Thanksgiving 2012

I've been trying to post something about Thanksgiving for a while now. For some reason I keep losing the post. Here is my last try. Thanksgiving is a day where we gather with family and friends to be thankful for our blessings.

 

In the tradition of our forefathers we have a big feast to eat and celebrate th bountiful blessings we have received. Men and women see this holiday completely different. Women spend hours preparing dishes and getting ready to receive company. Men see it as a day to watch football and eat till their hearts content

 There are some ground rules for this occassion if it is held at my house. 1.) I have six TV's in my home, so don't even think of changing the channel on the one I am watching. 2.) I am a simple man so I like cranberry sauce from the can, regular turkey, and cornbread dressing so don't think of bringing me some new age cooking from Whole Foods. 3.) If dinner is set for 3:00 don't expect us to wait till 5:00 when you arrive. You will have missed the blessing. 4.) If you bring your new boo to dinner don't expect me to entertain them. Visitors need a pass to eat. 5.) If you can't cook don't try to impress me today. Just bring the drinks or some bread. 6.) If you are new age parent and you can't control your kids I will check them. I am from the old school of children should be seen and not heard, especially if they are screaming. 7.) I am from St Louis and hate the Cowboys, so don't root for them if they are on TV. 8.) It is OK to take food when you leave but use a paper plate. Don't even try to walk out with my dishes or tupper ware. 9.) Don't bring your kids Christmas lists over with you. This is Thanksgiving and I will not be discussing Christmas at all. And last but not least 10.) If you have a problem with you sister, cousin, mother or whoever check your drama at the door!

 

Enjoy the day and remember how blessed you truly are everyday. While we always say the blessing before the meal we should always say it after each meal too.

Heath Care Open Enrollment

It is that time of year when companies and the government have open enrollment for health plan coverage. If  you are lucky enough to still be working, and you company offers these benefits, you may have what is called a Cafeteria Plan. This is where you go down a long list of possible dishes and pick the ones you like. Those folks on who are retired or disabled will need to look at their Medicare, Medicaid, Supplement Plan A, B, or C and various other options that are available. If you watch TV this is presented as a easy and non threatening event. Just turn on your laptop and go to the government website and begin reading and choosing the best option for you. Right!!!!!!!!!

 

While sitting in my open enrollment session this year I reviewed the various forms that were sent for me to review in advance. The 2013 Insurance Rates, Dental Plan Summary, Dental Plan Enrollment Form, Vision Plan and Summary, and copies of the various Health Care Plans available, based on the contract that my company had signed. First of all there is the issue of what is a PPO, the HDHP (High Deductible Health Plans) both Standard and Enhanced, the HSA (Health Saving Account) and their various options, along with a Salary Redirection Form, so they can get the premiums taken out of my check.

 

I don't know when heath care became so complicated, but I image he probably occurred when the politicians and capitalist, decided that private industry could do a better job of providing it that the city, states, and federal government. If I got hurt or sick i went to the hospital, they took care of me , and then sent me the bill. Once all the hospitals became "for profit" establishments. insurance became almost mandatory for service, the cost sky rocketed, and the ability to take care of ourselves went down the tubes.

 

Now I have to figure out my contribution to pay for the insurance plans and also know what the company is kicking in. Some plans have co-pays (what does this really mean?) and deductibles like car insurance. Once I reach my deductible the insurance kicks in at some rate 70%,80%, or maybe even 100% of the cost of health care for the rest of the year. But wait there is a catch. I have to use a doctor or service "in network". So now I have another manual to go through to make sure I going to the right people or facilities that want to pay ball with the health care provider. Also, one must look at the prescription drug clauses, since you can get cut rate costs on some drugs, or generics, depending on which plan you take.

 

Now I can have one of these plans, but I also need to see if dental or vision coverage is included. If not I need a plan for these. I have to remember these have yearly caps on them, plus some have higher deductibles, may or may not cover the braces or frames fro the glasses I want. Timing is everything  here in terms of when you get things done. There is also the HSA, which is like a saving/credit card account where you can save up money just pay medical bills. This is a way to get enough money saved up pre taxed to pay your deductibles with. Yeah, assuming you have the money. Anything that you don't use is yours to keep, but watch out for Uncle Sam, since there are a variety of tax implications. Since I am over 55 I can even add an additional $1,000 over what most people can have as a maximum contribution. Wow, they call that a "catch up" contribution.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the time or inclination to scour through all the pamphlets, brochures, and notebooks to learn all I need to know about the plans and health care.  I'll pay the minimum amount for the medical premium, dental, and vision and hope this year that I don't reach my deductible. This year my wife has her own plans from her job so I don't have to pay for a couples plan which would be eight times as much as the single plan. Who would have thunk it.

 

And some of the people in our government want serior citizens to go out into these shark infested waters and negotiate for the best deal on health care with vouchers? Surely you jest.

Pray for the President

As the election draws near it becomes abundantly clear that we all need to pray for the President. Whomever that may be after next week, they will need our prayers. The bible teaches that we should pray for our leaders, because they will have the responsibility to lead. I can't imagine how, we as a country, could allow those people that represent us to ever voice goals to see the President fail, or to do anything to ensure that he does not see another term, because of who he is or his beliefs. This is the person that the people of the country have giving the authority to lead. To want him to fail is to say that you don't care about the results, and its impact on all those who follow his lead. Would this not be considered traitorous, or at least dispicable behavior during any other times?

 

The problems that we face as a nation did not start with this President and the last four years, or the last President and those eight years, or even the two Presidents before that. Our problems began in the sixties, beginning with the decision to stop prayer in schools and the taking down of the ten commandments. The very core of our country is established as one nation under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all. Yet we started to turn away for God. God was no longer wanted in our lives, outside of the church. Not in school, or work, or business, or the home itself. People were berated for using the term Christmas as a holiday we celebrate. People began to look for ways to satisfy their own inward needs under the name of "my freedom" to do so. We could say whatever I wanted, and do whatever I wanted, whenever we wanted , because we are free to do it.

 

Just because we can, does not always mean it is right to do. As the country has slide down this slope things have only gotten worst. No politician of government will be able to make our country right, until we look at the core values of our country, and move back towards them. Through the establishment of Christain values, in our homes,schools, justice system, and just by being on the side of right versus might.

 

All great nations of the past have risen and then fallen. I only pray that we can have a leader who see this, and lead accordingly. We talk about what kind of America we will be leaving for our children. If there is not a change in our culture I can't even imagine. I pray for whomever God "permits" to become President based on our request (votes). One must always be careful for what you ask for, because you may get it. 

Gun Control

The new Batman movie came out this weekend, but the big news was what went on in Colorado at one of the Thursday night sneak previews. A lone gunman went to the midnight premier, got strapped with two glocks, an AK 47, a high powered shotgun, body armor and began shooting people randomly in the theater. No rhyme or reason, looking for no one in particular, children and adults, young and old. Now I know that there is no way to stop these types of incidents from "ever" occurring. Our world is filled with crazy people or just those that can't cope. What I am upset about is the fact that this seemingly innocent looking/acting person can get these types of weapons.

The constitution says you have the right to bear arms. During the time it was written the country was trying to free itself and be come sovereign. I can understand the need to bear arm, during a time of oppression. If you are a hunter I can agree that you might need a gun. But you don't use a glock or AK 47 to shoot Bambi, you use it to shoot people. We should not be selling these types of weapons to citizens or anyone except the military for that matter.

This is what happens with guns. Last week a three year old shot their father on the couch with the gun they found in the home. Is it really worth it? It wouldn't be necessary if we felt the police could protect us. But they can't and the bad guys can get more fire power from the street than they have.

Gun control needs to be strengthened and the NRA needs to get focused guns for sport and help us with getting the sale of guns for killing outlawed. That's just my two cents worth.

Fathers Day

Today is Fathers Day. It is a day which has been established to that the dads not the dudes. The real fathers, real men as Tom Joyner would say. I am proud to be a father and my day was filled with best wishes from both of my sons, who live out of town, and my three daughters. There are no step children in my family.  I consider all of the children I have had, or raised as mine, along with their children.

Of course the first person I called, and sent a card to, was my mother. Since she had the task of being both a mother and father to me and my brothers, she deserves to be respected on both occasions. While she could not supply all the information or support of a father, she was the one that built my character. And character is what makes you who you are, no matter what your circumstance.

As a  father I was not always there for all my children, but I believe they all know that I did my best for them. I wasn't easy on them or tried to be their friend. I loved them and I wanted them to know they had to work to succeed. I would tell them that my job was to work to feed them, cloth them, and have a place for them to stay. Their job was to go to school to learn, graduate, and move out, to face the world on their own. I tried not to transfer my fears on to them, but allow them to have their own self worth and confidence. 

To be a good father you have to be consistent. You have to work with your children and lead by example. Many kids what to have things without effort, and that does not work. You have to provide discipline, but always have their backs when they can't do it alone. Like Christians need God, you never want to go into a fight without the father. 

In's and Outs

One of the differences I have with  my wife is that she is an extrovert with introvert tendencies while I am an introvert with extrovert tendencies. We were made for each other. It amazes me that she can say whatever comes to her mind. For example, she has no reluctance to give the server at a restaurant her "full"opinion when asked the question "How is everything?" She'll let the cashier in the checkout lane know that she is tired, because she just came back from vacation, and could she bag everything just the way she wants it for easy unloading at home. The most obvious thing though is her ability to talk to other drivers, who invariably cannot hear her.

I'm looking at this with awe as I have these inner conversations with myself continuously throughout the day. I am, if nothing else, a reflective person who discusses these issues with myself versus others. I don't wish to provide information on myself or my activities unless I chose to be in a conversation with someone who I think needs to know. I am like the proverbial comic book character with the cloud coming out of their head with what they are thinking inside.

This difference can sometimes be frustrating, particularly when both of us are at our extremes. Fortunately we have learned to understand how to coexist and support each other. I have learned when not to speak and when she is looking for support from me, and she has learned that my silence does not always mean agreement of disapproval. When we are in sync though, it is a lovely thing.

For Richer or Poorer

It is hard to watch the demise of our great country, but I feel that is what is happening. I see a lack of moral integrity, values and an attitude of you against me at every level. Our justice system is broke along with our legal system. Systems in general such as education, government, business, infra structure, and the list goes on and on, have taken a back seat to racism, politics, and greed.

The most prosperous country in the world, the land of the free, has more people incarcerated than any other country in the world. More than 2.4 million. The cost of housing an inmate in America for a year , $60-$80 thousand depending on where you live, would pay for another teacher, policeman,or a fireman. How about a serious government war on poverty,so that in the most prosperous country in the world all children can have a decent meal everyday.

The USA has had many causes during my life. Most have been implemented by rich Republicans. Richard Nixon, or tricky Dick, started the war on drugs in the sixties and we are still paying for it today. This is when the prison rates began to increase, and what happens when you don't have a plan that is well thought out. There was Ronald Reagan and his trickle down economics. It did just that, trickled down and some where left without entirely. Most recently have been the Bush's, father and son. The son was the worst of the two and I'm sure history will prove me right. The war on terror. Ill conceived, costing billions, making many rich folks richer, with no end in sight. Cut the  taxes, raise the spending, hide  the theft. Wall street went wild with the ability to make the rich richer, as they turned a blind eye, and scam the rest of the population.

I don't really understand how the party that was in power when all this was going on can blame anyone else, and say that they have the answer to fix the problem they created. Even if things haven't turned around completely,the idea of saying  we should have let the banks fail, or let the auto industry fail, or let millions go without health care has to be the rhetoric of the rich who are not worried about for their families.

President Obama has accomplished, at least in my mind, many things during his first term. A term that started with the worst possible state of affairs any president outside of Franklin Roosevelt ever had to handle. His quest to increase revenue, reduce the debt and create jobs to help average Americans, has been met with disrespect from the beginning, with the yelling out in his "first" state of the union address with "you lie." How would George Bush and his gang have reacted?

Anyway it's not about Mitt Romney,President Obama, Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, Conservative, Black or White. It's about haves versus have nots plain and simple, and it is getting worst. It's about my grand children Yasira, Daquan, Makenna, and what kind of America they will live in. Will it be no longer one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. What do you think?