Medicare
It’s Thursday February 28th! Do you know where your podcast is? On this day in history back in 1861, the U.S. Congress created Colorado Territory. They didn’t actually create anything. They just wrote and signed some pieces of paper that claimed the land that would come to be known as Colorado Territory was now officially Colorado Territory. The land wasn’t aware of its new name. Until that time, the land had always been the land on which the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe people lived. What’s most surprising about this decree to those of us alive today is not how the U.S. Government had taken yet another brutal step in annihilating the indigenous peoples of North America (that’s old hat – and we’re still going to write about it until the day we die), but that the U.S. Congress somehow managed to get something done. Times have changed. Read more
The GOP say the only way to address the debt is to weaken Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security, but we know that healthy, secure Americans make a healthier, more secure America.
Deficit hawks want to stop investing in our country and privatize our resources and public works, though we know a strong national infrastructure is key to a strong, national economy.
Tea Partiers obstruct needed disaster relief and laugh off spending on disaster preparation, yet we know a robust defense of our country will make a more profitable, predictable country.
They talk about being fiscally responsible, but doing it by physically irresponsible -- weakening our citizens, society & nation.
We need strong Americans & a strong America. Getting physically stronger is fiscally smarter. Let's get fiscal -- and get physical.
And let's get together for a liberal libation with like-minded lefties ready to chat at your local progressive social club.
DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.
Recently there has been talk by Republican lawmakers and the media about a deal to help solve the Fiscal Cliff issue and they think that Medicare’s age requirement should be lifted to 67 years old. As far as I am concerned, this is all based on a fallacy.
Next year, millions of Americans will suddenly be required to purchase health insurance. The health insurance industry will see a huge lift in their profits and for a while, the health care industry will be overwhelmed. There will be a shortage of doctors and other health care professionals and many will be unhappy, but I believe we will survive it and we will adapt. Most importantly, we will be leaving behind a health care system that has left tens of millions of Americans without decent health care, beyond emergency rooms. Read more
“So how much does an x-ray cost?” my mom asked me when I called her from Urgency Care. Following an unfortunate mishaps with a dresser drawer that came loose and fell onto my foot, I decided to seek a little medical care. Waiting 24 hours to see if the swelling went down on its own, I was reluctant to go in. I have no idea how much an x-ray costs, which was why I waited to seek care.
Here’s the thing: I have medical insurance- but I have a high deductible to keep the premiums down. I’m nowhere near my max for the year so much of the cost of the quick trip to Urgency will be out of pocket. I have to be fairly hurt to invest in a doctor’s opinion, but in this case, my foot looked broken, and I didn’t want to injure it worse with carelessness. Read more
I live in one of the states whose governor decided to refuse cooperating with the federal government on implementing ObamaCare — in Oklahoma. I am also one of many who do not have health care but needs it. My income is not low enough to qualify for Medicaid and not high, enough to afford health care, that is — under the old system.
ObamaCare is the first time I will be able to afford health care. I will still have to pay for part of my health care but at a rate, I can afford. However, my governor, Mary Fallon, does not seem to care much about my health care or others like me. Even though I am a full-time working Oklahoman who pays state taxes, what I need and many other Oklahomans need does not seem to be of a concern to Governor Fallon. Read more
In the 1980’s, when I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. Sitting on the floor of her kitchen, I watched the evening news with her while she cleaned up after dinner. This was when I first heard the name Joe Biden. He was a young senator from Delaware, the news said, and he was an outspoken advocate for the needy. Grandma told me he had a tragic life, having lost his wife and baby girl in a car accident in the 1970’s. Like her, he’d lost so much, yet continued on anyway, caring for those still here.
Last night, while I watched the Vice Presidential Debate between Joe and Rep. Paul Ryan, I couldn’t stop thinking about Grandma and what she’d taught me. Though Congress she regarded with general disdain, she explained there were really good representatives and senators who were in Washington D.C. for the sole purpose of serving us. Joe was one of the latter, she told me; and when his face appeared on the TV screen she’d whoop and say, “There’s Joe…he’s a good boy. He’ll give em hell!” Read more
Mitt continued his big lie about Medicare -- and while Obama didn't take it lying down, he didn't stand up strongly enough, letting the lie live another day. Romney denied his own tax plan to reduce taxes for the richest 1%, but the President demurred his own chance to bring up 47% and rally for the 99%.
Mitt said he'd fire Big Bird --he likes firing people…and Muppets too. But even this didn't inflame Barack, who seemed lacking his own fire-power. Don't lie down in front of lies, don't power down, get fired up, because now we see the Real Romney: a liar, denier and Big Bird Fire-er.
Come debate the debate, cheer & jeer, as you share your thoughts & toast a beer at your local progressive social club.
DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.
…Also a Financial Burden for Medicare Recipients and the poor
Now that we know whom Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has chosen to run on his ticket, we can get a better idea of what kind of White House can be expected if the Romney/Ryan ticket wins in November.
Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is most popular with Tea Party conservatives because of his budget plan, which would cut social programs for the poor as a method to lower the deficit but at the same time, provide tax cuts for the wealthy. Read more
It’s very clear that a lot of Americans are concerned a great deal with the new health care law the Affordable Care Act . It’s also quite understandable to be concerned; it does turn the health care system in this country up on its heels. It will change a lot of lives and yet for many, just force them to tighten their budgets more.
The way I see it, the health care law is a rough draft of what this country really wants. It is up to us, the American people to see that our legislators give it to us. We do that by demanding change, not repeal but a fix on the issues we’re mainly concerned about. Read more
Conservatives don’t seem to understand that a lot of Americans don’t really care about being rich. In fact, some of us mature to the point of understanding that if we were given too much wealth, it might change us and make us into something we don’t want to be.
So instead, many Americans just decide that the best for us is to have our simple dreams; have enough money to secure our families a decent middle-class life; enough money to send all our kids to college; enough money to go on a vacation occasionally; enough money to afford good health insurance for our families; and a decent retirement nest egg so that we can live comfortably in our twilight years. Read more
Finally, some of those who represent Christ have stood up to the GOP and Paul Ryan’s budget plan.
A group called “Faith in Public Life” held a press conference to speak out against Republican’s budget plan that provides more tax cuts for millionaires while cutting social programs for the most vulnerable in our society; the poor. They released this statement: Read more
Finally, some of those who represent Christ have stood up to the GOP and Paul Ryan’s budget plan.
A group called “Faith in Public Life” held a press conference to speak out against Republican’s budget plan that provides more tax cuts for millionaires while cutting social programs for the most vulnerable in our society; the poor. They released this statement: Read more
