Thursday, July 30, 2009

Illegal Workers' Health Care Could Force Your Grandma's Early "Check-Out"...AKA Death

Congressional leaders are teetering on the brink of absurdity. Here we are in the midst of the biggest economic crisis America has ever faced and now they are presenting a disjointed piece of health care legislation which is juggling protection for the very lives of our own U.S. citizens to accommodate Illegal Aliens who haven’t paid a dime into the tax system and…ARE HERE ILLEGALLY! Supposedly, the workers who are undocumented wouldn’t be “technically” covered (Nancy Pelosi stated in a recent interview) but there is nothing like the challenge of a good technicality (loophole) for our more liberal minded representatives…and I use the term “representatives” loosely. FOXNEWS: But the reality, immigration analysts say, is that the legislation is missing any mechanism to keep them out of the system. And if they exploit that loophole, taxpayers could be on the hook for billions to cover health care costs that employers don't. Early figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) have Illegals accounting for $10.7 billion in federal and state health care expenditures which is derived largely from emergency room visits (which includes births). An estimated 7.25 million Illegal immigrants do not have health care insurance. They don’t pay taxes and they don’t spring for health care. Meanwhile, back in reality land, we have elderly individuals who worked hard and paid taxes all their lives and they are fearfully facing the possibility of mandatory classes (at age 65) which deal with “Death Options” and Euthanasia. The reason so many Illegals are uninsured, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is because they are less likely to be offered health insurance by their employers. I guess this is where I am suppose to get misty eyed. What employer in his/her right mind is going to start inquiring into health care benefits for their illegal employees? Remember…they are not supposed to employ Illegal Aliens. They do serve a purpose though…President Obama loves to include them in his statistical count of uninsured individuals living in America. I’m having a real hard time with welcoming Illegals to “check-in” to our health care fold while asking Grandma to “check-out”!

Note: There is nothing more disgraceful as the indifference of the ungrateful.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-30-09

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

BRIC Countries Strike Precarious Pose Holding U.S. Dollars

What are BRIC Countries you may ask? Just take the first letter from each of the four countries which, in economic terms, are growing and developing at an accelerated rate…Brazil, Russia, India, and China…and combine them. The BRIC countries are holding a summit meeting in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg to discuss the status of the U.S. dollar as the dominant world currency. China and Russia have already voiced a desire to see it replaced. Since these four countries have major acquisitions of U.S. dollars, the shock factor of their words can be felt in the financial markets and in Congress. "Although China's call for a new reserve currency is premature, it is legitimate," says Shujie Yao, a professor of economics at the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies (University of Nottingham). Brazil has, to a lesser degree, expressed concern and even though India remains less vocal…they are attending the summit. Meanwhile, Russian President Medvedev wanted discussion on the proposal of a “supranational currency”, a world currency in which the vast majority of international transactions take place. These sentiments have recently led to a decline in the dollar against other major currencies. Bottom line, the direction the United States is taking, to boost its financial recovery, is hurting the value of the dollar. Now, let’s couple it with a looming health care plan which is destined to cost more than America can currently (if ever) afford. Printing more money isn’t the answer! China and Russia are already diversifying their currency reserves with those of other countries. The only thing we have going for us…thus far…is that a move away from the dollar would drastically hurt the value of their reserves. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner keeps reassuring China that the US will address the rising budget deficits when the economy’s recovery is “in place” and then the Administration will backpedal on spending (literally) hundreds of billions stimulating the economy and trying to salvage a wobbly financial system. Still, China (and Russia) continue to buy gold bullion in large quantities. Throughout history, gold has been the only currency one could ultimately count on…It is the “SUPRANATIONAL CURRENCY”!

Note: If America doesn’t pace itself “other nations” will provide us with a pacemaker.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-28-09

Monday, July 27, 2009

Meeting With Obama For Beer? Bring Your Lawyer!

Cambridge, Massachusetts police officer, Sergeant Jim Crowley, responded to what he thought was a typical break-in call and ended up with an invitation to the White House to have brewskies with the perpetrator...and the President. The incident wouldn't have necessitated the "beer call" had the President not decided to comment..."stupidly"...to the occurrence and defend his buddy, the individual who "broke in" to his own home. Aside: The reporter (Lynn Sweet) says she picked the inappropriately posed question; FOXNEWS says the reporter was acting upon a White House request. Back to the blog. Apparently, Henry Louis Gates, an African American academic (Harvard) and pal of President Obama, was returning home from a trip to China and encountered a jammed door at his home. He must have been fatigued because rather than call a lock smith...he chose to break in, spurring a 911 call from his neighbor...which I would have welcomed. Gates did not. So much for neighborhood watch! Aside: Why a Harvard man found the necessity to refer to Officer Crowley's "Mama" during the police investigation is beyond me. Back to the blog. Now, this story has been twisted and tweaked daily so we may never know the whole truth and nothing but, however, I have one suggestion for Sergeant Crowley...make sure you add one more drinking buddy to the list...a very good lawyer. Everything is taped these days and you need a "designated listener". I'm sure any of the top legal eagles in the U. S. would be more than happy to work pro bono to be in that mix.


Note: An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of legal headaches.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-27-09

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Driving Down Health Care Costs...With Self & Virtual Diagnosis

Every year I get at least one sinus infection...sometimes two. The steps are always the same. I call for an appointment, I tell the screener my symptoms, the doctor and I have our one-on-one, and he/she writes the prescription. With the eventual Socialized Medicine scenario, that we are seeing on America's horizon, we are going to have to be a little more trusting of our "chronic" patients. If after someone has been diagnosed with a sinus infection once (or twice) yearly, during the same allergy season for two years, he/she should be able to call in...at least once a year...a prescription and the "system" should just take his/her word for it! Now, if an additional round of antibiotics is needed (which does happen) a doctor's visit will be necessary. Additionally, virtual doctor websites exist even now. I was feeling pretty smug...because I thought I came up with the idea...but apparently someone has beat me to it. One such site is http://www.freemd.com/?cs=1 which "showcases" Dr. Stephen Schueler, an emergency room physician...and virtual doctor. You simply type a condition or symptom in the search box and he will ask you questions and make possible suggestions as to your problem...and tell you if you indeed need to see a physician. It is pretty much what the health screener's job is currently. The advantage to this situation would be that you could...if the health care gurus would let you forward the "virtual findings"...not have to waste the screener's time with time consuming questions. Instead you could just wait for the call as to your appointment time and date...or...come and pick up your prescription! Of course all history information would be entered into a database and prescriptions would be tracked by the screener before your case determination because, unfortunately, there are those who would try to corrupt the system. Think how many people would be spared the waiting room duration and disease exposure...especially during cold and flu season! Well, they are going to have to relinquish some of the "doctor duties" somewhere and these are two of my suggestions. What are some of your cost saving suggestions for our health care system? Let's hear some chatter!

Note: Maybe one day health care screeners, forms, and waiting rooms will be a thing of the past...I guess they'll have to go through an evolutionary process.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-23-09

Friday, July 17, 2009

Walter Cronkite: Plumb Line Of Integrity

I would be remiss if I did not pay tribute to Walter Cronkite who passed away yesterday at the age of 92. I have listened to nothing but continual praise for this man of conviction, social consciousness, and scruples. It is hard to believe that CBS once had this LEGEND on their payroll…How could they have gone so far off the mark while following in the wake of this PLUMB LINE OF INTEGRITY? Mr. Cronkite found no room for bias or deceit in his reporting. Politics were something he “reported on” and did not “participate in” during his news briefs…the stakes were too high. He simply believed in telling the truth and letting the people discern. I am saddened at the possibility that indeed he may be the last of his kind in the broadcasting realm. He will be missed, but never replaced. Hopefully, his greatest legacy will be shaming the media out of yellow journalism practices.

Note: It is more relaxing to listen to someone we trust deliver an important message. After listening to someone we do not…the verification process is exhausting.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-18-09

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Health Care Reform Bill (Draft) Unveiled In The House

House Democrats unveiled…finally…the much talked about health care reform bill today. Well, the draft anyway. Those elusive details will be ironed out later. Talk about “sticker shock”! Small businesses and individuals in a high-income bracket will be nestling up to a whopping 5.4 percent surtax…of adjusted gross income, not taxable income…ergo it is applicable to almost everything which “was” deductible from one’s previous taxable income. Charitable contributions, medical expenses, and even home mortgage interests will be OBAMATIZED! But President Obama isn’t stopping there. In 2011 he plans to repeal the Bush tax cuts…right on schedule… raising the top capital gains tax rate from 15 to 25.4 percent. Ouch! Did he mention that during the campaign? Whose side is he on anyway? Maybe someone should hand him a few business textbooks to read on Air Force One. These “tax spikes” would rock small businesses…and let’s face it…middle-sized ones too. There is a recession going on and he seems clueless as to the role of small (and middle-sized) businesses during tough economic times…which we are now in the throws thereof. Maybe you aren’t too terribly phased by the “regular” income tax rate leaping from 35% to 45% (with the new surtax)…before being applied to ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME…but I am. Oh...by the way...there will be a 2.5% tax on individuals who don’t have health insurance! Wasn’t there a casual mention of no requirement for people to be insured during his campaign? Well, I guess you don’t have to be…you’ll just be taxed for not being. I wonder if that one came up during a reading from Shakespeare? Who am I forgetting? Oh, yes…EMPLOYERS! They would be required to provide health insurance under two new regulations, guaranteed issue ( a health policy which offers health insurance coverage to people with preexisting conditions) and community rating (everyone pays the same premium) which would probably send the cost soaring…or…pay a payroll tax of up to 8%. Keep in mind that it is above the existing Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. Now, before you think the roller-coaster ride is over…hold onto your seats because your state and local taxes haven’t been thrown into the mix. As we speak, they are dreaming up ways to tax us for anything from the rain falling on our roofs (and going into sewers) to designer speeding tickets (for “Super Speeders”). All I’ve got to say is…it is a great time to be an illegal alien!

Note: The only reason the government isn’t taxing happiness is because they don’t have a gauge…but I’m sure a blueprint is in the works.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-16-09

Monday, July 13, 2009

Janet Napolitano And The President Review Their Colors...In The Terror Alert System

Once in a while even I love to have fun at Washington's expense. Imagine having only five colors to work with and our Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, finding a need to appoint a panel of "reevaluators" to determine whether to alter or eliminate the current five-tiered terror alert system, that was put in place after 9-11. Jeff Foxworthy's show...ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER?...comes to mind. I have two candidates to suggest for panel positions. I would like to offer my services because I like to color with my grandchildren and have mastered the eight-pack Crayola choice chart. The original system starts with GREEN...which means GO!... at the lowest end of the spectrum and signals to GO about your business because there is a low attack probability. Let's keep that one! RED, that's the highest one, means STOP! Stop your cavalier wanderings and be painfully aware of your surroundings and suspicious individuals. Let's keep that one too! Now, the panel only has to find three more colors to code. Okay...I'll work for free! The middle color should be YELLOW. After all, YELLOW is in the middle of a traffic light and it means caution. Every kindergarten student knows that one, so there should be no confusion up to this point. YELLOW should mean caution...the alert climate could turn at any time, but you have time to prepare to advance with your daily plans or to retreat to a safer area. Now...there are two more colors to pick! In school...that would be elementary school...I was taught how to mix the three primary colors to create secondary ones. Let's mix YELLOW with RED to make ORANGE and sandwich it between YELLOW and RED. ORANGE should be right under RED and just above YELLOW in the color chart (and national intensity). That leaves one more for the panel! Isn't it embarrassing that a senior U.S. official had to issue a statement that the Obama administration would review the nation's multicolored terror alert system. That's like Michelle Obama announcing that she is picking new bathroom wallpaper. Maybe one of the President's children should have mentioned it while walking the dog. Where was I? Oh, yes...the final color...the one perched between YELLOW and GREEN. Are you ready? Get rid of it! I know, Janet, I know...I love BLUE also, but it is serving no purpose. Let's think GREEN-YELLOW-ORANGE-RED which equates to LOW-ELEVATED-HIGH-SERVERE. Hopefully, you will call off the panel search now and get back to real problems while saving the taxpayers the expense you would have incurred. Oh...by the way...I almost forgot to mention my other panel member choice. It was BIG BIRD!

Note: Sometimes men can talk much about little...and do little about much.

May GOD bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-13-09

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

CAP & TRADE EQUALS CAP & SPADE: DIGGING OURSELVES DEEPER INTO DEBT

Some are giddy with excitement because forty Democrats voted against the WAXMAN CAP AND TRADE (HR 2454…THE American Clean Air and Security Act), but guess what…it passed anyway! Eight “sell-out” Republicans…let’s call them “SPECTER-LIKES”… free-fell into the abyss and came out reeking of quid quo pro. Well, it’s off to the Senate now where there are fewer places to hide. ASIDE: Personally, I feel that America has grown beyond the two senator per state rule and now we need three per…with one caveat…there can be only two from the same party at any time. Now back to C&T! “PEOPLE”…it will tax all of us when it comes to energy usage and…according to Herman Cain… “If passed, this bill would be one of the largest expansions of federal government since the IRS grew into the intrusive bureaucracy it is today.” Even our President admits there will be an added cost to every business and household. The cost to each family could range from $700 to $3000 a year... The Massachusetts Institute of Technology study determined the higher figure to be more accurate…I concur. Write your House of Representative leaders and tell them what you think about the way they voted…and while you are at it…send a copy to both of your Senators. Maybe they’ll get a kick out of it…a swift one in the right direction!

To write your SENATOR: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
To write your HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

May GOD bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-03-09

Note: Sometimes constituents write their congressional representatives and they get a kick out of it…a swift one in the right direction.

May GOD bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-09-09

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Connecticut Firemen's Hottest Battle Won In The Supreme Court!

I am happy to announce that the “quota requirement” debacle, faced by a group of New Haven, CT. firefighters, was declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the United States Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote. Sonia Sotomayor’s joint decision (three-judge panel) had expressed that the city of New Haven was simply trying to fulfill its obligations under federal law when confronted with the test results that had a disproportionate racial impact. ASIDE: One of the firefighters was dyslexic and, after intensive studying, received high marks on one of the exams. So much for her controversial “WISE LATINA WOMAN” comment (October 26, 2001). Let me repeat myself…Lady Justice is a sword toting, scale bearing, blind-folded symbol of fair and equal justice. This has got to be a 24-7 commitment for all races and creeds! I am finding it difficult to understand how any judge, with the bench experience of Sonia Sotomayor, doesn’t get the importance of blind justice. Oh sure, President Obama wants empathy, but she should know better. Scarier yet is the voting results of the Supreme Court. Four of the justices were actually doing double duty during the session…trying to support Sotomayor’s verdict while trying to condone their lame stance. If we replace “LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL” with “LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR SOME” now…it leaves the door open for “LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR NONE” eventually.

Note: Justice is the plumbline for the "crooked".

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 7-02-09