My Christmas Gift

Funny how with this whole wiki leaks debacle that Republicans, like Allen West (FL), wants to censor news outlets that circulated the wikileaks document. It’s more absurd than funny, but it shows how two sided and fake they are. On one side they want less government, but when it benefits them they want the government to shut down whatever doesn’t fit their agenda.

• Cutting taxes for the wealthy.
• Having to borrow to pay for those cuts.
• Healthcare reform that benefits the greedy insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
• Leaving Healthcare as it is.

And that’s to start. For Christmas, I really want a Republican, who makes less than $50,000, explain how the list above benefits them. The Democrats, who have a backbone of a rat, have a great list of ideas, but no way of executing them. It’s pretty pathetic, but back to my question...how does cutting taxes help a nation in debt?

Racism or Stupidity

I'm am disappointed and saddened that a General would have the nerve to disrespect the President of the United States in Rolling Stone magazine. General Stanley McChrystal should be ashamed of himself. I'm going to get the issue myself, but even if the statements were taken out of context, you just don't say things like that about the boss, when you're a solider and your job is to take orders.

My definition of racism is about power one race feels over another. I believe this General thought his comments would hold weight and hurt the popular President. Looks like he was wrong and hopefully his God complex is diminished a bit. His special assistant has resigned and he submitted his own resignation. Good. If he had a problem with the President's orders, he should have resigned a long time ago. This kind of confusion and infighting does not help the troops or the American people.

Time to move on. President Obama can't tolerate actions like this. He can find another General to head the effort in Afghanistan.

Str8 Soliders Support their Gay soilders

Wow. It's all about support. Read the message at the end.



UPDATE: Looks like the video was pulled. I wonder why (of course we know).

Window Seat

Whoa. Erykah is back. Listen for her statement at the end.

It's all about Joe

The ad speaks for itself.

Bloomberg Wins

I loved that I wasn't the only one that voted for Bill Thompson to win. I just refused to vote for someone who had the money to buy the election. Another corporate, self centered jerk with a HUGE bank account.

The Public Option

I'm about sick of the Senate's behavior. How dare they say that if there's a public option then it would hurt the private industry. The Americans have been burned by the private insurance companies and want a change. More and more we see that Congress aren't on the side of the people but are worried about the money from lobbyists.

I just don't get it. It's an option. What about all the newly unemployed people out there? Who can afford cobra? For a family that could mean $1500 a month or $500 for a single person . It's just all wrong and makes me sick. Why are the Senate so protective of the insurance companies? The people have spoken. Are the senators just ignoring the people that votes for them?

I say the senators/congressmen that doesn't vote for this option will not be re-elected.

They will have to listen to that.

Socialism

so⋅cial⋅ism

  /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA

Use socialism in a Sentence

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–noun

1.	a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

2.	procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.

3.	(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Being Critical

I'm the first one to say that I wanted Hilary Clinton to be our 44th President and mainly for one reason...Healthcare. Healthcare should be the number one priority in this country. For one, a country is only strongest as the health of it's people. Healthy people make proactive choices about their lives and not reactive ones. Clinton had a plan for healthcare that took the power away from the insurance companies. November came and went and now we've have Obama to take the torch and overhaul the Healthcare system in the "rich" and "powerful" United States of America.

Unfortunately, I don't think Obama wants dramatic change. He's looking to the Insurance companies (who are the problem) to fix a system that makes them billions of dollars. Really!

Yes you can be critical of the first African American President of the United States. He should welcome the criticism. Bring it on! My suggestion to Obama...stand up for something! You've been too silent on a few issues in this country and it's time to stand up!

• Gay Marriage in California
• Don't Ask, Don't tell
• Healthcare (he's holding a press conference today)

He's got the Democratic control of the House and the Senate. There's nothing stopping overhauling the Healthcare system. You know what's stopping him...The Healthcare lobby. Looks like the insurance companies have bought and paid for our Congressmen and President. I wonder how many American dollars it took.

Sick Days

Well,

After being out Thursday and Friday from work I'm back and feeling better. Who knew there was still a flu going around. I am thankful and blessed to have a job. I still got paid even though I was out of the office for two days. Everyone in this country can't say that. People go to work sick.

Health (taking a deep breath)...

I don't take my health for granted. Soon in this great country of ours only the rich and poor will have peace of mind about their ability to have affordable health care. The rest will be hoping and praying that an expensive illness doesn't come knocking on their door.

Here are some yearly costs for treating certain cancers...

• Prostate $41,134
• Lung $39,891
• Breast $20,964

You might say, "I have health insurance and I'm covered, think again." If you've got a 80/20 split (regarding co-pay) and have Lung cancer you still have to come up with $7,978.20 a year for treatment. That's not even mentioning loss of work and transportation costs.

Let's say you lose your job. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) allows you to keep your current company's insurance rate (for a limited time), but now you have to pay that expensive monthly bill. For me it would cost almost $500 a month to keep my company's insurance rate. Single plans are a lot more expensive. Try $1077.78 a month for an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). Add that to your cancer cost and you've got a bill of $21,989.34 for the year.

Imagine getting laid off, unable to pay your bills, you have cancer and can't get new, possibly cheaper insurance because you have a pre-existing condition (cancer). Meanwhile, you have mounting costs for that you won't be able to pay back. Why do we allow this to continue in this country without outrage? I'll tell you why!

Because we are health now. When you are sick you won't be up to fighting the system. You need to reserve your strength to fight your illness. Think about it. The fight needs to happen now.

I thought if quit my job and took a low paying job to get me on the poverty level. I could have food stamps (for free food), medicaid (for free health care) and my housing cost subsidized by the state. Why should I work everyday. There is no incentive for everyday hard working people to be honest when you have people making 40 million dollars a year AND doing an awful job. I see why people take advantage of the system. It's so clear now.

That's my story...now back to work.

Their move...now what?

Something is fishy about this.  The insurance companies have every reason to be on the offensive.   When this economy gets on better footing the next project with be reforming health care in this country.  They are frightened of being put out of business.  I have no sympathy for companies that deny coverage to people who pay hundred of dollars a month to be covered.

Requiring all Americans to carry the insurance that already exists is a problem (click title for article).   Just because they want to ease restrictions on people who are already sick (pre-existing conditions).  There are still fundamental problems such as:

1. Pre-existing conditions (exclusion)
   
2. Procedures that aren't covered
   
3. Business plan model - (current system is set up to decrease cost/care and make money)
   
4. Cost of Premiums
   
5. Dental & Vision Excluded
   

I was a supporter of Hilary Clinton because of this main reason.  I'm not a huge fan of Obama's Heath care plan of putting health care in the hands of private companies and supplementing that with tax credits.  If teaching our children are important enough to put that under state control, then so is health care.  It's a no brainer.  I don't have children and my income taxes go toward educating children I don't have.  If you want to participate in Universal Heath Care, you don't have to.

I hope Obama makes them shake in their boots.  Personally, I'll wait in line and deal with issues with Universal Health Care.  I'd rather know I'm getting health care instead of wishing and hoping for it even after I pay $600 a month for standard bare bones care.

My Pilgrimage to DC

I lost my phone after my birthday dinner Saturday night. Not a great way to start my trip, but I made the best I could of the situation (I activated an old phone).

Monday, I chose to take pictures of the mall and The Kennedy Center. I got about two hours of sleep and headed down to the mall at 4am. We got into the mall and then waited from 7am to 11:30am when the ceremony was to begin.

It was worth it.

Worth it to see the older men and women, clearly affected by the freezing cold, out there because they had to witness history. Moved by the children that listened to every word that Obama had to say during his speech. Emotional because a black man is celebrated for his intellect, policy and leadership and he's the President of the United States.


I'll never forget that moment.

God Bless The Obama's and the United States of America.

Inauguration of Barak Obama

I leave Sunday for Washington, DC. I plan to make a peaceful pilgrimage to see the first African American sworn in as President of the United States. I say peaceful because I plan to let this be an easy trip with little to no amount of stress planned.

In 1995 I was in DC for the million man march and who would have thought fourteen years later I head back down to DC to witness Barack Hussein Obama become president.

Here's the plan:

Sunday
Arrive in the early evening see Mom
Eat hang out w/ friends

Monday
Take pictures of the Capital, Mall, Monument, etc.

*I haven't don't the tourist thing in Washington, DC in years and I'm excited to see the historic landmarks with adult eyes.

Tuesday
BIG DAY!!!

Wednesday
Back to NYC

Prop 8 Rant

I do not agree with Prop 8 passing, but I do think the "gay" movement in California failed to get the message out to people of different socio economic backgrounds. Were they in the "hood" spreading the word? I don't think so. I'd be very surprised if they were. The other side put their misleading message out in the community and if you weren't a critical thinker you would be persuaded by their ads and campaign. Sounds similar to Obama and McCain's campaign.

Proposition 8 was about more than someone getting married. It was about denying a group of people a chance to be supported by their state. Telling taxpayers, "We don't support you and we won't support you" is wrong.

How does someone else's marriage affect you?

When you answer think about all the marriages done in Las Vegas after a bout of late night drinking or marriages made because the female is pregnant. Are these ideal situations for something an institution held in such high regard? No, but they are made by adults.

Going forward the "gay" movement needs to realize the the playing field has changed and includes people that look different from the ones that live in San Francisco, Chelsea, NY and DuPont Circle. And you know what there are "gay" people in those neighborhoods too.

California's Fear

I don't know what to say to the residents of California that voted for the passage of Proposition 8. Disappointment comes to mind, but what really comes is the awareness that the fight is not over. All people, women, black, white, asian, tall, fat, short, tall and differently abled must rise and share their experiences with being an individual and being loved. In order for real change we must start with the heart. If that fails, I hope this goes to the Supreme Court.

We all want to love and be loved. The fact that there are people out there denying that outward expression of love is more than sad. The term marriage offers legal rights to protect what you and your loved one have built together. I'm angered that someone says that that is wrong. As far as the religous "thing" is concerned. It goes against what most religions are about. Jesus fought and cared for EVERYONE!! He loves EVERYONE!!

Period!!!!

He wants us all to be happy!

Keith Olberman is a favorite of mine! I love his commentary. If you have time, check it out below.

First Family Of the United States

Beautiful!

Lead my brother! The American people have spoken!

Quote

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so our children can fly!".

President Barack Obama

I had to say out loud to allow to begin to sink in...

President Barack Obama!

I decided not to watch the proceedings Tuesday night because I had been let down the past two elections and thought I would wake up Wednesday morning to hear the news, but things didn't work out that way. At 10pm the news came from Twitter and Facebook as status updates and twits were saying he was winning. I turned on CNN & CSPAN and watched in awe as Barack was announced the President Elect.

Obama black or white was the only choice in the election Tuesday. What makes this so historic is that this ceiling has been broken. It was broken overwhelmingly by the citizens of the United States of America.

It's still sinking in.

11 Days Left

Americans (Electoral College) have a decision to make Nov. 4th. McCain or Obama? I sure hope it's not McCain.

There's really too much at stake.

• Healthcare
• Iraq War
• War on terrorism
• Foreign Policy
• Economy
• Survival of the Middle Class

I have associates that believe that we should have a three or four party system and that the Democrats and Republicans have lockdown on the presidency and that's unconstitutional. I have something to tell you, "Welcome to the real world, align yourself with the party (Dems or Reps) that most fits your needs and vote. The Green, Libertarian and Constitutional parties great, but at this time no president under those parties will win in 2008. So vote for one of two and make your vote count.

I Have a Dream

I've been watching the Democratic National Convention and this if the first time that it has brought tears to my eyes.

I shedded tears for my ancestors that were taken away from their homeland, my forefathers that were brought here during the middle passage to be put to work on plantations, for Crispus, Harriett, Sojourner, Shirley, Martin, Malcom, Nelson, Barbara, Jesse, for my mom and dad that told me stories of injustices that they faced in this country while serving in the Armed Services and for having a supportive, loving and intelligent family to draw inspiration, creativity and compassion from. These people dreamed of a better day for everyone, even people that looked like them.

Yes, I wanted Hilary Clinton to be the next president, but at this moment in the now we have Barack Obama and I'm very proud of him and I think when he's elected President of the United States a shift in politics as we know it occur. It's exciting and I'm ready for the change!

Obama / Binden 2008!!

Please Win!!!!