a chicken, but since it goes to a corporation they are apparently okay with it.

Total federal tax deduction is $7,399.60 per year (Now, I use creative methods in TurboTax to dial that way down).

So, some insurance company gets more than $4,500 per year. How much would my taxes increase (Oh God! A tax increase Waaaaaa! W-w-waaaaaa!) if there were a single-payer system? Presumably, if the insurance were covered by a federal program, my employer could pay me that $3,328, and I could pocket the rest. And the total healthcare deduction is more than half of my maximum tax liability, so if the tax increase were to come to less than $4,541.16, I would come out ahead. I would also know more about what was covered, what plan I would have next year, and my coverage wouldn't have all kinds of riders for pre-existing conditions, etc.

Also, if the cost of insurance continues to increase at 10% per year, in five years my total payroll deduction and employer contribution will balloon to $7,313.58 per annum. This part is not speculation, but a likely scenario.

I know many people are totally freaked out about government run anything, but get real, kids, this sort of system does work, can work, and we are falling behind all those countries that we are goddamn better than. And, unfortunately, our current system is a cash cow that does not deliver better care than is provided to them thar for-ners.

Just a quick analysis that anyone can do using their pay stub. I guess anyone who has a full-time job with subsidized healthcare, that is.

Also note that I work for the federal government that has a huge plan, and most people probably pay more that I do, particularly small businesses (less than 500 employees), who get screwed big time.

Thanks Pres B.O.

Barrack Obama stopped another 9-11 attack. Time to publicize this. It's only fair to give him credit since Bush claimed credit for protecting us post 9-11.

Score right now:

Obama 1

Bush 0

I mean, really.

Why is Palin giving speeches and why is she reported on? She has no expertise. She has no accomplishments aside from getting the required 50 votes to win in the great white north. She has no expertise. Wait, I said that, but it came up again. I'm not partisan. I'm not, like "anti". I'm just really, really sick of her, and the division that she helps to foster. But then, in our society, Carrot Top is still around, so maybe it's just the way we are.

What they don't know...

Do the people in Hong Kong who paid Sarah Palin to give a speech know what a shit for brains shill she is? Just wondering.

Justification

So now it's okay to level racist and un-American attacks on President Obama, because Bush was also attacked (his policies and decisions were attacked, but he was never called anything near "nig#&r"). Virtually anything they do is okay because, in their fantasies, someone else did it. And, even though there are myriad racist messages on signs, emails, and in Limbaugh's statements, if anyone like one of the most honest and honorable men in our country, former president Jimmy Carter note this, it is labeled race bating. It's understandable why the Obama Administration spoke out in disagreement with Carter's statement. The only problem is that the more crap is spewed from Fox, the more other networks talk about it.

Full disclosure, I voted for Obama. But I am an independent. I'm just sick of assholes.

No lie

So Mr. Wilson calls the President of the United States a liar. But the bill as it is currently written actually says that undocumented immigrants will not be covered. So you're not only a dick, but you're wrong, Mr. Wilson.

But here's my idea, and you bastards at BC/BS better not steal it. I'm going to sell insurance to undocumented immigrants. Then I'll tell them that if they try to go to the doctor they'll get deported. Of course they'll be detained for months with their medical predicament untreated, and will probably die before they get across the border. So I'll get the premiums and won't have to pay any claims.

And the GOP will love it because a lot of them illegals will be suffering and won't be able to respond to attacks that they are undermining the very fabric of our society, and baseball, apple pie and momma's Chevy.