Could “Dhimmitude” and “ObamaCare” help “Cordoba House” gain more support in the future?

photo credit: wstera2

ANYONE HEARD THIS?

Remember when the moron, Speaker of the House, (soon to be x-Speaker, not x-Moron of the house), Nancy Pelosi, made that incredibly stupid statement, “we have to pass the healthcare bill in order to see what’s in it”?  Well, here is just another little tidbit of what is actually in it!!

Dhimmitude – What does it mean?

Obama used it in the health care bill.  How interesting is this?  It is actually used in the health care law.

Every day there’s another revelation of what Obama and his healthcare folly really includes.

Dhimmitude ???

I had never heard the word until now.  Type it into Google
and start reading.  Pretty interesting.  It’s on page 107 of the healthcare
bill.  I looked this up on Google and yep, it exists.  It is a REAL word.
Amish and others are excluded, including muslims.  I think I could become
Amish a whole lot easier than muslim.  

Word of the Day: Dhimmitude

Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-muslim populations
conquered through jihad. Specifically, it is the TAXING of non-muslims in
exchange for tolerating their presence AND as a coercive means of
converting conquered remnants to Islam.

ObamaCare allows the establishment of Dhimmitude and Sharia muslim diktat
in the United States.  Muslims are specifically exempted from the
government mandate to purchase insurance, and also from the penalty tax
for being uninsured.  Islam considers insurance to be “gambling”,
“risk-taking”, and “usury” and is thus banned.  Muslims are specifically
granted exemption based on this.

How convenient.  So I, as a Christian, will have crippling IRS liens placed
against all of my assets, including real estate, cattle, and even accounts
receivables, and will face hard prison time because I refuse to buy
insurance or pay the penalty tax. Meanwhile, Louis Farrakhan will have no
such penalty and will have 100% of his health needs paid for by the de
facto government insurance.  Non-muslims will be paying a tax to subsidize
muslims.  Period.  This is Dhimmitude.

Dhimmitude serves two purposes:  It enriches the muslim masters AND serves
to drive conversions to Islam.  In this case, the incentive to convert to
Islam will be taken up by those in the inner-cities as well as the godless
Generation X, Y, and Z types who have no moral anchor. If you don’t
believe in Christ to begin with, it is no problem whatsoever to sell Him
for 30 pieces of silver.

I never really considered being a Muslim, however, if it means free health
insurance and no taxes.  Where do I sign, bro?”

What does “Snopes” have to say?

Snopes answer … mixed.

1. It is a word and does mean exactly that decscribed above.
2. It is included as an exemption in the healthcare reform bill on page #107.
3. It depends on how the exemptions are administered as to how many Muslims and other “non-Christian” religious groups will actually be exempted.

Check out Dhimmitude and the Healthcare Reform  for yourself:

First here ! … http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=59232

Next here! … http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp

The union that represents the field agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unanimously passed a “vote of no confidence” for the agency’s leadership, saying ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has “abandoned” its core mission of protecting the public to support a political agenda favoring amnesty.

Border
photo credit: t3hWIT

The resolution says that the leadership of ICE had “abandoned the agency’s core mission of enforcing U.S. immigration laws and providing for public safety,” instead it is directing its attention “to campaigning for programs and policies related to amnesty“and the creation of a special detention system for foreign nationals that exceeds the care and services provided to most U.S. citizens similarly incarcerated.

The National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council of the American Federation of Government Employees represents over 7,000 ICE agents and employees.   With a vote of 259-0 for a resolution saying there was “growing dissatisfaction and concern” over the leadership of Assistant Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE, and Phyllis Coven, assistant director for the agency’s office of detention policy and planning.

“It is the desire of our union … to publicly separate ourselves from the actions of Director Morton and Assistant Director Coven and publicly state that ICE officers and employees do not support Morton or Coven or their misguided and reckless initiatives, which could ultimately put many in America at risk,” the union said.

In a strongly worded statement, the union and its affiliated local councils said the integrity of the agency “as well as the public safety “would be” better provided for in the absence of Director Morton and Assistant Director Coven.”    

More about the Statement:

The statement also noted that:

• The majority of ICE’s enforcement and removal officers are prohibited from making street arrests or enforcing U.S. immigration laws outside of the jail setting.
• Hundreds of ICE officers nationwide perform no law enforcement duties whatsoever because of resource mismanagement within the agency.
• ICE detention reforms have transformed into a detention system aimed at providing resort like living conditions to criminal aliens based on recommendations not from ICE officers and field managers, but from “special-interest groups.”
• The lack of technical expertise and field experience has resulted in a priority of providing bingo nights, dance lessons and hanging plants to criminals, instead of addressing safe and responsible detention reforms for noncriminal individuals and families.
• Unlike any other agency in the nation, ICE officers will be prevented from searching detainees housed in ICE facilities, allowing weapons, drugs and other contraband into detention centers — putting detainees, ICE officers and contract guards at risk.
• Senior leadership ignores reports that ICE internal investigations by the office of professional responsibility conceal agency and supervisor misconduct and are used to retaliate against employees who make whistleblower-type disclosures or question inappropriate policies and procedures.

ICE documents show that during the first nine months of fiscal 2010, a total of 279,035 noncitizens were removed from the U.S. as a result of ICE enforcement.

Union Claims:

According to the union, illegal immigrants now being held in state and local jails seek out ICE agents for deportation to avoid prosecution, conviction and prison terms. They also say criminal aliens “openly brag” that they are taking advantage of a broken immigration system and will be back in the United States within days to commit crimes — while U.S. citizens arrested for the same offenses serve prison sentences.

The no-confidence vote, taken in June and made public last week in a letter by the union, said the agency’s senior leadership dedicated “more time to campaigning for immigration reforms aimed at large-scale amnesty legislation than advising the American public and federal lawmakers on the severity of the illegal-immigration problems.”

What do others say?

Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security said that the Obama administration is “simply not serious about enforcing all of our immigration laws.”  He said ICE doesn’t have the resources because it didn’t ask for them, adding that “the Obama administration did not request a single new detention bed in their most recent budget request.”

Rep. Smith claims that the limits on detention capacity that they now claim hold them back from further enforcement are of their own making, he said. ICE is running under its average daily detention capacity and that the Obama administration is not even using all the resources it has.

Michael W. Cutler, a retired 31-year U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) senior criminal investigator and intelligence specialist, said that it is clear that the marching orders coming from the administration have nothing to do with securing our nation’s borders or enforcing the immigration laws.  According to him ”It is an absolute absurdity to believe that our nation can successfully wage a war against terrorists who are determined to enter our nation and then embed themselves in our nation with virtually no fear of being identified, arrested or removed from our country”.

Janice Kephart, director of national security policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, described the no-confidence vote in a statement last week as an example of how ICE’s mission was being “skewed towards supporting an unflinching goal of amnesty by refusing to allow agents to do their job.”

Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE recently announced new guidelines telling his agents to focus on “apprehending terrorists and criminals”, causing many of agency’s rank-and-file agents to wonder who, then, is responsible for tracking down and detaining the millions of other illegal border-crossers and fugitive aliens now in the country.

The new guidelines note that ICE only has resources to remove approximately 400,000 aliens per year, less than 4 percent of the estimated illegal-alien population in the United States, and that as a result, it needed to focus wisely on the limited resources Congress had provided the agency.

He said the agency would prioritize the apprehension and removal of aliens who “only pose a threat to national security and/or public safety, such as criminals and terrorists.”  Lesser priorities were given to foreign nationals caught crossing the border illegally or using phony immigration documents to gain entry, and those identified as fugitives after failing to show up for immigration or deportation hearings.

More on Fox News – Neil Cavuto interviews Director Morton

I watched Neil Cavuto discussing this issue with Director of ICE John Morton today.  It became obvious that Mr. Morton was sticking to his talking points, defending the administrations position, defending all the work ICE has done and denying any fault.  Time and time again, he dodged the question of granting amnesty … simply repeating that he nor the administration support amnesty to “EVERYONE“.   (I don’t think anyone is suggesting it for … “EVERYONE”.)  Neil Cavuto continued to rephrase the question trying to get a straight answer.  Mr. Morton continued to dodge the real question by rephrasing his talking point and not answering the real question.

What do you say???  Papa B.

Chrysler’s Railroad … True or False???

The following story was sent to me via E-mail.  I did not write this myself and I am unable to verify all of it, but I also cannot find anything that refutes it.  At the very least, a large part of it, appears to be true!  Is there anyone out there that can shed accurate, verifiable, support to the validity of this story?  If it is actually true, it is a serious issue.  Papa B.

photo credit: wstera2

Below “The Story“ as I received it:

—————————————————————————–

Chrysler’s Railroad

This could be a scandal of epic proportions and one that makes Nixon’s Watergate or Clinton ‘s Monica Lewinsky affair pale by comparison.

Why was there neither rhyme nor reason as to which dealerships of the Chrysler Corporation were to be closed?

Roll the clock back to the weeks just before Chrysler declared bankruptcy. Chrysler, like GM, was in dire financial straits and federal government “graciously” offered to “buy the company” and keep them out of bankruptcy and “save jobs.”  Chrysler was, in the words of Obama and his administration, “Too big to fail,” same story with GM.

The feds organized their “Automotive Task Force” to fix Chrysler and GM. Obama, in an act that is 100% unconstitutional, appointed a guy named Steve Rattner to be the White House’s official Car Czar – literally, that’s what his title is.  Rattner is the liaison between Obama, Chrysler, and GM.  Initially, the national media reported that Chrysler ‘had made this list of dealerships’. … Not true!

The Washington Examiner, Newsmax, Fox News and a host of other news agencies discovered that the list of dealerships was put together by the “Automotive Task Force” headed by no one other than Mr. Steve Rattner.

The plot thickens.

Remember earlier we said that there was neither rhyme nor reason why certain dealerships were closed?    

Actually there’s a very interesting pattern as to who was closed down.  Again, on May 27, 2009, The Washington Examiner and Newsmax exposed the connection.

Amazingly, of the 789 dealerships closed by the federal government, 788 had donated money, exclusively to Republican political causes, while contributing nothing to Democratic political causes.  The only “Democratic” dealership on the list was found to have donated $7,700 to Hillary’s campaign, and a bit over $2,000 to John Edwards. This same dealership, reportedly, also gave $200.00 to Obama’s campaign.

Does that seem a little odd to you?

Steve Rattner is the guy who put the list together. Well, he happens to be married to a Maureen White.  Maureen happens to be the former national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  As such, she has access to campaign donation records from everyone in the nation- Republican or Democrat.

But of course, this is just a wacky “coincidence,” we’re certain.

Another really wacky “coincidence” ???

On that list of dealerships being closed down, a weird thing happened in Arkansas , North Louisiana, and Southern Missouri.   It seems that Bill Clinton’s former White House Chief of Staff, Mack McClarty, owns a chain of dealerships in that region, partnered with a fellow by the name of Robert Johnson.

Johnson happens to be founder of Black Entertainment Television and was a huge Obama supporter and financier.  These guys own a half dozen Chrysler stores under the company title of RLJ-McClarty-Landers.

Interestingly, none of their dealerships were ordered closed - not one!

While all of their competing Chrysler/Dodge and Jeep dealership were!

Eight dealerships located near the dealerships owned by McClarty and Johnson were ordered shut down.

Thus, by pure luck, these two major Obama supporters now have virtual monopoly on Chrysler sales in their zone. Isn’t that amazing?

More to The Story:

According to the story:  Go look in The Washington Examiner, the story’s there, and it’s in a dozen or so other web-based news organizations; this isn’t being made up.

Chrysler now owned by Fiat?

Now if you thought Chrysler was owned by Fiat, you are mistaken. Under the federal court ruling, 65% of Chrysler is now owned by the federal government and the United Auto Workers union!

Fiat owns 20%.

The other 15% is still privately owned and presumably will be traded on the stock market.  Obama smiles and says he doesn’t want to run the auto industry.

As horrifying as this is to comprehend, and being as how this is still the United States of America , it would appear that the president has the power to destroy private businesses and eliminate upwards of 100,000 jobs just because they don’t agree with his political agenda.

If this story is really true, this is Nazi Germany stuff, and it’s happening right here, right now, in our back yard.  There are voices in Washington demanding an explanation, but the “Automotive Task Force” has released no information to the public or to any of the senators Demanding answers for what has been done.

Keep your ear to the ground for more on this story.  If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference about anything in your life, get on the phone to your national senator or representative in the House and demand an investigation into this.  Benjamin Franklin had it right when he said, “All that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Car Czar No More

An amazing thing happened as this story was going to press.  Obama’s Car Czar, Steve Rattner, resigned on July 13 and was promptly replaced by former steel workers union boss Ron Bloom.

According to CBS News, Rattner left “to return to private life and spend time with his family. “Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said, “I hope that he takes another opportunity to bring his unique skills to government service in the future.”

By the way, Rattner is under investigation for a multi-million dollar pay-to-play investment bank scandal in New York ….Uh-oh!

But, we’re certain that had nothing to do with his resignation.  And, according to several news sources out there, there are rumors he’s being investigated for what could be pay-to-play scandal involving the closing of Chrysler and GM dealerships. Really? Again, that couldn’t have anything to with his resignation-that’s ridiculous!  Like CBS said, this guy just wants to “spend more quality time with his family.”

Obama has 32 personally appointed “czars” who answer to no one but him, all of whom are acting without any Constitutional authority.

But hey, we’re sure they all have “unique skills,”……as Tim Geithner likes to say!

SOOOOO. HOW’S THE CHANGE WORKING FOR YOU?..

Check it out at the following websites…..

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot..com/2009/05/hope-change-car-czar-behind-chrysler.html

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obamas-auto-policy-All-in-the-Democratic-family-44414452.html -

This goes beyond corruption in high places – to gross criminal actions on the part of our government!  I hope you will spread this far and wide, and hopefully the taxpaying public will demand some of that transparency we were promised……followed by criminal prosecution of the perpetrators!

What a crooked government we have!!!!! Vote ‘em all out…November, 2010

End of Story!

———————————————-

The above story was as I received it!  Where do people come up with this Stuff???  Interesting … but can this actually be true?

Or… Is it just another day in Chicago/ Washington politics?

I will gladly post all comments.  Let the battle begin!   Papa B.

Drug Cartels and illegals are crossing the US border committing violent murders, kidnappings, rapes, and more.  Recently, Arizona passed a law that is drawing much controversy.  I am not sure I totally understand the reason for the concern.  Just to make sure we all understand.  Is the real concern racial profiling or being caught?

photo credit: jonathan mcintosh

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT …

• IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
• IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
• IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
• IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
• IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
• IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
• IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET...

• A JOB
• DRIVERS LICENSE
• SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
• WELFARE
• FOOD STAMPS
• CREDIT CARDS
• SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE
• FREE EDUCATION
• FREE HEALTH CARE
• A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
• BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
• THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY’S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH RESPECT
• AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.

AND OMG, … IF SOMEONE SO MUCH AS ASK FOR YOUR ID, YOU WANT TO CLAIM SOCIAL PROFILING AND FILE A LAW SUIT!

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION!

IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!  Papa B!

Will health care reform mean headaches, increased costs, and penalties … or hidden dividends?

photo credit: wirwuenscheneinbierinternationalereisegesellschaft

What do the federal health care reforms mean for your company?  Will it mean increased costs or savings in years to come? … or …  Will it lead to thousands of dollars in extra costs and more paperwork?  Will federal subsidies make this a “game changer” for small companies that have struggled to provide insurance plans and actually improve the coverages for their employees and also offer a savings? …  or … Will it just drive them to pay penalties and  just let their employees purchase their own insurance.  Check below for how it may affect you.

If You Employ 50 or More People

If You employ 50 or more people you will face a major choice beginning in 2014:

• Sponsor a health plan for 100% of your workers (even those signed up for government-subsidized health insurance).

or

• Pay $750 per worker in penalties to the federal government.

A business might opt to take the penalty and do away with health insurance. Paying the annual penalty might be cheaper.  So that would leave the employees uninsured, and they would have to go to state health plan exchanges to buy health coverage that could be more expensive.  Some analysts warn that another macroeconomic effect might result – years of high unemployment.  They think that increased insurance costs will discourage business hiring in the next decade.

The new reforms don’t put any caps on health insurance premiums.  Insurers have every reason to hike rates before the new insurance markets come around in 2014 with added competition.

If You Employ 25-49 People

If you employ 25-49 people, you won’t face this choice.  The government won’t require companies with fewer than 50 employees to offer health insurance starting in 2014, and therefore these companies won’t have to contend with possible fines like their big brothers.  But while firms with 50 or fewer workers would be exempt from coverage provisions, they will still have to contend with rising premiums.

If You Employ Less Than 25 People

A major tax credit for smaller firms and “solopreneurs”?  (There’s a new word.)

If you employ less than 25 or are self-employed, you may find that the healthcare reforms actually bring you tax relief.

Beginning in 2010, companies with less than 25 employees that pay the majority of health care premiums for their workers qualify for a tax credit up to 35% of their premiums. (In 2014, that credit could be as great as 50% of premiums if you arrange insurance via one of the Small Business Health Options Programs, or SHOP Exchanges).

The tax break you get will depend on a couple of variables:

1. The number of employees you have
2. Their average salary.

What about Sole Proprietor-ships?

The above  tax break won’t be offered to sole proprietorships.  That factor may encourage you to incorporate or become an LLC.

If you own a smaller company, insurance might become cheaper.  The idea is that small businesses can pool together in the SHOP Exchanges and negotiate insurance coverage as a group.  Greater buying power, in theory, implies lower premium costs.

Businesses with 100 or fewer workers can jump into a state SHOP Exchange pool starting in 2014; states can also choose to limit the pools to firms with 50 or fewer employees through 2016.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the SHOP Exchanges would lower annual premiums for these businesses by 1-4% with a 3% increase in the amount of coverage.  That could mean a savings of more than $10 billion nationally.  That all remains to be seen.  Based on the accuracy of previous estimates, I wouldn’t hold my breath!

If You Work For Yourself

If you work for yourself, you will likely be able to take advantage of government health care subsidies in 2014.  If you are self-employed in 2014 and earn less than four times the poverty level, you can qualify for these subsidies.  In 2010, 400% of the poverty level comes to $88,200 for a family of four.

Some Important Notes for 2011.

1. In 2011 as a result of the new law, a business will have to report the value of an employee’s health care coverage on W-2 forms.
2. Many companies provide coverage for employee dependents not enrolled in other employer-based health plans up to age 22 or 23; next year, that age limit will rise to 26.
3. All lifetime caps on insurance policies offered through employer-sponsored plans will be eliminated in 2011.
4. Penalties will increase for the misuse of HSA funds.
5. Workers with FSAs and HSAs will not be reimbursed for money used for over-the-counter drug purchases.

What does it mean for now, for later … and for you?

The debate goes on but seems to have gotten so boring that the news media has forgotten about it.  This is probably because it has little or no affect on most people in the immediate future.  A few nice, but non-consequential, things take place now to make it sound better.  The hard stuff doesn’t really become noticeable until after the mid-term elections.  It is not until then, and the following 48 months, that most people will be affected, and not necessarily in a good way.

photo credit: Fibonacci Blue

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed “historic” health care legislation into law following a year-long struggle with congress to follow through on what was a pivotal piece of his administration’s domestic policy agenda.  The most “historic” thing about it was that it was something the majority of the American people did not want passed, but it got passed anyway by a totally partisan vote.  The rules for passing such wide sweeping changes were themselves swept under the rug and true Washington D.C. corruption … “Chicago style” took over.

Who is this bill Really for?

“I am signing this bill for all the leaders who took up this cause through the generations,” said President Obama, “from Teddy Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt, from Harry Truman to Lyndon Johnson …”  That may sound good in a tele-prompted speech, but the real reason he signed it was to try to salvage his own political future.  He used every type of leverage and political capital he had available, including bribery, extortion.  There is one person, and one only person, he signed it for.

But, with that said, what does it mean?

What Obama signed may not include all the provisions and changes you think it does.  Many alterations have been made along the way and, at this point, many Americans are unsure of exactly what the AHCA Act entails.

What changes are slated for 2010?

The “immediate” changes include:

1. Extending the length of time a child can remain on his/her parents’ plan – through age 26 (ending on the child’s 27th birthday).
   
2. Children can no longer be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
3. Policies can no longer be rescinded by insurers when a person becomes ill (unless fraud or misrepresentation is proven).
   

In the immediate future that really doesn’t mean much because most people’s insurance options haven’t yet changed.  But, believe me they will.  In order to accommodate those kind of changes premiums will go up!  No where does it say in the bill that those changes are provided free by your insurance company!

What changes are slated for the future?

Some of the most sweeping reforms won’t take effect for a few years.  The biggest thing that has everyone buzzing involves required health care insurance.  Beginning in 2014, Americans (except those with religious objections, inmates and Native Americans) will be required to have health insurance coverage … or face an annual “penalty“.  The only good thing is that the penalty cost less than the actual insurance, and if you get sick you can go ahead and buy insurance after you have a problem, since they can no longer deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions.  That may be the best option.

And what about taxes?

The other big thing getting buzz involves tax increases: a new tax which starts in 2013 – a 3.8% tax on investment income for individuals earning more than $200,000 and households earning more than $250,000.  That doesn’t mean to say that people making less won’t also pay also.

Where can you get more information?  The White House has provided a website but, it is the last place I would look for an honest unbiased view.  You can visit whitehouse.gov/healthreform .  Just remember this is a very one-sided, slanted view of the bill, and does not give a fair representation of what it really means.

Is it settled?

Nope.  Amendments to the bill have already been proposed, and Attorney Generals from more than 14 states have filed a lawsuit claiming the new bill is unconstitutional.  Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller, however, is “confident that this statute is constitutional”.  Nothing would surprise me.

For it or Against it, one thing for sure … the way this was passed is the is the most corrupt action I have ever observed.  When one party, either party, controls both the House and the Senate as well as the White House there is no check and balance.  Corruption occurs.

Bribes and extortion  are not unconstitutional … they are criminal.  But, … someone has to initiate a unbiased investigation and that ain’t gonna happen.  That is reserved for the important stuff like Sarah Palin, Major League Baseball, and airport restrooms.  It’s time to take care of things at the voting booth.  Wait a minute isn’t that what happened last time?  Papa B.

Let’s call this our first “weekender”!  A good friend of mine sent me this You Tube video.  I am pretty sure some will find this offensive.  I know some will think it is funny.  Personally … I find it funny.  No matter, either way, let us know what you think.  Give us your opinion?  Papa B.

What does health care reform include … REALLY?  How does a boomer like me separate the the Facts(Bull) from the Myths(Crap)?  One side says one thing.  The other side says something completely different about the same fact.  One thing for sure, both sides have their own spin on what is and isn’t in the bill.  At least some of that spin seems to me to be a distortion of the English language.  Some of the spin is a blatant distortion of the truth.

photo credit: Wheezy Jefferson

At this point, some of the arguments your friends, neighbors or co-workers continue to debate don’t even factor into the legislation signed by President Obama.  Below are a few questions and answers.  

Questions From you … Answers from the White House.

So, what’s the truth behind the Affordable Health Care for America Act?  The following are a list of questions and answers with a definite White House “spin”.

Question: Will I be forced to change insurance?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH.  If you’re satisfied with your current plan, you can keep it.

Truth: That is technically true, until such time as your current plan is no longer offered because the Company you work for can no longer afford to offer it, or you can’t afford the higher cost of it.  Even then you will not be forced to change … you just won’t be able to afford it, so you will want to change!  Papa B.

Question: Will illegal immigrants now be covered by our money?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH.  In fact, undocumented immigrants are expressly excluded from coverage. Only legal immigrants who pay their share will be covered.

Truth: They are already covered by our money! The only thing they are expressly excluded from is paying for it.  They have better coverage than you and I already! They show up in the emergency room and don’t pay a cent. I am thinking about looking into how to become one.  Papa B.

Question: Will I go to jail or be harassed by the IRS if I don’t have health coverage?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH.  In 2014 Americans (except Native Americans, Inmates or those with religious objections) will be required to have health insurance or pay an annual penalty. True.   However, the law prevents the IRS from using levies, liens or seizing property. Additionally, the IRS cannot impose criminal penalties (such as time in jail).

Truth: In 2014 if you don’t have health care insurance you won’t go to Jail, but you will pay a fine(penalty).  As currently laid out in the bill, the IRS will check monthly to make sure you have insurance.  If you don’t have insurance they will begin deducting withholding from you to pay the penalty(fine).  The IRS will have no need to “harass” you, they will simply take it from you.  The good news is that the fine, as defined today, is far less expensive for most than paying for the insurance coverage.  So … why buy it if you don’t think you need it.  Go to the emergency room and let the rest of us pay it … like we do now.  Papa B.

Question: I heard there was going to be a 10% tax increase across the board. Is that true?
White House Answer: No. That is a MYTH.  While there will be tax implications, most of the biggest changes apply to medical manufacturers, insurers and pharmaceutical companies.  In fact, some Americans may see no changes at all. Tax changes that could affect average individuals include …
• A 10% sales tax on indoor tanning (yes, really)
• A 0.9% increase on the Medicare tax rate
• A 3.8% tax on investment income for individuals earning more than $200,000 and households earning more than $250,000
• Taxes on high-end or “Cadillac” health care plans (this excise tax would not begin until 2018 and only apply to insurers of plans that exceed $10,200 annually for individual coverage, or $27,500 annually for family coverage)

Truth: 100% Bull … nope, I mean 100% Crap… no, I mean 100% Bull Crap! I don’t even know where to start.  All taxes affect the average individual,  no matter where they are imposed, or how big the company is that they impose them on, the they are eventually paid for by the individual tax payer in the price of the product or service that “big company” provides! Tax increases to medical manufacturers, insures, and pharmaceuticals affect will affect every average American. Companies don’t pay taxes!  People Do!

Now the tanning tax, that’s just plain hilarious.  The reasoning behind that one is that tanning inside causes health care cost to go up because of cancer implications.  Probably true, but then why can I ride a motorcycle without a helmet without paying a tax?  It sort of the same logic as not being able to smoke in a bar but, let’s legalize marijuana! The good news is that if you already have a tan, or you don’t really want a tan, this is one tax you won’t have to pay. Papa B.

Question: Will the government now pay for abortions?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH.  The law already in place which prevents using federal money to fund abortions (except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to a woman’s life) is not being altered.
Truth: Finally, … the truth! … The government doesn’t pay for anything!  The tax payer does! You, however, will only have to pay for “legal” abortions per the “current” bill!  Papa B.

Question: Will I have to pay for other people’s abortions?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH.  Those opposed to abortion will not be forced to assist in funding them. You can simply select a plan that does not offer them. This applies not only to people who may have objections to abortions on moral grounds, but also to those who simply have no reason to pay an extra premium for that type of coverage (such as women past their child bearing years or single men).

Truth: Read that answer again.  The first part of the answer, “No. That’s a Myth.” is just not true! One more time … if the government pays for any abortions, it comes straight out of your (the taxpayers) pocket. Your taxes will be paying for legal abortions. The rest of that answer makes no sense at all to the question.  It simply says that you can select a plan for yourself that won’t cover your own abortions.   Papa B.

Question: Does the “Public Option” mean the government will run health care?
White House Answer: No. That’s a MYTH … and a non-factor at this point.  In fact, the “public option” did not make it into the final legislation that President Obama signed. THERE IS NO PUBLIC OPTION. Even before it was dropped from the bill, it was misunderstood to be government-run health care – wherein the government would make your health care decisions. Rather, it would have been government-provided insurance option to compete with private insurance.

Truth: True, it didn’t make the bill … yet.  But again, It doesn’t answer the question.  The question asks whether the ‘Public Option” means the government will run health care not whether it is included in the this bill.  However, I would define a “government-provided insurance option to compete with private insurance” as a government run “public option”.   Papa B.

Question: Will my Medicare benefits be cut in order to extend care to others?
White House Answer: No. That, too, is a MYTH.  Brooks Jackson, director of FactCheck.org, says that although the reform package includes $500 billion in “cuts”, it does NOT include traditional Medicare benefit reductions.

Truth: Read the answer. The question is, “Will my medicare benefits be cut”?  The answer above says that “although the reform package includes $500 billion in cuts”, it “does not include traditional medicare benefit reductions“. Define “traditional Medicare reductions” That simply says it won’t cut the benefits that they traditionally cut before.  It leaves a lot of other medicare benefits that weren’t traditionally cut! Papa B.

Question: Does this mean that “death panels” are now a reality?
White House Answer: No. And they never were.  This myth was based on misunderstanding of a provision in the original bill that required payment, by Medicare, for health care practitioner-led end-of-life counseling.  This is not part of the law.
Truth: Correct!  There are no “Death Panels” in this bill.  However, the term did not just refer to required payment for “end of life counseling.  It also referred to panels of people who will determine what procedures your government health care insurance will pay for based on your situation such as age, medical history, etc.  That, in fact, is a part of this bill. Papa B.

Confused?

Confusing doesn’t even begin to describe it.  Throughout the very long debate over health care reform, a great deal of misinformation, some of it spurred by presumption or misunderstanding, was circulating.  Additionally, many changes and alterations to the proposed law were made along the way.  It is so complex, there were so many changes, and so many spins, that no one really knows what it all means or cost.   A couple of things are for certain.

1. If it really adds coverage for an additional 30 million people who currently don’t have insurance it can’t cost less.
2. No matter what the cost  … You and I are going to pay for it!

As for me … I still very confused.   You can read more at whitehouse.gov/healthreform … just don’t believe everything you read!  Whether it is Fact or Myth it is still hard to sort through the Bull Crap!  Papa B.

As a follow-up to The Real Cost of Health Care Reform – Who pays For It?, I felt compelled to further defend the case.  A friend of mine called me to contest my position concerning the business model that says that no one pays for tax increases or increased health care cost except you and me the consumer, employee, or stockholder.

photo credit: criticalbias.org

Not so, says my attorney friend.  My friend says his business is different.  His business doesn’t fit the model.  He believes that in his business there are no stockholders and he can’t defer it to his employees or customers.  He believes that his business pays for it.  He views himself as “The Business”.  In fact, he is correct.  He is the owner and in his case the owner pays for it.  Somebody has to.

He also believes strongly that the large medical malpractice settlements awarded to his clients are paid for by primarily the  insurance industry.  Also not true!     Once again, it is the individual taxpayer that foots the bill in every case.  It is built into the cost of health care in the form of medical malpractice insurance, unnecessary tests and procedures, increased hospitalizations. and other forms of defensive medical practices.  Medical malpractice insurance is paid for, not just by the doctor, but by all the people the doctor treats.  It is built into the cost of maintaining the doctors business.

As President  Obama said many times about John McCain … “he just doesn’t get it”.  I pretty sure I know who really doesn’t get it!

Who Pays For It?  Consider the following:

Whether the business is a sole proprietorship, partnership or large corporation the basic business model still applies.  In any business there are four types of people.  They are either owners, employees, customers, or suppliers.  All are individual taxpayers! Even those that don’t appear to pay taxes, in fact, do in the price of everything they purchase.

Every car, every gallon of gas, every Big Mac, every french fry, every cup of coffee, and oh yes, every beer you or I purchase has the the cost of health care and taxes built into it.  Even if you don’t work and don’t pay income tax, you pay taxes in everything you purchase.

No matter what the business is, it is the individual taxpayer, consumer, or employee, that pay the bill of increased cost.  There is no one else to pay.

If you are a sole proprietor, such as “Joe the Plumber”  you are the owner.  If you are part owner in a partnership, you are one of the owners.  If you are a stockholder of a large corporation you are an owner.  In the case of a large corporation the stockholders are made up of all types of people (grandmas, grandpas, mail carriers, pilots, engineers, retirees, CEO’s, etc.).  All are also an individual taxpayers!

COST + MARGIN = PRICE

If increased taxes or increased health care cost are forced on a business by the government ” Who Pays for it???”

Question #1

If the business is to maintain it’s current margin and does not cut other cost , then the price must go up.  Who pays?

1. The Owner/ Owners
2. The Customers
3. The Employees
4. The Suppliers

All costs, including taxes and health care insurance, are built into the price of the products, we the consumer, pay.

Question #2

If the business is to maintain it’s current price and margin then, some other business cost must go down.  Who Pays?

1. The Owner/ Owners
2. The Customer
3. The Employees
4. The Suppliers

Costs must be cut in the form of labor (wages, benefits, jobs).  As the cost of heath care benefits increase, the offerings go down or the employee contribution goes up!  Even if the costs are cut in areas such as materials, utilities, rent, etc., it is eventually paid by the employees or employees of the material or utility supplier or their subsequent suppliers.

Question#3

If the business is to hold the price and they cannot cut other cost, then the margin goes down.  Who pays for it?

1. The Owner/ Owners
2. The Customer
3. The Employees
4. The Suppliers

Sorry, there ain’t no Mr. Maytag.  All owners are individual taxpayers whether you are talking about a small business or a large corporation.  Even large investment corporations that purchase large portions of a large corporations stock are they themselves owned by groups of individual owners.

Even people who don’t work and don’t pay income taxes are tax payers.  It is built into the price of every  (legal) product or service sold.

The Cold, Hard Facts About Who Pays!

Corporations don’t pay taxes!  People do! Even corporate income taxes that support our government are built into the price the products they provide.  Corporations don’t pay them, it the consumer that pays them!

Government Doesn’t pay for anything!  Taxpayers do!

One hundred  percent of every tax the government imposes … the individual taxpayer pays …You and Me!

One hundred percent of everything the government does or provides … is paid for by the individual taxpayer … You and Me!

Anyone who doesn’t believe that really “Just Doesn’t get it!!!”

The real question is not “Who pays for it?”  There is no question about!  The real question remains … How much are You willing to pay for? … Papa B!

Obama vs. McCrystal …

……  It is beyond my belief that the President is such a narcissist that he really believes that after spending ZERO time in the military he knows more than the career general he appointed to run the war in Afghanistan.  What is he thinking?  Or Smoking?  Is it really more important to save the Democratic seats in the November elections than to protect our troops in Afghanistan and possibly lose all that has been gained?  It may seem to be a tough decision, but who has more insight and experience when it comes to the military?  Obama and ”The Boys” … or the General?  Chicago politics has no place in the White House.  You already got the White House … time to quit campaigning and do your job!  Time to get rid of the “The Boys”.  Get rid of Raum Emanual! Get rid of David Axelrod! Get rid of Robert Gibbs.  It is time to answer the tough questions yourself and quit avoiding them.  Come on “Pres”  no one is questioning whether you are a Hawk or a Dove, but it  ain’t cool to be a pussy!