More woes to come with Obamacare

The poorly named, “Affordable Care Act” is only going to get worse, reports an article in the Wall Street Journal on the 15th.

“More IT failures are likely. People looking for health plans on ObamaCare exchanges may be able to fill out their applications with more ease. But the far more complex back-office side of the website—where the information in their application is checked against government databases to determine the premium subsidies and prices they will be charged, and where the applications are forwarded to insurance companies—is still under construction. Be prepared for eligibility, coverage gap, billing, claims, insurer payment and patient information-protection debacles.”

“In the nearer term, a political iceberg looms next year [2014]. Insurance companies usually submit proposed pricing to regulators in the summer, and the open enrollment period begins in the fall for plans starting Jan. 1. Businesses of all sizes that currently provide health care will have to offer ObamaCare's expensive, mandated benefits, or drop their plans and—except the smallest firms—pay a fine. Tens of millions of Americans with employer-provided health plans risk paying more for less, and losing their policies and doctors to more restrictive networks. The administration is desperately trying to delay employer-plan problems beyond the 2014 election to avoid this shock.”

From a different WSJ article, Almost everyone loses

“. . . what ObamaCare means to the uninsured who were not uninsurable is higher prices for a product they already were disinclined to buy, along with a punitive tax on not buying it. That seems more like a mugging than a benefit.

How many of the uninsured lack insurance because of pre-existing conditions? It's hard to know, but it would appear the proportion is not high.”

“If ObamaCare's architects had approached the matter intelligently, they would have conducted research to identify the extent of that precise problem and carefully targeted their response. Government is quite capable of implementing even modest programs disastrously, but the hubris of demanding "comprehensive reform" gave us a law that had to be marketed via massive consumer fraud, and that harms almost everyone it affects.”

Oops. Obama supporters losing insurance

“Many in New York’s professional and cultural elite have long supported President Obama’s health care plan. But now, to their surprise, thousands of writers, opera singers, music teachers, photographers, doctors, lawyers and others are learning that their health insurance plans are being canceled and they may have to pay more to get comparable coverage, if they can find it.” New York Times  In the past (before Obama) they were able to purchase health insurance with group rates through their associations—now they are thrown on to the pricey individual market.

“. . . under the Affordable Care Act, they will be treated as individuals, responsible for their own insurance policies. For many of them, that is likely to mean they will no longer have access to a wide network of doctors and a range of plans tailored to their needs. And many of them are finding that if they want to keep their premiums from rising, they will have to accept higher deductible and co-pay costs or inferior coverage.“

But of course, it’s all the Obstructionist Republicans who are to blame, just like the untrained, unvetted navigators is just a plot to defeat this.

Washington Post has listed the president’s “If you like your health care plan.. .” as one of the big whoppers of 2013. 

Abby Johnson is fruitful and a blessing to the oppressed, a savior for the unborn

At one time she helped women obtain abortions—she worked for Planned Parenthood.  She also had abortions and knows exactly the physical and psychological pain—and realizes how ignorant she was at that time.  Now a Christian, Abby Johnson works to prevent abortion, and has a special heart for abortion workers, encouraging them to leave their jobs and helping them find new careers.  An amazing lady. Today she announces a new blessing.

Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'"
Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him."

Doug and I feel incredibly blessed to announce that we are pregnant with Johnson baby #4!! We covet your prayers during this exciting time in our lives. Yes, we will "have our hands full," and we can't imagine it any other way.

“Conversion is always at the heart of the prolife movement.
Pray for conversion of abortion clinic workers, those who support abortion, women in crisis pregnancies who may consider abortion, abortion supporting clergy and religious, abortion supporting politicians, apathetic Christians and those in our own movement who seek to divide and destroy our common goal.”  Abby

So, some who read this page are being prayed for by Abby. . . and me.

Happy birthday Boston Tea Party, December 16

The Boston Tea Party was a nonviolent political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The Tea Party became an iconic event of American history, and other political protests often refer to it--got to love the language, "odious miscreants and detestable tools" "murder and destroy," "vile ingrates," committee for "Tarring and Feathering." Very detailed history of the event at this site.

http://williamdbailey.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/the-boston-tea-party/

Megyn Kelly and her critics—Santa Claus

I'm not sure what the dust up is about Megyn Kelly reporting that Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was white. That one I know since today's 19th century caricature is based on a real Scandinavian. The cartoon version can be any ethnicity the parent wants. As for Jesus, who knows? And he's the reason for the season. Yesterday I read a very compelling story about a Syrian man who had fled to Turkey with his family and instead of his successful construction business, he was working in a sweat shop, and happy to get it. He had green eyes and very light skin. As do many Kurds and Berbers.

It's a puffed up argument in my opinion meant to detract and make us all look silly. Kelly's very successful and beautiful, and that makes all the other network talkers mad. No one knew who Aisha Harris was, but they do now after the race baiting, knee jerking men got done ridiculing Kelly. Really, it's embarrassing to even show this, and the level that networks go to (down): http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/12/16/megyn-kelly-addresses-white-santa-comments

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

Catholics shoot themselves in the foot over politics

The only organization/agency large enough and powerful enough to face the power of the federal government is the Catholic Church, which Obama continues to denigrate and insult with his actions and policies, the latest being closing the Vatican embassy, but including the dreadful HHS mandate, using lackey Catholics in his administration and announcing embryo experimentation at a Catholic institution. Why Catholics continue to put their politics above their church baffles me.

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/president-obamas-faithful-helpers?

“In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter, [Raymond] Flynn said “it’s not just those who bomb churches and kill Catholics in the Middle East who are our antagonists but it’s also those who restrict our religious freedoms and want to close down our embassy to the Holy See. There’s no diplomatic or political benefit to the United States.”

“This latest insult to Catholics by President Obama is just the most recent attempt to weaken the influence of the Church on family and life issues. It is a strategy that has been effective for the President since the earliest days of his presidential campaign when he enlisted the help of progressive Catholic groups like the George Soros-supported Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and its sister-organization, Catholics United, to successfully convince Catholic voters to focus on social justice issues like poverty as the way to reduce abortion rates without restricting abortion rights. Refusing to hold politicians like President Obama and Kathleen Sebelius accountable for their votes in favor of partial birth abortion and taxpayer funded abortion here and abroad, the Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United encouraged Catholics to elect candidates who would address what they called the “root causes” of abortion.”

An atheist’s view on life

as opposed to a Christian’s view on life.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen. 
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen. [Lutheran Book of Worship, Book of Common Prayer]

I love this creed.   In our worship, we don't use it as often as the Apostle's Creed, but it is the most common and frequently used in Christendom. ". . . and was made man" has probably been changed to "became truly human," but the LBW is from 1977.  And so far, we still have Father and Son.

"We look for the resurrection of the dead."  That's our hope.  And it's everyone, even unbelievers and those who hate God. John 5:28-29

 ²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Obama’s database will live longer than his presidency

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin, “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database." Waters (D-CA) was ...explaining the 2014 and 2016 elections on Washington Watch, Feb. 2013, and apparently knew about the NSA spying, and the IRS mugging. Sometimes a blabber mouth is useful. Martin was suggesting that people had to get what they wanted now (that Obama was in his second term and OFA was a 501c4) but she stopped him and said there were much bigger plans afoot and that Organizing For America had a database. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=49a_1360284775

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/15/organizing-for-action-obamas-group-has-yet-to-apply-to-irs

Trans-Pacific Partnership

“There are many important lessons from ObamaCare that we should apply to another huge project that could have a similarly devastating impact on our nation. In November 2009, President Obama announced his intention to have the United States participate in a so-called trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I say so-called trade agreement because 80 percent of the proposed agreement deals with a great many issues besides trade.”

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/17175-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-bigger-and-more-dangerous-than-obamacare

Friday family photo—dinner with the Tulamos

This is a “selfie” with 6 people at dinner on Friday.  The Tulamos of Helsinki, Finland, became our friends 35 years ago when she was getting her master’s degree in veterinary science and he worked with my husband at Feinknopf, Macioce and Schappa. She is nearing retirement as an equine surgeon and he has passed his architectural practice on to his son.  We had a great time reminiscing about old times  1979-1981.  I told my husband his sweater looks like it’s from the old Bill Cosby show wardrobe closet, and he thinks it might be that old. They recently bought an off season home in Spain (much cheaper cost of living and lower taxes than Finland) and we’re hoping to visit in a few years.

Oops.

I didn’t double check to see if this was really on Healthcare.gov.

From zygote to you

Human development is a continuous process that begins when an ovum from a female is fertilized by a sperm from a male. Growth and differentiation transform the zygote, a single cell formed by the union of the ovum and the sperm, into a multicellular adult human being. Most developmental changes occur during the embryonic and the fetal periods, but important changes also occur during the other periods of development: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood... Although it is customary to divide development into prenatal and postnatal periods, it is important to realize that birth is merely a dramatic event during development resulting in a distinct change in environment. Development does not stop at birth: important developmental changes, in addition to growth, occur after birth... Most developmental changes are completed by the age of 25. (Moore, Keith, The Developing Human, Clinically Oriented Embryology, 1982, p. 1)

What the President didn’t know. . . Mark Davidson

I didn't know Jeremiah Wright gave inflammatory and anti-American sermons…
I didn't know Bill Ayers…
I didn't know Tony Resko…
I didn't know Benghazi was a terrorist attack…
I didn't know my Justice Department was intimidating and investigating journalists… ...
I didn't know what the IRS was doing…
I didn't know what the NSA was doing…
I didn't know the web site wouldn't work…
I didn't know you would lose your insurance…
I didn't know we had a spending problem…
I didn't know the uncle I lived with…

I don't know why ANYONE would believe this President.

Kanye West—outdoes himself

Not your insurance, not your doctor, not your drugs

Look what his substandard non-compliant insurance covered: "In August 2013 I became very sick with a strep bacteria poisoning my blood stream. The bacteria blinded my left eye, ate a hole through my heart, caused five strokes on both sides of my brain and forced the removal of my prosthetic left knee." A 12 hour surgery saved his life--he only had a few days to live without it. Now he's been notified that the insurance company will no longer serve his state, so he's losing his insurance. He's hoping he can keep the excellent medical team that saved his life, if and when he finds insurance. http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/12/please-pray-for-me-i-am-losing-my-insurance/#!

It’s now coming out that many drugs won’t be covered, or the co-pays will be 40%. An MS drug on the bronze plan will cost about $2,000/month—and that’s actually covered! Out of pocket costs for drugs will not be part of the cap. http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottgottlieb/2013/12/09/no-you-cant-keep-your-drugs-either-under-obamacare/

That’s a pretty big trade off for free birth control and pediatric dental coverage.

We’d better watch out. . .

How HHS spreads racism myths

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States. The government infantilizes black men by absolving them of their responsibility 30 years after AIDS was recognized as a problem and how it was spread.   “Social factors such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to health care put communities of color at increased risk. Nearly half of all new HIV infections occur in African-Americans, for example, even though they comprise only about 12% of the U.S. population.” OPA fact sheet

Raise your hand if you believe men having sex with men rather than social factors spread HIV/AIDS.  The government’s own research contradicts this statement.

“Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at alarming risk for HIV acquisition, demonstrating the highest rates of incident infection of any age-risk group.” Cite.

“Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States.” Cite

“By race/ethnicity, black/African American transgender women [formerly men]  have the highest percentage of new HIV-positive test results. . . A review of studies of HIV infection in countries with data available for transgender people estimated that HIV prevalence for transgender women was nearly 50 times as high as for other adults of reproductive age.” Cite

“. . . there is one population in which the epidemic continues to grow in countries of all incomes: men who have sex with men (MSM) Cite

"The recent rise of HIV/AIDS ... is huge and it's not talked about because 'Gay Inc.' says nothing about it," he says Cite

The people he loves to hate

The top 40% of U.S. households paid 106.2% of income taxes; bottom 40% paid -9.1%, and received an average of $18,950 in 'transfers.  But it’s never enough, is it? CBO reports on the 2010 year. See p. 13

And it will get worse for high earners. New taxes for high-income taxpayers, enacted with the Affordable Care Act, took effect in 2013.

I noticed on the chart that the low income pay more of the excise taxes (percentage of income, I assume) than the wealthiest.

How to save $42 billion without cutting poverty programs

Eliminate duplicative and unnecessary Government programs. None of these are poverty programs (close to $1 trillion).  Many of these hide in place as “capitalism” or private sector help being boosted by the government. If these are private sector, let them support them. It’s inefficient for the government to do it. Planned Parenthood certainly doesn’t need taxpayers support—there are enough crazies out there willing to send them their tax deductible donation as a Christmas gift.

International affairs

• The Overseas Private Investment Corporation
• The Export-Import Bank

Energy—Dept. of

• Commercial Deployment and Technology Development
• The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Energy Frontier Research Centers
• Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer

USDA

• The Market Access Program
• The Foreign Agricultural Service

Transportation

• Return power to the states
• Amtrak
• The New Starts Transit Program
• Intercity Rail Subsidies

Economic and Regional Development –yes, some developers, electricians and contractors would squeal

• Community Development Block Grants
• Economic Development Administration

Education

• Competitive Grants Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Head Start (note: this would be political suicide, even though after 40 years it has never shown results)

Cultural Agencies

Labor

• Job Corps
• Corporation for National and Community Service

Health (or death as it turns out)

• Title X Family Planning Grants (a lot of this goes to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country)

Administration of Justice (these mostly go to state and local governments which then are weakened if the support is withdrawn—huge number of employees)

• Community-Oriented Policing Services (the federal gov’t is not supposed to be policing our local communities)
• The Legal Services Corporation

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/08/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2013

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/08/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2013