Did you know that when you pay your home phone bill and your cell phone bill you are also paying an extra charge so that the government can give cell phones and cell phone service and computers to people who supposedly can't afford either? Check on your wireless telephone bill "Federal Universal Service Charge". This is a monthly fee(tax?) that you pay so low income people can have access to cell phones and computers. This fee is set at a percentage based on the consumer's phone bill.
Where is the incentive to go to work if the government is giving away all these additional life style conveniences that working people have to buy with their own hard earned money? Politicians make it too easy for people to stay home and not seek employment - and once again the working citizenry is footing the bill.
Washington can help out with food, housing, clothing and a traditional phone line(basic needs)-but should not subsidize a free cell phone program that is riddled with abuse (10-20 free cell phones per person) which are then being resold for money.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Economics 101--Part 2 - Another stimulus?
I have been trying to understand how this new stimulus - Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's plan to put $40 billion a month into circulation - is going to work. My husband and I have been reading articles regarding this plan - and if you read 5 articles, you get 5 different interpretations on what it is all about.
This is how I understand what will happen with this new stimulus:
The Federal government is going to purchase from the banks MBS's (mortgage backed securities), formerly called toxic assets, that are corroding the bottom line of the major banks. This stimulus action is expected to enable the banks to provide loans to businesses and individuals. Somehow the money is created out "of thin air" and given to the banks for these worthless assets.
This plan works only if you believe that erasing the 5 on a $5 bill and replacing it with a 6 really puts more money in your pocket. This $40 billion a month that will go into circulation will not come without costs to its citizens. If you are now paying $3 for an item, I believe it will cost you $4 next year. This plan will have a negative effect on your purchasing power.
This is how I understand what will happen with this new stimulus:
The Federal government is going to purchase from the banks MBS's (mortgage backed securities), formerly called toxic assets, that are corroding the bottom line of the major banks. This stimulus action is expected to enable the banks to provide loans to businesses and individuals. Somehow the money is created out "of thin air" and given to the banks for these worthless assets.
This plan works only if you believe that erasing the 5 on a $5 bill and replacing it with a 6 really puts more money in your pocket. This $40 billion a month that will go into circulation will not come without costs to its citizens. If you are now paying $3 for an item, I believe it will cost you $4 next year. This plan will have a negative effect on your purchasing power.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
My thoughts on Obama/Soros
Where did President Obama come from - I mean his rise to the Presidency? I believe he was earmarked by the "gods" of the ultra liberal wing of the Democratic party. I think they said let's find somebody who has charisma and we will get him elected. Obama had no real credentials to become President - he was a community organizer. But he had the backing of money people like George Soros. Soros, who is Hungarian born and cannot be President, basically hand picked Obama to become President and Soros is still in the picture pulling the strings on his puppet Obama.
Do we really want the ideas of a person like George Soros to shape the future of our country? Soros, who has made billions as a hedge-fund manager in a free market society, does not believe in and is a critic of capitalism; but while making his billions off capitalism he supports and espouses the "merits" of socialism. His works of "philanthropy" aren't - he funds atheism, guncontrol, globalization, and liberal, and in some cases, extreme causes in our colleges and universities.
When are the citizens of America going to realize that Obama is not his own man - that what he is doing in the White House are the wishes of left wing money men like George Soros? Do we really want another 4 years of George Soros' anti-American and anti-Constitutional thinking?
Do we really want the ideas of a person like George Soros to shape the future of our country? Soros, who has made billions as a hedge-fund manager in a free market society, does not believe in and is a critic of capitalism; but while making his billions off capitalism he supports and espouses the "merits" of socialism. His works of "philanthropy" aren't - he funds atheism, guncontrol, globalization, and liberal, and in some cases, extreme causes in our colleges and universities.
When are the citizens of America going to realize that Obama is not his own man - that what he is doing in the White House are the wishes of left wing money men like George Soros? Do we really want another 4 years of George Soros' anti-American and anti-Constitutional thinking?
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Economics 101
The government needs to start doing what it is asking its citizens to do - when times are rough (no jobs, no raises) - and bills are hard to pay, you need to cut back on your spending.
I've worked my whole life - since I was 10. I don't mind paying taxes and expenses that are associated with my everyday living. But I've earned the money and I want to spend it the way I see fit. I'm tired of the government giving my money away to people and causes I do not support.
The government continues to spend money, even though they don't have it. Cutting back is not in their vocabulary. If I don't cut back or I spend more money than I earn, there are consequences that I will have to deal with - credit card bills that I can't pay, mortgage payments that won't be met and the threat of bankruptcy.
In order for the government to have a financial plan like every working U.S. citizen should have, it needs to enact long term reforms for entitlement spending, especially Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and enforce long term spending rules to get us out of debt. Long term is the key phrase here.
We didn't get in this dire situation over night. It will take time and determination to resolve this crisis, but if Congress never has the courage to start the process, then they are just going to continue wearing their shoes out kicking the can down the road . Of course, they can always buy more shoes with taxpayer money.
I've worked my whole life - since I was 10. I don't mind paying taxes and expenses that are associated with my everyday living. But I've earned the money and I want to spend it the way I see fit. I'm tired of the government giving my money away to people and causes I do not support.
The government continues to spend money, even though they don't have it. Cutting back is not in their vocabulary. If I don't cut back or I spend more money than I earn, there are consequences that I will have to deal with - credit card bills that I can't pay, mortgage payments that won't be met and the threat of bankruptcy.
In order for the government to have a financial plan like every working U.S. citizen should have, it needs to enact long term reforms for entitlement spending, especially Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and enforce long term spending rules to get us out of debt. Long term is the key phrase here.
We didn't get in this dire situation over night. It will take time and determination to resolve this crisis, but if Congress never has the courage to start the process, then they are just going to continue wearing their shoes out kicking the can down the road . Of course, they can always buy more shoes with taxpayer money.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Re: Obamacare
Nancy Pelosi's statement regarding Obamacare - "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it"---Have you ever really looked at this statement and thought about what it means? If you think that is how laws should be passed, then Obama care is for you.
Can you imagine saying to one of your children "Sure, go out and do something and we'll worry about the consequences later"? I don't think so.
I feel quite sure Nancy Pelosi strong armed many Congressmen with threats of losing perks and loss of money and support from the DNC if they didn't vote for Obamacare. She reminds me of a spoiled brat who threatens if she doesn't get her way. I am happy to say that my Congressman who cast his vote in favor of Obamacare was defeated in his next bid for reelection.
Now that we are burdened with this new health plan, here are some thoughts on the realities of what may occur and also what is already occuring:
--The fear mongers are telling us that Medicare as we have it now is going to disappear under Ryan's plan. How can senior citizens(of which I am one) really believe this would happen? The ads you see on TV actually lie. Current recipients and those eligible up until 2023 will see no change in Medicare.
--The implementation of computers into Doctor's offices was supposed to make a provider's life easier - but what I hear from former colleagues is that the computer programs are not user friendly, they are cumbersome to use and more time consuming. What should be the priority for the provider - time spent entering data into the computer and dealing with computer issues or time spent with a patient?
--Seniors Beware! If selective treatment becomes a reality, then depending on your age and seriousness of your illness, your access to treatment may not be your decision, but a decision made by a panel of strangers. This is my greatest fear - that I will lose control over decisions regarding my health care. And as I age, age will become a liability! This may seem farfetched, but you never know what will come out of Washington.
Of course I also haven't read all 1000 pages of Obamacare, but neither did our representatives who are supposed to represent us. How can you justify voting on a bill when you don't know what's in it? We need to get more involved, to keep tabs on the people we send to Washington---not happy with the performance, out you go.
Can you imagine saying to one of your children "Sure, go out and do something and we'll worry about the consequences later"? I don't think so.
I feel quite sure Nancy Pelosi strong armed many Congressmen with threats of losing perks and loss of money and support from the DNC if they didn't vote for Obamacare. She reminds me of a spoiled brat who threatens if she doesn't get her way. I am happy to say that my Congressman who cast his vote in favor of Obamacare was defeated in his next bid for reelection.
Now that we are burdened with this new health plan, here are some thoughts on the realities of what may occur and also what is already occuring:
--The fear mongers are telling us that Medicare as we have it now is going to disappear under Ryan's plan. How can senior citizens(of which I am one) really believe this would happen? The ads you see on TV actually lie. Current recipients and those eligible up until 2023 will see no change in Medicare.
--The implementation of computers into Doctor's offices was supposed to make a provider's life easier - but what I hear from former colleagues is that the computer programs are not user friendly, they are cumbersome to use and more time consuming. What should be the priority for the provider - time spent entering data into the computer and dealing with computer issues or time spent with a patient?
--Seniors Beware! If selective treatment becomes a reality, then depending on your age and seriousness of your illness, your access to treatment may not be your decision, but a decision made by a panel of strangers. This is my greatest fear - that I will lose control over decisions regarding my health care. And as I age, age will become a liability! This may seem farfetched, but you never know what will come out of Washington.
Of course I also haven't read all 1000 pages of Obamacare, but neither did our representatives who are supposed to represent us. How can you justify voting on a bill when you don't know what's in it? We need to get more involved, to keep tabs on the people we send to Washington---not happy with the performance, out you go.
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