Obama's Health Care Reform

We have all been hearing that President Obama wants to have a health care reform bill passed before the end of August. Sounds good. However, what are the specifics?

I do not understand how giving everyone health care will bring down the cost? I definitely do not understand how having another Federal Government Health Care Provider will do anything but add to the national debt.

Currently the Federal Government is responsible for the Medicare Health Care Program, and oversees the states Medicaid Health Care Programs. No big surprise to find that they are mismanaged, victims of all kind of fraud and over billing schemes, and that there does not appear to be a plan in place to bring order to the system.

If the government cannot manage the health care programs for the elderly and the poor, is there any way they can provide an agency that can realistically compete with health care insurers already in place?

Why aren't the President and Congress first fixing Medicare & Medicaid? Take control of the wasted millions in those programs, put together an efficient organization that actually brings down costs, bargains with providers and allows patients premiums to remain the same or even decrease, and then consider a National Health Insurance program.

With the current lose of jobs, the deficit and debt, we can not afford to have more wasteful out of control spending. The President and Congress need to prove that they can put what they actually have to good use, then come to the people with a realistic plan.

I know there are many with out health care. I also know that the majority still get treated in emergency rooms and clinics across the country and that my tax dollars and my increasing health care premiums go to pay the difference, because my costs at the doctors and hospital keep increasing to offset what is lost from those who do not pay.

I do not expect that to change in the near future.

What I do hope changes is the government's attitude. Let's fix things using what we have. If Medicare & Medicaid are managed competently, responsibly, with accountability, millions of dollars will become available for a national program.

Let's fix the current problem, rather than leave it broken and start another agency that will only add chaos to the situation, rather than order.

Its Common Sense!!

Senator Cardin on Illegal Aliens

Senator Ben Cardin - Democrat Maryland - sent the following response to my letter dealing with illegal aliens getting driver licenses in Maryland.
I am surprised that he is actually showing a semi-tough approach. Of course this is talk, we'll see if his actions speak as loud as his words.

Its Common Sense!

Dear Mr. Wolfe:

Thank you for writing to me regarding our country's immigration system.
Our nation's immigration and border security system is broken and must be fixed. We must require illegal immigrants to step forward and become legal and we must better secure our borders. We must restore the rule of law and enhance security at our borders. The Congress and the President must work together to reform our laws . We also must use the full force of the law against employers who hire illegal immigrants.
I support changes to the law that will require illegal immigrants to become legal. They must pay taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks. This process won't be easy or quick, but it will be fair and practical. Individuals who came to this country illegally will be bumped to the back of the line behind those who waited to come to this country legally. And illegal immigrants with a criminal record would be deported. Those who refuse to register and meet these con ditions also should be deported.
To secure our borders, the government should require the use of a biometric entry-exit system for all land borders, so that we have an accurate record of who is entering and leaving the United States . We should create a "smart" enforcement regime which will produce more efficient inspections and screenings, and allow us to target and tailor our limited resources to combat illegal smuggling of people and contraband. I supported recent appropriations that provided $1.6 billion for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology, and facility construction, as well as the hiring of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
To meet the needs of our workforce and promote family reunification, we should set in place realistic immigration numbers and policies, and clear the backlog of legal visas, green card legal permit resident and citizenship applications. In the last Congress, Senator Feinstein has introduced the "Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act" , S. 340, in order to provide for new blue card visas and modify the H-2A program. This year, Senator Mikulski has introduced the "Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act" , S. 3 88, to extend the annual cap exemption for returning H-2B workers. While these two bills address key issues in the immigration debate, a comprehensive approach is the only way to adequately deal with this issue.
We can no longer ignore corporations who are hiring and exploiting illegal workers. This practice takes jobs away from Americans and depresses wages for everyone. These unlawful companies must be prosecuted and face stiff criminal and civil penalties. We need smart policies like improved border patrols, full enforcement of our laws, and requiring illegal immigrants to become legal.
The status quo is not working. Allowing 12 million to hide in the shadows and live in this country illegally is unacceptable. Our system must be fixed. Again, thank you for writing to me regarding this important issue. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Please visit my website at http://cardin.senate.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter

Obama's Stimulus Plan

President-elect Obama meets Monday with high ranking Congressional leaders from both parties to push his stimulus plan so that it will be on his desk for signature on Inauguration Day. My understanding is that the stimulus package will cost close to $800 billion. Included are tax breaks, loans for states, and the creation of infrastructure jobs of one kind or another.

Sounds nice. Of course the question is - where the hell is money coming from? It sounds good that Obama continues to promise to lower personal income taxes. But, the reality is that to pay for any stimulus package, the money has to come from somewhere.

Unfortunately that means the USA will be going out with hat in hand in getting loans at ridiculous interest rates from foreign countries. How deep in debt do we want to be to the Chinese?

We will eventually have to pay the debt. So, if personal income taxes aren't raised, other taxes will be. Already there is talk that Federal government and State governments are planning to increase the gasoline tax by at least fifty percent. After all, people were willing to pay almost $4.00 a gallon, so if the price of gas is down they figure to raise taxes to bring the overall cost back up to $4.00 a gallon.

What about "luxury" items? In addition to tobacco, alcohol, and certain kinds of foods, where else could taxes be raised?

Have you ever looked at your phone bill and realized you are paying a luxury tax for using the phone? When telephones were initially used, they were considered a luxury item for the well to do and were taxed. Even after the phone became part of everyday life for everyone, the luxury tax remained. Don't be surprised to see that tax raised, along with taxes on any variety of electronic equipment.

Other places taxes could be increased are on automobiles - again at both federal and state levels -, travel - air, rail, water -, lodging and dining.

Before we get all excited about "tax cuts" let's find out just where the taxes are going to be cut and where they are going to be increased.

President-elect Obama needs a plan to raise $800 billion for his stimulus. Let's ask for some straight answers. Let's not be faked out by a lot of smoke and mirrors.

Its our future and our money - let's get the facts.

Its Common Sense!

Fannie Mae - What is wrong with this picture?

My daughter emailed me the following story about a 90 year old woman who shot herself, rather than be evicted from her house.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/eviction.suicide.attempt/index.html


After reading the story, other than feeling sorry for the woman and wondering how many cops it takes to evict a 90 year old, my first question was who was the idiot who gave a thirty year mortgage loan to a 86 year old woman (The loan was made in 2004)? Come on! How hard would it be to check her income? This is just greed beyond comprehension. Whoever gave her the loan is the one who ought to be shot.


It also raises the question. Who benefits from the bailout? The little guy who took out the loan and is having trouble paying, or the bank that made the loan and is not receiving income?


I think Congress rushed way to fast into this bailout. I know that both Presidential candidates approved the bill, but I think they both sold us out. This "loan" is not going to benefit us. After all, the banks involved will only be able to pay off their "loan" if they are able to establish good loans to generate money for the bank. We will have to wait and watch, but i have a feeling none of this is going to turn out the way we were promised.

On a different note, today October 4 is the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, one of my favorite saints. For those of you who are pet owners - perhaps you have a cat named Little Fascist - this is the day you take your pet to church for a blessing.
God blesses everyone. Let's hope He is going to bless this country because we really need it.

Stay alert to what is going on. Share your observations with those around you. If we don't look out for one another no one else will.
Its Common Sense.