The Right to Fair Representation by Julie Ranson

This blog was created to examine the citizen’s place in our American republic, including our responsibilities and rights. Of late, we’ve been looking at our individual rights, so here’s another one. We have a right to fair representation in Washington DC. "A representative government [is] a government in which the will of the people will be an effective ingredient." (Jefferson, 1816) Yet imagine what they’ve been up to in just the past week!

1)Approved “activist” David Hamilton to 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Hamilton has a pretty clear leftist political record and was rated 'not qualified' by the ABA when President Clinton nominated him to the federal bench because his experience at that time was almost purely political, as opposed to legal and judicial. We need to read his decisions carefully to make definitive pronouncements, but it's clear that at least some of his work on the bench demonstrates his willingness to embrace judicial activism.
Here's the Roll call vote

2) Started to spin the Senate HealthCare bill. Yes! They are covering more people and saving money to boot. It’s a daggone miracle…. or sleight of hand, depending on your grasp of reality and basic logic. As my 17-year old daughter just asked, “If more than half of the country is against this, how can Washington vote for it?” Hmmmm, not a bad question from my Patrick-Henry-esque teenager.

Did you know:
 that the Senate bill begins to raise revenue (penalties and taxes) in 2010, but does not initiate the coverage provisions until 2014?
 that the Senate bill (like the House bill) offsets costs with “cuts” and “savings” that will never be enforced?
 that certain expensive healthcare changes have been removed from both bills because they cost too much? They are now in separate bills which will increase the deficit if passed because they cannot be paid for.
 that the Senate bill covers abortions?
 that the Senate bill will raise taxes by $370 B over ten years.
 that healthcare expenditures will rise, not go down as promised.
 that millions will lose their employer provided insurance under the proposed plans.
 that 8.5 million seniors will lose their Medicare Advantage coverage (and then be forced to buy AARP's cash cow of medi-gap insurance; hence, AARP’s endorsement)

3) Obama admits he is taking on unpopular actions, but that’s just because he cares about what HE THINKS is right for the country.

4) Another Treasury nominee has tax problems. Is it, like, a pre-requisite?

5) Senator Leahy pooh-pooh’s the need to interrogate bin Laden if he’s captured. Well, he’s just a common criminal anyway, right?

More Washington foolishness! Is it any wonder stock prices for poster board firms are climbing?

Tricking the People: Same ol’ Health-scare, but likely worse… by Julie Ranson

As is usually the case with thorny political issues, our government continues to change the terminology used in the healthcare debate. We’re no longer talking of healthcare reform, it’s now health insurance reform. It’s so much easier to demonize those greedy, mean, benefit-denying insurance companies. Since the insurance industry is the entity with which the liberal left so desperately wishes to “compete,” the Washington leadership has quit throwing doctors under the bus by accusing them of wantonly ordering tonsillectomies and foot amputations. It's the insurance company's turn to get beat up by politicians!
We do need to talk about healthcare and health insurance reform, but... with doors wide open, minds open, and fair debate about free market principles within the healthcare industry. Cries of “foul” have emanated in this lengthy fight because of the phrases like, “government takeover” and “government-run,” as the liberals vow they have no desire for a full-fledged government program (e.g., single-payer). But the facts remain that free-market principles are being flouted in favor of solutions prescribed and managed by the government, designed to move this country to a single-payer system in a decade or so.
The evolution of our insurance system from private industry to a government-payer system WILL come to pass should the public option (now called consumer option by N. Pelosi) be included in any reform legislation. Congressional liberals have been throwing the term “competition” around a lot, as though the government can function as a competitor in the health insurance field. You and I know it will not work out well for the insurers, right? Consider a basketball game where the players are insurance firms and the referee is the government. Now, what if the referee decides he also wants to play in the game? He’s calling the game, interpreting the rules, and making plays. If you were a player, you know exactly how angry you’d likely be at any given moment in that game, don’t you? It wouldn’t be fair and it would not be a real contest. David St. Clair describes how “competition” in rate setting will eliminate private insurers:

A government-based health insurer modeled after Medicare would possess Medicare’s distinct advantage over private insurance companies: the ability to use the power of the law to set rates of reimbursement to doctors, hospitals and other care providers. Private plans, in contrast, are forced to negotiate these rates. The significance of this disparity was captured in a study by Milliman, Inc., last December which revealed that private plans shouldered a $90 billion annual cost-shift from Medicare/Medicaid. A public plan’s ability to use the legal authority of the federal government to set whatever rates it chooses, as Medicare does, would effectively eliminate any chance private plans have to be competitive. Contrary to what the Times’ editorial states, this would indeed serve as a death knell for private insurers as we know them.

While we might not come to a conclusion about what is perfect in healthcare reform, clearly we can agree that the liberals in Washington have absolutely no idea how doctors work and how the free market works. It could be they don’t care much about the free market system that has brought us choice, opportunity, and prosperity. Regardless, a lack of understanding and a lack of appreciation for the system that makes America great are still shameful behaviors for elected officials.

Citizens Protest State Board of Elections for Failure to Submit Absentee Voter Ballots in Richmond, VA.

Attempt to Deliver Petition to Washington, DC Derailed Part 1

Attempt to Deliver Heatlhcare Petitions to Senators in Washington, DC Derailed Part 2

Citizens Voice On Why They Attended The 9.12 March on Washington, DC

"Till All is Clear" by Daren Gardner

America, I am tired of hearing the rethoric. We either believe what we are all talking about, or we don't. If we don't, we need to just shut up and go on taking this mess, and watch our country fall.

If we fight it, we will prevail. Take some backbone from our forefathers, be willing to put it all on the line.

For those of you who aren't willing to come to the front, crawl in a hole till all is clear. Then you better be thankful for those who stood up for your rights as an American. Just know you will always be looked on as a coward who ran from your responsibility as an American Citizen. Sing the Star Spangled Banner to yourself.

The greatest thing I am fighting for is our Freedom. The God I serve is BIG, nothing on this earth measures up to God. If you believe, and have faith, then we as a nation, founded on Godly values, will come alive again. America, stop playing games. Those who believe, may not fire the first shot, but will be heard. We'll not retreat. We are not the Wowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.

I am appalled at the "I don't care" attitudes of our nation. Everyday, I run into people who are scared to come out. If you do not, you have no idea of what the word means. Our passive ways and our prosperity have made us a weak nation. This is one of the most important things you will ever do in your lifetime. Are you in, or are you out. Instill some motivation in yourself. Start paying attention. Get out of your comfort zone. It is an invigorating experience.

We, as a nation, have a president and an administration that thinks we are the cowards and are afraid of him. This is one American Citizen that is not. So you can either join with me, or you just need to crawl in that hole "Till All Is Clear."