The Outspoken Mom Blog

New guidelines

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I am in such a great mood today I can hardly stand it!  I got a 3 hour break from the baby today and was able to get the convertible out of the garage!  It is so nice and sunny out there with no wind that I even got warm and had to take my jacket off!!!!  LOVE the convertible, love, love, love.  Yes, there is nothing better than feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your face while driving around the city.  Fall is truly becoming my new favorite season.  Who knew having a convertible would actually be MORE enjoyable in the fall than the summer!

So, yes sorry to those who do not have a convertible, I am totally rubbing it in and I am apologizing only for that but, not for how terrific I feel now.  I have been in such a slump lately and that was the perfect medicine for my weary mind, body and soul.  I also think the 3 hours away from the baby during the day was a much needed break too.  I want a nanny!!!!  Oh just once or twice a week for 2-3 hours would be delightful.

Ok, now here comes my bummer part of my blog.  I am not going to let it get me down but, I am so upset by it all and I not only fear for myself but, I also fear terribly for my 3 daughters and their friends.  What has got me so upset?  Our new health care guidelines that are coming out of the woodwork.  It is terrifying and if you don't think there is any correlation between these new guidelines and our new health care bill trying to get passed right now you are naive.

I haven't had a family member or a friend with breast cancer and it really hasn't touched my life directly.  However, it has touched me indirectly.  My best friends mom died from it when we were in 10th grade and every Mother's Day I used to walk in the Susan G. Koman breast cancer walk with my family.  It was something I wanted to do for those women and it was a fun easy thing for my family to do with me for my gift on Mother's Day.  The only reason we quit doing it was because it used to be at the mall right behind my house and we could walk from our house to the event.  Now the event has moved to another mall and with 4 little people, it just isn't convenient anymore.  But, it was our favorite thing to do for 5 years on Mother's Day.

I worry about this new announcement that women don't need mammograms until age 50.  Even though the American Cancer Society doesn't believe that and it has been proven to save many women's lives.  What I don't understand is, isn't it cheaper to catch the cancer early than to pay for all those long radiation/chemotherapy sessions just to have someone die anyway in some cases?  Isn't preventive care cheaper?

Then, when I really got enraged was today when they announced that women in their 20's don't need to have a pap smear every year, they can skip a year because cervical cancer is really a slow growing cancer.  Um, HELLO?!!!  If I have cervical cancer, I want it found sooner than later!  Especially when I was in my 20's and I still wasn't married and wanted children some day!!!  Many times if you get cervical cancer and you don't catch it early enough, not only are you risking your life but, you are risking your reproductive life too!

It CAN be a slow growing cancer but, it also can grow rapidly especially in younger women that aren't in monogamous relationships.  Also, for women in their 20's that more than likely aren't married and having more than one partner in their 20's (which is 10 years people) they are putting themselves and their bodies in peril if they aren't getting regular pap smears.  I predict if people start following those recommendations, not only will cervical cancer rates go up but, so will infertility rates, STD rates (which are already increasing!) and unfortunately abortion rates too.  Because you need to have a yearly pap smear when you are on birth control right now, however, if that changes too, many young women will not see their doctor for up to 2 years.  Will they still be allowed to be on birth control for 2 years without being monitored? 

I guess the good news is, the government is cutting back on preventative care(to 'save' money) but, here is the good news people, we will cover abortions so, hey who cares if the woman gets cervical cancer or breast cancer as long as she doesn't have to pay for the abortion all is good.  What is wrong with this picture?!!

Listen, I am all for women's choice, I am all for the right to choose but, you are taking away the right to choose when you take away the woman in her 20's (usually the highest amount of abortions) from a doctor yearly and really maybe her ONLY person she can freely talk with about birth control, STD's, pregnancy and prevention of it, and more.   Planned Parenthood truly will become just an abortion center then.  You will take away any chance they have and any other clinic has of preventing the pregnancy or cervical cancer in the first place!  OH wait, we have that really neat cervical cancer vaccine....that's right, go for it girls!  Have all the free sex you want!  The government will pay for your vaccine to keep you 'safe' from cancer and well if you happen to get pregnant, don't worry about it because your government will then help you out and pay for your abortion too.

We aren't going to teach you anything about taking care of yourself but, hey, you don't need to take care of yourself, the government will take care of you.  hahahahahaha...BS!!!

Now back to mammograms.  I am 37 right now.  I have only 2 1/2 years until I should be starting to get my mammograms but, now the new government guidelines are telling me to wait another 12 1/2 years.  I have 4 children I am a stay at home mother, my oldest is 8 and my youngest is almost 18 months.  It is MY job to be here for my children.  It is MY job to take care of them, it is MY job to keep myself healthy any way possible.  It is MY job to exercise, eat right and watch my weight (of which I am currently NOT doing my job well.) and it is MY job to raise my children until they are old enough to take care of themselves.  It is MY job to be here for them and to nurture them.  I CAN NOT do my job if I get breast cancer in the next 12 1/2 years while I am waiting to be old enough to have a mammogram.  I CAN NOT  do my job if I get cervical cancer in the 2 years between my pap smears.  The government is taking away my ability to do MY job by taking away MY choices and my health care.

If you don't think you will see more of this happening people I am sorry to say you are in denial and frankly delusional.  This is just the beginning and it will fundamentally change our country for the worse.  I truly believe that. 

For those of you that are for the new government health care a few questions:  Did you know you will be paying for it for 4 years in higher taxes before you even see one health plan?  Hopefully you, your wife, your mother, your daughter won't get cervical or breast cancer in that time. 

Did you know that really all of us HAVE health care right now?  We all have access to health care right now and after the government care we won't ALL have access?  Yes people, everyone currently can go see any doctor or visit any hospital and BY LAW you can not be turned away just because you don't have insurance but, after the government plan goes into place you CAN be turned away because you have the government policy?

Did you know that really if you just open up the borders of health care companies we all could have cheaper, better, more effective and more options of health care?  Why?  Because if the companies actually could cross borders of states and you could truly shop around for a health care plan that not only has the options you want but, also the price you can afford that companies would be forced to charge less for their insurance.  Plus, it would force them to offer more options and to allow more people to be covered by their plans.  Yes, if we just allowed health care companies to offer health care in every state  we would have all the options we wanted and they would be forced to compete for their customers much like Target, Wal Mart and KMart do right now for their customers. 

For all of you who voted for change well, congratulations, you certainly are getting it.  Are you just sure this is the kind of 'change' you really wanted.  I have to say, I saw the best bumper sticker today at my daughter's school and I want one on my truck.  It said, "For you that voted for change, I want mine back."  Now THAT is funny!  Sad but, funny.
 If you look back through out history, everything the government has touched does not turn to gold, it usually turns green.  We are currently more concerned about making everything fair for everyone while destroying everything our country stands for and we are worried more about giving terrorists civil rights and we are more concerned about the rest of the world while we have abandoned our troops in Afghanistan and now, we are taking even more of our beloved freedoms away with government health care.

I didn't know until recently were I stood on this health care initiative.  I was leaning against it but, at the same time since even our family finds it hard to find good and affordable health care I thought, hmmm might be a good idea.  But, as they are changing things before anything happens and people, this really is only the beginning and it scares me terribly.

I can't imagine where this is heading and I am afraid to know.

Here are some links to more information about stats with breast cancer and cervical cancer.  Fight for yourselves ladies, fight for your daughters, your mothers, your friends!  Fight!  Stand up and fight!  Women have changed the world through out history, it is time to change it again and change it quickly before our government changes it for us.

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/statistics/

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/STT_0.asp

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/cervical

I love my country, I love my freedom but, I love myself and my family more.  I will die to protect my children, I just hope I don't have to.

Blessings to you all,

-Liza

To vaccinate or to not

Good Evening everyone!

I really should be in bed but, after watching our local news program about vaccines and how they used the 'scary' voice to advertise it, I felt led to write about it in a blog.

I am that parent that has done both.  I have given some of my children ALL the shots and one has received only 2 shots so far.  Why?  Well, my biggest reason is because I don't think we know the answers!  I am choosing to do something because of MY research and MY experiences with MY children and what has happened to them after vaccinations. 

I truly believe there is no right answer when it comes to vaccinations.  I think they are truly good for most people.  However, there is a small percentage of people that a vaccine will kill, mame or utterly change that person for the rest of their life.  It is a small risk however, I am not willing to risk my children without doing everything possible to understand and know WHY and WHAT shots they are getting.  What is DtaP?  What is Pertussis?  What is MMR?  What is Varcella?  They sound like very serious vaccinations and when you read about what the diseases/sicknesses are that they protect you from and read all the side effects of those diseases and what could happen, well of course you are going to vaccinate your child!
However, when you also read and compare what the vaccine is, what is in it, the side effects of those vaccines and what diseases/sicknesses and deaths those have caused well.....what is a parent to do?

The only thing a parent really can do in my mind.  Research, research, research, and then more research!  You will never figure it all out, you will never find what is right and what is wrong and frankly, you will never know the right answer.  But, at least you will be informed and you will be aware.  Until our medical society and doctors start doing a simple test when a baby is born to see if they have a pre-disposition for Autism, sickle-cell, or seizures....well we are all gambling with our children's health whether we choose to or not to vaccinate.

All I know for my family is my son is on the Autism Spectrum.  I DO NOT believe vaccinations caused his Asperger's Syndrome however, I do believe they acerbated it.  I believe he was pre-dis positioned to have it and after seeing how simple foods can affect his behavior and his moods and how he feels, not to mention medicines well, how could I choose to vaccinate him anymore.  His body CAN NOT handle chemicals or certain foods.  Most, if not all vaccines are made in eggs or gelatin, both of which have adverse reactions for my son.  No he is NOT allergic to these foods, in fact they show up on no allergy tests of his as being an issue.  However, as with many children on the Autism Spectrum, after years of working with his diet and watching his behavior change over the years, he body just simply can't handle some foods, chemicals, and environmental hazards, of those, most vaccines fall into those categories.

When my 4th child was born we already had chosen to not vaccinate that baby if it was a boy.  For some reason Autism hits more boys than girls.  But, when she came out a little girl, I truly didn't have any answers.  I read and read and read then, yep I read some more.  I still don't have the right answers but, I feel like I am able to make some educated choices about her and we have decided to vaccinate her however, we have done it on a schedule that we have created with our doctor.  She is almost 18 months old, she has had only 2 vaccinations and is set to get her 3rd soon.  Am I making the right decision, I have no idea.  All I can do is educate myself, ask questions and pray.  I pay attention to who my children are and I keep a very close eye on them before, during, and after receiving vaccines so that if they every do have an issue with a vaccine, I can recognize it quickly so, hopefully we can fix it fast.

So, as our local news station did a story about statewide conscientious objectors in the state of Minnesota by looking at the school districts medical records here come all the questions and frankly very few of the answers. 

I watched the story and even teared up hearing the two mothers stories they interviewed.  After the story was done I quickly ran to my computer to look up my children's school district to see how many children in their districts aren't getting vaccinations.  I knew the numbers would be pretty low.  Frankly, we live in a lower income area and historically, lower income means higher vaccination rates.  It is usually the higher income areas that have lower vaccination rates.  Why?  Usually because of education levels and frankly many who choose not to vaccinate are the ones who do the research and know to ask questions. 

I will say, I giggled when I looked at our school district and realized that we are the ONLY people in the district to not object to one of the vaccines.  I actually was quite surprised that for the varcella vaccination only 2 children didn't have it and they were both mine.  Which, actually is now only 1 of my children because again, after doing research and knowing my child realized that it would actually be much worse for my son to get Chicken Pox than the vaccine (hopefully, I am right.).  Why?  Because there is no way with his texture issues he could handle things all over his body and itching and with his chemical issues and medicine problems, he could handle the anti-itch stuff or Tylenol or Motrin to keep his fever down.  So, we made a decision to give him the vaccination. 
I will say after seeing the stats though, I now totally understand why my children never got Chicken Pox!  Everyone has been vaccinated! 

Anyway, I don't have any right answers, I don't know what is right/wrong.  All I know is I am trying to make the best decisions I can for my children and to give them all the health advantages I can.  I just ask you do some research and think about and ask questions and know what you are putting in your child's body and why.

Here is the link:

http://kstp.com/article/11754/

For those of you in Minnesota you can read the article and find your school districts rates of objectors and what vaccines they are objecting too.  Just so you know, this is ONLY for the vaccinations that are required to start school and to have while in school.

Blessings to you all and those beautiful babies of yours!

-Liza

Stop making excuses.

Good Morning Everyone!

I don't have a lot of time this morning, ha!, when do I ever have a lot of time?!  Anyway, I do need to start waking up children pretty soon.

I think today I am going to talk about something I have been hearing a lot on the radio talk shows and I think it needs to be addressed.
Why do we feel like we need to apologize as a country to so many people?  What changed in our country that we have decided no one is to blame for crimes they commit, no one is to blame when they bomb our country, we must have done something to make them upset, and when an Army Major shoots his fellow Army men and women it isn't his fault and we should understand because those people were getting ready to go and fight against Islam.

Really, I just heard a snip of an interview from the BBC of an American that actually BLAMED the shot and dead soldiers because they were getting ready to fight Islam and it was their fault they got shot.  Hold on here bucko!!!  What?!!!!

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/199501.php

Then yesterday when I was listening to another show I heard that after 9/11 we actually had a committee that investigated, not who did this to us but, why they did it to us and what we did wrong to them to make them want to hurt us.  Plain and simple people...they HATE our freedom, they hate our religions, they hate us!  However, they hate us yet, many of them leave their oppressive countries to come to America, a country they supposedly 'hate' and raise their children here, attend our schools for terrific educations, take advantage of our great health care system(Oh sorry people, really looking around the world, we have a GREAT health care system) and they work great American jobs for great American wages.  I can see why they hate America so much.

Ok now, calm down!!  I don't think ALL Muslims or people of Islam hate us, I believe most actually like us and our troops.  It is the extremists.  But my question is why do they come here then and why do they raise their children in America but, raise their children to hate America?  And WHY as Americans are we allowing this to happen and we are for some reason taking the blame?
It almost sounds to me we are one of two things as a country, we are either bleeding hearts and believe we can create a Utopia in our world and everyone can live in peace and harmony.  Hey...if we can't get it to work in our own country, what makes us arrogantly believe we can do it around the world?!!!!  My second deal is we sound like we are an abuse victim making excuses for our abuser.  It is the ole, "Oh, you don't know what they are like when we are alone, they really are nice to me..." act!!!

So, are we the Utopia country or the abuse victim country?  Either way, we need therapy and counseling immediately!

It is never ok to shoot our people at our Army bases, it is never ok to fly planes into buildings, it is never ok to gun down innocent people anywhere!  People that do that have issues, don't make excuses for them!  I remember when the Oklahoma City bombings happened, we were angry as a nation, we were upset, we cried together and we didn't make excuses for those losers!  We put them in jail and we threw the book at them!  Was it because they were 'one of us' and that made it worse?  Are we now to a point where if you are white and American you are going to get the book thrown at you for Terrorism (which yes, I believe the Ft. Hood tragedy is) but, if you are an immigrant or you aren't 'white' or you aren't a Christian you can get away with terrorism on our soil?  It feels like it to me.

It seems like we have become so overly politically correct that we are now becoming a joke of a society where hate to say it but, it is the cause of us starting to lose our freedom, lose our sense of safety and we are becoming the butt of jokes around the world.  We are causing this to ourselves. 

I wish life could be fair, I really do!  I wish everyone could all have the same opportunities...hey WAIT, we live in America we all do have the same opportunities!  We all have free public education, we have the freedom to go anywhere in the country we please and you can get any type of job you like, here is the kicker...as long as you are willing to work hard to get it!  OH>....now it makes sense to me, we have created a politically correct country that doesn't feel people should have to 'work' for their opportunities anymore.

I have been the red-headed step/child my whole life(literally) and now, I feel like I am again only because I am a Christian woman, married to a Christian man, we are both ugh, gasp Caucasian, we are both college educated, my husband is a business owner and we are upper middle class.  We are the people that suck in this country all of a sudden because we have worked hard, our parents worked hard, our grandparents worked hard and now...we are being punished by our own government for that.  We need to stop giving to the people in our country that aren't willing to work hard including the people that HATE our country. 

I have a love for my country that brings me to tears every time I sing the National Anthem at a ball game, I stand with my hand on my heart, I sing the song by heart, and I tear up thinking of all the sacrifices our founding fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and children made for MY freedom. 

Now, I feel like that freedom they all shed blood for is slowly going away and as a mother, it scares me.  What sort of country am I leaving for my children?

Stop making excuses for people, stop making excuses for criminals, stop making excuses for terrorists, stop making excuses.....period!

It is Veteran's Day today, take the time to thank, really thank a veteran and take the time to think about what your life would be if you didn't have your freedom that they so gallantly fought for!!! 

If you don't like America good news, you can always leave America...if America sucks so bad...there are plenty of other countries in the world that you might find a lot more enjoyable, more like the Utopia you so crave.  Hey....if you have a wife, or a daughter, why don't you head over to Afghanistan or Iraq...I have heard women are treated very fairly over there.

I am sorry this is so negative today but, come on people!  It needs to be said, that is why I call this blog the "Outspoken Mom Blog" not the "I bury my head in the sand blog".

Blessings to all of you ESPECIALLY our troops both here and elsewhere!  Blessings to all of you veterans!

-Liza

Health Care reform and H1N1.

Good Morning,

I am a bit frustrated and ornery so, watch out!  OK, that is my disclaimer for the day.  So much going on with the family lately.  First of all, we have H1N1 in the house.  It sucks.  It seems to be getting worse as it moves through the family leaving me very worried for our baby who has yet to get it.

My 5 year old daughter just woke up crying with a temp of over 104.  She tested negative yesterday morning for the pig flu (yes, that is what WE call it) and by the time dinner rolled around, her temp was spiking up to 103.  So, please be careful with your children and yourself.

Many doctors both friends and the doctors we have seen have said, if you see a temp before November, it is H1N1.  We were told yesterday at the doctor if she gets a temp, she has the virus.  So, if anyone in your family gets a temp, get in there and get tested and then, STAY THE F HOME!!!!  I am so sick of hearing of all these people who are too busy to stay at home when they are sick or running a fever.  My father just left on a business trip, which includes him flying on a plane to at least 2 different cities all while he is sick.  But, in this 'economy' he feels like he needs to continue doing business.  So, he is traveling.  Yep, and we wonder how this stuff gets around so fast.

I am not sure if I am for health care reform or not either.  Man, I am even more frustrated with that crap!  Our family has terrific coverage, and a low cost because we are on our state run insurance and as we are trying to find new health care for our family, I am growing more and more frustrated that there are NO policies out there that don't have deductibles that aren't obscene.  The lowest I could find is $3000 but, that is paying about $700 a month and then still having to pay out of pocket the first $3000!!  Holy cow.  I am very willing to pay more a month if they just cover everything from the start.  I don't want my worrying about money get behind whether I take my children or myself to the doctor or not.

I have many friends that do everything but take their children or themselves to the doctor.  I don't want to be like that, if my children are sick, I want to take them to the doctor.  I have 4 children and the faster I get them to the doctor, most times the faster we are all better and the less people in our family get sick if it is something like pig flu or strep or whatever.

I need to go, my over bearing husband who doesn't think I am capable of taking care of my sick children just got home.

Oh one more thing that makes me anti health care reform...last night found out Merck quit making the MMR vaccine in separate doses due to pressure from Congress.  Stop legislating MY life and my children's life.  If I choose to still vaccinate but, I would like the shots done one at a time instead of in mega doses, that should be MY choice no my governments. 

So, there you see, I am VERY torn on the health care reform.

The baby is awake now.  Please keep you and your children home if they are sick and anyone with any answers about health care reform, please let me know.

Oh...and I am fine with my husband...just a bit grumpy today.

Blessings to you all,

Liza

Stimulus? Confusion!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

So, I read a blurb online today and then heard more about it on the radio and it just didn't seem to make sense.  So, I guess the state of Minnesota is set to receive about $4.6 BILLION in stimulus money and the good news(this is the part I heard on the radio) much of it is being used to keep or create jobs here in Minnesota.  Ok, sounds good, in fact sounds really good as I love my state of Minnesota.  Then, I hear how many jobs it has saved and/or created...just under 12,000.  Ok, now 12,000 jobs saved and/or created is a great number!  However, I am wondering, really?  $4.6 BILLION to save 12,000 jobs?  Now, I know not all of the money is being used for jobs however, both the internet and the radio said either 'most' or 'a lot' of the money is being used to keep and create jobs here in Minnesota. 

Now I am really thinking, first of all, 12,000 jobs for the entire state of Minnesota is really not that much and yet $4.6 BILLION in stimulus money, that seems like an obscene amount to be getting for stimulus money to begin with but, after making my husband do the math, he figured (if I am wrong with figures...HE did it not me) that is around $500,000 per job spent.  Huh.  So, considering the average American only makes around $24,000 a year and the average Minnesotan is around $28,000 a year....hmmmm.  Does that math make sense?  Am I missing something here?

Wouldn't we have just been better off sending each Minnesotan a $1000 check in the mail?  Or even a $100 check?  Or how about cutting property taxes that have gone up double digets every year in many cities for the past few years(mine included).  Or could we use some of the money to cut our sales tax for a couple years or to lower heating costs for a few years here in Minnesota?  My list could go on and on.  Or, why do we really need stimulus money to begin with?  Really?

I am still floored by the 'Let's spend our way out of the recession' too.  Really?  Because I wonder what the government would say about my husband and I spending our way out of debt.  Would they praise us?  Would they be so pleased with how we spent our way out of debt?  Can you really spend your way out of debt?  If you have no money and you spend more money, don't you just have even less money than before?
Then you add interest and penalties and such and aren't you worse off than ever before?  Doesn't the government tell us we need to save for retirement?  Haven't they been telling us to go back to having savings accounts to create a stronger banking system?  Well, what about our government?  Are they saving for 'retirement'?  Are they saving for a 'rainy day'?  Has the government opened up a savings account to 'save banks'? 

Am I crazy or does it seem like the government is doing very similar things with their (MINE/YOURS) money that they criticized big businesses for doing?  Didn't the government tell banks how irresponsible they were for lending out loads of money and doing sub-prime lending yet, if you think about it, isn't the government doing many of the same things?

I am confused, I am in disbelief, and I am frustrated.

If this makes more sense to you than me, please comment and let me know so I can understand.

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

The American Girl Doll 'Dream'

I feel a blog coming on.....

Those are the words I just heard in my head as I am debating our newest, whatever, on Facebook.  Good Afternoon Everyone!  I hope this finds you all well.

So, what was I debating on Facebook just now?  American Girl Dolls.  So, we have escaped the hype of those overpriced dolls for a long time but, eventually, we knew it would probably find us.  Well, about a month before our oldest daughter turned 7 she started talking about how she wanted an American Girl doll.  We didn't even know she knew about them but, apparently one of her friends has one and she liked it.

About 2 weeks ago my mother in law took our daughter as a birthday surprise, to the American Girl Store at the Mall of America to get her a doll and some clothes and whatever else there is there.  I have never been in the store or really knew a lot about these dolls but, my mother in law was great and went to the store to do some 'research' and figure out how the whole deal went.

It was wonderful!  My daughter had the time of her life!  She got to pick out a doll, get a pet for the doll, get some clothes, a hairbrush, and whatever else.  Then, her and Grandma and the doll got to have dinner at the Bistro there and her doll even got her own food and her own chair.  It was quite cute hearing the story and seeing the photos.  My mother in law had a great time and my daughter had a great time.  My mother in law also dropped a small fortune on the entire event but, she was more than happy to do it.

So, we now have this very expensive doll with her very expensive accessories and pet.  She doesn't really do anything and we only have one so, it is hard for my girls to play with her but, my 7 year old daughter loves her and that is all that matters I guess.  That is until today.

My husband sends me a text that says, "Gwen Charlie's American Girl doll is the first homeless doll ever!.....f***ing a"

So I call him back and I ask him what he is talking about.  Turns out our local paper had an article in the paper about how this American Girl doll is the very first doll EVER to be homeless.  Ok.  What?!  I thought American Girl dolls were to let our daughter's sort of live a fantasy of living in Colonial times, Revolution times, the 70's, and current.  I thought they had positive messages for our daughter's and were sort of sold as a 'doll they could look up to' type deal.  Yes, I know they are fiction but, I thought they were sold as more of a positive message and truly about living the American Dream type thing.  You know, the normal BS that goes with marketing super expensive toys.

I had no clue that a doll that has a father that left the mother, a mother who lost her job and lost their home and now lives in a car was considered the "American Dream".  Truly, I don't know much about these dolls but, that is NOT a message I want to send to my daughter that 'hey, you too can pretend to be homeless and living in your car if you just fork over $100 + to imagine it with this doll'.

First and foremost, let me all tell you, only by the Grace of God and our families were we not homeless at one point in our marriage and because of that we have been drawn to working with, feeding, and plain loving on homeless families and families and children in financial hardships.  It truly is where we feel led by God.   But, that is OUR choice, it is our decision and we choose to teach that to our children hands on NOT through a very expensive doll that frankly I feel we can barely afford let alone any family or child that might actually find comfort in having one that is 'just like them'!

I don't think my daughter needs to learn from a doll the life lessons of homelessness and a father abandoning his family and his responsibilities. 
Is there an American Girl doll that has a father that loves his wife and his children unconditionally, that works his butt off to provide for his family and the mom stays at home to raise the children?  If you read that last statement and say to yourself, 'but that isn't real life' well, shouldn't it be and truly, shouldn't that be something to aspire to pretend instead of living in a car?  My children can't possibly relate to that even though they eat, play, and pray with many homeless children through out the year, they still don't get it.  They just like the children and like to play with them and know they just need some friends and a little bit of help.  At ages 8, 7, 5, and 16 months...I think that is all they need to know right now.  They just know that we make food for some families and hang out with them and guide them a bit, they have no concept nor should they quite yet about this.  Besides, it is Steve and MY job to educate our children on homelessness in a way WE feel is best for our family.  I don't need some HUGE mega toy company to tell my children about it. 

Now...if American Girl is giving proceeds of their Gwen doll to charities that help homeless children and families, that is quite another story however, I have been unable to find any information saying they are doing that.  So, they are trying to teach MY child a lesson but, not themselves.

You know what, I am sick of being so politically correct it makes me sick!  I am sick of public schools so worried about the 'little' kids or whatever so, they have to protect everyone and treat them all the same, I am sick of children not being able to be children I am sick of my children being taught it is OK to be different as long as we are all the same.  Yes that is the message here people.  As long as everyone is treated the same, it is OK HOWEVER, embrace your differences.  What?!  It truly makes no sense.

I have a lot of very liberal friends and I too used to be a very liberal, bleeding heart.  I know that all of you just want things to be equal but, that isn't how it works.  It will never be equal.  In order for everything to be equal are YOU willing to give up things?  Are you willing to give up your big house, your nice new car, your fancy clothes, your bonuses at work, are you willing to give more to others out of your own pocket and your own time to make someone else's life more equal to yours?  Truly, that is what it will take to make everything equal and truly, most of you reading this blog live in nicer homes, drive nicer cars, and have bigger diamonds than my family and I feel like we are extremely blessed.  Are you willing to give up those things to live in a $200,000 or less house, drive used cars, and live among the true 'American Dream'?  Are you willing to move from your cozy home in a safe neighborhood and live in inner city Minneapolis (or where ever you live) and live among your 'peers'?  Are you willing to sacrifice quality education, good schools, and a safe community so that things can be more 'equal'? 

Truly, how many of us could really dig the ditches, walk in the trenches and live among the very ones we feel like deserve more?

I get this world is horribly unfair, however, I don't think it will get better by selling my daughter a $100 doll that is supposed to 'teach' her about the 'real America'.    I can't wait to see if American Girl doll comes out with a doll that has drug user parents, or how about the dad that beats the mom and the children, or I know, can't wait to buy my daughter the doll that gets involved in sex trafficking overseas.  YES, that is the doll for my family for sure!   Oh the life lessons I could teach my daughters:-)

So, yes, I am a bit miffed at American Girl and Mattel about this as you can tell.  I don't know if we will get her a different doll (someone she can look up to) or if we just won't tell her about this one's 'secret life'.  But for $100 or more, I feel like I should be able to trust a company that my daughter is getting something fun, enjoyable and frankly, a little bit un-American.

Here is the link to the article that started it all:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/62405777.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Blessings to you all and as always, I welcome any and all feedback :-)

Here is a link to a CNN discussion about it.  I think American Girl and Mattel only giving $120,000 since 2006 is a joke!  These dolls cost $95 a pop.

<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/us/2009/10/05/nr.baldwin.homeless.doll.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>

-Liza

Tell me the truth and only the truth.

Good Monday Morning Everyone!

I love Mondays this year!  My 3 older children are all in school and by the time I get home from driving my 3rd to Kindergarten and run an errand or two, my baby is ready for her nap.  I love it.  I still haven't figured out how to squeeze in a workout yet due to the baby still being on 2 naps a day but, I figure eventually I will be able to begin my workouts again.

So, I feel like being political again, maybe it is because I was listening to Glenn Beck on the radio on the way home but, it feels like a political day to me.  As many of you know, I am a pretty conservative person in my faith and more and more it seems in my politics.  Wow, if you would have told me in high school when I was a bleeding heart liberal that I would grow up to vote Republican in many of my elections, whoa!

I also need to set the record straight, I don't just vote down the party lines.  I tend to vote Republican more and more but, I did vote for a Democrat in our local elections.  See, I am one of those rare people that actually read what people are running about, I try to watch as many debates as I can and I do all the comparisons with the candidates to see who is MOST like me and who is going to MOSTLY vote the way I would.  There is no perfect candidate out there, there never will be.  So, that is my background, oh, and I can say, I have voted for Independents at least 3 times too! 

But, as I become a mother and I see what kind of a world and country I want for my children, more and more I believe, the Republicans seem to have better answers, at least for me and my family.  What I find especially concerning right now is how much our current President tends to contradict himself, how much he seems to like himself and how much he tends to be on TV and really not giving us answers.  I finally figured out what I think is happening and we are all buying it.

I am not sure if any of you watch the TV show, "Better Off Ted" or not.  I have actually only seen 1 episode in which the rumor got out that a new product had been developed when in fact no product actually existed.  So, his boss had already sold the product to the board and she did spin control and her and Ted did a HUGE presentation with great pictures and lights and excitement but, never once mentioned the product or what it was.  Everyone walked out of there super excited and many people walked out with question marks on their faces.  In one scene a guy turns to the other guy and says, 'Did you understand that?'  The other guy instantly says, 'You didn't?!' and the first guy says, 'No, no, I understood it, I was just making sure you did to!'

Here is the link to the episode...you need to watch, it really is sick how similar it is to our government right now....it is from hulu.com

http://www.hulu.com/watch/89210/better-off-ted-jabberwocky-presentation

It was a telling thing to me and finally it all clicked together for me, I truly believe that is what this current administration is doing to us right now.  No one really knows their plans, truly...if you do, please explain it to me because I can't find anything on the Internet, in news stories or in the paper about it.  I have even asked loyal followers of our Administration and truly, I have heard a lot of great 'selling' but, it doesn't seem like anyone really knows what they are 'selling'.

I can't find answers on the health care bill, I don't know if I want to support it or not because I can't seem to find the answers I am looking for on it!  I have even downloaded actual pages of the bill and still, it seems like a lot of mumbo jumbo and no plain English on what is really going to happen plus, it is in upwards over well over 1000 pages, how on Earth is anyone supposed to read that?!

I don't understand how we can be coming out of our recession when we are continually printing more and more money and we have nothing behind that money anymore, in fact other countries have even stopped buying our debt.  In everything I know and have read/heard, printing more money doesn't mean you have more, it means you are creating more debt and causing inflation.  Yes, the 80's are back and not just in fashion people!  Let me put the printing more money without anything to back it with in plain and simple English...that is like you and I continuing to write out checks even though we don't have money in the account(which is against the law by the way) and saying, "But, I still have checks left, I can't be out of money."

Now to be fair, the spending started years ago and in the time of war, we have always had huge amounts of debt.  But, I am wondering, why are we not doing rations and creating more and more jobs in the US for our families back home while the 'men' go off to fight the war?  We did that in WWII, why are we not supporting our troops, buckling down back here at home and working our butts off to save this great country of ours?

I am not foolish enough to believe that any one President has created our plight our country is in right now, I believe us as a whole nation has contributed to our nations downfall lately.  I think we have become lazy people who don't value education and believe we are entitled to things even if we aren't willing to work for those things.  I frankly DO NOT believe health insurance is a right.  Yep, you heard me, even us who are on MN Care, I don't believe health insurance is a right.  Let me put this in simple terms again....Forcing everyone to have health insurance and forcing companies to have insurance and forcing the upper class to pay for that insurance is like going to a doctor at gun point and forcing him to operate on you for free.  That isn't right.  I agree there are a lot of issues with our health care system and our insurance industry and I feel it is a shame there are so many children that are un-insured but, I don't believe government insurance is the way to do it.

I don't believe it is right our government is taking over former private companies and running them, I don't believe it is right they are firing CEO's, I don't believe it is right they are trying to cap bonuses and salaries.   That IS NOT democracy and that is NOT freedom!  That really is heading down a slippery slope to the government possibly having a say in everything we do. 

I think when you look at history during other tough times financially, you see great stories of people coming together, helping each other out, and truly bonding in tough times.  When government gets involved, it takes away the opportunity for others to help others.  If I am told where I HAVE to help, instead of where I get to help, I frankly do it begrudgingly and won't probably continue to help out after all is better.

I don't want to be told where I can give, where I can help and I WANT a say where my taxes go, and who they go to.  I don't want to help people that have been on welfare for years, I don't want to help people who choose to make bad choices.  I don't want to help those who are choosing to be lazy and not get out there and contribute to society.  Giving people things for free doesn't help them to appreciate the things they have.  It teaches people to quit, to be lazy, and to expect handouts.

Life is tough, life is hard and if you work hard and put your best effort forward, you MIGHT succeed.  It isn't guaranteed nor, should it be.

So, with all that is going on, I want answers, I want true answers.  I don't want the fluff, I don't want the big white smile, I don't want great stories, I want the truth, I want answers and I want straight talk.  I haven't found anyone or anyplace I have been able to get that yet.  By the way....I think I am not getting straight talk from BOTH sides on this messed up puzzle we call America right now.

So there I am, I am looking for answers.  Anyone have any?  I would love cold, hard facts people. 

Blessings to you all!

-LIza

Igniting the firestorm of Healthcare

Good Morning Everyone!

I have a lot to say and not much time so, I am digging right in.  I am frustrated and frankly confused about all the talk of health care reform and what it really will mean for our country but, really, what it will mean for me and my family.

I don't get why we need it, our state of Minnesota has a terrific health care system and we also offer our own state run insurance for lower income families and people.  In fact, really, you don't even have to be low income as with our sized family, we can make upwards of $67,xxx + a year and still qualify for our state health care.  Which my family and I have been on now for almost 4 years.  It saved us when Steve didn't have a job and when we couldn't get our own health care.  We still pay premiums based on our family size and our income.  Premiums can range anywhere from $4 (per person) up to over $200 (a family). 

We have no co-pays for the children or pregnant women and adults are $3.  That is for doctors visits, prescriptions, and eye appts and dental.  It will also cover things like mental health, drug/alcohol treatment, and cancer treatments.  We are free to visit our regular doctors and dentists and we have a very large number of doctors and others to choose from.  We can even see specialists when needed.

I like MN Care, I like it alot, and I am bummed that we will no longer qualify after November 1st of this year and we will need to find our own insurance.  I don't get the whole deal with not being able to find good quality insurance.  I have always had insurance, yes, it is expensive sometimes but, at least here in Minnesota, I think we have such a high quality and quantity of doctors to choose from, it is worth it.  Can you really put a price on your health?  Plus, how much worse would it be if you didn't have any health insurance?

I understand that most of peoples bills are from medical and it is the number one reason people claim bankruptcy.  However, I don't believe that is because of doctors or lack of health care and I don't believe a nationalized health care system will fix that.  Yes, it might lower the cost some but, really, we will pay for it in other ways such as higher taxes, lower standards, and fewer choices.

I used to work for a medical insurance company and I can tell you a few things that make our costs for insurance and doctor visits so expensive....US!  We are a sue happy nation and we like to blame others for everything.  We tend to not take responsibility and we want others to take care of us and we don't want to have to think for ourselves.

The claims that used to come across my desk were sick and unbelievable!  People suing their doctors for malpractice because their baby died at birth yet, they had NEVER had ONE prenatal visit or check up and the baby had issues that could have been solved or taken care of prior to the birth but, by the birth it was too late...believe it or not, many of those cases the women won and won a lot of money.  I even saw a woman who had 2 different babies die at two different births and BOTH she was a drug user and never saw a doctor for any prenatal visits and she won both times.  Sick.

Granted those are extreme cases but, I also saw people who sued the doctor because they claimed things like, they didn't know they could be allergic to the latex in their breast implants(even though they knew they were allergic to latex and neglected to mention it to the plastic surgeon), or someone who sued because they didn't tell their doctor about the 2 other doctors they were seeing and the 3 other prescriptions they were taking and had a huge reaction to the new presciption and almost died.  Those are all cases where the patient was clearly in the wrong yet, they sued...and won.

It is getting harder and harder to find doctors who specialize in just birthing babies because the cost of malpractice insurance is so high, it isn't worth it to them to practice.  I knew a doctor who refused to take patients that were over the age of 35 and having their first child because of the known complications and he just didn't want to take on the risk of liability.

Then, you add in the insurance companies.  Wow, they are in the business of making money and they will sell, sell, sell their clients(doctors and clinics) on why they should only prescribe their meds for patients.  There are many clinics that won't even offer generics or cheaper meds. 

Or what about people that refuse to go to the doctor until they are on their deathbed and they could have been saved had they just gone in earlier?  These are all cases that drive up our costs of insurance and of health care.  The government has so many other issues they need to fix before you can try and fix this!  It is like this...a car gets into an accident and instead of repairing the engine damage and the flat tires and broken windshield, they first paint the the car to make it look better and prettier because that is what is most appealing to the eye.  It still doesn't work and won't work until you fix all the broken parts but, it sure is pretty!

I hear everyone talking about insuring the uninsured...well, has anyone taken into account the people that choose not to have insurance?  Yes, there are people out there that just don't feel like they need health or dental insurance!  I knew many single people that were in their 20's that saw no use for having insurance and didn't want to waste their money on it...not because they felt it was too expensive but, frankly, they wanted the extra money for going out on the weekends or vacations or clothes.  In fact, looking back, I had health insurance my entire life and in my 20's, I think I can count on 1 hand how many times I went to the doctor (until I got pregnant) and I could have saved myself or my parents a heck of a lot of money by NOT having insurance.  Yes, it is important to have health insurance like you have car or home owners insurance just in case of an emergency but, then get emergency only insurance or something..way cheaper!

Now, in an effort to do some research for this blog, I did try to find some information about the Nationalized health care plan on the web...frankly, it was very hard to find any specifics on the plan(which is a bit un-nerving to me, personally) but, what information I did find says they are hoping to 'Improve Preventable Care'.  Ok, so does that finally mean our government will recognize alternative care and homeopathic?  Does that mean that I will finally be able to visit my chiropractor more than 12 times a year?  Does that mean the my son who is on the Autism Spectrum and takes hundreds of dollars of supplements and vitamins a year that those will finally be covered?  So that means vitamins will finally be covered right?  If what I read is right and they are hoping to stop people from getting sick with nutrition information and education and exercise and teaching America to be healthy again then one could assume that means us taking vitamins will be able to add those to our medical spending accounts or deduct them on our taxes as a health care cost correct?

Or what about those of us who not only choose but, those of us who also don't choose to eat healthier.  Do people who eat organic, whole foods, workout and in general take care of themselves inside and out do we get the opportunity to have cheaper health care?  Do we get discounts on our foods and stuff?

Or what about families with children with food allergies and sensitivities, will our nationalized health care help us offset the cost of buying wheat-free/gluten-free or dairy-free/casein-free foods so our children can be healthy and not be in the doctors offices as much?

Will we stop medicating children in the classrooms and teach parents, educators and others about the benefits of nutrition and how certain foods can affect certain children?  Is that part of the nutrition package in this health care reform?

Now here are my questions and concerns and please, I welcome all feedback and answers as I really don't know much about the nationalized health care plan.

-Will they tell me which doctors to see?
-Will my children be 'tagged' throughout their lives by the system because of their health care issues
-Are you going to force me and my family to have health care?
-What if we choose to not have national care?
-Can doctors opt to not take patients on national care? (they can on MN Care, and I believe it should be a choice for doctors/clinics)
-If there is a malpractice suit..who are we suing, ourselves?
-If we are unhappy with our national insurance (company) can we complain to them and then again, are we complaining against ourselves?

I know how inefficient the government is with spending, can I really trust you to spend wisely with my health care dollars?  How can you assure me that there won't be any 'gifting' or under the table deals with certain doctors/clinics like there is now with certain politicians and governments?

Social Security is a joke, the IRS is a bigger joke, how are you going to make sure this is a strong and well run system?  Why can't the states decide what is best for their people and be allowed to create their own health care systems based on the needs of people in their state instead of the 'general population'?

Is Minnesota the only state that has health care?  How many states have their own state run health care option?

Frankly, one more thing...sorry but, as we in Minnesota await the President to visit here and talk about national health care, one Minnesotan has a lot of questions and wants a lot more answers first.  Why is no one else in Minnesota standing up and talking about our own health care and how wonderful our system is here in Minnesota?  If it isn't broke...don't fix it!

Oh...and I am sorry, but, I understand the frustration of that S.C. Republican who shouted out last night.  Yes, it was very wrong that he did that and that he called our President a liar but, I do understand the frustration...here is why.

The President was speaking about health care and illegal immigrants at the time, by the way, as many of you probably don't know...I believe we will give the illegal immigrants access to free health care as we already do in Minnesota.  Yep, EVERY immigrant whether legal or illegal gets FREE health care in Minnesota.  Why?  Because they are afraid they won't get immunized so, they just give them all free health care so they will go to the doctors and such.  Don't believe me?  Heard it straight from a good source....one of our local hospitals that has an ER filled with immigrants daily/nightly because they use it as a doctors office instead of an emergency room.  We were told(after asking) flat out that the State of Minnesota with NO Questions asked, hands out immigrants free MN Care to assure they get immunized and go to doctors. 

So, there is your answer as to why that Republican blurted out last night.  Frustrating yes, I don't agree with him but, do understand.  Now, please help me understand the health care bill/reform so I can make an informed, educated decision about it for myself and my family.

Blessings to you all and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

-Liza

UPDATE:  I just read a slideshow about the reform and I think it is very similar to what I have said, it will cost us more, it will drive out jobs in the private insurance sector(of which Minnesota has a LOT of jobs) and we will be at the mercy of a government run agency that really, in my mind, isn't very good at running companies!

Plus, everything I have read says it will FORCE people to carry health insurance, why?  If they don't want it, that is their issue please don't make it mine.  I will say I agree with the President on one part of the reform....NO pre-existing conditions. 

Just remember everyone, once this is voted in and put into place, it is there forever.  There is no going back so, make sure you know what you are getting into, don't just listen to the speeches, read the papers, or blogs.  Do research, know what your Senator is voting for and know what the President is pushing.  I don't know if it is right or wrong for our country, I really don't know but, I want to make sure I know as much as possible before it is all too late...either way.

Bleeding Purple and Gold

Good Morning Everyone!

Oh, it is my last home game for soccer tonight and the forecast is rain.  So bummed.  My girlfriend Lee plays with me and we were going to have our family and maybe some friends come out and watch our game tonight.  I am really hoping the rain either ends before 6pm tonight or doesn't start until around 830pm.

So weather people in Minnesota, do you hear me?!  lol.

I know this is probably being talked about on blogs all over the place and I try to not write blogs similar to other people but, today....it is a must!  Brett Favre is a Viking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I was out with my children yesterday when my husband called me and told me to guess who was on a plane right now on their way to Minnesota.  I didn't know what that meant or who it could be so I asked him if it was someone we knew or someone famous.  Then he said someone famous and I was stumped.  I honestly couldn't think of someone famous coming here on a plane that my husband would know about and that he would actually care enough to call me about.  I sheepishly said Kenny Loggins because I am seeing him in concert in a couple weeks. 

He said no and then told me it was someone from Mississippi...I instantly squealed in delight and said, "Brett Favre!"  I couldn't believe it!  I was so happy and couldn't stop giggling and squealing!  My children couldn't figure out what was going on until I screamed, "Brett Favre is going to be our Quarterback for the Vikings!"
My 5 year old daughter instantly said, "The Vikings! The football team?!  Can I go to a game and see Burt Far?"  I said, "of course!"

So, for most of the rest of the day yesterday, I listened to KFAN on the radio, giggled, screamed, jumped up and down, and just couldn't believe my ears.  I squealed again as I watched the 'Breaking News' on TV of his plane landing and seeing Brett and his wife and Brad Childress shaking hands on the runway and heading off in Brad's Black Escalade to Winter Park.

It all seems so surreal to me and yet, it is real, it is real! I danced, and giggled as I listened to the Vikings announcer on KFAN call and apologize to all the sportscasters he didn't believe when they said Favre was coming here and laughed outloud when he called and taunted other teams.  It was so exciting and fun to hear a grown man super excited and singing on the radio to the Will Smith song, "Going to Miami".  Or "Physical" by Olivia Newton John, or the other songs that he played during his show.

For the first time in my long and broken-hearted but, faithful following of the Vikings, I am more than excited and more than hopeful.  For the first time in MY lifetime of following the Vikings, we have a very good team, and a very good Quarterback, running back, and receivers and our defense is amazing too.  My only fear is the Williams boys....I sincerely hope they don't get a judge that is a Packer fan and suspends them...hey, the rivalry is THAT big up here!

I don't know if Favre can stay healthy, he is 39 afterall but, oh gosh, this is the best shot we have had since 1998 to get a chance at the Superbowl.  I have always said that if the Vikings ever made it to the Superbowl, I don't care what I would have to do to get there, I would find a way to get to the Superbowl.  In 1998, I was prepared to sell my car..yep, crazy I know but, it is the Vikings afterall!!!

So, I have already prepped my husband and told him that I expect we will be heading to Miami if my boys make it to the Superbowl.  He just smiled and unfortunately, I think he secretly hopes they don't because he knows, I am completely serious about going.  I have also told him if ever there was a time for him to win the Powerball or whatever else dumb lottery he plays this would be the time.  I would LOVE to see the Packer/Vikings game here at the Dome AND in dream world, I think it would be AWESOME to see the Packer/Viking game in Green Bay!  Oh to see Brett come out of the tunnel at Lambeau Field in PURPLE and gold instead of green and gold.....ohhhhhhh.

So, yesterday, was one of my favorite days and it was a day I really thought would never come.  I can't believe that we have Favre.  Now, here comes my compassionate side.  I feel so bad for Sage and T.Jack.  Especially for Sage because he was really looking like the front-runner for the QB position but, at the same time, I think those guys should be super excited because they will be understudying and learning from the best in the business. 

So, to finish out my blog today, I sing loud and proud....

"Skol Vikings, lets win this game, Skol Vikings honor your name, go get a first down then get a touchdown..rock em sock em..fight, fight, fight, fight.  Skol Vikings run out the score, you'll hear us yell for more... V-I-K-I-N-G-S  Skol Vikings let go!!"

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

I am back with controversy.

Good Morning Everyone!

Oh it feels so good to be back!  I have been so busy this week trying to get back to 'normal' although, if you saw my house, it is anything but.  I still can't unpack my suitcase because I am still trying to get all of the children's rooms situated.  It has been a long process and if those children of mine ever complain about their rooms again, they can move their beds, dressers, desks, and all of their clothes by themselves!

Phew!  Momma is worked up!  There is a lot of pent up writing and conversations in me so, the next week or so might be a bit interesting to say the least.  But, I do have a lot of really good ideas for blogs so, hopefully my family and schedule will cooperate and I will be able to get them into a blog.

I am starting today with controversy.   Oh you know you all missed my controversial blogs!  So, I am logging on to my computer today and get the normal headlines from Yahoo.  I see one that stands out to me and instantly ignites something inside of me.  I am torn however, I am angry too. 

Abortion, yep, here it comes again.  So I read that our new Government run health care system will pay for abortions.  Neat.  So pretty much you are telling me that I am paying for abortions.  You are telling me that the pro-lifers have NO choice and are now going to be paying for women to have abortions.  Wow.  Now, as many of you know, I am not pro-life...nor am I really pro-choice.  I believe abortions should be legal only for the sake of women are going to have them anyway and they should be safe.  However, I don't really buy the pro-life deal either because frankly, I think many of them are unrealistic and sheltered...there I said it.

I believe there should be another group...a pro-choice/but praying for life and walking along the women no matter what group.  That is where I am.  I believe until we walk with these women, truly help them through then entire journey of being pregnant, having the baby and either keeping the baby or adopting the baby, we can truly have no say in what they do.

However, I can have a say in what I pay for and frankly, I don't want to pay for women to have abortions, by choice.  Right now the law stands that anyone on government insurance can only have an abortion paid for by insurance if they were raped, in cases of incest, or the mothers life is in danger.  I believe it should stay the same for the new government plan.

Our government right now is the most anti-life government we have ever had and frankly, it scares me.  By the way, I still am not buying our President is a Christian.  Yep, said it and I stand by it.

By the way, on that note, of the 'anti-life' government...I was listening to a talk radio show 2 weeks ago that was talking and had pages and pages of quotes from some guy...I never heard the name (I turned it on in the middle) but, is very close friends with our President and has written a book and gives speeches saying things like, 'women in the United States, should be forced to be sterilized after having 2 children.'

Ok, no...I would never agree to that.  Also, that in some parts of the country, where birth rates are extremely high and poverty is high, we should put drugs in the drinking water to cause sterility to keep birth rates in check.  WHAT?!  Just hearing things like that makes me think we are living in Communist Russia or that The Nazi's are trying to make a comeback.

Yes, my thoughts on this might be a bit extreme but, last time I checked..although, I haven't checked lately so, it might have changed, we still live in a FREE nation.  We are free to make choices and to not be ruled by our government.  Our government was created to 'govern' over us but, to not rule us.

I will not pay higher taxes to pay for women to have abortions.  I will not pay higher taxes to cover people for insurance that choose not to work or choose to not take care of themselves.

I do not want to pay higher taxes for someone to take the ambulance 300 times in one year to the emergency room....yes, there is someone who did that in 2008.

My family and I are currently on MinnesotaCare..it is our state run medical and dental insurance.  I think the state of Minnesota does a pretty good job of taking care of ITS people and doesn't need the federal government to step in and ruin it all.  Now, come this November our family will be going back to our own private insurance carrier and we are more than ok with paying our premiums and paying our co-pays that WE choose for an insurance company and coverage that WE choose.

By the way, we still do pay premiums and co-pays on our MNCare and yes our taxes go to that program however, it is a program you still have to pay for you just don't pay as much.  If Minnesota can figure it out, why can't the rest of the states?

Why does our health care have to be federal?  Why can't it be on a state by state basis?  Don't our states know more than our federal government ever could about what their people really need and desire?

Please stand up for us local and statewide government officials!  I know we are a Democratic state but, when did being a Democrat become more about a Socialist nation than a free nation?

I have to end there and I am so bummed out..baby just woke up and my other children are wanting lunch.

Blessings to you all and I warned you, I am a bit wound up from being away from the computer for so long!

-Liza

PS:  We are on MNCare because my husband was unemployed for 3 1/2 years....now that he has employment(self-employed) we will be purchasing our own insurance...it will be expensive but, worth every penny for our freedom of choice.