Wednesday, October 28,2009

Have you ever seen the commercial about taxing soft drinks? The one where a young mother and her children (or at least someone's children) are carrying groceries from the car to the house. The mother is complaining about the once proposed sales tax on soft drinks. She says that the tax may be only a few cents, but in these times that's a lot of money for families to pay. In one grocery bag a liter of pop or soda is visible. I ask the question, "Why would a mother buy sugary soft drinks for her growing children let alone for herself? Too much sugar in one's diet, especially a vulnerable child's, has been proven to be harmful to one's health. The family should be a little more cognizant of healthy eating and drinking, even in these trying times. There is nothing of value to a person's health in soda pop. Taxing something harmful to a person's physical health sounds appropriate to me.

The Pope has extended the welcome mat to Anglicans to join up. Join up to the Roman Catholic Church, that is. Complete congregations may join in mass as complete units and may maintain many of their liturgical customs and practices. Anglican priest now Roman Catholic may even keep their wives and families if married. How nice of His Holiness. The Pope is offering this succor in response to the Anglican Church allowing gays and women to be members of the clergy. Jesus is probably rolling over in His grave. No offense intended. I mentioned this to a friend recently and said that maybe I shouldn't phrase it that way, but he said that it is absolutely correct. Jesus Christ would be outraged by such hatred and discrimination. This almost sounds like the actions of the evangelical right? The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church has sunken to a new low. I must remember that religion and churches are manmade. They are formed in the image of man. However, God's Word is from God. The Word doesn't change. God doesn't change. God accepts everyone. As he or she or whatever is. 

Monday, October 19, 2009

How's this health care reform coming along? Much to do about nothing, if you ask me. I have a feeling that there will be a health care reform bill, but it will amount to nil and increase costs. I say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well it is a little broke. At least we the consumers are or will be. What's the answer? To me the answer is easy. Fix what needs to be fixed. Without a major dissertation on my part or a major revamping of the system by the government, why not just fix the cost and coverage anomalies. Cost is skyrocketing. So make health care affordable by removing the current antitrust exception for health insurance companies. Like other commodities, health insurance companies should not be permitted to form monopolies. Health insurance should be made competitive. Health insurance companies should be forced to compete for the consumer dollar. Why are they so protected now? Follow the money. Congressional members and the administration have been disproportionally supported by insurance companies for years. Dubious to say the least. Secondly, remove the pre-existing conditions from all health insurance policies. Lastly, hold health insurance companies accountable to the continued coverage of clients regardless of health conditions. In other words, health insurance companies should not be permitted to "drop" clients for any reason, except lack of payment. These reforms would go a great distance in making health insurance affordable and within the reach of most Americans. Why all the disparaging dialogue by the political parties? Why? In a word - money and political capital. Life in Washington DC is a complicated endeavor. The best you and I can do is to survive by looking out for our own best interests, learning to play the game, live within the dictates of the skewed political mandates of our governmental leaders - all political parties inclusive, and at the same time remaining true to our own personal values. In the end each of us is responsible for one person, ourselves. 

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I must become a little more vigilant about blogging on this blog. I think about it often. I even mull over ideas to blog about, but I just don't make it to my computer. Well that's going to change. Maybe not immediately. It would be a great New Year's resolution. 2010 is less than three months away, great timing. That's what I'll do. For the moment, President Obama gets the Nobel Peace Prize? At first take one might get the feeling that something is not Kosher in Norway. However, a review of the criteria for the prize gives the selection much more credence. The peace prize is given to a person or group for not only actions but attitudes. President Obama has presented a new attitude for America and the world. He is attempting to offer America and the world a new way of interacting. An interaction build on mutual understanding and respect. I think he is trying to recapture the United States of America's place in the world. In short, a member of the world community. The United States is a member of the community of nations that makes up the world. Yes, we can be a world leader, but not a world dictator. President Obama is attempting to offer an olive branch to the other nations of the world. I do believe President Obama continues to be cognizant of the leadership role of the United States and it's domestic pride, but he also recognizes the importance and place of the other nations of the world. This attitude is the reason he was named the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. It does offer President Obama an enormous responsibility - one of success. I am convinced that there may be other more mundane, political reasons for this honor. I chose to concentrate on the honor as a way to a future of peace. An ideal for sure and maybe not completely attainable, but a sincere goal necessary in meeting the turmoil of today's world. 

I was watching my usual TV news shows this Sunday morning. I happened to flip to CNN catching the last few minutes of their discussion of President Obama's speech at the Human Rights Campaign fundraising gala last night. Conservative former Reagan Administration official, Bill Bennett ended the discussion with a disdainful comment about the lack of importance of such a discussion about Gay Rights. He said something to the effect that with all of the problems in America the CNN participants were discussing Gay Rights. How dare he. That is the number one reason that I could never sign on to the Republican Party. Most conservative Republicans profess to be the protectors of life. They say that they are the party of family values and the sanctity of life. Yet, they do not support and respect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of Gays and Lesbians. This shows the phoniness of the conservative agenda. It shows the actual hatred held by many conservatives. Democrats believe in the rights of all people, regardless of lifestyle among the other demographics. The conservative Republicans are the party of hate and deception. I repeat, "How dare he". 

Sunday, October 4, 2009

What do you know, Chicago did not get the 2016 Olympics. Wow, eliminated in the first round. What does this say about President Obama's world appeal? Got me? It does signify that the Olympic committee didn't want to host the 2016 Olympics in Chicago. Would you? Chicago? Rio de Janeiro is a marvelous choice. This says nothing about President Obama's world appeal.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

President Obama is off to Denmark to fight for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It appears that Chicago and Rio are neck in neck in the bid for 2016. I don't know why anyone would want to host the Olympics. Most of the time the host city loses money on the Olympics. Like anything else, it's all for politics. Let Rio de Janeiro have them. At least President Obama has proven that he is capable of doing more than one thing at a time. The President gets an "A" for effort, on all fronts. The Republicans - still the party of "no" and insulting unsubstantiated attacks on the administration and anything Democrat. When will they learn. You may have noticed that this liberal Democrat has been amazingly subdued on the political attacks from the conservative right. That's the name of the game, political attacks from the right. That's all the conservative have left. They have ultimately nothing to debate. Just wishful thinking realized by unrealistic, bizarre attacks. President Obama and the Democratic Congress just keep on going in an attempt to do the nation's business. Poor Republicans. From the former Alaskan Governor to that wacked far right Minnesota congresswoman to the South Carolina congressman who disgraced himself at the President's address, Republicans are doing a great and timely self-destruct. Way to go the party of family values. Great example.