Medicare for Everyone

I was chit-chatting with some friends online this morning and found myself discussing National Health Care and the Public Option. After talking with friends I found myself thinking that this was a good topic for blogging and maybe others had some thoughts on this topic as well.

Watching Washington D.C. mess around with Health Care has been terrifying and interesting. Lately I have taken to talking back to my television when I disagree, similar to when I disagree with the call the Official makes in a football game and I yell out at the T.V. Maybe you know what I mean!

So this morning, I'm trying to watch(listen to) the news and pre-make dinner at the same time - and trying hard to stop yelling at the television before someone thinks football is on during the daytime!

Joe Liebermann just got through saying:

"We're spending more than we're taking in and Medicare,according to the budget office, is going to go bankrupt within 8 years. We can't afford, with our debt as sky high as it is now, to create another government entitlement program, which this government run health insurance company would be."

When asked who would have to pay the bills - Senator Lieberman was quoted as saying, "That would be the American taxpayer."

Okay, so typing it out helped me to officially calm down from my screaming at the tv moment - so have to stop watching the news if I want to have a happy day anymore - but look at the ridiculousness of what he said!

We can't have a public option because Medicare is going to go bankrupt?

Gee Senator, make me feel better about the government being involved in health care at all why don't ya? If the government is that inept and will truly ruin any and every thing it touches, then by all means don't do anything for health care because all you will do is ruin it further!

Please, come up with a better argument - even the people at the town halls were screaming about how much they love their Medicare, so they don't even have a leg to stand on in the Medicare argument.

There is a reason seniors and anyone who is receiving Medicare doesn't want to give it up - I encourage anyone against Medicare for all to re-review town hall videos from the summer break - people love their government run Medicare and will fight for it.

Why is it going to go bankrupt in 8 years? (which, by the way, a good friend let me know that Factcheck.org is reporting that Medicare is not going to go bankrupt in 8 years. Thanks Margie!)

If it were truly going bankrupt why are/would we cutting anything from it to start a new project? I'm not buying the argument because we know it is hooey. (http://www.factcheck.org/)

If the people want Medicare they will continue to pay for it. What gets me is the non-revolt from taxpayers, especially the tea-party people (who I admire - sorry to those who don't but I see all sides and appreciate all of the arguments), but geez when you pay the tax you should be entitled to use the product or service you are paying the tax for, shouldn't you? Without having to wait 30, 40 + years for the benefit? This is what I don't get - especially from the tea bag people who are screaming about unfair taxes - scream about the unfair Medicare tax you pay and the discrimination about who is entitled to receive the public tax funded insurance! Bankrupt my left ear!!

Medicare, although taxed to all employed US Citizens of any age, currently is held back only for Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens, and could so simply be expanded to cover all US Citizens who want to opt into it at any time by simply paying for it. Optional Medicare, with no triggers needed other than paying for it like the Seniors and Disabled Citizens do, via a lower premium than private insurance and a small monthly tax that we already pay, is really too complicated of an insurance program to institute even though it already exists and all people would have to do is opt in and pay the premium? Really? Seriously? Even if we had to slightly increase the Medicare tax- it does away with the need for mandates, force, penalties and fines and offers choice, option and freedom.

Yes, CHOICE. Yes, OPTION. Yes, FREEDOM. We already pay the tax, so why can't we enjoy the entitlement, unless we are old or disabled, as an entire united country?

Here is a basic example:

Toll booths: You pay $1.00 to pass through the toll booth but you are waved over to the side to a "wait lane" and asked to turn off your car. You ask why, after all you just paid the toll tax to drive on the tollway and that is the point of a tax which is levied in order to enjoy the privilege of a service in return. You are told that yes, of course you will be able to use the toll road, but there is a waiting period. You pay the toll tax and then you must wait in the wait lane for one week before you may use the tollway. WHAT?? Would you stand for that? You just paid the darn toll tax so you could immediately pass thru and enjoy the use, after all that is how service taxes work don't they??

Why in the world would Medicare work any differently? It is taxed to all who would be eligible to opt into it anyway - and those who opt into would have to pay the premiums just like those who are currently receiving medicare, so what is the problem? Rebublicans were arguing not to long ago to privatize Social Security. How can they be for that and not for ending the discriminatory 30+year wait lane of Medicare?

Social Security is not a tax - is a fund that you pay into for your future retirement and/or disability retirement insurance needs - which is why they send you that breakdown statement every year. They don't send you a "this is how much you have paid into Medicare statement" because it is not a fund - it is a tax.

That is my only question - why is it all Americans are not complaining about the right to opt into an insurance program they are already paying the tax for, but being held in the longest wait line of their lives to receive?

I still don't get what is so complicated about it or so horrible about letting all American Citizens in on the exclusive "old or disabled club only" government run tax payer funded public option insurance we call Medicare.


Real Medicare for EVERYONE ALREADY!!

Rembering the Victims & Hero's of 9/11

Today I have decided to post a short memorial for all of those innocent victims and hero's who died on September 11, 2001. Off and on, all day today I have to stop to cry, as I remembered what I still can't believe happened to our Country that sad and tragic September morning.

Every year I turn the History Channel and other television sources and re-watch the documentaries, because long I go I made a promise to be one of those who will never forget.

I will never forget that morning as I sat in front of the television brushing my 9 year old daughter's hair and helping to prepare her for school. It was a regular routine. I have four kids and my oldest child and I would get up early, turn on Good Morning America, and spend quiet time getting her ready for school first.

At first we thought maybe someone was making a movie because this couldn't possibly be real. Then the second plane hit the second tower and the both of us were mortified - mother and child. Today that child remembers with me as she gets ready to graduate high-school and even she says it still seems like yesterday as a clear and sad memory for her.

I did take my kids to school that morning, thinking it was the best place for them to be. We lived in Chicago then. It only took me 30 minutes, after seeing more of what was happening on the news to turn around and go get them right back out of school and bring them home - just in case Chicago was a possible target too. We all were afraid that day - afraid, and ever so heart broken for all those people who lost their lives because some lunatic terrorists thought it was okay to murder in the name of God.

Today is a sad day for our Country, and a day I know I will never forget as will all Americans. My heart and my prayers are with all of the victims and their families, not just today but always.

Blessings and my deepest wishes of comfort and solace to you all. I will never forget. We will never forget.

Health Care Head Aches!

Just the words health care are enough to give me a head ache anymore these days. I have come to believe that our politicians are full of it, every last one of them. They have stopped listening to us, the American people, and they are simply playing a game..called Politics.

I will be watching tonight as the President speaks, yet again, on this very hot topic. Does it even matter at this point? Sure it does, depending on what he has to say. I am starting to feel sorry for him, honestly, this entire issue is making him look aged very early in his Presidential career.

The latest possibility of possibilities they (the politicians) have tossed out their into the never ending ring of "we have no clue what the health care reform will be or contain but we are throwing in all we can think of into it potential legislation" is fines for not having health insurance. I am pretty sure that this was a Republican idea to counter the public option. Fines!
Are they crazy? This is a serious question! Did they forget that we live in A FREE COUNTRY??

If you are not outraged at the thought of fines, let me ask you what is next? What if our government decides that technology is so key, so important to our future that every home is required or mandated to have a computer. Every home that does not have a computer connected to the Internet, via private connection or public connection will be fined. You may say this is ridiculous and can never happen, but hey if they can fine you for not self insuring your PRIVATE BODY, they can fine and mandate anything.

Why not fine people for not taking the daily recommended dose of vitamin C, or eating healthier? This has gone beyond ridiculous.

The fines are hidden code for Uncle Sam wants more of your money.

Here is what I don't understand. All of the health care proposals on the table start with paying now but do not go into effect until 2013, why? I thought this was an urgent matter?

I believe it is an urgent matter and here is what I propose:

Declare a National Health Care Emergency.

Pass legislation and add a Medicaid tax, (just like we have a Medicare tax)

Open Medicaid to all people until 2013.

Allow those who can afford to pay do so on a sliding scale based on their income, those who can't the insurance would be free like it is now.

No pre-existing conditions- restrictions allowed and pay the doctors some incentives to take it (like the private insurers do).

That should help all out across the Nation until the President and the Senate's and the House's "plan's", get worked out and go into effect in 2013.

But that is just my two cents.

Fining people in a free Country for opting out of self insuring medically is beyond insane, and does not ring of freedom to me. Does it ring of freedom to you?

Come up with a better plan oh those of you in Washington who care so much, and act like you really care already. Please?

Enough with the "Czars" Already! Bye Van Jones

So unless you are an avid Internet reader, or watch cable television news - and even then a majority of the media outlets didn't even report on this story, which is a pretty major story, you may not even know anything at all about the Green Jobs Czar Van Jones.

White House Green Jobs Czar Van Jones resigned stating in a letter (paraphrased) that he didn't want all this misinformation and lies being spread about him to get in the way of the White House being able to move forward on it's pressing projects.

Okay, I would believe that EXCEPT NO ONE LIED ABOUT HIM. The stories that were covered on this man were videos and excerpts using his very own words, coming out of his very own mouth! This man has a lot of nerve, and what really ticks me off is the lack of media coverage from the Networks on these "Czars"! Where are you ABC, NBC, CBS? Why is it I have to consistently turn to Fox and the Internet if I want to find anything out? What the hell is happening to journalism in this country?

Here is part of the statement from Van Jones resignation letter:

" On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."

This man signed a 9/11 Truther petition in 2004, the conspiracy theory that the Bush Admin deliberately let the terror attacks happen, ya' know. He claims he never bothered to read the petition in which he affixed his signature to.

This man called former President Bush a crackhead. The statement he made was "The President of the United States sounded like a crackhead...like a crackhead trying to lick the crackpipe for a fix."


This man called Republicans a not so nice word a**holes. (then again can't really hang him out to dry on this one, as a Centrist Independent, I have had choice words for both parties myself - but I don't work in the White House, and I don't do so publicly.) This was 7 months ago when asked why he thought Congressional Republicans were opposing some Obama Administration programs. The statement was, "The answer to that is they're a-holes."

Then he gets racist. Yep, the guy played the race card and it is on video - him speaking. No twisting of words, no vicious smear campaign - unless he is the one doing the vicious smearing.

On school violence he says:
"You've never seen a Columbine done by a black child. Never. A black kid might shoot another black kid. He's not going to shoot up the whole school."

And here is a Van Jones keeper - tell me Van Jones, just how are your words being twisted?

"The white polluters and the white environmentalists are essentially steering poison into the people of the colored communities."

Really? Really? Bye, bye Van Jones. The only thing missing in Van Jones resignation letter was an apology. Poor him - I don't think so. He will go on to write a book, ala Bill Ayers, I have no doubt. I won't miss this particular "Czar".

What is up with these Czars anyway? Since when do we need them? Who do they answer to? Will the next President be able to appoint an Attorney General to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute anything and everything these "Czars" possibly do wrong, or potentially look wrong to someone, and make a major issue out of it well into the next administration?

Goose, Gander and all that. Not to mention Karma.

Senator Kennedy A Reflection

I was sitting with my husband last night counting the number of presidents we have had in our lifetimes. We were softly laughing as we counted and he had two more than I did, being seven years my senior. I have lived through (yet have no real memory of) President's Nixon and Ford, but I remember President Jimmy Carter and I remember growing up hearing quite a bit about Senator Teddy Kennedy. I was a Chicago kid in the 70's, a teen in the 80's, and celebrated my 18th birthday in 1988 and participated in my first election. There was also, Regan, Bush 1, the Clinton Years, and the Bush 2 years, followed up now by the Obama Presidency.

I said to my husband that I had been listening to Mr. Dodd speak about his friendship with Teddy Kennedy, and I found it so touching to hear someone speak so genuinely fondly of someone they have known for 30 or more years. That is when I said wow, I am actually old enough to say I have known someone for 30 years. It occurred to me that life is moving along, every moment.

I sat and watched the entire Mass for Senator Kennedy this morning into this afternoon through my television screen. I have long considered myself a centrist, an Independent, someone who does not like the labels of political parties at all, really. However, as I sat and listened to the intercessory prayer requests, and the homily offered by the priest, and the passages that were chosen for the readings, I must admit, my heart was moved. I found myself in tears. I am not a big fan of organized religion as a whole, and I don't know much about the Catholic faith other than what I have learned & remembered from my personal attendance over the years as a child in a half Catholic family, and then marrying into a Catholic family, although my husband is not a practicing Catholic. I was spiritually moved though, today, and through tears I felt the drive and desire to want to do more than I have been doing in my local community to be of help to the stranger in need.

I was even more moved when I listened to his sons speak of him on such a personal level. It was nice to have the President speak the eulogy, but there was something special when his sons were speaking of their father just as their dad.

A lot was said today about a good man who tried to live his life the very best the he could. What more can anyone of us set out to do, and like Senator Kennedy claim success in the end. I appreciated the service today. Senator Kennedy will be missed.

Senator Reid's Response

This was orignally posted as a comment which was to appear directly under the original post. Since it did not, I am reposting it above the original post.

Response Received From Senator Harry Reid

August 20, 2009

Mrs. Sandra Bonadonna

Las Vegas, Nevada

Dear Mrs. Bonadonna:

Thank you for contacting me. I always appreciate hearing from Nevadans.

As Nevada's senior senator and the Senate Majority Leader, it is my job to do what is in the best interest of the people of Nevada. Please be assured that I take these responsibilities very seriously, and I will continue to do everything I can to make Nevada an even better place to live and raise a family.

Over the past month I have had the privilege of holding several town hall-style meetings by teleconference with Nevadans concerning health care. I am happy to inform you that more than five thousand Nevadans were able to participate. During these forums, Nevadans, like yourself, voiced their opinions on the pending health legislation. In fact, I am looking forward to scheduling at least one more of these discussions during the August recess. Please continue to visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov, for updates on this and other events.

Additionally, I have invited doctors throughout our state to weigh in on the issue of health care reform at: http://reid.senate.gov/issues/reform_survey.cfm. Too often providers are not part of a robust discussion on how we should fix the problems that exist in the health care system. During this month I have also received and responded to over 7,500 constituent letters regarding various health-related issues. You may be assured that as the 111th Congress proceeds I will continue to listen closely to the concerns of Nevadans.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

My best wishes to you.

Sincerely,
HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada

Health Care Proposal Too Much To Read or Laziness?

I have been emailing and calling my State Senator Harry Reid hoping for a quick response. I have yet to hear from him but I am sure he will respond soon, as he always does. **UPDATE** Senator Harry Reid did respond on 08/20/2009 and his letter is shown in the comment section below.

Over the last 2 days I have read and reviewed both the Senate Proposal which is 615 pages in length, and the House Monstrosity Proposal in all of its 1018 pages of head-achey reading.

Today I sent out a mass email to everyone on my email list with links to the PDF versions of these Proposals so they can be saved to one's personal computer and read offline. If our elected Representatives whose sole job is to represent us are not willing to read it, at least we can and share our views with all of them before they return to Washington for the Fall Session. I also highly reccomend emailing the White House, using the contact form at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ to voice your opinions as well.

This is the email I sent out and also placed as a Note/Blog on my Facebook page this morning. I forwarded the email to Senator Reid and the White House. The people of this great Country are the only ones who can read this and make the decision on whether or not they approve of what is held within the pages of these proposals. Remind your politicians election time is right around the corner as they make their decisions on behalf of you. They will vote, but if we tell them, as many of us as we can, how we really feel, they just may do the right thing and vote on behalf of the people they represent.

Here is what I sent out in emails to my entire email list, Senator Harry Reid, the White House, and blogged about here and on Facebook. I believe none of us can agree or disagree unless we truly know what is held within these pages. Some things like our politicians being exempt from this program and retaining our tax payer dollar Health Insurance they all receive and enjoy will be kept. Why? If this is such a great plan, why can't they participate in it also? Why are they exempt from this "wonderful plan for all Americans"? Please take the time and read these proposals.

Sandra Bonadonna

What follows is the information I sent out this morning:

URGENT LINKS TO COMPLETE HEALTH CARE REFORM/PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT SOME POLITICIANS ARE STATING THEY HAVEN'T READ BECAUSE IT IS TOO BIG - YET THEY WILL VOTE ANYWAY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT READ IT!

Links to the complete documents are found below.

Everytime a politician is being interviewed on the news they state they have not fully read their own proposals because "it is just to large". Yet the President wants it pushed through ASAP without anyone really knowing what is held within the pages of either proposal. So I encourage you to pass this along to everyone you know, because it comes down to our voices now.

The links below will allow you to save a PDF version of the proposals to your computer so you can read it offline. Once you have read it, I urge you to call your Senator(s) and Represantives and let them know you read it - question why they did not - ask why they are exempting themselves from this program and retaining the tax payer cushy insurance if they believe in this plan so much? Share your thoughts. For example, if you find something on page 53 that really bothers you ask your elected official about page 53 and offer to wait while s/he finds his/her copy, if in fact s/he has one available to reference.

The peoples voices must be heard on this before they return for the fall session. Please, please, forward this information by email, blog, facebook, myspace - any venue you can so that the people are aware they have the ability to read for themselves what is constantly being spoken about on the news and can have the facts in print for themselves. Whether you are in favor or not after reading all of this, at least you will be fully informed, which is more than our elected officials are offering.


Senate Proposal PDF Version (615pgs) http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

House Book Proposal Version (1018pgs) http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf