Fix Congress and the Senate in 2010

I have seen this email roll through a few times. I think it is time to give real consideration to the content and so thus I am posting on my blog.

I know many of you will say, “this is impossible”. Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress – the entity that represents us.

We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American hero’s..

Thanks,
Bryan

Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

2. No Tenure / No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

6. Congress looses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

If you agree with the above, pass link to this blog post.

Great Pencast from Peter Stark on Employee Engagement

Peter Stark – Employee Engagement! #SHRM10
brought to you by Livescribe

John Wooden’s 7 Point Creed

Coach John Wooden was known for reciting a seven-point creed for life he said he received from his father.

The points:

• Be true to yourself.
• Make each day your masterpiece.
• Help others.
• Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
• Make friendship a fine art.
• Build a shelter against a rainy day.
• Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Rest in peach Coach Wooden, from a fellow Martinsville native.

Immigration Rallies

I received this a few days ago and it makes sense.  I especially agree with the “civil rights” argument made.

To the Editor,

As I watch the drive by media report the protest demonstrations, pro and con regarding illegal immigration at the May day rallies, I realize just how screwed up our country has become! The numbers of illegals protesting underscores the magnitude of the problem. As a nation we are devoid of principled leadership at all levels! We are rapidly committing cultural suicide!

Most members of congress are complacent about the matter of illegal immigration. Pandering for both contributions and votes. They are cheer leading the problem, rather than critically examining it and enforcing the letter of the law. Too cowardly to take a stand! It is germane to every segment of our society, but a solution escapes our leadership.

Some say that the illegals civil rights are being violated. Websters dictionary defines civil as, 1: of or relating to “citizens” of their rights . In my minds eye that says, it applies only to citizens. If you are here illegally, you have no rights. That argument is moot.

Illegals claim that all they want to do is work. I submit that we have millions of legal citizens that want to work also, and are competing for those same few jobs. Employers know that and are driving wages down. It’s common knowledge that illegals are identity thieves creating nightmares for us, with a underground economy.

With our current economic problems, our long term high unemployment rates, in addition to, drugs and  a high crime rates, we can’t tolerate any more illegal immigration. We can’t solve Mexico’s economy problems or be their welfare system. Amnesty disguised as earned citizenship is not the answer. We simply can’t afford it! PERIOD.

Bob Pritchard

9411 s. 81st. Ave.

Hickory Hills, IL. 60457

708 599 1814

Southtownstar# P-14

Rep. Hank Johnson Thinks Guam Will Tip Over?

Is that even possible?

CVS and Caremark under fire on many fronts

Posted via Rx Mole

http://rxmole.com/blog/2010/04/07/cvs-caremark-under-fire-on-many-fronts/

Is the Insurance Company Really Saving Us $$$?

True Story

I am sitting in a meeting with a local hospital.  This hospital is very reputable and ethical.  They do things the right way.  I ask the CEO, “What is my discount if I use [INSERT ANY INSURANCE COMPANY] at your hospital?”  His reply is, “55% discount”.  At this point I am thinking this sounds like I am getting a pretty good deal.  I am getting 55% off the “normal price”.

I then ask this same CEO, “What is my discount if I pay cash?” (meaning pay the hospital without them running my claim through the insurance company)  His reply, “We will give a 60% discount”.

Let me give you a second to process what just happened …..

So if I go through the insurance company my discount is 55%, but if I pay cash then my discount is 60%!!!

So my next question seems logical.  How do insurance companies arrive at the following statement?

“You saved XXX dollars by using our service”

The top number appears to be totally fictitious.  I think the term most insurance companies and even health care providers use is “normal and customary charges”, but how do they arrive at such a number? Look at the following example

You go in for a CAT scan.  For the sake of easy math I will use small numbers.

Insurance Company Model
CAT scan cost = $1,000
Discount = 55%
Your price = $450

Cash Price Model
CAT scan cost = $1000
Discount  = 60%
Your price = $400

OK, so now that I have concluded that the “normal and customary” number is in fact fictitious, what number should I use?  Normal logic leads me to consider the “Cash Price” number.  This is the price quoted to those that don’t have insurance right?

With this said a normal person can easily conclude that it is more expensive to use the insurance company in this example.

Looking for a bluetooth headset?

I have gone through a number of bluetooth headsets.  Each one of them has been mildly good.  None were  really very comfortable and the sound quality was tolerable at best.

I recently purchased the new Aliph Jawbone Icon headset and it is hands down the best purchase I have made in some time.  For those of you that don’t know, the Jawbone is a headset that uses some fancy technology to “filter” out external noise and only transmit your voice.  It uses some technology born out of military applications or something : ).

The price is a little costly (around $100), but it is well worth the price if you are looking for something with superior sound and noise reduction.  I have used it right next to screaming kids and the caller on the other end hears only my voice!  It also comes with multiple earpieces to ensure you get a good fit.  This was really key for me since I have some weird ear pattern that must mimic an alien or something.  I have never been able to get a good fit before this ear piece.

Additionally there are downloadable applications for the headset that makes is customized and personal.  These applications include choosing the voice you hear to applications like Dial2Do.  I would anticipate more apps coming soon.

Before anybody asks, I am not on Jawbone’s payroll.  I am simply  relaying information that I thought would benefit others and taking a break from complaining about the crappy healthcare bill! LOL

Why the health care vote wasn’t true representation

Most you may or may not be aware that the House of Representatives voted on 3/21/10 to muscle a bill through on health care reform.  This bill is,  as President Obama put it, historic.  Historic in that this bill has shown how truly mis representative and misaligned our legislative system really is.

I have posted a few different short posts touching on this topic.  The most recent was called “How much is a ‘YES’ vote worth?” and  “What is the purpose of a representative?“.  Additionally George posted a well worded article on his blog, where he witnessed first hand the back end dealing and special interest influence that is robbing all of us of true representation.

This health care bill is intended to help the 30 million “uninsured” Americans.  I use the quotes around uninsured since in reality none of us are uninsured.  Do you really think that if you go into any emergency room that you will be denied care?  We all have coverage, the true question becomes who pays for it.

Do we all realize that 30 million represents 10% of our population? Why wouldn’t we simply put together legislation that addresses that specific group rather than increase costs for us all?  I am personally in favor of health care coverage for all Americans, as long as it is a system built on personal accountability and everyone pays into it.  I am tired of the “free rides” people continue to get from my tax dollars (that by the way continues to increase each year due to more “free rides” being issued).

All of us have a choice to make our stand on how we feel about this issue.  In 2010 nearly all the House of Representatives and Senate seats are up for re-election.  If you are as fed up as me about not getting true representation in Washington then lets #cleanhouse2010 and send a strong message that enough is enough.

Perhaps a good start would be term limits on all representatives.

How much is a “YES” vote for “health care reform” worth?

I recent colleague of mine was given a suggestion to run for public office and “fix this mess” we have today.  He is very well respected and versed in government and especially health care.  His response via email was enlightening and I would like to share it.  As an aside, the company he references utilizes only an HSA plan for it’s employees.

Dear (you fill in the blank),

Mrs. Howard was my ninth grade civics teacher back in West Virginia.  This was my entry into learning about government.  We learned that the United States was not governed under a true democracy, but by a democratic republic where the people elect public officials that represent the peoples interests in passing and administering laws.

Mrs. Howard taught that the people would elect their representatives to Congress, who would work with other Congressional representatives to pass laws of which the majority of the people would approve.  The implication was that all 435 representatives and senators would be involved in the law making process, and that the laws would apply to all citizens equally.

After watching the Waxman-Marley Bill go through the House and the Senate pass their Healthcare Bill, it has become obvious that Mrs. Howard did not completely understand the process.  Not all the 435 representatives and senators are involved in the process.  It appears that only a few are involved, and those that are receive extremely lucrative benefits for their participation.  Mrs. Howard did not explain political payoffs. Such payoffs were not in our books.  But political payoffs and special deals are now being used more and more.

• For a vote in favor of health care, Florida residents will not lose the Medicare Advantage benefits that other states’ residents will lose at a cost of $3 to $5 billion.
• Senator Mary Landrieu obtained $300 million in Medicare subsidies for Louisiana as a state recovering from a medical disaster.
• Massachusetts and Vermont will receive $500 million and $300 million, respectively, in higher Medicare reimbursements.
• Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming obtained higher Medicare payments for frontier hospitals.
• Senator Dodd obtained $100 million for the University of Connecticut’s Medical Center.
• For holding the final vote needed for passage, Senator Nelson was able to secure exemption for the insurance fees for Nebraska insurance companies and federal payment for new Medicare coverage for Nebraskans at a cost of $100 million.

All these arrangements mean that any health care reform bill that becomes law will not apply in the same manner to all Americans.  Mrs. Howard never taught us this principle back in civics class.

Unfortunately, if the health care reform bill becomes law, a lot of good work in health care accomplished by our company and the community will be destroyed.

• Our Company has only had one health care premium increase in the past eight years.  Premiums will now rise significantly annually.
• The Health Savings Accounts will be taken away.
• Wellness incentives will be penalized.  The focus will return to entitlement and be taken off of personal accountabilities.
• The freedom for one to personally control the health care monies will be removed.
• The National deficits will soar causing the taxes paid by our company and our employees to soar.
• Jobs will be reduced.
• Local initiatives to help the uninsured will become more difficult.

If Mrs. Howard were alive, I know she would be greatly disappointed with all these happenings.  Everyone in our Company and community that I have talked to about these happenings are very concerned.  Hopefully our representatives will hold to our nation’s founding principles and resist the health care reform bill and the special deals.

I encourage all of you to email or contact your representatives to vote “no” on this weekend’s vote for health care reform.