From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 00:02:43 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:02:43 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] MyHeritage.org: How government spending hurts national security Message-ID: <206801ca59de$ffbd0570$ff371050$@com> October 30, 2009 | By Amanda Reinecker How government spending hurts national security America is one of the strongest, wealthiest and freest nations on earth; she is largely in control of her own fate. Therefore, any real threat against America will likely come from within. Today, one of the main internal threats is crushing government debt. "Few things can march a great power down the road of decline faster than irresponsible economic policies," Heritage Foundation Vice President Kim Holmes writes in the Washington Times. Current estimates of our national debt exceed $7 trillion -- $22,000 per person -- a figure likely to increase by $9 trillion over the next decade. Unlike in times past when the nation was saddled with exorbitant deficits, today's imbalance is long-term and will heavily burden future generations. And this financial shortfall will wreak havoc on our national security. That's because the more money we commit to ever-expanding big-government programs, the less we have for defense. Holmes outlines the dangers we face if the nation continues down this track of runaway spending: The U.S. military might be unable to protect a sea lane vital to trade and military supply lines. We might be unable to suppress an enemy regime that launches a terrorist attack against us. And absent the great American economic engine, we might lack the resources to stay on the cutting edge of technology, leaving our soldiers vulnerable to being matched or even trumped on the battlefield by better-equipped foes. Maintaining our superpower status requires reining in our out-of-control spending on entitlement programs, the main driver of our long-term debts. As Heritage experts have long argued, this entitlement spending is among the greatest domestic policy challenge our nation faces. That's why we have included reforming programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as key goals of our 10-year Leadership for America Campaign. > Learn more about Heritage's efforts to control the government's long-term spending. America currently faces many external threats. But unless we address these serious spending problems from within, we will not be adequately prepared to face those from without. Health care update * The House health care "reform" bill introduced this week by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sets a new all-time record: 1,990 pages. Just in time for Halloween, the House's latest version of the bill paints a scary picture for our economy and our nation's fiscal future. Heritage's Conn Carroll reports that "the bill purports to cost only $1.05 trillion over the first ten years and is paid for by over $700 billion in tax increases and cuts to Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug payments." So more taxes and more spending -- and that just lays the groundwork for a complete government takeover of the health care industry. * The Senate Finance Committee plans to saddle middle- and low-income taxpayers with roughly a quarter of the costs of its $829 billion health care "reform" proposal. These cost will be imposed on them through a "misguided excise tax on insurance plans" that will cost upwards of $200 billion over ten years, Heritage tax policy analyst Curtis Dubay reports. This tax is in effect no different than an increase in income taxes -- so if it becomes law it would break the President's promise to not raise taxes on anyone making under $250,000. A better idea would be to cap the amount of a health plan that's tax free -- and return the difference in lower income taxes. This reform, Dubay writes, would realign incentives and "ultimately reduce heath care costs without growing government further." Visit FixHealthCarePolicy.com to learn more about Heritage's health care reform alternatives. The Left attacks school choice The Left is working hard to block parental choice in education. For example, the effective D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which has enabled thousands of parents to send their children to safer schools where they can receive a better education, is under attack in Congress. Even Attorney General Eric Holder is on the offensive against this school choice program. Heritage education expert Lindsey Burke reports that earlier this week, Holder asked a former Washington, D.C. lawmaker to stop running a television advertisement supporting the program and criticizing the Department of Education's decision to rescind scholarships for 216 young District residents. Americans deserve to know about the success of such programs and the need to protect them from the political forces that endanger them. That's why Heritage has produced a new documentary, Let Me Rise . We're taking the message of the students and families that benefit from this successful program and bringing it directly to those who have the power to preserve it. > Watch a short version of this important film. "Let Me Rise challenges not only people in the District, but across the nation, to better understand the critical need to improve urban education in America," Heritage's Lindsey Burke writes . The documentary premiered at The Heritage Foundation last week. Attending the premiere were Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), former D.C. Councilmember Kevin Chavous, activist Virginia Walden-Ford and columnist Juan Williams. The film is part of Heritage's comprehensive effort under our 10-year Leadership for America campaign to strengthen American education by empowering parents to choose a safe and effective school for their children. Every child in America -- not just those who earn the goodwill of Congress or Washington bureaucrats -- deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education. > Other Heritage work of note * Even before the recent negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were complete, the media was heralding the Obama administration's "soft power" approach as a success. But Heritage national security expert Jim Carafano argues that the praise may be premature. The negotiations made no real progress in deterring Iran's nuclear program. "It was a performance that earned a 'D' for 'determined to be dumb' in negotiating with a government that has little interest in serious negotiations." * The economy grew at a 3.5 percent rate in the last quarter, the first substantial expansion in more than two years. But is it all good news? "Don't pop those champagne corks just yet," writes Heritage economic policy analyst J.D. Foster . This figure is temporarily inflated by unsustainable deficit spending programs such as the "stimulus." This sort of government-engineered boost, Foster explains, "only adds to the economy by borrowing and thereby taking out of the economy." The underlying, uninflated growth is more likely just over one percent -- which is undeniably an improvement, and reflects the economy's resilience. > In other news * "Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he'd back a GOP filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care reform bill," Politico reports . Senate rules require 60 supporters before a final vote can be taken. Lieberman objects to a government-run "public option" insurance plan. * Honduran President Manuel Zalaya , who was ousted earlier this year for violating his country's constitution, is set to return to power. The United States drove an agreement between the current de facto government and the leftist Zelaya, who is allied with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. * The number of jobs the so-called "stimulus" package "saved or created" is likely much smaller than liberals have claimed. * Newsweek reports that leftist financier George Soros plans to spend $50 million to remove free-market ideas from economic debates. But as National Review Online columniss Veronique de Rugy writes , "I think Soros's fortune would be better used trying to get the government out of the market." > Coming up at Heritage * On Wednesday, November 4 at noon , the Honorable Orrin Hatch (R-UT) will deliver remarks on Preserving Freedom and Federalism: What's at Stake for Americans in the Health Care Debate. Amanda Reinecker is a writer for MyHeritage.org-a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Nathaniel Ward, the Editor of MyHeritage.org, contributed to this report. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 00:09:40 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:09:40 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] LETTER TO MY CONGRESSMAN RE HEALTHCARE "REFORM" Message-ID: <206901ca59df$f861f9b0$e925ed10$@com> I mailed this letter today to my congressman to tell him how I feel about the proposed healthcare reform. It is copied below so that you can make changes to adapt it for your own personal feelings. To find your representative(s), go to the link below (right now a written letter to the Washington office is best): http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml For more ideas about what to include in your letter, go to the following link: http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/2009/10/27/writing-to-your-senators-and-congr essmen-about-healthcare/#more-659 For the sake of our children, we can't sit back and just allow these a--holes to ram through this legislation against our will; it will ultimately bankrupt our country. You cannot be too busy to NOT do this! IMPORTANT: Forward this to everyone on your email list. -------------------------------------------------------- Dalton A. Masson 1812 Woodland Farms Court Old Hickory, Tennessee 37138 Telephone (615) 847-1778 Fax (504) 910-7004 email: dalton.masson at yahoo.com October 29, 2009 Honorable Jim Cooper 1536 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Re: Healthcare Reform Dear Congressman Cooper, I AM VERY ANGRY! I just received a letter from Blue Cross (copy enclosed) explaining that "a change in regulations that affects certain Medicare Advantage plans.requires us to discontinue your PFFS plan by the year 2011." This is a result of H.R. 6331, passed by an override of veto by then President George Bush; you voted in favor of the override. Blue Cross then suggests that I convert my coverage to a PPO plan, however, I don't care to change my network of physicians, which include a Cardiologist, Neurologist and Pulmonologist, as well as an Internist. A phone call to Blue Cross resulted in yet another solution, to convert to a more expensive Medigap plan. In addition, current legislation proposes taxing my wheelchair, my cane, knee implants, hip implants, pacemakers, home oxygen and other medical devices, as well as raising my personal medical expense exclusion from 7.5% to 10% of my AGI, denying me an itemized deduction that I currently enjoy. That, Mr. Cooper, is a TAX INCREASE. I strongly oppose the abolishment of the Medicare Advantage Program; being a member of the H.R. 2718 MEDPAC Committee (which you referenced in your email to me but did not admit that you are a member), you probably have the ability to effect change in this area. Finally, I vehemently oppose H.R. 3200 or Pelosi Care or the Public Option Plan or whatever you want to call it. You and the entire Congress are reckless in your actions to impose your ideology upon the American voters. Conservatively, your party's healthcare scheme, which is nothing more than a redistribution of wealth, is going to cost me about $4,200 more for healthcare than I paid this past year, and I'm on a fixed income. I sincerely wish that you would follow the voices of your constituents and not the demands of your political party. Sincerely yours, DAM/mp enclosure From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 08:17:55 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:17:55 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] WE NOTICED Message-ID: <210b01ca5a24$2d43eff0$87cbcfd0$@com> Wish I knew who composed this...I'd send her a dozen roses!! Rena President Obama: Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as a National Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk......... During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of our tradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one not honoring our tradition. YES, "We noticed." During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intended to visit all 57 states. We all know that Islam, not America, has 57 states. YES, "We noticed." When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a flower on the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pile without leaning over. YES, "We noticed." Every time you apologized to other countries for America 's position on an issue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country. When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, you have not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyond belief. YES, "We noticed." When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was America's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heard recriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You later disassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it was politically expedient to do so. YES, "We noticed." When you announced that you would transform America , we wondered why. With all her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS IN MIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn't be sitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highest office in this country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what we can glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one. YES, "We noticed." All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself with individuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which you appointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, like you, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country and her traditions. YES, "We noticed." You are 9 months into your term and every morning millions of Americans wake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle working Americans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with cap and trade, will bankrupt this nation. YES, "We noticed." We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled "un-American","racist". We wonder how we are supposed to let you know how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seem isolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the right to speak out. YES, "We noticed." On September 11, 2001, there were no Republicans or Democrats, only Americans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whatever way we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans. And YES, "We noticed." There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could help unite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nation than the attack on 9/11. You have failed us. YES, "We noticed." September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make 9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share our reverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as what it is...a disgrace. YES, "We noticed." You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy. YES, "We noticed.." We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you. When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office. Take notice. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 08:19:49 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:19:49 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] Sign on side of road on 15-501 in North Carolina Message-ID: <210f01ca5a24$711207d0$53361770$@com> Wake up America!!!!!!! This about says it all. Simple, isn't it?..............SCROLL DOWN TO READ SIGN WHICH IS NEAR DUKE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL. Seen on US Hwy 15-501 at Grove intersection. (near Durham , NC ) E-mail and pass this around, keep it going, let the country know we can't afford Obama or his CHANGE!!! IF you don't agree, delete it! That is "one" of the rights we still have...(so far) ----- So now we know... "CHANGE" = MORE Debt MORE Taxes MORE Welfare MORE Regulation MORE Government MORE Wasteful spending MORE CORRUPTION Thanks Mr. President From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 08:21:43 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:21:43 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] Is the economy really recovering? Message-ID: <211001ca5a24$b5c9bc60$215d3520$@com> Not if real estate crashes again and these two articles don't look too hopeful. These articles refer to commercial real estate and housing. http://tinyurl.com/yf4rm4r http://tinyurl.com/yd94l2z JY From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Oct 31 08:22:21 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:22:21 -0500 Subject: [StBernard] Check out THIS new item now available at WALMART Message-ID: <211101ca5a24$cbdb2660$63917320$@com> Costco has been selling them for awhile now. http://tinyurl.com/29dby2 But notice this from Costco: Currently, caskets can only be purchased from and shipped to addresses in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. I don't know if that's a Louisiana law preventing the purchase of them or something else and don't know if Wal-Mart has the same stipulations as Costco. BTW...check the floral arrangements/casket sprays at Costco. Those are very attractive and that's not a bad price either. Just checked. On Wal-Mart's site it does say this: Delivery Restrictions We cannot deliver to all areas of the United States. Click for a map which shows the areas to which we currently deliver. I couldn't get the map to load. JY