OpinionMarch 28, 2010
Speak Out 3/28/10
NOW that the Democrats have passed the health care bill, we all know we're going to have to pay more taxes to pay for all this. So when do the taxes go up? Do they go in 2010 or do they start going up in January 2011? We're in a recession. That's going to take away more jobs and more people are going to be unemployed. Then the government's going to need more money for more unemployment. Then the taxes will have to go up again. This sounds like a bad spiral...
Spiraling taxes
NOW that the Democrats have passed the health care bill, we all know we're going to have to pay more taxes to pay for all this. So when do the taxes go up? Do they go in 2010 or do they start going up in January 2011? We're in a recession. That's going to take away more jobs and more people are going to be unemployed. Then the government's going to need more money for more unemployment. Then the taxes will have to go up again. This sounds like a bad spiral.
Cell phone drivers
I work for a major delivery company. Four other drivers and I decided to track what drivers were doing when they made dangerous moves -- for example, running a red light or driving 30 mph in a 35-mph passing lane and having traffic backed up, which makes people pass on the right, which is dangerous. More than 75 percent of the time, the drivers that are engaging in reckless behavior were on talking on cell phones, not texting. Something needs to be done, because there is no way this kind of stuff can go on without causing accidents.
A word of caution
BEFORE choosing a contractor to build your home, make sure he is a "contractor." We moved to this area and chose a so-called contractor who owned the lots in the subdivision. We trusted him. What a mistake. Buyer beware.
Campaign fodder
REPUBLICANS should be happy that health care reform has passed. Now they can use that to campaign for midterm elections -- that is considering, of course, that the allegations they made about how wrong it is are based in fact and not desperate misinformation told in a selfish attempt to politicize President Obama as not having accomplished anything.
Brainwashed
LISTENING to the tea party advocates, anyone would think that the health care reform bill contained the public option. Regrettably, it did not. The fact that all the nations that beat the U.S. when it comes to assessments of the quality of health have a nationalized health care system seems to be lost on all the right-wingers. Just like the folks from Kansas, they have been so brainwashed by the far right that they would vote against their own best interests each and every day of the week if given the chance.
Here's the change
AT last the Democrats have given us a glimpse of the change for which we voted. Kudos to them for standing up to the "party of no" and corporate special interests in defense of the rights of average Americans who don't make a millions dollars a year.
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Road caution
IF anyone needs to see how your county sales tax increase has been used, drive down county roads 439 and 440 and see how well the chip and seal has worked, Warning: use extreme caution. Those holes are everywhere.
Blow off steam
I strongly recommend that adamant opponents of the president's health care plan sign on to the full-repeal movement. Although an exercise in futility, it will allow you to feel better in a psychological sense by blowing off some steam.
Insurance savings
THE president promised more than 20 times during his campaign to cut the average American's health care costs by $2,500. Awesome. Insure 30 million more Americans and still cut my premiums by a third. That's change I can believe in.
Pet attention
TO the well-intentioned citizens (I hope) who continue to throw treats to our dog on Hopper Road. Please stop. It is not good for his health, and one of these days someone is going to get into a car accident. He is a great dog, he's well fed and we love him very much. If you'd like to give attention to a dog, please visit the lonely ones at the Humane Society's animal shelter. They would love the attention or even a home.
The churches tried
A recent comment said the Shelter of Hope needs about $35,000 to finish the building on South Sprigg Street and asked churches why they weren't donating to this cause. Local churches formed a homeless assistance program about a year ago, and not a single homeless person took advantage of the free help. The churches offered three meals a day, transportation for job training, resume preparation, child care and overnight lodging with security. The churches finally gave up after having no takers for 10 weeks. They decided to apply their resources where help was needed and wanted.
Health coverage
BEFORE I retired I raised four children on factory and trucking pay. I would have been more than glad to have had any health care coverage to help me. When my children were sick, I couldn't take them to the doctor like people on welfare.
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