A few days ago the news came out about how many states are cutting back (firing) teachers because the states do not have the funds for education. Classroom size in many states will escalate from 25 kids to anywhere between 40-50 kids.
To listen to representatives in Congress, regardless of which party, they are still pushing the concept that the United States is the leader of the 'Free" World. However, the sad truth of the matter is that as education standards in this country continue to fall, we will be below the majority of so called Third World countries in the area of education, not to mention manufacturing, farming etc. Our country is on a down hill slide, and our current leadership is only making it worse.
Look at education. Most of the people I know from foreign countries can not understand how a school system passes forward children who can not read or write. In their countries, if you do not meet the standard, you fail and are held back. It used to be that way here, but somehow some do gooders sold the concept that it hurt the child's self image if they failed. Don't they think it hurts their self image if they can not read and write like the kids around them?
Education in this country needs to go back to the good old days when giving the child a quality education was the goal, not worrying about their feelings.
How to do it? That is the real question, especially in this time of tight to non-existent budgets. What can government do?
The way I see it there are three options.
1. Take the money used for the bank and car bailouts that has been repaid and re-infest that money in education.
2. The government can take that same money, re-invest it in job creation and then once the work force is re-established, use their tax dollars to fund education.
3. Finally since the bail out money was borrowed from China, we pay back the loan, cut down the national debt, let a few years pass until the economy is back on a positive track and then start dealing with crisis's like education and jobs.
Sadly, there are no easy answers. Its a matter of priorities. Let your representatives know what your priorities are and push your agenda. After all, our future is tied up in all of this.
Its Common Sense!!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Senator Barbara Mikulski - What Health Care Reform Means to You!
I just received the following new blurb from Senator Mikulski. I guess I write enough to be on her mailing list.
Read through and see if you agree that this is what Health Care Reform Means to you.
What Health Care Reform Means for You
Passage of health care reform is a very big deal. It's the first time in history that we have committed to ending the abuses of the insurance industry and covering every single American.
I voted for health care reform because I listened to Marylanders as they told me their stories. People told me about the situation of their lives at roundtables and hearings, at diners and grocery stores. Thousands more wrote to me and called. They shared with me their fear of one big health care incident leading them into bankruptcy.
I heard from people like Karen from Kensington, whose father had to quit his job because he suffered from Crohn's Disease. When he was two pennies short on his insurance payment, he lost his coverage. During the six months it took to reinstate his insurance, his health deteriorated. He died a year after his insurance was cancelled. He was just 59 years old when he passed away.
I thought of people like Karen and her father when I was fighting to pass this bill.
This legislation provides long-term health security for all Americans. It saves and strengthens Medicare, extending its life by nearly a decade. It also helps seniors afford their prescription drugs. It establishes a small business health care tax credit to help small businesses cover their workers. It allows young people to stay on their parents' policies until age 26. And it cuts the hassle factor, allowing doctors to spend time with patients instead of paperwork.
This bill also ends the punitive practices of insurance companies by making sure that no American will ever be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
This is a very big deal for women. I am particularly proud of the role that I have played in changing the way that insurance companies treat women. For far too long, they have treated simply being a woman as a pre-existing condition. They used every trick in the book to deny women coverage. In seven states and the District of Columbia, being a victim of domestic violence was considered a pre-existing condition. Women were denied coverage because a medically-mandated c-section was considered a pre-existing condition.
That's why when they tried to take our mammograms away, I said, "No!" I introduced an amendment that guarantees women who enroll in new health care plans coverage of preventive care such as mammograms, pap tests and heart disease screenings with no co-pays or deductibles.
These changes are a monumental step in improving the lives and health of people across the state of Maryland and across the United States. This bill is a leap into the future, and it is a leap we can take with confidence. My job as a U.S. Senator is to provide opportunity for the American people, and health care is one of the greatest opportunities we can provide.
Useful Links
Video of Senator Mikulski on Passage of Health Reform
Timeline of Reform
Health Care Reform and Maryland
Summary of Health Care Reform Bill
How Will Reform Help You? Take the Quiz
Information from the White House
Information on Implimentation from HHS
Fast Facts
How does reform help people now?
* Gives seniors who hit the donut hole a $250 rebate
* Provides health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions who used to have insurance
* Stops insurers from denying coverage to children because they have a pre-existing condition
* Stops insurers from dropping coverage when you get sick
* Prohibits lifetime caps on coverage in new insurance plans
* Allows young people to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26
* Gives small businesses tax credits to help them cover employees
How does reform help Marylanders?
* Reform could save Maryland $1 Billion over the next 10 years
* Preventive services with no co-pays for 740,000 Maryland seniors
* Help for 132,000 Maryland seniors when they hit drug coverage gap
* New consumer protections will benefit 5.6 million Marylanders
* New tax credits to help 56,000 small businesses cover their employees
* New help to make health care insurance affordable for 465,000 Marylanders
Read through and see if you agree that this is what Health Care Reform Means to you.
What Health Care Reform Means for You
Passage of health care reform is a very big deal. It's the first time in history that we have committed to ending the abuses of the insurance industry and covering every single American.
I voted for health care reform because I listened to Marylanders as they told me their stories. People told me about the situation of their lives at roundtables and hearings, at diners and grocery stores. Thousands more wrote to me and called. They shared with me their fear of one big health care incident leading them into bankruptcy.
I heard from people like Karen from Kensington, whose father had to quit his job because he suffered from Crohn's Disease. When he was two pennies short on his insurance payment, he lost his coverage. During the six months it took to reinstate his insurance, his health deteriorated. He died a year after his insurance was cancelled. He was just 59 years old when he passed away.
I thought of people like Karen and her father when I was fighting to pass this bill.
This legislation provides long-term health security for all Americans. It saves and strengthens Medicare, extending its life by nearly a decade. It also helps seniors afford their prescription drugs. It establishes a small business health care tax credit to help small businesses cover their workers. It allows young people to stay on their parents' policies until age 26. And it cuts the hassle factor, allowing doctors to spend time with patients instead of paperwork.
This bill also ends the punitive practices of insurance companies by making sure that no American will ever be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
This is a very big deal for women. I am particularly proud of the role that I have played in changing the way that insurance companies treat women. For far too long, they have treated simply being a woman as a pre-existing condition. They used every trick in the book to deny women coverage. In seven states and the District of Columbia, being a victim of domestic violence was considered a pre-existing condition. Women were denied coverage because a medically-mandated c-section was considered a pre-existing condition.
That's why when they tried to take our mammograms away, I said, "No!" I introduced an amendment that guarantees women who enroll in new health care plans coverage of preventive care such as mammograms, pap tests and heart disease screenings with no co-pays or deductibles.
These changes are a monumental step in improving the lives and health of people across the state of Maryland and across the United States. This bill is a leap into the future, and it is a leap we can take with confidence. My job as a U.S. Senator is to provide opportunity for the American people, and health care is one of the greatest opportunities we can provide.
Useful Links
Video of Senator Mikulski on Passage of Health Reform
Timeline of Reform
Health Care Reform and Maryland
Summary of Health Care Reform Bill
How Will Reform Help You? Take the Quiz
Information from the White House
Information on Implimentation from HHS
Fast Facts
How does reform help people now?
* Gives seniors who hit the donut hole a $250 rebate
* Provides health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions who used to have insurance
* Stops insurers from denying coverage to children because they have a pre-existing condition
* Stops insurers from dropping coverage when you get sick
* Prohibits lifetime caps on coverage in new insurance plans
* Allows young people to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26
* Gives small businesses tax credits to help them cover employees
How does reform help Marylanders?
* Reform could save Maryland $1 Billion over the next 10 years
* Preventive services with no co-pays for 740,000 Maryland seniors
* Help for 132,000 Maryland seniors when they hit drug coverage gap
* New consumer protections will benefit 5.6 million Marylanders
* New tax credits to help 56,000 small businesses cover their employees
* New help to make health care insurance affordable for 465,000 Marylanders
Monday, April 5, 2010
Afghanistan Drama
Things keep happening in Afghanistan to keep the confusion/chaos alive. Obama sneaks in to visit with the troops and then tell Karzai he's got to get his act together and show some progress if he wants to continue to receive aide. Of course, since Obama has increased the USA's military commitment, the USA isn't getting out anytime soon, which means the aide will continue.
Evidently Karzai's feelings got hurt and the rumor is he has threatened to go over the the Taliban if the outsiders don't stop pressuring him. How long do you think he would last if he went over to the Taliban?
Both presidents need to stop trying to out stage the other and get to the serious business of bringing a workable peace to Afghanistan making all of the compromises necessary to end the killing. Too many lives have been wasted. Now is the time for true leadership, not stagemanship.
Its Common Sense!
Evidently Karzai's feelings got hurt and the rumor is he has threatened to go over the the Taliban if the outsiders don't stop pressuring him. How long do you think he would last if he went over to the Taliban?
Both presidents need to stop trying to out stage the other and get to the serious business of bringing a workable peace to Afghanistan making all of the compromises necessary to end the killing. Too many lives have been wasted. Now is the time for true leadership, not stagemanship.
Its Common Sense!
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