The vast majority of Americans don't want Uncle Sam to touch their health care.

Today, speaking at the National Press Club, Michael Steele explained: Transcript:
260 million Americans currently have health insurance coverage, the great majority through private insurers, and polls consistently show that they are overwhelmingly pleased with their current coverage.  ...  The vast majority of Americans like their health care coverage. The vast majority of Americans like the quality of their health care. The vast majority of Americans don't want Uncle Sam to touch their health care.
I would like Michael Steele and others echoing these same lines why the actual numbers show otherwise. 85% of Americans support "fundamental changes" to or a "complete rebuild" of the health care system. 64% believe the government should guarantee insurance for all Americans and 72% think the government should offer a public option styled after Medicare to compete with private insurers. OK, so they don't like the current plans.  Then become involved and put out some ideas and plans of your own.  All I've heard from Republicans so far is "this is too expensive", "Americans don't want this", and "This is a jobs killer". None of which helps the actual problem. No health insurance causes people to put health care completely, or resort to the emergency room, which usually only makes their health problems worse.  These people are the same that if they survive will eventually be on Medicare/Medicaid with worse, preventable health problems.  It will cost more to help them then, than to find some way to get them affordable preventative medicine now. Also, especially in this economic climate, many people are attached to their jobs not just for their paychecks, but their health insurance.  Many households may have a desire or idea to go into small or home-based business, but don't want to lose their families health insurance package, so they stay at their job.  This has often been referred to as "Job-Lock". So please politicians, we know your party is hurting, but do a favor for America and instead of standing in the way, help come up with a way to get this done affordably. Health Care ‘Job Lock’ Stifles Entrepreneurship

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SnowBird File Explorer

Windows Explorer is the default file explorer in Windows and often does a pretty good job.  It lets you look over the entire file system, see files and details about the files, and for some types even gives you a preview of what's inside.  It is, however, not very fast, and can also have stability issues. SnowBird is a free, lightweight, portable program that will allow you to quickly browse the files on your system.  It doesn't have all the features of Windows Explorer, but it has all the basics and does them very quickly.  Even network drives and Internet drives are quickly explored with this program.  Also, since it's independant of Windows, unlike Explorer, if it crashes (which I have yet to see), it won't take down your desktop with it.  You can also run it from a flash drive so you can use it on machines where you may not have access to run Windows Explorer, or where a virus or spyware has prevented explorer from running. Overall, a VERY useful and fast little program. SnowBird

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It's Not The Government's Job .... Or Is It?

So to be clear, it's NOT the government's job to:

  • Create Jobs
  • Buy new cars to 1) Help the environment by switching to hybrids and 2) help save jobs in the automobile industry
  • Borrow and spend money, or raise taxes to support government programs
  • Provide funds to help provide for lengthened unemployment benefits during an economic downturn
  • Regulate or help in any way the financial sector to save jobs or lessen the damage to the economy
Or at least that's what Republicans have been arguing for the past few months.  Many of these have good arguments and deserve discussion.

Suddenly however, with the announcement of the change of direction for the military by Sec. Gates Republicans are falling over each other to save their favorite unneeded or overly-expensive project to save jobs in their state/district.  This at the same time many of those states and claiming they're going to turn down funds for job creation and unemployment benefits.

Another arguement is that these cuts will "disarm America" and somehow make us weaker in the world.  Even though the change in the budget will provide:

– An increase in “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support for the warfighter in the base budget by some $2 billion.”

– An additional “$500 million more in the base budget than last year to increase our capacity to field and sustain more helicopters – a capability that is in urgent demand in Afghanistan.”

– “To grow our special operations capabilities, we will increase personnel by more than 2,800 or five percent and will buy more special forces-optimized lift, mobility, and refueling aircraft.”

All of which are needed for the wars we are currently fighting and are likely to fight in the future, not some mythical war from some yet to be declared enemy.

The projects cut  are focused on fighting a large, powerful enemy .... such as China ...  by borrowing money to fund these projects ....  from countries such as China ... and thus helping fund our potential enemies while arming to fight them.

The change in direction shouldn't be focused on jobs, as that's not the military's goal, though that seems to be where Republicans finally decide to change their tune.  Even though this change in budget also provides for MORE personnel, MORE healthcare for veterans, and MORE material support.  They seem to just love their military toys, and their large defense contractor friends.

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The Obama Tracker by NPR

President Obama has kicked off his term by making key leadership appointments, carrying out an ambitious economic plan and laying the foundation for foreign and domestic policies. NPR's Obama Tracker charts significant events and developments in the new administration, and actions the president takes as he settles into the job. obamatracker1 The Obama Tracker by NPR The Obama Tracker

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Internet People Search

Google and other search engines do pretty well when looking for general information, but just don't do a decent job when searching for people.  That's where Pipl comes in.  Search by name and location (optional) to find information about the person.  Social network results (Myspace, facebook, etc), webpages, blogs, even newsgroups are all searched through for the person. PIPL.com

Popularity: -0% [?]