The 10 poorest states of USA - Republican majority
The 10 most uneducated states of USA - Republican majority
The 10 most religious states of USA - Republican majority
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Montana
- South Carolina
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- North Carolina
(* About most religious States we have some little differences but
basically are the same southern States, Alabama in # 2, Georgia in # 7,
Oklahoma in # 9 and a tie between Kentucky and Texas in number 10 )
Talk about voting against their best interests....the citizens of these states mean nothing to the Republicans, except every four years....
Having said that, they do get more than their share of federal money...
States receiving the most federal funding per tax dollar paid:
2. West Virginia: $2.57
3. Mississippi: $2.47
6. Alabama: $2.03
8. Montana $1.92
9. South Carolina: $1.92
Good luck with those Ryan budget cuts....
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
REWARD THE RICH AND PENALIZE ALL OTHERS
That's the very independent Bernie Sanders from the state of my birth,Vermont. Our Don Quixote, railing against massive pork barrel spending, two wars that made no sense, tax cuts that set off an economic vortex of deficits and the criminal greed from our banks and real estate industry that nearly caused our second great depression.
And what is the response from the conservatives that caused most of our financial situation (besides Clinton repealing Glass-Stegall)......continue to reward the rich and balance the budget by penalizing the middle class with additional taxes. Their rational? The rich are the so called "job creators"...as if Bill Gates will take his share of the tax breaks bestowed upon him and create a new business start-up and hire 10,000 more people.....you don't need to be a rancher to recognize bullshit when you smell it.
Once and for all, let's define exactly who the "job creators" are....people who buy things. That's right...businesses are created due to potential demand. People are hired when sales increase to the extent that their present work force cannot respond to it. Businesses will increase their inventories when business dictates....when their inventory days of supply reduce due to increased demand. Production will increase when demand increases...when people start buying things. And this will require a strong and vibrant middle class.
The economic platform according to Kimba?
Get rid of the Bush tax cuts for the rich ($1million in yearly earnings) permanently, which will increase revenue....don't worry Gates, don't worry Koch Brothers, don't worry Walton family...you will survive...in fact, and here is the best part...you will get the money back ten fold, because we are going to reduce the tax rates on all others...and they are going to flood the marketplace and buy your goods...your inventories decrease, your sales increase, your profits increase, and you will be forced to hire more people to meet the increased demand. It's a win-win-win.
Balance the budget by reducing social programs? Unnecessary...because we will cut all spending by 10% across the board. Every program, every agency. All those that think there is so much as one agency without at least 10% waste, please raise your hand...I thought so. It will be incumbent on the leadership of each agency to ferret out waste in order to survive. How about an anonymous tip line at the federal level for whistle blowers to report waste and ridiculously criminal spending of the tax payers money?
Finally, we concentrate on the Fed...and the stability of the dollar. The worth of the dollar relative to foreign markets...especially China. Establish penalties to Americans who zap our wealth by sending their money out of the country....penalize American companies who ship our jobs overseas....and tariff all goods coming into our country so that is becomes cheaper to manufacture here. And repeal the minimum wage...a true free market. Let the American worker decide what a fair wage is based on whether or not someone is willing to accept the job and salary.
Health care? Medicare programs for all those willing to buy it regardless of age. Add it to the Affordable Heath Care Act immediately. The reduced cost of Medicaid versus the profit bloated insurance tyrants will force them to become more competitive with their pricing.
It's not everything, but it would be a rational start. Next up..."too big to fail corporations, anchor babies, immigration, the G.I. Bill, educational system, and on and on.....but for gawd sakes...don't try and fix the economic problems Congress has created over the past decades on the backs of the middle class, who have done nothing to create it...except vote for the morons who caused the problem by saying Aye..... and who now are saying no......... to fix the problems they themselves have created.
And that's my world..."The World According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
THANK GOD FOR THE JACK IN THE BOX $1 VALUE MENU...
The sad thing is how the GOP traditionally
carries the south every time.
carries the south every time.
If there was a shred of truth to it, they would vote for
whom the conservatives call the
whom the conservatives call the
"Food Stamp President."
If you intend on voting for Paul Ryan,
you better stock up on Pop Tarts.
you better stock up on Pop Tarts.
Come to think of it, the way the GOP
has taken away your right to vote,
has taken away your right to vote,
(w/ Voter ID) your vote won't ever be cast,
you lazy,despicable poor person.
you lazy,despicable poor person.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
HE CHOSE PRUDENCE OVER PARTY.....
"As America prepares to pick our President for the next four years-and as Florida prepares to play a decisive role - I'm confident that Barack Obama is the right leader for our state and nation. I applaud and share his vision of a future built by a strong and confident middle class in an economy that gives us the opportunity to reap prosperity through hard work and personal responsibility. It is a vision of the future proven right by our history."
Former Governor of Florida, Charlie Criss
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
FDR'S SECOND BILL OF RIGHTS
A 2nd Bill Of Rights was first put forth by President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt’s (FDR) State of the Union Speech to Congress on January 11,
1944. It includes:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; The right to a good education.
In my humble opinion, FDR nailed it....
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; The right to a good education.
In my humble opinion, FDR nailed it....
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
WHY PAUL RYAN IS THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THE LIBERALS
Now that Romney's choice of a running mate is official we should take a look at Rep. Ryan and his threat to re-election. Certainly he is a very appealing choice for anyone right or ultra right leaning, but how does he look to the entire chessboard of voting groups?
He cannot bring his home state to Romney....Wisconsin goes Democratic every time.
He will solidify the seniors against the conservative push to voucherize Medicare and increase the age for Social Security benefits....he is the leading force behind the gutting of all senior programs they laughingly call a "Blueprint for America"....good bye Florida!
His vote against the Ledbetter fair pay act, solid conservative views on birth control and pro-life stance will certainly not endear him to women.
He is a career politician and a 14 year veteran of the most unpopular groups in American history...the House of Representatives.
His resume is solely made up of being on the public payroll. He literally knows nothing of business, except the business of spending the public's money....he cannot relate to the plight of the American middle class.
His personal charisma score is zero. Zero.
He claims (and reclaimed it this morning at their announcement) that we get our American way of life from God all the while endorsing the Darwinian approach that we guarantee "equal opportunity, not equal outcomes."
His budget plan will force thousands and thousands of currently employed teachers, police officers, firemen and many other public employees to the unemployment line....his budget takes the austerity approach that will not work, suppresses economic growth and is currently devastating European countries as we speak.
He will further the income gap, lowering tax rates for the wealthy while the middle class remains too weak to infuse the economy as consumers.
His budget plan axe will affect every governmental program with the exception of the American military....deep, troubling cuts which will affect every citizen not fortunate enough to be a member of the uber rich.
He is what he is...Romney's way of shutting up the Tea Party who hates him and threatens him behind closed doors.
So in short...on behalf of the Democratic party...thank you Mitt...and BTW...we heard you proclaim Ryan the next "President of the United States"....you truly are a Mittwitt.
He cannot bring his home state to Romney....Wisconsin goes Democratic every time.
He will solidify the seniors against the conservative push to voucherize Medicare and increase the age for Social Security benefits....he is the leading force behind the gutting of all senior programs they laughingly call a "Blueprint for America"....good bye Florida!
His vote against the Ledbetter fair pay act, solid conservative views on birth control and pro-life stance will certainly not endear him to women.
He is a career politician and a 14 year veteran of the most unpopular groups in American history...the House of Representatives.
His resume is solely made up of being on the public payroll. He literally knows nothing of business, except the business of spending the public's money....he cannot relate to the plight of the American middle class.
His personal charisma score is zero. Zero.
He claims (and reclaimed it this morning at their announcement) that we get our American way of life from God all the while endorsing the Darwinian approach that we guarantee "equal opportunity, not equal outcomes."
His budget plan will force thousands and thousands of currently employed teachers, police officers, firemen and many other public employees to the unemployment line....his budget takes the austerity approach that will not work, suppresses economic growth and is currently devastating European countries as we speak.
He will further the income gap, lowering tax rates for the wealthy while the middle class remains too weak to infuse the economy as consumers.
His budget plan axe will affect every governmental program with the exception of the American military....deep, troubling cuts which will affect every citizen not fortunate enough to be a member of the uber rich.
He is what he is...Romney's way of shutting up the Tea Party who hates him and threatens him behind closed doors.
So in short...on behalf of the Democratic party...thank you Mitt...and BTW...we heard you proclaim Ryan the next "President of the United States"....you truly are a Mittwitt.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN BEST INTERESTS
Needless to say,the vote you cast in November will determine the course this country will take for quite some time. National security,the economy, class warfare and the very identity of America will be at stake.
Will you want a President who works at ending wars, or one who threatens new ones (Romney's remarks enabling, almost daring Israel to strike at Iran), a President who believes in the Bush economic doctrine (feed the rich and it will trickle down, or one who seeks to bolster a strong and vibrant middle class)....will you want aPresident who believes in America, or one who wants to see the auto industry go down in flames, one who believed we should let foreclosures happen and let the market place take care of it....will you want a President who wants to re-establish oversight to prevent greed from taking us down again, or one who believes in a naive Darwinian economy where the strong survives while others suffer.
Let's take the Romney tax plan for instance, and the opinion of the unbiased Tax Policy Center of the Brookings Institute.... "Absent any base broadening, the proposed reductions in individual and estate taxes specified in Governor Romney’s plan would decrease federal tax revenues by $360 billion in 2015. These tax cuts predominantly favor upper-income taxpayers: Taxpayers with incomes over $1 million would see their after-tax income increased by 8.3 percent (an average tax cut of about $175,000), taxpayers with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000 would see somewhat smaller increases of about 2.4 percent (an average tax cut of $1,800), while the after-tax income of taxpayers earning less than $30,000 would actually decrease by about 0.9 percent (an average tax increase of about $130) due to the expiration of the temporary tax cuts enacted in 2009 and extended at the end of 2010."
The question is...will you vote in your best interests, or vote to bring back the Bush economic doctrines that nearly brought on another Great Depression? Will you vote for a balanced attack towards our economic woes (raise revenue by ending the Bush tax cuts for millionaires with spending cuts across the board) or will you vote for a deja voodoo plan that has been tried before and failed?
Will you vote for a leader and a statesman, or the gaffe machine you have been reading about over the past two weeks...a man who once again brought the term"Ugly American" back into vogue? In an attempt to bolster his virtually non-existent foreign affairs experience, he somehow managed to become a world wide joke...is this who you want to lead your country? You had better think long and hard, my friend....
Will you want a President who works at ending wars, or one who threatens new ones (Romney's remarks enabling, almost daring Israel to strike at Iran), a President who believes in the Bush economic doctrine (feed the rich and it will trickle down, or one who seeks to bolster a strong and vibrant middle class)....will you want aPresident who believes in America, or one who wants to see the auto industry go down in flames, one who believed we should let foreclosures happen and let the market place take care of it....will you want a President who wants to re-establish oversight to prevent greed from taking us down again, or one who believes in a naive Darwinian economy where the strong survives while others suffer.
Let's take the Romney tax plan for instance, and the opinion of the unbiased Tax Policy Center of the Brookings Institute.... "Absent any base broadening, the proposed reductions in individual and estate taxes specified in Governor Romney’s plan would decrease federal tax revenues by $360 billion in 2015. These tax cuts predominantly favor upper-income taxpayers: Taxpayers with incomes over $1 million would see their after-tax income increased by 8.3 percent (an average tax cut of about $175,000), taxpayers with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000 would see somewhat smaller increases of about 2.4 percent (an average tax cut of $1,800), while the after-tax income of taxpayers earning less than $30,000 would actually decrease by about 0.9 percent (an average tax increase of about $130) due to the expiration of the temporary tax cuts enacted in 2009 and extended at the end of 2010."
The question is...will you vote in your best interests, or vote to bring back the Bush economic doctrines that nearly brought on another Great Depression? Will you vote for a balanced attack towards our economic woes (raise revenue by ending the Bush tax cuts for millionaires with spending cuts across the board) or will you vote for a deja voodoo plan that has been tried before and failed?
Will you vote for a leader and a statesman, or the gaffe machine you have been reading about over the past two weeks...a man who once again brought the term"Ugly American" back into vogue? In an attempt to bolster his virtually non-existent foreign affairs experience, he somehow managed to become a world wide joke...is this who you want to lead your country? You had better think long and hard, my friend....
Friday, August 3, 2012
CHICK-FIL-A PROTEST AGAINST THEIR CHICKEN SHIT BIGOTRY
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
THE OVAL OFFICE: DOESN'T ANYONE SEE THE "FOR SALE" SIGN IN THE FRONT YARD?
So far this year, 26 billionaires have donated more than $61 million to
super PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And that’s
only what has been publicly disclosed.” That didn’t include “about $100
million that Sheldon Adelson has said that he is willing to spend to
defeat President Obama; or the $400 million that the Koch brothers have
pledged to spend during the 2012 election season.”
What the Supreme court has done through their Citizens United decision is establish an oligarchy....they have made it possible for money to speak so loud that, if we are not careful, drown out the vote of the common man. Now more than at any time in our history one party is attempting to replace "one man, one vote" with "one dollar, one vote."
During a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Bernie Sanders put it this way: “What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to say to these same billionaires and the corporations they control: ‘You own and control the economy; you own Wall Street; you own the coal companies; you own the oil companies. Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we’re going to give you the opportunity to own the United States government.’ ”
What the Supreme court has done through their Citizens United decision is establish an oligarchy....they have made it possible for money to speak so loud that, if we are not careful, drown out the vote of the common man. Now more than at any time in our history one party is attempting to replace "one man, one vote" with "one dollar, one vote."
During a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Bernie Sanders put it this way: “What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to say to these same billionaires and the corporations they control: ‘You own and control the economy; you own Wall Street; you own the coal companies; you own the oil companies. Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we’re going to give you the opportunity to own the United States government.’ ”
Sunday, July 22, 2012
COMING OUT OF THAT "DARK KNIGHT"
He wasn't born to do this. He had every advantage in life...a loving middle class home, a nuclear family with conservative parents and a superior intellect that resulted in degrees and recognition with honors.
There are so many people out there amongst us who desperately need help. We need an anonymous National Mental Health tip line so that these people can get the help they need before another tragedy like this unfolds. I don't know what this would look like, or how this could be enforced or investigated, but doing nothing will ultimately cost more innocent lives.
The real tragedy is that someone knew this guy needed help. Someone could see the signs.....friends, family, an educator, a healthcare provider, an employer....someone knew this guy needed help. But they didn't know who to call, or what to do, or were afraid to get involved.
A national helpline would be a first step. A data base of names of people who may need help, of people whose lives were going sideways. A data base of names to check before selling someone a roll magazine bulk ammo accessory that would allow someone to fire off 100 rounds per minute. A data base to check before selling someone thousands of bullets online, and bullet proof vests, and a gas mask and all the accoutrements this disturbed young man acquired in order to commit this atrocity.
We cannot remain silent any longer. Someone knew......and the cost of their silence(s) can be seen in Aurora and Columbine and Virginia Tech and on and on.... We cannot afford to stay silent any longer.
God bless all those who personally experienced this horrific event...may they find peace. God bless the victims who will recover and God bless the ultimate victims, the unfortunate people who through no fault of there own died at the hands of this troubled soul (some pictured above). Good people who died...because someone knew....at least someone should have known...and either didn't know what to do, or chose to do nothing. Someone knew what we all know now. This man was a time bomb waiting to go off....and he did...and hundreds of lives have been inextricably altered because of it in a horrific and brutal way.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
REFLECTIONS ON A ONCE GREAT NATION
If you are an Aaron Sorkin devotee like I am, you have been watching the first two episodes of a new series on HBO called "The Newsroom."
In its first episode, Jeff Daniels, who plays a veteran newscaster named Will McEvoy, is on the speaking circuit, this time as part of the usual college debate, with McEvoy flanked by the usual talking heads, one ultra right wing, and one ultra liberal.
During a Q & A session, one of the college students in the audience asks ‘What makes America the greatest country in the
world?’
McEvoy pauses for a few seconds, then
goes on an almighty (factually accurate, statistically) rant about why
America is NOT the world’s greatest country, a concept that would be
horrifyingly alien to 99.99 per cent of Americans I know:
"There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that America is the greatest country on earth.....we’re seventh in literacy, 27th in
math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant
mortality, third in median household income, fourth in labor force and
fourth in exports.
We lead the world in only three categories – number
of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels
are real, and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26
countries combined, 25 of which are our allies… So when you ask what makes us the greatest country
in the world, I don’t know what the f*** you’re talking about....Yosemite?
As the students look on, stunned, he
adds, ‘We sure used to be… We stood up for what was right, we fought for moral reasons, we waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We
sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our
mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things,
made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured
diseases, and cultivated the world’s greatest artists and the world’s
greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and acted like men…we aspired to intelligence and didn't belittle it, it didn't make us feel inferior, we didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election.... and we didn't scare so easy."
We were
able to be all these things and do all these things because we were
informed, by great men… The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one – America is not the greatest country in the
world any more.’
Sobering dialogue to be sure, but factually accurate...we are no longer the greatest country in the world.......but what McEvoy didn't say...and desperately needed to say was, "but we can be again."
Now I'm not going to go off on a rant of my own (which would pale in comparison to Sorkin's incredible writing flair), except to say that we lost something generations ago. We lost something and we never even knew it...I guess we were so busy beating our chests in a sense of false pride we didn't even notice it was slipping away from us.
During World War II this country came together as in no other time in our history...ration books became necessary for staples like coffee, sugar and petroleum, goods normally made of rubber and scrap metal were scarce as they were used to produce ammunition, gas masks and explosives.
During World War II this country came together as in no other time in our history...ration books became necessary for staples like coffee, sugar and petroleum, goods normally made of rubber and scrap metal were scarce as they were used to produce ammunition, gas masks and explosives.
A call came down from our leaders to save scrap metal in order to bolster our sorely lacking production of airplanes. While recent historical studies indicate that the scrap drives were more
important as morale boosters than in providing essential products for
the war effort. But, the general public did get caught up in the
patriotic enthusiasm — some saved tin foil from gum wrappers, making a
tin foil ball until it reached a size large enough to be accepted by the
collection site. Scrap paper was more easily collected and was used to
package armaments. Grease was saved and recycled to make ammunition.
They came together and along with the adoption of assembly line production techniques from Henry Ford, this great nation far exceeded its goals and produced enough planes...enough planes to form an armada that blanketed the skies....and victory was ours...and democracy continued to live on in Europe as a result.
They came together and along with the adoption of assembly line production techniques from Henry Ford, this great nation far exceeded its goals and produced enough planes...enough planes to form an armada that blanketed the skies....and victory was ours...and democracy continued to live on in Europe as a result.
We came together. I don't know what it would take for this once great nation to come together again. Many would say we never will again....we are too fragmented, too engaged in class warfare to ever come together as a people. It is the haves and have nots. It's me and it's you......it's never "us" anymore.
And that is a shame...because when this nation comes together, there is nothing we can't do. During his term, President Kennedy set the goal of going to the moon, an absurd notion. We were in the middle of racial tensions, riots in our streets not to mention the technology simply did not exsist....there was no reason to possibly think this goal was achievable....but he / we made it happen. Many of you will remember JFK's great speech he gave that historic day in Houston....
"We choose to go to the moon in this
decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because
they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the
best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we
are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which
we intend to win, and the others, too."
But you may not remember this speech...the speech he gave to Congress upon his return to Washington after making such a bold statement and after challenging the nation to "go where no man had gone before...."
"I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the
facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions
or marshalled the national resources required for such leadership. We
have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or
managed our resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment."
That's leadership....he challenged the nation, he harnessed out energies, he challenged this nation like other great leaders had in WWII and before....because leaders give us vision, they challenge us to achieve and most of all they lead. And as long as Washington fails to come together themselves and actually lead.....we may never come together for one sole purpose again.
"America is not the greatest nation on earth any more."
But we can be...if only our leaders could lead....and bring us together towards common goals...and stop identifying us (and dividing us) by social and political labels...because the day after an election, we used to stop being Democrats and Republicans, and went back to being what we took so much pride in being...Americans. One great nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
I envy the youth of America today...because they are too young to remember what it felt like to be an American generations ago. They don't know the shame in what we have become....and what we may never be again.
And that is the world..."The World According to Kimba."
God bless you......and God bless the United States of America.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT "OBAMA-CARES"
Under the new law, young adults are allowed to stay on their parent’s
plan until they turn 26 years old. (In the case of existing group health
plans, this right does not apply if the young adult is offered
insurance at work.) Check with your insurance company or employer to see
if you qualify.
All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
In the past, insurance companies could search for an error, or other technical mistake, on a customer’s application and use this error to deny payment for services when he or she got sick. The new law makes this illegal. After media reports cited incidents of breast cancer patients losing coverage, insurance companies agreed to end this practice immediately.
The law provides consumers with a way to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company, and establishes an external review process.
Under the new law, insurance companies are prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays.
Under the new law, insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive is restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans. In 2014, the use of annual dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays will be banned for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.
The new law includes new rules to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases to be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges in 2014.
To strengthen the availability of primary care, there are new incentives in the law to expand the number of primary care doctors, nurses and physician assistants, including funding for scholarships and loan repayments for primary care doctors and nurses working in under served areas. Doctors and nurses receiving payments made under any state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program intended to increase the availability of health care services in under served or health professional shortage areas will not have to pay taxes on those payments.
Under the new law, states that apply receive federal grants to help set up or expand independent offices to help consumers navigate the private health insurance system. These programs help consumers file complaints and appeals; enroll in health coverage; and get educated about their rights and responsibilities in group health plans or individual health insurance policies. The programs also collect data on the types of problems consumers have, and file reports with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify trouble spots that need further oversight.
A new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund invests in proven prevention and public health programs that can help keep Americans healthy – from smoking cessation to combating obesity.
The law includes new funding to support the construction of and expansion of services at community health centers, allowing these centers to serve some 20 million new patients across the country.
Today, 68% of medically underserved communities across the nation are in rural areas, and these communities often have trouble attracting and retaining medical professionals. The law provides increased payment to rural health care providers to help them continue to serve their communities.
In 2011, seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans, for seniors on Medicare.
To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the new law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers.
Today, Medicare pays Medicare Advantage insurance companies over $1,000 more per person on average than is spent per person in Original Medicare. This results in increased premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries, including the 77% of beneficiaries who are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The new law levels the playing field by gradually eliminating this discrepancy. People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan will still receive all guaranteed Medicare benefits, and the law provides bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care.
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law institutes a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. Using electronic health records will reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors and, most importantly, improve the quality of care.
As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2014, the Act requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100% of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The increase is fully funded by the federal government.
Under the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid.
Starting in 2014 if your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy it directly in an Affordable Insurance Exchange. An Exchange is a new transparent and competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of health plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges too.
Under the new law, most individuals who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance coverage or pay a fee to help offset the costs of caring for uninsured Americans. If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, he or she will be eligible for an exemption.
Workers meeting certain requirements who cannot afford the coverage provided by their employer may take whatever funds their employer might have contributed to their insurance and use these resources to help purchase a more affordable plan in the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges. These new competitive marketplaces will allow individuals and small businesses to buy qualified health benefit plans.
Americans who earn less than 133% of the poverty level (approximately $14,000 for an individual and $29,000 for a family of four) will be eligible to enroll in Medicaid. States will receive 100% federal funding for the first three years to support this expanded coverage, phasing to 90% federal funding in subsequent years.
Tax credits to help the middle class afford insurance will become available for those with income between 100% and 400% of the poverty line who are not eligible for other affordable coverage. (In 2010, 400% of the poverty line comes out to about $43,000 for an individual or $88,000 for a family of four.) The tax credit is advanceable, so it can lower your premium payments each month, rather than making you wait for tax time. It’s also refundable, so even moderate income families can receive the full benefit of the credit. These individuals may also qualify for reduced cost-sharing (copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles).
The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status.
The law prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive.
The law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50% of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35% credit for small non-profit organizations.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html#event2-pane
All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
In the past, insurance companies could search for an error, or other technical mistake, on a customer’s application and use this error to deny payment for services when he or she got sick. The new law makes this illegal. After media reports cited incidents of breast cancer patients losing coverage, insurance companies agreed to end this practice immediately.
The law provides consumers with a way to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company, and establishes an external review process.
Under the new law, insurance companies are prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays.
Under the new law, insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive is restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans. In 2014, the use of annual dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays will be banned for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.
The new law includes new rules to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases to be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges in 2014.
To strengthen the availability of primary care, there are new incentives in the law to expand the number of primary care doctors, nurses and physician assistants, including funding for scholarships and loan repayments for primary care doctors and nurses working in under served areas. Doctors and nurses receiving payments made under any state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program intended to increase the availability of health care services in under served or health professional shortage areas will not have to pay taxes on those payments.
Under the new law, states that apply receive federal grants to help set up or expand independent offices to help consumers navigate the private health insurance system. These programs help consumers file complaints and appeals; enroll in health coverage; and get educated about their rights and responsibilities in group health plans or individual health insurance policies. The programs also collect data on the types of problems consumers have, and file reports with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify trouble spots that need further oversight.
A new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund invests in proven prevention and public health programs that can help keep Americans healthy – from smoking cessation to combating obesity.
The law includes new funding to support the construction of and expansion of services at community health centers, allowing these centers to serve some 20 million new patients across the country.
Today, 68% of medically underserved communities across the nation are in rural areas, and these communities often have trouble attracting and retaining medical professionals. The law provides increased payment to rural health care providers to help them continue to serve their communities.
In 2011, seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans, for seniors on Medicare.
To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the new law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers.
Today, Medicare pays Medicare Advantage insurance companies over $1,000 more per person on average than is spent per person in Original Medicare. This results in increased premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries, including the 77% of beneficiaries who are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The new law levels the playing field by gradually eliminating this discrepancy. People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan will still receive all guaranteed Medicare benefits, and the law provides bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care.
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law institutes a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. Using electronic health records will reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors and, most importantly, improve the quality of care.
As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2014, the Act requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100% of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The increase is fully funded by the federal government.
Under the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid.
Starting in 2014 if your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy it directly in an Affordable Insurance Exchange. An Exchange is a new transparent and competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of health plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges too.
Under the new law, most individuals who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance coverage or pay a fee to help offset the costs of caring for uninsured Americans. If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, he or she will be eligible for an exemption.
Workers meeting certain requirements who cannot afford the coverage provided by their employer may take whatever funds their employer might have contributed to their insurance and use these resources to help purchase a more affordable plan in the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges. These new competitive marketplaces will allow individuals and small businesses to buy qualified health benefit plans.
Americans who earn less than 133% of the poverty level (approximately $14,000 for an individual and $29,000 for a family of four) will be eligible to enroll in Medicaid. States will receive 100% federal funding for the first three years to support this expanded coverage, phasing to 90% federal funding in subsequent years.
Tax credits to help the middle class afford insurance will become available for those with income between 100% and 400% of the poverty line who are not eligible for other affordable coverage. (In 2010, 400% of the poverty line comes out to about $43,000 for an individual or $88,000 for a family of four.) The tax credit is advanceable, so it can lower your premium payments each month, rather than making you wait for tax time. It’s also refundable, so even moderate income families can receive the full benefit of the credit. These individuals may also qualify for reduced cost-sharing (copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles).
The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status.
The law prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive.
The law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50% of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35% credit for small non-profit organizations.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html#event2-pane
Sunday, July 1, 2012
I WANT TO KNOW TOO.....
I want to know what is so terrible about:
- Keeping your kids on your policy until they reach the age of 26.
- Eliminating the lifetime cap on benefits.
- Stopping insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick.
- Lowering the cost of care and medication for Medicare recipients.
- Covering preventative care at no charge.
- Strengthening fraud protections by increasing penalties.
- Stopping insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
- Stopping insurance companies from arbitrarily jacking up rates.
- Getting a rebate if your insurance company spent too much on ads and CEO bonuses.
- Tax credits to small businesses so they can afford quality health coverage for their employees.
- Building and improving community health centers.
- Giving working Americans a tax credit so they can afford insurance (begins in 2014).
- Also in 2014, ending discrimination against adults with pre-exiting conditions.
- Preventing insurance companies from charging higher prices to women based solely on their gender (2014).
- Creating insurance exchanges where people can shop and compare and get the most for their health insurance dollars (2014). http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/06/30/much-ado-about-obamacare/
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN MONEY.....
During Mr. Romney’s 1994 bid to unseat Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.),
he called on the senator to release his tax returns to prove he had
“nothing to hide.” Yet he refuses to release his financial portfolio or even his tax returns as a candidate for the highest office in the land.
Anyone who reads the papers or follows the news is aware Mr. Romney is accumulating massive amounts of cash, building a very impressive "war chest" for the final stretch of his presidential bid...but he steadfastly refuses to release this information, or even name his own named "Top 100 bundlers".....individuals with connections able to quickly and surreptitiously accumulate incredible amounts of campaign donations.
What is he hiding? It must be pointed out, Mr. Romney is operating within the law by keeping his campaign funding machine secret. In doing so, he is however not following a standard he fought tooth and nail to have Kennedy comply to. Double standard? Of course. Hypocritical? Absolutely.
Needless to say the Koch brothers are surely behind much of the fund raising. Some say they are nefarious in their desire to buy this election. Many have said they have a very dark and near criminal record of buying and bribing their way to a billion dollar portfolio themselves.
I say they are worthy of your own research. A simple Google search will give you all the info you will need to know in a very short amount of time.
Furthermore, I say candidate Romney must follow his call to Senator Kennedy and release his financial statements and at the very least, the identities of his bundlers, if not total transparency of all those who seek to assist in the buying of the highest office in our land. Transparency is what is needed most in this election, and anything less would fail my character test in anyone worthy of my consideration for the Presidency of the United States of America.
Candidate Perry did it. President Obama has done it. Candidate Clinton (both of them) did it, and candidate Gingrich promised to do it when he became the nominee.
It is my personal opinion that candidate Romney hasn't because he can't. He can't let the American public know the identities of his bundlers, or his most ardent financial supporters, lest he risks public condemnation. Do I know who is behind him? No. But the web is starting to unravel, and it isn't a pretty picture.
Prove me wrong, Governor. Do as you say and follow your sage advice to Senator Kennedy and release the information, sir. Prove to me you are at least worthy of consideration. Life is a character test sir, and in my eyes you are failing in your failure to do so.
And that is the world....."The World According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.
Anyone who reads the papers or follows the news is aware Mr. Romney is accumulating massive amounts of cash, building a very impressive "war chest" for the final stretch of his presidential bid...but he steadfastly refuses to release this information, or even name his own named "Top 100 bundlers".....individuals with connections able to quickly and surreptitiously accumulate incredible amounts of campaign donations.
What is he hiding? It must be pointed out, Mr. Romney is operating within the law by keeping his campaign funding machine secret. In doing so, he is however not following a standard he fought tooth and nail to have Kennedy comply to. Double standard? Of course. Hypocritical? Absolutely.
Needless to say the Koch brothers are surely behind much of the fund raising. Some say they are nefarious in their desire to buy this election. Many have said they have a very dark and near criminal record of buying and bribing their way to a billion dollar portfolio themselves.
I say they are worthy of your own research. A simple Google search will give you all the info you will need to know in a very short amount of time.
Furthermore, I say candidate Romney must follow his call to Senator Kennedy and release his financial statements and at the very least, the identities of his bundlers, if not total transparency of all those who seek to assist in the buying of the highest office in our land. Transparency is what is needed most in this election, and anything less would fail my character test in anyone worthy of my consideration for the Presidency of the United States of America.
Candidate Perry did it. President Obama has done it. Candidate Clinton (both of them) did it, and candidate Gingrich promised to do it when he became the nominee.
It is my personal opinion that candidate Romney hasn't because he can't. He can't let the American public know the identities of his bundlers, or his most ardent financial supporters, lest he risks public condemnation. Do I know who is behind him? No. But the web is starting to unravel, and it isn't a pretty picture.
Prove me wrong, Governor. Do as you say and follow your sage advice to Senator Kennedy and release the information, sir. Prove to me you are at least worthy of consideration. Life is a character test sir, and in my eyes you are failing in your failure to do so.
And that is the world....."The World According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.
SECRET ROMNEY OPERATIVES ARE BUNDLING AWAY MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CASH
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-romneys-secret-bundlers/2012/06/09/gJQAkAqkQV_story.html
".........Bundlers play an essential role in presidential campaigns — Mr. Romney’s in particular. The latest figures show that just 15 percent of the Romney campaign’s May total came in donations of $200 or less, compared with 40 percent of contributions to the Obama campaign. Such hauls of maximum-dollar checks do not happen without the assiduous behind-the-scenes work of well-connected bundlers.
The snippets of disclosure of lobbyist-bundlers illustrate that point: An analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by the Public Campaign Action Fund found that 25 lobbyists had bundled more than $3 million for the Romney campaign through April, including a Barclays Capital executive, Patrick Durkin, who was near the $1 million mark ($927,160.)
A Romney campaign pamphlet prepared for donors details the special perks lavished on those who haul in the biggest bundles: “Stars,” who raise $250,000, and ”Stripes,” who bring in $500,000 or more. “Stripes” receive everything from a “dedicated Romney Victory headquarters staff member” to access to debates to “signature membership pieces and apparel.” Indeed, the campaign promised to publish the information it declines to reveal to the public by listing bundlers’ names in a ”Stars and Stripes Commemorative Book.” The Post reported Friday that the Romney campaign’s “top 100 bundlers — ‘Team 100’ — are heading to a private retreat in Utah on June 22-24 to plot out how to replicate the May success in the months ahead.”
Who are these men and women to whom the campaign is so deeply indebted? Mr. Romney has yet to answer — indeed, he has yet to be directly asked — why his campaign will not live up to the standard set by Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain. Why would he hide his roster of key supporters?
More on this debate:
The Post’s View: Mr. Romney’s secrets
The Post’s View: Mitt Romney’s secret money
".........Bundlers play an essential role in presidential campaigns — Mr. Romney’s in particular. The latest figures show that just 15 percent of the Romney campaign’s May total came in donations of $200 or less, compared with 40 percent of contributions to the Obama campaign. Such hauls of maximum-dollar checks do not happen without the assiduous behind-the-scenes work of well-connected bundlers.
The snippets of disclosure of lobbyist-bundlers illustrate that point: An analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by the Public Campaign Action Fund found that 25 lobbyists had bundled more than $3 million for the Romney campaign through April, including a Barclays Capital executive, Patrick Durkin, who was near the $1 million mark ($927,160.)
A Romney campaign pamphlet prepared for donors details the special perks lavished on those who haul in the biggest bundles: “Stars,” who raise $250,000, and ”Stripes,” who bring in $500,000 or more. “Stripes” receive everything from a “dedicated Romney Victory headquarters staff member” to access to debates to “signature membership pieces and apparel.” Indeed, the campaign promised to publish the information it declines to reveal to the public by listing bundlers’ names in a ”Stars and Stripes Commemorative Book.” The Post reported Friday that the Romney campaign’s “top 100 bundlers — ‘Team 100’ — are heading to a private retreat in Utah on June 22-24 to plot out how to replicate the May success in the months ahead.”
Who are these men and women to whom the campaign is so deeply indebted? Mr. Romney has yet to answer — indeed, he has yet to be directly asked — why his campaign will not live up to the standard set by Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain. Why would he hide his roster of key supporters?
The Post’s View: Mr. Romney’s secrets
The Post’s View: Mitt Romney’s secret money
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
MISS HIM? YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING
He brought us back to deficits with overspending and tax cuts. He got us into wars we could not afford for whatever the reason (and it wasn't WMD's). He lost jobs at an alarming rate....700,000 jobs in his last month alone.
Need more? How about......Alberto Gonzales, Kyoto treaty, Katrina / FEMA, Halliburton, stem cell research, Bin Laden, body armor, Mission Accomplished, the war will pay for itself...NEED I GO ON????
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