SARAH in Boston

Lt Col Allen West says what he thinks about Muslims

Transfer of Responsibility

How the world works lately...

If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work,he blames the restaurant.

If you smoke three packs a day For 40 years and die of lung cancer,
your family blames the tobacco company..

If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he blames the bartender.

If your grandchildren are Brats without manners,you blame television.

If your friend is shot by a Deranged madman, you blame the gun manufacturer.

And if a crazed person breaks into the cockpit and tries to kill the pilot at 35,000 feet, and the passengers kill him instead,the mother of the crazed deceased blames the airline.

I must have lived too long to understand the world as it is anymore.

==================================================================




Let's start in 1849. People loaded up a wagon, pulled by horses or oxen, loaded all their possessions plus food and bedding, and set out across the west to go to California.
There were no cell phones, no freeway call-boxes, no responding police or cavalry.
There were hostile natioves who kind of resented the white eyes encroaching on their land. These natives did not contact an attorney. They responded like they had for hundreds of years--by killing the intruders.

Those going West did so for a promise. The promise was that it was there, and if you found it or woked for it, you could keep it.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Men looking for jobs during the Depression

Now, let's go up to 1929. People out in the area now called "Flyover Country" still believed in earning and working for income. Goods and services were paid for by cash (Gold or greenbacks)
Meanwhile, back in New York, people who believed in making promises to pay on paper had over done it, which led to a crash, which led to a lot of people losing jobs.

So, these people who were out of work were emotionally impacted. The American Way was to earn your own way. But, due to circumstances beyond their control, they now had no way to earn that income.

The first Socialist President , Franklin Delano Roosevelt, invented the Liberal concept of Compassion (TRANSLATION: Take money from the people who have some money, and give it to those who don't. NOTE: You don't give them yours--You tax investors, wage earners, and producers)


Those who did not work could not expect to live like those who did.
I recall living next to the AT&SF in the 40's. Hobo's (homeless drifters who stole rides on freight cars) would appear at our door and knock. Their first statement was "Do you have some work a man could do for a meal?"

Now, move up to 1964:

The War on Poverty began with a $1 billion appropriation in 1964 and spent another $2 billion in the following two years. It spawned dozens of programs, among them the Job Corps, whose purpose was to help disadvantaged youth develop marketable skills; the Neighborhood Youth Corps, established to give poor urban youths work experience and to encourage them to stay in school; Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), a domestic version of the Peace Corps, which placed concerned citizens with community-based agencies to work towards empowerment of the poor; the Model Cities Program for urban redevelopment; Upward Bound, which assisted poor high school students entering college; legal services for the poor; the Food Stamps program; the Community Action Program, which initiated local Community Action Agencies charged with helping the poor become self-sufficient; and Project Head Start, which offered preschool education for poor children.

ALL OF these programs were paid for by taxes. ECONOMICS 101: To get tax money for some "Program", someone has to PAY taxes.
Again, taking from those who earn or invest, and giving to those who do not.

MY POINT:
It started in 1929. Then you could have dignity and self-respect, and the positive regard of your community only if "You earned your own way"

Gradually, like the story of a frog who gets cooked by being put into cold water, then heat gradually increased, we have transitioned to the belief that we are "Owed". Life now owes us a home, food, medical care, an education, a car, tickets to rock concerts, color TV's, and trips to Disneyland.
There is no guilt for taking these hand-outs.

My remedy: Let's start "Guilting" people who are capable of working--but don't.

Medicaid Drops Coverage For Mom With Cancer

http://cbs4.com/local/Diana.Smith.Woman.2.1623788.html

Diana Smith has gone through six months of radiation and chemotherapy -- one week out of every month. She fears she will die without the bone marrow transplant scheduled for Tuesday.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1
Diana Smith has gone through six months of radiation and chemotherapy -- one week out of every month. She fears she will die without the bone marrow transplant scheduled for Tuesday.

A woman battling a cancer battle was dealt a surprise blow by Uncle Sam this month.

Diana Smith has gone through six months of radiation and chemotherapy -- one week out of every month. She is in remission and had a donor for a transplant; being in remission is prerequisite for the transplant.

But her hopes of receiving the transplant were dashed in March, when she says, the Social Security Administration contacted her –without her soliciting it -- and told her that her three year-old son was entitled to receive Social Security disability payments. Even though she didn't ask for it, she signed the form and received her son's first check check.

In April, Medicaid canceled her universal health care policy because her income level had risen with her son's payments – making her ineligible for the insurance program.

The problem is Jackson Memorial Hospital cannot provide the procedure because the risk is too high. The universal policy from Medicaid helps shield the hospital from liability in this kind of case. Without it, they are subject to liability issues.

Even though Smith offered to cancel her son's disability benefits, she was told it's too late.

"She's gone through six months worth of radiation and chemo, her body can't take anymore. If they don't allow her to have this transplant coming up right now next week, they're in effect signing her death warrant," said her friend Tom Noonan.

"I want to live to see my son grow up and get on with my life," Smith told CBS4's Ted Scouten.

As a result of the WFOR CBS 4 report, State Sen. Dave Aronberg is prepared to take action over the weekend. Social Security officials are also looking into the case to make the surgery happen on Tuesday as had been planned.


====================================================================
Here's another often-occuring scenario that happens and one that gets no publicity

Joe six-pack has worked his whole life at various jobs. He is now 70, won't get hired by any one, and is forced to live on his social security.

One day, he gets a notice from the SS Administration: It says his payment is being cut because he earned too much last year.

Joe knows there is an error, but it will take the effort of rebuilding Hoover Dam to correct it.

What happened?
Jose DeLeon-Mendoza, AKA Juan Garcia-Lopez, AKA Miguel Castro-Hernandez, sneaked into the US. The Man at the Landscape company told him that he had to have a Tax Number (Also known as SSN). Jose made one up, or bought one from a fake ID seller, --which just happened to be Joe Six Pack's same number.

In investigating Worker's Comp Fraud in California, I found this to be the norm. Every time, I notified the SS Administration. The only time I reveived any call for further information was from the FBI when the perpetrator's name was similar to Haji Hassan.

Something for nothing

My father had an 8th Grade education, but he was a very wise man.
One of his sayings was "You never get something for nothing--unless someone, somewhere, is getting nothing for something".

Well, you can see the logical result: The ones getting nothing for something will stop producing that something, regardless of whether it isw a product or a service.

Yet, Liberals have two hallmarks: Fantasy and Hypocrisy.

Under their Fantasy heading, they started making bankers and lenders accept nothing for something in 1977 with the Community Re-Investment Act (Sounds like an Obama theme song, doesn't it?)

==========================
The original Act was passed by the 95th United States Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 12, 1977 (Pub.L. 95-128, 12 U.S.C. ch.30). Several legislative and regulatory revisions have since been enacted.
The CRA was passed as a result of national pressure to address the deteriorating conditions of American cities—particularly lower-income and minority neighborhoods. Community activists, such as Gale Cincotta of National People's Action in Chicago, had led the national fight to pass, and later to enforce the Act.

The CRA followed similar laws passed to reduce discrimination in the credit and housing markets including the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (HMDA). The Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or other personal characteristics. The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requires that financial institutions publicly disclose mortgage lending and application data. In contrast with those acts, the CRA seeks to ensure the provision of credit to all parts of a community, regardless of the relative wealth or poverty of a neighborhood.

Before the Act was passed, there were severe shortages of credit available to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In their 1961 report, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that African-American borrowers were often required to make higher downpayments and adopt faster repayment schedules. The commission also documented blanket refusals to lend in particular areas (redlining). The "redlining" of certain neighborhoods originated with the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the 1930s. The "residential security maps" created by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) for the FHA were used by private and public entities for years afterwards to withhold mortgage capital from neighborhoods that were deemed "unsafe". Contributory factors in the shortage of direct lending in low- and moderate-income communities were a limited secondary market for mortgages, informational problems to do with the lack of credit evaluations for lower-income borrowers, and lack of coordination among credit agencies.

In Congressional debate on the Act, critics charged that the law would create unnecessary regulatory burdens. Partly in response to these concerns, Congress included little prescriptive detail and simply directs the banking regulatory agencies to ensure that banks and savings associations serve the credit needs of their local communities in a safe and sound manner. Community groups only slowly organized to take advantage of their right under the Act to complain about law enforcement of the regulations
========================================
Yeah, right. During Bubba Clinton's reign, Janet Reno threatened lenders with prosecution if they failed to lend to low- or no incomers.

=======================================
Then, Ted Kennedy and his fellow senator from Massachussets gave us:

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA is a U.S. Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. As a result of the act, patients needing emergency treatment can be discharged only under their own informed consent or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.

EMTALA applies to "participating hospitals", i.e., those that accept payment from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Medicare program. However, in practical terms, EMTALA applies to virtually all hospitals in the U.S., with the exception of the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Indian Health Service hospitals, and Veterans Affairs hospitals. The combined payments of Medicare and Medicaid, $602 billion in 2004, or roughly 44% of all medical expenditures in the U.S., make not participating in EMTALA impractical for nearly all hospitals. EMTALA's provisions apply to all patients, and not just to Medicare patients.

The cost of emergency care required by EMTALA is not directly covered by the federal government. Because of this, the law has been criticized by some as an unfunded mandate. Similarly, it has attracted controversy for its impacts on hospitals, and in particular, for its possible contributions to an emergency medical system that is "overburdened, underfunded and highly fragmented." More than half of all emergency room care in the U.S. now goes uncompensated. Hospitals write off such care as charity or bad debt for tax purposes. Increasing financial pressures on hospitals in the period since EMTALA's passage have caused consolidations and closures, so the number of emergency rooms is decreasing despite increasing demand for emergency care. There is also debate about the extent to which EMTALA has led to cost-shifting and higher rates for insured or paying hospital patients, thereby contributing to the high overall rate of medical inflation in the U.S.

Illegal immigrant ALIEN residents
According to the Census Bureau, some 9.7 million of the nation's 45.7 million uninsured people in 2007 were non-citizens. Access by illegal immigrants to U.S. health care through EMTALA remains a source of controversy. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 contains a provision for $250 million per year for fiscal years 2005-2008 in payments to eligible providers for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens and other specified aliens.

According to a 2007 analysis by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, uninsured adult low-income non-citizens were the least likely to use emergency rooms, with only about one in ten reporting a visit in the past year. Adult non-citizens most often rely on clinics and health centers, many of which are funded by charities as well as hospitals seeking to unburden their emergency rooms.

However, immigration restrictionist groups like the Center for Immigration Studies and Federation for American Immigration Reform have argued that illegal immigrants still disproportionately burden the emergency rooms as they are uninsured to a far higher extent, and are therefore to a much higher extent unable to pay for their emergency room visits. Also, they claim that because the children of illegal immigrants are often U.S. citizens, the cost of treating them is ignored. Nevertheless, since non-citizens make up 21.2% of the uninsured, and they are the least likely of the uninsured to use emergencies rooms, their cost is at most $8.6 billion per year.

=============================================

And getting up to date:

Valley doctors worry deep Medicare pay cuts may remain in place

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/10/1892221/valley-doctors-worry-deep-medicare.html#ixzz0kpewE6K0
By Barbara Anderson / The Fresno Bee
Medicare patients in the central San Joaquin Valley could have a harder time getting medical attention this year, if the government goes ahead with a deep pay cut for doctors.

Congress cut doctors' reimbursement by 21.2% this month, and doctors say the cut could force many of them to drop out of the insurance program.

In the past, Congress has rescinded such pay cuts, and it could still repeal this year's reduction. But already one attempt to scrap it has been blocked. Doctors worry the cut will stand.

"If this cut goes through, we will not be able to see new Medicare patients," said Dr. Cynthia Bergmann, a Fresno gynecologist. "And we will have to look hard at what we have to do with our current patients, whether we can afford to take care of them."

It's not as bad in the Valley as in many other places, because many doctors here will be eligible for a 10% Medicare pay increase next year as part of the health reform package. Doctors in designated health-professional shortage areas will qualify.

Even so, the bonus wouldn't offset a 21.2% pay cut -- and some physicians have already made a decision to curtail Medicare practices.

Community Medical Providers in north Fresno, a 10-doctor office, decided last year not to add new Medicare patients, except for patients referred to it by a Medicare health maintenance organization that has a contract with the group.

"Basically it is the reimbursements," said Walene Herzog, office manager. "We all knew the cutbacks were coming -- and it's already started."

In the Valley, more than 220,000 patients rely on Medicare, the federal insurance program for the elderly and those with disabilities. Nationwide, about 40 million are enrolled.

Fixing the formula

Medicare payments are set by a complicated formula known as the SGR, which stands for "sustainable growth rate." The payment rate -- established in 1997 to cut Medicare costs -- is based on the gross domestic product.

When the economy is booming, rates go up. When the economy stalls, they can go down.

Doctors have been pushing Congress to change the formula to reflect rising health-care costs.

"We're not saying let physicians spend whatever they want -- have strong accountability and utilization controls -- but give a stable reimbursement system," said Elizabeth McNeil, vice president of government relations for the California Medical Association, an organization representing 35,000 doctors.

Doctors say that even in a recession, the costs to practice medicine keep increasing.

"Everything is more expensive today," said Dr. Michael Krueger, a Fresno cardiologist. "Physicians' incomes are way down."

But most Valley doctors are waiting to see what happens before limiting the Medicare patients in their practices.

Congress returns Monday from spring recess and could move to scrap the pay cut.

So far, nationwide access to doctors has remained good for Medicare patients, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Council, which advises Congress on Medicare payments.

A 2009 nationwide survey found most Medicare enrollees have doctors. Only 6% were looking for a new doctor.

Of those, about 25% reported having some trouble finding one.

But the survey did not look specifically at areas such as the Valley.

"I think there can be regional differences and regional spot shortages of doctors, and we need to take a close look as to why that's happening," said Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a nationwide consumer service organization.

Most Medicare patients are unaware of the payment turmoil. Doctors say that's because they shield them from it.

"We want to take care of patients, and we want to take care of them well," Bergmann said.

Lee Coulter, 76, of Los Banos, has used Medicare more than most. She's had 28 surgeries and had cancer twice. She has not had a problem finding doctors, she said.

Medicare and a supplemental insurance policy cover her out-of-pocket costs, she said. But she has seen her medical bills and what Medicare paid her doctors. "Sometimes, they've hardly paid anything," she said.

============================================================

So, more and more doctors are saying,"Screw it --I can't pay my costs with the money that the Government pays me". Result: Doctors retire, change careers or refuse to take Medicare Patients.

And OBamacare will only worsen this getting nothing for something scenario

Allen West New Face for Washington

http://www.rightsidenews.com/201004119484/editorial/allen-west-new-face-for-washington.html

Written by Marshall Frank
SUNDAY, 11 APRIL 2010 09:14



The most vital threat facing the future of America, is not health care, not inflation or housing, the sinking dollar, not our image abroad. It's Radical Islam and the inroads that global jihad is making toward the ultimate goal of world domination either through terror or by infiltrating our infrastructure.

Related articles on Allen West

All other issues are trumped by this threat, because if they succeed, none of the above will be relevant any more. There won't be a constitution to protect any of us. We will be ruled by Sharia Law. Well...our grandchildren will.

That's why we need leaders, now, who are willing to fearlessly bring these issues to the attention of Americans, and to fight against this enemy as strongly as we fought against Nazis, Imperial Japanese, and the Communist Soviet Bloc.

The 535 members of congress - 100 senators and 435 House members - are too smart, too close to the facts and too well informed, not to know about this threat. Most are short sighted - only concerned with winning their seats, and dealing with the "Now" issues. This is not about Democrat and Republican, conservative or liberal. It's about protecting the liberties of our great grandkids in future generations.

Sue Myrick is one Congressional representative (R-NC) who has had the guts to speak out and call it what it is. Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, has had the guts to speak out in clear language, how serious this threat really is. There are few others. They are too afraid. Political correctness will be the death of us.

Along comes a fellow, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen West, (Ret.) From Palm Beach County, Florida. West is not afraid. West has self-educated himself to the history and world dynamics of global jihad and makes no secret of where he stands. He is running for congress this year in Florida's 22nd District.

West is a multi-decorated veteran, including the Bronze star, having served in Operation Desert Storm and in Iraq. His one career tarnish stems from a 2003 accusation of prisoner abuse during an interrogation of a suspect in Taji in which his troops had allegedly struck the man. West admits that he fired his pistol into a barrel, near the man's head. At the military hearings, West was asked if he would do it again. His response: "If it's about the lives of my men and their safety, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can."

The suspect cracked and coughed up information about a planned ambush on West's convoy, thwarting the attack. According to West, there were no further ambushes on U.S. forces in Taji until he left his leadership post on October 4, 2003.

If true, the shot into the barrel was worth the bullet, and the suspect's soiled underwear.

During his campaign, West - an historian as well - has demonstrated his awareness of radical Islam's sordid history and the impending threat to the free world. He is one politician that is unafraid. He is someone we should be listening to. And, if he makes it to Washington D.C., there might well be more that will follow his lead.

That's what this blog is all about, electing American patriots into office, versus...the non-patriots.

Please view a couple of videos which highlight the view of Col. West and judge for yourself.

Free or "Kept"

OR






OR




I am wondering how many others have thought about this comparison.
The first set of photos compares wild mustangs with Premarin mares.
Premarin is Horse - Pregnant Mares Urine (PMU) Farming - 01) The largest source of female hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications comes from pregnant mares urine. The name Premarin is an acronym of its source PREgnant MARes urINe. These drugs are prescribed with no concern for the pain and suffering of many mares like these.

The second set compares a wild Jackrabbit with a rabbit farm.

In both second photos, the animals are given just enough space and food to be kept alive and to produce a product.

In both first photos, the animals have FREEDOM. Yes, it is up to them to find food and shelter, and avoid predators, but the can do what they want to, wehen they want to, and how they want to.


Now, this freedom was what we had. It has been eroded and sliced away a bit at a time. It was taken, in return for guaranteed food, shelter,and security.

So, it appears to me that there are humans living like the rabbits in the rabbit farm, and the Premarin mares, in "Government Assisted Housing", and eating Government supplied food.

So what product does the Government expect from these people.

Their only product is their votes. As long as they deliver VOTES, the Government will keep them alive-but not comfortable. And the Government will sustain them with the proceeds of the tax money extorted from people who work, invest, and earn their own way

A realization came to me. You can live on Government assistance--All you have to do is give up your pride and self-respect.

We Will Remember Them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SQamBmpdDU&feature=fvw


'We Will Remember Them'
Stars Record Tribute to Troops

A cast of 200 Donate their Time to Raise Money In Abbey Road Studios Biggest Ever Recording Session

"We will remember them, Give thanks and honour them, For our tomorrow, They gave their today"

Released on Sunday 8th November on iTunes and various other download stores.

Music stars have gathered to record a moving tribute to British Armed Forces past and present.

On Sunday 1st November 200 people spilled into Abbey Road Studios, donating their time and talent to record an Anthem as a Thank You to all our Military personnel who have served our country protecting our freedom.

This was the biggest ever 1 day session to be staged at Abbey Road in the history of the famous recording studios.

Multi-million selling artists from Michael Bolton to Robin Gibb, to Hayley Westenra contributed to the song, written by A1's Mark Read and Robert Hart (Bad Company, Distance, The Jones Gang).

They performed alongside The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pipes & Drums from the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Drumming, Bugles from The Academy of Music at Kneller Hall, a Choir of Celebrities and the Carmel Thomas Youth Choir.

Paul Carrack, Kenny Jones, Paul Rodgers, Lee Mead, Mark Read, Mica Paris, Natasha Hamilton, Haley Westenra, Carol Decker, Nell Bryden and Liz McClarnon also starred.

"I never miss an opportunity to thank our troops," said Michael Bolton, who dropped everything while rehearsing for performances at the Royal Albert Hall this week to take part. "They are the bravest people you'll ever meet."

'We Will Remember Them itself goes back to the the first world war', explains Robin Gibb, 'but it's very significant and it makes people stop and think just what these guys are doing for their country'.

Joseph star Lee Mead: 'Two or three hours in a recording studio on a Sunday is nothing compared to what our troops go through every day'

'I know people out there in the military, someone close to me was in Afghanistan and was blown up in his tank,' says Natasha Hamilton os Atomic Kitten, 'He has been in rehabilitation for many months. When it's someone that you know that's been out there fighting, it brings it home how important it is to remember through song.'

ALL proceeds go directly to the Royal British Legion and the Help For Heroes charity by SRLV Accountants and Coutts Bank. The money will help support injured troops and their families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

"This is an appeal to raise funds to help and support the families who have lost or suffered horrendous injuries in their Military service", says Kenny Jones. "In addition, the Anthem will also remember all our Service Men and Women from all past conflicts."



From the artists

I am delighted to have the opportunity to add my support to the servicemen and women and their families who put themselves on the line for us all.

Paul Carrack

I was invited to sing and participate in the recording of 'We Will Remember Them' whilst touring the UK recently. Supporting our troops, and showing our appreciation on their return is something that is essential to me.

Micheal Bolton

I am so grateful to all our boys and girls risking their lives to protect ours for this I consider it an honour to be apart of this contribution in song

Mica Paris

I participated in the “We Will Remember Them” song because I have always felt passionate about the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in two World Wars so that countries in Europe could be free, including Germany. I feel just as strongly today for the brave soldiers who are in Iraq and Afghanistan, who, every day are putting their lives on the line so we can have peace in the world. They are the very few who are prepared to pay the ultimate price, so we should respect, support and above all, honour them, and we must not let them down.

Robin Gibb

We thought that this was a fitting time for us to get into the studio together for the first time in ages. It was such an emotional song to record, and of course to be part of such an important message just made it even more special. The artists all giving up their time to perform just shows how important the troops are to all of us.

Liz McClarnon & Natasha Hamilton