The Outspoken Mom Blog

New Health Care? OH! New Health Care!

Good Morning Everyone!

This blog is going to be short and sweet, my dad is coming over this morning to surprise the children before they go off to school so, I only have a few minutes.  By the way, have you ever noticed that you can type super fast when you are not in a hurry with very few mistakes but, add that 'hurry' factor in and you have two left hands?

So, yesterday was my 6 month appointment for my teeth cleaning with my dentist.  You know, we go twice a year to have our teeth cleaned and checked, once a year for x-rays and that is all your insurance covers.  Well, they also cover if you have a filling and a few other things and that is it. 

Yesterday, I was informed by my dentist as he was finishing up that 'they' (not quite sure who 'they' are but, I can guess...) recommend going to the dentist once a year instead of twice a year so my insurance as of January 1, 2010 will only cover 1 dentist visit/cleaning a year and x-rays once a year plus if you have a filling.  Then he said, "However, I highly recommend you continue to come in every 6 months, you will have to unfortunately pay for your other appointment but, I urge you to continue coming twice a year."  Of course I will go there still twice a year, I have learned over my 37 years of being alive that a cavity or any other mouth issue can come up pretty fast and you might be fine one dentist visit and the next you have a cavity.

So, I went up front to schedule my next appointment and found out it will cost me $143 out of my pocket for my next appointment.  OK, not bad but, considering that my insurance premiums didn't go down and my coverage did, ouch.  So instead of me paying $6 a year to visit my dentist (my co-pays are $3 each) I will now be paying $146 a year instead. 

Now, if I couldn't afford to pay that extra $143 a year, I would have to choose the 'new and improved' guidelines and risk my mouth health.  Now, of course, my insurance does cover cavities however, it does NOT cover root canals or any repair work needed or treatment for gum disease.  So, only going once a year raises those risk and of course, those costs to me!

This is my 2nd experience running into the 'new health care' recommendations put forth lately.  A few months ago I had my yearly physical and my doctor told me I needed a Mammogram.  What?  I am only 37 and no history of breast cancer or any cancer for that matter in my family.  He said he is 'highly recommending' (there is that phrase again!) all women between the ages of 35-40 go in for a mammogram so, I did.  It was crazy, they got me in immediately (well next day) and as I was getting my boobs squished, I asked the woman if this was because of health care reform.  She quickly told me that most doctors were trying to get their female patients between 35-40 in as fast as possible, before the new guidelines took effect which said women don't need a mammogram until age 50.

Wow, so there, without me even looking I have already seen 2 changes to my regular health care and one was before the new bill even passed and the other well, I guess that one happened before the new bill passed too since it was implemented Jan 1st.

I wish I could talk more about this but, I need to go!  Just wanted to give you all a little insight into what might be happening with our 'new and improved' health care.

Blessings to you!

-Liza

Our government that is killing us is now supposedly healing us?

Where to begin, where even to begin!

So tonight, I was watching that TV show with Jamie Oliver about his food revolution.  UGH!!!!  I was getting so stressed out and so upset during that show!  I could honestly feel my blood starting to boil and I could feel my heart racing and many times I had to change the channel because I couldn't handle what I was seeing on TV.

Many of you who read my blogs understand how I feel about food, the struggles our family has had with food and how frustrating it has been to watch children be fed crap, day after day in not only our own homes but, at schools, restaurants and wherever else we eat.  I have always struggled with restaurants not having healthy food options on children's menus, I struggle with fast food places and their options, I struggle with grocery stores and food companies that market this crap to our children!  To see it all flat out right in front of me in High Definition...it was honestly too much to take.

I sat there and watched as someone who isn't from our country tried and changed our schools and tried to change a towns minds and he was put up against our own government!  Our own government was telling him that his chicken, rice, and veggies wasn't following standards but, the reheated pizza the lunch ladies were serving was!  Turns out their guidelines said there must be 2 breads in their lunch and he didn't have a bread but, their crappy, unhealthy pizza constituted 2 bread servings..how you ask?  By the portion size...yep, they just gave them bigger pieces of crappy pizza to make sure they were following the guidelines set forth by the USDA, our own government!

To top that off, just as my blood is really starting to boil, the show gets interrupted and I find out from a gleeful Diane Sawyer that our own government...the VERY government that is telling us pizza is better for you than brown rice has voted to take over our health care system.  If ever I needed a push to be against something it was that....not only hearing my government is telling people what is healthy and what isn't and being SO very wrong but, also having a show about our health and food issues interrupted to find out our government will now be making our health decisions for us now too.

I am sure I am going to piss a lot of you off with this blog and so be it.  Listen, I am so anti-government right now it is sad to me.  I have never been so afraid, so ashamed, and so scared of my country's leaders before.  After seeing many sick things our government can do and is doing to people in the  business world, my husband included, and then seeing what they are doing to our children, how on earth can I trust them with my health too?

I flat out don't trust the government anymore, I don't trust them, I am afraid for my country but, most importantly, I am afraid for my children and what will happen to them.  I am watching a country I have believed in, trusted and loved become something I am growing to despise and flat out don't trust. 

First of all, let me tell you something about food, the way we eat, what we are feeding ourselves and our children, will kill all of us!  Our government is creating a food pyramid that doesn't work and can't possibly be full-filled in our society.  Our children don't know what vegetables are, they don't know how they grow or where they grow and we are feeding our children things that come from a box. 

Our produce sections are getting smaller and smaller because our grocery sections of pre-packaged, processed foods is getting larger and larger.  Nothing that comes from a box can possibly be healthy!  I don't care if you make $20,000 a year or $200,000 a year, you can still feed your children healthy food!  Our bodies are our temples we need to treat them as such!  We workout and diet and then go home and have frozen pizza for dinner! 

The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States!  We have diet sodas, diet candy bars, diet shakes, diet pills, diet, diet, diet, diet!  If we would just go back to eating the basic, WHOLE FOODS, we wouldn't need so many diets!  Examples?  OK, I just lost 20 pounds in less than 2 months by doing a simple thing..I ate 2 fruits or veggies (raw/uncooked) before every meal!  Then, my meal would consist of something like baked chicken, salad, frozen peas(obviously heated up), and a bowl of cut up fruit...NOT from a can!  I would have water with my meal, every meal.

I actually found myself never hungry, never craving sugar or other unhealthy foods, always satisfied with my meals and never the over-stuffed feeling I would have when I didn't eat raw fruits or veggies.  I was a good example to my children, especially my son who also eats a lot of raw fruits and veggies and lean meats.  I showed him joyfully that the food was good and healthy and made me feel good.  Soon, my son who often craved sweets and junk food stopped all together craving those things and stopped feeling like he was missing out on the 'good foods' his friends all got to eat.  Why?  Because he was feeling better, he was happier, he wasn't as agitated and he had more energy than before.  He was happy and it was noticeable not only to me his mom but, to him!

Ever hear the old saying, "You are what you eat"?  Well, what are we if we eat chicken nuggets, hot dogs, french fries, boxed macaroni and cheese, and pizza?  We are junk, we are unhealthy, we are created in a laboratory!  However, if we fill ourselves with fresh strawberries, bananas, lettuce, chicken, brown rice, carrots, lean meats, and green peppers what are we?  We are whole, we are healthy, we are filled with life created from the earth!

If you don't know what healthy foods are, think of this, if you can't grow it, you shouldn't eat it!  Try that for a few weeks and see how you feel!  I promise you, if you stop following our government and their misleading guidelines, you truly will feel a lot better and you will be healthier and you won't need to rely on the government , that is helping to make us sick in the first place, to take care of you when you get sick.

I could write on this for hours!

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

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

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

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.

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.

Follow your dreams

Good Morning Everyone!

I am sitting up here at my desk listening to my baby cry just praying she will actually take a nap this morning so I can finish cleaning our carpets and pack for the cabin.

I am not sure either of those things will get done or at least done well this morning if she does not nap.

So, my husband is currently looking for new office space because his company is growing...yes, even in this economy and they have hired a couple new employees, yes, even in this economy and he was telling me about one office space they found.  It sounds neat and I told him that it might make all of my dreams come true...even more than he already has!

My husband laughed at first but, when he realized I was serious, he thought it might be a good fit too.  Of course, they are in the infancy stages of looking for new office space and they are looking all over but, oh man, this one is in some sort of a company that does a lot of broadcasting stuff and advertising and stuff like that. 

Once he mentioned what the company did and what their offices are like, all I could hear from him is, 'blah, blah, blah, blah, blah'...sort of like when I am talking to him with a swimsuit or tight shirt on and all he hears is, 'look at my boobs, look at my boobs, look at my boobs.'

So my thoughts were racing, I was planning my big debut!  Yes!  I would go live with my blog!  I could do a local cable access show based on some of my blog subjects and really take it to the masses!...or at least who ever is watching local cable at that time.  OR, even better!  Radio!   Not really sure I want to be on TV anymore, all the wrinkles, blemishes, wrinkles, and someday gray hairs would be very apparent.  I don't want people watching me age on TV.  No, radio, that would be better!  I could just banter and not worry about looking into the camera, I could have guests, it would be great!

See, I have always had the dream of being 'famous'...not Madonna famous, or Michael Jackson famous or even George Clooney famous, just famous enough where people would actually want to hear me speak.  I dream of some day having my own radio show and even someday running for some sort of office.  Yes, I aspire to be like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh or similar.  However, I would like to stay more on the local or regional level.  I don't care about Hollywood or NYC, I really have NO interest in Washington DC.  I care about my local area, I care about my city, my county, my state. 

It would be fun to be on the radio, talking about local issues, some world issues, and home, children, marriage and God too.  It would be great to have a radio show that I could speak my mind and it would be ok.  I am sick of everyone being so stinking politically correct even when truly they are so politically incorrect!

When I hear a story about how one of Obama's closest friends has written a book and speaks about sterilization of women and how we should put drugs into our country's water system to cause sterilization...or about health care and the myth that people can't get affordable or good health care, have any of you checked out Minnesota's health care system?!  We have one of the best and our state medical system and health care is fantastic!  We don't need the federal government taking that away or changing it.

Or, I could talk about car seat safety and booster seats, I could talk about the books I am reading, I could talk about the feminizing of men, I could talk about education, anything I wanted and that could all be just in the first show!  lol.

I don't know how to get on radio, I don't know anything really about it.  I do know that I am a strong conservative and I am a mother of 4 children, I live in a very liberal state however, I love where I live.  I am college educated and I believe Jesus is my Savior.

It would be fantastic to start guest spots on someone's show locally and hopefully someday move on to my own show.  Will it ever happen, I do not know.  Will I ever run or be in office, I certainly hope so someday.  Only time will tell.

So, as I dream a little bit more today about my 'big break', I ask all of you, what dreams do you have that you have pushed aside?  What are your dreams and what are you doing to make those dreams come true?  I am living one of my dreams right now, I am blogging my thoughts, my dreams, my words and people are reading and responding and I love it.  It isn't the Broadway stage that I always thought it would be or on the cover of a magazine or on the runway like I was sure it would be in jr. high and high school.  But, I am living my dream of public 'speaking'. 

My next step will hopefully be to begin speaking to a broader mass of people and my other dream of 'changing the world'  will be when I run for some sort of office and do what I can to change my world in my local government and city. 

Blessings to you all and although your dreams may change, never stop dreaming and never stop following your dreams!

-Liza