Feel Good Friday 10/23/09

It is Feel Good Friday and I say FEEL THE LOVE!!! I was lucky enough to grow up this wonderful music playing in our home. This video is double even. Enjoy the sweet sounds of the Everly Brothers singing Bird Dog and Till I Kissed you.

Love to you and yours,
Idava

Bring Out Your Dead

"Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because they have no health insurance.

I have created this project in their memory. I hope that honoring them will help us end this senseless loss of American lives. If you have lost a loved one, please share the story of that loved one with us. Help us ensure that their legacy is a more just America, where every life that can be saved will be saved."

Rep. Alan Grayson (D) has created a web site for us to name our loved ones lost because they didn't have health insurance. Grayson has become a champion for those in need of health care insurance. But long before he gave the Republican health care plan, "Don't get sick, if you do get sick die quickly.", that launched him to center stage he was already a champion.

Grayson is an attorney that has spent the past few years fighting war profiteer and fraud from the Iraq War. Grayson has been described as "waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq" by a Wall Street Journal reporter.

He doesn't need to fight for health care, for those are in need. According to disclosure forms he has minimum net worth of $31.12 million. I think he does it because it is the right thing to do and he remembers when he didn't have a $31 million net worth.

Grayson grew up in the Bronx the son to teachers. As a child he was not in good health. He was taken to the hospital four times a week by his mother. He was lucky enough to have health care insurance, without it he would not be alive today. This is something Rep Gayson remembers.

Rep. Grayson was admitted to Harvard. But this was not an easy ride for him. Unlike others he not only earned his placement to Harvard but he also worked to help pay his tuition. He cleaned toliets, worked as night watchman, and still he earned his Bachelor's degree in only 3 years with honors.

Rep. Grayson is more than a member of Congress, he is our Champion.

The Zeitgeist Movement

Trailor For Zeitgeist Movie

Zeitgeist - The Movie

I was asked to watched 2 movies by an old friend, Christa. The above video is a trailor for one of the movies. You can find them both at link above. She wanted to know my thoughts. So, I thought I would also share them here.

I would love to be able to say I was shocked but sadly I wasn't. In regards to 9/11 I have watched so much on that, and still have unanswered questions. Like, how is it we have video of a plane landing on the Hudson River, remember Capt Sully, but no video of a plane hitting the pentagon? I am happy it showed it WTC 7. Do you realize how many Americans are still clueless that building 7 fell , let alone that it feel after 5 pm? There is a lot of information out there. I remember Conyers holding hearings in the basement of Congress, but now, nothing. That pisses me off. If you notice, people of New York where 9/11 happened, did not vote for Bush in 2004. They knew. My friends up there are still angry, as everyone else should have been.
Regarding Religion I have always viewed organized religion as easy mind control. That the seperation of church and state was to protect the STATE from the church influence not the other way around.
I loved , loved seeing John Perkins on the addendum. I told you he was awesome. We grow up thinking, believing that everything our Nation does, knowing that it does so in our name, is honorable. Finding out otherwise for many is quite heartbreaking. The stages they go through , remind of the 5 stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Sadness and Acceptance we have to remember this when people get pissed off after hearing the truth. No one likes being played for a fool and that is one the first things that crosses their minds.
It was nice to see this compilation of different videos. I had seen some of them seperately. I think I will have my kids and Sean watch it this weekend.

Glenn Beck's program 10/19/09

Yesterday, I made a deal with a friend. Trust me I was on the losing end of this deal to begin with. But I am a fair person and never mind listening to the other side. On occasion I have been known to play "Devil's Advocate" simply out of boredom. So here is the deal he had to watch a video of mine as a liberal and I had to watch Glenn Beck's Program. My video was Gordon Sinclair's report The Americans. My friend, John, LOVED it. Now, he asked that I try to be unbiased about Beck's program. I tried. Here is the report I sent to my dear friend. Though our politics are different he is my friend.

John,

I kept my word and I watched his program. You have to remember I like consistency, and hypocrisy tends to upset me.

So let's break this down. Within the first 10 minutes of the program Beck admits that he is not a journalist. That he is simply giving his perspective. After that he was saying that the White House was not treating Fox fairly. I don't recall him (at CNN at the time) or anyone else at Fox complaining that the previous administration was not fair to MSNBC. I think news stations should be able to ask questions at press conferences and just as I would have loved to have seen Bush on Countdown , I think Obama should go on Shepard Smith's show. Why Shepard? Because so far, he is the only one over there I still respect. Sadly though, I have not watched him awhile.

Now he wants everyone to ask questions, to be bold. Ask why? Why? WHY? I think we should ask why. We should ask questions no matter what party is in power. But now I must ask where were the questions from Beck regarding The Patriot Act, Blackwater, Warrant less Wiretaps, US Customs agents having the right to examine ALL electronic equipment AND keep this private informatiosn, Sec. Bakker representing the Saudi Royals in a law suit against 9/11 families, our military not having proper equipment, Jack Abramoff, Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert, 2 of Bush's relatives (brother Jeb and Cousin George) working for Lehman Bros. , the cost of the Iraq War, the Wolfowitz Doctrine, the Carlyle Group, or Brandon Mayfield .

Next he wants everyone to know that Free Speech is gone. I don't recall him complaining about Free Speech Zones during the last 8 years. If you spoke out against President Bush or his Policies you were considered unpatriotic and un American. He didn't seem to mind it then. Where is the consistency??
Now he is discussing Anita Dunn. It seems at a High School Ms. Dunn mentioned she liked the politics of Mao and Mother Teresa. He makes his point over and over and over about how horrible it was that she mentioned Mao. Yet he never mentions that Bush so liked Mao he read his biography and then told Rove he should also read it.

Beck is now discussing volunteering for service organizations. It appears that Obama would like people to volunteer in their community. Beck seems to think that inspiring service is a bad thing. The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) harnesses the collective power of the entertainment industry and channels its unique assets to raise awareness and funds for critical health, educational and social issues in order to make a positive impact in our community and throughout the nation. The EIF has helped many organizations including Boys and Girls Club, Stand up to Cancer, Key to the Cure and Diabetes Aware. Beck is Outraged that the EIF has gotten ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX to join together for 1 week to do programs that highlight community service. Remember community service is helping the Red Cross, a local food bank, the homeless shelter, the USO, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity,The Angel Tree, etc. Yes, these organizations may actually get a little publicity or new volunteers.

According to Beck Free Speech is gone. I remember Free Speech Zones under Bush. He didn't seem to mind then. Free speech zones were commonly used by President George W Bush. Free speech zones were set up by the Secret Service, who scouted locations where the U.S. president was scheduled to speak, or pass through. Officials targeted those who carried anti-Bush signs and escorted them to the free speech zones prior to and during the event. Reporters were often barred by local officials from displaying these protesters on camera or speaking to them within the zone. Protesters who refused to go to the free speech zone were often arrested and charged with trespassing , disorderly conduct and/or resisting arrest.

Beck now wants to discuss Net Neutrality, but then he just goes back to the choice is either Freedom of Speech or Big Government. As a guest ,he brings on Phil Kerpen. Mr. Kerpen is of course for Freedom of Speech and stopping our big government from taking it away. Read what was posted above about Free Speech Zones. Mr. Kerpen is director of policy for Americans for Prosperity, as well as a contributing editor for National Review Online, a Fox Forum contributor on FoxNews.com, and chairman of the Internet Freedom Coalition. After the show, I decided to check out Mr. Kerpen, since it appeared that Beck endorsed this man. This is the first paragraph on his web site ( http://www.philkerpen.com/ )

"With trillions of dollars of bailouts, feckless stimulus spending, government takeovers of private industries and horrifying long-range deficits, the radical left has amply demonstrated that it runs the show in President Obama's Washington, and it's making the place a laughingstock."

Wow. Needless to say, after reading that I know this man does not care too much for facts. Obviously by Beck having him on his show, neither does he. Because we all know that the Bank Bailouts were in Oct of 2008 (Bush was President), the insurance bailouts were in Sept of 2008 ( Bush was President), Auto bailouts were Dec of 2008 (Bush was President), Stimulus spending (from May 2001 through 2008 there were stimulus checks sent out and Bush was President), government take overs of private industries ( 9 Banks were certainly nationalized in Oct of 2008 and Bush was President), horrifying long-range deficits (from 2002-2008 and Bush was President) and now I love how this little inept man blames all of that on the radical left and President Obama.

Lastly , Glenn Beck is still hiding some huge mystery behind the blue curtain. Reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.

The conclusion for me is that Mr.Beck has a very skewed perspective on things. A view that I personally find lacks reason, logic, and consistency. I think he is very disingenuous. I do not think he is stupid or dumb, on the contrary I think he knows exactly what he is doing. Perhaps that is why it bothers me even more. Now, that is just my perspective.

Feel Good Friday 10/16/09

It is a Feel Good Friday!!!! I hope everyone loves this song as much as do. It is kind of how I do things. Knowing I will get there no matter what, step by step, one by one climbing Jacob's Ladder. Love Huey Lewis and the News!! My Aunt Pole and her husband Jim took me see them in concert in Paso Robles, Ca. Great Times!!

Repeal Their Antitrust Exemption !!!

TWO DAYS AFTER HEALTH INSURANCE LOBBY TRIED TO SUCKER-PUNCH HEALTH CARE REFORM EFFORT ...
SCHUMER: REVOKE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY'S ANTITRUST EXEMPTION AS PART OF HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL

Under 1945 Law, Insurance Industry Among Only Handful Of Industries—Like Major League Baseball and Railroads—To Be Exempt From Federal Antitrust Laws Schumer Says Industry's Special Status Should End In Order To Bring Greater Competition To Marketplace; Calls For Floor Amendment To Health Care Reform BillAmendment Should Be Based On Senator Leahy's Bill That Is Focus of Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Today

WASHINGTON, DC—Days after the health insurance industry openly declared it will use the emerging health care reform overhaul as an excuse to raise premiums on millions of Americans, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) urged Wednesday that the legislation should include a new provision to revoke the industry’s anti-trust exemption.

By virtue of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, passed by Congress in 1945, the insurance industry is one of only a handful of select industries in the United States, such as Major League Baseball and railroads, to be exempted from federal antitrust laws. Schumer, a co-sponsor of a bill authored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to repeal the exemption, said the health insurance industry should lose its special status as part of the landmark health care bill scheduled to reach President Obama’s desk later this year.

“The health insurance’s antitrust exemption is one of the worst accidents of American history. It deserves a lot of the blame for the huge rise in premiums that has made health insurance so unaffordable. It is time to end this special status and bring true competition to the health insurance industry,” Schumer said.

Schumer called for attaching a floor amendment to the health care bill that Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring to the floor later this month. Schumer said the amendment should be based on Leahy’s legislation.

Schumer made this declaration a day after the Senate Finance Committee approved a milestone health care bill by a bipartisan vote of 14-9. On the eve of that vote, the health insurance industry launched an eleventh-hour broadside against the reform effort in an effort to sink its chances. On Monday, the health insurers’ trade association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) issued a flawed report that attempted to show that the emerging bill would force health insurers to raise premiums on their customers much more than they otherwise would. Soon after the report’s issuance, the company that developed it on behalf of AHIP acknowledged that it did not include the bill’s many cost-saving measures in its analysis.

Throughout the debate on health care reform, Schumer has been a lead proponent of a public option that would lower health care costs by competing alongside private insurers. The public option would put patients ahead of profits; unlike private insurers, it would have no profit motive whatsoever and would have greatly reduced marketing costs. Private health insurers have scorned the prospect of just such a new competitor.

While the fight for a public option continues, Schumer said Wednesday that the health care reform bill should also seek to impose competition on other ways, like repealing their antitrust exemption. The McCarran-Ferguson Act was enacted in 1945 to protect the insurance industry after the Supreme Court ruled that it was subject to federal regulation under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. The legislation ceded oversight over the insurance industry to states by exempting the so-called “business of insurance” from federal laws. A repeal of McCarran-Ferguson would have the effect of restoring the federal government’s power to curtail price-fixing, collusion and other anti-competitive practices that may exist within the health insurance industry.

Tennessee Economic Council on Women

The Tennessee Economic Summit for Women, presented by the Women's Economic Council Foundation, Inc. and the Tennessee Economic Council on Women, began in 2004 with the goal of helping the women of Tennessee to become economically self-sufficient.
Since 2004, thousands of women have gathered at the annual event to hear expert speakers discuss women's economic issues such as medical costs, financial planning and literacy, business ownership and development and political participation. Speakers have included Patricia Schroeder, Marie Wilson, Sandra Day O'Connor, Robin Gerber, Helen Thomas, Gail Evans and Governor Phil Bredesen.
In 2009, the tradition of offering excellent and timely information and the opportunity to meet and network with the most dynamic women in Tennessee will continue. Join us for a day of motivation, appreciation and elevation as we continue to move ourselves, our family and our communities forward.

For more information please go to :
http://www.womenseconomicfoundation.org/