HEALTH CARE: IF WE DO IT FOR TED...DON'T WE DO IT TO AMERICA?

Just because Ted is dead…doesn’t mean the presented health care bill is any more palatable or any less flawed. I do appreciate his passion and desire for quality health care throughout America. However, I don’t appreciate his funeral service being used as a soap box for a liberal train wreck. Was I supposed to get weepy eyed and cave because his young grandson stood up and mouthed a rehearsed (and predetermined) prelude to this bill? Young Kennedy said, “For what my Grandpa called the CAUSE OF HIS LIFE…as he said so often in every part of this land…that every American will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege…We pray to the Lord.” Well, we had all better pray to the Lord on this one. What is the rush? If over half of the proposed legislation is acceptable to the “Committee of Six” then why not implement that portion in stages? Instead of ramrodding Americans with this ALL-OR-NOTHING message and using intimidation tactics…and God only knows what else…to arm-twist congressional leaders, who are choking on the egregious parts, why don’t we come back to the table and set agendas, egos , and power aside for the cause of Americans now and to come? We pray to the Lord.

Note: Let’s get God involved in more government decisions…Start off praying for wisdom.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it?
Zanne Booker 8-29-09

Social Security Freeze...Will Nothing To Live "On" Equate To Nothing To Live "For"?

Who are the elderly? They are more than our parents and grandparents...They are our benefactors. For years they have been our military defenders, philanthropists (most anonymous contributors), upholders and protectors of the laws of the land (and the constitution), champions of technology, patrons of creativity, volunteers in the national spectrum, sponsors for innovations, backers of dreams, contributors to enlightenment, encouragers to the down-trodden...in short...NATIONAL TREASURES. Obama's administration is an enigma...a puzzle within a puzzle. It allows us to plunge headlong into medical research trying desperately to improve (and prolong) life while simultaneously thinking of ways to make elderly Americans want to euthanize themselves. Additionally, the disgraceful Social Security Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) freeze adds a bleak reality to those on a fixed income. Could it be that it too ties in to the mandatory age 65 "END OF LIFE" pep-talk? Could it be that "nothing to live on" might equate to some of the elderly as "nothing to live for"? Are members of Congress ready to live by the same rules (and health plans) offered to us mere mortals? How about Mr. Obama? Until the President and Congressional leaders "get real" and start thinking like "their lives" depend on the decisions they make...I find it difficult to take them, or this health care plan, seriously. I am for cutting off NON-U.S. CITIZENS from health care instead of subjecting our elderly to "Death Counseling". Obama and his cronies are trying to build their empire while destroying their infrastructure...the pillars of society...who just happen to be the elderly.

Note: Only the foolish try to trivialize the deeds of the wise.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 8-24-09

Help Our Schools Lighten The Recession Depression!

Okay, Americans are feeling the pinch at home and on the job, however, our schools are in need of assistance...and you can help. Remember those expensive TI Calculators you purchased for your child? Yes, the ones that could calculate and calibrate for NASA. Well, what are you doing with them now that your child decided to major in ART while in college or to seek employment outside of the mathematical realm? Are you letting them gather dust while the batteries are corroding inside? Using them to balance your check book? Still trying to learn how to turn them on and off? Aside: push "2nd" and then "on" to turn it off. Whatever you are doing with them, remember some high school students desperately need them...especially since money is so tight and parents (sometimes both) are losing their jobs. Additionally, there are students coming to school with only two changes of clothes to their name. Call the schools and ask if there are any students (all grades) in need of clothing. The receptionist should be able to hook you up with someone who could receive your donations. Do not get discouraged if they are not in the clothing business...this is all new to schools on such a large scale. Churches know just what to do and can offer back-up to those in need. Continuing on...teachers have been put on tighter budgets than they are use to experiencing. With educators (I can only speak for Georgia) being furloughed, the extra money they unselfishly spent on their students to make the classroom run more efficiently, will be dwindling as well. If your student has allergies...send in boxes of tissues until his/her season has passed. If your student needs to print something out in the classroom...send xerox paper with them to replace the paper used. One Georgia High School opened the school year with a smile and one large box of xerox paper per teacher. The teachers were so excited until they were told it had to last them the whole semester. I have given you three suggestions, however, I would love to hear other ideas you have to help our schools. Keep your chin up, your wheels turning, and...above all...keep smiling!

Note: No matter who we've been in the past, let's always make sure we are striving to improve.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 8-22-09

Obama Calls In "The Bill" To Cajole Health Care Opposers

Well, it looks like Bill Clinton is being brought in to do one of two things, with regard to the proposed Health Care system. Either he is going to be an adviser to President Obama or he is going to be “the closer”. Flip a coin! No matter which way the former President flips…don’t be deceived. His magical charisma could very well be like the bewitching sirens Odysseus found necessary to shield his ears from… lest he and his crew sail to their doom. If you did not like the health care plan before…you certainly shouldn’t like it any better because “The Bill” is the new pitchman. Currently, the possible disappearance of the PUBLIC OPTION is the latest snag HEALTH CARE proposal advocates are facing. Giving Americans an option to peruse and choose in the private health insurance market is the corner stone to reform consideration and it was the “promised” plan one Senator Obama campaigned on. Why isn't it important now? Senator Max Baucus (MT) knows that labor unions have laud the “public option” and made it part of their reform policy. Now, all public options are not created equal. There are several ways of putting a public option into the play. One is to allow Americans to buy into Medicare. Another is to hook us up with the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, a health insurance system (controlled) which falls way short of the thriftier Medicare based option. Hopefully, Americans have wised-up to the transparency in Washington and realized the bait-and-switch tactics ushered in (under the wire) hours before the final vote. Until WE THE PEOPLE can trust our congressional leaders to read proposed legislation and make honest, incorruptible decisions on our behalf…we need to plug our ears to a sweeter sales pitch which could not only sink our generation’s ship, but cause future generations to fail to launch.

Note: It is sad to see that the circles our congressional leaders move in can cause them to continually spin.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 08-18-09

A Yard Sale For America Is The First Weekend In October!

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Sound familiar? Well, JFK was not the first to utter it! He was in fact quoting from The New Frontier by Khalil Gibran...written thirty six years earlier. JFK never credited him. No matter who said it first...it is applicable today. Unfortunately, with the prevailing economic situation in America our family, friends, neighbors, and businesses are hurting. Earlier, I wrote a blog asking Americans to offer "free suggestions" if they came up with any ideas that would help businesses that were flailing. I recently gave some free marketing tips out myself. Now, there is something else we can do. I am declaring the first weekend in October...YARD SALE FOR AMERICA weekend! The money collected will go to the charity of your choice. All you need to do is affix a picture of the American flag on your yard sale sign, deposit the funds in your checking account, and write out a check to your charity as a receipt. Charities like the American Red Cross are hurting right now and we can clean out our closets while helping out our fellow man. Maybe the YARD SALE will be the catalyst we need to get rid of the "too small" items we have hoarded (for several years) foolishly thinking they would be an incentive to lose weight. If things don't sell...take them to a collection site like GOODWILL. We can all be "chipping in" by "kicking off " the YARD SALE FOR AMERICA!

Note: People don't mind giving nearly as much when they can choose the recipient.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!

Zanne Booker 8-17-09

African Students Feel Sorry For U.S. Students

This is a true story. A female student travelled to Africa this summer with a group of students and chaperones. They were excited to make the trip due to the mystique surrounding the continent, the wildlife, and espeially because they were going to get to address students of another nation. She was...to quote her math teacher..."an awesome student". Finally the big day arrived and she took her place in front of the assembly. These Third World teens were accustomed to the hardships life had handed them. Even water for drinking and cooking had to be retrieved by walking two miles to obtain it. She felt pangs of sorrow for them and wished they too could know how wonderful America was as she began to address the group who longed to experience some of America's bounty. The envy in there faces was soon replaced with sorrow and pity for American students when she made one comment...Students were not allowed to talk about God in school. Believe me...I know just how they felt.

Note: It is sobering to go to sleep thinking that you have everything and wake up realizing you have nothing.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 08-11-09