Obamacare

Call it healthcare in America or Obamacare. Whatever you call it doesn't matter because the Supreme Court determined it's here to stay. The Supreme Court found a loop hole in the law (in the commerce clause) where they determined it constitutional to fine a person.

According to them, it's unconstitutional to force someone to have insurance. However...if a person goes to the hospital without having insurance, they will be fined. (Just like if someone gets in a car accident and they don't have car insurance, they will be fined with a ticket.)

It sounds good so far, doesn't it?

This law doesn't change anything except that now the government will get more money. Some people still won't get insurance, and when they go to the emergency room the doctor will still help them (because the doctor swore by the Hippocratic oath to practice medicine ethically and honestly.) But now, when a person goes to the emergency room without insurance they will be fined. In my opinion, when a person gets fined, that money won't go to the hospital. The money will go to the city (government) and the hospital won't see one penny of it.

(Just like when my mom got in a car accident with an uninsured driver. Yes, the driver got fined. No, my mom didn't get  the money to fix her car. The money went to the city. Legally, all the policeman could do was say to my mom "Sorry." My mom had to pay to fix what she hadn't damaged. What a crappy situation, but she could only act within the law. Unfortunately, the law didn't rule on her side. The law sided with the uninsured driver. Now, the law will side with the uninsured medical person.)

People won't get insurance just because the law requires it. If they can't afford it, they can't afford it.

Now that I think of it, how will the person without medical insurance be fined - will the hospital call the police? Surely, the Supreme Court isn't giving hospital's the police authority to fine people. Assuming they are (a scary thought,) are they also giving doctor's office's that authority when a person goes to the doctor without medical insurance? Where does it stop? When does the Supreme Court say "that's too far"? The Supreme Court said "We're not responsible for people's choices." I feel like I'm on my own and my Supreme Court won't defend me...they'll defend the other guy.

I do think Americans need healthcare reform, but I don't think Obamacare is the answer. However, now that Obamacare has gotten the Supreme Court's stamp of approval , I don't think it will ever be changed because cities won't want to give up their newly gotten money. Obamacare is fair to some people, but unfair to a lot of others.

Capitalism and Greed

I heard a very interesting theory that people don't like capitalism because people don't like greed. If the theory is true, it implies that all capitalists are greedy. That's not true because some people who have money are very giving. They share their wealth and aren't bad people just because they have money.

Greed has nothing to do with whether or not a person has money: it has to do with choice. A capitalist can choose to be greedy...but so can a poor person. It's inaccurate to associate greed with only rich people.

When I think about it, everyone who has a job is a capitalist because they work to get money. It's not fair to blame someone who is good at making money because the blaming person has less. A capitalist is someone who invests their money according to the principles of capitalism. Capitalism is producing goods or services for a profit. 

These definitions make me realize that everyone who has a 401k is a capitalist because they invest their money to make a profit. They put money into their 401k and based on the investments they chose, hope to make more money. Yes, every stock broker is a capitalist because they work to make a return on their investment (a profit.) But do I need to fault them because they know how to invest in the stock market, and perhaps do so well? I can see faulting them because they are greedy but not because of how they choose to make money.

If I fault the stock broker for making money, do I also fault the doctor? Isn't every business in existence to make money?  Hating the stock broker but not the doctor, seems crazy to me because they both have money. Perhaps I need to hate the stock broker because he/she has more money. That doesn't seem fair.

Everyone who sells something for a profit is a capitalist. If I had a home that I bought for $200,000 and sold it for $250,000, I'm a capitalist because I made a profit of $50,000. If I bought my car for $7,000 and sold it for $8,000, I'm a capitalist because I capitalized on the sale of my car by making a profit of $1,000. Whenever I sell something, I hope to collect the asking price but I might negotiate a lower price with the buyer. My lower priced sale doesn't mean I'm not a capitalist. I want to make a profit or at least my asking price, but sometimes that doesn't happen.

I believe in some social programs because certain people do need help. However, people who don't need help, (who could get what they need some other way,) corrupt programs with their greed and hurt people who truly them. Social programs can never work as intended because people are imperfect, greedy, and want something for nothing. In most cases, the programs take away each person's freedom by choosing for them. 

There are people who qualify for some programs who choose to not use them because the don't want to give up their ability to choose. A person's situation may seem bleak but that person can choose to overcome adversity, pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and become what seems impossible. They don't need a program to choose for them because they can choose for themselves.

Having money isn't a bad thing. It's the American Dream to make as much money as possible based on merit. People come to America from all over the world to prosper and live the American Dream. Not just foreigners but also most Americans strive for the American Dream. The sad thing is that lately when people are prosperous, they are condemned as if they did something bad. I don't understand it and shake my head in confusion.

I'm tired of hearing that capitalism is bad. No, it isn't. Just like money isn't bad. If I choose to love money more than anything, that's bad...but it's also my choice.

A Photo Experience

I have to blog about this because our feelings showed in our family picture. I bought a Target Portrait package from Groupon because I wanted a family picture with our newest family member, Kimbra. I scheduled our photo shoot for the same Saturday that Andrew flew to California but the gal on the phone assured me we would be done well before the time we had leave for the airport.

Andrew's flight left at 2:30 P.M. Per and I planned to drive Andrew to the airport, and we needed to leave by 12:30 (in order to get there an hour before the flight.) I scheduled our portrait time for 10:00 in the morning (and knew it would take about an hour.) I figured that getting home by 11:00 would give us plenty of time to change clothes before going to the airport.

We got to Target promptly for our appointment. Two girls worked that day. One of them told us to wait while the other people in the studio finished, so we sat on the chairs in the waiting area. The people in the studio finished and came out to the front where they looked at their pictures on a computer and chose a package.

The same girl came over to us again and told us we had to wait longer because of them being short handed. Then we watched as two more families arrived and went into the studio ahead of us! We waited an hour past our appointment before finally getting into the studio at 11:00. (I considered us having our pictures taken while feeling extremely angry an ironic situation.)

We waited for so long that during our session the photographer had devised a plan. She said she would take our pictures, then we would leave, then we would go back to their store after we went to the airport, then we would pick our pictures. I felt so flustered that I didn't notice the fact that she took pictures of ALL the kids and didn't take any of just Bryan and Kimbra. We followed her plan and upon our return to the studio, Per and I picked the pictures we liked best. Then, again, we left.

The photographer took our pictures by noon. We drove home and changed before going to the airport. Andrew made his flight. We got our pictures taken. But our photo experience didn't happen the way I planned: I wanted the experience to feel happy but instead it felt stressful.

Per just picked up our pictures yesterday even though they had been ready since May 30. Of course the girl tried to sell him additional pictures besides the ones we bought. He just wanted to get our pictures and get out of there, so he told her no thanks. (I'm glad I didn't go into the store instead of Per because if she had tried to sell me additional pictures I would have given her a piece of my mind...and it wouldn't have been pretty.)

Most of the photos surprised me and looked nice. I laughed when I saw our family photo because Per, Bryan, and I don't look that great whereas Andrew and Kimbra do. One thing I know is that I will NEVER again buy a Target portrait package.

Here are the pictures we got. The composite picture is large and wouldn't fit in my scanner but you get the idea. Don't let the picture of just Bryan and Kimbra fool you: it also included Andrew but Target must have cropped him out.

A Monumental Day

Call last Friday a monumental day.

Recently, I sat in the yellow chair in my kitchen, with a cutting board on the ottoman, and cut four celery stalks into smaller pieces then put the pieces into eight bags. The work didn't make me tired so after doing the celery, I made 14 grab-bags using all of the refrigerated grape tomatoes and strawberries. A couple of days later, I sat in a rolling chair in the laundry room and sorted my clothes. While sitting in that chair, I loaded the washer and proceeded to do three loads of my laundry.

My world expanded when I realized that I could do many things when sitting, and that sitting and reaching didn't make me as tired standing and reaching. I contemplated how a rolling chair on each floor would give me mobility.  (For example, a chair in my room would allow me to keep my room clean, make my bed, go in the closet, do my hair, put on makeup, and, something I haven't done in years, iron.)

Granted, my fine motor skills are different now and I can't do some things, but I CAN do a lot of things and ask someone to do the things I can't. Some things in my house will have to be moved so I can reach them, but I'll be able to do things instead of just sit and watch tv.

That action has given me more hope than anything has in the last four years. I feel so happy and wonderful that I regard my world as a new world of possibility. Last night I thought about Friday being a monumental day.  I considered how the day felt great because I had accepted my limitations, whereas, before...I hadn't. (I'd been sick for almost four years and for most of that time I cried whenever I failed at something because I felt sad remembering the past.)

I had stopped doing the things I could no longer do and hadn't done some things for a long time. When I did them I felt a sense of elation. The elation probably intensified because I didn't think once I could do this.

Parents: Have Faith in Your Kids

Technology evolves every day. It's good because it introduces people to new things, but it's bad because kids give it more attention than before. Parents want their kids to have their values but technology is replacing their teaching in some ways. 

It really has to do with money and morality. The main question companies ask themselves is: "How can I make the most money? (and I don't care if it's right or not.)" Kids play into their hands because they don't know better. Kids need to listen to caution (which is usually what their parents do-because of experience) but caution is boring to kids. Kids used to do two things: 1) They listened to their parents, and 2) they did the right thing. In today's world I see a trend forming where a lot of kids do neither.

The inclination of some parents is to get rid of everything that could harm their kids. That action won't solve the problem of their kids not listening to them. I wonder why parents think their kids would increase their interaction after they eliminate the things their kids like. The fact is, today's kids live in a technological world whether their parents like it or not. It doesn't help kids when their technology is taken away and they are forced to live in a past time. I don't think parents want to knowingly handicap their kids and make them social outcasts but that's what happens when they take away what other kids have. 

One day kids are going to live in society, but if they don't know how to do normal things, then society will think they're weird. I believe parents want their children to succeed, they don't want to punish them, but they are scared. I understand this fear because when I raised kids I wanted to live in a technological world, but I also wanted my kids to listen to me. 

The positive outcome I see is parents teaching their kids as much as they can, and then BELIEVING they'll make right choices. Kids want to do right things but they also want to choose for themselves. Often, kids don't know what the right thing is. Their parents can teach them but then they need to step back and let their kids decide. When a kid makes a mistake they will eventually correct their error (because of experience) but they want to know that their parents love them no matter what they do. Every kid wants to know that their parents believe in their ability to make good decisions - they want to believe that their parents have faith in them.

It's risky for parents to trust their kids because they are so young and inexperienced. But when a kid falls flat on their face because they chose wrong, they learn and eventually think "I'm not going to make that mistake again!" It's hard (sometimes heartbreaking) for parents to watch their kids make mistakes.  Parents want to save their kids from hurting so they force their choice on kids, but kids want to choose for themselves.

Parents of the past said "you should" and made kids feel guilty.  Kids conformed because they wanted to do the right thing-at that time, the popular action. Some of today's kids hear "you should" and think "I won't." They don't want to feel guilty so they stop doing what their parents say and instead listen to their friends or strangers.

I believe that if parents want their kids in their life (without their kids holding a grudge or feeling animosity) parents will stop making their kids feel guilty and instead have faith in them.

Accomplishments are a Big Deal!

I used to shrug off my accomplishments and think of them as no big deal. I am creative and would think I can replicate the thing if I need it. I no longer hand-write but when I could, I wrote things to cheer people up. I can no longer sing but when I could, I sang to people to encourage them. I no longer draw but when I did, I made some wonderful art. At work, I made many good spreadsheets and typed great letters that included just the right words and sentences. At home, I ironed well and cleaned thoroughly.

I never valued the creative things I did, but I can't do them anymore and now I think Wow! I had talent. (I know I still have talent, but the great things I once did, I thought came naturally to everyone. Now I know that everyone couldn't do the great job I did.)

Everyone has at least one talent - I'd venture to say they have many. The things that came naturally to me, could also be called talents. When I felt inspired to sing, I sang. When I thought that perhaps the quote or poem or book I had would help someone, I gave it to them. I gladly gave away many things and didn't save a copy for myself because the thing was for them not me.

Today I wondered, as I looked around my home, how will my kids know that I cared about people? I think they will know because of how I cared about them.

This morning I considered all the things I had made and thought amazing. The things I did are noteworthy and deserve acknowledgment. I wouldn't have once thought that but instead would have shrugged it off because it came easy to me. I considered the things I did "no big deal."

People have talents that I don't have. Perhaps they don't consider them amazing because they come naturally, but I'm here to say "things they do that they think aren't a big deal ARE!" People need give themselves credit for what they can do instead of think they need to do more.

Political Correctness Isn't What We Think

I don't like for people to tell me what to think and how to feel, but some people do and I think that's why we have political correctness. 

Political Correctness tells people how to behave. It says "don't say that because it's mean, instead say this." I noticed the effect P.C. had on my thinking when I watched "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" last Christmas. The kids at school made fun of his nose and called him names. His dad put mud on his nose so the kids wouldn't make fun of him. My politically correct thinking caused me to not like the meanness of the kids and to not want to watch the show. I have watched that show for years but that time I particularly noticed the mean comments over Rudolph having to be tough and a hero in the end.

I think being nice is great but I don't agree with telling people how they "should" be to the point that they feel guilty. I believe that even though a person is told how to be, at the first chance they get, they will be how they are. I saw this occur when people were allowed to comment on news stories. Instead of them being nice (or pc) some people said mean things and hid behind anonymity. I think they were even more rude because they weren't associated with their name. No body knew who they were when they had online names like "FatMan" and "Jokester."

People are who they are. Telling others to be another way makes them feel disapproval and guilt. They have to want to change because they want it not because there are told. It's great to say how to be without preaching, condemning, and guilting. Jesus said "don't judge" but when He encountered a judgemental person He didn't condemn them....He loved and showed mercy to them.

Kids aren't politically correct. They call others names like fat, ugly, and stupid. Adults tell kids to be nice, but kids still call names. Instead of the victims getting tough, they get angry and say "it's not fair." Adults make everyone a winner but kids know there's really only one. Adults make awards that are fair but life isn't fair. When kids get into the "real world" they aren't prepared. They think everyone should be awarded because that's what they're taught. They're wimps instead of tough because they weren't taught to be tough but to get angry or cry at the unfairness.

I think that political correctness is a ploy for people not to defend themselves. Kids are taught to think of the other person instead of themselves...when they are the one's getting bullied. That's wrong. The mentality to think of the other person would be a good way to think...if we lived in a perfect world. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world. Some people in this world want to kill us, and we need to defend ourselves. We don't need to start a fight, but if someone else does than we need to protect ourselves. 

Political correctness isn't good. It's good to be nice, but it's not good to be forced. I hope my post is a wake up call to all people to realize that they don't want to be forced. I believe that political correctness was started in the 60's by metaphysical people who believed in eastern religions. They founded social groups in the 80's and taught their philosophies on recognizing feelings, and being peaceful to establish peace. The world embraced it and now, 30 years later, we are wimps and won't defend ourselves.

Let's be what we know is right. We know right from wrong, let's do it. 

My Sleep Apnea Machine

My doctor diagnosed me with Sleep Apnea in 2000. Since that time, I've had a c-pap machine that helps me breathe at night. People with Sleep Apnea have throats that cut off their air supply when their throats relax (during sleep.) The c-pap machine blows air through a tube and mask which makes the person's throat stay open so they can breathe.

The machine keeps the person from snoring. My husband says the sound of the machine is better to hear than me gasping for air. Over time, he has become used to hearing my machine and says it's soothing. The machine isn't loud but compared to hearing nothing, he had to get used to hearing it.

Before I got the machine I snored horribly. I probably scared Per to death when I stopped breathing then gasped for air in my sleep. (According to the sleep study people, I did that 16 times per hour. They say I have Moderate Sleep Apnea.) When I snored, Per would shake the bed to wake me up. As a result, now I wake up whenever he turns.

At the time, I slept better in the living room, sitting straight up in my comfy chair, because I didn't snore or gasp for air. (On several occasions, I slept there instead of my bed because I got better sleep.)

When I laid down, and after my body relaxed, I could feel my throat closing. I tried to keep my mouth open with my fingers, or a pen, or whatever I could find but knew they would fall out of my mouth when I fell asleep. I actually felt relief when I received a machine that helped me to breathe because I knew I couldn't do it myself.

I probably was destined to get Sleep Apnea because I remember that for years my dad slept in a living room recliner and snored very loudly. Years later I learned that he had gotten a c-pap machine.

The mask is the part that bugs me. I imagine I look like Darth Vader when I wear it. I feel self conscious wearing it in front of my husband but I think he cares more that I can breathe over what I look like. I have the mask that sits over the nose and connects to a tube which connects to the machine. I tried the other mask (that has two "pillows" that sit on the nostrils and blow air into the nose,) but didn't like it because it made me feel claustrophobic and kept slipping off my nose when I turned my head.

When the machine is on it blows air, so if I say anything to my husband he hears my voice AND the rushing air. It didn't take me long to figure out that I needed to tell my husband I loved him before I turned my machine on.

Sometimes when I'm sleeping I unknowingly take my mask off. I don't know why I do it, I just know that when I do I wake up (to the sound of rushing air) soon realizing I need to put my mask back on.

I know I get more restful sleep when I use my machine. I can't imagine having Sleep Apnea and living in a time before someone invented it. I'm grateful for it and couldn't sleep without it!

Forgiving Injustice

Segregation and a lack of civil rights DID exist in the 1960's. Folk singers sang of injustices. Songs known as "spirituals" spoke about a better day. The world stopped using slaves but it took decades before light people called dark people simply...people.

Some dark people haven't dismissed the injustices done to their people (and maybe them.) Songs from the 60's and memories of wrongs cause people to not only say "that wasn't fair" but to want light people to suffer for the injustice. The feeling I get is this thought my people suffered, now you suffer.

Having this mentality causes at least two problems: 1) anger, 2) the people who suffered aren't elevated to inspirations but victims. When a person feels anger toward someone else, the anger stops them from being their true self. They are so encapsulated by their anger that they push out love and every other good feeling. They become enraged by their anger as they allow it to fester. They get a bitter heart because they simply won't let go of injustice.

Injustice inevitably happens in a world full of imperfect people. We can either choose to be angry or forgiving. Forgiveness doesn't mean thinking of the injustice as right, but letting go of the anger held in the heart. I've had injustice done to me. Not segregation but the thing hurt me just as deep. I ended up letting it go because I didn't want to be an angry, bitter person.

Respect in America

My conscience tells me that the difference between Democrats and Republicans is the way they view things. Democrats are for progress and evolution. They see things as living and seek to change them if they think things should be done differently. Another word for Democrat is Liberal. Republicans are for keeping some things the way they are. They believe in progress that helps mankind but see some things as set in stone. They don't want things changed just because they can be. Another word for Republican is Conservative. There are varying degrees in both parties - some people are more Liberal or Conservative than others - but each American, in their heart, is either one or the other. 

The two parties will never see eye to eye but they can work together on the basis of respect. I see a lack of respect when someone says "I'm right, you're wrong!" People with opposing views have worked together for years but something has happened where now they are unwilling to compromise. It seems like one side won't work with the other unless the other side agrees with them completely. That will never happen!

Since 1980, America has had mostly Republican presidents. Now America has a Democratic president. Some of the people who support him point their finger at non-supporters and say "it's our turn!" Those people cause division and hatred and bully those who disagree with them. They also try to force people to believe in something they don't. They may be a different degree of Democrat - more Liberal, or outspoken, or whatever - but they are Democrats and, in my mind, giving all Democrats a bad name.

If Mitt Romney wins the presidential election in November, and once again America has a Republican president, I hope he will work to establish respect. If Obama wins, I'm guessing there will be more division, hatred, and bullying than ever before. I'm scared of the division, hatred, and bullying and think it will make America go backward and not progress.