Skip navigation

Tag Archives: As I see It

“Dont’ Invoke Any Thoughts For Me”


While listening to a talk show today about the Affordable care Act, I heard the same political vitriol that accompanied the passage of the act.  To be clear: the combined legislative chambers failed to fully read the act before passage, then the Dupublicans spent valuable time and taxpayers money in trashing it by attacking it with derogatory and mis information. This is still going on in spite of the success even with the poor rollout and accompanying issues. The Dupublicans and Scamocrats who are up for re-election in 2014 are all taking a hands off approach while not doing what they should have done in the first place and that is READ the act then offer input to better it. There has been more time spent on trashing it than was spent in understanding what it covers and how it would affect the recipients of the service.  I for one am really tired of the Federal legislators invoking what the American people want when they do not know and possibly don’t care. Their focus is and has been how to stay in office long enough to reap the benefits afforded by being elected. No matter how poorly the rollout of the ACA was, it is the law and the folks who have successfully enrolled for health care are happy with it. The negatives I have heard are from people who have specific issues that would have caused them problems in any healthcare option. Some have stated that their premiums have increased and that is because the policy under ACA is a better policy than some of them previously had. Consider how many college students still have coverage under their parents plan, how many people have coverage now for preexisting conditions. On the face of it this act is an improvement for many and of course not so much for others while being neutral for the balance. We the people need to invoke  “no more” votes for any elected official who has squandered “our time and money” electioneering instead of legislating.

Please Donate

ACA-Still??


The ongoing problems of Affordable Care accessibility is debilitating and disruptive. The elected officials of the combined legislature (both sides) are more concerned with re-election than assisting in getting this program to work. Consider how it could have been had these 535 took the time to read and offer input when initially proposed, instead we have had 5 years of almost ruinous debate on it and creating  a panic in the public with talk of “death Camps” (this is not 1940’s Germany) and folks being denied services. This Congress is so inept that we cannot believe anything they say. It  unrealistic to think they are acting in our best interest, the truth is they have one goal and that is remaining in office. Politicians will and do say what ever they have to remain in office. This ACA was going to solve a lot of issues on health care and yes some people will be affected adversely yet the overall Act is positive for more Americans who have not been able to get healthcare. These folks were the people we all pay for so they can have healthcare now many can afford their own (with government subsidies). The mis labeling of the Affordable Healthcare Act as Obamacare is more of a political ploy to win elections, many people do not know they are one in the same. When asked many  opted  for the Affordable Care Act instead of Obamacare (could there be a racial tone to this?). Is it not odd that media reporters ( the more intelligent ones) know more about the Affordable Care Act than Congress? My primary issue is: We have an inefficient and mostly inept Congress that has polarized the country by Race, religion ethnicity and gender for so long that they believe it is OK then tie their fortunes to big money donors and radical yet vocal splinter groups with a certain charisma based on their novelty.

Please Donate

Please Donate

In My Semi Biased Opinion


The Affordable care Act has problems! These problems started during the first 4 years of the Obama administration. The election leading up to (and after) his inauguration  was nasty, racial and politically divided. This aura remained in place even after most Americans were happy to see him win (this includes  Americans of all hues and beliefs). There will always be anti everything including  members of Congress. The shame of it is that Congress (the same people who enact our laws) had ample opportunity to get on board and do their jobs but they wasted so much time kow towing to their big contributors (not their constituency) that they had no time to read and understand what the act was  and is about. Many of them have and continue to state that the act is a “train wreck” and the”American people ” do not want it yet they have no idea what it  does and have taken no interest in fixing it. Their hands off attitude is primarily political and covertly racist. To address the political aspect: their focus now (with the Party of Tea in the wings) is to win the Whitehouse and Congress and then repeal the Affordable care act. If that happens the result will be more devastation on the backs of the people who are  (and want to be) part of the ACA. The Congress has already put more problems on the folks who are recipients of food subsidies by changing the funding for Farmers who provide assistance to these folks under “SNAP”. The pre election media storm literally divided this country into the closeted  and outright bigots, the gentrifiers and  well off who seek to keep the less fortunate more so. These few groups are not united but each has  their own axe to grind and the heads of the lower and middle classes are on the block. Bigotry itself knows only the boundaries of its perpetrator and it is self serving, many bigots have no idea why they hate! The others are more self serving in that they feel they can buy their way on the backs of others. These traits are acquired or taught and amazingly some folks even “grow” out of it. I read and view a lot of information on all of this and this post is my semi biased opinion.

Please Donate

Please Donate

Field of Nightmares


The city council of Springfield In their inimitable fashion has denied approval of a zoning change  allowing locating the “Helping Hands” organization to a building previously occupied by Ace Sign Company. This location while located next to a retirement facility is an ideal location for this agency. The objections appear to be the same ones that has caused the neediest and homeless of Springfield to be shuffled from one location to another by a city ordinance of some sort. No one wants  the homeless (which is why they are homeless in some cases) , no one wants to see them or be near them, except the organizations like helping hands. There have been locations touted that would take the homeless out of the downtown area and away from the resources that helps support them. Most of the folks are homeless due to overcrowding in mental facilities, loss of employment and thereby housing or other overflow facilities. Some are military veterans who deserve better. It appears that the city leaders want to hide the problems instead of correcting them. The situation is that no one wants to see the issue for what it is failure by the city leaders to address a problem that has been around for years and now want it to go away quietly. Why not just buy a field and put them in it with a fence around it? It worked for Hitler!

Please Donate

Please Donate

Whose Well Being Is It?


Recently  the  CEO of   the Springfield Urban League has been selected to the Board  of security bank, while this is quite an honor for her as CEO  of The Springfield  Urban League ,it is  less of an honor for the Head Start program administered  by the Springfield Urban League. Since 2010 the program has steadily declined due to funding cuts coupled with while the administrators seemingly prospered. After several plus years of  lack luster administration  Head Start is losing 2 to 3 locations due to administrative  errors in judgment and infighting against a duly elected Union. Through the determined and pointed  opposition to unionization many longtime employees were dismissed to the detriment of the program and its clients (which is most of the Eastside). It is certainly wonderful that that the CEO has been accorded this  honor  but what about the clients (parents and children) and employees of Head Start? This is a situation where  a prominent person whose personal and public espousals indicate that their service area  is  their prime focus but their actions  tell another story. Ask the parents and employees of Head Start if their well being is being secured by this organization.

Please Donate

Please Donate

Shots Or Not


The firearm paranoia has reached the stage of ridiculous. A recent opinion wondered why the NRA did not address a state law against tossing cigarette butts out of car window (moving or not was not addressed in the opinion), third offense is a felony which upon conviction would negate the person from owning or buying a firearm. Looking at the reason for the law: lighted cigarettes tossed from a moving car could and has been the start of fires along the roadsides (many of the highways are bordered by fields and forests). The writer appears to be more concerned about his personal rights rather than the possible effect of an uncontrolled fire on a community. In Pennsylvania a campus wide alert was issued vis Email due to a “shot fired” report. It appears that the “shot” heard was the sound of newspapers being delivered. I have delivered papers and can fully understand how that sound could be construed as a gunshot yet jumping to confusions over noises that sound like with no investigation is a bit over the top. This is not say we should not be alert and aware, just a bit more prudent in reporting so we do not become “FOX News”. The recent passage od a concealed carry law in Illinois is big news as this is the last State that will allow it. The approved providers of training are all very busy with waiting lists before the actual law goes into effect and will no doubt have some kinks to work out. It is hoped that Illinois can finally make a law that works  rather than a  penalizing statute which costs more to implement with little of the desired effect.

Please Donate

Please Donate

When They Get There


Why is it that so many political aspirants put out blurbs that they are going to change the way government works? Politics and government are entities that are so firmly rooted in the pockets of BIG business that change is difficult at best. This is not to say that business should not have influence but not a strangle hold. It appears that many elected Government legislators have roots in the legal profession which serves well in writing laws but not so well in governing. This legal basis allows for some expertise but not complete authoritative ability to legislate. I suggest we (voters) disregard the rhetoric in politics and look at the facts (not the media generated facts  or sound bites that seem plausible). It takes a lot of reading to determine what  information is as correct as we can find and we as voters will spend more time on social media than reading several available publications where views cover these situations with a broader and less biased approach. To have a specific sector dictate policy is disastrous, just look at the current situation where the government is all but closed down by a small number of legislators  or the legislators who are out of office for suggesting some reasonable changes in the method of background checks for firearms purchases. I am a firearms owner and I sure do not want anyone who is mentally impaired  or illegally ineligible to legally obtain firearms. We have a crisis in government and possibly due to our own reluctance to move beyond the media blitzes by factions who do not represent ALL of the American people yet purport to. This country is one of the few that allows free speech to all but the voters need to insure these free speeches are real and not made up to help several instead of many.

Please Donate

Please Donate

Hostage Rescue


How do we rescue hostages? Call Israel! Apparently  the American public is in a hostage situation with the House holding up government funding that keeps the country running. Think about the vacation you take and planned to take, what about the sight seeing tour you were going to take some friends and relatives on to National historic sites? Forget about it! The House has decided its better to close down the government rather than create a budget to keep the country running.  The Affordable Care Act is law, changes need to be made in the structure of amendments but to the degree that it would improve it  not dismantle it. By the time 2014 arrives , millions of Americans will have taken advantage of this health care law and to undo, repeal or even upend this law is as near to massacre of civilians  as any mid eastern country. There has been more negative, erroneous and misinformation presented on this than in Watergate (for those who remember it). We are in the clutches of  crazy people  who in their insanity think we approve of their actions. The end result of this will be that Affordable Health Care will still exist and many of them come election time will not.

Please Donate

Please Donate

ACA Vs Obamacare


The power of misinformation is amazing. There are many people who are against “Obamacare” yet are reaping the benefits. There are more who are for the Affordable Care Act and are reaping the benefits. The thing is these are the same. The massive misinformation coupled with  the lack of clarity as to how the act works has served to slow the enrollment in the “ACT”. The current shutdown is no more than a one sided attempt to discredit a program that provides health care to millions who had none and were not eligible for any. Again the A.C.A. is the law and cannot be defunded, the current shutdown has no effect on the health care act except for those who have co pays and are now furloughed by the Congress. It is not important which party you support, our Congress has regressed into a group of people who have been hi jacked by a few vocal groups and are in essence being held hostage by the threat of upcoming elections. We have seen how certain Congressmen have been recalled on the issue of firearms (which is another issue that is misread and misreported). The backers of these recalls and splinter groups are the same people who caused some of the financial woes we have and have more to gain by having  health care remain as it was (maintaining the status quo).  There have been several published explanations on what the Health care law does and does not provide yet not enough of us have read them or tried to read them. This particular issue is a clear indication of the poorly functioning Congress who are “supposed” to represent us.  
Please Donate

Please Donate

It Is Not Just ACA


With impending implementation of the ACA (Affordable  Care Act) aka “Obamacare”, there are many naysayers and supporters but the most surprising thing is several financial papers and a consumer’s magazine has stripped all of the “Government speak” from the act. Why is it that the Congress can state that the health care act will kill jobs, break companies and is a train wreck when they have no idea how it works? The aforementioned publications have laid out how the plan works and what it does in plain language but the Congress could not get there. It appears that  we have a group of legislators and pundits who through some odd quirk in their thinking cannot be bothered to get the facts and  comment based on those facts yet independent publications can. I submit that our faith in politicians and pundits is ill placed and can be better used by reading something other than the comic strips. When the initial portion of the health care act went into effect, it gave immediate relief to many yet this was not mentioned to any great degree by anyone who could have created  more coverage on the positive effects. What is the real reason for this onslaught on the American people? The one that I can think of is  greed and ignorance plus the backing of powerful moneyed backers whose sole interest is maintaining the “status quo” which is keeping the poor, poor and the general public beholding while creating more wealth for themselves and their associates. These big money individuals own companies that provide us many products and services but only as long as we pay for them and don’t complain. The reading material that should be required for all of us  are the financial publications as they have more information on the economy and what causes the shifts than the dailies which may get the information days and weeks or even years later.

Please Donate

Please Donate