Masked men attacking people and hunting them down as though they have a bounty on their heads.

Blowing shipwrecked people out of the water, and ignoring international laws that disallow that from happening.

Purposely making the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness almost impossible for anyone that needs help, food, or shelter because they are unable to provide it themselves.

Building walls and dividing the nation between those that have and those that need.

Elected representatives and officials ignoring their oath and constitutional duty to be the check and balance needed to assure 3 separate branches of government.

Arresting and deporting people without due process.

Carte Blanche commutations of criminals ignoring those that were hurt, harmed, or damaged by those very same criminals.

Justice is NOT being served, it is being abused.

Calling women names because you didn’t like being challenged or asked a question that makes you feel uncomfortable answering. Which is rather comical, because most the time you don’t tell the truth anyways.

Transferring massive wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy, as if they really need it.

Making everything less affordable because terribly dumb decisions regarding tariffs and the economy in general.

Always, always, always blaming the other part, past leaders, and anyone else rather than admit your own dumb assed mistakes.

Making fun of others as if you are a child, name calling, never admitting error, and continuous racist & hateful behavior.

I am certain he is not well, mentally.

When will people wake up?

What has this country, under his leadership become?

From a once revered place, that shining city on a hill, and place of ending dreams, possibilities, and hope – to the laughing stock of the free world.

The Affordable Care act in 2021 increased the premium tax credits for the majority of middle class from the previous amounts more targeted for lower threshold income households, and extended those until 2025 with the Inflation Reduction Act a year late.

The one Big piece of crap Bill just enacted this year, did not include an extension of those tax credits, so they are going to expire at the end of this year. The reconciliation being held up and shutting down the government does not include anything to address that concern. As a result, the new Insurance premiums going out currently are indeed as predicted showing significant increases in premiums next year.

The result is that the government remains closed, until the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate modify the reconciliation and send it back to the House for another revision and vote, or somehow convince enough Democrats to vote to pass the reconciliation with a promise to address the Insurance premium tax credit issue separately. Fat chance of that happening, especially with Trump having veto power.

Additionally, as the result of many people no longer able to afford the insurance, hospitals will be closed as they will not be able to afford to absorb the enormous costs associated with the reduction of patients with insurance coverage, and the massive increase caused by people going to the emergency clinics for care that cannot be denied by law.

The politicians in both parties knew that this issue existed and have done nothing to address it. Years have passed where something could have been proposed, but instead it was ignored.

Why?

I am certain that the finger pointing and blame for this predicament is abundant, but that is simply a useless tactic to avoid reality.

Healthcare Insurance needs to be addressed on a national level for all members of the marketplace. The ACA was a massive improvement in assuring folks had an opportunity to enjoy insurance coverage without prejudice of precondition, or any other discrimination, including income level.

Was it perfect? Not at all, and many (mostly Republicans politicians) rejected the notion that regulating the industry at all. The free market believers will never agree that regulation of anything is appropriate.

The result is undeniable though. The shear number of people with insurance coverage has increased significantly from before it was enacted. Even as the cost of the insurance premiums increased, enrollments increased mainly because of the premium tax credits afforded by the subsequent Acts that were enacted to keep the premiums low enough to afford.

But now, because of the lack of progress in addressing the problem that everyone knew was going to happen, a crisis is going to occur in the Health Care industry and to those needing affordable care.

If the voters were sufficiently influenced by the price of eggs in the last election, I can’t wait to see the impact of double and triple digit increases to premiums for middle income households.

Look, there will always be the difference of opinion between free market and regulated market believers. There are legitimate arguments for both sides, depending on one’s economic or capital market ideology.

Governing for the good of all, sometimes requires compromise. Even if that doesn’t follow the strictest measures of purely capitalistic philosophy. The notion that supply and demand establish appropriate prices, also is predicated on having sufficient competition and limited interference. Neither of which is factual in the Health Care Insurance industry.

Everyone acknowledges that the well being of the entire society is more affordable when everyone has some level of affordable coverage. The more people that are potentially able to pay some portion of their medical costs through insurance, the better it is for everyone. And, it is better health wise for everyone too.

Using the hard nosed free market driven philosophy assures only those that can afford health care will get it.

Fewer people paying higher amounts will not be able to support the current hospital, emergency, long term care, drugs, dental, eye, hearing, mental health, and every other health care type company.

The extremely wealthy will be the only people that can afford their own doctors, nurses, medical equipment and treatment.

What will result, a massive new “black market” of unregulated health care that results in simply horrible results and no accountability.

Kicking the can down the road isn’t, and was not, the right thing to do.

Political influence by Health Care industry, Drug & Pharmacy industry, and Health Insurance providers have had a negative impact on addressing this issue. That has to stop, if there is ever going to be a chance of fixing this.

Start now, for the good of the American people, extend the insurance tax credit premiums for 1 additional year, with the requirement to address the longer term Health Care Industry affordability concerns, and if not enacted within that year – initiate increasing the insurance premiums over the following 5 years to the levels determined and agreed to by Congress – or back to the original tax credit premiums prior to those increased by the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.

I don’t believe it is okay to do harm or be hateful to others, and yet still preach about being a Christian? The teachings of Jesus have documented his focus on loving your neighbor. 

In fact, that was just second to loving God. 

Yet, so many have decided that it is justified to harm people that they feel shouldn’t live here, that act or believe different, that come from different places, that behave differently from what they have determined is appropriate.

What ever happened to “Judge not, yet ye be Judged”? 

What happened to the belief that everyone would be “Judged” at the end of their days by our creator, and the creator alone? 

Didn’t Jesus say, we should care for the poor, the down trodden, the less fortunate, the sick, and the meek?

Long ago, the framers of the Constitution realized that if this is truly to be considered a Christian-like nation, the fundamental belief allowing everyone to choose – must include the choice of religious belief, including that to not believe.

Thus, the important separation of church and state.

Not to separate those that believe in God, but instead to protect the right for everyone that lives here to not be forced to believe in any specific singular dictated ideology.

The preservation of the right to choose was embedded in the very beginning.

My choice to believe the teachings of Jesus, is my choice alone. 

I believe it is the choice our government has given to us all, as one of those unalienable rights.

I believe it is appropriate to love thy neighbors, treat others as I would like to be treated, help the poor, elderly, and sick because that is what Jesus preached to his believers. 

As a citizen of these United States, I support using our vast riches and wealth to fulfill those Christian-like beliefs. I am able to rationalize the separation of church and state, while still believing in the teachings of Christ.

Help those in need, feed the hungry, care for the sick, do what is right. 

Do that first, and then – if you must, govern as best you can with the rest.

That is what being a Christian-like nation, or even World, should be modeled like.

The weird and outdated Amendment to the Constitution, the one nobody remembers or cares about anymore. The 3rd Amendment that talks about it being illegal to house soldiers in citizens homes during times of war.

Well, that sure sounds kinda strange to me, especially these days, all those years after the Revolutionary War of Independence.

Must have been I portant to the folks that lived over 250 years ago, fighting for their liberty and freedom from a King and country who had sent their military here. It was normal back then, for the military to “take” homes over and live in peoples houses, because frankly it was easier and quicker than building their own barracks or live in tents.

People at the time had no say, or protection, from the solders that arrived from over seas. The owners of the homes lost any privacy and protection of their own property. 

The Founding Fathers and authors of those early governing documents were so impacted by what had happened, they felt it important enough to include it in the Constitution. The very nature by which, they were attempting to establish not only a list of inalienable ”rights” of the people, but also a list of “limitations” of the new government being formed.

The 3rd Amendment is essentially the basis for the Right to Privacy, and the Right to Protect your Property from the military (if for some reason, the government ever decided it was okay to simply take your home for their purposes).

Now days, the rights of “the people” have been often extended to include businesses, enterprises, and corporations with individuals. Legally, those are now considered separate entities with some of rights protected under the Constitution. The government cannot simply walk in anymore, regardless of federal, state, or local authority, because a legal search & seizer or warrant is required – even for any non-governmentally owned building.

Some say, that the Right to Privacy protects owners from the government having the right to stop whatever is going on behind closed doors, but that Right to Privacy is obviously not extended or meant to protect non-legal activity.

Today, the Trump Administration has decided to use the National Guard within the borders of our country. This use of the military isn’t new, it has been done by a number of Presidents in the past. It was used in the past when the local and state governmental leaders requested assistance to help the local and state police enforcement agencies. Sometimes, because of the shear number of troops needed, or because of political pushback from local or state agencies that would not support the actions being requested by the administration.

Currently, in a number of cities the deployment of the National Guard is not being done by request if the local or state governments, but instead by a vengeful President and Administration who believe it is within their power to do so, by using the excuse that they are “protecting” federal property and workers.

Those properties and workers being protected are associated with ICE. An agency created for the purpose of Immigration Control. With this Administration, ICE has led the charge in finding, capturing, and deporting immigrants that do not have legal status to be in the United States. Immigration is handled primarily by the Federal government because Immigration falls under their jurisdiction, not State or Local jurisdiction.  Funds are appropriated by the Federal government. 

ICE has been instructed by this Administration to complete their mission using whatever force is necessary to do so. During their many search and seizure raids they have completely ignored the Constitutional rights of both citizens and non-citizens. From deporting the wrong person to locking up legal citizens, without cause, and without providing the person their legal rights – and it has caused many citizens to notice and object by holding protest rallies.

The physical abuse that ICE has been doing has also been caught on camera by others that later shared it, and has added fuel to the fire.  So, in order to quell the possibility of anything getting more out of hand, the Federal government has issued orders to the National Guard to be deployed to protect the ICE agents and buildings being used from any potential uprising and damage caused by the peaceful protestor’s actions.

I have always supported the need for having a National Guard. I thought it is a far better idea to be prepared for foreign conflict by having one. I haven’t been a proponent in the past of the rights to create a citizen Army called a State militia.

The idea one is needed goes back to the mistrust from those early citizens for any authority over them federally. Many wanted the right to maintain their own militia in case the federal government, or any foreign government, tried to take over their land or take their rights away. Over 250 years later, that concern may actual have merit.

Unfortunately, the reality that a citizen militia could ever be effective against the type of powerful weapons available to everyone except themselves leaves the notion of a citizen militia rather mute, without breaking multiple laws governing the kinds of weapons actually needed to fight back with.

It was written that the 3rd Amendment

• Supports a right to privacy:Some legal scholars, argue that the Third Amendment is one of the bases for the fundamental right to privacy, along with other amendments. 
• Sets a legal precedent:Lower court rulings, like Engblom v.Carey, have established that the National Guard can be considered “soldiers” under the amendment and that it applies to the states, creating a foundation for future cases. 
• Symbolic importance:It remains a reminder of the founders’ distrust of a large standing army and the principle that civilians are ultimately in control of the military. 

But, the 3rd Amendment does allow for a way for people to push back by limiting what and where the military is allowed to do certain things.

For instance, companies and people, do not have to allow the ICE or the National Guard to enter their homes or places of business to sleep, or to eat, or even to go to the bathroom. When troops showed up in Chicago, some were denied access and informed they were not welcome to some restaurants that were synpathetic to the Immigrants cause.

Unbeknownst to many, that action is protected by the 3rd Amendment which

Protects against government intrusion: The amendment reinforces the idea that citizens’ homes are private and protected from government control. This includes all private buildings including businesses.

As it ends up, the weird 3rd Amendment might actually be more appropriate in dealing with government over reach than I initially thought. Imagine the line to use the bathroom in the Federally owned buildings used by ICE, and protected by the hundreds of National Guard. They better start buying a lot more toilet paper.

Wow, hope springs eternal!

The government shutdown is largely about a difference in opinion regarding WHEN, healthcare insurance coverage changes caused by the one Big Bill passed earlier this year, will be addressed.

Senate Democrats have decided it must be dealt with NOW, and not agreeing to vote yes on a continuing resolution to fund the government for a while (but not completely for the upcoming year) is where they would rather fight their battle.

Republicans argue that the Bill to keep the government funded was passed by the House (where all appropriation bills have to start off at), and once the Senate gets 60 votes, they would love to sit down and discuss ways to address the upcoming enormous increases in health care insurance premiums.

The Republicans also argue that illegal immigrants are unnecessarily being included in offering health care coverage, and that is unacceptable. Which has been proven to be patently false, but a great way to keep their MAGA America first and only, especially if you don’t look like me or go to my church, support cult members happy.

Democrats don’t believe the Republicans Congressional Representatives will actually work together collaboratively, if they agree to pass the current CR, so that’s why the essential services of the government is shut down right now.

They also know the President can veto any bill that he doesn’t like. He has already said, he will not accept changes that negatively impact his one big bill, that included the largest redistribution of wealth in Americas history, by increasing taxes to the lower income levels disproportionately to the higher income levels.

Shockingly, a staunch Republican Congressional representative seemed to have had an eye opening moment of truth.

This person was caught complaining about how her family, friends, and constituents whom she represents will soon see their health insurance premiums more than double, because of what was included in the Bill that was passed earlier this year. And, she blamed the leadership of her own party for that.

Marjory Taylor Green had her very own awaking!

She had her MTG moment.

If she can admit it, perhaps more will also.

Many will never admit it, because they cannot understand what kind of impact this has on the folks they represent. And, even if they do say that they understand the impact, they really don’t – because they live and breathe in a completely different world from the people they will lie to every election cycle, in order to get their vote.

Yet, I am hopeful, that many more have their very own MTG moment very soon.

What is more important than your health?

To many, the answer is that nothing is more important. 

Yet, when it comes down to addressing the health of others, the answer drastically changes.

The idea that a person should be able to afford to live a healthy life, is replaced by the hateful rhetoric that nothing in life is free. 

Thoughts and prayers replace actions that assist others in difficult situations. The idea that some people are far less off than others, is pushed aside by greed, hate, and a lack of empathy.

Health care is an enormously large and complex industry. It is no wonder that the costs associated with most branches within it are extremely expensive. The costs associated to invent, develop, and produce new drugs is very, very high. The costs associated with managing a hospital is extremely expensive. 

In the world of medicine, the cost to save a life, extend a persons well being, or comfort people from pain and suffering cost a lot of money. Most people that are not extremely wealthy could not afford most of the medical care and medicine they, or a loved one they are responsible for, need to live a healthy life.

For many years, before health care insurance was even thought of, people got sick and died from diseases and viruses that have since been removed due to the medical sciences development of vaccines. 

For many years, before health care insurance was even thought of, people were injured from accidents and harmful acts which ended their life or altered their physical capabilities, that have since been addressed via new medical techniques and equipment which allows people to live a healthy life upon recovery.

For many years, before health care insurance was even thought of, people suffered and died from ailments associated with genetic disorders, that have since been discovered and addressed in ways that mankind could never have imagined in the past.

All that means nothing to anyone that has been fortunate enough to not either needed it, or knows and cares about someone that needed it. Although, in this day and age, I cannot imagine many could ever be so fortunate.

In any case, based on what we know now is available to help people medically, the idea that the government wouldn’t make affordable health insurance available to anyone and everyone is reprehensible.

I know that that truth behind this argument lies in the words affordable and available. You see, what is affordable may not be available at all, and what is available may not be affordable to all.

Those fortunate enough to have their employer pay for the healthcare insurance, as part of an agreed to or provided benefit of employment, can count themselves lucky to have it.

Those that rely on having to purchase their health insurance coverage, often are required to make very tough decisions that are almost always linked to affordability and availability. For some, actually far too many, there really is no decision to be made. They cannot afford health care medical insurance of any kind, at any cost, due to their financial reality.

This should not be, and most likely is not, a surprise to the people that have been elected to represent the electorate from each state and territory in America. The reality is that political power and decision making for many, only matters long enough to get themselves elected, forgetting that many within their political party may rely on affordable health care insurance, medical treatment, drugs and medicine. 

Some have convinced those very same people that elected them, that their insurance will remain affordable and that others less fortunate don’t deserve that same opportunity for available and affordable health care insurance. They instead focus their talking points on “illegal immigrants getting free insurance”, making the whole argument take on a hateful “them vs. us” mentality.

The fact is, that politicians love to twist words and often misuse them, to influence others into agreeing with them. 

The issue of the availability of affordable medical healthcare  insurance coverage is critically important and those representing us should coming up with a reasonable, and universally accepted, response to finding a way to do it. They should not be politically motivated by far right or far left ideologies, and focus on what is best for everyone.

The real reason that politicians don’t want this, is most likely money related. How much money is lobbyist throwing at them?

Votes get you in, Money keeps you in. 

Perhaps the real reason lies behind the curtain. Is there no one brave enough to look beyond the influence of money and share the answer?

Here is a test to show how divided this country has become.

A simple, honest yes or no will demonstrate this.

First answer the question as if it were you being asked, then answer the question as if the person (we all know one or more) with opposing views would answer it.

1) I believe that it is okay for my political leaders to lie to their constituents, to assure the opposing party appears to be the one actually not telling the truth. 

2) I don’t believe the party that I support, would lie to me. 

3) Even if I knew they were lying to me, it wouldn’t matter. Lying for political purposes is okay.

4) The other party always lies, about everything. 

5) It is okay for the politicians that I support to lie about things that make the other party appear horrible to others. 

6) If I find out later that my politicians lied about something, it would not bother me.

7) It not my fault if I believe what is later proven to be a lie, they told me it was true.

The answers to these questions tell you exactly what is wrong these days. 

Your lies are far worse than my lies, and your truth is not true at all. 

And, what’s worse is that I do not believe most people even care anymore if they are lied to, as long as the lie will justify their opinion, their philosophy, their stance, or belief.

If you believe lying is wrong and unjustified, yet won’t call out those that do so – you are being a hypocrite. And worse, unfaithful to your core beliefs and values. 

Making those values you pretend to believe in and support, nothing more than lies that you tell yourself.

This is not a test, it is an opportunity to recognize that change is needed. When you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, you can either change what you see, or just live with it.

Is it time to change?

Is it time to start calling out the politicians that lie to you and everyone else in order to justify their party, their talking point, or their vote?

When independent 3rd party fact checkers verify a politician is telling a lie, that should tell you something. Wake up!

When it is all said and done, I wonder how many that were so quick to support the untruthful attempts to sway people with lies about the real cost increases folks will be burdened with, will admit their ignorance afterwards.

When they get their bill and have to decide if they can actually afford to pay it, or if they have to forego having insurance at all.

To many, especially those not impacted because they have employer provided insurance or are wealthy enough to not need health insurance, or can afford it at any cost – it will not matter to them.

So, it really boils down to compassion for the folks that might need it because of pre-existing conditions, failing health, or those that have to purchase health insurance if they want any coverage at all.

Without it, they can still show up at hospitals and wait to be seen. When Reagan was President, a law was passed to require everyone regardless of citizenship or not, to be able to receive medical care. Regardless if they had insurance or not.

Sure, the Hospital could bill the person afterwards, but chances of being paid back from a person that couldn’t even afford medical insurance was extremely low. Hospitals lose money, even though most of the unpaid expenses can be written off. And, those losses don’t stop the Hospital administration from being paid astronomical salaries either.

I wish that everyone would have to had gotten a letter from their current Insurer informing them what their insurance premium will be, when the law was approved (and when it takes affect).

I would hope that a non-partisan committee or group would then compile the data and share it with everyone.

I would think that would go a long way in forming a persons opinion about who is telling the truth and who is not.

Oh wait, that was actually done.

But, some folks will not accept the facts and would rather believe the politically motivated untruthfulness being repeated in order to convince their followers of the lies.

The truth cannot be hidden.

The insurance premiums will prove it.

Wake up, and stop being lemmings!

Thoughts regarding the government shutdown, this time around.

If National Park Rangers are considered non-essential, wouldn’t furloughing non-essential government workers include DOGE? And ICE? 

With it shut down, how can the can the government possibly be any more inefficient?

Efficiency requires the ability to compare input and output. Perhaps, they should have been looking at “effective”, instead of “efficient”. 

But, the good news is, with far, far, fewer non-essential workers it should be easier to find that waste, fraud, and abuse.  I can’t believe DOGE didn’t notice all those “Non-essential” folks? 

Hopefully, this administration looks in the mirror, because with this shutdown, it is very clear where the fraud and abuse is being generated.

When the government is shutdown, it isn’t as efficient (or effective) as it is when it is open. 

Interestingly, the government shutdowns didn’t start occurring until the 1970’s. Since then, it has been deemed appropriate to use non-essential services as a bargaining tool (as if those impacted were nothing more than trading cards.)

Seems like before that time, both parties better understood what compromise, respect, diplomacy, and actually caring about the people, the constitution, and love of this country meant.

Negotiating a deal means sometimes collaborating and cooperating while working together. It doesn’t mean only agreeing if one party gets everything they want or demand.

For the betterment of the entire country, and not just one select group, it is that which is accomplished for the common good that matters most.

Compromise is to make a deal between different parties where each party gives up part of their demand. Not giving up anything, is not compromise.

This country wouldn’t even exist as is does today, without compromise. The existing bi-cameral form of government was a compromise by the founding fathers, to balance the concerns of smaller, less populated states vs. larger, more populated states. The 3/5th compromise between the southern slave states vs. the northern free states was another compromise, as well as the establishment of the Electoral College.

Sure, some would say look at what that got us. Some of those ideas were so terrible, and still are today. Yes, I totally agree – but at that time, those that realized the only way forward was to compromise.

Later, Amendments were passed based on compromise, along with many, many laws. 

Compromise only works when both parties have an open mind to change. Staunch line in the sand, and digging in heels type behavior, does not allow room for compromise. 

Compromise does require room, room to grow and share ideas. Sharing implies not being self centered, greedy, or selfish. Those are unhealthy moral principles that governance should avoid, if compromise is the goal to avoid governmental paralysis.

Let me be clear, I am only discussing compromise as it relates to governing, and not as it applies to each individual person.  That type of practical, pragmatic, principled compromise is far, far different than the philosophy of compromise as it applies to governance. 

In personal use, One should never compromise their morals, beliefs, and values unless those have so little meaning that one actually believes trading them for something less has no bearing to them.

The stronger the belief, the less chance that belief will be allowed to be compromised.

“Politics and Governance demand compromise”.

Barry Goldwater (from over 50 years ago)

And, it is so very true, even still today.

I’m really tired of watching the POTUS continue to try to rationalize his horribly bad behavior by stating it’s his right.  That doesn’t justify the things he is doing, and saying.

He has a history of doing and saying really horrible things – then, by continuing to do them, over and over again, he rationalizes that it is normal. Normal behavior?

It is NOT normal!

Normal people know to not do certain things, like blaming others when you have no verifiable proof of any wrong doing other than your own feelings.

With that, normal people usually want proof of wrong doing. Then, justifiably they can determine how they might choose to react.

By continuously driving a wedge of division in everything he attempts to do or say, he is hoping his constituents will fall in line, and continue to normalize his behavior.

When he spoke after the widow of Kirk said she forgave her husband’s killer, he ranted about how he HATES his opponents. This is diametrically opposite of what true Christian values have been taught. It clearly demonstrated what kind of person he really is, and where his values lie.

Not surprising though. I think he is paranoid and believes if you aren’t supportive of everything he does, then you are his enemy trying to orchestrate that never ending “Witch hunt”.

When he talked to the United Nation, he chose to denigrate the nations.

America is not perfect. It wasn’t perfect before he was the leader and it won’t be when he is gone. He simply has no idea what diplomacy means, and that is more than just sad.

There clearly is a lack of decency in his behavior.

Decency begins by treating others as you would like to be treated.

If you treat others with hatred, you should expect that some will treat you the same way. If you do not like or agree with how some retaliate with hatred, then just stop and instead try being a decent human being.

And some, might even begin to realize that you can always find ways to disagree, without needing to hate each other.

That is called caring, forgiving, diplomacy, and decency.