We're not going to give up on destroying the health care system

What do 1217, 1917, and 2017 have in common?

Human behavior.

We have evolved in profound ways technologically. Human emotions and attitudes are evolutionary.

It is the responsibility of free societies as a whole to determine what is and is not acceptable behavior. As individuals it is our obligation and a matter of personal responsibility to decide how we are going to think and behave. Sometimes in the face of societal norms this can be easier said than done.

An Open Letter to Paul Ryan

Speaker Ryan,

Whether you are pass this bill or not tomorrow your political future is coming to a close. Your presumption that you have some mandate to deny 24 million of our fellow working class Americans is factually wrong.

1. Trump the candidate ran on implementing a health care plan that would  a.) make healthcare better that the Affordable Care Act; b)  cover more people than the Affordable Care Act; c) be cheaper the Affordable Care Act.
2. Trump won the electoral college which consists of only 538 people. He lost the popular vote by almost 3 million Americans that do not want the Affordable Care Act repealed. There are millions of Republican voters that do not want the Affordable Care Act repealed.

Those my friend are indisputable facts. A majority of the American public DO NOT want you to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But you or your party really do not care what working class families want.

You are an opportunist aligning yourself with a President that lied to his voters about health care to get elected. He LIED about something that is a matter of life and death for 24 million working class Americans.

If you pass this people are going to DIE! People have stood up at Town halls telling their heart wrenching stories to this affect.  You Sir are nothing more than a bought and sold politician that could care less about the average working class citizens. Your actions demonstrate and the actions of the vast majority of your party demonstrate this.

Message to All Conservatives: Start Acting Like Americans

Every damn day it is something new and beyond belief coming from the corrupt Republican Party.

FBI Director James Comey tells the Senate that Trump and his campaign are under active investigation and has been since last July for potential connections to the Russian government that we know purposely influenced our election in favor or Trump. [Source]

These charges amount to TREASON. The Republican response to this in the hearing is to basically ignore these charges. The response from the Republican party is milk-toast, head in the sand. Nothing happening here.

All the while our crooked, lying Republican President continues to not talk to the press. Continues to refer to the media as dishonest and crooked and fake. Y'all, want fake news head on over to Breitbart and Fox News and listen to the propagandist bullshit they are peddling. Then take a jog over to RT (Russian Television) News and watch and see the similarities between the three. Actually, you will likely find Russian Television being more objective than Fox and Breitbart. I am actually being serious here.

In the mean time Mr. "objectivity", Chairman Nunez, who is leading the committee conducting the investigation on the Trump administration is also briefing Trump on the investigation. No conflict of interest here. No need for an independent committee. [source]

Republican Leaders and Legislators maybe you should put up a picture of  Putin next to the one of Trump in your offices.

When 9/11 happened all Americans came together. Today our very Democracy is threatened by Russia. Russia,the former Soviet Union, a power we were in a cold war with for over 40 years.

We know they compromised our election from the Presidential race to the down ballot races. Each day it is becoming more likely that the Trump campaign was in collusion with them. The Republican response from the leaders to Republican voters is frankly lame and Un-American.

This moderate knows who the real partisans are. Republican voters, leaders, and legislator's are showing their true colors during this chilling time. Party over Country. Sadly, your own elected officials continue to screw you over. And, you continue to support them.

To my liberal friends and neighbors. Rock on. You and our Judicial branch are the last lines of defense we have left.

Thank you. I am fortunate to be working with you on these most disturbing developments.

Have you asked yourself this question regarding what Comey disclosed?

According to FBI Director Comey there has been an active investigation on the Trump campaign and their possible ties to Russia influencing our election since early last July. Why then did Comey come out 11 days before the election saying the investigation on Clinton's email server was again active but did not mention that the Trump campaign was under investigation?

Three Talking Points for the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the new Disasterous Republican plan.

First Talking Point: 14 Million People lose coverage in the first year alone.

By next year 14 million people will lose their health care coverage. 24 million will lose coverage by 2026. [2]

14 million people! Let me put this number in perspective for you. 14 million people is about 60,000 people short of the entire population of the following 10 states: [4]

1. Kansas
2. Nebraska
3. West Virginia
4. Idaho
5. Maine
6. New Hampshire
7. Montana
8. Alaska
9. North Dakota
10. Wyoming  

Think about this... 14 million people losing heath care adds up to every person from all of these states losing their health care.

Now consider that real people in this population of 14 million are going to die because they do not have health care. This is a statistical inevitability! If only 1/10th of 1% die, not at all a far fetched number, that amounts to 14,000 of our friends and family.

And just like the days before the Affordable Care Act, once again many families will be bankrupted trying to save their loved ones because they cannot get and/or afford health care coverage.

Frankly, we could stop right here on this point alone. But we have two more important points to cover.

Second Talking Point: The CBO scored 337 billion in savings is actually a tax rebate that robs people that need health care the most and gives it back  predominantly to the top 1% income earners. [2]

There was no mandate for this!

Republican President Trump ran on...
“We’re going to have insurance for everybody”

“There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us.” People covered under the law “can expect to have great health care. It will be in a much simplified form. Much less expensive and much better.”
– From Washington Post interview with Donald Trump on 1/15/2017. [1]

And he said the same in an interview with 60 Minutes.




Third talking point: Premiums for the elderly and the poor will immediately skyrocket.

Here is just one example of what the disastrous Republican Health Care replacement plan would do to premiums on the poor and the elderly.

"A 64-year-old making $26,500 would pay $1,700 for coverage in 2026 under Obamacare, thanks to its subsidies. But under the GOP plan, his annual premium would be $14,600 since its tax credit would not offset as much of the cost."  [3]

The Republican plan charges a one size fits all pricing plan. How in the world can someone making $27,000 afford $14,500 for health care insurance premiums? THEY CAN'T. Taking away health care for 14 million of our fellow Americans and replacing it with something that is not affordable is a moral travesty. It is not what Republican President Trump got elected on. His message was to offer something a) more afforable than Obamacare; b) with better coverage than Obamacare; c) That covers more people than Obamacare.

Clearly, to even the most gullible person "Republicancare, Ryancare, Trumpcare" or whatever you want to call this plan does just the opposite.

Oh, and by the way here is a short but powerful list of who has come out against the disastrous Republican Health Care plan. [5]

• AARP
• AMA American Medical Association
• AHA American Hospital Association
• Most Governors (including Republicans) 

Sources:

1. Trump vows ‘insurance for everybody’ in Obamacare replacement plan
2. Health Bill Would Add 24 Million Uninsured but Save $337 Billion, Report Says
3. If you're older and lower income, prepare to pay more under GOP health bill
4. US Population by State
5. Doctors, hospitals and insurers oppose Republican health plan

Bi-Partisan Heads in the Sand

The Republican President who is the de-facto leader of the Republican party continues to...

• Discredit the media as "fake news", "dishonest", "enemy of the people".
• Has numerous and questionable ties (along with his Administration) to the Russians who we know hacked our election and likely were doing so partnered with the Trump campaign who included our current Attorney General, the Leader of the RNC, and our Vice President. 
• Refuses to release his taxes as he knows they will likely tie him to Russian mobsters who back and finance his business enterprise.

Leaders of the Republican party continues to ignore his shocking behavior and actions. They are stonewalling and backing a President that is on tape talking about sexually assaulting woman. On tape talking about walking in on naked teen age girls. 

And, where are the Democratic leaders speaking up on this? Being in the minority does not mean you have to be quiet. Everyday they should be on the stump demanding justice. Everyday they should be working to help us get to the truth. So many of them are not doing enough to put the pressure on to get to the bottom of this. Why are you are leaving this job to "we the people." I know the response by our Senators Murray and Cantwell has been quite weak.

My fellow Americans, pick up the phone and call 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your Senator and ask them why they are not speaking out and taking action on matters that threaten our very Democracy.

A Moderate in the Company of Liberals - An Appeal to My Moderate and Conservative Family Members and Friends

I am a moderate. But, first and foremost I am an American. What is happening right now in our country is astounding, shocking, almost hard to believe. Let's take a 50,000 foot inventory at what is going down.

• The Russians meddled in our election with the intent of electing the Republican candidate.

• We elected a Republican President that most likely conspired with the Russians who we know meddled in our election. Further it is possible that he may already be compromised by Russian intelligence. And, if we ever get his taxes we will find that many of his 500 corporations are financed by Russian billionaires.
• Our Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and the Republican Presidents National Security Advisor all have ties to Russia.
• Our Republican Attorney General was in contact with the Russians during the election and lied about it in his Senate confirmation hearings.
• The Republican Presidents former campaign manager had clear ties to Russia.
• The Republican elected majority is actively impeding attempts to get at the truth. Recently every Republican in Congress voted not to make Trump release his taxes. Taxes which will get us closer to the truth. This same group that found Benghazi important enough to conduct 9 investigations are unwilling to conduct an independent investigation and our stonewalling the current investigation.
• The Republican President has referred to the media on numerous occasions as "The enemy of the people." and constantly refers to our media as "fake news". This is how dictators in 3rd world countries behave. Why aren't you outraged about this? Why aren't more Republicans outraged by this. The foundation of our Democracy depends on a free press. 1st Amendment!
• The Republican President  accused the former President of illegally wire tapping him. He has no evidence. He is the President for God sake. He has access to the evidence. There is no evidence.
• The Republican Presidents Chief of Staff, Steve Bannon, is a racist, xenophobe that was the head of a racist news outlet that preaches hatred. Do not believe me, take the Breitbart challenge.
• Republicans in both the House and Senate are behaving in a partisan manner in the face of the most existential threat to our Democracy in our lifetime. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! This is the equivalent of 9/11. During 9/11 all Americans came together. But now Republicans are just going to pretend nothing is happening. Really? And you are okay with this.

There are many moderates and conservatives like myself that have come together with liberals to stand up for our country. There is nothing partisan about this. We need you to join us. 

14 million Americans, many in rural America, in Republican districts that voted for a Republican President that said he was going to make your health care more affordable, make it better, has told you a tall tail. The Congressional Budget Office just scored the Republican repeal and replace health care plan and...

• 14 million Americans will lose coverage by next year.
• If you have a pre-existing condition and cannot get a plan through your employer you will not be able to get coverage.
• If you are older, but not old enough for Medicare your premiums will double
• The new Republican health plan is a tax credit for the wealthy and for people like me that do not need a tax credit, especially at your expense.

Republicans are trying to discredit the CBO's assessment. Are you really willing to believe this and take the chance of losing your health care. And, for those of you that currently have health care insurance through your employer what are you going to do should you get laid off? Do you have a pre-existing condition or a family member or friend that does?

As a moderate I want to see a strong Republican party that works in the best interests of the average working class American. A party that brought us legislation like the Roth IRA, and the Child Tax Credit. But those things happened long ago.

Today's Republican party is not a party for the working class. It is a party driven by special interests and the very wealthy. Ask yourself, what did the Republicans do for me an my family in recent times? Keep in mind the Republicans controlled the House for the past 6 years, and they have controlled both the House and the Senate for the past 2+ years. The House and the Senate create legislation. What have they done for the average American? For you?

Donald Trump is the President. He is a Republican. He is the leader of the Republican party. Please wake up an join us. Please stop clinging to a party that is not acting in your best interests. This is exactly why many of you voted for President Trump this past election. But, he is just another Republican. He is nothing more than a typical Republican politician that tells you what you want to hear, and then fails to deliver. 

Wake up and join us. Pick up the phone, call 202-224-3121. Let them know what you think. They work for us, not the special interests. One call a week only takes 5 minutes.

The Ruse of Tax Reform - The New Republican Health Care Bill - Medicare

Regarding one aspect of the proposed Republican plan that is being expedited through the political process...

 "The plan would repeal, starting in 2018, two ACA Medicare taxes — the additional Hospital Insurance tax on high-income people and the Medicare tax on unearned income — that fall only on individuals with incomes above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples). Their repeal would mean that high-income taxpayers would no longer face Medicare taxes on all their income." 
 [source]

So, the repeal and replace leads to a tax break for those of us in the higher income brackets. It also leads to a huge tax break for business. The current Medicare tax rate is 1.45%. We pay 1.45% and our employer pays 1.45% for a grand total of 2.9%. If the new plan is passed Medicare will lose 2.9% for all income made over $200,000.

This tax break will result in a shortfall of over 346 billion dollars over the next decade. 346 billion is a whole lot of medical care. Where will revenue now come from?

For a tax break that would not even be noticed by people in this income bracket?

Trump DID NOT run on what is in this Bill!!! Let us go straight to the source and hear what he said on this subject.

This fits into the Trump Promise how?

Not everything is about Trump (though he is a Republican). Republicans have put forward a plan that hurts those of our citizens that have the greatest need (namely, in this case our elderly population on Medicare). This is a party that claims to be the party of the "moral majority" and the party of Christian values.

[Source]
[Source]

For those of you that claim to follow the teachings of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (for the record I am a Christian) how exactly does this fit into Matthew 25:40? ...

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

...Or, the myriad of other scripture in the Gospels that calls us to care for the poor or the elderly?


POST NOTE
More for the record. I am also a moderate that still holds many conservative beliefs (especially in the areas of fiscal responsibility (from individual to government), personal responsibility, and individual liberty). Unfortunately, for me, there has not been a conservative party for too many years that seems to value these ideals in a way I find either honest or morally appropriate. I will be damned if I am going to idly sit by on the sidelines and watch a repeat of what happened in the 30's and 40's  with the global rise of extremism. Particularly, now that it has come to our shores and lives and breathes in the highest reaches of our government.

3-5-2017 - Watching the Greatest Scandal in US Political History Unfold

Trump, his campaign and his administrations connection to Russia is substantial and warrants a serious investigation. Trump and his administration have been evasive and meddling in efforts toward such an investigation. This on its own merits is very suspicious and disturbing.

Here is what we have to date (though this list is quite long it is not by any means a complete list)

• Trump's pick of Michael Flynn for his national security adviser. Flynn lied about having contact with Russian officials during the election and was seated next to Putin at a Russian State owned television dinner as his guest. Flynn has since resigned.

• Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, is the majority owner of the Bank of Cyprus which is accused of laundering money for Russian oligarchs, including fertilizer king, Dmitry Yevgenyevich Rybolovlev. Trump sold Rybolovlev a mansion he paid 40 million for for 95 million. This was far more than the current market value at the time. [source]
• Additionally, while Trump was on the campaign trail, Rybolovlev's plane was at the same airport at the same time the Trump plane was there. Seriously now, nothing suspicious there to check into? 

• Trump's pick of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State. Trump and Tillerson had never met before his nomination. Tillerson has ties to Russian State oil and has been a guest on numerous occasions at Putin's personal residence. [source]

• And, there are recent attempts by the Trump Administration to influence other parts of our Government involved in investigating. Specifically, the Trump Administration attempted to stifle inquiry into his Russia ties by enlisting Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), senior members of the intelligence community and Congress in efforts to counter news stories about Trump associates’ ties to Russia. Both accepted the job and initially told reporters that there was nothing to look into. Please keep this fact in mind when the truth finally comes out. [source]. Reince Priebus asked FBI Director James Comey to publicly dispute media reports that Trump campaign advisers had been frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents. Comey denied the request. [source].

• Then there is Attorney General Jeff Sessions who lied under oath to Congress during his confirmation hearing about having contact while acting as a surrogate for the Trump campaign. He had contact with the Russian Ambassador twice. Sessions only recused himself when the news of these contact became public. Prior to this he claimed there was nothing to require him to recuse himself.

Sessions Lying Under oath

Sessions Denying the Allegations

• Then there is Carter Page whom then candidate Trump claimed to be one of his foreign policy advisers. Page lived in Russia, has ties to their State run oil company and has given many pro Russian anti-US talks in Russia. 

And, from Aug 16th, 2016

• Their are numerous instances of Trump on the campaign trail denying Russian involvement of the DNC hack, He he used the Clinton email leaks in his stump speeches. After watching the following please keep in mind that we now know that during this time the Trump campaign was in contact with Russia.  

[Dec 30, 2016]

It is becoming more likely that the POTUS has or is being blackmailed by the Russian Government. This is from an intelligence report that was released on January 11, 2017. The media reported on the existence of a private intelligence dossier containing unverified allegations of misconduct and ties between then President-elect Donald Trump and the Russian government. The dossier was written by a former British MI6 intelligence agent, Christopher Steele, who went into hiding after the release of the dossier. There are numerous items in this dossier that have already been corroborated by our intelligence community. Here are two items that have not yet been corroborated (excepted from the dossier).

However, there was a 2001 Howard Stern show with Donald Trump and Gossip columnist A.J. Benza. Benza had claimed Trump had wild sex in Russia. Here is an excerpt from that show.

"Trump: I assume A.J.’s clean. I hope he’s clean.
Benza: Meanwhile, he bangs Russian people…
Stern: Russian people?
Trump: Who are you talking about, Russian people, A.J.? I don’t know anything.
Benza: He used to call me when I was a columnist and say, “I was just in Russia, the girls have no morals, you gotta get out there.” [Trump’s] out of his mind."

It should also be noted that Putin was the head of the FSB (Russian equivalent of the CIA) at the time of this show. It is also worth your time to listen to the full exchange on the show with the realization that this guy is now our President.

To date Trump has not had anything negative to say about Putin or Russia. Even when it was becoming clear during our election that Russia was meddling he was on the stump numerous times claiming that it could be China, some other foreign government, or some 400 pound fat guy on his bed. He was also using the Wikileaks to his advantage/ Now if we find out that he was colluding with Russia during the election?

Finally, there is Trump's unwillingness to release his tax returns that would certainly prove or disprove his business connections to Russia.

Government workers and our elected officials and judiciary take the following oaths.

The Congressional Oath of Office 

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

The Oath of Office Taken by Civil Service Employees

“I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

The Oath of Office for Federal Judges

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me, according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably to the Constitution, and laws of the United States. So help me God.”

We do not know if we currently have domestic enemies in control of the highest offices and branches of our Federal Government including the POTUS. It is certainly looking like it could be a possibility. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence to warrant an independent non-partisan investigation.

If you are a true blue, died in wool, red blooded American you have got to speak up and demand a non-partisan investigation.

For Further Reading/Study

Trump's Russian/Kremlin Connections (with Citations & Links)


The web of relationships between Team Trump and Russia


Rex Tillerson's Warm Relationship With Putin Chill's Kremlins Critics' Hopes


Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn met with Russian ambassador in December


Trump team issued at least 20 denials of contacts with Russia

Responsibilities of a Commander in Chief - Explanation for Non Military Folks

I am writing this for those of you that have never served in the military.

When you are in charge in the military the buck stops with you. If you are the captain of a ship and in a dead sleep and your navigator runs the ship aground it is on you. You might think this is harsh and/or unfair and maybe it is. However, this is how things work in the military. You would be hard pressed to find an officer or an enlisted person, active or veteran  that would tell you or think otherwise.

When you are the Commander in Chief it is on you. President Trumps attempt to blame the previous administration and his current generals for the failed mission in Yemen that resulted in the loss of life of CPO Navy Seal Ryan Owens was a utter disgrace and depravity of leadership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what Trump said.

"This was a mission that was started before I got here. This was something that was, you know, just they wanted to do. They came to see me. They explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected," he said. "My generals are the most respected that we've had in many decades I believe. And they lost Ryan."

To the first point, BULLSHIT!!!  President Trump was the one who authorized the mission. It was NOT started before he became President. The Obama administration had created plans for such a mission. But, the mission was NOT started. Trump authorized the mission.

To the second part of his line that "they lost Ryan." Yes, they did. But that does not matter. That it might have been the Generals recommendion does not matter. The President makes these calls. He is the Commander in Chief and the failure of that mission and the death of CPO Owens is on him. A "REAL" Commander in Chief would be the first to take responsibility for the death of this brave sailor.

Disgraceful.