I know, so cliche...a conservative right wing wacko prepping. First let me tell you what I'm doing, and then I'm going to give a real life example of how it has helped already.
It's been about 2 years now (wow, only 2 years?) I know it's been two years even though it feels like 3 because it's the second anniversary of the passing of the Health Care Mandate. I refuse to call it a bill. I've seen how it affects me already, but that's another blog. I got into politics because I made the mistake of reading the first bill about 2/3rds of the way through. It didn't pass, so they did another one. I read it about half way through. It didn't pass either, and they did a "compromise" and created a third one. I read a bit less than half of it. I know some of the key things to be afraid of. I know that pretty soon all health care transactions (paying bills, premiums, etc.) will have to be done electronically. The government wants access to our bank accounts. If they have to go in to get our premiums, they can take a look while they're in there. But I heard Glenn Beck say about 3 years ago, stock up.
So, we stocked up. Slowly at first. I searched the web to find a good prepping site. I'm Southern Baptist, not a Mormon. I found a really good common sense site put out by two Mormon women. The Mormon church has been saying for a really long time that all their members should have a stock of at least a year of food. I'm gluten intolerant, so I tried to alter their diet to suit my family. I don't want pounds and pounds of wheat or even rice that I have to grind into flour to make bread. I do have bread recipes, but they require things like chick pea flour, tapioca starch, and sometimes obscure ingredients that I know I won't have access to if society collapses.
I came across another suggestion about taking all of your recipes, finding ones you could substitute shelf stable foods for and putting them all in a notebook. Then you stock up on THOSE ingredients. That seemed the best way to me. I sat down with the recipes my family already eats and decided what could be done with canned meat. Could I make Hamburger Noodle Casserole with rice noodles (yep, already do) and some sort of canned meat? I had a recipe for Caribbean Chicken, could I do that with canned chicken? I started making some to see if they were edible. I started stocking up on those ingredients. I haven't inventoried in a while, but I'd estimate I have about 2 months of food, as in recipes I can make adding only a few key ingredients. If you count all the side dishes and just "I need to eat to survive" food, I probably have 3 months. I need to get some powdered butter, but I do have butter flavored Crisco. I know, not the same thing, but in a pinch.
Being a Celiac (as well as both my children), we can't just buy MRE's and forget about it. MRE's are the best way to go because they last about 30 years. I alternate between feeling collapse is imminent, to feeling like it could be years before it happens. I guess it depends on what lie the President is engaged in pushing. So I had to stock up on shelf stable goods. Besides things specifically for my recipes, I stocked up on things like canned potatoes (shish-ka-bobs with any meat we could hunt), corn, green beans and other side dish stuff, as well as sloppy joe mixes. I got spices at Sam's in bulk and left the containers unopened. If I need one, I use it, and then replace it. I stocked up on dry milk, oil and Crisco. I also stocked up on yarn, or am trying to. How long do you think your socks are going to last if society collapses? And also, I know those accustomed to nice things are still going to want them, even though they can't run to Walmart and get them. I can knit and crochet. I can knit socks, hats, mittens, gloves, sweaters and if I have to, bras and underwear. I can crochet doilies if I have to, but the tiny hooks are getting harder to work with the older I get. Maybe they'll be lacier because I use a bigger hook. I can trade these goods or even teach the skills to others in trade for something.
We realize that things can go south really fast. Thus the term WSHTF - when $hit hits the fan. We got together 72-hour kits for each family member. It consists of food items packed into a milk container that's been modified. You can look it up on the Food Storage site. I have a button on my site for it. It consists of enough food that I could stuff into it for one person, so that if rationed and added with water will keep you alive for 3 days. I also included Tang to mix with water. We're planning on making hobo stoves to add to it, but haven't gotten around to it. I also made 2 para cord bracelets with whistle buckles. Only two because I ran out of para cord. I still have two more to make, plus I want to make a belt for my husband. That would be a lot of cord, should we need it. My husband also takes a Get Home bag with him to work that includes some simple things to tide him over should he have to get home to us. Luckily, my son's school is on his way home. He can swing by and get him. My son also walks to his grandparents' house after school, so he can swing by there just as easily. My son carries a map of the area in a plastic bag so he could walk the 2 miles to our house if he had to.
I have a grab and go binder that contains instructions for how to hunt, fish, clean game, and make in-ground stills and water filters, etc. It contains everything I think I'll need should I need to leave the house or shelter in. I also have backpacks for the 4 of us that include clothes, extra shoes, etc. I've been throwing my spare change into one of the outside pockets for some money. I have a sling backpack hanging on the side of my closet door for throwing all of our medicines into should we have to "bug out."
In addition, I'm learning how to spin cotton yarn from cotton balls. Never would have thought of that, but what if I can't get yarn? I can also use dryer lint, but I figure if society collapses, I won't have an electric dryer anymore. I learned how to make my own laundry soap. For about $15 I can make enough for (they say) 6-9 months. It uses Borax, a special soap that I can't remember the name of right now, but you can use Ivory and Arm and Hammer baking soda washing powder. I made a triple batch, and only used half the Borax and washing powder. I'm going to keep track and see how long it lasts. I know how to make homemade toothpaste (I stocked up on store bought though because it tastes a bit odd). I can either make my own and use the store bought for bartering, or use the store bought and make my own when it runs out. I'm making hard copies of recipes, patterns, etc. because how long will we have our electronic devices that they're stored on?
In addition, we raised a small garden last year and are planting one this year as well. Last year was a learning experience, and we're making the necessary changes in placement and what we grow this year. It came time for frost last year, and I had a ton of green tomatoes, so I learned how to can green tomato relish. I can stew tomatoes also. This year, depending on the crops and price of groceries, I may just can what I pick instead of eating it. I imagine jars are going to get expensive as people go back to canning. As long as gardens are not outlawed, I'll keep it up. I have a couple spices already; sage and rosemary grow really well for me.
We had come across some free lumber and cinder blocks, so we built shelves along one whole living room wall to hold our excess canned goods. Since it's in the living room, we draped a sheet over the front to disguise it a bit. We also put together shelves at the end of our dining room wall, and put the table right up against it. The one shelf is just the right height to put our table stuff on. I have a double drop leaf gate-leg table so we're able to drop one leaf because everything but the food goes on the shelf (salt, pepper, paper towels, etc.)
I promised a real life application of how this could be helpful, should the economy not crash. I was diagnosed last year with cancer. I had been under treatment quite a while, and was still recuperating, when my husband broke his leg and was out of work. We still had all of our bills, and only his Navy Retirement check coming in for 2 months after we burned through all his vacation time FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. We ate out of our storage and only had to buy refrigerator items. This is how I learned to make some of the recipes with strictly shelf stable foods. It also helped me rotate my items. As soon as he got back to work and we got caught up (we had run up about $500 on our credit cards), we replaced our food storage.
That's another thing. We only put on our credit cards what we can pay off each month. Meaning we budget it, and only use the credit card for the 1% back at the grocery store, or for gas, etc. We have an Aldi's now, and we used to use the debit card. I may be paranoid, but I don't want the government knowing how I use my debit card and for what, so I started holding back my grocery budget and paying cash. It also helps me realize how much money I'm spending. When the cash is gone, I'm out.
That's about all I can think of at the moment. This writing has been interrupted so many times, my thoughts are a bit scattered.
Monday, March 26, 2012
I Am Who I Am Because of My Parents
I believe that's true for just about everyone. I am who I am because my parents are who they are. It's a chain that goes all the way up my family tree. It can go one of two ways. Either you are exactly like your parents, or you look at them at some point in your life, despise who they are, and determine to be the opposite. I believe this is true if you had good parents, or bad parents.
Me, for example. I had good parents, though they don't agree with me politically. They were always there for me, they were strong in the face of adversity, they were my foundation. I can attribute my strength to them. They imparted some of this knowledge verbally, through lessons, and some I got from watching them.
When my brother and I were born, my Dad's parents opened a checking account for each of us. They started it with $25 and let my parents put in as they could. My Dad got laid off from his job (they went on strike) in the late 1960's (I believe 1967-68). At that time, $25 would buy a week's worth of groceries. (My how inflation has affected us, huh?) Times got tough, but they didn't ask for money. They didn't run to the government for help. They did have to take that $25 out of our accounts to feed us. When times got better, they replaced it.
I was taken to church as a child, until about the 4th grade. We had lived out in the country for a couple years by then, and they decided it was just too far to drive to keep going to the same church. Their generation didn't "church shop" like we do now. But I had that base.
I got to see my mother's strength and faith when she went through breast cancer. I got to use it myself when just 5 years later, and again 7 years after that, I got to go through breast cancer. I got to see how their faith carried them through my illness.
I suppose the opposite is true as well. My Mom's dad was an alcoholic. Mom doesn't drink at all. My Dad went through the depression. He may have been a very small child, but he learned lessons. He was born in 1932. He was of the generation that reused, re purposed, etc., and didn't just go out and buy another one. He learned how to make knives from his Dad. He taught me how to knit, as well as how to read directions. He told me if you know how to read directions, you can teach yourself anything.
If I were going to destroy this country, I would destroy the family unit. I would make sure that they don't have dinner around the table at night. Possibly by requiring that the man of the house need 2 jobs to support his family. Possibly by making it more profitable for there to not even be a man in the house. I would make sure free money was available so the single mother didn't need a job. I would make it more profitable to depend on the government for handouts than to have a small job. If you don't see a parent get up and go to work, you will have no work ethic yourself. If you don't have a 2 parent family unit, you will think it's fine to not be there for your children. What do they call that? Baby mama's? Women that you just father children with, who then split their government check with you for the privilege of not having to go to work?
I would take the stigma away that taking a handout is wrong. I would make it common place. How many people during the Great Depression sold apples on the corner so they could feed their families? How many people now take whatever job they can find in order to feed their families? Or do most just say whatever and take that government check? They actually feel as if the government owes it to them. They don't pay taxes, why do they figure the government owes them a living? I pay taxes. I don't get all of it back, either. Some years I get a little back, some years I break even and sometimes I owe just a bit. I don't consider myself rich, by any means. If you are getting everything you have from the government, from the party that says everything will be free under me, but the other guy wants to take it all away, which guy are you going to vote for? I believe if you don't pay taxes, you shouldn't vote. You've heard of no taxation without representation? I say no representation without taxation. I don't remember which founding father said it, but he had it right. As soon as the people figure out they can vote someone in who will give them free stuff, our country is doomed (extremely paraphrased).
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. They are of a different era than me. I've seen a lot of changes over my short life (to them, 48 years is nothing). I can't believe the changes they've seen over their lifetimes. They are resistant to change, though. They still believe that the Democrat party is what it was during John F. Kennedy. They're starting to wake up though.
I have to wonder though: They realize that Republicans of today are closer to Democrats of Kennedy's era and that the Democrats have wandered really far to the left. They don't have a total grasp of what left and right are, but they understand the general idea. When you sit and ask them questions, they are conservative. But my dad was so busy working in a factory (which kills his soul) to feed his family and give them something better than what he had, that he didn't notice policy. He fell for the party line that the Democrats were for the common man and the Republicans were for big business. He doesn't get conservatism vs liberalism. But I wonder if everything has slid to the left, does that make Libertarians more like Republicans used to be?
In that respect (the questioning of policies) I suppose you could say I learned from my parent's mistakes. I see that they fell for the party line, and that I voted the R behind the name for too many years. I fell asleep, too. Because I have been awakened, I suppose I should thank Obama. My parents didn't vote for him. They left the presidential spot unchecked. I explained to them that by not voting they were voting. I think a lot of Republicans felt that way, too. They didn't vote for McCain in the primaries, because they recognized he was progressive light, so come time to vote, they just left it blank. I pray that it doesn't happen this time. Republicans are establishment (most of them). The Establishment is called that because they want everything to stay the same. That's why you hear all this talk of term limits when the Democrats have the majority, but term limits don't get voted in when the Republicans have the majority. They don't really want it, because it means they won't hold that office as long. They really want term limits for only the Democrats. And Democrats would be for term limits for only Republicans. I believe in a 2-party system. Without it, you have fascism. Even if they were all conservative. But I also believe in honesty. If a candidate is a moderate, run as a moderate. Don't wrap all your speeches in conservatism, when we know as soon as you're elected, you will go back to being a Moderate. If you believe in socialistic policies, run as a socialist. There are socialists in America's population, if there are enough, you'll get elected. But don't be a socialist and run as a Democrat. Don't couch all your rhetoric in Moderate clothes and phrases, knowing when you get in, you'll turn this country into Amerika.
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. If the things I said about destroying America hold true, the opposite should save her. Reinforce the family unit. Ease some of the regulations on businesses, so they will hire instead of holding on to all of their money in order to not give it away. A business will not expand if it has an uncertain future. If it knows taxes are going down, and they have to give less to the government, they will expand. Thus they have to hire. Don't force them to pay "living wages" because they will just pass it on to the consumer, not the worker. If goods go up in price, it won't matter that you make more. My Dad tells a story of the depression when his dad worked on the river and his mom was raising him alone. They only had 19 cents, enough for a loaf of bread. What can you get for 19 cents now? Bread costs over $2. Dad said he got .75 an hour. That means it's about 15 minutes work to get a loaf of bread. That would mean everyone should make about $12 an hour now. Really? You think McDonald's is going to pay someone $12 an hour to flip burgers? They put NO love into that burger, they're just there because they want to buy gasoline, party money, etc. If they had any pride in a job, my burger wouldn't come out the drive-through looking like it does.
Why is it that it's more profitable to be a single parent in today's society? Did you know that some people are unionizing baby sitter's? There is a minimum you have to pay them, and it's per hour. If you have a small job that barely feeds your family to start with, and in order to go to that job, you have to hire a sitter, why bother? You can sit at home, be with your kids and get a check from the government. I believe Welfare ought to have a time limit, and be small enough to make it more profitable to work. It was designed as a safety net, not a way of life. And there is no longer a stigma attached to getting a welfare check. As a matter of fact, it's a badge of honor to be able to scam the government out of more money than you deserve. I've heard of people having 7 kids, only claiming 4 so their sister who has none can claim the other 3. Or women who just go out and get pregnant with whoever, and numerous whoevers, so they can get those checks. The men who aren't even in their lives get a cut. Maybe there should be a limit of how many kids you get paid to have. Maybe there should be a better verification method to determine if you are actually the parent of the child you're claiming. They make me fill out a form every year in order to keep being my handicapped son's legal guardian. Why do they not investigate these people who get governmental money for the kids they have?
It used to be that if you didn't own land, you didn't vote. Now they would say that's racist, because most blacks and Hispanics don't own, but rent. Why is that? Because they don't (the majority) work, but get government checks. Maybe you should have to show your previous year's tax form in order to vote. If you got everything back, or even more than you put in, you don't vote. Yes, that would affect me sometimes, but I'm for it. I know I wouldn't abuse the right to vote, by voting for the guy who makes me money, but others would. I would take away the fact that you are cool if you scam the government. I would be "fair" (there's that word again) and research every case, not just the ones that appear to not be racist. Can't make minorities prove they aren't doing anything wrong, but you sure can ride the backs of white people. Why is it I have to prove everything, but they take their word for it?
I would also stop class/race/whatever warfare. Take race and sex off of any forms. That includes college entrance forms, job applications, etc. What difference does it make? If you are going by a quota system, meaning that if the population of America is 18% black, you have to have that many in your employment or college, you're racist. Have a set bar and if you don't get over it, you don't get in. Period. No matter race. If that means there are more Orientals in the colleges than any other race, so be it. If that means you don't have as many of some other race, so be it. Work harder. If you lower the bar to let someone in, you're racist. How would that look if they did it for white people? Well, we need more white people in this job, but the requirements are just too high. Let's take the best of the white people, and who cares if this black person is better qualified? You see how it feels when the tables are turned? Not so good, huh? We stopped slavery. We don't need to be made slaves now, 150 years later, in order to know who it must have felt. Face it, you don't know what it feels like either, 150 years later. Except that the Democrat party keeps minorities down so they can say they'll make it better if you vote for them. They had control of both house and Senate and Presidency for the first 2 years of Obama's administration. Did it get better, or worse? And by the way, did you know that not one single Democrat voted for blacks to have the right to vote? And when it passed, it was Democrats who wouldn't let the blacks vote in primaries, making it private events, so that they blacks couldn't determine who ran? They had to pick from among those that the whites allowed them to vote for. They couldn't have a black man in office.
And if you think for one minute that Obama is the first black president, you're wrong. He's half white. If he had lost, they would have called us all racist for not voting for him, so they picked someone who was more palatable, being half white. Why is it they don't call us all racist for voting him in because he's half white? Why did they run Herman Cain out of the running? They can't stand a black man who thinks for himself. Just like the bull about there being no black conservatives.
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. I'm independent and outspoken and politically correct doesn't sit well with me.
Me, for example. I had good parents, though they don't agree with me politically. They were always there for me, they were strong in the face of adversity, they were my foundation. I can attribute my strength to them. They imparted some of this knowledge verbally, through lessons, and some I got from watching them.
When my brother and I were born, my Dad's parents opened a checking account for each of us. They started it with $25 and let my parents put in as they could. My Dad got laid off from his job (they went on strike) in the late 1960's (I believe 1967-68). At that time, $25 would buy a week's worth of groceries. (My how inflation has affected us, huh?) Times got tough, but they didn't ask for money. They didn't run to the government for help. They did have to take that $25 out of our accounts to feed us. When times got better, they replaced it.
I was taken to church as a child, until about the 4th grade. We had lived out in the country for a couple years by then, and they decided it was just too far to drive to keep going to the same church. Their generation didn't "church shop" like we do now. But I had that base.
I got to see my mother's strength and faith when she went through breast cancer. I got to use it myself when just 5 years later, and again 7 years after that, I got to go through breast cancer. I got to see how their faith carried them through my illness.
I suppose the opposite is true as well. My Mom's dad was an alcoholic. Mom doesn't drink at all. My Dad went through the depression. He may have been a very small child, but he learned lessons. He was born in 1932. He was of the generation that reused, re purposed, etc., and didn't just go out and buy another one. He learned how to make knives from his Dad. He taught me how to knit, as well as how to read directions. He told me if you know how to read directions, you can teach yourself anything.
If I were going to destroy this country, I would destroy the family unit. I would make sure that they don't have dinner around the table at night. Possibly by requiring that the man of the house need 2 jobs to support his family. Possibly by making it more profitable for there to not even be a man in the house. I would make sure free money was available so the single mother didn't need a job. I would make it more profitable to depend on the government for handouts than to have a small job. If you don't see a parent get up and go to work, you will have no work ethic yourself. If you don't have a 2 parent family unit, you will think it's fine to not be there for your children. What do they call that? Baby mama's? Women that you just father children with, who then split their government check with you for the privilege of not having to go to work?
I would take the stigma away that taking a handout is wrong. I would make it common place. How many people during the Great Depression sold apples on the corner so they could feed their families? How many people now take whatever job they can find in order to feed their families? Or do most just say whatever and take that government check? They actually feel as if the government owes it to them. They don't pay taxes, why do they figure the government owes them a living? I pay taxes. I don't get all of it back, either. Some years I get a little back, some years I break even and sometimes I owe just a bit. I don't consider myself rich, by any means. If you are getting everything you have from the government, from the party that says everything will be free under me, but the other guy wants to take it all away, which guy are you going to vote for? I believe if you don't pay taxes, you shouldn't vote. You've heard of no taxation without representation? I say no representation without taxation. I don't remember which founding father said it, but he had it right. As soon as the people figure out they can vote someone in who will give them free stuff, our country is doomed (extremely paraphrased).
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. They are of a different era than me. I've seen a lot of changes over my short life (to them, 48 years is nothing). I can't believe the changes they've seen over their lifetimes. They are resistant to change, though. They still believe that the Democrat party is what it was during John F. Kennedy. They're starting to wake up though.
I have to wonder though: They realize that Republicans of today are closer to Democrats of Kennedy's era and that the Democrats have wandered really far to the left. They don't have a total grasp of what left and right are, but they understand the general idea. When you sit and ask them questions, they are conservative. But my dad was so busy working in a factory (which kills his soul) to feed his family and give them something better than what he had, that he didn't notice policy. He fell for the party line that the Democrats were for the common man and the Republicans were for big business. He doesn't get conservatism vs liberalism. But I wonder if everything has slid to the left, does that make Libertarians more like Republicans used to be?
In that respect (the questioning of policies) I suppose you could say I learned from my parent's mistakes. I see that they fell for the party line, and that I voted the R behind the name for too many years. I fell asleep, too. Because I have been awakened, I suppose I should thank Obama. My parents didn't vote for him. They left the presidential spot unchecked. I explained to them that by not voting they were voting. I think a lot of Republicans felt that way, too. They didn't vote for McCain in the primaries, because they recognized he was progressive light, so come time to vote, they just left it blank. I pray that it doesn't happen this time. Republicans are establishment (most of them). The Establishment is called that because they want everything to stay the same. That's why you hear all this talk of term limits when the Democrats have the majority, but term limits don't get voted in when the Republicans have the majority. They don't really want it, because it means they won't hold that office as long. They really want term limits for only the Democrats. And Democrats would be for term limits for only Republicans. I believe in a 2-party system. Without it, you have fascism. Even if they were all conservative. But I also believe in honesty. If a candidate is a moderate, run as a moderate. Don't wrap all your speeches in conservatism, when we know as soon as you're elected, you will go back to being a Moderate. If you believe in socialistic policies, run as a socialist. There are socialists in America's population, if there are enough, you'll get elected. But don't be a socialist and run as a Democrat. Don't couch all your rhetoric in Moderate clothes and phrases, knowing when you get in, you'll turn this country into Amerika.
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. If the things I said about destroying America hold true, the opposite should save her. Reinforce the family unit. Ease some of the regulations on businesses, so they will hire instead of holding on to all of their money in order to not give it away. A business will not expand if it has an uncertain future. If it knows taxes are going down, and they have to give less to the government, they will expand. Thus they have to hire. Don't force them to pay "living wages" because they will just pass it on to the consumer, not the worker. If goods go up in price, it won't matter that you make more. My Dad tells a story of the depression when his dad worked on the river and his mom was raising him alone. They only had 19 cents, enough for a loaf of bread. What can you get for 19 cents now? Bread costs over $2. Dad said he got .75 an hour. That means it's about 15 minutes work to get a loaf of bread. That would mean everyone should make about $12 an hour now. Really? You think McDonald's is going to pay someone $12 an hour to flip burgers? They put NO love into that burger, they're just there because they want to buy gasoline, party money, etc. If they had any pride in a job, my burger wouldn't come out the drive-through looking like it does.
Why is it that it's more profitable to be a single parent in today's society? Did you know that some people are unionizing baby sitter's? There is a minimum you have to pay them, and it's per hour. If you have a small job that barely feeds your family to start with, and in order to go to that job, you have to hire a sitter, why bother? You can sit at home, be with your kids and get a check from the government. I believe Welfare ought to have a time limit, and be small enough to make it more profitable to work. It was designed as a safety net, not a way of life. And there is no longer a stigma attached to getting a welfare check. As a matter of fact, it's a badge of honor to be able to scam the government out of more money than you deserve. I've heard of people having 7 kids, only claiming 4 so their sister who has none can claim the other 3. Or women who just go out and get pregnant with whoever, and numerous whoevers, so they can get those checks. The men who aren't even in their lives get a cut. Maybe there should be a limit of how many kids you get paid to have. Maybe there should be a better verification method to determine if you are actually the parent of the child you're claiming. They make me fill out a form every year in order to keep being my handicapped son's legal guardian. Why do they not investigate these people who get governmental money for the kids they have?
It used to be that if you didn't own land, you didn't vote. Now they would say that's racist, because most blacks and Hispanics don't own, but rent. Why is that? Because they don't (the majority) work, but get government checks. Maybe you should have to show your previous year's tax form in order to vote. If you got everything back, or even more than you put in, you don't vote. Yes, that would affect me sometimes, but I'm for it. I know I wouldn't abuse the right to vote, by voting for the guy who makes me money, but others would. I would take away the fact that you are cool if you scam the government. I would be "fair" (there's that word again) and research every case, not just the ones that appear to not be racist. Can't make minorities prove they aren't doing anything wrong, but you sure can ride the backs of white people. Why is it I have to prove everything, but they take their word for it?
I would also stop class/race/whatever warfare. Take race and sex off of any forms. That includes college entrance forms, job applications, etc. What difference does it make? If you are going by a quota system, meaning that if the population of America is 18% black, you have to have that many in your employment or college, you're racist. Have a set bar and if you don't get over it, you don't get in. Period. No matter race. If that means there are more Orientals in the colleges than any other race, so be it. If that means you don't have as many of some other race, so be it. Work harder. If you lower the bar to let someone in, you're racist. How would that look if they did it for white people? Well, we need more white people in this job, but the requirements are just too high. Let's take the best of the white people, and who cares if this black person is better qualified? You see how it feels when the tables are turned? Not so good, huh? We stopped slavery. We don't need to be made slaves now, 150 years later, in order to know who it must have felt. Face it, you don't know what it feels like either, 150 years later. Except that the Democrat party keeps minorities down so they can say they'll make it better if you vote for them. They had control of both house and Senate and Presidency for the first 2 years of Obama's administration. Did it get better, or worse? And by the way, did you know that not one single Democrat voted for blacks to have the right to vote? And when it passed, it was Democrats who wouldn't let the blacks vote in primaries, making it private events, so that they blacks couldn't determine who ran? They had to pick from among those that the whites allowed them to vote for. They couldn't have a black man in office.
And if you think for one minute that Obama is the first black president, you're wrong. He's half white. If he had lost, they would have called us all racist for not voting for him, so they picked someone who was more palatable, being half white. Why is it they don't call us all racist for voting him in because he's half white? Why did they run Herman Cain out of the running? They can't stand a black man who thinks for himself. Just like the bull about there being no black conservatives.
I am who I am because my parents are who they are. I'm independent and outspoken and politically correct doesn't sit well with me.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Another Update on Medicaid
I've said before that my adult handicapped son is on SSI. When he turned 21, our insurance company kicked him off the insurance. When I called to ask why, saying didn't Obama make it to where you could have your kids on your insurance until they were 26? They answered only if they're a full time student. I have Tricare Prime, which is in essence government health care. I explained about being his legal guardian, yada, yada, yada. If I wanted to keep him on my insurance, I had to find a Pass and ID office that had a certain form (they don't mail you one) and gather up all the proof that he is my son, he is handicapped (letter from a doctor, who won't see him now that he's been kicked off the insurance plan) proof of who he is, etc. And yet, the government gives free health care to illegal aliens.
So, I started using the Medicaid that he qualifies for through SSI. Well, last August, he came out of his room on a Saturday crying in severe pain. He's Down Syndrome and autistic. I have to know the right questions to ask him, I can't just say, "What happened?" All I could get from him was he hurt his wrist, and it was swollen, and it had something to do with his 20 pound dumbbell. He lifts weights while he watches TV. You wouldn't believe the upper body strength of that kid. Good thing he's good natured.
Being a Saturday, we took him to the nearest emergency room to see if he broke his wrist. I asked in the ER if they took Medicaid, and they said they have to take whatever insurance we have. They didn't even get his Medicaid information until AFTER the visit.
I got a bill from Baylor, Garland and I ignored it. He has Medicaid, so I figured they'd file like they do with Tricare. I got another bill saying my insurance denied the charges and I owed $1248.89. I called. They said Superior Health had denied the charges and were refusing to pay. I called Superior Health. After jumping through the hoops of their phone system, and getting a real person, I was asked how I got that number. Frankly, I had pushed so many buttons, I didn't know. I said I answered all their little questions and that's where I ended up. Apparently it wasn't the right place, so she transferred me. I explained the situation and they said they'd review it.
The next month I get another bill. It was a Saturday, so first I verified they had his Medicaid number and weren't trying to bill Tricare. They did. That Monday I called again. They said Superior had determined it wasn't an emergency. So now, they can diagnose through the phone/mail? I would like to know when they think I got my medical license that I can tell a sprain from a break. After jumping through all the hoops again, and getting transferred, and 45 minutes on the phone, my only option was to file a complaint with the State of Texas. I was told Baylor doesn't accept Medicaid. I thought all emergency rooms were supposed to take whatever insurance you had? I was also told that I should have either known this, or called to verify. When you call the number on the back of the card, the first words you hear are if this is a true emergency, you should hang up and proceed to the nearest emergency room, which is what I did. I explained about his disability. If the lady hadn't been Hispanic, I would have asked if all the illegal aliens have this problem. It's not like I use the ER for a doctor, taking my kid when he has a sniffle. I THOUGHT HE HAD A BROKEN WRIST! I told her if his wrist had actually BEEN broken and I had waited until Monday, they would have taken him away from me for being negligent. Or accused me of breaking it.
Then a couple days ago, I get another call for more information. I was told that if there was any doubt, I should have called the free 24-hour nurse hot line. I said there wasn't any doubt as to whether it was an emergency or not. My mom is a nurse, I know the only way to determine if a bone is broken is to x-ray it. A nurse on the phone is not going to tell me if his wrist is broken or not. I reminded her that the first words I hear are if this is a true emergency, please hang up and proceed to the nearest emergency room. I also explained about the way I have to get information from him. I suppose next time, I'll have to put the phone on speaker and let them try to question him. Again, I got a Hispanic woman, or I would have asked if all this information is something I'm supposed to just know, like a 3rd generation welfare recipient, or is it written down somewhere? And why are government rules for getting care so much different than common sense? Oh, wait, I answered that in the first part of the sentence: government health care. It's not about service to the community, it's about making the public say, "Please, may I have some more, please?" He's the only one in my household on Medicaid, so therefore, my taxes are paying for his health care. What about all the people who every member is on Medicaid? I pay for their health care too.
So, this is how Obama plans on paying for his Obamacare? By denying services and making you pay the hospital yourself? That will save a lot of money for the government. All you people who expect a handout better sit up and take notice. Unless you think it's only going to happen to me, or people who have a job and pay taxes.
So, I started using the Medicaid that he qualifies for through SSI. Well, last August, he came out of his room on a Saturday crying in severe pain. He's Down Syndrome and autistic. I have to know the right questions to ask him, I can't just say, "What happened?" All I could get from him was he hurt his wrist, and it was swollen, and it had something to do with his 20 pound dumbbell. He lifts weights while he watches TV. You wouldn't believe the upper body strength of that kid. Good thing he's good natured.
Being a Saturday, we took him to the nearest emergency room to see if he broke his wrist. I asked in the ER if they took Medicaid, and they said they have to take whatever insurance we have. They didn't even get his Medicaid information until AFTER the visit.
I got a bill from Baylor, Garland and I ignored it. He has Medicaid, so I figured they'd file like they do with Tricare. I got another bill saying my insurance denied the charges and I owed $1248.89. I called. They said Superior Health had denied the charges and were refusing to pay. I called Superior Health. After jumping through the hoops of their phone system, and getting a real person, I was asked how I got that number. Frankly, I had pushed so many buttons, I didn't know. I said I answered all their little questions and that's where I ended up. Apparently it wasn't the right place, so she transferred me. I explained the situation and they said they'd review it.
The next month I get another bill. It was a Saturday, so first I verified they had his Medicaid number and weren't trying to bill Tricare. They did. That Monday I called again. They said Superior had determined it wasn't an emergency. So now, they can diagnose through the phone/mail? I would like to know when they think I got my medical license that I can tell a sprain from a break. After jumping through all the hoops again, and getting transferred, and 45 minutes on the phone, my only option was to file a complaint with the State of Texas. I was told Baylor doesn't accept Medicaid. I thought all emergency rooms were supposed to take whatever insurance you had? I was also told that I should have either known this, or called to verify. When you call the number on the back of the card, the first words you hear are if this is a true emergency, you should hang up and proceed to the nearest emergency room, which is what I did. I explained about his disability. If the lady hadn't been Hispanic, I would have asked if all the illegal aliens have this problem. It's not like I use the ER for a doctor, taking my kid when he has a sniffle. I THOUGHT HE HAD A BROKEN WRIST! I told her if his wrist had actually BEEN broken and I had waited until Monday, they would have taken him away from me for being negligent. Or accused me of breaking it.
Then a couple days ago, I get another call for more information. I was told that if there was any doubt, I should have called the free 24-hour nurse hot line. I said there wasn't any doubt as to whether it was an emergency or not. My mom is a nurse, I know the only way to determine if a bone is broken is to x-ray it. A nurse on the phone is not going to tell me if his wrist is broken or not. I reminded her that the first words I hear are if this is a true emergency, please hang up and proceed to the nearest emergency room. I also explained about the way I have to get information from him. I suppose next time, I'll have to put the phone on speaker and let them try to question him. Again, I got a Hispanic woman, or I would have asked if all this information is something I'm supposed to just know, like a 3rd generation welfare recipient, or is it written down somewhere? And why are government rules for getting care so much different than common sense? Oh, wait, I answered that in the first part of the sentence: government health care. It's not about service to the community, it's about making the public say, "Please, may I have some more, please?" He's the only one in my household on Medicaid, so therefore, my taxes are paying for his health care. What about all the people who every member is on Medicaid? I pay for their health care too.
So, this is how Obama plans on paying for his Obamacare? By denying services and making you pay the hospital yourself? That will save a lot of money for the government. All you people who expect a handout better sit up and take notice. Unless you think it's only going to happen to me, or people who have a job and pay taxes.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Government Handouts in other Countries
There was a comment on The Blaze (sorry I can't give credit for who it was from, my memory isn't what it used to be) that sparked some research on my part. The comment was concerning welfare and communist countries. The post said that communist countries don't have welfare systems, they just give you what you need in exchange for work. The theory follows that if you don't work, you don't get anything. I decided to do a little research.
Supposedly there are only 5 countries that are communist: China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos. I only got to researching China before I just had to write.
It said that unemployment benefits, pensions and sick pay are unheard of. You might get a small severance if you're laid off, but it's not enough to live on. You're expected to find another job or have your relatives pay for you. Sometimes they give people in the fishing villages free nets or saplings so they can fish or grow bamboo. That would explain all the bamboo knitting needles being sold on Ebay.
Can you imagine what would happen in the United States if our government did this? Instead of a government check, you'd get some sort of aid in getting you a job, tools of a trade, etc. How well would this go over after 80 years of government aid?
If you think this is far-fetched, give this a little thought. President Obama wants to declare college a right. All student loans now go through the government. Is it a stretch to say the government would say that since they are loaning you the money, they can tell you what to study? Is it a stretch since they already said if you do volunteer work for a set amount of years, they'll forgive your student loans?
Now they want to lower everyone's mortgages...if you get an FHA loan. If they own your loan, what happens if they suddenly decide you're in too big of a house, seeing as you don't have a job? They take it. They tried taking over the banks already for those who don't have FHA loans. In Communist countries who are the well off? The elite. We saw this in Russia. We've heard the lady who was raised in East Germany and now tours with the TEA party telling her story. You work, you get food (what the government is willing to let you buy), a small place, not the farm you had.
The Democrats have a history of prejudice. They founded the KKK, bet you thought that was Republicans, didn't you? Not one single Democrat voted for the amendment that gave blacks the right to vote. They didn't want them voting. But, now everyone is equal. So, instead they started Planned Parenthood. Most abortions are performed on blacks.
I just heard a very interesting commercial. Did you know that 1 in 5 African-American men will get prostate cancer? The Obama administration wants to not pay for prostate exams, just like they want women to wait until they're 50 to get their first mammogram. Is cancer rare? No. 1 in 5. That's a high number. They claim there are too many false positives that cause extra unneeded tests and undue stress. Really? Maybe they're afraid once this country becomes communist, there won't be enough stuff for the elite, so let's get rid of the poor now.
Democrats are pretending to be interested in the poor, those on welfare and food stamps and unemployment to get their votes. Once they get the votes, they can do whatever they want. Look to your history. The Communist Party supports Obama and his policies. If this country becomes communist, those who are 3rd generation welfare recipients won't last long. The communists don't want someone who won't be productive to society. That's why they are against the very young and very old. If everyone is getting the same amount, how do you take care of an aging parent? How do you take care of children? It would be more beneficial to not have children, as you get the same pay whether you have them or not. I don't have the link but Cass Sustein has been heard on record saying that a human is not really a human until it's 2 years old. Anyone out there lose a child at 18 months? Did it feel like you lost a dog, or your child?
Yes, these are hard questions, and I'm sure the liberals will flame me for it. I got news for those who would rather sit at home and get their government check than go out and get a job: us who work will have it a lot easier down the road. We already have the work ethic. Mark my words, if we don't get this man out of office, there will come a time when no work means no benefits.
Supposedly there are only 5 countries that are communist: China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos. I only got to researching China before I just had to write.
It said that unemployment benefits, pensions and sick pay are unheard of. You might get a small severance if you're laid off, but it's not enough to live on. You're expected to find another job or have your relatives pay for you. Sometimes they give people in the fishing villages free nets or saplings so they can fish or grow bamboo. That would explain all the bamboo knitting needles being sold on Ebay.
Can you imagine what would happen in the United States if our government did this? Instead of a government check, you'd get some sort of aid in getting you a job, tools of a trade, etc. How well would this go over after 80 years of government aid?
If you think this is far-fetched, give this a little thought. President Obama wants to declare college a right. All student loans now go through the government. Is it a stretch to say the government would say that since they are loaning you the money, they can tell you what to study? Is it a stretch since they already said if you do volunteer work for a set amount of years, they'll forgive your student loans?
Now they want to lower everyone's mortgages...if you get an FHA loan. If they own your loan, what happens if they suddenly decide you're in too big of a house, seeing as you don't have a job? They take it. They tried taking over the banks already for those who don't have FHA loans. In Communist countries who are the well off? The elite. We saw this in Russia. We've heard the lady who was raised in East Germany and now tours with the TEA party telling her story. You work, you get food (what the government is willing to let you buy), a small place, not the farm you had.
The Democrats have a history of prejudice. They founded the KKK, bet you thought that was Republicans, didn't you? Not one single Democrat voted for the amendment that gave blacks the right to vote. They didn't want them voting. But, now everyone is equal. So, instead they started Planned Parenthood. Most abortions are performed on blacks.
I just heard a very interesting commercial. Did you know that 1 in 5 African-American men will get prostate cancer? The Obama administration wants to not pay for prostate exams, just like they want women to wait until they're 50 to get their first mammogram. Is cancer rare? No. 1 in 5. That's a high number. They claim there are too many false positives that cause extra unneeded tests and undue stress. Really? Maybe they're afraid once this country becomes communist, there won't be enough stuff for the elite, so let's get rid of the poor now.
Democrats are pretending to be interested in the poor, those on welfare and food stamps and unemployment to get their votes. Once they get the votes, they can do whatever they want. Look to your history. The Communist Party supports Obama and his policies. If this country becomes communist, those who are 3rd generation welfare recipients won't last long. The communists don't want someone who won't be productive to society. That's why they are against the very young and very old. If everyone is getting the same amount, how do you take care of an aging parent? How do you take care of children? It would be more beneficial to not have children, as you get the same pay whether you have them or not. I don't have the link but Cass Sustein has been heard on record saying that a human is not really a human until it's 2 years old. Anyone out there lose a child at 18 months? Did it feel like you lost a dog, or your child?
Yes, these are hard questions, and I'm sure the liberals will flame me for it. I got news for those who would rather sit at home and get their government check than go out and get a job: us who work will have it a lot easier down the road. We already have the work ethic. Mark my words, if we don't get this man out of office, there will come a time when no work means no benefits.
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