On this sunny Saturday morning, I find myself reading the news online about the debt ceiling and the budget and I’m getting very angry.  Harry Reid makes me sick.  John Boehner pisses me off.  The rest of our politicians are no better.  I believe because I’m finishing up my summer semester of school, in which I’m taking Micro and Macro Economics, I’m a little more concerned with our Economy.  I’ve been paying close attention to every detail and I think I’m going to have a heart attack if I don’t learn to calm down.  But how can we calm down when our government is so fucked up beyond our control?

My boys are playing together so nicely today.  Dawson has brought out the Hotwheels race track to set up on the dining room floor.  Owen is racing cars down the unfinished track.  Occasionally, I’ll hear Dawson yell at Owen.  ”Don’t touch that one! You’ll break it. I’m trying to fix it!” And little Owey-pie will look at him as though he has four heads,  but he just continues playing.   A few minutes after that, Dawson will show Owen how to connect the pieces to make the best race track.  I love that they can play together without any crying.  At least for a little while.

Why can’t our government get along like this?  Yes, I expect some friction between parties as they each express their points of view.  I expect one side to look at the other as if they are a bit crazy when they try to explain how they plan to fix America.   But I also expect them to work together to build something functional for the greater good of our country.

Instead, our politicians piss and moan, bitch and complain, and act like their plan is the one and only plan that will work. No one works together.  NO ONE is willing to compromise.  EVERYONE has a specific agenda they are trying to push through to benefit themselves.  It’s freakin’ exhausting to watch.  I can’t stand it.  These politicians need to act like grown ups.

My friend Carla shared this on Facebook. This video made me cry. It’s so hard to watch and realize that this young man knows he made a mistake. I feel sad that men and women endure such pain, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that abortion is so horrible and so devastating. We must protect the unborn, now more than ever.

Tonight I voted for Republicans.  I voted for pro-life candidates.  Many people get upset with me for one-issue voting, but the right to life is the most important issue for me.  I cannot vote for a candidate who does not oppose abortion.  I just can’t do it.

I couldn’t vote for Feingold or Lassa.  They voted for the health care bill despite the fact that the majority of Americans were against it.  It was a slap in the face to so many Wisconsin residents.  I truly believe that Wisconsin went from a blue state to red state because of this issue.  And perhaps because our unemployment rate is the highest it has been in many years.  My job is on the line.  The company I work for is opening a factory in Mexico.  They will most likely relocate the corporate office to Texas.  Three hundred-fifty jobs are at stake in my hometown.

I know that the Republicans are not going to magically make things better.  Americans are sending a message that they are upset with the current situation.  I think it’s time our politicians listen.

Think of it what you wish, but the sad thing is, he’s right.

He received the award why?  I still do not understand it.  Meanwhile, he’s sending more troops overseas, a move he criticized former president George W. Bush for doing.

30,000 U.S. troops are being deployed to Afghanistan and our president is accepting the Nobel Peace Prize.  Oh, the irony.  I laugh at thee.

I can still remember all the anti-war rhetoric he spewed, and now suddenly he’s defending this war.  Is it because he’s in the hot seat?  Because he’s trying to play left and right field?  Mr. President, I hope you have two well fitting gloves.

I do not support war unless it is absolutely necessary.  My brother spent many long months in Kuwait two years ago and I humbly support our troops 100%.  I understand that our troops are working to help the Afghan people and to bring order their country.  However, I’m thinking you have to eat a lot of crow right now.  You are “obligated to protect and defend the United States” and yet you attacked your predecessor for doing the same damn thing?

This is completely maddening.

But OHMommy?  OH how wonderful and right and true her post is. And the best part is she declares herself not a Republican or Democrat, not a conservative or liberal, but a concerned American.  Just as I am concerned with the fate of this country, and it’s health care debacles, we need all Americans to be just as concerned.

In my own post, which I may or may not publish (still think it’s missing something) I wrote a sentence in which I say:

When thinking about all the people I’ve met and spoken with about why they voted for Obama, so many have said that they want better health care options, they want all people to be insured and to receive health care coverage.

My question is, do they want better health care coverage and access and choices?  Or do they just want the government to foot the bill?  Because really?  Government footing the bill equals taxpayers footing the bill which then means the middle class is strapped with the bill.  Don’t tell me that’s not true.  You know it’s true.  Are the rich really going to pay for the rest of America to have health coverage?  We can’t ask the poor, or those who cannot afford coverage to pay for it, now can we?

And then another thought comes to mind.  How many people will take advantage of this “free” government funded taxpayer funded health care package, causing more finacial strife in this already shitty economy?  All for cheap, low-quality health care coverage?  Seriously?

Why do some Americans believe they can have health care coverage and not have to pay for it?  Remember, someone else is paying for it, and it sure ain’t Barack Obama or Congress or any other politician.  It’s my dime, and your dime (if you pay taxes), that pays for this health care bill.  And I’m sorry, but I’m not going to pay for shitty coverage.  WHY? Because, I do that already.

This country needs to do something about health care, but socialized medicine is NOT the answer.  There needs to be structure and competition and these multi-billion dollar insurance companies need regulation so that all Americans can be covered and eligible. They are making money hand over fist, and still people who need health care are not being covered for various “reasons” that I swear these insurance companies make up as they go along.

I’m so frustrated about the direction this country seems to be going in.  This is the land of the free, yes, but that doesn’t mean we get whatever we want for free.

Whatever happened to working hard and paying our own way?  My parents didn’t raise me to take advantage of the system. I’m not talking about those Americans who truly need those benefits and programs.  I’m talking about those who abuse the system.  (I know several.  They openly admit to not working so they can reap the benefits of Medicaid and food stamps and low-income housing and only work for cash to avoid paying taxes.  One of these people even gets a tax return, and she doesn’t pay taxes.  How is that possible?)

Speaking of “the land of the free,” perhaps we should we change our motto to “the land of the government ruled?”

I agree with OHMommy when she says, “Hey, President Obama.  I want the same health care plan that you and Congress are getting.”

The job was wonderful for the first few years.  But when AIG bought Travel Guard, things were quite different.  Management was quite different.

The merger brought many changes and problems and ultimately I’d had enough.  I was no longer an employee of a small town company with a national and international client base.  I became an AIG employee and I hated it.

There are many other reasons why I quit, but some of them are too private to share and I really don’t want to rehash it three years later.  Not only that, they do sell a great product.  I use it whenever I fly.  It’s just too bad that the management, well… sucks.

After AIG received bailout money from that fabulous government we have, Travel Guard dropped the AIG name.   I’m think it was because Travel Guard CEO (and original owner of the company), John Noel, was embarrassed by the big corporation’s schemes and bad dealings.  Of course I’m merely speculating because the local newspaper reported that PR exec Dan McGinnity stated the Travel Guard name sold more insurance than the AIG brand.

Go figure.   AIG has a bad name? Insert sarcasm here.

When I read that the AIG company is refusing to pay claims to the passengers of US Airways Flight 1549, I wasn’t at all surprised.  Instead I was furious.

[But] aviation liability insurance is different. It is activated by a finding of negligence on the part of an airline. If there is no negligence, then arguably there is no liability, and no obligation to pay claims.That poses a problem for the passengers of US Airways Flight 1549. They suffered real losses and injuries, but they are widely perceived as having been saved from sudden, violent death by their heroic and quick-thinking flight crew, led by Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger.

While I’m sure the passengers of the flight are grateful to Capt. Sullenberger for saving their lives, they still suffered many injuries and inconveniences.  They lost luggage and laptops and other valuables that, yes, can be replaced, and should be replaced by the airline’s insurance company.

When I worked with claims at Travel Guard, the company insured some of these items at face value minus depreciation.  I don’t think the passengers are asking for too much by requesting reimbursement for medical expenses and compensation for lost or damaged luggage and electronic items.

AIG needs to belly up to the bar of responsibility and buy a damn drink.  They’ve got government money they so desperately needed (again, sarcasm) to stay afloat and pay outstanding claims (or maybe it was to pay all those billionaire salaries?).  Now they’re going to bulk and screw over the very people paying for that damn bailout?

I’m so mad I could spit nails.  Thank God, I don’t work for that company any longer.

I’m in favor of funding birth control pills and other contraceptives, because I believe God would prefer BC over ending the lives of a millions of babies. I’m only bringing God into the equation because my opposition is constantly calling me a crazy, right-wing, religious nut.

If you search through my archives on abortion, I’ve never used religion or God in the abortion debate — mainly because religion is irrelevant. Whether or not you believe in God, abortion still ends lives.

I’m getting really sick and tired of the government funding of Planned Parenthood, meanwhile independent organizations like Birth Right are often left to raise money through private donations.  At least birth right is independent, interdenominational, and not affiliated with any religious or political group or public agency.

Birthright isn’t in the business of promoting (re: making money from) abortion. I fully believe that Planned Parenthood needs restructuring. Too often their practices are found to be involved in scandal.  It’s like PP is in cahoots with the pro-choice movement.  When I saw the video below, I grew even angrier.

Common ground, my ass.

My mother sent me the link to this video, and I was so touched by it, I felt compelled to post it since today is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She did an amazing job on this speech for her 7th grade class.

Lately, while reading about our President’s plans and listening to reporters talking about his first month in office, when I hear something I don’t like, I’ve been giving President Obama a pass.  Because I like him. I may not agree with him, but I’m no Rush Limbaugh.  I don’t want the President to fail.

However, when I read news articles like these, my blood boils.

His goal is to prevent millions of American families from losing their houses because they can’t make mortgage payments.

I confess.  I reacted first.  I was angry.  If I don’t make my mortgage payment, does that mean I get a free pass?  A free house?  Wrong.  If I don’t pay my mortgage, the bank will take my house.  No one is going to step in and save my ass.

Then I read this:

“We must stem the spread of foreclosures and falling home values for all Americans, and do everything we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes,” Obama said Tuesday as he signed his tax cut and spending package into law.

Okay, that’s better.  The President wants to help the responsible homeowners.  Wait a second.  How will the government determine who is responsible and who is simply looking for a free ride?  The article says that it is unclear who will qualify for relief.

My only concern is the message this new plan is sending to American tax-payers.  Why do some Americans feel entitled to owning things they can’t afford?

If you came to visit me, I’d show you the big and beautiful homes that are being built in a subdivision near my neighborhood.  These homes are appraised in the $250,000 to $400,000 range.  In flippin’ Wisconsin.  Only doctors, lawyers, and bankers make enough money to afford those mortgages.    I live in a small town of less than 30,000 people, most of which hold jobs in the school district or insurance industry.  Not many can afford the houses they live in.

Stevens Point (and surrounding areas) used to be a thriving paper mill city, but with the economy in the tubes, mill workers are being laid off left and right.  They have been for years.

Wisconsin Rapids, a city twenty-two miles away, was once a boom town, with people living high off the hog and building huge houses.  In the last ten years, thousands of millwrights were given the boot and slowly the city has become a ghost town.  Numerous business have closed their doors, hundreds of homes have gone into foreclosure and people have been forced to move to places where they take the first available job they can find, even if it’s minimum wage.

Working in a title company part-time, I cannot count how many foreclosures I’ve seen.  The number one reason for these is medical bills.  The second highest reason?  People buying houses they knew they can’t afford.  What were they thinking?  Were they praying for a miracle or that they’d win the lottery?  Or were they just waiting for a President who would promise to “help” them pay their mortgages?

The worst is yet to come, says Howard Davidowitz.  Sadly, everything this man says is true.